Non-coding RNAs and EZH2 interactions in cancer: Long and short tales from the transcriptome

Abstract

A large amount of data indicates that non-coding RNAs represent more than the "dark matter" of the genome. Both microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs are involved in several fundamental biologic processes, and their deregulation may lead in oncogenesis. Interacting with the Polycomb-repressive complex 2 subunit EZH2, they could affect the expression of protein-coding genes and form feedback networks and autoregulatory loops. They can also form networks with upstream and downstream important factors, in which EZH2 represent the stabilizing factor of the pathway. As such non-coding RNAs affect the epigenetic modifications leading to malignant transformation. Copyright © 2012 UICC.