{"database":"GEO","file_versions":[{"headers":{"Content-Type":["application/json"]},"body":{"files":{"Other":["ftp://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/series/GSE303nnn/GSE303132/"]},"type":"primary"},"statusCode":"OK","statusCodeValue":200}],"scores":null,"additional":{"omics_type":["Transcriptomics"],"species":["Homo sapiens"],"gds_type":["Expression profiling by high throughput sequencing"],"full_dataset_link":["https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE303132"],"repository":["GEO"],"entry_type":["GSE"],"additional_accession":[]},"is_claimable":false,"name":"circTGFBR2(3-6) acts as an assembly platform for IGF2BP3 protein and TGFBR1 mRNA to enhance breast cancer cell plasticity","description":"Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling is a key driver to induce epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that enhances cancer cell plasticity and metastatic potential. However, the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in TGF-β signaling remains largely unexplored. Here, we identify circTGFBR2(3-6), a circRNA derived from TGF-β receptor 2 (TGFBR2) pre-mRNA, as a critical enhancer of TGF-β/SMAD signaling in breast cancer cells. Depletion of circTGFBR2(3-6) inhibits TGF-β-induced EMT, migration, and in vivo extravasation of breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, circTGFBR2(3-6) acts as a scaffold that facilitates the interaction between the RNA-binding protein insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) and TGF-β receptor 1 (TGFBR1) mRNA in an N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-dependent manner, and thereby stabilizes TGFBR1 and promotes its expression. Furthermore, IGF2BP3 knockdown reduces circTGFBR2(3-6)-mediated enhancement of TGF-β/SMAD signaling and TGF-β-induced EMT and migration. Our findings identify circTGFBR2(3-6) as a novel enforcer of TGF-β/SMAD signaling at the receptor level and highlight IGF2BP3 as a critical m6A reader that mediates circTGFBR2(3-6)-driven breast cancer cell plasticity.","dates":{"publication":"2026/04/22"},"accession":"GSE303132","cross_references":{"GSM":["GSM9118535","GSM9118540","GSM9118538","GSM9118539","GSM9118536","GSM9118537"],"GPL":["28038"],"GSE":["303132"],"taxon":["Homo sapiens"],"PMID":["[41145815]"]}}