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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Micrornas: Tiny Regulators With Great Potential, Victor Ambros Dec 2001

Micrornas: Tiny Regulators With Great Potential, Victor Ambros

Victor R. Ambros

Animal genomes contain an abundance of small genes that produce regulatory RNAs of about 22 nucleotides in length. These microRNAs are diverse in sequence and expression patterns, and are evolutionarily widespread, suggesting that they may participate in a wide range of genetic regulatory pathways.


An Extensive Class Of Small Rnas In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Rosalind Lee, Victor Ambros Oct 2001

An Extensive Class Of Small Rnas In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Rosalind Lee, Victor Ambros

Victor R. Ambros

The lin-4 and let-7 antisense RNAs are temporal regulators that control the timing of developmental events in Caenorhabditis elegans by inhibiting translation of target mRNAs. let-7 RNA is conserved among bilaterian animals, suggesting that this class of small RNAs [microRNAs (miRNAs)] is evolutionarily ancient. Using bioinformatics and cDNA cloning, we found 15 new miRNA genes in C. elegans. Several of these genes express small transcripts that vary in abundance during C. elegans larval development, and three of them have apparent homologs in mammals and/or insects. Small noncoding RNAs of the miRNA class appear to be numerous and diverse.


Development. Dicing Up Rnas, Victor Ambros Aug 2001

Development. Dicing Up Rnas, Victor Ambros

Victor R. Ambros

Comment on: A cellular function for the RNA-interference enzyme Dicer in the maturation of the let-7 small temporal RNA. [Science. 2001]


The Temporal Control Of Cell Cycle And Cell Fate In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Victor Ambros Dec 2000

The Temporal Control Of Cell Cycle And Cell Fate In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Victor Ambros

Victor R. Ambros

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans develops through two major phases: the first phase, embryogenesis, consists of a rapid series of cleavage cell divisions leading to morphogenesis of a first stage larva. The second phase is postembryonic development, which consists of developmentally regulated cell cycles that occur during the four larval stages leading to the adult. Precursor cells set aside during embryogenesis divide through stereotypical cell lineage patterns during the four larval stages to generate larval and adult structures. The precise timing of the postembryonic cell divisions is under strict control, in most cases with a developmentally regulated G1. In certain postembryonic …