data test

Variants of microRNAs (isomiRs) are commonly reported but their functional significance has been debated. Our study demonstrates that isomiRs are not junk, and that they function cooperatively with parental miRNAs.

It is thought that interactions between miRNAs and mRNAs occur using the seed region at the 5' end of the miRNA. Our study demonstrates that imperfect sites in the center of the miRNA are not only very common, they are functional too.

Although most published interactions involve the miRNA seed, many other modes of miRNA binding have been detected. As more and more categories are detected, it may be pointless to continue categorizing miRNA interactions based on the position of the nucleotides involved.

This figure illustrates the six major methods of experimentally determining miRNA binding sites in mRNAs: (a) genome editing of predicted binding sites; (b) reporter gene assays; (c) gene-expression after miRNA modulation; (d) degradome sequencing; (e) chromatin-linked immuno-precipitation; and (f) biotin-linked chromatography.

This schematic illustrates the major enzymatic steps required to process primary transcripts into mature miRNAs via the canonical and alternative pathways.