Alu RNA Modulates the Expression of Cell Cycle Genes in Human Fibroblasts.
Int J Mol Sci
; 20(13)2019 Jul 05.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31284509
ABSTRACT
Alu retroelements, whose retrotransposition requires prior transcription by RNA polymerase III to generate Alu RNAs, represent the most numerous non-coding RNA (ncRNA) gene family in the human genome. Alu transcription is generally kept to extremely low levels by tight epigenetic silencing, but it has been reported to increase under different types of cell perturbation, such as viral infection and cancer. Alu RNAs, being able to act as gene expression modulators, may be directly involved in the mechanisms determining cellular behavior in such perturbed states. To directly address the regulatory potential of Alu RNAs, we generated IMR90 fibroblasts and HeLa cell lines stably overexpressing two slightly different Alu RNAs, and analyzed genome-wide the expression changes of protein-coding genes through RNA-sequencing. Among the genes that were upregulated or downregulated in response to Alu overexpression in IMR90, but not in HeLa cells, we found a highly significant enrichment of pathways involved in cell cycle progression and mitotic entry. Accordingly, Alu overexpression was found to promote transition from G1 to S phase, as revealed by flow cytometry. Therefore, increased Alu RNA may contribute to sustained cell proliferation, which is an important factor of cancer development and progression.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
ARN
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Ciclo Celular
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Regulación de la Expresión Génica
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Proteínas de Ciclo Celular
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Elementos Alu
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Fibroblastos
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Mol Sci
Año:
2019
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Italia