1
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Hyder U, Challa A, Thornton M, Nandu T, Kraus WL, D’Orso I. KAP1 negatively regulates RNA polymerase II elongation kinetics to activate signal-induced transcription. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.05.592422. [PMID: 38746145 PMCID: PMC11092767 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.05.592422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Signal-induced transcriptional programs regulate critical biological processes through the precise spatiotemporal activation of Immediate Early Genes (IEGs); however, the mechanisms of transcription induction remain poorly understood. By combining an acute depletion system with high resolution genomics approaches to interrogate synchronized, temporal transcription, we reveal that KAP1/TRIM28 is a first responder that fulfills the temporal and heightened transcriptional demand of IEGs. Unexpectedly, acute KAP1 loss triggers an increase in RNA polymerase II elongation kinetics during early stimulation time points. This elongation defect derails the normal progression through the transcriptional cycle during late stimulation time points, ultimately leading to decreased recruitment of the transcription apparatus for re-initiation thereby dampening IEGs transcriptional output. Collectively, KAP1 plays a counterintuitive role by negatively regulating transcription elongation to support full activation across multiple transcription cycles of genes critical for cell physiology and organismal functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Usman Hyder
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Ashwini Challa
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Micah Thornton
- Laboratory of Signaling and Gene Regulation, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Tulip Nandu
- Laboratory of Signaling and Gene Regulation, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - W. Lee Kraus
- Laboratory of Signaling and Gene Regulation, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Iván D’Orso
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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2
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Peng D, Zheng L, Liu D, Han C, Wang X, Yang Y, Song L, Zhao M, Wei Y, Li J, Ye X, Wei Y, Feng Z, Huang X, Chen M, Gou Y, Xue Y, Zhang L. Large-language models facilitate discovery of the molecular signatures regulating sleep and activity. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3685. [PMID: 38693116 PMCID: PMC11063160 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48005-w] [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: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Sleep, locomotor and social activities are essential animal behaviors, but their reciprocal relationships and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we elicit information from a cutting-edge large-language model (LLM), generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) 3.5, which interprets 10.2-13.8% of Drosophila genes known to regulate the 3 behaviors. We develop an instrument for simultaneous video tracking of multiple moving objects, and conduct a genome-wide screen. We have identified 758 fly genes that regulate sleep and activities, including mre11 which regulates sleep only in the presence of conspecifics, and NELF-B which regulates sleep regardless of whether conspecifics are present. Based on LLM-reasoning, an educated signal web is modeled for understanding of potential relationships between its components, presenting comprehensive molecular signatures that control sleep, locomotor and social activities. This LLM-aided strategy may also be helpful for addressing other complex scientific questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Peng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Liubin Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Cheng Han
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Li Song
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Miaoying Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Yanfeng Wei
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Jiayi Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Xiaoxue Ye
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Yuxiang Wei
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Zihao Feng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Xinhe Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Miaomiao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Yujie Gou
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Yu Xue
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China.
- Nanjing University Institute of Artificial Intelligence Biomedicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210031, China.
| | - Luoying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China.
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, Hubei, 430022, China.
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3
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Santana JF, Spector BM, Suarez G, Luse D, Price D. NELF focuses sites of initiation and maintains promoter architecture. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:2977-2994. [PMID: 38197272 PMCID: PMC11014283 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Many factors control the elongation phase of transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II), a process that plays an essential role in regulating gene expression. We utilized cells expressing degradation tagged subunits of NELFB, PAF1 and RTF1 to probe the effects of depletion of the factors on nascent transcripts using PRO-Seq and on chromatin architecture using DFF-ChIP. Although NELF is involved in promoter proximal pausing, depletion of NELFB had only a minimal effect on the level of paused transcripts and almost no effect on control of productive elongation. Instead, NELF depletion increased the utilization of downstream transcription start sites and caused a dramatic, genome-wide loss of H3K4me3 marked nucleosomes. Depletion of PAF1 and RTF1 both had major effects on productive transcript elongation in gene bodies and also caused initiation site changes like those seen with NELFB depletion. Our study confirmed that the first nucleosome encountered during initiation and early elongation is highly positioned with respect to the major TSS. In contrast, the positions of H3K4me3 marked nucleosomes in promoter regions are heterogeneous and are influenced by transcription. We propose a model defining NELF function and a general role of the H3K4me3 modification in blocking transcription initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan F Santana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Benjamin M Spector
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Gustavo A Suarez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Donal S Luse
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - David H Price
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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4
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Su BG, Vos SM. Distinct negative elongation factor conformations regulate RNA polymerase II promoter-proximal pausing. Mol Cell 2024; 84:1243-1256.e5. [PMID: 38401543 PMCID: PMC10997474 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.01.023] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Metazoan gene expression regulation involves pausing of RNA polymerase (Pol II) in the promoter-proximal region of genes and is stabilized by DSIF and NELF. Upon depletion of elongation factors, NELF appears to accompany elongating Pol II past pause sites; however, prior work indicates that NELF prevents Pol II elongation. Here, we report cryoelectron microscopy structures of Pol II-DSIF-NELF complexes with NELF in two distinct conformations corresponding to paused and poised states. The paused NELF state supports Pol II stalling, whereas the poised NELF state enables transcription elongation as it does not support a tilted RNA-DNA hybrid. Further, the poised NELF state can accommodate TFIIS binding to Pol II, allowing for Pol II reactivation at paused or backtracking sites. Finally, we observe that the NELF-A tentacle interacts with the RPB2 protrusion and is necessary for pausing. Our results define how NELF can support pausing, reactivation, and elongation by Pol II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie G Su
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 68, 31 Ames St., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Seychelle M Vos
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 68, 31 Ames St., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA.
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5
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Patel A, Dharap A. An Emerging Role for Enhancer RNAs in Brain Disorders. Neuromolecular Med 2024; 26:7. [PMID: 38546891 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-024-08776-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Noncoding DNA undergoes widespread context-dependent transcription to produce noncoding RNAs. In recent decades, tremendous advances in genomics and transcriptomics have revealed important regulatory roles for noncoding DNA elements and the RNAs that they produce. Enhancers are one such element that are well-established drivers of gene expression changes in response to a variety of factors such as external stimuli, cellular responses, developmental cues, and disease states. They are known to act at long distances, interact with multiple target gene loci simultaneously, synergize with other enhancers, and associate with dynamic chromatin architectures to form a complex regulatory network. Recent advances in enhancer biology have revealed that upon activation, enhancers transcribe long noncoding RNAs, known as enhancer RNAs (eRNAs), that have been shown to play important roles in enhancer-mediated gene regulation and chromatin-modifying activities. In the brain, enhancer dysregulation and eRNA transcription has been reported in numerous disorders from acute injuries to chronic neurodegeneration. Because this is an emerging area, a comprehensive understanding of eRNA function has not yet been achieved in brain disorders; however, the findings to date have illuminated a role for eRNAs in activity-driven gene expression and phenotypic outcomes. In this review, we highlight the breadth of the current literature on eRNA biology in brain health and disease and discuss the challenges as well as focus areas and strategies for future in-depth research on eRNAs in brain health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Patel
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- Byrd Alzheimer's Center & Research Institute, USF Health Neuroscience Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Ashutosh Dharap
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
- Byrd Alzheimer's Center & Research Institute, USF Health Neuroscience Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.
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6
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Pessa JC, Joutsen J, Sistonen L. Transcriptional reprogramming at the intersection of the heat shock response and proteostasis. Mol Cell 2024; 84:80-93. [PMID: 38103561 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Cellular homeostasis is constantly challenged by a myriad of extrinsic and intrinsic stressors. To mitigate the stress-induced damage, cells activate transient survival programs. The heat shock response (HSR) is an evolutionarily well-conserved survival program that is activated in response to proteotoxic stress. The HSR encompasses a dual regulation of transcription, characterized by rapid activation of genes encoding molecular chaperones and concomitant global attenuation of non-chaperone genes. Recent genome-wide approaches have delineated the molecular depth of stress-induced transcriptional reprogramming. The dramatic rewiring of gene and enhancer networks is driven by key transcription factors, including heat shock factors (HSFs), that together with chromatin-modifying enzymes remodel the 3D chromatin architecture, determining the selection of either gene activation or repression. Here, we highlight the current advancements of molecular mechanisms driving transcriptional reprogramming during acute heat stress. We also discuss the emerging implications of HSF-mediated stress signaling in the context of physiological and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny C Pessa
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Cell Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Jenny Joutsen
- Department of Pathology, Lapland Central Hospital, Lapland Wellbeing Services County, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Lea Sistonen
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Cell Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
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7
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Nandy A, Biswas D. Basic techniques associated with studying transcription elongation both in vitro and in vivo within mammalian cells. Methods 2024; 221:42-54. [PMID: 38040206 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2023.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
All cellular functions and identity of every cell are directly or indirectly depend on its gene expression. Therefore, cells control their gene expression very finely at multiple layers. Cells always fine tune its gene expression profile depending on the internal and external cues to maintain best possible cellular growth condition. Regulation of mRNA production is a major step in the control of gene expression. mRNA production primarily depends on two factors. One is the level of RNA polymerase II (Pol II hereafter) recruitment at the promoter region and another is the amount of Pol II successfully elongating through the whole gene body also known as coding region. There are several proteins (individually or as part of a complex) which control elongation of Pol II both positively or negatively. It is important to understand how different transcription factors regulate this elongation step since this knowledge is important for understanding different cellular functions both under basal and stimulus-dependent contexts. Here, we have discussed both in vitro and in vivo techniques which can be used to study the effect of different factors on Pol II-mediated transcription elongation. In vitro techniques give us valuable information about the ability of a transcription factor or a complex to exert its direct effect on the overall processes. In vivo techniques give us an understanding about the effect of a transcription factor or a complex in its native condition where functions of a transcription factor can be influenced by many other factors including its associated ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arijit Nandy
- Laboratory of Transcription Biology, Molecular Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 32, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Debabrata Biswas
- Laboratory of Transcription Biology, Molecular Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 32, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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8
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Aoi Y, Shilatifard A. Transcriptional elongation control in developmental gene expression, aging, and disease. Mol Cell 2023; 83:3972-3999. [PMID: 37922911 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
The elongation stage of transcription by RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) is central to the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental cues in metazoan. Dysregulated transcriptional elongation has been associated with developmental defects as well as disease and aging processes. Decades of genetic and biochemical studies have painstakingly identified and characterized an ensemble of factors that regulate RNA Pol II elongation. This review summarizes recent findings taking advantage of genetic engineering techniques that probe functions of elongation factors in vivo. We propose a revised model of elongation control in this accelerating field by reconciling contradictory results from the earlier biochemical evidence and the recent in vivo studies. We discuss how elongation factors regulate promoter-proximal RNA Pol II pause release, transcriptional elongation rate and processivity, RNA Pol II stability and RNA processing, and how perturbation of these processes is associated with developmental disorders, neurodegenerative disease, cancer, and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Aoi
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ali Shilatifard
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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9
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Aguilera J, Duan J, Lee SM, Ray M, Larschan E. The CLAMP GA-binding transcription factor regulates heat stress-induced transcriptional repression by associating with 3D loop anchors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.08.561401. [PMID: 37873306 PMCID: PMC10592702 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.08.561401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
In order to survive when exposed to heat stress (HS), organisms activate stress response genes and repress constitutive gene expression to prevent the accumulation of potentially toxic RNA and protein products. Although many studies have elucidated the mechanisms that drive HS-induced activation of stress response genes across species, little is known about repression mechanisms or how genes are targeted for activation versus repression context-specifically. The mechanisms of heat stress-regulated activation have been well-studied in Drosophila, in which the GA-binding transcription factor GAF is important for activating genes upon heat stress. Here, we show that a functionally distinct GA-binding transcription factor (TF) protein, CLAMP (Chromatin-linked adaptor for MSL complex proteins), is essential for repressing constitutive genes upon heat stress but not activation of the canonical heat stress pathway. HS induces loss of CLAMP-associated 3D chromatin loop anchors associated with different combinations of GA-binding TFs prior to HS if a gene becomes repressed versus activated. Overall, we demonstrate that CLAMP promotes repression of constitutive genes upon HS, and repression and activation are associated with the loss of CLAMP-associated 3D chromatin loops bound by different combinations of GA-binding TFs.
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10
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Dollinger R, Deng EB, Schultz J, Wu S, Deorio HR, Gilmour DS. Assessment of the roles of Spt5-nucleic acid contacts in promoter proximal pausing of RNA polymerase II. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105106. [PMID: 37517697 PMCID: PMC10482750 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105106] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Promoter proximal pausing of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is a critical transcriptional regulatory mechanism in metazoans that requires the transcription factor DRB sensitivity-inducing factor (DSIF) and the inhibitory negative elongation factor (NELF). DSIF, composed of Spt4 and Spt5, establishes the pause by recruiting NELF to the elongation complex. However, the role of DSIF in pausing beyond NELF recruitment remains unclear. We used a highly purified in vitro system and Drosophila nuclear extract to investigate the role of DSIF in promoter proximal pausing. We identified two domains of Spt5, the KOW4 and NGN domains, that facilitate Pol II pausing. The KOW4 domain promotes pausing through its interaction with the nascent RNA while the NGN domain does so through a short helical motif that is in close proximity to the non-transcribed DNA template strand. Removal of this sequence in Drosophila has a male-specific dominant negative effect. The alpha-helical motif is also needed to support fly viability. We also show that the interaction between the Spt5 KOW1 domain and the upstream DNA helix is required for DSIF association with the Pol II elongation complex. Disruption of the KOW1-DNA interaction is dominant lethal in vivo. Finally, we show that the KOW2-3 domain of Spt5 mediates the recruitment of NELF to the elongation complex. In summary, our results reveal additional roles for DSIF in transcription regulation and identify specific domains important for facilitating Pol II pausing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Dollinger
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Eilene B Deng
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Josie Schultz
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sharon Wu
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Haley R Deorio
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - David S Gilmour
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.
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11
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Hou X, Tian M, Ning J, Wang Z, Guo F, Zhang W, Hu L, Wei S, Hu C, Yun X, Zhao J, Dong Q, Ruan X, Li D, Gao M, Zheng X. PARP inhibitor shuts down the global translation of thyroid cancer through promoting Pol II binding to DIMT1 pause. Int J Biol Sci 2023; 19:3970-3986. [PMID: 37564214 PMCID: PMC10411462 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.81895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Thyroid cancer has become the most frequent endocrine-related malignancy. Currently, a mounting body of evidences support the clinical strategies for extending the benefit of PARP inhibitors beyond BRCA-mutant cancers. However, the functions and molecular mechanisms of PARP inhibitors in thyroid cancers (TCs) are not fully understood. Here, on the one hand, we revealed that niraparib promotes the accumulation of DNA damage in TCs. On the other hand, we indicated that niraparib inhibits the transcription of DIMT1 through promoting Pol II pausing in a PAR-dependent manner, subsequently leading to a global translation inhibition in TCs. Meanwhile, we found that niraparib activates the NF-κB signaling pathway by inhibiting the PARylation of p65, which decreases its ubiquitination and degradation level through E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF146. Moreover, bortezomib (a small molecule inhibitor of the NF-κB signaling pathway) could significantly enhance the anti-tumor effect of niraparib on TCs in vitro and in vivo. Our findings provide mechanistic supports for the efficacy of PARP inhibitors in cancer cells lacking BRCA-mutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiukun Hou
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300040, China
| | - Mengran Tian
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, 300121, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of General Surgery in Construction, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin,300121, China
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Junya Ning
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300040, China
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, 300121, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of General Surgery in Construction, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin,300121, China
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Zhongyu Wang
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300040, China
| | - Fengli Guo
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300040, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, 300121, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of General Surgery in Construction, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin,300121, China
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Linfei Hu
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300040, China
| | - Songfeng Wei
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300040, China
| | - Chuanxiang Hu
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300040, China
| | - Xinwei Yun
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300040, China
| | - Jingzhu Zhao
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300040, China
| | - Qiman Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xianhui Ruan
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300040, China
| | - Dapeng Li
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300040, China
| | - Ming Gao
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300040, China
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, 300121, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of General Surgery in Construction, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin,300121, China
| | - Xiangqian Zheng
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300040, China
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12
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Pal S, Biswas D. Promoter-proximal regulation of gene transcription: Key factors involved and emerging role of general transcription factors in assisting productive elongation. Gene 2023:147571. [PMID: 37331491 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
The pausing of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) at the promoter-proximal sites is a key rate-limiting step in gene expression. Cells have dedicated a specific set of proteins that sequentially establish pause and then release the Pol II from promoter-proximal sites. A well-controlled pausing and subsequent release of Pol II is crucial for thefine tuning of expression of genes including signal-responsive and developmentally-regulated ones. The release of paused Pol II broadly involves its transition from initiation to elongation. In this review article, we will discuss the phenomenon of Pol II pausing, the underlying mechanism, and also the role of different known factors, with an emphasis on general transcription factors, involved in this overall regulation. We will further discuss some recent findings suggesting a possible role (underexplored) of initiation factors in assisting the transition of transcriptionally-engaged paused Pol II into productive elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujay Pal
- Laboratory of Transcription Biology, Molecular Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata - 32, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Debabrata Biswas
- Laboratory of Transcription Biology, Molecular Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata - 32, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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13
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Li C, Li Z, Wu Z, Lu H. Phase separation in gene transcription control. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2023; 55:1052-1063. [PMID: 37265348 PMCID: PMC10415188 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Phase separation provides a general mechanism for the formation of biomolecular condensates, and it plays a vital role in regulating diverse cellular processes, including gene expression. Although the role of transcription factors and coactivators in regulating transcription has long been understood, how phase separation is involved in this process is just beginning to be explored. In this review, we highlight recent advance in elucidating the molecular mechanisms and functions of transcriptional condensates in gene expression control. We discuss the different condensates formed at each stage of the transcription cycle and how they are dynamically regulated in response to diverse cellular and extracellular cues that cause rapid changes in gene expression. Furthermore, we present new findings regarding the dysregulation of transcription condensates and their implications in human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengyu Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell BiologyLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
| | - Zhuo Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell BiologyLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
| | - Zhibing Wu
- Department of OncologyAffiliated Zhejiang HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou310058China
| | - Huasong Lu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell BiologyLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
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14
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DeBerardine M, Booth GT, Versluis PP, Lis JT. The NELF pausing checkpoint mediates the functional divergence of Cdk9. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2762. [PMID: 37179384 PMCID: PMC10182999 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38359-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Promoter-proximal pausing by RNA Pol II is a rate-determining step in gene transcription that is hypothesized to be a prominent point at which regulatory factors act. The pausing factor NELF is known to induce and stabilize pausing, but not all kinds of pausing are NELF-mediated. Here, we find that NELF-depleted Drosophila melanogaster cells functionally recapitulate the NELF-independent pausing we previously observed in fission yeast (which lack NELF). Critically, only NELF-mediated pausing establishes a strict requirement for Cdk9 kinase activity for the release of paused Pol II into productive elongation. Upon inhibition of Cdk9, cells with NELF efficiently shutdown gene transcription, while in NELF-depleted cells, defective, non-productive transcription continues unabated. By introducing a strict checkpoint for Cdk9, the evolution of NELF was likely critical to enable increased regulation of Cdk9 in higher eukaryotes, as Cdk9 availability can be restricted to limit gene transcription without inducing wasteful, non-productive transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael DeBerardine
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Gregory T Booth
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Kanvas Biosciences, Monmouth Junction, NJ, USA
| | - Philip P Versluis
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - John T Lis
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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15
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Escobedo SE, McGovern SE, Jauregui-Lozano JP, Stanhope SC, Anik P, Singhal K, DeBernardis R, Weake VM. Targeted RNAi screen identifies transcriptional mechanisms that prevent premature degeneration of adult photoreceptors. FRONTIERS IN EPIGENETICS AND EPIGENOMICS 2023; 1:1187980. [PMID: 37901602 PMCID: PMC10603763 DOI: 10.3389/freae.2023.1187980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Aging is associated with a decline in visual function and increased prevalence of ocular disease, correlating with changes in the transcriptome and epigenome of cells in the eye. Here, we sought to identify the transcriptional mechanisms that are necessary to maintain photoreceptor viability and function during aging. To do this, we performed a targeted photoreceptor-specific RNAi screen in Drosophila to identify transcriptional regulators whose knockdown results in premature, age-dependent retinal degeneration. From an initial set of 155 RNAi lines each targeting a unique gene and spanning a diverse set of transcription factors, chromatin remodelers, and histone modifiers, we identified 18 high-confidence target genes whose decreased expression in adult photoreceptors leads to premature and progressive retinal degeneration. These 18 target genes were enriched for factors involved in the regulation of transcription initiation, pausing, and elongation, suggesting that these processes are essential for maintaining the health of aging photoreceptors. To identify the genes regulated by these factors, we profiled the photoreceptor transcriptome in a subset of lines. Strikingly, two of the 18 target genes, Spt5 and domino, show similar changes in gene expression to those observed in photoreceptors with advanced age. Together, our data suggest that dysregulation of factors involved in transcription initiation and elongation plays a key role in shaping the transcriptome of aging photoreceptors. Further, our findings indicate that the age-dependent changes in gene expression not only correlate but might also contribute to an increased risk of retinal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer E. Escobedo
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Sarah E. McGovern
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | | | - Sarah C. Stanhope
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Paul Anik
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Kratika Singhal
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Ryan DeBernardis
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Vikki M. Weake
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
- Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
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16
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Zhang J, Hu Z, Chung HH, Tian Y, Lau KW, Ser Z, Lim YT, Sobota RM, Leong HF, Chen BJ, Yeo CJ, Tan SYX, Kang J, Tan DEK, Sou IF, McClurg UL, Lakshmanan M, Vaiyapuri TS, Raju A, Wong ESM, Tergaonkar V, Rajarethinam R, Pathak E, Tam WL, Tan EY, Tee WW. Dependency of NELF-E-SLUG-KAT2B epigenetic axis in breast cancer carcinogenesis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2439. [PMID: 37117180 PMCID: PMC10147683 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38132-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells undergo transcriptional reprogramming to drive tumor progression and metastasis. Using cancer cell lines and patient-derived tumor organoids, we demonstrate that loss of the negative elongation factor (NELF) complex inhibits breast cancer development through downregulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness-associated genes. Quantitative multiplexed Rapid Immunoprecipitation Mass spectrometry of Endogenous proteins (qPLEX-RIME) further reveals a significant rewiring of NELF-E-associated chromatin partners as a function of EMT and a co-option of NELF-E with the key EMT transcription factor SLUG. Accordingly, loss of NELF-E leads to impaired SLUG binding on chromatin. Through integrative transcriptomic and genomic analyses, we identify the histone acetyltransferase, KAT2B, as a key functional target of NELF-E-SLUG. Genetic and pharmacological inactivation of KAT2B ameliorate the expression of EMT markers, phenocopying NELF ablation. Elevated expression of NELF-E and KAT2B is associated with poorer prognosis in breast cancer patients, highlighting the clinical relevance of our findings. Taken together, we uncover a crucial role of the NELF-E-SLUG-KAT2B epigenetic axis in breast cancer carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieqiong Zhang
- Chromatin Dynamics and Disease Epigenetics Lab, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Republic of Singapore
| | - Zhenhua Hu
- Chromatin Dynamics and Disease Epigenetics Lab, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Hwa Hwa Chung
- Chromatin Dynamics and Disease Epigenetics Lab, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Yun Tian
- Department of Oncology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 210004, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Kah Weng Lau
- Department of Pathology, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119074, Republic of Singapore
| | - Zheng Ser
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, SingMass National Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Yan Ting Lim
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, SingMass National Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Radoslaw M Sobota
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, SingMass National Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Hwei Fen Leong
- Chromatin Dynamics and Disease Epigenetics Lab, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Benjamin Jieming Chen
- Chromatin Dynamics and Disease Epigenetics Lab, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Clarisse Jingyi Yeo
- Chromatin Dynamics and Disease Epigenetics Lab, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Shawn Ying Xuan Tan
- Chromatin Dynamics and Disease Epigenetics Lab, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Jian Kang
- Chromatin Dynamics and Disease Epigenetics Lab, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Dennis Eng Kiat Tan
- Chromatin Dynamics and Disease Epigenetics Lab, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ieng Fong Sou
- Chromatin Dynamics and Disease Epigenetics Lab, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Urszula Lucja McClurg
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Manikandan Lakshmanan
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Thamil Selvan Vaiyapuri
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Anandhkumar Raju
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Esther Sook Miin Wong
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Vinay Tergaonkar
- Department of Pathology, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119074, Republic of Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117599, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117597, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ravisankar Rajarethinam
- Advanced Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Elina Pathak
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Drive, Genome, Singapore, 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Wai Leong Tam
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117599, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117597, Republic of Singapore
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Drive, Genome, Singapore, 138672, Republic of Singapore
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117599, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ern Yu Tan
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore
- Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, 308433, Republic of Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 308232, Republic of Singapore
| | - Wee-Wei Tee
- Chromatin Dynamics and Disease Epigenetics Lab, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Republic of Singapore.
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Republic of Singapore.
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117599, Republic of Singapore.
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17
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Balasooriya GI, Spector DL. Allele pairing at Sun1-enriched domains at the nuclear periphery via T1A3 tandem DNA repeats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.07.536031. [PMID: 37066204 PMCID: PMC10104147 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.07.536031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Spatiotemporal gene regulation is fundamental to the biology of diploid cells. Therefore, effective communication between two alleles and their geometry in the nucleus is important. However, the mechanism that fine-tunes the expression from each of the two alleles of an autosome is enigmatic. Establishing an allele-specific gene expression visualization system in living cells, we show that alleles of biallelically expressed Cth and Ttc4 genes are paired prior to acquiring monoallelic expression. We found that active alleles of monoallelic genes are preferentially localized at Sun1-enriched domains at the nuclear periphery. These peripherally localized active DNA loci are enriched with adenine-thymidine-rich tandem repeats that interact with Hnrnpd and reside in a Hi-C-defined A compartment within the B compartment. Our results demonstrate the biological significance of T 1 A 3 tandem repeat sequences in genome organization and how the regulation of gene expression, at the level of individual alleles, relates to their spatial arrangement.
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18
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Chivu AG, Abuhashem A, Barshad G, Rice EJ, Leger MM, Vill AC, Wong W, Brady R, Smith JJ, Wikramanayake AH, Arenas-Mena C, Brito IL, Ruiz-Trillo I, Hadjantonakis AK, Lis JT, Lewis JJ, Danko CG. Evolution of promoter-proximal pausing enabled a new layer of transcription control. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2679520. [PMID: 36993251 PMCID: PMC10055653 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2679520/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Promoter-proximal pausing of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is a key regulatory step during transcription. Despite the central role of pausing in gene regulation, we do not understand the evolutionary processes that led to the emergence of Pol II pausing or its transition to a rate-limiting step actively controlled by transcription factors. Here we analyzed transcription in species across the tree of life. We found that unicellular eukaryotes display a slow acceleration of Pol II near transcription start sites. This proto-paused-like state transitioned to a longer, focused pause in derived metazoans which coincided with the evolution of new subunits in the NELF and 7SK complexes. Depletion of NELF reverts the mammalian focal pause to a proto-pause-like state and compromises transcriptional activation for a set of heat shock genes. Collectively, this work details the evolutionary history of Pol II pausing and sheds light on how new transcriptional regulatory mechanisms evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra G. Chivu
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Abderhman Abuhashem
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY 10065, USA
- Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, NY 10065, USA
- Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, NY 10065, USA
| | - Gilad Barshad
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Edward J. Rice
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Michelle M. Leger
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, 08003, Spain
| | - Albert C. Vill
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Wilfred Wong
- Computational and Systems Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Tri-Institutional training Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Rebecca Brady
- Department of Biology, Ithaca College, Ithaca NY 14850, USA
| | - Jeramiah J. Smith
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA
| | | | - César Arenas-Mena
- Department of Biology at the College of Staten Island and PhD Programs in Biology and Biochemistry at The Graduate Center, The City University of New York (CUNY), Staten Island, NY 10314, USA
| | - Ilana L. Brito
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, 08003, Spain
- ICREA, Pg. Lluis Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain., Barcelona, 08003, Spain
| | - Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY 10065, USA
- Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, NY 10065, USA
| | - John T. Lis
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - James J. Lewis
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 105 Collings St, Clemson, SC 29634
| | - Charles G. Danko
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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19
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Guo C, Zhang Y, Shuai S, Sigbessia A, Hao S, Xie P, Jiang X, Luo Z, Lin C. The super elongation complex (SEC) mediates phase transition of SPT5 during transcriptional pause release. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e55699. [PMID: 36629390 PMCID: PMC9986819 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202255699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Release of promoter-proximally paused RNA Pol II into elongation is a tightly regulated and rate-limiting step in metazoan gene transcription. However, the biophysical mechanism underlying pause release remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the pausing and elongation regulator SPT5 undergoes phase transition during transcriptional pause release. SPT5 per se is prone to form clusters. The disordered domain in SPT5 is required for pause release and gene activation. During early elongation, the super elongation complex (SEC) induces SPT5 transition into elongation droplets. Depletion of SEC increases SPT5 pausing clusters. Furthermore, disease-associated SEC mutations impair phase properties of elongation droplets and transcription. Our study suggests that SEC-mediated SPT5 phase transition might be essential for pause release and early elongation and that aberrant phase properties could contribute to transcription abnormality in diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghao Guo
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
- Co‐innovation Center of NeuroregenerationNantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Yadi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Shimin Shuai
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Abire Sigbessia
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Shaohua Hao
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Peng Xie
- Southeast University‐Allen Institute Joint Center, Institute for Brain and IntelligenceSoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xu Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Zhuojuan Luo
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
- Co‐innovation Center of NeuroregenerationNantong UniversityNantongChina
- Shenzhen Research InstituteSoutheast UniversityShenzhenChina
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Chengqi Lin
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
- Co‐innovation Center of NeuroregenerationNantong UniversityNantongChina
- Shenzhen Research InstituteSoutheast UniversityShenzhenChina
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
- Key Laboratory of Technical Evaluation of Fertility Regulation of Non‐human primate, Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children's HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhouChina
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20
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Bunch H. Studying RNA Polymerase II Promoter-Proximal Pausing by In Vitro Immobilized Template and Transcription Assays. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2693:13-24. [PMID: 37540423 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3342-7_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
The immobilized template assay is a versatile biochemical method for studying protein-nucleic acid interactions. Using this method, immobilized nucleic acid-associated or specific proteins can be identified and quantified by techniques such as mass spectrometry and immunoblotting. Here, a modified immobilized template assay combined with in vitro transcription assay to study the function of transcription factors and transcriptional activities at the human heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene is described. Notably, this method can be applied to study other important genes and transcription factors in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heeyoun Bunch
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
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21
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Lu H, Yang M, Zhou Q. Reprogramming transcription after DNA damage: recognition, response, repair, and restart. Trends Cell Biol 2022:S0962-8924(22)00261-6. [PMID: 36513571 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Genome integrity is constantly challenged by endogenous and exogenous insults that cause DNA damage. To cope with these threats, cells have a surveillance mechanism, known as the DNA damage response (DDR), to repair any lesions. Although transcription has long been implicated in DNA repair, how transcriptional reprogramming is coordinated with the DDR is just beginning to be understood. In this review, we highlight recent advances in elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying major transcriptional events, including RNA polymerase (Pol) II stalling and transcriptional silencing and recovery, which occur in response to DNA damage. Furthermore, we discuss how such transcriptional adaptation contributes to sensing and eliminating damaged DNA and how it can jeopardize genome integrity when it goes awry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huasong Lu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
| | - Min Yang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Qiang Zhou
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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22
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Watts JA, Grunseich C, Rodriguez Y, Liu Y, Li D, Burdick J, Bruzel A, Crouch RJ, Mahley RW, Wilson S, Cheung V. A common transcriptional mechanism involving R-loop and RNA abasic site regulates an enhancer RNA of APOE. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:12497-12514. [PMID: 36453989 PMCID: PMC9757052 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA is modified by hundreds of chemical reactions and folds into innumerable shapes. However, the regulatory role of RNA sequence and structure and how dysregulation leads to diseases remain largely unknown. Here, we uncovered a mechanism where RNA abasic sites in R-loops regulate transcription by pausing RNA polymerase II. We found an enhancer RNA, AANCR, that regulates the transcription and expression of apolipoprotein E (APOE). In some human cells such as fibroblasts, AANCR is folded into an R-loop and modified by N-glycosidic cleavage; in this form, AANCR is a partially transcribed nonfunctional enhancer and APOE is not expressed. In contrast, in other cell types including hepatocytes and under stress, AANCR does not form a stable R-loop as its sequence is not modified, so it is transcribed into a full-length enhancer that promotes APOE expression. DNA sequence variants in AANCR are associated significantly with APOE expression and Alzheimer's Disease, thus AANCR is a modifier of Alzheimer's Disease. Besides AANCR, thousands of noncoding RNAs are regulated by abasic sites in R-loops. Together our data reveal the essentiality of the folding and modification of RNA in cellular regulation and demonstrate that dysregulation underlies common complex diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason A Watts
- Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Christopher Grunseich
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yesenia Rodriguez
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Yaojuan Liu
- Department of Pediatrics and Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Dongjun Li
- Department of Pediatrics and Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Joshua T Burdick
- Department of Pediatrics and Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Alan Bruzel
- Department of Pediatrics and Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Robert J Crouch
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Robert W Mahley
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Samuel H Wilson
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Vivian G Cheung
- Department of Pediatrics and Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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23
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Integrative analysis reveals histone demethylase LSD1 promotes RNA polymerase II pausing. iScience 2022; 25:105049. [PMID: 36124234 PMCID: PMC9482124 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) is well-known for its role in decommissioning enhancers during mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation. Its role in gene promoters remains poorly understood despite its widespread presence at these sites. Here, we report that LSD1 promotes RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) pausing, a rate-limiting step in transcription regulation, in ESCs. We found the knockdown of LSD1 preferentially affects genes with higher RNAPII pausing. Next, we demonstrate that the co-localization sites of LSD1 and MYC, a factor known to regulate pause-release, are enriched for other RNAPII pausing factors. We show that LSD1 and MYC directly interact and MYC recruitment to genes co-regulated with LSD1 is dependent on LSD1 but not vice versa. The co-regulated gene set is significantly enriched for housekeeping processes and depleted of transcription factors compared to those bound by LSD1 alone. Collectively, our integrative analysis reveals a pleiotropic role of LSD1 in promoting RNAPII pausing. LSD1 promotes RNA polymerase II pausing in mouse embryonic stem cells LSD1 knockdown causes global reduction of RNAPII pausing Co-localized sites of LSD1 and MYC are enriched for RNAPII pausing and releasing factors MYC recruitment to co-regulated genes is dependent on LSD1 but not vice versa
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24
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Bozukova M, Nikopoulou C, Kleinenkuhnen N, Grbavac D, Goetsch K, Tessarz P. Aging is associated with increased chromatin accessibility and reduced polymerase pausing in liver. Mol Syst Biol 2022; 18:e11002. [PMID: 36082605 PMCID: PMC9459415 DOI: 10.15252/msb.202211002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulation of gene expression is linked to the organization of the genome. With age, chromatin alterations occur on all levels of genome organization, accompanied by changes in the gene expression profile. However, little is known about the changes in the level of transcriptional regulation. Here, we used a multi‐omics approach and integrated ATAC‐, RNA‐ and NET‐seq to identify age‐related changes in the chromatin landscape of murine liver and to investigate how these are linked to transcriptional regulation. We provide the first systematic inventory of the connection between aging, chromatin accessibility, and transcriptional regulation in a whole tissue. Aging in murine liver is characterized by an increase in chromatin accessibility at promoter regions, but not in an increase in transcriptional output. Instead, aging is accompanied by a decrease in promoter‐proximal pausing of RNA polymerase II (Pol II), while initiation of transcription is not decreased as assessed by RNA polymerase mapping using CUT&RUN. Based on the data reported, we propose that these age‐related changes in transcriptional regulation are due to a reduced stability of the pausing complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Bozukova
- Max Planck Research Group 'Chromatin and Ageing', Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Chrysa Nikopoulou
- Max Planck Research Group 'Chromatin and Ageing', Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Niklas Kleinenkuhnen
- Max Planck Research Group 'Chromatin and Ageing', Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dora Grbavac
- Max Planck Research Group 'Chromatin and Ageing', Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Katrin Goetsch
- Max Planck Research Group 'Chromatin and Ageing', Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Peter Tessarz
- Max Planck Research Group 'Chromatin and Ageing', Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany.,Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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25
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Abuhashem A, Chivu AG, Zhao Y, Rice EJ, Siepel A, Danko CG, Hadjantonakis AK. RNA Pol II pausing facilitates phased pluripotency transitions by buffering transcription. Genes Dev 2022; 36:gad.349565.122. [PMID: 35981753 PMCID: PMC9480856 DOI: 10.1101/gad.349565.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Promoter-proximal RNA Pol II pausing is a critical step in transcriptional control. Pol II pausing has been predominantly studied in tissue culture systems. While Pol II pausing has been shown to be required for mammalian development, the phenotypic and mechanistic details of this requirement are unknown. Here, we found that loss of Pol II pausing stalls pluripotent state transitions within the epiblast of the early mouse embryo. Using Nelfb -/- mice and a NELFB degron mouse pluripotent stem cell model, we show that embryonic stem cells (ESCs) representing the naïve state of pluripotency successfully initiate a transition program but fail to balance levels of induced and repressed genes and enhancers in the absence of NELF. We found an increase in chromatin-associated NELF during transition from the naïve to later pluripotent states. Overall, our work defines the acute and long-term molecular consequences of NELF loss and reveals a role for Pol II pausing in the pluripotency continuum as a modulator of cell state transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abderhman Abuhashem
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
- Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, New York 10065, USA
- Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Alexandra G Chivu
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Yixin Zhao
- Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA
| | - Edward J Rice
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Adam Siepel
- Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA
| | - Charles G Danko
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
- Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065, USA
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26
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Kyung J, Jeon M, Lee I. Recent advances in the chromatin-based mechanism of FLOWERING LOCUS C repression through autonomous pathway genes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:964931. [PMID: 36035698 PMCID: PMC9411803 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.964931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Proper timing of flowering, a phase transition from vegetative to reproductive development, is crucial for plant fitness. The floral repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) is the major determinant of flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana. In rapid-cycling A. thaliana accessions, which bloom rapidly, FLC is constitutively repressed by autonomous pathway (AP) genes, regardless of photoperiod. Diverse AP genes have been identified over the past two decades, and most of them repress FLC through histone modifications. However, the detailed mechanism underlying such modifications remains unclear. Several recent studies have revealed novel mechanisms to control FLC repression in concert with histone modifications. This review summarizes the latest advances in understanding the novel mechanisms by which AP proteins regulate FLC repression, including changes in chromatin architecture, RNA polymerase pausing, and liquid-liquid phase separation- and ncRNA-mediated gene silencing. Furthermore, we discuss how each mechanism is coupled with histone modifications in FLC chromatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinseul Kyung
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Research Center for Plant Plasticity, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Myeongjune Jeon
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Research Center for Plant Plasticity, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ilha Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Research Center for Plant Plasticity, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
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27
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Sawarkar R. Transcriptional lockdown during acute proteotoxic stress. Trends Biochem Sci 2022; 47:660-672. [PMID: 35487807 PMCID: PMC9041648 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2022.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Cells experiencing proteotoxic stress downregulate the expression of thousands of active genes and upregulate a few stress-response genes. The strategy of downregulating gene expression has conceptual parallels with general lockdown in the global response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The mechanistic details of global transcriptional downregulation of genes, termed stress-induced transcriptional attenuation (SITA), are only beginning to emerge. The reduction in RNA and protein production during stress may spare proteostasis capacity, allowing cells to divert resources to control stress-induced damage. Given the relevance of translational downregulation in a broad variety of diseases, the role of SITA in diseases caused by proteotoxicity should be investigated in future, paving the way for potential novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritwick Sawarkar
- Medical Research Council (MRC), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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28
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To be or not be (in the LAD): emerging roles of lamin proteins in transcriptional regulation. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:1035-1044. [PMID: 35437578 PMCID: PMC9162450 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Lamins are components of the nuclear lamina, a protein meshwork that underlies the nuclear membrane. Lamins interact with chromatin in transcriptionally silent regions defined as lamina-associated-domains (LADs). However, recent studies have shown that lamins regulate active transcription inside LADs. In addition, ChIP-seq analysis has shown that lamins interact with lamin-dependent promoters and enhancers located in the interior of the nucleus. Moreover, functional studies suggest that lamins regulate transcription at associated-promoters and long-range chromatin interactions of key developmental gene programs. This review will discuss emerging, non-canonical functions of lamins in controlling non-silent genes located both inside and outside of LADs, focusing on transcriptional regulation and chromatin organization in Drosophila and mammals as metazoan model organisms.
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29
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Negative Elongation Factor (NELF) Inhibits Premature Granulocytic Development in Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073833. [PMID: 35409193 PMCID: PMC8998717 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression is tightly regulated during hematopoiesis. Recent studies have suggested that RNA polymerase II (Pol II) promoter proximal pausing, a temporary stalling downstream of the promoter region after initiation, plays a critical role in regulating the expression of various genes in metazoans. However, the function of proximal pausing in hematopoietic gene regulation remains largely unknown. The negative elongation factor (NELF) complex is a key factor important for this proximal pausing. Previous studies have suggested that NELF regulates granulocytic differentiation in vitro, but its in vivo function during hematopoiesis remains uncharacterized. Here, we generated the zebrafish mutant for one NELF complex subunit Nelfb using the CRISPR-Cas9 technology. We found that the loss of nelfb selectively induced excessive granulocytic development during primitive and definitive hematopoiesis. The loss of nelfb reduced hematopoietic progenitor cell formation and did not affect erythroid development. Moreover, the accelerated granulocytic differentiation and reduced progenitor cell development could be reversed by inhibiting Pol II elongation. Further experiments demonstrated that the other NELF complex subunits (Nelfa and Nelfe) played similar roles in controlling granulocytic development. Together, our studies suggested that NELF is critical in controlling the proper granulocytic development in vivo, and that promoter proximal pausing might help maintain the undifferentiated state of hematopoietic progenitor cells.
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30
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Heat shock induces premature transcript termination and reconfigures the human transcriptome. Mol Cell 2022; 82:1573-1588.e10. [PMID: 35114099 PMCID: PMC9098121 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The heat shock (HS) response involves rapid induction of HS genes, whereas transcriptional repression is established more slowly at most other genes. Previous data suggested that such repression results from inhibition of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) pause release, but here, we show that HS strongly affects other phases of the transcription cycle. Intriguingly, while elongation rates increase upon HS, processivity markedly decreases, so that RNAPII frequently fails to reach the end of genes. Indeed, HS results in widespread premature transcript termination at cryptic, intronic polyadenylation (IPA) sites near gene 5'-ends, likely via inhibition of U1 telescripting. This results in dramatic reconfiguration of the human transcriptome with production of new, previously unannotated, short mRNAs that accumulate in the nucleus. Together, these results shed new light on the basic transcription mechanisms induced by growth at elevated temperature and show that a genome-wide shift toward usage of IPA sites can occur under physiological conditions.
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31
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Human FKBP5 negatively regulates transcription through inhibition of P-TEFb complex formation. Mol Cell Biol 2021; 42:e0034421. [PMID: 34780285 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00344-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Although large number of recent studies indicate strong association of FKBP5 (aka FKBP51) functions with various stress-related psychiatric disorder, the overall mechanisms are poorly understood. Beyond a few studies indicating its functions in regulating glucocorticoid receptor-, and AKT-signalling pathways, other functional roles (if any) are unclear. In this study, we report an anti-proliferative role of human FKBP5 through negative regulation of expression of proliferation-related genes. Mechanistically, we show that, owing to same region of interaction on CDK9, human FKBP5 directly competes with CyclinT1 for functional P-TEFb complex formation. In vitro biochemical coupled with cell-based assays, showed strong negative effect of FKBP5 on P-TEFb-mediated phosphorylation of diverse substrates. Consistently, FKBP5 knockdown showed enhanced P-TEFb complex formation leading to increased global RNA polymerase II CTD phosphorylation and expression of proliferation-related genes and subsequent proliferation. Thus, our results show an important role of FKBP5 in negative regulation of P-TEFb functions within mammalian cells.
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32
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Parrello D, Vlasenok M, Kranz L, Nechaev S. Targeting the Transcriptome Through Globally Acting Components. Front Genet 2021; 12:749850. [PMID: 34603400 PMCID: PMC8481634 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.749850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription is a step in gene expression that defines the identity of cells and its dysregulation is associated with diseases. With advancing technologies revealing molecular underpinnings of the cell with ever-higher precision, our ability to view the transcriptomes may have surpassed our knowledge of the principles behind their organization. The human RNA polymerase II (Pol II) machinery comprises thousands of components that, in conjunction with epigenetic and other mechanisms, drive specialized programs of development, differentiation, and responses to the environment. Parts of these programs are repurposed in oncogenic transformation. Targeting of cancers is commonly done by inhibiting general or broadly acting components of the cellular machinery. The critical unanswered question is how globally acting or general factors exert cell type specific effects on transcription. One solution, which is discussed here, may be among the events that take place at genes during early Pol II transcription elongation. This essay turns the spotlight on the well-known phenomenon of promoter-proximal Pol II pausing as a step that separates signals that establish pausing genome-wide from those that release the paused Pol II into the gene. Concepts generated in this rapidly developing field will enhance our understanding of basic principles behind transcriptome organization and hopefully translate into better therapies at the bedside.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Parrello
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Grand Forks, ND, United States
| | - Maria Vlasenok
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Lincoln Kranz
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Grand Forks, ND, United States
| | - Sergei Nechaev
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Grand Forks, ND, United States
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33
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CDK9 keeps RNA polymerase II on track. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:5543-5567. [PMID: 34146121 PMCID: PMC8257543 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03878-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), the kinase component of positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), is essential for transcription of most protein-coding genes by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). By releasing promoter-proximally paused RNAPII into gene bodies, CDK9 controls the entry of RNAPII into productive elongation and is, therefore, critical for efficient synthesis of full-length messenger (m)RNAs. In recent years, new players involved in P-TEFb-dependent processes have been identified and an important function of CDK9 in coordinating elongation with transcription initiation and termination has been unveiled. As the regulatory functions of CDK9 in gene expression continue to expand, a number of human pathologies, including cancers, have been associated with aberrant CDK9 activity, underscoring the need to properly regulate CDK9. Here, I provide an overview of CDK9 function and regulation, with an emphasis on CDK9 dysregulation in human diseases.
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34
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Ngian Z, Lin W, Ong C. NELF-A controls Drosophila healthspan by regulating heat-shock protein-mediated cellular protection and heterochromatin maintenance. Aging Cell 2021; 20:e13348. [PMID: 33788376 PMCID: PMC8135010 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
NELF‐mediated pausing of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) constitutes a crucial step in transcription regulation. However, it remains unclear how control release of RNAPII pausing can affect the epigenome and regulate important aspects of animal physiology like aging. We found that NELF‐A dosage regulates Drosophila healthspan: Halving NELF‐A level in the heterozygous mutants or via neuronal‐specific RNAi depletion improves their locomotor activity, stress resistance, and lifespan significantly. Conversely, NELF‐A overexpression shortens fly lifespan drastically. Mechanistically, lowering NELF‐A level facilitates the release of paused RNAPII for productive transcription of the heat‐shock protein (Hsp) genes. The elevated HSPs expression in turn attenuates the accumulation of insoluble protein aggregates, reactive oxidative species, DNA damage and systemic inflammation in the brains of aging NELF‐A depleted flies as compared to their control siblings. This pro‐longevity effect is unique to NELF‐A due to its higher expression level and more efficient pausing of RNAPII than other NELF subunits. Importantly, enhanced resistance to oxidative stress in NELF‐A heterozygous mutants is highly conserved such that knocking down its level in human SH‐SY5Y cells attenuates hydrogen peroxide‐induced DNA damage and apoptosis. Depleting NELF‐A reconfigures the epigenome through the maintenance of H3K9me2‐enriched heterochromatin during aging, leading to the repression of specific retrotransposons like Gypsy‐1 in the brains of NELF‐A mutants. Taken together, we showed that the dosage of neuronal NELF‐A affects multiple aspects of aging in Drosophila by regulating transcription of Hsp genes in the brains, suggesting that targeting transcription elongation might be a viable therapeutic strategy against age‐onset diseases like neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen‐Kai Ngian
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
| | - Wei‐Qi Lin
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
| | - Chin‐Tong Ong
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
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35
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Liu LK, Liu MJ, Li DL, Liu HP. Recent insights into anti-WSSV immunity in crayfish. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 116:103947. [PMID: 33253753 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2020.103947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is currently the most severely viral pathogen for farmed crustaceans such as shrimp and crayfish, which has been causing huge economic losses for crustaceans farming worldwide every year. Unfortunately, study on the molecular mechanisms of WSSV has been restricted by the lack of crustacean cell lines for WSSV propagation as well as the incompletely annotated genomes for host species, resulting in limited elucidation for WSSV pathogenesis at present. In addition to the findings of anti-WSSV response in shrimp, some of novel cellular events involved in WSSV infection have been recently revealed in crayfish, including endocytosis and intracellular transport of WSSV, innate immune pathways in response to WSSV infection, and regulation of viral gene expression by host genes. Despite these advances, many fundamental gaps in WSSV pathogenesis are still remaining, for example, how WSSV genome enters into nucleus and how the progeny virions are fully assembled in the host cell nucleus. In this review, recent findings in WSSV infection mechanism and the antiviral immunity against WSSV in crayfish are summarized and discussed, which may provide us a better understanding of the WSSV pathogenesis as well as new ideas for the target design of antiviral drugs against WSSV in crustaceans farming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Ke Liu
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University; Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Man-Jun Liu
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University; Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Dong-Li Li
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University; Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Hai-Peng Liu
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University; Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), China.
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36
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Dollinger R, Gilmour DS. Regulation of Promoter Proximal Pausing of RNA Polymerase II in Metazoans. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:166897. [PMID: 33640324 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.166897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Regulation of transcription is a tightly choreographed process. The establishment of RNA polymerase II promoter proximal pausing soon after transcription initiation and the release of Pol II into productive elongation are key regulatory processes that occur in early elongation. We describe the techniques and tools that have become available for the study of promoter proximal pausing and their utility for future experiments. We then provide an overview of the factors and interactions that govern a multipartite pausing process and address emerging questions surrounding the mechanism of RNA polymerase II's subsequent advancement into the gene body. Finally, we address remaining controversies and future areas of study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Dollinger
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, 462 North Frear, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - David S Gilmour
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, 465A North Frear, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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37
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Kalinina M, Skvortsov D, Kalmykova S, Ivanov T, Dontsova O, Pervouchine D. Multiple competing RNA structures dynamically control alternative splicing in the human ATE1 gene. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:479-490. [PMID: 33330934 PMCID: PMC7797038 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa1208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian Ate1 gene encodes an arginyl transferase enzyme with tumor suppressor function that depends on the inclusion of one of the two mutually exclusive exons (MXE), exons 7a and 7b. We report that the molecular mechanism underlying MXE splicing in Ate1 involves five conserved regulatory intronic elements R1-R5, of which R1 and R4 compete for base pairing with R3, while R2 and R5 form an ultra-long-range RNA structure spanning 30 Kb. In minigenes, single and double mutations that disrupt base pairings in R1R3 and R3R4 lead to the loss of MXE splicing, while compensatory triple mutations that restore RNA structure revert splicing to that of the wild type. In the endogenous Ate1 pre-mRNA, blocking the competing base pairings by LNA/DNA mixmers complementary to R3 leads to the loss of MXE splicing, while the disruption of R2R5 interaction changes the ratio of MXE. That is, Ate1 splicing is controlled by two independent, dynamically interacting, and functionally distinct RNA structure modules. Exon 7a becomes more included in response to RNA Pol II slowdown, however it fails to do so when the ultra-long-range R2R5 interaction is disrupted, indicating that exon 7a/7b ratio depends on co-transcriptional RNA folding. In sum, these results demonstrate that splicing is coordinated both in time and in space over very long distances, and that the interaction of these components is mediated by RNA structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Kalinina
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Center of Life Sciences, Moscow 143026, Russia
| | - Dmitry Skvortsov
- Moscow State University, Faculty of Chemistry, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Svetlana Kalmykova
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Center of Life Sciences, Moscow 143026, Russia
| | - Timofei Ivanov
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Center of Life Sciences, Moscow 143026, Russia
| | - Olga Dontsova
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Center of Life Sciences, Moscow 143026, Russia
- Moscow State University, Faculty of Chemistry, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Dmitri D Pervouchine
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Center of Life Sciences, Moscow 143026, Russia
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38
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Mazina MY, Kovalenko EV, Vorobyeva NE. The negative elongation factor NELF promotes induced transcriptional response of Drosophila ecdysone-dependent genes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:172. [PMID: 33420323 PMCID: PMC7794308 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80650-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
For many years it was believed that promoter-proximal RNA-polymerase II (Pol II) pausing manages the transcription of genes in Drosophila development by controlling spatiotemporal properties of their activation and repression. But the exact proteins that cooperate to stall Pol II in promoter-proximal regions of developmental genes are still largely unknown. The current work describes the molecular mechanism employed by the Negative ELongation Factor (NELF) to control the Pol II pause at genes whose transcription is induced by 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). According to our data, the NELF complex is recruited to the promoters and enhancers of 20E-dependent genes. Its presence at the regulatory sites of 20E-dependent genes correlates with observed interaction between the NELF-A subunit and the ecdysone receptor (EcR). The complete NELF complex is formed at the 20E-dependent promoters and participates in both their induced transcriptional response and maintenance of the uninduced state to keep them ready for the forthcoming transcription. NELF depletion causes a significant decrease in transcription induced by 20E, which is associated with the disruption of Pol II elongation complexes. A considerable reduction in the promoter-bound level of the Spt5 subunit of transcription elongation factor DSIF was observed at the 20E-dependent genes upon NELF depletion. We presume that an important function of NELF is to participate in stabilizing the Pol II-DSIF complex, resulting in a significant impact on transcription of its target genes. In order to directly link NELF to regulation of 20E-dependent genes in development, we show the presence of NELF at the promoters of 20E-dependent genes during their active transcription in both embryogenesis and metamorphosis. We also demonstrate that 20E-dependent promoters, while temporarily inactive at the larval stage, preserve a Pol II paused state and bind NELF complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Yu Mazina
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - Elena V Kovalenko
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia
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39
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Noe Gonzalez M, Blears D, Svejstrup JQ. Causes and consequences of RNA polymerase II stalling during transcript elongation. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2021; 22:3-21. [PMID: 33208928 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-020-00308-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The journey of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) as it transcribes a gene is anything but a smooth ride. Transcript elongation is discontinuous and can be perturbed by intrinsic regulatory barriers, such as promoter-proximal pausing, nucleosomes, RNA secondary structures and the underlying DNA sequence. More substantial blocking of Pol II translocation can be caused by other physiological circumstances and extrinsic obstacles, including other transcribing polymerases, the replication machinery and several types of DNA damage, such as bulky lesions and DNA double-strand breaks. Although numerous different obstacles cause Pol II stalling or arrest, the cell somehow distinguishes between them and invokes different mechanisms to resolve each roadblock. Resolution of Pol II blocking can be as straightforward as temporary backtracking and transcription elongation factor S-II (TFIIS)-dependent RNA cleavage, or as drastic as premature transcription termination or degradation of polyubiquitylated Pol II and its associated nascent RNA. In this Review, we discuss the current knowledge of how these different Pol II stalling contexts are distinguished by the cell, how they overlap with each other, how they are resolved and how, when unresolved, they can cause genome instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melvin Noe Gonzalez
- Mechanisms of Transcription Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel Blears
- Mechanisms of Transcription Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jesper Q Svejstrup
- Mechanisms of Transcription Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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40
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Bordet G, Lodhi N, Guo D, Kossenkov A, Tulin AV. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 in genome-wide expression control in Drosophila. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21151. [PMID: 33273587 PMCID: PMC7712786 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78116-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) is a nuclear enzyme involved in DNA repair and transcription regulation, among other processes. Malignant transformations, tumor progression, the onset of some neuropathies and other disorders have been linked to misregulation of PARP-1 activity. Despite intensive studies during the last few decades, the role of PARP-1 in transcription regulation is still not well understood. In this study, a transcriptomic analysis in Drosophila melanogaster third instar larvae was carried out. A total of 602 genes were identified, showing large-scale changes in their expression levels in the absence of PARP-1 in vivo. Among these genes, several functional gene groups were present, including transcription factors and cytochrome family members. The transcription levels of genes from the same functional group were affected by the absence of PARP-1 in a similar manner. In the absence of PARP-1, all misregulated genes coding for transcription factors were downregulated, whereas all genes coding for members of the cytochrome P450 family were upregulated. The cytochrome P450 proteins contain heme as a cofactor and are involved in oxidoreduction. Significant changes were also observed in the expression of several mobile elements in the absence of PARP-1, suggesting that PARP-1 may be involved in regulating the expression of mobile elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Bordet
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, 501 North Columbia Road, Stop 9061, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA
| | - Niraj Lodhi
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Danping Guo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, 501 North Columbia Road, Stop 9061, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA
| | | | - Alexei V Tulin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, 501 North Columbia Road, Stop 9061, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA.
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41
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Abstract
Gene transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is the first step in the expression of the eukaryotic genome and a focal point for cellular regulation during development, differentiation, and responses to the environment. Two decades after the determination of the structure of Pol II, the mechanisms of transcription have been elucidated with studies of Pol II complexes with nucleic acids and associated proteins. Here we provide an overview of the nearly 200 available Pol II complex structures and summarize how these structures have elucidated promoter-dependent transcription initiation, promoter-proximal pausing and release of Pol II into active elongation, and the mechanisms that Pol II uses to navigate obstacles such as nucleosomes and DNA lesions. We predict that future studies will focus on how Pol II transcription is interconnected with chromatin transitions, RNA processing, and DNA repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Osman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077 Göttingen, Germany;,
| | - Patrick Cramer
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077 Göttingen, Germany;,
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42
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Decker TM. Mechanisms of Transcription Elongation Factor DSIF (Spt4-Spt5). J Mol Biol 2020; 433:166657. [PMID: 32987031 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The transcription elongation factor Spt5 is conserved from bacteria to humans. In eukaryotes, Spt5 forms a complex with Spt4 and regulates processive transcription elongation. Recent studies on transcription elongation suggest different mechanistic roles in yeast versus mammals. Higher eukaryotes utilize Spt4-Spt5 (DSIF) to regulate promoter-proximal pausing, a transcription-regulatory mechanism that connects initiation to productive elongation. DSIF is a versatile transcription factor and has been implicated in both gene-specific regulation and transcription through nucleosomes. Future studies will further elucidate the role of DSIF in transcriptional dynamics and disentangle its inhibitory and enhancing activities in transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim-Michael Decker
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, 3415 Colorado Ave, Boulder, CO 80303, USA.
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43
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Bacon CW, Challa A, Hyder U, Shukla A, Borkar AN, Bayo J, Liu J, Wu SY, Chiang CM, Kutateladze TG, D'Orso I. KAP1 Is a Chromatin Reader that Couples Steps of RNA Polymerase II Transcription to Sustain Oncogenic Programs. Mol Cell 2020; 78:1133-1151.e14. [PMID: 32402252 PMCID: PMC7305985 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Precise control of the RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) cycle, including pausing and pause release, maintains transcriptional homeostasis and organismal functions. Despite previous work to understand individual transcription steps, we reveal a mechanism that integrates RNA Pol II cycle transitions. Surprisingly, KAP1/TRIM28 uses a previously uncharacterized chromatin reader cassette to bind hypo-acetylated histone 4 tails at promoters, guaranteeing continuous progression of RNA Pol II entry to and exit from the pause state. Upon chromatin docking, KAP1 first associates with RNA Pol II and then recruits a pathway-specific transcription factor (SMAD2) in response to cognate ligands, enabling gene-selective CDK9-dependent pause release. This coupling mechanism is exploited by tumor cells to aberrantly sustain transcriptional programs commonly dysregulated in cancer patients. The discovery of a factor integrating transcription steps expands the functional repertoire by which chromatin readers operate and provides mechanistic understanding of transcription regulation, offering alternative therapeutic opportunities to target transcriptional dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Curtis W Bacon
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Biological Chemistry Graduate Program, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Ashwini Challa
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Usman Hyder
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Ashutosh Shukla
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Aditi N Borkar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Juan Bayo
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional, Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, CONICET, Universidad Austral, Derqui-Pilar, Buenos Aires 1629, Argentina
| | - Jiuyang Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Shwu-Yuan Wu
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Cheng-Ming Chiang
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Tatiana G Kutateladze
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Iván D'Orso
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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44
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You G, Zu B, Wang B, Fu Q, Li F. Identification of miRNA-mRNA-TFs Regulatory Network and Crucial Pathways Involved in Tetralogy of Fallot. Front Genet 2020; 11:552. [PMID: 32595699 PMCID: PMC7303929 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease. However, its pathogenesis remains unknown. To explore key regulatory connections and crucial pathways underlying the TOF, gene or microRNA expression profile datasets of human TOF were obtained from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) and microRNAs (DEmiRs) between TOF and healthy groups were identified after data preprocessing, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Then, we further constructed protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and subnetwork of modules. Ultimately, to investigate the regulatory network underlying TOF, a global triple network including miRNAs, mRNAs, and transcription factors (TFs) was constructed based on the integrated data. In the present study, a total of 529 DEmRNAs, including 115 downregulated and 414 upregulated DEmRNAs, and 7 significantly upregulated DemiRs, including miR-499, miR-23b, miR-222, miR-1275, miR-93, miR-155, and miR-187, were found between TOF and control groups. Furthermore, 22 hub genes ranked by top 5% genes with high connectivity and six TFs, including SRF, CNOT4, SIX6, SRRM3, NELFA, and ONECUT3, were identified and might play crucial roles in the molecular pathogenesis of TOF. Additionally, an miRNA-mRNA-TF co-regulatory network was established and indicated ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, energy metabolism associated pathways, neurodevelopmental disorder associated pathways, and ribosomes might be involved in the pathogenesis of TOF. The current research provides a comprehensive perspective of regulatory mechanism networks underlying TOF and also identifies potential molecule targets of genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for TOF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoling You
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bailing Zu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qihua Fu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fen Li
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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45
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Gao Y, Liu LK, Wang KJ, Liu HP. A negative elongation factor E inhibits white spot syndrome virus replication by suppressing promoter activity of the viral immediate early genes in red claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 107:103665. [PMID: 32147597 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2020.103665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Invertebrates rely solely on the innate immune system to protect against virus infection, while the viral infection must rely on the transcriptional system of the host cell to achieve the expression of viral genes, which is naturally regulated by the host's transcriptional system. However, the mechanism of the host against viral transcription in host cells is still poorly understood in crustaceans. Previously, we found that the partial transcript sequence of a negative elongation factor E (named as CqNELF-E) was up-regulated in a differentially expressed transcriptome library of the haematopietic tissue (Hpt) cells from red claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus upon white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection, suggesting a possible role of CqNELF-E in WSSV-host interaction. In the present study, we revealed the function of CqNELF-E. The full-length cDNA sequence of CqNELF-E was identified with 1726 bp from red claw crayfish, which contained an open reading frame of 816 bp, encoding 271 amino acids. Amino acid sequencing analysis revealed that the CqNELF-E had a conserved RNA recognition motif (RRM) and a leucine zipper motif (LZM). Tissue distribution analysis showed that CqNELF-E was widely expressed in various tissues with the highest expression in muscle, relatively abundant in Hpt and the lowest presence in heart. Interestingly, the gene expression of CqNELF-E was significantly up-regulated at both 6 and 12 hpi after WSSV infection in Hpt cell cultures in red claw crayfish. In addition, the expression of both the viral immediately early gene (IE) 1 (IE1) and a late gene envelope protein VP28 were significantly increased after gene silencing of CqNELF-E in Hpt cells, indicating the potential suppression role of CqNELF-E against the viral infection. Further study revealed that the CqNELF-E had an inhibitory effect on the promoter activity of WSSV IE genes WSV051, WSV069 (IE1) and WSV083 by a dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Taken together, these results suggest that CqNELF-E plays an antiviral role, probably via inhibition on the viral transcription activity in WSSV infection in a crustacean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Ling-Ke Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Ke-Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Hai-Peng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), China.
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46
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Aoi Y, Smith ER, Shah AP, Rendleman EJ, Marshall SA, Woodfin AR, Chen FX, Shiekhattar R, Shilatifard A. NELF Regulates a Promoter-Proximal Step Distinct from RNA Pol II Pause-Release. Mol Cell 2020; 78:261-274.e5. [PMID: 32155413 PMCID: PMC7402197 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) is generally paused at promoter-proximal regions in most metazoans, and based on in vitro studies, this function has been attributed to the negative elongation factor (NELF). Here, we show that upon rapid depletion of NELF, RNA Pol II fails to be released into gene bodies, stopping instead around the +1 nucleosomal dyad-associated region. The transition to the 2nd pause region is independent of positive transcription elongation factor P-TEFb. During the heat shock response, RNA Pol II is rapidly released from pausing at heat shock-induced genes, while most genes are paused and transcriptionally downregulated. Both of these aspects of the heat shock response remain intact upon NELF loss. We find that NELF depletion results in global loss of cap-binding complex from chromatin without global reduction of nascent transcript 5' cap stability. Thus, our studies implicate NELF functioning in early elongation complexes distinct from RNA Pol II pause-release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Aoi
- Simpson Querrey Center for Epigenetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Edwin R Smith
- Simpson Querrey Center for Epigenetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Avani P Shah
- Simpson Querrey Center for Epigenetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Emily J Rendleman
- Simpson Querrey Center for Epigenetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Stacy A Marshall
- Simpson Querrey Center for Epigenetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ashley R Woodfin
- Simpson Querrey Center for Epigenetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Fei X Chen
- Simpson Querrey Center for Epigenetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ramin Shiekhattar
- Department of Human Genetics, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Ali Shilatifard
- Simpson Querrey Center for Epigenetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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47
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Alikunju S, Severinova E, Yang Z, Ivessa A, Sayed D. Acute NelfA knockdown restricts compensatory gene expression and precipitates ventricular dysfunction during cardiac hypertrophy. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2020; 142:93-104. [PMID: 32278832 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2020.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Coordinated functional balance of negative and positive transcription complexes maintain and accommodate gene expression in hearts during quiescent and hypertrophic conditions, respectively. Negative elongation factor (Nelf) complex has been implicated in RNA polymerase II (pol II) pausing, a widespread regulatory transcriptional phenomenon observed across the cardiac genome. Here, we examine the role of NelfA aka, Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome candidate 2 (Whsc2), a critical component of the negative elongation complex in hearts undergoing pressure-overload induced hypertrophy. Alignment of high-resolution genome-wide occupancy data of NelfA, Pol II, TFIIB and H3k9ac from control and hypertrophied hearts reveal that NelfA associates with active gene promoters. High NelfA occupancy is seen at promoters of essential and cardiac-enriched genes, expressed under both quiescent and hypertrophic conditions. Conversely, de novo NelfA recruitment is observed at inducible gene promoters with pressure overload, accompanied by significant increase in expression of these genes with hypertrophy. Interestingly, change in promoter NelfA levels correlates with the transcript output in hypertrophied hearts compared to Sham, suggesting NelfA might be playing a critical role in the regulation of gene transcription during cardiac hypertrophy. In vivo knockdown of NelfA (siNelfA) in hearts subjected to pressure-overload results in early ventricular dilatation and dysfunction, associated with decrease in expression of inducible and cardiac-enriched genes in siNelfA hypertrophied compared to control hypertrophied hearts. In accordance, in vitro knockdown of NelfA in cardiomyocytes showed no change in promoter pol II, however significant decrease in in-gene and downstream pol II occupancy was observed. These data suggest an inhibited pol II progression in transcribing and inducible genes, which reflects as a decrease in transcript abundance of these genes. These results indicate that promoter NelfA occupancy is essential for pol II -dependent transcription. Therefore, we conclude that NelfA is required for active transcription and gene expression during cardiac hypertrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saleena Alikunju
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, United States of America
| | - Elena Severinova
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, United States of America
| | - Zhi Yang
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, United States of America
| | - Andreas Ivessa
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, United States of America
| | - Danish Sayed
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, United States of America.
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48
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Wissink EM, Vihervaara A, Tippens ND, Lis JT. Nascent RNA analyses: tracking transcription and its regulation. Nat Rev Genet 2019; 20:705-723. [PMID: 31399713 PMCID: PMC6858503 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-019-0159-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The programmes that direct an organism's development and maintenance are encoded in its genome. Decoding of this information begins with regulated transcription of genomic DNA into RNA. Although transcription and its control can be tracked indirectly by measuring stable RNAs, it is only by directly measuring nascent RNAs that the immediate regulatory changes in response to developmental, environmental, disease and metabolic signals are revealed. Multiple complementary methods have been developed to quantitatively track nascent transcription genome-wide at nucleotide resolution, all of which have contributed novel insights into the mechanisms of gene regulation and transcription-coupled RNA processing. Here we critically evaluate the array of strategies used for investigating nascent transcription and discuss the recent conceptual advances they have provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin M Wissink
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Anniina Vihervaara
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Nathaniel D Tippens
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Tri-Institutional Training Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - John T Lis
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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49
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Watts JA, Burdick J, Daigneault J, Zhu Z, Grunseich C, Bruzel A, Cheung VG. cis Elements that Mediate RNA Polymerase II Pausing Regulate Human Gene Expression. Am J Hum Genet 2019; 105:677-688. [PMID: 31495490 PMCID: PMC6817524 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2019.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant gene expression underlies many human diseases. RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pausing is a key regulatory step in transcription. Here, we mapped the locations of RNA Pol II in normal human cells and found that RNA Pol II pauses in a consistent manner across individuals and cell types. At more than 1,000 genes including MYO1E and SESN2, RNA Pol II pauses at precise nucleotide locations. Characterization of these sites shows that RNA Pol II pauses at GC-rich regions that are marked by a sequence motif. Sixty-five percent of the pause sites are cytosines. By differential allelic gene expression analysis, we showed in our samples and a population dataset from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) consortium that genes with more paused polymerase have lower expression levels. Furthermore, mutagenesis of the pause sites led to a significant increase in promoter activities. Thus, our data uncover that RNA Pol II pauses precisely at sites with distinct sequence features that in turn regulate gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason A Watts
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | | | - Zhengwei Zhu
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Christopher Grunseich
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alan Bruzel
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Vivian G Cheung
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA; Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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50
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Bahat A, Lahav O, Plotnikov A, Leshkowitz D, Dikstein R. Targeting Spt5-Pol II by Small-Molecule Inhibitors Uncouples Distinct Activities and Reveals Additional Regulatory Roles. Mol Cell 2019; 76:617-631.e4. [PMID: 31564557 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2019.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Spt5 is a conserved and essential transcription elongation factor that promotes promoter-proximal pausing, promoter escape, elongation, and mRNA processing. Spt5 plays specific roles in the transcription of inflammation and stress-induced genes and tri-nucleotide expanded-repeat genes involved in inherited neurological pathologies. Here, we report the identification of Spt5-Pol II small-molecule inhibitors (SPIs). SPIs faithfully reproduced Spt5 knockdown effects on promoter-proximal pausing, NF-κB activation, and expanded-repeat huntingtin gene transcription. Using SPIs, we identified Spt5 target genes that responded with profoundly diverse kinetics. SPIs uncovered the regulatory role of Spt5 in metabolism via GDF15, a food intake- and body weight-inhibitory hormone. SPIs further unveiled a role for Spt5 in promoting the 3' end processing of histone genes. While several SPIs affect all Spt5 functions, a few inhibit a single one, implying uncoupling and selective targeting of Spt5 activities. SPIs expand the understanding of Spt5-Pol II functions and are potential drugs against metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anat Bahat
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Or Lahav
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Alexander Plotnikov
- The Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Dena Leshkowitz
- Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Rivka Dikstein
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
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