Dissecting MicroRNA‐Mediated Gene Regulation and Function in T‐Cell Development

Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are abundant ∼22‐nucleotide regulatory RNAs encoded in animal genomes. They are thought to exhibit diverse biological functions in animals by targeting messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for degradation or translational repression. Here we use T‐cell development as a model to illustrate methods and strategies for dissecting the post transcriptional gene regulatory networks controlled by miRNAs and their roles in the differentiation of T‐cell precursors. The process involves the identification of miRNA genes in rare T‐cell progenitors, determining miRNA expression during T‐cell development, characterizing miRNA function in T‐cell development using an in vitro assay, and identifying functionally relevant gene(s) regulated by miRNAs.