MicroRNAs in Search of a Target

Abstract

As the number of known microRNAs (miRNAs) increases, and their importance in physiology and disease becomes apparent,the identification of their regulatory targets is a requisite for a full characterization of their biological functions.Computational methods based on sequence homology and phylogenetic conservation have spearheaded this effort in the last3 years, but they may not be sufficient. Experimental studies are now needed to extend and validate the computational predictionsand further our understanding of target recognition by miRNAs.