miRNA Nomenclature: A View Incorporating Genetic Origins, Biosynthetic Pathways, and Sequence Variants

• Published in: Trends in genetics Vol. 31; no. 11; pp. 613 - 626
• Main Authors: Desvignes, T, Batzel, P, Berezikov, E, Eilbeck, K, Eppig, J.T, McAndrews, M.S, Singer, A, Postlethwait, J.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2015
• Subjects: Animals; Biosynthetic Pathways - genetics; DEAD-box RNA Helicases - genetics; DEAD-box RNA Helicases - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation; Genetic Variation; Humans; isomiR; loop-origin miRNAs; Medical Education; Mice; MicroRNAs - classification; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; miRNA cluster; miRNA-seq; moR; noncoding RNA; Ribonuclease III - genetics; Ribonuclease III - metabolism; RNA, Small Cytoplasmic - genetics; RNA, Small Cytoplasmic - metabolism; RNA, Small Interfering - genetics; RNA, Small Interfering - metabolism; Sequence Analysis, RNA; Terminology as Topic; Transcriptome; Zebrafish; moR; loop-origin miRNAs; miRNA-seq; miRNA cluster; noncoding RNA; isomiR
• ISSN: 0168-9525
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2015.09.002

High-throughput sequencing of miRNAs has revealed the diversity and variability of mature and functional short noncoding RNAs, including their genomic origins, biogenesis pathways, sequence variability, and newly identified products such as miRNA-offset RNAs (moRs). Here we review known cases of alternative mature miRNA-like RNA fragments and propose a revised definition of miRNAs to encompass this diversity. We then review nomenclature guidelines for miRNAs and propose to extend nomenclature conventions to align with those for protein-coding genes established by international consortia. Finally, we suggest a system to encompass the full complexity of sequence variations (i.e., isomiRs) in the analysis of small RNA sequencing experiments.