A large-scale cancer-specific protein-DNA interaction network

Life Sci Alliance. 2024 Jul 16;7(10):e202402641. doi: 10.26508/lsa.202402641. Print 2024 Oct.

Abstract

Cancer development and progression are generally associated with gene dysregulation, often resulting from changes in the transcription factor (TF) sequence or expression. Identifying key TFs involved in cancer gene regulation provides a framework for potential new therapeutics. This study presents a large-scale cancer gene TF-DNA interaction network, as well as an extensive promoter clone resource for future studies. Highly connected TFs bind to promoters of genes associated with either good or poor cancer prognosis, suggesting that strategies aimed at shifting gene expression balance between these two prognostic groups may be inherently complex. However, we identified potential for oncogene-targeted therapeutics, with half of the tested oncogenes being potentially repressed by influencing specific activators or bifunctional TFs. Finally, we investigate the role of intrinsically disordered regions within the key cancer-related TF ESR1 in DNA binding and transcriptional activity, and found that these regions can have complex trade-offs in TF function. Altogether, our study broadens our knowledge of the TFs involved in cancer gene regulation and provides a valuable resource for future studies and therapeutics.

MeSH terms

  • Computational Biology / methods
  • DNA* / genetics
  • DNA* / metabolism
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / genetics
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Gene Regulatory Networks*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Oncogenes / genetics
  • Prognosis
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Protein Binding*
  • Transcription Factors* / genetics
  • Transcription Factors* / metabolism

Substances

  • Transcription Factors
  • DNA
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • ESR1 protein, human