MicroRNA-34a modulates c-Myc transcriptional complexes to suppress malignancy in human prostate cancer cells

PLoS One. 2012;7(1):e29722. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029722. Epub 2012 Jan 3.

Abstract

MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a), a potent mediator of tumor suppressor p53, has been reported to function as a tumor suppressor and miR-34a was found to be downregulated in prostate cancer tissues. We studied the functional effects of miR-34a on c-Myc transcriptional complexes in PC-3 prostate cancer cells. Transfection of miR-34a into PC-3 cells strongly inhibited in vitro cell proliferation, cell invasion and promoted apoptosis. Transfection of miR-34a into PC-3 cells also significantly inhibited in vivo xenograft tumor growth in nude mice. miR-34a downregulated expression of c-Myc oncogene by targeting its 3' UTR as shown by luciferase reporter assays. miR-34a was found to repress RhoA, a regulator of cell migration and invasion, by suppressing c-Myc-Skp2-Miz1 transcriptional complex that activates RhoA. Overexpression of c-Myc reversed miR-34a suppression of RhoA expression, suggesting that miR-34a inhibits invasion by suppressing RhoA through c-Myc. miR-34a was also found to repress c-Myc-pTEFB transcription elongation complex, indicating one of the mechanisms by which miR-34a has profound effects on cellular function. This is the first report to document that miR-34a suppresses assembly and function of the c-Myc-Skp2-Miz1 complex that activates RhoA and the c-Myc-pTEFB complex that elongates transcription of various genes, suggesting a novel role of miR-34a in the regulation of transcription by c-Myc complex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Positive Transcriptional Elongation Factor B / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic / genetics*
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • MIRN34 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met
  • Positive Transcriptional Elongation Factor B
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein