摘要
MicroRNAs(miRNAs)是一类小的、内源的、非编码的RNA家族,其在转录后水平上对基因表达进行调控。miRNAs是在研究秀丽新小杆线虫(Caenorhabditis elegans)发育转变过程中发现的,最初称为stRNAs(smalltemporal RNA,小时序RNA),但stRNAs只是miRNAs家族的一部分,随后在线虫、植物和哺乳动物中发现了miRNAs家族的数百个成员。动物miRNAs不仅在发育调控中起重要作用,还参与许多重要的生理过程。本文综述了动物中miRNAs的发现历程、生物学起源、作用机制、生物学功能、研究方法,并对动植物miRNAs的特点进行了比较。
MicmRNAs are a family of small, endogenous, and non-coding RNAs, which regulate gene expressions at post-transcriptional level. Some members of the miRNA family were initially discovered as small temporal RNAs （stRNAs） that regulate the growth and transitions in Caenorhabditis elegans. It has now been clear that stRNAs are only the prototypes of a large family of small RNAs, miRNAs, that now claim hundreds of members in worms, flies, plants and mammals. The functionalities of miRNAs are not only in the regulation of growth, but also in the diversity of expression patterns and probable regulations of many aspects of development and physiology. We survey the history of animal miRNAs , biogenesis, regulation mechanism, biological functionalities, research approach and the distinctions between animal miRNAs and plant miRNAs.
出处
《山东科学》
CAS
2008年第3期26-31,共6页
Shandong Science
基金
国家"863"计划--盐地碱蓬耐盐新基因的克隆与鉴定(编号:2004AA626060)
