MicroRNA 1304 (MIR1304)

MicroRNA 1304 (MIR1304) is a short (20–24 nt) non-coding RNA classified as a microRNA, involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by affecting both the stability and translation of target mRNAs. MIR1304 is transcribed as a primary transcript and processed by Drosha and Dicer enzymes to yield the mature miRNA, which is incorporated into the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). The mature MIR1304 can bind imperfectly to complementary sites in target mRNAs to direct their translational inhibition or destabilization. Functionally, miR-1304 has been implicated in various cancers: it acts as a tumor suppressor in non-small cell lung cancer by targeting HO-1 mRNA, promoting cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and as an oncomiR in breast cancer—especially among African American patients—by targeting the anti-adipogenic gene GATA2 and activating cancer-associated adipocytes to supply lipids for tumor growth. The allele frequency of certain SNPs in the MIR1304 stem-loop structure may underlie differences in maturation rates and contribute to cancer health disparities between ethnic groups. No approved clinical drugs directly target MIR1304 as of now.

Other names

hsa-mir-1304MIRN1304MIR1304

Inhibition of specific mRNA targets through RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), leading to translational repression or mRNA destabilization (e.g., targeting GATA2 and HO-1)