MicroRNAs和细胞分化

MicroRNA and Cell Differentiation

MicroRNAs(miRNAs)是一类大约22个核苷酸大小的非编码RNA,它们通过剪切靶基因的转录产物或者抑制转录产物的翻译从而起到转录后调控靶基因表达的作用。干细胞是指一类能够自我更新的,尚未分化的,但具有形成各种不同功能的终末分化细胞能力的细胞。在干细胞的分化过程中,大量基因参与其中,这些基因的表达水平会影响细胞分化的整个过程。MicroRNAs参与各种干细胞的分化过程,进而影响个体的发育。

MicroRNAs are a kind of non-coding small RNA of about 22 nucleotides in length. MicroRNAs negatively regulate the gene expression at posttranscriptional level by cleaving the tran- script or repressing the translation. Stem cells are a class of cells which is capable of self-renewal and differentiating to a variety of cells. In the differentiation of stem cells, a large number of genes are involved and the expression levels of these entiation. The MicroRNAs are involved in the development of an individual. genes might dictate the whole processes of the differ- differentiation of stem cells and thereby influence the development of an individual.