The Nucleolar Protein C1orf131 Is a Novel Gene Involved in the Progression of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells through the AKT Signalling Pathway

Abstract

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most widespread cancer in the world, and its development is associated with complex biological mechanisms that are poorly understood. Here, we revealed a marked upregulation in the mRNA level of C1orf131 in LUAD samples compared to non-tumor tissue samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Depletion of C1orf131 suppressed cell proliferation and growth, whereas it stimulated apoptosis in LUAD cells. Mechanistic investigations revealed that C1orf131 knockdown induced cell cycle dysregulation via the AKT and p53/p21 signalling pathways. Additionally, C1orf131 knockdown blocked cell migration through the modulation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung adenocarcinoma. Notably, we identified the C1orf131 protein nucleolar localization sequence, which included amino acid residues 137–142 (KKRKLT) and 240–245 (KKKRKG). Collectively, C1orf131 has potential as a novel therapeutic marker for patients in the future, as it plays a vital role in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma.

Keywords

• C1orf131
• nucleolar protein
• lung cancer
• cell cycle
• proliferation