miRNA and Cancer

Question 1

how can miRNA act as a tumour suppressor (2)

Answer 1

• it can normally act to suppress translation of an oncogene

- a lof mutation could result in elevated levels of oncogene expression and promotion of tumour formation

Question 2

how can miRNA act as an oncogene (2)

Answer 2

• it can normally regulate the translation of a tumour suppressor gene
• a gof mutation could promote cancer by abnormal blocking of expression of tumour suppressor

Question 3

how would you identify genes that are potentially regulated by a miRNA

Answer 3

• search the miRNA sequence against the genome to find regions of hybridization

Question 4

how would you confirm the identify of genes that are regulated by a miRNA

Answer 4

• western/RNA blots