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Updated: Jan 31, 2026
High-throughput Screening for Chemical Modulators of Post-transcriptionally Regulated Genes
Published on: March 3, 2015
Post-transcriptional regulations of cancer stem cell homeostasis
Nabila Berabez1,2, Sébastien Durand1,2, Mathieu Gabut1,2
1Equipe 'Transcriptome Diversity in Stem Cells', Cancer Cell Plasticity Department, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon.
Purpose Of Review:
Although extensively studied for over a decade, gene expression programs established at the epigenetic and/or transcriptional levels do not fully characterize cancer stem cells (CSC). This review will highlight the latest advances regarding the functional relevance of different key post-transcriptional regulations and how they are coordinated to control CSC homeostasis.
Recent Findings:
In the past 2 years, several groups have identified master post-transcriptional regulators of CSC genetic programs, including RNA modifications, RNA-binding proteins, microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs. Of particular interest, these studies reveal that different post-transcriptional mechanisms are coordinated to control key signalling pathways and transcription factors to either support or suppress CSC homeostasis.
Summary:
Deciphering molecular mechanisms coordinating plasticity, survival and tumourigenic capacities of CSCs in adult and paediatric cancers is essential to design new antitumour therapies. An entire field of research focusing on post-transcriptional gene expression regulation is currently emerging and will significantly improve our understanding of the complexity of the molecular circuitries driving CSC behaviours and of druggable CSC weaknesses.
Insights
Post-transcriptional regulation, including RNA modifications and noncoding RNAs, is crucial for cancer stem cell (CSC) function. Understanding these mechanisms offers new therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are key drivers of tumor initiation and progression.
- Epigenetic and transcriptional programs alone do not fully define CSCs.
- A deeper understanding of CSC regulation is needed for novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in post-transcriptional regulation of CSCs.
- To highlight the functional relevance of various post-transcriptional mechanisms.
- To explore how these mechanisms coordinate CSC homeostasis.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent literature (past 2 years) on post-transcriptional regulators in CSCs.
- Identification of key RNA modifications, RNA-binding proteins, microRNAs, and long noncoding RNAs.
- Analysis of how these regulators impact signaling pathways and transcription factors.
Main Results:
- Master post-transcriptional regulators of CSC genetic programs have been identified.
- RNA modifications, RNA-binding proteins, microRNAs, and lncRNAs play significant roles.
- Coordinated post-transcriptional mechanisms control CSC homeostasis by influencing signaling pathways and transcription factors.
Conclusions:
- Post-transcriptional gene expression regulation is an emerging field critical for understanding CSCs.
- These mechanisms are essential for coordinating CSC plasticity, survival, and tumorigenicity.
- Targeting post-transcriptional regulation offers potential for new antitumour therapies by exploiting CSC vulnerabilities.
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