RNA binding protein RBM3 augments kissing loop formation with lncRNAs to enhance translational control

It is becoming apparent that translational regulation involves the coordinated actions of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) and non-coding RNAs. For efficient translation, mRNA needs to be circularized, which is catalyzed by RNA binding proteins and translation factors. However, the role of lncRNAs in the process is not yet defined. We first performed RNA-seq and RNA- immunoprecipitation coupled-Seq and identified LSAMP-3 and Flii-1. Moreover, modeling studies suggest enhanced kissing loop interactions including of transcripts that encode angiogenesis and epithelial mesenchymal transition. While intestinal epithelial cell specific RBM3 transgenic mice showed increased LSAMP-3 and Flii-1, this was reduced in knockout mice. Also, RBM3 overexpression increased tumor xenograft growth, this was suppressed by knockdown of the lncRNAs. Also, knockdown of endogenous RBM3 reduced lncRNA levels and tumor xenograft growth. In addition, it reduced colitis-associated cancers. We propose that RBPs such as RBM3 mediate their function through regulatory lncRNAs that enable circularization to control translation.