MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, regulatory RNAs that are expressed in animals and plants that affect the translation of target messenger RNA transcripts (mRNAs). A microRNA molecule has very few nucleotides (an average of 22) compared with other RNAs. miRNAs are post-transcriptional regulators that bind to complementary sequences on target mRNAs, usually resulting in translational repression or target degradation and gene silencing.
miRNA mimics are small, single stranded, chemically-synthesized and optimized nucleic acids designed to mimic endogenous mature miRNA molecules in cells. The miRNAs are designed to directly enter the miRNA processing pathway and, after processing, are treated identically to endogenous miRNA within the cell.
miRNA inhibitors are chemically-modified and optimized nucleic acids designed to specifically target the miRNA molecules in cells and knockdown individual miRNA molecules.
With the miRNA mimics and inhibitors, you can:
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Control specific miRNA activity
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Tightly regulate miRNA cellular levels
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Achieve optimal delivery efficiency with minimal cytotoxicity
miRNA mimics up-regulate miRNA activity and miRNA inhibitors down-regulate miRNA activity. For miRNA functional analysis, specific experimental designs include:
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miRNA target site identification and validation
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Screening for miRNAs that regulate the expression of a gene
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Screening for miRNAs that affect a cellular process
Agomir is chemically-modified double-strand miRNA mimics. Its antisense stand is modified: 2 phosphorothioates at the 5' end, 4 phosphorothioates at the 3' end, 3' end cholesterol group and full length nucleotide 2'-methoxy modification.
Antagomir is chemically-modified single-strand miRNA inhibitor: 2 phosphorothioates at the 5' end, 4 phosphorothioates at the 3' end, 3' end cholesterol group and full length nucleotide 2'-methoxy modification.
Advantages of agomir and antagomir over standard miRNA mimics and inhibitos:
- More resistant to degradation, thus more stable and longer effect: minimum effect for 1 week, up to 5-6 weeks
- Higher cell membrane biding affinity, thus higher transfection efficiency and less transfection reagent used
- Especially good for in vivo use
We provide different lengths and forms of customer-defined miRNA. We can also provide the miRNA sequence from Sanger miRNA database based on the customer’s need (http://microrna.sanger.ac.uk/sequences).
