The present invention generally relates to microRNAs such as vertebrate
microRNA (miRNA), for example, mammalian miRNA. Various aspects of the
invention are directed to the detection, production, or expression of
miRNA. In one aspect, the invention provides systems and methods for
identifying targets of miRNA sequences. For instance, in one embodiment,
gene sequences comprising UTRs are compared with miRNA sequences to
determine the degree of interaction, for example, by determining a free
energy measurement between the miRNA sequence and the UTR, and/or by
determining complementarity between at least a portion of the miRNA
sequence and the UTR. In another aspect, the invention is directed to the
regulation of gene expression using miRNA. For example, gene expression
within a cell may be altered by exposing the cell to an oligonucleotide
comprising a sequence that is substantially antisense to at least a
portion of an miRNA region of the gene, for example, antisense to a 6-mer
or 7-mer portion of the miRNA. In still another aspect, the invention is
directed to the treatment of cancer. For instance, in one set of
embodiments, an isolated oligonucleotide comprising a sequence that is
substantially antisense to an miRNA, or a portion of an miRNA, is
administered to a subject having or being at risk of cancer. Yet other
aspects of the invention are directed to compositions or kits including
oligonucleotides comprising a sequence that is substantially antisense to
an miRNA (or a portion of an miRNA), methods of promoting any of the
above aspects, or the like.