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Cancer genetics

Micro enhancement

Nature Reviews Genetics volume 8, pages 326–327 (2007)Cite this article

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in many biological processes, and a wide range of functions has been attributed to them. For example, individual miRNAs have been ascribed oncogenic function. A new study now shows that global repression of miRNA maturation in vitro and in vivo promotes cellular transformation and tumorigenesis.

It has previously been shown that levels of mature miRNAs are reduced in cancer cells in comparison with normal tissues. To investigate this further, Kumar et al. knocked down Drosha , DGCR8 and Dicer1 — all known regulators of miRNA processing — in mouse lung adenocarcinoma cells. Although the knockdown was not absolute, it did have striking effects: cells with impaired miRNA processing formed larger colonies and foci in vitro — both hallmarks of enhanced transformation, which results from increased proliferation. Similar results were seen in three independent human cancer cell lines.

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References

ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Kumar, M. S. et al. Impaired microRNA processing enhances cellular transformation and tumorigenesis. Nature Genet. 1 April 2007 (doi:10.1038/ng2003)

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FURTHER READING

  1. Calin, G. A. & Croce, C. M. MicroRNA signatures in human cancers. Nature Rev. Cancer 6, 857–866 (2006)

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Authors
  1. Magdalena Skipper
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Skipper, M. Micro enhancement. Nat Rev Genet 8, 326–327 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg2116

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg2116

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