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Pluta R, Aragón E, Prescott NA, Ruiz L, Mees RA, Baginski B, Flood JR, Martin-Malpartida P, Massagué J, David Y, Macias MJ. Molecular basis for DNA recognition by the maternal pioneer transcription factor FoxH1. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7279. [PMID: 36435807 PMCID: PMC9701222 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34925-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Forkhead box H1 (FoxH1) is an essential maternal pioneer factor during embryonic development that binds to specific GG/GT-containing DNA target sequences. Here we have determined high-resolution structures of three FoxH1 proteins (from human, frog and fish species) and four DNAs to clarify the way in which FoxH1 binds to these sites. We found that the protein-DNA interactions extend to both the minor and major DNA grooves and are thus almost twice as extensive as those of other FOX family members. Moreover, we identified two specific amino acid changes in FoxH1 that allowed the recognition of GG/GT motifs. Consistent with the pioneer factor activity of FoxH1, we found that its affinity for nucleosomal DNA is even higher than for linear DNA fragments. The structures reported herein illustrate how FoxH1 binding to distinct DNA sites provides specificity and avoids cross-regulation by other FOX proteins that also operate during the maternal-zygotic transition and select canonical forkhead sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radoslaw Pluta
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Eric Aragón
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Nicholas A Prescott
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, New York, NY, USA
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Lidia Ruiz
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Rebeca A Mees
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Blazej Baginski
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Julia R Flood
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Pau Martin-Malpartida
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Joan Massagué
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Yael David
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Maria J Macias
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, 08028, Spain.
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona, 08010, Spain.
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2
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Liu Y, Xu Z, Shi J, Zhang Y, Yang S, Chen Q, Song C, Geng S, Li Q, Li J, Xu GL, Xie W, Lin H, Li X. DNA methyltransferases are complementary in maintaining DNA methylation in embryonic stem cells. iScience 2022; 25:105003. [PMID: 36117996 PMCID: PMC9478929 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
ZFP57 and ZFP445 maintain genomic imprinting in mouse embryos. We found DNA methylation was lost at most examined imprinting control regions (ICRs) in mouse Zfp57 mutant ES cells, which could not be prevented by the elimination of three TET proteins. To elucidate methylation maintenance mechanisms, we generated mutant ES clones lacking three major DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). Intriguingly, DNMT3A and DNMT3B were essential for DNA methylation at a subset of ICRs in mouse ES cells although DNMT1 maintained DNA methylation at most known ICRs. These were similarly observed after extended culture. Germline-derived DNA methylation was lost at the examined ICRs lacking DNMTs according to allelic analysis. Similar to DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B were required for maintaining DNA methylation at repeats, genic regions, and other genomic sequences. Therefore, three DNA methyltransferases play complementary roles in maintaining DNA methylation in mouse ES cells including DNA methylation at the ICRs primarily mediated through the ZFP57-dependent pathway. ZFP57 maintains DNA methylation at the ICR of most imprinted regions in ES cells TET proteins may not be essential for maintaining most ICR DNA methylation in ES cells DNMT3 is required for the maintenance of DNA methylation at a subset of ICRs in ES cells Maintenance functions of DNMT1 and DNMT3 are complementary at repeats and genic regions
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhen Xu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jiajia Shi
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shuting Yang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Qian Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Chenglin Song
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Shuhui Geng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Qing Li
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jinsong Li
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Guo-Liang Xu
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wei Xie
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Haodong Lin
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 100 Haining Road, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Xiajun Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Genome Editing Center, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Corresponding author
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3
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Abstract
ZFP57 is a master regulator of genomic imprinting. It has both maternal and zygotic functions that are partially redundant in maintaining DNA methylation at some imprinting control regions (ICRs). In this study, we found that DNA methylation was lost at most known ICRs in Zfp57 mutant embryos. Furthermore, loss of ZFP57 caused loss of parent-of-origin-dependent monoallelic expression of the target imprinted genes. The allelic expression switch occurred in the ZFP57 target imprinted genes upon loss of differential DNA methylation at the ICRs in Zfp57 mutant embryos. Specifically, upon loss of ZFP57, the alleles of the imprinted genes located on the same chromosome with the originally methylated ICR switched their expression to mimic their counterparts on the other chromosome with unmethylated ICR. Consistent with our previous study, ZFP57 could regulate the NOTCH signaling pathway in mouse embryos by impacting allelic expression of a few regulators in the NOTCH pathway. In addition, the imprinted Dlk1 gene that has been implicated in the NOTCH pathway was significantly down-regulated in Zfp57 mutant embryos. Our allelic expression switch models apply to the examined target imprinted genes controlled by either maternally or paternally methylated ICRs. Our results support the view that ZFP57 controls imprinted expression of its target imprinted genes primarily through maintaining differential DNA methylation at the ICRs.
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Bai L, Sun H, Jiang W, Yang L, Liu G, Zhao X, Hu H, Wang J, Gao S. DNA methylation and histone acetylation are involved in Wnt10b expression during the secondary hair follicle cycle in Angora rabbits. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2021; 105:599-609. [PMID: 33404138 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13481] [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: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Secondary hair follicles (SHFs) in the Angora rabbit exhibit classic cyclic hair development, but the multiple molecular signals involved in hair cycling are yet to be explored in detail. In the present study, we investigated the expression pattern, methylation and histone H3 acetylation status of Wnt10b, as a molecular signal participating in hair cycling, during the SHF cycle in the Angora rabbit. Expression of Wnt10b at the anagen phase was significantly higher than that at both the telogen and catagen phases, suggesting that Wnt10b might serve as a critical activator during cyclic transition of SHFs. Methylation frequency of the fifth CpG site (CpG5-175 bp) in CpG islands at the anagen phase was lower than that at both the catagen and telogen phases. The methylation status of the CpG5 site was negatively correlated with Wnt10b expression. This indicated that the methylation of CpG5 might participate in Wnt10b transcriptional suppression in SHFs. Furthermore, histone H3 acetylation status in the regions-256~-11 bp and 98 ~ 361 bp were significantly lower at both the catagen and telogen phases than at the anagen phase. The histone H3 acetylation level was significantly positively correlated with Wnt10b expression. This confirmed that histone acetylation was likely involved in upregulating Wnt10b transcription in SHFs. Additionally, potential binding to the transcription factors ZF57 and HDBP was predicted within the CpG5 site. In conclusion, our findings reveal the epigenetic mechanism of Wnt10b transcription and provide a new insight into epigenetic regulation during the SHF cycle in the Angora rabbit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liya Bai
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control & Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Haitao Sun
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control & Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Wenxue Jiang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control & Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Liping Yang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control & Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Gongyan Liu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control & Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Xueyan Zhao
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control & Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Hongmei Hu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control & Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Jianying Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control & Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Shuxia Gao
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control & Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
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Bruno M, Mahgoub M, Macfarlan TS. The Arms Race Between KRAB–Zinc Finger Proteins and Endogenous Retroelements and Its Impact on Mammals. Annu Rev Genet 2019; 53:393-416. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-112618-043717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Nearly half of the human genome consists of endogenous retroelements (EREs) and their genetic remnants, a small fraction of which carry the potential to propagate in the host genome, posing a threat to genome integrity and cell/organismal survival. The largest family of transcription factors in tetrapods, the Krüppel-associated box domain zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs), binds to specific EREs and represses their transcription. Since their first appearance over 400 million years ago, KRAB-ZFPs have undergone dramatic expansion and diversification in mammals, correlating with the invasions of new EREs. In this article we review our current understanding of the structure, function, and evolution of KRAB-ZFPs and discuss growing evidence that the arms race between KRAB-ZFPs and the EREs they target is a major driving force for the evolution of new traits in mammals, often accompanied by domestication of EREs themselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melania Bruno
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Mohamed Mahgoub
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Todd S. Macfarlan
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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6
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Hodges AJ, Hudson NO, Buck-Koehntop BA. Cys 2His 2 Zinc Finger Methyl-CpG Binding Proteins: Getting a Handle on Methylated DNA. J Mol Biol 2019:S0022-2836(19)30567-4. [PMID: 31628952 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation is an essential epigenetic modification involved in the maintenance of genomic stability, preservation of cellular identity, and regulation of the transcriptional landscape needed to maintain cellular function. In an increasing number of disease conditions, DNA methylation patterns are inappropriately distributed in a manner that supports the disease phenotype. Methyl-CpG binding proteins (MBPs) are specialized transcription factors that read and translate methylated DNA signals into recruitment of protein assemblies that can alter local chromatin architecture and transcription. MBPs thus play a key intermediary role in gene regulation for both normal and diseased cells. Here, we highlight established and potential structure-function relationships for the best characterized members of the zinc finger (ZF) family of MBPs in propagating DNA methylation signals into downstream cellular responses. Current and future investigations aimed toward expanding our understanding of ZF MBP cellular roles will provide needed mechanistic insight into normal and disease state functions, as well as afford evaluation for the potential of these proteins as epigenetic-based therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia J Hodges
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Nicholas O Hudson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Bethany A Buck-Koehntop
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
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7
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Yang J, Horton JR, Wang D, Ren R, Li J, Sun D, Huang Y, Zhang X, Blumenthal RM, Cheng X. Structural basis for effects of CpA modifications on C/EBPβ binding of DNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:1774-1785. [PMID: 30566668 PMCID: PMC6393304 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky1264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) regulate gene expression in a variety of cells/tissues/organs, during a range of developmental stages, under both physiological and pathological conditions. C/EBP-related transcription factors have a consensus binding specificity of 5'-TTG-CG-CAA-3', with a central CpG/CpG and two outer CpA/TpG dinucleotides. Methylation of the CpG and CpA sites generates a DNA element with every pyrimidine having a methyl group in the 5-carbon position (thymine or 5-methylcytosine (5mC)). To understand the effects of both CpG and CpA modification on a centrally-important transcription factor, we show that C/EBPβ binds the methylated 8-bp element with modestly-increased (2.4-fold) binding affinity relative to the unmodified cognate sequence, while cytosine hydroxymethylation (particularly at the CpA sites) substantially decreased binding affinity (36-fold). The structure of C/EBPβ DNA binding domain in complex with methylated DNA revealed that the methyl groups of the 5mCpA/TpG make van der Waals contacts with Val285 in C/EBPβ. Arg289 recognizes the central 5mCpG by forming a methyl-Arg-G triad, and its conformation is constrained by Val285 and the 5mCpG methyl group. We substituted Val285 with Ala (V285A) in an Ala-Val dipeptide, to mimic the conserved Ala-Ala in many members of the basic leucine-zipper family of transcription factors, important in gene regulation, cell proliferation and oncogenesis. The V285A variant demonstrated a 90-fold binding preference for methylated DNA (particularly 5mCpA methylation) over the unmodified sequence. The smaller side chain of Ala285 permits Arg289 to adopt two alternative conformations, to interact in a similar fashion with either the central 5mCpG or the TpG of the opposite strand. Significantly, the best-studied cis-regulatory elements in RNA polymerase II promoters and enhancers have variable sequences corresponding to the central CpG or reduced to a single G:C base pair, but retain a conserved outer CpA sequence. Our analyses suggest an important modification-dependent CpA recognition by basic leucine-zipper transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - John R Horton
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Dongxue Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Ren Ren
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jia Li
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Deqiang Sun
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yun Huang
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xing Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Robert M Blumenthal
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and Program in Bioinformatics, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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8
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ZFP57 regulation of transposable elements and gene expression within and beyond imprinted domains. Epigenetics Chromatin 2019; 12:49. [PMID: 31399135 PMCID: PMC6688207 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-019-0295-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND KRAB zinc finger proteins (KZFPs) represent one of the largest families of DNA-binding proteins in vertebrate genomes and appear to have evolved to silence transposable elements (TEs) including endogenous retroviruses through sequence-specific targeting of repressive chromatin states. ZFP57 is required to maintain the post-fertilization DNA methylation memory of parental origin at genomic imprints. Here we conduct RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analyses in normal and ZFP57 mutant mouse ES cells to understand the relative importance of ZFP57 at imprints, unique and repetitive regions of the genome. RESULTS Over 80% of ZFP57 targets are TEs, however, ZFP57 is not essential for their repression. The remaining targets lie within unique imprinted and non-imprinted sequences. Though the loss of ZFP57 influences imprinted genes as expected, the majority of unique gene targets lose H3K9me3 with little effect on DNA methylation and very few exhibit alterations in expression. Comparison of ZFP57 mutants with DNA methyltransferase-deleted ES cells (TKO) identifies a remarkably similar pattern of H3K9me3 loss across the genome. These data define regions where H3K9me3 is secondary to DNA methylation and we propose that ZFP57 is the principal if not sole methylation-sensitive KZFP in mouse ES cells. Finally, we examine dynamics of DNA and H3K9 methylation during pre-implantation development and show that sites bound by ZFP57 in ES cells maintain DNA methylation and H3K9me3 at imprints and at non-imprinted regions on the maternally inherited chromosome throughout preimplantation development. CONCLUSION Our analyses suggest the evolution of a rare DNA methylation-sensitive KZFP that is not essential for repeat silencing, but whose primary function is to maintain DNA methylation and repressive histone marks at germline-derived imprinting control regions.
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9
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Nikolova EN, Stanfield RL, Dyson HJ, Wright PE. CH···O Hydrogen Bonds Mediate Highly Specific Recognition of Methylated CpG Sites by the Zinc Finger Protein Kaiso. Biochemistry 2018; 57:2109-2120. [PMID: 29546986 PMCID: PMC5893398 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Many eukaryotic transcription factors recognize the epigenetic marker 5-methylcytosine (mC) at CpG sites in DNA. Despite their structural diversity, methyl-CpG-binding proteins (MBPs) share a common mode of recognition of mC methyl groups that involves hydrophobic pockets and weak hydrogen bonds of the CH···O type. The zinc finger protein Kaiso possesses a remarkably high specificity for methylated over unmethylated CpG sites. A key contribution to this specificity is provided by glutamate 535 (E535), which is optimally positioned to form multiple interactions with mCpG, including direct CH···O hydrogen bonds. To examine the role of E535 and CH···O hydrogen bonding in the preferential recognition of mCpG sites, we determined the structures of wild type Kaiso (WT) and E535 mutants and characterized their interactions with methylated DNA by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), X-ray crystallography, and in vitro protein-DNA binding assays. Our data show that Kaiso favors an mCpG over a CpG site by 2 orders of magnitude in affinity and that an important component of this effect is the presence of hydrophobic and CH···O contacts involving E535. Moreover, we present the first direct evidence for formation of a CH···O hydrogen bond between an MBP and 5-methylcytosine by using experimental (NMR) and quantum mechanical chemical shift analysis of the mC methyl protons. Together, our findings uncover a critical function of methyl-specific interactions, including CH···O hydrogen bonds, that optimize the specificity and affinity of MBPs for methylated DNA and contribute to the precise control of gene expression.
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10
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Kinjo AR. Cooperative "folding transition" in the sequence space facilitates function-driven evolution of protein families. J Theor Biol 2018; 443:18-27. [PMID: 29355538 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In the protein sequence space, natural proteins form clusters of families which are characterized by their unique native folds whereas the great majority of random polypeptides are neither clustered nor foldable to unique structures. Since a given polypeptide can be either foldable or unfoldable, a kind of "folding transition" is expected at the boundary of a protein family in the sequence space. By Monte Carlo simulations of a statistical mechanical model of protein sequence alignment that coherently incorporates both short-range and long-range interactions as well as variable-length insertions to reproduce the statistics of the multiple sequence alignment of a given protein family, we demonstrate the existence of such transition between natural-like sequences and random sequences in the sequence subspaces for 15 domain families of various folds. The transition was found to be highly cooperative and two-state-like. Furthermore, enforcing or suppressing consensus residues on a few of the well-conserved sites enhanced or diminished, respectively, the natural-like pattern formation over the entire sequence. In most families, the key sites included ligand binding sites. These results suggest some selective pressure on the key residues, such as ligand binding activity, may cooperatively facilitate the emergence of a protein family during evolution. From a more practical aspect, the present results highlight an essential role of long-range effects in precisely defining protein families, which are absent in conventional sequence models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira R Kinjo
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
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11
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Muñoz-López Á, Summerer D. Recognition of Oxidized 5-Methylcytosine Derivatives in DNA by Natural and Engineered Protein Scaffolds. CHEM REC 2017; 18:105-116. [PMID: 29251421 DOI: 10.1002/tcr.201700088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Methylation of genomic cytosine to 5-methylcytosine is a central regulatory element of mammalian gene expression with important roles in development and disease. 5-methylcytosine can be actively reversed to cytosine via oxidation to 5-hydroxymethyl-, 5-formyl-, and 5-carboxylcytosine by ten-eleven-translocation dioxygenases and subsequent base excision repair or replication-dependent dilution. Moreover, the oxidized 5-methylcytosine derivatives are potential epigenetic marks with unique biological roles. Key to a better understanding of these roles are insights into the interactions of the nucleobases with DNA-binding protein scaffolds: Natural scaffolds involved in transcription, 5-methylcytosine-reading and -editing as well as general chromatin organization can be selectively recruited or repulsed by oxidized 5-methylcytosines, forming the basis of their biological functions. Moreover, designer protein scaffolds engineered for the selective recognition of oxidized 5-methylcytosines are valuable tools to analyze their genomic levels and distribution. Here, we review recent structural and functional insights into the molecular recognition of oxidized 5-methylcytosine derivatives in DNA by selected protein scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Muñoz-López
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a, 44227, Dortmund
| | - Daniel Summerer
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a, 44227, Dortmund
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12
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Liu H, Wei Q, Huang C, Zhang Y, Guo Z. Potential Roles of Intrinsic Disorder in Maternal-Effect Proteins Involved in the Maintenance of DNA Methylation. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:E1898. [PMID: 28869544 PMCID: PMC5618547 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18091898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification that needs to be carefully controlled as a prerequisite for normal early embryogenesis. Compelling evidence now suggests that four maternal-effect proteins, primordial germ cell 7 (PGC7), zinc finger protein 57 (ZFP57), tripartite motif-containing 28 (TRIM28) and DNA methyltransferase (cytosine-5) 1 (DNMT1) are involved in the maintenance of DNA methylation. However, it is still not fully understood how these maternal-effect proteins maintain the DNA methylation imprint. We noticed that a feature common to these proteins is the presence of significant levels of intrinsic disorder so in this study we started from an intrinsic disorder perspective to try to understand these maternal-effect proteins. To do this, we firstly analysed the intrinsic disorder predispositions of PGC7, ZFP57, TRIM28 and DNMT1 by using a set of currently available computational tools and secondly conducted an intensive literature search to collect information on their interacting partners and structural characterization. Finally, we discuss the potential effect of intrinsic disorder on the function of these proteins in maintaining DNA methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongliang Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
| | - Qing Wei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China.
| | - Chenyang Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
| | - Yong Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
| | - Zekun Guo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
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13
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Shin JH, Xu L, Wang D. RNA polymerase II acts as a selective sensor for DNA lesions and endogenous DNA modifications. Transcription 2016; 7:57-62. [PMID: 27105138 PMCID: PMC4984683 DOI: 10.1080/21541264.2016.1168506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Revised: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
During transcription elongation, RNA polymerase II (pol II) travels along the DNA template across thousands to millions of nucleotides and accurately synthesizes the complementary RNA transcripts. Apart from its canonical function as a key enzyme for DNA-dependent RNA synthesis, pol II also functions as a selective sensor to recognize DNA lesions or epigenetic modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Hyun Shin
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Liang Xu
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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14
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Patel A, Hashimoto H, Zhang X, Cheng X. Characterization of How DNA Modifications Affect DNA Binding by C2H2 Zinc Finger Proteins. Methods Enzymol 2016; 573:387-401. [PMID: 27372763 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2016.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Much is known about vertebrate DNA methylation and oxidation; however, much less is known about how modified cytosine residues within particular sequences are recognized. Among the known methylated DNA-binding domains, the Cys2-His2 zinc finger (ZnF) protein superfamily is the largest with hundreds of members, each containing tandem ZnFs ranging from 3 to >30 fingers. We have begun to biochemically and structurally characterize these ZnFs not only on their sequence specificity but also on their sensitivity to various DNA modifications. Rather than following published methods of refolding insoluble ZnF arrays, we have expressed and purified soluble forms of ZnFs, ranging in size from a tandem array of two to six ZnFs, from seven different proteins. We also describe a fluorescence polarization assay to measure ZnFs affinity with oligonucleotides containing various modifications and our approaches for cocrystallization of ZnFs with oligonucleotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Patel
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - H Hashimoto
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - X Zhang
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
| | - X Cheng
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
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15
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Han D, Zhang C, Fan WJ, Pan WJ, Feng DM, Qu SL, Jiang ZS. Myocardial ischemic preconditioning upregulated protein 1(Mipu1):zinc finger protein 667 - a multifunctional KRAB/C2H2 zinc finger protein. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 48:1-5. [PMID: 25493376 PMCID: PMC4288486 DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x20144029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Myocardial ischemic preconditioning upregulated protein 1 (Mipu1) is a newly discovered upregulated gene produced in rats during the myocardial ischemic preconditioning process. Mipu1 cDNA contains a 1824-base pair open reading frame and encodes a 608 amino acid protein with an N-terminal Krüppel-associated box (KRAB) domain and classical zinc finger C2H2 motifs in the C-terminus. Mipu1 protein is located in the cell nucleus. Recent studies found that Mipu1 has a protective effect on the ischemia-reperfusion injury of heart, brain, and other organs. As a nuclear factor, Mipu1 may perform its protective function through directly transcribing and repressing the expression of proapoptotic genes to repress cell apoptosis. In addition, Mipu1 also plays an important role in regulating the gene expression of downstream inflammatory mediators by inhibiting the activation of activator protein-1 and serum response element.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Han
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Post-doctoral Mobile Stations for Basic Medicine, University of South China, Hengyang City, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - C Zhang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Post-doctoral Mobile Stations for Basic Medicine, University of South China, Hengyang City, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - W J Fan
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Post-doctoral Mobile Stations for Basic Medicine, University of South China, Hengyang City, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - W J Pan
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Post-doctoral Mobile Stations for Basic Medicine, University of South China, Hengyang City, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - D M Feng
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Post-doctoral Mobile Stations for Basic Medicine, University of South China, Hengyang City, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - S L Qu
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Post-doctoral Mobile Stations for Basic Medicine, University of South China, Hengyang City, Hunan Province, PR China
| | - Z S Jiang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Post-doctoral Mobile Stations for Basic Medicine, University of South China, Hengyang City, Hunan Province, PR China
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16
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Hashimoto H, Olanrewaju YO, Zheng Y, Wilson GG, Zhang X, Cheng X. Wilms tumor protein recognizes 5-carboxylcytosine within a specific DNA sequence. Genes Dev 2014; 28:2304-13. [PMID: 25258363 PMCID: PMC4201290 DOI: 10.1101/gad.250746.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Hashimoto et al. investigated the response of the zinc finger DNA-binding domains of transcription factors early growth response protein 1 (Egr1) and Wilms tumor protein 1 (WT1) to different forms of modified cytosine within their recognition sequence. 5-Carboxylcytosine (5caC) affected the two proteins differently, abolishing binding by Egr1 but not by WT1. In Egr1, a negatively charged glutamate conflicts with the negatively charged carboxylate of 5caC, whereas the corresponding glutamine of WT1 interacts with this group favorably. In mammalian DNA, cytosine occurs in several chemical forms, including unmodified cytosine (C), 5-methylcytosine (5mC), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC). 5mC is a major epigenetic signal that acts to regulate gene expression. 5hmC, 5fC, and 5caC are oxidized derivatives that might also act as distinct epigenetic signals. We investigated the response of the zinc finger DNA-binding domains of transcription factors early growth response protein 1 (Egr1) and Wilms tumor protein 1 (WT1) to different forms of modified cytosine within their recognition sequence, 5′-GCG(T/G)GGGCG-3′. Both displayed high affinity for the sequence when C or 5mC was present and much reduced affinity when 5hmC or 5fC was present, indicating that they differentiate primarily oxidized C from unoxidized C, rather than methylated C from unmethylated C. 5caC affected the two proteins differently, abolishing binding by Egr1 but not by WT1. We ascribe this difference to electrostatic interactions in the binding sites. In Egr1, a negatively charged glutamate conflicts with the negatively charged carboxylate of 5caC, whereas the corresponding glutamine of WT1 interacts with this group favorably. Our analyses shows that zinc finger proteins (and their splice variants) can respond in modulated ways to alternative modifications within their binding sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideharu Hashimoto
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
| | | | - Yu Zheng
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts 01938, USA
| | | | - Xing Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA;
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17
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Hong S, Hashimoto H, Kow YW, Zhang X, Cheng X. The carboxy-terminal domain of ROS1 is essential for 5-methylcytosine DNA glycosylase activity. J Mol Biol 2014; 426:3703-3712. [PMID: 25240767 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2014.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2014] [Revised: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Arabidopsis thaliana repressor of silencing 1 (ROS1) is a multi-domain bifunctional DNA glycosylase/lyase, which excises 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) as well as thymine and 5-hydroxymethyluracil (i.e., the deamination products of 5mC and 5hmC) when paired with a guanine, leaving an apyrimidinic (AP) site that is subsequently incised by the lyase activity. ROS1 is slow in base excision and fast in AP lyase activity, indicating that the recognition of pyrimidine modifications might be a rate-limiting step. In the C-terminal half, the enzyme harbors a helix-hairpin-helix DNA glycosylase domain followed by a unique C-terminal domain. We show that the isolated glycosylase domain is inactive for base excision but retains partial AP lyase activity. Addition of the C-terminal domain restores the base excision activity and increases the AP lyase activity as well. Furthermore, the two domains remain tightly associated and can be co-purified by chromatography. We suggest that the C-terminal domain of ROS1 is indispensable for the 5mC DNA glycosylase activity of ROS1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Hong
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Graduate Program, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Hideharu Hashimoto
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Yoke Wah Kow
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Xing Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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18
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Liu Y, Olanrewaju YO, Zheng Y, Hashimoto H, Blumenthal RM, Zhang X, Cheng X. Structural basis for Klf4 recognition of methylated DNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:4859-67. [PMID: 24520114 PMCID: PMC4005678 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 4 (Klf4), one of the factors directing cellular reprogramming, recognizes the CpG dinucleotide (whether methylated or unmodified) within a specific G/C-rich sequence. The binding affinity of the mouse Klf4 DNA-binding domain for methylated DNA is only slightly stronger than that for an unmodified oligonucleotide. The structure of the C-terminal three Krüppel-like zinc fingers (ZnFs) of mouse Klf4, in complex with fully methylated DNA, was determined at 1.85 Å resolution. An arginine and a glutamate interact with the methyl group. By comparison with two other recently characterized structures of ZnF protein complexes with methylated DNA, we propose a common principle of recognition of methylated CpG by C2H2 ZnF proteins, which involves a spatially conserved Arg–Glu pair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwei Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA 01938, USA and Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and Program in Bioinformatics, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
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