Role of the lncRNA-p53 regulatory network in cancer

J Mol Cell Biol. 2014 Jun;6(3):181-91. doi: 10.1093/jmcb/mju013. Epub 2014 Apr 9.

Abstract

Advances in functional genomics have led to discovery of a large group of previous uncharacterized long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Emerging evidence indicates that lncRNAs may serve as master gene regulators through various mechanisms. Dysregulation of lncRNAs is often associated with a variety of human diseases including cancer. Of significant interest, recent studies suggest that lncRNAs participate in the p53 tumor suppressor regulatory network. In this review, we discuss how lncRNAs serve as p53 regulators or p53 effectors. Further characterization of these p53-associated lncRNAs in cancer will provide a better understanding of lncRNA-mediated gene regulation in the p53 pathway. As a result, lncRNAs may prove to be valuable biomarkers for cancer diagnosis or potential targets for cancer therapy.

Keywords: gene regulation; lncRNA; oncogenes; p53; tumor suppressor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Regulatory Networks*
  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / metabolism*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics*

Substances

  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53