Sungyul Lee

Bio: Sungyul Lee is an academic researcher from Seoul National University. The author has contributed to research in topics: RNA-binding protein & RNA. The author has an hindex of 9, co-authored 12 publications receiving 813 citations. Previous affiliations of Sungyul Lee include University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Tetraspanin TM4SF5 mediates loss of contact inhibition through epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human hepatocarcinoma

Abstract: The growth of normal cells is arrested when they come in contact with each other, a process known as contact inhibition. Contact inhibition is lost during tumorigenesis, resulting in uncontrolled cell growth. Here, we investigated the role of the tetraspanin transmembrane 4 superfamily member 5 (TM4SF5) in contact inhibition and tumorigenesis. We found that TM4SF5 was overexpressed in human hepatocarcinoma tissue. TM4SF5 expression in clinical samples and in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines correlated with enhanced p27Kip1 expression and cytosolic stabilization as well as morphological elongation mediated by RhoA inactivation. These TM4SF5-mediated effects resulted in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via loss of E-cadherin expression. The consequence of this was aberrant cell growth, as assessed by S-phase transition in confluent conditions, anchorage-independent growth, and tumor formation in nude mice. The TM4SF5-mediated effects were abolished by suppressing the expression of either TM4SF5 or cytosolic p27Kip1, as well as by reconstituting the expression of E-cadherin. Our observations have revealed a role for TM4SF5 in causing uncontrolled growth of human hepatocarcinoma cells through EMT.

Genome-wide annotation of microRNA primary transcript structures reveals novel regulatory mechanisms.

Abstract: Precise regulation of microRNA (miRNA) expression is critical for diverse physiologic and pathophysiologic processes. Nevertheless, elucidation of the mechanisms through which miRNA expression is regulated has been greatly hindered by the incomplete annotation of primary miRNA (pri-miRNA) transcripts. While a subset of miRNAs are hosted in protein-coding genes, the majority of pri-miRNAs are transcribed as poorly characterized noncoding RNAs that are 10's to 100's of kilobases in length and low in abundance due to efficient processing by the endoribonuclease DROSHA, which initiates miRNA biogenesis. Accordingly, these transcripts are poorly represented in existing RNA-seq data sets and exhibit limited and inaccurate annotation in current transcriptome assemblies. To overcome these challenges, we developed an experimental and computational approach that allows genome-wide detection and mapping of pri-miRNA structures. Deep RNA-seq in cells expressing dominant-negative DROSHA resulted in much greater coverage of pri-miRNA transcripts compared with standard RNA-seq. A computational pipeline was developed that produces highly accurate pri-miRNA assemblies, as confirmed by extensive validation. This approach was applied to a panel of human and mouse cell lines, providing pri-miRNA transcript structures for 1291/1871 human and 888/1181 mouse miRNAs, including 594 human and 425 mouse miRNAs that fall outside protein-coding genes. These new assemblies uncovered unanticipated features and new potential regulatory mechanisms, including links between pri-miRNAs and distant protein-coding genes, alternative pri-miRNA splicing, and transcripts carrying subsets of miRNAs encoded by polycistronic clusters. These results dramatically expand our understanding of the organization of miRNA-encoding genes and provide a valuable resource for the study of mammalian miRNA regulation.

PUMILIO hyperactivity drives premature aging of Norad-deficient mice.

Abstract: Although numerous long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified, our understanding of their roles in mammalian physiology remains limited. Here, we investigated the physiologic function of the conserved lncRNA Norad in vivo. Deletion of Norad in mice results in genomic instability and mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to a dramatic multi-system degenerative phenotype resembling premature aging. Loss of tissue homeostasis in Norad-deficient animals is attributable to augmented activity of PUMILIO proteins, which act as post-transcriptional repressors of target mRNAs to which they bind. Norad is the preferred RNA target of PUMILIO2 (PUM2) in mouse tissues and, upon loss of Norad, PUM2 hyperactively represses key genes required for mitosis and mitochondrial function. Accordingly, enforced Pum2 expression fully phenocopies Norad deletion, resulting in rapid-onset aging-associated phenotypes. These findings provide new insights and open new lines of investigation into the roles of noncoding RNAs and RNA binding proteins in normal physiology and aging.

Unique features of long non-coding RNA biogenesis and function

Abstract: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a diverse class of RNAs that engage in numerous biological processes across every branch of life. Although initially discovered as mRNA-like transcripts that do not encode proteins, recent studies have revealed features of lncRNAs that further distinguish them from mRNAs. In this Review, we describe special events in the lifetimes of lncRNAs - before, during and after transcription - and discuss how these events ultimately shape the unique characteristics and functional roles of lncRNAs.

A Tense Situation: Forcing Tumour Progression

Abstract: Cells within tissues are continuously exposed to physical forces including hydrostatic pressure, shear stress, and compression and tension forces. Cells dynamically adapt to force by modifying their behaviour and remodelling their microenvironment. They also sense these forces through mechanoreceptors and respond by exerting reciprocal actomyosin- and cytoskeletal-dependent cell-generated force by a process termed 'mechanoreciprocity'. Loss of mechanoreciprocity has been shown to promote the progression of disease, including cancer. Moreover, the mechanical properties of a tissue contribute to disease progression, compromise treatment and might also alter cancer risk. Thus, the changing force that cells experience needs to be considered when trying to understand the complex nature of tumorigenesis.

Gene regulation by long non-coding RNAs and its biological functions.

Abstract: Evidence accumulated over the past decade shows that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are widely expressed and have key roles in gene regulation. Recent studies have begun to unravel how the biogenesis of lncRNAs is distinct from that of mRNAs and is linked with their specific subcellular localizations and functions. Depending on their localization and their specific interactions with DNA, RNA and proteins, lncRNAs can modulate chromatin function, regulate the assembly and function of membraneless nuclear bodies, alter the stability and translation of cytoplasmic mRNAs and interfere with signalling pathways. Many of these functions ultimately affect gene expression in diverse biological and physiopathological contexts, such as in neuronal disorders, immune responses and cancer. Tissue-specific and condition-specific expression patterns suggest that lncRNAs are potential biomarkers and provide a rationale to target them clinically. In this Review, we discuss the mechanisms of lncRNA biogenesis, localization and functions in transcriptional, post-transcriptional and other modes of gene regulation, and their potential therapeutic applications.