Functional Genomic Screening Reveals Splicing of the EWS-FLI1 Fusion Transcript as a Vulnerability in Ewing Sarcoma

Functional Genomic Screening Reveals Splicing of the EWS-FLI1 Fusion Transcript as a Vulnerability in Ewing Sarcoma

Ewing sarcoma cells depend on the EWS-FLI1 fusion transcription factor for cell survival. Using an assay of EWS-FLI1 activity and genome-wide RNAi screening, we have identified proteins required for the processing of the EWS-FLI1 pre-mRNA. We show that Ewing sarcoma cells harboring a genomic breakpo...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Patrick J. Grohar, Suntae Kim, Guillermo O. Rangel Rivera, Nirmalya Sen, Sara Haddock, Matt L. Harlow, Nichole K. Maloney, Jack Zhu, Maura O’Neill, Tamara L. Jones, Konrad Huppi, Magdalena Grandin, Kristen Gehlhaus, Carleen A. Klumpp-Thomas, Eugen Buehler, Lee J. Helman, Scott E. Martin, Natasha J. Caplen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2016-01-01
Series:Cell Reports
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124715015041
Description
Summary:Ewing sarcoma cells depend on the EWS-FLI1 fusion transcription factor for cell survival. Using an assay of EWS-FLI1 activity and genome-wide RNAi screening, we have identified proteins required for the processing of the EWS-FLI1 pre-mRNA. We show that Ewing sarcoma cells harboring a genomic breakpoint that retains exon 8 of EWSR1 require the RNA-binding protein HNRNPH1 to express in-frame EWS-FLI1. We also demonstrate the sensitivity of EWS-FLI1 fusion transcripts to the loss of function of the U2 snRNP component, SF3B1. Disrupted splicing of the EWS-FLI1 transcript alters EWS-FLI1 protein expression and EWS-FLI1-driven expression. Our results show that the processing of the EWS-FLI1 fusion RNA is a potentially targetable vulnerability in Ewing sarcoma cells.
ISSN:2211-1247

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