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Singh R, Fazal Z, Bikorimana E, Boyd RI, Yerby C, Tomlin M, Baldwin H, Shokry D, Corbet AK, Shahid K, Hattab A, Freemantle SJ, Spinella MJ. Reciprocal epigenetic remodeling controls testicular cancer hypersensitivity to hypomethylating agents and chemotherapy. Mol Oncol 2021; 16:683-698. [PMID: 34482638 PMCID: PMC8807365 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are aggressive but sensitive to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Alternative therapies are needed for tumors refractory to cisplatin with hypomethylating agents providing one possibility. The mechanisms of cisplatin hypersensitivity and resistance in TGCTs remain poorly understood. Recently, it has been shown that TGCTs, even those resistant to cisplatin, are hypersensitive to very low doses of hypomethylating agents including 5-aza deoxy-cytosine (5-aza) and guadecitabine. We undertook a pharmacogenomic approach in order to better understand mechanisms of TGCT hypomethylating agent hypersensitivity by generating a panel of acquired 5-aza-resistant TGCT cells and contrasting these to previously generated acquired isogenic cisplatin-resistant cells from the same parent. Interestingly, there was a reciprocal relationship between cisplatin and 5-aza sensitivity, with cisplatin resistance associated with increased sensitivity to 5-aza and 5-aza resistance associated with increased sensitivity to cisplatin. Unbiased transcriptome analysis revealed 5-aza-resistant cells strongly downregulated polycomb target gene expression, the exact opposite of the finding for cisplatin-resistant cells, which upregulated polycomb target genes. This was associated with a dramatic increase in H3K27me3 and decrease in DNMT3B levels in 5-aza-resistant cells, the exact opposite changes seen in cisplatin-resistant cells. Evidence is presented that reciprocal regulation of polycomb and DNMT3B may be initiated by changes in DNMT3B levels as DNMT3B knockdown alone in parental cells resulted in increased expression of H3K27me3, EZH2, and BMI1, conferred 5-aza resistance and cisplatin sensitization, and mediated genome-wide repression of polycomb target gene expression. Finally, genome-wide analysis revealed that 5-aza-resistant, cisplatin-resistant, and DNMT3B-knockdown cells alter the expression of a common set of polycomb target genes. This study highlights that reciprocal epigenetic changes mediated by DNMT3B and polycomb may be a key driver of the unique cisplatin and 5-aza hypersensitivity of TGCTs and suggests that distinct epigenetic vulnerabilities may exist for pharmacological targeting of TGCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratnakar Singh
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Zeeshan Fazal
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Emmanuel Bikorimana
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Raya I Boyd
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Cliff Yerby
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Megan Tomlin
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Hannah Baldwin
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Doha Shokry
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Andrea K Corbet
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Khadeeja Shahid
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Aleyah Hattab
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Sarah J Freemantle
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Michael J Spinella
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA.,Carle Illinois College of Medicine and Cancer Center of Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
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Cao N, Shi H, Chen C, Xie L, Wang Z, Zheng L, Yu C. Characterization of comprehensive dynamic epigenetic changes during human primary Sjögren's syndrome progression. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:1044. [PMID: 34422956 PMCID: PMC8339825 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-1754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by reduced exocrine gland (principally the salivary and lacrimal glands) activity caused by chronic lymphocytic infiltration. Although pSS has been closely associated with an increased risk of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, the dynamic epigenetic changes in the gland cells that accompany the pathogenesis are not entirely understood. Methods In this study, we harvested tissue samples from the labial gland with (LG_pSS) or without pSS (LG_NC) before MALT development, as well as the parotid gland with tumor tissues (PG_MALT) and paracancerous tissues (PG_NC) of two pSS patients with MALT lymphoma, and conducted RNA-seq and ChIP-seq for tri-methylated histone 3 lysine 4, 9, 27, 36, and 79 (H3K4/9/27/36/79me3). Results Transcriptome landscapes indicated two outcomes of pSS progression with or without MALT lymphoma represented by distinct populations of differentially expressed genes and their functions. Furthermore, the epigenetic atlas of genome-wide H3K4/9/27/36/79me3 was in different stages for various samples, indicating that the variance of H3K4me3 was the earliest event, followed by selective alterations of H3K9/27/36/79me3. These four epigenetic modifications determine the final outcome of pSS progression. Conclusions Our results not only advance the understanding of the dynamics of pSS progression and highlight the importance of epigenetic alterations in regulating transcription during this pathological process, but also identify potential therapeutic targets for pSS treatment and lymphoma intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningning Cao
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, the Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.,National Clinical Research Center of Oral Disease, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Huan Shi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, the Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.,National Clinical Research Center of Oral Disease, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Chan Chen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, the Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.,National Clinical Research Center of Oral Disease, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Lisong Xie
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, the Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.,National Clinical Research Center of Oral Disease, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhijun Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, the Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.,National Clinical Research Center of Oral Disease, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingyan Zheng
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, the Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.,National Clinical Research Center of Oral Disease, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Chuangqi Yu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, the Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.,National Clinical Research Center of Oral Disease, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
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53
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Klonou A, Chlamydas S, Piperi C. Structure, Activity and Function of the MLL2 (KMT2B) Protein Lysine Methyltransferase. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:823. [PMID: 34440566 PMCID: PMC8401916 DOI: 10.3390/life11080823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mixed Lineage Leukemia 2 (MLL2) protein, also known as KMT2B, belongs to the family of mammalian histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methyltransferases. It is a large protein of 2715 amino acids, widely expressed in adult human tissues and a paralog of the MLL1 protein. MLL2 contains a characteristic C-terminal SET domain responsible for methyltransferase activity and forms a protein complex with WRAD (WDR5, RbBP5, ASH2L and DPY30), host cell factors 1/2 (HCF 1/2) and Menin. The MLL2 complex is responsible for H3K4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) on specific gene promoters and nearby cis-regulatory sites, regulating bivalent developmental genes as well as stem cell and germinal cell differentiation gene sets. Moreover, MLL2 plays a critical role in development and germ line deletions of Mll2 have been associated with early growth retardation, neural tube defects and apoptosis that leads to embryonic death. It has also been involved in the control of voluntary movement and the pathogenesis of early stage childhood dystonia. Additionally, tumor-promoting functions of MLL2 have been detected in several cancer types, including colorectal, hepatocellular, follicular cancer and gliomas. In this review, we discuss the main structural and functional aspects of the MLL2 methyltransferase with particular emphasis on transcriptional mechanisms, gene regulation and association with diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Klonou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.K.); (S.C.)
| | - Sarantis Chlamydas
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.K.); (S.C.)
- Research and Development Department, Active Motif, Inc., Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA
| | - Christina Piperi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.K.); (S.C.)
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Ortmann BM, Burrows N, Lobb IT, Arnaiz E, Wit N, Bailey PSJ, Jordon LH, Lombardi O, Peñalver A, McCaffrey J, Seear R, Mole DR, Ratcliffe PJ, Maxwell PH, Nathan JA. The HIF complex recruits the histone methyltransferase SET1B to activate specific hypoxia-inducible genes. Nat Genet 2021; 53:1022-1035. [PMID: 34155378 PMCID: PMC7611696 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00887-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs) are fundamental to cellular adaptation to low oxygen levels, but it is unclear how they interact with chromatin and activate their target genes. Here, we use genome-wide mutagenesis to identify genes involved in HIF transcriptional activity, and define a requirement for the histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methyltransferase SET1B. SET1B loss leads to a selective reduction in transcriptional activation of HIF target genes, resulting in impaired cell growth, angiogenesis and tumor establishment in SET1B-deficient xenografts. Mechanistically, we show that SET1B accumulates on chromatin in hypoxia, and is recruited to HIF target genes by the HIF complex. The selective induction of H3K4 trimethylation at HIF target loci is both HIF- and SET1B-dependent and, when impaired, correlates with decreased promoter acetylation and gene expression. Together, these findings show SET1B as a determinant of site-specific histone methylation and provide insight into how HIF target genes are differentially regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M Ortmann
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Natalie Burrows
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, The Keith Peters Building, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ian T Lobb
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, The Keith Peters Building, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Esther Arnaiz
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Niek Wit
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter S J Bailey
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Louise H Jordon
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Olivia Lombardi
- NDM Research Building, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, UK
| | - Ana Peñalver
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, The Keith Peters Building, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - James McCaffrey
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, The Keith Peters Building, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Histopathology, Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rachel Seear
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - David R Mole
- NDM Research Building, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, UK
| | - Peter J Ratcliffe
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Patrick H Maxwell
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, The Keith Peters Building, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - James A Nathan
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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55
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Weinhouse C. The roles of inducible chromatin and transcriptional memory in cellular defense system responses to redox-active pollutants. Free Radic Biol Med 2021; 170:85-108. [PMID: 33789123 PMCID: PMC8382302 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
People are exposed to wide range of redox-active environmental pollutants. Air pollution, heavy metals, pesticides, and endocrine disrupting chemicals can disrupt cellular redox status. Redox-active pollutants in our environment all trigger their own sets of specific cellular responses, but they also activate a common set of general stress responses that buffer the cell against homeostatic insults. These cellular defense system (CDS) pathways include the heat shock response, the oxidative stress response, the hypoxia response, the unfolded protein response, the DNA damage response, and the general stress response mediated by the stress-activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Over the past two decades, the field of environmental epigenetics has investigated epigenetic responses to environmental pollutants, including redox-active pollutants. Studies of these responses highlight the role of chromatin modifications in controlling the transcriptional response to pollutants and the role of transcriptional memory, often referred to as "epigenetic reprogramming", in predisposing previously exposed individuals to more potent transcriptional responses on secondary challenge. My central thesis in this review is that high dose or chronic exposure to redox-active pollutants leads to transcriptional memories at CDS target genes that influence the cell's ability to mount protective responses. To support this thesis, I will: (1) summarize the known chromatin features required for inducible gene activation; (2) review the known forms of transcriptional memory; (3) discuss the roles of inducible chromatin and transcriptional memory in CDS responses that are activated by redox-active environmental pollutants; and (4) propose a conceptual framework for CDS pathway responsiveness as a readout of total cellular exposure to redox-active pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caren Weinhouse
- Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97214, USA.
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56
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Au Yeung WK, Maruyama O, Sasaki H. A convolutional neural network-based regression model to infer the epigenetic crosstalk responsible for CG methylation patterns. BMC Bioinformatics 2021; 22:341. [PMID: 34162326 PMCID: PMC8220828 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-021-04272-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Epigenetic modifications, including CG methylation (a major form of DNA methylation) and histone modifications, interact with each other to shape their genomic distribution patterns. However, the entire picture of the epigenetic crosstalk regulating the CG methylation pattern is unknown especially in cells that are available only in a limited number, such as mammalian oocytes. Most machine learning approaches developed so far aim at finding DNA sequences responsible for the CG methylation patterns and were not tailored for studying the epigenetic crosstalk.
Results We built a machine learning model named epiNet to predict CG methylation patterns based on other epigenetic features, such as histone modifications, but not DNA sequence. Using epiNet, we identified biologically relevant epigenetic crosstalk between histone H3K36me3, H3K4me3, and CG methylation in mouse oocytes. This model also predicted the altered CG methylation pattern of mutant oocytes having perturbed histone modification, was applicable to cross-species prediction of the CG methylation pattern of human oocytes, and identified the epigenetic crosstalk potentially important in other cell types. Conclusions Our findings provide insight into the epigenetic crosstalk regulating the CG methylation pattern in mammalian oocytes and other cells. The use of epiNet should help to design or complement biological experiments in epigenetics studies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12859-021-04272-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan Kin Au Yeung
- Division of Epigenomics and Development, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
| | - Osamu Maruyama
- Faculty of Design, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 815-0032, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Sasaki
- Division of Epigenomics and Development, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
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57
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Pinto D, Pagé V, Fisher RP, Tanny JC. New connections between ubiquitylation and methylation in the co-transcriptional histone modification network. Curr Genet 2021; 67:695-705. [PMID: 34089069 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-021-01196-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Co-transcriptional histone modifications are a ubiquitous feature of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription, with profound but incompletely understood effects on gene expression. Unlike the covalent marks found at promoters, which are thought to be instructive for transcriptional activation, these modifications occur in gene bodies as a result of transcription, which has made elucidation of their functions challenging. Here we review recent insights into the regulation and roles of two such modifications: monoubiquitylation of histone H2B at lysine 120 (H2Bub1) and methylation of histone H3 at lysine 36 (H3K36me). Both H2Bub1 and H3K36me are enriched in the coding regions of transcribed genes, with highly overlapping distributions, but they were thought to work largely independently. We highlight our recent demonstration that, as was previously shown for H3K36me, H2Bub1 signals to the histone deacetylase (HDAC) complex Rpd3S/Clr6-CII, and that Rpd3S/Clr6-CII and H2Bub1 function in the same pathway to repress aberrant antisense transcription initiating within gene coding regions. Moreover, both of these histone modification pathways are influenced by protein phosphorylation catalyzed by the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) that regulate RNAPII elongation, chiefly Cdk9. Therefore, H2Bub1 and H3K36me are more tightly linked than previously thought, sharing both upstream regulatory inputs and downstream effectors. Moreover, these newfound connections suggest extensive, bidirectional signaling between RNAPII elongation complexes and chromatin-modifying enzymes, which helps to determine transcriptional outputs and should be a focus for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Pinto
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Vivane Pagé
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Robert P Fisher
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Jason C Tanny
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
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Not just a writer: PRC2 as a chromatin reader. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:1159-1170. [PMID: 34060617 PMCID: PMC8286813 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PRC2 deposits the H3K27me3 repressive mark, which facilitates transcription repression of developmental genes. The decision of whether a particular gene is silenced at a given point during development is heavily dependent on the chromatin context. More than just a simple epigenetic writer, PRC2 employs several distinct chromatin reading capabilities to sense the local chromatin environment and modulate the H3K27me3 writer activity in a context-dependent manner. Here we discuss the complex interplay of PRC2 with the hallmarks of active and repressive chromatin, how it affects H3K27me3 deposition and how it guides transcriptional activity.
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Villa E, Sahu U, O'Hara BP, Ali ES, Helmin KA, Asara JM, Gao P, Singer BD, Ben-Sahra I. mTORC1 stimulates cell growth through SAM synthesis and m 6A mRNA-dependent control of protein synthesis. Mol Cell 2021; 81:2076-2093.e9. [PMID: 33756106 PMCID: PMC8141029 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) regulates metabolism and cell growth in response to nutrient, growth, and oncogenic signals. We found that mTORC1 stimulates the synthesis of the major methyl donor, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), through the control of methionine adenosyltransferase 2 alpha (MAT2A) expression. The transcription factor c-MYC, downstream of mTORC1, directly binds to intron 1 of MAT2A and promotes its expression. Furthermore, mTORC1 increases the protein abundance of Wilms' tumor 1-associating protein (WTAP), the positive regulatory subunit of the human N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methyltransferase complex. Through the control of MAT2A and WTAP levels, mTORC1 signaling stimulates m6A RNA modification to promote protein synthesis and cell growth. A decline in intracellular SAM levels upon MAT2A inhibition decreases m6A RNA modification, protein synthesis rate, and tumor growth. Thus, mTORC1 adjusts m6A RNA modification through the control of SAM and WTAP levels to prime the translation machinery for anabolic cell growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Villa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Umakant Sahu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Brendan P O'Hara
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Eunus S Ali
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Kathryn A Helmin
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Simpson Querrey Center for Epigenetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 320 East Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - John M Asara
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Peng Gao
- Metabolomics Core Facility, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Benjamin D Singer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Simpson Querrey Center for Epigenetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 320 East Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Issam Ben-Sahra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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Histone acetylation dynamics modulates chromatin conformation and allele-specific interactions at oncogenic loci. Nat Genet 2021; 53:650-662. [PMID: 33972799 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00842-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In cancer cells, enhancer hijacking mediated by chromosomal alterations and/or increased deposition of acetylated histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27ac) can support oncogene expression. However, how the chromatin conformation of enhancer-promoter interactions is affected by these events is unclear. In the present study, by comparing chromatin structure and H3K27ac levels in normal and lymphoma B cells, we show that enhancer-promoter-interacting regions assume different conformations according to the local abundance of H3K27ac. Genetic or pharmacological depletion of H3K27ac decreases the frequency and the spreading of these interactions, altering oncogene expression. Moreover, enhancer hijacking mediated by chromosomal translocations influences the epigenetic status of the regions flanking the breakpoint, prompting the formation of distinct intrachromosomal interactions in the two homologous chromosomes. These interactions are accompanied by allele-specific gene expression changes. Overall, our work indicates that H3K27ac dynamics modulates interaction frequency between regulatory regions and can lead to allele-specific chromatin configurations to sustain oncogene expression.
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The regulation mechanisms and the Lamarckian inheritance property of DNA methylation in animals. Mamm Genome 2021; 32:135-152. [PMID: 33860357 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-021-09870-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation is a stable and heritable epigenetic mechanism, of which the main functions are stabilizing the transcription of genes and promoting genetic conservation. In animals, the direct molecular inducers of DNA methylation mainly include histone covalent modification and non-coding RNA, whereas the fundamental regulators of DNA methylation are genetic and environmental factors. As is well known, competition is present everywhere in life systems, and will finally strike a balance that is optimal for the animal's survival and reproduction. The same goes for the regulation of DNA methylation. Genetic and environmental factors, respectively, are responsible for the programmed and plasticity changes of DNA methylation, and keen competition exists between genetically influenced procedural remodeling and environmentally influenced plastic alteration. In this process, genetic and environmental factors collaboratively decide the methylation patterns of corresponding loci. DNA methylation alterations induced by environmental factors can be transgenerationally inherited, and exhibit the characteristic of Lamarckian inheritance. Further research on regulatory mechanisms and the environmental plasticity of DNA methylation will provide strong support for understanding the biological function and evolutionary effects of DNA methylation.
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Abstract
The control of DNA methylation guides cell-fate decisions in development and disease
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianpeng Gu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Margaret A Goodell
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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Serresi M, Kertalli S, Li L, Schmitt MJ, Dramaretska Y, Wierikx J, Hulsman D, Gargiulo G. Functional antagonism of chromatin modulators regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/9/eabd7974. [PMID: 33627422 PMCID: PMC7904264 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd7974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a developmental process hijacked by cancer cells to modulate proliferation, migration, and stress response. Whereas kinase signaling is believed to be an EMT driver, the molecular mechanisms underlying epithelial-mesenchymal interconversion are incompletely understood. Here, we show that the impact of chromatin regulators on EMT interconversion is broader than that of kinases. By combining pharmacological modulation of EMT, synthetic genetic tracing, and CRISPR interference screens, we uncovered a minority of kinases and several chromatin remodelers, writers, and readers governing homeostatic EMT in lung cancer cells. Loss of ARID1A, DOT1L, BRD2, and ZMYND8 had nondeterministic and sometimes opposite consequences on epithelial-mesenchymal interconversion. Together with RNAPII and AP-1, these antagonistic gatekeepers control chromatin of active enhancers, including pan-cancer-EMT signature genes enabling supraclassification of anatomically diverse tumors. Thus, our data uncover general principles underlying transcriptional control of cancer cell plasticity and offer a platform to systematically explore chromatin regulators in tumor-state-specific therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Serresi
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Sonia Kertalli
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lifei Li
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Jürgen Schmitt
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Yuliia Dramaretska
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jikke Wierikx
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Danielle Hulsman
- Division of Molecular Genetics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, Netherlands
| | - Gaetano Gargiulo
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany.
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Kyrchanova O, Georgiev P. Mechanisms of Enhancer-Promoter Interactions in Higher Eukaryotes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020671. [PMID: 33445415 PMCID: PMC7828040 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In higher eukaryotes, enhancers determine the activation of developmental gene transcription in specific cell types and stages of embryogenesis. Enhancers transform the signals produced by various transcription factors within a given cell, activating the transcription of the targeted genes. Often, developmental genes can be associated with dozens of enhancers, some of which are located at large distances from the promoters that they regulate. Currently, the mechanisms underlying specific distance interactions between enhancers and promoters remain poorly understood. This review briefly describes the properties of enhancers and discusses the mechanisms of distance interactions and potential proteins involved in this process.
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Reevaluating the roles of histone-modifying enzymes and their associated chromatin modifications in transcriptional regulation. Nat Genet 2020; 52:1271-1281. [PMID: 33257899 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-020-00736-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Histone-modifying enzymes are implicated in the control of diverse DNA-templated processes including gene expression. Here, we outline historical and current thinking regarding the functions of histone modifications and their associated enzymes. One current viewpoint, based largely on correlative evidence, posits that histone modifications are instructive for transcriptional regulation and represent an epigenetic 'code'. Recent studies have challenged this model and suggest that histone marks previously associated with active genes do not directly cause transcriptional activation. Additionally, many histone-modifying proteins possess non-catalytic functions that overshadow their enzymatic activities. Given that much remains unknown regarding the functions of these proteins, the field should be cautious in interpreting loss-of-function phenotypes and must consider both cellular and developmental context. In this Perspective, we focus on recent progress relating to the catalytic and non-catalytic functions of the Trithorax-COMPASS complexes, Polycomb repressive complexes and Clr4/Suv39 histone-modifying machineries.
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Abstract
The Trithorax group (TrxG) of proteins is a large family of epigenetic regulators that form multiprotein complexes to counteract repressive developmental gene expression programmes established by the Polycomb group of proteins and to promote and maintain an active state of gene expression. Recent studies are providing new insights into how two crucial families of the TrxG - the COMPASS family of histone H3 lysine 4 methyltransferases and the SWI/SNF family of chromatin remodelling complexes - regulate gene expression and developmental programmes, and how misregulation of their activities through genetic abnormalities leads to pathologies such as developmental disorders and malignancies.
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