An overview of viral and nonviral delivery systems for microRNA

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous noncoding RNAs that direct posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. Mature miRNAs function as components of RNA-induced silencing complex and interact directly with the 3’-untranslated region of the target mRNA. The target mRNA is then cleaved when the full complementarity of miRNA-mRNA is achieved. For partial complementarity, the translation of the target mRNA is repressed. It has been estimated that about one-third of human genes are regulated by miRNAs.[1] Deregulation of miRNAs has been found in many diseases including cancer, neurologic disease, metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: microRNAs; gene regulation; RNA-induced silencing complex; human diseases