1
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Zhang W, Li Z, Wang X, Sun T. Phase separation is regulated by post-translational modifications and participates in the developments of human diseases. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34035. [PMID: 39071719 PMCID: PMC11279762 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34035] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of intracellular proteins has emerged as a hot research topic in recent years. Membrane-less and liquid-like condensates provide dense spaces that ensure cells to high efficiently regulate genes transcription and rapidly respond to burst changes from the environment. The fomation and activity of LLPS are not only modulated by the cytosol conditions including but not limited to salt concentration and temperture. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that phase separation is also regulated by various post-translational modifications (PTMs) through modulating proteins multivalency, such as solubility and charge interactions. The regulation mechanism is crucial for normal functioning of cells, as aberrant protein aggregates are often closely related with the occurrence and development of human diseases including cancer and nurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, studying phase separation in the perspective of protein PTMs has long-term significance for human health. In this review, we summarized the properties and cellular physiological functions of LLPS, particularly its relationships with PTMs in human diseases according to recent researches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weibo Zhang
- Faculty of Health Sciences Building University of Macau E12 Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Zhengfeng Li
- Faculty of Health Sciences Building University of Macau E12 Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Xianju Wang
- Faculty of Health Sciences Building University of Macau E12 Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Ting Sun
- Faculty of Health Sciences Building University of Macau E12 Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China
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2
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Blayney JW, Francis H, Rampasekova A, Camellato B, Mitchell L, Stolper R, Cornell L, Babbs C, Boeke JD, Higgs DR, Kassouf M. Super-enhancers include classical enhancers and facilitators to fully activate gene expression. Cell 2023; 186:5826-5839.e18. [PMID: 38101409 PMCID: PMC10858684 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.11.030] [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: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Super-enhancers are compound regulatory elements that control expression of key cell identity genes. They recruit high levels of tissue-specific transcription factors and co-activators such as the Mediator complex and contact target gene promoters with high frequency. Most super-enhancers contain multiple constituent regulatory elements, but it is unclear whether these elements have distinct roles in activating target gene expression. Here, by rebuilding the endogenous multipartite α-globin super-enhancer, we show that it contains bioinformatically equivalent but functionally distinct element types: classical enhancers and facilitator elements. Facilitators have no intrinsic enhancer activity, yet in their absence, classical enhancers are unable to fully upregulate their target genes. Without facilitators, classical enhancers exhibit reduced Mediator recruitment, enhancer RNA transcription, and enhancer-promoter interactions. Facilitators are interchangeable but display functional hierarchy based on their position within a multipartite enhancer. Facilitators thus play an important role in potentiating the activity of classical enhancers and ensuring robust activation of target genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph W Blayney
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Helena Francis
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Alexandra Rampasekova
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Brendan Camellato
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Leslie Mitchell
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Rosa Stolper
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Lucy Cornell
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Christian Babbs
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Jef D Boeke
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA.
| | - Douglas R Higgs
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Oxford Institute, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK.
| | - Mira Kassouf
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.
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3
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Gelder K, Bose D. Enhancers, phase separation and the RNA polymerase II transfer model. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2300128. [PMID: 37519125 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Katie Gelder
- Molecular and Cellular Biology, School of Biosciences, Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids, The University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Daniel Bose
- Molecular and Cellular Biology, School of Biosciences, Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids, The University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
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4
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Wang M, Chen Q, Wang S, Xie H, Liu J, Huang R, Xiang Y, Jiang Y, Tian D, Bian E. Super-enhancers complexes zoom in transcription in cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:183. [PMID: 37501079 PMCID: PMC10375641 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02763-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Super-enhancers (SEs) consist of multiple typical enhancers enriched at high density with transcription factors, histone-modifying enzymes and cofactors. Oncogenic SEs promote tumorigenesis and malignancy by altering protein-coding gene expression and noncoding regulatory element function. Therefore, they play central roles in the treatment of cancer. Here, we review the structural characteristics, organization, identification, and functions of SEs and the underlying molecular mechanism by which SEs drive oncogenic transcription in tumor cells. We then summarize abnormal SE complexes, SE-driven coding genes, and noncoding RNAs involved in tumor development. In summary, we believe that SEs show great potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- MengTing Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 678 Fu Rong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui Province, China
- Institute of Orthopaedics, Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, China
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - QingYang Chen
- Department of Clinical MedicineThe Second School of Clinical Medical, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - ShuJie Wang
- Department of Clinical MedicineThe Second School of Clinical Medical, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Han Xie
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 678 Fu Rong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui Province, China
- Institute of Orthopaedics, Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 678 Fu Rong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui Province, China
- Institute of Orthopaedics, Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - RuiXiang Huang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 678 Fu Rong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui Province, China
- Institute of Orthopaedics, Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - YuFei Xiang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 678 Fu Rong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui Province, China
- Institute of Orthopaedics, Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - YanYi Jiang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China.
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China.
| | - DaSheng Tian
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 678 Fu Rong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui Province, China.
- Institute of Orthopaedics, Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, China.
| | - ErBao Bian
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 678 Fu Rong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui Province, China.
- Institute of Orthopaedics, Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, China.
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
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5
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Kashkin KN. Looking for Tumor Specific Promoters In Silico. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1068162022060127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Abstract—
Previously we demonstrated the tumor-specific activity of several human native and chimeric promoters. Here we have analyzed the DNA sequences of experimentally tested tumor-specific promoters for the presence of recognition matrices of transcription factors and for de novo motif discovery. CiiiDER and MEME Suite software tools were used for this purpose. A number of transcription factor matrices have been identified, which are present more often in tumor-specific promoters than in the promoters of housekeeping genes. New promoter–TF regulatory relationships have been predicted by pathway analysis. A motif of 44 bp characteristic of tumor-specific promoters but not of housekeeping gene promoters has been discovered. The search through 29 598 human promoters from the EPDnew promoter database has revealed a series of promoters with this motif, their genes being associated with unfavorable prognoses in cancer. We suppose that some of these promoters may possess a tumor specific activity. In addition, a close similarity in nucleotide motifs between the promoters of the BIRC5 and MCM2 genes has been shown. The results of the study may contribute to understanding the peculiarities of gene transcription in tumors, as well as to searching for native tumor-specific promoters or creating artificial ones for cancer gene therapy, as well as in the development of anticancer vaccines.
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6
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Gibbons MD, Fang Y, Spicola AP, Linzer N, Jones SM, Johnson BR, Li L, Xie M, Bungert J. Enhancer-Mediated Formation of Nuclear Transcription Initiation Domains. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169290. [PMID: 36012554 PMCID: PMC9409229 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169290] [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: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhancers in higher eukaryotes and upstream activating sequences (UASs) in yeast have been shown to recruit components of the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription machinery. At least a fraction of Pol II recruited to enhancers in higher eukaryotes initiates transcription and generates enhancer RNA (eRNA). In contrast, UASs in yeast do not recruit transcription factor TFIIH, which is required for transcription initiation. For both yeast and mammalian systems, it was shown that Pol II is transferred from enhancers/UASs to promoters. We propose that there are two modes of Pol II recruitment to enhancers in higher eukaryotes. Pol II complexes that generate eRNAs are recruited via TFIID, similar to mechanisms operating at promoters. This may involve the binding of TFIID to acetylated nucleosomes flanking the enhancer. The resulting eRNA, together with enhancer-bound transcription factors and co-regulators, contributes to the second mode of Pol II recruitment through the formation of a transcription initiation domain. Transient contacts with target genes, governed by proteins and RNA, lead to the transfer of Pol II from enhancers to TFIID-bound promoters.
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7
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Different transcriptional responses by the CRISPRa system in distinct types of heterochromatin in Drosophila melanogaster. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11702. [PMID: 35810197 PMCID: PMC9271074 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15944-7] [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: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) activate gene expression by binding to elements close to promoters or enhancers. Some TFs can bind to heterochromatic regions to initiate gene activation, suggesting that if a TF is able to bind to any type of heterochromatin, it can activate transcription. To investigate this possibility, we used the CRISPRa system based on dCas9-VPR as an artificial TF in Drosophila. dCas9-VPR was targeted to the TAHRE telomeric element, an example of constitutive heterochromatin, and to promoters and enhancers of the HOX Ultrabithorax (Ubx) and Sex Combs Reduced (Scr) genes in the context of facultative heterochromatin. dCas9-VPR robustly activated TAHRE transcription, showing that although this element is heterochromatic, dCas9-VPR was sufficient to activate its expression. In the case of HOX gene promoters, although Polycomb complexes epigenetically silence these genes, both were ectopically activated. When the artificial TF was directed to enhancers, we found that the expression pattern was different compared to the effect on the promoters. In the case of the Scr upstream enhancer, dCas9-VPR activated the gene ectopically but with less expressivity; however, ectopic activation also occurred in different cells. In the case of the bxI enhancer located in the third intron of Ubx, the presence of dCas9-VPR is capable of increasing transcription initiation while simultaneously blocking transcription elongation, generating a lack of functional phenotype. Our results show that CRISPRa system is able to activate transcription in any type of heterochromatin; nevertheless, its effect on transcription is subject to the intrinsic characteristics of each gene or regulatory element.
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8
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Mulero Hernández J, Fernández-Breis JT. Analysis of the landscape of human enhancer sequences in biological databases. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:2728-2744. [PMID: 35685360 PMCID: PMC9168495 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.05.045] [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: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The process of gene regulation extends as a network in which both genetic sequences and proteins are involved. The levels of regulation and the mechanisms involved are multiple. Transcription is the main control mechanism for most genes, being the downstream steps responsible for refining the transcription patterns. In turn, gene transcription is mainly controlled by regulatory events that occur at promoters and enhancers. Several studies are focused on analyzing the contribution of enhancers in the development of diseases and their possible use as therapeutic targets. The study of regulatory elements has advanced rapidly in recent years with the development and use of next generation sequencing techniques. All this information has generated a large volume of information that has been transferred to a growing number of public repositories that store this information. In this article, we analyze the content of those public repositories that contain information about human enhancers with the aim of detecting whether the knowledge generated by scientific research is contained in those databases in a way that could be computationally exploited. The analysis will be based on three main aspects identified in the literature: types of enhancers, type of evidence about the enhancers, and methods for detecting enhancer-promoter interactions. Our results show that no single database facilitates the optimal exploitation of enhancer data, most types of enhancers are not represented in the databases and there is need for a standardized model for enhancers. We have identified major gaps and challenges for the computational exploitation of enhancer data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Mulero Hernández
- Dept. Informática y Sistemas, Universidad de Murcia, CEIR Campus Mare Nostrum, IMIB-Arrixaca, Spain
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9
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Suzuki H, Abe R, Shimada M, Hirose T, Hirose H, Noguchi K, Ike Y, Yasui N, Furugori K, Yamaguchi Y, Toyoda A, Suzuki Y, Yamamoto T, Saitoh N, Sato S, Tomomori-Sato C, Conaway RC, Conaway JW, Takahashi H. The 3' Pol II pausing at replication-dependent histone genes is regulated by Mediator through Cajal bodies' association with histone locus bodies. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2905. [PMID: 35614107 PMCID: PMC9133132 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30632-w] [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: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-polyadenylated mRNAs of replication-dependent histones (RDHs) are synthesized by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) at histone locus bodies (HLBs). HLBs frequently associate with Cajal bodies (CBs), in which 3'-end processing factors for RDH genes are enriched; however, this association's role in transcription termination of RDH genes remains unclear. Here, we show that Pol II pauses immediately upstream of transcript end sites of RDH genes and Mediator plays a role in this Pol II pausing through CBs' association with HLBs. Disruption of the Mediator docking site for Little elongation complex (LEC)-Cap binding complex (CBC)-Negative elongation factor (NELF), components of CBs, interferes with CBs' association with HLBs and 3' Pol II pausing, resulting in increased aberrant unprocessed RDH gene transcripts. Our findings suggest Mediator's involvement in CBs' association with HLBs to facilitate 3' Pol II pausing and subsequent 3'-end processing of RDH genes by supplying 3'-end processing factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidefumi Suzuki
- Department of Molecular Biology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medical Science, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Ryota Abe
- Department of Molecular Biology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medical Science, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Miho Shimada
- Department of Molecular Biology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medical Science, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Tomonori Hirose
- Department of Molecular Biology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medical Science, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Hiroko Hirose
- Department of Molecular Biology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medical Science, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Keisuke Noguchi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medical Science, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Yoko Ike
- Department of Molecular Biology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medical Science, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Nanami Yasui
- Department of Molecular Biology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medical Science, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Kazuki Furugori
- Department of Molecular Biology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medical Science, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Yuki Yamaguchi
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8501, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Comparative Genomics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka, 411-8540, Japan
| | - Yutaka Suzuki
- Laboratory of Systems Genomics, Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8562, Japan
| | - Tatsuro Yamamoto
- Division of Cancer Biology, The Cancer Institute of JFCR, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-8550, Japan
| | - Noriko Saitoh
- Division of Cancer Biology, The Cancer Institute of JFCR, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-8550, Japan
| | - Shigeo Sato
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000E 50th Street, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
| | - Chieri Tomomori-Sato
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000E 50th Street, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
| | - Ronald C Conaway
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000E 50th Street, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, MO, 66160, USA
| | - Joan W Conaway
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000E 50th Street, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, MO, 66160, USA
| | - Hidehisa Takahashi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medical Science, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan.
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10
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Ulianov SV, Velichko A, Magnitov MD, Luzhin A, Golov AK, Ovsyannikova N, Kireev II, Gavrikov A, Mishin A, Garaev AK, Tyakht AV, Gavrilov A, Kantidze OL, Razin SV. Suppression of liquid-liquid phase separation by 1,6-hexanediol partially compromises the 3D genome organization in living cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:10524-10541. [PMID: 33836078 PMCID: PMC8501969 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) contributes to the spatial and functional segregation of molecular processes within the cell nucleus. However, the role played by LLPS in chromatin folding in living cells remains unclear. Here, using stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) and Hi-C techniques, we studied the effects of 1,6-hexanediol (1,6-HD)-mediated LLPS disruption/modulation on higher-order chromatin organization in living cells. We found that 1,6-HD treatment caused the enlargement of nucleosome clutches and their more uniform distribution in the nuclear space. At a megabase-scale, chromatin underwent moderate but irreversible perturbations that resulted in the partial mixing of A and B compartments. The removal of 1,6-HD from the culture medium did not allow chromatin to acquire initial configurations, and resulted in more compact repressed chromatin than in untreated cells. 1,6-HD treatment also weakened enhancer-promoter interactions and TAD insulation but did not considerably affect CTCF-dependent loops. Our results suggest that 1,6-HD-sensitive LLPS plays a limited role in chromatin spatial organization by constraining its folding patterns and facilitating compartmentalization at different levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey V Ulianov
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Science, 119334 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia
| | - Artem K Velichko
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Science, 119334 Moscow, Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail D Magnitov
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Science, 119334 Moscow, Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), 141701 Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Artem V Luzhin
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Science, 119334 Moscow, Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Arkadiy K Golov
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Science, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalia Ovsyannikova
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia
| | - Igor I Kireev
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia
- V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey S Gavrikov
- Shemyakin−Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander S Mishin
- Shemyakin−Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Azat K Garaev
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Science, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander V Tyakht
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Science, 119334 Moscow, Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey A Gavrilov
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Science, 119334 Moscow, Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Omar L Kantidze
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Science, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey V Razin
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Science, 119334 Moscow, Russia
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11
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Owen I, Yee D, Wyne H, Perdikari TM, Johnson V, Smyth J, Kortum R, Fawzi NL, Shewmaker F. The oncogenic transcription factor FUS-CHOP can undergo nuclear liquid-liquid phase separation. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:272045. [PMID: 34357401 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.258578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Myxoid liposarcoma is caused by a chromosomal translocation resulting in a fusion protein comprised of the N terminus of FUS (fused in sarcoma) and the full-length transcription factor CHOP (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein, also known as DDIT3). FUS functions in RNA metabolism, and CHOP is a stress-induced transcription factor. The FUS-CHOP fusion protein causes unique gene expression and oncogenic transformation. Although it is clear that the FUS segment is required for oncogenic transformation, the mechanism of FUS-CHOP-induced transcriptional activation is unknown. Recently, some transcription factors and super enhancers have been proposed to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation and form membraneless compartments that recruit transcription machinery to gene promoters. Since phase separation of FUS depends on its N terminus, transcriptional activation by FUS-CHOP could result from the N terminus driving nuclear phase transitions. Here, we characterized FUS-CHOP in cells and in vitro, and observed novel phase-separating properties relative to unmodified CHOP. Our data indicate that FUS-CHOP forms phase-separated condensates that colocalize with BRD4, a marker of super enhancer condensates. We provide evidence that the FUS-CHOP phase transition is a novel oncogenic mechanism and potential therapeutic target for myxoid liposarcoma. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izzy Owen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Debra Yee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Hala Wyne
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | | | - Victoria Johnson
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Jeremy Smyth
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Robert Kortum
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Nicolas L Fawzi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Frank Shewmaker
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
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12
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A Comprehensive Toolbox to Analyze Enhancer-Promoter Functions. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 34382181 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1597-3_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge in gene transcription and chromatin regulation has been intensely studied for decades, but thanks to next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques there has been a major leap forward in the last few years. Historically, identification of specific enhancer elements has led to the identification of master transcription factors (TFs) in the 1990s. Genetic and biochemical experiments have identified the key regulators controlling RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription and structurally analyses have elucidated detailed mechanisms. NGS and the development of chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) have accelerated the gain of knowledge in the recent years. By now, we have a dazzling wealth of techniques that are currently used to put gene expression into a genome-wide context. This book is an attempt to assemble useful protocols for many researchers within and nearby research areas. In general, these innovative techniques focus on enhancer and promoter studies. The techniques should also be of interest for related fields such as DNA repair and replication.
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13
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Coordination of transcription, processing, and export of highly expressed RNAs by distinct biomolecular condensates. Emerg Top Life Sci 2021; 4:281-291. [PMID: 32338276 PMCID: PMC7733674 DOI: 10.1042/etls20190160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Genes under control of super-enhancers are expressed at extremely high levels and are frequently associated with nuclear speckles. Recent data suggest that the high concentration of unphosphorylated RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and Mediator recruited to super-enhancers create phase-separated condensates. Transcription initiates within or at the surface of these phase-separated droplets and the phosphorylation of Pol II, associated with transcription initiation and elongation, dissociates Pol II from these domains leading to engagement with nuclear speckles, which are enriched with RNA processing factors. The transitioning of Pol II from transcription initiation domains to RNA processing domains effectively co-ordinates transcription and processing of highly expressed RNAs which are then rapidly exported into the cytoplasm.
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14
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Beacon TH, Delcuve GP, López C, Nardocci G, Kovalchuk I, van Wijnen AJ, Davie JR. The dynamic broad epigenetic (H3K4me3, H3K27ac) domain as a mark of essential genes. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:138. [PMID: 34238359 PMCID: PMC8264473 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01126-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptionally active chromatin is marked by tri-methylation of histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4me3) located after first exons and around transcription start sites. This epigenetic mark is typically restricted to narrow regions at the 5`end of the gene body, though a small subset of genes have a broad H3K4me3 domain which extensively covers the coding region. Although most studies focus on the H3K4me3 mark, the broad H3K4me3 domain is associated with a plethora of histone modifications (e.g., H3 acetylated at K27) and is therein termed broad epigenetic domain. Genes marked with the broad epigenetic domain are involved in cell identity and essential cell functions and have clinical potential as biomarkers for patient stratification. Reducing expression of genes with the broad epigenetic domain may increase the metastatic potential of cancer cells. Enhancers and super-enhancers interact with the broad epigenetic domain marked genes forming a hub of interactions involving nucleosome-depleted regions. Together, the regulatory elements coalesce with transcription factors, chromatin modifying/remodeling enzymes, coactivators, and the Mediator and/or Integrator complex into a transcription factory which may be analogous to a liquid–liquid phase-separated condensate. The broad epigenetic domain has a dynamic chromatin structure which supports frequent transcription bursts. In this review, we present the current knowledge of broad epigenetic domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasnim H Beacon
- CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Room 333A, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Geneviève P Delcuve
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Room 333A, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Camila López
- CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Room 333A, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Gino Nardocci
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Los Andes, Santiago, Chile.,Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Lab, Program in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, Center for Biomedical Research and Innovation (CIIB), Universidad de Los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Igor Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Andre J van Wijnen
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - James R Davie
- CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9, Canada. .,Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Room 333A, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
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15
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Razin SV, Ioudinkova ES, Kantidze OL, Iarovaia OV. Co-Regulated Genes and Gene Clusters. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:907. [PMID: 34208174 PMCID: PMC8230824 DOI: 10.3390/genes12060907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
There are many co-regulated genes in eukaryotic cells. The coordinated activation or repression of such genes occurs at specific stages of differentiation, or under the influence of external stimuli. As a rule, co-regulated genes are dispersed in the genome. However, there are also gene clusters, which contain paralogous genes that encode proteins with similar functions. In this aspect, they differ significantly from bacterial operons containing functionally linked genes that are not paralogs. In this review, we discuss the reasons for the existence of gene clusters in vertebrate cells and propose that clustering is necessary to ensure the possibility of selective activation of one of several similar genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey V. Razin
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia; (E.S.I.); (O.L.K.); (O.V.I.)
- Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena S. Ioudinkova
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia; (E.S.I.); (O.L.K.); (O.V.I.)
| | - Omar L. Kantidze
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia; (E.S.I.); (O.L.K.); (O.V.I.)
| | - Olga V. Iarovaia
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia; (E.S.I.); (O.L.K.); (O.V.I.)
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16
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Guo Q, Shi X, Wang X. RNA and liquid-liquid phase separation. Noncoding RNA Res 2021; 6:92-99. [PMID: 33997539 PMCID: PMC8111091 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation (LLPS) is a biological phenomenon that refers to the components of similar properties form droplets condensate in cells. These droplets play an important role in maintaining the stability of order in cells. In the studies of phase separation, weak multivalent interactions between proteins have always been the focus of attentions. With the deepening research of phase separation, more and more evidences show that RNA, especially long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), also plays an important regulatory role in the phase separation. We summarized recent researches between phase separation and RNA, and focused on the function of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) in the process of phase separation. In fact, phase separation and RNA have a two-way regulation relationship. Noncoding RNA usually recruits proteins as molecular scaffolds to drive phase separation. On the other hand, phase separation is also involved in RNA transcription, transport, metabolism and other processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Guo
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Xiangmin Shi
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Xiangting Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
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17
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Mendieta-Esteban J, Di Stefano M, Castillo D, Farabella I, Marti-Renom MA. 3D reconstruction of genomic regions from sparse interaction data. NAR Genom Bioinform 2021; 3:lqab017. [PMID: 33778492 PMCID: PMC7985034 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqab017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromosome conformation capture (3C) technologies measure the interaction frequency between pairs of chromatin regions within the nucleus in a cell or a population of cells. Some of these 3C technologies retrieve interactions involving non-contiguous sets of loci, resulting in sparse interaction matrices. One of such 3C technologies is Promoter Capture Hi-C (pcHi-C) that is tailored to probe only interactions involving gene promoters. As such, pcHi-C provides sparse interaction matrices that are suitable to characterize short- and long-range enhancer-promoter interactions. Here, we introduce a new method to reconstruct the chromatin structural (3D) organization from sparse 3C-based datasets such as pcHi-C. Our method allows for data normalization, detection of significant interactions and reconstruction of the full 3D organization of the genomic region despite of the data sparseness. Specifically, it builds, with as low as the 2-3% of the data from the matrix, reliable 3D models of similar accuracy of those based on dense interaction matrices. Furthermore, the method is sensitive enough to detect cell-type-specific 3D organizational features such as the formation of different networks of active gene communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julen Mendieta-Esteban
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marco Di Stefano
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Castillo
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irene Farabella
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc A Marti-Renom
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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18
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Gurumurthy A, Yu DT, Stees JR, Chamales P, Gavrilova E, Wassel P, Li L, Stribling D, Chen J, Brackett M, Ishov AM, Xie M, Bungert J. Super-enhancer mediated regulation of adult β-globin gene expression: the role of eRNA and Integrator. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:1383-1396. [PMID: 33476375 PMCID: PMC7897481 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Super-enhancers (SEs) mediate high transcription levels of target genes. Previous studies have shown that SEs recruit transcription complexes and generate enhancer RNAs (eRNAs). We characterized transcription at the human and murine β-globin locus control region (LCR) SE. We found that the human LCR is capable of recruiting transcription complexes independently from linked globin genes in transgenic mice. Furthermore, LCR hypersensitive site 2 (HS2) initiates the formation of bidirectional transcripts in transgenic mice and in the endogenous β-globin gene locus in murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells. HS2 3′eRNA is relatively unstable and remains in close proximity to the globin gene locus. Reducing the abundance of HS2 3′eRNA leads to a reduction in β-globin gene transcription and compromises RNA polymerase II (Pol II) recruitment at the promoter. The Integrator complex has been shown to terminate eRNA transcription. We demonstrate that Integrator interacts downstream of LCR HS2. Inducible ablation of Integrator function in MEL or differentiating primary human CD34+ cells causes a decrease in expression of the adult β-globin gene and accumulation of Pol II and eRNA at the LCR. The data suggest that transcription complexes are assembled at the LCR and transferred to the globin genes by mechanisms that involve Integrator mediated release of Pol II and eRNA from the LCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aishwarya Gurumurthy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Epigenetics, Genetics Institute, UF Health Cancer Center, Powell-Gene Therapy Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - David T Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Epigenetics, Genetics Institute, UF Health Cancer Center, Powell-Gene Therapy Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Jared R Stees
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Epigenetics, Genetics Institute, UF Health Cancer Center, Powell-Gene Therapy Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Pamela Chamales
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Epigenetics, Genetics Institute, UF Health Cancer Center, Powell-Gene Therapy Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Ekaterina Gavrilova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Epigenetics, Genetics Institute, UF Health Cancer Center, Powell-Gene Therapy Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Paul Wassel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Epigenetics, Genetics Institute, UF Health Cancer Center, Powell-Gene Therapy Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Lu Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Epigenetics, Genetics Institute, UF Health Cancer Center, Powell-Gene Therapy Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Daniel Stribling
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Epigenetics, Genetics Institute, UF Health Cancer Center, Powell-Gene Therapy Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Jinyang Chen
- Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Marissa Brackett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Epigenetics, Genetics Institute, UF Health Cancer Center, Powell-Gene Therapy Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Alexander M Ishov
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Mingyi Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Epigenetics, Genetics Institute, UF Health Cancer Center, Powell-Gene Therapy Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Jörg Bungert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Epigenetics, Genetics Institute, UF Health Cancer Center, Powell-Gene Therapy Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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19
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van Mierlo G, Jansen JRG, Wang J, Poser I, van Heeringen SJ, Vermeulen M. Predicting protein condensate formation using machine learning. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108705. [PMID: 33535034 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Membraneless organelles are liquid condensates, which form through liquid-liquid phase separation. Recent advances show that phase separation is essential for cellular homeostasis by regulating basic cellular processes, including transcription and signal transduction. The reported number of proteins with the capacity to mediate protein phase separation (PPS) is continuously growing. While computational tools for predicting PPS have been developed, obtaining a proteome-wide overview of PPS probabilities has remained challenging. Here, we present a phase separation analysis and prediction (PSAP) machine-learning classifier that, based solely on the amino acid content of a training set of known PPS proteins, can determine the phase separation likelihood for each protein in a given proteome. Through comparison with PPS databases, existing predictors, and experimental evidence, we demonstrate the validity and advantages of the PSAP classifier. We anticipate that the PSAP predictor provides a useful tool for future research aimed at identifying phase separating proteins in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido van Mierlo
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Oncode Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Jurriaan R G Jansen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Oncode Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jie Wang
- Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ina Poser
- Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Dewpoint Therapeutics GmbH, c/o Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Simon J van Heeringen
- Department of Molecular Developmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Michiel Vermeulen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Oncode Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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20
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Liu NQ, Maresca M, van den Brand T, Braccioli L, Schijns MMGA, Teunissen H, Bruneau BG, Nora EP, de Wit E. WAPL maintains a cohesin loading cycle to preserve cell-type-specific distal gene regulation. Nat Genet 2021; 53:100-109. [PMID: 33318687 PMCID: PMC7610352 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-020-00744-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The cohesin complex has an essential role in maintaining genome organization. However, its role in gene regulation remains largely unresolved. Here we report that the cohesin release factor WAPL creates a pool of free cohesin, in a process known as cohesin turnover, which reloads it to cell-type-specific binding sites. Paradoxically, stabilization of cohesin binding, following WAPL ablation, results in depletion of cohesin from these cell-type-specific regions, loss of gene expression and differentiation. Chromosome conformation capture experiments show that cohesin turnover is important for maintaining promoter-enhancer loops. Binding of cohesin to cell-type-specific sites is dependent on the pioneer transcription factors OCT4 (POU5F1) and SOX2, but not NANOG. We show the importance of cohesin turnover in controlling transcription and propose that a cycle of cohesin loading and off-loading, instead of static cohesin binding, mediates promoter and enhancer interactions critical for gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Qing Liu
- Division of Gene Regulation, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michela Maresca
- Division of Gene Regulation, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Teun van den Brand
- Division of Gene Regulation, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Luca Braccioli
- Division of Gene Regulation, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marijne M G A Schijns
- Division of Gene Regulation, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hans Teunissen
- Division of Gene Regulation, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Benoit G Bruneau
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Elphѐge P Nora
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Elzo de Wit
- Division of Gene Regulation, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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21
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Razin SV, Ulianov SV. Divide and Rule: Phase Separation in Eukaryotic Genome Functioning. Cells 2020; 9:cells9112480. [PMID: 33203115 PMCID: PMC7696541 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The functioning of a cell at various organizational levels is determined by the interactions between macromolecules that promote cellular organelle formation and orchestrate metabolic pathways via the control of enzymatic activities. Although highly specific and relatively stable protein-protein, protein-DNA, and protein-RNA interactions are traditionally suggested as the drivers for cellular function realization, recent advances in the discovery of weak multivalent interactions have uncovered the role of so-called macromolecule condensates. These structures, which are highly divergent in size, composition, function, and cellular localization are predominantly formed by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS): a physical-chemical process where an initially homogenous solution turns into two distinct phases, one of which contains the major portion of the dissolved macromolecules and the other one containing the solvent. In a living cell, LLPS drives the formation of membrane-less organelles such as the nucleolus, nuclear bodies, and viral replication factories and facilitates the assembly of complex macromolecule aggregates possessing regulatory, structural, and enzymatic functions. Here, we discuss the role of LLPS in the spatial organization of eukaryotic chromatin and regulation of gene expression in normal and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey V. Razin
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017 Moscow, Russia;
- Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119017 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey V. Ulianov
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017 Moscow, Russia;
- Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119017 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-499-135-9787
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22
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Yan P, Lu JY, Niu J, Gao J, Zhang MQ, Yin Y, Shen X. LncRNA Platr22 promotes super-enhancer activity and stem cell pluripotency. J Mol Cell Biol 2020; 13:295-313. [PMID: 33049031 PMCID: PMC8339366 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjaa056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Super-enhancers (SEs) comprise large clusters of enhancers, which are co-occupied by multiple lineage-specific and master transcription factors, and play pivotal roles in regulating gene expression and cell fate determination. However, it is still largely unknown whether and how SEs are regulated by the noncoding portion of the genome. Here, through genome-wide analysis, we found that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) genes preferentially lie next to SEs. In mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), depletion of SE-associated lncRNA transcripts dysregulated the activity of their nearby SEs. Specifically, we revealed a critical regulatory role of the lncRNA gene Platr22 in modulating the activity of a nearby SE and the expression of the nearby pluripotency regulator ZFP281. Through these regulatory events, Platr22 contributes to pluripotency maintenance and proper differentiation of mESCs. Mechanistically, Platr22 transcripts coat chromatin near the SE region and interact with DDX5 and hnRNP-L. DDX5 further recruits p300 and other factors related to active transcription. We propose that these factors assemble into a transcription hub, thus promoting an open and active epigenetic chromatin state. Our study highlights an unanticipated role for a class of lncRNAs in epigenetically controlling the activity and vulnerability to perturbation of nearby SEs for cell fate determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pixi Yan
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - J Yuyang Lu
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Niu
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Juntao Gao
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Michael Q Zhang
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yafei Yin
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohua Shen
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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23
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Bagheri H, Friedman H, Siminovitch KA, Peterson AC. Transcriptional regulators of the Golli/myelin basic protein locus integrate additive and stealth activities. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1008752. [PMID: 32790717 PMCID: PMC7446974 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Myelin is composed of plasma membrane spirally wrapped around axons and compacted into dense sheaths by myelin-associated proteins. Myelin is elaborated by neuroepithelial derived oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) and by neural crest derived Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). While some myelin proteins accumulate in only one lineage, myelin basic protein (Mbp) is expressed in both. Overlapping the Mbp gene is Golli, a transcriptional unit that is expressed widely both within and beyond the nervous system. A super-enhancer domain within the Golli/Mbp locus contains multiple enhancers shown previously to drive reporter construct expression specifically in oligodendrocytes or Schwann cells. In order to determine the contribution of each enhancer to the Golli/Mbp expression program, and to reveal if functional interactions occur among them, we derived mouse lines in which they were deleted, either singly or in different combinations, and relative mRNA accumulation was measured at key stages of early development and at maturity. Although super-enhancers have been shown previously to facilitate interaction among their component enhancers, the enhancers investigated here demonstrated largely additive relationships. However, enhancers demonstrating autonomous activity strictly in one lineage, when missing, were found to significantly reduce output in the other, thus revealing cryptic "stealth" activity. Further, in the absence of a key oligodendrocyte enhancer, Golli accumulation was markedly and uniformly attenuated in all cell types investigated. Our observations suggest a model in which enhancer-mediated DNA-looping and potential super-enhancer properties underlie Golli/Mbp regulatory organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hooman Bagheri
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Hana Friedman
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Katherine A. Siminovitch
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Mount Sinai Hospital, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum and Toronto General Hospital Research Institutes, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alan C. Peterson
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Blood disease-causing and -suppressing transcriptional enhancers: general principles and GATA2 mechanisms. Blood Adv 2020; 3:2045-2056. [PMID: 31289032 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019000378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Intensive scrutiny of human genomes has unveiled considerable genetic variation in coding and noncoding regions. In cancers, including those of the hematopoietic system, genomic instability amplifies the complexity and functional consequences of variation. Although elucidating how variation impacts the protein-coding sequence is highly tractable, deciphering the functional consequences of variation in noncoding regions (genome reading), including potential transcriptional-regulatory sequences, remains challenging. A crux of this problem is the sheer abundance of gene-regulatory sequence motifs (cis elements) mediating protein-DNA interactions that are intermixed in the genome with thousands of look-alike sequences lacking the capacity to mediate functional interactions with proteins in vivo. Furthermore, transcriptional enhancers harbor clustered cis elements, and how altering a single cis element within a cluster impacts enhancer function is unpredictable. Strategies to discover functional enhancers have been innovated, and human genetics can provide vital clues to achieve this goal. Germline or acquired mutations in functionally critical (essential) enhancers, for example at the GATA2 locus encoding a master regulator of hematopoiesis, have been linked to human pathologies. Given the human interindividual genetic variation and complex genetic landscapes of hematologic malignancies, enhancer corruption, creation, and expropriation by new genes may not be exceedingly rare mechanisms underlying disease predisposition and etiology. Paradigms arising from dissecting essential enhancer mechanisms can guide genome-reading strategies to advance fundamental knowledge and precision medicine applications. In this review, we provide our perspective of general principles governing the function of blood disease-linked enhancers and GATA2-centric mechanisms.
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25
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Razin SV, Gavrilov AA. The Role of Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation in the Compartmentalization of Cell Nucleus and Spatial Genome Organization. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2020; 85:643-650. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006297920060012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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26
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Cheng M, Zhang ZW, Ji XH, Xu Y, Bian E, Zhao B. Super-enhancers: A new frontier for glioma treatment. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2020; 1873:188353. [PMID: 32112817 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Glioma is the most common primary malignant tumor in the human brain. Although there are a variety of treatments, such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, glioma is still an incurable disease. Super-enhancers (SEs) are implicated in the control of tumor cell identity, and they promote oncogenic transcription, which supports tumor cells. Inhibition of the SE complex, which is required for the assembly and maintenance of SEs, may repress oncogenic transcription and impede tumor growth. In this review, we discuss the unique characteristics of SEs compared to typical enhancers, and we summarize the recent advances in the understanding of their properties and biological role in gene regulation. Additionally, we highlight that SE-driven lncRNAs, miRNAs and genes are involved in the malignant phenotype of glioma. Most importantly, the application of SE inhibitors in different cancer subtypes has introduced new directions in glioma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China; Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Zheng Wei Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China; Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Xing Hu Ji
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China; Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Yadi Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China; Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Erbao Bian
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China; Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China.
| | - Bing Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China; Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China.
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27
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Razin SV, Ulianov SV, Gavrilov AA. 3D Genomics. Mol Biol 2019; 53:802-812. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893319060153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
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28
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Palikyras S, Papantonis A. Modes of phase separation affecting chromatin regulation. Open Biol 2019; 9:190167. [PMID: 31615334 PMCID: PMC6833219 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.190167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
It has become evident that chromatin in cell nuclei is organized at multiple scales. Significant effort has been devoted to understanding the connection between the nuclear environment and the diverse biological processes taking place therein. A fundamental question is how cells manage to orchestrate these reactions, both spatially and temporally. Recent insights into phase-separated membraneless organelles may be the key for answering this. Of the two models that have been proposed for phase-separated entities, one largely depends on chromatin-protein interactions and the other on multivalent protein-protein and/or protein-RNA ones. Each has its own characteristics, but both would be able to, at least in part, explain chromatin and transcriptional organization. Here, we attempt to give an overview of these two models and their studied examples to date, before discussing the forces that could govern phase separation and prevent it from arising unrestrainedly.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Argyris Papantonis
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
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Bojcsuk D, Bálint BL. Classification of different types of estrogen receptor alpha binding sites in MCF-7 cells. J Biotechnol 2019; 299:13-20. [PMID: 31039369 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2019.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα) is a ligand-activated transcription factor and it has a prominent role in both physiological and pathological processes of the reproductive system. ERα has been investigated extensively in breast cancer and the MCF-7 breast-cancer-derived cell line is a widely used model for the study of its behavior. In this paper we provide a systematic catalog of the possible scenarios of binding to more than 80,000 ERα transcription factor binding sites based on the mechanism of ERα binding to DNA (upon both vehicle and estradiol (E2) treatment). A key feature of the estrogen-driven genetic programs is the presence or absence of the specific response element referred to as the estrogen response element (ERE). While ERα-driven super-enhancers are key components of estrogen-dependent genetic programs, three additional classes of enhancers could be identified: one with the presence of ERE where the ERα bound to the DNA prior of E2-treatment, one where the E2 was required for ERα binding even in the presence of ERE, and one where the ERα binding is established through the response elements of the collaborating factors. Our results suggest that different scenarios of ERα binding result in different genetic programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dóra Bojcsuk
- Genomic Medicine and Bioinformatic Core Facility, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Bálint László Bálint
- Genomic Medicine and Bioinformatic Core Facility, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary.
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