BAP31-ELAVL1-SPINK6 axis induces loss of cell polarity and promotes metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Tumor metastasis is the main cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related death. Loss of cell polarity may lead to weakened cell adhesion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metastasis of HCC. However, the mechanism involved in HCC cells polarity loss is still less studied. Here, we found that BAP31 expression increased with tumor grade and metastasis. Moreover, BAP31 silencing inhibited invasion and migration and recovered the polarity of HCC cells. RNA-seq identified SPINK6 was a downstream gene of BAP31, and was associated with tumor stage and metastasis in HCC. IP-MS and IF assays showed that BAP31 bound to the RNA binding protein ELAVL1, and promoted its maturation. In addition, RIP, RNA-FISH, RNA stability and luciferase reporter assays confirmed that ELAVL1 could bind t

SUBMITTER: Zhang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11844287 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature