Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 23, 2025

Single-Animal, Single-Tube RNA Extraction for Comparison of Relative Transcript Levels via qRT-PCR in the Tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris
08:11

Single-Animal, Single-Tube RNA Extraction for Comparison of Relative Transcript Levels via qRT-PCR in the Tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris

Published on: January 3, 2025

646

Role of MicroRNAs in Extreme Animal Survival Strategies

Hanane Hadj-Moussa1, Liam J Hawkins1, Kenneth B Storey2

  • 1Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|August 25, 2021
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act as master controllers for rapid cellular adaptation to stress. These small molecules regulate metabolic depression and survival networks, crucial for animals enduring extreme conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Animal Physiology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as key regulators of cellular homeostasis and adaptation to environmental stress.
  • Cells under stress must prioritize survival, a process influenced by miRNAs due to their efficient and reversible regulatory mechanisms.
  • Animal survival strategies like suspended animation rely on metabolic suppression and activation of prosurvival pathways, where miRNAs play a significant role.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the role of miRNA regulation in facilitating metabolic rate depression and stress-specific adaptations.
  • To examine miRNA involvement in diverse biochemical adaptation strategies across various animal models.
  • To highlight conserved and unique miRNA-mediated survival mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of existing literature on miRNA function in stress response and metabolic adaptation.
  • Comparative analysis of miRNA-mediated mechanisms in different animal survival strategies (hibernation, freeze tolerance, anoxia, etc.).
  • Discussion of regulatory aspects including miRNA biogenesis, expression, and targeting.

Main Results:

  • miRNAs are critical for implementing profound metabolic rate depression and stress-specific adaptations.
  • miRNA-mediated mechanisms are involved in diverse survival strategies, including hibernation, freeze tolerance, and dehydration tolerance.
  • Both conserved and unique miRNA-regulated pathways contribute to animal survival under extreme environmental pressures.

Conclusions:

  • miRNAs are essential regulators enabling profound metabolic depression and adaptation for survival in extreme environments.
  • Comparative studies reveal conserved and novel miRNA-mediated strategies for biochemical adaptation across species.
  • Understanding miRNA roles offers insights into fundamental survival mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.
Keywords:
Ab initio predictionHomology-based predictionMultiple sequence alignment-based predictionSecondary structure predictionmiRNAmiRNA prediction accuracy

More Related Videos

Isolation of microRNAs from Tick Ex Vivo Salivary Gland Cultures and Extracellular Vesicles08:03

Isolation of microRNAs from Tick Ex Vivo Salivary Gland Cultures and Extracellular Vesicles

Published on: April 6, 2022

2.8K
A Non-Coding Small RNA MicC Contributes to Virulence in Outer Membrane Proteins in Salmonella Enteritidis06:30

A Non-Coding Small RNA MicC Contributes to Virulence in Outer Membrane Proteins in Salmonella Enteritidis

Published on: January 27, 2021

1.9K

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...
3.3K
Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: Temperature01:27

Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: Temperature

Microorganisms display remarkable adaptations, enabling them to thrive in diverse ecological niches across a wide range of temperatures. Temperature profoundly influences microbial growth by affecting enzymatic activity, membrane fluidity, and other cellular processes.Each microorganism operates within a specific temperature range defined by three cardinal points: minimum, optimum, and maximum. Below the minimum temperature, membranes lose fluidity, halting transport processes. Above the...
550
Transduction01:16

Transduction

Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome...
340
Diversity of Archaea III01:27

Diversity of Archaea III

Crenarchaeota, a prominent phylum of Archaea, is remarkable for its ability to thrive in extreme environments characterized by high temperatures and acidity. These microorganisms inhabit sulfuric hot springs, volcanic systems, and submarine hydrothermal vents, where temperatures often exceed 100°C. The unique adaptations of Crenarchaeota not only allow survival under such extreme conditions but also provide insights into the mechanisms of life in primordial Earth-like...
151
Diversity of Archaea IV01:29

Diversity of Archaea IV

Hyperthermophilic archaea are a group of extremophiles thriving at temperatures above 80°C, often in hydrothermal vents and volcanic soils where conditions surpass the boiling point of water. At such temperatures, proteins, membranes, and DNA in most organisms degrade, but hyperthermophiles have evolved remarkable adaptations to maintain stability and function.Unique Cellular FeaturesHyperthermophilic membranes are composed of a monolayer of biphytanyl tetraether lipids, which resist...
204
Diversity of Archaea II01:24

Diversity of Archaea II

Archaea, one of the three domains of life, exhibit remarkable diversity and adaptability, thriving in both extreme and moderate environments. Historically, most identified archaea have been classified into two major phyla: Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. However, recent molecular studies have expanded this classification to include three additional phyla: Thaumarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Korarchaeota, each exhibiting unique characteristics and ecological roles.Thaumarchaeota: Mesophiles...
183