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The functions of animal microRNAs

Nature volume 431, pages 350–355 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that regulate the expression of complementary messenger RNAs. Hundreds of miRNA genes have been found in diverse animals, and many of these are phylogenetically conserved. With miRNA roles identified in developmental timing, cell death, cell proliferation, haematopoiesis and patterning of the nervous system, evidence is mounting that animal miRNAs are more numerous, and their regulatory impact more pervasive, than was previously suspected.

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Figure 1: Examples of the imprecise base pairing of animal miRNAs with their targets.
Figure 2: Approaches to miRNA gene discovery and the functional characterization of miRNA genes.
Figure 3: The roles of miRNAs lsy-6 and mir-273 in the pathway specifying the sensory neuron cell fates ASEL and ASER28,29,30.

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Acknowledgements

We thank members of the Ambros laboratory and numerous other colleagues for stimulating discussions. V.A. is supported by NIH grants.

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  1. Department of Genetics, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, 03755, New Hampshire, USA

    Victor Ambros

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Ambros, V. The functions of animal microRNAs. Nature 431, 350–355 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02871

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