Oncotarget: LAPAS1 is required for S phase progression and cell proliferation

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IMAGE: High levels of LAPAS1 are associated with poor prognosis in kidney cancer patients. RNA-seq data derived from 448 kidneys renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) cancer samples were divided into two subgroups, according to the RNA levels of LAPAS1 (high vs. low). LAPAS1 expression was based on reads within chr1:51,443,233-51,479,174. P < 0.01.

CREDIT: CORRESPONDENCE TO – DORON GINSBERG – [email protected]

Oncotarget published “A novel E2F1-regulated lncRNA, LAPAS1, is required for S phase progression and cell proliferation” which reported that long non-coding RNAs are major regulators of many cellular processes, including cell cycle progression and cell proliferation.

Inhibition of LAPAS1 expression increases the percentage of S phase cells, and its silencing in synchronized cells delays their progression through the S phase.

In agreement with its suggested role in cell cycle progression, prolonged inhibition of LAPAS1 attenuates the proliferation of human cancer cells.

Importantly, knockdown of SPNS2 rescues the effect of LAPAS1 silencing on cell cycle and cell proliferation.

Summarily, they identify LAPAS1 as a novel E2F-regulated lncRNA that has a potential role in human cancer and regulates cell-cycle progression and cell proliferation, at least in part, via regulation of SPNS2.

 They identify LAPAS1 as a novel E2F-regulated lncRNA that has a potential role in human cancer and regulates cell-cycle progression and cell proliferation

Dr. Doron Ginsberg from The Bar-Ilan University said, “The human genome expresses many thousands of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are transcripts longer than 200 bases that lack a significant open reading frame.”

Increasing evidence indicates that lncRNAs are key regulators of important biological processes including cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, and apoptosis.

Specifically, some lncRNAs function in the regulation of cell cycle progression via modulation of critical cell cycle players, such as the cyclins, CDKs, CDK inhibitors, pRB, and p53.

Transcription factors that regulate mRNA transcription were shown to also regulate lncRNAs expression.

Inhibition of LAPAS1 expression delays the progression of cells through the S phase and inhibits the proliferation of human cancer cells.

Thus, the authors identify LAPAS1 as a new E2F-regulated lncRNA that has a potential role in human cancer and regulates cell proliferation and cell-cycle progression, at least in part, via regulation of SPNS2.

The Ginsberg Research Team concluded in their Oncotarget Research Output, “this study reports the identification of a novel lncRNA that affects cell cycle progression and cell proliferation and may affect cancer progression. Its initial characterization shows that it is transcriptionally regulated by E2F and it exerts its activity, at least in part, by regulating SPNS2.”