Organisms are often subjected to conditions that promote cellular stress. Cell responses to stress include the activation of pathways to defend against and recover from the stress, or the initiation of programmed cell death to eliminate the damaged cells. One of the processes that can be triggered under stress is the transcription and variation in the number of copies of satellite DNA sequences (satDNA), which are involved in response mechanisms. Satellite DNAs are highly repetitive tandem sequences, mainly located in the centromeric and pericentromeric regions of eukaryotic chromosomes, where they form the constitutive heterochromatin. Satellite non-coding RNAs (satncRNAs) are important regulators of cell processes, and their deregulation has been associated with disease. Also, these transcripts have been associated with stress-response mechanisms in varied eukaryotic species. This review intends to explore the role of satncRNAs when cells are subjected to adverse conditions. Studying satDNA transcription under various stress conditions and deepening our understanding of where and how these sequences are involved could be a key factor in uncovering important facts about the functions of these sequences.

Edible mushrooms have been considered an excellent source of nutraceuticals with high potential to prevent diseases such as cancer. Recently the anti-cancer potential of a small RNA (sRNA) fraction isolated from C. cibarius was described. To better understand its molecular nature, a study was carried out regarding the anti-cancer potential of sRNAs isolated from different mushroom species. Apart from the isolation of RNA-rich fractions by anion exchange chromatography, miRNA’s extraction was also carried out using a commercial kit. The anti-proliferative activity of the different samples was tested in normal and cancer cell lines. Our data demonstrated differences regarding sRNA anti-cancer activity in different mushroom species, and this suggests that the sRNA fractions with anti-cancer potential are enriched in a specific sequence. These results reaffirm mushrooms as a source of bioactive compounds. In particular, the RNA-enriched isolated fractions demonstrated important anticancer potential.