Many long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are reported to be dysregulated in human cancers and play critical roles in tumor development and progression. Furthermore, it has been reported that many lncRNAs regulate gene expression by recruiting chromatin remodeling complexes to specific genomic loci or by controlling transcriptional or posttranscriptional processes. Here we show that an lncRNA termed UPAT [ubiquitin-like plant homeodomain (PHD) and really interesting new gene (RING) finger domaincontaining protein 1 (UHRF1) Protein Associated Transcript] is required for the survival and tumorigenicity of colorectal cancer cells. UPAT interacts with and stabilizes the epigenetic factor UHRF1 by interfering with its β-transducin repeat-containing protein (TrCP)-mediated ubiquitination. Furthermore, we demonstrate that UHRF1 up-regulates Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 and Sprouty 4, which are required for the survival of colon tumor cells. Our study provides evidence for an lncRNA that regulates protein ubiquitination and degradation and thereby plays a critical role in the survival and tumorigenicity of tumor cells. Our results suggest that UPAT and UHRF1 may be promising molecular targets for the therapy of colon cancer.A mong the RNA products transcribed from the mammalian genome are numerous long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs)-that is, RNAs longer than 200 nucleotides with little or no protein-coding potential (1, 2). Many lncRNAs are expressed in a developmentally regulated and cell type-dependent manner (3, 4). Increasing evidence suggests that lncRNAs play critical roles in a diverse set of biological processes, including proliferation, differentiation, embryogenesis, neurogenesis, and stem cell pluripotency (5, 6).It has been reported that many lncRNAs regulate gene expression by recruiting chromatin remodeling complexes to specific genomic regions (2). It has also been shown that many lncRNAs regulate transcription by modulating the activity of transcriptional regulators (1, 6-8). lncRNAs also regulate various posttranscriptional processes, including splicing, transport, translation, and degradation of mRNA. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that a number of lncRNAs play critical roles in tumor development and progression.UHRF1 [ubiquitin-like plant homeodomain (PHD) and really interesting new gene (RING) finger domain-containing protein 1] is an epigenetic factor that consists of multiple domains (9). UHRF1 regulates transcription by regulating DNA methylation and histone modification. UHRF1 also possesses E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and ubiquitinates histones and DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), thereby regulating the chromatin structure and stability of DNMT1 (10, 11). UHRF1 plays key roles in multiple biological processes, including proliferation and development. Furthermore, UHRF1 is overexpressed in various tumors, including colon, breast, bladder, prostate, and lung cancers, and plays a critical role in the proliferation and survival of tumor cells (9).In the present study, we attempted to identify lncRNAs criti...

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Cell fusion has a critical role in various developmental processes, immune response, tissue homeostasis and regeneration, and possibly, in cancer. However, the signals that regulate cell fusion remain poorly understood. In a screen for novel targets of Wnt / β -catenin signalling, we identifi ed glial cells missing 1 ( GCM1 ), which encodes a transcription factor that is involved in epigenetic regulation and is critical for the fusion of syncytiotrophoblast (ST) cells. Here we show that β -catenin / BCL9-Like (BCL9L) / T-cell factor 4 (TCF4) signalling directly targets the GCM1 / syncytin pathway and thereby regulates the fusion of human choriocarcinoma cells. Furthermore, we show that the GCM1 / syncytin-B pathway is signifi cantly downregulated in the placenta of BCL9L-defi cient mice and that the fusion and differentiation of ST-II cells are blocked. Our results demonstrate a signal transduction pathway that regulates cell fusion, and may provide intriguing perspectives into the various biological and pathological processes that involve cell fusion.

Aberrant activation of Wnt signalling results in colorectal tumours. Lgr5 is specifically expressed in stem cells of the intestine and has an essential role in maintaining tissue homeostasis. Lgr5-positive stem cells are responsible for the intestinal adenoma initiated by mutations in adenomatous polyposis coli. Furthermore, Lgr5 interacts with R-spondins and thereby activates Wnt signalling. However, the function of Lgr5 in colorectal tumourigenesis is unclear. Here we show that LGR5 is required for the tumourigenicity of colorectal cancer cells. We show that the transcription factor GATA6 directly enhances the expression of LGR5. We further demonstrate that GATA6 is upregulated in colorectal cancer cells due to the downregulation of miR-363, which directly targets GATA6. Moreover, we show that overexpression of miR-363 suppresses the tumourigenicity of colorectal cancer cells. These results suggest that the miR-363-GATA6-LGR5 pathway is critical for colorectal tumourigenesis and would be a promising target for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Over the past decades, research on cancer biology has focused on the involvement of protein-coding genes in cancer development. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that lack protein-coding potential, are an important class of RNA molecules that are involved in a variety of biological functions. Although the functions of a majority of lncRNAs have yet to be clarified, some lncRNAs have been shown to be associated with human diseases such as cancer. LncRNAs have been shown to contribute to many important cancer phenotypes through their interactions with other cellular macromolecules including DNA, protein and RNA. Here we describe the literature regarding the biogenesis and features of lncRNAs. We also present an overview of the current knowledge regarding the roles of lncRNAs in cancer from the view of various aspects of cellular homeostasis, including proliferation, survival, migration and genomic stability. Furthermore, we discuss the methodologies used to identify the function of lncRNAs in cancer development and tumorigenesis. Better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involving lncRNA functions in cancer is critical for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against tumorigenesis.