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Bush SJ, Goriely A. Can the male germline offer insight into mammalian brain size expansion? Andrology 2024. [PMID: 39291969 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13766] [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: 07/01/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
Recent advances in single-cell transcriptomic data have greatly expanded our understanding of both spermatogenesis and the molecular mechanisms of male infertility. However, this growing wealth of data could also shed light on a seemingly unrelated biological problem: the genetic basis of mammalian brain size expansion throughout evolution. It is now increasingly recognized that the testis and brain share many cellular and molecular similarities including pivotal roles for the RAS/MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways, mutations in which are known to have a pronounced impact on cell proliferation. Most notably, in the stem cell lineages of both organs, new mutations have been shown to increase cellular output over time. These include 'selfish' mutations in spermatogonial stem cells, which disproportionately increase the proportion of mutant sperm, and-to draw a parallel-human-specific mutations in neural stem cells which, by increasing the number of neurons, have been implicated in neocortical expansion. Here we speculate that the origin for many 'expansion'-associated mutations is the male germline and that as such, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms controlling testicular turnover may yield fresh insight into the biology and evolution of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Bush
- School of Automation Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Anne Goriely
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
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Hu G, Zheng Y, Zhang B, Zhao C, Xu L, Wei J, Jing J, Liu Y, Zeng T, Zhou Y. Histone methyltransferase SETD2 is required for proper hippocampal lamination and neuronal maturation. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:ar54. [PMID: 38446615 PMCID: PMC11064668 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e23-12-0492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Proper formation of the hippocampus is crucial for the brain to execute memory and learning functions. However, many questions remain regarding how pyramidal neurons (PNs) of the hippocampus mature and precisely position. Here we revealed that Setd2, the methyltransferase for histone 3 lysine 36 trimethylation (H3K36me3), is essential for the precise localization and maturation of PNs in the hippocampal CA1. The ablation of Setd2 in neural progenitors leads to irregular lamination of the CA1 and increased numbers of PNs in the stratum oriens. Setd2 deletion in postmitotic neurons causes mislocalization and immaturity of CA1 PNs. Transcriptome analyses revealed that SETD2 maintains the expressions of clustered protocadherin (cPcdh) genes. Together, Setd2 is required for proper hippocampal lamination and maturation of CA1 PNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangda Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center of Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yue Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center of Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center of Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Chen Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center of Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Lichao Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center of Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jiayi Wei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center of Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jing Jing
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center of Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center of Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Tao Zeng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine; Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center of Immunology and Metabolism, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
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He L, Cao Y, Sun L. NSD family proteins: Rising stars as therapeutic targets. CELL INSIGHT 2024; 3:100151. [PMID: 38371593 PMCID: PMC10869250 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellin.2024.100151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone post-translational modifications, intricately regulate gene expression patterns by influencing DNA accessibility and chromatin structure in higher organisms. These modifications are heritable, are independent of primary DNA sequences, undergo dynamic changes during development and differentiation, and are frequently disrupted in human diseases. The reversibility of epigenetic modifications makes them promising targets for therapeutic intervention and drugs targeting epigenetic regulators (e.g., tazemetostat, targeting the H3K27 methyltransferase EZH2) have been applied in clinical therapy for multiple cancers. The NSD family of H3K36 methyltransferase enzymes-including NSD1 (KMT3B), NSD2 (MMSET/WHSC1), and NSD3 (WHSC1L1)-are now receiving drug development attention, with the exciting advent of an NSD2 inhibitor (KTX-1001) advancing to Phase I clinical trials for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. NSD proteins recognize and catalyze methylation of histone lysine marks, thereby regulating chromatin integrity and gene expression. Multiple studies have implicated NSD proteins in human disease, noting impacts from translocations, aberrant expression, and various dysfunctional somatic mutations. Here, we review the biological functions of NSD proteins, epigenetic cooperation related to NSD proteins, and the accumulating evidence linking these proteins to developmental disorders and tumorigenesis, while additionally considering prospects for the development of innovative epigenetic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin He
- Department of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University International Cancer Institute, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yiping Cao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University International Cancer Institute, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Luyang Sun
- Department of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University International Cancer Institute, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
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Kinoshita S, Kojima K, Ohnishi E, Takayama Y, Kikuchi H, Takada S, Nakabayashi K, Kawai T, Hata K. Loss of NSD2 causes dysregulation of synaptic genes and altered H3K36 dimethylation in mice. Front Genet 2024; 15:1308234. [PMID: 38419783 PMCID: PMC10899350 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1308234] [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: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Epigenetic disruptions have been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. NSD2 is associated with developmental delay/intellectual disability; however, its role in brain development and function remains unclear. Methods: We performed transcriptomic and epigenetic analyses using Nsd2 knockout mice to better understand the role of NSD2 in the brain. Results and discussion: Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the loss of NSD2 caused dysregulation of genes related to synaptic transmission and formation. By analyzing changes in H3 lysine 36 dimethylation (H3K36me2), NSD2-mediated H3K36me2 mainly marked quiescent state regions and the redistribution of H3K36me2 occurred at transcribed genes and enhancers. By integrating transcriptomic and epigenetic data, we observed that H3K36me2 changes in a subset of dysregulated genes related to synaptic transmission and formation. These results suggest that NSD2 is involved in the regulation of genes important for neural function through H3K36me2. Our findings provide insights into the role of NSD2 and improve our understanding of epigenetic regulation in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiori Kinoshita
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of NCCHD Child Health and Development, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Kojima
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eriko Ohnishi
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuka Takayama
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kikuchi
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuji Takada
- Department of Systems BioMedicine, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Nakabayashi
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoko Kawai
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Hata
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
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