1
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D'Orso I. The HIV-1 Transcriptional Program: From Initiation to Elongation Control. J Mol Biol 2024:168690. [PMID: 38936695 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
A large body of work in the last four decades has revealed the key pillars of HIV-1 transcription control at the initiation and elongation steps. Here, I provide a recount of this collective knowledge starting with the genomic elements (DNA and nascent TAR RNA stem-loop) and transcription factors (cellular and the viral transactivator Tat), and later transitioning to the assembly and regulation of transcription initiation and elongation complexes, and the role of chromatin structure. Compelling evidence support a core HIV-1 transcriptional program regulated by the sequential and concerted action of cellular transcription factors and Tat to promote initiation and sustain elongation, highlighting the efficiency of a small virus to take over its host to produce the high levels of transcription required for viral replication. I summarize new advances including the use of CRISPR-Cas9, genetic tools for acute factor depletion, and imaging to study transcriptional dynamics, bursting and the progression through the multiple phases of the transcriptional cycle. Finally, I describe current challenges to future major advances and discuss areas that deserve more attention to both bolster our basic knowledge of the core HIV-1 transcriptional program and open up new therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván D'Orso
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
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2
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Walker RL, Hornicek FJ, Duan Z. Transcriptional regulation and therapeutic potential of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) in sarcoma. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 226:116342. [PMID: 38848777 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116342] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Sarcomas include various subtypes comprising two significant groups - soft tissue and bone sarcomas. Although the survival rate for some sarcoma subtypes has improved over time, the current methods of treatment remain efficaciously limited, as recurrent, and metastatic diseases remain a major obstacle. There is a need for better options and therapeutic strategies in treating sarcoma. Cyclin dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is a transcriptional kinase and has emerged as a promising target for treating various cancers. The aberrant expression and activation of CDK9 have been observed in several sarcoma subtypes, including rhabdomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and chordoma. Enhanced CDK9 expression has also been correlated with poorer prognosis in sarcoma patients. As a master regulator of transcription, CDK9 promotes transcription elongation by phosphorylation and releasing RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) from its promoter proximal pause. Release of RNAPII from this pause induces transcription of critical genes in the tumor cell. Overexpression and activation of CDK9 have been observed to lead to the expression of oncogenes, including MYC and MCL-1, that aid sarcoma development and progression. Inhibition of CDK9 in sarcoma has been proven to reduce these oncogenes' expression and decrease proliferation and growth in different sarcoma cells. Currently, there are several CDK9 inhibitors in preclinical and clinical investigations. This review aims to highlight the recent discovery and results on the transcriptional role and therapeutic potential of CDK9 in sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert L Walker
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Papanicolaou Cancer Research Building, 1550 N.W. 10(th) Avenue, Miami, FL 33136. USA
| | - Francis J Hornicek
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Papanicolaou Cancer Research Building, 1550 N.W. 10(th) Avenue, Miami, FL 33136. USA
| | - Zhenfeng Duan
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Papanicolaou Cancer Research Building, 1550 N.W. 10(th) Avenue, Miami, FL 33136. USA.
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3
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Zhang Z, Xu J, Liu J, Wang J, Lei L. SEC: A core hub during cell fate alteration. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23680. [PMID: 38758186 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202400514r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Pol II pause release is a rate-limiting step in gene transcription, influencing various cell fate alterations. Numerous proteins orchestrate Pol II pause release, thereby playing pivotal roles in the intricate process of cellular fate modulation. Super elongation complex (SEC), a large assembly comprising diverse protein components, has garnered attention due to its emerging significance in orchestrating physiological and pathological cellular identity changes by regulating the transcription of crucial genes. Consequently, SEC emerges as a noteworthy functional complex capable of modulating cell fate alterations. Therefore, a comprehensive review is warranted to systematically summarize the core roles of SEC in different types of cell fate alterations. This review focuses on elucidating the current understanding of the structural and functional basis of SEC. Additionally, we discuss the intricate regulatory mechanisms governing SEC in various models of cell fate alteration, encompassing both physiological and pathological contexts. Furthermore, leveraging the existing knowledge of SEC, we propose some insightful directions for future research, aiming to enhance our mechanistic and functional comprehension of SEC within the diverse landscape of cell fate alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijing Zhang
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Jingyi Xu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Jiqiang Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Jiaqiang Wang
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Lei Lei
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
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4
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Walker FM, Sobral LM, Danis E, Sanford B, Donthula S, Balakrishnan I, Wang D, Pierce A, Karam SD, Kargar S, Serkova NJ, Foreman NK, Venkataraman S, Dowell R, Vibhakar R, Dahl NA. Rapid P-TEFb-dependent transcriptional reorganization underpins the glioma adaptive response to radiotherapy. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4616. [PMID: 38816355 PMCID: PMC11139976 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48214-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Dynamic regulation of gene expression is fundamental for cellular adaptation to exogenous stressors. P-TEFb-mediated pause-release of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is a conserved regulatory mechanism for synchronous transcriptional induction in response to heat shock, but this pro-survival role has not been examined in the applied context of cancer therapy. Using model systems of pediatric high-grade glioma, we show that rapid genome-wide reorganization of active chromatin facilitates P-TEFb-mediated nascent transcriptional induction within hours of exposure to therapeutic ionizing radiation. Concurrent inhibition of P-TEFb disrupts this chromatin reorganization and blunts transcriptional induction, abrogating key adaptive programs such as DNA damage repair and cell cycle regulation. This combination demonstrates a potent, synergistic therapeutic potential agnostic of glioma subtype, leading to a marked induction of tumor cell apoptosis and prolongation of xenograft survival. These studies reveal a central role for P-TEFb underpinning the early adaptive response to radiotherapy, opening avenues for combinatorial treatment in these lethal malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faye M Walker
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Lays Martin Sobral
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Etienne Danis
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Bridget Sanford
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sahiti Donthula
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ilango Balakrishnan
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Angela Pierce
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sana D Karam
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Soudabeh Kargar
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Natalie J Serkova
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nicholas K Foreman
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Robin Dowell
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nathan A Dahl
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
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5
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Razew M, Fraudeau A, Pfleiderer MM, Linares R, Galej WP. Structural basis of the Integrator complex assembly and association with transcription factors. Mol Cell 2024:S1097-2765(24)00431-3. [PMID: 38823386 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.05.009] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Integrator is a multi-subunit protein complex responsible for premature transcription termination of coding and non-coding RNAs. This is achieved via two enzymatic activities, RNA endonuclease and protein phosphatase, acting on the promoter-proximally paused RNA polymerase Ⅱ (RNAPⅡ). Yet, it remains unclear how Integrator assembly and recruitment are regulated and what the functions of many of its core subunits are. Here, we report the structures of two human Integrator sub-complexes: INTS10/13/14/15 and INTS5/8/10/15, and an integrative model of the fully assembled Integrator bound to the RNAPⅡ paused elongating complex (PEC). An in silico protein-protein interaction screen of over 1,500 human transcription factors (TFs) identified ZNF655 as a direct interacting partner of INTS13 within the fully assembled Integrator. We propose a model wherein INTS13 acts as a platform for the recruitment of TFs that could modulate the stability of the Integrator's association at specific loci and regulate transcription attenuation of the target genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Razew
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Grenoble, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Angelique Fraudeau
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Grenoble, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Moritz M Pfleiderer
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Grenoble, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Romain Linares
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Grenoble, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Wojciech P Galej
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Grenoble, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38042 Grenoble, France.
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6
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Chen S, Jiang Z, Li Q, Pan W, Chen Y, Liu J. Viral RNA capping: Mechanisms and antiviral therapy. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29622. [PMID: 38682614 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
RNA capping is an essential trigger for protein translation in eukaryotic cells. Many viruses have evolved various strategies for initiating the translation of viral genes and generating progeny virions in infected cells via synthesizing cap structure or stealing the RNA cap from nascent host messenger ribonucleotide acid (mRNA). In addition to protein translation, a new understanding of the role of the RNA cap in antiviral innate immunity has advanced the field of mRNA synthesis in vitro and therapeutic applications. Recent studies on these viral RNA capping systems have revealed startlingly diverse ways and molecular machinery. A comprehensive understanding of how viruses accomplish the RNA capping in infected cells is pivotal for designing effective broad-spectrum antiviral therapies. Here we systematically review the contemporary insights into the RNA-capping mechanisms employed by viruses causing human and animal infectious diseases, while also highlighting its impact on host antiviral innate immune response. The therapeutic applications of targeting RNA capping against viral infections and the development of RNA-capping inhibitors are also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saini Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhimin Jiang
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiuchen Li
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenliang Pan
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinhua Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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7
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Santana JF, Spector BM, Suarez G, Luse D, Price D. NELF focuses sites of initiation and maintains promoter architecture. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:2977-2994. [PMID: 38197272 PMCID: PMC11014283 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Many factors control the elongation phase of transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II), a process that plays an essential role in regulating gene expression. We utilized cells expressing degradation tagged subunits of NELFB, PAF1 and RTF1 to probe the effects of depletion of the factors on nascent transcripts using PRO-Seq and on chromatin architecture using DFF-ChIP. Although NELF is involved in promoter proximal pausing, depletion of NELFB had only a minimal effect on the level of paused transcripts and almost no effect on control of productive elongation. Instead, NELF depletion increased the utilization of downstream transcription start sites and caused a dramatic, genome-wide loss of H3K4me3 marked nucleosomes. Depletion of PAF1 and RTF1 both had major effects on productive transcript elongation in gene bodies and also caused initiation site changes like those seen with NELFB depletion. Our study confirmed that the first nucleosome encountered during initiation and early elongation is highly positioned with respect to the major TSS. In contrast, the positions of H3K4me3 marked nucleosomes in promoter regions are heterogeneous and are influenced by transcription. We propose a model defining NELF function and a general role of the H3K4me3 modification in blocking transcription initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan F Santana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Benjamin M Spector
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Gustavo A Suarez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Donal S Luse
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - David H Price
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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8
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Soliman SHA, Iwanaszko M, Zheng B, Gold S, Howard BC, Das M, Chakrabarty RP, Chandel NS, Shilatifard A. Transcriptional elongation control of hypoxic response. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2321502121. [PMID: 38564636 PMCID: PMC11009653 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321502121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The release of paused RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) from promoter-proximal regions is tightly controlled to ensure proper regulation of gene expression. The elongation factor PTEF-b is known to release paused RNAPII via phosphorylation of the RNAPII C-terminal domain by its cyclin-dependent kinase component, CDK9. However, the signal and stress-specific roles of the various RNAPII-associated macromolecular complexes containing PTEF-b/CDK9 are not yet clear. Here, we identify and characterize the CDK9 complex required for transcriptional response to hypoxia. Contrary to previous reports, our data indicate that a CDK9 complex containing BRD4 but not AFF1/4 is essential for this hypoxic stress response. We demonstrate that BRD4 bromodomains (BET) are dispensable for the release of paused RNAPII at hypoxia-activated genes and that BET inhibition by JQ1 is insufficient to impair hypoxic gene response. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that the C-terminal region of BRD4 is required for Polymerase-Associated Factor-1 Complex (PAF1C) recruitment to establish an elongation-competent RNAPII complex at hypoxia-responsive genes. PAF1C disruption using a small-molecule inhibitor (iPAF1C) impairs hypoxia-induced, BRD4-mediated RNAPII release. Together, our results provide insight into potentially targetable mechanisms that control the hypoxia-responsive transcriptional elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shimaa Hassan AbdelAziz Soliman
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Marta Iwanaszko
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Bin Zheng
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Sarah Gold
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Benjamin Charles Howard
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Madhurima Das
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Ram Prosad Chakrabarty
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Navdeep S. Chandel
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Ali Shilatifard
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
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Lavaud M, Tesfaye R, Lassous L, Brounais B, Baud'huin M, Verrecchia F, Lamoureux F, Georges S, Ory B. Super-enhancers: drivers of cells' identities and cells' debacles. Epigenomics 2024; 16:681-700. [PMID: 38587919 PMCID: PMC11160454 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2023-0409] [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: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Precise spatiotemporal regulations of gene expression are essential for determining cells' fates and functions. Enhancers are cis-acting DNA elements that act as periodic transcriptional thrusters and their activities are cell type specific. Clusters of enhancers, called super-enhancers, are more densely occupied by transcriptional activators than enhancers, driving stronger expression of their target genes, which have prominent roles in establishing and maintaining cellular identities. Here we review the current knowledge on the composition and structure of super-enhancers to understand how they robustly stimulate the expression of cellular identity genes. We also review their involvement in the development of various cell types and both noncancerous and cancerous disorders, implying the therapeutic interest of targeting them to fight against various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Lavaud
- CRCI2NA, INSERM UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, Nantes University & Angers University, Medical School, Nantes, 44035, France
| | - Robel Tesfaye
- CRCI2NA, INSERM UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, Nantes University & Angers University, Medical School, Nantes, 44035, France
- Cancéropôle Grand-Ouest, Réseau Épigénétique, Medical School, Nantes, 44035, France
- EpiSAVMEN, Epigenetic consortium Pays de la Loire, France
| | - Léa Lassous
- CRCI2NA, INSERM UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, Nantes University & Angers University, Medical School, Nantes, 44035, France
| | - Bénédicte Brounais
- CRCI2NA, INSERM UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, Nantes University & Angers University, Medical School, Nantes, 44035, France
| | - Marc Baud'huin
- CRCI2NA, INSERM UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, Nantes University & Angers University, Medical School, Nantes, 44035, France
| | - Franck Verrecchia
- CRCI2NA, INSERM UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, Nantes University & Angers University, Medical School, Nantes, 44035, France
| | - François Lamoureux
- CRCI2NA, INSERM UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, Nantes University & Angers University, Medical School, Nantes, 44035, France
| | - Steven Georges
- CRCI2NA, INSERM UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, Nantes University & Angers University, Medical School, Nantes, 44035, France
| | - Benjamin Ory
- CRCI2NA, INSERM UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, Nantes University & Angers University, Medical School, Nantes, 44035, France
- Cancéropôle Grand-Ouest, Réseau Épigénétique, Medical School, Nantes, 44035, France
- EpiSAVMEN, Epigenetic consortium Pays de la Loire, France
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10
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Alfano L, Iannuzzi CA, Barone D, Forte IM, Ragosta MC, Cuomo M, Mazzarotti G, Dell'Aquila M, Altieri A, Caporaso A, Roma C, Marra L, Boffo S, Indovina P, De Laurentiis M, Giordano A. CDK9-55 guides the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) in choosing the DNA repair pathway choice. Oncogene 2024; 43:1263-1273. [PMID: 38433256 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-02982-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) contribute to genome instability, a key feature of cancer. DSBs are mainly repaired by homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). We investigated the role of an isoform of the multifunctional cyclin-dependent kinase 9, CDK9-55, in DNA repair, by generating CDK9-55-knockout HeLa clones (through CRISPR-Cas9), which showed potential HR dysfunction. A phosphoproteomic screening in these clones treated with camptothecin revealed that CDC23 (cell division cycle 23), a component of the E3-ubiquitin ligase APC/C (anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome), is a new substrate of CDK9-55, with S588 being its putative phosphorylation site. Mutated non-phosphorylatable CDC23(S588A) affected the repair pathway choice by impairing HR and favouring error-prone NHEJ. This CDK9 role should be considered when designing CDK-inhibitor-based cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Alfano
- Cell Biology and Biotherapy Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS)-Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy.
| | - Carmelina Antonella Iannuzzi
- Cell Biology and Biotherapy Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS)-Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Daniela Barone
- Cell Biology and Biotherapy Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS)-Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Iris Maria Forte
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS)-Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Maria Cuomo
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Giulio Mazzarotti
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Milena Dell'Aquila
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Angela Altieri
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Antonella Caporaso
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Cristin Roma
- Cell Biology and Biotherapy Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS)-Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Laura Marra
- Cell Biology and Biotherapy Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS)-Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Silvia Boffo
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Paola Indovina
- Sbarro Research Health Organization, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Michelino De Laurentiis
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS)-Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Antonio Giordano
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Wu Y, Sun A, Yang Q, Wang M, Tian B, Yang Q, Jia R, Chen S, Ou X, Huang J, Sun D, Zhu D, Liu M, Zhang S, Zhao XX, He Y, Wu Z, Cheng A. An alpha-herpesvirus employs host HEXIM1 to promote viral transcription. J Virol 2024; 98:e0139223. [PMID: 38363111 PMCID: PMC10949456 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01392-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Although it is widely accepted that herpesviruses utilize host RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) to transcribe viral genes, the mechanism of utilization varies significantly among herpesviruses. With the exception of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) in alpha-herpesviruses, the mechanism by which RNAPII transcribes viral genes in the remaining alpha-herpesviruses has not been reported. In this study, we investigated the transcriptional mechanism of an avian alpha-herpesvirus, Anatid herpesvirus 1 (AnHV-1). We discovered for the first time that hexamethylene-bis-acetamide-inducing protein 1 (HEXIM1), a major inhibitor of positive elongation factor B (P-TEFb), was significantly upregulated during AnHV-1 infection, and its expression was dynamically regulated throughout the progression of the disease. However, the expression level of HEXIM1 remained stable before and after HSV-1 infection. Excessive HEXIM1 assists AnHV-1 in progeny virus production, gene expression, and RNA polymerase II recruitment by promoting the formation of more inactive P-TEFb and the loss of RNAPII S2 phosphorylation. Conversely, the expression of some host survival-related genes, such as SOX8, CDK1, MYC, and ID2, was suppressed by HEXIM1 overexpression. Further investigation revealed that the C-terminus of the AnHV-1 US1 gene is responsible for the upregulation of HEXIM1 by activating its promoter but not by interacting with P-TEFb, which is the mechanism adopted by its homologs, HSV-1 ICP22. Additionally, the virus proliferation deficiency caused by US1 deletion during the early infection stage could be partially rescued by HEXIM1 overexpression, suggesting that HEXIM1 is responsible for AnHV-1 gaining transcription advantages when competing with cells. Taken together, this study revealed a novel HEXIM1-dependent AnHV-1 transcription mechanism, which has not been previously reported in herpesvirus or even DNA virus studies.IMPORTANCEHexamethylene-bis-acetamide-inducing protein 1 (HEXIM1) has been identified as an inhibitor of positive transcriptional elongation factor b associated with cancer, AIDS, myocardial hypertrophy, and inflammation. Surprisingly, no previous reports have explored the role of HEXIM1 in herpesvirus transcription. This study reveals a mechanism distinct from the currently known herpesvirus utilization of RNA polymerase II, highlighting the dependence on high HEXIM1 expression, which may be a previously unrecognized facet of the host shutoff manifested by many DNA viruses. Moreover, this discovery expands the significance of HEXIM1 in pathogen infection. It raises intriguing questions about whether other herpesviruses employ similar mechanisms to manipulate HEXIM1 and if this molecular target can be exploited to limit productive replication. Thus, this discovery not only contributes to our understanding of herpesvirus infection regulation but also holds implications for broader research on other herpesviruses, even DNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wu
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Anyang Sun
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Qiqi Yang
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Mingshu Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Bin Tian
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Qiao Yang
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Renyong Jia
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Shun Chen
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Xumin Ou
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Juan Huang
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Di Sun
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Dekang Zhu
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Mafeng Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Shaqiu Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Xin-Xin Zhao
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Yu He
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Zhen Wu
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
| | - Anchun Cheng
- Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu, China
- Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province, International Joint Research Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
- Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, China
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12
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Cisneros WJ, Walter M, Soliman SH, Simons LM, Cornish D, Halle AW, Kim EY, Wolinsky SM, Shilatifard A, Hultquist JF. Release of P-TEFb from the Super Elongation Complex promotes HIV-1 latency reversal. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.01.582881. [PMID: 38464055 PMCID: PMC10925308 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.01.582881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The persistence of HIV-1 in long-lived latent reservoirs during suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains one of the principal barriers to a functional cure. Blocks to transcriptional elongation play a central role in maintaining the latent state, and several latency reversal strategies focus on the release of positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) from sequestration by negative regulatory complexes, such as the 7SK complex and BRD4. Another major cellular reservoir of P-TEFb is in Super Elongation Complexes (SECs), which play broad regulatory roles in host gene expression. Still, it is unknown if the release of P-TEFb from SECs is a viable latency reversal strategy. Here, we demonstrate that the SEC is not required for HIV-1 replication in primary CD4+ T cells and that a small molecular inhibitor of the P-TEFb/SEC interaction (termed KL-2) increases viral transcription. KL-2 acts synergistically with other latency reversing agents (LRAs) to reactivate viral transcription in several cell line models of latency in a manner that is, at least in part, dependent on the viral Tat protein. Finally, we demonstrate that KL-2 enhances viral reactivation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from people living with HIV on suppressive ART, most notably in combination with inhibitor of apoptosis protein antagonists (IAPi). Taken together, these results suggest that the release of P-TEFb from cellular SECs may be a novel route for HIV-1 latency reactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J. Cisneros
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Miriam Walter
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Shimaa H.A. Soliman
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Lacy M. Simons
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Daphne Cornish
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ariel W. Halle
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Eun-Young Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Steven M. Wolinsky
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ali Shilatifard
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Judd F. Hultquist
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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13
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Xu H, Wu D, Xiao M, Lei Y, Lei Y, Yu X, Shi S. PP2A complex disruptor SET prompts widespread hypertranscription of growth-essential genes in the pancreatic cancer cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk6633. [PMID: 38277454 PMCID: PMC10816699 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk6633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Hyperactivation of the oncogenic transcription reflects the epigenetic plasticity of the cancer cells. Su(var)3-9, enhancer of zeste, Trithorax (SET) was described as a nuclear factor that stimulated transcription from the chromatin template. However, the mechanisms of SET-dependent transcription are unknown. Here, we found that overexpression of SET and CDK9 induced very similar transcriptome signatures in multiple cancer cell lines. SET localized in the transcription start site (TSS)-proximal regions and supported the RNA transcription. SET specifically bound the PP2A-C subunit and induced PP2A-A subunit repulsion from the C subunit, which indicated the role of SET as a PP2A-A/C complex disruptor in the TSS-proximal regions. Through blocking PP2A activity, SET assisted CDK9 to maintain Pol II CTD phosphorylation and activated mRNA transcription. Our findings position SET as a key factor that modulates chromatin PP2A activity, promoting the oncogenic transcription in the pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Mingming Xiao
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yubin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310024, China
| | - Yalan Lei
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xianjun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Si Shi
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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14
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Zhou JZ, Huang B, Pei B, Sun GW, Pawlitz MD, Zhang W, Li X, Hokynar KC, Yao F, Perera MLW, Wei S, Zheng S, Polin LA, Poulik JM, Ranki A, Krohn K, Cunningham-Rundles C, Yang N, Bhagwat AS, Yu K, Peterson P, Kisand K, Vuong BQ, Cerutti A, Chen K. A Germinal Center Checkpoint of AIRE in B Cells Limits Antibody Diversification. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.10.574926. [PMID: 38260362 PMCID: PMC10802573 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.10.574926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
In response to antigens, B cells undergo affinity maturation and class switching mediated by activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) in germinal centers (GCs) of secondary lymphoid organs, but uncontrolled AID activity can precipitate autoimmunity and cancer. The regulation of GC antibody diversification is of fundamental importance but not well understood. We found that autoimmune regulator (AIRE), the molecule essential for T cell tolerance, is expressed in GC B cells in a CD40-dependent manner, interacts with AID and negatively regulates antibody affinity maturation and class switching by inhibiting AID function. AIRE deficiency in B cells caused altered antibody repertoire, increased somatic hypermutations, elevated autoantibodies to T helper 17 effector cytokines and defective control of skin Candida albicans. These results define a GC B cell checkpoint of humoral immunity and illuminate new approaches of generating high-affinity neutralizing antibodies for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Z Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Bihui Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Bo Pei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Guang Wen Sun
- School of Applied Science, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore 738984, Singapore
| | - Michael D Pawlitz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China
| | - Xinyang Li
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China
| | - Kati C Hokynar
- Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00029, Finland
| | - Fayi Yao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | | | - Shanqiao Wei
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Simin Zheng
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
| | - Lisa A Polin
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Janet M Poulik
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Annamari Ranki
- Department of Dermatology and Allergic Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki 00250, Finland
| | - Kai Krohn
- Helsinki University Hospital Research Institute, Biomedicum, Helsinki 00290, Finland
| | | | - Naibo Yang
- Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)-Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China
- Complete Genomics Inc., Mountain View, California 94043, USA
| | - Ashok S Bhagwat
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Kefei Yu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Pärt Peterson
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu 50411, Estonia
| | - Kai Kisand
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu 50411, Estonia
| | - Bao Q Vuong
- Department of Biology, City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Andrea Cerutti
- Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Mucosal Immunology Studies Team, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Kang Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
- Lead Contact
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15
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Nandy A, Biswas D. Basic techniques associated with studying transcription elongation both in vitro and in vivo within mammalian cells. Methods 2024; 221:42-54. [PMID: 38040206 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2023.11.015] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
All cellular functions and identity of every cell are directly or indirectly depend on its gene expression. Therefore, cells control their gene expression very finely at multiple layers. Cells always fine tune its gene expression profile depending on the internal and external cues to maintain best possible cellular growth condition. Regulation of mRNA production is a major step in the control of gene expression. mRNA production primarily depends on two factors. One is the level of RNA polymerase II (Pol II hereafter) recruitment at the promoter region and another is the amount of Pol II successfully elongating through the whole gene body also known as coding region. There are several proteins (individually or as part of a complex) which control elongation of Pol II both positively or negatively. It is important to understand how different transcription factors regulate this elongation step since this knowledge is important for understanding different cellular functions both under basal and stimulus-dependent contexts. Here, we have discussed both in vitro and in vivo techniques which can be used to study the effect of different factors on Pol II-mediated transcription elongation. In vitro techniques give us valuable information about the ability of a transcription factor or a complex to exert its direct effect on the overall processes. In vivo techniques give us an understanding about the effect of a transcription factor or a complex in its native condition where functions of a transcription factor can be influenced by many other factors including its associated ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arijit Nandy
- Laboratory of Transcription Biology, Molecular Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 32, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Debabrata Biswas
- Laboratory of Transcription Biology, Molecular Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 32, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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16
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Long Q, Xiang M, Xiao L, Wang J, Guan X, Liu J, Liao C. The Biological Significance of AFF4: Promoting Transcription Elongation, Osteogenic Differentiation and Tumor Progression. Comb Chem High Throughput Screen 2024; 27:1403-1412. [PMID: 37815186 DOI: 10.2174/0113862073241079230920082056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
As a member of the AF4/FMR2 (AFF) family, AFF4 is a scaffold protein in the superelongation complex (SEC). In this mini-view, we discuss the role of AFF4 as a transcription elongation factor that mediates HIV activation and replication and stem cell osteogenic differentiation. AFF4 also promotes the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, leukemia, breast cancer, bladder cancer and other malignant tumors. The biological function of AFF4 is largely achieved through SEC assembly, regulates SRY-box transcription factor 2 (SOX2), MYC, estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1), inhibitor of differentiation 1 (ID1), c-Jun and noncanonical nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) transcription and combines with fusion in sarcoma (FUS), unique regulatory cyclins (CycT1), or mixed lineage leukemia (MLL). We explore the prospects of using AFF4 as a therapeutic in Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and malignant tumors and its potential as a stemness regulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Long
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
- Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563006, China
| | - Mingli Xiang
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
- Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563006, China
| | - Linlin Xiao
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
- Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563006, China
| | - Jiajia Wang
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
- Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563006, China
| | - Xiaoyan Guan
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
- Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563006, China
| | - Jianguo Liu
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
- Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563006, China
| | - Chengcheng Liao
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
- Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563006, China
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17
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Cornejo KG, Venegas A, Sono MH, Door M, Gutierrez-Ruiz B, Karabedian LB, Nandi SG, Dykhuizen EC, Saha RN. Activity-assembled nBAF complex mediates rapid immediate early gene transcription by regulating RNA Polymerase II productive elongation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.30.573688. [PMID: 38234780 PMCID: PMC10793463 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.30.573688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Signal-dependent RNA Polymerase II (Pol2) productive elongation is an integral component of gene transcription, including those of immediate early genes (IEGs) induced by neuronal activity. However, it remains unclear how productively elongating Pol2 overcome nucleosomal barriers. Using RNAi, three degraders, and several small molecule inhibitors, we show that the mammalian SWI/SNF complex of neurons (neuronal BAF, or nBAF) is required for activity-induced transcription of neuronal IEGs, including Arc . The nBAF complex facilitates promoter-proximal Pol2 pausing, signal-dependent Pol2 recruitment (loading), and importantly, mediates productive elongation in the gene body via interaction with the elongation complex and elongation-competent Pol2. Mechanistically, Pol2 elongation is mediated by activity-induced nBAF assembly (especially, ARID1A recruitment) and its ATPase activity. Together, our data demonstrate that the nBAF complex regulates several aspects of Pol2 transcription and reveal mechanisms underlying activity-induced Pol2 elongation. These findings may offer insights into human maladies etiologically associated with mutational interdiction of BAF functions.
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18
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Kreissig S, Windisch R, Wichmann C. Deciphering Acute Myeloid Leukemia Associated Transcription Factors in Human Primary CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells. Cells 2023; 13:78. [PMID: 38201282 PMCID: PMC10777941 DOI: 10.3390/cells13010078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Hemato-oncological diseases account for nearly 10% of all malignancies and can be classified into leukemia, lymphoma, myeloproliferative diseases, and myelodysplastic syndromes. The causes and prognosis of these disease entities are highly variable. Most entities are not permanently controllable and ultimately lead to the patient's death. At the molecular level, recurrent mutations including chromosomal translocations initiate the transformation from normal stem-/progenitor cells into malignant blasts finally floating the patient's bone marrow and blood system. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the so-called master transcription factors such as RUNX1, KMT2A, and HOX are frequently disrupted by chromosomal translocations, resulting in neomorphic oncogenic fusion genes. Triggering ex vivo expansion of primary human CD34+ stem/progenitor cells represents a distinct characteristic of such chimeric AML transcription factors. Regarding oncogenic mechanisms of AML, most studies focus on murine models. However, due to biological differences between mice and humans, findings are only partly transferable. This review focuses on the genetic manipulation of human CD34+ primary hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells derived from healthy donors to model acute myeloid leukemia cell growth. Analysis of defined single- or multi-hit human cellular AML models will elucidate molecular mechanisms of the development, maintenance, and potential molecular intervention strategies to counteract malignant human AML blast cell growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christian Wichmann
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Cell Therapeutics and Haemostaseology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany; (S.K.)
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19
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Lv X, Murphy K, Murphy Z, Getman M, Rahman N, Nakamura Y, Blanc L, Gallagher PG, Palis J, Mohandas N, Steiner LA. HEXIM1 is an essential transcription regulator during human erythropoiesis. Blood 2023; 142:2198-2215. [PMID: 37738561 PMCID: PMC10733840 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022019495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Regulation of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) activity is an essential process that governs gene expression; however, its contribution to the fundamental process of erythropoiesis remains unclear. hexamethylene bis-acetamide inducible 1 (HEXIM1) regulates RNAPII activity by controlling the location and activity of positive transcription factor β. We identified a key role for HEXIM1 in controlling erythroid gene expression and function, with overexpression of HEXIM1 promoting erythroid proliferation and fetal globin expression. HEXIM1 regulated erythroid proliferation by enforcing RNAPII pausing at cell cycle check point genes and increasing RNAPII occupancy at genes that promote cycle progression. Genome-wide profiling of HEXIM1 revealed that it was increased at both repressed and activated genes. Surprisingly, there were also genome-wide changes in the distribution of GATA-binding factor 1 (GATA1) and RNAPII. The most dramatic changes occurred at the β-globin loci, where there was loss of RNAPII and GATA1 at β-globin and gain of these factors at γ-globin. This resulted in increased expression of fetal globin, and BGLT3, a long noncoding RNA in the β-globin locus that regulates fetal globin expression. GATA1 was a key determinant of the ability of HEXIM1 to repress or activate gene expression. Genes that gained both HEXIM1 and GATA1 had increased RNAPII and increased gene expression, whereas genes that gained HEXIM1 but lost GATA1 had an increase in RNAPII pausing and decreased expression. Together, our findings reveal a central role for universal transcription machinery in regulating key aspects of erythropoiesis, including cell cycle progression and fetal gene expression, which could be exploited for therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiurui Lv
- Center for Child Health Research, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Kristin Murphy
- Center for Child Health Research, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Zachary Murphy
- Center for Child Health Research, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Michael Getman
- Center for Child Health Research, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Nabil Rahman
- Center for Child Health Research, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Yukio Nakamura
- Rikagaku Kenkyūjyo (RIKEN) BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba Campus, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Lionel Blanc
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY
| | | | - James Palis
- Center for Child Health Research, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Narla Mohandas
- Red Cell Physiology Laboratory, Lindsey F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY
| | - Laurie A. Steiner
- Center for Child Health Research, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
- Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
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20
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Kataoka N. The Nuclear Cap-Binding Complex, a multitasking binding partner of RNA polymerase II transcripts. J Biochem 2023; 175:9-15. [PMID: 37830942 PMCID: PMC10771035 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvad081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, RNAs transcribed by RNA polymerase-II receive the modification at the 5' end. This structure is called the cap structure. The cap structure has a fundamental role for translation initiation by recruiting eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4F (eIF4F). The other important mediator of the cap structure is a nuclear cap-binding protein complex (CBC). CBC consists of two proteins, which are renamed as NCBP1 and NCBP2 (previously called as CBP80/NCBP and CBP20/NIP1, respectively). This review article discusses the multiple roles CBC mediates and co-ordinates in several gene expression steps in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoyuki Kataoka
- Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Animal Resource Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Agriculture Bldg. 7A, Room 703, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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21
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Duggan NN, Dragic T, Chanda SK, Pache L. Breaking the Silence: Regulation of HIV Transcription and Latency on the Road to a Cure. Viruses 2023; 15:2435. [PMID: 38140676 PMCID: PMC10747579 DOI: 10.3390/v15122435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has brought the HIV/AIDS epidemic under control, but a curative strategy for viral eradication is still needed. The cessation of ART results in rapid viral rebound from latently infected CD4+ T cells, showing that control of viral replication alone does not fully restore immune function, nor does it eradicate viral reservoirs. With a better understanding of factors and mechanisms that promote viral latency, current approaches are primarily focused on the permanent silencing of latently infected cells ("block and lock") or reactivating HIV-1 gene expression in latently infected cells, in combination with immune restoration strategies to eliminate HIV infected cells from the host ("shock and kill"). In this review, we provide a summary of the current, most promising approaches for HIV-1 cure strategies, including an analysis of both latency-promoting agents (LPA) and latency-reversing agents (LRA) that have shown promise in vitro, ex vivo, and in human clinical trials to reduce the HIV-1 reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha N. Duggan
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Tatjana Dragic
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sumit K. Chanda
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Lars Pache
- NCI Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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22
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Jin J, Bai H, Yan H, Deng T, Li T, Xiao R, Fan L, Bai X, Ning H, Liu Z, Zhang K, Wu X, Liang K, Ma P, Gao X, Hu D. PRMT2 promotes HIV-1 latency by preventing nucleolar exit and phase separation of Tat into the Super Elongation Complex. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7274. [PMID: 37949879 PMCID: PMC10638354 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43060-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The HIV-1 Tat protein hijacks the Super Elongation Complex (SEC) to stimulate viral transcription and replication. However, the mechanisms underlying Tat activation and inactivation, which mediate HIV-1 productive and latent infection, respectively, remain incompletely understood. Here, through a targeted complementary DNA (cDNA) expression screening, we identify PRMT2 as a key suppressor of Tat activation, thus contributing to proviral latency in multiple cell line latency models and in HIV-1-infected patient CD4+ T cells. Our data reveal that the transcriptional activity of Tat is oppositely regulated by NPM1-mediated nucleolar retention and AFF4-induced phase separation in the nucleoplasm. PRMT2 preferentially methylates Tat arginine 52 (R52) to reinforce its nucleolar sequestration while simultaneously counteracting its incorporation into the SEC droplets, thereby leading to its functional inactivation to promote proviral latency. Thus, our studies unveil a central and unappreciated role for Tat methylation by PRMT2 in connecting its subnuclear distribution, liquid droplet formation, and transactivating function, which could be therapeutically targeted to eradicate latent viral reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxing Jin
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Hui Bai
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Han Yan
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Ting Deng
- Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 300060, Tianjin, China
| | - Tianyu Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Ruijing Xiao
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Lina Fan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Nankai University, 300192, Tianjin, China
| | - Xue Bai
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Hanhan Ning
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhe Liu
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Xudong Wu
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Kaiwei Liang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Ping Ma
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Nankai University, 300192, Tianjin, China.
| | - Xin Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 300020, Tianjin, China.
- Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, 301600, Tianjin, China.
| | - Deqing Hu
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China.
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23
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Martell DJ, Merens HE, Caulier A, Fiorini C, Ulirsch JC, Ietswaart R, Choquet K, Graziadei G, Brancaleoni V, Cappellini MD, Scott C, Roberts N, Proven M, Roy NBA, Babbs C, Higgs DR, Sankaran VG, Churchman LS. RNA polymerase II pausing temporally coordinates cell cycle progression and erythroid differentiation. Dev Cell 2023; 58:2112-2127.e4. [PMID: 37586368 PMCID: PMC10615711 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Controlled release of promoter-proximal paused RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) is crucial for gene regulation. However, studying RNA Pol II pausing is challenging, as pause-release factors are almost all essential. In this study, we identified heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in SUPT5H, which encodes SPT5, in individuals with β-thalassemia. During erythropoiesis in healthy human cells, cell cycle genes were highly paused as cells transition from progenitors to precursors. When the pathogenic mutations were recapitulated by SUPT5H editing, RNA Pol II pause release was globally disrupted, and as cells began transitioning from progenitors to precursors, differentiation was delayed, accompanied by a transient lag in erythroid-specific gene expression and cell cycle kinetics. Despite this delay, cells terminally differentiate, and cell cycle phase distributions normalize. Therefore, hindering pause release perturbs proliferation and differentiation dynamics at a key transition during erythropoiesis, identifying a role for RNA Pol II pausing in temporally coordinating the cell cycle and erythroid differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danya J Martell
- Department of Genetics, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hope E Merens
- Department of Genetics, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexis Caulier
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Claudia Fiorini
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jacob C Ulirsch
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Karine Choquet
- Department of Genetics, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Giovanna Graziadei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community, University of Milan, IRCCS Ca'Granda Foundation Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Brancaleoni
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community, University of Milan, IRCCS Ca'Granda Foundation Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Domenica Cappellini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community, University of Milan, IRCCS Ca'Granda Foundation Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Caroline Scott
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nigel Roberts
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Melanie Proven
- Oxford Genetics Laboratories, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Noémi B A Roy
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre and BRC/NHS Translational Molecular Diagnostics Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK; Department of Haematology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Christian Babbs
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Douglas R Higgs
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Vijay G Sankaran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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24
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Pluta AJ, Studniarek C, Murphy S, Norbury CJ. Cyclin-dependent kinases: Masters of the eukaryotic universe. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 15:e1816. [PMID: 37718413 PMCID: PMC10909489 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
A family of structurally related cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDKs) drives many aspects of eukaryotic cell function. Much of the literature in this area has considered individual members of this family to act primarily either as regulators of the cell cycle, the context in which CDKs were first discovered, or as regulators of transcription. Until recently, CDK7 was the only clear example of a CDK that functions in both processes. However, new data points to several "cell-cycle" CDKs having important roles in transcription and some "transcriptional" CDKs having cell cycle-related targets. For example, novel functions in transcription have been demonstrated for the archetypal cell cycle regulator CDK1. The increasing evidence of the overlap between these two CDK types suggests that they might play a critical role in coordinating the two processes. Here we review the canonical functions of cell-cycle and transcriptional CDKs, and provide an update on how these kinases collaborate to perform important cellular functions. We also provide a brief overview of how dysregulation of CDKs contributes to carcinogenesis, and possible treatment avenues. This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA-Protein Complexes RNA Processing > 3' End Processing RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shona Murphy
- Sir William Dunn School of PathologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Chris J. Norbury
- Sir William Dunn School of PathologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
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25
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Guan Q, Chen Z, Yu F, Liu L, Huang Y, Wei G, Chiang CM, Wong J, Li J. MYC promotes global transcription in part by controlling P-TEFb complex formation via DNA-binding independent inhibition of CDK9 SUMOylation. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2023; 66:2167-2184. [PMID: 37115490 PMCID: PMC10524883 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2281-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
MYC is an oncogenic transcription factor with a novel role in enhancing global transcription when overexpressed. However, how MYC promotes global transcription remains controversial. Here, we used a series of MYC mutants to dissect the molecular basis for MYC-driven global transcription. We found that MYC mutants deficient in DNA binding or known transcriptional activation activities can still promote global transcription and enhance serine 2 phosphorylation (Ser2P) of the RNA polymerase (Pol) II C-terminal domain (CTD), a hallmark of active elongating RNA Pol II. Two distinct regions within MYC can promote global transcription and Ser2P of Pol II CTD. The ability of various MYC mutants to promote global transcription and Ser2P correlates with their ability to suppress CDK9 SUMOylation and enhance positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) complex formation. We showed that MYC suppresses CDK9 SUMOylation by inhibiting the interaction between CDK9 and SUMO enzymes including UBC9 and PIAS1. Furthermore, MYC's activity in enhancing global transcription positively contributes to its activity in promoting cell proliferation and transformation. Together, our study demonstrates that MYC promotes global transcription, at least in part, by promoting the formation of the active P-TEFb complex via a sequence-specific DNA-binding activity-independent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Guan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Fengxian District Central Hospital-ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Zhaosu Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Fengxian District Central Hospital-ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Fang Yu
- Department of Medicine, UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Lingling Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Yuanyong Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Fengxian District Central Hospital-ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Gang Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Cheng-Ming Chiang
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacology, and Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Jiemin Wong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Fengxian District Central Hospital-ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
| | - Jiwen Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Fengxian District Central Hospital-ECNU Joint Center of Translational Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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26
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Zheng B, Gold S, Iwanaszko M, Howard BC, Wang L, Shilatifard A. Distinct layers of BRD4-PTEFb reveal bromodomain-independent function in transcriptional regulation. Mol Cell 2023; 83:2896-2910.e4. [PMID: 37442129 PMCID: PMC10527981 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
The BET family protein BRD4, which forms the CDK9-containing BRD4-PTEFb complex, is considered to be a master regulator of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pause release. Because its tandem bromodomains interact with acetylated histone lysine residues, it has long been thought that BRD4 requires these bromodomains for its recruitment to chromatin and transcriptional regulatory function. Here, using rapid depletion and genetic complementation with domain deletion mutants, we demonstrate that BRD4 bromodomains are dispensable for Pol II pause release. A minimal, bromodomain-less C-terminal BRD4 fragment containing the PTEFb-interacting C-terminal motif (CTM) is instead both necessary and sufficient to mediate Pol II pause release in the absence of full-length BRD4. Although BRD4-PTEFb can associate with chromatin through acetyl recognition, our results indicate that a distinct, active BRD4-PTEFb population functions to regulate transcription independently of bromodomain-mediated chromatin association. These findings may enable more effective pharmaceutical modulation of BRD4-PTEFb activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zheng
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Sarah Gold
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Marta Iwanaszko
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Benjamin Charles Howard
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Lu Wang
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Ali Shilatifard
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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27
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Li D, Yu W, Lai M. Towards understandings of serine/arginine-rich splicing factors. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:3181-3207. [PMID: 37655328 PMCID: PMC10465970 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Serine/arginine-rich splicing factors (SRSFs) refer to twelve RNA-binding proteins which regulate splice site recognition and spliceosome assembly during precursor messenger RNA splicing. SRSFs also participate in other RNA metabolic events, such as transcription, translation and nonsense-mediated decay, during their shuttling between nucleus and cytoplasm, making them indispensable for genome diversity and cellular activity. Of note, aberrant SRSF expression and/or mutations elicit fallacies in gene splicing, leading to the generation of pathogenic gene and protein isoforms, which highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting SRSF to treat diseases. In this review, we updated current understanding of SRSF structures and functions in RNA metabolism. Next, we analyzed SRSF-induced aberrant gene expression and their pathogenic outcomes in cancers and non-tumor diseases. The development of some well-characterized SRSF inhibitors was discussed in detail. We hope this review will contribute to future studies of SRSF functions and drug development targeting SRSFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dianyang Li
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Wenying Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Maode Lai
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Pathology, Research Unit of Intelligence Classification of Tumor Pathology and Precision Therapy, Chinese Academy of Medical Science (2019RU042), Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
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28
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Dutta RP, Kumar R, Tembhare PR, Bagal B, Swain RK, Hasan SK. Targeting transcriptional kinase of CDK7 halts proliferation of multiple myeloma cells by modulating the function of canonical NF-kB pathway and cell cycle regulatory proteins. Transl Oncol 2023; 35:101729. [PMID: 37369156 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101729] [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: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable plasma cell neoplasm. Despite several effective frontline therapeutic regimens, including Bortezomib (BTZ), relapse is almost inevitable; therefore, better therapeutic modalities to improve the outcomes are needed. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are an essential constituent of the cellular transcriptional machinery and tumors including MM are critically dependent on transcription to maintain their oncogenic state. In the present study, we explored the efficacy of THZ1, a covalent CDK7 inhibitor in MM treatment using Bortezomib resistant (H929BTZR) cells and zebrafish xenografts. THZ1 showed anti-myeloma activity in the models of MM but had no effect on healthy CD34+ cells. THZ1 suppresses phosphorylation of carboxy-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II and downregulates the transcription of BCL2 family of proteins both in H929BTZS and H929BTZR cells leading to G1/S arrest and apoptosis. THZ1 mediates inhibition of bone marrow stromal cells-induced proliferation and activation of NF-kB signaling. The data derived from zebrafish xenografts of MM demonstrate that THZ1 combined with BTZ synergistically reduces tumor growth in zebrafish embryos. Collectively, our results reveal that THZ1 alone as well as in combination with BTZ has effective anti-myeloma activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudra Prasad Dutta
- Hasan Lab, ACTREC-Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India; Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rohit Kumar
- Hasan Lab, ACTREC-Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India; Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Bhausaheb Bagal
- Adult Hematolymphoid Disease Management Group, Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India
| | - Rajeeb Kumar Swain
- Developmental Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Syed Khizer Hasan
- Hasan Lab, ACTREC-Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India.
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29
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Li G, Kang Y, Feng X, Wang G, Yuan Y, Li Z, Du L, Xu B. Dynamic changes of enhancer and super enhancer landscape in degenerated nucleus pulposus cells. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202201854. [PMID: 37012048 PMCID: PMC10070812 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory cascade and extracellular matrix remodeling have been identified as pivotal pathological factors in the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), but the mechanisms underlying the aberrant activation of transcription during nucleus pulposus (NP) cell degeneration remain elusive. Super-enhancers (SEs) are large clusters of adjacent lone enhancers, which control expression modes of cellular fate and pathogenic genes. Here, we showed that SEs underwent tremendous remodeling during NP cell degeneration and that SE-related transcripts were most abundant in inflammatory cascade and extracellular matrix remodeling processes. Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 7, a transcriptional kinase-mediated transcriptional initiation in trans-acting SE complex, constricted the transcription of inflammatory cascades, and extracellular matrix remodeling-related genes such as IL1β and MMP3 in NP cells, meanwhile, also restrained the transcription of Mmp16, Tnfrsf21, and Il11ra1 to retard IDD in rats. In summary, our findings clarify SEs control the transcription of genes associated with inflammatory cascade and extracellular matrix remodeling during NP cell degeneration and identify inhibition of the cyclin-dependent kinase 7, required for SE-mediated transcriptional activation, as a therapeutic option for IDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guowang Li
- Department of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Graduate School of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuxiang Kang
- Graduate School of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiangling Feng
- Graduate School of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Guohua Wang
- Graduate School of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yue Yuan
- Graduate School of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhenhua Li
- Department of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Lilong Du
- Department of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Baoshan Xu
- Department of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China
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30
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DeBerardine M, Booth GT, Versluis PP, Lis JT. The NELF pausing checkpoint mediates the functional divergence of Cdk9. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2762. [PMID: 37179384 PMCID: PMC10182999 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38359-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Promoter-proximal pausing by RNA Pol II is a rate-determining step in gene transcription that is hypothesized to be a prominent point at which regulatory factors act. The pausing factor NELF is known to induce and stabilize pausing, but not all kinds of pausing are NELF-mediated. Here, we find that NELF-depleted Drosophila melanogaster cells functionally recapitulate the NELF-independent pausing we previously observed in fission yeast (which lack NELF). Critically, only NELF-mediated pausing establishes a strict requirement for Cdk9 kinase activity for the release of paused Pol II into productive elongation. Upon inhibition of Cdk9, cells with NELF efficiently shutdown gene transcription, while in NELF-depleted cells, defective, non-productive transcription continues unabated. By introducing a strict checkpoint for Cdk9, the evolution of NELF was likely critical to enable increased regulation of Cdk9 in higher eukaryotes, as Cdk9 availability can be restricted to limit gene transcription without inducing wasteful, non-productive transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael DeBerardine
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Gregory T Booth
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Kanvas Biosciences, Monmouth Junction, NJ, USA
| | - Philip P Versluis
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - John T Lis
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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31
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Qiao D, Skibba M, Xu X, Brasier AR. Genomic targets of the IRE1-XBP1s pathway in mediating metabolic adaptation in epithelial plasticity. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:3650-3670. [PMID: 36772828 PMCID: PMC10164557 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad077] [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: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) is a complex cellular reprogramming event that plays a major role in tissue homeostasis. Recently we observed the unfolded protein response (UPR) triggers EMP through the inositol-requiring protein 1 (IRE1α)-X-box-binding protein 1 spliced (XBP1s) axis, enhancing glucose shunting to protein N glycosylation. To better understand the genomic targets of XBP1s, we identified its genomic targets using Cleavage Under Targets and Release Using Nuclease (CUT&RUN) of a FLAG-epitope tagged XBP1s in RSV infection. CUT&RUN identified 7086 binding sites in chromatin that were enriched in AP-1 motifs and GC-sequences. Of these binding sites, XBP1s peaks mapped to 4827 genes controlling Rho-GTPase signaling, N-linked glycosylation and ER-Golgi transport. Strikingly, XBP1s peaks were within 1 kb of transcription start sites of 2119 promoters. In addition to binding core mesenchymal transcription factors SNAI1 and ZEB1, we observed that hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) enzymes were induced and contained proximal XBP1s peaks. We demonstrate that IRE1α -XBP1s signaling is necessary and sufficient to activate core enzymes by recruiting elongation-competent phospho-Ser2 CTD modified RNA Pol II. We conclude that the IRE1α-XBP1s pathway coordinately regulates mesenchymal transcription factors and hexosamine biosynthesis in EMP by a mechanism involving recruitment of activated pSer2-Pol II to GC-rich promoters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dianhua Qiao
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Melissa Skibba
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Xiaofang Xu
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Allan R Brasier
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 1053705, USA
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32
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Camara MB, Sobeh AM, Eichhorn CD. Progress in 7SK ribonucleoprotein structural biology. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1154622. [PMID: 37051324 PMCID: PMC10083321 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1154622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The 7SK ribonucleoprotein (RNP) is a dynamic and multifunctional regulator of RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription in metazoa. Comprised of the non-coding 7SK RNA, core proteins, and numerous accessory proteins, the most well-known 7SK RNP function is the sequestration and inactivation of the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb). More recently, 7SK RNP has been shown to regulate RNAPII transcription through P-TEFb-independent pathways. Due to its fundamental role in cellular function, dysregulation has been linked with human diseases including cancers, heart disease, developmental disorders, and viral infection. Significant advances in 7SK RNP structural biology have improved our understanding of 7SK RNP assembly and function. Here, we review progress in understanding the structural basis of 7SK RNA folding, biogenesis, and RNP assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Momodou B. Camara
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Amr M. Sobeh
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Catherine D. Eichhorn
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, United States
- Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication, Lincoln, NE, United States
- *Correspondence: Catherine D. Eichhorn,
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33
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Evaluation of CDK9 Inhibition by Dinaciclib in Combination with Apoptosis Modulating izTRAIL for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11030928. [PMID: 36979907 PMCID: PMC10045754 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11030928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment options for colorectal cancer (CRC), especially in advanced stages are still insufficient. There, the discovery of Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) was a bright spot. However, most cancers show resistance toward apoptotic signals. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) plays a crucial role in cell cycle progression in most tissues. We recently demonstrated the role of CDK9 in mediating TRAIL resistance. In this work, we investigated the role of CDK9 in colorectal cancer. Immunohistochemical analysis of CDK9 expression in cancer and normal tissues of CRC specimens was performed. The effect of selective CDK9 inhibition in combination with TRAIL on CRC cells was analyzed via cell viability, colony formation, and induction of apoptosis by flow cytometry. The mechanism of action was conducted via western blotting. We now have confirmed overexpression of CDK9 in cancer tissues, with low expression associated with poorer survival in a subset of CRC patients. In-vitro, CDK9 inhibition could strongly promote TRAIL-induced cell death in TRAIL-resistant CRC cells. Mechanistically, CDK9 inhibition induced apoptosis by downregulation of antiapoptotic proteins, myeloid leukemia cell differentiation protein 1 (Mcl-1) and FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP). Overall, we identified CDK9 as a prognostic marker and combined CDK9 inhibition and TRAIL as a novel and promising therapeutic approaches for colorectal cancer.
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34
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Soliman SH, Cisneros WJ, Iwanaszko M, Aoi Y, Ganesan S, Walter M, Zeidner JM, Mishra RK, Kim EY, Wolinsky SM, Hultquist JF, Shilatifard A. Enhancing HIV-1 latency reversal through regulating the elongating RNA Pol II pause-release by a small-molecule disruptor of PAF1C. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf2468. [PMID: 36888719 PMCID: PMC9995073 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf2468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The polymerase-associated factor 1 complex (PAF1C) is a key, post-initiation transcriptional regulator of both promoter-proximal pausing and productive elongation catalyzed by RNA Pol II and is also involved in transcriptional repression of viral gene expression during human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) latency. Using a molecular docking-based compound screen in silico and global sequencing-based candidate evaluation in vivo, we identified a first-in-class, small-molecule inhibitor of PAF1C (iPAF1C) that disrupts PAF1 chromatin occupancy and induces global release of promoter-proximal paused RNA Pol II into gene bodies. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that iPAF1C treatment mimics acute PAF1 subunit depletion and impairs RNA Pol II pausing at heat shock-down-regulated genes. Furthermore, iPAF1C enhances the activity of diverse HIV-1 latency reversal agents both in cell line latency models and in primary cells from persons living with HIV-1. In sum, this study demonstrates that efficient disruption of PAF1C by a first-in-class, small-molecule inhibitor may have therapeutic potential for improving current HIV-1 latency reversal strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shimaa H. A. Soliman
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - William J. Cisneros
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Marta Iwanaszko
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Yuki Aoi
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Sheetal Ganesan
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Miriam Walter
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jacob M. Zeidner
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Rama K. Mishra
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Eun-Young Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Steven M. Wolinsky
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Judd F. Hultquist
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Havey Institute for Global Health, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ali Shilatifard
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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35
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Martell DJ, Merens HE, Fiorini C, Caulier A, Ulirsch JC, Ietswaart R, Choquet K, Graziadei G, Brancaleoni V, Cappellini MD, Scott C, Roberts N, Proven M, Roy NB, Babbs C, Higgs DR, Sankaran VG, Churchman LS. RNA Polymerase II pausing temporally coordinates cell cycle progression and erythroid differentiation. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.03.03.23286760. [PMID: 36945604 PMCID: PMC10029049 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.03.23286760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The controlled release of promoter-proximal paused RNA polymerase II (Pol II) into productive elongation is a major step in gene regulation. However, functional analysis of Pol II pausing is difficult because factors that regulate pause release are almost all essential. In this study, we identified heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in SUPT5H , which encodes SPT5, in individuals with β-thalassemia unlinked to HBB mutations. During erythropoiesis in healthy human cells, cell cycle genes were highly paused at the transition from progenitors to precursors. When the pathogenic mutations were recapitulated by SUPT5H editing, Pol II pause release was globally disrupted, and the transition from progenitors to precursors was delayed, marked by a transient lag in erythroid-specific gene expression and cell cycle kinetics. Despite this delay, cells terminally differentiate, and cell cycle phase distributions normalize. Therefore, hindering pause release perturbs proliferation and differentiation dynamics at a key transition during erythropoiesis, revealing a role for Pol II pausing in the temporal coordination between the cell cycle and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danya J Martell
- Harvard University, Department of Genetics, Boston, MA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Hope E Merens
- Harvard University, Department of Genetics, Boston, MA
| | - Claudia Fiorini
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Alexis Caulier
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Jacob C Ulirsch
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | | | | | - Giovanna Graziadei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community, University of Milan, IRCCS Ca'Granda Foundation Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Brancaleoni
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community, University of Milan, IRCCS Ca'Granda Foundation Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Domenica Cappellini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community, University of Milan, IRCCS Ca'Granda Foundation Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Caroline Scott
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nigel Roberts
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Melanie Proven
- Oxford Genetics Laboratories, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Noémi Ba Roy
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre and BRC/NHS Translational Molecular Diagnostics Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
- Department of Haematology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Christian Babbs
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Douglas R Higgs
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Vijay G Sankaran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
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36
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Guo C, Zhang Y, Shuai S, Sigbessia A, Hao S, Xie P, Jiang X, Luo Z, Lin C. The super elongation complex (SEC) mediates phase transition of SPT5 during transcriptional pause release. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e55699. [PMID: 36629390 PMCID: PMC9986819 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202255699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Release of promoter-proximally paused RNA Pol II into elongation is a tightly regulated and rate-limiting step in metazoan gene transcription. However, the biophysical mechanism underlying pause release remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the pausing and elongation regulator SPT5 undergoes phase transition during transcriptional pause release. SPT5 per se is prone to form clusters. The disordered domain in SPT5 is required for pause release and gene activation. During early elongation, the super elongation complex (SEC) induces SPT5 transition into elongation droplets. Depletion of SEC increases SPT5 pausing clusters. Furthermore, disease-associated SEC mutations impair phase properties of elongation droplets and transcription. Our study suggests that SEC-mediated SPT5 phase transition might be essential for pause release and early elongation and that aberrant phase properties could contribute to transcription abnormality in diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghao Guo
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
- Co‐innovation Center of NeuroregenerationNantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Yadi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Shimin Shuai
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Abire Sigbessia
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Shaohua Hao
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Peng Xie
- Southeast University‐Allen Institute Joint Center, Institute for Brain and IntelligenceSoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xu Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Zhuojuan Luo
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
- Co‐innovation Center of NeuroregenerationNantong UniversityNantongChina
- Shenzhen Research InstituteSoutheast UniversityShenzhenChina
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Chengqi Lin
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
- Co‐innovation Center of NeuroregenerationNantong UniversityNantongChina
- Shenzhen Research InstituteSoutheast UniversityShenzhenChina
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
- Key Laboratory of Technical Evaluation of Fertility Regulation of Non‐human primate, Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children's HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhouChina
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37
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Akcan TS, Vilov S, Heinig M. Predictive model of transcriptional elongation control identifies trans regulatory factors from chromatin signatures. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:1608-1624. [PMID: 36727445 PMCID: PMC9976927 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Promoter-proximal Polymerase II (Pol II) pausing is a key rate-limiting step for gene expression. DNA and RNA-binding trans-acting factors regulating the extent of pausing have been identified. However, we lack a quantitative model of how interactions of these factors determine pausing, therefore the relative importance of implicated factors is unknown. Moreover, previously unknown regulators might exist. Here we address this gap with a machine learning model that accurately predicts the extent of promoter-proximal Pol II pausing from large-scale genome and transcriptome binding maps and gene annotation and sequence composition features. We demonstrate high accuracy and generalizability of the model by validation on an independent cell line which reveals the model's cell line agnostic character. Model interpretation in light of prior knowledge about molecular functions of regulatory factors confirms the interconnection of pausing with other RNA processing steps. Harnessing underlying feature contributions, we assess the relative importance of each factor, quantify their predictive effects and systematically identify previously unknown regulators of pausing. We additionally identify 16 previously unknown 7SK ncRNA interacting RNA-binding proteins predictive of pausing. Our work provides a framework to further our understanding of the regulation of the critical early steps in transcriptional elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toray S Akcan
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.,Department of Computer Science, TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sergey Vilov
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Heinig
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.,Department of Computer Science, TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Munich Heart Association, Partner Site Munich, 10785 Berlin, Germany
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Targeting Human Proteins for Antiviral Drug Discovery and Repurposing Efforts: A Focus on Protein Kinases. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020568. [PMID: 36851782 PMCID: PMC9966946 DOI: 10.3390/v15020568] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the great technological and medical advances in fighting viral diseases, new therapies for most of them are still lacking, and existing antivirals suffer from major limitations regarding drug resistance and a limited spectrum of activity. In fact, most approved antivirals are directly acting antiviral (DAA) drugs, which interfere with viral proteins and confer great selectivity towards their viral targets but suffer from resistance and limited spectrum. Nowadays, host-targeted antivirals (HTAs) are on the rise, in the drug discovery and development pipelines, in academia and in the pharmaceutical industry. These drugs target host proteins involved in the virus life cycle and are considered promising alternatives to DAAs due to their broader spectrum and lower potential for resistance. Herein, we discuss an important class of HTAs that modulate signal transduction pathways by targeting host kinases. Kinases are considered key enzymes that control virus-host interactions. We also provide a synopsis of the antiviral drug discovery and development pipeline detailing antiviral kinase targets, drug types, therapeutic classes for repurposed drugs, and top developing organizations. Furthermore, we detail the drug design and repurposing considerations, as well as the limitations and challenges, for kinase-targeted antivirals, including the choice of the binding sites, physicochemical properties, and drug combinations.
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Wagner EJ, Tong L, Adelman K. Integrator is a global promoter-proximal termination complex. Mol Cell 2023; 83:416-427. [PMID: 36634676 PMCID: PMC10866050 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Integrator is a metazoan-specific protein complex capable of inducing termination at all RNAPII-transcribed loci. Integrator recognizes paused, promoter-proximal RNAPII and drives premature termination using dual enzymatic activities: an endonuclease that cleaves nascent RNA and a protein phosphatase that removes stimulatory phosphorylation associated with RNAPII pause release and productive elongation. Recent breakthroughs in structural biology have revealed the overall architecture of Integrator and provided insights into how multiple Integrator modules are coordinated to elicit termination effectively. Furthermore, functional genomics and biochemical studies have unraveled how Integrator-mediated termination impacts protein-coding and noncoding loci. Here, we review the current knowledge about the assembly and activity of Integrator and describe the role of Integrator in gene regulation, highlighting the importance of this complex for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Wagner
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
| | - Liang Tong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Karen Adelman
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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40
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Fujinaga K, Huang F, Peterlin BM. P-TEFb: The master regulator of transcription elongation. Mol Cell 2023; 83:393-403. [PMID: 36599353 PMCID: PMC9898187 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) is composed of cyclins T1 or T2 and cyclin-dependent kinase 9 that regulate the elongation phase of transcription by RNA polymerase II. By antagonizing negative elongation factors and phosphorylating the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II, P-TEFb facilitates the elongation and co-transcriptional processing of nascent transcripts. This step is critical for the expression of most eukaryotic genes. In growing cells, P-TEFb is regulated negatively by its reversible associations with HEXIM1/2 in the 7SK snRNP and positively by a number of transcription factors, as well as the super elongation complex. In resting cells, P-TEFb falls apart, and cyclin T1 is degraded by the proteasome. This complex regulation of P-TEFb has evolved for the precise temporal and spatial regulation of gene expression in the organism. Its dysregulation contributes to inflammatory and neoplastic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koh Fujinaga
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Fang Huang
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - B Matija Peterlin
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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41
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Yang Z, Liu Y, Cheng Q, Chen T. Targeting super enhancers for liver disease: a review. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14780. [PMID: 36726725 PMCID: PMC9885865 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Super enhancers (SEs) refer to the ultralong regions of a gene accompanied by multiple transcription factors and cofactors and strongly drive the expression of cell-type-related genes. Recent studies have demonstrated that SEs play crucial roles in regulating gene expression related to cell cycle progression and transcription. Aberrant activation of SEs is closely related to the occurrence and development of liver disease. Liver disease, especially liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), constitutes a major class of diseases that seriously endanger human health. Currently, therapeutic strategies targeting SEs can dramatically prevent disease progression and improve the prognosis of animal models. The associated new approaches to the treatment of related liver disease are relatively new and need systematic elaboration. Objectives In this review, we elaborate on the features of SEs and discuss their function in liver disease. Additionally, we review their application prospects in clinical practice in the future. The article would be of interest to hepatologists, molecular biologists, clinicians, and all those concerned with targeted therapy and prognosis of liver disease. Methodology We searched three bibliographic databases (Web of Science Core Collection, Embase, PubMed) from 01/1981 to 06/2022 for peer-reviewed scientific publications focused on (1) gene treatment of liver disease; (2) current status of SE research; and (3) targeting SEs for liver disease. We included English language original studies only. Results The number of published studies considering the role of enhancers in liver disease is considerable. Since SEs were just defined in 2013, the corresponding data on SEs are scarce: approximately 50 papers found in bibliographic databases on the correlation between enhancers (or SEs) and liver disease. Remarkably, half of these papers were published in the past three years, indicating the growing interest of the scientific community in this issue. Studies have shown that treatments targeting components of SEs can improve outcomes in liver disease in animal and clinical trials. Conclusions The treatment of liver disease is facing a bottleneck, and new treatments are needed. Therapeutic regimens targeting SEs have an important role in the treatment of liver disease. However, given the off-target effect of gene therapy and the lack of clinical trials, the available experimental data are still fragmented and controversial.
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Walker FM, Sobral LM, Danis E, Sanford B, Balakrishnan I, Wang D, Pierce A, Karam SD, Serkova NJ, Foreman NK, Venkataraman S, Dowell R, Vibhakar R, Dahl NA. Rapid PTEFb-dependent transcriptional reorganization underpins the glioma adaptive response to radiotherapy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.24.525424. [PMID: 36747867 PMCID: PMC9900817 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.24.525424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic regulation of gene expression is fundamental for cellular adaptation to exogenous stressors. PTEFb-mediated pause-release of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is a conserved regulatory mechanism for synchronous transcriptional induction in response to heat shock, but this pro-survival role has not been examined in the applied context of cancer therapy. Using model systems of pediatric high-grade glioma, we show that rapid genome-wide reorganization of active chromatin facilitates PTEFb-mediated nascent transcriptional induction within hours of exposure to therapeutic ionizing radiation. Concurrent inhibition of PTEFb disrupts this chromatin reorganization and blunts transcriptional induction, abrogating key adaptive programs such as DNA damage repair and cell cycle regulation. This combination demonstrates a potent, synergistic therapeutic potential agnostic of glioma subtype, leading to a marked induction of tumor cell apoptosis and prolongation of xenograft survival. These studies reveal a central role for PTEFb underpinning the early adaptive response to radiotherapy, opening new avenues for combinatorial treatment in these lethal malignancies.
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43
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Kitamura H, Sukegawa S, Matsuda K, Tanimoto K, Kobayakawa T, Takahashi K, Tamamura H, Tsuchiya K, Gatanaga H, Maeda K, Takeuchi H. 4-phenylquinoline-8-amine induces HIV-1 reactivation and apoptosis in latently HIV-1 infected cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 641:139-147. [PMID: 36527748 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Combinational antiretroviral therapy (cART) dramatically suppresses the viral load to undetectable levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. However, HIV-1 reservoirs in CD4+T cells and myeloid cells, which can evade cART and host antiviral immune systems, are still significant obstacles to HIV-1 eradication. The "Shock and Kill" approach using latently-reversing agents (LRAs) is therefore currently developing strategies for effective HIV-1 reactivation from latency and inducing cell death. Here, we performed small-molecular chemical library screening with monocytic HIV-1 latently-infected model cells, THP-1 Nluc #225, and identified 4-phenylquinoline-8-amine (PQA) as a novel LRA candidate. PQA induced efficient HIV-1 reactivation in combination with PKC agonists including Prostratin and showed a similar tendency for HIV-1 activation in primary HIV-1 reservoirs. Furthermore, PQA induced killing of HIV-1 latently-infected cells. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed PQA had different functional mechanisms from PKC agonists, and oxidative stress-inducible genes including DDIT3 or CTSD were only involved in PQA-mediated cell death. In summary, PQA is a potential LRA lead compound that exerts novel functions related to HIV-1 activation and apoptosis-mediated cell death to eliminate HIV-1 reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruki Kitamura
- Department of Molecular Virology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sayaka Sukegawa
- Department of Molecular Virology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan; Institute of Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kouki Matsuda
- AIDS Clinical Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Japan Foundation for AIDS Prevention, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kousuke Tanimoto
- Institute of Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuya Kobayakawa
- Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuho Takahashi
- Department of Molecular Virology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Tamamura
- Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kiyoto Tsuchiya
- AIDS Clinical Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Gatanaga
- AIDS Clinical Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji Maeda
- Division of Antiviral Therapy, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
| | - Hiroaki Takeuchi
- Department of Molecular Virology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan; Institute of Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
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44
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Skouras P, Markouli M, Strepkos D, Piperi C. Advances on Epigenetic Drugs for Pediatric Brain Tumors. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:1519-1535. [PMID: 36154607 PMCID: PMC10472812 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666220922150456] [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] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Pediatric malignant brain tumors represent the most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths in childhood. The therapeutic scheme of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy has improved patient management, but with minimal progress in patients' prognosis. Emerging molecular targets and mechanisms have revealed novel approaches for pediatric brain tumor therapy, enabling personalized medical treatment. Advances in the field of epigenetic research and their interplay with genetic changes have enriched our knowledge of the molecular heterogeneity of these neoplasms and have revealed important genes that affect crucial signaling pathways involved in tumor progression. The great potential of epigenetic therapy lies mainly in the widespread location and the reversibility of epigenetic alterations, proposing a wide range of targeting options, including the possible combination of chemoand immunotherapy, significantly increasing their efficacy. Epigenetic drugs, including inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases, histone deacetylases and demethylases, are currently being tested in clinical trials on pediatric brain tumors. Additional novel epigenetic drugs include protein and enzyme inhibitors that modulate epigenetic modification pathways, such as Bromodomain and Extraterminal (BET) proteins, Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 9 (CDK9), AXL, Facilitates Chromatin Transcription (FACT), BMI1, and CREB Binding Protein (CBP) inhibitors, which can be used either as standalone or in combination with current treatment approaches. In this review, we discuss recent progress on epigenetic drugs that could possibly be used against the most common malignant tumors of childhood, such as medulloblastomas, high-grade gliomas and ependymomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Skouras
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Mariam Markouli
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Strepkos
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Christina Piperi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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45
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Eischer N, Arnold M, Mayer A. Emerging roles of BET proteins in transcription and co-transcriptional RNA processing. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 14:e1734. [PMID: 35491403 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) gives rise to all nuclear protein-coding and a large set of non-coding RNAs, and is strictly regulated and coordinated with RNA processing. Bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family proteins including BRD2, BRD3, and BRD4 have been implicated in the regulation of Pol II transcription in mammalian cells. However, only recent technological advances have allowed the analysis of direct functions of individual BET proteins with high precision in cells. These studies shed new light on the molecular mechanisms of transcription control by BET proteins challenging previous longstanding views. The most studied BET protein, BRD4, emerges as a master regulator of transcription elongation with roles also in coupling nascent transcription with RNA processing. In contrast, BRD2 is globally required for the formation of transcriptional boundaries to restrict enhancer activity to nearby genes. Although these recent findings suggest non-redundant functions of BRD4 and BRD2 in Pol II transcription, more research is needed for further clarification. Little is known about the roles of BRD3. Here, we illuminate experimental work that has initially linked BET proteins to Pol II transcription in mammalian cells, outline main methodological breakthroughs that have strongly advanced the understanding of BET protein functions, and discuss emerging roles of individual BET proteins in transcription and transcription-coupled RNA processing. Finally, we propose an updated model for the function of BRD4 in transcription and co-transcriptional RNA maturation. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > 3' End Processing RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Eischer
- Otto-Warburg-Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mirjam Arnold
- Otto-Warburg-Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Mayer
- Otto-Warburg-Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
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Abstract
C-Myc overexpression is a common finding in pancreatic cancer and predicts the aggressive behavior of cancer cells. It binds to the promoter of different genes, thereby regulating their transcription. C-Myc is downstream of KRAS and interacts with several oncogenic and proliferative pathways in pancreatic cancer. C-Myc enhances aerobic glycolysis in cancer cells and regulates glutamate biosynthesis from glutamine. It provides enough energy for cancer cells' metabolism and sufficient substrate for the synthesis of organic molecules. C-Myc overexpression is associated with chemoresistance, intra-tumor angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metastasis in pancreatic cancer. Despite its title, c-Myc is not "undruggable" and recent studies unveiled that it can be targeted, directly or indirectly. Small molecules that accelerate c-Myc ubiquitination and degradation have been effective in preclinical studies. Small molecules that hinder c-Myc-MAX heterodimerization or c-Myc/MAX/DNA complex formation can functionally inhibit c-Myc. In addition, c-Myc can be targeted through transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moein Ala
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
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47
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Asamitsu K, Hirokawa T, Okamoto T. Identification of a novel CDK9 inhibitor targeting the intramolecular hidden cavity of CDK9 induced by Tat binding. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277024. [PMCID: PMC9665388 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 transcription is specifically augmented by a transcriptional activator complex composed of Tat, an HIV-1-encoded activator, and the host transcription elongation factor P-TEFb, which is composed of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) and cyclin T1. Several observations suggest that P-TEFb is an attractive anti-HIV-1 drug target. However, the long-term cytotoxicity of CDK9 inhibitors hinders their widespread use in HIV-1 therapy. Thus, novel and safe inhibitors are sorely needed. By performing molecular dynamics simulations of the 3D structure of Tat/P-TEFb, we previously identified a unique cavity structure of CDK9, the CDK9 hidden cavity, that is specifically induced by Tat binding. Here, we attempted to identify compounds that fit this cavity and inhibit CDK9 activity by in silico screening. We identified compounds that could inhibit CDK9 activity. One of such compound, 127, showed the strongest inhibitory activity against CDK9. Interestingly, it also inhibited CDK6 to a similar extent. We inspected the amino acid sequence and structural properties of the CDK9 hidden cavity to determine whether it is conserved in other CDKs, such as CDK6. The Ile61, comprising the center of the CDK9 hidden cavity, appears to be crucial for its kinase activity, thus indicating that the identification of the CDK9 hidden cavity may provide vital information for the development of novel CDK9 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaori Asamitsu
- Department of Neurocognitive Science, Institute of Brain Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
- * E-mail: (KA); (TH)
| | - Takatsugu Hirokawa
- Division of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaragi, Japan
- Transborder Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaragi, Japan
- * E-mail: (KA); (TH)
| | - Takashi Okamoto
- Department of Neurocognitive Science, Institute of Brain Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
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48
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Liu Y, Li Q, Alikarami F, Barrett DR, Mahdavi L, Li H, Tang S, Khan TA, Michino M, Hill C, Song L, Yang L, Li Y, Pokharel SP, Stamford AW, Liverton N, Renzetti LM, Taylor S, Watt GF, Ladduwahetty T, Kargman S, Meinke PT, Foley MA, Shi J, Li H, Carroll M, Chen CW, Gardini A, Maillard I, Huggins DJ, Bernt KM, Wan L. Small-Molecule Inhibition of the Acyl-Lysine Reader ENL as a Strategy against Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancer Discov 2022; 12:2684-2709. [PMID: 36053276 PMCID: PMC9627135 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-21-1307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The chromatin reader eleven-nineteen leukemia (ENL) has been identified as a critical dependency in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but its therapeutic potential remains unclear. We describe a potent and orally bioavailable small-molecule inhibitor of ENL, TDI-11055, which displaces ENL from chromatin by blocking its YEATS domain interaction with acylated histones. Cell lines and primary patient samples carrying MLL rearrangements or NPM1 mutations are responsive to TDI-11055. A CRISPR-Cas9-mediated mutagenesis screen uncovers an ENL mutation that confers resistance to TDI-11055, validating the compound's on-target activity. TDI-11055 treatment rapidly decreases chromatin occupancy of ENL-associated complexes and impairs transcription elongation, leading to suppression of key oncogenic gene expression programs and induction of differentiation. In vivo treatment with TDI-11055 blocks disease progression in cell line- and patient-derived xenograft models of MLL-rearranged and NPM1-mutated AML. Our results establish ENL displacement from chromatin as a promising epigenetic therapy for molecularly defined AML subsets and support the clinical translation of this approach. SIGNIFICANCE AML is a poor-prognosis disease for which new therapeutic approaches are desperately needed. We developed an orally bioavailable inhibitor of ENL, demonstrated its potent efficacy in MLL-rearranged and NPM1-mutated AML, and determined its mechanisms of action. These biological and chemical insights will facilitate both basic research and clinical translation. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2483.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiman Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Qinglan Li
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Fatemeh Alikarami
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Declan R. Barrett
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Leila Mahdavi
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Hangpeng Li
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sylvia Tang
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Tanweer A. Khan
- Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, New York, New York
| | - Mayako Michino
- Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, New York, New York
| | - Connor Hill
- Wistar Institute, Gene Expression and Regulation Program, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania
| | - Lele Song
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Lu Yang
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, and Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | | | - Nigel Liverton
- Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, New York, New York
| | | | - Simon Taylor
- Pharmaron Drug Discovery, Pharmaron UK, West Hill Innovation Park, Hertford Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Gillian F. Watt
- Pharmaron Drug Discovery, Pharmaron UK, West Hill Innovation Park, Hertford Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Tammy Ladduwahetty
- Pharmaron Drug Discovery, Pharmaron UK, West Hill Innovation Park, Hertford Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Stacia Kargman
- Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, New York, New York.,Bridge Medicines, New York, New York
| | - Peter T. Meinke
- Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, New York, New York.,Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Michael A. Foley
- Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, New York, New York
| | - Junwei Shi
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Haitao Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, and Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Martin Carroll
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Chun-Wei Chen
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Alessandro Gardini
- Wistar Institute, Gene Expression and Regulation Program, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ivan Maillard
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - David J. Huggins
- Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, New York, New York.,Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Kathrin M. Bernt
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Corresponding Authors: Liling Wan, University of Pennsylvania, BRB II/III, RM751, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Phone: 215-898-3116; E-mail: ; and Kathrin M. Bernt, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Colket Translational Research Center, Room 3064, 3501 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Phone: 215-370-3171; E-mail:
| | - Liling Wan
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Corresponding Authors: Liling Wan, University of Pennsylvania, BRB II/III, RM751, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Phone: 215-898-3116; E-mail: ; and Kathrin M. Bernt, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Colket Translational Research Center, Room 3064, 3501 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Phone: 215-370-3171; E-mail:
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Boikova A, Bywater MJ, Quaife-Ryan GA, Straube J, Thompson L, Ascanelli C, Littlewood TD, Evan GI, Hudson JE, Wilson CH. HRas and Myc synergistically induce cell cycle progression and apoptosis of murine cardiomyocytes. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:948281. [PMID: 36337898 PMCID: PMC9630352 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.948281] [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: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim Adult mammalian cardiomyocytes are incapable of significant proliferation, limiting regeneration after myocardial injury. Overexpression of the transcription factor Myc has been shown to drive proliferation in the adult mouse heart, but only when combined with Cyclin T1. As constitutive HRas activity has been shown to stabilise Cyclin T1 in vivo, we aimed to establish whether Myc and HRas could also act cooperatively to induce proliferation in adult mammalian cardiomyocytes in vivo. Methods and results Using a genetically modified mouse model, we confirmed that constitutive HRas activity (HRas G 12 V ) increased Cyclin T1 expression. HRas G 12 V and constitutive Myc expression together co-operate to drive cell-cycle progression of adult mammalian cardiomyocytes. However, stimulation of endogenous cardiac proliferation by the ectopic expression of HRas G 12 V and Myc also induced cardiomyocyte death, while Myc and Cyclin T1 expression did not. Conclusion Co-expression of Cyclin T1 and Myc may be a therapeutically tractable approach for cardiomyocyte neo-genesis post injury, while cell death induced by HRas G 12 V and Myc expression likely limits this option as a regenerative therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Boikova
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Megan J. Bywater
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Jasmin Straube
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Lucy Thompson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Camilla Ascanelli
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Gerard I. Evan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - James E. Hudson
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Catherine H. Wilson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Kim HI, Kim GN, Yu KL, Park SH, You JC. Identification of Novel Nucleocapsid Chimeric Proteins Inhibiting HIV-1 Replication. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012340. [PMID: 36293198 PMCID: PMC9604505 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) is an essential factor that induces transcription elongation and is also negatively regulated by the cellular factor HEXIM1. Previously, the chimeric protein HEXIM1-Tat (HT) was demonstrated to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV)-1 transcription. In this study, we attempted to develop an improved antiviral protein that specifically binds viral RNA (vRNA) by fusing HT to HIV-1 nucleocapsid (NC). Thus, we synthesized NC-HEXIM1-Tat (NHT) and HEXIM1-Tat-NC (HTN). NHT and HTN inhibited virus proliferation more effectively than HT, and they did not attenuate the function of HT. Notably, NHT and HTN inhibited the infectivity of the progeny virus, whereas HT had no such effect. NHT and HTN selectively and effectively interacted with vRNA and inhibited the proper packaging of the HIV-1 genome. Taken together, our results illustrated that the novel NC-fused chimeric proteins NHT and HTN display novel mechanisms of anti-HIV effects by inhibiting both HIV-1 transcription and packaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hae-In Kim
- National Research Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Ga-Na Kim
- National Research Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Kyung-Lee Yu
- National Research Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Seong-Hyun Park
- Graduate Program in Bio-industrial Engineering, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, The Yonsei University, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Ji Chang You
- National Research Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Korea
- Correspondence:
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