Biogenesis and physiology of micrornas

• Type: Chapter or Part of a Book
• Date: 2014

Authors

Melo, CA (Author) Other; Melo, SA (Author) Other

Book

Title: Non-Coding RNAs and Cancer

Pages: 5-24

ISBN: 9781461484448; 9781461484431

Electronic ISBN: 978-1-4614-8444-8

Indexing

Scopus - 19 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-4DW

DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-8444-8_2

Abstract (EN): MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs 17¿25 nucleotides long that control gene expression by promoting degradation or repressing translation of target mRNAs. Since each miRNA regulates the expression of hundreds of target mRNAs, miRNAs can be seen as master-coordinators, efficiently regulating fundamental cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, and development. MiRNAs are synthesized in the cell through a multistep coordinated process that starts in the nucleus and proceeds to the cytoplasm culminating with the production of the biological active form, the miRNA. This maturation process consists of a series of biochemical steps that convert the primary miRNA transcript into an intermediate precursor miRNA hairpin and culminates with the formation of the mature miRNA. The spatiotemporal control of miRNA abundance is made possible, in part, by the regulation of its biosynthesis pathway, where alterations can lead to global miRNA deregulation. Since miRNAs are involved in a broad range of developmental and physiological processes their deregulation appears to play a fundamental role in the onset, progression, and dissemination of many cancers as well as in many other human diseases. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2014.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific