Protein hnRNPA1 binds to a critical G-rich element of KRAS and unwinds G-quadruplex structures: implications in transcription

Nucleic Acids Symp Ser (Oxf). 2008:(52):159-60. doi: 10.1093/nass/nrn081.

Abstract

The promoter of the KRAS proto-oncogene contains a critical nuclease hypersensitive element (NHE) forming G-quadruplex structures that are recognized by nuclear proteins: PARP-1, Ku70 and hnRNPA1. Here we have studied the interaction between hnRNPA1 (and its derivative UP1) and the G-quadruplexes of KRAS by EMSA, FRET and CD experiments. FRET and CD showed that hnRNPA1/UP1 is able to unfold the G-quadruplexes of KRAS and facilitate the quadruplex to duplex transformation. This finding strengthens our previous hypothesis that the transcription regulation of KRAS is mediated by G-quadruplex structures. Against this background we designed G4-decoy oligonucleotides specific for KRAS that exhibit a strong antiproliferative effect in pancreatic cancer cells.

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA / chemistry
  • G-Quadruplexes*
  • Genes, ras*
  • Guanine / analysis
  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group A-B / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • ras Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ras Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group A-B
  • KRAS protein, human
  • MAS1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Guanine
  • DNA
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • ras Proteins