1
|
Hsu E, Hutchison K, Liu Y, Nicolet CM, Schreiner S, Zemke N, Farnham P. Reduction of ZFX levels decreases histone H4 acetylation and increases Pol2 pausing at target promoters. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:6850-6865. [PMID: 38726870 PMCID: PMC11229363 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The ZFX transcriptional activator binds to CpG island promoters, with a major peak at ∼200-250 bp downstream from transcription start sites. Because ZFX binds within the transcribed region, we investigated whether it regulates transcriptional elongation. We used GRO-seq to show that loss or reduction of ZFX increased Pol2 pausing at ZFX-regulated promoters. To further investigate the mechanisms by which ZFX regulates transcription, we determined regions of the protein needed for transactivation and for recruitment to the chromatin. Interestingly, although ZFX has 13 grouped zinc fingers, deletion of the first 11 fingers produces a protein that can still bind to chromatin and activate transcription. We next used TurboID-MS to detect ZFX-interacting proteins, identifying ZNF593, as well as proteins that interact with the N-terminal transactivation domain (which included histone modifying proteins), and proteins that interact with ZFX when it is bound to the chromatin (which included TAFs and other histone modifying proteins). Our studies support a model in which ZFX enhances elongation at target promoters by recruiting H4 acetylation complexes and reducing pausing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Hsu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Katherine Hutchison
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Yao Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Charles M Nicolet
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Shannon Schreiner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Nathan R Zemke
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Peggy J Farnham
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Morales-Vicente DA, Tahira AC, Woellner-Santos D, Amaral MS, Berzoti-Coelho MG, Verjovski-Almeida S. The Human Developing Cerebral Cortex Is Characterized by an Elevated De Novo Expression of Long Noncoding RNAs in Excitatory Neurons. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae123. [PMID: 38913688 PMCID: PMC11221658 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae123] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The outstanding human cognitive capacities are computed in the cerebral cortex, a mammalian-specific brain region and the place of massive biological innovation. Long noncoding RNAs have emerged as gene regulatory elements with higher evolutionary turnover than mRNAs. The many long noncoding RNAs identified in neural tissues make them candidates for molecular sources of cerebral cortex evolution and disease. Here, we characterized the genomic and cellular shifts that occurred during the evolution of the long noncoding RNA repertoire expressed in the developing cerebral cortex and explored putative roles for these long noncoding RNAs in the evolution of the human brain. Using transcriptomics and comparative genomics, we comprehensively annotated the cortical transcriptomes of humans, rhesus macaques, mice, and chickens and classified human cortical long noncoding RNAs into evolutionary groups as a function of their predicted minimal ages. Long noncoding RNA evolutionary groups showed differences in expression levels, splicing efficiencies, transposable element contents, genomic distributions, and transcription factor binding to their promoters. Furthermore, older long noncoding RNAs showed preferential expression in germinative zones, outer radial glial cells, and cortical inhibitory (GABAergic) neurons. In comparison, younger long noncoding RNAs showed preferential expression in cortical excitatory (glutamatergic) neurons, were enriched in primate and human-specific gene co-expression modules, and were dysregulated in neurodevelopmental disorders. These results suggest different evolutionary routes for older and younger cortical long noncoding RNAs, highlighting old long noncoding RNAs as a possible source of molecular evolution of conserved developmental programs; conversely, we propose that the de novo expression of primate- and human-specific young long noncoding RNAs is a putative source of molecular evolution and dysfunction of cortical excitatory neurons, warranting further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David A Morales-Vicente
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana C Tahira
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daisy Woellner-Santos
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Murilo S Amaral
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria G Berzoti-Coelho
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sergio Verjovski-Almeida
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lodewijk GA, de Geus M, Guimarães RLFP, Jacobs FMJ. Emergence of the ZNF675 Gene During Primate Evolution-Influenced Human Neurodevelopment Through Changing HES1 Autoregulation. J Comp Neurol 2024; 532:e25648. [PMID: 38958676 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25648] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated recurrent copy number variations (CNVs) in the 19p12 locus, which are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. The two genes in this locus, ZNF675 and ZNF681, arose via gene duplication in primates, and their presence in several pathological CNVs in the human population suggests that either or both of these genes are required for normal human brain development. ZNF675 and ZNF681 are members of the Krüppel-associated box zinc finger (KZNF) protein family, a class of transcriptional repressors important for epigenetic silencing of specific genomic regions. About 170 primate-specific KZNFs are present in the human genome. Although KZNFs are primarily associated with repressing retrotransposon-derived DNA, evidence is emerging that they can be co-opted for other gene regulatory processes. We show that genetic deletion of ZNF675 causes developmental defects in cortical organoids, and our data suggest that part of the observed neurodevelopmental phenotype is mediated by a gene regulatory role of ZNF675 on the promoter of the neurodevelopmental gene Hes family BHLH transcription factor 1 (HES1). We also find evidence for the recently evolved regulation of genes involved in neurological disorders, microcephalin 1 and sestrin 3. We show that ZNF675 interferes with HES1 auto-inhibition, a process essential for the maintenance of neural progenitors. As a striking example of how some KZNFs have integrated into preexisting gene expression networks, these findings suggest the emergence of ZNF675 has caused a change in the balance of HES1 autoregulation. The association of ZNF675 CNV with human developmental disorders and ZNF675-mediated regulation of neurodevelopmental genes suggests that it evolved into an important factor for human brain development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gerrald A Lodewijk
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Evolutionary Neurogenomics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Matthijs de Geus
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Evolutionary Neurogenomics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rita L F P Guimarães
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Evolutionary Neurogenomics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frank M J Jacobs
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Evolutionary Neurogenomics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lin Q, Wang X, Han T, Peng X, Zhou X. Variants in the ZNF469 gene in families with Brittle cornea syndrome and keratoconus. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27052. [PMID: 38439828 PMCID: PMC10909740 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Brittle cornea syndrome 1 (BCS1) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by corneal and sclera thinning and fragility that is caused by zinc finger protein 469 (ZNF469) gene mutation. Keratoconus is another disease related to corneal thinning. Several reports have linked ZNF469 variants and keratoconus. We recruited a four-generation BCS1 family and two keratoconus families to explore pathogenic ZNF469 variants. Methods This study included 11 members from a family with BCS1, 2 families with keratoconus, 368 sporadic keratoconus patients and 325 unrelated healthy controls. Whole exome sequencing of DNA from peripheral blood and cross species conservation analysis was used to investigate and verify ZNF469 variants. Results A new homozygous frameshift mutation c. 6727del (p.Asp2243Thr fs*8) in ZNF469 was detected in the BSC1 family. Two ZNF469 heterozygous variants g.88494671G > A (c.793G > A, p.G265S, rs754776767) were detected in keratoconus family 1 and a heterozygous missense variant g.88498262G > A (c.4384G > A, p.D1462 N, rs577890057) was found in keratoconus family 2. Based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines, rs577890057 and rs754776767 were predicted to be variants of uncertain significance. c. 6727del (p. Asp2243Thr fs*8) in ZNF469 was identified to be pathogenic. Conclusions We identified a new homozygous frameshift mutation and two heterozygous missense variations in ZNF469 in the three families. Our findings extend the spectrum of ZNF469 variants associated with keratoconus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qinghong Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200000, China
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200000, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Laser and Autostereoscopic 3D for Vision Care (20DZ2255000), Shanghai, 200000, China
- Refractive Surgery Department, Bright Eye Hospital, Shanghai, 200000, China
| | - Xuejun Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200000, China
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200000, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Laser and Autostereoscopic 3D for Vision Care (20DZ2255000), Shanghai, 200000, China
| | - Tian Han
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200000, China
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200000, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Laser and Autostereoscopic 3D for Vision Care (20DZ2255000), Shanghai, 200000, China
| | - Xiaoliao Peng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200000, China
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200000, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Laser and Autostereoscopic 3D for Vision Care (20DZ2255000), Shanghai, 200000, China
| | - Xingtao Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200000, China
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200000, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Laser and Autostereoscopic 3D for Vision Care (20DZ2255000), Shanghai, 200000, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ebrahimi S, Khosravi MA, Raz A, Karimipoor M, Parvizi P. CRISPR-Cas Technology as a Revolutionary Genome Editing tool: Mechanisms and Biomedical Applications. IRANIAN BIOMEDICAL JOURNAL 2023; 27:219-46. [PMID: 37873636 PMCID: PMC10707817 DOI: 10.61186/ibj.27.5.219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Programmable nucleases are powerful genomic tools for precise genome editing. These tools precisely recognize, remove, or change DNA at a defined site, thereby, stimulating cellular DNA repair pathways that can cause mutations or accurate replacement or deletion/insertion of a sequence. CRISPR-Cas9 system is the most potent and useful genome editing technique adapted from the defense immune system of certain bacteria and archaea against viruses and phages. In the past decade, this technology made notable progress, and at present, it has largely been used in genome manipulation to make precise gene editing in plants, animals, and human cells. In this review, we aim to explain the basic principle, mechanisms of action, and applications of this system in different areas of medicine, with emphasizing on the detection and treatment of parasitic diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Ebrahimi
- Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Molecular Medicine Department, Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Khosravi
- Molecular Medicine Department, Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbasali Raz
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morteza Karimipoor
- Molecular Medicine Department, Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parviz Parvizi
- Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wells JN, Chang NC, McCormick J, Coleman C, Ramos N, Jin B, Feschotte C. Transposable elements drive the evolution of metazoan zinc finger genes. Genome Res 2023; 33:1325-1339. [PMID: 37714714 PMCID: PMC10547256 DOI: 10.1101/gr.277966.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Cys2-His2 zinc finger genes (ZNFs) form the largest family of transcription factors in metazoans. ZNF evolution is highly dynamic and characterized by the rapid expansion and contraction of numerous subfamilies across the animal phylogeny. The forces and mechanisms underlying rapid ZNF evolution remain poorly understood, but there is growing evidence that, in tetrapods, the targeting and repression of lineage-specific transposable elements (TEs) plays a critical role in the evolution of the Krüppel-associated box ZNF (KZNF) subfamily. Currently, it is unknown whether this function and coevolutionary relationship is unique to KZNFs or is a broader feature of metazoan ZNFs. Here, we present evidence that genomic conflict with TEs has been a central driver of the diversification of ZNFs in animals. Sampling from 3221 genome assemblies, we show that the copy number of retroelements correlates with that of ZNFs across at least 750 million years of metazoan evolution. Using computational predictions, we show that ZNFs preferentially bind TEs in diverse animal species. We further investigate the largest ZNF subfamily found in cyprinid fish, which is characterized by a conserved sequence we dubbed the fish N-terminal zinc finger-associated (FiNZ) domain. Zebrafish possess approximately 700 FiNZ-ZNFs, many of which are evolving adaptively under positive selection. Like mammalian KZNFs, most zebrafish FiNZ-ZNFs are expressed at the onset of zygotic genome activation, and blocking their translation using morpholinos during early embryogenesis results in derepression of transcriptionally active TEs. Together, these data suggest that ZNF diversification has been intimately connected to TE expansion throughout animal evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan N Wells
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA;
| | - Ni-Chen Chang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA
| | - John McCormick
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA
| | - Caitlyn Coleman
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, USA
| | - Nathalie Ramos
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Bozhou Jin
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA
| | - Cédric Feschotte
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Otsuka K, Sakashita A, Maezawa S, Schultz RM, Namekawa SH. KRAB-zinc-finger proteins regulate endogenous retroviruses to sculpt germline transcriptomes and genome evolution. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.24.546405. [PMID: 37720031 PMCID: PMC10503828 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.24.546405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
As transposable elements (TEs) coevolved with the host genome, the host genome exploited TEs as functional regulatory elements. What remains largely unknown are how the activity of TEs, namely, endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), are regulated and how TEs evolved in the germline. Here we show that KRAB domain-containing zinc-finger proteins (KZFPs), which are highly expressed in mitotically dividing spermatogonia, bind to suppressed ERVs that function following entry into meiosis as active enhancers. These features are observed for independently evolved KZFPs and ERVs in mice and humans, i.e., are evolutionarily conserved in mammals. Further, we show that meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI) antagonizes the coevolution of KZFPs and ERVs in mammals. Our study uncovers a mechanism by which KZFPs regulate ERVs to sculpt germline transcriptomes. We propose that epigenetic programming in the mammalian germline during the mitosis-to-meiosis transition facilitates coevolution of KZFPs and TEs on autosomes and is antagonized by MSCI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Otsuka
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Akihiko Sakashita
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - So Maezawa
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, 278-8510, Japan
| | - Richard M. Schultz
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104 USA
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Satoshi H. Namekawa
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zuo Z, Billings T, Walker M, Petkov PM, Fordyce P, Stormo GD. On the dependent recognition of some long zinc finger proteins. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:5364-5376. [PMID: 36951113 PMCID: PMC10287918 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The human genome contains about 800 C2H2 zinc finger proteins (ZFPs), and most of them are composed of long arrays of zinc fingers. Standard ZFP recognition model asserts longer finger arrays should recognize longer DNA-binding sites. However, recent experimental efforts to identify in vivo ZFP binding sites contradict this assumption, with many exhibiting short motifs. Here we use ZFY, CTCF, ZIM3, and ZNF343 as examples to address three closely related questions: What are the reasons that impede current motif discovery methods? What are the functions of those seemingly unused fingers and how can we improve the motif discovery algorithms based on long ZFPs' biophysical properties? Using ZFY, we employed a variety of methods and find evidence for 'dependent recognition' where downstream fingers can recognize some previously undiscovered motifs only in the presence of an intact core site. For CTCF, high-throughput measurements revealed its upstream specificity profile depends on the strength of its core. Moreover, the binding strength of the upstream site modulates CTCF's sensitivity to different epigenetic modifications within the core, providing new insight into how the previously identified intellectual disability-causing and cancer-related mutant R567W disrupts upstream recognition and deregulates the epigenetic control by CTCF. Our results establish that, because of irregular motif structures, variable spacing and dependent recognition between sub-motifs, the specificities of long ZFPs are significantly underestimated, so we developed an algorithm, ModeMap, to infer the motifs and recognition models of ZIM3 and ZNF343, which facilitates high-confidence identification of specific binding sites, including repeats-derived elements. With revised concept, technique, and algorithm, we can discover the overlooked specificities and functions of those 'extra' fingers, and therefore decipher their broader roles in human biology and diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zuo
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, CA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | | | | | - Polly M Fordyce
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, CA, USA
- Stanford ChEM-H Institute, Stanford University, CA, USA
| | - Gary D Stormo
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Sheta M, Yoshida K, Kanemoto H, Calderwood SK, Eguchi T. Stress-Inducible SCAND Factors Suppress the Stress Response and Are Biomarkers for Enhanced Prognosis in Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065168. [PMID: 36982267 PMCID: PMC10049278 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The cell stress response is an essential system present in every cell for responding and adapting to environmental stimulations. A major program for stress response is the heat shock factor (HSF)–heat shock protein (HSP) system that maintains proteostasis in cells and promotes cancer progression. However, less is known about how the cell stress response is regulated by alternative transcription factors. Here, we show that the SCAN domain (SCAND)-containing transcription factors (SCAN-TFs) are involved in repressing the stress response in cancer. SCAND1 and SCAND2 are SCAND-only proteins that can hetero-oligomerize with SCAN-zinc finger transcription factors, such as MZF1(ZSCAN6), for accessing DNA and transcriptionally co-repressing target genes. We found that heat stress induced the expression of SCAND1, SCAND2, and MZF1 bound to HSP90 gene promoter regions in prostate cancer cells. Moreover, heat stress switched the transcript variants’ expression from long noncoding RNA (lncRNA-SCAND2P) to protein-coding mRNA of SCAND2, potentially by regulating alternative splicing. High expression of HSP90AA1 correlated with poorer prognoses in several cancer types, although SCAND1 and MZF1 blocked the heat shock responsiveness of HSP90AA1 in prostate cancer cells. Consistent with this, gene expression of SCAND2, SCAND1, and MZF1 was negatively correlated with HSP90 gene expression in prostate adenocarcinoma. By searching databases of patient-derived tumor samples, we found that MZF1 and SCAND2 RNA were more highly expressed in normal tissues than in tumor tissues in several cancer types. Of note, high RNA expression of SCAND2, SCAND1, and MZF1 correlated with enhanced prognoses of pancreatic cancer and head and neck cancers. Additionally, high expression of SCAND2 RNA was correlated with better prognoses of lung adenocarcinoma and sarcoma. These data suggest that the stress-inducible SCAN-TFs can function as a feedback system, suppressing excessive stress response and inhibiting cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mona Sheta
- Department of Dental Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
- Department of Cancer Biology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt
| | - Kunihiro Yoshida
- Department of Dental Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | - Hideka Kanemoto
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | - Stuart K. Calderwood
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Takanori Eguchi
- Department of Dental Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-86-235-6661
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Eguchi T, Csizmadia E, Kawai H, Sheta M, Yoshida K, Prince TL, Wegiel B, Calderwood SK. SCAND1 Reverses Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and Suppresses Prostate Cancer Growth and Migration. Cells 2022; 11:cells11243993. [PMID: 36552758 PMCID: PMC9777339 DOI: 10.3390/cells11243993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a reversible cellular program that transiently places epithelial (E) cells into pseudo-mesenchymal (M) cell states. The malignant progression and resistance of many carcinomas depend on EMT activation, partial EMT, or hybrid E/M status in neoplastic cells. EMT is activated by tumor microenvironmental TGFβ signal and EMT-inducing transcription factors, such as ZEB1/2, in tumor cells. However, reverse EMT factors are less studied. We demonstrate that prostate epithelial transcription factor SCAND1 can reverse the cancer cell mesenchymal and hybrid E/M phenotypes to a more epithelial, less invasive status and inhibit their proliferation and migration in DU-145 prostate cancer cells. SCAND1 is a SCAN domain-containing protein and hetero-oligomerizes with SCAN-zinc finger transcription factors, such as MZF1, for accessing DNA and the transcriptional co-repression of target genes. We found that SCAND1 expression correlated with maintaining epithelial features, whereas the loss of SCAND1 was associated with mesenchymal phenotypes of tumor cells. SCAND1 and MZF1 were mutually inducible and coordinately included in chromatin with hetero-chromatin protein HP1γ. The overexpression of SCAND1 reversed hybrid E/M status into an epithelial phenotype with E-cadherin and β-catenin relocation. Consistently, the co-expression analysis in TCGA PanCancer Atlas revealed that SCAND1 and MZF1 expression was negatively correlated with EMT driver genes, including CTNNB1, ZEB1, ZEB2 and TGFBRs, in prostate adenocarcinoma specimens. In addition, SCAND1 overexpression suppressed tumor cell proliferation by reducing the MAP3K-MEK-ERK signaling pathway. Of note, in a mouse tumor xenograft model, SCAND1 overexpression significantly reduced Ki-67(+) and Vimentin(+) tumor cells and inhibited migration and lymph node metastasis of prostate cancer. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed high expression of SCAND1 and MZF1 to correlate with better prognoses in pancreatic cancer and head and neck cancers, although with poorer prognosis in kidney cancer. Overall, these data suggest that SCAND1 induces expression and coordinated heterochromatin-binding of MZF1 to reverse the hybrid E/M status into an epithelial phenotype and, inhibits tumor cell proliferation, migration, and metastasis, potentially by repressing the gene expression of EMT drivers and the MAP3K-MEK-ERK signaling pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takanori Eguchi
- Department of Dental Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
- Correspondence: (T.E.); (S.K.C.); Tel.: +81-86-235-6661 (T.E.); +1-617-667-4240 (S.K.C.); Fax: +81-86-235-6664 (T.E.); +1-617-667-4245 (S.K.C.)
| | - Eva Csizmadia
- Division of Surgical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Hotaka Kawai
- Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | - Mona Sheta
- Department of Dental Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
- Department of Cancer Biology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt
| | - Kunihiro Yoshida
- Department of Dental Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | | | - Barbara Wegiel
- Division of Surgical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Stuart K. Calderwood
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Correspondence: (T.E.); (S.K.C.); Tel.: +81-86-235-6661 (T.E.); +1-617-667-4240 (S.K.C.); Fax: +81-86-235-6664 (T.E.); +1-617-667-4245 (S.K.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
PIWI-Interacting RNA (piRNA) and Epigenetic Editing in Environmental Health Sciences. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:650-660. [PMID: 35917009 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00372-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The epigenome modulates gene expression in response to environmental stimuli. Modifications to the epigenome are potentially reversible, making them a promising therapeutic approach to mitigate environmental exposure effects on human health. This review details currently available genome and epigenome editing technologies and highlights ncRNA, including piRNA, as potential tools for targeted epigenome editing. RECENT FINDINGS: Zinc finger nuclease (ZFN), transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) associated nuclease (CRISPR/Cas) research has significantly advanced genome editing technology, with broad promise in genetic research and targeted therapies. Initial epigenome-directed therapies relied on global modification and suffered from limited specificity. Adapted from current genome editing tools, zinc finger protein (ZFP), TALE, and CRISPR/nuclease-deactivated Cas (dCas) systems now confer locus-specific epigenome editing, with promising applicability in the field of environmental health sciences. However, high incidence of off-target effects and time taken for screening limit their use. FUTURE DEVELOPMENT: ncRNA serve as a versatile biomarker with well-characterized regulatory mechanisms that can easily be adapted to edit the epigenome. For instance, the transposon silencing mechanism of germline PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNA) could be engineered to specifically methylate a given gene, overcoming pitfalls of current global modifiers. Future developments in epigenome editing technologies will inform risk assessment through mechanistic investigation and serve as potential modes of intervention to mitigate environmentally induced adverse health outcomes later in life.
Collapse
|
12
|
Zhang Y, He F, Zhang Y, Dai Q, Li Q, Nan J, Miao R, Cheng B. Exploration of the regulatory relationship between KRAB-Zfp clusters and their target transposable elements via a gene editing strategy at the cluster specific linker-associated sequences by CRISPR-Cas9. Mob DNA 2022; 13:25. [PMID: 36357895 PMCID: PMC9647903 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-022-00279-x] [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: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Krüppel Associated Box-containing Zinc Finger Proteins (KRAB-ZFPs), representing the largest superfamily of transcription factors in mammals, are predicted to primarily target and repress transposable elements (TEs). It is challenging to dissect the distinct functions of these transcription regulators due to their sequence similarity and diversity, and also the complicated repetitiveness of their targeting TE sequences. RESULTS Mouse KRAB-Zfps are mainly organized into clusters genomewide. In this study, we revealed that the intra-cluster members had a close evolutionary relationship, and a similar preference for zinc finger (ZnF) usage. KRAB-Zfps were expressed in a cell type- or tissue type specific manner and they tended to be actively transcribed together with other cluster members. Further sequence analyses pointed out the linker sequences in between ZnFs were conserved, and meanwhile had distinct cluster specificity. Based on these unique characteristics of KRAB-Zfp clusters, sgRNAs were designed to edit cluster-specific linkers to abolish the functions of the targeted cluster(s). Using mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) as a model, we screened and obtained a series of sgRNAs targeting various highly expressed KRAB-Zfp clusters. The effectiveness of sgRNAs were verified in a reporter assay exclusively developed for multi-target sgRNAs and further confirmed by PCR-based analyses. Using mESC cell lines inducibly expressing Cas9 and these sgRNAs, we found that editing different KRAB-Zfp clusters resulted in the transcriptional changes of distinct categories of TEs. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, the intrinsic sequence correlations of intra-cluster KRAB-Zfp members discovered in this study suggest that the conserved cluster specific linkers played crucial roles in diversifying the tandem ZnF array and the related target specificity of KRAB-Zfps during clusters' evolution. On this basis, an effective CRISPR-Cas9 based approach against the linker sequences is developed and verified for rapidly editing KRAB-Zfp clusters to identify the regulatory correlation between the cluster members and their potential TE targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of China, 730000
| | - Fei He
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of China, 730000
| | - Yanning Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of China, 730000
| | - Qian Dai
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Development and Related Diseases of Women and Children Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China, 610041
| | - Qintong Li
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Development and Related Diseases of Women and Children Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China, 610041
| | - Jing Nan
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of China, 730000
| | - Ruidong Miao
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of China, 730000
| | - Bo Cheng
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of China, 730000.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Biotechnological Interventions in Tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum) for Drought Stress Tolerance: Achievements and Future Prospects. BIOTECH (BASEL (SWITZERLAND)) 2022; 11:biotech11040048. [PMID: 36278560 PMCID: PMC9624322 DOI: 10.3390/biotech11040048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Tomato production is severely affected by abiotic stresses (drought, flood, heat, and salt) and causes approximately 70% loss in yield depending on severity and duration of the stress. Drought is the most destructive abiotic stress and tomato is very sensitive to the drought stress, as cultivated tomato lack novel gene(s) for drought stress tolerance. Only 20% of agricultural land worldwide is irrigated, and only 14.51% of that is well-irrigated, while the rest is rain fed. This scenario makes drought very frequent, which restricts the genetically predetermined yield. Primarily, drought disturbs tomato plant physiology by altering plant–water relation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Many wild tomato species have drought tolerance gene(s); however, their exploitation is very difficult because of high genetic distance and pre- and post-transcriptional barriers for embryo development. To overcome these issues, biotechnological methods, including transgenic technology and CRISPR-Cas, are used to enhance drought tolerance in tomato. Transgenic technology permitted the exploitation of non-host gene/s. On the other hand, CRISPR-Cas9 technology facilitated the editing of host tomato gene(s) for drought stress tolerance. The present review provides updated information on biotechnological intervention in tomato for drought stress management and sustainable agriculture.
Collapse
|
14
|
Bulanenkova SS, Filyukova OB, Snezhkov EV, Akopov SB, Nikolaev LG. Suppression of the Testis-Specific Transcription of the ZBTB32 and ZNF473 Genes in Germ Cell Tumors. Acta Naturae 2022; 14:85-94. [PMID: 36348719 PMCID: PMC9611863 DOI: 10.32607/actanaturae.11620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The family of genes containing C2H2 zinc finger domains, which has more than 700 members, is one of the largest in the genome. Of particular interest are C2H2 genes with potential tissue-specific transcription, which determine the functional properties of individual cell types, including those associated with pathological processes. The aim of this work was to identify C2H2 family genes with tissue-specific transcription and analyze changes in their activity during tumor progression. To search for these genes, we used four databases containing data on gene transcription in human tissues obtained by RNA-Seq analysis. The analysis showed that, although the major part of the C2H2 family genes is transcribed in virtually all tissues, a group of genes has tissue-specific transcription, with most of the transcripts being found in the testis. After having compared all four databases, we identified nine such genes. The testis-specific transcription was confirmed for two of them, namely ZBTB32 and ZNF473, using quantitative PCR of cDNA samples from different organs. A decrease in ZBTB32 and ZNF473 transcription levels was demonstrated in germ cell tumors. The studied genes can serve as candidate markers in germ cell tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S. S. Bulanenkova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russia
| | - O. B. Filyukova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russia
| | - E. V. Snezhkov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russia
| | - S. B. Akopov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russia
| | - L. G. Nikolaev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russia
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Yang Z, Lemacon DS, Li S, Cheruiyot A, Kong L, Tan K, Cheng C, Turkay E, He D, You Z. Context-dependent pro- and anti-resection roles of ZKSCAN3 in the regulation of fork processing during replication stress. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102215. [PMID: 35779634 PMCID: PMC9352557 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Uncontrolled resection of replication forks under stress can cause genomic instability and influence cancer formation. Extensive fork resection has also been implicated in the chemosensitivity of “BReast CAncer gene” BRCA-deficient cancers. However, how fork resection is controlled in different genetic contexts and how it affects chromosomal stability and cell survival remains incompletely understood. Here, we report a novel function of the transcription repressor ZKSCAN3 in fork protection and chromosomal stability maintenance under replication stress. We show disruption of ZKSCAN3 function causes excessive resection of replication forks by the exonuclease Exo1 and homologous DNA recombination/repair protein Mre11 following fork reversal. Interestingly, in BRCA1-deficient cells, we found ZKSCAN3 actually promotes fork resection upon replication stress. We demonstrate these anti- and pro-resection roles of ZKSCAN3, consisting of a SCAN box, Kruppel-associated box, and zinc finger domain, are mediated by its SCAN box domain and do not require the Kruppel-associated box or zinc finger domains, suggesting that the transcriptional function of ZKSCAN3 is not involved. Furthermore, despite the severe impact on fork structure and chromosomal stability, depletion of ZKSCAN3 did not affect the short-term survival of BRCA1-proficient or BRCA1-deficient cells after treatment with cancer drugs hydroxyurea, PARPi, or cisplatin. Our findings reveal a unique relationship between ZKSCAN3 and BRCA1 in fork protection and add to our understanding of the relationships between replication fork protection, chromosomal instability, and chemosensitivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Yang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061 China; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Delphine Sangotokun Lemacon
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Shan Li
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Abigael Cheruiyot
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Lingzhen Kong
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ke Tan
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Chen Cheng
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ecenur Turkay
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Dalin He
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061 China
| | - Zhongsheng You
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
A novel regulatory gene promotes novel cell fate by suppressing ancestral fate in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2113701119. [PMID: 35500123 PMCID: PMC9172639 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2113701119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we demonstrate how a new cell type can arise through duplication of an ancestral cell type followed by functional divergence of the new daughter cell. Specifically, we show that stinging cells in a cnidarian (namely, a sea anemone) emerged by duplication of an ancestral neuron followed by inhibition of the RFamide neuropeptide it once secreted. This finding is evidence that stinging cells evolved from a specific subtype of neurons and suggests other neuronal subtypes may have been coopted for other novel secretory functions. Cnidocytes (i.e., stinging cells) are an unequivocally novel cell type used by cnidarians (i.e., corals, jellyfish, and their kin) to immobilize prey. Although they are known to share a common evolutionary origin with neurons, the developmental program that promoted the emergence of cnidocyte fate is not known. Using functional genomics in the sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis, we show that cnidocytes develop by suppression of neural fate in a subset of neurons expressing RFamide. We further show that a single regulatory gene, a C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factor (ZNF845), coordinates both the gain of novel (cnidocyte-specific) traits and the inhibition of ancestral (neural) traits during cnidocyte development and that this gene arose by domain shuffling in the stem cnidarian. Thus, we report a mechanism by which a truly novel regulatory gene (ZNF845) promotes the development of a truly novel cell type (cnidocyte) through duplication of an ancestral cell lineage (neuron) and inhibition of its ancestral identity (RFamide).
Collapse
|
17
|
Esposito S, D’Abrosca G, Antolak A, Pedone PV, Isernia C, Malgieri G. Host and Viral Zinc-Finger Proteins in COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073711. [PMID: 35409070 PMCID: PMC8998646 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
An unprecedented effort to tackle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has characterized the activity of the global scientific community over the last two years. Hundreds of published studies have focused on the comprehension of the immune response to the virus and on the definition of the functional role of SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Proteins containing zinc fingers, both belonging to SARS-CoV-2 or to the host, play critical roles in COVID-19 participating in antiviral defenses and regulation of viral life cycle. Differentially expressed zinc finger proteins and their distinct activities could thus be important in determining the severity of the disease and represent important targets for drug development. Therefore, we here review the mechanisms of action of host and viral zinc finger proteins in COVID-19 as a contribution to the comprehension of the disease and also highlight strategies for therapeutic developments.
Collapse
|
18
|
Petroll R, Schreiber M, Finke H, Cock JM, Gould SB, Rensing SA. Signatures of Transcription Factor Evolution and the Secondary Gain of Red Algae Complexity. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1055. [PMID: 34356071 PMCID: PMC8304369 DOI: 10.3390/genes12071055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Red algae (Rhodophyta) belong to the superphylum Archaeplastida, and are a species-rich group exhibiting diverse morphologies. Theory has it that the unicellular red algal ancestor went through a phase of genome contraction caused by adaptation to extreme environments. More recently, the classes Porphyridiophyceae, Bangiophyceae, and Florideophyceae experienced genome expansions, coinciding with an increase in morphological complexity. Transcription-associated proteins (TAPs) regulate transcription, show lineage-specific patterns, and are related to organismal complexity. To better understand red algal TAP complexity and evolution, we investigated the TAP family complement of uni- and multi-cellular red algae. We found that the TAP family complement correlates with gain of morphological complexity in the multicellular Bangiophyceae and Florideophyceae, and that abundance of the C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor family may be associated with the acquisition of morphological complexity. An expansion of heat shock transcription factors (HSF) occurred within the unicellular Cyanidiales, potentially as an adaption to extreme environmental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Romy Petroll
- Plant Cell Biology, Department of Biology, University of Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany; (R.P.); (M.S.); (H.F.); (S.B.G.)
| | - Mona Schreiber
- Plant Cell Biology, Department of Biology, University of Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany; (R.P.); (M.S.); (H.F.); (S.B.G.)
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Hermann Finke
- Plant Cell Biology, Department of Biology, University of Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany; (R.P.); (M.S.); (H.F.); (S.B.G.)
| | - J. Mark Cock
- Algal Genetics Group, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UPMC University Paris 06, CS 90074, 29688 Roscoff, France;
| | - Sven B. Gould
- Plant Cell Biology, Department of Biology, University of Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany; (R.P.); (M.S.); (H.F.); (S.B.G.)
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Stefan A. Rensing
- Plant Cell Biology, Department of Biology, University of Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany; (R.P.); (M.S.); (H.F.); (S.B.G.)
- Centre for Biological Signaling Studies (BIOSS), University of Freiburg, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Activity-dependent regulome of human GABAergic neurons reveals new patterns of gene regulation and neurological disease heritability. Nat Neurosci 2021; 24:437-448. [PMID: 33542524 PMCID: PMC7933108 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-00786-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal activity-dependent gene expression is essential for brain development. Although transcriptional and epigenetic effects of neuronal activity have been explored in mice, such an investigation is lacking in humans. Because alterations in GABAergic neuronal circuits are implicated in neurological disorders, we conducted a comprehensive activity-dependent transcriptional and epigenetic profiling of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived GABAergic neurons similar to those of the early developing striatum. We identified genes whose expression is inducible after membrane depolarization, some of which have specifically evolved in primates and/or are associated with neurological diseases, including schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We define the genome-wide profile of human neuronal activity-dependent enhancers, promoters and the transcription factors CREB and CRTC1. We found significant heritability enrichment for ASD in the inducible promoters. Our results suggest that sequence variation within activity-inducible promoters of developing human forebrain GABAergic neurons contributes to ASD risk.
Collapse
|
20
|
Ferguson DCJ, Mokim JH, Meinders M, Moody ERR, Williams TA, Cooke S, Trakarnsanga K, Daniels DE, Ferrer-Vicens I, Shoemark D, Tipgomut C, Macinnes KA, Wilson MC, Singleton BK, Frayne J. Characterization and evolutionary origin of novel C 2H 2 zinc finger protein (ZNF648) required for both erythroid and megakaryocyte differentiation in humans. Haematologica 2020; 106:2859-2873. [PMID: 33054117 PMCID: PMC8561289 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2020.256347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Human ZNF648 is a novel poly C-terminal C2H2 zinc finger protein identified amongst the most dysregulated proteins in erythroid cells differentiated from iPSC. Its nuclear localisation and structure indicate it is likely a DNA-binding protein. Using a combination of ZNF648 overexpression in an iPSC line and primary adult erythroid cells, ZNF648 knockdown in primary adult erythroid cells and megakaryocytes, comparative proteomics and transcriptomics we show that ZNF648 is required for both erythroid and megakaryocyte differentiation. Orthologues of ZNF648 were detected across Mammals, Reptilia, Actinopterygii, in some Aves, Amphibia and Coelacanthiformes suggesting the gene originated in the common ancestor of Osteichthyes (Euteleostomi or bony fish). Conservation of the C-terminal zinc finger domain is higher, with some variation in zinc finger number but a core of at least six zinc fingers conserved across all groups, with the N-terminus recognisably similar within but not between major lineages. This suggests the N-terminus of ZNF648 evolves faster than the C-terminus, however this is not due to exon-shuffling as the entire coding region of ZNF648 is within a single exon. As for other such transcription factors, the N-terminus likely carries out regulatory functions, but showed no sequence similarity to any known domains. The greater functional constraint on the zinc finger domain suggests ZNF648 binds at least some similar regions of DNA in the different organisms. However, divergence of the N-terminal region may enable differential expression, allowing adaptation of function in the different organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C. J. Ferguson
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK,*DCJF and JHM contributed equally as co-first authors
| | - Juraidah Haji Mokim
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK,*DCJF and JHM contributed equally as co-first authors
| | | | | | - Tom A. Williams
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Sarah Cooke
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Kongtana Trakarnsanga
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Deborah E. Daniels
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK,NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Red Blood Cell Products, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | | | - Chartsiam Tipgomut
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Katherine A. Macinnes
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK,NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Red Blood Cell Products, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Belinda K. Singleton
- NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Red Blood Cell Products, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK,Bristol Institute for Transfusion Sciences, National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), Bristol, UK
| | - Jan Frayne
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.; NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Red blood cell products, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
N-terminal domain of the architectural protein CTCF has similar structural organization and ability to self-association in bilaterian organisms. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2677. [PMID: 32060375 PMCID: PMC7021899 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59459-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
CTCF is the main architectural protein found in most of the examined bilaterian organisms. The cluster of the C2H2 zinc-finger domains involved in recognition of long DNA-binding motif is only part of the protein that is evolutionarily conserved, while the N-terminal domain (NTD) has different sequences. Here, we performed biophysical characterization of CTCF NTDs from various species representing all major phylogenetic clades of higher metazoans. With the exception of Drosophilides, the N-terminal domains of CTCFs show an unstructured organization and absence of folded regions in vitro. In contrast, NTDs of Drosophila melanogaster and virilis CTCFs contain unstructured folded regions that form tetramers and dimers correspondingly in vitro. Unexpectedly, most NTDs are able to self-associate in the yeast two-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation assays. These results suggest that NTDs of CTCFs might contribute to the organization of CTCF-mediated long-distance interactions and chromosomal architecture.
Collapse
|
22
|
Bruno M, Mahgoub M, Macfarlan TS. The Arms Race Between KRAB–Zinc Finger Proteins and Endogenous Retroelements and Its Impact on Mammals. Annu Rev Genet 2019; 53:393-416. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-112618-043717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Nearly half of the human genome consists of endogenous retroelements (EREs) and their genetic remnants, a small fraction of which carry the potential to propagate in the host genome, posing a threat to genome integrity and cell/organismal survival. The largest family of transcription factors in tetrapods, the Krüppel-associated box domain zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs), binds to specific EREs and represses their transcription. Since their first appearance over 400 million years ago, KRAB-ZFPs have undergone dramatic expansion and diversification in mammals, correlating with the invasions of new EREs. In this article we review our current understanding of the structure, function, and evolution of KRAB-ZFPs and discuss growing evidence that the arms race between KRAB-ZFPs and the EREs they target is a major driving force for the evolution of new traits in mammals, often accompanied by domestication of EREs themselves.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melania Bruno
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Mohamed Mahgoub
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Todd S. Macfarlan
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Volpe M, Miralto M, Gustincich S, Sanges R. ClusterScan: simple and generalistic identification of genomic clusters. Bioinformatics 2019; 34:3921-3923. [PMID: 29912285 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/bty486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Summary Studies on gene clusters proved to be an excellent source of information to understand genomes evolution and identifying specific metabolic pathways or gene families. Improvements in sequencing methods have resulted in a large increase of sequenced genomes for which cluster annotation could be performed and standardized. Currently available programs are developed to search for specific cluster types and none of them is suitable for a broad range of user-based choices. We have developed ClusterScan which allows identifying clusters of any kind of feature simply based on their genomic coordinates and user-defined categorical annotations. Availability and implementation The tool is written in Python, distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and available on Github at http://bit.ly/ClusterScan or as Docker image at sangeslab/clusterscan: latest. It is supported through a mailing-list on http://bit.ly/ClusterScanSupport. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Volpe
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Miralto
- Department of Research Infrastructures for Marine Biological Resources, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Naples, Italy
| | - Stefano Gustincich
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Italian Institute of Technologies (IIT), Genova, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Remo Sanges
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Naples, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Erdenee S, Li J, Kang Z, Xu H, Zang R, Cao X, Yang J, Cai Y, Lan X. Sheep zinc finger proteins 395 (ZNF395): insertion/deletion variations, associations with growth traits, and mRNA expression. Anim Biotechnol 2019; 31:237-244. [DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2019.1585865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarantsetseg Erdenee
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jie Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zihong Kang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hongwei Xu
- Science Experimental Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Rongxin Zang
- Science Experimental Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Xin Cao
- Science Experimental Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Jutian Yang
- Science Experimental Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Yong Cai
- Science Experimental Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Xianyong Lan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Hypoxia-inducible factors promote breast cancer stem cell specification and maintenance in response to hypoxia or cytotoxic chemotherapy. Adv Cancer Res 2019; 141:175-212. [PMID: 30691683 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2018.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Clinical studies have revealed that breast cancers contain regions of intratumoral hypoxia (reduced oxygen availability), which activates hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). The relationship between intratumoral hypoxia, distant metastasis and cancer mortality has been well established. A major mechanism by which intratumoral hypoxia contributes to disease progression is through induction of the breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) phenotype. BCSCs are a small subpopulation of cells with the capability for self-renewal. BCSCs have been implicated in resistance to chemotherapy, disease recurrence, and metastasis. In this review, we will discuss our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying HIF-dependent induction of the BCSC phenotype in response to hypoxia or chemotherapy.
Collapse
|
26
|
Sequences encoding C2H2 zinc fingers inhibit polyadenylation and mRNA export in human cells. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16995. [PMID: 30451889 PMCID: PMC6242934 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35138-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The large C2H2-Zinc Finger (C2H2-ZNF) gene family has rapidly expanded in primates through gene duplication. There is consequently considerable sequence homology between family members at both the nucleotide and amino acid level, allowing for coordinated regulation and shared functions. Here we show that multiple C2H2-ZNF mRNAs experience differential polyadenylation resulting in populations with short and long poly(A) tails. Furthermore, a significant proportion of C2H2-ZNF mRNAs are retained in the nucleus. Intriguingly, both short poly(A) tails and nuclear retention can be specified by the repeated elements that encode zinc finger motifs. These Zinc finger Coding Regions (ZCRs) appear to restrict polyadenylation of nascent RNAs and at the same time impede their export. However, the polyadenylation process is not necessary for nuclear retention of ZNF mRNAs. We propose that inefficient polyadenylation and export may allow C2H2-ZNF mRNAs to moonlight as non-coding RNAs or to be stored for later use.
Collapse
|
27
|
Harrison MC, Arning N, Kremer LPM, Ylla G, Belles X, Bornberg‐Bauer E, Huylmans AK, Jongepier E, Piulachs M, Richards S, Schal C. Expansions of key protein families in the German cockroach highlight the molecular basis of its remarkable success as a global indoor pest. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2018; 330:254-264. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark C. Harrison
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity University of Münster Münster Germany
| | - Nicolas Arning
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity University of Münster Münster Germany
| | - Lukas P. M. Kremer
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity University of Münster Münster Germany
| | - Guillem Ylla
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva CSIC‐University Pompeu Fabra Barcelona Spain
| | - Xavier Belles
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva CSIC‐University Pompeu Fabra Barcelona Spain
| | | | | | - Evelien Jongepier
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity University of Münster Münster Germany
| | | | - Stephen Richards
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Department of Human and Molecular Genetics Baylor College of Medicine Houston Texas
| | - Coby Schal
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Yuan S, Li X, Li R, Wang L, Zhang C, Chen L, Hao Q, Zhang X, Chen H, Shan Z, Yang Z, Chen S, Qiu D, Ke D, Zhou X. Genome-Wide Identification and Classification of Soybean C2H2 Zinc Finger Proteins and Their Expression Analysis in Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:126. [PMID: 29467740 PMCID: PMC5807899 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Root nodule symbiosis (RNS) is one of the most productive and economical systems for nitrogen fixation, and previous studies have shown that several nodule-specific C2H2-zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) play important roles in symbiosis establishment and nodule function. However, C2H2-ZFPs are the most widespread ZFPs in eukaryotes, and a great variation of structure and function exist among the family members. It remains largely unclear whether or not special types of C2H2-ZF genes participate in symbiosis, especially in soybean. In the present study, we performed a genome-wide survey of soybean C2H2-ZF genes, and 321 soybean C2H2-ZF genes were identified and classified into 11 clearly distinguishable subsets (Gm-t1-SF, Gm-t2-SF, Gm-1i-Q-SF, Gm-1i-M-SF, Gm-1i-Z-SF, Gm-1i-D-SF, Gm-2i-Q-SF, Gm-2i-M-SF, Gm-2i-Mix-SF, Gm-3i-SF, and Gm-4i-SF) based on the arrangements, numbers, and types of C2H2-ZF domains. Phylogenetic and gene ontology analyses were carried out to assess the conserved sequence and GO function among these subsets, and the results showed that the classification of soybean C2H2-ZFPs was reasonable. The expression profile of soybean C2H2-ZFPs in multiple tissues showed that nearly half of soybean C2H2-ZFPs within different subsets had expressions in nodules, including a clustering branch consisting of 11 Gm-1i-Q-SF genes specifically expressed in symbiotic-relative tissues. RNA-Seq was used to identify symbiosis-related soybean C2H2-ZFPs, and the expression pattern of the soybean C2H2-ZFPs in roots and nodules at different development stages showed that soybean C2H2-ZFPs mainly played roles in nodule development or nodule function rather than nodulation signal transduction, and nearly half of these genes had high expressions and/or different expression patterns during soybean nodule development, especially for the six clustering branches of genes consisting of different subsets of C2H2-ZFPs. Furthermore, the selected symbiosis-related soybean C2H2-ZFPs might function in legume-rhizobium symbiosis through regulating or interacting with other key proteins. Taken together, our findings provided useful information for the study on classification and conservative function of C2H2-ZFPs, and offered solid evidence for investigation of rhizobium symbiosis-related C2H2-ZFPs in soybean or other legumes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Songli Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China.,Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiangyong Li
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, China
| | - Rong Li
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China.,Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, China
| | - Chanjuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China.,Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Limiao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China.,Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Qingnan Hao
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China.,Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaojuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China.,Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Haifeng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China.,Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhihui Shan
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China.,Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhonglu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China.,Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuilian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China.,Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Dezhen Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China.,Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Danxia Ke
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, China
| | - Xinan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Oil Crop Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China.,Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
|
30
|
Holland PWH, Marlétaz F, Maeso I, Dunwell TL, Paps J. New genes from old: asymmetric divergence of gene duplicates and the evolution of development. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 372:rstb.2015.0480. [PMID: 27994121 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene duplications and gene losses have been frequent events in the evolution of animal genomes, with the balance between these two dynamic processes contributing to major differences in gene number between species. After gene duplication, it is common for both daughter genes to accumulate sequence change at approximately equal rates. In some cases, however, the accumulation of sequence change is highly uneven with one copy radically diverging from its paralogue. Such 'asymmetric evolution' seems commoner after tandem gene duplication than after whole-genome duplication, and can generate substantially novel genes. We describe examples of asymmetric evolution in duplicated homeobox genes of moths, molluscs and mammals, in each case generating new homeobox genes that were recruited to novel developmental roles. The prevalence of asymmetric divergence of gene duplicates has been underappreciated, in part, because the origin of highly divergent genes can be difficult to resolve using standard phylogenetic methods.This article is part of the themed issue 'Evo-devo in the genomics era, and the origins of morphological diversity'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter W H Holland
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Ferdinand Marlétaz
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.,Molecular Genetics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Ignacio Maeso
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.,Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Thomas L Dunwell
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Jordi Paps
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, UK
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
TvZNF1 is a C 2H 2 zinc finger protein of Trichomonas vaginalis. Biometals 2017; 30:861-872. [PMID: 28993928 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-017-0053-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The zinc fingers proteins (ZNF) are the largest family of DNA binding proteins and can act as transcriptional factors in eukaryotes. ZNF are implicated in activation in response to environmental stimulus by biometals such as Zn2+. Many of these proteins have the classical C2H2 zinc finger motifs (C2H2-ZNFm) of approximately 30 amino acids, where a Zn2+ ion is coordinated by two cysteine and two histidine residues. Trichomonas vaginalis is a protozoan parasite than responds to environmental changes including Zn2+. Until now has not been described any ZNF that could be involved in the regulation of genic expression of T. vaginalis. Here, we characterized in silico and experimentally an annoted ZNF (TvZNF1) from T. vaginalis and isolated the gene, tvznf1 encoding it. TvZNF1 have eight C2H2-ZNFm with residues that maybe involved in the structural stability of DNA binding motifs. In this work we confirmed the Zn2+ upregulation expression of tvznf1 gene. Recombinant TvZNF1 was able to bind to specific DNA sequences according to EMSA assay. Additionally, we demonstrated that recombinant TvZNF1 bind to MRE signature in vitro, which strongly suggests its role in transcriptional regulation, similar to the one observed for mammalian MTF-1. This result suggested a conserved mechanism of genic regulation mediated by ZNFs in T. vaginalis.
Collapse
|
32
|
Najafabadi HS, Garton M, Weirauch MT, Mnaimneh S, Yang A, Kim PM, Hughes TR. Non-base-contacting residues enable kaleidoscopic evolution of metazoan C2H2 zinc finger DNA binding. Genome Biol 2017; 18:167. [PMID: 28877740 PMCID: PMC5588721 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-017-1287-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The C2H2 zinc finger (C2H2-ZF) is the most numerous protein domain in many metazoans, but is not as frequent or diverse in other eukaryotes. The biochemical and evolutionary mechanisms that underlie the diversity of this DNA-binding domain exclusively in metazoans are, however, mostly unknown. Results Here, we show that the C2H2-ZF expansion in metazoans is facilitated by contribution of non-base-contacting residues to DNA binding energy, allowing base-contacting specificity residues to mutate without catastrophic loss of DNA binding. In contrast, C2H2-ZF DNA binding in fungi, plants, and other lineages is constrained by reliance on base-contacting residues for DNA-binding functionality. Reconstructions indicate that virtually every DNA triplet was recognized by at least one C2H2-ZF domain in the common progenitor of placental mammals, but that extant C2H2-ZF domains typically bind different sequences from these ancestral domains, with changes facilitated by non-base-contacting residues. Conclusions Our results suggest that the evolution of C2H2-ZFs in metazoans was expedited by the interaction of non-base-contacting residues with the DNA backbone. We term this phenomenon “kaleidoscopic evolution,” to reflect the diversity of both binding motifs and binding motif transitions and the facilitation of their diversification. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13059-017-1287-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hamed S Najafabadi
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. .,McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada. .,Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Michael Garton
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, and Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sanie Mnaimneh
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ally Yang
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Philip M Kim
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Timothy R Hughes
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Han H, Braunschweig U, Gonatopoulos-Pournatzis T, Weatheritt RJ, Hirsch CL, Ha KCH, Radovani E, Nabeel-Shah S, Sterne-Weiler T, Wang J, O'Hanlon D, Pan Q, Ray D, Zheng H, Vizeacoumar F, Datti A, Magomedova L, Cummins CL, Hughes TR, Greenblatt JF, Wrana JL, Moffat J, Blencowe BJ. Multilayered Control of Alternative Splicing Regulatory Networks by Transcription Factors. Mol Cell 2017; 65:539-553.e7. [PMID: 28157508 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2017.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Revised: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Networks of coordinated alternative splicing (AS) events play critical roles in development and disease. However, a comprehensive knowledge of the factors that regulate these networks is lacking. We describe a high-throughput system for systematically linking trans-acting factors to endogenous RNA regulatory events. Using this system, we identify hundreds of factors associated with diverse regulatory layers that positively or negatively control AS events linked to cell fate. Remarkably, more than one-third of the regulators are transcription factors. Further analyses of the zinc finger protein Zfp871 and BTB/POZ domain transcription factor Nacc1, which regulate neural and stem cell AS programs, respectively, reveal roles in controlling the expression of specific splicing regulators. Surprisingly, these proteins also appear to regulate target AS programs via binding RNA. Our results thus uncover a large "missing cache" of splicing regulators among annotated transcription factors, some of which dually regulate AS through direct and indirect mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Han
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | | | | | - Robert J Weatheritt
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Calley L Hirsch
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Kevin C H Ha
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Ernest Radovani
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Syed Nabeel-Shah
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | | | - Juli Wang
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Dave O'Hanlon
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Qun Pan
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Debashish Ray
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Hong Zheng
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Frederick Vizeacoumar
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Alessandro Datti
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Lilia Magomedova
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Carolyn L Cummins
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Timothy R Hughes
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Jack F Greenblatt
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Jeffrey L Wrana
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Jason Moffat
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Benjamin J Blencowe
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Montero-Mendieta S, Grabherr M, Lantz H, De la Riva I, Leonard JA, Webster MT, Vilà C. A practical guide to build de-novo assemblies for single tissues of non-model organisms: the example of a Neotropical frog. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3702. [PMID: 28879061 PMCID: PMC5582611 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is a very valuable resource to understand the evolutionary history of poorly known species. However, in organisms with large genomes, as most amphibians, WGS is still excessively challenging and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) represents a cost-effective tool to explore genome-wide variability. Non-model organisms do not usually have a reference genome and the transcriptome must be assembled de-novo. We used RNA-seq to obtain the transcriptomic profile for Oreobates cruralis, a poorly known South American direct-developing frog. In total, 550,871 transcripts were assembled, corresponding to 422,999 putative genes. Of those, we identified 23,500, 37,349, 38,120 and 45,885 genes present in the Pfam, EggNOG, KEGG and GO databases, respectively. Interestingly, our results suggested that genes related to immune system and defense mechanisms are abundant in the transcriptome of O. cruralis. We also present a pipeline to assist with pre-processing, assembling, evaluating and functionally annotating a de-novo transcriptome from RNA-seq data of non-model organisms. Our pipeline guides the inexperienced user in an intuitive way through all the necessary steps to build de-novo transcriptome assemblies using readily available software and is freely available at: https://github.com/biomendi/TRANSCRIPTOME-ASSEMBLY-PIPELINE/wiki.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Montero-Mendieta
- Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics Group, Department of Integrative Ecology, Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville, Spain
| | - Manfred Grabherr
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (BILS), Uppsala Universitet, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Henrik Lantz
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (BILS), Uppsala Universitet, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ignacio De la Riva
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jennifer A Leonard
- Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics Group, Department of Integrative Ecology, Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville, Spain
| | - Matthew T Webster
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala Universitet, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Carles Vilà
- Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics Group, Department of Integrative Ecology, Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Han M, Zou W, Chang H, Yu Y, Zhang H, Li S, Cheng H, Wei G, Chen Y, Reinke V, Xu T, Kang L. A Systematic RNAi Screen Reveals a Novel Role of a Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Protein BuGZ in Synaptic Transmission in C. elegans. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:141. [PMID: 28553202 PMCID: PMC5425591 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic vesicles (SV) store various neurotransmitters that are released at the synapse. The molecular mechanisms of biogenesis, exocytosis, and endocytosis for SV, however, remain largely elusive. In this study, using Complex Object Parametric Analysis and Sorter (COPAS) to monitor the fluorescence of synapto-pHluorin (SpH), we performed a whole-genome RNAi screen in C. elegans to identify novel genetic modulators in SV cycling. One hundred seventy six genes that up-regulating SpH fluorescence and 96 genes that down-regulating SpH fluorescence were identified after multi-round screen. Among these genes, B0035.1 (bugz-1) encodes ortholog of mammalian C2H2 zinc-finger protein BuGZ/ZNF207, which is a spindle assembly checkpoint protein essential for mitosis in human cells. Combining electrophysiology, imaging and behavioral assays, we reveal that depletion of BuGZ-1 results in defects in locomotion. We further demonstrate that BuGZ-1 promotes SV recycling by regulating the expression levels of endocytosis-related genes such as rab11.1. Therefore, we have identified a bunch of potential genetic modulators in SV cycling, and revealed an unexpected role of BuGZ-1 in regulating synaptic transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mei Han
- Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou, China.,National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China.,Department of Genetics, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT, USA
| | - Wenjuan Zou
- Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou, China
| | - Hao Chang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China.,Department of Genetics, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yong Yu
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Haining Zhang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Shitian Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou, China
| | - Hankui Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou, China
| | - Guifeng Wei
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Yan Chen
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Valerie Reinke
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of MedicineNew Haven, CT, USA
| | - Tao Xu
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Lijun Kang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Kauzlaric A, Ecco G, Cassano M, Duc J, Imbeault M, Trono D. The mouse genome displays highly dynamic populations of KRAB-zinc finger protein genes and related genetic units. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173746. [PMID: 28334004 PMCID: PMC5363842 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
KRAB-containing poly-zinc finger proteins (KZFPs) constitute the largest family of transcription factors encoded by mammalian genomes, and growing evidence indicates that they fulfill functions critical to both embryonic development and maintenance of adult homeostasis. KZFP genes underwent broad and independent waves of expansion in many higher vertebrates lineages, yet comprehensive studies of members harbored by a given species are scarce. Here we present a thorough analysis of KZFP genes and related units in the murine genome. We first identified about twice as many elements than previously annotated as either KZFP genes or pseudogenes, notably by assigning to this family an entity formerly considered as a large group of Satellite repeats. We then could delineate an organization in clusters distributed throughout the genome, with signs of recombination, translocation, duplication and seeding of new sites by retrotransposition of KZFP genes and related genetic units (KZFP/rGUs). Moreover, we harvested evidence indicating that closely related paralogs had evolved through both drifting and shifting of sequences encoding for zinc finger arrays. Finally, we could demonstrate that the KAP1-SETDB1 repressor complex tames the expression of KZFP/rGUs within clusters, yet that the primary targets of this regulation are not the KZFP/rGUs themselves but enhancers contained in neighboring endogenous retroelements and that, underneath, KZFPs conserve highly individualized patterns of expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Kauzlaric
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gabriela Ecco
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marco Cassano
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Duc
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michael Imbeault
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Didier Trono
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Murphy KE, Shylo NA, Alexander KA, Churchill AJ, Copperman C, García-García MJ. The Transcriptional Repressive Activity of KRAB Zinc Finger Proteins Does Not Correlate with Their Ability to Recruit TRIM28. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0163555. [PMID: 27658112 PMCID: PMC5033580 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
KRAB domain Zinc finger proteins are one of the most abundant families of transcriptional regulators in higher vertebrates. The prevailing view is that KRAB domain proteins function as potent transcriptional repressors by recruiting TRIM28 and promoting heterochromatin spreading. However, the extent to which all KRAB domain proteins are TRIM28-dependent transcriptional repressors is currently unclear. Our studies on mouse ZFP568 revealed that TRIM28 recruitment by KRAB domain proteins is not sufficient to warrant transcriptional repressive activity. By using luciferase reporter assays and yeast two-hybrid experiments, we tested the ability of ZFP568 and other mouse KRAB domain proteins to repress transcription and bind TRIM28. We found that some mouse KRAB domain proteins are poor transcriptional repressors despite their ability to recruit TRIM28, while others showed strong KRAB-dependent transcriptional repression, but no TRIM28 binding. Together, our results show that the transcriptional repressive activity of KRAB-ZNF proteins does not correlate with their ability to recruit TRIM28, and provide evidence that KRAB domains can regulate transcription in a TRIM28-independent fashion. Our findings challenge the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms used by KRAB domain proteins to control gene expression and highlight that a high percentage of KRAB domain proteins in the mouse genome differ from the consensus KRAB sequence at amino acid residues that are critical for TRIM28 binding and/or repressive activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin E. Murphy
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - Natalia A. Shylo
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - Katherine A. Alexander
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - Angela J. Churchill
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - Cecilia Copperman
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - María J. García-García
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Cavadas MAS, Mesnieres M, Crifo B, Manresa MC, Selfridge AC, Keogh CE, Fabian Z, Scholz CC, Nolan KA, Rocha LMA, Tambuwala MM, Brown S, Wdowicz A, Corbett D, Murphy KJ, Godson C, Cummins EP, Taylor CT, Cheong A. REST is a hypoxia-responsive transcriptional repressor. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31355. [PMID: 27531581 PMCID: PMC4987654 DOI: 10.1038/srep31355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular exposure to hypoxia results in altered gene expression in a range of physiologic and pathophysiologic states. Discrete cohorts of genes can be either up- or down-regulated in response to hypoxia. While the Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF) is the primary driver of hypoxia-induced adaptive gene expression, less is known about the signalling mechanisms regulating hypoxia-dependent gene repression. Using RNA-seq, we demonstrate that equivalent numbers of genes are induced and repressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. We demonstrate that nuclear localization of the Repressor Element 1-Silencing Transcription factor (REST) is induced in hypoxia and that REST is responsible for regulating approximately 20% of the hypoxia-repressed genes. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays we demonstrate that REST-dependent gene repression is at least in part mediated by direct binding to the promoters of target genes. Based on these data, we propose that REST is a key mediator of gene repression in hypoxia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A S Cavadas
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.,Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.,Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Marion Mesnieres
- Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Bianca Crifo
- Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Mario C Manresa
- Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Andrew C Selfridge
- Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Ciara E Keogh
- Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Zsolt Fabian
- Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Carsten C Scholz
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.,Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.,Institute of Physiology and Zurich Centre for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Karen A Nolan
- Institute of Physiology and Zurich Centre for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Diabetes Complications Research Centre, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Liliane M A Rocha
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Murtaza M Tambuwala
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Stuart Brown
- Center for Health Informatics and Bioinformatics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Anita Wdowicz
- Neurotherapeutics Research Group, UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Danielle Corbett
- Neurotherapeutics Research Group, UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Keith J Murphy
- Neurotherapeutics Research Group, UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Catherine Godson
- Diabetes Complications Research Centre, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Eoin P Cummins
- Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Cormac T Taylor
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.,Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Alex Cheong
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.,Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.,Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Carballar-Lejarazú R, Brennock P, James AA. Suppressor of hairy-wing, modifier of mdg4 and centrosomal protein of 190 gene orthologues of the gypsy insulator complex in the malaria mosquito, Anopheles stephensi. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 25:460-469. [PMID: 27110891 PMCID: PMC4935592 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
DNA insulators organize independent gene regulatory domains and can regulate interactions amongst promoter and enhancer elements. They have the potential to be important in genome enhancing and editing technologies because they can mitigate chromosomal position effects on transgenes. The orthologous genes of the Anopheles stephensi putative gypsy-like insulator protein complex were identified and expression characteristics studied. These genes encode polypeptides with all the expected protein domains (Cysteine 2 Histidine 2 (C2H2) zinc fingers and/or a bric-a-brac/poxvirus and zinc finger). The mosquito gypsy transcripts are expressed constitutively and are upregulated in ovaries of blood-fed females. We have uncovered significant experimental evidence that the gypsy insulator protein complex is widespread in vector mosquitoes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Carballar-Lejarazú
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - P Brennock
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - A A James
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Blitz IL, Paraiso KD, Patrushev I, Chiu WTY, Cho KWY, Gilchrist MJ. A catalog of Xenopus tropicalis transcription factors and their regional expression in the early gastrula stage embryo. Dev Biol 2016; 426:409-417. [PMID: 27475627 PMCID: PMC5596316 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) involve highly combinatorial interactions between transcription factors and short sequence motifs in cis-regulatory modules of target genes to control cellular phenotypes. The GRNs specifying most cell types are largely unknown and are the subject of wide interest. A catalog of transcription factors is a valuable tool toward obtaining a deeper understanding of the role of these critical effectors in any biological setting. Here we present a comprehensive catalog of the transcription factors for the diploid frog Xenopus tropicalis. We identify 1235 genes encoding DNA-binding transcription factors, comparable to the numbers found in typical mammalian species. In detail, the repertoire of X. tropicalis transcription factor genes is nearly identical to human and mouse, with the exception of zinc finger family members, and a small number of species/lineage-specific gene duplications and losses relative to the mammalian repertoires. We applied this resource to the identification of transcription factors differentially expressed in the early gastrula stage embryo. We find transcription factor enrichment in Spemann's organizer, the ventral mesoderm, ectoderm and endoderm, and report 218 TFs that show regionalized expression patterns at this stage. Many of these have not been previously reported as expressed in the early embryo, suggesting thus far unappreciated roles for many transcription factors in the GRNs regulating early development. We expect our transcription factor catalog will facilitate myriad studies using Xenopus as a model system to understand basic biology and human disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ira L Blitz
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, United States.
| | - Kitt D Paraiso
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, United States
| | - Ilya Patrushev
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - William T Y Chiu
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, United States
| | - Ken W Y Cho
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, United States.
| | - Michael J Gilchrist
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Collinearity of homoeologous group 3 chromosomes in the genus Hordeum and Secale cereale as revealed by 3H-derived FISH analysis. Chromosome Res 2016; 24:231-42. [DOI: 10.1007/s10577-016-9518-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Revised: 01/31/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
|
42
|
Fine EJ, Cradick TJ, Bao G. Strategies to Determine Off-Target Effects of Engineered Nucleases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3509-3_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
43
|
REST mediates resolution of HIF-dependent gene expression in prolonged hypoxia. Sci Rep 2015; 5:17851. [PMID: 26647819 PMCID: PMC4673454 DOI: 10.1038/srep17851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a key regulator of the cellular response to hypoxia which promotes oxygen delivery and metabolic adaptation to oxygen deprivation. However, the degree and duration of HIF-1α expression in hypoxia must be carefully balanced within cells in order to avoid unwanted side effects associated with excessive activity. The expression of HIF-1α mRNA is suppressed in prolonged hypoxia, suggesting that the control of HIF1A gene transcription is tightly regulated by negative feedback mechanisms. Little is known about the resolution of the HIF-1α protein response and the suppression of HIF-1α mRNA in prolonged hypoxia. Here, we demonstrate that the Repressor Element 1-Silencing Transcription factor (REST) binds to the HIF-1α promoter in a hypoxia-dependent manner. Knockdown of REST using RNAi increases the expression of HIF-1α mRNA, protein and transcriptional activity. Furthermore REST knockdown increases glucose consumption and lactate production in a HIF-1α- (but not HIF-2α-) dependent manner. Finally, REST promotes the resolution of HIF-1α protein expression in prolonged hypoxia. In conclusion, we hypothesize that REST represses transcription of HIF-1α in prolonged hypoxia, thus contributing to the resolution of the HIF-1α response.
Collapse
|
44
|
The ZNF304-integrin axis protects against anoikis in cancer. Nat Commun 2015; 6:7351. [PMID: 26081979 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is a highly metastatic disease, but no effective strategies to target this process are currently available. Here, an integrative computational analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas OC data set and experimental validation identifies a zinc finger transcription factor ZNF304 associated with OC metastasis. High tumoral ZNF304 expression is associated with poor overall survival in OC patients. Through reverse phase protein array analysis, we demonstrate that ZNF304 promotes multiple proto-oncogenic pathways important for cell survival, migration and invasion. ZNF304 transcriptionally regulates β1 integrin, which subsequently regulates Src/focal adhesion kinase and paxillin and prevents anoikis. In vivo delivery of ZNF304 siRNA by a dual assembly nanoparticle leads to sustained gene silencing for 14 days, increased anoikis and reduced tumour growth in orthotopic mouse models of OC. Taken together, ZNF304 is a transcriptional regulator of β1 integrin, promotes cancer cell survival and protects against anoikis in OC.
Collapse
|
45
|
Melo JB, Estevinho A, Saraiva J, Ramos L, Carreira IM. Cutis Aplasia as a clinical hallmark for the syndrome associated with 19q13.11 deletion: the possible role for UBA2 gene. Mol Cytogenet 2015; 8:21. [PMID: 25883683 PMCID: PMC4399573 DOI: 10.1186/s13039-015-0123-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wide genome screening through array comparative genomic hybridization made possible the recognition of the novel 19q13.11 deletion syndrome. There are very few cases reported with this deletion, but clinically this condition seems to be recognizable by pre and postnatal growth retardation, microcephaly, developmental delay/intellectual disabilities, speech disturbance, hypospadias (in males) and signs of ectodermal dysplasia and cutis aplasia over the posterior occiput. RESULTS Using oligoarray CGH, a 4.6 Mb deletion in 19q13.11q13.12 was detected in a 23 year old female patient that presented clinical features previously associated with 19q13.11 deletion. CONCLUSIONS Our work reinforces the idea that a region encompassing four zinc finger genes is likely to be responsible for the syndrome, and that the difference in minor clinical manifestation depends on the genes present outside the minimal overlapping region proposed for this syndrome. We also review all cases described in the literature and discuss the correlation between haploinsufficiency of UBA2 gene and cutis aplasia present in the majority of the patients reported, and its importance as a clinical hallmark of 19q13.11 deletion syndrome, when associated with more common features like developmental delay, microcephaly, speech disturbance and hypospadias in males.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joana B Melo
- Cytogenetics and Genomics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal ; CIMAGO - Center of Investigation on Environment Genetics and Oncobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal ; CNC - IBILI - Center of Neurosciences - Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Estevinho
- Cytogenetics and Genomics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal ; CIMAGO - Center of Investigation on Environment Genetics and Oncobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jorge Saraiva
- Medical Genetics Unit, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal ; University Clinic of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Lina Ramos
- Medical Genetics Unit, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Isabel M Carreira
- Cytogenetics and Genomics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal ; CIMAGO - Center of Investigation on Environment Genetics and Oncobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal ; CNC - IBILI - Center of Neurosciences - Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Wingender E, Schoeps T, Haubrock M, Dönitz J. TFClass: a classification of human transcription factors and their rodent orthologs. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 43:D97-102. [PMID: 25361979 PMCID: PMC4383905 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku1064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
TFClass aims at classifying eukaryotic transcription factors (TFs) according to their DNA-binding domains (DBDs). For this, a classification schema comprising four generic levels (superclass, class, family and subfamily) was defined that could accommodate all known DNA-binding human TFs. They were assigned to their (sub-)families as instances at two different levels, the corresponding TF genes and individual gene products (protein isoforms). In the present version, all mouse and rat orthologs have been linked to the human TFs, and the mouse orthologs have been arranged in an independent ontology. Many TFs were assigned with typical DNA-binding patterns and positional weight matrices derived from high-throughput in-vitro binding studies. Predicted TF binding sites from human gene upstream sequences are now also attached to each human TF whenever a PWM was available for this factor or one of his paralogs. TFClass is freely available at http://tfclass.bioinf.med.uni-goettingen.de/ through a web interface and for download in OBO format.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Wingender
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg August University, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany geneXplain GmbH, D-38302 Wolfenbüttel, Germany
| | - Torsten Schoeps
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg August University, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Martin Haubrock
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg August University, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Dönitz
- Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, Georg August University, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Tao R, Cousijn H, Jaffe AE, Burnet PWJ, Edwards F, Eastwood SL, Shin JH, Lane TA, Walker MA, Maher BJ, Weinberger DR, Harrison PJ, Hyde TM, Kleinman JE. Expression of ZNF804A in human brain and alterations in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder: a novel transcript fetally regulated by the psychosis risk variant rs1344706. JAMA Psychiatry 2014; 71:1112-20. [PMID: 25162540 PMCID: PMC5894803 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.1079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The single-nucleotide polymorphism rs1344706 in the zinc finger protein 804A gene (ZNF804A) shows genome-wide association with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Little is known regarding the expression of ZNF804A and the functionality of rs1344706. OBJECTIVES To characterize ZNF804A expression in human brain and to investigate how it changes across the life span and how it is affected by rs1344706, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Molecular and immunochemical methods were used to study ZNF804A messenger RNA (mRNA) and ZNF804A protein, respectively. ZNF804A transcripts were investigated using next-generation sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-based methods, and ZNF804A protein was investigated using Western blots and immunohistochemistry. Samples of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and inferior parietal lobe tissue were interrogated from 697 participants between 14 weeks' gestational age and age 85 years, including patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Quantitative measurements of ZNF804A mRNA and immunoreactivity, and the effect of diagnosis and rs1344706 genotype. RESULTS ZNF804A was expressed across the life span, with highest expression prenatally. An abundant and developmentally regulated truncated ZNF804A transcript was identified, missing exons 1 and 2 (ZNF804AE3E4) and predicted to encode a protein lacking the zinc finger domain. rs1344706 influenced expression of ZNF804AE3E4 mRNA in fetal brain (P = .02). In contrast, full-length ZNF804A showed no association with genotype (P > .05). ZNF804AE3E4 mRNA expression was decreased in patients with schizophrenia (P = .006) and increased in those with major depressive disorder (P < .001), and there was a genotype-by-diagnosis interaction in bipolar disorder (P = .002). ZNF804A immunoreactivity was detected in fetal and adult human cerebral cortex. It was localized primarily to pyramidal neurons, with cytoplasmic as well as dendritic and nuclear staining. No differences in ZNF804A-immunoreactive neurons were seen in schizophrenia or related to rs1344706 (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE rs1344706 influences the expression of ZNF804AE3E4, a novel splice variant. The effect is limited to fetal brain and to this isoform. It may be part of the mechanism by which allelic variation in ZNF804A affects risk of psychosis. ZNF804A is translated in human brain, where its functions may extend beyond its predicted role as a transcription factor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ran Tao
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Helena Cousijn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew E. Jaffe
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Philip W J Burnet
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Freya Edwards
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sharon L Eastwood
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joo Heon Shin
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Tracy A Lane
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mary A Walker
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Brady J Maher
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Daniel R Weinberger
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Paul J Harrison
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas M Hyde
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Joel E Kleinman
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Grimmer MR, Stolzenburg S, Ford E, Lister R, Blancafort P, Farnham PJ. Analysis of an artificial zinc finger epigenetic modulator: widespread binding but limited regulation. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:10856-68. [PMID: 25122745 PMCID: PMC4176344 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial transcription factors (ATFs) and genomic nucleases based on a DNA binding platform consisting of multiple zinc finger domains are currently being developed for clinical applications. However, no genome-wide investigations into their binding specificity have been performed. We have created six-finger ATFs to target two different 18 nt regions of the human SOX2 promoter; each ATF is constructed such that it contains or lacks a super KRAB domain (SKD) that interacts with a complex containing repressive histone methyltransferases. ChIP-seq analysis of the effector-free ATFs in MCF7 breast cancer cells identified thousands of binding sites, mostly in promoter regions; the addition of an SKD domain increased the number of binding sites ∼5-fold, with a majority of the new sites located outside of promoters. De novo motif analyses suggest that the lack of binding specificity is due to subsets of the finger domains being used for genomic interactions. Although the ATFs display widespread binding, few genes showed expression differences; genes repressed by the ATF-SKD have stronger binding sites and are more enriched for a 12 nt motif. Interestingly, epigenetic analyses indicate that the transcriptional repression caused by the ATF-SKD is not due to changes in active histone modifications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Grimmer
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA Integrated Genetics and Genomics, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Sabine Stolzenburg
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, M309, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Ethan Ford
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Ryan Lister
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Pilar Blancafort
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, M309, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia Cancer Epigenetics Group, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, WA 6008, Australia
| | - Peggy J Farnham
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Lechner J, Porter LF, Rice A, Vitart V, Armstrong DJ, Schorderet DF, Munier FL, Wright AF, Inglehearn CF, Black GC, Simpson DA, Manson F, Willoughby CE. Enrichment of pathogenic alleles in the brittle cornea gene, ZNF469, in keratoconus. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 23:5527-35. [PMID: 24895405 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Keratoconus, a common inherited ocular disorder resulting in progressive corneal thinning, is the leading indication for corneal transplantation in the developed world. Genome-wide association studies have identified common SNPs 100 kb upstream of ZNF469 strongly associated with corneal thickness. Homozygous mutations in ZNF469 and PR domain-containing protein 5 (PRDM5) genes result in brittle cornea syndrome (BCS) Types 1 and 2, respectively. BCS is an autosomal recessive generalized connective tissue disorder associated with extreme corneal thinning and a high risk of corneal rupture. Some individuals with heterozygous PRDM5 mutations demonstrate a carrier ocular phenotype, which includes a mildly reduced corneal thickness, keratoconus and blue sclera. We hypothesized that heterozygous variants in PRDM5 and ZNF469 predispose to the development of isolated keratoconus. We found a significant enrichment of potentially pathologic heterozygous alleles in ZNF469 associated with the development of keratoconus (P = 0.00102) resulting in a relative risk of 12.0. This enrichment of rare potentially pathogenic alleles in ZNF469 in 12.5% of keratoconus patients represents a significant mutational load and highlights ZNF469 as the most significant genetic factor responsible for keratoconus identified to date.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judith Lechner
- Centre for Vision and Vascular Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK
| | - Louise F Porter
- Institute of Human Development, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M13 9WU, UK
| | - Aine Rice
- Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, St. James's University Hospital, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Veronique Vitart
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - David J Armstrong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK
| | - Daniel F Schorderet
- IRO - Institute for Research in Ophthalmology, Sion, Switzerland Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Francis L Munier
- IRO - Institute for Research in Ophthalmology, Sion, Switzerland Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alan F Wright
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Chris F Inglehearn
- Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, St. James's University Hospital, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Graeme C Black
- Institute of Human Development, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M13 9WU, UK
| | - David A Simpson
- Centre for Vision and Vascular Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK
| | - Forbes Manson
- Institute of Human Development, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M13 9WU, UK
| | - Colin E Willoughby
- Department of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Na JK, Wang J, Ming R. Accumulation of interspersed and sex-specific repeats in the non-recombining region of papaya sex chromosomes. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:335. [PMID: 24885930 PMCID: PMC4035066 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The papaya Y chromosome has undergone a degenerative expansion from its ancestral autosome, as a consequence of recombination suppression in the sex determining region of the sex chromosomes. The non-recombining feature led to the accumulation of repetitive sequences in the male- or hermaphrodite-specific regions of the Y or the Yh chromosome (MSY or HSY). Therefore, repeat composition and distribution in the sex determining region of papaya sex chromosomes would be informative to understand how these repetitive sequences might be involved in the early stages of sex chromosome evolution. Results Detailed composition of interspersed, sex-specific, and tandem repeats was analyzed from 8.1 megabases (Mb) HSY and 5.3 Mb corresponding X chromosomal regions. Approximately 77% of the HSY and 64% of the corresponding X region were occupied by repetitive sequences. Ty3-gypsy retrotransposons were the most abundant interspersed repeats in both regions. Comparative analysis of repetitive sequences between the sex determining region of papaya X chromosome and orthologous autosomal sequences of Vasconcellea monoica, a close relative of papaya lacking sex chromosomes, revealed distinctive differences in the accumulation of Ty3-Gypsy, suggesting that the evolution of the papaya sex determining region may accompany Ty3-Gypsy element accumulation. In total, 21 sex-specific repeats were identified from the sex determining region; 20 from the HSY and one from the X. Interestingly, most HSY-specific repeats were detected in two regions where the HSY expansion occurred, suggesting that the HSY expansion may result in the accumulation of sex-specific repeats or that HSY-specific repeats might play an important role in the HSY expansion. The analysis of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) revealed that longer SSRs were less abundant in the papaya sex determining region than the other chromosomal regions. Conclusion Major repetitive elements were Ty3-gypsy retrotransposons in both the HSY and the corresponding X. Accumulation of Ty3-Gypsy retrotransposons in the sex determining region of papaya X chromosome was significantly higher than that in the corresponding region of V. monoica, suggesting that Ty3-Gypsy could be crucial for the expansion and evolution of the sex determining region in papaya. Most sex-specific repeats were located in the two HSY expansion regions. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-335) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ray Ming
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| |
Collapse
|