Among the top five candidate proteins, we reproducibly identified three members of the IGF2 mRNA-binding protein family, namely IGF2BP1, IGF2BP2, and IGF2BP3, also known as IMP1, IMP2, and IMP3 (Supporting Table 5). Specific binding of IGF2BP1, IGF2BP2, and IGF2BP3 was confirmed by

western blot analysis (Fig. 2C). We validated the interaction between IGF2BPs and HULC also in HepG2 cells (Fig. 2D). HnRNP A1, an unrelated RNA binding protein, and Vinculin, a protein associated with the cytoskeleton, were included as controls for specificity. As an independent approach to verify the interaction between HULC and IGF2BPs in vivo, we performed RNA immunoprecipitation assays. FLAG-tagged IGF2BP1, IGF2BP2, IGF2BP3, or GFP (green fluorescent protein; negative control) were transiently overexpressed in HepG2 cells and immunoprecipitated with an anti-FLAG antibody (Fig. 2E). After isolation of the copurifying RNA, the enrichment MK0683 LDK378 nmr of selected transcripts was measured by way of qRT-PCR. Thereby, we confirmed the specific enrichment of both HULC and a bona fide target of IGF2BPs, IGF2 mRNA (Fig. 2F). No enrichment of HULC was seen in GFP pull downs. The highly abundant 5.8S rRNA (negative control) was not enriched in any of

the purifications. Thus, we identified the IGF2 mRNA binding proteins as specific interaction partners of HULC. Furthermore, we characterized the interaction between HULC and IGF2BP1 in more detail and could show that also endogenous, nontagged IGF2BP1 specifically bound to HULC (Supporting Fig. 1A). To identify the site of interaction, we performed an in vitro binding assay using recombinant human IGF2BP1 and in vitro transcribed HULC full-length or fragmented

RNA (Supporting Fig. 1B,C). The assay revealed a direct and specific binding of IGF2BP1 to multiple sites across the noncoding transcript (Supporting Fig. 1D). IGF2BPs are well-known RNA binding proteins that were shown to regulate translation, localization, or stability of their target RNAs.[28-34] Specifically, IGF2BP1 stabilizes MYC, MDR1, and PTEN mRNAs.[35-37] To determine whether HULC expression was controlled by IGF2BPs, we specifically depleted IGF2BP1, IGF2BP2, or IGF2BP3 from HepG2 cells using siRNAs (small interfering RNAs) (Fig. 3A,B). The knockdowns were efficient as analyzed by qRT-PCR (Fig. 3A), and specific to each triclocarban of the IGF2BP family members as shown by western blot analysis (Fig. 3B). Interestingly, the knockdown of each IGF2BP alone led to an enhanced HULC expression. The strongest increase was observed after IGF2BP1 depletion, which was highly significant compared to control siRNA or IGF2BP2 and IGF2BP3 siRNA transfections (Fig. 3C). To distinguish between a transcriptional and a posttranscriptional mechanism, we specifically blocked RNA Polymerase II transcription with alpha-amanitin. This experiment revealed a strong impact of IGF2BP1 on HULC RNA stability (Fig. 3D).