Zhang Hong-Mei, Kuang Shuzhen, Xiong Xushen, Gao Tianliuyun, Liu Chenglin, Guo An-Yuan
Brief Bioinform. 2015 Jan;16(1):45-58. doi: 10.1093/bib/bbt085. Epub 2013 Dec 4.
Transcription factors (TFs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) can jointly regulate target gene expression in the forms of feed-forward loops (FFLs) or feedback loops (FBLs). These regulatory loops serve as important motifs in gene regulatory networks and play critical roles in multiple biological processes and different diseases. Major progress has been made in bioinformatics and experimental study for the TF and miRNA co-regulation in recent years. To further speed up its identification and functional study, it is indispensable to make a comprehensive review. In this article, we summarize the types of FFLs and FBLs and their identified methods. Then, we review the behaviors and functions for the experimentally identified loops according to biological processes and diseases. Future improvements and challenges are also discussed, which includes more powerful bioinformatics approaches and high-throughput technologies in TF and miRNA target prediction, and the integration of networks of multiple levels.
转录因子（TFs）和微小RNA（miRNAs）可以以前馈环（FFLs）或反馈环（FBLs）的形式共同调节靶基因的表达。这些调控环是基因调控网络中的重要基序，在多种生物学过程和不同疾病中发挥关键作用。近年来，在转录因子和微小RNA共调控的生物信息学和实验研究方面取得了重大进展。为了进一步加速其识别和功能研究，进行全面综述是必不可少的。在本文中，我们总结了前馈环和反馈环的类型及其识别方法。然后，我们根据生物学过程和疾病对实验鉴定的环的行为和功能进行综述。还讨论了未来的改进和挑战，包括在转录因子和微小RNA靶标预测中更强大的生物信息学方法和高通量技术，以及多层次网络的整合。
