Probing the Limits to MicroRNA-Mediated Control of Gene Expression.

ABSTRACT: According to the 'ceRNA hypothesis', microRNAs (miRNAs) may act as mediators of an effective positive interaction between long coding or non-coding RNA molecules, carrying significant potential implications for a variety of biological processes. Here, inspired by recent work providing a quantitative description of small regulatory elements as information-conveying channels, we characterize the effectiveness of miRNA-mediated regulation in terms of the optimal information flow achievable between modulator (transcription factors) and target nodes (long RNAs). Our findings show that, while a sufficiently large degree of target derepression is needed to activate miRNA-mediated transmission, (a) in case of differential mechanisms of complex processing and/or transcriptional capabilities, regula

SUBMITTER: Martirosyan A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4727922 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature