Control of translation and mRNA degradation by miRNAs and siRNAs: Table 1.

Abstract

The control of translation and mRNA degradation is an important part of the regulation of gene expression. It is now clear that small RNA molecules are common and effective modulators of gene expression in many eukaryotic cells. These small RNAs that control gene expression can be either endogenous or exogenous micro RNAs (miRNAs) and short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and can affect mRNA degradation and translation, as well as chromatin structure, thereby having impacts on transcription rates. In this review, we discuss possible mechanisms by which miRNAs control translation and mRNA degradation. An emerging theme is that miRNAs, and siRNAs to some extent, target mRNAs to the general eukaryotic machinery for mRNA degradation and translation control.

MicroRNA-29b is involved in the Src-ID1 signaling pathway and is dysregulated in human lung adenocarcinoma

“…Discordant mRNA and protein levels in tumors have also been reported for other genes, and may be caused by different mechanisms of action of miRNAs. miRNAs regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level through decreased translation, increased degradation of the target mRNA or both (Valencia-Sanchez et al, 2006). We hypothesize that in vivo miR-29b regulates ID1 mostly by decreased translation, explaining the difference in correlation of mRNA and protein levels.…”

“…MMP9 belongs to the family of matrix MMPs, mediates cell invasion, and is a known downstream effector of ID1 (Sun et al, 2009). microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level through decreased translation, increased degradation of the target mRNA or both (Valencia-Sanchez et al, 2006;Guo et al, 2010). The miRNA-target interaction occurs via base pairing of the miRNA seed region (nucleotides 2-7) to the 3 0 -untranslated region (UTR) of the cognate target mRNA (Lewis et al, 2005).…”

Matrix metalloproteinase 12 silencing: A therapeutic approach to treat pathological lung tissue remodeling?

“…Whatever the way they are generated, siRNA are recognized by a specific multi-enzyme complex (RISC), that uses the antisense strand as a guide to recognize a specific target mRNA. If the guiding strand and the targeted sequence are fully anti-complementary, cleavage and degradation of the mRNA usually occur while the presence of mismatch at defined positions can lead to inhibition of translation rather than degradation (for extensive reviews see [105][106][107][108]). …”

miR-484 regulates mitochondrial network through targeting Fis1

“…Strikingly, a single miRNA is even able to modulate complex physiological or disease phenotypes by regulating the entire functional networks 26,30,31 . Apoptosis can be regulated by miRNAs.…”