title: Mechanisms of regulation of mature miRNAs.
abstract: miRNAs are short RNA molecules of ∼22-nt in length that play important roles in post-transcriptional control of gene expression. miRNAs normally function as negative regulators of mRNA expression by binding complementary sequences in the 3'-UTR of target mRNAs and causing translational repression and/or target degradation. Much research has been undertaken to enhance understanding of the biogenesis, function and targeting of miRNAs. However, until recently, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of the levels of mature miRNAs themselves have been largely overlooked. Although it has generally been assumed that miRNAs are stable molecules, recent evidence indicates that the stability of specific mature miRNAs can be regulated during key cellular and developmental processes in certain cell types. Here we discuss the current knowledge of the mechanisms by which mature miRNAs are regulated in the cell and the factors that contribute to the control of their stability.
authors.affiliation: Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Medical Research building, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9PS, U.K.
authors.forename: Benjamin P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Towler
authors.affiliation: Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Medical Research building, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9PS, U.K.
authors.forename: Christopher I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Medical Research building, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9PS, U.K. s.newbury@bsms.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sarah F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Newbury
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D005095:Exoribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008957:Models, Genetic; D020871:RNA Stability / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D035683:MicroRNAs; D005095:Exoribonucleases
keywords: Dis3 (defective in sister chromatid disjoining 3); XRN1 (5′-3′ exoribonuclease 1); micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA) degradation; micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA) regulation; micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA) stability; non-coding ribonucleic acid (ncRNA)