Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Characterization of Functionally Associated miRNAs in Glioblastoma and their Engineering into Artificial Clusters for Gene Therapy
09:40

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

Published on: October 4, 2019

6.1K

Compound 331 selectively induces glioma cell death by upregulating miR-494 and downregulating CDC20

Lei Zhang1, Tianhui Niu2, Yafei Huang3

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.

Scientific Reports
|July 9, 2015
PubMed

Insights

A novel compound, "331," selectively induces cell death in malignant glioma cells, not normal astrocytes. This targeted therapy upregulates miR-494 and downregulates CDC20, offering a promising new treatment for brain tumors.

Area of Science:

  • Neuro-oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Malignant gliomas represent the most frequent primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors.
  • Current glioma prognoses remain poor, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies with reduced adverse effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify a compound that selectively targets and eliminates glioma cells.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the selective cytotoxicity of the identified compound.

Main Methods:

  • Screening of compounds for selective induction of cell death in glioma cells versus astrocytes.
  • Analysis of microRNA (miR-494) and protein (CDC20) expression levels in response to compound treatment.

Main Results:

  • Compound "331" demonstrated selective induction of cell death in glioma cells, sparing astrocytes.
  • Treatment with compound 331 led to increased miR-494 levels and decreased CDC20 levels specifically in glioma cells.

Conclusions:

  • Compound 331 exhibits potential as a targeted therapeutic agent for malignant gliomas.
  • The selective anti-glioma activity of compound 331 is mediated through the upregulation of miR-494 and downregulation of CDC20.

More Related Videos

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis11:44

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis

Published on: March 30, 2019

8.1K
An In Vitro Protocol for Evaluating MicroRNA Levels, Functions, and Associated Target Genes in Tumor Cells09:45

An In Vitro Protocol for Evaluating MicroRNA Levels, Functions, and Associated Target Genes in Tumor Cells

Published on: May 21, 2019

9.0K

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...
4.3K
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...
24.7K
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.4K
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...
6.3K