Xanthone derivatives as potential inhibitors of miRNA processing by human Dicer: targeting secondary structures of pre-miRNA by small molecules.

In recent years, various biological processes have been found to be regulated by miRNA-mediated gene silencing. A small molecule that modulate the miRNA pathway will provide the biological tool for elucidating mechanisms of miRNA-mediated gene regulation, and can be the drug lead for miRNA related diseases. In this study, we demonstrated that an aminoalkoxy-substituted thioxanthone derivative interferes Dicer-mediated processing of pre-miRNA. Information about the interaction between these xanthone derivatives and pre-miRNAs will enable us to design and develop new small molecule-based inhibitors for miRNA pathway.