Differential expression of GSPT1 GGC sub(n) alleles in cancer

• Published in: Cancer genetics and cytogenetics 2009-12, Vol.195 (2), p.132-142
• Main Authors: Malta-Vacas, Joana, Ferreira, Paula, Monteiro, Carolino, Brito, Miguel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0165-4608
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergencyto.2009.08.010

The human eukaryotic release factor 3a (eRF3a), encoded by the G1 to S phase transition 1 gene (GSPT1; alias eRF3a), is upregulated in various human cancers. GSPT1 contains a GGC sub(n) polymorphism in exon 1, encoding a polyglycine expansion in the N-terminal of the protein. The longer allele, GGC sub(12), was previously shown to be associated to cancer. The GGC sub(12) allele was present in 2.2% of colorectal cancer patients but was absent in Crohn disease patients and in the control group. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that the GGC sub(12) allele was present at up to 10-fold higher transcription levels than the GGC sub(10) allele (P 0.001). No GSPT1 amplifications were detected, and there was no correlation between the length of the alleles and methylation levels of the CpG sites inside the GGC expansion. Using flow cytometry, we compared the levels of apoptosis and proliferation rates between cell lines with different genotypes, but detected no significant differences. Finally, we used a cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay to evaluate the frequency of micronuclei in the same cell lines. Cell lines with the longer alleles had higher frequencies of micronuclei in binucleated cells, which is probably a result of defects in mitotic spindle formation. Altogether, these findings indicate that GSPT1 should be considered a potential proto-oncogene.