MicroRNAs are members of the non-protein-coding family of RNAs. They serve as regulators of gene expression by modulating the translation and/or stability of messenger RNA targets. The discovery of microRNAs has revolutionized the field of cell biology, and has permanently altered the prevailing view of a linear relationship between gene and protein expression. The increased complexity of gene regulation is both exciting and daunting, as emerging evidence supports a pervasive role for microRNAs in virtually every cellular process. This review briefly describes microRNA processing and formation of RNA-induced silencing complexes, with a focus on the role of RNA binding proteins in this process. We also discuss mechanisms for microRNA-mediated regulation of translation, particularly in dendritic spine formation and function, and the role of microRNAs in synaptic plasticity. We then discuss the evidence for altered microRNA function in cognitive brain disorders, and the effect of gene mutations revealed by single nucleotide polymorphism analysis on altered microRNA function and human disease. Further, we present evidence that altered microRNA expression in circulating fluids such as plasma/serum can correlate with, and serve as, novel diagnostic biomarkers of human disease.

中文翻译：

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MicroRNA：突触活动中基因表达的元控制器成为人类疾病的遗传和诊断标记。


MicroRNA 是非蛋白质编码 RNA 家族的成员。它们通过调节信使 RNA 靶标的翻译和/或稳定性来充当基因表达的调节剂。 microRNA 的发现彻底改变了细胞生物学领域，并永久改变了基因和蛋白质表达之间线性关系的普遍观点。基因调控复杂性的增加既令人兴奋又令人畏惧，因为新出现的证据支持 microRNA 在几乎每个细胞过程中都发挥着普遍作用。这篇综述简要描述了 microRNA 的加工和 RNA 诱导的沉默复合物的形成，重点关注 RNA 结合蛋白在此过程中的作用。我们还讨论了 microRNA 介导的翻译调节机制，特别是在树突棘的形成和功能方面，以及 microRNA 在突触可塑性中的作用。然后我们讨论认知脑疾病中 microRNA 功能改变的证据，以及单核苷酸多态性分析揭示的基因突变对 microRNA 功能改变和人类疾病的影响。此外，我们提供的证据表明，血浆/血清等循环液中 microRNA 表达的改变可能与人类疾病的新型诊断生物标志物相关，并可作为人类疾病的新型诊断生物标志物。