microRNA与人类疾病关系研究中的生物信息学方法和资源

microRNA(miRNA)是一类基因调控分子,其成熟体长度大约为22个核苷酸,其在转录后水平通过碱基互补配对的方式特异性结合靶mRNA的3端非翻译区来发挥调控功能,造成靶mRNA的翻译抑制或降解。越来越多的研究表明miRNA具有十分重要的分子功能,几乎在所有的生命过程中均扮演着重要角色。因此,和miRNA有关的功能异常就可能和疾病的发生发展有密切关系。生物信息学旨在为解决生命科学问题提供信息学手段,目前已经有多种用于研究miRNA和人类疾病关系的生物信息学方法和网络资源,本文将综述这一主题的现状,并探讨将来的发展趋势。

Bioinformatics Methods and Resources for the Research on the Relationship Between microRNAs and Human Diseases

microRNAs (miRNAs)are one class of gene regulators whose mature sequences are ~22 nt in length.Normally miRNAs resulted in the cleavage and translation repression by specifically binding the 3'UTR of their target mRNAs in a base pairing form.Accumulating evidence has shown that miRNAs have important molecular functions and play critical roles in almost all biological processes.Therefore,miR-NA-related dysfunctions could be associated with the formation and development of human disease.Bioin-formatics aims to provide tools for the research in life sciences.Currently,a number of bioinformatics methods and internet resources have been presented and developed for the investigations of miRNA-dis-ease associations.In the review,we will describe the current status of the above topic and then discuss its future perspectives.