title: The next level of complexity: post-transcriptional regulation by microRNAs.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, small, noncoding RNAs that regulate expression of about half of human genes. Canonical miRNA biosynthesis involves two RNase III-type proteins, Drosha and Dicer. A podocyte-specific knockout of Dicer resulted in foot process effacement. In this issue, Zhdanova et al. report on targeting Drosha in a podocyte-specific fashion. Their study demonstrates an essential role of canonical miRNAs in maintaining the fully differentiated podocyte phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Immunology, University Hospital of the Aachen University of Technology (RWTH), Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kramann
authors.forename: Marcus J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Moeller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D050199:Podocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; C513400:Drosha protein, mouse; D043244:Ribonuclease III