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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...

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...

Nucleic Acid Structure

Nucleic Acid Structure

The pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the pentose sugar is ribose. The difference between the sugars is the presence of the hydroxyl group on the ribose's second carbon and a hydrogen on the deoxyribose's second carbon. The phosphate residue attaches to the hydroxyl group of the 5′ carbon of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of the 3′ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide, which forms a 5′ to 3′ phosphodiester linkage.
DNA Structure
DNA has a double-helix structure. The...

RNA Stability

RNA Stability

Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...

RNA Stability

RNA Stability

Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells

A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells

Published on: June 16, 2022

MicroRNA precursors are not structurally robust but plastic.

Guillermo Rodrigo, Santiago F Elena

Genome Biology and Evolution

|January 1, 2013

Summary

Small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) like microRNA precursors (pre-miRNAs) are not as structurally robust as once thought. Instead, these molecules exhibit significant conformational flexibility, supporting their functional diversification and evolution.

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
RNA Biology
Systems Biology

Background:

Small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) are crucial molecular regulators.
MicroRNA precursors (pre-miRNAs) have been proposed as models for studying molecular robustness.
The structural robustness of pre-miRNAs has been previously suggested but not rigorously tested.

Discussion:

This study challenges the prevailing notion of pre-miRNA structural robustness.
Natural pre-miRNAs do not display greater robustness than expected under a null model.
Eukaryotic pre-miRNAs exhibit significant conformational flexibility (plasticity) at thermal equilibrium.

Key Insights:

Pre-miRNAs are not inherently structurally robust.
Conformational flexibility, or plasticity, is a key characteristic of pre-miRNAs.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 15, 2026

A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells

A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells

Published on: June 16, 2022

Probing RNA Structure with Dimethyl Sulfate Mutational Profiling with Sequencing In Vitro and in Cells

Probing RNA Structure with Dimethyl Sulfate Mutational Profiling with Sequencing In Vitro and in Cells

Published on: December 9, 2022

This flexibility may be a selected trait for functional diversification.

Outlook:

Investigating the functional implications of pre-miRNA plasticity.
Exploring the role of plasticity in sncRNA evolution and function.
Expanding the study of molecular plasticity to other RNA molecules.