microRNA-340 as a modulator of RAS–RAF–MAPK signaling in melanoma

•miR-340 is a novel inhibitor of tumorigenic phenotype in melanoma cells.•miR-340 inhibits RAS–RAF–MAPK signaling pathway.•miR-340 targets multiple components of RAS–RAF–MAPK pathway.

microRNA (miRNA)-dependent regulation of gene expression is increasingly linked to development and progression of melanoma. In this study we evaluated the functions of miR-340 in human melanoma cells. Here, we show that miR-340 inhibits the tumorigenic phenotype of melanoma cells. We also found that miR-340 regulates RAS–RAF–Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signaling by modulating the expression of multiple components of this pathway. Given the importance of MAPK signaling in melanoma, these results provide further insight into the pathogenesis of melanoma.