Aberrant splicing in human cancer: An RNA structural code point of view

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genetics
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Alternative splicing generates transcriptome and proteome diversity in eukaryotes.
• Aberrant splicing is linked to cancer development, with a focus on splicing regulators.
• The role of RNA secondary structures in splicing fidelity has been underestimated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent findings on RNA secondary structures in splicing regulation.
• To emphasize the importance of RNA G-quadruplex structures (rG4s) and other RNA motifs.
• To highlight novel techniques for identifying RNA structural elements and their therapeutic potential in cancer.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent high-throughput methodologies.
• Analysis of bioinformatic tools for RNA structure identification.
• Focus on studies investigating RNA structural elements as splicing regulators.

Main Results:

• RNA secondary structures, including rG4s, act as critical regulators of alternative splicing.
• Specific RNA motifs function as splicing silencers or enhancers.
• Novel techniques enable the identification of these regulatory RNA structures.

Conclusions:

• RNA secondary structures represent a significant layer of splicing regulation.
• Understanding these structures is key to deciphering splicing fidelity.
• RNA structural elements offer potential for developing novel cancer therapeutics.