In silico analysis of combinatorial microRNA activity reveals target genes and pathways associated with breast cancer metastasis.

ABSTRACT: Aberrant microRNA activity has been reported in many diseases, and studies often find numerous microRNAs concurrently dysregulated. Most target genes have binding sites for multiple microRNAs, and mounting evidence indicates that it is important to consider their combinatorial effect on target gene repression. A recent study associated the coincident loss of expression of six microRNAs with metastatic potential in breast cancer. Here, we used a new computational method, miR-AT!, to investigate combinatorial activity among this group of microRNAs. We found that the set of transcripts having multiple target sites for these microRNAs was significantly enriched with genes involved in cellular processes commonly perturbed in metastatic tumors: cell cycle regulation, cytoskeleton organization, a

SUBMITTER: Dombkowski AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3085424 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature