The leader region of Laminin B1 mRNA confers cap-independent translation.

Translation initiation of eukaryotic mRNAs generally occurs by cap-dependent ribosome scanning. However, certain mRNAs contain internal ribosome entry sites (IRES) allowing cap-independent translation. Several of these IRES-competent transcripts and their corresponding proteins are involved in tumourigenesis. This study focused on IRES-driven translation control during the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of hepatocytes that reflects crucial aspects of carcinoma progression. Expression profiling of EMT revealed Laminin B1 (LamB1) to be translationally upregulated. The 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of LamB1 was potent to direct IRES-dependent mRNA utilization of a bicistronic reporter construct. Stringent assays for cryptic promoter and splice sites showed no aberrantly expressed transcripts, suggesting that the reporter activity provided by the leader region of LamB1 mRNA exclusively depends on IRES. In accordance, LamB1 expression increased upon negative interference with cap-dependent translation by expression of human rhinovirus 2A protease or heat shock of cells. Finally, the enhanced expression of LamB1 during EMT correlated with an elevated IRES activity. Together, these data provide first evidence that the 5'-UTR of LamB1 contains a bona fide IRES that directs translational upregulation of LamB1 during stress conditions and neoplastic progression of hepatocytes.

hGPR87 contributes to viability of human tumor cells.

Emerging in vitro and in vivo data underline the crucial role of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in tumorigenesis. Here, we report the contribution of hGPR87, a predicted member of the P2Y subfamily of GPCRs, to proliferation and survival of human tumor cell lines. hGPR87 mRNA transcript was found to be preferentially overexpressed in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of different locations and in their lymph node metastases. Up-regulation of both, transcript and protein, was detected in samples of SCC of the lung, cervix, skin and head and neck (pharynx, larynx and epiglottis). In addition to the expression of hGPR87 in tumors which originate from stratified epithelia, we identified other hGPR87-positive tumor types including subsets of large cell and adenocarcinomas of the lung and transitional cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder. Loss of function studies using siRNA in human cancer cell lines lead to antiproliferative effects and induction of apoptosis. Like other known P2Y receptors, hGPR87 was found to be mainly located on the cell surface. The overexpression of hGPR87 preferentially in SCCs together with our functional data suggests a common molecular mechanism for SCC tumorigenesis and may provide a novel intervention site for mechanism-based antitumor therapies.