Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Describing a Transcription Factor Dependent Regulation of the MicroRNA Transcriptome
07:23

Describing a Transcription Factor Dependent Regulation of the MicroRNA Transcriptome

Published on: June 15, 2016

8.7K

Regulatory Role of microRNAs Targeting the Transcription Co-Factor ZNF521 in Normal Tissues and Cancers

Emanuela Chiarella1, Annamaria Aloisio1, Stefania Scicchitano1

  • 1Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|August 27, 2021
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs targeting ZNF521 are key in gene regulation and cancer development. Their dysregulation highlights ZNF521 as a potential biomarker for various cancers, aiding diagnosis and prognosis.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and transcription factors (TFs) form networks regulating gene expression.
  • ZNF521, a stem cell-associated co-transcription factor, plays a role in various cell types.
  • Aberrant ZNF521 expression is linked to several human cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biological roles of miRNAs targeting ZNF521.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of ZNF521 dysregulation in malignancy.
  • To explore the potential of the miRNA-ZNF521 axis as cancer biomarkers.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinformatics analysis of miRNA-TF networks.
  • Literature review of ZNF521's role in stem cell regulation and cancer.
  • Analysis of miRNA expression profiling data in tumors.

Main Results:

  • Identification of numerous miRNAs targeting ZNF521.
  • Mechanisms linking ZNF521 dysregulation to oncogenesis are explained.
  • ZNF521 is implicated in hematopoietic, neural, and mesenchymal stem cell regulation.
  • Aberrant ZNF521 expression observed in pancreatic, liver, gastric, bladder, breast, and ovarian cancers.

Conclusions:

  • The miRNA-ZNF521 axis is crucial in cancer development.
  • Dysregulation of this axis contributes to malignancy.
  • miRNAs targeting ZNF521 are promising candidates for cancer diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
Keywords:
ZNF521bioinformatics toolscancermiRNAtranscription factors (TF)

More Related Videos

CRISPR Gene Editing Tool for MicroRNA Cluster Network Analysis10:40

CRISPR Gene Editing Tool for MicroRNA Cluster Network Analysis

Published on: April 25, 2022

2.6K
Genome-wide Screen for miRNA Targets Using the MISSION Target ID Library08:40

Genome-wide Screen for miRNA Targets Using the MISSION Target ID Library

Published on: April 6, 2012

17.7K

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...
3.3K
Master Transcription Regulators02:23

Master Transcription Regulators

Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a  complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
7.2K
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
31.7K
Co-activators and Co-repressors02:04

Co-activators and Co-repressors

Gene transcription is regulated by the synergistic action of several proteins that form a complex at a gene regulatory site. This is observed in eukaryotes, where the regulation of gene expression is a complex process. Regulatory proteins in eukaryotes can broadly be classified into two types – regulators that bind directly to specific DNA sequences and co-regulators that associate with regulatory proteins but cannot directly bind to the DNA. These co-regulators are further divided into...
7.8K
lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs02:39

lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs

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...
9.1K
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...
4.7K