Micropeptide SEQ ID NO: 1 Regulates Cancer Cell Proliferation

Example 3

Lung cancer cell line A549 and squamous cell carcinoma cell line H10 expressing inducible SEQ ID NO: 1-HA vector were established as described previously. SEQ ID NO: 1 expression was detected by qPCR (FIG. 7A) and by Western Blot (FIG. 7B). Immunostaining using a custom-made antibody against SEQ ID NO: 1 reveals a predominant cytoplasmic localization with a filamentous pattern. This data demonstrates that the micropeptide can also be expressed and detectable in these cell lines.

To evaluate the effects of SEQ ID NO: 1 on proliferation, A549 and H10 cells transduced with SEQ ID NO: 1-HA vector or control vector were monitored for 14 days. Growth curves show that cells overexpressing micropeptide SEQ ID NO: 1 have a consistently lower growth rate compared to the control (FIG. 8A). This effect in proliferation is also accompanied by an increase in cells arrested in G1 phase (FIG. 8B). Collectively with the data shown before in the pancreatic cell line BxPC-3, there is a strong evidence of the role of the micropeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 in decreasing cell proliferation in several cancer types (pancreas, lung and squamous cell carcinoma).