title: The role of the transcription factor SIM2 in prostate cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent reports have suggested a possible involvement of Single-minded homolog 2 (SIM2) in human solid cancers, including prostate cancer. However, the exact role of SIM2 in cancer in general, and in prostate cancer in particular, remains largely unknown. This study was designed to elucidate the role of SIM2 in prostate cancer using a shRNA-based approach in the PC3 prostate cancer cell line.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lentiviral shRNAs were used to inhibit SIM2 gene and protein levels in PC3 cells. Quantitative RT-PCR and branched DNA were performed to evaluate transcript expression. SIM2 protein expression level was measured by western blot. Profiling of gene expression spanning the whole genome, as well as polar metabolomics of several major metabolic pathways was performed to identify major pathway dysregulations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SIM2 gene and protein products were significantly downregulated by lenti-shRNA in PC3 cell line. This low expression of SIM2 affected gene expression profile, revealing significant changes in major signaling pathways, networks and functions. In addition, major metabolic pathways were affected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, our results suggest an involvement of SIM2 in key traits of prostate tumor cell biology and might underlie a contribution of this transcription factor to prostate cancer onset and progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Asara
authors.forename: Martin G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Sanda
authors.forename: Mohamed S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Arredouani
mesh_terms: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks / Q000235:genetics; D020868:Gene Silencing; D052138:Genes, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D055442:Metabolome; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C417032:SIM2 protein, human