# PAF-Remodeled DREAM Complex in Cancer and Regeneration

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2021 · $360,397

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The somatic cells remain quiescent upon terminal differentiation. Perturbation of this process can lead to cell
quiescence exit and proliferation, which is implicated in cancer and tissue regeneration. The dimerization
partner, RB-like, E2F, and multi-vulval class B (DREAM) complex, also called the DRM complex in
Caenorhabditis elegans and dREAM complex in Drosophila melanogaster, is an evolutionarily conserved cell
cycle-regulatory multiprotein complex. In association with co-activators and co-repressors, the DREAM
complex directly modulates the expression of various genes directly related to cell cycle and cell quiescence.
However, it is unknown how the DREAM complex is regulated in the physiological and pathological conditions.
Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-associated factor (PAF; also known as PCLAF/KIAA0101) is highly
upregulated in many cancers but barely expressed in normal cells. Our comprehensive approaches, including
molecular and cellular biology, mouse genetics, proteomics, and transcriptomics, found that PAF is
indispensable for cell quiescence exit and cell proliferation possibly by remodeling the DREAM complex.
Based on our previous studies and preliminary results, we hypothesize that PAF remodels the repressive
DREAM for cell quiescence exit and proliferation for the maintenance and activation of cell stemness in lung
cancer and lung tissue regeneration. This central hypothesis will be tested by pursuing two specific aims: Aim
1) Decipher the molecular mechanism of the PAF-remodeled DREAM complex; Aim 2) Determine the
pathological and physiological roles of PAF and PAF-expressing cells in lung cancer and tissue regeneration.
The proposed study will address how PAF remodels the DREAM complex for bypassing the cell quiescence
and accelerating cell proliferation. Similarly, how stem and facultative progenitor cells become active/mitotic for
tissue regenerating will be addressed by testing the working model - ‘PAF-remodeled DRAEM complex
induces the cell cycle re-entry of the stem and progenitor cells upon tissue injury’. This study will establish a
new paradigm in lung cancer initiation and regeneration by revealing how the remodeling of the DREAM
complex contributes to pathological (cancer) and physiological (regeneration) processes. Moreover, the
completion of this study may propose the PAF-DREAM axis as a targetable vulnerability of lung cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10236302
- **Project number:** 5R01CA193297-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Jae-Il Park
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $360,397
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-03-09 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10236302

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10236302, PAF-Remodeled DREAM Complex in Cancer and Regeneration (5R01CA193297-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10236302. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*