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McAllan L, Baranasic D, Villicaña S, Brown S, Zhang W, Lehne B, Adamo M, Jenkinson A, Elkalaawy M, Mohammadi B, Hashemi M, Fernandes N, Lambie N, Williams R, Christiansen C, Yang Y, Zudina L, Lagou V, Tan S, Castillo-Fernandez J, King JWD, Soong R, Elliott P, Scott J, Prokopenko I, Cebola I, Loh M, Lenhard B, Batterham RL, Bell JT, Chambers JC, Kooner JS, Scott WR. Integrative genomic analyses in adipocytes implicate DNA methylation in human obesity and diabetes. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2784. [PMID: 37188674 PMCID: PMC10185556 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38439-z] [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: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation variations are prevalent in human obesity but evidence of a causative role in disease pathogenesis is limited. Here, we combine epigenome-wide association and integrative genomics to investigate the impact of adipocyte DNA methylation variations in human obesity. We discover extensive DNA methylation changes that are robustly associated with obesity (N = 190 samples, 691 loci in subcutaneous and 173 loci in visceral adipocytes, P < 1 × 10-7). We connect obesity-associated methylation variations to transcriptomic changes at >500 target genes, and identify putative methylation-transcription factor interactions. Through Mendelian Randomisation, we infer causal effects of methylation on obesity and obesity-induced metabolic disturbances at 59 independent loci. Targeted methylation sequencing, CRISPR-activation and gene silencing in adipocytes, further identifies regional methylation variations, underlying regulatory elements and novel cellular metabolic effects. Our results indicate DNA methylation is an important determinant of human obesity and its metabolic complications, and reveal mechanisms through which altered methylation may impact adipocyte functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam McAllan
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN, UK
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Damir Baranasic
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN, UK
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Sergio Villicaña
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Scarlett Brown
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN, UK
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Weihua Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
- Department of Cardiology, Ealing Hospital, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, Middlesex, UB1 3HW, UK
| | - Benjamin Lehne
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - Marco Adamo
- UCLH Bariatric Centre for Weight Loss, Weight Management and Metabolic and Endocrine Surgery, University College London Hospitals, Ground Floor West Wing, 250 Euston Road, London, NW1 2PG, UK
| | - Andrew Jenkinson
- UCLH Bariatric Centre for Weight Loss, Weight Management and Metabolic and Endocrine Surgery, University College London Hospitals, Ground Floor West Wing, 250 Euston Road, London, NW1 2PG, UK
| | - Mohamed Elkalaawy
- UCLH Bariatric Centre for Weight Loss, Weight Management and Metabolic and Endocrine Surgery, University College London Hospitals, Ground Floor West Wing, 250 Euston Road, London, NW1 2PG, UK
| | - Borzoueh Mohammadi
- UCLH Bariatric Centre for Weight Loss, Weight Management and Metabolic and Endocrine Surgery, University College London Hospitals, Ground Floor West Wing, 250 Euston Road, London, NW1 2PG, UK
| | - Majid Hashemi
- UCLH Bariatric Centre for Weight Loss, Weight Management and Metabolic and Endocrine Surgery, University College London Hospitals, Ground Floor West Wing, 250 Euston Road, London, NW1 2PG, UK
| | - Nadia Fernandes
- Imperial BRC Genomics Facility, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Nathalie Lambie
- Imperial BRC Genomics Facility, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Richard Williams
- Imperial BRC Genomics Facility, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Colette Christiansen
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Youwen Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Sciences, James Black Centre, King's College London British Heart Foundation Centre of Excellence, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Liudmila Zudina
- Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Vasiliki Lagou
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory of Adaptive Immunity, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sili Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - James W D King
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Richie Soong
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Pathology, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Paul Elliott
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - James Scott
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, W12 0HS, UK
| | - Inga Prokopenko
- Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
- People-Centred Artificial Intelligence Institute, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
- Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics, Ufa Federal Research Centre Russian Academy of Sciences, Ufa, Russian Federation
| | - Inês Cebola
- Section of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Marie Loh
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
- Translational Laboratory in Genetic Medicine (TLGM), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos, Level 5, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Boris Lenhard
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN, UK
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Rachel L Batterham
- UCLH Bariatric Centre for Weight Loss, Weight Management and Metabolic and Endocrine Surgery, University College London Hospitals, Ground Floor West Wing, 250 Euston Road, London, NW1 2PG, UK
- Centre for Obesity Research, Rayne Institute, Department of Medicine, University College, London, WC1E 6JJ, UK
- National Institute of Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, London, W1T 7DN, UK
| | - Jordana T Bell
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - John C Chambers
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
- Department of Cardiology, Ealing Hospital, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, Middlesex, UB1 3HW, UK
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, W12 0HS, UK
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jaspal S Kooner
- Department of Cardiology, Ealing Hospital, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, Middlesex, UB1 3HW, UK
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, W12 0HS, UK
| | - William R Scott
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN, UK.
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, W12 0NN, UK.
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK.
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, W12 0HS, UK.
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Beucher A, Miguel-Escalada I, Balboa D, De Vas MG, Maestro MA, Garcia-Hurtado J, Bernal A, Gonzalez-Franco R, Vargiu P, Heyn H, Ravassard P, Ortega S, Ferrer J. The HASTER lncRNA promoter is a cis-acting transcriptional stabilizer of HNF1A. Nat Cell Biol 2022; 24:1528-1540. [PMID: 36202974 PMCID: PMC9586874 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-00996-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The biological purpose of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is poorly understood. Haploinsufficient mutations in HNF1A homeobox A (HNF1A), encoding a homeodomain transcription factor, cause diabetes mellitus. Here, we examine HASTER, the promoter of an lncRNA antisense to HNF1A. Using mouse and human models, we show that HASTER maintains cell-specific physiological HNF1A concentrations through positive and negative feedback loops. Pancreatic β cells from Haster mutant mice consequently showed variegated HNF1A silencing or overexpression, resulting in hyperglycaemia. HASTER-dependent negative feedback was essential to prevent HNF1A binding to inappropriate genomic regions. We demonstrate that the HASTER promoter DNA, rather than the lncRNA, modulates HNF1A promoter-enhancer interactions in cis and thereby regulates HNF1A transcription. Our studies expose a cis-regulatory element that is unlike classic enhancers or silencers, it stabilizes the transcription of its target gene and ensures the fidelity of a cell-specific transcription factor program. They also show that disruption of a mammalian lncRNA promoter can cause diabetes mellitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Beucher
- Section of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Irene Miguel-Escalada
- Section of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego Balboa
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Matías G De Vas
- Section of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Miguel Angel Maestro
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Garcia-Hurtado
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aina Bernal
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Roser Gonzalez-Franco
- Section of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Holger Heyn
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Philippe Ravassard
- Biotechnology and Biotherapy Team, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, CNRS UMR7225, INSERM U975, University Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
| | - Sagrario Ortega
- Transgenics Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Ferrer
- Section of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Madrid, Spain.
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Zhang RX, Li BB, Yang ZG, Huang JQ, Sun WH, Bhanbhro N, Liu WT, Chen KM. Dissecting Plant Gene Functions Using CRISPR Toolsets for Crop Improvement. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:7343-7359. [PMID: 35695482 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c01754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The CRISPR-based gene editing technology has become more and more powerful in genome manipulation for agricultural breeding, with numerous improved toolsets springing up. In recent years, many CRISPR toolsets for gene editing, such as base editors (BEs), CRISPR interference (CRISPRi), CRISPR activation (CRISPRa), and plant epigenetic editors (PEEs), have been developed to clarify gene function and full-level gene regulation. Here, we comprehensively summarize the application and capacity of the different CRISPR toolsets in the study of plant gene expression regulation, highlighting their potential application in gene regulatory networks' analysis. The general problems in CRISPR application and the optimal solutions in the existing schemes for high-throughput gene function analysis are also discussed. The CRISPR toolsets targeting gene manipulation discussed here provide new solutions for further genetic improvement and molecular breeding of crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Xiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area/College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Bin-Bin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area/College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Zheng-Guang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area/College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Jia-Qi Huang
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110866, China
| | - Wei-Hang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area/College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Nadeem Bhanbhro
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area/College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Wen-Ting Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area/College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Kun-Ming Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Area/College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
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