MiRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that interact with their target mRNAs for posttranscriptional gene regulation. Finely controlled miRNA biogenesis, target recognition and degradation indicate that maintaining miRNA homeostasis is essential for regulating cell proliferation, growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Increasingly, miRNAs have been recognized as a potential biomarker for disease diagnosis. MiRNAs can be found in blood, plasma, and tissues, and miRNA expression and activity differ in developmental stages, tissues and in response to external stimuli. MiRNA transcripts are matured from pri-miRNA over pre-miRNA to mature miRNA, a process that includes multiple steps and enzymes. Many tools are available to identify and quantify specific miRNAs, ranging from measuring total miRNA, specific miRNA activity, miRNA arrays and miRNA localization. The various miRNA assays differ in accuracy, cost, efficiency and convenience of monitoring miRNA dynamics. To acknowledge the significance and increasing research interest in miRNAs, we summarize the traditional as well as novel methods of miRNA quantification with strengths and limitations of various techniques in biochemical and medical research.

中文翻译：

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揭示 MicroRNA：活细胞中 MicroRNA 定量和可视化的方法

MiRNA 是小型非编码 RNA，可与其靶 mRNA 相互作用以进行转录后基因调控。精细控制的 miRNA 生物发生、靶标识别和降解表明维持 miRNA 稳态对于调节细胞增殖、生长、分化和凋亡至关重要。miRNA 越来越多地被认为是疾病诊断的潜在生物标志物。miRNA 存在于血液、血浆和组织中，并且 miRNA 的表达和活性在发育阶段、组织和对外部刺激的反应中有所不同。miRNA 转录物从 pri-miRNA 到 pre-miRNA 成熟到成熟 miRNA，这个过程包括多个步骤和酶。许多工具可用于识别和量化特定 miRNA，包括测量总 miRNA、特定 miRNA 活性、miRNA 阵列和 miRNA 定位。各种 miRNA 检测方法在监测 miRNA 动态的准确性、成本、效率和便利性方面有所不同。为了认识到 miRNA 的重要性和日益增长的研究兴趣，我们总结了 miRNA 定量的传统和新颖方法以及生化和医学研究中各种技术的优点和局限性。