Poster abstracts

Poster number 104 submitted by Leeann Parsi

Biophysical Characterization of a G-Quadruplex Structure in the Sox2 mRNA 3’ UTR: Implications for Cancer

Leeann Parsi (Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University), Caylee Cunningham (Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University), Mihaela Rita Mihailescu (Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University)

Abstract:
Uncontrollable cell reproduction often leads to cancer, the second leading cause of death worldwide. Pluripotency factors, one of which is the transcription factor SOX2, are essential for cancer onset and progression. SOX2 is essential for embryonic development and is associated with several cancer types; therefore, its study could lead to the development of therapeutic targets in cancer patients. SOX2 expression may be regulated through the presence of secondary structures within its gene. G-quadruplexes are secondary structures formed by repeating guanine-rich tracts in nucleic acids that are stabilized by noncanonical hydrogen bonding, and these are often shown to be promoters and/or inhibitors of translation through varying interactions. In this study we used biophysical methods to characterize the stability and fold of a G quadruplex structure formed by five G-tract repeats within the 3’ end of the SOX2 RNA. This structure might be involved in the regulating the expression of SOX2.

References:
Dumas, L.; Herviou, P.; Dassi, E.; Cammas, A.; Millevoi, S. G-Quadruplexes in RNA Biology: Recent Advances and Future Directions. Trends in Biochemical Sciences 2021, 46 (4), 270–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibs.2020.11.001.
Fang, X.; Yoon, J.-G.; Li, L.; Tsai, Y. S.; Zheng, S.; Hood, L.; Goodlett, D. R.; Foltz, G.; Lin, B. Landscape of the SOX2 Protein– Protein Interactome. PROTEOMICS 2011, 11 (5), 921–934. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.201000419
Telias, M.; Mayshar, Y.; Amit, A.; Ben-Yosef, D. Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Impaired Neurogenesis of Fragile X Syndrome Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cells Dev 015, 24 (20), 2353–2365. https://doi.org/10.1089/scd.2015.0220.
Novak, D.; Hüser, L.; Elton, J. J.; Umansky, V.; Altevogt, P.; Utikal, J. SOX2 in Development and Cancer Biology. Seminars in Cancer Biology 2020, 67, 74–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.08.007.

Keywords: G-quadruplex, Cancer, SOX2