1
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Zhang T, Liu S, Durojaye O, Xiong F, Fang Z, Ullah T, Fu C, Sun B, Jiang H, Xia P, Wang Z, Yao X, Liu X. Dynamic phosphorylation of FOXA1 by Aurora B guides post-mitotic gene reactivation. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114739. [PMID: 39276350 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024] Open
Abstract
FOXA1 serves as a crucial pioneer transcription factor during developmental processes and plays a pivotal role as a mitotic bookmarking factor to perpetuate gene expression profiles and maintain cellular identity. During mitosis, the majority of FOXA1 dissociates from specific DNA binding sites and redistributes to non-specific binding sites; however, the regulatory mechanisms governing molecular dynamics and activity of FOXA1 remain elusive. Here, we show that mitotic kinase Aurora B specifies the different DNA binding modes of FOXA1 and guides FOXA1 biomolecular condensation in mitosis. Mechanistically, Aurora B kinase phosphorylates FOXA1 at Serine 221 (S221) to liberate the specific, but not the non-specific, DNA binding. Interestingly, the phosphorylation of S221 attenuates the FOXA1 condensation that requires specific DNA binding. Importantly, perturbation of the dynamic phosphorylation impairs accurate gene reactivation and cell proliferation, suggesting that reversible mitotic protein phosphorylation emerges as a fundamental mechanism for the spatiotemporal control of mitotic bookmarking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Shuaiyu Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China; Anhui Key Laboratory of Cellular Dynamics and Chemical Biology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Olanrewaju Durojaye
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Fangyuan Xiong
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China; Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Zhiyou Fang
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Tahir Ullah
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Chuanhai Fu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China; Anhui Key Laboratory of Cellular Dynamics and Chemical Biology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Bo Sun
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Hao Jiang
- West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Peng Xia
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China; Institute of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhikai Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China; Anhui Key Laboratory of Cellular Dynamics and Chemical Biology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China.
| | - Xuebiao Yao
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China; Anhui Key Laboratory of Cellular Dynamics and Chemical Biology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China.
| | - Xing Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China; Anhui Key Laboratory of Cellular Dynamics and Chemical Biology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China.
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2
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Grand RS, Pregnolato M, Baumgartner L, Hoerner L, Burger L, Schübeler D. Genome access is transcription factor-specific and defined by nucleosome position. Mol Cell 2024; 84:3455-3468.e6. [PMID: 39208807 PMCID: PMC11420395 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian gene expression is controlled by transcription factors (TFs) that engage sequence motifs in a chromatinized genome, where nucleosomes can restrict DNA access. Yet, how nucleosomes affect individual TFs remains unclear. Here, we measure the ability of over one hundred TF motifs to recruit TFs in a defined chromosomal locus in mouse embryonic stem cells. This identifies a set sufficient to enable the binding of TFs with diverse tissue specificities, functions, and DNA-binding domains. These chromatin-competent factors are further classified when challenged to engage motifs within a highly phased nucleosome. The pluripotency factors OCT4-SOX2 preferentially engage non-nucleosomal and entry-exit motifs, but not nucleosome-internal sites, a preference that also guides binding genome wide. By contrast, factors such as BANP, REST, or CTCF engage throughout, causing nucleosomal displacement. This supports that TFs vary widely in their sensitivity to nucleosomes and that genome access is TF specific and influenced by nucleosome position in the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph Stefan Grand
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marco Pregnolato
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Sciences, University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lisa Baumgartner
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Leslie Hoerner
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Burger
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dirk Schübeler
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Sciences, University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland.
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3
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Bell JM, Turner EM, Biesemeyer C, Vanderbeck MM, Hendricks R, McGraw HF. foxg1a is required for hair cell development and regeneration in the zebrafish lateral line. Biol Open 2024; 13:bio060580. [PMID: 39301848 PMCID: PMC11423914 DOI: 10.1242/bio.060580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanosensory hair cells located in the inner ear mediate the sensations of hearing and balance. If damaged, mammalian inner ear hair cells are unable to regenerate, resulting in permanent sensory deficits. Aquatic vertebrates like zebrafish (Danio rerio) have a specialized class of mechanosensory hair cells found in the lateral line system, allowing them to sense changes in water current. Unlike mammalian inner ear hair cells, lateral line hair cells can robustly regenerate following damage. In mammals, the transcription factor Foxg1 functions to promote normal development of the inner ear. Foxg1a is expressed in lateral line sensory organs in zebrafish larvae, but its function during lateral line development and regeneration has not been investigated. Our study demonstrates that mutation of foxg1a results in slower posterior lateral line primordium migration and delayed neuromast formation. In developing and regenerating neuromasts, we find that loss of Foxg1a function results in reduced hair cell numbers, as well as decreased proliferation of neuromast cells. Foxg1a specifically regulates the development and regeneration of Islet1-labeled hair cells. These data suggest that Foxg1 may be a valuable target for investigation of clinical hair cell regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon M. Bell
- University of Missouri Kansas City, School of Science and Engineering, Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Emily M. Turner
- University of Missouri Kansas City, School of Science and Engineering, Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Cole Biesemeyer
- University of Missouri Kansas City, School of Science and Engineering, Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
- Research Organisms, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Madison M. Vanderbeck
- University of Missouri Kansas City, School of Science and Engineering, Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Roe Hendricks
- University of Missouri Kansas City, School of Science and Engineering, Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Hillary F. McGraw
- University of Missouri Kansas City, School of Science and Engineering, Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
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4
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Prusty A, Mehra P, Sharma S, Malik N, Agarwal P, Parida SK, Kapoor S, Tyagi AK. OsMED14_2, a tail module subunit of Mediator complex, controls rice development and involves jasmonic acid. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 346:112146. [PMID: 38848769 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
The Mediator complex is essential for eukaryotic transcription, yet its role and the function of its individual subunits in plants, especially in rice, remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the function of OsMED14_2, a subunit of the Mediator tail module, in rice development. Overexpression and knockout of OsMED14_2 resulted in notable changes in panicle morphology and grain size. Microscopic analysis revealed impact of overexpression on pollen maturation, reflected by reduced viability, irregular shapes, and aberrant intine development. OsMED14_2 was found to interact with proteins involved in pollen development, namely, OsMADS62, OsMADS63 and OsMADS68, and its overexpression negatively affected the expression of OsMADS68 and the expression of other genes involved in intine development, including OsCAP1, OsGCD1, OsRIP1, and OsCPK29. Additionally, we found that OsMED14_2 overexpression influences jasmonic acid (JA) homeostasis, affecting bioactive JA levels, and expression of OsJAZ genes. Our data suggest OsMED14_2 may act as a regulator of JA-responsive genes through its interactions with OsHDAC6 and OsJAZ repressors. These findings contribute to better understanding of the Mediator complex's role in plant traits regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Prusty
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Plant Genomics and Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi, South Campus (UDSC), New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Poonam Mehra
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Plant Genomics and Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi, South Campus (UDSC), New Delhi 110021, India; Plant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Shivam Sharma
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Plant Genomics and Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi, South Campus (UDSC), New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Naveen Malik
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi 110067, India; Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Rajasthan, Jaipur 303002, India
| | - Pinky Agarwal
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi 110067, India
| | | | - Sanjay Kapoor
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Plant Genomics and Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi, South Campus (UDSC), New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Akhilesh Kumar Tyagi
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Plant Genomics and Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi, South Campus (UDSC), New Delhi 110021, India.
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5
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Zhou BR, Feng H, Huang F, Zhu I, Portillo-Ledesma S, Shi D, Zaret KS, Schlick T, Landsman D, Wang Q, Bai Y. Structural insights into the cooperative nucleosome recognition and chromatin opening by FOXA1 and GATA4. Mol Cell 2024; 84:3061-3079.e10. [PMID: 39121853 PMCID: PMC11344660 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Mouse FOXA1 and GATA4 are prototypes of pioneer factors, initiating liver cell development by binding to the N1 nucleosome in the enhancer of the ALB1 gene. Using cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM), we determined the structures of the free N1 nucleosome and its complexes with FOXA1 and GATA4, both individually and in combination. We found that the DNA-binding domains of FOXA1 and GATA4 mainly recognize the linker DNA and an internal site in the nucleosome, respectively, whereas their intrinsically disordered regions interact with the acidic patch on histone H2A-H2B. FOXA1 efficiently enhances GATA4 binding by repositioning the N1 nucleosome. In vivo DNA editing and bioinformatics analyses suggest that the co-binding mode of FOXA1 and GATA4 plays important roles in regulating genes involved in liver cell functions. Our results reveal the mechanism whereby FOXA1 and GATA4 cooperatively bind to the nucleosome through nucleosome repositioning, opening chromatin by bending linker DNA and obstructing nucleosome packing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Rui Zhou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Hanqiao Feng
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Furong Huang
- Department of Pathology and Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Iris Zhu
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Stephanie Portillo-Ledesma
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, Silver Building, New York, NY 10003, USA; Simons Center for Computational Physical Chemistry, New York University, 24 Waverly Place, Silver Building, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Dan Shi
- Center for Structural Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Kenneth S Zaret
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Cell and Development Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tamar Schlick
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, Silver Building, New York, NY 10003, USA; Simons Center for Computational Physical Chemistry, New York University, 24 Waverly Place, Silver Building, New York, NY 10003, USA; Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, 251 Mercer St., New York, NY 10012, USA; New York University-East China Normal University Center for Computational Chemistry, New York University Shanghai, Shanghai 200122, China
| | - David Landsman
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Qianben Wang
- Department of Pathology and Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Yawen Bai
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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6
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Li M, Gao X, Su Y, Shan S, Qian W, Zhang Z, Zhu D. FOXM1 transcriptional regulation. Biol Cell 2024:e2400012. [PMID: 38963053 DOI: 10.1111/boc.202400012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
FOXM1 is a key transcriptional regulator involved in various biological processes in mammals, including carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, aging, immune regulation, development, and disease. Early studies have shown that FOXM1 acts as an oncogene by regulating cell proliferation, cell cycle, migration, metastasis, and apoptosis, as well as genes related to diagnosis, treatment, chemotherapy resistance, and prognosis. Researchers are increasingly focusing on FOXM1 functions in tumor microenvironment, epigenetics, and immune infiltration. However, researchers have not comprehensively described FOXM1's involvement in tumor microenvironment shaping, epigenetics, and immune cell infiltration. Here we review the role of FOXM1 in the formation and development of malignant tumors, and we will provide a comprehensive summary of the role of FOXM1 in transcriptional regulation, interacting proteins, tumor microenvironment, epigenetics, and immune infiltration, and suggest areas for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxi Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
- School of Nuclear Technology and Chemistry & Biology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Xuzheng Gao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Yanting Su
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Shigang Shan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Wenbin Qian
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Zhenwang Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Dan Zhu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, P. R. China
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7
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England SJ, Campbell PC, Banerjee S, Bates RL, Grieb G, Fancher WF, Lewis KE. Transcriptional regulators with broad expression in the zebrafish spinal cord. Dev Dyn 2024. [PMID: 38850245 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The spinal cord is a crucial part of the vertebrate CNS, controlling movements and receiving and processing sensory information from the trunk and limbs. However, there is much we do not know about how this essential organ develops. Here, we describe expression of 21 transcription factors and one transcriptional regulator in zebrafish spinal cord. RESULTS We analyzed the expression of aurkb, foxb1a, foxb1b, her8a, homeza, ivns1abpb, mybl2b, myt1a, nr2f1b, onecut1, sall1a, sall3a, sall3b, sall4, sox2, sox19b, sp8b, tsc22d1, wdhd1, zfhx3b, znf804a, and znf1032 in wild-type and MIB E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 zebrafish embryos. While all of these genes are broadly expressed in spinal cord, they have distinct expression patterns from one another. Some are predominantly expressed in progenitor domains, and others in subsets of post-mitotic cells. Given the conservation of spinal cord development, and the transcription factors and transcriptional regulators that orchestrate it, we expect that these genes will have similar spinal cord expression patterns in other vertebrates, including mammals and humans. CONCLUSIONS Our data identify 22 different transcriptional regulators that are strong candidates for playing different roles in spinal cord development. For several of these genes, this is the first published description of their spinal cord expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul C Campbell
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Santanu Banerjee
- Biological Sciences Department, SUNY-Cortland, Cortland, New York, USA
| | - Richard L Bates
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Ginny Grieb
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
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8
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Stoeber S, Godin H, Xu C, Bai L. Pioneer factors: nature or nurture? Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 59:139-153. [PMID: 38778580 PMCID: PMC11444900 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2024.2355885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Chromatin is densely packed with nucleosomes, which limits the accessibility of many chromatin-associated proteins. Pioneer factors (PFs) are usually viewed as a special group of sequence-specific transcription factors (TFs) that can recognize nucleosome-embedded motifs, invade compact chromatin, and generate open chromatin regions. Through this process, PFs initiate a cascade of events that play key roles in gene regulation and cell differentiation. A current debate in the field is if PFs belong to a unique subset of TFs with intrinsic "pioneering activity", or if all TFs have the potential to function as PFs within certain cellular contexts. There are also different views regarding the key feature(s) that define pioneering activity. In this review, we present evidence from the literature related to these alternative views and discuss how to potentially reconcile them. It is possible that both intrinsic properties, like tight nucleosome binding and structural compatibility, and cellular conditions, like concentration and co-factor availability, are important for PF function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane Stoeber
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Holly Godin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Cheng Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Lu Bai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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9
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Bian F, Goda C, Wang G, Lan YW, Deng Z, Gao W, Acharya A, Reza AA, Gomez-Arroyo J, Merjaneh N, Ren X, Goveia J, Carmeliet P, Kalinichenko VV, Kalin TV. FOXF1 promotes tumor vessel normalization and prevents lung cancer progression through FZD4. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:1063-1090. [PMID: 38589650 PMCID: PMC11099127 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00064-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells re-program normal lung endothelial cells (EC) into tumor-associated endothelial cells (TEC) that form leaky vessels supporting carcinogenesis. Transcriptional regulators that control the reprogramming of EC into TEC are poorly understood. We identified Forkhead box F1 (FOXF1) as a critical regulator of EC-to-TEC transition. FOXF1 was highly expressed in normal lung vasculature but was decreased in TEC within non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Low FOXF1 correlated with poor overall survival of NSCLC patients. In mice, endothelial-specific deletion of FOXF1 decreased pericyte coverage, increased vessel permeability and hypoxia, and promoted lung tumor growth and metastasis. Endothelial-specific overexpression of FOXF1 normalized tumor vessels and inhibited the progression of lung cancer. FOXF1 deficiency decreased Wnt/β-catenin signaling in TECs through direct transcriptional activation of Fzd4. Restoring FZD4 expression in FOXF1-deficient TECs through endothelial-specific nanoparticle delivery of Fzd4 cDNA rescued Wnt/β-catenin signaling in TECs, normalized tumor vessels and inhibited the progression of lung cancer. Altogether, FOXF1 increases tumor vessel stability, and inhibits lung cancer progression by stimulating FZD4/Wnt/β-catenin signaling in TECs. Nanoparticle delivery of FZD4 cDNA has promise for future therapies in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenghua Bian
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Chinmayee Goda
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Guolun Wang
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Ying-Wei Lan
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Child Health, Phoenix Children's Research Institute, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, 475 N 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Zicheng Deng
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Child Health, Phoenix Children's Research Institute, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, 475 N 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Wen Gao
- Department of Child Health, Phoenix Children's Research Institute, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, 475 N 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Anusha Acharya
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Abid A Reza
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Jose Gomez-Arroyo
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Nawal Merjaneh
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA
| | - Xiaomeng Ren
- Division of Asthma Research of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Jermaine Goveia
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), KU Leuven, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Peter Carmeliet
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), KU Leuven, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Vladimir V Kalinichenko
- Department of Child Health, Phoenix Children's Research Institute, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, 475 N 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
- Division of Neonatology, Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA
| | - Tanya V Kalin
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
- Department of Child Health, Phoenix Children's Research Institute, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, 475 N 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA.
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, 475 N 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA.
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10
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Bell JM, Biesemeyer C, Turner EM, Vanderbeck MM, McGraw HF. foxg1a is required for hair cell development and regeneration in the zebrafish lateral line. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.12.589268. [PMID: 38659824 PMCID: PMC11042177 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.12.589268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Mechanosensory hair cells located in the inner ear mediate the sensations of hearing and balance. If damaged, mammalian inner ear hair cells are unable to regenerate, resulting in permanent sensory deficits. Aquatic vertebrates like zebrafish (Danio rerio) have a specialized class of mechanosensory hair cells found in the lateral line system, allowing them to sense changes in water current. Unlike mammalian inner ear hair cells, lateral line hair cells can robustly regenerate following damage. In mammalian models, the transcription factor Foxg1 functions to promote normal development of the inner ear. Foxg1a is expressed in lateral line sensory organs in zebrafish larvae, but its function during lateral line development and regeneration has not been investigated. We find that loss of Foxg1a function results in reduced hair cell development and regeneration, as well as decreased cellular proliferation in the lateral line system. These data suggest that Foxg1 may be a valuable target for investigation of clinical hair cell regeneration. Summary statement Our work demonstrates a role for Foxg1a in developing and regenerating new sensory cells through proliferation.
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11
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Tam KJ, Liu L, Hsing M, Dalal K, Thaper D, McConeghy B, Yenki P, Bhasin S, Peacock JW, Wang Y, Cherkasov A, Rennie PS, Gleave ME, Ong CJ. Clinically-observed FOXA1 mutations upregulate SEMA3C through transcriptional derepression in prostate cancer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7082. [PMID: 38528115 PMCID: PMC10963789 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57854-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
FOXA1 is a pioneer transcription factor that is frequently mutated in prostate, breast, bladder, and salivary gland malignancies. Indeed, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) commonly harbour FOXA1 mutations with a prevalence of 35%. However, despite the frequent recurrence of FOXA1 mutations in prostate cancer, the mechanisms by which FOXA1 variants drive its oncogenic effects are still unclear. Semaphorin 3C (SEMA3C) is a secreted autocrine growth factor that drives growth and treatment resistance of prostate and other cancers and is known to be regulated by both AR and FOXA1. In the present study, we characterize FOXA1 alterations with respect to its regulation of SEMA3C. Our findings reveal that FOXA1 alterations lead to elevated levels of SEMA3C both in prostate cancer specimens and in vitro. We further show that FOXA1 negatively regulates SEMA3C via intronic cis elements, and that mutations in FOXA1 forkhead domain attenuate its inhibitory function in reporter assays, presumably by disrupting DNA binding of FOXA1. Our findings underscore the key role of FOXA1 in prostate cancer progression and treatment resistance by regulating SEMA3C expression and suggest that SEMA3C may be a driver of growth and tumor vulnerability of mCRPC harboring FOXA1 alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Tam
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Liangliang Liu
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Michael Hsing
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kush Dalal
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Daksh Thaper
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Brian McConeghy
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Parvin Yenki
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Satyam Bhasin
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - James W Peacock
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Yuzhuo Wang
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Artem Cherkasov
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Paul S Rennie
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Martin E Gleave
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Christopher J Ong
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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12
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Won SJ, Zhang Y, Reinhardt CJ, MacRae NS, DeMeester KE, Njomen E, Hargis LM, Remsberg JR, Melillo B, Cravatt BF, Erb MA. Redirecting the pioneering function of FOXA1 with covalent small molecules. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.21.586158. [PMID: 38562719 PMCID: PMC10983899 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.21.586158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Pioneer transcription factors (TFs) exhibit a specialized ability to bind to and open closed chromatin, facilitating engagement by other regulatory factors involved in gene activation or repression. Chemical probes are lacking for pioneer TFs, which has hindered their mechanistic investigation in cells. Here, we report the chemical proteomic discovery of electrophilic small molecules that stereoselectively and site-specifically bind the pioneer TF, FOXA1, at a cysteine (C258) within the forkhead DNA-binding domain. We show that these covalent ligands react with FOXA1 in a DNA-dependent manner and rapidly remodel its pioneer activity in prostate cancer cells reflected in redistribution of FOXA1 binding across the genome and directionally correlated changes in chromatin accessibility. Motif analysis supports a mechanism where the covalent ligands relax the canonical DNA binding preference of FOXA1 by strengthening interactions with suboptimal ancillary sequences in predicted proximity to C258. Our findings reveal a striking plasticity underpinning the pioneering function of FOXA1 that can be controlled by small molecules.
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13
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Merjaneh N, Hajjar M, Lan YW, Kalinichenko VV, Kalin TV. The Promise of Combination Therapies with FOXM1 Inhibitors for Cancer Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:756. [PMID: 38398147 PMCID: PMC10886945 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) is a transcription factor in the forkhead (FOX) family, which is required for cellular proliferation in normal and neoplastic cells. FOXM1 is highly expressed in many different cancers, and its expression is associated with a higher tumor stage and worse patient-related outcomes. Abnormally high expression of FOXM1 in cancers compared to normal tissue makes FOXM1 an attractive target for pharmacological inhibition. FOXM1-inhibiting agents and specific FOXM1-targeted small-molecule inhibitors have been developed in the lab and some of them have shown promising efficacy and safety profiles in mouse models. While the future goal is to translate FOXM1 inhibitors to clinical trials, potential synergistic drug combinations can maximize anti-tumor efficacy while minimizing off-target side effects. Hence, we discuss the rationale and efficacy of all previously studied drug combinations with FOXM1 inhibitors for cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nawal Merjaneh
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA
- Department of Child Health, Division of Hematology and Oncology, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Mona Hajjar
- The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA;
| | - Ying-Wei Lan
- Phoenix Children’s Research Institute, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; (Y.-W.L.)
| | - Vladimir V. Kalinichenko
- Phoenix Children’s Research Institute, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; (Y.-W.L.)
- Division of Neonatology, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA
| | - Tanya V. Kalin
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA
- Department of Child Health, Division of Hematology and Oncology, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
- Phoenix Children’s Research Institute, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; (Y.-W.L.)
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14
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Ji D, Shao C, Yu J, Hou Y, Gao X, Wu Y, Wang L, Chen P. FOXA1 forms biomolecular condensates that unpack condensed chromatin to function as a pioneer factor. Mol Cell 2024; 84:244-260.e7. [PMID: 38101414 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic DNA is packaged into chromatin in the nucleus, restricting the binding of transcription factors (TFs) to their target DNA sites. FOXA1 functions as a pioneer TF to bind condensed chromatin and initiate the opening of local chromatin for gene expression. However, the principles of FOXA1 recruitment and how it subsequently unpacks the condensed chromatin remain elusive. Here, we revealed that FOXA1 intrinsically forms submicron-sized condensates through its N- and C-terminal intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). Notably, both IDRs enable FOXA1 to dissolve the condensed chromatin. In addition, the DNA-binding capacity of FOXA1 contributes to its ability to both form condensates and dissolve condensed chromatin. Further genome-wide investigation showed that IDRs enable FOXA1 to bind and unpack the condensed chromatin to regulate the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells. This work provides a principle of how pioneer TFs function to initiate competent chromatin states using their IDRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dengyu Ji
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory for Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Changrong Shao
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory for Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Juan Yu
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yaoyao Hou
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Xiao Gao
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory for Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Yichuan Wu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory for Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Liang Wang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Ping Chen
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory for Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
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15
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Yang D, Li Q, Lu P, Wu D, Li W, Meng X, Xing M, Shangguan W, Chen B, Yang J, Zhang Z, Wang Z, Huang DCS, Zhao Q. FOXA2 activates HIF2α expression to promote tumor progression and is regulated by the E3 ubiquitin ligase VHL in renal cell carcinoma. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105535. [PMID: 38072043 PMCID: PMC10801253 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a frequent malignancy of the urinary system with high mortality and morbidity. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying RCC progression are still largely unknown. In this study, we identified FOXA2, a pioneer transcription factor, as a driver oncogene for RCC. We show that FOXA2 was commonly upregulated in human RCC samples and promoted RCC proliferation, as evidenced by assays of cell viability, colony formation, migratory and invasive capabilities, and stemness properties. Mechanistically, we found that FOXA2 promoted RCC cell proliferation by transcriptionally activating HIF2α expression in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we found that FOXA2 could interact with VHL (von Hippel‒Lindau), which ubiquitinated FOXA2 and controlled its protein stability in RCC cells. We showed that mutation of lysine at position 264 to arginine in FOXA2 could mostly abrogate its ubiquitination, augment its activation effect on HIF2α expression, and promote RCC proliferation in vitro and RCC progression in vivo. Importantly, elevated expression of FOXA2 in patients with RCC positively correlated with the expression of HIF2α and was associated with shorter overall and disease-free survival. Together, these findings reveal a novel role of FOXA2 in RCC development and provide insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of FOXA2-driven pathological processes in RCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongjun Yang
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, China-Australia Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qixiang Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, China-Australia Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Peifen Lu
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, China-Australia Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dongliang Wu
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, China-Australia Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenyang Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, China-Australia Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xingjun Meng
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, China-Australia Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mengying Xing
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, China-Australia Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenbing Shangguan
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, China-Australia Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bing Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, China-Australia Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Urology and Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhihong Zhang
- Department of Urology and Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zengjun Wang
- Department of Urology and Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - David C S Huang
- Department of Medical Biology, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Quan Zhao
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, China-Australia Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
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16
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Ramal M, Corral S, Kalisz M, Lapi E, Real FX. The urothelial gene regulatory network: understanding biology to improve bladder cancer management. Oncogene 2024; 43:1-21. [PMID: 37996699 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02876-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The urothelium is a stratified epithelium composed of basal cells, one or more layers of intermediate cells, and an upper layer of differentiated umbrella cells. Most bladder cancers (BLCA) are urothelial carcinomas. Loss of urothelial lineage fidelity results in altered differentiation, highlighted by the taxonomic classification into basal and luminal tumors. There is a need to better understand the urothelial transcriptional networks. To systematically identify transcription factors (TFs) relevant for urothelial identity, we defined highly expressed TFs in normal human bladder using RNA-Seq data and inferred their genomic binding using ATAC-Seq data. To focus on epithelial TFs, we analyzed RNA-Seq data from patient-derived organoids recapitulating features of basal/luminal tumors. We classified TFs as "luminal-enriched", "basal-enriched" or "common" according to expression in organoids. We validated our classification by differential gene expression analysis in Luminal Papillary vs. Basal/Squamous tumors. Genomic analyses revealed well-known TFs associated with luminal (e.g., PPARG, GATA3, FOXA1) and basal (e.g., TP63, TFAP2) phenotypes and novel candidates to play a role in urothelial differentiation or BLCA (e.g., MECOM, TBX3). We also identified TF families (e.g., KLFs, AP1, circadian clock, sex hormone receptors) for which there is suggestive evidence of their involvement in urothelial differentiation and/or BLCA. Genomic alterations in these TFs are associated with BLCA. We uncover a TF network involved in urothelial cell identity and BLCA. We identify novel candidate TFs involved in differentiation and cancer that provide opportunities for a better understanding of the underlying biology and therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ramal
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Molecular Oncology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sonia Corral
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Molecular Oncology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mark Kalisz
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Molecular Oncology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
- CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eleonora Lapi
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Molecular Oncology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
- CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco X Real
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Molecular Oncology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
- CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
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17
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Rodriguez-Colman MJ, Dansen TB, Burgering BMT. FOXO transcription factors as mediators of stress adaptation. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:46-64. [PMID: 37710009 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00649-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
The forkhead box protein O (FOXO, consisting of FOXO1, FOXO3, FOXO4 and FOXO6) transcription factors are the mammalian orthologues of Caenorhabditis elegans DAF-16, which gained notoriety for its capability to double lifespan in the absence of daf-2 (the gene encoding the worm insulin receptor homologue). Since then, research has provided many mechanistic details on FOXO regulation and FOXO activity. Furthermore, conditional knockout experiments have provided a wealth of data as to how FOXOs control development and homeostasis at the organ and organism levels. The lifespan-extending capabilities of DAF-16/FOXO are highly correlated with their ability to induce stress response pathways. Exogenous and endogenous stress, such as cellular redox stress, are considered the main drivers of the functional decline that characterizes ageing. Functional decline often manifests as disease, and decrease in FOXO activity indeed negatively impacts on major age-related diseases such as cancer and diabetes. In this context, the main function of FOXOs is considered to preserve cellular and organismal homeostasis, through regulation of stress response pathways. Paradoxically, the same FOXO-mediated responses can also aid the survival of dysfunctional cells once these eventually emerge. This general property to control stress responses may underlie the complex and less-evident roles of FOXOs in human lifespan as opposed to model organisms such as C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tobias B Dansen
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Boudewijn M T Burgering
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.
- Oncode Institute, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.
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18
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Paquette AR, Boddy CN. Double Stranded DNA Binding Stapled Peptides: An Emerging Tool for Transcriptional Regulation. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300594. [PMID: 37750576 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Stapled peptides have rapidly established themselves as a powerful technique to mimic α-helical interactions with a short peptide sequence. There are many examples of stapled peptides that successfully disrupt α-helix-mediated protein-protein interactions, with an example currently in clinical trials. DNA-protein interactions are also often mediated by α-helices and are involved in all transcriptional regulation processes. Unlike DNA-binding small molecules, which typically lack DNA sequence selectivity, DNA-binding proteins bind with high affinity and high selectivity. These are ideal candidates for the design DNA-binding stapled peptides. Despite the parallel to protein-protein interaction disrupting stapled peptides and the need for sequence specific DNA binders, there are very few DNA-binding stapled peptides. In this review we examine all the known DNA-binding stapled peptides. Their design concepts are compared to stapled peptides that disrupt protein-protein interactions and based on the few examples in the literature, DNA-binding stapled peptide trends are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- André R Paquette
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Christopher N Boddy
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
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19
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Gharbaran R. Insights into the molecular roles of FOXR2 in the pathology of primary pediatric brain tumors. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2023; 192:104188. [PMID: 37879492 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.104188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Forkhead box gene R2 (FOXR2) belongs to the family of FOX genes which codes for highly conserved transcription factors (TFs) with critical roles in biological processes ranging from development to organogenesis to metabolic and immune regulation to cellular homeostasis. A number of FOX genes are associated with cancer development and progression and poor prognosis. A growing body of evidence suggests that FOXR2 is an oncogene. Studies suggested important roles for FOXR2 in cancer cell growth, metastasis, and drug resistance. Recent studies showed that FOXR2 is overexpressed by a subset of newly identified entities of embryonal tumors. This review discusses the role(s) FOXR2 plays in the pathology of pediatric brain cancers and its potential as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajendra Gharbaran
- Biological Sciences Department, Bronx Community College/City University of New York, 2155 University Avenue, Bronx, NY 10453, USA.
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20
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Li P, Ma G, Cui Z, Zhang S, Su Q, Cai Z. FOXM1 and CENPF are associated with a poor prognosis through promoting proliferation and migration in lung adenocarcinoma. Oncol Lett 2023; 26:518. [PMID: 37920441 PMCID: PMC10618931 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.14105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a clinically challenging disease due to its poor prognosis and limited therapeutic methods. The aim of the present study was to identify prognosis-related genes and therapeutic targets for LUAD. Raw data from the GSE32863, GSE41271 and GSE42127 datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Following normalization, the data were merged into a matrix, which was first used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and survival analysis were performed to screen potential prognosis-related genes. Gene overlaps among DEGs, survival-related genes and WGCNA genes were finally constructed to obtain candidate genes. An analysis with the STRING database was performed to construct a protein-protein interaction network and hub genes were selected using Cytoscape. The candidate genes were finally identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro experiments, including immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Cell Counting Kit-8, colony-formation and migration assays, were performed to validate the potential mechanism of these genes in LUAD. Two genes, namely forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) and centromere protein F (CENPF), were identified as unfavorable indicators of prognosis in patients with LUAD. High expression of FOXM1 and CENPF were associated with poor survival. Furthermore, LUAD cells with FOXM1 and CENPF knockdown showed a significant reduction in proliferation and migration (P<0.05). FOXM1 and CENPF may have an essential role in the prognosis of patients with LUAD by influencing cell proliferation and migration, and they provide potential molecular targets for LUAD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peipei Li
- The First Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, The First Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Hengshui People's Hospital, Hengshui, Hebei 053000, P.R. China
| | - Geng Ma
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hengshui People's Hospital, Hengshui, Hebei 053000, P.R. China
| | - Zhaobo Cui
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Hengshui People's Hospital, Hengshui, Hebei 053000, P.R. China
| | - Shusen Zhang
- The First Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, The First Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Xing Tai People Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Xingtai, Hebei 054001, P.R. China
| | - Qiao Su
- The First Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, The First Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China
| | - Zhigang Cai
- The First Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, The First Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China
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21
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Mubeen A, Parra-Herran C. FOXL2: a gene central to ovarian function. J Clin Pathol 2023; 76:798-801. [PMID: 37798106 DOI: 10.1136/jcp-2023-208827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The FOXL2 (forkhead box L2) gene is located on chromosome 3 and encodes for forkhead box (FOX) family of transcription factors which play a critical role in various biological processes. Germline FOXL2 mutations have been identified in blepharophimosis/ptosis/epicanthus inversus syndrome. The somatic missense mutation in FOXL2 (FOXL2 C134W) is now known to be the defining molecular feature of adult-type granulosa cell tumour of the ovary, present in over 90% of cases of this tumour type. Immunohistochemistry for FOXL2 is used as a marker of sex cord-stromal differentiation. However, expression is not restricted to lesions harbouring FOXL2 mutations, and it is positive in a variety of sex cord-stromal proliferations other than adult-type granulosa cell tumour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aysha Mubeen
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Carlos Parra-Herran
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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22
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Liu M, Zhang G, Wang Z, Liu X, He K, Luo R, Duan Q, Bai R, Wang Y, Du W, Zheng Y, Shao Y. FOXE1 Contributes to the Development of Psoriasis by Regulating WNT5A. J Invest Dermatol 2023; 143:2366-2377.e7. [PMID: 37394057 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.04.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Psoriasis is a common, chronic, and relapsing inflammatory skin disease characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes (KCs) and infiltration of immune cells. The pathogenesis of psoriasis is complex, and the exact mechanism remains partially understood. In this study, we showed that the forkhead box family protein, FOXE1, had increased expression in lesional skins compared with nonlesional skin from patients with psoriasis. FOXE1 expression was also increased in an imiquimod-induced psoriatic mouse model as well as in M5-stimulated KCs. Using combinational approaches of knockdown and overexpression of FOXE1, we demonstrated that FOXE1 may promote the proliferation of KCs by facilitating G1/S transition and activating extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathway. In addition, knockdown of FOXE1 reduced the production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α by KCs. RNA-sequencing profiling identified WNT5A as a potential downstream effector of FOXE1. Knockdown of WNT5A inhibited the proliferation of KCs; reduced the production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α by KCs; and mitigated the growth-promoting effect of FOXE1 in FOXE1-overexpressed KCs. Finally, depletion of FOXE1 by lentiviral delivery of small hairpin RNAs or genetic approach ameliorated dermatitis symptoms in imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like mouse models. Taken together, our results indicated that FOXE1 participates in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and can serve as a target of psoriasis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Liu
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Guanfei Zhang
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ziyang Wang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xinyi Liu
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ke He
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ruiting Luo
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qiqi Duan
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ruimin Bai
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuqian Wang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wenqian Du
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yan Zheng
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Yongping Shao
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Frontier Institute of Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
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23
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Fei T, Zhou EC, Wang XJ. FOXD2 regulations IQGAP3 mediated Ca 2+ signaling pathway to facilitate gastric adenocarcinoma cell promotion. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 2023; 39:1087-1095. [PMID: 37724892 DOI: 10.1002/kjm2.12756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
As a transcriptional factor, the Forkhead box (FOX) gene family is closely connected with apoptosis, proliferation, and other cellular processes. FOXD2, as one descendant of the FOX gene family, has been mentioned in many articles to show a high expression in several cancers. However, whether FOXD2 has a connection with gastric adenocarcinoma remains an unanswered question. Expression of FOXD2 and IQGAP3 in gastric adenocarcinoma was evaluated by bioinformatics analysis, which was further detected by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot. The downstream target genes of FOXD2 were also mined by bioinformatics analysis. Pathway enrichment analysis was then performed on the target genes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay (ChIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assay were conducted to validate the regulatory relationship between FOXD2 and its downstream target gene IQGAP3. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay (MTT), combined with cell colony formation assay, was employed to assess the effect of FOXD2 and IQGAP3 on the proliferation of gastric adenocarcinoma cells. Intracytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration was measured by Fluo-3 fluorescence staining. FOXD2 showed a high expression in gastric adenocarcinoma tissues and cells, and FOXD2 silencing considerably attenuated gastric adenocarcinoma cell proliferation. IQGAP3, a downstream target gene of FOXD2, had a positive connection with the expression of FOXD2. The binding relationship between FOXD2 and the promoter region of IQGAP3 was further verified by ChIP and dual-luciferase reporter assays. The results of cell function experiments indicated that FOXD2 could promote gastric adenocarcinoma cell proliferation by transcriptionally activating IQGAP3 to induce an increase in intracellular Ca2+ level. This study confirmed that FOXD2 increased intracellular Ca2+ level through transcriptional activation of IQGAP3, which in turn propelled the proliferation of gastric adenocarcinoma cells, revealing the considerable significance of FOXD2 in the development of gastric adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Fei
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - En-Cheng Zhou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
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24
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Li H, Ma T, Remsberg JR, Won SJ, DeMeester KE, Njomen E, Ogasawara D, Zhao KT, Huang TP, Lu B, Simon GM, Melillo B, Schreiber SL, Lykke-Andersen J, Liu DR, Cravatt BF. Assigning functionality to cysteines by base editing of cancer dependency genes. Nat Chem Biol 2023; 19:1320-1330. [PMID: 37783940 PMCID: PMC10698195 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01428-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Covalent chemistry represents an attractive strategy for expanding the ligandability of the proteome, and chemical proteomics has revealed numerous electrophile-reactive cysteines on diverse human proteins. Determining which of these covalent binding events affect protein function, however, remains challenging. Here we describe a base-editing strategy to infer the functionality of cysteines by quantifying the impact of their missense mutation on cancer cell proliferation. The resulting atlas, which covers more than 13,800 cysteines on more than 1,750 cancer dependency proteins, confirms the essentiality of cysteines targeted by covalent drugs and, when integrated with chemical proteomic data, identifies essential, ligandable cysteines in more than 160 cancer dependency proteins. We further show that a stereoselective and site-specific ligand targeting an essential cysteine in TOE1 inhibits the nuclease activity of this protein through an apparent allosteric mechanism. Our findings thus describe a versatile method and valuable resource to prioritize the pursuit of small-molecule probes with high function-perturbing potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoxin Li
- Department of Chemistry, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Tiantai Ma
- Department of Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Sang Joon Won
- Department of Chemistry, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Evert Njomen
- Department of Chemistry, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Kevin T Zhao
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tony P Huang
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Bingwen Lu
- Vividion Therapeutics, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Bruno Melillo
- Department of Chemistry, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Stuart L Schreiber
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jens Lykke-Andersen
- Department of Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
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25
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Arora S, Yang J, Akiyama T, James DQ, Morrissey A, Blanda TR, Badjatia N, Lai WK, Ko MS, Pugh BF, Mahony S. Joint sequence & chromatin neural networks characterize the differential abilities of Forkhead transcription factors to engage inaccessible chromatin. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.06.561228. [PMID: 37873361 PMCID: PMC10592618 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.06.561228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
The DNA-binding activities of transcription factors (TFs) are influenced by both intrinsic sequence preferences and extrinsic interactions with cell-specific chromatin landscapes and other regulatory proteins. Disentangling the roles of these binding determinants remains challenging. For example, the FoxA subfamily of Forkhead domain (Fox) TFs are known pioneer factors that can bind to relatively inaccessible sites during development. Yet FoxA TF binding also varies across cell types, pointing to a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic forces guiding their binding. While other Forkhead domain TFs are often assumed to have pioneering abilities, how sequence and chromatin features influence the binding of related Fox TFs has not been systematically characterized. Here, we present a principled approach to compare the relative contributions of intrinsic DNA sequence preference and cell-specific chromatin environments to a TF's DNA-binding activities. We apply our approach to investigate how a selection of Fox TFs (FoxA1, FoxC1, FoxG1, FoxL2, and FoxP3) vary in their binding specificity. We over-express the selected Fox TFs in mouse embryonic stem cells, which offer a platform to contrast each TF's binding activity within the same preexisting chromatin background. By applying a convolutional neural network to interpret the Fox TF binding patterns, we evaluate how sequence and preexisting chromatin features jointly contribute to induced TF binding. We demonstrate that Fox TFs bind different DNA targets, and drive differential gene expression patterns, even when induced in identical chromatin settings. Despite the association between Forkhead domains and pioneering activities, the selected Fox TFs display a wide range of affinities for preexiting chromatin states. Using sequence and chromatin feature attribution techniques to interpret the neural network predictions, we show that differential sequence preferences combined with differential abilities to engage relatively inaccessible chromatin together explain Fox TF binding patterns at individual sites and genome-wide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonny Arora
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Jianyu Yang
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Tomohiko Akiyama
- Department of Systems Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Current address: School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Japan
| | - Daniela Q. James
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Alexis Morrissey
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Thomas R. Blanda
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Nitika Badjatia
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - William K.M. Lai
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, NY, USA
| | - Minoru S.H. Ko
- Department of Systems Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - B. Franklin Pugh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, NY, USA
| | - Shaun Mahony
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
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26
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Taghehchian N, Lotfi M, Zangouei AS, Akhlaghipour I, Moghbeli M. MicroRNAs as the critical regulators of Forkhead box protein family during gynecological and breast tumor progression and metastasis. Eur J Med Res 2023; 28:330. [PMID: 37689738 PMCID: PMC10492305 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01329-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Gynecological and breast tumors are one of the main causes of cancer-related mortalities among women. Despite recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic methods, tumor relapse is observed in a high percentage of these patients due to the treatment failure. Late diagnosis in advanced tumor stages is one of the main reasons for the treatment failure and recurrence in these tumors. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the molecular mechanisms involved in progression of these tumors to introduce the efficient early diagnostic markers. Fokhead Box (FOX) is a family of transcription factors with a key role in regulation of a wide variety of cellular mechanisms. Deregulation of FOX proteins has been observed in different cancers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as a group of non-coding RNAs have important roles in post-transcriptional regulation of the genes involved in cellular mechanisms. They are also the non-invasive diagnostic markers due to their high stability in body fluids. Considering the importance of FOX proteins in the progression of breast and gynecological tumors, we investigated the role of miRNAs in regulation of the FOX proteins in these tumors. MicroRNAs were mainly involved in progression of these tumors through FOXM, FOXP, and FOXO. The present review paves the way to suggest a non-invasive diagnostic panel marker based on the miRNAs/FOX axis in breast and gynecological cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Negin Taghehchian
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Malihe Lotfi
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amir Sadra Zangouei
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Iman Akhlaghipour
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Meysam Moghbeli
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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27
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Jia R, Che X, Jia J, Guo J. FOXM1a Isoform of Oncogene FOXM1 Is a Tumor Suppressor Suppressed by hnRNP C in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1331. [PMID: 37759731 PMCID: PMC10526205 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
FOXM1 is an oncogenic transcriptional factor and includes several isoforms generated by alternative splicing. Inclusion of alternative exon 9 produces FOXM1a, a transcriptionally inactive isoform. However, the role of FOXM1a in tumorigenesis remains unknown. In addition, the regulatory mechanisms of exon 9 splicing are also unclear. In the present study, we found that overexpression of FOXM1a significantly reduced cell proliferation and colony formation of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell proliferation in vitro. Importantly, OSCC cells with FOXM1a overexpression showed significantly slower tumor formation in nude mice. Moreover, we identified a U-rich exonic splicing suppressor (ESS) which is responsible for exon 9 skipping. Splicing factor heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (hnRNP C) can bind to the ESS and suppress exon 9 inclusion and FOXM1a expression. Silence of hnRNP C also significantly suppresses OSCC cell proliferation. HnRNP C is significantly co-expressed with FOXM1 in cancers. Our study uncovered a novel regulatory mechanism of oncogene FOXM1 expression in OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China; (R.J.); (X.C.)
| | - Xiaoxuan Che
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China; (R.J.); (X.C.)
| | - Jun Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China; (R.J.); (X.C.)
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jihua Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China; (R.J.); (X.C.)
- Department of Endodontics, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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28
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Huang X, Zhang X, Machireddy N, Evans CE, Trewartha SD, Hu G, Fang Y, Mutlu GM, Wu D, Zhao YY. Endothelial FoxM1 reactivates aging-impaired endothelial regeneration for vascular repair and resolution of inflammatory lung injury. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eabm5755. [PMID: 37585502 PMCID: PMC10894510 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abm5755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Aging is a major risk factor of high incidence and increased mortality of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Here, we demonstrated that persistent lung injury and high mortality in aged mice after sepsis challenge were attributable to impaired endothelial regeneration and vascular repair. Genetic lineage tracing study showed that endothelial regeneration after sepsis-induced vascular injury was mediated by lung resident endothelial proliferation in young adult mice, whereas this intrinsic regenerative program was impaired in aged mice. Expression of forkhead box M1 (FoxM1), an important mediator of endothelial regeneration in young mice, was not induced in lungs of aged mice. Transgenic FOXM1 expression or in vivo endothelium-targeted nanoparticle delivery of the FOXM1 gene driven by an endothelial cell (EC)-specific promoter reactivated endothelial regeneration, normalized vascular repair and resolution of inflammation, and promoted survival in aged mice after sepsis challenge. In addition, treatment with the FDA-approved DNA demethylating agent decitabine was sufficient to reactivate FoxM1-dependent endothelial regeneration in aged mice, reverse aging-impaired resolution of inflammatory injury, and promote survival. Mechanistically, aging-induced Foxm1 promoter hypermethylation in mice, which could be inhibited by decitabine treatment, inhibited Foxm1 induction after sepsis challenge. In COVID-19 lung autopsy samples, FOXM1 was not induced in vascular ECs of elderly patients in their 80s, in contrast with middle-aged patients (aged 50 to 60 years). Thus, reactivation of FoxM1-mediated endothelial regeneration and vascular repair may represent a potential therapy for elderly patients with ARDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojia Huang
- Program for Lung and Vascular Biology and Section for Injury Repair and Regeneration Research, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL60611, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Chicago, IL60611, USA
| | - Xianming Zhang
- Program for Lung and Vascular Biology and Section for Injury Repair and Regeneration Research, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL60611, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Chicago, IL60611, USA
| | - Narsa Machireddy
- Program for Lung and Vascular Biology and Section for Injury Repair and Regeneration Research, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL60611, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Chicago, IL60611, USA
| | - Colin E. Evans
- Program for Lung and Vascular Biology and Section for Injury Repair and Regeneration Research, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL60611, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Chicago, IL60611, USA
| | - Shawn D. Trewartha
- Program for Lung and Vascular Biology and Section for Injury Repair and Regeneration Research, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL60611, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Chicago, IL60611, USA
| | - Guochang Hu
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL60607, USA
| | - Yun Fang
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637, USA
| | - Gökhan M. Mutlu
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637, USA
| | - David Wu
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637, USA
| | - You-Yang Zhao
- Program for Lung and Vascular Biology and Section for Injury Repair and Regeneration Research, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL60611, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Chicago, IL60611, USA
- Department of Pharmacology
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Chicago, IL60611, USA
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29
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Bascunana V, Pelletier A, Gouhier A, Bemmo A, Balsalobre A, Drouin J. Chromatin opening ability of pioneer factor Pax7 depends on unique isoform and C-terminal domain. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:7254-7268. [PMID: 37326021 PMCID: PMC10415112 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Pioneer factors are transcription factors (TFs) that have the unique ability to recognise their target DNA sequences within closed chromatin. Whereas their interactions with cognate DNA is similar to other TFs, their ability to interact with chromatin remains poorly understood. Having previously defined the modalities of DNA interactions for the pioneer factor Pax7, we have now used natural isoforms of this pioneer as well as deletion and replacement mutants to investigate the Pax7 structural requirements for chromatin interaction and opening. We show that the GL+ natural isoform of Pax7 that has two extra amino acids within the DNA binding paired domain is unable to activate the melanotrope transcriptome and to fully activate a large subset of melanotrope-specific enhancers targeted for Pax7 pioneer action. This enhancer subset remains in the primed state rather than being fully activated, despite the GL+ isoform having similar intrinsic transcriptional activity as the GL- isoform. C-terminal deletions of Pax7 lead to the same loss of pioneer ability, with similar reduced recruitments of the cooperating TF Tpit and of the co-regulators Ash2 and BRG1. This suggests complex interrelations between the DNA binding and C-terminal domains of Pax7 that are crucial for its chromatin opening pioneer ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Bascunana
- Laboratoire de génétique moléculaire, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), 110 Avenue des Pins ouest, Montréal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Audrey Pelletier
- Laboratoire de génétique moléculaire, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), 110 Avenue des Pins ouest, Montréal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Arthur Gouhier
- Laboratoire de génétique moléculaire, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), 110 Avenue des Pins ouest, Montréal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Amandine Bemmo
- Laboratoire de génétique moléculaire, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), 110 Avenue des Pins ouest, Montréal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Aurelio Balsalobre
- Laboratoire de génétique moléculaire, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), 110 Avenue des Pins ouest, Montréal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Jacques Drouin
- Laboratoire de génétique moléculaire, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), 110 Avenue des Pins ouest, Montréal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
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30
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Ibrahim MT, Lee J, Tao P. Homology modeling of Forkhead box protein C2: identification of potential inhibitors using ligand and structure-based virtual screening. Mol Divers 2023; 27:1661-1674. [PMID: 36048303 PMCID: PMC9975119 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-022-10519-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of Forkhead box protein C2 (FOXC2) has been associated with different types of carcinomas. FOXC2 plays an important role in the initiation and maintenance of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, which is essential for the development of higher-grade tumors with an enhanced ability for metastasis. Thus, FOXC2 has become a therapeutic target for the development of anticancer drugs. MC-1-F2, the only identified experimental inhibitor of FOXC2, interacts with the full length of FOXC2. However, only the DNA-binding domain (DBD) of FOXC2 has resolved crystal structure. In this work, a three-dimensional (3D) structure of the full-length FOXC2 using homology modeling was developed and used for structure-based drug design (SBDD). The quality of this 3D model of the full-length FOXC2 was evaluated using MolProbity, ERRAT, and ProSA modules. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was also carried out to verify its stability. Ligand-based drug design (LBDD) was carried out to identify similar analogues for MC-1-F2 against 15 million compounds from ChEMBL and ZINC databases. 792 molecules were retrieved from this similarity search. De novo SBDD was performed against the full-length 3D structure of FOXC2 through homology modeling to identify novel inhibitors. The combination of LBDD and SBDD helped in gaining a better insight into the binding of MC-1-F2 and its analogues against the full length of the FOXC2. The binding free energy of the top hits was further investigated using MD simulations and MM/GBSA calculations to result in eight promising hits as lead compounds targeting FOXC2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayar Tarek Ibrahim
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research Computing, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jiyong Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Peng Tao
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research Computing, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA.
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31
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Reinapae A, Ilves I, Jürgens H, Värv S, Kristjuhan K, Kristjuhan A. Interactions between Fkh1 monomers stabilize its binding to DNA replication origins. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105026. [PMID: 37423303 PMCID: PMC10403728 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic DNA replication is initiated from multiple genomic origins, which can be broadly categorized as firing early or late in the S phase. Several factors can influence the temporal usage of origins to determine the timing of their firing. In budding yeast, the Forkhead family proteins Fkh1 and Fkh2 bind to a subset of replication origins and activate them at the beginning of the S phase. In these origins, the Fkh1/2 binding sites are arranged in a strict configuration, suggesting that Forkhead factors must bind the origins in a specific manner. To explore these binding mechanisms in more detail, we mapped the domains of Fkh1 that were required for its role in DNA replication regulation. We found that a short region of Fkh1 near its DNA binding domain was essential for the protein to bind and activate replication origins. Analysis of purified Fkh1 proteins revealed that this region mediates dimerization of Fkh1, suggesting that intramolecular contacts of Fkh1 are required for efficient binding and regulation of DNA replication origins. We also show that the Sld3-Sld7-Cdc45 complex is recruited to Forkhead-regulated origins already in the G1 phase and that Fkh1 is constantly required to keep these factors bound on origins before the onset of the S phase. Together, our results suggest that dimerization-mediated stabilization of DNA binding by Fkh1 is crucial for its ability to activate DNA replication origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan Reinapae
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ivar Ilves
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Henel Jürgens
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Signe Värv
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kersti Kristjuhan
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Arnold Kristjuhan
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
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Maiese K. Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:871. [PMID: 37508898 PMCID: PMC10376413 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10070871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Almost three million individuals suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS) throughout the world, a demyelinating disease in the nervous system with increased prevalence over the last five decades, and is now being recognized as one significant etiology of cognitive loss and dementia. Presently, disease modifying therapies can limit the rate of relapse and potentially reduce brain volume loss in patients with MS, but unfortunately cannot prevent disease progression or the onset of cognitive disability. Innovative strategies are therefore required to address areas of inflammation, immune cell activation, and cell survival that involve novel pathways of programmed cell death, mammalian forkhead transcription factors (FoxOs), the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), the silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (SIRT1), and associated pathways with the apolipoprotein E (APOE-ε4) gene and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). These pathways are intertwined at multiple levels and can involve metabolic oversight with cellular metabolism dependent upon nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). Insight into the mechanisms of these pathways can provide new avenues of discovery for the therapeutic treatment of dementia and loss in cognition that occurs during MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Maiese
- Cellular and Molecular Signaling, New York, NY 10022, USA
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33
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Khan MA, Khan P, Ahmad A, Fatima M, Nasser MW. FOXM1: A small fox that makes more tracks for cancer progression and metastasis. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 92:1-15. [PMID: 36958703 PMCID: PMC10199453 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) are indispensable for the modulation of various signaling pathways associated with normal cell homeostasis and disease conditions. Among cancer-related TFs, FOXM1 is a critical molecule that regulates multiple aspects of cancer cells, including growth, metastasis, recurrence, and stem cell features. FOXM1 also impact the outcomes of targeted therapies, chemotherapies, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in various cancer types. Recent advances in cancer research strengthen the cancer-specific role of FOXM1, providing a rationale to target FOXM1 for developing targeted therapies. This review compiles the recent studies describing the pivotal role of FOXM1 in promoting metastasis of various cancer types. It also implicates the contribution of FOXM1 in the modulation of chemotherapeutic resistance, antitumor immune response/immunotherapies, and the potential of small molecule inhibitors of FOXM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Arafat Khan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Parvez Khan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Aatiya Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Mahek Fatima
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Mohd Wasim Nasser
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
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34
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Cooper BH, Dantas Machado AC, Gan Y, Aparicio O, Rohs R. DNA binding specificity of all four Saccharomyces cerevisiae forkhead transcription factors. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:5621-5633. [PMID: 37177995 PMCID: PMC10287902 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantifying the nucleotide preferences of DNA binding proteins is essential to understanding how transcription factors (TFs) interact with their targets in the genome. High-throughput in vitro binding assays have been used to identify the inherent DNA binding preferences of TFs in a controlled environment isolated from confounding factors such as genome accessibility, DNA methylation, and TF binding cooperativity. Unfortunately, many of the most common approaches for measuring binding preferences are not sensitive enough for the study of moderate-to-low affinity binding sites, and are unable to detect small-scale differences between closely related homologs. The Forkhead box (FOX) family of TFs is known to play a crucial role in regulating a variety of key processes from proliferation and development to tumor suppression and aging. By using the high-sequencing depth SELEX-seq approach to study all four FOX homologs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we have been able to precisely quantify the contribution and importance of nucleotide positions all along an extended binding site. Essential to this process was the alignment of our SELEX-seq reads to a set of candidate core sequences determined using a recently developed tool for the alignment of enriched k-mers and a newly developed approach for the reprioritization of candidate cores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendon H Cooper
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Ana Carolina Dantas Machado
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Yan Gan
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Oscar M Aparicio
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Remo Rohs
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Departments of Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy, and Computer Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
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35
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Petrie MV, He Y, Gan Y, Ostrow AZ, Aparicio OM. Broadly Applicable Control Approaches Improve Accuracy of ChIP-Seq Data. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9271. [PMID: 37298223 PMCID: PMC10252487 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromatin ImmunoPrecipitation (ChIP) is a widely used method for the analysis of protein-DNA interactions in vivo; however, ChIP has pitfalls, particularly false-positive signal enrichment that permeates the data. We have developed a new approach to control for non-specific enrichment in ChIP that involves the expression of a non-genome-binding protein targeted in the IP alongside the experimental target protein due to the sharing of epitope tags. ChIP of the protein provides a "sensor" for non-specific enrichment that can be used for the normalization of the experimental data, thereby correcting for non-specific signals and improving data quality as validated against known binding sites for several proteins that we tested, including Fkh1, Orc1, Mcm4, and Sir2. We also tested a DNA-binding mutant approach and showed that, when feasible, ChIP of a site-specific DNA-binding mutant of the target protein is likely an ideal control. These methods vastly improve our ChIP-seq results in S. cerevisiae and should be applicable in other systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Oscar M. Aparicio
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (M.V.P.); (Y.H.); (Y.G.); (A.Z.O.)
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36
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Moore XTR, Gheghiani L, Fu Z. The Role of Polo-Like Kinase 1 in Regulating the Forkhead Box Family Transcription Factors. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091344. [PMID: 37174744 PMCID: PMC10177174 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a serine/threonine kinase with more than 600 phosphorylation substrates through which it regulates many biological processes, including mitosis, apoptosis, metabolism, RNA processing, vesicle transport, and G2 DNA-damage checkpoint recovery, among others. Among the many PLK1 targets are members of the FOX family of transcription factors (FOX TFs), including FOXM1, FOXO1, FOXO3, and FOXK1. FOXM1 and FOXK1 have critical oncogenic roles in cancer through their antagonism of apoptotic signals and their promotion of cell proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, and therapeutic resistance. In contrast, FOXO1 and FOXO3 have been identified to have broad functions in maintaining cellular homeostasis. In this review, we discuss PLK1-mediated regulation of FOX TFs, highlighting the effects of PLK1 on the activity and stability of these proteins. In addition, we review the prognostic and clinical significance of these proteins in human cancers and, more importantly, the different approaches that have been used to disrupt PLK1 and FOX TF-mediated signaling networks. Furthermore, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting PLK1-regulated FOX TFs in human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier T R Moore
- Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
| | - Lilia Gheghiani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Zheng Fu
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
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37
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Omorou M, Huang Y, Gao M, Mu C, Xu W, Han Y, Xu H. The forkhead box O3 (FOXO3): a key player in the regulation of ischemia and reperfusion injury. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:102. [PMID: 36939886 PMCID: PMC11072419 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04755-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
Forkhead box O3 is a protein encoded by the FOXO3 gene expressed throughout the body. FOXO3 could play a crucial role in longevity and many other pathologies, such as Alzheimer's disease, glioblastoma, and stroke. This study is a comprehensive review of the expression of FOXO3 under ischemia and reperfusion (IR) and the molecular mechanisms of its regulation and function. We found that the expression level of FOXO3 under ischemia and IR is tissue-specific. Specifically, the expression level of FOXO3 is increased in the lung and intestinal epithelial cells after IR. However, FOXO3 is downregulated in the kidney after IR and in the skeletal muscles following ischemia. Interestingly, both increased and decreased FOXO3 expression have been reported in the brain, liver, and heart following IR. Nevertheless, these contribute to stimulating ischemia and reperfusion injury via the induction of inflammatory response, apoptosis, autophagy, mitophagy, pyroptosis, and oxidative damage. These results suggest that FOXO3 could play protective effects in some organs and detrimental effects in others against IR injury. Most importantly, these findings indicate that controlling FOXO3 expression, genetically or pharmacologically, could contribute to preventing or treating ischemia and reperfusion damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moussa Omorou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jiamusi University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiamusi, 154000, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiwei Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jiamusi University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiamusi, 154000, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jiamusi University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiamusi, 154000, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenxi Mu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jiamusi University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiamusi, 154000, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Weijing Xu
- Department Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Jiamusi University School of Public Health, Jiamusi, 154000, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuchun Han
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jiamusi University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiamusi, 154000, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jiamusi University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiamusi, 154000, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Microecology-Immune Regulatory Network and Related Diseases, School of Basic Medicine, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, 154000, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China.
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38
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Manzar N, Ganguly P, Khan UK, Ateeq B. Transcription networks rewire gene repertoire to coordinate cellular reprograming in prostate cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 89:76-91. [PMID: 36702449 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) represent the most commonly deregulated DNA-binding class of proteins associated with multiple human cancers. They can act as transcriptional activators or repressors that rewire the cistrome, resulting in cellular reprogramming during cancer progression. Deregulation of TFs is associated with the onset and maintenance of various cancer types including prostate cancer. An emerging subset of TFs has been implicated in the regulation of multiple cancer hallmarks during tumorigenesis. Here, we discuss the role of key TFs which modulate transcriptional cicuitries involved in the development and progression of prostate cancer. We further highlight the role of TFs associated with key cancer hallmarks, including, chromatin remodeling, genome instability, DNA repair, invasion, and metastasis. We also discuss the pluripotent function of TFs in conferring lineage plasticity, that aids in disease progression to neuroendocrine prostate cancer. At the end, we summarize the current understanding and approaches employed for the therapeutic targeting of TFs and their cofactors in the clinical setups to prevent disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishat Manzar
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, UP, India
| | - Promit Ganguly
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, UP, India
| | - Umar Khalid Khan
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, UP, India
| | - Bushra Ateeq
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, UP, India; Mehta Family Center for Engineering in Medicine, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India.
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39
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Malaga Gadea FC, Nikolova EN. Structural Plasticity of Pioneer Factor Sox2 and DNA Bendability Modulate Nucleosome Engagement and Sox2-Oct4 Synergism. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167916. [PMID: 36495920 PMCID: PMC10184184 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pioneer transcription factors (pTFs) can bind directly to silent chromatin and promote vital transcriptional programs. Here, by integrating high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy with biochemistry, we reveal new structural and mechanistic insights into the interaction of pluripotency pTFs and functional partners Sox2 and Oct4 with nucleosomes. We find that the affinity and conformation of Sox2 for solvent-exposed nucleosome sites depend strongly on their position and DNA sequence. Sox2, which is partially disordered but becomes structured upon DNA binding and bending, forms a super-stable nucleosome complex at superhelical location +5 (SHL+5) with similar affinity and conformation to that with naked DNA. However, at suboptimal internal and end-positioned sites where DNA may be harder to deform, Sox2 favors partially unfolded and more dynamic states that are encoded in its intrinsic flexibility. Importantly, Sox2 structure and DNA bending can be stabilized by synergistic Oct4 binding, but only on adjacent motifs near the nucleosome edge and with the full Oct4 DNA-binding domain. Further mutational studies reveal that strategically impaired Sox2 folding is coupled to reduced DNA bending and inhibits nucleosome binding and Sox2-Oct4 cooperation, while increased nucleosomal DNA flexibility enhances Sox2 association. Together, our findings fit a model where the site-specific DNA bending propensity and structural plasticity of Sox2 govern distinct modes of nucleosome engagement and modulate Sox2-Oct4 synergism. The principles outlined here can potentially guide pTF site selection in the genome and facilitate interaction with other chromatin factors or chromatin opening in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana C Malaga Gadea
- T.C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Evgenia N Nikolova
- T.C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
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40
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Chen J, Yang P, Li S, Feng Y. Increased FOXM1 Expression was Associated with the Prognosis and the Recruitment of Neutrophils in Endometrial Cancer. J Immunol Res 2023; 2023:5437526. [PMID: 37159818 PMCID: PMC10163965 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5437526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although the biological functions of Forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) were explored in a variety of cancer, to date, however, little attention has been paid to the situation of FOXM1 in EC endometrial cancer (EC). Method Bioinformatics analysis, including GEPIA, TIMER, cBioPortal, LinkedOmics, and STRING were used to analyze the FOXM1 gene expression, genetic alteration, and immune cell infiltration in EC. IHC staining, qPCR, cell viability, and migration assay were applied to identify the functions of FOXM1 in EC. Results FOXM1 was highly expressed in EC tissues and closely correlated with the prognosis of EC patients. FOXM1 knockdown inhibited EC cell proliferation and invasion as well as migration. FOXM1 genetic alteration was verified in EC patients. Coexpression network of FOXM1 indicated that it had roles in the EC cell cycle and the infiltration of immune cells in EC. Furthermore, bioinformatic and immunohistochemical analysis indicated that FOXM1 induced the increased CD276 expression and also enhanced the neutrophil recruitment in EC. Conclusion Our present study discovered a novel role of FOXM1 in EC, suggesting FOXM1 could be treated as a potential prognostic biomarker and immunotherapeutic target in EC diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Pusheng Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecology Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shaojing Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Fengxian District Central Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yichen Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Fengxian District Central Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Baoshan Branch, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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41
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Yu C, Li X, Zhao Y, Hu Y. The role of FOXA family transcription factors in glucolipid metabolism and NAFLD. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1081500. [PMID: 36798663 PMCID: PMC9927216 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1081500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormal glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism are common pathological processes in many metabolic diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Many studies have shown that the forkhead box (FOX) protein subfamily FOXA has a role in regulating glucolipid metabolism and is closely related to hepatic steatosis and NAFLD. FOXA exhibits a wide range of functions ranging from the initiation steps of metabolism such as the development of the corresponding metabolic organs and the differentiation of cells, to multiple pathways of glucolipid metabolism, to end-of-life problems of metabolism such as age-related obesity. The purpose of this article is to review and discuss the currently known targets and signal transduction pathways of FOXA in glucolipid metabolism. To provide more experimental evidence and basis for further research and clinical application of FOXA in the regulation of glucolipid metabolism and the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuchu Yu
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital Affifiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojing Li
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital Affifiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital Affifiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yu Zhao, ; Yiyang Hu,
| | - Yiyang Hu
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital Affifiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Shuguang Hospital Affifiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yu Zhao, ; Yiyang Hu,
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42
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Role of FOXO3a Transcription Factor in the Regulation of Liver Oxidative Injury. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11122478. [PMID: 36552685 PMCID: PMC9774119 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11122478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress has been identified as a key mechanism in liver damage caused by various chemicals. The transcription factor FOXO3a has emerged as a critical regulator of redox imbalance. Multiple post-translational changes and epigenetic processes closely regulate the activity of FOXO3a, resulting in synergistic or competing impacts on its subcellular localization, stability, protein-protein interactions, DNA binding affinity, and transcriptional programs. Depending on the chemical nature and subcellular context, the oxidative-stress-mediated activation of FOXO3a can induce multiple transcriptional programs that play crucial roles in oxidative injury to the liver by chemicals. Here, we mainly review the role of FOXO3a in coordinating programs of genes that are essential for cellular homeostasis, with an emphasis on exploring the regulatory mechanisms and potential application of FOXO3a as a therapeutic target to prevent and treat liver oxidative injury.
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Czerny CC, Borschel A, Cai M, Otto M, Hoyer-Fender S. FOXA1 is a transcriptional activator of Odf2/Cenexin and regulates primary ciliation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21468. [PMID: 36509813 PMCID: PMC9744847 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25966-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary cilia are sensory organelles essential for embryonic and postnatal development, and tissue homeostasis in adulthood. They are generated in a cell cycle-dependent manner and found on most cells of the body. Although cilia formation is intensively investigated virtually nothing is known about the transcriptional regulation of primary ciliation. We used here Odf2/Cenexin, encoding a protein of the mother centriole and the basal body that is mandatory for primary cilia formation, as the target gene for the identification of transcriptional activators. We identified a consensus binding site for Fox transcription factors (TFs) in its promoter region and focused here on the Fox family. We found transcriptional activation of Odf2 neither by FOXO TFs nor by the core TF for multiciliation, FOXJ1. However, we identified FOXA1 as a transcriptional activator of Odf2 by reporter gene assays and qRT-PCR, and showed by qWB that Foxa1 knockdown caused a decrease in ODF2 and CP110 proteins. We verified the binding sequence of FOXA1 in the Odf2 promoter by ChIP. Finally, we demonstrated that knockdown of FOXA1 affected primary cilia formation. We, thus, showed for the first time, that FOXA1 regulates primary ciliation by transcriptional activation of ciliary genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Carl Czerny
- grid.7450.60000 0001 2364 4210Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute of Zoology and Anthropology – Developmental Biology, GZMB, Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Georg-August-Universität, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anett Borschel
- grid.7450.60000 0001 2364 4210Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute of Zoology and Anthropology – Developmental Biology, GZMB, Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Georg-August-Universität, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mingfang Cai
- grid.7450.60000 0001 2364 4210Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute of Zoology and Anthropology – Developmental Biology, GZMB, Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Georg-August-Universität, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Madeline Otto
- grid.7450.60000 0001 2364 4210Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute of Zoology and Anthropology – Developmental Biology, GZMB, Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Georg-August-Universität, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.424957.90000 0004 0624 9165Present Address: Thermo Fisher Scientific GENEART, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sigrid Hoyer-Fender
- grid.7450.60000 0001 2364 4210Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute of Zoology and Anthropology – Developmental Biology, GZMB, Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Georg-August-Universität, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, Göttingen, Germany
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44
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The pioneering function of the hox transcription factors. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022:S1084-9521(22)00354-8. [PMID: 36517345 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ever since the discovery that the Hox family of transcription factors establish morphological diversity in the developing embryo, major efforts have been directed towards understanding Hox-dependent patterning. This has led to important discoveries, notably on the mechanisms underlying the collinear expression of Hox genes and Hox binding specificity. More recently, several studies have provided evidence that Hox factors have the capacity to bind their targets in an inaccessible chromatin context and trigger the switch to an accessible, transcriptional permissive, chromatin state. In this review, we provide an overview of the evidences supporting that Hox factors behave as pioneer factors and discuss the potential mechanisms implicated in Hox pioneer activity as well as the significance of this functional property in Hox-dependent patterning.
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45
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Transcription networks in liver development and acute liver failure. LIVER RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livres.2022.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
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46
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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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47
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Zhou ZY, Han XY, Sun LQ, Li SY, Xue ST, Li ZR. Structure-based virtual screening identified novel FOXM1 inhibitors as the lead compounds for ovarian cancer. Front Chem 2022; 10:1058256. [PMID: 36505747 PMCID: PMC9729839 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.1058256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is a gynecological tumor with possibly the worst prognosis, its 5-year survival rate being only 47.4%. The first line of therapy prescribed is chemotherapy consisting of platinum and paclitaxel. The primary reason for treatment failure is drug resistance. FOXM1 protein has been found to be closely associated with drug resistance, and inhibition of FOXM1 expression sensitizes cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells. Combining existing first-line chemotherapy drugs with FOXM1 prolongs the overall survival of patients, therefore, FOXM1 is considered a potential therapeutic target in ovarian cancer. Previous research conducted by our team revealed a highly credible conformation of FOXM1 which enables binding by small molecules. Based on this conformation, the current study conducted virtual screening to determine a new structural skeleton for FOXM1 inhibitors which would enhance their medicinal properties. DZY-4 showed the highest affinity towards FOXM1, and its inhibitory effect on proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer at the cellular level was better than or equal to that of cisplatin, while its efficacy was equivalent to that of cisplatin in a nude mouse model. In this study, the anti-tumor effect of DZY-4 is reported for the first time. DZY-4 shows potential as a drug that can be used for ovarian cancer treatment, as well as a drug lead for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Si-Tu Xue
- *Correspondence: Si-Tu Xue, ; Zhuo-Rong Li,
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48
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Xu J, Liu H, Lan Y, Jiang R. The transcription factors Foxf1 and Foxf2 integrate the SHH, HGF and TGFβ signaling pathways to drive tongue organogenesis. Development 2022; 149:dev200667. [PMID: 36227576 PMCID: PMC10655918 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The tongue is a highly specialized muscular organ with diverse cellular origins, which provides an excellent model for understanding mechanisms controlling tissue-tissue interactions during organogenesis. Previous studies showed that SHH signaling is required for tongue morphogenesis and tongue muscle organization, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. Here we demonstrate that the Foxf1/Foxf2 transcription factors act in the cranial neural crest cell (CNCC)-derived mandibular mesenchyme to control myoblast migration into the tongue primordium during tongue initiation, and thereafter continue to regulate intrinsic tongue muscle assembly and lingual tendon formation. We performed chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analysis and identified Hgf, Tgfb2 and Tgfb3 among the target genes of Foxf2 in the embryonic tongue. Through genetic analyses of mice with CNCC-specific inactivation of Smo or both Foxf1 and Foxf2, we show that Foxf1 and Foxf2 mediate hedgehog signaling-mediated regulation of myoblast migration during tongue initiation and intrinsic tongue muscle formation by regulating the activation of the HGF and TGFβ signaling pathways. These data uncover the molecular network integrating the SHH, HGF and TGFβ signaling pathways in regulating tongue organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyue Xu
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Han Liu
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Yu Lan
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Rulang Jiang
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
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49
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Seudre O, Martín-Zamora FM, Rapisarda V, Luqman I, Carrillo-Baltodano AM, Martín-Durán JM. The Fox Gene Repertoire in the Annelid Owenia fusiformis Reveals Multiple Expansions of the foxQ2 Class in Spiralia. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:evac139. [PMID: 36099507 PMCID: PMC9539403 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fox genes are a large and conserved family of transcription factors involved in many key biological processes, including embryogenesis and body patterning. Although the role of Fox genes has been studied in an array of model systems, comprehensive comparative studies in Spiralia-a large clade of invertebrate animals including molluscs and annelids-are scarce but much needed to better understand the evolutionary history of this gene family. Here, we reconstruct and functionally characterize the Fox gene complement in the annelid Owenia fusiformis, a slow evolving species and member of the sister group to all remaining annelids. The genome of O. fusiformis contains at least a single ortholog for 20 of the 22 Fox gene classes that are ancestral to Bilateria, including an ortholog of the recently discovered foxT class. Temporal and spatial expression dynamics reveal a conserved role of Fox genes in gut formation, mesoderm patterning, and apical organ and cilia formation in Annelida and Spiralia. Moreover, we uncover an ancestral expansion of foxQ2 genes in Spiralia, represented by 11 paralogs in O. fusiformis. Notably, although all foxQ2 copies have apical expression in O. fusiformis, they show variable spatial domains and staggered temporal activation, which suggest cooperation and sub-functionalization among foxQ2 genes for the development of apical fates in this annelid. Altogether, our study informs the evolution and developmental roles of Fox genes in Annelida and Spiralia generally, providing the basis to explore how regulatory changes in Fox gene expression might have contributed to developmental and morphological diversification in Spiralia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Océane Seudre
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NSUnited Kingdom
| | - Francisco M Martín-Zamora
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NSUnited Kingdom
| | - Valentina Rapisarda
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NSUnited Kingdom
| | - Imran Luqman
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NSUnited Kingdom
| | - Allan M Carrillo-Baltodano
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NSUnited Kingdom
| | - José M Martín-Durán
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NSUnited Kingdom
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50
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Zhao Y. TFSyntax: a database of transcription factors binding syntax in mammalian genomes. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 51:D306-D314. [PMID: 36200824 PMCID: PMC9825613 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In mammals, transcriptional factors (TFs) drive gene expression by binding to regulatory elements in a cooperative manner. Deciphering the rules of such cooperation is crucial to obtain a full understanding of cellular homeostasis and development. Although this is a long-standing topic, there is no comprehensive database for biologists to access the syntax of TF binding sites. Here we present TFSyntax (https://tfsyntax.zhaopage.com), a database focusing on the arrangement of TF binding sites. TFSyntax maps the binding motif of 1299 human TFs and 890 mouse TFs across 382 cells and tissues, representing the most comprehensive TF binding map to date. In addition to location, TFSyntax defines motif positional preference, density and colocalization within accessible elements. Powered by a series of functional modules based on web interface, users can freely search, browse, analyze, and download data of interest. With comprehensive characterization of TF binding syntax across distinct tissues and cell types, TFSyntax represents a valuable resource and platform for studying the mechanism of transcriptional regulation and exploring how regulatory DNA variants cause disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongbing Zhao
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 301 480 5852;
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