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Srivastava D, Gowribidanur-Chinnaswamy P, Gaur P, Spies M, Swaroop A, Artemyev NO. Molecular basis of CRX/DNA recognition and stoichiometry at the Ret4 response element. Structure 2024; 32:1751-1759.e4. [PMID: 39084215 PMCID: PMC11455607 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.07.004] [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: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Two retinal transcription factors, cone-rod homeobox (CRX) and neural retina leucine zipper (NRL), cooperate functionally and physically to control photoreceptor development and homeostasis. Mutations in CRX and NRL cause severe retinal diseases. Despite the roles of NRL and CRX, insight into their functions at the molecular level is lacking. Here, we have solved the crystal structure of the CRX homeodomain in complex with its cognate response element (Ret4) from the rhodopsin proximal promoter region. The structure reveals an unexpected 2:1 stoichiometry of CRX/Ret4 and unique orientation of CRX molecules on DNA, and it explains the mechanisms of pathogenic mutations in CRX. Mutations R41Q and E42K disrupt the CRX protein-protein contacts based on the structure and reduce the CRX/Ret4 binding stoichiometry, suggesting a novel disease mechanism. Furthermore, we show that NRL alters the stoichiometry and increases affinity of CRX binding at the rhodopsin promoter, which may enhance transcription of rod-specific genes and suppress transcription of cone-specific genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhiraj Srivastava
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | | | - Paras Gaur
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Maria Spies
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nikolai O Artemyev
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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2
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Corso-Díaz X, Liang X, Preston K, Tegshee B, English MA, Nellissery J, Yadav SP, Marchal C, Swaroop A. Maf-family bZIP transcription factor NRL interacts with RNA-binding proteins and R-loops in retinal photoreceptors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.19.613899. [PMID: 39345562 PMCID: PMC11430021 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.19.613899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) perform diverse functions including the regulation of chromatin dynamics and the coupling of transcription with RNA processing. However, our understanding of their actions in mammalian neurons remains limited. Using affinity purification, yeast-two-hybrid and proximity ligation assays, we identified interactions of multiple RBPs with NRL, a Maf-family bZIP transcription factor critical for retinal rod photoreceptor development and function. In addition to splicing, many NRL-interacting RBPs are associated with R-loops, which form during transcription and increase during photoreceptor maturation. Focusing on DHX9 RNA helicase, we demonstrate that its expression is modulated by NRL and that the NRL-DHX9 interaction is positively influenced by R-loops. ssDRIP-Seq analysis reveals both stranded and unstranded R-loops at distinct genomic elements, characterized by active and inactive epigenetic signatures and enriched at neuronal genes. NRL binds to both types of R-loops, suggesting an epigenetically independent function. Our findings suggest additional functions of NRL during transcription and highlight complex interactions among transcription factors, RBPs, and R-loops in regulating photoreceptor gene expression in the mammalian retina.
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Cvekl A, Vijg J. Aging of the eye: Lessons from cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 99:102407. [PMID: 38977082 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102407] [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: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Aging is the greatest risk factor for chronic human diseases, including many eye diseases. Geroscience aims to understand the effects of the aging process on these diseases, including the genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms that underlie the increased risk of disease over the lifetime. Understanding of the aging eye increases general knowledge of the cellular physiology impacted by aging processes at various biological extremes. Two major diseases, age-related cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are caused by dysfunction of the lens and retina, respectively. Lens transparency and light refraction are mediated by lens fiber cells lacking nuclei and other organelles, which provides a unique opportunity to study a single aging hallmark, i.e., loss of proteostasis, within an environment of limited metabolism. In AMD, local dysfunction of the photoreceptors/retinal pigmented epithelium/Bruch's membrane/choriocapillaris complex in the macula leads to the loss of photoreceptors and eventually loss of central vision, and is driven by nearly all the hallmarks of aging and shares features with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The aging eye can function as a model for studying basic mechanisms of aging and, vice versa, well-defined hallmarks of aging can be used as tools to understand age-related eye disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ales Cvekl
- Departments of Genetics and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
| | - Jan Vijg
- Departments of Genetics and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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Czapiewski R, Schirmer EC. Enhancers on the edge - how the nuclear envelope controls gene regulatory elements. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 87:102234. [PMID: 39047586 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2024.102234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Precise temporal and sequential control of gene expression during development and in response to environmental stimuli requires tight regulation of the physical contact between gene regulatory elements and promoters. Current models describing how the genome folds in 3D space to establish these interactions often ignore the role of the most stable structural nuclear feature - the nuclear envelope. While contributions of 3D folding within/between topologically associated domains (TADs) have been extensively described, mechanical contributions from the nuclear envelope can impact enhancer-promoter interactions both directly and indirectly through influencing intra/inter-TAD interactions. Importantly, these nuclear envelope contributions clearly link this mechanism to development and, when defective, to human disease. Here, we discuss evidence for nuclear envelope regulation of tissue-specific enhancer-promoter pairings, potential mechanisms for this regulation, exciting recent findings that other regulatory elements such as microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs are under nuclear envelope regulation, the possible involvement of condensates, and how disruption of this regulation can lead to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafal Czapiewski
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, United Kingdom; MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, United Kingdom.
| | - Eric C Schirmer
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, United Kingdom.
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Mondal AK, Gaur M, Advani J, Swaroop A. Epigenome-metabolism nexus in the retina: implications for aging and disease. Trends Genet 2024; 40:718-729. [PMID: 38782642 PMCID: PMC11303112 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.04.012] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Intimate links between epigenome modifications and metabolites allude to a crucial role of cellular metabolism in transcriptional regulation. Retina, being a highly metabolic tissue, adapts by integrating inputs from genetic, epigenetic, and extracellular signals. Precise global epigenomic signatures guide development and homeostasis of the intricate retinal structure and function. Epigenomic and metabolic realignment are hallmarks of aging and highlight a link of the epigenome-metabolism nexus with aging-associated multifactorial traits affecting the retina, including age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. Here, we focus on emerging principles of epigenomic and metabolic control of retinal gene regulation, with emphasis on their contribution to human disease. In addition, we discuss potential mitigation strategies involving lifestyle changes that target the epigenome-metabolome relationship for maintaining retinal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupam K Mondal
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mohita Gaur
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jayshree Advani
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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6
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Zhang C, Yang T, Luo X, Zhou X, Feng M, Yuan W. The chromatin accessibility and transcriptomic landscape of the aging mice cochlea and the identification of potential functional super-enhancers in age-related hearing loss. Clin Epigenetics 2024; 16:86. [PMID: 38965562 PMCID: PMC11225416 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-024-01702-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Presbycusis, also referred to as age-related hearing loss (ARHL), is a condition that results from the cumulative effects of aging on an individual's auditory capabilities. Given the limited understanding of epigenetic mechanisms in ARHL, our research focuses on alterations in chromatin-accessible regions. METHODS We employed assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) in conjunction with unique identifier (UID) mRNA-seq between young and aging cochleae, and conducted integrated analysis as well as motif/TF-gene prediction. Additionally, the essential role of super-enhancers (SEs) in the development of ARHL was identified by comparative analysis to previous research. Meanwhile, an ARHL mouse model and an aging mimic hair cell (HC) model were established with a comprehensive identification of senescence phenotypes to access the role of SEs in ARHL progression. RESULTS The control cochlear tissue exhibited greater chromatin accessibility than cochlear tissue affected by ARHL. Furthermore, the levels of histone 3 lysine 27 acetylation were significantly depressed in both aging cochlea and aging mimic HEI-OC1 cells, highlighting the essential role of SEs in the development of ARHL. The potential senescence-associated super-enhancers (SASEs) of ARHL were identified, most of which exhibited decreased chromatin accessibility. The majority of genes related to the SASEs showed obvious decreases in mRNA expression level in aging HCs and was noticeably altered following treatment with JQ1 (a commonly used SE inhibitor). CONCLUSION The chromatin accessibility in control cochlear tissue was higher than that in cochlear tissue affected by ARHL. Potential SEs involved in ARHL were identified, which might provide a basis for future therapeutics targeting SASEs related to ARHL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanyuan Zhang
- Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Medical College Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China
| | - Ting Yang
- Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Medical College Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China
| | - Xiaoqin Luo
- Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646099, China
| | - Xiaoqing Zhou
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China
| | - Menglong Feng
- Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Medical College Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China
| | - Wei Yuan
- Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Medical College Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China.
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China.
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Honnell V, Sweeney S, Norrie J, Parks M, Ramirez C, Jannu AJ, Xu B, Teubner B, Lee AY, Bell C, Dyer MA. Evolutionary conservation of VSX2 super-enhancer modules in retinal development. Development 2024; 151:dev202435. [PMID: 38994775 PMCID: PMC11266796 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202435] [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: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Super-enhancers (SEs) are expansive regions of genomic DNA that regulate the expression of genes involved in cell identity and cell fate. We recently identified developmental stage- and cell type-specific modules within the murine Vsx2 SE. Here, we show that the human VSX2 SE modules have similar developmental stage- and cell type-specific activity in reporter gene assays. By inserting the human sequence of one VSX2 SE module into a mouse with microphthalmia, eye size was rescued. To understand the function of these SE modules during human retinal development, we deleted individual modules in human embryonic stem cells and generated retinal organoids. Deleting one module results in small organoids, recapitulating the small-eyed phenotype of mice with microphthalmia, while deletion of the other module led to disruptions in bipolar neuron development. This prototypical SE serves as a model for understanding developmental stage- and cell type-specific effects of neurogenic transcription factors with complex expression patterns. Moreover, by elucidating the gene regulatory mechanisms, we can begin to examine how dysregulation of these mechanisms contributes to phenotypic diversity and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Honnell
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Shannon Sweeney
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jackie Norrie
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Madison Parks
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Cody Ramirez
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Asha Jacob Jannu
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Beisi Xu
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Brett Teubner
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Ah Young Lee
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Claire Bell
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Michael A. Dyer
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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8
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Zeitz C, Navarro J, Azizzadeh Pormehr L, Méjécase C, Neves LM, Letellier C, Condroyer C, Albadri S, Amprou A, Antonio A, Ben-Yacoub T, Wohlschlegel J, Andrieu C, Serafini M, Bianco L, Antropoli A, Nassisi M, El Shamieh S, Chantot-Bastaraud S, Mohand-Saïd S, Smirnov V, Sahel JA, Del Bene F, Audo I. Variants in UBAP1L lead to autosomal recessive rod-cone and cone-rod dystrophy. Genet Med 2024; 26:101081. [PMID: 38293907 DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2024.101081] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Progressive inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) affecting rods and cones are clinically and genetically heterogeneous and can lead to blindness with limited therapeutic options. The major gene defects have been identified in subjects of European and Asian descent with only few reports of North African descent. METHODS Genome, targeted next-generation, and Sanger sequencing was applied to cohort of ∼4000 IRDs cases. Expression analyses were performed including Chip-seq database analyses, on human-derived retinal organoids (ROs), retinal pigment epithelium cells, and zebrafish. Variants' pathogenicity was accessed using 3D-modeling and/or ROs. RESULTS Here, we identified a novel gene defect with three distinct pathogenic variants in UBAP1L in 4 independent autosomal recessive IRD cases from Tunisia. UBAP1L is expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium and retina, specifically in rods and cones, in line with the phenotype. It encodes Ubiquitin-associated protein 1-like, containing a solenoid of overlapping ubiquitin-associated domain, predicted to interact with ubiquitin. In silico and in vitro studies, including 3D-modeling and ROs revealed that the solenoid of overlapping ubiquitin-associated domain is truncated and thus ubiquitin binding most likely abolished secondary to all variants identified herein. CONCLUSION Biallelic UBAP1L variants are a novel cause of IRDs, most likely enriched in the North African population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Zeitz
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France.
| | - Julien Navarro
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Leila Azizzadeh Pormehr
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France; Mass. Eye and Ear, Ocular Genomics Institute, Berman-Gund Laboratory for the Study of Retinal Degenerations, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Cécile Méjécase
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK; The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Luiza M Neves
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France; Instituto Nacional de Saúde da Mulher, da Criança e do Adolescente Fernandes Figueira, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Camille Letellier
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | | | - Shahad Albadri
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Andréa Amprou
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Aline Antonio
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Tasnim Ben-Yacoub
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Juliette Wohlschlegel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France; Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Camille Andrieu
- Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares REFERET and INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, Paris, France
| | - Malo Serafini
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Lorenzo Bianco
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France; Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessio Antropoli
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France; Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Nassisi
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Said El Shamieh
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France; Molecular Testing Laboratory, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Sandra Chantot-Bastaraud
- APHP, Hôpital Armand-Trousseau, Département de Génétique, UF de Génétique Chromosomique, Paris, France
| | - Saddek Mohand-Saïd
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France; Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares REFERET and INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, Paris, France
| | - Vasily Smirnov
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France; Exploration de la Vision et Neuro-Ophtalmologie, CHU de Lille, Lille, France
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France; Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares REFERET and INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, Paris, France; Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Filippo Del Bene
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Audo
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France; Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares REFERET and INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, Paris, France.
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D'haene E, López-Soriano V, Martínez-García PM, Kalayanamontri S, Rey AD, Sousa-Ortega A, Naranjo S, Van de Sompele S, Vantomme L, Mahieu Q, Vergult S, Neto A, Gómez-Skarmeta JL, Martínez-Morales JR, Bauwens M, Tena JJ, De Baere E. Comparative 3D genome analysis between neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium reveals differential cis-regulatory interactions at retinal disease loci. Genome Biol 2024; 25:123. [PMID: 38760655 PMCID: PMC11100165 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03250-6] [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: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vision depends on the interplay between photoreceptor cells of the neural retina and the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Most genes involved in inherited retinal diseases display specific spatiotemporal expression within these interconnected retinal components through the local recruitment of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) in 3D nuclear space. RESULTS To understand the role of differential chromatin architecture in establishing tissue-specific expression at inherited retinal disease loci, we mapped genome-wide chromatin interactions using in situ Hi-C and H3K4me3 HiChIP on neural retina and RPE/choroid from human adult donor eyes. We observed chromatin looping between active promoters and 32,425 and 8060 candidate CREs in the neural retina and RPE/choroid, respectively. A comparative 3D genome analysis between these two retinal tissues revealed that 56% of 290 known inherited retinal disease genes were marked by differential chromatin interactions. One of these was ABCA4, which is implicated in the most common autosomal recessive inherited retinal disease. We zoomed in on retina- and RPE-specific cis-regulatory interactions at the ABCA4 locus using high-resolution UMI-4C. Integration with bulk and single-cell epigenomic datasets and in vivo enhancer assays in zebrafish revealed tissue-specific CREs interacting with ABCA4. CONCLUSIONS Through comparative 3D genome mapping, based on genome-wide, promoter-centric, and locus-specific assays of human neural retina and RPE, we have shown that gene regulation at key inherited retinal disease loci is likely mediated by tissue-specific chromatin interactions. These findings do not only provide insight into tissue-specific regulatory landscapes at retinal disease loci, but also delineate the search space for non-coding genomic variation underlying unsolved inherited retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva D'haene
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Víctor López-Soriano
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pedro Manuel Martínez-García
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Soraya Kalayanamontri
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Alfredo Dueñas Rey
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ana Sousa-Ortega
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Silvia Naranjo
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Stijn Van de Sompele
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lies Vantomme
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Quinten Mahieu
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah Vergult
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ana Neto
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - José Luis Gómez-Skarmeta
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Juan Ramón Martínez-Morales
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Miriam Bauwens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Juan Jesús Tena
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Elfride De Baere
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
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10
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Camerino M, Chang W, Cvekl A. Analysis of long-range chromatin contacts, compartments and looping between mouse embryonic stem cells, lens epithelium and lens fibers. Epigenetics Chromatin 2024; 17:10. [PMID: 38643244 PMCID: PMC11031936 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-024-00533-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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nuclear organization of interphase chromosomes involves individual chromosome territories, "open" and "closed" chromatin compartments, topologically associated domains (TADs) and chromatin loops. The DNA- and RNA-binding transcription factor CTCF together with the cohesin complex serve as major organizers of chromatin architecture. Cellular differentiation is driven by temporally and spatially coordinated gene expression that requires chromatin changes of individual loci of various complexities. Lens differentiation represents an advantageous system to probe transcriptional mechanisms underlying tissue-specific gene expression including high transcriptional outputs of individual crystallin genes until the mature lens fiber cells degrade their nuclei. RESULTS Chromatin organization between mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, newborn (P0.5) lens epithelium and fiber cells were analyzed using Hi-C. Localization of CTCF in both lens chromatins was determined by ChIP-seq and compared with ES cells. Quantitative analyses show major differences between number and size of TADs and chromatin loop size between these three cell types. In depth analyses show similarities between lens samples exemplified by overlaps between compartments A and B. Lens epithelium-specific CTCF peaks are found in mostly methylated genomic regions while lens fiber-specific and shared peaks occur mostly within unmethylated DNA regions. Major differences in TADs and loops are illustrated at the ~ 500 kb Pax6 locus, encoding the critical lens regulatory transcription factor and within a larger ~ 15 Mb WAGR locus, containing Pax6 and other loci linked to human congenital diseases. Lens and ES cell Hi-C data (TADs and loops) together with ATAC-seq, CTCF, H3K27ac, H3K27me3 and ENCODE cis-regulatory sites are shown in detail for the Pax6, Sox1 and Hif1a loci, multiple crystallin genes and other important loci required for lens morphogenesis. The majority of crystallin loci are marked by unexpectedly high CTCF-binding across their transcribed regions. CONCLUSIONS Our study has generated the first data on 3-dimensional (3D) nuclear organization in lens epithelium and lens fibers and directly compared these data with ES cells. These findings generate novel insights into lens-specific transcriptional gene control, open new research avenues to study transcriptional condensates in lens fiber cells, and enable studies of non-coding genetic variants linked to cataract and other lens and ocular abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Camerino
- The Departments Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY10461, Bronx, USA
| | - William Chang
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY10461, Bronx, USA
| | - Ales Cvekl
- The Departments Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY10461, Bronx, USA.
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY10461, Bronx, USA.
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11
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Advani J, Mehta PA, Hamel AR, Mehrotra S, Kiel C, Strunz T, Corso-Díaz X, Kwicklis M, van Asten F, Ratnapriya R, Chew EY, Hernandez DG, Montezuma SR, Ferrington DA, Weber BHF, Segrè AV, Swaroop A. QTL mapping of human retina DNA methylation identifies 87 gene-epigenome interactions in age-related macular degeneration. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1972. [PMID: 38438351 PMCID: PMC10912779 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46063-8] [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: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation provides a crucial epigenetic mark linking genetic variations to environmental influence. We have analyzed array-based DNA methylation profiles of 160 human retinas with co-measured RNA-seq and >8 million genetic variants, uncovering sites of genetic regulation in cis (37,453 methylation quantitative trait loci and 12,505 expression quantitative trait loci) and 13,747 DNA methylation loci affecting gene expression, with over one-third specific to the retina. Methylation and expression quantitative trait loci show non-random distribution and enrichment of biological processes related to synapse, mitochondria, and catabolism. Summary data-based Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses identify 87 target genes where methylation and gene-expression changes likely mediate the genotype effect on age-related macular degeneration. Integrated pathway analysis reveals epigenetic regulation of immune response and metabolism including the glutathione pathway and glycolysis. Our study thus defines key roles of genetic variations driving methylation changes, prioritizes epigenetic control of gene expression, and suggests frameworks for regulation of macular degeneration pathology by genotype-environment interaction in retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayshree Advani
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Puja A Mehta
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Andrew R Hamel
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sudeep Mehrotra
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Christina Kiel
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Strunz
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ximena Corso-Díaz
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Madeline Kwicklis
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Freekje van Asten
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Rinki Ratnapriya
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Emily Y Chew
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications, Clinical Trials Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Dena G Hernandez
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute of Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sandra R Montezuma
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Deborah A Ferrington
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Doheny Eye Institute, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Bernhard H F Weber
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Human Genetics, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ayellet V Segrè
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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12
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Lopez Soriano V, Dueñas Rey A, Mukherjee R, Coppieters F, Bauwens M, Willaert A, De Baere E. Multi-omics analysis in human retina uncovers ultraconserved cis-regulatory elements at rare eye disease loci. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1600. [PMID: 38383453 PMCID: PMC10881467 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45381-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Cross-species genome comparisons have revealed a substantial number of ultraconserved non-coding elements (UCNEs). Several of these elements have proved to be essential tissue- and cell type-specific cis-regulators of developmental gene expression. Here, we characterize a set of UCNEs as candidate CREs (cCREs) during retinal development and evaluate the contribution of their genomic variation to rare eye diseases, for which pathogenic non-coding variants are emerging. Integration of bulk and single-cell retinal multi-omics data reveals 594 genes under potential cis-regulatory control of UCNEs, of which 45 are implicated in rare eye disease. Mining of candidate cis-regulatory UCNEs in WGS data derived from the rare eye disease cohort of Genomics England reveals 178 ultrarare variants within 84 UCNEs associated with 29 disease genes. Overall, we provide a comprehensive annotation of ultraconserved non-coding regions acting as cCREs during retinal development which can be targets of non-coding variation underlying rare eye diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Lopez Soriano
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alfredo Dueñas Rey
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Frauke Coppieters
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Miriam Bauwens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Andy Willaert
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elfride De Baere
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
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13
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Kwong A, Zawistowski M, Fritsche LG, Zhan X, Bragg-Gresham J, Branham KE, Advani J, Othman M, Ratnapriya R, Teslovich TM, Stambolian D, Chew EY, Abecasis GR, Swaroop A. Whole genome sequencing of 4,787 individuals identifies gene-based rare variants in age-related macular degeneration. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:374-385. [PMID: 37934784 PMCID: PMC10840384 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad189] [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: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have contributed extensively to the discovery of disease-associated common variants. However, the genetic contribution to complex traits is still largely difficult to interpret. We report a genome-wide association study of 2394 cases and 2393 controls for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) via whole-genome sequencing, with 46.9 million genetic variants. Our study reveals significant single-variant association signals at four loci and independent gene-based signals in CFH, C2, C3, and NRTN. Using data from the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) for a gene-based test, we demonstrate an enrichment of predicted rare loss-of-function variants in CFH, CFI, and an as-yet unreported gene in AMD, ORMDL2. Our method of using a large variant list without individual-level genotypes as an external reference provides a flexible and convenient approach to leverage the publicly available variant datasets to augment the search for rare variant associations, which can explain additional disease risk in AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Kwong
- Department of Biostatistics and Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Matthew Zawistowski
- Department of Biostatistics and Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Lars G Fritsche
- Department of Biostatistics and Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Xiaowei Zhan
- Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, United States
| | - Jennifer Bragg-Gresham
- Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center, Department of Internal Medicine-Nephrology, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Kari E Branham
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, 1000 Wall St, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States
| | - Jayshree Advani
- Neurobiology-Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Drive, MSC 0610, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Mohammad Othman
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, 1000 Wall St, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States
| | - Rinki Ratnapriya
- Neurobiology-Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Drive, MSC 0610, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Tanya M Teslovich
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Rd, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States
| | - Dwight Stambolian
- Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, 51 N. 39th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Emily Y Chew
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Application, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive Building 10-CRC, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Gonçalo R Abecasis
- Department of Biostatistics and Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Rd, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology-Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Drive, MSC 0610, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
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14
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Hamel AR, Yan W, Rouhana JM, Monovarfeshani A, Jiang X, Mehta PA, Advani J, Luo Y, Liang Q, Rajasundaram S, Shrivastava A, Duchinski K, Mantena S, Wang J, van Zyl T, Pasquale LR, Swaroop A, Gharahkhani P, Khawaja AP, MacGregor S, Chen R, Vitart V, Sanes JR, Wiggs JL, Segrè AV. Integrating genetic regulation and single-cell expression with GWAS prioritizes causal genes and cell types for glaucoma. Nat Commun 2024; 15:396. [PMID: 38195602 PMCID: PMC10776627 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44380-y] [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: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), characterized by retinal ganglion cell death, is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. However, its molecular and cellular causes are not well understood. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factor, but many patients have normal IOP. Colocalization and Mendelian randomization analysis of >240 POAG and IOP genome-wide association study (GWAS) loci and overlapping expression and splicing quantitative trait loci (e/sQTLs) in 49 GTEx tissues and retina prioritizes causal genes for 60% of loci. These genes are enriched in pathways implicated in extracellular matrix organization, cell adhesion, and vascular development. Analysis of single-nucleus RNA-seq of glaucoma-relevant eye tissues reveals that the POAG and IOP colocalizing genes and genome-wide associations are enriched in specific cell types in the aqueous outflow pathways, retina, optic nerve head, peripapillary sclera, and choroid. This study nominates IOP-dependent and independent regulatory mechanisms, genes, and cell types that may contribute to POAG pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Hamel
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Wenjun Yan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - John M Rouhana
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Aboozar Monovarfeshani
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Xinyi Jiang
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Puja A Mehta
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jayshree Advani
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MA, USA
| | - Yuyang Luo
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Qingnan Liang
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Skanda Rajasundaram
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Arushi Shrivastava
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Katherine Duchinski
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics (BIG) PhD Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sreekar Mantena
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard/MIT MD-PhD Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jiali Wang
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tavé van Zyl
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Louis R Pasquale
- Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MA, USA
| | - Puya Gharahkhani
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4029, Australia
| | - Anthony P Khawaja
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Stuart MacGregor
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4029, Australia
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Veronique Vitart
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Joshua R Sanes
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Janey L Wiggs
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ayellet V Segrè
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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15
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Qu Z, Batz Z, Singh N, Marchal C, Swaroop A. Stage-specific dynamic reorganization of genome topology shapes transcriptional neighborhoods in developing human retinal organoids. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113543. [PMID: 38048222 PMCID: PMC10790351 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113543] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We have generated a high-resolution Hi-C map of developing human retinal organoids to elucidate spatiotemporal dynamics of genomic architecture and its relationship with gene expression patterns. We demonstrate progressive stage-specific alterations in DNA topology and correlate these changes with transcription of cell-type-restricted gene markers during retinal differentiation. Temporal Hi-C reveals a shift toward A compartment for protein-coding genes and B compartment for non-coding RNAs, displaying high and low expression, respectively. Notably, retina-enriched genes are clustered near lost boundaries of topologically associated domains (TADs), and higher-order assemblages (i.e., TAD cliques) localize in active chromatin regions with binding sites for eye-field transcription factors. These genes gain chromatin contacts at their transcription start site as organoid differentiation proceeds. Our study provides a global view of chromatin architecture dynamics associated with diversification of cell types during retinal development and serves as a foundational resource for in-depth functional investigations of retinal developmental traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zepeng Qu
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Zachary Batz
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nivedita Singh
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Claire Marchal
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; In silichrom Ltd, 15 Digby Road, Newbury RG14 1TS, UK
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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16
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Kitamura Y, Takahashi K, Maezawa S, Munakata Y, Sakashita A, Kaplan N, Namekawa SH. CTCF-mediated 3D chromatin predetermines the gene expression program in the male germline. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.30.569508. [PMID: 38076840 PMCID: PMC10705413 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.30.569508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a unidirectional differentiation process that generates haploid sperm, but how the gene expression program that directs this process is established is largely unknown. Here we determine the high-resolution 3D chromatin architecture of male germ cells during spermatogenesis and show that CTCF-mediated 3D chromatin predetermines the gene expression program required for spermatogenesis. In undifferentiated spermatogonia, CTCF-mediated chromatin contacts on autosomes pre-establish meiosis-specific super-enhancers (SE). These meiotic SE recruit the master transcription factor A-MYB in meiotic spermatocytes, which strengthens their 3D contacts and instructs a burst of meiotic gene expression. We also find that at the mitosis-to-meiosis transition, the germline-specific Polycomb protein SCML2 resolves chromatin loops that are specific to mitotic spermatogonia. Moreover, SCML2 and A-MYB establish the unique 3D chromatin organization of sex chromosomes during meiotic sex chromosome inactivation. We propose that CTCF-mediated 3D chromatin organization enforces epigenetic priming that directs unidirectional differentiation, thereby determining the cellular identity of the male germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Kitamura
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Kazuki Takahashi
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - So Maezawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, 281-8510, Japan
| | - Yasuhisa Munakata
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Akihiko Sakashita
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, 160-8582 Japan
| | - Noam Kaplan
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics & Systems Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Satoshi H. Namekawa
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
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17
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Pan Y, Fu Y, Baird PN, Guymer RH, Das T, Iwata T. Exploring the contribution of ARMS2 and HTRA1 genetic risk factors in age-related macular degeneration. Prog Retin Eye Res 2023; 97:101159. [PMID: 36581531 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe irreversible central vision loss in individuals over 65 years old. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have shown that the region at chromosome 10q26, where the age-related maculopathy susceptibility (ARMS2/LOC387715) and HtrA serine peptidase 1 (HTRA1) genes are located, represents one of the strongest associated loci for AMD. However, the underlying biological mechanism of this genetic association has remained elusive. In this article, we extensively review the literature by us and others regarding the ARMS2/HTRA1 risk alleles and their functional significance. We also review the literature regarding the presumed function of the ARMS2 protein and the molecular processes of the HTRA1 protein in AMD pathogenesis in vitro and in vivo, including those of transgenic mice overexpressing HtrA1/HTRA1 which developed Bruch's membrane (BM) damage, choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), similar to human AMD patients. The elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of the ARMS2 and HTRA1 susceptibility loci has begun to untangle the complex biological pathways underlying AMD pathophysiology, pointing to new testable paradigms for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Pan
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, 2-5-1, Higashigaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8902, Japan
| | - Yingbin Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, NC506, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Paul N Baird
- Department of Surgery, (Ophthalmology), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Robyn H Guymer
- Department of Surgery, (Ophthalmology), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, 3002, Australia
| | - Taraprasad Das
- Anant Bajaj Retina Institute-Srimati Kanuri Santhamma Centre for Vitreoretinal Diseases, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, 500034, India
| | - Takeshi Iwata
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, 2-5-1, Higashigaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8902, Japan.
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18
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Honnell V, Sweeney S, Norrie J, Ramirez C, Xu B, Teubner B, Lee AY, Bell C, Dyer MA. Identification of Evolutionarily Conserved VSX2 Enhancers in Retinal Development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.17.562742. [PMID: 37905144 PMCID: PMC10614883 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.17.562742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Super-enhancers (SEs) are expansive regions of genomic DNA that regulate the expression of genes involved in cell identity and cell fate. Recently, we found that distinct modules within a murine SE regulate gene expression of master regulatory transcription factor Vsx2 in a developmental stage- and cell-type specific manner. Vsx2 is expressed in retinal progenitor cells as well as differentiated bipolar neurons and Müller glia. Mutations in VSX2 in humans and mice lead to microphthalmia due to a defect in retinal progenitor cell proliferation. Deletion of a single module within the Vsx2 SE leads to microphthalmia. Deletion of a separate module within the SE leads to a complete loss of bipolar neurons, yet the remainder of the retina develops normally. Furthermore, the Vsx2 SE is evolutionarily conserved in vertebrates, suggesting that these modules are important for retinal development across species. In the present study, we examine the ability of these modules to drive retinal development between species. By inserting the human build of one Vsx2 SE module into a mouse with microphthalmia, eye size was rescued. To understand the implications of these SE modules in a model of human development, we generated human retinal organoids. Deleting one module results in small organoids, recapitulating the small-eyed phenotype of mice with microphthalmia, while deletion of the other module leads to a complete loss of ON cone bipolar neurons. This prototypical SE serves as a model for uncoupling developmental stage- and cell-type specific effects of neurogenic transcription factors with complex expression patterns. Moreover, by elucidating the gene regulatory mechanisms, we can begin to examine how dysregulation of these mechanisms contributes to phenotypic diversity and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Honnell
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Shannon Sweeney
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Jackie Norrie
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Cody Ramirez
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Beisi Xu
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Brett Teubner
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Ah Young Lee
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
| | - Claire Bell
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
| | - Michael A. Dyer
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
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19
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Merle DA, Sen M, Armento A, Stanton CM, Thee EF, Meester-Smoor MA, Kaiser M, Clark SJ, Klaver CCW, Keane PA, Wright AF, Ehrmann M, Ueffing M. 10q26 - The enigma in age-related macular degeneration. Prog Retin Eye Res 2023; 96:101154. [PMID: 36513584 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101154] [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: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Despite comprehensive research efforts over the last decades, the pathomechanisms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) remain far from being understood. Large-scale genome wide association studies (GWAS) were able to provide a defined set of genetic aberrations which contribute to disease risk, with the strongest contributors mapping to distinct regions on chromosome 1 and 10. While the chromosome 1 locus comprises factors of the complement system with well-known functions, the role of the 10q26-locus in AMD-pathophysiology remains enigmatic. 10q26 harbors a cluster of three functional genes, namely PLEKHA1, ARMS2 and HTRA1, with most of the AMD-associated genetic variants mapping to the latter two genes. High linkage disequilibrium between ARMS2 and HTRA1 has kept association studies from reliably defining the risk-causing gene for long and only very recently the genetic risk region has been narrowed to ARMS2, suggesting that this is the true AMD gene at this locus. However, genetic associations alone do not suffice to prove causality and one or more of the 14 SNPs on this haplotype may be involved in long-range control of gene expression, leaving HTRA1 and PLEKHA1 still suspects in the pathogenic pathway. Both, ARMS2 and HTRA1 have been linked to extracellular matrix homeostasis, yet their exact molecular function as well as their role in AMD pathogenesis remains to be uncovered. The transcriptional regulation of the 10q26 locus adds an additional level of complexity, given, that gene-regulatory as well as epigenetic alterations may influence expression levels from 10q26 in diseased individuals. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview on the 10q26 locus and its three gene products on various levels of biological complexity and discuss current and future research strategies to shed light on one of the remaining enigmatic spots in the AMD landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Merle
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Department for Ophthalmology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany; Department for Ophthalmology, University Eye Clinic, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany; Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, 8036, Graz, Austria.
| | - Merve Sen
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Department for Ophthalmology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Angela Armento
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Department for Ophthalmology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Chloe M Stanton
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Eric F Thee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015GD, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015CE, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Magda A Meester-Smoor
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015GD, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015CE, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Markus Kaiser
- Center of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University Duisburg-Essen, 45117, Essen, Germany
| | - Simon J Clark
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Department for Ophthalmology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany; Department for Ophthalmology, University Eye Clinic, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany; Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Caroline C W Klaver
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015GD, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015CE, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Department of Ophthalmology, Radboudumc, 6525EX, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, CH-4031, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pearse A Keane
- Institute for Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Alan F Wright
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Michael Ehrmann
- Center of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University Duisburg-Essen, 45117, Essen, Germany
| | - Marius Ueffing
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Department for Ophthalmology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany; Department for Ophthalmology, University Eye Clinic, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
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20
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Nordin A, Zambanini G, Pagella P, Cantù C. The CUT&RUN suspect list of problematic regions of the genome. Genome Biol 2023; 24:185. [PMID: 37563719 PMCID: PMC10416431 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03027-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cleavage Under Targets and Release Using Nuclease (CUT&RUN) is an increasingly popular technique to map genome-wide binding profiles of histone modifications, transcription factors, and co-factors. The ENCODE project and others have compiled blacklists for ChIP-seq which have been widely adopted: these lists contain regions of high and unstructured signal, regardless of cell type or protein target, indicating that these are false positives. While CUT&RUN obtains similar results to ChIP-seq, its biochemistry and subsequent data analyses are different. We found that this results in a CUT&RUN-specific set of undesired high-signal regions. RESULTS We compile suspect lists based on CUT&RUN data for the human and mouse genomes, identifying regions consistently called as peaks in negative controls. Using published CUT&RUN data from our and other labs, we show that the CUT&RUN suspect regions can persist even when peak calling is performed with SEACR or MACS2 against a negative control and after ENCODE blacklist removal. Moreover, we experimentally validate the CUT&RUN suspect lists by performing reiterative negative control experiments in which no specific protein is targeted, showing that they capture more than 80% of the peaks identified. CONCLUSIONS We propose that removing these problematic regions can substantially improve peak calling in CUT&RUN experiments, resulting in more reliable datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Nordin
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Gianluca Zambanini
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Pierfrancesco Pagella
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Claudio Cantù
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
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21
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Advani J, Corso-Diaz X, Kwicklis M, van Asten F, Ratnapriya R, Mehta P, Hamel A, Mahrotra S, Segrè A, Kiel C, Strunz T, Weber B, Chew E, Hernandez D, Montezuma S, Ferrington D, Swaroop A. QTL mapping of human retina DNA methylation identifies 87 gene-epigenome interactions in age-related macular degeneration. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3011096. [PMID: 37398472 PMCID: PMC10312909 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3011096/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation (DNAm) provides a crucial epigenetic mark linking genetic variations to environmental influence. We analyzed array-based DNAm profiles of 160 human retinas with co-measured RNA-seq and > 8 million genetic variants, uncovering sites of genetic regulation in cis (37,453 mQTLs and 12,505 eQTLs) and 13,747 eQTMs (DNAm loci affecting gene expression), with over one-third specific to the retina. mQTLs and eQTMs show non-random distribution and enrichment of biological processes related to synapse, mitochondria, and catabolism. Summary data-based Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses identify 87 target genes where methylation and gene-expression changes likely mediate the genotype effect on age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Integrated pathway analysis reveals epigenetic regulation of immune response and metabolism including the glutathione pathway and glycolysis. Our study thus defines key roles of genetic variations driving methylation changes, prioritizes epigenetic control of gene expression, and suggests frameworks for regulation of AMD pathology by genotype-environment interaction in retina.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Puja Mehta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrew Hamel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Emily Chew
- National Eye Institute/National Institutes of Health
| | | | | | | | - Anand Swaroop
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health
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22
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Di Giorgio E, Benetti R, Kerschbamer E, Xodo L, Brancolini C. Super-enhancer landscape rewiring in cancer: The epigenetic control at distal sites. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 380:97-148. [PMID: 37657861 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2023.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Super-enhancers evolve as elements at the top of the hierarchical control of gene expression. They are important end-gatherers of signaling pathways that control stemness, differentiation or adaptive responses. Many epigenetic regulations focus on these regions, and not surprisingly, during the process of tumorigenesis, various alterations can account for their dysfunction. Super-enhancers are emerging as key drivers of the aberrant gene expression landscape that sustain the aggressiveness of cancer cells. In this review, we will describe and discuss about the structure of super-enhancers, their epigenetic regulation, and the major changes affecting their functionality in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eros Di Giorgio
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Roberta Benetti
- Laboratory of Epigenomics, Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Emanuela Kerschbamer
- Laboratory of Epigenomics, Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Luigi Xodo
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Claudio Brancolini
- Laboratory of Epigenomics, Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy.
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23
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Zhuang HH, Qu Q, Teng XQ, Dai YH, Qu J. Superenhancers as master gene regulators and novel therapeutic targets in brain tumors. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:290-303. [PMID: 36720920 PMCID: PMC9981748 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-00934-0] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional deregulation, a cancer cell hallmark, is driven by epigenetic abnormalities in the majority of brain tumors, including adult glioblastoma and pediatric brain tumors. Epigenetic abnormalities can activate epigenetic regulatory elements to regulate the expression of oncogenes. Superenhancers (SEs), identified as novel epigenetic regulatory elements, are clusters of enhancers with cell-type specificity that can drive the aberrant transcription of oncogenes and promote tumor initiation and progression. As gene regulators, SEs are involved in tumorigenesis in a variety of tumors, including brain tumors. SEs are susceptible to inhibition by their key components, such as bromodomain protein 4 and cyclin-dependent kinase 7, providing new opportunities for antitumor therapy. In this review, we summarized the characteristics and identification, unique organizational structures, and activation mechanisms of SEs in tumors, as well as the clinical applications related to SEs in tumor therapy and prognostication. Based on a review of the literature, we discussed the relationship between SEs and different brain tumors and potential therapeutic targets, focusing on glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Hui Zhuang
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, PR China
| | - Qiang Qu
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410007, PR China
- Institute for Rational and Safe Medication Practices, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410007, PR China
| | - Xin-Qi Teng
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, PR China
| | - Ying-Huan Dai
- Department of Pathology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, PR China
| | - Jian Qu
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, PR China.
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24
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Zhu X, Huang Q, Luo J, Kong D, Zhang Y. Mini-review: Gene regulatory network benefits from three-dimensional chromatin conformation and structural biology. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:1728-1737. [PMID: 36890880 PMCID: PMC9986247 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene regulatory networks are now at the forefront of precision biology, which can help researchers better understand how genes and regulatory elements interact to control cellular gene expression, offering a more promising molecular mechanism in biological research. Interactions between the genes and regulatory elements involve different promoters, enhancers, transcription factors, silencers, insulators, and long-range regulatory elements, which occur at a ∼10 µm nucleus in a spatiotemporal manner. In this way, three-dimensional chromatin conformation and structural biology are critical for interpreting the biological effects and the gene regulatory networks. In the review, we have briefly summarized the latest processes in three-dimensional chromatin conformation, microscopic imaging, and bioinformatics, and we have presented the outlook and future directions for these three aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiusheng Zhu
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qitong Huang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China.,Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen 6708PB, the Netherlands
| | - Jing Luo
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dashuai Kong
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China.,School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Yubo Zhang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China.,College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
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