The Pathway of miRNA Maturation -- Micro RNA Maturation and Human Disease -- Approaches to the Modulation of miRNA Maturation -- Expression Profiling of Components of the miRNA Maturation Machinery -- Primary microRNA Processing Assay Reconstituted using Recombinant Drosha and DGCR8 -- In-vivo processing Assay Based on a Dual Luciferase Reporter System to Evaluate DROSHA Enzymatic Activity -- Assaying Dicer-mediated miRNA Maturation by Means of Fluorescent Substrates -- A Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy-based Enzyme Assay for Human Dicer -- Detection of Micro RNA Maturation Using Unmodified pre-miRNA and Branched Rolling Circle Amplification -- Identification of Inhibitors of microRNA Function from Small Molecule Screens -- Quantitative RT-PCR Specific for Precursor and Mature miRNAs -- Cellular MicroRNA Sensors Based on Luciferase Reporters -- Inhibition of miRNA maturation by Peptide Nucleic Acids -- Molecular Methods for Validation of the Biological Activity of Peptide Nucleic Acids Targeting MicroRNAs -- Lentiviral Overexpression of miRNAs.

In miRNA Maturation: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers in the field detail many of the methods which are now commonly used to study miRNA maturation. These included established methods such as fluorescent and non-fluorescent methods for homogenous assays of Dicer-mediated miRNA maturation or an in vivo assay for Drosha activity. Moreover, the volume also contains useful, but less-common methods that are hard to find elsewhere. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.  Authoritative and practical, miRNA Maturation: Methods and Protocols seeks to widen the view on miRNA as biological mediator and potential drug target.