CGC Bibliography Paper 5067

Micro-RNAs: small is plentiful.

Grosshans H, Slack FJ

Medline:

11781331

Citation:

Journal of Cell Biology 156: 17-21 2002

Type:

REVIEW

Genes:

dcr-1 alg-1 alg-2 let-7 lin-4 lin-14 lin-28 lin-41

Abstract:

Two small temporally regulated RNAs (stRNAs)* of similar to22 nucleotides regulate timing of gene expression during development of the nematode C elegans. This regulation occurs at a posttranscriptional, presumably translational, level and is distinct from RNA interference (RNAi). One of the two stRNAs, let-7, as well as its target gene, lin-41, are highly conserved even in humans, suggesting a wide employment of stRNA-mediated gene regulation. Recent reports indicate that these two stRNAs are indeed likely to represent only the tip of an iceberg with hundreds or more of additional micro-RNAs (miRNAs) existing in metazoans. miRNAs might thus be previously underestimated key participants in the field of gene regulation.