Circular RNA circβ-catenin aggravates the malignant phenotype of non-small-cell lung cancer via encoding a peptide

J Clin Lab Anal. 2021 Sep;35(9):e23900. doi: 10.1002/jcla.23900. Epub 2021 Jul 23.

Abstract

Background: More and more evidences demonstrate that circular RNAs (circNRAs) can encode protein. As a circRNA with translation capabilities, outcomes of circβ-catenin in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) still need to be explored.

Method: The research methods of circβ-catenin in the article include qRT-PCR, wound healing assay, CCK-8, colony formation, and Transwell assay. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were provided to detect protein expression levels and peptide encoded by circβ-catenin, respectively.

Results: A prominently higher circβ-catenin expression was found in NSCLC tissues. Silencing of circβ-catenin was able to inhibit NSCLC cell migrating, invasive, and proliferative phenotypes. Overexpression of circβ-catenin could enhance the migrating, invasive, and proliferative phenotypes of NSCLC cells. Importantly, circβ-catenin was found to encode a peptide in NSCLC cells. Silencing or overexpression of circβ-catenin could reduce or increase β-catenin protein expression via suppressing the degradation of β-catenin.

Conclusion: Circβ-catenin could promote NSCLC cell malignant phenotypes via peptide-regulated β-catenin pathway. Our study provided a new understanding for the mechanisms of NSCLC.

Keywords: Circβ-catenin; circular RNAs; non-small-cell lung cancer; β-catenin.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Apoptosis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology*
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism*
  • Prognosis
  • RNA, Circular / genetics*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • beta Catenin / genetics*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • Peptide Fragments
  • RNA, Circular
  • beta Catenin