Functional studies of microRNAs in neural stem cells: problems and perspectives.

In adult mammals, neural stem cells (NSCs) are found in two niches of the brain; the subventricular zone at the lateral ventricle and the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus. Neurogenesis is a complex process that is tightly controlled on a molecular level. Recently, microRNAs (...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Malin eÅkerblom, Rohit eSachdeva, Johan eJakobsson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2012-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Neuroscience
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Online Access:http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnins.2012.00014/full
Description
Summary:In adult mammals, neural stem cells (NSCs) are found in two niches of the brain; the subventricular zone at the lateral ventricle and the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus. Neurogenesis is a complex process that is tightly controlled on a molecular level. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated to play a central role in the regulation of NCSs. miRNAs are small, endogenously expressed RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. However, functional studies of miRNAs are complicated due to current technical limitations. In this review we describe recent findings about miRNAs in NSCs looking closely at miR-124, miR-9 and let-7. We also highlight technical strategies used to investigate miRNA function, accentuating limitations and potentials.
ISSN:1662-453X