Maize miRNAs Might Regulate Human Genes Involved in Prostate Cancer: An In Silico Approach

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Bioinformatics
• Genetics

Background:

• MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally.
• Plant miRNAs can survive digestion and mediate cross-kingdom intercellular communication.
• Dietary intake of plant-derived miRNAs suggests potential physiological effects in humans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To computationally identify interactions between maize (Zea mays) miRNAs and human coding mRNAs.
• To explore the potential biological roles and pathways influenced by these cross-kingdom interactions.
• To investigate the specific impact on pathways relevant to human diseases, such as cancer.

Main Methods:

• Utilized computational approaches to predict miRNA-mRNA interactions.
• Performed functional enrichment analysis using Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway databases.
• Focused analysis on pathways implicated in human diseases, particularly prostate cancer.

Main Results:

• Identified 961 unique human genes potentially regulated by maize miRNAs.
• Functional enrichment analysis revealed maize miRNAs' potential involvement in various biological processes.
• Specifically, 13 genes within the prostate cancer pathway were found to be potentially regulated by 15 maize miRNAs.

Conclusions:

• Maize-derived miRNAs can potentially regulate human gene expression, indicating significant cross-kingdom effects.
• These findings provide insights into the biological impact of dietary plant miRNAs on human health.
• Highlights the potential of plant miRNAs for future research in therapeutic applications, especially in cancer treatment.