title: Exploiting microRNAs for cell engineering and therapy.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) form a large class of non-coding RNAs that function in repression of gene expression in eukaryotes. By recognizing short stretches of nucleotides within the untranslated regions of mRNAs, miRNAs recruit partner proteins to individual transcripts, leading to mRNA cleavage or hindering of translation. Bioinformatic predictions and a wealth of data from wet laboratory studies indicate that miRNAs control expression of a large proportion of protein-coding genes, implying involvement of miRNAs in regulation of most biologic processes. In this review we discuss the biology of miRNAs and present examples of how manipulation of miRNA expression or activity can be exploited to attain the desired phenotypic traits in cell engineering as well as achieve therapeutic outcomes in treatment of a diverse set of diseases.
authors.affiliation: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Aškerčeva 7, Ljubljana, Slovenia. tomaz.bratkovic@ffa.uni-lj.si
authors.forename: Tomaž
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bratkovič
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Glavan
authors.forename: Borut
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strukelj
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zivin
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rogelj
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D060846:Cell Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D011506:Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins