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Nearly 97% of the human genome is the non-coding DNA, which varies from one species to another, and changes in these sequences are frequently noticed to manifest clinical and circumstantial malfunction. Numerous non-protein-coding genes are recently found to encode microRNAs, which are responsible for RNA-mediated gene silencing through RNA interference (RNAi)-like pathways. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small single-stranded 17-25 nucleotide RNAs capable of interfering with intracellular messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that contain either complete or partial complementarity, are useful for the design of new therapies against cancer polymorphism and viral mutation. Currently over 1000 native miRNA species found in vertebrates and many more new miRNA homologs continue to be identified; however, most of their functions remain to be determined. In this book, many new perspectives of the miRNA research are reviewed and discussed, including their roles in stem cell maintenance, embryonic development, tissue differentiation, adult physiology, disease pathology, cancer research, viral infection, genetic engineering in plants, and utility in cosmetic applications. These new findings may not only provide significant insight into the various mechanisms of miRNAs but also offer a great opportunity in developing new therapeutic interventions.
List of contents
Structures of MicroRNA Precursors.- Small RNA Technologies: siRNA, miRNA, antagomiR, Target Mimicry, miRNA Sponge and miRNA Profiling.- RNA Interference Expression Vectors Based on miRNAs and RNA Splicing.- Recent Application of Intronic MicroRNA Agents in Cosmetics.- MicroRNA Profiling in CNS Tissue Using Microarrays.- MicroRNA and Erythroid Differentiation.- Homeotic miRNAs: From Development to Pathologies.- MicroRNA in Muscle Development and Function.- MicroRNAs and Regenerative Medicine.- Role of mir-302 MicroRNA Family in Stem Cell Pluripotency and Renewal.- Epigenetic Regulation of miRNA in Stem Cells.- Identification of Cellular Targets for Virally-Encoded miRNAs by Ectopic Expression and Gene Expression Profiling.- MicroRNA in Neuropsychiatric Diseases.- Role of Repeat-Associated MicroRNA (ramRNA) in Fragile X Syndrome (FXS).- miRNA and Schizophrenia.- SNPs in microRNA and microRNA Target Sites Associated with Human Cancers.- Expression and Function of microRNAs in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.- MicroRNAs in Vascular Neointimal Lesion Formation.- microRNA in Cutaneous Wound Healing.- CpG Island Hypermethylation, miRNAs, and Human Cancer.- Microarray Profiling of microRNA Changes in Cells That Express HIV-1 Proteins.- microRNA-Associated Therapies.- The Use of RNAi to Elucidate and Manipulate Secondary Metabolite Synthesis in Plants.
Summary
Nearly 97% of the human genome is the non-coding DNA, which varies from one species to another, and changes in these sequences are frequently noticed to manifest clinical and circumstantial malfunction. Numerous non-protein-coding genes are recently found to encode microRNAs, which are responsible for RNA-mediated gene silencing through RNA interference (RNAi)-like pathways. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small single-stranded 17–25 nucleotide RNAs capable of interfering with intracellular messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that contain either complete or partial complementarity, are useful for the design of new therapies against cancer polymorphism and viral mutation. Currently over 1000 native miRNA species found in vertebrates and many more new miRNA homologs continue to be identified; however, most of their functions remain to be determined. In this book, many new perspectives of the miRNA research are reviewed and discussed, including their roles in stem cell maintenance, embryonic development, tissue differentiation, adult physiology, disease pathology, cancer research, viral infection, genetic engineering in plants, and utility in cosmetic applications. These new findings may not only provide significant insight into the various mechanisms of miRNAs but also offer a great opportunity in developing new therapeutic interventions.
