MIR34A

MIR34A is a microRNA that is encoded by the MIR34A gene in humans. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that function in the regulation of gene expression by targeting messenger RNA (mRNA) and causing its degradation or inhibiting its translation.

Function

MIR34A is part of the microRNA-34 family, which is known to be involved in the regulation of various cellular processes, including apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and senescence. It acts as a tumor suppressor and is often downregulated in various types of cancer.

Clinical Significance

The expression of MIR34A is frequently altered in cancer, and it has been studied as a potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. It is also being investigated as a target for cancer therapy, with the aim of restoring its expression to inhibit tumor growth.

Research

Studies have shown that MIR34A can induce cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase and promote apoptosis in cancer cells. It achieves this by targeting multiple oncogenes, including MYC, MET, and BCL2.

See Also

• MicroRNA
• Gene expression
• Cancer
• Tumor suppressor gene

External Links

• NCBI Gene: MIR34A
• GeneCards: MIR34A