Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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...

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...

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Circumvention of acquired resistance to topoisomerase II-targeted anticancer agents in HL-60 leukemia cells by prevention of intronic polyadenylation.

The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics·2026

Same author

<i>MiR-155</i>-driven loss of ICOSL and SOCS1 in EBV+ gastric cancers renders abundant cytotoxic T cells ineffective, enabling immune evasion.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same author

GM1 and GD3 Gangliosides Attenuate Diisopropylfluorophosphate-Induced NGF-TrkA and BDNF-TrkB Signaling Dysfunction.

ACS chemical neuroscience·2026

Same author

Saving Fusion Levels in Lenke 1/2 AR Curves: Can We Stop Short of the Last Substantially Touched Vertebra (LSTV)?

Spine·2025

Same author

Palovarotene for patients with multiple hereditary exostosis: results of MO-Ped, a terminated, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase 2 trial.

Scientific reports·2025

Same author

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-induced inflammation underlies proarrhythmia in COVID-19.

Scientific reports·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 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

Experimental validation of miRNA targets.

Donald E Kuhn¹, Mickey M Martin, David S Feldman

¹Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, DHLRI 515, 473 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.

Methods (San Diego, Calif.)

|December 26, 2007

Summary

Identifying microRNA targets is crucial for understanding miRNA function. This review outlines experimental methods to validate microRNA targets and proposes criteria for confirmed validation.

More Related Videos

mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation

mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation

Published on: May 1, 2021

An In Vitro Protocol for Evaluating MicroRNA Levels, Functions, and Associated Target Genes in Tumor Cells

An In Vitro Protocol for Evaluating MicroRNA Levels, Functions, and Associated Target Genes in Tumor Cells

Published on: May 21, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 8, 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

mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation

mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation

Published on: May 1, 2021

An In Vitro Protocol for Evaluating MicroRNA Levels, Functions, and Associated Target Genes in Tumor Cells

An In Vitro Protocol for Evaluating MicroRNA Levels, Functions, and Associated Target Genes in Tumor Cells

Published on: May 21, 2019

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genetics
Biochemistry

Background:

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules regulating gene expression by targeting messenger RNAs (mRNAs).
Despite advances in identifying miRNA genes, experimental validation of their specific mRNA targets remains a significant challenge in miRNA biology.
Defining miRNA target recognition rules is essential for understanding miRNA functions and biological roles.

Purpose of the Study:

To review and outline experimental methods for validating miRNA targets.
To propose a set of criteria for confirming miRNA target interactions.

Main Methods:

The review discusses various experimental approaches used to validate miRNA-mRNA interactions.
Methods may include techniques like reporter assays, immunoprecipitation, and gene expression analysis.

Main Results:

There is currently no universal agreement on the definitive experimental procedures for miRNA target validation.
The review highlights the need for robust validation to establish reliable miRNA-mRNA interactions.

Conclusions:

Confirming miRNA targets requires meeting multiple experimental criteria.
Standardized validation methods are necessary to advance the field of miRNA research and accurately predict miRNA functions.