EVBO publication highlights – June 2020 winner

Long non-coding RNA LASSIE regulates shear stress sensing and endothelial barrier function.

Laura Stanicek , Noelia Lozano-Vidal, Diewertje Ilse Bink, Aukie Hooglugt, Wenjie Yao, Ilka Wittig, Jos van Rijssel, Jaap Diederik van Buul , Anke van Bergen, Alina Klems, Anne Sophie Ramms, Ferdinand Le Noble, Patrick Hofmann, Robert Szulcek, ShengPeng Wang, Stefan Offermanns, Meryem Seda Ercanoglu, Hyouk-Bum Kwon, Didier Stainier, Stephan Huveneers, Leo Kurian, Stefanie Dimmeler, Reinier Abraham Boon.

Commun Biol., 2020 May 26;3(1):265. DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-0987-0

Key findings

1. Fluid flow controls endothelial expression of several long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), including the highly induced lncRNA LASSIE.
2. LASSIE is required for proper endothelial barrier function and for endothelial alignment in the direction of flow.
3. LASSIE physically interacts with adherens junction proteins and with the cytoskeletal protein nestin.
4. Loss of LASSIE results in weakening of the cytoskeletal attachment to adherens junctions.