Regulation of mRNA translation and stability by microRNAs

MR Fabian, N Sonenberg… - Annual review of …, 2010 - annualreviews.org
MR Fabian, N Sonenberg, W Filipowicz
Annual review of biochemistry, 2010annualreviews.org
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that extensively regulate gene expression
in animals, plants, and protozoa. miRNAs function posttranscriptionally by usually base-
pairing to the mRNA 3′-untranslated regions to repress protein synthesis by mechanisms
that are not fully understood. In this review, we describe principles of miRNA-mRNA
interactions and proteins that interact with miRNAs and function in miRNA-mediated
repression. We discuss the multiple, often contradictory, mechanisms that miRNAs have …
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that extensively regulate gene expression in animals, plants, and protozoa. miRNAs function posttranscriptionally by usually base-pairing to the mRNA 3′-untranslated regions to repress protein synthesis by mechanisms that are not fully understood. In this review, we describe principles of miRNA-mRNA interactions and proteins that interact with miRNAs and function in miRNA-mediated repression. We discuss the multiple, often contradictory, mechanisms that miRNAs have been reported to use, which cause translational repression and mRNA decay. We also address the issue of cellular localization of miRNA-mediated events and a role for RNA-binding proteins in activation or relief of miRNA repression.
Annual Reviews