1
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Papadimitriou E, Thomaidou D. Post-transcriptional mechanisms controlling neurogenesis and direct neuronal reprogramming. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1929-1939. [PMID: 38227517 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.390976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurogenesis is a tightly regulated process in time and space both in the developing embryo and in adult neurogenic niches. A drastic change in the transcriptome and proteome of radial glial cells or neural stem cells towards the neuronal state is achieved due to sophisticated mechanisms of epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional regulation. Understanding these neurogenic mechanisms is of major importance, not only for shedding light on very complex and crucial developmental processes, but also for the identification of putative reprogramming factors, that harbor hierarchically central regulatory roles in the course of neurogenesis and bare thus the capacity to drive direct reprogramming towards the neuronal fate. The major transcriptional programs that orchestrate the neurogenic process have been the focus of research for many years and key neurogenic transcription factors, as well as repressor complexes, have been identified and employed in direct reprogramming protocols to convert non-neuronal cells, into functional neurons. The post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression during nervous system development has emerged as another important and intricate regulatory layer, strongly contributing to the complexity of the mechanisms controlling neurogenesis and neuronal function. In particular, recent advances are highlighting the importance of specific RNA binding proteins that control major steps of mRNA life cycle during neurogenesis, such as alternative splicing, polyadenylation, stability, and translation. Apart from the RNA binding proteins, microRNAs, a class of small non-coding RNAs that block the translation of their target mRNAs, have also been shown to play crucial roles in all the stages of the neurogenic process, from neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation, neuronal differentiation and migration, to functional maturation. Here, we provide an overview of the most prominent post-transcriptional mechanisms mediated by RNA binding proteins and microRNAs during the neurogenic process, giving particular emphasis on the interplay of specific RNA binding proteins with neurogenic microRNAs. Taking under consideration that the molecular mechanisms of neurogenesis exert high similarity to the ones driving direct neuronal reprogramming, we also discuss the current advances in in vitro and in vivo direct neuronal reprogramming approaches that have employed microRNAs or RNA binding proteins as reprogramming factors, highlighting the so far known mechanisms of their reprogramming action.
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2
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Bastawy EM, Eraslan IM, Voglsanger L, Suphioglu C, Walker AJ, Dean OM, Read JL, Ziemann M, Smith CM. Novel Insights into Changes in Gene Expression within the Hypothalamus in Two Asthma Mouse Models: A Transcriptomic Lung-Brain Axis Study. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7391. [PMID: 39000495 PMCID: PMC11242700 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137391] [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: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with asthma experience elevated rates of mental illness. However, the molecular links underlying such lung-brain crosstalk remain ambiguous. Hypothalamic dysfunction is observed in many psychiatric disorders, particularly those with an inflammatory component due to many hypothalamic regions being unprotected by the blood-brain barrier. To gain a better insight into such neuropsychiatric sequelae, this study investigated gene expression differences in the hypothalamus following lung inflammation (asthma) induction in mice, using RNA transcriptome profiling. BALB/c mice were challenged with either bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS, E. coli) or ovalbumin (OVA) allergens or saline control (n = 7 per group), and lung inflammation was confirmed via histological examination of postmortem lung tissue. The majority of the hypothalamus was micro-dissected, and total RNA was extracted for sequencing. Differential expression analysis identified 31 statistically significant single genes (false discovery rate FDR5%) altered in expression following LPS exposure compared to controls; however, none were significantly changed following OVA treatment, suggesting a milder hypothalamic response. When gene sets were examined, 48 were upregulated and 8 were downregulated in both asthma groups relative to controls. REACTOME enrichment analysis suggests these gene sets are involved in signal transduction metabolism, immune response and neuroplasticity. Interestingly, we identified five altered gene sets directly associated with neurotransmitter signaling. Intriguingly, many of these altered gene sets can influence mental health and or/neuroinflammation in humans. These findings help characterize the links between asthma-induced lung inflammation and the brain and may assist in identifying relevant pathways and therapeutic targets for future intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eslam M Bastawy
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong 3216, Australia
| | - Izel M Eraslan
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong 3216, Australia
| | - Lara Voglsanger
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong 3216, Australia
| | - Cenk Suphioglu
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3216, Australia
| | - Adam J Walker
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong 3216, Australia
| | - Olivia M Dean
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong 3216, Australia
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne 3052, Australia
| | - Justin L Read
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong 3216, Australia
| | - Mark Ziemann
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3216, Australia
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne 3004, Australia
| | - Craig M Smith
- Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong 3216, Australia
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3
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Zhong Y, Luo Y, Sun J, Qin X, Gan P, Zhou Z, Qian Y, Zhao R, Zhao Z, Cai W, Luo J, Chen LL, Song JM. Pan-transcriptomic analysis reveals alternative splicing control of cold tolerance in rice. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:2117-2139. [PMID: 38345423 PMCID: PMC11132889 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Plants have evolved complex mechanisms to adapt to harsh environmental conditions. Rice (Oryza sativa) is a staple food crop that is sensitive to low temperatures. However, its cold stress responses remain poorly understood, thus limiting possibilities for crop engineering to achieve greater cold tolerance. In this study, we constructed a rice pan-transcriptome and characterized its transcriptional regulatory landscape in response to cold stress. We performed Iso-Seq and RNA-Seq of 11 rice cultivars subjected to a time-course cold treatment. Our analyses revealed that alternative splicing-regulated gene expression plays a significant role in the cold stress response. Moreover, we identified CATALASE C (OsCATC) and Os03g0701200 as candidate genes for engineering enhanced cold tolerance. Importantly, we uncovered central roles for the 2 serine-arginine-rich proteins OsRS33 and OsRS2Z38 in cold tolerance. Our analysis of cold tolerance and resequencing data from a diverse collection of 165 rice cultivars suggested that OsRS2Z38 may be a key selection gene in japonica domestication for cold adaptation, associated with the adaptive evolution of rice. This study systematically investigated the distribution, dynamic changes, and regulatory mechanisms of alternative splicing in rice under cold stress. Overall, our work generates a rich resource with broad implications for understanding the genetic basis of cold response mechanisms in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Yuhong Luo
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Jinliang Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xuemei Qin
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Ping Gan
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Zuwen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Yongqing Qian
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Rupeng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Zhiyuan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Wenguo Cai
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Jijing Luo
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Ling-Ling Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Jia-Ming Song
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City and Southwest University, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
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4
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Singh AK. Rules and impacts of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay in the degradation of long noncoding RNAs. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2024; 15:e1853. [PMID: 38741356 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a quality-control process that selectively degrades mRNAs having premature termination codon, upstream open reading frame, or unusually long 3'UTR. NMD detects such mRNAs and rapidly degrades them during initial rounds of translation in the eukaryotic cells. Since NMD is a translation-dependent cytoplasmic mRNA surveillance process, the noncoding RNAs were initially believed to be NMD-resistant. The sequence feature-based analysis has revealed that many putative long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have short open reading frames, most of which have translation potential. Subsequent transcriptome-based molecular studies showed an association of a large set of such putative lncRNAs with translating ribosomes, and some of them produce stable and functionally active micropeptides. The translationally active lncRNAs typically have relatively longer and unprotected 3'UTR, which can induce their NMD-dependent degradation. This review defines the mechanism and regulation of NMD-dependent degradation of lncRNAs and its impact on biological processes related to the functions of lncRNAs or their encoded micropeptides. This article is categorized under: RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Turnover/Surveillance Mechanisms RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Regulation of RNA Stability RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand Kumar Singh
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
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5
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Lee MK, Azizgolshani N, Shapiro JA, Nguyen LN, Kolling FW, Zanazzi GJ, Frost HR, Christensen BC. Identifying tumor type and cell type-specific gene expression alterations in pediatric central nervous system tumors. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3634. [PMID: 38688897 PMCID: PMC11061189 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47712-8] [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: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the leading cause of pediatric cancer death, and these patients have an increased risk for developing secondary neoplasms. Due to the low prevalence of pediatric CNS tumors, major advances in targeted therapies have been lagging compared to other adult tumors. We collect single nuclei RNA-seq data from 84,700 nuclei of 35 pediatric CNS tumors and three non-tumoral pediatric brain tissues and characterize tumor heterogeneity and transcriptomic alterations. We distinguish cell subpopulations associated with specific tumor types including radial glial cells in ependymomas and oligodendrocyte precursor cells in astrocytomas. In tumors, we observe pathways important in neural stem cell-like populations, a cell type previously associated with therapy resistance. Lastly, we identify transcriptomic alterations among pediatric CNS tumor types compared to non-tumor tissues, while accounting for cell type effects on gene expression. Our results suggest potential tumor type and cell type-specific targets for pediatric CNS tumor treatment. Here we address current gaps in understanding single nuclei gene expression profiles of previously under-investigated tumor types and enhance current knowledge of gene expression profiles of single cells of various pediatric CNS tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Kyung Lee
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Nasim Azizgolshani
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
- Department of Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joshua A Shapiro
- Childhood Cancer Data Lab, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, Bala Cynwyd, PA, USA
| | - Lananh N Nguyen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - George J Zanazzi
- Dartmouth Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Hildreth Robert Frost
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Brock C Christensen
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA.
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA.
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6
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Kurosaki T, Rambout X, Maquat LE. FMRP-mediated spatial regulation of physiologic NMD targets in neuronal cells. Genome Biol 2024; 25:31. [PMID: 38263082 PMCID: PMC10804635 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03146-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In non-polarized cells, nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) generally begins during the translation of newly synthesized mRNAs after the mRNAs are exported to the cytoplasm. Binding of the FMRP translational repressor to UPF1 on NMD targets mainly inhibits NMD. However, in polarized cells like neurons, FMRP additionally localizes mRNAs to cellular projections. Here, we review the literature and evaluate available transcriptomic data to conclude that, in neurons, the translation of physiologic NMD targets bound by FMRP is partially inhibited until the mRNAs localize to projections. There, FMRP displacement in response to signaling induces a burst in protein synthesis followed by rapid mRNA decay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuaki Kurosaki
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
- Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Xavier Rambout
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
- Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Lynne E Maquat
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
- Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
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7
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Mercer HM, Nair AM, Ridgel A, Piontkivska H. Alterations in RNA editing in skeletal muscle following exercise training in individuals with Parkinson's disease. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287078. [PMID: 38134032 PMCID: PMC10745226 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease behind Alzheimer's Disease, currently affecting more than 10 million people worldwide and 1.5 times more males than females. The progression of PD results in the loss of function due to neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. The etiology of PD is multifactorial, including both genetic and environmental origins. Here we explored changes in RNA editing, specifically editing through the actions of the Adenosine Deaminases Acting on RNA (ADARs), in the progression of PD. Analysis of ADAR editing of skeletal muscle transcriptomes from PD patients and controls, including those that engaged in a rehabilitative exercise training program revealed significant differences in ADAR editing patterns based on age, disease status, and following rehabilitative exercise. Further, deleterious editing events in protein coding regions were identified in multiple genes with known associations to PD pathogenesis. Our findings of differential ADAR editing complement findings of changes in transcriptional networks identified by a recent study and offer insights into dynamic ADAR editing changes associated with PD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Milliken Mercer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States of America
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Mount Union, Alliance, OH, United States of America
- Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States of America
| | - Aiswarya Mukundan Nair
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States of America
| | - Angela Ridgel
- School of Health Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States of America
- Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States of America
- Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States of America
| | - Helen Piontkivska
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States of America
- Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States of America
- Healthy Communities Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States of America
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8
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Ma X, Li Y, Chengyan C, Shen Y, Wang H, Li T. Spatial expression of the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay factors UPF3A and UPF3B among mouse tissues. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2023; 24:1062-1068. [PMID: 37961809 PMCID: PMC10646394 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b2300126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
无义介导的信使RNA(mRNA)降解途径(nonsense-mediated mRNA decay,简称为NMD)是真核生物细胞内一种重要的基因转录后表达调控机制,它积极参与一系列细胞生理和生化过程,控制细胞命运和生命体的组织稳态。NMD的缺陷会导致人类疾病,如神经发育障碍、肿瘤发生和自身免疫疾病等。UPF3 (Up-frameshift protein 3)是一个核心的NMD因子,它最早在酵母中被发现。UPF3A和UPF3B是UPF3在生物进化到脊椎动物阶段出现的两个旁系同源物,在NMD中具有激活或抑制的作用。以往研究发现,UPF3B蛋白几乎在所有哺乳动物器官中均有表达,而UPF3A蛋白在除睾丸外的大多数哺乳动物组织中难以被检测到。解释这一现象的假说为:在NMD途径中,UPF3B具有比UPF3A更高的竞争性结合UPF2的能力,UPF3B和UPF2的结合促使UPF3A成为游离状态,而游离的UPF3A蛋白不稳定且易被降解。此假说提示UPF3A和UPF3B在NMD中存在拮抗作用。在本研究中,我们重新定量评估了UPF3A和UPF3B在野生型成年雄性和雌性小鼠的9个主要组织和生殖器官中的mRNA和蛋白表达,结果证实UPF3A在雄性生殖细胞中表达量最高。令人惊讶的是,我们发现在包括大脑和胸腺在内的大多数组织中,UPF3A与UPF3B的蛋白水平相当,而在小鼠脾、肺组织中,UPF3A表达高于UPF3B。公共基因表达数据进一步支持了上述发现。因此,我们的研究表明了UPF3A是小鼠组织中普遍表达的NMD因子。同时,该研究结果推测:在生理条件下,UPF3A和UPF3B蛋白之间不存在竞争抑制,且UPF3A在多种哺乳动物组织的稳态中发挥重要作用。
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Chen Chengyan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yanmin Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Tangliang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
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9
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Monaghan L, Longman D, Cáceres JF. Translation-coupled mRNA quality control mechanisms. EMBO J 2023; 42:e114378. [PMID: 37605642 PMCID: PMC10548175 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2023114378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
mRNA surveillance pathways are essential for accurate gene expression and to maintain translation homeostasis, ensuring the production of fully functional proteins. Future insights into mRNA quality control pathways will enable us to understand how cellular mRNA levels are controlled, how defective or unwanted mRNAs can be eliminated, and how dysregulation of these can contribute to human disease. Here we review translation-coupled mRNA quality control mechanisms, including the non-stop and no-go mRNA decay pathways, describing their mechanisms, shared trans-acting factors, and differences. We also describe advances in our understanding of the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway, highlighting recent mechanistic findings, the discovery of novel factors, as well as the role of NMD in cellular physiology and its impact on human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Monaghan
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and CancerUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Dasa Longman
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and CancerUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Javier F Cáceres
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and CancerUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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10
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Petrić Howe M, Patani R. Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay in neuronal physiology and neurodegeneration. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:879-892. [PMID: 37543480 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
The processes of mRNA export from the nucleus and subsequent mRNA translation in the cytoplasm are of particular relevance in eukaryotic cells. In highly polarised cells such as neurons, finely-tuned molecular regulation of these processes serves to safeguard the spatiotemporal fidelity of gene expression. Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a cytoplasmic translation-dependent quality control process that regulates gene expression in a wide range of scenarios in the nervous system, including neurodevelopment, learning, and memory formation. Moreover, NMD dysregulation has been implicated in a broad range of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. We discuss how NMD and related aspects of mRNA translation regulate key neuronal functions and, in particular, we focus on evidence implicating these processes in the molecular pathogenesis of neurodegeneration. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential and challenges of targeting mRNA translation and NMD across the spectrum of largely untreatable neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Petrić Howe
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London (UCL), Queen Square, WC1N 3BG London, UK.
| | - Rickie Patani
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London (UCL), Queen Square, WC1N 3BG London, UK.
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11
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D'Sa K, Guelfi S, Vandrovcova J, Reynolds RH, Zhang D, Hardy J, Botía JA, Weale ME, Taliun SAG, Small KS, Ryten M. Analysis of subcellular RNA fractions demonstrates significant genetic regulation of gene expression in human brain post-transcriptionally. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13874. [PMID: 37620324 PMCID: PMC10449874 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40324-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Gaining insight into the genetic regulation of gene expression in human brain is key to the interpretation of genome-wide association studies for major neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analyses have largely been used to achieve this, providing valuable insights into the genetic regulation of steady-state RNA in human brain, but not distinguishing between molecular processes regulating transcription and stability. RNA quantification within cellular fractions can disentangle these processes in cell types and tissues which are challenging to model in vitro. We investigated the underlying molecular processes driving the genetic regulation of gene expression specific to a cellular fraction using allele-specific expression (ASE). Applying ASE analysis to genomic and transcriptomic data from paired nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions of anterior prefrontal cortex, cerebellar cortex and putamen tissues from 4 post-mortem neuropathologically-confirmed control human brains, we demonstrate that a significant proportion of genetic regulation of gene expression occurs post-transcriptionally in the cytoplasm, with genes undergoing this form of regulation more likely to be synaptic. These findings have implications for understanding the structure of gene expression regulation in human brain, and importantly the interpretation of rapidly growing single-nucleus brain RNA-sequencing and eQTL datasets, where cytoplasm-specific regulatory events could be missed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karishma D'Sa
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, School of Medical Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Sebastian Guelfi
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Verge Genomics, Tower Pl, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Jana Vandrovcova
- Dept of Neuromuscular Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Regina H Reynolds
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Genetics and Genomic Medicine, University College London, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - David Zhang
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Genetics and Genomic Medicine, University College London, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - John Hardy
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Juan A Botía
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Genetics and Genomic Medicine, University College London, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
- Departamento de Ingeniería de la Información y las Comunicaciones, Universidad de Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Michael E Weale
- Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, School of Medical Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- Genomics Plc, Oxford, OX1 1JD, UK
| | - Sarah A Gagliano Taliun
- Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Montréal Heart Institute, Montréal, QC, H1T 1C8, Canada
- Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Kerrin S Small
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Mina Ryten
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Genetics and Genomic Medicine, University College London, London, WC1N 1EH, UK.
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, WC1N 3JH, UK.
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12
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Hsieh MC, Lai CY, Yeh CM, Yang PS, Cheng JK, Wang HH, Lin KH, Nie ST, Lin TB, Peng HY. Phosphorylated Upstream Frameshift 1-dependent Nonsense-mediated μ-Opioid Receptor mRNA Decay in the Spinal Cord Contributes to the Development of Neuropathic Allodynia-like Behavior in Rats. Anesthesiology 2023; 138:634-655. [PMID: 36867667 DOI: 10.1097/aln.0000000000004550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonsense-mediated messenger RNA (mRNA) decay increases targeted mRNA degradation and has been implicated in the regulation of gene expression in neurons. The authors hypothesized that nonsense-mediated μ-opioid receptor mRNA decay in the spinal cord is involved in the development of neuropathic allodynia-like behavior in rats. METHODS Adult Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes received spinal nerve ligation to induce neuropathic allodynia-like behavior. The mRNA and protein expression contents in the dorsal horn of animals were measured by biochemical analyses. Nociceptive behaviors were evaluated by the von Frey test and the burrow test. RESULTS On Day 7, spinal nerve ligation significantly increased phosphorylated upstream frameshift 1 (UPF1) expression in the dorsal horn (mean ± SD; 0.34 ± 0.19 in the sham ipsilateral group vs. 0.88 ± 0.15 in the nerve ligation ipsilateral group; P < 0.001; data in arbitrary units) and drove allodynia-like behaviors in rats (10.58 ± 1.72 g in the sham ipsilateral group vs. 1.19 ± 0.31 g in the nerve ligation ipsilateral group, P < 0.001). No sex-based differences were found in either Western blotting or behavior tests in rats. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A3 (eIF4A3) triggered SMG1 kinase (0.06 ± 0.02 in the sham group vs. 0.20 ± 0.08 in the nerve ligation group, P = 0.005, data in arbitrary units)-mediated UPF1 phosphorylation, leading to increased nonsense-mediated mRNA decay factor SMG7 binding and µ-opioid receptor mRNA degradation (0.87 ± 0.11-fold in the sham group vs. 0.50 ± 0.11-fold in the nerve ligation group, P = 0.002) in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord after spinal nerve ligation. Pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of this signaling pathway in vivo ameliorated allodynia-like behaviors after spinal nerve ligation. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that phosphorylated UPF1-dependent nonsense-mediated μ-opioid receptor mRNA decay is involved in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Chun Hsieh
- Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Yuan Lai
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chou-Ming Yeh
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Health, Taichung Hospital, Executive Yuan, Taichung, Taiwan; Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Sheng Yang
- Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Surgery, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Kun Cheng
- Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Anesthesiology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsueh-Hsiao Wang
- Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Hung Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Traditional Herbal Medicine Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Siao-Tong Nie
- Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzer-Bin Lin
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan; Institute of New Drug Development, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hsien-Yu Peng
- Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Sciences, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
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13
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Ahmed MR, Du Z. Molecular Interaction of Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay with Viruses. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040816. [PMID: 37112798 PMCID: PMC10141005 DOI: 10.3390/v15040816] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The virus–host interaction is dynamic and evolutionary. Viruses have to fight with hosts to establish successful infection. Eukaryotic hosts are equipped with multiple defenses against incoming viruses. One of the host antiviral defenses is the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for RNA quality control in eukaryotic cells. NMD ensures the accuracy of mRNA translation by removing the abnormal mRNAs harboring pre-matured stop codons. Many RNA viruses have a genome that contains internal stop codon(s) (iTC). Akin to the premature termination codon in aberrant RNA transcripts, the presence of iTC would activate NMD to degrade iTC-containing viral genomes. A couple of viruses have been reported to be sensitive to the NMD-mediated antiviral defense, while some viruses have evolved with specific cis-acting RNA features or trans-acting viral proteins to overcome or escape from NMD. Recently, increasing light has been shed on the NMD–virus interaction. This review summarizes the current scenario of NMD-mediated viral RNA degradation and classifies various molecular means by which viruses compromise the NMD-mediated antiviral defense for better infection in their hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zhiyou Du
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-571-86843195
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14
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Regulation of Arp5 expression by alternative splicing coupled to nonsense-mediated RNA decay. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 657:50-58. [PMID: 36977368 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.03.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Actin-related protein 5 (ARP5) inhibits the differentiation of skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscle tissues, and ARP5 expression increases or decreases according to physiological and pathological changes in the muscle differentiation status. However, the regulatory mechanisms of ARP5 expression are largely unknown. Here, we identified a novel Arp5 mRNA isoform that contains premature termination codons in alternative exon 7b and is thus targeted by nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). In mouse skeletal muscle cells, switching from the canonical Arp5 isoform, i.e., Arp5(7a), to the NMD-targeted isoform Arp5(7b) occurred during differentiation, suggesting that Arp5 expression is regulated by alternative splicing coupled to NMD (AS-NMD). We developed an original method to accurately quantify the proportion of both Arp5 isoforms and measured higher levels of Arp5(7b) in muscle and brain tissues, where ARP5 is less expressed. The 3' splice site in Arp5 exon 7 has an unusual acceptor sequence that often leads to the skip of the authentic splice site and the use of the cryptic splice site localized 16 bases downstream. When the unusual acceptor sequence was mutated to the usual one, the Arp5(7b) isoform was barely detectable. The expression of several splicing factors involved in 3' splice site recognition was reduced after muscle differentiation. Additionally, knockdown of splicing factors increased the levels of Arp5(7b) and decreased the expression of Arp5(7a). Furthermore, strong positive correlations were found between Arp5 expression and the levels of these splicing factors in human skeletal and cardiac muscle tissues. Thus, Arp5 expression in muscle tissues is most likely regulated by the AS-NMD pathway.
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15
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Elucidation of the Landscape of Alternatively Spliced Genes and Features in the Dorsal Striatum of Aggressive/Aggression-Deprived Mice in the Model of Chronic Social Conflicts. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14030599. [PMID: 36980872 PMCID: PMC10048575 DOI: 10.3390/genes14030599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Both aggressive and aggression-deprived (AD) individuals represent pathological cases extensively studied in psychiatry and substance abuse disciplines. We employed the animal model of chronic social conflicts curated in our laboratory for over 30 years. In the study, we pursued the task of evaluation of the key events in the dorsal striatum transcriptomes of aggression-experienced mice and AD species, as compared with the controls, using RNA-seq profiling. We evaluated the alternative splicing-mediated transcriptome dynamics based on the RNA-seq data. We confined our attention to the exon skipping (ES) events as the major AS type for animals. We report the concurrent posttranscriptional and posttranslational regulation of the ES events observed in the phosphorylation cycles (in phosphoproteins and their targets) in the neuron-specific genes of the striatum. Strikingly, we found that major neurospecific splicing factors (Nova1, Ptbp1, 2, Mbnl1, 2, and Sam68) related to the alternative splicing regulation of cAMP genes (Darpp-32, Grin1, Ptpn5, Ppp3ca, Pde10a, Prkaca, Psd95, and Adora1) are upregulated specifically in aggressive individuals as compared with the controls and specifically AD animals, assuming intense switching between isoforms in the cAMP-mediated (de)phosphorylation signaling cascade. We found that the coding alternative splicing events were mostly attributed to synaptic plasticity and neural development-related proteins, while the nonsense-mediated decay-associated splicing events are mostly attributed to the mRNA processing of genes, including the spliceosome and splicing factors. In addition, considering the gene families, the transporter (Slc) gene family manifested most of the ES events. We found out that the major molecular systems employing AS for their plasticity are the ‘spliceosome’, ‘chromatin rearrangement complex’, ‘synapse’, and ‘neural development/axonogenesis’ GO categories. Finally, we state that approximately 35% of the exon skipping variants in gene coding regions manifest the noncoding variants subject to nonsense-mediated decay, employed as a homeostasis-mediated expression regulation layer and often associated with the corresponding gene expression alteration.
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16
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Lee MK, Azizgolshani N, Shapiro JA, Nguyen LN, Kolling FW, Zanazzi GJ, Frost HR, Christensen BC. Tumor type and cell type-specific gene expression alterations in diverse pediatric central nervous system tumors identified using single nuclei RNA-seq. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2517703. [PMID: 36865335 PMCID: PMC9980204 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2517703/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the leading cause of pediatric cancer death, and these patients have an increased risk for developing secondary neoplasms. Due to the low prevalence of pediatric CNS tumors, major advances in targeted therapies have been lagging compared to other adult tumors. We collected single nuclei RNA-seq data from 35 pediatric CNS tumors and three non-tumoral pediatric brain tissues (84,700 nuclei) and characterized tumor heterogeneity and transcriptomic alterations. We distinguished cell subpopulations associated with specific tumor types including radial glial cells in ependymomas and oligodendrocyte precursor cells in astrocytomas. In tumors, we observed pathways important in neural stem cell-like populations, a cell type previously associated with therapy resistance. Lastly, we identified transcriptomic alterations among pediatric CNS tumor types compared to non-tumor tissues, while accounting for cell type effects on gene expression. Our results suggest potential tumor type and cell type-specific targets for pediatric CNS tumor treatment. In this study, we address current gaps in understanding single nuclei gene expression profiles of previously uninvestigated tumor types and enhance current knowledge of gene expression profiles of single cells of various pediatric CNS tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Kyung Lee
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Nasim Azizgolshani
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joshua A Shapiro
- Childhood Cancer Data Lab, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, Bala Cynwyd, PA, USA
| | - Lananh N Nguyen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - George J Zanazzi
- Dartmouth Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Hildreth Robert Frost
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Brock C Christensen
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
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17
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Daneshmandpour Y, Bahmanpour Z, Kazeminasab S, Aghaei Moghadam E, Alehabib E, Chapi M, Tafakhori A, Aghaei N, Darvish H, Emamalizadeh B. A novel mutation in the ALS2 gene in an iranian kurdish family with juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2023; 24:148-151. [PMID: 35852402 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2022.2100263] [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: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare disorder that affects both upper and lower motor neurons. Mutations in Alsin Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor (ALS2) correlates with three similar but distinctive syndromes, including the juvenile form of ALS. An Iranian Kurdish family was involved in this study and all members were evaluated with relevant clinical guidelines. Whole exome sequencing and sanger sequencing were applied to all family members to undermine the possible genetic factors. A substitution c. 2110 C>T (p. Arg704X) identified in the ALS2 gene. Bioinformatics analysis indicated the mutation is located in the well-conserved and functional domain of the protein. This study recognized a novel mutation in the ALS2 gene in a proband with the juvenile form of ALS. To our knowledge, this is the first identified ALS2 mutation among the Iranian population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousef Daneshmandpour
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Cytogene Genetic Diagnostic Laboratory, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zahra Bahmanpour
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Somayeh Kazeminasab
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ehsan Aghaei Moghadam
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elham Alehabib
- Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marjan Chapi
- Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Tafakhori
- Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Negar Aghaei
- Research Center of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hossein Darvish
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.,Cancer Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Babak Emamalizadeh
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Cytogene Genetic Diagnostic Laboratory, Tabriz, Iran
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18
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Vihinen M. Systematic errors in annotations of truncations, loss-of-function and synonymous variants. Front Genet 2023; 14:1015017. [PMID: 36713076 PMCID: PMC9880313 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1015017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Description of genetic phenomena and variations requires exact language and concepts. Vast amounts of variation data are produced with next-generation sequencing pipelines. The obtained variations are automatically annotated, e.g., for their functional consequences. These tools and pipelines, along with systematic nomenclature, mainly work well, but there are still some problems in nomenclature, organization of some databases, misuse of concepts and certain practices. Therefore, systematic errors prevent correct annotation and often preclude further analysis of certain variation types. Problems and solutions are described for presumed protein truncations, variants that are claimed to be of loss-of-function based on the type of variation, and synonymous variants that are not synonymous and lead to sequence changes or to missing protein.
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19
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Katsioudi G, Dreos R, Arpa ES, Gaspari S, Liechti A, Sato M, Gabriel CH, Kramer A, Brown SA, Gatfield D. A conditional Smg6 mutant mouse model reveals circadian clock regulation through the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade2828. [PMID: 36638184 PMCID: PMC9839329 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade2828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Nonsense-mediated messenger RNA (mRNA) decay (NMD) has been intensively studied as a surveillance pathway that degrades erroneous transcripts arising from mutations or RNA processing errors. While additional roles in physiological control of mRNA stability have emerged, possible functions in mammalian physiology in vivo remain unclear. Here, we created a conditional mouse allele that allows converting the NMD effector nuclease SMG6 from wild-type to nuclease domain-mutant protein. We find that NMD down-regulation affects the function of the circadian clock, a system known to require rapid mRNA turnover. Specifically, we uncover strong lengthening of free-running circadian periods for liver and fibroblast clocks and direct NMD regulation of Cry2 mRNA, encoding a key transcriptional repressor within the rhythm-generating feedback loop. Transcriptome-wide changes in daily mRNA accumulation patterns in the entrained liver, as well as an altered response to food entrainment, expand the known scope of NMD regulation in mammalian gene expression and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Katsioudi
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - René Dreos
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Enes S. Arpa
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sevasti Gaspari
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Angelica Liechti
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Miho Sato
- Chronobiology and Sleep Research Group, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian H. Gabriel
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Laboratory of Chronobiology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Achim Kramer
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Laboratory of Chronobiology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Steven A. Brown
- Chronobiology and Sleep Research Group, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - David Gatfield
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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20
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Leon KE, Khalid MM, Flynn RA, Fontaine KA, Nguyen TT, Kumar GR, Simoneau CR, Tomar S, Jimenez-Morales D, Dunlap M, Kaye J, Shah PS, Finkbeiner S, Krogan NJ, Bertozzi C, Carette JE, Ott M. Nuclear accumulation of host transcripts during Zika Virus Infection. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011070. [PMID: 36603024 PMCID: PMC9847913 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) infects fetal neural progenitor cells (NPCs) causing severe neurodevelopmental disorders in utero. Multiple pathways involved in normal brain development are dysfunctional in infected NPCs but how ZIKV centrally reprograms these pathways remains unknown. Here we show that ZIKV infection disrupts subcellular partitioning of host transcripts critical for neurodevelopment in NPCs and functionally link this process to the up-frameshift protein 1 (UPF1). UPF1 is an RNA-binding protein known to regulate decay of cellular and viral RNAs and is less expressed in ZIKV-infected cells. Using infrared crosslinking immunoprecipitation and RNA sequencing (irCLIP-Seq), we show that a subset of mRNAs loses UPF1 binding in ZIKV-infected NPCs, consistent with UPF1's diminished expression. UPF1 target transcripts, however, are not altered in abundance but in subcellular localization, with mRNAs accumulating in the nucleus of infected or UPF1 knockdown cells. This leads to diminished protein expression of FREM2, a protein required for maintenance of NPC identity. Our results newly link UPF1 to the regulation of mRNA transport in NPCs, a process perturbed during ZIKV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristoffer E. Leon
- J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Mir M. Khalid
- J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Ryan A. Flynn
- Stem Cell Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Krystal A. Fontaine
- J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Thong T. Nguyen
- J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - G. Renuka Kumar
- J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Camille R. Simoneau
- J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Sakshi Tomar
- J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - David Jimenez-Morales
- J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Mariah Dunlap
- J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Julia Kaye
- J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Priya S. Shah
- Departments of Chemical Engineering and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Steven Finkbeiner
- J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Center for Systems and Therapeutics and Taube/Koret Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Departments of Neurology and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Nevan J. Krogan
- J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Carolyn Bertozzi
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Jan E. Carette
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Melanie Ott
- J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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21
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Kootbodien T, London L, Martin LJ, Defo J, Ramesar R. The shared genetic architecture of suicidal behaviour and psychiatric disorders: A genomic structural equation modelling study. Front Genet 2023; 14:1083969. [PMID: 36959830 PMCID: PMC10028147 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1083969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Suicidal behaviour (SB) refers to behaviours, ranging from non-fatal suicidal behaviour, such as suicidal ideation and attempt, to completed suicide. Despite recent advancements in genomic technology and statistical methods, it is unclear to what extent the spectrum of suicidal behaviour is explained by shared genetic aetiology. Methods: We identified nine genome-wide association statistics of suicidal behaviour (sample sizes, n, ranging from 62,648 to 125,844), ten psychiatric traits [n up to 386,533] and collectively, nine summary datasets of anthropometric, behavioural and socioeconomic-related traits [n ranging from 58,610 to 941,280]. We calculated the genetic correlation among these traits and modelled this using genomic structural equation modelling, identified shared biological processes and pathways between suicidal behaviour and psychiatric disorders and evaluated potential causal associations using Mendelian randomisation. Results: Among populations of European ancestry, we observed strong positive genetic correlations between suicide ideation, attempt and self-harm (rg range, 0.71-1.09) and moderate to strong genetic correlations between suicidal behaviour traits and a range of psychiatric disorders, most notably, major depression disorder (rg = 0.86, p = 1.62 × 10-36). Multivariate analysis revealed a common factor structure for suicidal behaviour traits, major depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and alcohol use disorder. The derived common factor explained 38.7% of the shared variance across the traits. We identified 2,951 genes and 98 sub-network hub genes associated with the common factor, including pathways associated with developmental biology, signal transduction and RNA degradation. We found suggestive evidence for the protective effects of higher household income level on suicide attempt [OR = 0.55 (0.44-0.70), p = 1.29 × 10-5] and while further investigation is needed, a nominal significant effect of smoking on suicide attempt [OR = 1.24 (1.04-1.44), p = 0.026]. Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence of shared aetiology between suicidal behaviour and psychiatric disorders and indicate potential common molecular mechanisms contributing to the overlapping pathophysiology. These findings provide a better understanding of the complex genetic architecture of suicidal behaviour and have implications for the prevention and treatment of suicidal behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahira Kootbodien
- UCT/MRC Genomic and Precision Medicine Research Unit, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town and Affiliated Hospitals, Cape Town, South Africa
- *Correspondence: Tahira Kootbodien,
| | - Leslie London
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lorna J. Martin
- Division of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Joel Defo
- UCT/MRC Genomic and Precision Medicine Research Unit, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town and Affiliated Hospitals, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Raj Ramesar
- UCT/MRC Genomic and Precision Medicine Research Unit, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town and Affiliated Hospitals, Cape Town, South Africa
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22
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Mavashov A, Brusel M, Liu J, Woytowicz V, Bae H, Chen YH, Dani VS, Cardenal-Muñoz E, Spinosa V, Aibar JÁ, Rubinstein M. Heat-induced seizures, premature mortality, and hyperactivity in a novel Scn1a nonsense model for Dravet syndrome. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1149391. [PMID: 37206664 PMCID: PMC10191256 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1149391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Dravet syndrome (Dravet) is a severe congenital developmental genetic epilepsy caused by de novo mutations in the SCN1A gene. Nonsense mutations are found in ∼20% of the patients, and the R613X mutation was identified in multiple patients. Here we characterized the epileptic and non-epileptic phenotypes of a novel preclinical Dravet mouse model harboring the R613X nonsense Scn1a mutation. Scn1aWT/R613X mice, on a mixed C57BL/6J:129S1/SvImJ background, exhibited spontaneous seizures, susceptibility to heat-induced seizures, and premature mortality, recapitulating the core epileptic phenotypes of Dravet. In addition, these mice, available as an open-access model, demonstrated increased locomotor activity in the open-field test, modeling some non-epileptic Dravet-associated phenotypes. Conversely, Scn1aWT/R613X mice, on the pure 129S1/SvImJ background, had a normal life span and were easy to breed. Homozygous Scn1aR613X/R613X mice (pure 129S1/SvImJ background) died before P16. Our molecular analyses of hippocampal and cortical expression demonstrated that the premature stop codon induced by the R613X mutation reduced Scn1a mRNA and NaV1.1 protein levels to ∼50% in heterozygous Scn1aWT/R613X mice (on either genetic background), with marginal expression in homozygous Scn1aR613X/R613X mice. Together, we introduce a novel Dravet model carrying the R613X Scn1a nonsense mutation that can be used to study the molecular and neuronal basis of Dravet, as well as the development of new therapies associated with SCN1A nonsense mutations in Dravet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anat Mavashov
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Marina Brusel
- Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Jiaxing Liu
- Tevard Biosciences, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | - Haneui Bae
- Tevard Biosciences, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Moran Rubinstein
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- *Correspondence: Moran Rubinstein,
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23
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Das AS, Sherry EC, Vaughan RM, Henderson ML, Zieba J, Uhl KL, Koehn O, Bupp CP, Rajasekaran S, Li X, Chhetri SB, Nissim S, Williams CL, Prokop JW. The complex, dynamic SpliceOme of the small GTPase transcripts altered by technique, sex, genetics, tissue specificity, and RNA base editing. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1033695. [PMID: 36467401 PMCID: PMC9714508 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1033695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The small GTPase family is well-studied in cancer and cellular physiology. With 162 annotated human genes, the family has a broad expression throughout cells of the body. Members of the family have multiple exons that require splicing. Yet, the role of splicing within the family has been underexplored. We have studied the splicing dynamics of small GTPases throughout 41,671 samples by integrating Nanopore and Illumina sequencing techniques. Within this work, we have made several discoveries. 1). Using the GTEx long read data of 92 samples, each small GTPase gene averages two transcripts, with 83 genes (51%) expressing two or more isoforms. 2). Cross-tissue analysis of GTEx from 17,382 samples shows 41 genes (25%) expressing two or more protein-coding isoforms. These include protein-changing transcripts in genes such as RHOA, RAB37, RAB40C, RAB4B, RAB5C, RHOC, RAB1A, RAN, RHEB, RAC1, and KRAS. 3). The isolation and library technique of the RNAseq influences the abundance of non-sense-mediated decay and retained intron transcripts of small GTPases, which are observed more often in genes than appreciated. 4). Analysis of 16,243 samples of "Blood PAXgene" identified seven genes (3.7%; RHOA, RAB40C, RAB4B, RAB37, RAB5B, RAB5C, RHOC) with two or more transcripts expressed as the major isoform (75% of the total gene), suggesting a role of genetics in altering splicing. 5). Rare (ARL6, RAB23, ARL13B, HRAS, NRAS) and common variants (GEM, RHOC, MRAS, RAB5B, RERG, ARL16) can influence splicing and have an impact on phenotypes and diseases. 6). Multiple genes (RAB9A, RAP2C, ARL4A, RAB3A, RAB26, RAB3C, RASL10A, RAB40B, and HRAS) have sex differences in transcript expression. 7). Several exons are included or excluded for small GTPase genes (RASEF, KRAS, RAC1, RHEB, ARL4A, RHOA, RAB30, RHOBTB1, ARL16, RAP1A) in one or more forms of cancer. 8). Ten transcripts are altered in hypoxia (SAR1B, IFT27, ARL14, RAB11A, RAB10, RAB38, RAN, RIT1, RAB9A) with RHOA identified to have a transient 3'UTR RNA base editing at a conserved site found in all of its transcripts. Overall, we show a remarkable and dynamic role of splicing within the small GTPase family that requires future explorations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akansha S. Das
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
- Department of Biology, Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, PA, United States
| | - Emily C. Sherry
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, United States
| | - Robert M. Vaughan
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Marian L. Henderson
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
- The Department of Biology, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Jacob Zieba
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
- Genetics and Genome Sciences Program, BioMolecular Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Katie L. Uhl
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Olivia Koehn
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Caleb P. Bupp
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
- Medical Genetics, Spectrum Health and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Surender Rajasekaran
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
- Department of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
- Office of Research, Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Xiaopeng Li
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Surya B. Chhetri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MA, United States
| | - Sahar Nissim
- Genetics and Gastroenterology Divisions, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Carol L. Williams
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Jeremy W. Prokop
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
- Genetics and Genome Sciences Program, BioMolecular Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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24
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Chousal JN, Sohni A, Vitting-Seerup K, Cho K, Kim M, Tan K, Porse B, Wilkinson MF, Cook-Andersen H. Progression of the pluripotent epiblast depends upon the NMD factor UPF2. Development 2022; 149:dev200764. [PMID: 36255229 PMCID: PMC9687065 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD) is a highly conserved RNA turnover pathway that degrades RNAs harboring in-frame stop codons in specific contexts. Loss of NMD factors leads to embryonic lethality in organisms spanning the phylogenetic scale, but the mechanism remains unknown. Here, we report that the core NMD factor, UPF2, is required for expansion of epiblast cells within the inner cell mass of mice in vivo. We identify NMD target mRNAs in mouse blastocysts - both canonical and alternatively processed mRNAs - including those encoding cell cycle arrest and apoptosis factors, raising the possibility that NMD is essential for embryonic cell proliferation and survival. In support, the inner cell mass of Upf2-null blastocysts rapidly regresses with outgrowth and is incompetent for embryonic stem cell derivation in vitro. In addition, we uncovered concordant temporal- and lineage-specific regulation of NMD factors and mRNA targets, indicative of a shift in NMD magnitude during peri-implantation development. Together, our results reveal developmental and molecular functions of the NMD pathway in the early embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N. Chousal
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Abhishek Sohni
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kristoffer Vitting-Seerup
- The Bioinformatics Centre, Department of Biology and Biotech Research & Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Section for Bioinformatics, Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kyucheol Cho
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Matthew Kim
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kun Tan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Bo Porse
- The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Biotech Research and Innovation Center (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology, DanStem, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Miles F. Wilkinson
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Institute of Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Heidi Cook-Andersen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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25
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Taiana M, Govoni A, Salani S, Kleinschmidt N, Galli N, Saladini M, Ghezzi SB, Melzi V, Bersani M, Del Bo R, Muehlemann O, Bertini E, Sansone V, Albamonte E, Messina S, Mari F, Cesaroni E, Porfiri L, Tiziano FD, Vita GL, Sframeli M, Bonanno C, Bresolin N, Comi G, Corti S, Nizzardo M. Molecular analysis of SMARD1 patient-derived cells demonstrates that nonsense-mediated mRNA decay is impaired. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2022; 93:908-910. [PMID: 35086940 PMCID: PMC9304090 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-326425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michela Taiana
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Alessandra Govoni
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Sabrina Salani
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Nicole Kleinschmidt
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Noemi Galli
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Matteo Saladini
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Stefano Bruno Ghezzi
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Valentina Melzi
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Margherita Bersani
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Roberto Del Bo
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Oliver Muehlemann
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Enrico Bertini
- Department of Neuroscience, Unit of Neuromuscolar and Neurodegenerative Diseases, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Sansone
- Department Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy.,NEuroMuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy
| | - Emilio Albamonte
- NEuroMuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy
| | - Sonia Messina
- NEMO SUD Clinical Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Messina, Italy.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Francesco Mari
- Child Neurology Unit, Pediatric Hospital A. Meyer, Florence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Cesaroni
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, Children's Hospital G. Salesi -University of Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - Liliana Porfiri
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, Children's Hospital G. Salesi -University of Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Danilo Tiziano
- Institute of Genomic Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Fondazione, Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Roma, Lazio, Italy
| | - Gian Luca Vita
- NEMO SUD Clinical Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Sframeli
- NEMO SUD Clinical Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Messina, Italy
| | - Carmen Bonanno
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Nereo Bresolin
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy.,Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Giacomo Comi
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy.,Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Lombardia, Italy.,Neuromuscular and rare diseases unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Stefania Corti
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy.,Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Lombardia, Italy
| | - Monica Nizzardo
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Lombardia, Italy
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26
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Tan K, Stupack DG, Wilkinson MF. Nonsense-mediated RNA decay: an emerging modulator of malignancy. Nat Rev Cancer 2022; 22:437-451. [PMID: 35624152 PMCID: PMC11009036 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00481-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD) is a highly conserved RNA turnover pathway that selectively degrades RNAs harbouring truncating mutations that prematurely terminate translation, including nonsense, frameshift and some splice-site mutations. Recent studies show that NMD shapes the mutational landscape of tumours by selecting for mutations that tend to downregulate the expression of tumour suppressor genes but not oncogenes. This suggests that NMD can benefit tumours, a notion further supported by the finding that mRNAs encoding immunogenic neoantigen peptides are typically targeted for decay by NMD. Together, this raises the possibility that NMD-inhibitory therapy could be of therapeutic benefit against many tumour types, including those with a high load of neoantigen-generating mutations. Complicating this scenario is the evidence that NMD can also be detrimental for many tumour types, and consequently tumours often have perturbed NMD. NMD may suppress tumour generation and progression by degrading subsets of specific normal mRNAs, including those encoding stress-response proteins, signalling factors and other proteins beneficial for tumours, as well as pro-tumour non-coding RNAs. Together, these findings suggest that NMD-modulatory therapy has the potential to provide widespread therapeutic benefit against diverse tumour types. However, whether NMD should be stimulated or repressed requires careful analysis of the tumour to be treated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Tan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Dwayne G Stupack
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- UCSD Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Miles F Wilkinson
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Institute of Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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27
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Tan K, Wilkinson MF. Regulation of both transcription and RNA turnover contribute to germline specification. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:7310-7325. [PMID: 35776114 PMCID: PMC9303369 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The nuanced mechanisms driving primordial germ cells (PGC) specification remain incompletely understood since genome-wide transcriptional regulation in developing PGCs has previously only been defined indirectly. Here, using SLAMseq analysis, we determined genome-wide transcription rates during the differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to form epiblast-like (EpiLC) cells and ultimately PGC-like cells (PGCLCs). This revealed thousands of genes undergoing bursts of transcriptional induction and rapid shut-off not detectable by RNAseq analysis. Our SLAMseq datasets also allowed us to infer RNA turnover rates, which revealed thousands of mRNAs stabilized and destabilized during PGCLC specification. mRNAs tend to be unstable in ESCs and then are progressively stabilized as they differentiate. For some classes of genes, mRNA turnover regulation collaborates with transcriptional regulation, but these processes oppose each other in a surprisingly high frequency of genes. To test whether regulated mRNA turnover has a physiological role in PGC development, we examined three genes that we found were regulated by RNA turnover: Sox2, Klf2 and Ccne1. Circumvention of their regulated RNA turnover severely impaired the ESC-to-EpiLC and EpiLC-to-PGCLC transitions. Our study demonstrates the functional importance of regulated RNA stability in germline development and provides a roadmap of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation during germline specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Tan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Miles F Wilkinson
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Institute of Genomic Medicine (IGM), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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28
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Duan L, Zaepfel BL, Aksenova V, Dasso M, Rothstein JD, Kalab P, Hayes LR. Nuclear RNA binding regulates TDP-43 nuclear localization and passive nuclear export. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111106. [PMID: 35858577 PMCID: PMC9345261 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear clearance of the RNA-binding protein TDP-43 is a hallmark of neurodegeneration and an important therapeutic target. Our current understanding of TDP-43 nucleocytoplasmic transport does not fully explain its predominantly nuclear localization or mislocalization in disease. Here, we show that TDP-43 exits nuclei by passive diffusion, independent of facilitated mRNA export. RNA polymerase II blockade and RNase treatment induce TDP-43 nuclear efflux, suggesting that nuclear RNAs sequester TDP-43 in nuclei and limit its availability for passive export. Induction of TDP-43 nuclear efflux by short, GU-rich oligomers (presumably by outcompeting TDP-43 binding to endogenous nuclear RNAs), and nuclear retention conferred by splicing inhibition, demonstrate that nuclear TDP-43 localization depends on binding to GU-rich nuclear RNAs. Indeed, RNA-binding domain mutations markedly reduce TDP-43 nuclear localization and abolish transcription blockade-induced nuclear efflux. Thus, the nuclear abundance of GU-RNAs, dictated by the balance of transcription, pre-mRNA processing, and RNA export, regulates TDP-43 nuclear localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Duan
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Benjamin L Zaepfel
- Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Vasilisa Aksenova
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mary Dasso
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Rothstein
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Petr Kalab
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
| | - Lindsey R Hayes
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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29
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Bufton JC, Powers KT, Szeto JYA, Toelzer C, Berger I, Schaffitzel C. Structures of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay factors UPF3B and UPF3A in complex with UPF2 reveal molecular basis for competitive binding and for neurodevelopmental disorder-causing mutation. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:5934-5947. [PMID: 35640974 PMCID: PMC9177958 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
UPF3 is a key nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) factor required for mRNA surveillance and eukaryotic gene expression regulation. UPF3 exists as two paralogs (A and B) which are differentially expressed depending on cell type and developmental stage and believed to regulate NMD activity based on cellular requirements. UPF3B mutations cause intellectual disability. The underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive, as many of the mutations lie in the poorly characterized middle-domain of UPF3B. Here, we show that UPF3A and UPF3B share structural and functional homology to paraspeckle proteins comprising an RNA-recognition motif-like domain (RRM-L), a NONA/paraspeckle-like domain (NOPS-L), and extended α-helical domain. These domains are essential for RNA/ribosome-binding, RNA-induced oligomerization and UPF2 interaction. Structures of UPF2's third middle-domain of eukaryotic initiation factor 4G (MIF4GIII) in complex with either UPF3B or UPF3A reveal unexpectedly intimate binding interfaces. UPF3B's disease-causing mutation Y160D in the NOPS-L domain displaces Y160 from a hydrophobic cleft in UPF2 reducing the binding affinity ∼40-fold compared to wildtype. UPF3A, which is upregulated in patients with the UPF3B-Y160D mutation, binds UPF2 with ∼10-fold higher affinity than UPF3B reliant mainly on NOPS-L residues. Our characterization of RNA- and UPF2-binding by UPF3's middle-domain elucidates its essential role in NMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua C Bufton
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol; University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Kyle T Powers
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol; University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Jenn-Yeu A Szeto
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol; University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Christine Toelzer
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol; University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Imre Berger
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol; University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.,Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
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30
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Plexin-A1 expression in the inhibitory neurons of infralimbic cortex regulates the specificity of fear memory in male mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1220-1230. [PMID: 34508226 PMCID: PMC9018853 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01177-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Maintaining appropriate levels of fear memory specificity is crucial for individual's survival and mental health, whereas overgeneralized fear commonly occurs in neuropsychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating fear memory specificity remain poorly understood. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is considered as a key brain region in fear memory regulation. Previous transcriptomic studies have identified that plexin-A1, a transmembrane receptor critical for axon development, was downregulated in the mPFC after fear memory training. In this study, we identified that learning-induced downregulation of the mRNA and protein levels of plexin-A1 specifically occurred in the inhibitory but not excitatory neurons in the infralimbic cortex (IL) of mPFC. Further studies of plexin-A1 by virus-mediated over-expression of functional mutants selectively in the IL inhibitory neurons revealed the critical roles of plexin-A1 for regulating memory specificity and anxiety. Moreover, our findings revealed that plexin-A1 regulated the distribution of glutamic acid decarboxylase 67, a GABA synthetase, which in turn modulated the activity of IL and its downstream brain regions. Collectively, our findings elucidate the molecular modifier of IL inhibitory neurons in regulating memory specificity and anxiety, and provide candidates for developing therapeutic strategies for the prevention or treatment of a series of fear generalization-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Rahikkala E, Urpa L, Ghimire B, Topa H, Kurki MI, Koskela M, Airavaara M, Hämäläinen E, Pylkäs K, Körkkö J, Savolainen H, Suoranta A, Bertoli-Avella A, Rolfs A, Mattila P, Daly M, Palotie A, Pietiläinen O, Moilanen J, Kuismin O. A novel variant in SMG9 causes intellectual disability, confirming a role for nonsense-mediated decay components in neurocognitive development. Eur J Hum Genet 2022; 30:619-627. [PMID: 35087184 PMCID: PMC9090808 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-022-01046-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biallelic loss-of-function variants in the SMG9 gene, encoding a regulatory subunit of the mRNA nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) machinery, are reported to cause heart and brain malformation syndrome. Here we report five patients from three unrelated families with intellectual disability (ID) and a novel pathogenic SMG9 c.551 T > C p.(Val184Ala) homozygous missense variant, identified using exome sequencing. Sanger sequencing confirmed recessive segregation in each family. SMG9 c.551T > C p.(Val184Ala) is most likely an autozygous variant identical by descent. Characteristic clinical findings in patients were mild to moderate ID, intention tremor, pyramidal signs, dyspraxia, and ocular manifestations. We used RNA sequencing of patients and age- and sex-matched healthy controls to assess the effect of the variant. RNA sequencing revealed that the SMG9 c.551T > C variant did not affect the splicing or expression level of SMG9 gene products, and allele-specific expression analysis did not provide evidence that the nonsense mRNA-induced NMD was affected. Differential gene expression analysis identified prevalent upregulation of genes in patients, including the genes SMOX, OSBP2, GPX3, and ZNF155. These findings suggest that normal SMG9 function may be involved in transcriptional regulation without affecting nonsense mRNA-induced NMD. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the SMG9 c.551T > C missense variant causes a neurodevelopmental disorder and impacts gene expression. NMD components have roles beyond aberrant mRNA degradation that are crucial for neurocognitive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Rahikkala
- Department of Clinical Genetics, PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Lea Urpa
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Bishwa Ghimire
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hande Topa
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mitja I Kurki
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Psychiatric & Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- The Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Maryna Koskela
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikko Airavaara
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eija Hämäläinen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Katri Pylkäs
- Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit and Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, NordLab Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jarmo Körkkö
- Center for Intellectual Disability Care, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Helena Savolainen
- Center for Intellectual Disability Care, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Anu Suoranta
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Arndt Rolfs
- Centogene GmbH, 18055, Rostock, Germany
- Medical Faculty, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Pirkko Mattila
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mark Daly
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Psychiatric & Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- The Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aarno Palotie
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Psychiatric & Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- The Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Olli Pietiläinen
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- The Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jukka Moilanen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Outi Kuismin
- Department of Clinical Genetics, PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Vidya E, Duchaine TF. Eukaryotic mRNA Decapping Activation. Front Genet 2022; 13:832547. [PMID: 35401681 PMCID: PMC8984151 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.832547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The 5′-terminal cap is a fundamental determinant of eukaryotic gene expression which facilitates cap-dependent translation and protects mRNAs from exonucleolytic degradation. Enzyme-directed hydrolysis of the cap (decapping) decisively affects mRNA expression and turnover, and is a heavily regulated event. Following the identification of the decapping holoenzyme (Dcp1/2) over two decades ago, numerous studies revealed the complexity of decapping regulation across species and cell types. A conserved set of Dcp1/2-associated proteins, implicated in decapping activation and molecular scaffolding, were identified through genetic and molecular interaction studies, and yet their exact mechanisms of action are only emerging. In this review, we discuss the prevailing models on the roles and assembly of decapping co-factors, with considerations of conservation across species and comparison across physiological contexts. We next discuss the functional convergences of decapping machineries with other RNA-protein complexes in cytoplasmic P bodies and compare current views on their impact on mRNA stability and translation. Lastly, we review the current models of decapping activation and highlight important gaps in our current understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elva Vidya
- Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Thomas F. Duchaine
- Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Thomas F. Duchaine,
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Zhao J, Li Z, Puri R, Liu K, Nunez I, Chen L, Zheng S. Molecular profiling of individual FDA-approved clinical drugs identifies modulators of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 27:304-318. [PMID: 35024243 PMCID: PMC8718828 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) degrades transcripts with premature stop codons. Given the prevalence of nonsense single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the general population, it is urgent to catalog the effects of clinically approved drugs on NMD activity: any interference could alter the expression of nonsense SNPs, inadvertently inducing adverse effects. This risk is higher for patients with disease-causing nonsense mutations or an illness linked to dysregulated nonsense transcripts. On the other hand, hundreds of disorders are affected by cellular NMD efficiency and may benefit from NMD-modulatory drugs. Here, we profiled individual FDA-approved drugs for their impact on cellular NMD efficiency using a sensitive method that directly probes multiple endogenous NMD targets for a robust readout of NMD modulation. We found most FDA-approved drugs cause unremarkable effects on NMD, while many elicit clear transcriptional responses. Besides several potential mild NMD modulators, the anticancer drug homoharringtonine (HHT or omacetaxine mepesuccinate) consistently upregulates various endogenous NMD substrates in a dose-dependent manner in multiple cell types. We further showed translation inhibition mediates HHT's NMD effect. In summary, many FDA drugs induce transcriptional changes, and a few impact global NMD, and direct measurement of endogenous NMD substrate expression is robust to monitor cellular NMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingrong Zhao
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA 91709, USA
| | - Zhelin Li
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA 91709, USA
| | - Ruchira Puri
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA 91709, USA
| | - Kelvin Liu
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA 91709, USA
| | - Israel Nunez
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA 91709, USA
| | - Liang Chen
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Sika Zheng
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA 91709, USA
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Analysis of recent shared ancestry in a familial cohort identifies coding and noncoding autism spectrum disorder variants. NPJ Genom Med 2022; 7:13. [PMID: 35190550 PMCID: PMC8861044 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-022-00284-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a collection of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior or interests. ASD is highly heritable, but genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous, reducing the power to identify causative genes. We performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) in an ASD cohort of 68 individuals from 22 families enriched for recent shared ancestry. We identified an average of 3.07 million variants per genome, of which an average of 112,512 were rare. We mapped runs of homozygosity (ROHs) in affected individuals and found an average genomic homozygosity of 9.65%, consistent with expectations for multiple generations of consanguineous unions. We identified potentially pathogenic rare exonic or splice site variants in 12 known (including KMT2C, SCN1A, SPTBN1, SYNE1, ZNF292) and 12 candidate (including CHD5, GRB10, PPP1R13B) ASD genes. Furthermore, we annotated noncoding variants in ROHs with brain-specific regulatory elements and identified putative disease-causing variants within brain-specific promoters and enhancers for 5 known ASD and neurodevelopmental disease genes (ACTG1, AUTS2, CTNND2, CNTNAP4, SPTBN4). We also identified copy number variants in two known ASD and neurodevelopmental disease loci in two affected individuals. In total we identified potentially etiological variants in known ASD or neurodevelopmental disease genes for ~61% (14/23) of affected individuals. We combined WGS with homozygosity mapping and regulatory element annotations to identify candidate ASD variants. Our analyses add to the growing number of ASD genes and variants and emphasize the importance of leveraging recent shared ancestry to map disease variants in complex neurodevelopmental disorders.
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35
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LPS Administration Impacts Glial Immune Programs by Alternative Splicing. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12020277. [PMID: 35204777 PMCID: PMC8961644 DOI: 10.3390/biom12020277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We performed transcriptome analysis in the hippocampus 24 h after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. We observed glial-specific genes, comprised of two-thirds of all differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We found microglial DEGs that were the most numerous in LPS group. On the contrary, differential alternative splicing (DAS) analysis revealed the most numerous DAS events in astrocytes. Besides, we observed distinct major isoform switching in the Ptbp1 gene, with skipping of exon 8 in LPS group. Ptbp1 usually considered a pluripotency sustaining agent in brain embryonic development, according to the previous studies. Analyzing the splicing tune-up upon LPS exposure, we came to a supposition that the short Ptbp1 isoform de-represses immune-specific response by Ptbp1 adjusted splicing architecture. Additionally, the Ptbp3 (NOD1) immune-specific splicing factor has apparently been de-repressed by the Ptbp1 short isoform in glial cells. Notably, both the Ptbp1 and Ptbp3 genes express primarily in microglial/endothelial brain cells. We also report immune-related genes, altering their major isoforms upon LPS exposure. The results revealed immune modulating role of alternative splicing in brain.
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36
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Guo M, Chen Y, Lin L, Wang Y, Wang A, Yuan F, Wang C, Wang S, Zhang Y. The Study on the Clinical Phenotype and Function of HPRT1 Gene. Child Neurol Open 2022; 9:2329048X221108821. [PMID: 35875183 PMCID: PMC9305801 DOI: 10.1177/2329048x221108821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Lesch-Nyhan disease (LND) is a rare x-linked purine metabolic neurogenetic disease caused by enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoriribosyltransferase(HGprt) deficiency, also known as self-destructive appearance syndrome. A series of manifestations are caused by abnormal purine metabolism. The typical clinical manifestations are hyperuricemia, growth retardation, mental retardation, short stature, dance-like athetosis, aggressive behavior, and compulsive self-harm. Methods: We identified a point mutation c.151C > T (p. Arg51*) in a pedigree. We analyzed the clinical characteristics of children in a family, and obtained the blood of their parents and siblings for second-generation sequencing. At the same time, we also analyzed and compared the expression of HPRT1 gene and predicted the three-dimensional structure of the protein. And we analyzed the clinical manifestations caused by the defect of the HPRT1 gene. Results: The mutation led to the termination of transcription at the 51st arginine, resulting in the production of truncated protein, and the relative expression of HPRT1 gene in patients was significantly lower than other family members and 10 normal individuals. Conclusion: This mutation leads to the early termination of protein translation and the formation of a truncated HPRT protein, which affects the function of the protein and generates corresponding clinical manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Guo
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yucai Chen
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Longlong Lin
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yilin Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Anqi Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fang Yuan
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunmei Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Simei Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanfeng Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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37
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Louadi Z, Elkjaer ML, Klug M, Lio CT, Fenn A, Illes Z, Bongiovanni D, Baumbach J, Kacprowski T, List M, Tsoy O. Functional enrichment of alternative splicing events with NEASE reveals insights into tissue identity and diseases. Genome Biol 2021; 22:327. [PMID: 34857024 PMCID: PMC8638120 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02538-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is an important aspect of gene regulation. Nevertheless, its role in molecular processes and pathobiology is far from understood. A roadblock is that tools for the functional analysis of AS-set events are lacking. To mitigate this, we developed NEASE, a tool integrating pathways with structural annotations of protein-protein interactions to functionally characterize AS events. We show in four application cases how NEASE can identify pathways contributing to tissue identity and cell type development, and how it highlights splicing-related biomarkers. With a unique view on AS, NEASE generates unique and meaningful biological insights complementary to classical pathways analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zakaria Louadi
- Chair of Experimental Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354, Freising, Germany
- Institute for Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, Notkestrasse 9, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maria L Elkjaer
- Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Melissa Klug
- Chair of Experimental Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354, Freising, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine I, School of Medicine, University hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Chit Tong Lio
- Chair of Experimental Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354, Freising, Germany
- Institute for Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, Notkestrasse 9, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Amit Fenn
- Chair of Experimental Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354, Freising, Germany
- Institute for Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, Notkestrasse 9, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Zsolt Illes
- Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Dario Bongiovanni
- Department of Internal Medicine I, School of Medicine, University hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS and Humanitas University, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Jan Baumbach
- Institute for Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, Notkestrasse 9, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5000, Odense, Denmark
| | - Tim Kacprowski
- Division Data Science in Biomedicine, Peter L. Reichertz Institute for Medical Informatics of Technische Universität Braunschweig and Hannover Medical School, Braunschweig, Germany
- Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology (BRICS), TU Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Markus List
- Chair of Experimental Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354, Freising, Germany.
| | - Olga Tsoy
- Institute for Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, Notkestrasse 9, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
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Cell Type-Specific Role of RNA Nuclease SMG6 in Neurogenesis. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123365. [PMID: 34943873 PMCID: PMC8699217 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
SMG6 is an endonuclease, which cleaves mRNAs during nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), thereby regulating gene expression and controling mRNA quality. SMG6 has been shown as a differentiation license factor of totipotent embryonic stem cells. To investigate whether it controls the differentiation of lineage-specific pluripotent progenitor cells, we inactivated Smg6 in murine embryonic neural stem cells. Nestin-Cre-mediated deletion of Smg6 in mouse neuroprogenitor cells (NPCs) caused perinatal lethality. Mutant mice brains showed normal structure at E14.5 but great reduction of the cortical NPCs and late-born cortical neurons during later stages of neurogenesis (i.e., E18.5). Smg6 inactivation led to dramatic cell death in ganglionic eminence (GE) and a reduction of interneurons at E14.5. Interestingly, neurosphere assays showed self-renewal defects specifically in interneuron progenitors but not in cortical NPCs. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that the interneuron differentiation regulators Dlx1 and Dlx2 were reduced after Smg6 deletion. Intriguingly, when Smg6 was deleted specifically in cortical and hippocampal progenitors, the mutant mice were viable and showed normal size and architecture of the cortex at E18.5. Thus, SMG6 regulates cell fate in a cell type-specific manner and is more important for neuroprogenitors originating from the GE than for progenitors from the cortex.
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Kurosaki T, Sakano H, Pröschel C, Wheeler J, Hewko A, Maquat LE. NMD abnormalities during brain development in the Fmr1-knockout mouse model of fragile X syndrome. Genome Biol 2021; 22:317. [PMID: 34784943 PMCID: PMC8597091 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02530-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is an intellectual disability attributable to loss of fragile X protein (FMRP). We previously demonstrated that FMRP binds mRNAs targeted for nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) and that FMRP loss results in hyperactivated NMD and inhibition of neuronal differentiation in human stem cells. RESULTS We show here that NMD is hyperactivated during the development of the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum in the Fmr1-knockout (KO) mouse during embryonic and early postnatal periods. Our findings demonstrate that NMD regulates many neuronal mRNAs that are important for mouse brain development. CONCLUSIONS We reveal the abnormal regulation of these mRNAs in the Fmr1-KO mouse, a model of FXS, and highlight the importance of early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuaki Kurosaki
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642 USA
- Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642 USA
| | - Hitomi Sakano
- Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642 USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642 USA
| | - Christoph Pröschel
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642 USA
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642 USA
| | - Jason Wheeler
- Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642 USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642 USA
| | - Alexander Hewko
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642 USA
- Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642 USA
| | - Lynne E. Maquat
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642 USA
- Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642 USA
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40
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Li M, Larsen PA. Primate-specific retrotransposons and the evolution of circadian networks in the human brain. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:988-1004. [PMID: 34592258 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.049] [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: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The circadian rhythm of the human brain is attuned to sleep-wake cycles that entail global alterations in neuronal excitability. This periodicity involves a highly coordinated regulation of gene expression. A growing number of studies are documenting a fascinating connection between primate-specific retrotransposons (Alu elements) and key epigenetic regulatory processes in the primate brain. Collectively, these studies indicate that Alu elements embedded in the human neuronal genome mediate post-transcriptional processes that unite human-specific neuroepigenetic landscapes and circadian rhythm. Here, we review evidence linking Alu retrotransposon-mediated posttranscriptional pathways to circadian gene expression. We hypothesize that Alu retrotransposons participate in the organization of circadian brain function through multidimensional neuroepigenetic pathways. We anticipate that these pathways are closely tied to the evolution of human cognition and their perturbation contributes to the manifestation of human-specific neurological diseases. Finally, we address current challenges and accompanying opportunities in studying primate- and human-specific transposable elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manci Li
- University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, United States
| | - Peter A Larsen
- University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, United States.
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41
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Rahimi K, Færch Nielsen A, Venø MT, Kjems J. Nanopore long-read sequencing of circRNAs. Methods 2021; 196:23-29. [PMID: 34571139 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2021.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular RNA (circRNA) is a group of highly stable RNA molecules with suggested roles in development and disease. They derive from linear pre-mRNAs when a 5'-splice site splices back to an upstream 3'-splice site in a process termed back-splicing. Most circRNAs are multi-exonic and may contain several thousand nucleotides. The extensive sequence overlap between the linear and circular forms of an RNA means that circRNA identification depends on the detection of back-splice-junction sequence reads that are unique to the circRNA. However, the short-read length obtained using standard next-generation sequencing techniques means that the internal sequence, exon composition and alternative splicing of circRNAs are unknown in many cases. Recently, several labs, including ours, have reported protocols for sequencing of circRNAs using long-read nanopore sequencing and thereby expanded our understanding of circRNA size distribution and internal splicing patterns. Here, we review these protocols and discuss the different approaches taken to study the full length composition of circRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Rahimi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG), Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark; Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Anne Færch Nielsen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark; Center for Cellular signal Patterns (CellPAT), Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Jørgen Kjems
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG), Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark; Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark; Center for Cellular signal Patterns (CellPAT), Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
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Rahimi K, Venø MT, Dupont DM, Kjems J. Nanopore sequencing of brain-derived full-length circRNAs reveals circRNA-specific exon usage, intron retention and microexons. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4825. [PMID: 34376658 PMCID: PMC8355340 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24975-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular RNA (circRNA) is a class of covalently joined non-coding RNAs with functional roles in a wide variety of cellular processes. Their composition shows extensive overlap with exons found in linear mRNAs making it difficult to delineate their composition using short-read RNA sequencing, particularly for long and multi-exonic circRNAs. Here, we use long-read nanopore sequencing of nicked circRNAs (circNick-LRS) and characterize a total of 18,266 and 39,623 circRNAs in human and mouse brain, respectively. We further develop an approach for targeted long-read sequencing of a panel of circRNAs (circPanel-LRS), eliminating the need for prior circRNA enrichment and find >30 circRNA isoforms on average per targeted locus. Our data show that circRNAs exhibit a large number of splicing events such as novel exons, intron retention and microexons that preferentially occur in circRNAs. We propose that altered exon usage in circRNAs may reflect resistance to nonsense-mediated decay in the absence of translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Rahimi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Morten T Venø
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Omiics ApS, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Daniel M Dupont
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jørgen Kjems
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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43
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Abstract
The function of the nervous system in conveying and processing information necessary to interact with the environment confers unique aspects on how the expression of genes in neurons is regulated. Three salient factors are that (1) neurons are the largest and among the most morphologically complex of all cells, with strict polarity, subcellular compartmentation, and long-distant transport of gene products, signaling molecules, and other materials; (2) information is coded in the temporal firing pattern of membrane depolarization; and (3) neurons must maintain a stable homeostatic level of activation to function so stimuli do not normally drive intracellular signaling to steady state. Each of these factors can require special methods of analysis differing from approaches used in non-neuronal cells. This review considers these three aspects of neuronal gene expression and the current approaches being used to analyze these special features of how the neuronal transcriptome is modulated by action potential firing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip R. Lee
- Nervous System Development and Plasticity Section, The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - R. Douglas Fields
- Nervous System Development and Plasticity Section, The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Park Y, Park J, Hwang HJ, Kim L, Jeong K, Song HK, Rufener SC, Mühlemann O, Kim YK. Translation mediated by the nuclear cap-binding complex is confined to the perinuclear region via a CTIF-DDX19B interaction. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:8261-8276. [PMID: 34232997 PMCID: PMC8373075 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Newly synthesized mRNA is translated during its export through the nuclear pore complex, when its 5′-cap structure is still bound by the nuclear cap-binding complex (CBC), a heterodimer of cap-binding protein (CBP) 80 and CBP20. Despite its critical role in mRNA surveillance, the mechanism by which CBC-dependent translation (CT) is regulated remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the CT initiation factor (CTIF) is tethered in a translationally incompetent manner to the perinuclear region by the DEAD-box helicase 19B (DDX19B). DDX19B hands over CTIF to CBP80, which is associated with the 5′-cap of a newly exported mRNA. The resulting CBP80–CTIF complex then initiates CT in the perinuclear region. We also show that impeding the interaction between CTIF and DDX19B leads to uncontrolled CT throughout the cytosol, consequently dysregulating nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Altogether, our data provide molecular evidence supporting the importance of tight control of local translation in the perinuclear region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeonkyoung Park
- Creative Research Initiatives Center for Molecular Biology of Translation, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.,Division of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Joori Park
- Creative Research Initiatives Center for Molecular Biology of Translation, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.,Division of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jung Hwang
- Creative Research Initiatives Center for Molecular Biology of Translation, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.,Division of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Leehyeon Kim
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwon Jeong
- Creative Research Initiatives Center for Molecular Biology of Translation, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.,Division of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Kyu Song
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Simone C Rufener
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Mühlemann
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Yoon Ki Kim
- Creative Research Initiatives Center for Molecular Biology of Translation, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.,Division of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
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45
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Multilayer modelling of the human transcriptome and biological mechanisms of complex diseases and traits. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2021; 7:24. [PMID: 34045472 PMCID: PMC8160250 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-021-00186-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we performed a comprehensive intra-tissue and inter-tissue multilayer network analysis of the human transcriptome. We generated an atlas of communities in gene co-expression networks in 49 tissues (GTEx v8), evaluated their tissue specificity, and investigated their methodological implications. UMAP embeddings of gene expression from the communities (representing nearly 18% of all genes) robustly identified biologically-meaningful clusters. Notably, new gene expression data can be embedded into our algorithmically derived models to accelerate discoveries in high-dimensional molecular datasets and downstream diagnostic or prognostic applications. We demonstrate the generalisability of our approach through systematic testing in external genomic and transcriptomic datasets. Methodologically, prioritisation of the communities in a transcriptome-wide association study of the biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP) in 361,194 individuals in the UK Biobank identified genetically-determined expression changes associated with CRP and led to considerably improved performance. Furthermore, a deep learning framework applied to the communities in nearly 11,000 tumors profiled by The Cancer Genome Atlas across 33 different cancer types learned biologically-meaningful latent spaces, representing metastasis (p < 2.2 × 10−16) and stemness (p < 2.2 × 10−16). Our study provides a rich genomic resource to catalyse research into inter-tissue regulatory mechanisms, and their downstream consequences on human disease.
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Afanasyeva EA, Gartlgruber M, Ryl T, Decaesteker B, Denecker G, Mönke G, Toprak UH, Florez A, Torkov A, Dreidax D, Herrmann C, Okonechnikov K, Ek S, Sharma AK, Sagulenko V, Speleman F, Henrich KO, Westermann F. Kalirin-RAC controls nucleokinetic migration in ADRN-type neuroblastoma. Life Sci Alliance 2021; 4:e201900332. [PMID: 33658318 PMCID: PMC8017594 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201900332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The migrational propensity of neuroblastoma is affected by cell identity, but the mechanisms behind the divergence remain unknown. Using RNAi and time-lapse imaging, we show that ADRN-type NB cells exhibit RAC1- and kalirin-dependent nucleokinetic (NUC) migration that relies on several integral components of neuronal migration. Inhibition of NUC migration by RAC1 and kalirin-GEF1 inhibitors occurs without hampering cell proliferation and ADRN identity. Using three clinically relevant expression dichotomies, we reveal that most of up-regulated mRNAs in RAC1- and kalirin-GEF1-suppressed ADRN-type NB cells are associated with low-risk characteristics. The computational analysis shows that, in a context of overall gene set poverty, the upregulomes in RAC1- and kalirin-GEF1-suppressed ADRN-type cells are a batch of AU-rich element-containing mRNAs, which suggests a link between NUC migration and mRNA stability. Gene set enrichment analysis-based search for vulnerabilities reveals prospective weak points in RAC1- and kalirin-GEF1-suppressed ADRN-type NB cells, including activities of H3K27- and DNA methyltransferases. Altogether, these data support the introduction of NUC inhibitors into cancer treatment research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena A Afanasyeva
- Department of Neuroblastoma Genomics, Hopp-Children's Cancer Center at the (NCT) Nationales Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Moritz Gartlgruber
- Department of Neuroblastoma Genomics, Hopp-Children's Cancer Center at the (NCT) Nationales Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tatsiana Ryl
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Duisburg Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Bieke Decaesteker
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University, and Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Geertrui Denecker
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University, and Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Gregor Mönke
- European Molecular Biology Laboratories, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Umut H Toprak
- Department of Neuroblastoma Genomics, Hopp-Children's Cancer Center at the (NCT) Nationales Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andres Florez
- Department of Neuroblastoma Genomics, Hopp-Children's Cancer Center at the (NCT) Nationales Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alica Torkov
- Department of Neuroblastoma Genomics, Hopp-Children's Cancer Center at the (NCT) Nationales Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel Dreidax
- Department of Neuroblastoma Genomics, Hopp-Children's Cancer Center at the (NCT) Nationales Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carl Herrmann
- Group of Cancer Regulatory Genomics B086, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Konstantin Okonechnikov
- Department of Pediatric Neurooncology, Hopp-Children's Cancer Center at the (NCT) Nationales Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sara Ek
- Department of Immunotechnology, CREATE Health, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ashwini Kumar Sharma
- Institute for Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology and BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vitaliya Sagulenko
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Frank Speleman
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University, and Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kai-Oliver Henrich
- Department of Neuroblastoma Genomics, Hopp-Children's Cancer Center at the (NCT) Nationales Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Westermann
- Department of Neuroblastoma Genomics, Hopp-Children's Cancer Center at the (NCT) Nationales Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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47
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Zhu X, Zhang H, Mendell JT. Ribosome Recycling by ABCE1 Links Lysosomal Function and Iron Homeostasis to 3' UTR-Directed Regulation and Nonsense-Mediated Decay. Cell Rep 2021; 32:107895. [PMID: 32668236 PMCID: PMC7433747 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) is a pathway that degrades mRNAs containing premature termination codons. Here we describe a genome-wide screen for NMD factors that uncovers an unexpected mechanism that broadly governs 3' untranslated region (UTR)-directed regulation. The screen reveals that NMD requires lysosomal acidification, which allows transferrin-mediated iron uptake, which, in turn, is necessary for iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster biogenesis. This pathway maintains the activity of the Fe-S cluster-containing ribosome recycling factor ABCE1, whose impaired function results in movement of ribosomes into 3' UTRs, where they displace exon junction complexes, abrogating NMD. Importantly, these effects extend beyond NMD substrates, with ABCE1 activity required to maintain the accessibility of 3' UTRs to diverse regulators, including microRNAs and RNA binding proteins. Because of the sensitivity of the Fe-S cluster of ABCE1 to iron availability and reactive oxygen species, these findings reveal an unanticipated vulnerability of 3' UTR-directed regulation to lysosomal dysfunction, iron deficiency, and oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqiang Zhu
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9148, USA
| | - He Zhang
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Population and Data Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Joshua T Mendell
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9148, USA; Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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48
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Terrey M, Adamson SI, Chuang JH, Ackerman SL. Defects in translation-dependent quality control pathways lead to convergent molecular and neurodevelopmental pathology. eLife 2021; 10:e66904. [PMID: 33899734 PMCID: PMC8075583 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Translation-dependent quality control pathways such as no-go decay (NGD), non-stop decay (NSD), and nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) govern protein synthesis and proteostasis by resolving non-translating ribosomes and preventing the production of potentially toxic peptides derived from faulty and aberrant mRNAs. However, how translation is altered and the in vivo defects that arise in the absence of these pathways are poorly understood. Here, we show that the NGD/NSD factors Pelo and Hbs1l are critical in mice for cerebellar neurogenesis but expendable for survival of these neurons after development. Analysis of mutant mouse embryonic fibroblasts revealed translational pauses, alteration of signaling pathways, and translational reprogramming. Similar effects on signaling pathways, including mTOR activation, the translatome and mouse cerebellar development were observed upon deletion of the NMD factor Upf2. Our data reveal that these quality control pathways that function to mitigate errors at distinct steps in translation can evoke similar cellular responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Terrey
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Section of Neurobiology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of MaineOronoUnited States
| | - Scott I Adamson
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic MedicineFarmingtonUnited States
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Institute for Systems Genomics, UConn HealthFarmingtonUnited States
| | - Jeffrey H Chuang
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic MedicineFarmingtonUnited States
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Institute for Systems Genomics, UConn HealthFarmingtonUnited States
| | - Susan L Ackerman
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Section of Neurobiology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
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49
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Ghiasi SM, Rutter GA. Consequences for Pancreatic β-Cell Identity and Function of Unregulated Transcript Processing. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:625235. [PMID: 33763030 PMCID: PMC7984428 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.625235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests a role for alternative splicing (AS) of transcripts in the normal physiology and pathophysiology of the pancreatic β-cell. In the apparent absence of RNA repair systems, RNA decay pathways are likely to play an important role in controlling the stability, distribution and diversity of transcript isoforms in these cells. Around 35% of alternatively spliced transcripts in human cells contain premature termination codons (PTCs) and are targeted for degradation via nonsense-mediated decay (NMD), a vital quality control process. Inflammatory cytokines, whose levels are increased in both type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes, stimulate alternative splicing events and the expression of NMD components, and may or may not be associated with the activation of the NMD pathway. It is, however, now possible to infer that NMD plays a crucial role in regulating transcript processing in normal and stress conditions in pancreatic β-cells. In this review, we describe the possible role of Regulated Unproductive Splicing and Translation (RUST), a molecular mechanism embracing NMD activity in relationship to AS and translation of damaged transcript isoforms in these cells. This process substantially reduces the abundance of non-functional transcript isoforms, and its dysregulation may be involved in pancreatic β-cell failure in diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed M. Ghiasi
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Guy A. Rutter
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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50
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Guo Y, Tocchini C, Ciosk R. CLK-2/TEL2 is a conserved component of the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0244505. [PMID: 33444416 PMCID: PMC7808604 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) controls eukaryotic mRNA quality, inducing the degradation of faulty transcripts. Key players in the NMD pathway were originally identified, through genetics, in Caenorhabditis elegans as smg (suppressor with morphological effect on genitalia) genes. Using forward genetics and fluorescence-based NMD reporters, we reexamined the genetic landscape underlying NMD. Employing a novel strategy for mapping sterile mutations, Het-Map, we identified clk-2, a conserved gene previously implicated in DNA damage signaling, as a player in the nematode NMD. We find that CLK-2 is expressed predominantly in the germline, highlighting the importance of auxiliary factors in tissue-specific mRNA decay. Importantly, the human counterpart of CLK-2/TEL2, TELO2, has been also implicated in the NMD, suggesting a conserved role of CLK-2/TEL2 proteins in mRNA surveillance. Recently, variants of TELO2 have been linked to an intellectual disability disorder, the You-Hoover-Fong syndrome, which could be related to its function in the NMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwu Guo
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Rafal Ciosk
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
- * E-mail:
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