KOREASCHOLAR

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNAs consisting of 18~24 nucleotides in length. Each miRNA is expected to bind a few hundreds of putative target mRNAs, thus inhibiting their translation into protein products mostly by degradation of targets. With its biogenesis extensively deciphered, miRNAs have been implicated in a variety of biological processes, including early development and cellular metabolism. In addition, dysregulation of miRNAs and subsequent alterations in the expression of its target molecules are thought to be linked to the pathophysiology of multiple human illnesses, including cancer. To establish the miRNA-target relationships important for developing a specific disease, it is critical to validate the putative targets of each miRNA suggested by computational methods in vivo. In this review, we will first discuss oncogenic and tumor-suppressive roles of miRNAs in human cancer and introduce computational methods to predict putative targets of miRNAs. Then, the value of Drosophila melanogaster as an alternative model system will be further discussed in studying human cancer and in validating the miRNA-target relationships in vivo. Finally, we will present a possibility of applying the mammals-to-Drosophila-to-mammals approach to study the roles of miRNAs and their targets in the pathophysiology of oral cancer, an intractable type of cancer with poor prognosis and survival rate.

Abstract
 Ⅰ. INTRODUCTION
  Oncogenic and Tumor-Suppressive MicroRNAs and Their Potential Contributions to Metastatic Behaviors of Cancer Cells
  Target prediction of cancer-related microRNAs: Limitation of its predictive potentials
  Drosophila melanogaster as a versatile in vivo model system to study human cancer
  Drosophila melanogaster as a model system to validate the putative targets of cancer-related microRNAs
  Potential application of the Mammals-to-Drosophila-to-Mammals approach to study microRNA-related target gene regulation in oral cancer
 Ⅱ. CONCLUSION
 REFERENCES

• 정지은(부산대학교 치의학전문대학원, BK21 PLUS 사업단) | Ji Eun Jung (Department of Life Science in Dentistry, BK21 PLUS Project)
• 이주용(중개치의학연구소) | Joo Young Lee (Institute of Translational Dental Sciences, Pusan National University)
• 김인령(구강해부학교실) | In Ryoung Kim (Department of Oral Anatomy, School of Dentistry)
• 박혜련(부산대학교 치의학전문대학원, BK21 PLUS 사업단, 구강병리학교실, 중개치의학연구소) | Hae Ryoun Park (Department of Life Science in Dentistry, BK21 PLUS Project, Department of Oral Pathology, Institute of Translational Dental Sciences, Pusan National University)
• 이지혜(부산대학교 치의학전문대학원, BK21 PLUS 사업단, 구강병리학교실, 중개치의학연구소) | Ji Hye Lee (Department of Life Science in Dentistry, BK21 PLUS Project, Department of Oral Pathology, Institute of Translational Dental Sciences, Pusan National University) Correspondence