Long non-coding RNA triplex-dependent regulation of melanoma gene networks

Previously, we have shown that SLNCR regulates gene expression and melanomagenesis via interacting with different transcription factors. Here we show that SLNCR is associated with several genomic sites that contain RNA: DNA triplex target sites (TTSs).

The primary sequence of SLNCR contains 4 triplex forming regions (TFRs), which are homologous to the TFRs of MEG3, HOTAIR, and PARTICLE lncRNAs. Full-length SLNCR overexpression promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion of melanoma cells and induces characteristic gene expression changes that are reversed by deletions of TFS-1, -2, -4, or -5. These triplex-dependent genes are enriched in pathways involved in cell cycle regulation and cell migration.