Junk RNA in Cancer (IMAGE)

InsideOutBio

Junk RNA in Cancer

Caption

Cancer cells overproduce double-stranded RNA from non-coding Alu inverted repeat elements (IREs) that comprise about 10% of the human genome. ADAR and DICER1 suppress cell death pathways and expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISG)(duppresion is shown by blunt-ended lines). These enzymes allowing tumors to maintain immune silence. Mutations to the Z-DNA/Z-RNA binding domains of ADAR cause dysregulation of interferon responses found in other diseases like Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome. Loss of DICER1 is associated with inflammasome activation in age-related macular degeneration. Many cancer cells are dependent on ADAR. Drugs inhibiting ADAR promise to increase the immune response against them and provide a novel treatment for cancer.

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InsideOutBio

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