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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Jul 4.
Published in final edited form as: Nat Rev Genet. 2011 Feb;12(2):136–149. doi: 10.1038/nrg2904

Figure 3. RNAs control alternative cell fate decisions.

Figure 3

A recurrent theme of microRNA (miRNA) regulation during embryogenesis is their ability to control alternative cell fate decisions. Mutual repression between an miRNA and its target mRNA ensures reciprocal expression. The resulting bistable, double-negative feedback loop stabilizes either one of two possible cell fates and also promotes a rapid transition between the two states. Examples of bistable loops during embryogenesis include let-7–LIN28, miR-145–OCT4, miR-124–REST–SCP1, miR-9–TLX and miR-200–ZEB1.