Hyperactivation of ribosome biosynthesis (RiBi) is a hallmark of cancer, and targeting ribosome biogenesis has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy. The depletion of TAF1B , a major component of selectivity factor 1 ( SL1 ), disrupts the pre-initiation complex, preventing RNA polymerase I from binding ribosomal DNA and inhibiting the hyperactivation of RiBi. Here, we investigate the role of TAF1B , in regulating RiBi and proliferation in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD). We disclosed that the overexpression of TAF1B correlates with poor prognosis in STAD, and found that knocking down TAF1B effectively inhibits STAD cell proliferation and survival in vitro and in vivo. TAF1B knockdown may also induce nucleolar stress, and promote c-MYC degradation in STAD cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that TAF1B depletion impairs rRNA gene transcription and processing, leading to reduced ribosome biogenesis. Collectively, our findings suggest that TAF1B may serve as a potential therapeutic target for STAD and highlight the importance of RiBi in cancer progression.
Various drugs have been designed in the past to act on intracellular targets. For the desired effects to be exerted, these drugs should reach and accumulate in specific subcellular organelles. CX-5461 represents a potent small-molecule inhibitor of rRNA synthesis that specifically inhibits the transcription driven by RNA polymerase (Pol) I and induces tumor cell death through triggering a pro-death autophagy. In the current study an innovative kind of CX-5461-loaded mesoporous silica nano-particles enveloped by polyethylene glycol (PEG), polydopamine (PDA) and AS-1411 aptamer ( [email protected] ) with the aim of treating cancer cells was constructed, in which the high-surface-area MSNs allowed for high drug loading, PDA acted as gatekeeper to prevent the leakage of CX-5461 from MSNs, PEG grafts on PDA surfaces increased the stable and biocompatible property in physiological condition, and AS-1411 aptamer promoted the nucleolar accumulation of CX-5461. [email protected] was characterized regarding releasing characteristics, steadiness, encapsulation of drugs, phase boundary potential as well as sizes of particles. Expectedly, In vitro assays showed that aptamer AS-1411 significantly increased the nucleolar accumulation of CX-5461. The aptamer-tagged CX-5461-loaded MSNs demonstrated to be more cytotoxic to cervical cancer cells compared to the control MSNs, due to relatively strong inhibition of rRNA transcription and induction of pro-death autophagy. The in vivo treatment with AS-1411-tagged CX-5461-loaded MSNs showed a stronger distribution in tumor tissues by animal imaging assay and a significantly higher inhibition effect on the growth of HeLa xenografts compared to AS-1411-untagged CX-5461-loaded MSNs. In addition, histology analysis indicated that [email protected] did not exhibit any significant toxicity on main organs. These results collectively suggested that [email protected] represents both a safe and potentially nucleolus-targeting anti-cancer drug. Statement of Significance Many drugs function in specific subcellular organelles. CX-5461 is a specific inhibitor of nucleolar rRNA synthesis. Here, we reported a novel aptamer-tagged nucleolus-targeting CX-5461-loaded nanoparticle, which specifically accumulated in nucleoli and significantly inhibited the tumor growth in vitro and in vivo through inhibiting rRNA transcription and triggering a pro-death autophagy.