microRNA‐binding proteins: specificity and function

• Published in: Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. RNA Vol. 8; no. 5; pp. e1414 - n/a
• Main Authors: Zealy, Richard W., Wrenn, Samuel P., Davila, Sylvia, Min, Kyung‐Won, Yoon, Je‐Hyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-09-2017; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Gene regulation; Gene silencing; Gene Silencing - physiology; Humans; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; miRNA; mRNA turnover; Post-transcription; Proteins; RNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; RNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; RNA-mediated interference; Transcription
• ISSN: 1757-7004; 1757-7012
• DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1414

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
This article is categorized under:
RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Recognition
RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Interactions: Functional Implications
Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Regulatory RNAs
miRNA‐binding proteins (miRBPs) cooperate or compete with AGO2 for miRNA binding in miRNA‐mediated gene silencing.