| Expression pattern: |
UP |
| Associated gene: |
ILF2, ILF3, Il6 mRNA, Vegf mRNA, Il6 promoter |
| Associated microRNA: |
- |
| Biological function: |
circPOK acts as a non-coding proto-oncogenic RNA in mesenchymal tumors, promotes tumor formation, tumor cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth and angiogenesis, and regulates pro-proliferative and pro-angiogenic secreted factors. |
| Molecular mechanism: |
circPOK binds the nuclear RNA/DNA-binding proteins ILF2 and ILF3 and functions as a co-activator of the ILF2/3 complex, enhancing ILF2/3-mediated transcriptional regulation and mRNA stabilization of pro-tumorigenic and pro-angiogenic factors such as IL6 and VEGF. |
| Biological pathway or process: |
proliferation (promotes); angiogenesis (promotes); mRNA stability (promotes); other pathway/process (promotes) |
| Detected method: |
Q
S
|
| Validation methods: |
Back-Splice Junction PCR / divergent primers PCR; RNase R Treatment; Sanger Sequencing; Actinomycin D / DRB Stability Assay; RT-qPCR; RNA-seq; FISH / smFISH; IF (Immunofluorescence); Nuclear-Cytoplasmic Fractionation; Clinical Sample Validation; RIP (RNA Immunoprecipitation); RNA Pull-Down; ChIP / ChIP-seq; Transfection; Colony Formation Assay; Flow Cytometry（Non-apoptosis/cycle）; In Vivo Animal Model; H&E Staining; ELISA; IHC (Immunohistochemistry); Western Blot; Bioinformatics Analysis |
| Clinical significance: |
circPOK is increased in human primary undifferentiated sarcoma and osteosarcoma compared with normal counterparts, and targeting circPOK may be beneficial in sarcoma treatment. |
| Description: |
This study identifies circPOK, a Zbtb7a-derived circRNA conserved in mouse and human cells, as an up-regulated proto-oncogenic circRNA in mesenchymal tumors including sarcoma and osteosarcoma. circPOK localizes in both nucleus and cytoplasm and promotes tumor growth, proliferation and angiogenesis by binding ILF2/ILF3 and enhancing ILF2/3-dependent transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of pro-proliferative and pro-angiogenic factors such as IL6 and VEGF. Unlike the linear Zbtb7a/Pokemon protein tumor-suppressive axis, circPOK has an independent and antagonistic oncogenic role and may be a therapeutic target in sarcoma. |
| Confidence score: |
0.8817 |