Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between

Home / Science & Nature / Science / Biology / Difference Between siRNA and miRNA

Difference Between siRNA and miRNA

July 4, 2013 Posted by Admin

siRNA vs miRNA
 

RNAs are very important molecules, which help to build up the life of organisms. Recently scientists have discovered small RNAs called RNA interference or RNAi, which act after the transcription to control gene expression. The two major types of small RNAs are micro RNA or miRNA and small interfering RNA or siRNA. These molecules basically regulate the gene expression by suppressing the target gene. Both miRNA and siRNA have very similar biogenesis pathways, though there are some differences exist between them. The origin of miRNA and siRNA are from dsRNA molecules. Mature miRNAs are structurally similar to siRNA molecules.

miRNA

Micro RNAs or miRNAs are the small RNA molecules which mediate the final check in translational gene regulation. Deregulation of miRNA may lead to cancer and other disease development. Therefore, the proper regulation of information encoded in the non-coding region of miRNA is very critical in many fundamental cellular processes.

siRNA

siRNAs are also referred to as short interfering or silencing RNA and are made up of double stranded RNA with 20 to 25 base pairs. The main role of siRNA is to interfere with the expression of specific genes with complementary nucleotide sequences. siRNA is made up of short double-stranded RNA with phosphorylated 5’ ends and hydroxylated 3’ ends with two overhanging nucleotides.

What is the difference between siRNA and miRNA?

• miRNA derived from specific genomic loci, while siRNA derived from mRNA, transposons, viruses or heterochromatic DNA.

• Synthesis of miRNA is processed from longer precursor hairpin transcripts (primary nuclear miRNA sequence by RNase III endonuclease), whereas that of siRNA processed from long bimolecular RNA duplexes.

• Each miRNA hairpin precursor molecule produces single miRNA duplex, whereas each siRNA precursor molecule produces multiple siRNA duplexes.

• siRNA sequences are rarely conserved, while miRNA sequences are well conserved.

• All bases within siRNA contribute to its target specificity, whereas only 5’ half of miRNA contributes to its target specificity.

• miRNA often bind to the 3’ untranslated region of target transcripts, whereas siRNAs form complementary duplex anywhere along a target mRNA.

• miRNA specify ‘hetero- silencing’ while siRNA used for ‘auto silencing’.

• miRNA acts as a signal to prevent translation, whereas siRNA physically prevents translation.

Related posts:

Difference Between Agar and AgaroseDifference Between Agar and Agarose Difference Between Neurons and Neuroglia Difference Between Gross Primary Production (GPP) and Net Primary Production (NPP) Difference Between Nervous System and Endocrine SystemDifference Between Nervous System and Endocrine System Difference Between Rainforest and Grassland

Filed Under: Biology Tagged With: micro RNA, miRNA, RNA interference, RNAi, short interfering RNA, silencing RNA, siRNA, small interfering RNA, small RNA

About the Author: Admin

Coming from Engineering cum Human Resource Development background, has over 10 years experience in content developmet and management.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request Article

Featured Posts

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

You May Like

What is the Difference Between HEK293 and HEK293t

What is the Difference Between HEK293 and HEK293t

Difference Between Cobalt and Titanium

Difference Between Cobalt and Titanium

Difference Between Dacron and Polyester

Difference Between Dacron and Polyester

Difference Between Award and Agreement

Difference Between Award and Agreement

Difference Between Trust and Company

Latest Posts

  • What is the Difference Between Keratosis Obturans and Cholesteatoma
  • What is the Difference Between Glutaric Acidemia Type 1 and 2
  • What is the Difference Between Allopurinol and Colchicine
  • What is the Difference Between Neurogenic and Vascular Claudication
  • What is the Difference Between Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cholangiocarcinoma
  • What is the Difference Between Medulla Oblongata and Spinal Cord
  • Home
  • Vacancies
  • About
  • Request Article
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal.