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Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs01:22

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...
MicroRNAs01:22

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...
MicroRNAs01:22

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 Interference01:23

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 Interference01:23

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...
Experimental RNAi02:15

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Genome-wide Screen for miRNA Targets Using the MISSION Target ID Library
08:40

Genome-wide Screen for miRNA Targets Using the MISSION Target ID Library

Published on: April 6, 2012

Mammalian microRNAs predominantly act to decrease target mRNA levels.

Huili Guo1, Nicholas T Ingolia, Jonathan S Weissman

  • 1Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.

Nature
|August 13, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) primarily reduce protein production by decreasing target messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, not by inhibiting translation. This finding highlights mRNA destabilization as the main mechanism for miRNA-mediated gene regulation.

More Related Videos

Identifying Targets of Human microRNAs with the LightSwitch Luciferase Assay System using 3'UTR-reporter Constructs and a microRNA Mimic in Adherent Cells
07:19

Identifying Targets of Human microRNAs with the LightSwitch Luciferase Assay System using 3'UTR-reporter Constructs and a microRNA Mimic in Adherent Cells

Published on: September 28, 2011

Biotin-based Pulldown Assay to Validate mRNA Targets of Cellular miRNAs
11:00

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

Published on: June 12, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Genome-wide Screen for miRNA Targets Using the MISSION Target ID Library
08:40

Genome-wide Screen for miRNA Targets Using the MISSION Target ID Library

Published on: April 6, 2012

Identifying Targets of Human microRNAs with the LightSwitch Luciferase Assay System using 3'UTR-reporter Constructs and a microRNA Mimic in Adherent Cells
07:19

Identifying Targets of Human microRNAs with the LightSwitch Luciferase Assay System using 3'UTR-reporter Constructs and a microRNA Mimic in Adherent Cells

Published on: September 28, 2011

Biotin-based Pulldown Assay to Validate mRNA Targets of Cellular miRNAs
11:00

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

Published on: June 12, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Gene Regulation

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression.
  • miRNA-mediated gene repression can occur through translational inhibition or mRNA degradation.
  • The relative contribution of these mechanisms, especially for endogenous targets, remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the contributions of translational repression and mRNA degradation to miRNA-mediated protein production reduction.
  • To compare these effects for both ectopic and endogenous miRNA targets.
  • To elucidate the predominant mechanism by which miRNAs regulate protein output.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized ribosome profiling to measure global protein synthesis rates.
  • Simultaneously assessed changes in messenger RNA (mRNA) levels.
  • Analyzed both ectopically expressed and endogenously regulated miRNA targets.

Main Results:

  • Reduced mRNA levels accounted for the majority (>=84%) of decreased protein production for both ectopic and endogenous miRNA interactions.
  • The impact of miRNA regulation on protein output closely correlated with changes in mRNA abundance.
  • mRNA destabilization was identified as the primary driver of miRNA-induced protein reduction.

Conclusions:

  • miRNA-mediated gene silencing predominantly occurs through the destabilization of target mRNAs.
  • Changes in mRNA levels serve as a reliable indicator of miRNA regulatory impact.
  • Understanding this mechanism is crucial for comprehending gene regulation and developing miRNA-based therapeutics.