Question

Which of the following can be cancer-associated genes by virtue of their ability to directly regulate the expression of protooncogenes and tumor suppressors, but which themselves are noncoding?

A Telomerase
B Cell cycle checkpoint genes
C Transfer RNAs (tRNAs)
D Micro RNAs (miRNAs)
E Ribosomal RNA (rRNAs)

Answer 1

Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding genes that regulate the expression of protooncogenes and tumor suppressors, playing a role in cancer development. They do this by binding to mRNAs and affecting their stability or translation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The noncoding genes that can be cancer-associated by directly regulating the expression of protooncogenes and tumor suppressors, are Micro RNAs (miRNAs). Unlike protein-coding genes like telomerase, cell cycle checkpoint genes, transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), miRNAs do not code for proteins. Instead, miRNAs regulate gene expression by binding to the mRNAs of genes, including protooncogenes and tumor suppressors, and can lead to their degradation or inhibit their translation. This regulatory role means that changes in miRNA expression could result in the loss of control over the cell cycle and contribute to the development of cancer.