How do microRNAs regulate translation?

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Recently, a completely new way of controlling gene expression has been identified. This has emerged as a result of the discovery of a whole new class of genes which, unlike most genes, do not produce proteins. Instead they make very small RNA molecules, called microRNAs. There are at least 700 microRNAs within the human genome, each of which has a different function. They work by binding to the messenger RNA molecules expressed from other genes and inhibiting the production of the proteins made from these genes. Each of these 700 small molecules is believed to interact with hundreds of other genes, thus adding to the complex regulation of the human genome. Already it has become clear that malfunction of microRNA regulation is associated with a growing list of human diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and viral infections. Importantly, the mechanisms by which these small RNA molecules inhibit the expression of other genes are not known. To develop new drugs it is essential for us to understand this process and how any malfunctions influence human disease. The experiments proposed here will allow us to discover what these mechanisms are.