Myc/miR-378/TOB2/cyclin D1 functional module regulates oncogenic transformation

Oncogene. 2011 May 12;30(19):2242-51. doi: 10.1038/onc.2010.602. Epub 2011 Jan 17.

Abstract

The c-Myc transcription factor activates a cascade of downstream targets to form a complex transcriptional program that ultimately leads to cellular transformation. Although a large number of protein-encoding genes as well as non-coding RNAs were identified as Myc targets, only a few have been validated to be functionally important for c-Myc-driven transformation. Here, we identify a microRNA (miRNA), miR-378, as a novel target of the c-Myc oncoprotein that is able to cooperate with activated Ras or HER2 to promote cellular transformation. Mechanistically, miR-378 achieves this oncogenic effect, at least in part, by targeting and inhibiting the anti-proliferative BTG family member, TOB2, which is further elucidated as a candidate tumor suppressor to transcriptionally repress proto-oncogene cyclin D1. Therefore, our study identifies miR-378-TOB2-cyclin D1 as a functional module to mediate the cross talk between Myc and Ras signaling in cellular transformation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic*
  • Cyclin D1 / physiology*
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / physiology*
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • MAS1 protein, human
  • MIRN378 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • TOB2 protein, human
  • Cyclin D1