《生命科学》 2010, 22(3): 229-231
摘 要：
摘 要：作为模式生物实验系统，线虫可用于研究控制动物发育和人类疾病遗传机制。研究发育缺陷的线虫突变体有助于在动物中发现对发育和生理过程有重要调控作用的基因。其中一些基因编码一类小RNA，如microRNA (miRNA)，通过作用于特定基因信使RNA来调控其蛋白质表达。一些在线虫发育过程中有功能的miRNA在人体中也存在。它们参与调控与疾病相关的生物学过程，如癌症、糖尿病和神经退行性疾病。通过分析miRNA在临床样品、哺乳动物细胞和模式生物线虫中的表达，从而揭示miRNA调控途径在相关人类疾病中的功能。
关键词：miRNA；Drosha (核蛋白)；发育；种子；疾病；线虫
Abstract:
Abstract: We employ the nematode worm C. elegans as a model experimental system for studying the genetic mechanisms underlying the control of animal development and human disease. The study of worm mutants with developmental defects has led to the identification of genes that encode regulators of developmental and physiological processes important to all animals. Some of these regulatory genes encode a class of small RNAs， known as microRNAs that regulate the production of protein from the messenger RNAs of specific target genes. MicroRNAs are evolutionarily ancient， and some of the same microRNAs that function in C. elegans development are also present in humans， where they appear to regulate processes related to diseases such as cancer， diabetes， and neural degenerative diseases. Our work includes exploring the functions of microRNA regulatory pathways in these human diseases， through the analysis of microRNA expression in clinical samples， and the application of mammalian cell and C. elegans genetic models.
Key words: microRNA; Drosha; development; seed; disease; C.elegans
