Origins and Mechanisms of miRNAs and siRNAs

Over the last decade, ∼20–30 nucleotide RNA molecules have emerged as critical regulators in the expression and function of eukaryotic genomes. Two primary categories of these small RNAs—short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs)—act in both somatic and germline lineages in a broad range...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cell 2009-02, Vol.136 (4), p.642-655
Main Authors: Carthew, Richard W., Sontheimer, Erik J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Humans
MicroRNAs - genetics
MicroRNAs - metabolism
Models, Biological
RNA Interference
RNA, Small Interfering - genetics
RNA, Small Interfering - metabolism
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Summary:Over the last decade, ∼20–30 nucleotide RNA molecules have emerged as critical regulators in the expression and function of eukaryotic genomes. Two primary categories of these small RNAs—short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs)—act in both somatic and germline lineages in a broad range of eukaryotic species to regulate endogenous genes and to defend the genome from invasive nucleic acids. Recent advances have revealed unexpected diversity in their biogenesis pathways and the regulatory mechanisms that they access. Our understanding of siRNA- and miRNA-based regulation has direct implications for fundamental biology as well as disease etiology and treatment.
ISSN:0092-8674
1097-4172
DOI:10.1016/j.cell.2009.01.035