MicroRNA-26a/b and their host genes cooperate to inhibit the G1/S transition by activating the pRb protein

Nucleic Acids Res. 2012 May;40(10):4615-25. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkr1278. Epub 2011 Dec 30.

Abstract

The functional association between intronic miRNAs and their host genes is still largely unknown. We found that three gene loci, which produced miR-26a and miR-26b, were embedded within introns of genes coding for the proteins of carboxy-terminal domain RNA polymerase II polypeptide A small phosphatase (CTDSP) family, including CTDSPL, CTDSP2 and CTDSP1. We conducted serum starvation-stimulation assays in primary fibroblasts and two-thirds partial-hepatectomies in mice, which revealed that miR-26a/b and CTDSP1/2/L were expressed concomitantly during the cell cycle process. Specifically, they were increased in quiescent cells and decreased during cell proliferation. Furthermore, both miR-26 and CTDSP family members were frequently downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues. Gain- and loss-of-function studies showed that miR-26a/b and CTDSP1/2/L synergistically decreased the phosphorylated form of pRb (ppRb), and blocked G1/S-phase progression. Further investigation disclosed that miR-26a/b directly suppressed the expression of CDK6 and cyclin E1, which resulted in reduced phosphorylation of pRb. Moreover, c-Myc, which is often upregulated in cancer cells, diminished the expression of both miR-26 and CTDSP family members, enhanced the ppRb level and promoted the G1/S-phase transition. Our findings highlight the functional association of miR-26a/b and their host genes and provide new insight into the regulatory network of the G1/S-phase transition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / metabolism
  • Retinoblastoma Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • MIRN26A microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Retinoblastoma Protein
  • CTDSP1 protein, human
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases