Ribonuclease P/MRP subunit RPP40 coordinates the transcription of pre-rRNA and ribosomal protein genes to promote Hepatocellular carcinoma malignancy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors worldwide. The intricate molecular processes that drive the development and advancement of HCC are still not entirely clear. Recent studies have implicated the 11 protein subunits of ribonuclease P (POP1, POP4, POP5, POP7, RPP14, RPP21, RPP25, two copies of RPP30, RPP38, and RPP40) in various cancers, yet their specific roles in HCC require further clarification. In this study, we found that elevated levels of ribonuclease P/MRP Subunit P40 (RPP40) are associated with a worse outcome for HCC patients. RPP40 promotes proliferation, migration and invasion in HCC cells. Our findings reveal that RPP40 can coordinate the transcription of ribosomal RNA and the expression of ribosomal genes, thereby promoting the malignancy of HCC. Our findings provide preliminary evidence that RPP40 could be considered a candidate target for HCC therapy.