Gao, Fen-Biao2022-08-232022-08-232010-10-062010-10-20Neural Dev. 2010 Oct 1;5(1):25. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1749-8104-5-25">Link to article on publisher's site</a>1749-8104 (Linking)10.1186/1749-8104-5-2520920300https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/39427MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate multiple developmental processes at the post-transcriptional level. Recent rapid progresses have demonstrated critical roles for a number of miRNAs in neuronal development and function. In particular, miR-9 and miR-124 are specifically expressed in the mammalian nervous system, and their respective nucleotide sequences are 100% identical among many species. Yet, their expression patterns and mRNA targets are less conserved throughout evolution. As a consequence, these miRNAs exhibit diverse context-dependent functions in different aspects of neuronal development, ranging from early neurogenesis and neuronal differentiation to dendritic morphogenesis and synaptic plasticity. Some other neuronal miRNAs also exhibit context-dependent functions in development. Thus, post-transcriptional regulation of spatial and temporal expression levels of protein-coding genes by miRNAs contributes uniquely to the proper development and evolution of the complex nervous system.en-USMicroRNAsNeuronsLife SciencesMedicine and Health SciencesNeurologyNeuroscience and NeurobiologyJournal Articlehttps://escholarship.umassmed.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3220&amp;context=oapubs&amp;unstamped=1https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/oapubs/22211611787oapubs/2221