ISSN 0006-2979, Biochemistry (Moscow), 2018, Vol. 83, No. 9, pp. 1018-1029. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2018. Published in Russian in Biokhimiya, 2018, Vol. 83, No. 9, pp. 1283-1298. REVIEW Role of microRNA (miRNA) and Viroids in Lethal Diseases of Plants and Animals. Potential Contribution to Human Neurodegenerative Disorders L. Cong1,2, Y. Zhao1,3, A. I. Pogue4, and W. J. Lukiw1,5,6,a* 1Neuroscience Center, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans LA 70112-2272, USA 2Department of Neurology, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China 3Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans LA 70112-2272, USA 4Alchem Biotech Research, Toronto ON M5S 1A8, Canada 5Department Neurology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans LA 70112-2272, USA 6Department Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans LA 70112-2272, USA ae-mail:
[email protected] Received April 19, 2018 Revision received May 25, 2018 Abstract—Both plants and animals have adopted a common strategy of using ~18-25-nucleotide small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs), known as microRNAs (miRNAs), to transmit DNA-based epigenetic information. miRNAs (i) shape the total transcriptional output of individual cells; (ii) regulate and fine-tune gene expression profiles of cell clusters, and (iii) modu- late cell phenotype in response to environmental stimuli and stressors. These miRNAs, the smallest known carriers of gene- encoded post-transcriptional regulatory information, not only regulate cellular function in healthy cells but also act as impor- tant mediators in the development of plant and animal diseases.