Regulation of mRNA translation and stability by microRNAs.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that extensively regulate gene expression in animals, plants, and protozoa. miRNAs function posttranscriptionally by usually base-pairing to the mRNA 3'-untranslated regions to repress protein synthesis by mechanisms that are not fully understood. In this review, we describe principles of miRNA-mRNA interactions and proteins that interact with miRNAs and function in miRNA-mediated repression. We discuss the multiple, often contradictory, mechanisms that miRNAs have been reported to use, which cause translational repression and mRNA decay. We also address the issue of cellular localization of miRNA-mediated events and a role for RNA-binding proteins in activation or relief of miRNA repression.
Department of Biochemistry and Goodman Cancer Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1Y6, Canada. marc.fabian@mail.mcgill.ca
Marc Robert
MR
Fabian
Nahum
N
Sonenberg
Witold
W
Filipowicz
D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D020871:RNA Stability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins