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Radaszkiewicz KA, Sulcova M, Kohoutkova E, Harnos J. The role of prickle proteins in vertebrate development and pathology. Mol Cell Biochem 2024; 479:1199-1221. [PMID: 37358815 PMCID: PMC11116189 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04787-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Prickle is an evolutionarily conserved family of proteins exclusively associated with planar cell polarity (PCP) signalling. This signalling pathway provides directional and positional cues to eukaryotic cells along the plane of an epithelial sheet, orthogonal to both apicobasal and left-right axes. Through studies in the fruit fly Drosophila, we have learned that PCP signalling is manifested by the spatial segregation of two protein complexes, namely Prickle/Vangl and Frizzled/Dishevelled. While Vangl, Frizzled, and Dishevelled proteins have been extensively studied, Prickle has been largely neglected. This is likely because its role in vertebrate development and pathologies is still being explored and is not yet fully understood. The current review aims to address this gap by summarizing our current knowledge on vertebrate Prickle proteins and to cover their broad versatility. Accumulating evidence suggests that Prickle is involved in many developmental events, contributes to homeostasis, and can cause diseases when its expression and signalling properties are deregulated. This review highlights the importance of Prickle in vertebrate development, discusses the implications of Prickle-dependent signalling in pathology, and points out the blind spots or potential links regarding Prickle, which could be studied further.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Radaszkiewicz
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, 62500, Czechia
| | - M Sulcova
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, 62500, Czechia
| | - E Kohoutkova
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, 62500, Czechia
| | - J Harnos
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, 62500, Czechia.
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2
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Ishibashi K, Ichinose T, Kadokawa R, Mizutani R, Iwabuchi S, Togi S, Ura H, Tange S, Shinjo K, Nakayama J, Nanjo S, Niida Y, Kondo Y, Hashimoto S, Sahai E, Yano S, Nakada M, Hirata E. Astrocyte-induced mGluR1 activates human lung cancer brain metastasis via glutamate-dependent stabilization of EGFR. Dev Cell 2024; 59:579-594.e6. [PMID: 38309264 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
There are limited methods to stably analyze the interactions between cancer cells and glial cells in vitro, which hinders our molecular understanding. Here, we develop a simple and stable culture method of mouse glial cells, termed mixed-glial culture on/in soft substrate (MGS), which serves well as a platform to study cancer-glia interactions. Using this method, we find that human lung cancer cells become overly dependent on metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) signaling in the brain microenvironment. Mechanistically, interactions with astrocytes induce mGluR1 in cancer cells through the Wnt-5a/prickle planar cell polarity protein 1 (PRICKLE1)/RE1 silencing transcription factor (REST) axis. Induced mGluR1 directly interacts with and stabilizes the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in a glutamate-dependent manner, and these cells then become responsive to mGluR1 inhibition. Our results highlight increased dependence on mGluR1 signaling as an adaptive strategy and vulnerability of human lung cancer brain metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kojiro Ishibashi
- Division of Tumor Cell Biology and Bioimaging, Cancer Research Institute of Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Toshiya Ichinose
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8641, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Riki Kadokawa
- Division of Tumor Cell Biology and Bioimaging, Cancer Research Institute of Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Ryo Mizutani
- Division of Tumor Cell Biology and Bioimaging, Cancer Research Institute of Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Sadahiro Iwabuchi
- Department of Molecular Pathophysiology, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama 641-8509, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Sumihito Togi
- Center for Clinical Genomics, Kanazawa Medical University Hospital, Uchinada 920-0293, Ishikawa, Japan; Division of Genomic Medicine, Department of Advanced Medicine, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada 920-0293, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Hiroki Ura
- Center for Clinical Genomics, Kanazawa Medical University Hospital, Uchinada 920-0293, Ishikawa, Japan; Division of Genomic Medicine, Department of Advanced Medicine, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada 920-0293, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Shoichiro Tange
- Department of Medical Genome Sciences, Cancer Research Institute, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-8556, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Keiko Shinjo
- Division of Cancer Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Aichi, Japan
| | - Jun Nakayama
- Department of Oncogenesis and Growth Regulation, Research Institute, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka 541-8567, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shigeki Nanjo
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa 920-8641, Ishikawa, Japan; Division of Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute of Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8641, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Yo Niida
- Center for Clinical Genomics, Kanazawa Medical University Hospital, Uchinada 920-0293, Ishikawa, Japan; Division of Genomic Medicine, Department of Advanced Medicine, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada 920-0293, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kondo
- Division of Cancer Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shinichi Hashimoto
- Department of Molecular Pathophysiology, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama 641-8509, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Erik Sahai
- Tumor Cell Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Seiji Yano
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa 920-8641, Ishikawa, Japan; Division of Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute of Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8641, Ishikawa, Japan; Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Mitsutoshi Nakada
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8641, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Eishu Hirata
- Division of Tumor Cell Biology and Bioimaging, Cancer Research Institute of Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Ishikawa, Japan; Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Ishikawa, Japan.
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Deshpande K, Martirosian V, Nakamura BN, Das D, Iyer M, Reed M, Shao L, Bamshad D, Buckley NJ, Neman J. SRRM4-mediated REST to REST4 dysregulation promotes tumor growth and neural adaptation in breast cancer leading to brain metastasis. Neuro Oncol 2024; 26:309-322. [PMID: 37716001 PMCID: PMC10836770 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noad175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Effective control of brain metastasis remains an urgent clinical need due a limited understanding of the mechanisms driving it. Although the gain of neuro-adaptive attributes in breast-to-brain metastases (BBMs) has been described, the mechanisms that govern this neural acclimation and the resulting brain metastasis competency are poorly understood. Herein, we define the role of neural-specific splicing factor Serine/Arginine Repetitive Matrix Protein 4 (SRRM4) in regulating microenvironmental adaptation and brain metastasis colonization in breast cancer cells. METHODS Utilizing pure neuronal cultures and brain-naive and patient-derived BM tumor cells, along with in vivo tumor modeling, we surveyed the early induction of mediators of neural acclimation in tumor cells. RESULTS When SRRM4 is overexpressed in systemic breast cancer cells, there is enhanced BBM leading to poorer overall survival in vivo. Concomitantly, SRRM4 knockdown expression does not provide any advantage in central nervous system metastasis. In addition, reducing SRRM4 expression in breast cancer cells slows down proliferation and increases resistance to chemotherapy. Conversely, when SRRM4/REST4 levels are elevated, tumor cell growth is maintained even in nutrient-deprived conditions. In neuronal coculture, decreasing SRRM4 expression in breast cancer cells impairs their ability to adapt to the brain microenvironment, while increasing SRRM4/RE-1 Silencing Transcription Factor (REST4) levels leads to greater expression of neurotransmitter and synaptic signaling mediators and a significant colonization advantage. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our findings identify SRRM4 as a regulator of brain metastasis colonization, and a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krutika Deshpande
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- USC Brain Tumor Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA)
| | - Vahan Martirosian
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- USC Brain Tumor Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Brooke N Nakamura
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- USC Brain Tumor Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Diganta Das
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- USC Brain Tumor Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Mukund Iyer
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- USC Brain Tumor Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Max Reed
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ling Shao
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Daniella Bamshad
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Noel J Buckley
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Josh Neman
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- USC Brain Tumor Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Rubio S, Molinuevo R, Sanz-Gomez N, Zomorrodinia T, Cockrum CS, Luong E, Rivas L, Cadle K, Menendez J, Hinck L. Nuclear VANGL2 Inhibits Lactogenic Differentiation. Cells 2024; 13:222. [PMID: 38334614 PMCID: PMC10854645 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Planar cell polarity (PCP) proteins coordinate tissue morphogenesis by governing cell patterning and polarity. Asymmetrically localized on the plasma membrane of cells, transmembrane PCP proteins are trafficked by endocytosis, suggesting they may have intracellular functions that are dependent or independent of their extracellular role, but whether these functions extend to transcriptional control remains unknown. Here, we show the nuclear localization of transmembrane, PCP protein, VANGL2, in the HCC1569 breast cancer cell line, and in undifferentiated, but not differentiated, HC11 cells that serve as a model for mammary lactogenic differentiation. The loss of Vangl2 function results in upregulation of pathways related to STAT5 signaling. We identify DNA binding sites and a nuclear localization signal in VANGL2, and use CUT&RUN to demonstrate recruitment of VANGL2 to specific DNA binding motifs, including one in the Stat5a promoter. Knockdown (KD) of Vangl2 in HC11 cells and primary mammary organoids results in upregulation of Stat5a, Ccnd1 and Csn2, larger acini and organoids, and precocious differentiation; phenotypes are rescued by overexpression of Vangl2, but not Vangl2ΔNLS. Together, these results advance a paradigm whereby PCP proteins coordinate tissue morphogenesis by keeping transcriptional programs governing differentiation in check.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefany Rubio
- Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Rut Molinuevo
- Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Natalia Sanz-Gomez
- Department of Cancer Biology, Institute for Biomedical Research “Alberto Sols”, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Talieh Zomorrodinia
- Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Chad S. Cockrum
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Elina Luong
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Lucia Rivas
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Kora Cadle
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Julien Menendez
- Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Lindsay Hinck
- Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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Rubio S, Molinuevo R, Sanz-Gomez N, Zomorrodinia T, Cockrum CS, Luong E, Rivas L, Cadle K, Menendez J, Hinck L. Nuclear VANGL2 Inhibits Lactogenic Differentiation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.07.570706. [PMID: 38106173 PMCID: PMC10723439 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.07.570706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Planar cell polarity (PCP) proteins coordinate tissue morphogenesis by governing cell patterning and polarity. Asymmetrically localized on the plasma membrane of cells, PCP proteins are also trafficked by endocytosis, suggesting they may have intracellular functions that are dependent or independent of their extracellular role, but whether these functions extend to transcriptional control remains unknown. Here, we show the nuclear localization of transmembrane, PCP protein, VANGL2, in undifferentiated, but not differentiated, HC11 cells, which serve as a model for mammary lactogenic differentiation. Loss of Vangl2 function results in upregulation of pathways related to STAT5 signaling. We identify DNA binding sites and a nuclear localization signal in VANGL2, and use CUT&RUN to demonstrate direct binding of VANGL2 to specific DNA binding motifs, including one in the Stat5a promoter. Knockdown (KD) of Vangl2 in HC11 cells and primary mammary organoids results in upregulation of Stat5a , Ccnd1 and Csn2 , larger acini and organoids, and precocious differentiation; phenotypes rescued by overexpression of Vangl2 , but not Vangl2 ΔNLS . Together, these results advance a paradigm whereby PCP proteins coordinate tissue morphogenesis by keeping transcriptional programs governing differentiation in check.
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6
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Lam XJ, Maniam S, Cheah PS, Ling KH. REST in the Road Map of Brain Development. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:3417-3433. [PMID: 37517069 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01394-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor (REST) or also known as neuron-restrictive silencing factor (NRSF), is the key initiator of epigenetic neuronal gene-expression modification. Identification of a massive number of REST-targeted genes in the brain signifies its broad involvement in maintaining the functionality of the nervous system. Additionally, REST plays a crucial role in conferring neuroprotection to the neurons against various stressors or insults during injuries. At the cellular level, nuclear localisation of REST is a key determinant for the functional transcriptional regulation of REST towards its target genes. Emerging studies reveal the implication of REST nuclear mislocalisation or dysregulation in several neurological diseases. The expression of REST varies depending on different types of neurological disorders, which has created challenges in the discovery of REST-targeted interventions. Hence, this review presents a comprehensive summary on the physiological roles of REST throughout brain development and its implications in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, brain tumours and cerebrovascular diseases. This review offers valuable insights to the development of potential therapeutic approaches targeting REST to improve pathologies in the brain. The important roles of REST as a key player in the nervous system development, and its implications in several neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Jieh Lam
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sandra Maniam
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Pike-See Cheah
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - King-Hwa Ling
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Fan G, Chen S, Liang L, Zhang H, Yu R. Novel Small Molecule Positive Allosteric Modulator SPAM1 Triggers the Nuclear Translocation of PAC1-R to Exert Neuroprotective Effects through Neuron-Restrictive Silencer Factor. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415996. [PMID: 36555637 PMCID: PMC9784932 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) exerts effective neuroprotective activity through its specific receptor, PAC1-R. We accidentally discovered that as a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of PAC1-R, the small-molecule PAM (SPAM1) has a hydrazide-like structure, but different binding characteristics, from hydrazide for the N-terminal extracellular domain of PAC1-R (PAC1-R-EC1). SPAM1 had a significant neuroprotective effect against oxidative stress, both in a cell model treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and an aging mouse model induced by D-galactose (D-gal). SPAM1 was found to block the decrease in PACAP levels in brain tissues induced by D-gal and significantly induced the nuclear translocation of PAC1-R in PAC1R-CHO cells and mouse retinal ganglion cells. Nuclear PAC1-R was subjected to fragmentation and the nuclear 35 kDa, but not the 15 kDa fragments, of PAC1-R interacted with SP1 to upregulate the expression of Huntingtin (Htt), which then exerted a neuroprotective effect by attenuating the binding availability of the neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF) to the neuron-restrictive silencer element (NRSE). This resulted in an upregulation of the expression of NRSF-related neuropeptides, including PACAP, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and synapsin-1 (SYN1). The novel mechanism reported in this study indicates that SPAM1 has potential use as a drug, as it exerts a neuroprotective effect by regulating NRSF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangchun Fan
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Shang Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Lili Liang
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Huahua Zhang
- Department of Medical Genetics, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Rongjie Yu
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou 510632, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +86-133-9262-5921
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8
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Ban Y, Yu T, Wang J, Wang X, Liu C, Baker C, Zou Y. Mutation of the murine Prickle1 (R104Q) causes phenotypes analogous to human symptoms of epilepsy and autism. Exp Neurol 2022; 347:113880. [PMID: 34597683 PMCID: PMC8718102 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Epilepsy and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) frequently show comorbidity, suggesting shared or overlapping neurobiological basis underlying these conditions. R104Q is the first mutation in the PRICKLE 1(PK1) gene that was discovered in human patients with progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME). Subsequently, a number of mutations in the PK1 gene were shown to be associated with either epilepsy, autism, or both, as well as other developmental disorders. Using CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene editing, we generated a PK1R104Q mouse line. The mutant mice showed reduced density of excitatory synapses in hippocampus and impaired interaction between PK1 and the repressor element 1(RE-1) silencing transcription factor (REST). They also displayed reduced seizure threshold, impaired social interaction, and cognitive functions. Taken together, the PK1R104Q mice display characteristic behavioral features similar to the key symptoms of epilepsy and ASD, providing a useful model for studying the molecular and neural circuit mechanisms underlying the comorbidity of epilepsy and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Ban
- Neurobiology Section, Biological Sciences Division, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America
| | - Ting Yu
- Neurobiology Section, Biological Sciences Division, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America
| | - Jingyi Wang
- Neurobiology Section, Biological Sciences Division, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America
| | - Xiaojia Wang
- Neurobiology Section, Biological Sciences Division, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America
| | - Can Liu
- Neurobiology Section, Biological Sciences Division, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America
| | - Clayton Baker
- Neurobiology Section, Biological Sciences Division, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America
| | - Yimin Zou
- Neurobiology Section, Biological Sciences Division, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America.
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Prestigio C, Ferrante D, Marte A, Romei A, Lignani G, Onofri F, Valente P, Benfenati F, Baldelli P. REST/NRSF drives homeostatic plasticity of inhibitory synapses in a target-dependent fashion. eLife 2021; 10:e69058. [PMID: 34855580 PMCID: PMC8639147 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The repressor-element 1-silencing transcription/neuron-restrictive silencer factor (REST/NRSF) controls hundreds of neuron-specific genes. We showed that REST/NRSF downregulates glutamatergic transmission in response to hyperactivity, thus contributing to neuronal homeostasis. However, whether GABAergic transmission is also implicated in the homeostatic action of REST/NRSF is unknown. Here, we show that hyperactivity-induced REST/NRSF activation, triggers a homeostatic rearrangement of GABAergic inhibition, with increased frequency of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) and amplitude of evoked IPSCs in mouse cultured hippocampal neurons. Notably, this effect is limited to inhibitory-onto-excitatory neuron synapses, whose density increases at somatic level and decreases in dendritic regions, demonstrating a complex target- and area-selectivity. The upscaling of perisomatic inhibition was occluded by TrkB receptor inhibition and resulted from a coordinated and sequential activation of the Npas4 and Bdnf gene programs. On the opposite, the downscaling of dendritic inhibition was REST-dependent, but BDNF-independent. The findings highlight the central role of REST/NRSF in the complex transcriptional responses aimed at rescuing physiological levels of network activity in front of the ever-changing environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosimo Prestigio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of GenovaGenovaItaly
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaGenovaItaly
| | - Daniele Ferrante
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of GenovaGenovaItaly
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaGenovaItaly
| | - Antonella Marte
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of GenovaGenovaItaly
| | - Alessandra Romei
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaGenovaItaly
| | - Gabriele Lignani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square HouseLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Franco Onofri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of GenovaGenovaItaly
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San MartinoGenovaItaly
| | - Pierluigi Valente
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of GenovaGenovaItaly
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San MartinoGenovaItaly
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaGenovaItaly
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San MartinoGenovaItaly
| | - Pietro Baldelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of GenovaGenovaItaly
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San MartinoGenovaItaly
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10
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Pogoda A, Chmielewska N, Maciejak P, Szyndler J. Transcriptional Dysregulation in Huntington's Disease: The Role in Pathogenesis and Potency for Pharmacological Targeting. Curr Med Chem 2021; 28:2783-2806. [PMID: 32628586 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666200705225821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by a mutation in the gene that encodes a critical cell regulatory protein, huntingtin (Htt). The expansion of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide repeats causes improper folding of functional proteins and is an initial trigger of pathological changes in the brain. Recent research has indicated that the functional dysregulation of many transcription factors underlies the neurodegenerative processes that accompany HD. These disturbances are caused not only by the loss of wild-type Htt (WT Htt) function but also by the occurrence of abnormalities that result from the action of mutant Htt (mHtt). In this review, we aim to describe the role of transcription factors that are currently thought to be strongly associated with HD pathogenesis, namely, RE1-silencing transcription factor, also known as neuron-restrictive silencer factor (REST/NRSF), forkhead box proteins (FOXPs), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1a (PGC1α), heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1), and nuclear factor κ light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF- κB). We also take into account the role of these factors in the phenotype of HD as well as potential pharmacological interventions targeting the analyzed proteins. Furthermore, we considered whether molecular manipulation resulting in changes in transcription factor function may have clinical potency for treating HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Pogoda
- Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Zwirki i Wigury Street 61, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Chmielewska
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego Street 9, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Maciejak
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego Street 9, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Janusz Szyndler
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha Street 1B, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
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11
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de Souza JM, Abd-Elrahman KS, Ribeiro FM, Ferguson SSG. mGluR5 regulates REST/NRSF signaling through N-cadherin/β-catenin complex in Huntington's disease. Mol Brain 2020; 13:118. [PMID: 32859226 PMCID: PMC7456045 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-020-00657-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor/neuron-restrictive silencer factor (REST/NRSF) is a transcription repressor and its expression is regulated by the Wnt pathway through β-catenin. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) signaling plays a key role in controlling neuronal gene expression. Interestingly, REST/NRSF nuclear translocation and signaling, as well as mGluR5 signaling are altered in the presence of mutant huntingtin. It remains unclear whether mGluR5 can modulate Wnt and REST/NRSF signaling under physiological conditions and whether this modulation is altered in Huntington's disease (HD). Using primary corticostriatal neurons derived from wild type mouse embryos, we find that targeting mGluR5 using the agonist, DHPG, or the negative allosteric modulator, CTEP, modulates REST/NRSF expression by regulating the assembly of N-cadherin/ β-catenin complex in a Src kinase-dependent manner. We have validated our in vitro findings in vivo using two HD mouse models. Specifically, we show that pharmacological inhibition of mGluR5 in zQ175 mice and genetic ablation of mGluR5 in BACHD mice corrected the pathological activation of Src and rescued REST/NRSF-dependent signaling. Together, our data provide evidence that mGluR5 regulates REST/NRSF expression via the Wnt pathway and highlight the contribution of impaired REST/ NRSF signaling to HD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica M. de Souza
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5 Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Khaled S. Abd-Elrahman
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5 Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521 Egypt
| | - Fabiola M. Ribeiro
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Stephen S. G. Ferguson
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5 Canada
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12
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NRSF and Its Epigenetic Effectors: New Treatments for Neurological Disease. Brain Sci 2018; 8:brainsci8120226. [PMID: 30572571 PMCID: PMC6316267 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8120226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The Neuron Restrictive Silencer Factor (NRSF) is the well-known master transcriptional repressor of the neuronal phenotype. Research to date has shown that it is an important player in the growth and development of the nervous system. Its role in the maturation of neural precursor cells to adult neurons has been well characterized in stem cell models. While much has been characterized from a developmental perspective, research is revealing that NRSF plays a role in various neurological diseases, ranging from neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric, to cancer. Dysregulation of NRSF activity disrupts downstream gene expression that is responsible for neuronal cell homeostasis in several models that contribute to pathologic states. Interestingly, it is now becoming apparent that the dysregulation of NRSF contributes to neurological disease through epigenetic mechanisms. Although NRSF itself is a transcription factor, its major effectors are chromatin modifiers. At the level of epigenetics, changes in NRSF activity have been well characterized in models of neuropathic pain and epilepsy. Better understanding of the epigenetic basis of brain diseases has led to design and use of small molecules that can prevent NRSF from repressing gene expression by neutralizing its interactions with its chromatin remodelers. This review will address the basic function of NRSF and its cofactors, investigate their mechanisms, then explore how their dysfunction can cause disease states. This review will also address research on NRSF as a therapeutic target and delve into new therapeutic strategies that focus on disrupting NRSF’s ability to recruit chromatin remodelers.
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13
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Calhoun JD, Carvill GL. Unravelling the genetic architecture of autosomal recessive epilepsy in the genomic era. J Neurogenet 2018; 32:295-312. [PMID: 30247086 DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2018.1513509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The technological advancement of next-generation sequencing has greatly accelerated the pace of variant discovery in epilepsy. Despite an initial focus on autosomal dominant epilepsy due to the tractable nature of variant discovery with trios under a de novo model, more and more variants are being reported in families with epilepsies consistent with autosomal recessive (AR) inheritance. In this review, we touch on the classical AR epilepsy variants such as the inborn errors of metabolism and malformations of cortical development. However, we also highlight recently reported genes that are being identified by next-generation sequencing approaches and online 'matchmaking' platforms. Syndromes mainly characterized by seizures and complex neurodevelopmental disorders comorbid with epilepsy are discussed as an example of the wide phenotypic spectrum associated with the AR epilepsies. We conclude with a foray into the future, from the application of whole-genome sequencing to identify elusive epilepsy variants, to the promise of precision medicine initiatives to provide novel targeted therapeutics specific to the individual based on their clinical genetic testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Calhoun
- a Department of Neurology , Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago , IL , USA
| | - Gemma L Carvill
- a Department of Neurology , Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago , IL , USA
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14
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Prickle1 regulates neurite outgrowth of apical spiral ganglion neurons but not hair cell polarity in the murine cochlea. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183773. [PMID: 28837644 PMCID: PMC5570324 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In the mammalian organ of Corti (OC), the stereocilia on the apical surface of hair cells (HCs) are uniformly organized in a neural to abneural axis (or medial-laterally). This organization is regulated by planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling. Mutations of PCP genes, such as Vangl2, Dvl1/2, Celsr1, and Fzd3/6, affect the formation of HC orientation to varying degrees. Prickle1 is a PCP signaling gene that belongs to the prickle / espinas / testin family. Prickle1 protein is shown to be asymmetrically localized in the HCs of the OC, and this asymmetric localization is associated with loss of PCP in Smurf mutants, implying that Prickle1 is involved in HC PCP development in the OC. A follow-up study found no PCP polarity defects after loss of Prickle1 (Prickle1-/-) in the cochlea. We show here strong Prickle1 mRNA expression in the spiral ganglion by in situ hybridization and β-Gal staining, and weak expression in the OC by β-Gal staining. Consistent with this limited expression in the OC, cochlear HC PCP is unaffected in either Prickle1C251X/C251X mice or Prickle1f/f; Pax2-cre conditional null mice. Meanwhile, type II afferents of apical spiral ganglion neurons (SGN) innervating outer hair cells (OHC) have unusual neurite growth. In addition, afferents from the apex show unusual collaterals in the cochlear nuclei that overlap with basal turn afferents. Our findings argue against the role of Prickle1 in regulating hair cell polarity in the cochlea. Instead, Prickle1 regulates the polarity-related growth of distal and central processes of apical SGNs.
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15
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Gibbs BC, Damerla RR, Vladar EK, Chatterjee B, Wan Y, Liu X, Cui C, Gabriel GC, Zahid M, Yagi H, Szabo-Rogers HL, Suyama KL, Axelrod JD, Lo CW. Prickle1 mutation causes planar cell polarity and directional cell migration defects associated with cardiac outflow tract anomalies and other structural birth defects. Biol Open 2016; 5:323-35. [PMID: 26883626 PMCID: PMC4810743 DOI: 10.1242/bio.015750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Planar cell polarity (PCP) is controlled by a conserved pathway that regulates directional cell behavior. Here, we show that mutant mice harboring a newly described mutation termed Beetlejuice (Bj) in Prickle1 (Pk1), a PCP component, exhibit developmental phenotypes involving cell polarity defects, including skeletal, cochlear and congenital cardiac anomalies. Bj mutants die neonatally with cardiac outflow tract (OFT) malalignment. This is associated with OFT shortening due to loss of polarized cell orientation and failure of second heart field cell intercalation mediating OFT lengthening. OFT myocardialization was disrupted with cardiomyocytes failing to align with the direction of cell invasion into the outflow cushions. The expression of genes mediating Wnt signaling was altered. Also noted were shortened but widened bile ducts and disruption in canonical Wnt signaling. Using an in vitro wound closure assay, we showed Bj mutant fibroblasts cannot establish polarized cell morphology or engage in directional cell migration, and their actin cytoskeleton failed to align with the direction of wound closure. Unexpectedly, Pk1 mutants exhibited primary and motile cilia defects. Given Bj mutant phenotypes are reminiscent of ciliopathies, these findings suggest Pk1 may also regulate ciliogenesis. Together these findings show Pk1 plays an essential role in regulating cell polarity and directional cell migration during development. Summary: Outflow tract malalignment and multiple birth defects observed in the Prickle1 mutant may arise from cell polarity perturbation, which may involve disruptions in Wnt signaling and of cilia function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C Gibbs
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, USA
| | - Rama Rao Damerla
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, USA
| | - Eszter K Vladar
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Bishwanath Chatterjee
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, USA
| | - Yong Wan
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Xiaoqin Liu
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, USA
| | - Cheng Cui
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, USA
| | - George C Gabriel
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, USA
| | - Maliha Zahid
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, USA
| | - Hisato Yagi
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, USA
| | - Heather L Szabo-Rogers
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Kaye L Suyama
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Axelrod
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Cecilia W Lo
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, USA
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16
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Shudo Y, Shimojo M, Fukunaga M, Ito S. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide is regulated by alternative splicing of transcriptional repressor REST/NRSF in nerve injury. Life Sci 2015; 143:174-81. [PMID: 26518165 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2015.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The pathophysiological mechanism for neuropathic pain (NP), one of the most common types of intractable pain, remains largely unknown. We previously reported that pituitary adenylate-cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is required for the development of spinal sensitization and induction of NP. Previous in vitro studies suggest that PACAP transcription unit has two RE1-like elements and that the transcriptional repressor REST controls expression of PACAP gene. However the regulation of PACAP gene through its RE1 sites in vivo has not been studied. We have analyzed the functional role of PACAP gene RE1 element following nerve injury. MAIN METHODS An L5-spinal nerve transection (L5-SNT) in mice was used as a model of spinal injury. DRGs after the L5-SNT were studied. KEY FINDINGS PACAP mRNA increased in the DRG following spinal nerve injury. REST4, an alternatively spliced isoform of REST was shown to be regulated by the splicing activator (nSR100) and nSR100 itself also increased. Overexpression of either REST4 or nSR100 in vitro increased PACAP expression, while overexpression of REST repressed PACAP mRNA production. Reporter gene analysis showed that a novel RE1 previously predicted by in silico analysis was indeed functional. ChIP analysis showed that REST bound significantly to this RE1 in the DRG of naïve mice, while REST binding to this RE1 was decreased following spinal nerve injury. The expression of REST was decreased by nSR100-dependent alternative splicing of the REST gene, leading to derepression of PACAP. SIGNIFICANCE PACAP expression in the DRG following spinal nerve injury is controlled through a novel RE1 by REST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshie Shudo
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masahito Shimojo
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Mikihiko Fukunaga
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Seiji Ito
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
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Seizures are regulated by ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9 X-linked (USP9X), a de-ubiquitinase. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005022. [PMID: 25763846 PMCID: PMC4357451 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a common disabling disease with complex, multifactorial genetic and environmental etiology. The small fraction of epilepsies subject to Mendelian inheritance offers key insight into epilepsy disease mechanisms; and pathologies brought on by mutations in a single gene can point the way to generalizable therapeutic strategies. Mutations in the PRICKLE genes can cause seizures in humans, zebrafish, mice, and flies, suggesting the seizure-suppression pathway is evolutionarily conserved. This pathway has never been targeted for novel anti-seizure treatments. Here, the mammalian PRICKLE-interactome was defined, identifying prickle-interacting proteins that localize to synapses and a novel interacting partner, USP9X, a substrate-specific de-ubiquitinase. PRICKLE and USP9X interact through their carboxy-termini; and USP9X de-ubiquitinates PRICKLE, protecting it from proteasomal degradation. In forebrain neurons of mice, USP9X deficiency reduced levels of Prickle2 protein. Genetic analysis suggests the same pathway regulates Prickle-mediated seizures. The seizure phenotype was suppressed in prickle mutant flies by the small-molecule USP9X inhibitor, Degrasyn/WP1130, or by reducing the dose of fat facets a USP9X orthologue. USP9X mutations were identified by resequencing a cohort of patients with epileptic encephalopathy, one patient harbored a de novo missense mutation and another a novel coding mutation. Both USP9X variants were outside the PRICKLE-interacting domain. These findings demonstrate that USP9X inhibition can suppress prickle-mediated seizure activity, and that USP9X variants may predispose to seizures. These studies point to a new target for anti-seizure therapy and illustrate the translational power of studying diseases in species across the evolutionary spectrum. Epilepsy is a common disabling disorder characterized by seizures with complex genetic and environmental components. The absence of a definitive pathophysiology for epilepsy stymies the development of effective treatment strategies. In a small fraction of epilepsy cases however, single gene mutations may illuminate seizure-causing mechanisms, which may open the door to the discovery of broader, more effective therapeutic strategies. We have previously shown that disruption of Prickle genes in multiple species including humans, results in a predisposition to seizures. Those findings support Prickle in a seizure-preventing role and presents a possible anti-seizure therapeutic target. We identified the deubiquitinase Usp9x (ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9 X-linked) as a new Prickle binding partner which stabilized Prickle by preventing its degradation. In mice lacking the Usp9x protein in their forebrains, Prickle2 was barely detectable. In seizure-prone prickle mutant Drosophila, reducing fat facets (Drosophila usp9x) genetically or by a small-molecule usp9x inhibitor (Degrasyn/WP1130) suppressed the seizures. We also found 2 epilepsy patients harboring mutations in USP9X. Our findings demonstrate that inhibition of Usp9x can arrest prickle-mediated seizures, and variations in USP9X may predispose to seizures. From these studies, we have elucidated a seizure-inducing mechanism, identified a potential anti-seizure target, and a potential anti-seizure drug.
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18
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Yang T, Jia Z, Bryant-Pike W, Chandrasekhar A, Murray JC, Fritzsch B, Bassuk AG. Analysis of PRICKLE1 in human cleft palate and mouse development demonstrates rare and common variants involved in human malformations. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2014; 2:138-51. [PMID: 24689077 PMCID: PMC3960056 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2013] [Revised: 11/06/2013] [Accepted: 11/12/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Palate development is shaped by multiple molecular signaling pathways, including the Wnt pathway. In mice and humans, mutations in both the canonical and noncanonical arms of the Wnt pathway manifest as cleft palate, one of the most common human birth defects. Like the palate, numerous studies also link different Wnt signaling perturbations to varying degrees of limb malformation; for example, shortened limbs form in mutations of Ror2,Vangl2 (looptail) and, in particular, Wnt5a. We recently showed the noncanonical Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling molecule Prickle1 (Prickle like 1) also stunts limb growth in mice. We now expanded these studies to the palate and show that Prickle1 is also required for palate development, like Wnt5a and Ror2. Unlike in the limb, the Vangl2looptail mutation only aggravates palate defects caused by other mutations. We screened Filipino cleft palate patients and found PRICKLE1 variants, both common and rare, at an elevated frequency. Our results reveal that in mice and humans PRICKLE1 directs palate morphogenesis; our results also uncouple Prickle1 function from Vangl2 function. Together, these findings suggest mouse and human palate development is guided by PCP-Prickle1 signaling that is probably not downstream of Vangl2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Yang
- Department of Biology, University of IowaIowa City, Iowa, 52242
| | - Zhonglin Jia
- Department of Pediatrics, University of IowaIowa City, Iowa, 52242
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan UniversityChengdu, China
- Department of Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan UniversityChengdu, China
| | - Whitney Bryant-Pike
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of MissouriColumbia, Missouri, 65211
| | - Anand Chandrasekhar
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of MissouriColumbia, Missouri, 65211
| | - Jeffrey C Murray
- Department of Pediatrics, University of IowaIowa City, Iowa, 52242
| | - Bernd Fritzsch
- Department of Biology, University of IowaIowa City, Iowa, 52242
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Paemka L, Mahajan VB, Skeie JM, Sowers LP, Ehaideb SN, Gonzalez-Alegre P, Sasaoka T, Tao H, Miyagi A, Ueno N, Takao K, Miyakawa T, Wu S, Darbro BW, Ferguson PJ, Pieper AA, Britt JK, Wemmie JA, Rudd DS, Wassink T, El-Shanti H, Mefford HC, Carvill GL, Manak JR, Bassuk AG. PRICKLE1 interaction with SYNAPSIN I reveals a role in autism spectrum disorders. PLoS One 2013; 8:e80737. [PMID: 24312498 PMCID: PMC3849077 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2013] [Accepted: 10/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The frequent comorbidity of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) with epilepsy suggests a shared underlying genetic susceptibility; several genes, when mutated, can contribute to both disorders. Recently, PRICKLE1 missense mutations were found to segregate with ASD. However, the mechanism by which mutations in this gene might contribute to ASD is unknown. To elucidate the role of PRICKLE1 in ASDs, we carried out studies in Prickle1(+/-) mice and Drosophila, yeast, and neuronal cell lines. We show that mice with Prickle1 mutations exhibit ASD-like behaviors. To find proteins that interact with PRICKLE1 in the central nervous system, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen with a human brain cDNA library and isolated a peptide with homology to SYNAPSIN I (SYN1), a protein involved in synaptogenesis, synaptic vesicle formation, and regulation of neurotransmitter release. Endogenous Prickle1 and Syn1 co-localize in neurons and physically interact via the SYN1 region mutated in ASD and epilepsy. Finally, a mutation in PRICKLE1 disrupts its ability to increase the size of dense-core vesicles in PC12 cells. Taken together, these findings suggest PRICKLE1 mutations contribute to ASD by disrupting the interaction with SYN1 and regulation of synaptic vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily Paemka
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Vinit B. Mahajan
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Jessica M. Skeie
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Levi P. Sowers
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Salleh N. Ehaideb
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Pedro Gonzalez-Alegre
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program of Neuroscience, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Toshikuni Sasaoka
- Center for Bioresources, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Tao
- Hospital for Sick Kids, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Asuka Miyagi
- Developmental Biology Department, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki City, Japan
| | - Naoto Ueno
- Developmental Biology Department, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki City, Japan
| | - Keizo Takao
- Section of Behavior Patterns, Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
- Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi-shi, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Miyakawa
- Section of Behavior Patterns, Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
- Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi-shi, Japan
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Shu Wu
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Benjamin W. Darbro
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Polly J. Ferguson
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Andrew A. Pieper
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Jeremiah K. Britt
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - John A. Wemmie
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program of Neuroscience, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Danielle S. Rudd
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Thomas Wassink
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Hatem El-Shanti
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Shafallah Medical Genetics Center, Doha, Qatar
| | - Heather C. Mefford
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Gemma L. Carvill
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - J. Robert Manak
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Alexander G. Bassuk
- The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
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Yang T, Bassuk AG, Fritzsch B. Prickle1 stunts limb growth through alteration of cell polarity and gene expression. Dev Dyn 2013; 242:1293-306. [PMID: 23913870 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Revised: 06/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wnt/PCP signaling plays a critical role in multiple developmental processes, including limb development. Wnt5a, a ligand of the PCP pathway, signals through the Ror2/Vangl2 or the Vangl2/Ryk complex to regulate limb development along the proximal-distal axis in mice. Based on the interaction between Van Gogh and Prickle in Drosophila, we hypothesized the vertebrate Prickle1 has a similar function as Vangl2 in limb development. RESULTS We show Prickle1 is expressed in the skeletal condensates that will differentiate into chondrocytes and later form bones. Disrupted Prickle1 function in Prickle1(C251X/C251X) mouse mutants alters expression of genes such as Bmp4, Fgf8, Vangl2, and Wnt5a. These expression changes correlate with shorter and wider bones in the limbs and loss of one phalangeal segment in digits 2-5 of Prickle1C251X mutants. These growth defects along the proximal-distal axis are also associated with increased cell death in the growing digit tip, reduced cell death in the interdigital membrane, and disrupted chondrocyte polarity. CONCLUSIONS We suggest Prickle1 is part of the Wnt5a/PCP signaling, regulating cell polarity and affecting expression of multiple factors to stunt limb growth through altered patterns of gene expression, including the PCP genes Wnt5a and Vangl2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Yang
- Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
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Shimojo M, Shudo Y, Ikeda M, Kobashi T, Ito S. The small cell lung cancer-specific isoform of RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) is regulated by neural-specific Ser/Arg repeat-related protein of 100 kDa (nSR100). Mol Cancer Res 2013; 11:1258-68. [PMID: 23928058 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-13-0269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly malignant form of cancer, which originates from primitive neuroendocrine cells in the lung. SCLC cells express several autocrine neurotransmitters/neuropeptides and their respective receptors. Expression of these neuronal markers is frequently regulated by RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST). In SCLC cells, an SCLC-specific isoform of REST (sREST) is highly expressed, whereas REST expression is undetectable, suggesting that the expression of sREST correlates with the pathogenesis of SCLC. Expression of sREST, which is derived through alternative splicing of REST, is abnormally regulated in SCLC cells, but the mechanism is unknown. Most recently, nSR100 (SRRM4) was described as an activator of REST alternative splicing. We now show that nSR100 is highly expressed in SCLC cells correlating with high sREST and low REST expression. Adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) is thought to enhance tumorigenicity and confer resistance to apoptosis. Interestingly, nSR100 expression is enhanced in cells grown with ECM. Overexpression of REST caused repression of sREST and nSR100, the latter containing RE1 element controlled by REST. Culturing the SCLC cell line NCI-N417 cells with ECM also upregulated RE1-containing gene, the voltage-gated calcium channel subunit. Inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway by LY294002 induced nSR100 expression, whereas the specific MEK/ERK inhibitor U0126 inhibited nSR100 expression. Repressing nSR100 by siRNA effectively repressed sREST, and conversely increased REST in NCI-N417 cells. Taken together, this report clarifies the ECM-dependent signaling pathway that impacts nSR100 expression and its regulation of alternative splicing in SCLC. IMPLICATIONS The splicing factor nSR100 may be novel SCLC-specific biomarker, as well as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahito Shimojo
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1010, Japan.
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Mei X, Wu S, Bassuk AG, Slusarski DC. Mechanisms of prickle1a function in zebrafish epilepsy and retinal neurogenesis. Dis Model Mech 2013; 6:679-88. [PMID: 23324328 PMCID: PMC3634651 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.010793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a complex neurological disorder characterized by unprovoked seizures. The etiology is heterogeneous with both genetic and environmental causes. Genes that regulate neurotransmitters and ion channels in the central nervous system have been associated with epilepsy. However, a recent screening in human epilepsy patients identified mutations in the PRICKLE1 (PK1) locus, highlighting a potentially novel mechanism underlying seizures. PK1 is a core component of the planar cell polarity network that regulates tissue polarity. Zebrafish studies have shown that Pk1 coordinates cell movement, neuronal migration and axonal outgrowth during embryonic development. Yet how dysfunction of Pk1 relates to epilepsy is unknown. To address the mechanism underlying epileptogenesis, we used zebrafish to characterize Pk1a function and epilepsy-related mutant forms. We show that knockdown of pk1a activity sensitizes zebrafish larva to a convulsant drug. To model defects in the central nervous system, we used the retina and found that pk1a knockdown induces neurite outgrowth defects; yet visual function is maintained. Furthermore, we characterized the functional and biochemical properties of the PK1 mutant forms identified in human patients. Functional analyses demonstrate that the wild-type Pk1a partially suppresses the gene knockdown retinal defects but not the mutant forms. Biochemical analysis reveals increased ubiquitylation of one mutant form and decreased translational efficiency of another mutant form compared with the wild-type Pk1a. Taken together, our results indicate that mutation of human PK1 could lead to defects in neurodevelopment and signal processing, providing insight into seizure predisposition in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Mei
- Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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Tao H, Inoue KI, Kiyonari H, Bassuk AG, Axelrod JD, Sasaki H, Aizawa S, Ueno N. Nuclear localization of Prickle2 is required to establish cell polarity during early mouse embryogenesis. Dev Biol 2012; 364:138-48. [PMID: 22333836 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2011] [Revised: 01/29/2012] [Accepted: 01/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The establishment of trophectoderm (TE) manifests as the formation of epithelium, and is dependent on many structural and regulatory components that are commonly found and function in many epithelial tissues. However, the mechanism of TE formation is currently not well understood. Prickle1 (Pk1), a core component of the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway, is essential for epiblast polarization before gastrulation, yet the roles of Pk family members in early mouse embryogenesis are obscure. Here we found that Pk2(-/-) embryos died at E3.0-3.5 without forming the blastocyst cavity and not maintained epithelial integrity of TE. These phenotypes were due to loss of the apical-basal (AB) polarity that underlies the asymmetric redistribution of microtubule networks and proper accumulation of AB polarity components on each membrane during compaction. In addition, we found GTP-bound active form of nuclear RhoA was decreased in Pk2(-/-) embryos during compaction. We further show that the first cell fate decision was disrupted in Pk2(-/-) embryos. Interestingly, Pk2 localized to the nucleus from the 2-cell to around the 16-cell stage despite its cytoplasmic function previously reported. Inhibiting farnesylation blocked Pk2's nuclear localization and disrupted AB cell polarity, suggesting that Pk2 farnesylation is essential for its nuclear localization and function. The cell polarity phenotype was efficiently rescued by nuclear but not cytoplasmic Pk2, demonstrating the nuclear localization of Pk2 is critical for its function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirotaka Tao
- Laboratory for Animal Resources and Genetic Engineering, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology (CDB), Chuo-ku, Kobe, Japan
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Li A, Ponten F, dos Remedios CG. The interactome of LIM domain proteins: The contributions of LIM domain proteins to heart failure and heart development. Proteomics 2012; 12:203-25. [DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201100492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2011] [Revised: 11/07/2011] [Accepted: 11/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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25
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Park D, Hadžić T, Yin P, Rusch J, Abruzzi K, Rosbash M, Skeath JB, Panda S, Sweedler JV, Taghert PH. Molecular organization of Drosophila neuroendocrine cells by Dimmed. Curr Biol 2011; 21:1515-24. [PMID: 21885285 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2011.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2011] [Revised: 07/01/2011] [Accepted: 08/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Drosophila, the basic-helix-loop-helix protein DIMM coordinates the molecular and cellular properties of all major neuroendocrine cells, irrespective of the secretory peptides they produce. When expressed by nonneuroendocrine neurons, DIMM confers the major properties of the regulated secretory pathway and converts such cells away from fast neurotransmission and toward a neuroendocrine state. RESULTS We first identified 134 transcripts upregulated by DIMM in embryos and then evaluated them systematically using diverse assays (including embryo in situ hybridization, in vivo chromatin immunoprecipitation, and cell-based transactivation assays). We conclude that of eleven strong candidates, six are strongly and directly controlled by DIMM in vivo. The six targets include several large dense-core vesicle (LDCV) proteins, but also proteins in non-LDCV compartments such as the RNA-associated protein Maelstrom. In addition, a functional in vivo assay, combining transgenic RNA interference with MS-based peptidomics, revealed that three DIMM targets are especially critical for its action. These include two well-established LDCV proteins, the amidation enzyme PHM and the ascorbate-regenerating electron transporter cytochrome b(561-1). The third key DIMM target, CAT-4 (CG13248), has not previously been associated with peptide neurosecretion-it encodes a putative cationic amino acid transporter, closely related to the Slimfast arginine transporter. Finally, we compared transcripts upregulated by DIMM with those normally enriched in DIMM neurons of the adult brain and found an intersection of 18 DIMM-regulated genes, which included all six direct DIMM targets. CONCLUSIONS The results provide a rigorous molecular framework with which to describe the fundamental regulatory organization of diverse neuroendocrine cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongkook Park
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Mapp OM, Walsh GS, Moens CB, Tada M, Prince VE. Zebrafish Prickle1b mediates facial branchiomotor neuron migration via a farnesylation-dependent nuclear activity. Development 2011; 138:2121-32. [PMID: 21521740 DOI: 10.1242/dev.060442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The facial branchiomotor neurons (FBMNs) undergo a characteristic tangential migration in the vertebrate hindbrain. We previously used a morpholino knockdown approach to reveal that zebrafish prickle1b (pk1b) is required for this migration. Here we report that FBMN migration is also blocked in a pk1b mutant with a disruption in the consensus farnesylation motif. We confirmed that this lipid modification is required during FBMN migration by disrupting the function of farnesyl biosynthetic enzymes. Furthermore, farnesylation of a tagged Pk1b is required for its nuclear localization. Using a unique rescue approach, we have demonstrated that Pk1b nuclear localization and farnesylation are required during FBMN migration. Our data suggest that Pk1b acts at least partially independently of core planar cell polarity molecules at the plasma membrane, and might instead be acting at the nucleus. We also found that the neuronal transcriptional silencer REST is necessary for FBMN migration, and we provide evidence that interaction between Pk1b and REST is required during this process. Finally, we demonstrate that REST protein, which is normally localized in the nuclei of migrating FBMNs, is depleted from the nuclei of Pk1b-deficient neurons. We conclude that farnesylation-dependent nuclear localization of Pk1b is required to regulate REST localization and thus FBMN migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oni M Mapp
- Committee on Developmental Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
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Zinc-finger protein 90 negatively regulates neuron-restrictive silencer factor-mediated transcriptional repression of fetal cardiac genes. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2011; 50:972-81. [PMID: 21284946 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2011.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2009] [Revised: 01/20/2011] [Accepted: 01/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF) is a zinc-finger transcription factor that binds to specific DNA sequences (NRSE) to repress transcription. By down-regulating the transcription of its target genes, NRSF contributes to the regulation of various biological processes, including neuronal differentiation, carcinogenesis and cardiovascular homeostasis. We previously reported that NRSF regulates expression of the cardiac fetal gene program, and that attenuation of NRSF-mediated repression contributes to genetic remodeling in hearts under pathological conditions. The precise molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways via which NRSF activity is regulated in pathological conditions of the heart remain unclear, however. In this study, to search for regulators of NRSF, we carried out yeast two-hybrid screening using NRSF as bait and identified zinc-finger protein (Zfp) 90 as a novel NRSF-binding protein. NRSF and Zfp90 colocalized in the nucleus, with the zinc-finger DNA-binding domain of the former specifically interacting with the latter. Zfp90 inhibited the repressor activity of NRSF by inhibiting its binding to DNA, thereby derepressing transcription of NRSF-target genes. Knockdown of Zfp90 by siRNA led to reduced expression of NRSF-target fetal cardiac genes, atrial and brain natriuretic peptide genes, and conversely, overexpression of Zfp90 in ventricular myocardium resulted in significant increases in the expression of these genes. Notably, expression of Zfp90 mRNA was significantly upregulated in mouse and human hearts with chronic heart failure. Collectively, these results suggest that Zfp90 functions as a negative regulator of NRSF and contributes to genetic remodeling during the development of cardiac dysfunction.
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28
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Disruption of planar cell polarity activity leads to developmental biliary defects. Dev Biol 2011; 351:229-41. [PMID: 21215262 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2010.12.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2009] [Revised: 12/15/2010] [Accepted: 12/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Planar cell polarity (PCP) establishes polarity within an epithelial sheet. Defects in PCP are associated with developmental defects involving directional cell growth, including defects in kidney tubule elongation that lead to formation of kidney cysts. Given the strong association between kidney cyst formation and developmental biliary defects in patients and in animal models, we investigated the importance of PCP in biliary development. Here we report that in zebrafish, morpholino antisense oligonucleotide-mediated knockdown of PCP genes including prickle-1a (pk1a) led to developmental biliary abnormalities, as well as localization defects of the liver and other digestive organs. The defects in biliary development appear to be mediated via downstream PCP targets such as Rho kinase, Jun kinase (JNK), and both actin and microtubule components of the cytoskeleton. Knockdown of pk1a led to decreased expression of vhnf1, a homeodomain gene previously shown to be involved in biliary development and in kidney cyst formation; forced expression of vhnf1 mRNA led to rescue of the pk1a morphant phenotype. Our results demonstrate that PCP plays an important role in vertebrate biliary development, interacting with other factors known to be involved in biliary morphogenesis.
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Shimojo M. RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) and REST-interacting LIM domain protein (RILP) affect P19CL6 differentiation. Genes Cells 2010; 16:90-100. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2443.2010.01471.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Kolev MV, Tediose T, Sivasankar B, Harris CL, Thome J, Morgan BP, Donev RM. Upregulating CD59: a new strategy for protection of neurons from complement-mediated degeneration. THE PHARMACOGENOMICS JOURNAL 2009; 10:12-9. [DOI: 10.1038/tpj.2009.52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Qureshi IA, Mehler MF. Regulation of non-coding RNA networks in the nervous system--what's the REST of the story? Neurosci Lett 2009; 466:73-80. [PMID: 19679163 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.07.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2009] [Revised: 07/31/2009] [Accepted: 07/31/2009] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances are now providing novel insights into the mechanisms that underlie how cellular complexity, diversity, and connectivity are encoded within the genome. The repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor/neuron-restrictive silencing factor (REST/NRSF) and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are emerging as key regulators that seem to orchestrate almost every aspect of nervous system development, homeostasis, and plasticity. REST and its primary cofactor, CoREST, dynamically recruit highly malleable macromolecular complexes to widely distributed genomic regulatory sequences, including the repressor element-1/neuron restrictive silencer element (RE1/NRSE). Through epigenetic mechanisms, such as site-specific targeting and higher-order chromatin remodeling, REST and CoREST can mediate cell type- and developmental stage-specific gene repression, gene activation, and long-term gene silencing for protein-coding genes and for several classes of ncRNAs (e.g. microRNAs [miRNAs] and long ncRNAs). In turn, these ncRNAs have similarly been implicated in the regulation of chromatin architecture and dynamics, transcription, post-transcriptional processing, and RNA editing and trafficking. In addition, REST and CoREST expression and function are tightly regulated by context-specific transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms including bidirectional feedback loops with various ncRNAs. Not surprisingly, deregulation of REST and ncRNAs are both implicated in the molecular pathophysiology underlying diverse disorders that range from brain cancer and stroke to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. This review summarizes emerging aspects of the complex mechanistic relationships between these intricately interlaced control systems for neural gene expression and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irfan A Qureshi
- Rosyln and Leslie Goldstein Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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32
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Gallagher M. A new, progressive myoclonic epilepsy: is it a chronicle of the noncanonical or a failure to REST? Epilepsy Curr 2009; 9:82-4. [PMID: 19471617 DOI: 10.1111/j.1535-7511.2009.01300.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A Homozygous Mutation in Human PRICKLE1 Causes an Autosomal-Recessive Progressive Myoclonus Epilepsy-Ataxia Syndrome. Bassuk AG, Wallace RH, Buhr A, Buller AR, Afawi Z, Shimojo M, Miyata S, Chen S, Gonzalez-Alegre P, Griesbach HL, Wu S, Nashelsky M, Vladar EK, Antic D, Ferguson PJ, Cirak S, Voit T, Scott MP, Axelrod JD, Gurnett C, Daoud AS, Kivity S, Neufeld MY, Mazarib A, Straussberg R, Walid S, Korczyn AD, Slusarski DC, Berkovic SF, El-Shanti HI. Am J Hum Genet 2008;83(5):572–581. Progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME) is a syndrome characterized by myoclonic seizures (lightning-like jerks), generalized convulsive seizures, and varying degrees of neurological decline, especially ataxia and dementia. Previously, we characterized three pedigrees of individuals with PME and ataxia, where either clinical features or linkage mapping excluded known PME loci. This report identifies a mutation in PRICKLE1 (also known as RILP for REST/NRSF interacting LIM domain protein) in all three of these pedigrees. The identified PRICKLE1 mutation blocks the PRICKLE1 and REST interaction in vitro and disrupts the normal function of PRICKLE1 in an in vivo zebrafish overexpression system. PRICKLE1 is expressed in brain regions implicated in epilepsy and ataxia in mice and humans, and, to our knowledge, is the first molecule in the noncanonical WNT signaling pathway to be directly implicated in human epilepsy.
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Abstract
Since its original discovery as a negative regulator of neuronal differentiation, the repressor element (RE)-1 silencing transcription factor (REST), also known as the neuron-restrictive silencer factor, has been implicated in novel processes such as maintenance of embryonic stem cell pluripotency and self-renewal and regulation of mitotic fidelity in non-neural cells. REST expression and activity is tightly controlled by transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms in a cell and developmental stage-specific manner and perturbations in its levels or function are associated with various pathological states. REST differentially influences target-gene expression through interaction with a wide variety of cellular cofactors in a context-dependent manner. However, the influence of the microenvironment on REST-mediated regulation of gene expression is poorly understood. This review will present our current understanding of REST signaling with a greater focus on its emerging ties with noncoding RNAs and novel interacting partners, as well as its roles in embryonic stem cell self-renewal, cellular plasticity and oncogenesis/tumor suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidya Gopalakrishnan
- The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 843, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Zheng D, Zhao K, Mehler MF. Profiling RE1/REST-mediated histone modifications in the human genome. Genome Biol 2009; 10:R9. [PMID: 19173732 PMCID: PMC2687797 DOI: 10.1186/gb-2009-10-1-r9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2008] [Accepted: 01/27/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The transcriptional repressor REST (RE1 silencing transcription factor, also called NRSF for neuron-restrictive silencing factor) binds to a conserved RE1 motif and represses many neuronal genes in non-neuronal cells. This transcriptional regulation is transacted by several nucleosome-modifying enzymes recruited by REST to RE1 sites, including histone deacetylases (for example, HDAC1/2), demethylases (for example, LSD1), and methyltransferases (for example, G9a). Results We have investigated a panel of 38 histone modifications by ChIP-Seq analysis for REST-mediated changes. Our study reveals a systematic decline of histone acetylations modulated by the association of RE1 with REST (RE1/REST). By contrast, alteration of histone methylations is more heterogeneous, with some methylations increased (for example, H3K27me3, and H3K9me2/3) and others decreased (for example, H3K4me, and H3K9me1). Furthermore, the observation of such trends of histone modifications in upregulated genes demonstrates convincingly that these changes are not determined by gene expression but are RE1/REST dependent. The outcomes of REST binding to canonical and non-canonical RE1 sites were nearly identical. Our analyses have also provided the first direct evidence that REST induces context-specific nucleosome repositioning, and furthermore demonstrate that REST-mediated histone modifications correlate with the affinity of RE1 motifs and the abundance of RE1-bound REST molecules. Conclusions Our findings indicate that the landscape of REST-mediated chromatin remodeling is dynamic and complex, with novel histone modifying enzymes and mechanisms yet to be elucidated. Our results should provide valuable insights for selecting the most informative histone marks for investigating the mechanisms and the consequences of REST modulated nucleosome remodeling in both neural and non-neural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyou Zheng
- Institute for Brain Disorders and Neural Regeneration, Department of Neurology, Rose F Kennedy Center for the Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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Bassuk AG, Wallace RH, Buhr A, Buller AR, Afawi Z, Shimojo M, Miyata S, Chen S, Gonzalez-Alegre P, Griesbach HL, Wu S, Nashelsky M, Vladar EK, Antic D, Ferguson PJ, Cirak S, Voit T, Scott MP, Axelrod JD, Gurnett C, Daoud AS, Kivity S, Neufeld MY, Mazarib A, Straussberg R, Walid S, Korczyn AD, Slusarski DC, Berkovic SF, El-Shanti HI. A homozygous mutation in human PRICKLE1 causes an autosomal-recessive progressive myoclonus epilepsy-ataxia syndrome. Am J Hum Genet 2008; 83:572-81. [PMID: 18976727 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2008.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2008] [Revised: 09/28/2008] [Accepted: 10/03/2008] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME) is a syndrome characterized by myoclonic seizures (lightning-like jerks), generalized convulsive seizures, and varying degrees of neurological decline, especially ataxia and dementia. Previously, we characterized three pedigrees of individuals with PME and ataxia, where either clinical features or linkage mapping excluded known PME loci. This report identifies a mutation in PRICKLE1 (also known as RILP for REST/NRSF interacting LIM domain protein) in all three of these pedigrees. The identified PRICKLE1 mutation blocks the PRICKLE1 and REST interaction in vitro and disrupts the normal function of PRICKLE1 in an in vivo zebrafish overexpression system. PRICKLE1 is expressed in brain regions implicated in epilepsy and ataxia in mice and humans, and, to our knowledge, is the first molecule in the noncanonical WNT signaling pathway to be directly implicated in human epilepsy.
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Shimojo M. Huntingtin regulates RE1-silencing transcription factor/neuron-restrictive silencer factor (REST/NRSF) nuclear trafficking indirectly through a complex with REST/NRSF-interacting LIM domain protein (RILP) and dynactin p150 Glued. J Biol Chem 2008; 283:34880-6. [PMID: 18922795 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m804183200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntingtin has been reported to regulate the nuclear translocation of the transcriptional repressor RE1-silencing transcription factor/neuron-restrictive silencer factor (REST/NRSF). The REST/NRSF-interacting LIM domain protein (RILP) has also been shown to regulate REST/NRSF nuclear translocation. Therefore, we were prompted to address the question of how two distinct proteins could have the same function. We initially used a yeast two-hybrid screen to look for an interaction between huntingtin and RILP. This screen identified dynactin p150(Glued) as an interacting protein. Coimmunoprecipitation of proteins in vitro expressed in a reticulocyte lysate system showed an interaction between REST/NRSF and RILP as well as between RILP and dynactin p150(Glued). Coimmunoprecipitation analysis further showed a complex containing RILP, dynactin p150(Glued), and huntingtin. Huntingtin did not interact directly with either REST/NRSF or RILP, but did interact with dynactin p150(Glued). The N-terminal fragment of wild-type huntingtin did not affect the interaction between dynactin p150(Glued) and RILP; however, mutant huntingtin weakened this interaction. We further show that HAP1 (huntingtin-associated protein-1) prevents this complex from translocating REST/NRSF to the nucleus. Thus, this study suggests that REST/NRSF, dynactin p150(Glued), huntingtin, HAP1, and RILP form a complex involved in the translocation of REST/NRSF into the nucleus and that HAP1 controls REST/NRSF cellular localization in neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahito Shimojo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0509, USA.
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Donev RM, Gray LC, Sivasankar B, Hughes TR, van den Berg CW, Morgan BP. Modulation of CD59 expression by restrictive silencer factor-derived peptides in cancer immunotherapy for neuroblastoma. Cancer Res 2008; 68:5979-87. [PMID: 18632654 PMCID: PMC2475646 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-07-6828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tumor cells escape clearance by complement by abundantly expressing CD59 and other membrane complement regulators. Existing strategies for blocking/knocking down these regulators can contribute to tumor immunoclearance in vitro; however, there are numerous difficulties restricting their use in vivo. Here, we report a new strategy for suppression of CD59 expression in neuroblastoma using peptides that target regulators of CD59 expression. We identified the neural-restrictive silencer factor (REST) as a target for modulation of CD59 expression in neuroblastoma. We next designed plasmids that encoded peptides comprising different DNA-binding domains of REST and transfected them into neuroblastoma cell lines. These peptides suppressed CD59 expression, sensitizing neuroblastoma to complement-mediated killing triggered by anti-GD2 therapeutic monoclonal antibody. These CD59-modulating peptides might be effective therapeutic adjuvants to therapeutic monoclonal antibodies used for treatment of neuroblastoma and other cancer types sharing the same mechanism for regulation of CD59 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossen M Donev
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Immunology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
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Cooper O, Sweetman D, Wagstaff L, Münsterberg A. Expression of avianprickle genes during early development and organogenesis. Dev Dyn 2008; 237:1442-8. [DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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Kim SM, Yang JW, Park MJ, Lee JK, Kim SU, Lee YS, Lee MA. Regulation of human tyrosine hydroxylase gene by neuron-restrictive silencer factor. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2006; 346:426-35. [PMID: 16764822 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.05.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2006] [Accepted: 05/17/2006] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the biosynthetic enzyme of catecholamine, is synthesized specifically in catecholaminergic neurons. Thus, it is possible that neuronal cell type-specific expression of this gene is coordinately regulated. One of the neuron-specific transcription regulators, neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF)/repressor element 1 (RE1) silencing transcription factor (REST), represses the expression of neuronal genes in non-neuronal cells. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms that control catecholaminergic neuronal expression of human TH, we initially characterized the 5' regulatory region. Previous studies have shown that a 3174 bp fragment of the human TH promoter confers specific expression to the reporter gene in dopaminergic neuron-like cell lines. Within this 5' regulatory region, three putative neuron-restrictive silencer elements (NRSE)/RE1 were identified, which bound NRSF/REST in a sequence-specific manner, as confirmed using EMSA and ChIP assays. In transient transfection assays, deletion or mutation of NRSE/RE1 elements led to a 7-fold increase in activity of the 3.2 kb TH promoter in human neural stem cells (NSCs), but had no major effects on differentiated neuron-like cells. Suppression of NRSF/REST functions with either the histone deacetylase inhibitor, trichostatin, or DN-NRSF induced TH promoter activity. Our data strongly suggest that NRSF/REST functions as a repressor of TH transcription in NSCs via a mechanism dependent on the TH NRSE/RE1 sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Min Kim
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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Su X, Gopalakrishnan V, Stearns D, Aldape K, Lang FF, Fuller G, Snyder E, Eberhart CG, Majumder S. Abnormal expression of REST/NRSF and Myc in neural stem/progenitor cells causes cerebellar tumors by blocking neuronal differentiation. Mol Cell Biol 2006; 26:1666-78. [PMID: 16478988 PMCID: PMC1430235 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.26.5.1666-1678.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma, one of the most malignant brain tumors in children, is thought to arise from undifferentiated neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs) present in the external granule layer of the cerebellum. However, the mechanism of tumorigenesis remains unknown for the majority of medulloblastomas. In this study, we found that many human medulloblastomas express significantly elevated levels of both myc oncogenes, regulators of neural progenitor proliferation, and REST/NRSF, a transcriptional repressor of neuronal differentiation genes. Previous studies have shown that neither c-Myc nor REST/NRSF alone could cause tumor formation. To determine whether c-Myc and REST/NRSF act together to cause medulloblastomas, we used a previously established cell line derived from external granule layer stem cells transduced with activated c-myc (NSC-M). These immortalized NSCs were able to differentiate into neurons in vitro. In contrast, when the cells were engineered to express a doxycycline-regulated REST/NRSF transgene (NSC-M-R), they no longer underwent terminal neuronal differentiation in vitro. When injected into intracranial locations in mice, the NSC-M cells did not form tumors either in the cerebellum or in the cerebral cortex. In contrast, the NSC-M-R cells did produce tumors in the cerebellum, the site of human medulloblastoma formation, but not when injected into the cerebral cortex. Furthermore, the NSC-M-R tumors were blocked from terminal neuronal differentiation. In addition, countering REST/NRSF function blocked the tumorigenic potential of NSC-M-R cells. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which abnormal expression of a sequence-specific DNA-binding transcriptional repressor has been shown to contribute directly to brain tumor formation. Our findings indicate that abnormal expression of REST/NRSF and Myc in NSCs causes cerebellum-specific tumors by blocking neuronal differentiation and thus maintaining the "stemness" of these cells. Furthermore, these results suggest that such a mechanism plays a role in the formation of human medulloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Su
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Mail 1006, Room S13.8136C, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Shimojo M. Characterization of the nuclear targeting signal of REST/NRSF. Neurosci Lett 2006; 398:161-6. [PMID: 16442230 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2005.12.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2005] [Revised: 11/22/2005] [Accepted: 12/29/2005] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
RE-1 silencer transcription factor (REST), also known as neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF), contains nine Cys2-His2 type zinc finger domains (ZFDs). REST/NRSF is localized to the nucleus, where it represses the transcriptional activity of a large number of neuronal genes in non-neuronal cells. It has been suggested that REST/NRSF contains a nuclear localization signal (NLS) corresponding to amino acids (512-522). However, our studies showed that REST4, a REST/NRSF splicing isoform, which contains the N-terminal 5 of 9 ZFDs, efficiently localized to the nucleus. On the other hand REST1, another REST/NRSF splicing isoform, which contains 4 of the 9 ZFDs, localized to the cytosol. In this study REST-DeltaC, which contains 8 ZFDs with the NLS (512-522) deleted, was found to localize to the nucleus in HeLa, COS and PC12 cells. Complete deletion or mutation of NLS (512-522) still permitted REST/NRSF to be localized to the nucleus in HeLa, COS and PC12 cells. In contrast REST/NRSF constructs which contain a deletion of ZFD-5 mislocalized to the cytosol. A point mutation in the zinc finger structure that disrupts its conformation remains nuclear. These data suggest that REST/NRSF contains a NLS around ZFD-5, while the putative NLS at residues 512-522 is non-functional.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahito Shimojo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Biomedical Biological Sciences Research Building, 741 Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40536-0509, USA.
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Shimojo M, Hersh LB. Characterization of the REST/NRSF-interacting LIM domain protein (RILP): localization and interaction with REST/NRSF. J Neurochem 2006; 96:1130-8. [PMID: 16417580 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03608.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We previously identified a nuclear envelope protein repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor (REST)/neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF)-interacting Lin-11, Isl-1 and Mec-3 (LIM) domain protein (RILP) that we proposed functions in the nuclear translocation of the transcriptional repressor REST/NRSF. In this study we assessed the functionality of the prenylation motif, protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation sites and nuclear localization sequences (NLSs) of RILP. [(3)H]-mevalonolactone labeled endogenous RILP, showing that RILP is indeed prenylated, while phosphorylation analysis showed that the two PKA sites are phosphorylated. Blocking RILP prenylation, mutating the NLSs or mutating the PKA phosphorylation sites caused RILP to mislocalize to the cytosol. Concurrent with this mislocalization of RILP, REST/NRSF and REST4, which are normally found in the nucleus, co-localized in the cytosol with the RILP mutants. This provides additional evidence that RILP interacts with REST/NRSF and REST4 in vivo, and is involved in the nuclear localization of REST/NRSF and REST4. Reporter gene analysis using the promoter region of the human cholinergic gene locus revealed that these RILP mutants prevented repression of the reporter gene. By trapping REST/NRSF in the cytosol, the RILP mutants prevented translocation to the nucleus where REST/NRSF binds to an RE-1/NRSE element to repress gene transcription. These results show that RILP is required for REST/NRSF nuclear targeting and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahito Shimojo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0298, USA.
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Fuller GN, Su X, Price RE, Cohen ZR, Lang FF, Sawaya R, Majumder S. Many human medulloblastoma tumors overexpress repressor element-1 silencing transcription (REST)/neuron-restrictive silencer factor, which can be functionally countered by REST-VP16. Mol Cancer Ther 2005; 4:343-9. [PMID: 15767543 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-04-0228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma, one of the most malignant pediatric brain tumors, is believed to arise from the undifferentiated external granule-layer cells in the cerebellum. It is a heterogeneous cancer, and the mechanism of tumorigenesis for the majority of types is unknown. Repressor element-1 silencing transcription/neuron-restrictive silencer factor (REST/NRSF) is a transcriptional repressor that can block transcription of a battery of neuronal differentiation genes by binding to a specific consensus DNA sequence present in their regulatory region. Previously, we found that some medulloblastoma cell lines express REST/NRSF at high levels compared with either neuronal progenitor cells or fully differentiated neurons. However, it is not known if REST/NRSF is indeed overexpressed in human medulloblastoma tumor specimens and in what frequency. Here, we did an immunohistochemical analysis of such tumor specimens using an anti-REST antibody. We show that among 21 human medulloblastoma tumors, 17 expressed REST/NRSF (6 strongly and 11 weakly). In contrast, adjacent normal cerebellum tissue sections and four of the tumor specimens did not express REST/NRSF, indicating that abnormal expression of REST/NRSF is observed in the majority of human medulloblastoma tumors. To determine whether countering REST/NRSF activity blocks tumorigenicity of medulloblastoma cells, especially in the intracranial (i.c.) environment, we found that adenovirus-mediated expression of REST-VP16, a recombinant transcription factor that can compete with REST/NRSF and activate REST/NRSF target genes instead of repressing them, blocked the i.c. tumorigenic potential of medulloblastoma cells and inhibited growth of established tumors in nude mice, suggesting that REST/NRSF may serve as a therapeutic target for medulloblastoma and that forced expression of neuronal differentiation genes in medulloblastoma cells through agents, such as REST-VP16, can interfere with their tumorigenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory N Fuller
- Brain Tumor Center, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Box 11, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Abstract
Epigenetic strategies control the orderly acquisition and maintenance of neuronal traits. A complex network of transcriptional repressors and co-repressors mediates gene specificity for these strategies. In this issue of Cell, a study by Ballas and coworkers (Ballas et al., 2005) provides insight into the early lineage commitment events during neurogenesis. This study demonstrates that regulation of the REST/NRSF transcriptional repressor plays a fundamental role in the progression of pluripotent cells to lineage-restricted neural progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria V Lunyak
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Michael G Rosenfeld
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, La Jolla, California.
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Su X, Kameoka S, Lentz S, Majumder S. Activation of REST/NRSF target genes in neural stem cells is sufficient to cause neuronal differentiation. Mol Cell Biol 2004; 24:8018-25. [PMID: 15340064 PMCID: PMC515039 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.24.18.8018-8025.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
REST/NRSF is a transcriptional repressor that acts at the terminal stage of the neuronal differentiation pathway and blocks the transcription of several differentiation genes. REST/NRSF is generally downregulated during induction of neuronal differentiation. The recombinant transcription factor REST-VP16 binds to the same DNA binding site as does REST/NRSF but functions as an activator instead of a repressor and can directly activate the transcription of REST/NRSF target genes. However, it is not known whether REST-VP16 expression is sufficient to cause formation of functional neurons from neural stem cells (NSCs). Here we show that regulated expression of REST-VP16 in a physiologically relevant NSC line growing under cycling conditions converted the cells rapidly to the mature neuronal phenotype. Furthermore, when grown in the presence of retinoic acid, REST-VP16-expressing NSCs activated their target, as well as other differentiation genes that are not their direct target, converting them to the mature neuronal phenotype and enabling them to survive in the presence of mitotic inhibitors, which is a characteristic of mature neurons. In addition, these neuronal cells were physiologically active. These results showed that direct activation of REST/NRSF target genes in NSCs with a single transgene, REST-VP16, is sufficient to cause neuronal differentiation, and the findings suggested that direct activation of genes involved in the terminal stage of differentiation may cause neuronal differentiation of NSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Su
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA
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