Fig. 7: Schematic diagram of the DDX17/miR-149-3p/CYBRD1 signaling pathway in the modulation of EMT and CRC progression.

DDX17 is elevated in CRC and decreases the expression of miR-149-3p independent of DDX17’s Microprocessor function. Downregulated miR-149-3p attenuates its binding to the 3′-UTR of CYBRD1 mRNA, leading to increases CYBRD1 expression and intracellular iron level, which promotes EMT progression and metastasis of CRC cells.