Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 25, 2026
07:23
Dual CRISPR-Interference Strategy for Targeting Synthetic Lethal Interactions Between Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer Cells
Published on: May 30, 2025
1.2K
Long noncoding RNA HOTAIR involvement in cancer.
Yansheng Wu1, Li Zhang, Yang Wang
1Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
Summary
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) like HOTAIR are crucial in cancer epigenetics. HOTAIR promotes cancer metastasis and progression, making it a potential therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly recognized for their roles in epigenetic regulation.
- HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) is a specific long intergenic noncoding RNA (lincRNA) implicated in cancer development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of HOTAIR in epigenetic gene silencing and cancer metastasis.
- To highlight HOTAIR as a potential therapeutic target in oncology.
Main Methods:
- Investigating HOTAIR's function as a molecular scaffold linking PRC2 and LSD1 histone modification complexes.
- Analyzing the reprogramming of chromatin states via coupled histone modifications (H3K27 methylation and H3K4 demethylation).
Main Results:
- HOTAIR acts as a scaffold, linking PRC2 and LSD1 to mediate epigenetic gene silencing.
- Overexpression of HOTAIR is pervasive in solid cancers, correlating with invasion, progression, metastasis, and poor prognosis.
Conclusions:
- HOTAIR functions as an oncogene by promoting cancer metastasis through epigenetic reprogramming.
- HOTAIR represents a promising novel therapeutic target for various cancers.
Related Concept Videos
02:39lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs
7.5K
In humans, more than 80% of the genome gets transcribed. However, only around 2% of the genome codes for proteins. The remaining part produces non-coding RNAs which includes ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, telomerase RNAs, and regulatory RNAs, among other types. A large number of regulatory non-coding RNAs have been classified into two groups depending upon their length – small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNA, which are less than 200 nucleotides in length, and long non-coding RNA...
7.5K
02:39lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs
2.6K
2.6K
01:20Types of RNA
13.9K
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in regulating gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA Performs Diverse...
RNA Performs Diverse...
13.9K
01:22MicroRNAs
3.0K
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...
3.0K
01:22MicroRNAs
20.9K
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...
20.9K
03:18Non-LTR Retrotransposons
12.4K
As the name suggests, non-LTR retrotransposons lack the long terminal repeats characteristic of the LTR retrotransposons. Additionally, both LTR and non-LTR retrotransposons use distinct mechanisms of mobilization. Non-LTR retrotransposons are further divided into two classes - Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs), both of which occur abundantly in most mammals, including humans. Some of the active non-LTR retrotransposons in humans are L1...
12.4K