MicroRNAs: biogenesis, function and applications.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to the group of non-coding, small RNAs (19 to 21 nucleotide-long oligonucleotides) that are endogenously produced from their own genes. miRNAs interfere with or affect the transcription or translation of other genes, resulting in gene silencing or activation by a process known as RNAi or RNA activation, respectively. The discovery of miRNAs and related small RNAs within the last 10 years has opened up a new field in biology, called RNomics, which investigates differences in RNA populations and offers great potential in correcting the regulation of abnormally expressed and disease-causing genes, as well as in the development of novel therapeutic agents. This review focuses on the developments in miRNAs and their potential therapeutic applications.
Chua
Jia Hui
JH
National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore.
Armugam
Arunmozhiarasi
A
Jeyaseelan
Kandiah
K