Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2025

Silencing of BRCA2 to Identify Novel BRCA2-regulated Biological Functions in Cultured Human Cells
09:24

Silencing of BRCA2 to Identify Novel BRCA2-regulated Biological Functions in Cultured Human Cells

Published on: August 12, 2015

9.1K

SMARCC2 silencing suppresses oncogenic activation through modulation of chromatin accessibility in breast cancer

Zhaoran Sun1, Zhongkun Wang2, Yirao Zhang1

  • 1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|June 9, 2024
PubMed

Insights

SMARCC2, a component of the SWI/SNF complex, surprisingly promotes breast cancer growth and stem cell features. Its depletion suppresses tumors by downregulating the Ras-PI3K pathway, identifying SMARCC2 as a potential therapeutic target.

Area of Science:

  • Epigenetics
  • Cancer Biology
  • Chromatin Remodeling

Background:

  • SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes are epigenetic regulators crucial for gene transcription.
  • These complexes are generally considered tumor suppressors in cancer.
  • Research on SMARCC2, a core BAF component, is limited compared to other SWI/SNF subunits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of SMARCC2 in breast cancer.
  • To determine if SMARCC2 acts as a tumor suppressor or oncogene in breast cancer.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro and in vivo assays including cell proliferation, mammosphere formation, and xenograft models.
  • Genomic analyses such as RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and ChIP.
  • Investigation of the Ras-PI3K signaling pathway.

Main Results:

  • SMARCC2 silencing suppressed breast tumorigenesis, indicating a pro-tumorigenic role.
  • SMARCC2 depletion reduced cancer stem cell characteristics.
  • SMARCC2 silencing downregulated the Ras-PI3K pathway, potentially via direct regulation of enhancer chromatin accessibility for genes like PIK3CB.

Conclusions:

  • SMARCC2 exhibits a pro-tumorigenic function in breast cancer, contrasting with other SWI/SNF subunits.
  • SMARCC2 plays a role in maintaining cancer stem cell features.
  • SMARCC2 is a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment.
Keywords:
Cancer stem cellChromatin accessibilityPI3KSMARCC2SWI/SNF

More Related Videos

CD Spectroscopy to Study DNA-Protein Interactions06:48

CD Spectroscopy to Study DNA-Protein Interactions

Published on: February 10, 2022

6.7K
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Cancer Drug Sensitization In Vitro and In Vivo09:19

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Cancer Drug Sensitization In Vitro and In Vivo

Published on: February 6, 2015

8.7K

Related Concept Videos

Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
3.0K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
3.8K
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells01:06

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic...
4.0K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
3.0K
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
4.5K
Spreading of Chromatin Modifications02:25

Spreading of Chromatin Modifications

The histone proteins in the nucleosomes are post-translationally modified (PTM) to increase or decrease access to DNA. The commonly observed PTMs are methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination of lysine amino acids in the histone H3 tail region. These histone modifications have specific meaning for the cell. Hence, they are called "histone code". The protein complex involved in histone modification is termed as "reader-writer" complex.
Writers
The writer...
8.3K