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Xu J, Wang Q, Tang X, Feng X, Zhang X, Liu T, Wu F, Wang Q, Feng X, Tang Q, Lisch D, Lu Y. Drought-induced circular RNAs in maize roots: Separating signal from noise. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 196:352-367. [PMID: 38669308 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play an important role in diverse biological processes; however, their origin and functions, especially in plants, remain largely unclear. Here, we used 2 maize (Zea mays) inbred lines, as well as 14 of their derivative recombination inbred lines with different drought sensitivity, to systematically characterize 8,790 circRNAs in maize roots under well-watered (WW) and water-stress (WS) conditions. We found that a diverse set of circRNAs expressed at significantly higher levels under WS. Enhanced expression of circRNAs was associated with longer flanking introns and an enrichment of long interspersed nuclear element retrotransposable elements. The epigenetic marks found at the back-splicing junctions of circRNA-producing genes were markedly different from canonical splicing, characterized by increased levels of H3K36me3/H3K4me1, as well as decreased levels of H3K9Ac/H3K27Ac. We found that genes expressing circRNAs are subject to relaxed selection. The significant enrichment of trait-associated sites along their genic regions suggested that genes giving rise to circRNAs were associated with plant survival rate under drought stress, implying that circRNAs play roles in plant drought responses. Furthermore, we found that overexpression of circMED16, one of the drought-responsive circRNAs, enhances drought tolerance in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Our results provide a framework for understanding the intricate interplay of epigenetic modifications and how they contribute to the fine-tuning of circRNA expression under drought stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Xin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Xiaoju Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Xiaoyue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Tianhong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Fengkai Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Qingjun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Xuanjun Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Qi Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Damon Lisch
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Yanli Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Sichuan 611130, China
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2
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Liu T, Li H, Wan Y, Shi G, Zhao Y, Liu Y, Fan X. METTL14-mediated upregulation of lncRNA HOTAIR represses PP1α expression by promoting H3K4me1 demethylation in oxycodone-treated mice. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14830. [PMID: 39046182 PMCID: PMC11267563 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14830] [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: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation is a vital epigenetic mechanism associated with drug addiction. However, the relationship between m6A modification and oxycodone rewarding is less well explored. Based on an open field test, the present study evaluated oxycodone rewarding using chromatin immunoprecipitation PCR, immunofluorescence, and RNA sequencing. A marked increase in METTL14 protein and a decrease in PP1α protein due to oxycodone abundance in the striatal neurons were observed in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Oxycodone markedly increased LSD1 expression, and decreased H3K4me1 expression in the striatum. In the open field test, intra-striatal injection of METTL14 siRNA, HOTAIR siRNA, or LSD1 shRNA blocked oxycodone-induced increase in locomotor activity. The downregulation of PP1α was also inhibited after treatment with METTL14/HOTAIR siRNA and LSD1 shRNA. Enhanced binding of LSD1 with CoRest and of CoRest with the PP1α gene induced by oxycodone was also reversed by LSD1 shRNA. In addition, H3K4me1 demethylation was also blocked by the treatment. In summary, the investigation confirmed that METTL14-mediated upregulation of HOTAIR resulted in the repression of PP1α, which in turn facilitated the recruitment of LSD1, thus catalyzing H3K4me1 demethylation and promoting oxycodone addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian‐Cong Liu
- Department of OtolaryngologyShengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Hong‐Xi Li
- Department of Pain ManagementShengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Yu‐Xiao Wan
- Department of AnesthesiologyShengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Guang Shi
- Department of NeurologyThe People's Hospital of Liaoning ProvinceShenyangChina
| | - Yun‐Peng Zhao
- Department of PharmacyShengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Yi‐Fei Liu
- Department of PharmacyShengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Xin‐Yu Fan
- Department of PharmacyShengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
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3
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Carvalho L, Lasek AW. It is not just about transcription: involvement of brain RNA splicing in substance use disorders. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2024; 131:495-503. [PMID: 38396082 PMCID: PMC11055753 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-024-02740-y] [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: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Alternative splicing is a co-transcriptional process that significantly contributes to the molecular landscape of the cell. It plays a multifaceted role in shaping gene transcription, protein diversity, and functional adaptability in response to environmental cues. Recent studies demonstrate that drugs of abuse have a profound impact on alternative splicing patterns within different brain regions. Drugs like alcohol and cocaine modify the expression of genes responsible for encoding splicing factors, thereby influencing alternative splicing of crucial genes involved in neurotransmission, neurogenesis, and neuroinflammation. Notable examples of these alterations include alcohol-induced changes in splicing factors such as HSPA6 and PCBP1, as well as cocaine's impact on PTBP1 and SRSF11. Beyond the immediate effects of drug exposure, recent research has shed light on the role of alternative splicing in contributing to the risk of substance use disorders (SUDs). This is exemplified by exon skipping events in key genes like ELOVL7, which can elevate the risk of alcohol use disorder. Lastly, drugs of abuse can induce splicing alterations through epigenetic modifications. For example, cocaine exposure leads to alterations in levels of trimethylated lysine 36 of histone H3, which exhibits a robust association with alternative splicing and serves as a reliable predictor for exon exclusion. In summary, alternative splicing has emerged as a critical player in the complex interplay between drugs of abuse and the brain, offering insights into the molecular underpinnings of SUDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Carvalho
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1220 E. Broad ST, Box 980613, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
| | - Amy W Lasek
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1220 E. Broad ST, Box 980613, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
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Mitchell B, Thor S, Piper M. Cellular and molecular functions of SETD2 in the central nervous system. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:jcs261406. [PMID: 37921122 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261406] [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] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The covalent modification of histones is critical for many biological functions in mammals, including gene regulation and chromatin structure. Posttranslational histone modifications are added and removed by specialised 'writer' and 'eraser' enzymes, respectively. One such writer protein implicated in a wide range of cellular processes is SET domain-containing 2 (SETD2), a histone methyltransferase that catalyses the trimethylation of lysine 36 on histone H3 (H3K36me3). Recently, SETD2 has also been found to modify proteins other than histones, including actin and tubulin. The emerging roles of SETD2 in the development and function of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) are of particular interest as several SETD2 variants have been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and the overgrowth disorder Luscan-Lumish syndrome. Here, we summarise the numerous roles of SETD2 in mammalian cellular functions and development, with a focus on the CNS. We also provide an overview of the consequences of SETD2 variants in human disease and discuss future directions for understanding essential cellular functions of SETD2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Mitchell
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Stefan Thor
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Michael Piper
- The School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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5
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Do HTT, Shanak S, Barghash A, Helms V. Differential exon usage of developmental genes is associated with deregulated epigenetic marks. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12256. [PMID: 37507411 PMCID: PMC10382575 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38879-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative exon usage is known to affect a large portion of genes in mammalian genomes. Importantly, different splice isoforms sometimes possess distinctly different protein functions. Here, we analyzed data from the Human Epigenome Atlas for 11 different human adult tissues and for 8 cultured cells that mimic early developmental stages. We found a significant enrichment of cases where differential usage of exons in various developmental stages of human cells and tissues is associated with differential epigenetic modifications in the flanking regions of individual exons. Many of the genes that were differentially regulated at the exon level and showed deregulated histone marks at the respective exon flanks are functionally associated with development and metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Siba Shanak
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Arab American University, Jenin, Palestine
| | - Ahmad Barghash
- Department of Computer Science, German Jordanian University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Volkhard Helms
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.
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6
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Marquardt S, Petrillo E, Manavella PA. Cotranscriptional RNA processing and modification in plants. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:1654-1670. [PMID: 36259932 PMCID: PMC10226594 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The activities of RNA polymerases shape the epigenetic landscape of genomes with profound consequences for genome integrity and gene expression. A fundamental event during the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression is the coordination between transcription and RNA processing. Most primary RNAs mature through various RNA processing and modification events to become fully functional. While pioneering results positioned RNA maturation steps after transcription ends, the coupling between the maturation of diverse RNA species and their transcription is becoming increasingly evident in plants. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the crosstalk between RNA Polymerase II, IV, and V transcription and nascent RNA processing of both coding and noncoding RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Marquardt
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Ezequiel Petrillo
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE-CONICET-UBA), Buenos Aires, C1428EHA, Argentina
| | - Pablo A Manavella
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Cátedra de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe 3000, Argentina
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7
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Koh E, Shin D, Kim KS. Exon definitive regions for MPC1 microexon splicing and its usage for splicing modulation. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 31:398-410. [PMID: 36817727 PMCID: PMC9929638 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing of microexons (3-30 base pairs [bp]) is involved in important biological processes in brain development and human cancers. However, understanding a splicing process of non-3x bp microexons is scarce. We showed that 4 bp microexon of mitochondrial pyruvate carrier1 (MPC1) is constitutively included in mRNA. Based on our studies with minigene and exon island constructs, we found the strong exon definition region in the proximal introns bordering MPC1 microexon. Ultimately, we defined a nucleotide fragment from the 3'ss 67 bp of MPC1 microexon to the 5'ss consensus sequence, as a core exon island, which can concatenate its microexon and neighboring exons by splicing. Furthermore, we showed that insertion of the core exon island into a target exon or intron induced skip the target exon or enhance the splicing of an adjacent exon, respectively. Collectively, we suggest that the exon island derived from MPC1 microexon modifies genuine splicing patterns depending on its position, thereby providing insights on strategies for splicing-mediated gene correction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunjin Koh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetic Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Daye Shin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetic Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Kyung-Sup Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetic Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea,Corresponding author: Kyung-Sup Kim, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetic Science, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea.
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8
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Lei J, Deng Y, Ma S. Downregulation of TGIF2 is possibly correlated with neuronal apoptosis and autism-like symptoms in mice. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2610. [PMID: 35592894 PMCID: PMC9226810 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND TGFB-induced factor homeobox 2 (TGIF2) has been reported to exert essential functions in brain development. This study aimed to elucidate the correlation of TGIF2 with autism, a neurodevelopmental condition which presents with severe communication problems. METHODS An autism-related gene expression dataset GSE36315 was used to analyze aberrantly expressed genes in autistic brain tissues. Maternal mice were treated with valproate (VPA), and their offspring were selected as model mice with autism. The functions of TGIF2 in autism-like symptoms in mice were examined by behavioral tests and histological examination of their hippocampal tissues. Mouse hippocampal neurons were extracted for in vitro studies. A gene set enrichment analysis was performed to analyze the signaling pathways involved, and the upstream factors influencing TGIF2 expression were explored in the ENCODE database and validated by ChIP-qPCR assays. RESULTS TGIF2 was poorly expressed in autistic patients in the GSE36315 dataset as well as in the temporal cortex tissues of autistic mice. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of TGIF2 suppressed autism-like symptoms and neuronal apoptosis in autistic mice. TGIF2 activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. TGIF2 could be regulated by monomethylation of histone H3 Lys4 (H3K4me1). The histone demethylase LSD1 was highly expressed in the tissues of autistic mice and bound to TGIF2 promoter, which was possibly responsible for TGIF2 downregulation. CONCLUSION This research suggests that the downregulation of TGIF2, possibly regulated by LSD1/H3K4me1, is correlated with neuronal apoptosis and development of autism in mice through the inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Lei
- Department of the Ninth Pediatrics, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital (the First-Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University), Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Yijue Deng
- Department of Graduate School, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Songdong Ma
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Pediatric Respirology, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital (the First-Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University), Changsha, P. R. China
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9
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Xu SJ, Lombroso SI, Fischer DK, Carpenter MD, Marchione DM, Hamilton PJ, Lim CJ, Neve RL, Garcia BA, Wimmer ME, Pierce RC, Heller EA. Chromatin-mediated alternative splicing regulates cocaine-reward behavior. Neuron 2021; 109:2943-2966.e8. [PMID: 34480866 PMCID: PMC8454057 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal alternative splicing is a key gene regulatory mechanism in the brain. However, the spliceosome machinery is insufficient to fully specify splicing complexity. In considering the role of the epigenome in activity-dependent alternative splicing, we and others find the histone modification H3K36me3 to be a putative splicing regulator. In this study, we found that mouse cocaine self-administration caused widespread differential alternative splicing, concomitant with the enrichment of H3K36me3 at differentially spliced junctions. Importantly, only targeted epigenetic editing can distinguish between a direct role of H3K36me3 in splicing and an indirect role via regulation of splice factor expression elsewhere on the genome. We targeted Srsf11, which was both alternatively spliced and H3K36me3 enriched in the brain following cocaine self-administration. Epigenetic editing of H3K36me3 at Srsf11 was sufficient to drive its alternative splicing and enhanced cocaine self-administration, establishing the direct causal relevance of H3K36me3 to alternative splicing of Srsf11 and to reward behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song-Jun Xu
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sonia I Lombroso
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Delaney K Fischer
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Marco D Carpenter
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Dylan M Marchione
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Peter J Hamilton
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Carissa J Lim
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Rachel L Neve
- Gene Delivery Technology Core, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mathieu E Wimmer
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19121, USA
| | - R Christopher Pierce
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Heller
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA,19104, USA; Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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10
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Bali P, Kenny PJ. Gene splicing SETs the scene for cocaine addiction. Neuron 2021; 109:2802-2804. [PMID: 34534452 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.08.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine triggers gene splicing in brain reward circuits, but the mechanisms and importance of this response are unclear. In this issue of Neuron, Xu et al. (2021) show that the histone modification H3K36me3 marks genes spliced in response to cocaine and, using epigenome editing, establish a causal relationship between gene splicing and addiction-related behavioral responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Purva Bali
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
| | - Paul J Kenny
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA.
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11
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Zhang Y, Cai Y, Roca X, Kwoh CK, Fullwood MJ. Chromatin loop anchors predict transcript and exon usage. Brief Bioinform 2021; 22:6319936. [PMID: 34263910 PMCID: PMC8575016 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbab254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenomics and transcriptomics data from high-throughput sequencing techniques such as RNA-seq and ChIP-seq have been successfully applied in predicting gene transcript expression. However, the locations of chromatin loops in the genome identified by techniques such as Chromatin Interaction Analysis with Paired End Tag sequencing (ChIA-PET) have never been used for prediction tasks. Here, we developed machine learning models to investigate if ChIA-PET could contribute to transcript and exon usage prediction. In doing so, we used a large set of transcription factors as well as ChIA-PET data. We developed different Gradient Boosting Trees models according to the different tasks with the integrated datasets from three cell lines, including GM12878, HeLaS3 and K562. We validated the models via 10-fold cross validation, chromosome-split validation and cross-cell validation. Our results show that both transcript and splicing-derived exon usage can be effectively predicted with at least 0.7512 and 0.7459 of accuracy, respectively, on all cell lines from all kinds of validations. Examining the predictive features, we found that RNA Polymerase II ChIA-PET was one of the most important features in both transcript and exon usage prediction, suggesting that chromatin loop anchors are predictive of both transcript and exon usage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Yichao Cai
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Dr, Singapore 117599, Singapore
| | - Xavier Roca
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Dr, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Chee Keong Kwoh
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Melissa Jane Fullwood
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Dr, Singapore 117599, Singapore.,School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 637551, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Dr, Singapore 138673, Singapore
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12
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Hu Q, Greene CS, Heller EA. Specific histone modifications associate with alternative exon selection during mammalian development. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:4709-4724. [PMID: 32319526 PMCID: PMC7229819 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is frequent during early mouse embryonic development. Specific histone post-translational modifications (hPTMs) have been shown to regulate exon splicing by either directly recruiting splice machinery or indirectly modulating transcriptional elongation. In this study, we hypothesized that hPTMs regulate expression of alternatively spliced genes for specific processes during differentiation. To address this notion, we applied an innovative machine learning approach to relate global hPTM enrichment to AS regulation during mammalian tissue development. We found that specific hPTMs, H3K36me3 and H3K4me1, play a role in skipped exon selection among all the tissues and developmental time points examined. In addition, we used iterative random forest model and found that interactions of multiple hPTMs most strongly predicted splicing when they included H3K36me3 and H3K4me1. Collectively, our data demonstrated a link between hPTMs and alternative splicing which will drive further experimental studies on the functional relevance of these modifications to alternative splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiwen Hu
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Casey S Greene
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Heller
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Jabre I, Reddy ASN, Kalyna M, Chaudhary S, Khokhar W, Byrne LJ, Wilson CM, Syed NH. Does co-transcriptional regulation of alternative splicing mediate plant stress responses? Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:2716-2726. [PMID: 30793202 PMCID: PMC6451118 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants display exquisite control over gene expression to elicit appropriate responses under normal and stress conditions. Alternative splicing (AS) of pre-mRNAs, a process that generates two or more transcripts from multi-exon genes, adds another layer of regulation to fine-tune condition-specific gene expression in animals and plants. However, exactly how plants control splice isoform ratios and the timing of this regulation in response to environmental signals remains elusive. In mammals, recent evidence indicate that epigenetic and epitranscriptome changes, such as DNA methylation, chromatin modifications and RNA methylation, regulate RNA polymerase II processivity, co-transcriptional splicing, and stability and translation efficiency of splice isoforms. In plants, the role of epigenetic modifications in regulating transcription rate and mRNA abundance under stress is beginning to emerge. However, the mechanisms by which epigenetic and epitranscriptomic modifications regulate AS and translation efficiency require further research. Dynamic changes in the chromatin landscape in response to stress may provide a scaffold around which gene expression, AS and translation are orchestrated. Finally, we discuss CRISPR/Cas-based strategies for engineering chromatin architecture to manipulate AS patterns (or splice isoforms levels) to obtain insight into the epigenetic regulation of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibtissam Jabre
- School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK
| | - Anireddy S N Reddy
- Department of Biology and Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1878, USA
| | - Maria Kalyna
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences - BOKU, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Saurabh Chaudhary
- School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK
| | - Waqas Khokhar
- School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK
| | - Lee J Byrne
- School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK
| | - Cornelia M Wilson
- School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK
| | - Naeem H Syed
- School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK
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Lopez Soto EJ, Gandal MJ, Gonatopoulos-Pournatzis T, Heller EA, Luo D, Zheng S. Mechanisms of Neuronal Alternative Splicing and Strategies for Therapeutic Interventions. J Neurosci 2019; 39:8193-8199. [PMID: 31619487 PMCID: PMC6794923 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1149-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Many cellular and physiological processes are coordinated by regulatory networks that produce a remarkable complexity of transcript isoforms. In the mammalian nervous system, alternative pre-mRNA splicing generates functionally distinct isoforms that play key roles in normal physiology, supporting development, plasticity, complex behaviors, and cognition. Neuronal splicing programs controlled by RNA-binding proteins, are influenced by chromatin modifications and can exhibit neuronal subtype specificity. As highlighted in recent publications, aberrant alternative splicing is a major contributor to disease phenotypes. Therefore, understanding the underlying mechanisms of alternative splicing regulation and identifying functional splicing isoforms with critical phenotypic roles are expected to provide a comprehensive resource for therapeutic development, as illuminated by recent successful interventions of spinal muscular atrophy. Here, we discuss the latest progress in the study of the emerging complexity of alternative splicing mechanisms in neurons, and how these findings inform new therapies to correct and control splicing defects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael J Gandal
- Department of Psychiatry, Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | | | - Elizabeth A Heller
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-5158
| | - Diou Luo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, and
| | - Sika Zheng
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California at Riverside, Riverside, California 92521
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15
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The elongation factor Elof1 is required for mammalian gastrulation. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219410. [PMID: 31276560 PMCID: PMC6611630 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite having been sequenced over a decade ago, the functional significance of much of the mammalian genome remains unknown. The mouse has become the preeminent mammalian model for identifying endogenous gene function in vivo. Here we characterize the phenotype of a loss-of function allele for the evolutionarily conserved transcription factor, Elongation Factor Homolog 1 (Elof1). Recent work utilizing the yeast homolog, Elf1, has demonstrated that Elf1 associates with the RNA polymerase II complex to promote elongation by relieving the association of the template DNA strand with bound histones. Loss of Elof1 results in developmental delay and morphological defects during early mouse development resulting in peri-gastrulation lethality. Although Elof1 is highly conserved we observe tissue specific expression during gastrulation and in adult murine tissues, suggesting there may be other genes with similar function in diverse tissues or that mElof1 has adopted lineage specific functions. To better understand its function in mammalian transcription, we examined splice variants and find that Elof1 regulates mutually exclusive exon use in vivo. Distinct from what has been demonstrated in yeast, we demonstrate that Elof1 is essential for viability during mammalian gastrulation which may be due to a role mediating tissue specific exclusive exon use, a regulatory function unique to higher eukaryotes.
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Xu SJ, Heller EA. Recent advances in neuroepigenetic editing. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2019; 59:26-33. [PMID: 31015104 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2019.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
A wealth of studies in the mammalian nervous system indicate the role of epigenetic gene regulation in both basic neurobiological function and disease. However, the relationship between epigenetic regulation and neuropathology is largely correlational due to the presence of mixed cell populations within brain regions and the genome-wide effects of classical approaches to manipulate the epigenome. Locus-specific epigenetic editing allows direct epigenetic regulation of specific genes to elucidate the direct causal relationship between epigenetic modifications and transcription. This review discusses some of the latest innovations in the efficacy and flexibility in this approach that hold promise for neurobiological application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song-Jun Xu
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Heller
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics and Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Lipscombe D, Lopez Soto EJ. Alternative splicing of neuronal genes: new mechanisms and new therapies. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2019; 57:26-31. [PMID: 30703685 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Dynamic changes in alternative splicing during the life cycle of neurons support development and plasticity, and are implicated in disease pathology. Cell-specific alternative splicing programs coordinate exon selection across networks of functionally connected genes. In this opinion piece, we highlight recent publications that identify some of the molecular mechanisms-RNA and DNA binding proteins and epigenetic modifications-which direct cell-specific exon selection during pre-mRNA splicing. Aberrant splicing patterns are signature features of a growing number of diseases of the nervous system. Recent publications demonstrate the value of delineating basic mechanisms that dictate exon choice to inform the development of new therapeutic strategies that correct or compensate for damaging deficits in alternative splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane Lipscombe
- Robert J and Nancy D Carney Institute for Brain Science, Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
| | - Eduardo Javier Lopez Soto
- Robert J and Nancy D Carney Institute for Brain Science, Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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Xu SJ, Heller EA. Single sample sequencing (S3EQ) of epigenome and transcriptome in nucleus accumbens. J Neurosci Methods 2018; 308:62-73. [PMID: 30031009 PMCID: PMC6296235 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High-throughput sequencing has been widely applied to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders. The large body of data support the role of epigenetic mechanisms in neurological function of both human and animals. Yet, the existing data is limited by the fact that epigenetic and transcriptomic changes have only been measured in separate cohorts. This has limited precise correlation of epigenetic changes in gene expression. NEW METHOD Single Sample Sequencing (S3EQ) is an innovative approach to analyze both epigenetic and transcriptomic regulation within a single neuronal sample. Using this method, we analyzed chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)- and RNA-sequencing data from the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of the same animal. RESULTS ChIP-S3EQ of neuronal nuclei reliably identified hPTM enrichment in the adult mouse NAc with high precision. Comparing cellular compartments, we found that the spliceosome of whole cell RNA-seq was more closely recapitulated by cytosolic RNA-S3EQ than nuclear RNA-seq. Finally, S3EQ showed increased sensitivity for correlating chromatin modifications with gene expression, especially for lowly expressed transcripts. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS S3EQ accurately generates both RNA- and ChIP-seq from a single sample, providing a clear advantage over existing methods which require two samples. ChIP-S3EQ performance was comparable to ChIP-seq, while RNA-S3EQ generated an almost identical expression profile to nuclear-enriched and whole cell RNA-seq. Finally, we directly compared RNA-seq by cellular compartments, addressing a limitation of RNA-seq studies limited to neuronal nuclei. CONCLUSION The S3EQ method can be applied to improve the correlative power of transcriptomic and epigenomic studies in neuronal tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Xu
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - E A Heller
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics and Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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De Sa Nogueira D, Merienne K, Befort K. Neuroepigenetics and addictive behaviors: Where do we stand? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 106:58-72. [PMID: 30205119 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 07/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Substance use disorders involve long-term changes in the brain that lead to compulsive drug seeking, craving, and a high probability of relapse. Recent findings have highlighted the role of epigenetic regulations in controlling chromatin access and regulation of gene expression following exposure to drugs of abuse. In the present review, we focus on data investigating genome-wide epigenetic modifications in the brain of addicted patients or in rodent models exposed to drugs of abuse, with a particular focus on DNA methylation and histone modifications associated with transcriptional studies. We highlight critical factors for epigenomic studies in addiction. We discuss new findings related to psychostimulants, alcohol, opiate, nicotine and cannabinoids. We examine the possible transmission of these changes across generations. We highlight developing tools, specifically those that allow investigation of structural reorganization of the chromatin. These have the potential to increase our understanding of alteration of chromatin architecture at gene regulatory regions. Neuroepigenetic mechanisms involved in addictive behaviors could explain persistent phenotypic effects of drugs and, in particular, vulnerability to relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- David De Sa Nogueira
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Team 3 « Abuse of Drugs and Neuroadaptations », Faculté de Psychologie, 12 rue Goethe, F-67000, France
| | - Karine Merienne
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Team 1 « Dynamics of Memory and Epigenetics », Faculté de Psychologie, 12 rue Goethe, F-67000, France
| | - Katia Befort
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), UMR 7364, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Team 3 « Abuse of Drugs and Neuroadaptations », Faculté de Psychologie, 12 rue Goethe, F-67000, France.
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Role of epigenetic factors in the selection of the alternative splicing isoforms of human KRAS in colorectal cancer cell lines. Oncotarget 2018; 9:20578-20589. [PMID: 29755673 PMCID: PMC5945503 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutation-driven activation of KRAS is crucial to cancer development. The human gene yields four mRNA splicing isoforms, 4A and 4B being translated to protein. Their different properties and oncogenic potential have been studied, but the mechanisms deciding the ratio 4A/4B are not known. To address this issue, the expression of the four KRAS isoforms was determined in 9 human colorectal cancer cell lines. HCT116 and SW48 were further selected because they present the highest difference in the ratio 4A/4B (twice as much in HCT116 than in SW48). Chromatin structure was analysed at the exon 4A, characteristic of isoform 4A, at its intronic borders and at the two flanking exons. The low nucleosome occupancy at exon 4A in both cell lines may result in a fast transcriptional rate, which would explain the general lower abundance of isoform 4A, also found in cells and tissues by other authors, but due to its similarity between both cell lines, chromatin structure does not influence alternative splicing. DNA methylation downstream exon 4A significantly differs in HCT116 and SW48 cells, but the CCCTC-binding factor, which affects the processivity of RNA polymerase and the alternative splicing, does not bind the differentially methylated sequences. Quantitative epigenetic analysis at mononucleosomal level revealed significant differences between both cell lines in H3K4me3, H3K27me3, H3K36me3, H3K9ac, H3K27ac and H4K20me1, and the inhibition of some histone-modifying enzymes alters the ratio 4A/4B. It can be concluded that the epigenetic modification of histones has an influence on the selection of isoforms 4A and 4B.
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