The tumor suppressor gene rap1GAP is silenced by miR-101-mediated EZH2 overexpression in invasive squamous cell carcinoma

R. Banerjee, R. S. Mani, N. Russo, C. S. Scanlon, A. Tsodikov, X. Jing, Q. Cao, N. Palanisamy, T. Metwally, R. C. Inglehart, S. Tomlins, C. Bradford, T. Carey, G. Wolf, S. Kalyana-Sundaram, A. M. Chinnaiyan, S. Varambally, N. J. D'Silva

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

88 Scopus citations

Abstract

Rap1GAP is a critical tumor suppressor gene that is downregulated in multiple aggressive cancers, such as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma and pancreatic cancer. However, the mechanistic basis of rap1GAP downregulation in cancers is poorly understood. By employing an integrative approach, we demonstrate polycomb-mediated repression of rap1GAP that involves Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2), a histone methyltransferase in head and neck cancers. We further demonstrate that the loss of miR-101 expression correlates with EZH2 upregulation, and the concomitant downregulation of rap1GAP in head and neck cancers. EZH2 represses rap1GAP by facilitating the trimethylation of histone 3 at lysine 27, a mark of gene repression, and also hypermethylation of rap1GAP promoter. These results provide a conceptual framework involving a microRNA-oncogene-tumor suppressor axis to understand head and neck cancer progression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4339-4349
Number of pages11
JournalOncogene
Volume30
Issue number42
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 20 2011

Keywords

  • EZH2
  • miR-101
  • promoter hypermethylation
  • rap1
  • rap1GAP

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cancer Research

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