microRNAs: role in leukemia and their computational perspective

Abstract

MicroRNAs belong to the family of ncRNAs and had gained importance due to its role in complex biochemical pathways. Changes in the expression of protein coding genes are the major cause of leukemia. Role of miRNAs as tumor suppressors has provided a new insight in the field of leukemia research. Particularly, the miRNAs mediated gene regulation involves the modulation of multiple mRNAs and cooperative action of different miRNAs to regulate a particular gene expression. This highly complex array of regulatory pathway network indicates the great possibility in analysing and identifying novel findings. Owing to the conventional, slow experimental identification process of miRNAs and their targets, the last decade has witnessed the development of a large amount of computational approaches to deal with the complex interrelations present within biological systems. This article describes the various roles played by miRNAs in regulating leukemia and the role of computational approaches in exploring new possibilities.