title: Cell-free microRNA-mediated translation repression in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: In vitro recapitulation has recently led to significant advances in the understanding of the molecular functions of microRNAs. Cell-free systems allow a direct perspective on the different steps involved, and provide the experimenter with the opportunity to directly interfere with, or alter the implicated factors. In this chapter, we describe a cell-free translation system based on Caenorhabditis elegans embryo, which faithfully recapitulates miRNA-mediated translation repression. Because of the genetic and transgenic flexibility of this animal model, such a system provides a unique experimental resource to study the mechanism and the functions of miRNAs, the Argonautes, and the RISC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Goodman Cancer Research Centre, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Edlyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Duchaine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002474:Cell-Free System; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D023061:Gene Order; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs