Gene regulation: Long RNAs wire up cancer growth

Abstract

The discovery of long non-coding RNAs that control the liaisons between a transcription factor with a key role in prostate cancer and its target genes sheds light on how RNAs dictate information flow in the cell nucleus.

Figure 1. Long non-coding RNAs and prostate-cancer growth

Yang et al. report that two long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) — PRNCR1 and PCGEM1 — activate the androgen receptor. Interaction of PRNCR1 with this receptor at androgen-response genomic elements allows recruitment of DOT1L, an enzyme that methylates and so activates the receptor. PCGEM1 can now bind to the active androgen receptor and recruit the enzyme Pygo2, which allows communication between this receptor and its target genes by binding to H3K4me3 chromatin marks in the genes’ promoter sequences. Many androgen-receptor target genes have been implicated in prostate-cancer growth. (Only one molecule of the androgen-receptor dimer is shown.)