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Zhou X, Zhou L, Qian F, Chen J, Zhang Y, Yu Z, Zhang J, Yang Y, Li Y, Song C, Wang Y, Shang D, Dong L, Zhu J, Li C, Wang Q. TFTG: A comprehensive database for human transcription factors and their targets. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:1877-1885. [PMID: 38707542 PMCID: PMC11068477 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) are major contributors to gene transcription, especially in controlling cell-specific gene expression and disease occurrence and development. Uncovering the relationship between TFs and their target genes is critical to understanding the mechanism of action of TFs. With the development of high-throughput sequencing techniques, a large amount of TF-related data has accumulated, which can be used to identify their target genes. In this study, we developed TFTG (Transcription Factor and Target Genes) database (http://tf.liclab.net/TFTG), which aimed to provide a large number of available human TF-target gene resources by multiple strategies, besides performing a comprehensive functional and epigenetic annotations and regulatory analyses of TFs. We identified extensive available TF-target genes by collecting and processing TF-associated ChIP-seq datasets, perturbation RNA-seq datasets and motifs. We also obtained experimentally confirmed relationships between TF and target genes from available resources. Overall, the target genes of TFs were obtained through integrating the relevant data of various TFs as well as fourteen identification strategies. Meanwhile, TFTG was embedded with user-friendly search, analysis, browsing, downloading and visualization functions. TFTG is designed to be a convenient resource for exploring human TF-target gene regulations, which will be useful for most users in the TF and gene expression regulation research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyuan Zhou
- The First Affiliated Hospital & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Multi-omics And Artificial Intelligence of Cardiovascular Diseases, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
- College of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data For Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Liwei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fengcui Qian
- The First Affiliated Hospital & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Multi-omics And Artificial Intelligence of Cardiovascular Diseases, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences & MOE Key Lab of Rare Pediatric Diseases, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Cardiovascular Lab of Big Data and Imaging Artificial Intelligence, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Jiaxin Chen
- School of Medical Informatics, Daqing Campus, Harbin Medical University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Yuexin Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Cardiovascular Lab of Big Data and Imaging Artificial Intelligence, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Zhengmin Yu
- School of Computer, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- School of Medical Informatics, Daqing Campus, Harbin Medical University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Yongsan Yang
- School of Medical Informatics, Daqing Campus, Harbin Medical University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Yanyu Li
- School of Medical Informatics, Daqing Campus, Harbin Medical University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Chao Song
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Cardiovascular Lab of Big Data and Imaging Artificial Intelligence, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Yuezhu Wang
- School of Medical Informatics, Daqing Campus, Harbin Medical University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Desi Shang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Cardiovascular Lab of Big Data and Imaging Artificial Intelligence, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Longlong Dong
- School of Medical Informatics, Daqing Campus, Harbin Medical University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Jiang Zhu
- School of Medical Informatics, Daqing Campus, Harbin Medical University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Chunquan Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Multi-omics And Artificial Intelligence of Cardiovascular Diseases, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
- Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Research and Prevention, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences & MOE Key Lab of Rare Pediatric Diseases, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
- School of Computer, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Cardiovascular Lab of Big Data and Imaging Artificial Intelligence, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Qiuyu Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Cardiovascular Lab of Big Data and Imaging Artificial Intelligence, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
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2
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Lu Y, Berenson A, Lane R, Guelin I, Li Z, Chen Y, Shah S, Yin M, Soto-Ugaldi LF, Fiszbein A, Fuxman Bass JI. A large-scale cancer-specific protein-DNA interaction network. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202402641. [PMID: 39013578 PMCID: PMC11252446 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202402641] [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: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer development and progression are generally associated with gene dysregulation, often resulting from changes in the transcription factor (TF) sequence or expression. Identifying key TFs involved in cancer gene regulation provides a framework for potential new therapeutics. This study presents a large-scale cancer gene TF-DNA interaction network, as well as an extensive promoter clone resource for future studies. Highly connected TFs bind to promoters of genes associated with either good or poor cancer prognosis, suggesting that strategies aimed at shifting gene expression balance between these two prognostic groups may be inherently complex. However, we identified potential for oncogene-targeted therapeutics, with half of the tested oncogenes being potentially repressed by influencing specific activators or bifunctional TFs. Finally, we investigate the role of intrinsically disordered regions within the key cancer-related TF ESR1 in DNA binding and transcriptional activity, and found that these regions can have complex trade-offs in TF function. Altogether, our study broadens our knowledge of the TFs involved in cancer gene regulation and provides a valuable resource for future studies and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunwei Lu
- https://ror.org/05qwgg493 Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anna Berenson
- https://ror.org/05qwgg493 Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- https://ror.org/05qwgg493 Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryan Lane
- https://ror.org/05qwgg493 Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Isabelle Guelin
- https://ror.org/05qwgg493 Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhaorong Li
- https://ror.org/05qwgg493 Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yilin Chen
- https://ror.org/05qwgg493 Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sakshi Shah
- https://ror.org/05qwgg493 Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Meimei Yin
- https://ror.org/05qwgg493 Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Ana Fiszbein
- https://ror.org/05qwgg493 Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- https://ror.org/05qwgg493 Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- https://ror.org/05qwgg493 Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Juan Ignacio Fuxman Bass
- https://ror.org/05qwgg493 Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- https://ror.org/05qwgg493 Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- https://ror.org/05qwgg493 Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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3
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Xuan H, Li Y, Liu Y, Zhao J, Chen J, Shi N, Zhou Y, Pi L, Li S, Xu G, Yang H. The H1/H5 domain contributes to OsTRBF2 phase separation and gene repression during rice development. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:3787-3808. [PMID: 38976557 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) tightly control plant development by regulating gene expression. The phase separation of TFs plays a vital role in gene regulation. Many plant TFs have the potential to form phase-separated protein condensates; however, little is known about which TFs are regulated by phase separation and how it affects their roles in plant development. Here, we report that the rice (Oryza sativa) single Myb TF TELOMERE REPEAT-BINDING FACTOR 2 (TRBF2) is highly expressed in fast-growing tissues at the seedling stage. TRBF2 is a transcriptional repressor that binds to the transcriptional start site of thousands of genes. Mutation of TRBF2 leads to pleiotropic developmental defects and misexpression of many genes. TRBF2 displays characteristics consistent with phase separation in vivo and forms phase-separated condensates in vitro. The H1/H5 domain of TRBF2 plays a crucial role in phase separation, chromatin targeting, and gene repression. Replacing the H1/H5 domain by a phase-separated intrinsically disordered region from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) AtSERRATE partially recovers the function of TRBF2 in gene repression in vitro and in transgenic plants. We also found that TRBF2 is required for trimethylation of histone H3 Lys27 (H3K27me3) deposition at specific genes and genome wide. Our findings reveal that phase separation of TRBF2 facilitates gene repression in rice development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Xuan
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yanzhuo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yue Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jingze Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jianhao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Nan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yulu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Limin Pi
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Shaoqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Guoyong Xu
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Hongchun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
- RNA Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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4
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Nemčko F, Himmelsbach M, Loubiere V, Yelagandula R, Pagani M, Fasching N, Brennecke J, Elling U, Stark A, Ameres SL. Proteome-scale tagging and functional screening in mammalian cells by ORFtag. Nat Methods 2024; 21:1668-1673. [PMID: 38969721 PMCID: PMC11399080 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-024-02339-x] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
The systematic determination of protein function is a key goal of modern biology, but remains challenging with current approaches. Here we present ORFtag, a versatile, cost-effective and highly efficient method for the massively parallel tagging and functional interrogation of proteins at the proteome scale. ORFtag uses retroviral vectors bearing a promoter, peptide tag and splice donor to generate fusions between the tag and endogenous open reading frames (ORFs). We demonstrate the utility of ORFtag through functional screens for transcriptional activators, repressors and posttranscriptional regulators in mouse embryonic stem cells. Each screen recovers known and identifies new regulators, including long ORFs inaccessible by other methods. Among other hits, we find that Zfp574 is a highly selective transcriptional activator and that oncogenic fusions often function as transactivators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Nemčko
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Moritz Himmelsbach
- Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Max Perutz Laboratories, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Vincent Loubiere
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Ramesh Yelagandula
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Cell Fate and Disease, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India
| | - Michaela Pagani
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina Fasching
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- QUANTRO Therapeutics GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julius Brennecke
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria.
| | - Ulrich Elling
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria.
| | - Alexander Stark
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria.
- Medical University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria.
| | - Stefan L Ameres
- Max Perutz Laboratories, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria.
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5
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Chen R, Shi X, Yao X, Gao T, Huang G, Ning D, Cao Z, Xu Y, Liang W, Tian SZ, Zhu Q, Fang L, Zheng M, Hu Y, Cui H, Chen W. Specific multivalent molecules boost CRISPR-mediated transcriptional activation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7222. [PMID: 39174527 PMCID: PMC11341856 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51694-y] [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: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas-based transcriptional activators can be enhanced by intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). However, the underlying mechanisms are still debatable. Here, we examine 12 well-known IDRs by fusing them to the dCas9-VP64 activator, of which only seven can augment activation, albeit independently of their phase separation capabilities. Moreover, modular domains (MDs), another class of multivalent molecules, though ineffective in enhancing dCas9-VP64 activity on their own, show substantial enhancement in transcriptional activation when combined with dCas9-VP64-IDR. By varying the number of gRNA binding sites and fusing dCas9-VP64 with different IDRs/MDs, we uncover that optimal, rather than maximal, cis-trans cooperativity enables the most robust activation. Finally, targeting promoter-enhancer pairs yields synergistic effects, which can be further amplified via enhancing chromatin interactions. Overall, our study develops a versatile platform for efficient gene activation and sheds important insights into CRIPSR-based transcriptional activators enhanced with multivalent molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Innovative Center for RNA Therapeutics (ICRT), School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinyao Shi
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiangrui Yao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tong Gao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guangyu Huang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Duo Ning
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zemin Cao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Youxin Xu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Weizheng Liang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Central Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, Hebei, China
| | - Simon Zhongyuan Tian
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Innovative Center for RNA Therapeutics (ICRT), School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qionghua Zhu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Innovative Center for RNA Therapeutics (ICRT), School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liang Fang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Innovative Center for RNA Therapeutics (ICRT), School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Meizhen Zheng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Innovative Center for RNA Therapeutics (ICRT), School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuhui Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong-Hong Kong Universities for Vascular Homeostasis and Diseases, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huanhuan Cui
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
- Innovative Center for RNA Therapeutics (ICRT), School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
- Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Wei Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
- Innovative Center for RNA Therapeutics (ICRT), School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
- Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
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6
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DelRosso N, Suzuki PH, Griffith D, Lotthammer JM, Novak B, Kocalar S, Sheth MU, Holehouse AS, Bintu L, Fordyce P. High-throughput affinity measurements of direct interactions between activation domains and co-activators. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.19.608698. [PMID: 39229005 PMCID: PMC11370418 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.19.608698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Sequence-specific activation by transcription factors is essential for gene regulation1,2. Key to this are activation domains, which often fall within disordered regions of transcription factors3,4 and recruit co-activators to initiate transcription5. These interactions are difficult to characterize via most experimental techniques because they are typically weak and transient6,7. Consequently, we know very little about whether these interactions are promiscuous or specific, the mechanisms of binding, and how these interactions tune the strength of gene activation. To address these questions, we developed a microfluidic platform for expression and purification of hundreds of activation domains in parallel followed by direct measurement of co-activator binding affinities (STAMMPPING, for Simultaneous Trapping of Affinity Measurements via a Microfluidic Protein-Protein INteraction Generator). By applying STAMMPPING to quantify direct interactions between eight co-activators and 204 human activation domains (>1,500 K ds), we provide the first quantitative map of these interactions and reveal 334 novel binding pairs. We find that the metazoan-specific co-activator P300 directly binds >100 activation domains, potentially explaining its widespread recruitment across the genome to influence transcriptional activation. Despite sharing similar molecular properties (e.g. enrichment of negative and hydrophobic residues), activation domains utilize distinct biophysical properties to recruit certain co-activator domains. Co-activator domain affinity and occupancy are well-predicted by analytical models that account for multivalency, and in vitro affinities quantitatively predict activation in cells with an ultrasensitive response. Not only do our results demonstrate the ability to measure affinities between even weak protein-protein interactions in high throughput, but they also provide a necessary resource of over 1,500 activation domain/co-activator affinities which lays the foundation for understanding the molecular basis of transcriptional activation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter H Suzuki
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Griffith
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Lotthammer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Borna Novak
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Selin Kocalar
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Maya U Sheth
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alex S Holehouse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Lacramioara Bintu
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Polly Fordyce
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub San Francisco, CA, USA
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7
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Naderi J, Magalhaes AP, Kibar G, Stik G, Zhang Y, Mackowiak SD, Wieler HM, Rossi F, Buschow R, Christou-Kent M, Alcoverro-Bertran M, Graf T, Vingron M, Hnisz D. An activity-specificity trade-off encoded in human transcription factors. Nat Cell Biol 2024; 26:1309-1321. [PMID: 38969762 PMCID: PMC11321997 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-024-01411-0] [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: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) control specificity and activity of gene transcription, but whether a relationship between these two features exists is unclear. Here we provide evidence for an evolutionary trade-off between the activity and specificity in human TFs encoded as submaximal dispersion of aromatic residues in their intrinsically disordered protein regions. We identified approximately 500 human TFs that encode short periodic blocks of aromatic residues in their intrinsically disordered regions, resembling imperfect prion-like sequences. Mutation of periodic aromatic residues reduced transcriptional activity, whereas increasing the aromatic dispersion of multiple human TFs enhanced transcriptional activity and reprogramming efficiency, promoted liquid-liquid phase separation in vitro and more promiscuous DNA binding in cells. Together with recent work on enhancer elements, these results suggest an important evolutionary role of suboptimal features in transcriptional control. We propose that rational engineering of amino acid features that alter phase separation may be a strategy to optimize TF-dependent processes, including cellular reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Naderi
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandre P Magalhaes
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gözde Kibar
- Department of Computational Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gregoire Stik
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
| | - Yaotian Zhang
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian D Mackowiak
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hannah M Wieler
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Francesca Rossi
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rene Buschow
- Microscopy Core Facility, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marie Christou-Kent
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Alcoverro-Bertran
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Thomas Graf
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martin Vingron
- Department of Computational Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Denes Hnisz
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
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8
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Munshi R. How Transcription Factor Clusters Shape the Transcriptional Landscape. Biomolecules 2024; 14:875. [PMID: 39062589 PMCID: PMC11274464 DOI: 10.3390/biom14070875] [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: 06/01/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, gene transcription typically occurs in discrete periods of promoter activity, interspersed with intervals of inactivity. This pattern deviates from simple stochastic events and warrants a closer examination of the molecular interactions that activate the promoter. Recent studies have identified transcription factor (TF) clusters as key precursors to transcriptional bursting. Often, these TF clusters form at chromatin segments that are physically distant from the promoter, making changes in chromatin conformation crucial for promoter-TF cluster interactions. In this review, I explore the formation and constituents of TF clusters, examining how the dynamic interplay between chromatin architecture and TF clustering influences transcriptional bursting. Additionally, I discuss techniques for visualizing TF clusters and provide an outlook on understanding the remaining gaps in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Munshi
- Joseph Henry Laboratories of Physics and Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
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9
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Villani RM, McKenzie ME, Davidson AL, Spurdle AB. Regional-specific calibration enables application of computational evidence for clinical classification of 5' cis-regulatory variants in Mendelian disease. Am J Hum Genet 2024; 111:1301-1315. [PMID: 38815586 PMCID: PMC11267523 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.05.002] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
To date, clinical genetic testing for Mendelian disease variants has focused heavily on exonic coding and intronic gene regions. This multi-step study was undertaken to provide an evidence base for selecting and applying computational approaches for use in clinical classification of 5' cis-regulatory region variants. Curated datasets of clinically reported disease-causing 5' cis-regulatory region variants and variants from matched genomic regions in population controls were used to calibrate six bioinformatic tools as predictors of variant pathogenicity. Likelihood ratio estimates were aligned to code weights following ClinGen recommendations for application of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP) classification scheme. Considering code assignment across all reference dataset variants, performance was best for CADD (81.2%) and REMM (81.5%). Optimized thresholds provided moderate evidence toward pathogenicity (CADD, REMM) and moderate (CADD) or supporting (REMM) evidence against pathogenicity. Both sensitivity and specificity of prediction were improved when further categorizing variants based on location in an EPDnew-defined promoter region. Combining predictions (CADD, REMM, and location in a promoter region) increased specificity at the expense of sensitivity. Importantly, the optimal CADD thresholds for assigning ACMG/AMP codes PP3 (≥10) and BP4 (≤8) were vastly different from recommendations for protein-coding variants (PP3 ≥25.3; BP4 ≤22.7); CADD <22.7 would incorrectly assign BP4 for >90% of reported disease-causing cis-regulatory region variants. Our results demonstrate the need to consider a tiered approach and tailored score thresholds to optimize bioinformatic impact prediction for clinical classification of 5' cis-regulatory region variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rehan M Villani
- Population Health Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Maddison E McKenzie
- Population Health Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Aimee L Davidson
- Population Health Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Amanda B Spurdle
- Population Health Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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10
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Fonda BD, Murray DT. The Potent PHL4 Transcription Factor Effector Domain Contains Significant Disorder. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.27.601048. [PMID: 39005418 PMCID: PMC11244893 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.27.601048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The phosphate-starvation response transcription-factor protein family is essential to plant response to low-levels of phosphate. Proteins in this transcription factor (TF) family act by altering various gene expression levels, such as increasing levels of the acid phosphatase proteins which catalyze the conversion of inorganic phosphates to bio-available compounds. There are few structural characterizations of proteins in this TF family, none of which address the potent TF activation domains. The phosphate-starvation response-like protein-4 (PHL4) protein from this family has garnered interest due to the unusually high TF activation activity of the N-terminal domain. Here, we demonstrate using solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements that the PHL4 N-terminal activating TF effector domain is mainly an intrinsically disordered domain of over 200 residues, and that the C-terminal region of PHL4 is also disordered. Additionally, we present evidence from size-exclusion chromatography, diffusion NMR measurements, and a cross-linking assay suggesting full-length PHL4 forms a tetrameric assembly. Together, the data indicate the N- and C-terminal disordered domains in PHL4 flank a central folded region that likely forms the ordered oligomer of PHL4. This work provides a foundation for future studies detailing how the conformations and molecular motions of PHL4 change as it acts as a potent activator of gene expression in phosphate metabolism. Such a detailed mechanistic understanding of TF function will benefit genetic engineering efforts that take advantage of this activity to boost transcriptional activation of genes across different organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake D. Fonda
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, United States of America
| | - Dylan T. Murray
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, 06926, United States of America
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11
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He J, Huo X, Pei G, Jia Z, Yan Y, Yu J, Qu H, Xie Y, Yuan J, Zheng Y, Hu Y, Shi M, You K, Li T, Ma T, Zhang MQ, Ding S, Li P, Li Y. Dual-role transcription factors stabilize intermediate expression levels. Cell 2024; 187:2746-2766.e25. [PMID: 38631355 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.023] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Precise control of gene expression levels is essential for normal cell functions, yet how they are defined and tightly maintained, particularly at intermediate levels, remains elusive. Here, using a series of newly developed sequencing, imaging, and functional assays, we uncover a class of transcription factors with dual roles as activators and repressors, referred to as condensate-forming level-regulating dual-action transcription factors (TFs). They reduce high expression but increase low expression to achieve stable intermediate levels. Dual-action TFs directly exert activating and repressing functions via condensate-forming domains that compartmentalize core transcriptional unit selectively. Clinically relevant mutations in these domains, which are linked to a range of developmental disorders, impair condensate selectivity and dual-action TF activity. These results collectively address a fundamental question in expression regulation and demonstrate the potential of level-regulating dual-action TFs as powerful effectors for engineering controlled expression levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinnan He
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiangru Huo
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Gaofeng Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zeran Jia
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yiming Yan
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jiawei Yu
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Haozhi Qu
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yunxin Xie
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Junsong Yuan
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuan Zheng
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yanyan Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Minglei Shi
- Bioinformatics Division, National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Kaiqiang You
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Tianhua Ma
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Michael Q Zhang
- Bioinformatics Division, National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Systems Biology, The University of Texas, Dallas, TX 75080-3021, USA
| | - Sheng Ding
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Pilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Yinqing Li
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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12
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Hu P, Du Y, Xu Y, Ye P, Xia J. The role of transcription factors in the pathogenesis and therapeutic targeting of vascular diseases. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 11:1384294. [PMID: 38745757 PMCID: PMC11091331 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1384294] [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: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) constitute an essential component of epigenetic regulation. They contribute to the progression of vascular diseases by regulating epigenetic gene expression in several vascular diseases. Recently, numerous regulatory mechanisms related to vascular pathology, ranging from general TFs that are continuously activated to histiocyte-specific TFs that are activated under specific circumstances, have been studied. TFs participate in the progression of vascular-related diseases by epigenetically regulating vascular endothelial cells (VECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The Krüppel-like family (KLF) TF family is widely recognized as the foremost regulator of vascular diseases. KLF11 prevents aneurysm progression by inhibiting the apoptosis of VSMCs and enhancing their contractile function. The presence of KLF4, another crucial member, suppresses the progression of atherosclerosis (AS) and pulmonary hypertension by attenuating the formation of VSMCs-derived foam cells, ameliorating endothelial dysfunction, and inducing vasodilatory effects. However, the mechanism underlying the regulation of the progression of vascular-related diseases by TFs has remained elusive. The present study categorized the TFs involved in vascular diseases and their regulatory mechanisms to shed light on the potential pathogenesis of vascular diseases, and provide novel insights into their diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poyi Hu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yifan Du
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ying Xu
- Institute of Reproduction Health Research, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ping Ye
- Central Hospital of Wuhan, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiahong Xia
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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13
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Budzyński MA, Wong AK, Faghihi A, Teves SS. A dynamic role for transcription factors in restoring transcription through mitosis. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:821-830. [PMID: 38526206 PMCID: PMC11088908 DOI: 10.1042/bst20231022] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Mitosis involves intricate steps, such as DNA condensation, nuclear membrane disassembly, and phosphorylation cascades that temporarily halt gene transcription. Despite this disruption, daughter cells remarkably retain the parent cell's gene expression pattern, allowing for efficient transcriptional memory after division. Early studies in mammalian cells suggested that transcription factors (TFs) mark genes for swift reactivation, a phenomenon termed 'mitotic bookmarking', but conflicting data emerged regarding TF presence on mitotic chromosomes. Recent advancements in live-cell imaging and fixation-free genomics challenge the conventional belief in universal formaldehyde fixation, revealing dynamic TF interactions during mitosis. Here, we review recent studies that provide examples of at least four modes of TF-DNA interaction during mitosis and the molecular mechanisms that govern these interactions. Additionally, we explore the impact of these interactions on transcription initiation post-mitosis. Taken together, these recent studies call for a paradigm shift toward a dynamic model of TF behavior during mitosis, underscoring the need for incorporating dynamics in mechanistic models for re-establishing transcription post-mitosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marek A. Budzyński
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Alexander K.L. Wong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Armin Faghihi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Sheila S. Teves
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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14
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Lambourne L, Mattioli K, Santoso C, Sheynkman G, Inukai S, Kaundal B, Berenson A, Spirohn-Fitzgerald K, Bhattacharjee A, Rothman E, Shrestha S, Laval F, Yang Z, Bisht D, Sewell JA, Li G, Prasad A, Phanor S, Lane R, Campbell DM, Hunt T, Balcha D, Gebbia M, Twizere JC, Hao T, Frankish A, Riback JA, Salomonis N, Calderwood MA, Hill DE, Sahni N, Vidal M, Bulyk ML, Fuxman Bass JI. Widespread variation in molecular interactions and regulatory properties among transcription factor isoforms. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.12.584681. [PMID: 38617209 PMCID: PMC11014633 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.12.584681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Most human Transcription factors (TFs) genes encode multiple protein isoforms differing in DNA binding domains, effector domains, or other protein regions. The global extent to which this results in functional differences between isoforms remains unknown. Here, we systematically compared 693 isoforms of 246 TF genes, assessing DNA binding, protein binding, transcriptional activation, subcellular localization, and condensate formation. Relative to reference isoforms, two-thirds of alternative TF isoforms exhibit differences in one or more molecular activities, which often could not be predicted from sequence. We observed two primary categories of alternative TF isoforms: "rewirers" and "negative regulators", both of which were associated with differentiation and cancer. Our results support a model wherein the relative expression levels of, and interactions involving, TF isoforms add an understudied layer of complexity to gene regulatory networks, demonstrating the importance of isoform-aware characterization of TF functions and providing a rich resource for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Lambourne
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kaia Mattioli
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clarissa Santoso
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gloria Sheynkman
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sachi Inukai
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Babita Kaundal
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anna Berenson
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kerstin Spirohn-Fitzgerald
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anukana Bhattacharjee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Elisabeth Rothman
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Florent Laval
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
- Laboratory of Viral Interactomes, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Zhipeng Yang
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Deepa Bisht
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jared A Sewell
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Guangyuan Li
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Anisa Prasad
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard College, Cambridge MA, USA
| | - Sabrina Phanor
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryan Lane
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Toby Hunt
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Dawit Balcha
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marinella Gebbia
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (LTRI), Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean-Claude Twizere
- TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
- Laboratory of Viral Interactomes, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Tong Hao
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Adam Frankish
- Laboratory of Viral Interactomes, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Josh A Riback
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nathan Salomonis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Michael A Calderwood
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David E Hill
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nidhi Sahni
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Marc Vidal
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Martha L Bulyk
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Juan I Fuxman Bass
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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15
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Wachtel M, Surdez D, Grünewald TGP, Schäfer BW. Functional Classification of Fusion Proteins in Sarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1355. [PMID: 38611033 PMCID: PMC11010897 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16071355] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Sarcomas comprise a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin. More than 80 entities are associated with different mesenchymal lineages. Sarcomas with fibroblastic, muscle, bone, vascular, adipocytic, and other characteristics are distinguished. Nearly half of all entities contain specific chromosomal translocations that give rise to fusion proteins. These are mostly pathognomonic, and their detection by various molecular techniques supports histopathologic classification. Moreover, the fusion proteins act as oncogenic drivers, and their blockade represents a promising therapeutic approach. This review summarizes the current knowledge on fusion proteins in sarcoma. We categorize the different fusion proteins into functional classes, including kinases, epigenetic regulators, and transcription factors, and describe their mechanisms of action. Interestingly, while fusion proteins acting as transcription factors are found in all mesenchymal lineages, the others have a more restricted pattern. Most kinase-driven sarcomas belong to the fibroblastic/myofibroblastic lineage. Fusion proteins with an epigenetic function are mainly associated with sarcomas of unclear differentiation, suggesting that epigenetic dysregulation leads to a major change in cell identity. Comparison of mechanisms of action reveals recurrent functional modes, including antagonism of Polycomb activity by fusion proteins with epigenetic activity and recruitment of histone acetyltransferases by fusion transcription factors of the myogenic lineage. Finally, based on their biology, we describe potential approaches to block the activity of fusion proteins for therapeutic intervention. Overall, our work highlights differences as well as similarities in the biology of fusion proteins from different sarcomas and provides the basis for a functional classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Wachtel
- Department of Oncology and Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital, Steinwiesstrasse 75, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Didier Surdez
- Balgrist University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich (UZH), CH-8008 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas G. P. Grünewald
- Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Hopp-Children’s Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, a Partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Beat W. Schäfer
- Department of Oncology and Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital, Steinwiesstrasse 75, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland
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16
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Shepherdson JL, Granas DM, Li J, Shariff Z, Plassmeyer SP, Holehouse AS, White MA, Cohen BA. Mutational scanning of CRX classifies clinical variants and reveals biochemical properties of the transcriptional effector domain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.21.585809. [PMID: 38585983 PMCID: PMC10996540 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.21.585809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Cone-Rod Homeobox, encoded by CRX, is a transcription factor (TF) essential for the terminal differentiation and maintenance of mammalian photoreceptors. Structurally, CRX comprises an ordered DNA-binding homeodomain and an intrinsically disordered transcriptional effector domain. Although a handful of human variants in CRX have been shown to cause several different degenerative retinopathies with varying cone and rod predominance, as with most human disease genes the vast majority of observed CRX genetic variants are uncharacterized variants of uncertain significance (VUS). We performed a deep mutational scan (DMS) of nearly all possible single amino acid substitution variants in CRX, using an engineered cell-based transcriptional reporter assay. We measured the ability of each CRX missense variant to transactivate a synthetic fluorescent reporter construct in a pooled fluorescence-activated cell sorting assay and compared the activation strength of each variant to that of wild-type CRX to compute an activity score, identifying thousands of variants with altered transcriptional activity. We calculated a statistical confidence for each activity score derived from multiple independent measurements of each variant marked by unique sequence barcodes, curating a high-confidence list of nearly 2,000 variants with significantly altered transcriptional activity compared to wild-type CRX. We evaluated the performance of the DMS assay as a clinical variant classification tool using gold-standard classified human variants from ClinVar, and determined that activity scores could be used to identify pathogenic variants with high specificity. That this performance could be achieved using a synthetic reporter assay in a foreign cell type, even for a highly cell type-specific TF like CRX, suggests that this approach shows promise for DMS of other TFs that function in cell types that are not easily accessible. Per-position average activity scores closely aligned to a predicted structure of the ordered homeodomain and demonstrated position-specific residue requirements. The intrinsically disordered transcriptional effector domain, by contrast, displayed a qualitatively different pattern of substitution effects, following compositional constraints without specific residue position requirements in the peptide chain. The observed compositional constraints of the effector domain were consistent with the acidic exposure model of transcriptional activation. Together, the results of the CRX DMS identify molecular features of the CRX effector domain and demonstrate clinical utility for variant classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- James L. Shepherdson
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - David M. Granas
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Zara Shariff
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Stephen P. Plassmeyer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Alex S. Holehouse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Michael A. White
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Barak A. Cohen
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
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17
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Jones T, Sigauke RF, Sanford L, Taatjes DJ, Allen MA, Dowell RD. A transcription factor (TF) inference method that broadly measures TF activity and identifies mechanistically distinct TF networks. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.15.585303. [PMID: 38559193 PMCID: PMC10980006 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.15.585303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
TF profiler is a method of inferring transcription factor regulatory activity, i.e. when a TF is present and actively regulating transcription, directly directly from nascent sequencing assays such as PRO-seq and GRO-seq. Transcription factors orchestrate transcription and play a critical role in cellular maintenance, identity and response to external stimuli. While ChIP assays have measured DNA localization, they fall short of identifying when and where transcription factors are actively regulating transcription. Our method, on the other hand, uses RNA polymerase activity to infer TF activity across hundreds of data sets and transcription factors. Based on these classifications we identify three distinct classes of transcription factors: ubiquitous factors that play roles in cellular homeostasis, driving basal gene programs across tissues and cell types, tissue specific factors that act almost exclusively at enhancers and are themselves regulated at transcription, and stimulus responsive TFs which are regulated post-transcriptionally but act predominantly at enhancers. TF profiler is broadly applicable, providing regulatory insights on any PRO-seq sample for any transcription factor with a known binding motif.
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18
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Bjarnason S, McIvor JAP, Prestel A, Demény KS, Bullerjahn JT, Kragelund BB, Mercadante D, Heidarsson PO. DNA binding redistributes activation domain ensemble and accessibility in pioneer factor Sox2. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1445. [PMID: 38365983 PMCID: PMC10873366 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45847-2] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
More than 1600 human transcription factors orchestrate the transcriptional machinery to control gene expression and cell fate. Their function is conveyed through intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) containing activation or repression domains but lacking quantitative structural ensemble models prevents their mechanistic decoding. Here we integrate single-molecule FRET and NMR spectroscopy with molecular simulations showing that DNA binding can lead to complex changes in the IDR ensemble and accessibility. The C-terminal IDR of pioneer factor Sox2 is highly disordered but its conformational dynamics are guided by weak and dynamic charge interactions with the folded DNA binding domain. Both DNA and nucleosome binding induce major rearrangements in the IDR ensemble without affecting DNA binding affinity. Remarkably, interdomain interactions are redistributed in complex with DNA leading to variable exposure of two activation domains critical for transcription. Charged intramolecular interactions allowing for dynamic redistributions may be common in transcription factors and necessary for sensitive tuning of structural ensembles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sveinn Bjarnason
- Department of Biochemistry, Science Institute, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 102, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Jordan A P McIvor
- School of Chemical Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andreas Prestel
- Department of Biology, REPIN and Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kinga S Demény
- Department of Biochemistry, Science Institute, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 102, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Jakob T Bullerjahn
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Straße 3, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Birthe B Kragelund
- Department of Biology, REPIN and Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Davide Mercadante
- School of Chemical Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Pétur O Heidarsson
- Department of Biochemistry, Science Institute, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 102, Reykjavík, Iceland.
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19
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Udupa A, Kotha SR, Staller MV. Commonly asked questions about transcriptional activation domains. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2024; 84:102732. [PMID: 38056064 PMCID: PMC11193542 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102732] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic transcription factors activate gene expression with their DNA-binding domains and activation domains. DNA-binding domains bind the genome by recognizing structurally related DNA sequences; they are structured, conserved, and predictable from protein sequences. Activation domains recruit chromatin modifiers, coactivator complexes, or basal transcriptional machinery via structurally diverse protein-protein interactions. Activation domains and DNA-binding domains have been called independent, modular units, but there are many departures from modularity, including interactions between these regions and overlap in function. Compared to DNA-binding domains, activation domains are poorly understood because they are poorly conserved, intrinsically disordered, and difficult to predict from protein sequences. This review, organized around commonly asked questions, describes recent progress that the field has made in understanding the sequence features that control activation domains and predicting them from sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Udupa
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, USA
| | - Sanjana R Kotha
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, USA; Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, USA
| | - Max V Staller
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, USA; Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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20
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Lu Y, Berenson A, Lane R, Guelin I, Li Z, Chen Y, Shah S, Yin M, Soto-Ugaldi LF, Fiszbein A, Fuxman Bass JI. A large-scale cancer-specific protein-DNA interaction network. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.24.577099. [PMID: 38352498 PMCID: PMC10862707 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.24.577099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Cancer development and progression are generally associated with dysregulation of gene expression, often resulting from changes in transcription factor (TF) sequence or expression. Identifying key TFs involved in cancer gene regulation provides a framework for potential new therapeutics. This study presents a large-scale cancer gene TF-DNA interaction network as well as an extensive promoter clone resource for future studies. Most highly connected TFs do not show a preference for binding to promoters of genes associated with either good or poor cancer prognosis, suggesting that emerging strategies aimed at shifting gene expression balance between these two prognostic groups may be inherently complex. However, we identified potential for oncogene targeted therapeutics, with half of the tested oncogenes being potentially repressed by influencing specific activator or bifunctional TFs. Finally, we investigate the role of intrinsically disordered regions within the key cancer-related TF estrogen receptor ɑ (ESR1) on DNA binding and transcriptional activity, and found that these regions can have complex trade-offs in TF function. Altogether, our study not only broadens our knowledge of TFs involved in the cancer gene regulatory network but also provides a valuable resource for future studies, laying a foundation for potential therapeutic strategies targeting TFs in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunwei Lu
- Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Anna Berenson
- Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Ryan Lane
- Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Isabelle Guelin
- Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Zhaorong Li
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Yilin Chen
- Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Sakshi Shah
- Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Meimei Yin
- Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | | | - Ana Fiszbein
- Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Juan Ignacio Fuxman Bass
- Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
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21
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DelRosso N, Bintu L. Using High-Throughput Measurements to Identify Principles of Transcriptional and Epigenetic Regulators. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2842:79-101. [PMID: 39012591 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4051-7_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
To achieve exquisite control over the epigenome, we need a better predictive understanding of how transcription factors, chromatin regulators, and their individual domain's function, both as modular parts and as full proteins. Transcriptional effector domains are one class of protein domains that regulate transcription and chromatin. These effector domains either repress or activate gene expression by interacting with chromatin-modifying enzymes, transcriptional cofactors, and/or general transcriptional machinery. Here, we discuss important design considerations for high-throughput investigations of effector domains, recent advances in discovering new domains in human cells and testing how domain function depends on amino acid sequence. For every effector domain, we would like to know the following: What role does the cell type, signaling state, and targeted context have on activation, silencing, and epigenetic memory? Large-scale measurements of transcriptional activities can help systematically answer these questions and identify general rules for how all these parameters affect effector domain activities. Last, we discuss what steps need to be taken to turn a newly discovered effector domain into a robust, precise epigenome editor. With more carefully considered high-throughput investigations, soon we will have better predictive control over the epigenome.
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22
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Barsoum M, Sayadi-Boroujeni R, Stenzel AT, Bussmann P, Lüscher-Firzlaff J, Lüscher B. Sequential deregulation of histone marks, chromatin accessibility and gene expression in response to PROTAC-induced degradation of ASH2L. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22565. [PMID: 38114530 PMCID: PMC10730889 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49284-x] [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: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The trithorax protein ASH2L is essential for organismal and tissue development. As a subunit of COMPASS/KMT2 complexes, ASH2L is necessary for methylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4). Mono- and tri-methylation at this site mark active enhancers and promoters, respectively, although the functional relevance of H3K4 methylation is only partially understood. ASH2L has a long half-life, which results in a slow decrease upon knockout. This has made it difficult to define direct consequences. To overcome this limitation, we employed a PROTAC system to rapidly degrade ASH2L and address direct effects. ASH2L loss resulted in inhibition of proliferation of mouse embryo fibroblasts. Shortly after ASH2L degradation H3K4me3 decreased with its half-life varying between promoters. Subsequently, H3K4me1 increased at promoters and decreased at some enhancers. H3K27ac and H3K27me3, histone marks closely linked to H3K4 methylation, were affected with considerable delay. In parallel, chromatin compaction increased at promoters. Of note, nascent gene transcription was not affected early but overall RNA expression was deregulated late after ASH2L loss. Together, these findings suggest that downstream effects are ordered but relatively slow, despite the rapid loss of ASH2L and inactivation of KMT2 complexes. It appears that the systems that control gene transcription are well buffered and strong effects are only beginning to unfold after considerable delay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirna Barsoum
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Roksaneh Sayadi-Boroujeni
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Bayer AG, Crop Science Division, R&D, Pest Control, 40789, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Alexander T Stenzel
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Philip Bussmann
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Juliane Lüscher-Firzlaff
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Bernhard Lüscher
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
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23
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Müller-Dott S, Tsirvouli E, Vazquez M, Ramirez Flores R, Badia-i-Mompel P, Fallegger R, Türei D, Lægreid A, Saez-Rodriguez J. Expanding the coverage of regulons from high-confidence prior knowledge for accurate estimation of transcription factor activities. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:10934-10949. [PMID: 37843125 PMCID: PMC10639077 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene regulation plays a critical role in the cellular processes that underlie human health and disease. The regulatory relationship between transcription factors (TFs), key regulators of gene expression, and their target genes, the so called TF regulons, can be coupled with computational algorithms to estimate the activity of TFs. However, to interpret these findings accurately, regulons of high reliability and coverage are needed. In this study, we present and evaluate a collection of regulons created using the CollecTRI meta-resource containing signed TF-gene interactions for 1186 TFs. In this context, we introduce a workflow to integrate information from multiple resources and assign the sign of regulation to TF-gene interactions that could be applied to other comprehensive knowledge bases. We find that the signed CollecTRI-derived regulons outperform other public collections of regulatory interactions in accurately inferring changes in TF activities in perturbation experiments. Furthermore, we showcase the value of the regulons by examining TF activity profiles in three different cancer types and exploring TF activities at the level of single-cells. Overall, the CollecTRI-derived TF regulons enable the accurate and comprehensive estimation of TF activities and thereby help to interpret transcriptomics data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Müller-Dott
- Heidelberg University, Faculty of Medicine, and Heidelberg University Hospital, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eirini Tsirvouli
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Ricardo O Ramirez Flores
- Heidelberg University, Faculty of Medicine, and Heidelberg University Hospital, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Pau Badia-i-Mompel
- Heidelberg University, Faculty of Medicine, and Heidelberg University Hospital, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Robin Fallegger
- Heidelberg University, Faculty of Medicine, and Heidelberg University Hospital, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dénes Türei
- Heidelberg University, Faculty of Medicine, and Heidelberg University Hospital, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Astrid Lægreid
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Julio Saez-Rodriguez
- Heidelberg University, Faculty of Medicine, and Heidelberg University Hospital, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
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24
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Mahata B, Cabrera A, Brenner DA, Guerra-Resendez RS, Li J, Goell J, Wang K, Guo Y, Escobar M, Parthasarathy AK, Szadowski H, Bedford G, Reed DR, Kim S, Hilton IB. Compact engineered human mechanosensitive transactivation modules enable potent and versatile synthetic transcriptional control. Nat Methods 2023; 20:1716-1728. [PMID: 37813990 PMCID: PMC10630135 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-02036-1] [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: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Engineered transactivation domains (TADs) combined with programmable DNA binding platforms have revolutionized synthetic transcriptional control. Despite recent progress in programmable CRISPR-Cas-based transactivation (CRISPRa) technologies, the TADs used in these systems often contain poorly tolerated elements and/or are prohibitively large for many applications. Here, we defined and optimized minimal TADs built from human mechanosensitive transcription factors. We used these components to construct potent and compact multipartite transactivation modules (MSN, NMS and eN3x9) and to build the CRISPR-dCas9 recruited enhanced activation module (CRISPR-DREAM) platform. We found that CRISPR-DREAM was specific and robust across mammalian cell types, and efficiently stimulated transcription from diverse regulatory loci. We also showed that MSN and NMS were portable across Type I, II and V CRISPR systems, transcription activator-like effectors and zinc finger proteins. Further, as proofs of concept, we used dCas9-NMS to efficiently reprogram human fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells and demonstrated that mechanosensitive transcription factor TADs are efficacious and well tolerated in therapeutically important primary human cell types. Finally, we leveraged the compact and potent features of these engineered TADs to build dual and all-in-one CRISPRa AAV systems. Altogether, these compact human TADs, fusion modules and delivery architectures should be valuable for synthetic transcriptional control in biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barun Mahata
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alan Cabrera
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Jing Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jacob Goell
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kaiyuan Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yannie Guo
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mario Escobar
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Hailey Szadowski
- Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Graduate Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Guy Bedford
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Daniel R Reed
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sunghwan Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Isaac B Hilton
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Graduate Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
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25
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Mulet-Lazaro R, Delwel R. From Genotype to Phenotype: How Enhancers Control Gene Expression and Cell Identity in Hematopoiesis. Hemasphere 2023; 7:e969. [PMID: 37953829 PMCID: PMC10635615 DOI: 10.1097/hs9.0000000000000969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Blood comprises a wide array of specialized cells, all of which share the same genetic information and ultimately derive from the same precursor, the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC). This diversity of phenotypes is underpinned by unique transcriptional programs gradually acquired in the process known as hematopoiesis. Spatiotemporal regulation of gene expression depends on many factors, but critical among them are enhancers-sequences of DNA that bind transcription factors and increase transcription of genes under their control. Thus, hematopoiesis involves the activation of specific enhancer repertoires in HSCs and their progeny, driving the expression of sets of genes that collectively determine morphology and function. Disruption of this tightly regulated process can have catastrophic consequences: in hematopoietic malignancies, dysregulation of transcriptional control by enhancers leads to misexpression of oncogenes that ultimately drive transformation. This review attempts to provide a basic understanding of enhancers and their role in transcriptional regulation, with a focus on normal and malignant hematopoiesis. We present examples of enhancers controlling master regulators of hematopoiesis and discuss the main mechanisms leading to enhancer dysregulation in leukemia and lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Mulet-Lazaro
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ruud Delwel
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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26
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Kotha SR, Staller MV. Clusters of acidic and hydrophobic residues can predict acidic transcriptional activation domains from protein sequence. Genetics 2023; 225:iyad131. [PMID: 37462277 PMCID: PMC10550315 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors activate gene expression in development, homeostasis, and stress with DNA binding domains and activation domains. Although there exist excellent computational models for predicting DNA binding domains from protein sequence, models for predicting activation domains from protein sequence have lagged, particularly in metazoans. We recently developed a simple and accurate predictor of acidic activation domains on human transcription factors. Here, we show how the accuracy of this human predictor arises from the clustering of aromatic, leucine, and acidic residues, which together are necessary for acidic activation domain function. When we combine our predictor with the predictions of convolutional neural network (CNN) models trained in yeast, the intersection is more accurate than individual models, emphasizing that each approach carries orthogonal information. We synthesize these findings into a new set of activation domain predictions on human transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjana R Kotha
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Max Valentín Staller
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub—San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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27
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Hu H, Ho D, Tan DS, MacCarthy C, Yu CH, Weng M, Schöler H, Jauch R. Evaluation of the determinants for improved pluripotency induction and maintenance by engineered SOX17. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:8934-8956. [PMID: 37607832 PMCID: PMC10516664 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
An engineered SOX17 variant with point mutations within its DNA binding domain termed SOX17FNV is a more potent pluripotency inducer than SOX2, yet the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Although wild-type SOX17 was incapable of inducing pluripotency, SOX17FNV outperformed SOX2 in mouse and human pluripotency reprogramming. In embryonic stem cells, SOX17FNV could replace SOX2 to maintain pluripotency despite considerable sequence differences and upregulated genes expressed in cleavage-stage embryos. Mechanistically, SOX17FNV co-bound OCT4 more cooperatively than SOX2 in the context of the canonical SoxOct DNA element. SOX2, SOX17, and SOX17FNV were all able to bind nucleosome core particles in vitro, which is a prerequisite for pioneer transcription factors. Experiments using purified proteins and in cellular contexts showed that SOX17 variants phase-separated more efficiently than SOX2, suggesting an enhanced ability to self-organise. Systematic deletion analyses showed that the N-terminus of SOX17FNV was dispensable for its reprogramming activity. However, the C-terminus encodes essential domains indicating multivalent interactions that drive transactivation and reprogramming. We defined a minimal SOX17FNV (miniSOX) that can support reprogramming with high activity, reducing the payload of reprogramming cassettes. This study uncovers the mechanisms behind SOX17FNV-induced pluripotency and establishes engineered SOX factors as powerful cell engineering tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoqing Hu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Derek Hoi Hang Ho
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Translational Stem Cell Biology, Hong Kong
| | - Daisylyn Senna Tan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | | | - Cheng-han Yu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mingxi Weng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Translational Stem Cell Biology, Hong Kong
| | | | - Ralf Jauch
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Translational Stem Cell Biology, Hong Kong
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28
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Mukund AX, Tycko J, Allen SJ, Robinson SA, Andrews C, Sinha J, Ludwig CH, Spees K, Bassik MC, Bintu L. High-throughput functional characterization of combinations of transcriptional activators and repressors. Cell Syst 2023; 14:746-763.e5. [PMID: 37543039 PMCID: PMC10642976 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2023.07.001] [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: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite growing knowledge of the functions of individual human transcriptional effector domains, much less is understood about how multiple effector domains within the same protein combine to regulate gene expression. Here, we measure transcriptional activity for 8,400 effector domain combinations by recruiting them to reporter genes in human cells. In our assay, weak and moderate activation domains synergize to drive strong gene expression, whereas combining strong activators often results in weaker activation. In contrast, repressors combine linearly and produce full gene silencing, and repressor domains often overpower activation domains. We use this information to build a synthetic transcription factor whose function can be tuned between repression and activation independent of recruitment to target genes by using a small-molecule drug. Altogether, we outline the basic principles of how effector domains combine to regulate gene expression and demonstrate their value in building precise and flexible synthetic biology tools. A record of this paper's transparent peer review process is included in the supplemental information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adi X Mukund
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Josh Tycko
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sage J Allen
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Cecelia Andrews
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Joydeb Sinha
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Connor H Ludwig
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Spees
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michael C Bassik
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lacramioara Bintu
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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29
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Mahendrawada L, Warfield L, Donczew R, Hahn S. Surprising connections between DNA binding and function for the near-complete set of yeast transcription factors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.25.550593. [PMID: 37546716 PMCID: PMC10402042 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.25.550593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
DNA sequence-specific transcription factors (TFs) modulate transcription and chromatin architecture, acting from regulatory sites in enhancers and promoters of eukaryotic genes. How TFs locate their DNA targets and how multiple TFs cooperate to regulate individual genes is still unclear. Most yeast TFs are thought to regulate transcription via binding to upstream activating sequences, situated within a few hundred base pairs upstream of the regulated gene. While this model has been validated for individual TFs and specific genes, it has not been tested in a systematic way with the large set of yeast TFs. Here, we have integrated information on the binding and expression targets for the near-complete set of yeast TFs. While we found many instances of functional TF binding sites in upstream regulatory regions, we found many more instances that do not fit this model. In many cases, rapid TF depletion affects gene expression where there is no detectable binding of that TF to the upstream region of the affected gene. In addition, for most TFs, only a small fraction of bound TFs regulates the nearby gene, showing that TF binding does not automatically correspond to regulation of the linked gene. Finally, we found that only a small percentage of TFs are exclusively strong activators or repressors with most TFs having dual function. Overall, our comprehensive mapping of TF binding and regulatory targets have both confirmed known TF relationships and revealed surprising properties of TF function.
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30
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Oksuz O, Henninger JE, Warneford-Thomson R, Zheng MM, Erb H, Vancura A, Overholt KJ, Hawken SW, Banani SF, Lauman R, Reich LN, Robertson AL, Hannett NM, Lee TI, Zon LI, Bonasio R, Young RA. Transcription factors interact with RNA to regulate genes. Mol Cell 2023; 83:2449-2463.e13. [PMID: 37402367 PMCID: PMC10529847 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) orchestrate the gene expression programs that define each cell's identity. The canonical TF accomplishes this with two domains, one that binds specific DNA sequences and the other that binds protein coactivators or corepressors. We find that at least half of TFs also bind RNA, doing so through a previously unrecognized domain with sequence and functional features analogous to the arginine-rich motif of the HIV transcriptional activator Tat. RNA binding contributes to TF function by promoting the dynamic association between DNA, RNA, and TF on chromatin. TF-RNA interactions are a conserved feature important for vertebrate development and disrupted in disease. We propose that the ability to bind DNA, RNA, and protein is a general property of many TFs and is fundamental to their gene regulatory function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozgur Oksuz
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Robert Warneford-Thomson
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ming M Zheng
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Hailey Erb
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Adrienne Vancura
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kalon J Overholt
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Susana Wilson Hawken
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Program of Computational & Systems Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Salman F Banani
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Richard Lauman
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lauren N Reich
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Anne L Robertson
- Stem Cell Program, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nancy M Hannett
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Tong I Lee
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Leonard I Zon
- Stem Cell Program, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Roberto Bonasio
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Richard A Young
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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31
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Isbel L, Iskar M, Durdu S, Weiss J, Grand RS, Hietter-Pfeiffer E, Kozicka Z, Michael AK, Burger L, Thomä NH, Schübeler D. Readout of histone methylation by Trim24 locally restricts chromatin opening by p53. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2023:10.1038/s41594-023-01021-8. [PMID: 37386214 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01021-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
The genomic binding sites of the transcription factor (TF) and tumor suppressor p53 are unusually diverse with regard to their chromatin features, including histone modifications, raising the possibility that the local chromatin environment can contextualize p53 regulation. Here, we show that epigenetic characteristics of closed chromatin, such as DNA methylation, do not influence the binding of p53 across the genome. Instead, the ability of p53 to open chromatin and activate its target genes is locally restricted by its cofactor Trim24. Trim24 binds to both p53 and unmethylated histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4), thereby preferentially localizing to those p53 sites that reside in closed chromatin, whereas it is deterred from accessible chromatin by H3K4 methylation. The presence of Trim24 increases cell viability upon stress and enables p53 to affect gene expression as a function of the local chromatin state. These findings link H3K4 methylation to p53 function and illustrate how specificity in chromatin can be achieved, not by TF-intrinsic sensitivity to histone modifications, but by employing chromatin-sensitive cofactors that locally modulate TF function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Isbel
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Murat Iskar
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sevi Durdu
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Joscha Weiss
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ralph S Grand
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
- Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eric Hietter-Pfeiffer
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Zuzanna Kozicka
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alicia K Michael
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Burger
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas H Thomä
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dirk Schübeler
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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32
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Hummel NFC, Zhou A, Li B, Markel K, Ornelas IJ, Shih PM. The trans-regulatory landscape of gene networks in plants. Cell Syst 2023; 14:501-511.e4. [PMID: 37348464 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2023.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
The transcriptional effector domains of transcription factors play a key role in controlling gene expression; however, their functional nature is poorly understood, hampering our ability to explore this fundamental dimension of gene regulatory networks. To map the trans-regulatory landscape in a complex eukaryote, we systematically characterized the putative transcriptional effector domains of over 400 Arabidopsis thaliana transcription factors for their capacity to modulate transcription. We demonstrate that transcriptional effector activity can be integrated into gene regulatory networks capable of elucidating the functional dynamics underlying gene expression patterns. We further show how our characterized domains can enhance genome engineering efforts and reveal how plant transcriptional activators share regulatory features conserved across distantly related eukaryotes. Our results provide a framework to systematically characterize the regulatory role of transcription factors at a genome-scale in order to understand the transcriptional wiring of biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas F C Hummel
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94705, USA; Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt 64287, Germany
| | - Andy Zhou
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94705, USA
| | - Baohua Li
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94705, USA
| | - Kasey Markel
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94705, USA
| | - Izaiah J Ornelas
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94705, USA
| | - Patrick M Shih
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94705, USA; Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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33
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Li ZC, An F. ERBB2-PTGS2 axis promotes intervertebral disc degeneration by regulating senescence of nucleus pulposus cells. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2023; 24:504. [PMID: 37340393 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-023-06625-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is considered one of the main causes of low back pain and lumbar disc herniation. Various studies have shown that disc cell senescence plays a critical role in this process. however, its role in IDD is yet unclear. In this study, we explored the role of senescence-related genes (SR-DEGs) and its underlying mechanism in IDD. A total of 1325 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database GSE41883. 30 SR-DEGs were identified for further functional enrichment and pathway analysis, and two hub SR-DEGs (ERBB2 and PTGS2) were selected to construct transcription factor (TF)-gene interaction and TF-miRNA coregulatory networks, and 10 candidate drugs were screened for the treatment of IDD. Last but not least, in vitro experiments show that ERBB2 expression decreased and PTGS2 expression increased in human nucleus pulposus (NP) cell senescence model treated with TNF-α. After lentivirus-mediated overexpression of ERBB2, the expression of PTGS2 decreased and the senescence level of NP cells decreased. Overexpression of PTGS2 reversed the anti-senescence effects of ERBB2. The findings in this study suggested that ERBB2 overexpression further reduced NP cell senescence by inhibiting PTGS2 levels, which ultimately alleviated IDD. Taken together, our findings provide new insights into the roles of senescence-related genes in IDD and highlight a novel target of ERBB2-PTGS2 axis for therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Cheng Li
- Department of Spine Surgery, Gansu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, PR China
| | - Fu An
- Department of Spine Surgery, Gansu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, PR China.
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34
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DelRosso N, Tycko J, Suzuki P, Andrews C, Aradhana, Mukund A, Liongson I, Ludwig C, Spees K, Fordyce P, Bassik MC, Bintu L. Large-scale mapping and mutagenesis of human transcriptional effector domains. Nature 2023; 616:365-372. [PMID: 37020022 PMCID: PMC10484233 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05906-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Human gene expression is regulated by more than 2,000 transcription factors and chromatin regulators1,2. Effector domains within these proteins can activate or repress transcription. However, for many of these regulators we do not know what type of effector domains they contain, their location in the protein, their activation and repression strengths, and the sequences that are necessary for their functions. Here, we systematically measure the effector activity of more than 100,000 protein fragments tiling across most chromatin regulators and transcription factors in human cells (2,047 proteins). By testing the effect they have when recruited at reporter genes, we annotate 374 activation domains and 715 repression domains, roughly 80% of which are new and have not been previously annotated3-5. Rational mutagenesis and deletion scans across all the effector domains reveal aromatic and/or leucine residues interspersed with acidic, proline, serine and/or glutamine residues are necessary for activation domain activity. Furthermore, most repression domain sequences contain sites for small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)ylation, short interaction motifs for recruiting corepressors or are structured binding domains for recruiting other repressive proteins. We discover bifunctional domains that can both activate and repress, some of which dynamically split a cell population into high- and low-expression subpopulations. Our systematic annotation and characterization of effector domains provide a rich resource for understanding the function of human transcription factors and chromatin regulators, engineering compact tools for controlling gene expression and refining predictive models of effector domain function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Josh Tycko
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Peter Suzuki
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Cecelia Andrews
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Aradhana
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Adi Mukund
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ivan Liongson
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Connor Ludwig
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Spees
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Polly Fordyce
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- ChEM-H Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Lacramioara Bintu
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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35
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Wang Y, Huang Z, Sun M, Huang W, Xia L. ETS transcription factors: Multifaceted players from cancer progression to tumor immunity. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188872. [PMID: 36841365 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188872] [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: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
The E26 transformation specific (ETS) family comprises 28 transcription factors, the majority of which are involved in tumor initiation and development. Serving as a group of functionally heterogeneous gene regulators, ETS factors possess a structurally conserved DNA-binding domain. As one of the most prominent families of transcription factors that control diverse cellular functions, ETS activation is modulated by multiple intracellular signaling pathways and post-translational modifications. Disturbances in ETS activity often lead to abnormal changes in oncogenicity, including cancer cell survival, growth, proliferation, metastasis, genetic instability, cell metabolism, and tumor immunity. This review systematically addresses the basics and advances in studying ETS factors, from their tumor relevance to clinical translational utility, with a particular focus on elucidating the role of ETS family in tumor immunity, aiming to decipher the vital role and clinical potential of regulation of ETS factors in the cancer field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufei Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zhao Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Mengyu Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Wenjie Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
| | - Limin Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China.
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36
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Yu C, Zhang F, Zhang L, Li J, Tang S, Li X, Peng M, Zhao Q, Zhu X. A bioinformatics approach to identifying the biomarkers and pathogenesis of major depressive disorder combined with acute myocardial infarction. Am J Transl Res 2023; 15:932-948. [PMID: 36915729 PMCID: PMC10006793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) using bioinformatics. We analyzed MDD and AMI (MDD-AMI) datasets provided by the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database for genes common to MDD and AMI using GEO2R and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). We also performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses, and we used Disease Ontology (DO) analysis to identify a) the pathways through which genes function and b) comorbidities. We also created a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network using the STRING database to identify the hub genes and biomarkers. NetworkAnalyst 3.0 was used to construct a transcription factor (TF) gene regulatory network. We also identified relevant complications and potential drug candidates. The 27 genes common to MDD and AMI were enriched in the pathways regulating TFs and mediating immunity and inflammation. The hub genes in the PPI network included TLR2, HP, ICAM1, LCN2, LTF, VCAN, S100A9 and NFKBIA. Key TFs were KLF9, KLF11, ZNF24, and ZNF580. Cardiovascular, pancreatic, and skeletal diseases were common complications. Hydrocortisone, simvastatin, and estradiol were candidate treatment drugs. Identification of these genes and their pathways may provide new targets for further research on the pathogenesis, biomarkers, and treatment of MDD-AMI. Together our results suggested that TLR2 and VCAN might be the key genes associated with MDD complicated by AMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Yu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classics, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated HospitalJinan, Shandong, China
| | - Fengjun Zhang
- College of Acupuncture and Massage, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese MedicineJinan, Shandong, China
| | - Lili Zhang
- College of Acupuncture and Massage, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese MedicineJinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jiajing Li
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classics, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated HospitalJinan, Shandong, China
| | - Saixue Tang
- First Clinical School of Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese MedicineJinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xuejun Li
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classics, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated HospitalJinan, Shandong, China
| | - Min Peng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical UniversityJinan, Shandong, China
| | - Qiong Zhao
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical UniversityJinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiuli Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesJinan, Shandong, China
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Raicu AM, Kadiyala D, Niblock M, Jain A, Yang Y, Bird KM, Bertholf K, Seenivasan A, Siddiq M, Arnosti DN. The Cynosure of CtBP: Evolution of a Bilaterian Transcriptional Corepressor. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad003. [PMID: 36625090 PMCID: PMC9907507 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Evolution of sequence-specific transcription factors clearly drives lineage-specific innovations, but less is known about how changes in the central transcriptional machinery may contribute to evolutionary transformations. In particular, transcriptional regulators are rich in intrinsically disordered regions that appear to be magnets for evolutionary innovation. The C-terminal Binding Protein (CtBP) is a transcriptional corepressor derived from an ancestral lineage of alpha hydroxyacid dehydrogenases; it is found in mammals and invertebrates, and features a core NAD-binding domain as well as an unstructured C-terminus (CTD) of unknown function. CtBP can act on promoters and enhancers to repress transcription through chromatin-linked mechanisms. Our comparative phylogenetic study shows that CtBP is a bilaterian innovation whose CTD of about 100 residues is present in almost all orthologs. CtBP CTDs contain conserved blocks of residues and retain a predicted disordered property, despite having variations in the primary sequence. Interestingly, the structure of the C-terminus has undergone radical transformation independently in certain lineages including flatworms and nematodes. Also contributing to CTD diversity is the production of myriad alternative RNA splicing products, including the production of "short" tailless forms of CtBP in Drosophila. Additional diversity stems from multiple gene duplications in vertebrates, where up to five CtBP orthologs have been observed. Vertebrate lineages show fewer major modifications in the unstructured CTD, possibly because gene regulatory constraints of the vertebrate body plan place specific constraints on this domain. Our study highlights the rich regulatory potential of this previously unstudied domain of a central transcriptional regulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana-Maria Raicu
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Dhruva Kadiyala
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Madeline Niblock
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | | | - Yahui Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Kalynn M Bird
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Kayla Bertholf
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program, College of Wooster
| | - Akshay Seenivasan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Mohammad Siddiq
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - David N Arnosti
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
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38
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Kim S, Wysocka J. Deciphering the multi-scale, quantitative cis-regulatory code. Mol Cell 2023; 83:373-392. [PMID: 36693380 PMCID: PMC9898153 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Uncovering the cis-regulatory code that governs when and how much each gene is transcribed in a given genome and cellular state remains a central goal of biology. Here, we discuss major layers of regulation that influence how transcriptional outputs are encoded by DNA sequence and cellular context. We first discuss how transcription factors bind specific DNA sequences in a dosage-dependent and cooperative manner and then proceed to the cofactors that facilitate transcription factor function and mediate the activity of modular cis-regulatory elements such as enhancers, silencers, and promoters. We then consider the complex and poorly understood interplay of these diverse elements within regulatory landscapes and its relationships with chromatin states and nuclear organization. We propose that a mechanistically informed, quantitative model of transcriptional regulation that integrates these multiple regulatory layers will be the key to ultimately cracking the cis-regulatory code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungsoo Kim
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Joanna Wysocka
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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39
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Klaus L, de Almeida BP, Vlasova A, Nemčko F, Schleiffer A, Bergauer K, Hofbauer L, Rath M, Stark A. Systematic identification and characterization of repressive domains in Drosophila transcription factors. EMBO J 2023; 42:e112100. [PMID: 36545802 PMCID: PMC9890238 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
All multicellular life relies on differential gene expression, determined by regulatory DNA elements and DNA-binding transcription factors that mediate activation and repression via cofactor recruitment. While activators have been extensively characterized, repressors are less well studied: the identities and properties of their repressive domains (RDs) are typically unknown and the specific co-repressors (CoRs) they recruit have not been determined. Here, we develop a high-throughput, next-generation sequencing-based screening method, repressive-domain (RD)-seq, to systematically identify RDs in complex DNA-fragment libraries. Screening more than 200,000 fragments covering the coding sequences of all transcription-related proteins in Drosophila melanogaster, we identify 195 RDs in known repressors and in proteins not previously associated with repression. Many RDs contain recurrent short peptide motifs, which are conserved between fly and human and are required for RD function, as demonstrated by motif mutagenesis. Moreover, we show that RDs that contain one of five distinct repressive motifs interact with and depend on different CoRs, such as Groucho, CtBP, Sin3A, or Smrter. These findings advance our understanding of repressors, their sequences, and the functional impact of sequence-altering mutations and should provide a valuable resource for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loni Klaus
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)ViennaAustria
- Vienna BioCenter PhD ProgramDoctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Bernardo P de Almeida
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)ViennaAustria
- Vienna BioCenter PhD ProgramDoctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Anna Vlasova
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)ViennaAustria
| | - Filip Nemčko
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)ViennaAustria
- Vienna BioCenter PhD ProgramDoctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Alexander Schleiffer
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)ViennaAustria
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)ViennaAustria
| | - Katharina Bergauer
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)ViennaAustria
| | - Lorena Hofbauer
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)ViennaAustria
- Vienna BioCenter PhD ProgramDoctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Martina Rath
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)ViennaAustria
| | - Alexander Stark
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP)Vienna BioCenter (VBC)ViennaAustria
- Medical University of ViennaVienna BioCenter (VBC)ViennaAustria
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40
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The Essential Role of Prolines and Their Conformation in Allosteric Regulation of Kaiso Zinc Finger DNA-Binding Activity by the Adjacent C-Terminal Loop. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415494. [PMID: 36555132 PMCID: PMC9779254 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Kaiso is a methyl-DNA-binding protein containing three C2H2 zinc fingers with a C-terminal extension that participates in DNA binding. The linker between the last zinc finger and the DNA-binding portion of the extension contains two prolines that are highly conserved in vertebrates and in cognate ZBTB4 and ZBTB38 proteins. Prolines provide chain rigidity and can exist in cis and trans conformations that can be switched by proline isomerases, affecting protein function. We found that substitution of the conserved proline P588, but not of P577, to alanine, negatively affected KaisoDNA-binding according to molecular dynamics simulation and in vitro DNA-binding assays. Molecular dynamics simulations of the Kaiso DNA-binding domain with P588 either substituted to alanine or switched to the cis-conformation revealed similar alterations in the H-bonding network and uncovered allosteric effects leading to structural rearrangements in the entire domain that resulted in the weakening of DNA-binding affinity. The substitution of proline with a large hydrophobic residue led to the same negative effects despite its ability to partially rescue the intrinsic DNA-binding activity of the C-terminal loop. Thus, the presence of the C-terminal extension and cis-conformation of proline residues are essential for efficient Kaiso-DNA binding, which likely involves intramolecular tension squeezing the DNA chain.
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41
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Richter WF, Nayak S, Iwasa J, Taatjes DJ. The Mediator complex as a master regulator of transcription by RNA polymerase II. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2022; 23:732-749. [PMID: 35725906 PMCID: PMC9207880 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00498-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The Mediator complex, which in humans is 1.4 MDa in size and includes 26 subunits, controls many aspects of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) function. Apart from its size, a defining feature of Mediator is its intrinsic disorder and conformational flexibility, which contributes to its ability to undergo phase separation and to interact with a myriad of regulatory factors. In this Review, we discuss Mediator structure and function, with emphasis on recent cryogenic electron microscopy data of the 4.0-MDa transcription preinitiation complex. We further discuss how Mediator and sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factors enable enhancer-dependent regulation of Pol II function at distal gene promoters, through the formation of molecular condensates (or transcription hubs) and chromatin loops. Mediator regulation of Pol II reinitiation is also discussed, in the context of transcription bursting. We propose a working model for Mediator function that combines experimental results and theoretical considerations related to enhancer-promoter interactions, which reconciles contradictory data regarding whether enhancer-promoter communication is direct or indirect. We conclude with a discussion of Mediator's potential as a therapeutic target and of future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- William F Richter
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Shraddha Nayak
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Janet Iwasa
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Dylan J Taatjes
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
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42
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Staller MV. Transcription factors perform a 2-step search of the nucleus. Genetics 2022; 222:iyac111. [PMID: 35939561 PMCID: PMC9526044 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors regulate gene expression by binding to regulatory DNA and recruiting regulatory protein complexes. The DNA-binding and protein-binding functions of transcription factors are traditionally described as independent functions performed by modular protein domains. Here, I argue that genome binding can be a 2-part process with both DNA-binding and protein-binding steps, enabling transcription factors to perform a 2-step search of the nucleus to find their appropriate binding sites in a eukaryotic genome. I support this hypothesis with new and old results in the literature, discuss how this hypothesis parsimoniously resolves outstanding problems, and present testable predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Valentín Staller
- Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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43
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Transcription activation is enhanced by multivalent interactions independent of phase separation. Mol Cell 2022; 82:1878-1893.e10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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