The evolution and functional diversification of animal microRNA genes  

作　　者：Na Liu Katsutomo Okamura David M Tyler Michael D Phillips Wei-Jen Chung Eric C Lai 

机构地区：[1]Department of Developmental Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute, 521 Rockefeller Research Laboratories, 1275 York Avenue, Box 252, New York, NY 10065, USA

出　　处：《Cell Research》2008年第10期985-996,共12页细胞研究（英文版）

摘　　要：microRNAs （miRNAs） are an abundant class of-22 nucleotide （nt） regulatory RNAs that are pervasive in higher eukaryotic genomes. In order to fully understand their prominence in genomes, it is necessary to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that can diversify miRNA activities. In this review, we describe some of the many strategies that allow novel miRNA functions to emerge, with particular emphasis on how miRNA genes evolve in animals. These mechanisms include changes in their sequence, processing, or expression pattern; acquisition of miRNA^＊ functionality or antisense processing; and de novo gene birth. The facility and versatility of miRNAs to evolve and change likely underlies how they have become dominant constituents of higher genomes.

关 键 词：MICRORNA EVOLUTION SUBFUNCTIONALIZATION NEOFUNCTIONALIZATION 

分 类 号：Q78[生物学—分子生物学]