Splicing Regulators and Their Roles in Cancer Biology and Therapy

Alternative splicing allows cells to expand the encoding potential of their genomes. In this elegant mechanism, a single gene can yield protein isoforms with even antagonistic functions depending on the cellular physiological context. Alterations in splicing regulatory factors activity in cancer cel...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Maria Roméria da Silva, Gabriela Alves Moreira, Ronni Anderson Gonçalves da Silva, Éverton de Almeida Alves Barbosa, Raoni Pais Siqueira, Róbson Ricardo Teixera, Márcia Rogéria Almeida, Abelardo Silva Júnior, Juliana Lopes Rangel Fietto, Gustavo Costa Bressan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2015-01-01
Series:BioMed Research International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/150514
Description
Summary:Alternative splicing allows cells to expand the encoding potential of their genomes. In this elegant mechanism, a single gene can yield protein isoforms with even antagonistic functions depending on the cellular physiological context. Alterations in splicing regulatory factors activity in cancer cells, however, can generate an abnormal protein expression pattern that promotes growth, survival, and other processes, which are relevant to tumor biology. In this review, we discuss dysregulated alternative splicing events and regulatory factors that impact pathways related to cancer. The SR proteins and their regulatory kinases SRPKs and CLKs have been frequently found altered in tumors and are examined in more detail. Finally, perspectives that support splicing machinery as target for the development of novel anticancer therapies are discussed.
ISSN:2314-6133
2314-6141