Oncogenic miR-17/20a Forms a Positive Feed-forward Loop with the p53 Kinase DAPK3 to Promote Tumorigenesis

J Biol Chem. 2015 Aug 7;290(32):19967-75. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M115.661504. Epub 2015 Jun 27.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRs) are a class of small regulatory RNAs that have been implicated in diverse biological pathways, including cancer. miR-17/20a encoded by the c13orf25 locus is among the first miRs discovered to have oncogenic functions. The E2F family members have been established as the targets for these oncomiRs, which form a negative feedback loop to control cell cycle progression. However, this pathway does not seem to be sufficient to account for elevated expression of these oncomiRs in cancer cells to promote tumorigenesis. Here we report that miR-17/20a targets a p53 activating kinase DAPK3, leading to p53-dependent transcriptional de-repression of the oncomiRs. We demonstrate that DAPK3 plays a central role in preventing miR-17/20a depletion-induced genome instability and in miR-17/20a overexpression-triggered tumor formation. This newly identified tumorigenic pathway may thus contribute to miR-17/20a amplification and tumor growth in diverse human cancers.

Keywords: DNA damage; microRNA (miRNA); oncogene; p53; tumor.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics
  • Carcinogenesis / metabolism
  • Carcinogenesis / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Death-Associated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Death-Associated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • E2F1 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • E2F1 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Feedback, Physiological*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genomic Instability
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / metabolism
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / pathology
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / genetics
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism

Substances

  • E2F1 Transcription Factor
  • E2F1 protein, human
  • MIRN17 microRNA, human
  • MIRN20a microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • DAPK3 protein, human
  • Death-Associated Protein Kinases