Characterization and molecular targeting of CFIm25 (NUDT21/CPSF5) mRNA using miRNAs.

Changes in protein levels of the mammalian cleavage factor, CFIm25, play a role in regulating pathological processes including neural dysfunction, fibrosis, and tumorigenesis. However, despite these effects, little is known about how CFIm25 (NUDT21) expression is regulated at the RNA level. A potential regulator of NUDT21 mRNA are small non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs).

The role and impact of alternative polyadenylation and miRNA regulation on the expression of the multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP-1/ABCC1) in epithelial ovarian cancer.

The ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABCC1) is associated with poor survival and chemotherapy drug resistance in high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). The mechanisms driving ABCC1 expression are poorly understood. Alternative polyadenylation (APA) can give rise to ABCC1 mRNAs which differ only in the length of their 3'untranslated regions (3'UTRs) in a process known as 3'UTR-APA.

The emerging roles of CFIm25 (NUDT21/CPSF5) in human biology and disease.

The mammalian cleavage factor I subunit CFIm25 (NUDT21) binds to the UGUA sequences of precursor RNAs. Traditionally, CFIm25 is known to facilitate 3' end formation of pre-mRNAs resulting in the formation of polyadenylated transcripts. Recent studies suggest that CFIm25 may be involved in the cyclization and hence generation of circular RNAs (circRNAs) that contain UGUA motifs.

Adapting 3' Rapid Amplification of CDNA Ends to Map Transcripts in Cancer.

Maturation of eukaryotic mRNAs involves 3' end formation, which involves the addition of a poly(A) tail. In order to map the 3' end of a gene, the traditional method of choice is 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (3' RACE). Protocols for 3' RACE require the careful design and selection of nested primers within the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of the target gene of interest.

The drive to generate multiple forms of oncogenic cyclin D1 transcripts in mantle cell lymphoma.

Alternative polyadenylation is a rapidly emerging form of gene regulation, which in its simplest form, enables the generation of mRNA transcripts that code for the same protein but have 3'UTRs of different lengths and regulatory content. For oncogenes, shorter 3'UTRs would be preferred as a mechanism to evade miRNA regulation. The shortening of the 3'UTR of cyclin D1 in mantle cell lymphoma offers provocative insights into this process.

Discovery and characterization of a novel CCND1/MRCK gene fusion in mantle cell lymphoma.

The t(11;14) translocation resulting in constitutive cyclin D1 expression is an early event in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) transformation. Patients with a highly proliferative phenotype produce cyclin D1 transcripts with truncated 3'UTRs that evade miRNA regulation. Here, we report the recurrence of a novel gene fusion in MCL cell lines and MCL patient isolates that consists of the full protein coding region of cyclin D1 (CCND1) and a 3'UTR consisting of sequences from both the CCND1 3'UTR and myotonic dystrophy kinase-related Cdc42-binding kinase's (MRCK) intron one.

The pro-survival function of Akt kinase can be overridden or altered to contribute to induction of apoptosis.

The serine/threonine protein kinase B (PKB), which is now called Akt, has well-documented oncogenic potential and pro-survival activities that can counteract apoptosis induced by anti-cancer drugs. The goal of this review is to discuss current evidence that the pro-survival function of Akt can be overridden or converted to a pro-apoptotic function. A brief description of how upstream regulators and downstream effectors of the Akt kinase participate in a network of protection against cell death is presented.

Cyclin D1 degradation is sufficient to induce G1 cell cycle arrest despite constitutive expression of cyclin E2 in ovarian cancer cells.

D- and E-type cyclins mediate G(1)-S phase cell cycle progression through activation of specific cyclin-dependent kinases (cdk) that phosphorylate the retinoblastoma protein (pRb), thereby alleviating repression of E2F-DP transactivation of S-phase genes. Cyclin D1 is often overexpressed in a variety of cancers and is associated with tumorigenesis and metastasis. Loss of cyclin D can cause G(1) arrest in some cells, but in other cellular contexts, the downstream cyclin E protein can substitute for cyclin D and facilitate G(1)-S progression.

Development of flexible-heteroarotinoids for kidney cancer.

Potential chemopreventive and therapeutic value of the lead Flexible Heteroarotinoid (Flex-Het), SHetA2, was indicated by growth inhibition of multiple cancer cell lines. The objective of this study was to evaluate the SHetA2 mechanism and in vivo activity in kidney cancer. SHetA2 induced apoptosis in the Caki-1 kidney cancer cell line through reduction of Bcl-2 protein and induction of PARP-1 and caspase 3 cleavages, whereas normal kidney epithelial cells exhibited resistance.