The microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of Non-coding RNAs which are generally about 18-24 nucleotides in their mature state. These miRNAs normally act by suppressing the action of genes or by inhibiting their translation or promoting degradation of mRNA (messenger RNA) transcripts.
Since their discovery more than 25 years ago, more than 1400 miRNAs in mammals. They are thought to regulate approximately more than 50% of the expression of protein-coding genes.
How are miRNAs formed?
It is well known that miRNAs act in all cell types and physiological situations of the body. organismsuch as the development of any organ or different cellular processes. MicroRNAs are formed from precursors or pre-miRNAswhich are encoded by the genome as a factor of transcription factor promotes its formation.
A large part of these pre-miRNAs are matured by a endonuclease enzyme called Dicer1which cleaves the primary structure of the pre-miRNA and matures it into miRNA.
How do miRNAs act?
Most miRNAs act by binding to mRNA sequences inhibiting their action. This means that this transcript is not translated and does not give rise to the proteins it was intended to form. Normally, after miRNA-mRNA binding, degradation of the mRNA occursand thus its binding is in most cases irreversible.
That these small molecules are capable of regulating the entire protein production of a cellleads them to play a role in fundamental role in the homeostasis of all living things.
How is the effect of miRNAs measured?
When you want to measure the impact of all miRNAs in an organism, the easiest way to do so is by the suppression or inhibition of endonuclease Dicer1. This ensures that no miRNA reaches its mature state. For example, in some experiments with mice this action was carried out, and it was concluded that they were necessary for the maintenance and postnatal cardiac function.
In mouse embryos the elimination specific deletion of Dicer1 in cardiomyocytes led to a delayed ventricular development as well as oedema and embryonic death at developmental stage E12.5.
Interactions between miRNAs and lncRNAs
But, in addition, these molecules do not act alone, as we saw in our previous entry on lncRNAs, these interactions also are essential for the correct development and functioning of living beings.
This level of regulation mediated by ncRNAs has begun to be studied in recent years and so far it has been discovered that they can interact with each other in four different ways that we have already seen in our post on lncRNAs.
Ultimately, if we could understand only a small percentage of these small molecules we could understand and advance a great deal about the development of different diseases and how to stop them.
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