Abstract

Small RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), are key components of an evolutionarily conserved system of RNA-based gene regulation in eukaryotes. They are involved in many molecular interactions, including defense against viruses and regulation of gene expression during development. miRNAs interfere with expression of messenger RNAs encoding factors that control developmental timing, stem cell maintenance, and other developmental and physiological processes in plants and animals. miRNAs are negative regulators that function as specificity determinants, or guides, within complexes that inhibit protein synthesis (animals) or promote degradation (plants) of mRNA targets.

Keywords

microRNABiologyGene expressionRegulation of gene expressionGeneRNAFunction (biology)Small interfering RNARNA interferenceMessenger RNACell biologySmall RNATrans-acting siRNAGeneticsComputational biologyNon-coding RNA

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Publication Info

Year
2003
Type
review
Volume
301
Issue
5631
Pages
336-338
Citations
1788
Access
Closed

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James C. Carrington, Victor Ambros (2003). Role of MicroRNAs in Plant and Animal Development. Science , 301 (5631) , 336-338. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1085242

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DOI
10.1126/science.1085242