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Zhang J, Xu X, Deng H, Liu L, Xiang Y, Feng J. Overcoming cancer drug-resistance calls for novel strategies targeting abnormal alternative splicing. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 261:108697. [PMID: 39025436 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2024.108697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Abnormal gene alternative splicing (AS) events are strongly associated with cancer progression. Here, we summarize AS events that contribute to the development of drug resistance and classify them into three categories: alternative cis-splicing (ACS), alternative trans-splicing (ATS), and alternative back-splicing (ABS). The regulatory mechanisms underlying AS processes through cis-acting regulatory elements and trans-acting factors are comprehensively described, and the distinct functions of spliced variants, including linear spliced variants derived from ACS, chimeric spliced variants arising from ATS, and circRNAs generated through ABS, are discussed. The identification of dysregulated spliced variants, which contribute to drug resistance and hinder effective cancer treatment, suggests that abnormal AS processes may together serve as a precise regulatory mechanism enabling drug-resistant cancer cell survival or, alternatively, represent an evolutionary pathway for cancer cells to adapt to changes in the external environment. Moreover, this review summarizes recent advancements in treatment approaches targeting AS-associated drug resistance, focusing on cis-acting regulatory elements, trans-acting factors, and specific spliced variants. Collectively, gaining an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms underlying aberrant alternative splicing events and developing strategies to target this process hold great promise for overcoming cancer drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province 646000, China; Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Key Laboratory of Luzhou, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province 646000, China
| | - Xinyu Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province 646000, China; Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Key Laboratory of Luzhou, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province 646000, China
| | - Hongwei Deng
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province 646000, China; Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Key Laboratory of Luzhou, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province 646000, China
| | - Li Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province 646000, China; Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Key Laboratory of Luzhou, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province 646000, China
| | - Yuancai Xiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou city, Sichuan 646000, China.
| | - Jianguo Feng
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province 646000, China; Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Key Laboratory of Luzhou, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province 646000, China; Nucleic Acid Medicine of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province 646000, China.
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2
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Santucci K, Cheng Y, Xu SM, Janitz M. Enhancing novel isoform discovery: leveraging nanopore long-read sequencing and machine learning approaches. Brief Funct Genomics 2024:elae031. [PMID: 39158328 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elae031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Long-read sequencing technologies can capture entire RNA transcripts in a single sequencing read, reducing the ambiguity in constructing and quantifying transcript models in comparison to more common and earlier methods, such as short-read sequencing. Recent improvements in the accuracy of long-read sequencing technologies have expanded the scope for novel splice isoform detection and have also enabled a far more accurate reconstruction of complex splicing patterns and transcriptomes. Additionally, the incorporation and advancements of machine learning and deep learning algorithms in bioinformatic software have significantly improved the reliability of long-read sequencing transcriptomic studies. However, there is a lack of consensus on what bioinformatic tools and pipelines produce the most precise and consistent results. Thus, this review aims to discuss and compare the performance of available methods for novel isoform discovery with long-read sequencing technologies, with 25 tools being presented. Furthermore, this review intends to demonstrate the need for developing standard analytical pipelines, tools, and transcript model conventions for novel isoform discovery and transcriptomic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Santucci
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Yuning Cheng
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Si-Mei Xu
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Michael Janitz
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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Jones EF, Howton TC, Flanary VL, Clark AD, Lasseigne BN. Long-read RNA sequencing identifies region- and sex-specific C57BL/6J mouse brain mRNA isoform expression and usage. Mol Brain 2024; 17:40. [PMID: 38902764 PMCID: PMC11188239 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-024-01112-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) contributes to the biological heterogeneity between species, sexes, tissues, and cell types. Many diseases are either caused by alterations in AS or by alterations to AS. Therefore, measuring AS accurately and efficiently is critical for assessing molecular phenotypes, including those associated with disease. Long-read sequencing enables more accurate quantification of differentially spliced isoform expression than short-read sequencing approaches, and third-generation platforms facilitate high-throughput experiments. To assess differences in AS across the cerebellum, cortex, hippocampus, and striatum by sex, we generated and analyzed Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long-read RNA sequencing (lrRNA-Seq) C57BL/6J mouse brain cDNA libraries. From > 85 million reads that passed quality control metrics, we calculated differential gene expression (DGE), differential transcript expression (DTE), and differential transcript usage (DTU) across brain regions and by sex. We found significant DGE, DTE, and DTU across brain regions and that the cerebellum had the most differences compared to the other three regions. Additionally, we found region-specific differential splicing between sexes, with the most sex differences in DTU in the cortex and no DTU in the hippocampus. We also report on two distinct patterns of sex DTU we observed, sex-divergent and sex-specific, that could potentially help explain sex differences in the prevalence and prognosis of various neurological and psychiatric disorders in future studies. Finally, we built a Shiny web application for researchers to explore the data further. Our study provides a resource for the community; it underscores the importance of AS in biological heterogeneity and the utility of long-read sequencing to better understand AS in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma F Jones
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Timothy C Howton
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Victoria L Flanary
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Amanda D Clark
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Brittany N Lasseigne
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America.
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Xu T, Li X, Zhao W, Wang X, Jin L, Feng Z, Li H, Zhang M, Tian Y, Hu G, Yue Y, Dai X, Shan C, Zhang W, Zhang C, Zhang Y. SF3B3-regulated mTOR alternative splicing promotes colorectal cancer progression and metastasis. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:126. [PMID: 38671459 PMCID: PMC11047005 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03053-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant alternative splicing (AS) is a pervasive event during colorectal cancer (CRC) development. SF3B3 is a splicing factor component of U2 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins which are crucial for early stages of spliceosome assembly. The role of SF3B3 in CRC remains unknown. METHODS SF3B3 expression in human CRCs was analyzed using publicly available CRC datasets, immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and western blot. RNA-seq, RNA immunoprecipitation, and lipidomics were performed in SF3B3 knockdown or overexpressing CRC cell lines. CRC cell xenografts, patient-derived xenografts, patient-derived organoids, and orthotopic metastasis mouse models were utilized to determine the in vivo role of SF3B3 in CRC progression and metastasis. RESULTS SF3B3 was upregulated in CRC samples and associated with poor survival. Inhibition of SF3B3 by RNA silencing suppressed the proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells in vitro and in vivo, characterized by mitochondria injury, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptosis. Mechanistically, silencing of SF3B3 increased mTOR exon-skipped splicing, leading to the suppression of lipogenesis via mTOR-SREBF1-FASN signaling. The combination of SF3B3 shRNAs and mTOR inhibitors showed synergistic antitumor activity in patient-derived CRC organoids and xenografts. Importantly, we identified SF3B3 as a critical regulator of mTOR splicing and autophagy in multiple cancers. CONCLUSIONS Our findings revealed that SF3B3 promoted CRC progression and metastasis by regulating mTOR alternative splicing and SREBF1-FASN-mediated lipogenesis, providing strong evidence to support SF3B3 as a druggable target for CRC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xichuan Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, 300382, China
| | - Wennan Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA
| | - Leixin Jin
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, 30021, China
| | - Zhiqiang Feng
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, 30021, China
| | - Huixiang Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Mingzhe Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Yiqing Tian
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Ge Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Yuan Yue
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, 300382, China
| | - Xintong Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Changliang Shan
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | | | - Chunze Zhang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, 30021, China.
| | - Youcai Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
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Yuan CU, Quah FX, Hemberg M. Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics: Bridging current technologies with long-read sequencing. Mol Aspects Med 2024; 96:101255. [PMID: 38368637 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2024.101255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Single-cell technologies have transformed biomedical research over the last decade, opening up new possibilities for understanding cellular heterogeneity, both at the genomic and transcriptomic level. In addition, more recent developments of spatial transcriptomics technologies have made it possible to profile cells in their tissue context. In parallel, there have been substantial advances in sequencing technologies, and the third generation of methods are able to produce reads that are tens of kilobases long, with error rates matching the second generation short reads. Long reads technologies make it possible to better map large genome rearrangements and quantify isoform specific abundances. This further improves our ability to characterize functionally relevant heterogeneity. Here, we show how researchers have begun to combine single-cell, spatial transcriptomics, and long-read technologies, and how this is resulting in powerful new approaches to profiling both the genome and the transcriptome. We discuss the achievements so far, and we highlight remaining challenges and opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengwei Ulrika Yuan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fu Xiang Quah
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Martin Hemberg
- Gene Lay Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Ermini L, Driguez P. The Application of Long-Read Sequencing to Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1275. [PMID: 38610953 PMCID: PMC11011098 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16071275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a multifaceted disease arising from numerous genomic aberrations that have been identified as a result of advancements in sequencing technologies. While next-generation sequencing (NGS), which uses short reads, has transformed cancer research and diagnostics, it is limited by read length. Third-generation sequencing (TGS), led by the Pacific Biosciences and Oxford Nanopore Technologies platforms, employs long-read sequences, which have marked a paradigm shift in cancer research. Cancer genomes often harbour complex events, and TGS, with its ability to span large genomic regions, has facilitated their characterisation, providing a better understanding of how complex rearrangements affect cancer initiation and progression. TGS has also characterised the entire transcriptome of various cancers, revealing cancer-associated isoforms that could serve as biomarkers or therapeutic targets. Furthermore, TGS has advanced cancer research by improving genome assemblies, detecting complex variants, and providing a more complete picture of transcriptomes and epigenomes. This review focuses on TGS and its growing role in cancer research. We investigate its advantages and limitations, providing a rigorous scientific analysis of its use in detecting previously hidden aberrations missed by NGS. This promising technology holds immense potential for both research and clinical applications, with far-reaching implications for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Ermini
- NORLUX Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Department of Cancer Research, Luxembourg Institute of Health, L-1210 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Patrick Driguez
- Bioscience Core Lab, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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Zou C, Zan X, Jia Z, Zheng L, Gu Y, Liu F, Han Y, Xu C, Wu A, Zhi Q. Crosstalk between alternative splicing and inflammatory bowel disease: Basic mechanisms, biotechnological progresses and future perspectives. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1479. [PMID: 37983927 PMCID: PMC10659771 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alternative splicing (AS) is an omnipresent regulatory mechanism of gene expression that enables the generation of diverse splice isoforms from a single gene. Recently, AS events have gained considerable momentum in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS Our review has summarized the complex process of RNA splicing, and firstly highlighted the potential involved molecules that target aberrant splicing events in IBD. The quantitative transcriptome analyses such as microarrays, next-generation sequencing (NGS) for AS events in IBD have been also discussed. RESULTS Available evidence suggests that some abnormal splicing RNAs can lead to multiple intestinal disorders during the onset of IBD as well as the progression to colitis-associated cancer (CAC), including gut microbiota perturbations, intestinal barrier dysfunctions, innate/adaptive immune dysregulations, pro-fibrosis activation and some other risk factors. Moreover, current data show that the advanced technologies, including microarrays and NGS, have been pioneeringly employed to screen the AS candidates and elucidate the potential regulatory mechanisms of IBD. Besides, other biotechnological progresses such as the applications of third-generation sequencing (TGS), single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST), will be desired with great expectations. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, the current review is the first one to evaluate the potential regulatory mechanisms of AS events in IBD. The expanding list of aberrantly spliced genes in IBD along with the developed technologies provide us new clues to how IBD develops, and how these important AS events can be explored for future treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chentao Zou
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Xinquan Zan
- Department of General SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Zhenyu Jia
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Lu Zheng
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Yijie Gu
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Ye Han
- Department of General SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Chunfang Xu
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Airong Wu
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Qiaoming Zhi
- Department of General SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
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