1
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Fu B, Ma H, Liu D. Pioneer Transcription Factors: The First Domino in Zygotic Genome Activation. Biomolecules 2024; 14:720. [PMID: 38927123 PMCID: PMC11202083 DOI: 10.3390/biom14060720] [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: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is a pivotal event in mammalian embryogenesis, marking the transition from maternal to zygotic control of development. During the ZGA process that is characterized by the intricate cascade of gene expression, who tipped the first domino in a meticulously arranged sequence is a subject of paramount interest. Recently, Dux, Obox and Nr5a2 were identified as pioneer transcription factors that reside at the top of transcriptional hierarchy. Through co-option of retrotransposon elements as hubs for transcriptional activation, these pioneer transcription factors rewire the gene regulatory network, thus initiating ZGA. In this review, we provide a snapshot of the mechanisms underlying the functions of these pioneer transcription factors. We propose that ZGA is the starting point where the embryo's own genome begins to influence development trajectory, therefore in-depth dissecting the functions of pioneer transcription factors during ZGA will form a cornerstone of our understanding for early embryonic development, which will pave the way for advancing our grasp of mammalian developmental biology and optimizing in vitro production (IVP) techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Fu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry, HeiLongJiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China; (B.F.); (H.M.)
- Key Laboratory of Combining Farming and Animal Husbandry, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin 150086, China
| | - Hong Ma
- Institute of Animal Husbandry, HeiLongJiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China; (B.F.); (H.M.)
- Key Laboratory of Combining Farming and Animal Husbandry, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin 150086, China
| | - Di Liu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry, HeiLongJiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China; (B.F.); (H.M.)
- Key Laboratory of Combining Farming and Animal Husbandry, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin 150086, China
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2
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Li L, Lai F, Liu L, Lu X, Hu X, Liu B, Lin Z, Fan Q, Kong F, Xu Q, Xie W. Lineage regulators TFAP2C and NR5A2 function as bipotency activators in totipotent embryos. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024; 31:950-963. [PMID: 38243114 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01199-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
During the first lineage segregation, a mammalian totipotent embryo differentiates into the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE). However, how transcription factors (TFs) regulate this earliest cell-fate decision in vivo remains elusive, with their regulomes primarily inferred from cultured cells. Here, we investigated the TF regulomes during the first lineage specification in early mouse embryos, spanning the pre-initiation, initiation, commitment, and maintenance phases. Unexpectedly, we found that TFAP2C, a trophoblast regulator, bound and activated both early TE and inner cell mass (ICM) genes at the totipotent (two- to eight-cell) stages ('bipotency activation'). Tfap2c deficiency caused downregulation of early ICM genes, including Nanog, Nr5a2, and Tdgf1, and early TE genes, including Tfeb and Itgb5, in eight-cell embryos. Transcription defects in both ICM and TE lineages were also found in blastocysts, accompanied by increased apoptosis and reduced cell numbers in ICMs. Upon trophoblast commitment, TFAP2C left early ICM genes but acquired binding to late TE genes in blastocysts, where it co-bound with CDX2, and later to extra-embryonic ectoderm (ExE) genes, where it cooperatively co-occupied with the former ICM regulator SOX2. Finally, 'bipotency activation' in totipotent embryos also applied to a pluripotency regulator NR5A2, which similarly bound and activated both ICM and TE lineage genes at the eight-cell stage. These data reveal a unique transcription circuity of totipotency underpinned by highly adaptable lineage regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijia Li
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fangnong Lai
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xukun Lu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Hu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bofeng Liu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zili Lin
- College of Animal Science and Technology College, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Fan
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Kong
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qianhua Xu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Xie
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China.
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3
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Jin L, Han Z, Mao X, Lu J, Yan B, Lu Y, Liang L, Wang L, Yu Y, Sun K. Genome-wide profiling of angiogenic cis-regulatory elements unravels cis-regulatory SNPs for vascular abnormality. Sci Data 2024; 11:467. [PMID: 38719891 PMCID: PMC11078952 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03272-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is extensively involved in embryonic development and requires complex regulation networks, whose defects can cause a variety of vascular abnormalities. Cis-regulatory elements control gene expression at all developmental stages, but they have not been studied or profiled in angiogenesis yet. In this study, we exploited public DNase-seq and RNA-seq datasets from a VEGFA-stimulated in vitro angiogenic model, and carried out an integrated analysis of the transcriptome and chromatin accessibility across the entire process. Totally, we generated a bank of 47,125 angiogenic cis-regulatory elements with promoter (marker by H3K4me3) and/or enhancer (marker by H3K27ac) activities. Motif enrichment analysis revealed that these angiogenic cis-regulatory elements interacted preferentially with ETS family TFs. With this tool, we performed an association study using our WES data of TAPVC and identified rs199530718 as a cis-regulatory SNP associated with disease risk. Altogether, this study generated a genome-wide bank of angiogenic cis-regulatory elements and illustrated its utility in identifying novel cis-regulatory SNPs for TAPVC, expanding new horizons of angiogenesis as well as vascular abnormality genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihui Jin
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Zhenyuan Han
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, China.
| | - Xiaotong Mao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jieru Lu
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Pediatrics, Lishui People's Hospital, Lishui, 323050, China
| | - Bingqian Yan
- Department of NICU, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | - Yiwen Lu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Lili Liang
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology/Genetics, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, China.
| | - Yu Yu
- Institute for Developmental and Regenerative Cardiovascular Medicine, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Kun Sun
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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4
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Kobayashi W, Sappler AH, Bollschweiler D, Kümmecke M, Basquin J, Arslantas EN, Ruangroengkulrith S, Hornberger R, Duderstadt K, Tachibana K. Nucleosome-bound NR5A2 structure reveals pioneer factor mechanism by DNA minor groove anchor competition. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024; 31:757-766. [PMID: 38409506 PMCID: PMC11102866 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01239-0] [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: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Gene expression during natural and induced reprogramming is controlled by pioneer transcription factors that initiate transcription from closed chromatin. Nr5a2 is a key pioneer factor that regulates zygotic genome activation in totipotent embryos, pluripotency in embryonic stem cells and metabolism in adult tissues, but the mechanism of its pioneer activity remains poorly understood. Here, we present a cryo-electron microscopy structure of human NR5A2 bound to a nucleosome. The structure shows that the conserved carboxy-terminal extension (CTE) loop of the NR5A2 DNA-binding domain competes with a DNA minor groove anchor of the nucleosome and releases entry-exit site DNA. Mutational analysis showed that NR5A2 D159 of the CTE is dispensable for DNA binding but required for stable nucleosome association and persistent DNA 'unwrapping'. These findings suggest that NR5A2 belongs to an emerging class of pioneer factors that can use DNA minor groove anchor competition to destabilize nucleosomes and facilitate gene expression during reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Kobayashi
- Department of Totipotency, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Munich, Germany
| | - Anna H Sappler
- Structure and Dynamics of Molecular Machines, MPIB, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Maximilian Kümmecke
- Department of Totipotency, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Munich, Germany
| | - Jérôme Basquin
- Department of Structural Cell Biology, Crystallization Facility, MPIB, Munich, Germany
| | - Eda Nur Arslantas
- Department of Totipotency, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Munich, Germany
| | | | - Renate Hornberger
- Department of Totipotency, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Munich, Germany
| | - Karl Duderstadt
- Structure and Dynamics of Molecular Machines, MPIB, Munich, Germany
- Department of Bioscience, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Kikuë Tachibana
- Department of Totipotency, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Munich, Germany.
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5
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Silva MV, Castro DS. Mitotic bookmarking by transcription factors: be aware of redundancy. Trends Biochem Sci 2024; 49:384-386. [PMID: 38503673 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2024.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
A recent report by Chervova, Molliex, et al. shows redundant functions for the transcription factors (TFs) ESRRB and NR5A2 as mitotic bookmarkers in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. These occupy some of their target sites in mitotic chromatin, ensuring their robust reactivation after cell division, including markers and regulators of pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel V Silva
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Diogo S Castro
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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6
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Guo R, Dong X, Chen F, Ji T, He Q, Zhang J, Sheng Y, Liu Y, Yang S, Liang W, Song Y, Fang K, Zhang L, Hu G, Yao H. TEAD2 initiates ground-state pluripotency by mediating chromatin looping. EMBO J 2024; 43:1965-1989. [PMID: 38605224 PMCID: PMC11099042 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00086-5] [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: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The transition of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) between serum/LIF and 2i(MEK and GSK3 kinase inhibitor)/LIF culture conditions serves as a valuable model for exploring the mechanisms underlying ground and confused pluripotent states. Regulatory networks comprising core and ancillary pluripotency factors drive the gene expression programs defining stable naïve pluripotency. In our study, we systematically screened factors essential for ESC pluripotency, identifying TEAD2 as an ancillary factor maintaining ground-state pluripotency in 2i/LIF ESCs and facilitating the transition from serum/LIF to 2i/LIF ESCs. TEAD2 exhibits increased binding to chromatin in 2i/LIF ESCs, targeting active chromatin regions to regulate the expression of 2i-specific genes. In addition, TEAD2 facilitates the expression of 2i-specific genes by mediating enhancer-promoter interactions during the serum/LIF to 2i/LIF transition. Notably, deletion of Tead2 results in reduction of a specific set of enhancer-promoter interactions without significantly affecting binding of chromatin architecture proteins, CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), and Yin Yang 1 (YY1). In summary, our findings highlight a novel prominent role of TEAD2 in orchestrating higher-order chromatin structures of 2i-specific genes to sustain ground-state pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Center for Health Research, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaotao Dong
- Center for Health Research, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- School of Basic Medical Science, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Feng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tianrong Ji
- Center for Health Research, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiannan He
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Center for Health Research, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Center for Health Research, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingliang Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Center for Health Research, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yanjiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Center for Health Research, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shengxiong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Center for Health Research, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weifang Liang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, China
| | - Yawei Song
- Center for Health Research, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ke Fang
- Center for Health Research, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lingling Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Gongcheng Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Center for Health Research, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongjie Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
- Center for Health Research, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
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7
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Sakamoto M, Ito A, Wakayama S, Sasaki H, Wakayama T, Ishiuchi T. Detection of newly synthesized RNA reveals transcriptional reprogramming during ZGA and a role of Obox3 in totipotency acquisition. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114118. [PMID: 38619966 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114118] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) after fertilization enables the maternal-to-zygotic transition. However, the global view of ZGA, particularly at initiation, is incompletely understood. Here, we develop a method to capture and sequence newly synthesized RNA in early mouse embryos, providing a view of transcriptional reprogramming during ZGA. Our data demonstrate that major ZGA gene activation begins earlier than previously thought. Furthermore, we identify a set of genes activated during minor ZGA, the promoters of which show enrichment of the Obox factor motif, and find that Obox3 or Obox5 overexpression in mouse embryonic stem cells activates ZGA genes. Notably, the expression of Obox factors is severely impaired in somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos, and restoration of Obox3 expression corrects the ZGA profile and greatly improves SCNT embryo development. Hence, our study reveals dynamic transcriptional reprogramming during ZGA and underscores the crucial role of Obox3 in facilitating totipotency acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mizuki Sakamoto
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Aoi Ito
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Sayaka Wakayama
- Advanced Biotechnology Center, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Sasaki
- Division of Epigenomics and Development, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Teruhiko Wakayama
- Advanced Biotechnology Center, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan
| | - Takashi Ishiuchi
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan.
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8
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Zhao Y, Zhang M, Liu J, Hu X, Sun Y, Huang X, Li J, Lei L. Nr5a2 ensures inner cell mass formation in mouse blastocyst. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113840. [PMID: 38386558 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113840] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have elucidated Nr5a2's role in activating zygotic genes during early mouse embryonic development. Subsequent research, however, reveals that Nr5a2 is not critical for zygotic genome activation but is vital for the gene program between the 4- and 8-cell stages. A significant gap exists in experimental evidence regarding its function during the first lineage differentiation's pivotal period. In this study, we observed that approximately 20% of embryos developed to the blastocyst stage following Nr5a2 ablation. However, these blastocysts lacked inner cell mass (ICM), highlighting Nr5a2's importance in first lineage differentiation. Mechanistically, using RNA sequencing and CUT&Tag, we found that Nr5a2 transcriptionally regulates ICM-specific genes, such as Oct4, to establish the pluripotent network. Interference with or overexpression of Nr5a2 in single blastomeres of 2-cell embryos can alter the fate of daughter cells. Our results indicate that Nr5a2 works as a doorkeeper to ensure ICM formation in mouse blastocyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhua Zhao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Meiting Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Jiqiang Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Xinglin Hu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Yuchen Sun
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Xingwei Huang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Jingyu Li
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Human Embryo Engineering, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China.
| | - Lei Lei
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
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9
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Chervova A, Molliex A, Baymaz HI, Coux RX, Papadopoulou T, Mueller F, Hercul E, Fournier D, Dubois A, Gaiani N, Beli P, Festuccia N, Navarro P. Mitotic bookmarking redundancy by nuclear receptors in pluripotent cells. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024; 31:513-522. [PMID: 38196033 PMCID: PMC10948359 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01195-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Mitotic bookmarking transcription factors (TFs) are thought to mediate rapid and accurate reactivation after mitotic gene silencing. However, the loss of individual bookmarking TFs often leads to the deregulation of only a small proportion of their mitotic targets, raising doubts on the biological significance and importance of their bookmarking function. Here we used targeted proteomics of the mitotic bookmarking TF ESRRB, an orphan nuclear receptor, to discover a large redundancy in mitotic binding among members of the protein super-family of nuclear receptors. Focusing on the nuclear receptor NR5A2, which together with ESRRB is essential in maintaining pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells, we demonstrate conjoint bookmarking activity of both factors on promoters and enhancers of a large fraction of active genes, particularly those most efficiently reactivated in G1. Upon fast and simultaneous degradation of both factors during mitotic exit, hundreds of mitotic targets of ESRRB/NR5A2, including key players of the pluripotency network, display attenuated transcriptional reactivation. We propose that redundancy in mitotic bookmarking TFs, especially nuclear receptors, confers robustness to the reestablishment of gene regulatory networks after mitosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Almira Chervova
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3738, Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells Unit, Paris, France
- Equipe Labéllisée Ligue Contre le cancer, Paris, France
| | - Amandine Molliex
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3738, Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells Unit, Paris, France
- Equipe Labéllisée Ligue Contre le cancer, Paris, France
| | | | - Rémi-Xavier Coux
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3738, Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells Unit, Paris, France
- Equipe Labéllisée Ligue Contre le cancer, Paris, France
| | - Thaleia Papadopoulou
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3738, Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells Unit, Paris, France
- Equipe Labéllisée Ligue Contre le cancer, Paris, France
| | - Florian Mueller
- Department of Computational Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3691, Imaging and Modeling Unit, Paris, France
| | - Eslande Hercul
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3738, Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells Unit, Paris, France
- Equipe Labéllisée Ligue Contre le cancer, Paris, France
| | - David Fournier
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3738, Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells Unit, Paris, France
- Equipe Labéllisée Ligue Contre le cancer, Paris, France
| | - Agnès Dubois
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3738, Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells Unit, Paris, France
- Equipe Labéllisée Ligue Contre le cancer, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Gaiani
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3738, Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells Unit, Paris, France
- Equipe Labéllisée Ligue Contre le cancer, Paris, France
| | - Petra Beli
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, Germany
| | - Nicola Festuccia
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3738, Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells Unit, Paris, France.
- Equipe Labéllisée Ligue Contre le cancer, Paris, France.
| | - Pablo Navarro
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3738, Epigenomics, Proliferation, and the Identity of Cells Unit, Paris, France.
- Equipe Labéllisée Ligue Contre le cancer, Paris, France.
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10
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Wani SA, Hussain S, Gray JS, Nayak D, Tang H, Perez LM, Long MD, Siddappa M, McCabe CJ, Sucheston-Campbell LE, Freeman MR, Campbell MJ. Epigenetic disruption of the RARγ complex impairs its function to bookmark AR enhancer interactions required for enzalutamide sensitivity in prostate cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.15.571947. [PMID: 38168185 PMCID: PMC10760102 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.15.571947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The current study in prostate cancer (PCa) focused on the genomic mechanisms at the cross-roads of pro-differentiation signals and the emergence of lineage plasticity. We explored an understudied cistromic mechanism involving RARγ's ability to govern AR cistrome-transcriptome relationships, including those associated with more aggressive PCa features. The RARγ complex in PCa cell models was enriched for canonical cofactors, as well as proteins involved in RNA processing and bookmarking. Identifying the repertoire of miR-96 bound and regulated gene targets, including those recognition elements marked by m6A, revealed their significant enrichment in the RARγ complex. RARγ significantly enhanced the AR cistrome, particularly in active enhancers and super-enhancers, and overlapped with the binding of bookmarking factors. Furthermore, RARγ expression led to nucleosome-free chromatin enriched with H3K27ac, and significantly enhanced the AR cistrome in G2/M cells. RARγ functions also antagonized the transcriptional actions of the lineage master regulator ONECUT2. Similarly, gene programs regulated by either miR-96 or antagonized by RARγ were enriched in alternative lineages and more aggressive PCa phenotypes. Together these findings reveal an under-investigated role for RARγ, modulated by miR-96, to bookmark enhancer sites during mitosis. These sites are required by the AR to promote transcriptional competence, and emphasize luminal differentiation, while antagonizing ONECUT2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajad A Wani
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
| | - Shahid Hussain
- Division of Cancer Biology, Cedars Sinai Cancer, and Los Angeles, CA 90048
- Board of Governors Innovation Center, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
| | - Jaimie S Gray
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
| | - Debasis Nayak
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
| | - Hancong Tang
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
| | - Lillian M Perez
- Division of Cancer Therapeutics, Cedars Sinai Cancer, Departments of Urology and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
| | - Mark D Long
- Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263
| | - Manjunath Siddappa
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
| | - Christopher J McCabe
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), and Centre of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (CEDAM), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Michael R Freeman
- Division of Cancer Therapeutics, Cedars Sinai Cancer, Departments of Urology and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
| | - Moray J Campbell
- Division of Cancer Biology, Cedars Sinai Cancer, and Los Angeles, CA 90048
- Board of Governors Innovation Center, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048
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11
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Li L, Lai F, Hu X, Liu B, Lu X, Lin Z, Liu L, Xiang Y, Frum T, Halbisen MA, Chen F, Fan Q, Ralston A, Xie W. Multifaceted SOX2-chromatin interaction underpins pluripotency progression in early embryos. Science 2023; 382:eadi5516. [PMID: 38096290 DOI: 10.1126/science.adi5516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Pioneer transcription factors (TFs), such as OCT4 and SOX2, play crucial roles in pluripotency regulation. However, the master TF-governed pluripotency regulatory circuitry was largely inferred from cultured cells. In this work, we investigated SOX2 binding from embryonic day 3.5 (E3.5) to E7.5 in the mouse. In E3.5 inner cell mass (ICM), SOX2 regulates the ICM-trophectoderm program but is dispensable for opening global enhancers. Instead, SOX2 occupies preaccessible enhancers in part opened by early-stage expressing TFs TFAP2C and NR5A2. SOX2 then widely redistributes when cells adopt naive and formative pluripotency by opening enhancers or poising them for rapid future activation. Hence, multifaceted pioneer TF-enhancer interaction underpins pluripotency progression in embryos, including a distinctive state in E3.5 ICM that bridges totipotency and pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijia Li
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Fangnong Lai
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiaoyu Hu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Bofeng Liu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xukun Lu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zili Lin
- College of Animal Science and Technology College, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yunlong Xiang
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Tristan Frum
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Michael A Halbisen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Fengling Chen
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Qiang Fan
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Amy Ralston
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Wei Xie
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
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12
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Lai F, Li L, Hu X, Liu B, Zhu Z, Liu L, Fan Q, Tian H, Xu K, Lu X, Li Q, Feng K, Wang L, Lin Z, Deng H, Li J, Xie W. NR5A2 connects zygotic genome activation to the first lineage segregation in totipotent embryos. Cell Res 2023; 33:952-966. [PMID: 37935903 PMCID: PMC10709309 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-023-00887-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) marks the beginning of the embryonic program for a totipotent embryo, which gives rise to the inner cell mass (ICM) where pluripotent epiblast arises, and extraembryonic trophectoderm. However, how ZGA is connected to the first lineage segregation in mammalian embryos remains elusive. Here, we investigated the role of nuclear receptor (NR) transcription factors (TFs), whose motifs are highly enriched and accessible from the 2-cell (2C) to 8-cell (8C) stages in mouse embryos. We found that NR5A2, an NR TF strongly induced upon ZGA, was required for this connection. Upon Nr5a2 knockdown or knockout, embryos developed beyond 2C normally with the zygotic genome largely activated. However, 4-8C-specific gene activation was substantially impaired and Nr5a2-deficient embryos subsequently arrested at the morula stage. Genome-wide chromatin binding analysis showed that NR5A2-bound cis-regulatory elements in both 2C and 8C embryos are strongly enriched for B1 elements where its binding motif is embedded. NR5A2 was not required for the global opening of its binding sites in 2C embryos but was essential to the opening of its 8C-specific binding sites. These 8C-specific, but not 2C-specific, binding sites are enriched near genes involved in blastocyst and stem cell regulation, and are often bound by master pluripotency TFs in blastocysts and embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Importantly, NR5A2 regulated key pluripotency genes Nanog and Pou5f1/Oct4, and primitive endoderm regulatory genes including Gata6 among many early ICM genes, as well as key trophectoderm regulatory genes including Tead4 and Gata3 at the 8C stage. By contrast, master pluripotency TFs NANOG, SOX2, and OCT4 targeted both early and late ICM genes in mouse ESCs. Taken together, these data identify NR5A2 as a key regulator in totipotent embryos that bridges ZGA to the first lineage segregation during mouse early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangnong Lai
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lijia Li
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Hu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bofeng Liu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ziqi Zhu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Fan
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huabin Tian
- CAS Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Xu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xukun Lu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Kong Feng
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lijuan Wang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zili Lin
- College of Animal Science and Technology College, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Hongyu Deng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinsong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Xie
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China.
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13
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Knudsen TE, Hamilton WB, Proks M, Lykkegaard M, Linneberg-Agerholm M, Nielsen AV, Perera M, Malzard LL, Trusina A, Brickman JM. A bipartite function of ESRRB can integrate signaling over time to balance self-renewal and differentiation. Cell Syst 2023; 14:788-805.e8. [PMID: 37633265 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2023.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Cooperative DNA binding of transcription factors (TFs) integrates the cellular context to support cell specification during development. Naive mouse embryonic stem cells are derived from early development and can sustain their pluripotent identity indefinitely. Here, we ask whether TFs associated with pluripotency evolved to directly support this state or if the state emerges from their combinatorial action. NANOG and ESRRB are key pluripotency factors that co-bind DNA. We find that when both factors are expressed, ESRRB supports pluripotency. However, when NANOG is absent, ESRRB supports a bistable culture of cells with an embryo-like primitive endoderm identity ancillary to pluripotency. The stoichiometry between NANOG and ESRRB allows quantitative titration of this differentiation, and in silico modeling of bipartite ESRRB activity suggests it safeguards plasticity in differentiation. Thus, the concerted activity of cooperative TFs can transform their effect to sustain intermediate cell identities and allow ex vivo expansion of immortal stem cells. A record of this paper's transparent peer review process is included in the supplemental information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa E Knudsen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - William B Hamilton
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Martin Proks
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maria Lykkegaard
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Madeleine Linneberg-Agerholm
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Marta Perera
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Ala Trusina
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Joshua M Brickman
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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14
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Nakatani T, Torres-Padilla ME. Regulation of mammalian totipotency: a molecular perspective from in vivo and in vitro studies. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 81:102083. [PMID: 37421903 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
In mammals, cells acquire totipotency at fertilization. Embryonic genome activation (EGA), which occurs at the 2-cell stage in the mouse and 4- to 8-cell stage in humans, occurs during the time window at which embryonic cells are totipotent and thus it is thought that EGA is mechanistically linked to the foundations of totipotency. The molecular mechanisms that lead to the establishment of totipotency and EGA had been elusive for a long time, however, recent advances have been achieved with the establishment of new cell lines with greater developmental potential and the application of novel low-input high-throughput techniques in embryos. These have unveiled several principles of totipotency related to its epigenetic makeup but also to characteristic features of totipotent cells. In this review, we summarize and discuss current views exploring some of the key drivers of totipotency from both in vitro cell culture models and embryogenesis in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsunetoshi Nakatani
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES), Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-81377 München, Germany
| | - Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES), Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-81377 München, Germany; Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, München, Germany.
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15
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Murphy D, Salataj E, Di Giammartino DC, Rodriguez-Hernaez J, Kloetgen A, Garg V, Char E, Uyehara CM, Ee LS, Lee U, Stadtfeld M, Hadjantonakis AK, Tsirigos A, Polyzos A, Apostolou E. Systematic mapping and modeling of 3D enhancer-promoter interactions in early mouse embryonic lineages reveal regulatory principles that determine the levels and cell-type specificity of gene expression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.19.549714. [PMID: 37577543 PMCID: PMC10422694 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.19.549714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian embryogenesis commences with two pivotal and binary cell fate decisions that give rise to three essential lineages, the trophectoderm (TE), the epiblast (EPI) and the primitive endoderm (PrE). Although key signaling pathways and transcription factors that control these early embryonic decisions have been identified, the non-coding regulatory elements via which transcriptional regulators enact these fates remain understudied. To address this gap, we have characterized, at a genome-wide scale, enhancer activity and 3D connectivity in embryo-derived stem cell lines that represent each of the early developmental fates. We observed extensive enhancer remodeling and fine-scale 3D chromatin rewiring among the three lineages, which strongly associate with transcriptional changes, although there are distinct groups of genes that are irresponsive to topological changes. In each lineage, a high degree of connectivity or "hubness" positively correlates with levels of gene expression and enriches for cell-type specific and essential genes. Genes within 3D hubs also show a significantly stronger probability of coregulation across lineages, compared to genes in linear proximity or within the same contact domains. By incorporating 3D chromatin features, we build a novel predictive model for transcriptional regulation (3D-HiChAT), which outperformed models that use only 1D promoter or proximal variables in predicting levels and cell-type specificity of gene expression. Using 3D-HiChAT, we performed genome-wide in silico perturbations to nominate candidate functional enhancers and hubs in each cell lineage, and with CRISPRi experiments we validated several novel enhancers that control expression of one or more genes in their respective lineages. Our study comprehensively identifies 3D regulatory hubs associated with the earliest mammalian lineages and describes their relationship to gene expression and cell identity, providing a framework to understand lineage-specific transcriptional behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Murphy
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eralda Salataj
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Dafne Campigli Di Giammartino
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- 3D Chromatin Conformation and RNA genomics laboratory, Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Center for Human Technologies (CHT), Genova, Italy (current affiliation)
| | - Javier Rodriguez-Hernaez
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratory, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Andreas Kloetgen
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratory, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Vidur Garg
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Erin Char
- Tri-Institutional Training Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, 10065, New York, USA
| | - Christopher M. Uyehara
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ly-sha Ee
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - UkJin Lee
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Matthias Stadtfeld
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Aristotelis Tsirigos
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratory, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Alexander Polyzos
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Effie Apostolou
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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16
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Carbognin E, Carlini V, Panariello F, Chieregato M, Guerzoni E, Benvegnù D, Perrera V, Malucelli C, Cesana M, Grimaldi A, Mutarelli M, Carissimo A, Tannenbaum E, Kugler H, Hackett JA, Cacchiarelli D, Martello G. Esrrb guides naive pluripotent cells through the formative transcriptional programme. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:643-657. [PMID: 37106060 PMCID: PMC7614557 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01131-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
During embryonic development, naive pluripotent epiblast cells transit to a formative state. The formative epiblast cells form a polarized epithelium, exhibit distinct transcriptional and epigenetic profiles and acquire competence to differentiate into all somatic and germline lineages. However, we have limited understanding of how the transition to a formative state is molecularly controlled. Here we used murine embryonic stem cell models to show that ESRRB is both required and sufficient to activate formative genes. Genetic inactivation of Esrrb leads to illegitimate expression of mesendoderm and extra-embryonic markers, impaired formative expression and failure to self-organize in 3D. Functionally, this results in impaired ability to generate formative stem cells and primordial germ cells in the absence of Esrrb. Computational modelling and genomic analyses revealed that ESRRB occupies key formative genes in naive cells and throughout the formative state. In so doing, ESRRB kickstarts the formative transition, leading to timely and unbiased capacity for multi-lineage differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Carbognin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Valentina Carlini
- Epigenetics & Neurobiology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)-Rome, Adriano Buzzati-Traverso Campus, Rome, Italy
- Collaboration for joint PhD degree between EMBL and Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Francesco Panariello
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Armenise/Harvard Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | | | - Elena Guerzoni
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Perrera
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Cristina Malucelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Marcella Cesana
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Armenise/Harvard Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Pozzuoli, Italy
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Grimaldi
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Armenise/Harvard Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Margherita Mutarelli
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Armenise/Harvard Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Pozzuoli, Italy
- Istituto di Scienze Applicate e Sistemi Intelligenti 'Eduardo Caianiello', Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Annamaria Carissimo
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Armenise/Harvard Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Pozzuoli, Italy
- Istituto per le Applicazioni del Calcolo 'Mauro Picone,' Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Naples, Italy
| | - Eitan Tannenbaum
- The Faculty of Engineering, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Hillel Kugler
- The Faculty of Engineering, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Jamie A Hackett
- Epigenetics & Neurobiology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)-Rome, Adriano Buzzati-Traverso Campus, Rome, Italy.
| | - Davide Cacchiarelli
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Armenise/Harvard Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Pozzuoli, Italy.
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy.
- School for Advanced Studies, Genomics and Experimental Medicine Program, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy.
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17
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Gassler J, Kobayashi W, Gáspár I, Ruangroengkulrith S, Mohanan A, Gómez Hernández L, Kravchenko P, Kümmecke M, Lalic A, Rifel N, Ashburn RJ, Zaczek M, Vallot A, Cuenca Rico L, Ladstätter S, Tachibana K. Zygotic genome activation by the totipotency pioneer factor Nr5a2. Science 2022; 378:1305-1315. [PMID: 36423263 DOI: 10.1126/science.abn7478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Life begins with a switch in genetic control from the maternal to the embryonic genome during zygotic genome activation (ZGA). Despite its importance, the essential regulators of ZGA remain largely unknown in mammals. On the basis of de novo motif searches, we identified the orphan nuclear receptor Nr5a2 as a key activator of major ZGA in mouse two-cell embryos. Nr5a2 is required for progression beyond the two-cell stage. It binds to its motif within SINE B1/Alu retrotransposable elements found in cis-regulatory regions of ZGA genes. Chemical inhibition suggests that 72% of ZGA genes are regulated by Nr5a2 and potentially other orphan nuclear receptors. Nr5a2 promotes chromatin accessibility during ZGA and binds nucleosomal DNA in vitro. We conclude that Nr5a2 is an essential pioneer factor that regulates ZGA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Gassler
- Department of Totipotency, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Munich, Germany.,Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Wataru Kobayashi
- Department of Totipotency, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Munich, Germany
| | - Imre Gáspár
- Department of Totipotency, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Munich, Germany
| | | | - Adarsh Mohanan
- Department of Totipotency, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Munich, Germany
| | - Laura Gómez Hernández
- Department of Totipotency, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Munich, Germany
| | - Pavel Kravchenko
- Department of Totipotency, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Munich, Germany
| | - Maximilian Kümmecke
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Aleksandar Lalic
- Department of Totipotency, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Munich, Germany
| | - Nikita Rifel
- Department of Totipotency, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Munich, Germany
| | - Robert John Ashburn
- Department of Totipotency, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Munich, Germany
| | - Maciej Zaczek
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Antoine Vallot
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Laura Cuenca Rico
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabrina Ladstätter
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Kikuë Tachibana
- Department of Totipotency, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Munich, Germany.,Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
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18
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Extensive co-binding and rapid redistribution of NANOG and GATA6 during emergence of divergent lineages. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4257. [PMID: 35871075 PMCID: PMC9308780 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31938-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Fate-determining transcription factors (TFs) can promote lineage-restricted transcriptional programs from common progenitor states. The inner cell mass (ICM) of mouse blastocysts co-expresses the TFs NANOG and GATA6, which drive the bifurcation of the ICM into either the epiblast (Epi) or the primitive endoderm (PrE), respectively. Here, we induce GATA6 in embryonic stem cells–that also express NANOG–to characterize how a state of co-expression of opposing TFs resolves into divergent lineages. Surprisingly, we find that GATA6 and NANOG co-bind at the vast majority of Epi and PrE enhancers, a phenomenon we also observe in blastocysts. The co-bound state is followed by eviction and repression of Epi TFs, and quick remodeling of chromatin and enhancer-promoter contacts thus establishing the PrE lineage while repressing the Epi fate. We propose that co-binding of GATA6 and NANOG at shared enhancers maintains ICM plasticity and promotes the rapid establishment of Epi- and PrE-specific transcriptional programs. The authors show that the transcription factors NANOG and GATA6 co-bind the same enhancers in common progenitors before divergent epiblast and primitive endoderm lineages emerge. This may help maintain plasticity at early stages and facilitate bifurcation into distinct lineages
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19
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Romeike M, Spach S, Huber M, Feng S, Vainorius G, Elling U, Versteeg GA, Buecker C. Transient upregulation of IRF1 during exit from naive pluripotency confers viral protection. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e55375. [PMID: 35852463 PMCID: PMC9442322 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202255375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells intrinsically express a subset of genes which are normally associated with interferon stimulation and the innate immune response. However, the expression of these interferon‐stimulated genes (ISG) in stem cells is independent from external stimuli such as viral infection. Here, we show that the interferon regulatory factor 1, Irf1, is directly controlled by the murine formative pluripotency gene regulatory network and transiently upregulated during the transition from naive to formative pluripotency. IRF1 binds to regulatory regions of a conserved set of ISGs and is required for their faithful expression upon exit from naive pluripotency. We show that in the absence of IRF1, cells exiting the naive pluripotent stem cell state are more susceptible to viral infection. Irf1 therefore acts as a link between the formative pluripotency network, regulation of innate immunity genes, and defense against viral infections during formative pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merrit Romeike
- Max Perutz Labs Vienna Vienna Biocenter (VBC), University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Vienna Biocenter PhD Program A Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Stephanie Spach
- Max Perutz Labs Vienna Vienna Biocenter (VBC), University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Marie Huber
- Max Perutz Labs Vienna Vienna Biocenter (VBC), University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Songjie Feng
- Max Perutz Labs Vienna Vienna Biocenter (VBC), University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Vienna Biocenter PhD Program A Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Gintautas Vainorius
- Vienna Biocenter PhD Program A Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA) Vienna Biocenter (VBC) Vienna Austria
| | - Ulrich Elling
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA) Vienna Biocenter (VBC) Vienna Austria
| | - Gjis A Versteeg
- Max Perutz Labs Vienna Vienna Biocenter (VBC), University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Christa Buecker
- Max Perutz Labs Vienna Vienna Biocenter (VBC), University of Vienna Vienna Austria
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20
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Peavey J, Parmar VM, Malek G. Nuclear Receptor Atlases of Choroidal Tissues Reveal Candidate Receptors Associated with Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Cells 2022; 11:2386. [PMID: 35954227 PMCID: PMC9367936 DOI: 10.3390/cells11152386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The choroid is a vulnerable tissue site in the eye, impacted in several blinding diseases including age related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the leading cause of central vision loss in the aging population. Choroidal thinning and choriocapillary dropout are features of the early form of AMD, and endothelial dysfunction and vascular changes are primary characteristics of the neovascular clinical sub-type of AMD. Given the importance, the choroidal endothelium and outer vasculature play in supporting visual function, a better understanding of baseline choroidal signaling pathways engaged in tissue and cellular homeostasis is needed. Nuclear receptors are a large family of transcription factors responsible for maintaining various cellular processes during development, aging and disease. Herein we developed a comprehensive nuclear receptor atlas of human choroidal endothelial cells and freshly isolated choroidal tissue by examining the expression levels of all members of this transcription family using quantitative real time PCR. Given the close relationship between the choroid and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), this data was cross-referenced with the expression profile of nuclear receptors in human RPE cells, to discover potential overlap versus cell-specific nuclear receptor expression. Finally, to identify candidate receptors that may participate in the pathobiology of AMD, we cataloged nuclear receptor expression in a murine model of wet AMD, from which we discovered a subset of nuclear receptors differentially regulated following neovascularization. Overall, these databases serve as useful resources establishing the influence of nuclear receptor signaling pathways on the outer vascular tissue of the eye, while providing a list of receptors, for more focused investigations in the future, to determine their suitability as potential therapeutic targets for diseases, in which the choroid is affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Peavey
- Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (J.P.); (V.M.P.)
| | - Vipul M. Parmar
- Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (J.P.); (V.M.P.)
| | - Goldis Malek
- Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (J.P.); (V.M.P.)
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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