Evaluation of miRNAs Present Inside the Mitochondria of Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract

miRNAs that translocate from the nucleus to mitochondria are referred to as newlinemitochondrial microRNAs (mitomiR). mitomiRs have been shown to modulate the newlinegene expression but the functional consequence inside mitochondria remains to newlinebe determined. Here we report that the mitomiR let 7a regulates mitochondria newlinetranscription in breast cancer cells and reprogram the metabolism. These effects newlinewere mediated through interaction of let 7a with mtDNA , altering the activity of newlineComplex I in cell line specific manner. Our study for the first time reported the role newlineof mitomiR (let 7a) in regulating mitochondrial genome by transcriptional repression newlineand its contribution in shifting the metabolism of cancer cells. These findings newlineuncover a novel mechanism by which mitomiR regulates mitochondrial newlinetranscription. newline