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Aich M, Ansari AH, Ding L, Iesmantavicius V, Paul D, Choudhary C, Maiti S, Buchholz F, Chakraborty D. TOBF1 modulates mouse embryonic stem cell fate through regulating alternative splicing of pluripotency genes. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113177. [PMID: 37751355 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113177] [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: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can undergo lineage-specific differentiation, giving rise to different cell types that constitute an organism. Although roles of transcription factors and chromatin modifiers in these cells have been described, how the alternative splicing (AS) machinery regulates their expression has not been sufficiently explored. Here, we show that the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-associated protein TOBF1 modulates the AS of transcripts necessary for maintaining stem cell identity in mouse ESCs. Among the genes affected is serine/arginine splicing factor 1 (SRSF1), whose AS leads to global changes in splicing and expression of a large number of downstream genes involved in the maintenance of ESC pluripotency. By overlaying information derived from TOBF1 chromatin occupancy, the distribution of its pluripotency-associated OCT-SOX binding motifs, and transcripts undergoing differential expression and AS upon its knockout, we describe local nuclear territories where these distinct events converge. Collectively, these contribute to the maintenance of mouse ESC identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghali Aich
- CSIR- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Asgar Hussain Ansari
- CSIR- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Li Ding
- Medical Systems Biology, UCC, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Vytautas Iesmantavicius
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Deepanjan Paul
- CSIR- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Chunaram Choudhary
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Souvik Maiti
- CSIR- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Frank Buchholz
- Medical Systems Biology, UCC, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Debojyoti Chakraborty
- CSIR- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi 110025, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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2
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Meharwade T, Joumier L, Parisotto M, Malleshaiah M. Single-cell mass cytometry analysis reveals stem cell heterogeneity. Methods 2022; 208:9-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2022.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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3
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Liu L, Xu K, Zhou Y. Development of a novel embryonic germline gene-related prognostic model of lung adenocarcinoma. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12257. [PMID: 34721973 PMCID: PMC8542372 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence implicates the correlation of embryonic germline genes with the tumor progress and patient's outcome. However, the prognostic value of these genes in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has not been fully studied. Here we systematically evaluated this issue, and constructed a novel signature and a nomogram associated with embryonic germline genes for predicting the outcomes of lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS The LUAD cohorts retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used as training set and testing set, respectively. The embryonic germline genes were downloaded from the website https://venn.lodder.dev. Then, the differentially expressed embryonic germline genes (DEGGs) between the tumor and normal samples were identified by limma package. The functional enrichment and pathway analyses were also performed by clusterProfiler package. The prognostic model was constructed by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-Cox regression method. Survival and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to validate the model using training set and four testing GEO datasets. Finally, a prognostic nomogram based on the signature genes was constructed using multivariate regression method. RESULTS Among the identified 269 DEGGs, 249 were up-regulated and 20 were down-regulated. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that these DEGGs were mainly enriched in the process of cell proliferation and DNA damage repair. Then, 103 DEGGs with prognostic value were identified by univariate Cox regression and further filtered by LASSO method. The resulting sixteen DEGGs were included in step multivariate Cox regression and an eleven embryonic germline gene related signature (EGRS) was constructed. The model could robustly stratify the LUAD patients into high-risk and low-risk groups in both training and testing sets, and low-risk patients had much better outcomes. The multi-ROC analysis also showed that the EGRS model had the best predictive efficacy compared with other common clinicopathological factors. The EGRS model also showed robust predictive ability in four independent external datasets, and the area under curve (AUC) was 0.726 (GSE30219), 0.764 (GSE50081), 0.657 (GSE37745) and 0.668 (GSE72094). More importantly, the expression level of some genes in EGRS has a significant correlation with the progression of LUAD clinicopathology, suggesting these genes might play an important role in the progression of LUAD. Finally, based on EGRS genes, we built and calibrated a nomogram for conveniently evaluating patients' outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linjun Liu
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science & Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology, Chaoyang, Beijing, China
| | - Ke Xu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, China CDC, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yubai Zhou
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science & Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology, Chaoyang, Beijing, China
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4
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Barral A, Rollan I, Sanchez-Iranzo H, Jawaid W, Badia-Careaga C, Menchero S, Gomez MJ, Torroja C, Sanchez-Cabo F, Göttgens B, Manzanares M, Sainz de Aja J. Nanog regulates Pou3f1 expression at the exit from pluripotency during gastrulation. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio046367. [PMID: 31791948 PMCID: PMC6899006 DOI: 10.1242/bio.046367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Pluripotency is regulated by a network of transcription factors that maintain early embryonic cells in an undifferentiated state while allowing them to proliferate. NANOG is a critical factor for maintaining pluripotency and its role in primordial germ cell differentiation has been well described. However, Nanog is expressed during gastrulation across all the posterior epiblast, and only later in development is its expression restricted to primordial germ cells. In this work, we unveiled a previously unknown mechanism by which Nanog specifically represses genes involved in anterior epiblast lineage. Analysis of transcriptional data from both embryonic stem cells and gastrulating mouse embryos revealed Pou3f1 expression to be negatively correlated with that of Nanog during the early stages of differentiation. We have functionally demonstrated Pou3f1 to be a direct target of NANOG by using a dual transgene system for the controlled expression of Nanog Use of Nanog null ES cells further demonstrated a role for Nanog in repressing a subset of anterior neural genes. Deletion of a NANOG binding site (BS) located nine kilobases downstream of the transcription start site of Pou3f1 revealed this BS to have a specific role in the regionalization of the expression of this gene in the embryo. Our results indicate an active role of Nanog inhibiting neural regulatory networks by repressing Pou3f1 at the onset of gastrulation.This article has an associated First Person interview with the joint first authors of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Barral
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Isabel Rollan
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Hector Sanchez-Iranzo
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Wajid Jawaid
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
- Department of Haematology, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Claudio Badia-Careaga
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Sergio Menchero
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Manuel J Gomez
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Carlos Torroja
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Fatima Sanchez-Cabo
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Berthold Göttgens
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
- Department of Haematology, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Miguel Manzanares
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
- Centro de Biologia Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Julio Sainz de Aja
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
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5
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Stork C, Li Z, Lin L, Zheng S. Developmental Xist induction is mediated by enhanced splicing. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:1532-1543. [PMID: 30496473 PMCID: PMC6379716 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky1198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
X-inactive-specific transcript (Xist) is a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) essential for inactivating one of the two X chromosomes in mammalian females. Random X chromosome inactivation is mediated by Xist RNA expressed from the inactive X chromosome. We found that Xist RNA is unspliced in naïve embryonic stem (ES) cells. Upon differentiation, Xist splicing becomes efficient across all exons independent of transcription, suggesting interdependent or coordinated removal of Xist introns. In female cells with mutated polypyrimidine tract binding protein 1 (Ptbp1), differentiation fails to substantially upregulate mature Xist RNA because of a defect in Xist splicing. We further found both Xist129 and XistCAS RNA are unspliced in Mus musculus 129SvJ/Mus castaneous (CAS) hybrid female ES cells. Upon differentiation, Xist129 exhibits a higher splicing efficiency than XistCAS, likely contributing to preferential inhibition of the X129 chromosome. Single cell analysis shows that the allelic choice of Xist splicing is linked to the inactive X chromosome. We conclude post-transcriptional control of Xist RNA splicing is an essential regulatory step of Xist induction. Our studies shed light on the developmental roles of splicing for nuclear-retained Xist lncRNA and suggest inefficient Xist splicing is an additional fail-safe mechanism to prevent Xist activity in ES cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl Stork
- Graduate Program in Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Zhelin Li
- Graduate Program in Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Lin Lin
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Sika Zheng
- Graduate Program in Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.,Graduate Program in Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.,Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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6
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Khazim M, Postiglione L, Pedone E, Rocca DL, Zahra C, Marucci L. Towards automated control of embryonic stem cell pluripotency. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ifacol.2019.12.240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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7
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Moris N, Edri S, Seyres D, Kulkarni R, Domingues AF, Balayo T, Frontini M, Pina C. Histone Acetyltransferase KAT2A Stabilizes Pluripotency with Control of Transcriptional Heterogeneity. Stem Cells 2018; 36:1828-1838. [PMID: 30270482 PMCID: PMC6334525 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 08/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cell fate transitions in mammalian stem cell systems have often been associated with transcriptional heterogeneity; however, existing data have failed to establish a functional or mechanistic link between the two phenomena. Experiments in unicellular organisms support the notion that transcriptional heterogeneity can be used to facilitate adaptability to environmental changes and have identified conserved chromatin‐associated factors that modulate levels of transcriptional noise. Herein, we show destabilization of pluripotency‐associated gene regulatory networks through increased transcriptional heterogeneity of mouse embryonic stem cells in which paradigmatic histone acetyl‐transferase, and candidate noise modulator, Kat2a (yeast orthologue Gcn5), have been inhibited. Functionally, network destabilization associates with reduced pluripotency and accelerated mesendodermal differentiation, with increased probability of transitions into lineage commitment. Thus, we show evidence of a relationship between transcriptional heterogeneity and cell fate transitions through manipulation of the histone acetylation landscape of mouse embryonic stem cells, suggesting a general principle that could be exploited in other normal and malignant stem cell fate transitions. stem cells2018;36:1828–11
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Moris
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Shlomit Edri
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Denis Seyres
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,National Health Service Blood and Transplant, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,NIHR BioResource-Rare Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rashmi Kulkarni
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Tina Balayo
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mattia Frontini
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,National Health Service Blood and Transplant, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,BHF Centre of Excellence, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Cristina Pina
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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8
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Pfeuty B, Kress C, Pain B. Network Features and Dynamical Landscape of Naive and Primed Pluripotency. Biophys J 2018; 114:237-248. [PMID: 29320691 PMCID: PMC5773751 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the broad and unique differentiation potential of pluripotent stem cells relies on a complex transcriptional network centered around Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog, two well-distinct pluripotent states, called "naive" and "primed", have been described in vitro and markedly differ in their developmental potential, their expression profiles, their signaling requirements, and their reciprocal conversion. Aiming to determine the key features that segregate and coordinate these two states, data-driven optimization of network models is performed to identify relevant parameter regimes and reduce network complexity to its core structure. Decision dynamics of optimized networks is characterized by signal-dependent multistability and strongly asymmetric transitions among naive, primed, and nonpluripotent states. Further model perturbation and reduction approaches reveal that such a dynamical landscape of pluripotency involves a functional partitioning of the regulatory network. Specifically, two overlapping positive feedback modules, Klf4/Esrrb/Nanog and Oct4/Nanog, stabilize the naive or the primed state, respectively. In turn, their incoherent feedforward and negative feedback coupling mediated by the Erk/Gsk3 module is critical for robust segregation and sequential progression between naive and primed states before irreversible exit from pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Pfeuty
- Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Atomes et Molécules, Université de Lille, CNRS, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
| | - Clémence Kress
- Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, Univ. Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM, INRA, U1208, USC1361, Bron, France
| | - Bertrand Pain
- Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, Univ. Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM, INRA, U1208, USC1361, Bron, France
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9
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Dynamics of lineage commitment revealed by single-cell transcriptomics of differentiating embryonic stem cells. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1096. [PMID: 29061959 PMCID: PMC5653659 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01076-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene expression heterogeneity in the pluripotent state of mouse
embryonic stem cells (mESCs) has been increasingly well-characterized. In contrast,
exit from pluripotency and lineage commitment have not been studied systematically
at the single-cell level. Here we measure the gene expression dynamics of retinoic
acid driven mESC differentiation from pluripotency to lineage commitment, using an
unbiased single-cell transcriptomics approach. We find that the exit from
pluripotency marks the start of a lineage transition as well as a transient phase of
increased susceptibility to lineage specifying signals. Our study reveals several
transcriptional signatures of this phase, including a sharp increase of gene
expression variability and sequential expression of two classes of transcriptional
regulators. In summary, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the exit from
pluripotency and lineage commitment at the single cell level, a potential stepping
stone to improved lineage manipulation through timing of differentiation
cues. Commitment to different fates by differentiating pluripotent cells
depends upon integration of external and internal signals. Here the authors analyse
the entry of mouse embryonic stem cells into retinoic acid-mediated differentiation
using single cell transcriptomics with high temporal resolution.
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10
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Stryjewska A, Dries R, Pieters T, Verstappen G, Conidi A, Coddens K, Francis A, Umans L, van IJcken WFJ, Berx G, van Grunsven LA, Grosveld FG, Goossens S, Haigh JJ, Huylebroeck D. Zeb2 Regulates Cell Fate at the Exit from Epiblast State in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cells 2016; 35:611-625. [PMID: 27739137 PMCID: PMC5396376 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Revised: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) the transcription factor Zeb2 regulates neuroectoderm versus mesendoderm formation, but it is unclear how Zeb2 affects the global transcriptional regulatory network in these cell‐fate decisions. We generated Zeb2 knockout (KO) mouse ESCs, subjected them as embryoid bodies (EBs) to neural and general differentiation and carried out temporal RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐seq) and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) analysis in neural differentiation. This shows that Zeb2 acts preferentially as a transcriptional repressor associated with developmental progression and that Zeb2 KO ESCs can exit from their naïve state. However, most cells in these EBs stall in an early epiblast‐like state and are impaired in both neural and mesendodermal differentiation. Genes involved in pluripotency, epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), and DNA‐(de)methylation, including Tet1, are deregulated in the absence of Zeb2. The observed elevated Tet1 levels in the mutant cells and the knowledge of previously mapped Tet1‐binding sites correlate with loss‐of‐methylation in neural‐stimulating conditions, however, after the cells initially acquired the correct DNA‐methyl marks. Interestingly, cells from such Zeb2 KO EBs maintain the ability to re‐adapt to 2i + LIF conditions even after prolonged differentiation, while knockdown of Tet1 partially rescues their impaired differentiation. Hence, in addition to its role in EMT, Zeb2 is critical in ESCs for exit from the epiblast state, and links the pluripotency network and DNA‐methylation with irreversible commitment to differentiation. Stem Cells2017;35:611–625
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Stryjewska
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Ruben Dries
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.,Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3015 CN, The Netherlands
| | - Tim Pieters
- VIB Inflammation Research Center (IRC), Unit Vascular Cell Biology.,Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology.,VIB-IRC, Unit Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Ghent University, Ghent, 9052, Belgium.,Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Griet Verstappen
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Andrea Conidi
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3015 CN, The Netherlands
| | - Kathleen Coddens
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Annick Francis
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Lieve Umans
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Wilfred F J van IJcken
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3015 CN, The Netherlands.,Center for Biomics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3015 CN, The Netherlands
| | - Geert Berx
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology.,VIB-IRC, Unit Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Ghent University, Ghent, 9052, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Department of Cell Biology, Liver Cell Biology Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Jette, 1090, Belgium
| | - Frank G Grosveld
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3015 CN, The Netherlands
| | - Steven Goossens
- VIB Inflammation Research Center (IRC), Unit Vascular Cell Biology.,Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology.,VIB-IRC, Unit Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Ghent University, Ghent, 9052, Belgium.,ACBD - Blood Cancers and Stem Cells, Group Mammalian Functional Genetics, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Jody J Haigh
- VIB Inflammation Research Center (IRC), Unit Vascular Cell Biology.,Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology.,ACBD - Blood Cancers and Stem Cells, Group Mammalian Functional Genetics, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Danny Huylebroeck
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.,Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3015 CN, The Netherlands
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11
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Moris N, Pina C, Arias AM. Transition states and cell fate decisions in epigenetic landscapes. Nat Rev Genet 2016; 17:693-703. [PMID: 27616569 DOI: 10.1038/nrg.2016.98] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Waddington's epigenetic landscape is an abstract metaphor frequently used to represent the relationship between gene activity and cell fates during development. Over the past few years, it has become a useful framework for interpreting results from single-cell transcriptomics experiments. It has led to the proposal that, during fate transitions, cells experience smooth, continuous progressions of global transcriptional activity, which can be captured by (pseudo)temporal dynamics. Here, focusing strictly on the fate decision events, we suggest an alternative view: that fate transitions occur in a discontinuous, stochastic manner whereby signals modulate the probability of the transition events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Moris
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Cristina Pina
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0PT, UK
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12
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Visualization of the Epiblast and Visceral Endodermal Cells Using Fgf5-P2A-Venus BAC Transgenic Mice and Epiblast Stem Cells. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159246. [PMID: 27409080 PMCID: PMC4943650 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor 5 (Fgf5) has been widely used as a marker for the epiblast in the postimplantation embryo and epiblast stem cells (mEpiSCs) in the mouse, making it valuable for study of differentiation of various tissues and epiblast cells in vivo and in vitro. Here, we report for the first time the generation of Fgf5-P2A-Venus BAC transgenic (Tg) mice and show that the BAC Tg can recapitulate endogenous Fgf5 expression in epiblast and visceral endodermal cells of E6.5 and 7.5 embryos. We also show that Fgf5-P2A-Venus BAC Tg mEpiSCs in the undifferentiated state expressed abundant Venus, and upon reprogramming into naïve state, Venus was suppressed. Furthermore, while most Tg mEpiSCs expressed Venus abundantly, surprisingly the Tg mEpiSCs contained a minor subpopulation of Venus-negative cells that were capable of conversion to Venus-positive cells, indicating that even Fgf5 expression shows dynamic heterogeneity in mEpiSCs. Taken together, Fgf5-P2A-Venus BAC Tg mice and mEpiSCs generated in this study will be useful for developmental biology as well as stem cell biology research.
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13
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Dahle Ø, Kuehn MR. Inhibiting Smad2/3 signaling in pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cells enhances endoderm formation by increasing transcriptional priming of lineage-specifying target genes. Dev Dyn 2016; 245:807-15. [PMID: 27012147 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) offer great potential for regenerative medicine. However, efficient in vitro generation of specific desired cell types is still a challenge. We previously established that Smad2/3 signaling, essential for endoderm formation, regulates target gene expression by counteracting epigenetic repression mediated by Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2). Although this mechanism has been demonstrated during differentiation and reprogramming, little is known of its role in pluripotent cells. RESULTS Chromatin immunoprecipitation-deep sequencing of undifferentiated mouse ESCs inhibited for Smad2/3 signaling identified Prdm14, important for protecting pluripotency, as a target gene. Although Prdm14 accumulates the normally repressive PRC2 deposited histone modification H3K27me3 under these conditions, surprisingly, expression increases. Analysis indicates that increased H3K27me3 leads to increased binding of PRC2 accessory component Jarid2 and recruitment of RNA polymerase II. Similar increases were found at the Nodal endoderm target gene Eomes but it remained unexpressed in pluripotent cells as normal. Upon differentiation, however, Eomes expression was significantly higher than in cells that had not been inhibited for signaling before differentiation. In addition, endoderm formation was markedly increased. CONCLUSIONS Blocking Smad2/3 signaling in pluripotent stem cells results in epigenetic changes that enhance the capacity for endoderm differentiation. Developmental Dynamics 245:807-815, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Øyvind Dahle
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Michael R Kuehn
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
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Gomes Fernandes M, Dries R, Roost MS, Semrau S, de Melo Bernardo A, Davis RP, Ramakrishnan R, Szuhai K, Maas E, Umans L, Abon Escalona V, Salvatori D, Deforce D, Van Criekinge W, Huylebroeck D, Mummery C, Zwijsen A, de Sousa Lopes SMC. BMP-SMAD Signaling Regulates Lineage Priming, but Is Dispensable for Self-Renewal in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2015; 6:85-94. [PMID: 26711875 PMCID: PMC4720007 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2015.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2014] [Revised: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Naive mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) are in a metastable state and fluctuate between inner cell mass- and epiblast-like phenotypes. Here, we show transient activation of the BMP-SMAD signaling pathway in mESCs containing a BMP-SMAD responsive reporter transgene. Activation of the BMP-SMAD reporter transgene in naive mESCs correlated with lower levels of genomic DNA methylation, high expression of 5-methylcytosine hydroxylases Tet1/2 and low levels of DNA methyltransferases Dnmt3a/b. Moreover, naive mESCs, in which the BMP-SMAD reporter transgene was activated, showed higher resistance to differentiation. Using double Smad1;Smad5 knockout mESCs, we showed that BMP-SMAD signaling is dispensable for self-renewal in both naive and ground state. These mutant mESCs were still pluripotent, but they exhibited higher levels of DNA methylation than their wild-type counterparts and had a higher propensity to differentiate. We showed that BMP-SMAD signaling modulates lineage priming in mESCs, by transiently regulating the enzymatic machinery responsible for DNA methylation. BMP-SMAD signaling in mESCs is more prominent in naive than ground state BMP-SMAD signaling is dispensable for pluripotency in mESCs BMP-SMAD signaling facilitates lineage priming in mESCs BMP-SMAD signaling regulates Dnmt3b and hence levels of DNA methylation
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gomes Fernandes
- Department Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZC, the Netherlands
| | - Ruben Dries
- Department Development and Regeneration, Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Celgen), KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands
| | - Matthias S Roost
- Department Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZC, the Netherlands
| | - Stefan Semrau
- Leiden Institute of Physics, Leiden University, Leiden 2333 CA, the Netherlands
| | - Ana de Melo Bernardo
- Department Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZC, the Netherlands
| | - Richard P Davis
- Department Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZC, the Netherlands
| | - Ramprasad Ramakrishnan
- Department Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZC, the Netherlands
| | - Karoly Szuhai
- Department Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZC, the Netherlands
| | - Elke Maas
- Department Human Genetics, VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Lieve Umans
- Department Development and Regeneration, Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Celgen), KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands; Department Human Genetics, VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Vanesa Abon Escalona
- Department Human Genetics, VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Daniela Salvatori
- Department Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZC, the Netherlands; Center Laboratory Animal Facility, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZC, the Netherlands
| | - Dieter Deforce
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Wim Van Criekinge
- Mathematical Modelling, Statistics and Bio-informatics, Faculty Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Danny Huylebroeck
- Department Development and Regeneration, Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Celgen), KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands
| | - Christine Mummery
- Department Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZC, the Netherlands
| | - An Zwijsen
- Department Human Genetics, VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Susana M Chuva de Sousa Lopes
- Department Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZC, the Netherlands; Department Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
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Semrau S, van Oudenaarden A. Studying Lineage Decision-Making In Vitro: Emerging Concepts and Novel Tools. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2015; 31:317-45. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-100814-125300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander van Oudenaarden
- Hubrecht Institute, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands;
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Cancer Genomics Netherlands, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Heterogeneous lineage marker expression in naive embryonic stem cells is mostly due to spontaneous differentiation. Sci Rep 2015; 5:13339. [PMID: 26292941 PMCID: PMC4544010 DOI: 10.1038/srep13339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Populations of cultured mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) exhibit a subfraction of cells expressing uncharacteristically low levels of pluripotency markers such as Nanog. Yet, the extent to which individual Nanog-negative cells are differentiated, both from ESCs and from each other, remains unclear. Here, we show the transcriptome of Nanog-negative cells exhibits expression of classes of genes associated with differentiation that are not yet active in cells exposed to differentiation conditions for one day. Long non-coding RNAs, however, exhibit more changes in expression in the one-day-differentiated cells than in Nanog-negative cells. These results are consistent with the concept that Nanog-negative cells may contain subpopulations of both lineage-primed and differentiated cells. Single cell analysis showed that Nanog-negative cells display substantial and coherent heterogeneity in lineage marker expression in progressively nested subsets of cells exhibiting low levels of Nanog, then low levels of Oct4, and then a set of lineage markers, which express intensely in a small subset of these more differentiated cells. Our results suggest that the observed enrichment of lineage-specific marker gene expression in Nanog-negative cells is associated with spontaneous differentiation of a subset of these cells rather than the more random expression that may be associated with reversible lineage priming.
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Parfitt DE, Shen MM. From blastocyst to gastrula: gene regulatory networks of embryonic stem cells and early mouse embryogenesis. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 369:rstb.2013.0542. [PMID: 25349451 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, many regulatory genes and signalling events coordinating mammalian development from blastocyst to gastrulation stages have been identified by mutational analyses and reverse-genetic approaches, typically on a gene-by-gene basis. More recent studies have applied bioinformatic approaches to generate regulatory network models of gene interactions on a genome-wide scale. Such models have provided insights into the gene networks regulating pluripotency in embryonic and epiblast stem cells, as well as cell-lineage determination in vivo. Here, we review how regulatory networks constructed for different stem cell types relate to corresponding networks in vivo and provide insights into understanding the molecular regulation of the blastocyst-gastrula transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- David-Emlyn Parfitt
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA Department of Urology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA Department of Systems Biology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Michael M Shen
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA Department of Urology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA Department of Systems Biology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
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Abstract
Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells perpetuate in vitro the broad developmental potential of naïve founder cells in the preimplantation embryo. ES cells self-renew relentlessly in culture but can reenter embryonic development seamlessly, differentiating on schedule to form all elements of the fetus. Here we review the properties of these remarkable cells. Arising from the stability, homogeneity, and equipotency of ES cells, we consider the concept of a pluripotent ground state. We evaluate the authenticity of ES cells in relation to cells in the embryo and examine their utility for dissecting mechanisms that confer pluripotency and that execute fate choice. We summarize current knowledge of the transcription factor circuitry that governs the ES cell state and discuss the opportunity to expose molecular logic further through iterative computational modeling and experimentation. Finally, we present a perspective on unresolved questions, including the challenge of deriving ground state pluripotent stem cells from non-rodent species.
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β-Catenin Regulates Primitive Streak Induction through Collaborative Interactions with SMAD2/SMAD3 and OCT4. Cell Stem Cell 2015; 16:639-52. [PMID: 25921273 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2015.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2014] [Revised: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Canonical Wnt and Nodal signaling are both required for induction of the primitive streak (PS), which guides organization of the early embryo. The Wnt effector β-catenin is thought to function in these early lineage specification decisions via transcriptional activation of Nodal signaling. Here, we demonstrate a broader role for β-catenin in PS formation by analyzing its genome-wide binding in a human embryonic stem cell model of PS induction. β-catenin occupies regulatory regions in numerous PS and neural crest genes, and direct interactions between β-catenin and the Nodal effectors SMAD2/SMAD3 are required at these regions for PS gene activation. Furthermore, OCT4 binding in proximity to these sites is likewise required for PS induction, suggesting a collaborative interaction between β-catenin and OCT4. Induction of neural crest genes by β-catenin is repressed by SMAD2/SMAD3, ensuring proper lineage specification. This study provides mechanistic insight into how Wnt signaling controls early cell lineage decisions.
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Brachyury cooperates with Wnt/β-catenin signalling to elicit primitive-streak-like behaviour in differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells. BMC Biol 2014; 12:63. [PMID: 25115237 PMCID: PMC4171571 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-014-0063-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The formation of the primitive streak is the first visible sign of gastrulation, the process by which the three germ layers are formed from a single epithelium during early development. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) provide a good system for understanding the molecular and cellular events associated with these processes. Previous work, both in embryos and in culture, has shown how converging signals from both nodal/TGFβR and Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathways specify cells to adopt a primitive-streak-like fate and direct them to undertake an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, many of these approaches have relied on genetic analyses without taking into account the temporal progression of events within single cells. In addition, it is still unclear to what extent events in the embryo are able to be reproduced in culture. Results Here, we combine flow cytometry and a quantitative live single-cell imaging approach to demonstrate how the controlled differentiation of mouse ESCs towards a primitive streak fate in culture results in cells displaying many of the characteristics observed during early mouse development including transient brachyury expression, EMT and increased motility. We also find that the EMT initiates the process, and this is both fuelled and terminated by the action of brachyury, whose expression is dependent on the EMT and β-catenin activity. Conclusions As a consequence of our analysis, we propose that a major output of brachyury expression is in controlling the velocity of the cells that are transiting out of the primitive streak. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12915-014-0063-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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