p53-Related Transcription Targets of TAp73 in Cancer Cells-Bona Fide or Distorted Reality?

Identification of p73 as a structural homolog of p53 fueled early studies aimed at determining if it was capable of performing p53-like functions. This led to a conundrum as p73 was discovered to be hardly mutated in cancers, and yet, TAp73, the full-length form, was found capable of performing p53-like functions, including transactivation of many p53 target genes in cancer cell lines. Generation of mice lacking p73/TAp73 revealed a plethora of developmental defects, with very limited spontaneous tumors arising only at a later stage. Concurrently, novel TAp73 target genes involved in cellular growth promotion that are not regulated by p53 were identified, mooting the possibility that TAp73 may have diametrically opposite functions to p53 in tumorigenesis. We have therefore comprehensively evaluated the TAp73 target genes identified and validated in human cancer cell lines, to examine their contextual relevance. Data from focused studies aimed at appraising if p53 targets are also regulated by TAp73-often by TAp73 overexpression in cell lines with non-functional p53-were affirmative. However, genome-wide and phenotype-based studies led to the identification of TAp73-regulated genes involved in cellular survival and thus, tumor promotion. Our analyses therefore suggest that TAp73 may not necessarily be p53's natural substitute in enforcing tumor suppression. It has likely evolved to perform unique functions in regulating developmental processes and promoting cellular growth through entirely different sets of target genes that are not common to, and cannot be substituted by p53. The p53-related targets initially reported to be regulated by TAp73 may therefore represent an experimental possibility rather than the reality.

Advanced Design of Dumbbell-shaped Genetic Minimal Vectors Improves Non-coding and Coding RNA Expression.

Dumbbell-shaped DNA minimal vectors lacking nontherapeutic genes and bacterial sequences are considered a stable, safe alternative to viral, nonviral, and naked plasmid-based gene-transfer systems. We investigated novel molecular features of dumbbell vectors aiming to reduce vector size and to improve the expression of noncoding or coding RNA. We minimized small hairpin RNA (shRNA) or microRNA (miRNA) expressing dumbbell vectors in size down to 130 bp generating the smallest genetic expression vectors reported. This was achieved by using a minimal H1 promoter with integrated transcriptional terminator transcribing the RNA hairpin structure around the dumbbell loop. Such vectors were generated with high conversion yields using a novel protocol. Minimized shRNA-expressing dumbbells showed accelerated kinetics of delivery and transcription leading to enhanced gene silencing in human tissue culture cells. In primary human T cells, minimized miRNA-expressing dumbbells revealed higher stability and triggered stronger target gene suppression as compared with plasmids and miRNA mimics. Dumbbell-driven gene expression was enhanced up to 56- or 160-fold by implementation of an intron and the SV40 enhancer compared with control dumbbells or plasmids. Advanced dumbbell vectors may represent one option to close the gap between durable expression that is achievable with integrating viral vectors and short-term effects triggered by naked RNA.

The GNA13-RhoA signaling axis suppresses expression of tumor protective Kallikreins.

Gα13 (encoded by GNA13 gene) is the alpha subunit of a heterotrimeric G-protein that mediates signaling through specific G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Increased GNA13 expression has been observed in metastatic breast cancer cells. Recently, we have shown that enhanced GNA13 signaling in MCF-10a cells, a benign breast cancer cell line increased its invasiveness. Previous studies have reported that Kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs 1-15) are down-regulated in breast tumors and may have a tumor protective function. However, the mechanisms that lead to the down-regulation of KLK genes in breast cancer are yet to be elucidated. We found that enhanced GNA13 signaling represses KLK gene expression in breast cancer, and undertook examination of the mechanisms involved. A microarray analysis revealed down-regulation of several members of the Kallikrein-related peptidases (KLK) gene family, namely KLK5, KLK6, KLK7, KLK8 and KLK10, in MCF-10a lines with enhanced GNA13 protein expression. Using real-time PCR and promoter analysis, we identified that the mRNA expression and promoter activities of these KLKs are suppressed upon enforced expression of GNA13 in MCF-10a cells. Using Rhotekin pull-down assays, we identified that GNA13 suppressed Rho-A activation and protein levels in MCF-10a cells. Blocking Rho-A activation using C3-toxin or by inhibiting its down-stream effector, Rho-associated kinase (ROCK), reduced the above-mentioned KLK mRNAs in MCF-10A cells. Importantly, in a metastatic breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-157, knock down of GNA13 alone was sufficient to induce the expression KLK mRNAs. Taken together, our findings suggested that enhanced GNA13 signaling down-regulates KLK gene transcription. The ability of enhanced GNA13 signaling to suppress KLK gene expression appears at least in part due to the ability of enhanced GNA13 signaling to negatively impact Rho/ROCK-signaling.

MicroRNA-31 controls G protein alpha-13 (GNA13) expression and cell invasion in breast cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Gα13 (GNA13) is the α subunit of a heterotrimeric G protein that mediates signaling through specific G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Our recent study showed that control of GNA13 expression by specific microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) is important for prostate cancer cell invasion. However, little is known about the control of GNA13 expression in breast cancers. This project was carried out to determine (i) whether enhanced GNA13 expression is important for breast cancer cell invasion, and (ii) if so, the mechanism of deregulation of GNA13 expression in breast cancers. METHODS: To determine the probable miRNAs regulating GNA13, online miRNA target prediction tool Targetscan and Luciferase assays with GNA13-3'-UTR were used. Effect of miRNAs on GNA13 mRNA, protein and invasion was studied using RT-PCR, western blotting and in vitro Boyden chamber assay respectively. Cell proliferation was done using MTT assays. RESULTS: Overexpression of GNA13 in MCF-10a cells induced invasion, whereas knockdown of GNA13 expression in MDA-MB-231 cells inhibited invasion. Expression analysis of miRNAs predicted to bind the 3'-UTR of GNA13 revealed that miR-31 exhibited an inverse correlation to GNA13 protein expression in breast cancer cells. Ectopic expression of miR-31 in MDA-MB-231 cells significantly reduced GNA13 mRNA and protein levels, as well as GNA13-3'-UTR-reporter activity. Conversely, blocking miR-31 activity in MCF-10a cells induced GNA13 mRNA, protein and 3'-UTR reporter activity. Further, expression of miR-31 significantly inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell invasion, and this effect was partly rescued by ectopic expression of GNA13 in these cells. Examination of 48 human breast cancer tissues revealed that GNA13 mRNA levels were inversely correlated to miR-31 levels. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide strong evidence that GNA13 expression in breast cancer cells is regulated by post-transcriptional mechanisms involving miR-31. Additionally our data shows that miR-31 regulates breast cancer cell invasion partially via targeting GNA13 expression in breast cancer cells. Loss of miR-31 expression and increased GNA13 expression could be used as biomarkers of breast cancer progression.

MicroRNA-182 and microRNA-200a control G-protein subunit α-13 (GNA13) expression and cell invasion synergistically in prostate cancer cells.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their ligands have been implicated in progression and metastasis of several cancers. GPCRs signal through heterotrimeric G proteins, and among the different types of G proteins, GNA12/13 have been most closely linked to tumor progression. In this study, we explored the role of GNA13 in prostate cancer cell invasion and the mechanism of up-regulation of GNA13 in these cells. An initial screen for GNA13 protein expression showed that GNA13 is highly expressed in the most aggressive cancer cell lines. Knockdown of GNA13 in highly invasive PC3 cells revealed that these cells depend on GNA13 expression for their invasion, migration, and Rho activation. As mRNA levels in these cells did not correlate with protein levels, we assessed the potential involvement of micro-RNAs (miRNAs) in post-transcriptional control of GNA13 expression. Expression analysis of miRNAs predicted to bind the 3'-UTR of GNA13 revealed that miR-182 and miR-141/200a showed an inverse correlation to the protein expression in LnCAP and PC3 cells. Ectopic expression of miR-182 and miR-141/200a in PC3 cells significantly reduced protein levels, GNA13-3'-UTR reporter activity and in vitro invasion of these cells. This effect was blocked by restoration of GNA13 expression in these cells. Importantly, inhibition of miR-182 and miR-141/200a in LnCAP cells using specific miRNA inhibitors elevated the expression of GNA13 and enhanced invasion of these cells. These data provide strong evidence that GNA13 is an important mediator of prostate cancer cell invasion, and that miR-182 and miR-200 family members regulate its expression post-transcriptionally.