STAT3 plays an important role in DNA replication by turning on WDHD1

Yunying Zhou,Jason J Chen

doi:10.1186/s13578-020-00524-x

Abstract

BackgroundSignal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor that plays a key role in many cellular processes such as cell growth and cancer. However, the functions and mechanisms by which STAT3 regulates cellular processes are not fully understood.ResultsHere we describe a novel function of STAT3. We demonstrated that STAT3 plays an important role in DNA replication. Specifically, knockdown of STAT3 reduced DNA replication while activation and ectopic expression of STAT3 promoted DNA replication. We further identified the WD repeat and HMG-box DNA-binding protein 1 (WDHD1), which plays an important role in DNA replication initiation, as a novel STAT3 target gene that mediated the DNA replication function of STAT3. We showed that STAT3 bind the promoter/up regulatory region of WDHD1 gene.ConclusionsThese studies identified a novel function of STAT3 that is mediated by its newly identified target gene WDHD1 and have important implications.

Highlights

Signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor that plays a key role in many cellular processes such as cell growth and cancer
STAT3 plays a role in DNA replication Our recent studies demonstrated that both STAT3 and WD repeat and HMG-box DNA-binding protein 1 (WDHD1) were up-regulated in oncogene overexpressing cells [37]
Since WDHD1 plays a role in DNA replication, we reasoned that STAT3 might be involved in DNA replication by up-regulating WDHD1

Summary

Introduction

Signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor that plays a key role in many cellular processes such as cell growth and cancer. Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) family members are transcription factors that mediate many cellular processes and involved in the pathogenesis of various human diseases [1]. STAT3 is a core member of the STAT protein family and plays a key role in many critical cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, immunosuppression, angiogenesis and tumorigenesis [2, 3]. STAT3 is essential for the differentiation of the TH17 helper T cells [5]. STAT3 is aberrantly activated in a variety of tumors, STAT3 signaling promotes cancer through inflammation, obesity, stem cells and the pre-metastatic niche [3, 6].

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