It is now well known that gene expression is intricately regulated inside each cell especially in mammals. There are multiple layers of gene regulation active inside a cell at a given point of time. Gene expression is regulated post-transcriptionally by microRNAs and other factors. Mechanistically, microRNAs are known to bind to the 3' UTR of mRNAs and cause repression of gene expression and the number of known microRNAs continues to increase every day. Dysregulated microRNA signatures in different types of cancer are being uncovered consistently implying their importance in cellular homeostasis. However when studied in isolation in mouse models, clear-cut cellular and molecular mechanisms have been described only for a select few microRNAs. What is the reason behind this discrepancy? Are microRNAs small players in gene regulation helping only to fine tune gene expression? Or are their roles tissue and cell type-specific with single-cell level effects on mRNA expression and microRNA threshold levels? Or does it all come down to the technical limitations of high-throughput techniques, resulting in false positive results? In this review, we will assess the challenges facing the field and potential avenues for resolving the cellular and molecular mechanisms of these small but important regulators of gene expression.
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science
3
2%
Other
10
8%
Unknown
32
25%
Attention Score in Context
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 3. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 22 March 2014.
All research outputs
#7,442,077
of 22,749,166 outputs
Outputs from Frontiers in Genetics
#2,425
of 11,758 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#80,688
of 242,903 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Frontiers in Genetics
#32
of 64 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 22,749,166 research outputs across all sources so far. This one is in the 44th percentile – i.e., 44% of other outputs scored the same or lower than it.
So far Altmetric has tracked 11,758 research outputs from this source. They receive a mean Attention Score of 3.7. This one has done well, scoring higher than 78% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 242,903 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 54% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 64 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one is in the 48th percentile – i.e., 48% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.
