RNA editing provides epigenetic diversity and is thought to be decreased in cancer. However, this report describes a phenomenon of increased RNA editing associated with malignancy in human liver tumors. The increased editing of AZIN1 is facilitated by the correlative increase in the editing enzyme ADAR1 and induces an amino acid change that leads to subcellular relocalization, increased stability and affinity for antizyme. This effect impairs antizyme's function and increases the stability of its target oncoproteins, providing protumorigenic functions. The hyperediting of AZIN1 is a protumorigenic event in liver cancer pathogenesis.
- Leilei Chen
- Yan Li
- Xin-Yuan Guan
