MiRNAs are naturally occurring, small, non-coding RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate the expression of a large number of genes involved in various biological processes, either through mRNA degradation or through translation inhibition. MiRNAs play important roles in many aspects of physiology and pathology throughout the body, particularly in cancer, which have made miRNAs attractive tools and targets for translational research. The types of non-coding RNAs, biogenesis of miRNAs, circulating miRNAs, and direct delivery of miRNA were briefly reviewed. As a case of point, the role and perspective of miR-302, a family of ES-specific miRNA, on cancer, iPSCs, heart disease were presented.
Keywords: Biochemistry; Biomedical engineering; Biotechnology; Cancer research; Cell biology; Developmental biology; Genetics; Molecular biology.