RNA molecules control repair of human DNA in cancer cells

Date:
February 23, 2022
Source:
Karolinska Institutet
Summary:
A new study shows how certain RNA molecules control the repair
of damaged DNA in cancer cells, a discovery that could eventually
give rise to better cancer treatments.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden shows how certain RNA molecules control the repair of damaged DNA in cancer cells, a discovery
that could eventually give rise to better cancer treatments. The study
is published today in the journal Nature Communications.


==========================================================================
It was long assumed that RNA molecules -- basic molecules that exist
in all living organisms -- only participated in protein synthesis. New
research demonstrates, however, that RNA molecules have a much broader
function and can play a key role in the development of disease.

One such disease in cancer, where damage to our cells' DNA can be a contributing factor. DNA damage occurs and is repaired continuously,
but in some cases it can lead to carcinogenic mutations in the genome. A fundamental understanding of how our cells repair DNA is therefore key
to the design of new treatments.

In this current study, the researchers examined how certain RNA molecules affected the ability of the cancer cells to repair radiation-damaged
or broken DNA strings. They discovered that two molecule types -- small
Cajal body- specific RNA 2 (scaRNA2) and WRAP53 -- interacted to regulate
the enzyme DNA- dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), which in turn affected
the DNA-repair mechanisms.

Works like an "on-off" button "Our findings show that some RNA can
bind to an enzyme that repairs damaged DNA and operate like an 'on-off'
button for this enzyme, thereby controlling DNA repair," says the study's corresponding author Marianne Farnebo, researcher at the Department of
Cell and Molecular Biology and the Department of Biosciences and Nutrition
at Karolinska Institutet. "We've also discovered that altered levels of
such RNA leads to faulty DNA repair in cancer cells." The researchers
hope that the results can enhance understanding of the part played by
RNA in DNA repair and cancer.

"This can open up new approaches to the treatment of cancer, such as
using synthetic RNA molecules to stimulate cell death in cancer cells," Marianne Farnebo says.

The study was supported with grants from the Swedish Cancer Society,
the Swedish Research Council, the Centre for Innovative Medicine,
the Cancer Research Funds of Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Institutet, the
strategic research programme Cancer KI and the Wenner-Gren Foundations.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Karolinska_Institutet. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Sofie Bergstrand, Eleanor M. O'Brien, Christos Coucoravas, Dominika
Hrossova, Dimitra Peirasmaki, Sandro Schmidli, Soniya Dhanjal,
Chiara Pederiva, Lee Siggens, Oliver Mortusewicz, Julienne
J. O'Rourke, Marianne Farnebo. Small Cajal body-associated
RNA 2 (scaRNA2) regulates DNA repair pathway choice by
inhibiting DNA-PK. Nature Communications, 2022; 13 (1) DOI:
10.1038/s41467-022-28646-5 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220223085753.htm

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