Oncogenic splicing factor SRSF3 regulates ILF3 alternative splicing to promote cancer cell proliferation and...

Area of Science:

• Molecular Oncology
• RNA Biology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Alternative RNA splicing is crucial in cancer development.
• Interleukin enhancer binding factor 3 (ILF3) is a double-strand RNA-binding protein involved in cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of SRSF3 in regulating alternative splicing of ILF3.
• To understand how ILF3 isoforms affect cancer cell proliferation and transformation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of SRSF3 and ILF3 coexpression in various cancer types.
• Investigating the mechanism of SRSF3-mediated ILF3 alternative splicing.
• Assessing the impact of different ILF3 isoforms on tumor cell behavior.

Main Results:

• SRSF3 regulates ILF3 alternative splicing, affecting exon 18 inclusion/exclusion and 3' splice site selection.
• Increased SRSF3 expression in cancer maintains ILF3 isoforms that promote proliferation.
• Aberrant ILF3 isoforms (isoform-5 and -7) produced upon reduced SRSF3 expression suppress proliferation and induce apoptosis.

Conclusions:

• SRSF3 plays a critical role in maintaining oncogenic ILF3 isoforms in cancer cells.
• ILF3 isoforms exhibit dual roles in cancer, with some promoting proliferation and others suppressing it.
• Targeting SRSF3-mediated ILF3 splicing represents a potential therapeutic strategy in oncology.