Small non-coding miRNAs (microRNAs) are emerging as key factors involved in cancer at all stages ranging from initiation to metastasis. MIRN21 is an miRNA gene that codes for the miR-21 miRNA which has been found to be overexpressed in many tumour samples where it has been analysed. Whereas consistent overexpression of miR-21 in tumours could be suggestive of functional effects of miR-21 in cancer, more in-depth functional studies with miR-21 are demonstrating that mir-21 displays oncogenic activity and can be classed as an oncomir. Extensive efforts are underway to identify the downstream genes and gene networks regulated by miR-21 and to identify the upstream factors that are regulating expression of miR-21. Even though miR-21 is one of the most intensively studied miRNAs, for all miRNAs, our understanding of miRNA signalling pathways is currently in its early stages. The unravelling of such RNA signalling pathways and networks will be key to understanding the role that dysregulated miRNA functioning can play in oncogenic processes.
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August 2009
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Conference Article|
July 22 2009
miR-21 as a key regulator of oncogenic processes
S. Duygu Selcuklu;
S. Duygu Selcuklu
1Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Biochemistry Department and Biosciences Institute, Lee Maltings 2.10, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Mark T.A. Donoghue;
Mark T.A. Donoghue
1Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Biochemistry Department and Biosciences Institute, Lee Maltings 2.10, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Charles Spillane
Charles Spillane
1
1Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Biochemistry Department and Biosciences Institute, Lee Maltings 2.10, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email c.spillane@ucc.ie).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
January 27 2009
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Biochemical Society
2009
Biochem Soc Trans (2009) 37 (4): 918–925.
Article history
Received:
January 27 2009
Citation
S. Duygu Selcuklu, Mark T.A. Donoghue, Charles Spillane; miR-21 as a key regulator of oncogenic processes. Biochem Soc Trans 1 August 2009; 37 (4): 918–925. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0370918
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