1
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Wang F, Mehta P, Bach I. How does the Xist activator Rlim/Rnf12 regulate Xist expression? Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:1099-1107. [PMID: 38747697 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Xist is crucially involved in a process called X chromosome inactivation (XCI), the transcriptional silencing of one of the two X chromosomes in female mammals to achieve X dosage compensation between the sexes. Because Xist RNA silences the X chromosome from which it is transcribed, the activation of Xist transcription marks the initiation of the XCI process and thus, mechanisms and players that activate this gene are of central importance to the XCI process. During female mouse embryogenesis, XCI occurs in two steps. At the 2-4 cell stages imprinted XCI (iXCI) silences exclusively the paternally inherited X chromosome (Xp). While extraembryonic cells including trophoblasts keep the Xp silenced, epiblast cells that give rise to the embryo proper reactivate the Xp and undergo random XCI (rXCI) around implantation. Both iXCI and rXCI are dependent on Xist. Rlim, also known as Rnf12, is an X-linked E3 ubiquitin ligase that is involved in the transcriptional activation of Xist. However, while data on the crucial involvement of Rlim during iXCI appear clear, its role in rXCI has been controversial. This review discusses data leading to this disagreement and recent evidence for a regulatory switch of Xist transcription in epiblasts of implanting embryos, partially reconciling the roles of Rlim during Xist activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, U.S.A
| | - Poonam Mehta
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, U.S.A
| | - Ingolf Bach
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, U.S.A
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2
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Kanata E, Duffié R, Schulz EG. Establishment and maintenance of random monoallelic expression. Development 2024; 151:dev201741. [PMID: 38813842 PMCID: PMC11166465 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201741] [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] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
This Review elucidates the regulatory principles of random monoallelic expression by focusing on two well-studied examples: the X-chromosome inactivation regulator Xist and the olfactory receptor gene family. Although the choice of a single X chromosome or olfactory receptor occurs in different developmental contexts, common gene regulatory principles guide monoallelic expression in both systems. In both cases, an event breaks the symmetry between genetically and epigenetically identical copies of the gene, leading to the expression of one single random allele, stabilized through negative feedback control. Although many regulatory steps that govern the establishment and maintenance of monoallelic expression have been identified, key pieces of the puzzle are still missing. We provide an overview of the current knowledge and models for the monoallelic expression of Xist and olfactory receptors. We discuss their similarities and differences, and highlight open questions and approaches that could guide the study of other monoallelically expressed genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Kanata
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rachel Duffié
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind, Brain, and Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Edda G. Schulz
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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3
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Espejo-Serrano C, Aitken C, Tan BF, May DG, Chrisopulos RJ, Roux KJ, Demmers JA, Mackintosh SG, Gribnau J, Bustos F, Gontan C, Findlay GM. Chromatin targeting of the RNF12/RLIM E3 ubiquitin ligase controls transcriptional responses. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302282. [PMID: 38199845 PMCID: PMC10781586 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302282] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein ubiquitylation regulates key biological processes including transcription. This is exemplified by the E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF12/RLIM, which controls developmental gene expression by ubiquitylating the REX1 transcription factor and is mutated in an X-linked intellectual disability disorder. However, the precise mechanisms by which ubiquitylation drives specific transcriptional responses are not known. Here, we show that RNF12 is recruited to specific genomic locations via a consensus sequence motif, which enables co-localisation with REX1 substrate at gene promoters. Surprisingly, RNF12 chromatin recruitment is achieved via a non-catalytic basic region and comprises a previously unappreciated N-terminal autoinhibitory mechanism. Furthermore, RNF12 chromatin targeting is critical for REX1 ubiquitylation and downstream RNF12-dependent gene regulation. Our results demonstrate a key role for chromatin in regulation of the RNF12-REX1 axis and provide insight into mechanisms by which protein ubiquitylation enables programming of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Espejo-Serrano
- https://ror.org/01zg1tt02 MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Catriona Aitken
- https://ror.org/01zg1tt02 MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Beatrice F Tan
- https://ror.org/018906e22 Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Danielle G May
- https://ror.org/00sfn8y78 Enabling Technologies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Rachel J Chrisopulos
- https://ror.org/00sfn8y78 Enabling Technologies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Kyle J Roux
- https://ror.org/00sfn8y78 Enabling Technologies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Jeroen Aa Demmers
- https://ror.org/018906e22 Proteomics Center and Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Samuel G Mackintosh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Joost Gribnau
- https://ror.org/018906e22 Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Francisco Bustos
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
- https://ror.org/00sfn8y78 Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Cristina Gontan
- https://ror.org/018906e22 Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Greg M Findlay
- https://ror.org/01zg1tt02 MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
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4
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Luchsinger-Morcelle SJ, Gribnau J, Mira-Bontenbal H. Orchestrating Asymmetric Expression: Mechanisms behind Xist Regulation. EPIGENOMES 2024; 8:6. [PMID: 38390897 PMCID: PMC10885031 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes8010006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Compensation for the gene dosage disequilibrium between sex chromosomes in mammals is achieved in female cells by repressing one of its X chromosomes through a process called X chromosome inactivation (XCI), exemplifying the control of gene expression by epigenetic mechanisms. A critical player in this mechanism is Xist, a long, non-coding RNA upregulated from a single X chromosome during early embryonic development in female cells. Over the past few decades, many factors involved at different levels in the regulation of Xist have been discovered. In this review, we hierarchically describe and analyze the different layers of Xist regulation operating concurrently and intricately interacting with each other to achieve asymmetric and monoallelic upregulation of Xist in murine female cells. We categorize these into five different classes: DNA elements, transcription factors, other regulatory proteins, long non-coding RNAs, and the chromatin and topological landscape surrounding Xist.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joost Gribnau
- Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hegias Mira-Bontenbal
- Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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5
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Wang F, Chander A, Yoon Y, Welton JM, Wallingford MC, Espejo-Serrano C, Bustos F, Findlay GM, Mager J, Bach I. Roles of the Rlim-Rex1 axis during X chromosome inactivation in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2313200120. [PMID: 38113263 PMCID: PMC10756295 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313200120] [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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In female mice, the gene dosage from X chromosomes is adjusted by a process called X chromosome inactivation (XCI) that occurs in two steps. An imprinted form of XCI (iXCI) that silences the paternally inherited X chromosome (Xp) is initiated at the 2- to 4-cell stages. As extraembryonic cells including trophoblasts keep the Xp silenced, epiblast cells that give rise to the embryo proper reactivate the Xp and undergo a random form of XCI (rXCI) around implantation. Both iXCI and rXCI require the lncRNA Xist, which is expressed from the X to be inactivated. The X-linked E3 ubiquitin ligase Rlim (Rnf12) in conjunction with its target protein Rex1 (Zfp42), a critical repressor of Xist, have emerged as major regulators of iXCI. However, their roles in rXCI remain controversial. Investigating early mouse development, we show that the Rlim-Rex1 axis is active in pre-implantation embryos. Upon implantation Rex1 levels are downregulated independently of Rlim specifically in epiblast cells. These results provide a conceptual framework of how the functional dynamics between Rlim and Rex1 ensures regulation of iXCI but not rXCI in female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01605
| | - Ashmita Chander
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003
| | - Yeonsoo Yoon
- Division of Genes and Development, Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01605
| | - Janelle M. Welton
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003
| | - Mary C. Wallingford
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003
| | - Carmen Espejo-Serrano
- Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, DundeeDD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Francisco Bustos
- Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, DundeeDD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Greg M. Findlay
- Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, DundeeDD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Jesse Mager
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003
| | - Ingolf Bach
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01605
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6
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Ravid Lustig L, Sampath Kumar A, Schwämmle T, Dunkel I, Noviello G, Limberg E, Weigert R, Pacini G, Buschow R, Ghauri A, Stötzel M, Wittler L, Meissner A, Schulz EG. GATA transcription factors drive initial Xist upregulation after fertilization through direct activation of long-range enhancers. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:1704-1715. [PMID: 37932452 PMCID: PMC10635832 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01266-x] [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: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) balances gene expression between the sexes in female mammals. Shortly after fertilization, upregulation of Xist RNA from one X chromosome initiates XCI, leading to chromosome-wide gene silencing. XCI is maintained in all cell types, except the germ line and the pluripotent state where XCI is reversed. The mechanisms triggering Xist upregulation have remained elusive. Here we identify GATA transcription factors as potent activators of Xist. Through a pooled CRISPR activation screen in murine embryonic stem cells, we demonstrate that GATA1, as well as other GATA transcription factors can drive ectopic Xist expression. Moreover, we describe GATA-responsive regulatory elements in the Xist locus bound by different GATA factors. Finally, we show that GATA factors are essential for XCI induction in mouse preimplantation embryos. Deletion of GATA1/4/6 or GATA-responsive Xist enhancers in mouse zygotes effectively prevents Xist upregulation. We propose that the activity or complete absence of various GATA family members controls initial Xist upregulation, XCI maintenance in extra-embryonic lineages and XCI reversal in the epiblast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liat Ravid Lustig
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Abhishek Sampath Kumar
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Till Schwämmle
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilona Dunkel
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gemma Noviello
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elodie Limberg
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Raha Weigert
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Guido Pacini
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - René Buschow
- Microscopy and Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Afrah Ghauri
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maximilian Stötzel
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Wittler
- Transgenic Unit, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Edda G Schulz
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
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7
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Schwämmle T, Schulz EG. Regulatory principles and mechanisms governing the onset of random X-chromosome inactivation. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 81:102063. [PMID: 37356341 PMCID: PMC10465972 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) has evolved in mammals to compensate for the difference in X-chromosomal dosage between the sexes. In placental mammals, XCI is initiated during early embryonic development through upregulation of the long noncoding RNA Xist from one randomly chosen X chromosome in each female cell. The Xist locus must thus integrate both X-linked and developmental trans-regulatory factors in a dosage-dependent manner. Furthermore, the two alleles must coordinate to ensure inactivation of exactly one X chromosome per cell. In this review, we summarize the regulatory principles that govern the onset of XCI. We go on to provide an overview over the factors that have been implicated in Xist regulation and discuss recent advances in our understanding of how Xist's cis-regulatory landscape integrates information in a precise fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Till Schwämmle
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany. https://twitter.com/@TSchwammle
| | - Edda G Schulz
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
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8
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Bustos F, Findlay GM. Therapeutic validation and targeting of signalling networks that are dysregulated in intellectual disability. FEBS J 2023; 290:1454-1460. [PMID: 35212144 PMCID: PMC10952735 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16411] [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: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Intellectual disability (ID) represents a major burden on healthcare systems in the developed world. However, there is a disconnect between our knowledge of genes that are mutated in ID and our understanding of the underpinning molecular mechanisms that cause these disorders. We argue that elucidating the signalling and transcriptional networks that are dysregulated in patients will afford new therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Bustos
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases GroupSanford ResearchSioux FallsSDUSA
- Department of PediatricsSanford School of MedicineUniversity of South DakotaSioux FallsSDUSA
| | - Greg M. Findlay
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation & Ubiquitylation UnitSchool of Life SciencesThe University of DundeeDundeeUK
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9
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Vargas LN, Silveira MM, Franco MM. Epigenetic Reprogramming and Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2647:37-58. [PMID: 37041328 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3064-8_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetics is an area of genetics that studies the heritable modifications in gene expression and phenotype that are not controlled by the primary sequence of DNA. The main epigenetic mechanisms are DNA methylation, post-translational covalent modifications in histone tails, and non-coding RNAs. During mammalian development, there are two global waves of epigenetic reprogramming. The first one occurs during gametogenesis and the second one begins immediately after fertilization. Environmental factors such as exposure to pollutants, unbalanced nutrition, behavioral factors, stress, in vitro culture conditions can negatively affect epigenetic reprogramming events. In this review, we describe the main epigenetic mechanisms found during mammalian preimplantation development (e.g., genomic imprinting, X chromosome inactivation). Moreover, we discuss the detrimental effects of cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer on the reprogramming of epigenetic patterns and some molecular alternatives to minimize these negative impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luna N Vargas
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Márcia M Silveira
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Maurício M Franco
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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10
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Bustos F, Mathur S, Espejo-Serrano C, Toth R, Hastie CJ, Virdee S, Findlay GM. Activity-based probe profiling of RNF12 E3 ubiquitin ligase function in Tonne-Kalscheuer syndrome. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 5:5/11/e202101248. [PMID: 35764390 PMCID: PMC9240097 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitylation enzymes are involved in all aspects of eukaryotic biology and are frequently disrupted in disease. One example is the E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF12/RLIM, which is mutated in the developmental disorder Tønne-Kalscheuer syndrome (TOKAS). RNF12 TOKAS variants largely disrupt catalytic E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, which presents a pressing need to develop approaches to assess the impact of variants on RNF12 activity in patients. Here, we use photocrosslinking activity-based probes (photoABPs) to monitor RNF12 RING E3 ubiquitin ligase activity in normal and pathogenic contexts. We demonstrate that photoABPs undergo UV-induced labelling of RNF12 that is consistent with its RING E3 ligase activity. Furthermore, photoABPs robustly report the impact of RNF12 TOKAS variants on E3 activity, including variants within the RING domain and distal non-RING regulatory elements. Finally, we show that this technology can be rapidly deployed in human pluripotent stem cells. In summary, photoABPs are versatile tools that can directly identify disruptions to RING E3 ubiquitin ligase activity in human disease, thereby providing new insight into pathogenic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Bustos
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Sunil Mathur
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Carmen Espejo-Serrano
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Rachel Toth
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - C James Hastie
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Satpal Virdee
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Greg M Findlay
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
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11
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Segarra-Fas A, Espejo-Serrano C, Bustos F, Zhou H, Wang F, Toth R, Macartney T, Bach I, Nardocci G, Findlay GM. An RNF12-USP26 amplification loop drives germ cell specification and is disrupted by disease-associated mutations. Sci Signal 2022; 15:eabm5995. [PMID: 35857630 PMCID: PMC7613676 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abm5995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF12 plays essential roles during development, and the gene encoding it, RLIM, is mutated in the X-linked human developmental disorder Tonne-Kalscheuer syndrome (TOKAS). Substrates of RNF12 include transcriptional regulators such as the pluripotency-associated transcriptional repressor REX1. Using global quantitative proteomics in male mouse embryonic stem cells, we identified the deubiquitylase USP26 as a putative downstream target of RNF12 activity. RNF12 relieved REX1-mediated repression of Usp26, leading to an increase in USP26 abundance and the formation of RNF12-USP26 complexes. Interaction with USP26 prevented RNF12 autoubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation, thereby establishing a transcriptional feed-forward loop that amplified RNF12-dependent derepression of REX1 targets. We showed that the RNF12-USP26 axis operated specifically in mouse testes and was required for the expression of gametogenesis genes and for germ cell differentiation in vitro. Furthermore, this RNF12-USP26 axis was disrupted by RLIM and USP26 variants found in TOKAS and infertility patients, respectively. This work reveals synergy within the ubiquitylation cycle that controls a key developmental process in gametogenesis and that is disrupted in human genetic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Segarra-Fas
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, The University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Carmen Espejo-Serrano
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, The University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Francisco Bustos
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, The University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Houjiang Zhou
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, The University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Rachel Toth
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, The University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Thomas Macartney
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, The University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Ingolf Bach
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Gino Nardocci
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- Program in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, Center for Biomedical Research and Innovation (CIIB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- IMPACT, Center of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular Therapy, Santiago, Chile
| | - Greg M. Findlay
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, The University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
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12
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Dossin F, Heard E. The Molecular and Nuclear Dynamics of X-Chromosome Inactivation. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2022; 14:a040196. [PMID: 34312245 PMCID: PMC9121902 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a040196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In female eutherian mammals, dosage compensation of X-linked gene expression is achieved during development through transcriptional silencing of one of the two X chromosomes. Following X chromosome inactivation (XCI), the inactive X chromosome remains faithfully silenced throughout somatic cell divisions. XCI is dependent on Xist, a long noncoding RNA that coats and silences the X chromosome from which it is transcribed. Xist coating triggers a cascade of chromosome-wide changes occurring at the levels of transcription, chromatin composition, chromosome structure, and spatial organization within the nucleus. XCI has emerged as a paradigm for the study of such crucial nuclear processes and the dissection of their functional interplay. In the past decade, the advent of tools to characterize and perturb these processes have provided an unprecedented understanding into their roles during XCI. The mechanisms orchestrating the initiation of XCI as well as its maintenance are thus being unraveled, although many questions still remain. Here, we introduce key aspects of the XCI process and review the recent discoveries about its molecular basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Dossin
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Director's Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Edith Heard
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Director's Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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13
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Gene regulation in time and space during X-chromosome inactivation. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2022; 23:231-249. [PMID: 35013589 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-021-00438-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is the epigenetic mechanism that ensures X-linked dosage compensation between cells of females (XX karyotype) and males (XY). XCI is essential for female embryos to survive through development and requires the accurate spatiotemporal regulation of many different factors to achieve remarkable chromosome-wide gene silencing. As a result of XCI, the active and inactive X chromosomes are functionally and structurally different, with the inactive X chromosome undergoing a major conformational reorganization within the nucleus. In this Review, we discuss the multiple layers of genetic and epigenetic regulation that underlie initiation of XCI during development and then maintain it throughout life, in light of the most recent findings in this rapidly advancing field. We discuss exciting new insights into the regulation of X inactive-specific transcript (XIST), the trigger and master regulator of XCI, and into the mechanisms and dynamics that underlie the silencing of nearly all X-linked genes. Finally, given the increasing interest in understanding the impact of chromosome organization on gene regulation, we provide an overview of the factors that are thought to reshape the 3D structure of the inactive X chromosome and of the relevance of such structural changes for XCI establishment and maintenance.
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14
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Gjaltema RAF, Schwämmle T, Kautz P, Robson M, Schöpflin R, Ravid Lustig L, Brandenburg L, Dunkel I, Vechiatto C, Ntini E, Mutzel V, Schmiedel V, Marsico A, Mundlos S, Schulz EG. Distal and proximal cis-regulatory elements sense X chromosome dosage and developmental state at the Xist locus. Mol Cell 2022; 82:190-208.e17. [PMID: 34932975 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Developmental genes such as Xist, which initiates X chromosome inactivation, are controlled by complex cis-regulatory landscapes, which decode multiple signals to establish specific spatiotemporal expression patterns. Xist integrates information on X chromosome dosage and developmental stage to trigger X inactivation in the epiblast specifically in female embryos. Through a pooled CRISPR screen in differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells, we identify functional enhancer elements of Xist at the onset of random X inactivation. Chromatin profiling reveals that X-dosage controls the promoter-proximal region, while differentiation cues activate several distal enhancers. The strongest distal element lies in an enhancer cluster associated with a previously unannotated Xist-enhancing regulatory transcript, which we named Xert. Developmental cues and X-dosage are thus decoded by distinct regulatory regions, which cooperate to ensure female-specific Xist upregulation at the correct developmental time. With this study, we start to disentangle how multiple, functionally distinct regulatory elements interact to generate complex expression patterns in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rutger A F Gjaltema
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Till Schwämmle
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Pauline Kautz
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Robson
- Development and Disease Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh EH4 2XU, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Robert Schöpflin
- Development and Disease Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; Department of Computational Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Liat Ravid Lustig
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lennart Brandenburg
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilona Dunkel
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Carolina Vechiatto
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Evgenia Ntini
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Verena Mutzel
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Vera Schmiedel
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Annalisa Marsico
- Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Center München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Mundlos
- Development and Disease Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Edda G Schulz
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
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15
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Talon I, Janiszewski A, Theeuwes B, Lefevre T, Song J, Bervoets G, Vanheer L, De Geest N, Poovathingal S, Allsop R, Marine JC, Rambow F, Voet T, Pasque V. Enhanced chromatin accessibility contributes to X chromosome dosage compensation in mammals. Genome Biol 2021; 22:302. [PMID: 34724962 PMCID: PMC8558763 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02518-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Precise gene dosage of the X chromosomes is critical for normal development and cellular function. In mice, XX female somatic cells show transcriptional X chromosome upregulation of their single active X chromosome, while the other X chromosome is inactive. Moreover, the inactive X chromosome is reactivated during development in the inner cell mass and in germ cells through X chromosome reactivation, which can be studied in vitro by reprogramming of somatic cells to pluripotency. How chromatin processes and gene regulatory networks evolved to regulate X chromosome dosage in the somatic state and during X chromosome reactivation remains unclear. RESULTS Using genome-wide approaches, allele-specific ATAC-seq and single-cell RNA-seq, in female embryonic fibroblasts and during reprogramming to pluripotency, we show that chromatin accessibility on the upregulated mammalian active X chromosome is increased compared to autosomes. We further show that increased accessibility on the active X chromosome is erased by reprogramming, accompanied by erasure of transcriptional X chromosome upregulation and the loss of increased transcriptional burst frequency. In addition, we characterize gene regulatory networks during reprogramming and X chromosome reactivation, revealing changes in regulatory states. Our data show that ZFP42/REX1, a pluripotency-associated gene that evolved specifically in placental mammals, targets multiple X-linked genes, suggesting an evolutionary link between ZFP42/REX1, X chromosome reactivation, and pluripotency. CONCLUSIONS Our data reveal the existence of intrinsic compensatory mechanisms that involve modulation of chromatin accessibility to counteract X-to-Autosome gene dosage imbalances caused by evolutionary or in vitro X chromosome loss and X chromosome inactivation in mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Talon
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Laboratory of Cellular Reprogramming and Epigenetic Regulation, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Stem Cell Institute (SCIL), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Adrian Janiszewski
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Laboratory of Cellular Reprogramming and Epigenetic Regulation, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Stem Cell Institute (SCIL), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Theeuwes
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Laboratory of Cellular Reprogramming and Epigenetic Regulation, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Stem Cell Institute (SCIL), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomas Lefevre
- Laboratory of Reproductive Genomics, Centre for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Juan Song
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Laboratory of Cellular Reprogramming and Epigenetic Regulation, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Stem Cell Institute (SCIL), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Greet Bervoets
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lotte Vanheer
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Laboratory of Cellular Reprogramming and Epigenetic Regulation, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Stem Cell Institute (SCIL), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Natalie De Geest
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Laboratory of Cellular Reprogramming and Epigenetic Regulation, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Stem Cell Institute (SCIL), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Suresh Poovathingal
- KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ryan Allsop
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Laboratory of Cellular Reprogramming and Epigenetic Regulation, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Stem Cell Institute (SCIL), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean-Christophe Marine
- KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Florian Rambow
- KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thierry Voet
- KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Reproductive Genomics, Centre for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vincent Pasque
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Laboratory of Cellular Reprogramming and Epigenetic Regulation, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Stem Cell Institute (SCIL), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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16
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Ebstein F, Küry S, Papendorf JJ, Krüger E. Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDD) Caused by Genomic Alterations of the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS): the Possible Contribution of Immune Dysregulation to Disease Pathogenesis. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:733012. [PMID: 34566579 PMCID: PMC8455891 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.733012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Over thirty years have passed since the first description of ubiquitin-positive structures in the brain of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Meanwhile, the intracellular accumulation of ubiquitin-modified insoluble protein aggregates has become an indisputable hallmark of neurodegeneration. However, the role of ubiquitin and a fortiori the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) is much less described. In this article, we review all reported monogenic forms of NDD caused by lesions in genes coding for any component of the UPS including ubiquitin-activating (E1), -conjugating (E2) enzymes, ubiquitin ligases (E3), ubiquitin hydrolases, and ubiquitin-like modifiers as well as proteasome subunits. Strikingly, our analysis revealed that a vast majority of these proteins have a described function in the negative regulation of the innate immune response. In this work, we hypothesize a possible involvement of autoinflammation in NDD pathogenesis. Herein, we discuss the parallels between immune dysregulation and neurodevelopment with the aim at improving our understanding the biology of NDD and providing knowledge required for the design of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Ebstein
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sébastien Küry
- CHU Nantes, Service de Génétique Médicale, Nantes, France.,l'Institut du Thorax, CNRS, INSERM, CHU Nantes, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Jonas Johannes Papendorf
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Elke Krüger
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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17
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Pacini G, Dunkel I, Mages N, Mutzel V, Timmermann B, Marsico A, Schulz EG. Integrated analysis of Xist upregulation and X-chromosome inactivation with single-cell and single-allele resolution. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3638. [PMID: 34131144 PMCID: PMC8206119 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23643-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To ensure dosage compensation between the sexes, one randomly chosen X chromosome is silenced in each female cell in the process of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI). XCI is initiated during early development through upregulation of the long non-coding RNA Xist, which mediates chromosome-wide gene silencing. Cell differentiation, Xist upregulation and gene silencing are thought to be coupled at multiple levels to ensure inactivation of exactly one out of two X chromosomes. Here we perform an integrated analysis of all three processes through allele-specific single-cell RNA-sequencing. Specifically, we assess the onset of random XCI in differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells, and develop dedicated analysis approaches. By exploiting the inter-cellular heterogeneity of XCI onset, we identify putative Xist regulators. Moreover, we show that transient Xist upregulation from both X chromosomes results in biallelic gene silencing right before transitioning to the monoallelic state, confirming a prediction of the stochastic model of XCI. Finally, we show that genetic variation modulates the XCI process at multiple levels, providing a potential explanation for the long-known X-controlling element (Xce) effect, which leads to preferential inactivation of a specific X chromosome in inter-strain crosses. We thus draw a detailed picture of the different levels of regulation that govern the initiation of XCI. The experimental and computational strategies we have developed here will allow us to profile random XCI in more physiological contexts, including primary human cells in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Pacini
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilona Dunkel
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Norbert Mages
- Sequencing core facility, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Verena Mutzel
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernd Timmermann
- Sequencing core facility, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Annalisa Marsico
- Institute for Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center, München, Germany.
| | - Edda G Schulz
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
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18
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Mutzel V, Schulz EG. Dosage Sensing, Threshold Responses, and Epigenetic Memory: A Systems Biology Perspective on Random X-Chromosome Inactivation. Bioessays 2021; 42:e1900163. [PMID: 32189388 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201900163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
X-chromosome inactivation ensures dosage compensation between the sexes in mammals by randomly choosing one out of the two X chromosomes in females for inactivation. This process imposes a plethora of questions: How do cells count their X chromosome number and ensure that exactly one stays active? How do they randomly choose one of two identical X chromosomes for inactivation? And how do they stably maintain this state of monoallelic expression? Here, different regulatory concepts and their plausibility are evaluated in the context of theoretical studies that have investigated threshold behavior, ultrasensitivity, and bistability through mathematical modeling. It is discussed how a twofold difference between a single and a double dose of X-linked genes might be converted to an all-or-nothing response and how mutually exclusive expression can be initiated and maintained. Finally, candidate factors that might mediate the proposed regulatory principles are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Mutzel
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Edda G Schulz
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, 14195, Germany
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19
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Yang L, Wu X, Zhang N, Shi J, Zhou R, Su Q, Zheng E, Huang S, Xu Z, Hong L, Gu T, Yang J, Yang H, Cai G, Wu Z, Li Z. Knockdown of RLIM inhibits XIST expression and improves developmental competence of cloned male pig embryos. Mol Reprod Dev 2021; 88:228-237. [PMID: 33650239 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Ectopic expression of Xist on the putative active X chromosome is a primary cause of the low developmental efficiency of cloned mouse and pig embryos. Suppression of abnormal Xist expression via gene knockout or RNA interference (RNAi) can significantly enhance the developmental competence of cloned mouse and pig embryos. RLIM is a Xist expression activator, whereas REX1 is an Xist transcription inhibitor, as RLIM triggers Xist expression by mediating the proteasomal degradation of REX1 to induce imprinted and random X chromosome inactivation in mice. This study aimed to test whether the knockdown of RLIM and overexpression of REX1 can repress aberrant Xist expression and improve the developmental ability of cloned male pig embryos. Results showed that injection of anti-RLIM small interfering RNA significantly decreased Xist messenger RNA abundance, increased REX1 protein level, and enhanced the preimplantation development of cloned male porcine embryos. These positive effects were not observed in cloned male pig embryos injected with REX1 expression plasmid, which might be due to the low expression efficiency of injected REX1 plasmid and/or the short half-life of expressed REX1 protein. The findings from this study indicated that RLIM participated in the ectopic activation of Xist expression in cloned pig embryos by targeting REX1 degradation. Furthermore, this study provided a new method to improve cloned pig embryo development by the inhibition of Xist expression via RNAi of RLIM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liusong Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiao Wu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Junsong Shi
- Guangdong Wens Pig Breeding Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Rong Zhou
- Guangdong Wens Pig Breeding Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiaoyun Su
- Guangdong Wens Pig Breeding Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Enqin Zheng
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Sixiu Huang
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zheng Xu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Linjun Hong
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ting Gu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jie Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huaqiang Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Gengyuan Cai
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhenfang Wu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zicong Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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20
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Wang F, Gervasi MG, Bošković A, Sun F, Rinaldi VD, Yu J, Wallingford MC, Tourzani DA, Mager J, Zhu LJ, Rando OJ, Visconti PE, Strittmatter L, Bach I. Deficient spermiogenesis in mice lacking Rlim. eLife 2021; 10:e63556. [PMID: 33620316 PMCID: PMC7935487 DOI: 10.7554/elife.63556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The X-linked gene Rlim plays major roles in female mouse development and reproduction, where it is crucial for the maintenance of imprinted X chromosome inactivation in extraembryonic tissues of embryos. However, while females carrying a systemic Rlim knockout (KO) die around implantation, male Rlim KO mice appear healthy and are fertile. Here, we report an important role for Rlim in testis where it is highly expressed in post-meiotic round spermatids as well as in Sertoli cells. Systemic deletion of the Rlim gene results in lower numbers of mature sperm that contains excess cytoplasm, leading to decreased sperm motility and in vitro fertilization rates. Targeting the conditional Rlim cKO specifically to the spermatogenic cell lineage largely recapitulates this phenotype. These results reveal functions of Rlim in male reproduction specifically in round spermatids during spermiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - Maria Gracia Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts AmherstAmherstUnited States
| | - Ana Bošković
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - Fengyun Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - Vera D Rinaldi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - Jun Yu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - Mary C Wallingford
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts AmherstAmherstUnited States
| | - Darya A Tourzani
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts AmherstAmherstUnited States
| | - Jesse Mager
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts AmherstAmherstUnited States
| | - Lihua Julie Zhu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - Oliver J Rando
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - Pablo E Visconti
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts AmherstAmherstUnited States
| | - Lara Strittmatter
- Electron Microscopy Core, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - Ingolf Bach
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
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21
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Bustos F, Segarra-Fas A, Nardocci G, Cassidy A, Antico O, Davidson L, Brandenburg L, Macartney TJ, Toth R, Hastie CJ, Moran J, Gourlay R, Varghese J, Soares RF, Montecino M, Findlay GM. Functional Diversification of SRSF Protein Kinase to Control Ubiquitin-Dependent Neurodevelopmental Signaling. Dev Cell 2020; 55:629-647.e7. [PMID: 33080171 PMCID: PMC7725506 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Conserved protein kinases with core cellular functions have been frequently redeployed during metazoan evolution to regulate specialized developmental processes. The Ser/Arg (SR)-rich splicing factor (SRSF) protein kinase (SRPK), which is implicated in splicing regulation, is one such conserved eukaryotic kinase. Surprisingly, we show that SRPK has acquired the capacity to control a neurodevelopmental ubiquitin signaling pathway. In mammalian embryonic stem cells and cultured neurons, SRPK phosphorylates Ser-Arg motifs in RNF12/RLIM, a key developmental E3 ubiquitin ligase that is mutated in an intellectual disability syndrome. Processive phosphorylation by SRPK stimulates RNF12-dependent ubiquitylation of nuclear transcription factor substrates, thereby acting to restrain a neural gene expression program that is aberrantly expressed in intellectual disability. SRPK family genes are also mutated in intellectual disability disorders, and patient-derived SRPK point mutations impair RNF12 phosphorylation. Our data reveal unappreciated functional diversification of SRPK to regulate ubiquitin signaling that ensures correct regulation of neurodevelopmental gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Bustos
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, the University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Anna Segarra-Fas
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, the University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Gino Nardocci
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrew Cassidy
- Tayside Centre for Genomic Analysis, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK
| | - Odetta Antico
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, the University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Lindsay Davidson
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Lennart Brandenburg
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, the University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Thomas J Macartney
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, the University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Rachel Toth
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, the University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - C James Hastie
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, the University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Jennifer Moran
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, the University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Robert Gourlay
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, the University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Joby Varghese
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, the University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Renata F Soares
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, the University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Martin Montecino
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Greg M Findlay
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, the University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
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22
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The RING Domain of RING Finger 12 Efficiently Builds Degradative Ubiquitin Chains. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:3790-3801. [PMID: 32416094 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
RNF12 is a widely expressed ubiquitin E3 ligase that is required for X-chromosome inactivation, regulation of LIM-domain containing transcription factors, and TGF-β signaling. A RING domain at the C terminus of RNF12 is important for its E3 ligase activity, and mutations in the RING domain are associated with X-linked intellectual disability. Here we have characterized ubiquitin transfer by RNF12, and show that the RING domain can bind to, and is active with, ubiquitin conjugating enzymes (E2s) that produce degradative ubiquitin chains. We report the crystal structures of RNF12 in complex with two of these E2 enzymes, as well as with an E2~Ub conjugate in a closed conformation. These structures form a basis for understanding the deleterious effect of a number of disease causing mutations. Comparison of the RNF12 structure with other monomeric RINGs suggests that a loop prior to the core RING domain has a conserved and essential role in stabilization of the active conformation of the bound E2~Ub conjugate. Together these findings provide a framework for better understanding substrate ubiquitylation by RNF12 and the impact of disease causing mutations.
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23
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A novel mass spectrometry method for the absolute quantification of several cytochrome P450 and uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase enzymes in the human liver. Anal Bioanal Chem 2020; 412:1729-1740. [PMID: 32030490 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-020-02445-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) and 5'-diphosphate glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) are the two major families of drug-metabolizing enzymes in the human liver microsome (HLM). As a result of their frequent abundance fluctuation among populations, the accurate quantification of these enzymes in different individuals is important for designing patient-specific dosage regimens in the framework of precision medicine. The preparation and quantification of internal standards is an essential step for the quantitative analysis of enzymes. However, the commonly employed stable isotope labeling-based strategy (QconCAT) suffers from requiring very expensive isotopic reagents, tedious experimental procedures, and long labeling times. Furthermore, arginine-to-proline conversion during metabolic isotopic labeling compromises the quantification accuracy. Therefore, we present a new strategy that replaces stable isotope-labeled amino acids with lanthanide labeling for the preparation and quantification of QconCAT internal standard peptides, which leads to a threefold reduction in the reagent costs and a fivefold reduction in the time consumed. The absolute amount of trypsin-digested QconCAT peptides can be obtained by lanthanide labeling and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) analysis with a high quantification accuracy (%RE < 20%). By taking advantage of the highly selective and facile ICP-OES procedure and multiplexed large-scale absolute target protein quantification using biological mass spectrometry, this strategy was successfully used for the absolute quantification of drug-metabolizing enzymes. We obtained good linearity (correlation coefficient > 0.95) over concentrations spanning 2.5 orders of magnitude with improved sensitivity (limit of quantification = 2 fmol) in nine HLM samples, indicating the potential of this method for large-scale absolute target protein quantification in clinical samples. Graphical abstract.
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24
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Wang F, Bach I. Rlim/Rnf12, Rex1, and X Chromosome Inactivation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:258. [PMID: 31737626 PMCID: PMC6834644 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
RLIM/Rnf12 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that has originally been identified as a transcriptional cofactor associated with LIM domain transcription factors. Indeed, this protein modulates transcriptional activities and multiprotein complexes recruited by several classes of transcription factors thereby enhancing or repressing transcription. Around 10 years ago, RLIM/Rnf12 has been identified as a major regulator for the process of X chromosome inactivation (XCI), the transcriptional silencing of one of the two X chromosomes in female mice and ESCs. However, the precise roles of RLIM during XCI have been controversial. Here, we discuss the cellular and developmental functions of RLIM as an E3 ubiquitin ligase and its roles during XCI in conjunction with its target protein Rex1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Ingolf Bach
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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25
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Mutzel V, Okamoto I, Dunkel I, Saitou M, Giorgetti L, Heard E, Schulz EG. A symmetric toggle switch explains the onset of random X inactivation in different mammals. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2019; 26:350-360. [PMID: 30962582 PMCID: PMC6558282 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-019-0214-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Gene-regulatory networks control establishment and maintenance of alternative gene expression states during development. A particular challenge is the acquisition of opposing states by two copies of the same gene, as it is the case in mammals for Xist at the onset of random X-chromosome inactivation (XCI). The regulatory principles that lead to stable mono-allelic expression of Xist remain unknown. Here, we uncovered the minimal Xist regulatory network, by combining mathematical modeling and experimental validation of central model predictions. We identified a symmetric toggle switch as the basis for random mono-allelic Xist up-regulation, which reproduces data from several mutant, aneuploid and polyploid murine cell lines with various Xist expression patterns. Moreover, this toggle switch explains the diversity of strategies employed by different species at the onset of XCI. In addition to providing a unifying conceptual framework to explore X-chromosome inactivation across mammals, our study sets the stage for identifying the molecular mechanisms required to initiate random XCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Mutzel
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ikuhiro Okamoto
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Japan Science and Technology (JST), Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO), Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ilona Dunkel
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mitinori Saitou
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Luca Giorgetti
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Edith Heard
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, Paris, France.,European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Directors' research unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Edda G Schulz
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
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