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MicroRNAs, damage levels, and DNA damage response control

Hartwig Visser1, Adam D Thomas1

  • 1Centre for Research in Bioscience, University of the West of England, Bristol, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK.

Trends in Genetics : TIG
|July 20, 2021
PubMed

Insights

DNA damage-inducible microRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in the DNA damage response, influencing cell survival or apoptosis. Their precise regulatory mechanisms and control over key proteins in this process are still under investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • DNA damage response (DDR) is crucial for maintaining genomic stability.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally.
  • DNA damage-inducible miRNAs are implicated in cellular responses to genotoxic stress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional role of DNA damage-inducible miRNAs in the DNA damage response.
  • To elucidate how miRNAs modulate key proteins involved in cell fate decisions (survival vs. apoptosis) following DNA damage.
  • To understand the regulatory network governing miRNA activity in the context of DNA damage.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinformatic analysis of miRNA expression profiles in response to DNA damage.
  • Experimental validation of miRNA targets using luciferase assays and Western blotting.
  • Cellular assays to assess the impact of miRNA modulation on apoptosis and cell survival.

Main Results:

  • DNA damage-inducible miRNAs are expressed and functional during the DNA damage response.
  • These miRNAs can influence cell fate by regulating the expression of key proteins in the DDR pathway.
  • The precise upstream regulators and hierarchical control of these miRNAs remain to be fully elucidated.

Conclusions:

  • DNA damage-inducible miRNAs are integral components of the DNA damage response.
  • miRNAs contribute to the decision between damage resolution, cell survival, and apoptosis.
  • Further research is needed to fully map the regulatory network and identify the master controllers of miRNA function in DNA damage response.
Keywords:
DNA damage responseapoptosiscell fatemiRNArepair

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