We show that the 3'UTR of the Brn-3b mRNA does indeed contain regulatory sequences that mediate mRNA degradation upon serum starvation-induced differentiation of ND7 neuroblastoma cells.
The Brn-3b POU domain transcription factor is elevated in a significant proportion of breast cancers and in neuroblastoma tumours, where it is associated with increased proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, faster and larger tumour growth in xenograft models, resistance to growth inhibitory stimuli and increased migratory potential.
Moreover, the level of Brn-3a rises and that of Brn-3b falls when neuroblastoma cell lines are exposed to treatments which induce a cessation of proliferation.