MicroRNA in muscle development and function

Abstract

microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of highly conserved small non-coding RNAs of ~-nucleotides that negatively regulate gene expression post-transcrip-tionally. The emerging field of miRNA biology has begun to unravel roles for these regulatory molecules in a range of biological functions, including cell proliferation, differentiation and development. The molecular events that regulate cardiac and skeletal muscle development, as well as in muscle-related disease processes have bee well-established at transcriptional level. In this chapter, we review the role of miRNAs in muscle biology. The expression of several miRNAs was found specifically in cardiac and skeletal muscles. Most importantly, genetic studies have demonstrated that miRNAs are required for muscle gene expression, muscle development and function. Furthermore, dysregulated miRNA expression has been correlated to certain muscle-related diseases, including cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac arrhythmias, and muscular dystrophy.