A postulated role for microRNA in cellular differentiation.
Over the past two decades a variety of mechanisms regulating cellular differentiation have been uncovered. These include signaling by morphogens or membrane-associated ligands and asymmetric segregation of cytoplasmic components. Most of these processes are driven by protein coding genes. Here I describe another possible cellular differentiation mechanism that involves asymmetric segregation of microRNAs, a group of recently discovered non-protein coding genes that have been shown to be involved in differentiation.
Bentwich
Isaac
I
Rosetta Genomics, 10 Plaut Street, Rehovot 76706, Israel. bentwich@rosettagenomics.com
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010944:Plants
D035683:MicroRNAs