Abstract
Ribosomal DNA is one of the most conserved parts of the genome, especially in its rRNA coding regions, but some puzzling pieces of its noncoding repetitive sequences harbor secrets of cell growth and development machinery. Disruptions in the neat mechanisms of rDNA orchestrating the cell functioning result in malignant conversion. In cancer cells, the organization of rRNA coding genes and their transcription somehow differ from that of normal cells, but little is known about the particular mechanism for this switch. In this study, we demonstrate that the region ~2 kb upstream of the rDNA promoter is transcriptionally active in one type of the most malignant human brain tumors, and we compare its expression rate to that of healthy human tissues and cell cultures. Sense and antisense non-coding RNA transcripts were detected and mapped, but their secondary structure and functions remain to be elucidated. We propose that the transcripts may relate to a new class of so-called promoter-associated RNAs (pRNAs), or have some other regulatory functions. We also hope that the expression of these non-coding RNAs can be used as a marker in glioma diagnostics and prognosis.
Highlights
For many years it was thought that this huge part of rDNA is nonsense and inert, recent studies have demonstrated that intergenic spacer (IGS) is a cell management and control center since it harbors regulatory sequences defining the vital processes in a particular cell [2]
Based on the fact that high proliferation rates of cancers are associated with augmentation in of different origins as well as high rRNA production and ribosome biosynthesis in cancer cells [24,25]
Ribosomal proteins, rDNA and ribosomal RNAs, are possible markers of to find the of possible promoter upstream of the transcription start site of ribosomal cancerAttempting and promising targets anticancer therapy genes we performed the alignment of the 2 kb region in the 40 to 42 kb region of rDNA (U13369.1) to Results known 45S promoter and the predicted spacer promoter [11]
Summary
For many years it was thought that this huge part of rDNA is nonsense and inert, recent studies have demonstrated that IGS is a cell management and control center since it harbors regulatory sequences defining the vital processes in a particular cell [2]. This region is known to contain Alu-repeats and microsatellites, some of which are rather conserved among humans and other apes [3]; cdc pseudogene and multiple c-Myc binding sites characteristic to apes and other mammals present throughout the human IGS [4]. The zones in the human IGS enriched with conserved regions are Cancers 2020, 12, 2090; doi:10.3390/cancers12082090 www.mdpi.com/journal/cancers
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