Scientific publications

A lncRNA-SWI/SNF complex crosstalk controls transcriptional activation at specific promoter regions

Feb 18, 2021 | Magazine: Nature Communications

Elena Grossi, Ivan Raimondi, Enrique Goñi, Jovanna González, Francesco P Marchese, Vicente Chapaprieta, José I Martín-Subero, Shuling Guo, Maite Huarte


Abstract

LncRNAs have been shown to be direct players in chromatin regulation, but little is known about their role at active genomic loci. We investigate the role of lncRNAs in gene activation by profiling the RNA interactome of SMARCB1-containing SWI/SNF complexes in proliferating and senescent conditions. The isolation of SMARCB1-associated transcripts, together with chromatin profiling, shows prevalent association to active regions where SMARCB1 differentially binds locally transcribed RNAs.

We identify SWINGN, a lncRNA interacting with SMARCB1 exclusively in proliferating conditions, exerting a pro-oncogenic role in some tumor types. SWINGN is transcribed from an enhancer and modulates the activation of GAS6 oncogene as part of a topologically organized region, as well as a larger network of pro-oncogenic genes by favoring SMARCB1 binding.

Our results indicate that SWINGN influences the ability of the SWI/SNF complexes to drive epigenetic activation of specific promoters, suggesting a SWI/SNF-RNA cooperation to achieve optimal transcriptional activation.

CITATION  Nat Commun. 2020 Feb 18;11(1):936. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-14623-3.

Our authors

Investigador predoctoral del Programa de Terapia Génica del Cima Universidad de Navarra
Enrique Goñi Echeverría
Dr. Jovanna González Rojas
Dr. Francesco Paolo Marchese