1
|
Zhang X, Hocher B. Parental genetic effects on the offspring's phenotype without transmission of the gene itself-pathophysiology and clinical evidence. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2024; 327:C750-C777. [PMID: 39010843 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00359.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Parental genes can influence the phenotype of their offspring through genomic-epigenomic interactions even without the direct inheritance of specific parental genotypes. Maternal genetic variations can affect the ovarian and intrauterine environments and potentially alter lactation behaviors, impacting offspring nutrition and health outcomes independently of the fetal genome. Similarly, paternal genetic changes can affect the endocrine system and vascular functions in the testes, influencing sperm quality and seminal fluid composition. These changes can initiate early epigenetic modifications in sperm, including alterations in microRNAs, tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs), and DNA methylation patterns. These epigenetic modifications might induce further changes in target organs of the offspring, leading to modified gene expression and phenotypic outcomes without transmitting the original parental genetic alterations. This review presents clinical evidence supporting this hypothesis and discusses the potential underlying molecular mechanisms. Parental gene-offspring epigenome-offspring phenotype interactions have been observed in neurocognitive disorders and cardio-renal diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Zhang
- Fifth Department of Medicine (Nephrology/Endocrinology/Rheumatology/Pneumology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Berthold Hocher
- Fifth Department of Medicine (Nephrology/Endocrinology/Rheumatology/Pneumology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, People's Republic of China
- IMD-Institut für Medizinische Diagnostik Berlin-Potsdam GbR, Berlin, Germany
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fluke KA, Fuchs RT, Tsai YL, Talbott V, Elkins L, Febvre HP, Dai N, Wolf EJ, Burkhart BW, Schiltz J, Brett Robb G, Corrêa IR, Santangelo TJ. The extensive m 5C epitranscriptome of Thermococcus kodakarensis is generated by a suite of RNA methyltransferases that support thermophily. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7272. [PMID: 39179532 PMCID: PMC11344067 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51410-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024] Open
Abstract
RNAs are often modified to invoke new activities. While many modifications are limited in frequency, restricted to non-coding RNAs, or present only in select organisms, 5-methylcytidine (m5C) is abundant across diverse RNAs and fitness-relevant across Domains of life, but the synthesis and impacts of m5C have yet to be fully investigated. Here, we map m5C in the model hyperthermophile, Thermococcus kodakarensis. We demonstrate that m5C is ~25x more abundant in T. kodakarensis than human cells, and the m5C epitranscriptome includes ~10% of unique transcripts. T. kodakarensis rRNAs harbor tenfold more m5C compared to Eukarya or Bacteria. We identify at least five RNA m5C methyltransferases (R5CMTs), and strains deleted for individual R5CMTs lack site-specific m5C modifications that limit hyperthermophilic growth. We show that m5C is likely generated through partial redundancy in target sites among R5CMTs. The complexity of the m5C epitranscriptome in T. kodakarensis argues that m5C supports life in the extremes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin A Fluke
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Ryan T Fuchs
- New England Biolabs Inc., Beverly, MA, 01915, USA
| | | | - Victoria Talbott
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Liam Elkins
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Hallie P Febvre
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Nan Dai
- New England Biolabs Inc., Beverly, MA, 01915, USA
| | - Eric J Wolf
- New England Biolabs Inc., Beverly, MA, 01915, USA
| | - Brett W Burkhart
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Jackson Schiltz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - G Brett Robb
- New England Biolabs Inc., Beverly, MA, 01915, USA
| | | | - Thomas J Santangelo
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wu D, Zhang K, Guan K, Khan FA, Pandupuspitasari NS, Negara W, Sun F, Huang C. Future in the past: paternal reprogramming of offspring phenotype and the epigenetic mechanisms. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:1685-1703. [PMID: 38460001 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-024-03713-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
That certain preconceptual paternal exposures reprogram the developmental phenotypic plasticity in future generation(s) has conceptualized the "paternal programming of offspring health" hypothesis. This transgenerational effect is transmitted primarily through sperm epigenetic mechanisms-DNA methylation, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and associated RNA modifications, and histone modifications-and potentially through non-sperm-specific mechanisms-seminal plasma and circulating factors-that create 'imprinted' memory of ancestral information. The epigenetic landscape in sperm is highly responsive to environmental cues, due to, in part, the soma-to-germline communication mediated by epididymosomes. While human epidemiological studies and experimental animal studies have provided solid evidences in support of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, how ancestral information is memorized as epigenetic codes for germline transmission is poorly understood. Particular elusive is what the downstream effector pathways that decode those epigenetic codes into persistent phenotypes. In this review, we discuss the paternal reprogramming of offspring phenotype and the possible underlying epigenetic mechanisms. Cracking these epigenetic mechanisms will lead to a better appreciation of "Paternal Origins of Health and Disease" and guide innovation of intervention algorithms to achieve 'healthier' outcomes in future generations. All this will revolutionize our understanding of human disease etiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Di Wu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Kejia Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Kaifeng Guan
- School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Faheem Ahmed Khan
- Research Center for Animal Husbandry, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta Pusat, 10340, Indonesia
| | | | - Windu Negara
- Research Center for Animal Husbandry, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta Pusat, 10340, Indonesia
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Chunjie Huang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang S, Kim K, Gelvez N, Chung C, Gout JF, Fixman B, Vermulst M, Chen XS. Identification of RBM46 as a novel APOBEC1 cofactor for C-to-U RNA-editing activity. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168333. [PMID: 38708190 PMCID: PMC11068304 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Cytidine (C) to Uridine (U) RNA editing is a post-transcription modification that is involved in diverse biological processes. APOBEC1 (A1) catalyzes the conversion of C-to-U in RNA, which is important in regulating cholesterol metabolism through its editing activity on ApoB mRNA. However, A1 requires a cofactor to form an "editosome" for RNA editing activity. A1CF and RBM47, both RNA-binding proteins, have been identified as cofactors that pair with A1 to form editosomes and edit ApoB mRNA and other cellular RNAs. SYNCRIP is another RNA-binding protein that has been reported as a potential regulator of A1, although it is not directly involved in A1 RNA editing activity. Here, we describe the identification and characterization of a novel cofactor, RBM46 (RNA-Binding-Motif-protein-46), that can facilitate A1 to perform C-to-U editing on ApoB mRNA. Additionally, using the low-error circular RNA sequencing technique, we identified novel cellular RNA targets for the A1/RBM46 editosome. Our findings provide further insight into the complex regulatory network of RNA editing and the potential new function of A1 with its cofactors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Wang
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Kyumin Kim
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Nicolas Gelvez
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Claire Chung
- School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Jean-Francois Gout
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - Benjamin Fixman
- Programs in Biomedical and Biological Sciences (PIBBS), Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Marc Vermulst
- School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Xiaojiang S. Chen
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Programs in Biomedical and Biological Sciences (PIBBS), Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Center of Excellence in NanoBiophysic, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Alves AAC, da Costa RM, Fonseca LFS, Carvalheiro R, Ventura RV, Rosa GJDM, Albuquerque LG. A Random Forest-Based Genome-Wide Scan Reveals Fertility-Related Candidate Genes and Potential Inter-Chromosomal Epistatic Regions Associated With Age at First Calving in Nellore Cattle. Front Genet 2022; 13:834724. [PMID: 35692843 PMCID: PMC9178659 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.834724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to perform a genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) using the Random Forest (RF) approach for scanning candidate genes for age at first calving (AFC) in Nellore cattle. Additionally, potential epistatic effects were investigated using linear mixed models with pairwise interactions between all markers with high importance scores within the tree ensemble non-linear structure. Data from Nellore cattle were used, including records of animals born between 1984 and 2015 and raised in commercial herds located in different regions of Brazil. The estimated breeding values (EBV) were computed and used as the response variable in the genomic analyses. After quality control, the remaining number of animals and SNPs considered were 3,174 and 360,130, respectively. Five independent RF analyses were carried out, considering different initialization seeds. The importance score of each SNP was averaged across the independent RF analyses to rank the markers according to their predictive relevance. A total of 117 SNPs associated with AFC were identified, which spanned 10 autosomes (2, 3, 5, 10, 11, 17, 18, 21, 24, and 25). In total, 23 non-overlapping genomic regions embedded 262 candidate genes for AFC. Enrichment analysis and previous evidence in the literature revealed that many candidate genes annotated close to the lead SNPs have key roles in fertility, including embryo pre-implantation and development, embryonic viability, male germinal cell maturation, and pheromone recognition. Furthermore, some genomic regions previously associated with fertility and growth traits in Nellore cattle were also detected in the present study, reinforcing the effectiveness of RF for pre-screening candidate regions associated with complex traits. Complementary analyses revealed that many SNPs top-ranked in the RF-based GWAS did not present a strong marginal linear effect but are potentially involved in epistatic hotspots between genomic regions in different autosomes, remarkably in the BTAs 3, 5, 11, and 21. The reported results are expected to enhance the understanding of genetic mechanisms involved in the biological regulation of AFC in this cattle breed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anderson Antonio Carvalho Alves
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - Rebeka Magalhães da Costa
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - Larissa Fernanda Simielli Fonseca
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - Roberto Carvalheiro
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil.,National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brasília, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Vieira Ventura
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | | | - Lucia Galvão Albuquerque
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil.,National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brasília, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
The AID/APOBEC polynucleotide cytidine deaminases have historically been classified as either DNA mutators or RNA editors based on their first identified nucleic acid substrate preference. DNA mutators can generate functional diversity at antibody genes but also cause genomic instability in cancer. RNA editors can generate informational diversity in the transcriptome of innate immune cells, and of cancer cells. Members of both classes can act as antiviral restriction factors. Recent structural work has illuminated differences and similarities between AID/APOBEC enzymes that can catalyse DNA mutation, RNA editing or both, suggesting that the strict functional classification of members of this family should be reconsidered. As many of these enzymes have been employed for targeted genome (or transcriptome) editing, a more holistic understanding will help improve the design of therapeutically relevant programmable base editors. In this Perspective, Pecori et al. provide an overview of the AID/APOBEC cytidine deaminase family, discussing key structural features, how they contribute to viral and tumour evolution and how they can be harnessed for (potentially therapeutic) base-editing purposes.
Collapse
|
7
|
He T, Guo H, Shen X, Wu X, Xia L, Jiang X, Xu Y, Chen D, Zhang Y, Tan D, Tan Y. Hypoxia-induced alteration of RNA modifications in the mouse testis and sperm. Biol Reprod 2021; 105:1171-1178. [PMID: 34296257 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypobaric hypoxia as an extreme environment in a plateau may have deleterious effects on human health. Studies have indicated that rush entry into a plateau may reduce male fertility and manifest in decreased sperm counts and weakened sperm motility. RNA modifications are sensitive to environmental changes and have recently emerged as novel post-transcriptional regulators in male spermatogenesis and intergenerational epigenetic inheritance. In the present study, we generated a mouse hypoxia model simulating the environment of 5500 meters in altitude for 35 days, which led to compromised spermatogenesis, decreased sperm counts, and an increased sperm deformation rate. Using this hypoxia model, we further applied our recently developed high-throughput RNA modification quantification platform based on LC-MS/MS, which exhibited the capacity to simultaneously examine 25 types of RNA modifications. Our results revealed an altered sperm RNA modifications signature in the testis (6 types) and mature sperm (11 types) under the hypoxia model, with 4 types showing overlap (Am, Gm, m7G, and m22G). Our data first drew the signature of RNA modification profiles and comprehensively analyzed the alteration of RNA modification levels in mouse testis and sperm under a mouse hypoxia model. These data may be highly related to human conditions under a similar hypoxia environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tong He
- Laboratory Animal Center, Chongqing Medical University, Yixueyuan Road 1, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China.,Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, P. R. China
| | - Huanping Guo
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, P. R. China
| | - Xipeng Shen
- Laboratory Animal Center, Chongqing Medical University, Yixueyuan Road 1, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China.,Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, P. R. China
| | - Xiao Wu
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, P. R. China
| | - Lin Xia
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, P. R. China
| | - Xuelin Jiang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, P. R. China
| | - Yinying Xu
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, P. R. China
| | - Dan Chen
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, P. R. China
| | - Yunfang Zhang
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, P. R. China
| | - Dongmei Tan
- Laboratory Animal Center, Chongqing Medical University, Yixueyuan Road 1, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
| | - Yi Tan
- Laboratory Animal Center, Chongqing Medical University, Yixueyuan Road 1, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Cullen SM, Hassan N, Smith-Raska M. Effects of non-inherited ancestral genotypes on offspring phenotypes. Biol Reprod 2021; 105:747-760. [PMID: 34159361 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well established that environmental exposures can modify the profile of heritable factors in an individual's germ cells, ultimately affecting the inheritance of phenotypes in descendants. Similar to exposures, an ancestor's genotype can also affect the inheritance of phenotypes across generations, sometimes in offspring who do not inherit the genetic aberration. This can occur via a variety of prenatal, in utero, or postnatal mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the evidence for this process in mammals, with a focus on examples that are potentially mediated through the germline, while also considering alternate routes of inheritance. Non-inherited ancestral genotypes may influence descendant's disease risk to a much greater extent than currently appreciated, and focused evaluation of this phenomenon may reveal novel mechanisms of inheritance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Cullen
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, 413 East 69th Street, Room 1252D, New York, NY 10021
| | - Nora Hassan
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, 413 East 69th Street, Room 1252D, New York, NY 10021
| | - Matthew Smith-Raska
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, 413 East 69th Street, Room 1252D, New York, NY 10021
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Genetic control of non-genetic inheritance in mammals: state-of-the-art and perspectives. Mamm Genome 2020; 31:146-156. [PMID: 32529318 PMCID: PMC7369129 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-020-09841-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Thought to be directly and uniquely dependent from genotypes, the ontogeny of individual phenotypes is much more complicated. Individual genetics, environmental exposures, and their interaction are the three main determinants of individual's phenotype. This picture has been further complicated a decade ago when the Lamarckian theory of acquired inheritance has been rekindled with the discovery of epigenetic inheritance, according to which acquired phenotypes can be transmitted through fertilization and affect phenotypes across generations. The results of Genome-Wide Association Studies have also highlighted a big degree of missing heritability in genetics and have provided hints that not only acquired phenotypes, but also individual's genotypes affect phenotypes intergenerationally through indirect genetic effects. Here, we review available examples of indirect genetic effects in mammals, what is known of the underlying molecular mechanisms and their potential impact for our understanding of missing heritability, phenotypic variation. and individual disease risk.
Collapse
|
10
|
Dodson AE, Kennedy S. Germ Granules Coordinate RNA-Based Epigenetic Inheritance Pathways. Dev Cell 2019; 50:704-715.e4. [PMID: 31402284 PMCID: PMC7316138 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2019.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Germ granules are biomolecular condensates that promote germ cell totipotency in animals. In C. elegans, MEG-3 and MEG-4 function redundantly to assemble germ granules in germline blastomeres. Here, we show that meg-3/4 mutant animals exhibit defects in RNA interference (RNAi) that are transgenerationally disconnected from the meg-3/4 genotype. Similar non-Mendelian inheritance is associated with other mutations disrupting germ granule formation, indicating that loss of germ granules is the likely cause of the observed disconnects between genotype and phenotype. meg-3/4 animals produce aberrant siRNAs that are propagated for ≅10 generations in wild-type descendants of meg-3/4 ancestors. Aberrant siRNAs inappropriately and heritably silence germline-expressed genes including the RNAi gene sid-1, suggesting that transgenerational silencing of sid-1 underlies inherited defects in RNAi. We conclude that one function of germ granules is to organize RNA-based epigenetic inheritance pathways and that germ granule loss has consequences that persist for many generations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne E Dodson
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Scott Kennedy
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Zhang Y, Shi J, Rassoulzadegan M, Tuorto F, Chen Q. Sperm RNA code programmes the metabolic health of offspring. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2019; 15:489-498. [PMID: 31235802 PMCID: PMC6626572 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-019-0226-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian sperm RNA is increasingly recognized as an additional source of paternal hereditary information beyond DNA. Environmental inputs, including an unhealthy diet, mental stresses and toxin exposure, can reshape the sperm RNA signature and induce offspring phenotypes that relate to paternal environmental stressors. Our understanding of the categories of sperm RNAs (such as tRNA-derived small RNAs, microRNAs, ribosomal RNA-derived small RNAs and long non-coding RNAs) and associated RNA modifications is expanding and has begun to reveal the functional diversity and information capacity of these molecules. However, the coding mechanism endowed by sperm RNA structures and by RNA interactions with DNA and other epigenetic factors remains unknown. How sperm RNA-encoded information is decoded in early embryos to control offspring phenotypes also remains unclear. Complete deciphering of the 'sperm RNA code' with regard to metabolic control could move the field towards translational applications and precision medicine, and this may lead to prevention of intergenerational transmission of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus susceptibility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunfang Zhang
- Medical Center of Hematology, The Xinqiao Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Junchao Shi
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | | | - Francesca Tuorto
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Qi Chen
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA.
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lerner T, Papavasiliou FN, Pecori R. RNA Editors, Cofactors, and mRNA Targets: An Overview of the C-to-U RNA Editing Machinery and Its Implication in Human Disease. Genes (Basel) 2018; 10:E13. [PMID: 30591678 PMCID: PMC6356216 DOI: 10.3390/genes10010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most prevalent epitranscriptomic modifications is RNA editing. In higher eukaryotes, RNA editing is catalyzed by one of two classes of deaminases: ADAR family enzymes that catalyze A-to-I (read as G) editing, and AID/APOBEC family enzymes that catalyze C-to-U. ADAR-catalyzed deamination has been studied extensively. Here we focus on AID/APOBEC-catalyzed editing, and review the emergent knowledge regarding C-to-U editing consequences in the context of human disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taga Lerner
- Division of Immune Diversity, Program in Cancer Immunology, German Cancer Research Centre, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
- Division of Biosciences, Uni Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - F Nina Papavasiliou
- Division of Immune Diversity, Program in Cancer Immunology, German Cancer Research Centre, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Riccardo Pecori
- Division of Immune Diversity, Program in Cancer Immunology, German Cancer Research Centre, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kung CP, Maggi LB, Weber JD. The Role of RNA Editing in Cancer Development and Metabolic Disorders. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:762. [PMID: 30619092 PMCID: PMC6305585 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous human diseases arise from alterations of genetic information, most notably DNA mutations. Thought to be merely the intermediate between DNA and protein, changes in RNA sequence were an afterthought until the discovery of RNA editing 30 years ago. RNA editing alters RNA sequence without altering the sequence or integrity of genomic DNA. The most common RNA editing events are A-to-I changes mediated by adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR), and C-to-U editing mediated by apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide 1 (APOBEC1). Both A-to-I and C-to-U editing were first identified in the context of embryonic development and physiological homeostasis. The role of RNA editing in human disease has only recently started to be understood. In this review, the impact of RNA editing on the development of cancer and metabolic disorders will be examined. Distinctive functions of each RNA editase that regulate either A-to-I or C-to-U editing will be highlighted in addition to pointing out important regulatory mechanisms governing these processes. The potential of developing novel therapeutic approaches through intervention of RNA editing will be explored. As the role of RNA editing in human disease is elucidated, the clinical utility of RNA editing targeted therapies will be needed. This review aims to serve as a bridge of information between past findings and future directions of RNA editing in the context of cancer and metabolic disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Che-Pei Kung
- ICCE Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Leonard B. Maggi
- ICCE Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Jason D. Weber
- ICCE Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
- Siteman Cancer Center, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Niavarani A, Shahrabi Farahani A, Sharafkhah M, Rassoulzadegan M. Pancancer analysis identifies prognostic high-APOBEC1 expression level implicated in cancer in-frame insertions and deletions. Carcinogenesis 2018; 39:327-335. [PMID: 29346513 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgy005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome insertions and deletions (indels) show tremendous functional impacts despite they are much less common than single nucleotide variants, which are at the center of studies assessing cancer mutational signatures. We studied 8891 tumor samples of 32 types from The Cancer Genome Atlas in order to explore those genes which are potentially implicated in cancer indels. Survival analysis identified in-frame indels as the most important variants predicting adverse outcome. Transcriptome-wide association study identified 16 genes overexpressed in both tumor samples and tumor types with high number of in-frame indels, of whom four (APOBEC1, BCL2L15, FOXL1 and PDX1) were identified with gene products distributed within the nucleus. APOBEC1 emerged as the mere consistently hypomethylated gene in tumor samples with high number of in-frame indels. The correlation of APOBEC1 expression levels with cancer indels was independent of age and defects in DNA homologous recombination (HR) and/or mismatch repair. Unlike frame-shift indels, triplet repeat motifs were found to occur frequently at in-frame indel sites. The splicing variant 3, making a shorter isoform b, showed essentially all the same indel correlations as of APOBEC1. Expression levels of both APOBEC1 and variant 3 were found to be predicting adverse prognosis independent of DNA HR and mismatch repair. Not less importantly, high level of variant 3 in paired normal tissues was also proved to predict cancer outcome. Our findings propose APOBEC1 and isoform b as the potential endogenous mutators implicated in cancer in-frame indels and pave the way for their use as novel prognostic tumor markers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmadreza Niavarani
- Digestive Oncology Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute (DDRI), Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Asieh Shahrabi Farahani
- Digestive Oncology Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute (DDRI), Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Sharafkhah
- Digestive Oncology Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute (DDRI), Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Minoo Rassoulzadegan
- Institut Valrose Biologie, INSERM U1091, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Zhang Y, Zhang X, Shi J, Tuorto F, Li X, Liu Y, Liebers R, Zhang L, Qu Y, Qian J, Pahima M, Liu Y, Yan M, Cao Z, Lei X, Cao Y, Peng H, Liu S, Wang Y, Zheng H, Woolsey R, Quilici D, Zhai Q, Li L, Zhou T, Yan W, Lyko F, Zhang Y, Zhou Q, Duan E, Chen Q. Dnmt2 mediates intergenerational transmission of paternally acquired metabolic disorders through sperm small non-coding RNAs. Nat Cell Biol 2018; 20:535-540. [PMID: 29695786 PMCID: PMC5926820 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-018-0087-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 265] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of RNAs (for example, messenger RNAs, non-coding RNAs) in sperm has opened the possibility that sperm may function by delivering additional paternal information aside from solely providing the DNA 1 . Increasing evidence now suggests that sperm small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) can mediate intergenerational transmission of paternally acquired phenotypes, including mental stress2,3 and metabolic disorders4-6. How sperm sncRNAs encode paternal information remains unclear, but the mechanism may involve RNA modifications. Here we show that deletion of a mouse tRNA methyltransferase, DNMT2, abolished sperm sncRNA-mediated transmission of high-fat-diet-induced metabolic disorders to offspring. Dnmt2 deletion prevented the elevation of RNA modifications (m5C, m2G) in sperm 30-40 nt RNA fractions that are induced by a high-fat diet. Also, Dnmt2 deletion altered the sperm small RNA expression profile, including levels of tRNA-derived small RNAs and rRNA-derived small RNAs, which might be essential in composing a sperm RNA 'coding signature' that is needed for paternal epigenetic memory. Finally, we show that Dnmt2-mediated m5C contributes to the secondary structure and biological properties of sncRNAs, implicating sperm RNA modifications as an additional layer of paternal hereditary information.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunfang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xudong Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Junchao Shi
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Francesca Tuorto
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yusheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Reinhard Liebers
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Liwen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yongcun Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jingjing Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Maya Pahima
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Menghong Yan
- Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhonghong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
| | - Xiaohua Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yujing Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongying Peng
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Shichao Liu
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Huili Zheng
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Rebekah Woolsey
- Nevada Proteomics Center, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - David Quilici
- Nevada Proteomics Center, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Qiwei Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Zhou
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Wei Yan
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Frank Lyko
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Qi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Enkui Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Qi Chen
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Zhang Y, Zhang X, Shi J, Tuorto F, Li X, Liu Y, Liebers R, Zhang L, Qu Y, Qian J, Pahima M, Liu Y, Yan M, Cao Z, Lei X, Cao Y, Peng H, Liu S, Wang Y, Zheng H, Woolsey R, Quilici D, Zhai Q, Li L, Zhou T, Yan W, Lyko F, Zhang Y, Zhou Q, Duan E, Chen Q. Dnmt2 mediates intergenerational transmission of paternally acquired metabolic disorders through sperm small non-coding RNAs. Nat Cell Biol 2018. [DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41556-018-0087-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
17
|
A New Chapter in Genetic Medicine: RNA Editing and its Role in Disease Pathogenesis. Trends Mol Med 2018; 24:294-303. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
|
18
|
Bard JBL. Tinkering and the Origins of Heritable Anatomical Variation in Vertebrates. BIOLOGY 2018; 7:E20. [PMID: 29495378 PMCID: PMC5872046 DOI: 10.3390/biology7010020] [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] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Evolutionary change comes from natural and other forms of selection acting on existing anatomical and physiological variants. While much is known about selection, little is known about the details of how genetic mutation leads to the range of heritable anatomical variants that are present within any population. This paper takes a systems-based view to explore how genomic mutation in vertebrate genomes works its way upwards, though changes to proteins, protein networks, and cell phenotypes to produce variants in anatomical detail. The evidence used in this approach mainly derives from analysing anatomical change in adult vertebrates and the protein networks that drive tissue formation in embryos. The former indicate which processes drive variation-these are mainly patterning, timing, and growth-and the latter their molecular basis. The paper then examines the effects of mutation and genetic drift on these processes, the nature of the resulting heritable phenotypic variation within a population, and the experimental evidence on the speed with which new variants can appear under selection. The discussion considers whether this speed is adequate to explain the observed rate of evolutionary change or whether other non-canonical, adaptive mechanisms of heritable mutation are needed. The evidence to hand suggests that they are not, for vertebrate evolution at least.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan B L Bard
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX313QX, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Do Gametes Woo? Evidence for Their Nonrandom Union at Fertilization. Genetics 2018; 207:369-387. [PMID: 28978771 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.300109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental tenet of inheritance in sexually reproducing organisms such as humans and laboratory mice is that gametes combine randomly at fertilization, thereby ensuring a balanced and statistically predictable representation of inherited variants in each generation. This principle is encapsulated in Mendel's First Law. But exceptions are known. With transmission ratio distortion, particular alleles are preferentially transmitted to offspring. Preferential transmission usually occurs in one sex but not both, and is not known to require interactions between gametes at fertilization. A reanalysis of our published work in mice and of data in other published reports revealed instances where any of 12 mutant genes biases fertilization, with either too many or too few heterozygotes and homozygotes, depending on the mutant gene and on dietary conditions. Although such deviations are usually attributed to embryonic lethality of the underrepresented genotypes, the evidence is more consistent with genetically-determined preferences for specific combinations of egg and sperm at fertilization that result in genotype bias without embryo loss. This unexpected discovery of genetically-biased fertilization could yield insights about the molecular and cellular interactions between sperm and egg at fertilization, with implications for our understanding of inheritance, reproduction, population genetics, and medical genetics.
Collapse
|
20
|
Zaidan H, Ramaswami G, Golumbic YN, Sher N, Malik A, Barak M, Galiani D, Dekel N, Li JB, Gaisler-Salomon I. A-to-I RNA editing in the rat brain is age-dependent, region-specific and sensitive to environmental stress across generations. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:28. [PMID: 29310578 PMCID: PMC5759210 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4409-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing is an epigenetic modification catalyzed by adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs), and is especially prevalent in the brain. We used the highly accurate microfluidics-based multiplex PCR sequencing (mmPCR-seq) technique to assess the effects of development and environmental stress on A-to-I editing at 146 pre-selected, conserved sites in the rat prefrontal cortex and amygdala. Furthermore, we asked whether changes in editing can be observed in offspring of stress-exposed rats. In parallel, we assessed changes in ADARs expression levels. RESULTS In agreement with previous studies, we found editing to be generally higher in adult compared to neonatal rat brain. At birth, editing was generally lower in prefrontal cortex than in amygdala. Stress affected editing at the serotonin receptor 2c (Htr2c), and editing at this site was significantly altered in offspring of rats exposed to prereproductive stress across two generations. Stress-induced changes in Htr2c editing measured with mmPCR-seq were comparable to changes measured with Sanger and Illumina sequencing. Developmental and stress-induced changes in Adar and Adarb1 mRNA expression were observed but did not correlate with editing changes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that mmPCR-seq can accurately detect A-to-I RNA editing in rat brain samples, and confirm previous accounts of a developmental increase in RNA editing rates. Our findings also point to stress in adolescence as an environmental factor that alters RNA editing patterns several generations forward, joining a growing body of literature describing the transgenerational effects of stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiba Zaidan
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Gokul Ramaswami
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Yaela N Golumbic
- Faculty of Education in Technology and Science, Technion, Haifa, Israel.,Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Noa Sher
- Bioinformatics Core Unit, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Assaf Malik
- Bioinformatics Core Unit, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.,Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Michal Barak
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Dalia Galiani
- Department of Biological Regulation, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Nava Dekel
- Department of Biological Regulation, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jin B Li
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Salz HK, Dawson EP, Heaney JD. Germ cell tumors: Insights from the Drosophila ovary and the mouse testis. Mol Reprod Dev 2017; 84:200-211. [PMID: 28079292 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian and testicular germ cell tumors of young adults are thought to arise from defects in germ cell development, but the molecular mechanisms underlying malignant transformation are poorly understood. In this review, we focus on the biology of germ cell tumor formation in the Drosophila ovary and the mouse testis, for which evidence supports common underlying mechanisms, such as blocking initiation into the differentiation pathway, impaired lineage progression, and sexual identity instability. We then discuss how these concepts inform our understanding of the disease in humans. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 84: 200-211, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen K Salz
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Emily P Dawson
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Jason D Heaney
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abstract
Stochasticity is harnessed by organisms to generate functionality. Randomness does not, therefore, necessarily imply lack of function or 'blind chance' at higher levels. In this respect, biology must resemble physics in generating order from disorder. This fact is contrary to Schrödinger's idea of biology generating phenotypic order from molecular-level order, which inspired the central dogma of molecular biology. The order originates at higher levels, which constrain the components at lower levels. We now know that this includes the genome, which is controlled by patterns of transcription factors and various epigenetic and reorganization mechanisms. These processes can occur in response to environmental stress, so that the genome becomes 'a highly sensitive organ of the cell' (McClintock). Organisms have evolved to be able to cope with many variations at the molecular level. Organisms also make use of physical processes in evolution and development when it is possible to arrive at functional development without the necessity to store all information in DNA sequences. This view of development and evolution differs radically from that of neo-Darwinism with its emphasis on blind chance as the origin of variation. Blind chance is necessary, but the origin of functional variation is not at the molecular level. These observations derive from and reinforce the principle of biological relativity, which holds that there is no privileged level of causation. They also have important implications for medical science.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denis Noble
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Aucamp J, Bronkhorst AJ, Badenhorst CPS, Pretorius PJ. A historical and evolutionary perspective on the biological significance of circulating DNA and extracellular vesicles. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:4355-4381. [PMID: 27652382 PMCID: PMC11108302 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-016-2370-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Revised: 08/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of quantitative and qualitative differences of the circulating DNA (cirDNA) between healthy and diseased individuals inclined researchers to investigate these molecules as potential biomarkers for non-invasive diagnosis and prognosis of various pathologies. However, except for some prenatal tests, cirDNA analyses have not been readily translated to clinical practice due to a lack of knowledge regarding its composition, function, and biological and evolutionary origins. We believe that, to fully grasp the nature of cirDNA and the extracellular vesicles (EVs) and protein complexes with which it is associated, it is necessary to probe the early and badly neglected work that contributed to the discovery and development of these concepts. Accordingly, this review consists of a schematic summary of the major events that developed and integrated the concepts of heredity, genetic information, cirDNA, EVs, and protein complexes. CirDNA enters target cells and provokes a myriad of gene regulatory effects associated with the messaging functions of various natures, disease progression, somatic genome variation, and transgenerational inheritance. This challenges the traditional views on each of the former topics. All of these discoveries can be traced directly back to the iconic works of Darwin, Lamarck, and their followers. The history of cirDNA that has been revisited here is rich in information that should be considered in clinical practice, when designing new experiments, and should be very useful for generating an empirically up-to-date view of cirDNA and EVs. Furthermore, we hope that it will invite many flights of speculation and stimulate further inquiry into its biological and evolutionary origins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janine Aucamp
- Centre for Human Metabolomics, Biochemistry Division, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.
| | - Abel J Bronkhorst
- Centre for Human Metabolomics, Biochemistry Division, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
| | - Christoffel P S Badenhorst
- Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, Greifswald University, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 4, 17487, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Piet J Pretorius
- Centre for Human Metabolomics, Biochemistry Division, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Chen Q, Yan W, Duan E. Epigenetic inheritance of acquired traits through sperm RNAs and sperm RNA modifications. Nat Rev Genet 2016; 17:733-743. [PMID: 27694809 PMCID: PMC5441558 DOI: 10.1038/nrg.2016.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 306] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Once deemed heretical, emerging evidence now supports the notion that the inheritance of acquired characteristics can occur through ancestral exposures or experiences and that certain paternally acquired traits can be 'memorized' in the sperm as epigenetic information. The search for epigenetic factors in mammalian sperm that transmit acquired phenotypes has recently focused on RNAs and, more recently, RNA modifications. Here, we review insights that have been gained from studying sperm RNAs and RNA modifications, and their roles in influencing offspring phenotypes. We discuss the possible mechanisms by which sperm become acquisitive following environmental-somatic-germline interactions, and how they transmit paternally acquired phenotypes by shaping early embryonic development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Chen
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA
| | - Wei Yan
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA
| | - Enkui Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Parent-of-origin effects of A1CF and AGO2 on testicular germ-cell tumors, testicular abnormalities, and fertilization bias. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E5425-33. [PMID: 27582469 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1604773113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Testicular tumors, the most common cancer in young men, arise from abnormalities in germ cells during fetal development. Unconventional inheritance for testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) risk both in humans and mice implicates epigenetic mechanisms. Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme complex 1 (APOBEC1) cytidine deaminase and Deadend-1, which are involved in C-to-U RNA editing and microRNA-dependent mRNA silencing, respectively, are potent epigenetic modifiers of TGCT susceptibility in the genetically predisposed 129/Sv inbred mouse strain. Here, we show that partial loss of either APOBEC1 complementation factor (A1CF), the RNA-binding cofactor of APOBEC1 in RNA editing, or Argonaute 2 (AGO2), a key factor in the biogenesis of certain noncoding RNAs, modulates risk for TGCTs and testicular abnormalities in both parent-of-origin and conventional genetic manners. In addition, non-Mendelian inheritance was found among progeny of A1cf and Ago2 mutant intercrosses but not in backcrosses and without fetal loss. Together these findings suggest nonrandom union of gametes rather than meiotic drive or preferential lethality. Finally, this survey also suggested that A1CF contributes to long-term reproductive performance. These results directly implicate the RNA-binding proteins A1CF and AGO2 in the epigenetic control of germ-cell fate, urogenital development, and gamete functions.
Collapse
|
26
|
Sekita Y, Nakamura T, Kimura T. Reprogramming of germ cells into pluripotency. World J Stem Cells 2016; 8:251-259. [PMID: 27621759 PMCID: PMC4999652 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v8.i8.251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Revised: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are precursors of all gametes, and represent the founder cells of the germline. Although developmental potency is restricted to germ-lineage cells, PGCs can be reprogrammed into a pluripotent state. Specifically, PGCs give rise to germ cell tumors, such as testicular teratomas, in vivo, and to pluripotent stem cells known as embryonic germ cells in vitro. In this review, we highlight the current knowledge on signaling pathways, transcriptional controls, and post-transcriptional controls that govern germ cell differentiation and de-differentiation. These regulatory processes are common in the reprogramming of germ cells and somatic cells, and play a role in the pathogenesis of human germ cell tumors.
Collapse
|
27
|
de Castro Barbosa T, Ingerslev LR, Alm PS, Versteyhe S, Massart J, Rasmussen M, Donkin I, Sjögren R, Mudry JM, Vetterli L, Gupta S, Krook A, Zierath JR, Barrès R. High-fat diet reprograms the epigenome of rat spermatozoa and transgenerationally affects metabolism of the offspring. Mol Metab 2015; 5:184-197. [PMID: 26977389 PMCID: PMC4770269 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2015.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 237] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Revised: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Chronic and high consumption of fat constitutes an environmental stress that leads to metabolic diseases. We hypothesized that high-fat diet (HFD) transgenerationally remodels the epigenome of spermatozoa and metabolism of the offspring. Methods F0-male rats fed either HFD or chow diet for 12 weeks were mated with chow-fed dams to generate F1 and F2 offspring. Motile spermatozoa were isolated from F0 and F1 breeders to determine DNA methylation and small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) expression pattern by deep sequencing. Results Newborn offspring of HFD-fed fathers had reduced body weight and pancreatic beta-cell mass. Adult female, but not male, offspring of HFD-fed fathers were glucose intolerant and resistant to HFD-induced weight gain. This phenotype was perpetuated in the F2 progeny, indicating transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. The epigenome of spermatozoa from HFD-fed F0 and their F1 male offspring showed common DNA methylation and small non-coding RNA expression signatures. Altered expression of sperm miRNA let-7c was passed down to metabolic tissues of the offspring, inducing a transcriptomic shift of the let-7c predicted targets. Conclusion Our results provide insight into mechanisms by which HFD transgenerationally reprograms the epigenome of sperm cells, thereby affecting metabolic tissues of offspring throughout two generations. Body weight and glucose metabolism are altered in F1 and F2 offspring of F0-HFD fathers. High-fat diet reprograms the epigenome of sperm cells. Spermatozoa from F0-HFD fathers and F1 offspring share common epigenetic signatures. Expression of let-7c is changed in sperm of founders and in the adipose tissue of the offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thais de Castro Barbosa
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars R Ingerslev
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Petter S Alm
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Soetkin Versteyhe
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Julie Massart
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Section of Integrative Physiology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Morten Rasmussen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Donkin
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rasmus Sjögren
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Section of Integrative Physiology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonathan M Mudry
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Section of Integrative Physiology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laurène Vetterli
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Section of Integrative Physiology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Shashank Gupta
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Anna Krook
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Juleen R Zierath
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Section of Integrative Physiology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Romain Barrès
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Pediatric asthma and autism-genomic perspectives. Clin Transl Med 2015; 4:37. [PMID: 26668064 PMCID: PMC4678135 DOI: 10.1186/s40169-015-0078-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
High-throughput technologies, ranging from microarrays to NexGen sequencing of RNA and genomic DNA, have opened new avenues for exploration of the pathobiology of human disease. Comparisons of the architecture of the genome, identification of mutated or modified sequences, and pre-and post- transcriptional regulation of gene expression as disease specific biomarkers are revolutionizing our understanding of the causes of disease and are guiding the development of new therapies. There is enormous heterogeneity in types of genomic variation that occur in human disease. Some are inherited, while others are the result of new somatic or germline mutations or errors in chromosomal replication. In this review, we provide examples of changes that occur in the human genome in two of the most common chronic pediatric disorders, autism and asthma. The incidence and economic burden of both of these disorders are increasing worldwide. Genomic variations have the potential to serve as biomarkers for personalization of therapy and prediction of outcomes.
Collapse
|
29
|
Abstract
Cytidine (C) to Uridine (U) RNA editing is a post-trancriptional modification that until recently was known to only affect Apolipoprotein b (Apob) RNA and minimally require 2 components of the C to U editosome, the deaminase APOBEC1 and the RNA-binding protein A1CF. Our latest work has identified a novel RNA-binding protein, RBM47, as a core component of the editosome, which can substitute A1CF for the editing of ApoB mRNA. In addition, new RNA species that are subjected to C to U editing have been identified. Here, we highlight these recent discoveries and discuss how they change our view of the composition of the C to U editing machinery and expand our knowledge of the functional attributes of C to U RNA editing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Fossat
- a Embryology Unit; Children's Medical Research Institute ; Westmead , Australia
| | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Abstract
Experimental results in epigenetics and related fields of biological research show that the Modern Synthesis (neo-Darwinist) theory of evolution requires either extension or replacement. This article examines the conceptual framework of neo-Darwinism, including the concepts of 'gene', 'selfish', 'code', 'program', 'blueprint', 'book of life', 'replicator' and 'vehicle'. This form of representation is a barrier to extending or replacing existing theory as it confuses conceptual and empirical matters. These need to be clearly distinguished. In the case of the central concept of 'gene', the definition has moved all the way from describing a necessary cause (defined in terms of the inheritable phenotype itself) to an empirically testable hypothesis (in terms of causation by DNA sequences). Neo-Darwinism also privileges 'genes' in causation, whereas in multi-way networks of interactions there can be no privileged cause. An alternative conceptual framework is proposed that avoids these problems, and which is more favourable to an integrated systems view of evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denis Noble
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Lim CY, Solter D, Knowles BB, Damjanov I. Development of Teratocarcinomas and Teratomas in Severely Immunodeficient NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/Szj (NSG) Mice. Stem Cells Dev 2015; 24:1515-20. [DOI: 10.1089/scd.2015.0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chin Yan Lim
- Epithelial Epigenetics and Development Lab, Institute of Medical Biology, A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Davor Solter
- Epithelial Epigenetics and Development Lab, Institute of Medical Biology, A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Barbara B. Knowles
- Epithelial Epigenetics and Development Lab, Institute of Medical Biology, A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ivan Damjanov
- Department of Pathology, The University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Noble D, Jablonka E, Joyner MJ, Müller GB, Omholt SW. Evolution evolves: physiology returns to centre stage. J Physiol 2015; 592:2237-44. [PMID: 24882808 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2014.273151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Denis Noble
- University of Oxford, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Oxford, UK
| | - Eva Jablonka
- Tel Aviv University, Cohn Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Ideas, Ramat Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Gerd B Müller
- University of Vienna, Department of Theoretical Biology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stig W Omholt
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Avesson L, Barry G. The emerging role of RNA and DNA editing in cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2014; 1845:308-16. [PMID: 24607277 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2014.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Revised: 01/25/2014] [Accepted: 03/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Nucleotide sequence modification through single base editing in animals is emerging as an important player in tumorigenesis. RNA editing especially has increased greatly during mammalian evolution and modulates diverse cellular functions presumably in a context-dependent manner. Sequence editing impacts development, including pluripotency and hematopoiesis, and multiple recent studies have shown that dysregulation of editing is associated with tumor biology. Much is yet to be learned about the role of sequence editing in human biology but this process is a critical modulator of cell regulation and may present an attractive option for therapeutic intervention in cancer in the future. SIGNIFICANCE Sequence editing provides an additional regulatory layer of cancer initiation and progression that may be amenable to therapeutic design. Although editing of both RNA and DNA substrates has been known to occur for some time, the extent and implications of these modifications have been grossly underappreciated until recent genome-wide and disease-association studies were reported. This review highlights the cellular processes controlled by sequence editing, their implications in normal and cancerous states and considers potential targeted therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lotta Avesson
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Guy Barry
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Testicular cancer: biology and biomarkers. Virchows Arch 2014; 464:301-13. [DOI: 10.1007/s00428-013-1522-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
35
|
Zechel JL, Doerner SK, Lager A, Tesar PJ, Heaney JD, Nadeau JH. Contrasting effects of Deadend1 (Dnd1) gain and loss of function mutations on allelic inheritance, testicular cancer, and intestinal polyposis. BMC Genet 2013; 14:54. [PMID: 23773267 PMCID: PMC3693958 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2156-14-54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Certain mutations in the Deadend1 (Dnd1) gene are the most potent modifiers of testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) susceptibility in mice and rats. In the 129 family of mice, the Dnd1Ter mutation significantly increases occurrence of TGCT-affected males. To test the hypothesis that he Dnd1Ter allele is a loss-of-function mutation; we characterized the consequences of a genetically-engineered loss-of-function mutation in mice, and compared these results with those for Dnd1Ter. Results We found that intercrossing Dnd1+/KO heterozygotes to generate a complete loss-of-function led to absence of Dnd1KO/KO homozygotes and significantly reduced numbers of Dnd1+/KO heterozygotes. Further crosses showed that Dnd1Ter partially rescues loss of Dnd1KO mice. We also found that loss of a single copy of Dnd1 in Dnd1KO/+ heterozygotes did not affect baseline occurrence of TGCT-affected males and that Dnd1Ter increased TGCT risk regardless whether the alternative allele was loss-of-function (Dnd1KO) or wild-type (Dnd1+). Finally, we found that the action of Dnd1Ter was not limited to testicular cancer, but also significantly increased polyp number and burden in the Apc+/Min model of intestinal polyposis. Conclusion These results show that Dnd1 is essential for normal allelic inheritance and that Dnd1Ter has a novel combination of functions that significantly increase risk for both testicular and intestinal cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Zechel
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland OH 44106, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
|
37
|
Doyle TJ, Bowman JL, Windell VL, McLean DJ, Kim KH. Transgenerational effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on testicular germ cell associations and spermatogonial stem cells in mice. Biol Reprod 2013; 88:112. [PMID: 23536373 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.112.106104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence has linked human phthalate exposure to abnormal reproductive and hormonal effects. Phthalates are plasticizers that confer flexibility and transparency to plastics, but they readily contaminate the body and the environment. In this study, timed pregnant CD1 outbred mice were treated with di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) from Embryonic Day 7 (E7) to E14. The subsequent generation (F1) offspring were then bred to produce the F2, F3, and F4 offspring, without any further DEHP treatment. This exposure scheme disrupted testicular germ cell association and decreased sperm count and motility in F1 to F4 offspring. By spermatogonial transplantation techniques, the exposure scheme also disrupted spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) function of F3 offspring. The W/W(V) recipient testes transplanted with F3 offspring germ cells from the DEHP-treated group had a dramatically lower percentage of donor germ cell-derived spermatogenic recovery in seminiferous tubules when compared to the recipient testes transplanted with CD1 control germ cells. Further characterization showed that the major block of donor germ cell-derived spermatogenesis was before the appearance of undifferentiated spermatogonia. Interestingly, the testes transplanted with the F3 offspring germ cells from the DEHP-treated group, when regenerated, replicated testis morphology similar to that observed in the testes from the F1 to F3 offspring of the DEHP-treated group, suggesting that the germ cell disorganization phenotype originates from the stem cells of F3 offspring. In conclusion, embryonic exposure to DEHP was found to disrupt testicular germ cell organization and SSC function in a transgenerational manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J Doyle
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Klironomos FD, Berg J, Collins S. How epigenetic mutations can affect genetic evolution: model and mechanism. Bioessays 2013; 35:571-8. [PMID: 23580343 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201200169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
We hypothesize that heritable epigenetic changes can affect rates of fitness increase as well as patterns of genotypic and phenotypic change during adaptation. In particular, we suggest that when natural selection acts on pure epigenetic variation in addition to genetic variation, populations adapt faster, and adaptive phenotypes can arise before any genetic changes. This may make it difficult to reconcile the timing of adaptive events detected using conventional population genetics tools based on DNA sequence data with environmental drivers of adaptation, such as changes in climate. Epigenetic modifications are frequently associated with somatic cell differentiation, but recently epigenetic changes have been found that can be transmitted over many generations. Here, we show how the interplay of these heritable epigenetic changes with genetic changes can affect adaptive evolution, and how epigenetic changes affect the signature of selection in the genetic record.
Collapse
|
39
|
Patti ME. Intergenerational programming of metabolic disease: evidence from human populations and experimental animal models. Cell Mol Life Sci 2013; 70:1597-608. [PMID: 23435955 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-013-1298-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2013] [Revised: 02/05/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
We are in the midst of unparalleled epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes-complex phenotypes originating at the intersection of genetic and environmental risk. As detailed in other chapters, evidence indicates that non-genetic, or environmental, risk may initiate during prenatal and early postnatal life [1]. Striking examples in humans include the association of low birth weight (LBW) and/or accelerated early growth with increased risk of insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the close relationship between maternal obesity or diabetes with childhood obesity. In this chapter, we will focus on the intriguing emerging data from both human and animal models that indicate that intrauterine and childhood exposures can also influence risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease in subsequent generations. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for these effects is critical in order to develop effective metabolic and nutritional interventions to interrupt such vicious intergenerational cycles potentiating risk for metabolic disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary-Elizabeth Patti
- Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
|