RNA Pathways Research Articles

Whole transcriptome analysis revealed the regulatory network and related pathways of non-coding RNA regulating ovarian atrophy in broody hens.

Poultry broodiness can cause ovarian atresia, which has a detrimental impact on egg production. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have become one of the most talked-about topics in life sciences because of the increasing evidence of their novel biological roles in regulatory systems. However, the molecular mechanisms of ncRNAs functions and processes in chicken ovarian development remain largely unknown. Whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing of the ovaries of broodiness and laying chickens was thus performed to identify the ncRNA regulatory mechanisms associated with ovarian atresia in chickens. Subsequent analysis revealed that the ovaries of laying chickens and those with broodiness had 40 differentially expressed MicroRNA (miRNAs) (15 up-regulated and 25 down-regulated), 379 differentially expressed Long Noncoding RNA (lncRNAs) (213 up-regulated and 166 down-regulated), and 129 differentially expressed circular RNA (circRNAs) (63 up-regulated and 66 down-regulated). The competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network analysis further revealed the involvement of ECM-receptor interaction, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, focal adhesion, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels, renin secretion, gap junction, insulin secretion, serotonergic synapse, and IL-17 signaling pathways in broodiness. Upon further analysis, it became evident that THBS1 and MYLK are significant candidate genes implicated in the regulation of broodiness. The expression of these genes is linked to miR-155-x, miR-211-z, miR-1682-z, gga-miR-155, and gga-miR-1682, as well as to the competitive binding of novel_circ_014674 and MSTRG.3306.4. The findings of this study reveal the existence of a regulatory link between non-coding RNAs and their competing mRNAs, which provide a better comprehension of the ncRNA function and processes in chicken ovarian development.

RNA-dependent RNA polymerases regulate ascospore discharge through the exonic-sRNA-mediated RNAi pathway.

We found that in addition to Fgrdrp1 and Fgrdrp2, Fgrdrp5 also plays important roles in ascospore maturation and ascospore discharge of Fusarium graminearum. These three RNA-dependent RNA polymerases participate in the biogenesis and accumulation of exonic small interference RNA and then regulate ascospore discharge.

GASZ is indispensable for gametogenesis in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

The prominent role of the P-element induced wimpy testis (PIWI)-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway in animals is to silence transposable elements and maintain genome stability, ensuring proper gametogenesis in gonads. GASZ (Germ cell protein with Ankyrin repeats, Sterile alpha motif, and leucine Zipper) is an evolutionarily conserved protein located on the outer mitochondrial membrane of germ cells and plays vital roles in the piRNA pathway and spermatogenesis in mammals. In the model insect Drosophila melanogaster, GASZ is essential for piRNA biogenesis and oogenesis, whereas its biological functions in non-drosophilid insects are still unknown. Here, we describe a comprehensive investigation of GASZ functions in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, a lepidopteran model insect, by using a binary transgenic CRISPR/Cas9 system. The BmGASZ mutation did not affect growth and development, but led to sterility in both males and females. Eupyrene sperm bundles of mutant males exhibited developmental defects, while the apyrene sperm bundles were normal, which were further confirmed through double copulation experiments with sex-lethal mutants, which males possess functional eupyrene sperm and abnormal apyrene sperm. In female mutant moths, ovarioles were severely degenerated and the eggs in ovarioles were deformed compared with that of wild type (WT). Further RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analysis revealed that amounts of piRNAs and transposon expression were dysregulated in gonads of mutants. In summary, this study has demonstrated vital roles of BmGASZ in gametogenesis through regulating the piRNA pathway in B. mori.

SH-SY5Y human neuronal cells with mutations of the CDKN2B-AS1 gene are vulnerable under cultured conditions

Glaucoma is a common cause of blindness worldwide. Genetic effects are believed to contribute to the onset and progress of glaucoma, but the underlying pathological mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we set out to introduce mutations into the CDKN2B-AS1 gene, which is known as being the closely associated with glaucoma, in a human neuronal cell line in vitro. We introduced gene mutations with CRISPR/Cas9 into exons and introns into the CDKN2B-AS1 gene. Both mutations strongly promoted neuronal cell death in normal culture conditions. RNA sequencing and pathway analysis revealed that the transcriptional factor Fos is a target molecule regulating CDKN2B-AS1 overexpression. We demonstrated that gene mutation of CDKN2B-AS1 is directly associated with neuronal cell vulnerability in vitro. Additionally, Fos, which is a downstream signaling molecule of CDKN2B-AS1, may be a potential source of new therapeutic targets for neuronal degeneration in diseases such as glaucoma.

Effects of Arboviral Infections on Transposable Element Transcript Levels in Aedes aegypti.

Transposable elements are mobile repeated sequences found in all genomes. Transposable elements are controlled by RNA interference pathways in most organisms, and this control involves the PIWI-interacting RNA pathway and the small interfering RNA pathway, which is also known to be the first line of antiviral defense in invertebrates. Using Drosophila, we recently showed that viral infections result in the modulation of transposable element transcript levels through modulation of the small RNA repertoire. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is of particular interest because almost half of its genome is made of transposable elements, and it is described as a major vector of viruses (such as the dengue [DENV], Zika [ZIKV], and chikungunya [CHIKV] arboviruses). Moreover, Aedes mosquitoes are unique among insects in that the PIWI-interacting RNA pathway is also involved in the somatic antiviral response, in addition to the transposable element control and PIWI-interacting RNA pathway genes expanded in the mosquito genome. For these reasons, we studied the impacts of viral infections on transposable element transcript levels in A. aegypti samples. We retrieved public datasets corresponding to RNA-seq data obtained from viral infections by DENV, ZIKV, and CHIKV in various tissues. We found that transposable element transcripts are moderately modulated following viral infection and that the direction of the modulation varies greatly across tissues and viruses. These results highlight the need for an in-depth investigation of the tightly intertwined interactions between transposable elements and viruses.

TRANSCRIPTOMIC DIFFERENCES IN PERIPHERAL MONOCYTE POPULATIONS IN SEPTIC PATIENTS BASED ON OUTCOME.

Postsepsis early mortality is being replaced by survivors who experience either a rapid recovery and favorable hospital discharge or the development of chronic critical illness with suboptimal outcomes. The underlying immunological response that determines these clinical trajectories remains poorly defined at the transcriptomic level. As classical and nonclassical monocytes are key leukocytes in both the innate and adaptive immune systems, we sought to delineate the transcriptomic response of these cell types. Using single-cell RNA sequencing and pathway analyses, we identified gene expression patterns between these two groups that are consistent with differences in TNF-α production based on clinical outcome. This may provide therapeutic targets for those at risk for chronic critical illness in order to improve their phenotype/endotype, morbidity, and long-term mortality.

Mind the Gap: Estrogen Receptor-β in Astrocytes Is a Therapeutic Target to Prevent Cognitive Problems at Menopause [ID 2683385

INTRODUCTION: Menopause entails cognitive deficits and brain atrophy, but the brain region and cell-specific mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS: Aging female mice were examined for cognitive deficits, hippocampal atrophy by MRI, and neuropathology. RESULTS: A sex hormone by age interaction was discovered. Loss of ovarian hormones in female mice at midlife, but not young age, induced hippocampal-dependent cognitive impairment, dorsal hippocampal atrophy, and glial activation with synaptic loss. Deletion of estrogen receptor-β (ERβ) in astrocytes, but not neurons, in gonadally intact females recapitulated these effects. RNA sequencing and pathway analyses of gene expression in hippocampal astrocytes from midlife female astrocyte-ERβ conditional knockout (cKO) mice revealed Gluconeogenesis I and Glycolysis I as the most differentially expressed pathways. Enolase 1 gene expression was increased in hippocampi from astrocyte-ERβ cKO at midlife and postmenopausal women. ERβ ligand treatment at midlife reversed dorsal hippocampal neuropathology. CONCLUSION: Estrogen receptor-β in hippocampal astrocytes modulates cognitive function in mid-age female mice.

Heterochromatin repeat organization at an individual level: Rex1BD and the 14-3-3 protein coordinate to shape the epigenetic landscape within heterochromatin repeats.

In eukaryotic cells, heterochromatin is typically composed of tandem DNA repeats and plays crucial roles in gene expression and genome stability. It has been reported that silencing at individual units within tandem heterochromatin repeats exhibits a position-dependent variation. However, how the heterochromatin is organized at an individual repeat level remains poorly understood. Using a novel genetic approach, our recent study identified a conserved protein Rex1BD required for position-dependent silencing within heterochromatin repeats. We further revealed that Rex1BD interacts with the 14-3-3 protein to regulate heterochromatin silencing by linking RNAi and HDAC pathways. In this review, we discuss how Rex1BD and the 14-3-3 protein coordinate to modulate heterochromatin organization at the individual repeat level, and comment on the biological significance of the position-dependent effect in heterochromatin repeats. We also identify the knowledge gaps that still need to be unveiled in the field.

Mammalian PIWI-piRNA-target complexes reveal features for broad and efficient target silencing.

The PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway is an adaptive defense system wherein piRNAs guide PIWI family Argonaute proteins to recognize and silence ever-evolving selfish genetic elements and ensure genome integrity. Driven by this intensive host-pathogen arms race, the piRNA pathway and its targeted transposons have coevolved rapidly in a species-specific manner, but how the piRNA pathway adapts specifically to target silencing in mammals remains elusive. Here, we show that mouse MILI and human HILI piRNA-induced silencing complexes (piRISCs) bind and cleave targets more efficiently than their invertebrate counterparts from the sponge Ephydatia fluviatilis. The inherent functional differences comport with structural features identified by cryo-EM studies of piRISCs. In the absence of target, MILI and HILI piRISCs adopt a wider nucleic-acid-binding channel and display an extended prearranged piRNA seed as compared with EfPiwi piRISC, consistent with their ability to capture targets more efficiently than EfPiwi piRISC. In the presence of target, the seed gate-which enforces seed-target fidelity in microRNA RISC-adopts a relaxed state in mammalian piRISC, revealing how MILI and HILI tolerate seed-target mismatches to broaden the target spectrum. A vertebrate-specific lysine distorts the piRNA seed, shifting the trajectory of the piRNA-target duplex out of the central cleft and toward the PAZ lobe. Functional analyses reveal that this lysine promotes target binding and cleavage. Our study therefore provides a molecular basis for the piRNA targeting mechanism in mice and humans, and suggests that mammalian piRNA machinery can achieve broad target silencing using a limited supply of piRNA species.

Key arginine residues in R2D2 dsRBD1 and dsRBD2 lead the siRNA recognition in Drosophila melanogaster RNAi pathway

In Drosophila melanogaster, Dcr-2:R2D2 heterodimer binds to the 21 nucleotide siRNA duplex to form the R2D2/Dcr-2 Initiator (RDI) complex, which is critical for the initiation of siRNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) assembly. During RDI complex formation, R2D2, a protein that contains three dsRNA binding domains (dsRBD), senses two aspects of the siRNA: thermodynamically more stable end (asymmetry sensing) and the 5′-phosphate (5'-P) recognition. Despite several detailed studies to date, the molecular determinants arising from R2D2 for performing these two tasks remain elusive. In this study, we have performed structural, biophysical, and biochemical characterization of R2D2 dsRBDs. We found that the solution NMR-derived structure of R2D2 dsRBD1 yielded a canonical α1-β1-β2-β3-α2 fold, wherein two arginine salt bridges provide additional stability to the R2D2 dsRBD1. Furthermore, we show that R2D2 dsRBD1 interacts with thermodynamically asymmetric siRNA duplex independent of its 5′-phosphorylation state, whereas R2D2 dsRBD2 prefers to interact with 5'-P siRNA duplex. The mutation of key arginine residues, R53 and R101, in concatenated dsRBDs of R2D2 results in a significant loss of siRNA duplex recognition. Our study deciphers the active roles of R2D2 dsRBDs by showing that dsRBD1 initiates siRNA recognition, whereas dsRBD2 senses 5′-phosphate as an authentic mark on functional siRNA.

The dual role of Spn-E in supporting heterotypic ping-pong piRNA amplification in silkworms

The PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway plays a crucial role in silencing transposons in the germline. piRNA-guided target cleavage by PIWI proteins triggers the biogenesis of new piRNAs from the cleaved RNA fragments. This process, known as the ping-pong cycle, is mediated by the two PIWI proteins, Siwi and BmAgo3, in silkworms. However, the detailed molecular mechanism of the ping-pong cycle remains largely unclear. Here, we show that Spindle-E (Spn-E), a putative ATP-dependent RNA helicase, is essential for BmAgo3-dependent production of Siwi-bound piRNAs in the ping-pong cycle and that this function of Spn-E requires its ATPase activity. Moreover, Spn-E acts to suppress homotypic Siwi–Siwi ping-pong, but this function of Spn-E is independent of its ATPase activity. These results highlight the dual role of Spn-E in facilitating proper heterotypic ping-pong in silkworms.

Interaction between a J-domain co-chaperone and a specific Argonaute protein contributes to microRNA function in animals.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential regulators of several biological processes. They are loaded onto Argonaute (AGO) proteins to achieve their repressive function, forming the microRNA-Induced Silencing Complex known asmiRISC. While several AGO proteins are expressed in plants and animals, it is still unclear why specific AGOs are strictly binding miRNAs. Here, we identified the co-chaperone DNJ-12 as a new interactor of ALG-1, one of the two major miRNA-specific AGOs in Caenorhabditis elegans. DNJ-12 does not interact with ALG-2, the other major miRNA-specific AGO, and PRG-1 and RDE-1, two AGOs involved in other small RNA pathways, making it a specific actor in ALG-1-dependent miRNA-mediated gene silencing. The loss of DNJ-12 causes developmental defects associated with defective miRNA function. Using the Auxin Inducible Degronsystem, a powerful tool to acutely degrade proteins in specific tissues, we show that DNJ-12 depletion hampers ALG-1 interaction with HSP70, a chaperone required for miRISC loading in vitro. Moreover, DNJ-12 depletion leads to the decrease of several miRNAs and prevents their loading onto ALG-1. This study uncovers the importance of a co-chaperone for the miRNA function in vivo and provides insights to explain how different small RNAs associate with specific AGO in animals.

Reduced insulin/IGF-1 signalling upregulates two anti-viral immune pathways, decreases viral load and increases survival under viral infection in C. elegans.

Reduced insulin/IGF-1 signalling (rIIS) improves survival across diverse taxa and there is a growing interest in its role in regulating immune function. Whilst rIIS can improve anti-bacterial resistance, the consequences for anti-viral immunity are yet to be systematically examined. Here, we show that rIIS in adult Caenorhabditis elegans increases the expression of key genes in two different anti-viral immunity pathways, whilst reducing viral load in old age, increasing survival and reducing rate-of-senescence under infection by naturally occurring positive-sense single-stranded RNA Orsay virus. We found that both drh-1 in the anti-viral RNA interference (RNAi) pathway and cde-1 in the terminal uridylation-based degradation of viral RNA pathway were upregulated in early adulthood under rIIS and increased anti-viral resistance was not associated with reproductive costs. Remarkably, rIIS increased anti-viral gene expression only in infected worms, potentially to curb the costs of constitutively upregulated immunity. RNA viruses are found across taxa from plants to mammals and we demonstrate a novel role for rIIS in regulating resistance to viral infection. We therefore highlight this evolutionarily conserved signalling pathway as a promising therapeutic target to improve anti-viral immunity.

Identification and expression patterns of somatic piRNAs and PIWI genes in Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae).

RNA interference (RNAi)-based gene silencing is a feasible and sustainable technology for the management of hemipteran pests by double-stranded RNA involvement, including small-interfering RNA, microRNA, and Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathways, that may help to decrease the usage of chemical insecticides. However, only a few data are available on the somatic piRNAs and their biogenesis genes in Riptortus pedestris, which serves as a significant pest of soybean (Glycine max). In this study, two family members of the PIWI gene were identified and characterized in R. pedestris, containing Argonaute3 (RpAgo3) and Aubergine (RpAub) genes with conserved protein domains, and their clusters were validated by phylogenetic analysis. In addition, they were widely expressed in all developmental stages of the whole body of R. pedestris and had lower expression levels in R. pedestris guts under different rearing conditions based on previous transcriptome sequencing. Furthermore, abundant clean reads were filtered to a total number of 45,998 piRNAs with uridine bias at the first nucleotide (nt) position and 26-32 nt in length by mapping onto the reference genome of R. pedestris according to our previous whole-transcriptome sequencing. Finally, our data revealed that gut bacterial changes were significantly positively or negatively associated with differentially expressed piRNAs among the five comparison groups with Pearson correlation analysis. In conclusion, these findings paved new avenues for the application of RNAi-based biopesticides for broad-spectrum hemipteran pest control.

Integrated analysis of transcriptome and small RNAome reveals regulatory network of rapid and long-term response to heat stress in Rhododendron moulmainense

Main conclusionThe post-transcriptional gene regulatory pathway and small RNA pathway play important roles in regulating the rapid and long-term response of Rhododendron moulmainense to high-temperature stress.The Rhododendron plays an important role in maintaining ecological balance. However, it is difficult to domesticate for use in urban ecosystems due to their strict optimum growth temperature condition, and its evolution and adaptation are little known. Here, we combined transcriptome and small RNAome to reveal the rapid response and long-term adaptability regulation strategies in Rhododendron moulmainense under high-temperature stress. The post-transcriptional gene regulatory pathway plays important roles in stress response, in which the protein folding pathway is rapidly induced at 4 h after heat stress, and alternative splicing plays an important role in regulating gene expression at 7 days after heat stress. The chloroplasts oxidative damage is the main factor inhibiting photosynthesis efficiency. Through WGCNA analysis, we identified gene association patterns and potential key regulatory genes responsible for maintaining the ROS steady-state under heat stress. Finally, we found that the sRNA synthesis pathway is induced under heat stress. Combined with small RNAome, we found that more miRNAs are significantly changed under long-term heat stress. Furthermore, MYBs might play a central role in target gene interaction network of differentially expressed miRNAs in R. moulmainense under heat stress. MYBs are closely related to ABA, consistently, ABA synthesis and signaling pathways are significantly inhibited, and the change in stomatal aperture is not obvious under heat stress. Taken together, we gained valuable insights into the transplantation and long-term conservation domestication of Rhododendron, and provide genetic resources for genetic modification and molecular breeding to improve heat resistance in Rhododendron.

Functions of RNAi Pathways in Ribosomal RNA Regulation.

Argonaute proteins, guided by small RNAs, play crucial roles in gene regulation and genome protection through RNA interference (RNAi)-related mechanisms. Ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), encoded by repeated rDNA units, constitute the core of the ribosome being the most abundant cellular transcripts. rDNA clusters also serve as sources of small RNAs, which are loaded into Argonaute proteins and are able to regulate rDNA itself or affect other gene targets. In this review, we consider the impact of small RNA pathways, specifically siRNAs and piRNAs, on rRNA gene regulation. Data from diverse eukaryotic organisms suggest the potential involvement of small RNAs in various molecular processes related to the rDNA transcription and rRNA fate. Endogenous siRNAs are integral to the chromatin-based silencing of rDNA loci in plants and have been shown to repress rDNA transcription in animals. Small RNAs also play a role in maintaining the integrity of rDNA clusters and may function in the cellular response to rDNA damage. Studies on the impact of RNAi and small RNAs on rRNA provide vast opportunities for future exploration.

MIWI N-terminal arginines orchestrate generation of functional pachytene piRNAs and spermiogenesis.

N-terminal arginine (NTR) methylation is a conserved feature of PIWI proteins, which are central components of the PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway. The significance and precise function of PIWI NTR methylation in mammals remains unknown. In mice, PIWI NTRs bind Tudor domain containing proteins (TDRDs) that have essential roles in piRNA biogenesis and the formation of the chromatoid body. Using mouse MIWI (PIWIL1) as paradigm, we demonstrate that the NTRs are essential for spermatogenesis through the regulation of transposons and gene expression. The loss of TDRD5 and TDRKH interaction with MIWI results in attenuation of piRNA amplification. We find that piRNA amplification is necessary for transposon control and for sustaining piRNA levels including select, nonconserved, pachytene piRNAs that target specific mRNAs required for spermatogenesis. Our findings support the notion that the vast majority of pachytene piRNAs are dispensable, acting as self-serving genetic elements that rely for propagation on MIWI piRNA amplification. MIWI-NTRs also mediate interactions with TDRD6 that are necessary for chromatoid body compaction. Furthermore, MIWI-NTRs promote stabilization of spermiogenic transcripts that drive nuclear compaction, which is essential for sperm formation. In summary, the NTRs underpin the diversification of MIWI protein function.

Abstract 3153: Regulation of ATF4-mediated stress responses by NUAK2 in ovarian cancer

Abstract NUAK family kinase 2 (NUAK2) a member of the AMPK-related serine/threonine kinase family with crucial roles in various cancer cellular processes. The aim of this study was to elucidate the expression and functions of NUAK2 in ovarian cancer while investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms. Analysis of several publicly available databases suggested a significant increase in NUAK2 mRNA levels in ovarian cancer compared to normal tissue. The overexpression of NUAK2 in ovarian cancer was confirmed by immunohistochemistry of NUAK2 in our local collection of ovarian tumor tissues comprised of carcinomas of various histological types (N=88) as well as benign and borderline tumors (N=19). Intense nuclear NUAK2 immunoreactivity was observed in serous and clear-cell carcinomas. Furthermore, nuclear expression of NUAK2 was significantly correlated with higher tumor grade and poorer overall and disease-free survival. Knocking out NUAK2 in SKOV3 cells by CRISPR-Cas9 resulted in suppressed cell growth and migration. Transcriptome by RNA sequencing and pathway enrichment analysis of SKOV3 cells overexpressing NUAK2 revealed activation of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) -dependent unfolded protein response (UPR) in the cell. NUAK2 knockout exaggerated the reactive oxygen species level induced by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inducer tunicamycin treatment. NUAK2 upregulated ATF4 protein expression during ER stress, facilitating its translocation into the nucleus upon exposure to tunicamycin. SKOV3 with NUAK2 knockout grew significantly slower than its parental line in mice as demonstrated by in vivo imaging. Collectively, our study highlights NUAK2 as an oncogene in ovarian cancer and underscores its involvement in the UPR pathway. Citation Format: Li Chen, Oscar GW Wong, Claire LY Cheung, Esther SY Wong, Karen KL Chan, Hextan YS Ngan, Yusanne YS Chan, Annie NY Cheung. Regulation of ATF4-mediated stress responses by NUAK2 in ovarian cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3153.

Abstract 3041: The small MAF transcription factor MAFG is a potent driver of melanoma

Abstract While common mutations in potent proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressors induce melanoma formation, no recurrent mutations associated with the late stages of melanomagenesis have been identified. Instead, non-mutational mechanisms such as the deregulation of transcriptional or epigenetic programs typically promote the malignant progression and metastasis of melanoma. We have previously identified the small MAF transcription factor MAFG as a critical target of the melanoma suppressor miRNA miR-29, prompting an in-depth evaluation of the role of MAFG in melanoma. MAFG expression is elevated in melanoma compared to melanocytes and increases with tumor stage. Ectopic expression of MAFG in human melanocytes and melanoma cells enhances proliferation in vitro and promotes melanoma growth in vivo. Moreover, MAFG overexpression in BrafV600E; PtenFL/+ mice accelerated melanomagenesis, significantly shortening overall survival. Despite being a critical NRF2 dimerization partner, NRF2 was dispensable for the effects of MAFG. Moreover, MAFG overexpression in melanoma cells had no effect on the activity of NRF2 transcriptional reporters, nor did it induce transcriptional programs associated with NRF2. RNA sequencing and pathway analysis revealed MAFG-mediated effects on melanoma-associated processes such hypoxia, the PI3K/AKT pathway, and pigmentation. Indeed, MAFG induced HIF1a under normoxic conditions, enhanced AKT phosphorylation, and downregulated MITF and its target genes in the pigmentation pathway in melanoma cells. Interestingly, MAFG also potently enhanced AXL expression, suggesting that MAFG may promote melanoma, at least in part, by affecting the MITF/AXL balance that is associated with melanoma phenotype switching. We next analyzed whether MAFG is required for melanoma. Interestingly, silencing MAFG in human melanoma cells robustly inhibited growth in vitro. Moreover, the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of MAFG in an aggressive BrafV600E; PtenFL/FL model potently prevented melanoma formation. Given the mild phenotype of MAFG whole-body knockout mice, our results suggest targeting of MAFG or its downstream pathways as a viable therapeutic approach in melanoma. In conclusion, our study establishes MAFG as a potent driver of melanoma development and nominates it as a therapeutic target. Citation Format: Olga Vera, Michael Martinez, Zulaida Soto-Vargas, Xiaonan Xu, Florian Karreth. The small MAF transcription factor MAFG is a potent driver of melanoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3041.

Abstract 1620: Multiregion spatial sequencing of early-stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma revealed theranostic intratumor heterogeneity

Abstract Introduction: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is characterized by substantial intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) at the molecular level that may foster tumor evolution, adaptation, and therapeutic failure. Personalized-medicine strategies mostly rely on single tumor-biopsy samples which might not capture the mutational burden of heterogeneous tumors. We investigated genetic ITH portrayed from multiregion spatial sequencing in early-stage HNSCC patients. Patients and Method: Seventy-eight early-stage HNSCC patients treated with upfront curative-intent surgery in the prospective biobanking SCANDARE study (NCT03017573) were included. We developed a pathological measure of ITH, based on the relative contribution of multiple poorly and well-differentiated intratumor regions (n = 199) in resected tumor samples. To characterize genetic ITH, we performed targeted next-generation sequencing on multiple spatially separated intratumor regions by using a custom panel of 571 genes (named DRAGON), in combination with 3’-Tag RNA sequencing and pathway enrichment analysis. Results: Fifty-nine patients displaying a minimum of two sequenced intratumor regions (total, n = 180) were analyzed. We observed genetic ITH in 22/59 patients (37%), of whom 6/22 (27%) based on theranostic molecular alterations. Three of the six patients exhibited molecular alterations in PIK3CA (n = 2) and TSC2 (n = 1) that have supporting clinical evidence of actionability in some cancer types (OncoKB level 1) and three patients exhibited actionable molecular alterations in PTEN (n = 2) and CDKN2A/B (n = 1) supported by substantial research evidence (OncoKB level 4). Two patients exhibited molecular alterations in SMARCA4 that is likely oncogenic, albeit not yet annotated by OncoKB. The pathological measure of ITH accounted for a significant source of variation in gene expression. Notably, we identified 346 differentially expressed genes imposing p-values ≤ 0.05 and |log fold-change| ≥ 1 involved in several Reactome’s signaling pathways, including the cell junction organization (R-HSA-446728) and the tight junction interaction (R-HSA-420029) pathways. Conclusions: We reported clinically relevant genetic ITH in early-stage HNSCC, which can lead to underestimation of the mutational landscape portrayed from single tumor biopsy and may present major challenges to precision medicine. Our findings uncovered the biology behind ITH and may have translational implications for biomarkers discovery in HNSCC. Citation Format: Grégoire Marret, Sophie Vacher, Constance Lamy, Ladidi Ahmanache, Laura Courtois, Choumouss Kamoun, Maral Halladjian, Zakhia El Beaino, Jerzy Klijanienko, Charlotte Martinat, Emmanuelle Jeannot, Joey Martin, Guillaume Rougier, Nathalie Badois, Maria Lesnik, Antoine Dubray-Vautrin, Olivier Choussy, Wahib Ghanem, Rabah Taouachi, Julien Masliah Planchon, Nicolas Servant, Maud Kamal, Ivan Bièche, Christophe Le Tourneau. Multiregion spatial sequencing of early-stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma revealed theranostic intratumor heterogeneity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1620.