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Modulation of MicroRNA Expression and Function by ADARs

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Part of the book series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology ((CT MICROBIOLOGY,volume 353))

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by preventing the translation of specific messenger RNAs. Adenosine deaminases acting on RNAs (ADARs) catalyze adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing, the conversion of adenosines into inosines, in double-stranded RNAs. Because inosine preferentially base pairs with cytidine, this conversion is equivalent to an adenosine to guanosine change. Over the past seven years, an increasing number of edited adenosines have been identified in miRNAs. Editing of miRNAs affects their biogenesis, causes their degradation or alters the set of messenger RNAs that they regulate. Recently, ADARs have been shown to also affect the miRNA phenomenon by sequestering miRNAs or by editing the messenger RNAs they regulate. This article reviews the recent attempts to identify miRNA editing sites and elucidate the effects of ADARs on miRNA expression and function.

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Abbreviations

A:

Adenosine

I:

Inosine

G:

Guanosine

U:

Uridine

C:

Cytidine

UTR:

Untranslated region

dsRNA:

Double-stranded RNA

ADAR:

Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA

miRNA:

MicroRNA

pri-miRNA:

Primary miRNA

pre-miRNA:

Precursor miRNA

mRNA:

Messenger RNA

pre-mRNA:

Precursor messenger RNA

siRNA:

Small interfering RNA

cDNA:

Complementary DNA

Tudor-SN:

Tudor staphylococcal nuclease

EBV:

Epstein-Barr virus

DFFA:

DNA fragmentation factor alpha

PRPS1:

Phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase 1

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Correspondence to Bjorn-Erik Wulff .

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Wulff, BE., Nishikura, K. (2011). Modulation of MicroRNA Expression and Function by ADARs. In: Samuel, C. (eds) Adenosine Deaminases Acting on RNA (ADARs) and A-to-I Editing. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 353. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/82_2011_151

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