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Camerino M, Chang W, Cvekl A. Analysis of long-range chromatin contacts, compartments and looping between mouse embryonic stem cells, lens epithelium and lens fibers. Epigenetics Chromatin 2024; 17:10. [PMID: 38643244 PMCID: PMC11031936 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-024-00533-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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nuclear organization of interphase chromosomes involves individual chromosome territories, "open" and "closed" chromatin compartments, topologically associated domains (TADs) and chromatin loops. The DNA- and RNA-binding transcription factor CTCF together with the cohesin complex serve as major organizers of chromatin architecture. Cellular differentiation is driven by temporally and spatially coordinated gene expression that requires chromatin changes of individual loci of various complexities. Lens differentiation represents an advantageous system to probe transcriptional mechanisms underlying tissue-specific gene expression including high transcriptional outputs of individual crystallin genes until the mature lens fiber cells degrade their nuclei. RESULTS Chromatin organization between mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, newborn (P0.5) lens epithelium and fiber cells were analyzed using Hi-C. Localization of CTCF in both lens chromatins was determined by ChIP-seq and compared with ES cells. Quantitative analyses show major differences between number and size of TADs and chromatin loop size between these three cell types. In depth analyses show similarities between lens samples exemplified by overlaps between compartments A and B. Lens epithelium-specific CTCF peaks are found in mostly methylated genomic regions while lens fiber-specific and shared peaks occur mostly within unmethylated DNA regions. Major differences in TADs and loops are illustrated at the ~ 500 kb Pax6 locus, encoding the critical lens regulatory transcription factor and within a larger ~ 15 Mb WAGR locus, containing Pax6 and other loci linked to human congenital diseases. Lens and ES cell Hi-C data (TADs and loops) together with ATAC-seq, CTCF, H3K27ac, H3K27me3 and ENCODE cis-regulatory sites are shown in detail for the Pax6, Sox1 and Hif1a loci, multiple crystallin genes and other important loci required for lens morphogenesis. The majority of crystallin loci are marked by unexpectedly high CTCF-binding across their transcribed regions. CONCLUSIONS Our study has generated the first data on 3-dimensional (3D) nuclear organization in lens epithelium and lens fibers and directly compared these data with ES cells. These findings generate novel insights into lens-specific transcriptional gene control, open new research avenues to study transcriptional condensates in lens fiber cells, and enable studies of non-coding genetic variants linked to cataract and other lens and ocular abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Camerino
- The Departments Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY10461, Bronx, USA
| | - William Chang
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY10461, Bronx, USA
| | - Ales Cvekl
- The Departments Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY10461, Bronx, USA.
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY10461, Bronx, USA.
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2
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Chen Y, Ye X, Zhong Y, Kang X, Tang Y, Zhu H, Pang C, Ning S, Liang S, Zhang F, Li C, Li J, Gu C, Cheng Y, Kuang Z, Qiu J, Jin J, Luo H, Fu M, Hui HX, Li L, Ruan D, Liu P, Chen X, Sun L, Ai S, Gao X. SP6 controls human cytotrophoblast fate decisions and trophoblast stem cell establishment by targeting MSX2 regulatory elements. Dev Cell 2024:S1534-5807(24)00193-X. [PMID: 38582082 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.03.025] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
The commitment and differentiation of human placental progenitor cytotrophoblast (CT) cells are crucial for a successful pregnancy, but the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we identified the transcription factor (TF), specificity protein 6 (SP6), as a human species-specific trophoblast lineage TF expressed in human placental CT cells. Using pluripotent stem cells as a model, we demonstrated that SP6 controls CT generation and the establishment of trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) and identified msh homeobox 2 (MSX2) as the downstream effector in these events. Mechanistically, we showed that SP6 interacts with histone acetyltransferase P300 to alter the landscape of H3K27ac at targeted regulatory elements, thereby favoring transcriptional activation and facilitating CT cell fate decisions and TSC maintenance. Our results established SP6 as a regulator of the human trophoblast lineage and implied its role in placental development and the pathogenies of placental diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanglin Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xianhua Ye
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yulong Zhong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xiangjin Kang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510150, China
| | - Yanqing Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Haoyun Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Changmiao Pang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Shaoqiang Ning
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Shiqing Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Feifan Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Chao Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jie Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Chengtao Gu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yuanxiong Cheng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhanpeng Kuang
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jingyang Qiu
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jin Jin
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Haisi Luo
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Mingyu Fu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Hannah Xiaoyan Hui
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510150, China; Key Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Degong Ruan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Medicine Consortium, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Pentao Liu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Medicine Consortium, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Liangzhong Sun
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Shanshan Ai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Xuefei Gao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, China; Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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3
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Xiong H, Wang Q, Li CC, He A. Single-cell joint profiling of multiple epigenetic proteins and gene transcription. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadi3664. [PMID: 38170774 PMCID: PMC10796078 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi3664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Sculpting the epigenome with a combination of histone modifications and transcription factor occupancy determines gene transcription and cell fate specification. Here, we first develop uCoTarget, utilizing a split-pool barcoding strategy for realizing ultrahigh-throughput single-cell joint profiling of multiple epigenetic proteins. Through extensive optimization for sensitivity and multimodality resolution, we demonstrate that uCoTarget enables simultaneous detection of five histone modifications (H3K27ac, H3K4me3, H3K4me1, H3K36me3, and H3K27me3) in 19,860 single cells. We applied uCoTarget to the in vitro generation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) from human embryonic stem cells, presenting multimodal epigenomic profiles in 26,418 single cells. uCoTarget reveals establishment of pairing of HSPC enhancers (H3K27ac) and promoters (H3K4me3) and RUNX1 engagement priming for H3K27ac activation along the HSPC path. We then develop uCoTargetX, an expansion of uCoTarget to simultaneously measure transcriptome and multiple epigenome targets. Together, our methods enable generalizable, versatile multimodal profiles for reconstructing comprehensive epigenome and transcriptome landscapes and analyzing the regulatory interplay at single-cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiqing Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Qianhao Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Chen C. Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Aibin He
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research of Ministry of Education of China, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Peking University, Beijing 100142, China
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4
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Tangeman JA, Rebull SM, Grajales-Esquivel E, Weaver JM, Bendezu-Sayas S, Robinson ML, Lachke SA, Del Rio-Tsonis K. Integrated single-cell multiomics uncovers foundational regulatory mechanisms of lens development and pathology. Development 2024; 151:dev202249. [PMID: 38180241 PMCID: PMC10906490 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202249] [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: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Ocular lens development entails epithelial to fiber cell differentiation, defects in which cause congenital cataracts. We report the first single-cell multiomic atlas of lens development, leveraging snRNA-seq, snATAC-seq and CUT&RUN-seq to discover previously unreported mechanisms of cell fate determination and cataract-linked regulatory networks. A comprehensive profile of cis- and trans-regulatory interactions, including for the cataract-linked transcription factor MAF, is established across a temporal trajectory of fiber cell differentiation. Furthermore, we identify an epigenetic paradigm of cellular differentiation, defined by progressive loss of the H3K27 methylation writer Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). PRC2 localizes to heterochromatin domains across master-regulator transcription factor gene bodies, suggesting it safeguards epithelial cell fate. Moreover, we demonstrate that FGF hyper-stimulation in vivo leads to MAF network activation and the emergence of novel lens cell states. Collectively, these data depict a comprehensive portrait of lens fiber cell differentiation, while defining regulatory effectors of cell identity and cataract formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared A. Tangeman
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Sofia M. Rebull
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Erika Grajales-Esquivel
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Jacob M. Weaver
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Stacy Bendezu-Sayas
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Michael L. Robinson
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Salil A. Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713, USA
| | - Katia Del Rio-Tsonis
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
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5
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Takata N, Miska JM, Morgan MA, Patel P, Billingham LK, Joshi N, Schipma MJ, Dumar ZJ, Joshi NR, Misharin AV, Embry RB, Fiore L, Gao P, Diebold LP, McElroy GS, Shilatifard A, Chandel NS, Oliver G. Lactate-dependent transcriptional regulation controls mammalian eye morphogenesis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4129. [PMID: 37452018 PMCID: PMC10349100 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39672-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian retinal metabolism favors aerobic glycolysis. However, the role of glycolytic metabolism in retinal morphogenesis remains unknown. We report that aerobic glycolysis is necessary for the early stages of retinal development. Taking advantage of an unbiased approach that combines the use of eye organoids and single-cell RNA sequencing, we identify specific glucose transporters and glycolytic genes in retinal progenitors. Next, we determine that the optic vesicle territory of mouse embryos displays elevated levels of glycolytic activity. At the functional level, we show that removal of Glucose transporter 1 and Lactate dehydrogenase A gene activity from developing retinal progenitors arrests eye morphogenesis. Surprisingly, we uncover that lactate-mediated upregulation of key eye-field transcription factors is controlled by the epigenetic modification of histone H3 acetylation through histone deacetylase activity. Our results identify an unexpected bioenergetic independent role of lactate as a signaling molecule necessary for mammalian eye morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nozomu Takata
- Center for Vascular and Developmental Biology, Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior Street, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Jason M Miska
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Marc A Morgan
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Priyam Patel
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Leah K Billingham
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Neha Joshi
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Matthew J Schipma
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Zachary J Dumar
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Nikita R Joshi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Alexander V Misharin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Ryan B Embry
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Luciano Fiore
- Center for Vascular and Developmental Biology, Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Laboratory of Nanomedicine, National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), Av. General Paz 1499, B1650KNA, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Peng Gao
- Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center Metabolomics Core, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Lauren P Diebold
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Gregory S McElroy
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Ali Shilatifard
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Navdeep S Chandel
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Guillermo Oliver
- Center for Vascular and Developmental Biology, Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
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6
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Tangeman JA, Rebull SM, Grajales-Esquivel E, Weaver JM, Bendezu-Sayas S, Robinson ML, Lachke SA, Rio-Tsonis KD. Integrated single-cell multiomics uncovers foundational regulatory mechanisms of lens development and pathology. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.10.548451. [PMID: 37502967 PMCID: PMC10369908 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.10.548451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Ocular lens development entails epithelial to fiber cell differentiation, defects in which cause congenital cataract. We report the first single-cell multiomic atlas of lens development, leveraging snRNA-seq, snATAC-seq, and CUT&RUN-seq to discover novel mechanisms of cell fate determination and cataract-linked regulatory networks. A comprehensive profile of cis- and trans-regulatory interactions, including for the cataract-linked transcription factor MAF, is established across a temporal trajectory of fiber cell differentiation. Further, we divulge a conserved epigenetic paradigm of cellular differentiation, defined by progressive loss of H3K27 methylation writer Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). PRC2 localizes to heterochromatin domains across master-regulator transcription factor gene bodies, suggesting it safeguards epithelial cell fate. Moreover, we demonstrate that FGF hyper-stimulation in vivo leads to MAF network activation and the emergence of novel lens cell states. Collectively, these data depict a comprehensive portrait of lens fiber cell differentiation, while defining regulatory effectors of cell identity and cataract formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared A Tangeman
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
| | - Sofia M Rebull
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
| | - Erika Grajales-Esquivel
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
| | - Jacob M Weaver
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
| | - Stacy Bendezu-Sayas
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
| | - Michael L Robinson
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
| | - Salil A Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 USA
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713 USA
| | - Katia Del Rio-Tsonis
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
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Aryal S, Anand D, Huang H, Reddy AP, Wilmarth PA, David LL, Lachke SA. Proteomic profiling of retina and retinal pigment epithelium combined embryonic tissue to facilitate ocular disease gene discovery. Hum Genet 2023; 142:927-947. [PMID: 37191732 PMCID: PMC10680127 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-023-02570-0] [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: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
To expedite gene discovery in eye development and its associated defects, we previously developed a bioinformatics resource-tool iSyTE (integrated Systems Tool for Eye gene discovery). However, iSyTE is presently limited to lens tissue and is predominantly based on transcriptomics datasets. Therefore, to extend iSyTE to other eye tissues on the proteome level, we performed high-throughput tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) on mouse embryonic day (E)14.5 retina and retinal pigment epithelium combined tissue and identified an average of 3300 proteins per sample (n = 5). High-throughput expression profiling-based gene discovery approaches-involving either transcriptomics or proteomics-pose a key challenge of prioritizing candidates from thousands of RNA/proteins expressed. To address this, we used MS/MS proteome data from mouse whole embryonic body (WB) as a reference dataset and performed comparative analysis-termed "in silico WB-subtraction"-with the retina proteome dataset. In silico WB-subtraction identified 90 high-priority proteins with retina-enriched expression at stringency criteria of ≥ 2.5 average spectral counts, ≥ 2.0 fold-enrichment, false discovery rate < 0.01. These top candidates represent a pool of retina-enriched proteins, several of which are associated with retinal biology and/or defects (e.g., Aldh1a1, Ank2, Ank3, Dcn, Dync2h1, Egfr, Ephb2, Fbln5, Fbn2, Hras, Igf2bp1, Msi1, Rbp1, Rlbp1, Tenm3, Yap1, etc.), indicating the effectiveness of this approach. Importantly, in silico WB-subtraction also identified several new high-priority candidates with potential regulatory function in retina development. Finally, proteins exhibiting expression or enriched-expression in the retina are made accessible in a user-friendly manner at iSyTE ( https://research.bioinformatics.udel.edu/iSyTE/ ), to allow effective visualization of this information and facilitate eye gene discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Aryal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Deepti Anand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Hongzhan Huang
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19713, USA
| | - Ashok P Reddy
- Proteomics Shared Resource, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Phillip A Wilmarth
- Proteomics Shared Resource, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Larry L David
- Proteomics Shared Resource, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Salil A Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19713, USA.
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8
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Huang X, Rui X, Zhang S, Qi X, Rong W, Sheng X. De novo variation in EP300 gene cause Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome 2 in a Chinese family with severe early-onset high myopia. BMC Med Genomics 2023; 16:84. [PMID: 37085840 PMCID: PMC10120144 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-023-01516-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RSTS) is characterized by distinctive facial features, broad and often angulated thumbs and halluces, short stature, and moderate-to-severe intellectual disability, classified into two types RSTS1 (CREBBP-RSTS) and RSTS2 (EP300-RSTS). More often, the clinical features are inconclusive and the diagnosis of RSTS is established in a proband with identification of a heterozygous pathogenic variant in CREBBP or EP300 to confirm the diagnosis. METHODS In this study, to describe an association between the clinical phenotype and the genotype of a RSTS2 patient who was initially diagnosed with severe early-onset high myopia (eoHM) from a healthy Chinese family, we tested the proband of this family by whole exome sequencing (WES) and further verified among other family members by Sanger sequencing. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect differences in the relative mRNA expression of candidate genes available in the proband and family members. Comprehensive ophthalmic tests as well as other systemic examinations were also performed on participants with various genotypes. RESULTS Whole-exome sequencing revealed that the proband carried the heterozygous frameshift deletion variant c.3714_3715del (p.Leu1239Glyfs*3) in the EP300 gene, which was not carried by the normal parents and young sister as verified by Sanger sequencing, indicating that the variant was de novo. Real-time quantitative PCR showed that the mRNA expression of EP300 gene was lower in the proband than in other normal family members, indicating that such a variant caused an effect on gene function at the mRNA expression level. The variant was classified as pathogenic as assessed by the interpretation principles of HGMD sequence variants and ACMG guidelines. According to ACMG guidelines, the heterozygous frameshift deletion variant c.3714_3715del (p.Leu1239Glyfs*3) in the EP300 gene was more likely the pathogenic variant of this family with RSTS2. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, in this paper, we first report de novo heterozygous variation in EP300 causing eoHM-RSTS. Our study extends the genotypic spectrums for EP300-RSTS and better assists physicians in predicting, diagnosis, genetic counseling, eugenics guidance and gene therapy for EP300-RSTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Huang
- Clinical Medical College, Ningxia Medical University, No.692 Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan, China
| | - Xue Rui
- Eye Hospital, School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
- Gansu Aier Ophthalmology and Optometry Hospital, 1228-437, Guazhou Road, Qilihe District, Lanzhou City, Gansu, 730050, China
| | - Shuang Zhang
- Ningxia Eye Hospital, People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Third Clinical Medical College of Ningxia Medical University, 936 Huanghe East Road, Jinfeng District, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Xiaolong Qi
- Ningxia Eye Hospital, People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Third Clinical Medical College of Ningxia Medical University, 936 Huanghe East Road, Jinfeng District, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Weining Rong
- Ningxia Eye Hospital, People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Third Clinical Medical College of Ningxia Medical University, 936 Huanghe East Road, Jinfeng District, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ningxia Eye Hospital, People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Third Clinical Medical College of Ningxia Medical University, 936 Huanghe East Road, Jinfeng District, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
| | - Xunlun Sheng
- Gansu Aier Ophthalmology and Optometry Hospital, 1228-437, Guazhou Road, Qilihe District, Lanzhou City, Gansu, 730050, China.
- Gansu Aier Ophthalmology and Optometry Hospital, 1228 Guazhou Road, Qilihe Qu, Lanzhou, 730050, China.
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9
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Aryal S, Anand D, Huang H, Reddy AP, Wilmarth PA, David LL, Lachke SA. Proteomic profiling of retina and retinal pigment epithelium combined embryonic tissue to facilitate ocular disease gene discovery. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2652395. [PMID: 36993571 PMCID: PMC10055508 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2652395/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
To expedite gene discovery in eye development and its associated defects, we previously developed a bioinformatics resource-tool iSyTE (integrated Systems Tool for Eye gene discovery). However, iSyTE is presently limited to lens tissue and is predominantly based on transcriptomics datasets. Therefore, to extend iSyTE to other eye tissues on the proteome level, we performed high-throughput tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) on mouse embryonic day (E)14.5 retina and retinal pigment epithelium combined tissue and identified an average of 3,300 proteins per sample (n=5). High-throughput expression profiling-based gene discovery approaches-involving either transcriptomics or proteomics-pose a key challenge of prioritizing candidates from thousands of RNA/proteins expressed. To address this, we used MS/MS proteome data from mouse whole embryonic body (WB) as a reference dataset and performed comparative analysis-termed "in silico WB-subtraction"-with the retina proteome dataset. In silico WB-subtraction identified 90 high-priority proteins with retina-enriched expression at stringency criteria of ³2.5 average spectral counts, ³2.0 fold-enrichment, False Discovery Rate <0.01. These top candidates represent a pool of retina-enriched proteins, several of which are associated with retinal biology and/or defects (e.g., Aldh1a1, Ank2, Ank3, Dcn, Dync2h1, Egfr, Ephb2, Fbln5, Fbn2, Hras, Igf2bp1, Msi1, Rbp1, Rlbp1, Tenm3, Yap1, etc.), indicating the effectiveness of this approach. Importantly, in silico WB-subtraction also identified several new high-priority candidates with potential regulatory function in retina development. Finally, proteins exhibiting expression or enriched-expression in the retina are made accessible in a user-friendly manner at iSyTE (https://research.bioinformatics.udel.edu/iSyTE/), to allow effective visualization of this information and facilitate eye gene discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Aryal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 USA
| | - Deepti Anand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 USA
| | - Hongzhan Huang
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713 USA
| | - Ashok P. Reddy
- Proteomics Shared Resource, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Phillip A. Wilmarth
- Proteomics Shared Resource, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Larry L. David
- Proteomics Shared Resource, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Department of Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Salil A. Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 USA
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713 USA
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10
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Chang W, Zhao Y, Rayêe D, Xie Q, Suzuki M, Zheng D, Cvekl A. Dynamic changes in whole genome DNA methylation, chromatin and gene expression during mouse lens differentiation. Epigenetics Chromatin 2023; 16:4. [PMID: 36698218 PMCID: PMC9875507 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-023-00478-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cellular differentiation is marked by temporally and spatially coordinated gene expression regulated at multiple levels. DNA methylation represents a universal mechanism to control chromatin organization and its accessibility. Cytosine methylation of CpG dinucleotides regulates binding of methylation-sensitive DNA-binding transcription factors within regulatory regions of transcription, including promoters and distal enhancers. Ocular lens differentiation represents an advantageous model system to examine these processes as lens comprises only two cell types, the proliferating lens epithelium and postmitotic lens fiber cells all originating from the epithelium. RESULTS Using whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and microdissected lenses, we investigated dynamics of DNA methylation and chromatin changes during mouse lens fiber and epithelium differentiation between embryos (E14.5) and newborns (P0.5). Histone H3.3 variant chromatin landscapes were also generated for both P0.5 lens epithelium and fibers by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by next generation sequencing (ChIP-seq). Tissue-specific features of DNA methylation patterns are demonstrated via comparative studies with embryonic stem (ES) cells and neural progenitor cells (NPCs) at Nanog, Pou5f1, Sox2, Pax6 and Six3 loci. Comparisons with ATAC-seq and RNA-seq data demonstrate that reduced methylation is associated with increased expression of fiber cell abundant genes, including crystallins, intermediate filament (Bfsp1 and Bfsp2) and gap junction proteins (Gja3 and Gja8), marked by high levels of histone H3.3 within their transcribed regions. Interestingly, Pax6-binding sites exhibited predominantly DNA hypomethylation in lens chromatin. In vitro binding of Pax6 proteins showed Pax6's ability to interact with sites containing one or two methylated CpG dinucleotides. CONCLUSIONS Our study has generated the first data on methylation changes between two different stages of mammalian lens development and linked these data with chromatin accessibility maps, presence of histone H3.3 and gene expression. Reduced DNA methylation correlates with expression of important genes involved in lens morphogenesis and lens fiber cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Chang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Yilin Zhao
- Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Danielle Rayêe
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Qing Xie
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
- Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
| | - Masako Suzuki
- Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
- Neurology and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Ales Cvekl
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
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11
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Cvekl A, Camerino MJ. Generation of Lens Progenitor Cells and Lentoid Bodies from Pluripotent Stem Cells: Novel Tools for Human Lens Development and Ocular Disease Etiology. Cells 2022; 11:cells11213516. [PMID: 36359912 PMCID: PMC9658148 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into specialized tissues and organs represents a powerful approach to gain insight into those cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating human development. Although normal embryonic eye development is a complex process, generation of ocular organoids and specific ocular tissues from pluripotent stem cells has provided invaluable insights into the formation of lineage-committed progenitor cell populations, signal transduction pathways, and self-organization principles. This review provides a comprehensive summary of recent advances in generation of adenohypophyseal, olfactory, and lens placodes, lens progenitor cells and three-dimensional (3D) primitive lenses, "lentoid bodies", and "micro-lenses". These cells are produced alone or "community-grown" with other ocular tissues. Lentoid bodies/micro-lenses generated from human patients carrying mutations in crystallin genes demonstrate proof-of-principle that these cells are suitable for mechanistic studies of cataractogenesis. Taken together, current and emerging advanced in vitro differentiation methods pave the road to understand molecular mechanisms of cataract formation caused by the entire spectrum of mutations in DNA-binding regulatory genes, such as PAX6, SOX2, FOXE3, MAF, PITX3, and HSF4, individual crystallins, and other genes such as BFSP1, BFSP2, EPHA2, GJA3, GJA8, LIM2, MIP, and TDRD7 represented in human cataract patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleš Cvekl
- Departments Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-718-430-3217; Fax: +1-718-430-8778
| | - Michael John Camerino
- Departments Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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12
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Patel SD, Anand D, Motohashi H, Katsuoka F, Yamamoto M, Lachke SA. Deficiency of the bZIP transcription factors Mafg and Mafk causes misexpression of genes in distinct pathways and results in lens embryonic developmental defects. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:981893. [PMID: 36092713 PMCID: PMC9459095 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.981893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Deficiency of the small Maf proteins Mafg and Mafk cause multiple defects, namely, progressive neuronal degeneration, cataract, thrombocytopenia and mid-gestational/perinatal lethality. Previous data shows Mafg -/-:Mafk +/- compound knockout (KO) mice exhibit cataracts age 4-months onward. Strikingly, Mafg -/-:Mafk -/- double KO mice develop lens defects significantly early in life, during embryogenesis, but the pathobiology of these defects is unknown, and is addressed here. At embryonic day (E)16.5, the epithelium of lens in Mafg -/-:Mafk -/- animals appears abnormally multilayered as demonstrated by E-cadherin and nuclear staining. Additionally, Mafg -/-:Mafk -/- lenses exhibit abnormal distribution of F-actin near the "fulcrum" region where epithelial cells undergo apical constriction prior to elongation and reorientation as early differentiating fiber cells. To identify the underlying molecular changes, we performed high-throughput RNA-sequencing of E16.5 Mafg -/-:Mafk -/- lenses and identified a cohort of differentially expressed genes that were further prioritized using stringent filtering criteria and validated by RT-qPCR. Several key factors associated with the cytoskeleton, cell cycle or extracellular matrix (e.g., Cdk1, Cdkn1c, Camsap1, Col3a1, Map3k12, Sipa1l1) were mis-expressed in Mafg -/-:Mafk -/- lenses. Further, the congenital cataract-linked extracellular matrix peroxidase Pxdn was significantly overexpressed in Mafg -/-:Mafk -/- lenses, which may cause abnormal cell morphology. These data also identified the ephrin signaling receptor Epha5 to be reduced in Mafg -/-:Mafk -/- lenses. This likely contributes to the Mafg -/-:Mafk -/- multilayered lens epithelium pathology, as loss of an ephrin ligand, Efna5 (ephrin-A5), causes similar lens defects. Together, these findings uncover a novel early function of Mafg and Mafk in lens development and identify their new downstream regulatory relationships with key cellular factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaili D. Patel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Deepti Anand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Hozumi Motohashi
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Fumiki Katsuoka
- Department of Integrative Genomics, Tohoku University Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masayuki Yamamoto
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Salil A. Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States,Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States,*Correspondence: Salil A. Lachke,
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13
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Kanada R, Kagoshima Y, Asano M, Suzuki T, Murata T, Haruta M, Takahashi M, Ubukata O, Hashimoto K, Obata K, Kihara K, Kuroha M, Banjo T, Togashi N, Sato K, Yamamoto Y, Suzuki K, Isoyama T, Tominaga Y, Higuchi S, Naito H. Discovery of EP300/CBP histone acetyltransferase inhibitors through scaffold hopping of 1,4-oxazepane ring. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2022; 66:128726. [PMID: 35413416 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.128726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
EP300 and its paralog CBP play an important role in post-translational modification as histone acetyltransferases (HATs). EP300/CBP inhibition has been gaining attention as an anticancer treatment target in recent years. Herein, we describe the identification of a novel, highly selective EP300/CBP inhibitor, compound 11 (DS17701585), by scaffold hopping and structure-based optimization of a high-throughput screening hit 1. Compound 11 (DS17701585) shows dose-dependent inhibition of SRY-box transcription factor 2 (SOX2) mRNA expression in a human lung squamous cell carcinoma cell line LK2-xenografted mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryutaro Kanada
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan.
| | - Yoshiko Kagoshima
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Asano
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Takashi Suzuki
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Takeshi Murata
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Makoto Haruta
- Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd., 1-16-13 Kitakasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-8630, Japan
| | - Mizuki Takahashi
- Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd., 1-16-13 Kitakasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-8630, Japan
| | - Osamu Ubukata
- Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd., 1-16-13 Kitakasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-8630, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Hashimoto
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Kenichi Obata
- Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd., 1-16-13 Kitakasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-8630, Japan
| | - Kawori Kihara
- Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd., 1-16-13 Kitakasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-8630, Japan
| | - Mutsumi Kuroha
- Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd., 1-16-13 Kitakasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-8630, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Banjo
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Noriko Togashi
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Kazumi Sato
- Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd., 1-16-13 Kitakasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-8630, Japan
| | - Yuka Yamamoto
- Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd., 1-16-13 Kitakasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-8630, Japan
| | - Kanae Suzuki
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Takeshi Isoyama
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Yuichi Tominaga
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Saito Higuchi
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Naito
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
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14
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Lachke SA. RNA-binding proteins and post-transcriptional regulation in lens biology and cataract: Mediating spatiotemporal expression of key factors that control the cell cycle, transcription, cytoskeleton and transparency. Exp Eye Res 2022; 214:108889. [PMID: 34906599 PMCID: PMC8792301 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Development of the ocular lens - a transparent tissue capable of sustaining frequent shape changes for optimal focusing power - pushes the boundaries of what cells can achieve using the molecular toolkit encoded by their genomes. The mammalian lens contains broadly two types of cells, the anteriorly located monolayer of epithelial cells which, at the equatorial region of the lens, initiate differentiation into fiber cells that contribute to the bulk of the tissue. This differentiation program involves massive upregulation of select fiber cell-expressed RNAs and their subsequent translation into high amounts of proteins, such as crystallins. But intriguingly, fiber cells achieve this while also simultaneously undergoing significant morphological changes such as elongation - involving about 1000-fold length-wise increase - and migration, which requires modulation of cytoskeletal and cell adhesion factors. Adding further to the challenges, these molecular and cellular events have to be coordinated as fiber cells progress toward loss of their nuclei and organelles, which irreversibly compromises their potential for harnessing genetically hardwired information. A long-standing question is how processes downstream of signaling and transcription, which may also participate in feedback regulation, contribute toward orchestrating these cellular differentiation events in the lens. It is now becoming clear from findings over the past decade that post-transcriptional gene expression regulatory mechanisms are critical in controlling cellular proteomes and coordinating key processes in lens development and fiber cell differentiation. Indeed, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) such as Caprin2, Celf1, Rbm24 and Tdrd7 have now been described in mediating post-transcriptional control over key factors (e.g. Actn2, Cdkn1a (p21Cip1), Cdkn1b (p27Kip1), various crystallins, Dnase2b, Hspb1, Pax6, Prox1, Sox2) that are variously involved in cell cycle, transcription, cytoskeleton maintenance and differentiation in the lens. Furthermore, deficiencies of these RBPs have been shown to result in various eye and lens defects and/or cataract. Because fiber cell differentiation in the lens occurs throughout life, the underlying regulatory mechanisms operational in development are expected to also be recruited for the maintenance of transparency in aged lenses. Indeed, in support of this, TDRD7 and CAPRIN2 loci have been linked to age-related cataract in humans. Here, I will review the role of key RBPs in the lens and their importance in understanding the pathology of lens defects. I will discuss advances in RBP-based gene expression control, in general, and the important challenges that need to be addressed in the lens to define the mechanisms that determine the epithelial and fiber cell proteome. Finally, I will also discuss in detail several key future directions including the application of bioinformatics approaches such as iSyTE to study RBP-based post-transcriptional gene expression control in the aging lens and in the context of age-related cataract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salil A Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, 105 The Green, Delaware Avenue, 236 Wolf Hall, Newark, DE, USA; Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.
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15
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Raeisossadati R, Ferrari MFR, Kihara AH, AlDiri I, Gross JM. Epigenetic regulation of retinal development. Epigenetics Chromatin 2021; 14:11. [PMID: 33563331 PMCID: PMC7871400 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-021-00384-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In the developing vertebrate retina, retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) proliferate and give rise to terminally differentiated neurons with exquisite spatio-temporal precision. Lineage commitment, fate determination and terminal differentiation are controlled by intricate crosstalk between the genome and epigenome. Indeed, epigenetic regulation plays pivotal roles in numerous cell fate specification and differentiation events in the retina. Moreover, aberrant chromatin structure can contribute to developmental disorders and retinal pathologies. In this review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of epigenetic regulation in the retina. We also provide insight into several aspects of epigenetic-related regulation that should be investigated in future studies of retinal development and disease. Importantly, focusing on these mechanisms could contribute to the development of novel treatment strategies targeting a variety of retinal disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Raeisossadati
- Departamento de Genética E Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociencias, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Do Matao, 277, Cidade Universitaria, Sao Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil.,Departments of Ophthalmology and Developmental Biology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Merari F R Ferrari
- Departamento de Genética E Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociencias, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Do Matao, 277, Cidade Universitaria, Sao Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil
| | | | - Issam AlDiri
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Developmental Biology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Gross
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Developmental Biology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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16
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Maddala R, Gao J, Mathias RT, Lewis TR, Arshavsky VY, Levine A, Backer JM, Bresnick AR, Rao PV. Absence of S100A4 in the mouse lens induces an aberrant retina-specific differentiation program and cataract. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2203. [PMID: 33500475 PMCID: PMC7838418 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81611-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
S100A4, a member of the S100 family of multifunctional calcium-binding proteins, participates in several physiological and pathological processes. In this study, we demonstrate that S100A4 expression is robustly induced in differentiating fiber cells of the ocular lens and that S100A4 (-/-) knockout mice develop late-onset cortical cataracts. Transcriptome profiling of lenses from S100A4 (-/-) mice revealed a robust increase in the expression of multiple photoreceptor- and Müller glia-specific genes, as well as the olfactory sensory neuron-specific gene, S100A5. This aberrant transcriptional profile is characterized by corresponding increases in the levels of proteins encoded by the aberrantly upregulated genes. Ingenuity pathway network and curated pathway analyses of differentially expressed genes in S100A4 (-/-) lenses identified Crx and Nrl transcription factors as the most significant upstream regulators, and revealed that many of the upregulated genes possess promoters containing a high-density of CpG islands bearing trimethylation marks at histone H3K27 and/or H3K4, respectively. In support of this finding, we further documented that S100A4 (-/-) knockout lenses have altered levels of trimethylated H3K27 and H3K4. Taken together, our findings suggest that S100A4 suppresses the expression of retinal genes during lens differentiation plausibly via a mechanism involving changes in histone methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupalatha Maddala
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Junyuan Gao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University, Stony-Brook, NY, USA
| | - Richard T Mathias
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University, Stony-Brook, NY, USA
| | - Tylor R Lewis
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Vadim Y Arshavsky
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Adriana Levine
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan M Backer
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Anne R Bresnick
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Ponugoti V Rao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
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17
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Chen E, Bohm K, Rosenblatt M, Kang K. Epigenetic regulation of anterior segment diseases and potential therapeutics. Ocul Surf 2020; 18:383-395. [PMID: 32344150 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2020.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, technological advances in sequencing have accelerated our understanding of epigenetics in ocular development and ophthalmic diseases. We now know that epigenetic modifications are necessary for normal ocular development and biological processes such as corneal wound healing and ocular surface repair, while aberrant epigenetic regulation underlies the pathogenesis of a wide range of ocular diseases, including cataracts and various diseases of the ocular surface. As the epigenetics of the eye is a constantly changing field of medicine, this comprehensive review focuses on innovations and scientific discoveries related to epigenetic control of anterior segment diseases that were published in the English literature in the past five years. These recent studies attempt to elucidate therapeutic targets for the anterior segment pathological processes. Already, recent studies have shown therapeutic potential in targeting epigenetic mechanisms of ocular diseases, and new epigenetic therapies are on the verge of being introduced to clinical practice. New drug targets can potentially emerge as we make further discoveries within this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Chen
- Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Kelley Bohm
- Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Mark Rosenblatt
- Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Kai Kang
- Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
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Martynova E, Zhao Y, Xie Q, Zheng D, Cvekl A. Transcriptomic analysis and novel insights into lens fibre cell differentiation regulated by Gata3. Open Biol 2019; 9:190220. [PMID: 31847788 PMCID: PMC6936257 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.190220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gata3 is a DNA-binding transcription factor involved in cellular differentiation in a variety of tissues including inner ear, hair follicle, kidney, mammary gland and T-cells. In a previous study in 2009, Maeda et al. (Dev. Dyn.238, 2280–2291; doi:10.1002/dvdy.22035) found that Gata3 mutants could be rescued from midgestational lethality by the expression of a Gata3 transgene in sympathoadrenal neuroendocrine cells. The rescued embryos clearly showed multiple defects in lens fibre cell differentiation. To determine whether these defects were truly due to the loss of Gata3 expression in the lens, we generated a lens-specific Gata3 loss-of-function model. Analogous to the previous findings, our Gata3 null embryos showed abnormal regulation of cell cycle exit during lens fibre cell differentiation, marked by reduction in the expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors Cdkn1b/p27 and Cdkn1c/p57, and the retention of nuclei accompanied by downregulation of Dnase IIβ. Comparisons of transcriptomes between control and mutated lenses by RNA-Seq revealed dysregulation of lens-specific crystallin genes and intermediate filament protein Bfsp2. Both Cdkn1b/p27 and Cdkn1c/p57 loci are occupied in vivo by Gata3, as well as Prox1 and c-Jun, in lens chromatin. Collectively, our studies suggest that Gata3 regulates lens differentiation through the direct regulation of the Cdkn1b/p27and Cdkn1c/p57 expression, and the direct/or indirect transcriptional control of Bfsp2 and Dnase IIβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Martynova
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Yilin Zhao
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Qing Xie
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Departments of Genetics, Neurology, and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Ales Cvekl
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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19
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Aryal S, Anand D, Hernandez FG, Weatherbee BAT, Huang H, Reddy AP, Wilmarth PA, David LL, Lachke SA. MS/MS in silico subtraction-based proteomic profiling as an approach to facilitate disease gene discovery: application to lens development and cataract. Hum Genet 2019; 139:151-184. [PMID: 31797049 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-019-02095-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
While the bioinformatics resource-tool iSyTE (integrated Systems Tool for Eye gene discovery) effectively identifies human cataract-associated genes, it is currently based on just transcriptome data, and thus, it is necessary to include protein-level information to gain greater confidence in gene prioritization. Here, we expand iSyTE through development of a novel proteome-based resource on the lens and demonstrate its utility in cataract gene discovery. We applied high-throughput tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to generate a global protein expression profile of mouse lens at embryonic day (E)14.5, which identified 2371 lens-expressed proteins. A major challenge of high-throughput expression profiling is identification of high-priority candidates among the thousands of expressed proteins. To address this problem, we generated new MS/MS proteome data on mouse whole embryonic body (WB). WB proteome was then used as a reference dataset for performing "in silico WB-subtraction" comparative analysis with the lens proteome, which effectively identified 422 proteins with lens-enriched expression at ≥ 2.5 average spectral counts, ≥ 2.0 fold enrichment (FDR < 0.01) cut-off. These top 20% candidates represent a rich pool of high-priority proteins in the lens including known human cataract-linked genes and many new potential regulators of lens development and homeostasis. This rich information is made publicly accessible through iSyTE (https://research.bioinformatics.udel.edu/iSyTE/), which enables user-friendly visualization of promising candidates, thus making iSyTE a comprehensive tool for cataract gene discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Aryal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, 105 The Green, Delaware Avenue, 236 Wolf Hall, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Deepti Anand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, 105 The Green, Delaware Avenue, 236 Wolf Hall, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Francisco G Hernandez
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, 105 The Green, Delaware Avenue, 236 Wolf Hall, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Bailey A T Weatherbee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, 105 The Green, Delaware Avenue, 236 Wolf Hall, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Hongzhan Huang
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Ashok P Reddy
- Proteomics Shared Resource, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Phillip A Wilmarth
- Proteomics Shared Resource, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Larry L David
- Proteomics Shared Resource, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Salil A Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, 105 The Green, Delaware Avenue, 236 Wolf Hall, Newark, DE, USA.
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.
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20
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Severe head dysgenesis resulting from imbalance between anterior and posterior ontogenetic programs. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:812. [PMID: 31649239 PMCID: PMC6813351 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-2040-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2019] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Head dysgenesis is a major cause of fetal demise and craniofacial malformation. Although mutations in genes of the head ontogenetic program have been reported, many cases remain unexplained. Head dysgenesis has also been related to trisomy or amplification of the chromosomal region overlapping the CDX2 homeobox gene, a master element of the trunk ontogenetic program. Hence, we investigated the repercussion on head morphogenesis of the imbalance between the head and trunk ontogenetic programs, by means of ectopic rostral expression of CDX2 at gastrulation. This caused severe malformations affecting the forebrain and optic structures, and also the frontonasal process associated with defects in neural crest cells colonization. These malformations are the result of the downregulation of genes of the head program together with the abnormal induction of trunk program genes. Together, these data indicate that the imbalance between the anterior and posterior ontogenetic programs in embryos is a new possible cause of head dysgenesis during human development, linked to defects in setting up anterior neuroectodermal structures.
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21
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Kakrana A, Yang A, Anand D, Djordjevic D, Ramachandruni D, Singh A, Huang H, Ho JWK, Lachke SA. iSyTE 2.0: a database for expression-based gene discovery in the eye. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:D875-D885. [PMID: 29036527 PMCID: PMC5753381 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Although successful in identifying new cataract-linked genes, the previous version of the database iSyTE (integrated Systems Tool for Eye gene discovery) was based on expression information on just three mouse lens stages and was functionally limited to visualization by only UCSC-Genome Browser tracks. To increase its efficacy, here we provide an enhanced iSyTE version 2.0 (URL: http://research.bioinformatics.udel.edu/iSyTE) based on well-curated, comprehensive genome-level lens expression data as a one-stop portal for the effective visualization and analysis of candidate genes in lens development and disease. iSyTE 2.0 includes all publicly available lens Affymetrix and Illumina microarray datasets representing a broad range of embryonic and postnatal stages from wild-type and specific gene-perturbation mouse mutants with eye defects. Further, we developed a new user-friendly web interface for direct access and cogent visualization of the curated expression data, which supports convenient searches and a range of downstream analyses. The utility of these new iSyTE 2.0 features is illustrated through examples of established genes associated with lens development and pathobiology, which serve as tutorials for its application by the end-user. iSyTE 2.0 will facilitate the prioritization of eye development and disease-linked candidate genes in studies involving transcriptomics or next-generation sequencing data, linkage analysis and GWAS approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atul Kakrana
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19711, USA
| | - Andrian Yang
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia.,St. Vincent's Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Deepti Anand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Djordje Djordjevic
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia.,St. Vincent's Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Deepti Ramachandruni
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Abhyudai Singh
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19711, USA.,Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Hongzhan Huang
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19711, USA
| | - Joshua W K Ho
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia.,St. Vincent's Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Salil A Lachke
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19711, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
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22
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Zhao Y, Zheng D, Cvekl A. Profiling of chromatin accessibility and identification of general cis-regulatory mechanisms that control two ocular lens differentiation pathways. Epigenetics Chromatin 2019; 12:27. [PMID: 31053165 PMCID: PMC6498704 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-019-0272-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Promoters and enhancers are cis-regulatory DNA sequences that control specificity and quantity of transcription. Both are rich on clusters of cis-acting sites that interact with sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factors (TFs). At the level of chromatin, these regions display increased nuclease sensitivity, reduced nucleosome density, including nucleosome-free regions, and specific combinations of posttranslational modifications of core histone proteins. Together, "open" and "closed" chromatins represent transcriptionally active and repressed states of individual genes, respectively. Cellular differentiation is marked by changes in local chromatin structure. Lens morphogenesis, regulated by TF Pax6, includes differentiation of epithelial precursor cells into lens fibers in parallel with differentiation of epithelial precursors into the mature lens epithelium. RESULTS Using ATAC-seq, we investigated dynamics of chromatin changes during mouse lens fibers and epithelium differentiation. Tissue-specific features of these processes are demonstrated via comparative studies of embryonic stem cells, forebrain, and liver chromatins. Unbiased analysis reveals cis-regulatory logic of lens differentiation through known (e.g., AP-1, Ets, Hsf4, Maf, and Pax6 sites) and novel (e.g., CTCF, Tead, and NF1) motifs. Twenty-six DNA-binding TFs, recognizing these cis-motifs, are markedly up-regulated in differentiating lens fibers. As specific examples, our ATAC-seq data uncovered both the regulatory regions and TF binding motifs in Foxe3, Prox1, and Mip loci that are consistent with previous, though incomplete, experimental data. A cross-examination of Pax6 binding with ATAC-seq data demonstrated that Pax6 bound to both open (H3K27ac and P300-enriched) and closed chromatin domains in lens and forebrain. CONCLUSIONS Our study has generated the first lens chromatin accessibility maps that support a general model of stage-specific chromatin changes associated with transcriptional activities of batteries of genes required for lens fiber cell formation. Analysis of active (or open) promoters and enhancers reveals important cis-DNA motifs that establish the molecular foundation for temporally and spatially regulated gene expression in lens. Together, our data and models open new avenues for the field to conduct mechanistic studies of transcriptional control regions, reconstruction of gene regulatory networks that govern lens morphogenesis, and identification of cataract-causing mutations in noncoding sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Zhao
- The Departments of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA
| | - Deyou Zheng
- The Departments of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA
- Neurology and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA
| | - Ales Cvekl
- The Departments of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA
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23
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Vetrivel S, Tiso N, Kügler A, Irmler M, Horsch M, Beckers J, Hladik D, Giesert F, Gailus-Durner V, Fuchs H, Sabrautzki S, Hrabě de Angelis M, Graw J. Mutation in the mouse histone gene Hist2h3c1 leads to degeneration of the lens vesicle and severe microphthalmia. Exp Eye Res 2019; 188:107632. [PMID: 30991053 PMCID: PMC6876282 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2019.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
During an ENU (N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea) mutagenesis screen, we observed a dominant small-eye mutant mouse with viable homozygotes. A corresponding mutant line was established and referred to as Aey69 (abnormality of the eye #69). Comprehensive phenotyping of the homozygous Aey69 mutants in the German Mouse Clinic revealed only a subset of statistically significant alterations between wild types and homozygous mutants. The mutation causes microphthalmia without a lens but with retinal hyperproliferation. Linkage was demonstrated to mouse chromosome 3 between the markers D3Mit188 and D3Mit11. Sequencing revealed a 358 A-> C mutation (Ile120Leu) in the Hist2h3c1 gene and a 71 T-> C (Val24Ala) mutation in the Gja8 gene. Detailed analysis of eye development in the homozygous mutant mice documented a perturbed lens development starting from the lens vesicle stage including decreasing expression of crystallins as well as of lens-specific transcription factors like PITX3 and FOXE3. In contrast, we observed an early expression of retinal progenitor cells characterized by several markers including BRN3 (retinal ganglion cells) and OTX2 (cone photoreceptors). The changes in the retina at the early embryonic stages of E11.5-E15.5 happen in parallel with apoptotic processes in the lens at the respective stages. The excessive retinal hyperproliferation is characterized by an increased level of Ki67. The hyperproliferation, however, does not disrupt the differentiation and appearance of the principal retinal cell types at postnatal stages, even if the overgrowing retina covers finally the entire bulbus of the eye. Morpholino-mediated knock-down of the hist2h3ca1 gene in zebrafish leads to a specific perturbation of lens development. When injected into zebrafish zygotes, only the mutant mouse mRNA leads to severe malformations, ranging from cyclopia to severe microphthalmia. The wild-type Hist2h3c1 mRNA can rescue the morpholino-induced defects corroborating its specific function in lens development. Based upon these data, it is concluded that the ocular function of the Hist2h3c1 gene (encoding a canonical H3.2 variant) is conserved throughout evolution. Moreover, the data highlight also the importance of Hist2h3c1 in the coordinated formation of lens and retina during eye development. A dominant small-eye mutant mouse is caused by a mutation in the histone gene Hist2H3c1. Morpholino-mediated knock-down of hist2h3ca1 in the zebrafish validated this finding. The mutation leads to degeneration of the lens vesicle and retina hyperproliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharmilee Vetrivel
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Developmental Genetics, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Natascia Tiso
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, I-35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Andrea Kügler
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Developmental Genetics, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Martin Irmler
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Experimental Genetics, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Marion Horsch
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Experimental Genetics, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Johannes Beckers
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Experimental Genetics, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Chair of Experimental Genetics, School of Life Science Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, D-85354 Freising, Germany; German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Daniela Hladik
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Developmental Genetics, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Florian Giesert
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Developmental Genetics, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Valerie Gailus-Durner
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Experimental Genetics, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Helmut Fuchs
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Experimental Genetics, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Sibylle Sabrautzki
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Experimental Genetics, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Research Unit Comparative Medicine, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Martin Hrabě de Angelis
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Experimental Genetics, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Chair of Experimental Genetics, School of Life Science Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, D-85354 Freising, Germany; German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jochen Graw
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Developmental Genetics, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
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24
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Zhao Y, Wilmarth PA, Cheng C, Limi S, Fowler VM, Zheng D, David LL, Cvekl A. Proteome-transcriptome analysis and proteome remodeling in mouse lens epithelium and fibers. Exp Eye Res 2019; 179:32-46. [PMID: 30359574 PMCID: PMC6360118 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2018.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial cells and differentiated fiber cells represent distinct compartments in the ocular lens. While previous studies have revealed proteins that are preferentially expressed in epithelial vs. fiber cells, a comprehensive proteomics library comparing the molecular compositions of epithelial vs. fiber cells is essential for understanding lens formation, function, disease and regenerative potential, and for efficient differentiation of pluripotent stem cells for modeling of lens development and pathology in vitro. To compare protein compositions between the lens epithelium and fibers, we employed tandem mass spectrometry (2D-LC/MS) analysis of microdissected mouse P0.5 lenses. Functional classifications of the top 525 identified proteins into gene ontology categories by molecular processes and subcellular localizations, were adapted for the lens. Expression levels of both epithelial and fiber proteomes were compared with whole lens proteome and mRNA levels using E14.5, E16.5, E18.5, and P0.5 RNA-Seq data sets. During this developmental time window, multiple complex biosynthetic and catabolic processes generate the molecular and structural foundation for lens transparency. As expected, crystallins showed a high correlation between their mRNA and protein levels. Comprehensive data analysis confirmed and/or predicted roles for transcription factors (TFs), RNA-binding proteins (e.g. Carhsp1), translational apparatus including ribosomal heterogeneity and initiation factors, microtubules, cytoskeletal [e.g. non-muscle myosin IIA heavy chain (Myh9) and βB2-spectrin (Sptbn2)] and membrane proteins in lens formation and maturation. Our data highlighted many proteins with unknown functions in the lens that were preferentially enriched in epithelium or fibers, setting the stage for future studies to further dissect the roles of these proteins in fiber cell differentiation vs. epithelial cell maintenance. In conclusion, the present proteomic datasets represent the first mouse lens epithelium and fiber cell proteomes, establish comparative analyses of protein and RNA-Seq data, and characterize the major proteome remodeling required to form the mature lens fiber cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Zhao
- Departments Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA; Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Phillip A Wilmarth
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 Southwest Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Catherine Cheng
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Saima Limi
- Departments Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA; Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Velia M Fowler
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA; Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA; Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Larry L David
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 Southwest Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Ales Cvekl
- Departments Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA; Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
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25
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Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of the early developmental origins of six ocular tissues: the cornea, lens, ciliary body, iris, neural retina, and retina pigment epithelium. Many of these tissue types are concurrently specified and undergo a complex set of morphogenetic movements that facilitate their structural interconnection. Within the context of vertebrate eye organogenesis, we also discuss the genetic hierarchies of transcription factors and signaling pathways that regulate growth, patterning, cell type specification and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel B Miesfeld
- Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Nadean L Brown
- Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, United States.
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26
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Anand D, Kakrana A, Siddam AD, Huang H, Saadi I, Lachke SA. RNA sequencing-based transcriptomic profiles of embryonic lens development for cataract gene discovery. Hum Genet 2018; 137:941-954. [PMID: 30417254 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-018-1958-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Isolated or syndromic congenital cataracts are heterogeneous developmental defects, making the identification of the associated genes challenging. In the past, mouse lens expression microarrays have been successfully applied in bioinformatics tools (e.g., iSyTE) to facilitate human cataract-associated gene discovery. To develop a new resource for geneticists, we report high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) profiles of mouse lens at key embryonic stages (E)10.5 (lens pit), E12.5 (primary fiber cell differentiation), E14.5 and E16.5 (secondary fiber cell differentiation). These stages capture important events as the lens develops from an invaginating placode into a transparent tissue. Previously, in silico whole-embryo body (WB)-subtraction-based "lens-enriched" expression has been effective in prioritizing cataract-linked genes. To apply an analogous approach, we generated new mouse WB RNA-seq datasets and show that in silico WB subtraction of lens RNA-seq datasets successfully identifies key genes based on lens-enriched expression. At ≥2 counts-per-million expression, ≥1.5 log2 fold-enrichment (p < 0.05) cutoff, E10.5 lens exhibits 1401 enriched genes (17% lens-expressed genes), E12.5 lens exhibits 1937 enriched genes (22% lens-expressed genes), E14.5 lens exhibits 2514 enriched genes (31% lens-expressed genes), and E16.5 lens exhibits 2745 enriched genes (34% lens-expressed genes). Biological pathway analysis identified genes associated with lens development, transcription regulation and signaling pathways, among other functional groups. Furthermore, these new RNA-seq data confirmed high expression of established cataract-linked genes and identified new potential regulators in the lens. Finally, we developed new lens stage-specific UCSC Genome Brower annotation tracks and made these publicly accessible through iSyTE ( https://research.bioinformatics.udel.edu/iSyTE/ ) for user-friendly visualization of lens gene expression/enrichment to prioritize genes from high-throughput data from cataract cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepti Anand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, 105 The Green, Delaware Avenue, 236 Wolf Hall, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Atul Kakrana
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Archana D Siddam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, 105 The Green, Delaware Avenue, 236 Wolf Hall, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Hongzhan Huang
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Irfan Saadi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Salil A Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, 105 The Green, Delaware Avenue, 236 Wolf Hall, Newark, DE, 19716, USA. .,Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.
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27
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Martynova E, Bouchard M, Musil LS, Cvekl A. Identification of Novel Gata3 Distal Enhancers Active in Mouse Embryonic Lens. Dev Dyn 2018; 247:1186-1198. [PMID: 30295986 PMCID: PMC6246825 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tissue-specific transcriptional programs during normal development require tight control by distal cis-regulatory elements, such as enhancers, with specific DNA sequences recognized by transcription factors, coactivators, and chromatin remodeling enzymes. Gata3 is a sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factor that regulates formation of multiple tissues and organs, including inner ear, lens, mammary gland, T-cells, urogenital system, and thyroid gland. In the eye, Gata3 has a highly restricted expression domain in the posterior part of the lens vesicle; however, the underlying regulatory mechanisms are unknown. RESULTS Here we describe the identification of a novel bipartite Gata3 lens-specific enhancer located ∼18 kb upstream from its transcriptional start site. We also found that a 5-kb Gata3 promoter possesses low activity in the lens. The bipartite enhancer contains arrays of AP-1, Ets-, and Smad1/5-binding sites as well as binding sites for lens-associated DNA-binding factors. Transient transfection studies of the promoter with the bipartite enhancer showed enhanced activation by BMP4 and FGF2. CONCLUSIONS These studies identify a novel distal enhancer of Gata3 with high activity in lens and indicate that BMP and FGF signaling can up-regulate expression of Gata3 in differentiating lens fiber cells through the identified Gata3 enhancer and promoter elements. Developmental Dynamics 247:1186-1198, 2018. © 2018 The Authors. Developmental Dynamics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Association of Anatomists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Martynova
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Maxime Bouchard
- Goodman Cancer Research Centre and Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Linda S Musil
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Health Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Ales Cvekl
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
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28
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Hamilton PD, Andley UP. In vitro interactions of histones and α-crystallin. Biochem Biophys Rep 2018; 15:7-12. [PMID: 30023439 PMCID: PMC6047474 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of crystallins in lenses is associated with cataract formation. We previously reported that mutant crystallins are associated with an increased abundance of histones in knock-in and knockout mouse models. However, very little is known about the specific interactions between lens crystallins and histones. Here, we performed in vitro analyses to determine whether α-crystallin interacts with histones directly. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed a strong histone–α-crystallin binding with a Kd of 4 × 10−7 M, and the thermodynamic parameters suggested that the interaction was both entropy and enthalpy driven. Size-exclusion chromatography further showed that histone–α-crystallin complexes are water soluble but become water insoluble as the concentration of histones is increased. Right-angle light scattering measurements of the water-soluble fractions of histone–α-crystallin mixtures showed a decrease in the oligomeric molecular weight of α-crystallin, indicating that histones alter the oligomerization of α-crystallin. Taken together, these findings reveal for the first time that histones interact with and affect the solubility and aggregation of α-crystallin, indicating that the interaction between α-crystallin and histones in the lens is functionally important. Histones are upregulated in α-crystallin mutant mice with hereditary cataracts. Isothermal titration calorimetry reveals histones and α-crystallin interact. These interactions are enthalpy and entropy driven. Histones affect the solubility and aggregation behavior of α-crystallin in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul D Hamilton
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Usha P Andley
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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29
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Andley UP, Tycksen E, McGlasson-Naumann BN, Hamilton PD. Probing the changes in gene expression due to α-crystallin mutations in mouse models of hereditary human cataract. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190817. [PMID: 29338044 PMCID: PMC5770019 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian eye lens expresses a high concentration of crystallins (α, β and γ-crystallins) to maintain the refractive index essential for lens transparency. Crystallins are long-lived proteins that do not turnover throughout life. The structural destabilization of crystallins by UV exposure, glycation, oxidative stress and mutations in crystallin genes leads to protein aggregation and development of cataracts. Several destabilizing mutations in crystallin genes are linked with human autosomal dominant hereditary cataracts. To investigate the mechanism by which the α-crystallin mutations Cryaa-R49C and Cryab-R120G lead to cataract formation, we determined whether these mutations cause an altered expression of specific transcripts in the lens at an early postnatal age by RNA-seq analysis. Using knock-in mouse models previously generated in our laboratory, in the present work, we identified genes that exhibited altered abundance in the mutant lenses, including decreased transcripts for Clic5, an intracellular water channel in Cryaa-R49C heterozygous mutant lenses, and increased transcripts for Eno1b in Cryab-R120G heterozygous mutant lenses. In addition, RNA-seq analysis revealed increased histones H2B, H2A, and H4 gene expression in Cryaa-R49C mutant lenses, suggesting that the αA-crystallin mutation regulates histone expression via a transcriptional mechanism. Additionally, these studies confirmed the increased expression of histones H2B, H2A, and H4 by proteomic analysis of Cryaa-R49C knock-in and Cryaa;Cryab gene knockout lenses reported previously. Taken together, these findings offer additional insight into the early transcriptional changes caused by Cryaa and Cryab mutations associated with autosomal dominant human cataracts, and indicate that the transcript levels of certain genes are affected by the expression of mutant α-crystallin in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Usha P. Andley
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Eric Tycksen
- Genome Technology Access Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Brittney N. McGlasson-Naumann
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Paul D. Hamilton
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
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30
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Carré GA, Siggers P, Xipolita M, Brindle P, Lutz B, Wells S, Greenfield A. Loss of p300 and CBP disrupts histone acetylation at the mouse Sry promoter and causes XY gonadal sex reversal. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 27:190-198. [PMID: 29145650 PMCID: PMC5886154 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
CREB-binding protein (CBP, CREBBP, KAT3A) and its closely related paralogue p300 (EP300, KAT3B), together termed p300/CBP, are histone/lysine acetyl-transferases that control gene expression by modifying chromatin-associated proteins. Here, we report roles for both of these chromatin-modifying enzymes in mouse sex determination, the process by which the embryonic gonad develops into a testis or an ovary. By targeting gene ablation to embryonic gonadal somatic cells using an inducible Cre line, we show that gonads lacking either gene exhibit major abnormalities of XY gonad development at 14.5 dpc, including partial sex reversal. Embryos lacking three out of four functional copies of p300/Cbp exhibit complete XY gonadal sex reversal and have greatly reduced expression of the key testis-determining genes Sry and Sox9. An analysis of histone acetylation at the Sry promoter in mutant gonads at 11.5 dpc shows a reduction in levels of the positive histone mark H3K27Ac. Our data suggest a role for CBP/p300 in testis determination mediated by control of histone acetylation at the Sry locus and reveal a novel element in the epigenetic control of Sry and mammalian sex determination. They also suggest possible novel causes of human disorders of sex development (DSD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwenn-Aël Carré
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council, Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Pam Siggers
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council, Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Marilena Xipolita
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council, Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Paul Brindle
- Department of Biochemistry, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Beat Lutz
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sara Wells
- Mary Lyon Centre, Medical Research Council, Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Andy Greenfield
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council, Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
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31
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Cvekl A, Zhang X. Signaling and Gene Regulatory Networks in Mammalian Lens Development. Trends Genet 2017; 33:677-702. [PMID: 28867048 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2017.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ocular lens development represents an advantageous system in which to study regulatory mechanisms governing cell fate decisions, extracellular signaling, cell and tissue organization, and the underlying gene regulatory networks. Spatiotemporally regulated domains of BMP, FGF, and other signaling molecules in late gastrula-early neurula stage embryos generate the border region between the neural plate and non-neural ectoderm from which multiple cell types, including lens progenitor cells, emerge and undergo initial tissue formation. Extracellular signaling and DNA-binding transcription factors govern lens and optic cup morphogenesis. Pax6, c-Maf, Hsf4, Prox1, Sox1, and a few additional factors regulate the expression of the lens structural proteins, the crystallins. Extensive crosstalk between a diverse array of signaling pathways controls the complexity and order of lens morphogenetic processes and lens transparency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ales Cvekl
- Departments of Genetics and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
| | - Xin Zhang
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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32
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Cavalheiro GR, Matos-Rodrigues GE, Zhao Y, Gomes AL, Anand D, Predes D, de Lima S, Abreu JG, Zheng D, Lachke SA, Cvekl A, Martins RAP. N-myc regulates growth and fiber cell differentiation in lens development. Dev Biol 2017; 429:105-117. [PMID: 28716713 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Myc proto-oncogenes regulate diverse cellular processes during development, but their roles during morphogenesis of specific tissues are not fully understood. We found that c-myc regulates cell proliferation in mouse lens development and previous genome-wide studies suggested functional roles for N-myc in developing lens. Here, we examined the role of N-myc in mouse lens development. Genetic inactivation of N-myc in the surface ectoderm or lens vesicle impaired eye and lens growth, while "late" inactivation in lens fibers had no effect. Unexpectedly, defective growth of N-myc-deficient lenses was not associated with alterations in lens progenitor cell proliferation or survival. Notably, N-myc-deficient lens exhibited a delay in degradation of DNA in terminally differentiating lens fiber cells. RNA-sequencing analysis of N-myc-deficient lenses identified a cohort of down-regulated genes associated with fiber cell differentiation that included DNaseIIβ. Further, an integrated analysis of differentially expressed genes in N-myc-deficient lens using normal lens expression patterns of iSyTE, N-myc-binding motif analysis and molecular interaction data from the String database led to the derivation of an N-myc-based gene regulatory network in the lens. Finally, analysis of N-myc and c-myc double-deficient lens demonstrated that these Myc genes cooperate to drive lens growth prior to lens vesicle stage. Together, these findings provide evidence for exclusive and cooperative functions of Myc transcription factors in mouse lens development and identify novel mechanisms by which N-myc regulates cell differentiation during eye morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel R Cavalheiro
- Programa de Biologia Celular e do Desenvolvimento, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Gabriel E Matos-Rodrigues
- Programa de Biologia Celular e do Desenvolvimento, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Yilin Zhao
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Anielle L Gomes
- Programa de Biologia Celular e do Desenvolvimento, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Deepti Anand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Danilo Predes
- Programa de Biologia Celular e do Desenvolvimento, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Silmara de Lima
- Programa de Biologia Celular e do Desenvolvimento, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Jose G Abreu
- Programa de Biologia Celular e do Desenvolvimento, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA; Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Salil A Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA; Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Ales Cvekl
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Rodrigo A P Martins
- Programa de Biologia Celular e do Desenvolvimento, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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33
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Li N, Yuan Q, Cao XL, Zhang Y, Min ZL, Xu SQ, Yu ZJ, Cheng J, Zhang C, Hu XM. Opposite effects of HDAC5 and p300 on MRTF-A-related neuronal apoptosis during ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. Cell Death Dis 2017; 8:e2624. [PMID: 28230854 PMCID: PMC5386465 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2017.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Our recent study has revealed that the myocardin-related transcription factor-A (MRTF-A) is involved in the apoptosis of cortical neurons induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5) and histone acetyltransferase p300 (P300) are two well-known regulators for transcription factors; however, their roles in MRTF-A-related effect on neuronal injuries during I/R are still unclear. In this study, in a model rat cerebral I/R injury via middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion, we found that the expression and activity of HDAC5 was upregulated, whereas p300 and MRTF-A were downregulated both in expression and activity during I/R. Their expression changes and the interaction of the MRTF-A with HDAC5 or p300 were further verified by double immunofluorescence and co-immunoprecipitation. In cultured neuronal apoptosis model induced by H2O2, MRTF-A exhibited an anti-apoptotic effect by enhancing the transcription of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 via CArG box binding. MRTF-A-induced anti-apoptotic effect was effectively inhibited by HDAC5, but was significantly enhanced by p300. The results suggest that both HDAC5 and p300 are involved in MRTF-A-mediated effect on neuronal apoptosis during ischemia/reperfusion injury, but with opposite effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China.,Drug Research Base of Cardiovascular and Cerebral Vascular, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China
| | - Qiong Yuan
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China.,Drug Research Base of Cardiovascular and Cerebral Vascular, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China
| | - Xiao-Lu Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China.,Drug Research Base of Cardiovascular and Cerebral Vascular, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China.,Drug Research Base of Cardiovascular and Cerebral Vascular, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China
| | - Zhen-Li Min
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China.,Drug Research Base of Cardiovascular and Cerebral Vascular, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China
| | - Shi-Qiang Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China.,Drug Research Base of Cardiovascular and Cerebral Vascular, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China.,Drug Research Base of Cardiovascular and Cerebral Vascular, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China
| | - Jing Cheng
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China.,Drug Research Base of Cardiovascular and Cerebral Vascular, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China
| | - Chunxiang Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China.,Drug Research Base of Cardiovascular and Cerebral Vascular, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine and School of Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Xia-Min Hu
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China.,Drug Research Base of Cardiovascular and Cerebral Vascular, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430065, China
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34
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Patel N, Anand D, Monies D, Maddirevula S, Khan AO, Algoufi T, Alowain M, Faqeih E, Alshammari M, Qudair A, Alsharif H, Aljubran F, Alsaif HS, Ibrahim N, Abdulwahab FM, Hashem M, Alsedairy H, Aldahmesh MA, Lachke SA, Alkuraya FS. Novel phenotypes and loci identified through clinical genomics approaches to pediatric cataract. Hum Genet 2016; 136:205-225. [PMID: 27878435 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-016-1747-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric cataract is highly heterogeneous clinically and etiologically. While mostly isolated, cataract can be part of many multisystem disorders, further complicating the diagnostic process. In this study, we applied genomic tools in the form of a multi-gene panel as well as whole-exome sequencing on unselected cohort of pediatric cataract (166 patients from 74 families). Mutations in previously reported cataract genes were identified in 58% for a total of 43 mutations, including 15 that are novel. GEMIN4 was independently mutated in families with a syndrome of cataract, global developmental delay with or without renal involvement. We also highlight a recognizable syndrome that resembles galactosemia (a fulminant infantile liver disease with cataract) caused by biallelic mutations in CYP51A1. A founder mutation in RIC1 (KIAA1432) was identified in patients with cataract, brain atrophy, microcephaly with or without cleft lip and palate. For non-syndromic pediatric cataract, we map a novel locus in a multiplex consanguineous family on 4p15.32 where exome sequencing revealed a homozygous truncating mutation in TAPT1. We report two further candidates that are biallelically inactivated each in a single cataract family: TAF1A (cataract with global developmental delay) and WDR87 (non-syndromic cataract). In addition to positional mapping data, we use iSyTE developmental lens expression and gene-network analysis to corroborate the proposed link between the novel candidate genes and cataract. Our study expands the phenotypic, allelic and locus heterogeneity of pediatric cataract. The high diagnostic yield of clinical genomics supports the adoption of this approach in this patient group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Patel
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Deepti Anand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Dorota Monies
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Saudi Human Genome Program, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sateesh Maddirevula
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Arif O Khan
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Talal Algoufi
- Department of Pediatrics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Alowain
- Department of Medical Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eissa Faqeih
- Department of Pediatrics, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muneera Alshammari
- Department of Pediatrics, King Khalid University Hospital and College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Qudair
- Department of Medical Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hadeel Alsharif
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatimah Aljubran
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hessa S Alsaif
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Niema Ibrahim
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Firdous M Abdulwahab
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mais Hashem
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haifa Alsedairy
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed A Aldahmesh
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Salil A Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.,Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Fowzan S Alkuraya
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. .,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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35
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Sun J, Zhao Y, McGreal R, Cohen-Tayar Y, Rockowitz S, Wilczek C, Ashery-Padan R, Shechter D, Zheng D, Cvekl A. Pax6 associates with H3K4-specific histone methyltransferases Mll1, Mll2, and Set1a and regulates H3K4 methylation at promoters and enhancers. Epigenetics Chromatin 2016; 9:37. [PMID: 27617035 PMCID: PMC5018195 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-016-0087-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pax6 is a key regulator of the entire cascade of ocular lens formation through specific binding to promoters and enhancers of batteries of target genes. The promoters and enhancers communicate with each other through DNA looping mediated by multiple protein-DNA and protein-protein interactions and are marked by specific combinations of histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs). Enhancers are distinguished from bulk chromatin by specific modifications of core histone H3, including H3K4me1 and H3K27ac, while promoters show increased H3K4me3 PTM. Previous studies have shown the presence of Pax6 in as much as 1/8 of lens-specific enhancers but a much smaller fraction of tissue-specific promoters. Although Pax6 is known to interact with EP300/p300 histone acetyltransferase responsible for generation of H3K27ac, a potential link between Pax6 and histone H3K4 methylation remains to be established. RESULTS Here we show that Pax6 co-purifies with H3K4 methyltransferase activity in lens cell nuclear extracts. Proteomic studies show that Pax6 immunoprecipitates with Set1a, Mll1, and Mll2 enzymes, and their associated proteins, i.e., Wdr5, Rbbp5, Ash2l, and Dpy30. ChIP-seq studies using chromatin prepared from mouse lens and cultured lens cells demonstrate that Pax6-bound regions are mostly enriched with H3K4me2 and H3K4me1 in enhancers and promoters, though H3K4me3 marks only Pax6-containing promoters. The shRNA-mediated knockdown of Pax6 revealed down-regulation of a set of direct target genes, including Cap2, Farp1, Pax6, Plekha1, Prox1, Tshz2, and Zfp536. Pax6 knockdown was accompanied by reduced H3K4me1 at enhancers and H3K4me3 at promoters, with little or no changes of the H3K4me2 modifications. These changes were prominent in Plekha1, a gene regulated by Pax6 in both lens and retinal pigmented epithelium. CONCLUSIONS Our study supports a general model of Pax6-mediated recruitment of histone methyltransferases Mll1 and Mll2 to lens chromatin, especially at distal enhancers. Genome-wide data in lens show that Pax6 binding correlates with H3K4me2, consistent with the idea that H3K4me2 PTMs correlate with the binding of transcription factors. Importantly, partial reduction of Pax6 induces prominent changes in local H3K4me1 and H3K4me3 modification. Together, these data open the field to mechanistic studies of Pax6, Mll1, Mll2, and H3K4me1/2/3 dynamics at distal enhancers and promoters of developmentally controlled genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Sun
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA
| | - Yilin Zhao
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA
| | - Rebecca McGreal
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA ; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA
| | - Yamit Cohen-Tayar
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Sagol school of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978 Israel
| | - Shira Rockowitz
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA
| | - Carola Wilczek
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA
| | - Ruth Ashery-Padan
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Sagol school of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978 Israel
| | - David Shechter
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA ; Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA ; Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA
| | - Ales Cvekl
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA ; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 USA
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36
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He S, Limi S, McGreal RS, Xie Q, Brennan LA, Kantorow WL, Kokavec J, Majumdar R, Hou H, Edelmann W, Liu W, Ashery-Padan R, Zavadil J, Kantorow M, Skoultchi AI, Stopka T, Cvekl A. Chromatin remodeling enzyme Snf2h regulates embryonic lens differentiation and denucleation. Development 2016; 143:1937-47. [PMID: 27246713 PMCID: PMC4920164 DOI: 10.1242/dev.135285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Ocular lens morphogenesis is a model for investigating mechanisms of cellular differentiation, spatial and temporal gene expression control, and chromatin regulation. Brg1 (Smarca4) and Snf2h (Smarca5) are catalytic subunits of distinct ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes implicated in transcriptional regulation. Previous studies have shown that Brg1 regulates both lens fiber cell differentiation and organized degradation of their nuclei (denucleation). Here, we employed a conditional Snf2h(flox) mouse model to probe the cellular and molecular mechanisms of lens formation. Depletion of Snf2h induces premature and expanded differentiation of lens precursor cells forming the lens vesicle, implicating Snf2h as a key regulator of lens vesicle polarity through spatial control of Prox1, Jag1, p27(Kip1) (Cdkn1b) and p57(Kip2) (Cdkn1c) gene expression. The abnormal Snf2h(-/-) fiber cells also retain their nuclei. RNA profiling of Snf2h(-/) (-) and Brg1(-/-) eyes revealed differences in multiple transcripts, including prominent downregulation of those encoding Hsf4 and DNase IIβ, which are implicated in the denucleation process. In summary, our data suggest that Snf2h is essential for the establishment of lens vesicle polarity, partitioning of prospective lens epithelial and fiber cell compartments, lens fiber cell differentiation, and lens fiber cell nuclear degradation.
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Grants
- R01 EY012200 NEI NIH HHS
- R01 CA079057 NCI NIH HHS
- R01 DK096266 NIDDK NIH HHS
- R01 GM116143 NIGMS NIH HHS
- R01 EY013022 NEI NIH HHS
- R01 CA076329 NCI NIH HHS
- T32 GM007491 NIGMS NIH HHS
- R56 CA079057 NCI NIH HHS
- R01 EY014237 NEI NIH HHS
- 001 World Health Organization
- R01 EY022645 NEI NIH HHS
- Grant support: R01 EY012200 (AC), EY014237 (AC), EY014237-7S1 (AC), EY013022 (MK), CA079057 (AIS), EY022645 (WL), T32 GM007491 (SL), GACR: P305/12/1033 (TS, JK), UNCE: 204021 (TS, JK), and an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness to the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. TS is member of the BIOCEV ? Biotechnology and Biomedicine Centre of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University (CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0109) supported by the European Regional Development Fund. The Israel Science Foundation 610/10, the Israel Ministry of Science 36494, the Ziegler Foundation and the Binational Science Foundation (2013016) to RAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuying He
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Saima Limi
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Rebecca S McGreal
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Qing Xie
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Lisa A Brennan
- Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Wanda Lee Kantorow
- Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Juraj Kokavec
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 121 08 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Romit Majumdar
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Harry Hou
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Winfried Edelmann
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Ruth Ashery-Padan
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Jiri Zavadil
- Department of Pathology and NYU Center for Health Informatics and Bioinformatics, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis Section, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon Cedex 08 69372, France
| | - Marc Kantorow
- Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Arthur I Skoultchi
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Tomas Stopka
- First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 121 08 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ales Cvekl
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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37
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Dash S, Siddam AD, Barnum CE, Janga SC, Lachke SA. RNA-binding proteins in eye development and disease: implication of conserved RNA granule components. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2016; 7:527-57. [PMID: 27133484 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The molecular biology of metazoan eye development is an area of intense investigation. These efforts have led to the surprising recognition that although insect and vertebrate eyes have dramatically different structures, the orthologs or family members of several conserved transcription and signaling regulators such as Pax6, Six3, Prox1, and Bmp4 are commonly required for their development. In contrast, our understanding of posttranscriptional regulation in eye development and disease, particularly regarding the function of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), is limited. We examine the present knowledge of RBPs in eye development in the insect model Drosophila as well as several vertebrate models such as fish, frog, chicken, and mouse. Interestingly, of the 42 RBPs that have been investigated for their expression or function in vertebrate eye development, 24 (~60%) are recognized in eukaryotic cells as components of RNA granules such as processing bodies, stress granules, or other specialized ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. We discuss the distinct developmental and cellular events that may necessitate potential RBP/RNA granule-associated RNA regulon models to facilitate posttranscriptional control of gene expression in eye morphogenesis. In support of these hypotheses, three RBPs and RNP/RNA granule components Tdrd7, Caprin2, and Stau2 are linked to ocular developmental defects such as congenital cataract, Peters anomaly, and microphthalmia in human patients or animal models. We conclude by discussing the utility of interdisciplinary approaches such as the bioinformatics tool iSyTE (integrated Systems Tool for Eye gene discovery) to prioritize RBPs for deriving posttranscriptional regulatory networks in eye development and disease. WIREs RNA 2016, 7:527-557. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1355 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soma Dash
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Archana D Siddam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Carrie E Barnum
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Sarath Chandra Janga
- Department of Biohealth Informatics, School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University & Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Salil A Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.,Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
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38
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Cvekl A, Callaerts P. PAX6: 25th anniversary and more to learn. Exp Eye Res 2016; 156:10-21. [PMID: 27126352 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2016.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Revised: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The DNA-binding transcription factor PAX6 was cloned 25 years ago by multiple teams pursuing identification of human and mouse eye disease causing genes, cloning vertebrate homologues of pattern-forming regulatory genes identified in Drosophila, or abundant eye-specific transcripts. Since its discovery in 1991, genetic, cellular, molecular and evolutionary studies on Pax6 mushroomed in the mid 1990s leading to the transformative thinking regarding the genetic program orchestrating both early and late stages of eye morphogenesis as well as the origin and evolution of diverse visual systems. Since Pax6 is also expressed outside of the eye, namely in the central nervous system and pancreas, a number of important insights into the development and function of these organs have been amassed. In most recent years, genome-wide technologies utilizing massively parallel DNA sequencing have begun to provide unbiased insights into the regulatory hierarchies of specification, determination and differentiation of ocular cells and neurogenesis in general. This review is focused on major advancements in studies on mammalian eye development driven by studies of Pax6 genes in model organisms and future challenges to harness the technology-driven opportunities to reconstruct, step-by-step, the transition from naïve ectoderm, neuroepithelium and periocular mesenchyme/neural crest cells into the three-dimensional architecture of the eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ales Cvekl
- The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA; The Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
| | - Patrick Callaerts
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Developmental Genetics, K.U. Leuven, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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39
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Anand D, Lachke SA. Systems biology of lens development: A paradigm for disease gene discovery in the eye. Exp Eye Res 2016; 156:22-33. [PMID: 26992779 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2016.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Over the past several decades, the biology of the developing lens has been investigated using molecular genetics-based approaches in various vertebrate model systems. These efforts, involving target gene knockouts or knockdowns, have led to major advances in our understanding of lens morphogenesis and the pathological basis of cataracts, as well as of other lens related eye defects. In particular, we now have a functional understanding of regulators such as Pax6, Six3, Sox2, Oct1 (Pou2f1), Meis1, Pnox1, Zeb2 (Sip1), Mab21l1, Foxe3, Tfap2a (Ap2-alpha), Pitx3, Sox11, Prox1, Sox1, c-Maf, Mafg, Mafk, Hsf4, Fgfrs, Bmp7, and Tdrd7 in this tissue. However, whether these individual regulators interact or their targets overlap, and the significance of such interactions during lens morphogenesis, is not well defined. The arrival of high-throughput approaches for gene expression profiling (microarrays, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), etc.), which can be coupled with chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) or RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays, along with improved computational resources and publically available datasets (e.g. those containing comprehensive protein-protein, protein-DNA information), presents new opportunities to advance our understanding of the lens tissue on a global systems level. Such systems-level knowledge will lead to the derivation of the underlying lens gene regulatory network (GRN), defined as a circuit map of the regulator-target interactions functional in lens development, which can be applied to expedite cataract gene discovery. In this review, we cover the various systems-level approaches such as microarrays, RNA-seq, and ChIP that are already being applied to lens studies and discuss strategies for assembling and interpreting these vast amounts of high-throughput information for effective dispersion to the scientific community. In particular, we discuss strategies for effective interpretation of this new information in the context of the rich knowledge obtained through the application of traditional single-gene focused experiments on the lens. Finally, we discuss our vision for integrating these diverse high-throughput datasets in a single web-based user-friendly tool iSyTE (integrated Systems Tool for Eye gene discovery) - a resource that is already proving effective in the identification and characterization of genes linked to lens development and cataract. We anticipate that application of a similar approach to other ocular tissues such as the retina and the cornea, and even other organ systems, will significantly impact disease gene discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepti Anand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Salil A Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA; Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
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40
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Xie Q, McGreal R, Harris R, Gao CY, Liu W, Reneker LW, Musil LS, Cvekl A. Regulation of c-Maf and αA-Crystallin in Ocular Lens by Fibroblast Growth Factor Signaling. J Biol Chem 2015; 291:3947-58. [PMID: 26719333 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.705103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling regulates a multitude of cellular processes, including cell proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation. In the vertebrate lens, FGF signaling regulates fiber cell differentiation characterized by high expression of crystallin proteins. However, a direct link between FGF signaling and crystallin gene transcriptional machinery remains to be established. Previously, we have shown that the bZIP proto-oncogene c-Maf regulates expression of αA-crystallin (Cryaa) through binding to its promoter and distal enhancer, DCR1, both activated by FGF2 in cell culture. Herein, we identified and characterized a novel FGF2-responsive region in the c-Maf promoter (-272/-70, FRE). Both c-Maf and Cryaa regulatory regions contain arrays of AP-1 and Ets-binding sites. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays established binding of c-Jun (an AP-1 factor) and Etv5/ERM (an Ets factor) to these regions in lens chromatin. Analysis of temporal and spatial expression of c-Jun, phospho-c-Jun, and Etv5/ERM in wild type and ERK1/2 deficient lenses supports their roles as nuclear effectors of FGF signaling in mouse embryonic lens. Collectively, these studies show that FGF signaling up-regulates expression of αA-crystallin both directly and indirectly via up-regulation of c-Maf. These molecular mechanisms are applicable for other crystallins and genes highly expressed in terminally differentiated lens fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Xie
- From the Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461
| | - Rebecca McGreal
- From the Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and
| | - Raven Harris
- Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461
| | - Chun Y Gao
- Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Wei Liu
- From the Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461
| | - Lixing W Reneker
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mason Eye Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65212, and
| | - Linda S Musil
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Health Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Ales Cvekl
- From the Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461,
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41
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Anand D, Agrawal S, Siddam A, Motohashi H, Yamamoto M, Lachke SA. An integrative approach to analyze microarray datasets for prioritization of genes relevant to lens biology and disease. GENOMICS DATA 2015; 5:223-227. [PMID: 26185746 PMCID: PMC4500531 DOI: 10.1016/j.gdata.2015.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Microarray-based profiling represents an effective method to analyze cellular or tissue-specific gene expression on the genome-level. However, in comparative analyses between control and mutant samples, microarrays often identify a large number of differentially expressed genes, in turn making it challenging to isolate the select “high-priority candidates” that are most relevant to an observed mutant phenotype. Here, we describe an integrative approach for mouse mutant lens microarray gene expression analysis using publically accessible systems-level information such as wild-type mouse lens expression data in iSyTE (integrated Systems Tool for Eye gene discovery), protein–protein interaction data in public databases, gene ontology enrichment data, and transcription factor binding profile data. This strategy, when applied to small Maf Mafg −/−:Mafk +/− mouse lens microarray datasets (deposited in NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus database with accession number GSE65500) in Agrawal et al. 2015 [1], led to the effective prioritization of candidate genes linked to lens defects in these mutants. Indeed, from the original list of genes that are differentially expressed at ± 1.5-fold and p < 0.05 in Mafg −/−:Mafk +/− mutant lenses, this analysis led to the identification of thirty-six high-priority candidates, in turn reducing the number of genes for further study by approximately 1/3 of the total. Moreover, eight of these genes are linked to mammalian cataract in the published literature, validating the efficacy of this approach. Additionally, these high-priority candidates contribute valuable information for the assembly of a gene regulatory network in the lens. In sum, the pipeline outlined in this report represents an effective approach for initial as well as downstream microarray expression data analysis to identify genes important for lens biology and cataracts. We anticipate that this integrative strategy can be extended to prioritize phenotypically relevant candidate genes from microarray data in other cells and tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepti Anand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Smriti Agrawal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Archana Siddam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Hozumi Motohashi
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masayuki Yamamoto
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Salil A Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA ; Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
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42
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Sun J, Rockowitz S, Chauss D, Wang P, Kantorow M, Zheng D, Cvekl A. Chromatin features, RNA polymerase II and the comparative expression of lens genes encoding crystallins, transcription factors, and autophagy mediators. Mol Vis 2015; 21:955-73. [PMID: 26330747 PMCID: PMC4551281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Gene expression correlates with local chromatin structure. Our studies have mapped histone post-translational modifications, RNA polymerase II (pol II), and transcription factor Pax6 in lens chromatin. These data represent the first genome-wide insights into the relationship between lens chromatin structure and lens transcriptomes and serve as an excellent source for additional data analysis and refinement. The principal lens proteins, the crystallins, are encoded by predominantly expressed mRNAs; however, the regulatory mechanisms underlying their high expression in the lens remain poorly understood. METHODS The formaldehyde-assisted identification of regulatory regions (FAIRE-Seq) was employed to analyze newborn lens chromatin. ChIP-seq and RNA-seq data published earlier (GSE66961) have been used to assist in FAIRE-seq data interpretation. RNA transcriptomes from murine lens epithelium, lens fibers, erythrocytes, forebrain, liver, neurons, and pancreas were compared to establish the gene expression levels of the most abundant mRNAs versus median gene expression across other differentiated cells. RESULTS Normalized RNA expression data from multiple tissues show that crystallins rank among the most highly expressed genes in mammalian cells. These findings correlate with the extremely high abundance of pol II all across the crystallin loci, including crystallin genes clustered on chromosomes 1 and 5, as well as within regions of "open" chromatin, as identified by FAIRE-seq. The expression levels of mRNAs encoding DNA-binding transcription factors (e.g., Foxe3, Hsf4, Maf, Pax6, Prox1, Sox1, and Tfap2a) revealed that their transcripts form "clusters" of abundant mRNAs in either lens fibers or lens epithelium. The expression of three autophagy regulatory mRNAs, encoding Tfeb, FoxO1, and Hif1α, was found within a group of lens preferentially expressed transcription factors compared to the E12.5 forebrain. CONCLUSIONS This study reveals novel features of lens chromatin, including the remarkably high abundance of pol II at the crystallin loci that exhibit features of "open" chromatin. Hsf4 ranks among the most abundant fiber cell-preferred DNA-binding transcription factors. Notable transcripts, including Atf4, Ctcf, E2F4, Hey1, Hmgb1, Mycn, RXRβ, Smad4, Sp1, and Taf1 (transcription factors) and Ctsd, Gabarapl1, and Park7 (autophagy regulators) have been identified with high levels of expression in lens fibers, which suggests specific roles in lens fiber cell terminal differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY,Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Shira Rockowitz
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Daniel Chauss
- Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Marc Kantorow
- Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY,Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY,Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Ales Cvekl
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY,Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
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43
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Dash S, Dang CA, Beebe DC, Lachke SA. Deficiency of the RNA binding protein caprin2 causes lens defects and features of Peters anomaly. Dev Dyn 2015; 244:1313-27. [PMID: 26177727 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Revised: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 07/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It was recently demonstrated that deficiency of a conserved RNA binding protein (RBP) and RNA granule (RG) component Tdrd7 causes ocular defects including cataracts in human, mouse and chicken, indicating the importance of posttranscriptional regulation in eye development. Here we investigated the function of a second conserved RBP/RG component Caprin2 that is identified by the eye gene discovery tool iSyTE. RESULTS In situ hybridization, Western blotting and immunostaining confirmed highly enriched expression of Caprin2 mRNA and protein in mouse embryonic and postnatal lens. To gain insight into its function, lens-specific Caprin2 conditional knockout (cKO) mouse mutants were generated using a lens-Cre deleter line Pax6GFPCre. Phenotypic analysis of Caprin2(cKO/cKO) mutants revealed distinct eye defects at variable penetrance. Wheat germ agglutinin staining and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that Caprin2(cKO/cKO) mutants have an abnormally compact lens nucleus, which is the core of the lens comprised of centrally located terminally differentiated fiber cells. Additionally, Caprin2(cKO/cKO) mutants also exhibited at 8% penetrance a developmental defect that resembles a human condition called Peters anomaly, wherein the lens and the cornea remain attached by a persistent stalk. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that a conserved RBP Caprin2 functions in distinct morphological events in mammalian eye development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soma Dash
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
| | - Christine A Dang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
| | - David C Beebe
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Salil A Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware.,Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
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44
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Sun J, Rockowitz S, Xie Q, Ashery-Padan R, Zheng D, Cvekl A. Identification of in vivo DNA-binding mechanisms of Pax6 and reconstruction of Pax6-dependent gene regulatory networks during forebrain and lens development. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 43:6827-46. [PMID: 26138486 PMCID: PMC4538810 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor Pax6 is comprised of the paired domain (PD) and homeodomain (HD). In the developing forebrain, Pax6 is expressed in ventricular zone precursor cells and in specific subpopulations of neurons; absence of Pax6 results in disrupted cell proliferation and cell fate specification. Pax6 also regulates the entire lens developmental program. To reconstruct Pax6-dependent gene regulatory networks (GRNs), ChIP-seq studies were performed using forebrain and lens chromatin from mice. A total of 3514 (forebrain) and 3723 (lens) Pax6-containing peaks were identified, with ∼70% of them found in both tissues and thereafter called 'common' peaks. Analysis of Pax6-bound peaks identified motifs that closely resemble Pax6-PD, Pax6-PD/HD and Pax6-HD established binding sequences. Mapping of H3K4me1, H3K4me3, H3K27ac, H3K27me3 and RNA polymerase II revealed distinct types of tissue-specific enhancers bound by Pax6. Pax6 directly regulates cortical neurogenesis through activation (e.g. Dmrta1 and Ngn2) and repression (e.g. Ascl1, Fezf2, and Gsx2) of transcription factors. In lens, Pax6 directly regulates cell cycle exit via components of FGF (Fgfr2, Prox1 and Ccnd1) and Wnt (Dkk3, Wnt7a, Lrp6, Bcl9l, and Ccnd1) signaling pathways. Collectively, these studies provide genome-wide analysis of Pax6-dependent GRNs in lens and forebrain and establish novel roles of Pax6 in organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Sun
- The Departments of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Shira Rockowitz
- The Departments of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Qing Xie
- The Departments of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Ruth Ashery-Padan
- Sackler School of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, 69978 Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Deyou Zheng
- The Departments of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Ales Cvekl
- The Departments of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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45
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Bardhan K, Paschall AV, Yang D, Chen MR, Simon PS, Bhutia YD, Martin PM, Thangaraju M, Browning DD, Ganapathy V, Heaton CM, Gu K, Lee JR, Liu K. IFNγ Induces DNA Methylation-Silenced GPR109A Expression via pSTAT1/p300 and H3K18 Acetylation in Colon Cancer. Cancer Immunol Res 2015; 3:795-805. [PMID: 25735954 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-14-0164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Short-chain fatty acids, metabolites produced by colonic microbiota from fermentation of dietary fiber, act as anti-inflammatory agents in the intestinal tract to suppress proinflammatory diseases. GPR109A is the receptor for short-chain fatty acids. The functions of GPR109A have been the subject of extensive studies; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying GPR109A expression is largely unknown. We show that GPR109A is highly expressed in normal human colon tissues, but is silenced in human colon carcinoma cells. The GPR109A promoter DNA is methylated in human colon carcinoma. Strikingly, we observed that IFNγ, a cytokine secreted by activated T cells, activates GPR109A transcription without altering its promoter DNA methylation. Colon carcinoma grows significantly faster in IFNγ-deficient mice than in wild-type mice in an orthotopic colon cancer mouse model. A positive correlation was observed between GPR109A protein level and tumor-infiltrating T cells in human colon carcinoma specimens, and IFNγ expression level is higher in human colon carcinoma tissues than in normal colon tissues. We further demonstrated that IFNγ rapidly activates pSTAT1 that binds to the promoter of p300 to activate its transcription. p300 then binds to the GPR109A promoter to induce H3K18 hyperacetylation, resulting in chromatin remodeling in the methylated GPR109A promoter. The IFNγ-activated pSTAT1 then directly binds to the methylated but hyperacetylated GPR109 promoter to activate its transcription. Overall, our data indicate that GPR109A acts as a tumor suppressor in colon cancer, and the host immune system might use IFNγ to counteract DNA methylation-mediated GPR109A silencing as a mechanism to suppress tumor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kankana Bardhan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Amy V Paschall
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia. Cancer Center, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia. Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Dafeng Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia. Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia
| | - May R Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Priscilla S Simon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia. Cancer Center, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia. Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Yangzom D Bhutia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Pamela M Martin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Muthusamy Thangaraju
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia. Cancer Center, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Darren D Browning
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia. Cancer Center, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Vadivel Ganapathy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia. Cancer Center, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Christopher M Heaton
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Keni Gu
- University Hospital, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Jeffrey R Lee
- Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia. Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Kebin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia. Cancer Center, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia. Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia.
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46
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Masuda K, Akiyama K, Arakawa M, Nishi E, Kitazawa N, Higuchi T, Katou Y, Shirahige K, Izumi K. Exome Sequencing Identification of EP300 Mutation in a Proband with Coloboma and Imperforate Anus: Possible Expansion of the Phenotypic Spectrum of Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome. Mol Syndromol 2015; 6:99-103. [PMID: 26279656 DOI: 10.1159/000375542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RSTS) is a multisystem developmental disorder characterized by facial dysmorphisms, broad thumbs and halluces, growth retardation, and intellectual disability. In about 8% of RSTS cases, mutations are found in EP300. Previously, the EP300 mutation has been shown to cause the highly variable RSTS phenotype. Using exome sequencing, we identified a de novo EP300 frameshift mutation in a proband with coloboma, facial asymmetry and imperforate anus with minimal RSTS features. Previous molecular studies have demonstrated the importance of EP300 in oculogenesis, supporting the possibility that EP300 mutation may cause ocular coloboma. Since a wide phenotypic spectrum is well known in EP300-associated RSTS cases, the atypical phenotype identified in our proband may be an example of rare manifestations of RSTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Masuda
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Research Center for Epigenetic Disease, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Akiyama
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Research Center for Epigenetic Disease, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Michiko Arakawa
- Division of Medical Genetics, Nagano Children's Hospital, Azumino, Japan
| | - Eriko Nishi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan ; Division of Medical Genetics, Nagano Children's Hospital, Azumino, Japan
| | - Noritaka Kitazawa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Nagano Children's Hospital, Azumino, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Higuchi
- General Pediatrics, Nagano Children's Hospital, Azumino, Japan
| | - Yuki Katou
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Research Center for Epigenetic Disease, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Shirahige
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Research Center for Epigenetic Disease, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan ; CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan
| | - Kosuke Izumi
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Research Center for Epigenetic Disease, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan ; Division of Medical Genetics, Nagano Children's Hospital, Azumino, Japan
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Korthagen NM, van Bilsen K, Swagemakers SMA, van de Peppel J, Bastiaans J, van der Spek PJ, van Hagen PM, Dik WA. Retinal pigment epithelial cells display specific transcriptional responses upon TNF-α stimulation. Br J Ophthalmol 2015; 99:700-4. [PMID: 25680620 DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2014-306309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2014] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a key mediator of ocular inflammation and its interaction with the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) may be a driving force in vitreoretinal disorders such as age-related macular degeneration, proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and diabetic retinopathy. Under inflammatory conditions, the ability of RPE cells to maintain the blood-retinal barrier and immune privilege may be lost and proliferation of RPE cells is facilitated. To gain insight into the effects of TNF-α on RPE cells, a gene expression study was performed. METHODS ARPE-19 and HT-29 cells were stimulated with 50 ng/mL TNF-α for 6 h. Gene expression patterns were compared between stimulated and control cells using whole genome gene expression arrays. Data were analysed using Partek and OmniViz and validated using quantitative RT-PCR. Functional annotation analysis was performed using Ingenuity and DAVID. RESULTS A total of 97 genes were uniquely modulated by TNF-α in ARPE-19 cells compared with HT-29 cells (86 upregulated and 11 downregulated). Most commonly affected biological processes were apoptosis, cell motility and cell signalling. The highest upregulated gene was EFNA1. Among the downregulated genes were transcription factors implicated in ocular development (SIX3, PAX6) and modulation of p53-mediated apoptosis (CITED2). CONCLUSIONS This study provides insight into the unique responses of RPE cells to TNF-α stimulation and suggests a role for genes involved in apoptosis and retinal epithelial development. These findings contribute to our understanding of the behaviour of RPE cells under inflammatory conditions and the crucial role of RPE cells in vitreoretinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoline M Korthagen
- Department of Immunology, Laboratory Medical Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kiki van Bilsen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Clinical Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sigrid M A Swagemakers
- Department of Bioinformatics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen van de Peppel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Clinical Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Bastiaans
- Department of Immunology, Laboratory Medical Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter J van der Spek
- Department of Bioinformatics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - P Martin van Hagen
- Department of Immunology, Laboratory Medical Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands Department of Internal Medicine, Section Clinical Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Willem A Dik
- Department of Immunology, Laboratory Medical Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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48
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Kang L, Zhao W, Zhang G, Wu J, Guan H. Acetylated 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1 and its relationship with p300 and SIRT1 in lens epithelium cells from age-related cataract. Exp Eye Res 2015; 135:102-8. [PMID: 25660075 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2015.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Revised: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The human 8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase 1 (OGG1) is the major DNA glycosylase responsible for repair of 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) and ring-opened fapyguanine, critical mutagenic DNA lesions that are induced by reactive oxygen species. OGG1 acetylation has been demonstrated playing an important role in response to DNA damage. Here, we investigated the relationship between acetylated OGG1 (Ac-OGG1) and ARC, and clarified the effect of p300 and SIRT1 on the 8-oxoG excision ability of OGG1 in ARC development. Our results showed that anterior lens capsules from ARC group had higher proportion of 8-oxoG positive LECs than those from control group. OGG1 mRNA and protein levels significantly increased in ARC group compared with control group, while the protein levels of Ac-OGG1 were lower in ARC group. We investigated the factors involved in OGG1 acetylation and found that p300 and SIRT1 are the major acetyltransferases for OGG1 acetylation. We also identified acetylation of K338/K341 lysine residues in OGG1 has an important role on the repair activity of OGG1 to oxidative damage after H2O2 exposure in human lens epithelial cells (HLE-B3). Taken together, these data demonstrate that OGG1 acetylation regulates its function in response to DNA damage and could be one of the mechanisms of ARC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Kang
- Eye Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Weijie Zhao
- Eye Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China; Department of Ophthalmology, First People's Hospital of Changshu City, Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changshu, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Guowei Zhang
- Eye Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Eye Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Huaijin Guan
- Eye Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China.
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49
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Terrell AM, Anand D, Smith SF, Dang CA, Waters SM, Pathania M, Beebe DC, Lachke SA. Molecular characterization of mouse lens epithelial cell lines and their suitability to study RNA granules and cataract associated genes. Exp Eye Res 2014; 131:42-55. [PMID: 25530357 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2014.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2014] [Revised: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of cytosolic RNA granule (RG) component proteins associated with human cataract has initiated investigations on post-transcriptional mechanisms of gene expression control in the lens. Application of established mouse lens epithelial cell lines (LECs) can provide rapid insights on RG function in lens cells, especially because mouse mutants in several RG components are not available. However, although these LECs represent potential reagents for such analyses, they are uncharacterized for lens gene expression or RG formation. Therefore, a detailed molecular and cellular characterization of three permanent mouse LECs 17EM15, 21EM15 and αTN4 is performed in this study. Comparative analysis between microarray gene expression datasets on LEC 21EM15 and iSyTE lens tissue demonstrates that 30% of top 200 iSyTE identified lens-enriched genes are expressed in these cells. Majority of these candidates are independently validated to either have lens expression, function or linkage to cataract. Moreover, analysis of microarray data with genes described in Cat-Map, an online database of cataract associated genes and loci, demonstrates that 131 genes linked to cataract loci are expressed in 21EM15 cells. Furthermore, gene expression in LECs is compared to isolated lens epithelium or fiber cells by qRT-PCR and by comparative analyses with publically available epithelium or fiber-specific microarray and RNA-seq (sequencing) datasets. Expression of select candidate genes was validated by regular and real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Expression of lens epithelium-enriched genes Foxe3, Pax6, Anxa4 and Mcm4 is up-regulated in LEC lines, compared to isolated lens fiber cells. Moreover, similar to isolated lens epithelium, all three LECs exhibit down-regulation of fiber cell-expressed genes Crybb1, Mip and Prox1 when compared to fiber cells. These data indicate that the LEC lines exhibit greater similarity to lens epithelium than to fiber cells. Compared to non-lens cell line NIH3T3, LECs exhibit significantly enriched expression of transcription factors with important function in the lens, namely Pax6, Foxe3 and Prox1. In addition to these genes, all three LECs also express key lens- and cataract-associated genes, namely Dkk3, Epha2, Hsf4, Jag1, Mab21l1, Meis1, Pknox1, Pou2f1, Sfrp1, Sparc, Tdrd7 and Trpm3. Additionally, 21EM15 microarrays indicate expression of Chmp4b, Cryab and Tcfap2a among others important genes. Immunostaining with makers for Processing bodies (P-bodies) and Stress granules (SGs) demonstrates that these classes of RGs are robustly expressed in all three LECs. Moreover, under conditions of stress, 17EM15 and αTN4 exhibit significantly higher numbers of P-bodies and SGs compared to NIH3T3 cells. In sum, these data indicate that mouse LECs 21EM15, 17EM15 and αTN4 express key lens or cataract genes, are similar to lens epithelium than fiber cells, and exhibit high levels of P-bodies and SGs, indicating their suitability for investigating gene expression control and RG function in lens-derived cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M Terrell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Deepti Anand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Sylvie F Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Christine A Dang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Stephanie M Waters
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Mallika Pathania
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - David C Beebe
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Salil A Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA; Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
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50
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Cvekl A, Ashery-Padan R. The cellular and molecular mechanisms of vertebrate lens development. Development 2014; 141:4432-47. [PMID: 25406393 PMCID: PMC4302924 DOI: 10.1242/dev.107953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The ocular lens is a model system for understanding important aspects of embryonic development, such as cell specification and the spatiotemporally controlled formation of a three-dimensional structure. The lens, which is characterized by transparency, refraction and elasticity, is composed of a bulk mass of fiber cells attached to a sheet of lens epithelium. Although lens induction has been studied for over 100 years, recent findings have revealed a myriad of extracellular signaling pathways and gene regulatory networks, integrated and executed by the transcription factor Pax6, that are required for lens formation in vertebrates. This Review summarizes recent progress in the field, emphasizing the interplay between the diverse regulatory mechanisms employed to form lens progenitor and precursor cells and highlighting novel opportunities to fill gaps in our understanding of lens tissue morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleš Cvekl
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Ruth Ashery-Padan
- Sackler School of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, 69978 Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel
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