Regulating the regulators: mechanisms controlling the maturation of microRNAs

• Published in: Trends in biotechnology (Regular ed.) Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 27 - 36
• Main Authors: Ding, Xavier C, Weiler, Jan, Großhans, Helge
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, MA Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2009; [London]: Elsevier Science; Cell Press; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biosynthesis; Biotechnology; Cancer; DNA methylation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation - genetics; Genetic engineering; Internal Medicine; Kinases; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - genetics; Models, Genetic; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Mutation; Promoter Regions, Genetic - genetics; Proteins; RNA polymerase; Rodents; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription. Transcription factor. Splicing. Rna processing; Transcriptional Activation - genetics; Gene silencing; Regulation(control); Molecular processing; Micro RNA; Review; Gene expression; Mechanism
• ISSN: 0167-7799; 1879-3096
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2008.09.006

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that control diverse cellular and developmental events through repression of large sets of target mRNAs. Regulated transcription of the genes encoding miRNAs by RNA polymerase II promotes specific expression patterns of individual miRNAs. However, recent studies have established that substantial regulation of mature miRNA accumulation also occurs after transcription. Here, we review the mechanisms of such post-transcriptional regulation, with a particular focus on examples where molecular mechanisms or physiological principles are beginning to emerge. Elucidating these mechanisms will increase our understanding of gene regulation and provide new insights into causes of miRNA misexpression in diseases such as cancer.