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Updated: Jun 4, 2025

Real-Time Quantitative Measurement of Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion Following Synthetic mRNA Transfection
Published on: June 23, 2023
RNA-binding protein quaking: a multifunctional regulator in tumour progression
Wangyu Zhu1,2, Weiwei Yang1,2, Guoping Sun3
1Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Zhoushan Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China.
Background:
Quaking (QKI) is a member of the signal transduction and activators of RNA (STAR) family, performing a crucial multifunctional regulatory role in alternative splicing, mRNA precursor processing, mRNA transport and localization, mRNA stabilization, and translation during tumour progression. Abnormal QKI expression or fusion mutations lead to aberrant RNA and protein expression, thereby promoting tumour progression. However, in many types of tumour, QKI played a role as tumour suppressor, the regulatory role of QKI in tumour progression remains ambiguous.
Objectives:
This review aims to analyze the isoform and function of QKI, the impact of QKI-regulated gene expression or signalling pathway alterations on tumour progression, and its potential clinical applications as a predictive marker or target for tumour therapy.
Methods:
We reviewed recent studies and summarized the function of QKI alteration in tumour progression.
Results:
QKI mediate post-transcriptional gene regulation including alternative splicing, polyadenylation, mRNA stabilization, mRNA subcellular location, and noncoding RNA by binding to the QRE elements of targeted nucleotide. The dysregulation of QKI is intricately correlated to tumour proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, tumor stem cells, the tumour microenvironment, and treatment sensitivity, and represents as a potential biological predictor in tumour diagnosis and prognosis.
Conclusions:
QKI play a critical role as tumour suppressor or an oncogene in tumour progression due to the different splicing sites and transcripts with various tumour subtype or tumor micorenvironment. Ongoing research about QKI's functions and mechanisms persist is required to conduct for better understanding the role of QKI in tumour regulation.
Insights
Quaking (QKI) regulates RNA processing and impacts tumor progression, acting as both an oncogene and tumor suppressor. Further research is needed to fully understand its complex role in cancer development and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
- RNA Biology
Background:
- Quaking (QKI), a STAR family member, is vital for RNA processing, including splicing, transport, and translation.
- Aberrant QKI expression or mutations contribute to tumor progression by altering RNA and protein expression.
- QKI's role in cancer is complex, functioning as both an oncogene and a tumor suppressor depending on the tumor type.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review QKI isoforms and functions in tumor progression.
- To analyze the impact of QKI-regulated gene expression on cancer.
- To explore QKI's potential as a predictive marker and therapeutic target in oncology.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of recent scientific literature.
- Summarization of QKI's functional alterations in tumor progression.
Main Results:
- QKI regulates post-transcriptional gene expression, affecting alternative splicing, polyadenylation, mRNA stability, and localization.
- QKI dysregulation correlates with tumor proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, stem cells, microenvironment, and treatment sensitivity.
- QKI alterations serve as potential biomarkers for tumor diagnosis and prognosis.
Conclusions:
- QKI acts as a critical tumor suppressor or oncogene in tumor progression, influenced by splicing variations and tumor microenvironment.
- Understanding QKI's diverse roles requires ongoing research into its mechanisms and functions in cancer regulation.
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