The in vivo genetic toolkit for studying expression and functions of Drosophila melanogaster microRNAs.

Since the initial reports that a group of small RNAs, now known as microRNAs (miRNAs), regulates gene expression without being translated into proteins, there has been an explosion of studies on these important expression modulators.Drosophila melanogasterhas proven to be one of the most amenable animal models for investigations of miRNA biogenesis and gene regulatory activities. Here, we highlight the publicly available genetic tools and strategies forin vivofunctional studies of miRNA activity inD. melanogaster. By coupling genetic approaches using available strain libraries with technologies for miRNA expression analysis and target and pathway prediction, researchers' ability to test functional activities of miRNAsin vivois now greatly enhanced. We also comment on the tools that need to be developed to aid in comprehensive evaluation ofDrosophilamiRNA activities that impact traits of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]