title: Roles of microRNAs beyond development--metabolism and neural plasticity.
abstract: The importance of microRNAs during development is well recognized, but a number of studies indicate that their function extends to differentiated cells as well. Metabolic control and neural plasticity are dynamic processes in adult organisms and represent good examples where miRNA-mediated regulation affects the function of differentiated cells without changing their fate. We are summarizing the current understanding of how microRNAs contribute to post-transcriptional control of gene expression in these processes and, where possible, highlight in which mode of action--the "guardian" or the "tuning mode"--they are employed by the cell.
authors.affiliation: Gene Center, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aumiller
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Förstemann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs