Small double-stranded, non-protein coding RNAs, 21-25 nucleotides in length generated from single-stranded microRNA gene transcripts by the same RIBONUCLEASE III, Dicer, that produces small interfering RNAs (RNA, SMALL INTERFERING). They become part of the RNA-INDUCED SILENCING COMPLEX and repress the translation (TRANSLATION, GENETIC) of target RNA by binding to homologous 3'UTR region as an imperfect match. The small temporal RNAs (stRNAs), let-7 and lin-4, from C. elegans, are the first 2 miRNAs discovered, and are from a class of miRNAs involved in developmental timing.
Also Known As:
MicroRNA; miRNA; miRNAs; Micro RNA; RNA, Micro; Primary MicroRNA; Primary miRNA; pre-miRNA; pri-miRNA; MicroRNA, Primary; Temporal RNA, Small; miRNA, Primary; pre miRNA; pri miRNA; RNA, Small Temporal; Small Temporal RNA; stRNA