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Zoch A, Konieczny G, Auchynnikava T, Stallmeyer B, Rotte N, Heep M, Berrens RV, Schito M, Kabayama Y, Schöpp T, Kliesch S, Houston B, Nagirnaja L, O'Bryan MK, Aston KI, Conrad DF, Rappsilber J, Allshire RC, Cook AG, Tüttelmann F, O'Carroll D. C19ORF84 connects piRNA and DNA methylation machineries to defend the mammalian germ line. Mol Cell 2024; 84:1021-1035.e11. [PMID: 38359823 PMCID: PMC10960678 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.01.014] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
In the male mouse germ line, PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), bound by the PIWI protein MIWI2 (PIWIL4), guide DNA methylation of young active transposons through SPOCD1. However, the underlying mechanisms of SPOCD1-mediated piRNA-directed transposon methylation and whether this pathway functions to protect the human germ line remain unknown. We identified loss-of-function variants in human SPOCD1 that cause defective transposon silencing and male infertility. Through the analysis of these pathogenic alleles, we discovered that the uncharacterized protein C19ORF84 interacts with SPOCD1. DNMT3C, the DNA methyltransferase responsible for transposon methylation, associates with SPOCD1 and C19ORF84 in fetal gonocytes. Furthermore, C19ORF84 is essential for piRNA-directed DNA methylation and male mouse fertility. Finally, C19ORF84 mediates the in vivo association of SPOCD1 with the de novo methylation machinery. In summary, we have discovered a conserved role for the human piRNA pathway in transposon silencing and C19ORF84, an uncharacterized protein essential for orchestrating piRNA-directed DNA methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ansgar Zoch
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Institute for Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK; Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.
| | - Gabriela Konieczny
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Institute for Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK; Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Tania Auchynnikava
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Birgit Stallmeyer
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Nadja Rotte
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Madeleine Heep
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Institute for Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK; Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Rebecca V Berrens
- Institute for Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, IMS-Tetsuya Nakamura Building, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX37TY, UK
| | - Martina Schito
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Institute for Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK; Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Yuka Kabayama
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Institute for Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK; Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Theresa Schöpp
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Institute for Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK; Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Sabine Kliesch
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Department of Clinical and Surgical Andrology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Brendan Houston
- School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Liina Nagirnaja
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Moira K O'Bryan
- School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Kenneth I Aston
- Andrology and In Vitro Fertilization Laboratory, Department of Surgery (Urology), University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Donald F Conrad
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA; Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Juri Rappsilber
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK; Bioanalytics, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355 Berlin, Germany
| | - Robin C Allshire
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Atlanta G Cook
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Frank Tüttelmann
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Dónal O'Carroll
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Institute for Stem Cell Research, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK; Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.
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Tam PLF, Leung D. The Molecular Impacts of Retrotransposons in Development and Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16418. [PMID: 38003607 PMCID: PMC10671454 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216418] [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: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Retrotransposons are invasive genetic elements that constitute substantial portions of mammalian genomes. They have the potential to influence nearby gene expression through their cis-regulatory sequences, reverse transcription machinery, and the ability to mold higher-order chromatin structures. Due to their multifaceted functions, it is crucial for host fitness to maintain strict regulation of these parasitic sequences to ensure proper growth and development. This review explores how subsets of retrotransposons have undergone evolutionary exaptation to enhance the complexity of mammalian genomes. It also highlights the significance of regulating these elements, drawing on recent studies conducted in human and murine systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe Lut Fei Tam
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong SAR, China;
| | - Danny Leung
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong SAR, China;
- Center for Epigenomics Research, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong SAR, China
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3
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Tan K, Wilkinson MF. Developmental regulators moonlighting as transposons defense factors. Andrology 2023; 11:891-903. [PMID: 36895139 PMCID: PMC11162177 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13427] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The germline perpetuates genetic information across generations. To maintain the integrity of the germline, transposable elements in the genome must be silenced, as these mobile elements would otherwise engender widespread mutations passed on to subsequent generations. There are several well-established mechanisms that are dedicated to providing defense against transposable elements, including DNA methylation, RNA interference, and the PIWI-interacting RNA pathway. OBJECTIVES Recently, several studies have provided evidence that transposon defense is not only provided by factors dedicated to this purpose but also factors with other roles, including in germline development. Many of these are transcription factors. Our objective is to summarize what is known about these "bi-functional" transcriptional regulators. MATERIALS AND METHODS Literature search. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION We summarize the evidence that six transcriptional regulators-GLIS3, MYBL1, RB1, RHOX10, SETDB1, and ZBTB16-are both developmental regulators and transposable element-defense factors. These factors act at different stages of germ cell development, including in pro-spermatogonia, spermatogonial stem cells, and spermatocytes. Collectively, the data suggest a model in which specific key transcriptional regulators have acquired multiple functions over evolutionary time to influence developmental decisions and safeguard transgenerational genetic information. It remains to be determined whether their developmental roles were primordial and their transposon defense roles were co-opted, or vice versa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Tan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Miles F. Wilkinson
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Institute of Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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4
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Liu L, Li H, Wang M, Zhang X, Ren J, Yuan Y, Sha J, Guo X. Multi-Omics Approaches for Revealing the Epigenetic Regulation of Histone H3.1 during Spermatogonial Stem Cell Differentiation In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043314. [PMID: 36834727 PMCID: PMC9958608 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation, particularly post-translational modifications (PTMs) of histones, participates in spermatogonial stem cell (SSCs) differentiation. However, there is a lack of systemic studies of histone PTM regulation during the differentiation of SSCs due to its low number in vivo. Herein, we quantified dynamic changes of 46 different PTMs on histone H3.1 by targeted quantitative proteomics using mass spectrometry during SSCs differentiation in vitro, in combination with our RNA-seq data. We identified seven histone H3.1 modifications to be differentially regulated. In addition, we selected H3K9me2 and H3S10ph for subsequent biotinylated peptide pull-down experiments and identified 38 H3K9me2-binding proteins and 42 H3S10ph-binding proteins, which contain several transcription factors, such as GTF2E2 and SUPT5H, which appear to be crucial for epigenetic regulation of SSC differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Haojie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Mengjie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Xiangzheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Jie Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Yan Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Jiahao Sha
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Women’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
- Correspondence: (J.S.); (X.G.)
| | - Xuejiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
- Correspondence: (J.S.); (X.G.)
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Levinsky AJ, McEdwards G, Sethna N, Currie MA. Targets of histone H3 lysine 9 methyltransferases. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1026406. [PMID: 36568972 PMCID: PMC9768651 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1026406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone H3 lysine 9 di- and trimethylation are well-established marks of constitutively silenced heterochromatin domains found at repetitive DNA elements including pericentromeres, telomeres, and transposons. Loss of heterochromatin at these sites causes genomic instability in the form of aberrant DNA repair, chromosome segregation defects, replication stress, and transposition. H3K9 di- and trimethylation also regulate cell type-specific gene expression during development and form a barrier to cellular reprogramming. However, the role of H3K9 methyltransferases extends beyond histone methylation. There is a growing list of non-histone targets of H3K9 methyltransferases including transcription factors, steroid hormone receptors, histone modifying enzymes, and other chromatin regulatory proteins. Additionally, two classes of H3K9 methyltransferases modulate their own function through automethylation. Here we summarize the structure and function of mammalian H3K9 methyltransferases, their roles in genome regulation and constitutive heterochromatin, as well as the current repertoire of non-histone methylation targets including cases of automethylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan J. Levinsky
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada,Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gregor McEdwards
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada,Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nasha Sethna
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada,Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mark A. Currie
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada,Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada,*Correspondence: Mark A. Currie,
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Temperature sensitivity of DNA double-strand break repair underpins heat-induced meiotic failure in mouse spermatogenesis. Commun Biol 2022; 5:504. [PMID: 35618762 PMCID: PMC9135715 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03449-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian spermatogenesis is a heat-vulnerable process that occurs at low temperatures, and elevated testicular temperatures cause male infertility. However, the current reliance on in vivo assays limits their potential to detail temperature dependence and destructive processes. Using ex vivo cultures of mouse testis explants at different controlled temperatures, we found that spermatogenesis failed at multiple steps, showing sharp temperature dependencies. At 38 °C (body core temperature), meiotic prophase I is damaged, showing increased DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and compromised DSB repair. Such damaged spermatocytes cause asynapsis between homologous chromosomes and are eliminated by apoptosis at the meiotic checkpoint. At 37 °C, some spermatocytes survive to the late pachytene stage, retaining high levels of unrepaired DSBs but do not complete meiosis with compromised crossover formation. These findings provide insight into the mechanisms and significance of heat vulnerability in mammalian spermatogenesis.
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Establishment of H3K9-methylated heterochromatin and its functions in tissue differentiation and maintenance. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2022; 23:623-640. [PMID: 35562425 PMCID: PMC9099300 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00483-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Heterochromatin is characterized by dimethylated or trimethylated histone H3 Lys9 (H3K9me2 or H3K9me3, respectively) and is found at transposable elements, satellite repeats and genes, where it ensures their transcriptional silencing. The histone methyltransferases (HMTs) that methylate H3K9 — in mammals Suppressor of variegation 3–9 homologue 1 (SUV39H1), SUV39H2, SET domain bifurcated 1 (SETDB1), SETDB2, G9A and G9A-like protein (GLP) — and the ‘readers’ of H3K9me2 or H3K9me3 are highly conserved and show considerable redundancy. Despite their redundancy, genetic ablation or mistargeting of an individual H3K9 methyltransferase can correlate with impaired cell differentiation, loss of tissue identity, premature aging and/or cancer. In this Review, we discuss recent advances in understanding the roles of the known H3K9-specific HMTs in ensuring transcriptional homeostasis during tissue differentiation in mammals. We examine the effects of H3K9-methylation-dependent gene repression in haematopoiesis, muscle differentiation and neurogenesis in mammals, and compare them with mechanistic insights obtained from the study of model organisms, notably Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. In all these organisms, H3K9-specific HMTs have both unique and redundant roles that ensure the maintenance of tissue integrity by restricting the binding of transcription factors to lineage-specific promoters and enhancer elements. Histone H3 Lys9 (H3K9)-methylated heterochromatin ensures transcriptional silencing of repetitive elements and genes, and its deregulation leads to impaired cell and tissue identity, premature aging and cancer. Recent studies in mammals clarified the roles H3K9-specific histone methyltransferases in ensuring transcriptional homeostasis during tissue differentiation.
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Zhou S, Sakashita A, Yuan S, Namekawa SH. Retrotransposons in the Mammalian Male Germline. Sex Dev 2022:1-19. [PMID: 35231923 DOI: 10.1159/000520683] [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] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Retrotransposons are a subset of DNA sequences that constitute a large part of the mammalian genome. They can translocate autonomously or non-autonomously, potentially jeopardizing the heritable germline genome. Retrotransposons coevolved with the host genome, and the germline is the prominent battlefield between retrotransposons and the host genome to maximize their mutual fitness. Host genomes have developed various mechanisms to suppress and control retrotransposons, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA), for their own benefit. Thus, rapidly evolved retrotransposons often acquire positive functions, including gene regulation within the germline, conferring reproductive fitness in a species over the course of evolution. The male germline serves as an ideal model to examine the regulation and evolution of retrotransposons, resulting in genomic co-evolution with the host genome. In this review, we summarize and discuss the regulatory mechanisms of retrotransposons, stage-by-stage, during male germ cell development, with a particular focus on mice as an extensively studied mammalian model, highlighting suppression mechanisms and emerging functions of retrotransposons in the male germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumin Zhou
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Akihiko Sakashita
- Department of Molecular Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuiqiao Yuan
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Satoshi H Namekawa
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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Zeng TB, Pierce N, Liao J, Singh P, Lau K, Zhou W, Szabó PE. EHMT2 suppresses the variation of transcriptional switches in the mouse embryo. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009908. [PMID: 34793451 PMCID: PMC8601470 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
EHMT2 is the main euchromatic H3K9 methyltransferase. Embryos with zygotic, or maternal mutation in the Ehmt2 gene exhibit variable developmental delay. To understand how EHMT2 prevents variable developmental delay we performed RNA sequencing of mutant and somite stage-matched normal embryos at 8.5–9.5 days of gestation. Using four-way comparisons between delayed and normal embryos we clarified what it takes to be normal and what it takes to develop. We identified differentially expressed genes, for example Hox genes that simply reflected the difference in developmental progression of wild type and the delayed mutant uterus-mate embryos. By comparing wild type and zygotic mutant embryos along the same developmental window we detected a role of EHMT2 in suppressing variation in the transcriptional switches. We identified transcription changes where precise switching during development occurred only in the normal but not in the mutant embryo. At the 6-somite stage, gastrulation-specific genes were not precisely switched off in the Ehmt2−/− zygotic mutant embryos, while genes involved in organ growth, connective tissue development, striated muscle development, muscle differentiation, and cartilage development were not precisely switched on. The Ehmt2mat−/+ maternal mutant embryos displayed high transcriptional variation consistent with their variable survival. Variable derepression of transcripts occurred dominantly in the maternally inherited allele. Transcription was normal in the parental haploinsufficient wild type embryos despite their delay, consistent with their good prospects. Global profiling of transposable elements revealed EHMT2 targeted DNA methylation and suppression at LTR repeats, mostly ERVKs. In Ehmt2−/− embryos, transcription over very long distances initiated from such misregulated ‘driver’ ERVK repeats, encompassing a multitude of misexpressed ‘passenger’ repeats. In summary, EHMT2 reduced transcriptional variation of developmental switch genes and developmentally switching repeat elements at the six-somite stage embryos. These findings establish EHMT2 as a suppressor of transcriptional and developmental variation at the transition between gastrulation and organ specification. Developmental variation is the property of normal development, and its regulation is poorly understood. Variable developmental delay is found in embryos that carry mutations of epigenetic modifiers, suggesting a role of chromatin in controlling developmental delay and its variable nature. We analyzed a genetic series of mutations and found that EHMT2 suppresses variation of developmental delay and also suppresses the variation of transcriptional switches at the transition between gastrulation and organ specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tie-Bo Zeng
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Pierce
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Ji Liao
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Purnima Singh
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, City of Hope Cancer Center, Duarte, California, United States of America
| | - Kin Lau
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Wanding Zhou
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Piroska E. Szabó
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Morgan M, Kumar L, Li Y, Baptissart M. Post-transcriptional regulation in spermatogenesis: all RNA pathways lead to healthy sperm. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:8049-8071. [PMID: 34748024 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04012-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Multiple RNA pathways are required to produce functional sperm. Here, we review RNA post-transcriptional regulation during spermatogenesis with particular emphasis on the role of 3' end modifications. From early studies in the 1970s, it became clear that spermiogenesis transcripts could be stored for days only to be translated at advanced stages of spermatid differentiation. The transition between the translationally repressed and active states was observed to correlate with the shortening of the transcripts' poly(A) tail, establishing a link between RNA 3' end metabolism and male germ cell differentiation. Since then, numerous RNA metabolic pathways have been implicated not only in the progression through spermatogenesis, but also in the maintenance of genomic integrity. Recent studies have characterized the elusive 3' biogenesis of Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), identified a critical role for messenger RNA (mRNA) 3' uridylation in meiotic progression, established the mechanisms that destabilize transcripts with long 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs) in post-mitotic cells, and defined the physiological relevance of RNA exonucleases and deadenylases in male germ cells. In this review, we discuss RNA processing in the male germline in the light of the most recent findings. A brief recollection of different RNA-processing events will aid future studies exploring post-transcriptional regulation in spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Morgan
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, 27709, USA.
| | - Lokesh Kumar
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Yin Li
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Marine Baptissart
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
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11
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Factors Regulating the Activity of LINE1 Retrotransposons. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12101562. [PMID: 34680956 PMCID: PMC8535693 DOI: 10.3390/genes12101562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
LINE-1 (L1) is a class of autonomous mobile genetic elements that form somatic mosaicisms in various tissues of the organism. The activity of L1 retrotransposons is strictly controlled by many factors in somatic and germ cells at all stages of ontogenesis. Alteration of L1 activity was noted in a number of diseases: in neuropsychiatric and autoimmune diseases, as well as in various forms of cancer. Altered activity of L1 retrotransposons for some pathologies is associated with epigenetic changes and defects in the genes involved in their repression. This review discusses the molecular genetic mechanisms of the retrotransposition and regulation of the activity of L1 elements. The contribution of various factors controlling the expression and distribution of L1 elements in the genome occurs at all stages of the retrotransposition. The regulation of L1 elements at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional and integration into the genome stages is described in detail. Finally, this review also focuses on the evolutionary aspects of L1 accumulation and their interplay with the host regulation system.
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12
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Zeng TB, Pierce N, Liao J, Szabó PE. H3K9 methyltransferase EHMT2/G9a controls ERVK-driven noncanonical imprinted genes. Epigenomics 2021; 13:1299-1314. [PMID: 34519223 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2021-0168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Paternal allele-specific expression of noncanonical imprinted genes in the extraembryonic lineages depends on an H3K27me3-based imprint in the oocyte, which is not a lasting mark. We hypothesized that EHMT2, the main euchromatic H3K9 dimethyltransferase, also has a role in controlling noncanonical imprinting. Methods: We carried out allele-specific total RNA-seq analysis in the ectoplacental cone of somite-matched 8.5 days post coitum embryos using reciprocal mouse crosses. Results: We found that the maternal allele of noncanonical imprinted genes was derepressed from its ERVK promoter in the Ehmt2-/- ectoplacental cone. In Ehmt2-/- embryos, loss of DNA methylation accompanied biallelic derepression of the ERVK promoters. Canonical imprinting and imprinted X chromosome inactivation were generally undisturbed. Conclusion: EHMT2 is essential for repressing the maternal allele in noncanonical imprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tie-Bo Zeng
- Center for Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Nicholas Pierce
- Center for Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Ji Liao
- Center for Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Piroska E Szabó
- Center for Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
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13
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Formation of spermatogonia and fertile oocytes in golden hamsters requires piRNAs. Nat Cell Biol 2021; 23:992-1001. [PMID: 34489573 PMCID: PMC8437802 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-021-00746-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) support the germline by suppressing retrotransposons. Studies of the pathway in mice have strongly shaped the view that mammalian piRNAs are essential for male but not for female fertility. Here, we report that the role of the piRNA pathway substantially differs in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), the piRNA pathway setup of which more closely resembles that of other mammals, including humans. The loss of the Mov10l1 RNA helicase—an essential piRNA biogenesis factor—leads to striking phenotypes in both sexes. In contrast to mice, female Mov10l1–/– hamsters are sterile because their oocytes do not sustain zygotic development. Furthermore, Mov10l1–/– male hamsters have impaired establishment of spermatogonia accompanied by transcriptome dysregulation and an expression surge of a young retrotransposon subfamily. Our results show that the mammalian piRNA pathway has essential roles in both sexes and its adaptive nature allows it to manage emerging genomic threats and acquire new critical roles in the germline. A set of three papers reports that the piRNA pathway is essential for mammalian female fertility based on genetic perturbation experiments performed in golden hamsters.
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14
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Ohtani H, Iwasaki YW. Rewiring of chromatin state and gene expression by transposable elements. Dev Growth Differ 2021; 63:262-273. [DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hitoshi Ohtani
- Laboratory of Genome and Epigenome Dynamics Department of Animal Sciences Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences Nagoya University Nagoya Japan
| | - Yuka W. Iwasaki
- Department of Molecular Biology Keio University School of Medicine Tokyo Japan
- Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO) Saitama Japan
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15
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Avgustinova A, Laudanna C, Pascual-García M, Rovira Q, Djurec M, Castellanos A, Urdiroz-Urricelqui U, Marchese D, Prats N, Van Keymeulen A, Heyn H, Vaquerizas JM, Benitah SA. Repression of endogenous retroviruses prevents antiviral immune response and is required for mammary gland development. Cell Stem Cell 2021; 28:1790-1804.e8. [PMID: 34010627 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The role of heterochromatin in cell fate specification during development is unclear. We demonstrate that loss of the lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3K9) methyltransferase G9a in the mammary epithelium results in de novo chromatin opening, aberrant formation of the mammary ductal tree, impaired stem cell potential, disrupted intraductal polarity, and loss of tissue function. G9a loss derepresses long terminal repeat (LTR) retroviral sequences (predominantly the ERVK family). Transcriptionally activated endogenous retroviruses generate double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) that triggers an antiviral innate immune response, and knockdown of the cytosolic dsDNA sensor Aim2 in G9a knockout (G9acKO) mammary epithelium rescues mammary ductal invasion. Mammary stem cell transplantation into immunocompromised or G9acKO-conditioned hosts shows partial dependence of the G9acKO mammary morphological defects on the inflammatory milieu of the host mammary fat pad. Thus, altering the chromatin accessibility of retroviral elements disrupts mammary gland development and stem cell activity through both cell-autonomous and non-autonomous mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Avgustinova
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Carmelo Laudanna
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mónica Pascual-García
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Quirze Rovira
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany
| | - Magdolna Djurec
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andres Castellanos
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Uxue Urdiroz-Urricelqui
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Domenica Marchese
- CNAG-CRG, Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Neus Prats
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Holger Heyn
- CNAG-CRG, Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan M Vaquerizas
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany; MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Salvador Aznar Benitah
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
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16
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Zhou S, Feng S, Qin W, Wang X, Tang Y, Yuan S. Epigenetic Regulation of Spermatogonial Stem Cell Homeostasis: From DNA Methylation to Histone Modification. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2020; 17:562-580. [PMID: 32939648 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-020-10044-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogonial stem cells(SSCs)are the ultimate germline stem cells with the potential of self-renewal and differentiation, and a dynamic balance of SSCs play an essential role in spermatogenesis. During the gene expression process, genomic DNA and nuclear protein, working together, contribute to SSC homeostasis. Recently, emerging studies have shown that epigenome-related molecules such as chromatin modifiers play an important role in SSC homeostasis through regulating target gene expression. Here, we focus on two types of epigenetic events, including DNA methylation and histone modification, and summarize their function in SSC homeostasis. Understanding the molecular mechanism during SSC homeostasis will promote the recognition of epigenetic biomarkers in male infertility, and bring light into therapies of infertile patients.Graphical Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumin Zhou
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Shenglei Feng
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Weibing Qin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Family Planning Research Institute of Guangdong Province, 510500, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunge Tang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Family Planning Research Institute of Guangdong Province, 510500, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Shuiqiao Yuan
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, China. .,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, China.
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17
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Zoch A, Auchynnikava T, Berrens RV, Kabayama Y, Schöpp T, Heep M, Vasiliauskaitė L, Pérez-Rico YA, Cook AG, Shkumatava A, Rappsilber J, Allshire RC, O'Carroll D. SPOCD1 is an essential executor of piRNA-directed de novo DNA methylation. Nature 2020; 584:635-639. [PMID: 32674113 PMCID: PMC7612247 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2557-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, the acquisition of the germline from the soma provides the germline with an essential challenge: the need to erase and reset genomic methylation1. In the male germline, RNA-directed DNA methylation silences young, active transposable elements2-4. The PIWI protein MIWI2 (PIWIL4) and its associated PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) instruct DNA methylation of transposable elements3,5. piRNAs are proposed to tether MIWI2 to nascent transposable element transcripts; however, the mechanism by which MIWI2 directs the de novo methylation of transposable elements is poorly understood, although central to the immortality of the germline. Here we define the interactome of MIWI2 in mouse fetal gonocytes undergoing de novo genome methylation and identify a previously unknown MIWI2-associated factor, SPOCD1, that is essential for the methylation and silencing of young transposable elements. The loss of Spocd1 in mice results in male-specific infertility but does not affect either piRNA biogenesis or the localization of MIWI2 to the nucleus. SPOCD1 is a nuclear protein whose expression is restricted to the period of de novo genome methylation. It co-purifies in vivo with DNMT3L and DNMT3A, components of the de novo methylation machinery, as well as with constituents of the NURD and BAF chromatin remodelling complexes. We propose a model whereby tethering of MIWI2 to a nascent transposable element transcript recruits repressive chromatin remodelling activities and the de novo methylation apparatus through SPOCD1. In summary, we have identified a previously unrecognized and essential executor of mammalian piRNA-directed DNA methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ansgar Zoch
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tania Auchynnikava
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rebecca V Berrens
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Yuka Kabayama
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Theresa Schöpp
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Madeleine Heep
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lina Vasiliauskaitė
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Yuvia A Pérez-Rico
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 3215, INSERM U934, Paris, France
| | - Atlanta G Cook
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alena Shkumatava
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 3215, INSERM U934, Paris, France
| | - Juri Rappsilber
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Bioanalytics Unit, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robin C Allshire
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Dónal O'Carroll
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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18
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Li YC, Wang GW, Xu SR, Zhang XN, Yang QE. The expression of histone methyltransferases and distribution of selected histone methylations in testes of yak and cattle-yak hybrid. Theriogenology 2020; 144:164-173. [PMID: 31972460 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 01/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Interspecies hybridization exists widely in nature and plays an important role in animal evolution and adaptation. It is commonly recognized that male offspring of interspecies hybrid are often sterile, which presents a crucial way of reproductive isolation. Currently, the mechanisms underlying interspecies hybrid male sterility are not well understood. Cattle-yak, progeny of yak (Bos grunniens) and cattle (Bos taurus) cross, is a unique animal model for investigating hybrid male sterility. Because histone modifications are vital for spermatogenesis, herein, we examined expressions of histone methyltransferases (HMTs) and distributions of histone methylations in the yak and cattle-yak testis. Histological examination of seminiferous tubules revealed that gonocytes and spermatocytes were established normally, however, spermatogenesis was arrested at the meiosis phase began at 10 months after birth in the hybrids. SUV420H1 was the only HMT examined showing a significant enrichment in cattle-yak testes at 3 months. Relative expressions of MLL5, SETDB1 and SUV420H1 were increased while SETDB2 and EZH2 were decreased in cattle-yak testes at 10 months. Relative concentrations of MLL5 and SUV420H1 were again increased while EHMT2 and PRDM9 expressions were decreased at 24 months. Immunofluorescent detection of selected histone methylations in cross-sections of testicular tissues or meiotic chromosomes demonstrated that depletion of H3K4me3 and significant enrichment of H3K27me3 and H4K20me3 were observed in Sertoli cells of cattle-yak. Levels and localizations of H3K4me3, H3K9me1, H3K9me3 and H4K20me3 were strikingly different in meiotic chromosomes of cattle-yak spermatocytes. These results highlighted the potential roles of histone methylations in spermatogenic failure and hybrid male sterility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Chang Li
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai, 810000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Guo-Wen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai, 810000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shang-Rong Xu
- Qinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Xining, Qinghai, 810008, China
| | - Xiao-Na Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai, 810000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qi-En Yang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai, 810000, China; Qinghai Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai, 810001, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
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19
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Restricted and non-essential redundancy of RNAi and piRNA pathways in mouse oocytes. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1008261. [PMID: 31860668 PMCID: PMC6944382 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Germline genome defense evolves to recognize and suppress retrotransposons. One of defensive mechanisms is the PIWI-associated RNA (piRNA) pathway, which employs small RNAs for sequence-specific repression. The loss of the piRNA pathway in mice causes male sterility while females remain fertile. Unlike spermatogenic cells, mouse oocytes posses also RNA interference (RNAi), another small RNA pathway capable of retrotransposon suppression. To examine whether RNAi compensates the loss of the piRNA pathway, we produced a new RNAi pathway mutant DicerSOM and crossed it with a catalytically-dead mutant of Mili, an essential piRNA gene. Normal follicular and oocyte development in double mutants showed that RNAi does not suppress a strong ovarian piRNA knock-out phenotype. However, we observed redundant and non-redundant targeting of specific retrotransposon families illustrating stochasticity of recognition and targeting of invading retrotransposons. Intracisternal A Particle retrotransposon was mainly targeted by the piRNA pathway, MaLR and RLTR10 retrotransposons were targeted mainly by RNAi. Double mutants showed accumulations of LINE-1 retrotransposon transcripts. However, we did not find strong evidence for transcriptional activation and mobilization of retrotransposition competent LINE-1 elements suggesting that while both defense pathways are simultaneously expendable for ovarian oocyte development, yet another transcriptional silencing mechanism prevents mobilization of LINE-1 elements. Retrotransposons are mobile genomic parasites causing mutations. Germ cells need protection against retrotransposons to prevent heritable transmission of their new insertions. The piRNA pathway is an ancient germline defense system analogous to acquired immunity: once a retrotransposon jumps into a piRNA-producing locus, which provides a kind of a “genomic sensor” for actively transposing elements, it is recognized and suppressed. Remarkably, the murine piRNA pathway is essential for spermatogenesis but not oocyte development. In contrast, zebrafish lacking the piRNA pathway do not develop any germ cells. It was hypothesized that RNA interference pathway could rescue oocyte development in mice lacking the piRNA pathway. RNA interference also targets retrotransposons and is particularly enhanced in mouse oocytes. To test this hypothesis, we engineered mice lacking both pathways and observed that oocytes in these mice develop normally, which argues against the hypothesis. Furthermore, analysis of individual retrotransposon groups revealed that in specific cases the two pathways mutually compensate each other. However, this redundancy apparently evolved stochastically and is restricted to specific retrotransposon groups. Finally, our results indicate that there must be yet another layer of retrotransposon silencing in mouse oocytes, which prevents high retrotransposon activity in the absence of piRNA and RNA interference pathways.
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20
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Liu Y, Zhang Y, Yin J, Gao Y, Li Y, Bai D, He W, Li X, Zhang P, Li R, Zhang L, Jia Y, Zhang Y, Lin J, Zheng Y, Wang H, Gao S, Zeng W, Liu W. Distinct H3K9me3 and DNA methylation modifications during mouse spermatogenesis. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:18714-18725. [PMID: 31662436 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation and histone modifications critically regulate the expression of many genes and repeat regions during spermatogenesis. However, the molecular details of these processes in male germ cells remain to be addressed. Here, using isolated murine sperm cells, ultra-low-input native ChIP-Seq (ULI-NChIP-Seq), and whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS), we investigated genome-wide DNA methylation patterns and histone 3 Lys-9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) modifications during mouse spermatogenesis. We found that DNA methylation and H3K9me3 have distinct sequence preferences and dynamics in promoters and repeat elements during spermatogenesis. H3K9me3 modifications in histones at gene promoters were highly enriched in round spermatids. H3K9me3 modification on long terminal repeats (LTRs) and long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) was involved in silencing active transcription from these regions in conjunction with reestablishment of DNA methylation. Furthermore, H3K9me3 remodeling on the X chromosome was involved in meiotic sex chromosome inactivation and in partial transcriptional reactivation of sex chromosomes in spermatids. Our findings also revealed the DNA methylation patterns and H3K9me3 modification profiles of paternal and maternal germline imprinting control regions (gICRs) during spermatogenesis. Taken together, our results provide a genome-wide map of H3K9me3 modifications during mouse spermatogenesis that may be helpful for understanding male reproductive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingdong Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yanping Zhang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jiqing Yin
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yawei Gao
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yanhe Li
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Dandan Bai
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Wenteng He
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xueliang Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Pengfei Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Rongnan Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Lingkai Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yanping Jia
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yalin Zhang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jiaming Lin
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yi Zheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Shaorong Gao
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Wenxian Zeng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Wenqiang Liu
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
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21
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Dong J, Wang X, Cao C, Wen Y, Sakashita A, Chen S, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Zhou L, Luo M, Liu M, Liao A, Namekawa SH, Yuan S. UHRF1 suppresses retrotransposons and cooperates with PRMT5 and PIWI proteins in male germ cells. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4705. [PMID: 31624244 PMCID: PMC6797737 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12455-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation, repressive histone marks, and PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) are essential for the control of retrotransposon silencing in the mammalian germline. However, it remains unknown how these repressive epigenetic pathways crosstalk to ensure retrotransposon silencing in the male germline. Here, we show that UHRF1 is responsible for retrotransposon silencing and cooperates with repressive epigenetic pathways in male germ cells. Conditional loss of UHRF1 in postnatal germ cells causes DNA hypomethylation, upregulation of retrotransposons, the activation of a DNA damage response, and switches in the global chromatin status, leading to complete male sterility. Furthermore, we show that UHRF1 interacts with PRMT5, an arginine methyltransferase, to regulate the repressive histone arginine modifications (H4R3me2s and H3R2me2s), and cooperates with the PIWI pathway during spermatogenesis. Collectively, UHRF1 regulates retrotransposon silencing in male germ cells and provides a molecular link between DNA methylation, histone modification, and the PIWI pathway in the germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Dong
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Congcong Cao
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yujiao Wen
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Akihiko Sakashita
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Si Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Liquan Zhou
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Mengcheng Luo
- Department of Tissue and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Mingxi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Aihua Liao
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Satoshi H Namekawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Shuiqiao Yuan
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, China.
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22
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The emerging role of epigenetic therapeutics in immuno-oncology. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2019; 17:75-90. [PMID: 31548600 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-019-0266-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 243] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The past decade has seen the emergence of immunotherapy as a prime approach to cancer treatment, revolutionizing the management of many types of cancer. Despite the promise of immunotherapy, most patients do not have a response or become resistant to treatment. Thus, identifying combinations that potentiate current immunotherapeutic approaches will be crucial. The combination of immune-checkpoint inhibition with epigenetic therapy is one such strategy that is being tested in clinical trials, encompassing a variety of cancer types. Studies have revealed key roles of epigenetic processes in regulating immune cell function and mediating antitumour immunity. These interactions make combined epigenetic therapy and immunotherapy an attractive approach to circumvent the limitations of immunotherapy alone. In this Review, we highlight the basic dynamic mechanisms underlying the synergy between immunotherapy and epigenetic therapies and detail current efforts to translate this knowledge into clinical benefit for patients.
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23
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Ozata DM, Gainetdinov I, Zoch A, O'Carroll D, Zamore PD. PIWI-interacting RNAs: small RNAs with big functions. Nat Rev Genet 2019; 20:89-108. [PMID: 30446728 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-018-0073-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 646] [Impact Index Per Article: 129.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In animals, PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) of 21-35 nucleotides in length silence transposable elements, regulate gene expression and fight viral infection. piRNAs guide PIWI proteins to cleave target RNA, promote heterochromatin assembly and methylate DNA. The architecture of the piRNA pathway allows it both to provide adaptive, sequence-based immunity to rapidly evolving viruses and transposons and to regulate conserved host genes. piRNAs silence transposons in the germ line of most animals, whereas somatic piRNA functions have been lost, gained and lost again across evolution. Moreover, most piRNA pathway proteins are deeply conserved, but different animals employ remarkably divergent strategies to produce piRNA precursor transcripts. Here, we discuss how a common piRNA pathway allows animals to recognize diverse targets, ranging from selfish genetic elements to genes essential for gametogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz M Ozata
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ildar Gainetdinov
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ansgar Zoch
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Dónal O'Carroll
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Phillip D Zamore
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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24
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Fu E, Shen J, Dong Z, Zhang W, Zhang Y, Chen F, Cheng Z, Zhao X, Shuai L, Lu X. Histone demethylase Kdm2a regulates germ cell genes and endogenous retroviruses in embryonic stem cells. Epigenomics 2019; 11:751-766. [PMID: 31172793 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2018-0126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: To investigate the function of Kdm2a in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Materials & methods: Expression profile analysis after Kdm2a knockout. Analysis of Kdm2a, H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 ChIP-seq data in ESCs. qPCR analysis and ChIP-qPCR analysis of epigenetic changes after Kdm2a loss. Results:Kdm2a was dispensable for pluripotency maintenance in ESCs. Kdm2a genomic binding profile was positively correlated with that of H3K4me3, Zfx and Tet1. Kdm2a directly regulated germ cell genes in primordial germ cell-like cells. Kdm2a loss led to the reduced expression of endogenous retrovirus IAPEy and resulted in the gain of H3K36me2 and loss of H3K4me3 on IAPEy. Conclusion: Kdm2a regulates germ cell genes and endogenous retroviruses in ESCs possibly through demethylating H3K36me2 and influencing H3K4me3 deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enze Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Haihe Education Park, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Jian Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Haihe Education Park, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Zhiqiang Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Haihe Education Park, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, PR China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Weiyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Haihe Education Park, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Yongwang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Haihe Education Park, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Fuquan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Haihe Education Park, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Zhi Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Haihe Education Park, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Xin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Haihe Education Park, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Ling Shuai
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Haihe Education Park, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Xinyi Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Haihe Education Park, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, PR China
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25
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Percharde M, Lin CJ, Yin Y, Guan J, Peixoto GA, Bulut-Karslioglu A, Biechele S, Huang B, Shen X, Ramalho-Santos M. A LINE1-Nucleolin Partnership Regulates Early Development and ESC Identity. Cell 2018; 174:391-405.e19. [PMID: 29937225 PMCID: PMC6046266 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.05.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 312] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Transposable elements represent nearly half of mammalian genomes and are generally described as parasites, or "junk DNA." The LINE1 retrotransposon is the most abundant class and is thought to be deleterious for cells, yet it is paradoxically highly expressed during early development. Here, we report that LINE1 plays essential roles in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and pre-implantation embryos. In ESCs, LINE1 acts as a nuclear RNA scaffold that recruits Nucleolin and Kap1/Trim28 to repress Dux, the master activator of a transcriptional program specific to the 2-cell embryo. In parallel, LINE1 RNA mediates binding of Nucleolin and Kap1 to rDNA, promoting rRNA synthesis and ESC self-renewal. In embryos, LINE1 RNA is required for Dux silencing, synthesis of rRNA, and exit from the 2-cell stage. The results reveal an essential partnership between LINE1 RNA, Nucleolin, Kap1, and peri-nucleolar chromatin in the regulation of transcription, developmental potency, and ESC self-renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Percharde
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Chih-Jen Lin
- The University of Edinburgh, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, Scotland, UK
| | - Yafei Yin
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Juan Guan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Gabriel A Peixoto
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Aydan Bulut-Karslioglu
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Steffen Biechele
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Bo Huang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Xiaohua Shen
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Miguel Ramalho-Santos
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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26
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Defective germline reprogramming rewires the spermatogonial transcriptome. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2018; 25:394-404. [PMID: 29728652 PMCID: PMC6086329 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-018-0058-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Defective germline reprogramming in Miwi2- and Dnmt3l-deficient mice results in the failure to reestablish transposon silencing, meiotic arrest and progressive loss of spermatogonia. Here we sought to understand the molecular basis for this spermatogonial dysfunction. Through a combination of imaging, conditional genetics and transcriptome analysis, we demonstrate that germ cell elimination in the respective mutants arises due to defective de novo genome methylation during reprogramming rather than a function for the respective factors within spermatogonia. In both Miwi2-/- and Dnmt3l-/- spermatogonia the intracisternal-A particle (IAP) family of endogenous retroviruses is de-repressed, but in contrast to meiotic cells DNA damage is not observed. Instead we find that unmethylated IAP promoters rewire the spermatogonial transcriptome by driving expression of neighboring genes. Finally, spermatogonial numbers, proliferation and differentiation are altered in Miwi2-/- and Dnmt3l-/- mice. In summary, defective reprogramming deregulates the spermatogonial transcriptome and may underlie spermatogonial dysfunction.
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27
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Lee CC, Peng SH, Shen L, Lee CF, Du TH, Kang ML, Xu GL, Upadhyay AK, Cheng X, Yan YT, Zhang Y, Juan LJ. The Role of N-α-acetyltransferase 10 Protein in DNA Methylation and Genomic Imprinting. Mol Cell 2017; 68:89-103.e7. [PMID: 28943313 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2017.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Revised: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Genomic imprinting is an allelic gene expression phenomenon primarily controlled by allele-specific DNA methylation at the imprinting control region (ICR), but the underlying mechanism remains largely unclear. N-α-acetyltransferase 10 protein (Naa10p) catalyzes N-α-acetylation of nascent proteins, and mutation of human Naa10p is linked to severe developmental delays. Here we report that Naa10-null mice display partial embryonic lethality, growth retardation, brain disorders, and maternal effect lethality, phenotypes commonly observed in defective genomic imprinting. Genome-wide analyses further revealed global DNA hypomethylation and enriched dysregulation of imprinted genes in Naa10p-knockout embryos and embryonic stem cells. Mechanistically, Naa10p facilitates binding of DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) to DNA substrates, including the ICRs of the imprinted allele during S phase. Moreover, the lethal Ogden syndrome-associated mutation of human Naa10p disrupts its binding to the ICR of H19 and Dnmt1 recruitment. Our study thus links Naa10p mutation-associated Ogden syndrome to defective DNA methylation and genomic imprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Cheng Lee
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Shih-Huan Peng
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan, ROC; Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Li Shen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Chung-Fan Lee
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ting-Huei Du
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ming-Lun Kang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Guo-Liang Xu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Anup K Upadhyay
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yu-Ting Yan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Li-Jung Juan
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan, ROC.
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28
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Orecchini E, Frassinelli L, Michienzi A. Restricting retrotransposons: ADAR1 is another guardian of the human genome. RNA Biol 2017. [PMID: 28640667 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2017.1341033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
ADAR1 is an enzyme that belongs to the Adenosine Deaminases Acting on RNA (ADARs) family. These enzymes deaminate adenosines to inosines (RNA editing A-to-I) within double-stranded RNA regions in transcripts. Since inosines are recognized as guanosines by the cellular machinery, RNA editing mediated by ADARs can either lead to the formation of an altered protein (recoding) or affect different aspects of RNA metabolism. Recently, a proteomic analysis led to the identification of novel ADAR1-associated factors and found that a good fraction of them is shared with the Long Interspersed Element 1 (LINE-1 or L1) ribonucleoparticles (RNPs). This evidence suggested a possible role of ADAR1 in regulating the L1 life cycle. By taking advantage of the use of cell culture retrotransposition assays, a novel function of this deaminase as an inhibitor of L1 retrotransposition was demonstrated. These results pave the way toward a better comprehension of the mechanisms of restriction of retrotransposons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Orecchini
- a Department of Biomedicine and Prevention , University of Rome 'Tor Vergata' , Rome , Italy
| | - Loredana Frassinelli
- a Department of Biomedicine and Prevention , University of Rome 'Tor Vergata' , Rome , Italy
| | - Alessandro Michienzi
- a Department of Biomedicine and Prevention , University of Rome 'Tor Vergata' , Rome , Italy
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29
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30
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Abstract
The PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway is essential for retrotransposon silencing. In piRNA-deficient mice, L1-overexpressing male germ cells exhibit excessive DNA damage and meiotic defects. It remains unknown whether L1 expression simply highlights piRNA deficiency or actually drives the germ-cell demise. Specifically, the sheer abundance of genomic L1 copies prevents reliable quantification of new insertions. Here, we developed a codon-optimized L1 transgene that is controlled by an endogenous mouse L1 promoter. Importantly, DNA methylation dynamics of a single-copy transgene were indistinguishable from those of endogenous L1s. Analysis of Mov10l1-/- testes established that de novo methylation of the L1 transgene required the intact piRNA pathway. Consistent with loss of DNA methylation and programmed reduction of H3K9me2 at meiotic onset, the transgene showed 1,400-fold increase in RNA expression and consequently 70-fold increase in retrotransposition in postnatal day 14 Mov10l1-/- germ cells compared with the wild-type. Analysis of adult Mov10l1-/- germ-cell fractions indicated a stage-specific increase of retrotransposition in the early meiotic prophase. However, extrapolation of the transgene data to endogenous L1s suggests that it is unlikely insertional mutagenesis alone accounts for the Mov10l1-/- phenotype. Indeed, pharmacological inhibition of reverse transcription did not rescue the meiotic defect. Cumulatively, these results establish the occurrence of productive L1 mobilization in the absence of an intact piRNA pathway but leave open the possibility of processes preceding L1 integration in triggering meiotic checkpoints and germ-cell death. Additionally, our data suggest that many heritable L1 insertions originate from individuals with partially compromised piRNA defense.
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31
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Davis MP, Carrieri C, Saini HK, van Dongen S, Leonardi T, Bussotti G, Monahan JM, Auchynnikava T, Bitetti A, Rappsilber J, Allshire RC, Shkumatava A, O'Carroll D, Enright AJ. Transposon-driven transcription is a conserved feature of vertebrate spermatogenesis and transcript evolution. EMBO Rep 2017; 18:1231-1247. [PMID: 28500258 PMCID: PMC5494522 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201744059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is associated with major and unique changes to chromosomes and chromatin. Here, we sought to understand the impact of these changes on spermatogenic transcriptomes. We show that long terminal repeats (LTRs) of specific mouse endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) drive the expression of many long non‐coding transcripts (lncRNA). This process occurs post‐mitotically predominantly in spermatocytes and round spermatids. We demonstrate that this transposon‐driven lncRNA expression is a conserved feature of vertebrate spermatogenesis. We propose that transposon promoters are a mechanism by which the genome can explore novel transcriptional substrates, increasing evolutionary plasticity and allowing for the genesis of novel coding and non‐coding genes. Accordingly, we show that a small fraction of these novel ERV‐driven transcripts encode short open reading frames that produce detectable peptides. Finally, we find that distinct ERV elements from the same subfamilies act as differentially activated promoters in a tissue‐specific context. In summary, we demonstrate that LTRs can act as tissue‐specific promoters and contribute to post‐mitotic spermatogenic transcriptome diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew P Davis
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK
| | - Claudia Carrieri
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Mouse Biology Outstation, Monterotondo, Italy.,MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Harpreet K Saini
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK
| | - Stijn van Dongen
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK
| | - Tommaso Leonardi
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK
| | - Giovanni Bussotti
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK.,Institut Pasteur - Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, C3BI, USR 3756 IP CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Jack M Monahan
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK
| | - Tania Auchynnikava
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Angelo Bitetti
- Institut Curie - CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, Paris, France
| | - Juri Rappsilber
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robin C Allshire
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Dónal O'Carroll
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Mouse Biology Outstation, Monterotondo, Italy .,MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Anton J Enright
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK
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32
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Abstract
Despite often being classified as selfish or junk DNA, transposable elements (TEs) are a group of abundant genetic sequences that have a significant impact on mammalian development and genome regulation. In recent years, our understanding of how pre-existing TEs affect genome architecture, gene regulatory networks and protein function during mammalian embryogenesis has dramatically expanded. In addition, the mobilization of active TEs in selected cell types has been shown to generate genetic variation during development and in fully differentiated tissues. Importantly, the ongoing domestication and evolution of TEs appears to provide a rich source of regulatory elements, functional modules and genetic variation that fuels the evolution of mammalian developmental processes. Here, we review the functional impact that TEs exert on mammalian developmental processes and discuss how the somatic activity of TEs can influence gene regulatory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose L Garcia-Perez
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
- Department of Genomic Medicine, GENYO, Centre for Genomics & Oncology (Pfizer - University of Granada & Andalusian Regional Government), PTS Granada, Avda. de la Ilustración 114, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Thomas J Widmann
- Department of Genomic Medicine, GENYO, Centre for Genomics & Oncology (Pfizer - University of Granada & Andalusian Regional Government), PTS Granada, Avda. de la Ilustración 114, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Ian R Adams
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
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33
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Prior S, Miousse IR, Nzabarushimana E, Pathak R, Skinner C, Kutanzi KR, Allen AR, Raber J, Tackett AJ, Hauer-Jensen M, Nelson GA, Koturbash I. Densely ionizing radiation affects DNA methylation of selective LINE-1 elements. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2016; 150:470-481. [PMID: 27419368 PMCID: PMC5003736 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.06.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Long Interspersed Nucleotide Element 1 (LINE-1) retrotransposons are heavily methylated and are the most abundant transposable elements in mammalian genomes. Here, we investigated the differential DNA methylation within the LINE-1 under normal conditions and in response to environmentally relevant doses of sparsely and densely ionizing radiation. We demonstrate that DNA methylation of LINE-1 elements in the lungs of C57BL6 mice is dependent on their evolutionary age, where the elder age of the element is associated with the lower extent of DNA methylation. Exposure to 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and methionine-deficient diet affected DNA methylation of selective LINE-1 elements in an age- and promoter type-dependent manner. Exposure to densely IR, but not sparsely IR, resulted in DNA hypermethylation of older LINE-1 elements, while the DNA methylation of evolutionary younger elements remained mostly unchanged. We also demonstrate that exposure to densely IR increased mRNA and protein levels of LINE-1 via the loss of the histone H3K9 dimethylation and an increase in the H3K4 trimethylation at the LINE-1 5'-untranslated region, independently of DNA methylation. Our findings suggest that DNA methylation is important for regulation of LINE-1 expression under normal conditions, but histone modifications may dictate the transcriptional activity of LINE-1 in response to exposure to densely IR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Prior
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Isabelle R Miousse
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Etienne Nzabarushimana
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; Department of Bioinformatics, School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Rupak Pathak
- Division of Radiation Health, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Charles Skinner
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Kristy R Kutanzi
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Antiño R Allen
- Division of Radiation Health, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Jacob Raber
- Departments of Behavioral Neuroscience, Neurology, and Radiation Medicine, Division of Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Alan J Tackett
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Martin Hauer-Jensen
- Division of Radiation Health, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Gregory A Nelson
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Radiation Research, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Igor Koturbash
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
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34
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Fu Q, Pandey RR, Leu NA, Pillai RS, Wang PJ. Mutations in the MOV10L1 ATP Hydrolysis Motif Cause piRNA Biogenesis Failure and Male Sterility in Mice. Biol Reprod 2016; 95:103. [PMID: 27655786 PMCID: PMC5178147 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.116.142430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs. piRNAs protect the genome integrity of the germline by silencing active transposable elements and are essential for germ cell development. Most piRNA pathway proteins are evolutionarily conserved. MOV10L1, a testis-specific RNA helicase, binds to piRNA precursors and is a master regulator of piRNA biogenesis in mouse. Here we report that mutation of the MOV10L1 ATP hydrolysis site leads to depletion of piRNAs on Piwi proteins, de-repression of transposable elements, and conglomeration of piRNA pathway proteins into polar granules. The Mov10l1 mutant mice exhibit meiotic arrest and male sterility. Our results show that mutation of the MOV10L1 ATP hydrolysis site perturbs piRNA biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Fu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Radha Raman Pandey
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - N. Adrian Leu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ramesh S. Pillai
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - P. Jeremy Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Correspondence: P. Jeremy Wang, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 3800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. E-mail:
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35
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Abstract
Retrotransposons have generated about 40 % of the human genome. This review examines the strategies the cell has evolved to coexist with these genomic "parasites", focussing on the non-long terminal repeat retrotransposons of humans and mice. Some of the restriction factors for retrotransposition, including the APOBECs, MOV10, RNASEL, SAMHD1, TREX1, and ZAP, also limit replication of retroviruses, including HIV, and are part of the intrinsic immune system of the cell. Many of these proteins act in the cytoplasm to degrade retroelement RNA or inhibit its translation. Some factors act in the nucleus and involve DNA repair enzymes or epigenetic processes of DNA methylation and histone modification. RISC and piRNA pathway proteins protect the germline. Retrotransposon control is relaxed in some cell types, such as neurons in the brain, stem cells, and in certain types of disease and cancer, with implications for human health and disease. This review also considers potential pitfalls in interpreting retrotransposon-related data, as well as issues to consider for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- John L. Goodier
- McKusick-Nathans Institute for Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA 212051
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36
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Hypoxia causes transgenerational impairments in reproduction of fish. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12114. [PMID: 27373813 PMCID: PMC4932196 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia is amongst the most widespread and pressing problems in aquatic environments. Here we demonstrate that fish (Oryzias melastigma) exposed to hypoxia show reproductive impairments (retarded gonad development, decrease in sperm count and sperm motility) in F1 and F2 generations despite these progenies (and their germ cells) having never been exposed to hypoxia. We further show that the observed transgenerational reproductive impairments are associated with a differential methylation pattern of specific genes in sperm of both F0 and F2 coupled with relevant transcriptomic and proteomic alterations, which may impair spermatogenesis. The discovered transgenerational and epigenetic effects suggest that hypoxia might pose a dramatic and long-lasting threat to the sustainability of fish populations. Because the genes regulating spermatogenesis and epigenetic modifications are highly conserved among vertebrates, these results may also shed light on the potential transgenerational effects of hypoxia on other vertebrates, including humans. Hypoxia has diverse effects on aquatic life. Wang et al. show that reproductive defects resulting from hypoxia are epigenetically heritable in Japanese rice fish, and that this intergenerational inheritance is accompanied by differential methylation and gene expression in sperm.
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Hanke K, Hohn O, Bannert N. HERV-K(HML-2), a seemingly silent subtenant - but still waters run deep. APMIS 2016; 124:67-87. [PMID: 26818263 DOI: 10.1111/apm.12475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
A large proportion of the human genome consists of endogenous retroviruses, some of which are well preserved, showing transcriptional activity, and expressing retroviral proteins. The HERV-K(HML-2) family represents the most intact members of these elements, with some having open and intact reading frames for viral proteins and the ability to form virus-like particles. Although generally suppressed in most healthy tissues by a variety of epigenetic processes and antiviral mechanisms, there is evidence that some members of this family are (at least partly) still active - particularly in certain stem cells and various tumors. This raises the possibility of their involvement in tumor induction or in developmental processes. In recent years, many new insights into this fascinating field have been attained, and this review focuses on new discoveries about coevolutionary events and intracellular defense mechanisms against HERV-K(HML-2) activity. We also describe what might occur when these mechanisms fail or become modulated by viral proteins or other viruses and discuss the new vistas opened up by the reconstitution of ancestral viral proteins and even complete HML-2 viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Hanke
- Department HIV and Other Retroviruses, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Hohn
- Department HIV and Other Retroviruses, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Norbert Bannert
- Department HIV and Other Retroviruses, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
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S-adenosyl methionine is necessary for inhibition of the methyltransferase G9a by the lysine 9 to methionine mutation on histone H3. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:6182-7. [PMID: 27185940 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1605523113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Lysine to methionine (K-to-M) mutations in genes encoding histone H3 are thought to drive a subset of pediatric brain and bone cancers. These high-frequency K-to-M mutations occur at sites of methylation on histone H3, and tumors containing the mutant histones exhibit a global loss of specific histone methylation marks. Previous studies showed that K-to-M mutant histones, also known as oncohistones, are potent orthosteric inhibitors of specific Su(var)3-9, Enhancer-of-zeste, Trithorax (SET) domain methyltransferases. However, the biochemical and biophysical details of the interaction between K-to-M mutant histones and the respective SET domain methyltransferases are currently unknown. Here, we use the histone H3K9-directed methyltransferase G9a as a model to explore the mechanism of inhibition by K-to-M oncohistones. X-ray cocrystal structures revealed that the K9M residue of histone H3 occupies the active site cavity of G9a, and kinetic analysis indicates competitive inhibition of G9a by histone H3K9M. Additionally, we find that the cofactor S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) is necessary for stable interaction between G9a and H3K9M histone. Consistent with the formation of a ternary complex, we find that the inhibitory peptide is uncompetitive with regard to SAM. These data and others indicate that K-to-M oncohistones promote global loss of specific lysine methylation through sequestration and inhibition of SAM-bound SET domain methyltransferases.
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Roostaee A, Benoit YD, Boudjadi S, Beaulieu JF. Epigenetics in Intestinal Epithelial Cell Renewal. J Cell Physiol 2016; 231:2361-7. [PMID: 27061836 PMCID: PMC5074234 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A controlled balance between cell proliferation and differentiation is essential to maintain normal intestinal tissue renewal and physiology. Such regulation is powered by several intracellular pathways that are translated into the establishment of specific transcription programs, which influence intestinal cell fate along the crypt-villus axis. One important check-point in this process occurs in the transit amplifying zone of the intestinal crypts where different signaling pathways and transcription factors cooperate to manage cellular proliferation and differentiation, before secretory or absorptive cell lineage terminal differentiation. However, the importance of epigenetic modifications such as histone methylation and acetylation in the regulation of these processes is still incompletely understood. There have been recent advances in identifying the impact of histone modifications and chromatin remodelers on the proliferation and differentiation of normal intestinal crypt cells. In this review we discuss recent discoveries on the role of the cellular epigenome in intestinal cell fate, development, and tissue renewal. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 2361-2367, 2016. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Cellular Physiology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Roostaee
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Laboratory of Intestinal Physiopathology, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Yannick D Benoit
- Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Salah Boudjadi
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Laboratory of Intestinal Physiopathology, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean-François Beaulieu
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Laboratory of Intestinal Physiopathology, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
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Yang F, Wang PJ. Multiple LINEs of retrotransposon silencing mechanisms in the mammalian germline. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2016; 59:118-125. [PMID: 26957474 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Revised: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Retrotransposons play an important role in genome evolution but pose acute challenges to host genome integrity, particularly in early stage germ cells where epigenetic control is relaxed to permit genome-wide reprogramming. In most species, the inability to silence retrotransposons in the germline is usually associated with sterility. LINE1 is the most abundant retrotransposon type in the mammalian genome. Mammalian germ cells employ multiple mechanisms to suppress retrotransposon activity, including small non-coding piRNAs, DNA methylation, and repressive histone modifications. Novel factors contributing to the epigenetic silencing of retrotransposons in the germline continue to be identified. Recent studies have provided insight into how epigenetic changes associated with retrotransposon activation impact on fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 3800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - P Jeremy Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 3800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Molaro A, Malik HS. Hide and seek: how chromatin-based pathways silence retroelements in the mammalian germline. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2016; 37:51-58. [PMID: 26821364 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2015.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Revised: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Retroelements comprise a major fraction of most mammalian genomes. To protect their fitness and stability, hosts must keep retroelements in check in their germline. In most tissues mobile element insertions are decorated with chromatin modifications suggestive of transcriptional silencing. However, germline cells undergo massive chromatin reprogramming events, which erase repressive chromatin marks and necessitate de novo re-establishment of silencing. How do host genomes achieve the discrimination necessary for this de novo silencing? A series of recent studies have revealed aspects of the multi-pronged strategy that mammalian genomes use to identify and silence retroelements. These strategies include the use of small RNA-guides, of specialized DNA-binding protein adaptors and of proteins that repair chromatin discontinuities caused by retroelement insertions. Genetic analyses reveal the importance of these mechanisms of protection, each of which specializes in silencing retroelements of different evolutionary ages. Together, these strategies allow mammalian genomes to withstand the high burden of their parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Molaro
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, United States
| | - Harmit S Malik
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, United States; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, United States.
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Sound of silence: the properties and functions of repressive Lys methyltransferases. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2015. [PMID: 26204160 DOI: 10.1038/nrm4029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The methylation of histone Lys residues by Lys methyltransferases (KMTs) regulates chromatin organization and either activates or represses gene expression, depending on the residue that is targeted. KMTs are emerging as key components in several cellular processes, and their deregulation is often associated with pathogenesis. Here, we review the current knowledge on the main KMTs that are associated with gene silencing: namely, those responsible for methylating histone H3 Lys 9 (H3K9), H3K27 and H4K20. We discuss their biochemical properties and the various mechanisms by which they are targeted to the chromatin and regulate gene expression, as well as new data on the interplay between them and other chromatin modifiers.
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Williams Z, Morozov P, Mihailovic A, Lin C, Puvvula P, Juranek S, Rosenwaks Z, Tuschl T. Discovery and Characterization of piRNAs in the Human Fetal Ovary. Cell Rep 2015; 13:854-863. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2014] [Revised: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Zamudio N, Barau J, Teissandier A, Walter M, Borsos M, Servant N, Bourc'his D. DNA methylation restrains transposons from adopting a chromatin signature permissive for meiotic recombination. Genes Dev 2015; 29:1256-70. [PMID: 26109049 PMCID: PMC4495397 DOI: 10.1101/gad.257840.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Zamudio et al. demonstrate that DNA methylation restrains transposons from adopting chromatin characteristics amenable to meiotic recombination, which they propose prevents the occurrence of erratic chromosomal events. DNA methylation is essential for protecting the mammalian germline against transposons. When DNA methylation-based transposon control is defective, meiotic chromosome pairing is consistently impaired during spermatogenesis: How and why meiosis is vulnerable to transposon activity is unknown. Using two DNA methylation-deficient backgrounds, the Dnmt3L and Miwi2 mutant mice, we reveal that DNA methylation is largely dispensable for silencing transposons before meiosis onset. After this, it becomes crucial to back up to a developmentally programmed H3K9me2 loss. Massive retrotransposition does not occur following transposon derepression, but the meiotic chromatin landscape is profoundly affected. Indeed, H3K4me3 marks gained over transcriptionally active transposons correlate with formation of SPO11-dependent double-strand breaks and recruitment of the DMC1 repair enzyme in Dnmt3L−/− meiotic cells, whereas these features are normally exclusive to meiotic recombination hot spots. Here, we demonstrate that DNA methylation restrains transposons from adopting chromatin characteristics amenable to meiotic recombination, which we propose prevents the occurrence of erratic chromosomal events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Zamudio
- UMR3215, CNRS, Paris 75005, France; U934, INSERM Institut Curie, Paris 75005, France
| | - Joan Barau
- UMR3215, CNRS, Paris 75005, France; U934, INSERM Institut Curie, Paris 75005, France
| | - Aurélie Teissandier
- UMR3215, CNRS, Paris 75005, France; U934, INSERM Institut Curie, Paris 75005, France; U900, INSERM, Paris 75005, France; Mines ParisTech, Institut Curie, Paris 75005, France
| | - Marius Walter
- UMR3215, CNRS, Paris 75005, France; U934, INSERM Institut Curie, Paris 75005, France
| | - Maté Borsos
- UMR3215, CNRS, Paris 75005, France; U934, INSERM Institut Curie, Paris 75005, France
| | - Nicolas Servant
- U900, INSERM, Paris 75005, France; Mines ParisTech, Institut Curie, Paris 75005, France
| | - Déborah Bourc'his
- UMR3215, CNRS, Paris 75005, France; U934, INSERM Institut Curie, Paris 75005, France
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Guo Y, Yang B, Li Y, Xu X, Maine EM. Enrichment of H3K9me2 on Unsynapsed Chromatin in Caenorhabditis elegans Does Not Target de Novo Sites. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2015; 5:1865-78. [PMID: 26156747 PMCID: PMC4555223 DOI: 10.1534/g3.115.019828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Many organisms alter the chromatin state of unsynapsed chromosomes during meiotic prophase, a phenomenon hypothesized to function in maintaining germline integrity. In Caenorhabditis elegans, histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2) is detected by immunolabeling as enriched on unsynapsed meiotic chromosomes. Loss of the SET domain protein, MET-2, greatly reduces H3K9me2 abundance and results in germline mortality. Here, we used him-8 mutations to disable X chromosome synapsis and performed a combination of molecular assays to map the sites of H3K9me2 accumulation, evaluate H3K9me2 abundance in germline vs. whole animals, and evaluate the impact of H3K9me2 loss on the germline transcriptome. Our data indicate that H3K9me2 is elevated broadly across the X chromosome and at defined X chromosomal sites in him-8 adults compared with controls. H3K9me2 levels are also elevated to a lesser degree at sites on synapsed chromosomes in him-8 adults compared with controls. These results suggest that MET-2 activity is elevated in him-8 mutants generally as well as targeted preferentially to the unsynapsed X. Abundance of H3K9me2 and other histone H3 modifications is low in germline chromatin compared with whole animals, which may facilitate genome reprogramming during gametogenesis. Loss of H3K9me2 has a subtle impact on the him-8 germline transcriptome, suggesting H3K9me2 may not be a major regulator of developmental gene expression in C. elegans. We hypothesize H3K9me2 may have a structural function critical for germline immortality, and a greater abundance of these marks may be required when a chromosome does not synapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqing Guo
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244
| | - Bing Yang
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244
| | - Yini Li
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244
| | - Xia Xu
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244
| | - Eleanor M Maine
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244
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Jachowicz JW, Torres-Padilla ME. LINEs in mice: features, families, and potential roles in early development. Chromosoma 2015; 125:29-39. [PMID: 25975894 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-015-0520-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Revised: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Approximately half of the mammalian genome is composed of repetitive elements, including LINE-1 (L1) elements. Because of their potential ability to transpose and integrate into other regions of the genome, their activation represents a threat to genome stability. Molecular pathways have emerged to tightly regulate and repress their transcriptional activity, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and RNA pathways. It has become evident that Line-L1 elements are evolutionary diverse and dedicated repression pathways have been recently uncovered that discriminate between evolutionary old and young elements, with RNA-directed silencing mechanisms playing a prominent role. During periods of epigenetic reprogramming in development, specific classes of repetitive elements are upregulated, presumably due to the loss of most heterochromatic marks in this process. While we have learnt a lot on the molecular mechanisms that regulate Line-L1 expression over the last years, it is still unclear whether reactivation of Line-L1 after fertilization serves a functional purpose or it is a simple side effect of reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna W Jachowicz
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS/INSERM U964, Université de Strasbourg, 67404, Illkirch, France
| | - Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS/INSERM U964, Université de Strasbourg, 67404, Illkirch, France.
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