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Dali O, Muriel-Muriel JA, Vargas-Baco A, Tevosian S, Zubcevic J, Smagulova F, Hayward LF. Prenatal nicotine exposure leads to epigenetic alterations in peripheral nervous system signaling genes in the testis of the rat. Epigenetics Chromatin 2024; 17:14. [PMID: 38715099 PMCID: PMC11075221 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-024-00539-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) has been documented to cause numerous deleterious effects on fetal development. However, the epigenetic changes promoted by nicotine exposure on germ cells are still not well understood. OBJECTIVES In this study, we focused on elucidating the impact of prenatal nicotine exposure on regulatory epigenetic mechanisms important for germ cell development. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to nicotine during pregnancy and male progeny was analyzed at 11 weeks of age. Testis morphology was analyzed using frozen testis sections and expression of germ cell markers was examined by RT-qPCR; histone modifications were assessed by Western Blot (WB). DNA methylation analysis was performed by methylation-specific PCR of bisulfite converted DNA. Genome-wide DNA methylation was analyzed using Methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP)-seq. We also carried out transcriptomics analysis of pituitary glands by RNA-seq. RESULTS We show that gestational exposure to nicotine reduces germ cell numbers, perturbs meiosis, affects the expression of germ line reprogramming responsive genes, and impacts the DNA methylation of nervous system genes in the testis. PNE also causes perturbation of gene expression in the pituitary gland of the brain. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that PNE leads to perturbation of male spermatogenesis, and the observed effects are associated with changes of peripheral nervous system signaling pathways. Alterations in the expression of genes associated with diverse biological activities such as cell migration, cell adhesion and GABA signaling in the pituitary gland underscore the complexity of the effects of nicotine exposure during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ouzna Dali
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en sante, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, Univ. Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Jose Antonio Muriel-Muriel
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en sante, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, Univ. Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Ana Vargas-Baco
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en sante, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, Univ. Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Sergei Tevosian
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, 1333 Center Drive, Box 100144, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Jasenka Zubcevic
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Fatima Smagulova
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en sante, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, Univ. Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Linda F Hayward
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, 1333 Center Drive, Box 100144, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
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Stylianakis E, Chan JPK, Law PP, Jiang Y, Khadayate S, Karimi MM, Festenstein R, Vannier JB. Mouse HP1γ regulates TRF1 expression and telomere stability. Life Sci 2023; 331:122030. [PMID: 37598977 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Telomeric repeat-containing RNAs are long non-coding RNAs generated from the telomeres. TERRAs are essential for the establishment of heterochromatin marks at telomeres, which serve for the binding of members of the heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) protein family of epigenetic modifiers involved with chromatin compaction and gene silencing. While HP1γ is enriched on gene bodies of actively transcribed human and mouse genes, it is unclear if its transcriptional role is important for HP1γ function in telomere cohesion and telomere maintenance. We aimed to study the effect of mouse HP1γ on the transcription of telomere factors and molecules that can affect telomere maintenance. MAIN METHODS We investigated the telomere function of HP1γ by using HP1γ deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). We used gene expression analysis of HP1γ deficient MEFs and validated the molecular and mechanistic consequences of HP1γ loss by telomere FISH, immunofluorescence, RT-qPCR and DNA-RNA immunoprecipitation (DRIP). KEY FINDINGS Loss of HP1γ in primary MEFs led to a downregulation of various telomere and telomere-accessory transcripts, including the shelterin protein TRF1. Its downregulation is associated with increased telomere replication stress and DNA damage (γH2AX), effects more profound in females. We suggest that the source for the impaired telomere maintenance is a consequence of increased telomeric DNA-RNA hybrids and TERRAs arising at and from mouse chromosomes 18 and X. SIGNIFICANCE Our results suggest an important transcriptional control by mouse HP1γ of various telomere factors including TRF1 protein and TERRAs that has profound consequences on telomere stability, with a potential sexually dimorphic nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanouil Stylianakis
- Telomere Replication & Stability group, Medical Research Council London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, United Kingdom; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Gene Control Mechanisms and Disease Group, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jackson Ping Kei Chan
- Gene Control Mechanisms and Disease Group, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pui Pik Law
- Gene Control Mechanisms and Disease Group, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yi Jiang
- Gene Control Mechanisms and Disease Group, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sanjay Khadayate
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mohammad Mahdi Karimi
- Comprehensive Cancer Centre, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Festenstein
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Gene Control Mechanisms and Disease Group, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jean-Baptiste Vannier
- Telomere Replication & Stability group, Medical Research Council London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, United Kingdom; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
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3
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Shao Q, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Shang Y, Li S, Liu L, Wang G, Zhou X, Wang P, Gao J, Zhou J, Zhang L, Wang S. ATF7IP2, a meiosis-specific partner of SETDB1, is required for proper chromosome remodeling and crossover formation during spermatogenesis. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112953. [PMID: 37542719 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Meiotic crossovers are required for the faithful segregation of homologous chromosomes and to promote genetic diversity. However, it is unclear how crossover formation is regulated, especially on the XY chromosomes, which show a homolog only at the tiny pseudoautosomal region. Here, we show that ATF7IP2 is a meiosis-specific ortholog of ATF7IP and a partner of SETDB1. In the absence of ATF7IP2, autosomes show increased axis length and more crossovers; however, many XY chromosomes lose the obligatory crossover, although the overall XY axis length is also increased. Additionally, meiotic DNA double-strand break formation/repair may also be affected by altered histone modifications. Ultimately, spermatogenesis is blocked, and male mice are infertile. These findings suggest that ATF7IP2 constraints autosomal axis length and crossovers on autosomes; meanwhile, it also modulates XY chromosomes to establish meiotic sex chromosome inactivation for cell-cycle progression and to ensure XY crossover formation during spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiqi Shao
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Yanan Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Yanlei Liu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Yongliang Shang
- Advanced Medical Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Si Li
- Advanced Medical Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Lin Liu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Guoqiang Wang
- Advanced Medical Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Xu Zhou
- Advanced Medical Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Jinmin Gao
- Center for Cell Structure and Function, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China
| | - Jun Zhou
- Center for Cell Structure and Function, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China
| | - Liangran Zhang
- Advanced Medical Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China; Center for Cell Structure and Function, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China.
| | - Shunxin Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China; Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
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4
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Barbero G, de Sousa Serro MG, Perez Lujan C, Vitullo AD, González CR, González B. Transcriptome profiling of histone writers/erasers enzymes across spermatogenesis, mature sperm and pre-cleavage embryo: Implications in paternal epigenome transitions and inheritance mechanisms. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1086573. [PMID: 36776561 PMCID: PMC9911891 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1086573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence points out that sperm carry epigenetic instructions to embryo in the form of retained histones marks and RNA cargo that can transmit metabolic and behavioral traits to offspring. However, the mechanisms behind epigenetic inheritance of paternal environment are still poorly understood. Here, we curated male germ cells RNA-seq data and analyzed the expression profile of all known histone lysine writers and erasers enzymes across spermatogenesis, unraveling the developmental windows at which they are upregulated, and the specific activity related to canonical and non-canonical histone marks deposition and removal. We also characterized the epigenetic enzymes signature in the mature sperm RNA cargo, showing most of them positive translation at pre-cleavage zygote, suggesting that paternally-derived enzymes mRNA cooperate with maternal factors to embryo chromatin assembly. Our study shows several histone modifying enzymes not described yet in spermatogenesis and even more, important mechanistic aspects behind transgenerational epigenetics. Epigenetic enzymes not only can respond to environmental stressors, but could function as vectors of epigenetic information and participate in chromatin organization during maternal-to-zygote transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gastón Barbero
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maximiliano G. de Sousa Serro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (Universidad de Buenos Aires–Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Camila Perez Lujan
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (Universidad de Buenos Aires–Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alfredo D. Vitullo
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Candela R. González
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Betina González
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (Universidad de Buenos Aires–Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina,*Correspondence: Betina González,
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5
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Prakash Yadav R, Leskinen S, Ma L, Mäkelä JA, Kotaja N. Chromatin remodelers HELLS, WDHD1 and BAZ1A are dynamically expressed during mouse spermatogenesis. Reproduction 2023; 165:49-63. [PMID: 36194437 PMCID: PMC9782464 DOI: 10.1530/rep-22-0240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In brief Proper regulation of heterochromatin is critical for spermatogenesis. This study reveals the dynamic localization patterns of distinct chromatin regulators during spermatogenesis and disrupted sex chromatin status in spermatocytes in the absence of DICER. Abstract Heterochromatin is dynamically formed and organized in differentiating male germ cells, and its proper regulation is a prerequisite for normal spermatogenesis. While heterochromatin is generally transcriptionally silent, we have previously shown that major satellite repeat (MSR) DNA in the pericentric heterochromatin (PCH) is transcribed during spermatogenesis. We have also shown that DICER associates with PCH and is involved in the regulation of MSR-derived transcripts. To shed light on the heterochromatin regulation in the male germline, we studied the expression, localization and heterochromatin association of selected testis-enriched chromatin regulators in the mouse testis. Our results show that HELLS, WDHD1 and BAZ1A are dynamically expressed during spermatogenesis. They display limited overlap in expression, suggesting involvement in distinct heterochromatin-associated processes at different steps of differentiation. We also show that HELLS and BAZ1A interact with DICER and MSR chromatin. Interestingly, deletion of Dicer1 affects the sex chromosome heterochromatin status in late pachytene spermatocytes, as demonstrated by mislocalization of Polycomb protein family member SCML1 to the sex body. These data substantiate the importance of dynamic heterochromatin regulation during spermatogenesis and emphasize the key role of DICER in the maintenance of chromatin status in meiotic male germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram Prakash Yadav
- 1Institute of Biomedicine, Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Sini Leskinen
- 1Institute of Biomedicine, Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Lin Ma
- 1Institute of Biomedicine, Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Juho-Antti Mäkelä
- 1Institute of Biomedicine, Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Noora Kotaja
- 1Institute of Biomedicine, Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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6
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Cheng J, Xu L, Bergér V, Bruckmann A, Yang C, Schubert V, Grasser KD, Schnittger A, Zheng B, Jiang H. H3K9 demethylases IBM1 and JMJ27 are required for male meiosis in Arabidopsis thaliana. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 235:2252-2269. [PMID: 35638341 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Dimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me2), a crucial modification for heterochromatin formation and transcriptional silencing, is essential for proper meiotic prophase progression in mammals. We analyzed meiotic defects and generated genome-wide profiles of H3K9me2 and transcriptomes for the mutants of H3K9 demethylases. Moreover, we also identified proteins interacting with H3K9 demethylases. H3K9me2 is usually found at transposable elements and repetitive sequences but is absent from the bodies of protein-coding genes. In this study, we show that the Arabidopsis thaliana H3K9 demethylases IBM1 and JMJ27 cooperatively regulate crossover formation and chromosome segregation. They protect thousands of protein-coding genes from ectopic H3K9me2, including genes essential for meiotic prophase progression. In addition to removing H3K9me2, IBM1 and JMJ27 interact with the Precocious Dissociation of Sisters 5 (PDS5) cohesin complex cofactors. The pds5 mutant shared similar transcriptional alterations with ibm1 jmj27, including meiosis-essential genes, yet without affecting H3K9me2 levels. Hence, PDS5s, together with IBM1 and JMJ27, regulate male meiosis and gene expression independently of H3K9 demethylation. These findings uncover a novel role of H3K9me2 removal in meiosis and a new function of H3K9 demethylases and cohesin cofactors in meiotic transcriptional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinping Cheng
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben, 06466, Germany
| | - Linhao Xu
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben, 06466, Germany
| | - Valentin Bergér
- Cell Biology & Plant Biochemistry, Biochemistry Center, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, 93053, Germany
| | - Astrid Bruckmann
- Department of Biochemistry, Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, 93053, Germany
| | - Chao Yang
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, 20146, Germany
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Veit Schubert
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben, 06466, Germany
| | - Klaus D Grasser
- Cell Biology & Plant Biochemistry, Biochemistry Center, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, 93053, Germany
| | - Arp Schnittger
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, 20146, Germany
| | - Binglian Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Hua Jiang
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben, 06466, Germany
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7
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Ma L, Xie D, Luo M, Lin X, Nie H, Chen J, Gao C, Duo S, Han C. Identification and characterization of BEND2 as a key regulator of meiosis during mouse spermatogenesis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn1606. [PMID: 35613276 PMCID: PMC9132480 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn1606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The chromatin state, which undergoes global changes during spermatogenesis, is critical to meiotic initiation and progression. However, the key regulators involved and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be uncovered. Here, we report that mouse BEND2 is specifically expressed in spermatogenic cells around meiotic initiation and that it plays an essential role in meiotic progression. Bend2 gene knockout in male mice arrested meiosis at the transition from zygonema to pachynema, disrupted synapsis and DNA double-strand break repair, and induced nonhomologous chromosomal pairing. BEND2 interacted with chromatin-associated proteins that are components of certain transcription-repressor complexes. BEND2-binding sites were identified in diverse chromatin states and enriched in simple sequence repeats. BEND2 inhibited the expression of genes involved in meiotic initiation and regulated chromatin accessibility and the modification of H3K4me3. Therefore, our study identified BEND2 as a previously unknown key regulator of meiosis, gene expression, and chromatin state during mouse spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longfei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Dan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mengcheng Luo
- Department of Tissue and Embryology, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiwen Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Hengyu Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chenxu Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuguang Duo
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chunsheng Han
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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8
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Xiong M, Zhou S, Feng S, Gui Y, Li J, Wu Y, Dong J, Yuan S. UHRF1 is indispensable for meiotic sex chromosome inactivation and interacts with the DNA damage response pathway in mice. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:168-182. [PMID: 35284939 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During male meiosis, the constitutively unsynapsed XY chromosomes undergo meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI), and the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway is critical for MSCI establishment. Our previous study showed that UHRF1(ubiquitin-like, with PHD and ring finger domains 1) deletion led to meiotic arrest and male infertility; however, the underlying mechanisms of UHRF1 in the regulation of meiosis remain unclear. Here, we report that UHRF1 is required for MSCI and cooperates with the DDR pathway in male meiosis. UHRF1-deficient spermatocytes display aberrant pairing and synapsis of homologous chromosomes during the pachytene stage. In addition, UHRF1 deficiency leads to aberrant recruitment of ATR and FANCD2 on the sex chromosomes and disrupts the diffusion of ATR to the XY chromatin. Furthermore, we show that UHRF1 acts as a cofactor of BRCA1 to facilitate the recruitment of DDR factors onto sex chromosomes for MSCI establishment. Accordingly, deletion of UHRF1 leads to the failure of meiotic silencing on sex chromosomes, resulting in meiotic arrest. In addition to our previous findings, the present study reveals that UHRF1 participates in MSCI, ensuring the progression of male meiosis. This suggests a multifunctional role of UHRF1 in the male germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengneng Xiong
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Shumin Zhou
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Shenglei Feng
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yiqian Gui
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Jinmei Li
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yanqing Wu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Juan Dong
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Shuiqiao Yuan
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, China.,Laboratory of Animal Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
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9
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Chukrallah LG, Badrinath A, Vittor GG, Snyder EM. ADAD2 regulates heterochromatin in meiotic and post-meiotic male germ cells via translation of MDC1. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:jcs259196. [PMID: 35191498 PMCID: PMC8919335 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Male germ cells establish a unique heterochromatin domain, the XY-body, early in meiosis. How this domain is maintained through the end of meiosis and into post-meiotic germ cell differentiation is poorly understood. ADAD2 is a late meiotic male germ cell-specific RNA-binding protein, loss of which leads to post-meiotic germ cell defects. Analysis of ribosome association in Adad2 mouse mutants revealed defective translation of Mdc1, a key regulator of XY-body formation, late in meiosis. As a result, Adad2 mutants show normal establishment but failed maintenance of the XY-body. Observed XY-body defects are concurrent with abnormal autosomal heterochromatin and ultimately lead to severely perturbed post-meiotic germ cell heterochromatin and cell death. These findings highlight the requirement of ADAD2 for Mdc1 translation, the role of MDC1 in maintaining meiotic male germ cell heterochromatin and the importance of late meiotic heterochromatin for normal post-meiotic germ cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aditi Badrinath
- Department of Animal Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Gabrielle G. Vittor
- Department of Animal Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Elizabeth M. Snyder
- Department of Animal Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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10
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Maeda R, Tachibana M. HP1 maintains protein stability of H3K9 methyltransferases and demethylases. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e53581. [PMID: 35166421 PMCID: PMC8982598 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202153581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Di- or tri-methylated H3K9 (H3K9me2/3) is an epigenetic mark of heterochromatin. Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) specifically recognizes H3K9me2/3, contributing to transcriptional suppression and spread of H3K9me2/3. Here, we demonstrate another role of HP1 in heterochromatin organization: regulation of protein stability of H3K9 methyltransferases (H3K9 MTs) and demethylases (H3K9 DMs). We show that HP1 interaction-defective mutants of H3K9 MTs, Suv39h1 and Setdb1, undergo protein degradation. We further establish mouse embryonic stem cell lines lacking all three HP1 paralogs. In the HP1-deficient cells, Suv39h1, Suv39h2, Setdb1, and G9a/GLP complex decrease at the protein level, and the enzymes are released from chromatin. HP1 mutants that cannot recognize H3K9me2/3 or form dimers cannot stabilize these enzymes, indicating that the tethering of H3K9 MTs to chromatin is critical for their protein stability. We show that HP1 also stabilizes H3K9 DMs, Jmjd1a and Jmjd1b. Our study indicates that mammalian HP1 forms a heterochromatin hub that governs protein stability of H3K9 MTs and H3K9 DMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Maeda
- Graduate School of Frontier BiosciencesOsaka UniversityOsakaJapan,Institute of Advanced Medical SciencesTokushima UniversityTokushimaJapan
| | - Makoto Tachibana
- Graduate School of Frontier BiosciencesOsaka UniversityOsakaJapan,Institute of Advanced Medical SciencesTokushima UniversityTokushimaJapan
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11
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Chakraborty P, Magnuson T. INO80 requires a polycomb subunit to regulate the establishment of poised chromatin in murine spermatocytes. Development 2022; 149:273926. [PMID: 35006254 PMCID: PMC8881737 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
INO80 is the catalytic subunit of the INO80-chromatin remodeling complex that is involved in DNA replication, repair and transcription regulation. Ino80 deficiency in murine spermatocytes (Ino80cKO) results in pachytene arrest of spermatocytes due to incomplete synapsis and aberrant DNA double-strand break repair, which leads to apoptosis. RNA-seq on Ino80cKO spermatocytes revealed major changes in transcription, indicating that an aberrant transcription program arises upon INO80 depletion. In Ino80WT spermatocytes, genome-wide analysis showed that INO80-binding sites were mostly promoter proximal and necessary for the regulation of spermatogenic gene expression, primarily of premeiotic and meiotic genes. Furthermore, most of the genes poised for activity, as well as those genes that are active, shared INO80 binding. In Ino80cKO spermatocytes, most poised genes demonstrated de-repression due to reduced H3K27me3 enrichment and, in turn, showed increased expression levels. INO80 interacts with the core PRC2 complex member SUZ12 and promotes its recruitment. Furthermore, INO80 mediates H2A.Z incorporation at the poised promoters, which was reduced in Ino80cKO spermatocytes. Taken together, INO80 is emerging as a major regulator of the meiotic transcription program by mediating poised chromatin establishment through SUZ12 binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabuddha Chakraborty
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264, USA
| | - Terry Magnuson
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264, USA,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264, USA,Author for correspondence ()
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12
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Chen B, Zhu G, Yan A, He J, Liu Y, Li L, Yang X, Dong C, Kee K. IGSF11 is required for pericentric heterochromatin dissociation during meiotic diplotene. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009778. [PMID: 34491997 PMCID: PMC8448346 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Meiosis initiation and progression are regulated by both germ cells and gonadal somatic cells. However, little is known about what genes or proteins connecting somatic and germ cells are required for this regulation. Our results show that deficiency for adhesion molecule IGSF11, which is expressed in both Sertoli cells and germ cells, leads to male infertility in mice. Combining a new meiotic fluorescent reporter system with testicular cell transplantation, we demonstrated that IGSF11 is required in both somatic cells and spermatogenic cells for primary spermatocyte development. In the absence of IGSF11, spermatocytes proceed through pachytene, but the pericentric heterochromatin of nonhomologous chromosomes remains inappropriately clustered from late pachytene onward, resulting in undissolved interchromosomal interactions. Hi-C analysis reveals elevated levels of interchromosomal interactions occurring mostly at the chromosome ends. Collectively, our data elucidates that IGSF11 in somatic cells and germ cells is required for pericentric heterochromatin dissociation during diplotene in mouse primary spermatocytes. For sexually reproducing species, the number of chromosomes in a mature germ cell is half that of a typical somatic cell, and its chromosome sequence is not identical to that of parental cell, these changes result from a highly specialized cell division process named meiosis. In contrast to mitosis, germ cells undergo many meiotic-specific regulatory processes during prophase I of meiosis. In mammals, the development of male and female meiotic germ cells relies on completely different microenvironment provided by sexually specialized gonadal somatic cells, but what gene is required for germ cells and gonadal somatic cells to mediate meiosis progression is largely unclear. Here, we construct a fluorescent reporter to trace meiotic prophase in mice, and use it to examine the requirement of IGSF11 in mediating pericentric heterochromatin dissociation during meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Chen
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Gengzhen Zhu
- Institute of Immunology and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - An Yan
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing He
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic & Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Li
- Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuerui Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic & Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Dong
- Institute of Immunology and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Kehkooi Kee
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
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13
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Legoff L, Dali O, De La Mata Santaella E, Jaulin C, D'Cruz SC, Smagulova F. Histone deacetylase inhibition leads to regulatory histone mark alterations and impairs meiosis in oocytes. Epigenetics Chromatin 2021; 14:39. [PMID: 34384478 PMCID: PMC8359552 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-021-00413-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Panobinostat (PB), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor drug, is clinically used in the treatment of cancers. We investigated the effects of PB on murine ovarian functions in embryos and adult animals. Methods C57BL/6J mice were treated with 5 mg/kg PB on alternate days from embryonic day (E) 6.5 to E15.5. We analysed the effects of PB on the ovaries by using immunofluorescence, gene expression analysis and DNA methylation analysis techniques. Results At E15.5, we observed increases in histone H3K9Ac, H4Ac and H3K4me3 marks, while the level of the silencing H3K9me3 mark decreased. Synaptonemal complex examination at E15.5, E17.5 and E18.5 showed a delay in meiotic progression characterized by the absence of synaptonemal complexes at E15.5 and the persistence of double-strand breaks (DSBs) at E17.5 and E18.5 in PB-exposed oocytes. We found that exposure to PB led to changes in the expression of 1169 transcripts at E15.5. Genes regulated by the male-specific factors SRY-Box Transcription Factor 9 (SOX9) and Doublesex and Mab-3-related Transcription factor 1 (DMRT1) were among the most upregulated genes in the ovaries of PB-exposed mice. In contrast, PB treatment led to decreases in the expression of genes regulated by the WNT4 pathway. Notably, we observed 119 deregulated genes encoding Zn-finger proteins. The observed alterations in epigenetic marks and gene expression correlated with decreases in the numbers of germ cells at E15.5. After birth, PB-exposed ovaries showed increased proliferation of primary and secondary follicles. We also observed decreases in the numbers of primordial, primary and secondary follicles in adult ovaries from mice that were exposed to PB in utero. Finally, epigenetic alterations such as decreased H3K4me3 and increased H4 acetylation levels were also detected in somatic cells surrounding fully grown oocytes. Conclusion Our data suggest that inhibition of histone deacetylase by PB during a critical developmental window affects reprogramming and germ cell specification via alteration of epigenetic marks. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13072-021-00413-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Legoff
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Ouzna Dali
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Elena De La Mata Santaella
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Christian Jaulin
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Shereen Cynthia D'Cruz
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, 35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Fatima Smagulova
- Univ. Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, 35000, Rennes, France.
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14
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Hartman C, Legoff L, Capriati M, Lecuyer G, Kernanec PY, Tevosian S, D'Cruz SC, Smagulova F. Epigenetic Effects Promoted by Neonicotinoid Thiacloprid Exposure. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:691060. [PMID: 34295895 PMCID: PMC8290843 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.691060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neonicotinoids, a widely used class of insecticide, have attracted much attention because of their widespread use that has resulted in the decline of the bee population. Accumulating evidence suggests potential animal and human exposure to neonicotinoids, which is a cause of public concern. Objectives In this study, we examined the effects of a neonicotinoid, thiacloprid (thia), on the male reproductive system. Methods The pregnant outbred Swiss female mice were exposed to thia at embryonic days E6.5 to E15.5 using “0,” “0.06,” “0.6,” and “6” mg/kg/day doses. Adult male progeny was analyzed for morphological and cytological defects in the testes using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. We also used immunofluorescence, Western blotting, RT-qPCR and RNA-seq techniques for the analyses of the effects of thia on testis. Results We found that exposure to thia causes a decrease in spermatozoa at doses “0.6” and “6” and leads to telomere defects at all tested doses. At doses “0.6” and “6,” thia exposure leads to an increase in meiotic pachytene cells and a decrease in lumen size, these changes were accompanied by increased testis-to-body weight ratios at high dose. By using RNA-seq approach we found that genes encoding translation, ATP production, ATP-dependent proteins and chromatin-modifying enzymes were deregulated in testes. In addition, we found that exposure to thia results in a decrease in H3K9me3 levels in spermatocytes. The changes in H3K9me3 were associated with a dramatic increase in activity of retroelements. Conclusion Our study suggests that gestational exposure to thia affects epigenetic mechanisms controlling meiosis which could lead to deleterious effects on male spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Hartman
- EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail - UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Louis Legoff
- EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail - UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Martina Capriati
- EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail - UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Gwendoline Lecuyer
- EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail - UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Pierre-Yves Kernanec
- EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail - UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Sergei Tevosian
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Shereen Cynthia D'Cruz
- EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail - UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Fatima Smagulova
- EHESP, Inserm, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail - UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
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15
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Tet1 regulates epigenetic remodeling of the pericentromeric heterochromatin and chromocenter organization in DNA hypomethylated cells. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009646. [PMID: 34166371 PMCID: PMC8263065 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pericentromeric heterochromatin (PCH), the constitutive heterochromatin of pericentromeric regions, plays crucial roles in various cellular events, such as cell division and DNA replication. PCH forms chromocenters in the interphase nucleus, and chromocenters cluster at the prophase of meiosis. Chromocenter clustering has been reported to be critical for the appropriate progression of meiosis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying chromocenter clustering remain elusive. In this study, we found that global DNA hypomethylation, 5hmC enrichment in PCH, and chromocenter clustering of Dnmt1-KO ESCs were similar to those of the female meiotic germ cells. Tet1 is essential for the deposition of 5hmC and facultative histone marks of H3K27me3 and H2AK119ub at PCH, as well as chromocenter clustering. RING1B, one of the core components of PRC1, is recruited to PCH by TET1, and PRC1 plays a critical role in chromocenter clustering. In addition, the rearrangement of the chromocenter under DNA hypomethylated condition was mediated by liquid-liquid phase separation. Thus, we demonstrated a novel role of Tet1 in chromocenter rearrangement in DNA hypomethylated cells.
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16
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Takada Y, Yaman-Deveci R, Shirakawa T, Sharif J, Tomizawa SI, Miura F, Ito T, Ono M, Nakajima K, Koseki Y, Shiotani F, Ishiguro KI, Ohbo K, Koseki H. Maintenance DNA methylation in pre-meiotic germ cells regulates meiotic prophase by facilitating homologous chromosome pairing. Development 2021; 148:264927. [PMID: 33998651 DOI: 10.1242/dev.194605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Heterochromatin-related epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, facilitate pairing of homologous chromosomes during the meiotic prophase of mammalian spermatogenesis. In pro-spermatogonia, de novo DNA methylation plays a key role in completing meiotic prophase and initiating meiotic division. However, the role of maintenance DNA methylation in the regulation of meiosis, especially in the adult, is not well understood. Here, we reveal that NP95 (also known as UHRF1) and DNMT1 - two essential proteins for maintenance DNA methylation - are co-expressed in spermatogonia and are necessary for meiosis in male germ cells. We find that Np95- or Dnmt1-deficient spermatocytes exhibit spermatogenic defects characterized by synaptic failure during meiotic prophase. In addition, assembly of pericentric heterochromatin clusters in early meiotic prophase, a phenomenon that is required for subsequent pairing of homologous chromosomes, is disrupted in both mutants. Based on these observations, we propose that DNA methylation, established in pre-meiotic spermatogonia, regulates synapsis of homologous chromosomes and, in turn, quality control of male germ cells. Maintenance DNA methylation, therefore, plays a role in ensuring faithful transmission of both genetic and epigenetic information to offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Takada
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Developmental Genetics Laboratory, Yokohama 230-0045, Kanagawa, Japan.,Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.,Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Ruken Yaman-Deveci
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Developmental Genetics Laboratory, Yokohama 230-0045, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Takayuki Shirakawa
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Jafar Sharif
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Developmental Genetics Laboratory, Yokohama 230-0045, Kanagawa, Japan.,AMED-CREST, Yokohama 230-0045, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichi Tomizawa
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Fumihito Miura
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Kyushu University Faculty of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Takashi Ito
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Kyushu University Faculty of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Michio Ono
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kuniko Nakajima
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoko Koseki
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Developmental Genetics Laboratory, Yokohama 230-0045, Kanagawa, Japan.,AMED-CREST, Yokohama 230-0045, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Fuyuko Shiotani
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Developmental Genetics Laboratory, Yokohama 230-0045, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kei-Ichiro Ishiguro
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Ohbo
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Koseki
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Developmental Genetics Laboratory, Yokohama 230-0045, Kanagawa, Japan.,AMED-CREST, Yokohama 230-0045, Kanagawa, Japan
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17
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Tien CL, Mohammadparast S, Chang C. Heterochromatin protein 1 beta regulates neural and neural crest development by repressing pluripotency-associated gene pou5f3.2/oct25 in Xenopus. Dev Dyn 2021; 250:1113-1124. [PMID: 33595886 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) is associated with and plays a role in compact chromatin conformation, but the function of HP1 in vertebrate embryogenesis is not understood completely. RESULTS Here, we explore the activity of HP1 in early neural development in the frog Xenopus laevis. We show that the three isoforms of HP1, HP1α, β, and γ, are expressed in similar patterns in the neural and neural crest derivatives in early embryos. Despite this, knockdown of HP1β and HP1γ, but not HP1α, in presumptive neural tissues leads to head defects. Late pan-neural markers and neural crest specifier genes are reduced, but early neural and neural plate border genes are less affected in the morphant embryos. Further investigation reveals that neuronal differentiation is impaired and a pluripotency-associated gene, pou5f3.2/oct25, is expanded in HP1β morphants. Ectopic expression of pou5f3.2/oct25 mimics the effect of HP1β knockdown on marker expression, whereas simultaneous knockdown of HP1β and pou5f3.2/oct25 partially rescues expression of these genes. CONCLUSION Taken together, the data suggest that HP1β regulates transition from precursor to more differentiated cell types during neural and neural crest development in Xenopus, and it does so at least partially via repression of the pluripotency-associated transcription regulator pou5f3.2/oct25.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Liang Tien
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Saeid Mohammadparast
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Chenbei Chang
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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18
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Cheng EC, Hsieh CL, Liu N, Wang J, Zhong M, Chen T, Li E, Lin H. The Essential Function of SETDB1 in Homologous Chromosome Pairing and Synapsis during Meiosis. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108575. [PMID: 33406415 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
SETDB1 is a histone-lysine N-methyltransferase critical for germline development. However, its function in early meiotic prophase I remains unknown. Here, we report that Setdb1 null spermatocytes display aberrant centromere clustering during leptotene, bouquet formation during zygotene, and subsequent failure in pairing and synapsis of homologous chromosomes, as well as compromised meiotic silencing of unsynapsed chromatin, which leads to meiotic arrest before pachytene and apoptosis of spermatocytes. H3K9me3 is enriched in centromeric or pericentromeric regions and is present in many sites throughout the genome, with a subset changed in the Setdb1 mutant. These observations indicate that SETDB1-mediated H3K9me3 is essential for the bivalent formation in early meiosis. Transcriptome analysis reveals the function of SETDB1 in repressing transposons and transposon-proximal genes and in regulating meiotic and somatic lineage genes. These findings highlight a mechanism in which SETDB1-mediated H3K9me3 during early meiosis ensures the formation of homologous bivalents and survival of spermatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ee-Chun Cheng
- Yale Stem Cell Center and Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Chia-Ling Hsieh
- Yale Stem Cell Center and Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Na Liu
- Yale Stem Cell Center and Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Jianquan Wang
- Yale Stem Cell Center and Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Mei Zhong
- Yale Stem Cell Center and Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Taiping Chen
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX 78957, USA
| | - En Li
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Haifan Lin
- Yale Stem Cell Center and Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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19
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Zaidan NZ, Sridharan R. HP1γ regulates H3K36 methylation and pluripotency in embryonic stem cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:12660-12674. [PMID: 33237287 PMCID: PMC7736818 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa1091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) family members are canonical effectors and propagators of gene repression mediated by histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methylation. HP1γ exhibits an increased interaction with active transcription elongation-associated factors in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) compared to somatic cells. However, whether this association has a functional consequence remains elusive. Here we find that genic HP1γ colocalizes and enhances enrichment of transcription elongation-associated H3K36me3 rather than H3K9me3. Unexpectedly, sustained H3K36me3 deposition is dependent on HP1γ. HP1γ-deleted ESCs display reduced H3K36me3 enrichment, concomitant with decreased expression at shared genes which function to maintain cellular homeostasis. Both the H3K9me3-binding chromodomain and histone binding ability of HP1γ are dispensable for maintaining H3K36me3 levels. Instead, the chromoshadow together with the hinge domain of HP1γ that confer protein and nucleic acid-binding ability are sufficient because they retain the ability to interact with NSD1, an H3K36 methyltransferase. HP1γ-deleted ESCs have a slower self-renewal rate and an impaired ability to differentiate towards cardiac mesoderm. Our findings reveal a requirement for HP1γ in faithful establishment of transcription elongation in ESCs, which regulates pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Zafirah Zaidan
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA.,Genetics Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Rupa Sridharan
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA.,Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
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20
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Yadav RP, Mäkelä JA, Hyssälä H, Cisneros-Montalvo S, Kotaja N. DICER regulates the expression of major satellite repeat transcripts and meiotic chromosome segregation during spermatogenesis. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:7135-7153. [PMID: 32484548 PMCID: PMC7367195 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Constitutive heterochromatin at the pericentric regions of chromosomes undergoes dynamic changes in its epigenetic and spatial organization during spermatogenesis. Accurate control of pericentric heterochromatin is required for meiotic cell divisions and production of fertile and epigenetically intact spermatozoa. In this study, we demonstrate that pericentric heterochromatin is expressed during mouse spermatogenesis to produce major satellite repeat (MSR) transcripts. We show that the endonuclease DICER localizes to the pericentric heterochromatin in the testis. Furthermore, DICER forms complexes with MSR transcripts, and their processing into small RNAs is compromised in Dicer1 knockout mice leading to an elevated level of MSR transcripts in meiotic cells. We also show that defective MSR forward transcript processing in Dicer1 cKO germ cells is accompanied with reduced recruitment of SUV39H2 and H3K9me3 to the pericentric heterochromatin and meiotic chromosome missegregation. Altogether, our results indicate that the physiological role of DICER in maintenance of male fertility extends to the regulation of pericentric heterochromatin through direct targeting of MSR transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram Prakash Yadav
- Institute of Biomedicine, Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology Unit, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Juho-Antti Mäkelä
- Institute of Biomedicine, Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology Unit, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Hanna Hyssälä
- Institute of Biomedicine, Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology Unit, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Sheyla Cisneros-Montalvo
- Institute of Biomedicine, Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology Unit, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Noora Kotaja
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +358 44 2539225;
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21
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Zhang LF, Tan-Tai WJ, Li XH, Liu MF, Shi HJ, Martin-DeLeon PA, O WS, Chen H. PHB regulates meiotic recombination via JAK2-mediated histone modifications in spermatogenesis. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:4780-4796. [PMID: 32232334 PMCID: PMC7229831 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Previously, we have shown that human sperm Prohibitin (PHB) expression is significantly negatively correlated with mitochondrial ROS levels but positively correlated with mitochondrial membrane potential and motility. However, the possible role of PHB in mammalian spermatogenesis has not been investigated. Here we document the presence of PHB in spermatocytes and its functional roles in meiosis by generating the first male germ cell-specific Phb-cKO mouse. Loss of PHB in spermatocytes resulted in complete male infertility, associated with not only meiotic pachytene arrest with accompanying apoptosis, but also apoptosis resulting from mitochondrial morphology and function impairment. Our mechanistic studies show that PHB in spermatocytes regulates the expression of STAG3, a key component of the meiotic cohesin complex, via a non-canonical JAK/STAT pathway, and consequently promotes meiotic DSB repair and homologous recombination. Furthermore, the PHB/JAK2 axis was found as a novel mechanism in the maintenance of stabilization of meiotic STAG3 cohesin complex and the modulation of heterochromatin formation in spermatocytes during meiosis. The observed JAK2-mediated epigenetic changes in histone modifications, reflected in a reduction of histone 3 tyrosine 41 phosphorylation (H3Y41ph) and a retention of H3K9me3 at the Stag3 locus, could be responsible for Stag3 dysregulation in spermatocytes with the loss of PHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Fei Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention of Shanghai, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wen-Jing Tan-Tai
- Department of Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention of Shanghai, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention of Shanghai, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Mo-Fang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences-University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Hui-Juan Shi
- Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC-Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Fudan University Reproduction and DevelopmentInstitution, Shanghai 200032, China
| | | | - Wai-Sum O
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention of Shanghai, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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22
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Li Q, Xiang YH, Liang XJ, Zhang Y, Zhao PP, Wang M, Bao XM, Zhu XB, Deng AC. Expression of G9a in Auditory Cortex Is Downregulated in a Rat Model of Age-Related Hearing Loss. J Mol Neurosci 2020; 71:409-418. [PMID: 32671696 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-020-01663-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
G9a is essential for dendritic plasticity and is associated with neurological disorders. The possible relationship between age-related hearing loss and G9a expression in the auditory cortex has not been fully explored. This study aimed to understand the expression patterns of G9a-mediated histone methylations in the auditory cortex during aging. Using immunofluorescence and western blotting, we demonstrated that a significant reduction in G9a expression observed in the auditory cortex of 24-month-old rats compared to 3-month-old rats, was associated with remarkable hearing threshold elevation and hair cell loss. Correspondingly, histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) mono- and dimethylation (marked by H3K9me1 and H3K9me2, respectively), which were regulated by G9a activity, also evidently decreased during aging. These findings, which merit further investigation, suggest a possible association between G9a-mediated histone methylations and central age-related hearing disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Yang-Hong Xiang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Liang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Peng-Peng Zhao
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Min Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Xiao-Min Bao
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Xian-Bai Zhu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - An-Chun Deng
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
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23
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Global changes in epigenomes during mouse spermatogenesis: possible relation to germ cell apoptosis. Histochem Cell Biol 2020; 154:123-134. [PMID: 32653936 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-020-01900-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian spermatogenesis is characterized by disproportionate germ cell apoptosis. The high frequency of apoptosis is considered a safety mechanism that serves to avoid unfavorable transmission of paternal aberrant genetic information to the offspring as well as elimination mechanism for removal of overproduced immature or damaged spermatogenic cells. The molecular mechanisms involved in the induction of germ cell apoptosis include both intrinsic mitochondrial Bcl-2/Bax and extrinsic Fas/FasL pathways. However, little is known about the nuclear trigger of those systems. Recent studies indicate that epigenomes are essential in the regulation of gene expression through remodeling of the chromatin structure, and are genome-like transmission materials that reflect the effects of various environmental factors. In spermatogenesis, epigenetic errors can act as the trigger for elimination of germ cells with abnormal chromatin structure, abnormal gene expression and/or morphological defects (disordered differentiation). In this review, we focus on the relationship between global changes in epigenetic parameters and germ cell apoptosis in mice and other mammals.
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24
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Singh PB, Newman AG. On the relations of phase separation and Hi-C maps to epigenetics. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:191976. [PMID: 32257349 PMCID: PMC7062049 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between compartmentalization of the genome and epigenetics is long and hoary. In 1928, Heitz defined heterochromatin as the largest differentiated chromatin compartment in eukaryotic nuclei. Müller's discovery of position-effect variegation in 1930 went on to show that heterochromatin is a cytologically visible state of heritable (epigenetic) gene repression. Current insights into compartmentalization have come from a high-throughput top-down approach where contact frequency (Hi-C) maps revealed the presence of compartmental domains that segregate the genome into heterochromatin and euchromatin. It has been argued that the compartmentalization seen in Hi-C maps is owing to the physiochemical process of phase separation. Oddly, the insights provided by these experimental and conceptual advances have remained largely silent on how Hi-C maps and phase separation relate to epigenetics. Addressing this issue directly in mammals, we have made use of a bottom-up approach starting with the hallmarks of constitutive heterochromatin, heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) and its binding partner the H3K9me2/3 determinant of the histone code. They are key epigenetic regulators in eukaryotes. Both hallmarks are also found outside mammalian constitutive heterochromatin as constituents of larger (0.1-5 Mb) heterochromatin-like domains and smaller (less than 100 kb) complexes. The well-documented ability of HP1 proteins to function as bridges between H3K9me2/3-marked nucleosomes contributes to polymer-polymer phase separation that packages epigenetically heritable chromatin states during interphase. Contacts mediated by HP1 'bridging' are likely to have been detected in Hi-C maps, as evidenced by the B4 heterochromatic subcompartment that emerges from contacts between large KRAB-ZNF heterochromatin-like domains. Further, mutational analyses have revealed a finer, innate, compartmentalization in Hi-C experiments that probably reflect contacts involving smaller domains/complexes. Proteins that bridge (modified) DNA and histones in nucleosomal fibres-where the HP1-H3K9me2/3 interaction represents the most evolutionarily conserved paradigm-could drive and generate the fundamental compartmentalization of the interphase nucleus. This has implications for the mechanism(s) that maintains cellular identity, be it a terminally differentiated fibroblast or a pluripotent embryonic stem cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prim B. Singh
- Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, 5/1 Kerei, Zhanibek Khandar Street, Nur-Sultan Z05K4F4, Kazakhstan
- Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Pirogov Street 2, Novosibirsk 630090, Russian Federation
| | - Andrew G. Newman
- Institute of Cell and Neurobiology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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25
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Naruse C, Abe K, Yoshihara T, Kato T, Nishiuchi T, Asano M. Heterochromatin protein 1γ deficiency decreases histone H3K27 methylation in mouse neurosphere neuronal genes. FASEB J 2020; 34:3956-3968. [PMID: 31961023 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201900139r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Heterochromatin protein (HP) 1γ, a component of heterochromatin in eukaryotes, is involved in H3K9 methylation. Although HP1γ is expressed strongly in neural tissues and neural stem cells, its functions are unclear. To elucidate the roles of HP1γ, we analyzed HP1γ -deficient (HP1γ KO) mouse embryonic neurospheres and determined that HP1γ KO neurospheres tended to differentiate after quaternary culture. Several genes normally expressed in neuronal cells were upregulated in HP1γ KO undifferentiated neurospheres, but not in the wild type (WT). Compared to that in the control neurospheres, the occupancy of H3K27me3 was lower around the transcription start sites (TSSs) of these genes in HP1γ KO neurospheres, while H3K9me2/3, H3K4me3, and H3K27ac amounts remained unchanged. Moreover, amounts of the H3K27me2/3 demethylases, UTX, and JMJD3, were increased around the TSSs of these genes. Treatment with GSK-J4, an inhibitor of H3K27 demethylases, decreased the expression of genes upregulated in HP1γ KO neurospheres, along with an increase of H3K27me3 amounts. Therefore, in murine neurospheres, HP1γ protected the promoter sites of differentiated cell-specific genes against H3K27 demethylases to repress the expression of these genes. A better understanding of central cellular processes such as histone methylation will help elucidate critical events such as cell-specific gene expression, epigenetics, and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chie Naruse
- Institute of Laboratory Animals, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kanae Abe
- Division of Transgenic Animal Science, Advanced Science Research Center, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Toru Yoshihara
- Institute of Laboratory Animals, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Kato
- Division of Functional Genomics, Advanced Science Research Center, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Takumi Nishiuchi
- Division of Functional Genomics, Advanced Science Research Center, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Masahide Asano
- Institute of Laboratory Animals, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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26
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Legoff L, D’Cruz SC, Tevosian S, Primig M, Smagulova F. Transgenerational Inheritance of Environmentally Induced Epigenetic Alterations during Mammalian Development. Cells 2019; 8:cells8121559. [PMID: 31816913 PMCID: PMC6953051 DOI: 10.3390/cells8121559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic studies traditionally focus on DNA as the molecule that passes information on from parents to their offspring. Changes in the DNA code alter heritable information and can more or less severely affect the progeny's phenotype. While the idea that information can be inherited between generations independently of the DNA's nucleotide sequence is not new, the outcome of recent studies provides a mechanistic foundation for the concept. In this review, we attempt to summarize our current knowledge about the transgenerational inheritance of environmentally induced epigenetic changes. We focus primarily on studies using mice but refer to other species to illustrate salient points. Some studies support the notion that there is a somatic component within the phenomenon of epigenetic inheritance. However, here, we will mostly focus on gamete-based processes and the primary molecular mechanisms that are thought to contribute to epigenetic inheritance: DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs. Most of the rodent studies published in the literature suggest that transgenerational epigenetic inheritance through gametes can be modulated by environmental factors. Modification and redistribution of chromatin proteins in gametes is one of the major routes for transmitting epigenetic information from parents to the offspring. Our recent studies provide additional specific cues for this concept and help better understand environmental exposure influences fitness and fidelity in the germline. In summary, environmental cues can induce parental alterations and affect the phenotypes of offspring through gametic epigenetic inheritance. Consequently, epigenetic factors and their heritability should be considered during disease risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Legoff
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)—UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France; (L.L.); (S.C.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Shereen Cynthia D’Cruz
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)—UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France; (L.L.); (S.C.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Sergei Tevosian
- University of Florida, Department of Physiological Sciences Box 100144, 1333 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Michael Primig
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)—UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France; (L.L.); (S.C.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Fatima Smagulova
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)—UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France; (L.L.); (S.C.D.); (M.P.)
- Correspondence:
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27
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Eyster C, Chuong HH, Lee CY, Pezza RJ, Dawson D. The pericentromeric heterochromatin of homologous chromosomes remains associated after centromere pairing dissolves in mouse spermatocyte meiosis. Chromosoma 2019; 128:355-367. [PMID: 31165256 PMCID: PMC6823320 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-019-00708-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
In meiosis, crossovers between homologous chromosomes link them together. This enables them to attach to microtubules of the meiotic spindle as a unit, such that the homologs will be pulled away from one another at anaphase I. Homologous pairs can sometimes fail to become linked by crossovers. In some organisms, these non-exchange partners are still able to segregate properly. In several organisms, associations between the centromeres of non-exchange partners occur in meiotic prophase. These associations have been proposed to promote segregation in meiosis I. But it is unclear how centromere pairing could promote subsequent proper segregation. Here we report that meiotic centromere pairing of chromosomes in mouse spermatocytes allows the formation of an association between chromosome pairs. We find that heterochromatin regions of homologous centromeres remain associated even after centromere-pairing dissolves. Our results suggest the model that, in mouse spermatocytes, heterochromatin maintains the association of homologous centromeres in the absence crossing-over.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Eyster
- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Hoa H Chuong
- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Chih-Ying Lee
- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Roberto J Pezza
- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
| | - Dean Dawson
- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
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28
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Palmer N, Talib SZA, Ratnacaram CK, Low D, Bisteau X, Lee JHS, Pfeiffenberger E, Wollmann H, Tan JHL, Wee S, Sobota R, Gunaratne J, Messerschmidt DM, Guccione E, Kaldis P. CDK2 regulates the NRF1/ Ehmt1 axis during meiotic prophase I. J Cell Biol 2019; 218:2896-2918. [PMID: 31350280 PMCID: PMC6719441 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201903125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Palmer et al. identify NRF1 as a novel CDK2 interactor and substrate. This interaction was found to be important for the DNA-binding activity of NRF1. Their findings demonstrate that the loss of CDK2 expression impairs the regulation of NRF1 transcriptional activity, leading to inappropriate transcription during meiotic division. Meiosis generates four genetically distinct haploid gametes over the course of two reductional cell divisions. Meiotic divisions are characterized by the coordinated deposition and removal of various epigenetic marks. Here we propose that nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) regulates transcription of euchromatic histone methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1) to ensure normal patterns of H3K9 methylation during meiotic prophase I. We demonstrate that cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK2) can bind to the promoters of a number of genes in male germ cells including that of Ehmt1 through interaction with the NRF1 transcription factor. Our data indicate that CDK2-mediated phosphorylation of NRF1 can occur at two distinct serine residues and negatively regulates NRF1 DNA binding activity in vitro. Furthermore, induced deletion of Cdk2 in spermatocytes results in increased expression of many NRF1 target genes including Ehmt1. We hypothesize that the regulation of NRF1 transcriptional activity by CDK2 may allow the modulation of Ehmt1 expression, therefore controlling the dynamic methylation of H3K9 during meiotic prophase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Palmer
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.,Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - S Zakiah A Talib
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | | | - Diana Low
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Xavier Bisteau
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Joanna Hui Si Lee
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | | | - Heike Wollmann
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Joel Heng Loong Tan
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.,Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sheena Wee
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Radoslaw Sobota
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Jayantha Gunaratne
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Daniel M Messerschmidt
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Ernesto Guccione
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore .,Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Philipp Kaldis
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore .,Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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29
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Menon DU, Shibata Y, Mu W, Magnuson T. Mammalian SWI/SNF collaborates with a polycomb-associated protein to regulate male germline transcription in the mouse. Development 2019; 146:dev174094. [PMID: 31043422 PMCID: PMC6803380 DOI: 10.1242/dev.174094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
A deficiency in BRG1, the catalytic subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, results in a meiotic arrest during spermatogenesis. Here, we explore the causative mechanisms. BRG1 is preferentially enriched at active promoters of genes essential for spermatogonial pluripotency and meiosis. In contrast, BRG1 is also associated with the repression of somatic genes. Chromatin accessibility at these target promoters is dependent upon BRG1. These results favor a model in which BRG1 coordinates spermatogenic transcription to ensure meiotic progression. In spermatocytes, BRG1 interacts with SCML2, a testis-specific PRC1 factor that is associated with the repression of somatic genes. We present evidence to suggest that BRG1 and SCML2 concordantly regulate genes during meiosis. Furthermore, BRG1 is required for the proper localization of SCML2 and its associated deubiquitylase, USP7, to the sex chromosomes during pachynema. SCML2-associated mono-ubiquitylation of histone H2A lysine 119 (H2AK119ub1) and acetylation of histone lysine 27 (H3K27ac) are elevated in Brg1cKO testes. Coincidentally, the PRC1 ubiquitin ligase RNF2 is activated while a histone H2A/H2B deubiquitylase USP3 is repressed. Thus, BRG1 impacts the male epigenome by influencing the localization and expression of epigenetic modifiers. This mechanism highlights a novel paradigm of cooperativity between SWI/SNF and PRC1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debashish U Menon
- Department of Genetics, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264, USA
| | - Yoichiro Shibata
- Department of Genetics, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264, USA
| | - Weipeng Mu
- Department of Genetics, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264, USA
| | - Terry Magnuson
- Department of Genetics, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264, USA
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30
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Ehrmann I, Crichton JH, Gazzara MR, James K, Liu Y, Grellscheid SN, Curk T, de Rooij D, Steyn JS, Cockell S, Adams IR, Barash Y, Elliott DJ. An ancient germ cell-specific RNA-binding protein protects the germline from cryptic splice site poisoning. eLife 2019; 8:39304. [PMID: 30674417 PMCID: PMC6345566 DOI: 10.7554/elife.39304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Male germ cells of all placental mammals express an ancient nuclear RNA binding protein of unknown function called RBMXL2. Here we find that deletion of the retrogene encoding RBMXL2 blocks spermatogenesis. Transcriptome analyses of age-matched deletion mice show that RBMXL2 controls splicing patterns during meiosis. In particular, RBMXL2 represses the selection of aberrant splice sites and the insertion of cryptic and premature terminal exons. Our data suggest a Rbmxl2 retrogene has been conserved across mammals as part of a splicing control mechanism that is fundamentally important to germ cell biology. We propose that this mechanism is essential to meiosis because it buffers the high ambient concentrations of splicing activators, thereby preventing poisoning of key transcripts and disruption to gene expression by aberrant splice site selection. In humans and other mammals, a sperm from a male fuses with an egg cell from a female to produce an embryo that may ultimately grow into a new individual. Sperm and egg cells are made when certain cells in the body divide in a process called meiosis. Many proteins are required for meiosis to happen and these proteins are made using instructions provided by genes, which are made of a molecule called DNA. The DNA within a gene is transcribed to make molecules of ribonucleic acid (or RNA for short). The cell then modifies many of these RNAs in a process called splicing before using them as templates to make proteins. During splicing, segments of RNA known as introns are discarded and other segments termed exons are joined together. Some exons may also be removed from RNAs in different combinations to create different proteins from the same gene. A protein called RBMXL2 is able to bind to RNA molecules and is only made during and after meiosis in humans and most other mammals. RBMXL2 can also bind to other proteins that are known to be involved in controlling splicing of RNAs, but its role in splicing remains unclear. To address this question, Ehrmann et al. studied the gene that encodes the RBMXL2 protein in mice. Removing this gene prevented male mice from being able to make sperm. Further experiments using a technique called RNA sequencing showed that the RBMXL2 protein helps to ensure that splicing happens correctly by preventing bits of exons and introns in mouse genes from being rearranged. These findings suggest that the gene encoding RBMXL2 is part of a splicing control mechanism that is important for making sperm and egg cells. The work of Ehrmann et al. could eventually help some couples understand why they have problems conceiving children. Male infertility is poorly understood, and not knowing its causes can harm the mental health of affected men. Furthermore, these findings may help researchers to understand the role of a closely related protein called RBMY that has also been linked to infertility in men, but is much more difficult to study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Ehrmann
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - James H Crichton
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew R Gazzara
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Katherine James
- Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yilei Liu
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom.,Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sushma Nagaraja Grellscheid
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom.,School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Tomaž Curk
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Dirk de Rooij
- Reproductive Biology Group, Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Center for Reproductive Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jannetta S Steyn
- Bioinformatics Support Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Cockell
- Bioinformatics Support Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Ian R Adams
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Yoseph Barash
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States.,Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - David J Elliott
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
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31
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Zaidan NZ, Walker KJ, Brown JE, Schaffer LV, Scalf M, Shortreed MR, Iyer G, Smith LM, Sridharan R. Compartmentalization of HP1 Proteins in Pluripotency Acquisition and Maintenance. Stem Cell Reports 2019; 10:627-641. [PMID: 29358085 PMCID: PMC5830946 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) family is involved in various functions with maintenance of chromatin structure. During murine somatic cell reprogramming, we find that early depletion of HP1γ reduces the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells, while late depletion enhances the process, with a concomitant change from a centromeric to nucleoplasmic localization and elongation-associated histone H3.3 enrichment. Depletion of heterochromatin anchoring protein SENP7 increased reprogramming efficiency to a similar extent as HP1γ, indicating the importance of HP1γ release from chromatin for pluripotency acquisition. HP1γ interacted with OCT4 and DPPA4 in HP1α and HP1β knockouts and in H3K9 methylation depleted H3K9M embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines. HP1α and HP1γ complexes in ESCs differed in association with histones, the histone chaperone CAF1 complex, and specific components of chromatin-modifying complexes such as DPY30, implying distinct functional contributions. Taken together, our results reveal the complex contribution of the HP1 proteins to pluripotency. Release of HP1γ from anchoring by Senp7 increases reprogramming efficiency HP1γ switches enrichment from histone H1 to histone H3.3 in pluripotent cells HP1γ interacts with OCT4 and DPPA4 independent of HP1α, HP1β, and H3K9 methylation Proteomic characterization of HP1 protein family in pluripotent cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Zafirah Zaidan
- Epigenetics Theme, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA; Genetics Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Kolin J Walker
- Epigenetics Theme, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Jaime E Brown
- Epigenetics Theme, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Leah V Schaffer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Mark Scalf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Michael R Shortreed
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Gopal Iyer
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Lloyd M Smith
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Rupa Sridharan
- Epigenetics Theme, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA; Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA.
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32
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Ishiguro K. The cohesin complex in mammalian meiosis. Genes Cells 2019; 24:6-30. [PMID: 30479058 PMCID: PMC7379579 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.12652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cohesin is an evolutionary conserved multi-protein complex that plays a pivotal role in chromosome dynamics. It plays a role both in sister chromatid cohesion and in establishing higher order chromosome architecture, in somatic and germ cells. Notably, the cohesin complex in meiosis differs from that in mitosis. In mammalian meiosis, distinct types of cohesin complexes are produced by altering the combination of meiosis-specific subunits. The meiosis-specific subunits endow the cohesin complex with specific functions for numerous meiosis-associated chromosomal events, such as chromosome axis formation, homologue association, meiotic recombination and centromeric cohesion for sister kinetochore geometry. This review mainly focuses on the cohesin complex in mammalian meiosis, pointing out the differences in its roles from those in mitosis. Further, common and divergent aspects of the meiosis-specific cohesin complex between mammals and other organisms are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei‐ichiro Ishiguro
- Institute of Molecular Embryology and GeneticsKumamoto UniversityKumamotoJapan
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33
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Maezawa S, Hasegawa K, Alavattam KG, Funakoshi M, Sato T, Barski A, Namekawa SH. SCML2 promotes heterochromatin organization in late spermatogenesis. J Cell Sci 2018; 131:jcs.217125. [PMID: 30097555 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.217125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis involves the progressive reorganization of heterochromatin. However, the mechanisms that underlie the dynamic remodeling of heterochromatin remain unknown. Here, we identify SCML2, a germline-specific Polycomb protein, as a critical regulator of heterochromatin organization in spermatogenesis. We show that SCML2 accumulates on pericentromeric heterochromatin (PCH) in male germ cells, where it suppresses PRC1-mediated monoubiquitylation of histone H2A at Lysine 119 (H2AK119ub) and promotes deposition of PRC2-mediated H3K27me3 during meiosis. In postmeiotic spermatids, SCML2 is required for heterochromatin organization, and the loss of SCML2 leads to the formation of ectopic patches of facultative heterochromatin. Our data suggest that, in the absence of SCML2, the ectopic expression of somatic lamins drives this process. Furthermore, the centromere protein CENP-V is a specific marker of PCH in postmeiotic spermatids, and SCML2 is required for CENP-V localization on PCH. Given the essential functions of PRC1 and PRC2 for genome-wide gene expression in spermatogenesis, our data suggest that heterochromatin organization and spermatogenesis-specific gene expression are functionally linked. We propose that SCML2 coordinates the organization of heterochromatin and gene expression through the regulation of Polycomb complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- So Maezawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 49267, USA.,Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
| | - Kazuteru Hasegawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 49267, USA
| | - Kris G Alavattam
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 49267, USA
| | - Mayuka Funakoshi
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
| | - Taiga Sato
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
| | - Artem Barski
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 49267, USA.,Division of Allergy and Immunology, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Satoshi H Namekawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 49267, USA
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34
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Watanabe S, Mishima Y, Shimizu M, Suetake I, Takada S. Interactions of HP1 Bound to H3K9me3 Dinucleosome by Molecular Simulations and Biochemical Assays. Biophys J 2018; 114:2336-2351. [PMID: 29685391 PMCID: PMC6129468 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2018.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1), associated with heterochromatin formation, recognizes an epigenetically repressive marker, trimethylated lysine 9 in histone H3 (H3K9me3), and generally contributes to long-term silencing. How HP1 induces heterochromatin is not fully understood. Recent experiments suggested that not one, but two nucleosomes provide a platform for this recognition. Integrating previous and new biochemical assays with computational modeling, we provide near-atomic structural models for HP1 binding to the dinucleosomes. We found that the dimeric HP1α tends to bind two H3K9me3s that are in adjacent nucleosomes, thus bridging two nucleosomes. We identified, to our knowledge, a novel DNA binding motif in the hinge region that is specific to HP1α and is essential for recognizing the H3K9me3 sites of two nucleosomes. An HP1 isoform, HP1γ, does not easily bridge two nucleosomes in extended conformations because of the absence of the above binding motif and its shorter hinge region. We propose a molecular mechanism for chromatin structural changes caused by HP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhei Watanabe
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuichi Mishima
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masahiro Shimizu
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Isao Suetake
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; College of Nutrition, Koshien University, Takarazuka, Japan.
| | - Shoji Takada
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan.
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35
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Wang L, Xu Z, Khawar MB, Liu C, Li W. The histone codes for meiosis. Reproduction 2018; 154:R65-R79. [PMID: 28696245 DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2017] [Revised: 06/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Meiosis is a specialized process that produces haploid gametes from diploid cells by a single round of DNA replication followed by two successive cell divisions. It contains many special events, such as programmed DNA double-strand break (DSB) formation, homologous recombination, crossover formation and resolution. These events are associated with dynamically regulated chromosomal structures, the dynamic transcriptional regulation and chromatin remodeling are mainly modulated by histone modifications, termed 'histone codes'. The purpose of this review is to summarize the histone codes that are required for meiosis during spermatogenesis and oogenesis, involving meiosis resumption, meiotic asymmetric division and other cellular processes. We not only systematically review the functional roles of histone codes in meiosis but also discuss future trends and perspectives in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiliang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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36
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Oyama K, El-Nachef D, Fang C, Kajimoto H, Brown JP, Singh PB, MacLellan WR. Deletion of HP1γ in cardiac myocytes affects H4K20me3 levels but does not impact cardiac growth. Epigenetics Chromatin 2018; 11:18. [PMID: 29665845 PMCID: PMC5905015 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-018-0187-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heterochromatin, which is formed when tri-methyl lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3K9me3) is bound by heterochromatin 1 proteins (HP1s), plays an important role in differentiation and senescence by silencing cell cycle genes. Cardiac myocytes (CMs) accumulate heterochromatin during differentiation and demethylation of H3K9me3 inhibits cell cycle gene silencing and cell cycle exit in CMs; however, it is unclear if this process is mediated by HP1s. In this study, we created a conditional CM-specific HP1 gamma (HP1γ) knockout (KO) mouse model and tested whether HP1γ is required for cell cycle gene silencing and cardiac growth. RESULTS HP1γ KO mice were generated by crossing HP1γ floxed mice (fl) with mice expressing Cre recombinase driven by the Nkx2.5 (cardiac progenitor gene) promoter (Cre). We confirmed that deletion of critical exons of HP1γ led to undetectable levels of HP1γ protein in HP1γ KO (Cre;fl/fl) CMs. Analysis of cardiac size and function by echo revealed no significant differences between HP1γ KO and control (WT, Cre, fl/fl) mice. No significant difference in expression of cell cycle genes or cardiac-specific genes was observed. Global transcriptome analysis demonstrated a very moderate effect of HP1γ deletion on global gene expression, with only 51 genes differentially expressed in HP1γ KO CMs. We found that HP1β protein, but not HP1α, was significantly upregulated and that subnuclear localization of HP1β to perinuclear heterochromatin was increased in HP1γ KO CMs. Although HP1γ KO had no effect on H3K9me3 levels, we found a significant reduction in another major heterochromatin mark, tri-methylated lysine 20 of histone H4 (H4K20me3). CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that HP1γ is dispensable for cell cycle exit and normal cardiac growth but has a significant role in maintaining H4K20me3 and regulating a limited number of genes in CMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyohei Oyama
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Center for Cardiovascular Biology and Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Box 356422, Seattle, WA, 98195-6422, USA
| | - Danny El-Nachef
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Center for Cardiovascular Biology and Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Box 356422, Seattle, WA, 98195-6422, USA
| | - Chen Fang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Center for Cardiovascular Biology and Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Box 356422, Seattle, WA, 98195-6422, USA
| | - Hidemi Kajimoto
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Center for Cardiovascular Biology and Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Box 356422, Seattle, WA, 98195-6422, USA
| | - Jeremy P Brown
- Fächerverbund Anatomie, Institut für Zell-und Neurobiologie, Charite-Universitätsmedizin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Prim B Singh
- Fächerverbund Anatomie, Institut für Zell-und Neurobiologie, Charite-Universitätsmedizin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Astana, Kazakhstan, 010000.,Department of Natural Sciences, Laboratory of epigenetics, Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova str. 1, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation
| | - W Robb MacLellan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Center for Cardiovascular Biology and Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Box 356422, Seattle, WA, 98195-6422, USA.
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37
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Biswas U, Stevense M, Jessberger R. SMC1α Substitutes for Many Meiotic Functions of SMC1β but Cannot Protect Telomeres from Damage. Curr Biol 2018; 28:249-261.e4. [PMID: 29337080 PMCID: PMC5788747 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The cohesin complex is built upon the SMC1/SMC3 heterodimer, and mammalian meiocytes feature two variants of SMC1 named SMC1α and SMC1β. It is unclear why these two SMC1 variants have evolved. To determine unique versus redundant functions of SMC1β, we asked which of the known functions of SMC1β can be fulfilled by SMC1α. Smc1α was expressed under control of the Smc1β promoter in either wild-type or SMC1β-deficient mice. No effect was seen in the former. However, several major phenotypes of SMC1β-deficient spermatocytes were rescued by SMC1α. We observed extended development before apoptosis and restoration of axial element and synaptonemal complex lengths, chromosome synapsis, sex body formation, processing of DNA double-strand breaks, and formation of MLH1 recombination foci. This supports the concept that the quantity rather than the specific quality of cohesin complexes is decisive for meiotic chromosome architecture. It also suggests plasticity in complex composition, because to replace SMC1β in many functions, SMC1α has to more extensively associate with other cohesins. The cells did not complete meiosis but died to the latest at the pachytene-to-diplotene transition. Telomere aberrations known from Smc1β−/− mice persisted, and DNA damage response and repair proteins accumulated there regardless of expression of SMC1α. Thus, whereas SMC1α can substitute for SMC1β in many functions, the protection of telomere integrity requires SMC1β. SMC1α can substitute for SMC1β in many meiotic functions Key for many meiotic functions is the quantity of cohesin, not the specific type Telomere integrity can be preserved only by SMC1β In the absence of SMC1β, a DNA damage response is triggered at telomeres
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Affiliation(s)
- Uddipta Biswas
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michelle Stevense
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Rolf Jessberger
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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38
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Tardat M, Déjardin J. Telomere chromatin establishment and its maintenance during mammalian development. Chromosoma 2017; 127:3-18. [PMID: 29250704 PMCID: PMC5818603 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-017-0656-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are specialized structures that evolved to protect the end of linear chromosomes from the action of the cell DNA damage machinery. They are composed of tandem arrays of repeated DNA sequences with a specific heterochromatic organization. The length of telomeric repeats is dynamically regulated and can be affected by changes in the telomere chromatin structure. When telomeres are not properly controlled, the resulting chromosomal alterations can induce genomic instability and ultimately the development of human diseases, such as cancer. Therefore, proper establishment, regulation, and maintenance of the telomere chromatin structure are required for cell homeostasis. Here, we review the current knowledge on telomeric chromatin dynamics during cell division and early development in mammals, and how its proper regulation safeguards genome stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Tardat
- Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS UMR 9002, 141 rue de la Cardonille, 34396, Montpellier, France.
| | - Jérôme Déjardin
- Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS UMR 9002, 141 rue de la Cardonille, 34396, Montpellier, France.
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39
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Charó NL, Galigniana NM, Piwien-Pilipuk G. Heterochromatin protein (HP)1γ is not only in the nucleus but also in the cytoplasm interacting with actin in both cell compartments. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2017; 1865:432-443. [PMID: 29208528 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2017.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Confocal and electron microscopy images, and WB analysis of cellular fractions revealed that HP1γ is in the nucleus but also in the cytoplasm of C2C12 myoblasts, myotubes, skeletal and cardiac muscles, N2a, HeLa and HEK293T cells. Signal specificity was tested with different antibodies and by HP1γ knockdown. Leptomycin B treatment of myoblasts increased nuclear HP1γ, suggesting that its nuclear export is Crm-1-dependent. HP1γ exhibited a filamentous pattern of staining partially co-localizing with actin in the cytoplasm of myotubes and myofibrils. Immunoelectron microscopic analysis showed high-density immunogold particles that correspond to HP1γ localized to the Z-disk and A-band of the sarcomere of skeletal muscle. HP1γ partially co-localized with actin in C2C12 myotubes and murine myofibrils. Importantly, actin co-immunoprecipitated with HP1γ in the nuclear and cytosolic fractions of myoblasts. Actin co-immunoprecipitated with HP1γ in myoblasts incubated in the absence or presence of the actin depolymerizing agent cytochalasin D, suggesting that HP1γ may interact with G-and F-actin. In the cytoplasm, HP1γ was associated to the perinuclear actin cap that controls nuclear shape and position. In the nucleus, re-ChIP assays showed that HP1γ-actin associates to the promoter and transcribed regions of the house keeping gene GAPDH, suggesting that HP1γ may function as a scaffold protein for the recruitment of actin to control gene expression. When HP1γ was knocked-down, myoblasts were unable to differentiate or originated thin myotubes. In summary, HP1γ is present in the nucleus and the cytoplasm interacting with actin, a protein complex that may exert different functions depending on its subcellular localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy L Charó
- Laboratory of Nuclear Architecture, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME) - CONICET, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia M Galigniana
- Laboratory of Nuclear Architecture, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME) - CONICET, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Graciela Piwien-Pilipuk
- Laboratory of Nuclear Architecture, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME) - CONICET, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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40
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Zhang C, Chen D, Maguire EM, He S, Chen J, An W, Yang M, Afzal TA, Luong LA, Zhang L, Lei H, Wu Q, Xiao Q. Cbx3 inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration, and neointima formation. Cardiovasc Res 2017; 114:443-455. [DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvx236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 1 Youyi Road, Chongqing 400016, Yuzhong District, China
| | - Dan Chen
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 1 Youyi Road, Chongqing 400016, Yuzhong District, China
| | - Eithne Margaret Maguire
- Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Shiping He
- Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Jiangyong Chen
- Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 402160, China
| | - Weiwei An
- Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Mei Yang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tayyab Adeel Afzal
- Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Le Anh Luong
- Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Han Lei
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 1 Youyi Road, Chongqing 400016, Yuzhong District, China
| | - Qingchen Wu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 1 Youyi Road, Chongqing 400016, Yuzhong District, China
| | - Qingzhong Xiao
- Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao Town, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511436, Panyu District, China
- Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao Town, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511436, Panyu District, China
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41
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Magaraki A, van der Heijden G, Sleddens-Linkels E, Magarakis L, van Cappellen WA, Peters AHFM, Gribnau J, Baarends WM, Eijpe M. Silencing markers are retained on pericentric heterochromatin during murine primordial germ cell development. Epigenetics Chromatin 2017; 10:11. [PMID: 28293300 PMCID: PMC5346203 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-017-0119-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the nuclei of most mammalian cells, pericentric heterochromatin is characterized by DNA methylation, histone modifications such as H3K9me3 and H4K20me3, and specific binding proteins like heterochromatin-binding protein 1 isoforms (HP1 isoforms). Maintenance of this specialized chromatin structure is of great importance for genome integrity and for the controlled repression of the repetitive elements within the pericentric DNA sequence. Here we have studied histone modifications at pericentric heterochromatin during primordial germ cell (PGC) development using different fixation conditions and fluorescent immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical protocols. Results We observed that pericentric heterochromatin marks, such as H3K9me3, H4K20me3, and HP1 isoforms, were retained on pericentric heterochromatin throughout PGC development. However, the observed immunostaining patterns varied, depending on the fixation method, explaining previous findings of a general loss of pericentric heterochromatic features in PGCs. Also, in contrast to the general clustering of multiple pericentric regions and associated centromeres in DAPI-dense regions in somatic cells, the pericentric regions of PGCs were more frequently organized as individual entities. We also observed a transient enrichment of the chromatin remodeler ATRX in pericentric regions in embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5) PGCs. At this stage, a similar and low level of major satellite repeat RNA transcription was detected in both PGCs and somatic cells. Conclusions These results indicate that in pericentric heterochromatin of mouse PGCs, only minor reductions in levels of some chromatin-associated proteins occur, in association with a transient increase in ATRX, between E11.5 and E13.5. These pericentric heterochromatin regions more frequently contain only a single centromere in PGCs compared to the surrounding soma, indicating a difference in overall organization, but there is no de-repression of major satellite transcription. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13072-017-0119-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristea Magaraki
- Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Godfried van der Heijden
- Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Esther Sleddens-Linkels
- Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leonidas Magarakis
- Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Central Hospital of Karlstad, Karlstad, Värmland Sweden
| | | | - Antoine H F M Peters
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), Basel, Switzerland.,Faculty of Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Joost Gribnau
- Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Willy M Baarends
- Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maureen Eijpe
- Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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42
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Sun M, Ha N, Pham DH, Frederick M, Sharma B, Naruse C, Asano M, Pipkin ME, George RE, Thai TH. Cbx3/HP1γ deficiency confers enhanced tumor-killing capacity on CD8 + T cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:42888. [PMID: 28220815 PMCID: PMC5318867 DOI: 10.1038/srep42888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cbx3/HP1γ is a histone reader whose function in the immune system is not completely understood. Here, we demonstrate that in CD8+ T cells, Cbx3/HP1γ insufficiency leads to chromatin remodeling accompanied by enhanced Prf1, Gzmb and Ifng expression. In tumors obtained from Cbx3/HP1γ-insufficient mice or wild type mice treated with Cbx3/HP1γ-insufficient CD8+ T cells, there is an increase of CD8+ effector T cells expressing the stimulatory receptor Klrk1/NKG2D, a decrease in CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg cells) as well as CD25+ CD4+ T cells expressing the inhibitory receptor CTLA4. Together these changes in the tumor immune environment may have mitigated tumor burden in Cbx3/HP1γ-insufficient mice or wild type mice treated with Cbx3/HP1γ-insufficient CD8+ T cells. These findings suggest that targeting Cbx3/HP1γ can represent a rational therapeutic approach to control growth of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Sun
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Department of Pathology, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ngoc Ha
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Department of Pathology, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University, College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Duc-Hung Pham
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Department of Pathology, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Megan Frederick
- Department of Cancer Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Bandana Sharma
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Chie Naruse
- Institute of Laboratory Animals, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Masahide Asano
- Institute of Laboratory Animals, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Matthew E Pipkin
- Department of Cancer Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Rani E George
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - To-Ha Thai
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Department of Pathology, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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43
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Meiotic Centromere Coupling and Pairing Function by Two Separate Mechanisms in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetics 2016; 205:657-671. [PMID: 27913618 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.116.190264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In meiosis I, chromosomes become paired with their homologous partners and then are pulled toward opposite poles of the spindle. In the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in early meiotic prophase, centromeres are observed to associate in pairs in a homology-independent manner; a process called centromere coupling. Later, as homologous chromosomes align, their centromeres associate in a process called centromere pairing. The synaptonemal complex protein Zip1 is necessary for both types of centromere association. We aimed to test the role of centromere coupling in modulating recombination at centromeres, and to test whether the two types of centromere associations depend upon the same sets of genes. The zip1-S75E mutation, which blocks centromere coupling but no other known functions of Zip1, was used to show that in the absence of centromere coupling, centromere-proximal recombination was unchanged. Further, this mutation did not diminish centromere pairing, demonstrating that these two processes have different genetic requirements. In addition, we tested other synaptonemal complex components, Ecm11 and Zip4, for their contributions to centromere pairing. ECM11 was dispensable for centromere pairing and segregation of achiasmate partner chromosomes; while ZIP4 was not required for centromere pairing during pachytene, but was required for proper segregation of achiasmate chromosomes. These findings help differentiate the two mechanisms that allow centromeres to interact in meiotic prophase, and illustrate that centromere pairing, which was previously shown to be necessary to ensure disjunction of achiasmate chromosomes, is not sufficient for ensuring their disjunction.
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44
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Hikabe O, Hamazaki N, Nagamatsu G, Obata Y, Hirao Y, Hamada N, Shimamoto S, Imamura T, Nakashima K, Saitou M, Hayashi K. Reconstitution in vitro of the entire cycle of the mouse female germ line. Nature 2016; 539:299-303. [PMID: 27750280 DOI: 10.1038/nature20104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 362] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The female germ line undergoes a unique sequence of differentiation processes that confers totipotency to the egg. The reconstitution of these events in vitro using pluripotent stem cells is a key achievement in reproductive biology and regenerative medicine. Here we report successful reconstitution in vitro of the entire process of oogenesis from mouse pluripotent stem cells. Fully potent mature oocytes were generated in culture from embryonic stem cells and from induced pluripotent stem cells derived from both embryonic fibroblasts and adult tail tip fibroblasts. Moreover, pluripotent stem cell lines were re-derived from the eggs that were generated in vitro, thereby reconstituting the full female germline cycle in a dish. This culture system will provide a platform for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying totipotency and the production of oocytes of other mammalian species in culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orie Hikabe
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Hamazaki
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Go Nagamatsu
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yayoi Obata
- Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1, Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
| | - Yuji Hirao
- NARO Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, Ikenodai 2, Tsukuba 305-0901, Japan
| | - Norio Hamada
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - So Shimamoto
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Takuya Imamura
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Kinichi Nakashima
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Mitinori Saitou
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.,Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Ushinomiya-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.,JST, ERATO, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Hayashi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.,JST, PRESTO, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
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45
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Essential role of the Cdk2 activator RingoA in meiotic telomere tethering to the nuclear envelope. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11084. [PMID: 27025256 PMCID: PMC4820962 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play key roles in cell cycle regulation. Genetic analysis in mice has revealed an essential role for Cdk2 in meiosis, which renders Cdk2 knockout (KO) mice sterile. Here we show that mice deficient in RingoA, an atypical activator of Cdk1 and Cdk2 that has no amino acid sequence homology to cyclins, are sterile and display meiotic defects virtually identical to those observed in Cdk2 KO mice including non-homologous chromosome pairing, unrepaired double-strand breaks, undetectable sex-body and pachytene arrest. Interestingly, RingoA is required for Cdk2 targeting to telomeres and RingoA KO spermatocytes display severely affected telomere tethering as well as impaired distribution of Sun1, a protein essential for the attachment of telomeres to the nuclear envelope. Our results identify RingoA as an important activator of Cdk2 at meiotic telomeres, and provide genetic evidence for a physiological function of mammalian Cdk2 that is not dependent on cyclins. CDKs play central roles in cell cycle regulation and are normally activated by cyclins. Here the authors show that RingoA induces a cyclin-independent function of CDK2 at meiotic telomeres, which regulates their tethering to the nuclear envelope and proper synapsis of homologous chromosomes.
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46
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Mishima Y, Jayasinghe CD, Lu K, Otani J, Shirakawa M, Kawakami T, Kimura H, Hojo H, Carlton P, Tajima S, Suetake I. Nucleosome compaction facilitates HP1γ binding to methylated H3K9. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 43:10200-12. [PMID: 26319017 PMCID: PMC4666388 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The α, β and γ isoforms of mammalian heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) selectively bind to methylated lysine 9 of histone H3 via their chromodomains. Although the phenotypes of HP1-knockout mice are distinct for each isoform, the molecular mechanisms underlying HP1 isoform-specific function remain elusive. In the present study, we found that in contrast to HP1α, HP1γ could not bind tri-methylated H3 lysine 9 in a reconstituted tetra-nucleosomes when the nucleosomes were in an uncompacted state. The hinge region connecting HP1's chromodomain and chromoshadow domain contributed to the distinct recognition of the nucleosomes by HP1α and HP1γ. HP1γ, but not HP1α, was strongly enhanced in selective binding to tri-methylated lysine 9 in histone H3 by the addition of Mg(2+) or linker histone H1, which are known to induce compaction of nucleosomes. We propose that this novel property of HP1γ recognition of lysine 9 in the histone H3 tail in different nucleosome structures plays a role in reading the histone code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichi Mishima
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Chanika D Jayasinghe
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kai Lu
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Junji Otani
- Department of Molecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Masahiro Shirakawa
- Department of Molecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Toru Kawakami
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hironobu Kimura
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hironobu Hojo
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Peter Carlton
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Shoji Tajima
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Isao Suetake
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
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47
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Guo Y, Yang B, Li Y, Xu X, Maine EM. Enrichment of H3K9me2 on Unsynapsed Chromatin in Caenorhabditis elegans Does Not Target de Novo Sites. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2015; 5:1865-78. [PMID: 26156747 PMCID: PMC4555223 DOI: 10.1534/g3.115.019828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Many organisms alter the chromatin state of unsynapsed chromosomes during meiotic prophase, a phenomenon hypothesized to function in maintaining germline integrity. In Caenorhabditis elegans, histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2) is detected by immunolabeling as enriched on unsynapsed meiotic chromosomes. Loss of the SET domain protein, MET-2, greatly reduces H3K9me2 abundance and results in germline mortality. Here, we used him-8 mutations to disable X chromosome synapsis and performed a combination of molecular assays to map the sites of H3K9me2 accumulation, evaluate H3K9me2 abundance in germline vs. whole animals, and evaluate the impact of H3K9me2 loss on the germline transcriptome. Our data indicate that H3K9me2 is elevated broadly across the X chromosome and at defined X chromosomal sites in him-8 adults compared with controls. H3K9me2 levels are also elevated to a lesser degree at sites on synapsed chromosomes in him-8 adults compared with controls. These results suggest that MET-2 activity is elevated in him-8 mutants generally as well as targeted preferentially to the unsynapsed X. Abundance of H3K9me2 and other histone H3 modifications is low in germline chromatin compared with whole animals, which may facilitate genome reprogramming during gametogenesis. Loss of H3K9me2 has a subtle impact on the him-8 germline transcriptome, suggesting H3K9me2 may not be a major regulator of developmental gene expression in C. elegans. We hypothesize H3K9me2 may have a structural function critical for germline immortality, and a greater abundance of these marks may be required when a chromosome does not synapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqing Guo
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244
| | - Bing Yang
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244
| | - Yini Li
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244
| | - Xia Xu
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244
| | - Eleanor M Maine
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244
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48
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Pubertal exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate inhibits G9a-mediated histone methylation during spermatogenesis in mice. Arch Toxicol 2015; 90:955-69. [DOI: 10.1007/s00204-015-1529-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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49
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Aydin E, Kloos DP, Gay E, Jonker W, Hu L, Bullwinkel J, Brown JP, Manukyan M, Giera M, Singh PB, Fundele R. A hypomorphic Cbx3 allele causes prenatal growth restriction and perinatal energy homeostasis defects. J Biosci 2015; 40:325-38. [DOI: 10.1007/s12038-015-9520-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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50
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Kurdzo EL, Dawson DS. Centromere pairing--tethering partner chromosomes in meiosis I. FEBS J 2015; 282:2458-70. [PMID: 25817724 PMCID: PMC4490064 DOI: 10.1111/febs.13280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Revised: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In meiosis, homologous chromosomes face the obstacle of finding, holding onto and segregating away from their partner chromosome. There is increasing evidence, in a diverse range of organisms, that centromere–centromere interactions that occur in late prophase are an important mechanism in ensuring segregation fidelity. Centromere pairing appears to initiate when homologous chromosomes synapse in meiotic prophase. Structural proteins of the synaptonemal complex have been shown to help mediate centromere pairing, but how the structure that maintains centromere pairing differs from the structure of the synaptonemal complex along the chromosomal arms remains unknown. When the synaptonemal complex proteins disassemble from the chromosome arms in late prophase, some of these synaptonemal complex components persist at the centromeres. In yeast and Drosophila these centromere-pairing behaviors promote the proper segregation of chromosome partners that have failed to become linked by chiasmata. Recent studies of mouse spermatocytes have described centromere pairing behaviors that are similar in several respects to what has been described in the fly and yeast systems. In humans, chromosomes that fail to experience crossovers in meiosis are error-prone and are a major source of aneuploidy. The finding that centromere pairing is a conserved phenomenon raises the possibility that it may play a role in promoting the segregation fidelity of non-exchange chromosome pairs in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily L Kurdzo
- Program in Cell Cycle and Cancer Biology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma, Health Science Center, OK, USA
| | - Dean S Dawson
- Program in Cell Cycle and Cancer Biology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma, Health Science Center, OK, USA
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