Downregulation of NUDT21 contributes to cervical cancer progression through alternative polyadenylation

Oncogene. 2021 Mar;40(11):2051-2064. doi: 10.1038/s41388-021-01693-w. Epub 2021 Feb 22.

Abstract

Nudix Hydrolase 21 (NUDT21), an alternative polyadenylation (APA)-regulatory protein, exhibits tumor-suppressive effects. However, its role in cervical cancer (CxCa) remains unknown. In the present study, we found that NUDT21 expression was reduced in CxCa tissues and cells, and NUDT21 levels were highly associated with the clinical prognosis of patients with CxCa. Knockdown of NUDT21 promoted CxCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, as well as tumorigenesis and lung metastasis in vivo. Overexpression of NUDT21 produces the opposite effects. Moreover, we performed polyadenylation site sequencing (PAS-Seq) and identified 457 transcripts with lengthened 3' untranslated regions (3' UTRs) upon NUDT21 overexpression. In particular, NUDT21 modulated the expression of several genes involved in fatty acid metabolism and the Wnt and NF-κB signaling pathways in CxCa development. Taken together, our study demonstrated that the APA regulatory effect of NUDT21 is an important mechanism for CxCa suppression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics*
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Cleavage And Polyadenylation Specificity Factor / genetics*
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Heterografts
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism / genetics
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Polyadenylation
  • Transcription Factor RelA / genetics
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Cleavage And Polyadenylation Specificity Factor
  • Nudt21 protein, human
  • RELA protein, human
  • Transcription Factor RelA