1
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Barrero M, Lazarenkov A, Blanco E, Palma LG, López-Rubio AV, Bauer M, Bigas A, Di Croce L, Sardina JL, Payer B. The interferon γ pathway enhances pluripotency and X-chromosome reactivation in iPSC reprogramming. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj8862. [PMID: 39110794 PMCID: PMC11305397 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj8862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Reprogramming somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) requires activation of the pluripotency network and resetting of the epigenome by erasing the epigenetic memory of the somatic state. In female mouse cells, a critical epigenetic reprogramming step is the reactivation of the inactive X chromosome. Despite its importance, a systematic understanding of the regulatory networks linking pluripotency and X-reactivation is missing. Here, we reveal important pathways for pluripotency acquisition and X-reactivation using a genome-wide CRISPR screen during neural precursor to iPSC reprogramming. In particular, we discover that activation of the interferon γ (IFNγ) pathway early during reprogramming accelerates pluripotency acquisition and X-reactivation. IFNγ stimulates STAT3 signaling and the pluripotency network and leads to enhanced TET-mediated DNA demethylation, which consequently boosts X-reactivation. We therefore gain a mechanistic understanding of the role of IFNγ in reprogramming and X-reactivation and provide a comprehensive resource of the molecular networks involved in these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Barrero
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | | | - Enrique Blanco
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Luis G. Palma
- Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona 08916, Spain
- Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques, CIBERONC, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | | | - Moritz Bauer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Anna Bigas
- Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona 08916, Spain
- Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques, CIBERONC, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Luciano Di Croce
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona 08003, Spain
- ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona 08010, Spain
| | - José Luis Sardina
- Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona 08916, Spain
| | - Bernhard Payer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona 08003, Spain
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2
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Zhou H, Ye P, Xiong W, Duan X, Jing S, He Y, Zeng Z, Wei Y, Ye Q. Genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screening in stem cells: theories, applications and challenges. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:218. [PMID: 39026343 PMCID: PMC11264826 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03831-z] [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: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to the rapid development of stem cell technology, there have been tremendous advances in molecular biological and pathological research, cell therapy as well as organoid technologies over the past decades. Advances in genome editing technology, particularly the discovery of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-related protein 9 (Cas9), have further facilitated the rapid development of stem cell researches. The CRISPR-Cas9 technology now goes beyond creating single gene editing to enable the inhibition or activation of endogenous gene loci by fusing inhibitory (CRISPRi) or activating (CRISPRa) domains with deactivated Cas9 proteins (dCas9). These tools have been utilized in genome-scale CRISPRi/a screen to recognize hereditary modifiers that are synergistic or opposing to malady mutations in an orderly and fair manner, thereby identifying illness mechanisms and discovering novel restorative targets to accelerate medicinal discovery investigation. However, the application of this technique is still relatively rare in stem cell research. There are numerous specialized challenges in applying large-scale useful genomics approaches to differentiated stem cell populations. Here, we present the first comprehensive review on CRISPR-based functional genomics screening in the field of stem cells, as well as practical considerations implemented in a range of scenarios, and exploration of the insights of CRISPR-based screen into cell fates, disease mechanisms and cell treatments in stem cell models. This review will broadly benefit scientists, engineers and medical practitioners in the areas of stem cell research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Zhou
- Center of Regenerative Medicine and Department of Stomatology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Ye
- Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Center of Regenerative Medicine and Department of Stomatology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingxiang Duan
- Center of Regenerative Medicine and Department of Stomatology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuili Jing
- Center of Regenerative Medicine and Department of Stomatology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan He
- Institute of Regenerative and Translational Medicine, Tianyou Hospital of Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430064, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Zhi Zeng
- Department of Pathology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yen Wei
- The Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China.
| | - Qingsong Ye
- Center of Regenerative Medicine and Department of Stomatology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, People's Republic of China.
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3
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Xu Y, Yu F, Feng W, Wei J, Su S, Li J, Hua G, Li W, Tang Y. Genetic variation mining of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) based on transcriptome data from public databases. Brief Funct Genomics 2024:elae030. [PMID: 38984674 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elae030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
At present, public databases house an extensive repository of transcriptome data, with the volume continuing to grow at an accelerated pace. Utilizing these data effectively is a shared interest within the scientific community. In this study, we introduced a novel strategy that harnesses SNPs and InDels identified from transcriptome data, combined with sample metadata from databases, to effectively screen for molecular markers correlated with traits. We utilized 228 transcriptome datasets of Eriocheir sinensis from the NCBI database and employed the Genome Analysis Toolkit software to identify 96 388 SNPs and 20 645 InDels. Employing the genome-wide association study analysis, in conjunction with the gender information from databases, we identified 3456 sex-biased SNPs and 639 sex-biased InDels. The KOG and KEGG annotations of the sex-biased SNPs and InDels revealed that these genes were primarily involved in the metabolic processes of E. sinensis. Combined with SnpEff annotation and PCR experimental validation, a highly sex-biased SNP located in the Kelch domain containing 4 (Klhdc4) gene, CHR67-6415071, was found to alter the splicing sites of Klhdc4, generating two splice variants, Klhdc4_a and Klhdc4_b. Additionally, Klhdc4 exhibited robust expression across the ovaries, testes, and accessory glands. The sex-biased SNPs and InDels identified in this study are conducive to the development of unisexual cultivation methods for E. sinensis, and the alternative splicing event caused by the sex-biased SNP in Klhdc4 may serve as a potential mechanism for sex regulation in E. sinensis. The analysis strategy employed in this study represents a new direction for the rational exploitation and utilization of transcriptome data in public databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanfeng Xu
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214128, China
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081, China
| | - Fan Yu
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214128, China
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081, China
| | - Wenrong Feng
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214128, China
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081, China
| | - Jia Wei
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214128, China
| | - Shengyan Su
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214128, China
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081, China
| | - Jianlin Li
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214128, China
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081, China
| | - Guoan Hua
- Jiangsu Haorun Biological Industry Group Co., Ltd, Taizhou 225309, China
| | - Wenjing Li
- Jiangsu Haorun Biological Industry Group Co., Ltd, Taizhou 225309, China
| | - Yongkai Tang
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214128, China
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi 214081, China
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4
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Topa H, Benoit-Pilven C, Tukiainen T, Pietiläinen O. X-chromosome inactivation in human iPSCs provides insight into X-regulated gene expression in autosomes. Genome Biol 2024; 25:144. [PMID: 38822397 PMCID: PMC11143737 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03286-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Variation in X chromosome inactivation (XCI) in human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can impact their ability to model biological sex biases. The gene-wise landscape of X chromosome gene dosage remains unresolved in female hiPSCs. To characterize patterns of de-repression and escape from inactivation, we performed a systematic survey of allele specific expression in 165 female hiPSC lines. RESULTS XCI erosion is non-random and primarily affects genes that escape XCI in human tissues. Individual genes and cell lines vary in the frequency and degree of de-repression. Bi-allelic expression increases gradually after modest decrease of XIST in cultures, whose loss is commonly used to mark lines with eroded XCI. We identify three clusters of female lines at different stages of XCI. Increased XCI erosion amplifies female-biased expression at hypomethylated sites and regions normally occupied by repressive histone marks, lowering male-biased differences in the X chromosome. In autosomes, erosion modifies sex differences in a dose-dependent way. Male-biased genes are enriched for hypermethylated regions, and de-repression of XIST-bound autosomal genes in female lines attenuates normal male-biased gene expression in eroded lines. XCI erosion can compensate for a dominant loss of function effect in several disease genes. CONCLUSIONS We present a comprehensive view of X chromosome gene dosage in hiPSCs and implicate a direct mechanism for XCI erosion in regulating autosomal gene expression in trans. The uncommon and variable reactivation of X chromosome genes in female hiPSCs can provide insight into X chromosome's role in regulating gene expression and sex differences in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hande Topa
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Clara Benoit-Pilven
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Taru Tukiainen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Pietiläinen
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- The Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute, of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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5
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Kanata E, Duffié R, Schulz EG. Establishment and maintenance of random monoallelic expression. Development 2024; 151:dev201741. [PMID: 38813842 PMCID: PMC11166465 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201741] [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] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
This Review elucidates the regulatory principles of random monoallelic expression by focusing on two well-studied examples: the X-chromosome inactivation regulator Xist and the olfactory receptor gene family. Although the choice of a single X chromosome or olfactory receptor occurs in different developmental contexts, common gene regulatory principles guide monoallelic expression in both systems. In both cases, an event breaks the symmetry between genetically and epigenetically identical copies of the gene, leading to the expression of one single random allele, stabilized through negative feedback control. Although many regulatory steps that govern the establishment and maintenance of monoallelic expression have been identified, key pieces of the puzzle are still missing. We provide an overview of the current knowledge and models for the monoallelic expression of Xist and olfactory receptors. We discuss their similarities and differences, and highlight open questions and approaches that could guide the study of other monoallelically expressed genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Kanata
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rachel Duffié
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind, Brain, and Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Edda G. Schulz
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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6
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McClain AK, Monteleone PP, Zoldan J. Sex in cardiovascular disease: Why this biological variable should be considered in in vitro models. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn3510. [PMID: 38728407 PMCID: PMC11086622 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn3510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), the world's leading cause of death, exhibits notable epidemiological, clinical, and pathophysiological differences between sexes. Many such differences can be linked back to cardiovascular sexual dimorphism, yet sex-specific in vitro models are still not the norm. A lack of sex reporting and apparent male bias raises the question of whether in vitro CVD models faithfully recapitulate the biology of intended treatment recipients. To ensure equitable treatment for the overlooked female patient population, sex as a biological variable (SABV) inclusion must become commonplace in CVD preclinical research. Here, we discuss the role of sex in CVD and underlying cardiovascular (patho)physiology. We review shortcomings in current SABV practices, describe the relevance of sex, and highlight emerging strategies for SABV inclusion in three major in vitro model types: primary cell, stem cell, and three-dimensional models. Last, we identify key barriers to inclusive design and suggest techniques for overcoming them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K. McClain
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78751, USA
| | - Peter P. Monteleone
- Ascension Texas Cardiovascular, Austin, TX 78705, USA
- Dell School of Medicine, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Janet Zoldan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78751, USA
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7
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Wang F, Chander A, Yoon Y, Welton JM, Wallingford MC, Espejo-Serrano C, Bustos F, Findlay GM, Mager J, Bach I. Roles of the Rlim-Rex1 axis during X chromosome inactivation in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2313200120. [PMID: 38113263 PMCID: PMC10756295 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313200120] [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] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In female mice, the gene dosage from X chromosomes is adjusted by a process called X chromosome inactivation (XCI) that occurs in two steps. An imprinted form of XCI (iXCI) that silences the paternally inherited X chromosome (Xp) is initiated at the 2- to 4-cell stages. As extraembryonic cells including trophoblasts keep the Xp silenced, epiblast cells that give rise to the embryo proper reactivate the Xp and undergo a random form of XCI (rXCI) around implantation. Both iXCI and rXCI require the lncRNA Xist, which is expressed from the X to be inactivated. The X-linked E3 ubiquitin ligase Rlim (Rnf12) in conjunction with its target protein Rex1 (Zfp42), a critical repressor of Xist, have emerged as major regulators of iXCI. However, their roles in rXCI remain controversial. Investigating early mouse development, we show that the Rlim-Rex1 axis is active in pre-implantation embryos. Upon implantation Rex1 levels are downregulated independently of Rlim specifically in epiblast cells. These results provide a conceptual framework of how the functional dynamics between Rlim and Rex1 ensures regulation of iXCI but not rXCI in female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01605
| | - Ashmita Chander
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003
| | - Yeonsoo Yoon
- Division of Genes and Development, Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01605
| | - Janelle M. Welton
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003
| | - Mary C. Wallingford
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003
| | - Carmen Espejo-Serrano
- Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, DundeeDD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Francisco Bustos
- Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, DundeeDD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Greg M. Findlay
- Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, DundeeDD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Jesse Mager
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003
| | - Ingolf Bach
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA01605
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8
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Wei R, Zhang X, Li X, Wen J, Liu H, Fu J, Li L, Zhang W, Liu Z, Yang Y, Zou K. A rapid and stable spontaneous reprogramming system of Spermatogonial stem cells to Pluripotent State. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:222. [PMID: 38041111 PMCID: PMC10693117 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01150-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The scarcity of pluripotent stem cells poses a major challenge to the clinical application, given ethical and biosafety considerations. While germline stem cells commit to gamete differentiation throughout life, studies demonstrated the spontaneous acquisition of pluripotency by spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) from neonatal testes at a low frequency (1 in 1.5 × 107). Notably, this process occurs without exogenous oncogenes or chemical supplementation. However, while knockout of the p53 gene accelerates the transformation of SSCs, it also increases risk and hampers their clinical use. RESULTS We report a transformation system that efficiently and stably convert SSCs into pluripotent stem cells around 10 passages with the morphology similar to that of epiblast stem cells, which convert to embryonic stem (ES) cell-like colonies after change with ES medium. Epidermal growth factor (EGF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and fresh mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder (MEF) are essential for transformation, and addition of 2i (CHIR99021 and PD0325901) further enhanced the pluripotency. Transcriptome analysis revealed that EGF activated the RAS signaling pathway and inhibited p38 to initiate transformation, and synergically cooperated with LIF to promote the transformation. CONCLUSION This system established an efficient and safe resource of pluripotent cells from autologous germline, and provide new avenues for regenerative medicine and animal cloning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wei
- Germline Stem Cells and Microenvironment Lab, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- Stem Cell Research and Translation Center, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Germline Stem Cells and Microenvironment Lab, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- Stem Cell Research and Translation Center, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Li
- Germline Stem Cells and Microenvironment Lab, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- Stem Cell Research and Translation Center, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Jian Wen
- Germline Stem Cells and Microenvironment Lab, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- Stem Cell Research and Translation Center, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Hongyang Liu
- Germline Stem Cells and Microenvironment Lab, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- Stem Cell Research and Translation Center, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Jiqiang Fu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue-Yang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Li Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue-Yang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Wenyi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science & Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue-Yang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Kang Zou
- Germline Stem Cells and Microenvironment Lab, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
- Stem Cell Research and Translation Center, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
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9
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Sultana Z, Dorel M, Klinger B, Sieber A, Dunkel I, Blüthgen N, Schulz EG. Modeling unveils sex differences of signaling networks in mouse embryonic stem cells. Mol Syst Biol 2023; 19:e11510. [PMID: 37735975 PMCID: PMC10632733 DOI: 10.15252/msb.202211510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
For a short period during early development of mammalian embryos, both X chromosomes in females are active, before dosage compensation is ensured through X-chromosome inactivation. In female mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), which carry two active X chromosomes, increased X-dosage affects cell signaling and impairs differentiation. The underlying mechanisms, however, remain poorly understood. To dissect X-dosage effects on the signaling network in mESCs, we combine systematic perturbation experiments with mathematical modeling. We quantify the response to a variety of inhibitors and growth factors for cells with one (XO) or two X chromosomes (XX). We then build models of the signaling networks in XX and XO cells through a semi-quantitative modeling approach based on modular response analysis. We identify a novel negative feedback in the PI3K/AKT pathway through GSK3. Moreover, the presence of a single active X makes mESCs more sensitive to the differentiation-promoting Activin A signal and leads to a stronger RAF1-mediated negative feedback in the FGF-triggered MAPK pathway. The differential response to these differentiation-promoting pathways can explain the impaired differentiation propensity of female mESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeba Sultana
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto‐Warburg‐LaboratoriesMax Planck Institute for Molecular GeneticsBerlinGermany
| | - Mathurin Dorel
- Computational Modelling in Medicine, Institute of PathologyCharité‐Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Bertram Klinger
- Computational Modelling in Medicine, Institute of PathologyCharité‐Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Anja Sieber
- Computational Modelling in Medicine, Institute of PathologyCharité‐Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Ilona Dunkel
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto‐Warburg‐LaboratoriesMax Planck Institute for Molecular GeneticsBerlinGermany
| | - Nils Blüthgen
- Computational Modelling in Medicine, Institute of PathologyCharité‐Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Edda G Schulz
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto‐Warburg‐LaboratoriesMax Planck Institute for Molecular GeneticsBerlinGermany
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10
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Ravid Lustig L, Sampath Kumar A, Schwämmle T, Dunkel I, Noviello G, Limberg E, Weigert R, Pacini G, Buschow R, Ghauri A, Stötzel M, Wittler L, Meissner A, Schulz EG. GATA transcription factors drive initial Xist upregulation after fertilization through direct activation of long-range enhancers. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:1704-1715. [PMID: 37932452 PMCID: PMC10635832 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01266-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) balances gene expression between the sexes in female mammals. Shortly after fertilization, upregulation of Xist RNA from one X chromosome initiates XCI, leading to chromosome-wide gene silencing. XCI is maintained in all cell types, except the germ line and the pluripotent state where XCI is reversed. The mechanisms triggering Xist upregulation have remained elusive. Here we identify GATA transcription factors as potent activators of Xist. Through a pooled CRISPR activation screen in murine embryonic stem cells, we demonstrate that GATA1, as well as other GATA transcription factors can drive ectopic Xist expression. Moreover, we describe GATA-responsive regulatory elements in the Xist locus bound by different GATA factors. Finally, we show that GATA factors are essential for XCI induction in mouse preimplantation embryos. Deletion of GATA1/4/6 or GATA-responsive Xist enhancers in mouse zygotes effectively prevents Xist upregulation. We propose that the activity or complete absence of various GATA family members controls initial Xist upregulation, XCI maintenance in extra-embryonic lineages and XCI reversal in the epiblast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liat Ravid Lustig
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Abhishek Sampath Kumar
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Till Schwämmle
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilona Dunkel
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gemma Noviello
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elodie Limberg
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Raha Weigert
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Guido Pacini
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - René Buschow
- Microscopy and Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Afrah Ghauri
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maximilian Stötzel
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Wittler
- Transgenic Unit, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Edda G Schulz
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
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11
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Noviello G, Gjaltema RAF, Schulz EG. CasTuner is a degron and CRISPR/Cas-based toolkit for analog tuning of endogenous gene expression. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3225. [PMID: 37270532 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38909-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Certain cellular processes are dose-dependent, requiring specific quantities or stoichiometries of gene products, as exemplified by haploinsufficiency and sex-chromosome dosage compensation. Understanding dosage-sensitive processes requires tools to quantitatively modulate protein abundance. Here we present CasTuner, a CRISPR-based toolkit for analog tuning of endogenous gene expression. The system exploits Cas-derived repressors that are quantitatively tuned by ligand titration through a FKBP12F36V degron domain. CasTuner can be applied at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level using a histone deacetylase (hHDAC4) fused to dCas9, or the RNA-targeting CasRx, respectively. We demonstrate analog tuning of gene expression homogeneously across cells in mouse and human cells, as opposed to KRAB-dependent CRISPR-interference systems, which exhibit digital repression. Finally, we quantify the system's dynamics and use it to measure dose-response relationships of NANOG and OCT4 with their target genes and with the cellular phenotype. CasTuner thus provides an easy-to-implement tool to study dose-responsive processes in their physiological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Noviello
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rutger A F Gjaltema
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Edda G Schulz
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
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12
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Mattimoe T, Payer B. The compleX balancing act of controlling X-chromosome dosage and how it impacts mammalian germline development. Biochem J 2023; 480:521-537. [PMID: 37096944 PMCID: PMC10212525 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
In female mammals, the two X chromosomes are subject to epigenetic gene regulation in order to balance X-linked gene dosage with autosomes and in relation to males, which have one X and one Y chromosome. This is achieved by an intricate interplay of several processes; X-chromosome inactivation and reactivation elicit global epigenetic regulation of expression from one X chromosome in a stage-specific manner, whilst the process of X-chromosome upregulation responds to this by fine-tuning transcription levels of the second X. The germline is unique in its function of transmitting both the genetic and epigenetic information from one generation to the next, and remodelling of the X chromosome is one of the key steps in setting the stage for successful development. Here, we provide an overview of the complex dynamics of X-chromosome dosage control during embryonic and germ cell development, and aim to decipher its potential role for normal germline competency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Mattimoe
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Carrer Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bernhard Payer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Carrer Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
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13
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Cohesin controls X chromosome structure remodeling and X-reactivation during mouse iPSC-reprogramming. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2213810120. [PMID: 36669113 PMCID: PMC9942853 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2213810120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Reactivation of the inactive X chromosome is a hallmark epigenetic event during reprogramming of mouse female somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This involves global structural remodeling from a condensed, heterochromatic into an open, euchromatic state, thereby changing a transcriptionally inactive into an active chromosome. Despite recent advances, very little is currently known about the molecular players mediating this process and how this relates to iPSC-reprogramming in general. To gain more insight, here we perform a RNAi-based knockdown screen during iPSC-reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts. We discover factors important for X chromosome reactivation (XCR) and iPSC-reprogramming. Among those, we identify the cohesin complex member SMC1a as a key molecule with a specific function in XCR, as its knockdown greatly affects XCR without interfering with iPSC-reprogramming. Using super-resolution microscopy, we find SMC1a to be preferentially enriched on the active compared with the inactive X chromosome and that SMC1a is critical for the decompacted state of the active X. Specifically, depletion of SMC1a leads to contraction of the active X both in differentiated and in pluripotent cells, where it normally is in its most open state. In summary, we reveal cohesin as a key factor for remodeling of the X chromosome from an inactive to an active structure and that this is a critical step for XCR during iPSC-reprogramming.
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14
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Keniry A, Jansz N, Hickey PF, Breslin KA, Iminitoff M, Beck T, Gouil Q, Ritchie ME, Blewitt ME. A method for stabilising the XX karyotype in female mESC cultures. Development 2022; 149:285125. [PMID: 36355065 PMCID: PMC10112917 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Female mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) present differently from male mESCs in several fundamental ways; however, complications with their in vitro culture have resulted in an under-representation of female mESCs in the literature. Recent studies show that the second X chromosome in female, and more specifically the transcriptional activity from both of these chromosomes due to absent X chromosome inactivation, sets female and male mESCs apart. To avoid this undesirable state, female mESCs in culture preferentially adopt an XO karyotype, with this adaption leading to loss of their unique properties in favour of a state that is near indistinguishable from male mESCs. If female pluripotency is to be studied effectively in this system, it is crucial that high-quality cultures of XX mESCs are available. Here, we report a method for better maintaining XX female mESCs in culture that also stabilises the male karyotype and makes study of female-specific pluripotency more feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Keniry
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Natasha Jansz
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Peter F Hickey
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Kelsey A Breslin
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Megan Iminitoff
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Tamara Beck
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Quentin Gouil
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Matthew E Ritchie
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Marnie E Blewitt
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
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15
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Severino J, Bauer M, Mattimoe T, Arecco N, Cozzuto L, Lorden P, Hamada N, Nosaka Y, Nagaoka SI, Audergon P, Tarruell A, Heyn H, Hayashi K, Saitou M, Payer B. Controlled X-chromosome dynamics defines meiotic potential of female mouse in vitro germ cells. EMBO J 2022; 41:e109457. [PMID: 35603814 PMCID: PMC9194795 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021109457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian germline is characterized by extensive epigenetic reprogramming during its development into functional eggs and sperm. Specifically, the epigenome requires resetting before parental marks can be established and transmitted to the next generation. In the female germline, X‐chromosome inactivation and reactivation are among the most prominent epigenetic reprogramming events, yet very little is known about their kinetics and biological function. Here, we investigate X‐inactivation and reactivation dynamics using a tailor‐made in vitro system of primordial germ cell‐like cell (PGCLC) differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells. We find that X‐inactivation in PGCLCs in vitro and in germ cell‐competent epiblast cells in vivo is moderate compared to somatic cells, and frequently characterized by escaping genes. X‐inactivation is followed by step‐wise X‐reactivation, which is mostly completed during meiotic prophase I. Furthermore, we find that PGCLCs which fail to undergo X‐inactivation or reactivate too rapidly display impaired meiotic potential. Thus, our data reveal fine‐tuned X‐chromosome remodelling as a critical feature of female germ cell development towards meiosis and oogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Severino
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Moritz Bauer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tom Mattimoe
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Niccolò Arecco
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luca Cozzuto
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Lorden
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Norio Hamada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Nosaka
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - So I Nagaoka
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Pauline Audergon
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Tarruell
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Holger Heyn
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Katsuhiko Hayashi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Mitinori Saitou
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Bernhard Payer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
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16
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Shihabi M, Lukic B, Cubric-Curik V, Brajkovic V, Oršanić M, Ugarković D, Vostry L, Curik I. Identification of Selection Signals on the X-Chromosome in East Adriatic Sheep: A New Complementary Approach. Front Genet 2022; 13:887582. [PMID: 35615375 PMCID: PMC9126029 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.887582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sheep are one of the most important livestock species in Croatia, found mainly in the Mediterranean coastal and mountainous regions along the East Adriatic coast, well adapted to the environment and mostly kept extensively. Our main objective was therefore to map the positive selection of the X-chromosome (18,983 SNPs that passed quality control), since nothing is known about the adaptation genes on this chromosome for any of the breeds from the Balkan cluster. Analyses were performed on a sample of eight native Croatian breeds (101 females and 100 males) representing the East Adriatic metapopulation and on 10 mouflons (five females and males), all sampled in Croatia. Three classical within-population approaches (extreme Runs of Homozygosity islands, integrated Haplotype Score, and number of Segregating Sites by Length) were applied along with our new approach called Haplotype Richness Drop (HRiD), which uses only the information contained in male haplotypes. We have also shown that phylogenetic analyses, such as the Median-joining network, can provide additional information when performed with the selection signals identified by HRiD. Our new approach identifies positive selection signals by searching for genomic regions that exhibit a sudden decline in haplotype richness. In total, we identified 14 positive selection signals, 11 using the classical approach and three using the HRiD approach, all together containing 34 annotated genes. The most reliable selection signal was mapped by all four approaches in the same region, overlapping between 13.17 and 13.60 Mb, and assigned to the CA5B, ZRSR2, AP1S2, and GRPR genes. High repeatability (86%) of results was observed, as 12 identified selection signals were also confirmed in other studies with sheep. HRiD offers an interesting possibility to be used complementary to other approaches or when only males are genotyped, which is often the case in genomic breeding value estimations. These results highlight the importance of the X-chromosome in the adaptive architecture of domestic ruminants, while our novel HRiD approach opens new possibilities for research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Shihabi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- *Correspondence: Mario Shihabi, ; Ino Curik,
| | - Boris Lukic
- Department for Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
| | - Vlatka Cubric-Curik
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vladimir Brajkovic
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Milan Oršanić
- Department of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Damir Ugarković
- Department of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Luboš Vostry
- Department of Genetics and Breeding, Faculty Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Ino Curik
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- *Correspondence: Mario Shihabi, ; Ino Curik,
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17
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Gene regulation in time and space during X-chromosome inactivation. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2022; 23:231-249. [PMID: 35013589 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-021-00438-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is the epigenetic mechanism that ensures X-linked dosage compensation between cells of females (XX karyotype) and males (XY). XCI is essential for female embryos to survive through development and requires the accurate spatiotemporal regulation of many different factors to achieve remarkable chromosome-wide gene silencing. As a result of XCI, the active and inactive X chromosomes are functionally and structurally different, with the inactive X chromosome undergoing a major conformational reorganization within the nucleus. In this Review, we discuss the multiple layers of genetic and epigenetic regulation that underlie initiation of XCI during development and then maintain it throughout life, in light of the most recent findings in this rapidly advancing field. We discuss exciting new insights into the regulation of X inactive-specific transcript (XIST), the trigger and master regulator of XCI, and into the mechanisms and dynamics that underlie the silencing of nearly all X-linked genes. Finally, given the increasing interest in understanding the impact of chromosome organization on gene regulation, we provide an overview of the factors that are thought to reshape the 3D structure of the inactive X chromosome and of the relevance of such structural changes for XCI establishment and maintenance.
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18
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Gjaltema RAF, Schwämmle T, Kautz P, Robson M, Schöpflin R, Ravid Lustig L, Brandenburg L, Dunkel I, Vechiatto C, Ntini E, Mutzel V, Schmiedel V, Marsico A, Mundlos S, Schulz EG. Distal and proximal cis-regulatory elements sense X chromosome dosage and developmental state at the Xist locus. Mol Cell 2022; 82:190-208.e17. [PMID: 34932975 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Developmental genes such as Xist, which initiates X chromosome inactivation, are controlled by complex cis-regulatory landscapes, which decode multiple signals to establish specific spatiotemporal expression patterns. Xist integrates information on X chromosome dosage and developmental stage to trigger X inactivation in the epiblast specifically in female embryos. Through a pooled CRISPR screen in differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells, we identify functional enhancer elements of Xist at the onset of random X inactivation. Chromatin profiling reveals that X-dosage controls the promoter-proximal region, while differentiation cues activate several distal enhancers. The strongest distal element lies in an enhancer cluster associated with a previously unannotated Xist-enhancing regulatory transcript, which we named Xert. Developmental cues and X-dosage are thus decoded by distinct regulatory regions, which cooperate to ensure female-specific Xist upregulation at the correct developmental time. With this study, we start to disentangle how multiple, functionally distinct regulatory elements interact to generate complex expression patterns in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rutger A F Gjaltema
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Till Schwämmle
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Pauline Kautz
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Robson
- Development and Disease Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh EH4 2XU, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Robert Schöpflin
- Development and Disease Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; Department of Computational Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Liat Ravid Lustig
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lennart Brandenburg
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilona Dunkel
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Carolina Vechiatto
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Evgenia Ntini
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Verena Mutzel
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Vera Schmiedel
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Annalisa Marsico
- Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Center München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Mundlos
- Development and Disease Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Edda G Schulz
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
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19
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Genolet O, Ravid Lustig L, Schulz EG. Dissecting Molecular Phenotypes Through FACS-Based Pooled CRISPR Screens. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2520:1-24. [PMID: 35218528 DOI: 10.1007/7651_2021_457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Pooled CRISPR screens are emerging as a powerful tool to dissect regulatory networks, by assessing how a protein responds to genetic perturbations in a highly multiplexed manner. A large number of genes are perturbed in a cell population through genomic integration of one single-guide RNA (sgRNA) per cell. A subset of cells with the phenotype of interest can then be enriched through fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). SgRNAs with altered abundance after phenotypic enrichment allow identification of genes that either promote or attenuate the investigated phenotype. Here we provide detailed guidelines on how to design and execute a pooled CRISPR screen to investigate molecular phenotypes. We describe how to generate a custom sgRNA library and how to perform a FACS-based screen using readouts such as intracellular antibody staining or Flow-FISH to assess phosphorylation levels or RNA abundance. Through the variety of available perturbation systems and readout options many different molecular and cellular phenotypes can now be tackled with pooled CRISPR screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oriana Genolet
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Liat Ravid Lustig
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Edda G Schulz
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
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20
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Khoubai FZ, Grosset CF. DUSP9, a Dual-Specificity Phosphatase with a Key Role in Cell Biology and Human Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111538. [PMID: 34768967 PMCID: PMC8583968 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are essential for proper cell functioning as they regulate many molecular effectors. Careful regulation of MAPKs is therefore required to avoid MAPK pathway dysfunctions and pathologies. The mammalian genome encodes about 200 phosphatases, many of which dephosphorylate the MAPKs and bring them back to an inactive state. In this review, we focus on the normal and pathological functions of dual-specificity phosphatase 9 (DUSP9)/MAP kinase phosphatases-4 (MKP-4). This cytoplasmic phosphatase, which belongs to the threonine/tyrosine dual-specific phosphatase family and was first described in 1997, is known to dephosphorylate ERK1/2, p38, JNK and ASK1, and thereby to control various MAPK pathway cascades. As a consequence, DUSP9 plays a major role in human pathologies and more specifically in cardiac dysfunction, liver metabolic syndromes, diabetes, obesity and cancer including drug response and cell stemness. Here, we recapitulate the mechanism of action of DUSP9 in the cell, its levels of regulation and its roles in the most frequent human diseases, and discuss its potential as a therapeutic target.
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21
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Bonora G, Ramani V, Singh R, Fang H, Jackson DL, Srivatsan S, Qiu R, Lee C, Trapnell C, Shendure J, Duan Z, Deng X, Noble WS, Disteche CM. Single-cell landscape of nuclear configuration and gene expression during stem cell differentiation and X inactivation. Genome Biol 2021; 22:279. [PMID: 34579774 PMCID: PMC8474932 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02432-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mammalian development is associated with extensive changes in gene expression, chromatin accessibility, and nuclear structure. Here, we follow such changes associated with mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation and X inactivation by integrating, for the first time, allele-specific data from these three modalities obtained by high-throughput single-cell RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and Hi-C. RESULTS Allele-specific contact decay profiles obtained by single-cell Hi-C clearly show that the inactive X chromosome has a unique profile in differentiated cells that have undergone X inactivation. Loss of this inactive X-specific structure at mitosis is followed by its reappearance during the cell cycle, suggesting a "bookmark" mechanism. Differentiation of embryonic stem cells to follow the onset of X inactivation is associated with changes in contact decay profiles that occur in parallel on both the X chromosomes and autosomes. Single-cell RNA-seq and ATAC-seq show evidence of a delay in female versus male cells, due to the presence of two active X chromosomes at early stages of differentiation. The onset of the inactive X-specific structure in single cells occurs later than gene silencing, consistent with the idea that chromatin compaction is a late event of X inactivation. Single-cell Hi-C highlights evidence of discrete changes in nuclear structure characterized by the acquisition of very long-range contacts throughout the nucleus. Novel computational approaches allow for the effective alignment of single-cell gene expression, chromatin accessibility, and 3D chromosome structure. CONCLUSIONS Based on trajectory analyses, three distinct nuclear structure states are detected reflecting discrete and profound simultaneous changes not only to the structure of the X chromosomes, but also to that of autosomes during differentiation. Our study reveals that long-range structural changes to chromosomes appear as discrete events, unlike progressive changes in gene expression and chromatin accessibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giancarlo Bonora
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Vijay Ramani
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ritambhara Singh
- Department of Computer Science, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Center for Computational Molecular Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - He Fang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Dana L Jackson
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sanjay Srivatsan
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ruolan Qiu
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Choli Lee
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Cole Trapnell
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jay Shendure
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Zhijun Duan
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Xinxian Deng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - William S Noble
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Christine M Disteche
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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22
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Tegtmeyer M, Nehme R. Leveraging the Genetic Diversity of Human Stem Cells in Therapeutic Approaches. J Mol Biol 2021; 434:167221. [PMID: 34474087 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Since their discovery 15 years ago, human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) technologies have begun to revolutionize science and medicine, rapidly expanding beyond investigative research to drug discovery and development. Efforts to leverage hPSCs over the last decade have focused on increasing both the complexity and in vivo fidelity of human cellular models through enhanced differentiation methods. While these evolutions have fostered novel insights into disease mechanisms and influenced clinical drug discovery and development, there are still several considerations that limit the utility of hPSC models. In this review, we highlight important, yet underexplored avenues to broaden their reach. We focus on (i) the importance of diversifying existing hPSC collections, and their utilization to investigate therapeutic strategies in individuals from different genetic backgrounds, ancestry and sex; (ii) considerations for the selection of therapeutically relevant hPSC-based models; (iii) strategies to adequately increase the scale of cell-based studies; and (iv) the advances and constraints of clinical trials in a dish. Moreover, we advocate for harnessing the translational capabilities of hPSC models along with the use of innovative, scalable approaches for understanding genetic biases and the impact of sex and ancestry on disease mechanisms and drug efficacy and response. The next decade of hPSC innovation is poised to provide vast insights into the genetic basis of human disease and enable rapid advances to develop, repurpose, and ensure the safety of the next generation of disease therapies across diverse human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Tegtmeyer
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ralda Nehme
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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23
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Fang H, Deng X, Disteche CM. X-factors in human disease: Impact of gene content and dosage regulation. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:R285-R295. [PMID: 34387327 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The gene content of the X and Y chromosomes has dramatically diverged during evolution. The ensuing dosage imbalance within the genome of males and females has led to unique chromosome-wide regulatory mechanisms with significant and sex-specific impacts on X-linked gene expression. X inactivation or silencing of most genes on one X chromosome chosen at random in females profoundly affects the manifestation of X-linked diseases, as males inherit a single maternal allele, while females express maternal and paternal alleles in a mosaic manner. An additional complication is the existence of genes that escape X inactivation and thus are ubiquitously expressed from both alleles in females. The mosaic nature of X-linked gene expression and the potential for escape can vary between individuals, tissues, cell types, and stages of life. Our understanding of the specialized nature of X-linked genes and of the multilayer epigenetic regulation that influence their expression throughout the organism has been helped by molecular studies conducted by tissue-specific and single-cell-specific approaches. In turn, the definition of molecular events that control X silencing has helped develop new approaches for the treatment of some X-linked disorders. This review focuses on the peculiarities of the X chromosome genetic content and epigenetic regulation in shaping the manifestation of congenital and acquired X-linked disorders in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Fang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
| | | | - Christine M Disteche
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
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24
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Pacini G, Dunkel I, Mages N, Mutzel V, Timmermann B, Marsico A, Schulz EG. Integrated analysis of Xist upregulation and X-chromosome inactivation with single-cell and single-allele resolution. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3638. [PMID: 34131144 PMCID: PMC8206119 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23643-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To ensure dosage compensation between the sexes, one randomly chosen X chromosome is silenced in each female cell in the process of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI). XCI is initiated during early development through upregulation of the long non-coding RNA Xist, which mediates chromosome-wide gene silencing. Cell differentiation, Xist upregulation and gene silencing are thought to be coupled at multiple levels to ensure inactivation of exactly one out of two X chromosomes. Here we perform an integrated analysis of all three processes through allele-specific single-cell RNA-sequencing. Specifically, we assess the onset of random XCI in differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells, and develop dedicated analysis approaches. By exploiting the inter-cellular heterogeneity of XCI onset, we identify putative Xist regulators. Moreover, we show that transient Xist upregulation from both X chromosomes results in biallelic gene silencing right before transitioning to the monoallelic state, confirming a prediction of the stochastic model of XCI. Finally, we show that genetic variation modulates the XCI process at multiple levels, providing a potential explanation for the long-known X-controlling element (Xce) effect, which leads to preferential inactivation of a specific X chromosome in inter-strain crosses. We thus draw a detailed picture of the different levels of regulation that govern the initiation of XCI. The experimental and computational strategies we have developed here will allow us to profile random XCI in more physiological contexts, including primary human cells in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Pacini
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilona Dunkel
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Norbert Mages
- Sequencing core facility, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Verena Mutzel
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernd Timmermann
- Sequencing core facility, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Annalisa Marsico
- Institute for Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center, München, Germany.
| | - Edda G Schulz
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
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