The long non-coding RNA rhabdomyosarcoma 2-associated transcript exerts anti-tumor effects on lung adenocarcinoma via ubiquitination of .

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in the post-translational modification of proteins, but the importance of lncRNAs in protein ubiquitination remains unclear. This study investigated to role of the lncRNA rhabdomyosarcoma 2-associated transcript () in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

METHODS

The expression of was analyzed in LUAD samples and normal lung tissues using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) public databases. Colony formation and transwell assays were used to determine the anti-tumor effects of in human LUAD progression. RNA pull-down assays, RNA immunoprecipitation assays, and mass spectrometry were used to determine the mechanisms by which induces the ubiquitination of SRY-box transcription factor 9 (). Furthermore, animal models were used to determine the effects of on LUAD tumorigenicity .

RESULTS

Compared with normal tissues, expression was significantly downregulated in LUAD samples. This abnormal expression of led to significant changes in the proliferation and migration of LUAD cells both and . The experiments demonstrated that binds directly to the protein, resulting in the ubiquitination of and this was mediated by F-box and WD repeat domain-containing 7 (). Clinically, expression was shown to be positively correlated with the overall survival of LUAD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings revealed that suppressed the signaling pathway to inhibit LUAD growth and metastasis. The -induced ubiquitination of via may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of patients with LUAD.