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Updated: Oct 18, 2025

A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells
Published on: June 16, 2022
Splice and Dice: Intronic microRNAs, Splicing and Cancer
Alex C H Wong1,2, John E J Rasko1,2,3
1Gene & Stem Cell Therapy Program, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown 2050, Australia.
Abstract:
Introns span only a quarter of the human genome, yet they host around 60% of all known microRNAs. Emerging evidence indicates the adaptive advantage of microRNAs residing within introns is attributed to their complex co-regulation with transcription and alternative splicing of their host genes. Intronic microRNAs are often co-expressed with their host genes, thereby providing functional synergism or antagonism that is exploited or decoupled in cancer. Additionally, intronic microRNA biogenesis and the alternative splicing of host transcript are co-regulated and intertwined. The importance of intronic microRNAs is under-recognized in relation to the pathogenesis of cancer.
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