miRNAs are small non-coding regulators of gene expression that are estimated to regulate over 60% of all human genes. Each miRNA can target multiple mRNA targets and as such, miRNAs are responsible for some of the ‘fine tuning’ of gene expression and are implicated in regulation of all cellular processes. miRNAs bind to target genes by sequence complementarity, resulting in target degradation or translational blocking and usually a reduction in target gene expression. Like mRNA, miRNAs are transcribed from genomic DNA and are processed in several steps that are heavily reliant on correct secondary and tertiary structure. Secondary structure is determined by RNA sequence, which is in turn determined by the sequence of the genome. The human genome, however, like most eukaryotes is variable. Large numbers of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms), small insertions and deletions (indels) and CNVs (copy number variants) have been described in our genome. Should this genetic variation occur in regions critical for the correct secondary structure or target binding, it may interfere with normal gene regulation and cause disease. In this review, we outline the consequences of genetic variation involving different aspects of miRNA biosynthesis, processing and regulation, with selected examples of incidences when this has potential to affect human disease.
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Conference Article|
August 11 2014
Human genetic variation and its effect on miRNA biogenesis, activity and function
Daniel R. Hogg;
Daniel R. Hogg
*RNA-Mediated Mechanisms of Disease Group, Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Barrack Road, Exeter EX2 5DW, U.K.
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Lorna W. Harries
Lorna W. Harries
1
*RNA-Mediated Mechanisms of Disease Group, Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Barrack Road, Exeter EX2 5DW, U.K.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (emailL.W.Harries@exeter.ac.uk).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
March 05 2014
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2014 Biochemical Society
2014
Biochem Soc Trans (2014) 42 (4): 1184–1189.
Article history
Received:
March 05 2014
Citation
Daniel R. Hogg, Lorna W. Harries; Human genetic variation and its effect on miRNA biogenesis, activity and function. Biochem Soc Trans 1 August 2014; 42 (4): 1184–1189. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20140055
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