Post-transcriptional regulation of miRNA biogenesis and functions

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a highly conserved class of small (18–24 nucleotides) non-coding RNAs that regulate a broad spectrum of biological processes. Aberrations or corruptions of miRNA functions may lead to deregulated cell proliferation, tumorigenesis, and ultimately, cancer. Increasing evidences suggested that a large fraction of miRNAs is regulated at the post-transcriptional stage, which impacts on the level and function of miRNAs during cell development and human diseases. Recently, several distinct mechanisms are emerging to regulate the biogenesis, stability and function of miRNAs at post-transcriptional level, such as specific binding to terminal loops of miRNA precursors (pri-miRNAs or pre-miRNAs) by RNA-binding proteins and 3’-terminal modifications by particular enzymes. Signaling cascades and post-translational modifications of the core components of RNA machinery also take part in the post-transcriptional regulation of miRNAs.

Key words： miRNA biogenesis; post-transcriptional regulation; RNA-binding proteins; hua enhancer 1 (HEN1); non-canonical poly(A) polymerase; signal transduction; post-translational modification