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Akhtar MS, Akhter N, Talat A, Alharbi RA, Sindi AAA, Klufah F, Alyahyawi HE, Alruwetei A, Ahmad A, Zamzami MA, Deo S, Husain SA, Badi OA, Khan MJ. Association of mutation and expression of the brother of the regulator of imprinted sites (BORIS) gene with breast cancer progression. Oncotarget 2023; 14:528-541. [PMID: 37235839 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The BORIS, 11 zinc-finger transcription factors, is a member of the cancer-testis antigen (CTA) family. It is mapped to chromosome number 20q13.2 and this region is genetically linked to the early onset of breast cancer. The current study analyzed the correlation between BORIS mutations and the expression of the protein in breast cancer cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS A population-based study including a total of 155 breast cancer tissue samples and an equal number of normal adjacent tissues from Indian female breast cancer patients was carried out. Mutations of the BORIS gene were detected by polymerase chain reaction-single standard confirmation polymorphisms (PCR-SSCP) and automated DNA sequencing and by immunohistochemistry for BORIS protein expression were performed. The observed findings were correlated with several clinicopathological parameters to find out the clinical relevance of associations. RESULTS Of all the cases 16.12% (25/155) showed mutations in the BORIS gene. The observed mutations present on codon 329 are missense, leading to Val> Ile (G>A) change on exon 5 of the BORIS gene. A significant association was observed between mutations of the BORIS gene and some clinicopathological features like nodal status (p = 0.013), estrogen receptor (ER) expression (p = 0.008), progesterone receptor (PR) expression (p = 0.039), clinical stage (p = 0.010) and menopausal status (p = 0.023). The protein expression analysis showed 20.64% (32/155) samples showing low or no expression (+), 34.19% (53/155) with moderate expression (++), and 45.17% (70/155) showing high expression (+++) of BORIS protein. A significant association was observed between the expression of BORIS protein and clinicopathological features like clinical stage (p = 0.013), nodal status (p = 0.049), ER expression (p = 0.039), and PR expression (p = 0.027). When mutation and protein expression were correlated in combination with clinicopathological parameters a significant association was observed in the category of high (+++) level of BORIS protein expression (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION The BORIS mutations and high protein expression occur frequently in carcinoma of the breast suggesting their association with the onset and progression of breast carcinoma. Further, the BORIS has the potential to be used as a biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Salman Akhtar
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Naseem Akhter
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
- Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Arshi Talat
- Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, ITS Dental College, Hospital and Research Centre, Greater Noida, Delhi-NCR, India
| | - Raed A Alharbi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulmajeed A A Sindi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faisal Klufah
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hanan E Alyahyawi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulmohsen Alruwetei
- Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abrar Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mazin A Zamzami
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Svs Deo
- Department of Surgical Oncology, BRA- IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India
| | - Syed Akhtar Husain
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Osama A Badi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Del Moral-Morales A, Salgado-Albarrán M, Sánchez-Pérez Y, Wenke NK, Baumbach J, Soto-Reyes E. CTCF and Its Multi-Partner Network for Chromatin Regulation. Cells 2023; 12:1357. [PMID: 37408191 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101357] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Architectural proteins are essential epigenetic regulators that play a critical role in organizing chromatin and controlling gene expression. CTCF (CCCTC-binding factor) is a key architectural protein responsible for maintaining the intricate 3D structure of chromatin. Because of its multivalent properties and plasticity to bind various sequences, CTCF is similar to a Swiss knife for genome organization. Despite the importance of this protein, its mechanisms of action are not fully elucidated. It has been hypothesized that its versatility is achieved through interaction with multiple partners, forming a complex network that regulates chromatin folding within the nucleus. In this review, we delve into CTCF's interactions with other molecules involved in epigenetic processes, particularly histone and DNA demethylases, as well as several long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that are able to recruit CTCF. Our review highlights the importance of CTCF partners to shed light on chromatin regulation and pave the way for future exploration of the mechanisms that enable the finely-tuned role of CTCF as a master regulator of chromatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aylin Del Moral-Morales
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Cuajimalpa (UAM-C), Mexico City 05348, Mexico
- Institute for Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marisol Salgado-Albarrán
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Cuajimalpa (UAM-C), Mexico City 05348, Mexico
- Institute for Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yesennia Sánchez-Pérez
- Subdirección de Investigación, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Nina Kerstin Wenke
- Institute for Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Baumbach
- Institute for Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Computational BioMedicine Lab., University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Ernesto Soto-Reyes
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Cuajimalpa (UAM-C), Mexico City 05348, Mexico
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Moscona R, Janssen SM, Elchebly M, Papadakis AI, Rubin E, Spatz A. BORIS/CTCFL-mediated chromatin accessibility alterations promote a pro-invasive transcriptional signature in melanoma cells. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2023; 36:299-313. [PMID: 37082838 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13089] [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: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, due to its tendency to metastasize early. Brother of regulator of imprinted sites (BORIS), also known as CCCTC binding factor-like (CTCFL), is a transcription regulator that becomes ectopically expressed in melanoma. We recently showed that BORIS contributes to melanoma phenotype switching by altering the gene expression program of melanoma cells from an intermediate melanocytic state toward a more mesenchymal-like state. However, the mechanism underlying this transcriptional switch remains unclear. Here, ATAC-seq was used to study BORIS-mediated chromatin accessibility alterations in melanoma cells harboring an intermediate melanocytic state. The gene set that gained promoter accessibility, following ectopic BORIS expression, showed enrichment for biological processes associated with melanoma invasion, while promoters of genes associated with proliferation showed reduced accessibility. Integration of ATAC-seq and RNA-seq data demonstrated that increased chromatin accessibility was associated with transcriptional upregulation of genes involved in tumor progression processes, and the aberrant activation of oncogenic transcription factors, while reduced chromatin accessibility and downregulated genes were associated with repressed activity of tumor suppressors and proliferation factors. Together, these findings indicate that BORIS mediates transcriptional reprogramming in melanoma cells by altering chromatin accessibility and gene expression, shifting the cellular transcription landscape of melanoma cells toward a mesenchymal-like genetic signature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Moscona
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Sanne Marlijn Janssen
- Lady Davis Institute, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | | | - Eitan Rubin
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Alan Spatz
- Lady Davis Institute, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Division of Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, McGill University Health Center, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
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Zhou S, Li L, Zhang M, Qin Y, Li B. The function of brother of the regulator of imprinted sites in cancer development. Cancer Gene Ther 2023; 30:236-244. [PMID: 36376421 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-022-00556-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
As Douglas Hanahan and Robert Weinberg compiled, there are nine hallmarks of cancer that are conducive to cancer cell development and survival. Previous studies showed that brother of the regulator of imprinted sites (BORIS) might promote cancer progression through these aspects. The competition between BORIS and CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), which is crucial in the formation of chromatin loops, affects the normal function of CTCF and leads to neoplasia and deformity. In addition, BORIS belongs to the cancer-testis antigen families, which are potential targets in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Herein, we discuss the function and mechanisms of BORIS, especially in cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Medical School, 37 Guo Xue Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Lian Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Medical School, 37 Guo Xue Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Medical School, 37 Guo Xue Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yang Qin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, No. 17, Section 3, South Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Medical School, 37 Guo Xue Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
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Sati L, Soygur B, Goksu E, Bassorgun CI, McGrath J. CTCFL expression is associated with cerebral vascular abnormalities. Tissue Cell 2021; 72:101528. [PMID: 33756271 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2021.101528] [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: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
CTCFL is expressed in testis, oocytes and embryonic stem cells, and is aberrantly expressed in malignant cells, and is classified as a cancer-testis gene. We have previously shown by using a tetracycline-inducible Ctcfl transgene that inappropriate expression of Ctcfl negatively impacts fetal development and causes early postnatal lethality in the mouse. The affected pups displayed severe vascular abnormalities and localized hemorrhages in the brain evocative of cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) and arteriovenous malformations (AVM) in humans. Thus, we aim to analyze; a) the presence of CCM-related proteins CCM1/KRIT1, CCM2/malcavernin and CCM3/PDCD10 in Ctcfl transgenic animals and, b) whether there is CTCFL expression in human CCM and AVM tissues. Ctcfl transgenic animals exhibited increased CD31 expression in vascular areas of the dermis and periadnexal regions but no difference was observed for vWF and α-SMA expressions. CCM-related proteins CCM1/KRIT1, CCM2/malcavernin and CCM3/PDCD10 were aberrantly expressed in coronal sections of the head in transgenic animals. We also observed CTCFL expression in human CCMs and AVMs. The induced expression of CTCFL resulting in vascular brain malformations in mice combined with the presence of CTCFL in human vascular malformations provide new insights into the role of this gene in vascular development in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyla Sati
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey.
| | - Bikem Soygur
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Center for Reproductive Sciences, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ethem Goksu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
| | | | - James McGrath
- Departments of Genetics and Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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6
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AML displays increased CTCF occupancy associated with aberrant gene expression and transcription factor binding. Blood 2021; 136:339-352. [PMID: 32232485 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019002326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
CCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a key regulator of gene expression through organization of the chromatin structure. Still, it is unclear how CTCF binding is perturbed in leukemia or in cancer in general. We studied CTCF binding by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing in cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and in normal bone marrow (NBM) in the context of gene expression, DNA methylation, and azacitidine exposure. CTCF binding was increased in AML compared with NBM. Aberrant CTCF binding was enriched for motifs for key myeloid transcription factors such as CEBPA, PU.1, and RUNX1. AML with TET2 mutations was characterized by a particularly strong gain of CTCF binding, highly enriched for gain in promoter regions, while AML in general was enriched for changes at enhancers. There was a strong anticorrelation between CTCF binding and DNA methylation. Gain of CTCF occupancy was associated with increased gene expression; however, the genomic location (promoter vs distal regions) and enrichment of motifs (for repressing vs activating cofactors) were decisive for the gene expression pattern. Knockdown of CTCF in K562 cells caused loss of CTCF binding and transcriptional repression of genes with changed CTCF binding in AML, as well as loss of RUNX1 binding at RUNX1/CTCF-binding sites. In addition, CTCF knockdown caused increased differentiation. Azacitidine exposure caused major changes in CTCF occupancy in AML patient cells, partly by restoring a CTCF-binding pattern similar to NBM. We conclude that AML displays an aberrant increase in CTCF occupancy that targets key genes for AML development and impacts gene expression.
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7
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Chai P, Yu J, Jia R, Wen X, Ding T, Zhang X, Ni H, Jia R, Ge S, Zhang H, Fan X. Generation of onco-enhancer enhances chromosomal remodeling and accelerates tumorigenesis. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:12135-12150. [PMID: 33196849 PMCID: PMC7708045 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa1051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromatin remodeling impacts the structural neighborhoods and regulates gene expression. However, the role of enhancer-guided chromatin remodeling in the gene regulation remains unclear. Here, using RNA-seq and ChIP-seq, we identified for the first time that neurotensin (NTS) serves as a key oncogene in uveal melanoma and that CTCF interacts with the upstream enhancer of NTS and orchestrates an 800 kb chromosomal loop between the promoter and enhancer. Intriguingly, this novel CTCF-guided chromatin loop was ubiquitous in a cohort of tumor patients. In addition, a disruption in this chromosomal interaction prevented the histone acetyltransferase EP300 from embedding in the promoter of NTS and resulted in NTS silencing. Most importantly, in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that the ability of tumor formation was significantly suppressed via deletion of the enhancer by CRISPR-Cas9. These studies delineate a novel onco-enhancer guided epigenetic mechanism and provide a promising therapeutic concept for disease therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiwei Chai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Jie Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Ruobing Jia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Xuyang Wen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Tianyi Ding
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China.,Frontier Science Research Center for Stem Cells, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China.,Frontier Science Research Center for Stem Cells, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, P. R. China
| | - Hongyan Ni
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Renbing Jia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Shengfang Ge
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - He Zhang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China.,Frontier Science Research Center for Stem Cells, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, P. R. China
| | - Xianqun Fan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P. R. China
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Zhang Y, Song Y, Li C, Ren J, Fang M, Fang J, Wang X. Brother of regulator of imprinted sites inhibits cisplatin-induced DNA damage in non-small cell lung cancer. Oncol Lett 2020; 20:251. [PMID: 32994814 PMCID: PMC7509674 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.12114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cisplatin (DDP) chemotherapy is the primary modality of treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, due to the occurrence of DDP resistance, only a limited number of patients benefit from this treatment regimen. Brother of Regulator of Imprinted Sites (BORIS) is expressed elevated in NSCLC. Whether BORIS is involved in the DDP resistance of NSCLC is currently undetermined. The association between BORIS expression and overall survival rate of 156 patients with NSCLC who received DDP chemotherapy was analyzed in the present study. In order to investigate the function of BORIS in DDP chemotherapy, BORIS was silenced or overexpressed in four NSCLC cell lines. The cell viabilities, apoptosis and DNA damage induced by DDP were evaluated in these cell lines. In addition, the regulations of DNA repair genes were assessed, including POLH, ERCC1, BRCA1, MSH6 and XPA. The present study demonstrated that high BORIS expression was associated with decreased overall survival rate in patients with NSCLC who received DDP chemotherapy. The patients who benefited and went into remission following DDP therapy expressed a relatively low level of BORIS, suggesting the potential function of BORIS in DDP resistance. Cell experiments revealed that NSCLC cells that had a higher proliferation rate and resisted DDP treatment expressed a relatively higher level of BORIS. Knockdown of BORIS in NSCLC cells induced DNA damage; inhibiting cell proliferation and sensitizing cells to DDP treatment. In contrast, BORIS overexpression suppressed DDP-induced DNA damage. Notably, the mismatch repair factor mutS homolog 6 (MSH6) was regulated by BORIS, indicating its association with BORIS-associated DDP resistance in NSCLC. The findings of the present study suggest that BORIS suppresses DNA damage and promotes the progression of NSCLC and DDP resistance. The present study indicates the potential application of BORIS in NSCLC therapy and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmei Zhang
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, P.R. China
| | - Yongfei Song
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, P.R. China
| | - Chao Li
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, P.R. China
| | - Juan Ren
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, P.R. China
| | - Mengdie Fang
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, P.R. China
| | - Jianfei Fang
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, P.R. China.,Department of Pathology, Institute of Cancer Research and Basic Medical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Cancer Hospital of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoju Wang
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, P.R. China
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Dawson WK, Lazniewski M, Plewczynski D. Free energy-based model of CTCF-mediated chromatin looping in the human genome. Methods 2020; 181-182:35-51. [PMID: 32645447 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2020.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, high-throughput techniques have revealed considerable structural organization of the human genome with diverse regions of the chromatin interacting with each other in the form of loops. Some of these loops are quite complex and may encompass regions comprised of many interacting chain segments around a central locus. Popular techniques for extracting this information are chromatin interaction analysis by paired-end tag sequencing (ChIA-PET) and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C). Here, we introduce a physics-based method to predict the three-dimensional structure of chromatin from population-averaged ChIA-PET data. The approach uses experimentally-validated data from human B-lymphoblastoid cells to generate 2D meta-structures of chromatin using a dynamic programming algorithm that explores the chromatin free energy landscape. By generating both optimal and suboptimal meta-structures we can calculate both the free energy and additionally the relative thermodynamic probability. A 3D structure prediction program with applied restraints then can be used to generate the tertiary structures. The main advantage of this approach for population-averaged experimental data is that it provides a way to distinguish between the principal and the spurious contacts. This study also finds that euchromatin appear to have rather precisely regulated 2D meta-structures compared to heterochromatin. The program source-code is available at https://github.com/plewczynski/looper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne K Dawson
- Laboratory of Functional and Structural Genomics, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2c, Warsaw 02-089, Poland; Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 103-8657, Japan.
| | - Michal Lazniewski
- Laboratory of Functional and Structural Genomics, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2c, Warsaw 02-089, Poland; Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics, Faculty of Mathematics and Information Science, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dariusz Plewczynski
- Laboratory of Functional and Structural Genomics, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2c, Warsaw 02-089, Poland; Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics, Faculty of Mathematics and Information Science, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland.
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Nishana M, Ha C, Rodriguez-Hernaez J, Ranjbaran A, Chio E, Nora EP, Badri SB, Kloetgen A, Bruneau BG, Tsirigos A, Skok JA. Defining the relative and combined contribution of CTCF and CTCFL to genomic regulation. Genome Biol 2020; 21:108. [PMID: 32393311 PMCID: PMC7212617 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-020-02024-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ubiquitously expressed CTCF is involved in numerous cellular functions, such as organizing chromatin into TAD structures. In contrast, its paralog, CTCFL, is normally only present in the testis. However, it is also aberrantly expressed in many cancers. While it is known that shared and unique zinc finger sequences in CTCF and CTCFL enable CTCFL to bind competitively to a subset of CTCF binding sites as well as its own unique locations, the impact of CTCFL on chromosome organization and gene expression has not been comprehensively analyzed in the context of CTCF function. Using an inducible complementation system, we analyze the impact of expressing CTCFL and CTCF-CTCFL chimeric proteins in the presence or absence of endogenous CTCF to clarify the relative and combined contribution of CTCF and CTCFL to chromosome organization and transcription. RESULTS We demonstrate that the N terminus of CTCF interacts with cohesin which explains the requirement for convergent CTCF binding sites in loop formation. By analyzing CTCF and CTCFL binding in tandem, we identify phenotypically distinct sites with respect to motifs, targeting to promoter/intronic intergenic regions and chromatin folding. Finally, we reveal that the N, C, and zinc finger terminal domains play unique roles in targeting each paralog to distinct binding sites to regulate transcription, chromatin looping, and insulation. CONCLUSION This study clarifies the unique and combined contribution of CTCF and CTCFL to chromosome organization and transcription, with direct implications for understanding how their co-expression deregulates transcription in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caryn Ha
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | | | - Ali Ranjbaran
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Erica Chio
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Elphege P Nora
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.,Roddenberry Center for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine at Gladstone, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Sana B Badri
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Andreas Kloetgen
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratories, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Benoit G Bruneau
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.,Roddenberry Center for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine at Gladstone, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Aristotelis Tsirigos
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, 10016, USA.,Applied Bioinformatics Laboratories, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Jane A Skok
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, 10016, USA. .,Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
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11
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Debaugny RE, Skok JA. CTCF and CTCFL in cancer. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2020; 61:44-52. [PMID: 32334335 PMCID: PMC7893514 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2020.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
CTCF plays a key role in organizing chromatin into TAD structures but it can also function as a transcription factor. CTCFL (CTCF-like), the paralog of CTCF, is normally transiently expressed in pre-meiotic male germ cells together with ubiquitously expressed CTCF. It plays a unique role in spermatogenesis by regulating expression of testis-specific genes. Genetic alterations in CTCF and its paralog CTCFL have both been found in numerous cancers, but it remains unknown to what extent CTCFL deregulates transcription on its own or by opposing CTCF. Here, we discuss some of the potential mechanisms by which these two proteins could alter gene regulation and contribute to oncogenic transcriptional programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxanne E Debaugny
- Dept. of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Jane A Skok
- Dept. of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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12
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Janssen SM, Moscona R, Elchebly M, Papadakis AI, Redpath M, Wang H, Rubin E, van Kempen LC, Spatz A. BORIS/CTCFL promotes a switch from a proliferative towards an invasive phenotype in melanoma cells. Cell Death Discov 2020; 6:1. [PMID: 32123577 PMCID: PMC7026120 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-019-0235-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is among the most aggressive cancers due to its tendency to metastasize early. Phenotype switching between a proliferative and an invasive state has been suggested as a critical process for metastasis, though the mechanisms that regulate state transitions are complex and remain poorly understood. Brother of Regulator of Imprinted Sites (BORIS), also known as CCCTC binding factor-Like (CTCFL), is a transcriptional modulator that becomes aberrantly expressed in melanoma. Yet, the role of BORIS in melanoma remains elusive. Here, we show that BORIS is involved in melanoma phenotype switching. Genetic modification of BORIS expression in melanoma cells combined with whole-transcriptome analysis indicated that BORIS expression contributes to an invasion-associated transcriptome. In line with these findings, inducible BORIS overexpression in melanoma cells reduced proliferation and increased migration and invasion, demonstrating that the transcriptional switch is accompanied by a phenotypic switch. Mechanistically, we reveal that BORIS binds near the promoter of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TFGB1), a well-recognized factor involved in the transition towards an invasive state, which coincided with increased expression of TGFB1. Overall, our study indicates a pro-invasive role for BORIS in melanoma via transcriptional reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne Marlijn Janssen
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montréal, QC Canada
- Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montréal, QC Canada
| | - Roy Moscona
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Mounib Elchebly
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montréal, QC Canada
| | | | - Margaret Redpath
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montréal, QC Canada
- Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montréal, QC Canada
- Division of Pathology, Department of Laboratory medicine, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Hangjun Wang
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montréal, QC Canada
- Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montréal, QC Canada
- Division of Pathology, Department of Laboratory medicine, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Eitan Rubin
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Léon Cornelis van Kempen
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montréal, QC Canada
- Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montréal, QC Canada
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory for Molecular Pathology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Alan Spatz
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montréal, QC Canada
- Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montréal, QC Canada
- Division of Pathology, Department of Laboratory medicine, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC Canada
- Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montréal, QC Canada
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13
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BORIS promotes chromatin regulatory interactions in treatment-resistant cancer cells. Nature 2019; 572:676-680. [PMID: 31391581 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1472-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), which anchors DNA loops that organize the genome into structural domains, has a central role in gene control by facilitating or constraining interactions between genes and their regulatory elements1,2. In cancer cells, the disruption of CTCF binding at specific loci by somatic mutation3,4 or DNA hypermethylation5 results in the loss of loop anchors and consequent activation of oncogenes. By contrast, the germ-cell-specific paralogue of CTCF, BORIS (brother of the regulator of imprinted sites, also known as CTCFL)6, is overexpressed in several cancers7-9, but its contributions to the malignant phenotype remain unclear. Here we show that aberrant upregulation of BORIS promotes chromatin interactions in ALK-mutated, MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma10 cells that develop resistance to ALK inhibition. These cells are reprogrammed to a distinct phenotypic state during the acquisition of resistance, a process defined by the initial loss of MYCN expression followed by subsequent overexpression of BORIS and a concomitant switch in cellular dependence from MYCN to BORIS. The resultant BORIS-regulated alterations in chromatin looping lead to the formation of super-enhancers that drive the ectopic expression of a subset of proneural transcription factors that ultimately define the resistance phenotype. These results identify a previously unrecognized role of BORIS-to promote regulatory chromatin interactions that support specific cancer phenotypes.
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14
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Hillman JC, Pugacheva EM, Barger CJ, Sribenja S, Rosario S, Albahrani M, Truskinovsky AM, Stablewski A, Liu S, Loukinov DI, Zentner GE, Lobanenkov VV, Karpf AR, Higgins MJ. BORIS Expression in Ovarian Cancer Precursor Cells Alters the CTCF Cistrome and Enhances Invasiveness through GALNT14. Mol Cancer Res 2019; 17:2051-2062. [PMID: 31292201 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-19-0310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
High-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) is the most aggressive and predominant form of epithelial ovarian cancer and the leading cause of gynecologic cancer-related death. We have previously shown that CTCFL (also known as BORIS, Brother of the Regulator of Imprinted Sites) is expressed in most ovarian cancers, and is associated with global and promoter-specific DNA hypomethylation, advanced tumor stage, and poor prognosis. To explore its role in HGSC, we expressed BORIS in human fallopian tube secretory epithelial cells (FTSEC), the presumptive cells of origin for HGSC. BORIS-expressing cells exhibited increased motility and invasion, and BORIS expression was associated with alterations in several cancer-associated gene expression networks, including fatty acid metabolism, TNF signaling, cell migration, and ECM-receptor interactions. Importantly, GALNT14, a glycosyltransferase gene implicated in cancer cell migration and invasion, was highly induced by BORIS, and GALNT14 knockdown significantly abrogated BORIS-induced cell motility and invasion. In addition, in silico analyses provided evidence for BORIS and GALNT14 coexpression in several cancers. Finally, ChIP-seq demonstrated that expression of BORIS was associated with de novo and enhanced binding of CTCF at hundreds of loci, many of which correlated with activation of transcription at target genes, including GALNT14. Taken together, our data indicate that BORIS may promote cell motility and invasion in HGSC via upregulation of GALNT14, and suggests BORIS as a potential therapeutic target in this malignancy. IMPLICATIONS: These studies provide evidence that aberrant expression of BORIS may play a role in the progression to HGSC by enhancing the migratory and invasive properties of FTSEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna C Hillman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York
| | - Elena M Pugacheva
- Molecular Pathology Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Carter J Barger
- Eppley Institute and Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Sirinapa Sribenja
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York
| | - Spencer Rosario
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York
| | - Mustafa Albahrani
- Eppley Institute and Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | | | - Aimee Stablewski
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York
| | - Song Liu
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York
| | - Dmitri I Loukinov
- Molecular Pathology Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Gabriel E Zentner
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.,Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Victor V Lobanenkov
- Molecular Pathology Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Adam R Karpf
- Eppley Institute and Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.
| | - Michael J Higgins
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York.
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15
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Lazniewski M, Dawson WK, Rusek AM, Plewczynski D. One protein to rule them all: The role of CCCTC-binding factor in shaping human genome in health and disease. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2018; 90:114-127. [PMID: 30096365 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2018.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The eukaryotic genome, constituting several billion base pairs, must be contracted to fit within the volume of a nucleus where the diameter is on the scale of μm. The 3D structure and packing of such a long sequence cannot be left to pure chance, as DNA must be efficiently used for its primary roles as a matrix for transcription and replication. In recent years, methods like chromatin conformation capture (including 3C, 4C, Hi-C, ChIA-PET and Multi-ChIA) and optical microscopy have advanced substantially and have shed new light on how eukaryotic genomes are hierarchically organized; first into 10-nm fiber, next into DNA loops, topologically associated domains and finally into interphase or mitotic chromosomes. This knowledge has allowed us to revise our understanding regarding the mechanisms governing the process of DNA organization. Mounting experimental evidence suggests that the key element in the formation of loops is the binding of the CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) to DNA; a protein that can be referred to as the chief organizer of the genome. However, CTCF does not work alone but in cooperation with other proteins, such as cohesin or Yin Yang 1 (YY1). In this short review, we briefly describe our current understanding of the structure of eukaryotic genomes, how they are established and how the formation of DNA loops can influence gene expression. We discuss the recent discoveries describing the 3D structure of the CTCF-DNA complex and the role of CTCF in establishing genome structure. Finally, we briefly explain how various genetic disorders might arise as a consequence of mutations in the CTCF target sequence or alteration of genomic imprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Lazniewski
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wayne K Dawson
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 103-8657, Japan
| | - Anna Maria Rusek
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; Clinical Molecular Biology Department, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Dariusz Plewczynski
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; Centre for Innovative Research, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; Faculty of Mathematics and Information Science, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland.
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