Fig. 4: RAD18, a direct target for miR-379-5p.

A The Venn diagram illustrates three common targets (KIF5A, RAD18, and CFTR) of miR-379-5p identified from various databases. B Pan-cancer expression analysis of RAD18 in tumor vs. normal samples using GEPIA. C Schematic diagram illustrating the alignment of miR-379-5p with its wild-type binding site in the Homo sapiens RAD18 3′UTR sequence, along with the corresponding mutated binding site. D Results from the dual-luciferase reporter assay reveal the direct interaction between miR-379-5p and RAD18. OVCAR3 cells were transfected with either wild-type RAD18 3′-UTR-psiCHECK2/miR-379-5p or mutated RAD18 3′-UTR-psiCHECK2/miR-379-5p alongside a wild-type 3′-UTR-psiCHECK2/scramble miRControl. Renilla luciferase activity was measured, and normalized to firefly activity. E The expression levels of RAD18 in HGSOC patients were determined via qPCR. F, G RAD18 levels were analyzed in SKOV3 adherent and spheroid cells and OV2008 CD44-CD117- and CD44 + CD117+ cells through qPCR and western blotting. H Single-cell RNA analysis demonstrates the variation in RAD18 expression between metastatic and non-metastatic conditions in different cell types (n = 3, Bar, SD; Significance levels indicated as *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001).