ZBP-89 reduces histone deacetylase 3 by degrading IkappaB in the presence of Pin1

Regulation between two alternative splicing isoforms ZNF148FL and ZNF148ΔN, and their roles in the apoptosis and invasion of colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of two alternative splicing isoforms of zinc finger protein (ZNF) 148 gene on the invasion and metastasis of human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and their related mechanisms.

METHODS

Quantitative RT-PCR assays were used to detect the expression of twoZNF148 alternative splicing isoforms in SW480 cells. ZNF148^FL-siRNA, ZNF148^FL-over express vector, ZNF148^ΔN-siRNA, and ZNF148^ΔN-over express vector were introduced into SW480 cells. The transfection efficiency was confirmed by RT-PCR. The proliferation, invasion, and migration in vitro as well as the apoptosis of SW480 cells were detected by MTT, transwell, scratch assay and flow cytometry, respectively.

RESULTS

Both ZNF148^FL and ZNF148^ΔN were expressed in SW480 cells, and the level of ZNF148^FL protein was higher than ZNF148^ΔN. After ZNF148^FL-siRNA and ZNF148^ΔN-over express transfection, the expression level of ZNF148^FL and ZNF148Δ^N were significantly decreased and increased, respectively. In contrast, the expression of ZNF148^FL and ZNF148^ΔN were significantly increased and decreased, respectively, after ZNF148^FL-over express and ZNF148^ΔN-siRNA transfection (all P < 0.05). The proliferation of SW480 cells was increased in ZNF148^FL-over express group and the ZNF148^ΔN-siRNA group, while decreased in ZNF148^FL-siRNA group and ZNF148^ΔN-over express group. The invaded cell number and migrated distance in ZNF148^FL-siRNA group and ZNF148^ΔN-over express group were significantly decreased, but the apoptotic rate was significantly increased. In contrast, ZNF148^FL-over express and ZNF148^ΔN-siRNA group showed the significantly increased ability of invasion and migration but decreased apoptosis rate (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

ZNF148^FL could increase proliferation, invasion, and migration of CRC cells, while ZNF148^ΔN showed opposite effect; the two splicing isoforms of ZNF148 may exert a mutual antagonistic effect to each other on the malignant biological activities.

Truncating de novo mutations in the Krüppel-type zinc-finger gene ZNF148 in patients with corpus callosum defects, developmental delay, short stature, and dysmorphisms

BACKGROUND

Krüppel-type zinc finger genes (ZNF) constitute a large yet relatively poorly characterized gene family. ZNF genes encode proteins that recognize specific DNA motifs in gene promotors. They act as transcriptional co-activators or -repressors via interaction with chromatin remodeling proteins and other transcription factors. Only few ZNF genes are currently linked to human disorders and identification of ZNF gene-associated human diseases may help understand their function. Here we provide genetic, statistical, and clinical evidence to support association of ZNF148 with a new intellectual disability (ID) syndrome disorder.

METHODS

Routine diagnostic exome sequencing data were obtained from 2172 patients with ID and/or multiple congenital anomalies.

RESULTS

In a cohort of 2172 patient-parent trios referred for routine diagnostic whole exome sequencing for ID and/or multiple congenital anomalies (MCA) in the period 2012-2016, four patients were identified who carried de novo heterozygous nonsense or frameshift mutations in the ZNF148 gene. This was the only ZNF gene with recurrent truncating de novo mutations in this cohort. All mutations resulted in premature termination codons in the last exon of ZNF148. The number of the de novo truncating mutations in the ZNF148 gene was significantly enriched (p = 5.42 × 10-3). The newly described ZNF148-associated syndrome is characterized by underdevelopment of the corpus callosum, mild to moderate developmental delay and ID, variable microcephaly or mild macrocephaly, short stature, feeding problems, facial dysmorphisms, and cardiac and renal malformations.

CONCLUSIONS

We propose ZNF148 as a gene involved in a newly described ID syndrome with a recurrent phenotype and postulate that the ZNF148 is a hitherto unrecognized but crucial transcription factor in the development of the corpus callosum. Our study illustrates the advantage of whole exome sequencing in a large cohort using a parent-offspring trio approach for identifying novel genes involved in rare human diseases.