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Engineering Artificial Factors to Specifically Manipulate Alternative Splicing in Human Cells
Published on: April 26, 2017
Aberrant alternative splicing in cancer: Splicing events and their regulatory mechanisms (Review)
1Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, P.R. China.
Abstract:
Alternative RNA splicing provides cells with transcriptomic and proteomic diversity by adding another layer of regulation to gene expression. Accumulating evidence has revealed that defects in alternative splicing contribute to a variety of features of cancer development, including the modulation of cancer heterogeneity, evasion of apoptosis of cancer cells, rewiring cancer metabolism and facilitating cancer metastasis via fine‑tuning the epithelial‑to‑mesenchymal transition process. In this review, well‑known aberrant alternative splicing events associated with multiple aspects of cancer progression were presented based on available data obtained from an extensive literature search used to construct splicing regulatory networks for each of these events. The study aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of cancer‑associated splicing networks and more precise guidance for targeting these events for cancer treatment.
Insights
Alternative RNA splicing defects drive cancer progression by affecting heterogeneity, apoptosis, metabolism, and metastasis. Understanding these cancer-associated splicing networks offers new therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Alternative RNA splicing regulates gene expression, contributing to cellular diversity.
- Aberrant alternative splicing is increasingly linked to cancer development and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review known alternative splicing events in cancer.
- To construct splicing regulatory networks for these events.
- To guide targeted cancer therapies.
Main Methods:
- Extensive literature search for aberrant alternative splicing events in cancer.
- Analysis of available data to build splicing regulatory networks.
Main Results:
- Identified key alternative splicing events influencing cancer heterogeneity, apoptosis, metabolism, and metastasis.
- Established splicing regulatory networks for multiple cancer-associated splicing events.
Conclusions:
- Defects in alternative splicing play a significant role in various aspects of cancer progression.
- Targeting cancer-associated splicing networks presents a promising therapeutic strategy.
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