Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells
06:48

A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells

Published on: June 16, 2022

Mirtrons: microRNA biogenesis via splicing

Jakub O Westholm1, Eric C Lai

  • 1Department of Developmental Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute, 1275 York Ave, Box 252, NY 10065, USA.

Biochimie
|June 30, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Most animal microRNAs (miRNAs) mature via Drosha and Dicer enzymes. Alternative pathways, like mirtrons, use splicing instead of Drosha, revealing flexibility in RNA processing and multiple transcript functions.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • MicroRNA (miRNA) biogenesis in animals typically involves Drosha and Dicer RNase III enzymes.
  • Alternative pathways for miRNA maturation have been recently identified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review splicing-mediated miRNA biogenesis pathways.
  • To discuss computational strategies for discovering mirtrons.
  • To explore the evolutionary implications of diverse miRNA biogenesis routes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on miRNA biogenesis.
  • Analysis of computational approaches for mirtron identification.
  • Examination of evolutionary data related to miRNA pathways.

Main Results:

  • Splicing can substitute for Drosha cleavage in certain miRNA biogenesis pathways, forming mirtrons.
  • Related pathways combine splicing with other enzymes to generate Dicer substrates.
  • Mirtron pathways demonstrate significant flexibility in RNA processing.

Conclusions:

  • The study highlights the adaptability of RNA processing pathways.
  • Individual transcripts can encode multiple functions through alternative processing.
  • Multiple miRNA biogenesis pathways offer evolutionary advantages.

More Related Videos

mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation06:16

mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation

Published on: May 1, 2021

A Reporter Based Cellular Assay for Monitoring Splicing Efficiency08:53

A Reporter Based Cellular Assay for Monitoring Splicing Efficiency

Published on: September 15, 2021

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 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...
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 Splicing01:32

RNA Splicing

Splicing is the process by which eukaryotic RNA is edited before its translation into protein. The RNA strand transcribed from eukaryotic DNA is called the primary transcript. The primary transcripts that become mRNAs are called precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). Eukaryotic pre-mRNA contains alternating sequences of exons and introns. Exons are nucleotide sequences that code for proteins, whereas introns are the non-coding regions. In RNA splicing, introns are removed and exons are bonded...
RNA Splicing01:32

RNA Splicing

Splicing is the process by which eukaryotic RNA is edited before its translation into protein. The RNA strand transcribed from eukaryotic DNA is called the primary transcript. The primary transcripts that become mRNAs are called precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). Eukaryotic pre-mRNA contains alternating sequences of exons and introns. Exons are nucleotide sequences that code for proteins, whereas introns are the non-coding regions. In RNA splicing, introns are removed and exons are bonded...
Pre-mRNA Processing: RNA Splicing01:32

Pre-mRNA Processing: RNA Splicing

Splicing is the process by which eukaryotic RNA is edited before its translation into protein. The RNA strand transcribed from eukaryotic DNA is called the primary transcript. The primary transcripts that become mRNAs are called precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). Eukaryotic pre-mRNA contains alternating sequences of exons and introns. Exons are nucleotide sequences that code for proteins, whereas introns are the non-coding regions. In RNA splicing, introns are removed and exons are bonded...