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Tav C, Fournier É, Fournier M, Khadangi F, Baguette A, Côté MC, Silveira MAD, Bérubé-Simard FA, Bourque G, Droit A, Bilodeau S. Glucocorticoid stimulation induces regionalized gene responses within topologically associating domains. Front Genet 2023; 14:1237092. [PMID: 37576549 PMCID: PMC10413275 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1237092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription-factor binding to cis-regulatory regions regulates the gene expression program of a cell, but occupancy is often a poor predictor of the gene response. Here, we show that glucocorticoid stimulation led to the reorganization of transcriptional coregulators MED1 and BRD4 within topologically associating domains (TADs), resulting in active or repressive gene environments. Indeed, we observed a bias toward the activation or repression of a TAD when their activities were defined by the number of regions gaining and losing MED1 and BRD4 following dexamethasone (Dex) stimulation. Variations in Dex-responsive genes at the RNA levels were consistent with the redistribution of MED1 and BRD4 at the associated cis-regulatory regions. Interestingly, Dex-responsive genes without the differential recruitment of MED1 and BRD4 or binding by the glucocorticoid receptor were found within TADs, which gained or lost MED1 and BRD4, suggesting a role of the surrounding environment in gene regulation. However, the amplitude of the response of Dex-regulated genes was higher when the differential recruitment of the glucocorticoid receptor and transcriptional coregulators was observed, reaffirming the role of transcription factor-driven gene regulation and attributing a lesser role to the TAD environment. These results support a model where a signal-induced transcription factor induces a regionalized effect throughout the TAD, redefining the notion of direct and indirect effects of transcription factors on target genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Tav
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Axe Oncologie, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Données Massives de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Éric Fournier
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Axe Oncologie, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Données Massives de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Michèle Fournier
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Axe Oncologie, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Fatemeh Khadangi
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Axe Oncologie, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Audrey Baguette
- Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Maxime C. Côté
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Axe Oncologie, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Maruhen A. D. Silveira
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Axe Oncologie, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Félix-Antoine Bérubé-Simard
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Axe Oncologie, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Guillaume Bourque
- Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Canadian Center for Computational Genomics, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Arnaud Droit
- Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Données Massives de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Axe Endocrinologie et Néphrologie, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Steve Bilodeau
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Axe Oncologie, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Données Massives de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de Biologie Moléculaire, Biochimie Médicale et Pathologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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Nie Z, Guo C, Das SK, Chow CC, Batchelor E, Simons SS, Levens D. Dissecting transcriptional amplification by MYC. eLife 2020; 9:52483. [PMID: 32715994 PMCID: PMC7384857 DOI: 10.7554/elife.52483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Supraphysiological MYC levels are oncogenic. Originally considered a typical transcription factor recruited to E-boxes (CACGTG), another theory posits MYC a global amplifier increasing output at all active promoters. Both models rest on large-scale genome-wide "-omics'. Because the assumptions, statistical parameter and model choice dictates the '-omic' results, whether MYC is a general or specific transcription factor remains controversial. Therefore, an orthogonal series of experiments interrogated MYC's effect on the expression of synthetic reporters. Dose-dependently, MYC increased output at minimal promoters with or without an E-box. Driving minimal promoters with exogenous (glucocorticoid receptor) or synthetic transcription factors made expression more MYC-responsive, effectively increasing MYC-amplifier gain. Mutations of conserved MYC-Box regions I and II impaired amplification, whereas MYC-box III mutations delivered higher reporter output indicating that MBIII limits over-amplification. Kinetic theory and experiments indicate that MYC activates at least two steps in the transcription-cycle to explain the non-linear amplification of transcription that is essential for global, supraphysiological transcription in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuqin Nie
- Laboratory of Pathology, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, United States
| | - Chunhua Guo
- Steroid Hormones Section, NIDDK/LERB, NIH, Bethesda, United States
| | - Subhendu K Das
- Laboratory of Pathology, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, United States
| | - Carson C Chow
- Mathematical Biology Section, NIDDK/LBM, NIH, Bethesda, United States
| | - Eric Batchelor
- Laboratory of Pathology, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, United States.,Laboratory of Cell Biology, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, United States.,Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
| | - S Stoney Simons
- Steroid Hormones Section, NIDDK/LERB, NIH, Bethesda, United States
| | - David Levens
- Laboratory of Pathology, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, United States
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Donati B, Lorenzini E, Ciarrocchi A. BRD4 and Cancer: going beyond transcriptional regulation. Mol Cancer 2018; 17:164. [PMID: 30466442 PMCID: PMC6251205 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-018-0915-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 410] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BRD4, member of the Bromodomain and Extraterminal (BET) protein family, is largely acknowledged in cancer for its role in super-enhancers (SEs) organization and oncogenes expression regulation. Inhibition of BRD4 shortcuts the communication between SEs and target promoters with a subsequent cell-specific repression of oncogenes to which cancer cells are addicted and cell death. To date, this is the most credited mechanism of action of BET inhibitors, a class of small molecules targeting BET proteins which are currently in clinical trials in several cancer settings. However, recent evidence indicates that BRD4 relevance in cancer goes beyond its role in transcription regulation and identifies this protein as a keeper of genome stability. Indeed, a non-transcriptional role of BRD4 in controlling DNA damage checkpoint activation and repair as well as telomere maintenance has been proposed, throwing new lights into the multiple functions of this protein and opening new perspectives on the use of BETi in cancer. Here we discuss the current available information on non-canonical, non-transcriptional functions of BRD4 and on their implications in cancer biology. Integrating this information with the already known BRD4 role in gene expression regulation, we propose a “common” model to explain BRD4 genomic function. Furthermore, in light of the transversal function of BRD4, we provide new interpretation for the cytotoxic activity of BETi and we discuss new possibilities for a wide and focused employment of these drugs in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Donati
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42123, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Eugenia Lorenzini
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42123, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Alessia Ciarrocchi
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42123, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
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Chow CC, Simons SS. An Approach to Greater Specificity for Glucocorticoids. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:76. [PMID: 29593646 PMCID: PMC5859375 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoid steroids are among the most prescribed drugs each year. Nonetheless, the many undesirable side effects, and lack of selectivity, restrict their greater usage. Research to increase glucocorticoid specificity has spanned many years. These efforts have been hampered by the ability of glucocorticoids to both induce and repress gene transcription and also by the lack of success in defining any predictable properties that control glucocorticoid specificity. Correlations of transcriptional specificity have been observed with changes in steroid structure, receptor and chromatin conformation, DNA sequence for receptor binding, and associated cofactors. However, none of these studies have progressed to the point of being able to offer guidance for increased specificity. We summarize here a mathematical theory that allows a novel and quantifiable approach to increase selectivity. The theory applies to all three major actions of glucocorticoid receptors: induction by agonists, induction by antagonists, and repression by agonists. Simple graphical analysis of competition assays involving any two factors (steroid, chemical, peptide, protein, DNA, etc.) yields information (1) about the kinetically described mechanism of action for each factor at that step where the factor acts in the overall reaction sequence and (2) about the relative position of that step where each factor acts. These two pieces of information uniquely provide direction for increasing the specificity of glucocorticoid action. Consideration of all three modes of action indicate that the most promising approach for increased specificity is to vary the concentrations of those cofactors/pharmaceuticals that act closest to the observed end point. The potential for selectivity is even greater when varying cofactors/pharmaceuticals in conjunction with a select class of antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carson C. Chow
- Mathematical Biology Section, NIDDK/LBM, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Carson C. Chow, ; S. Stoney Simons, Jr.,
| | - S. Stoney Simons
- Steroid Hormones Section, NIDDK/LERB, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Carson C. Chow, ; S. Stoney Simons, Jr.,
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Devaiah BN, Gegonne A, Singer DS. Bromodomain 4: a cellular Swiss army knife. J Leukoc Biol 2016; 100:679-686. [PMID: 27450555 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.2ri0616-250r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bromodomain protein 4 (BRD4) is a transcriptional and epigenetic regulator that plays a pivotal role in cancer and inflammatory diseases. BRD4 binds and stays associated with chromatin during mitosis, bookmarking early G1 genes and reactivating transcription after mitotic silencing. BRD4 plays an important role in transcription, both as a passive scaffold via its recruitment of vital transcription factors and as an active kinase that phosphorylates RNA polymerase II, directly and indirectly regulating transcription. Through its HAT activity, BRD4 contributes to the maintenance of chromatin structure and nucleosome clearance. This review summarizes the known functions of BRD4 and proposes a model in which BRD4 actively coordinates chromatin structure and transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ballachanda N Devaiah
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Anne Gegonne
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Dinah S Singer
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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