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In molecular biology miR-205 microRNA is a short RNA molecule. MicroRNAs function to regulate the expression levels of other genes by several mechanisms. They are involved in numerous cellular processes, including development, proliferation, and apoptosis. Currently, it is believed that miRNAs elicit their effect by silencing the expression of target genes.
The miR-200 family and miR-205 are frequently silenced in advanced cancer. Studies has shown that—by targeting the transcriptional repressors of E-cadherin, ZEB1 and ZEB2 miR-205 is involved in epithelial to mesenchymal transition and tumor invasion.
Recently, miR-200 silencing was also reported in cancer stem cells, implying that miR-200 deregulation is a key event in multiple levels of tumor biology. The cause of miR-200 silencing in naturally occurring cancer cells, however, remains largely unknown.