MicroRNAs in search of a target

Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 2006:71:129-34. doi: 10.1101/sqb.2006.71.032.

Abstract

As the number of known microRNAs (miRNAs) increases, and their importance in physiology and disease becomes apparent, the identification of their regulatory targets is a requisite for a full characterization of their biological functions. Computational methods based on sequence homology and phylogenetic conservation have spearheaded this effort in the last 3 years, but they may not be sufficient. Experimental studies are now needed to extend and validate the computational predictions and further our understanding of target recognition by miRNAs.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Computational Biology
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genes, Helminth
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Induced Silencing Complex / genetics
  • RNA-Induced Silencing Complex / metabolism

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • LIN-14 protein, C elegans
  • MicroRNAs
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RNA-Induced Silencing Complex
  • let-7 microRNA, C elegans