title: Dissecting microRNA-mediated gene regulation and function in T-cell development.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are abundant approximately 22-nucleotide regulatory RNAs encoded in animal genomes. They are thought to exhibit diverse biological functions in animals by targeting messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for degradation or translational repression. Here we use T-cell development as a model to illustrate methods and strategies for dissecting the post transcriptional gene regulatory networks controlled by miRNAs and their roles in the differentiation of T-cell precursors. The process involves the identification of miRNA genes in rare T-cell progenitors, determining miRNA expression during T-cell development, characterizing miRNA function in T-cell development using an in vitro assay, and identifying functionally relevant gene(s) regulated by miRNAs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Baxter Laboratory of Genetic Pharmacology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
authors.forename: Tin Ky
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Chang-Zheng
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs