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Complex response to physiological and drug-induced hepatic heme demand in monoallelic ALAS1 mice. Mol Genet Metab Rep 2021; 29:100818. [PMID: 34900592 PMCID: PMC8639769 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgmr.2021.100818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulation of 5-aminolevulinate synthase 1 (ALAS1) for nonerythroid heme is critical for respiration, cell signaling mechanisms and steroid/drug metabolism. ALAS1 is induced in some genetic disorders but unlike other genes in the heme pathway, a gene variant of ALAS1 associated with inherited disease has not been reported. BALB/c mice carrying a null ALAS1 allele caused by a βGEO insert were developed and used to determine the consequences of heme demand of a semi gene copy number. Homozygous disruption of ALAS1 (−/−) was lethal for embryo development post day 6.5 but expression in heterozygotes (+/−) was sufficient for the number of offspring and survival. In both wild type (WT +/+) and +/− mice expression of ALAS1 RNA was greatest in liver and harderian gland and much lower in kidney, lung, heart, brain and spleen. The effects of one WT ALAS1 allele in +/− mice on mRNA levels in liver and harderian gland were less marked compared to brain and other organs that were examined. Many other genes were up-regulated by heterozygosity in liver and brain but to a minimal extent. Hepatic heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) mRNA expression was significantly lower in +/− mice but not in brain. No elevated translation of WT allele ALAS1 mRNA was detected in +/− liver as a compensatory mechanism for the disabled allele. Fasting induced ALAS1 mRNA in both WT and +/− mice but only in +/− was this manifest as increased ALAS1 protein. The hepatic protoporphyria-inducing drug 4-ethyl-DDC caused induction of hepatic ALAS1 mRNA and protein levels in both WT and +/− mice but markedly less in the mice with only one intact allele. The findings illustrate the complex response of ALAS1 expression for heme demand but limited evidence that upregulation of a wild type allele can compensate for a null allele.
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Key Words
- 4-ethyl-DDC, 4-ethyl-3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine
- AIP, acute intermittent porphyria
- ALAS1, aminolevulinate synthase 1
- Aminolevulinic acid synthase 1
- Compensation, complex regulation
- FECH, ferrochetalase
- HMOX1, heme oxygenase 1
- Hepatic response
- PCR, polymerase chain reaction
- Semi null mice
- WT, wild type
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2
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Abstract
A functional allele of the mouse catechol-O-methyltransferase (Comt) gene is defined by the insertion of a B2 short interspersed repeat element in its 3'-untranslated region (UTR). This allele has been associated with a number of phenotypes, such as pain and anxiety. In comparison with mice carrying the ancestral allele (Comt+), Comt B2i mice show higher Comt mRNA and enzymatic activity levels. Here, we investigated the molecular genetic mechanisms underlying this allelic specific regulation of Comt expression. Insertion of the B2 element introduces an early polyadenylation signal generating a shorter Comt transcript, in addition to the longer ancestral mRNA. Comparative analysis and in silico prediction of Comt mRNA potential targets within the transcript 3' to the B2 element was performed and allowed choosing microRNA (miRNA) candidates for experimental screening: mmu-miR-3470a, mmu-miR-3470b, and mmu-miR-667. Cell transfection with each miRNA downregulated the expression of the ancestral transcript and COMT enzymatic activity. Our in vivo experiments showed that mmu-miR-667-3p is strongly correlated with decreasing amounts of Comt mRNA in the brain, and lentiviral injections of mmu-miR-3470a, mmu-miR-3470b, and mmu-miR-667 increase hypersensitivity in the mouse formalin model, consistent with reduced COMT activity. In summary, our data demonstrate that the Comt+ transcript contains regulatory miRNA signals in its 3'-untranslated region leading to mRNA degradation; these signals, however, are absent in the shorter transcript, resulting in higher mRNA expression and activity levels.
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3
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Dhadi SR, Xu Z, Shaik R, Driscoll K, Ramakrishna W. Differential regulation of genes by retrotransposons in rice promoters. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 87:603-13. [PMID: 25697955 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-015-0300-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2014] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Rice genome harbors genes and promoters with retrotransposon insertions. There is very little information about their function. The effect of retrotransposon insertions in four rice promoter regions on gene regulation, was investigated using promoter-reporter gene constructs with and without retrotransposons. Differences in expression levels of gus and egfp reporter genes in forward orientation and rfp in reverse orientation were evaluated in rice plants with transient expression employing quantitative RT-PCR analysis, histochemical GUS staining, and eGFP and RFP fluorescent microscopy. The presence of SINE in the promoter 1 (P1) resulted in higher expression levels of the reporter genes, whereas the presence of LINE in P2 or gypsy LTR retrotransposon in P3 reduced expression of the reporter genes. Furthermore, the SINE in P1 acts as an enhancer in contrast with the LINE in P2 and the gypsy LTR retrotransposon in P3 which act as silencers. CTAA and CGG motifs in these retrotransposons are the likely candidates for the downregulation compared to TCTT motif (SINE) which is a candidate for the upregulation of gene expression. The effect of retrotransposons on gene regulation correlated with the earlier investigation of conservation patterns of these four retrotransposon insertions in several rice accessions implying their evolutionary significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surendar Reddy Dhadi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA
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4
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Abstract
Genetic variants in haem metabolism enzymes can be predisposition factors for adverse reactions in some individuals. New areas of haem biology may also be associated with idiosyncratic effects which are yet to be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Vágány
- MRC Toxicology Unit
- Hodgkin Building
- University of Leicester
- Leicester LE1 9HN
- UK
| | - Andrew G. Smith
- MRC Toxicology Unit
- Hodgkin Building
- University of Leicester
- Leicester LE1 9HN
- UK
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5
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Genome-wide adaptive complexes to underground stresses in blind mole rats Spalax. Nat Commun 2014; 5:3966. [DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
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Cort L, Habib M, Eberwine RA, Hessner MJ, Mordes JP, Blankenhorn EP. Diubiquitin (Ubd) is a susceptibility gene for virus-triggered autoimmune diabetes in rats. Genes Immun 2014; 15:168-75. [PMID: 24452267 PMCID: PMC4260472 DOI: 10.1038/gene.2013.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2013] [Revised: 11/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Genetic studies of type 1 diabetes (T1D) have been advanced by comparative analysis of multiple susceptible and resistant rat strains with a permissive class II MHC haplotype, RT1(u). LEW.1WR1 (but not resistant LEW.1W or WF) rats are susceptible to T1D induced by a TLR3 agonist polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid followed by infection with parvovirus. We have mapped genetic loci for virus-induced T1D susceptibility, identifying a major susceptibility locus (Iddm37) near the MHC. The Iddm37 homologs on mouse and human chromosomes are also diabetes linked. We report that a major effect gene within Iddm37 is diubiquitin (Ubd). Gene expression profiling of pancreatic lymph nodes in susceptible and resistant rats during disease induction showed differences in Ubd transcript abundance. The LEW.1WR1 Ubd promoter allele leads to higher inducible levels of UBD than that of LEW.1W or WF. Using zinc-finger nucleases , we deleted a segment of the LEW.1WR1 Ubd gene and eliminated its expression. UBD-deficient rats show substantially reduced diabetes after viral infection. Complementary studies show that there may be another diabetes gene in addition to Ubd in the Iddm37 interval. These data prove that Ubd is a diabetes susceptibility gene, providing insight into the interplay of multiple genes and environmental factors in T1D susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Cort
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - M Habib
- Department of Medicine/Endocrinology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - R A Eberwine
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - M J Hessner
- Department of Pediatrics, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - J P Mordes
- Department of Medicine/Endocrinology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - E P Blankenhorn
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Genome-Wide Detection of Gene Coexpression Domains Showing Linkage to Regions Enriched with Polymorphic Retrotransposons in Recombinant Inbred Mouse Strains. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2013; 3:597-605. [PMID: 23550129 PMCID: PMC3618347 DOI: 10.1534/g3.113.005546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Although gene coexpression domains have been reported in most eukaryotic organisms, data available to date suggest that coexpression rarely concerns more than doublets or triplets of adjacent genes in mammals. Using expression data from hearts of mice from the panel of AxB/BxA recombinant inbred mice, we detected (according to window sizes) 42−53 loci linked to the expression levels of clusters of three or more neighboring genes. These loci thus formed “cis-expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) clusters” because their position matched that of the genes whose expression was linked to the loci. Compared with matching control regions, genes contained within cis-eQTL clusters showed much greater levels of coexpression. Corresponding regions showed: (1) a greater abundance of polymorphic elements (mostly short interspersed element retrotransposons), and (2) significant enrichment for the motifs of binding sites for various transcription factors, with binding sites for the chromatin-organizing CCCTC-binding factor showing the greatest levels of enrichment in polymorphic short interspersed elements. Similar cis-eQTL clusters also were detected when we used data obtained with several tissues from BxD recombinant inbred mice. In addition to strengthening the evidence for gene expression domains in mammalian genomes, our data suggest a possible mechanism whereby noncoding polymorphisms could affect the coordinate expression of several neighboring genes.
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Oliver KR, Greene WK. Transposable elements and viruses as factors in adaptation and evolution: an expansion and strengthening of the TE-Thrust hypothesis. Ecol Evol 2012; 2:2912-33. [PMID: 23170223 PMCID: PMC3501640 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2012] [Revised: 09/11/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to the strong divergent evolution and significant and episodic evolutionary transitions and speciation we previously attributed to TE-Thrust, we have expanded the hypothesis to more fully account for the contribution of viruses to TE-Thrust and evolution. The concept of symbiosis and holobiontic genomes is acknowledged, with particular emphasis placed on the creativity potential of the union of retroviral genomes with vertebrate genomes. Further expansions of the TE-Thrust hypothesis are proposed regarding a fuller account of horizontal transfer of TEs, the life cycle of TEs, and also, in the case of a mammalian innovation, the contributions of retroviruses to the functions of the placenta. The possibility of drift by TE families within isolated demes or disjunct populations, is acknowledged, and in addition, we suggest the possibility of horizontal transposon transfer into such subpopulations. “Adaptive potential” and “evolutionary potential” are proposed as the extremes of a continuum of “intra-genomic potential” due to TE-Thrust. Specific data is given, indicating “adaptive potential” being realized with regard to insecticide resistance, and other insect adaptations. In this regard, there is agreement between TE-Thrust and the concept of adaptation by a change in allele frequencies. Evidence on the realization of “evolutionary potential” is also presented, which is compatible with the known differential survivals, and radiations of lineages. Collectively, these data further suggest the possibility, or likelihood, of punctuated episodes of speciation events and evolutionary transitions, coinciding with, and heavily underpinned by, intermittent bursts of TE activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith R Oliver
- School of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Murdoch University Perth, W.A., 6150, Australia
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Shu Y, Li Y, Bai X, Cai H, Ji W, Ji Z, Guo C, Zhu Y. Identification and characterization of a new member of the SINE Au retroposon family (GmAu1) in the soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., genome and its potential application. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2011; 30:2207-13. [PMID: 21796384 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-011-1126-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2011] [Revised: 07/06/2011] [Accepted: 07/12/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
A plant short interspersed element (SINE) was identified in Glycine max after re-sequencing of the soybean sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. Detailed analysis revealed that this newly recognized SINE element consisted of a tRNA-related region, a tRNA non-related region, direct flanking repeat sequences, and a short stretch of Ts at the 3'-terminal region. These features are similar to previously characterized SINEs. To investigate the evolution of the SINE retroposon, BLASTN was used to search against genome sequences of other plants. Since it is homologous with the retroposon Au in Aegilops umbellulata (wheat) and its homology in soybean, the SINE is named as GmAu1. Genome analysis of the Glycine max var. Willimas 82 uncovered more than 847 copies of GmAu1 per haploid genome of soybean. Examination of the regions flanking the inserted GmAu1 sequences indicated a preference for introns over exons or other noncoding regions. Considering the flanking insertion sequences, 146 primers were designed in order to detect insertion mutations by a PCR-based method. Seventy-seven primers displayed polymorphism and were used to develop corresponding GmAu1-based SCAR markers. The retroposon GmAu1 and its related SCAR markers identified in this study will prove valuable to future investigations into the genetic mapping, phylogeny, and evolution of the Glycine genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjun Shu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cytogenetics and Genetic Breeding, College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, 150025, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
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Kember RL, Fernandes C, Tunbridge EM, Liu L, Payá-Cano JL, Parsons MJ, Schalkwyk LC. A B2 SINE insertion in the Comt1 gene (Comt1(B2i)) results in an overexpressing, behavior modifying allele present in classical inbred mouse strains. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2011; 9:925-32. [PMID: 20618449 PMCID: PMC3037563 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2010.00614.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is a key enzyme for dopamine catabolism and COMT is a candidate gene for human psychiatric disorders. In mouse it is located on chromosome 16 in a large genomic region of extremely low variation among the classical inbred strains, with no confirmed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between strains C57BL/6J and DBA/2J within a 600-kB window. We found a B2 SINE in the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of Comt1 which is present in C57BL/6J (Comt1B2i) and other strains including 129 (multiple sublines), but is not found in DBA/2J (Comt1+) and many other strains including wild-derived Mus domesticus, M. musculus, M. molossinus, M.castaneus and M. spretus. Comt1B2i is absent in strains closely related to C57BL/6, such as C57L and C57BR, indicating that it was polymorphic in the cross that gave rise to these strains. The strain distribution of Comt1B2i indicates a likely origin of the allele in the parental Lathrop stock. A stringent association test, using 670 highly outbred mice (Boulder Heterogeneous Stock), indicates that this insertion allele may be responsible for a difference in behavior related to exploration. Gene expression differences at the mRNA and enzyme activity level (1.7-fold relative to wild type) indicate a mechanism for this behavioral effect. Taken together, these findings show that Comt1B2i (a B2 SINE insertion) results in a relatively modest difference in Comt1 expression and enzyme activity (comparable to the human Val-Met polymorphism) which has a demonstrable behavioral phenotype across a variety of outbred genetic backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Kember
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, UK
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