MicroRNA targeting in mammalian genomes: genes and mechanisms.
We briefly review the history of microRNA (miRNA) research and some of the lessons learnt. To provide some insights as to how and why miRNAs came into existence, we consider the evolution of the RNA interference machinery, miRNA genes, and their targets. We highlight the importance of systems biology approaches to integrate miRNAs as an essential subnetwork for modulating gene expression programs. Building accurate computational models that can simulate highly complex cell-specific gene expression patterns in mammals will lead to a better understanding of miRNAs and their targets in physiological and pathological situations. The impact of miRNAs on medicine, either as potential disease predisposing factors, biomarkers, or therapeutics, is highly anticipated and has started to reveal itself.
Muljo
S A
SA
Integrative Immunobiology Unit, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Kanellopoulou
C
C
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Cancer Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Aravind
L
L
National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression; D005796:Genes; D016678:Genome; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference
D035683:MicroRNAs