Plant RNAs Found in Mammals | The Scientist

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As if viruses and bacteria weren't enough, it now appears that plant microRNA's can be found in the blood and tissues of humans and other plant-eating mammals, and that they can affect gene expression. One microRNA , MIR168a, which is highly enriched in rice, inhibits a protein that helps removes low-density lipoprotein (LDL) from the blood, suggesting that microRNAs can influence gene expression across kingdoms.We are what we eat takes on a new meaning.