Figure 1.

miRNA biogenesis pathway. The pri-miRNA is transcribed in the nucleus by RNA polymerase II and is subsequently converted into pre-miRNA by the Drosha complex and DGCR8. Following this, XPO5 has transported it into the cytoplasm, where the Dicer enzyme removes the hairpin loop, thus forming the miRNA duplex. Afterward, the duplex strands are separated, and the guide strand forms the RISC complex with AGO. Finally, the RISC complex binds to the respective target mRNA and either degrades or represses it.