Justine Yu

Dr. Justine Yu

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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8 December 2020 in Biomolecules
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JYJustine Yu
Justine Yu
JJJulia Ju
Julia Ju
NMNicholas Musacchio
Nicholas Musacchio
TMTrevor Mathias
Trevor Mathias
Michele VitoloMichele Vitolo
Michele Vitolo
Long noncoding RNA differentiation antagonizing nonprotein coding RNA (lncRNA-DANCR) is associated with poor prognosis in multiple cancers, and promotes cancer stemness and invasion. However, the exact mechanisms by which DANCR promotes non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain elusive. In this study, we determined that DANCR knockdown (KD) impeded cell migration and reduced stem-like characteristics in two NSCLC cell lines, A549 and H1755. Wnt signaling was shown to promote NSCLC proliferation, stemness, and invasion; therefore, we hypothesized that DANCR may regulate these activities through induction of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. DANCR KD reduced β-catenin signaling and protein expression, and decreased the expression of β-catenin gene targets c-Myc and Axin2. One of the well-defined functions of lncRNAs is their ability to bind and inhibit microRNAs. Through in silico analysis, we identified tumor suppressor miR-216a as a potential binding partner to DANCR, and confirmed this binding through coimmunoprecipitation and luciferase-reporter assays. Furthermore, we show that DANCR-induced β-catenin protein expression may be blocked with miR-216a overexpression. Our findings illustrate a role of DANCR in NSCLC migration and stemness, and suggest a novel DANCR/miR-216a signaling axis in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

5 February 2021
Verified
Report
Open access
JVJohn L. Vavrin
John L. Vavrin
GAGhassan K. Al-Chaar
Ghassan K. Al-Chaar
EKEric L. Kreiger
Eric L. Kreiger
MCMichael P. Case
Michael P. Case
BDBrandy N. Diggs
Brandy N. Diggs
AMAhmed C. Megri
Ahmed C. Megri