Sunandan Divatia School of Science, SVKM's NMIMS (Deemed to be) University, Mumbai, 400056, Maharashtra, India.
Sunandan Divatia School of Science, SVKM's NMIMS (Deemed to be) University, Mumbai, 400056, Maharashtra, India.
Cancer Lett. 2021 Apr 1;502:120-132. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.12.036. Epub 2021 Jan 13.
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to regulate various biological processes including cancer. Cancer cells possess limitless replicative potential which is attained by telomere length maintenance while normal somatic cells have a limited lifespan because their telomeres shorten with every cell division ultimately triggering replicative senescence. Two lncRNAs have been observed to play a key role in telomere length maintenance. First is the lncRNA TERC (telomerase RNA component) which functions as a template for telomeric DNA synthesis in association with telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) which serves as the catalytic component. Together they constitute the telomerase complex which functions as a reverse transcriptase to elongate telomeres. Second lncRNA that helps in regulating telomere length is the telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) which is transcribed from the subtelomeric region and extends to the telomeric region. TERC and TERRA exhibit important functions in cancer with implications in precision oncology. In this review, we discuss various aspects of these important lncRNAs in humans and their role in cancer along with recent advancements in their anticancer therapeutic application.
长链非编码 RNA(lncRNA)被认为调节包括癌症在内的各种生物过程。癌细胞具有无限的复制潜力,这是通过端粒长度维持来实现的,而正常体细胞的寿命有限,因为它们的端粒随着每次细胞分裂而缩短,最终引发复制性衰老。已经观察到两种 lncRNA 在端粒长度维持中发挥关键作用。第一个是 lncRNA TERC(端粒酶 RNA 成分),它与端粒酶逆转录酶(TERT)结合作为端粒 DNA 合成的模板,TERT 作为催化成分。它们共同构成端粒酶复合物,作为逆转录酶来延长端粒。另一种有助于调节端粒长度的 lncRNA 是端粒重复 RNA(TERRA),它从端粒旁区转录,并延伸到端粒区。TERC 和 TERRA 在癌症中具有重要功能,对精准肿瘤学具有重要意义。在这篇综述中,我们讨论了这些在人类中重要的 lncRNA 的各个方面及其在癌症中的作用,以及它们在抗癌治疗应用方面的最新进展。