1
|
Tang C, Hu W. Epigenetic modifications during embryonic development: Gene reprogramming and regulatory networks. J Reprod Immunol 2024; 165:104311. [PMID: 39047672 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2024.104311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
The maintenance of normal pregnancy requires appropriate maturation and transformation of various cells, which constitute the microenvironmental regulatory network at the maternal-fetal interface. Interestingly, changes in the cellular components of the maternal-fetal immune microenvironment and the regulation of epigenetic modifications of the genome have attracted much attention. With the development of epigenetics (DNA and RNA methylation, histone modifications, etc.), new insights have been gained into early embryonic developmental stages (e.g., maternal-to-zygotic transition, MZT). Understanding the various appropriate modes of transcriptional regulation required for the early embryonic developmental process from the perspective of epigenetic modifications will help us to provide new targets and insights into the pathogenesis of embryonic failure during further natural fertilization. This review focuses on the loci of action of epigenetic modifications from the perspectives of female germ cell development and embryo development to provide new insights for personalized diagnosis and treatment of abortion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cen Tang
- Kunming Medical University Second Affiliated Hospital, Obstetrics Department, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Wanqin Hu
- Kunming Medical University Second Affiliated Hospital, Obstetrics Department, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yang Y, Yang Y, Chan K, Couture JF. Analyzing the impact of CFP1 mutational landscape on epigenetic signaling. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21790. [PMID: 34320252 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100427r] [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: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
CXXC Zinc finger protein 1 (CFP1) is a multitasking protein playing essential roles during various developmental processes. Its ability to interact with several proteins contribute to several epigenetic events. Here, we review CFP1's functions and its impact on DNA methylation and the post-translational modification of histone proteins such as lysine acetylation and methylation. We will also discuss the potential role of CFP1 in carcinogenesis and the impact of the mutations identified in patients suffering from various cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yidai Yang
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica-University of Ottawa Research Center in Systems and Personalized Pharmacology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Yaqing Yang
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Kin Chan
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jean-Francois Couture
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica-University of Ottawa Research Center in Systems and Personalized Pharmacology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sha QQ, Zhu YZ, Xiang Y, Yu JL, Fan XY, Li YC, Wu YW, Shen L, Fan HY. Role of CxxC-finger protein 1 in establishing mouse oocyte epigenetic landscapes. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:2569-2582. [PMID: 33621320 PMCID: PMC7969028 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
During oogenesis, oocytes gain competence and subsequently undergo meiotic maturation and prepare for embryonic development; trimethylated histone H3 on lysine-4 (H3K4me3) mediates a wide range of nuclear events during these processes. Oocyte-specific knockout of CxxC-finger protein 1 (CXXC1, also known as CFP1) impairs H3K4me3 accumulation and causes changes in chromatin configurations. This study investigated the changes in genomic H3K4me3 landscapes in oocytes with Cxxc1 knockout and the effects on other epigenetic factors such as the DNA methylation, H3K27me3, H2AK119ub1 and H3K36me3. H3K4me3 is overall decreased after knocking out Cxxc1, including both the promoter region and the gene body. CXXC1 and MLL2, which is another histone H3 methyltransferase, have nonoverlapping roles in mediating H3K4 trimethylation during oogenesis. Cxxc1 deletion caused a decrease in DNA methylation levels and affected H3K27me3 and H2AK119ub1 distributions, particularly at regions with high DNA methylation levels. The changes in epigenetic networks implicated by Cxxc1 deletion were correlated with the transcriptional changes in genes in the corresponding genomic regions. This study elucidates the epigenetic changes underlying the phenotypes and molecular defects in oocytes with deleted Cxxc1 and highlights the role of CXXC1 in orchestrating multiple factors that are involved in establishing the appropriate epigenetic states of maternal genome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian-Qian Sha
- Fertility Preservation Laboratory, Reproductive Medicine Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou 510317, China
| | - Ye-Zhang Zhu
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yunlong Xiang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, THU-PKU Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia-Li Yu
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiao-Ying Fan
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health GuangDong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Yan-Chu Li
- Fertility Preservation Laboratory, Reproductive Medicine Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou 510317, China.,The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yun-Wen Wu
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Li Shen
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Heng-Yu Fan
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Jiang Y, Zhang HY, Lin Z, Zhu YZ, Yu C, Sha QQ, Tong MH, Shen L, Fan HY. CXXC finger protein 1-mediated histone H3 lysine-4 trimethylation is essential for proper meiotic crossover formation in mice. Development 2020; 147:dev183764. [PMID: 32094118 DOI: 10.1242/dev.183764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The most significant feature of meiosis is the recombination process during prophase I. CXXC finger protein 1 (CXXC1) binds to CpG islands and mediates the deposition of H3K4me3 by the SETD1 complex. CXXC1 is also predicted to recruit H3K4me3-marked regions to the chromosome axis for the generation of double-strand breaks (DSBs) in the prophase of meiosis. Therefore, we deleted Cxxc1 before the onset of meiosis with Stra8-Cre The conditional knockout mice were completely sterile with spermatogenesis arrested at MII. Knockout of Cxxc1 led to a decrease in the H3K4me3 level from the pachytene to the MII stage and caused transcriptional disorder. Many spermatogenesis pathway genes were expressed early leading to abnormal acrosome formation in arrested MII cells. In meiotic prophase, deletion of Cxxc1 caused delayed DSB repair and improper crossover formation in cells at the pachytene stage, and more than half of the diplotene cells exhibited precocious homologous chromosome segregation in both male and female meiosis. Cxxc1 deletion also led to a significant decrease of H3K4me3 enrichment at DMC1-binding sites, which might compromise DSB generation. Taken together, our results show that CXXC1 is essential for proper meiotic crossover formation in mice and suggest that CXXC1-mediated H3K4me3 plays an essential role in meiotic prophase of spermatogenesis and oogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Jiang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hui-Ying Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhen Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ye-Zhang Zhu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chao Yu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qian-Qian Sha
- MOE Key Laboratory for Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ming-Han Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Li Shen
- MOE Key Laboratory for Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Heng-Yu Fan
- MOE Key Laboratory for Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang Province, Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hansel, Gretel, and the Consequences of Failing to Remove Histone Methylation Breadcrumbs. Trends Genet 2020; 36:160-176. [PMID: 32007289 PMCID: PMC10047806 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2019.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Like breadcrumbs in the forest, cotranscriptionally acquired histone methylation acts as a memory of prior transcription. Because it can be retained through cell divisions, transcriptional memory allows cells to coordinate complex transcriptional programs during development. However, if not reprogrammed properly during cell fate transitions, it can also disrupt cellular identity. In this review, we discuss the consequences of failure to reprogram histone methylation during three crucial epigenetic reprogramming windows: maternal reprogramming at fertilization, embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation, and the continuous maintenance of cell identity in differentiated cells. In addition, we discuss how following the wrong breadcrumb trail of transcriptional memory provides a framework for understanding how heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in histone-modifying enzymes may cause severe neurodevelopmental disorders.
Collapse
|
6
|
Wei K, Zhang T, Ma L. Divergent and convergent evolution of housekeeping genes in human-pig lineage. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4840. [PMID: 29844985 PMCID: PMC5971102 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Housekeeping genes are ubiquitously expressed and maintain basic cellular functions across tissue/cell type conditions. The present study aimed to develop a set of pig housekeeping genes and compare the structure, evolution and function of housekeeping genes in the human–pig lineage. By using RNA sequencing data, we identified 3,136 pig housekeeping genes. Compared with human housekeeping genes, we found that pig housekeeping genes were longer and subjected to slightly weaker purifying selection pressure and faster neutral evolution. Common housekeeping genes, shared by the two species, achieve stronger purifying selection than species-specific genes. However, pig- and human-specific housekeeping genes have similar functions. Some species-specific housekeeping genes have evolved independently to form similar protein active sites or structure, such as the classical catalytic serine–histidine–aspartate triad, implying that they have converged for maintaining the basic cellular function, which allows them to adapt to the environment. Human and pig housekeeping genes have varied structures and gene lists, but they have converged to maintain basic cellular functions essential for the existence of a cell, regardless of its specific role in the species. The results of our study shed light on the evolutionary dynamics of housekeeping genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wei
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Lei Ma
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sharifi-Zarchi A, Gerovska D, Adachi K, Totonchi M, Pezeshk H, Taft RJ, Schöler HR, Chitsaz H, Sadeghi M, Baharvand H, Araúzo-Bravo MJ. DNA methylation regulates discrimination of enhancers from promoters through a H3K4me1-H3K4me3 seesaw mechanism. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:964. [PMID: 29233090 PMCID: PMC5727985 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4353-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background DNA methylation at promoters is largely correlated with inhibition of gene expression. However, the role of DNA methylation at enhancers is not fully understood, although a crosstalk with chromatin marks is expected. Actually, there exist contradictory reports about positive and negative correlations between DNA methylation and H3K4me1, a chromatin hallmark of enhancers. Results We investigated the relationship between DNA methylation and active chromatin marks through genome-wide correlations, and found anti-correlation between H3K4me1 and H3K4me3 enrichment at low and intermediate DNA methylation loci. We hypothesized “seesaw” dynamics between H3K4me1 and H3K4me3 in the low and intermediate DNA methylation range, in which DNA methylation discriminates between enhancers and promoters, marked by H3K4me1 and H3K4me3, respectively. Low methylated regions are H3K4me3 enriched, while those with intermediate DNA methylation levels are progressively H3K4me1 enriched. Additionally, the enrichment of H3K27ac, distinguishing active from primed enhancers, follows a plateau in the lower range of the intermediate DNA methylation level, corresponding to active enhancers, and decreases linearly in the higher range of the intermediate DNA methylation. Thus, the decrease of the DNA methylation switches smoothly the state of the enhancers from a primed to an active state. We summarize these observations into a rule of thumb of one-out-of-three methylation marks: “In each genomic region only one out of these three methylation marks {DNA methylation, H3K4me1, H3K4me3} is high. If it is the DNA methylation, the region is inactive. If it is H3K4me1, the region is an enhancer, and if it is H3K4me3, the region is a promoter”. To test our model, we used available genome-wide datasets of H3K4 methyltransferases knockouts. Our analysis suggests that CXXC proteins, as readers of non-methylated CpGs would regulate the “seesaw” mechanism that focuses H3K4me3 to unmethylated sites, while being repulsed from H3K4me1 decorated enhancers and CpG island shores. Conclusions Our results show that DNA methylation discriminates promoters from enhancers through H3K4me1-H3K4me3 seesaw mechanism, and suggest its possible function in the inheritance of chromatin marks after cell division. Our analyses suggest aberrant formation of promoter-like regions and ectopic transcription of hypomethylated regions of DNA. Such mechanism process can have important implications in biological process in where it has been reported abnormal DNA methylation status such as cancer and aging. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-017-4353-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Sharifi-Zarchi
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.,Computer Science Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.,Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Computer Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Daniela Gerovska
- Computational Biology and Systems Biomedicine, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014, San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Kenjiro Adachi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - Mehdi Totonchi
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Pezeshk
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.,School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Hans R Schöler
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany.,Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Hamidreza Chitsaz
- Computer Science Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Mehdi Sadeghi
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran.,National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Baharvand
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Marcos J Araúzo-Bravo
- Computational Biology and Systems Biomedicine, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014, San Sebastián, Spain. .,Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany. .,IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48011, Bilbao, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Chun KT, Li B, Dobrota E, Tate C, Lee JH, Khan S, Haneline L, HogenEsch H, Skalnik DG. The epigenetic regulator CXXC finger protein 1 is essential for murine hematopoiesis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e113745. [PMID: 25470594 PMCID: PMC4254612 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2014] [Accepted: 10/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
CXXC finger protein 1 (Cfp1), encoded by the Cxxc1 gene, binds to DNA sequences containing an unmethylated CpG dinucleotide and is an epigenetic regulator of both cytosine and histone methylation. Cxxc1-null mouse embryos fail to gastrulate, and Cxxc1-null embryonic stem cells are viable but cannot differentiate, suggesting that Cfp1 is required for chromatin remodeling associated with stem cell differentiation and embryogenesis. Mice homozygous for a conditional Cxxc1 deletion allele and carrying the inducible Mx1-Cre transgene were generated to assess Cfp1 function in adult animals. Induction of Cre expression in adult animals led to Cfp1 depletion in hematopoietic cells, a failure of hematopoiesis with a nearly complete loss of lineage-committed progenitors and mature cells, elevated levels of apoptosis, and death within two weeks. A similar pathology resulted following transplantation of conditional Cxxc1 bone marrow cells into wild type recipients, demonstrating this phenotype is intrinsic to Cfp1 function within bone marrow cells. Remarkably, the Lin- Sca-1+ c-Kit+ population of cells in the bone marrow, which is enriched for hematopoietic stem cells and multi-potential progenitor cells, persists and expands in the absence of Cfp1 during this time frame. Thus, Cfp1 is necessary for hematopoietic stem and multi-potential progenitor cell function and for the developmental potential of differentiating hematopoietic cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin T Chun
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America; Biology Department, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis School of Science, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Binghui Li
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Erika Dobrota
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Courtney Tate
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jeong-Heon Lee
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Shehnaz Khan
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Laura Haneline
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America; Departments of Microbiology & Immunology and Cellular & Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Harm HogenEsch
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - David G Skalnik
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America; Biology Department, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis School of Science, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Bina M, Wyss P, Novorolsky E, Zulkelfi N, Xue J, Price R, Fay M, Gutmann Z, Fogler B, Wang D. Discovery of MLL1 binding units, their localization to CpG Islands, and their potential function in mitotic chromatin. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:927. [PMID: 24373511 PMCID: PMC3890651 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mixed Lineage Leukemia 1 (MLL1) is a mammalian ortholog of the Drosophila Trithorax. In Drosophila, Trithorax complexes transmit the memory of active genes to daughter cells through interactions with Trithorax Response Elements (TREs). However, despite their functional importance, nothing is known about sequence features that may act as TREs in mammalian genomic DNA. Results By analyzing results of reported DNA binding assays, we identified several CpG rich motifs as potential MLL1 binding units (defined as morphemes). We find that these morphemes are dispersed within a relatively large collection of human promoter sequences and appear densely packed near transcription start sites of protein-coding genes. Genome wide analyses localized frequent morpheme occurrences to CpG islands. In the human HOX loci, the morphemes are spread across CpG islands and in some cases tail into the surrounding shores and shelves of the islands. By analyzing results of chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we found a connection between morpheme occurrences, CpG islands, and chromatin segments reported to be associated with MLL1. Furthermore, we found a correspondence of reported MLL1-driven “bookmarked” regions in chromatin to frequent occurrences of MLL1 morphemes in CpG islands. Conclusion Our results implicate the MLL1 morphemes in sequence-features that define the mammalian TREs and provide a novel function for CpG islands. Apparently, our findings offer the first evidence for existence of potential TREs in mammalian genomic DNA and the first evidence for a connection between CpG islands and gene-bookmarking by MLL1 to transmit the memory of highly active genes during mitosis. Our results further suggest a role for overlapping morphemes in producing closely packed and multiple MLL1 binding events in genomic DNA so that MLL1 molecules could interact and reside simultaneously on extended potential transcriptional maintenance elements in human chromosomes to transmit the memory of highly active genes during mitosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minou Bina
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Schweikert G, Cseke B, Clouaire T, Bird A, Sanguinetti G. MMDiff: quantitative testing for shape changes in ChIP-Seq data sets. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:826. [PMID: 24267901 PMCID: PMC4008153 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Accepted: 11/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cell-specific gene expression is controlled by epigenetic modifications and transcription factor binding. While genome-wide maps for these protein-DNA interactions have become widely available, quantitative comparison of the resulting ChIP-Seq data sets remains challenging. Current approaches to detect differentially bound or modified regions are mainly borrowed from RNA-Seq data analysis, thus focusing on total counts of fragments mapped to a region, ignoring any information encoded in the shape of the peaks. Results Here, we present MMDiff, a robust, broadly applicable method for detecting differences between sequence count data sets. Based on quantifying shape changes in signal profiles, it overcomes challenges imposed by the highly structured nature of the data and the paucity of replicates. We first use a simulated data set to compare the performance of MMDiff with results obtained by four alternative methods. We demonstrate that MMDiff excels when peak profiles change between samples. We next use MMDiff to re-analyse a recent data set of the histone modification H3K4me3 elucidating the establishment of this prominent epigenomic marker. Our empirical analysis shows that the method yields reproducible results across experiments, and is able to detect functional important changes in histone modifications. To further explore the broader applicability of MMDiff, we apply it to two ENCODE data sets: one investigating the histone modification H3K27ac and one measuring the genome-wide binding of the transcription factor CTCF. In both cases, MMDiff proves to be complementary to count-based methods. In addition, we can show that MMDiff is capable of directly detecting changes of homotypic binding events at neighbouring binding sites. MMDiff is readily available as a Bioconductor package. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that higher order features of ChIP-Seq peaks carry relevant and often complementary information to total counts, and hence are important in assessing differential histone modifications and transcription factor binding. We have developed a new computational method, MMDiff, that is capable of exploring these features and therefore closes an existing gap in the analysis of ChIP-Seq data sets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Schweikert
- School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, 10 Crichton Street, Edinburgh EH89AB, UK.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
AbstractNumerous epigenetic modifications have been identified and correlated with transcriptionally active euchromatin or repressed heterochromatin and many enzymes responsible for the addition and removal of these marks have been characterized. However, less is known regarding how these enzymes are regulated and targeted to appropriate genomic locations. Mammalian CXXC finger protein 1 is an epigenetic regulator that was originally identified as a protein that binds specifically to any DNA sequence containing an unmethylated CpG dinucleotide. Mouse embryos lacking CXXC finger protein 1 die prior to gastrulation, and embryonic stem cells lacking CXXC finger protein 1 are viable but are unable to achieve cellular differentiation and lineage commitment. CXXC finger protein 1 is a regulator of both cytosine and histone methylation. It physically interacts with DNA methyltransferase 1 and facilitates maintenance cytosine methylation. Rescue studies reveal that CXXC finger protein 1 contains redundant functional domains that are sufficient to support cellular differentiation and proper levels of cytosine methylation. CXXC finger protein 1 is also a component of the Setd1 histone H3-Lys4 methyltransferase complexes and functions to target these enzymes to unmethylated CpG islands. Depletion of CXXC finger protein 1 leads to loss of histone H3-Lys4 tri-methylation at CpG islands and inappropriate drifting of this euchromatin mark into areas of hetero-chromatin. Thus, one function of CXXC finger protein 1 is to serve as an effector protein that interprets cytosine methylation patterns and facilitates crosstalk with histone-modifying enzymes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David G. Skalnik
- 1Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Thompson RF, Fazzari MJ, Greally JM. Experimental approaches to the study of epigenomic dysregulation in ageing. Exp Gerontol 2010; 45:255-68. [PMID: 20060885 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2009.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2009] [Revised: 12/19/2009] [Accepted: 12/28/2009] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
In this review, we describe how normal ageing may involve the acquisition of epigenetic errors over time, akin to the accumulation of genetic mutations with ageing. We describe how such experiments are currently performed, their limitations technically and analytically and their application to ageing research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reid F Thompson
- Department of Genetics and Center for Epigenomics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Handelsman J. Highlights from the May 2009 issue of DNA and Cell Biology. DNA Cell Biol 2009; 28:221. [PMID: 19388844 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2009.1503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|