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Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (생화학분자생물학회)
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The role of microRNAs in synaptic development and function

  • Corbin, Rachel (Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University) ;
  • Olsson-Carter, Katherine (Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University) ;
  • Slack, Frank (Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University)
  • Published : 2009.03.31
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Abstract

MicroRNAs control gene expression by inhibiting translation or promoting degradation of their target mRNAs. Since the discovery of the first microRNAs, lin-4 and let-7, in C. elegans, hundreds of microRNAs have been identified as key regulators of cell fate determination, lifespan, and cancer in species ranging from plants to humans. However, while microRNAs have been shown to be particularly abundant in the brain, their role in the development and activity of the nervous system is still largely unknown. In this review, we describe recent advances in our understanding of microRNA function at synapses, the specialized structures required for communication between neurons and their targets. We also propose how these advances might inform the molecular model of memory.

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References

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