《生命科学》 2010, 22(7): 634-640

microRNA调控网络与肿瘤

王锐智1，曾春贤1，庄诗美1，2*

1 中山大学生命科学学院有害生物控制与资源利用国家重点实验室，广州 510275；2 中山大学附属第三医院广东省肝脏疾病研究重点实验室，广州 510630

摘　要：摘　要：microRNA(miRNA)是一类长度约为22 nt的小分子非编码RNA，对基因表达进行转录后调控。基因调控网络由各种回路，如前馈和反馈回路组成。它通过将外界刺激整合成合适的输出信号，控制细胞从增殖到死亡几乎所有的生命活动。已知基因调控网络的失调与肿瘤的发生发展密切相关。新近的实验证据表明，miRNA广泛参与基因调控网络中的反馈和前馈回路。该文主要介绍miRNA在基因表达调控网络中的作用及其与肿瘤发生发展的关系。
关键词：miRNA调控网络；反馈回路；前馈回路；肿瘤

MicroRNA regulatory network and cancer

WANG Rui-zhi1， ZENG Chun-xian 1， ZHUANG Shi-mei 1，2*

1 State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol， School of Life Sciences， Sun Yat-sen University， Guangzhou 510275， China; 2 Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province， the Third Affiliated Hospital， Sun Yat-sen University，Guangzhou 510630， China

Abstract: Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short (~22 nt)， regulatory non-coding RNAs that inhibit the expression of protein-coding genes through binding to the 3{$39}-untranslated region (3{$39}UTR) of target mRNAs. Gene regulatory networks， which are made up of basic subcircuits， such as feedback and feedforward loops， control a wide range of biological processes， including development， cell differentiation， proliferation and apoptosis. Deregulation of gene regulatory network is highly associated with tumorigenesis. Emerging evidences suggest that miRNAs act as critical motifs of feedback and feedforward loops. This review summarizes the recent advance in the research field of miRNA regulatory network and its association with tumorigenesis.
Key words: miRNA; gene regulatory network; feedback loop; feedforward loop; cancer