MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can regulate gene expression is by preventing translation of a target mRNA.
This is because a complex involved in processing miRNAs, RISC, associates with the 60S ribosome subunit and the eIF6 translation initiation factor. As the eIF6 can prevent the 60S subunit from assembling into a mature 80S ribosome, interaction of eIF6 with RISC may block ribosome recycling or initiation.
- Thimmaiah P. Chendrimada
- Kenneth J. Finn
- Ramin Shiekhattar