Tumor suppressor activity of miR-451: Identification of CARF as a new target

microRNAs (miRs) have recently emerged as small non-coding regulators of gene expression. We performed a loss-of-function screening by recruiting retrovirus mediated arbitrary manipulation of genome coupled with escape of cells from 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC)-induced senescence. miRNA pool from cells that emerged from 5-Aza-dC-induced senescence was subjected to miR-microarray analysis with respect to the untreated control. We identified miR-451 as one of the upregulated miRs and characterized its functional relevance to drug resistance, cell growth, tumor suppressor proteins p53 and pRb, and stress response. We report that miR-451 caused growth arrest in cells leading to their resistance to 5-Aza-dC-induced senescence. Decrease in cyclin D1, CDK4 and phosphorylated pRB supported the growth arrest in miR-451 transfected cells. We demonstrate that Collaborator of ARF (CARF) protein is a new target of miR-451 that intermediates its function in tumor suppressor and stress signaling.