PRMT5 promotes cancer cell migration and invasion through the E2F pathway

We identified distinct sets of genes under the control of PRMT5 and E2F1. Some of the most highly regulated genes, such as cortactin/CTTN, influenced cell migration, invasion and adherence. We characterised the functional role of the cortactin/CTTN gene, which enabled PRMT5 through E2F1 to promote cellular migration and invasion, whilst decreasing cellular adherence. Most significantly, there was a striking coincidence between the expression of PRMT5 and E2F1 in certain human tumours, and elevated levels of PRMT5, E2F1 and cortactin/CTTN correlated with poor prognosis disease. Our results suggest a causal relationship between PRMT5, E2F1 and the migration and invasion of cancer cells, thereby highlighting an important pathway that contributes to the cancer biology of tumour cells.