Heterogeneity and dynamic of EMT through the plasticity of ribosome and mRNA translation.

Growing evidence exposes translation and its translational machinery as key players in establishing and maintaining physiological and pathological biological processes. Examining translation may not only provide new biological insight but also identify novel innovative therapeutic targets in several fields of biology, including that of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT is currently considered as a dynamic and reversible transdifferentiation process sustaining the transition from an epithelial to mesenchymal phenotype, known to be mainly driven by transcriptional reprogramming. However, it seems that the characterization of EMT plasticity is challenging, relying exclusively on transcriptomic and epigenetic approaches. Indeed, heterogeneity in EMT programs was reported to depend on the biological context. Here, by reviewing the involvement of translational control, translational machinery and ribosome biogenesis characterizing the different types of EMT, from embryonic and adult physiological to pathological contexts, we discuss the added value of integrating translational control and its machinery to depict the heterogeneity and dynamics of EMT programs.

snoRNAs Offer Novel Insight and Promising Perspectives for Lung Cancer Understanding and Management.

Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are non-coding RNAs localized in the nucleolus, where they participate in the cleavage and chemical modification of ribosomal RNAs. Their biogenesis and molecular functions have been extensively studied since their identification in the 1960s. However, their role in cancer has only recently started to emerge. In lung cancer, efforts to profile snoRNA expression have enabled the definition of snoRNA-related signatures, not only in tissues but also in biological fluids, exposing these small RNAs as potential non-invasive biomarkers. Moreover, snoRNAs appear to be essential actors of lung cancer onset and dissemination. They affect diverse cellular functions, from regulation of the cell proliferation/death balance to promotion of cancer cell plasticity. snoRNAs display both oncogenic and tumor suppressive activities that are pivotal in lung cancer tumorigenesis and progression. Altogether, we review how further insight into snoRNAs may improve our understanding of basic lung cancer biology and the development of innovative diagnostic tools and therapies.