1
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Giudice J, Jiang H. Splicing regulation through biomolecular condensates and membraneless organelles. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:683-700. [PMID: 38773325 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00739-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates, sometimes also known as membraneless organelles (MLOs), can form through weak multivalent intermolecular interactions of proteins and nucleic acids, a process often associated with liquid-liquid phase separation. Biomolecular condensates are emerging as sites and regulatory platforms of vital cellular functions, including transcription and RNA processing. In the first part of this Review, we comprehensively discuss how alternative splicing regulates the formation and properties of condensates, and conversely the roles of biomolecular condensates in splicing regulation. In the second part, we focus on the spatial connection between splicing regulation and nuclear MLOs such as transcriptional condensates, splicing condensates and nuclear speckles. We then discuss key studies showing how splicing regulation through biomolecular condensates is implicated in human pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases, different types of cancer, developmental disorders and cardiomyopathies, and conclude with a discussion of outstanding questions pertaining to the roles of condensates and MLOs in splicing regulation and how to experimentally study them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimena Giudice
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- McAllister Heart Institute, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Hao Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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2
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Saulnier O, Zagozewski J, Liang L, Hendrikse LD, Layug P, Gordon V, Aldinger KA, Haldipur P, Borlase S, Coudière-Morrison L, Cai T, Martell E, Gonzales NM, Palidwor G, Porter CJ, Richard S, Sharif T, Millen KJ, Doble BW, Taylor MD, Werbowetski-Ogilvie TE. A group 3 medulloblastoma stem cell program is maintained by OTX2-mediated alternative splicing. Nat Cell Biol 2024; 26:1233-1246. [PMID: 39025928 PMCID: PMC11321995 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-024-01460-5] [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: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
OTX2 is a transcription factor and known driver in medulloblastoma (MB), where it is amplified in a subset of tumours and overexpressed in most cases of group 3 and group 4 MB. Here we demonstrate a noncanonical role for OTX2 in group 3 MB alternative splicing. OTX2 associates with the large assembly of splicing regulators complex through protein-protein interactions and regulates a stem cell splicing program. OTX2 can directly or indirectly bind RNA and this may be partially independent of its DNA regulatory functions. OTX2 controls a pro-tumorigenic splicing program that is mirrored in human cerebellar rhombic lip origins. Among the OTX2-regulated differentially spliced genes, PPHLN1 is expressed in the most primitive rhombic lip stem cells, and targeting PPHLN1 splicing reduces tumour growth and enhances survival in vivo. These findings identify OTX2-mediated alternative splicing as a major determinant of cell fate decisions that drive group 3 MB progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Saulnier
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Genomics and Development of Childhood Cancers, Institut Curie, PSL University, Paris, France
- INSERM U830, Cancer, Heterogeneity, Instability and Plasticity, Institut Curie, PSL University, Paris, France
- SIREDO Oncology Center, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Jamie Zagozewski
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Lisa Liang
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Liam D Hendrikse
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul Layug
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Victor Gordon
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Kimberly A Aldinger
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetic Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Parthiv Haldipur
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stephanie Borlase
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Ludivine Coudière-Morrison
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Ting Cai
- Segal Cancer Center, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Departments of Biochemistry, Human Genetics and Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Emma Martell
- Department of Pathology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Naomi M Gonzales
- Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gareth Palidwor
- Ottawa Bioinformatics Core Facility, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher J Porter
- Ottawa Bioinformatics Core Facility, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stéphane Richard
- Segal Cancer Center, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Departments of Biochemistry, Human Genetics and Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Tanveer Sharif
- Department of Pathology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Kathleen J Millen
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetic Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Brad W Doble
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Michael D Taylor
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Tamra E Werbowetski-Ogilvie
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
- Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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3
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Peyda P, Lin CH, Onwuzurike K, Black DL. The Rbfox1/LASR complex controls alternative pre-mRNA splicing by recognition of multi-part RNA regulatory modules. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.12.603345. [PMID: 39071271 PMCID: PMC11275806 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.12.603345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
The Rbfox proteins regulate alternative pre-mRNA splicing by binding to the RNA element GCAUG. In the nucleus, most of Rbfox is bound to LASR, a complex of RNA-binding proteins that recognize additional RNA motifs. However, it remains unclear how the different subunits of the Rbfox/LASR complex act together to bind RNA and regulate splicing. We used a nuclease-protection assay to map the transcriptome-wide footprints of Rbfox1/LASR on nascent cellular RNA. In addition to GCAUG, Rbfox1/LASR binds RNA containing motifs for LASR subunits hnRNPs M, H/F, C, and Matrin3. These elements are often arranged in tandem, forming multi-part modules of RNA motifs. To distinguish contact sites of Rbfox1 from the LASR subunits, we analyzed a mutant Rbfox1(F125A) that has lost RNA binding but remains associated with LASR. Rbfox1(F125A)/LASR complexes no longer interact with GCAUG but retain binding to RNA elements for LASR. Splicing analyses reveal that in addition to activating exons through adjacent GCAUG elements, Rbfox can also stimulate exons near binding sites for LASR subunits. Mini-gene experiments demonstrate that these diverse elements produce a combined regulatory effect on a target exon. These findings illuminate how a complex of RNA-binding proteins can decode combinatorial splicing regulatory signals by recognizing groups of tandem RNA elements.
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4
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Igoshin AV, Romashov GA, Yurchenko AA, Yudin NS, Larkin DM. Scans for Signatures of Selection in Genomes of Wagyu and Buryat Cattle Breeds Reveal Candidate Genes and Genetic Variants for Adaptive Phenotypes and Production Traits. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2059. [PMID: 39061521 PMCID: PMC11274160 DOI: 10.3390/ani14142059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Past and ongoing selection shapes the genomes of livestock breeds. Identifying such signatures of selection allows for uncovering the genetic bases of affected phenotypes, including economically important traits and environmental adaptations, for the further improvement of breed genetics to respond to climate and economic challenges. Turano-Mongolian cattle are a group of taurine breeds known for their adaptation to extreme environmental conditions and outstanding production performance. Buryat Turano-Mongolian cattle are among the few breeds adapted to cold climates and poor forage. Wagyu, on the other hand, is famous for high productivity and unique top-quality marbled meat. We used hapFLK, the de-correlated composite of multiple signals (DCMS), PBS, and FST methods to search for signatures of selection in their genomes. The scans revealed signals in genes related to cold adaptation (e.g., STAT3, DOCK5, GSTM3, and CXCL8) and food digestibility (SI) in the Buryat breed, and growth and development traits (e.g., RBFOX2 and SHOX2) and marbling (e.g., DGAT1, IQGAP2, RSRC1, and DIP2B) in Wagyu. Several putatively selected genes associated with reproduction, immunity, and resistance to pathogens were found in both breed genomes. The results of our work could be used for creating new productive adapted breeds or improving the extant breeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander V. Igoshin
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICG SB RAS), Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (A.V.I.)
| | - Grigorii A. Romashov
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICG SB RAS), Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (A.V.I.)
| | - Andrey A. Yurchenko
- INSERM U981, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris Saclay, 94800 Villejuif, France
| | - Nikolay S. Yudin
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICG SB RAS), Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (A.V.I.)
| | - Denis M. Larkin
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London NW1 0TU, UK
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5
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Jiang J, Wu H, Ji Y, Han K, Tang JM, Hu S, Lei W. Development and disease-specific regulation of RNA splicing in cardiovascular system. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1423553. [PMID: 39045460 PMCID: PMC11263117 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1423553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing is a complex gene regulatory process that distinguishes itself from canonical splicing by rearranging the introns and exons of an immature pre-mRNA transcript. This process plays a vital role in enhancing transcriptomic and proteomic diversity from the genome. Alternative splicing has emerged as a pivotal mechanism governing complex biological processes during both heart development and the development of cardiovascular diseases. Multiple alternative splicing factors are involved in a synergistic or antagonistic manner in the regulation of important genes in relevant physiological processes. Notably, circular RNAs have only recently garnered attention for their tissue-specific expression patterns and regulatory functions. This resurgence of interest has prompted a reevaluation of the topic. Here, we provide an overview of our current understanding of alternative splicing mechanisms and the regulatory roles of alternative splicing factors in cardiovascular development and pathological process of different cardiovascular diseases, including cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, heart failure and atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxiu Jiang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital and Institute for Cardiovascular Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hongchun Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital and Institute for Cardiovascular Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yabo Ji
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital and Institute for Cardiovascular Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Kunjun Han
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital and Institute for Cardiovascular Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jun-Ming Tang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Shijun Hu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital and Institute for Cardiovascular Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wei Lei
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital and Institute for Cardiovascular Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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6
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Chari T, Gorin G, Pachter L. Stochastic Modeling of Biophysical Responses to Perturbation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.04.602131. [PMID: 39005347 PMCID: PMC11245117 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.04.602131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Recent advances in high-throughput, multi-condition experiments allow for genome-wide investigation of how perturbations affect transcription and translation in the cell across multiple biological entities or modalities, from chromatin and mRNA information to protein production and spatial morphology. This presents an unprecedented opportunity to unravel how the processes of DNA and RNA regulation direct cell fate determination and disease response. Most methods designed for analyzing large-scale perturbation data focus on the observational outcomes, e.g., expression; however, many potential transcriptional mechanisms, such as transcriptional bursting or splicing dynamics, can underlie these complex and noisy observations. In this analysis, we demonstrate how a stochastic biophysical modeling approach to interpreting high-throughout perturbation data enables deeper investigation of the 'how' behind such molecular measurements. Our approach takes advantage of modalities already present in data produced with current technologies, such as nascent and mature mRNA measurements, to illuminate transcriptional dynamics induced by perturbation, predict kinetic behaviors in new perturbation settings, and uncover novel populations of cells with distinct kinetic responses to perturbation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara Chari
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
| | | | - Lior Pachter
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
- Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
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7
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Zorn P, Calvo Sánchez J, Alakhras T, Schreier B, Gekle M, Hüttelmaier S, Köhn M. Rbfox1 controls alternative splicing of focal adhesion genes in cardiac muscle cells. J Mol Cell Biol 2024; 16:mjae003. [PMID: 38253401 PMCID: PMC11216089 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjae003] [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: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing is one of the major cellular processes that determine the tissue-specific expression of protein variants. However, it remains challenging to identify physiologically relevant and tissue-selective proteins that are generated by alternative splicing. Hence, we investigated the target spectrum of the splicing factor Rbfox1 in the cardiac muscle context in more detail. By using a combination of in silico target prediction and in-cell validation, we identified several focal adhesion proteins as alternative splicing targets of Rbfox1. We focused on the alternative splicing patterns of vinculin (metavinculin isoform) and paxillin (extended paxillin isoform) and identified both as potential Rbfox1 targets. Minigene analyses suggested that both isoforms are promoted by Rbfox1 due to binding in the introns. Focal adhesions play an important role in the cardiac muscle context, since they mainly influence cell shape, cytoskeletal organization, and cell-matrix association. Our data confirmed that depletion of Rbfox1 changed cardiomyoblast morphology, cytoskeletal organization, and multinuclearity after differentiation, which might be due to changes in alternative splicing of focal adhesion proteins. Hence, our results indicate that Rbfox1 promotes alternative splicing of focal adhesion genes in cardiac muscle cells, which might contribute to heart disease progression, where downregulation of Rbfox1 is frequently observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Zorn
- Junior Group ‘Non-coding RNAs and RBPs in Human Diseases’, Medical Faculty, University of Halle–Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jaime Calvo Sánchez
- Junior Group ‘Non-coding RNAs and RBPs in Human Diseases’, Medical Faculty, University of Halle–Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Tala Alakhras
- Junior Group ‘Non-coding RNAs and RBPs in Human Diseases’, Medical Faculty, University of Halle–Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Barbara Schreier
- Julius Bernstein Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Halle–Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Michael Gekle
- Julius Bernstein Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Halle–Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Stefan Hüttelmaier
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Halle–Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Marcel Köhn
- Junior Group ‘Non-coding RNAs and RBPs in Human Diseases’, Medical Faculty, University of Halle–Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
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8
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Berasain L, Beati P, Trigila AP, Rubinstein M, Franchini LF. Accelerated evolution in the human lineage led to gain and loss of transcriptional enhancers in the RBFOX1 locus. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadl1049. [PMID: 38924416 PMCID: PMC11204294 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl1049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
A long-standing goal of evolutionary biology is to decode how changes in gene regulatory networks contribute to human-specific traits. Human accelerated regions (HARs) are prime candidates for driving gene regulatory modifications in human development. The RBFOX1 locus is densely populated with HARs, providing a set of potential regulatory elements that could have changed its expression in the human lineage. Here, we examined the role of RBFOX1-HARs using transgenic zebrafish reporter assays and identified 15 transcriptional enhancers that are active in the developing nervous system, 9 of which displayed differential activity between the human and chimpanzee sequences. The engineered loss of two selected RBFOX1-HARs in knockout mouse models modified Rbfox1 expression at specific developmental stages and tissues in the brain, influencing the expression and splicing of a high number of Rbfox1 target genes. Our results provided insight into the spatial and temporal changes in gene expression driven by RBFOX1-HARs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Berasain
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI) “Dr. Hector N. Torres”, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1428, Argentina
| | - Paula Beati
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI) “Dr. Hector N. Torres”, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1428, Argentina
| | - Anabella P. Trigila
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI) “Dr. Hector N. Torres”, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1428, Argentina
| | - Marcelo Rubinstein
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI) “Dr. Hector N. Torres”, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1428, Argentina
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
| | - Lucía F. Franchini
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI) “Dr. Hector N. Torres”, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1428, Argentina
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9
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Verma SK, Kuyumcu-Martinez MN. RNA binding proteins in cardiovascular development and disease. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 156:51-119. [PMID: 38556427 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.01.007] [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] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect affecting>1.35 million newborn babies worldwide. CHD can lead to prenatal, neonatal, postnatal lethality or life-long cardiac complications. RNA binding protein (RBP) mutations or variants are emerging as contributors to CHDs. RBPs are wizards of gene regulation and are major contributors to mRNA and protein landscape. However, not much is known about RBPs in the developing heart and their contributions to CHD. In this chapter, we will discuss our current knowledge about specific RBPs implicated in CHDs. We are in an exciting era to study RBPs using the currently available and highly successful RNA-based therapies and methodologies. Understanding how RBPs shape the developing heart will unveil their contributions to CHD. Identifying their target RNAs in the embryonic heart will ultimately lead to RNA-based treatments for congenital heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil K Verma
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia School of Medicine Charlottesville, VA, United States.
| | - Muge N Kuyumcu-Martinez
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia School of Medicine Charlottesville, VA, United States; Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States; University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States.
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10
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Ruta V, Naro C, Pieraccioli M, Leccese A, Archibugi L, Cesari E, Panzeri V, Allgöwer C, Arcidiacono PG, Falconi M, Carbone C, Tortora G, Borrelli F, Attili F, Spada C, Quero G, Alfieri S, Doglioni C, Kleger A, Capurso G, Sette C. An alternative splicing signature defines the basal-like phenotype and predicts worse clinical outcome in pancreatic cancer. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101411. [PMID: 38325381 PMCID: PMC10897606 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by extremely poor prognosis. PDAC presents with molecularly distinct subtypes, with the basal-like one being associated with enhanced chemoresistance. Splicing dysregulation contributes to PDAC; however, its involvement in subtype specification remains elusive. Herein, we uncover a subtype-specific splicing signature associated with prognosis in PDAC and the splicing factor Quaking (QKI) as a determinant of the basal-like signature. Single-cell sequencing analyses highlight QKI as a marker of the basal-like phenotype. QKI represses splicing events associated with the classical subtype while promoting basal-like events associated with shorter survival. QKI favors a plastic, quasi-mesenchymal phenotype that supports migration and chemoresistance in PDAC organoids and cell lines, and its expression is elevated in high-grade primary tumors and metastatic lesions. These studies identify a splicing signature that defines PDAC subtypes and indicate that QKI promotes an undifferentiated, plastic phenotype, which renders PDAC cells chemoresistant and adaptable to environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Ruta
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Naro
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Pieraccioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Adriana Leccese
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Archibugi
- Pancreato-Biliary Endoscopy and Endosonography Division, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Panzeri
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Chantal Allgöwer
- Institute for Molecular Oncology and Stem Cell Biology, Ulm University Hospital, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Paolo Giorgio Arcidiacono
- Pancreato-Biliary Endoscopy and Endosonography Division, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS, 20132 Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Falconi
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy; Pancreas and Transplantation Surgical Division, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Giampaolo Tortora
- Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; Medical Oncology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Fabia Attili
- Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Quero
- Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; Gemelli Pancreatic Advanced Research Center (CRMPG), Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Sergio Alfieri
- Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; Gemelli Pancreatic Advanced Research Center (CRMPG), Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Doglioni
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy; Division of Pathology, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Alexander Kleger
- Institute for Molecular Oncology and Stem Cell Biology, Ulm University Hospital, 89081 Ulm, Germany; Division of Interdisciplinary Pancreatology, Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Gabriele Capurso
- Pancreato-Biliary Endoscopy and Endosonography Division, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS, 20132 Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Sette
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.
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11
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Antón-Galindo E, Adel MR, García-González J, Leggieri A, López-Blanch L, Irimia M, Norton WHJ, Brennan CH, Fernàndez-Castillo N, Cormand B. Pleiotropic contribution of rbfox1 to psychiatric and neurodevelopmental phenotypes in two zebrafish models. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:99. [PMID: 38374212 PMCID: PMC10876957 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02801-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
RBFOX1 is a highly pleiotropic gene that contributes to several psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Both rare and common variants in RBFOX1 have been associated with several psychiatric conditions, but the mechanisms underlying the pleiotropic effects of RBFOX1 are not yet understood. Here we found that, in zebrafish, rbfox1 is expressed in spinal cord, mid- and hindbrain during developmental stages. In adults, expression is restricted to specific areas of the brain, including telencephalic and diencephalic regions with an important role in receiving and processing sensory information and in directing behaviour. To investigate the contribution of rbfox1 to behaviour, we used rbfox1sa15940, a zebrafish mutant line with TL background. We found that rbfox1sa15940 mutants present hyperactivity, thigmotaxis, decreased freezing behaviour and altered social behaviour. We repeated these behavioural tests in a second rbfox1 mutant line with a different genetic background (TU), rbfox1del19, and found that rbfox1 deficiency affects behaviour similarly in this line, although there were some differences. rbfox1del19 mutants present similar thigmotaxis, but stronger alterations in social behaviour and lower levels of hyperactivity than rbfox1sa15940 fish. Taken together, these results suggest that mutations in rbfox1 lead to multiple behavioural changes in zebrafish that might be modulated by environmental, epigenetic and genetic background effects, and that resemble phenotypic alterations present in Rbfox1-deficient mice and in patients with different psychiatric conditions. Our study, thus, highlights the evolutionary conservation of rbfox1 function in behaviour and paves the way to further investigate the mechanisms underlying rbfox1 pleiotropy on the onset of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Antón-Galindo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Maja R Adel
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Judit García-González
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY, NYC 10029, USA
| | - Adele Leggieri
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Laura López-Blanch
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Manuel Irimia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - William H J Norton
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Caroline H Brennan
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Noèlia Fernàndez-Castillo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalunya, Spain.
| | - Bru Cormand
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalunya, Spain.
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12
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Adel MR, Antón-Galindo E, Gago-Garcia E, Arias-Dimas A, Arenas C, Artuch R, Cormand B, Fernàndez-Castillo N. Decreased Brain Serotonin in rbfox1 Mutant Zebrafish and Partial Reversion of Behavioural Alterations by the SSRI Fluoxetine. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:254. [PMID: 38399469 PMCID: PMC10891829 DOI: 10.3390/ph17020254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
RBFOX1 functions as a master regulator of thousands of genes, exerting a pleiotropic effect on numerous neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. A potential mechanism by which RBFOX1 may impact these disorders is through its modulation of serotonergic neurotransmission, a common target for pharmacological intervention in psychiatric conditions linked to RBFOX1. However, the precise effects of RBFOX1 on the serotonergic system remain largely unexplored. Here we show that homozygous rbfox1sa15940 zebrafish, which express a shorter, aberrant rbfox1 mRNA, have significantly reduced serotonin levels in telencephalon and diencephalon. We observed that the acute administration of fluoxetine partially reverses the associated behavioural alterations. The hyperactive phenotype and altered shoaling behaviour of the rbfox1sa15940/sa15940 zebrafish could be reversed with acute fluoxetine exposure in the Open Field and the Shoaling test, respectively. However, in the other paradigms, hyperactivity was not diminished, suggesting a distinct intrinsic motivation for locomotion in the different paradigms. Acute fluoxetine exposure did not reverse the alterations observed in the aggression and social novelty tests, suggesting the involvement of other neurological mechanisms in these behaviours. These findings underscore the importance of investigating the intricate working mechanisms of RBFOX1 in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders to gain a better understanding of the associated disorders along with their pharmacological treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja R. Adel
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ester Antón-Galindo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Edurne Gago-Garcia
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Angela Arias-Dimas
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Clinical Biochemistry Department, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Concepció Arenas
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Artuch
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Clinical Biochemistry Department, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Bru Cormand
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Noèlia Fernàndez-Castillo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
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13
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He L, Guo H, Wang H, Zhu K, Li D, Zhang C, Ai Y, Yang JJ. Rbfox1 regulates alternative splicing of Nrcam in primary sensory neurons to mediate peripheral nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain. Neurotherapeutics 2024; 21:e00309. [PMID: 38241164 PMCID: PMC10903086 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2023.e00309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The primary sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are subject to transcriptional alterations following peripheral nerve injury. These alterations are believed to play a pivotal role in the genesis of neuropathic pain. Alternative RNA splicing is a process that generates multiple transcript variants from a single gene, significantly contributing to the complexity of the transcriptome. However, little is known about the functional significance and control of alternative RNA splicing in injured DRG after spinal nerve ligation (SNL). In our study, we conducted a comprehensive transcriptome profiling and bioinformatic analysis to approach and identified a neuron-specific isoform of an RNA splicing regulator, RNA-binding Fox1 (Rbfox1, also known as A2BP1), as a crucial regulator of alternative RNA splicing in injured DRG after SNL. Notably, Rbfox1 expression is markedly reduced in injured DRG following peripheral nerve injury. Restoring this reduction effectively mitigates nociceptive hypersensitivity. Conversely, mimicking the downregulation of Rbfox1 expression generates neuropathic pain symptoms. Mechanistically, we uncovered that Rbfox1 may be a key factor influencing alternative RNA splicing of neuron-glial related cell adhesion molecule (NrCAM), a key neuronal cell adhesion molecule. In injured DRG after SNL, the downregulation of Rbfox1amplifies the insertion of exon 10 in Nrcam transcripts, leading to an increase in long Nrcam variants (L-Nrcam) and a corresponding decrease in short Nrcam variants (S-Nrcam) within injured DRG. In summary, our study supports the essential role of Rbfox1 in neuropathic pain within DRG, probably via the regulation of Nrcam splicing. These findings suggest that Rbfox1 could be a potential target for neuropathic pain therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long He
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Haoyu Guo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China; Department of Laboratory Animal Resources, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Hongwei Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Kuicheng Zhu
- Department of Laboratory Animal Resources, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Da Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Chaofan Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Yanqiu Ai
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
| | - Jian-Jun Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
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14
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Lin Y, Kwok S, Hein AE, Thai BQ, Alabi Y, Ostrowski MS, Wu K, Floor SN. RNA molecular recording with an engineered RNA deaminase. Nat Methods 2023; 20:1887-1899. [PMID: 37857907 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-02046-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
RNA deaminases are powerful tools for base editing and RNA molecular recording. However, the enzymes used in currently available RNA molecular recorders such as TRIBE, DART or STAMP have limitations due to RNA structure and sequence dependence. We designed a platform for directed evolution of RNA molecular recorders. We engineered an RNA A-to-I deaminase (an RNA adenosine base editor, rABE) that has high activity, low bias and low background. Using rABE, we present REMORA (RNA-encoded molecular recording in adenosines), wherein deamination by rABE writes a molecular record of RNA-protein interactions. By combining rABE with the C-to-U deaminase APOBEC1 and long-read RNA sequencing, we measured binding by two RNA-binding proteins on single messenger RNAs. Orthogonal RNA molecular recording of mammalian Pumilio proteins PUM1 and PUM2 shows that PUM1 competes with PUM2 for a subset of sites in cells. Furthermore, we identify transcript isoform-specific RNA-protein interactions driven by isoform changes distal to the binding site. The genetically encodable RNA deaminase rABE enables single-molecule identification of RNA-protein interactions with cell type specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhu Lin
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Samentha Kwok
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Abigail E Hein
- Tetrad Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bao Quoc Thai
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- MSTP Program, University of Arizona, Tuscon, AZ, USA
| | - Yewande Alabi
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Megan S Ostrowski
- Gladstone Institute for Data Science and Biotechnology, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ke Wu
- Gladstone Institute for Data Science and Biotechnology, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Stephen N Floor
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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15
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Antón-Galindo E, Adel M, García-Gonzalez J, Leggieri A, López-Blanch L, Irimia M, Norton WHJ, Brennan CH, Fernàndez-Castillo N, Cormand B. Pleiotropic contribution of rbfox1 to psychiatric and neurodevelopmental phenotypes in a zebrafish model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.23.529711. [PMID: 36865197 PMCID: PMC9980121 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.23.529711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
RBFOX1 is a highly pleiotropic gene that contributes to several psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Both rare and common variants in RBFOX1 have been associated with several psychiatric conditions, but the mechanisms underlying the pleiotropic effects of RBFOX1 are not yet understood. Here we found that, in zebrafish, rbfox1 is expressed in spinal cord, mid- and hindbrain during developmental stages. In adults, expression is restricted to specific areas of the brain, including telencephalic and diencephalic regions with an important role in receiving and processing sensory information and in directing behaviour. To investigate the effect of rbfox1 deficiency on behaviour, we used rbfox1sa15940, a rbfox1 loss-of-function line. We found that rbfox1sa15940 mutants present hyperactivity, thigmotaxis, decreased freezing behaviour and altered social behaviour. We repeated these behavioural tests in a second rbfox1 loss-of-function line with a different genetic background, rbfox1del19, and found that rbfox1 deficiency affects behaviour similarly in this line, although there were some differences. rbfox1del19 mutants present similar thigmotaxis, but stronger alterations in social behaviour and lower levels of hyperactivity than rbfox1sa15940 fish. Taken together, these results suggest that rbfox1 deficiency leads to multiple behavioural changes in zebrafish that might be modulated by environmental, epigenetic and genetic background effects, and that resemble phenotypic alterations present in Rbfox1-deficient mice and in patients with different psychiatric conditions. Our study thus highlights the evolutionary conservation of rbfox1 function in behaviour and paves the way to further investigate the mechanisms underlying rbfox1 pleiotropy on the onset of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Antón-Galindo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, 08028, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades raras (CIBERER), Spain
- Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, 08028, Spain
- Institut de recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Espluges de Llobregat, Catalunya, 08950, Spain
| | - Maja Adel
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, 08028, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Judit García-Gonzalez
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
- Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, NYC 10029, USA
| | - Adele Leggieri
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Laura López-Blanch
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Irimia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - William HJ Norton
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline H Brennan
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Noèlia Fernàndez-Castillo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, 08028, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades raras (CIBERER), Spain
- Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, 08028, Spain
- Institut de recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Espluges de Llobregat, Catalunya, 08950, Spain
| | - Bru Cormand
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, 08028, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades raras (CIBERER), Spain
- Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, 08028, Spain
- Institut de recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Espluges de Llobregat, Catalunya, 08950, Spain
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16
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Farshadyeganeh P, Nazim M, Zhang R, Ohkawara B, Nakajima K, Rahman MA, Nasrin F, Ito M, Takeda JI, Ohe K, Miyasaka Y, Ohno T, Masuda A, Ohno K. Splicing regulation of GFPT1 muscle-specific isoform and its roles in glucose metabolisms and neuromuscular junction. iScience 2023; 26:107746. [PMID: 37744035 PMCID: PMC10514471 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate transaminase 1 (GFPT1) is the rate-limiting enzyme of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP). A 54-bp exon 9 of GFPT1 is specifically included in skeletal and cardiac muscles to generate a long isoform of GFPT1 (GFPT1-L). We showed that SRSF1 and Rbfox1/2 cooperatively enhance, and hnRNP H/F suppresses, the inclusion of human GFPT1 exon 9 by modulating recruitment of U1 snRNP. Knockout (KO) of GFPT1-L in skeletal muscle markedly increased the amounts of GFPT1 and UDP-HexNAc, which subsequently suppressed the glycolytic pathway. Aged KO mice showed impaired insulin-mediated glucose uptake, as well as muscle weakness and fatigue likely due to abnormal formation and maintenance of the neuromuscular junction. Taken together, GFPT1-L is likely to be acquired in evolution in mammalian striated muscles to attenuate the HBP for efficient glycolytic energy production, insulin-mediated glucose uptake, and the formation and maintenance of the neuromuscular junction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paniz Farshadyeganeh
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Mohammad Nazim
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ruchen Zhang
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Bisei Ohkawara
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Kazuki Nakajima
- Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE), Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
| | - Mohammad Alinoor Rahman
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Farhana Nasrin
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Mikako Ito
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Jun-ichi Takeda
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Kenji Ohe
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
| | - Yuki Miyasaka
- Division of Experimental Animals, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Tamio Ohno
- Division of Experimental Animals, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Akio Masuda
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Kinji Ohno
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
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17
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Mullari M, Fossat N, Skotte NH, Asenjo-Martinez A, Humphreys DT, Bukh J, Kirkeby A, Scheel TKH, Nielsen ML. Characterising the RNA-binding protein atlas of the mammalian brain uncovers RBM5 misregulation in mouse models of Huntington's disease. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4348. [PMID: 37468457 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39936-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are key players regulating RNA processing and are associated with disorders ranging from cancer to neurodegeneration. Here, we present a proteomics workflow for large-scale identification of RBPs and their RNA-binding regions in the mammalian brain identifying 526 RBPs. Analysing brain tissue from males of the Huntington's disease (HD) R6/2 mouse model uncovered differential RNA-binding of the alternative splicing regulator RBM5. Combining several omics workflows, we show that RBM5 binds differentially to transcripts enriched in pathways of neurodegeneration in R6/2 brain tissue. We further find these transcripts to undergo changes in splicing and demonstrate that RBM5 directly regulates these changes in human neurons derived from embryonic stem cells. Finally, we reveal that RBM5 interacts differently with several known huntingtin interactors and components of huntingtin aggregates. Collectively, we demonstrate the applicability of our method for capturing RNA interactor dynamics in the contexts of tissue and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meeli Mullari
- Proteomics Program, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Nicolas Fossat
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Niels H Skotte
- Proteomics Program, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andrea Asenjo-Martinez
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) and Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David T Humphreys
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Agnete Kirkeby
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) and Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine (WCMM) and Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Troels K H Scheel
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- CO-HEP, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael L Nielsen
- Proteomics Program, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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18
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Botta S, de Prisco N, Chemiakine A, Brandt V, Cabaj M, Patel P, Doron‐Mandel E, Treadway CJ, Jovanovic M, Brown NG, Soni RK, Gennarino VA. Dosage sensitivity to Pumilio1 variants in the mouse brain reflects distinct molecular mechanisms. EMBO J 2023; 42:e112721. [PMID: 37070548 PMCID: PMC10233381 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Different mutations in the RNA-binding protein Pumilio1 (PUM1) cause divergent phenotypes whose severity tracks with dosage: a mutation that reduces PUM1 levels by 25% causes late-onset ataxia, whereas haploinsufficiency causes developmental delay and seizures. Yet PUM1 targets are derepressed to equal degrees in both cases, and the more severe mutation does not hinder PUM1's RNA-binding ability. We therefore considered the possibility that the severe mutation might disrupt PUM1 interactions, and identified PUM1 interactors in the murine brain. We find that mild PUM1 loss derepresses PUM1-specific targets, but the severe mutation disrupts interactions with several RNA-binding proteins and the regulation of their targets. In patient-derived cell lines, restoring PUM1 levels restores these interactors and their targets to normal levels. Our results demonstrate that dosage sensitivity does not always signify a linear relationship with protein abundance but can involve distinct mechanisms. We propose that to understand the functions of RNA-binding proteins in a physiological context will require studying their interactions as well as their targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Botta
- Department of Genetics and DevelopmentColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
- Department of Translational Medical ScienceUniversity of Campania Luigi VanvitelliCasertaItaly
| | - Nicola de Prisco
- Department of Genetics and DevelopmentColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Alexei Chemiakine
- Department of Genetics and DevelopmentColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Vicky Brandt
- Department of Genetics and DevelopmentColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Maximilian Cabaj
- Department of Genetics and DevelopmentColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Purvi Patel
- Proteomics and Macromolecular Crystallography Shared Resource, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer CenterColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | | | - Colton J Treadway
- Department of Pharmacology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel HillNCUSA
| | - Marko Jovanovic
- Department of Biological SciencesColumbia UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Nicholas G Brown
- Department of Pharmacology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel HillNCUSA
| | - Rajesh K Soni
- Proteomics and Macromolecular Crystallography Shared Resource, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer CenterColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Vincenzo A Gennarino
- Department of Genetics and DevelopmentColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
- Departments of NeurologyColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
- Columbia Stem Cell InitiativeColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
- Initiative for Columbia Ataxia and TremorColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
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19
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Almazroea AH, Yousef S, Ahmad SMS, AlHiraky HN, Al-Haidose A, Abdallah AM. The Impact of ACE Gene Variants on Acute-Phase Reactants in Children with Rheumatic Heart Disease. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13101672. [PMID: 37238156 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13101672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most important sequela of upper respiratory group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection. The role of the common angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) variant in the disease and its subtypes remains uncertain. The acute-phase reactants (APRs) C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) form part of the Jones criteria for diagnosing RHD, and genetic factors are known to influence baseline CRP and ESR levels. Therefore, here, we investigated the relationship between the ACE I/D polymorphism and APR levels in RHD. A total of 268 individuals were recruited, including 123 RHD patients and 198 healthy controls. There was a trend toward a higher D allele frequency in RHD patients. The ACE I/D polymorphism genotype frequency and DD+ID allelic carriage were significantly associated with a high APR level (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively). These results highlight the importance of ACE I/D polymorphisms in RHD for disease stratification, but not for disease predisposition. Further studies in larger cohorts and different populations are now required to confirm this association and to explore the mechanism of this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulhadi H Almazroea
- Pediatrics Department, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al-Madinah 30001, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sondos Yousef
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Salma M S Ahmad
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Hanin N AlHiraky
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Amal Al-Haidose
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Atiyeh M Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
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20
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Ye X, Yang W, Yi S, Zhao Y, Varani G, Jankowsky E, Yang F. Two distinct binding modes provide the RNA-binding protein RbFox with extraordinary sequence specificity. Nat Commun 2023; 14:701. [PMID: 36759600 PMCID: PMC9911399 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36394-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Specificity of RNA-binding proteins for target sequences varies considerably. Yet, it is not understood how certain few proteins achieve markedly higher sequence specificity than most others. Here we show that the RNA Recognition Motif of RbFox accomplishes extraordinary sequence specificity by employing functionally and structurally distinct binding modes. Affinity measurements of RbFox for all binding site variants reveal the existence of two distinct binding modes. The first exclusively accommodates cognate and closely related RNAs with high affinity. The second mode accommodates all other RNAs with reduced affinity by imposing large thermodynamic penalties on non-cognate sequences. NMR studies indicate marked structural differences between the two binding modes, including large conformational rearrangements distant from the RNA-binding site. Distinct binding modes by a single RNA-binding module explain extraordinary sequence selectivity and reveal an unknown layer of functional diversity, cross talk and regulation in RNA-protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Ye
- Center for RNA Science and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Wen Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Greater Bay Biomedical InnoCenter, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Soon Yi
- Center for RNA Science and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Yanan Zhao
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150080, China
| | - Gabriele Varani
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Eckhard Jankowsky
- Center for RNA Science and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Moderna Therapeutics, 200 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Fan Yang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150080, China.
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21
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Fisher E, Feng J. RNA splicing regulators play critical roles in neurogenesis. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2022; 13:e1728. [PMID: 35388651 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Alternative RNA splicing increases transcript diversity in different cell types and under varying conditions. It is executed with the help of RNA splicing regulators (RSRs), which are operationally defined as RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that regulate alternative splicing, but not directly catalyzing the chemical reactions of splicing. By systematically searching for RBPs and manually identifying those that regulate splicing, we curated 305 RSRs in the human genome. Surprisingly, most of the RSRs are involved in neurogenesis. Among these RSRs, we focus on nine families (PTBP, NOVA, RBFOX, ELAVL, CELF, DBHS, MSI, PCBP, and MBNL) that play essential roles in the neurogenic pathway. A better understanding of their functions will provide novel insights into the role of splicing in brain development, health, and disease. This comprehensive review serves as a stepping-stone to explore the diverse and complex set of RSRs as fundamental regulators of neural development. This article is categorized under: RNA-Based Catalysis > RNA Catalysis in Splicing and Translation RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Fisher
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Jian Feng
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, New York, USA
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22
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Peart NJ, Hwang JY, Quesnel-Vallières M, Sears MJ, Yang Y, Stoilov P, Barash Y, Park JW, Lynch KW, Carstens RP. The global Protein-RNA interaction map of ESRP1 defines a post-transcriptional program that is essential for epithelial cell function. iScience 2022; 25:105205. [PMID: 36238894 PMCID: PMC9550651 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The epithelial splicing regulatory proteins, ESRP1 and ESRP2, are essential for mammalian development through the regulation of a global program of alternative splicing of genes involved in the maintenance of epithelial cell function. To further inform our understanding of the molecular functions of ESRP1, we performed enhanced crosslinking immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (eCLIP) in epithelial cells of mouse epidermis. The genome-wide binding sites of ESRP1 were integrated with RNA-Seq analysis of alterations in splicing and total gene expression that result from epidermal ablation of Esrp1 and Esrp2. These studies demonstrated that ESRP1 functions in splicing regulation occur primarily through direct binding in a position-dependent manner to promote either exon inclusion or skipping. In addition, we also identified widespread binding of ESRP1 in 3' and 5' untranslated regions (UTRs) of genes involved in epithelial cell function, suggesting that its post-transcriptional functions extend beyond splicing regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natoya J Peart
- Departments of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jae Yeon Hwang
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Mathieu Quesnel-Vallières
- Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Matthew J Sears
- Departments of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yuequin Yang
- Departments of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Peter Stoilov
- Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Institute, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Yoseph Barash
- Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Juw Won Park
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
- KY INBRE Bioinformatics Core, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Kristen W Lynch
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
- Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Russ P Carstens
- Departments of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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23
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Intrinsic myocardial defects underlie an Rbfox-deficient zebrafish model of hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5877. [PMID: 36198703 PMCID: PMC9534849 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32982-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is characterized by underdevelopment of left sided structures including the ventricle, valves, and aorta. Prevailing paradigm suggests that HLHS is a multigenic disease of co-occurring phenotypes. Here, we report that zebrafish lacking two orthologs of the RNA binding protein RBFOX2, a gene linked to HLHS in humans, display cardiovascular defects overlapping those in HLHS patients including ventricular, valve, and aortic deficiencies. In contrast to current models, we demonstrate that these structural deficits arise secondary to impaired pump function as these phenotypes are rescued when Rbfox is specifically expressed in the myocardium. Mechanistically, we find diminished expression and alternative splicing of sarcomere and mitochondrial components that compromise sarcomere assembly and mitochondrial respiration, respectively. Injection of human RBFOX2 mRNA restores cardiovascular development in rbfox mutant zebrafish, while HLHS-linked RBFOX2 variants fail to rescue. This work supports an emerging paradigm for HLHS pathogenesis that centers on myocardial intrinsic defects.
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24
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Olthof AM, White AK, Kanadia RN. The emerging significance of splicing in vertebrate development. Development 2022; 149:dev200373. [PMID: 36178052 PMCID: PMC9641660 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200373] [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] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Splicing is a crucial regulatory node of gene expression that has been leveraged to expand the proteome from a limited number of genes. Indeed, the vast increase in intron number that accompanied vertebrate emergence might have aided the evolution of developmental and organismal complexity. Here, we review how animal models for core spliceosome components have provided insights into the role of splicing in vertebrate development, with a specific focus on neuronal, neural crest and skeletal development. To this end, we also discuss relevant spliceosomopathies, which are developmental disorders linked to mutations in spliceosome subunits. Finally, we discuss potential mechanisms that could underlie the tissue-specific phenotypes often observed upon spliceosome inhibition and identify gaps in our knowledge that, we hope, will inspire further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anouk M. Olthof
- Physiology and Neurobiology Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Alisa K. White
- Physiology and Neurobiology Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Rahul N. Kanadia
- Physiology and Neurobiology Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
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25
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Comparison of the somatic TADs and lampbrush chromomere-loop complexes in transcriptionally active prophase I oocytes. Chromosoma 2022; 131:207-223. [PMID: 36031655 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-022-00780-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
In diplotene oocyte nuclei of all vertebrate species, except mammals, chromosomes lack interchromosomal contacts and chromatin is linearly compartmentalized into distinct chromomere-loop complexes forming lampbrush chromosomes. However, the mechanisms underlying the formation of chromomere-loop complexes remain unexplored. Here we aimed to compare somatic topologically associating domains (TADs), recently identified in chicken embryonic fibroblasts, with chromomere-loop complexes in lampbrush meiotic chromosomes. By measuring 3D-distances and colocalization between linear equidistantly located genomic loci, positioned within one TAD or separated by a TAD border, we confirmed the presence of predicted TADs in chicken embryonic fibroblast nuclei. Using three-colored FISH with BAC probes, we mapped equidistant genomic regions included in several sequential somatic TADs on isolated chicken lampbrush chromosomes. Eight genomic regions, each comprising two or three somatic TADs, were mapped to non-overlapping neighboring lampbrush chromatin domains - lateral loops, chromomeres, or chromomere-loop complexes. Genomic loci from the neighboring somatic TADs could localize in one lampbrush chromomere-loop complex, while genomic loci belonging to the same somatic TAD could be localized in neighboring lampbrush chromomere-loop domains. In addition, FISH-mapping of BAC probes to the nascent transcripts on the lateral loops indicates transcription of at least 17 protein-coding genes and 2 non-coding RNA genes during the lampbrush stage of chicken oogenesis, including genes involved in oocyte maturation and early embryo development.
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26
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Han H, Best AJ, Braunschweig U, Mikolajewicz N, Li JD, Roth J, Chowdhury F, Mantica F, Nabeel-Shah S, Parada G, Brown KR, O'Hanlon D, Wei J, Yao Y, Zid AA, Comsa LC, Jen M, Wang J, Datti A, Gonatopoulos-Pournatzis T, Weatheritt RJ, Greenblatt JF, Wrana JL, Irimia M, Gingras AC, Moffat J, Blencowe BJ. Systematic exploration of dynamic splicing networks reveals conserved multistage regulators of neurogenesis. Mol Cell 2022; 82:2982-2999.e14. [PMID: 35914530 PMCID: PMC10686216 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is a critical regulatory layer; yet, factors controlling functionally coordinated splicing programs during developmental transitions are poorly understood. Here, we employ a screening strategy to identify factors controlling dynamic splicing events important for mammalian neurogenesis. Among previously unknown regulators, Rbm38 acts widely to negatively control neural AS, in part through interactions mediated by the established repressor of splicing, Ptbp1. Puf60, a ubiquitous factor, is surprisingly found to promote neural splicing patterns. This activity requires a conserved, neural-differential exon that remodels Puf60 co-factor interactions. Ablation of this exon rewires distinct AS networks in embryonic stem cells and at different stages of mouse neurogenesis. Single-cell transcriptome analyses further reveal distinct roles for Rbm38 and Puf60 isoforms in establishing neuronal identity. Our results describe important roles for previously unknown regulators of neurogenesis and establish how an alternative exon in a widely expressed splicing factor orchestrates temporal control over cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Han
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada.
| | - Andrew J Best
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | | | | | - Jack Daiyang Li
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Jonathan Roth
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Fuad Chowdhury
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Federica Mantica
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader, 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Syed Nabeel-Shah
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Guillermo Parada
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Kevin R Brown
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Dave O'Hanlon
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Jiarun Wei
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Yuxi Yao
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Abdelrahman Abou Zid
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Lim Caden Comsa
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Mark Jen
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Jenny Wang
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Alessandro Datti
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Thomas Gonatopoulos-Pournatzis
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Center for Cancer Research National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Robert J Weatheritt
- EMBL Australia, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia; St. Vincent Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Jack F Greenblatt
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Jeffrey L Wrana
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Manuel Irimia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader, 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anne-Claude Gingras
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Jason Moffat
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada.
| | - Benjamin J Blencowe
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
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27
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Rbfox1 expression in amacrine cells is restricted to GABAergic and VGlut3 glycinergic cells. Biosci Rep 2022; 42:231460. [PMID: 35730583 PMCID: PMC9272594 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20220497] [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: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rbfox1 is a multifunctional RNA binding protein that regulates alternative splicing, transcription, mRNA stability and translation. Rbfox1 is an important regulator of gene networks involved in neurogenesis and neuronal function. Disruption of Rbfox function has been associated with several neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. We have shown earlier that Rbfox1 is expressed in retinal ganglion and amacrine cells (ACs) and that its downregulation in adult mouse retinas leads to deficiency of depth perception. In this study, we used several markers of ACs, including GABA, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), neuropeptide Y (NPY), glycine transporter (GlyT1) and vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGlut3) to identify types of ACs that express Rbfox1. Expression of Rbfox1 was observed predominantly in GABAergic ACs located in the INL and GCL. All GABAergic/cholinergic starburst ACs and virtually all NPY-positive GABAergic ACs were also Rbfox1-positive. Among glycinergic ACs, a sparse population of Rbfox1/VGlut3-positive cells was identified, indicating that Rbfox1 is expressed in a very small population of glycinergic ACs. These data contributes to our understanding about molecular differences between various types of amacrine cells and the cell-specific gene networks regulated by Rbfox1.
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28
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Choi S, Lee HS, Cho N, Kim I, Cheon S, Park C, Kim EM, Kim W, Kim KK. RBFOX2-regulated TEAD1 alternative splicing plays a pivotal role in Hippo-YAP signaling. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:8658-8673. [PMID: 35699208 PMCID: PMC9410899 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac509] [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: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative pre-mRNA splicing is key to proteome diversity; however, the biological roles of alternative splicing (AS) in signaling pathways remain elusive. Here, we focus on TEA domain transcription factor 1 (TEAD1), a YAP binding factor in the Hippo signaling pathway. Public database analyses showed that expression of YAP-TEAD target genes negatively correlated with the expression of a TEAD1 isoform lacking exon 6 (TEAD1ΔE6) but did not correlate with overall TEAD1 expression. We confirmed that the transcriptional activity and oncogenic properties of the full-length TEAD1 isoform were greater than those of TEAD1ΔE6, with the difference in transcription related to YAP interaction. Furthermore, we showed that RNA-binding Fox-1 homolog 2 (RBFOX2) promoted the inclusion of TEAD1 exon 6 via binding to the conserved GCAUG element in the downstream intron. These results suggest a regulatory mechanism of RBFOX2-mediated TEAD1 AS and provide insight into AS-specific modulation of signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunkyung Choi
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo Seong Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Namjoon Cho
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Inyoung Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongmin Cheon
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea.,Proteomics Core Facility, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Chungoo Park
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Mi Kim
- Department of Predictive Toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon, 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Wantae Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Kee K Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
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Meyer BJ. The X chromosome in C. elegans sex determination and dosage compensation. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2022; 74:101912. [PMID: 35490475 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2022.101912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abnormalities in chromosome dose can reduce organismal fitness and viability by disrupting the balance of gene expression. Unlike imbalances in chromosome dose that cause pathologies, differences in X-chromosome dose that determine sex are well tolerated. Dosage compensation mechanisms have evolved in diverse species to balance X-chromosome gene expression between sexes. Mechanisms underlying nematode X-chromosome counting to determine sex revealed how small quantitative differences in molecular signals are translated into dramatically different developmental fates. Mechanisms underlying X-chromosome dosage compensation revealed the interplay between chromatin modification and three-dimensional chromosome structure imposed by an X-specific condensin complex to regulate gene expression over vast chromosomal territories. In a surprising twist of evolution, this dosage-compensation condensin complex also regulates lifespan and tolerance to proteotoxic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara J Meyer
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, 16 Barker Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-3204, USA.
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30
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Alternative splicing diversifies the skeletal muscle transcriptome during prolonged spaceflight. Skelet Muscle 2022; 12:11. [PMID: 35642060 PMCID: PMC9153194 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-022-00294-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As the interest in manned spaceflight increases, so does the requirement to understand the transcriptomic mechanisms that underlay the detrimental physiological adaptations of skeletal muscle to microgravity. While microgravity-induced differential gene expression (DGE) has been extensively investigated, the contribution of differential alternative splicing (DAS) to the plasticity and functional status of the skeletal muscle transcriptome has not been studied in an animal model. Therefore, by evaluating both DGE and DAS across spaceflight, we set out to provide the first comprehensive characterization of the transcriptomic landscape of skeletal muscle during exposure to microgravity. METHODS RNA-sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and morphological analyses were conducted utilizing total RNA and tissue sections isolated from the gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles of 30-week-old female BALB/c mice exposed to microgravity or ground control conditions for 9 weeks. RESULTS In response to microgravity, the skeletal muscle transcriptome was remodeled via both DGE and DAS. Importantly, while DGE showed variable gene network enrichment, DAS was enriched in structural and functional gene networks of skeletal muscle, resulting in the expression of alternatively spliced transcript isoforms that have been associated with the physiological changes to skeletal muscle in microgravity, including muscle atrophy and altered fiber type function. Finally, RNA-binding proteins, which are required for regulation of pre-mRNA splicing, were themselves differentially spliced but not differentially expressed, an upstream event that is speculated to account for the downstream splicing changes identified in target skeletal muscle genes. CONCLUSIONS Our work serves as the first investigation of coordinate changes in DGE and DAS in large limb muscles across spaceflight. It opens up a new opportunity to understand (i) the molecular mechanisms by which splice variants of skeletal muscle genes regulate the physiological adaptations of skeletal muscle to microgravity and (ii) how small molecule splicing regulator therapies might thwart muscle atrophy and alterations to fiber type function during prolonged spaceflight.
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Alternative Splicing of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator (ARNT) Is Regulated by RBFOX2 in Lymphoid Malignancies. Mol Cell Biol 2022; 42:e0050321. [PMID: 35404107 PMCID: PMC9119065 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00503-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant alternative splicing (AS) of pre-mRNAs promotes the development and proliferation of cancerous cells. Accordingly, we had previously observed higher levels of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT) spliced variant isoform 1 in human lymphoid malignancies compared to that in normal lymphoid cells, which is a consequence of increased inclusion of alternative exon 5. ARNT is a transcription factor that has been implicated in the survival of various cancers. Notably, we found that ARNT isoform 1 promoted the growth and survival of lymphoid malignancies, but the regulatory mechanism controlling ARNT AS is unclear. Here, we report cis- and trans-regulatory elements which are important for the inclusion of ARNT exon 5. Specifically, we identified recognition motifs for the RNA-binding protein RBFOX2, which are required for RBFOX2-mediated exon 5 inclusion. RBFOX2 upregulation was observed in lymphoid malignancies, correlating with the observed increase in ARNT exon 5 inclusion. Moreover, suppression of RBFOX2 significantly reduced ARNT isoform 1 levels and cell growth. These observations reveal RBFOX2 as a critical regulator of ARNT AS in lymphoid malignancies and suggest that blocking the ARNT-specific RBFOX2 motifs to decrease ARNT isoform 1 levels is a viable option for targeting the growth of lymphoid malignancies.
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Diminished Rbfox1 increases vascular constriction by dynamically regulating alternative splicing of CaV1.2 calcium channel in hypertension. Clin Sci (Lond) 2022; 136:803-817. [PMID: 35543237 DOI: 10.1042/cs20220226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Calcium influx from depolarized CaV1.2 calcium channels triggers the contraction of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which is important for maintaining vascular myogenic tone and blood pressure. The function of CaV1.2 channel can be subtly modulated by alternative splicing (AS), and its aberrant splicing involves in the pathogenesis of multiple cardiovascular diseases. The RNA binding protein Rbfox1 is reported to regulate the AS events of CaV1.2 channel in the neuronal development, but its potential roles in vascular CaV1.2 channels and vasoconstriction remain undefined. Here, we detect Rbfox1 is expressed in rat vascular smooth muscles. Moreover, the protein level of Rbfox1 is dramatically decreased in the hypertensive small arteries from spontaneously hypertensive rats in comparison to normotensive ones from Wistar-Kyoto rats. In VSMCs, Rbfox1 could dynamically regulate the AS of CaV1.2 exons 9* and 33. By whole-cell patch clamp, we identify knockdown of Rbfox1 induces the hyperpolarization of CaV1.2 current-voltage relationship curve in VSMCs. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated knockdown of Rbfox1 increases the K+-induced constriction of rat mesenteric arteries. In summary, our results indicate Rbfox1 modulates vascular constriction by dynamically regulating CaV1.2 alternative exons 9* and 33. Therefore, our work elucidates the underlying mechanisms for CaV1.2 channels regulation and provides a potential therapeutic target for hypertension.
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Wiegel D, Dammann CEL, Nielsen HC. ErbB4 alternative splicing mediates fetal mouse alveolar type II cell differentiation in vitro. Pediatr Res 2022:10.1038/s41390-022-02013-y. [PMID: 35338350 PMCID: PMC9509489 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-02013-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alternative splicing (AS) creates different protein isoforms, an important mechanism regulating cell-specific function. Little is known about AS in lung development, particularly in alveolar type II (ATII) cells. ErbB4 receptor isoforms Jma and Jmb have significant and opposing functions in the brain, heart, and lung development and/or disease. However, the regulators of ErbB4 AS are unknown. ErbB4 AS regulators in fetal mouse ATII cells control its function in ATII cell maturation. METHODS Candidate ErbB4 AS regulators were found using in silico analysis. Their developmental expression was studied in fetal mouse ATII cells. The effects of splice factor downregulation and upregulation on ATII cell maturation were analyzed. RESULTS ErbB4-Jma increased significantly in ATII cells after gestation E16.5. In silico analysis found four candidate splice factors: FOX2, CUG/CELF1, TIAR, and HUB. Fetal ATII cells expressed these factors in distinct developmental profiles. HUB downregulation in E17.5 ATII cells increased Jma isoform levels and Sftpb gene expression and decreased Jmb. HUB overexpression decreased Jma and Sftpb. CONCLUSIONS ErbB4 AS is developmentally controlled by HUB in fetal ATII cells, promoting ATII differentiation. Regulated AS expression during ATII cell differentiation suggests novel therapeutic strategies to approach human disease. IMPACT Alternative splicing (AS) of the ErbB4 receptor, involving mutually exclusive exon inclusion, creates Jma and Jmb isoforms with distinct differences in receptor processing and function. The Jma isoform of ErbB4 promotes differentiation of fetal lung alveolar type II cells. The AS is mediated in part by the RNA-binding protein HUB. The molecular mechanism of AS for ErbB4 has not been previously described. The regulation of ErbB4 AS has important implications in the development of organs, such as the lung, brain, and heart, and for disease, including cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea Wiegel
- Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02111, USA
| | - Christiane E L Dammann
- Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02111, USA
- Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Heber C Nielsen
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.
- Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
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Lin F, Xu L, Yuan R, Han S, Xie J, Jiang K, Li B, Yu W, Rao T, Zhou X, Cheng F. Identification of inflammatory response and alternative splicing in acute kidney injury and experimental verification of the involvement of RNA‑binding protein RBFOX1 in this disease. Int J Mol Med 2022; 49:32. [PMID: 35059728 PMCID: PMC8788925 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2022.5087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of inflammatory responses and alternative splicing (AS) have been recently reported to be associated with various kidney diseases. The effect of inflammatory response on acute kidney injury (AKI) has not been fully clarified. In the present study, a mouse model of AKI induced by cisplatin and ischemia-reperfusion (IR) was established and genome-wide profiling analysis and identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in kidney tissue was conducted by Gene Ontology (GO) functional analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and RT-qPCR. The results revealed that common DEGs in AKI induced by cisplatin and IR were enriched in the inflammatory response pathway, including hub genes CSF-1, CXCL1, CXCL10, IL-1β, IL-34, IL-6 and TLR2. AS in AKI was initially reported. Cisplatin-induced AS was enriched in the phosphorylation pathway, involving regulated AS genes CSNK1A1, PAK2, CRK, ADK and IKBKB. IR-induced AS was enriched in apoptosis and proliferation pathways, including DEGs ZDHHC16, BCL2L1 and FGF1 regulated by AS. The ability of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) to regulate AS was coordinated with the function of context-dependent genetic mechanisms. A total of 49 common differentially expressed RBP genes were screened. RNA binding fox-1 homolog 1 (RBFOX1) was revealed to be the top downregulated gene. The relative levels of RBFOX1 in the nuclei of mouse renal tubular epithelial cells in mRNA and proteins were downregulated by cisplatin and IR. Moreover, the biological functions of RBFOX1 were investigated in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2 cells). Results of in vitro experiments revealed that exogenous RBFOX1 inhibited inflammation and oxidative stress to reduce hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis of HK-2 cells. This phenomenon may be related to the inhibition of NF-κB and the activation of the NRF2/HO-1 signaling pathway. In conclusion, the inflammatory cytokines, AS and RBPs in AKI were analyzed in the present study via whole transcriptome sequencing. It was revealed that the RBP gene RBFOX1 was involved in the pathogenesis of AKI. Thus, the present study provided novel insights into the mechanism of AKI pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangyou Lin
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Lei Xu
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Run Yuan
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Shangting Han
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Jinna Xie
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Kun Jiang
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Bojun Li
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Weimin Yu
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Ting Rao
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Xiangjun Zhou
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Fan Cheng
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
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Nikonova E, Mukherjee A, Kamble K, Barz C, Nongthomba U, Spletter ML. Rbfox1 is required for myofibril development and maintaining fiber type-specific isoform expression in Drosophila muscles. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 5:5/4/e202101342. [PMID: 34996845 PMCID: PMC8742874 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101342] [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: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein isoform transitions confer muscle fibers with distinct properties and are regulated by differential transcription and alternative splicing. RNA-binding Fox protein 1 (Rbfox1) can affect both transcript levels and splicing, and is known to contribute to normal muscle development and physiology in vertebrates, although the detailed mechanisms remain obscure. In this study, we report that Rbfox1 contributes to the generation of adult muscle diversity in Drosophila Rbfox1 is differentially expressed among muscle fiber types, and RNAi knockdown causes a hypercontraction phenotype that leads to behavioral and eclosion defects. Misregulation of fiber type-specific gene and splice isoform expression, notably loss of an indirect flight muscle-specific isoform of Troponin-I that is critical for regulating myosin activity, leads to structural defects. We further show that Rbfox1 directly binds the 3'-UTR of target transcripts, regulates the expression level of myogenic transcription factors myocyte enhancer factor 2 and Salm, and both modulates expression of and genetically interacts with the CELF family RNA-binding protein Bruno1 (Bru1). Rbfox1 and Bru1 co-regulate fiber type-specific alternative splicing of structural genes, indicating that regulatory interactions between FOX and CELF family RNA-binding proteins are conserved in fly muscle. Rbfox1 thus affects muscle development by regulating fiber type-specific splicing and expression dynamics of identity genes and structural proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Nikonova
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Martinsried-Planegg, Germany
| | - Amartya Mukherjee
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics (MRDG), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Ketaki Kamble
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics (MRDG), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Christiane Barz
- Muscle Dynamics Group, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried-Planegg, Germany
| | - Upendra Nongthomba
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics (MRDG), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Maria L Spletter
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Martinsried-Planegg, Germany
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Meyer BJ. Mechanisms of sex determination and X-chromosome dosage compensation. Genetics 2022; 220:6498458. [PMID: 35100381 PMCID: PMC8825453 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormalities in chromosome number have the potential to disrupt the balance of gene expression and thereby decrease organismal fitness and viability. Such abnormalities occur in most solid tumors and also cause severe developmental defects and spontaneous abortions. In contrast to the imbalances in chromosome dose that cause pathologies, the difference in X-chromosome dose used to determine sexual fate across diverse species is well tolerated. Dosage compensation mechanisms have evolved in such species to balance X-chromosome gene expression between the sexes, allowing them to tolerate the difference in X-chromosome dose. This review analyzes the chromosome counting mechanism that tallies X-chromosome number to determine sex (XO male and XX hermaphrodite) in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the associated dosage compensation mechanism that balances X-chromosome gene expression between the sexes. Dissecting the molecular mechanisms underlying X-chromosome counting has revealed how small quantitative differences in intracellular signals can be translated into dramatically different fates. Dissecting the process of X-chromosome dosage compensation has revealed the interplay between chromatin modification and chromosome structure in regulating gene expression over vast chromosomal territories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara J Meyer
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3204, USA
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37
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Mercer M, Jang S, Ni C, Buszczak M. The Dynamic Regulation of mRNA Translation and Ribosome Biogenesis During Germ Cell Development and Reproductive Aging. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:710186. [PMID: 34805139 PMCID: PMC8595405 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.710186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The regulation of mRNA translation, both globally and at the level of individual transcripts, plays a central role in the development and function of germ cells across species. Genetic studies using flies, worms, zebrafish and mice have highlighted the importance of specific RNA binding proteins in driving various aspects of germ cell formation and function. Many of these mRNA binding proteins, including Pumilio, Nanos, Vasa and Dazl have been conserved through evolution, specifically mark germ cells, and carry out similar functions across species. These proteins typically influence mRNA translation by binding to specific elements within the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of target messages. Emerging evidence indicates that the global regulation of mRNA translation also plays an important role in germ cell development. For example, ribosome biogenesis is often regulated in a stage specific manner during gametogenesis. Moreover, oocytes need to produce and store a sufficient number of ribosomes to support the development of the early embryo until the initiation of zygotic transcription. Accumulating evidence indicates that disruption of mRNA translation regulatory mechanisms likely contributes to infertility and reproductive aging in humans. These findings highlight the importance of gaining further insights into the mechanisms that control mRNA translation within germ cells. Future work in this area will likely have important impacts beyond germ cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Mercer
- Department of Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Seoyeon Jang
- Department of Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Chunyang Ni
- Department of Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Michael Buszczak
- Department of Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
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Chan D, Feng C, England WE, Wyman D, Flynn R, Wang X, Shi Y, Mortazavi A, Spitale R. Diverse functional elements in RNA predicted transcriptome-wide by orthogonal RNA structure probing. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:11868-11882. [PMID: 34634799 PMCID: PMC8599799 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA molecules can fold into complex structures and interact with trans-acting factors to control their biology. Recent methods have been focused on developing novel tools to measure RNA structure transcriptome-wide, but their utility to study and predict RNA-protein interactions or RNA processing has been limited thus far. Here, we extend these studies with the first transcriptome-wide mapping method for cataloging RNA solvent accessibility, icLASER. By combining solvent accessibility (icLASER) with RNA flexibility (icSHAPE) data, we efficiently predict RNA-protein interactions transcriptome-wide and catalog RNA polyadenylation sites by RNA structure alone. These studies showcase the power of designing novel chemical approaches to studying RNA biology. Further, our study exemplifies merging complementary methods to measure RNA structure inside cells and its utility for predicting transcriptome-wide interactions that are critical for control of and regulation by RNA structure. We envision such approaches can be applied to studying different cell types or cells under varying conditions, using RNA structure and footprinting to characterize cellular interactions and processing involving RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalen Chan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine. Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Chao Feng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine. Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Whitney E England
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine. Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Dana Wyman
- Department of Developmental and Cellular Biology, University of California, Irvine. Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Ryan A Flynn
- Stem Cell Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA and Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Xiuye Wang
- Department Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine. Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Yongsheng Shi
- Department Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine. Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Ali Mortazavi
- Department of Developmental and Cellular Biology, University of California, Irvine. Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Robert C Spitale
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine. Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine. Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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Liu J, Guo ZN, Yan XL, Yang Y, Huang S. Brain Pathogenesis and Potential Therapeutic Strategies in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:755392. [PMID: 34867280 PMCID: PMC8634727 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.755392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most common muscular dystrophy that affects multiple systems including the muscle and heart. The mutant CTG expansion at the 3'-UTR of the DMPK gene causes the expression of toxic RNA that aggregate as nuclear foci. The foci then interfere with RNA-binding proteins, affecting hundreds of mis-spliced effector genes, leading to aberrant alternative splicing and loss of effector gene product functions, ultimately resulting in systemic disorders. In recent years, increasing clinical, imaging, and pathological evidence have indicated that DM1, though to a lesser extent, could also be recognized as true brain diseases, with more and more researchers dedicating to develop novel therapeutic tools dealing with it. In this review, we summarize the current advances in the pathogenesis and pathology of central nervous system (CNS) deficits in DM1, intervention measures currently being investigated are also highlighted, aiming to promote novel and cutting-edge therapeutic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Department of Neurology, Stroke Center & Clinical Trial and Research Center for Stroke, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- China National Comprehensive Stroke Center, Changchun, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Disease, Changchun, China
| | - Zhen-Ni Guo
- Department of Neurology, Stroke Center & Clinical Trial and Research Center for Stroke, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- China National Comprehensive Stroke Center, Changchun, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Disease, Changchun, China
| | - Xiu-Li Yan
- Department of Neurology, Stroke Center & Clinical Trial and Research Center for Stroke, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Neurology, Stroke Center & Clinical Trial and Research Center for Stroke, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- China National Comprehensive Stroke Center, Changchun, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Disease, Changchun, China
| | - Shuo Huang
- Department of Neurology, Stroke Center & Clinical Trial and Research Center for Stroke, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- China National Comprehensive Stroke Center, Changchun, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Disease, Changchun, China
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Schorr AL, Mangone M. miRNA-Based Regulation of Alternative RNA Splicing in Metazoans. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111618. [PMID: 34769047 PMCID: PMC8584187 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative RNA splicing is an important regulatory process used by genes to increase their diversity. This process is mainly executed by specific classes of RNA binding proteins that act in a dosage-dependent manner to include or exclude selected exons in the final transcripts. While these processes are tightly regulated in cells and tissues, little is known on how the dosage of these factors is achieved and maintained. Several recent studies have suggested that alternative RNA splicing may be in part modulated by microRNAs (miRNAs), which are short, non-coding RNAs (~22 nt in length) that inhibit translation of specific mRNA transcripts. As evidenced in tissues and in diseases, such as cancer and neurological disorders, the dysregulation of miRNA pathways disrupts downstream alternative RNA splicing events by altering the dosage of splicing factors involved in RNA splicing. This attractive model suggests that miRNAs can not only influence the dosage of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level but also indirectly interfere in pre-mRNA splicing at the co-transcriptional level. The purpose of this review is to compile and analyze recent studies on miRNAs modulating alternative RNA splicing factors, and how these events contribute to transcript rearrangements in tissue development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L. Schorr
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, School of Life Sciences, 427 East Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA;
| | - Marco Mangone
- Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics, The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, 1001 S McAllister Ave., Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-480-965-7957
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Jansen K, Shikama-Dorn N, Attar M, Maio S, Lopopolo M, Buck D, Holländer GA, Sansom SN. RBFOX splicing factors contribute to a broad but selective recapitulation of peripheral tissue splicing patterns in the thymus. Genome Res 2021; 31:2022-2034. [PMID: 34649931 PMCID: PMC8559713 DOI: 10.1101/gr.275245.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TEC) control the selection of a T cell repertoire reactive to pathogens but tolerant of self. This process is known to involve the promiscuous expression of virtually the entire protein-coding gene repertoire, but the extent to which TEC recapitulate peripheral isoforms, and the mechanisms by which they do so, remain largely unknown. We performed the first assembly-based transcriptomic census of transcript structures and splicing factor (SF) expression in mouse medullary TEC (mTEC) and 21 peripheral tissues. Mature mTEC expressed 60.1% of all protein-coding transcripts, more than was detected in any of the peripheral tissues. However, for genes with tissue-restricted expression, mTEC produced fewer isoforms than did the relevant peripheral tissues. Analysis of exon inclusion revealed an absence of brain-specific microexons in mTEC. We did not find unusual numbers of novel transcripts in TEC, and we show that Aire, the facilitator of promiscuous gene expression, promotes the generation of long “classical” transcripts (with 5′ and 3′ UTRs) but has only a limited impact on alternative splicing in mTEC. Comprehensive assessment of SF expression in mTEC identified a small set of nonpromiscuously expressed SF genes, among which we confirmed RBFOX to be present with AIRE in mTEC nuclei. Using a conditional loss-of-function approach, we show that Rbfox2 promotes mTEC development and regulates the alternative splicing of promiscuously expressed genes. These data indicate that TEC recommission a small number of peripheral SFs, including members of the RBFOX family, to generate a broad but selective representation of the peripheral splice isoform repertoire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Jansen
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, United Kingdom.,Department of Paediatrics and the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, United Kingdom
| | - Noriko Shikama-Dorn
- The University Children's Hospital of Basel and the Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Moustafa Attar
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, United Kingdom.,Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Maio
- Department of Paediatrics and the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Lopopolo
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - David Buck
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - Georg A Holländer
- Department of Paediatrics and the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, United Kingdom.,The University Children's Hospital of Basel and the Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stephen N Sansom
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, United Kingdom
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42
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Shi DL, Grifone R. RNA-Binding Proteins in the Post-transcriptional Control of Skeletal Muscle Development, Regeneration and Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:738978. [PMID: 34616743 PMCID: PMC8488162 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.738978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic myogenesis is a temporally and spatially regulated process that generates skeletal muscle of the trunk and limbs. During this process, mononucleated myoblasts derived from myogenic progenitor cells within the somites undergo proliferation, migration and differentiation to elongate and fuse into multinucleated functional myofibers. Skeletal muscle is the most abundant tissue of the body and has the remarkable ability to self-repair by re-activating the myogenic program in muscle stem cells, known as satellite cells. Post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression mediated by RNA-binding proteins is critically required for muscle development during embryogenesis and for muscle homeostasis in the adult. Differential subcellular localization and activity of RNA-binding proteins orchestrates target gene expression at multiple levels to regulate different steps of myogenesis. Dysfunctions of these post-transcriptional regulators impair muscle development and homeostasis, but also cause defects in motor neurons or the neuromuscular junction, resulting in muscle degeneration and neuromuscular disease. Many RNA-binding proteins, such as members of the muscle blind-like (MBNL) and CUG-BP and ETR-3-like factors (CELF) families, display both overlapping and distinct targets in muscle cells. Thus they function either cooperatively or antagonistically to coordinate myoblast proliferation and differentiation. Evidence is accumulating that the dynamic interplay of their regulatory activity may control the progression of myogenic program as well as stem cell quiescence and activation. Moreover, the role of RNA-binding proteins that regulate post-transcriptional modification in the myogenic program is far less understood as compared with transcription factors involved in myogenic specification and differentiation. Here we review past achievements and recent advances in understanding the functions of RNA-binding proteins during skeletal muscle development, regeneration and disease, with the aim to identify the fundamental questions that are still open for further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-Li Shi
- Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China.,Developmental Biology Laboratory, CNRS-UMR 7622, Institut de Biologie de Paris-Seine, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Raphaëlle Grifone
- Developmental Biology Laboratory, CNRS-UMR 7622, Institut de Biologie de Paris-Seine, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
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43
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A Broad-Based Mosquito Yeast Interfering RNA Pesticide Targeting Rbfox1 Represses Notch Signaling and Kills Both Larvae and Adult Mosquitoes. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10101251. [PMID: 34684200 PMCID: PMC8541554 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10101251] [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: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Prevention of mosquito-borne infectious diseases will require new classes of environmentally safe insecticides and novel mosquito control technologies. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was engineered to express short hairpin RNA (shRNA) corresponding to mosquito Rbfox1 genes. The yeast induced target gene silencing, resulting in larval death that was observed in both laboratory and outdoor semi-field trials conducted on Aedes aegypti. High levels of mortality were also observed during simulated field trials in which adult females consumed yeast delivered through a sugar bait. Mortality correlated with defects in the mosquito brain, in which a role for Rbfox1 as a positive regulator of Notch signaling was identified. The larvicidal and adulticidal activities of the yeast were subsequently confirmed in trials conducted on Aedes albopictus, Anopheles gambiae, and Culex quinquefasciatus, yet the yeast had no impact on survival of select non-target arthropods. These studies indicate that yeast RNAi pesticides targeting Rbfox1 could be further developed as broad-based mosquito larvicides and adulticides for deployment in integrated biorational mosquito control programs. These findings also suggest that the species-specificity of attractive targeted sugar baits, a new paradigm for vector control, could potentially be enhanced through RNAi technology, and specifically through the use of yeast-based interfering RNA pesticides.
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44
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Kos MZ, Carless MA, Blondell L, Leland MM, Knape KD, Göring HHH, Szabó CÁ. Whole Genome Sequence Data From Captive Baboons Implicate RBFOX1 in Epileptic Seizure Risk. Front Genet 2021; 12:714282. [PMID: 34490042 PMCID: PMC8417722 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.714282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigate the genetic determinants that underlie epilepsy in a captive baboon pedigree and evaluate the potential suitability of this non-human primate model for understanding the genetic etiology of human epilepsy. Archived whole-genome sequence data were analyzed using both a candidate gene approach that targeted variants in baboon homologs of 19 genes (n = 20,881 SNPs) previously implicated in genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) and a more agnostic approach that examined protein-altering mutations genome-wide as assessed by snpEff (n = 36,169). Measured genotype association tests for baboon cases of epileptic seizure were performed using SOLAR, as well as gene set enrichment analyses (GSEA) and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network construction of top association hits genome-wide (p < 0.01; n = 441 genes). The maximum likelihood estimate of heritability for epileptic seizure in the pedigreed baboon sample is 0.76 (SE = 0.77; p = 0.07). Among candidate genes for GGE, a significant association was detected for an intronic SNP in RBFOX1 (p = 5.92 × 10–6; adjusted p = 0.016). For protein-altering variants, no genome-wide significant results were observed for epilepsy status. However, GSEA revealed significant positive enrichment for genes involved in the extracellular matrix structure (ECM; FDR = 0.0072) and collagen formation (FDR = 0.017), which was reflected in a major PPI network cluster. This preliminary study highlights the potential role of RBFOX1 in the epileptic baboon, a protein involved in transcriptomic regulation of multiple epilepsy candidate genes in humans and itself previously implicated in human epilepsy, both focal and generalized. Moreover, protein-damaging variants from across the genome exhibit a pattern of association that links collagen-containing ECM to epilepsy risk. These findings suggest a shared genetic etiology between baboon and human forms of GGE and lay the foundation for follow-up research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Z Kos
- Department of Human Genetics, South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Edinburg, TX, United States
| | - Melanie A Carless
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States.,Brain Health Consortium, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Lucy Blondell
- Department of Human Genetics, South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Edinburg, TX, United States
| | - M Michelle Leland
- Laboratory Animal Research, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Koyle D Knape
- Department of Neurology, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Harald H H Göring
- Department of Human Genetics, South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Edinburg, TX, United States
| | - Charles Ákos Szabó
- Department of Neurology, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States.,South Texas Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, San Antonio, TX, United States
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45
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Freitag N, Xie Y, Adam LM, Borowski S, Blois SM, Barrientos G. Expression of the alternative splicing regulator Rbfox2 during placental development is differentially regulated in preeclampsia mouse models. Am J Reprod Immunol 2021; 86:e13491. [PMID: 34363260 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Proper placental development is pivotal to ensure healthy pregnancy outcomes. Among the multiple cellular mechanisms involved in the orchestration of this process, little is known on the role of alternative splicing events in the modulation of trophoblast cell biology. Here, we evaluated the expression of the alternative splicing regulator Rbfox2 in the pre- and post-placentation period in mouse pregnancies in both healthy and pathological settings. METHOD OF STUDY Immunofluorescence analysis of Rbfox2 expression in mouse implantation sites collected during the pre-placentation period (E5-E7) and post-placentation (E13). RESULTS We identified a progressive increase of Rbfox2 levels throughout the peri-implantation period with a shift from a cytoplasmatic expression on E5-E6 to a predominantly nuclear expression on E7, together with a prominent expression of this factor in both subcellular compartments of the primitive placenta. Our results further showed that in contrast to healthy gestations, Rbfox2 expression decreased in preeclamptic models during the post-placentation period. Finally, we further demonstrated enhanced expression of Rbfox2 proteins in allogeneic pregnancy compared to syngeneic models. CONCLUSIONS Our findings uncover a novel role for Rbfox2-controlled splicing events in the modulation of trophoblast function, with potential implications for the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and other pregnancy complications originated from defective placentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Freitag
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, AG GlycoImmunology, and the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Department for Psychosomatic Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yiran Xie
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Reproductive Medicine Center, Taihe Hospital, Hubei Medical University, Shiyan, China
| | - Lisa-Marie Adam
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sophia Borowski
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, AG GlycoImmunology, and the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra M Blois
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gabriela Barrientos
- Laboratorio de Medicina Experimental, Hospital Alemán, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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46
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Saulnier O, Guedri-Idjouadiene K, Aynaud MM, Chakraborty A, Bruyr J, Pineau J, O'Grady T, Mirabeau O, Grossetête S, Galvan B, Claes M, Al Oula Hassoun Z, Sadacca B, Laud K, Zaïdi S, Surdez D, Baulande S, Rambout X, Tirode F, Dutertre M, Delattre O, Dequiedt F. ERG transcription factors have a splicing regulatory function involving RBFOX2 that is altered in the EWS-FLI1 oncogenic fusion. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:5038-5056. [PMID: 34009296 PMCID: PMC8136815 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
ERG family proteins (ERG, FLI1 and FEV) are a subfamily of ETS transcription factors with key roles in physiology and development. In Ewing sarcoma, the oncogenic fusion protein EWS-FLI1 regulates both transcription and alternative splicing of pre-messenger RNAs. However, whether wild-type ERG family proteins might regulate splicing is unknown. Here, we show that wild-type ERG proteins associate with spliceosomal components, are found on nascent RNAs, and induce alternative splicing when recruited onto a reporter minigene. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that ERG and FLI1 regulate large numbers of alternative spliced exons (ASEs) enriched with RBFOX2 motifs and co-regulated by this splicing factor. ERG and FLI1 are associated with RBFOX2 via their conserved carboxy-terminal domain, which is present in EWS-FLI1. Accordingly, EWS-FLI1 is also associated with RBFOX2 and regulates ASEs enriched in RBFOX2 motifs. However, in contrast to wild-type ERG and FLI1, EWS-FLI1 often antagonizes RBFOX2 effects on exon inclusion. In particular, EWS-FLI1 reduces RBFOX2 binding to the ADD3 pre-mRNA, thus increasing its long isoform, which represses the mesenchymal phenotype of Ewing sarcoma cells. Our findings reveal a RBFOX2-mediated splicing regulatory function of wild-type ERG family proteins, that is altered in EWS-FLI1 and contributes to the Ewing sarcoma cell phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Saulnier
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Centre, Institut Curie, 75005 Paris, France.,Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Katia Guedri-Idjouadiene
- University of Liège, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA), Liège, Belgium.,University of Liège, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, Liège, Belgium
| | - Marie-Ming Aynaud
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Centre, Institut Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Alina Chakraborty
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR3348, INSERM U1278, F-91405 Orsay, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3348, INSERM U1278, F-91405 Orsay, France.,Équipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Jonathan Bruyr
- University of Liège, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA), Liège, Belgium.,University of Liège, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, Liège, Belgium
| | - Joséphine Pineau
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Centre, Institut Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Tina O'Grady
- University of Liège, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA), Liège, Belgium.,University of Liège, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, Liège, Belgium
| | - Olivier Mirabeau
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Centre, Institut Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Grossetête
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Centre, Institut Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Bartimée Galvan
- University of Liège, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA), Liège, Belgium.,University of Liège, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, Liège, Belgium
| | - Margaux Claes
- University of Liège, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA), Liège, Belgium.,University of Liège, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, Liège, Belgium
| | - Zahra Al Oula Hassoun
- University of Liège, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA), Liège, Belgium.,University of Liège, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, Liège, Belgium
| | - Benjamin Sadacca
- INSERM U932, RT2Lab Team, Translational Research Department, PSL Research University, Institut Curie, F-75005 Paris, France.,CNRS UMR5219, Institut de Mathématiques de Toulouse; Université de Toulouse; F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Karine Laud
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Centre, Institut Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Sakina Zaïdi
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Centre, Institut Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Didier Surdez
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Centre, Institut Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Sylvain Baulande
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, NGS Platform, 26 rue d'Ulm, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Xavier Rambout
- University of Liège, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA), Liège, Belgium.,University of Liège, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, Liège, Belgium
| | - Franck Tirode
- Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), Lyon University, Lyon, France
| | - Martin Dutertre
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR3348, INSERM U1278, F-91405 Orsay, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3348, INSERM U1278, F-91405 Orsay, France.,Équipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Olivier Delattre
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Centre, Institut Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Franck Dequiedt
- University of Liège, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA), Liège, Belgium.,University of Liège, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, Liège, Belgium
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47
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Lee JS, Lamarche-Vane N, Richard S. Microexon alternative splicing of small GTPase regulators: Implication in central nervous system diseases. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2021; 13:e1678. [PMID: 34155820 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Microexons are small sized (≤51 bp) exons which undergo extensive alternative splicing in neurons, microglia, embryonic stem cells, and cancer cells, giving rise to cell type specific protein isoforms. Due to their small sizes, microexons provide a unique challenge for the splicing machinery. They frequently lack exon splicer enhancers/repressors and require specialized neighboring trans-regulatory and cis-regulatory elements bound by RNA binding proteins (RBPs) for their inclusion. The functional consequences of including microexons within mRNAs have been extensively documented in the central nervous system (CNS) and aberrations in their inclusion have been observed to lead to abnormal processes. Despite the increasing evidence for microexons impacting cellular physiology within CNS, mechanistic details illustrating their functional importance in diseases of the CNS is still limited. In this review, we discuss the unique characteristics of microexons, and how RBPs participate in regulating their inclusion and exclusion during splicing. We consider recent findings of microexon alternative splicing and their implication for regulating the function of small GTPases in the context of the microglia, and we extrapolate these findings to what is known in neurons. We further discuss the emerging evidence for dysregulation of the Rho GTPase pathway in CNS diseases and the consequences contributed by the mis-splicing of microexons. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > Splicing Mechanisms RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jee-San Lee
- Segal Cancer Center, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nathalie Lamarche-Vane
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Cancer Research Program, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Stéphane Richard
- Segal Cancer Center, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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48
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Solovyeva EM, Ibebunjo C, Utzinger S, Eash JK, Dunbar A, Naumann U, Zhang Y, Serluca FC, Demirci S, Oberhauser B, Black F, Rausch M, Hoersch S, Meyer AS. New insights into molecular changes in skeletal muscle aging and disease: Differential alternative splicing and senescence. Mech Ageing Dev 2021; 197:111510. [PMID: 34019916 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2021.111510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Progressive loss of muscle mass and function due to muscle fiber atrophy and loss in the elderly and chronically ill is now defined as sarcopenia. It is a major contributor to loss of independence, disability, need of long-term care as well as overall mortality. Sarcopenia is a heterogenous disease and underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Here, we newly identified and used Tmem158, alongside Cdkn1a, as relevant senescence and denervation markers (SDMs), associated with muscle fiber atrophy. Subsequent application of laser capture microdissection (LCM) and RNA analyses revealed age- and disease-associated differences in gene expression and alternative splicing patterns in a rodent sarcopenia model. Of note, genes exhibiting such differential alternative splicing (DAS) are mainly involved in the contractile function of the muscle. Many of these splicing events are also found in a mouse model for myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), underscoring the premature aging phenotype of this disease. We propose to add differential alternative splicing to the hallmarks of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizaveta M Solovyeva
- NIBR Informatics, 4056, Basel, Switzerland; V.L. Talrose Institute for Energy Problems of Chemical Physics, N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | | | - Stephan Utzinger
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research (NIBR), Musculoskeletal Diseases, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - John K Eash
- NIBR, Musculoskeletal Diseases, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Andrew Dunbar
- NIBR, Analytical Sciences and Imaging, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Naumann
- NIBR, Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Yunyu Zhang
- NIBR, Musculoskeletal Diseases, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | | | - Sabrina Demirci
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research (NIBR), Musculoskeletal Diseases, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Frederique Black
- NIBR, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases, Cambridge, MA02139, USA
| | - Martin Rausch
- NIBR, Analytical Sciences and Imaging, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Angelika S Meyer
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research (NIBR), Musculoskeletal Diseases, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
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49
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Pham K, Masoudi N, Leyva-Díaz E, Hobert O. A nervous system-specific subnuclear organelle in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2021; 217:1-17. [PMID: 33683371 PMCID: PMC8045701 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyaa016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe here phase-separated subnuclear organelles in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which we term NUN (NUclear Nervous system-specific) bodies. Unlike other previously described subnuclear organelles, NUN bodies are highly cell type specific. In fully mature animals, 4-10 NUN bodies are observed exclusively in the nucleus of neuronal, glial and neuron-like cells, but not in other somatic cell types. Based on co-localization and genetic loss of function studies, NUN bodies are not related to other previously described subnuclear organelles, such as nucleoli, splicing speckles, paraspeckles, Polycomb bodies, promyelocytic leukemia bodies, gems, stress-induced nuclear bodies, or clastosomes. NUN bodies form immediately after cell cycle exit, before other signs of overt neuronal differentiation and are unaffected by the genetic elimination of transcription factors that control many other aspects of neuronal identity. In one unusual neuron class, the canal-associated neurons, NUN bodies remodel during larval development, and this remodeling depends on the Prd-type homeobox gene ceh-10. In conclusion, we have characterized here a novel subnuclear organelle whose cell type specificity poses the intriguing question of what biochemical process in the nucleus makes all nervous system-associated cells different from cells outside the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Pham
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Neda Masoudi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Eduardo Leyva-Díaz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Oliver Hobert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
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Shen F, Xu X, Yu Z, Li H, Shen H, Li X, Shen M, Chen G. Rbfox-1 contributes to CaMKIIα expression and intracerebral hemorrhage-induced secondary brain injury via blocking micro-RNA-124. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2021; 41:530-545. [PMID: 32248729 PMCID: PMC7922744 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x20916860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
RNA-binding protein fox-1 homolog 1 (Rbfox-1), an RNA-binding protein in neurons, is thought to be associated with many neurological diseases. To date, the mechanism on which Rbfox-1 worsens secondary cell death in ICH remains poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of Rbfox-1 in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH)-induced secondary brain injury (SBI) and to identify its underlying mechanisms. We found that the expression of Rbfox-1 in neurons was significantly increased after ICH, which was accompanied by increases in the binding of Rbfox-1 to Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKIIα) mRNA and the protein level of CaMKIIα. In addition, when exposed to exogenous upregulation or downregulation of Rbfox-1, the protein level of CaMKIIα showed a concomitant trend in brain tissue, which further suggested that CaMKIIα is a downstream-target protein of Rbfox-1. The upregulation of both proteins caused intracellular-Ca2+ overload and neuronal degeneration, which exacerbated brain damage. Furthermore, we found that Rbfox-1 promoted the expression of CaMKIIα via blocking the binding of micro-RNA-124 to CaMKIIα mRNA. Thus, Rbfox-1 is expected to be a promising therapeutic target for SBI after ICH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Shen
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,School of Nursing, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiang Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhengquan Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Haiying Li
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Haitao Shen
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Meifen Shen
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,School of Nursing, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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