Jiang Su University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212018, China.
Protein Cell. 2010 Nov;1(11):979-86. doi: 10.1007/s13238-010-0129-4. Epub 2010 Dec 10.
microRNAs (miRNAs) are 20-24 nucleotide (nt) RNAs that regulate eukaryotic gene expression post-transcriptionally by the degradation or translational inhibition of their target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). To identify miRNA target genes will help a lot by understanding their biological functions. Sophisticated computational approaches for miRNA target prediction, and effective biological techniques for validating these targets now play a central role in elucidating their functions. Owing to the imperfect complementarity of animal miRNAs with their targets, it is difficult to judge the accuracy of the prediction. Complexity of regulation by miRNA-mediated targets at protein and mRNAs levels has made it more challenging to identify the targets. To date, only a few miRNAs targets are confirmed. In this article, we review the methods of miRNA target prediction and the experimental validation for their corresponding mRNA targets in animals.
微小 RNA（miRNA）是 20-24 个核苷酸（nt）的 RNA，通过降解或翻译抑制其靶信使 RNA（mRNA）来在后转录水平上调节真核生物基因表达。鉴定 miRNA 靶基因将有助于通过了解其生物学功能来帮助很多。用于 miRNA 靶预测的复杂计算方法，以及有效验证这些靶基因的生物学技术，现在在阐明其功能方面起着核心作用。由于动物 miRNA 与其靶标之间的不完全互补性，因此难以判断预测的准确性。miRNA 介导的靶标在蛋白质和 mRNAs 水平上的调节的复杂性使得鉴定靶标更加具有挑战性。迄今为止，仅确认了少数几个 miRNA 靶标。在本文中，我们回顾了动物中 miRNA 靶预测的方法以及对其相应 mRNA 靶标的实验验证。
