title: Implications for RNase L in prostate cancer biology.
abstract: Recently, the interferon (IFN) antiviral pathways and prostate cancer genetics and have surprisingly converged on a single-strand specific, regulated endoribonuclease. Genetics studies from several laboratories in the U.S., Finland, and Israel, support the recent identification of the RNase L gene, RNASEL, as a strong candidate for the long sought after hereditary prostate cancer 1 (HPC1) allele. Results from these studies suggest that mutations in RNASEL predispose men to an increased incidence of prostate cancer, which in some cases reflect more aggressive disease and/or decreased age of onset compared with non-RNASEL linked cases. RNase L is a uniquely regulated endoribonuclease that requires 5'-triphosphorylated, 2',5'-linked oligoadenylates (2-5A) for its activity. The presence of both germline mutations in RNASEL segregating with disease within HPC-affected families and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in tumor tissues suggest a novel role for the regulated endoribonuclease in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. The association of mutations in RNASEL with prostate cancer cases further suggests a relationship between innate immunity and tumor suppression. It is proposed here that RNase L functions in counteracting prostate cancer by virtue of its ability to degrade RNA, thus initiating a cellular stress response that leads to apoptosis. This monograph reviews the biochemistry and genetics of RNase L as it relates to the pathobiology of prostate cancer and considers implications for future screening and therapy of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. silverr@ccf.org
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Silverman
mesh_terms: D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase; D004722:Endoribonucleases; C031956:2-5A-dependent ribonuclease