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Yang F, Zhou H, Luo P, Jia L, Hou M, Huang J, Gao L, Zhang Q, Guan Y, Bao H, Zhang B, Liu L, Zou C, Yang Q, Wang J, Dai L. Celastrol induces DNA damage and cell death in BCR-ABL T315I-mutant CML by targeting YY1 and HMCES. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 134:155937. [PMID: 39255723 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is driven primarily by the constitutively active BCR-ABL fusion oncoprotein. Although the development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors has markedly improved the prognosis of CML patients, it remains a significant challenge to overcome drug-resistant mutations, such as the T315I mutation of BCR-ABL, and achieve treatment-free remission in the clinic. PURPOSE The identification of new intervention targets beyond BCR-ABL could provide new perspectives for future research and therapeutic intervention. A network pharmacology analysis was conducted to identify the most promising natural product with anti-CML activity. Celastrol was selected for further analysis to gain insights into its mechanism of action (MoA), with the aim of identifying potential new intervention targets for BCR-ABL T315I-mutant CML. METHODS Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were conducted to systematically investigate the molecular MoA of celastrol in K562T315I cells. To identify the target proteins of celastrol, mass spectrometry-coupled cellular thermal shift assay (MS-CETSA) was carried out, followed by validations with genetic knockdown and overexpression, cell proliferation assay, comet assay, Western blotting, celastrol probe-based in situ labeling and pull-down assay, molecular docking, and biolayer interferometry. RESULTS Our multi-omics analyses revealed that celastrol primarily induces DNA damage accumulation and the unfolded protein response in K562T315I cells. Among the twelve most potential celastrol targets, experimental evidence demonstrated that the direct interaction of celastrol with YY1 and HMCES increases the levels of DNA damage, leading to cell death. CONCLUSION This study represents the first investigation utilizing a proteome-wide label-free target deconvolution approach, MS-CETSA, to identify the protein targets of celastrol. This study also develops a new systems pharmacology strategy. The findings provide new insights into the multifaceted mechanisms of celastrol and, more importantly, highlight the potential of targeting proteins in DNA damage and repair pathways, particularly YY1 and HMCES, to combat drug-resistant CML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China; School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Hongchao Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Piao Luo
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Lin Jia
- College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China
| | - Mengyun Hou
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Jingnan Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China; School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Lin Gao
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Yudong Guan
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China; School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Honglei Bao
- College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China
| | - Baotong Zhang
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Liping Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Chang Zou
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Qinhe Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Jigang Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China; State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
| | - Lingyun Dai
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China; School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518020, China; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 138673, Singapore.
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2
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Cui Z, Luo J, Cheng F, Xu W, Wang J, Lin M, Sun Y, Chen S. Identification and Functional Analysis of E3 Ubiquitin Ligase g2e3 in Chinese Tongue Sole, Cynoglossus semilaevis. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2579. [PMID: 39272364 PMCID: PMC11394658 DOI: 10.3390/ani14172579] [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: 07/23/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Gametogenesis, the intricate developmental process responsible for the generation of germ cells (gametes), serves as a fundamental prerequisite for the perpetuation of the reproductive cycle across diverse organisms. The g2e3 enzyme is a putative ubiquitin E3 ligase implicated in the intricate regulatory mechanisms underlying cellular proliferation and division processes. The present study delves into the function of G2/M phase-specific E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (Cs-g2e3) in gametogenesis in Chinese Tongue Sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). Sequence analysis shows that the Cs-g2e3 mRNA spans 6479 bp, encoding a 733 amino acid protein characterized by three conserved structural domains: PHD, RING, and HECT-typical of HECT E3 ubiquitin ligases. The predominant expression of Cs-g2e3 in the gonad tissues is further verified by qPCR. The expression profile of Cs-g2e3 in the gonads of the Chinese Tongue Sole is analyzed at different ages, and the results show that its expression peaks at 8 months of age and then begins to decline and stabilize. It is noteworthy that the expression level remains significantly elevated compared to that observed during the juvenile period. In situ hybridization shows that the mRNA of Cs-g2e3 is mainly localized in the germ cells of the ovary and the testis. RNA interference experiments show that the knockdown of Cs-g2e3 in ovarian and testicular germ cell lines significantly downregulates the expression of key genes involved in oogenesis (e.g., sox9 and cyp19a) and spermatogenesis (e.g., tesk1 and piwil2), respectively. Furthermore, the analysis of mutations in the transcription factor binding sites reveals that mutations within the Myogenin, YY1, and JunB binding sites significantly impact the transcriptional activity of the Cs-g2e3 gene, with the mutation in the YY1 binding site exhibiting the most pronounced effect (p < 0.001). This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the tissue-specific expression patterns of Cs-g2e3 across various tissues in Cynoglossus semilaevis, as well as the potential regulatory influences of transcription factors on its promoter activity. These findings may facilitate future research endeavors aimed at elucidating the expression and functional roles of the Cs-g2e3 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongkai Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Jun Luo
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Fangzhou Cheng
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Wenteng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Jialin Wang
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Mengjiao Lin
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yuqi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Songlin Chen
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, China
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Wang HQ, Wu XL, Zhang J, Wang ST, Sang YJ, Li K, Yang CF, Sun F, Li CJ. Meiotic transcriptional reprogramming mediated by cell-cell communications in humans and mice revealed by scATAC-seq and scRNA-seq. Zool Res 2024; 45:601-616. [PMID: 38766744 PMCID: PMC11188612 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.414] [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: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Meiosis is a highly complex process significantly influenced by transcriptional regulation. However, studies on the mechanisms that govern transcriptomic changes during meiosis, especially in prophase I, are limited. Here, we performed single-cell ATAC-seq of human testis tissues and observed reprogramming during the transition from zygotene to pachytene spermatocytes. This event, conserved in mice, involved the deactivation of genes associated with meiosis after reprogramming and the activation of those related to spermatogenesis before their functional onset. Furthermore, we identified 282 transcriptional regulators (TRs) that underwent activation or deactivation subsequent to this process. Evidence suggested that physical contact signals from Sertoli cells may regulate these TRs in spermatocytes, while secreted ENHO signals may alter metabolic patterns in these cells. Our results further indicated that defective transcriptional reprogramming may be associated with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). This study revealed the importance of both physical contact and secreted signals between Sertoli cells and germ cells in meiotic progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Quan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
- Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Xiao-Long Wu
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Si-Ting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Yong-Juan Sang
- Model Animal Research Center of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Kang Li
- Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Chao-Fan Yang
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China. E-mail:
| | - Chao-Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China. E-mail:
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Chandnani N, Choudhari VS, Talukdar R, Rakshit S, Shanmugam G, Guchait S, Gupta I, George M, Sarkar K. Depletion of enhancer zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) directs transcription factors associated with T cell differentiation through epigenetic regulation of Yin Yang 1(YY1) in combating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Med Oncol 2023; 40:185. [PMID: 37212947 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02053-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of death in all countries alike. In the current study, we have found out that Histone H3Lys4trimethylation is abnormal on YY1 in CD4+T Helper (TH) cells of NSCLC patients which is evident by Histone H3Lys27 trimethylation mediated via EZH2. We investigated the status of Yin Yang 1 (YY1) and the involvement of certain transcription factors that lead to tumorigenesis after depleting endogenous EZH2 in vitro by CRISPR/Cas9 in the CD4+TH1-or-TH2-polarized cells isolated initially as CD4+TH0 cells from the PBMC of the control subjects and patients suffering from NSCLC. After depletion of endogenous EZH2, RT-qPCR based mRNA expression analysis showed that there was an increase in the expression of TH1 specific genes and a decrease in the expression of TH2 specific genes in NSCLC patients CD4+TH cells. We can conclude that this group of NSCLC patients may have the tendency at least in vitro to elucidate adaptive/protective immunity through the depletion of endogenous EZH2 along with the reduction in the expression of YY1. Moreover, depletion of EZH2 not only suppressed the CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Regulatory T cells (Treg) but also it aided the generation of CD8+Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTL) which were involved in killing of the NSCLC cells. Thus the transcription factors involved in EZH2 mediated T cell differentiation linked to malignancies offers us an appealing avenue of targeted therapeutic intervention for NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Chandnani
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Vedika Shrirang Choudhari
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Rajat Talukdar
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sudeshna Rakshit
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Geetha Shanmugam
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Shiuli Guchait
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ishika Gupta
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Melvin George
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Koustav Sarkar
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Idriss S, Hallal M, El-Kurdi A, Zalzali H, El-Rassi I, Ehli EA, Davis CM, Chung PED, Gendoo DMA, Zacksenhaus E, Saab R, Khoueiry P. A temporal in vivo catalog of chromatin accessibility and expression profiles in pineoblastoma reveals a prevalent role for repressor elements. Genome Res 2023; 33:269-282. [PMID: 36650051 PMCID: PMC10069464 DOI: 10.1101/gr.277037.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric pineoblastomas (PBs) are rare and aggressive tumors of grade IV histology. Although some oncogenic drivers are characterized, including germline mutations in RB1 and DICER1, the role of epigenetic deregulation and cis-regulatory regions in PB pathogenesis and progression is largely unknown. Here, we generated genome-wide gene expression, chromatin accessibility, and H3K27ac profiles covering key time points of PB initiation and progression from pineal tissues of a mouse model of CCND1-driven PB. We identified PB-specific enhancers and super-enhancers, and found that in some cases, the accessible genome dynamics precede transcriptomic changes, a characteristic that is underexplored in tumor progression. During progression of PB, newly acquired open chromatin regions lacking H3K27ac signal become enriched for repressive state elements and harbor motifs of repressor transcription factors like HINFP, GLI2, and YY1. Copy number variant analysis identified deletion events specific to the tumorigenic stage, affecting, among others, the histone gene cluster and Gas1, the growth arrest specific gene. Gene set enrichment analysis and gene expression signatures positioned the model used here close to human PB samples, showing the potential of our findings for exploring new avenues in PB management and therapy. Overall, this study reports the first temporal and in vivo cis-regulatory, expression, and accessibility maps in PB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salam Idriss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Mohammad Hallal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.,Biomedical Engineering Program, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Abdullah El-Kurdi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.,Pillar Genomics Institute, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Hasan Zalzali
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.,Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Inaam El-Rassi
- Biomedical Engineering Program, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Erik A Ehli
- Avera Institute for Human Genetics, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108, USA
| | - Christel M Davis
- Avera Institute for Human Genetics, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108, USA
| | - Philip E D Chung
- Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Deena M A Gendoo
- Centre for Computational Biology, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2SY, United Kingdom
| | - Eldad Zacksenhaus
- Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Raya Saab
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.,Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Pierre Khoueiry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon; .,Pillar Genomics Institute, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
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6
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Guzmán-Jiménez A, González-Muñoz S, Cerván-Martín M, Rivera-Egea R, Garrido N, Luján S, Santos-Ribeiro S, Castilla JA, Gonzalvo MC, Clavero A, Vicente FJ, Maldonado V, Villegas-Salmerón J, Burgos M, Jiménez R, Pinto MG, Pereira I, Nunes J, Sánchez-Curbelo J, López-Rodrigo O, Pereira-Caetano I, Marques PI, Carvalho F, Barros A, Bassas L, Seixas S, Gonçalves J, Lopes AM, Larriba S, Palomino-Morales RJ, Carmona FD, Bossini-Castillo L. Contribution of TEX15 genetic variants to the risk of developing severe non-obstructive oligozoospermia. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1089782. [PMID: 36589743 PMCID: PMC9797780 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1089782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Severe spermatogenic failure (SPGF) represents one of the most relevant causes of male infertility. This pathological condition can lead to extreme abnormalities in the seminal sperm count, such as severe oligozoospermia (SO) or non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). Most cases of SPGF have an unknown aetiology, and it is known that this idiopathic form of male infertility represents a complex condition. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether common genetic variation in TEX15, which encodes a key player in spermatogenesis, is involved in the susceptibility to idiopathic SPGF. Materials and Methods: We designed a genetic association study comprising a total of 727 SPGF cases (including 527 NOA and 200 SO) and 1,058 unaffected men from the Iberian Peninsula. Following a tagging strategy, three tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TEX15 (rs1362912, rs323342, and rs323346) were selected for genotyping using TaqMan probes. Case-control association tests were then performed by logistic regression models. In silico analyses were also carried out to shed light into the putative functional implications of the studied variants. Results: A significant increase in TEX15-rs1362912 minor allele frequency (MAF) was observed in the group of SO patients (MAF = 0.0842) compared to either the control cohort (MAF = 0.0468, OR = 1.90, p = 7.47E-03) or the NOA group (MAF = 0.0472, OR = 1.83, p = 1.23E-02). The genotype distribution of the SO population was also different from those of both control (p = 1.14E-02) and NOA groups (p = 4.33-02). The analysis of functional annotations of the human genome suggested that the effect of the SO-associated TEX15 variants is likely exerted by alteration of the binding affinity of crucial transcription factors for spermatogenesis. Conclusion: Our results suggest that common variation in TEX15 is involved in the genetic predisposition to SO, thus supporting the notion of idiopathic SPGF as a complex trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Guzmán-Jiménez
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - Sara González-Muñoz
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - Miriam Cerván-Martín
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - Rocío Rivera-Egea
- Andrology Laboratory and Sperm Bank, IVIRMA Valencia, Valencia, Spain,IVI Foundation, Health Research Institute La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Nicolás Garrido
- IVI Foundation, Health Research Institute La Fe, Valencia, Spain,Servicio de Urología. Hospital Universitari i Politecnic La Fe e Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain
| | - Saturnino Luján
- Servicio de Urología. Hospital Universitari i Politecnic La Fe e Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain
| | - Samuel Santos-Ribeiro
- IVI-RMA Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - José A. Castilla
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain,Unidad de Reproducción, UGC Obstetricia y Ginecología, HU Virgen de Las Nieves, Granada, Spain,CEIFER Biobanco—GAMETIA, Granada, Spain
| | - M. Carmen Gonzalvo
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain,Unidad de Reproducción, UGC Obstetricia y Ginecología, HU Virgen de Las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Clavero
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain,Unidad de Reproducción, UGC Obstetricia y Ginecología, HU Virgen de Las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - F. Javier Vicente
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain,UGC de Urología, HU Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - Vicente Maldonado
- UGC de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - Javier Villegas-Salmerón
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Miguel Burgos
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Rafael Jiménez
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Maria Graça Pinto
- Centro de Medicina Reprodutiva, Maternidade Alfredo da Costa, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Isabel Pereira
- Departamento de Obstetrícia, Ginecologia e Medicina da Reprodução, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joaquim Nunes
- Departamento de Obstetrícia, Ginecologia e Medicina da Reprodução, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Josvany Sánchez-Curbelo
- Laboratory of Seminology and Embryology, Andrology Service-Fundació Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olga López-Rodrigo
- Laboratory of Seminology and Embryology, Andrology Service-Fundació Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iris Pereira-Caetano
- Departamento de Genética Humana, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Patricia Isabel Marques
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal,Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Filipa Carvalho
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal,Serviço de Genética, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Alberto Barros
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal,Serviço de Genética, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Lluís Bassas
- Laboratory of Seminology and Embryology, Andrology Service-Fundació Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Seixas
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal,Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - João Gonçalves
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal,ToxOmics—Centro de Toxicogenómica e Saúde Humana, Nova Medical School, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Alexandra M. Lopes
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal,CGPP-IBMC—Centro de Genética Preditiva e Preventiva, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Larriba
- Human Molecular Genetics Group, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rogelio J. Palomino-Morales
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain,Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular I, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - F. David Carmona
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain,*Correspondence: F. David Carmona, ; Lara Bossini-Castillo,
| | - Lara Bossini-Castillo
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain,*Correspondence: F. David Carmona, ; Lara Bossini-Castillo,
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7
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Chen M, Long X, Chen M, Hao F, Kang J, Wang N, Wang Y, Wang M, Gao Y, Zhou M, Duo L, Zhe X, He J, Ren B, Zhang Y, Liu B, Li J, Zhang Q, Yan L, Cui X, Wang Y, Gui Y, Wang H, Zhu L, Liu D, Guo F, Gao F. Integration of single-cell transcriptome and chromatin accessibility of early gonads development among goats, pigs, macaques, and humans. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111587. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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8
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Talibova G, Bilmez Y, Ozturk S. DNA double-strand break repair in male germ cells during spermatogenesis and its association with male infertility development. DNA Repair (Amst) 2022; 118:103386. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2022.103386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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9
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Ma L, Xie D, Luo M, Lin X, Nie H, Chen J, Gao C, Duo S, Han C. Identification and characterization of BEND2 as a key regulator of meiosis during mouse spermatogenesis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn1606. [PMID: 35613276 PMCID: PMC9132480 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn1606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The chromatin state, which undergoes global changes during spermatogenesis, is critical to meiotic initiation and progression. However, the key regulators involved and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be uncovered. Here, we report that mouse BEND2 is specifically expressed in spermatogenic cells around meiotic initiation and that it plays an essential role in meiotic progression. Bend2 gene knockout in male mice arrested meiosis at the transition from zygonema to pachynema, disrupted synapsis and DNA double-strand break repair, and induced nonhomologous chromosomal pairing. BEND2 interacted with chromatin-associated proteins that are components of certain transcription-repressor complexes. BEND2-binding sites were identified in diverse chromatin states and enriched in simple sequence repeats. BEND2 inhibited the expression of genes involved in meiotic initiation and regulated chromatin accessibility and the modification of H3K4me3. Therefore, our study identified BEND2 as a previously unknown key regulator of meiosis, gene expression, and chromatin state during mouse spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longfei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Dan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mengcheng Luo
- Department of Tissue and Embryology, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiwen Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Hengyu Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chenxu Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuguang Duo
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chunsheng Han
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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10
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Chen L, Qiao L, Guo Y, Huang Y, Luo W, Feng Y. Localization and regulatory function of Yin Yang 1 (YY1) in chicken testis. Mol Genet Genomics 2021; 297:113-123. [PMID: 34854981 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-021-01840-8] [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: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, Yin Yang 1 (YY1), a pervasively expressed transcription factor related to many biological processes as an activator or inhibitor of the transcription of various genes, plays a critical role in the development of male gonads and spermatogenesis. Although the role of YY1 on the development of male gonads and spermatogenesis in mammals has been reported, its function on chicken testis are yet to be clarified. In this study, we used immunofluorescence analysis to investigate the location of YY1 in chicken testis. In embryo testis, YY1 was detected in spermatogonia and Sertoli cells, while in adult testis, YY1 was shown to be expressed in spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells, but not in spermatozoa. Furthermore, we investigated the regulatory functions of YY1 in chicken testicular Sertoli cells by combining overexpression with RNA-sequencing. Overexpression of YY1 in Sertoli cells revealed a total of 2955 differentially expressed genes involved in various biological processes, such as male gonad development and seminiferous tubule development. Overexpression of YY1 also caused significant differences in the expression of the androgen receptor gene and the inhibin βA gene, two major genes involved in the regulation of spermatogonia in Sertoli cells. These observations indicate that YY1 may regulate the development and function of the gonads by affecting the secretion of cytokines and hormones in Sertoli cells to mediate the production and differentiation of spermatogonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ligen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingyun Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Huang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Luo
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanping Feng
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China.
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11
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Chen B, Zhu G, Yan A, He J, Liu Y, Li L, Yang X, Dong C, Kee K. IGSF11 is required for pericentric heterochromatin dissociation during meiotic diplotene. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009778. [PMID: 34491997 PMCID: PMC8448346 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Meiosis initiation and progression are regulated by both germ cells and gonadal somatic cells. However, little is known about what genes or proteins connecting somatic and germ cells are required for this regulation. Our results show that deficiency for adhesion molecule IGSF11, which is expressed in both Sertoli cells and germ cells, leads to male infertility in mice. Combining a new meiotic fluorescent reporter system with testicular cell transplantation, we demonstrated that IGSF11 is required in both somatic cells and spermatogenic cells for primary spermatocyte development. In the absence of IGSF11, spermatocytes proceed through pachytene, but the pericentric heterochromatin of nonhomologous chromosomes remains inappropriately clustered from late pachytene onward, resulting in undissolved interchromosomal interactions. Hi-C analysis reveals elevated levels of interchromosomal interactions occurring mostly at the chromosome ends. Collectively, our data elucidates that IGSF11 in somatic cells and germ cells is required for pericentric heterochromatin dissociation during diplotene in mouse primary spermatocytes. For sexually reproducing species, the number of chromosomes in a mature germ cell is half that of a typical somatic cell, and its chromosome sequence is not identical to that of parental cell, these changes result from a highly specialized cell division process named meiosis. In contrast to mitosis, germ cells undergo many meiotic-specific regulatory processes during prophase I of meiosis. In mammals, the development of male and female meiotic germ cells relies on completely different microenvironment provided by sexually specialized gonadal somatic cells, but what gene is required for germ cells and gonadal somatic cells to mediate meiosis progression is largely unclear. Here, we construct a fluorescent reporter to trace meiotic prophase in mice, and use it to examine the requirement of IGSF11 in mediating pericentric heterochromatin dissociation during meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Chen
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Gengzhen Zhu
- Institute of Immunology and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - An Yan
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing He
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic & Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Li
- Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuerui Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic & Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Dong
- Institute of Immunology and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Kehkooi Kee
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
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12
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Fan X, Zhu Y, Wang N, Zhang B, Zhang C, Wang Y. Therapeutic Dose of Hydroxyurea-Induced Synaptic Abnormalities on the Mouse Spermatocyte. Front Physiol 2021; 12:666339. [PMID: 34305635 PMCID: PMC8299468 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.666339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydroxyurea (HU) is a widely used pharmacological therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD). However, replication stress caused by HU has been shown to inhibit premeiotic S-phase DNA, leading to reproductive toxicity in germ cells. In this study, we administered the therapeutic doses of HU (i.e., 25 and 50 mg/kg) to male mice to explore whether replication stress by HU affects pachytene spermatocytes and causes the abnormalities of homologous chromosomes pairing and recombination during prophase I of meiosis. In comparison with the control group, the proportions of spermatocyte gaps were significantly different in the experimental groups injected with 25 mg/kg (p < 0.05) and 50 mg/kg of HU (p < 0.05). Moreover, the proportions of unrepaired double-stranded breaks (DSBs) observed by γH2AX staining also corresponded to a higher HU dose with a greater number of breaks. Additionally, a reduction in the counts of recombination foci on the autosomal SCs was observed in the pachytene spermatocytes. Our results reveal that HU has some effects on synaptonemal complex (SC) formation and DSB repair which suggest possible problems in fertility. Therefore, this study provides new evidence of the mechanisms underlying HU reproductive toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobo Fan
- Laboratory of Molecular Cytogenetics, School of Bioengineering, Xuzhou University of Technology, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yunxia Zhu
- The Center of Reproductive Medicine, Xuzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Xuzhou, China
| | - Naixin Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Cytogenetics, School of Bioengineering, Xuzhou University of Technology, Xuzhou, China
| | - Bing Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Cytogenetics, School of Bioengineering, Xuzhou University of Technology, Xuzhou, China
| | - Cui Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Cytogenetics, School of Bioengineering, Xuzhou University of Technology, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yanan Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Cytogenetics, School of Bioengineering, Xuzhou University of Technology, Xuzhou, China
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13
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Cheon YP, Choi D, Lee SH, Kim CG. YY1 and CP2c in Unidirectional Spermatogenesis and Stemness. Dev Reprod 2021; 24:249-262. [PMID: 33537512 PMCID: PMC7837418 DOI: 10.12717/dr.2020.24.4.249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) have stemness characteristics, including germ cell-specific imprints that allow them to form gametes. Spermatogenesis involves changes in gene expression such as a transition from expression of somatic to germ cell-specific genes, global repression of gene expression, meiotic sex chromosome inactivation, highly condensed packing of the nucleus with protamines, and morphogenesis. These step-by-step processes finally generate spermatozoa that are fertilization competent. Dynamic epigenetic modifications also confer totipotency to germ cells after fertilization. Primordial germ cells (PGCs) in embryos do not enter meiosis, remain in the proliferative stage, and are referred to as gonocytes, before entering quiescence. Gonocytes develop into SSCs at about 6 days after birth in rodents. Although chromatin structural modification by Polycomb is essential for gene silencing in mammals, and epigenetic changes are critical in spermatogenesis, a comprehensive understanding of transcriptional regulation is lacking. Recently, we evaluated the expression profiles of Yin Yang 1 (YY1) and CP2c in the gonads of E14.5 and 12-week-old mice. YY1 localizes at the nucleus and/or cytoplasm at specific stages of spermatogenesis, possibly by interaction with CP2c and YY1-interacting transcription factor. In the present article, we discuss the possible roles of YY1 and CP2c in spermatogenesis and stemness based on our results and a review of the relevant literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Pil Cheon
- Division of Developmental Biology and Physiology, Institute for Basic Sciences, Sungshin University, Seoul 02844, Korea
| | - Donchan Choi
- Department of Life Science, College of Environmental Sciences, Yong-In University, Yongin 17092, Korea
| | - Sung-Ho Lee
- Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, Korea
| | - Chul Geun Kim
- Department of Life Science and Research Institute for Natural Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
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14
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Liu S, Yuan S, Gao X, Tao X, Yu W, Li X, Chen S, Xu A. Functional regulation of an ancestral RAG transposon ProtoRAG by a trans-acting factor YY1 in lancelet. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4515. [PMID: 32908127 PMCID: PMC7481187 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18261-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of ancestral RAG transposons in early deuterostomia reveals the origin of vertebrate V(D)J recombination. Here, we analyze the functional regulation of a RAG transposon, ProtoRAG, in lancelet. We find that a specific interaction between the cis-acting element within the TIR sequences of ProtoRAG and a trans-acting factor, lancelet YY1-like (bbYY1), is important for the transcriptional regulation of lancelet RAG-like genes (bbRAG1L and bbRAG2L). Mechanistically, bbYY1 suppresses the transposition of ProtoRAG; meanwhile, bbYY1 promotes host DNA rejoins (HDJ) and TIR-TIR joints (TTJ) after TIR-dependent excision by facilitating the binding of bbRAG1L/2 L to TIR-containing DNA, and by interacting with the bbRAG1L/2 L complex. Our data thus suggest that bbYY1 has dual functions in fine-tuning the activity of ProtoRAG and maintaining the genome stability of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaochun Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, 266237, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaoman Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenjuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shangwu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Anlong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 100029, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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15
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Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of the Cynomolgus Macaque Testis Reveals Conserved Transcriptional Profiles during Mammalian Spermatogenesis. Dev Cell 2020; 54:548-566.e7. [PMID: 32795394 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is highly orchestrated and involves the differentiation of diploid spermatogonia into haploid sperm. The process is driven by spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). SSCs undergo mitotic self-renewal, whereas sub-populations undergo differentiation and later gain competence to initiate meiosis. Here, we describe a high-resolution single-cell RNA-seq atlas of cells derived from Cynomolgus macaque testis. We identify gene signatures that define spermatogonial populations and explore self-renewal versus differentiation dynamics. We detail transcriptional changes occurring over the entire process of spermatogenesis and highlight the concerted activity of DNA damage response (DDR) pathway genes, which have dual roles in maintaining genomic integrity and effecting meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI). We show remarkable similarities and differences in gene expression during spermatogenesis with two other eutherian mammals, i.e., mouse and humans. Sex chromosome expression in the male germline in all three species demonstrates conserved features of MSCI but divergent multicopy and ampliconic gene content.
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16
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Shami AN, Zheng X, Munyoki SK, Ma Q, Manske GL, Green CD, Sukhwani M, Orwig KE, Li JZ, Hammoud SS. Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of Human, Macaque, and Mouse Testes Uncovers Conserved and Divergent Features of Mammalian Spermatogenesis. Dev Cell 2020; 54:529-547.e12. [PMID: 32504559 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a highly regulated process that produces sperm to transmit genetic information to the next generation. Although extensively studied in mice, our current understanding of primate spermatogenesis is limited to populations defined by state-specific markers from rodent data. As between-species differences have been reported in the duration and differentiation hierarchy of this process, it remains unclear how molecular markers and cell states are conserved or have diverged from mice to man. To address this challenge, we employ single-cell RNA sequencing to identify transcriptional signatures of major germ and somatic cell types of the testes in human, macaque, and mice. This approach reveals similarities and differences in expression throughout spermatogenesis, including the stem/progenitor pool of spermatogonia, markers of differentiation, potential regulators of meiosis, RNA turnover during spermatid differentiation, and germ cell-soma communication. These datasets provide a rich foundation for future targeted mechanistic studies of primate germ cell development and in vitro gametogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xianing Zheng
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sarah K Munyoki
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Integrative Systems Biology Graduate Program, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Qianyi Ma
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gabriel L Manske
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Meena Sukhwani
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Integrative Systems Biology Graduate Program, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kyle E Orwig
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Integrative Systems Biology Graduate Program, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Jun Z Li
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Saher Sue Hammoud
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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17
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Zhu W, Du J, Chen Q, Zhang Z, Wu B, Xu J, Li T, Bi Y, Shi H, Li R. Association of UHRF1 gene polymorphisms with oligospermia in Chinese males. J Assist Reprod Genet 2019; 36:2563-2573. [PMID: 31802345 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-019-01614-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND UHRF1 plays an important role in maintaining DNA methylation patterns during spermatogenesis. This study was performed to evaluate the association between UHRF1 gene variations and infertility in males with oligozoospermia in a Chinese population. METHODS In this case-control study of 735 Chinese men, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes and alleles in the UHRF1 gene were assessed by direct sequencing. The effects of the mutations on UHRF1 transcription were investigated using a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. RESULTS We identified 24 SNPs, including nine SNPs in the promoter region, three in the 5' untranslated region, five in introns, and seven in exons. Interestingly, the genotype frequencies of SNP rs2656927 (P = 0.014) and rs8103849 (P < 0.001) significantly differed between men with oligozoospermia in case group 1 and normozoospermic men. Moreover, four variants (three were novel) were detected only in the patient group, with two in introns and the others in the promoter region. The results of the luciferase assay showed that the -1615C>T-C and -1562A>G-A alleles increased luciferase activity compared with the -1615C>T-T and -1562A>G-G alleles. CONCLUSIONS We detected two SNPs in the UHRF1 gene showing a significant difference between the case and control groups. Two screened SNPs affected UHRF1 promoter activity, improving the understanding of the pathophysiology of oligozoospermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqiang Zhu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing Population and Family Planning Science and Technology Research Institute, Chongqing, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Pharmacy School, Fudan University, 2140 Xietu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jing Du
- NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Pharmacy School, Fudan University, 2140 Xietu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qing Chen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing Population and Family Planning Science and Technology Research Institute, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhaofeng Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Pharmacy School, Fudan University, 2140 Xietu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Bin Wu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Pharmacy School, Fudan University, 2140 Xietu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jianhua Xu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Pharmacy School, Fudan University, 2140 Xietu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Tianqi Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Pharmacy School, Fudan University, 2140 Xietu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yuan Bi
- NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Pharmacy School, Fudan University, 2140 Xietu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Huijuan Shi
- NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Pharmacy School, Fudan University, 2140 Xietu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Runsheng Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Pharmacy School, Fudan University, 2140 Xietu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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18
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Gust KA, Lotufo GR, Thiyagarajah A, Barker ND, Ji Q, Marshall K, Wilbanks MS, Chappell P. Molecular Evaluation of Impacted Reproductive Physiology in Fathead Minnow Testes Provides Mechanistic Insights into Insensitive Munitions Toxicology. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2019; 213:105204. [PMID: 31185427 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2019.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Previous toxicological investigations of the insensitive munition (IM), 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO), demonstrated histopathological and physiological impacts in mammalian testes. The implications of these findings for fish was unknown, therefore we investigated the effects of chronic (21 day) exposures to NTO and an NTO-containing IM formulation called IMX-101 (composed of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), nitroguanidine (NQ), and NTO) in adult male fathead minnows to assess if impacts on testes were conserved. The NTO exposure caused no significant mortality through the maximum exposure concentration (720 mg/L, measured), however NTO elicited testicular impacts causing significant asynchrony in spermatogenesis and necrosis in secondary spermatocytes at the two highest exposure concentrations (383 mg/L and 720 mg/L) and testicular degeneration at the highest exposure. Microarray-based transcriptomics analysis identified significant enrichment of steroid metabolism pathways and mTORC-signal control of spermatogonia differentiation in NTO exposures each having logical connections to observed asynchronous spermatogenesis. Additionally, NTO impaired transcriptional expression for genes supporting sperm structural and flagellar development including sperm-associated antigen 6 (Spag6). These functional transcriptomic responses are hypothesized contributors to impacted reproductive physiology in NTO exposures that ultimately lead to reductions in spermatozoa. In contrast to NTO, the IMX-101 formulation elicited significant mortality at the two highest exposure concentrations of 25.2 and 50.9 mg/L (DNAN nominal + NTO measured + NQ measured). Unlike NTO and NQ, the DNAN component of the IMX-101 formulation underwent significant transformation in the 21d exposure. From previous investigations, neither NTO nor NQ caused mortality in fish at >1000 mg/L suggesting that mortality in the present study arose from DNAN / DNAN-attributable transformation products. The 12.6 mg/L IMX-101 exposure caused significant sublethal impacts on testes including sperm necrosis, interstitial fibrosis, and Sertoli-like cell hyperplasia. Transcriptional profiles for IMX-101 indicated significant enrichment on multiple signaling pathways supporting spermatogenesis, mitosis / meiosis, and flagellar structure, all logically connected to observed sperm necrosis. Additionally, pronounced transcriptional increases within the PPARα-RXRα pathway, a known DNAN target, has been hypothesized to correspond to Sertoli cell hyperplasia, presumably as a compensatory response to fulfill the nurse-function of Sertoli cells during spermatogenesis. Overall, the transcriptional results indicated unique molecular responses for NTO and IMX-101. Regarding chemical hazard, NTO impacted testes and impaired spermatogenesis, but at high exposure concentrations (≥ 192 mg/L), whereas the IMX-101 formulation, elicited mortality and impacts on reproductive physiology likely caused by DNAN and its transformation products present at concentrations well below the NTO-component concentration within the IMX-101 mixture formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt A Gust
- U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA.
| | - Guilherme R Lotufo
- U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA.
| | | | | | - Qing Ji
- Bennett Aerospace, Cary, NC, 27511, USA.
| | | | - Mitchell S Wilbanks
- U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA.
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19
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Benchetrit H, Jaber M, Zayat V, Sebban S, Pushett A, Makedonski K, Zakheim Z, Radwan A, Maoz N, Lasry R, Renous N, Inbar M, Ram O, Kaplan T, Buganim Y. Direct Induction of the Three Pre-implantation Blastocyst Cell Types from Fibroblasts. Cell Stem Cell 2019; 24:983-994.e7. [PMID: 31031139 PMCID: PMC6561721 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2019.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Following fertilization, totipotent cells undergo asymmetric cell divisions, resulting in three distinct cell types in the late pre-implantation blastocyst: epiblast (Epi), primitive endoderm (PrE), and trophectoderm (TE). Here, we aim to understand whether these three cell types can be induced from fibroblasts by one combination of transcription factors. By utilizing a sophisticated fluorescent knockin reporter system, we identified a combination of five transcription factors, Gata3, Eomes, Tfap2c, Myc, and Esrrb, that can reprogram fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), induced trophoblast stem cells (iTSCs), and induced extraembryonic endoderm stem cells (iXENs), concomitantly. In-depth transcriptomic, chromatin, and epigenetic analyses provide insights into the molecular mechanisms that underlie the reprogramming process toward the three cell types. Mechanistically, we show that the interplay between Esrrb and Eomes during the reprogramming process determines cell fate, where high levels of Esrrb induce a XEN-like state that drives pluripotency and high levels of Eomes drive trophectodermal fate. Gata3, Eomes, Tfap2c, Myc, and Esrrb convert fibroblasts into iPSCs, iTSCs, and iXENs Esrrb, but not other pluripotency genes, can shift the TSC fate into pluripotency Esrrb induces pluripotency by the activation of a unique XEN-like state The interplay between Eomes and Esrrb determines cell fate decision
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Benchetrit
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Mohammad Jaber
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Valery Zayat
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Shulamit Sebban
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Avital Pushett
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Kirill Makedonski
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Zvi Zakheim
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Ahmed Radwan
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Noam Maoz
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Rachel Lasry
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Noa Renous
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Michal Inbar
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Oren Ram
- The Silberman Institute of Life Sciences and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Tommy Kaplan
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Yosef Buganim
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
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20
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Ma Z, Shi H, Shen Y, Li H, Yang Y, Yang J, Zhao H, Wang G, Wang J. Emerin anchors Msx1 and its protein partners at the nuclear periphery to inhibit myogenesis. Cell Biosci 2019; 9:34. [PMID: 31044068 PMCID: PMC6460851 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-019-0296-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have shown that in myogenic precursors, the homeoprotein Msx1 and its protein partners, histone methyltransferases and repressive histone marks, tend to be enriched on target myogenic regulatory genes at the nuclear periphery. The nuclear periphery localization of Msx1 and its protein partners is required for Msx1's function of preventing myogenic precursors from pre-maturation through repressing target myogenic regulatory genes. However, the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of Msx1 and its protein partners' nuclear periphery localization are unknown. RESULTS We show that an inner nuclear membrane protein, Emerin, performs as an anchor settled at the inner nuclear membrane to keep Msx1 and its protein partners Ezh2, H3K27me3 enriching at the nuclear periphery, and participates in inhibition of myogenesis mediated by Msx1. Msx1 interacts with Emerin both in C2C12 myoblasts and mouse developing limbs, which is the prerequisite for Emerin mediating the precise location of Msx1, Ezh2, and H3K27me3. The deficiency of Emerin in C2C12 myoblasts disturbs the nuclear periphery localization of Msx1, Ezh2, and H3K27me3, directly indicating Emerin functioning as an anchor. Furthermore, Emerin cooperates with Msx1 to repress target myogenic regulatory genes, and assists Msx1 with inhibition of myogenesis. CONCLUSIONS Emerin cooperates with Msx1 to inhibit myogenesis through maintaining the nuclear periphery localization of Msx1 and Msx1's protein partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangjing Ma
- 1State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438 People's Republic of China
| | - Huiyuan Shi
- 1State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438 People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Shen
- 1State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438 People's Republic of China
| | - Huixia Li
- 1State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438 People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Yang
- 1State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438 People's Republic of China
| | - Jiange Yang
- 1State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438 People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Zhao
- Zhengzhou Revogene Inc, Zhengzhou, 450000 People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Wang
- 1State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438 People's Republic of China.,3State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031 People's Republic of China
| | - Jingqiang Wang
- 1State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438 People's Republic of China
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21
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Maezawa S, Hasegawa K, Alavattam KG, Funakoshi M, Sato T, Barski A, Namekawa SH. SCML2 promotes heterochromatin organization in late spermatogenesis. J Cell Sci 2018; 131:jcs217125. [PMID: 30097555 PMCID: PMC6140322 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.217125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis involves the progressive reorganization of heterochromatin. However, the mechanisms that underlie the dynamic remodeling of heterochromatin remain unknown. Here, we identify SCML2, a germline-specific Polycomb protein, as a critical regulator of heterochromatin organization in spermatogenesis. We show that SCML2 accumulates on pericentromeric heterochromatin (PCH) in male germ cells, where it suppresses PRC1-mediated monoubiquitylation of histone H2A at Lysine 119 (H2AK119ub) and promotes deposition of PRC2-mediated H3K27me3 during meiosis. In postmeiotic spermatids, SCML2 is required for heterochromatin organization, and the loss of SCML2 leads to the formation of ectopic patches of facultative heterochromatin. Our data suggest that, in the absence of SCML2, the ectopic expression of somatic lamins drives this process. Furthermore, the centromere protein CENP-V is a specific marker of PCH in postmeiotic spermatids, and SCML2 is required for CENP-V localization on PCH. Given the essential functions of PRC1 and PRC2 for genome-wide gene expression in spermatogenesis, our data suggest that heterochromatin organization and spermatogenesis-specific gene expression are functionally linked. We propose that SCML2 coordinates the organization of heterochromatin and gene expression through the regulation of Polycomb complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- So Maezawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 49267, USA
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
| | - Kazuteru Hasegawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 49267, USA
| | - Kris G Alavattam
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 49267, USA
| | - Mayuka Funakoshi
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
| | - Taiga Sato
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
| | - Artem Barski
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 49267, USA
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Satoshi H Namekawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 49267, USA
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22
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Buñay J, Larriba E, Moreno RD, Del Mazo J. Chronic low-dose exposure to a mixture of environmental endocrine disruptors induces microRNAs/isomiRs deregulation in mouse concomitant with intratesticular estradiol reduction. Sci Rep 2017; 7:3373. [PMID: 28611354 PMCID: PMC5469815 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-02752-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans are environmentally exposed not only to single endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) but to mixtures that affect their reproductive health. In reproductive tissues, microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as key targets of EDCs. Here, we analysed changes in the testis "miRNome" (and their biogenesis mechanism) in chronically exposed adult mice to a cocktail of five EDCs containing 0.3 mg/kg-body weight (BW)/day of each phthalate (DEHP, DBP, BBP) and 0.05 mg/kg-BW/day of each alkylphenol (NP, OP), from conception to adulthood. The testis "miRNome" was characterised using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Expression levels of genes involved in miRNA biogenesis were measured by RT-qPCR, as well as several physiological and cytological parameters. We found two up-regulated, and eight down-regulated miRNAs and thirty-six differentially expressed isomiRs along with an over-expression of Drosha, Adar and Zcchc11. A significant decrease of intratesticular estradiol but not testosterone was detected. Functional analysis showed altered spermatogenesis, germ cell apoptosis and negative correlation of miR-18a-5p with Nr1h2 involved in the deregulation of the steroidogenesis pathway. Here, we present the first association between miRNA/isomiRs deregulation, their mechanisms of biogenesis and histopathological and hormonal alterations in testes of adult mice exposed to a mixture of low-dose EDCs, which can play a role in male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio Buñay
- Department of Physiology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Eduardo Larriba
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo D Moreno
- Department of Physiology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Jesús Del Mazo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
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23
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Huang CJ, Wu D, Jiao XF, Khan FA, Xiong CL, Liu XM, Yang J, Yin TL, Huo LJ. Maternal SENP7 programs meiosis architecture and embryo survival in mouse. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2017; 1864:1195-1206. [PMID: 28315713 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2017.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms underlying abnormal egg production and pregnancy loss is significant for human fertility. SENP7, a SUMO poly-chain editing enzyme, has been regarded as a mitotic regulator of heterochromatin integrity and DNA repair. Herein, we report the roles of SENP7 in mammalian reproductive scenario. Mouse oocytes deficient in SENP7 experienced meiotic arrest at prophase I and metaphase I stages, causing a substantial decrease of mature eggs. Hyperaceylation and hypomethylation of histone H3 and up-regulation of Cdc14B/C accompanied by down-regulation of CyclinB1 and CyclinB2 were further recognized as contributors to defective M-phase entry and spindle assembly in oocytes. The spindle assembly checkpoint activated by defective spindle morphogenesis, which was also caused by mislocalization and ubiquitylation-mediated proteasomal degradation of γ-tubulin, blocked oocytes at meiosis I stage. SENP7-depleted embryos exhibited severely defective maternal-zygotic transition and progressive degeneration, resulting in nearly no blastocyst production. The disrupted epigenetic landscape on histone H3 restricted Rad51C loading onto DNA lesions due to elevated HP1α euchromatic deposition, and reduced DNA 5hmC challenged the permissive status for zygotic DNA repair, which induce embryo death. Our study pinpoints SENP7 as a novel determinant in epigenetic programming and major pathways that govern oocyte and embryo development programs in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Jie Huang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Di Wu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Xiao-Fei Jiao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Faheem Ahmed Khan
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Cheng-Liang Xiong
- Reproductive Medicine Center of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, PR China
| | - Xiao-Ming Liu
- Second Affiliated Hospital and Center of Reproductive Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 330302, PR China
| | - Jing Yang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Wuhan University Renmin Hospital, Wuhan 430060, PR China
| | - Tai-Lang Yin
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Wuhan University Renmin Hospital, Wuhan 430060, PR China
| | - Li-Jun Huo
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
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24
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Wang M, Liu C, Su Y, Zhang K, Zhang Y, Chen M, Ge M, Gu L, Lu T, Li N, Yu Z, Meng Q. miRNA-34c inhibits myoblasts proliferation by targeting YY1. Cell Cycle 2017; 16:1661-1672. [PMID: 28125315 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2017.1281479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
miRNAs are increasingly being implicated as key regulators of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. miRNA-34c appears to play a crucial role in cancer pathogenesis wherein it exerts its effect as a tumor suppressor. However, the role of miR-34c in myoblast proliferation remains poorly understood. Here, we found that overexpression miR-34c inhibited myoblasts proliferation by reducing the protein and mRNA expression of cell cycle genes. In contrast, blocking the function of miR-34c promoted myoblasts proliferation and increased the protein and mRNA expression of cell cycle genes. Moreover, miR-34c directly targeted YY1 and inhibited its expression. Similar to overexpression miR-34c, knockdown of YY1 by siRNA suppressed myoblasts proliferation. Our study provides novel evidence for a role of miR-34c in inhibiting myoblasts proliferation by repressing YY1. Thus, miR-34c has the potential to be used to enhance skeletal muscle development and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Wang
- a The State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Chuncheng Liu
- a The State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Yang Su
- a The State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Kuo Zhang
- a The State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Yuying Zhang
- a The State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Min Chen
- a The State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Mengxu Ge
- a The State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Lijie Gu
- a The State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Tianyu Lu
- a The State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Ning Li
- a The State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Zhengquan Yu
- a The State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Qingyong Meng
- a The State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
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25
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Gaitán-Espitia JD, Sánchez R, Bruning P, Cárdenas L. Functional insights into the testis transcriptome of the edible sea urchin Loxechinus albus. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36516. [PMID: 27805042 PMCID: PMC5090362 DOI: 10.1038/srep36516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The edible sea urchin Loxechinus albus (Molina, 1782) is a keystone species in the littoral benthic systems of the Pacific coast of South America. The international demand for high-quality gonads of this echinoderm has led to an extensive exploitation and decline of its natural populations. Consequently, a more thorough understanding of L. albus gonad development and gametogenesis could provide valuable resources for aquaculture applications, management, conservation and studies about the evolution of functional and structural pathways that underlie the reproductive toolkit of marine invertebrates. Using a high-throughput sequencing technology, we explored the male gonad transcriptome of this highly fecund sea urchin. Through a de novo assembly approach we obtained 42,530 transcripts of which 15,544 (36.6%) had significant alignments to known proteins in public databases. From these transcripts, approximately 73% were functionally annotated allowing the identification of several candidate genes that are likely to play a central role in developmental processes, nutrient reservoir activity, sexual reproduction, gamete generation, meiosis, sex differentiation, sperm motility, male courtship behavior and fertilization. Additionally, comparisons with the male gonad transcriptomes of other echinoderms revealed several conserved orthologous genes, suggesting that similar functional and structural pathways underlie the reproductive development in this group and other marine invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Diego Gaitán-Espitia
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567 Valdivia, Chile
- CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, GPO Box 1538, Hobart 7001, TAS, Australia
| | - Roland Sánchez
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567 Valdivia, Chile
| | - Paulina Bruning
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567 Valdivia, Chile
| | - Leyla Cárdenas
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567 Valdivia, Chile
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Kim JS, Chae JH, Cheon YP, Kim CG. Reciprocal localization of transcription factors YY1 and CP2c in spermatogonial stem cells and their putative roles during spermatogenesis. Acta Histochem 2016; 118:685-692. [PMID: 27612612 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2016.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2016] [Revised: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Maintaining stemness and permitting differentiation mediated by combinations of transcription factors (TFs) are key aspects of mammalian spermatogenesis. It has been established that yin yang 1 (YY1), a target factor of mammalian polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) and a regulator of stemness, is involved in the stable maintenance of prophase stage spermatocytes. Recently, we have demonstrated that the TF CP2c partners with YY1 in some cells to antagonistically regulate the other protein's function. To date, the functional roles of YY1 and CP2c in spermatogonial stem cells and their derived germ cells remain unclear. Here, we investigated the expression of YY1 and CP2c in mouse gonocytes and germ cells using tissue immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analyses. At E14.5, both YY1 and CP2c were stained in gonocytes and Sertoli cells in testicular cords, showing different proportion and density of immunoreactivity. However, in adult testes, YY1 was localized in the nuclei of spermatogonial stem cells and spermatocytes, but not in spermatozoa. It was also detected in spermatogonia and spermatids in a stage-specific manner during spermatogenic cycle. CP2c could be detected mostly in the cytoplasm of spermatocytes but not at all in spermatogonial stem cells, indicating mutually exclusive expression of CP2c and YY1. Interestingly, however, CP2c was stained in the cytoplasm and nucleus of spermatogonia at elongation and release stages, and co-localized with YY1 in the nucleus at grouping, maturation, and releasing stages. Neither YY1 nor CP2c was expressed in spermatozoa. Our data indicate that YY1 strongly localizes in the spermatogonial stem cells and co-localizes heterogeneously with CP2c to permit spermatogenesis, and also suggest that YY1 is essential for stemness of spermatogonial stem cells (SCs) whereas CP2c is critical for the commitment of spermatogonia and during the progression of spermatogonia to spermatids. This evaluation expands our understanding of the molecular mechanism of spermatogonia formation as well as spermatogenesis in general.
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Swenson JM, Colmenares SU, Strom AR, Costes SV, Karpen GH. The composition and organization of Drosophila heterochromatin are heterogeneous and dynamic. eLife 2016; 5:e16096. [PMID: 27514026 PMCID: PMC4981497 DOI: 10.7554/elife.16096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterochromatin is enriched for specific epigenetic factors including Heterochromatin Protein 1a (HP1a), and is essential for many organismal functions. To elucidate heterochromatin organization and regulation, we purified Drosophila melanogaster HP1a interactors, and performed a genome-wide RNAi screen to identify genes that impact HP1a levels or localization. The majority of the over four hundred putative HP1a interactors and regulators identified were previously unknown. We found that 13 of 16 tested candidates (83%) are required for gene silencing, providing a substantial increase in the number of identified components that impact heterochromatin properties. Surprisingly, image analysis revealed that although some HP1a interactors and regulators are broadly distributed within the heterochromatin domain, most localize to discrete subdomains that display dynamic localization patterns during the cell cycle. We conclude that heterochromatin composition and architecture is more spatially complex and dynamic than previously suggested, and propose that a network of subdomains regulates diverse heterochromatin functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel M Swenson
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, United States
| | - Serafin U Colmenares
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, United States
| | - Amy R Strom
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Sylvain V Costes
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, United States
| | - Gary H Karpen
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
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Duan M, Yao H, Cai Y, Liao K, Seth P, Buch S. HIV-1 Tat disrupts CX3CL1-CX3CR1 axis in microglia via the NF-κBYY1 pathway. Curr HIV Res 2015; 12:189-200. [PMID: 24862326 DOI: 10.2174/1570162x12666140526123119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2014] [Revised: 03/20/2014] [Accepted: 03/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Microglia are critical for the pathogenesis of HIV-associated dementia not only by acting as conduits of viral entry but also as reservoirs for productive and latent virus infection, and as producers of neurotoxins. Interaction between CX3CL1 (fractalkine) and FKN receptor (CX3CR1) is highly functional in the brain, and is known to regulate a complex network of paracrine and autocrine interactions between neurons and microglia. The aim of the present study was to determine which extent of HIV-1 Tat protein causes the alteration of CX3CR1 expression and to investigate the regulatory mechanism for CX3CR1 expression. Here we showed that exposure of primary microglia and BV2 cells to exogenous Tat protein resulted in down-regulation of CX3CR1 mRNA and protein expression, with a concomitant induction of proinflammatory responses. Next, we further showed that NF-κB activation by Tat treatment negatively regulated CX3CR1 expression. Since a YY1 binding site ~10kb upstream of CX3CR1 promoter was predicted in rats, mice and humans, the classical NF-κB-YY1 regulatory pathway was considered. Our findings indicated that Tat repressed CX3CR1 expression via NF-κB-YY1 regulatory pathway. To gain insight into the effect of Tat on CX3CL1-CX3CR1 communication, calcium mobilization, MAPK activation and microglial migration, respectively, were tested in microglial cells after successive treatment with Tat and CX3CL1. The results suggested that Tat disrupted the responses of microglia to CX3CL1. Taken together, these results demonstrate that HIV-1 Tat protein suppresses CX3CR1 expression in microglia via NF-κB-YY1 pathway and attenuates CX3CL1-induced functional response of microglia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Shilpa Buch
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, 985880 Nebraska Medical Center (DRC 8011), University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5880, USA.
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Whitaker JW, Chen Z, Wang W. Predicting the human epigenome from DNA motifs. Nat Methods 2015; 12:265-72, 7 p following 272. [PMID: 25240437 PMCID: PMC4344378 DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.3065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The epigenome is established and maintained by the site-specific recruitment of chromatin-modifying enzymes and their cofactors. Identifying the cis elements that regulate epigenomic modification is critical for understanding the regulatory mechanisms that control gene expression patterns. We present Epigram, an analysis pipeline that predicts histone modification and DNA methylation patterns from DNA motifs. The identified cis elements represent interactions with the site-specific DNA-binding factors that establish and maintain epigenomic modifications. We cataloged the cis elements in embryonic stem cells and four derived lineages and found numerous motifs that have location preference, such as at the center of H3K27ac or at the edges of H3K4me3 and H3K9me3, which provides mechanistic insight about the shaping of the epigenome. The Epigram pipeline and predictive motifs are at http://wanglab.ucsd.edu/star/epigram/.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W. Whitaker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Zhao Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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Brandalize APC, Schüler-Faccini L, Hoffmann JS, Caleffi M, Cazaux C, Ashton-Prolla P. A DNA repair variant in POLQ (c.-1060A > G) is associated to hereditary breast cancer patients: a case-control study. BMC Cancer 2014; 14:850. [PMID: 25409685 PMCID: PMC4246548 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-14-850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the hallmarks of cancer is the occurrence of high levels of chromosomal rearrangements as a result of inaccurate repair of double-strand breaks (DSB). Germline mutations in BRCA and RAD51 genes, involved in DSB repair, are strongly associated with hereditary breast cancer. Pol θ, a translesional DNA polymerase specialized in the replication of damaged DNA, has been also shown to contribute to DNA synthesis associated to DSB repair. It is noteworthy that POLQ is highly expressed in breast tumors and this expression is able to predict patient outcome. The objective of this study was to analyze genetic variants related to POLQ as new population biomarkers of risk in hereditary (HBC) and sporadic (SBC) breast cancer. METHODS We analyzed through case-control study nine SNPs of POLQ in hereditary (HBC) and sporadic (SBC) breast cancer patients using Taqman Real Time PCR assays. Polymorphisms were systematically identified through the NCBI database and are located within exons or promoter regions. We recruited 204 breast cancer patients (101 SBC and 103 HBC) and 212 unaffected controls residing in Southern Brazil. RESULTS The rs581553 SNP located in the promoter region was strongly associated with HBC (c.-1060A > G; HBC GG = 15, Control TT = 8; OR = 5.67, CI95% = 2.26-14.20; p < 0.0001). Interestingly, 11 of 15 homozygotes for this polymorphism fulfilled criteria for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) syndrome. Furthermore, 12 of them developed bilateral breast cancer and one had a familial history of bilateral breast cancer. This polymorphism was also associated with bilateral breast cancer in 67 patients (OR = 9.86, CI95% = 3.81-25.54). There was no statistically significant difference of age at breast cancer diagnosis between SNP carriers and non-carriers. CONCLUSIONS Considering that Pol θ is involved in DBS repair, our results suggest that this polymorphism may contribute to the etiology of HBC, particularly in patients with bilateral breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Carneiro Brandalize
- />Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- />Laboratory of Genomics, Proteomics and DNA Repair, University of Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Brazil
- />Instituto Nacional de Genética Médica Populacional, INAGEMP, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lavínia Schüler-Faccini
- />Department of Genetics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- />Instituto Nacional de Genética Médica Populacional, INAGEMP, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Jean-Sébastien Hoffmann
- />Equipe « Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer 2013 » INSERM Unit 1037; CNRS ERL 5294, CRCT (Cancer Research Center of Toulouse), Toulouse Oncopole, France
- />University of Toulouse; UPS, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | | | - Christophe Cazaux
- />Equipe « Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer 2013 » INSERM Unit 1037; CNRS ERL 5294, CRCT (Cancer Research Center of Toulouse), Toulouse Oncopole, France
- />University of Toulouse; UPS, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Patricia Ashton-Prolla
- />Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- />Department of Genetics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- />Instituto Nacional de Genética Médica Populacional, INAGEMP, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Abstract
The ubiquitin proteasome pathway is critical in restraining the activities of the p53 tumor suppressor. This review by Pant and Lozano focuses on ubiquitination as a mechanism for regulating p53 stability and function and reviews current findings from in vivo models that evaluate the importance of the ubiquitin proteasome system in regulating p53. The ubiquitin proteasome pathway is critical in restraining the activities of the p53 tumor suppressor. Numerous E3 and E4 ligases regulate p53 levels. Additionally, deubquitinating enzymes that modify p53 directly or indirectly also impact p53 function. When alterations of these proteins result in increased p53 activity, cells arrest in the cell cycle, senesce, or apoptose. On the other hand, alterations that result in decreased p53 levels yield tumor-prone phenotypes. This review focuses on the physiological relevance of these important regulators of p53 and their therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinod Pant
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Guillermina Lozano
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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32
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Wu M, Kwoh CK, Li X, Zheng J. Finding trans-regulatory genes and protein complexes modulating meiotic recombination hotspots of human, mouse and yeast. BMC SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2014; 8:107. [PMID: 25208583 PMCID: PMC4236725 DOI: 10.1186/s12918-014-0107-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Accepted: 07/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background The regulatory mechanism of recombination is one of the most fundamental problems in genomics, with wide applications in genome wide association studies (GWAS), birth-defect diseases, molecular evolution, cancer research, etc. Recombination events cluster into short genomic regions called “recombination hotspots”. Recently, a zinc finger protein PRDM9 was reported to regulate recombination hotspots in human and mouse genomes. In addition, a 13-mer motif contained in the binding sites of PRDM9 is found to be enriched in human hotspots. However, this 13-mer motif only covers a fraction of hotspots, indicating that PRDM9 is not the only regulator of recombination hotspots. Therefore, the challenge of discovering other regulators of recombination hotspots becomes significant. Furthermore, recombination is a complex process. Hence, multiple proteins acting as machinery, rather than individual proteins, are more likely to carry out this process in a precise and stable manner. Therefore, the extension of the prediction of individual trans-regulators to protein complexes is also highly desired. Results In this paper, we introduce a pipeline to identify genes and protein complexes associated with recombination hotspots. First, we prioritize proteins associated with hotspots based on their preference of binding to hotspots and coldspots. Second, using the above identified genes as seeds, we apply the Random Walk with Restart algorithm (RWR) to propagate their influences to other proteins in protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. Hence, many proteins without DNA-binding information will also be assigned a score to implicate their roles in recombination hotspots. Third, we construct sub-PPI networks induced by top genes ranked by RWR for various species (e.g., yeast, human and mouse) and detect protein complexes in those sub-PPI networks. Conclusions The GO term analysis show that our prioritizing methods and the RWR algorithm are capable of identifying novel genes associated with recombination hotspots. The trans-regulators predicted by our pipeline are enriched with epigenetic functions (e.g., histone modifications), demonstrating the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms of recombination hotspots. The identified protein complexes also provide us with candidates to further investigate the molecular machineries for recombination hotspots. Moreover, the experimental data and results are available on our web site http://www.ntu.edu.sg/home/zhengjie/data/RecombinationHotspot/NetPipe/.
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Papazyan R, Voronina E, Chapman JR, Luperchio TR, Gilbert TM, Meier E, Mackintosh SG, Shabanowitz J, Tackett AJ, Reddy KL, Coyne RS, Hunt DF, Liu Y, Taverna SD. Methylation of histone H3K23 blocks DNA damage in pericentric heterochromatin during meiosis. eLife 2014; 3:e02996. [PMID: 25161194 PMCID: PMC4141274 DOI: 10.7554/elife.02996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the well-established role of heterochromatin in protecting chromosomal integrity during meiosis and mitosis, the contribution and extent of heterochromatic histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs) remain poorly defined. Here, we gained novel functional insight about heterochromatic PTMs by analyzing histone H3 purified from the heterochromatic germline micronucleus of the model organism Tetrahymena thermophila. Mass spectrometric sequencing of micronuclear H3 identified H3K23 trimethylation (H3K23me3), a previously uncharacterized PTM. H3K23me3 became particularly enriched during meiotic leptotene and zygotene in germline chromatin of Tetrahymena and C. elegans. Loss of H3K23me3 in Tetrahymena through deletion of the methyltransferase Ezl3p caused mislocalization of meiosis-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) to heterochromatin, and a decrease in progeny viability. These results show that an evolutionarily conserved developmental pathway regulates H3K23me3 during meiosis, and our studies in Tetrahymena suggest this pathway may function to protect heterochromatin from DSBs. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.02996.001 Inside the nucleus of a cell, the DNA is wound around histone proteins. This forms a structure called chromatin that allows the long DNA strands to fit inside the cell. Variations in chromatin structure also help the cell to control the functional properties of DNA. For example, a large proportion of chromatin in the cell is in the form of heterochromatin, which is very densely packed, and is associated with many roles such as gene silencing and keeping DNA intact during reproduction. Many animals and plants have two copies of each DNA molecule: one inherited from the mother, and one from the father of the organism. Reproductive cells undergo a process called recombination when they form, where the matching copies of each DNA molecule break in a number of places and rejoin to form a new ‘blend’ of their mother's and their father's DNA, which is passed on to their own offspring. In contrast, most heterochromatin is inherited without recombining, preserving it in an unaltered form. This is important since recombination in heterochromatin can create genetic abnormalities. Adding small chemical modifications—such as methyl groups—to the histone proteins at the core of the chromatin can change how the DNA is packed. However, the histone modifications that yield different chromatin structures, and the effect of these modifications, are not very well understood. Papazyan et al. have taken advantage of a distinct feature of the protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila: a single-celled organism that divides its chromatin into two different nuclei. The smaller micronuclei contain only heterochromatin, and Papazyan et al. discovered that the histone H3 protein in the micronuclei is modified by methyl groups at a specific site that had not been studied before. Furthermore, this protozoan makes more of these modifications when it reproduces. An enzyme called Ezl3p adds these methyl groups, and without this enzyme T. thermophila reproduces more slowly and has offspring that are less likely to survive and more likely to be infertile. Papazyan et al. provide evidence that these characteristics arise because the cells without the histone modification are unable to prevent DNA breaks from occurring in heterochromatin during recombination. The same histone modification also occurs when the microscopic worm Caenorhabditis elegans reproduces, suggesting that this method of DNA protection has been conserved throughout evolution. Papazyan et al. propose that the histone modification may prevent another enzyme that induces DNA breaks from accessing the heterochromatin in reproductive cells; but more work is required to support this hypothesis. These findings reveal the importance of a new histone modification during reproduction, and could provide new directions for infertility research. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.02996.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Romeo Papazyan
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States Center for Epigenetics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Ekaterina Voronina
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Balitmore, United States Center for Cell Dynamics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Jessica R Chapman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, United States
| | - Teresa R Luperchio
- Center for Epigenetics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Tonya M Gilbert
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States Center for Epigenetics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Elizabeth Meier
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States Center for Epigenetics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Samuel G Mackintosh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, United States
| | - Jeffrey Shabanowitz
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, United States
| | - Alan J Tackett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, United States
| | - Karen L Reddy
- Center for Epigenetics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Robert S Coyne
- Department of Genomic Medicine, J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, United States
| | - Donald F Hunt
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, United States Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, United States
| | - Yifan Liu
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Sean D Taverna
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States Center for Epigenetics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
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Galazka JM, Freitag M. Variability of chromosome structure in pathogenic fungi--of 'ends and odds'. Curr Opin Microbiol 2014; 20:19-26. [PMID: 24835423 PMCID: PMC4133287 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2014.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Chromatin structure can affect the organization and maintenance of chromosomes. Recent discoveries in several filamentous fungi suggest mechanisms for the clustering and co-regulation of secondary metabolite genes or pathogenicity islands. An extreme case of this may be fungal 'accessory', 'conditionally dispensable', or 'supernumerary' chromosomes that often confer beneficial traits. Fungal supernumerary chromosomes may be derived by similar mechanisms as animal or plant B chromosomes, and we thus propose that this term should be reconsidered to capture the wide variety of fungal accessory chromosomes. In some fungi, both the 'ends' of chromosomes and these 'odd B chromosomes are enriched with a silencing histone modification, H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3), suggesting parallel mechanisms in evolving subtelomeric or B-chromosomal pathogenicity islands and secondary metabolite clusters (SMCs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Galazka
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center of Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
| | - Michael Freitag
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center of Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
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Baumann C, De La Fuente R. Role of polycomb group protein cbx2/m33 in meiosis onset and maintenance of chromosome stability in the Mammalian germline. Genes (Basel) 2014; 2:59-80. [PMID: 22200029 PMCID: PMC3244348 DOI: 10.3390/genes2010059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Polycomb group proteins (PcG) are major epigenetic regulators, essential for establishing heritable expression patterns of developmental control genes. The mouse PcG family member M33/Cbx2 (Chromobox homolog protein 2) is a component of the Polycomb-Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1). Targeted deletion of Cbx2/M33 in mice results in homeotic transformations of the axial skeleton, growth retardation and male-to-female sex reversal. In this study, we tested whether Cbx2 is involved in the control of chromatin remodeling processes during meiosis. Our analysis revealed sex reversal in 28.6% of XY(-/-) embryos, in which a hypoplastic testis and a contralateral ovary were observed in close proximity to the kidney, while the remaining male mutant fetuses exhibited bilateral testicular hypoplasia. Notably, germ cells recovered from Cbx2((XY-/-)) testes on day 18.5 of fetal development exhibited premature meiosis onset with synaptonemal complex formation suggesting a role for Cbx2 in the control of meiotic entry in male germ cells. Mutant females exhibited small ovaries with significant germ cell loss and a high proportion of oocytes with abnormal synapsis and non-homologous interactions at the pachytene stage as well as formation of univalents at diplotene. These defects were associated with failure to resolve DNA double strand breaks marked by persistent γH2AX and Rad51 foci at the late pachytene stage. Importantly, two factors required for meiotic silencing of asynapsed chromatin, ubiquitinated histone H2A (ubH2A) and the chromatin remodeling protein BRCA1, co-localized with fully synapsed chromosome axes in the majority of Cbx2((-/-)) oocytes. These results provide novel evidence that Cbx2 plays a critical and previously unrecognized role in germ cell viability, meiosis onset and homologous chromosome synapsis in the mammalian germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Baumann
- Female Germ Cell Biology Group, Department of Clinical Studies, Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA; E-Mail:
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 501 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Rabindranath De La Fuente
- Female Germ Cell Biology Group, Department of Clinical Studies, Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA; E-Mail:
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 501 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +1-706-542-5864; Fax: +1-706-542-3015
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Kim J, Kim H. Recruitment and biological consequences of histone modification of H3K27me3 and H3K9me3. ILAR J 2014; 53:232-9. [PMID: 23744963 DOI: 10.1093/ilar.53.3-4.232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Two histone marks, H3K27me3 and H3K9me3, are well known for their repressive roles in the genic and nongenic regions of metazoan genomes. Several protein complexes are known to be responsible for generating these marks, including polycomb repression complex 2 and several H3K9 methylases. Recent studies have shown that the targeting of these histone-modifying complexes within mammalian genomes may be mediated through several DNA-binding proteins, including AEBP2, JARID2, and YY1. In this review, we discuss the potential targeting mechanisms in light of the recent results that have been derived from genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing data and the in vivo functions of these two histone marks in light of the results derived from mouse and human genetic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joomyeong Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
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Schwalie PC, Ward MC, Cain CE, Faure AJ, Gilad Y, Odom DT, Flicek P. Co-binding by YY1 identifies the transcriptionally active, highly conserved set of CTCF-bound regions in primate genomes. Genome Biol 2013; 14:R148. [PMID: 24380390 PMCID: PMC4056453 DOI: 10.1186/gb-2013-14-12-r148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [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: 11/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/31/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genomic binding of CTCF is highly conserved across mammals, but the mechanisms that underlie its stability are poorly understood. One transcription factor known to functionally interact with CTCF in the context of X-chromosome inactivation is the ubiquitously expressed YY1. Because combinatorial transcription factor binding can contribute to the evolutionary stabilization of regulatory regions, we tested whether YY1 and CTCF co-binding could in part account for conservation of CTCF binding. RESULTS Combined analysis of CTCF and YY1 binding in lymphoblastoid cell lines from seven primates, as well as in mouse and human livers, reveals extensive genome-wide co-localization specifically at evolutionarily stable CTCF-bound regions. CTCF-YY1 co-bound regions resemble regions bound by YY1 alone, as they enrich for active histone marks, RNA polymerase II and transcription factor binding. Although these highly conserved, transcriptionally active CTCF-YY1 co-bound regions are often promoter-proximal, gene-distal regions show similar molecular features. CONCLUSIONS Our results reveal that these two ubiquitously expressed, multi-functional zinc-finger proteins collaborate in functionally active regions to stabilize one another's genome-wide binding across primate evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra C Schwalie
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
- Current address: Laboratory of Systems Biology and Genetics, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Michelle C Ward
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK-Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
- Current address: Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Carolyn E Cain
- Current address: Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Andre J Faure
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Yoav Gilad
- Current address: Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Duncan T Odom
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK-Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Paul Flicek
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
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Dowdle JA, Mehta M, Kass EM, Vuong BQ, Inagaki A, Egli D, Jasin M, Keeney S. Mouse BAZ1A (ACF1) is dispensable for double-strand break repair but is essential for averting improper gene expression during spermatogenesis. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003945. [PMID: 24244200 PMCID: PMC3820798 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2013] [Accepted: 09/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers control DNA access for transcription, recombination, and other processes. Acf1 (also known as BAZ1A in mammals) is a defining subunit of the conserved ISWI-family chromatin remodelers ACF and CHRAC, first purified over 15 years ago from Drosophila melanogaster embryos. Much is known about biochemical properties of ACF and CHRAC, which move nucleosomes in vitro and in vivo to establish ordered chromatin arrays. Genetic studies in yeast, flies and cultured human cells clearly implicate these complexes in transcriptional repression via control of chromatin structures. RNAi experiments in transformed mammalian cells in culture also implicate ACF and CHRAC in DNA damage checkpoints and double-strand break repair. However, their essential in vivo roles in mammals are unknown. Here, we show that Baz1a-knockout mice are viable and able to repair developmentally programmed DNA double-strand breaks in the immune system and germ line, I-SceI endonuclease-induced breaks in primary fibroblasts via homologous recombination, and DNA damage from mitomycin C exposure in vivo. However, Baz1a deficiency causes male-specific sterility in accord with its high expression in male germ cells, where it displays dynamic, stage-specific patterns of chromosomal localization. Sterility is caused by pronounced defects in sperm development, most likely a consequence of massively perturbed gene expression in spermatocytes and round spermatids in the absence of BAZ1A: the normal spermiogenic transcription program is largely intact but more than 900 other genes are mis-regulated, primarily reflecting inappropriate up-regulation. We propose that large-scale changes in chromatin composition that occur during spermatogenesis create a window of vulnerability to promiscuous transcription changes, with an essential function of ACF and/or CHRAC chromatin remodeling activities being to safeguard against these alterations. The eukaryotic genome is packaged into a periodic nucleoprotein complex known as chromatin. Wrapping of DNA around nucleosomes, the basic repeat unit of chromatin, enables packing of long stretches of DNA into a compact nucleus but also impedes access by protein factors involved in essential cellular processes such as transcription, replication, recombination and repair. Chromatin remodeling factors are multi-protein complexes that utilize the energy released during ATP-hydrolysis to assemble, reposition, restructure and disassemble nucleosomes. These complexes disrupt histone-DNA contacts to ‘remodel’ the chromatin and grant access to the genome. Alternatively, access can also be denied to repress transcription, for example. Spermatogenesis, the developmental program that produces sperm, comprises a dramatic chromatin makeover and the induction of a transcriptional program that engages nearly one-third of the genome. Here we provide evidence suggesting that these large-scale alterations leave the genomic material vulnerable to spurious transcriptional changes which are normally repressed by ACF1 (BAZ1A in mammals), the defining member of the well-studied ACF/CHRAC chromatin remodeling complex. These findings indicate that Baz1a plays a previously unrealized role in male fertility and may represent a novel target for male contraceptive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A. Dowdle
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New York, New York, United States of America
- Molecular Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Monika Mehta
- Molecular Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth M. Kass
- Developmental Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Bao Q. Vuong
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Akiko Inagaki
- Molecular Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Dieter Egli
- The New York Stem Cell Foundation, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Maria Jasin
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New York, New York, United States of America
- Developmental Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Scott Keeney
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New York, New York, United States of America
- Molecular Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Rhee S, Guerrero-Zayas MI, Wallingford MC, Ortiz-Pineda P, Mager J, Tremblay KD. Visceral endoderm expression of Yin-Yang1 (YY1) is required for VEGFA maintenance and yolk sac development. PLoS One 2013; 8:e58828. [PMID: 23554936 PMCID: PMC3598950 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2012] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse embryos lacking the polycomb group gene member Yin-Yang1 (YY1) die during the peri-implantation stage. To assess the post-gastrulation role of YY1, a conditional knock-out (cKO) strategy was used to delete YY1 from the visceral endoderm of the yolk sac and the definitive endoderm of the embryo. cKO embryos display profound yolk sac defects at 9.5 days post coitum (dpc), including disrupted angiogenesis in mesoderm derivatives and altered epithelial characteristics in the visceral endoderm. Significant changes in both cell death and proliferation were confined to the YY1-expressing yolk sac mesoderm indicating that loss of YY1 in the visceral endoderm causes defects in the adjacent yolk sac mesoderm. Production of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGFA) by the visceral endoderm is essential for normal growth and development of the yolk sac vasculature. Reduced levels of VEGFA are observed in the cKO yolk sac, suggesting a cause for the angiogenesis defects. Ex vivo culture with exogenous VEGF not only rescued angiogenesis and apoptosis in the cKO yolk sac mesoderm, but also restored the epithelial defects observed in the cKO visceral endoderm. Intriguingly, blocking the activity of the mesoderm-localized VEGF receptor, FLK1, recapitulates both the mesoderm and visceral endoderm defects observed in the cKO yolk sac. Taken together, these results demonstrate that YY1 is responsible for maintaining VEGF in the developing visceral endoderm and that a VEGF-responsive paracrine signal, originating in the yolk sac mesoderm, is required to promote normal visceral endoderm development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyeon Rhee
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Mara-Isel Guerrero-Zayas
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Mary C. Wallingford
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Pablo Ortiz-Pineda
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jesse Mager
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kimberly D. Tremblay
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Transcription factor YY1 is essential for regulation of the Th2 cytokine locus and for Th2 cell differentiation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 110:276-81. [PMID: 23248301 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1214682110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Th2 locus control region (LCR) has been shown to be important in efficient and coordinated cytokine gene regulation during Th2 cell differentiation. However, the molecular mechanism for this is poorly understood. To study the molecular mechanism of the Th2 LCR, we searched for proteins binding to it. We discovered that transcription factor YY1 bound to the LCR and the entire Th2 cytokine locus in a Th2-specific manner. Retroviral overexpression of YY1 induced Th2 cytokine expression. CD4-specific knockdown of YY1 in mice caused marked reduction in Th2 cytokine expression, repressed chromatin remodeling, decreased intrachromosomal interactions, and resistance in an animal model of asthma. YY1 physically associated with GATA-binding protein-3 (GATA3) and is required for GATA3 binding to the locus. YY1 bound to the regulatory elements in the locus before GATA3 binding. Thus, YY1 cooperates with GATA3 and is required for regulation of the Th2 cytokine locus and Th2 cell differentiation.
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41
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Panigrahi SK, Vasileva A, Wolgemuth DJ. Sp1 transcription factor and GATA1 cis-acting elements modulate testis-specific expression of mouse cyclin A1. PLoS One 2012; 7:e47862. [PMID: 23112860 PMCID: PMC3480434 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2012] [Accepted: 09/18/2012] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclin A1 is a male germ cell-specific cell cycle regulator that is essential for spermatogenesis. It is unique among the cyclins by virtue of its highly restricted expression in vivo, being present in pachytene and diplotene spermatocytes and not in earlier or later stages of spermatogenesis. To begin to understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for this narrow window of expression of the mouse cyclin A1 (Ccna1) gene, we carried out a detailed analysis of its promoter. We defined a 170-bp region within the promoter and showed that it is involved in repression of Ccna1 in cultured cells. Within this region we identified known cis-acting transcription factor binding sequences, including an Sp1-binding site and two GATA1-binding sites. Neither Sp1 nor GATA1 is expressed in pachytene spermatocytes and later stages of germ cell differentiation. Sp1 is readily detected at earlier stages of spermatogenesis. Site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that neither factor alone was sufficient to significantly repress expression driven by the Ccna1 promoter, while concurrent binding of Sp1, and most likely GATA1 and possibly additional factors was inhibitory. Occupancy of Sp1 on the Ccna1 promoter and influence of GATA1-dependent cis-acting elements was confirmed by ChIP analysis in cell lines and most importantly, in spermatogonia. In contrast with many other testis-specific genes, the CpG island methylation status of the Ccna1 promoter was similar among various tissues examined, irrespective of whether Ccna1 was transcriptionally active, suggesting that this regulatory mechanism is not involved in the restricted expression of Ccna1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil K. Panigrahi
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Ana Vasileva
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Debra J. Wolgemuth
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Trask MC, Tremblay KD, Mager J. Yin-Yang1 is required for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and regulation of Nodal signaling during mammalian gastrulation. Dev Biol 2012; 368:273-82. [PMID: 22669107 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2011] [Revised: 05/14/2012] [Accepted: 05/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The ubiquitously expressed Polycomb Group protein Yin-Yang1 (YY1) is believed to regulate gene expression through direct binding to DNA elements found in promoters or enhancers of target loci. Additionally, YY1 contains diverse domains that enable a plethora of protein-protein interactions, including association with the Oct4/Sox2 pluripotency complex and Polycomb Group silencing complexes. To elucidate the in vivo role of YY1 during gastrulation, we generated embryos with an epiblast specific deletion of Yy1. Yy1 conditional knockout (cKO) embryos initiate gastrulation, but both primitive streak formation and ingression through the streak is severely impaired. These streak descendants fail to repress E-Cadherin and are unable to undergo an appropriate epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Intriguingly, overexpression of Nodal and concomitant reduction of Lefty2 are observed in Yy1 cKO embryos, suggesting that YY1 is normally required for proper Nodal regulation during gastrulation. Furthermore, definitive endoderm is specified but fails to properly integrate into the outer layer. Although anterior neuroectoderm is specified, mesoderm production is severely restricted. We show that YY1 directly binds to the Lefty2 locus in E7.5 embryos and that pharmacological inhibition of Nodal signaling partially restores mesoderm production in Yy1 cKO mutant embryos. Our results reveal critical requirements for YY1 during several important developmental processes, including EMT and regulation of Nodal signaling. These results are the first to elucidate the diverse role of YY1 during gastrulation in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C Trask
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 661 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
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43
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Li J, Song JS, Bell RJA, Tran TNT, Haq R, Liu H, Love KT, Langer R, Anderson DG, Larue L, Fisher DE. YY1 regulates melanocyte development and function by cooperating with MITF. PLoS Genet 2012; 8:e1002688. [PMID: 22570637 PMCID: PMC3342948 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2011] [Accepted: 03/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of coat color mutants have greatly contributed to the discovery of genes that regulate melanocyte development and function. Here, we generated Yy1 conditional knockout mice in the melanocyte-lineage and observed profound melanocyte deficiency and premature gray hair, similar to the loss of melanocytes in human piebaldism and Waardenburg syndrome. Although YY1 is a ubiquitous transcription factor, YY1 interacts with M-MITF, the Waardenburg Syndrome IIA gene and a master transcriptional regulator of melanocytes. YY1 cooperates with M-MITF in regulating the expression of piebaldism gene KIT and multiple additional pigmentation genes. Moreover, ChIP–seq identified genome-wide YY1 targets in the melanocyte lineage. These studies mechanistically link genes implicated in human conditions of melanocyte deficiency and reveal how a ubiquitous factor (YY1) gains lineage-specific functions by co-regulating gene expression with a lineage-restricted factor (M-MITF)—a general mechanism which may confer tissue-specific gene expression in multiple lineages. Skin and hair pigmentation is among the most identifiable human traits. Disorders of pigment cells, melanocytes, result in multiple hypopigmentation conditions. Here, we described the phenotype of loss of a ubiquitous transcription factor YY1 in mouse melanocytes, which is reminiscent of certain human hypopigmentation conditions. We revealed at a molecular level that YY1 cooperates with a melanocyte-specific transcription factor M-MITF to regulate survival and pigmentation gene expression. This study is the first report of YY1 function in melanocyte lineage, and it reveals how a ubiquitous transcription factor gains lineage-specific functions by co-regulating gene expression with a lineage-restricted transcription factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juying Li
- Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jun S. Song
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JSS); (DEF)
| | - Robert J. A. Bell
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Thanh-Nga T. Tran
- Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Rizwan Haq
- Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Medical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Huifei Liu
- Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kevin T. Love
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Robert Langer
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard–MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Daniel G. Anderson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard–MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Lionel Larue
- Institut Curie, Developmental Genetics of Melanocytes, U1021 INSERM, UMR 3347 CNRS, Orsay, France
| | - David E. Fisher
- Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JSS); (DEF)
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Neguembor MV, Gabellini D. In junk we trust: repetitive DNA, epigenetics and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Epigenomics 2012; 2:271-87. [PMID: 22121874 DOI: 10.2217/epi.10.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal dominant myopathy with a peculiar etiology. Unlike most genetic disorders, FSHD is not caused by mutations in a protein-coding gene. Instead, it is associated with contraction of the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat array located at 4q35. Interestingly, D4Z4 deletion is not sufficient per se to cause FSHD. Moreover, the disease severity, its rate of progression and the distribution of muscle weakness display great variability even among close family relatives. Hence, additional genetic and epigenetic events appear to be required for FSHD pathogenesis. Indeed, recent findings suggest that virtually all levels of epigenetic regulation, from DNA methylation to higher order chromosomal architecture, exhibit alterations in the disease locus causing deregulation of 4q35 gene expression, ultimately leading to FSHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria V Neguembor
- International PhD Program in Cellular & Molecular Biology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
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Abstract
Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a transcription factor with diverse and complex biological functions. YY1 either activates or represses gene transcription, depending on the stimuli received by the cells and its association with other cellular factors. Since its discovery, a biological role for YY1 in tumor development and progression has been suggested because of its regulatory activities toward multiple cancer-related proteins and signaling pathways and its overexpression in most cancers. In this review, we primarily focus on YY1 studies in cancer research, including the regulation of YY1 as a transcription factor, its activities independent of its DNA binding ability, the functions of its associated proteins, and mechanisms regulating YY1 expression and activities. We also discuss the correlation of YY1 expression with clinical outcomes of cancer patients and its target potential in cancer therapy. Although there is not a complete consensus about the role of YY1 in cancers based on its activities of regulating oncogene and tumor suppressor expression, most of the currently available evidence supports a proliferative or oncogenic role of YY1 in tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA
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Li W, Wu ZQ, Zhao J, Guo SJ, Li Z, Feng X, Ma L, Zhang JS, Liu XP, Zhang YQ. Transient protection from heat-stress induced apoptotic stimulation by metastasis-associated protein 1 in pachytene spermatocytes. PLoS One 2011; 6:e26013. [PMID: 22022494 PMCID: PMC3192157 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2011] [Accepted: 09/15/2011] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deregulated thermal factors have been frequently implicated in the pathogenesis of male infertility, but the molecular basis through which certain responses are directed remain largely unknown. We previously reported that overexpression of exogenous Metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) protects spermatogenic tumor cells GC-2spd (ts) against heat-induced apoptosis. To further dissect the underlying mechanism, we addressed here the fine coordination between MTA1 and p53 in pachytene spermatocytes upon hyperthermal stimulation. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS High level of MTA1 expression sustained for 1.5 h in primary spermatocytes after heat stress before a notable decrease was detected conversely correlated to the gradual increase of acetylation status of p53 and of p21 level. Knockdown of the endogenous MTA1 in GC-2spd (ts) elevated the acetylation of p53 by diminishing the recruitment of HDAC2 and thereafter led to a dramatic increase of apoptosis after heat treatment. Consistent with this, in vivo interference of MTA1 expression in the testes of C57BL/6 mice also urged an impairment of the differentiation of spermatocytes and a disruption of Sertoli cell function due to the elevated apoptotic rate after heat stress. Finally, attenuated expression of MTA1 of pachytene spermatocytes was observed in arrested testes (at the round spermatid level) of human varicocele patients. CONCLUSIONS These data underscore a transient protective effect of this histone modifier in primary spermatocytes against heat-stress, which may operate as a negative coregulator of p53 in maintenance of apoptotic balance during early phase after hyperthermal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-qun Wu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Zhao
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Sheng-jie Guo
- Department of Urology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Feng
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Ma
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-shan Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-ping Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan-qiang Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
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Tang P, Frankenberg S, Argentaro A, Graves JM, Familari M. Comparative analysis of the ATRX promoter and 5' regulatory region reveals conserved regulatory elements which are linked to roles in neurodevelopment, alpha-globin regulation and testicular function. BMC Res Notes 2011; 4:200. [PMID: 21676266 PMCID: PMC3144453 DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-4-200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2010] [Accepted: 06/15/2011] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background ATRX is a tightly-regulated multifunctional protein with crucial roles in mammalian development. Mutations in the ATRX gene cause ATR-X syndrome, an X-linked recessive developmental disorder resulting in severe mental retardation and mild alpha-thalassemia with facial, skeletal and genital abnormalities. Although ubiquitously expressed the clinical features of the syndrome indicate that ATRX is not likely to be a global regulator of gene expression but involved in regulating specific target genes. The regulation of ATRX expression is not well understood and this is reflected by the current lack of identified upstream regulators. The availability of genomic data from a range of species and the very highly conserved 5' regulatory regions of the ATRX gene has allowed us to investigate putative transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) in evolutionarily conserved regions of the mammalian ATRX promoter. Results We identified 12 highly conserved TFBSs of key gene regulators involved in biologically relevant processes such as neural and testis development and alpha-globin regulation. Conclusions Our results reveal potentially important regulatory elements in the ATRX gene which may lead to the identification of upstream regulators of ATRX and aid in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie ATR-X syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paisu Tang
- Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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Lee MH, Lahusen T, Wang RH, Xiao C, Xu X, Hwang YS, He WW, Shi Y, Deng CX. Yin Yang 1 positively regulates BRCA1 and inhibits mammary cancer formation. Oncogene 2011; 31:116-27. [PMID: 21666725 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2011.217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Expression of the breast cancer-associated gene 1 (BRCA1) in sporadic breast cancers is usually reduced, yet the underlying mechanisms remains elusive. To identify factors that are responsible for reduced BRCA1 expression, we screened 92 known transcription factors for their ability to regulate expression of BRCA1. Among several potential regulators, the Gli-Krueppel-related transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) showed the most dramatic transactivation of the BRCA1 promoter. YY1 binds to the promoter of BRCA1, and its overexpression resulted in increased expression of BRCA1 and a number of BRCA1 downstream genes. We further showed that overexpression of YY1 in cancer cells inhibited cell proliferation, foci formation and tumor growth in nude mice. To assess the clinical relevance between YY1 and BRCA1, we studied expression of YY1 and BRCA1 from human breast cancer samples and tissue arrays, and detected a significant positive correlation between the level of YY1 and BRCA1 expression in these cancers. Taken together, these findings suggest that YY1 is a key regulator of BRCA1 expression and may be causally linked to the molecular etiology of human breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- M-H Lee
- Genetics of Development and Disease Branch, 10/9N105, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Rezende NC, Lee MY, Monette S, Mark W, Lu A, Gudas LJ. Rex1 (Zfp42) null mice show impaired testicular function, abnormal testis morphology, and aberrant gene expression. Dev Biol 2011; 356:370-82. [PMID: 21641340 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.05.664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2011] [Revised: 05/18/2011] [Accepted: 05/19/2011] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Rex1 (Zfp42), GeneID 132625, is a gene whose expression is closely associated with pluripotency/multipotency in both mouse and human embryonic stem cells. To study the function of the murine Rex1 gene in vivo, we have used cre/lox technology to create Rex1(floxed) mice and mice deficient in Rex1 gene function. Rex1(-/-)males are characterized by an age-associated decrease in sperm counts, abnormal sperm morphology, and mild testicular atrophy. We characterized global patterns of gene expression in primary germ cells by microarray and identified the growth hormone responsive gene, GRTP1, as a transcript present at a 4.5 fold higher level in wild type (WT) compared to Rex1(-/-) mice. We analyzed immature germ cell (Dazl), proliferating (PCNA), and Sertoli cell populations, and quantitated levels of apoptosis in Rex1(-/-) as compared to WT testes. We evaluated the expression of proteins previously reported to correlate with Rex1 expression, such as STAT3, phospho-STAT3, p38, and phospho-p38 in the testis. We report a distinct cellular localization of total STAT3 protein in Rex1(-/-) affected testes. Our data suggest that loss of Rex1 leads to impaired testicular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naira C Rezende
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Lu P, Hankel IL, Hostager BS, Swartzendruber JA, Friedman AD, Brenton JL, Rothman PB, Colgan JD. The developmental regulator protein Gon4l associates with protein YY1, co-repressor Sin3a, and histone deacetylase 1 and mediates transcriptional repression. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:18311-9. [PMID: 21454521 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.133603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic studies involving zebrafish and mice have demonstrated that the protein Gon4l (Gon4-like) is essential for hematopoiesis. These studies also suggested that Gon4l regulates gene expression during hematopoietic development, yet the biochemical function of Gon4l has not been defined. Here, we describe the identification of factors that interact with Gon4l and may cooperate with this protein to regulate gene expression. As predicted by polypeptide sequence conservation, Gon4l interacted and co-localized with the DNA-binding protein YY1 (Yin Yang 1). Density gradient sedimentation analysis of protein lysates from mouse M12 B cells showed that Gon4l and YY1 co-sediment with the transcriptional co-repressor Sin3a and its functional partner histone deacetylase (HDAC) 1. Consistent with these results, immunoprecipitation studies showed that Gon4l associates with Sin3a, HDAC1, and YY1 as a part of complexes that form in M12 cells. Sequential immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that Gon4l, YY1, Sin3a, and HDAC1 could all associate as components of a single complex and that a conserved domain spanning the central portion of Gon4l was required for formation of this complex. When targeted to DNA, Gon4l repressed the activity of a nearby promoter, which correlated with the ability to interact with Sin3a and HDAC1. Our data suggest that Sin3a, HDAC1, and YY1 are co-factors for Gon4l and that Gon4l may function as a platform for the assembly of complexes that regulate gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Lu
- Interdisciplinary Immunology Graduate Program, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
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