MicroRNAs and genomic instability

Abstract

A new species of non-coding RNA, microRNAs (miRNAs) has been identified that may regulate the expression of as many as one third to one half of all protein encoding genes. MicroRNAs are found throughout mammalian genomes, but an association between the location of these miRNAs and regions of genomic instability (or fragile sites) in humans has been suggested [1]. In this review we discuss the possible role of altered miRNA expression on human cancer and conduct an analysis correlating the physical location of murine miRNAs with sites of genetic alteration in mouse models of cancer.

Figures

Figure 1

A representation of the biogenesis of microRNAs and possible mechanisms by which they mediate gene silencing

Figure 2

Alignment of mouse microRNAs and gene markers associated with retroviral integration sites in mouse models of cancer. Gene names are shown on the left of each chromosome and the microRNAs on the right and are marked by their approximate position in mega-bases (Mb). Clusters of genes associated with retroviral integration sites and clusters of miRNAs are shown within shaded boxes.