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Waite JB, Boytz R, Traeger AR, Lind TM, Lumbao-Conradson K, Torigoe SE. A suboptimal OCT4-SOX2 binding site facilitates the naïve-state specific function of a Klf4 enhancer. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0311120. [PMID: 39348365 PMCID: PMC11441684 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311120] [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: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 09/12/2024] [Indexed: 10/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Enhancers have critical functions in the precise, spatiotemporal control of transcription during development. It is thought that enhancer grammar, or the characteristics and arrangements of transcription factor binding sites, underlie the specific functions of developmental enhancers. In this study, we sought to identify grammatical constraints that direct enhancer activity in the naïve state of pluripotency, focusing on the enhancers for the naïve-state specific gene, Klf4. Using a combination of biochemical tests, reporter assays, and endogenous mutations in mouse embryonic stem cells, we have studied the binding sites for the transcription factors OCT4 and SOX2. We have found that the three Klf4 enhancers contain suboptimal OCT4-SOX2 composite binding sites. Substitution with a high-affinity OCT4-SOX2 binding site in Klf4 enhancer E2 rescued enhancer function and Klf4 expression upon loss of the ESRRB and STAT3 binding sites. We also observed that the low-affinity of the OCT4-SOX2 binding site is crucial to drive the naïve-state specific activities of Klf4 enhancer E2. Altogether, our work suggests that the affinity of OCT4-SOX2 binding sites could facilitate enhancer functions in specific states of pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack B Waite
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Program, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - RuthMabel Boytz
- Biology Department, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Alexis R Traeger
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Program, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Torrey M Lind
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Program, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Koya Lumbao-Conradson
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Program, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Sharon E Torigoe
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Program, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
- Biology Department, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
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2
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Pierantoni M, Grassilli S, Brugnoli F, Dell'Aira M, Bertagnolo V. Insights into the development of insulin-producing cells: Precursors correlated involvement of microRNA panels. Life Sci 2024; 350:122762. [PMID: 38843994 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune condition characterized by the destruction of pancreatic β cells, recently estimated to affect approximately 8.75 million individuals worldwide. At variance with conventional management of T1D, which relies on exogenous insulin replacement and insulinotropic drugs, emerging therapeutic strategies include transplantation of insulin-producing cells (IPCs) derived from stem cells or fully reprogrammed differentiated cells. Through the in-depth analysis of the microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (ESCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), into insulin-producing cells, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms orchestrating the transformation of precursors to cells producing insulin. In addition to miR-375, involved in all differentiation processes, and to miR-7, mir-145 and miR-9, common to the generation of insulin-producing cells from at least two different sources, the literature reveals panels of miRNAs closely related to precursor cells and associated with specific events of the physiological β cell maturation. Since the forced modulation of miRNAs can direct cells development towards insulin-producing cells or modify their fate, a more comprehensive knowledge of the miRNAs involved in the cellular events leading to obtain efficient β cells could improve the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic approaches to diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Pierantoni
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Silvia Grassilli
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Federica Brugnoli
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Marcello Dell'Aira
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Valeria Bertagnolo
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
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3
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Wang Z, Gong W, Yao Z, Jin K, Niu Y, Li B, Zuo Q. Mechanisms of Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency Maintenance and Their Application in Livestock and Poultry Breeding. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1742. [PMID: 38929361 PMCID: PMC11201147 DOI: 10.3390/ani14121742] [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: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are remarkably undifferentiated cells that originate from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst. They possess the ability to self-renew and differentiate into multiple cell types, making them invaluable in diverse applications such as disease modeling and the creation of transgenic animals. In recent years, as agricultural practices have evolved from traditional to biological breeding, it has become clear that pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), either ESCs or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), are optimal for continually screening suitable cellular materials. However, the technologies for long-term in vitro culture or establishment of cell lines for PSCs in livestock are still immature, and research progress is uneven, which poses challenges for the application of PSCs in various fields. The establishment of a robust in vitro system for these cells is critically dependent on understanding their pluripotency maintenance mechanisms. It is believed that the combined effects of pluripotent transcription factors, pivotal signaling pathways, and epigenetic regulation contribute to maintaining their pluripotent state, forming a comprehensive regulatory network. This article will delve into the primary mechanisms underlying the maintenance of pluripotency in PSCs and elaborate on the applications of PSCs in the field of livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyu Wang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Z.W.); (W.G.); (Z.Y.); (K.J.); (Y.N.); (B.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Wei Gong
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Z.W.); (W.G.); (Z.Y.); (K.J.); (Y.N.); (B.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Zeling Yao
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Z.W.); (W.G.); (Z.Y.); (K.J.); (Y.N.); (B.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Kai Jin
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Z.W.); (W.G.); (Z.Y.); (K.J.); (Y.N.); (B.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yingjie Niu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Z.W.); (W.G.); (Z.Y.); (K.J.); (Y.N.); (B.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Bichun Li
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Z.W.); (W.G.); (Z.Y.); (K.J.); (Y.N.); (B.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Qisheng Zuo
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Z.W.); (W.G.); (Z.Y.); (K.J.); (Y.N.); (B.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
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Mousa NA, Hussein A, Elemam NM, Mohammed G, Elwany M, Basha T, AlHammadi AA, Majzob RS, Talaat IM. Are embryonic stem cell markers and ALDH1A1 relevant in the context of breast cancer estrogen positivity? Cancer Med 2024; 13:e7004. [PMID: 38400679 PMCID: PMC10891463 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.7004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Embryonic pluripotency markers are recognized for their role in ER- BC aggressiveness, but their significance in ER+ BC remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of expression of pluripotency markers in ER+ BC and their effect on survival and prognostic indicators. METHODS We analyzed data of ER+ BC patients from three large cancer datasets to assess the expression of three pluripotency markers (NANOG, SOX-2, and OCT4), and the stem cell marker ALDH1A1. Additionally, we investigated associations between gene expression, through mRNA-Seq analysis, and overall survival (OS). The prevalence of mutational variants within these genes was explored. Using immunohistochemistry (IHC), we examined the expression and associations with clinicopathologic prognostic indicators of the four markers in 81 ER+ BC patients. RESULTS Through computational analysis, NANOG and ALDH1A1 genes were significantly upregulated in ER+ BC compared to ER- BC patients (p < 0.001), while POU5F1 (OCT4) was downregulated (p < 0.001). NANOG showed an adverse impact on OS whereas ALDH1A1 was associated with a highly significant improved survival in ER+ BC (p = 4.7e-6), except for the PR- and HER2+ subgroups. Copy number alterations (CNAs) ranged from 0.4% to 1.6% in these genes, with the highest rate detected in SOX2. In the IHC study, approximately one-third of tumors showed moderate to strong expression of each of the four markers, with 2-4 markers strongly co-expressed in 56.8% of cases. OCT-4 and ALDH1A1 showed a significant association with a high KI-67 index (p = 0.009 and 0.008, respectively), while SOX2 showed a significant association with perinodal fat invasion (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION Pluripotency markers and ALDH1A1 are substantially expressed in ER+ BC tumors with different, yet significant, associations with prognostic and survival outcomes. This study suggests these markers as targets for prospective clinical validation studies of their prognostic value and their possible therapeutic roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noha A. Mousa
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of MedicineUniversity of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Amal Hussein
- Family and Community Medicine and Behavioural Sciences Department, College of MedicineUniversity of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Noha M. Elemam
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of MedicineUniversity of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Ghada Mohammed
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of MedicineUniversity of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Mona Elwany
- Medical Research Institute, Alexandria UniversityAlexandriaEgypt
| | - Tasneem Basha
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of MedicineUniversity of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Amal A. AlHammadi
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of MedicineUniversity of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Rana S. Majzob
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of MedicineUniversity of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Iman M. Talaat
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of MedicineUniversity of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
- Medical Research Institute, Alexandria UniversityAlexandriaEgypt
- Pathology Department, Faculty of MedicineAlexandria UniversityAlexandriaEgypt
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5
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Sarker DB, Xue Y, Mahmud F, Jocelyn JA, Sang QXA. Interconversion of Cancer Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Cells 2024; 13:125. [PMID: 38247819 PMCID: PMC10814385 DOI: 10.3390/cells13020125] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells, especially cancer stem cells (CSCs), share many molecular features with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that enable the derivation of induced pluripotent cancer cells by reprogramming malignant cells. Conversely, normal iPSCs can be converted into cancer stem-like cells with the help of tumor microenvironment components and genetic manipulation. These CSC models can be utilized in oncogenic initiation and progression studies, understanding drug resistance, and developing novel therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes the role of pluripotency factors in the stemness, tumorigenicity, and therapeutic resistance of cancer cells. Different methods to obtain iPSC-derived CSC models are described with an emphasis on exposure-based approaches. Culture in cancer cell-conditioned media or cocultures with cancer cells can convert normal iPSCs into cancer stem-like cells, aiding the examination of processes of oncogenesis. We further explored the potential of reprogramming cancer cells into cancer-iPSCs for mechanistic studies and cancer dependencies. The contributions of genetic, epigenetic, and tumor microenvironment factors can be evaluated using these models. Overall, integrating iPSC technology into cancer stem cell research holds significant promise for advancing our knowledge of cancer biology and accelerating the development of innovative and tailored therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drishty B. Sarker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4390, USA; (D.B.S.); (Y.X.); (F.M.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Yu Xue
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4390, USA; (D.B.S.); (Y.X.); (F.M.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Faiza Mahmud
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4390, USA; (D.B.S.); (Y.X.); (F.M.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Jonathan A. Jocelyn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4390, USA; (D.B.S.); (Y.X.); (F.M.); (J.A.J.)
| | - Qing-Xiang Amy Sang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4390, USA; (D.B.S.); (Y.X.); (F.M.); (J.A.J.)
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4380, USA
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6
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MacCarthy CM, Wu G, Malik V, Menuchin-Lasowski Y, Velychko T, Keshet G, Fan R, Bedzhov I, Church GM, Jauch R, Cojocaru V, Schöler HR, Velychko S. Highly cooperative chimeric super-SOX induces naive pluripotency across species. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:127-147.e9. [PMID: 38141611 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of pluripotency remains limited: iPSC generation has only been established for a few model species, pluripotent stem cell lines exhibit inconsistent developmental potential, and germline transmission has only been demonstrated for mice and rats. By swapping structural elements between Sox2 and Sox17, we built a chimeric super-SOX factor, Sox2-17, that enhanced iPSC generation in five tested species: mouse, human, cynomolgus monkey, cow, and pig. A swap of alanine to valine at the interface between Sox2 and Oct4 delivered a gain of function by stabilizing Sox2/Oct4 dimerization on DNA, enabling generation of high-quality OSKM iPSCs capable of supporting the development of healthy all-iPSC mice. Sox2/Oct4 dimerization emerged as the core driver of naive pluripotency with its levels diminished upon priming. Transient overexpression of the SK cocktail (Sox+Klf4) restored the dimerization and boosted the developmental potential of pluripotent stem cells across species, providing a universal method for naive reset in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Guangming Wu
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany; International Bio Island, Guangzhou, China; MingCeler Biotech, Guangzhou, China
| | - Vikas Malik
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Taras Velychko
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gal Keshet
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Rui Fan
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - Ivan Bedzhov
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - George M Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Wyss Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ralf Jauch
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Centre for Translational Stem Cell Biology, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Vlad Cojocaru
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany; University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; STAR-UBB Institute, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Hans R Schöler
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany.
| | - Sergiy Velychko
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Wyss Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
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7
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Agostinho de Sousa J, Wong CW, Dunkel I, Owens T, Voigt P, Hodgson A, Baker D, Schulz EG, Reik W, Smith A, Rostovskaya M, von Meyenn F. Epigenetic dynamics during capacitation of naïve human pluripotent stem cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg1936. [PMID: 37774033 PMCID: PMC10541016 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg1936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are of fundamental relevance in regenerative medicine. Naïve hPSCs hold promise to overcome some of the limitations of conventional (primed) hPSCs, including recurrent epigenetic anomalies. Naïve-to-primed transition (capacitation) follows transcriptional dynamics of human embryonic epiblast and is necessary for somatic differentiation from naïve hPSCs. We found that capacitated hPSCs are transcriptionally closer to postimplantation epiblast than conventional hPSCs. This prompted us to comprehensively study epigenetic and related transcriptional changes during capacitation. Our results show that CpG islands, gene regulatory elements, and retrotransposons are hotspots of epigenetic dynamics during capacitation and indicate possible distinct roles of specific epigenetic modifications in gene expression control between naïve and primed hPSCs. Unexpectedly, PRC2 activity appeared to be dispensable for the capacitation. We find that capacitated hPSCs acquire an epigenetic state similar to conventional hPSCs. Significantly, however, the X chromosome erosion frequently observed in conventional female hPSCs is reversed by resetting and subsequent capacitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Agostinho de Sousa
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Epigenetics, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, 8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Chee-Wai Wong
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Epigenetics, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, 8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Ilona Dunkel
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Owens
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Philipp Voigt
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Adam Hodgson
- School of Biosciences, The Julia Garnham Centre, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN Sheffield, UK
| | - Duncan Baker
- Sheffield Diagnostic Genetics Services, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, S5 7AU Sheffield, UK
| | - Edda G. Schulz
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Wolf Reik
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1QR, UK
- Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
- Altos Labs Cambridge Institute of Science, Cambridge CB21 6GP, UK
| | - Austin Smith
- Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, EX4 4QD Exeter, UK
| | - Maria Rostovskaya
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Ferdinand von Meyenn
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Epigenetics, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, 8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, SE1 9RT London, UK
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8
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Sinha KK, Bilokapic S, Du Y, Malik D, Halic M. Histone modifications regulate pioneer transcription factor cooperativity. Nature 2023; 619:378-384. [PMID: 37225990 PMCID: PMC10338341 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06112-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Pioneer transcription factors have the ability to access DNA in compacted chromatin1. Multiple transcription factors can bind together to a regulatory element in a cooperative way, and cooperation between the pioneer transcription factors OCT4 (also known as POU5F1) and SOX2 is important for pluripotency and reprogramming2-4. However, the molecular mechanisms by which pioneer transcription factors function and cooperate on chromatin remain unclear. Here we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of human OCT4 bound to a nucleosome containing human LIN28B or nMATN1 DNA sequences, both of which bear multiple binding sites for OCT4. Our structural and biochemistry data reveal that binding of OCT4 induces changes to the nucleosome structure, repositions the nucleosomal DNA and facilitates cooperative binding of additional OCT4 and of SOX2 to their internal binding sites. The flexible activation domain of OCT4 contacts the N-terminal tail of histone H4, altering its conformation and thus promoting chromatin decompaction. Moreover, the DNA-binding domain of OCT4 engages with the N-terminal tail of histone H3, and post-translational modifications at H3K27 modulate DNA positioning and affect transcription factor cooperativity. Thus, our findings suggest that the epigenetic landscape could regulate OCT4 activity to ensure proper cell programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalyan K Sinha
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Silvija Bilokapic
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yongming Du
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Deepshikha Malik
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Mario Halic
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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9
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Sinha K, Bilokapic S, Du Y, Malik D, Halic M. Histone modifications regulate pioneer transcription factor binding and cooperativity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.14.532583. [PMID: 36993452 PMCID: PMC10055048 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.14.532583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Pioneer transcription factors have the ability to access DNA in compacted chromatin. Multiple transcription factors can bind together to a regulatory element in a cooperative way and cooperation between pioneer transcription factors Oct4 and Sox2 is important for pluripotency and reprogramming. However, the molecular mechanisms by which pioneer transcription factors function and cooperate remain unclear. Here we present cryo-EM structures of human Oct4 bound to a nucleosome containing human Lin28B and nMatn1 DNA sequences, which bear multiple binding sites for Oct4. Our structural and biochemistry data reveal that Oct4 binding induces changes to the nucleosome structure, repositions the nucleosomal DNA and facilitates cooperative binding of additional Oct4 and of Sox2 to their internal binding sites. The flexible activation domain of Oct4 contacts the histone H4 N-terminal tail, altering its conformation and thus promoting chromatin decompaction. Moreover, the DNA binding domain of Oct4 engages with histone H3 N-terminal tail, and posttranslational modifications at H3K27 modulate DNA positioning and affect transcription factor cooperativity. Thus, our data show that the epigenetic landscape can regulate Oct4 activity to ensure proper cell reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalyan Sinha
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Silvija Bilokapic
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Yongming Du
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Deepshikha Malik
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Mario Halic
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
- Corresponding author:
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10
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Malaga Gadea FC, Nikolova EN. Structural Plasticity of Pioneer Factor Sox2 and DNA Bendability Modulate Nucleosome Engagement and Sox2-Oct4 Synergism. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167916. [PMID: 36495920 PMCID: PMC10184184 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pioneer transcription factors (pTFs) can bind directly to silent chromatin and promote vital transcriptional programs. Here, by integrating high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy with biochemistry, we reveal new structural and mechanistic insights into the interaction of pluripotency pTFs and functional partners Sox2 and Oct4 with nucleosomes. We find that the affinity and conformation of Sox2 for solvent-exposed nucleosome sites depend strongly on their position and DNA sequence. Sox2, which is partially disordered but becomes structured upon DNA binding and bending, forms a super-stable nucleosome complex at superhelical location +5 (SHL+5) with similar affinity and conformation to that with naked DNA. However, at suboptimal internal and end-positioned sites where DNA may be harder to deform, Sox2 favors partially unfolded and more dynamic states that are encoded in its intrinsic flexibility. Importantly, Sox2 structure and DNA bending can be stabilized by synergistic Oct4 binding, but only on adjacent motifs near the nucleosome edge and with the full Oct4 DNA-binding domain. Further mutational studies reveal that strategically impaired Sox2 folding is coupled to reduced DNA bending and inhibits nucleosome binding and Sox2-Oct4 cooperation, while increased nucleosomal DNA flexibility enhances Sox2 association. Together, our findings fit a model where the site-specific DNA bending propensity and structural plasticity of Sox2 govern distinct modes of nucleosome engagement and modulate Sox2-Oct4 synergism. The principles outlined here can potentially guide pTF site selection in the genome and facilitate interaction with other chromatin factors or chromatin opening in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana C Malaga Gadea
- T.C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Evgenia N Nikolova
- T.C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
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11
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Hovland AS, Bhattacharya D, Azambuja AP, Pramio D, Copeland J, Rothstein M, Simoes-Costa M. Pluripotency factors are repurposed to shape the epigenomic landscape of neural crest cells. Dev Cell 2022; 57:2257-2272.e5. [PMID: 36182685 PMCID: PMC9743141 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2022.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Yamanaka factors are essential for establishing pluripotency in embryonic stem cells, but their function in multipotent stem cell populations is poorly understood. Here, we show that OCT4 and SOX2 cooperate with tissue-specific transcription factors to promote neural crest formation. By assessing avian and human neural crest cells at distinct developmental stages, we characterized the epigenomic changes that occur during their specification, migration, and early differentiation. This analysis determined that the OCT4-SOX2 dimer is required to establish a neural crest epigenomic signature that is lost upon cell fate commitment. The OCT4-SOX2 genomic targets in the neural crest differ from those of embryonic stem cells, indicating the dimer displays context-specific functions. Binding of OCT4-SOX2 to neural crest enhancers requires pioneer factor TFAP2A, which physically interacts with the dimer to modify its genomic targets. Our results demonstrate how Yamanaka factors are repurposed in multipotent cells to control chromatin organization and define their developmental potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin S Hovland
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | | | - Ana Paula Azambuja
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dimitrius Pramio
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jacqueline Copeland
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Megan Rothstein
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Marcos Simoes-Costa
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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12
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Lo JHH, Edwards M, Langerman J, Sridharan R, Plath K, Smale ST. Oct4:Sox2 binding is essential for establishing but not maintaining active and silent states of dynamically regulated genes in pluripotent cells. Genes Dev 2022; 36:1079-1095. [PMID: 36418052 PMCID: PMC9744233 DOI: 10.1101/gad.350113.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Much has been learned about the mechanisms of action of pluripotency factors Oct4 and Sox2. However, as with other regulators of cell identity, little is known about the impact of disrupting their binding motifs in a native environment or the characteristics of genes they regulate. By quantitatively examining dynamic ranges of gene expression instead of focusing on conventional measures of differential expression, we found that Oct4 and Sox2 enhancer binding is strongly enriched near genes subject to large dynamic ranges of expression among cell types, with binding sites near these genes usually within superenhancers. Mutagenesis of representative Oct4:Sox2 motifs near such active, dynamically regulated genes revealed critical roles in transcriptional activation during reprogramming, with more limited roles in transcriptional maintenance in the pluripotent state. Furthermore, representative motifs near silent genes were critical for establishing but not maintaining the fully silent state, while genes whose transcript levels varied by smaller magnitudes among cell types were unaffected by nearby Oct4:Sox2 motifs. These results suggest that Oct4 and Sox2 directly establish both active and silent transcriptional states in pluripotent cells at a large number of genes subject to dynamic regulation during mammalian development, but are less important than expected for maintaining transcriptional states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry Hung-Hao Lo
- Molecular Biology Institute, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Broad Stem Cell Research Center, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Miguel Edwards
- Molecular Biology Institute, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Broad Stem Cell Research Center, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Justin Langerman
- Molecular Biology Institute, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Broad Stem Cell Research Center, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Rupa Sridharan
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, USA
| | - Kathrin Plath
- Molecular Biology Institute, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Broad Stem Cell Research Center, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Stephen T Smale
- Molecular Biology Institute, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Broad Stem Cell Research Center, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
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13
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DiNatale A, Castelli MS, Nash B, Meucci O, Fatatis A. Regulation of Tumor and Metastasis Initiation by Chemokine Receptors. J Cancer 2022; 13:3160-3176. [PMID: 36118530 PMCID: PMC9475358 DOI: 10.7150/jca.72331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-initiating cells (TICs) are a rare sub-population of cells within the bulk of a tumor that are major contributors to tumor initiation, metastasis, and chemoresistance. TICs have a stem-cell-like phenotype that is dictated by the expression of master regulator transcription factors, including OCT4, NANOG, and SOX2. These transcription factors are expressed via activation of multiple signaling pathways that drive cancer initiation and progression. Importantly, these same signaling pathways can be activated by select chemokine receptors. Chemokine receptors are increasingly being revealed as major drivers of the TIC phenotype, as their signaling can lead to activation of stemness-controlling transcription factors. Additionally, the cell surface expression of chemokine receptors provides a unique therapeutic target to disrupt signaling pathways that control the expression of master regulator transcription factors and the TIC phenotype. This review summarizes the master regulator transcription factors known to dictate the TIC phenotype, along with the complex signaling pathways that can mediate their expression and the chemokine receptors that are most upstream of this phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony DiNatale
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA.,Present Address: Janssen Oncology, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Maria Sofia Castelli
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA.,Present address: Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Bradley Nash
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - Olimpia Meucci
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA.,Program in Immune Cell Regulation & Targeting, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Alessandro Fatatis
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA.,Program in Translational and Cellular Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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14
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Evaluation of the Impact of Pregnancy-Associated Factors on the Quality of Wharton's Jelly-Derived Stem Cells Using SOX2 Gene Expression as a Marker. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147630. [PMID: 35886978 PMCID: PMC9317592 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
SOX2 is a recognized pluripotent transcription factor involved in stem cell homeostasis, self-renewal and reprogramming. It belongs to, one of the SRY-related HMG-box (SOX) family of transcription factors, taking part in the regulation of embryonic development and determination of cell fate. Among other functions, SOX2 promotes proliferation, survival, invasion, metastasis, cancer stemness, and drug resistance. SOX2 interacts with other transcription factors in multiple signaling pathways to control growth and survival. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of a parturient’s age, umbilical cord blood pH and length of pregnancy on the quality of stem cells derived from Wharton’s jelly (WJSC) by looking at birth weight and using SOX2 gene expression as a marker. Using qPCR the authors, evaluated the expression of SOX2 in WJSC acquired from the umbilical cords of 30 women right after the delivery. The results showed a significant correlation between the birth weight and the expression of SOX2 in WJSC in relation to maternal age, umbilical cord blood pH, and the length of pregnancy. The authors observed that the younger the woman and the lower the umbilical cord blood pH, the earlier the delivery occurs, the lower the birth weight and the higher SOX2 gene expression in WJSC. In research studies and clinical applications of regenerative medicine utilizing mesenchymal stem cells derived from Wharton’s Jelly of the umbilical cord, assessment of maternal and embryonic factors influencing the quality of cells is critical.
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15
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Bakhmet EI, Tomilin AN. Key features of the POU transcription factor Oct4 from an evolutionary perspective. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:7339-7353. [PMID: 34698883 PMCID: PMC11072838 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03975-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Oct4, a class V POU-domain protein that is encoded by the Pou5f1 gene, is thought to be a key transcription factor in the early development of mammals. This transcription factor plays indispensable roles in pluripotent stem cells as well as in the acquisition of pluripotency during somatic cell reprogramming. Oct4 has also been shown to play a role as a pioneer transcription factor during zygotic genome activation (ZGA) from zebrafish to human. However, during the past decade, several studies have brought these conclusions into question. It was clearly shown that the first steps in mouse development are not affected by the loss of Oct4. Subsequently, the role of Oct4 as a genome activator was brought into doubt. It was also found that the reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) could proceed without Oct4. In this review, we summarize recent findings, reassess the role of Oct4 in reprogramming and ZGA, and point to structural features that may underlie this role. We speculate that pluripotent stem cells resemble neural stem cells more closely than previously thought. Oct4 orthologs within the POUV class hold key roles in genome activation during early development of species with late ZGA. However, in Placentalia, eutherian-specific proteins such as Dux overtake Oct4 in ZGA and endow them with the formation of an evolutionary new tissue-the placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeny I Bakhmet
- Laboratory of the Molecular Biology of Stem Cells, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Alexey N Tomilin
- Laboratory of the Molecular Biology of Stem Cells, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
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16
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Festuccia N, Owens N, Chervova A, Dubois A, Navarro P. The combined action of Esrrb and Nr5a2 is essential for murine naïve pluripotency. Development 2021; 148:271840. [PMID: 34397088 PMCID: PMC8451941 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The maintenance of pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is governed by the action of an interconnected network of transcription factors. Among them, only Oct4 and Sox2 have been shown to be strictly required for the self-renewal of ESCs and pluripotency, particularly in culture conditions in which differentiation cues are chemically inhibited. Here, we report that the conjunct activity of two orphan nuclear receptors, Esrrb and Nr5a2, parallels the importance of that of Oct4 and Sox2 in naïve mouse ESCs. By occupying a large common set of regulatory elements, these two factors control the binding of Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog to DNA. Consequently, in their absence the pluripotency network collapses and the transcriptome is substantially deregulated, leading to the differentiation of ESCs. Altogether, this work identifies orphan nuclear receptors, previously thought to be performing supportive functions, as a set of core regulators of naïve pluripotency. Summary: Esrrb and Nr5a2, two orphan nuclear receptors, are identified as essential regulators of pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Festuccia
- Regulatory Dynamics and Cell Identity, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK.,Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3738, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Nick Owens
- Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Almira Chervova
- Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3738, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Agnès Dubois
- Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3738, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Pablo Navarro
- Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3738, 75015 Paris, France
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17
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Roberts GA, Ozkan B, Gachulincová I, O'Dwyer MR, Hall-Ponsele E, Saxena M, Robinson PJ, Soufi A. Dissecting OCT4 defines the role of nucleosome binding in pluripotency. Nat Cell Biol 2021; 23:834-845. [PMID: 34354236 PMCID: PMC7611526 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-021-00727-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Pioneer transcription factors such as OCT4 can target silent genes embedded in nucleosome-dense regions. How nucleosome interaction enables transcription factors to target chromatin and determine cell identity remains elusive. Here, we systematically dissect OCT4 to show that nucleosome binding is encoded within the DNA-binding domain and yet can be uncoupled from free-DNA binding. Furthermore, accelerating the binding kinetics of OCT4 to DNA enhances nucleosome binding. In cells, uncoupling nucleosome binding diminishes the ability of OCT4 to individually access closed chromatin, while more dynamic nucleosome binding results in expansive genome scanning within closed chromatin. However, both uncoupling and enhancing nucleosome binding are detrimental to inducing pluripotency from differentiated cells. Remarkably, stable interactions between OCT4 and nucleosomes are continuously required for maintaining the accessibility of pluripotency enhancers in stem cells. Our findings reveal how the affinity and residence time of OCT4-nucleosome complexes modulate chromatin accessibility during cell fate changes and maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth A Roberts
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Institute of Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Burak Ozkan
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Institute of Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ivana Gachulincová
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Institute of Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Michael R O'Dwyer
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Institute of Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Elisa Hall-Ponsele
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Institute of Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Manoj Saxena
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
| | - Philip J Robinson
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
| | - Abdenour Soufi
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Institute of Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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18
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Deng W, Jacobson EC, Collier AJ, Plath K. The transcription factor code in iPSC reprogramming. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2021; 70:89-96. [PMID: 34246082 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2021.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factor (TF)-induced reprogramming of somatic cells across lineages and to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has revealed a remarkable plasticity of differentiated cells and presents great opportunities for generating clinically relevant cell types for disease modeling and regenerative medicine. The understanding of iPSC reprogramming provides insights into the mechanisms that safeguard somatic cell identity, drive epigenetic reprogramming, and underlie cell fate specification in vivo. The combinatorial action of TFs has emerged as the key mechanism for the direct and indirect effects of reprogramming factors that induce the remodelling of the enhancer landscape. The interplay of TFs in iPSC reprogramming also yields trophectoderm- and extraembryonic endoderm-like cell populations, uncovering an intriguing plasticity of cell states and opening new avenues for exploring cell fate decisions during early embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weixian Deng
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Graduate Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Elsie C Jacobson
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Amanda J Collier
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kathrin Plath
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Graduate Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Brain Research Institute, Graduate Program in the Biosciences, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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19
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Kagawa W, Kurumizaka H. Structural basis for DNA sequence recognition by pioneer factors in nucleosomes. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2021; 71:59-64. [PMID: 34218163 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2021.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Most of the genomic DNA in eukaryotes is bound to histone complexes, which hinders transcription factors from accessing their target DNA sequences. Here, we discuss recent structural insights into the mechanisms by which pioneer factors, an emerging class of transcription factors, can recognize DNA motifs located on the nucleosome surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Kagawa
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Meisei University, 2-1-1 Hodokubo, Hino-shi, Tokyo, 191-8506, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Kurumizaka
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan.
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20
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Biological importance of OCT transcription factors in reprogramming and development. Exp Mol Med 2021; 53:1018-1028. [PMID: 34117345 PMCID: PMC8257633 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-021-00637-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ectopic expression of Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc can reprogram somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Attempts to identify genes or chemicals that can functionally replace each of these four reprogramming factors have revealed that exogenous Oct4 is not necessary for reprogramming under certain conditions or in the presence of alternative factors that can regulate endogenous Oct4 expression. For example, polycistronic expression of Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc can elicit reprogramming by activating endogenous Oct4 expression indirectly. Experiments in which the reprogramming competence of all other Oct family members tested and also in different species have led to the decisive conclusion that Oct proteins display different reprogramming competences and species-dependent reprogramming activity despite their profound sequence conservation. We discuss the roles of the structural components of Oct proteins in reprogramming and how donor cell epigenomes endow Oct proteins with different reprogramming competences. Cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), embryonic-like stem cells that can turn into any cell type and have extensive potential medical uses, without adding the transcription factor OCT4. Although other nearly identical OCT family members had been tried, only OCT4 could induce reprogramming and was previously thought to be indispensable. However, it now appears that the reprogramming can be induced by multiple pathways, as detailed in a review by Hans Schöler, Max Planck Institute for Biomolecular Medicine, Münster, and Johnny Kim, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, in Germany. They report that any factors that trigger cells to activate endogeous OCT4 can produce iPSCs without exogeously admistration of OCT4. The mechanisms for producing iPSCs can differ between species. These results illuminate the complex mechanisms of reprogramming.
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21
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In Silico Estimation of the Abundance and Phylogenetic Significance of the Composite Oct4-Sox2 Binding Motifs within a Wide Range of Species. DATA 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/data5040111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
High-throughput sequencing technologies have greatly accelerated the progress of genomics, transcriptomics, and metagenomics. Currently, a large amount of genomic data from various organisms is being generated, the volume of which is increasing every year. Therefore, the development of methods that allow the rapid search and analysis of DNA sequences is urgent. Here, we present a novel motif-based high-throughput sequence scoring method that generates genome information. We found and identified Utf1-like, Fgf4-like, and Hoxb1-like motifs, which are cis-regulatory elements for the pluripotency transcription factors Sox2 and Oct4 within the genomes of different eukaryotic organisms. The genome-wide analysis of these motifs was performed to understand the impact of their diversification on mammalian genome evolution. Utf1-like, Fgf4-like, and Hoxb1-like motif diversity was evaluated across genomes from multiple species.
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22
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Kim DK, Song B, Han S, Jang H, Bae SH, Kim HY, Lee SH, Lee S, Kim JK, Kim HS, Hong KM, Lee BI, Youn HD, Kim SY, Kang SW, Jang H. Phosphorylation of OCT4 Serine 236 Inhibits Germ Cell Tumor Growth by Inducing Differentiation. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12092601. [PMID: 32932964 PMCID: PMC7565739 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12092601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) plays an important role in early embryonic development, but is rarely expressed in adults. However, in many cancer cells, this gene is re-expressed, making the cancer malignant. This present study revealed that inhibiting OCT4 transcriptional activity induces cancer cell differentiation and growth retardation. Specifically, when the phosphorylation of OCT4 serine 236 increases by interfering with the binding of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) to OCT4, OCT4 loses its transcriptional activity and cancer cells differentiate. Therefore, this study presents the basis for the development of protein-protein interaction inhibitors that inhibit the binding of OCT4 and PP1 for cancer treatment. Abstract Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4) plays an important role in maintaining pluripotency in embryonic stem cells and is closely related to the malignancies of various cancers. Although posttranslational modifications of Oct4 have been widely studied, most of these have not yet been fully characterized, especially in cancer. In this study, we investigated the role of phosphorylation of serine 236 of OCT4 [OCT4 (S236)] in human germ cell tumors (GCTs). OCT4 was phosphorylated at S236 in a cell cycle-dependent manner in a patient sample and GCT cell lines. The substitution of endogenous OCT4 by a mimic of phosphorylated OCT4 with a serine-to-aspartate mutation at S236 (S236D) resulted in tumor cell differentiation, growth retardation, and inhibition of tumor sphere formation. GCT cells expressing OCT4 S236D instead of endogenous OCT4 were similar to cells with OCT4 depletion at the mRNA transcript level as well as in the phenotype. OCT4 S236D also induced tumor cell differentiation and growth retardation in mouse xenograft experiments. Inhibition of protein phosphatase 1 by chemicals or short hairpin RNAs increased phosphorylation at OCT4 (S236) and resulted in the differentiation of GCTs. These results reveal the role of OCT4 (S236) phosphorylation in GCTs and suggest a new strategy for suppressing OCT4 in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Keon Kim
- Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea; (D.K.K.); (B.S.); (S.H.); (H.J.); (S.-H.B.); (H.Y.K.); (S.-H.L.); (S.L.); (J.K.K.); (K.-M.H.); (B.I.L.); (S.-Y.K.)
| | - Bomin Song
- Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea; (D.K.K.); (B.S.); (S.H.); (H.J.); (S.-H.B.); (H.Y.K.); (S.-H.L.); (S.L.); (J.K.K.); (K.-M.H.); (B.I.L.); (S.-Y.K.)
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea;
| | - Suji Han
- Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea; (D.K.K.); (B.S.); (S.H.); (H.J.); (S.-H.B.); (H.Y.K.); (S.-H.L.); (S.L.); (J.K.K.); (K.-M.H.); (B.I.L.); (S.-Y.K.)
| | - Hansol Jang
- Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea; (D.K.K.); (B.S.); (S.H.); (H.J.); (S.-H.B.); (H.Y.K.); (S.-H.L.); (S.L.); (J.K.K.); (K.-M.H.); (B.I.L.); (S.-Y.K.)
- Department of Cancer Biomedical Science, National Cancer Center Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, Goyang 10408, Korea
| | - Seung-Hyun Bae
- Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea; (D.K.K.); (B.S.); (S.H.); (H.J.); (S.-H.B.); (H.Y.K.); (S.-H.L.); (S.L.); (J.K.K.); (K.-M.H.); (B.I.L.); (S.-Y.K.)
- Department of Cancer Biomedical Science, National Cancer Center Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, Goyang 10408, Korea
| | - Hee Yeon Kim
- Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea; (D.K.K.); (B.S.); (S.H.); (H.J.); (S.-H.B.); (H.Y.K.); (S.-H.L.); (S.L.); (J.K.K.); (K.-M.H.); (B.I.L.); (S.-Y.K.)
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea;
| | - Seon-Hyeong Lee
- Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea; (D.K.K.); (B.S.); (S.H.); (H.J.); (S.-H.B.); (H.Y.K.); (S.-H.L.); (S.L.); (J.K.K.); (K.-M.H.); (B.I.L.); (S.-Y.K.)
| | - Seungjin Lee
- Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea; (D.K.K.); (B.S.); (S.H.); (H.J.); (S.-H.B.); (H.Y.K.); (S.-H.L.); (S.L.); (J.K.K.); (K.-M.H.); (B.I.L.); (S.-Y.K.)
- Department of Cancer Biomedical Science, National Cancer Center Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, Goyang 10408, Korea
| | - Jong Kwang Kim
- Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea; (D.K.K.); (B.S.); (S.H.); (H.J.); (S.-H.B.); (H.Y.K.); (S.-H.L.); (S.L.); (J.K.K.); (K.-M.H.); (B.I.L.); (S.-Y.K.)
| | - Han-Seong Kim
- Department of Pathology, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang 10308, Korea;
| | - Kyeong-Man Hong
- Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea; (D.K.K.); (B.S.); (S.H.); (H.J.); (S.-H.B.); (H.Y.K.); (S.-H.L.); (S.L.); (J.K.K.); (K.-M.H.); (B.I.L.); (S.-Y.K.)
| | - Byung Il Lee
- Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea; (D.K.K.); (B.S.); (S.H.); (H.J.); (S.-H.B.); (H.Y.K.); (S.-H.L.); (S.L.); (J.K.K.); (K.-M.H.); (B.I.L.); (S.-Y.K.)
- Department of Cancer Biomedical Science, National Cancer Center Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, Goyang 10408, Korea
| | - Hong-Duk Youn
- National Creative Research Center for Epigenome Reprogramming Network, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ischemic/Hypoxic Disease Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080; Korea;
| | - Soo-Youl Kim
- Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea; (D.K.K.); (B.S.); (S.H.); (H.J.); (S.-H.B.); (H.Y.K.); (S.-H.L.); (S.L.); (J.K.K.); (K.-M.H.); (B.I.L.); (S.-Y.K.)
| | - Sang Won Kang
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea;
| | - Hyonchol Jang
- Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea; (D.K.K.); (B.S.); (S.H.); (H.J.); (S.-H.B.); (H.Y.K.); (S.-H.L.); (S.L.); (J.K.K.); (K.-M.H.); (B.I.L.); (S.-Y.K.)
- Department of Cancer Biomedical Science, National Cancer Center Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, Goyang 10408, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-31-920-2239
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23
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Holman HA, Wan Y, Rabbitt RD. Developmental GAD2 Expression Reveals Progenitor-like Cells with Calcium Waves in Mammalian Crista Ampullaris. iScience 2020; 23:101407. [PMID: 32771977 PMCID: PMC7415930 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Sense of motion, spatial orientation, and balance in vertebrates relies on sensory hair cells in the inner ear vestibular system. Vestibular supporting cells can regenerate hair cells that are lost from aging, ototoxicity, and trauma, although not all factors or specific cell types are known. Here we report a population of GAD2-positive cells in the mouse crista ampullaris and trace GAD2 progenitor-like cells that express pluripotent transcription factors SOX2, PROX1, and CTBP2. GAD2 progenitor-like cells organize into rosettes around a central branched structure in the eminentia cruciatum (EC) herein named the EC plexus. GCaMP5G calcium indicator shows spontaneous and acetylcholine-evoked whole-cell calcium waves in neonatal and adult mice. We present a hypothetical model that outlines the lineage and potential regenerative capacity of GAD2 cells in the mammalian vestibular neuroepithelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly A Holman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
| | - Yong Wan
- Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Richard D Rabbitt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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24
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Shanak S, Helms V. DNA methylation and the core pluripotency network. Dev Biol 2020; 464:145-160. [PMID: 32562758 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
From the onset of fertilization, the genome undergoes cell division and differentiation. All of these developmental transitions and differentiation processes include cell-specific signatures and gradual changes of the epigenome. Understanding what keeps stem cells in the pluripotent state and what leads to differentiation are fascinating and biomedically highly important issues. Numerous studies have identified genes, proteins, microRNAs and small molecules that exert essential effects. Notably, there exists a core pluripotency network that consists of several transcription factors and accessory proteins. Three eminent transcription factors, OCT4, SOX2 and NANOG, serve as hubs in this core pluripotency network. They bind to the enhancer regions of their target genes and modulate, among others, the expression levels of genes that are associated with Gene Ontology terms related to differentiation and self-renewal. Also, much has been learned about the epigenetic rewiring processes during these changes of cell fate. For example, DNA methylation dynamics is pivotal during embryonic development. The main goal of this review is to highlight an intricate interplay of (a) DNA methyltransferases controlling the expression levels of core pluripotency factors by modulation of the DNA methylation levels in their enhancer regions, and of (b) the core pluripotency factors controlling the transcriptional regulation of DNA methyltransferases. We discuss these processes both at the global level and in atomistic detail based on information from structural studies and from computer simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siba Shanak
- Faculty of Science, Arab-American University, Jenin, Palestine; Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | - Volkhard Helms
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany.
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25
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Michael AK, Grand RS, Isbel L, Cavadini S, Kozicka Z, Kempf G, Bunker RD, Schenk AD, Graff-Meyer A, Pathare GR, Weiss J, Matsumoto S, Burger L, Schübeler D, Thomä NH. Mechanisms of OCT4-SOX2 motif readout on nucleosomes. Science 2020; 368:1460-1465. [PMID: 32327602 DOI: 10.1126/science.abb0074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) regulate gene expression through chromatin where nucleosomes restrict DNA access. To study how TFs bind nucleosome-occupied motifs, we focused on the reprogramming factors OCT4 and SOX2 in mouse embryonic stem cells. We determined TF engagement throughout a nucleosome at base-pair resolution in vitro, enabling structure determination by cryo-electron microscopy at two preferred positions. Depending on motif location, OCT4 and SOX2 differentially distort nucleosomal DNA. At one position, OCT4-SOX2 removes DNA from histone H2A and histone H3; however, at an inverted motif, the TFs only induce local DNA distortions. OCT4 uses one of its two DNA-binding domains to engage DNA in both structures, reading out a partial motif. These findings explain site-specific nucleosome engagement by the pluripotency factors OCT4 and SOX2, and they reveal how TFs distort nucleosomes to access chromatinized motifs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia K Michael
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ralph S Grand
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Luke Isbel
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Simone Cavadini
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Zuzanna Kozicka
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.,Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Georg Kempf
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Richard D Bunker
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas D Schenk
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Graff-Meyer
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ganesh R Pathare
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Joscha Weiss
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Syota Matsumoto
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Burger
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dirk Schübeler
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland. .,Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas H Thomä
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
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26
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Jostes SV, Fellermeyer M, Arévalo L, Merges GE, Kristiansen G, Nettersheim D, Schorle H. Unique and redundant roles of SOX2 and SOX17 in regulating the germ cell tumor fate. Int J Cancer 2020; 146:1592-1605. [PMID: 31583686 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Embryonal carcinomas (ECs) and seminomas are testicular germ cell tumors. ECs display expression of SOX2, while seminomas display expression of SOX17. In somatic differentiation, SOX17 drives endodermal cell fate. However, seminomas lack expression of endoderm markers, but show features of pluripotency. Here, we use chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing to report and compare the binding pattern of SOX17 in seminoma-like TCam-2 cells to SOX17 in somatic cells and SOX2 in EC-like 2102EP cells. In seminoma-like cells, SOX17 was detected at canonical (SOX2/OCT4), compressed (SOX17/OCT4) and noncomposite SOX motifs. SOX17 regulates TFAP2C, PRDM1 and PRDM14, thereby maintaining latent pluripotency and suppressing somatic differentiation. In contrast, in somatic cells canonical motifs are rarely bound by SOX17. In sum, only 12% of SOX17-binding sites overlap in seminoma-like and somatic cells. This illustrates that binding site choice is highly dynamic and cell type specific. Deletion of SOX17 in seminoma-like cells resulted in loss of pluripotency, marked by a reduction of OCT4 protein level and loss of alkaline phosphatase activity. Furthermore, we found that in EC-like cells SOX2 regulates pluripotency-associated genes, most likely by partnering with OCT4. In conclusion, SOX17 (in seminomas) functionally replaces SOX2 (in ECs) to maintain expression of the pluripotency cluster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina V Jostes
- Department of Developmental Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Bonn Medical School, Bonn, Germany
| | - Martin Fellermeyer
- Department of Developmental Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Bonn Medical School, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lena Arévalo
- Department of Developmental Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Bonn Medical School, Bonn, Germany
| | - Gina E Merges
- Department of Developmental Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Bonn Medical School, Bonn, Germany
| | - Glen Kristiansen
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bonn Medical School, Bonn, Germany
| | - Daniel Nettersheim
- Urological Research Laboratory, Department of Urology, Translational Urooncology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hubert Schorle
- Department of Developmental Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Bonn Medical School, Bonn, Germany
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27
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In Vivo Quantitative Estimation of DNA-Dependent Interaction of Sox2 and Oct4 Using BirA-Catalyzed Site-Specific Biotinylation. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10010142. [PMID: 31963153 PMCID: PMC7022529 DOI: 10.3390/biom10010142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein–protein interactions of core pluripotency transcription factors play an important role during cell reprogramming. Cell identity is controlled by a trio of transcription factors: Sox2, Oct4, and Nanog. Thus, methods that help to quantify protein–protein interactions may be useful for understanding the mechanisms of pluripotency at the molecular level. Here, a detailed protocol for the detection and quantitative analysis of in vivo protein–protein proximity of Sox2 and Oct4 using the proximity-utilizing biotinylation (PUB) method is described. The method is based on the coexpression of two proteins of interest fused to a biotin acceptor peptide (BAP)in one case and a biotin ligase enzyme (BirA) in the other. The proximity between the two proteins leads to more efficient biotinylation of the BAP, which can be either detected by Western blotting or quantified using proteomics approaches, such as a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) analysis. Coexpression of the fusion proteins BAP-X and BirA-Y revealed strong biotinylation of the target proteins when X and Y were, alternatively, the pluripotency transcription factors Sox2 and Oct4, compared with the negative control where X or Y was green fluorescent protein (GFP), which strongly suggests that Sox2 and Oct4 come in close proximity to each other and interact.
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28
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Srivastava Y, Tan DS, Malik V, Weng M, Javed A, Cojocaru V, Wu G, Veerapandian V, Cheung LWT, Jauch R. Cancer-associated missense mutations enhance the pluripotency reprogramming activity of OCT4 and SOX17. FEBS J 2019; 287:122-144. [PMID: 31569299 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The functional consequences of cancer-associated missense mutations are unclear for the majority of proteins. We have previously demonstrated that the activity of SOX and Pit-Oct-Unc (POU) family factors during pluripotency reprogramming can be switched and enhanced with rationally placed point mutations. Here, we interrogated cancer mutation databases and identified recurrently mutated positions at critical structural interfaces of the DNA-binding domains of paralogous SOX and POU family transcription factors. Using the conversion of mouse embryonic fibroblasts to induced pluripotent stem cells as functional readout, we identified several gain-of-function mutations that enhance pluripotency reprogramming by SOX2 and OCT4. Wild-type SOX17 cannot support reprogramming but the recurrent missense mutation SOX17-V118M is capable of inducing pluripotency. Furthermore, SOX17-V118M promotes oncogenic transformation, enhances thermostability and elevates cellular protein levels of SOX17. We conclude that the mutational profile of SOX and POU family factors in cancer can guide the design of high-performance reprogramming factors. Furthermore, we propose cellular reprogramming as a suitable assay to study the functional impact of cancer-associated mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogesh Srivastava
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Medical University, China.,Genome Regulation Laboratory, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Daisylyn Senna Tan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Vikas Malik
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Medical University, China.,Genome Regulation Laboratory, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingxi Weng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Asif Javed
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Vlad Cojocaru
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - Guangming Wu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - Veeramohan Veerapandian
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Medical University, China.,Genome Regulation Laboratory, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lydia W T Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ralf Jauch
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Medical University, China.,Genome Regulation Laboratory, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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29
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Gentsch GE, Spruce T, Owens NDL, Smith JC. Maternal pluripotency factors initiate extensive chromatin remodelling to predefine first response to inductive signals. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4269. [PMID: 31537794 PMCID: PMC6753111 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12263-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic development yields many different cell types in response to just a few families of inductive signals. The property of signal-receiving cells that determines how they respond to inductive signals is known as competence, and it differs in different cell types. Here, we explore the ways in which maternal factors modify chromatin to specify initial competence in the frog Xenopus tropicalis. We identify early-engaged regulatory DNA sequences, and infer from them critical activators of the zygotic genome. Of these, we show that the pioneering activity of the maternal pluripotency factors Pou5f3 and Sox3 determines competence for germ layer formation by extensively remodelling compacted chromatin before the onset of inductive signalling. This remodelling includes the opening and marking of thousands of regulatory elements, extensive chromatin looping, and the co-recruitment of signal-mediating transcription factors. Our work identifies significant developmental principles that inform our understanding of how pluripotent stem cells interpret inductive signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- George E Gentsch
- Developmental Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
| | - Thomas Spruce
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nick D L Owens
- Department of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Pasteur Institute, 75015, Paris, France
| | - James C Smith
- Developmental Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
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30
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Guo X, Wang Z, Lu C, Hong W, Wang G, Xu Y, Liu Z, Kang J. LincRNA-1614 coordinates Sox2/PRC2-mediated repression of developmental genes in pluripotency maintenance. J Mol Cell Biol 2019; 10:118-129. [PMID: 28992244 PMCID: PMC5951109 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjx041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Large-intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) cooperate with core transcription factors to coordinate the pluripotency network of embryonic stem cells. The mechanisms by which lincRNAs affect chromatin structure and gene transcription remain mostly unknown. Here, we identified that a lincRNA (linc1614), occupied by pluripotency factors at its promoter, was indispensable for both maintenance and acquisition of pluripotency. Linc1614 served as a specific partner of core factor Sox2 in maintaining pluripotency, primarily by mediating the function of Sox2 in the repression of developmental genes. Moreover, Ezh2, an essential subunit of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), physically interacted with linc1614 and contributed to lincRNA-mediated transcriptional silencing. Thus, we propose that the interplay of linc1614 with Sox2 implicates this lincRNA as a recruitment platform that mediates transcriptional silencing by guiding the PRC2 complex to the loci of developmental genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Guo
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity & Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.,Institute of Regenerative Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Zikang Wang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity & Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Chenqi Lu
- Laboratory of Population and Quantitative Genetics, Institute of Biostatistics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Wujun Hong
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity & Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Guiying Wang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity & Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yanxin Xu
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity & Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhongmin Liu
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Jiuhong Kang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity & Infant Health Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
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31
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Li S, Zheng EB, Zhao L, Liu S. Nonreciprocal and Conditional Cooperativity Directs the Pioneer Activity of Pluripotency Transcription Factors. Cell Rep 2019; 28:2689-2703.e4. [PMID: 31484078 PMCID: PMC6750763 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.07.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [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: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cooperative binding of transcription factors (TFs) to chromatin orchestrates gene expression programming and cell fate specification. However, the biophysical principles of TF cooperativity remain incompletely understood. Here we use single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to study the partnership between Sox2 and Oct4, two core members of the pluripotency gene regulatory network. We find that the ability of Sox2 to target DNA inside nucleosomes is strongly affected by the translational and rotational positioning of its binding motif. In contrast, Oct4 can access nucleosomal sites with equal capacities. Furthermore, the Sox2-Oct4 pair displays nonreciprocal cooperativity, with Oct4 modulating interaction of Sox2 with the nucleosome but not vice versa. Such cooperativity is conditional upon the composite motif's residing at specific nucleosomal locations. These results reveal that pioneer factors possess distinct chromatin-binding properties and suggest that the same set of TFs can differentially regulate gene activities on the basis of their motif positions in the nucleosomal context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Li
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Eric Bo Zheng
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Li Zhao
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Shixin Liu
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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32
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Strebinger D, Deluz C, Friman ET, Govindan S, Alber AB, Suter DM. Endogenous fluctuations of OCT4 and SOX2 bias pluripotent cell fate decisions. Mol Syst Biol 2019; 15:e9002. [PMID: 31556488 PMCID: PMC6759502 DOI: 10.15252/msb.20199002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
SOX2 and OCT4 are pioneer transcription factors playing a key role in embryonic stem (ES) cell self-renewal and differentiation. How temporal fluctuations in their expression levels bias lineage commitment is unknown. Here, we generated knock-in reporter fusion ES cell lines allowing to monitor endogenous SOX2 and OCT4 protein fluctuations in living cells and to determine their impact on mesendodermal and neuroectodermal commitment. We found that small differences in SOX2 and OCT4 levels impact cell fate commitment in G1 but not in S phase. Elevated SOX2 levels modestly increased neuroectodermal commitment and decreased mesendodermal commitment upon directed differentiation. In contrast, elevated OCT4 levels strongly biased ES cells towards both neuroectodermal and mesendodermal fates in undirected differentiation. Using ATAC-seq on ES cells gated for different endogenous SOX2 and OCT4 levels, we found that high OCT4 levels increased chromatin accessibility at differentiation-associated enhancers. This suggests that small endogenous fluctuations of pioneer transcription factors can bias cell fate decisions by concentration-dependent priming of differentiation-associated enhancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Strebinger
- Sponsored Stem Cells Research Chair (UPSUTER)The Institute of Bioengineering (IBI)School of Life SciencesSwiss Federal Institute of TechnologyLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Cédric Deluz
- Sponsored Stem Cells Research Chair (UPSUTER)The Institute of Bioengineering (IBI)School of Life SciencesSwiss Federal Institute of TechnologyLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Elias T Friman
- Sponsored Stem Cells Research Chair (UPSUTER)The Institute of Bioengineering (IBI)School of Life SciencesSwiss Federal Institute of TechnologyLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Subashika Govindan
- Sponsored Stem Cells Research Chair (UPSUTER)The Institute of Bioengineering (IBI)School of Life SciencesSwiss Federal Institute of TechnologyLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Andrea B Alber
- Sponsored Stem Cells Research Chair (UPSUTER)The Institute of Bioengineering (IBI)School of Life SciencesSwiss Federal Institute of TechnologyLausanneSwitzerland
| | - David M Suter
- Sponsored Stem Cells Research Chair (UPSUTER)The Institute of Bioengineering (IBI)School of Life SciencesSwiss Federal Institute of TechnologyLausanneSwitzerland
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33
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Malik V, Glaser LV, Zimmer D, Velychko S, Weng M, Holzner M, Arend M, Chen Y, Srivastava Y, Veerapandian V, Shah Z, Esteban MA, Wang H, Chen J, Schöler HR, Hutchins AP, Meijsing SH, Pott S, Jauch R. Pluripotency reprogramming by competent and incompetent POU factors uncovers temporal dependency for Oct4 and Sox2. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3477. [PMID: 31375664 PMCID: PMC6677745 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11054-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Oct4, along with Sox2 and Klf4 (SK), can induce pluripotency but structurally similar factors like Oct6 cannot. To decode why Oct4 has this unique ability, we compare Oct4-binding, accessibility patterns and transcriptional waves with Oct6 and an Oct4 mutant defective in the dimerization with Sox2 (Oct4defSox2). We find that initial silencing of the somatic program proceeds indistinguishably with or without Oct4. Oct6 mitigates the mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition and derails reprogramming. These effects are a consequence of differences in genome-wide binding, as the early binding profile of Oct4defSox2 resembles Oct4, whilst Oct6 does not bind pluripotency enhancers. Nevertheless, in the Oct6-SK condition many otherwise Oct4-bound locations become accessible but chromatin opening is compromised when Oct4defSox2 occupies these sites. We find that Sox2 predominantly facilitates chromatin opening, whilst Oct4 serves an accessory role. Formation of Oct4/Sox2 heterodimers is essential for pluripotency establishment; however, reliance on Oct4/Sox2 heterodimers declines during pluripotency maintenance. Oct4, along with Sox2 and Klf4 can induce pluripotency, but structurally similar factors like Oct6 cannot. Here, using pluripotency competent and incompetent factors, the authors show that Sox2 plays a dominant role in facilitating chromatin opening at Oct4 bound DNA early during reprogramming to pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Malik
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, 510530, Guangzhou, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510530, Guangzhou, China
| | - Laura V Glaser
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Ihnestraße 63-73, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dennis Zimmer
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, 510530, Guangzhou, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510530, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sergiy Velychko
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Mingxi Weng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Markus Holzner
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Marius Arend
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yanpu Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, 510530, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510530, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yogesh Srivastava
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, 510530, Guangzhou, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510530, Guangzhou, China
| | - Veeramohan Veerapandian
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, 510530, Guangzhou, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510530, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 510515, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zahir Shah
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510530, Guangzhou, China
| | - Miguel A Esteban
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, 510530, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510530, Guangzhou, China.,Laboratory of RNA, Chromatin, and Human Disease, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510530, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GRMH-GDL), 510005, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huating Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jiekai Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, 510530, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510530, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GRMH-GDL), 510005, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hans R Schöler
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, 48149, Münster, Germany.,Medical Faculty, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Andrew P Hutchins
- Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, 518055, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Sebastiaan H Meijsing
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Ihnestraße 63-73, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Pott
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Ralf Jauch
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, 510530, Guangzhou, China. .,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510530, Guangzhou, China. .,School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Yu Z, Pandian GN, Hidaka T, Sugiyama H. Therapeutic gene regulation using pyrrole-imidazole polyamides. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2019; 147:66-85. [PMID: 30742856 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Recent innovations in cutting-edge sequencing platforms have allowed the rapid identification of genes associated with communicable, noncommunicable and rare diseases. Exploitation of this collected biological information has facilitated the development of nonviral gene therapy strategies and the design of several proteins capable of editing specific DNA sequences for disease control. Small molecule-based targeted therapeutic approaches have gained increasing attention because of their suggested clinical benefits, ease of control and lower costs. Pyrrole-imidazole polyamides (PIPs) are a major class of DNA minor groove-binding small molecules that can be predesigned to recognize specific DNA sequences. This programmability of PIPs allows the on-demand design of artificial genetic switches and fluorescent probes. In this review, we detail the progress in the development of PIP-based designer ligands and their prospects as advanced DNA-based small-molecule drugs for therapeutic gene modulation.
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35
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Chen B, Zhu Z, Li L, Ye W, Zeng J, Gao J, Wang S, Zhang L, Huang Z. Effect of overexpression of Oct4 and Sox2 genes on the biological and oncological characteristics of gastric cancer cells. Onco Targets Ther 2019; 12:4667-4682. [PMID: 31417271 PMCID: PMC6592062 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s209734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Using the gastric cancer cell line SGC7901, we constructed a cell line that overexpressed octamer-binding protein 4 (Oct4) and SRY-box 2 (Sox2) to explore the stem cell oncological and biological characteristics of these cells and to elucidate the mechanisms of Oct4 and Sox2 in cancer. Methods: A lentiviral vector containing the Sox2 gene was constructed and transfected into a gastric cancer cell line overexpressing Oct4 (SGC7901-Oct4) to obtain a stably transfected cell line (SGC7901-Oct4-Sox2). Oct4 and Sox2 expression was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The proliferation, drug resistance, migration, and invasion abilities of the cells were assessed using in vitro (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium), drug resistance, scratch-wound migration, transwell migration, transwell invasion, and spherical clone formation assays, and their tumorigenic ability was assessed using a tumor formation experiment in mice. Results: Compared with the control group, the expression of Oct4, Sox2, CD44, and E-cadherin was significantly higher in the group that overexpressed Oct4 and Sox2, while the expression of c-Myc and Klf4 did not significantly change. The proliferation, drug resistance, migration, and invasion abilities were significantly enhanced in the overexpression group, and the tumorigenic ability in mice was also significantly enhanced, with significantly increased tumor size and weight. Conclusion: The proliferation, drug resistance, migration, invasion, and tumorigenic abilities of SGC7901 cells overexpressing Oct4 and Sox2 were significantly improved. Oct4 and Sox2 play important roles in the proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumorigenicity of gastric cancer cells, and the two genes may be synergistic to a certain degree.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borong Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiamen Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361003, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhipeng Zhu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiamen Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361003, People's Republic of China
| | - Lulu Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiamen Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361003, People's Republic of China
| | - Weipeng Ye
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350004, People's Republic of China
| | - Junjie Zeng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiamen Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361003, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Gao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiamen Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361003, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengjie Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiamen Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361003, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiamen Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361003, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengjie Huang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiamen Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361003, People's Republic of China.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350004, People's Republic of China
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36
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Bigdelou Z, Johari B, Kadivar M, Rismani E, Asadi Z, Rahmati M, Saltanatpour Z. Investigation of specific binding of designed oligodeoxynucleotide decoys to transcription factors in HT29 cell line undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). J Cell Physiol 2019; 234:22765-22774. [PMID: 31115051 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Expression of master transcriptional regulators of stem cells (Oct4 and Sox2) is associated with mediating tumor proliferation and tumor differentiation. The main goal of this study is the investigation of specific binding of designed Oct4-Sox2 transcription factors decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) sequence to their nucleus-extracted proteins in HT29-ShE cells containing enriched cancer stem-like cells (SCLCs). First, gene expression of Oct4, Sox2, and E-cadherin revealed the overexpression of Oct4 and Sox2 and downregulation of E-cadherin in HT29-ShE cells compared with HT29 wild-type and HT29-ShC cells. Next, Oct4-Sox2 complex decoy ODNs were designed according to their elements in the promoter region of Sox2 gene. Then, the interactions of Oct4 and Sox2 proteins to designed ODNs were evaluated in silico. Finally, DNA-protein interactions of decoy ODNs and their corresponding proteins were examined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Analysis of gel shift retardation assay admitted the specific binding of designed ODNs sequence to the nuclear extracted Oct4 and Sox2 proteins. The results will be a promising approach to target cancer stem cells for potential use in differentiation therapy before chemotherapy and radiotherapy of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Bigdelou
- Student Research Committee, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.,Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Behrooz Johari
- Student Research Committee, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.,Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Mehdi Kadivar
- Department of Biochemistry, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elham Rismani
- Molecular Medicine Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Pasteur Avenue, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zoleykha Asadi
- Student Research Committee, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.,Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Rahmati
- Student Research Committee, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.,Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Zohreh Saltanatpour
- Genetics Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
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37
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Malik V, Zimmer D, Jauch R. Diversity among POU transcription factors in chromatin recognition and cell fate reprogramming. Cell Mol Life Sci 2018; 75:1587-1612. [PMID: 29335749 PMCID: PMC11105716 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-018-2748-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 12/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The POU (Pit-Oct-Unc) protein family is an evolutionary ancient group of transcription factors (TFs) that bind specific DNA sequences to direct gene expression programs. The fundamental importance of POU TFs to orchestrate embryonic development and to direct cellular fate decisions is well established, but the molecular basis for this activity is insufficiently understood. POU TFs possess a bipartite 'two-in-one' DNA binding domain consisting of two independently folding structural units connected by a poorly conserved and flexible linker. Therefore, they represent a paradigmatic example to study the molecular basis for the functional versatility of TFs. Their modular architecture endows POU TFs with the capacity to accommodate alternative composite DNA sequences by adopting different quaternary structures. Moreover, associations with partner proteins crucially influence the selection of their DNA binding sites. The plentitude of DNA binding modes confers the ability to POU TFs to regulate distinct genes in the context of different cellular environments. Likewise, different binding modes of POU proteins to DNA could trigger alternative regulatory responses in the context of different genomic locations of the same cell. Prominent POU TFs such as Oct4, Brn2, Oct6 and Brn4 are not only essential regulators of development but have also been successfully employed to reprogram somatic cells to pluripotency and neural lineages. Here we review biochemical, structural, genomic and cellular reprogramming studies to examine how the ability of POU TFs to select regulatory DNA, alone or with partner factors, is tied to their capacity to epigenetically remodel chromatin and drive specific regulatory programs that give cells their identities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Malik
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
- Genome Regulation Laboratory, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Dennis Zimmer
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
- Genome Regulation Laboratory, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Ralf Jauch
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.
- Genome Regulation Laboratory, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
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38
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Deconstructing the pluripotency gene regulatory network. Nat Cell Biol 2018; 20:382-392. [PMID: 29593328 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-018-0067-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells can be isolated from embryos or derived by reprogramming. Pluripotency is stabilized by an interconnected network of pluripotency genes that cooperatively regulate gene expression. Here we describe the molecular principles of pluripotency gene function and highlight post-transcriptional controls, particularly those induced by RNA-binding proteins and alternative splicing, as an important regulatory layer of pluripotency. We also discuss heterogeneity in pluripotency regulation, alternative pluripotency states and future directions of pluripotent stem cell research.
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39
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Julian LM, McDonald AC, Stanford WL. Direct reprogramming with SOX factors: masters of cell fate. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2017; 46:24-36. [PMID: 28662445 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2017.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2017] [Revised: 04/25/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decade significant advances have been made toward reprogramming the fate of somatic cells, typically by overexpression of cell lineage-determinant transcription factors. As key regulators of cell fate, the SOX family of transcription factors has emerged as potent drivers of direct somatic cell reprogramming into multiple lineages, in some cases as the sole overexpressed factor. The vast capacity of SOX factors, especially those of the SOXB1, E and F subclasses, to reprogram cell fate is enlightening our understanding of organismal development, cancer and disease, and offers tremendous potential for regenerative medicine and cell-based therapies. Understanding the molecular mechanisms through which SOX factors reprogram cell fate is essential to optimize the development of novel somatic cell transdifferentiation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Julian
- Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1L8L6, Canada
| | - Angela Ch McDonald
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G0A4, Canada; Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S3G9, Canada
| | - William L Stanford
- Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1L8L6, Canada; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faulty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K1H8M5, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faulty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K1H8M5, Canada; Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K1H8M5, Canada.
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40
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Molecular basis for the genome engagement by Sox proteins. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 63:2-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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41
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Del Vecchio D, Abdallah H, Qian Y, Collins JJ. A Blueprint for a Synthetic Genetic Feedback Controller to Reprogram Cell Fate. Cell Syst 2017; 4:109-120.e11. [PMID: 28065574 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2016.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Revised: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
To artificially reprogram cell fate, experimentalists manipulate the gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that maintain a cell's phenotype. In practice, reprogramming is often performed by constant overexpression of specific transcription factors (TFs). This process can be unreliable and inefficient. Here, we address this problem by introducing a new approach to reprogramming based on mathematical analysis. We demonstrate that reprogramming GRNs using constant overexpression may not succeed in general. Instead, we propose an alternative reprogramming strategy: a synthetic genetic feedback controller that dynamically steers the concentration of a GRN's key TFs to any desired value. The controller works by adjusting TF expression based on the discrepancy between desired and actual TF concentrations. Theory predicts that this reprogramming strategy is guaranteed to succeed, and its performance is independent of the GRN's structure and parameters, provided that feedback gain is sufficiently high. As a case study, we apply the controller to a model of induced pluripotency in stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domitilla Del Vecchio
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Synthetic Biology Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Hussein Abdallah
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Yili Qian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - James J Collins
- Synthetic Biology Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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42
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Abstract
Pluripotency is a state that exists transiently in the early embryo and, remarkably, can be recapitulated in vitro by deriving embryonic stem cells or by reprogramming somatic cells to become induced pluripotent stem cells. The state of pluripotency, which is stabilized by an interconnected network of pluripotency-associated genes, integrates external signals and exerts control over the decision between self-renewal and differentiation at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional and epigenetic levels. Recent evidence of alternative pluripotency states indicates the regulatory flexibility of this network. Insights into the underlying principles of the pluripotency network may provide unprecedented opportunities for studying development and for regenerative medicine.
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43
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Jerabek S, Ng CK, Wu G, Arauzo-Bravo MJ, Kim KP, Esch D, Malik V, Chen Y, Velychko S, MacCarthy CM, Yang X, Cojocaru V, Schöler HR, Jauch R. Changing POU dimerization preferences converts Oct6 into a pluripotency inducer. EMBO Rep 2016; 18:319-333. [PMID: 28007765 PMCID: PMC5286379 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201642958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2016] [Revised: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor Oct4 is a core component of molecular cocktails inducing pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), while other members of the POU family cannot replace Oct4 with comparable efficiency. Rather, group III POU factors such as Oct6 induce neural lineages. Here, we sought to identify molecular features determining the differential DNA‐binding and reprogramming activity of Oct4 and Oct6. In enhancers of pluripotency genes, Oct4 cooperates with Sox2 on heterodimeric SoxOct elements. By re‐analyzing ChIP‐Seq data and performing dimerization assays, we found that Oct6 homodimerizes on palindromic OctOct more cooperatively and more stably than Oct4. Using structural and biochemical analyses, we identified a single amino acid directing binding to the respective DNA elements. A change in this amino acid decreases the ability of Oct4 to generate iPSCs, while the reverse mutation in Oct6 does not augment its reprogramming activity. Yet, with two additional amino acid exchanges, Oct6 acquires the ability to generate iPSCs and maintain pluripotency. Together, we demonstrate that cell type‐specific POU factor function is determined by select residues that affect DNA‐dependent dimerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stepan Jerabek
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - Calista Kl Ng
- Institute of Medical Biology, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Guangming Wu
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - Marcos J Arauzo-Bravo
- Biodonostia Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain.,IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Kee-Pyo Kim
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - Daniel Esch
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - Vikas Malik
- Genome Regulation Laboratory, Drug Discovery Pipeline, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanpu Chen
- Genome Regulation Laboratory, Drug Discovery Pipeline, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sergiy Velychko
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Xiaoxiao Yang
- Genome Regulation Laboratory, Drug Discovery Pipeline, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Vlad Cojocaru
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany.,Center for Multiscale Theory and Computation, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Hans R Schöler
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany .,Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Ralf Jauch
- Genome Regulation Laboratory, Drug Discovery Pipeline, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China .,Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
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44
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Chang YK, Srivastava Y, Hu C, Joyce A, Yang X, Zuo Z, Havranek JJ, Stormo GD, Jauch R. Quantitative profiling of selective Sox/POU pairing on hundreds of sequences in parallel by Coop-seq. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 45:832-845. [PMID: 27915232 PMCID: PMC5314778 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw1198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Revised: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cooperative binding of transcription factors is known to be important in the regulation of gene expression programs conferring cellular identities. However, current methods to measure cooperativity parameters have been laborious and therefore limited to studying only a few sequence variants at a time. We developed Coop-seq (cooperativity by sequencing) that is capable of efficiently and accurately determining the cooperativity parameters for hundreds of different DNA sequences in a single experiment. We apply Coop-seq to 12 dimer pairs from the Sox and POU families of transcription factors using 324 unique sequences with changed half-site orientation, altered spacing and discrete randomization within the binding elements. The study reveals specific dimerization profiles of different Sox factors with Oct4. By contrast, Oct4 and the three neural class III POU factors Brn2, Brn4 and Oct6 assemble with Sox2 in a surprisingly indistinguishable manner. Two novel half-site configurations can support functional Sox/Oct dimerization in addition to known composite motifs. Moreover, Coop-seq uncovers a nucleotide switch within the POU half-site when spacing is altered, which is mirrored in genomic loci bound by Sox2/Oct4 complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming K Chang
- Department of Genetics and Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Yogesh Srivastava
- Genome Regulation Laboratory, Drug Discovery Pipeline, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China.,Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Caizhen Hu
- Genome Regulation Laboratory, Drug Discovery Pipeline, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China.,Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Adam Joyce
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Xiaoxiao Yang
- Genome Regulation Laboratory, Drug Discovery Pipeline, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China.,Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
| | - Zheng Zuo
- Department of Genetics and Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - James J Havranek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Gary D Stormo
- Department of Genetics and Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ralf Jauch
- Genome Regulation Laboratory, Drug Discovery Pipeline, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China .,Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
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45
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Lee MS, Hsu WT, Deng YF, Lin CW, Weng EY, Chang HP, Wu SF, Li C. SOX2 suppresses the mobility of urothelial carcinoma by promoting the expression of S100A14. Biochem Biophys Rep 2016; 7:230-239. [PMID: 28955911 PMCID: PMC5613348 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2016.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Revised: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex-determining region Y (SRY)-box protein 2 (SOX2) plays a critical role in stem cell maintenance and carcinogenesis. In addition to its function as a minor-groove DNA binding transcription factor, our previous study showed that SOX2 also acts as a RNA binding protein. In current study, we first showed that SOX2 displayed high affinity toward the mRNA encoding S100A14 in BFTC905 and that depletion of SOX2 resulted in a decrease of S100A14 mRNA and protein level. To characterize the RNA binding sequence recognized by SOX2, oligomer-directed RNase H digestion was coupled to the cross-linking before immunoprecipitation assay to demonstrate that SOX2 preferentially binds to the 3′-UTR of the S100A14 mRNA. Using EGFP-S100A14 3′-UTR reporters and mobility shift assay, we identified that the binding sequence on the 3′-UTR of the S100A14 mRNA exhibits a stem-loop structure. Together, our data indicates that SOX2 enhances S100A14 expression by binding to the 3′-UTR of the S100A14 mRNA. Functionally, depletion of SOX2 increases growth and mobility of BFTC905. Knock-down of S100A14 in BFTC905 also leads to an increase in the number of the cells in the S phase and higher mobility, suggesting that SOX2 suppresses cell growth and mobility through promoting the expression of S100A14. Together, our experimental evidence indicates that SOX2 is capable of exerting its cellular functions by functioning as an RNA binding protein in post-transcriptional regulation. SOX2 binds to the S100A14 mRNA and promotes the expression of S100A14. The SOX2 binding site on the S100A14 mRNA 3′UTR consists of an stem-loop structure. Suppression of SOX2 expression promotes growth and mobility of BFTC905. S100A14 functions to retard cell cycle progression and mobility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moon-Sing Lee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Ting Hsu
- Department of Life Science, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Fang Deng
- Department of Life Science, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Wei Lin
- Department of Life Science, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Erh-Ying Weng
- Department of Life Science, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Ping Chang
- Department of Life Science, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Fen Wu
- Department of Life Science, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Chin Li
- Department of Life Science, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan
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46
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Rizzino A, Wuebben EL. Sox2/Oct4: A delicately balanced partnership in pluripotent stem cells and embryogenesis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2016; 1859:780-91. [PMID: 26992828 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2016.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Considerable progress has been made in understanding the roles of Sox2 and Oct4 in embryonic stem cells and mammalian embryogenesis. Specifically, significant progress has been made in answering three questions about the functions of Sox2 and Oct4, which are the focus of this review. 1) Are the first or second cell lineage decisions during embryogenesis controlled by Oct4 and/or Sox2? 2) Do the levels of Oct4 and Sox2 need to be maintained within narrow limits to promote normal development and to sustain the self-renewal of pluripotent stem cells? 3) Do Oct4 and Sox2 work closely together or is the primary role of Sox2 in pluripotent cells to ensure the expression of Oct4? Although significant progress has been made in answering these questions, additional studies are needed to resolve several important remaining issues. Nonetheless, the preponderance of the evidence suggests there is considerable crosstalk between Sox2 and Oct4, and further suggests Sox2 and Oct4 function as molecular rheostats and utilize negative feedback loops to carefully balance their expression and other critical genes during embryogenesis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The Oct transcription factor family, edited by Dr. Dean Tantin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angie Rizzino
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5950, United States.
| | - Erin L Wuebben
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5950, United States
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47
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Marthaler AG, Adachi K, Tiemann U, Wu G, Sabour D, Velychko S, Kleiter I, Schöler HR, Tapia N. Enhanced OCT4 transcriptional activity substitutes for exogenous SOX2 in cellular reprogramming. Sci Rep 2016; 6:19415. [PMID: 26762895 PMCID: PMC4725906 DOI: 10.1038/srep19415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Adenoviral early region 1A (E1A) is a viral gene that can promote cellular proliferation and de-differentiation in mammalian cells, features required for the reprogramming of somatic cells to a pluripotent state. E1A has been shown to interact with OCT4, and as a consequence, to increase OCT4 transcriptional activity. Indeed, E1A and OCT4 are sufficient to revert neuroepithelial hybrids to pluripotency, as demonstrated in previous cell fusion experiments. However, the role that E1A might play in the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has not been investigated yet. In this report, we show that E1A can generate iPSCs in combination with OCT4 and KLF4, thus replacing exogenous SOX2. The generated iPSCs are bona fide pluripotent cells as shown by in vitro and in vivo tests. Overall, our study suggests that E1A might replace SOX2 through enhancing OCT4 transcriptional activity at the early stages of reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adele G Marthaler
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Kenjiro Adachi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Ulf Tiemann
- Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Guangming Wu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Davood Sabour
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Sergiy Velychko
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Ingo Kleiter
- Department of Neurology, St Josef Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Gudrunstraße 56, 44791 Bochum, Germany
| | - Hans R Schöler
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany.,Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Domagkstraße 3, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Natalia Tapia
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany.,Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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48
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Anwar MA, Yesudhas D, Shah M, Choi S. Structural and conformational insights into SOX2/OCT4-bound enhancer DNA: a computational perspective. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra15176k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The roles of SOX2 and OCT4 are critical in stem cell maintenance either in the context of iPSCs generation or cancer stem cell growth; therefore, it is imperative to study their cooperative binding and SOX2/OCT4-induced DNA conformational switching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ayaz Anwar
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology
- Ajou University
- Suwon 443-749
- Korea
| | - Dhanusha Yesudhas
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology
- Ajou University
- Suwon 443-749
- Korea
| | - Masaud Shah
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology
- Ajou University
- Suwon 443-749
- Korea
| | - Sangdun Choi
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology
- Ajou University
- Suwon 443-749
- Korea
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