51
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Zhang S, Zhang H, Forrest MP, Zhou Y, Sun X, Bagchi VA, Kozlova A, Santos MD, Piguel NH, Dionisio LE, Sanders AR, Pang ZP, He X, Penzes P, Duan J. Multiple genes in a single GWAS risk locus synergistically mediate aberrant synaptic development and function in human neurons. CELL GENOMICS 2023; 3:100399. [PMID: 37719141 PMCID: PMC10504676 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2023.100399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
The mechanistic tie between genome-wide association study (GWAS)-implicated risk variants and disease-relevant cellular phenotypes remains largely unknown. Here, using human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons as a neurodevelopmental model, we identify multiple schizophrenia (SZ) risk variants that display allele-specific open chromatin (ASoC) and are likely to be functional. Editing the strongest ASoC SNP, rs2027349, near vacuolar protein sorting 45 homolog (VPS45) alters the expression of VPS45, lncRNA AC244033.2, and a distal gene, C1orf54. Notably, the transcriptomic changes in neurons are associated with SZ and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Neurons carrying the risk allele exhibit increased dendritic complexity and hyperactivity. Interestingly, individual/combinatorial gene knockdown shows that these genes alter cellular phenotypes in a non-additive synergistic manner. Our study reveals that multiple genes at a single GWAS risk locus mediate a compound effect on neural function, providing a mechanistic link between a non-coding risk variant and disease-related cellular phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwei Zhang
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Hanwen Zhang
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
| | - Marc P. Forrest
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Yifan Zhou
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Xiaotong Sun
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Vikram A. Bagchi
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Alena Kozlova
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
| | - Marc Dos Santos
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Nicolas H. Piguel
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Leonardo E. Dionisio
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Alan R. Sanders
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Zhiping P. Pang
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Xin He
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Peter Penzes
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jubao Duan
- Center for Psychiatric Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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52
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Balmas E, Sozza F, Bottini S, Ratto ML, Savorè G, Becca S, Snijders KE, Bertero A. Manipulating and studying gene function in human pluripotent stem cell models. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:2250-2287. [PMID: 37519013 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are uniquely suited to study human development and disease and promise to revolutionize regenerative medicine. These applications rely on robust methods to manipulate gene function in hPSC models. This comprehensive review aims to both empower scientists approaching the field and update experienced stem cell biologists. We begin by highlighting challenges with manipulating gene expression in hPSCs and their differentiated derivatives, and relevant solutions (transfection, transduction, transposition, and genomic safe harbor editing). We then outline how to perform robust constitutive or inducible loss-, gain-, and change-of-function experiments in hPSCs models, both using historical methods (RNA interference, transgenesis, and homologous recombination) and modern programmable nucleases (particularly CRISPR/Cas9 and its derivatives, i.e., CRISPR interference, activation, base editing, and prime editing). We further describe extension of these approaches for arrayed or pooled functional studies, including emerging single-cell genomic methods, and the related design and analytical bioinformatic tools. Finally, we suggest some directions for future advancements in all of these areas. Mastering the combination of these transformative technologies will empower unprecedented advances in human biology and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Balmas
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Federica Sozza
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Sveva Bottini
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Ratto
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Giulia Savorè
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Silvia Becca
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Kirsten Esmee Snijders
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bertero
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", University of Turin, Torino, Italy
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53
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Luo R, Yan J, Oh JW, Xi W, Shigaki D, Wong W, Cho HS, Murphy D, Cutler R, Rosen BP, Pulecio J, Yang D, Glenn RA, Chen T, Li QV, Vierbuchen T, Sidoli S, Apostolou E, Huangfu D, Beer MA. Dynamic network-guided CRISPRi screen identifies CTCF-loop-constrained nonlinear enhancer gene regulatory activity during cell state transitions. Nat Genet 2023; 55:1336-1346. [PMID: 37488417 PMCID: PMC11012226 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01450-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Comprehensive enhancer discovery is challenging because most enhancers, especially those contributing to complex diseases, have weak effects on gene expression. Our gene regulatory network modeling identified that nonlinear enhancer gene regulation during cell state transitions can be leveraged to improve the sensitivity of enhancer discovery. Using human embryonic stem cell definitive endoderm differentiation as a dynamic transition system, we conducted a mid-transition CRISPRi-based enhancer screen. We discovered a comprehensive set of enhancers for each of the core endoderm-specifying transcription factors. Many enhancers had strong effects mid-transition but weak effects post-transition, consistent with the nonlinear temporal responses to enhancer perturbation predicted by the modeling. Integrating three-dimensional genomic information, we were able to develop a CTCF-loop-constrained Interaction Activity model that can better predict functional enhancers compared to models that rely on Hi-C-based enhancer-promoter contact frequency. Our study provides generalizable strategies for sensitive and systematic enhancer discovery in both normal and pathological cell state transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renhe Luo
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York City, NY, USA
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Jielin Yan
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York City, NY, USA
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Jin Woo Oh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Wang Xi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dustin Shigaki
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Wilfred Wong
- Computational & Systems Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York City, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Hyein S Cho
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Dylan Murphy
- Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Ronald Cutler
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Bess P Rosen
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York City, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Julian Pulecio
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Dapeng Yang
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Rachel A Glenn
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York City, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Tingxu Chen
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York City, NY, USA
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Qing V Li
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York City, NY, USA
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Thomas Vierbuchen
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Simone Sidoli
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Effie Apostolou
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Danwei Huangfu
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York City, NY, USA.
| | - Michael A Beer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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54
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Armendariz DA, Sundarrajan A, Hon GC. Breaking enhancers to gain insights into developmental defects. eLife 2023; 12:e88187. [PMID: 37497775 PMCID: PMC10374278 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite ground-breaking genetic studies that have identified thousands of risk variants for developmental diseases, how these variants lead to molecular and cellular phenotypes remains a gap in knowledge. Many of these variants are non-coding and occur at enhancers, which orchestrate key regulatory programs during development. The prevailing paradigm is that non-coding variants alter the activity of enhancers, impacting gene expression programs, and ultimately contributing to disease risk. A key obstacle to progress is the systematic functional characterization of non-coding variants at scale, especially since enhancer activity is highly specific to cell type and developmental stage. Here, we review the foundational studies of enhancers in developmental disease and current genomic approaches to functionally characterize developmental enhancers and their variants at scale. In the coming decade, we anticipate systematic enhancer perturbation studies to link non-coding variants to molecular mechanisms, changes in cell state, and disease phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Armendariz
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Anjana Sundarrajan
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Gary C Hon
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
- Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
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55
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Dincer TU, Ernst J. Integrative epigenomic and functional characterization assay based annotation of regulatory activity across diverse human cell types. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.14.549056. [PMID: 37503240 PMCID: PMC10369970 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.14.549056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
We introduce ChromActivity, a computational framework for predicting and annotating regulatory activity across the genome through integration of multiple epigenomic maps and various functional characterization datasets. ChromActivity generates genomewide predictions of regulatory activity associated with each functional characterization dataset across many cell types based on available epigenomic data. It then for each cell type produces (1) ChromScoreHMM genome annotations based on the combinatorial and spatial patterns within these predictions and (2) ChromScore tracks of overall predicted regulatory activity. ChromActivity provides a resource for analyzing and interpreting the human regulatory genome across diverse cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tevfik Umut Dincer
- Bioinformatics Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jason Ernst
- Bioinformatics Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Computer Science Department, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Computational Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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56
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Ghamsari R, Rosenbluh J, Menon AV, Lovell NH, Alinejad-Rokny H. Technological Convergence: Highlighting the Power of CRISPR Single-Cell Perturbation Toolkit for Functional Interrogation of Enhancers. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3566. [PMID: 37509229 PMCID: PMC10377346 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Higher eukaryotic enhancers, as a major class of regulatory elements, play a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression. Over the last decade, the development of sequencing technologies has flooded researchers with transcriptome-phenotype data alongside emerging candidate regulatory elements. Since most methods can only provide hints about enhancer function, there have been attempts to develop experimental and computational approaches that can bridge the gap in the causal relationship between regulatory regions and phenotypes. The coupling of two state-of-the-art technologies, also referred to as crisprQTL, has emerged as a promising high-throughput toolkit for addressing this question. This review provides an overview of the importance of studying enhancers, the core molecular foundation of crisprQTL, and recent studies utilizing crisprQTL to interrogate enhancer-phenotype correlations. Additionally, we discuss computational methods currently employed for crisprQTL data analysis. We conclude by pointing out common challenges, making recommendations, and looking at future prospects, with the aim of providing researchers with an overview of crisprQTL as an important toolkit for studying enhancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Ghamsari
- BioMedical Machine Learning Lab (BML), The Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Epigenetics and Development Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Joseph Rosenbluh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia;
| | - A Vipin Menon
- Epigenetics and Development Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Nigel H. Lovell
- The Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Tyree Institute of Health Engineering (IHealthE), UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Hamid Alinejad-Rokny
- BioMedical Machine Learning Lab (BML), The Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- UNSW Data Science Hub, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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57
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Xu Z, Sziraki A, Lee J, Zhou W, Cao J. PerturbSci-Kinetics: Dissecting key regulators of transcriptome kinetics through scalable single-cell RNA profiling of pooled CRISPR screens. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.29.526143. [PMID: 36778497 PMCID: PMC9915486 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.29.526143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Here we described PerturbSci-Kinetics, a novel combinatorial indexing method for capturing three-layer single-cell readout (i.e., whole transcriptomes, nascent transcriptomes, sgRNA identities) across hundreds of genetic perturbations. Through PerturbSci-Kinetics profiling of pooled CRISPR screens targeting a variety of biological processes, we were able to decipher the complexity of RNA regulations at multiple levels (e.g., synthesis, processing, degradation), and revealed key regulators involved in miRNA and mitochondrial RNA processing pathways. Our technique opens the possibility of systematically decoding the genome-wide regulatory network underlying RNA temporal dynamics at scale and cost-effectively.
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58
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Armendariz DA, Goetsch SC, Sundarrajan A, Sivakumar S, Wang Y, Xie S, Munshi NV, Hon GC. CHD-associated enhancers shape human cardiomyocyte lineage commitment. eLife 2023; 12:e86206. [PMID: 37096669 PMCID: PMC10156167 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Enhancers orchestrate gene expression programs that drive multicellular development and lineage commitment. Thus, genetic variants at enhancers are thought to contribute to developmental diseases by altering cell fate commitment. However, while many variant-containing enhancers have been identified, studies to endogenously test the impact of these enhancers on lineage commitment have been lacking. We perform a single-cell CRISPRi screen to assess the endogenous roles of 25 enhancers and putative cardiac target genes implicated in genetic studies of congenital heart defects (CHDs). We identify 16 enhancers whose repression leads to deficient differentiation of human cardiomyocytes (CMs). A focused CRISPRi validation screen shows that repression of TBX5 enhancers delays the transcriptional switch from mid- to late-stage CM states. Endogenous genetic deletions of two TBX5 enhancers phenocopy epigenetic perturbations. Together, these results identify critical enhancers of cardiac development and suggest that misregulation of these enhancers could contribute to cardiac defects in human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Armendariz
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Sean C Goetsch
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Anjana Sundarrajan
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Sushama Sivakumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Yihan Wang
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Shiqi Xie
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Nikhil V Munshi
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Molecular Biology, McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Gary C Hon
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
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59
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Seah C, Huckins LM, Brennand KJ. Stem Cell Models for Context-Specific Modeling in Psychiatric Disorders. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 93:642-650. [PMID: 36658083 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies reveal the complex polygenic architecture underlying psychiatric disorder risk, but there is an unmet need to validate causal variants, resolve their target genes(s), and explore their functional impacts on disorder-related mechanisms. Disorder-associated loci regulate transcription of target genes in a cell type- and context-specific manner, which can be measured through expression quantitative trait loci. In this review, we discuss methods and insights from context-specific modeling of genetically and environmentally regulated expression. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cell type and organoid models have uncovered context-specific psychiatric disorder associations by investigating tissue-, cell type-, sex-, age-, and stressor-specific genetic regulation of expression. Techniques such as massively parallel reporter assays and pooled CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) screens make it possible to functionally fine-map genome-wide association study loci and validate their target genes at scale. Integration of disorder-associated contexts with these patient-specific human induced pluripotent stem cell models makes it possible to uncover gene by environment interactions that mediate disorder risk, which will ultimately improve our ability to diagnose and treat psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Seah
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York; Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York; Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
| | - Laura M Huckins
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York; Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York; Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
| | - Kristen J Brennand
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York; Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York; Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
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60
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Luo R, Yan J, Oh JW, Xi W, Shigaki D, Wong W, Cho H, Murphy D, Cutler R, Rosen BP, Pulecio J, Yang D, Glenn R, Chen T, Li QV, Vierbuchen T, Sidoli S, Apostolou E, Huangfu D, Beer MA. Dynamic network-guided CRISPRi screen reveals CTCF loop-constrained nonlinear enhancer-gene regulatory activity in cell state transitions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.07.531569. [PMID: 36945628 PMCID: PMC10028945 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.07.531569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Comprehensive enhancer discovery is challenging because most enhancers, especially those affected in complex diseases, have weak effects on gene expression. Our network modeling revealed that nonlinear enhancer-gene regulation during cell state transitions can be leveraged to improve the sensitivity of enhancer discovery. Utilizing hESC definitive endoderm differentiation as a dynamic transition system, we conducted a mid-transition CRISPRi-based enhancer screen. The screen discovered a comprehensive set of enhancers (4 to 9 per locus) for each of the core endoderm lineage-specifying transcription factors, and many enhancers had strong effects mid-transition but weak effects post-transition. Through integrating enhancer activity measurements and three-dimensional enhancer-promoter interaction information, we were able to develop a CTCF loop-constrained Interaction Activity (CIA) model that can better predict functional enhancers compared to models that rely on Hi-C-based enhancer-promoter contact frequency. Our study provides generalizable strategies for sensitive and more comprehensive enhancer discovery in both normal and pathological cell state transitions.
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61
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Cheng J, Lin G, Wang T, Wang Y, Guo W, Liao J, Yang P, Chen J, Shao X, Lu X, Zhu L, Wang Y, Fan X. Massively Parallel CRISPR-Based Genetic Perturbation Screening at Single-Cell Resolution. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2204484. [PMID: 36504444 PMCID: PMC9896079 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202204484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based genetic screening has been demonstrated as a powerful approach for unbiased functional genomics research. Single-cell CRISPR screening (scCRISPR) techniques, which result from the combination of single-cell toolkits and CRISPR screening, allow dissecting regulatory networks in complex biological systems at unprecedented resolution. These methods allow cells to be perturbed en masse using a pooled CRISPR library, followed by high-content phenotyping. This is technically accomplished by annotating cells with sgRNA-specific barcodes or directly detectable sgRNAs. According to the integration of distinct single-cell technologies, these methods principally fall into four categories: scCRISPR with RNA-seq, scCRISPR with ATAC-seq, scCRISPR with proteome probing, and imaging-based scCRISPR. scCRISPR has deciphered genotype-phenotype relationships, genetic regulations, tumor biological issues, and neuropathological mechanisms. This review provides insight into the technical breakthrough of scCRISPR by systematically summarizing the advancements of various scCRISPR methodologies and analyzing their merits and limitations. In addition, an application-oriented approach guide is offered to meet researchers' individualized demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyun Cheng
- Pharmaceutical Informatics InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
| | - Gaole Lin
- Pharmaceutical Informatics InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
| | - Tianhao Wang
- Pharmaceutical Informatics InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
| | - Yunzhu Wang
- Pharmaceutical Informatics InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
| | - Wenbo Guo
- Pharmaceutical Informatics InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
| | - Jie Liao
- Pharmaceutical Informatics InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
| | - Penghui Yang
- Pharmaceutical Informatics InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
| | - Jie Chen
- Pharmaceutical Informatics InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
| | - Xin Shao
- Pharmaceutical Informatics InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
| | - Xiaoyan Lu
- Pharmaceutical Informatics InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
- State Key Laboratory of Component‐Based Chinese MedicineInnovation Center in Zhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
- Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang UniversityJinhua321016China
| | - Ling Zhu
- The Save Sight InstituteFaculty of Medicine and Healththe University of SydneySydneyNSW2000Australia
| | - Yi Wang
- Pharmaceutical Informatics InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
- State Key Laboratory of Component‐Based Chinese MedicineInnovation Center in Zhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
- Future Health LaboratoryInnovation Center of Yangtze River DeltaZhejiang UniversityJiaxing314100China
| | - Xiaohui Fan
- Pharmaceutical Informatics InstituteCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058China
- State Key Laboratory of Component‐Based Chinese MedicineInnovation Center in Zhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
- Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang UniversityJinhua321016China
- The Save Sight InstituteFaculty of Medicine and Healththe University of SydneySydneyNSW2000Australia
- Future Health LaboratoryInnovation Center of Yangtze River DeltaZhejiang UniversityJiaxing314100China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and BiomedicineHangzhou310024China
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Kong S, Li R, Tian Y, Zhang Y, Lu Y, Ou Q, Gao P, Li K, Zhang Y. Single-cell omics: A new direction for functional genetic research in human diseases and animal models. Front Genet 2023; 13:1100016. [PMID: 36685871 PMCID: PMC9846559 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1100016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, with the development of high-throughput single-cell sequencing technology, single-cell omics has been emerged as a powerful tool to understand the molecular basis of cellular mechanisms and refine our knowledge of diverse cell states. They can reveal the heterogeneity at different genetic layers and elucidate their associations by multiple omics analysis, providing a more comprehensive genetic map of biological regulatory networks. In the post-GWAS era, the molecular biological mechanisms influencing human diseases will be further elucidated by single-cell omics. This review mainly summarizes the development and trend of single-cell omics. This involves single-cell omics technologies, single-cell multi-omics technologies, multiple omics data integration methods, applications in various human organs and diseases, classic laboratory cell lines, and animal disease models. The review will reveal some perspectives for elucidating human diseases and constructing animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Kong
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Animal Functional Genomics Group, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Animal Functional Genomics Group, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Rongrong Li
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Animal Functional Genomics Group, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yunhan Tian
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Animal Functional Genomics Group, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yaqiu Zhang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Animal Functional Genomics Group, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuhui Lu
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Animal Functional Genomics Group, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qiaoer Ou
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Animal Functional Genomics Group, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Peiwen Gao
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Animal Functional Genomics Group, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kui Li
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Animal Functional Genomics Group, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Animal Functional Genomics Group, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yubo Zhang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Animal Functional Genomics Group, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Animal Functional Genomics Group, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
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Shi H, Doench JG, Chi H. CRISPR screens for functional interrogation of immunity. Nat Rev Immunol 2022:10.1038/s41577-022-00802-4. [DOI: 10.1038/s41577-022-00802-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Holcomb EA, Pearson AN, Jungles KM, Tate A, James J, Jiang L, Huber AK, Green MD. High-content CRISPR screening in tumor immunology. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1041451. [PMID: 36479127 PMCID: PMC9721350 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1041451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR screening is a powerful tool that links specific genetic alterations to corresponding phenotypes, thus allowing for high-throughput identification of novel gene functions. Pooled CRISPR screens have enabled discovery of innate and adaptive immune response regulators in the setting of viral infection and cancer. Emerging methods couple pooled CRISPR screens with parallel high-content readouts at the transcriptomic, epigenetic, proteomic, and optical levels. These approaches are illuminating cancer immune evasion mechanisms as well as nominating novel targets that augment T cell activation, increase T cell infiltration into tumors, and promote enhanced T cell cytotoxicity. This review details recent methodological advances in high-content CRISPR screens and highlights the impact this technology is having on tumor immunology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin A. Holcomb
- Graduate Program in Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Ashley N. Pearson
- Graduate Program in Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Kassidy M. Jungles
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Akshay Tate
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jadyn James
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Long Jiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, China
| | - Amanda K. Huber
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Michael D. Green
- Graduate Program in Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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65
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Wang J, Weatheritt R, Voineagu I. Alu-minating the Mechanisms Underlying Primate Cortex Evolution. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:760-771. [PMID: 35981906 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The higher-order cognitive functions observed in primates correlate with the evolutionary enhancement of cortical volume and folding, which in turn are driven by the primate-specific expansion of cellular diversity in the developing cortex. Underlying these changes is the diversification of molecular features including the creation of human and/or primate-specific genes, the activation of specific molecular pathways, and the interplay of diverse layers of gene regulation. We review and discuss evidence for connections between Alu elements and primate brain evolution, the evolutionary milestones of which are known to coincide along primate lineages. Alus are repetitive elements that contribute extensively to the acquisition of novel genes and the expansion of diverse gene regulatory layers, including enhancers, alternative splicing, RNA editing, and microRNA pathways. By reviewing the impact of Alus on molecular features linked to cortical expansions or gyrification or implications in cognitive deficits, we suggest that future research focusing on the role of Alu-derived molecular events in the context of brain development may greatly advance our understanding of higher-order cognitive functions and neurologic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juli Wang
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Robert Weatheritt
- St Vincent Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Garvan Institute of Medical Research, EMBL Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Irina Voineagu
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Cellular Genomics Futures Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
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66
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Wilson J, Loizou JI. Exploring the genetic space of the DNA damage response for cancer therapy through CRISPR-based screens. Mol Oncol 2022; 16:3778-3791. [PMID: 35708734 PMCID: PMC9627789 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The concepts of synthetic lethality and viability have emerged as powerful approaches to identify vulnerabilities and resistances within the DNA damage response for the treatment of cancer. Historically, interactions between two genes have had a longstanding presence in genetics and have been identified through forward genetic screens that rely on the molecular basis of the characterized phenotypes, typically caused by mutations in single genes. While such complex genetic interactions between genes have been studied extensively in model organisms, they have only recently been prioritized as therapeutic strategies due to technological advancements in genetic screens. Here, we discuss synthetic lethal and viable interactions within the DNA damage response and present how CRISPR-based genetic screens and chemical compounds have allowed for the systematic identification and targeting of such interactions for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Wilson
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer CentreMedical University of ViennaAustria
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Joanna I. Loizou
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer CentreMedical University of ViennaAustria
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of SciencesViennaAustria
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67
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Mukherjee P, Park SH, Pathak N, Patino CA, Bao G, Espinosa HD. Integrating Micro and Nano Technologies for Cell Engineering and Analysis: Toward the Next Generation of Cell Therapy Workflows. ACS NANO 2022; 16:15653-15680. [PMID: 36154011 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c05494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The emerging field of cell therapy offers the potential to treat and even cure a diverse array of diseases for which existing interventions are inadequate. Recent advances in micro and nanotechnology have added a multitude of single cell analysis methods to our research repertoire. At the same time, techniques have been developed for the precise engineering and manipulation of cells. Together, these methods have aided the understanding of disease pathophysiology, helped formulate corrective interventions at the cellular level, and expanded the spectrum of available cell therapeutic options. This review discusses how micro and nanotechnology have catalyzed the development of cell sorting, cellular engineering, and single cell analysis technologies, which have become essential workflow components in developing cell-based therapeutics. The review focuses on the technologies adopted in research studies and explores the opportunities and challenges in combining the various elements of cell engineering and single cell analysis into the next generation of integrated and automated platforms that can accelerate preclinical studies and translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prithvijit Mukherjee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - So Hyun Park
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6500 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Nibir Pathak
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Cesar A Patino
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Gang Bao
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6500 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Horacio D Espinosa
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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68
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Leung AKY, Yao L, Yu H. Functional genomic assays to annotate enhancer-promoter interactions genome wide. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:R97-R104. [PMID: 36018818 PMCID: PMC9585677 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhancers are pivotal for regulating gene transcription that occurs at promoters. Identification of the interacting enhancer-promoter pairs and understanding the mechanisms behind how they interact and how enhancers modulate transcription can provide fundamental insight into gene regulatory networks. Recently, advances in high-throughput methods in three major areas-chromosome conformation capture assay, such as Hi-C to study basic chromatin architecture, ectopic reporter experiments such as self-transcribing active regulatory region sequencing (STARR-seq) to quantify promoter and enhancer activity, and endogenous perturbations such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat interference (CRISPRi) to identify enhancer-promoter compatibility-have further our knowledge about transcription. In this review, we will discuss the major method developments and key findings from these assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alden King-Yung Leung
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Center for Genomics and Proteomics Technology Development (CGPT), Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853, USA
| | - Li Yao
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Center for Genomics and Proteomics Technology Development (CGPT), Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853, USA
| | - Haiyuan Yu
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Center for Genomics and Proteomics Technology Development (CGPT), Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853, USA
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69
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Cooper YA, Guo Q, Geschwind DH. Multiplexed functional genomic assays to decipher the noncoding genome. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:R84-R96. [PMID: 36057282 PMCID: PMC9585676 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Linkage disequilibrium and the incomplete regulatory annotation of the noncoding genome complicates the identification of functional noncoding genetic variants and their causal association with disease. Current computational methods for variant prioritization have limited predictive value, necessitating the application of highly parallelized experimental assays to efficiently identify functional noncoding variation. Here, we summarize two distinct approaches, massively parallel reporter assays and CRISPR-based pooled screens and describe their flexible implementation to characterize human noncoding genetic variation at unprecedented scale. Each approach provides unique advantages and limitations, highlighting the importance of multimodal methodological integration. These multiplexed assays of variant effects are undoubtedly poised to play a key role in the experimental characterization of noncoding genetic risk, informing our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of disease-associated loci and the development of more robust predictive classification algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonatan A Cooper
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Qiuyu Guo
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Institute of Precision Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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70
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Jones IR, Ren X, Shen Y. High-throughput CRISPRi and CRISPRa technologies in 3D genome regulation for neuropsychiatric diseases. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:R47-R53. [PMID: 35972825 PMCID: PMC9585669 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in genomics have led to the identification of many risk loci with hundreds of genes and thousands of DNA variants associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. A significant barrier to understanding the genetic underpinnings of complex diseases is the lack of functional characterization of risk genes and variants in biological systems relevant to human health and connecting disease-associated variants to pathological phenotypes. Characterizing gene and DNA variant functions requires genetic perturbations followed by molecular and cellular assays of neurobiological phenotypes. However, generating null or mutant alleles is low throughput, making it impossible to characterize disease-associated variants in large quantities efficiently. CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) and CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) screens can be leveraged to dissect the biological consequences of the tested genes and variants in their native context. Nevertheless, testing non-coding variants associated with complex diseases remains non-trivial. In this review, we first discuss the current challenges of interpreting the function of the non-coding genome and approaches to prioritizing disease-associated variants in the context of the 3D epigenome. Second, we provide a brief overview of high-throughput CRISPRi and CRISPRa screening strategies applicable for characterizing non-coding sequences in appropriate biological systems. Lastly, we discuss the promising prospects of using CRISPR-based technologies to dissect DNA sequences associated with neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian R Jones
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xingjie Ren
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yin Shen
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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71
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Nair SJ, Suter T, Wang S, Yang L, Yang F, Rosenfeld MG. Transcriptional enhancers at 40: evolution of a viral DNA element to nuclear architectural structures. Trends Genet 2022; 38:1019-1047. [PMID: 35811173 PMCID: PMC9474616 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Gene regulation by transcriptional enhancers is the dominant mechanism driving cell type- and signal-specific transcriptional diversity in metazoans. However, over four decades since the original discovery, how enhancers operate in the nuclear space remains largely enigmatic. Recent multidisciplinary efforts combining real-time imaging, genome sequencing, and biophysical strategies provide insightful but conflicting models of enhancer-mediated gene control. Here, we review the discovery and progress in enhancer biology, emphasizing the recent findings that acutely activated enhancers assemble regulatory machinery as mesoscale architectural structures with distinct physical properties. These findings help formulate novel models that explain several mysterious features of the assembly of transcriptional enhancers and the mechanisms of spatial control of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreejith J Nair
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
| | - Tom Suter
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department and School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Susan Wang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department and School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Cellular and Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Lu Yang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department and School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Feng Yang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department and School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Michael G Rosenfeld
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department and School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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72
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Sreenivasan VKA, Balachandran S, Spielmann M. The role of single-cell genomics in human genetics. J Med Genet 2022; 59:827-839. [PMID: 35790352 PMCID: PMC9411920 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2022-108588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Single-cell sequencing is a powerful approach that can detect genetic alterations and their phenotypic consequences in the context of human development, with cellular resolution. Humans start out as single-cell zygotes and undergo fission and differentiation to develop into multicellular organisms. Before fertilisation and during development, the cellular genome acquires hundreds of mutations that propagate down the cell lineage. Whether germline or somatic in nature, some of these mutations may have significant genotypic impact and lead to diseased cellular phenotypes, either systemically or confined to a tissue. Single-cell sequencing enables the detection and monitoring of the genotype and the consequent molecular phenotypes at a cellular resolution. It offers powerful tools to compare the cellular lineage between 'normal' and 'diseased' conditions and to establish genotype-phenotype relationships. By preserving cellular heterogeneity, single-cell sequencing, unlike bulk-sequencing, allows the detection of even small, diseased subpopulations of cells within an otherwise normal tissue. Indeed, the characterisation of biopsies with cellular resolution can provide a mechanistic view of the disease. While single-cell approaches are currently used mainly in basic research, it can be expected that applications of these technologies in the clinic may aid the detection, diagnosis and eventually the treatment of rare genetic diseases as well as cancer. This review article provides an overview of the single-cell sequencing technologies in the context of human genetics, with an aim to empower clinicians to understand and interpret the single-cell sequencing data and analyses. We discuss the state-of-the-art experimental and analytical workflows and highlight current challenges/limitations. Notably, we focus on two prospective applications of the technology in human genetics, namely the annotation of the non-coding genome using single-cell functional genomics and the use of single-cell sequencing data for in silico variant prioritisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varun K A Sreenivasan
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, University of Lübeck and Kiel University, Lübeck and Kiel, Germany
| | - Saranya Balachandran
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, University of Lübeck and Kiel University, Lübeck and Kiel, Germany
| | - Malte Spielmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, University of Lübeck and Kiel University, Lübeck and Kiel, Germany
- Human Molecular Genetics Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
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73
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Kelly MR, Wisniewska K, Regner MJ, Lewis MW, Perreault AA, Davis ES, Phanstiel DH, Parker JS, Franco HL. A multi-omic dissection of super-enhancer driven oncogenic gene expression programs in ovarian cancer. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4247. [PMID: 35869079 PMCID: PMC9307778 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31919-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The human genome contains regulatory elements, such as enhancers, that are often rewired by cancer cells for the activation of genes that promote tumorigenesis and resistance to therapy. This is especially true for cancers that have little or no known driver mutations within protein coding genes, such as ovarian cancer. Herein, we utilize an integrated set of genomic and epigenomic datasets to identify clinically relevant super-enhancers that are preferentially amplified in ovarian cancer patients. We systematically probe the top 86 super-enhancers, using CRISPR-interference and CRISPR-deletion assays coupled to RNA-sequencing, to nominate two salient super-enhancers that drive proliferation and migration of cancer cells. Utilizing Hi-C, we construct chromatin interaction maps that enable the annotation of direct target genes for these super-enhancers and confirm their activity specifically within the cancer cell compartment of human tumors using single-cell genomics data. Together, our multi-omic approach examines a number of fundamental questions about how regulatory information encoded into super-enhancers drives gene expression networks that underlie the biology of ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Kelly
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kamila Wisniewska
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Matthew J Regner
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Michael W Lewis
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Andrea A Perreault
- Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Eric S Davis
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Douglas H Phanstiel
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Joel S Parker
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Hector L Franco
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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74
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Paul S, Xie S, Yao X, Dey A. Transcriptional Regulation of the Hippo Pathway: Current Understanding and Insights from Single-Cell Technologies. Cells 2022; 11:cells11142225. [PMID: 35883668 PMCID: PMC9317057 DOI: 10.3390/cells11142225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hippo pathway regulates tissue homeostasis in normal development and drives oncogenic processes. In this review, we extensively discuss how YAP/TAZ/TEAD cooperate with other master transcription factors and epigenetic cofactors to orchestrate a broad spectrum of transcriptional responses. Even though these responses are often context- and lineage-specific, we do not have a good understanding of how such precise and specific transcriptional control is achieved—whether they are driven by differences in TEAD paralogs, or recruitment of cofactors to tissue-specific enhancers. We believe that emerging single-cell technologies would enable a granular understanding of how the Hippo pathway influences cell fate and drives oncogenic processes, ultimately allowing us to design better pharmacological agents against TEADs and identify robust pharmacodynamics markers of Hippo pathway inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayantanee Paul
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (S.P.); (S.X.)
| | - Shiqi Xie
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (S.P.); (S.X.)
| | - Xiaosai Yao
- Department of Oncology Bioinformatics, Genentech Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
- Correspondence: (X.Y.); (A.D.)
| | - Anwesha Dey
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (S.P.); (S.X.)
- Correspondence: (X.Y.); (A.D.)
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75
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Braun CJ, Adames AC, Saur D, Rad R. Tutorial: design and execution of CRISPR in vivo screens. Nat Protoc 2022; 17:1903-1925. [PMID: 35840661 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-022-00700-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Here we provide a detailed tutorial on CRISPR in vivo screening. Using the mouse as the model organism, we introduce a range of CRISPR tools and applications, delineate general considerations for 'transplantation-based' or 'direct in vivo' screening design, and provide details on technical execution, sequencing readouts, computational analyses and data interpretation. In vivo screens face unique pitfalls and limitations, such as delivery issues or library bottlenecking, which must be counteracted to avoid screening failure or flawed conclusions. A broad variety of in vivo phenotypes can be interrogated such as organ development, hematopoietic lineage decision and evolutionary licensing in oncogenesis. We describe experimental strategies to address various biological questions and provide an outlook on emerging CRISPR applications, such as genetic interaction screening. These technological advances create potent new opportunities to dissect the molecular underpinnings of complex organismal phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian J Braun
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany. .,Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany. .,Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Andrés Carbonell Adames
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Dieter Saur
- Institute of Experimental Cancer Therapy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Roland Rad
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany. .,Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany. .,Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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76
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Pedersen SF, Collora JA, Kim RN, Yang K, Razmi A, Catalano AA, Yeh YHJ, Mounzer K, Tebas P, Montaner LJ, Ho YC. Inhibition of a Chromatin and Transcription Modulator, SLTM, Increases HIV-1 Reactivation Identified by a CRISPR Inhibition Screen. J Virol 2022; 96:e0057722. [PMID: 35730977 PMCID: PMC9278143 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00577-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite effective antiretroviral therapy, HIV-1 persistence in latent reservoirs remains a major obstacle to a cure. We postulate that HIV-1 silencing factors suppress HIV-1 reactivation and that inhibition of these factors will increase HIV-1 reactivation. To identify HIV-1 silencing factors, we conducted a genome-wide CRISPR inhibition (CRISPRi) screen using four CRISPRi-ready, HIV-1-d6-GFP-infected Jurkat T cell clones with distinct integration sites. We sorted cells with increased green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression and captured single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) via targeted deep sequencing. We identified 18 HIV-1 silencing factors that were significantly enriched in HIV-1-d6-GFPhigh cells. Among them, SLTM (scaffold attachment factor B-like transcription modulator) is an epigenetic and transcriptional modulator having both DNA and RNA binding capacities not previously known to affect HIV-1 transcription. Knocking down SLTM by CRISPRi significantly increased HIV-1-d6-GFP expression (by 1.9- to 4.2-fold) in three HIV-1-d6-GFP-Jurkat T cell clones. Furthermore, SLTM knockdown increased the chromatin accessibility of HIV-1 and the gene in which HIV-1 is integrated but not the housekeeping gene POLR2A. To test whether SLTM inhibition can reactivate HIV-1 and further induce cell death of HIV-1-infected cells ex vivo, we established a small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown method that reduced SLTM expression in CD4+ T cells from 10 antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated, virally suppressed, HIV-1-infected individuals ex vivo. Using limiting dilution culture, we found that SLTM knockdown significantly reduced the frequency of HIV-1-infected cells harboring inducible HIV-1 by 62.2% (0.56/106 versus 1.48/106 CD4+ T cells [P = 0.029]). Overall, our study indicates that SLTM inhibition reactivates HIV-1 in vitro and induces cell death of HIV-1-infected cells ex vivo. Our study identified SLTM as a novel therapeutic target. IMPORTANCE HIV-1-infected cells, which can survive drug treatment and immune cell killing, prevent an HIV-1 cure. Immune recognition of infected cells requires HIV-1 protein expression; however, HIV-1 protein expression is limited in infected cells after long-term therapy. The ways in which the HIV-1 provirus is blocked from producing protein are unknown. We identified a new host protein that regulates HIV-1 gene expression. We also provided a new method of studying HIV-1-host factor interactions in cells from infected individuals. These improvements may enable future strategies to reactivate HIV-1 in infected individuals so that infected cells can be killed by immune cells, drug treatment, or the virus itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savannah F. Pedersen
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jack A. Collora
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Rachel N. Kim
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Kerui Yang
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Anya Razmi
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Allison A. Catalano
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Yang-Hui Jimmy Yeh
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Karam Mounzer
- Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Pablo Tebas
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Ya-Chi Ho
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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77
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CRISPR screening in cancer stem cells. Essays Biochem 2022; 66:305-318. [PMID: 35713228 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of tumor cells with self-renewal ability. Increasing evidence points to the critical roles of CSCs in tumorigenesis, metastasis, therapy resistance, and cancer relapse. As such, the elimination of CSCs improves cancer treatment outcomes. However, challenges remain due to limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing self-renewal and survival of CSCs. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 screening has been increasingly used to identify genetic determinants in cancers. In this primer, we discuss the progress made and emerging opportunities of coupling advanced CRISPR screening systems with CSC models to reveal the understudied vulnerabilities of CSCs.
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78
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Liu P, Vossaert L. Emerging technologies for prenatal diagnosis: The application of whole genome and RNA sequencing. Prenat Diagn 2022; 42:686-696. [PMID: 35416301 PMCID: PMC10014115 DOI: 10.1002/pd.6146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
DNA sequencing technologies for clinical genetic testing have been rapidly evolving in recent years, and steadily become more important within the field of prenatal diagnostics. This review aims to give an overview of recent developments and to describe how they have the potential to fill the gaps of the currently clinically implemented methods for prenatal diagnosis of various genetic disorders. It has been shown for postnatal testing that whole genome sequencing provides a set of added benefits compared to exome sequencing, and it is to be expected that this will be the case for prenatal testing as well. RNA-sequencing, already used postnatally, can provide valuable complementary data to DNA-based testing, and aid in variant interpretation. While not ready for clinical implementation, emerging technologies such as long-read and Hi-C sequencing analyses might add to the toolbox for interpreting the expanding genetic data sets generated by genome-wide sequencing. Lastly, we also discuss some more practical implications of introducing these emerging technologies, which generate larger and larger genomic data sets, in the prenatal field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Liu
- Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor Genetics, Houston, Texas, USA
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79
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Drobna-Śledzińska M, Maćkowska-Maślak N, Jaksik R, Dąbek P, Witt M, Dawidowska M. CRISPRi for specific inhibition of miRNA clusters and miRNAs with high sequence homology. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6297. [PMID: 35428787 PMCID: PMC9012752 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10336-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
miRNAs form a class of noncoding RNAs, involved in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, broadly studied for their involvement in physiological and pathological context. Inhibition of mature miRNA transcripts, commonly used in miRNA loss-of-function experiments, may not be specific in case of miRNAs with high sequence homology, e.g. miRNAs from the same seed family. Phenotypic effects of miRNA repression might be biased by the repression of highly similar miRNAs. Another challenge is simultaneous inhibition of multiple miRNAs encoded within policistronic clusters, potentially co-regulating common biological processes. To elucidate roles of miRNA clusters and miRNAs with high sequence homology, it is of key importance to selectively repress only the miRNAs of interest. Targeting miRNAs on genomic level with CRISPR/dCas9-based methods is an attractive alternative to blocking mature miRNAs. Yet, so far no clear guidelines on the design of CRISPR inhibition (CRISPRi) experiments, specifically for miRNA repression, have been proposed. To address this need, here we propose a strategy for effective inhibition of miRNAs and miRNA clusters using CRISPRi. We provide clues on how to approach the challenges in using CRISPR/dCas in miRNA studies, which include prediction of miRNA transcription start sites (TSSs) and the design of single guide RNAs (sgRNAs). The strategy implements three TSS prediction online tools, dedicated specifically for miRNAs: miRStart, FANTOM 5 miRNA atlas, DIANA-miRGen, and CRISPOR tool for sgRNAs design; it includes testing and selection of optimal sgRNAs. We demonstrate that compared to siRNA/shRNA-based miRNA silencing, CRISPRi improves the repression specificity for miRNAs with highly similar sequence and contribute to higher uniformity of the effects of silencing the whole miRNA clusters. This strategy may be adapted for CRISPR-mediated activation (CRISPRa) of miRNA expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Drobna-Śledzińska
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60-479, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Natalia Maćkowska-Maślak
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60-479, Poznań, Poland
| | - Roman Jaksik
- Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 16, 44-100, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Paulina Dąbek
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60-479, Poznań, Poland
| | - Michał Witt
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60-479, Poznań, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Dawidowska
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60-479, Poznań, Poland.
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80
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Lewis MW, Wisniewska K, King CM, Li S, Coffey A, Kelly MR, Regner MJ, Franco HL. Enhancer RNA Transcription Is Essential for a Novel CSF1 Enhancer in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1852. [PMID: 35406623 PMCID: PMC8997997 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14071852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhancers are critical regulatory elements in the genome that help orchestrate spatiotemporal patterns of gene expression during development and normal physiology. In cancer, enhancers are often rewired by various genetic and epigenetic mechanisms for the activation of oncogenes that lead to initiation and progression. A key feature of active enhancers is the production of non-coding RNA molecules called enhancer RNAs, whose functions remain unknown but can be used to specify active enhancers de novo. Using a combination of eRNA transcription and chromatin modifications, we have identified a novel enhancer located 30 kb upstream of Colony Stimulating Factor 1 (CSF1). Notably, CSF1 is implicated in the progression of breast cancer, is overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines, and its enhancer is primarily active in TNBC patient tumors. Genomic deletion of the enhancer (via CRISPR/Cas9) enabled us to validate this regulatory element as a bona fide enhancer of CSF1 and subsequent cell-based assays revealed profound effects on cancer cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration. Epigenetic silencing of the enhancer via CRISPR-interference assays (dCas9-KRAB) coupled to RNA-sequencing, enabled unbiased identification of additional target genes, such as RSAD2, that are predictive of clinical outcome. Additionally, we repurposed the RNA-guided RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas13 machinery to specifically degrade the eRNAs transcripts produced at this enhancer to determine the consequences on CSF1 mRNA expression, suggesting a post-transcriptional role for these non-coding transcripts. Finally, we test our eRNA-dependent model of CSF1 enhancer function and demonstrate that our results are extensible to other forms of cancer. Collectively, this work describes a novel enhancer that is active in the TNBC subtype, which is associated with cellular growth, and requires eRNA transcripts for proper enhancer function. These results demonstrate the significant impact of enhancers in cancer biology and highlight their potential as tractable targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W. Lewis
- The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (M.W.L.); (K.W.); (C.M.K.); (S.L.); (A.C.); (M.R.K.); (M.J.R.)
| | - Kamila Wisniewska
- The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (M.W.L.); (K.W.); (C.M.K.); (S.L.); (A.C.); (M.R.K.); (M.J.R.)
| | - Caitlin M. King
- The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (M.W.L.); (K.W.); (C.M.K.); (S.L.); (A.C.); (M.R.K.); (M.J.R.)
| | - Shen Li
- The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (M.W.L.); (K.W.); (C.M.K.); (S.L.); (A.C.); (M.R.K.); (M.J.R.)
| | - Alisha Coffey
- The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (M.W.L.); (K.W.); (C.M.K.); (S.L.); (A.C.); (M.R.K.); (M.J.R.)
| | - Michael R. Kelly
- The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (M.W.L.); (K.W.); (C.M.K.); (S.L.); (A.C.); (M.R.K.); (M.J.R.)
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Matthew J. Regner
- The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (M.W.L.); (K.W.); (C.M.K.); (S.L.); (A.C.); (M.R.K.); (M.J.R.)
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Hector L. Franco
- The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (M.W.L.); (K.W.); (C.M.K.); (S.L.); (A.C.); (M.R.K.); (M.J.R.)
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- The Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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81
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Tsaryk R, Yucel N, Leonard EV, Diaz N, Bondareva O, Odenthal-Schnittler M, Arany Z, Vaquerizas JM, Schnittler H, Siekmann AF. Shear stress switches the association of endothelial enhancers from ETV/ETS to KLF transcription factor binding sites. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4795. [PMID: 35314737 PMCID: PMC8938417 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08645-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells (ECs) lining blood vessels are exposed to mechanical forces, such as shear stress. These forces control many aspects of EC biology, including vascular tone, cell migration and proliferation. Despite a good understanding of the genes responding to shear stress, our insight into the transcriptional regulation of these genes is much more limited. Here, we set out to study alterations in the chromatin landscape of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) exposed to laminar shear stress. To do so, we performed ChIP-Seq for H3K27 acetylation, indicative of active enhancer elements and ATAC-Seq to mark regions of open chromatin in addition to RNA-Seq on HUVEC exposed to 6 h of laminar shear stress. Our results show a correlation of gained and lost enhancers with up and downregulated genes, respectively. DNA motif analysis revealed an over-representation of KLF transcription factor (TF) binding sites in gained enhancers, while lost enhancers contained more ETV/ETS motifs. We validated a subset of flow responsive enhancers using luciferase-based reporter constructs and CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing. Lastly, we characterized the shear stress response in ECs of zebrafish embryos using RNA-Seq. Our results lay the groundwork for the exploration of shear stress responsive elements in controlling EC biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Tsaryk
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstrasse 20, 48149, Münster, Germany
- Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology and Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nora Yucel
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Elvin V Leonard
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstrasse 20, 48149, Münster, Germany
- Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology and Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Noelia Diaz
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstrasse 20, 48149, Münster, Germany
- Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Olga Bondareva
- Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Institute of Anatomy and Vascular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Vesaliusweg 2-4, 48149, Münster, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 27, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Maria Odenthal-Schnittler
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstrasse 20, 48149, Münster, Germany
- Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Institute of Anatomy and Vascular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Vesaliusweg 2-4, 48149, Münster, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Pottkamp 2, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Zoltan Arany
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Juan M Vaquerizas
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstrasse 20, 48149, Münster, Germany
- Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Hans Schnittler
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstrasse 20, 48149, Münster, Germany
- Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Institute of Anatomy and Vascular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Vesaliusweg 2-4, 48149, Münster, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Pottkamp 2, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Arndt F Siekmann
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstrasse 20, 48149, Münster, Germany.
- Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology and Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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82
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Özturan D, Morova T, Lack NA. Androgen Receptor-Mediated Transcription in Prostate Cancer. Cells 2022; 11:898. [PMID: 35269520 PMCID: PMC8909478 DOI: 10.3390/cells11050898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Androgen receptor (AR)-mediated transcription is critical in almost all stages of prostate cancer (PCa) growth and differentiation. This process involves a complex interplay of coregulatory proteins, chromatin remodeling complexes, and other transcription factors that work with AR at cis-regulatory enhancer regions to induce the spatiotemporal transcription of target genes. This enhancer-driven mechanism is remarkably dynamic and undergoes significant alterations during PCa progression. In this review, we discuss the AR mechanism of action in PCa with a focus on how cis-regulatory elements modulate gene expression. We explore emerging evidence of genetic variants that can impact AR regulatory regions and alter gene transcription in PCa. Finally, we highlight several outstanding questions and discuss potential mechanisms of this critical transcription factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doğancan Özturan
- School of Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey;
- Koç University Research Centre for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
| | - Tunç Morova
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada;
| | - Nathan A. Lack
- School of Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey;
- Koç University Research Centre for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada;
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83
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Yan J, Huangfu D. Epigenome rewiring in human pluripotent stem cells. Trends Cell Biol 2022; 32:259-271. [PMID: 34955367 PMCID: PMC8840982 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2021.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The epigenome plays a crucial role in modulating the activity of regulatory elements, thereby orchestrating diverse transcriptional programs during embryonic development. Human (h)PSC stepwise differentiation provides an excellent platform for capturing dynamic epigenomic events during lineage transition in human development. Here we discuss how recent technological advances, from epigenomic mapping to targeted perturbation, are providing a more comprehensive appreciation of remodeling of the chromatin landscape during human development with implications for aberrant rewiring in disease. We predict that the continuous innovation of hPSC differentiation methods, epigenome mapping, and CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) perturbation technologies will allow researchers to build toward not only a comprehensive understanding of the epigenomic mechanisms governing development, but also a highly flexible way to model diseases with opportunities for translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jielin Yan
- Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Danwei Huangfu
- Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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84
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A comparison of experimental assays and analytical methods for genome-wide identification of active enhancers. Nat Biotechnol 2022; 40:1056-1065. [PMID: 35177836 PMCID: PMC9288987 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-022-01211-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Mounting evidence supports the idea that transcriptional patterns serve as more specific identifiers of active enhancers than histone marks; however, the optimal strategy to identify active enhancers both experimentally and computationally has not been determined. Here, we compared 13 genome-wide RNA sequencing assays in K562 cells and showed that the nuclear run-on followed by cap-selection assay (GRO/PRO-cap) has advantages in eRNA detection and active enhancer identification. We also introduced a tool, Peak Identifier for Nascent Transcript Starts (PINTS), to identify active promoters and enhancers genome-wide and pinpoint the precise location of the 5′ transcription start sites. Finally, we compiled a comprehensive enhancer candidate compendium based on the detected eRNA TSSs available in 120 cell and tissue types that can be accessed at https://pints.yulab.org. With the knowledge of the best available assays and pipelines, this large-scale annotation of candidate enhancers will pave the way for selection and characterization of their functions in a time- and labor-efficient manner in the future.
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85
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Leigh ND, Currie JD. Re-building limbs, one cell at a time. Dev Dyn 2022; 251:1389-1403. [PMID: 35170828 PMCID: PMC9545806 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
New techniques for visualizing and interrogating single cells hold the key to unlocking the underlying mechanisms of salamander limb regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas D Leigh
- Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Joshua D Currie
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, 455 Vine Street, Winston-Salem, USA
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86
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Wang Y, Xie S, Armendariz D, Hon GC. Computational identification of clonal cells in single-cell CRISPR screens. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:135. [PMID: 35168568 PMCID: PMC8845350 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08359-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Single-cell CRISPR screens are powerful tools to understand genome function by linking genetic perturbations to transcriptome-wide phenotypes. However, since few cells can be affordably sequenced in these screens, biased sampling of cells could affect data interpretation. One potential source of biased sampling is clonal cell expansion. RESULTS Here, we identify clonal cells in single cell screens using multiplexed sgRNAs as barcodes. We find that the cells in each clone share transcriptional similarities and bear segmental copy number changes. These analyses suggest that clones are genetically distinct. Finally, we show that the transcriptional similarities of clonally expanded cells contribute to false positives in single-cell CRISPR screens. CONCLUSIONS Experimental conditions that reduce clonal expansion or computational filtering of clonal cells will improve the reliability of single-cell CRISPR screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihan Wang
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Shiqi Xie
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Daniel Armendariz
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Gary C Hon
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
- Department of Bioinformatics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
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87
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Roy RK, Debashree I, Srivastava S, Rishi N, Srivastava A. CRISPR/ Cas9 Off-targets: Computational Analysis of Causes, Prediction,
Detection, and Overcoming Strategies. Curr Bioinform 2022. [DOI: 10.2174/1574893616666210708150439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
:
CRISPR/Cas9 technology is a highly flexible RNA-guided endonuclease (RGEN)
based gene-editing tool that has transformed the field of genomics, gene therapy, and genome/
epigenome imaging. Its wide range of applications provides immense scope for understanding
as well as manipulating genetic/epigenetic elements. However, the RGEN is prone to
off-target mutagenesis that leads to deleterious effects. This review details the molecular and cellular
mechanisms underlying the off-target activity, various available detection tools and prediction
methodology ranging from sequencing to machine learning approaches, and the strategies to
overcome/minimise off-targets. A coherent and concise method increasing target precision would
prove indispensable to concrete manipulation and interpretation of genome editing results that
can revolutionise therapeutics, including clarity in genome regulatory mechanisms during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshan Kumar Roy
- Amity Institute of Virology and Immunology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida 201313, India
| | - Ipsita Debashree
- Amity Institute of Virology and Immunology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida 201313, India
| | - Sonal Srivastava
- Amity Institute of Virology and Immunology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida 201313,India
| | - Narayan Rishi
- Amity Institute of Virology and Immunology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida 201313,India
| | - Ashish Srivastava
- Amity Institute of Virology and Immunology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida 201313,India
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88
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Jackson CA, Vogel C. New horizons in the stormy sea of multimodal single-cell data integration. Mol Cell 2022; 82:248-259. [PMID: 35063095 PMCID: PMC8830781 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
While measurements of RNA expression have dominated the world of single-cell analyses, new single-cell techniques increasingly allow collection of different data modalities, measuring different molecules, structural connections, and intermolecular interactions. Integrating the resulting multimodal single-cell datasets is a new bioinformatics challenge. Equally important, it is a new experimental design challenge for the bench scientist, who is not only choosing from a myriad of techniques for each data modality but also faces new challenges in experimental design. The ultimate goal is to design, execute, and analyze multimodal single-cell experiments that are more than just descriptive but enable the learning of new causal and mechanistic biology. This objective requires strict consideration of the goals behind the analysis, which might range from mapping the heterogeneity of a cellular population to assembling system-wide causal networks that can further our understanding of cellular functions and eventually lead to models of tissues and organs. We review steps and challenges toward this goal. Single-cell transcriptomics is now a mature technology, and methods to measure proteins, lipids, small-molecule metabolites, and other molecular phenotypes at the single-cell level are rapidly developing. Integrating these single-cell readouts so that each cell has measurements of multiple types of data, e.g., transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes, is expected to allow identification of highly specific cellular subpopulations and to provide the basis for inferring causal biological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A Jackson
- New York University, Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Christine Vogel
- New York University, Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York, NY, USA
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89
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Abstract
Epigenome regulation has emerged as an important mechanism for the maintenance of organ function in health and disease. Dissecting epigenomic alterations and resultant gene expression changes in single cells provides unprecedented resolution and insight into cellular diversity, modes of gene regulation, transcription factor dynamics and 3D genome organization. In this chapter, we summarize the transformative single-cell epigenomic technologies that have deepened our understanding of the fundamental principles of gene regulation. We provide a historical perspective of these methods, brief procedural outline with emphasis on the computational tools used to meaningfully dissect information. Our overall goal is to aid scientists using these technologies in their favorite system of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystyna Mazan-Mamczarz
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging (NIA), Intramural Research Program (IRP), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jisu Ha
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging (NIA), Intramural Research Program (IRP), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Supriyo De
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging (NIA), Intramural Research Program (IRP), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Baltimore, MD, USA
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, and Computational Biology and Genomics Core, National Institute on Aging-Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Payel Sen
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging (NIA), Intramural Research Program (IRP), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Baltimore, MD, USA.
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90
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Abstract
Inflammation is intimately involved at all stages of atherosclerosis and remains a substantial residual cardiovascular risk factor in optimally treated patients. The proof of concept that targeting inflammation reduces cardiovascular events in patients with a history of myocardial infarction has highlighted the urgent need to identify new immunotherapies to treat patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Importantly, emerging data from new clinical trials show that successful immunotherapies for atherosclerosis need to be tailored to the specific immune alterations in distinct groups of patients. In this Review, we discuss how single-cell technologies - such as single-cell mass cytometry, single-cell RNA sequencing and cellular indexing of transcriptomes and epitopes by sequencing - are ideal for mapping the cellular and molecular composition of human atherosclerotic plaques and how these data can aid in the discovery of new precise immunotherapies. We also argue that single-cell data from studies in humans need to be rigorously validated in relevant experimental models, including rapidly emerging single-cell CRISPR screening technologies and mouse models of atherosclerosis. Finally, we discuss the importance of implementing single-cell immune monitoring tools in early phases of drug development to aid in the precise selection of the target patient population for data-driven translation into randomized clinical trials and the successful translation of new immunotherapies into the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn M Fernandez
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chiara Giannarelli
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- New York University Cardiovascular Research Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
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91
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Barry T, Wang X, Morris JA, Roeder K, Katsevich E. SCEPTRE improves calibration and sensitivity in single-cell CRISPR screen analysis. Genome Biol 2021; 22:344. [PMID: 34930414 PMCID: PMC8686614 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02545-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-cell CRISPR screens are a promising biotechnology for mapping regulatory elements to target genes at genome-wide scale. However, technical factors like sequencing depth impact not only expression measurement but also perturbation detection, creating a confounding effect. We demonstrate on two single-cell CRISPR screens how these challenges cause calibration issues. We propose SCEPTRE: analysis of single-cell perturbation screens via conditional resampling, which infers associations between perturbations and expression by resampling the former according to a working model for perturbation detection probability in each cell. SCEPTRE demonstrates very good calibration and sensitivity on CRISPR screen data, yielding hundreds of new regulatory relationships supported by orthogonal biological evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Barry
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, 15213, PA, USA
| | - Xuran Wang
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, 15213, PA, USA
| | - John A Morris
- New York Genome Center, New York, USA
- Department of Biology, New York University, 24 Waverly Pl 6th Floor, New York, 10003, NY, USA
| | - Kathryn Roeder
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, 15213, PA, USA
- Computational Biology Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, 15213, PA, USA
| | - Eugene Katsevich
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19104, PA, USA.
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92
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Vetchinova AS, Fedotova EY, Illarioshkin SN. Editing the Epigenome in Neurodegenerative Diseases. NEUROCHEM J+ 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s1819712421040152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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93
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Hazan J, Bester AC. CRISPR-Based Approaches for the High-Throughput Characterization of Long Non-Coding RNAs. Noncoding RNA 2021; 7:79. [PMID: 34940760 PMCID: PMC8704461 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna7040079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, tens of thousands of new long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified in the human genome. Nevertheless, except for a handful of genes, the genetic characteristics and functions of most of these lncRNAs remain elusive; this is partially due to their relatively low expression, high tissue specificity, and low conservation across species. A major limitation for determining the function of lncRNAs was the lack of methodologies suitable for studying these genes. The recent development of CRISPR/Cas9 technology has opened unprecedented opportunities to uncover the genetic and functional characteristics of the non-coding genome via targeted and high-throughput approaches. Specific CRISPR/Cas9-based approaches were developed to target lncRNA loci. Some of these approaches involve modifying the sequence, but others were developed to study lncRNAs by inducing transcriptional and epigenetic changes. The discovery of other programable Cas proteins broaden our possibilities to target RNA molecules with greater precision and accuracy. These approaches allow for the knock-down and characterization of lncRNAs. Here, we review how various CRISPR-based strategies have been used to characterize lncRNAs with important functions in different biological contexts and how these approaches can be further utilized to improve our understanding of the non-coding genome.
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94
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Regner MJ, Wisniewska K, Garcia-Recio S, Thennavan A, Mendez-Giraldez R, Malladi VS, Hawkins G, Parker JS, Perou CM, Bae-Jump VL, Franco HL. A multi-omic single-cell landscape of human gynecologic malignancies. Mol Cell 2021; 81:4924-4941.e10. [PMID: 34739872 PMCID: PMC8642316 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Deconvolution of regulatory mechanisms that drive transcriptional programs in cancer cells is key to understanding tumor biology. Herein, we present matched transcriptome (scRNA-seq) and chromatin accessibility (scATAC-seq) profiles at single-cell resolution from human ovarian and endometrial tumors processed immediately following surgical resection. This dataset reveals the complex cellular heterogeneity of these tumors and enabled us to quantitatively link variation in chromatin accessibility to gene expression. We show that malignant cells acquire previously unannotated regulatory elements to drive hallmark cancer pathways. Moreover, malignant cells from within the same patients show substantial variation in chromatin accessibility linked to transcriptional output, highlighting the importance of intratumoral heterogeneity. Finally, we infer the malignant cell type-specific activity of transcription factors. By defining the regulatory logic of cancer cells, this work reveals an important reliance on oncogenic regulatory elements and highlights the ability of matched scRNA-seq/scATAC-seq to uncover clinically relevant mechanisms of tumorigenesis in gynecologic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Regner
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA,Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Kamila Wisniewska
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Susana Garcia-Recio
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Aatish Thennavan
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA,Oral and Craniofacial Biomedicine Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Raul Mendez-Giraldez
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Venkat S. Malladi
- Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Gabrielle Hawkins
- Division of Gynecology Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Joel S. Parker
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA,Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Charles M. Perou
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA,Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Victoria L. Bae-Jump
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA,Division of Gynecology Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Hector L. Franco
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA,Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA,Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Graduate Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA,Lead contact.,Correspondence:
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95
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Li B, Hon GC. Single-Cell Genomics: Catalyst for Cell Fate Engineering. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:748942. [PMID: 34733831 PMCID: PMC8558416 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.748942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
As we near a complete catalog of mammalian cell types, the capability to engineer specific cell types on demand would transform biomedical research and regenerative medicine. However, the current pace of discovering new cell types far outstrips our ability to engineer them. One attractive strategy for cellular engineering is direct reprogramming, where induction of specific transcription factor (TF) cocktails orchestrates cell state transitions. Here, we review the foundational studies of TF-mediated reprogramming in the context of a general framework for cell fate engineering, which consists of: discovering new reprogramming cocktails, assessing engineered cells, and revealing molecular mechanisms. Traditional bulk reprogramming methods established a strong foundation for TF-mediated reprogramming, but were limited by their small scale and difficulty resolving cellular heterogeneity. Recently, single-cell technologies have overcome these challenges to rapidly accelerate progress in cell fate engineering. In the next decade, we anticipate that these tools will enable unprecedented control of cell state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boxun Li
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Gary C. Hon
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Division of Basic Reproductive Biology Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
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96
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Ray-Jones H, Spivakov M. Transcriptional enhancers and their communication with gene promoters. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:6453-6485. [PMID: 34414474 PMCID: PMC8558291 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03903-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptional enhancers play a key role in the initiation and maintenance of gene expression programmes, particularly in metazoa. How these elements control their target genes in the right place and time is one of the most pertinent questions in functional genomics, with wide implications for most areas of biology. Here, we synthesise classic and recent evidence on the regulatory logic of enhancers, including the principles of enhancer organisation, factors that facilitate and delimit enhancer-promoter communication, and the joint effects of multiple enhancers. We show how modern approaches building on classic insights have begun to unravel the complexity of enhancer-promoter relationships, paving the way towards a quantitative understanding of gene control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Ray-Jones
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Mikhail Spivakov
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, W12 0NN, UK.
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, W12 0NN, UK.
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97
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Abstract
The past 25 years of genomics research first revealed which genes are encoded by the human genome and then a detailed catalogue of human genome variation associated with many diseases. Despite this, the function of many genes and gene regulatory elements remains poorly characterized, which limits our ability to apply these insights to human disease. The advent of new CRISPR functional genomics tools allows for scalable and multiplexable characterization of genes and gene regulatory elements encoded by the human genome. These approaches promise to reveal mechanisms of gene function and regulation, and to enable exploration of how genes work together to modulate complex phenotypes.
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98
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Ren X, Wang M, Li B, Jamieson K, Zheng L, Jones IR, Li B, Takagi MA, Lee J, Maliskova L, Tam TW, Yu M, Hu R, Lee L, Abnousi A, Li G, Li Y, Hu M, Ren B, Wang W, Shen Y. Parallel characterization of cis-regulatory elements for multiple genes using CRISPRpath. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabi4360. [PMID: 34524848 PMCID: PMC8443183 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abi4360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Current pooled CRISPR screens for cis-regulatory elements (CREs), based on transcriptional output changes, are typically limited to characterizing CREs of only one gene. Here, we describe CRISPRpath, a scalable screening strategy for parallelly characterizing CREs of genes linked to the same biological pathway and converging phenotypes. We demonstrate the ability of CRISPRpath for simultaneously identifying functional enhancers of six genes in the 6-thioguanine–induced DNA mismatch repair pathway using both CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) and CRISPR nuclease (CRISPRn) approaches. Sixty percent of the identified enhancers are known promoters with distinct epigenomic features compared to other active promoters, including increased chromatin accessibility and interactivity. Furthermore, by imposing different levels of selection pressure, CRISPRpath can distinguish enhancers exerting strong impact on gene expression from those exerting weak impact. Our results offer a nuanced view of cis-regulation and demonstrate that CRISPRpath can be leveraged for understanding the complex gene regulatory program beyond transcriptional output at scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingjie Ren
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mengchi Wang
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Bingkun Li
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kirsty Jamieson
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lina Zheng
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ian R. Jones
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bin Li
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Maya Asami Takagi
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jerry Lee
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lenka Maliskova
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tsz Wai Tam
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Miao Yu
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rong Hu
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Lindsay Lee
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Armen Abnousi
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Gang Li
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ming Hu
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Bing Ren
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Wei Wang
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yin Shen
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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99
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Abstract
Tumour formation involves random mutagenic events and positive evolutionary selection acting on a subset of such events, referred to as driver mutations. A decade of careful surveying of tumour DNA using exome-based analyses has revealed a multitude of protein-coding somatic driver mutations, some of which are clinically actionable. Today, a transition towards whole-genome analysis is well under way, technically enabling the discovery of potential driver mutations occurring outside protein-coding sequences. Mutations are abundant in this vast non-coding space, which is more than 50 times larger than the coding exome, but reliable identification of selection signals in non-coding DNA remains a challenge. In this Review, we discuss recent findings in the field, where the emerging landscape is one in which non-coding driver mutations appear to be relatively infrequent. Nevertheless, we highlight several notable discoveries. We consider possible reasons for the relative absence of non-coding driver events, as well as the difficulties associated with detecting signals of positive selection in non-coding DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerryn Elliott
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Erik Larsson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Bode D, Cull AH, Rubio-Lara JA, Kent DG. Exploiting Single-Cell Tools in Gene and Cell Therapy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:702636. [PMID: 34322133 PMCID: PMC8312222 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.702636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-cell molecular tools have been developed at an incredible pace over the last five years as sequencing costs continue to drop and numerous molecular assays have been coupled to sequencing readouts. This rapid period of technological development has facilitated the delineation of individual molecular characteristics including the genome, transcriptome, epigenome, and proteome of individual cells, leading to an unprecedented resolution of the molecular networks governing complex biological systems. The immense power of single-cell molecular screens has been particularly highlighted through work in systems where cellular heterogeneity is a key feature, such as stem cell biology, immunology, and tumor cell biology. Single-cell-omics technologies have already contributed to the identification of novel disease biomarkers, cellular subsets, therapeutic targets and diagnostics, many of which would have been undetectable by bulk sequencing approaches. More recently, efforts to integrate single-cell multi-omics with single cell functional output and/or physical location have been challenging but have led to substantial advances. Perhaps most excitingly, there are emerging opportunities to reach beyond the description of static cellular states with recent advances in modulation of cells through CRISPR technology, in particular with the development of base editors which greatly raises the prospect of cell and gene therapies. In this review, we provide a brief overview of emerging single-cell technologies and discuss current developments in integrating single-cell molecular screens and performing single-cell multi-omics for clinical applications. We also discuss how single-cell molecular assays can be usefully combined with functional data to unpick the mechanism of cellular decision-making. Finally, we reflect upon the introduction of spatial transcriptomics and proteomics, its complementary role with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and potential application in cellular and gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Bode
- Wellcome Medical Research Council (MRC) Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alyssa H. Cull
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Biology, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Juan A. Rubio-Lara
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Biology, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - David G. Kent
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Biology, University of York, York, United Kingdom
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