MiRNA biogenesis and function

Abstract

miRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that bind the 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNA targets and, acting with associated proteins, facilitate translation repression and degradation of target mRNAs. Since their discovery in Caenorhabditis elegans, miRNAs and their accessory proteins have been shown to be conserved throughout phylogeny. miRNAs exert their regulatory functions in myriad biological settings, from development and growth to disease. In exploring the mechanism of miRNA biogenesis and function, both canonical and noncanonical, it is possible to gain a broader understanding of how miRNAs work in different biological states, including cancer. Here, we provide an overview of miRNA discovery, biogenesis, and function.