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. 2010 Oct;2(4):161-79.

The Role of MicroRNAs in Human Diseases

Ali M Ardekani  1 , Mozhgan Moslemi Naeini
Affiliations

The Role of MicroRNAs in Human Diseases

Ali M Ardekani et al. Avicenna J Med Biotechnol. 2010 Oct.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNA molecules which bind to target mRNAs, resulting in translational repression and gene silencing and are found in all eukaryotic cells. Approximately 2200 miRNA genes have been reported to exist in the mammalian genome, from which over 1000 belong to the human genome. Many major cellular functions such as development, differentiation, growth, and metabolism are known to be regulated by miRNAs. Proximity to other genes in the genome and their locations in introns of coding genes, noncoding genes and exons have been reported to have a major influence on the level of gene expressions in eukaryotic cells. miRNAs are well conserved in eukaryotic system and are believed to be an essential and evolutionary ancient component of gene regulatory networks. Therefore, in recent years miRNAs have been studied as a likely candidate for involvement in most biologic processes and have been implicated in many human diseases.

Keywords: Disease; Human Genome; MicroRNAs; miRNA.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The biosynthesis pathway for miRNAs
Figure 2
Figure 2
Coding and non-coding DNA in human genome
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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