Maji Ranjan K, Leisegang Matthias S, Boon Reinier A, Schulz Marcel H
Institute for Computational Genomic Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Frankfurt, Germany.
German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Frankfurt, Germany; Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
Trends Genet. 2025 Jun;41(6):522-536. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.12.009. Epub 2025 Jan 24.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression and control cellular functions in physiological and pathophysiological states. miRNAs play important roles in disease, stress, and development, and are now being investigated for therapeutic approaches. Alternative processing of miRNAs during biogenesis results in the generation of miRNA isoforms (isomiRs) which further diversify miRNA gene regulation. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scsRNA-seq) technologies, together with computational strategies, enable exploration of miRNAs, isomiRs, and interacting RNAs at the cellular level. By integration with other miRNA-associated single-cell modalities, miRNA roles can be resolved at different stages of processing and regulation. In this review we discuss (i) single-cell experimental assays that measure miRNA and isomiR abundances, and (ii) computational methods for their analysis to investigate the mechanisms of miRNA biogenesis and post-transcriptional regulation.
微小RNA（miRNA）是基因表达的关键调节因子，在生理和病理生理状态下控制细胞功能。miRNA在疾病、应激和发育中发挥重要作用，目前正被研究用于治疗方法。miRNA在生物合成过程中的可变加工导致了miRNA异构体（isomiRs）的产生，这进一步使miRNA基因调控多样化。单细胞RNA测序（scsRNA-seq）技术与计算策略相结合，能够在细胞水平上探索miRNA、isomiR和相互作用的RNA。通过与其他与miRNA相关的单细胞模式整合，可以在加工和调控的不同阶段解析miRNA的作用。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了（i）测量miRNA和isomiR丰度的单细胞实验分析方法，以及（ii）用于分析它们以研究miRNA生物合成和转录后调控机制的计算方法。
