lin-4 encodes a small non-coding temporal RNA (stRNA); lin-4 activity is required for regulating the timing of fate specification in neuronal and hypodermal lineages during postembryonic development; in the hypodermis, lin-4 represses translation of the lin-14 and lin-28 mRNAs, and in the ventral nerve cord, lin-4 regulates the expression of hbl-1 mRNA; in vitro, lin-4 binds the lin-14 mRNA 3' UTR to form an RNA duplex; lin-4 expression is temporally regulated, beginning at the end of the L1 larval stage and increasing to highest levels in adult animals; lin-4 is conserved in mammals and Drosophila, where it is known as miR-125.
Enables mRNA 3'-UTR binding activity. Involved in several processes, including egg-laying behavior; mating; and negative regulation of gene expression. Part of polysome. Expressed in several structures, including P5.p hermaphrodite; P7.p hermaphrodite; gonad; neurons; and ventral nerve cord.