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Abbas A, Hammad AS, Al-Shafai M. The role of genetic and epigenetic GNAS alterations in the development of early-onset obesity. MUTATION RESEARCH. REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH 2024; 793:108487. [PMID: 38103632 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2023.108487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND GNAS (guanine nucleotide-binding protein, alpha stimulating) is an imprinted gene that encodes Gsα, the α subunit of the heterotrimeric stimulatory G protein. This subunit mediates the signalling of a diverse array of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) that serves a pivotal role in regulating food intake, energy homoeostasis, and body weight. Genetic or epigenetic alterations in GNAS are known to cause pseudohypoparathyroidism in its different subtypes and have been recently associated with isolated, early-onset, severe obesity. Given the diverse biological functions that Gsα serves, multiple molecular mechanisms involving various GPCRs, such as MC4R, β2- and β3-adrenoceptors, and corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor, have been implicated in the pathophysiology of severe, early-onset obesity that results from genetic or epigenetic GNAS changes. SCOPE OF REVIEW This review examines the structure and function of GNAS and provides an overview of the disorders that are caused by defects in this gene and may feature early-onset obesity. Moreover, it elucidates the potential molecular mechanisms underlying Gsα deficiency-induced early-onset obesity, highlighting some of their implications for the diagnosis, management, and treatment of this complex condition. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS Gsα deficiency is an underappreciated cause of early-onset, severe obesity. Therefore, screening children with unexplained, severe obesity for GNAS defects is recommended, to enhance the molecular diagnosis and management of this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaa Abbas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ayat S Hammad
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar; Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mashael Al-Shafai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar; Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.
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2
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Morselli Gysi D, Barabási AL. Noncoding RNAs improve the predictive power of network medicine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2301342120. [PMID: 37906646 PMCID: PMC10636370 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2301342120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Network medicine has improved the mechanistic understanding of disease, offering quantitative insights into disease mechanisms, comorbidities, and novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic treatments. Yet, most network-based approaches rely on a comprehensive map of protein-protein interactions (PPI), ignoring interactions mediated by noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). Here, we systematically combine experimentally confirmed binding interactions mediated by ncRNA with PPI, constructing a comprehensive network of all physical interactions in the human cell. We find that the inclusion of ncRNA expands the number of genes in the interactome by 46% and the number of interactions by 107%, significantly enhancing our ability to identify disease modules. Indeed, we find that 132 diseases lacked a statistically significant disease module in the protein-based interactome but have a statistically significant disease module after inclusion of ncRNA-mediated interactions, making these diseases accessible to the tools of network medicine. We show that the inclusion of ncRNAs helps unveil disease-disease relationships that were not detectable before and expands our ability to predict comorbidity patterns between diseases. Taken together, we find that including noncoding interactions improves both the breath and the predictive accuracy of network medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deisy Morselli Gysi
- Network Science Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA02115
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- US Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA02130
| | - Albert-László Barabási
- Network Science Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA02115
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- US Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA02130
- Department of Network and Data Science, Central European University, Budapest1051, Hungary
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3
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Di Michele F, Chillón I, Feil R. Imprinted Long Non-Coding RNAs in Mammalian Development and Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13647. [PMID: 37686455 PMCID: PMC10487962 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Imprinted genes play diverse roles in mammalian development, homeostasis, and disease. Most imprinted chromosomal domains express one or more long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Several of these lncRNAs are strictly nuclear and their mono-allelic expression controls in cis the expression of protein-coding genes, often developmentally regulated. Some imprinted lncRNAs act in trans as well, controlling target gene expression elsewhere in the genome. The regulation of imprinted gene expression-including that of imprinted lncRNAs-is susceptible to stochastic and environmentally triggered epigenetic changes in the early embryo. These aberrant changes persist during subsequent development and have long-term phenotypic consequences. This review focuses on the expression and the cis- and trans-regulatory roles of imprinted lncRNAs and describes human disease syndromes associated with their perturbed expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavio Di Michele
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM), CNRS, 1919 Route de Mende, 34093 Montpellier, France
- University of Montpellier, 163 Rue Auguste Broussonnet, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Isabel Chillón
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM), CNRS, 1919 Route de Mende, 34093 Montpellier, France
- University of Montpellier, 163 Rue Auguste Broussonnet, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Robert Feil
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM), CNRS, 1919 Route de Mende, 34093 Montpellier, France
- University of Montpellier, 163 Rue Auguste Broussonnet, 34090 Montpellier, France
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Wang SE, Jiang YH. Novel epigenetic molecular therapies for imprinting disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3182-3193. [PMID: 37626134 PMCID: PMC10618104 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02208-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Genomic imprinting disorders are caused by the disruption of genomic imprinting processes leading to a deficit or increase of an active allele. Their unique molecular mechanisms underlying imprinted genes offer an opportunity to investigate epigenetic-based therapy for reactivation of an inactive allele or reduction of an active allele. Current treatments are based on managing symptoms, not targeting the molecular mechanisms underlying imprinting disorders. Here, we highlight molecular approaches of therapeutic candidates in preclinical and clinical studies for individual imprinting disorders. These include the significant progress of discovery and testing of small molecules, antisense oligonucleotides, and CRISPR mediated genome editing approaches as new therapeutic strategies. We discuss the significant challenges of translating these promising therapies from the preclinical stage to the clinic, especially for genome editing based approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Eun Wang
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Yong-Hui Jiang
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
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LncRNA GNAS-AS1 knockdown inhibits keloid cells growth by mediating the miR-188-5p/RUNX2 axis. Mol Cell Biochem 2022; 478:707-719. [PMID: 36036334 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-022-04538-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Keloid is a common dermis tumor, occurring repeatedly, affecting the quality of patients' life. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have crucial regulatory capacities in skin scarring formation and subsequent scar carcinogenesis. The intention of this study was to investigate the mechanism and function of GNAS antisense-1 (GNAS-AS1) in keloids. Clinical samples were collected to evaluate the expression of GNAS-AS1, RUNX2, and miR-188-5p by qRT-PCR. The proliferation, migration, and invasion of HKF cells were detected by CCK-8, wound healing, and Transwell assays. The expression levels of mRNA and protein were examined through qRT-PCR and Western blot assay. Luciferase reporter assay was used to identify the binding relationship among GNAS-AS1, miR-188-5p, and Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). GNAS-AS1 and RUNX2 expressions were remarkably enhanced, and miR-188-5p expression was decreased in keloid clinical tissues and HKF cells. GNAS-AS1 overexpression promoted cells proliferation, migration, and invasion, while GNAS-AS1 knockdown had the opposite trend. Furthermore, overexpression of GNAS-AS1 reversed the inhibitory effect of 5-FU on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. MiR-188-5p inhibition or RUNX2 overexpression could enhance the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HKF cells. GNAS-AS1 targeted miR-188-5p to regulate RUNX2 expression. In addition, the inhibition effects of GNAS-AS1 knockdown on HKF cells could be reversed by inhibition of miR-188-5p or overexpression of RUNX2, while RUNX2 overexpression eliminated the suppressive efficaciousness of miR-188-5p mimics on HKF cells growth. GNAS-AS1 knockdown could regulate the miR-188-5p/RUNX2 signaling axis to inhibit the growth and migration in keloid cells. It is suggested that GNAS-AS1 may become a new target for the prevention and treatment of keloid.
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Milioto A, Reyes M, Hanna P, Kiuchi Z, Turan S, Zeve D, Agarwal C, Grigelioniene G, Chen A, Mericq V, Frangos M, Ten S, Mantovani G, Salusky IB, Tebben P, Jüppner H. Lack of GNAS Remethylation During Oogenesis May Be a Cause of Sporadic Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type Ib. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022; 107:e1610-e1619. [PMID: 34791361 PMCID: PMC8947795 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib (PHP1B) is characterized by hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia due to parathyroid hormone resistance in the proximal renal tubules. Maternal pathogenic STX16/GNAS variants leading to maternal epigenetic GNAS changes impair expression of the stimulatory G protein alpha-subunit (Gsα) thereby causing autosomal dominant PHP1B. In contrast, genetic defects responsible for sporadic PHP1B (sporPHP1B) remain mostly unknown. OBJECTIVE Determine whether PHP1B encountered after in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) causes GNAS remethylation defects similar to those in sporPHP1B. DESIGN Retrospective analysis. RESULTS Nine among 36 sporPHP1B patients investigated since 2000, all with loss of methylation (LOM) at the 3 maternal GNAS differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and gain of methylation at the paternal NESP DMR, had been conceived through IVF or ICSI. Besides abnormal GNAS methylation, IVF/ICSI PHP1B cases revealed no additional imprinting defects. Three of these PHP1B patients have dizygotic twins, and 4 have IVF/ICSI-conceived siblings, all with normal GNAS methylation; 2 unaffected younger siblings were conceived naturally. CONCLUSION Sporadic and IVF/ICSI-conceived PHP1B patients revealed indistinguishable epigenetic changes at all 4 GNAS DMRs, thus suggesting a similar underlying disease mechanism. Given that remethylation at the 3 maternal DMRs occurs during oogenesis, male factors are unlikely to cause LOM postfertilization. Instead, at least some of the sporPHP1B variants could be caused by a defect or defects in an oocyte-expressed gene that is required for fertility and for re-establishing maternal GNAS methylation imprints. It remains uncertain, however, whether the lack of GNAS remethylation alone and the resulting reduction in Gsα expression is sufficient to impair oocyte maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Milioto
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Monica Reyes
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patrick Hanna
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zentaro Kiuchi
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Serap Turan
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Daniel Zeve
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Giedre Grigelioniene
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, and Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ang Chen
- Any Chen, Arizona Kidney Disease and Hypertension Center, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Veronica Mericq
- Institute of Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Svetlana Ten
- Consultant of Pediatric Endocrinology, Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island, NY, USA
| | - Giovanna Mantovani
- Endocrinology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Isidro B Salusky
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Peter Tebben
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Harald Jüppner
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Ishihara T, Griffith OW, Suzuki S, Renfree MB. Presence of H3K4me3 on Paternally Expressed Genes of the Paternal Genome From Sperm to Implantation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:838684. [PMID: 35359448 PMCID: PMC8960379 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.838684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic imprinting, parent-of-origin-specific gene expression, is controlled by differential epigenetic status of the parental chromosomes. While DNA methylation and suppressive histone modifications established during gametogenesis suppress imprinted genes on the inactive allele, how and when the expressed allele gains its active status is not clear. In this study, we asked whether the active histone-3 lysine-4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) marks remain at paternally expressed genes (PEGs) in sperm and embryos before and after fertilization using published data. Here we show that mouse sperm had the active H3K4me3 at more than half of known PEGs, and these genes were present even after fertilization. Using reciprocal cross data, we identified 13 new transient PEGs during zygotic genome activation. Next, we confirmed that the 12 out of the 13 new transient PEGs were associated with the paternal H3K4me3 in sperm. Nine out of the 12 genes were associated with the paternal H3K4me3 in zygotes. Our results show that paternal H3K4me3 marks escape inactivation during the histone-to-protamine transition that occurs during sperm maturation and are present in embryos from early zygotic stages up to implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teruhito Ishihara
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Oliver W. Griffith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Shunsuke Suzuki
- Department of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan
| | - Marilyn B. Renfree
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- *Correspondence: Marilyn B. Renfree,
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Cain JA, Montibus B, Oakey RJ. Intragenic CpG Islands and Their Impact on Gene Regulation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:832348. [PMID: 35223855 PMCID: PMC8873577 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.832348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian genome is depleted in CG dinucleotides, except at protected regions where they cluster as CpG islands (CGIs). CGIs are gene regulatory hubs and serve as transcription initiation sites and are as expected, associated with gene promoters. Advances in genomic annotations demonstrate that a quarter of CGIs are found within genes. Such intragenic regions are repressive environments, so it is surprising that CGIs reside here and even more surprising that some resist repression and are transcriptionally active within a gene. Hence, intragenic CGI positioning within genes is not arbitrary and is instead, selected for. As a wealth of recent studies demonstrate, intragenic CGIs are embedded within genes and consequently, influence ‘host’ gene mRNA isoform length and expand transcriptome diversity.
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Genetic Studies on Mammalian DNA Methyltransferases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1389:111-136. [PMID: 36350508 PMCID: PMC9815518 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-11454-0_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Cytosine methylation at the C5-position-generating 5-methylcytosine (5mC)-is a DNA modification found in many eukaryotic organisms, including fungi, plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates, albeit its levels vary greatly in different organisms. In mammals, cytosine methylation occurs predominantly in the context of CpG dinucleotides, with the majority (60-80%) of CpG sites in their genomes being methylated. DNA methylation plays crucial roles in the regulation of chromatin structure and gene expression and is essential for mammalian development. Aberrant changes in DNA methylation and genetic alterations in enzymes and regulators involved in DNA methylation are associated with various human diseases, including cancer and developmental disorders. In mammals, DNA methylation is mediated by two families of DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts), namely Dnmt1 and Dnmt3 proteins. Over the last three decades, genetic manipulations of these enzymes, as well as their regulators, in mice have greatly contributed to our understanding of the biological functions of DNA methylation in mammals. In this chapter, we discuss genetic studies on mammalian Dnmts, focusing on their roles in embryogenesis, cellular differentiation, genomic imprinting, and human diseases.
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Dong Y, Lyu L, Wen H, Shi B. Brain and Pituitary Transcriptome Analyses Reveal the Differential Regulation of Reproduction-Related LncRNAs and mRNAs in Cynoglossus semilaevis. Front Genet 2021; 12:802953. [PMID: 34956338 PMCID: PMC8696122 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.802953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified to be involved in half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) reproduction. However, studies of their roles in reproduction have focused mainly on the ovary, and their expression patterns and potential roles in the brain and pituitary are unclear. Thus, to explore the mRNAs and lncRNAs that are closely associated with reproduction in the brain and pituitary, we collected tongue sole brain and pituitary tissues at three stages for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), the 5,135 and 5,630 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs and 378 and 532 DE lncRNAs were identified in the brain and pituitary, respectively. The RNA-seq results were verified by RT-qPCR. Moreover, enrichment analyses were performed to analyze the functions of DE mRNAs and lncRNAs. Interestingly, their involvement in pathways related to metabolism, signal transduction and endocrine signaling was revealed. LncRNA-target gene interaction networks were constructed based on antisense, cis and trans regulatory mechanisms. Moreover, we constructed competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. In summary, this study provides mRNA and lncRNA expression profiles in the brain and pituitary to understand the molecular mechanisms regulating tongue sole reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yani Dong
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Ocean Unversity of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Likang Lyu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Ocean Unversity of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Haishen Wen
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Ocean Unversity of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Bao Shi
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Fisheries and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
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11
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Andergassen D, Smith ZD, Kretzmer H, Rinn JL, Meissner A. Diverse epigenetic mechanisms maintain parental imprints within the embryonic and extraembryonic lineages. Dev Cell 2021; 56:2995-3005.e4. [PMID: 34752748 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Genomic imprinting and X chromosome inactivation (XCI) require epigenetic mechanisms to encode allele-specific expression, but how these specific tasks are accomplished at single loci or across chromosomal scales remains incompletely understood. Here, we systematically disrupt essential epigenetic pathways within polymorphic embryos in order to examine canonical and non-canonical genomic imprinting as well as XCI. We find that DNA methylation and Polycomb group repressors are indispensable for autosomal imprinting, albeit at distinct gene sets. Moreover, the extraembryonic ectoderm relies on a broader spectrum of imprinting mechanisms, including non-canonical targeting of maternal endogenous retrovirus (ERV)-driven promoters by the H3K9 methyltransferase G9a. We further identify Polycomb-dependent and -independent gene clusters on the imprinted X chromosome, which appear to reflect distinct domains of Xist-mediated suppression. From our data, we assemble a comprehensive inventory of the epigenetic pathways that maintain parent-specific imprinting in eutherian mammals, including an expanded view of the placental lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Andergassen
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Technical University Munich (TUM), Munich 80802, Germany
| | - Zachary D Smith
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Yale Stem Cell Center, Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
| | - Helene Kretzmer
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - John L Rinn
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder 80303, USA
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin 14195, Germany; Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin 14195, Germany.
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12
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Danzig J, Li D, Jan de Beur S, Levine MA. High-throughput Molecular Analysis of Pseudohypoparathyroidism 1b Patients Reveals Novel Genetic and Epigenetic Defects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:e4603-e4620. [PMID: 34157100 PMCID: PMC8677598 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1b (PHP1b) show disordered imprinting of the maternal GNAS allele or paternal uniparental disomy (UPD). Genetic deletions in STX16 or in upstream exons of GNAS are present in many familial but not sporadic cases. OBJECTIVE Characterization of epigenetic and genetic defects in patients with PHP1b. DESIGN AND PATIENTS DNA from 84 subjects, including 26 subjects with sporadic PHP1b, 27 affected subjects and 17 unaffected and/or obligate gene carriers from 12 PHP1b families, 11 healthy individuals, and 3 subjects with PHP1a was subjected to quantitative pyrosequencing of GNAS differentially methylated regions (DMRs), microarray analysis, and microsatellite haplotype analysis. SETTING Academic medical center. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Molecular pathology of PHP1b. RESULTS Healthy subjects, unaffected family members and obligate carriers of paternal PHP1b alleles, and subjects with PHP1a showed normal methylation of all DMRs. All PHP1b subjects showed loss of methylation (LOM) at the exon A/B DMR. Affected members of 9 PHP1b kindreds showed LOM only at the exon A/B DMR, which was associated with a 3-kb deletion of STX16 exons 4 through 6 in 7 families and a novel deletion of STX16 and adjacent NEPEPL1 in 1 family. A novel NESP deletion was found in 1 of 2 other families with more extensive methylation defects. One sporadic PHP1b had UPD of 20q, 2 had 3-kb STX16 deletions, and 5 had apparent epigenetic mosaicism. CONCLUSIONS We found diverse patterns of defective methylation and identified novel or previously known mutations in 9 of 12 PHP1b families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Danzig
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Dong Li
- Center for Applied Genomics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Suzanne Jan de Beur
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Michael A Levine
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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13
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Kobayashi H. Canonical and Non-canonical Genomic Imprinting in Rodents. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:713878. [PMID: 34422832 PMCID: PMC8375499 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.713878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon that results in unequal expression of homologous maternal and paternal alleles. This process is initiated in the germline, and the parental epigenetic memories can be maintained following fertilization and induce further allele-specific transcription and chromatin modifications of single or multiple neighboring genes, known as imprinted genes. To date, more than 260 imprinted genes have been identified in the mouse genome, most of which are controlled by imprinted germline differentially methylated regions (gDMRs) that exhibit parent-of-origin specific DNA methylation, which is considered primary imprint. Recent studies provide evidence that a subset of gDMR-less, placenta-specific imprinted genes is controlled by maternal-derived histone modifications. To further understand DNA methylation-dependent (canonical) and -independent (non-canonical) imprints, this review summarizes the loci under the control of each type of imprinting in the mouse and compares them with the respective homologs in other rodents. Understanding epigenetic systems that differ among loci or species may provide new models for exploring genetic regulation and evolutionary divergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisato Kobayashi
- Department of Embryology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
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Exploring chromatin structural roles of non-coding RNAs at imprinted domains. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:1867-1879. [PMID: 34338292 PMCID: PMC8421051 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Different classes of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) influence the organization of chromatin. Imprinted gene domains constitute a paradigm for exploring functional long ncRNAs (lncRNAs). Almost all express an lncRNA in a parent-of-origin dependent manner. The mono-allelic expression of these lncRNAs represses close by and distant protein-coding genes, through diverse mechanisms. Some control genes on other chromosomes as well. Interestingly, several imprinted chromosomal domains show a developmentally regulated, chromatin-based mechanism of imprinting with apparent similarities to X-chromosome inactivation. At these domains, the mono-allelic lncRNAs show a relatively stable, focal accumulation in cis. This facilitates the recruitment of Polycomb repressive complexes, lysine methyltranferases and other nuclear proteins — in part through direct RNA–protein interactions. Recent chromosome conformation capture and microscopy studies indicate that the focal aggregation of lncRNA and interacting proteins could play an architectural role as well, and correlates with close positioning of target genes. Higher-order chromatin structure is strongly influenced by CTCF/cohesin complexes, whose allelic association patterns and actions may be influenced by lncRNAs as well. Here, we review the gene-repressive roles of imprinted non-coding RNAs, particularly of lncRNAs, and discuss emerging links with chromatin architecture.
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Cui Q, Aksu C, Ay B, Remillard CE, Plagge A, Gardezi M, Dunlap M, Gerstenfeld LC, He Q, Bastepe M. Maternal GNAS Contributes to the Extra-Large G Protein α-Subunit (XLαs) Expression in a Cell Type-Specific Manner. Front Genet 2021; 12:680537. [PMID: 34220953 PMCID: PMC8247768 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.680537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
GNAS encodes the stimulatory G protein alpha-subunit (Gsα) and its large variant XLαs. Studies have suggested that XLαs is expressed exclusively paternally. Thus, XLαs deficiency is considered to be responsible for certain findings in patients with paternal GNAS mutations, such as pseudo-pseudohypoparathyroidism, and the phenotypes associated with maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 20, which comprises GNAS. However, a study of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) suggested that XLαs could be biallelically expressed. Aberrant BMSC differentiation due to constitutively activating GNAS mutations affecting both Gsα and XLαs is the underlying pathology in fibrous dysplasia of bone. To investigate allelic XLαs expression, we employed next-generation sequencing and a polymorphism common to XLαs and Gsα, as well as A/B, another paternally expressed GNAS transcript. In mouse BMSCs, Gsα transcripts were 48.4 ± 0.3% paternal, while A/B was 99.8 ± 0.2% paternal. In contrast, XLαs expression varied among different samples, paternal contribution ranging from 43.0 to 99.9%. Sample-to-sample variation in paternal XLαs expression was also detected in bone (83.7-99.6%) and cerebellum (83.8 to 100%) but not in cultured calvarial osteoblasts (99.1 ± 0.1%). Osteoblastic differentiation of BMSCs shifted the paternal XLαs expression from 83.9 ± 1.5% at baseline to 97.2 ± 1.1%. In two human BMSC samples grown under osteoinductive conditions, XLαs expression was also predominantly monoallelic (91.3 or 99.6%). Thus, the maternal GNAS contributes significantly to XLαs expression in BMSCs but not osteoblasts. Altered XLαs activity may thus occur in certain cell types irrespective of the parental origin of a GNAS defect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuxia Cui
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Cagri Aksu
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Birol Ay
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Claire E. Remillard
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Antonius Plagge
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Cell Signalling, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Mina Gardezi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Margaret Dunlap
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Louis C. Gerstenfeld
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Qing He
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- School of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Murat Bastepe
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Genomic Imprinting at the Porcine PLAGL1 Locus and the Orthologous Locus in the Human. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12040541. [PMID: 33918057 PMCID: PMC8069715 DOI: 10.3390/genes12040541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Implementation of genomic imprinting in mammals often results in cis-acting silencing of a gene cluster and monoallelic expression, which are important for mammalian growth and function. Compared with widely documented imprinting status in humans and mice, current understanding of genomic imprinting in pigs is relatively limited. The objectives of this study were to identify DNA methylation status and allelic expression of alternative spliced isoforms at the porcine PLAGL1 locus and assess the conservation of the locus compared to the orthologous human locus. DNA methylome and transcriptome were constructed using porcine parthenogenetic or biparental control embryos. Using methylome, differentially methylated regions between those embryos were identified. Alternative splicing was identified by differential splicing analysis, and monoallelic expression was examined using single nucleotide polymorphism sites. Moreover, topological boundary regions were identified by analyzing CTCF binding sites and compared with the boundary of human orthologous locus. As a result, it was revealed that the monoallelic expression of the PLAGL1 gene in porcine embryos via genomic imprinting was maintained in the adult stage. The porcine PLAGL1 locus was largely conserved in regard to maternal hypermethylation, tissue distribution of mRNA expression, monoallelic expression, and biallelic CTCF-binding, with exceptions on transcript isoforms produced by alternative splicing instead of alternative promoter usage. These findings laid the groundwork for comparative studies on the imprinted PLAGL1 gene and related regulatory mechanisms across species.
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Luo D, Qi X, Liu L, Su Y, Fang L, Guan Q. Genetic and Epigenetic Characteristics of Autosomal Dominant Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type 1B: Case Reports and Literature Review. Horm Metab Res 2021; 53:225-235. [PMID: 33513624 DOI: 10.1055/a-1341-9891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Autosomal dominant pseudohypoparathyroidism 1B (AD-PHP1B) is a rare endocrine and imprinted disorder. The objective of this study is to clarify the imprinted regulation of the guanine nucleotide binding-protein α-stimulating activity polypeptide 1 (GNAS) cluster in the occurrence and development of AD-PHP1B based on animal and clinical patient studies. The methylation-specific multiples ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) was conducted to detect the copy number variation in syntaxin-16 (STX16) gene and methylation status of the GNAS differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Long-range PCR was used to confirm deletion at STX16 gene. In the first family, DNA analysis of the proband and proband's mother revealed an isolated loss of methylation (LOM) at exon A/B and a 3.0 kb STX16 deletion. The patient's healthy grandmother had the 3.0 kb STX16 deletion but no epigenetic abnormality. The patient's healthy maternal aunt showed no genetic or epigenetic abnormality. In the second family, the analysis of long-range PCR revealed the 3.0 kb STX16 deletion for the proband but not her children. In this study, 3.0 kb STX16 deletion causes isolated LOM at exon A/B in two families, which is the most common genetic mutation of AD-PHP1B. The deletion involving NESP55 or AS or genomic rearrangements of GNAS can also result in AD-PHP1B, but it's rare. LOM at exon A/B DMR is prerequisite methylation defect of AD-PHP1B. STX16 and NESP55 directly control the imprinting at exon A/B, while AS controls the imprinting at exon A/B by regulating the transcriptional level of NESP55.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Luo
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiangyu Qi
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Luna Liu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yu Su
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Li Fang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Qingbo Guan
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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Abstract
Abstract
Genomic imprinting ensures the parent-specific expression of either the maternal or the paternal allele, by different epigenetic processes (DNA methylation and histone modifications) that confer parent-specific marks (imprints) in the paternal and maternal germline, respectively. Most protein-coding imprinted genes are involved in embryonic growth, development, and behavior. They are usually organized in genomic domains that are regulated by differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Genomic imprints are erased in the primordial germ cells and then reset in a gene-specific manner according to the sex of the germline. The imprinted genes regulate and interact with other genes, consistent with the existence of an imprinted gene network. Defects of genomic imprinting result in syndromal imprinting disorders. To date a dozen congenital imprinting disorders are known. Usually, a given imprinting disorder can be caused by different types of defects, including point mutations, deletions/duplications, uniparental disomy, and epimutations. Causative trans-acting factors in imprinting disorders, including ZFP57 and the subcortical maternal complex (SCMC), have the potential to affect multiple DMRs across the genome, resulting in a multi-locus imprinting disturbance. There is evidence that mutations in components of the SCMC can confer an increased risk for imprinting disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Prawitt
- Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine , University Medical Centre Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Obere Zahlbacher Str. 63 , Mainz , Germany
| | - Thomas Haaf
- Institute of Human Genetics , Julius Maximilians University , Würzburg , Germany
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Abstract
Genomic imprinting is a parent-of-origin dependent phenomenon that restricts transcription to predominantly one parental allele. Since the discovery of the first long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), which notably was an imprinted lncRNA, a body of knowledge has demonstrated pivotal roles for imprinted lncRNAs in regulating parental-specific expression of neighboring imprinted genes. In this Review, we will discuss the multiple functionalities attributed to lncRNAs and how they regulate imprinted gene expression. We also raise unresolved questions about imprinted lncRNA function, which may lead to new avenues of investigation. This Review is dedicated to the memory of Denise Barlow, a giant in the field of genomic imprinting and functional lncRNAs. With her passion for understanding the inner workings of science, her indominable spirit and her consummate curiosity, Denise blazed a path of scientific investigation that made many seminal contributions to genomic imprinting and the wider field of epigenetic regulation, in addition to inspiring future generations of scientists.
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Affiliation(s)
- William A. MacDonald
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Rangos Research Center, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Mellissa R. W. Mann
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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The influence of DNA methylation on monoallelic expression. Essays Biochem 2020; 63:663-676. [PMID: 31782494 PMCID: PMC6923323 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20190034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 11/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Monoallelic gene expression occurs in diploid cells when only one of the two alleles of a gene is active. There are three main classes of genes that display monoallelic expression in mammalian genomes: (1) imprinted genes that are monoallelically expressed in a parent-of-origin dependent manner; (2) X-linked genes that undergo random X-chromosome inactivation in female cells; (3) random monoallelically expressed single and clustered genes located on autosomes. The heritability of monoallelic expression patterns during cell divisions implies that epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the cellular memory of these expression states. Among these, methylation of CpG sites on DNA is one of the best described modification to explain somatic inheritance. Here, we discuss the relevance of DNA methylation for the establishment and maintenance of monoallelic expression patterns among these three groups of genes, and how this is intrinsically linked to development and cellular states.
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21
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Ahn J, Wu H, Lee J, Hwang IS, Yu D, Ahn JS, Lee JW, Hwang S, Lee K. Identification of a Novel Imprinted Transcript in the Porcine GNAS Complex Locus Using Methylome and Transcriptome of Parthenogenetic Fetuses. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11010096. [PMID: 31947640 PMCID: PMC7017182 DOI: 10.3390/genes11010096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic imprinting in domestic animals contributes to the variance of performance traits. However, research remains to be done on large-scale detection of epigenetic landscape of porcine imprinted loci including the GNAS complex locus. The purpose of this study was to generate porcine parthenogenetic fetuses and comprehensively identify imprinting patterns of the GNAS locus in transcript levels. To this end, both normally fertilized and bimaternal (uniparental) parthenogenetic porcine fetuses were generated, and whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were performed to construct methylome and transcriptome, respectively. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between the fetuses were identified through methylome analysis, and parental-origin-specific expression patterns of transcripts were examined with transcriptome. As a result, three major DMRs were identified: paternally methylated Nesp DMR, maternally methylated Nespas-Gnasxl DMR, and maternally methylated Exon1B–Exon1A DMR. Parental-origin-specific expressions of those five DMR-affected transcripts were found, including a novel imprinted transcript, Exon1B, in pigs. In conclusion, using parthenotes, parental-origin-specific imprinting patterns in the porcine GNAS locus was comprehensively identified, and our approach paves the way for the discovery of novel imprinted genes and loci in a genomic context across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsoo Ahn
- Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (J.A.); (H.W.); (J.L.); (D.Y.)
| | - Huiguang Wu
- Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (J.A.); (H.W.); (J.L.); (D.Y.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Joonbum Lee
- Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (J.A.); (H.W.); (J.L.); (D.Y.)
| | - In-Sul Hwang
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Jeonbuk 55365, Korea;
| | - Debing Yu
- Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (J.A.); (H.W.); (J.L.); (D.Y.)
- Department of Animal Breeding & Genetics, College of Animal Science & Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Jin-Seop Ahn
- Biotherapeutics Translational Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea; (J.-S.A.)
| | - Jeong-Woong Lee
- Biotherapeutics Translational Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea; (J.-S.A.)
| | - Seongsoo Hwang
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Jeonbuk 55365, Korea;
- Correspondence: (S.H.); (K.L.)
| | - Kichoon Lee
- Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (J.A.); (H.W.); (J.L.); (D.Y.)
- Correspondence: (S.H.); (K.L.)
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Zhu W, Botticelli EM, Kery RE, Mao Y, Wang X, Yang A, Wang X, Zhou J, Zhang X, Soberman RJ, Klibanski A, Zhou Y. Meg3-DMR, not the Meg3 gene, regulates imprinting of the Dlk1-Dio3 locus. Dev Biol 2019; 455:10-18. [PMID: 31301299 PMCID: PMC6754764 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The imprinted delta like 1 homolog (DLK1) - thyroxine deiodinase type III (DIO3) locus regulates development and growth. Its imprinting regulation involves two differentially methylated regions (DMRs), intergenic-DMR (IG-DMR) and maternally expressed gene 3-DMR (Meg3-DMR). In mice, a maternal deletion of the IG-DMR leads to LOI in the locus, proving that the IG-DMR is a cis-acting imprinting control region of the locus. However, the Meg3-DMR overlaps with the promoter, exon 1 and intron 1 of the Meg3 gene. Because deletion of the Meg3-DMR inactivates the Meg3 gene, their roles in imprinting regulation of Meg3-DMR mice is unknown. Therefore, we generated two mouse models: Meg3Δ(1-4) and Meg3Δ(2-4), respectively targeting exons 1-4 and exons 2-4 of the Meg3 gene. A maternal deletion of Meg3Δ(1-4) caused embryonic death and LOI in both embryos and placentas, but did not affect methylation status of the IG-DMR. In contrast, mice carrying a maternal deletion of Meg3Δ(2-4) were born normally and did not have LOI. These data indicate that it is the Meg3-DMR, not the Meg3 gene, which regulates imprinting of the Dlk1-Dio3 locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wende Zhu
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical Shcool, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Erin M Botticelli
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical Shcool, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Rachel E Kery
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical Shcool, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Yanfei Mao
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical Shcool, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Xin Wang
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical Shcool, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Anli Yang
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical Shcool, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Xianling Wang
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical Shcool, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jie Zhou
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical Shcool, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Xun Zhang
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical Shcool, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Roy J Soberman
- Nephrology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Anne Klibanski
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical Shcool, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Yunli Zhou
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical Shcool, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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Andergassen D, Muckenhuber M, Bammer PC, Kulinski TM, Theussl HC, Shimizu T, Penninger JM, Pauler FM, Hudson QJ. The Airn lncRNA does not require any DNA elements within its locus to silence distant imprinted genes. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1008268. [PMID: 31329595 PMCID: PMC6675118 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding (lnc) RNAs are numerous and found throughout the mammalian genome, and many are thought to be involved in the regulation of gene expression. However, the majority remain relatively uncharacterised and of uncertain function making the use of model systems to uncover their mode of action valuable. Imprinted lncRNAs target and recruit epigenetic silencing factors to a cluster of imprinted genes on the same chromosome, making them one of the best characterized lncRNAs for silencing distant genes in cis. In this study we examined silencing of the distant imprinted gene Slc22a3 by the lncRNA Airn in the Igf2r imprinted cluster in mouse. Previously we proposed that imprinted lncRNAs may silence distant imprinted genes by disrupting promoter-enhancer interactions by being transcribed through the enhancer, which we called the enhancer interference hypothesis. Here we tested this hypothesis by first using allele-specific chromosome conformation capture (3C) to detect interactions between the Slc22a3 promoter and the locus of the Airn lncRNA that silences it on the paternal chromosome. In agreement with the model, we found interactions enriched on the maternal allele across the entire Airn gene consistent with multiple enhancer-promoter interactions. Therefore, to test the enhancer interference hypothesis we devised an approach to delete the entire Airn gene. However, the deletion showed that there are no essential enhancers for Slc22a2, Pde10a and Slc22a3 within the Airn gene, strongly indicating that the Airn RNA rather than its transcription is responsible for silencing distant imprinted genes. Furthermore, we found that silent imprinted genes were covered with large blocks of H3K27me3 on the repressed paternal allele. Therefore we propose an alternative hypothesis whereby the chromosome interactions may initially guide the lncRNA to target imprinted promoters and recruit repressive chromatin, and that these interactions are lost once silencing is established. Long non-coding (lnc) RNAs are numerous in the mammalian genome and many have been implicated in gene regulation. However, the vast majority are uncharacterised and of uncertain function making known functional lncRNAs valuable models for understanding their mechanism of action. One mode of lncRNA action is to recruit epigenetic silencing to target distant genes on the same chromosome. A well-characterized group of lncRNAs that act in this way to silence genes are imprinted lncRNAs. In this study we examined how the imprinted lncRNA Airn silences genes in the Igf2r imprinted cluster, focusing primarily on silencing of the distant imprinted gene Slc22a3. We found that Airn expression blocks chromosome interactions between the Slc22a3 promoter and the Airn gene locus. By making a large genomic deletion including the Airn gene we showed that these interactions are not essential enhancer/promoter interactions, but may help to guide the Airn RNA to target genes to recruit epigenetic silencing. Our study adds to the understanding of how lncRNAs may act to silence distant genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Andergassen
- CeMM, Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Muckenhuber
- CeMM, Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp C. Bammer
- CeMM, Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tomasz M. Kulinski
- CeMM, Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Takahiko Shimizu
- National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu Aichi, Japan
| | - Josef M. Penninger
- IMBA, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian M. Pauler
- CeMM, Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail: (QJH); (FMP)
| | - Quanah J. Hudson
- CeMM, Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- IMBA, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail: (QJH); (FMP)
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Being in a loop: how long non-coding RNAs organise genome architecture. Essays Biochem 2019; 63:177-186. [DOI: 10.1042/ebc20180057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Chromatin architecture has a significant impact on gene expression. Evidence in the last two decades support RNA as an important component of chromatin structure [Genes Dev. (2005) 19, 1635–1655; PLoS ONE (2007) 2, e1182; Nat. Genet. (2002) 30, 329–334]. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are able to control chromatin structure through nucleosome positioning, interaction with chromatin re-modellers and chromosome looping. These functions are carried out in cis at the site of lncRNAs transcription or in trans at distant loci. While the evidence for a role in lncRNAs in regulating gene expression through chromatin interactions is increasing, there is still very little conclusive evidence for a potential role in looping organisation. Here, we review models for the involvement of lncRNAs in genome architecture and the experimental evidence to support them.
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Sparber P, Filatova A, Khantemirova M, Skoblov M. The role of long non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis of hereditary diseases. BMC Med Genomics 2019; 12:42. [PMID: 30871545 PMCID: PMC6416829 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-019-0487-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Thousands of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) genes are annotated in the human genome. Recent studies showed the key role of lncRNAs in a variety of fundamental cellular processes. Dysregulation of lncRNAs can drive tumorigenesis and they are now considered to be a promising therapeutic target in cancer. However, how lncRNAs contribute to the development of hereditary diseases in human is still mostly unknown. Results This review is focused on hereditary diseases in the pathogenesis of which long non-coding RNAs play an important role. Conclusions Fundamental research in the field of molecular genetics of lncRNA is necessary for a more complete understanding of their significance. Future research will help translate this knowledge into clinical practice which will not only lead to an increase in the diagnostic rate but also in the future can help with the development of etiotropic treatments for hereditary diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Sparber
- Research Center for Medical Genetics, Moscow, Russia.
| | | | - Mira Khantemirova
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Mikhail Skoblov
- Research Center for Medical Genetics, Moscow, Russia.,School of Biomedicine, Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia
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26
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Koohy H, Bolland DJ, Matheson LS, Schoenfelder S, Stellato C, Dimond A, Várnai C, Chovanec P, Chessa T, Denizot J, Manzano Garcia R, Wingett SW, Freire-Pritchett P, Nagano T, Hawkins P, Stephens L, Elderkin S, Spivakov M, Fraser P, Corcoran AE, Varga-Weisz PD. Genome organization and chromatin analysis identify transcriptional downregulation of insulin-like growth factor signaling as a hallmark of aging in developing B cells. Genome Biol 2018; 19:126. [PMID: 30180872 PMCID: PMC6124017 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-018-1489-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aging is characterized by loss of function of the adaptive immune system, but the underlying causes are poorly understood. To assess the molecular effects of aging on B cell development, we profiled gene expression and chromatin features genome-wide, including histone modifications and chromosome conformation, in bone marrow pro-B and pre-B cells from young and aged mice. RESULTS Our analysis reveals that the expression levels of most genes are generally preserved in B cell precursors isolated from aged compared with young mice. Nonetheless, age-specific expression changes are observed at numerous genes, including microRNA encoding genes. Importantly, these changes are underpinned by multi-layered alterations in chromatin structure, including chromatin accessibility, histone modifications, long-range promoter interactions, and nuclear compartmentalization. Previous work has shown that differentiation is linked to changes in promoter-regulatory element interactions. We find that aging in B cell precursors is accompanied by rewiring of such interactions. We identify transcriptional downregulation of components of the insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway, in particular downregulation of Irs1 and upregulation of Let-7 microRNA expression, as a signature of the aged phenotype. These changes in expression are associated with specific alterations in H3K27me3 occupancy, suggesting that Polycomb-mediated repression plays a role in precursor B cell aging. CONCLUSIONS Changes in chromatin and 3D genome organization play an important role in shaping the altered gene expression profile of aged precursor B cells. Components of the insulin-like growth factor signaling pathways are key targets of epigenetic regulation in aging in bone marrow B cell precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hashem Koohy
- Nuclear Dynamics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Daniel J Bolland
- Nuclear Dynamics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Signalling and Development, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Louise S Matheson
- Nuclear Dynamics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Signalling and Development, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Andrew Dimond
- Nuclear Dynamics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Csilla Várnai
- Nuclear Dynamics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter Chovanec
- Nuclear Dynamics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Signalling and Development, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Jeremy Denizot
- Nuclear Dynamics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Present address: Université Clermont Auvergne, Inserm U1071, M2iSH, USC-INRA 2018, F-, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | | | - Steven W Wingett
- Nuclear Dynamics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Bioinformatics, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Paula Freire-Pritchett
- Nuclear Dynamics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Takashi Nagano
- Nuclear Dynamics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Sarah Elderkin
- Nuclear Dynamics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mikhail Spivakov
- Nuclear Dynamics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Functional Gene Control Group, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Peter Fraser
- Nuclear Dynamics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Anne E Corcoran
- Nuclear Dynamics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK.
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Signalling and Development, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Patrick D Varga-Weisz
- Nuclear Dynamics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK.
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27
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Saha P, Verma S, Pathak RU, Mishra RK. Long Noncoding RNAs in Mammalian Development and Diseases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1008:155-198. [PMID: 28815540 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-5203-3_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Following analysis of sequenced genomes and transcriptome of many eukaryotes, it is evident that virtually all protein-coding genes have already been discovered. These advances have highlighted an intriguing paradox whereby the relative amount of protein-coding sequences remain constant but nonprotein-coding sequences increase consistently in parallel to increasing evolutionary complexity. It is established that differences between species map to nonprotein-coding regions of the genome that surprisingly is transcribed extensively. These transcripts regulate epigenetic processes and constitute an important layer of regulatory information essential for organismal development and play a causative role in diseases. The noncoding RNA-directed regulatory circuit controls complex characteristics. Sequence variations in noncoding RNAs influence evolution, quantitative traits, and disease susceptibility. This chapter presents an account on a class of such noncoding transcripts that are longer than 200 nucleotides (long noncoding RNA-lncRNA) in mammalian development and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parna Saha
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500007, India
| | - Shreekant Verma
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500007, India
| | - Rashmi U Pathak
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500007, India.
| | - Rakesh K Mishra
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500007, India.
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28
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Radford EJ. An Introduction to Epigenetic Mechanisms. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2018; 158:29-48. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2018.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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29
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Abstract
There is growing evidence that transcription and nuclear organization are tightly linked. Yet, whether transcription of thousands of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) could play a role in this packaging process remains elusive. Although some lncRNAs have been found to have clear roles in nuclear architecture (e.g., FIRRE, NEAT1, XIST, and others), the vast majority remain poorly understood. In this Perspective, we highlight how the act of transcription can affect nuclear architecture. We synthesize several recent findings into a proposed model where the transcription of lncRNAs can serve as guide-posts for shaping genome organization. This model is similar to the game "cat's cradle," where the shape of a string is successively changed by opening up new sites for finger placement. Analogously, transcription of lncRNAs could serve as "grip holds" for nuclear proteins to pull the genome into new positions. This model could explain general lncRNA properties such as low abundance and tissue specificity. Overall, we propose a general framework for how the act of lncRNA transcription could play a role in organizing the 3D genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Melé
- Harvard Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, MA 02138, USA
| | - John L Rinn
- Harvard Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, MA 02138, USA; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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30
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Patten MM, Cowley M, Oakey RJ, Feil R. Regulatory links between imprinted genes: evolutionary predictions and consequences. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 283:rspb.2015.2760. [PMID: 26842569 PMCID: PMC4760173 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.2760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Genomic imprinting is essential for development and growth and plays diverse roles in physiology and behaviour. Imprinted genes have traditionally been studied in isolation or in clusters with respect to cis-acting modes of gene regulation, both from a mechanistic and evolutionary point of view. Recent studies in mammals, however, reveal that imprinted genes are often co-regulated and are part of a gene network involved in the control of cellular proliferation and differentiation. Moreover, a subset of imprinted genes acts in trans on the expression of other imprinted genes. Numerous studies have modulated levels of imprinted gene expression to explore phenotypic and gene regulatory consequences. Increasingly, the applied genome-wide approaches highlight how perturbation of one imprinted gene may affect other maternally or paternally expressed genes. Here, we discuss these novel findings and consider evolutionary theories that offer a rationale for such intricate interactions among imprinted genes. An evolutionary view of these trans-regulatory effects provides a novel interpretation of the logic of gene networks within species and has implications for the origin of reproductive isolation between species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manus M Patten
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Michael Cowley
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Rebecca J Oakey
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Robert Feil
- Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institute of Molecular Genetics (IGMM), 1919 route de Mende, Montpellier 34293, France University of Montpellier, 163 rue Auguste Broussonnet, Montpellier 34090, France Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
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31
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Terreri S, Durso M, Colonna V, Romanelli A, Terracciano D, Ferro M, Perdonà S, Castaldo L, Febbraio F, de Nigris F, Cimmino A. New Cross-Talk Layer between Ultraconserved Non-Coding RNAs, MicroRNAs and Polycomb Protein YY1 in Bladder Cancer. Genes (Basel) 2016; 7:genes7120127. [PMID: 27983635 PMCID: PMC5192503 DOI: 10.3390/genes7120127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved elements in mammals, and exert key regulatory functions. Growing evidence shows that miRNAs can interact with another class of non-coding RNAs, so-called transcribed ultraconserved regions (T-UCRs), which take part in transcriptional, post-transcriptional and epigenetic regulation processes. We report here the interaction of miRNAs and T-UCRs as a network modulating the availability of these non-coding RNAs in bladder cancer cells. In our cell system, antagomiR-596 increased the expression of T-UCR 201+. Moreover, T-UCR 8+ silencing increased miR-596 expression, which in turn reduced total T-UCR 283+, showing that the perturbation of one element in this network changes the expression of other interactors. In addition, we identify the polycomb protein Yin Yang 1 (YY1) as mediator of binding between miR-596 and T-UCR 8+. These new findings describe for the first time a network between T-UCRs, miRNAs and YY1 protein, highlighting the existence of an additional layer of gene expression regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Terreri
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics-CNR. Via P. Castellino, 111, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Montano Durso
- Bioker srl multimedica spa, via Brin, 49/65 80142 Naples, Italy.
| | - Vincenza Colonna
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics-CNR. Via P. Castellino, 111, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Romanelli
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Napoli "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Daniela Terracciano
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Matteo Ferro
- Division of Urology, European Institute of Oncology, 20141 Milan, Italy.
| | - Sisto Perdonà
- Division of Urology, IRCS National Tumor Institute, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Luigi Castaldo
- Division of Urology, IRCS National Tumor Institute, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Ferdinando Febbraio
- Institute of Protein Biochemistry-CNR. Via P. Castellino, 111, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Filomena de Nigris
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysic and General Pathology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Amelia Cimmino
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics-CNR. Via P. Castellino, 111, 80131 Naples, Italy.
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32
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Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a diverse class of RNAs that engage in numerous biological processes across every branch of life. Although initially discovered as mRNA-like transcripts that do not encode proteins, recent studies have revealed features of lncRNAs that further distinguish them from mRNAs. In this Review, we describe special events in the lifetimes of lncRNAs - before, during and after transcription - and discuss how these events ultimately shape the unique characteristics and functional roles of lncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey J Quinn
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University School of Medicine and School of Engineering, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Howard Y Chang
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
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33
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Marzi SJ, Meaburn EL, Dempster EL, Lunnon K, Paya-Cano JL, Smith RG, Volta M, Troakes C, Schalkwyk LC, Mill J. Tissue-specific patterns of allelically-skewed DNA methylation. Epigenetics 2016; 11:24-35. [PMID: 26786711 PMCID: PMC4846124 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2015.1127479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
While DNA methylation is usually thought to be symmetrical across both alleles, there are some notable exceptions. Genomic imprinting and X chromosome inactivation are two well-studied sources of allele-specific methylation (ASM), but recent research has indicated a more complex pattern in which genotypic variation can be associated with allelically-skewed DNA methylation in cis. Given the known heterogeneity of DNA methylation across tissues and cell types we explored inter- and intra-individual variation in ASM across several regions of the human brain and whole blood from multiple individuals. Consistent with previous studies, we find widespread ASM with > 4% of the ∼220,000 loci interrogated showing evidence of allelically-skewed DNA methylation. We identify ASM flanking known imprinted regions, and show that ASM sites are enriched in DNase I hypersensitivity sites and often located in an extended genomic context of intermediate DNA methylation. We also detect examples of genotype-driven ASM, some of which are tissue-specific. These findings contribute to our understanding of the nature of differential DNA methylation across tissues and have important implications for genetic studies of complex disease. As a resource to the community, ASM patterns across each of the tissues studied are available in a searchable online database: http://epigenetics.essex.ac.uk/ASMBrainBlood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Marzi
- a Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London , London , UK
| | - Emma L Meaburn
- b Department of Psychological Sciences , Birkbeck, University of London , London , UK
| | - Emma L Dempster
- c University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter , Exeter , UK
| | - Katie Lunnon
- c University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter , Exeter , UK
| | - Jose L Paya-Cano
- a Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London , London , UK
| | - Rebecca G Smith
- c University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter , Exeter , UK
| | - Manuela Volta
- a Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London , London , UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- a Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London , London , UK
| | | | - Jonathan Mill
- a Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London , London , UK.,c University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter , Exeter , UK
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34
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Dan J, Chen T. Genetic Studies on Mammalian DNA Methyltransferases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 945:123-150. [PMID: 27826837 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-43624-1_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Cytosine methylation at the C5-position, generating 5-methylcytosine (5mC), is a DNA modification found in many eukaryotic organisms, including fungi, plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates, albeit its levels vary greatly in different organisms. In mammals, cytosine methylation occurs predominantly in the context of CpG dinucleotides, with the majority (60-80 %) of CpG sites in their genomes being methylated. DNA methylation plays crucial roles in the regulation of chromatin structure and gene expression and is essential for mammalian development. Aberrant changes in DNA methylation levels and patterns are associated with various human diseases, including cancer and developmental disorders. DNA methylation is mediated by three active DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts), namely, Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, and Dnmt3b, in mammals. Over the last two decades, genetic manipulations of these enzymes, as well as their regulators, in mice have greatly contributed to our understanding of the biological functions of DNA methylation in mammals. In this chapter, we discuss genetic studies on mammalian Dnmts, focusing on their roles in embryogenesis, cellular differentiation, genomic imprinting, and X-chromosome inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiameng Dan
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1808 Park Road 1C, Smithville, TX, 78957, USA
- Center for Cancer Epigenetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1808 Park Road 1C, Smithville, TX, 78957, USA
| | - Taiping Chen
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1808 Park Road 1C, Smithville, TX, 78957, USA.
- Center for Cancer Epigenetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1808 Park Road 1C, Smithville, TX, 78957, USA.
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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35
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Hombach S, Kretz M. Non-coding RNAs: Classification, Biology and Functioning. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 937:3-17. [PMID: 27573892 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-42059-2_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 556] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
One of the long-standing principles of molecular biology is that DNA acts as a template for transcription of messenger RNAs, which serve as blueprints for protein translation. A rapidly growing number of exceptions to this rule have been reported over the past decades: they include long known classes of RNAs involved in translation such as transfer RNAs and ribosomal RNAs, small nuclear RNAs involved in splicing events, and small nucleolar RNAs mainly involved in the modification of other small RNAs, such as ribosomal RNAs and transfer RNAs. More recently, several classes of short regulatory non-coding RNAs, including piwi-associated RNAs, endogenous short-interfering RNAs and microRNAs have been discovered in mammals, which act as key regulators of gene expression in many different cellular pathways and systems. Additionally, the human genome encodes several thousand long non-protein coding RNAs >200 nucleotides in length, some of which play crucial roles in a variety of biological processes such as epigenetic control of chromatin, promoter-specific gene regulation, mRNA stability, X-chromosome inactivation and imprinting. In this chapter, we will introduce several classes of short and long non-coding RNAs, describe their diverse roles in mammalian gene regulation and give examples for known modes of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Hombach
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Markus Kretz
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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36
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Tibbit CJ, Williamson CM, Mehta S, Ball ST, Chotalia M, Nottingham WT, Eaton SA, Quwailid MM, Teboul L, Kelsey G, Peters J. Antisense Activity across the Nesp Promoter is Required for Nespas-Mediated Silencing in the Imprinted Gnas Cluster. Noncoding RNA 2015; 1:246-265. [PMID: 29861426 PMCID: PMC5932550 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna1030246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Revised: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Macro long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play major roles in gene silencing in inprinted gene clusters. Within the imprinted Gnas cluster, the paternally expressed Nespas lncRNA downregulates its sense counterpart Nesp. To explore the mechanism of action of Nespas, we generated two new knock-in alleles to truncate Nespas upstream and downstream of the Nesp promoter. We show that Nespas is essential for methylation of the Nesp differentially methylated region (DMR), but higher levels of Nespas are required for methylation than are needed for downregulation of Nesp. Although Nespas is transcribed for over 27 kb, only Nespas transcript/transcription across a 2.6 kb region that includes the Nesp promoter is necessary for methylation of the Nesp DMR. In both mutants, the levels of Nespas were extraordinarily high, due at least in part to increased stability, an effect not seen with other imprinted lncRNAs. However, even when levels were greatly raised, Nespas remained exclusively cis-acting. We propose Nespas regulates Nesp methylation and expression to ensure appropriate levels of expression of the protein coding transcripts Gnasxl and Gnas on the paternal chromosome. Thus, Nespas mediates paternal gene expression over the entire Gnas cluster via a single gene, Nesp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte J Tibbit
- MRC Harwell, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX110RD, UK.
- Current address: MRC Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Physiology Anatomy & Genetics, Le Gros Clark Building, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX13QX, UK.
| | - Christine M Williamson
- MRC Harwell, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX110RD, UK.
- Current Address: MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX110RD, UK.
| | - Stuti Mehta
- MRC Harwell, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX110RD, UK.
- Current address: GI Division, Their 340, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
| | - Simon T Ball
- MRC Harwell, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX110RD, UK.
- Current address: Mary Lyon Centre, MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX110RD, UK.
| | - Mita Chotalia
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB223AT, UK.
- Current address: Genome Function Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W120NN, UK.
| | - Wade T Nottingham
- MRC Harwell, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX110RD, UK.
- Current address: West London Free School, 2 Bridge Avenue, Hammersmith, London W69JP, UK.
| | - Sally A Eaton
- MRC Harwell, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX110RD, UK.
- Current address: Molecular, Structural and Computational Biology Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia.
| | - Mohamed M Quwailid
- MRC Harwell, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX110RD, UK.
| | - Lydia Teboul
- Mary Lyon Centre, MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX110RD, UK.
| | - Gavin Kelsey
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB223AT, UK.
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB23EG, UK.
| | - Jo Peters
- MRC Harwell, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX110RD, UK.
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37
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Tet-mediated imprinting erasure in H19 locus following reprogramming of spermatogonial stem cells to induced pluripotent stem cells. Sci Rep 2015; 5:13691. [PMID: 26328763 PMCID: PMC4556992 DOI: 10.1038/srep13691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Selective methylation of CpG islands at imprinting control regions (ICR) determines the monoparental expression of a subset of genes. Currently, it is unclear whether artificial reprogramming induced by the expression of Yamanaka factors disrupts these marks and whether cell type of origin affects the dynamics of reprogramming. In this study, spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) that harbor paternalized imprinting marks, and fibroblasts were reprogrammed to iPSC (SSCiPSC and fiPSC). The SSCiPSC were able to form teratomas and generated chimeras with a higher skin chimerism than those derived from fiPSC. RNA-seq revealed extensive reprogramming at the transcriptional level with 8124 genes differentially expressed between SSC and SSCiPSC and only 490 between SSCiPSC and fiPSC. Likewise, reprogramming of SSC affected 26 of 41 imprinting gene clusters known in the mouse genome. A closer look at H19 ICR revealed complete erasure in SSCiPSC in contrast to fiPSC. Imprinting erasure in SSCiPSC was maintained even after in vivo differentiation into teratomas. Reprogramming of SSC from Tet1 and Tet2 double knockout mice however lacked demethylation of H19 ICR. These results suggest that imprinting erasure during reprogramming depends on the epigenetic landscape of the precursor cell and is mediated by TETs at the H19 locus.
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38
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Kulinski TM, Casari MRT, Guenzl PM, Wenzel D, Andergassen D, Hladik A, Datlinger P, Farlik M, Theussl HC, Penninger JM, Knapp S, Bock C, Barlow DP, Hudson QJ. Imprinted expression in cystic embryoid bodies shows an embryonic and not an extra-embryonic pattern. Dev Biol 2015; 402:291-305. [PMID: 25912690 PMCID: PMC4454777 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Revised: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
A large subset of mammalian imprinted genes show extra-embryonic lineage (EXEL) specific imprinted expression that is restricted to placental trophectoderm lineages and to visceral yolk sac endoderm (ysE). Isolated ysE provides a homogenous in vivo model of a mid-gestation extra-embryonic tissue to examine the mechanism of EXEL-specific imprinted gene silencing, but an in vitro model of ysE to facilitate more rapid and cost-effective experiments is not available. Reports indicate that ES cells differentiated into cystic embryoid bodies (EBs) contain ysE, so here we investigate if cystic EBs model ysE imprinted expression. The imprinted expression pattern of cystic EBs is shown to resemble fetal liver and not ysE. To investigate the reason for this we characterized the methylome and transcriptome of cystic EBs in comparison to fetal liver and ysE, by whole genome bisulphite sequencing and RNA-seq. Cystic EBs show a fetal liver pattern of global hypermethylation and low expression of repeats, while ysE shows global hypomethylation and high expression of IAPEz retroviral repeats, as reported for placenta. Transcriptome analysis confirmed that cystic EBs are more similar to fetal liver than ysE and express markers of early embryonic endoderm. Genome-wide analysis shows that ysE shares epigenetic and repeat expression features with placenta. Contrary to previous reports, we show that cystic EBs do not contain ysE, but are more similar to the embryonic endoderm of fetal liver. This explains why cystic EBs reproduce the imprinted expression seen in the embryo but not that seen in the ysE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz M Kulinski
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14, AKH-BT25.3, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - M Rita T Casari
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14, AKH-BT25.3, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Philipp M Guenzl
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14, AKH-BT25.3, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Daniel Wenzel
- IMBA, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Daniel Andergassen
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14, AKH-BT25.3, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Anastasiya Hladik
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14, AKH-BT25.3, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Department of Medicine 1, Laboratory of Infection Biology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Paul Datlinger
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14, AKH-BT25.3, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Matthias Farlik
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14, AKH-BT25.3, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - H-Christian Theussl
- IMP/IMBA Transgenic Service, Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Dr. Bohr Gasse 7, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Josef M Penninger
- IMBA, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Sylvia Knapp
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14, AKH-BT25.3, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Department of Medicine 1, Laboratory of Infection Biology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Christoph Bock
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14, AKH-BT25.3, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Denise P Barlow
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14, AKH-BT25.3, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Quanah J Hudson
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14, AKH-BT25.3, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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Kanduri C. Long noncoding RNAs: Lessons from genomic imprinting. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2015; 1859:102-11. [PMID: 26004516 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2015.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Revised: 05/12/2015] [Accepted: 05/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Genomic imprinting has been a great resource for studying transcriptional and post-transcriptional-based gene regulation by long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). In this article, I overview the functional role of intergenic lncRNAs (H19, IPW, and MEG3), antisense lncRNAs (Kcnq1ot1, Airn, Nespas, Ube3a-ATS), and enhancer lncRNAs (IG-DMR eRNAs) to understand the diverse mechanisms being employed by them in cis and/or trans to regulate the parent-of-origin-specific expression of target genes. Recent evidence suggests that some of the lncRNAs regulate imprinting by promoting intra-chromosomal higher-order chromatin compartmentalization, affecting replication timing and subnuclear positioning. Whereas others act via transcriptional occlusion or transcriptional collision-based mechanisms. By establishing genomic imprinting of target genes, the lncRNAs play a critical role in important biological functions, such as placental and embryonic growth, pluripotency maintenance, cell differentiation, and neural-related functions such as synaptic development and plasticity. An emerging consensus from the recent evidence is that the imprinted lncRNAs fine-tune gene expression of the protein-coding genes to maintain their dosage in cell. Hence, lncRNAs from imprinted clusters offer insights into their mode of action, and these mechanisms have been the basis for uncovering the mode of action of lncRNAs in several other biological contexts. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Clues to long noncoding RNA taxonomy, edited by Dr. Tetsuro Hirose and Dr. Shinichi Nakagawa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandrasekhar Kanduri
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden.
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40
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Chromatin-Mediated Reversible Silencing of Sense-Antisense Gene Pairs in Embryonic Stem Cells Is Consolidated upon Differentiation. Mol Cell Biol 2015; 35:2436-47. [PMID: 25963662 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00029-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide gene expression studies have indicated that the eukaryotic genome contains many gene pairs showing overlapping sense and antisense transcription. Regulation of these coding and/or noncoding gene pairs involves intricate regulatory mechanisms. In the present study, we utilized an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-tagged reporter plasmid cis linked to a doxycycline-inducible antisense promoter, generating antisense transcription that fully overlaps EGFP, to study the mechanism and dynamics of gene silencing after induction of noncoding antisense transcription in undifferentiated and differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). We found that EGFP silencing is reversible in ESCs but is locked into a stable state upon ESC differentiation. Reversible silencing in ESCs is chromatin dependent and is associated with accumulation of trimethylated lysine 36 on histone H3 (H3K36me3) at the EGFP promoter region. In differentiating ESCs, antisense transcription-induced accumulation of H3K36me3 was associated with an increase in CpG methylation at the EGFP promoter. Repression of the sense promoter was affected by small-molecule inhibitors which interfere with DNA methylation and histone demethylation pathways. Our results indicate a general mechanism for silencing of fully overlapping sense-antisense gene pairs involving antisense transcription-induced accumulation of H3K36me3 at the sense promoter, resulting in reversible silencing of the sense partner, which is stabilized during ESC differentiation by CpG methylation.
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Mehta S, Williamson CM, Ball S, Tibbit C, Beechey C, Fray M, Peters J. Transcription driven somatic DNA methylation within the imprinted Gnas cluster. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117378. [PMID: 25659103 PMCID: PMC4319783 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 12/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Differential marking of genes in female and male gametes by DNA methylation is essential to genomic imprinting. In female gametes transcription traversing differentially methylated regions (DMRs) is a common requirement for de novo methylation at DMRs. At the imprinted Gnas cluster oocyte specific transcription of a protein-coding transcript, Nesp, is needed for methylation of two DMRs intragenic to Nesp, namely the Nespas-Gnasxl DMR and the Exon1A DMR, thereby enabling expression of the Gnas transcript and repression of the Gnasxl transcript. On the paternal allele, Nesp is repressed, the germline DMRs are unmethylated, Gnas is repressed and Gnasxl is expressed. Using mutant mouse models, we show that on the paternal allele, ectopic transcription of Nesp traversing the intragenic Exon1A DMR (which regulates Gnas expression) results in de novo methylation of the Exon1A DMR and de-repression of Gnas just as on the maternal allele. However, unlike the maternal allele, methylation on the mutant paternal allele occurs post-fertilisation, i.e. in somatic cells. This, to our knowledge is the first example of transcript/transcription driven DNA methylation of an intragenic CpG island, in somatic tissues, suggesting that transcription driven de novo methylation is not restricted to the germline in the mouse. Additionally, Gnasxl is repressed on a paternal chromosome on which Nesp is ectopically expressed. Thus, a paternally inherited Gnas cluster showing ectopic expression of Nesp is “maternalised” in terms of Gnasxl and Gnas expression. We show that these mice have a phenotype similar to mutants with two expressed doses of Gnas and none of Gnasxl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuti Mehta
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Christine M. Williamson
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Ball
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte Tibbit
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, United Kingdom
| | - Colin Beechey
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Fray
- Mary Lyon Centre, MRC Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, United Kingdom
| | - Jo Peters
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, United Kingdom
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He S, Zhang H, Liu H, Zhu H. LongTarget: a tool to predict lncRNA DNA-binding motifs and binding sites via Hoogsteen base-pairing analysis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 31:178-86. [PMID: 25262155 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btu643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
MOTIVATION In mammalian cells, many genes are silenced by genome methylation. DNA methyltransferases and polycomb repressive complexes, which both lack sequence-specific DNA-binding motifs, are recruited by long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) to specific genomic sites to methylate DNA and chromatin. Increasing evidence indicates that many lncRNAs contain DNA-binding motifs that can bind to DNA by forming RNA:DNA triplexes. The identification of lncRNA DNA-binding motifs and binding sites is essential for deciphering lncRNA functions and correct and erroneous genome methylation; however, such identification is challenging because lncRNAs may contain thousands of nucleotides. No computational analysis of typical lncRNAs has been reported. Here, we report a computational method and program (LongTarget) to predict lncRNA DNA-binding motifs and binding sites. We used this program to analyse multiple antisense lncRNAs, including those that control well-known imprinting clusters, and obtained results agreeing with experimental observations and epigenetic marks. These results suggest that it is feasible to predict many lncRNA DNA-binding motifs and binding sites genome-wide. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION Website of LongTarget: lncrna.smu.edu.cn, or contact: hao.zhu@ymail.com. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha He
- Bioinformatics Section, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Network Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Hai Zhang
- Bioinformatics Section, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Network Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Haihua Liu
- Bioinformatics Section, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Network Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Hao Zhu
- Bioinformatics Section, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Network Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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43
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Cleaton MA, Edwards CA, Ferguson-Smith AC. Phenotypic Outcomes of Imprinted Gene Models in Mice: Elucidation of Pre- and Postnatal Functions of Imprinted Genes. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2014; 15:93-126. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-091212-153441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Carol A. Edwards
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, United Kingdom;
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44
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Peters J. The role of genomic imprinting in biology and disease: an expanding view. Nat Rev Genet 2014; 15:517-30. [PMID: 24958438 DOI: 10.1038/nrg3766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 288] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon that results in monoallelic gene expression according to parental origin. It has long been established that imprinted genes have major effects on development and placental biology before birth. More recently, it has become evident that imprinted genes also have important roles after birth. In this Review, I bring together studies of the effects of imprinted genes from the prenatal period onwards. Recent work on postnatal stages shows that imprinted genes influence an extraordinarily wide-ranging array of biological processes, the effects of which extend into adulthood, and play important parts in common diseases that range from obesity to psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo Peters
- Medical Research Council Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
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45
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Abstract
Over the past few years, advances in genome analyses have identified an emerging class of noncoding RNAs that play critical roles in the regulation of gene expression and epigenetic reprogramming. Given their transcriptional pervasiveness, the potential for these intriguing macromolecules to integrate a myriad of external cellular cues with nuclear responses has become increasingly apparent. Recent studies have implicated noncoding RNAs in epidermal development and keratinocyte differentiation, but the complexity of multilevel regulation of transcriptional programs involved in these processes remains ill defined. In this review, we discuss the relevance of noncoding RNA in normal skin development, their involvement in cutaneous malignancies, and their role in the regulation of adult stem-cell maintenance in stratified epithelial tissues. Furthermore, we provide additional examples highlighting the ubiquity of noncoding RNAs in diverse human diseases.
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Abstract
Genomic imprinting affects a subset of genes in mammals and results in a monoallelic, parental-specific expression pattern. Most of these genes are located in clusters that are regulated through the use of insulators or long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). To distinguish the parental alleles, imprinted genes are epigenetically marked in gametes at imprinting control elements through the use of DNA methylation at the very least. Imprinted gene expression is subsequently conferred through lncRNAs, histone modifications, insulators, and higher-order chromatin structure. Such imprints are maintained after fertilization through these mechanisms despite extensive reprogramming of the mammalian genome. Genomic imprinting is an excellent model for understanding mammalian epigenetic regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise P Barlow
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, CeMM, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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47
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H19 lncRNA controls gene expression of the Imprinted Gene Network by recruiting MBD1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:20693-8. [PMID: 24297921 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1310201110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 233] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The H19 gene controls the expression of several genes within the Imprinted Gene Network (IGN), involved in growth control of the embryo. However, the underlying mechanisms of this control remain elusive. Here, we identified the methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 1 MBD1 as a physical and functional partner of the H19 long noncoding RNA (lncRNA). The H19 lncRNA-MBD1 complex is required for the control of five genes of the IGN. For three of these genes--Igf2 (insulin-like growth factor 2), Slc38a4 (solute carrier family 38 member 4), and Peg1 (paternally expressed gene 1)--both MBD1 and H3K9me3 binding were detected on their differentially methylated regions. The H19 lncRNA-MBD1 complex, through its interaction with histone lysine methyltransferases, therefore acts by bringing repressive histone marks on the differentially methylated regions of these three direct targets of the H19 gene. Our data suggest that, besides the differential DNA methylation found on the differentially methylated regions of imprinted genes, an additional fine tuning of the expressed allele is achieved by a modulation of the H3K9me3 marks, mediated by the association of the H19 lncRNA with chromatin-modifying complexes, such as MBD1. This results in a precise control of the level of expression of growth factors in the embryo.
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48
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Bierhoff H, Postepska-Igielska A, Grummt I. Noisy silence: non-coding RNA and heterochromatin formation at repetitive elements. Epigenetics 2013; 9:53-61. [PMID: 24121539 DOI: 10.4161/epi.26485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
A significant fraction of eukaryotic genomes comprises repetitive sequences, including rRNA genes, centromeres, telomeres, and retrotransposons. Repetitive elements are hotspots for recombination and represent a serious challenge for genome integrity. Maintaining these repeated elements in a compact heterochromatic structure suppresses recombination and unwanted mutagenic transposition, and is therefore indispensable for genomic stability. Paradoxically, repetitive elements are not transcriptionally inert, but produce RNA that has important functions in regulating and reinforcing the heterochromatic state. Here, we review the role of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) in recruiting chromatin-modifying enzymes to repetitive genomic loci to establish a repressive chromatin structure that safeguards chromosome integrity and genome stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger Bierhoff
- Division of Molecular Biology of the Cell II; German Cancer Research Center; DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance; Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna Postepska-Igielska
- Division of Molecular Biology of the Cell II; German Cancer Research Center; DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance; Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ingrid Grummt
- Division of Molecular Biology of the Cell II; German Cancer Research Center; DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance; Heidelberg, Germany
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49
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Hombach S, Kretz M. The non-coding skin: Exploring the roles of long non-coding RNAs in epidermal homeostasis and disease. Bioessays 2013; 35:1093-100. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201300068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Hombach
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology; University of Regensburg; Regensburg Germany
| | - Markus Kretz
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology; University of Regensburg; Regensburg Germany
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50
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Abstract
The human genome encodes several thousand long non-protein coding transcripts>200 nucleotides in length, a subset of which were shown to play important roles in regulation of gene expression. We recently identified TINCR, a lncRNA required for induction of key differentiation genes in epidermal tissue, including genes mutated in human skin diseases characterized by disrupted epidermal barrier formation. High-throughput analyses of TINCR RNA- and protein-interactomes revealed TINCR interaction with differentiation mRNAs as well as the Staufen1 protein. TINCR, together with Staufen1, seems to stabilize a subset of mRNAs required for epidermal differentiation. Here, we discuss the emerging roles of Staufen1 and TINCR in the regulation of mammalian cell differentiation mediated by interaction with target mRNAs. We consider a role for TINCR as an epithelial-specific guide for targeting the Staufen1 protein to specific mRNAs, reflecting the increasing complexity of gene regulatory processes in mammalian cells and tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Kretz
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology; University of Regensburg; Regensburg, Germany
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