Post-transcriptional Control of MiRNA Biogenesis

Overview

Journal RNA

Specialty Molecular Biology

Date 2018 Oct 19

PMID 30333195

Citations 279

Authors

Gracjan Michlewski

Javier F Caceres

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression that bind complementary target mRNAs and repress their expression. Precursor miRNA molecules undergo nuclear and cytoplasmic processing events, carried out by the endoribonucleases DROSHA and DICER, respectively, to produce mature miRNAs that are loaded onto the RISC (RNA-induced silencing complex) to exert their biological function. Regulation of mature miRNA levels is critical in development, differentiation, and disease, as demonstrated by multiple levels of control during their biogenesis cascade. Here, we will focus on post-transcriptional mechanisms and will discuss the impact of -acting sequences in precursor miRNAs, as well as -acting factors that bind to these precursors and influence their processing. In particular, we will highlight the role of general RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) as factors that control the processing of specific miRNAs, revealing a complex layer of regulation in miRNA production and function.

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