MicroRNA

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(Redirected from MicroRNAs)

MicroRNA (miRNA) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules, functioning in RNA silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. miRNAs are approximately 22 nucleotides long and are involved in many biological processes, including development, differentiation, growth, and metabolism.

History[edit | edit source]

The first miRNA, lin-4, was discovered in 1993 in a study of developmental timing in Caenorhabditis elegans. The term "microRNA" was introduced in 2001.

Biogenesis[edit | edit source]

miRNA genes are transcribed by RNA polymerase II into primary miRNA (pri-miRNA) molecules, which are then processed by the Drosha enzyme to produce precursor miRNA (pre-miRNA). The pre-miRNA is exported from the nucleus and further processed by the Dicer enzyme to produce the mature miRNA.

Function[edit | edit source]

miRNAs function by base-pairing with complementary sequences within mRNA molecules, leading to gene silencing either through translational repression or target degradation.

Role in disease[edit | edit source]

Alterations in miRNA expression are implicated in numerous disease states, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disease.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


MicroRNA Resources
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD