Regulation of miRNA Biogenesis and Function in Humans

在所有生物体中都有一个过程，通过这个过程，基因中携带的遗传信息被翻译成生命的主要组成部分——蛋白质。这一过程是由RNA分子介导的，它作为基因和蛋白质之间的信使发挥着重要作用。形成新生物体、生长、发育器官和分娩的过程包含了无数产生新蛋白质的事件。近年来，人们认识到rna不仅是信使，而且是控制人体细胞各种过程的活性元件。人们已经发现，一组被称为微rna的小rna在控制蛋白质生产中起着核心作用。它们是人体正常发育和功能所必需的。此外，在许多人类疾病（如癌症）中，microRNA水平经常发生变化，这表明它们对病理学的贡献，并为新疗法提供了潜在的靶点。我项目的目标是了解microrna在控制蛋白质生产中的作用。我特别感兴趣的是microrna是如何产生的，以及在正常和疾病条件下控制其水平的机制是什么。

In all living organisms there is a process by which the genetic information, carried in the genes, is translated into the main building blocks of life - proteins. This process is mediated by RNA molecules, which play essential roles as messengers between the genes and the proteins. The process of forming new organisms, growing, developing organs and giving birth, consists of countless events of producing new proteins. Recently, it has been recognized that RNAs are not only mere messengers but also serve as active elements that control various processes in human cells. It has been discovered that a group of small RNAs, called microRNAs, play a central role in the control of protein production. They are required for normal development and functioning of the human body. Moreover, microRNA levels are frequently changed in many human disorders, such as cancer, which suggest their contribution towards pathology and provide potential targets for new therapies. The goal of my project is to understand the contribution of microRNAs in the control of protein production. In particular, I am interested in how microRNAs are generated and what are the mechanisms that control their levels in normal and disease conditions.