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Updated: Jan 24, 2026
07:02
An Assay for Quantifying Protein-RNA Binding in Bacteria
Published on: June 12, 2019
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RNA-Binding Protein NF90 Mediates Polycomb-Independent Transactivation by EZH2 to Promote Cancer Growth
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|January 23, 2026
Summary
The RNA-binding protein NF90 acts as a coactivator for EZH2, promoting prostate cancer (PCa) cell growth by activating androgen receptor (AR) signaling. This interaction, independent of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2), highlights NF90 as a potential therapeutic target in advanced PCa.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- EZH2 plays a role in cancer, but its non-canonical functions are not well understood.
- Prostate cancer (PCa) progression is linked to EZH2 activity.
- The mechanism of EZH2-mediated transactivation independent of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) requires elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key mediators of EZH2's polycomb-independent transactivation function in prostate cancer.
- To elucidate the mechanism by which EZH2 promotes prostate cancer cell growth.
- To explore NF90 and EZH2 as potential therapeutic targets in advanced PCa.
Main Methods:
- Investigated protein-protein interactions between EZH2 and RNA-binding proteins.
- Utilized RNA immunoprecipitation to study EZH2 and NF90 recruitment to the AR promoter.
- Assessed the impact of NF90 and EZH2 depletion on PCa cell proliferation and AR signaling.
- Analyzed NF90 expression in relation to PCa clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Identified NF90 as an EZH2-interacting protein, binding through RNA.
- Demonstrated that NF90 and EZH2 mutually recruit to the AR promoter, enhancing AR transcription and signaling.
- Showed that depletion of NF90 or EZH2 inhibits PCa cell proliferation, which can be rescued by AR re-expression.
- Found NF90 to be upregulated in advanced PCa and associated with poor prognosis.
Conclusions:
- Uncovered RNA-mediated interactions as a mechanism for PRC2-independent EZH2 transcriptional activation.
- Established NF90 as a crucial coactivator of EZH2 and a master regulator of the cell cycle.
- Positioned NF90 as a promising therapeutic target for advanced prostate cancer.
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