RNA Molecule Gas5 Found to Regulate Aggressive Leukemia Condensates
Vienna researchers developed a method called bicon-seq to identify RNAs associated with biomolecular condensates in cancer cells. They found that the RNA molecule Gas5 helps regulate NUP98::KDM5A oncogenic condensates, which drive gene activity in aggressive acute myeloid leukemia. The findings may offer new targets for leukemia research and treatment.
Researchers in Vienna combined expertise from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, CeMM, and St. Anna Children's Cancer Research. Their bicon-seq technique measures how soluble RNAs are in cells, helping reveal which RNAs bind biomolecular condensates. They studied NUP98::KDM5A, a fusion oncoprotein found in aggressive acute myeloid leukemia that forms condensates needed to activate leukemia-related genes.
They identified several long noncoding RNAs linked to these structures. Gas5 stood out because it was abundant in AML cells, overlapped with NUP98::KDM5A condensates, and supported leukemia cell growth. Reducing Gas5 with CRISPRi altered genes tied to differentiation and programmed cell death, suggesting it helps shape condensate function.
This finding may inform future leukemia research by pointing scientists toward RNA components of oncogenic condensates as potential targets. People with aggressive acute myeloid leukemia, especially those whose leukemia involves NUP98::KDM5A, could eventually benefit if these insights lead to new treatments. However, the work is early-stage laboratory research, so clinical applications may take years and are not guaranteed. Families, clinicians, and drug developers might use such discoveries to prioritize studies, but no immediate change to patient care is expected.