Background and Aims: Translational regulation involve the coordinated actions of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) and non-coding RNAs. For efficient translation, the mRNA needs to be circularized. While RNA binding proteins and translation factors have been shown to regulate the circularization, the role of lncRNAs in the process is not yet defined.
Methods: We first performed RNA-seq and RNA-immunoprecipitation coupled-Seq (RIP-Seq) to identify differentially expressed lncRNA and mRNA in RBM3 overexpressing cell lines. We manipulated lncRNA expression in the cells and determined effects on gene expression and cell viability and motility. The studies were confirmed in vivo in intestine specific RBM3 transgenic and RBM3 knockout mouse models.
Results: In comparing the RNA-Seq and RIP-Seq datasets, we identified increased expression of lncRNA LSAMP-3 and Flii-1 that bind to RBM3. In addition, there was an increase in expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis markers following RBM3 overexpression. Moreover, modeling studies suggest that these lncRNAs formed kissing-loop interactions on target mRNAs including transcripts that encode epithelial mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis. While RBM3 transgenic mice showed increased LSAMP-3 and Flii-1, this was reduced in the RBM3 knockout mice. Also, RBM3 overexpression increased tumor xenograft growth, which was suppressed by knockdown of the lncRNAs. Also, knockdown of endogenous RBM3 specifically in the intestine suppressed azoxymethane-dextran sodium sulfate driven colitis-associated cancers, with a corresponding reduction in the expression of lncRNAs and transcripts that encode epithelial mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis.
Conclusion: We propose that RBPs such as RBM3 mediate their function through regulatory lncRNAs that enable circularization to control translation.