The phrase "underlying role" is correct and can be used in written English.
It refers to an unseen or hidden function or purpose that influences the actions or behaviors of something or someone. Example: "The underlying role of social media in modern society cannot be underestimated, as it has greatly impacted communication, information sharing, and even political movements."
Because ion channels and more specifically anion channels assume a crucial position in cells, an understanding about the underlying role(s) for ion channels in the signalling pathway leading to programmed cell death is a subject that warrants future investigation.
The apparent redundancy of these receptors suggests that they have an important underlying role in host defence.
He pays special attention to the underlying role of anxiety about strangers, the widespread desire for good schools, and the pervasive fear of crime.
Both the normal enzyme, known as ALAD1, and the variant enzyme function in heme biosynthesis and therefore play an underlying role in the formation of red blood cells.
The worn surface morphology has revealed topographical variations and their underlying role in controlling the friction and wear performance of such brake friction composites.
Induced stress by transportation and entrance to a new environment possibly played an underlying role in the virulence of the parasitic infection and associated tissue pathology.
Consequently, molecular networks based on these interactions have been built to elucidate their underlying roles in biology [ 12].
Many of these receptors have underlying roles in a myriad of diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and mental illness.
Further mechanistic studies focusing on miR-378* and miR-145 are required to investigate its underlying roles in the tumorigenesis of CRC [ 24].
Our final objective was to examine whether any of the studies reporting phenotypic responses to climate change were able to reliably distinguish the underlying roles of phenotypic plasticity versus microevolution.
Recent advances in the systematic study of genomic alterations in human cancer samples have made it possible to understand this disease better and identify key genes with underlying roles in oncogenesis [ 8].
