Crosstalk between the DNA damage response pathway and microRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of small, non-coding RNAs that control gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by destabilizing and inhibiting translation of their target messenger RNAs. MiRNAs are involved in the regulation of a number of fundamental biological processes, and their dysregulation is thought to contribute to several disease processes. Emerging evidence suggests that miRNAs also play a critical role in protecting the heritable genome by contributing to the regulation of the DNA damage response. Consequently, much recent investigative effort has been directed towards an improved understanding of how miRNAs are regulated in response to DNA damage. In this review, we discuss the most recent findings regarding the regulation of miRNA expression and the functional roles of miRNAs in the DNA damage response.