MicroRNA-messenger RNA Interaction (miRNA-mRNA Interaction)

MicroRNA-messenger RNA (miRNA-mRNA) interaction is a fundamental regulatory mechanism in which small non-coding RNAs (miRNAs) bind to target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), leading to translational repression or mRNA degradation. This process plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression across a wide range of biological processes and diseases. The interaction is mediated by the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which contains an Argonaute (AGO) protein and the miRNA. The miRNA guides the RISC to its target mRNA through base-pairing interactions, primarily within the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR). Perfect complementarity leads to mRNA cleavage (primarily in plants), while imperfect complementarity results in translational repression or mRNA decay (primarily in animals). The complexity of this interaction is underscored by the fact that a single miRNA can target multiple mRNAs, and a single mRNA can be regulated by multiple miRNAs. Dysregulation of miRNA-mRNA interactions has been implicated in various diseases, making it an area of intense research and potential therapeutic intervention.

Other names

miRNA-mRNA bindingMicroRNA-mediated gene silencingPost-transcriptional gene regulation by miRNAs