An RNA interference pathway in which microRNAs (miRNAs) direct the cleavage of target mRNAs. Once incorporated into a RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), a miRNA base pairing with near-perfect complementarity to the target mRNA will typically direct targeted endonucleolytic cleavage of the mRNA. Many plant miRNAs downregulate gene expression through this mechanism.
mRNA deadenylation-mediated gene silencing by miRNA