Role of lncRNA BC030870 in mammary gland cell proliferation

We investigated an uncharacterized lncRNA, BC030870, that displays an epithelial cell-restricted expression, is downregulated by TGF-ß in mammary gland cells, and controls —among others— Cdkn1a (p21WAF1/Cip1) gene expression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. BC030870 encodes a functionally active microptide (EPRp) that interacts with proteins belonging to apical junctional complexes. We hypothesized that: 1. BC030870 operates at multiple levels to orchestrate gene networks able to control cell fate, proliferation, and adhesion/migration in epithelial mammary gland cells and 2. the reduced expression of BC030870 in a group of breast cancer cells plays a role in tumor growth and invasiveness. Thus, we wanted to define the transcriptomic changes induced by BC030870 over-expression and to verify the contribution of the EPRp to gene expression changes. Overall design: Comparison of the transcriptome changes caused by stable over-expression of either lncRNA BC030870 or a point mutant version unable to generate a small peptide.