Roles of A-to-I RNA editing enzyme ADAR1 in malignant properties of human oral cancer cells

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K21361
• Project/Area Number (Other): 18H06269 (2018)
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund (2019); Single-year Grants (2018)
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: SAKATA KENI-CHIRO 北海道大学, 大学病院, 助教 (10826051)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-08-24 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔がん / RNA編集 / ADAR

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The RNA editing enzyme ADAR1 is an enzyme that inserts mutations in RNA, and thus produces protein mutants. Since the expression of ADAR1 is induced by irritation, we hypothesized that RNA editing increases in oral cancer and causes malignant transformation of the tumor.
As a result of our research, we confirmed the expression of ADAR in oral cancer cells. We also analyzed the RNA editing of the COPA protein, which was thought to cause the tumor malignant transformation by the COPA protein responsible for the reverse transport of protein from the Golgi apparatus to the endoplasmic reticulum, and confirmed that RNA editing occurs at a certain rate.

Free Research Field

口腔外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

口腔がんは、進行した病態で発見されることが多く、進展症例に対する分子標的薬も限られており、新たな薬の開発が望まれている。RNA編集は、酵素反応のため可逆的かつ短時間で生じ、がん細胞の多様性や、がん細胞集団の迅速なストレス応答を説明できるため、注目を集めている。口腔がんにおける RNA編集の一役割を解明することで、新規治療薬の開発が期待される。上記を解明することにより、外科的切除により大きく失われる口腔機能(発音、咀嚼、整容性、嚥下など)を損なうことが防げると期待する。