Pseudogenes are duplicates of protein-coding genes that have accumulated multiple detrimental alterations, rendering them unable to produce the protein they encode. Initially disregarded as “junk DNA” due to their perceived lack of functionality, research on their biological roles has been hindered by this assumption. Nevertheless, recent focus has shifted towards these molecules due to their abnormal expression in cancer phenotypes. In this review, our objective is to provide a thorough overview of the current understanding of pseudogene formation, the mechanisms governing their expression, and the roles they may play in promoting tumorigenesis.
假基因是蛋白编码基因的复制副本，由于积累多重有害突变而无法编码产生相应蛋白质。因其看似无功能，最初被视作“垃圾DNA”而受忽视，这种认知也阻碍了对其生物学功能的研究。然而，由于其在癌症表型中的异常表达，近期研究焦点已转向这些分子。本文旨在系统综述当前对假基因形成机制、表达调控方式及其在促进肿瘤发生中潜在作用的认识。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家