Implications in Cancer of Nuclear Micro RNAs, Long Non-Coding RNAs, and Circular RNAs Bound by PRC2 and FUS

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genomics
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Eukaryotic genomes primarily produce non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), encompassing microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs).
• While miRNAs are typically cytosolic, nuclear miRNAs have been identified and functionally studied.
• lncRNAs regulate nuclear biological processes within ribonucleoprotein complexes, and circRNAs, though less characterized, are implicated in biological functions and diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent findings on nuclear-localized ncRNAs in cancer.
• To focus on miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs interacting with Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) or Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) proteins.
• To highlight the mechanistic roles and diagnostic/therapeutic potential of these nuclear ncRNAs.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on nuclear ncRNAs and cancer.
• Analysis of functional characterization of nuclear miRNAs.
• Examination of lncRNAs and circRNAs associated with PRC2 and FUS.

Main Results:

• Nuclear miRNAs have demonstrated functional roles relevant to cancer.
• lncRNAs and circRNAs interacting with PRC2 or FUS are involved in key cellular processes.
• These ncRNAs show promise as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets in oncology.

Conclusions:

• Nuclear ncRNAs, including miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, are critical players in cancer biology.
• Their interactions with proteins like PRC2 and FUS offer insights into regulatory mechanisms.
• Further research into nuclear ncRNAs holds significant potential for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.