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Murphy MR, Ramadei A, Doymaz A, Varriano S, Natelson D, Yu A, Aktas S, Mazzeo M, Mazzeo M, Zakusilo G, Kleiman FE. Long Non-Coding RNA Generated from CDKN1A Gene by Alternative Polyadenylation Regulates p21 Expression during DNA Damage Response. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.10.523318. [PMID: 36711808 PMCID: PMC9882041 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.10.523318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Alternative Polyadenylation (APA) is an emerging mechanism for dynamic changes in gene expression. Previously, we described widespread APA occurrence in introns during the DNA damage response (DDR). Here, we show that a DNA damage activated APA event occurs in the first intron of CDKN1A , inducing an alternate last exon (ALE)-containing lncRNA. We named this lncRNA SPUD (Selective Polyadenylation Upon Damage). SPUD localizes to polysomes in the cytoplasm and is detectable as multiple isoforms in available high throughput studies. SPUD has low abundance compared to the CDKN1A full-length isoform and is induced in cancer and normal cells under a variety of DNA damaging conditions in part through p53 transcriptional activation. RNA binding protein (RBP) HuR and the transcriptional repressor CTCF regulate SPUD levels. SPUD induction increases p21 protein, but not CDKN1A full-length levels, affecting p21 functions in cell-cycle, CDK2 expression, and cell viability. Like CDKN1A full-length isoform, SPUD can bind two competitive p21 translational regulators, the inhibitor calreticulin and the activator CUGBP1; SPUD can change their association with CDKN1A full-length in a DDR-dependent manner. Together, these results show a new regulatory mechanism by which a lncRNA controls p21 expression post-transcriptionally, highlighting lncRNA relevance in DDR progression and cellcycle.
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Zhao J, Huai J. Role of primary aging hallmarks in Alzheimer´s disease. Theranostics 2023; 13:197-230. [PMID: 36593969 PMCID: PMC9800733 DOI: 10.7150/thno.79535] [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: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, which severely threatens the health of the elderly and causes significant economic and social burdens. The causes of AD are complex and include heritable but mostly aging-related factors. The primary aging hallmarks include genomic instability, telomere wear, epigenetic changes, and loss of protein stability, which play a dominant role in the aging process. Although AD is closely associated with the aging process, the underlying mechanisms involved in AD pathogenesis have not been well characterized. This review summarizes the available literature about primary aging hallmarks and their roles in AD pathogenesis. By analyzing published literature, we attempted to uncover the possible mechanisms of aberrant epigenetic markers with related enzymes, transcription factors, and loss of proteostasis in AD. In particular, the importance of oxidative stress-induced DNA methylation and DNA methylation-directed histone modifications and proteostasis are highlighted. A molecular network of gene regulatory elements that undergoes a dynamic change with age may underlie age-dependent AD pathogenesis, and can be used as a new drug target to treat AD.
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Thymidine Kinase 2 and Mitochondrial Protein COX I in the Cerebellum of Patients with Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 31 Caused by Penta-nucleotide Repeats (TTCCA) n. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 22:70-84. [PMID: 35084690 PMCID: PMC9883315 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-021-01364-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 31 (SCA31), an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia with Purkinje cell degeneration, is caused by a heterozygous 2.5-3.8 kilobase penta-nucleotide repeat of (TTCCA)n in intron 11 of the thymidine kinase 2 (TK2) gene. TK2 is an essential mitochondrial pyrimidine-deoxyribonucleoside kinase. Bi-allelic loss-of-function mutations of TK2 lead to mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (MDS) in humans through severe (~ 70%) reduction of mitochondrial electron-transport-chain activity, and tk2 knockout mice show Purkinje cell degeneration and ataxia through severe mitochondrial cytochrome-c oxidase subunit I (COX I) protein reduction. To clarify whether TK2 function is altered in SCA31, we investigated TK2 and COX I expression in human postmortem SCA31 cerebellum. We confirmed that canonical TK2 mRNA is transcribed from exons far upstream of the repeat site, and demonstrated that an extended version of TK2 mRNA ("TK2-EXT"), transcribed from exons spanning the repeat site, is expressed in human cerebellum. While canonical TK2 was conserved among vertebrates, TK2-EXT was specific to primates. Reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated that both TK2 mRNAs were preserved in SCA31 cerebella compared with control cerebella. The TK2 proteins, assessed with three different antibodies including our original polyclonal antibody against TK2-EXT, were detected as ~ 26 kilodalton proteins on western blot; their levels were similar in SCA31 and control cerebella. COX I protein level was preserved in SCA31 compared to nuclear DNA-encoded protein. We conclude that the expression and function of TK2 are preserved in SCA31, suggesting a mechanism distinct from that of MDS.
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Alatawneh R, Salomon Y, Eshel R, Orenstein Y, Birnbaum RY. Deciphering transcription factors and their corresponding regulatory elements during inhibitory interneuron differentiation using deep neural networks. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1034604. [PMID: 36891511 PMCID: PMC9986276 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1034604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
During neurogenesis, the generation and differentiation of neuronal progenitors into inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid-containing interneurons is dependent on the combinatorial activity of transcription factors (TFs) and their corresponding regulatory elements (REs). However, the roles of neuronal TFs and their target REs in inhibitory interneuron progenitors are not fully elucidated. Here, we developed a deep-learning-based framework to identify enriched TF motifs in gene REs (eMotif-RE), such as poised/repressed enhancers and putative silencers. Using epigenetic datasets (e.g., ATAC-seq and H3K27ac/me3 ChIP-seq) from cultured interneuron-like progenitors, we distinguished between active enhancer sequences (open chromatin with H3K27ac) and non-active enhancer sequences (open chromatin without H3K27ac). Using our eMotif-RE framework, we discovered enriched motifs of TFs such as ASCL1, SOX4, and SOX11 in the active enhancer set suggesting a cooperativity function for ASCL1 and SOX4/11 in active enhancers of neuronal progenitors. In addition, we found enriched ZEB1 and CTCF motifs in the non-active set. Using an in vivo enhancer assay, we showed that most of the tested putative REs from the non-active enhancer set have no enhancer activity. Two of the eight REs (25%) showed function as poised enhancers in the neuronal system. Moreover, mutated REs for ZEB1 and CTCF motifs increased their in vivo activity as enhancers indicating a repressive effect of ZEB1 and CTCF on these REs that likely function as repressed enhancers or silencers. Overall, our work integrates a novel framework based on deep learning together with a functional assay that elucidated novel functions of TFs and their corresponding REs. Our approach can be applied to better understand gene regulation not only in inhibitory interneuron differentiation but in other tissue and cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rawan Alatawneh
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Yahel Salomon
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Reut Eshel
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Yaron Orenstein
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Department of Computer Science, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.,The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ramon Y Birnbaum
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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Functional Validation of the Putative Oncogenic Activity of PLAU. Biomedicines 2022; 11:biomedicines11010102. [PMID: 36672610 PMCID: PMC9856075 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11010102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasminogen activator, urokinase (PLAU) is involved in cell migration, proliferation and tissue remodeling. PLAU upregulation is associated with an increase in aggressiveness, metastasis, and invasion of several cancer types, including breast cancer. In patients, this translates into decreased sensitivity to hormonal treatment, and poor prognosis. These clinical findings have led to the examination of PLAU as a biomarker for predicting breast cancer prognosis and therapy responses. In this study, we investigated the functional ability of PLAU to act as an oncogene in breast cancers by modulating its expression using CRISPR-deactivated Cas9 (CRISPR-dCas9) tools. Different effector domains (e.g., transcription modulators (VP64, KRAB)) alone or in combination with epigenetic writers (DNMT3A/3L, MSssI) were fused to dCas9 and targeted to the PLAU promoter. In MDA-MB-231 cells characterized by high PLAU expression downregulation of PLAU expression by CRISPR-dCas9-DNMT3A/3L-KRAB, resulted in decreased cell proliferation. Conversely, CRISPR-dCas9-VP64 induced PLAU upregulation in low PLAU expressing MCF-7 cells and significantly increased aggressiveness and invasion. In conclusion, modulation of PLAU expression affected metastatic related properties of breast cancer cells, thus further validating its oncogenic activity in breast cancer cells.
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Epimutations and Their Effect on Chromatin Organization: Exciting Avenues for Cancer Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010215. [PMID: 36612210 PMCID: PMC9818548 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The three-dimensional architecture of genomes is complex. It is organized as fibers, loops, and domains that form high-order structures. By using different chromosome conformation techniques, the complex relationship between transcription and genome organization in the three-dimensional organization of genomes has been deciphered. Epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation and histone modification, are the hallmark of cancers. Tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis are linked to these epigenetic modifications. Epigenetic inhibitors can reverse these altered modifications. A number of epigenetic inhibitors have been approved by FDA that target DNA methylation and histone modification. This review discusses the techniques involved in studying the three-dimensional organization of genomes, DNA methylation and histone modification, epigenetic deregulation in cancer, and epigenetic therapies targeting the tumor.
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Apolónio JD, Dias JS, Fernandes MT, Komosa M, Lipman T, Zhang CH, Leão R, Lee D, Nunes NM, Maia AT, Morera JL, Vicioso L, Tabori U, Castelo-Branco P. THOR is a targetable epigenetic biomarker with clinical implications in breast cancer. Clin Epigenetics 2022; 14:178. [PMID: 36529814 PMCID: PMC9759897 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01396-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and a leading cause of death among women worldwide. Early BC is potentially curable, but the mortality rates still observed among BC patients demonstrate the urgent need of novel and more effective diagnostic and therapeutic options. Limitless self-renewal is a hallmark of cancer, governed by telomere maintenance. In around 95% of BC cases, this process is achieved by telomerase reactivation through upregulation of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). The hypermethylation of a specific region within the hTERT promoter, termed TERT hypermethylated oncological region (THOR) has been associated with increased hTERT expression in cancer. However, its biological role and clinical potential in BC have never been studied to the best of our knowledge. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of THOR as a biomarker and explore the functional impact of THOR methylation status in hTERT upregulation in BC. RESULTS THOR methylation status in BC was assessed by pyrosequencing on discovery and validation cohorts. We found that THOR is significantly hypermethylated in malignant breast tissue when compared to benign tissue (40.23% vs. 12.81%, P < 0.0001), differentiating malignant tumor from normal tissue from the earliest stage of disease. Using a reporter assay, the addition of unmethylated THOR significantly reduced luciferase activity by an average 1.8-fold when compared to the hTERT core promoter alone (P < 0.01). To further investigate its biological impact on hTERT transcription, targeted THOR demethylation was performed using novel technology based on CRISPR-dCas9 system and significant THOR demethylation was achieved. Cells previously demethylated on THOR region did not develop a histologic cancer phenotype in in vivo assays. Additional studies are required to validate these observations and to unravel the causality between THOR hypermethylation and hTERT upregulation in BC. CONCLUSIONS THOR hypermethylation is an important epigenetic mark in breast tumorigenesis, representing a promising biomarker and therapeutic target in BC. We revealed that THOR acts as a repressive regulatory element of hTERT and that its hypermethylation is a relevant mechanism for hTERT upregulation in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Dias Apolónio
- grid.7157.40000 0000 9693 350XFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMCB), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, Bld. 2, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal ,grid.7157.40000 0000 9693 350XAlgarve Biomedical Center Research Institute (ABC-RI), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal ,grid.7157.40000 0000 9693 350XAlgarve Biomedical Center (ABC), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal ,grid.42327.300000 0004 0473 9646Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - João S. Dias
- University Hospital Center of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Mónica Teotónio Fernandes
- grid.7157.40000 0000 9693 350XAlgarve Biomedical Center Research Institute (ABC-RI), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal ,grid.7157.40000 0000 9693 350XAlgarve Biomedical Center (ABC), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal ,grid.7157.40000 0000 9693 350XEscola Superior de Saúde (ESSUAlg), Universidade Do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Martin Komosa
- grid.42327.300000 0004 0473 9646Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Tatiana Lipman
- grid.42327.300000 0004 0473 9646Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Cindy H. Zhang
- grid.42327.300000 0004 0473 9646Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Ricardo Leão
- grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Donghyun Lee
- grid.42327.300000 0004 0473 9646Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Nuno Miguel Nunes
- grid.42327.300000 0004 0473 9646Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Ana-Teresa Maia
- grid.7157.40000 0000 9693 350XFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMCB), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, Bld. 2, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal ,grid.7157.40000 0000 9693 350XAlgarve Biomedical Center (ABC), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal ,grid.7157.40000 0000 9693 350XCenter for Research in Health Technologies and Information Systems (CINTESIS@RISE), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | | | - Luis Vicioso
- grid.10215.370000 0001 2298 7828Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Pathological Anatomy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
| | - Uri Tabori
- grid.42327.300000 0004 0473 9646Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada ,grid.42327.300000 0004 0473 9646Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Pedro Castelo-Branco
- grid.7157.40000 0000 9693 350XFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMCB), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, Bld. 2, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal ,grid.7157.40000 0000 9693 350XAlgarve Biomedical Center Research Institute (ABC-RI), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal ,grid.7157.40000 0000 9693 350XAlgarve Biomedical Center (ABC), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal ,grid.421010.60000 0004 0453 9636Champalimaud Research Program, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
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Comprehensive computational analysis of epigenetic descriptors affecting CRISPR-Cas9 off-target activity. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:805. [PMID: 36474180 PMCID: PMC9724382 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-09012-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A common issue in CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing is off-target activity, which prevents the widespread use of CRISPR-Cas9 in medical applications. Among other factors, primary chromatin structure and epigenetics may influence off-target activity. METHODS In this work, we utilize crisprSQL, an off-target database, to analyze the effect of 19 epigenetic descriptors on CRISPR-Cas9 off-target activity. Termed as 19 epigenetic features/scores, they consist of 6 experimental epigenetic and 13 computed nucleosome organization-related features. In terms of novel features, 15 of the epigenetic scores are newly considered. The 15 newly considered scores consist of 13 freshly computed nucleosome occupancy/positioning scores and 2 experimental features (MNase and DRIP). The other 4 existing scores are experimental features (CTCF, DNase I, H3K4me3, RRBS) commonly used in deep learning models for off-target activity prediction. For data curation, MNase was aggregated from existing experimental nucleosome occupancy data. Based on the sequence context information available in crisprSQL, we also computed nucleosome occupancy/positioning scores for off-target sites. RESULTS To investigate the relationship between the 19 epigenetic features and off-target activity, we first conducted Spearman and Pearson correlation analysis. Such analysis shows that some computed scores derived from training-based models and training-free algorithms outperform all experimental epigenetic features. Next, we evaluated the contribution of all epigenetic features in two successful machine/deep learning models which predict off-target activity. We found that some computed scores, unlike all 6 experimental features, significantly contribute to the predictions of both models. As a practical research contribution, we make the off-target dataset containing all 19 epigenetic features available to the research community. CONCLUSIONS Our comprehensive computational analysis helps the CRISPR-Cas9 community better understand the relationship between epigenetic features and CRISPR-Cas9 off-target activity.
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Kitamura K, Suzuki H, Abe R, Inohara H, Kaneda Y, Takahashi H, Nimura K. Dual function of SF3B2 on chromatin and RNA to regulate transcription in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:92. [PMID: 35715826 PMCID: PMC9206271 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00812-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA is spliced concomitantly with transcription and the process is organized by RNA splicing factors, transcriptional regulators, and chromatin regulators. RNA is spliced in close proximity to transcription machinery. Hence, some RNA splicing factors may play a role in transcription. Here, we show that the splicing factor SF3B2 binds to gene regulatory elements and mRNA to modulate transcription and RNA stability in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells. High SF3B2 expression leads to poor prognosis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and to progression of tumor growth in mice. SF3B2 promotes tumor growth, owing to its involvement in activation of gene expression associated with mitochondrial electron transport and transcription regulatory region DNA binding. SF3B2 is enriched around the promoter element on chromatin and the transcription termination site on RNA. SF3B2 is involved in the regulation of RNA stability. According to the SF3B2-binding profile, SF3B2 regulates RNA polymerase II activity, in addition to regulating RNA splicing. Mechanistically, SF3B2 promotes the binding of structural maintenance of chromosomes 1A and CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) to the SF3B2-binding genomic regions. SF3B2 also modulates CTCF transcriptional activity. Our findings indicate that SF3B2 has a dual function in both transcription and RNA stability, leading to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression.
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Contreras‐Marciales ADP, López‐Guzmán SF, Benítez‐Hess ML, Oviedo N, Hernández‐Sánchez J. Characterization of the promoter region of the murine Catsper2 gene. FEBS Open Bio 2022; 12:2236-2249. [PMID: 36345591 PMCID: PMC9714369 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
CATSPER2 (Cation channel sperm-associated protein 2) protein, which is part of the calcium CATSPER channel located in the membrane of the flagellar principal piece of the sperm cell, is only expressed in the testis during spermatogenesis. Deletions or mutations in the Catsper2 gene are associated with the deafness-infertility syndrome (DIS) and non-syndromic male infertility. However, the mechanisms by which Catsper2 is regulated are unknown. Here, we report the characterization of the promoter region of murine Catsper2 and the role of CTCF and CREMτ in its transcription. We report that the promoter region has transcriptional activity in both directions, as determined by observing luciferase activity in mouse Sertoli and GC-1 spg transfected cells. WGBS data analysis indicated that a CpG island identified in silico is non-methylated; Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-seq data analysis revealed that histone marks H3K4me3 and H3K36me3 are present in the promoter and body of the Catsper2 gene respectively, indicating that Catsper2 is subject to epigenetic regulation. In addition, the murine Catsper2 core promoter was delimited to a region between -54/+189 relative to the transcription start site (TSS), where three CTCF and one CRE binding site were predicted. The functionality of these sites was determined by mutation of the CTCF sites and deletion of the CRE site. Finally, ChIP assays confirmed that CREMτ and CTCF bind to the Catsper2 minimal promoter region. This study represents the first functional analysis of the murine Catsper2 promoter region and the mechanisms that regulate its expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea del Pilar Contreras‐Marciales
- Departamento de Genética y Biología MolecularCentro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV)Ciudad de MéxicoMexico
| | - Sergio Federico López‐Guzmán
- Departamento de Genética y Biología MolecularCentro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV)Ciudad de MéxicoMexico
| | - María Luisa Benítez‐Hess
- Departamento de Genética y Biología MolecularCentro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV)Ciudad de MéxicoMexico
| | - Norma Oviedo
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Inmunología e Infectología, Centro Médico Nacional, La RazaInstituto Mexicano del Seguro SocialCiudad de MéxicoMexico
| | - Javier Hernández‐Sánchez
- Departamento de Genética y Biología MolecularCentro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV)Ciudad de MéxicoMexico
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Inflammatory Cytokines That Enhance Antigen Responsiveness of Naïve CD8 + T Lymphocytes Modulate Chromatin Accessibility of Genes Impacted by Antigen Stimulation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214122. [PMID: 36430600 PMCID: PMC9698886 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Naïve CD8+ T lymphocytes exposed to certain inflammatory cytokines undergo proliferation and display increased sensitivity to antigens. Such 'cytokine priming' can promote the activation of potentially autoreactive and antitumor CD8+ T cells by weak tissue antigens and tumor antigens. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of cytokine priming, naïve PMEL-1 TCR transgenic CD8+ T lymphocytes were stimulated with IL-15 and IL-21, and chromatin accessibility was assessed using the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin (ATAC) sequencing. PMEL-1 cells stimulated by the cognate antigenic peptide mgp10025-33 served as controls. Cytokine-primed cells showed a limited number of opening and closing chromatin accessibility peaks compared to antigen-stimulated cells. However, the ATACseq peaks in cytokine-primed cells substantially overlapped with those of antigen-stimulated cells and mapped to several genes implicated in T cell signaling, activation, effector differentiation, negative regulation and exhaustion. Nonetheless, the expression of most of these genes was remarkably different between cytokine-primed and antigen-stimulated cells. In addition, cytokine priming impacted the expression of several genes following antigen stimulation in a synergistic or antagonistic manner. Our findings indicate that chromatin accessibility changes in cytokine-primed naïve CD8+ T cells not only underlie their increased antigen responsiveness but may also enhance their functional fitness by reducing exhaustion without compromising regulatory controls.
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Moylan CA, Mavis AM, Jima D, Maguire R, Bashir M, Hyun J, Cabezas MN, Parish A, Niedzwiecki D, Diehl AM, Murphy SK, Abdelmalek MF, Hoyo C. Alterations in DNA methylation associate with fatty liver and metabolic abnormalities in a multi-ethnic cohort of pre-teenage children. Epigenetics 2022; 17:1446-1461. [PMID: 35188871 PMCID: PMC9586600 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2022.2039850] [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] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease in children. Epigenetic alterations, such as through DNA methylation (DNAm), may link adverse childhood exposures and fatty liver and provide non-invasive methods for identifying children at high risk for NAFLD and associated metabolic dysfunction. We investigated the association between differential DNAm and liver fat content (LFC) and liver injury in pre-adolescent children. Leveraging data from the Newborn Epigenetics Study (NEST), we enrolled 90 mother-child dyads and used linear regression to identify CpG sites and differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in peripheral blood associated with LFC and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in 7-12yo children. DNAm was measured using Infinium HumanMethylationEPIC BeadChips (Illumina). LFC and fibrosis were quantified by magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction and elastography. Median LFC was 1.4% (range, 0.3-13.4%) and MRE was 2.5 kPa (range, 1.5-3.6kPa). Three children had LFC ≥ 5%, while six (7.6%) met our definition of NAFLD (LFC ≥ 3.7%). All children with NAFLD were obese and five were Black. LFC was associated with 88 DMRs and 106 CpGs (FDR<5%). The top two CpGs, cg25474373 and cg07264203, mapped to or near RFTN2 and PRICKLE2 genes. These two CpG sites were also significantly associated with a NAFLD diagnosis. As higher LFC associates with an adverse cardiometabolic profile already in childhood, altered DNAm may identify these children early in disease course for targeted intervention. Larger, longitudinal studies are needed to validate these findings and determine mechanistic relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia A. Moylan
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States,Contact Cynthia A. Moylan 905 South LaSalle Street, Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham27710NC, United States
| | - Alisha M. Mavis
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Dereje Jima
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Rachel Maguire
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Mustafa Bashir
- Department of Radiology, Center of Advanced Magnetic Resonance Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jeongeun Hyun
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Melanie N. Cabezas
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Alice Parish
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Donna Niedzwiecki
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Anna Mae Diehl
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | | | - Manal F. Abdelmalek
- Department of Radiology, Center of Advanced Magnetic Resonance Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Cathrine Hoyo
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
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Signatures of Co-Deregulated Genes and Their Transcriptional Regulators in Lung Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810933. [PMID: 36142846 PMCID: PMC9504879 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the significant progress made towards comprehending the deregulated signatures in lung cancer, these vary from study to study. We reanalyzed 25 studies from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) to detect and annotate co-deregulated signatures in lung cancer and in single-gene or single-drug perturbation experiments. We aimed to decipher the networks that these co-deregulated genes (co-DEGs) form along with their upstream regulators. Differential expression and upstream regulators were computed using Characteristic Direction and Systems Biology tools, including GEO2Enrichr and X2K. Co-deregulated gene expression profiles were further validated across different molecular and immune subtypes in lung adenocarcinoma (TCGA-LUAD) and lung adenocarcinoma (TCGA-LUSC) datasets, as well as using immunohistochemistry data from the Human Protein Atlas, before being subjected to subsequent GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. The functional alterations of the co-upregulated genes in lung cancer were mostly related to immune response regulating the cell surface signaling pathway, in contrast to the co-downregulated genes, which were related to S-nitrosylation. Networks of hub proteins across the co-DEGs consisted of overlapping TFs (SOX2, MYC, KAT2A) and kinases (MAPK14, CSNK2A1 and CDKs). Furthermore, using Connectivity Map we highlighted putative repurposing drugs, including valproic acid, betonicine and astemizole. Similarly, we analyzed the co-DEG signatures in single-gene and single-drug perturbation experiments in lung cancer cell lines. In summary, we identified critical co-DEGs in lung cancer providing an innovative framework for their potential use in developing personalized therapeutic strategies.
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Wang C, Yu X, Ding S, Liu Y, Zhang H, Fu J, Yu B, Zhu H. Induced hepatic stem cells maintain self-renewal through the high expression of Myc coregulated by TET1 and CTCF. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:143. [PMID: 36056448 PMCID: PMC9440563 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00883-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Induced hepatic stem cells (iHepSCs) with the capacities of self-renewal and bidifferentiation into hepatocytes and cholangiocytes were generated from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) by lineage reprogramming in our previous research. However, the mechanism of iHepSC self-renewal has not been elucidated. Active demethylation regulated by Tet1 plays an important role in the self-renewal of stem cells, including pluripotent stem cells and adult stem cells. Here, we investigated the role and mechanism of Tet1-regulated demethylation in the self-renewal of iHepSCs.
Methods
The methylation levels and the expression of Tet1 in iHepSCs and MEFs were analyzed by immunofluorescent staining, quantitative reverse transcription PCR and western blotting. Then, the effects of Tet1 knockdown on the proliferation and self-renewal of iHepSCs were analyzed by CCK8, colony formation, and sphere formation assays. The mechanism by which Tet1 regulates the self-renewal of iHepSCs was investigated by chromatin immunoprecipitation, bisulfite sequence PCR, and methylation-sensitive restriction endonuclease-PCR.
Results
The high level of 5hmC and the low level of 5mC in iHepSCs were accompanied by high expression of Tet1. After Tet1 expression was knocked down by shRNA in iHepSCs, the proliferation and self-renewal capacities were inhibited, and the expression of Myc was also decreased. The higher expression level of Myc in iHepSCs maintained its self-renewal and was regulated by Tet1, which directly binds to CBS-1 and site A regions of the Myc promoter and demethylates the CpG cytosine. In addition, CTCF also binds to the CBS-1 and site A regions of the Myc promoter and regulates Myc expression along with TET1.
Conclusion
The self-renewal of iHepSCs was maintained by the higher expression of Myc, which was coregulated by TET1 and CTCF. This study may provide new insights into the self-renewal of stem cells, which can promote the research and application of ‘reprogrammed’ stem cells.
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Shaw TM, Zhang W, McCoy SS, Pagenkopf A, Carp DM, Garg S, Parker MH, Qiu X, Scofield RH, Galipeau J, Liang Y. X-linked genes exhibit miR6891-5p-regulated skewing in Sjögren's syndrome. J Mol Med (Berl) 2022; 100:1253-1265. [PMID: 35538149 PMCID: PMC9420820 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-022-02205-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Many autoimmune diseases exhibit a strikingly increased prevalence in females, with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) being the most female-predominant example. However, the molecular basis underlying the female-bias in pSS remains elusive. To address this knowledge gap, we performed genome-wide, allele-specific profiling of minor salivary gland-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from pSS patients and control subjects, and detected major differences in the regulation of X-linked genes. In control female MSCs, X-linked genes were expressed from both paternal and maternal X chromosomes with a median paternal ratio of ~ 0.5. However, in pSS female MSCs, X-linked genes exhibited preferential expression from one of the two X chromosomes. Concomitantly, pSS MSCs showed decrease in XIST levels and reorganization of H3K27me3+ foci in the nucleus. Moreover, the HLA-locus-expressed miRNA miR6891-5p was decreased in pSS MSCs. miR6891-5p inhibition in control MSCs caused XIST dysregulation, ectopic silencing, and allelic skewing. Allelic skewing was accompanied by the mislocation of protein products encoded by the skewed genes, which was recapitulated by XIST and miR6891-5p disruption in control MSCs. Our data reveal X skewing as a molecular hallmark of pSS and highlight the importance of restoring X-chromosomal allelic balance for pSS treatment. KEY MESSAGES: X-linked genes exhibit skewing in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). X skewing in pSS associates with alterations in H3K27me3 deposition. pSS MSCs show decreased levels of miR6891-5p, a HLA-expressed miRNA. miR6891-5p inhibition causes H3K27me3 dysregulation and allelic skewing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teressa M Shaw
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
- Present address: Bristol Myers Squibb, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sara S McCoy
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Adam Pagenkopf
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Diana M Carp
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Shivani Garg
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Maxwell H Parker
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Xueer Qiu
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Robert H Scofield
- Department of Pathology and Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Jacques Galipeau
- Department of Medicine, Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, WI, Madison, USA
| | - Yun Liang
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
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Hansen TJ, Hodges E. ATAC-STARR-seq reveals transcription factor-bound activators and silencers within chromatin-accessible regions of the human genome. Genome Res 2022; 32:1529-1541. [PMID: 35858748 PMCID: PMC9435738 DOI: 10.1101/gr.276766.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs) test the capacity of putative gene regulatory elements to drive transcription on a genome-wide scale. Most gene regulatory activity occurs within accessible chromatin, and recently described methods have combined assays that capture these regions-such as assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq)-with self-transcribing active regulatory region sequencing (STARR-seq) to selectively assay the regulatory potential of accessible DNA (ATAC-STARR-seq). Here, we report an integrated approach that quantifies activating and silencing regulatory activity, chromatin accessibility, and transcription factor (TF) occupancy with one assay using ATAC-STARR-seq. Our strategy, including important updates to the ATAC-STARR-seq assay and workflow, enabled high-resolution testing of ∼50 million unique DNA fragments tiling ∼101,000 accessible chromatin regions in human lymphoblastoid cells. We discovered that 30% of all accessible regions contain an activator, a silencer, or both. Although few MPRA studies have explored silencing activity, we demonstrate that silencers occur at similar frequencies to activators, and they represent a distinct functional group enriched for unique TF motifs and repressive histone modifications. We further show that Tn5 cut-site frequencies are retained in the ATAC-STARR plasmid library compared to standard ATAC-seq, enabling TF occupancy to be ascertained from ATAC-STARR data. With this approach, we found that activators and silencers cluster by distinct TF footprint combinations, and these groups of activity represent different gene regulatory networks of immune cell function. Altogether, these data highlight the multilayered capabilities of ATAC-STARR-seq to comprehensively investigate the regulatory landscape of the human genome all from a single DNA fragment source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J Hansen
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
| | - Emily Hodges
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
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67
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Boschiero C, Gao Y, Baldwin RL, Ma L, Li CJ, Liu GE. Butyrate Induces Modifications of the CTCF-Binding Landscape in Cattle Cells. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12091177. [PMID: 36139015 PMCID: PMC9496099 DOI: 10.3390/biom12091177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Butyrate is produced in the rumen from microbial fermentation and is related to several functions, including cell differentiation and proliferation. Butyrate supplementation in calves can accelerate rumen development. DNA-protein interactions, such as the CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), play essential roles in chromatin organization and gene expression regulation. Although CTCF-binding sites have been identified recently in cattle, a deeper characterization, including differentially CTCF-binding sites (DCBS), is vital for a better understanding of butyrate’s role in the chromatin landscape. This study aimed to identify CTCF-binding regions and DCBS under a butyrate-induced condition using ChIP-seq in bovine cells; 61,915 CTCF peaks were identified in the butyrate and 51,347 in the control. From these regions, 2265 DCBS were obtained for the butyrate vs. control comparison, comprising ~90% of induced sites. Most of the butyrate DCBS were in distal intergenic regions, showing a potential role as insulators. Gene ontology enrichment showed crucial terms for the induced DCBS, mainly related to cellular proliferation, cell adhesion, and growth regulation. Interestingly, the ECM-receptor interaction pathway was observed for the induced DCBS. Motif enrichment analysis further identified transcription factors, including CTCF, BORIS, TGIF2, and ZIC3. When DCBS was integrated with RNA-seq data, putative genes were identified for the repressed DCBS, including GATA4. Our study revealed promising candidate genes in bovine cells by a butyrate-induced condition that might be related to the regulation of rumen development, such as integrins, keratins, and collagens. These results provide a better understanding of the function of butyrate in cattle rumen development and chromatin landscape regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Boschiero
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Yahui Gao
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
- Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Ransom L. Baldwin
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Li Ma
- Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Cong-jun Li
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
- Correspondence: (C.-j.L.); (G.E.L.); Tel.: +1-301-504-7216 (C.-j.L.); +1-301-504-9843 (G.E.L.); Fax: +1-301-504-8414 (C.-j.L. & G.E.L.)
| | - George E. Liu
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
- Correspondence: (C.-j.L.); (G.E.L.); Tel.: +1-301-504-7216 (C.-j.L.); +1-301-504-9843 (G.E.L.); Fax: +1-301-504-8414 (C.-j.L. & G.E.L.)
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68
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Pal R, Rakshit S, Shanmugam G, Paul N, Bhattacharya D, Chatterjee A, Singh A, George M, Sarkar K. Involvement of Xeroderma Pigmentosum Complementation Group G (XPG) in epigenetic regulation of T-Helper (T H) cell differentiation during breast cancer. Immunobiology 2022; 227:152259. [PMID: 36037675 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2022.152259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
TNFα and IFN-γ secreted by CD4+T-Helper (TH) cells have antitumor activity followed by polarisation of TH1 phenotype in response to IL-12 secreted by dendritic cells, inducing expression of XPG, Nucleotide-Excision Repair (NER) complex component, which is downregulated in breast cancer. Therefore, we investigated the involvement of XPG in TH-cell differentiation in breast cancer. XPG knock-out (KO) PBMC and TH1 polarised CD4+ TH-cells isolated from breast cancer and control subjects blood samples were used to observe mRNA expressions of associated genes, % enrichment of corresponding epigenetic markers, and m6A RNA methylation levels to study the molecular mechanisms involved. Assays to investigate Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte (CTL) activity after cross-checking extracellular secretion levels. Our XPGKO results indicated upregulation of TH2 and Treg, downregulation of TH1, and negligible change for TH17; reduced expression of genes associated with tumour suppression (TP53, BRCA1) and DNA repair (H2AFX, ATM) for breast cancer TH-cells. CTCF associated TH1 specific function, reduced %enrichment of XPG, CSA, and ERCC1, increased %enrichment of γH2A.X, and altered histone modifications (methylation, deacetylation) at the IFN-γ gene locus in XPGKO breast cancer TH1-cells. Increased m6A RNA methylation mediated by XPG leads to TH1 cell specificity, further inducing CTL activity by releasing extracellular IFG-γ, which activates CD8+ CTLs. This article explores the association of the vital NER protein, XPG with the epigenetic modifications behind TH1 cell differentiation, augmenting the expressions of TH1-network genes to evoke protective immunity in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riasha Pal
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu 603203, India
| | - Sudeshna Rakshit
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu 603203, India
| | - Geetha Shanmugam
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu 603203, India
| | - Nilanjan Paul
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu 603203, India
| | - Deep Bhattacharya
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu 603203, India
| | - Arya Chatterjee
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu 603203, India
| | - Arunangsu Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu 603203, India
| | - Melvin George
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu 603203, India
| | - Koustav Sarkar
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu 603203, India.
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Boschiero C, Gao Y, Baldwin RL, Ma L, Li CJ, Liu GE. Differentially CTCF-Binding Sites in Cattle Rumen Tissue during Weaning. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169070. [PMID: 36012336 PMCID: PMC9408924 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The weaning transition in calves is characterized by major structural changes such as an increase in the rumen capacity and surface area due to diet changes. Studies evaluating rumen development in calves are vital to identify genetic mechanisms affected by weaning. This study aimed to provide a genome-wide characterization of CTCF-binding sites and differentially CTCF-binding sites (DCBS) in rumen tissue during the weaning transition of four Holstein calves to uncover regulatory elements in rumen epithelial tissue using ChIP-seq. Our study generated 67,280 CTCF peaks for the before weaning (BW) and 39,891 for after weaning (AW). Then, 7401 DCBS were identified for the AW vs. BW comparison representing 0.15% of the cattle genome, comprising ~54% of induced DCBS and ~46% of repressed DCBS. Most of the induced and repressed DCBS were in distal intergenic regions, showing a potential role as insulators. Gene ontology enrichment revealed many shared GO terms for the induced and the repressed DCBS, mainly related to cellular migration, proliferation, growth, differentiation, cellular adhesion, digestive tract morphogenesis, and response to TGFβ. In addition, shared KEGG pathways were obtained for adherens junction and focal adhesion. Interestingly, other relevant KEGG pathways were observed for the induced DCBS like gastric acid secretion, salivary secretion, bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, apelin signaling, and mucin-type O-glycan biosynthesis. IPA analysis further revealed pathways with potential roles in rumen development during weaning, including TGFβ, Integrin-linked kinase, and Integrin signaling. When DCBS were further integrated with RNA-seq data, 36 putative target genes were identified for the repressed DCBS, including KRT84, COL9A2, MATN3, TSPAN1, and AJM1. This study successfully identified DCBS in cattle rumen tissue after weaning on a genome-wide scale and revealed several candidate target genes that may have a role in rumen development, such as TGFβ, integrins, keratins, and SMADs. The information generated in this preliminary study provides new insights into bovine genome regulation and chromatin landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Boschiero
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Yahui Gao
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
- Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Ransom L. Baldwin
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Li Ma
- Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Cong-jun Li
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
- Correspondence: (C.-j.L.); (G.E.L.); Tel.: +1-301-504-7216 (C.-j.L.); +1-301-504-9843 (G.E.L.); Fax: +1-301-504-8414 (C.-j.L. & G.E.L.)
| | - George E. Liu
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
- Correspondence: (C.-j.L.); (G.E.L.); Tel.: +1-301-504-7216 (C.-j.L.); +1-301-504-9843 (G.E.L.); Fax: +1-301-504-8414 (C.-j.L. & G.E.L.)
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70
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Bian F, Daghsni M, Lu F, Liu S, Gross JM, Aldiri I. Functional analysis of the Vsx2 super-enhancer uncovers distinct cis-regulatory circuits controlling Vsx2 expression during retinogenesis. Development 2022; 149:dev200642. [PMID: 35831950 PMCID: PMC9440754 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Vsx2 is a transcription factor essential for retinal proliferation and bipolar cell differentiation, but the molecular mechanisms underlying its developmental roles are unclear. Here, we have profiled VSX2 genomic occupancy during mouse retinogenesis, revealing extensive retinal genetic programs associated with VSX2 during development. VSX2 binds and transactivates its enhancer in association with the transcription factor PAX6. Mice harboring deletions in the Vsx2 regulatory landscape exhibit specific abnormalities in retinal proliferation and in bipolar cell differentiation. In one of those deletions, a complete loss of bipolar cells is associated with a bias towards photoreceptor production. VSX2 occupies cis-regulatory elements nearby genes associated with photoreceptor differentiation and homeostasis in the adult mouse and human retina, including a conserved region nearby Prdm1, a factor implicated in the specification of rod photoreceptors and suppression of bipolar cell fate. VSX2 interacts with the transcription factor OTX2 and can act to suppress OTX2-dependent enhancer transactivation of the Prdm1 enhancer. Taken together, our analyses indicate that Vsx2 expression can be temporally and spatially uncoupled at the enhancer level, and they illuminate important mechanistic insights into how VSX2 is engaged with gene regulatory networks that are essential for retinal proliferation and cell fate acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuyun Bian
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Marwa Daghsni
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Fangfang Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Silvia Liu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Gross
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Issam Aldiri
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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Varghese CS, Parish JL, Ferguson J. Lying low-chromatin insulation in persistent DNA virus infection. Curr Opin Virol 2022; 55:101257. [PMID: 35998396 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2022.101257] [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: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Persistent virus infections are achieved when the intricate balance of virus replication, host-cell division and successful immune evasion is met. The genomes of persistent DNA viruses are either maintained as extrachromosomal episomes or can integrate into the host genome. Common to both these strategies of persistence is the chromatinisation of viral DNA by cellular histones which, like host DNA, are subject to epigenetic modification. Epigenetic repression of viral genes required for lytic replication occurs, while genes required for latent or persistent infection are maintained in an active chromatin state. Viruses utilise host-cell chromatin insulators, which function to maintain epigenetic boundaries and enforce this strict transcriptional programme. Here, we review insulator protein function in virus transcription control, focussing on CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) and cofactors. We describe CTCF-dependent activities in virus transcription regulation through epigenetic and promoter-enhancer insulation, three-dimensional chromatin looping and manipulation of transcript splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christy S Varghese
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Joanna L Parish
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Jack Ferguson
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
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72
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Hettmer S, Linardic CM, Kelsey A, Rudzinski ER, Vokuhl C, Selfe J, Ruhen O, Shern JF, Khan J, Kovach AR, Lupo PJ, Gatz SA, Schäfer BW, Volchenboum S, Minard-Colin V, Koscielniak E, Hawkins DS, Bisogno G, Sparber-Sauer M, Venkatramani R, Merks JHM, Shipley J. Molecular testing of rhabdomyosarcoma in clinical trials to improve risk stratification and outcome: A consensus view from European paediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group, Children's Oncology Group and Cooperative Weichteilsarkom-Studiengruppe. Eur J Cancer 2022; 172:367-386. [PMID: 35839732 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2022.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMSs) are the most common soft tissue sarcomas in children/adolescents less than 18 years of age with an annual incidence of 1-2/million. Inter/intra-tumour heterogeneity raise challenges in clinical, pathological and biological research studies. Risk stratification in European and North American clinical trials previously relied on clinico-pathological features, but now, incorporates PAX3/7-FOXO1-fusion gene status in the place of alveolar histology. International working groups propose a coordinated approach through the INternational Soft Tissue SaRcoma ConsorTium to evaluate the specific genetic abnormalities and generate and integrate molecular and clinical data related to patients with RMS across different trial settings. We review relevant data and present a consensus view on what molecular features should be assessed. In particular, we recommend the assessment of the MYOD1-LR122R mutation for risk escalation, as it has been associated with poor outcomes in spindle/sclerosing RMS and rare RMS with classic embryonal histopathology. The prospective analyses of rare fusion genes beyond PAX3/7-FOXO1 will generate new data linked to outcomes and assessment of TP53 mutations and CDK4 amplification may confirm their prognostic value. Pathogenic/likely pathogenic germline variants in TP53 and other cancer predisposition genes should also be assessed. DNA/RNA profiling of tumours at diagnosis/relapse and serial analyses of plasma samples is recommended where possible to validate potential molecular biomarkers, identify new biomarkers and assess how liquid biopsy analyses can have the greatest benefit. Together with the development of new molecularly-derived therapeutic strategies that we review, a synchronised international approach is expected to enhance progress towards improved treatment assignment, management and outcomes for patients with RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Hettmer
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Corinne M Linardic
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology; Duke University of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Anna Kelsey
- Department of Paediatric Histopathology, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Erin R Rudzinski
- Section of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Laboratories, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Christian Vokuhl
- Section of Pediatric Pathology, Department of Pathology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
| | - Joanna Selfe
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Olivia Ruhen
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Jack F Shern
- Genetics Branch, Oncogenomics Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, Oncogenomics Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alexander R Kovach
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology; Duke University of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Philip J Lupo
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Susanne A Gatz
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CRCTU), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Beat W Schäfer
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Ewa Koscielniak
- Klinikum der Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart GKAöR, Olgahospital, Stuttgart Cancer Center, Zentrum für Kinder-, Jugend- und Frauenmedizin, Pädiatrie 5 (Pädiatrische Onkologie, Hämatologie, Immunologie), Stuttgart, Germany; Medizinische Fakultät, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Douglas S Hawkins
- Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Gianni Bisogno
- Hematology Oncology Division, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Monika Sparber-Sauer
- Klinikum der Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart GKAöR, Olgahospital, Stuttgart Cancer Center, Zentrum für Kinder-, Jugend- und Frauenmedizin, Pädiatrie 5 (Pädiatrische Onkologie, Hämatologie, Immunologie), Stuttgart, Germany; Medizinische Fakultät, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rajkumar Venkatramani
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Janet Shipley
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
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73
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The epigenetic dysfunction underlying malignant glioma pathogenesis. J Transl Med 2022; 102:682-690. [PMID: 35152274 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-022-00741-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Comprehensive molecular profiling has dramatically transformed the diagnostic neuropathology of brain tumors. Diffuse gliomas, the most common and deadly brain tumor variants, are now classified by highly recurrent biomarkers instead of histomorphological characteristics. Several of the key molecular alterations driving glioma classification involve epigenetic dysregulation at a fundamental level, implicating fields of biology not previously thought to play major roles glioma pathogenesis. This article will review the major epigenetic alterations underlying malignant gliomas, their likely mechanisms of action, and potential strategies for their therapeutic targeting.
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74
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Bulanenkova SS, Filyukova OB, Snezhkov EV, Akopov SB, Nikolaev LG. Suppression of the Testis-Specific Transcription of the ZBTB32 and ZNF473 Genes in Germ Cell Tumors. Acta Naturae 2022; 14:85-94. [PMID: 36348719 PMCID: PMC9611863 DOI: 10.32607/actanaturae.11620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The family of genes containing C2H2 zinc finger domains, which has more than 700 members, is one of the largest in the genome. Of particular interest are C2H2 genes with potential tissue-specific transcription, which determine the functional properties of individual cell types, including those associated with pathological processes. The aim of this work was to identify C2H2 family genes with tissue-specific transcription and analyze changes in their activity during tumor progression. To search for these genes, we used four databases containing data on gene transcription in human tissues obtained by RNA-Seq analysis. The analysis showed that, although the major part of the C2H2 family genes is transcribed in virtually all tissues, a group of genes has tissue-specific transcription, with most of the transcripts being found in the testis. After having compared all four databases, we identified nine such genes. The testis-specific transcription was confirmed for two of them, namely ZBTB32 and ZNF473, using quantitative PCR of cDNA samples from different organs. A decrease in ZBTB32 and ZNF473 transcription levels was demonstrated in germ cell tumors. The studied genes can serve as candidate markers in germ cell tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. S. Bulanenkova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russia
| | - O. B. Filyukova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russia
| | - E. V. Snezhkov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russia
| | - S. B. Akopov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russia
| | - L. G. Nikolaev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russia
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75
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Akıncılar S, Chua J, Ng Q, Chan C, Eslami-S Z, Chen K, Low JL, Arumugam S, Aswad L, Chua C, Tan I, DasGupta R, Fullwood M, Tergaonkar V. Identification of mechanism of cancer-cell-specific reactivation of hTERT offers therapeutic opportunities for blocking telomerase specifically in human colorectal cancer. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 51:1-16. [PMID: 35697349 PMCID: PMC9841410 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional reactivation of hTERT is the limiting step in tumorigenesis. While mutations in hTERT promoter present in 19% of cancers are recognized as key drivers of hTERT reactivation, mechanisms by which wildtype hTERT (WT-hTERT) promoter is reactivated, in majority of human cancers, remain unknown. Using primary colorectal cancers (CRC) we identified Tert INTeracting region 2 (T-INT2), the critical chromatin region essential for reactivating WT-hTERT promoter in CRCs. Elevated β-catenin and JunD level in CRC facilitates chromatin interaction between hTERT promoter and T-INT2 that is necessary to turn on hTERTexpression. Pharmacological screens uncovered salinomycin, which inhibits JunD mediated hTERT-T-INT2 interaction that is required for the formation of a stable transcription complex on the hTERT promoter. Our results showed for the first time how known CRC alterations, such as APC, lead to WT-hTERT promoter reactivation during stepwise-tumorigenesis and provide a new perspective for developing cancer-specific drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semih Can Akıncılar
- Division of Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics, Laboratory of NFκB Signaling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 138673, Singapore
| | - Joelle Yi Heng Chua
- Division of Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics, Laboratory of NFκB Signaling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 138673, Singapore
| | - Qin Feng Ng
- Division of Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics, Laboratory of NFκB Signaling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 138673, Singapore
| | - Claire Hian Tzer Chan
- Division of Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics, Laboratory of NFκB Signaling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 138673, Singapore
| | - Zahra Eslami-S
- Division of Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics, Laboratory of NFκB Signaling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 138673, Singapore
| | - Kaijing Chen
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Joo-Leng Low
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, 138672, Singapore
| | - Surendar Arumugam
- Division of Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics, Laboratory of NFκB Signaling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 138673, Singapore
| | - Luay Aswad
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Clarinda Chua
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 138672, Singapore,Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 169610, Singapore
| | - Iain Beehuat Tan
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 138672, Singapore,Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 169610, Singapore
| | - Ramanuj DasGupta
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, 138672, Singapore
| | - Melissa Jane Fullwood
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore,School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 637551, Singapore
| | - Vinay Tergaonkar
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +65 65869836; Fax: +65 67791117;
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76
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Extended intergenic DNA contributes to neuron-specific expression of neighboring genes in the mammalian nervous system. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2733. [PMID: 35585070 PMCID: PMC9117226 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30192-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian genomes comprise largely intergenic noncoding DNA with numerous cis-regulatory elements. Whether and how the size of intergenic DNA affects gene expression in a tissue-specific manner remain unknown. Here we show that genes with extended intergenic regions are preferentially expressed in neural tissues but repressed in other tissues in mice and humans. Extended intergenic regions contain twice as many active enhancers in neural tissues compared to other tissues. Neural genes with extended intergenic regions are globally co-expressed with neighboring neural genes controlled by distinct enhancers in the shared intergenic regions. Moreover, generic neural genes expressed in multiple tissues have significantly longer intergenic regions than neural genes expressed in fewer tissues. The intergenic regions of the generic neural genes have many tissue-specific active enhancers containing distinct transcription factor binding sites specific to each neural tissue. We also show that genes with extended intergenic regions are enriched for neural genes only in vertebrates. The expansion of intergenic regions may reflect the regulatory complexity of tissue-type-specific gene expression in the nervous system.
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77
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Bruno A, Dolcetti E, Azzolini F, Moscatelli A, Gambardella S, Ferese R, Rizzo FR, Gilio L, Iezzi E, Galifi G, Borrelli A, Buttari F, Furlan R, Finardi A, De Vito F, Musella A, Guadalupi L, Mandolesi G, Centonze D, Stampanoni Bassi M. Interleukin 6 SNP rs1818879 Regulates Radiological and Inflammatory Activity in Multiple Sclerosis. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13050897. [PMID: 35627281 PMCID: PMC9141517 DOI: 10.3390/genes13050897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS) is critically influenced by the expression of different pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) represents a major inflammatory molecule previously associated with exacerbated disease activity in relapsing remitting MS (RR-MS); however, the role of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL-6 gene has not been fully elucidated in MS. (2) Methods: We explored in a cohort of 171 RR-MS patients, at the time of diagnosis, the associations between four IL-6 SNPs (rs1818879, rs1554606, rs1800797, and rs1474347), CSF inflammation, and clinical presentation. (3) Results: Using principal component analysis and logistic regression analysis we identified an association between rs1818879, radiological activity, and a set of cytokines, including the IL-1β, IL-9, IL-10, and IL-13. No significant associations were found between other SNPs and clinical or inflammatory parameters. (4) Conclusions: The association between the rs1818879 polymorphism and subclinical neuroinflammatory activity suggests that interindividual differences in the IL-6 gene might influence the immune activation profile in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Bruno
- IRCSS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.A.); (S.G.); (R.F.); (F.R.R.); (L.G.); (E.I.); (G.G.); (A.B.); (F.B.); (F.D.V.); (M.S.B.)
| | - Ettore Dolcetti
- IRCSS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.A.); (S.G.); (R.F.); (F.R.R.); (L.G.); (E.I.); (G.G.); (A.B.); (F.B.); (F.D.V.); (M.S.B.)
| | - Federica Azzolini
- IRCSS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.A.); (S.G.); (R.F.); (F.R.R.); (L.G.); (E.I.); (G.G.); (A.B.); (F.B.); (F.D.V.); (M.S.B.)
| | - Alessandro Moscatelli
- Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy; (A.M.); (L.G.)
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCSS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Gambardella
- IRCSS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.A.); (S.G.); (R.F.); (F.R.R.); (L.G.); (E.I.); (G.G.); (A.B.); (F.B.); (F.D.V.); (M.S.B.)
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino “Carlo Bo”, 61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Rosangela Ferese
- IRCSS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.A.); (S.G.); (R.F.); (F.R.R.); (L.G.); (E.I.); (G.G.); (A.B.); (F.B.); (F.D.V.); (M.S.B.)
| | - Francesca Romana Rizzo
- IRCSS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.A.); (S.G.); (R.F.); (F.R.R.); (L.G.); (E.I.); (G.G.); (A.B.); (F.B.); (F.D.V.); (M.S.B.)
| | - Luana Gilio
- IRCSS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.A.); (S.G.); (R.F.); (F.R.R.); (L.G.); (E.I.); (G.G.); (A.B.); (F.B.); (F.D.V.); (M.S.B.)
| | - Ennio Iezzi
- IRCSS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.A.); (S.G.); (R.F.); (F.R.R.); (L.G.); (E.I.); (G.G.); (A.B.); (F.B.); (F.D.V.); (M.S.B.)
| | - Giovanni Galifi
- IRCSS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.A.); (S.G.); (R.F.); (F.R.R.); (L.G.); (E.I.); (G.G.); (A.B.); (F.B.); (F.D.V.); (M.S.B.)
| | - Angela Borrelli
- IRCSS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.A.); (S.G.); (R.F.); (F.R.R.); (L.G.); (E.I.); (G.G.); (A.B.); (F.B.); (F.D.V.); (M.S.B.)
| | - Fabio Buttari
- IRCSS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.A.); (S.G.); (R.F.); (F.R.R.); (L.G.); (E.I.); (G.G.); (A.B.); (F.B.); (F.D.V.); (M.S.B.)
| | - Roberto Furlan
- Clinical Neuroimmunology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20121 Milan, Italy; (R.F.); (A.F.)
| | - Annamaria Finardi
- Clinical Neuroimmunology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20121 Milan, Italy; (R.F.); (A.F.)
| | - Francesca De Vito
- IRCSS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.A.); (S.G.); (R.F.); (F.R.R.); (L.G.); (E.I.); (G.G.); (A.B.); (F.B.); (F.D.V.); (M.S.B.)
| | - Alessandra Musella
- Synaptic Immunopathology Lab, IRCCS San Raffaele Rome, 00163 Rome, Italy; (A.M.); (G.M.)
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, University of Rome San Raffaele, 00163 Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Guadalupi
- Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy; (A.M.); (L.G.)
- Synaptic Immunopathology Lab, IRCCS San Raffaele Rome, 00163 Rome, Italy; (A.M.); (G.M.)
| | - Georgia Mandolesi
- Synaptic Immunopathology Lab, IRCCS San Raffaele Rome, 00163 Rome, Italy; (A.M.); (G.M.)
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, University of Rome San Raffaele, 00163 Rome, Italy
| | - Diego Centonze
- IRCSS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.A.); (S.G.); (R.F.); (F.R.R.); (L.G.); (E.I.); (G.G.); (A.B.); (F.B.); (F.D.V.); (M.S.B.)
- Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy; (A.M.); (L.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0865-929250; Fax: +39-0865-929259
| | - Mario Stampanoni Bassi
- IRCSS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.B.); (E.D.); (F.A.); (S.G.); (R.F.); (F.R.R.); (L.G.); (E.I.); (G.G.); (A.B.); (F.B.); (F.D.V.); (M.S.B.)
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Kenny C, Dilshat R, Seberg HE, Van Otterloo E, Bonde G, Helverson A, Franke CM, Steingrímsson E, Cornell RA. TFAP2 paralogs facilitate chromatin access for MITF at pigmentation and cell proliferation genes. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010207. [PMID: 35580127 PMCID: PMC9159589 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In developing melanocytes and in melanoma cells, multiple paralogs of the Activating-enhancer-binding Protein 2 family of transcription factors (TFAP2) contribute to expression of genes encoding pigmentation regulators, but their interaction with Microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF), a master regulator of these cells, is unclear. Supporting the model that TFAP2 facilitates MITF's ability to activate expression of pigmentation genes, single-cell seq analysis of zebrafish embryos revealed that pigmentation genes are only expressed in the subset of mitfa-expressing cells that also express tfap2 paralogs. To test this model in SK-MEL-28 melanoma cells we deleted the two TFAP2 paralogs with highest expression, TFAP2A and TFAP2C, creating TFAP2 knockout (TFAP2-KO) cells. We then assessed gene expression, chromatin accessibility, binding of TFAP2A and of MITF, and the chromatin marks H3K27Ac and H3K27Me3 which are characteristic of active enhancers and silenced chromatin, respectively. Integrated analyses of these datasets indicate TFAP2 paralogs directly activate enhancers near genes enriched for roles in pigmentation and proliferation, and directly repress enhancers near genes enriched for roles in cell adhesion. Consistently, compared to WT cells, TFAP2-KO cells proliferate less and adhere to one another more. TFAP2 paralogs and MITF co-operatively activate a subset of enhancers, with the former necessary for MITF binding and chromatin accessibility. By contrast, TFAP2 paralogs and MITF do not appear to co-operatively inhibit enhancers. These studies reveal a mechanism by which TFAP2 profoundly influences the set of genes activated by MITF, and thereby the phenotype of pigment cells and melanoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Kenny
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Ramile Dilshat
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, BioMedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Hannah E. Seberg
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Eric Van Otterloo
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Gregory Bonde
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Annika Helverson
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Christopher M. Franke
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Eiríkur Steingrímsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, BioMedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Robert A. Cornell
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
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79
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Gray JS, Wani SA, Campbell MJ. Epigenomic alterations in cancer: mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Clin Sci (Lond) 2022; 136:473-492. [PMID: 35383835 DOI: 10.1042/cs20210449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The human cell requires ways to specify its transcriptome without altering the essential sequence of DNA; this is achieved through mechanisms which govern the epigenetic state of DNA and epitranscriptomic state of RNA. These alterations can be found as modified histone proteins, cytosine DNA methylation, non-coding RNAs, and mRNA modifications, such as N6-methyladenosine (m6A). The different aspects of epigenomic and epitranscriptomic modifications require protein complexes to write, read, and erase these chemical alterations. Reflecting these important roles, many of these reader/writer/eraser proteins are either frequently mutated or differentially expressed in cancer. The disruption of epigenetic regulation in the cell can both contribute to cancer initiation and progression, and increase the likelihood of developing resistance to chemotherapies. Development of therapeutics to target proteins involved in epigenomic/epitranscriptomic modifications has been intensive, but further refinement is necessary to achieve ideal treatment outcomes without too many off-target effects for cancer patients. Therefore, further integration of clinical outcomes combined with large-scale genomic analyses is imperative for furthering understanding of epigenomic mechanisms in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaimie S Gray
- Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A
| | - Sajad A Wani
- Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A
| | - Moray J Campbell
- Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A
- Biomedical Informatics Shared Resource, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A
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80
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Sefer E. A comparison of topologically associating domain callers over mammals at high resolution. BMC Bioinformatics 2022; 23:127. [PMID: 35413815 PMCID: PMC9006547 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-022-04674-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Topologically associating domains (TADs) are locally highly-interacting genome regions, which also play a critical role in regulating gene expression in the cell. TADs have been first identified while investigating the 3D genome structure over High-throughput Chromosome Conformation Capture (Hi-C) interaction dataset. Substantial degree of efforts have been devoted to develop techniques for inferring TADs from Hi-C interaction dataset. Many TAD-calling methods have been developed which differ in their criteria and assumptions in TAD inference. Correspondingly, TADs inferred via these callers vary in terms of both similarities and biological features they are enriched in. RESULT We have carried out a systematic comparison of 27 TAD-calling methods over mammals. We use Micro-C, a recent high-resolution variant of Hi-C, to compare TADs at a very high resolution, and classify the methods into 3 categories: feature-based methods, Clustering methods, Graph-partitioning methods. We have evaluated TAD boundaries, gaps between adjacent TADs, and quality of TADs across various criteria. We also found particularly CTCF and Cohesin proteins to be effective in formation of TADs with corner dots. We have also assessed the callers performance on simulated datasets since a gold standard for TADs is missing. TAD sizes and numbers change remarkably between TAD callers and dataset resolutions, indicating that TADs are hierarchically-organized domains, instead of disjoint regions. A core subset of feature-based TAD callers regularly perform the best while inferring reproducible domains, which are also enriched for TAD related biological properties. CONCLUSION We have analyzed the fundamental principles of TAD-calling methods, and identified the existing situation in TAD inference across high resolution Micro-C interaction datasets over mammals. We come up with a systematic, comprehensive, and concise framework to evaluate the TAD-calling methods performance across Micro-C datasets. Our research will be useful in selecting appropriate methods for TAD inference and evaluation based on available data, experimental design, and biological question of interest. We also introduce our analysis as a benchmarking tool with publicly available source code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Sefer
- Department of Computer Science, Ozyegin University, Istanbul, Turkey.
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81
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Lian BSX, Kawasaki T, Kano N, Ori D, Ikegawa M, Isotani A, Kawai T. Regulation of Il6 expression by single CpG methylation in downstream of Il6 transcription initiation site. iScience 2022; 25:104118. [PMID: 35402874 PMCID: PMC8983349 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The innate immune system is an immediate defense against infectious pathogens by the production of inflammatory cytokines and other mediators. Deficiencies of epigenetic regulatory enzymes, such as Tet1 and Dnmt1, cause dysregulation of cytokine expression. However, it is unclear if DNA methylation at a single CpG dinucleotide in a specific gene locus can regulate gene expression. In this study, we demonstrated that CpG+286 and CpG+348 in exon 2 of the Il6 gene are similar in various primary mouse cells. In lipopolysaccharide-stimulated condition, hypomethylated CpG+286 promoted Il6 expression whereas deletion of CpG+348 led to a reduction in Il6 expression associated with enhanced CTCF binding to the Il6 locus. Moreover, hypomethylation at CpG+286 in alveolar macrophages from aged mice led to higher Il6 expression in response to LPS compared with young mice. Thus, DNA methylation at specific CpG dinucleotides plays an important regulatory role in Il6 expression. TET enzymes regulate DNA methylation at Il6 TIS region and control Il6 expression DNA methylation level at CpG+286 in the Il6 locus directly controls Il6 expression Methylated CpG+348 regulates Il6 expression and CTCF recruitment to the Il6 locus Methylation of CpG+286 in alveolar macrophages controls age-related Il6 expression
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedict Shi Xiang Lian
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunobiology, Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Takumi Kawasaki
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunobiology, Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Nara 630-0192, Japan
- Corresponding author
| | - Norisuke Kano
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunobiology, Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ori
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunobiology, Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Moe Ikegawa
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunobiology, Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Ayako Isotani
- Laboratory of Organ Developmental Engineering, Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Taro Kawai
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunobiology, Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Nara 630-0192, Japan
- Corresponding author
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82
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Leone M, Galeota E, Masseroli M, Pelizzola M. Identification, semantic annotation and comparison of combinations of functional elements in multiple biological conditions. Bioinformatics 2022; 38:1183-1190. [PMID: 34864898 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btab815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Approaches such as chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) represent the standard for the identification of binding sites of DNA-associated proteins, including transcription factors and histone marks. Public repositories of omics data contain a huge number of experimental ChIP-seq data, but their reuse and integrative analysis across multiple conditions remain a daunting task. RESULTS We present the Combinatorial and Semantic Analysis of Functional Elements (CombSAFE), an efficient computational method able to integrate and take advantage of the valuable and numerous, but heterogeneous, ChIP-seq data publicly available in big data repositories. Leveraging natural language processing techniques, it integrates omics data samples with semantic annotations from selected biomedical ontologies; then, using hidden Markov models, it identifies combinations of static and dynamic functional elements throughout the genome for the corresponding samples. CombSAFE allows analyzing the whole genome, by clustering patterns of regions with similar functional elements and through enrichment analyses to discover ontological terms significantly associated with them. Moreover, it allows comparing functional states of a specific genomic region to analyze their different behavior throughout the various semantic annotations. Such findings can provide novel insights by identifying unexpected combinations of functional elements in different biological conditions. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The Python implementation of the CombSAFE pipeline is freely available for non-commercial use at: https://github.com/DEIB-GECO/CombSAFE. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Leone
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Eugenia Galeota
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Masseroli
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Mattia Pelizzola
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 20139 Milan, Italy
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Day SE, Traurig M, Kumar P, Piaggi P, Koroglu C, Kobes S, Hanson RL, Bogardus C, Baier LJ. Functional variants in cytochrome b5 type A (CYB5A) are enriched in Southwest American Indian individuals and associate with obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2022; 30:546-552. [PMID: 35043601 PMCID: PMC9304561 DOI: 10.1002/oby.23359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to identify genetic variants enriched in Southwest American Indian (SWAI) individuals that associate with BMI. METHODS Whole genome sequencing data (n = 296) were used to identify potentially functional variants that are common in SWAI individuals (minor allele frequency ≥10%) but rare in other ethnic groups (minor allele frequency < 0.1%). Enriched variants were tested for association with BMI in 5,870 SWAI individuals. One variant was studied using a luciferase reporter, and haplotypes that included this variant were analyzed for association with various measures of obesity (n = 917-5,870), 24-hour energy expenditure (24-h EE; n = 419), and skeletal muscle biopsy expression data (n = 207). RESULTS A 5' untranslated region variant in cytochrome b5 type A (CYB5A), rs548402150, met the enrichment criteria and associated with increased BMI (β = 2%, p = 0.004). Functionally, rs548402150 decreased luciferase expression by 30% (p = 0.003) and correlated with decreased skeletal muscle CYB5A expression (β = -0.5 SD, p = 0.0008). Combining rs548402150 with two splicing quantitative trait loci in CYB5A identified a haplotype carried almost exclusively in SWAI individuals that associated with increased BMI (β = 3%, p = 0.0003) and decreased CYB5A expression, whereas the most common haplotype in all ethnic groups associated with lower BMI and percentage of body fatness, increased 24-h EE, and increased CYB5A expression. CONCLUSIONS Further studies on the effects of CYB5A on 24-h EE and BMI may provide insights into obesity-related physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha E. Day
- Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research BranchNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthPhoenixArizonaUSA
| | - Michael Traurig
- Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research BranchNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthPhoenixArizonaUSA
| | - Pankaj Kumar
- Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research BranchNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthPhoenixArizonaUSA
| | - Paolo Piaggi
- Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research BranchNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthPhoenixArizonaUSA
| | - Cigdem Koroglu
- Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research BranchNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthPhoenixArizonaUSA
| | - Sayuko Kobes
- Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research BranchNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthPhoenixArizonaUSA
| | - Robert L. Hanson
- Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research BranchNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthPhoenixArizonaUSA
| | - Clifton Bogardus
- Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research BranchNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthPhoenixArizonaUSA
| | - Leslie J. Baier
- Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research BranchNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthPhoenixArizonaUSA
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Martins-Ferreira R, Leal B, Chaves J, Li T, Ciudad L, Rangel R, Santos A, Martins da Silva A, Pinho Costa P, Ballestar E. Epilepsy progression is associated with cumulative DNA methylation changes in inflammatory genes. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 209:102207. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2021.102207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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85
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Wong HSC, Tsai SY, Chu HW, Lin MR, Lin GH, Tai YT, Shen CY, Chang WC. Genome-wide association study identifies genetic risk loci for adiposity in a Taiwanese population. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1009952. [PMID: 35051171 PMCID: PMC8853642 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Overweight and obese are risk factors for various diseases. In Taiwan, the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased dramatically. Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on four adiposity traits, including body-mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BF%), waist circumference (WC), and waist-hip ratio (WHR), using the data for more than 21,000 subjects in Taiwan Biobank. Associations were evaluated between 6,546,460 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and adiposity traits, yielding 13 genome-wide significant (GWS) adiposity-associated trait-loci pairs. A known gene, FTO, as well as two BF%-associated loci (GNPDA2-GABRG1 [4p12] and RNU6-2-PIAS1 [15q23]) were identified as pleiotropic effects. Moreover, RALGAPA1 was found as a specific genetic predisposing factor to high BMI in a Taiwanese population. Compared to other populations, a slightly lower heritability of the four adiposity traits was found in our cohort. Surprisingly, we uncovered the importance of neural pathways that might influence BF%, WC and WHR in the Taiwanese (East Asian) population. Additionally, a moderate genetic correlation between the WHR and BMI (γg = 0.52; p = 2.37×10−9) was detected, suggesting different genetic determinants exist for abdominal adiposity and overall adiposity. In conclusion, the obesity-related genetic loci identified here provide new insights into the genetic underpinnings of adiposity in the Taiwanese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Sung-Ching Wong
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Szu-Yi Tsai
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hou-Wei Chu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Min-Rou Lin
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Gan-Hong Lin
- Master Program in Clinical Genomics and Proteomics, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Tai
- Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Yang Shen
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Master Program in Clinical Genomics and Proteomics, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (C-YS); (W-CC)
| | - Wei-Chiao Chang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Master Program in Clinical Genomics and Proteomics, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Pharmacy, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Integrative Research Center for Critical Care, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (C-YS); (W-CC)
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86
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Bernstein C. DNA Methylation and Establishing Memory. Epigenet Insights 2022; 15:25168657211072499. [PMID: 35098021 PMCID: PMC8793415 DOI: 10.1177/25168657211072499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A single event can cause a life-long memory. Memories physically reside in neurons, and changes in neuronal gene expression are considered to be central to memory. Early models proposed that specific DNA methylations of cytosines in neuronal DNA encode memories in a stable biochemical form. This review describes recent research that elucidates the molecular mechanisms used by the mammalian brain to form DNA methylcytosine encoded memories. For example, neuron activation initiates cytosine demethylation by stimulating DNA topoisomerase II beta (TOP2B) protein to make a temporary DNA double-strand break (repaired within about 2 hours) at a promoter of an immediate early gene, EGR1, allowing expression of this gene. The EGR1 proteins then recruit methylcytosine dioxygenase TET1 proteins to initiate demethylation at several hundred genes, facilitating expression of those genes. Initiation of demethylation of cytosine also occurs when OGG1 localizes at oxidized guanine in a methylated CpG site and recruits TET1 for initiation of demethylation at that site. DNMT3A2 is another immediate early gene upregulated by synaptic activity. DNMT3A2 protein catalyzes de novo DNA methylations. These several mechanisms convert external experiences into DNA methylations and initiated demethylations of neuronal DNA cytosines, causing changes in gene expression that are the basis of long-term memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Bernstein
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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87
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Hagman JR, Arends T, Laborda C, Knapp JR, Harmacek L, O'Connor BP. Chromodomain helicase DNA-binding 4 (CHD4) regulates early B cell identity and V(D)J recombination. Immunol Rev 2021; 305:29-42. [PMID: 34927255 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
B lymphocytes develop from uncommitted precursors into immunoglobulin (antibody)-producing B cells, a major arm of adaptive immunity. Progression of early progenitors to antibody-expressing cells in the bone marrow is orchestrated by the temporal regulation of different gene programs at discrete developmental stages. A major question concerns how B cells control the accessibility of these genes to transcription factors. Research has implicated nucleosome remodeling ATPases as mediators of chromatin accessibility. Here, we describe studies of chromodomain helicase DNA-binding 4 (CHD4; also known as Mi-2β) in early B cell development. CHD4 comprises multiple domains that function in nucleosome mobilization and histone binding. CHD4 is a key component of Nucleosome Remodeling and Deacetylase, or NuRD (Mi-2) complexes, which assemble with other proteins that mediate transcriptional repression. We review data demonstrating that CHD4 is necessary for B lineage identity: early B lineage progression, proliferation in response to interleukin-7, responses to DNA damage, and cell survival in vivo. CHD4-NuRD is also required for the Ig heavy-chain repertoire by promoting utilization of distal variable (VH ) gene segments in V(D)J recombination. In conclusion, the regulation of chromatin accessibility by CHD4 is essential for production of antibodies by B cells, which in turn mediate humoral immune responses to pathogens and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Hagman
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Program in Molecular Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Tessa Arends
- Program in Molecular Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Curtis Laborda
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Jennifer R Knapp
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Laura Harmacek
- Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Brian P O'Connor
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
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88
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Visconti VV, Centofanti F, Fittipaldi S, Macrì E, Novelli G, Botta A. Epigenetics of Myotonic Dystrophies: A Minireview. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212594. [PMID: 34830473 PMCID: PMC8623789 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 and 2 (DM1 and DM2) are two multisystemic autosomal dominant disorders with clinical and genetic similarities. The prevailing paradigm for DMs is that they are mediated by an in trans toxic RNA mechanism, triggered by untranslated CTG and CCTG repeat expansions in the DMPK and CNBP genes for DM1 and DM2, respectively. Nevertheless, increasing evidences suggest that epigenetics can also play a role in the pathogenesis of both diseases. In this review, we discuss the available information on epigenetic mechanisms that could contribute to the DMs outcome and progression. Changes in DNA cytosine methylation, chromatin remodeling and expression of regulatory noncoding RNAs are described, with the intent of depicting an epigenetic signature of DMs. Epigenetic biomarkers have a strong potential for clinical application since they could be used as targets for therapeutic interventions avoiding changes in DNA sequences. Moreover, understanding their clinical significance may serve as a diagnostic indicator in genetic counselling in order to improve genotype–phenotype correlations in DM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Veronica Visconti
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Medical Genetics Section, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (V.V.V.); (F.C.); (S.F.); (E.M.); (G.N.)
| | - Federica Centofanti
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Medical Genetics Section, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (V.V.V.); (F.C.); (S.F.); (E.M.); (G.N.)
| | - Simona Fittipaldi
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Medical Genetics Section, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (V.V.V.); (F.C.); (S.F.); (E.M.); (G.N.)
| | - Elisa Macrì
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Medical Genetics Section, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (V.V.V.); (F.C.); (S.F.); (E.M.); (G.N.)
| | - Giuseppe Novelli
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Medical Genetics Section, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (V.V.V.); (F.C.); (S.F.); (E.M.); (G.N.)
- IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Annalisa Botta
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Medical Genetics Section, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (V.V.V.); (F.C.); (S.F.); (E.M.); (G.N.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-6-7259-6078
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89
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Kramer ET, Godoy PM, Kaufman CK. TRANSCRIPTIONAL PROFILE AND CHROMATIN ACCESSIBILITY IN ZEBRAFISH MELANOCYTES AND MELANOMA TUMORS. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2021; 12:6428538. [PMID: 34791221 PMCID: PMC8727958 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptional and epigenetic characterization of melanocytes and melanoma cells isolated from their in vivo context promises to unveil key differences between these developmentally related normal and cancer cell populations. We therefore engineered an enhanced Danio rerio (zebrafish) melanoma model with fluorescently labeled melanocytes to allow for isolation of normal (wild type) and premalignant (BRAFV600E-mutant) populations for comparison to fully transformed BRAFV600E-mutant, p53 loss-of-function melanoma cells. Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting to isolate these populations, we performed high-quality RNA- and ATAC-seq on sorted zebrafish melanocytes vs. melanoma cells, which we provide as a resource here. Melanocytes had consistent transcriptional and accessibility profiles, as did melanoma cells. Comparing melanocytes and melanoma, we note 4128 differentially expressed genes and 56,936 differentially accessible regions with overall gene expression profiles analogous to human melanocytes and the pigmentation melanoma subtype. Combining the RNA- and ATAC-seq data surprisingly revealed that increased chromatin accessibility did not always correspond with increased gene expression, suggesting that though there is widespread dysregulation in chromatin accessibility in melanoma, there is a potentially more refined gene expression program driving cancerous melanoma. These data serve as a resource to identify candidate regulators of the normal vs. diseased states in a genetically controlled in vivo context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva T Kramer
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
| | - Paula M Godoy
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
| | - Charles K Kaufman
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
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90
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Mohanta TK, Mishra AK, Al-Harrasi A. The 3D Genome: From Structure to Function. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11585. [PMID: 34769016 PMCID: PMC8584255 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The genome is the most functional part of a cell, and genomic contents are organized in a compact three-dimensional (3D) structure. The genome contains millions of nucleotide bases organized in its proper frame. Rapid development in genome sequencing and advanced microscopy techniques have enabled us to understand the 3D spatial organization of the genome. Chromosome capture methods using a ligation approach and the visualization tool of a 3D genome browser have facilitated detailed exploration of the genome. Topologically associated domains (TADs), lamin-associated domains, CCCTC-binding factor domains, cohesin, and chromatin structures are the prominent identified components that encode the 3D structure of the genome. Although TADs are the major contributors to 3D genome organization, they are absent in Arabidopsis. However, a few research groups have reported the presence of TAD-like structures in the plant kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tapan Kumar Mohanta
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, Oman
| | - Awdhesh Kumar Mishra
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea; or
| | - Ahmed Al-Harrasi
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, Oman
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91
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Asthma-associated genetic variants induce IL33 differential expression through an enhancer-blocking regulatory region. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6115. [PMID: 34675193 PMCID: PMC8531453 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26347-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have implicated the IL33 locus in asthma, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we identify a 5 kb region within the GWAS-defined segment that acts as an enhancer-blocking element in vivo and in vitro. Chromatin conformation capture showed that this 5 kb region loops to the IL33 promoter, potentially regulating its expression. We show that the asthma-associated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1888909, located within the 5 kb region, is associated with IL33 gene expression in human airway epithelial cells and IL-33 protein expression in human plasma, potentially through differential binding of OCT-1 (POU2F1) to the asthma-risk allele. Our data demonstrate that asthma-associated variants at the IL33 locus mediate allele-specific regulatory activity and IL33 expression, providing a mechanism through which a regulatory SNP contributes to genetic risk of asthma. Susceptibility to asthma and severity of symptoms are regulated by a number of different genomic regions. Here the authors characterise a 5kb regulatory region and demonstrate genetic and topological regulation of IL33 and association with disease in different human cohorts.
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92
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Russi M, Marson D, Fermeglia A, Aulic S, Fermeglia M, Laurini E, Pricl S. The fellowship of the RING: BRCA1, its partner BARD1 and their liaison in DNA repair and cancer. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 232:108009. [PMID: 34619284 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.108009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein (BRCA1) and its partner - the BRCA1-associated RING domain protein 1 (BARD1) - are key players in a plethora of fundamental biological functions including, among others, DNA repair, replication fork protection, cell cycle progression, telomere maintenance, chromatin remodeling, apoptosis and tumor suppression. However, mutations in their encoding genes transform them into dangerous threats, and substantially increase the risk of developing cancer and other malignancies during the lifetime of the affected individuals. Understanding how BRCA1 and BARD1 perform their biological activities therefore not only provides a powerful mean to prevent such fatal occurrences but can also pave the way to the development of new targeted therapeutics. Thus, through this review work we aim at presenting the major efforts focused on the functional characterization and structural insights of BRCA1 and BARD1, per se and in combination with all their principal mediators and regulators, and on the multifaceted roles these proteins play in the maintenance of human genome integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Russi
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), DEA, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Domenico Marson
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), DEA, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Alice Fermeglia
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), DEA, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Suzana Aulic
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), DEA, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Maurizio Fermeglia
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), DEA, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Erik Laurini
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), DEA, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Sabrina Pricl
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), DEA, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy; Department of General Biophysics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
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93
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Xu R, Li S, Li S, Wong EM, Southey MC, Hopper JL, Abramson MJ, Guo Y. Residential surrounding greenness and DNA methylation: An epigenome-wide association study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 154:106556. [PMID: 33862401 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA methylation is a potential biological mechanism through which residential greenness affects health, but little is known about its association with greenness and whether the association could be modified by genetic background. We aimed to evaluate the association between surrounding greenness and genome-wide DNA methylation and potential gene-greenness interaction effects on DNA methylation. METHODS We measured blood-derived DNA methylation using the HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array (Illumina) for 479 Australian women, including 66 monozygotic, 66 dizygotic twin pairs, and 215 sisters of these twins. Surrounding greenness was represented by Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) within 300, 500, 1000 or 2000 m surrounding participants' home addresses. For each cytosine-guanine dinucleotide (CpG), the associations between its methylation level and NDVI or EVI were evaluated by generalized estimating equations, after adjusting for age, education, marital status, area-level socioeconomic status, smoking behavior, cell-type proportions, and familial clustering. We used comb-p and DMRcate to identify significant differentially methylated regions (DMRs). For each significant CpG, we evaluated the interaction effects of greenness and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within ±1 Mb window on its methylation level. RESULTS We found associations between surrounding greenness and blood DNA methylation for one CpG (cg04720477, mapped to the promoter region of CNP gene) with false discovery rate [FDR] < 0.05, and for another 9 CpGs with 0.05 ≤ FDR < 0.10. For two of these CpGs, we found 33 SNPs significantly (FDR < 0.05) modified the greenness-methylation association. There were 35 significant DMRs related to surrounding greenness that were identified by both comb-p (Sidak p-value < 0.01) and DMRcate (FDR < 0.01). Those CpGs and DMRs were mapped to genes related to many human diseases, such as mental health disorders and neoplasms as well as nutritional and metabolic diseases. CONCLUSIONS Surrounding greenness was associated with blood DNA methylation of many loci across human genome, and this association could be modified by genetic variations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongbin Xu
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Shuai Li
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB1 8RN, UK; Precision Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Shanshan Li
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Ee Ming Wong
- Precision Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; Department of Clinical Pathology, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Melissa C Southey
- Precision Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; Department of Clinical Pathology, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Cancer Epidemiology Division, Cancer Council Victoria, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - John L Hopper
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Michael J Abramson
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Yuming Guo
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
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94
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Lange M, Begolli R, Giakountis A. Non-Coding Variants in Cancer: Mechanistic Insights and Clinical Potential for Personalized Medicine. Noncoding RNA 2021; 7:47. [PMID: 34449663 PMCID: PMC8395730 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna7030047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The cancer genome is characterized by extensive variability, in the form of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) or structural variations such as Copy Number Alterations (CNAs) across wider genomic areas. At the molecular level, most SNPs and/or CNAs reside in non-coding sequences, ultimately affecting the regulation of oncogenes and/or tumor-suppressors in a cancer-specific manner. Notably, inherited non-coding variants can predispose for cancer decades prior to disease onset. Furthermore, accumulation of additional non-coding driver mutations during progression of the disease, gives rise to genomic instability, acting as the driving force of neoplastic development and malignant evolution. Therefore, detection and characterization of such mutations can improve risk assessment for healthy carriers and expand the diagnostic and therapeutic toolbox for the patient. This review focuses on functional variants that reside in transcribed or not transcribed non-coding regions of the cancer genome and presents a collection of appropriate state-of-the-art methodologies to study them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marios Lange
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 41500 Larissa, Greece; (M.L.); (R.B.)
| | - Rodiola Begolli
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 41500 Larissa, Greece; (M.L.); (R.B.)
| | - Antonis Giakountis
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 41500 Larissa, Greece; (M.L.); (R.B.)
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, B.S.R.C “Alexander Fleming”, 34 Fleming Str., 16672 Vari, Greece
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95
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Voisin S, Jacques M, Landen S, Harvey NR, Haupt LM, Griffiths LR, Gancheva S, Ouni M, Jähnert M, Ashton KJ, Coffey VG, Thompson JM, Doering TM, Gabory A, Junien C, Caiazzo R, Verkindt H, Raverdy V, Pattou F, Froguel P, Craig JM, Blocquiaux S, Thomis M, Sharples AP, Schürmann A, Roden M, Horvath S, Eynon N. Meta-analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation and integrative omics of age in human skeletal muscle. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2021; 12:1064-1078. [PMID: 34196129 PMCID: PMC8350206 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.12741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Knowledge of age-related DNA methylation changes in skeletal muscle is limited, yet this tissue is severely affected by ageing in humans. METHODS We conducted a large-scale epigenome-wide association study meta-analysis of age in human skeletal muscle from 10 studies (total n = 908 muscle methylomes from men and women aged 18-89 years old). We explored the genomic context of age-related DNA methylation changes in chromatin states, CpG islands, and transcription factor binding sites and performed gene set enrichment analysis. We then integrated the DNA methylation data with known transcriptomic and proteomic age-related changes in skeletal muscle. Finally, we updated our recently developed muscle epigenetic clock (https://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/MEAT.html). RESULTS We identified 6710 differentially methylated regions at a stringent false discovery rate <0.005, spanning 6367 unique genes, many of which related to skeletal muscle structure and development. We found a strong increase in DNA methylation at Polycomb target genes and bivalent chromatin domains and a concomitant decrease in DNA methylation at enhancers. Most differentially methylated genes were not altered at the mRNA or protein level, but they were nonetheless strongly enriched for genes showing age-related differential mRNA and protein expression. After adding a substantial number of samples from five datasets (+371), the updated version of the muscle clock (MEAT 2.0, total n = 1053 samples) performed similarly to the original version of the muscle clock (median of 4.4 vs. 4.6 years in age prediction error), suggesting that the original version of the muscle clock was very accurate. CONCLUSIONS We provide here the most comprehensive picture of DNA methylation ageing in human skeletal muscle and reveal widespread alterations of genes involved in skeletal muscle structure, development, and differentiation. We have made our results available as an open-access, user-friendly, web-based tool called MetaMeth (https://sarah-voisin.shinyapps.io/MetaMeth/).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Voisin
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS)Victoria University, FootscrayMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - Macsue Jacques
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS)Victoria University, FootscrayMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - Shanie Landen
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS)Victoria University, FootscrayMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - Nicholas R. Harvey
- Faculty of Health Sciences & MedicineBond UniversityGold CoastQldAustralia
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Genomics Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical InnovationQueensland University of Technology (QUT)Kelvin GroveQldAustralia
| | - Larisa M. Haupt
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Genomics Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical InnovationQueensland University of Technology (QUT)Kelvin GroveQldAustralia
| | - Lyn R. Griffiths
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Genomics Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical InnovationQueensland University of Technology (QUT)Kelvin GroveQldAustralia
| | - Sofiya Gancheva
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)München‐NeuherbergGermany
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical FacultyHeinrich Heine UniversityDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Meriem Ouni
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)München‐NeuherbergGermany
- Department of Experimental DiabetologyGerman Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam‐Rehbruecke (DIfE)NuthetalGermany
| | - Markus Jähnert
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)München‐NeuherbergGermany
- Department of Experimental DiabetologyGerman Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam‐Rehbruecke (DIfE)NuthetalGermany
| | - Kevin J. Ashton
- Faculty of Health Sciences & MedicineBond UniversityGold CoastQldAustralia
| | - Vernon G. Coffey
- Faculty of Health Sciences & MedicineBond UniversityGold CoastQldAustralia
| | | | - Thomas M. Doering
- School of Health, Medical and Applied SciencesCentral Queensland UniversityRockhamptonQldAustralia
| | - Anne Gabory
- Université Paris‐Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREEDJouy‐en‐JosasFrance
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREEDMaisons‐AlfortFrance
| | - Claudine Junien
- Université Paris‐Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREEDJouy‐en‐JosasFrance
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREEDMaisons‐AlfortFrance
| | - Robert Caiazzo
- Univ Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Pasteur Institute Lille, U1190 Translational Research for Diabetes, European Genomic Institute of DiabetesLilleFrance
| | - Hélène Verkindt
- Univ Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Pasteur Institute Lille, U1190 Translational Research for Diabetes, European Genomic Institute of DiabetesLilleFrance
| | - Violetta Raverdy
- Univ Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Pasteur Institute Lille, U1190 Translational Research for Diabetes, European Genomic Institute of DiabetesLilleFrance
| | - François Pattou
- Univ Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Pasteur Institute Lille, U1190 Translational Research for Diabetes, European Genomic Institute of DiabetesLilleFrance
| | - Philippe Froguel
- Univ Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Pasteur Institute Lille, U1190 Translational Research for Diabetes, European Genomic Institute of DiabetesLilleFrance
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and ReproductionImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - Jeffrey M. Craig
- IMPACT InstituteDeakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds CampusGeelongVic.Australia
- Epigenetics, Murdoch Children's Research InstituteRoyal Children's HospitalParkvilleVic.Australia
| | - Sara Blocquiaux
- Physical Activity, Sport & Health Research Group, Department of Movement SciencesKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Martine Thomis
- Physical Activity, Sport & Health Research Group, Department of Movement SciencesKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Adam P. Sharples
- Institute for Physical PerformanceNorwegian School of Sport SciencesOsloNorway
| | - Annette Schürmann
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)München‐NeuherbergGermany
- Department of Experimental DiabetologyGerman Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam‐Rehbruecke (DIfE)NuthetalGermany
| | - Michael Roden
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)München‐NeuherbergGermany
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical FacultyHeinrich Heine UniversityDüsseldorfGermany
- Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes ResearchHeinrich Heine UniversityDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics and Biostatistics, David Geffen School of MedicineUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Nir Eynon
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS)Victoria University, FootscrayMelbourneVic.Australia
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96
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Morabito S, Miyoshi E, Michael N, Shahin S, Martini AC, Head E, Silva J, Leavy K, Perez-Rosendahl M, Swarup V. Single-nucleus chromatin accessibility and transcriptomic characterization of Alzheimer's disease. Nat Genet 2021; 53:1143-1155. [PMID: 34239132 PMCID: PMC8766217 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00894-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 251] [Impact Index Per Article: 83.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The gene-regulatory landscape of the brain is highly dynamic in health and disease, coordinating a menagerie of biological processes across distinct cell types. Here, we present a multi-omic single-nucleus study of 191,890 nuclei in late-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD), accessible through our web portal, profiling chromatin accessibility and gene expression in the same biological samples and uncovering vast cellular heterogeneity. We identified cell-type-specific, disease-associated candidate cis-regulatory elements and their candidate target genes, including an oligodendrocyte-associated regulatory module containing links to APOE and CLU. We describe cis-regulatory relationships in specific cell types at a subset of AD risk loci defined by genome-wide association studies, demonstrating the utility of this multi-omic single-nucleus approach. Trajectory analysis of glial populations identified disease-relevant transcription factors, such as SREBF1, and their regulatory targets. Finally, we introduce single-nucleus consensus weighted gene coexpression analysis, a coexpression network analysis strategy robust to sparse single-cell data, and perform a systems-level analysis of the AD transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Morabito
- Mathematical, Computational and Systems Biology (MCSB) Program, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (MIND), University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Emily Miyoshi
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (MIND), University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Neethu Michael
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (MIND), University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Saba Shahin
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (MIND), University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Alessandra Cadete Martini
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Justine Silva
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Kelsey Leavy
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Mari Perez-Rosendahl
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Vivek Swarup
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (MIND), University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
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97
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Varela T, Conceição N, Laizé V, Cancela ML. Transcriptional regulation of human DUSP4 gene by cancer-related transcription factors. J Cell Biochem 2021; 122:1556-1566. [PMID: 34254709 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Dual specificity phosphatase 4 (DUSP4), a member of the dual specificity phosphatase family, is responsible for the dephosphorylation and inactivation of ERK, JNK and p38, which are mitogen-activated protein kinases involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, but also in inflammation processes. Given its importance for cellular signalling, DUSP4 is subjected to a tight regulation and there is growing evidence that its expression is dysregulated in several tumours. However, the mechanisms underlying DUSP4 transcriptional regulation remain poorly understood. Here, we analysed the regulation of the human DUSP4 promoters 1 and 2, located upstream of exons 1 and 2, respectively, by the cancer-related transcription factors (TFs) STAT3, FOXA1, CTCF and YY1. The presence of binding sites for these TFs was predicted in both promoters through the in silico analysis of DUSP4, and their functionality was assessed through luciferase activity assays. Regulatory activity of the TFs tested was found to be promoter-specific. While CTCF stimulated the activity of promoter 2 that controls the transcription of variants 2 and X1, STAT3 stimulated the activity of promoter 1 that controls the transcription of variant 1. YY1 positively regulated both promoters, although to different extents. Through site-directed mutagenesis, the functionality of YY1 binding sites present in promoter 2 was confirmed. This study provides novel insights into the transcriptional regulation of DUSP4, contributing to a better comprehension of the mechanisms of its dysregulation observed in several types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Varela
- Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Natércia Conceição
- Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal.,Algarve Biomedical Center, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Vincent Laizé
- Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - M Leonor Cancela
- Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal.,Algarve Biomedical Center, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
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98
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Currin KW, Erdos MR, Narisu N, Rai V, Vadlamudi S, Perrin HJ, Idol JR, Yan T, Albanus RD, Broadaway KA, Etheridge AS, Bonnycastle LL, Orchard P, Didion JP, Chaudhry AS, Innocenti F, Schuetz EG, Scott LJ, Parker SCJ, Collins FS, Mohlke KL. Genetic effects on liver chromatin accessibility identify disease regulatory variants. Am J Hum Genet 2021; 108:1169-1189. [PMID: 34038741 PMCID: PMC8323023 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying the molecular mechanisms by which genome-wide association study (GWAS) loci influence traits remains challenging. Chromatin accessibility quantitative trait loci (caQTLs) help identify GWAS loci that may alter GWAS traits by modulating chromatin structure, but caQTLs have been identified in a limited set of human tissues. Here we mapped caQTLs in human liver tissue in 20 liver samples and identified 3,123 caQTLs. The caQTL variants are enriched in liver tissue promoter and enhancer states and frequently disrupt binding motifs of transcription factors expressed in liver. We predicted target genes for 861 caQTL peaks using proximity, chromatin interactions, correlation with promoter accessibility or gene expression, and colocalization with expression QTLs. Using GWAS signals for 19 liver function and/or cardiometabolic traits, we identified 110 colocalized caQTLs and GWAS signals, 56 of which contained a predicted caPeak target gene. At the LITAF LDL-cholesterol GWAS locus, we validated that a caQTL variant showed allelic differences in protein binding and transcriptional activity. These caQTLs contribute to the epigenomic characterization of human liver and help identify molecular mechanisms and genes at GWAS loci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin W Currin
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Michael R Erdos
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Narisu Narisu
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Vivek Rai
- Department of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Hannah J Perrin
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jacqueline R Idol
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Tingfen Yan
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | - K Alaine Broadaway
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Amy S Etheridge
- Eshelman School of Pharmacy and Center for Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lori L Bonnycastle
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Peter Orchard
- Department of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - John P Didion
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Amarjit S Chaudhry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Federico Innocenti
- Eshelman School of Pharmacy and Center for Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Erin G Schuetz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Laura J Scott
- Department of Biostatistics and Center for Statistical Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Stephen C J Parker
- Department of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Francis S Collins
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Karen L Mohlke
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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99
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Prowse-Wilkins CP, Wang J, Xiang R, Garner JB, Goddard ME, Chamberlain AJ. Putative Causal Variants Are Enriched in Annotated Functional Regions From Six Bovine Tissues. Front Genet 2021; 12:664379. [PMID: 34249087 PMCID: PMC8260860 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.664379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic variants which affect complex traits (causal variants) are thought to be found in functional regions of the genome. Identifying causal variants would be useful for predicting complex trait phenotypes in dairy cows, however, functional regions are poorly annotated in the bovine genome. Functional regions can be identified on a genome-wide scale by assaying for post-translational modifications to histone proteins (histone modifications) and proteins interacting with the genome (e.g., transcription factors) using a method called Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq). In this study ChIP-seq was performed to find functional regions in the bovine genome by assaying for four histone modifications (H3K4Me1, H3K4Me3, H3K27ac, and H3K27Me3) and one transcription factor (CTCF) in 6 tissues (heart, kidney, liver, lung, mammary and spleen) from 2 to 3 lactating dairy cows. Eighty-six ChIP-seq samples were generated in this study, identifying millions of functional regions in the bovine genome. Combinations of histone modifications and CTCF were found using ChromHMM and annotated by comparing with active and inactive genes across the genome. Functional marks differed between tissues highlighting areas which might be particularly important to tissue-specific regulation. Supporting the cis-regulatory role of functional regions, the read counts in some ChIP peaks correlated with nearby gene expression. The functional regions identified in this study were enriched for putative causal variants as seen in other species. Interestingly, regions which correlated with gene expression were particularly enriched for potential causal variants. This supports the hypothesis that complex traits are regulated by variants that alter gene expression. This study provides one of the largest ChIP-seq annotation resources in cattle including, for the first time, in the mammary gland of lactating cows. By linking regulatory regions to expression QTL and trait QTL we demonstrate a new strategy for identifying causal variants in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire P Prowse-Wilkins
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBiosciences, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Jianghui Wang
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBiosciences, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Ruidong Xiang
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBiosciences, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Josie B Garner
- Agriculture Victoria, Ellinbank Dairy Centre, Ellinbank, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael E Goddard
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBiosciences, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Amanda J Chamberlain
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBiosciences, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
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Lee DI, Roy S. GRiNCH: simultaneous smoothing and detection of topological units of genome organization from sparse chromatin contact count matrices with matrix factorization. Genome Biol 2021; 22:164. [PMID: 34034791 PMCID: PMC8152090 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02378-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
High-throughput chromosome conformation capture assays, such as Hi-C, have shown that the genome is organized into organizational units such as topologically associating domains (TADs), which can impact gene regulatory processes. The sparsity of Hi-C matrices poses a challenge for reliable detection of these units. We present GRiNCH, a constrained matrix-factorization-based approach for simultaneous smoothing and discovery of TADs from sparse contact count matrices. GRiNCH shows superior performance against seven TAD-calling methods and three smoothing methods. GRiNCH is applicable to multiple platforms including SPRITE and HiChIP and can predict novel boundary factors with potential roles in genome organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-Inn Lee
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, 53715, USA
| | - Sushmita Roy
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, 53715, USA. .,Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, 330 N. Orchard Street, Madison, 53715, USA.
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