The role of microRNAs in mitochondria in cancer

•Pre-miRNAs as well as mature miRNAs are present in the mitochondria.•Mitochondrial miRNAs probably contribute to regulation of mitochondrial functions.•MiRNAs are involved in cellular energy metabolism, Krebs cycle and OXPHOS.•MiRNAs play important roles in mitochondria-associated apoptosis and mitophagy.

Reprogramming of the energy metabolism in cancer cell presents progressive field of cancer research. This feature is associated mainly with the mitochondria, which is major energy source of eukaryotic cells. These organelles are essential to the cell homeostasis maintenance, play an important role in intrinsic apoptotic pathway and their dysfunction is associated with multiple diseases including cancer. Recently, it was described that microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate important signaling pathways in mitochondria and many of these miRNAs are deregulated in various cancers. Here we summarize current knowledge about miRNAs involved in mitochondrial functioning with focus on cellular energy metabolism, apoptosis and mitophagy.