1. Academic Validation
  2. A Novel tRF, HCETSR, Derived From tRNA-Glu/TTC, Inhibits HCC Malignancy by Regulating the SPBTN1-catenin Complex Axis

A Novel tRF, HCETSR, Derived From tRNA-Glu/TTC, Inhibits HCC Malignancy by Regulating the SPBTN1-catenin Complex Axis

  • Adv Sci (Weinh). 2025 Apr;12(13):e2415229. doi: 10.1002/advs.202415229.
Tao Rui 1 2 Kangbei Zhu 1 Zonglei Mao 1 Jiaping Wu 1 2 Yi Pan 1 2 Qianwei Ye 1 2 Cong Chen 1 2 Aizhai Xiang 1 Jufeng Guo 1 Ning Tang 1 Jing Zhang 1 Shusen Zheng 3 Jian Liu 1 Xiao Xu 4 5 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
  • 2 The Center for Integrated Oncology and Precision Medicine, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
  • 3 Department of Surgery, Collaborative Innovation Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University Hangzhou, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
  • 4 School of Clinical Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310059, China.
  • 5 Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, China.
  • 6 NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
Abstract

tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs), a novel class of small non-coding RNAs cleaved from transfer RNAs, have been implicated in tumor regulation. In this study, the role of a specific tRF, HCETSR is investigated, which is significantly downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and correlates with advanced tumor burden and higher HCC mortality. Functional analyses revealed that HCETSR inhibits HCC malignancy and serves as an independent predictor of poor prognosis. Mechanistically, a novel SPTBN1/catenin complex axis regulated by HCETSR is identified. HCETSR binds to a critical domain of SPTBN1, disrupting its interaction with the catenin complex (comprising β-catenin, α-catenin, and P120-catenin), and facilitates the transfer of the catenin complex from the cell membrane to the nucleus. Specifically, HCETSR decreases the proteasomal degradation of β-catenin and inhibits the synthesis of nascent β-catenin. Furthermore, HCETSR suppresses the transcriptional activity of LEF1 through P120-catenin rather than α-catenin, thereby reducing β-catenin's influence on LEF1 activity. It is demonstrated that HCETSR is spliced from tRNA-Glu/TTC. The biogenesis of HCETSR and tRNA-Glu/TTC is regulated by the spliceosome and Dicer1. In conclusion, These findings suggest that HCETSR, derived from tRNA-Glu/TTC, inhibits HCC malignancy via modulation of the SPTBN1/catenin axis and may represent a promising prognostic marker and therapeutic strategy for HCC.

Keywords

Dicer1; SPTBN1; catenin complex; spliceosome; tRNA‐derived fragment.

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