Reexamining assumptions about miRNA-guided gene silencing

Audrius Kilikevicius, Gunter Meister, David R. Corey

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

48 Scopus citations

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short endogenously expressed RNAs that have the potential to regulate the expression of any RNA. This potential has led to the publication of several thousand papers each year connecting miRNAs to many different genes and human diseases. By contrast, relatively few papers appear that investigate the molecular mechanism used by miRNAs. There is a disconnect between rigorous understanding of mechanism and the extraordinary diversity of reported roles for miRNAs. Consequences of this disconnect include confusion about the assumptions underlying the basic science of human miRNAs and slow development of therapeutics that target miRNAs. Here, we present an overview of investigations into miRNAs and their impact on gene expression. Progress in our understanding of miRNAs would be aided by a greater focus on the mechanism of miRNAs and a higher burden of evidence on researchers who seek to link expression of a particular miRNA to a biological phenotype.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)617-634
Number of pages18
JournalNucleic acids research
Volume50
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 25 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics

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