RNA-driven JAZF1-SUZ12 gene fusion in human endometrial stromal cells

PLoS Genet. 2021 Dec 20;17(12):e1009985. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009985. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Oncogenic fusion genes as the result of chromosomal rearrangements are important for understanding genome instability in cancer cells and developing useful cancer therapies. To date, the mechanisms that create such oncogenic fusion genes are poorly understood. Previously we reported an unappreciated RNA-driven mechanism in human prostate cells in which the expression of chimeric RNA induces specified gene fusions in a sequence-dependent manner. One fundamental question yet to be addressed is whether such RNA-driven gene fusion mechanism is generalizable, or rather, a special case restricted to prostate cells. In this report, we demonstrated that the expression of designed chimeric RNAs in human endometrial stromal cells leads to the formation of JAZF1-SUZ12, a cancer fusion gene commonly found in low-grade endometrial stromal sarcomas. The process is specified by the sequence of chimeric RNA involved and inhibited by estrogen or progesterone. Furthermore, it is the antisense rather than sense chimeric RNAs that effectively drive JAZF1-SUZ12 gene fusion. The induced fusion gene is validated both at the RNA and the genomic DNA level. The ability of designed chimeric RNAs to drive and recapitulate the formation of JAZF1-SUZ12 gene fusion in endometrial cells represents another independent case of RNA-driven gene fusion, suggesting that RNA-driven genomic recombination is a permissible mechanism in mammalian cells. The results could have fundamental implications in the role of RNA in genome stability, and provide important insight in early disease mechanisms related to the formation of cancer fusion genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Co-Repressor Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Endometrium / metabolism
  • Endometrium / pathology
  • Estrogens / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Genome, Human / genetics
  • Genomic Instability / genetics
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics*
  • Progesterone / genetics
  • RNA, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • Stromal Cells / metabolism
  • Stromal Cells / pathology
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Co-Repressor Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Estrogens
  • JAZF1 protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • SUZ12 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • Progesterone

Grants and funding

SKG has been supported by CPRIT training grant RP160283 and 2020 Tad Smith & Caroline Fitzgibbons-PCF Young Investigator Award. JDYJ has been supported by E&M Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowship for Biomedical Research. LY has been supported by DOD Idea Development Award PC190612. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.