Endogenous miRNA sponges mediate the generation of oscillatory dynamics for a non-coding RNA network

Circular Intronic RNA circTTN Inhibits Host Gene Transcription and Myogenesis by Recruiting PURB Proteins to form Heterotypic Complexes

Muscle cell growth plays an important role in skeletal muscle development. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been proven to be involved in the regulation of skeletal muscle growth and development. In this study, we explored the effect of circTTN on myoblast growth and its possible molecular mechanism. Using C2C12 cells as a functional model, the authenticity of circTTN was confirmed by RNase R digestion and Sanger sequencing. Previous functional studies have showed that the overexpression of circTTN inhibits myoblast proliferation and differentiation. Mechanistically, circTTN recruits the PURB protein on the Titin (TTN) promoter to inhibit the expression of the TTN gene. Moreover, PURB inhibits myoblast proliferation and differentiation, which is consistent with circTTN function. In summary, our results indicate that circTTN inhibits the transcription and myogenesis of the host gene TTN by recruiting PURB proteins to form heterotypic complexes. This work may act as a reference for further research on the role of circRNA in skeletal muscle growth and development.

Ndufa4 Regulates the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Neurons via miR-145a-5p/Homer1/Ccnd2

The Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM) is characterized by neuron dysregulation in embryonic development; however, the regulatory mechanisms associated with it are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of NADH dehydrogenase 1 alpha subcomplex 4 (NDUFA4) in regulating downstream signaling cascades and neuronal proliferation and apoptosis. Ndufa4 overexpression promoted the proliferation of neurons and inhibited their apoptosis in vitro, which underwent reverse regulation by the Ndufa4 short hairpin RNAs. Ndufa4-knockout (KO) mice showed abnormal histological alterations in the brain tissue, in addition to impaired spatial learning capacity and exploratory activity. Ndufa4 depletion altered the microRNA expressional profiles of the cerebellum: Ndufa4 inhibited miR-145a-5p expression both in the cerebellum and neurons. miR-145a-5p inhibited the proliferation of neurons and promoted their apoptosis. Ndufa4 promoted and miR-145a-5p inhibited the expression of human homer protein homolog 1 and cyclin D2 in neurons. Thus, Ndufa4 promotes the proliferation of neurons and inhibits their apoptosis by inhibiting miR-145a-5p, which directly targets and inhibits the untranslated regions of Homer1 and Ccnd2 expression.

Mathematical Modeling of ceRNA-Based Interactions

Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) molecules have emerged as key players in regulating gene expression, increasing the complexity of the range of possible dynamics within a cell. The actions of competing RNA typically are sponging behaviors, in a manner that fine-tunes gene expression, but there are particular network structures that may show destabilization due to ceRNA interactions. In this chapter, we discuss how these interactions can be modeled and probed from a mathematical, first-principles perspective.

The lncRNA LINC00691Functions as a ceRNA for miRNA-1256 to Suppress Osteosarcoma by Regulating the Expression of ST5

Introduction

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant tumor in children and young patients. Although neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery could improve the prognosis of these patients, treatment outcomes are poor because of its low early diagnosis rate and high degree of malignancy as well as its tendency for early metastasis. In the field of osteosarcoma, lncRNAs have become a hot spot for studying the molecular mechanisms driving malignant biological characteristics and exploring effective treatment methods. An lncRNA is a long noncoding RNA lacking protein-encoding ability, and in its RNA form, it regulates various gene expression processes, such as epigenetic regulation, transcriptional regulation, and posttranscriptional regulation. LncRNAs play an important role in tumorigenesis and metastasis.

Methods

We used bioinformatics software to analyze the data in geo database. CCK-8 and Transwell were used to detect the effect of lncRNA LINC00691 on the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells. The target gene of LINC00691 was detected by bioinformatics analysis and RNA pull down.

Results

In this study, we identified the lncRNA LINC00691 and confirmed its expression in osteosarcoma cells through GEO database analysis. Expression analysis showed that the levels of lncRNA LINC00691 in osteosarcoma cells were decreased compared to those of control cells. Overexpression of LINC00691 could inhibit the proliferation, migration, invasion, and induction of G1 cell cycle arrest in osteosarcoma cells, which was shown through in vitro and in vivo studies. Using bioinformatics analysis, RNA pull down experiments and luciferase reporter gene detection assays, we found that LINC00691 regulated ST5 expression by binding miR-1256. LINC00691 overexpression inhibited EMT by promoting the expression of E-cadherin and increasing the expression of ZEB1, Snail, and Fibronectin.

Conclusion

These results suggested that overexpressed LINC00691 promoted the expression of ST5 by regulating the function of miR-1256 through a ceRNA mechanism. The LINC00691/miR-1256/ST5 pathway plays an important role in the progression and metastasis of osteosarcoma and represents a good therapeutic target.