Gene targeting in mouse embryonic stem cells

Transcriptomic analysis reveals that RasGEF1b deletion alters basal and LPS-induced expression of genes involved in chemotaxis and cytokine responses in macrophages

Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor member 1b (RasGEF1b) of the RasGEF/CDC25 domain-containing family is preferentially expressed by macrophages. However, information is lacking about its role in macrophage function. In this study, we generated mice with ubiquitous deletion of Rasgef1b and used RNA-seq-based transcriptomics to compare the global gene expression in wild-type and knock-out primary bone-marrow-derived macrophages under basal conditions and after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. Transcriptional filtering identified several genes with significantly different transcript levels between wild-type and knock-out macrophages. In total, 49 and 37 differentially expressed genes were identified at baseline and in LPS-activated macrophages, respectively. Distinct biological processes were significantly linked to down-regulated genes at the basal condition only, and largely included chemotaxis, response to cytokines, and positive regulation of GTPase activity. Importantly, validation by RT-qPCR revealed that the expression of genes identified as down-regulated after LPS stimulation was also decreased in the knock-out cells under basal conditions. We used a luciferase-based reporter assay to showcase the capability of RasGEF1b in activating the Serpinb2 promoter. Notably, knockdown of RasGEF1b in RAW264.7 macrophages resulted in impaired transcriptional activation of the Serpinb2 promoter, both in constitutive and LPS-stimulated conditions. This study provides a small collection of genes that shows relative expression changes effected by the absence of RasGEF1b in macrophages. Thus, we present the first evidence that RasGEF1b mediates the regulation of both steady-state and signal-dependent expression of genes and propose that this GEF plays a role in the maintenance of the basal transcriptional level in macrophages.

Sag/Rbx2 Partial Inactivation Sensitizes Mice to Radiation and Radiation-Induced Tumorigenesis1

SAG (sensitive to apoptosis gene)/RBX2 (RING box-2), is the second family member of RING component of cullin-RING ligase (CRL) complex required for its enzymatic activity. Using total or conditional Sag knockout mouse models, we previously showed that Sag plays an essential role in embryonic development, apoptosis, vasculogenesis, angiogenesis and tumorigenesis. We also found that Sag-null ES cells are more sensitive to radiation. In this study, we generated the SagΔ/flneo mice with partial Sag inactivation due to deletion in one allele (Δ allele), and disrupted expression in the another (by a neo cassette). Compared to wild-type, SagΔ/fl-neo mice are more sensitive to a lethal dose of radiation with significantly shortened life span, resulting from an increased tissue damage with reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis in the intestines. Similar observations were made when SagΔ/fl-neo mice received a high dose of radiation directly delivered to the abdomen with reduced proliferation and prolonged DNA damage repair. Mechanistically, we found accumulations of Sag substrates, p21 and p27, explaining the proliferation defect. Finally, we found that SagΔ/fl-neo mice are more prone to tumorigenesis induced by a low dose of radiation with shortened life-span and increased incidence of lymphoma. Collectively, our study demonstrates that Sag protects mice from radiation-induced tissue damages and tumorigenesis.

Fatty acid oxidation is required for embryonic stem cell survival during metabolic stress

Metabolic regulation is critical for the maintenance of pluripotency and the survival of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The transcription factor Tfcp2l1 has emerged as a key factor for the naïve pluripotency of ESCs. Here, we report an unexpected role of Tfcp2l1 in metabolic regulation in ESCs-promoting the survival of ESCs through regulating fatty acid oxidation (FAO) under metabolic stress. Tfcp2l1 directly activates many metabolic genes in ESCs. Deletion of Tfcp2l1 leads to an FAO defect associated with upregulation of glucose uptake, the TCA cycle, and glutamine catabolism. Mechanistically, Tfcp2l1 activates FAO by inducing Cpt1a, a rate-limiting enzyme transporting free fatty acids into the mitochondria. ESCs with defective FAO are sensitive to cell death induced by glycolysis inhibition and glutamine deprivation. Moreover, the Tfcp2l1-Cpt1a-FAO axis promotes the survival of quiescent ESCs and diapause-like blastocysts induced by mTOR inhibition. Thus, our results reveal how ESCs orchestrate pluripotent and metabolic programs to ensure their survival in response to metabolic stress.

SSSPTA is essential for serine palmitoyltransferase function during development and hematopoiesis

Serine palmitoyltransferase complex (SPT) mediates the first and rate-limiting step in the de novo sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway. The larger subunits SPTLC1 and SPTLC2/SPTLC3 together form the catalytic core while a smaller third subunit either SSSPTA or SSSPTB has been shown to increase the catalytic efficiency and provide substrate specificity for the fatty acyl-CoA substrates. The in vivo biological significance of these smaller subunits in mammals is still unknown. Here, using two null mutants, a conditional null for ssSPTa and a null mutant for ssSPTb, we show that SSSPTA is essential for embryogenesis and mediates much of the known functions of the SPT complex in mammalian hematopoiesis. The ssSPTa null mutants are embryonic lethal at E6.5 much like the Sptlc1 and Sptlc2 null alleles. Mx1-Cre induced deletion of ssSPTa leads to lethality and myelopoietic defect. Chimeric and competitive bone marrow transplantation experiments show that the defect in myelopoiesis is accompanied by an expansion of the Lin⁻Sca1⁺c-Kit⁺ stem and progenitor compartment. Progenitor cells that fail to differentiate along the myeloid lineage display evidence of endoplasmic reticulum stress. On the other hand, ssSPTb null mice are homozygous viable, and analyses of the bone marrow cells show no significant difference in the proliferation and differentiation of the adult hematopoietic compartment. SPTLC1 is an obligatory subunit for the SPT function, and because Sptlc1^−/− and ssSPTa^−/− mice display similar defects during development and hematopoiesis, we conclude that an SPT complex that includes SSSPTA mediates much of its developmental and hematopoietic functions in a mammalian model.

Fgf3-Fgf4-cis: A new mouse line for studying Fgf functions during mouse development

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family consists of 22 ligands in mice and humans. FGF signaling is vital for embryogenesis and, when dysregulated, can cause disease. Loss-of-function genetic analysis in the mouse has been crucial for understanding FGF function. Such analysis has revealed that multiple Fgfs sometimes function redundantly. Exploring such redundancy between Fgf3 and Fgf4 is currently impossible because both genes are located on chromosome 7, about 18.5 kb apart, making the frequency of interallelic cross-over between existing mutant alleles too infrequent to be practicable. Therefore, we retargeted Fgf3 and Fgf4 in cis, generating an Fgf3 null allele and a conditional Fgf4 allele, subject to Cre inactivation. To increase the frequency of cis targeting, we used an F1 embryonic stem cell line that contained 129/SvJae (129) and C57BL/6J (B6) chromosomes and targeting constructs isogenic to the 129 chromosome. We confirmed cis targeting by assaying for B6/129 allele-specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms. We demonstrated the utility of the Fgf3(Δ)-Fgf4(flox)-cis mouse line by showing that the caudal axis extension defects found in the Fgf3 mutants worsen when Fgf4 is also inactivated. This Fgf3(Δ)-Fgf4(flox)-cis line will be useful to study redundancy of these genes in a variety of tissues and stages in development.

An NF-κB--EphrinA5-Dependent Communication between NG2(+) Interstitial Cells and Myoblasts Promotes Muscle Growth in Neonates

Skeletal muscle growth immediately following birth is critical for proper body posture and locomotion. However, compared with embryogenesis and adulthood, the processes regulating the maturation of neonatal muscles is considerably less clear. Studies in the 1960s predicted that neonatal muscle growth results from nuclear accretion of myoblasts preferentially at the tips of myofibers. Remarkably, little information has been added since then to resolve how myoblasts migrate to the ends of fibers. Here, we provide insight into this process by revealing a unique NF-κB-dependent communication between NG2(+) interstitial cells and myoblasts. NF-κB in NG2(+) cells promotes myoblast migration to the tips of myofibers through cell-cell contact. This occurs through expression of ephrinA5 from NG2(+) cells, which we further deduce is an NF-κB target gene. Together, these results suggest that NF-κB plays an important role in the development of newborn muscles to ensure proper myoblast migration for fiber growth.

Far Upstream Element Binding Protein Plays a Crucial Role in Embryonic Development, Hematopoiesis, and Stabilizing Myc Expression Levels

The transcription factor far upstream element binding protein (FBP) binds and activates the MYC promoter when far upstream element is via TFIIH helicase activity early in the transcription cycle. The fundamental biology and pathology of FBP are complex. In some tumors FBP seems pro-oncogenic, whereas in others it is a tumor suppressor. We generated an FBP knockout (Fubp1(-/-)) mouse to study FBP deficiency. FBP is embryo lethal from embryonic day 10.5 to birth. A spectrum of pathology is associated with FBP loss; besides cerebral hyperplasia and pulmonary hypoplasia, pale livers, hypoplastic spleen, thymus, and bone marrow, cardiac hypertrophy, placental distress, and small size were all indicative of anemia. Immunophenotyping of hematopoietic cells in wild-type versus knockout livers revealed irregular trilineage anemia, with deficits in colony formation. Despite normal numbers of hematopoietic stem cells, transplantation of Fubp1(-/-) hematopoietic stem cells into irradiated mice entirely failed to reconstitute hematopoiesis. In competitive transplantation assays against wild-type donor bone marrow, Fubp1(-/-) hematopoietic stem cells functioned only sporadically at a low level. Although cultures of wild-type mouse embryo fibroblasts set Myc levels precisely, Myc levels of mouse varied wildly between fibroblasts harvested from different Fubp1(-/-) embryos, suggesting that FBP contributes to Myc set point fixation. FBP helps to hold multiple physiologic processes to close tolerances, at least in part by constraining Myc expression.

Detection of differential fetal and adult expression of chloride intracellular channel 4 (CLIC4) protein by analysis of a green fluorescent protein knock-in mouse line

Background

Chloride Intracellular Channel 4 (CLIC4) is one of seven members in the closely related CLIC protein family. CLIC4 is involved in multiple cellular processes including apoptosis, cellular differentiation, inflammation and endothelial tubulogenesis. Despite over a decade of research, no comprehensive in situ expression analysis of CLIC4 in a living organism has been reported. In order to fulfill this goal, we generated a knock-in mouse to express Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) from the CLIC4 locus, thus substituting the GFP coding region for CLIC4. We used GFP protein expression to eliminate cross reaction with other CLIC family members.

Results

We analyzed CLIC4 expression during embryonic development and adult organs. During mid and late gestation, CLIC4 expression is modulated particularly in fetal brain, heart, thymus, liver and kidney as well as in developing brown adipose tissue and stratifying epidermis. In the adult mouse, CLIC4 is highly expressed globally in vascular endothelial cells as well as in liver, lung alveolar septae, pancreatic acini, spermatogonia, renal proximal tubules, cardiomyocytes and thymic epithelial cells. Neural expression included axonal tracks, olfactory bulb, Purkinje cell layer and dentate gyrus. Renal CLIC4 expression was most pronounced in proximal tubules, although altered renal function was not detected in the absence of CLIC4. Myeloid cells and B cells of the spleen are rich in CLIC4 expression as are CD4 and CD8 positive T cells.

Conclusions

In a comprehensive study detailing CLIC4 expression in situ in a mouse model that excludes cross reaction with other family members, we were able to document previously unreported expression for CLIC4 in developing fetus, particularly the brain. In addition, compartmentalized expression of CLIC4 in specific adult tissues and cells provides a focus to explore potential functions of this protein not addressed previously.

Croix B. Essential regulation of lung surfactant homeostasis by the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR116

GPR116 is an orphan seven-pass transmembrane receptor whose function has been unclear. Global disruption of the Gpr116 gene in mice revealed an unexpected, critical role for this receptor in lung surfactant homeostasis, resulting in progressive accumulation of surfactant lipids and proteins in the alveolar space, labored breathing, and a reduced lifespan. GPR116 expression analysis, bone marrow transplantation studies, and characterization of conditional knockout mice revealed that GPR116 expression in ATII cells is required for maintaining normal surfactant levels. Aberrant packaging of surfactant proteins with lipids in the Gpr116 mutant mice resulted in compromised surfactant structure, function, uptake, and processing. Thus, GPR116 plays an indispensable role in lung surfactant homeostasis with important ramifications for the understanding and treatment of lung surfactant disorders.

Normal viability of Kai1/Cd82 deficient mice

The KAI1/CD82 tetraspanin is a widely expressed cell surface molecule thought to organize diverse cellular signaling processes. KAI1/CD82 suppresses metastasis but not tumorigenicity, establishing it as one of a class of metastasis suppressor genes. In order to further assess its functions, we have characterized the phenotypic properties of Kai1/Cd82 deleted mice, including viability, fertility, lymphocyte composition, blood chemistry and tissue histopathology, and of their wild-type and heterozygote littermates. Interestingly, Kai1/Cd82(-/-) showed no obvious genotype associated defects in any of these processes and displayed no genotype associated histopathologic abnormalities after 12 or 18 months of life. Expression profiles of non-immortal, wild-type and Kai1/Cd82(-/-) mouse embryo fibroblast (MEFs) indicated distinct sex-specific and genotype-specific profiles. These data identify 191 and 1,271 differentially expressed transcripts (by twofold at P < 0.01) based on Kai1/CD82 genotype status in female and male MEFs, respectively. Differentially expressed genes in male MEFs were surprisingly enriched for cell division related processes, suggesting that Kai1/Cd82 may functionally affect these processes. This suggests that Kai/Cd82 has an unappreciated role in the early establishment of proliferation and division when challenged with a new environment that might play a role in adaptability to new metastatic sites.

Meis1 preserves hematopoietic stem cells in mice by limiting oxidative stress

The transcription factor Meis1 is expressed preferentially in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and overexpressed in certain leukemias. However, the functions of Meis1 in hematopoiesis remain largely unknown. In the present study, we found that Meis1 is required for the maintenance of hematopoiesis under stress and over the long term, whereas steady-state hematopoiesis was sustained in the absence of Meis1 in inducible knock-out mice. BM cells of Meis1-deficient mice showed reduced colony formation and contained significantly fewer numbers of long-term HSCs, which exhibited loss of quiescence. Further, we found that Meis1 deletion led to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in HSCs and decreased expression of genes implicated in hypoxia response. Finally, reactive oxygen species scavenging by N-acetyl cysteine or stabilization of hypoxia signaling by knockdown of the von-Hippel-Lindau (VHL) protein led to reversal of the effects of Meis1 deletion. The results of the present study demonstrate that Meis1 protects and preserves HSCs by restricting oxidative metabolism.

Spontaneous skin erosions and reduced skin and corneal wound healing characterize CLIC4(NULL) mice

Cutaneous wound healing is a complex process involving blood clotting, inflammation, migration of keratinocytes, angiogenesis, and, ultimately, tissue remodeling and wound closure. Many of these processes involve transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling, and mice lacking components of the TGF-β signaling pathway are defective in wound healing. We show herein that CLIC4, an integral component of the TGF-β pathway, is highly up-regulated in skin wounds. We genetically deleted murine CLIC4 and generated a colony on a C57Bl/6 background. CLIC4(NULL) mice were viable and fertile but had smaller litters than did wild-type mice. After 6 months of age, up to 40% of null mice developed spontaneous skin erosions. Reepithelialization of induced full-thickness skin wounds and superficial corneal wounds was delayed in CLIC4(NULL) mice, resolution of inflammation was delayed, and expression of β4 integrin and p21 was reduced in lysates of constitutive and wounded CLIC4(NULL) skin. The induced level of phosphorylated Smad2 in response to TGF-β was reduced in cultured CLIC4(NULL) keratinocytes relative to in wild-type cells, and CLIC4(NULL) keratinocytes migrated slower than did wild-type keratinocytes and did not increase migration in response to TGF-β. CLIC4(NULL) keratinocytes were also less adherent on plates coated with matrix secreted by wild-type keratinocytes. These results indicate that CLIC4 participates in skin healing and corneal wound reepithelialization through enhancement of epithelial migration by a mechanism that may involve a compromised TGF-β pathway.

Tamalin is a critical mediator of electroconvulsive shock-induced adult neuroplasticity

The molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of electroconvulsive shock (ECS) therapy, a fast-acting and very effective antidepressant therapy, are poorly understood. Changes related to neuroplasticity, including enhanced adult hippocampal neurogenesis and neuronal arborization, are believed to play an important role in mediating the effects of ECS. Here we show a dynamic upregulation of the scaffold protein tamalin, selectively in the hippocampus of animals subjected to ECS. Interestingly, this gene upregulation is functionally significant because tamalin deletion in mice abrogated ECS-induced neurogenesis in the adult mouse hippocampus. Furthermore, loss of tamalin blunts mossy fiber sprouting and dendritic arborization caused by ECS. These data suggest an essential role for tamalin in ECS-induced adult neuroplasticity and provide new insight into the pathways that are involved in mediating ECS effects.

Deletion of SNAP-23 results in pre-implantation embryonic lethality in mice

SNARE-mediated membrane fusion is a pivotal event for a wide-variety of biological processes. SNAP-25, a neuron-specific SNARE protein, has been well-characterized and mouse embryos lacking Snap25 are viable. However, the phenotype of mice lacking SNAP-23, the ubiquitously expressed SNAP-25 homolog, remains unknown. To reveal the importance of SNAP-23 function in mouse development, we generated Snap23-null mice by homologous recombination. We were unable to obtain newborn SNAP-23-deficient mice, and analysis of pre-implantation embryos from Snap23^Δ/wt matings revealed that Snap23-null blastocysts were dying prior to implantation at embryonic day E3.5. Thus these data reveal a critical role for SNAP-23 during embryogenesis.