Cell Reports (Dec 2023)

LINC00921 reduces lung cancer radiosensitivity by destabilizing NUDT21 and driving aberrant MED23 alternative polyadenylation

  • Nasha Zhang,
  • Xijun Liu,
  • Linying Huang,
  • Jiajia Zeng,
  • Chi Ma,
  • Linyu Han,
  • Wenwen Li,
  • Jinming Yu,
  • Ming Yang

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 42, no. 12
p. 113479

Abstract

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Summary: Alternative polyadenylation (APA) plays a major role in controlling transcriptome diversity and therapeutic resistance of cancers. However, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in pathological APA remain poorly defined. Here, we functionally characterize LINC00921, a MED13L/P300-induced oncogenic lncRNA, and show that it is required for global regulation of APA in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). LINC00921 shows significant potential for reducing NSCLC radiosensitivity, and high LINC00921 levels are associated with a poor prognosis for patients with NSCLC treated with radiotherapy. LINC00921 controls NUDT21 stability by facilitating binding of NUDT21 with the E3 ligase TRIP12. LINC00921-induced destabilization of NUDT21 promotes 3′ UTR shortening of MED23 mRNA via APA, which, in turn, leads to elevated MED23 protein levels in cancer cells and nuclear translocation of β-catenin and thereby activates expression of multiple β-catenin/T cell factor (TCF)/lymphoid enhancer-binding factor (LEF)-regulated core oncogenes (c-Myc, CCND1, and BMP4). These findings highlight the importance of functionally annotating lncRNAs controlling APA and suggest the clinical potential of therapeutics for advanced NSCLC.

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