Identification of two types of GGAA-microsatellites and their roles in EWS/FLI binding and gene regulation in Ewing sarcoma

PLoS One. 2017 Nov 1;12(11):e0186275. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186275. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Ewing sarcoma is a bone malignancy of children and young adults, frequently harboring the EWS/FLI chromosomal translocation. The resulting fusion protein is an aberrant transcription factor that uses highly repetitive GGAA-containing elements (microsatellites) to activate and repress thousands of target genes mediating oncogenesis. However, the mechanisms of EWS/FLI interaction with microsatellites and regulation of target gene expression is not clearly understood. Here, we profile genome-wide protein binding and gene expression. Using a combination of unbiased genome-wide computational and experimental analysis, we define GGAA-microsatellites in a Ewing sarcoma context. We identify two distinct classes of GGAA-microsatellites and demonstrate that EWS/FLI responsiveness is dependent on microsatellite length. At close range "promoter-like" microsatellites, EWS/FLI binding and subsequent target gene activation is highly dependent on number of GGAA-motifs. "Enhancer-like" microsatellites demonstrate length-dependent EWS/FLI binding, but minimal correlation for activated and none for repressed targets. Our data suggest EWS/FLI binds to "promoter-like" and "enhancer-like" microsatellites to mediate activation and repression of target genes through different regulatory mechanisms. Such characterization contributes valuable insight to EWS/FLI transcription factor biology and clarifies the role of GGAA-microsatellites on a global genomic scale. This may provide unique perspective on the role of non-coding DNA in cancer susceptibility and therapeutic development.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Microsatellite Repeats / genetics*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Proto-Oncogene Protein c-fli-1 / genetics*
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS / genetics*
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / genetics*

Substances

  • EWS-FLI fusion protein
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Proto-Oncogene Protein c-fli-1
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS