Institute of Microbiology and Immunology Distinguished Professor Pei-Ching Chang and her research team lead the world in discovering that “RNA not involved in gene translation” is related to viral carcinogenesis
Professor Pei-Ching Chang said that as long as the same DNA sequence regulates gene activity, it can affect gene expression and cell type, just like the decoration of a house. Different decorations can make the same building have different functions. This study found the cancer-related IncRNA and its mechanism of action, which has the potential to be further used as an indicator of cell canceration in the future. The research results have been published in “Public Library of Science: Pathogens” (PLOS Pathogens).
mRNA translates the genetic code of DNA into protein, and scientists have used this property to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. In addition to mRNA, scientists have discovered another type of ribonucleic acid called lncRNA, which itself does not participate in gene translation but does interact with some cancer-causing viruses to cause cancer.
This ribonucleic acid, called “Long non-coding RNA, lncRNA”, is different from mRNA, which can be translated into protein by the biological genetic law, and will not translate genetic code into protein. The characteristic of “inaction” was once considered useless in the past. It was only recently that scientists discovered that although lncRNA does not produce any genetically inherited proteins, it does affect the expression of other genes, notably oncogenes.
Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, in a series of studies on Kaposi’s sarcoma herpes virus, found 6 lncRNAs with the potential to activate herpes virus. After herpes virus infects human cells, the viral genes in the latent period are tightly bound to the histones of the cells. The transcription/translation process of genes can only be started after the tight winding between histones and DNA is untied, and these six IncRNAs play the role of untying these “knots”. It is also because lncRNA unlocks the rope of this seal and starts a series of viral gene transcription/translation processes, which can be activated.
KDM4A has been linked to many cancers including breast cancer, lung cancer, and intestinal cancer. Among these 6 lncRNAs, one lncRNA named KIKAT is able to unravel the mechanism of the virus regulating the activation of oncogenes by regulating the notorious “histone methyltransferase KDM4A” and binding to the position of the gene promoter. “Knot”.
This is the first time that the pathological mechanism of KDM4A carcinogenesis has been found, and it also explains the new role of a new lncRNA in regulating gene expression. This IncRNALINC01061 named KIKAT was named by the team of Professor Pei-Ching Chang who presided over the study. Pei-Ching Chang used a cell line carrying Kaposi’s sarcoma herpes virus as the experimental object, and found it by screening 82 lncRNAs that might activate herpes virus.