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Simpson LA, Crowley D, Forey T, Acosta H, Ferjentsik Z, Chatfield J, Payne A, Simpson BS, Redwood C, Dixon JE, Holmes N, Sang F, Alberio R, Loose M, Johnson AD. NANOG is required to establish the competence for germ-layer differentiation in the basal tetrapod axolotl. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002121. [PMID: 37315073 PMCID: PMC10599592 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Pluripotency defines the unlimited potential of individual cells of vertebrate embryos, from which all adult somatic cells and germ cells are derived. Understanding how the programming of pluripotency evolved has been obscured in part by a lack of data from lower vertebrates; in model systems such as frogs and zebrafish, the function of the pluripotency genes NANOG and POU5F1 have diverged. Here, we investigated how the axolotl ortholog of NANOG programs pluripotency during development. Axolotl NANOG is absolutely required for gastrulation and germ-layer commitment. We show that in axolotl primitive ectoderm (animal caps; ACs) NANOG and NODAL activity, as well as the epigenetic modifying enzyme DPY30, are required for the mass deposition of H3K4me3 in pluripotent chromatin. We also demonstrate that all 3 protein activities are required for ACs to establish the competency to differentiate toward mesoderm. Our results suggest the ancient function of NANOG may be establishing the competence for lineage differentiation in early cells. These observations provide insights into embryonic development in the tetrapod ancestor from which terrestrial vertebrates evolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke A. Simpson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Darren Crowley
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Teri Forey
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Helena Acosta
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Zoltan Ferjentsik
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jodie Chatfield
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander Payne
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin S. Simpson
- Tumour Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Redwood
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - James E. Dixon
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Nadine Holmes
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Fei Sang
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ramiro Alberio
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Loose
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D. Johnson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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2
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The Divergent and Conserved Expression Profile of Turtle Nanog Gene Comparing with Fish and Mammals. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11091342. [PMID: 36138820 PMCID: PMC9495436 DOI: 10.3390/biology11091342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Nanog is a homeodomain-containing transcription factor, and it plays a vital role in maintaining the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells. Nanog’s function has been well studied in many species. However, there is lack of reporting on the Nanog gene in reptile. Here, we identified a 1032 bp cDNA sequence of a Nanog gene in Pelidiscus sinensis, known as PsNanog. PsNanog has a highly conserved HD domain and shares a high identity with that of Chelonia mydas and the lowest identity with Oryzias latipes. Similarly, PsNanog presented a tight cluster with C. mydas Nanog, but was far from those of teleosts. Additionally, we cloned a length of 1870 bp PsNanog promoter. Dual luciferase assay showed that the DNA fragment of −1560 to +1 exhibited a high promoter activity. The RT-PCR and RT-qPCR results showed that PsNanog was predominantly expressed in ovary, and then in testis. The in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis showed that PsNanog was expressed in the early primary oocytes and the cytoplasm of the cortical region of stage VIII oocytes in ovary, and distributed in most stages of germ cells in testis. Collectively, the results imply that PsNanog probably has the conserved function in regulating germ cell development across phyla and is also a pluripotent cell gene and expressed in germ cells, which is similar to that in teleosts and mammals.
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Choi KJ, Quan MD, Qi C, Lee JH, Tsoi PS, Zahabiyon M, Bajic A, Hu L, Prasad BVV, Liao SCJ, Li W, Ferreon ACM, Ferreon JC. NANOG prion-like assembly mediates DNA bridging to facilitate chromatin reorganization and activation of pluripotency. Nat Cell Biol 2022; 24:737-747. [PMID: 35484250 PMCID: PMC9106587 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-00896-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Human NANOG expression resets stem cells to ground-state pluripotency. Here we identify the unique features of human NANOG that relate to its dose-sensitive function as a master transcription factor. NANOG is largely disordered, with a C-terminal prion-like domain that phase-transitions to gel-like condensates. Full-length NANOG readily forms higher-order oligomers at low nanomolar concentrations, orders of magnitude lower than typical amyloids. Using single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer and fluorescence cross-correlation techniques, we show that NANOG oligomerization is essential for bridging DNA elements in vitro. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and Hi-C 3.0 in cells, we validate that NANOG prion-like domain assembly is essential for specific DNA recognition and distant chromatin interactions. Our results provide a physical basis for the indispensable role of NANOG in shaping the pluripotent genome. NANOG's unique ability to form prion-like assemblies could provide a cooperative and concerted DNA bridging mechanism that is essential for chromatin reorganization and dose-sensitive activation of ground-state pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoung-Jae Choi
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - My Diem Quan
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chuangye Qi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joo-Hyung Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Phoebe S Tsoi
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mahla Zahabiyon
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine and Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Aleksandar Bajic
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine and Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Liya Hu
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - B V Venkataram Prasad
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Wenbo Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA. .,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and UTHealth, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Allan Chris M Ferreon
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Josephine C Ferreon
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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4
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Zhong Z, Xu Y, Feng Y, Ao L, Jiang Y. Characterization of the Nanog gene involved in the gonadal development in pearlscale angelfish (Centropyge vrolikii). FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2022; 48:303-319. [PMID: 35138521 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-022-01054-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The homeodomain transcription factor Nanog plays a crucial role in the embryonic and gonadal development and the maintenance of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), interacting with transcription factors such as Oct4 and Sox2 in mammals. Nevertheless, its pathways to molecular mechanisms remain unclear as to teleosts. This study investigates the role of the Nanog gene in gonadal development and sex reversal of pearlscale angelfish (Centropyge vrolikii). To understand the expression pattern of gonadal development, we identified the Nanog gene of C. vrolikii, which we named Cv-Nanog. The full-length cDNA sequence of Cv-Nanog was 2,136 bp in length and encoded a homeodomain protein of 436 amino acid residues. The gene structure and western blot prove results that Cv-Nanog was homologous to the Nanog gene of mammalians. The protein sequence comparison demonstrates that the Cv-Nanog shared a high degree of similarity with orthologs from other vertebrates in the conserved homeodomain. The Cv-Nanog gene was substantially expressed in gonads, and the expression was significantly higher in the ovaries than in the testis, according to quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot analyses. In situ hybridization reveals that the transcripts were located in the cytoplasm and membrane of the oocytes in the ovaries and testes. The expression of Cv-Nanog mRNA was weak in Sertoli cells but strong in germ cells. After overexpression of Cv-Nanog, the expression levels of pluripotent factors Sox2 and Oct4 increased significantly with 21.5-fold and 12.2-fold, respectively. Simultaneously, the TGF-beta signaling pathway was activated, and the gonadal cell growth was promoted. The expression of ovary-bias genes Cyp19a and Foxl2 was upregulated, and the expression of testis-bias genes Sox9 and Dmrt1 was downregulated to promote ovarian development. These results imply that the Nanog gene might play a crucial role in the process of gonadal development and sexual reversion in C. vrolikii. This study provides new insight to understand the molecular regulatory mechanism of the Nanog gene further and important clues for the future studies in gonadal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaowei Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Aquatic Science and Technology Education, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Aquatic Science and Technology Education, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Yan Feng
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Aquatic Science and Technology Education, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Lulu Ao
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Aquatic Science and Technology Education, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Yonghua Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China.
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Aquatic Science and Technology Education, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China.
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5
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Lloyd R, Alberio R, Crother BI. Andrew Johnson (1958-2021). Development 2021. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.200333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Andrew Johnson, a pioneer in the development of the amphibian axolotl as a model to study the early stages of metazoan development, died 15th September 2021. Known as ‘AJ’ by his family, and by his friends and colleagues, his older sister Pam referred to him as an unstoppable ‘force of nature’ who at the age of 9 or 10 said to her, ‘I'm going to become a professor’. Here, we reflect on AJ's life and work, paying particular attention to his studies on the establishment of primordial germ cells in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Lloyd
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Ramiro Alberio
- School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Brian I. Crother
- Department of Biology, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA 70402, USA
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6
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Sánchez-Sánchez AV, García-España A, Sánchez-Gómez P, Font-de-Mora J, Merino M, Mullor JL. The Embryonic Key Pluripotent Factor NANOG Mediates Glioblastoma Cell Migration via the SDF1/CXCR4 Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910620. [PMID: 34638956 PMCID: PMC8508935 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
NANOG is a key transcription factor required for maintaining pluripotency of embryonic stem cells. Elevated NANOG expression levels have been reported in many types of human cancers, including lung, oral, prostate, stomach, breast, and brain. Several studies reported the correlation between NANOG expression and tumor metastasis, revealing itself as a powerful biomarker of poor prognosis. However, how NANOG regulates tumor progression is still not known. We previously showed in medaka fish that Nanog regulates primordial germ cell migration through Cxcr4b, a chemokine receptor known for its ability to promote migration and metastasis in human cancers. Therefore, we investigated the role of human NANOG in CXCR4-mediated cancer cell migration. Of note, we found that NANOG regulatory elements in the CXCR4 promoter are functionally conserved in medaka fish and humans, suggesting an evolutionary conserved regulatory axis. Moreover, CXCR4 expression requires NANOG in human glioblastoma cells. In addition, transwell assays demonstrated that NANOG regulates cancer cell migration through the SDF1/CXCR4 pathway. Altogether, our results uncover NANOG-CXCR4 as a novel pathway controlling cellular migration and support Nanog as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of Nanog-dependent tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Virginia Sánchez-Sánchez
- Bionos Biotech, SL, Biopolo Hospital La Fe, Av. Fernando Abril Martorell 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (A.V.S.-S.); (M.M.)
| | - Antonio García-España
- Research Unit, Hospital Universitari de Tarragona Joan XXIII, Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43005 Tarragona, Spain;
| | - Pilar Sánchez-Gómez
- Neurooncology Unit, Instituto de Salud Carlos III-UFIEC, Crtra/Majadahonda-Pozuelo, Km 2, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Jaime Font-de-Mora
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Marián Merino
- Bionos Biotech, SL, Biopolo Hospital La Fe, Av. Fernando Abril Martorell 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (A.V.S.-S.); (M.M.)
| | - José Luis Mullor
- Bionos Biotech, SL, Biopolo Hospital La Fe, Av. Fernando Abril Martorell 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (A.V.S.-S.); (M.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-961243219
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7
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Nicholls PK, Page DC. Germ cell determination and the developmental origin of germ cell tumors. Development 2021; 148:239824. [PMID: 33913479 DOI: 10.1242/dev.198150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In each generation, the germline is tasked with producing somatic lineages that form the body, and segregating a population of cells for gametogenesis. During animal development, when do cells of the germline irreversibly commit to producing gametes? Integrating findings from diverse species, we conclude that the final commitment of the germline to gametogenesis - the process of germ cell determination - occurs after primordial germ cells (PGCs) colonize the gonads. Combining this understanding with medical findings, we present a model whereby germ cell tumors arise from cells that failed to undertake germ cell determination, regardless of their having colonized the gonads. We propose that the diversity of cell types present in these tumors reflects the broad developmental potential of migratory PGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter K Nicholls
- Whitehead Institute, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK
| | - David C Page
- Whitehead Institute, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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8
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Choi HJ, Jin SD, Rengaraj D, Kim JH, Pain B, Han JY. Differential transcriptional regulation of the NANOG gene in chicken primordial germ cells and embryonic stem cells. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2021; 12:40. [PMID: 33658075 PMCID: PMC7931612 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-021-00563-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background NANOG is a core transcription factor (TF) in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and primordial germ cells (PGCs). Regulation of the NANOG gene by TFs, epigenetic factors, and autoregulatory factors is well characterized in ESCs, and transcriptional regulation of NANOG is well established in these cells. Although NANOG plays a key role in germ cells, the molecular mechanism underlying its transcriptional regulation in PGCs has not been studied. Therefore, we investigated the mechanism that regulates transcription of the chicken NANOG (cNANOG) gene in PGCs and ESCs. Results We first identified the transcription start site of cNANOG by 5′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends PCR analysis. Then, we measured the promoter activity of various 5′ flanking regions of cNANOG in chicken PGCs and ESCs using the luciferase reporter assay. cNANOG expression required transcriptional regulatory elements, which were positively regulated by POU5F3 (OCT4) and SOX2 and negatively regulated by TP53 in PGCs. The proximal region of the cNANOG promoter contains a positive transcriptional regulatory element (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (CEBP)-binding site) in ESCs. Furthermore, small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown demonstrated that POU5F3, SOX2, and CEBP played a role in cell type-specific transcription of cNANOG. Conclusions We show for the first time that different trans-regulatory elements control transcription of cNANOG in a cell type-specific manner. This finding might help to elucidate the mechanism that regulates cNANOG expression in PGCs and ESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee Jung Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - So Dam Jin
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Deivendran Rengaraj
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Jin Hwa Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Bertrand Pain
- Univ Lyon, Universite ́Lyon 1, INSERM, INRAE, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, U1208, USC1361, 69500, Bron, France
| | - Jae Yong Han
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea. .,Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Shinshu University, Minamiminowa, Nagano, 399-4598, Japan.
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9
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Tobias IC, Kao MMC, Parmentier T, Hunter H, LaMarre J, Betts DH. Targeted expression profiling reveals distinct stages of early canine fibroblast reprogramming are regulated by 2-oxoglutarate hydroxylases. Stem Cell Res Ther 2020; 11:528. [PMID: 33298190 PMCID: PMC7725121 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-02047-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ectopic expression of a defined set of transcription factors allows the reprogramming of mammalian somatic cells to pluripotency. Despite continuous progress in primate and rodent reprogramming, limited attention has been paid to cell reprogramming in domestic and companion species. Previous studies attempting to reprogram canine cells have mostly assessed a small number of presumptive canine induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines for generic pluripotency attributes. However, why canine cell reprogramming remains extremely inefficient is poorly understood. Methods To better characterize the initial steps of pluripotency induction in canine somatic cells, we optimized an experimental system where canine fetal fibroblasts (cFFs) are transduced with the Yamanaka reprogramming factors by Sendai virus vectors. We use quantitative PCR arrays to measure the expression of 80 target genes at various stages of canine cell reprogramming. We ask how cFF reprogramming is influenced by small molecules affecting the epigenomic modification 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, specifically L-ascorbic acid and retinoic acid (AA/RA). Results We found that the expression and catalytic output of a class of 2-oxoglutarate-dependent (2-OG) hydroxylases, known as ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes, can be modulated in canine cells treated with AA/RA. We further show that AA/RA treatment induces TET1 expression and facilitates early canine reprogramming, evidenced by upregulation of epithelial and pluripotency markers. Using a chemical inhibitor of 2-OG hydroxylases, we demonstrate that 2-OG hydroxylase activity regulates the expression of a subset of genes involved in mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) and pluripotency in early canine reprogramming. We identify a set of transcription factors depleted in maturing reprogramming intermediates compared to pluripotent canine embryonic stem cells. Conclusions Our findings highlight 2-OG hydroxylases have evolutionarily conserved and divergent functions regulating the early reprogramming of canine somatic cells and show reprogramming conditions can be rationally optimized for the generation of maturing canine iPSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian C Tobias
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Dental Sciences Building, Room DSB 2022, London, Ontario, N6A 5C1, Canada.,Present Affiliation: Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mian-Mian C Kao
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Dental Sciences Building, Room DSB 2022, London, Ontario, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Thomas Parmentier
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hailey Hunter
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Dental Sciences Building, Room DSB 2022, London, Ontario, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Jonathan LaMarre
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dean H Betts
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Dental Sciences Building, Room DSB 2022, London, Ontario, N6A 5C1, Canada. .,Children's Health Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.
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10
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Cancer reversion with oocyte extracts is mediated by cell cycle arrest and induction of tumour dormancy. Oncotarget 2018; 9:16008-16027. [PMID: 29662623 PMCID: PMC5882314 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Inducing stable control of tumour growth by tumour reversion is an alternative approach to cancer treatment when eradication of the disease cannot be achieved. The process requires re-establishment of normal control mechanisms that are lost in cancer cells so that abnormal proliferation can be halted. Embryonic environments can reset cellular programmes and we previously showed that axolotl oocyte extracts can reprogram breast cancer cells and reverse their tumorigenicity. In this study, we analysed the gene expression profiles of oocyte extract-treated tumour xenografts to show that tumour reprogramming involves cell cycle arrest and acquisition of a quiescent state. Tumour dormancy is associated with increased P27 expression, restoration of RB function and downregulation of mitogen-activated signalling pathways. We also show that the quiescent state is associated with increased levels of H4K20me3 and decreased H4K20me1, an epigenetic profile leading to chromatin compaction. The epigenetic reprogramming induced by oocyte extracts is required for RB hypophosphorylation and induction of P27 expression, both occurring during exposure to the extracts and stably maintained in reprogrammed tumour xenografts. Therefore, this study demonstrates the value of oocyte molecules for inducing tumour reversion and for the development of new chemoquiescence-based therapies.
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11
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Dunwell TL, Holland PWH. A sister of NANOG regulates genes expressed in pre-implantation human development. Open Biol 2018; 7:rsob.170027. [PMID: 28446706 PMCID: PMC5413911 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.170027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The NANOG homeobox gene plays a pivotal role in self-renewal and maintenance of pluripotency in human, mouse and other vertebrate embryonic stem cells, and in pluripotent cells of the blastocyst inner cell mass. There is a poorly studied and atypical homeobox locus close to the Nanog gene in some mammals which could conceivably be a cryptic paralogue of NANOG, even though the loci share only 20% homeodomain identity. Here we argue that this gene, NANOGNB (NANOG Neighbour), is an extremely divergent duplicate of NANOG that underwent radical sequence change in the mammalian lineage. Like NANOG, the NANOGNB gene is expressed in pre-implantation embryos of human and cow; unlike NANOG, NANOGNB expression is restricted to 8-cell and morula stages, preceding blastocyst formation. When expressed ectopically in adult cells, human NANOGNB elicits gene expression changes, including downregulation of a set of genes that have an expression pulse at the 8-cell stage of pre-implantation development. We conclude that gene duplication and massive sequence divergence in mammals generated a novel homeobox gene that acquired new developmental roles complementary to those of Nanog.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas L Dunwell
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Peter W H Holland
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
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12
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Choi HJ, Kim I, Lee HJ, Park YH, Suh J, Han JY. Chicken NANOG self‐associates
via
a novel folding‐upon‐binding mechanism. FASEB J 2018; 32:2563-2573. [PMID: 29295863 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201700924rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hee Jung Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Seoul National University Seoul South Korea
| | - Iktae Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Seoul National University Seoul South Korea
| | - Hong Jo Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Seoul National University Seoul South Korea
| | - Young Hyun Park
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Seoul National University Seoul South Korea
| | - Jeong‐Yong Suh
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Seoul National University Seoul South Korea
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences Shinshu University Minamiminowa Japan
| | - Jae Yong Han
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Seoul National University Seoul South Korea
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences Shinshu University Minamiminowa Japan
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13
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Boroviak T, Nichols J. Primate embryogenesis predicts the hallmarks of human naïve pluripotency. Development 2017; 144:175-186. [PMID: 28096211 PMCID: PMC5430762 DOI: 10.1242/dev.145177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Naïve pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) resemble the preimplantation epiblast and efficiently contribute to chimaeras. Primate ESCs correspond to the postimplantation embryo and fail to resume development in chimaeric assays. Recent data suggest that human ESCs can be ‘reset’ to an earlier developmental stage, but their functional capacity remains ill defined. Here, we discuss how the naïve state is inherently linked to preimplantation epiblast identity in the embryo. We hypothesise that distinctive features of primate development provide stringent criteria to evaluate naïve pluripotency in human and other primate cells. Based on our hypothesis, we define 12 key hallmarks of naïve pluripotency, five of which are specific to primates. These hallmarks may serve as a functional framework to assess human naïve ESCs. Summary: This Hypothesis article highlights several fundamental differences between rodent and primate early development and exploits these to predict key hallmarks of naïve pluripotency in primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Boroviak
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | - Jennifer Nichols
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK.,Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 4BG, UK
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14
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Yu M, Xue T, Chen T, Fang J, Pan Q, Deng Y, Li L, Chen K, Wang Y. Maternal inheritance of Nanog ortholog in blunt-snout bream. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2017; 328:749-759. [PMID: 28834149 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The homeodomain transcription factor Nanog plays an essential role in maintaining pluripotency and self-renewal of embryonic stem cells in mammals. However, the evolutionary conservation of its ortholog in teleosts remains elusive. Here we isolated and characterized a Nanog homolog named as Ma-Nanog in blunt-snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). The full-length genomic sequence is 3,326 bp in length and consists of four exons encoding a homeodomain protein of 386 amino acid residues. Comparison of protein sequences revealed that Ma-Nanog is highly homologous to those in other teleosts, particularly in the homeodomain region. During embryogenesis, RNA expression of Nanog was only detected in early developmental embryos, predominantly at the blastula stage, which suggested the transcripts were mainly present in pluripotent stem cells. RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization verified that the signal of the transcripts is present in the germ cells. RNA expression was observed in the oogonia and early stage of oocytes in the ovary, or in the spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids in the testis. Surprisingly, the transcripts were also detected in adult tissues such as in liver by RT-PCR or qRT-PCR. Subcellular localization of the Nanog protein was also verified in nuclei. Taken together, these results suggested that Ma-Nanog is maternally inherited with conserved features, thus can be potentially used as a marker for stem cells in blunt-snout bream.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Yu
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.,College of Fishery, Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Cultivation, Engineering Lab of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Disease Control, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Xue
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Tiansheng Chen
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Health Production of Fisheries in Hunan Province, Changde, People's Republic of China.,Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.,Engineering Laboratory of Pond Aquaculture in Hubei Province, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Fang
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qihua Pan
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Deng
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingyu Li
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Chen
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yizhou Wang
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
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15
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Mechanisms of Vertebrate Germ Cell Determination. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 953:383-440. [PMID: 27975276 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-46095-6_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Two unique characteristics of the germ line are the ability to persist from generation to generation and to retain full developmental potential while differentiating into gametes. How the germ line is specified that allows it to retain these characteristics within the context of a developing embryo remains unknown and is one focus of current research. Germ cell specification proceeds through one of two basic mechanisms: cell autonomous or inductive. Here, we discuss how germ plasm driven germ cell specification (cell autonomous) occurs in both zebrafish and the frog Xenopus. We describe the segregation of germ cells during embryonic development of solitary and colonial ascidians to provide an evolutionary context to both mechanisms. We conclude with a discussion of the inductive mechanism as exemplified by both the mouse and axolotl model systems. Regardless of mechanism, several general themes can be recognized including the essential role of repression and posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression.
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16
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Onichtchouk DV, Voronina AS. Regulation of Zygotic Genome and Cellular Pluripotency. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2016; 80:1723-33. [PMID: 26878577 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297915130088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Events, manifesting transition from maternal to zygotic period of development are studied for more than 100 years, but underlying mechanisms are not yet clear. We provide a brief historical overview of development of concepts and explain the specific terminology used in the field. We further discuss differences and similarities between the zygotic genome activation and in vitro reprogramming process. Finally, we envision the future research directions within the field, where biochemical methods will play increasingly important role.
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Affiliation(s)
- D V Onichtchouk
- University of Freiburg, Developmental Biology Unit, Biologie 1, Freiburg, 79194, Germany.
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17
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Crother BI, White ME, Johnson AD. Diversification and Germ-Line Determination Revisited: Linking Developmental Mechanism with Species Richness. Front Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2016.00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
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18
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Highly efficient delivery of functional cargoes by the synergistic effect of GAG binding motifs and cell-penetrating peptides. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E291-9. [PMID: 26733682 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1518634113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein transduction domains (PTDs) are powerful nongenetic tools that allow intracellular delivery of conjugated cargoes to modify cell behavior. Their use in biomedicine has been hampered by inefficient delivery to nuclear and cytoplasmic targets. Here we overcame this deficiency by developing a series of novel fusion proteins that couple a membrane-docking peptide to heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) with a PTD. We showed that this GET (GAG-binding enhanced transduction) system could deliver enzymes (Cre, neomycin phosphotransferase), transcription factors (NANOG, MYOD), antibodies, native proteins (cytochrome C), magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), and nucleic acids [plasmid (p)DNA, modified (mod)RNA, and small inhibitory RNA] at efficiencies of up to two orders of magnitude higher than previously reported in cell types considered hard to transduce, such as mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), human ESCs (hESCs), and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). This technology represents an efficient strategy for controlling cell labeling and directing cell fate or behavior that has broad applicability for basic research, disease modeling, and clinical application.
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19
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Abstract
Embryos of many animal models express germ line determinants that suppress transcription and mediate early germ line commitment, which occurs before the somatic cell lineages are established. However, not all animals segregate their germ line in this manner. The 'last cell standing' model describes primordial germ cell (PGC) development in axolotls, in which PGCs are maintained by an extracellular signalling niche, and germ line commitment occurs after gastrulation. Here, we propose that this 'stochastic' mode of PGC specification is conserved in vertebrates, including non-rodent mammals. We postulate that early germ line segregation liberates genetic regulatory networks for somatic development to evolve, and that it therefore emerged repeatedly in the animal kingdom in response to natural selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Johnson
- School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Ramiro Alberio
- School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
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20
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Cao Y. Germ layer formation during Xenopus embryogenesis: the balance between pluripotency and differentiation. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2015; 58:336-42. [DOI: 10.1007/s11427-015-4799-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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21
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Abstract
Sal-Site serves axolotl research efforts by providing Web access to genomic data and information, and living stocks that are reared and made available by the Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center (AGSC). In this chapter, we detail how investigators can search for genes of interest among Sal-Site resources to identify orthologous nucleotide and protein-coding sequences, determine genome positions within the Ambystoma meiotic map, and obtain estimates of gene expression. In the near future, additional genomic resources will be made available for the axolotl, including a listing of genes that are partially or wholly contained within Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) vectors, a prioritized collection of deeply sequenced BAC clones, chromosome-specific assemblies of genomic DNA, and transgenic axolotls that are engineered using TALENs and CRISPRs. Also, services provided by the AGSC will be expanded to include microinjection of user constructs into single cell embryos and distribution of axolotl tissues, DNA, and RNA. In conclusion, Sal-Site is a useful resource that generates, shares, and evolves Ambystoma associated information and databases to serve research and education.
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22
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Almeida RD, Loose M, Sottile V, Matsa E, Denning C, Young L, Johnson AD, Gering M, Ruzov A. 5-hydroxymethyl-cytosine enrichment of non-committed cells is not a universal feature of vertebrate development. Epigenetics 2014; 7:383-9. [DOI: 10.4161/epi.19375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
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23
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Chibby functions in Xenopus ciliary assembly, embryonic development, and the regulation of gene expression. Dev Biol 2014; 395:287-98. [PMID: 25220153 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2014.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2014] [Revised: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Wnt signaling and ciliogenesis are core features of embryonic development in a range of metazoans. Chibby (Cby), a basal-body associated protein, regulates β-catenin-mediated Wnt signaling in the mouse but not Drosophila. Here we present an analysis of Cby's embryonic expression and morphant phenotypes in Xenopus laevis. Cby RNA is supplied maternally, negatively regulated by Snail2 but not Twist1, preferentially expressed in the neuroectoderm, and regulates β-catenin-mediated gene expression. Reducing Cby levels reduced the density of multiciliated cells, the number of basal bodies per multiciliated cell, and the numbers of neural tube primary cilia; it also led to abnormal development of the neural crest, central nervous system, and pronephros, all defects that were rescued by a Cby-GFP chimera. Reduction of Cby led to an increase in Wnt8a and decreases in Gli2, Gli3, and Shh RNA levels. Many, but not all, morphant phenotypes were significantly reversed by the Wnt inhibitor SFRP2. These observations extend our understanding of Cby's role in mediating the network of interactions between ciliogenesis, signaling systems and tissue patterning.
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24
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Rao N, Song F, Jhamb D, Wang M, Milner DJ, Price NM, Belecky-Adams TL, Palakal MJ, Cameron JA, Li B, Chen X, Stocum DL. Proteomic analysis of fibroblastema formation in regenerating hind limbs of Xenopus laevis froglets and comparison to axolotl. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2014; 14:32. [PMID: 25063185 PMCID: PMC4222900 DOI: 10.1186/1471-213x-14-32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Background To gain insight into what differences might restrict the capacity for limb regeneration in Xenopus froglets, we used High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)/double mass spectrometry to characterize protein expression during fibroblastema formation in the amputated froglet hindlimb, and compared the results to those obtained previously for blastema formation in the axolotl limb. Results Comparison of the Xenopus fibroblastema and axolotl blastema revealed several similarities and significant differences in proteomic profiles. The most significant similarity was the strong parallel down regulation of muscle proteins and enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Regenerating Xenopus limbs differed significantly from axolotl regenerating limbs in several ways: deficiency in the inositol phosphate/diacylglycerol signaling pathway, down regulation of Wnt signaling, up regulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and proteins involved in chondrocyte differentiation, lack of expression of a key cell cycle protein, ecotropic viral integration site 5 (EVI5), that blocks mitosis in the axolotl, and the expression of several patterning proteins not seen in the axolotl that may dorsalize the fibroblastema. Conclusions We have characterized global protein expression during fibroblastema formation after amputation of the Xenopus froglet hindlimb and identified several differences that lead to signaling deficiency, failure to retard mitosis, premature chondrocyte differentiation, and failure of dorsoventral axial asymmetry. These differences point to possible interventions to improve blastema formation and pattern formation in the froglet limb.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - David L Stocum
- Department of Biology, and Center for Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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25
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Chatfield J, O'Reilly MA, Bachvarova RF, Ferjentsik Z, Redwood C, Walmsley M, Patient R, Loose M, Johnson AD. Stochastic specification of primordial germ cells from mesoderm precursors in axolotl embryos. Development 2014; 141:2429-40. [PMID: 24917499 PMCID: PMC4050694 DOI: 10.1242/dev.105346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
A common feature of development in most vertebrate models is the early segregation of the germ line from the soma. For example, in Xenopus and zebrafish embryos primordial germ cells (PGCs) are specified by germ plasm that is inherited from the egg; in mice, Blimp1 expression in the epiblast mediates the commitment of cells to the germ line. How these disparate mechanisms of PGC specification evolved is unknown. Here, in order to identify the ancestral mechanism of PGC specification in vertebrates, we studied PGC specification in embryos from the axolotl (Mexican salamander), a model for the tetrapod ancestor. In the axolotl, PGCs develop within mesoderm, and classic studies have reported their induction from primitive ectoderm (animal cap). We used an axolotl animal cap system to demonstrate that signalling through FGF and BMP4 induces PGCs. The role of FGF was then confirmed in vivo. We also showed PGC induction by Brachyury, in the presence of BMP4. These conditions induced pluripotent mesodermal precursors that give rise to a variety of somatic cell types, in addition to PGCs. Irreversible restriction of the germ line did not occur until the mid-tailbud stage, days after the somatic germ layers are established. Before this, germline potential was maintained by MAP kinase signalling. We propose that this stochastic mechanism of PGC specification, from mesodermal precursors, is conserved in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodie Chatfield
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Marie-Anne O'Reilly
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Rosemary F Bachvarova
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Zoltan Ferjentsik
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Catherine Redwood
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Maggie Walmsley
- Molecular Haematology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Roger Patient
- Molecular Haematology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Mathew Loose
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Andrew D Johnson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
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26
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Saunders A, Faiola F, Wang J. Concise review: pursuing self-renewal and pluripotency with the stem cell factor Nanog. Stem Cells 2014; 31:1227-36. [PMID: 23653415 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2013] [Accepted: 03/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Pluripotent embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells hold great promise for future use in tissue replacement therapies due to their ability to self-renew indefinitely and to differentiate into all adult cell types. Harnessing this therapeutic potential efficiently requires a much deeper understanding of the molecular processes at work within the pluripotency network. The transcription factors Nanog, Oct4, and Sox2 reside at the core of this network, where they interact and regulate their own expression as well as that of numerous other pluripotency factors. Of these core factors, Nanog is critical for blocking the differentiation of pluripotent cells, and more importantly, for establishing the pluripotent ground state during somatic cell reprogramming. Both mouse and human Nanog are able to form dimers in vivo, allowing them to preferentially interact with certain factors and perform unique functions. Recent studies have identified an evolutionary functional conservation among vertebrate Nanog orthologs from chick, zebrafish, and the axolotl salamander, adding an additional layer of complexity to Nanog function. Here, we present a detailed overview of published work focusing on Nanog structure, function, dimerization, and regulation at the genetic and post-translational levels with regard to the establishment and maintenance of pluripotency. The full spectrum of Nanog function in pluripotent stem cells and in cancer is only beginning to be revealed. We therefore use this evidence to advocate for more comprehensive analysis of Nanog in the context of disease, development, and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arven Saunders
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, New York, NY, USA
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27
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Evans T, Wade CM, Chapman FA, Johnson AD, Loose M. Acquisition of germ plasm accelerates vertebrate evolution. Science 2014; 344:200-3. [PMID: 24723612 DOI: 10.1126/science.1249325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Primordial germ cell (PGC) specification occurs either by induction from pluripotent cells (epigenesis) or by a cell-autonomous mechanism mediated by germ plasm (preformation). Among vertebrates, epigenesis is basal, whereas germ plasm has evolved convergently across lineages and is associated with greater speciation. We compared protein-coding sequences of vertebrate species that employ preformation with their sister taxa that use epigenesis and demonstrate that genes evolve more rapidly in species containing germ plasm. Furthermore, differences in rates of evolution appear to cause phylogenetic incongruence in protein-coding sequence comparisons between vertebrate taxa. Our results support the hypothesis that germ plasm liberates constraints on somatic development and that enhanced evolvability drives the evolution of germ plasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teri Evans
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
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28
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Brown LE, King JR, Loose M. Two different network topologies yield bistability in models of mesoderm and anterior mesendoderm specification in amphibians. J Theor Biol 2014; 353:67-77. [PMID: 24650939 PMCID: PMC4029075 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2014.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Revised: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the Gene Regulatory Networks (GRNs) that underlie development is a major question for systems biology. The establishment of the germ layers is amongst the earliest events of development and has been characterised in numerous model systems. The establishment of the mesoderm is best characterised in the frog Xenopus laevis and has been well studied both experimentally and mathematically. However, the Xenopus network has significant differences from that in mouse and humans, including the presence of multiple copies of two key genes in the network, Mix and Nodal. The axolotl, a urodele amphibian, provides a model with all the benefits of amphibian embryology but crucially only a single Mix and Nodal gene required for the specification of the mesoderm. Remarkably, the number of genes within the network is not the only difference. The interaction between Mix and Brachyury, two transcription factors involved in the establishment of the endoderm and mesoderm respectively, is not conserved. While Mix represses Brachyury in Xenopus, it activates Brachyury in axolotl. Thus, whilst the topology of the networks in the two species differs, both are able to form mesoderm and endoderm in vivo. Based on current knowledge of the structure of the mesendoderm GRN we develop deterministic models that describe the time evolution of transcription factors in a single axolotl cell and compare numerical simulations with previous results from Xenopus. The models are shown to have stable steady states corresponding to mesoderm and anterior mesendoderm, with the in vitro model showing how the concentration of Activin can determine cell fate, while the in vivo model shows that β-catenin concentration can determine cell fate. Moreover, our analysis suggests that additional components must be important in the axolotl network in the specification of the full range of tissues. We present models of mesendoderm specification in the urodele amphibian, the axolotl. in vitro and in vivo models are simulated and compared with experimental data. The model topology differs from that of the anuran amphibian, Xenopus laevis. Steady states representing mesoderm and anterior mesendoderm are found in both models. Both the axolotl and Xenopus topologies can account for similar qualitative data.
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Affiliation(s)
- L E Brown
- MyCIB, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD, UK.
| | - J R King
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - M Loose
- Centre for Genetics and Genomics, University of Nottingham, Queen׳s Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
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29
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Scerbo P, Markov GV, Vivien C, Kodjabachian L, Demeneix B, Coen L, Girardot F. On the origin and evolutionary history of NANOG. PLoS One 2014; 9:e85104. [PMID: 24465486 PMCID: PMC3894937 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2013] [Accepted: 11/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Though pluripotency is well characterized in mammals, many questions remain to be resolved regarding its evolutionary history. A necessary prerequisite for addressing this issue is to determine the phylogenetic distributions and orthology relationships of the transcription factor families sustaining or modulating this property. In mammals, the NANOG homeodomain transcription factor is one of the core players in the pluripotency network. However, its evolutionary history has not been thoroughly studied, hindering the interpretation of comparative studies. To date, the NANOG family was thought to be monogenic, with numerous pseudogenes described in mammals, including a tandem duplicate in Hominidae. By examining a wide-array of craniate genomes, we provide evidence that the NANOG family arose at the latest in the most recent common ancestor of osteichthyans and that NANOG genes are frequently found as tandem duplicates in sarcopterygians and as a single gene in actinopterygians. Their phylogenetic distribution is thus reminiscent of that recently shown for Class V POU paralogues, another key family of pluripotency-controlling factors. However, while a single ancestral duplication has been reported for the Class V POU family, we suggest that multiple independent duplication events took place during evolution of the NANOG family. These multiple duplications could have contributed to create a layer of complexity in the control of cell competence and pluripotency, which could explain the discrepancies relative to the functional evolution of this important gene family. Further, our analysis does not support the hypothesis that loss of NANOG and emergence of the preformation mode of primordial germ cell specification are causally linked. Our study therefore argues for the need of further functional comparisons between NANOG paralogues, notably regarding the novel duplicates identified in sauropsids and non-eutherian mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Scerbo
- Département Régulations, Développement et Diversité Moléculaire, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
- Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France
| | - Gabriel V. Markov
- Département Régulations, Développement et Diversité Moléculaire, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Lyon, France
- Department for Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Céline Vivien
- Département Régulations, Développement et Diversité Moléculaire, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
- WatchFrog S.A., Evry, France
| | - Laurent Kodjabachian
- Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France
| | - Barbara Demeneix
- Département Régulations, Développement et Diversité Moléculaire, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Laurent Coen
- Département Régulations, Développement et Diversité Moléculaire, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Fabrice Girardot
- Département Régulations, Développement et Diversité Moléculaire, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
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Scerbo P, Coen L. [Pluripotency and induced nuclear reprogramming in vertebrates: new perspectives]. Biol Aujourdhui 2013; 207:201-17. [PMID: 24330973 DOI: 10.1051/jbio/2013016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Pluripotency is a transitory state during vertebrate development. A pluripotent cell can theoretically acquire all cell fates of the organism. During ontogenetic dynamics, loss of pluripotency is associated with a progressive acquisition of a specific genetic program, which is determined both by instructions received and by cell position in the whole organism. Pluripotent embryonic stem cells can be isolated and cultured in vitro indefinitely. Using mammalian embryonic stem cells (ESCs), it has been possible to identify the factors involved in the establishment and maintenance of pluripotency state. In this review, we will describe recent scientific advances in the understanding of pluripotency, the molecular actors involved in such a regulation and their functional conservation during evolution. We shall focus on new concepts, obtained from the study of vertebrate model organisms, to shed light on the cell transition from pluripotency to differentiated state, and shall recapitulate fundamental and clinical applications of pluripotent cells, of "somatic cell nuclear transfer" (SCNT), of induced nuclear reprogramming in vitro and future perspectives of in vivo applications. Our results, in the xenopus, concerning the first in vivo induced nuclear reprogramming might open new perspectives about the understanding of cell plasticity in an integrated context. Our analyses sought to encourage new and alternative clinical approaches to achieve in situ tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Scerbo
- Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille Luminy, CNRS UMR 7288, case 907, campus de Luminy, 13009 Marseille, France - Département Régulations, Développement et Diversité Moléculaire, CNRS UMR 7221, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN), CP No. 32, 7 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris Cedex 5, France
| | - Laurent Coen
- Département Régulations, Développement et Diversité Moléculaire, CNRS UMR 7221, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN), CP No. 32, 7 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris Cedex 5, France
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Reprogramming to pluripotency is an ancient trait of vertebrate Oct4 and Pou2 proteins. Nat Commun 2013; 3:1279. [PMID: 23232409 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2012] [Accepted: 10/29/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary origins of the gene network underlying cellular pluripotency, a central theme in developmental biology, have yet to be elucidated. In mammals, Oct4 is a factor crucial in the reprogramming of differentiated cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. The Oct4 and Pou2 genes evolved from a POU class V gene ancestor, but it is unknown whether pluripotency induced by Oct4 gene activity is a feature specific to mammals or was already present in ancestral vertebrates. Here we report that different vertebrate Pou2 and Oct4 homologues can induce pluripotency in mouse and human fibroblasts and that the inability of zebrafish Pou2 to establish pluripotency is not representative of all Pou2 genes, as medaka Pou2 and axolotl Pou2 are able to reprogram somatic cells into pluripotent cells. Therefore, our results indicate that induction of pluripotency is not a feature specific to mammals, but existed in the Oct4/Pou2 common ancestral vertebrate.
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Cao Y. Regulation of germ layer formation by pluripotency factors during embryogenesis. Cell Biosci 2013; 3:15. [PMID: 23497659 PMCID: PMC3602094 DOI: 10.1186/2045-3701-3-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2012] [Accepted: 12/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The classical pluripotency factors Oct4, Klf4, Sox2, and Nanog are required for the maintenance of pluripotency and self-renewal of embryonic stem (ES) cells and can reprogram terminally differentiated cells into a pluripotent state. Alteration in the levels of these factors in ES cells will cause differentiation into different lineages, suggesting that they are critical determinants of cell fates. These factors show dynamic expression patterns during embryogenesis, in particular in the pluripotent or multipotent cells of an early stage embryo, implying that they are involved in the cell fate decision during early embryonic development. Functions and the underlying molecular mechanisms have been extensively studied for these factors in ES cells under cultured conditions. However, this does not mean that the results also hold true for intact embryos. In the review, I have summarized and discussed the findings on the functions and the underlying mechanisms of the classical pluripotency factors during early embryogenesis, in particular during germ layer formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cao
- Model Animal Research Center of Nanjing University and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, 12 Xuefu Road, Pukou High-Tech Zone, Nanjing, 210061, China.
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Alberio R, Perez AR. Recent advances in stem and germ cell research: implications for the derivation of pig pluripotent cells. Reprod Domest Anim 2013; 47 Suppl 4:98-106. [PMID: 22827357 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2012.02062.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells have the unique capacity to contribute to all the tissues of an adult animal after transfer into a host embryo. How pluripotency is acquired during early development and how it is maintained in stem cells have attracted the interest of many scientists for over three decades. Much progress in our understanding of how stem cells arise in culture and the signals required for homoeostasis has enabled the derivation of pluripotent cells in multiple species. Here, we discuss recent developments in stem cell biology that will impact the generation of pluripotent cells from different embryonic origins and will contribute to increase our capacity for generating transgenic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Alberio
- Division of Animal Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, UK.
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Jean C, Aubel P, Soleihavoup C, Bouhallier F, Voisin S, Lavial F, Pain B. Pluripotent genes in avian stem cells. Dev Growth Differ 2012; 55:41-51. [DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2012] [Revised: 10/22/2012] [Accepted: 10/23/2012] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Fabrice Lavial
- Centre de Cancérologie de Lyon, INSERM, U1052, CNRS, UMR5286; Centre Léon Bérard; Université de Lyon; Lyon; France
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35
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Ozair MZ, Kintner C, Brivanlou AH. Neural induction and early patterning in vertebrates. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2012; 2:479-98. [PMID: 24014419 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In vertebrates, the development of the nervous system is triggered by signals from a powerful 'organizing' region of the early embryo during gastrulation. This phenomenon--neural induction--was originally discovered and given conceptual definition by experimental embryologists working with amphibian embryos. Work on the molecular circuitry underlying neural induction, also in the same model system, demonstrated that elimination of ongoing transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signaling in the ectoderm is the hallmark of anterior neural-fate acquisition. This observation is the basis of the 'default' model of neural induction. Endogenous neural inducers are secreted proteins that act to inhibit TGFβ ligands in the dorsal ectoderm. In the ventral ectoderm, where the signaling ligands escape the inhibitors, a non-neural fate is induced. Inhibition of the TGFβ pathway has now been demonstrated to be sufficient to directly induce neural fate in mammalian embryos as well as pluripotent mouse and human embryonic stem cells. Hence the molecular process that delineates neural from non-neural ectoderm is conserved across a broad range of organisms in the evolutionary tree. The availability of embryonic stem cells from mouse, primates, and humans will facilitate further understanding of the role of signaling pathways and their downstream mediators in neural induction in vertebrate embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Zeeshan Ozair
- Laboratory of Molecular Vertebrate Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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mNanog possesses dorsal mesoderm-inducing ability by modulating both BMP and Activin/nodal signaling in Xenopus ectodermal cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e46630. [PMID: 23071603 PMCID: PMC3469649 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2012] [Accepted: 09/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Xenopus early embryogenesis, various genes are involved with mesoderm formation. In particular, dorsal mesoderm contains the organizer region and induces neural tissues through the inhibition of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. In our initial study to identify novel genes necessary for maintaining the undifferentiated state, we unexpectedly revealed mesoderm-inducing activity for mNanog in Xenopus. Methodology/Principal Findings The present series of experiments investigated the effect of mNanog gene expression on Xenopus embryo. Ectopic expression of mNanog induced dorsal mesoderm gene activity, secondary axis formation, and weakly upregulated Activin/nodal signaling. The injection of mNanog also effectively inhibited the target genes of BMP signaling, while Xvent2 injection downregulated the dorsal mesoderm gene expression induced by mNanog injection. Conclusions/Significance These results suggested that mNanog expression induces dorsal mesoderm by regulating both Activin/nodal signaling and BMP signaling in Xenopus. This finding highlights the possibly novel function for mNanog in stimulating the endogenous gene network in Xenopus mesoderm formation.
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Xu C, Fan ZP, Müller P, Fogley R, DiBiase A, Trompouki E, Unternaehrer J, Xiong F, Torregroza I, Evans T, Megason SG, Daley GQ, Schier AF, Young RA, Zon LI. Nanog-like regulates endoderm formation through the Mxtx2-Nodal pathway. Dev Cell 2012; 22:625-38. [PMID: 22421047 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2012.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2011] [Revised: 09/19/2011] [Accepted: 01/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In mammalian embryonic stem cells, the acquisition of pluripotency is dependent on Nanog, but the in vivo analysis of Nanog has been hampered by its requirement for early mouse development. In an effort to examine the role of Nanog in vivo, we identified a zebrafish Nanog ortholog and found that its knockdown impaired endoderm formation. Genome-wide transcription analysis revealed that nanog-like morphants fail to develop the extraembryonic yolk syncytial layer (YSL), which produces Nodal, required for endoderm induction. We examined the genes that were regulated by Nanog-like and identified the homeobox gene mxtx2, which is both necessary and sufficient for YSL induction. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays and genetic studies indicated that Nanog-like directly activates mxtx2, which, in turn, specifies the YSL lineage by directly activating YSL genes. Our study identifies a Nanog-like-Mxtx2-Nodal pathway and establishes a role for Nanog-like in regulating the formation of the extraembryonic tissue required for endoderm induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Xu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Children's Hospital Boston and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Ventx factors function as Nanog-like guardians of developmental potential in Xenopus. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36855. [PMID: 22606298 PMCID: PMC3351468 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2011] [Accepted: 04/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebrate development requires progressive commitment of embryonic cells into specific lineages through a continuum of signals that play off differentiation versus multipotency. In mammals, Nanog is a key transcription factor that maintains cellular pluripotency by controlling competence to respond to differentiation cues. Nanog orthologs are known in most vertebrates examined to date, but absent from the Anuran amphibian Xenopus. Interestingly, in silico analyses and literature scanning reveal that basal vertebrate ventral homeobox (ventxs) and mammalian Nanog factors share extensive structural, evolutionary and functional properties. Here, we reassess the role of ventx activity in Xenopus laevis embryos and demonstrate that they play an unanticipated role as guardians of high developmental potential during early development. Joint over-expression of Xenopus ventx1.2 and ventx2.1-b (ventx1/2) counteracts lineage commitment towards both dorsal and ventral fates and prevents msx1-induced ventralization. Furthermore, ventx1/2 inactivation leads to down-regulation of the multipotency marker oct91 and to premature differentiation of blastula cells. Finally, supporting the key role of ventx1/2 in the control of developmental potential during development, mouse Nanog (mNanog) expression specifically rescues embryonic axis formation in ventx1/2 deficient embryos. We conclude that during Xenopus development ventx1/2 activity, reminiscent of that of Nanog in mammalian embryos, controls the switch of early embryonic cells from uncommitted to committed states.
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Vivien C, Scerbo P, Girardot F, Le Blay K, Demeneix BA, Coen L. Non-viral expression of mouse Oct4, Sox2, and Klf4 transcription factors efficiently reprograms tadpole muscle fibers in vivo. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:7427-35. [PMID: 22232554 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.324368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult mammalian cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by a limited combination of transcription factors. To date, most current iPSC generation protocols rely on viral vector usage in vitro, using cells removed from their physiological context. Such protocols are hindered by low derivation efficiency and risks associated with genome modifications of reprogrammed cells. Here, we reprogrammed cells in an in vivo context using non-viral somatic transgenesis in Xenopus tadpole tail muscle, a setting that provides long term expression of non-integrated transgenes in vivo. Expression of mouse mOct4, mSox2, and mKlf4 (OSK) led rapidly and reliably to formation of proliferating cell clusters. These clusters displayed the principal hallmarks of pluripotency: alkaline phosphatase activity, up-regulation of key epigenetic and chromatin remodeling markers, and reexpression of endogenous pluripotent markers. Furthermore, these clusters were capable of differentiating into derivatives of the three germ layers in vitro and into neurons and muscle fibers in vivo. As in situ reprogramming occurs along with muscle tissue repair, the data provide a link between these two processes and suggest that they act synergistically. Notably, every OSK injection resulted in cluster formation. We conclude that reprogramming is achievable in an anamniote model and propose that in vivo approaches could provide rapid and efficient alternative for non-viral iPSC production. The work opens new perspectives in basic stem cell research and in the longer term prospect of regenerative medicine protocols development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Vivien
- UMR CNRS 7221,Évolution des Régulations Endocriniennes,Département Régulations Développement et Diversité Mole´culaire,Muse´um National d’Histoire Naturelle, 75231 Paris, France
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40
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Theunissen TW, Costa Y, Radzisheuskaya A, van Oosten AL, Lavial F, Pain B, Castro LFC, Silva JCR. Reprogramming capacity of Nanog is functionally conserved in vertebrates and resides in a unique homeodomain. Development 2011; 138:4853-65. [PMID: 22028025 PMCID: PMC3201656 DOI: 10.1242/dev.068775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Pluripotency is a developmental ground state that can be recreated by direct reprogramming. Establishment of pluripotency is crucially dependent on the homeodomain-containing transcription factor Nanog. Compared with other pluripotency-associated genes, however, Nanog shows relatively low sequence conservation. Here, we investigated whether Nanog orthologs have the capacity to orchestrate establishment of pluripotency in Nanog(-/-) somatic cells. Mammalian, avian and teleost orthologs of Nanog enabled efficient reprogramming to full pluripotency, despite sharing as little as 13% sequence identity with mouse Nanog. Nanog orthologs supported self-renewal of pluripotent cells in the absence of leukemia inhibitory factor, and directly regulated mouse Nanog target genes. Related homeodomain transcription factors showed no reprogramming activity. Nanog is distinguished by the presence of two unique residues in the DNA recognition helix of its homeodomain, and mutations in these positions impaired reprogramming. On the basis of genome analysis and homeodomain identity, we propose that Nanog is a vertebrate innovation, which shared an ancestor with the Bsx gene family prior to the vertebrate radiation. However, cephalochordate Bsx did not have the capacity to replace mouse Nanog in reprogramming. Surprisingly, the Nanog homeodomain, a short sequence that contains the only recognizable conservation between Nanog orthologs, was sufficient to induce naive pluripotency in Nanog(-/-) somatic cells. This shows that control of the pluripotent state resides within a unique DNA-binding domain, which appeared at least 450 million years ago in a common ancestor of vertebrates. Our results support the hypothesis that naive pluripotency is a generic feature of vertebrate development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorold W Theunissen
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
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Theunissen TW, Silva JCR. Switching on pluripotency: a perspective on the biological requirement of Nanog. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2011; 366:2222-9. [PMID: 21727127 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pluripotency is a transient cellular state during early development which can be recreated in vitro by direct reprogramming. The molecular mechanisms driving entry into and exit from the pluripotent state are the subject of intense research interest. Here, we review the role of the homeodomain-containing transcription factor Nanog in mammalian embryology and induced pluripotency. Nanog was originally thought to be confined to the maintenance of pluripotency, but recent insights from genetic studies uncovered a new biological function. Embryonic stem cells deficient in Nanog alleles are more prone to differentiate but do not lose pluripotency per se. Instead, Nanog is transiently required for the specification of the naive pluripotent epiblast and development of primordial germ cells. Nanog is also essential to finalize somatic cell reprogramming during induction of pluripotency. We propose that this unique transcription factor acts as a molecular switch to turn on the naive pluripotent programme in mammalian cells. In this context, the capacity of Nanog to resist differentiation can be regarded as recapitulation of effects normally associated with the specification of pluripotency. Pertinent questions are how Nanog specifies naive pluripotency and whether this mechanism is evolutionarily conserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorold W Theunissen
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
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Schuff M, Siegel D, Philipp M, Bundschu K, Heymann N, Donow C, Knöchel W. Characterization of Danio rerio Nanog and functional comparison to Xenopus Vents. Stem Cells Dev 2011; 21:1225-38. [PMID: 21967637 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2011.0285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanog is a homeodomain transcription factor associated with the acquisition of pluripotency. Genome analyses of lower and higher vertebrates revealed that the existence of Nanog is restricted to gnathostomata but absent from agnatha and invertebrates. To elucidate the function of Nanog in nonmammalia, we identified the Danio rerio ortholog of Nanog and characterized its role in gain and loss of function experiments. We found Nanog to be crucial for survival of early zebrafish embryos, because depletion of Nanog led to gastrulation defects with subsequent lethality. Mouse Nanog overexpression could rescue these defects. Vice versa, zebrafish Nanog was found to promote proliferation and to inhibit differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells in the absence of leukemia inhibitory factor. These findings indicate functional conservation of Nanog from teleost fishes to mammals. However, Nanog was lost in the genome of the anurans Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that deletion probably occurred in a common anuran ancestor along with chromosomal translocations. The closest homologs of Nanog in Xenopus are the Vent proteins. We, therefore, investigated whether the Xvent genes might substitute for Nanog function in Xenopus. Although we found some similarities in phenotypes after overexpression and in the regulation of several marker genes, Xvent1/2 and Nanog cannot substitute each other. Depletion of Nanog in zebrafish cannot be rescued by ectopic expression of Xvent, and Xvent depletion in Xenopus cannot be overcome by ectopic expression of zebrafish Nanog.
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Dixon JE, Dick E, Rajamohan D, Shakesheff KM, Denning C. Directed differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to interrogate the cardiac gene regulatory network. Mol Ther 2011; 19:1695-703. [PMID: 21694703 PMCID: PMC3182351 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2011.125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2011] [Accepted: 05/25/2011] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The limited ability of the heart to regenerate has prompted development of new systems to produce cardiomyocytes for therapeutics. While differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into cardiomyocytes has been well documented, the process remains inefficient and/or expensive, and progress would be facilitated by better understanding the early genetic events that cause cardiac specification. By maintaining a transgenic cardiac-specific MYH6-monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP) reporter hESC line in conditions that promote pluripotency, we tested the ability of combinations of 15 genes to induce cardiac specification. Screening identified GATA4 plus TBX5 as the minimum requirement to activate the cardiac gene regulatory network and produce mRFP(+) cells, while a combination of GATA4, TBX5, NKX2.5, and BAF60c (GTNB) was necessary to generate beating cardiomyocytes positive for cTnI and α-actinin. Including the chemotherapeutic agent, Ara-C, from day 10 of induced differentiation enriched for cTnI/α-actinin double positive cells to 45%. Transient expression of GTNB for 5-7 days was necessary to activate the cardiogenesis through progenitor intermediates in a manner consistent with normal heart development. This system provides a route to test the effect of different factors on human cardiac differentiation and will be useful in understanding the network failures that underlie disease phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Dixon
- School of Pharmacy, Wolfson Centre for Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering, and Modelling, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Allegrucci C, Rushton MD, Dixon JE, Sottile V, Shah M, Kumari R, Watson S, Alberio R, Johnson AD. Epigenetic reprogramming of breast cancer cells with oocyte extracts. Mol Cancer 2011; 10:7. [PMID: 21232089 PMCID: PMC3034708 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-10-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2010] [Accepted: 01/13/2011] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is a disease characterised by both genetic and epigenetic alterations. Epigenetic silencing of tumour suppressor genes is an early event in breast carcinogenesis and reversion of gene silencing by epigenetic reprogramming can provide clues to the mechanisms responsible for tumour initiation and progression. In this study we apply the reprogramming capacity of oocytes to cancer cells in order to study breast oncogenesis. RESULTS We show that breast cancer cells can be directly reprogrammed by amphibian oocyte extracts. The reprogramming effect, after six hours of treatment, in the absence of DNA replication, includes DNA demethylation and removal of repressive histone marks at the promoters of tumour suppressor genes; also, expression of the silenced genes is re-activated in response to treatment. This activity is specific to oocytes as it is not elicited by extracts from ovulated eggs, and is present at very limited levels in extracts from mouse embryonic stem cells. Epigenetic reprogramming in oocyte extracts results in reduction of cancer cell growth under anchorage independent conditions and a reduction in tumour growth in mouse xenografts. CONCLUSIONS This study presents a new method to investigate tumour reversion by epigenetic reprogramming. After testing extracts from different sources, we found that axolotl oocyte extracts possess superior reprogramming ability, which reverses epigenetic silencing of tumour suppressor genes and tumorigenicity of breast cancer cells in a mouse xenograft model. Therefore this system can be extremely valuable for dissecting the mechanisms involved in tumour suppressor gene silencing and identifying molecular activities capable of arresting tumour growth. These applications can ultimately shed light on the contribution of epigenetic alterations in breast cancer and advance the development of epigenetic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Allegrucci
- Centre for Genetics and Genomics, School of Biology, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.
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45
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Johnson AD, Richardson E, Bachvarova RF, Crother BI. Evolution of the germ line-soma relationship in vertebrate embryos. Reproduction 2011; 141:291-300. [PMID: 21228047 DOI: 10.1530/rep-10-0474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The germ line and soma together maintain genetic lineages from generation to generation: the germ line passes genetic information between generations; the soma is the vehicle for germ line transmission, and is shaped by natural selection. The germ line and somatic lineages arise simultaneously in early embryos, but how their development is related depends on how primordial germ cells (PGC) are specified. PGCs are specified by one of two means. Epigenesis describes the induction of PGCs from pluripotent cells by signals from surrounding somatic tissues. In contrast, PGCs in many species are specified cell-autonomously by maternally derived molecules, known as germ plasm, and this is called preformation. Germ plasm inhibits signaling to PGCs; thus, they are specified cell-autonomously. Germ plasm evolved independently in many animal lineages, suggesting convergent evolution, and therefore it would be expected to convey a selective advantage. But, what this is remains unknown. We propose that the selective advantage that drives the emergence of germ plasm in vertebrates is the disengagement of germ line specification from somatic influences. This liberates the evolution of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that govern somatic development, and thereby enhances species evolvability, a well-recognized selective advantage. We cite recent evidence showing that frog embryos, which contain germ plasm, have modified GRNs that are not conserved in axolotls, which represent more basal amphibians and employ epigenesis. We also present the correlation of preformation with enhanced species radiations, and we discuss the mutually exclusive trajectories influenced by germ plasm or pluripotency, which shaped chordate evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Johnson
- School of Biology, Institute of Genetics, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.
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Evolution of the mammalian embryonic pluripotency gene regulatory network. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:19955-60. [PMID: 21048080 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1010708107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Embryonic pluripotency in the mouse is established and maintained by a gene-regulatory network under the control of a core set of transcription factors that include octamer-binding protein 4 (Oct4; official name POU domain, class 5, transcription factor 1, Pou5f1), sex-determining region Y (SRY)-box containing gene 2 (Sox2), and homeobox protein Nanog. Although this network is largely conserved in eutherian mammals, very little information is available regarding its evolutionary conservation in other vertebrates. We have compared the embryonic pluripotency networks in mouse and chick by means of expression analysis in the pregastrulation chicken embryo, genomic comparisons, and functional assays of pluripotency-related regulatory elements in ES cells and blastocysts. We find that multiple components of the network are either novel to mammals or have acquired novel expression domains in early developmental stages of the mouse. We also find that the downstream action of the mouse core pluripotency factors is mediated largely by genomic sequence elements nonconserved with chick. In the case of Sox2 and Fgf4, we find that elements driving expression in embryonic pluripotent cells have evolved by a small number of nucleotide changes that create novel binding sites for core factors. Our results show that the network in charge of embryonic pluripotency is an evolutionary novelty of mammals that is related to the comparatively extended period during which mammalian embryonic cells need to be maintained in an undetermined state before engaging in early differentiation events.
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Steele RE, David CN, Technau U. A genomic view of 500 million years of cnidarian evolution. Trends Genet 2010; 27:7-13. [PMID: 21047698 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2010.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2010] [Revised: 09/23/2010] [Accepted: 10/08/2010] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Cnidarians (corals, anemones, jellyfish and hydras) are a diverse group of animals of interest to evolutionary biologists, ecologists and developmental biologists. With the publication of the genome sequences of Hydra and Nematostella, whose last common ancestor was the stem cnidarian, researchers are beginning to see the genomic underpinnings of cnidarian biology. Cnidarians are known for the remarkable plasticity of their morphology and life cycles. This plasticity is reflected in the Hydra and Nematostella genomes, which differ to an exceptional degree in size, base composition, transposable element content and gene conservation. It is now known what cnidarian genomes, given 500 million years, are capable of; as we discuss here, the next challenge is to understand how this genomic history has led to the striking diversity seen in this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Steele
- Department of Biological Chemistry and the Developmental Biology Center, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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