Research Progress in Digging and Validation of miRNA Target Genes Using Experimental Methods

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of regulatory RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by the degradation or translational inhibition of their target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Regulation is accomplished when the 22-25 nucleotide miRNAs bind to complementary sequences in the 3'-untranslated regions (UTR). One barrier to miRNA research is to find target genes. Although computational target predictions have shed light on important aspects of microRNA target recognition, questions remain concerning the rates of false positives. In addition, we do not completely understand how microRNAs can recognize and regulate their targets. As such, experimental approaches are required, which can reflect in vivo processes, eliminating false positive predictions and allow for an unbiased study of microRNA target recognition. In this review, we summarized experimental approaches that have been described for the identification and validation of mRNA targets associated with specific miRNAs.