Mapping miRNA genes on human fragile sites and translocation breakpoints

Chromosomal fragile sites are heritable specific loci especially prone to breakage. Some of them are associated with human genetic disorders and several studies have demonstrated their importance in genome instability in cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small ncRNAs responsible of post-transcriptional gene regulation and their involvement in several diseases such as cancer, has been widely demonstrated. The altered expression of miRNAs is sometimes due to chromosomal rearrangements, thus it is essential to study miRNA genes located in unstable genomic regions, in order to find significant correlations between diseases and miRNA expression. Here we present the complete mapping of human miRNA genes on chromosomal fragile sites and cancer-specific translocation breakpoints. These data, combined with other information such as the diseases and the processes in which the miRNAs are involved, may help to increase our knowledge of their functions.