MicroRNAs: recently discovered key regulators of proliferation and apoptosis in animal cells

Abstract

The relatively recent discovery of miRNAs has added a completely new dimension to the study of the regulation of gene expression. The mechanism of action of miRNAs, the conservation between diverse species and the fact that each miRNA can regulate a number of targets and phenotypes clearly indicates the importance of these molecules. In this review the current state of knowledge relating to miRNA expression and gene regulation is presented, outlining the key morphological and biochemical features controlled by miRNAs with particular emphasis on the key phenotypes that impact on cell growth in bioreactors, namely proliferation and apoptosis.