Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2020 Dec;67:118-140. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2020.08.015. Epub 2020 Nov 3.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are major drivers of cell fate specification and differentiation. The post-transcriptional regulation of key molecular factors by microRNAs contributes to the progression of embryonic and postembryonic development in several organisms. Following the discovery of lin-4 and let-7 in Caenorhabditis elegans and bantam microRNAs in Drosophila melanogaster, microRNAs have emerged as orchestrators of cellular differentiation and developmental timing. Spatiotemporal control of microRNAs and associated protein machinery can modulate microRNA activity. Additionally, adaptive modulation of microRNA expression and function in response to changing environmental conditions ensures that robust cell fate specification during development is maintained. Herein, we review the role of microRNAs in the regulation of differentiation during development.
微小 RNA(miRNAs)是细胞命运特化和分化的主要驱动因素。miRNAs 对关键分子因子的转录后调控有助于几种生物体的胚胎和胚胎后发育的进行。在秀丽隐杆线虫中发现 lin-4 和 let-7 以及果蝇中的 bantam miRNAs 之后,miRNAs 已成为细胞分化和发育时间的协调者。miRNAs 及其相关蛋白机制的时空调控可以调节 miRNA 的活性。此外,miRNA 表达和功能的适应性调节以响应不断变化的环境条件,确保了发育过程中稳健的细胞命运特化得以维持。在此,我们综述了 miRNAs 在发育过程中分化调控中的作用。