1
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Yue B, Wang HY, Huang Y, Li S, Ma W, Liu Q, Shao C. Molecular functional characterization of the setdb1 and its potential target gene sox5 illuminate the histone modification-mediated orchestration of gonadal development in Chinese tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). Gene 2024; 901:148199. [PMID: 38253299 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148199] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
SET (SuVar3-9, Enhancer of Zeste, Trithorax) domain bifurcated histone lysine methyltransferase 1, setdb1, is the predominant histone lysine methyltransferase catalyzing H3K9me3. Prior studies have illustrated that setdb1 and H3K9me3 critically regulate sex differentiation and gametogenesis. However, the molecular details by which setdb1 is involved in these processes in fish have been poorly reported. Here, we cloned and characterized the setdb1 ORF (open reading frame) sequence from Chinese tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). The setdb1 ORF sequence was 3,669 bp, encoding a 1,222-amino-acid protein. Phylogenetic analysis showed that setdb1 was structurally conserved. qRT-PCR revealed that setdb1 had a high expression level in the testes at 12 mpf (months post fertilization). Single-cell RNA-seq data at 24 mpf indicated that setdb1 was generally expressed in spermatogenic cells at each stage except for sperm and was centrally expressed in oogonia. H3K9me3 modification was observed in gonads with the immunofluorescence technique. Furthermore, the overexpression experiment suggested that sox5 was a candidate target of setdb1. sox5 was abundantly expressed in male and pseudomale gonads at 24 mpf. Single-cell RNA-seq data showed that sox5 was mainly expressed in spermatogonia and its expression gradually declined with differentiation. Taken together, our findings imply that setdb1 regulates sox5 transcription in gonads, which provides molecular clues into histone modification-mediated orchestration of sex differentiation and gametogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Yue
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China
| | - Hong-Yan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Yingyi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Shuo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Wenxiu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Qian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Changwei Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.
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2
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Alavattam KG, Esparza JM, Hu M, Shimada R, Kohrs AR, Abe H, Munakata Y, Otsuka K, Yoshimura S, Kitamura Y, Yeh YH, Hu YC, Kim J, Andreassen PR, Ishiguro KI, Namekawa SH. ATF7IP2/MCAF2 directs H3K9 methylation and meiotic gene regulation in the male germline. Genes Dev 2024; 38:115-130. [PMID: 38383062 PMCID: PMC10982687 DOI: 10.1101/gad.351569.124] [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: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
H3K9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) plays emerging roles in gene regulation, beyond its accumulation on pericentric constitutive heterochromatin. It remains a mystery why and how H3K9me3 undergoes dynamic regulation in male meiosis. Here, we identify a novel, critical regulator of H3K9 methylation and spermatogenic heterochromatin organization: the germline-specific protein ATF7IP2 (MCAF2). We show that in male meiosis, ATF7IP2 amasses on autosomal and X-pericentric heterochromatin, spreads through the entirety of the sex chromosomes, and accumulates on thousands of autosomal promoters and retrotransposon loci. On the sex chromosomes, which undergo meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI), the DNA damage response pathway recruits ATF7IP2 to X-pericentric heterochromatin, where it facilitates the recruitment of SETDB1, a histone methyltransferase that catalyzes H3K9me3. In the absence of ATF7IP2, male germ cells are arrested in meiotic prophase I. Analyses of ATF7IP2-deficient meiosis reveal the protein's essential roles in the maintenance of MSCI, suppression of retrotransposons, and global up-regulation of autosomal genes. We propose that ATF7IP2 is a downstream effector of the DDR pathway in meiosis that coordinates the organization of heterochromatin and gene regulation through the spatial regulation of SETDB1-mediated H3K9me3 deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris G Alavattam
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Jasmine M Esparza
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Mengwen Hu
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Ryuki Shimada
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Anna R Kohrs
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
| | - Hironori Abe
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Yasuhisa Munakata
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Kai Otsuka
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Saori Yoshimura
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Yuka Kitamura
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Yu-Han Yeh
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Yueh-Chiang Hu
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 49229, USA
| | - Jihye Kim
- Laboratory of Chromosome Dynamics, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Paul R Andreassen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 49229, USA
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
| | - Kei-Ichiro Ishiguro
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan;
| | - Satoshi H Namekawa
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA;
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 49229, USA
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3
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Luo H, Wu X, Zhu XH, Yi X, Du D, Jiang DS. The functions of SET domain bifurcated histone lysine methyltransferase 1 (SETDB1) in biological process and disease. Epigenetics Chromatin 2023; 16:47. [PMID: 38057834 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-023-00519-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone methyltransferase SETDB1 (SET domain bifurcated histone lysine methyltransferase 1, also known as ESET or KMT1E) is known to be involved in the deposition of the di- and tri-methyl marks on H3K9 (H3K9me2 and H3K9me3), which are associated with transcription repression. SETDB1 exerts an essential role in the silencing of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) in embryonic stem cells (mESCs) by tri-methylating H3K9 (H3K9me3) and interacting with DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). Additionally, SETDB1 is engaged in regulating multiple biological processes and diseases, such as ageing, tumors, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), by methylating both histones and non-histone proteins. In this review, we provide an overview of the complex biology of SETDB1, review the upstream regulatory mechanisms of SETDB1 and its partners, discuss the functions and molecular mechanisms of SETDB1 in cell fate determination and stem cell, as well as in tumors and other diseases. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and prospects of targeting SETDB1 for the treatment of different diseases, and we also suggest some future research directions in the field of SETDB1 research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanshen Luo
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave., Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xingliang Wu
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xue-Hai Zhu
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave., Wuhan, 430030, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xin Yi
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Dunfeng Du
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
- Institute of Organ Transplantation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Ding-Sheng Jiang
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave., Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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4
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Hayashi Y, Tando Y, Ito‐Matsuoka Y, Ikuta K, Takehara A, Morino K, Maegawa H, Matsui Y. Nutritional and metabolic control of germ cell fate through O-GlcNAc regulation. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e56845. [PMID: 37842859 PMCID: PMC10626443 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202356845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Fate determination of primordial germ cells (PGCs) is regulated in a multi-layered manner, involving signaling pathways, epigenetic mechanisms, and transcriptional control. Chemical modification of macromolecules, including epigenetics, is expected to be closely related with metabolic mechanisms but the detailed molecular machinery linking these two layers remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway controls PGC fate determination via O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification. Consistent with this model, reduction of carbohydrate metabolism via a maternal ketogenic diet that decreases O-GlcNAcylation levels causes repression of PGC formation in vivo. Moreover, maternal ketogenic diet intake until mid-gestation affects the number of ovarian germ cells in newborn pups. Taken together, we show that nutritional and metabolic mechanisms play a previously unappreciated role in PGC fate determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohei Hayashi
- Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC)Tohoku UniversitySendaiJapan
- Graduate School of Life SciencesTohoku UniversitySendaiJapan
- Graduate School of MedicineTohoku UniversitySendaiJapan
| | - Yukiko Tando
- Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC)Tohoku UniversitySendaiJapan
- Graduate School of Life SciencesTohoku UniversitySendaiJapan
- Graduate School of MedicineTohoku UniversitySendaiJapan
| | - Yumi Ito‐Matsuoka
- Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC)Tohoku UniversitySendaiJapan
| | - Kaho Ikuta
- School of MedicineTohoku UniversitySendaiJapan
| | - Asuka Takehara
- Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC)Tohoku UniversitySendaiJapan
| | - Katsutaro Morino
- Department of MedicineShiga University of Medical ScienceOtsuJapan
| | - Hiroshi Maegawa
- Department of MedicineShiga University of Medical ScienceOtsuJapan
| | - Yasuhisa Matsui
- Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC)Tohoku UniversitySendaiJapan
- Graduate School of Life SciencesTohoku UniversitySendaiJapan
- Graduate School of MedicineTohoku UniversitySendaiJapan
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5
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Alavattam KG, Esparza JM, Hu M, Shimada R, Kohrs AR, Abe H, Munakata Y, Otsuka K, Yoshimura S, Kitamura Y, Yeh YH, Hu YC, Kim J, Andreassen PR, Ishiguro KI, Namekawa SH. ATF7IP2/MCAF2 directs H3K9 methylation and meiotic gene regulation in the male germline. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.30.560314. [PMID: 37873266 PMCID: PMC10592865 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.30.560314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
H3K9 tri-methylation (H3K9me3) plays emerging roles in gene regulation, beyond its accumulation on pericentric constitutive heterochromatin. It remains a mystery why and how H3K9me3 undergoes dynamic regulation in male meiosis. Here, we identify a novel, critical regulator of H3K9 methylation and spermatogenic heterochromatin organization: the germline-specific protein ATF7IP2 (MCAF2). We show that, in male meiosis, ATF7IP2 amasses on autosomal and X pericentric heterochromatin, spreads through the entirety of the sex chromosomes, and accumulates on thousands of autosomal promoters and retrotransposon loci. On the sex chromosomes, which undergo meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI), the DNA damage response pathway recruits ATF7IP2 to X pericentric heterochromatin, where it facilitates the recruitment of SETDB1, a histone methyltransferase that catalyzes H3K9me3. In the absence of ATF7IP2, male germ cells are arrested in meiotic prophase I. Analyses of ATF7IP2-deficient meiosis reveal the protein's essential roles in the maintenance of MSCI, suppression of retrotransposons, and global upregulation of autosomal genes. We propose that ATF7IP2 is a downstream effector of the DDR pathway in meiosis that coordinates the organization of heterochromatin and gene regulation through the spatial regulation of SETDB1-mediated H3K9me3 deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris G. Alavattam
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Jasmine M. Esparza
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Mengwen Hu
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Ryuki Shimada
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Anna R. Kohrs
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
| | - Hironori Abe
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Yasuhisa Munakata
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Kai Otsuka
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Saori Yoshimura
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Yuka Kitamura
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Yu-Han Yeh
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Yueh-Chiang Hu
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 49229, USA
| | - Jihye Kim
- Laboratory of Chromosome Dynamics, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1, Yayoi, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
| | - Paul R. Andreassen
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 49229, USA
| | - Kei-ichiro Ishiguro
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Satoshi H. Namekawa
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 49229, USA
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6
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Li X, Chen P, Ji J, Duan Q, Cao J, Huang R, Ye SD. Rhox6 regulates the expression of distinct target genes to mediate mouse PGCLC formation and ESC self-renewal. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:145. [PMID: 37553721 PMCID: PMC10408072 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01096-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) not only retain the property of self-renewal but also have the ability to develop into primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs). However, knowledge about the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation is still limited. Rhox6, a member of the homeobox family that is located on the X chromosome, is highly expressed within PGCLCs in vivo and in vitro. However, the detailed effects of Rhox6 on PGCLC specification and mESC maintenance remain unclear. RESULTS In this study, we found that overexpression of Rhox6 favors the formation of PGCLCs, while depletion of Rhox6 inhibits the generation of PGCLCs. Mechanistically, Rhox6 directly induces the expression of Nanos3 during the specification of PGCLCs. Subsequently, downregulation of Nanos3 expression is sufficient to decrease the ability of Rhox6 to induce PGCLC formation. Moreover, we found that depletion of Rhox6 expression facilitates the self-renewal of mESCs. High-throughput sequencing revealed that suppression of Rhox6 transcription significantly increases the expression of pluripotency genes. Functional studies further demonstrated that Rhox6 directly represses the transcription of Tbx3. Therefore, knockdown of the expression of the latter impairs the self-renewal of mESCs promoted by Rhox6 downregulation. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals that overexpression of Rhox6 is beneficial for PGCLC generation through induction of Nanos3, while downregulation of Rhox6 contributes to mESC self-renewal by increasing Tbx3. These findings help elucidate the early development of mouse embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Li
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Peng Chen
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Junxiang Ji
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Quanchao Duan
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Jianjian Cao
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Ru Huang
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Shou-Dong Ye
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China.
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7
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Lin Y, Zhang F, Chen S, Zhu X, Jiao J, Zhang Y, Li Z, Lin J, Ma B, Chen M, Wang PY, Cui C. Binary Colloidal Crystals Promote Cardiac Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells via Nuclear Accumulation of SETDB1. ACS NANO 2023; 17:3181-3193. [PMID: 36655945 PMCID: PMC9933589 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Biophysical cues can facilitate the cardiac differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), yet the mechanism is far from established. One of the binary colloidal crystals, composed of 5 μm Si and 400 nm poly(methyl methacrylate) particles named 5PM, has been applied as a substrate for hPSCs cultivation and cardiac differentiation. In this study, cell nucleus, cytoskeleton, and epigenetic states of human induced pluripotent stem cells on the 5PM were analyzed using atomic force microscopy, molecular biology assays, and the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (ATAC-seq). Cells were more spherical with stiffer cell nuclei on the 5PM compared to the flat control. ATAC-seq revealed that chromatin accessibility decreased on the 5PM, caused by the increased entry of histone lysine methyltransferase SETDB1 into the cell nuclei and the amplified level of histone H3K9me3 modification. Reducing cytoskeleton tension using a ROCK inhibitor attenuated the nuclear accumulation of SETDB1 on the 5PM, indicating that the effect is cytoskeleton-dependent. In addition, the knockdown of SETDB1 reversed the promotive effects of the 5PM on cardiac differentiation, demonstrating that biophysical cue-induced cytoskeletal tension, cell nucleus deformation, and then SETDB1 accumulation are critical outside-in signal transformations in cardiac differentiation. Human embryonic stem cells showed similar results, indicating that the biophysical impact of the 5PM surfaces on cardiac differentiation could be universal. These findings contribute to our understanding of material-assistant hPSC differentiation, which benefits materiobiology and stem cell bioengineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongping Lin
- Department
of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital
of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing210000, Jiangsu, China
- Department
of Cardiology, The Affiliated Taizhou People’s Hospital of
Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou225300, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Department
of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital
of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing210000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shaojie Chen
- Department
of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital
of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing210000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiyu Zhu
- Department
of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical
School, Nanjing210000, China
| | - Jincheng Jiao
- State
Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and
Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing210000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yike Zhang
- Department
of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital
of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing210000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhaomin Li
- Department
of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital
of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing210000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiao Lin
- Shenzhen
Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials and Cellular Immunomodulation,
Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Biao Ma
- State
Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and
Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing210000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Minglong Chen
- Department
of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital
of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing210000, Jiangsu, China
- Department
of Cardiology, The Affiliated Taizhou People’s Hospital of
Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou225300, Jiangsu, China
- Key
Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative
Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing210000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Peng-Yuan Wang
- Oujiang
Laboratory; Key Laboratory of Alzheimer’s Disease of Zhejiang
Province, Institute of Aging, Wenzhou Medical
University, Wenzhou325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chang Cui
- Department
of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital
of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing210000, Jiangsu, China
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8
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Xie Y, Wu C, Li Z, Wu Z, Hong L. Early Gonadal Development and Sex Determination in Mammal. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147500. [PMID: 35886859 PMCID: PMC9323860 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex determination is crucial for the transmission of genetic information through generations. In mammal, this process is primarily regulated by an antagonistic network of sex-related genes beginning in embryonic development and continuing throughout life. Nonetheless, abnormal expression of these sex-related genes will lead to reproductive organ and germline abnormalities, resulting in disorders of sex development (DSD) and infertility. On the other hand, it is possible to predetermine the sex of animal offspring by artificially regulating sex-related gene expression, a recent research hotspot. In this paper, we reviewed recent research that has improved our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of the gonad and primordial germ cells (PGCs), progenitors of the germline, to provide new directions for the treatment of DSD and infertility, both of which involve manipulating the sex ratio of livestock offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanshe Xie
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510630, China; (Y.X.); (C.W.); (Z.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Changhua Wu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510630, China; (Y.X.); (C.W.); (Z.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Zicong Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510630, China; (Y.X.); (C.W.); (Z.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Zhenfang Wu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510630, China; (Y.X.); (C.W.); (Z.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510630, China
- Correspondence: (Z.W.); (L.H.)
| | - Linjun Hong
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510630, China; (Y.X.); (C.W.); (Z.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510630, China
- Correspondence: (Z.W.); (L.H.)
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Matsui Y, Hayashi Y. Metabolic pathways regulating the development and non-genomic heritable traits of germ cells. J Reprod Dev 2021; 68:96-103. [PMID: 34955463 PMCID: PMC8979796 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2021-137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolism is an important cellular process necessary not only for producing energy and building blocks for cells, but also for regulating various cell functions, including intracellular
signaling, epigenomic effects, and transcription. The regulatory roles of metabolism have been extensively studied in somatic cells, including stem cells and cancer cells, but data regarding
germ cells are limited. Because germ cells produce individuals of subsequent generations, understanding the role of metabolism and its regulatory functions in germ cells is important.
Although limited information concerning the specific role of metabolism in germ cells is available, recent advances in related research have revealed specific metabolic states of
undifferentiated germ cells in embryos as well as in germ cells undergoing oogenesis and spermatogenesis. Studies have also elucidated the functions of some metabolic pathways associated
with germ cell development and the non-genomic heritable machinery of germ cells. In this review, we summarized all the available knowledge on the characteristic metabolic pathways in germ
cells, focusing on their regulatory functions, while discussing the issues that need to be addressed to enhance the understanding of germ cell metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhisa Matsui
- Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC), Tohoku University, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan.,Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Yohei Hayashi
- Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC), Tohoku University, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan.,Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
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Klein RH, Knoepfler PS. DPPA2, DPPA4, and other DPPA factor epigenomic functions in cell fate and cancer. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:2844-2851. [PMID: 34767751 PMCID: PMC8693620 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Many gene networks are shared between pluripotent stem cells and cancer; a concept exemplified by several DPPA factors such as DPPA2 and DPPA4, which are highly and selectively expressed in stem cells but also found to be reactivated in cancer. Despite their striking expression pattern, for many years the function of DPPA2 and DPPA4 remained a mystery; knockout of Dppa2 and Dppa4 did not affect pluripotency, but caused lung and skeletal defects late in development, long after Dppa2 and Dppa4 expression had been turned off. A number of recent papers have further clarified and defined the roles of these important factors, identifying roles in priming the chromatin and maintaining developmental competency through regulating both H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 at bivalent chromatin domains, and acting to remodel chromatin and facilitate reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotency. These findings highlight an important regulatory role for DPPA2 and DPPA4 at the transitional boundary between pluripotency and differentiation and may have relevance to the functions of DPPA2 and 4 in the context of cancer cells as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Herndon Klein
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Institute of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital for Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Paul S Knoepfler
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Institute of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital for Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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11
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Senft AD, Macfarlan TS. Transposable elements shape the evolution of mammalian development. Nat Rev Genet 2021; 22:691-711. [PMID: 34354263 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-021-00385-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) promote genetic innovation but also threaten genome stability. Despite multiple layers of host defence, TEs actively shape mammalian-specific developmental processes, particularly during pre-implantation and extra-embryonic development and at the maternal-fetal interface. Here, we review how TEs influence mammalian genomes both directly by providing the raw material for genetic change and indirectly via co-evolving TE-binding Krüppel-associated box zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs). Throughout mammalian evolution, individual activities of ancient TEs were co-opted to enable invasive placentation that characterizes live-born mammals. By contrast, the widespread activity of evolutionarily young TEs may reflect an ongoing co-evolution that continues to impact mammalian development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna D Senft
- The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Todd S Macfarlan
- The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Tao L, He X, Wang X, Di R, Chu M. Litter Size of Sheep ( Ovis aries): Inbreeding Depression and Homozygous Regions. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:109. [PMID: 33477586 PMCID: PMC7831309 DOI: 10.3390/genes12010109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovine litter size (LS) is an important trait showing variability within breeds. It remains largely unknown whether inbreeding depression on LS exists based on genomic homozygous regions, and whether the homozygous regions resulted from inbreeding are significantly associated with LS in sheep. We here reanalyze a set of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip of six breeds to characterize the patterns of runs of homozygosity (ROH), to evaluate inbreeding levels and inbreeding depressions on LS, and to identify candidate homozygous regions responsible for LS. Consequently, unique ROH patterns were observed among six sheep populations. Inbreeding depression on LS was only found in Hu sheep, where a significant reduction of 0.016, 0.02, and 0.02 per 1% elevated inbreeding FROH4-8, FROH>8 and the total inbreeding measure was observed, respectively. Nine significantly homozygous regions were found for LS in Hu sheep, where some promising genes for LS possibly via regulation of the development of oocytes (NGF, AKT1, and SYCP1), fertilization (SPAG17, MORC1, TDRD9, ZFYVE21, ADGRB3, and CKB), embryo implantation (PPP1R13B, INF2, and VANGL1) and development (DPPA2, DPPA4, CDCA4, CSDE1, and ADSSL1), and reproductive health (NRG3, BAG5, CKB, and XRCC3) were identified. These results from the present study would provide insights into the genetic management and complementary understandings of LS in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Mingxing Chu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (L.T.); (X.H.); (X.W.); (R.D.)
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13
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Li X, Chen X, Liu Y, Zhang P, Zheng Y, Zeng W. The Histone Methyltransferase SETDB1 Modulates Survival of Spermatogonial Stem/Progenitor Cells Through NADPH Oxidase. Front Genet 2020; 11:997. [PMID: 33133132 PMCID: PMC7567028 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
SETDB1, a histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferase, is crucial in meiosis and embryo development. This study aimed to investigate whether SETDB1 was associated with spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) homeostasis. We found that knockdown of Setdb1 impaired cell proliferation, led to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) level through NADPH oxidase, and Setdb1 deficiency activated ROS downstream signaling pathways, including JNK and p38 MAPK, which possibly contributed to SSC apoptosis. Melatonin scavenged ROS and rescued the phenotype of Setdb1 KD. In addition, we demonstrated that SETDB1 regulated NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) and E2F1. Therefore, this study uncovers the new roles of SETDB1 in mediating intracellular ROS homeostasis for the survival of SSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueliang Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Xiaoxu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Yingdong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Pengfei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Yi Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Wenxian Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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Müller MR, Skowron MA, Albers P, Nettersheim D. Molecular and epigenetic pathogenesis of germ cell tumors. Asian J Urol 2020; 8:144-154. [PMID: 33996469 PMCID: PMC8099689 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajur.2020.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of germ cell tumors (GCTs) is a unique pathogenesis occurring at an early developmental stage during specification, migration or colonization of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in the genital ridge. Since driver mutations could not be identified so far, the involvement of the epigenetic machinery during the pathogenesis seems to play a crucial role. Currently, it is investigated whether epigenetic modifications occurring between the omnipotent two-cell stage and the pluripotent implanting PGCs might result in disturbances eventually leading to GCTs. Although progress in understanding epigenetic mechanisms during PGC development is ongoing, little is known about the complete picture of its involvement during GCT development and eventual classification into clinical subtypes. This review will shed light into the current knowledge of the complex epigenetic and molecular contribution during pathogenesis of GCTs by emphasizing on early developmental stages until arrival of late PGCs in the gonads. We questioned how misguided migrating and/or colonizing PGCs develop to either type I or type II GCTs. Additionally, we asked how pluripotency can be regulated during PGC development and which epigenetic changes contribute to GCT pathogenesis. We propose that SOX2 and SOX17 determine either embryonic stem cell-like (embryonal carcinoma) or PGC-like cell fate (seminoma). Finally, we suggest that factors secreted by the microenvironment, i.e. BMPs and BMP inhibiting molecules, dictate the fate decision of germ cell neoplasia in situ (into seminoma and embryonal carcinoma) and seminomas (into embryonal carcinoma or extraembryonic lineage), indicating an important role of the microenvironment on GCT plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie R Müller
- Department of Urology, Urological Research Lab, Translational UroOncology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Margaretha A Skowron
- Department of Urology, Urological Research Lab, Translational UroOncology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Peter Albers
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Daniel Nettersheim
- Department of Urology, Urological Research Lab, Translational UroOncology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Bleckwehl T, Rada-Iglesias A. Transcriptional and epigenetic control of germline competence and specification. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2019; 61:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2019.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Ninova M, Fejes Tóth K, Aravin AA. The control of gene expression and cell identity by H3K9 trimethylation. Development 2019; 146:dev181180. [PMID: 31540910 PMCID: PMC6803365 DOI: 10.1242/dev.181180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Histone 3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) is a conserved histone modification that is best known for its role in constitutive heterochromatin formation and the repression of repetitive DNA elements. More recently, it has become evident that H3K9me3 is also deposited at certain loci in a tissue-specific manner and plays important roles in regulating cell identity. Notably, H3K9me3 can repress genes encoding silencing factors, pointing to a fundamental principle of repressive chromatin auto-regulation. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that H3K9me3 deposition requires protein SUMOylation in different contexts, suggesting that the SUMO pathway functions as an important module in gene silencing and heterochromatin formation. In this Review, we discuss the role of H3K9me3 in gene regulation in various systems and the molecular mechanisms that guide the silencing machinery to target loci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ninova
- California Institute of Technology, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, 147-75, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Katalin Fejes Tóth
- California Institute of Technology, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, 147-75, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Alexei A Aravin
- California Institute of Technology, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, 147-75, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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