Potential microRNA regulation mechanisms. The potential mechanisms of microRNA-mediated gene regulation are multifactorial and encompass interaction(s) among different mechanisms. Cis-regulation: microRNA direct targeting the mRNA and regulating the expression of the target gene at post-transcriptional levels (e.g., enhance mRNA degradation and inhibit translation). It has also been suggested that microRNA can control gene transcription based on potential mechanisms. Transregulation: Following the expression changes of microRNA targeted specific genes (e.g., genes coded for transcription factors, genes coded for RNA regulating proteins, and genes coded for proteins that will interact with the target protein), subsequent effects may alter the transcription of other gene, levels of other mRNAs, or interactions among proteins, and thus microRNA may exert its functional effects through transregulatory mechanism(s).
