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Cornwell AB, Zhang Y, Thondamal M, Johnson DW, Thakar J, Samuelson AV. The C. elegans Myc-family of transcription factors coordinate a dynamic adaptive response to dietary restriction. GeroScience 2024; 46:4827-4854. [PMID: 38878153 PMCID: PMC11336136 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01197-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Dietary restriction (DR), the process of decreasing overall food consumption over an extended period of time, has been shown to increase longevity across evolutionarily diverse species and delay the onset of age-associated diseases in humans. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the Myc-family transcription factors (TFs) MXL-2 (Mlx) and MML-1 (MondoA/ChREBP), which function as obligate heterodimers, and PHA-4 (orthologous to FOXA) are both necessary for the full physiological benefits of DR. However, the adaptive transcriptional response to DR and the role of MML-1::MXL-2 and PHA-4 remains elusive. We identified the transcriptional signature of C. elegans DR, using the eat-2 genetic model, and demonstrate broad changes in metabolic gene expression in eat-2 DR animals, which requires both mxl-2 and pha-4. While the requirement for these factors in DR gene expression overlaps, we found many of the DR genes exhibit an opposing change in relative gene expression in eat-2;mxl-2 animals compared to wild-type, which was not observed in eat-2 animals with pha-4 loss. Surprisingly, we discovered more than 2000 genes synthetically dysregulated in eat-2;mxl-2, out of which the promoters of down-regulated genes were substantially enriched for PQM-1 and ELT-1/3 GATA TF binding motifs. We further show functional deficiencies of the mxl-2 loss in DR outside of lifespan, as eat-2;mxl-2 animals exhibit substantially smaller brood sizes and lay a proportion of dead eggs, indicating that MML-1::MXL-2 has a role in maintaining the balance between resource allocation to the soma and to reproduction under conditions of chronic food scarcity. While eat-2 animals do not show a significantly different metabolic rate compared to wild-type, we also find that loss of mxl-2 in DR does not affect the rate of oxygen consumption in young animals. The gene expression signature of eat-2 mutant animals is consistent with optimization of energy utilization and resource allocation, rather than induction of canonical gene expression changes associated with acute metabolic stress, such as induction of autophagy after TORC1 inhibition. Consistently, eat-2 animals are not substantially resistant to stress, providing further support to the idea that chronic DR may benefit healthspan and lifespan through efficient use of limited resources rather than broad upregulation of stress responses, and also indicates that MML-1::MXL-2 and PHA-4 may have distinct roles in promotion of benefits in response to different pro-longevity stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam B Cornwell
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Yun Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Manjunatha Thondamal
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
- MURTI Centre and Department of Biotechnology, School of Technology, Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, 530045, India
| | - David W Johnson
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
- Department of Math and Science, Genesee Community College, One College Rd, Batavia, NY, 14020, USA
| | - Juilee Thakar
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Andrew V Samuelson
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
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Zacarías-Fluck MF, Soucek L, Whitfield JR. MYC: there is more to it than cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1342872. [PMID: 38510176 PMCID: PMC10952043 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1342872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
MYC is a pleiotropic transcription factor involved in multiple cellular processes. While its mechanism of action and targets are not completely elucidated, it has a fundamental role in cellular proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, ribogenesis, and bone and vascular development. Over 4 decades of research and some 10,000 publications linking it to tumorigenesis (by searching PubMed for "MYC oncogene") have led to MYC becoming a most-wanted target for the treatment of cancer, where many of MYC's physiological functions become co-opted for tumour initiation and maintenance. In this context, an abundance of reviews describes strategies for potentially targeting MYC in the oncology field. However, its multiple roles in different aspects of cellular biology suggest that it may also play a role in many additional diseases, and other publications are indeed linking MYC to pathologies beyond cancer. Here, we review these physiological functions and the current literature linking MYC to non-oncological diseases. The intense efforts towards developing MYC inhibitors as a cancer therapy will potentially have huge implications for the treatment of other diseases. In addition, with a complementary approach, we discuss some diseases and conditions where MYC appears to play a protective role and hence its increased expression or activation could be therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano F. Zacarías-Fluck
- Models of Cancer Therapies Laboratory, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Soucek
- Models of Cancer Therapies Laboratory, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- Peptomyc S.L., Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jonathan R. Whitfield
- Models of Cancer Therapies Laboratory, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
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3
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Cornwell A, Zhang Y, Thondamal M, Johnson DW, Thakar J, Samuelson AV. The C. elegans Myc-family of transcription factors coordinate a dynamic adaptive response to dietary restriction. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.22.568222. [PMID: 38045350 PMCID: PMC10690244 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.22.568222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Dietary restriction (DR), the process of decreasing overall food consumption over an extended period of time, has been shown to increase longevity across evolutionarily diverse species and delay the onset of age-associated diseases in humans. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the Myc-family transcription factors (TFs) MXL-2 (Mlx) and MML-1 (MondoA/ChREBP), which function as obligate heterodimers, and PHA-4 (orthologous to forkhead box transcription factor A) are both necessary for the full physiological benefits of DR. However, the adaptive transcriptional response to DR and the role of MML-1::MXL-2 and PHA-4 remains elusive. We identified the transcriptional signature of C. elegans DR, using the eat-2 genetic model, and demonstrate broad changes in metabolic gene expression in eat-2 DR animals, which requires both mxl-2 and pha-4. While the requirement for these factors in DR gene expression overlaps, we found many of the DR genes exhibit an opposing change in relative gene expression in eat-2;mxl-2 animals compared to wild-type, which was not observed in eat-2 animals with pha-4 loss. We further show functional deficiencies of the mxl-2 loss in DR outside of lifespan, as eat-2;mxl-2 animals exhibit substantially smaller brood sizes and lay a proportion of dead eggs, indicating that MML-1::MXL-2 has a role in maintaining the balance between resource allocation to the soma and to reproduction under conditions of chronic food scarcity. While eat-2 animals do not show a significantly different metabolic rate compared to wild-type, we also find that loss of mxl-2 in DR does not affect the rate of oxygen consumption in young animals. The gene expression signature of eat-2 mutant animals is consistent with optimization of energy utilization and resource allocation, rather than induction of canonical gene expression changes associated with acute metabolic stress -such as induction of autophagy after TORC1 inhibition. Consistently, eat-2 animals are not substantially resistant to stress, providing further support to the idea that chronic DR may benefit healthspan and lifespan through efficient use of limited resources rather than broad upregulation of stress responses, and also indicates that MML-1::MXL-2 and PHA-4 may have different roles in promotion of benefits in response to different pro-longevity stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Cornwell
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Yun Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Manjunatha Thondamal
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, GITAM University, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - David W Johnson
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Department of Math and Science, Genesee Community College, One College Rd Batavia, NY 14020, USA
| | - Juilee Thakar
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Andrew V Samuelson
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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Sporbeck K, Haas ML, Pastor-Maldonado CJ, Schüssele DS, Hunter C, Takacs Z, Diogo de Oliveira AL, Franz-Wachtel M, Charsou C, Pfisterer SG, Gubas A, Haller PK, Knorr RL, Kaulich M, Macek B, Eskelinen EL, Simonsen A, Proikas-Cezanne T. The ABL-MYC axis controls WIPI1-enhanced autophagy in lifespan extension. Commun Biol 2023; 6:872. [PMID: 37620393 PMCID: PMC10449903 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05236-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Human WIPI β-propellers function as PI3P effectors in autophagy, with WIPI4 and WIPI3 being able to link autophagy control by AMPK and TORC1 to the formation of autophagosomes. WIPI1, instead, assists WIPI2 in efficiently recruiting the ATG16L1 complex at the nascent autophagosome, which in turn promotes lipidation of LC3/GABARAP and autophagosome maturation. However, the specific role of WIPI1 and its regulation are unknown. Here, we discovered the ABL-ERK-MYC signalling axis controlling WIPI1. As a result of this signalling, MYC binds to the WIPI1 promoter and represses WIPI1 gene expression. When ABL-ERK-MYC signalling is counteracted, increased WIPI1 gene expression enhances the formation of autophagic membranes capable of migrating through tunnelling nanotubes to neighbouring cells with low autophagic activity. ABL-regulated WIPI1 function is relevant to lifespan control, as ABL deficiency in C. elegans increased gene expression of the WIPI1 orthologue ATG-18 and prolonged lifespan in a manner dependent on ATG-18. We propose that WIPI1 acts as an enhancer of autophagy that is physiologically relevant for regulating the level of autophagic activity over the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Sporbeck
- Interfaculty Institute of Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School 'From Molecules to Organisms', Max Planck Institute for Biology and Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Maximilian L Haas
- Interfaculty Institute of Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Carmen J Pastor-Maldonado
- Interfaculty Institute of Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - David S Schüssele
- Interfaculty Institute of Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Catherine Hunter
- Interfaculty Institute of Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School 'From Molecules to Organisms', Max Planck Institute for Biology and Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Zsuzsanna Takacs
- Interfaculty Institute of Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School 'From Molecules to Organisms', Max Planck Institute for Biology and Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, A-1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ana L Diogo de Oliveira
- Interfaculty Institute of Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Mirita Franz-Wachtel
- Proteome Center Tübingen, Interfaculty Institute of Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Chara Charsou
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0372, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, 0316, Oslo, Norway
| | - Simon G Pfisterer
- Interfaculty Institute of Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, FI-00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andrea Gubas
- Institute of Biochemistry II, Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University Medical School, D-60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Patricia K Haller
- Interfaculty Institute of Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School 'From Molecules to Organisms', Max Planck Institute for Biology and Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Roland L Knorr
- Humboldt University of Berlin, Institute of Biology, D-10115, Berlin, Germany
- Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
- International Research Frontiers Initiative, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, 226-8503, Japan
| | - Manuel Kaulich
- Institute of Biochemistry II, Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University Medical School, D-60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Boris Macek
- International Max Planck Research School 'From Molecules to Organisms', Max Planck Institute for Biology and Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
- Proteome Center Tübingen, Interfaculty Institute of Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Eeva-Liisa Eskelinen
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Fl-00790, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, FI-20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Anne Simonsen
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0372, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, 0316, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tassula Proikas-Cezanne
- Interfaculty Institute of Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany.
- International Max Planck Research School 'From Molecules to Organisms', Max Planck Institute for Biology and Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany.
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van den Berg L, Kokki K, Wowro SJ, Petricek KM, Deniz O, Stegmann CA, Robciuc M, Teesalu M, Melvin RG, Nieminen AI, Schupp M, Hietakangas V. Sugar-responsive inhibition of Myc-dependent ribosome biogenesis by Clockwork orange. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112739. [PMID: 37405919 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112739] [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: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to feed on a sugar-containing diet depends on a gene regulatory network controlled by the intracellular sugar sensor Mondo/ChREBP-Mlx, which remains insufficiently characterized. Here, we present a genome-wide temporal clustering of sugar-responsive gene expression in Drosophila larvae. We identify gene expression programs responding to sugar feeding, including downregulation of ribosome biogenesis genes, known targets of Myc. Clockwork orange (CWO), a component of the circadian clock, is found to be a mediator of this repressive response and to be necessary for survival on a high-sugar diet. CWO expression is directly activated by Mondo-Mlx, and it counteracts Myc through repression of its gene expression and through binding to overlapping genomic regions. CWO mouse ortholog BHLHE41 has a conserved role in repressing ribosome biogenesis genes in primary hepatocytes. Collectively, our data uncover a cross-talk between conserved gene regulatory circuits balancing the activities of anabolic pathways to maintain homeostasis during sugar feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda van den Berg
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland; Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Krista Kokki
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland; Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sylvia J Wowro
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Max Rubner Center (MRC) for Cardiovascular Metabolic Renal Research, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Konstantin M Petricek
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Max Rubner Center (MRC) for Cardiovascular Metabolic Renal Research, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Onur Deniz
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland; Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Catrin A Stegmann
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Max Rubner Center (MRC) for Cardiovascular Metabolic Renal Research, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marius Robciuc
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland; Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mari Teesalu
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland; Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Richard G Melvin
- School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Anni I Nieminen
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland; Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michael Schupp
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Max Rubner Center (MRC) for Cardiovascular Metabolic Renal Research, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ville Hietakangas
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland; Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland.
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6
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Vanni V, Salonna M, Gasparini F, Martini M, Anselmi C, Gissi C, Manni L. Yamanaka Factors in the Budding Tunicate Botryllus schlosseri Show a Shared Spatio-Temporal Expression Pattern in Chordates. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:782722. [PMID: 35342743 PMCID: PMC8948423 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.782722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In vertebrates, the four transcription factors Sox2, c-Myc, Pou5f1 and Klf4 are involved in the differentiation of several tissues during vertebrate embryogenesis; moreover, they are normally co-expressed in embryonic stem cells and play roles in pluripotency, self-renewal, and maintenance of the undifferentiated state in adult cells. The in vitro forced co-expression of these factors, named Yamanaka factors (YFs), induces pluripotency in human or mouse fibroblasts. Botryllus schlosseri is a colonial tunicate undergoing continuous stem cell-mediated asexual development, providing a valuable model system for the study of pluripotency in the closest living relatives of vertebrates. In this study, we identified B. schlosseri orthologs of human Sox2 and c-Myc genes, as well as the closest homologs of the vertebrate-specific Pou5f1 gene, through an in-depth evolutionary analysis of the YF gene families in tunicates and other deuterostomes. Then, we studied the expression of these genes during the asexual cycle of B. schlosseri using in situ hybridization in order to investigate their possible involvement in tissue differentiation and in pluripotency maintenance. Our results show a shared spatio-temporal expression pattern consistent with the reported functions of these genes in invertebrate and vertebrate embryogenesis. Moreover, Myc, SoxB1 and Pou3 were expressed in candidate stem cells residing in their niches, while Pou2 was found expressed exclusively in the immature previtellogenic oocytes, both in gonads and circulating in the colonial vascular system. Our data suggest that Myc, SoxB1 and Pou3 may be individually involved in the differentiation of the same territories seen in other chordates, and that, together, they may play a role in stemness even in this colonial ascidian.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Vanni
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Marika Salonna
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | | | | | - Chiara Anselmi
- Stanford University, Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, CA, United States.,Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Carmela Gissi
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.,IBIOM, Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, Bari, Italy.,CoNISMa, Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze Del Mare, Roma, Italy
| | - Lucia Manni
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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7
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Lani-Louzada R, Marra C, Dias MS, de Araújo VG, Abreu CA, Ribas VT, Adesse D, Allodi S, Chiodo V, Hauswirth W, Petrs-Silva H, Linden R. Neuroprotective Gene Therapy by Overexpression of the Transcription Factor MAX in Rat Models of Glaucomatous Neurodegeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:5. [PMID: 35103748 PMCID: PMC8819487 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.2.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Based on our preview evidence that reduced nuclear content of the transcription factor Myc-associated protein X (MAX) is an early event associated with degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), in the present study, our purpose was to test whether the overexpression of human MAX had a neuroprotective effect against RGC injury. Methods Overexpression of either MAX or green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the retina was achieved by intravitreal injections of recombinant adenovirus-associated viruses (rAAVs). Lister Hooded rats were used in three models of RGC degeneration: (1) cultures of retinal explants for 30 hours ex vivo from the eyes of 14-day-old rats that had received intravitreal injections of rAAV2-MAX or the control vector rAAV2-GFP at birth; (2) an optic nerve crush model, in which 1-month-old rats received intravitreal injection of either rAAV2-MAX or rAAV2-GFP and, 4 weeks later, were operated on; and (3) an ocular hypertension (OHT) glaucoma model, in which 1-month-old rats received intravitreal injection of either rAAV2-MAX or rAAV2-GFP and, 4 weeks later, were subject to cauterization of the limbal plexus. Cell death was estimated by detection of pyknotic nuclei and TUNEL technique and correlated with MAX immunocontent in an ex vivo model of retinal explants. MAX expression was detected by quantitative RT-PCR. In the OHT model, survival of RGCs was quantified by retrograde labeling with DiI or immunostaining for BRN3a at 14 days after in vivo injury. Functional integrity of RGCs was analyzed through pattern electroretinography, and damage to the optic nerve was examined in semithin sections. Results In all three models of RGC insult, gene therapy by overexpression of MAX prevented RGC death. Also, ON degeneration and electrophysiologic deficits were prevented in the OHT model. Conclusions Our experiments offer proof of concept for a novel neuroprotective gene therapy for glaucomatous neurodegeneration based on overexpression of MAX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Lani-Louzada
- Laboratory of Neurogenesis, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Camila Marra
- Laboratory of Neurogenesis, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariana Santana Dias
- Laboratory of Neurogenesis, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Victor Guedes de Araújo
- Laboratory of Neurogenesis, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carla Andreia Abreu
- Laboratory of Neurogenesis, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Toledo Ribas
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Daniel Adesse
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Silvana Allodi
- Laboratory of Comparative and Developmental Neurobiology, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vince Chiodo
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
| | - William Hauswirth
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
| | - Hilda Petrs-Silva
- Laboratory of Neurogenesis, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael Linden
- Laboratory of Neurogenesis, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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8
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Liaño-Pons J, Arsenian-Henriksson M, León J. The Multiple Faces of MNT and Its Role as a MYC Modulator. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4682. [PMID: 34572909 PMCID: PMC8465425 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13184682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
MNT is a crucial modulator of MYC, controls several cellular functions, and is activated in most human cancers. It is the largest, most divergent, and most ubiquitously expressed protein of the MXD family. MNT was first described as a MYC antagonist and tumor suppressor. Indeed, 10% of human tumors present deletions of one MNT allele. However, some reports show that MNT functions in cooperation with MYC by maintaining cell proliferation, promoting tumor cell survival, and supporting MYC-driven tumorigenesis in cellular and animal models. Although MAX was originally considered MNT's obligate partner, our recent findings demonstrate that MNT also works independently. MNT forms homodimers and interacts with proteins both outside and inside of the proximal MYC network. These complexes are involved in a wide array of cellular processes, from transcriptional repression via SIN3 to the modulation of metabolism through MLX as well as immunity and apoptosis via REL. In this review, we discuss the present knowledge of MNT with a special focus on its interactome, which sheds light on the complex and essential role of MNT in cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Liaño-Pons
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Marie Arsenian-Henriksson
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Javier León
- Departmento de Biología Molecular and Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC), Universidad de Cantabria-CSIC, 39011 Santander, Spain;
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9
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Hsieh AL, Zheng X, Yue Z, Stine ZE, Mancuso A, Rhoades SD, Brooks R, Weljie AM, Eisenman RN, Sehgal A, Dang CV. Misregulation of Drosophila Myc Disrupts Circadian Behavior and Metabolism. Cell Rep 2019; 29:1778-1788.e4. [PMID: 31722196 PMCID: PMC6910219 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila Myc (dMyc) is highly conserved and functions as a transcription factor similar to mammalian Myc. We previously found that oncogenic Myc disrupts the molecular clock in cancer cells. Here, we demonstrate that misregulation of dMyc expression affects Drosophila circadian behavior. dMyc overexpression results in a high percentage of arrhythmic flies, concomitant with increases in the expression of clock genes cyc, tim, cry, and cwo. Conversely, flies with hypomorphic mutations in dMyc exhibit considerable arrhythmia, which can be rescued by loss of dMnt, a suppressor of dMyc activity. Metabolic profiling of fly heads revealed that loss of dMyc and its overexpression alter steady-state metabolite levels and have opposing effects on histidine, the histamine precursor, which is rescued in dMyc mutants by ablation of dMnt and could contribute to effects of dMyc on locomotor behavior. Our results demonstrate a role of dMyc in modulating Drosophila circadian clock, behavior, and metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie L Hsieh
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10017, USA; The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA.
| | - Xiangzhong Zheng
- Chronobiology Program, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
| | - Zhifeng Yue
- Chronobiology Program, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Anthony Mancuso
- Laboratory for NMR Spectroscopy of Cellular Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Seth D Rhoades
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, PSOM and Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | | | - Aalim M Weljie
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, PSOM and Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Robert N Eisenman
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., Seattle, WA 90109, USA
| | - Amita Sehgal
- Chronobiology Program, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Chi V Dang
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10017, USA; The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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10
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AMPK-Mediated Regulation of Alpha-Arrestins and Protein Trafficking. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20030515. [PMID: 30691068 PMCID: PMC6387238 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a central role in the regulation of cellular metabolism. Recent studies reveal a novel role for AMPK in the regulation of glucose and other carbohydrates flux by controlling the endocytosis of transporters. The first step in glucose metabolism is glucose uptake, a process mediated by members of the GLUT/SLC2A (glucose transporters) or HXT (hexose transporters) family of twelve-transmembrane domain glucose transporters in mammals and yeast, respectively. These proteins are conserved from yeast to humans, and multiple transporters—each with distinct kinetic properties—compete for plasma membrane occupancy in order to enhance or limit the rate of glucose uptake. During growth in the presence of alternative carbon sources, glucose transporters are removed and replaced with the appropriate transporter to help support growth in response to this environment. New insights into the regulated protein trafficking of these transporters reveal the requirement for specific α-arrestins, a little-studied class of protein trafficking adaptor. A defining feature of the α-arrestins is that each contains PY-motifs, which can bind to the ubiquitin ligases from the NEDD4/Rsp5 (Neural precursor cell Expressed, Developmentally Down-regulated 4 and Reverses Spt- Phenotype 5, respectively) family. Specific association of α-arrestins with glucose and carbohydrate transporters is thought to bring the ubiquitin ligase in close proximity to its membrane substrate, and thereby allows the membrane cargo to become ubiquitinated. This ubiquitination in turn serves as a mark to stimulate endocytosis. Recent results show that AMPK phosphorylation of the α-arrestins impacts their abundance and/or ability to stimulate carbohydrate transporter endocytosis. Indeed, AMPK or glucose limitation also controls α-arrestin gene expression, adding an additional layer of complexity to this regulation. Here, we review the recent studies that have expanded the role of AMPK in cellular metabolism to include regulation of α-arrestin-mediated trafficking of transporters and show that this mechanism of regulation is conserved over the ~150 million years of evolution that separate yeast from man.
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11
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Wang H, Dolezal JM, Kulkarni S, Lu J, Mandel J, Jackson LE, Alencastro F, Duncan AW, Prochownik EV. Myc and ChREBP transcription factors cooperatively regulate normal and neoplastic hepatocyte proliferation in mice. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:14740-14757. [PMID: 30087120 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.004099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Analogous to the c-Myc (Myc)/Max family of bHLH-ZIP transcription factors, there exists a parallel regulatory network of structurally and functionally related proteins with Myc-like functions. Two related Myc-like paralogs, termed MondoA and MondoB/carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP), up-regulate gene expression in heterodimeric association with the bHLH-ZIP Max-like factor Mlx. Myc is necessary to support liver cancer growth, but not for normal hepatocyte proliferation. Here, we investigated ChREBP's role in these processes and its relationship to Myc. Unlike Myc loss, ChREBP loss conferred a proliferative disadvantage to normal murine hepatocytes, as did the combined loss of ChREBP and Myc. Moreover, hepatoblastomas (HBs) originating in myc-/-, chrebp-/-, or myc-/-/chrebp-/- backgrounds grew significantly more slowly. Metabolic studies on livers and HBs in all three genetic backgrounds revealed marked differences in oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO), and pyruvate dehydrogenase activity. RNA-Seq of livers and HBs suggested seven distinct mechanisms of Myc-ChREBP target gene regulation. Gene ontology analysis indicated that many transcripts deregulated in the chrebp-/- background encode enzymes functioning in glycolysis, the TCA cycle, and β- and ω-FAO, whereas those dysregulated in the myc-/- background encode enzymes functioning in glycolysis, glutaminolysis, and sterol biosynthesis. In the myc-/-/chrebp-/- background, additional deregulated transcripts included those involved in peroxisomal β- and α-FAO. Finally, we observed that Myc and ChREBP cooperatively up-regulated virtually all ribosomal protein genes. Our findings define the individual and cooperative proliferative, metabolic, and transcriptional roles for the "Extended Myc Network" under both normal and neoplastic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huabo Wang
- From the Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
| | - James M Dolezal
- From the Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
| | - Sucheta Kulkarni
- From the Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
| | - Jie Lu
- From the Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
| | - Jordan Mandel
- From the Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
| | - Laura E Jackson
- From the Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
| | | | | | - Edward V Prochownik
- From the Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, .,the Pittsburgh Liver Center.,the Hillman Cancer Center of UPMC, and.,the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15224
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12
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The MYC transcription factor network: balancing metabolism, proliferation and oncogenesis. Front Med 2018; 12:412-425. [PMID: 30054853 PMCID: PMC7358075 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-018-0650-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Transcription factor networks have evolved in order to control, coordinate, and separate, the functions of distinct network modules spatially and temporally. In this review we focus on the MYC network (also known as the MAX-MLX Network), a highly conserved super-family of related basic-helix-loop-helix-zipper (bHLHZ) proteins that functions to integrate extracellular and intracellular signals and modulate global gene expression. Importantly the MYC network has been shown to be deeply involved in a broad spectrum of human and other animal cancers. Here we summarize molecular and biological properties of the network modules with emphasis on functional interactions among network members. We suggest that these network interactions serve to modulate growth and metabolism at the transcriptional level in order to balance nutrient demand with supply, to maintain growth homeostasis, and to influence cell fate. Moreover, oncogenic activation of MYC and/or loss of a MYC antagonist, results in an imbalance in the activity of the network as a whole, leading to tumor initiation, progression and maintenance.
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13
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Sugar sensing by ChREBP/Mondo-Mlx-new insight into downstream regulatory networks and integration of nutrient-derived signals. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2017; 51:89-96. [PMID: 29278834 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2017.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Animals regulate their physiology with respect to nutrient status, which requires nutrient sensing pathways. Simple carbohydrates, sugars, are sensed by the basic-helix-loop-helix leucine zipper transcription factors ChREBP/Mondo, together with their heterodimerization partner Mlx, which are well-established activators of sugar-induced lipogenesis. Loss of ChREBP/Mondo-Mlx in mouse and Drosophila leads to sugar intolerance, that is, inability to survive on sugar containing diet. Recent evidence has revealed that ChREBP/Mondo-Mlx responds to sugar and fatty acid-derived metabolites through several mechanisms and cross-connects with other nutrient sensing pathways. ChREBP/Mondo-Mlx controls several downstream transcription factors and hormones, which mediate not only readjustment of metabolic pathways, but also control feeding behavior, intestinal digestion, and circadian rhythm.
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14
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Richards P, Ourabah S, Montagne J, Burnol AF, Postic C, Guilmeau S. MondoA/ChREBP: The usual suspects of transcriptional glucose sensing; Implication in pathophysiology. Metabolism 2017; 70:133-151. [PMID: 28403938 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2017.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Identification of the Mondo glucose-responsive transcription factors family, including the MondoA and MondoB/ChREBP paralogs, has shed light on the mechanism whereby glucose affects gene transcription. They have clearly emerged, in recent years, as key mediators of glucose sensing by multiple cell types. MondoA and ChREBP have overlapping yet distinct expression profiles, which underlie their downstream targets and separate roles in regulating genes involved in glucose metabolism. MondoA can restrict glucose uptake and influences energy utilization in skeletal muscle, while ChREBP signals energy storage through de novo lipogenesis in liver and white adipose tissue. Because Mondo proteins mediate metabolic adaptations to changing glucose levels, a better understanding of cellular glucose sensing through Mondo proteins will likely uncover new therapeutic opportunities in the context of the imbalanced glucose homeostasis that accompanies metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cancer. Here, we provide an overview of structural homologies, transcriptional partners as well as the nutrient and hormonal mechanisms underlying Mondo proteins regulation. We next summarize their relative contribution to energy metabolism changes in physiological states and the evolutionary conservation of these pathways. Finally, we discuss their possible targeting in human pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Richards
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, 75014, France; CNRS, UMR 8104, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Sarah Ourabah
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, 75014, France; CNRS, UMR 8104, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Jacques Montagne
- Institut for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, CEA, UMR 9198, F-91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Anne-Françoise Burnol
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, 75014, France; CNRS, UMR 8104, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Postic
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, 75014, France; CNRS, UMR 8104, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Sandra Guilmeau
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, 75014, France; CNRS, UMR 8104, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
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15
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Nacci D, Proestou D, Champlin D, Martinson J, Waits ER. Genetic basis for rapidly evolved tolerance in the wild: adaptation to toxic pollutants by an estuarine fish species. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:5467-5482. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Revised: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Diane Nacci
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory Atlantic Ecology Division 27 Tarzwell Dr. Narragansett RI 02882 USA
| | - Dina Proestou
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory Atlantic Ecology Division 27 Tarzwell Dr. Narragansett RI 02882 USA
| | - Denise Champlin
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory Atlantic Ecology Division 27 Tarzwell Dr. Narragansett RI 02882 USA
| | - John Martinson
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development National Exposure Research Laboratory Ecological Exposure Research Division 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr. Cincinnati OH 45268 USA
| | - Eric R. Waits
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development National Exposure Research Laboratory Ecological Exposure Research Division 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr. Cincinnati OH 45268 USA
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16
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Microsporidia Intracellular Development Relies on Myc Interaction Network Transcription Factors in the Host. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2016; 6:2707-16. [PMID: 27402359 PMCID: PMC5015929 DOI: 10.1534/g3.116.029983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Microsporidia are ubiquitous parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, and these fungal-related microbes undergo their entire replicative lifecycle inside of host cells. Despite being widespread in the environment and causing medical and agricultural harm, virtually nothing is known about the host factors important to facilitate their growth and development inside of host cells. Here, we perform a genetic screen to identify host transcription factors important for development of the microsporidian pathogen Nematocida parisii inside intestinal cells of its natural host, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Through this screen, we identified the C. elegans Myc family of transcription factors as key host regulators of microsporidia growth and development. The Mad-like transcription factor MDL-1, and the Max-like transcription factors MXL-1 and MXL-2 promote pathogen levels, while the Myc-Mondo-like transcription factor MML-1 inhibits pathogen levels. We used epistasis analysis to show that MDL-1 and MXL-1, which are thought to function as a heterodimer, appear to be acting canonically. In contrast, MXL-2 and MML-1, which are also thought to function as a heterodimer, appear to be acting in separate pathways (noncanonically) in the context of pathogen infection. We also found that both MDL-1::GFP and MML-1::GFP are expressed in intestinal cells during infection. These findings provide novel insight into the host transcription factors that regulate microsporidia development.
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17
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Singh P, Irwin DM. Contrasting Patterns in the Evolution of Vertebrate MLX Interacting Protein (MLXIP) and MLX Interacting Protein-Like (MLXIPL) Genes. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0149682. [PMID: 26910886 PMCID: PMC4766361 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
ChREBP and MondoA are glucose-sensitive transcription factors that regulate aspects of energy metabolism. Here we performed a phylogenomic analysis of Mlxip (encoding MondoA) and Mlxipl (encoding ChREBP) genes across vertebrates. Analysis of extant Mlxip and Mlxipl genes suggests that the most recent common ancestor of these genes was composed of 17 coding exons. Single copy genes encoding both ChREBP and MondoA, along with their interacting partner Mlx, were found in diverse vertebrate genomes, including fish that have experienced a genome duplication. This observation suggests that a single Mlx gene has been retained to maintain coordinate regulation of ChREBP and MondoA. The ChREBP-β isoform, the more potent and constitutively active isoform, appeared with the evolution of tetrapods and is absent from the Mlxipl genes of fish. Evaluation of the conservation of ChREBP and MondoA sequences demonstrate that MondoA is better conserved and potentially mediates more ancient function in glucose metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parmveer Singh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David M. Irwin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Banting and Best Diabetes Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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18
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Wasik K, Gurtowski J, Zhou X, Ramos OM, Delás MJ, Battistoni G, El Demerdash O, Falciatori I, Vizoso DB, Smith AD, Ladurner P, Schärer L, McCombie WR, Hannon GJ, Schatz M. Genome and transcriptome of the regeneration-competent flatworm, Macrostomum lignano. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:12462-7. [PMID: 26392545 PMCID: PMC4603488 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1516718112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The free-living flatworm, Macrostomum lignano has an impressive regenerative capacity. Following injury, it can regenerate almost an entirely new organism because of the presence of an abundant somatic stem cell population, the neoblasts. This set of unique properties makes many flatworms attractive organisms for studying the evolution of pathways involved in tissue self-renewal, cell-fate specification, and regeneration. The use of these organisms as models, however, is hampered by the lack of a well-assembled and annotated genome sequences, fundamental to modern genetic and molecular studies. Here we report the genomic sequence of M. lignano and an accompanying characterization of its transcriptome. The genome structure of M. lignano is remarkably complex, with ∼75% of its sequence being comprised of simple repeats and transposon sequences. This has made high-quality assembly from Illumina reads alone impossible (N50=222 bp). We therefore generated 130× coverage by long sequencing reads from the Pacific Biosciences platform to create a substantially improved assembly with an N50 of 64 Kbp. We complemented the reference genome with an assembled and annotated transcriptome, and used both of these datasets in combination to probe gene-expression patterns during regeneration, examining pathways important to stem cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaja Wasik
- Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
| | - James Gurtowski
- Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
| | - Xin Zhou
- Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724; Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, Stony Brook University, NY 11794
| | - Olivia Mendivil Ramos
- Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
| | - M Joaquina Delás
- Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724; Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Giorgia Battistoni
- Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724; Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Osama El Demerdash
- Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
| | - Ilaria Falciatori
- Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724; Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Dita B Vizoso
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Zoological Institute, University of Basel, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andrew D Smith
- Department of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Peter Ladurner
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Zoology and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Lukas Schärer
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Zoological Institute, University of Basel, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - W Richard McCombie
- Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
| | - Gregory J Hannon
- Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724; Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom;
| | - Michael Schatz
- Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724;
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19
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Diolaiti D, McFerrin L, Carroll PA, Eisenman RN. Functional interactions among members of the MAX and MLX transcriptional network during oncogenesis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2015; 1849:484-500. [PMID: 24857747 PMCID: PMC4241192 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2014.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2014] [Revised: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 05/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factor MYC and its related family members MYCN and MYCL have been implicated in the etiology of a wide spectrum of human cancers. Compared to other oncoproteins, such as RAS or SRC, MYC is unique because its protein coding region is rarely mutated. Instead, MYC's oncogenic properties are unleashed by regulatory mutations leading to unconstrained high levels of expression. Under both normal and pathological conditions MYC regulates multiple aspects of cellular physiology including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, growth and metabolism by controlling the expression of thousands of genes. How a single transcription factor exerts such broad effects remains a fascinating puzzle. Notably, MYC is part of a network of bHLHLZ proteins centered on the MYC heterodimeric partner MAX and its counterpart, the MAX-like protein MLX. This network includes MXD1-4, MNT, MGA, MONDOA and MONDOB proteins. With some exceptions, MXD proteins have been functionally linked to cell cycle arrest and differentiation, while MONDO proteins control cellular metabolism. Although the temporal expression patterns of many of these proteins can differ markedly they are frequently expressed simultaneously in the same cellular context, and potentially bind to the same, or similar DNA consensus sequence. Here we review the activities and interactions among these proteins and propose that the broad spectrum of phenotypes elicited by MYC deregulation is intimately connected to the functions and regulation of the other network members. Furthermore, we provide a meta-analysis of TCGA data suggesting that the coordinate regulation of the network is important in MYC driven tumorigenesis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Myc proteins in cell biology and pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Diolaiti
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, USA
| | - Lisa McFerrin
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, USA
| | - Patrick A Carroll
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, USA
| | - Robert N Eisenman
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, USA.
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20
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Carroll PA, Diolaiti D, McFerrin L, Gu H, Djukovic D, Du J, Cheng PF, Anderson S, Ulrich M, Hurley JB, Raftery D, Ayer DE, Eisenman RN. Deregulated Myc requires MondoA/Mlx for metabolic reprogramming and tumorigenesis. Cancer Cell 2015; 27:271-85. [PMID: 25640402 PMCID: PMC4326605 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2014.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2014] [Revised: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Deregulated Myc transcriptionally reprograms cell metabolism to promote neoplasia. Here we show that oncogenic Myc requires the Myc superfamily member MondoA, a nutrient-sensing transcription factor, for tumorigenesis. Knockdown of MondoA, or its dimerization partner Mlx, blocks Myc-induced reprogramming of multiple metabolic pathways, resulting in apoptosis. Identification and knockdown of genes coregulated by Myc and MondoA have allowed us to define metabolic functions required by deregulated Myc and demonstrate a critical role for lipid biosynthesis in survival of Myc-driven cancer. Furthermore, overexpression of a subset of Myc and MondoA coregulated genes correlates with poor outcome of patients with diverse cancers. Coregulation of cancer metabolism by Myc and MondoA provides the potential for therapeutics aimed at inhibiting MondoA and its target genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick A Carroll
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, MS A2-025, P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA
| | - Daniel Diolaiti
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, MS A2-025, P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA
| | - Lisa McFerrin
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, MS A2-025, P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA
| | - Haiwei Gu
- Northwest Metabolomics Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, 850 Republican Street, Room S148, P.O. Box 358057, Seattle, WA 98109-8057, USA
| | - Danijel Djukovic
- Northwest Metabolomics Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, 850 Republican Street, Room S148, P.O. Box 358057, Seattle, WA 98109-8057, USA
| | - Jianhai Du
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Pei Feng Cheng
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, MS A2-025, P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA
| | - Sarah Anderson
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, MS A2-025, P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA
| | - Michelle Ulrich
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, MS A2-025, P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA
| | - James B Hurley
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Daniel Raftery
- Northwest Metabolomics Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, 850 Republican Street, Room S148, P.O. Box 358057, Seattle, WA 98109-8057, USA; Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue N, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Donald E Ayer
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Robert N Eisenman
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, MS A2-025, P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA.
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21
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MDL-1, a growth- and tumor-suppressor, slows aging and prevents germline hyperplasia and hypertrophy in C. elegans. Aging (Albany NY) 2014; 6:98-117. [PMID: 24531613 PMCID: PMC3969279 DOI: 10.18632/aging.100638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In C. elegans, increased lifespan in daf-2 insulin/IGF-1 receptor mutants is accompanied by up-regulation of the MDL-1 Mad basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper transcription factor. Here we describe the role of mdl-1 in C. elegans germline proliferation and aging. The deletion allele mdl-1(tm311) shortened lifespan, and did so significantly more so in long-lived daf-2 mutants implying that mdl-1(+) contributes to effects of daf-2 on lifespan. mdl-1 mutant hermaphrodites also lay increased numbers of unfertilized oocytes. During aging, unfertilized oocytes in the uterus develop into tumors, whose development was accelerated by mdl-1(tm311). Opposite phenotypes were seen in daf-2 mutants, i.e. mdl-1 and daf-2 mutant germlines are hyperplastic and hypoplastic, respectively. Thus, MDL-1, like its mammalian orthologs, is an inhibitor of cell proliferation and growth that slows progression of an age-related pathology in C. elegans (uterine tumors). In addition, intestine-limited rescue of mdl-1 increased lifespan but not to wild type levels. Thus, mdl-1 likely acts both in the intestine and the germline to influence age-related mortality.
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22
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Johnson DW, Llop JR, Farrell SF, Yuan J, Stolzenburg LR, Samuelson AV. The Caenorhabditis elegans Myc-Mondo/Mad complexes integrate diverse longevity signals. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004278. [PMID: 24699255 PMCID: PMC3974684 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2013] [Accepted: 02/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Myc family of transcription factors regulates a variety of biological processes, including the cell cycle, growth, proliferation, metabolism, and apoptosis. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the "Myc interaction network" consists of two opposing heterodimeric complexes with antagonistic functions in transcriptional control: the Myc-Mondo:Mlx transcriptional activation complex and the Mad:Max transcriptional repression complex. In C. elegans, Mondo, Mlx, Mad, and Max are encoded by mml-1, mxl-2, mdl-1, and mxl-1, respectively. Here we show a similar antagonistic role for the C. elegans Myc-Mondo and Mad complexes in longevity control. Loss of mml-1 or mxl-2 shortens C. elegans lifespan. In contrast, loss of mdl-1 or mxl-1 increases longevity, dependent upon MML-1:MXL-2. The MML-1:MXL-2 and MDL-1:MXL-1 complexes function in both the insulin signaling and dietary restriction pathways. Furthermore, decreased insulin-like/IGF-1 signaling (ILS) or conditions of dietary restriction increase the accumulation of MML-1, consistent with the notion that the Myc family members function as sensors of metabolic status. Additionally, we find that Myc family members are regulated by distinct mechanisms, which would allow for integrated control of gene expression from diverse signals of metabolic status. We compared putative target genes based on ChIP-sequencing data in the modENCODE project and found significant overlap in genomic DNA binding between the major effectors of ILS (DAF-16/FoxO), DR (PHA-4/FoxA), and Myc family (MDL-1/Mad/Mxd) at common target genes, which suggests that diverse signals of metabolic status converge on overlapping transcriptional programs that influence aging. Consistent with this, there is over-enrichment at these common targets for genes that function in lifespan, stress response, and carbohydrate metabolism. Additionally, we find that Myc family members are also involved in stress response and the maintenance of protein homeostasis. Collectively, these findings indicate that Myc family members integrate diverse signals of metabolic status, to coordinate overlapping metabolic and cytoprotective transcriptional programs that determine the progression of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W. Johnson
- University of Rochester, Department of Biomedical Genetics, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Jesse R. Llop
- University of Rochester, Department of Biomedical Genetics, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Sara F. Farrell
- University of Rochester, Department of Biomedical Genetics, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Jie Yuan
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Computer Science Department, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Lindsay R. Stolzenburg
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Andrew V. Samuelson
- University of Rochester, Department of Biomedical Genetics, Rochester, New York, United States of America
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23
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Oosterveer MH, Schoonjans K. Hepatic glucose sensing and integrative pathways in the liver. Cell Mol Life Sci 2014; 71:1453-67. [PMID: 24196749 PMCID: PMC11114046 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-013-1505-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2013] [Revised: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 10/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The hepatic glucose-sensing system is a functional network of enzymes and transcription factors that is critical for the maintenance of energy homeostasis and systemic glycemia. Here we review the recent literature on its components and metabolic actions. Glucokinase (GCK) is generally considered as the initial postprandial glucose-sensing component, which acts as the gatekeeper for hepatic glucose metabolism and provides metabolites that activate the transcription factor carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP). Recently, liver receptor homolog 1 (LRH-1) has emerged as an upstream regulator of the central GCK-ChREBP axis, with a critical role in the integration of hepatic intermediary metabolism in response to glucose. Evidence is also accumulating that O-linked β-N-acetylglucosaminylation (O-GlcNAcylation) and acetylation can act as glucose-sensitive modifications that may contribute to hepatic glucose sensing by targeting regulatory proteins and the epigenome. Further elucidation of the components and functional roles of the hepatic glucose-sensing system may contribute to the future treatment of liver diseases associated with deregulated glucose sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike H. Oosterveer
- Department of Pediatrics and Laboratory Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kristina Schoonjans
- Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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24
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Conacci-Sorrell M, McFerrin L, Eisenman RN. An overview of MYC and its interactome. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2014; 4:a014357. [PMID: 24384812 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a014357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 304] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
This review is intended to provide a broad outline of the biological and molecular functions of MYC as well as of the larger protein network within which MYC operates. We present a view of MYC as a sensor that integrates multiple cellular signals to mediate a broad transcriptional response controlling many aspects of cell behavior. We also describe the larger transcriptional network linked to MYC with emphasis on the MXD family of MYC antagonists. Last, we discuss evidence that the network has evolved for millions of years, dating back to the emergence of animals.
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25
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Mahani A, Henriksson J, Wright APH. Origins of Myc proteins--using intrinsic protein disorder to trace distant relatives. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75057. [PMID: 24086436 PMCID: PMC3782479 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2013] [Accepted: 08/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian Myc proteins are important determinants of cell proliferation as well as the undifferentiated state of stem cells and their activity is frequently deregulated in cancer. Based mainly on conservation in the C-terminal DNA-binding and dimerization domain, Myc-like proteins have been reported in many simpler organisms within and outside the Metazoa but they have not been found in fungi or plants. Several important signature motifs defining mammalian Myc proteins are found in the N-terminal domain but the extent to which these are found in the Myc-like proteins from simpler organisms is not well established. The extent of N-terminal signature sequence conservation would give important insights about the evolution of Myc proteins and their current function in mammalian physiology and disease. In a systematic study of Myc-like proteins we show that N-terminal signature motifs are not readily detectable in individual Myc-like proteins from invertebrates but that weak similarities to Myc boxes 1 and 2 can be found in the N-termini of the simplest Metazoa as well as the unicellular choanoflagellate, Monosiga brevicollis, using multiple protein alignments. Phylogenetic support for the connections of these proteins to established Myc proteins is however poor. We show that the pattern of predicted protein disorder along the length of Myc proteins can be used as a complementary approach to making dendrograms of Myc proteins that aids the classification of Myc proteins. This suggests that the pattern of disorder within Myc proteins is more conserved through evolution than their amino acid sequence. In the disorder-based dendrograms the Myc-like proteins from simpler organisms, including M. brevicollis, are connected to established Myc proteins with a higher degree of certainty. Our results suggest that protein disorder based dendrograms may be of general significance for studying distant relationships between proteins, such as transcription factors, that have high levels of intrinsic disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Mahani
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Center for Biosciences, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Johan Henriksson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Center for Biosciences, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Anthony P. H. Wright
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Center for Biosciences, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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26
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O'Shea JM, Ayer DE. Coordination of nutrient availability and utilization by MAX- and MLX-centered transcription networks. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2013; 3:a014258. [PMID: 24003245 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a014258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Cell growth and division require the biosynthesis of macromolecule components and cofactors (e.g., nucleotides, lipids, amino acids, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate [NADPH]). Normally, macromolecular biosynthesis is under tight regulatory control, yet these anabolic pathways are often dysregulated in cancer. The resulting metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells is thought to support their high rates of growth and division. The mechanisms that underlie the metabolic changes in cancer are at least partially understood, providing a rationale for their targeting with known or novel therapeutics. This review is focused on how cells sense and respond transcriptionally to essential nutrients, including glucose and glutamine, and how MAX- and MLX-centered transcription networks contribute to metabolic homeostasis in normal and neoplastic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M O'Shea
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, Department of Oncological Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5550
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27
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Havula E, Teesalu M, Hyötyläinen T, Seppälä H, Hasygar K, Auvinen P, Orešič M, Sandmann T, Hietakangas V. Mondo/ChREBP-Mlx-regulated transcriptional network is essential for dietary sugar tolerance in Drosophila. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003438. [PMID: 23593032 PMCID: PMC3616910 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2012] [Accepted: 02/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Sugars are important nutrients for many animals, but are also proposed to contribute to overnutrition-derived metabolic diseases in humans. Understanding the genetic factors governing dietary sugar tolerance therefore has profound biological and medical significance. Paralogous Mondo transcription factors ChREBP and MondoA, with their common binding partner Mlx, are key sensors of intracellular glucose flux in mammals. Here we report analysis of the in vivo function of Drosophila melanogaster Mlx and its binding partner Mondo (ChREBP) in respect to tolerance to dietary sugars. Larvae lacking mlx or having reduced mondo expression show strikingly reduced survival on a diet with moderate or high levels of sucrose, glucose, and fructose. mlx null mutants display widespread changes in lipid and phospholipid profiles, signs of amino acid catabolism, as well as strongly elevated circulating glucose levels. Systematic loss-of-function analysis of Mlx target genes reveals that circulating glucose levels and dietary sugar tolerance can be genetically uncoupled: Krüppel-like transcription factor Cabut and carbonyl detoxifying enzyme Aldehyde dehydrogenase type III are essential for dietary sugar tolerance, but display no influence on circulating glucose levels. On the other hand, Phosphofructokinase 2, a regulator of the glycolysis pathway, is needed for both dietary sugar tolerance and maintenance of circulating glucose homeostasis. Furthermore, we show evidence that fatty acid synthesis, which is a highly conserved Mondo-Mlx-regulated process, does not promote dietary sugar tolerance. In contrast, survival of larvae with reduced fatty acid synthase expression is sugar-dependent. Our data demonstrate that the transcriptional network regulated by Mondo-Mlx is a critical determinant of the healthful dietary spectrum allowing Drosophila to exploit sugar-rich nutrient sources. Diet displays extreme natural variation between animal species, which range from highly specialized carnivores, herbivores, and nectarivores to flexible dietary generalists. Humans are not identical in this respect either, but the genetic background likely defines the framework for a healthy diet. However, we understand poorly the genetic factors that define the spectrum of healthy diet for a given species or individual. Here we have explored the genetic basis of dietary sugar tolerance of Drosophila melanogaster. D. melanogaster is a generalist fruit breeder that feeds on micro-organisms on decaying fruits and vegetables with varying sugar content. However, mutants lacking the conserved Mondo-Mlx transcription factor complex display striking intolerance towards dietary sucrose, glucose, or fructose. This is manifested in the larvae by the inability to grow and pupate on sugar-rich food, including red grape, which belongs to the normal diet of wild D. melanogaster. Larvae lacking Mondo-Mlx show widespread metabolic imbalance, including highly elevated circulating glucose. Genome-wide gene expression analysis combined with systematic loss-of-function screening of Mlx targets reveal that the genetic network providing sugar tolerance includes a secondary transcriptional effector as well as regulators of glycolysis and detoxification of reactive metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Essi Havula
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mari Teesalu
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Heini Seppälä
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kiran Hasygar
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Petri Auvinen
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matej Orešič
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Espoo, Finland
| | | | - Ville Hietakangas
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- * E-mail:
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28
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McFerrin LG, Atchley WR. A novel N-terminal domain may dictate the glucose response of Mondo proteins. PLoS One 2012; 7:e34803. [PMID: 22506051 PMCID: PMC3323566 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2011] [Accepted: 03/08/2012] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucose is a fundamental energy source for both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The balance between glucose utilization and storage is integral for proper energy homeostasis, and defects are associated with several diseases, e.g. type II diabetes. In vertebrates, the transcription factor ChREBP is a major component in glucose metabolism, while its ortholog MondoA is involved in glucose uptake. Both MondoA and ChREBP contain five Mondo conserved regions (MCRI-V) that affect their cellular localization and transactivation ability. While phosphorylation has been shown to affect ChREBP function, the mechanisms controlling glucose response of both ChREBP and MondoA remain elusive. By incorporating sequence analysis techniques, structure predictions, and functional annotations, we synthesized data surrounding Mondo family proteins into a cohesive, accurate, and general model involving the MCRs and two additional domains that determine ChREBP and MondoA glucose response. Paramount, we identified a conserved motif within the transactivation region of Mondo family proteins and propose that this motif interacts with the phosphorylated form of glucose. In addition, we discovered a putative nuclear receptor box in non-vertebrate Mondo and vertebrate ChREBP sequences that reveals a potentially novel interaction with nuclear receptors. These interactions are likely involved in altering ChREBP and MondoA conformation to form an active complex and induce transcription of genes involved in glucose metabolism and lipogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa G McFerrin
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America.
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29
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Havula E, Hietakangas V. Glucose sensing by ChREBP/MondoA-Mlx transcription factors. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2012; 23:640-7. [PMID: 22406740 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2012.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2012] [Accepted: 02/24/2012] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The paralogous transcription factors ChREBP and MondoA, together with their common binding partner Mlx, have emerged as key mediators of intracellular glucose sensing. By regulating target genes involved in glycolysis and lipogenesis, they mediate metabolic adaptation to changing glucose levels. As disturbed glucose homeostasis plays a central role in human metabolic diseases and as cancer cells often display altered glucose metabolism, better understanding of cellular glucose sensing will likely uncover new therapeutic opportunities. Here we review the regulation, function and evolutionary conservation of the ChREBP/MondoA-Mlx glucose sensing system and discuss possible directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Essi Havula
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 1, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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