An emerging role of the 5' termini of mature tRNAs in human diseases: Current situation and prospects

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2022 Feb 1;1868(2):166314. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166314. Epub 2021 Dec 1.

Abstract

The fundamental biological roles of a class of small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs), derived from mature tRNAs or pre-tRNAs, in human diseases have received increasing attention in recent years. These ncRNAs are called tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) or tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs). tRFs mainly include tRF-1, tRF-5, tRF-3 and tRNA halves (tiRNAs or tRHs), which are produced by enzyme-specific cleavage of tRNAs. Here, we classify tRF-5 and 5' tiRNAs into the same category: 5'-tRFs and review the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of 5'-tRFs in cancer and other diseases (metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, pathological stress injury and virus infection) to provide a new theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Keywords: Cancer; Diagnosis biomarker; ncRNAs; tRFs; tRNA derived fragments; tsRNAs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Metabolic Diseases / genetics
  • Metabolic Diseases / pathology*
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / genetics
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / pathology*
  • RNA, Transfer / genetics*
  • Virus Diseases / genetics
  • Virus Diseases / pathology*

Substances

  • RNA, Transfer