The RNA binding protein EWS is broadly involved in the regulation of pri-miRNA processing in mammalian cells

Nucleic Acids Res. 2017 Dec 1;45(21):12481-12495. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkx912.

Abstract

The Ewing Sarcoma protein (EWS) is a multifaceted RNA binding protein (RBP) with established roles in transcription, pre-mRNA processing and DNA damage response. By generating high quality EWS-RNA interactome, we uncovered its specific and prevalent interaction with a large subset of primary microRNAs (pri-miRNAs) in mammalian cells. Knockdown of EWS reduced, whereas overexpression enhanced, the expression of its target miRNAs. Biochemical analysis revealed that multiple elements in target pri-miRNAs, including the sequences flanking the stem-loop region, contributed to high affinity EWS binding and sequence swap experiments between target and non-target demonstrated that the flanking sequences provided the specificity for enhanced pri-miRNA processing by the Microprocessor Drosha/DGCR8. Interestingly, while repressing Drosha expression, as reported earlier, we found that EWS was able to enhance the recruitment of Drosha to chromatin. Together, these findings suggest that EWS may positively and negatively regulate miRNA biogenesis via distinct mechanisms, thus providing a new foundation to understand the function of EWS in development and disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA Precursors / genetics
  • RNA Precursors / metabolism
  • RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS / physiology*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Ribonuclease III / metabolism*

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • EWSR1 protein, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA Precursors
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • DROSHA protein, human
  • Ribonuclease III