1
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Hung TC, Kingsley DM, Boettiger AN. Boundary stacking interactions enable cross-TAD enhancer-promoter communication during limb development. Nat Genet 2024; 56:306-314. [PMID: 38238628 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01641-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Although promoters and their enhancers are frequently contained within a topologically associating domain (TAD), some developmentally important genes have their promoter and enhancers within different TADs. Hypotheses about molecular mechanisms enabling cross-TAD interactions remain to be assessed. To test these hypotheses, we used optical reconstruction of chromatin architecture to characterize the conformations of the Pitx1 locus on single chromosomes in developing mouse limbs. Our data support a model in which neighboring boundaries are stacked as a result of loop extrusion, bringing boundary-proximal cis-elements into contact. This stacking interaction also contributes to the appearance of architectural stripes in the population average maps. Through molecular dynamics simulations, we found that increasing boundary strengths facilitates the formation of the stacked boundary conformation, counter-intuitively facilitating border bypass. This work provides a revised view of the TAD borders' function, both facilitating and preventing cis-regulatory interactions, and introduces a framework to distinguish border-crossing from border-respecting enhancer-promoter pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Chiao Hung
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - David M Kingsley
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alistair N Boettiger
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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2
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Liu H, Tsai H, Yang M, Li G, Bian Q, Ding G, Wu D, Dai J. Three-dimensional genome structure and function. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e326. [PMID: 37426677 PMCID: PMC10329473 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Linear DNA undergoes a series of compression and folding events, forming various three-dimensional (3D) structural units in mammalian cells, including chromosomal territory, compartment, topologically associating domain, and chromatin loop. These structures play crucial roles in regulating gene expression, cell differentiation, and disease progression. Deciphering the principles underlying 3D genome folding and the molecular mechanisms governing cell fate determination remains a challenge. With advancements in high-throughput sequencing and imaging techniques, the hierarchical organization and functional roles of higher-order chromatin structures have been gradually illuminated. This review systematically discussed the structural hierarchy of the 3D genome, the effects and mechanisms of cis-regulatory elements interaction in the 3D genome for regulating spatiotemporally specific gene expression, the roles and mechanisms of dynamic changes in 3D chromatin conformation during embryonic development, and the pathological mechanisms of diseases such as congenital developmental abnormalities and cancer, which are attributed to alterations in 3D genome organization and aberrations in key structural proteins. Finally, prospects were made for the research about 3D genome structure, function, and genetic intervention, and the roles in disease development, prevention, and treatment, which may offer some clues for precise diagnosis and treatment of related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Liu
- Department of Oral and Cranio‐Maxillofacial SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineCollege of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityNational Center for StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShanghai Key Laboratory of StomatologyShanghaiChina
- School of StomatologyWeifang Medical UniversityWeifangChina
| | - Hsiangyu Tsai
- Department of Oral and Cranio‐Maxillofacial SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineCollege of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityNational Center for StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShanghai Key Laboratory of StomatologyShanghaiChina
| | - Maoquan Yang
- School of Clinical MedicineWeifang Medical UniversityWeifangChina
| | - Guozhi Li
- Department of Oral and Cranio‐Maxillofacial SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineCollege of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityNational Center for StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShanghai Key Laboratory of StomatologyShanghaiChina
| | - Qian Bian
- Shanghai Institute of Precision MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Gang Ding
- School of StomatologyWeifang Medical UniversityWeifangChina
| | - Dandan Wu
- Department of Oral and Cranio‐Maxillofacial SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineCollege of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityNational Center for StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShanghai Key Laboratory of StomatologyShanghaiChina
| | - Jiewen Dai
- Department of Oral and Cranio‐Maxillofacial SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineCollege of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityNational Center for StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShanghai Key Laboratory of StomatologyShanghaiChina
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3
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Conte M, Fiorillo L, Bianco S, Chiariello AM, Esposito A, Musella F, Flora F, Abraham A, Nicodemi M. A Polymer Physics Model to Dissect Genome Organization in Healthy and Pathological Phenotypes. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2301:307-316. [PMID: 34415543 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1390-0_16] [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] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Novel technologies revealed a nontrivial spatial organization of the chromosomes within the cell nucleus, which includes different levels of compartmentalization and architectural patterns. Notably, such complex three-dimensional structure plays a crucial role in vital biological functions and its alterations can produce extensive rewiring of genomic regulatory regions, thus leading to gene misexpression and disease. Here, we show that theoretical and computational approaches, based on polymer physics, can be employed to dissect chromatin contacts in three-dimensional space and to predict the effects of pathogenic structural variants on the genome architecture. In particular, we discuss the folding of the human EPHA4 and the murine Pitx1 loci as case studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Conte
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso di Monte Sant'Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Luca Fiorillo
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso di Monte Sant'Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Simona Bianco
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso di Monte Sant'Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea M Chiariello
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso di Monte Sant'Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Esposito
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso di Monte Sant'Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Musella
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso di Monte Sant'Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Flora
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso di Monte Sant'Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Alex Abraham
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso di Monte Sant'Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Nicodemi
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso di Monte Sant'Angelo, Naples, Italy.
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), MDC-Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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4
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Pagni S, Mills JD, Frankish A, Mudge JM, Sisodiya SM. Non-coding regulatory elements: Potential roles in disease and the case of epilepsy. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2021; 48:e12775. [PMID: 34820881 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Non-coding DNA (ncDNA) refers to the portion of the genome that does not code for proteins and accounts for the greatest physical proportion of the human genome. ncDNA includes sequences that are transcribed into RNA molecules, such as ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and un-transcribed sequences that have regulatory functions, including gene promoters and enhancers. Variation in non-coding regions of the genome have an established role in human disease, with growing evidence from many areas, including several cancers, Parkinson's disease and autism. Here, we review the features and functions of the regulatory elements that are present in the non-coding genome and the role that these regions have in human disease. We then review the existing research in epilepsy and emphasise the potential value of further exploring non-coding regulatory elements in epilepsy. In addition, we outline the most widely used techniques for recognising regulatory elements throughout the genome, current methodologies for investigating variation and the main challenges associated with research in the field of non-coding DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Pagni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.,Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter, UK
| | - James D Mills
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.,Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter, UK.,Amsterdam UMC, Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Adam Frankish
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jonathan M Mudge
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sanjay M Sisodiya
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.,Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter, UK
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5
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Hordyjewska-Kowalczyk E, Nowosad K, Jamsheer A, Tylzanowski P. Genotype-phenotype correlation in clubfoot (talipes equinovarus). J Med Genet 2021; 59:209-219. [PMID: 34782442 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2021-108040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Clubfoot (talipes equinovarus) is a congenital malformation affecting muscles, bones, connective tissue and vascular or neurological structures in limbs. It has a complex aetiology, both genetic and environmental. To date, the most important findings in clubfoot genetics involve PITX1 variants, which were linked to clubfoot phenotype in mice and humans. Additionally, copy number variations encompassing TBX4 or single nucleotide variants in HOXC11, the molecular targets of the PITX1 transcription factor, were linked to the clubfoot phenotype. In general, genes of cytoskeleton and muscle contractile apparatus, as well as components of the extracellular matrix and connective tissue, are frequently linked with clubfoot aetiology. Last but not least, an equally important element, that brings us closer to a better understanding of the clubfoot genotype/phenotype correlation, are studies on the two known animal models of clubfoot-the pma or EphA4 mice. This review will summarise the current state of knowledge of the molecular basis of this congenital malformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Hordyjewska-Kowalczyk
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Lubelskie, Poland
| | - Karol Nowosad
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Lubelskie, Poland.,The Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aleksander Jamsheer
- Department of Medical Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Wielkopolskie, Poland
| | - Przemko Tylzanowski
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Lubelskie, Poland .,Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
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6
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Tran TQ, Kioussi C. Pitx genes in development and disease. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:4921-4938. [PMID: 33844046 PMCID: PMC11073205 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03833-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Homeobox genes encode sequence-specific transcription factors (SSTFs) that recognize specific DNA sequences and regulate organogenesis in all eukaryotes. They are essential in specifying spatial and temporal cell identity and as a result, their mutations often cause severe developmental defects. Pitx genes belong to the PRD class of the highly evolutionary conserved homeobox genes in all animals. Vertebrates possess three Pitx paralogs, Pitx1, Pitx2, and Pitx3 while non-vertebrates have only one Pitx gene. The ancient role of regulating left-right (LR) asymmetry is conserved while new functions emerge to afford more complex body plan and functionalities. In mouse, Pitx1 regulates hindlimb tissue patterning and pituitary development. Pitx2 is essential for the development of the oral cavity and abdominal wall while regulates the formation and symmetry of other organs including pituitary, heart, gut, lung among others by controlling growth control genes upon activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Pitx3 is essential for lens development and migration and survival of the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. Pitx gene mutations are linked to various congenital defects and cancers in humans. Pitx gene family has the potential to offer a new approach in regenerative medicine and aid in identifying new drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thai Q Tran
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Chrissa Kioussi
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
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7
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Johnstone CP, Wang NB, Sevier SA, Galloway KE. Understanding and Engineering Chromatin as a Dynamical System across Length and Timescales. Cell Syst 2020; 11:424-448. [PMID: 33212016 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2020.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Connecting the molecular structure and function of chromatin across length and timescales remains a grand challenge to understanding and engineering cellular behaviors. Across five orders of magnitude, dynamic processes constantly reshape chromatin structures, driving spaciotemporal patterns of gene expression and cell fate. Through the interplay of structure and function, the genome operates as a highly dynamic feedback control system. Recent experimental techniques have provided increasingly detailed data that revise and augment the relatively static, hierarchical view of genomic architecture with an understanding of how dynamic processes drive organization. Here, we review how novel technologies from sequencing, imaging, and synthetic biology refine our understanding of chromatin structure and function and enable chromatin engineering. Finally, we discuss opportunities to use these tools to enhance understanding of the dynamic interrelationship of chromatin structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nathan B Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, 25 Ames St., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Stuart A Sevier
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Kate E Galloway
- Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, 25 Ames St., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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8
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van der Lee R, Correard S, Wasserman WW. Deregulated Regulators: Disease-Causing cis Variants in Transcription Factor Genes. Trends Genet 2020; 36:523-539. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2020.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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9
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Morel G, Duhamel C, Boussion S, Frénois F, Lesca G, Chatron N, Labalme A, Sanlaville D, Edery P, Thevenon J, Faivre L, Fassier A, Prodhomme O, Escande F, Manouvrier S, Petit F, Geneviève D, Rossi M. Mandibular-pelvic-patellar syndrome is a novel PITX1-related disorder due to alteration of PITX1 transactivation ability. Hum Mutat 2020; 41:1499-1506. [PMID: 32598510 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PITX1 is a homeobox transcription factor essential for hindlimb morphogenesis. Two PITX1-related human disorders have been reported to date: PITX1 ectopic expression causes Liebenberg syndrome, characterized by malformation of upper limbs showing a "lower limb" appearance; PITX1 deletions or missense variation cause a syndromic picture including clubfoot, tibial hemimelia, and preaxial polydactyly. We report two novel PITX1 missense variants, altering PITX1 transactivation ability, in three individuals from two unrelated families showing a distinct recognizable autosomal dominant syndrome, including first branchial arch, pelvic, patellar, and male genital abnormalities. This syndrome shows striking similarities with the Pitx1-/- mouse model. A partial phenotypic overlap is also observed with Ischiocoxopodopatellar syndrome caused by TBX4 haploinsufficiency, and with the phenotypic spectrum caused by SOX9 anomalies, both genes being PITX1 downstream targets. Our study findings expand the spectrum of PITX1-related disorders and suggest a common pattern of developmental abnormalities in disorders of the PITX1-TBX4-SOX9 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godelieve Morel
- Service de Génétique, Centre de compétences Anomalies du Développement, CHU de Nice, Nice, France.,Service de Génétique, Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Centre de Compétences Maladies Osseuses Constitutionnelles, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France
| | | | | | | | - Gaetan Lesca
- Service de Génétique, Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Centre de Compétences Maladies Osseuses Constitutionnelles, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France.,INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, GENDEV Team, Bron, France
| | - Nicolas Chatron
- Service de Génétique, Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Centre de Compétences Maladies Osseuses Constitutionnelles, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France.,INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, GENDEV Team, Bron, France
| | - Audrey Labalme
- Service de Génétique, Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Centre de Compétences Maladies Osseuses Constitutionnelles, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France
| | - Damien Sanlaville
- Service de Génétique, Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Centre de Compétences Maladies Osseuses Constitutionnelles, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France.,INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, GENDEV Team, Bron, France
| | - Patrick Edery
- Service de Génétique, Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Centre de Compétences Maladies Osseuses Constitutionnelles, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France.,INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, GENDEV Team, Bron, France
| | | | - Laurence Faivre
- Service de Génétique, Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement, FHU TRANSLAD, Hôpital d'Enfants, CHU de Dijon, and Inserm - Université de Bourgogne UMR1231 GAD, FHU-TRANSLAD, Dijon, France
| | - Alice Fassier
- Service d'orthopédie pédiatrique, Centre de Compétences Maladies Osseuses Constitutionnelles, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France
| | - Olivier Prodhomme
- Service d'imagerie pédiatrique, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, CHU Montpellier, France
| | - Fabienne Escande
- Université de Lille, Lille, France.,Institut de Biochimie et Génétique moléculaire, CBP, CHU de Lille, France
| | - Sylvie Manouvrier
- Université de Lille, Lille, France.,CHU Lille, Clinique de Génétique, Hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, Lille, France
| | - Florence Petit
- Université de Lille, Lille, France.,CHU Lille, Clinique de Génétique, Hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, Lille, France
| | - David Geneviève
- Département de Génétique, IRMB, Maladies Rares et Médecine Personnalisée, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares ADSOOR, Filière AnDDI-Rare, INSERM U1183, CHU Montpellier, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Massimiliano Rossi
- Service de Génétique, Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Centre de Compétences Maladies Osseuses Constitutionnelles, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France.,INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, GENDEV Team, Bron, France
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10
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Skuplik I, Cobb J. Animal Models for Understanding Human Skeletal Defects. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1236:157-188. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-2389-2_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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11
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Fiorillo L, Bianco S, Esposito A, Conte M, Sciarretta R, Musella F, Chiariello AM. A modern challenge of polymer physics: Novel ways to study, interpret, and reconstruct chromatin structure. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luca Fiorillo
- Dipartimento di Fisica Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Naples Italy
| | - Simona Bianco
- Dipartimento di Fisica Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Naples Italy
| | - Andrea Esposito
- Dipartimento di Fisica Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Naples Italy
| | - Mattia Conte
- Dipartimento di Fisica Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Naples Italy
| | - Renato Sciarretta
- Dipartimento di Fisica Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Naples Italy
| | - Francesco Musella
- Dipartimento di Fisica Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Naples Italy
| | - Andrea M. Chiariello
- Dipartimento di Fisica Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Naples Italy
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12
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Pigeon foot feathering reveals conserved limb identity networks. Dev Biol 2019; 454:128-144. [PMID: 31247188 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The tetrapod limb is a stunning example of evolutionary diversity, with dramatic variation not only among distantly related species, but also between the serially homologous forelimbs (FLs) and hindlimbs (HLs) within species. Despite this variation, highly conserved genetic and developmental programs underlie limb development and identity in all tetrapods, raising the question of how limb diversification is generated from a conserved toolkit. In some breeds of domestic pigeon, shifts in the expression of two conserved limb identity transcription factors, PITX1 and TBX5, are associated with the formation of feathered HLs with partial FL identity. To determine how modulation of PITX1 and TBX5 expression affects downstream gene expression, we compared the transcriptomes of embryonic limb buds from pigeons with scaled and feathered HLs. We identified a set of differentially expressed genes enriched for genes encoding transcription factors, extracellular matrix proteins, and components of developmental signaling pathways with important roles in limb development. A subset of the genes that distinguish scaled and feathered HLs are also differentially expressed between FL and scaled HL buds in pigeons, pinpointing a set of gene expression changes downstream of PITX1 and TBX5 in the partial transformation from HL to FL identity. We extended our analyses by comparing pigeon limb bud transcriptomes to chicken, anole lizard, and mammalian datasets to identify deeply conserved PITX1- and TBX5-responsive components of the limb identity program. Our analyses reveal a suite of predominantly low-level gene expression changes that are conserved across amniotes to regulate the identity of morphologically distinct limbs.
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13
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Kragesteen BK, Brancati F, Digilio MC, Mundlos S, Spielmann M. H2AFY promoter deletion causes PITX1 endoactivation and Liebenberg syndrome. J Med Genet 2019; 56:246-251. [PMID: 30711920 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2018-105793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Structural variants (SVs) affecting non-coding cis-regulatory elements are a common cause of congenital limb malformation. Yet, the functional interpretation of these non-coding variants remains challenging. The human Liebenberg syndrome is characterised by a partial transformation of the arms into legs and has been shown to be caused by SVs at the PITX1 locus leading to its misregulation in the forelimb by its native enhancer element Pen. This study aims to elucidate the genetic cause of an unsolved family with a mild form of Liebenberg syndrome and investigate the role of promoters in long-range gene regulation. METHODS Here, we identify SVs by whole genome sequencing (WGS) and use CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in transgenic mice to assign pathogenicity to the SVs. RESULTS In this study, we used WGS in a family with three mildly affected individuals with Liebenberg syndrome and identified the smallest deletion described so far including the first non-coding exon of H2AFY. To functionally characterise the variant, we re-engineered the 8.5 kb deletion using CRISPR-Cas9 technology in the mouse and showed that the promoter of the housekeeping gene H2afy insulates the Pen enhancer from Pitx1 in forelimbs; its loss leads to misexpression of Pitx1 by the pan-limb activity of the Pen enhancer causing Liebenberg syndrome. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that housekeeping promoters may titrate promiscuous enhancer activity to ensure normal morphogenesis. The deletion of the H2AFY promoter as a cause of Liebenberg syndrome highlights this new mutational mechanism and its role in congenital disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bjørt K Kragesteen
- Human Molecular Genomics Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Francesco Brancati
- Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Digilio
- Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefan Mundlos
- Institute for Medical and Human Genetics, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Development and Disease Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Malte Spielmann
- Human Molecular Genomics Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.,Institute for Medical and Human Genetics, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Yip RK, Chan D, Cheah KS. Mechanistic insights into skeletal development gained from genetic disorders. Curr Top Dev Biol 2019; 133:343-385. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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15
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Dynamic 3D chromatin architecture contributes to enhancer specificity and limb morphogenesis. Nat Genet 2018; 50:1463-1473. [PMID: 30262816 PMCID: PMC10154999 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-018-0221-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The regulatory specificity of enhancers and their interaction with gene promoters is thought to be controlled by their sequence and the binding of transcription factors. By studying Pitx1, a regulator of hindlimb development, we show that dynamic changes in chromatin conformation can restrict the activity of enhancers. Inconsistent with its hindlimb-restricted expression, Pitx1 is controlled by an enhancer (Pen) that shows activity in forelimbs and hindlimbs. By Capture Hi-C and three-dimensional modeling of the locus, we demonstrate that forelimbs and hindlimbs have fundamentally different chromatin configurations, whereby Pen and Pitx1 interact in hindlimbs and are physically separated in forelimbs. Structural variants can convert the inactive into the active conformation, thereby inducing Pitx1 misexpression in forelimbs, causing partial arm-to-leg transformation in mice and humans. Thus, tissue-specific three-dimensional chromatin conformation can contribute to enhancer activity and specificity in vivo and its disturbance can result in gene misexpression and disease.
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16
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Shi B, Xu L, Mao S, Xu L, Liu Z, Sun X, Zhu Z, Qiu Y. Abnormal PITX1 gene methylation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a pilot study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2018; 19:138. [PMID: 29743058 PMCID: PMC5941792 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-018-2054-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The gene of pituitary homeobox 1 (PITX1) has been reported to be down-regulated in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), of which the cause has not been well addressed. The abnormal DNA methylation was recently assumed to be an important mechanism for the down-regulated genes expression. However, the association between PITX1 promoter methylation and the etiology of AIS was not clear. Methods The peripheral blood samples of 50 AIS patients and 50 healthy controls were collected and the genomic DNA was extracted. The pyrosequencing assay was used to assess the methylation status of PITX1 promoter and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the PITX1 gene expression. Comparison analysis was performed using independent t test and Chi-square tests, while correlation analysis were performed with 2-tailed Pearson coefficients. Results The mean methylation level was (3.52 ± 0.96)% in AIS and (1.40 ± 0.81)% in healthy controls (P < 0.0001). The PITX1 gene expression was 0.15 ± 0.08 in AIS and 0.80 ± 0.55 in healthy controls (P < 0.0001). The comparative analysis showed significant difference in age (P = 0.021) and Cobb angle of the main curve (P = 0.0001) between AIS groups with positive and negative methylation. The methylation level of 6 CpG sites in PITX1 promoters was significantly associated with Cobb angle of the main curve (P < 0.001) in AIS. No statistical relationship between PITX1 promoter methylation and gene expression was found in AIS (P = 0.842). Conclusion Significantly higher methylation level and lower PITX1 gene expression are found in AIS patients. PITX1 methylation is associated with Cobb angles of the main curves in AIS. DNA methylation thus plays an important role in the etiology and curve progression in AIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benlong Shi
- Spine Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Zhongshan Road No. 321, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Liang Xu
- Spine Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Zhongshan Road No. 321, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Saihu Mao
- Spine Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Zhongshan Road No. 321, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Leilei Xu
- Spine Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Zhongshan Road No. 321, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Spine Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Zhongshan Road No. 321, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Xu Sun
- Spine Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Zhongshan Road No. 321, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Zezhang Zhu
- Spine Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Zhongshan Road No. 321, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Yong Qiu
- Spine Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Zhongshan Road No. 321, Nanjing, 210008, China
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17
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Baas M, Stubbs AP, van Zessen DB, Galjaard RJH, van der Spek PJ, Hovius SER, van Nieuwenhoven CA. Identification of Associated Genes and Diseases in Patients With Congenital Upper-Limb Anomalies: A Novel Application of the OMT Classification. J Hand Surg Am 2017; 42:533-545.e4. [PMID: 28669419 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.03.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Congenital upper-limb anomalies (CULA) can present as a part of a syndrome or association. There is a wide spectrum of CULA, each of which might be related to different diseases. The structure provided by the Oberg, Manske, and Tonkin (OMT) classification could aid in differential diagnosis formulation in patients with CULA. The aims of this study were to review the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) project database for diseases and causative genes related to the CULA described in the OMT classification and to develop a methodology for differential diagnosis formulation based on the observed congenital anomalies, CulaPhen. METHODS We reviewed the HPO database for all diseases, including causative genes related to CULA. All CULA were classified according to the OMT classification; associated non-hand phenotypes were classified into 12 anatomical groups. We analyzed the contribution of each anatomical group to a given disease and developed a tool for differential diagnosis formulation based on these contributions. We compared our results with cases from the literature and with a current HPO tool, Phenomizer. RESULTS In total, 514 hand phenotypes were obtained, 384 of which could be classified in the OMT classification. A total of 1,403 diseases could be related to those CULA. A comparison with 10 recently published cases with CULA revealed that the presented phenotype matched the descriptions in our dataset. The differential diagnosis produced using our methodology was more accurate than Phenomizer in 4 of 5 examples. CONCLUSIONS The OMT classification can be used to describe hand anomalies that may present in over 1,400 diseases. CulaPhen was developed to provide a (hand) phenotype-based differential diagnosis. Differential diagnosis formulation based on the proposed system outperforms the system in current use. CLINICAL RELEVANCE This study illustrates that the OMT diagnoses, either individually or combined, can be cross-referenced with different diseases and syndromes. Therefore, use of the OMT classification can aid differential diagnosis formulation for CULA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn Baas
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew P Stubbs
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - David B van Zessen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert-Jan H Galjaard
- Department of Bioinformatics, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter J van der Spek
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Steven E R Hovius
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Christianne A van Nieuwenhoven
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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18
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Abstract
The limb is a commonly used model system for developmental biology. Given the need for precise control of complex signalling pathways to achieve proper patterning, the limb is also becoming a model system for gene regulation studies. Recent developments in genomic technologies have enabled the genome-wide identification of regulatory elements that control limb development, yielding insights into the determination of limb morphology and forelimb versus hindlimb identity. The modulation of regulatory interactions - for example, through the modification of regulatory sequences or chromatin architecture - can lead to morphological evolution, acquired regeneration capacity or limb malformations in diverse species, including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Petit
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, California 94158, USA.,University of Lille, CHU Lille, EA 7364-RADEME, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Karen E Sears
- School of Integrative Biology, Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Nadav Ahituv
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, California 94158, USA.,Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, California 94158, USA
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Domyan ET, Shapiro MD. Pigeonetics takes flight: Evolution, development, and genetics of intraspecific variation. Dev Biol 2016; 427:241-250. [PMID: 27847323 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2016] [Revised: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Intensive artificial selection over thousands of years has produced hundreds of varieties of domestic pigeon. As Charles Darwin observed, the morphological differences among breeds can rise to the magnitude of variation typically observed among different species. Nevertheless, different pigeon varieties are interfertile, thereby enabling forward genetic and genomic approaches to identify genes that underlie derived traits. Building on classical genetic studies of pigeon variation, recent molecular investigations find a spectrum of coding and regulatory alleles controlling derived traits, including plumage color, feather growth polarity, and limb identity. Developmental and genetic analyses of pigeons are revealing the molecular basis of variation in a classic example of extreme intraspecific diversity, and have the potential to nominate genes that control variation among other birds and vertebrates in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric T Domyan
- Department of Biology, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT, United States.
| | - Michael D Shapiro
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
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Abu-Elmagd M, Assidi M, Schulten HJ, Dallol A, Pushparaj PN, Ahmed F, Scherer SW, Al-Qahtani M. Individualized medicine enabled by genomics in Saudi Arabia. BMC Med Genomics 2015; 8 Suppl 1:S3. [PMID: 25951871 PMCID: PMC4315314 DOI: 10.1186/1755-8794-8-s1-s3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The biomedical research sector in Saudi Arabia has recently received special attention from the government, which is currently supporting research aimed at improving the understanding and treatment of common diseases afflicting Saudi Arabian society. To build capacity for research and training, a number of centres of excellence were established in different areas of the country. Among these, is the Centre of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research (CEGMR) at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, with its internationally ranked and highly productive team performing translational research in the area of individualized medicine. Here, we present a panorama of the recent trends in different areas of biomedical research in Saudi Arabia drawing from our vision of where genomics will have maximal impact in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We describe advances in a number of research areas including; congenital malformations, infertility, consanguinity and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, cancer and genomic classifications in Saudi Arabia, epigenetic explanations of idiopathic disease, and pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine. We conclude that CEGMR will continue to play a pivotal role in advances in the field of genomics and research in this area is facing a number of challenges including generating high quality control data from Saudi population and policies for using these data need to comply with the international set up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Abu-Elmagd
- Centre of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research (CEGMR), King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box: 80216 Jeddah 21589, KSA
- KACST Technology Innovation Centre in Personalized Medicine at King Abdulaziz University (CIPM), P.O. Box: 80216 Jeddah 21589, KSA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia, P.O. Box 61519, Egypt
| | - Mourad Assidi
- Centre of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research (CEGMR), King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box: 80216 Jeddah 21589, KSA
- KACST Technology Innovation Centre in Personalized Medicine at King Abdulaziz University (CIPM), P.O. Box: 80216 Jeddah 21589, KSA
| | - Hans-Juergen Schulten
- Centre of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research (CEGMR), King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box: 80216 Jeddah 21589, KSA
| | - Ashraf Dallol
- Centre of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research (CEGMR), King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box: 80216 Jeddah 21589, KSA
- KACST Technology Innovation Centre in Personalized Medicine at King Abdulaziz University (CIPM), P.O. Box: 80216 Jeddah 21589, KSA
| | - Peter Natesan Pushparaj
- Centre of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research (CEGMR), King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box: 80216 Jeddah 21589, KSA
| | - Farid Ahmed
- Centre of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research (CEGMR), King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box: 80216 Jeddah 21589, KSA
| | - Stephen W Scherer
- Centre of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research (CEGMR), King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box: 80216 Jeddah 21589, KSA
- The Centre for Applied Genomics and Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- McLaughlin Centre and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohammed Al-Qahtani
- Centre of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research (CEGMR), King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box: 80216 Jeddah 21589, KSA
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21
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Seoighe DM, Gadancheva V, Regan R, McDaid J, Brenner C, Ennis S, Betts DR, Eadie PA, Lynch SA. A chromosomal 5q31.1 gain involvingPITX1causes Liebenberg syndrome. Am J Med Genet A 2014; 164A:2958-60. [DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.36712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Deirdre Máire Seoighe
- Department of Plastic Surgery; Our Lady's Children's Hospital; Crumlin; Dublin 12 Ireland
| | - Veselina Gadancheva
- National Centre for Medical Genetics; Our Lady's Children's Hospital; Crumlin; Dublin 12 Ireland
| | - Regina Regan
- School of Medicine & Health Science; UCD; Dublin 4 Ireland
| | - Jennifer McDaid
- National Centre for Medical Genetics; Our Lady's Children's Hospital; Crumlin; Dublin 12 Ireland
| | - Clare Brenner
- Department of Radiology; Our Lady's Children's Hospital; Crumlin; Dublin 12 Ireland
| | - Sean Ennis
- School of Medicine & Health Science; UCD; Dublin 4 Ireland
| | - David Richard Betts
- National Centre for Medical Genetics; Our Lady's Children's Hospital; Crumlin; Dublin 12 Ireland
| | - Patricia Anne Eadie
- Department of Plastic Surgery; Our Lady's Children's Hospital; Crumlin; Dublin 12 Ireland
| | - Sally Ann Lynch
- National Centre for Medical Genetics; Our Lady's Children's Hospital; Crumlin; Dublin 12 Ireland
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22
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Booy EP, Howard R, Marushchak O, Ariyo EO, Meier M, Novakowski SK, Deo SR, Dzananovic E, Stetefeld J, McKenna SA. The RNA helicase RHAU (DHX36) suppresses expression of the transcription factor PITX1. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 42:3346-61. [PMID: 24369427 PMCID: PMC3950718 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt1340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA Helicase associated with AU-rich element (RHAU) (DHX36) is a DEAH (Aspartic acid, Glumatic Acid, Alanine, Histidine)-box RNA helicase that can bind and unwind G4-quadruplexes in DNA and RNA. To detect novel RNA targets of RHAU, we performed an RNA co-immunoprecipitation screen and identified the PITX1 messenger RNA (mRNA) as specifically and highly enriched. PITX1 is a homeobox transcription factor with roles in both development and cancer. Primary sequence analysis identified three probable quadruplexes within the 3′-untranslated region of the PITX1 mRNA. Each of these sequences, when isolated, forms stable quadruplex structures that interact with RHAU. We provide evidence that these quadruplexes exist in the endogenous mRNA; however, we discovered that RHAU is tethered to the mRNA via an alternative non–quadruplex-forming region. RHAU knockdown by small interfering RNA results in significant increases in PITX1 protein levels with only marginal changes in mRNA, suggesting a role for RHAU in translational regulation. Involvement of components of the microRNA machinery is supported by similar and non-additive increases in PITX1 protein expression on Dicer and combined RHAU/Dicer knockdown. We also demonstrate a requirement of argonaute-2, a key RNA-induced silencing complex component, to mediate RHAU-dependent changes in PITX1 protein levels. These results demonstrate a novel role for RHAU in microRNA-mediated translational regulation at a quadruplex-containing 3′-untranslated region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan P Booy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z4 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3T 2N2
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