FIR/PUF60: Multifunctional Molecule Through RNA Splicing for Revealing the Novel Disease Mechanism and Effective Individualized Therapies
Disease-specific diversity in RNA transcripts stems from RNA splicing, ribosomal abnormalities, and other factors. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of rRNA expression in the nucleolus and mRNA expression in the cytoplasm during cancer and neuronal differentiation remain largely unknown. In this article, we review current knowledge and discuss the regulatory mechanisms of rRNA and mRNA expression in human diseases using the splicing model of PUF60 (poly(U) binding splicing factor 60)-also known as <i>FUSE-binding protein-interacting repressor (FIR)</i> (<i>FUBP1-interacting repressor</i>), <i>RoBPI</i>, <i>SIAHBP1</i>, and <i>VRJS</i> (Gene ID: 22827). Noncoding RNAs, much like coding RNAs, have been found to be translated into proteins with significant physiological functions. Splicing is also involved in dominant ORF RNAs implicated in the expression of both noncoding and coding RNAs. Here, we analyze recent findings regarding gene splicing, ribosome formation, and the determination of selected ORFs (dominant ORFs) in a system modeled on FIR splicing in two databases (RefSeq and ENSEMBL). rRNA transcription affects ribosomes, whereas mRNA expression and splicing affect the intracellular proteome. Our objective is to develop efficient methods for identifying biomarkers for disease diagnosis and therapeutic targets. In the field of cancer treatment, therapeutic drugs targeting intracellular signaling have proven effective.
Authors
- Yusuke Suenaga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6902-5386)
- Kazuyuki Matsushita (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6742-0761)
- Sohei Kobayashi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6152-177X)
- Nobuko Tanaka
- Kouichi Kitamura
- Tyuji Hoshino
Institutions
- Chiba University (JP)
- Chiba University Hospital (JP)
- Chiba Cancer Center (JP)
- International University of Health and Welfare (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Published
- 2026-01-08
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27020643
- Primary Topic
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Cancer Research Institute
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
- Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University
- Kanazawa University
- Chiba Foundation for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- Chiba University
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- RIKEN