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SFPQ promotes an oncogenic transcriptomic state in melanoma

O Bi1, C A Anene2, J Nsengimana3

  • 1School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK.

Oncogene
|July 4, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Splicing factor, proline- and glutamine-rich (SFPQ) protein drives melanoma by interacting with oncogenic RNAs. Lowering SFPQ slows cancer growth, migration, and impacts key melanoma-associated genes, suggesting SFPQ as a prognostic biomarker.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Splicing factor, proline- and glutamine-rich (SFPQ) is linked to various cancers via RNA interactions.
  • The specific role of SFPQ in melanoma pathogenesis is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function and molecular mechanisms of SFPQ in melanoma.
  • To evaluate SFPQ as a potential prognostic biomarker for melanoma.

Main Methods:

  • SFPQ knockdown in melanoma cells.
  • RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (RIP-seq) to identify SFPQ-RNA interactions.
  • Functional assays for cell growth, migration, EMT, apoptosis, and glycolysis.
  • Analysis of clinical melanoma patient cohorts.

Main Results:

  • SFPQ knockdown inhibited melanoma cell growth, migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, apoptosis, and glycolysis.
  • RIP-seq revealed a reprogrammed SFPQ-RNA interactome in melanoma, enriched with oncogenic transcripts like SOX10, AMIGO2, and LINC00511.
  • SFPQ is essential for the expression of several melanoma-associated coding and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs).
  • lncRNAs LINC00511 and LINC01234 promote melanoma phenotypes, with LINC00511 modulating the miR-625-5p/PKM2 axis.
  • Elevated SFPQ expression in primary tumors correlates with melanoma prognosis.

Conclusions:

  • SFPQ acts as a significant driver of melanoma progression through RNA interactions that enhance oncogenic transcript expression.
  • SFPQ and its associated lncRNAs represent potential therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers in melanoma.

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