Given this pervasiveness and importance of miRNA-mediated gene regulation, it should come as little surprise that miRNAs themselves are also highly regulated. However, the recent explosion of knowledge on this topic has been remarkable, providing a primary motivation for publication of this book. As miRNAs are transcribed by RNA polymerase II, the enzyme that also generates mRNAs, it was perhaps not unexpected that miRNA transcription would be subject to regulation, and we have willfully mitted this aspect from this monograph. However, what has been unexpected is the extent of post-transcriptional regulation of miRNAs that is illustrated in this book.
This edited reflects the current state of knowledge about the role of microRNAs in the formation and progression of solid tumours. The main focus lies on computational methods and applications, together with cutting edge experimental techniques that are used to approach all aspects of microRNA regulation in cancer. We are sure that the emergence of high-throughput quantitative techniques will make this integrative approach absolutely necessary in the near future. This book will be a resource for researchers starting out with cancer microRNA research, but is also intended for the experienced researcher who wants to incorporate concepts and tools from systems biology and bioinformatics into his work. Bioinformaticians and modellers are provided with a general perspective on microRNA biology in cancer, and the state-of-the-art in computational microRNA biology.
MicroRNA (miRNA) biology is a cutting-edge topic in basic as well as biomedical research. This is a specialized book focusing on the current understanding of the role of miRNAs in the development, progression, invasion, and metastasis of diverse types of cancer. It also reviews their potential for applications in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and th
This detailed volume provides a collection of protocols for the study of miRNA functions in plants. Beginning with coverage of miRNA function, biogenesis, activity, and evolution in plants, the book continues by guiding readers through methods on the identification and detection of plant miRNAs, bioinformatic analyses, and strategies for functional analyses of miRNAs. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Plant MicroRNAs: Method and Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital area of plant science.
New Findings Revolutionize Concepts of Gene FunctionEndogenous small RNAs have been found in various organisms, including humans, mice, flies, worms, fungi, and bacteria. Furthermore, it's been shown that microRNAs acting as cellular rheostats have the ability to modulate gene expression. In higher eukaryotes, microRNAs may regulate as much as 50 p
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that serve as important regulators of gene expression. While understanding of the functional roles of miRNAs in both normal physiology and disease has rapidly expanded, the regulation of these molecules remains a largely open question. We have investigated the regulation of mRNAs at multiple steps of their biogenesis. We began by studying the transcriptional regulation of miRNAs in ovarian cancer, and developed a computational pipeline by which to identify putative transcription factor: miRNA interactions. We found that the miR-200 family of miRNAs is regulated by p63 and p73, two members of the p53 transcription factor family. The miR-200 miRNAs serve as potent regulators of the epithelial-mesenchymal transitions that influence tumor invasion; therefore, identifying positive regulators may facilitate the future modulation of these miRNAs for therapeutic applications. We have also examined the transcriptional regulation of miR-210, which is potently induced under low oxygen conditions. We found that under normoxic conditions miR-210 is rapidly activated by HIF-1a in response to cell density, demonstrating the importance of a cell's microenvironment in shaping its miRNA expression patterns. We next examined the downstream regulation of miRNAs at the post-transcriptional level. We discovered that miRNAs frequently show 3' non-templated nucleotide additions, forming a large number of miRNA isomiRs that expand the diversity of the miRNA transcriptome. We identified multiple nucleotidyl transferase enzymes that are responsible for these modifications in a miRNA-specific fashion, including three enzymes--TUT1, MTPAP, and ZCCHC6--not previously known to modify miRNAs. Finally, we have investigated the functional effects these 3' additions and their nucleotidyl transferase regulators exert on miRNA activity. We found 3' additions are neither universally stabilizing nor destabilizing; instead, certain nucleotide additions, such as increased 3' uridylation, are associated with reduced miRNA abundance. Additionally, we identified two nucleotidyl transferases, TUT1 and PAPD4, which broadly maintain the expression of miRNAs. Taken together, our work reveals several novel mechanisms of regulation for miRNAs that are influential in tumor initiation and spread. While some factors control the expression of many miRNAs, other proteins alter the abundance of a subset of miRNAs to enable a precise regulatory response.
microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate various biological phenomena, such as development and homeostasis. The dysregulation of miRNA leads to disease progression, particularly of cancer. In Circulating MicroRNAs: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers in the field detail recent advances in the isolation, purification and analysis of circulating miRNAs from a variety of sources for research. The book is divided into three main topics. The first section involves the study of secretory miRNAs in cell-cell communication, and the second, the study of circulating miRNAs in body fluids. The last describes the novel techniques used to study circulating miRNAs. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Circulating MicroRNAs: Methods and Protocols seeks to aid scientists in dealing with the recent advances of RNAi technology from the bench to the bedside.
Precise regulation of gene expression in both time and space is vital to plant growth, development and adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress conditions. This is achieved by multiple mechanisms, with perhaps the most important control being exerted at the level of transcription. However, with the recent discovery of microRNAs another ubiquitous mode of gene regulation that occurs at the post-transcriptional level has been identified. MicroRNAs can silence gene expression by targeting complementary or partially complementary mRNAs for degradation or translational inhibition. Recent studies have revealed that microRNAs play fundamental roles in plant growth and development, as well as in adaptation to biotic and abiotic stresses. This book highlights the roles of individual miRNAs that control and regulate diverse aspects of plant processes.
The world is faced with an epidemic of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. This is due to changes in dietary habits and the decrease in physical activity. Exercise is usually part of the prescription, the first line of defense, to prevent or treat metabolic disorders. However, we are still learning how and why exercise provides metabolic benefits in human health. This open access volume focuses on the cellular and molecular pathways that link exercise, muscle biology, hormones and metabolism. This will include novel “myokines” that might act as new therapeutic agents in the future.
This new volume of Current Topics in Developmental Biology covers developmental timing, with contributions from an international board of authors. The chapters provide a comprehensive set of reviews covering such topics as the timing of developmental programs in Drosophila, temporal patterning of neural progenitors, and environmental modulation of developmental timing.
