Systems analysis identifies melanoma-enriched pro-oncogenic networks controlled by the RNA binding protein CELF1

Metehan Cifdaloz, Lisa Osterloh, Osvaldo Graña, Erica Riveiro-Falkenbach, Pilar Ximénez-Embún, Javier Muñoz, Cristina Tejedo, Tonantzin G. Calvo, Panagiotis Karras, David Olmeda, Belén Miñana, Gonzalo Gómez-López, Estela Cañon, Eduardo Eyras, Haihong Guo, Ferdinand Kappes, Pablo L. Ortiz-Romero, Jose L. Rodríguez-Peralto, Diego Megías, Juan ValcárcelMaría S. Soengas*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Melanomas are well-known for their altered mRNA expression profiles. Yet, the specific contribution of mRNA binding proteins (mRBPs) to melanoma development remains unclear. Here we identify a cluster of melanoma-enriched genes under the control of CUGBP Elav-like family member 1 (CELF1). CELF1 was discovered with a distinct prognostic value in melanoma after mining the genomic landscape of the 692 known mRBPs across different cancer types. Genome-wide transcriptomic, proteomic, and RNA-immunoprecipitation studies, together with loss-of-function analyses in cell lines, and histopathological evaluation in clinical biopsies, revealed an intricate repertoire of CELF1-RNA interactors with minimal overlap with other malignancies. This systems approach uncovered the oncogene DEK as an unexpected target and downstream effector of CELF1. Importantly, CELF1 and DEK were found to represent early-induced melanoma genes and adverse indicators of overall patient survival. These results underscore novel roles of CELF1 in melanoma, illustrating tumor type-restricted functions of RBPs in cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2249
JournalNature Communications
Volume8
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2017
Externally publishedYes

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