Functional Roles of Notable microRNAs
Below are some of the most widely studied miRNAs and their recognized molecular functions within cellular systems:
▪ miR-21
- Plays a role in modulating cell growth and maintaining cellular equilibrium.
- Influences transcriptional responses related to signaling pathways and cellular repair.
▪ Let-7 Family
- Participates in cell differentiation and developmental timing.
- Commonly involved in systems that control growth and identity of cells.
▪ miR-155
- Contributes to the fine-tuning of genetic feedback mechanisms during environmental stress.
- Associated with modulation of intracellular signaling cascades.
▪ miR-16
- Involved in managing mRNA stability and turnover.
- Often linked with homeostasis of proliferation-related transcripts.
▪ miR-34a
- Influences cell cycle checkpoints and contributes to molecular feedback loops.
- Functions in pathways regulating structural protein expression and coordination.
▪ miR-210
- Responsive to environmental oxygen variations.
- Supports adaptation and metabolic adjustments under low-energy conditions.
▪ miR-122
- Highly abundant in certain cellular environments like hepatic tissue.
- Involved in managing lipid-related gene expression.