Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, UK.
Biochem Soc Trans. 2012 Aug;40(4):891-5. doi: 10.1042/BST20120035.
During development, it is essential for gene expression to occur in a very precise spatial and temporal manner. There are many levels at which regulation of gene expression can occur, and recent evidence demonstrates the importance of mRNA stability in governing the amount of mRNA that can be translated into functional protein. One of the most important discoveries in this field has been miRNAs (microRNAs) and their function in targeting specific mRNAs for repression. The wing imaginal discs of Drosophila are an excellent model system to study the roles of miRNAs during development and illustrate their importance in gene regulation. This review aims at discussing the developmental processes where control of gene expression by miRNAs is required, together with the known mechanisms of this regulation. These developmental processes include Hox gene regulation, developmental timing, growth control, specification of SOPs (sensory organ precursors) and the regulation of signalling pathways.
在发育过程中，基因表达以非常精确的时空方式发生是至关重要的。基因表达的调控可以发生在许多层面上，最近的证据表明 mRNA 稳定性在控制可转化为功能性蛋白质的 mRNA 数量方面具有重要意义。在这个领域最重要的发现之一是 microRNAs（miRNAs）及其在靶向特定 mRNA 进行抑制方面的功能。果蝇的翅 imaginal 盘是研究 miRNA 在发育过程中的作用并说明其在基因调控中的重要性的极好模型系统。这篇综述旨在讨论 miRNA 控制基因表达所必需的发育过程，以及这种调控的已知机制。这些发育过程包括 Hox 基因调控、发育定时、生长控制、SOP（感觉器官前体）的特化以及信号通路的调节。
