Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

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

Modulation of microRNA expression and function by ADARs

Bjorn-Erik Wulff1, Kazuko Nishikura

  • 1The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. wulff@sas.upenn.edu

Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
|July 16, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Adenosine deaminases acting on RNAs (ADARs) edit microRNAs (miRNAs), impacting their function and the genes they regulate. This review explores ADARs

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally.
  • Adenosine deaminases acting on RNAs (ADARs) perform RNA editing, converting adenosine to inosine (A-to-I).
  • A-to-I editing in miRNAs can alter their biogenesis, stability, and target specificity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in identifying miRNA editing sites.
  • To elucidate the multifaceted roles of ADARs in miRNA expression and function.
  • To understand the impact of RNA editing on miRNA regulatory networks.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on miRNA editing and ADARs.
  • Analysis of identified miRNA editing sites.
  • Examination of experimental evidence for ADAR-miRNA interactions.

Main Results:

  • An increasing number of edited adenosines in miRNAs have been identified.
  • miRNA editing by ADARs affects miRNA maturation, degradation, and target mRNA regulation.
  • ADARs can also influence miRNAs by sequestering them or editing their target mRNAs.

Conclusions:

  • ADAR-mediated RNA editing is a significant layer of miRNA regulation.
  • Understanding miRNA editing is crucial for comprehending gene regulation and cellular processes.
  • Further research is needed to fully characterize ADAR-miRNA interactions and their functional consequences.

More Related Videos

Genome-wide Screen for miRNA Targets Using the MISSION Target ID Library08:40

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

Published on: April 6, 2012

An Adipocyte Cell Culture Model to Study the Impact of Protein and Micro-RNA Modulation on Adipocyte Function09:20

An Adipocyte Cell Culture Model to Study the Impact of Protein and Micro-RNA Modulation on Adipocyte Function

Published on: May 4, 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...
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...
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...
RNA Editing02:23

RNA Editing

RNA editing is a post-transcriptional modification where a precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) nucleotide sequence is changed by base insertion, deletion, or modification. The extent of RNA editing varies from a few hundred bases, in mitochondrial DNA of trypanosomes, to a just single base, in nuclear genes of mammals. Even a single base change in the pre-mRNA can convert a codon for one amino acid into the codon for another amino acid or a stop codon. This type of re-coding can significantly affect the...
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...