Gene silencing by microRNAs: contributions of translational repression and mRNA decay

摘要: Despite their widespread roles as regulators of gene expression, important questions remain about target regulation by microRNAs. Animal microRNAs were originally thought to repress translation, with little or no influence on mRNA abundance, whereas the reverse was be true in plants. Now, however, it is clear that can induce degradation animals and, conversely, translational repression Recent studies have made advances elucidating relative contributions these two different modes They also shed light specific mechanisms silencing, which, although differs fundamentally between plants and animals, shares some common features kingdoms.