1
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Condemi L, Mocavini I, Aranda S, Di Croce L. Polycomb function in early mouse development. Cell Death Differ 2024:10.1038/s41418-024-01340-3. [PMID: 38997437 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-024-01340-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic factors are crucial for ensuring proper chromatin dynamics during the initial stages of embryo development. Among these factors, the Polycomb group (PcG) of proteins plays a key role in establishing correct transcriptional programmes during mouse embryogenesis. PcG proteins are classified into two complexes: Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) and PRC2. Both complexes decorate histone proteins with distinct post-translational modifications (PTMs) that are predictive of a silent transcriptional chromatin state. In recent years, a critical adaptation of the classical techniques to analyse chromatin profiles and to study biochemical interactions at low-input resolution has allowed us to deeply explore PcG molecular mechanisms in the very early stages of mouse embryo development- from fertilisation to gastrulation, and from zygotic genome activation (ZGA) to specific lineages differentiation. These advancements provide a foundation for a deeper understanding of the fundamental role Polycomb complexes play in early development and have elucidated the mechanistic dynamics of PRC1 and PRC2. In this review, we discuss the functions and molecular mechanisms of both PRC1 and PRC2 during early mouse embryo development, integrating new studies with existing knowledge. Furthermore, we highlight the molecular functionality of Polycomb complexes from ZGA through gastrulation, with a particular focus on non-canonical imprinted and bivalent genes, and Hox cluster regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Condemi
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ivano Mocavini
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Sergi Aranda
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luciano Di Croce
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
- ICREA, Pg. Lluis Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain.
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2
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Wan R, Zhang Y, Peng Y, Tian F, Gao G, Tang F, Jia J, Ge H. Unveiling gene regulatory networks during cellular state transitions without linkage across time points. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12355. [PMID: 38811747 PMCID: PMC11137113 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62850-1] [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: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Time-stamped cross-sectional data, which lack linkage across time points, are commonly generated in single-cell transcriptional profiling. Many previous methods for inferring gene regulatory networks (GRNs) driving cell-state transitions relied on constructing single-cell temporal ordering. Introducing COSLIR (COvariance restricted Sparse LInear Regression), we presented a direct approach to reconstructing GRNs that govern cell-state transitions, utilizing only the first and second moments of samples between two consecutive time points. Simulations validated COSLIR's perfect accuracy in the oracle case and demonstrated its robust performance in real-world scenarios. When applied to single-cell RT-PCR and RNAseq datasets in developmental biology, COSLIR competed favorably with existing methods. Notably, its running time remained nearly independent of the number of cells. Therefore, COSLIR emerges as a promising addition to GRN reconstruction methods under cell-state transitions, bypassing the single-cell temporal ordering to enhance accuracy and efficiency in single-cell transcriptional profiling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruosi Wan
- Beijing International Center for Mathematical Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhao Zhang
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yongli Peng
- Beijing International Center for Mathematical Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Tian
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ge Gao
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Fuchou Tang
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinzhu Jia
- School of Public Health and Center for Statistical Science, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Hao Ge
- Beijing International Center for Mathematical Research, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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3
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Gao Y, Han W, Dong R, Wei S, Chen L, Gu Z, Liu Y, Guo W, Yan F. Efficient Reprogramming of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells into Trophoblast Stem-like Cells via Lats Kinase Inhibition. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:71. [PMID: 38392290 PMCID: PMC10886645 DOI: 10.3390/biology13020071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Mouse zygotes undergo multiple rounds of cell division, resulting in the formation of preimplantation blastocysts comprising three lineages: trophectoderm (TE), epiblast (EPI), and primitive endoderm (PrE). Cell fate determination plays a crucial role in establishing a healthy pregnancy. The initial separation of lineages gives rise to TE and inner cell mass (ICM), from which trophoblast stem cells (TSC) and embryonic stem cells (ESC) can be derived in vitro. Studying lineage differentiation is greatly facilitated by the clear functional distinction between TSC and ESC. However, transitioning between these two types of cells naturally poses challenges. In this study, we demonstrate that inhibiting LATS kinase promotes the conversion of ICM to TE and also effectively reprograms ESC into stable, self-renewing TS-like cells (TSLC). Compared to TSC, TSLC exhibits similar molecular properties, including the high expression of marker genes such as Cdx2, Eomes, and Tfap2c, as well as hypomethylation of their promoters. Importantly, TSLC not only displays the ability to differentiate into mature trophoblast cells in vitro but also participates in placenta formation in vivo. These findings highlight the efficient reprogramming of ESCs into TSLCs using a small molecular inducer, which provides a new reference for understanding the regulatory network between ESCs and TSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yake Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Wuhan Women's and Children's Medical Care Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Wenrui Han
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Rui Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Shu Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Lu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Zhaolei Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yiming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Wei Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Fang Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources, Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
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4
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Murphy D, Salataj E, Di Giammartino DC, Rodriguez-Hernaez J, Kloetgen A, Garg V, Char E, Uyehara CM, Ee LS, Lee U, Stadtfeld M, Hadjantonakis AK, Tsirigos A, Polyzos A, Apostolou E. 3D Enhancer-promoter networks provide predictive features for gene expression and coregulation in early embryonic lineages. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024; 31:125-140. [PMID: 38053013 PMCID: PMC10897904 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01130-4] [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: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian embryogenesis commences with two pivotal and binary cell fate decisions that give rise to three essential lineages: the trophectoderm, the epiblast and the primitive endoderm. Although key signaling pathways and transcription factors that control these early embryonic decisions have been identified, the non-coding regulatory elements through which transcriptional regulators enact these fates remain understudied. Here, we characterize, at a genome-wide scale, enhancer activity and 3D connectivity in embryo-derived stem cell lines that represent each of the early developmental fates. We observe extensive enhancer remodeling and fine-scale 3D chromatin rewiring among the three lineages, which strongly associate with transcriptional changes, although distinct groups of genes are irresponsive to topological changes. In each lineage, a high degree of connectivity, or 'hubness', positively correlates with levels of gene expression and enriches for cell-type specific and essential genes. Genes within 3D hubs also show a significantly stronger probability of coregulation across lineages compared to genes in linear proximity or within the same contact domains. By incorporating 3D chromatin features, we build a predictive model for transcriptional regulation (3D-HiChAT) that outperforms models using only 1D promoter or proximal variables to predict levels and cell-type specificity of gene expression. Using 3D-HiChAT, we identify, in silico, candidate functional enhancers and hubs in each cell lineage, and with CRISPRi experiments, we validate several enhancers that control gene expression in their respective lineages. Our study identifies 3D regulatory hubs associated with the earliest mammalian lineages and describes their relationship to gene expression and cell identity, providing a framework to comprehensively understand lineage-specific transcriptional behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Murphy
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eralda Salataj
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dafne Campigli Di Giammartino
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- 3D Chromatin Conformation and RNA Genomics Laboratory, Center for Human Technologies (CHT), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova, Italy
| | - Javier Rodriguez-Hernaez
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratory, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andreas Kloetgen
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratory, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vidur Garg
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Erin Char
- Tri-Institutional Training Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christopher M Uyehara
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ly-Sha Ee
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - UkJin Lee
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthias Stadtfeld
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aristotelis Tsirigos
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratory, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Alexander Polyzos
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Effie Apostolou
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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5
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Zhang W, Sun S, Wang Q, Li X, Xu M, Li Q, Zhao Y, Peng K, Yao C, Wang Y, Chang Y, Liu Y, Wu X, Gao Q, Shuai L. Haploid-genetic screening of trophectoderm specification identifies Dyrk1a as a repressor of totipotent-like status. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi5683. [PMID: 38117886 PMCID: PMC10732524 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi5683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Trophectoderm (TE) and the inner cell mass are the first two lineages in murine embryogenesis and cannot naturally transit to each other. The barriers between them are unclear and fascinating. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) retain the identities of inner cell mass and TE, respectively, and, thus, are ideal platforms to investigate these lineages in vitro. Here, we develop a loss-of-function genetic screening in haploid ESCs and reveal many mutations involved in the conversion of TSCs. The disruption of either Catip or Dyrk1a (candidates) in ESCs facilitates the conversion of TSCs. According to transcriptome analysis, we find that the repression of Dyrk1a activates totipotency, which is a possible reason for TE specification. Dyrk1a-null ESCs can contribute to embryonic and extraembryonic tissues in chimeras and can efficiently form blastocyst-like structures, indicating their totipotent developmental abilities. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying cell fate alternation in embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Human Development and Reproductive Regulation, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Shengyi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Human Development and Reproductive Regulation, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Qing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Human Development and Reproductive Regulation, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Xu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Human Development and Reproductive Regulation, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Mei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Human Development and Reproductive Regulation, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Qian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Yiding Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Human Development and Reproductive Regulation, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Keli Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Human Development and Reproductive Regulation, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Chunmeng Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Human Development and Reproductive Regulation, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yuna Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Human Development and Reproductive Regulation, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Ying Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Human Development and Reproductive Regulation, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Obstetrics, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Xudong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Qian Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Human Development and Reproductive Regulation, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Ling Shuai
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy and Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Human Development and Reproductive Regulation, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
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6
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Patil K, Wang Y, Chen Z, Suresh K, Radhakrishnan R. Activating mutations drive human MEK1 kinase using a gear-shifting mechanism. Biochem J 2023; 480:1733-1751. [PMID: 37869794 PMCID: PMC10872882 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20230281] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
There is an unmet need to classify cancer-promoting kinase mutations in a mechanistically cognizant way. The challenge is to understand how mutations stabilize different kinase configurations to alter function, and how this influences pathogenic potential of the kinase and its responses to therapeutic inhibitors. This goal is made more challenging by the complexity of the mutational landscape of diseases, and is further compounded by the conformational plasticity of each variant where multiple conformations coexist. We focus here on the human MEK1 kinase, a vital component of the RAS/MAPK pathway in which mutations cause cancers and developmental disorders called RASopathies. We sought to explore how these mutations alter the human MEK1 kinase at atomic resolution by utilizing enhanced sampling simulations and free energy calculations. We computationally mapped the different conformational stabilities of individual mutated systems by delineating the free energy landscapes, and showed how this relates directly to experimentally quantified developmental transformation potentials of the mutations. We conclude that mutations leverage variations in the hydrogen bonding network associated with the conformational plasticity to progressively stabilize the active-like conformational state of the kinase while destabilizing the inactive-like state. The mutations alter residue-level internal molecular correlations by differentially prioritizing different conformational states, delineating the various modes of MEK1 activation reminiscent of a gear-shifting mechanism. We define the molecular basis of conversion of this kinase from its inactive to its active state, connecting structure, dynamics, and function by delineating the energy landscape and conformational plasticity, thus augmenting our understanding of MEK1 regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keshav Patil
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A
| | - Yiming Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A
| | - Zhangtao Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A
| | - Krishna Suresh
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A
| | - Ravi Radhakrishnan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A
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7
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Ju LF, Xu HJ, Yang YG, Yang Y. Omics Views of Mechanisms for Cell Fate Determination in Early Mammalian Development. GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2023; 21:950-961. [PMID: 37075831 PMCID: PMC10928378 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2023.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
During mammalian preimplantation development, a totipotent zygote undergoes several cell cleavages and two rounds of cell fate determination, ultimately forming a mature blastocyst. Along with compaction, the establishment of apicobasal cell polarity breaks the symmetry of an embryo and guides subsequent cell fate choice. Although the lineage segregation of the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) is the first symbol of cell differentiation, several molecules have been shown to bias the early cell fate through their inter-cellular variations at much earlier stages, including the 2- and 4-cell stages. The underlying mechanisms of early cell fate determination have long been an important research topic. In this review, we summarize the molecular events that occur during early embryogenesis, as well as the current understanding of their regulatory roles in cell fate decisions. Moreover, as powerful tools for early embryogenesis research, single-cell omics techniques have been applied to both mouse and human preimplantation embryos and have contributed to the discovery of cell fate regulators. Here, we summarize their applications in the research of preimplantation embryos, and provide new insights and perspectives on cell fate regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin-Fang Ju
- Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Heng-Ji Xu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yun-Gui Yang
- Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing 100101, China; Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Ying Yang
- Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing 100101, China; Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
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8
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Wang L, Zheng Y, Sun Y, Mao S, Li H, Bo X, Li C, Chen H. TimeTalk uses single-cell RNA-seq datasets to decipher cell-cell communication during early embryo development. Commun Biol 2023; 6:901. [PMID: 37660148 PMCID: PMC10475079 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05283-2] [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: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Early embryonic development is a dynamic process that relies on proper cell-cell communication to form a correctly patterned embryo. Early embryo development-related ligand-receptor pairs (eLRs) have been shown to guide cell fate decisions and morphogenesis. However, the scope of eLRs and their influence on early embryo development remain elusive. Here, we developed a computational framework named TimeTalk from integrated public time-course mouse scRNA-seq datasets to decipher the secret of eLRs. Extensive validations and analyses were performed to ensure the involvement of identified eLRs in early embryo development. Process analysis identified that eLRs could be divided into six temporal windows corresponding to sequential events in the early embryo development process. With the interpolation strategy, TimeTalk is powerful in revealing paracrine settings and studying cell-cell communication during early embryo development. Furthermore, by using TimeTalk in the blastocyst and blastoid models, we found that the blastoid models share the core communication pathways with the epiblast and primitive endoderm lineages in the blastocysts. This result suggests that TimeTalk has transferability to other bio-dynamic processes. We also curated eLRs recognized by TimeTalk, which may provide valuable clues for understanding early embryo development and relevant disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longteng Wang
- Peking University-Tsinghua University-National Institute of Biological Sciences Joint Graduate Program, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Center for Statistical Science, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yang Zheng
- Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Yu Sun
- Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Shulin Mao
- Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Center for Statistical Science, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Yuanpei College, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Hao Li
- Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Xiaochen Bo
- Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Center for Statistical Science, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Cheng Li
- Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Center for Statistical Science, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Hebing Chen
- Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China.
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9
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Murphy D, Salataj E, Di Giammartino DC, Rodriguez-Hernaez J, Kloetgen A, Garg V, Char E, Uyehara CM, Ee LS, Lee U, Stadtfeld M, Hadjantonakis AK, Tsirigos A, Polyzos A, Apostolou E. Systematic mapping and modeling of 3D enhancer-promoter interactions in early mouse embryonic lineages reveal regulatory principles that determine the levels and cell-type specificity of gene expression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.19.549714. [PMID: 37577543 PMCID: PMC10422694 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.19.549714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian embryogenesis commences with two pivotal and binary cell fate decisions that give rise to three essential lineages, the trophectoderm (TE), the epiblast (EPI) and the primitive endoderm (PrE). Although key signaling pathways and transcription factors that control these early embryonic decisions have been identified, the non-coding regulatory elements via which transcriptional regulators enact these fates remain understudied. To address this gap, we have characterized, at a genome-wide scale, enhancer activity and 3D connectivity in embryo-derived stem cell lines that represent each of the early developmental fates. We observed extensive enhancer remodeling and fine-scale 3D chromatin rewiring among the three lineages, which strongly associate with transcriptional changes, although there are distinct groups of genes that are irresponsive to topological changes. In each lineage, a high degree of connectivity or "hubness" positively correlates with levels of gene expression and enriches for cell-type specific and essential genes. Genes within 3D hubs also show a significantly stronger probability of coregulation across lineages, compared to genes in linear proximity or within the same contact domains. By incorporating 3D chromatin features, we build a novel predictive model for transcriptional regulation (3D-HiChAT), which outperformed models that use only 1D promoter or proximal variables in predicting levels and cell-type specificity of gene expression. Using 3D-HiChAT, we performed genome-wide in silico perturbations to nominate candidate functional enhancers and hubs in each cell lineage, and with CRISPRi experiments we validated several novel enhancers that control expression of one or more genes in their respective lineages. Our study comprehensively identifies 3D regulatory hubs associated with the earliest mammalian lineages and describes their relationship to gene expression and cell identity, providing a framework to understand lineage-specific transcriptional behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Murphy
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eralda Salataj
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Dafne Campigli Di Giammartino
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- 3D Chromatin Conformation and RNA genomics laboratory, Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Center for Human Technologies (CHT), Genova, Italy (current affiliation)
| | - Javier Rodriguez-Hernaez
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratory, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Andreas Kloetgen
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratory, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Vidur Garg
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Erin Char
- Tri-Institutional Training Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, 10065, New York, USA
| | - Christopher M. Uyehara
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ly-sha Ee
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - UkJin Lee
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Matthias Stadtfeld
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Aristotelis Tsirigos
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratory, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Alexander Polyzos
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Effie Apostolou
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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10
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Ping W, Sheng Y, Hu G, Zhong H, Li Y, Liu Y, Luo W, Yan C, Wen Y, Wang X, Li Q, Guo R, Zhang J, Liu A, Pan G, Yao H. RBBP4 is an epigenetic barrier for the induced transition of pluripotent stem cells into totipotent 2C-like cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:5414-5431. [PMID: 37021556 PMCID: PMC10287929 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular totipotency is critical for whole-organism generation, yet how totipotency is established remains poorly illustrated. Abundant transposable elements (TEs) are activated in totipotent cells, which is critical for embryonic totipotency. Here, we show that the histone chaperone RBBP4, but not its homolog RBBP7, is indispensable for maintaining the identity of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Auxin-induced degradation of RBBP4, but not RBBP7, reprograms mESCs to the totipotent 2C-like cells. Also, loss of RBBP4 enhances transition from mESCs to trophoblast cells. Mechanistically, RBBP4 binds to the endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) and functions as an upstream regulator by recruiting G9a to deposit H3K9me2 on ERVL elements, and recruiting KAP1 to deposit H3K9me3 on ERV1/ERVK elements, respectively. Moreover, RBBP4 facilitates the maintenance of nucleosome occupancy at the ERVK and ERVL sites within heterochromatin regions through the chromatin remodeler CHD4. RBBP4 depletion leads to the loss of the heterochromatin marks and activation of TEs and 2C genes. Together, our findings illustrate that RBBP4 is required for heterochromatin assembly and is a critical barrier for inducing cell fate transition from pluripotency to totipotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wangfang Ping
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yingliang Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Gongcheng Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongxin Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yaoyi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - YanJiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chenghong Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yulin Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinxiu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ake Liu
- Department of Life Sciences, Changzhi University, Changzhi, China
| | - Guangjin Pan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongjie Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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11
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Zhou C, Halstead MM, Bonnet‐Garnier A, Schultz RM, Ross PJ. Histone remodeling reflects conserved mechanisms of bovine and human preimplantation development. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e55726. [PMID: 36779365 PMCID: PMC9986824 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202255726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023] Open
Abstract
How histone modifications regulate changes in gene expression during preimplantation development in any species remains poorly understood. Using CUT&Tag to overcome limiting amounts of biological material, we profiled two activating (H3K4me3 and H3K27ac) and two repressive (H3K9me3 and H3K27me3) marks in bovine oocytes, 2-, 4-, and 8-cell embryos, morula, blastocysts, inner cell mass, and trophectoderm. In oocytes, broad bivalent domains mark developmental genes, and prior to embryonic genome activation (EGA), H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 co-occupy gene bodies, suggesting a global mechanism for transcription repression. During EGA, chromatin accessibility is established before canonical H3K4me3 and H3K27ac signatures. Embryonic transcription is required for this remodeling, indicating that maternally provided products alone are insufficient for reprogramming. Last, H3K27me3 plays a major role in restriction of cellular potency, as blastocyst lineages are defined by differential polycomb repression and transcription factor activity. Notably, inferred regulators of EGA and blastocyst formation strongly resemble those described in humans, as opposed to mice. These similarities suggest that cattle are a better model than rodents to investigate the molecular basis of human preimplantation development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Zhou
- Department of Animal Science University of CaliforniaDavisCAUSA
| | - Michelle M Halstead
- Université Paris‐Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREEDJouy‐en‐JosasFrance
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREEDMaisons‐AlfortFrance
| | - Amélie Bonnet‐Garnier
- Université Paris‐Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREEDJouy‐en‐JosasFrance
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREEDMaisons‐AlfortFrance
| | - Richard M Schultz
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCAUSA
- Department of BiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - Pablo J Ross
- Department of Animal Science University of CaliforniaDavisCAUSA
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12
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Abstract
Organ development and homeostasis involve dynamic interactions between individual cells that collectively regulate tissue architecture and function. To ensure the highest tissue fidelity, equally fit cell populations are continuously renewed by stochastic replacement events, while cells perceived as less fit are actively removed by their fitter counterparts. This renewal is mediated by surveillance mechanisms that are collectively known as cell competition. Recent studies have revealed that cell competition has roles in most, if not all, developing and adult tissues. They have also established that cell competition functions both as a tumour-suppressive mechanism and as a tumour-promoting mechanism, thereby critically influencing cancer initiation and development. This Review discusses the latest insights into the mechanisms of cell competition and its different roles during embryonic development, homeostasis and cancer.
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13
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Wu X, Liu Y, Wang W, Crimmings K, Williams A, Mager J, Cui W. Early embryonic lethality of mice lacking POLD2. Mol Reprod Dev 2023; 90:98-108. [PMID: 36528861 PMCID: PMC9974775 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23663] [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: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
As a highly conserved DNA polymerase (Pol), Pol δ plays crucial roles in chromosomal DNA synthesis and various DNA repair pathways. However, the function of POLD2, the second small subunit of DNA Pol δ (p50 subunit), has not been characterized in vivo during mammalian development. Here, we report for the first time, the essential role of subunit POLD2 during early murine embryogenesis. Although Pold2 mutant mouse embryos exhibit normal morphology at E3.5 blastocyst stage, they cannot be recovered at gastrulation stages. Outgrowth assays reveal that mutant blastocysts cannot hatch from the zona pellucida, indicating impaired blastocyst function. Notably, these phenotypes can be recapitulated by small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown, which also exhibit slowed cellular proliferation together with skewed primitive endoderm and epiblast allocation during the second cell lineage specification. In summary, our study demonstrates that POLD2 is essential for the earliest steps of mammalian development, and the retarded proliferation and embryogenesis may also alter the following cell lineage specifications in the mouse blastocyst embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Wu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Embryo Development and Reproductive Regulation, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Hormone and Reproduction, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, Anhui, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Embryo Development and Reproductive Regulation, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Hormone and Reproduction, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, Anhui, China
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Wenying Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Embryo Development and Reproductive Regulation, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Hormone and Reproduction, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, Anhui, China
| | - Kate Crimmings
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Andrea Williams
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Jesse Mager
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Wei Cui
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
- Animal Models Core Facility, Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS), University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
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14
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Moauro A, Kruger RE, O'Hagan D, Ralston A. Fluorescent Reporters Distinguish Stem Cell Colony Subtypes During Somatic Cell Reprogramming. Cell Reprogram 2022; 24:353-362. [PMID: 36342671 PMCID: PMC9805857 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2022.0071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatic cell reprogramming was first developed to create induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Since that time, the highly dynamic and heterogeneous nature of the reprogramming process has come to be appreciated. Remarkably, a distinct type of stem cell, called induced extraembryonic endoderm (iXEN) stem cell, is also formed during reprogramming of mouse somatic cells by ectopic expression of the transcription factors, OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and MYC (OSKM). The mechanisms leading somatic cells to adopt differing stem cell fates are challenging to resolve given that formation of either stem cell type is slow, stochastic, and rare. For these reasons, fluorescent gene expression reporters have provided an invaluable tool for revealing the path from the somatic state to pluripotency. However, no such reporters have been established for comparable studies of iXEN cell formation. In this study, we examined the expression of multiple fluorescent reporters, including Nanog, Oct4, and the endodermal genes, Gata4 and Gata6-alone and in combination, during reprogramming. We show that only simultaneous evaluation of Nanog and Gata4 reliably distinguishes iPS and iXEN cell colonies during reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Moauro
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology Ph.D. Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- D.O.-Ph.D. Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Robin E. Kruger
- Cell and Molecular Biology Ph.D. Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Daniel O'Hagan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Amy Ralston
- Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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15
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Carleton AE, Duncan MC, Taniguchi K. Human epiblast lumenogenesis: From a cell aggregate to a lumenal cyst. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 131:117-123. [PMID: 35637065 PMCID: PMC9529837 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The formation of a central lumen in the human epiblast is a critical step for development. However, because the lumen forms in the epiblast coincident with implantation, the molecular and cellular events of this early lumenogenesis process cannot be studied in vivo. Recent developments using new model systems have revealed insight into the underpinnings of epiblast formation. To provide an up-to-date comprehensive review of human epiblast lumenogenesis, we highlight recent findings from human and mouse models with an emphasis on new molecular understanding of a newly described apicosome compartment, a novel 'formative' state of pluripotency that coordinates with epiblast polarization, and new evidence about the physical and polarized trafficking mechanisms contributing to lumenogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber E. Carleton
- Departments of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA
| | - Mara C. Duncan
- Departments of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA,Co-corresponding authors
| | - Kenichiro Taniguchi
- Departments of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA,Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA,Co-corresponding authors
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16
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Vrij EJ, Scholte op Reimer YS, Fuentes LR, Guerreiro IM, Holzmann V, Aldeguer JF, Sestini G, Koo BK, Kind J, van Blitterswijk CA, Rivron NC. A pendulum of induction between the epiblast and extra-embryonic endoderm supports post-implantation progression. Development 2022; 149:dev192310. [PMID: 35993866 PMCID: PMC9534490 DOI: 10.1242/dev.192310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Embryogenesis is supported by dynamic loops of cellular interactions. Here, we create a partial mouse embryo model to elucidate the principles of epiblast (Epi) and extra-embryonic endoderm co-development (XEn). We trigger naive mouse embryonic stem cells to form a blastocyst-stage niche of Epi-like cells and XEn-like cells (3D, hydrogel free and serum free). Once established, these two lineages autonomously progress in minimal medium to form an inner pro-amniotic-like cavity surrounded by polarized Epi-like cells covered with visceral endoderm (VE)-like cells. The progression occurs through reciprocal inductions by which the Epi supports the primitive endoderm (PrE) to produce a basal lamina that subsequently regulates Epi polarization and/or cavitation, which, in return, channels the transcriptomic progression to VE. This VE then contributes to Epi bifurcation into anterior- and posterior-like states. Similarly, boosting the formation of PrE-like cells within blastoids supports developmental progression. We argue that self-organization can arise from lineage bifurcation followed by a pendulum of induction that propagates over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik J. Vrij
- MERLN Institute for Technology-inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, Netherlands
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Yvonne S. Scholte op Reimer
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Laury Roa Fuentes
- MERLN Institute for Technology-inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Isabel Misteli Guerreiro
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, UtrechtUppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Viktoria Holzmann
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Javier Frias Aldeguer
- MERLN Institute for Technology-inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, Netherlands
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, UtrechtUppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Giovanni Sestini
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Bon-Kyoung Koo
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jop Kind
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, UtrechtUppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Clemens A. van Blitterswijk
- MERLN Institute for Technology-inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Nicolas C. Rivron
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
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17
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Portela M, Jimenez-Carretero D, Labrador V, Andreu MJ, Arza E, Caiolfa VR, Manzanares M. Chromatin dynamics through mouse preimplantation development revealed by single molecule localisation microscopy. Biol Open 2022; 11:275915. [PMID: 35876820 PMCID: PMC9346283 DOI: 10.1242/bio.059401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Most studies addressing chromatin behaviour during preimplantation development are based on biochemical assays that lack spatial and cell-specific information, crucial during early development. Here, we describe the changes in chromatin taking place at the transition from totipotency to lineage specification, by using direct stochastical optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) in whole-mount embryos during the first stages of mouse development. Through the study of two post-translational modifications of Histone 3 related to active and repressed chromatin, H3K4me3 and H3K9me3 respectively, we obtained a time-course of chromatin states, showing spatial differences between cell types, related to their differentiation state. This analysis adds a new layer of information to previous biochemical studies and provides novel insight to current models of chromatin organisation during the first stages of development. SUMMARY: We have applied super-resolution microscopy to analyse changes in the state of chromatin during the first stages of mouse development, from the two-cell stage to the blastocyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Portela
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid 28049, Spain.,Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Daniel Jimenez-Carretero
- Bioinformatics Unit, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Veronica Labrador
- Microscopy and Dynamic Imaging Unit, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Maria Jose Andreu
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Elvira Arza
- Microscopy and Dynamic Imaging Unit, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Valeria R Caiolfa
- Microscopy and Dynamic Imaging Unit, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain.,Center for Experimental Imaging, Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Miguel Manzanares
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid 28049, Spain.,Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
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18
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Simmet K, Kurome M, Zakhartchenko V, Reichenbach HD, Springer C, Bähr A, Blum H, Philippou-Massier J, Wolf E. OCT4/POU5F1 is indispensable for the lineage differentiation of the inner cell mass in bovine embryos. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22337. [PMID: 35486003 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101713rrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian blastocyst undergoes two lineage segregations, that is, formation of the trophectoderm and subsequently differentiation of the hypoblast (HB) from the inner cell mass, leaving the epiblast (EPI) as the remaining pluripotent lineage. To clarify the expression patterns of markers specific for these lineages in bovine embryos, we analyzed day 7, 9, and 12 blastocysts completely produced in vivo by staining for OCT4, NANOG, SOX2 (EPI), and GATA6, SOX17 (HB) and identified genes specific for these developmental stages in a global transcriptomics approach. To study the role of OCT4, we generated OCT4-deficient (OCT4 KO) embryos via somatic cell nuclear transfer or in vitro fertilization. OCT4 KO embryos reached the expanded blastocyst stage by day 8 but lost NANOG and SOX17 expression, while SOX2 and GATA6 were unaffected. Blastocysts transferred to recipient cows from day 6 to 9 expanded, but the OCT4 KO phenotype was not rescued by the uterine environment. Exposure of OCT4 KO embryos to exogenous FGF4 or chimeric complementation with OCT4 intact embryos did not restore NANOG or SOX17 in OCT4-deficient cells. Our data show that OCT4 is required cell autonomously for the maintenance of pluripotency of the EPI and differentiation of the HB in bovine embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kilian Simmet
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Mayuko Kurome
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Valeri Zakhartchenko
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | | | - Claudia Springer
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Andrea Bähr
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Helmut Blum
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Philippou-Massier
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Gene Center, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Oberschleißheim, Germany.,Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture, Institute of Animal Breeding, Poing, Germany
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19
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Miao X, Cui W. Berberine alleviates LPS-induced apoptosis, oxidation, and skewed lineages during mouse preimplantation development†. Biol Reprod 2022; 106:699-709. [PMID: 35024788 PMCID: PMC9040657 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Female infertility is a heterogeneous disorder with a variety of complex causes, including inflammation and oxidative stress, which are also closely associated with the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). As a new treatment for PCOS, berberine (BER), a natural compound from Berberis, has been clinically applied recently. However, the mechanisms underlying the association between BER and embryogenesis are still largely unknown. In this study, effects of BER on preimplantation development were evaluated under both normal and inflammatory culture conditions induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. Our data first suggest that BER itself (25 nM) does not affect embryo quality or future developmental potency; however, it can effectively alleviate LPS-induced embryo damage by mitigating apoptosis via reactive oxygen species (ROS)-/caspase-3-dependent pathways and by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines via inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway during preimplantation embryonic development. In addition, skewed cell lineage specification in the inner cell mass (ICM) and primitive endoderm (PE) caused by LPS can also be successfully rescued with BER. In summary, these findings for the first time demonstrate the nontoxicity of low doses of BER and its antiapoptotic and antioxidative properties on embryonic cells during mammalian preimplantation development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaosu Miao
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Wei Cui
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.,Animal Models Core Facility, Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS), University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
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20
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Nishio M, Matsuura T, Hibi S, Ohta S, Oka C, Sasai N, Ishida Y, Matsuda E. Heterozygous loss of Zbtb38 leads to early embryonic lethality via the suppression of Nanog and Sox2 expression. Cell Prolif 2022; 55:e13215. [PMID: 35297517 PMCID: PMC9055898 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Mammalian DNA methyltransferases are essential to re-establish global DNA methylation patterns during implantation, which is critical for transmitting epigenetic information to the next generation. In contrast, the significance of methyl-CpG binding proteins (MBPs) that bind methylated CpG remains almost unknown at this stage. We previously demonstrated that Zbtb38 (also known as CIBZ)-a zinc finger type of MBP-is required for mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell proliferation by positively regulating Nanog expression. However, the physiological function of Zbtb38 in vivo remains unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study used the Cre-loxP system to generate conditional Zbtb38 knockout mice. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were studied by immunofluorescence staining. Quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting and immunofluorescence were performed to investigate the molecular mechanisms. RESULTS Germline loss of the Zbtb38 single allele resulted in decreased epiblast cell proliferation and increased apoptosis shortly after implantation, leading to early embryonic lethality. Heterozygous loss of Zbtb38 reduced the expression of Nanog, Sox2, and the genes responsible for epiblast proliferation, differentiation, and cell viability. Although this early lethal phenotype, Zbtb38 is dispensable for ES cell establishment and identity. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that Zbtb38 is essential for early embryonic development via the suppression of Nanog and Sox2 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miki Nishio
- Functional Genomics and MedicineNara Institute of Science and TechnologyIkomaJapan
- Cosmo Bio Co., Ltd.TokyoJapan
| | - Takuya Matsuura
- Functional Genomics and MedicineNara Institute of Science and TechnologyIkomaJapan
| | - Shunya Hibi
- Functional Genomics and MedicineNara Institute of Science and TechnologyIkomaJapan
| | - Shiomi Ohta
- Functional Genomics and MedicineNara Institute of Science and TechnologyIkomaJapan
| | - Chio Oka
- Functional Genomics and MedicineNara Institute of Science and TechnologyIkomaJapan
| | - Noriaki Sasai
- Development Biomedical ScienceNara Institute of Science and TechnologyIkomaJapan
| | - Yasumasa Ishida
- Functional Genomics and MedicineNara Institute of Science and TechnologyIkomaJapan
| | - Eishou Matsuda
- Functional Genomics and MedicineNara Institute of Science and TechnologyIkomaJapan
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21
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Rif1 and Hmgn3 regulate the conversion of murine trophoblast stem cells. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110570. [PMID: 35354046 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The appearance of trophectoderm (TE) is a hallmark event in preimplantation development during murine embryogenesis. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying TE specification. We find that the depletion of Rif1 breaks down the barrier to the transition from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to trophoblast stem cells (TSCs). Rif1-null-induced TSCs show typical TE properties and the potential to differentiate into terminal trophoblast lineages. Global transcriptome analysis reveal that Rif1 deletion activates 2-cell embryo (2C)-related genes and induces a totipotent-like state. Chimeric assays further confirm that Rif1-null ESCs contribute to the functional placenta in addition to the fetus on embryonic day 12.5. Furthermore, we show overexpression of Hmgn3, one of the key upregulated gene in Rif1-null ESCs, facilitates the induction of TSCs. Therefore, we report two key genes regulating the conversion of TSCs and provide insights for investigating TE specification.
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22
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Zhang F, Pang C, Zhu H, Chen Y. Timely stimulation of early embryo promotes the acquisition of pluripotency. Cytometry A 2022; 101:682-691. [PMID: 35332996 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.24551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs) are both pluripotent stem cells from early embryos. Another type of pluripotent stem cells, which are similar with EpiSCs and derive from pre-implantation embryos in feeder-free and chemically defined medium containing Activin A and basic fibroblast growth factors (bFGF), is termed as AFSCs. The pluripotency and self-renewal maintenance of ESCs rely on Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)/STAT/BMP4/SMAD signaling, while the pluripotency and self-renewal maintenance of EpiSCs and AFSCs rely on bFGF and Activin/Nodal signaling. However, the establishment efficiency of AFSCs lines is low. In this study, we stimulated early embryos by 2i/LIF (CHIR99021 + PD0325901 + LIF) and Activin A + bFGF respectively, to change the cell fate in inner cell mass (ICM). The "fate changed embryos" by 2i/LIF can efficiently produce AFSCs in feeder-free and chemically defined medium, but the efficiency of embryos treated with Activin A + bFGF were poor. The AFSCs from fate-changed embryos share similar molecular characteristics with conventional AFSCs and EpiSCs. Our results suggest that the advanced stimulation of 2i/LIF and the premature stimulation of Activin A + bFGF contribute to capturing the pluripotent stem cells in early embryos, and the FGF/MAPK signaling dominate early embryo development. Our study provides a new approach to capturing pluripotency from pre-implantation embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengying Zhang
- Southern Medical University Central Laboratory, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Changmiao Pang
- School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haoyun Zhu
- School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanglin Chen
- School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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23
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Luijkx D, Shankar V, van Blitterswijk C, Giselbrecht S, Vrij E. From Mice to Men: Generation of Human Blastocyst-Like Structures In Vitro. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:838356. [PMID: 35359453 PMCID: PMC8963787 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.838356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in the field of stem cell-based models have in recent years lead to the development of blastocyst-like structures termed blastoids. Blastoids can be used to study key events in mammalian pre-implantation development, as they mimic the blastocyst morphologically and transcriptionally, can progress to the post-implantation stage and can be generated in large numbers. Blastoids were originally developed using mouse pluripotent stem cells, and since several groups have successfully generated blastocyst models of the human system. Here we provide a comparison of the mouse and human protocols with the aim of deriving the core requirements for blastoid formation, discuss the models’ current ability to mimic blastocysts and give an outlook on potential future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Erik Vrij
- *Correspondence: Erik Vrij, ; Stefan Giselbrecht,
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24
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Tsume-Kajioka M, Kimura-Yoshida C, Mochida K, Ueda Y, Matsuo I. BET proteins are essential for the specification and maintenance of the epiblast lineage in mouse preimplantation embryos. BMC Biol 2022; 20:64. [PMID: 35264162 PMCID: PMC8905768 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01251-0] [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: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background During mammalian preimplantation development, as the fertilized egg develops and differentiates, three cell lineages become specified: trophectoderm (TE), epiblast, and primitive endoderm (PrE). Through two steps of cell fate decisions, 16-cell blastomeres develop into TE and an inner cell mass (ICM), and thereafter, the latter differentiates into pluripotent epiblast and PrE. Although bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins, such as BRD4, are necessary for the transcriptional activation of genes involved in the maintenance of mouse embryonic stem cells by occupying their enhancers, their roles in the development of mouse preimplantation are unknown. Results To evaluate the effect of BET protein deficiency on cell lineage formation, we cultured preimplantation embryos in the presence of JQ1, which blocks the binding of BET bromodomains to acetylated-histones. We found BET inhibition blocked the transcriptional activation of genes, such as Nanog, Otx2, and Sox2, important for the formation of the epiblast lineage in blastocysts. Expression studies with lineage-specific markers in morulae and blastocysts revealed BET proteins were essential for the specification and maintenance of the epiblast lineage but were dispensable for the formation of primarily extraembryonic TE and PrE lineages. Additional Ingenuity Pathway Analysis and expression studies with a transcriptionally active form of signal transducer and activator of the transcription 3 (STAT3) suggested BET-dependent activation was partly associated with the STAT3-dependent pathway to maintain the epiblast lineage. To identify BET proteins involved in the formation of the epiblast lineage, we analyzed mutant embryos deficient in Brd4, Brd2, and double mutants. Abolishment of NANOG-positive epiblast cells was only evident in Brd4/Brd2 double-deficient morulae. Thus, the phenotype of JQ1-treated embryos is reproduced not by a Brd4- or Brd2-single deficiency, but only Brd4/Brd2-double deficiency, demonstrating the redundant roles of BRD2 and BRD4 in the specification of the epiblast lineage. Conclusions BET proteins are essential to the specification and maintenance of the epiblast lineage by activating lineage-specific core transcription factors during mouse preimplantation development. Among BET proteins, BRD4 plays a central role and BRD2 a complementary role in the specification and maintenance of epiblast lineages. Additionally, BET-dependent maintenance of the epiblast lineage may be partly associated with the STAT3-dependent pathway. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01251-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mami Tsume-Kajioka
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Research Institute, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Osaka Prefectural Hospital Organization, 840, Murodo-cho, Izumi, Osaka, 594-1101, Japan
| | - Chiharu Kimura-Yoshida
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Research Institute, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Osaka Prefectural Hospital Organization, 840, Murodo-cho, Izumi, Osaka, 594-1101, Japan
| | - Kyoko Mochida
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Research Institute, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Osaka Prefectural Hospital Organization, 840, Murodo-cho, Izumi, Osaka, 594-1101, Japan
| | - Yoko Ueda
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Research Institute, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Osaka Prefectural Hospital Organization, 840, Murodo-cho, Izumi, Osaka, 594-1101, Japan
| | - Isao Matsuo
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Research Institute, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Osaka Prefectural Hospital Organization, 840, Murodo-cho, Izumi, Osaka, 594-1101, Japan. .,Department of Pediatric and Neonatal-Perinatal Research, Osaka Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
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25
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Abstract
Embryonic cells grow in environments that provide a plethora of physical cues, including mechanical forces that shape the development of the entire embryo. Despite their prevalence, the role of these forces in embryonic development and their integration with chemical signals have been mostly neglected, and scrutiny in modern molecular embryology tilted, instead, towards the dissection of molecular pathways involved in cell fate determination and patterning. It is now possible to investigate how mechanical signals induce downstream genetic regulatory networks to regulate key developmental processes in the embryo. Here, we review the insights into mechanical control of early vertebrate development, including the role of forces in tissue patterning and embryonic axis formation. We also highlight recent in vitro approaches using individual embryonic stem cells and self-organizing multicellular models of human embryos, which have been instrumental in expanding our understanding of how mechanics tune cell fate and cellular rearrangements during human embryonic development.
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26
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microRNA-Mediated Encoding and Decoding of Time-Dependent Signals in Tumorigenesis. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12020213. [PMID: 35204714 PMCID: PMC8961662 DOI: 10.3390/biom12020213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
microRNAs, pivotal post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, in the past decades have caught the attention of researchers for their involvement in different biological processes, ranging from cell development to cancer. Although lots of effort has been devoted to elucidate the topological features and the equilibrium properties of microRNA-mediated motifs, little is known about how the information encoded in frequency, amplitude, duration, and other features of their regulatory signals can affect the resulting gene expression patterns. Here, we review the current knowledge about microRNA-mediated gene regulatory networks characterized by time-dependent input signals, such as pulses, transient inputs, and oscillations. First, we identify the general characteristic of the main motifs underlying temporal patterns. Then, we analyze their impact on two commonly studied oncogenic networks, showing how their dysfunction can lead to tumorigenesis.
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27
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Strell P, Shetty A, Steer CJ, Low WC. Interspecies Chimeric Barriers for Generating Exogenic Organs and Cells for Transplantation. Cell Transplant 2022; 31:9636897221110525. [PMID: 36173102 PMCID: PMC9527994 DOI: 10.1177/09636897221110525] [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] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing need for organs and novel cell-based therapies has provided a niche for approaches like interspecies chimeras. To generate organs from one donor species in another host species requires techniques such as blastocyst complementation and gene editing to successfully create an embryo that has cells from both the donor and the host. However, the task of developing highly efficacious and competent interspecies chimeras is met by many challenges. These interspecies chimeric barriers impede the formation of chimeras, often leading to lower levels of chimeric competency. The barriers that need to be addressed include the evolutionary distance between species, stage-matching, temporal and spatial synchronization of developmental timing, interspecies cell competition and the survival of pluripotent stem cells and embryos, compatibility of ligand–receptor signaling between species, and the ethical concerns of forming such models. By overcoming the interspecies chimera barriers and creating highly competent chimeras, the technology of organ and cellular generation can be honed and refined to develop fully functioning exogenic organs, tissues, and cells for transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe Strell
- Comparative and Molecular Bioscience Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Anala Shetty
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, and Genetics Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Clifford J Steer
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, and Genetics Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Walter C Low
- Comparative and Molecular Bioscience Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, and Genetics Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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28
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Abuhashem A, Garg V, Hadjantonakis AK. RNA polymerase II pausing in development: orchestrating transcription. Open Biol 2022; 12:210220. [PMID: 34982944 PMCID: PMC8727152 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The coordinated regulation of transcriptional networks underpins cellular identity and developmental progression. RNA polymerase II promoter-proximal pausing (Pol II pausing) is a prevalent mechanism by which cells can control and synchronize transcription. Pol II pausing regulates the productive elongation step of transcription at key genes downstream of a variety of signalling pathways, such as FGF and Nodal. Recent advances in our understanding of the Pol II pausing machinery and its role in transcription call for an assessment of these findings within the context of development. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of the molecular basis of Pol II pausing and its function during organismal development. By critically assessing the tools used to study this process we conclude that combining recently developed genomics approaches with refined perturbation systems has the potential to expand our understanding of Pol II pausing mechanistically and functionally in the context of development and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abderhman Abuhashem
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Vidur Garg
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA
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29
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Cell fate determination and Hippo signaling pathway in preimplantation mouse embryo. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 386:423-444. [PMID: 34586506 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-021-03530-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
First cell fate determination plays crucial roles in cell specification during early phases of embryonic development. Three classical concepts have been proposed to explain the lineage specification mechanism of the preimplantation embryo: inside-outside, pre-patterning, and polarity models. Transcriptional effectors of the Hippo signal pathway are YAP and TAZ activators that can create a shuttle between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Despite different localizations of YAP in the cell, it determines the fate of ICM and TE. How the decisive cue driving factors that determine YAP localization are coordinated remains a central unanswered question. How can an embryonic cell find its position? The objective of this review is to summarize the molecular and mechanical aspects in cell fate decision during mouse preimplantation embryonic development. The findings will reveal the relationship between cell-cell adhesion, cell polarity, and determination of cell fate during early embryonic development in mice and elucidate the inducing/inhibiting mechanisms that are involved in cell specification following zygotic genome activation and compaction processes. With future studies, new biophysical and chemical cues in the cell fate determination will impart significant spatiotemporal effects on early embryonic development. The achieved knowledge will provide important information to the development of new approaches to be used in infertility treatment and increase the success of pregnancy.
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30
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Parsons RB, Facey PD. Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase: An Emerging Protagonist in Cancer Macro(r)evolution. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1418. [PMID: 34680055 PMCID: PMC8533529 DOI: 10.3390/biom11101418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) has progressed from being considered merely a Phase II metabolic enzyme to one with a central role in cell function and energy metabolism. Over the last three decades, a significant body of evidence has accumulated which clearly demonstrates a central role for NNMT in cancer survival, metastasis, and drug resistance. In this review, we discuss the evidence supporting a role for NNMT in the progression of the cancer phenotype and how it achieves this by driving the activity of pro-oncogenic NAD+-consuming enzymes. We also describe how increased NNMT activity supports the Warburg effect and how it promotes oncogenic changes in gene expression. We discuss the regulation of NNMT activity in cancer cells by both post-translational modification of the enzyme and transcription factor binding to the NNMT gene, and describe for the first time three long non-coding RNAs which may play a role in the regulation of NNMT transcription. We complete the review by discussing the development of novel anti-cancer therapeutics which target NNMT and provide insight into how NNMT-based therapies may be best employed clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard B. Parsons
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Paul D. Facey
- Singleton Park Campus, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK;
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31
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Miao X, Sun T, Barletta H, Mager J, Cui W. Loss of RBBP4 results in defective inner cell mass, severe apoptosis, hyperacetylated histones and preimplantation lethality in mice†. Biol Reprod 2021; 103:13-23. [PMID: 32285100 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinoblastoma-binding protein 4 (RBBP4) (also known as chromatin-remodeling factor RBAP48) is an evolutionarily conserved protein that has been involved in various biological processes. Although a variety of functions have been attributed to RBBP4 in vitro, mammalian RBBP4 has not been studied in vivo. Here we report that RBBP4 is essential during early mouse embryo development. Although Rbbp4 mutant embryos exhibit normal morphology at E3.5 blastocyst stage, they cannot be recovered at E7.5 early post-gastrulation stage, suggesting an implantation failure. Outgrowth (OG) assays reveal that mutant blastocysts cannot hatch from the zona or can hatch but then arrest without further development. We find that while there is no change in proliferation or levels of reactive oxygen species, both apoptosis and histone acetylation are significantly increased in mutant blastocysts. Analysis of lineage specification reveals that while the trophoblast is properly specified, both epiblast and primitive endoderm lineages are compromised with severe reductions in cell number and/or specification. In summary, these findings demonstrate the essential role of RBBP4 during early mammalian embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaosu Miao
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Tieqi Sun
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Holly Barletta
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Jesse Mager
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Wei Cui
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.,Animal Models Core Facility, Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS), University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
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32
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Wang L, Chakraborty D, Iqbal K, Soares MJ. SUV39H2 controls trophoblast stem cell fate. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2021; 1865:129867. [PMID: 33556426 PMCID: PMC8052280 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2021.129867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The placenta is formed by the coordinated expansion and differentiation of trophoblast stem (TS) cells along a multi-lineage pathway. Dynamic regulation of histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methylation is pivotal to cell differentiation for many cell lineages, but little is known about its involvement in trophoblast cell development. METHODS Expression of H3K9 methyltransferases was surveyed in rat TS cells maintained in the stem state and following differentiation. The role of suppressor of variegation 3-9 homolog 2 (SUV39H2) in the regulation of trophoblast cell lineage development was investigated using a loss-of-function approach in rat TS cells and ex vivo cultured rat blastocysts. RESULTS Among the twelve-known H3K9 methyltransferases, only SUV39H2 exhibited robust differential expression in stem versus differentiated TS cells. SUV39H2 transcript and protein expression were high in the stem state and declined as TS cells differentiated. Disruption of SUV39H2 expression in TS cells led to an arrest in TS cell proliferation and activation of trophoblast cell differentiation. SUV39H2 regulated H3K9 methylation status at loci exhibiting differentiation-dependent gene expression. Analyses of SUV39H2 on ex vivo rat blastocyst development supported its role in regulating TS cell expansion and differentiation. We further identified SUV39H2 as a downstream target of caudal type homeobox 2, a master regulator of trophoblast lineage development. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that SUV39H2 contributes to the maintenance of TS cells and restrains trophoblast cell differentiation. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE SUV39H2 serves as a contributor to the epigenetic regulation of hemochorial placental development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Institute for Reproduction and Perinatal Research, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States of America
| | - Damayanti Chakraborty
- Institute for Reproduction and Perinatal Research, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States of America
| | - Khursheed Iqbal
- Institute for Reproduction and Perinatal Research, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States of America
| | - Michael J Soares
- Institute for Reproduction and Perinatal Research, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States of America; Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States of America; Center for Perinatal Research, Children's Mercy Research Institute, Children's Mercy, Kansas City, MO, United States of America.
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33
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Wurtz T. Nested information processing in the living world. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2021; 1500:5-16. [PMID: 34042190 PMCID: PMC8518751 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Living organisms create, copy, and make use of information, the content depending on the level of organization. In cells, a network of signal chain proteins regulates gene expression and other cell functions. Incoming information is encoded through signal reception, processed by the network, and decoded by the synthesis of new gene products and other biological functions. Signaling proteins represent nodes, and signal transmission proceeds via allosteric binding, chemical and structural modifications, synthesis, sequestering, and degradation. The induction of the gene caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX2) in the mammalian preimplantation embryo is outlined as a demonstration of this concept. CDX2 is involved in the decision of cells to enter the trophoblast lineage. Two signal chains are coordinated into an information processing model with the help of logic gates. The model introduces a formal structure that incorporates experimental and morphological data. Above the cell level, information flow relates to tissue formation and functioning, and whole cells play the role of network nodes. This is described for the anatomical patterning of bone with implications for bone formation and homeostasis. The information usage in cells and tissues is set into a context of the nervous system and the interaction of human individuals in societies, both established scenes of information processing.
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34
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Chen Y, Liu Q, Liu R, Yang C, Wang X, Ran Z, Zhou S, Li X, He C. A Prepubertal Mice Model to Study the Growth Pattern of Early Ovarian Follicles. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5130. [PMID: 34066233 PMCID: PMC8151218 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Early folliculogenesis begins with the activation of the follicle and ends with the formation of the follicular antrum, which takes up most of the time of folliculogenesis. In this long process, follicles complete a series of developmental events, including but not limited to granulosa cell (GC) proliferation, theca folliculi formation, and antrum formation. However, the logical or temporal sequence of these events is not entirely clear. This study demonstrated in a mouse model that completion of early folliculogenesis required a minimum of two weeks. The oocyte reached its largest size in the Type 4-5 stage, which was therefore considered as the optimum period for studying oogenesis. Postnatal days (PD) 10-12 were regarded as the crucial stage of theca folliculi formation, as Lhcgr sharply increased during this stage. PD13-15 was the rapid growth period of early follicles, which was characterized by rapid cell proliferation, the sudden emergence of the antrum, and increased Fshr expression. The ovarian morphology remained stable during PD15-21, but antrum follicles accumulated gradually. Atresia occurred at all stages, with the lowest rate in Type 3 follicles and no differences among early Type 4-6 follicles. The earliest vaginal opening was observed at PD24, almost immediately after the first growing follicular wave. Therefore, the period of PD22-23 could be considered as a suitable period for studying puberty initiation. This study objectively revealed the pattern of early folliculogenesis and provided time windows for the study of biological events in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjun Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (Y.C.); (Q.L.); (R.L.); (C.Y.); (X.W.); (Z.R.); (S.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- National Center for International Research on Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qinghua Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (Y.C.); (Q.L.); (R.L.); (C.Y.); (X.W.); (Z.R.); (S.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- National Center for International Research on Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ruiyan Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (Y.C.); (Q.L.); (R.L.); (C.Y.); (X.W.); (Z.R.); (S.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- National Center for International Research on Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Chan Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (Y.C.); (Q.L.); (R.L.); (C.Y.); (X.W.); (Z.R.); (S.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- National Center for International Research on Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (Y.C.); (Q.L.); (R.L.); (C.Y.); (X.W.); (Z.R.); (S.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- National Center for International Research on Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Zaohong Ran
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (Y.C.); (Q.L.); (R.L.); (C.Y.); (X.W.); (Z.R.); (S.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- National Center for International Research on Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Shanshan Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (Y.C.); (Q.L.); (R.L.); (C.Y.); (X.W.); (Z.R.); (S.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- National Center for International Research on Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiang Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (Y.C.); (Q.L.); (R.L.); (C.Y.); (X.W.); (Z.R.); (S.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- National Center for International Research on Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Changjiu He
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (Y.C.); (Q.L.); (R.L.); (C.Y.); (X.W.); (Z.R.); (S.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- National Center for International Research on Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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35
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Paonessa M, Borini A, Coticchio G. Genetic causes of preimplantation embryo developmental failure. Mol Reprod Dev 2021; 88:338-348. [PMID: 33843124 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Embryo development requires orchestrated events, finely regulated at the molecular and cellular level by mechanisms which are progressively emerging from animal studies. With progress in genetic technologies-such as genome editing and single-cell RNA analysis-we can now assess embryo gene expression with increased precision and gain new insights into complex processes until recently difficult to explore. Multiple genes and regulative pathways have been identified for each developmental stage. We have learned that embryos with undisturbed and timely gene expression have higher chances of successful development. For example, selected genes are highly expressed during the first stages, being involved in cell adhesion, cell cycle, and regulation of transcription; other genes are instead crucial for lineage specification and therefore expressed at later stages. Due to ethical constraints, studies on human embryos remain scarce, mainly descriptive, and unable to provide functional evidence. This highlights the importance of animal studies as basic knowledge to test and appraise in a clinical context. In this review, we report on preimplantation development with a focus on genes whose impairment leads to developmental arrest. Preconceptional genetic screening could identify loss-of-function mutations of these genes; thereby, novel biomarkers of embryo quality could be adopted to improve diagnosis and treatment of infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariagrazia Paonessa
- 9.Baby, Family and Fertility Center, Bologna, Italy.,Casa di Cura Candela Spa, Palermo, Italy
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36
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Yang Y, Zhang Y, Qiao P, Yang B, Jia H, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Su J. SUMO2, a small ubiquitin-like modifier, is essential for development of murine preimplantation embryos. Theriogenology 2021; 166:29-37. [PMID: 33677127 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Small ubiquitin-like modifier 2 (SUMO2) is a small protein that modulates the stability and activity of other proteins. Although a variety of activities have been attributed to SUMO2, its function in preimplantation embryos is still obscure. We first explored the expression of SUMO2 protein in early embryos, and showed that compared with the 2-cell stage, the expression was increased at first, peaked at the 8-cell stage, and then dramatically decreased. To study the function of SUMO2, we used siRNA microinjection to knock down SUMO2.The silencing of SUMO2 significantly reduced the rate of in vitro blastocyst development from 75.56% to 40.60%. Notably, knockdown of SUMO2 (KD) altered the expression of CDX2, OCT4, and NANOG. The number of cells expressing CDX2 decreased, while OCT4 and NANOG were ectopically expressed in siSUMO2 embryos. The global H3K27me3 levels in SUMO2-KD embryos also were lower than in untreated embryos. Taken together, SUMO2 appears to play a significant role in mouse preimplantation embryos probably through key epigenetic modifications and regulation of pluripotency genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, 712100, PR China
| | - Yingbing Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, 712100, PR China
| | - Peipei Qiao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, 712100, PR China
| | - Bin Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, 712100, PR China
| | - Huiqun Jia
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, 712100, PR China
| | - Yong Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, 712100, PR China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Academy of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai Province, 810016, PR China.
| | - Jianmin Su
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, 712100, PR China.
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37
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Carpenter BS, Lee TW, Plott CF, Rodriguez JD, Brockett JS, Myrick DA, Katz DJ. Caenorhabditis elegans establishes germline versus soma by balancing inherited histone methylation. Development 2021; 148:dev.196600. [PMID: 33462111 DOI: 10.1242/dev.196600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Formation of a zygote is coupled with extensive epigenetic reprogramming to enable appropriate inheritance of histone methylation and prevent developmental delays. In Caenorhabditis elegans, this reprogramming is mediated by the H3K4me2 demethylase SPR-5 and the H3K9 methyltransferase, MET-2. In contrast, the H3K36 methyltransferase MES-4 maintains H3K36me2/3 at germline genes between generations to facilitate re-establishment of the germline. To determine whether the MES-4 germline inheritance pathway antagonizes spr-5; met-2 reprogramming, we examined the interaction between these two pathways. We found that the developmental delay of spr-5; met-2 mutant progeny is associated with ectopic H3K36me3 and the ectopic expression of MES-4-targeted germline genes in somatic tissues. Furthermore, the developmental delay is dependent upon MES-4 and the H3K4 methyltransferase, SET-2. We propose that MES-4 prevents crucial germline genes from being repressed by antagonizing maternal spr-5; met-2 reprogramming. Thus, the balance of inherited histone modifications is necessary to distinguish germline versus soma and prevent developmental delay.This article has an associated 'The people behind the papers' interview.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon S Carpenter
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322, USA
| | - Teresa W Lee
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322, USA
| | - Caroline F Plott
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD 21205, USA
| | - Juan D Rodriguez
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322, USA
| | - Jovan S Brockett
- Department of Biology, Oglethorpe University, Atlanta GA 30319, USA
| | - Dexter A Myrick
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322, USA
| | - David J Katz
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322, USA
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38
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Su J, Miao X, Archambault D, Mager J, Cui W. ZC3H4-a novel Cys-Cys-Cys-His-type zinc finger protein-is essential for early embryogenesis in mice†. Biol Reprod 2020; 104:325-335. [PMID: 33246328 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Zinc finger domains of the Cys-Cys-Cys-His (CCCH) class are evolutionarily conserved proteins that bind nucleic acids and are involved in various biological processes. Nearly 60 CCCH-type zinc finger proteins have been identified in humans and mice, most have not been functionally characterized. Here, we provide the first in vivo functional characterization of ZC3H4-a novel CCCH-type zinc finger protein. Our results show that although Zc3h4 mutant embryos exhibit normal morphology at E3.5 blastocyst stage, they cannot be recovered at E7.5 early post-gastrulation stage, suggesting implantation failure. Outgrowth assays reveal that mutant blastocysts either fail to hatch from the zona pellucida, or can hatch but do not form a typical inner cell mass colony, the source of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Although there is no change in levels of reactive oxygen species, Zc3h4 mutants display severe DNA breaks and reduced cell proliferation. Analysis of lineage specification reveals that both epiblast and primitive endoderm lineages are compromised with severe reductions in cell number and/or specification in the mutant blastocysts. In summary, these findings demonstrate the essential role of ZC3H4 during early mammalian embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianmin Su
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.,Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Xiaosu Miao
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Danielle Archambault
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Jesse Mager
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Wei Cui
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.,Animal Models Core Facility, Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS), University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
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39
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Saiz N, Hadjantonakis AK. Coordination between patterning and morphogenesis ensures robustness during mouse development. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190562. [PMID: 32829684 PMCID: PMC7482220 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian preimplantation embryo is a highly tractable, self-organizing developmental system in which three cell types are consistently specified without the need for maternal factors or external signals. Studies in the mouse over the past decades have greatly improved our understanding of the cues that trigger symmetry breaking in the embryo, the transcription factors that control lineage specification and commitment, and the mechanical forces that drive morphogenesis and inform cell fate decisions. These studies have also uncovered how these multiple inputs are integrated to allocate the right number of cells to each lineage despite inherent biological noise, and as a response to perturbations. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of how these processes are coordinated to ensure a robust and precise developmental outcome during early mouse development. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Contemporary morphogenesis'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Néstor Saiz
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
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40
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Miao X, Sun T, Golan M, Mager J, Cui W. Loss of POLR1D results in embryonic lethality prior to blastocyst formation in mice. Mol Reprod Dev 2020; 87:1152-1158. [PMID: 33022126 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, RNA polymerase (Pol) I and Pol III are dedicated to the synthesis of ribosomal RNA precursors and a variety of small RNAs, respectively. Although RNA Pol I and Pol III complexes are crucial for the regulation of cell growth and cell cycle in all cell types, many of the components of the Pol I and Pol III complexes have not been functionally characterized in mammals. Here, we provide the first in vivo functional characterization of POLR1D, a subunit shared by RNA Pol I and Pol III, during early mammalian embryo development. Our results show that Polr1d mutant embryos cannot be recovered at E7.5 early post-gastrulation stage, suggesting failed implantation. Although Polr1d mutants can be recovered at E3.5, they exhibit delayed/stalled development with morula morphology rather than differentiation into blastocysts. Even with extended time in culture, mutant embryos fail to form blastocysts and eventually die. Analysis of E3.0 embryos revealed severe DNA damage in Polr1d mutants. Additionally, lineage assessment reveals that trophectoderm specification is compromised in the absence of Polr1d. In summary, these findings demonstrate the essential role of POLR1D during early mammalian embryogenesis and highlight cell-lethal phenotype without Polr1d function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaosu Miao
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tieqi Sun
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Morgane Golan
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jesse Mager
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Wei Cui
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.,Animal Models Core Facility, Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS), University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
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41
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Virnicchi G, Bora P, Gahurova L, Šušor A, Bruce AW. Wwc2 Is a Novel Cell Division Regulator During Preimplantation Mouse Embryo Lineage Formation and Oogenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:857. [PMID: 33042987 PMCID: PMC7527741 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Formation of the hatching mouse blastocyst marks the end of preimplantation development, whereby previous cell cleavages culminate in the formation of three distinct cell lineages (trophectoderm, primitive endoderm and epiblast). We report that dysregulated expression of Wwc2, a genetic paralog of Kibra/Wwc1 (a known activator of Hippo-signaling, a key pathway during preimplantation development), is specifically associated with cell autonomous deficits in embryo cell number and cell division abnormalities. Division phenotypes are also observed during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation, as Wwc2 dysregulation blocks progression to the stage of meiosis II metaphase (MII) arrest and is associated with spindle defects and failed Aurora-A kinase (AURKA) activation. Oocyte and embryo cell division defects, each occurring in the absence of centrosomes, are fully reversible by expression of recombinant HA-epitope tagged WWC2, restoring activated oocyte AURKA levels. Additionally, clonal embryonic dysregulation implicates Wwc2 in maintaining the pluripotent epiblast lineage. Thus, Wwc2 is a novel regulator of meiotic and early mitotic cell divisions, and mouse blastocyst cell fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Virnicchi
- Laboratory of Early Mammalian Developmental Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Pablo Bora
- Laboratory of Early Mammalian Developmental Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Lenka Gahurova
- Laboratory of Early Mammalian Developmental Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Germ Cells, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Liběchov, Czechia
| | - Andrej Šušor
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Germ Cells, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Liběchov, Czechia
| | - Alexander W. Bruce
- Laboratory of Early Mammalian Developmental Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
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Kumar A, Mali P. Mapping regulators of cell fate determination: Approaches and challenges. APL Bioeng 2020; 4:031501. [PMID: 32637855 PMCID: PMC7332300 DOI: 10.1063/5.0004611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the limited regenerative capacities of most organs, strategies are needed to efficiently generate large numbers of parenchymal cells capable of integration into the diseased organ. Although it was initially thought that terminally differentiated cells lacked the ability to transdifferentiate, it has since been shown that cellular reprogramming of stromal cells to parenchymal cells through direct lineage conversion holds great potential for the replacement of post-mitotic parenchymal cells lost to disease. To this end, an assortment of genetic, chemical, and mechanical cues have been identified to reprogram cells to different lineages both in vitro and in vivo. However, some key challenges persist that limit broader applications of reprogramming technologies. These include: (1) low reprogramming efficiencies; (2) incomplete functional maturation of derived cells; and (3) difficulty in determining the typically multi-factor combinatorial recipes required for successful transdifferentiation. To improve efficiency by comprehensively identifying factors that regulate cell fate, large scale genetic and chemical screening methods have thus been utilized. Here, we provide an overview of the underlying concept of cell reprogramming as well as the rationale, considerations, and limitations of high throughput screening methods. We next follow with a summary of unique hits that have been identified by high throughput screens to induce reprogramming to various parenchymal lineages. Finally, we discuss future directions of applying this technology toward human disease biology via disease modeling, drug screening, and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Kumar
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Prashant Mali
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
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Cui W, Marcho C, Wang Y, Degani R, Golan M, Tremblay KD, Rivera-Pérez JA, Mager J. MED20 is essential for early embryogenesis and regulates NANOG expression. Reproduction 2020; 157:215-222. [PMID: 30571656 DOI: 10.1530/rep-18-0508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mediator is an evolutionarily conserved multi-subunit complex, bridging transcriptional activators and repressors to the general RNA polymerase II (Pol II) initiation machinery. Though the Mediator complex is crucial for the transcription of almost all Pol II promoters in eukaryotic organisms, the phenotypes of individual Mediator subunit mutants are each distinct. Here, we report for the first time, the essential role of subunit MED20 in early mammalian embryo development. Although Med20 mutant mouse embryos exhibit normal morphology at E3.5 blastocyst stage, they cannot be recovered at early post-gastrulation stages. Outgrowth assays show that mutant blastocysts cannot hatch from the zona pellucida, indicating impaired blastocyst function. Assessments of cell death and cell lineage specification reveal that apoptosis, inner cell mass, trophectoderm and primitive endoderm markers are normal in mutant blastocysts. However, the epiblast marker NANOG is ectopically expressed in the trophectoderm of Med20 mutants, indicative of defects in trophoblast specification. These results suggest that MED20 specifically, and the Mediator complex in general, are essential for the earliest steps of mammalian development and cell lineage specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Cui
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.,Animal Models Core Facility, Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS), University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Chelsea Marcho
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yongsheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Rinat Degani
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Morgane Golan
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kimberly D Tremblay
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jaime A Rivera-Pérez
- Division of Genes and Development, Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jesse Mager
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
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Small CD, el-Khoury M, Deslongchamps G, Benfey TJ, Crawford BD. Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 Activity is Required for Normal and Hypoxia-Induced Precocious Hatching in Zebrafish Embryos. J Dev Biol 2020; 8:jdb8010003. [PMID: 32023839 PMCID: PMC7151336 DOI: 10.3390/jdb8010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia induces precocious hatching in zebrafish, but we do not have a clear understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating the activation of the hatching enzyme or how these mechanisms trigger precocious hatching under unfavorable environmental conditions. Using immunohistochemistry, pharmacological inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (Mmp13), and in vivo zymography, we show that Mmp13a is present in the hatching gland just as embryos become hatching competent and that Mmp13a activity is required for both normal hatching and hypoxia-induced precocious hatching. We conclude that Mmp13a likely functions in activating the hatching enzyme zymogen and that Mmp13a activity is necessary but not sufficient for hatching in zebrafish. This study highlights the broad nature of MMP function in development and provides a non-mammalian example of extra-embryonic processes mediated by MMP activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D. Small
- Biology Department, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada; (C.D.S.); (M.e.-K.); (T.J.B.)
| | - Megan el-Khoury
- Biology Department, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada; (C.D.S.); (M.e.-K.); (T.J.B.)
| | | | - Tillmann J. Benfey
- Biology Department, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada; (C.D.S.); (M.e.-K.); (T.J.B.)
| | - Bryan D. Crawford
- Biology Department, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada; (C.D.S.); (M.e.-K.); (T.J.B.)
- Correspondence:
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Yao C, Zhang W, Shuai L. The first cell fate decision in pre-implantation mouse embryos. CELL REGENERATION 2019; 8:51-57. [PMID: 31844518 PMCID: PMC6895705 DOI: 10.1016/j.cr.2019.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Fertilization happens when sperm and oocytes meet, which is a complicated process involving many important types of biological activation. Beginning in the 2-cell stage, an important event referred to as zygotic genome activation (ZGA) occurs, which governs the subsequent development of the embryo. In ZGA, multiple epigenetic modifications are involved and critical for pre-implantation development. These changes occur after ZGA, resulting in blastomeres segregate into two different lineages. Some blastomeres develop into the inner cell mass (ICM), and others develop into the trophectoderm (TE), which is considered the first cell fate decision. How this process is initiated and the exact molecular mechanisms involved are fascinating questions that remain to be answered. In this review, we introduce some possible developmental models of the first cell fate decision and discuss the signalling pathways and transcriptional networks regulating this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmeng Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Wenhao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Ling Shuai
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China.,State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
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46
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Bora P, Thamodaran V, Šušor A, Bruce AW. p38-Mitogen Activated Kinases Mediate a Developmental Regulatory Response to Amino Acid Depletion and Associated Oxidative Stress in Mouse Blastocyst Embryos. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:276. [PMID: 31788473 PMCID: PMC6856562 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal starvation coincident with preimplantation development has profound consequences for placental-fetal development, with various identified pathologies persisting/manifest in adulthood; the ‘Developmental Origin of Health and Disease’ (DOHaD) hypothesis/model. Despite evidence describing DOHaD-related incidence, supporting mechanistic and molecular data relating to preimplantation embryos themselves are comparatively meager. We recently identified the classically recognized stress-related p38-mitogen activated kinases (p38-MAPK) as regulating formation of the extraembryonic primitive endoderm (PrE) lineage within mouse blastocyst inner cell mass (ICM). Thus, we wanted to assay if PrE differentiation is sensitive to amino acid availability, in a manner regulated by p38-MAPK. Although blastocysts appropriately mature, without developmental/morphological or cell fate defects, irrespective of amino acid supplementation status, we found the extent of p38-MAPK inhibition induced phenotypes was more severe in the absence of amino acid supplementation. Specifically, both PrE and epiblast (EPI) ICM progenitor populations remained unspecified and there were fewer cells and smaller blastocyst cavities. Such phenotypes could be ameliorated, to resemble those observed in groups supplemented with amino acids, by addition of the anti-oxidant NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine), although PrE differentiation deficits remained. Therefore, p38-MAPK performs a hitherto unrecognized homeostatic early developmental regulatory role (in addition to direct specification of PrE), by buffering blastocyst cell number and ICM cell lineage specification (relating to EPI) in response to amino acid availability, partly by counteracting induced oxidative stress; with clear implications for the DOHaD model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Bora
- Laboratory of Early Mammalian Developmental Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Vasanth Thamodaran
- Laboratory of Early Mammalian Developmental Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Andrej Šušor
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Germ Cells, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics CAS, v. v. i., Liběchov, Czechia
| | - Alexander W Bruce
- Laboratory of Early Mammalian Developmental Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
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Xu S, Pang L, Liu Y, Lian X, Mo K, Lv R, Zhu H, Lv C, Lin J, Sun J, Xu L, Wang S. Akt plays indispensable roles during the first cell lineage differentiation of mouse. J Mol Histol 2019; 50:369-374. [PMID: 31190160 DOI: 10.1007/s10735-019-09833-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The first cell lineage differentiation occurs during the development of mouse 8-cell embryo to blastocyst. Akt is a potent kinase whose role during blastocyst formation has not been elucidated. In the present study, immunofluorescence results showed that the Akt protein was specifically localized to the outer cells of the morula. Akt-specific inhibitor MK2206 significantly inhibited mouse blastocyst formation and resulted in decreased expression of the trophectoderm marker Cdx2 and led to granular distribution of ERα in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, knockdown of ERα by siRNA microinjection can also lead to a decrease in the development rate of mouse blastocysts, accompanied by a decrease in the expression level of Yap protein. We conclude that Akt may be indispensable for the first cell lineage differentiation of mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songhua Xu
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, 350122, People's Republic of China.,Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, People's Republic of China
| | - Lili Pang
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, 350122, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Liu
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, 350122, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuli Lian
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, People's Republic of China
| | - Kaien Mo
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruimin Lv
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, People's Republic of China
| | - Huimin Zhu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Medical Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengyu Lv
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianmin Lin
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiandong Sun
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, People's Republic of China
| | - Lixuan Xu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, People's Republic of China
| | - Shie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, 350122, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, People's Republic of China.
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Yuan C, Li X, Song H, Fan L, Su S, Dong B. BMP7 coordinates endometrial epithelial cell receptivity for blastocyst implantation through the endoglin pathway in cell lines and a mouse model. Exp Ther Med 2019; 17:2547-2556. [PMID: 30906444 PMCID: PMC6425146 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2019.7265] [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: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) expression has been observed in the uterus in previous studies. However, the influence of BMP7 on blastocyst implantation remains unclear. Blastocysts first act on luminal endometrial epithelial cells during implantation. The purpose of the present study was to explore the influence of BMP7 on endometrial epithelial cells. A pregnancy animal model, and mouse and human endometrial epithelial cells were used in the present study. Transient knockdown, immunofluorescence assay, in vitro embryo implantation, BMP7 silencing, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, immunoprecipitation and Rac1 function assay were also performed. It was revealed that BMP7 concentration was increased in endometrial epithelial cells during the final pre-receptive and receptive stages of receptivity in the mouse endometrium. Additionally, BM7 acted on the transforming growth factor-β receptor, endoglin. Endoglin expression was detected in both stromal and endothelial cells apart from trophoblast expression. Following knockdown of BMP7, Rac-GTP was decreased in endometrial epithelial cells and the uterus. Knockdown of endoglin by small interfering RNA decreased the number of blastocysts and implantation regions. Additionally, BMP7 silencing and endoglin suppression of Ishikawa cells led to impaired JAr spheroid attachment. These findings suggest that BMP7 is associated with receptivity of the endometrium, indicating that BMP7 regulates receptivity of endometrial epithelial cells for implantation of blastocysts via the endoglin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caixia Yuan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China.,Department of Reproductive Medicine, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030012, P.R. China
| | - Xianlian Li
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030012, P.R. China
| | - Haixia Song
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030012, P.R. China
| | - Lingling Fan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030012, P.R. China
| | - Shili Su
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
| | - Baihua Dong
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
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Saha S, Patra P, Igoshin O, Kroos L. Systematic analysis of the Myxococcus xanthus developmental gene regulatory network supports posttranslational regulation of FruA by C-signaling. Mol Microbiol 2019; 111:1732-1752. [PMID: 30895656 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Upon starvation Myxococcus xanthus undergoes multicellular development. Rod-shaped cells move into mounds in which some cells differentiate into spores. Cells begin committing to sporulation at 24-30 h poststarvation, but the mechanisms governing commitment are unknown. FruA and MrpC are transcription factors that are necessary for commitment. They bind cooperatively to promoter regions and activate developmental gene transcription, including that of the dev operon. Leading up to and during the commitment period, dev mRNA increased in wild type, but not in a mutant defective in C-signaling, a short-range signaling interaction between cells that is also necessary for commitment. The C-signaling mutant exhibited ~20-fold less dev mRNA than wild type at 30 h poststarvation, despite a similar level of MrpC and only 2-fold less FruA. Boosting the FruA level twofold in the C-signaling mutant had little effect on the dev mRNA level, and dev mRNA was not less stable in the C-signaling mutant. Neither did high cooperativity of MrpC and FruA binding upstream of the dev promoter explain the data. Rather, our systematic experimental and computational analyses support a model in which C-signaling activates FruA at least ninefold posttranslationally in order to commit a cell to spore formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya Saha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Pintu Patra
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Oleg Igoshin
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Lee Kroos
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
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50
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The molecular logic of Nanog-induced self-renewal in mouse embryonic stem cells. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1109. [PMID: 30846691 PMCID: PMC6406003 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09041-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor networks, together with histone modifications and signalling pathways, underlie the establishment and maintenance of gene regulatory architectures associated with the molecular identity of each cell type. However, how master transcription factors individually impact the epigenomic landscape and orchestrate the behaviour of regulatory networks under different environmental constraints is only partially understood. Here, we show that the transcription factor Nanog deploys multiple distinct mechanisms to enhance embryonic stem cell self-renewal. In the presence of LIF, which fosters self-renewal, Nanog rewires the pluripotency network by promoting chromatin accessibility and binding of other pluripotency factors to thousands of enhancers. In the absence of LIF, Nanog blocks differentiation by sustaining H3K27me3, a repressive histone mark, at developmental regulators. Among those, we show that the repression of Otx2 plays a preponderant role. Our results underscore the versatility of master transcription factors, such as Nanog, to globally influence gene regulation during developmental processes.
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