Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

4.2K
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...
4.2K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

24.4K
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...
24.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

TopBP1 biomolecular condensates as a new therapeutic target in advanced-stage colorectal cancer.

eLife·2025
Same author

[Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine 2024: Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun - The discovery of microRNAs, revealing a New World in genetics].

Medecine sciences : M/S·2025
Same author

A new perspective on microRNA-guided gene regulation specificity, and its potential generalization to transcription factors and RNA-binding proteins.

Nucleic acids research·2024
Same author

Looking for a needle in a haystack: de novo phenotypic target identification reveals Hippo pathway-mediated miR-202 regulation of egg production.

Nucleic acids research·2023
Same author

Biochemistry-informed design selects potent siRNAs against SARS-CoV-2.

RNA biology·2023
Same author

Synthetic miR-34a against solid tumours: a predictable failure.

British journal of cancer·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 3, 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

18.1K

Issues in current microRNA target identification methods.

Hervé Seitz1

  • 1a Institut de Génétique Humaine UMR 9002 CNRS-Université de Montpellier , 141, rue de la Cardonille, 34396 Montpellier CEDEX 5 , France.

RNA Biology
|April 22, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may not regulate as many genes as previously thought, with repression effects often smaller than natural gene expression variations. New analyses aim to improve the accuracy of miRNA target identification.

Keywords:
False positivesinter-individual variabilitymicroRNAover-conservationrobustnesstarget identification

More Related Videos

Detection of miRNA Targets in High-throughput Using the 3'LIFE Assay
12:49

Detection of miRNA Targets in High-throughput Using the 3'LIFE Assay

Published on: May 25, 2015

10.5K
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

14.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 3, 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

18.1K
Detection of miRNA Targets in High-throughput Using the 3'LIFE Assay
12:49

Detection of miRNA Targets in High-throughput Using the 3'LIFE Assay

Published on: May 25, 2015

10.5K
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

14.6K

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are widely believed to regulate numerous physiological processes by repressing thousands of target genes.
  • Both experimental and computational studies suggest each miRNA targets tens to hundreds of genes.
  • However, some observations raise doubts about the phenotypic impact of many reported miRNA/mRNA interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the extent and significance of miRNA-mediated gene repression.
  • To identify sources of computational false positives in miRNA target prediction.
  • To propose improved analytical methods for miRNA target identification.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of miRNA-guided repression amplitude compared to inter-individual gene expression variability.
  • Evaluation of computational methods for predicting miRNA targets.
  • Development of novel analytical approaches for miRNA target identification.

Main Results:

  • The amplitude of miRNA-guided repression is often very small, frequently smaller than natural variations in gene expression among wild-type individuals.
  • Several sources of computational false positives in miRNA target prediction were identified.
  • Published findings on miRNA function may be irreproducible or misinterpreted due to these issues.

Conclusions:

  • The actual impact of many reported miRNA/mRNA interactions on biological processes may be overestimated.
  • The scientific community's neglect of these issues contributes to the publication of unreliable results.
  • Novel, accessible analyses are proposed to enhance the accuracy of microRNA target identification.