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Non-coding RNA production by RNA polymerase III is implicated in cancer

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 8, pages 911–914 (2008)Cite this article

A Corrigendum to this article was published on 13 September 2012

Abstract

RNA polymerase III (Pol III) makes a variety of small non-coding RNAs, such as tRNA and 5S ribosomal RNA. Increased expression of pol III products is often observed in transformed cells. Much progress has been made in determining how Pol III-dependent transcription is regulated and how it increases in cancers, but the importance of this increase has not been clearly established. New evidence suggests that Pol III output can substantially affect transformation.

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Figure 1: RNA polymerase III (Pol III) transcription complex assembly is stimulated by PI3K and Akt signalling and inhibited by PTEN.
Figure 2: The transcription factor TFIIIB is a target for many regulators that have been implicated in cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Robert J. White and Lynne Marshall are at the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD and the Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.,

    Lynne Marshall & Robert J. White

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Correspondence to Robert J. White.

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Marshall, L., White, R. Non-coding RNA production by RNA polymerase III is implicated in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 8, 911–914 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc2539

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