PRMT5 promotes cancer cell migration and invasion through the E2F pathway

Journal article

The pRb-E2F pathway is a critical point of regulation in the cell cycle and loss of control of the pathway is a hallmark of cancer. E2F1 is the major target through which pRb exerts its effects and arginine methylation by PRMT5 plays a key role in dictating E2F1 activity. Here we have explored the functional role of the PRMT5-E2F1 axis and highlight its influence on different aspects of cancer cell biology including viability, migration, invasion and adherence. Through a genome-wide expression analysis, we identified a distinct set of genes under the control of PRMT5 and E2F1, including some highly regulated genes, which influence cell migration, invasio and adherence through a PRMT5-dependent mechanism. Most significantly, a coincidence was apparent between the expression of PRMT5 and E2F1 in human tumours, and elevated levels of PRMT5 and E2F1 correlated with poor prognosis disease. Our results suggest a causal relationship between PRMT5 and E2F1 in driving the malignant phenotype and thereby highlight an important pathway for therapeutic intervention.

Authors: Barczak, W; Jin, L; Carr, SM; Munro, S; Ward, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Springer Nature [academic journals on nature.com]
• Journal: Cell Death & Disease
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 572
• Article number: 572
• Publication date: 2020-07-24
• Acceptance date: 2020-07-09
• DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-02771-9
• EISSN: 2041-4889
• ISSN: 2041-4889
• Language: English
• Keywords: Cell biology; Cell migration; E2F; Signal transduction; Cell growth; Cancer research; Cancer; Biology; Cell; Cell cycle; Genetics