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Gökbuget D, Lenshoek K, Boileau RM, Bayerl J, Huang H, Wiita AP, Laird DJ, Blelloch R. Transcriptional repression upon S phase entry protects genome integrity in pluripotent cells. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2023; 30:1561-1570. [PMID: 37696959 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01092-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Coincident transcription and DNA replication causes replication stress and genome instability. Rapidly dividing mouse pluripotent stem cells are highly transcriptionally active and experience elevated replication stress, yet paradoxically maintain genome integrity. Here, we study FOXD3, a transcriptional repressor enriched in pluripotent stem cells, and show that its repression of transcription upon S phase entry is critical to minimizing replication stress and preserving genome integrity. Acutely deleting Foxd3 leads to immediate replication stress, G2/M phase arrest, genome instability and p53-dependent apoptosis. FOXD3 binds near highly transcribed genes during S phase entry, and its loss increases the expression of these genes. Transient inhibition of RNA polymerase II in S phase reduces observed replication stress and cell cycle defects. Loss of FOXD3-interacting histone deacetylases induces replication stress, while transient inhibition of histone acetylation opposes it. These results show how a transcriptional repressor can play a central role in maintaining genome integrity through the transient inhibition of transcription during S phase, enabling faithful DNA replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Gökbuget
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kayla Lenshoek
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ryan M Boileau
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan Bayerl
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hector Huang
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Arun P Wiita
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Diana J Laird
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Robert Blelloch
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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2
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Functions of block of proliferation 1 during anterior development in Xenopus laevis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273507. [PMID: 36007075 PMCID: PMC9409556 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273507] [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: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Block of proliferation 1 (Bop1) is a nucleolar protein known to be necessary for the assembly of the 60S subunit of ribosomes. Here, we show a specific bop1 expression in the developing anterior tissue of the South African clawed frog Xenopus laevis. Morpholino oligonucleotide-mediated knockdown approaches demonstrated that Bop1 is required for proper development of the cranial cartilage, brain, and the eyes. Furthermore, we show that bop1 knockdown leads to impaired retinal lamination with disorganized cell layers. Expression of neural crest-, brain-, and eye-specific marker genes was disturbed. Apoptotic and proliferative processes, which are known to be affected during ribosomal biogenesis defects, are not hindered upon bop1 knockdown. Because early Xenopus embryos contain a large store of maternal ribosomes, we considered if Bop1 might have a role independent of de novo ribosomal biogenesis. At early embryonic stages, pax6 expression was strongly reduced in bop1 morphants and synergy experiments indicate a common signaling pathway of the two molecules, Bop1 and Pax6. Our studies imply a novel function of Bop1 independent of ribosomal biogenesis.
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3
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Zebrafish Cdx4 regulates neural crest cell specification and migratory behaviors in the posterior body. Dev Biol 2021; 480:25-38. [PMID: 34389276 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The neural crest (NC) is a transient multipotent cell population that migrates extensively to produce a remarkable array of vertebrate cell types. NC cell specification progresses in an anterior to posterior fashion, resulting in distinct, axial-restricted subpopulations. The anterior-most, cranial, population of NC is specified as gastrulation concludes and neurulation begins, while more posterior populations become specified as the body elongates. The mechanisms that govern development of the more posterior NC cells remain incompletely understood. Here, we report a key role for zebrafish Cdx4, a homeodomain transcription factor, in the development of posterior NC cells. We demonstrate that cdx4 is expressed in trunk NC cell progenitors, directly binds NC cell-specific enhancers in the NC GRN, and regulates expression of the key NC development gene foxd3 in the posterior body. Moreover, cdx4 mutants show disruptions to the segmental pattern of trunk NC cell migration due to loss of normal leader/follower cell dynamics. Finally, using cell transplantation to generate chimeric specimens, we show that Cdx4 does not function in the paraxial mesoderm-the environment adjacent to which crest migrates-to influence migratory behaviors. We conclude that cdx4 plays a critical, and likely tissue autonomous, role in the establishment of trunk NC migratory behaviors. Together, our results indicate that cdx4 functions as an early NC specifier gene in the posterior body of zebrafish embryos.
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Fontenas L, Kucenas S. Spinal cord precursors utilize neural crest cell mechanisms to generate hybrid peripheral myelinating glia. eLife 2021; 10:64267. [PMID: 33554855 PMCID: PMC7886336 DOI: 10.7554/elife.64267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During development, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells myelinate central and peripheral nervous system axons, respectively, while motor exit point (MEP) glia are neural tube-derived, peripheral glia that myelinate axonal territory between these populations at MEP transition zones. From which specific neural tube precursors MEP glia are specified, and how they exit the neural tube to migrate onto peripheral motor axons, remain largely unknown. Here, using zebrafish, we found that MEP glia arise from lateral floor plate precursors and require foxd3 to delaminate and exit the spinal cord. Additionally, we show that similar to Schwann cells, MEP glial development depends on axonally derived neuregulin1. Finally, our data demonstrate that overexpressing axonal cues is sufficient to generate additional MEP glia in the spinal cord. Overall, these studies provide new insight into how a novel population of hybrid, peripheral myelinating glia are generated from neural tube precursors and migrate into the periphery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Fontenas
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, United States
| | - Sarah Kucenas
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, United States
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5
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Chong-Morrison V, Sauka-Spengler T. The Cranial Neural Crest in a Multiomics Era. Front Physiol 2021; 12:634440. [PMID: 33732166 PMCID: PMC7956944 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.634440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural crest ontogeny plays a prominent role in craniofacial development. In this Perspective article, we discuss recent advances to the understanding of mechanisms underlying the cranial neural crest gene regulatory network (cNC-GRN) stemming from omics-based studies. We briefly summarize how parallel considerations of transcriptome, interactome, and epigenome data significantly elaborated the roles of key players derived from pre-omics era studies. Furthermore, the growing cohort of cNC multiomics data revealed contribution of the non-coding genomic landscape. As technological improvements are constantly being developed, we reflect on key questions we are poised to address by taking advantage of the unique perspective a multiomics approach has to offer.
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6
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Perera SN, Kerosuo L. On the road again: Establishment and maintenance of stemness in the neural crest from embryo to adulthood. STEM CELLS (DAYTON, OHIO) 2020; 39:7-25. [PMID: 33017496 PMCID: PMC7821161 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Unique to vertebrates, the neural crest (NC) is an embryonic stem cell population that contributes to a greatly expanding list of derivatives ranging from neurons and glia of the peripheral nervous system, facial cartilage and bone, pigment cells of the skin to secretory cells of the endocrine system. Here, we focus on what is specifically known about establishment and maintenance of NC stemness and ultimate fate commitment mechanisms, which could help explain its exceptionally high stem cell potential that exceeds the "rules set during gastrulation." In fact, recent discoveries have shed light on the existence of NC cells that coexpress commonly accepted pluripotency factors like Nanog, Oct4/PouV, and Klf4. The coexpression of pluripotency factors together with the exceptional array of diverse NC derivatives encouraged us to propose a new term "pleistopotent" (Greek for abundant, a substantial amount) to be used to reflect the uniqueness of the NC as compared to other post-gastrulation stem cell populations in the vertebrate body, and to differentiate them from multipotent lineage restricted stem cells. We also discuss studies related to the maintenance of NC stemness within the challenging context of being a transient and thus a constantly changing population of stem cells without a permanent niche. The discovery of the stem cell potential of Schwann cell precursors as well as multiple adult NC-derived stem cell reservoirs during the past decade has greatly increased our understanding of how NC cells contribute to tissues formed after its initial migration stage in young embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surangi N Perera
- Neural Crest Development and Disease Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Laura Kerosuo
- Neural Crest Development and Disease Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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7
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Jiao YH, Liu M, Wang G, Li HY, Liu JS, Yang X, Yang WD. EMT is the major target for okadaic acid-suppressed the development of neural crest cells in chick embryo. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2019; 180:192-201. [PMID: 31085430 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
As a main marine phycotoxin, okadaic acid (OA) is mainly responsible for diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP), through specifically inhibiting phosphatase (PP1 and PP2A). It has been shown that isotope labelled-OA could cross the placental barrier in mice. However, it remains obscure how OA exposure could affect the formation of neural crest cells (NCCs), especially cranial NCCs in early embryo development. Here, we explored the effects of OA exposure on the generation of neural crest cells during embryonic development using the classic chick embryo model. We found that OA exposure at 100 nM (80.5 μg/L) could cause craniofacial bone defects in the developing chick embryo and delay the development of early chick embryos. Immunofluorescent staining of HNK-1, Pax7, and Ap-2α demonstrated that cranial NCC generation was inhibited by OA exposure. Double immunofluorescent staining with Ap-2α/PHIS3 or Pax7/c-Caspase3 manifested that both NCC proliferation and apoptosis were restrained by OA exposure. Furthermore, the expression of Msx1 and BMP4 were down-regulated in the developing chick embryonic neural tubes, which could contribute the inhibitive production of NCCs. We also discovered that expression of EMT-related adhesion molecules, such as Cadherin 6B (Cad6B) and E-cadherin, was altered following OA exposure. In sum, OA exposure negatively affected the development of embryonic neural crest cells, which in turn might result in cranial bone malformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hu Jiao
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Eutrophication and Control of Harmful Algal Blooms of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Meng Liu
- Division of Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Medical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Guang Wang
- Division of Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Medical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Hong-Ye Li
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Eutrophication and Control of Harmful Algal Blooms of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Jie-Sheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Eutrophication and Control of Harmful Algal Blooms of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xuesong Yang
- Division of Histology and Embryology, Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Medical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Wei-Dong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Eutrophication and Control of Harmful Algal Blooms of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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8
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Lukoseviciute M, Gavriouchkina D, Williams RM, Hochgreb-Hagele T, Senanayake U, Chong-Morrison V, Thongjuea S, Repapi E, Mead A, Sauka-Spengler T. From Pioneer to Repressor: Bimodal foxd3 Activity Dynamically Remodels Neural Crest Regulatory Landscape In Vivo. Dev Cell 2019; 47:608-628.e6. [PMID: 30513303 PMCID: PMC6286384 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The neural crest (NC) is a transient embryonic stem cell-like population characterized by its multipotency and broad developmental potential. Here, we perform NC-specific transcriptional and epigenomic profiling of foxd3-mutant cells in vivo to define the gene regulatory circuits controlling NC specification. Together with global binding analysis obtained by foxd3 biotin-ChIP and single cell profiles of foxd3-expressing premigratory NC, our analysis shows that, during early steps of NC formation, foxd3 acts globally as a pioneer factor to prime the onset of genes regulating NC specification and migration by re-arranging the chromatin landscape, opening cis-regulatory elements and reshuffling nucleosomes. Strikingly, foxd3 then gradually switches from an activator to its well-described role as a transcriptional repressor and potentially uses differential partners for each role. Taken together, these results demonstrate that foxd3 acts bimodally in the neural crest as a switch from “permissive” to “repressive” nucleosome and chromatin organization to maintain multipotency and define cell fates. FoxD3 primes neural crest specification by modulating distal enhancers FoxD3 represses a number of neural crest migration and differentiation genes In neural crest, FoxD3 acts to switch chromatin from “permissive” to “repressive” Distinctive gene regulatory mechanisms underlie the bimodal action of FoxD3
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Lukoseviciute
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Daria Gavriouchkina
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Ruth M Williams
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Tatiana Hochgreb-Hagele
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Upeka Senanayake
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Vanessa Chong-Morrison
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Supat Thongjuea
- Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Emmanouela Repapi
- MRC WIMM Centre for Computational Biology Research Group, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Adam Mead
- Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Tatjana Sauka-Spengler
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.
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Prasad MS, Charney RM, García-Castro MI. Specification and formation of the neural crest: Perspectives on lineage segregation. Genesis 2019; 57:e23276. [PMID: 30576078 PMCID: PMC6570420 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The neural crest is a fascinating embryonic population unique to vertebrates that is endowed with remarkable differentiation capacity. Thought to originate from ectodermal tissue, neural crest cells generate neurons and glia of the peripheral nervous system, and melanocytes throughout the body. However, the neural crest also generates many ectomesenchymal derivatives in the cranial region, including cell types considered to be of mesodermal origin such as cartilage, bone, and adipose tissue. These ectomesenchymal derivatives play a critical role in the formation of the vertebrate head, and are thought to be a key attribute at the center of vertebrate evolution and diversity. Further, aberrant neural crest cell development and differentiation is the root cause of many human pathologies, including cancers, rare syndromes, and birth malformations. In this review, we discuss the current findings of neural crest cell ontogeny, and consider tissue, cell, and molecular contributions toward neural crest formation. We further provide current perspectives into the molecular network involved during the segregation of the neural crest lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maneeshi S Prasad
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, California
| | - Rebekah M Charney
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, California
| | - Martín I García-Castro
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, California
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Ahi EP, Sefc KM. Towards a gene regulatory network shaping the fins of the Princess cichlid. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9602. [PMID: 29942008 PMCID: PMC6018552 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27977-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Variation in fin shape and size contributes to the outstanding morphological diversity of teleost fishes, but the regulation of fin growth has not yet been studied extensively outside the zebrafish model. A previous gene expression study addressing the ornamental elongations of unpaired fins in the African cichlid fish Neolamprologus brichardi identified three genes (cx43, mmp9 and sema3d) with strong and consistent expression differences between short and elongated fin regions. Remarkably, the expression patterns of these genes were not consistent with inferences on their regulatory interactions in zebrafish. Here, we identify a gene expression network (GRN) comprising cx43, mmp9, and possibly also sema3d by a stepwise approach of identifying co-expression modules and predicting their upstream regulators. Among the transcription factors (TFs) predicted as potential upstream regulators of 11 co-expressed genes, six TFs (foxc1, foxp1, foxd3, myc, egr2, irf8) showed expression patterns consistent with their cooperative transcriptional regulation of the gene network. Some of these TFs have already been implicated in teleost fish fin regeneration and formation. We particularly discuss the potential function of foxd3 as driver of the network and its role in the unexpected gene expression correlations observed in N. brichardi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Pashay Ahi
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, A-8010, Graz, Austria.
| | - Kristina M Sefc
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, A-8010, Graz, Austria
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11
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Li K, Guo Q, Yang J, Chen H, Hu K, Zhao J, Zheng S, Pang X, Zhou S, Dang Y, Li L. FOXD3 is a tumor suppressor of colon cancer by inhibiting EGFR-Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK signal pathway. Oncotarget 2017; 8:5048-5056. [PMID: 27926503 PMCID: PMC5354891 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Forkhead box D3 (FOXD3), as a transcriptional repressor, is well known to be involved in the regulation of development. Although FoxD3 is associated with several cancers, its role in colon cancer and the underlying mechanism are still unclear. Here, we first showed that FOXD3 knockdown dramatically increased the proliferation of human colon cancer cells, enhanced cell invasive ability and inhibited cell apoptosis. In vivo xenograft studies confirmed that the FOXD3-knockdown cells were more tumorigenic than the controls. Silencing FOXD3 markedly activated EGFR/Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway in human colon cancer cells. In addition, blocking EGFR effectively decreased the activity of MAPK induced by FOXD3 knockdown. In human cancer tissue, the expression of FOXD3 was reduced, however, the EGFR/Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway was activated. Our study indicates that FOXD3 may play a protective role in human colon formation by regulating EGFR/Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signal pathway. It is proposed that FOXD3 may have potential as a new therapeutic target in human colon cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Qunfeng Guo
- Department of Orthopedics, Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Kewen Hu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Juan Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Shunxin Zheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiufeng Pang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Sufang Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy Research, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Yongyan Dang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, China
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12
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Owlarn S, Bartscherer K. Go ahead, grow a head! A planarian's guide to anterior regeneration. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 3:139-55. [PMID: 27606065 PMCID: PMC5011478 DOI: 10.1002/reg2.56] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Revised: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The unique ability of some planarian species to regenerate a head de novo, including a functional brain, provides an experimentally accessible system in which to study the mechanisms underlying regeneration. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the key steps of planarian head regeneration (head‐versus‐tail decision, anterior pole formation and head patterning) and their molecular and cellular basis. Moreover, instructive properties of the anterior pole as a putative organizer and in coordinating anterior midline formation are discussed. Finally, we highlight that regeneration initiation occurs in a two‐step manner and hypothesize that wound‐induced and existing positional cues interact to detect tissue loss and together determine the appropriate regenerative outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suthira Owlarn
- Max Planck Research Group Stem Cells and Regeneration Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine Von-Esmarch-Str. 5448149 Münster Germany; Medical Faculty University of Münster Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 148149 Münster Germany; CiM-IMPRS Graduate School Schlossplatz 548149 Münster Germany
| | - Kerstin Bartscherer
- Max Planck Research Group Stem Cells and Regeneration Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine Von-Esmarch-Str. 5448149 Münster Germany; Medical Faculty University of Münster Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 148149 Münster Germany
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13
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Breitenbuecher C, Belanger JM, Levy K, Mundell P, Fates V, Gershony L, Famula TR, Oberbauer AM. Protein expression and genetic variability of canine Can f 1 in golden and Labrador retriever service dogs. Canine Genet Epidemiol 2016; 3:3. [PMID: 27110374 PMCID: PMC4840867 DOI: 10.1186/s40575-016-0031-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Valued for trainability in diverse tasks, dogs are the primary service animal used to assist individuals with disabilities. Despite their utility, many people in need of service dogs are sensitive to the primary dog allergen, Can f 1, encoded by the Lipocalin 1 gene (LCN1). Several organizations specifically breed service dogs to meet special needs and would like to reduce allergenic potential if possible. In this study, we evaluated the expression of Can f 1 protein and the inherent variability of LCN1 in two breeds used extensively as service dogs. Saliva samples from equal numbers of male and female Labrador retrievers (n = 12), golden retrievers (n = 12), and Labrador-golden crosses (n = 12) were collected 1 h after the morning meal. Can f 1 protein concentrations in the saliva were measured by ELISA, and the LCN1 5' and 3' UTRs and exons sequenced. RESULTS There was no sex effect (p > 0.2) nor time-of-day effect; however, Can f 1 protein levels varied by breed with Labrador retrievers being lower than golden retrievers (3.18 ± 0.51 and 5.35 ± 0.52 μg/ml, respectively, p < 0.0075), and the Labrador-golden crosses having intermediate levels (3.77 ± 0.48 μg/ml). Although several novel SNPs were identified in LCN1, there were no significant breed-specific sequence differences in the gene and no association of LCN1 genotypes with Can f 1 expression. CONCLUSIONS As service dogs, Labrador retrievers likely have lower allergenic potential and, though there were no DNA sequence differences identified, classical genetic selection on the estimated breeding values associated with salivary Can f 1 expression may further reduce that potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Janelle M Belanger
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616 USA
| | - Kerinne Levy
- Canine Companions for Independence, Santa Rosa, CA USA
| | - Paul Mundell
- Canine Companions for Independence, Santa Rosa, CA USA
| | - Valerie Fates
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616 USA
| | - Liza Gershony
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616 USA
| | - Thomas R Famula
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616 USA
| | - Anita M Oberbauer
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616 USA
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14
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McEllin JA, Alexander TB, Tümpel S, Wiedemann LM, Krumlauf R. Analyses of fugu hoxa2 genes provide evidence for subfunctionalization of neural crest cell and rhombomere cis-regulatory modules during vertebrate evolution. Dev Biol 2016; 409:530-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2015] [Revised: 11/08/2015] [Accepted: 11/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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15
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Wang C, Kam RKT, Shi W, Xia Y, Chen X, Cao Y, Sun J, Du Y, Lu G, Chen Z, Chan WY, Chan SO, Deng Y, Zhao H. The Proto-oncogene Transcription Factor Ets1 Regulates Neural Crest Development through Histone Deacetylase 1 to Mediate Output of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling. J Biol Chem 2015. [PMID: 26198637 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.644864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The neural crest (NC) is a transient, migratory cell population that differentiates into a large variety of tissues including craniofacial cartilage, melanocytes, and peripheral nervous system. NC is initially induced at the border of neural plate and non-neural ectoderm by balanced regulation of multiple signaling pathways among which an intermediate bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling is essential for NC formation. ets1, a proto-oncogene playing important roles in tumor invasion, has also been implicated in delamination of NC cells. In this study, we investigated Ets1 function in NC formation using Xenopus. Overexpression of ets1 repressed NC formation through down-regulation of BMP signaling. Moreover, ets1 repressed the BMP-responsive gene id3 that is essential for NC formation. Conversely, overexpression of id3 can partially rescue the phenotype of NC inhibition induced by ectopic ets1. Mechanistically, we found that Ets1 binds to id3 promoter as well as histone deacetylase 1, suggesting that Ets1 recruits histone deacetylase 1 to the promoter of id3, thereby inducing histone deacetylation of the id3 promoter. Thus, our studies indicate that Ets1 regulates NC formation through attenuating BMP signaling epigenetically.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Weili Shi
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yin Xia
- From the School of Biomedical Sciences and Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Xiongfong Chen
- Advanced Biomedical Computing Center, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland 21702
| | - Ying Cao
- Model Animal Research Center of Nanjing University and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, 12 Xuefu Road, Pukou High-Tech Zone, Nanjing 210061, China
| | - Jianmin Sun
- Translational Cancer Research and Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Medicon Village, 22381 Lund, Sweden, and
| | - Yanzhi Du
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 845 Lingshan Road, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Gang Lu
- From the School of Biomedical Sciences and Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Zijiang Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 845 Lingshan Road, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Wood Yee Chan
- From the School of Biomedical Sciences and Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Sun On Chan
- From the School of Biomedical Sciences and Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Yi Deng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment, Department of Biology, South University of Science and Technology of China, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- From the School of Biomedical Sciences and Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518057, China,
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16
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Barriga EH, Trainor PA, Bronner M, Mayor R. Animal models for studying neural crest development: is the mouse different? Development 2015; 142:1555-60. [PMID: 25922521 DOI: 10.1242/dev.121590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The neural crest is a uniquely vertebrate cell type and has been well studied in a number of model systems. Zebrafish, Xenopus and chick embryos largely show consistent requirements for specific genes in early steps of neural crest development. By contrast, knockouts of homologous genes in the mouse often do not exhibit comparable early neural crest phenotypes. In this Spotlight article, we discuss these species-specific differences, suggest possible explanations for the divergent phenotypes in mouse and urge the community to consider these issues and the need for further research in complementary systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias H Barriga
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Paul A Trainor
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Centre, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Marianne Bronner
- Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Roberto Mayor
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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17
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Noisa P, Raivio T. Neural crest cells: From developmental biology to clinical interventions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 102:263-74. [DOI: 10.1002/bdrc.21074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Parinya Noisa
- Institute of Biomedicine/Physiology; University of Helsinki; Finland
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology; Nakhon Ratchasima Thailand
| | - Taneli Raivio
- Institute of Biomedicine/Physiology; University of Helsinki; Finland
- Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital; Finland
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18
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Fritzenwanker JH, Gerhart J, Freeman RM, Lowe CJ. The Fox/Forkhead transcription factor family of the hemichordate Saccoglossus kowalevskii. EvoDevo 2014; 5:17. [PMID: 24987514 PMCID: PMC4077281 DOI: 10.1186/2041-9139-5-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Fox gene family is a large family of transcription factors that arose early in organismal evolution dating back to at least the common ancestor of metazoans and fungi. They are key components of many gene regulatory networks essential for embryonic development. Although much is known about the role of Fox genes during vertebrate development, comprehensive comparative studies outside vertebrates are sparse. We have characterized the Fox transcription factor gene family from the genome of the enteropneust hemichordate Saccoglossus kowalevskii, including phylogenetic analysis, genomic organization, and expression analysis during early development. Hemichordates are a sister group to echinoderms, closely related to chordates and are a key group for tracing the evolution of gene regulatory mechanisms likely to have been important in the diversification of the deuterostome phyla. Results Of the 22 Fox gene families that were likely present in the last common ancestor of all deuterostomes, S. kowalevskii has a single ortholog of each group except FoxH, which we were unable to detect, and FoxQ2, which has three paralogs. A phylogenetic analysis of the FoxQ2 family identified an ancestral duplication in the FoxQ2 lineage at the base of the bilaterians. The expression analyses of all 23 Fox genes of S. kowalevskii provide insights into the evolution of components of the regulatory networks for the development of pharyngeal gill slits (foxC, foxL1, and foxI), mesoderm patterning (foxD, foxF, foxG), hindgut development (foxD, foxI), cilia formation (foxJ1), and patterning of the embryonic apical territory (foxQ2). Conclusions Comparisons of our results with data from echinoderms, chordates, and other bilaterians help to develop hypotheses about the developmental roles of Fox genes that likely characterized ancestral deuterostomes and bilaterians, and more recent clade-specific innovations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens H Fritzenwanker
- Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University, 120 Oceanview Boulevard, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - John Gerhart
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, 142 Life Sciences Addition #3200, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Robert M Freeman
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Warren Alpert 536, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Christopher J Lowe
- Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University, 120 Oceanview Boulevard, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
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19
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Vogg MC, Owlarn S, Pérez Rico YA, Xie J, Suzuki Y, Gentile L, Wu W, Bartscherer K. Stem cell-dependent formation of a functional anterior regeneration pole in planarians requires Zic and Forkhead transcription factors. Dev Biol 2014; 390:136-48. [PMID: 24704339 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2014.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2013] [Revised: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Planarians can regenerate their head within days. This process depends on the direction of adult stem cells to wound sites and the orchestration of their progenitors to commit to appropriate lineages and to arrange into patterned tissues. We identified a zinc finger transcription factor, Smed-ZicA, as a downstream target of Smed-FoxD, a Forkhead transcription factor required for head regeneration. Smed-zicA and Smed-FoxD are co-expressed with the Wnt inhibitor notum and the Activin inhibitor follistatin in a cluster of cells at the anterior-most tip of the regenerating head - the anterior regeneration pole - and in surrounding stem cell progeny. Depletion of Smed-zicA and Smed-FoxD by RNAi abolishes notum and follistatin expression at the pole and inhibits head formation downstream of initial polarity decisions. We suggest a model in which ZicA and FoxD transcription factors synergize to control the formation of Notum- and Follistatin-producing anterior pole cells. Pole formation might constitute an early step in regeneration, resulting in a signaling center that orchestrates cellular events in the growing tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias C Vogg
- Max Planck Research Group Stem Cells & Regeneration, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Von-Esmarch-Str. 54, 48149 Münster, Germany; Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Suthira Owlarn
- Max Planck Research Group Stem Cells & Regeneration, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Von-Esmarch-Str. 54, 48149 Münster, Germany; Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany; CiM-IMPRS Graduate School, Schlossplatz 5, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Yuvia A Pérez Rico
- Max Planck Research Group Stem Cells & Regeneration, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Von-Esmarch-Str. 54, 48149 Münster, Germany; Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Jianlei Xie
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Science, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yoko Suzuki
- CiM-IMPRS Graduate School, Schlossplatz 5, 48149 Münster, Germany; Planarian Stem Cell Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Von-Esmarch-Str. 54, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Luca Gentile
- Planarian Stem Cell Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Von-Esmarch-Str. 54, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Wei Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Science, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Kerstin Bartscherer
- Max Planck Research Group Stem Cells & Regeneration, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Von-Esmarch-Str. 54, 48149 Münster, Germany; Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany.
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20
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Identifying and mapping cell-type-specific chromatin programming of gene expression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:E645-54. [PMID: 24469817 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1312523111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A problem of substantial interest is to systematically map variation in chromatin structure to gene-expression regulation across conditions, environments, or differentiated cell types. We developed and applied a quantitative framework for determining the existence, strength, and type of relationship between high-resolution chromatin structure in terms of DNaseI hypersensitivity and genome-wide gene-expression levels in 20 diverse human cell types. We show that ∼25% of genes show cell-type-specific expression explained by alterations in chromatin structure. We find that distal regions of chromatin structure (e.g., ±200 kb) capture more genes with this relationship than local regions (e.g., ±2.5 kb), yet the local regions show a more pronounced effect. By exploiting variation across cell types, we were capable of pinpointing the most likely hypersensitive sites related to cell-type-specific expression, which we show have a range of contextual uses. This quantitative framework is likely applicable to other settings aimed at relating continuous genomic measurements to gene-expression variation.
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21
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Bae CJ, Park BY, Lee YH, Tobias JW, Hong CS, Saint-Jeannet JP. Identification of Pax3 and Zic1 targets in the developing neural crest. Dev Biol 2013; 386:473-83. [PMID: 24360908 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2013.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2013] [Revised: 10/07/2013] [Accepted: 12/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The neural crest (NC) is a multipotent population of migratory cells unique to the vertebrate embryo, contributing to the development of multiple organ systems. Transcription factors pax3 and zic1 are among the earliest genes activated in NC progenitors, and they are both necessary and sufficient to promote NC fate. In order to further characterize the function of these transcription factors during NC development we have used hormone inducible fusion proteins in a Xenopus animal cap assay, and DNA microarray to identify downstream targets of Pax3 and Zic1. Here we present the results of this screen and the initial validation of these targets using quantitative RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and morpholinos-mediated knockdown. Among the targets identified we found several well-characterized NC-specific genes, including snail2, foxd3, gbx2, twist, sox8 and sox9, which validate our approach. We also obtained several factors with no known function in Xenopus NC, which represent novel regulators of NC fate. The comprehensive characterization of Pax3 and Zic1 targets function in the NC gene regulatory network, are essential to understanding the mechanisms regulating the emergence of this important cell population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Joon Bae
- Department of Basic Science & Craniofacial Biology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, USA
| | - Byung-Yong Park
- Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Hoon Lee
- Department of Oral Anatomy, School of Dentistry & Institute of Oral Biosciences, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - John W Tobias
- Bioinformatics Group, Molecular Profiling Facility, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Chang-Soo Hong
- Department of Basic Science & Craniofacial Biology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Daegu University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jean-Pierre Saint-Jeannet
- Department of Basic Science & Craniofacial Biology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, USA; Department of Animal Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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22
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Ono H, Kozmik Z, Yu JK, Wada H. A novel N-terminal motif is responsible for the evolution of neural crest-specific gene-regulatory activity in vertebrate FoxD3. Dev Biol 2013; 385:396-404. [PMID: 24252777 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2013.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2013] [Revised: 10/30/2013] [Accepted: 11/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The neural crest is unique to vertebrates and has allowed the evolution of their complicated craniofacial structures. During vertebrate evolution, the acquisition of the neural crest must have been accompanied by the emergence of a new gene regulatory network (GRN). Here, to investigate the role of protein evolution in the emergence of the neural crest GRN, we examined the neural crest cell (NCC) differentiation-inducing activity of chordate FoxD genes. Amphioxus and vertebrate (Xenopus) FoxD proteins both exhibited transcriptional repressor activity in Gal4 transactivation assays and bound to similar DNA sequences in vitro. However, whereas vertebrate FoxD3 genes induced the differentiation of ectopic NCCs when overexpressed in chick neural tube, neither amphioxus FoxD nor any other vertebrate FoxD paralogs exhibited this activity. Experiments using chimeric proteins showed that the N-terminal portion of the vertebrate FoxD3 protein is critical to its NCC differentiation-inducing activity. Furthermore, replacement of the N-terminus of amphioxus FoxD with a 39-amino-acid segment from zebrafish FoxD3 conferred neural crest-inducing activity on amphioxus FoxD or zebrafish FoxD1. Therefore, fixation of this N-terminal amino acid sequence may have been crucial in the evolutionary recruitment of FoxD3 to the vertebrate neural crest GRN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Ono
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan
| | - Zbynek Kozmik
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Jr-Kai Yu
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Section 2, Nankang, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Hiroshi Wada
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan.
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23
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Lee RTH, Knapik EW, Thiery JP, Carney TJ. An exclusively mesodermal origin of fin mesenchyme demonstrates that zebrafish trunk neural crest does not generate ectomesenchyme. Development 2013; 140:2923-32. [PMID: 23739134 DOI: 10.1242/dev.093534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The neural crest is a multipotent stem cell population that arises from the dorsal aspect of the neural tube and generates both non-ectomesenchymal (melanocytes, peripheral neurons and glia) and ectomesenchymal (skeletogenic, odontogenic, cartilaginous and connective tissue) derivatives. In amniotes, only cranial neural crest generates both classes, with trunk neural crest restricted to non-ectomesenchyme. By contrast, it has been suggested that anamniotes might generate derivatives of both classes at all axial levels, with trunk neural crest generating fin osteoblasts, scale mineral-forming cells and connective tissue cells; however, this has not been fully tested. The cause and evolutionary significance of this cranial/trunk dichotomy, and its absence in anamniotes, are debated. Recent experiments have disputed the contribution of fish trunk neural crest to fin osteoblasts and scale mineral-forming cells. This prompted us to test the contribution of anamniote trunk neural crest to fin connective tissue cells. Using genetics-based lineage tracing in zebrafish, we find that these fin mesenchyme cells derive entirely from the mesoderm and that neural crest makes no contribution. Furthermore, contrary to previous suggestions, larval fin mesenchyme cells do not generate the skeletogenic cells of the adult fin, but persist to form fibroblasts associated with adult fin rays. Our data demonstrate that zebrafish trunk neural crest does not generate ectomesenchymal derivatives and challenge long-held ideas about trunk neural crest fate. These findings have important implications for the ontogeny and evolution of the neural crest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Teck Ho Lee
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology-IMCB, A*STAR-Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore 138673, Singapore
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24
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Nitzan E, Krispin S, Pfaltzgraff ER, Klar A, Labosky PA, Kalcheim C. A dynamic code of dorsal neural tube genes regulates the segregation between neurogenic and melanogenic neural crest cells. Development 2013; 140:2269-79. [PMID: 23615280 DOI: 10.1242/dev.093294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Understanding when and how multipotent progenitors segregate into diverse fates is a key question during embryonic development. The neural crest (NC) is an exemplary model system with which to investigate the dynamics of progenitor cell specification, as it generates a multitude of derivatives. Based on 'in ovo' lineage analysis, we previously suggested an early fate restriction of premigratory trunk NC to generate neural versus melanogenic fates, yet the timing of fate segregation and the underlying mechanisms remained unknown. Analysis of progenitors expressing a Foxd3 reporter reveals that prospective melanoblasts downregulate Foxd3 and have already segregated from neural lineages before emigration. When this downregulation is prevented, late-emigrating avian precursors fail to upregulate the melanogenic markers Mitf and MC/1 and the guidance receptor Ednrb2, generating instead glial cells that express P0 and Fabp. In this context, Foxd3 lies downstream of Snail2 and Sox9, constituting a minimal network upstream of Mitf and Ednrb2 to link melanogenic specification with migration. Consistent with the gain-of-function data in avians, loss of Foxd3 function in mouse NC results in ectopic melanogenesis in the dorsal tube and sensory ganglia. Altogether, Foxd3 is part of a dynamically expressed gene network that is necessary and sufficient to regulate fate decisions in premigratory NC. Their timely downregulation in the dorsal neural tube is thus necessary for the switch between neural and melanocytic phases of NC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erez Nitzan
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, IMRIC and ELSC, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, PO Box 12272, Israel
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25
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Klein SL, Neilson KM, Orban J, Yaklichkin S, Hoffbauer J, Mood K, Daar IO, Moody SA. Conserved structural domains in FoxD4L1, a neural forkhead box transcription factor, are required to repress or activate target genes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61845. [PMID: 23610594 PMCID: PMC3627651 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2013] [Accepted: 03/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
FoxD4L1 is a forkhead transcription factor that expands the neural ectoderm by down-regulating genes that promote the onset of neural differentiation and up-regulating genes that maintain proliferative neural precursors in an immature state. We previously demonstrated that binding of Grg4 to an Eh-1 motif enhances the ability of FoxD4L1 to down-regulate target neural genes but does not account for all of its repressive activity. Herein we analyzed the protein sequence for additional interaction motifs and secondary structure. Eight conserved motifs were identified in the C-terminal region of fish and frog proteins. Extending the analysis to mammals identified a high scoring motif downstream of the Eh-1 domain that contains a tryptophan residue implicated in protein-protein interactions. In addition, secondary structure prediction programs predicted an α-helical structure overlapping with amphibian-specific Motif 6 in Xenopus, and similarly located α-helical structures in other vertebrate FoxD proteins. We tested functionality of this site by inducing a glutamine-to-proline substitution expected to break the predicted α-helical structure; this significantly reduced FoxD4L1’s ability to repress zic3 and irx1. Because this mutation does not interfere with Grg4 binding, these results demonstrate that at least two regions, the Eh-1 motif and a more C-terminal predicted α-helical/Motif 6 site, additively contribute to repression. In the N-terminal region we previously identified a 14 amino acid motif that is required for the up-regulation of target genes. Secondary structure prediction programs predicted a short β-strand separating two acidic domains. Mutant constructs show that the β-strand itself is not required for transcriptional activation. Instead, activation depends upon a glycine residue that is predicted to provide sufficient flexibility to bring the two acidic domains into close proximity. These results identify conserved predicted motifs with secondary structures that enable FoxD4L1 to carry out its essential functions as both a transcriptional repressor and activator of neural genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven L. Klein
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Karen M. Neilson
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - John Orban
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sergey Yaklichkin
- Penn Center for Bioinformatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Hoffbauer
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Kathy Mood
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, NIH, NCI-Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ira O. Daar
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, NIH, NCI-Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sally A. Moody
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Simões-Costa MS, McKeown SJ, Tan-Cabugao J, Sauka-Spengler T, Bronner ME. Dynamic and differential regulation of stem cell factor FoxD3 in the neural crest is Encrypted in the genome. PLoS Genet 2012; 8:e1003142. [PMID: 23284303 PMCID: PMC3527204 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2012] [Accepted: 10/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The critical stem cell transcription factor FoxD3 is expressed by the premigratory and migrating neural crest, an embryonic stem cell population that forms diverse derivatives. Despite its important role in development and stem cell biology, little is known about what mediates FoxD3 activity in these cells. We have uncovered two FoxD3 enhancers, NC1 and NC2, that drive reporter expression in spatially and temporally distinct manners. Whereas NC1 activity recapitulates initial FoxD3 expression in the cranial neural crest, NC2 activity recapitulates initial FoxD3 expression at vagal/trunk levels while appearing only later in migrating cranial crest. Detailed mutational analysis, in vivo chromatin immunoprecipitation, and morpholino knock-downs reveal that transcription factors Pax7 and Msx1/2 cooperate with the neural crest specifier gene, Ets1, to bind to the cranial NC1 regulatory element. However, at vagal/trunk levels, they function together with the neural plate border gene, Zic1, which directly binds to the NC2 enhancer. These results reveal dynamic and differential regulation of FoxD3 in distinct neural crest subpopulations, suggesting that heterogeneity is encrypted at the regulatory level. Isolation of neural crest enhancers not only allows establishment of direct regulatory connections underlying neural crest formation, but also provides valuable tools for tissue specific manipulation and investigation of neural crest cell identity in amniotes. FoxD3 is an important stem cell factor expressed in many types of embryonic cells including neural crest cells. In the embryo, neural crest cells are a type of stem cell that forms diverse derivatives, including nerve cells, pigment cells, and facial structures. To better understand neural crest development and differentiation, we have explored how FoxD3 expression is regulated in these cells. By examining non-coding DNA, we have identified distinct genomic regions that mediate expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in a pattern that recapitulates FoxD3 expression. Interestingly, we find two genomic “on–off” switches or enhancers, called NC1 and NC2, that drive GFP expression in a pattern that recapitulates FoxD3 expression at different times and places during neural crest development. We find that Pax and Msx proteins turn on both NC1 and NC2 enhancers by directly binding to them. In addition, cranial expression driven by NC1 requires a protein called Ets1, whereas trunk expression of NC2 requires a different protein called Zic1. The results show that FoxD3 in differentially regulated in distinct neural crest cell populations in a manner that is specifically encoded in the genome. These enhancers provide valuable tools for understanding neural crest development in birds and mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos S. Simões-Costa
- Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Sonja J. McKeown
- Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Joanne Tan-Cabugao
- Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Tatjana Sauka-Spengler
- The Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (TS-S); (MEB)
| | - Marianne E. Bronner
- Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (TS-S); (MEB)
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Dee CT, Szymoniuk CR, Mills PED, Takahashi T. Defective neural crest migration revealed by a Zebrafish model of Alx1-related frontonasal dysplasia. Hum Mol Genet 2012; 22:239-51. [PMID: 23059813 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/dds423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontonasal dysplasia (FND) refers to a class of midline facial malformations caused by abnormal development of the facial primordia. The term encompasses a spectrum of severities but characteristic features include combinations of ocular hypertelorism, malformations of the nose and forehead and clefting of the facial midline. Several recent studies have drawn attention to the importance of Alx homeobox transcription factors during craniofacial development. Most notably, loss of Alx1 has devastating consequences resulting in severe orofacial clefting and extreme microphthalmia. In contrast, mutations of Alx3 or Alx4 cause milder forms of FND. Whilst Alx1, Alx3 and Alx4 are all known to be expressed in the facial mesenchyme of vertebrate embryos, little is known about the function of these proteins during development. Here, we report the establishment of a zebrafish model of Alx-related FND. Morpholino knock-down of zebrafish alx1 expression causes a profound craniofacial phenotype including loss of the facial cartilages and defective ocular development. We demonstrate for the first time that Alx1 plays a crucial role in regulating the migration of cranial neural crest (CNC) cells into the frontonasal primordia. Abnormal neural crest migration is coincident with aberrant expression of foxd3 and sox10, two genes previously suggested to play key roles during neural crest development, including migration, differentiation and the maintenance of progenitor cells. This novel function is specific to Alx1, and likely explains the marked clinical severity of Alx1 mutation within the spectrum of Alx-related FND.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris T Dee
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
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28
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Epigenomic annotation of enhancers predicts transcriptional regulators of human neural crest. Cell Stem Cell 2012; 11:633-48. [PMID: 22981823 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2012.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 224] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2012] [Revised: 05/31/2012] [Accepted: 07/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Neural crest cells (NCC) are a transient, embryonic cell population characterized by unusual migratory ability and developmental plasticity. To annotate and characterize cis-regulatory elements utilized by the human NCC, we coupled a hESC differentiation model with genome-wide profiling of histone modifications and of coactivator and transcription factor (TF) occupancy. Sequence analysis predicted major TFs binding at epigenomically annotated hNCC enhancers, including a master NC regulator, TFAP2A, and nuclear receptors NR2F1 and NR2F2. Although many TF binding events occur outside enhancers, sites coinciding with enhancer chromatin signatures show significantly higher sequence constraint, nucleosomal depletion, correlation with gene expression, and functional conservation in NCC isolated from chicken embryos. Simultaneous co-occupancy by TFAP2A and NR2F1/F2 is associated with permissive enhancer chromatin states, characterized by high levels of p300 and H3K27ac. Our results provide global insights into human NC chromatin landscapes and a rich resource for studies of craniofacial development and disease.
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29
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Suzuki T, Kusakabe M, Nakayama K, Nishida E. The protein kinase MLTK regulates chondrogenesis by inducing the transcription factor Sox6. Development 2012; 139:2988-98. [PMID: 22764049 DOI: 10.1242/dev.078675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Sox9 acts together with Sox5 or Sox6 as a master regulator for chondrogenesis; however, the inter-relationship among these transcription factors remains unclear. Here, we show that the protein kinase MLTK plays an essential role in the onset of chondrogenesis through triggering the induction of Sox6 expression by Sox9. We find that knockdown of MLTK in Xenopus embryos results in drastic loss of craniofacial cartilages without defects in neural crest development. We also find that Sox6 is specifically induced during the onset of chondrogenesis, and that the Sox6 induction is inhibited by MLTK knockdown. Remarkably, Sox6 knockdown phenocopies MLTK knockdown. Moreover, we find that ectopic expression of MLTK induces Sox6 expression in a Sox9-dependent manner. Our data suggest that p38 and JNK pathways function downstream of MLTK during chondrogenesis. These results identify MLTK as a novel key regulator of chondrogenesis, and reveal its action mechanism in chondrocyte differentiation during embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiyasu Suzuki
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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30
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Steventon B, Mayor R. Early neural crest induction requires an initial inhibition of Wnt signals. Dev Biol 2012; 365:196-207. [PMID: 22394485 PMCID: PMC3657187 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2011] [Revised: 01/31/2012] [Accepted: 02/20/2012] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Neural crest (NC) induction is a long process that continues through gastrula and neurula stages. In order to reveal additional stages of NC induction we performed a series of explants where different known inducing tissues were taken along with the prospective NC. Interestingly the dorso-lateral marginal zone (DLMZ) is only able to promote the expression of a subset of neural plate border (NPB) makers without the presence of specific NC markers. We then analysed the temporal requirement for BMP and Wnt signals for the NPB genes Hairy2a and Dlx5, compared to the expression of neural plate (NP) and NC genes. Although the NP is sensitive to BMP levels at early gastrula stages, Hairy2a/Dlx5 expression is unaffected. Later, the NP becomes insensitive to BMP levels at late gastrulation when NC markers require an inhibition. The NP requires an inhibition of Wnt signals prior to gastrulation, but becomes insensitive during early gastrula stages when Hairy2a/Dlx5 requires an inhibition of Wnt signalling. An increase in Wnt signalling is then important for the switch from NPB to NC at late gastrula stages. In addition to revealing an additional distinct signalling event in NC induction, this work emphasizes the importance of integrating both timing and levels of signalling activity during the patterning of complex tissues such as the vertebrate ectoderm.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roberto Mayor
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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31
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Tu CT, Yang TC, Huang HY, Tsai HJ. Zebrafish arl6ip1 is required for neural crest development during embryogenesis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e32899. [PMID: 22427906 PMCID: PMC3298456 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2010] [Accepted: 02/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although the embryonic expression pattern of ADP ribosylation factor-like 6 interacting protein 1 (Arl6ip1) has been reported, its function in neural crest development is unclear. Methods/Principal Findings We found that knockdown of Arl6ip1 caused defective embryonic neural crest derivatives that were particularly severe in craniofacial cartilages. Expressions of the ectodermal patterning factors msxb, dlx3b, and pax3 were normal, but the expressions of the neural crest specifier genes foxd3, snai1b, and sox10 were greatly reduced. These findings suggest that arl6ip1 is essential for specification of neural crest derivatives, but not neural crest induction. Furthermore, we revealed that the streams of crestin- and sox10-expressing neural crest cells, which migrate ventrally from neural tube into trunk, were disrupted in arl6ip1 morphants. This migration defect was not only in the trunk neural crest, but also in the enteric tract where the vagal-derived neural crest cells failed to populate the enteric nervous system. We found that this migration defect was induced by dampened Shh signaling, which may have resulted from defective cilia. These data further suggested that arl6ip1 is required for neural crest migration. Finally, by double-staining of TUNEL and crestin, we confirmed that the loss of neural crest cells could not be attributed to apoptosis. Conclusions/Significance Therefore, we concluded that arl6ip1 is required for neural crest migration and sublineage specification.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Huai-Jen Tsai
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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32
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Lindesay J, Mason TE, Ricks-Santi L, Hercules W, Kurian P, Dunston GM. A new biophysical metric for interrogating the information content in human genome sequence variation: Proof of concept. JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS RESEARCH 2012; 4:15-22. [PMID: 24478921 DOI: 10.5897/jcbbr11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The 21st century emergence of genomic medicine is shifting the paradigm in biomedical science from the population phenotype to the individual genotype. In characterizing the biology of disease and health disparities in population genetics, human populations are often defined by the most common alleles in the group. This definition poses difficulties when categorizing individuals in the population who do not have the most common allele(s). Various epidemiological studies have shown an association between common genomic variation, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and common diseases. We hypothesize that information encoded in the structure of SNP haploblock variation in the human leukocyte antigen-disease related (HLA-DR) region of the genome illumines molecular pathways and cellular mechanisms involved in the regulation of host adaptation to the environment. In this paper we describe the development and application of the normalized information content (NIC) as a novel metric based on SNP haploblock variation. The NIC facilitates translation of biochemical DNA sequence variation into a biophysical quantity derived from Boltzmann's canonical ensemble in statistical physics and used widely in information theory. Our normalization of this information metric allows for comparisons of unlike, or even unrelated, regions of the genome. We report here NIC values calculated for HLA-DR SNP haploblocks constructed by Haploview, a product of the International Haplotype Map Project. These haploblocks were scanned for potential regulatory elements using ConSite and miRBase, publicly available bioinformatics tools. We found that all of the haploblocks with statistically low NIC values contained putative transcription factor binding sites and microRNA motifs, suggesting correlation with genomic regulation. Thus, we were able to relate a mathematical measure of information content in HLA-DR SNP haploblocks to biologically relevant functional knowledge embedded in the structure of DNA sequence variation. We submit that NIC may be useful in analyzing the regulation of molecular pathways involved in host adaptation to environmental pathogens and in decoding the functional significance of common variation in the human genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Lindesay
- Computational Physics Laboratory, Howard University, Washington, DC, 20060, U.S
| | - Tshela E Mason
- National Human Genome Center, Howard University, Washington, DC, 20060, U.S
| | | | - William Hercules
- Computational Physics Laboratory, Howard University, Washington, DC, 20060, U.S
| | - Philip Kurian
- Computational Physics Laboratory, Howard University, Washington, DC, 20060, U.S
| | - Georgia M Dunston
- National Human Genome Center, Howard University, Washington, DC, 20060, U.S ; Department of Microbiology, Howard University, Washington, DC, 20060, U.S
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33
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Wang WD, Melville DB, Montero-Balaguer M, Hatzopoulos AK, Knapik EW. Tfap2a and Foxd3 regulate early steps in the development of the neural crest progenitor population. Dev Biol 2011; 360:173-85. [PMID: 21963426 PMCID: PMC3236700 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2011] [Revised: 08/24/2011] [Accepted: 09/15/2011] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The neural crest is a stem cell-like population exclusive to vertebrates that gives rise to many different cell types including chondrocytes, neurons and melanocytes. Arising from the neural plate border at the intersection of Wnt and Bmp signaling pathways, the complexity of neural crest gene regulatory networks has made the earliest steps of induction difficult to elucidate. Here, we report that tfap2a and foxd3 participate in neural crest induction and are necessary and sufficient for this process to proceed. Double mutant tfap2a (mont blanc, mob) and foxd3 (mother superior, mos) mob;mos zebrafish embryos completely lack all neural crest-derived tissues. Moreover, tfap2a and foxd3 are expressed during gastrulation prior to neural crest induction in distinct, complementary, domains; tfap2a is expressed in the ventral non-neural ectoderm and foxd3 in the dorsal mesendoderm and ectoderm. We further show that Bmp signaling is expanded in mob;mos embryos while expression of dkk1, a Wnt signaling inhibitor, is increased and canonical Wnt targets are suppressed. These changes in Bmp and Wnt signaling result in specific perturbations of neural crest induction rather than general defects in neural plate border or dorso-ventral patterning. foxd3 overexpression, on the other hand, enhances the ability of tfap2a to ectopically induce neural crest around the neural plate, overriding the normal neural plate border limit of the early neural crest territory. Although loss of either Tfap2a or Foxd3 alters Bmp and Wnt signaling patterns, only their combined inactivation sufficiently alters these signaling gradients to abort neural crest induction. Collectively, our results indicate that tfap2a and foxd3, in addition to their respective roles in the differentiation of neural crest derivatives, also jointly maintain the balance of Bmp and Wnt signaling in order to delineate the neural crest induction domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Der Wang
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
| | - David B. Melville
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
| | | | - Antonis K. Hatzopoulos
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
| | - Ela W. Knapik
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
- Developmental Biology, Institute Biology I, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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34
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Zhang Y, Tan X, Sun W, Xu P, Zhang PJ, Xu Y. Characterization of flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) FoxD3 and its function in regulating myogenic regulatory factors. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2011; 47:399-405. [PMID: 21487921 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-011-9406-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2010] [Accepted: 03/23/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
As one member of winged helix domain transcription factors, FoxD3 plays an important role in the regulation of neural crest development and maintenance of mammalian stem cell lineages. A recent study showed that zebrafish FoxD3 is a downstream gene of Pax3 and can mediate the expression of Myf5. To further understand the function of FoxD3 in fish muscle development, we isolated the FoxD3 gene from flounder, and analyzed its expression pattern and function in regulating myogenic regulatory factors, MyoD and Myf5. In situ hybridization showed that flounder FoxD3 was firstly detected in the premigratory neural crest cells at 90% epiboly stage. The FoxD3 was expressed not only in neural crest cells but also in somite cells that will form muscle in the future. When flounder FoxD3 was over-expressed in zebrafish by microinjection, the expressions of zebrafish Myf5 and MyoD were both affected. It is possible that FoxD3 is involved in myogenesis by regulating the expression of Myf5 and MyoD. Also, over-expression of flounder FoxD3 in zebrafish inhibits the expression of zebrafish endogenic FoxD3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, People's Republic of China
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35
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Maiese K, Hou J, Chong ZZ, Shang YC. A fork in the path: Developing therapeutic inroads with FoxO proteins. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2011; 2:119-29. [PMID: 20592766 PMCID: PMC2763237 DOI: 10.4161/oxim.2.3.8916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2009] [Revised: 04/23/2009] [Accepted: 04/27/2009] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Advances in clinical care for disorders involving any system of the body necessitates novel therapeutic strategies that can focus upon the modulation of cellular proliferation, metabolism, inflammation and longevity. In this respect, members of the mammalian forkhead transcription factors of the O class (FoxOs) that include FoxO1, FoxO3, FoxO4 and FoxO6 are increasingly being recognized as exciting prospects for multiple disorders. These transcription factors govern development, proliferation, survival and longevity during multiple cellular environments that can involve oxidative stress. Furthermore, these transcription factors are closely integrated with several novel signal transduction pathways, such as erythropoietin and Wnt proteins, that may influence the ability of FoxOs to act as a “double-edge sword” to sometimes promote cell survival, but at other times lead to cell injury. Here we discuss the fascinating but complex role of FoxOs during cellular injury and oxidative stress, progenitor cell development, fertility, angiogenesis, cardiovascular function, cellular metabolism and diabetes, cell longevity, immune surveillance and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Maiese
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Cerebral Ischemia, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
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36
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Betancur P, Bronner-Fraser M, Sauka-Spengler T. Assembling neural crest regulatory circuits into a gene regulatory network. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2010; 26:581-603. [PMID: 19575671 DOI: 10.1146/annurev.cellbio.042308.113245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 234] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The neural crest is a multipotent stem cell–like population that gives rise to a wide range of derivatives in the vertebrate embryo including elements of the craniofacial skeleton and peripheral nervous system as well as melanocytes. The neural crest forms in a series of regulatory steps that include induction and specification of the prospective neural crest territory–neural plate border, specification of bona fide neural crest progenitors, and differentiation into diverse derivatives. These individual processes during neural crest ontogeny are controlled by regulatory circuits that can be assembled into a hierarchical gene regulatory network (GRN). Here we present an overview of the GRN that orchestrates the formation of cranial neural crest cells. Formulation of this network relies on information largely inferred from gene perturbation studies performed in several vertebrate model organisms. Our representation of the cranial neural crest GRN also includes information about direct regulatory interactions obtained from the cis-regulatory analyses performed to date, which increases the resolution of the architectural circuitry within the network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Betancur
- Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA
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37
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Curran K, Lister JA, Kunkel GR, Prendergast A, Parichy DM, Raible DW. Interplay between Foxd3 and Mitf regulates cell fate plasticity in the zebrafish neural crest. Dev Biol 2010; 344:107-18. [PMID: 20460180 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2010.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2010] [Revised: 04/21/2010] [Accepted: 04/22/2010] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Pigment cells of the zebrafish, Danio rerio, offer an exceptionally tractable system for studying the genetic and cellular bases of cell fate decisions. In the zebrafish, neural crest cells generate three types of pigment cells during embryogenesis: yellow xanthophores, iridescent iridophores and black melanophores. In this study, we present evidence for a model whereby melanophores and iridophores descend from a common precursor whose fate is regulated by an interplay between the transcription factors Mitf and Foxd3. Loss of mitfa, a key regulator of melanophore development, resulted in supernumerary ectopic iridophores while loss of foxd3, a mitfa repressor, resulted in fewer iridophores. Double mutants showed a restoration of iridophores, suggesting that one of Foxd3's roles is to suppress mitfa to promote iridophore development. Foxd3 co-localized with pnp4a, a novel marker of early iridophore development, and was necessary for its expression. A considerable overlap was found between iridoblast and melanoblast markers but not xanthoblast markers, which resolved as cells began to differentiate. Cell lineage analyses using the photoconvertible marker, EosFP, revealed that both melanophores and iridophores develop from a mitfa+ precursor. Taken together, our data reveal a Foxd3/mitfa transcriptional switch that governs whether a bi-potent pigment precursor will attain either an iridophore or a melanophore fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Curran
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7420, USA
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38
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Brodland GW, Chen X, Lee P, Marsden M. From genes to neural tube defects (NTDs): insights from multiscale computational modeling. HFSP JOURNAL 2010; 4:142-52. [PMID: 21119766 DOI: 10.2976/1.3338713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2009] [Accepted: 02/05/2010] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The morphogenetic movements, and the embryonic phenotypes they ultimately produce, are the consequence of a series of events that involve signaling pathways, cytoskeletal components, and cell- and tissue-level mechanical interactions. In order to better understand how these events work together in the context of amphibian neurulation, an existing multiscale computational model was augmented. Geometric data for this finite element-based mechanical model were obtained from 3D surface reconstructions of live axolotl embryos and serial sections of fixed specimens. Tissue mechanical properties were modeled using cell-based constitutive equations that include internal force generation and cell rearrangement, and equation parameters were adjusted manually to reflect biochemical changes including alterations in Shroom or the planar-cell-polarity pathway. The model indicates that neural tube defects can arise when convergent extension of the neural plate is reduced by as little as 20%, when it is eliminated on one side of the embryo, when neural ridge elevation is disrupted, when tension in the non-neural ectoderm is increased, or when the ectoderm thickness is increased. Where comparable conditions could be induced in Xenopus embryos, good agreement was found, an important step in model validation. The model reveals the neurulating embryo to be a finely tuned biomechanical system.
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39
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Chang LL, Kessler DS. Foxd3 is an essential Nodal-dependent regulator of zebrafish dorsal mesoderm development. Dev Biol 2010; 342:39-50. [PMID: 20346935 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2010.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2010] [Revised: 03/12/2010] [Accepted: 03/16/2010] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Establishment of the embryonic mesoderm is dependent on integration of multiple signaling and transcriptional inputs. We report that the transcriptional regulator Foxd3 is essential for dorsal mesoderm formation in zebrafish, and that this function is dependent on the Nodal pathway. Foxd3 gain-of-function results in expanded dorsal mesodermal gene expression, including the Nodal-related gene cyclops, and body axis dorsalization. Foxd3 knockdown embryos displayed reduced expression of cyclops and mesodermal genes, axial defects similar to Nodal pathway loss-of-function, and Nodal pathway activation rescued these phenotypes. In MZoep mutants inactive for Nodal signaling, Foxd3 did not rescue mesoderm formation or axial development, indicating that the mesodermal function of Foxd3 is dependent on an active downstream Nodal pathway. A previously identified foxd3 mutant, sym1, was described as a predicted null mutation with neural crest defects, but no mesodermal or axial phenotypes. We find that Sym1 protein retains activity and can induce strong mesodermal expansion and axial dorsalization. A subset of sym1 homozygotes displays axial defects and reduced cyclops and mesodermal gene expression, and penetrance of the mesodermal phenotypes is enhanced by Foxd3 knockdown. Therefore, sym1 is a hypomorphic allele, and reduced Foxd3 function results in a reduction of cyclops expression, and subsequent mesodermal and axial defects. These results demonstrate that Foxd3 is an essential upstream regulator of the Nodal pathway in zebrafish dorsal mesoderm development and establish a broadly conserved role for Foxd3 in vertebrate mesodermal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa L Chang
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 1110 Biomedical Research Building 2/3, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6058, USA.
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40
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Young HM, Cane KN, Anderson CR. Development of the autonomic nervous system: a comparative view. Auton Neurosci 2010; 165:10-27. [PMID: 20346736 DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2010.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2009] [Revised: 02/27/2010] [Accepted: 03/01/2010] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In this review we summarize current understanding of the development of autonomic neurons in vertebrates. The mechanisms controlling the development of sympathetic and enteric neurons have been studied in considerable detail in laboratory mammals, chick and zebrafish, and there are also limited data about the development of sympathetic and enteric neurons in amphibians. Little is known about the development of parasympathetic neurons apart from the ciliary ganglion in chicks. Although there are considerable gaps in our knowledge, some of the mechanisms controlling sympathetic and enteric neuron development appear to be conserved between mammals, avians and zebrafish. For example, some of the transcriptional regulators involved in the development of sympathetic neurons are conserved between mammals, avians and zebrafish, and the requirement for Ret signalling in the development of enteric neurons is conserved between mammals (including humans), avians and zebrafish. However, there are also differences between species in the migratory pathways followed by sympathetic and enteric neuron precursors and in the requirements for some signalling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M Young
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, University of Melbourne, VIC Australia.
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41
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Yu JKS. The evolutionary origin of the vertebrate neural crest and its developmental gene regulatory network – insights from amphioxus. ZOOLOGY 2010; 113:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2009.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2009] [Revised: 06/08/2009] [Accepted: 06/16/2009] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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43
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Pytel P, Karrison T, Can Gong, Tonsgard JH, Krausz T, Montag AG. Neoplasms with schwannian differentiation express transcription factors known to regulate normal schwann cell development. Int J Surg Pathol 2009; 18:449-57. [PMID: 20034979 DOI: 10.1177/1066896909351698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A number of transcription factors have been identified as important in guiding normal Schwann cell development. This study used immunohistochemistry on tissue arrays to assess the expression of some of these transcription factors (Sox5, Sox9, Sox10, AP-2α, Pax7, and FoxD3) on 76 schwannomas, 105 neurofibromas, and 34 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). Sox9 and Sox10 were found to be widely expressed in all tumor types. FoxD3 reactivity was stronger and more frequently found in schwannomas and MPNSTs than neurofibromas. AP-2α was positive in 31% to 49% of all tumors, but strong reactivity was limited to MPNSTs and schwannomas. Pax7 and Sox5 expression was restricted to subsets of MPNSTs. Statistical analysis showed significant differences between the 3 tumor types in the expression of these markers. No differences were found in the analyzed tumor subgroups, including schwannomas of different sites, schwannomas with or without NF2 association, neurofibromas of different types, or sporadic versus NF1-associated MPNSTs. These results suggest that the transcription factors that guide normal Schwann cell development also play a role in the biology of neoplastic cells with Schwannian differentiation. FoxD3, AP-2α, Pax7, and Sox5 are upregulated in MPNSTs compared with neurofibromas and may be markers of malignant transformation. Screening the expression of FoxD3, Sox9, and Sox10 on 23 cases of other spindle-cell proliferations that may be considered in the differential diagnosis of MPNST, including synovial sarcoma and spindle cell melanoma, suggests that these 3 are helpful markers of Schwannian differentiation in the context of diagnosing MPNSTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Pytel
- University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
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44
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Schuff M, Siegel D, Bardine N, Oswald F, Donow C, Knöchel W. FoxO genes are dispensable during gastrulation but required for late embryogenesis in Xenopus laevis. Dev Biol 2009; 337:259-73. [PMID: 19895805 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.10.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2009] [Revised: 10/27/2009] [Accepted: 10/27/2009] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Forkhead box (Fox) transcription factors of subclass O are involved in cell survival, proliferation, apoptosis, cell metabolism and prevention of oxidative stress. FoxO genes are highly conserved throughout evolution and their functions were analyzed in several vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. We here report on the identification of FoxO4 and FoxO6 genes in Xenopus laevis and analyze their expression patterns in comparison with the previously described FoxO1 and FoxO3 genes. We demonstrate significant differences in their temporal and spatial expression during embryogenesis and in their relative expression within adult tissues. Overexpression of FoxO1, FoxO4 or FoxO6 results in severe gastrulation defects, while overexpression of FoxO3 reveals this defect only in a constitutively active form containing mutations of Akt-1 target sites. Injections of FoxO antisense morpholino oligonucleotides (MO) did not influence gastrulation, but, later onwards, the embryos showed a delay of development, severe body axis reduction and, finally, a high rate of lethality. Injection of FoxO4MO leads to specific defects in eye formation, neural crest migration and heart development, the latter being accompanied by loss of myocardin expression. Our observations suggest that FoxO genes in X. laevis are dispensable until blastopore closure but are required for tissue differentiation and organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Schuff
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
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45
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Kucenas S, Cox JA, Soto F, Lamora A, Voigt MM. Ectodermal P2X receptor function plays a pivotal role in craniofacial development of the zebrafish. Purinergic Signal 2009; 5:395-407. [PMID: 19529983 DOI: 10.1007/s11302-009-9165-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2009] [Accepted: 06/04/2009] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
P2X receptors are non-selective cation channels operated by extracellular ATP. Currently, little is known concerning the functions of these receptors during development. Previous work from our lab has shown that zebrafish have two paralogs of the mammalian P2X3 receptor subunit. One paralog, p2rx3.1, is expressed in subpopulations of neural and ectodermal cells in the embryonic head. To investigate the role of this subunit in early cranial development, we utilized morpholino oligonucleotides to disrupt its translation. Loss of this subunit resulted in craniofacial defects that included malformation of the pharyngeal skeleton. During formation of these structures, there was a marked increase in cell death within the branchial arches. In addition, the epibranchial (facial, glossopharyngeal, and vagal) cranial sensory ganglia and their circuits were perturbed. These data suggest that p2rx3.1 function in ectodermal cells is involved in purinergic signaling essential for proper craniofacial development and sensory circuit formation in the embryonic and larval zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kucenas
- Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Science, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 S. Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO, 63104, USA
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Curran K, Raible DW, Lister JA. Foxd3 controls melanophore specification in the zebrafish neural crest by regulation of Mitf. Dev Biol 2009; 332:408-17. [PMID: 19527705 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2009] [Revised: 06/04/2009] [Accepted: 06/08/2009] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
We describe a mechanistic model whereby Foxd3, a forkhead transcription factor, prevents neural crest-derived precursors from acquiring a melanophore fate. Foxd3 regulates this fate choice by repressing the mitfa promoter in a subset of neural crest cells. mitfa is only expressed in a Foxd3-negative subset of neural crest cells, and foxd3 mutants show an increase in the spatial domain of mitfa expression, thereby suggesting that Foxd3 limits the mitfa domain. Furthermore, foxd3:gfp transgenic zebrafish reveal foxd3 expression in xanthophore precursors and iridophores, but not in terminally differentiated melanophores. Luciferase experiments and embryo mRNA injections indicate Foxd3 acts directly on the mitfa promoter to negatively regulate mitfa expression. Taken together, our data suggests the presence of Foxd3 in a subset of precursors leads to mitfa repression and suppression of melanophore fate. MITF, the human mitfa ortholog, has recently been described as an oncogene and implicated in various forms of melanoma. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate mitfa and melanophore development could prove informative in the treatment and prevention of these human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Curran
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7420, USA
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Arduini BL, Bosse KM, Henion PD. Genetic ablation of neural crest cell diversification. Development 2009; 136:1987-94. [PMID: 19439494 DOI: 10.1242/dev.033209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The neural crest generates multiple cell types during embryogenesis but the mechanisms regulating neural crest cell diversification are incompletely understood. Previous studies using mutant zebrafish indicated that foxd3 and tfap2a function early and differentially in the development of neural crest sublineages. Here, we show that the simultaneous loss of foxd3 and tfap2a function in zebrafish foxd3(zdf10);tfap2a(low) double mutant embryos globally prevents the specification of developmentally distinct neural crest sublineages. By contrast, neural crest induction occurs independently of foxd3 and tfap2a function. We show that the failure of neural crest cell diversification in double mutants is accompanied by the absence of neural crest sox10 and sox9a/b gene expression, and that forced expression of sox10 and sox9a/b differentially rescues neural crest sublineage specification and derivative differentiation. These results demonstrate the functional necessity for foxd3 and tfap2a for neural crest sublineage specification and that this requirement is mediated by the synergistic regulation of the expression of SoxE family genes. Our results identify a genetic regulatory pathway functionally discrete from the process of neural crest induction that is required for the initiation of neural crest cell diversification during embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitte L Arduini
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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48
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Thomas AJ, Erickson CA. FOXD3 regulates the lineage switch between neural crest-derived glial cells and pigment cells by repressing MITF through a non-canonical mechanism. Development 2009; 136:1849-58. [PMID: 19403660 DOI: 10.1242/dev.031989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The first neural crest cells to emigrate from the neural tube are specified as neurons and glial cells and are subsequently followed by melanocytes of the skin. We wished to understand how this fate switch is controlled. The transcriptional repressor FOXD3 is expressed exclusively in the neural/glial precursors and MITF is expressed only in melanoblasts. Moreover, FOXD3 represses melanogenesis. Here we show that avian MITF expression begins very early during melanoblast migration and that loss of MITF in melanoblasts causes them to transdifferentiate to a glial phenotype. Ectopic expression of FOXD3 represses MITF in cultured neural crest cells and in B16-F10 melanoma cells. We also show that FOXD3 does not bind directly to the MITF promoter, but instead interacts with the transcriptional activator PAX3 to prevent the binding of PAX3 to the MITF promoter. Overexpression of PAX3 is sufficient to rescue MITF expression from FOXD3-mediated repression. We conclude that FOXD3 controls the lineage choice between neural/glial and pigment cells by repressing MITF during the early phase of neural crest migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J Thomas
- Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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The "O" class: crafting clinical care with FoxO transcription factors. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2009; 665:242-60. [PMID: 20429429 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-1599-3_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Forkhead Transcription Factors: Vital Elements in Biology and Medicine provides a unique platform for the presentation of novel work and new insights into the vital role that forkhead transcription factors play in both cellular physiology as well as clinical medicine. Internationally recognized investigators provide their insights and perspectives for a number of forkhead genes and proteins that may have the greatest impact for the development of new strategies for a broad array of disorders that can involve aging, cancer, cardiac function, neurovascular integrity, fertility, stem cell differentiation, cellular metabolism, and immune system regulation. Yet, the work clearly sets a precedent for the necessity to understand the cellular and molecular function of forkhead proteins since this family of transcription factors can limit as well as foster disease progression depending upon the cellular environment. With this in mind, our concluding chapter for Forkhead Transcription Factors: Vital Elements in Biology andMedicine offers to highlight both the diversity and complexity of the forkhead transcription family by focusing upon the mammalian forkhead transcription factors of the O class (FoxOs) that include FoxO1, FoxO3, FoxO4, and FoxO6. FoxO proteins are increasingly considered to represent unique cellular targets that can control numerous processes such as angiogenesis, cardiovascular development, vascular tone, oxidative stress, stem cell proliferation, fertility, and immune surveillance. Furthermore, FoxO transcription factors are exciting considerations for disorders such as cancer in light of their pro-apoptotic and inhibitory cell cycle effects as well as diabetes mellitus given the close association FoxOs hold with cellular metabolism. In addition, these transcription factors are closely integrated with several novel signal transduction pathways, such as erythropoietin and Wnt proteins, that may influence the ability of FoxOs to lead to cell survival or cell injury. Further understanding of both the function and intricate nature of the forkhead transcription factor family, and in particular the FoxO proteins, should allow selective regulation of cellular development or cellular demise for the generation of successful future clinical strategies and patient well-being.
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50
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Maiese K, Chong ZZ, Shang YC, Hou J. Clever cancer strategies with FoxO transcription factors. Cell Cycle 2008; 7:3829-39. [PMID: 19066462 DOI: 10.4161/cc.7.24.7231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Given that cancer and related disorders affect a wide spectrum of the world's population, and in most cases are progressive in nature, it is essential that future care must overcome the present limitations of existing therapies in the absence of toxic side effects. Mammalian forkhead transcription factors of the O class (FoxOs) may fill this niche since these proteins are increasingly considered to represent unique cellular targets directed against human cancer in light of their pro-apoptotic effects and ability to lead to cell cycle arrest. Yet, FoxOs also can significantly affect normal cell survival and longevity, requiring new treatments for neoplastic growth to modulate novel pathways that integrate cell proliferation, metabolism, inflammation and survival. In this respect, members of the FoxO family are extremely compelling to consider since these transcription factors have emerged as versatile proteins that can control angiogenesis, stem cell proliferation, cell adhesion and autoimmune disease. Further elucidation of FoxO protein function during neoplastic growth should continue to lay the foundation for the successful translation of these transcription factors into novel and robust clinical therapies for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Maiese
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Cerebral Ischemia, Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
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