Description

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate vital biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation and development. A subclass of lncRNAs is synthesized from microRNA host genes (MIRHGs) due to pre-miRNA processing, and is categorized as miRNA-host gene lncRNAs (lnc-miRHGs). Presently, it is not clear whether lnc-miRHG perform additional functions. We demonstrate a miRNA-independent role for a nuclear-enriched lnc-miRHG in cell cycle progression. MIR100HG produces spliced and stable lncRNAs (lnc-MIR100HG) that display elevated levels during the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Depletion of lnc-MIR100HG in human cells results in aberrant cell cycle progression with out altering the levels of miRNA encoded within MIR100HG. Notably, lnc-MIR100HG interacts with the HuR/Elav as well as with several of HuR-target mRNAs. Further, lnc-MIR100HG-depleted cells show reduced interaction between HuR and its target mRNAs, indicating that lnc-MIR100HG facilitates interaction between HuR and target mRNAs. Our studies have unearthed novel roles played by miRHG-encoded lncRNAs in regulating RNA binding protein activity, thereby underscoring the importance of determining the function of several hundreds of miRHG lncRNAs that are present in human genome.

Publication Title

MIR100 host gene-encoded lncRNAs regulate cell cycle by modulating the interaction between HuR and its target mRNAs.

Sample Metadata Fields

Cell line, Treatment