Small regulatory RNAs in neurodevelopmental disorders
1 Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Suite 301, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA 2 State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Datun Road, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100101, People’s Republic of China
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 4047273729; Fax: +1 4047275408; Email: peng.jin{at}emory.edu (P.J.); Tel: +86 1064807325; Fax: +86 1064807318; Email: chendh{at}ioz.ac.cn (D.C.)
Received January 15, 2009; Revised January 26, 2009; Accepted February 10, 2009
Increasingly complex networks of small RNAs act through RNA interference pathway to regulate gene expression. Recent evidence suggests that both development and proper function of central nervous system require intricate spatiotemporal expression of a wide repertoire of small regulatory RNAs. Misregulation of these small regulatory RNAs could contribute to the abnormalities in brain development that are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we will review recent progress made toward understanding roles of small regulatory RNAs in neurodevelopmental disorders and discuss the potential involvement of newly discovered classes of small RNAs in these disorders.