Modulation of epigenetic regulators and cell fate decisions by miRNAs

Epigenomics. 2013 Dec;5(6):671-83. doi: 10.2217/epi.13.65.

Abstract

Mammalian gene expression is controlled at multiple levels by a variety of regulators, including chromatin modifiers, transcription factors and miRNAs. The latter are small, ncRNAs that inhibit the expression of target mRNAs by reducing both their stability and translation rate. In this review, we summarize the recent work towards characterizing miRNA targets that are themselves involved in the regulation of gene expression at the epigenetic level. Epigenetic regulators are strongly enriched among the predicted targets of miRNAs, which may contribute to the documented importance of miRNAs for pluripotency, organism development and somatic cell reprogramming.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • CpG Islands
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / physiology*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs