MicroRNAs regulate APOBEC gene expression

Abstract

Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC) is a family of evolutionarily conserved cytidine deaminases, encoded by eleven genes located in the human genome. APOBECs play key roles in innate immunity through their ability to mutagenize viral DNA and restrict viral replication. Recent cancer genomics revealed APOBEC3 subtype-mediated APOBEC-signature mutations are common in a broad spectrum of human cancers. The pervasive APOBEC3 activation in the host genome which converts cytosine to uracile during RNA editing has been suggested to depend on ATR/chk1 pathways. In this review, we highlight how microRNAs interact with the APOBEC gene family and post-transcriptionally regulate APOBEC gene expression, and we speculate how targeting specific microRNAs may reduce host genome mutagenesis via inactivation of APOBEC deaminases.