Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 2, 2025

Differentiation of a Human Neural Stem Cell Line on Three Dimensional Cultures, Analysis of MicroRNA and Putative Target Genes
10:48

Differentiation of a Human Neural Stem Cell Line on Three Dimensional Cultures, Analysis of MicroRNA and Putative Target Genes

Published on: April 12, 2015

10.4K

The multifaceted roles of microRNAs in differentiation

Himani Galagali1, John K Kim1

  • 1Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.

Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|November 5, 2020
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial regulators of cell differentiation and development. This review details how miRNAs control cell fate during embryonic and postembryonic development, adapting to environmental changes.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression.
  • They play critical roles in cell fate specification and differentiation.
  • Their involvement spans embryonic and postembryonic development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of microRNAs in regulating differentiation during development.
  • To highlight the importance of spatiotemporal control and environmental adaptability of miRNA activity.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on microRNA function in development.
  • Analysis of key findings from model organisms like Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster.
  • Synthesis of information on post-transcriptional regulation by miRNAs.

Main Results:

  • MicroRNAs are essential for orchestrating cellular differentiation and developmental timing.
  • Spatiotemporal regulation of miRNA machinery fine-tunes their activity.
  • Adaptive modulation of miRNA expression ensures developmental robustness.

Conclusions:

  • MicroRNAs are indispensable orchestrators of cell differentiation and developmental processes.
  • Understanding miRNA regulation is vital for comprehending developmental biology.
  • Environmental influences on miRNA function highlight their adaptive roles in development.
Keywords:
Cell fateDevelopmentDifferentiationMicroRNAsPost-transcriptional gene regulation

More Related Videos

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as A Novel Detection and Quantification Method09:06

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as A Novel Detection and Quantification Method

Published on: October 7, 2025

194
Genome-wide Analysis of HDAC Inhibitor-mediated Modulation of microRNAs and mRNAs in B Cells Induced to Undergo Class-switch DNA Recombination and Plasma Cell Differentiation11:06

Genome-wide Analysis of HDAC Inhibitor-mediated Modulation of microRNAs and mRNAs in B Cells Induced to Undergo Class-switch DNA Recombination and Plasma Cell Differentiation

Published on: September 20, 2017

6.4K

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...
3.5K
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...
23.4K
Master Transcription Regulators02:23

Master Transcription Regulators

Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a  complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
7.5K
Maintenance of the ES Cell State01:14

Maintenance of the ES Cell State

The cells of the blastocyst inner cell mass only remain pluripotent for a short time. This state of pluripotency and self-renewal can be maintained in embryonic stem (ES) cell culture by adding specific chemicals or growth factors to ensure the cells can continue dividing and later differentiate into different cell types. In some cases, the cells are grown on a feeder layer of differentiated cells, which provides the growth factors and extracellular matrix components necessary for stem cell...
2.5K
Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:12

Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
2.3K
Cellular Differentiation00:57

Cellular Differentiation

How does a complex organism such as a human develop from a single cell? It all starts from a single fertilized egg which gives rise to a vast array of cell types, such as nerve cells, muscle cells, and epithelial cells that characterize the adult? Throughout development and adulthood, cellular differentiation leads cells to assume their final morphology and physiology. Differentiation is the process by which unspecialized cells become specialized to carry out distinct functions.
A zygote is a...
4.6K