In silico identification of multidrug resistance gene (MDR)-targeted transposon miRNAs in human cancer

miRNAs are small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression and play important roles in various biological processes in cells. The discovery of miRNAs is also of great importance in cancer research. miRNAs enable the development of new approaches in cancer treatment by regulating gene expression in cancer cells and have an important place in cancer development, treatment, and diagnosis. Multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer is associated with the overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter proteins in cancer cells. MDR contributes to the dysregulation of ABC transporter proteins, and miRNAs mediate MDR in various cancers, resulting in drug resistance. In this study, it was aimed to identify new miRNA sequences in genes associated with multidrug resistance in cancer using in silico method. After obtaining the mature human miRNA sequences in the miRBASE database, BLAST analyses were performed with these sequences for five multidrug resistance genes (ABCB1, ABCC3, ABCC10, ABCC11, ABCG2) known to be associated with cancer. The RNAhybrid tool was used to find the minimum free energy hybridization of gene and miRNA. The target genes of pre-miRNAs and the metabolic pathways in which the target genes play a role were identified with GeneMANIA, SRplot, miRTargetLink programs. Phylogenetic trees of miRNAs belonging to genes were created using the MEGA X software. Secondary structures of pre-miRNA sequences were determined using the RNAfold Web Server program. According to the data obtained from the study, 107 miRNAs associated with multidrug resistance were identified in human cancers. Transmembrane transporter, drug transport and response to drug functions, and metabolic activities of miRNA-related pathways of MDR genes in various cancer types were determined. Multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer is often associated with overexpression of ABC transporter proteins, which can lead to failure of cancer treatments. Additionally, the relationship of miRNAs with ABC transporter proteins constitutes an important research area to understand the mechanisms of drug resistance and develop new treatment strategies.