The multilayered complexity of ceRNA crosstalk and competition

Abstract

Recent reports have described an intricate interplay among diverse RNA species, including protein-coding messenger RNAs and non-coding RNAs such as long non-coding RNAs, pseudogenes and circular RNAs. These RNA transcripts act as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) or natural microRNA sponges — they communicate with and co-regulate each other by competing for binding to shared microRNAs, a family of small non-coding RNAs that are important post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Understanding this novel RNA crosstalk will lead to significant insight into gene regulatory networks and have implications in human development and disease.

The Persistent Contributions of RNA to Eukaryotic Gen(om)e Architecture and Cellular Function

“…Even two isoforms of an antisense RNA generated from the PTENP1 pseudogene have been reported to be involved in gene regulation (Johnsson et al 2013). In addition, a plethora of naturally occurring circular RNAs have been discovered, which may regulate gene expression by sponging up complementary RNAs, such as miRNAs (Salzman et al 2012;Hansen et al 2013;Memczak et al 2013;Tay et al 2014). RNAs not only can be decoys or sinks for other RNAs but also for proteins.…”

Occurrence of Small Homologous and Complementary Fragments in Human Virus Genomes and Their Possible Role

“…Эти РНК-транскрипты высту-пают как конкурирующие эндогенные «губки» микроРНК: они сообщаются и регулируют друг друга, конкурируя за связывание с комплемен-тарными к ним микроРНК. Открытые первона-чально в клетках как регуляторы экпрессии гено-ма и трансляции белков микроРНК циркулиру-ют, как оказалось, в стабильной форме в разных жидкостях тела, включая кровь, и могут служить в качестве нового поколения патогенетических и прогностических биомаркеров [18].…”

CLIP: viewing the RNA world from an RNA-protein interactome perspective

“…The ceRNA hypothesis [118,119] highlights interactions among mRNAs, transcribed pseudogenes and long non-coding RNAs by competitive binding to microRNA responding elements (MREs). More and more evidence supports this hypothesis, which suggests that these ceRNAs play essential roles in development and tumorigenesis [120126].…”