[HTML][HTML] Roles for microRNAs in conferring robustness to biological processes

MS Ebert, PA Sharp - Cell, 2012 - cell.com
MS Ebert, PA Sharp
Cell, 2012cell.com
Biological systems use a variety of mechanisms to maintain their functions in the face of
environmental and genetic perturbations. Increasing evidence suggests that, among their
roles as posttranscriptional repressors of gene expression, microRNAs (miRNAs) help to
confer robustness to biological processes by reinforcing transcriptional programs and
attenuating aberrant transcripts, and they may in some network contexts help suppress
random fluctuations in transcript copy number. These activities have important …
Biological systems use a variety of mechanisms to maintain their functions in the face of environmental and genetic perturbations. Increasing evidence suggests that, among their roles as posttranscriptional repressors of gene expression, microRNAs (miRNAs) help to confer robustness to biological processes by reinforcing transcriptional programs and attenuating aberrant transcripts, and they may in some network contexts help suppress random fluctuations in transcript copy number. These activities have important consequences for normal development and physiology, disease, and evolution. Here, we will discuss examples and principles of miRNAs that contribute to robustness in animal systems.
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