Biogenesis, characterization, and functions of mirtrons

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are major post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. They base pair with the complementary target mRNA at the 3'UTR and modulate cellular processes by repressing the mRNA translation or degrading the mRNA. There are well-documented mechanisms of biogenesis of miRNA;...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inWiley interdisciplinary reviews. RNA Vol. 13; no. 1; p. e1680
Main Authors Salim, Uzma, Kumar, Ashish, Kulshreshtha, Ritu, Vivekanandan, Perumal
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.01.2022
Subjects
Humans
Introns
MicroRNAs - genetics
MicroRNAs - metabolism
RNA Interference
RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional
RNA Splicing
RNAi therapeutics
miRNA
mirtron
splicing
non-canonical miRNA
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Summary:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are major post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. They base pair with the complementary target mRNA at the 3'UTR and modulate cellular processes by repressing the mRNA translation or degrading the mRNA. There are well-documented mechanisms of biogenesis of miRNA; however, a sizeable number of miRNAs are also produced by non-canonical pathways. Mirtrons represent a predominant class of non-canonical miRNAs. Mirtrons originate from intronic regions and are produced in a splicing-dependent and Drosha-independent manner. Mirtrons constitute about 15% of all miRNAs produced in a human body and have caught attention of researchers worldwide due to their unconventional origin, sequence characteristics, evolutionary dynamics, ability to regulate variety of cellular processes and their immense potential in disease therapeutics. In this comprehensive review we collate the research done in the past decade including biogenesis, sequence characteristics, regulation, and emerging therapeutic roles of mirtrons. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > Processing of Small RNAs Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Biogenesis of Effector Small RNAs Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > RNAi: Mechanisms of Action.
ISSN:1757-7012
DOI:10.1002/wrna.1680