Detection of a recurrent DNAJB1-PRKACA chimeric transcript in fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma

Science. 2014 Feb 28;343(6174):1010-4. doi: 10.1126/science.1249484.

Abstract

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FL-HCC) is a rare liver tumor affecting adolescents and young adults with no history of primary liver disease or cirrhosis. We identified a chimeric transcript that is expressed in FL-HCC but not in adjacent normal liver and that arises as the result of a ~400-kilobase deletion on chromosome 19. The chimeric RNA is predicted to code for a protein containing the amino-terminal domain of DNAJB1, a homolog of the molecular chaperone DNAJ, fused in frame with PRKACA, the catalytic domain of protein kinase A. Immunoprecipitation and Western blot analyses confirmed that the chimeric protein is expressed in tumor tissue, and a cell culture assay indicated that it retains kinase activity. Evidence supporting the presence of the DNAJB1-PRKACA chimeric transcript in 100% of the FL-HCCs examined (15/15) suggests that this genetic alteration contributes to tumor pathogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / enzymology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics*
  • Chromosome Deletion
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Catalytic Subunits / chemistry
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Catalytic Subunits / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins / chemistry
  • HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics*
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • DNAJB1 protein, human
  • HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Catalytic Subunits
  • PRKACA protein, human

Supplementary concepts

  • Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma