Recent progress in miRNA biogenesis and decay

ABSTRACT

MicroRNAs are a class of small regulatory RNAs that mediate regulation of protein synthesis by recognizing sequence elements in mRNAs. MicroRNAs are processed through a series of steps starting from transcription and primary processing in the nucleus to precursor processing and mature function in the cytoplasm. It is also in the cytoplasm where levels of mature microRNAs can be modulated through decay mechanisms. Here, we review the recent progress in the lifetime of a microRNA at all steps required for maintaining their homoeostasis. The increasing knowledge about microRNA regulation upholds great promise as therapeutic targets.

KEYWORDS:

• miRNA biogenesis
• miRNA decay
• miRNA stability
• miRNA targeting
• miRNA therapeutics

Acknowledgments

Work in the author’s laboratories is funded by the Lundbeck Foundation (XB-DR, UAVØ), Novo Nordisk Foundation, Independent Research Fund Denmark, Danish Cancer Society, and the Carlsberg Foundation (UAVØ). We thank Itxaso Santiago and Tobias Gellrich for their feedback on the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

No data availability statement.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Carlsbergfondet Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond Kræftens Bekæmpelse Lundbeck Foundation Novo Nordisk Fonden.