Expression and roles of microRNAs in cell cycle

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non-coding RNAs involved in the process of silencing gene expression. The mature miRNAs of 20-24 nucleotides direct the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) to silence the expression of their complement target mRNAs. Emerging evidences suggest that changes in miRNA levels in tumors can affect the expression of cell division cycle-related targets, hence contributing to tumorigenesis. In this study, the change in the expression of 339 miRNAs during the progression of cell cycle of HuH7 and HepG2 cells was examined. Among the miRNAs that are differentially expressed during the cell cycle, miR-193a and miR-210 were found to be up-regulated in HuH7 cells during the G2/M phase. These two miRNAs were also found to decrease cell proliferation by delaying cell cycle progression. Upon further analysis, Yes1, a member of the Src family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases, was found to be a target of miR-210.