title: Probing the microRNA pathway with small molecules.
abstract: MicroRNA (miRNA)/RNA interference (RNAi) is recognized as one of the most important mechanisms regulating gene expression at the posttranscriptional level in eukaryotic cells. The main components within the miRNA/RNAi pathway are now known and well characterized, but studies on the molecular mechanisms that regulate the activity of the miRNA/RNAi pathway are just beginning to emerge. High-throughput reporter assays have been developed to monitor the activity of the miRNA/RNAi pathway and applied in a proof-of-concept pilot screening, which has led to the identification of some inhibitors and activators that either generally or specifically regulate the activity of the miRNA/RNAi pathway. In addition, combined with multidisciplinary approaches like proteomics, biochemistry, and genetics, some protein co-factors were found to play important roles in the regulation of the miRNA/RNAi pathway. Herein we highlight the high-throughput reporter assays developed in recent years and the resulting discovery of miRNA/RNAi enhancers and inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Suite 301, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Yujing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D015347:RNA Probes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D015347:RNA Probes; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
keywords: Chemical biology approach; Enhancer; High-throughput screening; Inhibitor; Reporter system; Small molecule; microRNA/RNAi pathway