MicroRNA genes and their target 3'-untranslated regions are infrequently somatically mutated in ovarian cancers

PLoS One. 2012;7(4):e35805. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035805. Epub 2012 Apr 20.

Abstract

MicroRNAs are key regulators of gene expression and have been shown to have altered expression in a variety of cancer types, including epithelial ovarian cancer. MiRNA function is most often achieved through binding to the 3'-untranslated region of the target protein coding gene. Mutation screening using massively-parallel sequencing of 712 miRNA genes in 86 ovarian cancer cases identified only 5 mutated miRNA genes, each in a different case. One mutation was located in the mature miRNA, and three mutations were predicted to alter the secondary structure of the miRNA transcript. Screening of the 3'-untranslated region of 18 candidate cancer genes identified one mutation in each of AKT2, EGFR, ERRB2 and CTNNB1. The functional effect of these mutations is unclear, as expression data available for AKT2 and EGFR showed no increase in gene transcript. Mutations in miRNA genes and 3'-untranslated regions are thus uncommon in ovarian cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions*
  • Binding Sites / genetics
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • Female
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Mutation*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / genetics
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics
  • beta Catenin / genetics

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • beta Catenin
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • AKT2 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt