The high-density lipoprotein binding protein HDLBP is an unusual RNA-binding protein with multiple roles in cancer and disease

The high-density lipoprotein binding protein (HDLBP) is the human member of an evolutionarily conserved family of RNA-binding proteins, the vigilin protein family. These proteins are characterized by 14 or 15 RNA-interacting KH (heterologous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K homology) domains. While mainly present at the cytoplasmic face of the endoplasmic reticulum, HDLBP and its homologs are also found in the cytosol and nucleus. HDLBP is involved in various processes, including translation, chromosome segregation, cholesterol transport and carcinogenesis. Especially, its association with the latter two has attracted specific interest in the HDLBP's molecular role. In this review, we give an overview of some of the functions of the protein as well as introduce its impact on different kinds of cancer, its connection to lipid metabolism and its role in viral infection. We also aim at addressing the possible use of HDLBP as a drug target or biomarker and discuss its future implications.

Autism-Associated Vigilin Depletion Impairs DNA Damage Repair

Vigilin (Vgl1) is essential for heterochromatin formation, chromosome segregation, and mRNA stability and is associated with autism spectrum disorders and cancer: vigilin, for example, can suppress proto-oncogene c-fms expression in breast cancer. Conserved from yeast to humans, vigilin is an RNA-binding protein with 14 tandemly arranged nonidentical hnRNP K-type homology (KH) domains. Here, we report that vigilin depletion increased cell sensitivity to cisplatin- or ionizing radiation (IR)-induced cell death and genomic instability due to defective DNA repair. Vigilin depletion delayed dephosphorylation of IR-induced γ-H2AX and elevated levels of residual 53BP1 and RIF1 foci, while reducing Rad51 and BRCA1 focus formation, DNA end resection, and double-strand break (DSB) repair. We show that vigilin interacts with the DNA damage response (DDR) proteins RAD51 and BRCA1, and vigilin depletion impairs their recruitment to DSB sites. Transient hydroxyurea (HU)-induced replicative stress in vigilin-depleted cells increased replication fork stalling and blocked restart of DNA synthesis. Furthermore, histone acetylation promoted vigilin recruitment to DSBs preferentially in the transcriptionally active genome. These findings uncover a novel vigilin role in DNA damage repair with implications for autism and cancer-related disorders.

Disruption of human vigilin impairs chromosome condensation and segregation

Appropriate packaging and condensation are critical for eukaryotic chromatin's accommodation and separation during cell division. Human vigilin, a multi-KH-domain nucleic acid-binding protein, is associated with alpha satellites of centromeres. DDP1, a vigilin's homolog, is implicated with chromatin condensation and segregation. The expression of vigilin was previously reported to elevate in highly proliferating tissues and increased in a subset of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Other studies showed that vigilin interacts with CTCF, contributes to regulation of imprinted genes Igf2/H19, and colocalizes with HP1α on heterochromatic satellite 2 and β-satellite repeats. These studies indicate that human vigilin might be involved in chromatin remodeling and regular cell growth. To investigate the potential role of human vigilin in cell cycle, the correlations between vigilin and chromosomal condensation and segregation were studied. Depletion of human vigilin by RNA interference in HepG2 cells resulted in chromosome undercondensation and various chromosomal defects during mitotic phase, including chromosome misalignments, lagging chromosomes, and chromosome bridges. Aberrant polyploid nucleus in telophase was also observed. Unlike the abnormal staining pattern of chromosomes, the shape of spindle was normal. Furthermore, the chromatin showed a greater sensitivity to MNase digestion. Collectively, our findings show that human vigilin apparently participates in chromatin condensation and segregation.