The RNA binding protein ZFP36L1 suppresses replication stress-induced DNA damage and genomic instability.

Replication stress (RS) is a condition that challenges the efficiency and accuracy of DNA replication. Persistent RS can lead to chromosome instability, a hallmark of many cancers. ZFP36L1, an RNA binding protein, plays a pivotal role in post transcriptional regulation of gene expression and cell fate determination underlying normal physiological processes and in disease. Increasing evidence showing frequent mutations in ZFP36L1, located in FRA14C common fragile site (CFS) locus, is consistent with it functioning as a potential driver gene in certain cancers. However, the mechanisms whereby loss of functional ZFP36L1 may contribute to tumourigenesis have not been fully explored.