miR-27 is a family of microRNA precursors found in animals, including human

Human

Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...

s. MicroRNAs are typically transcribed as ~70 nucleotide

Nucleotide

Nucleotides are molecules that, when joined together, make up the structural units of RNA and DNA. In addition, nucleotides participate in cellular signaling , and are incorporated into important cofactors of enzymatic reactions...

 precursors and subsequently processed by the Dicer

Dicer

Dicer is an endoribonuclease in the RNase III family that cleaves double-stranded RNA and pre-microRNA into short double-stranded RNA fragments called small interfering RNA about 20-25 nucleotides long, usually with a two-base overhang on the 3' end...

 enzyme to give a ~22 nucleotide product. The excised region or, mature product, of the miR-27 precursor is the microRNA mir-27.

Herpesvirus saimiri expresses several non-coding RNAs (HSUR

HSUR

HSURs are viral small regulatory RNAs. They are found in Herpesvirus saimiri which is responsible for aggressive T-cell leukemias in primates. They are nuclear RNAs which bind host proteins to form small nuclear ribonucleoproteins . The RNAs are 114-143 nucleotides in length and the HSUR family...

s) which have been found to significantly reduce the level of mir-27 in a host cell. It has been proposed that miR-27 operates together with miR-23 and mir-24

Mir-24 microRNA precursor family

The miR-24 microRNA precursor is a small non-coding RNA molecule that regulates gene expression. microRNAs are transcribed as ~70 nucleotide precursors and subsequently processed by the Dicer enzyme to give a mature ~22 nucleotide product. In this case the mature sequence comes from the 3' arm of...

 in a co-operative cluster.

Functions

miR-27 is one of a number of microRNAs implicated in cholesterol

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a complex isoprenoid. Specifically, it is a waxy steroid of fat that is produced in the liver or intestines. It is used to produce hormones and cell membranes and is transported in the blood plasma of all mammals. It is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes...

 homeostasis and fatty acid metabolism

Fatty acid metabolism

Fatty acids are an important source of energy and adenosine triphosphate for many cellular organisms. Excess fatty acids, glucose, and other nutrients can be stored efficiently as fat. Triglycerides yield more than twice as much energy for the same mass as do carbohydrates or proteins. All cell...

. It is also thought to be a activator of the Wnt signaling pathway

Wnt signaling pathway

The Wnt signaling pathway is a network of proteins best known for their roles in embryogenesis and cancer, but also involved in normal physiological processes in adult animals.-Discovery:...

, affecting the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cell

Mesenchymal stem cell

Mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs, are multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types, including: osteoblasts , chondrocytes and adipocytes...

s.

mir-27 is known to regulate components involved in numerous types of cancer, including breast

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...

 and ovarian

Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from the ovary. Symptoms are frequently very subtle early on and may include: bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating and frequent urination, and are easily confused with other illnesses....

.