1
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Hehmeyer J, Spitz F, Marlow H. Shifting landscapes: the role of 3D genomic organizations in gene regulatory strategies. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 81:102064. [PMID: 37390583 PMCID: PMC10547022 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102064] [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: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
3D genome folding enables the physical storage of chromosomes into the compact volume of a cell's nucleus, allows for the accurate segregation of chromatin to daughter cells, and has been shown to be tightly coupled to the way in which genetic information is converted into transcriptional programs [1-3]. Importantly, this link between chromatin architecture and gene regulation is a selectable feature in which modifications to chromatin organization accompany, or perhaps even drive the establishment of new regulatory strategies with enduring impacts on animal body plan complexity. Here, we discuss the nature of different 3D genome folding systems found across the tree of life, with particular emphasis on metazoans, and the relative influence of these systems on gene regulation. We suggest how the properties of these folding systems have influenced regulatory strategies employed by different lineages and may have catalyzed the partitioning and specialization of genetic programs that enabled multicellularity and organ-grade body plan complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenks Hehmeyer
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, The University of Chicago, USA
| | - François Spitz
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, USA
| | - Heather Marlow
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, The University of Chicago, USA.
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2
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Acemel RD, Lupiáñez DG. Evolution of 3D chromatin organization at different scales. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 78:102019. [PMID: 36603519 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2022.102019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Most animal genomes fold in 3D chromatin domains called topologically associated domains (TADs) that facilitate interactions between cis-regulatory elements (CREs) and promoters. Owing to their critical role in the control of developmental gene expression, we explore how TADs have shaped animal evolution. In the light of recent studies that profile TADs in disparate animal lineages, we discuss their phylogenetic distribution and the mechanisms that underlie their formation. We present evidence indicating that TADs are plastic entities composed of genomic strata of different ages: ancient cores are combined with newer regions and brought into extant TADs through genomic rearrangements. We highlight that newly incorporated TAD strata enable the establishment of new CRE-promoter interactions and in turn new expression patterns that can drive phenotypical innovation. We further highlight how subtle changes in chromatin folding may fine-tune the expression levels of developmental genes and hold a potential for evolutionary significance.
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3
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Super-enhancers conserved within placental mammals maintain stem cell pluripotency. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2204716119. [PMID: 36161929 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2204716119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite pluripotent stem cells sharing key transcription factors, their maintenance involves distinct genetic inputs. Emerging evidence suggests that super-enhancers (SEs) can function as master regulatory hubs to control cell identity and pluripotency in humans and mice. However, whether pluripotency-associated SEs share an evolutionary origin in mammals remains elusive. Here, we performed comprehensive comparative epigenomic and transcription factor binding analyses among pigs, humans, and mice to identify pluripotency-associated SEs. Like typical enhancers, SEs displayed rapid evolution in mammals. We showed that BRD4 is an essential and conserved activator for mammalian pluripotency-associated SEs. Comparative motif enrichment analysis revealed 30 shared transcription factor binding motifs among the three species. The majority of transcriptional factors that bind to identified motifs are known regulators associated with pluripotency. Further, we discovered three pluripotency-associated SEs (SE-SOX2, SE-PIM1, and SE-FGFR1) that displayed remarkable conservation in placental mammals and were sufficient to drive reporter gene expression in a pluripotency-dependent manner. Disruption of these conserved SEs through the CRISPR-Cas9 approach severely impaired stem cell pluripotency. Our study provides insights into the understanding of conserved regulatory mechanisms underlying the maintenance of pluripotency as well as species-specific modulation of the pluripotency-associated regulatory networks in mammals.
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4
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Jasenosky LD, Nambu A, Tsytsykova AV, Ranjbar S, Haridas V, Kruidenier L, Tough DF, Goldfeld AE. Identification of a Distal Locus Enhancer Element That Controls Cell Type-Specific TNF and LTA Gene Expression in Human T Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 205:2479-2488. [PMID: 32978279 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1901311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The human TNF/LT locus genes TNF, LTA, and LTB are expressed in a cell type-specific manner. In this study, we show that a highly conserved NFAT binding site within the distal noncoding element hHS-8 coordinately controls TNF and LTA gene expression in human T cells. Upon activation of primary human CD4+ T cells, hHS-8 and the TNF and LTA promoters display increased H3K27 acetylation and nuclease sensitivity and coordinate induction of TNF, LTA, and hHS-8 enhancer RNA transcription occurs. Functional analyses using CRISPR/dead(d)Cas9 targeting of the hHS-8-NFAT site in the human T cell line CEM demonstrate significant reduction of TNF and LTA mRNA synthesis and of RNA polymerase II recruitment to their promoters. These studies elucidate how a distal element regulates the inducible cell type-specific gene expression program of the human TNF/LT locus and provide an approach for modulation of TNF and LTA transcription in human disease using CRISPR/dCas9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke D Jasenosky
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Aya Nambu
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Alla V Tsytsykova
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.,Program in Hematology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Shahin Ranjbar
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Viraga Haridas
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
| | | | - David F Tough
- Adaptive Immunity Research Unit, Medicines Research Centre, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Stevenage SG1 2NY, United Kingdom
| | - Anne E Goldfeld
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115;
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5
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Touceda-Suárez M, Kita EM, Acemel RD, Firbas PN, Magri MS, Naranjo S, Tena JJ, Gómez-Skarmeta JL, Maeso I, Irimia M. Ancient Genomic Regulatory Blocks Are a Source for Regulatory Gene Deserts in Vertebrates after Whole-Genome Duplications. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 37:2857-2864. [PMID: 32421818 PMCID: PMC7530604 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated how the two rounds of whole-genome duplication that occurred at the base of the vertebrate lineage have impacted ancient microsyntenic associations involving developmental regulators (known as genomic regulatory blocks, GRBs). We showed that the majority of GRBs identified in the last common ancestor of chordates have been maintained as a single copy in humans. We found evidence that dismantling of the duplicated GRB copies occurred early in vertebrate evolution often through the differential retention of the regulatory gene but loss of the bystander gene’s exonic sequences. Despite the large evolutionary scale, the presence of duplicated highly conserved noncoding regions provided unambiguous proof for this scenario for multiple ancient GRBs. Remarkably, the dismantling of ancient GRB duplicates has contributed to the creation of large gene deserts associated with regulatory genes in vertebrates, providing a potentially widespread mechanism for the origin of these enigmatic genomic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Touceda-Suárez
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, pain
| | - Elizabeth M Kita
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, pain
| | - Rafael D Acemel
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Seville, Spain
| | - Panos N Firbas
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Seville, Spain
| | - Marta S Magri
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Seville, Spain
| | - Silvia Naranjo
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Seville, Spain
| | - Juan J Tena
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Seville, Spain
| | - Jose Luis Gómez-Skarmeta
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Seville, Spain
| | - Ignacio Maeso
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Seville, Spain
| | - Manuel Irimia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, pain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
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6
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de Bruijn S, Zhao T, Muiño JM, Schranz EM, Angenent GC, Kaufmann K. PISTILLATA paralogs in Tarenaya hassleriana have diverged in interaction specificity. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 18:368. [PMID: 30577806 PMCID: PMC6303913 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-018-1574-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Floral organs are specified by MADS-domain transcription factors that act in a combinatorial manner, as summarized in the (A)BCE model. However, this evolutionarily conserved model is in contrast to a remarkable amount of morphological diversity in flowers. One of the mechanisms suggested to contribute to this diversity is duplication of floral MADS-domain transcription factors. Although gene duplication is often followed by loss of one of the copies, sometimes both copies are retained. If both copies are retained they will initially be redundant, providing freedom for one of the paralogs to change function. Here, we examine the evolutionary fate and functional consequences of a transposition event at the base of the Brassicales that resulted in the duplication of the floral regulator PISTILLATA (PI), using Tarenaya hassleriana (Cleomaceae) as a model system. RESULTS The transposition of a genomic region containing a PI gene led to two paralogs which are located at different positions in the genome. The original PI copy is syntenic in position with most angiosperms, whereas the transposed copy is syntenic with the PI genes in Brassicaceae. The two PI paralogs of T. hassleriana have very similar expression patterns. However, they may have diverged in function, as only one of these PI proteins was able to act heterologously in the first whorl of A. thaliana flowers. We also observed differences in protein complex formation between the two paralogs, and the two paralogs exhibit subtle differences in DNA-binding specificity. Sequence analysis indicates that most of the protein sequence divergence between the two T. hassleriana paralogs emerged in a common ancestor of the Cleomaceae and the Brassicaceae. CONCLUSIONS We found that the PI paralogs in T. hassleriana have similar expression patterns, but may have diverged at the level of protein function. Data suggest that most protein sequence divergence occurred rapidly, prior to the origin of the Brassicaceae and Cleomaceae. It is tempting to speculate that the interaction specificities of the Brassicaceae-specific PI proteins are different compared to the PI found in other angiosperms. This could lead to PI regulating partly different genes in the Brassicaceae, and ultimately might result in change floral in morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne de Bruijn
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Bioscience, Wageningen Plant Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tao Zhao
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jose M. Muiño
- Institute for Biology, Systems Biology of Gene Regulation, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eric M. Schranz
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gerco C. Angenent
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Bioscience, Wageningen Plant Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kerstin Kaufmann
- Institute for Biology, Plant Cell and Molecular Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstraße 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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7
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Moretti AIS, Pavanelli JC, Nolasco P, Leisegang MS, Tanaka LY, Fernandes CG, Wosniak J, Kajihara D, Dias MH, Fernandes DC, Jo H, Tran NV, Ebersberger I, Brandes RP, Bonatto D, Laurindo FRM. Conserved Gene Microsynteny Unveils Functional Interaction Between Protein Disulfide Isomerase and Rho Guanine-Dissociation Inhibitor Families. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17262. [PMID: 29222525 PMCID: PMC5722932 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16947-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein disulfide isomerases (PDIs) support endoplasmic reticulum redox protein folding and cell-surface thiol-redox control of thrombosis and vascular remodeling. The family prototype PDIA1 regulates NADPH oxidase signaling and cytoskeleton organization, however the related underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here we show that genes encoding human PDIA1 and its two paralogs PDIA8 and PDIA2 are each flanked by genes encoding Rho guanine-dissociation inhibitors (GDI), known regulators of RhoGTPases/cytoskeleton. Evolutionary histories of these three microsyntenic regions reveal their emergence by two successive duplication events of a primordial gene pair in the last common vertebrate ancestor. The arrangement, however, is substantially older, detectable in echinoderms, nematodes, and cnidarians. Thus, PDI/RhoGDI pairing in the same transcription orientation emerged early in animal evolution and has been largely maintained. PDI/RhoGDI pairs are embedded into conserved genomic regions displaying common cis-regulatory elements. Analysis of gene expression datasets supports evidence for PDI/RhoGDI coexpression in developmental/inflammatory contexts. PDIA1/RhoGDIα were co-induced in endothelial cells upon CRISP-R-promoted transcription activation of each pair component, and also in mouse arterial intima during flow-induced remodeling. We provide evidence for physical interaction between both proteins. These data support strong functional links between PDI and RhoGDI families, which likely maintained PDI/RhoGDI microsynteny along > 800-million years of evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana I S Moretti
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Heart Institute (Incor), University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jessyca C Pavanelli
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Heart Institute (Incor), University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Nolasco
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Heart Institute (Incor), University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Leonardo Y Tanaka
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Heart Institute (Incor), University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolina G Fernandes
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Heart Institute (Incor), University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - João Wosniak
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Heart Institute (Incor), University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniela Kajihara
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Heart Institute (Incor), University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Matheus H Dias
- Special Laboratory for Cell Cycle, Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling - CeTICS-Cepid, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Denise C Fernandes
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Heart Institute (Incor), University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Hanjoong Jo
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, USA
| | - Ngoc-Vinh Tran
- Applied Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ingo Ebersberger
- Applied Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center (BiK-F), Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ralf P Brandes
- Institut für Kardiovaskuläre Physiologie, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Diego Bonatto
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Francisco R M Laurindo
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Heart Institute (Incor), University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
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8
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Abstract
The first animals evolved from an unknown single-celled ancestor in the Precambrian period. Recently, the identification and characterization of the genomic and cellular traits of the protists most closely related to animals have shed light on the origin of animals. Comparisons of animals with these unicellular relatives allow us to reconstruct the first evolutionary steps towards animal multicellularity. Here, we review the results of these investigations and discuss their implications for understanding the earliest stages of animal evolution, including the origin of metazoan genes and genome function.
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9
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Gaiti F, Jindrich K, Fernandez-Valverde SL, Roper KE, Degnan BM, Tanurdžić M. Landscape of histone modifications in a sponge reveals the origin of animal cis-regulatory complexity. eLife 2017; 6:22194. [PMID: 28395144 PMCID: PMC5429095 DOI: 10.7554/elife.22194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Combinatorial patterns of histone modifications regulate developmental and cell type-specific gene expression and underpin animal complexity, but it is unclear when this regulatory system evolved. By analysing histone modifications in a morphologically-simple, early branching animal, the sponge Amphimedonqueenslandica, we show that the regulatory landscape used by complex bilaterians was already in place at the dawn of animal multicellularity. This includes distal enhancers, repressive chromatin and transcriptional units marked by H3K4me3 that vary with levels of developmental regulation. Strikingly, Amphimedon enhancers are enriched in metazoan-specific microsyntenic units, suggesting that their genomic location is extremely ancient and likely to place constraints on the evolution of surrounding genes. These results suggest that the regulatory foundation for spatiotemporal gene expression evolved prior to the divergence of sponges and eumetazoans, and was necessary for the evolution of animal multicellularity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Gaiti
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Katia Jindrich
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Kathrein E Roper
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Bernard M Degnan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Miloš Tanurdžić
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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10
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Acemel RD, Maeso I, Gómez-Skarmeta JL. Topologically associated domains: a successful scaffold for the evolution of gene regulation in animals. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2017; 6. [DOI: 10.1002/wdev.265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael D. Acemel
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD); Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Universidad Pablo de Olavide; Seville Spain
| | - Ignacio Maeso
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD); Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Universidad Pablo de Olavide; Seville Spain
| | - José Luis Gómez-Skarmeta
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD); Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Universidad Pablo de Olavide; Seville Spain
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11
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Snake Genome Sequencing: Results and Future Prospects. Toxins (Basel) 2016; 8:toxins8120360. [PMID: 27916957 PMCID: PMC5198554 DOI: 10.3390/toxins8120360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Snake genome sequencing is in its infancy—very much behind the progress made in sequencing the genomes of humans, model organisms and pathogens relevant to biomedical research, and agricultural species. We provide here an overview of some of the snake genome projects in progress, and discuss the biological findings, with special emphasis on toxinology, from the small number of draft snake genomes already published. We discuss the future of snake genomics, pointing out that new sequencing technologies will help overcome the problem of repetitive sequences in assembling snake genomes. Genome sequences are also likely to be valuable in examining the clustering of toxin genes on the chromosomes, in designing recombinant antivenoms and in studying the epigenetic regulation of toxin gene expression.
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12
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Gaiti F, Calcino AD, Tanurdžić M, Degnan BM. Origin and evolution of the metazoan non-coding regulatory genome. Dev Biol 2016; 427:193-202. [PMID: 27880868 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2016] [Revised: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Animals rely on genomic regulatory systems to direct the dynamic spatiotemporal and cell-type specific gene expression that is essential for the development and maintenance of a multicellular lifestyle. Although it is widely appreciated that these systems ultimately evolved from genomic regulatory mechanisms present in single-celled stem metazoans, it remains unclear how this occurred. Here, we focus on the contribution of the non-coding portion of the genome to the evolution of animal gene regulation, specifically on recent insights from non-bilaterian metazoan lineages, and unicellular and colonial holozoan sister taxa. High-throughput next-generation sequencing, largely in bilaterian model species, has led to the discovery of tens of thousands of non-coding RNA genes (ncRNAs), including short, long and circular forms, and uncovered the central roles they play in development. Based on the analysis of non-bilaterian metazoan, unicellular holozoan and fungal genomes, the evolution of some ncRNAs, such as Piwi-interacting RNAs, correlates with the emergence of metazoan multicellularity, while others, including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs, appear to be more ancient. Analysis of non-coding regulatory DNA and histone post-translational modifications have revealed that some cis-regulatory mechanisms, such as those associated with proximal promoters, are present in non-animal holozoans, while others appear to be metazoan innovations, most notably distal enhancers. In contrast, the cohesin-CTCF system for regulating higher-order chromatin structure and enhancer-promoter long-range interactions appears to be restricted to bilaterians. Taken together, most bilaterian non-coding regulatory mechanisms appear to have originated before the divergence of crown metazoans. However, differential expansion of non-coding RNA and cis-regulatory DNA repertoires in bilaterians may account for their increased regulatory and morphological complexity relative to non-bilaterians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Gaiti
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Andrew D Calcino
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Miloš Tanurdžić
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Bernard M Degnan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
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13
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Sebé-Pedrós A, Ballaré C, Parra-Acero H, Chiva C, Tena JJ, Sabidó E, Gómez-Skarmeta JL, Di Croce L, Ruiz-Trillo I. The Dynamic Regulatory Genome of Capsaspora and the Origin of Animal Multicellularity. Cell 2016; 165:1224-1237. [PMID: 27114036 PMCID: PMC4877666 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Revised: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The unicellular ancestor of animals had a complex repertoire of genes linked to multicellular processes. This suggests that changes in the regulatory genome, rather than in gene innovation, were key to the origin of animals. Here, we carry out multiple functional genomic assays in Capsaspora owczarzaki, the unicellular relative of animals with the largest known gene repertoire for transcriptional regulation. We show that changing chromatin states, differential lincRNA expression, and dynamic cis-regulatory sites are associated with life cycle transitions in Capsaspora. Moreover, we demonstrate conservation of animal developmental transcription-factor networks and extensive network interconnection in this premetazoan organism. In contrast, however, Capsaspora lacks animal promoter types, and its regulatory sites are small, proximal, and lack signatures of animal enhancers. Overall, our results indicate that the emergence of animal multicellularity was linked to a major shift in genome cis-regulatory complexity, most notably the appearance of distal enhancer regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnau Sebé-Pedrós
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Cecilia Ballaré
- Center for Genomic Regulation, Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Helena Parra-Acero
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Chiva
- Center for Genomic Regulation, Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan J Tena
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Carretera de Utrera Km1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Eduard Sabidó
- Center for Genomic Regulation, Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Luis Gómez-Skarmeta
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Carretera de Utrera Km1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Luciano Di Croce
- Center for Genomic Regulation, Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Pg Lluis Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Pg Lluis Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Genètica, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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Comelli P, Glowa D, Chandler JW, Werr W. Founder-cell-specific transcription of the DORNRÖSCHEN-LIKE promoter and integration of the auxin response. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2016; 67:143-155. [PMID: 26428063 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erv442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Transcription of the DORNRÖSCHEN (DRNL) promoter marks lateral-organ founder cells throughout Arabidopsis development, from cotyledons to flowers or floral organs. In the inflorescence apex, DRNL::GFP depicts incipient floral phyllotaxy, and organs in the four floral whorls are differentially prepatterned: the sepals unidirectionally along an abaxial-adaxial axis, the four petals and two lateral stamens in two putative morphogenetic fields, and the medial stamens subsequently in a ring-shaped domain, before two groups of carpel founder cells are specified. The dynamic DRNL transcription pattern is controlled by three enhancer elements, which redundantly and synergistically control qualitative or quantitative aspects of expression, and differentially integrate the auxin response in Arabidopsis inflorescence and floral meristems. The high sequence conservation of all three enhancer elements among the Brassicaceae is striking, which suggests that densely packed cis-regulatory elements are conserved to recruit multiple transcription factors, including auxin response factors, into higher-order enhanceosome complexes. The spatial organization of the enhancers is also conserved, by a microsynteny that extends beyond the Brassicaceae, which relates to enhancer sharing, as the distal element En1 bidirectionally serves DRNL and the upstream At1g24600 gene; the genes are transcribed in opposite directions and possibly comprise a conserved functional chromatin domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Comelli
- Institute of Developmental Biology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str. 47b, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Dorothea Glowa
- Institute of Developmental Biology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str. 47b, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - John W Chandler
- Institute of Developmental Biology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str. 47b, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Werr
- Institute of Developmental Biology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str. 47b, 50674 Cologne, Germany
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15
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Maeso I, Tena JJ. Favorable genomic environments for cis-regulatory evolution: A novel theoretical framework. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2015; 57:2-10. [PMID: 26673387 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Revised: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Cis-regulatory changes are arguably the primary evolutionary source of animal morphological diversity. With the recent explosion of genome-wide comparisons of the cis-regulatory content in different animal species is now possible to infer general principles underlying enhancer evolution. However, these studies have also revealed numerous discrepancies and paradoxes, suggesting that the mechanistic causes and modes of cis-regulatory evolution are still not well understood and are probably much more complex than generally appreciated. Here, we argue that the mutational mechanisms and genomic regions generating new regulatory activities must comply with the constraints imposed by the molecular properties of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) and the organizational features of long-range chromatin interactions. Accordingly, we propose a new integrative evolutionary framework for cis-regulatory evolution based on two major premises for the origin of novel enhancer activity: (i) an accessible chromatin environment and (ii) compatibility with the 3D structure and interactions of pre-existing CREs. Mechanisms and DNA sequences not fulfilling these premises, will be less likely to have a measurable impact on gene expression and as such, will have a minor contribution to the evolution of gene regulation. Finally, we discuss current comparative cis-regulatory data under the light of this new evolutionary model, and propose that the two most prominent mechanisms for the evolution of cis-regulatory changes are the overprinting of ancestral CREs and the exaptation of transposable elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Maeso
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CSIC/UPO/JA), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain.
| | - Juan J Tena
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CSIC/UPO/JA), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain.
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Farré M, Robinson TJ, Ruiz-Herrera A. An Integrative Breakage Model of genome architecture, reshuffling and evolution: The Integrative Breakage Model of genome evolution, a novel multidisciplinary hypothesis for the study of genome plasticity. Bioessays 2015; 37:479-88. [PMID: 25739389 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201400174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Revised: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Our understanding of genomic reorganization, the mechanics of genomic transmission to offspring during germ line formation, and how these structural changes contribute to the speciation process, and genetic disease is far from complete. Earlier attempts to understand the mechanism(s) and constraints that govern genome remodeling suffered from being too narrowly focused, and failed to provide a unified and encompassing view of how genomes are organized and regulated inside cells. Here, we propose a new multidisciplinary Integrative Breakage Model for the study of genome evolution. The analysis of the high-level structural organization of genomes (nucleome), together with the functional constrains that accompany genome reshuffling, provide insights into the origin and plasticity of genome organization that may assist with the detection and isolation of therapeutic targets for the treatment of complex human disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Farré
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus UAB, Barcelona, Spain
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17
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Abstract
An unexpectedly large fraction of genes in metazoans (human, mouse, zebrafish, worm, fruit fly) express high levels of circularized RNAs containing canonical exons. Here we report that circular RNA isoforms are found in diverse species whose most recent common ancestor existed more than one billion years ago: fungi (Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Saccharomyces cerevisiae), a plant (Arabidopsis thaliana), and protists (Plasmodium falciparum and Dictyostelium discoideum). For all species studied to date, including those in this report, only a small fraction of the theoretically possible circular RNA isoforms from a given gene are actually observed. Unlike metazoans, Arabidopsis, D. discoideum, P. falciparum, S. cerevisiae, and S. pombe have very short introns (∼100 nucleotides or shorter), yet they still produce circular RNAs. A minority of genes in S. pombe and P. falciparum have documented examples of canonical alternative splicing, making it unlikely that all circular RNAs are by-products of alternative splicing or ‘piggyback’ on signals used in alternative RNA processing. In S. pombe, the relative abundance of circular to linear transcript isoforms changed in a gene-specific pattern during nitrogen starvation. Circular RNA may be an ancient, conserved feature of eukaryotic gene expression programs.
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18
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Maeso I, Irimia M, Tena JJ, Casares F, Gómez-Skarmeta JL. Deep conservation of cis-regulatory elements in metazoans. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2013; 368:20130020. [PMID: 24218633 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the vast morphological variation observed across phyla, animals share multiple basic developmental processes orchestrated by a common ancestral gene toolkit. These genes interact with each other building complex gene regulatory networks (GRNs), which are encoded in the genome by cis-regulatory elements (CREs) that serve as computational units of the network. Although GRN subcircuits involved in ancient developmental processes are expected to be at least partially conserved, identification of CREs that are conserved across phyla has remained elusive. Here, we review recent studies that revealed such deeply conserved CREs do exist, discuss the difficulties associated with their identification and describe new approaches that will facilitate this search.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Maeso
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, , Oxford, UK
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