A long non-coding RNA targets microRNA miR-34a to regulate colon cancer stem cell asymmetric division.

TitleA long non-coding RNA targets microRNA miR-34a to regulate colon cancer stem cell asymmetric division.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsWang, L, Bu, P, Ai, Y, Srinivasan, T, Chen, HJoyce, Xiang, K, Lipkin, SM, Shen, X
JournalElife
Volume5
Date Published2016 Apr 14
ISSN2050-084X
Abstract

The roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating cancer and stem cells are being increasingly appreciated. Its diverse mechanisms provide the regulatory network with a bigger repertoire to increase complexity. Here we report a novel LncRNA, Lnc34a, that is enriched in colon cancer stem cells (CCSCs) and initiates asymmetric division by directly targeting the microRNA miR-34a to cause its spatial imbalance. Lnc34a recruits Dnmt3a via PHB2 and HDAC1 to methylate and deacetylate the miR-34a promoter simultaneously, hence epigenetically silencing miR-34a expression independent of its upstream regulator, p53. Lnc34a levels affect CCSC self-renewal and colorectal cancer (CRC) growth in xenograft models. Lnc34a is upregulated in late-stage CRCs, contributing to epigenetic miR-34a silencing and CRC proliferation. The fact that lncRNA targets microRNA highlights the regulatory complexity of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which occupy the bulk of the genome.

DOI10.7554/eLife.14620
Alternate JournalElife
PubMed ID27077950
PubMed Central IDPMC4859802
Grant ListUL1 TR001414 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States