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MicroRNAs

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...

RNA Interference

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
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

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
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...

MicroRNAs

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...

Experimental RNAi

Experimental RNAi

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...

MicroRNAs

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Biotin-based Pulldown Assay to Validate mRNA Targets of Cellular miRNAs

Biotin-based Pulldown Assay to Validate mRNA Targets of Cellular miRNAs

Published on: June 12, 2018

A developmental view of microRNA function.

Yong Zhao¹, Deepak Srivastava

¹Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, University of California, San Francisco, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.

Trends in Biochemical Sciences

|March 14, 2007

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs regulating gene expression. Tissue-specific miRNA expression is crucial for development, controlling cell lineage and organ formation, with implications for future disease research.

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Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Biotin-based Pulldown Assay to Validate mRNA Targets of Cellular miRNAs

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Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Developmental Biology
Genetics

Background:

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA molecules encoded by genomes.
They play a critical role in regulating gene expression by targeting messenger RNAs (mRNAs).
miRNAs are increasingly recognized for their tissue-specific expression patterns during organismal development.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the role of microRNAs in regulating the proteome during development.
To understand how miRNAs influence cell-lineage decisions and morphogenesis.
To highlight the significance of miRNAs in developmental processes and potential disease mechanisms.

Main Methods:

Review and synthesis of current research on miRNA biogenesis and function.
Analysis of miRNA target recognition mechanisms.
Examination of miRNA involvement in regulatory networks during development.

Main Results:

Discovery of miRNAs as key regulators of genetic information flow.
Identification of tissue-specific miRNA expression as a novel developmental regulatory mechanism.
Demonstration of miRNA involvement in progenitor cell lineage decisions and organogenesis.

Conclusions:

MicroRNAs are essential regulators of developmental processes, including cell-lineage decisions and morphogenesis.
Understanding miRNA function provides insights into proteome regulation.
Future research on miRNAs is expected to uncover novel developmental and disease mechanisms.