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Luo Y, Liu J, Feng W, Lin D, Chen M, Zheng H. Single-cell RNA Sequencing Identifies Natural Kill Cell-Related Transcription Factors Associated With Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Evol Bioinform Online 2024; 20:11769343241272413. [PMID: 39149137 PMCID: PMC11325330 DOI: 10.1177/11769343241272413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) poses a growing global health concern as the leading cause of central vision loss in elderly people. Objection This study focuses on unraveling the intricate involvement of Natural Killer (NK) cells in AMD, shedding light on their immune responses and cytokine regulatory roles. Methods Transcriptomic data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database were utilized, employing single-cell RNA-seq analysis. High-dimensional weighted gene co-expression network analysis (hdWGCNA) and single-cell regulatory network inference and clustering (SCENIC) analysis were applied to reveal the regulatory mechanisms of NK cells in early-stage AMD patients. Machine learning models, such as random forests and decision trees, were employed to screen hub genes and key transcription factors (TFs) associated with AMD. Results Distinct cell clusters were identified in the present study, especially the T/NK cluster, with a notable increase in NK cell abundance observed in AMD. Cell-cell communication analyses revealed altered interactions, particularly in NK cells, indicating their potential role in AMD pathogenesis. HdWGCNA highlighted the turquoise module, enriched in inflammation-related pathways, as significantly associated with AMD in NK cells. The SCENIC analysis identified key TFs in NK cell regulatory networks. The integration of hub genes and TFs identified CREM, FOXP1, IRF1, NFKB2, and USF2 as potential predictors for AMD through machine learning. Conclusion This comprehensive approach enhances our understanding of NK cell dynamics, signaling alterations, and potential predictive models for AMD. The identified TFs provide new avenues for molecular interventions and highlight the intricate relationship between NK cells and AMD pathogenesis. Overall, this study contributes valuable insights for advancing our understanding and management of AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yili Luo
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianpeng Liu
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wangqiang Feng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Da Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mengji Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haihua Zheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Huang C, Xia M, Qiao H, Liu Z, Lin Y, Sun H, Yu B, Fang P, Wang J. Tetramerization of upstream stimulating factor USF2 requires the elongated bent leucine zipper of the bHLH-LZ domain. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105240. [PMID: 37690682 PMCID: PMC10570711 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Upstream stimulating factors (USFs), including USF1 and USF2, are key components of the transcription machinery that recruit coactivators and histone-modifying enzymes. Using the classic basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper (bHLH-LZ) domain, USFs bind the E-box DNA and form tetramers that promote DNA looping for transcription initiation. The structural basis by which USFs tetramerize and bind DNA, however, remains unknown. Here, we report the crystal structure of the complete bHLH-LZ domain of USF2 in complex with E-box DNA. We observed that the leucine zipper (LZ) of USF2 is longer than that of other bHLH-LZ family transcription factors and that the C-terminus of USF2 forms an additional α-helix following the LZ region (denoted as LZ-Ext). We also found the elongated LZ-Ext facilitates compact tetramer formation. In addition to the classic interactions between the basic region and DNA, we show a highly conserved basic residue in the loop region, Lys271, participates in DNA interaction. Together, these findings suggest that USF2 forms a tetramer structure with a bent elongated LZ-Ext region, providing a molecular basis for its role as a key component of the transcription machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cao Huang
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingyu Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hang Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zaizhou Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuqi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hanyin Sun
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Biao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Pengfei Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
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Santagata S. Genes with evidence of positive selection as potentially related to coloniality and the evolution of morphological features among the lophophorates and entoprocts. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2020; 336:267-280. [PMID: 32638536 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Evolutionary mechanisms that underlie the origins of coloniality among organisms are diverse. Some animal colonies may be comprised strictly of clonal individuals formed from asexual budding or comprised of a chimera of clonal and sexually produced individuals that fuse secondarily. This investigation focuses on select members of the lophophorates and entoprocts whose evolutionary relationships remain enigmatic even in the age of genomics. Using transcriptomic data sets, two coloniality-based hypotheses are tested in a phylogenetic context to find candidate genes showing evidence of positive selection and potentially convergent molecular signatures among solitary species and taxa-forming colonies from aggregate groups or clonal budding. Approximately 22% of the 387 orthogroups tested showed evidence of positive selection in at least one of the three branch-site tests (CODEML, BUSTED, and aBSREL). Only 12 genes could be reliably associated with a developmental function related to traits linked with coloniality, neuroanatomy, or ciliary fields. Genes testing for both positive selection and convergent molecular characters include orthologues of Radial spoke head, Elongation translation initiation factors, SEC13, and Immediate early response gene5. Maximum likelihood analyses included here resulted in tree topologies typical of other phylogenetic investigations based on wider genomic information. Further genomic and experimental evidence will be needed to resolve whether a solitary ancestor with multiciliated cells that formed aggregate groups gave rise to colonial forms in bryozoans (and perhaps the entoprocts) or that the morphological differences exhibited by phoronids and brachiopods represent trait modifications from a colonial ancestor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Santagata
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Long Island University, Greenvale, New York
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4
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Magli A, Baik J, Mills LJ, Kwak IY, Dillon BS, Mondragon Gonzalez R, Stafford DA, Swanson SA, Stewart R, Thomson JA, Garry DJ, Dynlacht BD, Perlingeiro RCR. Time-dependent Pax3-mediated chromatin remodeling and cooperation with Six4 and Tead2 specify the skeletal myogenic lineage in developing mesoderm. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000153. [PMID: 30807574 PMCID: PMC6390996 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcriptional mechanisms driving lineage specification during development are still largely unknown, as the interplay of multiple transcription factors makes it difficult to dissect these molecular events. Using a cell-based differentiation platform to probe transcription function, we investigated the role of the key paraxial mesoderm and skeletal myogenic commitment factors-mesogenin 1 (Msgn1), T-box 6 (Tbx6), forkhead box C1 (Foxc1), paired box 3 (Pax3), Paraxis, mesenchyme homeobox 1 (Meox1), sine oculis-related homeobox 1 (Six1), and myogenic factor 5 (Myf5)-in paraxial mesoderm and skeletal myogenesis. From this study, we define a genetic hierarchy, with Pax3 emerging as the gatekeeper between the presomitic mesoderm and the myogenic lineage. By assaying chromatin accessibility, genomic binding and transcription profiling in mesodermal cells from mouse and human Pax3-induced embryonic stem cells and Pax3-null embryonic day (E)9.5 mouse embryos, we identified conserved Pax3 functions in the activation of the skeletal myogenic lineage through modulation of Hedgehog, Notch, and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathways. In addition, we demonstrate that Pax3 molecular function involves chromatin remodeling of its bound elements through an increase in chromatin accessibility and cooperation with sine oculis-related homeobox 4 (Six4) and TEA domain family member 2 (Tead2) factors. To our knowledge, these data provide the first integrated analysis of Pax3 function, demonstrating its ability to remodel chromatin in mesodermal cells from developing embryos and proving a mechanistic footing for the transcriptional hierarchy driving myogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Magli
- Department of Medicine, Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - June Baik
- Department of Medicine, Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Lauren J. Mills
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Il-Youp Kwak
- Department of Medicine, Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Bridget S. Dillon
- Department of Medicine, Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Ricardo Mondragon Gonzalez
- Department of Medicine, Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - David A. Stafford
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Scott A. Swanson
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Ron Stewart
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - James A. Thomson
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Daniel J. Garry
- Department of Medicine, Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Brian D. Dynlacht
- Department of Pathology, New York University Cancer Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Rita C. R. Perlingeiro
- Department of Medicine, Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
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Gaspar C, Silva-Marrero JI, Salgado MC, Baanante IV, Metón I. Role of upstream stimulatory factor 2 in glutamate dehydrogenase gene transcription. J Mol Endocrinol 2018; 60:247-259. [PMID: 29438976 DOI: 10.1530/jme-17-0142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Glutamate dehydrogenase (Gdh) plays a central role in ammonia detoxification by catalysing reversible oxidative deamination of l-glutamate into α-ketoglutarate using NAD+ or NADP+ as cofactor. To gain insight into transcriptional regulation of glud, the gene that codes for Gdh, we isolated and characterised the 5' flanking region of glud from gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). In addition, tissue distribution, the effect of starvation as well as short- and long-term refeeding on Gdh mRNA levels in the liver of S. aurata were also addressed. 5'-Deletion analysis of glud promoter in transiently transfected HepG2 cells, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and site-directed mutagenesis allowed us to identify upstream stimulatory factor 2 (Usf2) as a novel factor involved in the transcriptional regulation of glud Analysis of tissue distribution of Gdh and Usf2 mRNA levels by reverse transcriptase-coupled quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) showed that Gdh is mainly expressed in the liver of S. aurata, while Usf2 displayed ubiquitous distribution. RT-qPCR and ChIP assays revealed that long-term starvation down-regulated the hepatic expression of Gdh and Usf2 to similar levels and reduced Usf2 binding to glud promoter, while refeeding resulted in a slow but gradual restoration of both Gdh and Usf2 mRNA abundance. Herein, we demonstrate that Usf2 transactivates S. aurata glud by binding to an E-box located in the proximal region of glud promoter. In addition, our findings provide evidence for a new regulatory mechanism involving Usf2 as a key factor in the nutritional regulation of glud transcription in the fish liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Gaspar
- Secció de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jonás I Silva-Marrero
- Secció de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María C Salgado
- Servei de Bioquímica Clínica, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel V Baanante
- Secció de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isidoro Metón
- Secció de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Departament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Wu N, Ming X, Xiao J, Wu Z, Chen X, Shinawi M, Shen Y, Yu G, Liu J, Xie H, Gucev ZS, Liu S, Yang N, Al-Kateb H, Chen J, Zhang J, Hauser N, Zhang T, Tasic V, Liu P, Su X, Pan X, Liu C, Wang L, Shen J, Shen J, Chen Y, Zhang T, Zhang J, Choy KW, Wang J, Wang Q, Li S, Zhou W, Guo J, Wang Y, Zhang C, Zhao H, An Y, Zhao Y, Wang J, Liu Z, Zuo Y, Tian Y, Weng X, Sutton VR, Wang H, Ming Y, Kulkarni S, Zhong TP, Giampietro PF, Dunwoodie SL, Cheung SW, Zhang X, Jin L, Lupski JR, Qiu G, Zhang F. TBX6 null variants and a common hypomorphic allele in congenital scoliosis. N Engl J Med 2015; 372:341-50. [PMID: 25564734 PMCID: PMC4326244 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa1406829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 210] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital scoliosis is a common type of vertebral malformation. Genetic susceptibility has been implicated in congenital scoliosis. METHODS We evaluated 161 Han Chinese persons with sporadic congenital scoliosis, 166 Han Chinese controls, and 2 pedigrees, family members of which had a 16p11.2 deletion, using comparative genomic hybridization, quantitative polymerase-chain-reaction analysis, and DNA sequencing. We carried out tests of replication using an additional series of 76 Han Chinese persons with congenital scoliosis and a multicenter series of 42 persons with 16p11.2 deletions. RESULTS We identified a total of 17 heterozygous TBX6 null mutations in the 161 persons with sporadic congenital scoliosis (11%); we did not observe any null mutations in TBX6 in 166 controls (P<3.8×10(-6)). These null alleles include copy-number variants (12 instances of a 16p11.2 deletion affecting TBX6) and single-nucleotide variants (1 nonsense and 4 frame-shift mutations). However, the discordant intrafamilial phenotypes of 16p11.2 deletion carriers suggest that heterozygous TBX6 null mutation is insufficient to cause congenital scoliosis. We went on to identify a common TBX6 haplotype as the second risk allele in all 17 carriers of TBX6 null mutations (P<1.1×10(-6)). Replication studies involving additional persons with congenital scoliosis who carried a deletion affecting TBX6 confirmed this compound inheritance model. In vitro functional assays suggested that the risk haplotype is a hypomorphic allele. Hemivertebrae are characteristic of TBX6-associated congenital scoliosis. CONCLUSIONS Compound inheritance of a rare null mutation and a hypomorphic allele of TBX6 accounted for up to 11% of congenital scoliosis cases in the series that we analyzed. (Funded by the National Basic Research Program of China and others.).
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Affiliation(s)
- N Wu
- The authors' affiliations are listed in the Appendix
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