RNA Families

Liver-specific microRNA-122: Biogenesis and function

Volume 9, Issue 2   February 2012
Pages 137 - 142
http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/rna.18827
Keywords: CAT-1, Cholesterol, GLD-2, Hepatitis C virus, microRNA, miR-122, Pri-miRNA
Authors: Catherine Jopling

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microRNA-122 (miR-122) was one of the first examples of a tissue-specific miRNA. It is highly expressed in liver, where it constitutes 70% of the total miRNA pool. miR-122 expression is specific to the vertebrate lineage, where the sequence of the mature miRNA is completely conserved. miR-122 is a target for extensive study due to its association with cholesterol metabolism and hepatocellular carcinoma, and its important role in promoting hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication. This review will discuss the biogenesis and function of miR-122.

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