Heterogeneous Sequences of Brain Cytoplasmic 200 RNA Formed by Multiple Adenine Nucleotide Insertions

Brain cytoplasmic 200 RNA (BC200 RNA), originally identified as a neuron-specific non-coding RNA, is also observed in various cancer cells that originate from non-neural cells. Studies have revealed diverse functions of BC200 RNA in cancer cells. Accordingly, we hypothesized that BC200 RNA might be modified in cancer cells to generate cancerous BC200 RNA responsible for its cancer-specific functions. Here, we report that BC200 RNA sequences are highly heterogeneous in cancer cells by virtue of multiple adenine nucleotide insertions in the internal A-rich region. The insertion of adenine nucleotides enhances BC200 RNA-mediated translation inhibition, possibly by increasing the binding affinity of BC200 RNA for eIF4A (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A).