In molecular biology mir-278 microRNA is a short RNA molecule belonging to a class of molecules referred to as microRNAs. These function to regulate the expression levels of other genes by several mechanisms, primarily binding to their target at its 3'UTR.
Mis- and altered expression in Drosophila miR-278 affects energy metabolism in the Drosophila melanogaster species. Elevated insulin production has been observed in miR-278 mutants, due to insulin resistance in the absence of this microRNA. miR-278 is now known to act through regulation of the expanded gene transcript, and most likely through further miR-278 targets as well. Misexpression in the developing eye has been found to result in overgrowth, partially through apoptotic inhibition. There is a single base substitution which blocks the gain-of-function phenotype, indicating the acquisition of novel functions by misexpressed miRNAs which bring about unscheduled cell proliferation in vivo. This is reflective of a microRNA potential in the promotion of tumour formation.
See also MicroRNA
References
Further reading Yu, J. -Y.; Reynolds, S. H.; Hatfield, S. D.; Shcherbata, H. R.; Fischer, K. A.; Ward, E. J.; Long, D.; Ding, Y.; Ruohola-Baker, H. (2009). "Dicer-1-dependent Dacapo suppression acts downstream of Insulin receptor in regulating cell division of Drosophila germline stem cells". Development. 136 (9): 1497–1507. doi:10.1242/dev.025999. PMC 2674257. PMID 19336466.
External links
Page for mir-278 microRNA precursor family at Rfam