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Nakamura S, Hira S, Fujiwara M, Miyagata N, Tsuji T, Kondo A, Kimura H, Shinozuka Y, Hayashi M, Kobayashi S, Mukai M. A truncated form of a transcription factor Mamo activates vasa in Drosophila embryos. Commun Biol 2019; 2:422. [PMID: 31799425 PMCID: PMC6868150 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0663-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Expression of the vasa gene is associated with germline establishment. Therefore, identification of vasa activator(s) should provide insights into germline development. However, the genes sufficient for vasa activation remain unknown. Previously, we showed that the BTB/POZ-Zn-finger protein Mamo is necessary for vasa expression in Drosophila. Here, we show that the truncated Mamo lacking the BTB/POZ domain (MamoAF) is a potent vasa activator. Overexpression of MamoAF was sufficient to induce vasa expression in both primordial germ cells and brain. Indeed, Mamo mRNA encoding a truncated Mamo isoform, which is similar to MamoAF, was predominantly expressed in primordial germ cells. The results of our genetic and biochemical studies showed that MamoAF, together with CBP, epigenetically activates vasa expression. Furthermore, MamoAF and the germline transcriptional activator OvoB exhibited synergy in activating vasa transcription. We propose that a Mamo-mediated network of epigenetic and transcriptional regulators activates vasa expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoichi Nakamura
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Okamoto, Higashinada, Kobe, 658-8501 Japan
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
- Institute for Integrative Neurosciences, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Seiji Hira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Okamoto, Higashinada, Kobe, 658-8501 Japan
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
- Institute for Integrative Neurosciences, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
- Division of Germ Cell Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, 444-8787 Japan
| | - Masato Fujiwara
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Okamoto, Higashinada, Kobe, 658-8501 Japan
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Nasa Miyagata
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Okamoto, Higashinada, Kobe, 658-8501 Japan
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Takuma Tsuji
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Okamoto, Higashinada, Kobe, 658-8501 Japan
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Akane Kondo
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Okamoto, Higashinada, Kobe, 658-8501 Japan
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kimura
- Cell Biology Center, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503 Japan
| | - Yuko Shinozuka
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577 Japan
| | - Makoto Hayashi
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577 Japan
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572 Japan
| | - Satoru Kobayashi
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577 Japan
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572 Japan
| | - Masanori Mukai
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Okamoto, Higashinada, Kobe, 658-8501 Japan
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
- Institute for Integrative Neurosciences, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
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Jin SD, Lee BR, Hwang YS, Lee HJ, Rim JS, Han JY. Regulatory elements and transcriptional control of chicken vasa homologue ( CVH) promoter in chicken primordial germ cells. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2017; 8:6. [PMID: 28101336 PMCID: PMC5237207 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-016-0133-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primordial germ cells (PGCs), the precursors of functional gametes, have distinct characteristics and exhibit several unique molecular mechanisms to maintain pluripotency and germness in comparison to somatic cells. They express germ cell-specific RNA binding proteins (RBPs) by modulating tissue-specific cis- and trans-regulatory elements. Studies on gene structures of chicken vasa homologue (CVH), a chicken RNA binding protein, involved in temporal and spatial regulation are thus important not only for understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate germ cell fate, but also for practical applications of primordial germ cells. However, very limited studies are available on regulatory elements that control germ cell-specific expression in chicken. Therefore, we investigated the intricate regulatory mechanism(s) that governs transcriptional control of CVH. RESULTS We constructed green fluorescence protein (GFP) or luciferase reporter vectors containing the various 5' flanking regions of CVH gene. From the 5' deletion and fragmented assays in chicken PGCs, we have identified a CVH promoter that locates at -316 to +275 base pair fragment with the highest luciferase activity. Additionally, we confirmed for the first time that the 5' untranslated region (UTR) containing intron 1 is required for promoter activity of the CVH gene in chicken PGCs. Furthermore, using a transcription factor binding prediction, transcriptome analysis and siRNA-mediated knockdown, we have identified that a set of transcription factors play a role in the PGC-specific CVH gene expression. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that cis-elements and transcription factors localizing in the 5' flanking region including the 5' UTR and an intron are important for transcriptional regulation of the CVH gene in chicken PGCs. Finally, this information will contribute to research studies in areas of reproductive biology, constructing of germ cell-specific synthetic promoter for tracing primordial germ cells as well as understanding the transcriptional regulation for maintaining germness in PGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- So Dam Jin
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 South Korea
| | - Bo Ram Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 South Korea
| | - Young Sun Hwang
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 South Korea
| | - Hong Jo Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 South Korea
| | - Jong Seop Rim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 South Korea
| | - Jae Yong Han
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 South Korea
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Shinshu University, Minamiminowa, Nagano 399-4598 Japan
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Qiu L, Xu L, Chang G, Guo Q, Liu X, Bi Y, Zhang Y, Wang H, Wang K, Lu W, Ren L, Zhu P, Wu Y, Zhang Y, Xu Q, Chen G. DNA methylation-mediated transcription factors regulate Piwil1 expression during chicken spermatogenesis. J Reprod Dev 2016; 62:367-72. [PMID: 27108736 PMCID: PMC5004792 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2016-003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The P-element induced wimpy testis (Piwi) protein family is responsible for
initiating spermatogenesis and maintaining the integrity of germ cells and stem
cells, but little is known regarding its transcriptional regulation in poultry. Here,
we characterized the methylation status of the Piwil1 promoter in
five different spermatogenic cell lines using direct bisulfite pyrosequencing and
determined that methylation correlates negatively with germ cell type-specific
expression patterns of piwil1. We demonstrated that methylation of
the −148 CpG site, which is the predicted binding site for the transcription factors
TCF3 and NRF1, was differentially methylated in different spermatogenic cells. This
site was completely methylated in PGCs (primordial germ cells), but was unmethylated
in round spermatids. A similar result was obtained in the region from +121 to +139
CpG sites of the Piwil1 promoter CpG island, which was predicted to
contain SOX2 binding sites. In addition, demethylation assays further demonstrated
that DNA methylation indeed regulates Piwil1 expression during
chicken spermatogenesis. Combined with transcription factor binding site prediction,
we speculate that methylation influences the recruitment of corresponding
transcription factors. Collectively, we show the negative correlation between
promoter methylation and piwil1 expression and that the
spatiotemporal expression of chicken Piwil1 from the PGC stage to
the round spermatid stage is influenced by methylation-mediated transcription factor
regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Qiu
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, Jiangsu 225009, China
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Chang G, Chen R, Xu L, Ma T, Wang H, Chen J, Zhang Y, Li Z, Wan F, Guo X, Xu Q, Zhao W, Chen G. DNA methylation and NF-Y regulate Piwil1 expression during chicken spermatogenesis. Anim Reprod Sci 2015; 162:95-103. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Revised: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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