Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

CRISPR Gene Editing Tool for MicroRNA Cluster Network Analysis
10:40

CRISPR Gene Editing Tool for MicroRNA Cluster Network Analysis

Published on: April 25, 2022

mir-17-92: a polycistronic oncomir with pleiotropic functions

Virginie Olive1, Qijing Li, Lin He

  • 1Division of Cellular and Developmental Biology, MCB Department, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94705, USA.

Immunological Reviews
|April 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The mir-17-92 microRNA (miRNA) oncogene, a cluster of six individual miRNAs, drives tumor development. Its complex structure and interactions enable diverse functions in normal and cancerous cells.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Neoplastic transformation involves genetic lesions leading to uncontrolled cell growth.
  • Non-coding RNAs, especially microRNAs (miRNAs), are crucial in tumor initiation and progression.
  • The mir-17-92 miRNA cluster is a well-known oncogene frequently amplified in various cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the functional importance of the mir-17-92 miRNA cluster in tumor development.
  • To understand the unique characteristics of polycistronic miRNA oncogenes.
  • To explore the distinct biological functions of individual mir-17-92 components.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of miRNA gene structure and function.
  • Investigation of miRNA interactions and cellular processes.
  • Functional dissection of individual miRNA components within the cluster.

Main Results:

  • The mir-17-92 cluster encodes a polycistronic transcript yielding six distinct miRNAs.
  • Individual mir-17-92 components exhibit unique biological functions.
  • These functions collectively regulate cellular processes critical for development and disease.

Conclusions:

  • The structural complexity of mir-17-92 as a polycistronic oncogene contributes to its multifaceted roles.
  • Interactions among mir-17-92 components underpin its functional complexity in normal and tumor development.
  • Understanding mir-17-92 is key to comprehending miRNA-driven oncogenesis.

More Related Videos

Characterization of Functionally Associated miRNAs in Glioblastoma and their Engineering into Artificial Clusters for Gene Therapy09:40

Characterization of Functionally Associated miRNAs in Glioblastoma and their Engineering into Artificial Clusters for Gene Therapy

Published on: October 4, 2019

A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells06:48

A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells

Published on: June 16, 2022

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...
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 ends...
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells01:06

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic cells are...
Pleiotropy01:33

Pleiotropy

Pleiotropy is the phenomenon in which a single gene impacts multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits. For example, defects in the SOX10 gene cause Waardenburg Syndrome Type 4, or WS4, which can cause defects in pigmentation, hearing impairments, and an absence of intestinal contractions necessary for elimination. This diversity of phenotypes results from the expression pattern of SOX10 in early embryonic and fetal development. SOX10 is found in neural crest cells that form melanocytes,...
piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs02:57

piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs

PIWI-interacting RNAs, or piRNAs, are the most abundant short non-coding RNAs. More than 20,000 genes have been found in humans that code for piRNAs while only 2000 genes have been found for miRNAs. piRNAs can act at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and have a vital role in silencing transposable elements present in germ cells. They are also involved in epigenetic silencing and activation. Previously, they were thought to function only in germ cells but new evidence suggests...