1
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Beacon TH, Davie JR. Chicken Erythrocyte: Epigenomic Regulation of Gene Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098287. [PMID: 37175991 PMCID: PMC10179511 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The chicken genome is one-third the size of the human genome and has a similarity of sixty percent when it comes to gene content. Harboring similar genome sequences, chickens' gene arrangement is closer to the human genomic organization than it is to rodents. Chickens have been used as model organisms to study evolution, epigenome, and diseases. The chicken nucleated erythrocyte's physiological function is to carry oxygen to the tissues and remove carbon dioxide. The erythrocyte also supports the innate immune response in protecting the chicken from pathogens. Among the highly studied aspects in the field of epigenetics are modifications of DNA, histones, and their variants. In understanding the organization of transcriptionally active chromatin, studies on the chicken nucleated erythrocyte have been important. Through the application of a variety of epigenomic approaches, we and others have determined the chromatin structure of expressed/poised genes involved in the physiological functions of the erythrocyte. As the chicken erythrocyte has a nucleus and is readily isolated from the animal, the chicken erythrocyte epigenome has been studied as a biomarker of an animal's long-term exposure to stress. In this review, epigenomic features that allow erythroid gene expression in a highly repressive chromatin background are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasnim H Beacon
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - James R Davie
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
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2
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Wang K, Hu H, Tian Y, Li J, Scheben A, Zhang C, Li Y, Wu J, Yang L, Fan X, Sun G, Li D, Zhang Y, Han R, Jiang R, Huang H, Yan F, Wang Y, Li Z, Li G, Liu X, Li W, Edwards D, Kang X. The chicken pan-genome reveals gene content variation and a promoter region deletion in IGF2BP1 affecting body size. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:5066-5081. [PMID: 34329477 PMCID: PMC8557422 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Domestication and breeding have reshaped the genomic architecture of chicken, but the retention and loss of genomic elements during these evolutionary processes remain unclear. We present the first chicken pan-genome constructed using 664 individuals, which identified an additional ∼66.5 Mb sequences that are absent from the reference genome (GRCg6a). The constructed pan-genome encoded 20,491 predicated protein-coding genes, of which higher expression level are observed in conserved genes relative to dispensable genes. Presence/absence variation (PAV) analyses demonstrated that gene PAV in chicken was shaped by selection, genetic drift, and hybridization. PAV-based GWAS identified numerous candidate mutations related to growth, carcass composition, meat quality, or physiological traits. Among them, a deletion in the promoter region of IGF2BP1 affecting chicken body size is reported, which is supported by functional studies and extra samples. This is the first time to report the causal variant of chicken body size QTL located at chromosome 27 which was repeatedly reported. Therefore, the chicken pan-genome is a useful resource for biological discovery and breeding. It improves our understanding of chicken genome diversity and provides materials to unveil the evolution history of chicken domestication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejun Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Haifei Hu
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009 WA, Australia
| | - Yadong Tian
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Jingyi Li
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070 Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Armin Scheben
- Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Chenxi Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Yiyi Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Junfeng Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Lan Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Xuewei Fan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Guirong Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Donghua Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Yanhua Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Ruili Han
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Ruirui Jiang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Hetian Huang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Fengbin Yan
- Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Yanbin Wang
- Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Zhuanjian Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Guoxi Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Xiaojun Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Wenting Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - David Edwards
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009 WA, Australia
| | - Xiangtao Kang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.,Henan Key laboratory for innovation and utilization of chicken germplasm resources,Zhengzhou, 450046, China
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3
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Abstract
Identification of promoter sequences in the eukaryotic genome, by computer methods, is an important task of bioinformatics. However, this problem has not been solved since the best algorithms have a false positive probability of 10−3–10−4 per nucleotide. As a result of full genome analysis, there may be more false positives than annotated gene promoters. The probability of a false positive should be reduced to 10−6–10−8 to reduce the number of false positives and increase the reliability of the prediction. The method for multi alignment of the promoter sequences was developed. Then, mathematical methods were developed for calculation of the statistically important classes of the promoter sequences. Five promoter classes, from the rice genome, were created. We developed promoter classes to search for potential promoter sequences in the rice genome with a false positive number less than 10−8 per nucleotide. Five classes of promoter sequences contain 1740, 222, 199, 167 and 130 promoters, respectively. A total of 145,277 potential promoter sequences (PPSs) were identified. Of these, 18,563 are promoters of known genes, 87,233 PPSs intersect with transposable elements, and 37,390 PPSs were found in previously unannotated sequences. The number of false positives for a randomly mixed rice genome is less than 10−8 per nucleotide. The method developed for detecting PPSs was compared with some previously used approaches. The developed mathematical method can be used to search for genes, transposable elements, and transcript start sites in eukaryotic genomes.
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Abstract
The chicken model organism has advanced the areas of developmental biology, virology, immunology, oncology, epigenetic regulation of gene expression, conservation biology, and genomics of domestication. Further, the chicken model organism has aided in our understanding of human disease. Through the recent advances in high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic tools, researchers have successfully identified sequences in the chicken genome that have human orthologs, improving mammalian genome annotation. In this review, we highlight the importance of chicken as an animal model in basic and pre-clinical research. We will present the importance of chicken in poultry epigenetics and in genomic studies that trace back to their ancestor, the last link between human and chicken in the tree of life. There are still many genes of unknown function in the chicken genome yet to be characterized. By taking advantage of recent sequencing technologies, it is possible to gain further insight into the chicken epigenome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasnim H Beacon
- Research Institute in Oncology and Hematology, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
| | - James R Davie
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
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5
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Beacon TH, Xu W, Davie JR. Genomic landscape of transcriptionally active histone arginine methylation marks, H3R2me2s and H4R3me2a, relative to nucleosome depleted regions. Gene 2020; 742:144593. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.144593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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6
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Jahan S, Beacon TH, Xu W, Davie JR. Atypical chromatin structure of immune-related genes expressed in chicken erythrocytes. Biochem Cell Biol 2020; 98:171-177. [DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2019-0107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The major biological role of red blood cells is to carry oxygen to the tissues in the body. However, another role of the erythroid cell is to participate in the immune response. Mature erythrocytes from chickens express Toll-like receptors and several cytokines in response to stimulation of the immune system. We previously reported the application of a biochemical fractionation protocol to isolate highly enriched transcribed DNA from polychromatic erythrocytes from chickens. In conjunction with next-generation DNA, RNA sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation-DNA sequencing, and formaldehyde-assisted isolation of regulatory elements (FAIRE) sequencing, we identified the active chromosomal compartments and determined their structural signatures in relation to expression levels. Here, we present the detailed chromatin characteristics of erythroid genes participating in the innate immune response. Our studies revealed an atypical chromatin structure for several genes coding for Toll-like receptors, interleukins, and interferon regulatory factors. The body of these genes had nucleosome-free regions intermingled with nucleosomes modified with H3K4me3 and H3K27ac, suggesting a dynamic unstable chromatin structure. We further show that human genes involved in cell identity have gene bodies with the same chromatin-instability features as the chicken polychromatic erythrocyte genes participating in the innate immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanzida Jahan
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Tasnim H. Beacon
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Wayne Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - James R. Davie
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
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McLain AT, Faulk C. The evolution of CpG density and lifespan in conserved primate and mammalian promoters. Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 10:561-572. [PMID: 29661983 PMCID: PMC5940106 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Gene promoters are evolutionarily conserved across holozoans and enriched in CpG sites, the target for DNA methylation. As animals age, the epigenetic pattern of DNA methylation degrades, with highly methylated CpG sites gradually becoming demethylated while CpG islands increase in methylation. Across vertebrates, aging is a trait that varies among species. We used this variation to determine whether promoter CpG density correlates with species’ maximum lifespan. Human promoter sequences were used to identify conserved regions in 131 mammals and a subset of 28 primate genomes. We identified approximately 1000 gene promoters (5% of the total), that significantly correlated CpG density with lifespan. The correlations were performed via the phylogenetic least squares method to account for trait similarity by common descent using phylogenetic branch lengths. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed no significantly enriched pathways or processes, consistent with the hypothesis that aging is not under positive selection. However, within both mammals and primates, 95% of the promoters showed a positive correlation between increasing CpG density and species lifespan, and two thirds were shared between the primate subset and mammalian datasets. Thus, these genes may require greater buffering capacity against age-related dysregulation of DNA methylation in longer-lived species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam T McLain
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Utica, NY 13502, USA
| | - Christopher Faulk
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Minnesota, College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
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8
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Wei K, Ma L, Zhang T. Characterization of gene promoters in pig: conservative elements, regulatory motifs and evolutionary trend. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7204. [PMID: 31275764 PMCID: PMC6598670 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
It is vital to understand the conservation and evolution of gene promoter sequences in order to understand environmental adaptation. The level of promoter conservation varies greatly between housekeeping (HK) and tissue-specific (TS) genes, denoting differences in the strength of the evolutionary constraints. Here, we analyzed promoter conservation and evolution to exploit differential regulation between HK and TS genes. The analysis of conserved elements showed CpG islands, short tandem repeats and G-quadruplex sequences are highly enriched in HK promoters relative to TS promoters. In addition, the type and density of regulatory motifs in TS promoters are much higher than HK promoters, indicating that TS genes show more complex regulatory patterns than HK genes. Moreover, the evolutionary dynamics of promoters showed similar evolutionary trend to coding sequences. HK promoters suffer more stringent selective pressure in the long-term evolutionary process. HK genes tend to show increased upstream sequence conservation due to stringent selection pressures acting on the promoter regions. The specificity of TS gene expression may be due to complex regulatory motifs acting in different tissues or conditions. The results from this study can be used to deepen our understanding of adaptive evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wei
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.,Center of Life and Food Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Freising, Byern, Germany
| | - Lei Ma
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
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9
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Jahan S, Beacon TH, He S, Gonzalez C, Xu W, Delcuve GP, Jia S, Hu P, Davie JR. Chromatin organization of transcribed genes in chicken polychromatic erythrocytes. Gene 2019; 699:80-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2019.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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10
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Lizio M, Deviatiiarov R, Nagai H, Galan L, Arner E, Itoh M, Lassmann T, Kasukawa T, Hasegawa A, Ros MA, Hayashizaki Y, Carninci P, Forrest ARR, Kawaji H, Gusev O, Sheng G. Systematic analysis of transcription start sites in avian development. PLoS Biol 2017; 15:e2002887. [PMID: 28873399 PMCID: PMC5600399 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2002887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE) in combination with single-molecule sequencing technology allows precision mapping of transcription start sites (TSSs) and genome-wide capture of promoter activities in differentiated and steady state cell populations. Much less is known about whether TSS profiling can characterize diverse and non-steady state cell populations, such as the approximately 400 transitory and heterogeneous cell types that arise during ontogeny of vertebrate animals. To gain such insight, we used the chick model and performed CAGE-based TSS analysis on embryonic samples covering the full 3-week developmental period. In total, 31,863 robust TSS peaks (>1 tag per million [TPM]) were mapped to the latest chicken genome assembly, of which 34% to 46% were active in any given developmental stage. ZENBU, a web-based, open-source platform, was used for interactive data exploration. TSSs of genes critical for lineage differentiation could be precisely mapped and their activities tracked throughout development, suggesting that non-steady state and heterogeneous cell populations are amenable to CAGE-based transcriptional analysis. Our study also uncovered a large set of extremely stable housekeeping TSSs and many novel stage-specific ones. We furthermore demonstrated that TSS mapping could expedite motif-based promoter analysis for regulatory modules associated with stage-specific and housekeeping genes. Finally, using Brachyury as an example, we provide evidence that precise TSS mapping in combination with Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR)-on technology enables us, for the first time, to efficiently target endogenous avian genes for transcriptional activation. Taken together, our results represent the first report of genome-wide TSS mapping in birds and the first systematic developmental TSS analysis in any amniote species (birds and mammals). By facilitating promoter-based molecular analysis and genetic manipulation, our work also underscores the value of avian models in unravelling the complex regulatory mechanism of cell lineage specification during amniote development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Lizio
- Division of Genomic Technologies, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies (CLST), Yokohama, Japan
- RIKEN Omics Science Center (OSC), Yokohama, Japan
| | - Ruslan Deviatiiarov
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Hiroki Nagai
- International Research Center for Medical Sciences (IRCMS), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Japan
| | - Laura Galan
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, IBBTEC (CSIC-Universidad de Cantabria-SODERCAN), Santander, Spain
| | - Erik Arner
- Division of Genomic Technologies, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies (CLST), Yokohama, Japan
- RIKEN Omics Science Center (OSC), Yokohama, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Itoh
- Division of Genomic Technologies, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies (CLST), Yokohama, Japan
- RIKEN Omics Science Center (OSC), Yokohama, Japan
- RIKEN Preventive Medicine and Diagnosis Innovation Program, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Timo Lassmann
- Division of Genomic Technologies, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies (CLST), Yokohama, Japan
- RIKEN Omics Science Center (OSC), Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takeya Kasukawa
- Division of Genomic Technologies, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies (CLST), Yokohama, Japan
| | - Akira Hasegawa
- Division of Genomic Technologies, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies (CLST), Yokohama, Japan
| | - Marian A. Ros
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, IBBTEC (CSIC-Universidad de Cantabria-SODERCAN), Santander, Spain
| | - Yoshihide Hayashizaki
- RIKEN Omics Science Center (OSC), Yokohama, Japan
- RIKEN Preventive Medicine and Diagnosis Innovation Program, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Piero Carninci
- Division of Genomic Technologies, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies (CLST), Yokohama, Japan
- RIKEN Omics Science Center (OSC), Yokohama, Japan
| | - Alistair R. R. Forrest
- Division of Genomic Technologies, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies (CLST), Yokohama, Japan
- RIKEN Omics Science Center (OSC), Yokohama, Japan
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre and Centre for Medical Research, the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Hideya Kawaji
- Division of Genomic Technologies, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies (CLST), Yokohama, Japan
- RIKEN Omics Science Center (OSC), Yokohama, Japan
- RIKEN Preventive Medicine and Diagnosis Innovation Program, Yokohama, Japan
- * E-mail: (GS); (HK); (OG)
| | - Oleg Gusev
- Division of Genomic Technologies, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies (CLST), Yokohama, Japan
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
- RIKEN Preventive Medicine and Diagnosis Innovation Program, Yokohama, Japan
- RIKEN Innovation Center, Wako, Japan
- * E-mail: (GS); (HK); (OG)
| | - Guojun Sheng
- International Research Center for Medical Sciences (IRCMS), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Japan
- * E-mail: (GS); (HK); (OG)
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11
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Kawakami T, Mugal CF, Suh A, Nater A, Burri R, Smeds L, Ellegren H. Whole-genome patterns of linkage disequilibrium across flycatcher populations clarify the causes and consequences of fine-scale recombination rate variation in birds. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:4158-4172. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2017] [Revised: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Kawakami
- Department of Evolutionary Biology; Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC); Uppsala University; Uppsala Sweden
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences; University of Sheffield; Sheffield UK
| | - Carina F. Mugal
- Department of Evolutionary Biology; Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC); Uppsala University; Uppsala Sweden
| | - Alexander Suh
- Department of Evolutionary Biology; Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC); Uppsala University; Uppsala Sweden
| | - Alexander Nater
- Department of Evolutionary Biology; Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC); Uppsala University; Uppsala Sweden
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies; University of Zurich; Zürich Switzerland
| | - Reto Burri
- Department of Evolutionary Biology; Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC); Uppsala University; Uppsala Sweden
- Department of Population Ecology; Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Jena Germany
| | - Linnéa Smeds
- Department of Evolutionary Biology; Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC); Uppsala University; Uppsala Sweden
| | - Hans Ellegren
- Department of Evolutionary Biology; Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC); Uppsala University; Uppsala Sweden
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12
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Rigo R, Palumbo M, Sissi C. G-quadruplexes in human promoters: A challenge for therapeutic applications. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2016; 1861:1399-1413. [PMID: 28025083 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND G-rich sequences undergo unique structural equilibria to form G-quadruplexes (G4) both in vitro and in cell systems. Several pathologies emerged to be directly related to G4 occurrence at defined genomic portions. Additionally, G-rich sequences are significantly represented around transcription start sites (TSS) thus leading to the hypothesis of a gene regulatory function for G4. Thus, the tuning of G4 formation has been proposed as a new powerful tool to regulate gene expression to treat related pathologies. However, up-to date this approach did not provide any new really efficient treatment. SCOPE OF REVIEW Here, we summarize the most recent advances on the correlation between the structural features of G4 in human promoters and the role these systems physiologically exert. In particular we focus on the effect of G4 localization among cell compartments and along the promoters in correlation with protein interaction networks and epigenetic state. Finally the intrinsic structural features of G4 at promoters are discussed to unveil the contribution of different G4 structural modules in this complex architecture. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS It emerges that G4s play several roles in the intriguing and complex mechanism of gene expression, being able to produce opposite effects on the same target. This reflects the occurrence of a highly variegate network of several components working simultaneously. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE The resulting picture is still fuzzy but some points of strength are definitely emerging, which prompts all of us to strengthen our efforts in view of a selective control of gene expression through G4 modulation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "G-quadruplex" Guest Editor: Dr. Concetta Giancola and Dr. Daniela Montesarchio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Rigo
- Dept. of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, v. Marzolo, 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Manlio Palumbo
- Dept. of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, v. Marzolo, 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Claudia Sissi
- Dept. of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, v. Marzolo, 5, 35131 Padova, Italy.
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13
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Adam I, Mendoza E, Kobalz U, Wohlgemuth S, Scharff C. FoxP2 directly regulates the reelin receptor VLDLR developmentally and by singing. Mol Cell Neurosci 2016; 74:96-105. [PMID: 27105823 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations of the transcription factor FOXP2 cause a severe speech and language disorder. In songbirds, FoxP2 is expressed in the medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the avian basal ganglia song nucleus, Area X, which is crucial for song learning and adult song performance. Experimental downregulation of FoxP2 in Area X affects spine formation, prevents neuronal plasticity induced by social context and impairs song learning. Direct target genes of FoxP2 relevant for song learning and song production are unknown. Here we show that a lentivirally mediated FoxP2 knockdown in Area X of zebra finches downregulates the expression of VLDLR, one of the two reelin receptors. Zebra finch FoxP2 binds to the promoter of VLDLR and activates it, establishing VLDLR as a direct FoxP2 target. Consistent with these findings, VLDLR expression is co-regulated with FoxP2 as a consequence of adult singing and during song learning. We also demonstrate that knockdown of FoxP2 affects glutamatergic transmission at the corticostriatal MSN synapse. These data raise the possibility that the regulatory relationship between FoxP2 and VLDLR guides structural plasticity towards the subset of FoxP2-positive MSNs in an activity dependent manner via the reelin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Adam
- Department for Animal Behavior, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 6, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Ezequiel Mendoza
- Department for Animal Behavior, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 6, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Ursula Kobalz
- Department for Animal Behavior, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 6, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Sandra Wohlgemuth
- Department for Animal Behavior, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 6, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Constance Scharff
- Department for Animal Behavior, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 6, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
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14
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Abe H, Gemmell NJ. Evolutionary Footprints of Short Tandem Repeats in Avian Promoters. Sci Rep 2016; 6:19421. [PMID: 26766026 PMCID: PMC4725869 DOI: 10.1038/srep19421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Short tandem repeats (STRs) or microsatellites are well-known sequence elements that may change the spacing between transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) in promoter regions by expansion or contraction of repetitive units. Some of these mutations have the potential to contribute to phenotypic diversity by altering patterns of gene expression. To explore how repetitive sequence motifs within promoters have evolved in avian lineages under mutation-selection balance, more than 400 evolutionary conserved STRs (ecSTRs) were identified in this study by comparing the 2 kb upstream promoter sequences of chicken against those of other birds (turkey, duck, zebra finch, and flycatcher). The rate of conservation was significantly higher in AG dinucleotide repeats than in AC or AT repeats, with the expansion of AG motifs being noticeably constrained in passerines. Analysis of the relative distance between ecSTRs and TFBSs revealed a significantly higher rate of conserved TFBSs in the vicinity of ecSTRs in both chicken-duck and chicken-passerine comparisons. Our comparative study provides a novel insight into which intrinsic factors have influenced the degree of constraint on repeat expansion/contraction during avian promoter evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideaki Abe
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Neil J Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.,Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
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15
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Genetic Correlates of Individual Differences in Sleep Behavior of Free-Living Great Tits (Parus major). G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2016; 6:599-607. [PMID: 26739645 PMCID: PMC4777123 DOI: 10.1534/g3.115.024216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Within populations, free-living birds display considerable variation in observable sleep behaviors, reflecting dynamic interactions between individuals and their environment. Genes are expected to contribute to repeatable between-individual differences in sleep behaviors, which may be associated with individual fitness. We identified and genotyped polymorphisms in nine candidate genes for sleep, and measured five repeatable sleep behaviors in free-living great tits (Parus major), partly replicating a previous study in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Microsatellites in the CLOCK and NPAS2 clock genes exhibited an association with sleep duration relative to night length, and morning latency to exit the nest box, respectively. Furthermore, microsatellites in the NPSR1 and PCSK2 genes associated with relative sleep duration and proportion of time spent awake at night, respectively. Given the detection rate of associations in the same models run with random markers instead of candidate genes, we expected two associations to arise by chance. The detection of four associations between candidate genes and sleep, however, suggests that clock genes, a clock-related gene, or a gene involved in the melanocortin system, could play key roles in maintaining phenotypic variation in sleep behavior in avian populations. Knowledge of the genetic architecture underlying sleep behavior in the wild is important because it will enable ecologists to assess the evolution of sleep in response to selection.
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16
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Lin S, Zhang L, Luo W, Zhang X. Characteristics of Antisense Transcript Promoters and the Regulation of Their Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 17:E9. [PMID: 26703594 PMCID: PMC4730256 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Revised: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/16/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, an increasing number of studies on natural antisense transcripts have been reported, especially regarding their classification, temporal and spatial expression patterns, regulatory functions and mechanisms. It is well established that natural antisense transcripts are produced from the strand opposite to the strand encoding a protein. Despite the pivotal roles of natural antisense transcripts in regulating the expression of target genes, the transcriptional mechanisms initiated by antisense promoters (ASPs) remain unknown. To date, nearly all of the studies conducted on this topic have focused on the ASP of a single gene of interest, whereas no study has systematically analyzed the locations of ASPs in the genome, ASP activity, or factors influencing this activity. This review focuses on elaborating on and summarizing the characteristics of ASPs to extend our knowledge about the mechanisms of antisense transcript initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shudai Lin
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Agricultural College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
| | - Wen Luo
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Xiquan Zhang
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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17
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Sokol M, Jessen KM, Pedersen FS. Human endogenous retroviruses sustain complex and cooperative regulation of gene-containing loci and unannotated megabase-sized regions. Retrovirology 2015; 12:32. [PMID: 25927889 PMCID: PMC4422309 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-015-0161-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Evidence suggests that some human endogenous retroviruses and endogenous retrovirus-like repeats (here collectively ERVs) regulate the expression of neighboring genes in normal and disease states; e.g. the human globin locus is regulated by an ERV9 that coordinates long-range gene switching during hematopoiesis and activates also intergenic transcripts. While complex transcription regulation is associated with integration of certain exogenous retroviruses, comparable regulation sustained by ERVs is less understood. Findings We analyzed ERV transcription using ERV9 consensus sequences and publically available RNA-sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation with sequencing (ChIP-seq) and cap analysis gene expression (CAGE) data from ENCODE. We discovered previously undescribed and advanced transcription regulation mechanisms in several human reference cell lines. We show that regulation by ERVs involves long-ranging activations including complex RNA splicing patterns, and transcription of large unannotated regions ranging in size from several hundred kb to around 1 Mb. Moreover, regulation was found to be cooperatively sustained in some loci by multiple ERVs and also non-LTR repeats. Conclusion Our analyses show that endogenous retroviruses sustain advanced transcription regulation in human cell lines, which shows similarities to complex insertional mutagenesis effects exerted by exogenous retroviruses. By exposing previously undescribed regulation effects, this study should prove useful for understanding fundamental transcription mechanisms resulting from evolutionary acquisition of retroviral sequence in the human genome. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12977-015-0161-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Sokol
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DK-8000, Denmark.
| | - Karen Margrethe Jessen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DK-8000, Denmark.
| | - Finn Skou Pedersen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DK-8000, Denmark.
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