RNF39 promotes colorectal cancer progression by driving RINT1 degradation and suppressing ER stress-induced apoptosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Colorectal adenocarcinoma (COAD) cells exploit stress-adaptation programs, such as the unfolded protein response (UPR), to survive in hostile tumour microenvironments. However, the role of specific E3 ubiquitin ligases in regulating these survival pathways remains poorly understood. We investigated Ring Finger Protein 39 (RNF39), an E3 ligase previously implicated in immune signalling, as a potential regulator of COAD progression.

Methods

We analyzed RNF39 expression using public transcriptomic datasets (TCGA, GEO) and a clinical COAD cohort via immunohistochemistry. Functional roles were assessed in COAD cell lines using shRNA knockdown, CRISPR/Cas9 knockout, and overexpression systems. In vitro assays (proliferation, invasion, colony formation) and in vivo xenog

SUBMITTER: Chen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12745170 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature