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In
molecular biology
Molecular biology is a branch of biology that seeks to understand the molecule, molecular basis of biological activity in and between Cell (biology), cells, including biomolecule, biomolecular synthesis, modification, mechanisms, and interactio ...
, mir-221 microRNA (and its
paralogue, mir-222) is a short
RNA
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymeric molecule that is essential for most biological functions, either by performing the function itself (non-coding RNA) or by forming a template for the production of proteins (messenger RNA). RNA and deoxyrib ...
molecule.
MicroRNA
Micro ribonucleic acid (microRNA, miRNA, μRNA) are small, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules containing 21–23 nucleotides. Found in plants, animals, and even some viruses, miRNAs are involved in RNA silencing and post-transcr ...
s function to regulate the expression levels of other genes by several mechanisms.
mir-221 is an
oncogenic
Carcinogenesis, also called oncogenesis or tumorigenesis, is the formation of a cancer, whereby normal cells are transformed into cancer cells. The process is characterized by changes at the cellular, genetic, and epigenetic levels and abno ...
microRNA. It targets
CD117
Proto-oncogene c-KIT is the gene encoding the receptor tyrosine kinase protein known as tyrosine-protein kinase KIT, CD117 ( cluster of differentiation 117) or mast/stem cell growth factor receptor (SCFR). Multiple transcript variants encoding d ...
, which then prevents
cell migration
Cell migration is a central process in the development and maintenance of multicellular organisms. Tissue formation during embryogenesis, embryonic development, wound healing and immune system, immune responses all require the orchestrated movemen ...
and
proliferation in endothelial cells.
miR-221 is known as an anti angiogenic miRNA.
[
Recent important studies have reported that miR-221 is also involved in induction of angiogenesis.]androgenetic alopecia
In botany, apomixis is asexual development of seed or embryo without fertilization. However, other definitions include replacement of the seed by a plantlet or replacement of the flower by bulbils.
Apomictically produced offspring are genetic ...
.
See also
* MicroRNA
Micro ribonucleic acid (microRNA, miRNA, μRNA) are small, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules containing 21–23 nucleotides. Found in plants, animals, and even some viruses, miRNAs are involved in RNA silencing and post-transcr ...
References
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mir-221 Microrna
MicroRNA
Non-coding RNA