Gao Yulan, Takenaka Konii, Xu Si-Mei, Cheng Yuning, Janitz Michael
School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Gate 11 via Botany St, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
Brief Funct Genomics. 2025 Jan 15;24. doi: 10.1093/bfgp/elaf005.
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are RNA molecules that are transcribed from DNA but are not translated into proteins. Studies over the past decades have revealed that ncRNAs can be classified into small RNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs by genomic size and structure. Accumulated evidences have eludicated the critical roles of these non-coding transcripts in regulating gene expression through transcription and translation, thereby shaping cellular function and disease pathogenesis. Notably, recent studies have investigated the function of ncRNAs as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) that sequester miRNAs and modulate mRNAs expression. The ceRNAs network emerges as a pivotal regulatory function, with significant implications in various diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disease. Therefore, we highlighted multiple bioinformatics tools and databases that aim to predict ceRNAs interaction. Furthermore, we discussed limitations of using current technologies and potential improvement for ceRNAs network detection. Understanding of the dynamic interplay within ceRNAs may advance the biological comprehension, as well as providing potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
非编码RNA(ncRNAs)是从DNA转录而来但不翻译成蛋白质的RNA分子。过去几十年的研究表明,ncRNAs可根据基因组大小和结构分为小RNA、长链非编码RNA和环状RNA。越来越多的证据表明,这些非编码转录本在通过转录和翻译调节基因表达方面发挥着关键作用,从而塑造细胞功能和疾病发病机制。值得注意的是,最近的研究调查了ncRNAs作为竞争性内源RNA(ceRNAs)的功能,ceRNAs可隔离微小RNA(miRNAs)并调节信使RNA(mRNAs)的表达。ceRNAs网络作为一种关键的调节功能出现,对癌症和神经退行性疾病等各种疾病具有重要意义。因此,我们重点介绍了多种旨在预测ceRNAs相互作用的生物信息学工具和数据库。此外,我们还讨论了使用当前技术的局限性以及ceRNAs网络检测的潜在改进方法。了解ceRNAs内部的动态相互作用可能会促进生物学理解,并为治疗干预提供潜在靶点。