Regulation of R‐Loop Dynamics by Proteins and Long Noncoding <scp>RNAs</scp> : An Emerging Paradigm for Cancer Treatment
R-loops are three-stranded nucleic acid structures comprising an RNA/DNA hybrid and a displaced single-stranded DNA. While transient R-loop formation is essential for various physiological processes, their persistent accumulation leads to genomic instability. Cancer cells exhibit elevated R-loop levels due to hypertranscription, replication stress, and impaired DNA repair pathways. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular machinery that resolves R-loops, including chromatin remodelers, transcriptional regulators, nucleases, and helicases. We also highlight the emerging roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in modulating R-loop dynamics and explore how these RNA-based mechanisms cooperate with canonical resolution pathways. Finally, we explore the potential of targeting R-loop regulatory networks as a novel therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment.
Authors
- Keiko Shinjo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7797-6453)
- Miho Suzuki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8882-6610)
- Tatsunori Nishimura (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8765-9953)
- Yutaka Kondo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3746-3191)
Institutions
- Aichi Cancer Center (JP)
- Nagoya University (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cancer Science
- Published
- 2025-11-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/cas.70272
- Primary Topic
- DNA Repair Mechanisms
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science