1
|
Müller T, Reichlmeir M, Hau AC, Wittig I, Schulte D. The neuronal transcription factor MEIS2 is a calpain-2 protease target. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs261482. [PMID: 38305737 PMCID: PMC10941658 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261482] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Tight control over transcription factor activity is necessary for a sensible balance between cellular proliferation and differentiation in the embryo and during tissue homeostasis by adult stem cells, but mechanistic details have remained incomplete. The homeodomain transcription factor MEIS2 is an important regulator of neurogenesis in the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ) adult stem cell niche in mice. We here identify MEIS2 as direct target of the intracellular protease calpain-2 (composed of the catalytic subunit CAPN2 and the regulatory subunit CAPNS1). Phosphorylation at conserved serine and/or threonine residues, or dimerization with PBX1, reduced the sensitivity of MEIS2 towards cleavage by calpain-2. In the adult V-SVZ, calpain-2 activity is high in stem and progenitor cells, but rapidly declines during neuronal differentiation, which is accompanied by increased stability of MEIS2 full-length protein. In accordance with this, blocking calpain-2 activity in stem and progenitor cells, or overexpression of a cleavage-insensitive form of MEIS2, increased the production of neurons, whereas overexpression of a catalytically active CAPN2 reduced it. Collectively, our results support a key role for calpain-2 in controlling the output of adult V-SVZ neural stem and progenitor cells through cleavage of the neuronal fate determinant MEIS2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Müller
- Goethe University, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Institute of Neurology (Edinger Institute), 60528 Frankfurt, Germany
- Goethe University, University Hospital Frankfurt, Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Neurooncology and Institute of Neurology (Edinger Institute), Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), University Cancer Center Frankfurt (UCT), MSNZ Junior Group Translational Neurooncology, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany
- Department of Cancer Research (DoCR), Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Luxembourg Centre of Neuropathology (LCNP), 1445 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Marina Reichlmeir
- Goethe University, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Institute of Neurology (Edinger Institute), 60528 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ann-Christin Hau
- Goethe University, University Hospital Frankfurt, Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Neurooncology and Institute of Neurology (Edinger Institute), Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), University Cancer Center Frankfurt (UCT), MSNZ Junior Group Translational Neurooncology, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ilka Wittig
- Goethe University, Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, Functional Proteomics, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Dorothea Schulte
- Goethe University, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Institute of Neurology (Edinger Institute), 60528 Frankfurt, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bridoux L, Zarrineh P, Mallen J, Phuycharoen M, Latorre V, Ladam F, Losa M, Baker SM, Sagerstrom C, Mace KA, Rattray M, Bobola N. HOX paralogs selectively convert binding of ubiquitous transcription factors into tissue-specific patterns of enhancer activation. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1009162. [PMID: 33315856 PMCID: PMC7769617 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression programs determine cell fate in embryonic development and their dysregulation results in disease. Transcription factors (TFs) control gene expression by binding to enhancers, but how TFs select and activate their target enhancers is still unclear. HOX TFs share conserved homeodomains with highly similar sequence recognition properties, yet they impart the identity of different animal body parts. To understand how HOX TFs control their specific transcriptional programs in vivo, we compared HOXA2 and HOXA3 binding profiles in the mouse embryo. HOXA2 and HOXA3 directly cooperate with TALE TFs and selectively target different subsets of a broad TALE chromatin platform. Binding of HOX and tissue-specific TFs convert low affinity TALE binding into high confidence, tissue-specific binding events, which bear the mark of active enhancers. We propose that HOX paralogs, alone and in combination with tissue-specific TFs, generate tissue-specific transcriptional outputs by modulating the activity of TALE TFs at selected enhancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laure Bridoux
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Peyman Zarrineh
- School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Joshua Mallen
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Mike Phuycharoen
- Department of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Victor Latorre
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Ladam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusets, United States of America
| | - Marta Losa
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Syed Murtuza Baker
- School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Charles Sagerstrom
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusets, United States of America
| | - Kimberly A. Mace
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Magnus Rattray
- School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Nicoletta Bobola
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
VanOpstall C, Perike S, Brechka H, Gillard M, Lamperis S, Zhu B, Brown R, Bhanvadia R, Vander Griend DJ. MEIS-mediated suppression of human prostate cancer growth and metastasis through HOXB13-dependent regulation of proteoglycans. eLife 2020; 9:e53600. [PMID: 32553107 PMCID: PMC7371429 DOI: 10.7554/elife.53600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular roles of HOX transcriptional activity in human prostate epithelial cells remain unclear, impeding the implementation of new treatment strategies for cancer prevention and therapy. MEIS proteins are transcription factors that bind and direct HOX protein activity. MEIS proteins are putative tumor suppressors that are frequently silenced in aggressive forms of prostate cancer. Here we show that MEIS1 expression is sufficient to decrease proliferation and metastasis of prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo murine xenograft models. HOXB13 deletion demonstrates that the tumor-suppressive activity of MEIS1 is dependent on HOXB13. Integration of ChIP-seq and RNA-seq data revealed direct and HOXB13-dependent regulation of proteoglycans including decorin (DCN) as a mechanism of MEIS1-driven tumor suppression. These results define and underscore the importance of MEIS1-HOXB13 transcriptional regulation in suppressing prostate cancer progression and provide a mechanistic framework for the investigation of HOXB13 mutants and oncogenic cofactors when MEIS1/2 are silenced.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Calvin VanOpstall
- The Committee on Cancer Biology, The University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Srikanth Perike
- Department of Pathology, The University of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Hannah Brechka
- The Committee on Cancer Biology, The University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Marc Gillard
- Department of Surgery, Section of Urology, The University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Sophia Lamperis
- Department of Pathology, The University of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Baizhen Zhu
- Department of Surgery, Section of Urology, The University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Ryan Brown
- Department of Pathology, The University of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Raj Bhanvadia
- Department of Urology, UT SouthwesternDallasUnited States
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Snigdha K, Gangwani KS, Lapalikar GV, Singh A, Kango-Singh M. Hippo Signaling in Cancer: Lessons From Drosophila Models. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:85. [PMID: 31231648 PMCID: PMC6558396 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hippo pathway was initially identified through genetic screens for genes regulating organ size in fruitflies. Recent studies have highlighted the role of Hippo signaling as a key regulator of homeostasis, and in tumorigenesis. Hippo pathway is comprised of genes that act as tumor suppressor genes like hippo (hpo) and warts (wts), and oncogenes like yorkie (yki). YAP and TAZ are two related mammalian homologs of Drosophila Yki that act as effectors of the Hippo pathway. Hippo signaling deficiency can cause YAP- or TAZ-dependent oncogene addiction for cancer cells. YAP and TAZ are often activated in human malignant cancers. These transcriptional regulators may initiate tumorigenic changes in solid tumors by inducing cancer stem cells and proliferation, culminating in metastasis and chemo-resistance. Given the complex mechanisms (e.g., of the cancer microenvironment, and the extrinsic and intrinsic cues) that overpower YAP/TAZ inhibition, the molecular roles of the Hippo pathway in tumor growth and progression remain poorly defined. Here we review recent findings from studies in whole animal model organism like Drosophila on the role of Hippo signaling regarding its connection to inflammation, tumor microenvironment, and other oncogenic signaling in cancer growth and progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirti Snigdha
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, United States
| | | | - Gauri Vijay Lapalikar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Amit Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, United States.,Pre-Medical Programs, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, United States.,Center for Tissue Regeneration and Engineering at Dayton, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, United States.,Integrated Science and Engineering Center, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, United States
| | - Madhuri Kango-Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, United States.,Pre-Medical Programs, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, United States.,Center for Tissue Regeneration and Engineering at Dayton, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, United States.,Integrated Science and Engineering Center, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Shah A, Melhuish TA, Fox TE, Frierson HF, Wotton D. TGIF transcription factors repress acetyl CoA metabolic gene expression and promote intestinal tumor growth. Genes Dev 2019; 33:388-402. [PMID: 30808659 PMCID: PMC6446543 DOI: 10.1101/gad.320127.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In this study, Shah et al. show that Tgifs, which repress gene expression by binding directly to DNA or interacting with transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)-responsive SMADs, promote adenoma growth in the context of mutant Apc (adenomatous polyposis coli). Their findings suggest that Tgifs play an important role in regulating basic energy metabolism in normal cells and that this function of Tgifs is amplified in some cancers. Tgif1 (thymine–guanine-interacting factor 1) and Tgif2 repress gene expression by binding directly to DNA or interacting with transforming growth factor (TGF) β-responsive SMADs. Tgifs are essential for embryogenesis and may function in tumor progression. By analyzing both gain and loss of Tgif function in a well-established mouse model of intestinal cancer, we show that Tgifs promote adenoma growth in the context of mutant Apc (adenomatous polyposis coli). Despite the tumor-suppressive role of TGFβ signaling, transcriptome profiling of colon tumors suggests minimal effect of Tgifs on the TGFβ pathway. Instead, it appears that Tgifs, which are up-regulated in Apc mutant colon tumors, contribute to reprogramming metabolic gene expression. Integrating gene expression data from colon tumors with other gene expression and chromatin-binding data identifies a set of direct Tgif target genes encoding proteins involved in acetyl CoA and pyruvate metabolism. Analysis of both tumor and nontumor tissues indicates that these genes are targets of Tgif repression in multiple settings, suggesting that this is a core Tgif function. We propose that Tgifs play an important role in regulating basic energy metabolism in normal cells, and that this function of Tgifs is amplified in some cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anant Shah
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Center for Cell Signaling, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| | - Tiffany A Melhuish
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Center for Cell Signaling, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| | - Todd E Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| | - Henry F Frierson
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| | - David Wotton
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Center for Cell Signaling, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Melhuish TA, Kowalczyk I, Manukyan A, Zhang Y, Shah A, Abounader R, Wotton D. Myt1 and Myt1l transcription factors limit proliferation in GBM cells by repressing YAP1 expression. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2018; 1861:983-995. [PMID: 30312684 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Myelin transcription factor 1 (Myt1) and Myt1l (Myt1-like) are zinc finger transcription factors that regulate neuronal differentiation. Reduced Myt1l expression has been implicated in glioblastoma (GBM), and the related St18 was originally identified as a potential tumor suppressor for breast cancer. We previously analyzed changes in gene expression in a human GBM cell line with re-expression of either Myt1 or Myt1l. This revealed largely overlapping gene expression changes, suggesting similar function in these cells. Here we show that re-expression of Myt1 or Myt1l reduces proliferation in two different GBM cell lines, activates gene expression programs associated with neuronal differentiation, and limits expression of proliferative and epithelial to mesenchymal transition gene-sets. Consistent with this, expression of both MYT1 and MYT1L is lower in more aggressive glioma sub-types. Examination of the gene expression changes in cells expressing Myt1 or Myt1l suggests that both repress expression of the YAP1 transcriptional coactivator, which functions primarily in the Hippo signaling pathway. Expression of YAP1 and its target genes is reduced in Myt-expressing cells, and there is an inverse correlation between YAP1 and MYT1/MYT1L expression in human brain cancer datasets. Proliferation of GBM cell lines is reduced by lowering YAP1 expression and increased with YAP1 over-expression, which overcomes the anti-proliferative effect of Myt1/Myt1l expression. Finally we show that reducing YAP1 expression in a GBM cell line slows the growth of orthotopic tumor xenografts. Together, our data suggest that Myt1 and Myt1l directly repress expression of YAP1, a protein which promotes proliferation and GBM growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany A Melhuish
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA; Center for Cell Signaling, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Izabela Kowalczyk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA; Center for Cell Signaling, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Arkadi Manukyan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA; Center for Cell Signaling, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Anant Shah
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA; Center for Cell Signaling, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Roger Abounader
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - David Wotton
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA; Center for Cell Signaling, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Guerra A, Germano RF, Stone O, Arnaout R, Guenther S, Ahuja S, Uribe V, Vanhollebeke B, Stainier DY, Reischauer S. Distinct myocardial lineages break atrial symmetry during cardiogenesis in zebrafish. eLife 2018; 7:32833. [PMID: 29762122 PMCID: PMC5953537 DOI: 10.7554/elife.32833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The ultimate formation of a four-chambered heart allowing the separation of the pulmonary and systemic circuits was key for the evolutionary success of tetrapods. Complex processes of cell diversification and tissue morphogenesis allow the left and right cardiac compartments to become distinct but remain poorly understood. Here, we describe an unexpected laterality in the single zebrafish atrium analogous to that of the two atria in amniotes, including mammals. This laterality appears to derive from an embryonic antero-posterior asymmetry revealed by the expression of the transcription factor gene meis2b. In adult zebrafish hearts, meis2b expression is restricted to the left side of the atrium where it controls the expression of pitx2c, a regulator of left atrial identity in mammals. Altogether, our studies suggest that the multi-chambered atrium in amniotes arose from a molecular blueprint present before the evolutionary emergence of cardiac septation and provide insights into the establishment of atrial asymmetry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Almary Guerra
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Raoul Fv Germano
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany.,Laboratory of Neurovascular Signaling, Department of Molecular Biology, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Oliver Stone
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Rima Arnaout
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Stefan Guenther
- ECCPS Bioinformatics and Deep Sequencing Platform, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Suchit Ahuja
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Verónica Uribe
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Benoit Vanhollebeke
- Laboratory of Neurovascular Signaling, Department of Molecular Biology, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Didier Yr Stainier
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Sven Reischauer
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
MEIS2 is essential for neuroblastoma cell survival and proliferation by transcriptional control of M-phase progression. Cell Death Dis 2014; 5:e1417. [PMID: 25210800 PMCID: PMC4540202 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2014.370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Revised: 07/14/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
MEIS2 has an important role in development and organogenesis, and is implicated in the pathogenesis of human cancer. The molecular basis of MEIS2 action in tumorigenesis is not clear. Here, we show that MEIS2 is highly expressed in human neuroblastoma cell lines and is required for neuroblastoma cell survival and proliferation. Depletion of MEIS2 in neuroblastoma cells leads to M-phase arrest and mitotic catastrophe, whereas ectopic expression of MEIS2 markedly enhances neuroblastoma cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, and tumorigenicity. Gene expression profiling reveals an essential role of MEIS2 in maintaining the expression of a large number of late cell-cycle genes, including those required for DNA replication, G2-M checkpoint control and M-phase progression. Importantly, we identify MEIS2 as a transcription activator of the MuvB-BMYB-FOXM1 complex that functions as a master regulator of cell-cycle gene expression. Further, we show that FOXM1 is a direct target gene of MEIS2 and is required for MEIS2 to upregulate mitotic genes. These findings link a developmentally important gene to the control of cell proliferation and suggest that high MEIS2 expression is a molecular mechanism for high expression of mitotic genes that is frequently observed in cancers of poor prognosis.
Collapse
|
9
|
Agoston Z, Li N, Haslinger A, Wizenmann A, Schulte D. Genetic and physical interaction of Meis2, Pax3 and Pax7 during dorsal midbrain development. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2012; 12:10. [PMID: 22390724 PMCID: PMC3313853 DOI: 10.1186/1471-213x-12-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2011] [Accepted: 03/05/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Background During early stages of brain development, secreted molecules, components of intracellular signaling pathways and transcriptional regulators act in positive and negative feed-back or feed-forward loops at the mid-hindbrain boundary. These genetic interactions are of central importance for the specification and subsequent development of the adjacent mid- and hindbrain. Much less, however, is known about the regulatory relationship and functional interaction of molecules that are expressed in the tectal anlage after tectal fate specification has taken place and tectal development has commenced. Results Here, we provide experimental evidence for reciprocal regulation and subsequent cooperation of the paired-type transcription factors Pax3, Pax7 and the TALE-homeodomain protein Meis2 in the tectal anlage. Using in ovo electroporation of the mesencephalic vesicle of chick embryos we show that (i) Pax3 and Pax7 mutually regulate each other's expression in the mesencephalic vesicle, (ii) Meis2 acts downstream of Pax3/7 and requires balanced expression levels of both proteins, and (iii) Meis2 physically interacts with Pax3 and Pax7. These results extend our previous observation that Meis2 cooperates with Otx2 in tectal development to include Pax3 and Pax7 as Meis2 interacting proteins in the tectal anlage. Conclusion The results described here suggest a model in which interdependent regulatory loops involving Pax3 and Pax7 in the dorsal mesencephalic vesicle modulate Meis2 expression. Physical interaction with Meis2 may then confer tectal specificity to a wide range of otherwise broadly expressed transcriptional regulators, including Otx2, Pax3 and Pax7.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zsuzsa Agoston
- Institute of Neurology (Edinger Institute), J, W, Goethe University Medical School, Heinrich Hoffmannstr, 7, 50628 Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Agoston Z, Li N, Haslinger A, Wizenmann A, Schulte D. Genetic and physical interaction of Meis2, Pax3 and Pax7 during dorsal midbrain development. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2012. [PMID: 22390724 DOI: 10.1186/1471‐213x‐12‐10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During early stages of brain development, secreted molecules, components of intracellular signaling pathways and transcriptional regulators act in positive and negative feed-back or feed-forward loops at the mid-hindbrain boundary. These genetic interactions are of central importance for the specification and subsequent development of the adjacent mid- and hindbrain. Much less, however, is known about the regulatory relationship and functional interaction of molecules that are expressed in the tectal anlage after tectal fate specification has taken place and tectal development has commenced. RESULTS Here, we provide experimental evidence for reciprocal regulation and subsequent cooperation of the paired-type transcription factors Pax3, Pax7 and the TALE-homeodomain protein Meis2 in the tectal anlage. Using in ovo electroporation of the mesencephalic vesicle of chick embryos we show that (i) Pax3 and Pax7 mutually regulate each other's expression in the mesencephalic vesicle, (ii) Meis2 acts downstream of Pax3/7 and requires balanced expression levels of both proteins, and (iii) Meis2 physically interacts with Pax3 and Pax7. These results extend our previous observation that Meis2 cooperates with Otx2 in tectal development to include Pax3 and Pax7 as Meis2 interacting proteins in the tectal anlage. CONCLUSION The results described here suggest a model in which interdependent regulatory loops involving Pax3 and Pax7 in the dorsal mesencephalic vesicle modulate Meis2 expression. Physical interaction with Meis2 may then confer tectal specificity to a wide range of otherwise broadly expressed transcriptional regulators, including Otx2, Pax3 and Pax7.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zsuzsa Agoston
- Institute of Neurology (Edinger Institute), J, W, Goethe University Medical School, Heinrich Hoffmannstr, 7, 50628 Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Bjerke GA, Hyman-Walsh C, Wotton D. Cooperative transcriptional activation by Klf4, Meis2, and Pbx1. Mol Cell Biol 2011; 31:3723-33. [PMID: 21746878 PMCID: PMC3165729 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.01456-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2010] [Accepted: 06/30/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Kruppel-like factor Klf4 is implicated in tumorigenesis and maintaining stem cell pluripotency, and Klf4 can both activate and repress gene expression. We show that the Pbx1 and Meis2 homeodomain proteins interact with Klf4 and can be recruited to DNA elements comprising a Klf4 site or GC box, with adjacent Meis and Pbx sites. Meis2d and Pbx1a activate expression of p15(Ink4a) and E-cadherin, dependent on the Meis2d transcriptional activation domain. In HepG2 cells, reducing expression of endogenous Meis2 or Pbx1 decreases p15 gene expression and increases the number of cells entering S phase. Although DNA binding by all three proteins contributes to full cooperative activation, the sequence requirements for binding by Meis2 and Pbx1 are variable. In the E-cadherin promoter, a Pbx-like site is required for full activation, whereas in the p15 promoter, the Klf4 site appears to play the major role. Through a bioinformatics search we identified additional genes with conserved binding sites for Klf4, Meis2, and Pbx1 and show that at least some of these genes can be activated cooperatively by Klf4 and Meis2/Pbx1. We suggest a model in which genes with Klf4 sites can be cooperatively activated by Meis2/Pbx1 and Klf4, dependent primarily on recruitment by Klf4. This provides a mechanism to modulate transcriptional regulation by the multifunctional Klf4 transcription factor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Glen A. Bjerke
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and Center for Cell Signaling, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Cathy Hyman-Walsh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and Center for Cell Signaling, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - David Wotton
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and Center for Cell Signaling, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Irimia M, Maeso I, Burguera D, Hidalgo-Sánchez M, Puelles L, Roy SW, Garcia-Fernàndez J, Ferran JL. Contrasting 5' and 3' evolutionary histories and frequent evolutionary convergence in Meis/hth gene structures. Genome Biol Evol 2011; 3:551-64. [PMID: 21680890 PMCID: PMC3140891 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evr056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Organisms show striking differences in genome structure; however, the functional implications and fundamental forces that govern these differences remain obscure. The intron–exon organization of nuclear genes is involved in a particularly large variety of structures and functional roles. We performed a 22-species study of Meis/hth genes, intron-rich homeodomain-containing transcription factors involved in a wide range of developmental processes. Our study revealed three surprising results that suggest important and very different functions for Meis intron–exon structures. First, we find unexpected conservation across species of intron positions and lengths along most of the Meis locus. This contrasts with the high degree of structural divergence found in genome-wide studies and may attest to conserved regulatory elements residing within these conserved introns. Second, we find very different evolutionary histories for the 5′ and 3′ regions of the gene. The 5′-most 10 exons, which encode the highly conserved Meis domain and homeodomain, show striking conservation. By contrast, the 3′ of the gene, which encodes several domains implicated in transcriptional activation and response to cell signaling, shows a remarkably active evolutionary history, with diverse isoforms and frequent creation and loss of new exons and splice sites. This region-specific diversity suggests evolutionary “tinkering,” with alternative splicing allowing for more subtle regulation of protein function. Third, we find a large number of cases of convergent evolution in the 3′ region, including 1) parallel losses of ancestral coding sequence, 2) parallel gains of external and internal splice sites, and 3) recurrent truncation of C-terminal coding regions. These results attest to the importance of locus-specific splicing functions in differences in structural evolution across genes, as well as to commonalities of forces shaping the evolution of individual genes along different lineages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Irimia
- Department of Genetics, School of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|