microRNA Profiling: An Overview of Current Technologies and Applications

摘要: Abstract microRNAs (miRNAs) are small, evolutionarily conserved, noncoding RNAs that posttranscriptionally regulate specific gene products resulting in altered protein expression. miRNAs target messenger RNA molecules either by guiding degradation through a mechanism similar to interference or inhibiting translation. As such, control the expression of thousands genes broad spectrum normal physiological contexts and disease settings. Recent advances high-throughput methods for profiling microRNA identification targets have ushered new era research transcriptional regulation. Understanding patterns provides an insight into regulation, biomarker identification, potential strategies therapy. This chapter overview recently developed technologies investigation function, including quantitative PCR, microarray analysis, next-generation sequencing, as well useful bioinformatics tools differential analysis prediction. In addition, contribution these miRNA cancer is discussed.