title: microRNA-binding proteins: specificity and function.
abstract: microRNA (miRNA) and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have been studied widely in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Previous work has focused on defining how miRNA and RBPs modulate target mRNA decay and translation as well as investigating how they interplay each other. Emerging studies indicate that certain RBPs other than the AGO-family proteins directly interact with mature miRNAs. These findings implicate competitive binding of RBPs to target miRNAs, sequestration of miRNAs from AGO, promotion of AGO binding to miRNAs, and transfer of miRNAs from RBPs to AGO. Recent work also indicates that AGO-free cytoplasmic miRNAs establish complexes with novel miRNA-binding proteins (miRBPs). This review covers the recent discovery of novel miRBPs, offering a new perspective on the miRNA-mediated gene silencing mechanism. WIREs RNA 2017, 8:e1414. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1414 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Zealy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Wrenn
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davila
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Kyung-Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Je-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins