Oral cancer (OC) is among the most prevalent cancers in the world. Certain geographical areas are disproportionately affected by OC cases due to the regional differences in dietary habits, tobacco and alcohol consumption. However, conventional therapeutic methods do not yield satisfying treatment outcomes. Thus, there is an urgent need to understand the disease process and to develop diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for OC. In this review, we discuss the role of various types of ncRNAs in OC, and their promising clinical implications as prognostic or diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. MicroRNA (miRNA), long ncRNA (lncRNA), circular RNA (circRNA), PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA), and small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) are the major ncRNA types whose involvement in OC are emerging. Dysregulated expression of ncRNAs, particularly miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, are linked with the initiation, progression, as well as therapy resistance of OC via modulation in a series of cellular pathways through epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational modifications. Differential expressions of miRNAs and lncRNAs in blood, saliva or extracellular vesicles have indicated potential diagnostic and prognostic importance. In this review, we have summarized all the promising aspects of ncRNAs in the management of OC.

Widespread control of gene expression through translation has emerged as a key level of spatiotemporal regulation of protein expression. A prominent mechanism by which ribosomes can confer gene regulation is via internal ribosomal entry sites (IRESes), whose functions have however, remained difficult to rigorously characterize. Here we present a set of technologies in embryos and cells, including IRES-mediated translation of circular RNA (circRNA) reporters, single-molecule messenger (m)RNA isoform imaging, PacBio long-read sequencing, and isoform-sensitive mRNA quantification along polysome profiles as a new toolbox for understanding IRES regulation. Using these techniques, we investigate a broad range of cellular IRES RNA elements including Hox IRESes. We show IRES-dependent translation in circRNAs, as well as the relative expression, localization, and translation of an IRES-containing mRNA isoform in specific embryonic tissues. We thereby provide a new resource of technologies to elucidate the roles of versatile IRES elements in gene regulation and embryonic development.

A hydrolytically stable oxo-Re( v ) complex presents potent in vitro antitumor activity as a single agent or in combination with cisplatin and negligible toxicity in zebrafish.

Conventional methods available for genome editing have proven non-specific, labour-intensive, and time-consuming. In this context, CRISPR/Cas technology represents a significant breakthrough. It is derived from a sophisticated microbial defence system consisting of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, or CRISPR, and the RNA-guided DNA endonuclease Cas. Beyond its original role in genome editing, CRISPR continues to play a major role in the field of proteomics, functional genomics, and molecular therapy. Animal models, including mice, Drosophila , zebrafish, etc. , have substantially benefited from CRISPR in uncovering protein function through reverse genetics approaches, including knock-in, knockout, CRISPRi, and indel mutation strategies. On the clinical front, CRISPR gene therapy has also seen successes, including applications in sickle cell disease, hypercholesterolemia, and cancer immunotherapy. However, notable challenges remain, including in vivo packaging and delivery efficiency, toxicity, and genomic off-target effects. Ongoing efforts to overcome these include the development of novel delivery formulations (e.g., nanoparticles, exosomes), artificial intelligence-guided experimental design, and miniaturization of Cas proteins. This review focuses on CRISPR/Cas gene editing mechanisms and explores its state-of-the-art applications in the field of proteomics and theranostics.