miRNA*: a passenger stranded in RNA-induced silencing complex?
Processing of the pre-microRNA (pre-miRNA) through Dicer1 generates a miRNA duplex, consisting of a miRNA and miRNA* strand (also termed guide strand and passenger strand, respectively). Despite the general consensus that miRNA*s have no regulatory activity, recent publications have provided evidence that the abundance, possible function, and physiological relevance of miRNA*s have been underestimated. This review provides an account of our current understanding of miRNA* origination and activity, mounting evidence for their unique functions and regulatory mechanisms, and examples of specific miRNA*s from the literature.
Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5Z 1L3.
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Mah
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Buske
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Humphries
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Kuchenbauer
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology*; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex / Q000502:physiology*
D035683:MicroRNAs; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex