Helpers of the cellular gatekeeper—miRNAs dance in P53 network

Recent findings position microRNA (miRNAs) as novel key players in regulating expression of protein-coding genes by interfering with the stability and/or translation of specific target mRNAs and in controlling cell proliferation and differentiation by actively functioning in the p53 tumor suppression network. Accumulating evidence reveal the intimate relationship between p53 and miRNAs. P53 regulates the expression of miRNAs at multiple levels. miRNAs influence the post-transcriptional regulation and activities of p53 by invoking a myriad of mechanisms. These findings are unveiling the unknown mechanisms of the p53-mediated biological effects.