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Talukdar PD, Chatterji U. Transcriptional co-activators: emerging roles in signaling pathways and potential therapeutic targets for diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:427. [PMID: 37953273 PMCID: PMC10641101 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01651-w] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Specific cell states in metazoans are established by the symphony of gene expression programs that necessitate intricate synergic interactions between transcription factors and the co-activators. Deregulation of these regulatory molecules is associated with cell state transitions, which in turn is accountable for diverse maladies, including developmental disorders, metabolic disorders, and most significantly, cancer. A decade back most transcription factors, the key enablers of disease development, were historically viewed as 'undruggable'; however, in the intervening years, a wealth of literature validated that they can be targeted indirectly through transcriptional co-activators, their confederates in various physiological and molecular processes. These co-activators, along with transcription factors, have the ability to initiate and modulate transcription of diverse genes necessary for normal physiological functions, whereby, deregulation of such interactions may foster tissue-specific disease phenotype. Hence, it is essential to analyze how these co-activators modulate specific multilateral processes in coordination with other factors. The proposed review attempts to elaborate an in-depth account of the transcription co-activators, their involvement in transcription regulation, and context-specific contributions to pathophysiological conditions. This review also addresses an issue that has not been dealt with in a comprehensive manner and hopes to direct attention towards future research that will encompass patient-friendly therapeutic strategies, where drugs targeting co-activators will have enhanced benefits and reduced side effects. Additional insights into currently available therapeutic interventions and the associated constraints will eventually reveal multitudes of advanced therapeutic targets aiming for disease amelioration and good patient prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Dey Talukdar
- Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, West Bengal, India
| | - Urmi Chatterji
- Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, West Bengal, India.
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Roth C, Kilpinen H, Kurian MA, Barral S. Histone lysine methyltransferase-related neurodevelopmental disorders: current knowledge and saRNA future therapies. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1090046. [PMID: 36923252 PMCID: PMC10009263 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1090046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders encompass a group of debilitating diseases presenting with motor and cognitive dysfunction, with variable age of onset and disease severity. Advances in genetic diagnostic tools have facilitated the identification of several monogenic chromatin remodeling diseases that cause Neurodevelopmental disorders. Chromatin remodelers play a key role in the neuro-epigenetic landscape and regulation of brain development; it is therefore not surprising that mutations, leading to loss of protein function, result in aberrant neurodevelopment. Heterozygous, usually de novo mutations in histone lysine methyltransferases have been described in patients leading to haploinsufficiency, dysregulated protein levels and impaired protein function. Studies in animal models and patient-derived cell lines, have highlighted the role of histone lysine methyltransferases in the regulation of cell self-renewal, cell fate specification and apoptosis. To date, in depth studies of histone lysine methyltransferases in oncology have provided strong evidence of histone lysine methyltransferase dysregulation as a determinant of cancer progression and drug resistance. As a result, histone lysine methyltransferases have become an important therapeutic target for the treatment of different cancer forms. Despite recent advances, we still lack knowledge about the role of histone lysine methyltransferases in neuronal development. This has hampered both the study and development of precision therapies for histone lysine methyltransferases-related Neurodevelopmental disorders. In this review, we will discuss the current knowledge of the role of histone lysine methyltransferases in neuronal development and disease progression. We will also discuss how RNA-based technologies using small-activating RNAs could potentially provide a novel therapeutic approach for the future treatment of histone lysine methyltransferase haploinsufficiency in these Neurodevelopmental disorders, and how they could be first tested in state-of-the-art patient-derived neuronal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Roth
- Molecular Neurosciences, Developmental Neurosciences Programme, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Helena Kilpinen
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Manju A Kurian
- Molecular Neurosciences, Developmental Neurosciences Programme, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, United Kingdom
| | - Serena Barral
- Molecular Neurosciences, Developmental Neurosciences Programme, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Grosz BR, Tisch S, Tchan MC, Fung VSC, Darveniza P, Fellner A, Kurian MA, McLean A, Tomlinson SE, Smyth R, Devery S, Wu KHC, Kennerson ML, Kumar KR. A novel synonymous KMT2B variant in a patient with dystonia causes aberrant splicing. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2022; 10:e1923. [PMID: 35293157 PMCID: PMC9034664 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1923] [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: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Heterozygous KMT2B variants are a common cause of dystonia. A novel synonymous KMT2B variant, c.5073C>T (p.Gly1691=) was identified in an individual with childhood‐onset progressive dystonia. Methods The splicing impact of c.5073C>T was assessed using an in vitro exon‐trapping assay. The genomic region of KMT2B exons 23–26 was cloned into the pSpliceExpress plasmid between exon 2 and 3 of the rat Ins2 gene. The c.5073C>T variant was then introduced through site‐directed mutagenesis. The KMT2B wild‐type and c.5073C>T plasmids were transfected separately into HeLa cells and RNA was extracted 48 hours after transfection. The RNA was reverse transcribed to produce cDNA, which was PCR amplified using primers annealing to the flanking rat Ins2 sequences. Results Sanger sequencing of the PCR products revealed that c.5073C>T caused a novel splice donor site and therefore a 5‐bp deletion of KMT2B exon 23 in mature mRNA, leading to a coding frameshift and premature stop codon (p.Lys1692AsnfsTer7). Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first report of a KMT2B synonymous variant associated with dystonia. Reassessment of synonymous variants may increase diagnostic yield for inherited disorders including monogenic dystonia. This is of clinical importance, given the generally favourable response to deep brain stimulation for KMT2B‐related dystonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca R Grosz
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Concord, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stephen Tisch
- Department of Neurology, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michel C Tchan
- Clinical Genomics, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Genetic Medicine, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Victor S C Fung
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Movement Disorders Unit, Neurology Department, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul Darveniza
- Department of Neurology, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Avi Fellner
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.,Raphael Recanati Genetics Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petah Tikva, Israel.,Department of Neurology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Manju A Kurian
- Developmental Neurosciences, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, London, UK
| | - Alison McLean
- Clinical Genomics, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Susan E Tomlinson
- Department of Neurology, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Renee Smyth
- Clinical Genomics, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sophie Devery
- Clinical Genomics, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kathy H C Wu
- School of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Clinical Genomics, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, Australia
| | - Marina L Kennerson
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Concord, New South Wales, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kishore R Kumar
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.,Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia
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