Modulation and Evolution of Animal Development Through MicroRNA Regulation of Gene Expression

Overview

Journal Genes (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Date 2019 Apr 28

PMID 31027314

Citations 20

Authors

Sebastian Kittelmann

Alistair P McGregor

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

microRNAs regulate gene expression by blocking the translation of mRNAs and/or promoting their degradation. They, therefore, play important roles in gene regulatory networks (GRNs) by modulating the expression levels of specific genes and can tune GRN outputs more broadly as part of feedback loops. These roles for microRNAs provide developmental buffering on one hand but can facilitate evolution of development on the other. Here we review how microRNAs can modulate GRNs during animal development as part of feedback loops and through their individual or combinatorial targeting of multiple different genes in the same network. We then explore how changes in the expression of microRNAs and consequently targets can facilitate changes in GRNs that alter development and lead to phenotypic evolution. The reviewed studies exemplify the key roles played by microRNAs in the regulation and evolution of gene expression during developmental processes in animals.

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