Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2026

A Complete Pipeline for Isolating and Sequencing MicroRNAs, and Analyzing Them Using Open Source Tools
Published on: August 21, 2019
World of small RNAs: from ribozymes to siRNA and miRNA
Hiroaki Kawasaki1, Renu Wadhwa, Kazunari Taira
1Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
Abstract:
RNAs, besides bridging genetic information to proteins, the major determinants of bio-structures and functions, serve as active regulators of gene expression. Initiated nearly 20 years ago with ribozymes (the small RNAs with catalytic activity providing fine tuning of gene expression and function, used as molecular scissors and tools for gene discovery), an era of more complex and coordinated gene regulation by small RNAs, siRNA, and miRNA has recently started. Simple nucleotide complementarity results in highly ordered and regulated events, such as assembly of RNA and proteins, resulting in gene silencing either by mRNA degradation or suppression of translation. This article reviews our contributions to the understanding of structure, the function of small RNAs, their use in biotechnology, and the understanding of phenotypes such as apoptosis, metastasis, and differentiation.
Related Concept Videos
RNA Interference
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
RNA Interference
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
Ribozymes
Ribozymes can be...
Ribozymes
Ribozymes can be...
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
Small interfering RNAs (siRNA)
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...

