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Are snoRNAs and snoRNA host genes new players in cancer?

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 12, pages 84–88 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) have long been considered important but unglamorous elements in the production of the protein synthesis machinery of the cell. Recently, however, several independent lines of evidence have indicated that these non-coding RNAs might have crucial roles in controlling cell behaviour, and snoRNA dysfunction could consequently contribute to oncogenesis in previously unsuspected ways.

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Figure 1: Principal features of the two classes of snoRNA and their pathway of synthesis in mammals.
Figure 2: Potential functions of the GAS5 host gene.
Figure 3: A microRNA and snoRNA-mediated p53 positive-feedback loop.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, Breast Cancer Campaign and the National Cancer Research Institute UK Prostate Cancer Collaborative for financial support and apologize to those authors whose work has not been cited because of space constraints. The authors also acknowledge financial support from the Department of Health via the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre award to Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with King's College London and King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Work in F.F.'s laboratory is also supported by Rosetrees Trust, Elimination of Leukaemia Fund and the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre at King's College London.

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  1. Gwyn T. Williams is at the Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Huxley Building, Keele University, Keele ST5 5BG, UK.,

    Gwyn T. Williams

  2. Department of Haematological Medicine, Farzin Farzaneh is at King's College London, the Rayne Institute, 123 Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 9NU, UK.,

    Farzin Farzaneh

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Williams, G., Farzaneh, F. Are snoRNAs and snoRNA host genes new players in cancer?. Nat Rev Cancer 12, 84–88 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc3195

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