Long noncoding RNAs: p53's secret weapon in the fight against cancer?

PLoS Biol. 2019 Feb 13;17(2):e3000143. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000143. eCollection 2019 Feb.

Abstract

p53 regulates the expression of hundreds of genes. Recent surprising observations indicate that no single protein-coding gene controls the tumor suppressor effects of p53. This raises the possibility that a subset of these genes, regulated by a p53-induced long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), could control p53's tumor suppressor function. We propose molecular mechanisms through which lncRNAs could regulate this subset of genes and hypothesize an exciting, direct role of lncRNAs in p53's genome stability maintenance function. Exploring these mechanisms could reveal lncRNAs as indispensable mediators of p53 and lay the foundation for understanding how other transcription factors could act via lncRNAs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
  • DNA, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • DNA, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genome, Human*
  • Genomic Instability
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / metabolism
  • Recombinational DNA Repair
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53