Population-specific genetic variation at microRNA-629-binding site in the 3'-untranslated region of NBS1 gene in Ovarian Cancer Patients

Abstract

Objective: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key gene regulators of wide ranging biological pathways and early studies have shown that miRNA expression is misrepresented in cancer and experimental data substantiates the fact that cancer phenotypes can be modified by targeting miRNA expression. Data obtained through high-throughput technologies is deepening our understanding about the fact that miRNAs bind to target sequences in mRNAs, typically resulting in repressed gene expression. It has been convincingly revealed that loss or gain of miRNA function can be caused by a single point mutation in either the miRNA or its target or by epigenetic silencing of primary miRNA transcription units.