Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2025

An In Vitro Assay to Detect tRNA-Isopentenyl Transferase Activity
07:46

An In Vitro Assay to Detect tRNA-Isopentenyl Transferase Activity

Published on: October 8, 2018

6.9K

TRIM21 modulates stability of pro-survival non-coding RNA vtRNA1-1 in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

EunBin Kong1, Norbert Polacek1

  • 1Department for Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Plos Genetics
|March 17, 2025
PubMed

Insights

New research identifies TRIM21 and TRIM25 proteins that stabilize vault RNA 1-1 (vtRNA1-1) in liver cancer cells. This discovery offers potential new strategies for developing anticancer therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • RNA Biology

Background:

  • Short non-coding vault RNAs, including vtRNA1-1, play diverse pro-survival roles in cancer cells.
  • vtRNA1-1 influences proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, and drug resistance in human cancers.
  • The protein interactions and regulatory mechanisms controlling vtRNA1-1 levels were previously unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify protein interaction partners that regulate vtRNA1-1 stability.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms controlling vtRNA1-1 levels in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.
  • To explore the role of methylation in vtRNA1-1 stability.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the interaction of vtRNA1-1 with TRIM21 and TRIM25 in HCC cells.
  • Utilized in vivo and in vitro experiments to assess vtRNA1-1 stability upon depletion of TRIM proteins.
  • Identified the specific vtRNA1-1 sequence involved in stability regulation and analyzed NSUN2-mediated methylation at C69.

Main Results:

  • TRIM21 and TRIM25 were identified as novel interacting proteins that stabilize vtRNA1-1 in HCC cells.
  • Depletion of TRIM21 or TRIM25 significantly reduced vtRNA1-1 stability.
  • NSUN2-mediated methylation at C69 of vtRNA1-1 was found to be critical for its stability, regulated by TRIM proteins.

Conclusions:

  • TRIM proteins (TRIM21 and TRIM25) govern vtRNA1-1 stability in HCC cells, dependent on its methylation status.
  • Understanding vtRNA1-1 regulation by TRIM proteins and its methylation provides insight into cancer cell survival mechanisms.
  • These findings may inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting vtRNA1-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

More Related Videos

A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells06:48

A Reporter Assay to Analyze Intronic microRNA Maturation in Mammalian Cells

Published on: June 16, 2022

1.9K
Molecular Modulation by Lentivirus-Delivered Specific shRNAs in Endoplasmic Reticulum Stressed Neurons10:50

Molecular Modulation by Lentivirus-Delivered Specific shRNAs in Endoplasmic Reticulum Stressed Neurons

Published on: April 24, 2021

934

Related Concept Videos

RNA Stability01:53

RNA Stability

Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...
33.1K
mRNA Stability and Gene Expression02:51

mRNA Stability and Gene Expression

The structure and stability of mRNA molecules regulates gene expression, as mRNAs are a key step in the pathway from gene to protein. In eukaryotes, the half-life of mRNA varies from a few minutes up to several days. mRNA stability is essential in growth and development. The absence of the proteins regulating its stability, such as tristetraprolin in mice, can cause systemic issues, including bone marrow overgrowth, inflammation, and autoimmunity.
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
5.5K
Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions01:12

Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
4.7K
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
7.3K
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...
4.4K