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Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs02:30

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
Nucleic Acid Structure01:25

Nucleic Acid Structure

The pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the pentose sugar is ribose. The difference between the sugars is the presence of the hydroxyl group on the ribose's second carbon and a hydrogen on the deoxyribose's second carbon. The phosphate residue attaches to the hydroxyl group of the 5′ carbon of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of the 3′ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide, which forms  a 5′ to 3′ phosphodiester linkage.
DNA Structure
DNA has a double-helix structure. The...

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MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method
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MicroRNAs: shortcuts in dealing with molecular complexity?

Gabriela Dontu1, Emanuele de Rinaldis

  • 1King's College London, Department of Research Oncology, Division of Cancer Studies, Guy's Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 RT, UK. gabriela.dontu@kcl.ac.uk

Breast Cancer Research : BCR
|February 4, 2010
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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) show promise as universal cancer stem cell markers, reflecting cell differentiation across species. Downregulation of miRNA-200c impacts stem cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo.

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Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Stem Cell Research

Background:

  • Cancer stem cell biology seeks universal markers for identifying and targeting cancer-initiating cells.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs involved in gene regulation, with potential roles in stemness and cancer.
  • Previous research has not definitively identified universal markers for cancer stem cells across different tissues and species.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether microRNAs (miRNAs) can serve as universal stem cell markers in cancer biology.
  • To determine if distinct miRNA profiles correlate with cell differentiation states in normal and malignant breast cells.
  • To explore the functional significance of specific miRNAs, such as miRNA-200c, in regulating stem cell proliferation.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of miRNA expression profiles in normal mammary epithelial cells and breast cancer cells.
  • Comparison of miRNA profiles across different tissues and species to assess conservation.
  • Functional studies involving the manipulation (downregulation) of miRNA-200c in breast stem cells and embryonal carcinoma cells.
  • In vitro and in vivo assays to evaluate the impact of miRNA modulation on cell proliferation.

Main Results:

  • Distinct miRNA expression profiles were observed, correlating with cell differentiation states in both normal and malignant breast cells.
  • These miRNA profiles demonstrated conservation across different tissues and species, suggesting a universal role.
  • Downregulation of miRNA-200c was found to be functionally relevant, directly influencing the proliferative capacity of normal and malignant breast stem cells, as well as embryonal carcinoma cells.
  • The observed effects of miRNA-200c downregulation were significant both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent potential universal stem cell markers sought after in cancer stem cell biology.
  • miRNA expression patterns are indicative of cell differentiation and are conserved across species, highlighting their fundamental role.
  • miRNA-200c plays a critical role in controlling the proliferative potential of stem cells, and its downregulation is linked to increased stemness in both normal and cancerous contexts.