title: [Recent research progress of biogenesis and functions of miRNA*].
abstract: MicroRNA*s are about 22nt noncoding RNAs, which are processed from precursors with a characteristic hairpin secondary structure in the biogenesis of microRNAs. Recently, miRNA* strands were shown to mediate post-transcriptional regulatory networks, rather than serve merely as non-functional by-product in general view. Unlike miRNAs bound to AGO1, miRNA* strands are bound to AGO2 to form RISC duplex to mediate RNAi, which is similar to siRNA. This paper mainly reviewed the recent research progresses on miRNA*, such as the biosynthesis, biological characteristics, and functions.
authors.affiliation: Institution of Genetics, College of Life Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. mshy-052@163.com
authors.forename: Sheng-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jun-Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Hong-Wu
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.forename: Mu-Yuan
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology*; D034622:RNA Interference
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs