| Expression pattern: |
UP |
| Associated gene: |
HIF1alpha, UQCRC1, UQCRC2, TOMM40, COA7, MARCH5, AMPK, GSDME, caspase 3 |
| Associated microRNA: |
- |
| Biological function: |
promotes ESCC cell growth and tumorigenicity; enhances oxidative phosphorylation and ATP production; maintains mitochondrial homeostasis; inhibits pyroptosis |
| Molecular mechanism: |
circPUM1 localizes to mitochondria and interacts with UQCRC2, acting as a scaffold regulating mitochondrial complex III assembly (UQCRC1-UQCRC2 interaction), thereby promoting OXPHOS/ATP and suppressing AMPK activation and caspase3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis |
| Biological pathway or process: |
oxidative phosphorylation (promotes); mitochondrial function (promotes); AMPK (inhibits); pyroptosis (inhibits); apoptosis (inhibits); proliferation (promotes) |
| Detected method: |
Q
B
S
|
| Validation methods: |
RNA-seq; RT-qPCR; Back-Splice Junction PCR / divergent primers PCR; RNase R Treatment; Sanger Sequencing; Northern Blot; Nuclear-Cytoplasmic Fractionation; FISH / smFISH; RNA Pull-Down; RIP (RNA Immunoprecipitation); Co-IP; Transfection; Colony Formation Assay; In Vivo Animal Model; IHC (Immunohistochemistry); Western Blot; Flow Cytometry（Non-apoptosis/cycle）; Bioinformatics Analysis; Survival Analysis |
| Clinical significance: |
Elevation of circPUM1 in ESCC patients was associated with worse overall survival of ESCC patients |
| Description: |
In ESCC, circPUM1 (hsa_circ_0011240) is upregulated under hypoxia-like conditions and supports tumor growth. It localizes to mitochondria, binds UQCRC2 and modulates complex III assembly (with UQCRC1), thereby promoting OXPHOS/ATP production, maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis, and suppressing AMPK-associated caspase3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis. Higher circPUM1 levels are associated with worse overall survival in ESCC patients. |
| Confidence score: |
0.8772 |