摘要
小RNA或微RNA(m icroRNA,m iRNA)是非编码RNA中的新家族,它以自身特有的方式调控基因表达。m iRNA首先在线虫(C.elegans)的发育事件中被发现,被认为异时性调控线虫幼虫的发育。从此,人们从诸如线虫果蝇、小鼠、人和植物等多细胞生物中发现了数以千计的m iRNA。m iRNA有多样化的表达形式并以其独特机理调控多种发育和生理过程。目前对m iRNA的研究还处于初始阶段,但已有的发现表明m iRNA在转录后水平以一种全新的方式调节基因表达,对它们的研究会帮助我们更好地理解复杂的基因调控网络。
miRNAs are a new family of non-coding RNAs and regulate gene expression in a unique manner, miRNAs were first found in C. elegans as genes that were required for the timed regulation of developmental events. So far, thousands of miRNAs have been identified in many metazoans that include worms, flies, mouse, homo sapiens and plants, miRNAs have diverse expression patterns and may regulate muhiplicate processes of development and physiology. Current study for miRNAs is in its infancy. But some findings indicate that miRNAs regulate gene expression by a novel way at post-transcriptional level. Studies of miRNAs will help us to better understand the complicated gene regulation networks.
出处
《医学分子生物学杂志》
CAS
CSCD
2006年第2期108-112,共5页
Journal of Medical Molecular Biology
基金
国家自然科学基金(No.30570389)
国家高技术研究发展计划(863计划)(No.2002AA223071)~~
