A-to-I RNA editing shows dramatic up-regulation in osteosarcoma and broadly regulates tumor-related genes by altering microRNA target regions.

A-to-I RNA editing is a prevalent type of RNA modification in animals. The dysregulation of RNA editing has led to multiple human cancers. However, the role of RNA editing has never been studied in osteosarcoma, a complex bone cancer with unknown molecular basis.

An evolutionarily conserved mechanism that amplifies the effect of deleterious mutations in osteosarcoma.

Illustrating the molecular consequence of deleterious mutations is essential for bridging the gap between genotype and phenotype. In the cancer field, differential expression of the two alleles on heterozygous sites could directly reflect the effect of a mutation under certain trans environment. We retrieved transcriptomes of osteosarcoma and normal tissues in human and mouse.