MicroRNAs: something important between the genes.
Non-coding small endogenous RNAs, of 21-24 nucleotides in length, have recently emerged as important regulators of gene expression in both plants and animals. At least three categories of small RNAs exist in plants: short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) deriving from viruses or transgenes and mediating virus resistance or transgene silencing via RNA degradation; siRNAs deriving from transposons or transgene promoters and controlling transposon and transgene silencing probably via chromatin changes; and microRNAs (miRNAs) deriving from intergenic regions of the genome and regulating the expression of endogenous genes either by mRNA cleavage or translational repression. The disruption of miRNA-mediated regulation causes developmental abnormalities in plants, demonstrating that miRNAs play an important role in the regulation of developmental decisions.
Mallory
Allison C
AC
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.
Vaucheret
Hervé
H
D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*
D035683:MicroRNAs; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering