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MicroRNAs

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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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 23, 2025

mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation

mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation

Published on: May 1, 2021

Functional Annotation of MicroRNAs Using Existing Resources.

Harsh Dweep¹, Louise C Showe², Andrew V Kossenkov²

¹The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA. hdweep@wistar.org.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)

|August 25, 2021

Summary

This study provides a guide for functional enrichment analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their gene targets. It details using miRWalk2.0 to understand miRNA roles in biological pathways and diseases like cancer.

Keywords:

Analysis Databases Diseases Functions MicroRNAs Pathways Prediction Validation Workflow miRWalk2.0

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Last Updated: Oct 23, 2025

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Published on: May 1, 2021

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A Complete Pipeline for Isolating and Sequencing MicroRNAs, and Analyzing Them Using Open Source Tools

A Complete Pipeline for Isolating and Sequencing MicroRNAs, and Analyzing Them Using Open Source Tools

Published on: August 21, 2019

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genomics
Bioinformatics

Background:

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs regulating key biological processes like cell cycle, apoptosis, and metabolism.
Dysregulated miRNA expression is implicated in various human diseases, notably cancers.
High-throughput sequencing technologies have enabled extensive miRNA profiling.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a practical guideline for functional enrichment analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs).
To demonstrate the utility of publicly available resources like miRWalk2.0 for miRNA target annotation.
To elucidate the functional roles of miRNAs in biological pathways and disease pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

Utilizing publicly available bioinformatics tools, specifically miRWalk2.0.
Performing stepwise functional enrichment analyses on selected miRNAs.
Integrating transcriptomic data with miRNA target prediction for pathway analysis.

Main Results:

The chapter outlines a clear methodology for miRNA functional annotation.
The approach facilitates the identification of biological pathways influenced by specific miRNAs.
This enables a deeper understanding of miRNA involvement in cellular functions and disease.

Conclusions:

Functional enrichment analysis is a crucial step following miRNA identification.
miRWalk2.0 serves as a valuable resource for annotating miRNA targets and inferring biological functions.
This methodology aids in deciphering the complex roles of miRNAs in health and disease.