Long noncoding RNA HOTAIR interacts with Y-Box Protein-1 (YBX1) to regulate cell proliferation

HOTAIR is a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) which serves as an important factor regulating diverse processes linked with cancer development. Here, we used comprehensive identification of RNA-binding proteins by mass spectrometry (ChIRP-MS) to explore the HOTAIR-protein interactome. We were able to identify 348 proteins interacting with HOTAIR, allowing us to establish a heavily interconnected HOTAIR-protein interaction network. We further developed a novel near-infrared fluorescent protein (iRFP)-trimolecular fluorescence complementation (TriFC) system to assess the interaction between HOTAIR and its interacting proteins. Then, we determined that HOTAIR specifically binds to YBX1, promotes YBX1 nuclear translocation, and stimulates the PI3K/Akt and ERK/RSK signaling pathways. We further demonstrated that HOTAIR exerts its effects on cell proliferation, at least in part, through the regulation of two YBX1 downstream targets phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 (PCK2) and platelet derived growth factor receptor β. Our findings revealed a novel mechanism, whereby an lncRNA is able to regulate cell proliferation via altering intracellular protein localization. Moreover, the imaging tools developed herein have excellent potential for future in vivo imaging of lncRNA–protein interaction.