title: miRNA goes nuclear.
abstract: microRNAs (miRNAs), defined as 21-24 nucleotide non-coding RNAs, are important regulators of gene expression. Initially, the functions of miRNAs were recognized as post-transcriptional regulators on mRNAs that result in mRNA degradation and/or translational repression. It is becoming evident that miRNAs are not only restricted to function in the cytoplasm, they can also regulate gene expression in other cellular compartments by a spectrum of targeting mechanisms via coding regions, 5' and 3'untransalated regions (UTRs), promoters, and gene termini. In this point-of-view, we will specifically focus on the nuclear functions of miRNAs and discuss examples of miRNA-directed transcriptional gene regulation identified in recent years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Helen-Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. huangv1@urology.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Long-Cheng
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000818:Animals; D060565:Argonaute Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D056744:Cyclin B1 / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
chemical_list: D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D056744:Cyclin B1; D035683:MicroRNAs