Figure 3.

The multi-faceted crosstalk between RNA/RNA and RNA/protein interactions in post-transcriptional regulation. (A) Competitive interactions whereby miRNAs and RNA binding proteins (RBPs) compete for binding to a specific target region. (B) Synergistic interactions whereby miRNAs and RBPs bind cooperatively to a shared target region. The association of either miRNAs or RBPs facilitates the binding of the other. (C) RBPs may inhibit miRNA function by sequestering miRNAs away from the target site (left hand panel) or promote miRNA-mediated regulation by recruiting other RBPs onto the RNA. Ovals represent the miRNA and RBP binding sites; double-headed arrows represent bi-directional interaction between the binding site and RBPs or miRNAs; red crosses represent loss of interaction.