Science Letters

Role of microRNA in the regulation of mitochondrial functions

Maale Ravinder Goud 1, Zhang Ai Hua 2*

1 Nanjing Pediatrics Hospital, Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, china

2 Department of Nephrology, Nanjing Pediatrics Hospital, Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China

Abstract

Mitochondria supply eukaryotic cells with energy and perform other essential cellular functions. Mitochondrial functions are regulated by the products of both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, which include micro (mi)RNAs, 18- to 24-nucleotide non-coding RNAs that provide post-transcriptional inhibition of target gene expression. Recent studies have shown that miRNAs are expressed in mitochondria and regulate mitochondrial energy metabolism, apoptosis, and biogenesis. This review discusses the expression of miRNA in mitochondria and the role of miRNAs in the regulation of mitochondrial functions including regulation of mitochondrial metabolism, apoptosis pathway, dynamic equilibrium and autophagy. This review also addresses the role of miRNAs in cancer detection and treatment. The overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the role of miRNAs in mitochondria will provide basis for the future research.

Keywords: Mitochondria, miRNAs, mitochondrial equilibrium, metabolism.

Received March 02, 2015 Revised May 09, 2015 Published online first May 11, 2015

*Corresponding author Zhang Ai Hua Email bszah@163.com