miR-19, a component of the oncogenic miR-17∼92 cluster, targets the DNA-end resection factor CtIP

Oncogene. 2015 Jul 23;34(30):3977-84. doi: 10.1038/onc.2014.329. Epub 2014 Oct 13.

Abstract

MicroRNA-19 (miR-19) was recently identified as the key oncogenic component of the polycistronic miR-17∼92 cluster, also known as oncomiR-1, which is frequently upregulated or amplified in multiple tumor types. However, the gene targets and the pathways underlying the tumor-promoting activity of miR-19 still remain largely elusive. CtIP/RBBP8 promotes DNA-end resection, a critical step in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by homologous recombination (HR), and is considered to function as a tumor suppressor. In this study, we show that miR-19 downregulates CtIP expression by binding to two highly conserved sequences located in the 3'-untranslated region of CtIP mRNA. We further demonstrate that CtIP expression is repressed by miR-19 during continuous genotoxic stress in a p53-dependent manner. Finally, we report that miR-19 impairs CtIP-mediated DNA-end resection, which results in reduced HR levels and DNA damage hypersensitivity. By downregulating CtIP, miR-19 overexpression suppresses the faithful repair of DSBs that is crucial for genome maintenance. Our findings thus provide new mechanistic insight into the oncogenic role of the miR-17∼92 cluster.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Damage
  • Down-Regulation
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multigene Family
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • RNA Interference*

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Carrier Proteins
  • MIRN19 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases
  • RBBP8 protein, human