Translational repression of cyclin D3 by a stable G-quadruplex in its 5' UTR: implications for cell cycle regulation.

cyclin D3 (CCND3) is one of the three D-type cyclins that regulate the G1/S phase transition of the cell cycle. Expression of CCND3 is observed in nearly all proliferating cells; however, the presence of high levels of CCND3 has been linked to a poor prognosis for several types of cancer. Therefore, further mechanistic studies on the regulation of CCND3 expression are urgently needed to provide therapeutic implications.

Triggering Fbw7-mediated proteasomal degradation of c-Myc by oridonin induces cell growth inhibition and apoptosis.

The transcription factor c-Myc is important in cell fate decisions and is frequently overexpressed in cancer cells, making it an attractive therapeutic target. Natural compounds are among the current strategies aimed at targeting c-Myc, but their modes of action still need to be characterized. To explore the mechanisms underlying the anticancer activity of a natural diterpenoid, oridonin, we conducted miRNA expression profiling and statistical analyses that strongly suggested that c-Myc was a potential molecular target of oridonin.