Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street, Biotech II, Suite 306, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2010 Sep;21(7):738-44. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2010.01.004. Epub 2010 Jan 15.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNA molecules that regulate the post-transcriptional expression of their target genes. This regulation may take the form of stable translational or degradation of the target transcript, although the mechanisms governing the outcome of miRNA-mediated regulation remain largely unknown. While it is becoming clear that miRNAs are core components of gene regulatory networks, elucidating precise roles for each miRNA within these networks will require an accurate means of identifying target genes and assessing the impact of miRNAs on individual targets. Numerous computational methods for predicting targets are currently available. These methods vary widely in their emphasis, accuracy, and ease of use for researchers. This review will focus on a comparison of the available computational methods in animals, with an emphasis on approaches that are informed by experimental analysis of microRNA:target complexes.
微小 RNA（miRNAs）是一种短的 RNA 分子，可调节其靶基因的转录后表达。这种调节可以采取稳定翻译或靶转录本降解的形式，尽管控制 miRNA 介导调节结果的机制在很大程度上仍然未知。虽然越来越清楚的是，miRNAs 是基因调控网络的核心组成部分，但在这些网络中阐明每个 miRNA 的精确作用将需要一种准确的识别靶基因的方法，并评估 miRNA 对单个靶标的影响。目前有许多用于预测靶标的计算方法。这些方法在侧重点、准确性和对研究人员的易用性方面差异很大。本综述将重点比较动物中现有的计算方法，特别强调基于 miRNA:靶复合物的实验分析的方法。
