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Functional screens identify coordinators of RNA molecule birth, life, and death as targetable cancer vulnerabilities

Christian J Braun1, Michael T Hemann2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.

Current Opinion in Genetics & Development
|May 24, 2019
PubMed

Insights

RNA binding proteins (RBPs) and non-coding RNAs regulate gene expression throughout the RNA lifecycle. Understanding these RNA regulators is crucial for cancer biology and developing new therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cancer Biology

Background:

  • RNA molecules undergo complex co-transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation.
  • RNA binding proteins (RBPs) and non-coding RNAs influence mRNA stability, splicing, localization, and decay.
  • These RNA regulators are integral to gene expression programs in normal physiology and cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review key regulatory gene expression processes governed by RNA lifecycle regulators.
  • To highlight the impact of functional genomics on accelerating discovery in this field.
  • To discuss the role of RNA regulatory mechanisms in tumor biology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on RNA biology and cancer.
  • Focus on functional genomics approaches (transposons, RNAi, CRISPR).
  • Analysis of four specific regulatory gene expression processes.

Main Results:

  • RBPs and non-coding RNAs are critical for coordinating gene expression.
  • Certain RNA regulators, like splice factors, are identified as cancer vulnerabilities.
  • Functional genomics screens are effective for identifying functional phenotypes and genetic dependencies in cancer cells.

Conclusions:

  • A comprehensive understanding of RNA regulatory mechanisms is essential for cancer research.
  • Investigating the RNA lifecycle offers insights into tumor biology and potential therapeutic targets.
  • Functional genomics accelerates the discovery of RNA-mediated gene expression control in cancer.

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