1
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Kitaoka M, Yamashita YM. Running the gauntlet: challenges to genome integrity in spermiogenesis. Nucleus 2024; 15:2339220. [PMID: 38594652 PMCID: PMC11005813 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2024.2339220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Species' continuity depends on gametogenesis to produce the only cell types that can transmit genetic information across generations. Spermiogenesis, which encompasses post-meiotic, haploid stages of male gametogenesis, is a process that leads to the formation of sperm cells well-known for their motility. Spermiogenesis faces three major challenges. First, after two rounds of meiotic divisions, the genome lacks repair templates (no sister chromatids, no homologous chromosomes), making it incredibly vulnerable to any genomic insults over an extended time (typically days-weeks). Second, the sperm genome becomes transcriptionally silent, making it difficult to respond to new perturbations as spermiogenesis progresses. Third, the histone-to-protamine transition, which is essential to package the sperm genome, counterintuitively involves DNA break formation. How spermiogenesis handles these challenges remains poorly understood. In this review, we discuss each challenge and their intersection with the biology of protamines. Finally, we discuss the implication of protamines in the process of evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiko Kitaoka
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yukiko M. Yamashita
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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2
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Adamek K, Jones AMP, Torkamaneh D. Somatic Mutation Accumulations in Micropropagated Cannabis Are Proportional to the Number of Subcultures. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1910. [PMID: 39065436 DOI: 10.3390/plants13141910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Advancements in micropropagation techniques have made it easier to produce large numbers of cannabis clones, but these methods may also introduce genetic instability over successive generations. This instability often manifests as somaclonal variation, characterized by the progressive accumulation of genetic mutations or epigenetic alterations with each subculture. In this study, we examined how mutations accumulate in cannabis clones subjected to 6-11 subcultures. Using genotyping-by-sequencing, we identified 9405 polymorphic variants across 70 clones. The analysis revealed a correlation between the number of subcultures and the frequency of these mutations, revealing that genetic changes accumulate over successive subcultures despite clones sharing the same chronological age. Furthermore, we evaluated the functional impacts of accumulated mutations, with particular attention to implications on gene function and overall plant health. While rare, 14 high-impact variants were identified in genes that are important for plant development. Notably, six variants were also found in genes related to cannabinoid and terpene synthesis pathways, potentially affecting the plant's biochemical composition. These findings highlight the need for genetic assessments in micropropagation protocols, impacting plant breeding and conservation. Understanding genetic variations in clonally propagated plants optimizes practices for stability. Crucial for cannabis and horticultural plants, it emphasizes techniques to prevent genetic decay and ensure viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian Adamek
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | | | - Davoud Torkamaneh
- Département de Phytologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre de Recherche et d'Innovation sur les Végétaux (CRIV), Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institute Intelligence and Data (IID), Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
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3
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Lopes M, Louzada S, Gama-Carvalho M, Chaves R. Pericentromeric satellite RNAs as flexible protein partners in the regulation of nuclear structure. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2024; 15:e1868. [PMID: 38973000 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Pericentromeric heterochromatin is mainly composed of satellite DNA sequences. Although being historically associated with transcriptional repression, some pericentromeric satellite DNA sequences are transcribed. The transcription events of pericentromeric satellite sequences occur in highly flexible biological contexts. Hence, the apparent randomness of pericentromeric satellite transcription incites the discussion about the attribution of biological functions. However, pericentromeric satellite RNAs have clear roles in the organization of nuclear structure. Silencing pericentromeric heterochromatin depends on pericentromeric satellite RNAs, that, in a feedback mechanism, contribute to the repression of pericentromeric heterochromatin. Moreover, pericentromeric satellite RNAs can also act as scaffolding molecules in condensate subnuclear structures (e.g., nuclear stress bodies). Since the formation/dissociation of nuclear condensates provides cell adaptability, pericentromeric satellite RNAs can be an epigenetic platform for regulating (sub)nuclear structure. We review current knowledge about pericentromeric satellite RNAs that, irrespective of the meaning of biological function, should be functionally addressed in regular and disease settings. This article is categorized under: RNA Methods > RNA Analyses in Cells RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Lopes
- CytoGenomics Lab-Department of Genetics and Biotechnology (DGB), University of Trás os Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
- BioISI: Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sandra Louzada
- CytoGenomics Lab-Department of Genetics and Biotechnology (DGB), University of Trás os Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
- BioISI: Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Margarida Gama-Carvalho
- BioISI: Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Raquel Chaves
- CytoGenomics Lab-Department of Genetics and Biotechnology (DGB), University of Trás os Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
- BioISI: Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- RISE-Health: Health Research Network, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- CACTMAD: Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro Academic Clinic Center,University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
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4
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Sanita Lima M, Silva Domingues D, Rossi Paschoal A, Smith DR. Long-read RNA-Seq for the discovery of long noncoding and antisense RNAs in plant organelles. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2024; 176:e14418. [PMID: 39004808 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.14418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Plant organelle transcription has been studied for decades. As techniques advanced, so did the fields of mitochondrial and plastid transcriptomics. The current view is that organelle genomes are pervasively transcribed, irrespective of their size, content, structure, and taxonomic origin. However, little is known about the nature of organelle noncoding transcriptomes, including pervasively transcribed noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). Next-generation sequencing data have uncovered small ncRNAs in the organelles of plants and other organisms, but long ncRNAs remain poorly understood. Here, we argue that publicly available third-generation long-read RNA sequencing data from plants can provide a fine-tuned picture of long ncRNAs within organelles. Indeed, given their bloated architectures, plant mitochondrial genomes are well suited for studying pervasive transcription of ncRNAs. Ultimately, we hope to showcase this new avenue of plant research while also underlining the limitations of the proposed approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Douglas Silva Domingues
- Department of Genetics, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Rossi Paschoal
- Department of Computer Science, Bioinformatics and Pattern Recognition Group (BIOINFO-CP), Federal University of Technology-Paraná-UTFPR, Cornélio Procópio, PR, Brazil
| | - David Roy Smith
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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5
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Sanita Lima M, Rossi Paschoal A, Silva Domingues D, Smith DR. Pervasive transcription of plant organelle genomes: functional noncoding transcriptomes? TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 29:626-629. [PMID: 38360479 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2024.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Plant mitochondrial and plastid genomes typically show pervasive, genome-wide transcription. Little is known, however, about the utility of organelle noncoding RNAs, which often make up most of the transcriptome. Here, we suggest that long-read sequencing data combined with dedicated RNA databases could help identify putative functional organelle noncoding transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Sanita Lima
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada.
| | - Alexandre Rossi Paschoal
- Department of Computer Science, Bioinformatics and Pattern Recognition Group, Federal University of Technology - Paraná - UTFPR, Cornélio Procópio, PR, Brazil
| | - Douglas Silva Domingues
- Department of Genetics, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - David Roy Smith
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada.
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6
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Chu J, Newman J, Cho J. Molecular Mimicry of Transposable Elements in Plants. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2024:pcae058. [PMID: 38808931 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcae058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA elements that are particularly abundant in the plant genomes. They have long been considered as junk DNA; however, a growing body of evidence suggests that TE insertions promote genetic diversity that is essential for the adaptive evolution of a species. Thus far, studies have mainly investigated the cis-acting regulatory roles of TEs generated by their insertions nearby or within the host genes. However, the trans-acting effects of TE-derived RNA and DNA remained obscure to date. TEs contain various regulatory elements within their sequences that can accommodate the binding of specific RNAs and proteins. Recently, it was suggested that some of these cellular regulators are shared between TEs and the host genes, and the competition for the common host factors underlies the fine-tuned developmental reprogramming. In this review, we will highlight and discuss the latest discoveries on the biological functions of plant TEs, with a particular focus on their competitive binding with specific developmental regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chu
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, Beijing 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Josephine Newman
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Jungnam Cho
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
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7
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Traubenik S, Charon C, Blein T. From environmental responses to adaptation: the roles of plant lncRNAs. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 195:232-244. [PMID: 38246143 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
As sessile organisms, plants are continuously exposed to heterogeneous and changing environments and constantly need to adapt their growth strategies. They have evolved complex mechanisms to recognize various stress factors, activate appropriate signaling pathways, and respond accordingly by reprogramming the expression of multiple genes at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and even epigenome levels to tolerate stressful conditions such as drought, high temperature, nutrient deficiency, and pathogenic interactions. Apart from protein-coding genes, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key players in plant adaptation to environmental stresses. They are transcripts larger than 200 nucleotides without protein-coding potential. Still, they appear to regulate a wide range of processes, including epigenetic modifications and chromatin reorganization, as well as transcriptional and post-transcriptional modulation of gene expression, allowing plant adaptation to various environmental stresses. LncRNAs can positively or negatively modulate stress responses, affecting processes such as hormone signaling, temperature tolerance, and nutrient deficiency adaptation. Moreover, they also seem to play a role in stress memory, wherein prior exposure to mild stress enhances plant ability to adapt to subsequent stressful conditions. In this review, we summarize the contribution of lncRNAs in plant adaptation to biotic and abiotic stresses, as well as stress memory. The complex evolutionary conservation of lncRNAs is also discussed and provides insights into future research directions in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soledad Traubenik
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, INRAE, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Céline Charon
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, INRAE, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Thomas Blein
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, INRAE, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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8
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Chang NC, Wells JN, Wang AY, Schofield P, Huang YC, Truong VH, Simoes-Costa M, Feschotte C. Gag proteins encoded by endogenous retroviruses are required for zebrafish development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.25.586437. [PMID: 38585793 PMCID: PMC10996621 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.25.586437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) make up the bulk of eukaryotic genomes and examples abound of TE-derived sequences repurposed for organismal function. The process by which TEs become coopted remains obscure because most cases involve ancient, transpositionally inactive elements. Reports of active TEs serving beneficial functions are scarce and often contentious due to difficulties in manipulating repetitive sequences. Here we show that recently active TEs in zebrafish encode products critical for embryonic development. Knockdown and rescue experiments demonstrate that the endogenous retrovirus family BHIKHARI-1 (Bik-1) encodes a Gag protein essential for mesoderm development. Mechanistically, Bik-1 Gag associates with the cell membrane and its ectopic expression in chicken embryos alters cell migration. Similarly, depletion of BHIKHARI-2 Gag, a relative of Bik-1, causes defects in neural crest development in zebrafish. We propose an "addiction" model to explain how active TEs can be integrated into conserved developmental processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni-Chen Chang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Jonathan N Wells
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Andrew Y Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Phillip Schofield
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Yi-Chia Huang
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Vinh H Truong
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Marcos Simoes-Costa
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Cédric Feschotte
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
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9
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Flynn JM, Yamashita YM. The implications of satellite DNA instability on cellular function and evolution. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 156:152-159. [PMID: 37852904 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Abundant tandemly repeated satellite DNA is present in most eukaryotic genomes. Previous limitations including a pervasive view that it was uninteresting junk DNA, combined with challenges in studying it, are starting to dissolve - and recent studies have found important functions for satellite DNAs. The observed rapid evolution and implied instability of satellite DNA now has important significance for their functions and maintenance within the genome. In this review, we discuss the processes that lead to satellite DNA copy number instability, and the importance of mechanisms to manage the potential negative effects of instability. Satellite DNA is vulnerable to challenges during replication and repair, since it forms difficult-to-process secondary structures and its homology within tandem arrays can result in various types of recombination. Satellite DNA instability may be managed by DNA or chromatin-binding proteins ensuring proper nuclear localization and repair, or by proteins that process aberrant structures that satellite DNAs tend to form. We also discuss the pattern of satellite DNA mutations from recent mutation accumulation (MA) studies that have tracked changes in satellite DNA for up to 1000 generations with minimal selection. Finally, we highlight examples of satellite evolution from studies that have characterized satellites across millions of years of Drosophila fruit fly evolution, and discuss possible ways that selection might act on the satellite DNA composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jullien M Flynn
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Yukiko M Yamashita
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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10
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Luthra I, Jensen C, Chen XE, Salaudeen AL, Rafi AM, de Boer CG. Regulatory activity is the default DNA state in eukaryotes. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024; 31:559-567. [PMID: 38448573 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01235-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Genomes encode for genes and non-coding DNA, both capable of transcriptional activity. However, unlike canonical genes, many transcripts from non-coding DNA have limited evidence of conservation or function. Here, to determine how much biological noise is expected from non-genic sequences, we quantify the regulatory activity of evolutionarily naive DNA using RNA-seq in yeast and computational predictions in humans. In yeast, more than 99% of naive DNA bases were transcribed. Unlike the evolved transcriptome, naive transcripts frequently overlapped with opposite sense transcripts, suggesting selection favored coherent gene structures in the yeast genome. In humans, regulation-associated chromatin activity is predicted to be common in naive dinucleotide-content-matched randomized DNA. Here, naive and evolved DNA have similar co-occurrence and cell-type specificity of chromatin marks, challenging these as indicators of selection. However, in both yeast and humans, extreme high activities were rare in naive DNA, suggesting they result from selection. Overall, basal regulatory activity seems to be the default, which selection can hone to evolve a function or, if detrimental, repress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishika Luthra
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Cassandra Jensen
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Xinyi E Chen
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Asfar Lathif Salaudeen
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Abdul Muntakim Rafi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Carl G de Boer
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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11
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Davodabadi F, Mirinejad S, Malik S, Dhasmana A, Ulucan-Karnak F, Sargazi S, Sargazi S, Fathi-Karkan S, Rahdar A. Nanotherapeutic approaches for delivery of long non-coding RNAs: an updated review with emphasis on cancer. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:3881-3914. [PMID: 38353296 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr05656b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) comprise a wide range of RNA species whose length exceeds 200 nucleotides, which regulate the expression of genes and cellular functions in a wide range of organisms. Several diseases, including malignancy, have been associated with lncRNA dysregulation. Due to their functions in cancer development and progression, lncRNAs have emerged as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Several studies have investigated the anti-cancer properties of lncRNAs; however, only a few lncRNAs have been found to exhibit tumor suppressor properties. Furthermore, their length and poor stability make them difficult to synthesize. Thus, to overcome the instability of lncRNAs, poor specificity, and their off-target effects, researchers have constructed nanocarriers that encapsulate lncRNAs. Recently, translational medicine research has focused on delivering lncRNAs into tumor cells, including cancer cells, through nano-drug delivery systems in vivo. The developed nanocarriers can protect, target, and release lncRNAs under controlled conditions without appreciable adverse effects. To deliver lncRNAs to cancer cells, various nanocarriers, such as exosomes, microbubbles, polymer nanoparticles, 1,2-dioleyl-3-trimethylammoniumpropane chloride nanocarriers, and virus-like particles, have been successfully developed. Despite this, every nanocarrier has its own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to delivering nucleic acids effectively and safely. This article examines the current status of nanocarriers for lncRNA delivery in cancer therapy, focusing on their potential to enhance cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Davodabadi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Shekoufeh Mirinejad
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
| | - Sumira Malik
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Jharkhand, Ranchi-834002, India.
| | - Archna Dhasmana
- Himalayan School of Biosciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248140, India.
| | - Fulden Ulucan-Karnak
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Institute of Health Sciences, Ege University, İzmir 35100, Turkey.
| | - Sara Sargazi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
| | - Saman Sargazi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Sonia Fathi-Karkan
- Natural Products and Medicinal Plants Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, 94531-55166, Iran
- Department of Advanced Sciences and Technologies in Medicine, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd 9414974877, Iran.
| | - Abbas Rahdar
- Department of Physics, University of Zabol, Zabol, P. O. Box. 98613-35856, Iran.
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12
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Palazzo AF, Qiu Y, Kang YM. mRNA nuclear export: how mRNA identity features distinguish functional RNAs from junk transcripts. RNA Biol 2024; 21:1-12. [PMID: 38091265 PMCID: PMC10732640 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2023.2293339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The division of the cellular space into nucleoplasm and cytoplasm promotes quality control mechanisms that prevent misprocessed mRNAs and junk RNAs from gaining access to the translational machinery. Here, we explore how properly processed mRNAs are distinguished from both misprocessed mRNAs and junk RNAs by the presence or absence of various 'identity features'.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yi Qiu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yoon Mo Kang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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13
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Alageel AA, Alshammary AF, Ali Khan I. Molecular role of non-exonic variants in CALPAIN 10 gene in polycystic ovarian syndrome in Saudi women. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1303747. [PMID: 38213994 PMCID: PMC10783934 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1303747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Non-diabetic women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) often have abnormal insulin regulation. Calpain 10 (CALP10) is a biomarker of type 2 diabetes mellitus, with some of its single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) influencing PCOS development. Methods In this case-control study on 90 women each with and without PCOS, we explored the molecular role of five CALP10 SNPs using biochemical parameters and Sanger sequencing analyses. Results Different genetic models, genotypes, and allele frequencies were significantly associated with UCSNP-19 (rs3842570; p=0.01), UCSNP-44 (rs2975760; p=0.009), UCSNP-56 (rs2975762; p<0.0001), and UCSNP-63 (rs5030952; p=0.0003) in women with PCOS. The multiple logistic regression model showed a strong association of CALP10 SNPs with fasting blood glucose (p<0.001). ANOVA showed significant associations with various biochemical parameters such as FSH (p=0.0001) in UCSNP-19 (rs3842570), FI (p=0.002), TG (p=0.01) in UCSNP-56 (rs2975762) and FBG (p=0.001), FI (p=0.004), FSH (p=0.02) & LDLc (p=0.04) in UCSNP-63 (rs5030952) SNPs. Haplotype analysis also revealed significant associations between different combinations of alleles in the studied 5 SNPs in women with PCOS (p<0.05). Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction analysis showed the best gene-gene interactions among the five SNPs in CALP10I (p<0.05). However, dendrogram and graphical depletion models found no strong association in women with PCOS. Conclusion In conclusion, this study confirms rs3842570, rs2975760, rs2975767, and rs5030952 SNPs in CALP10 gene is associated in diagnosed PCOS women in the Saudi Arabia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Imran Ali Khan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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14
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Xu D, Tang L, Zhou J, Wang F, Cao H, Huang Y, Kapranov P. Evidence for widespread existence of functional novel and non-canonical human transcripts. BMC Biol 2023; 21:271. [PMID: 38001496 PMCID: PMC10675921 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01753-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fraction of functional sequence in the human genome remains a key unresolved question in Biology and the subject of vigorous debate. While a plethora of studies have connected a significant fraction of human DNA to various biochemical processes, the classical definition of function requires evidence of effects on cellular or organismal fitness that such studies do not provide. Although multiple high-throughput reverse genetics screens have been developed to address this issue, they are limited to annotated genomic elements and suffer from non-specific effects, arguing for a strong need to develop additional functional genomics approaches. RESULTS In this work, we established a high-throughput lentivirus-based insertional mutagenesis strategy as a forward genetics screen tool in aneuploid cells. Application of this approach to human cell lines in multiple phenotypic screens suggested the presence of many yet uncharacterized functional elements in the human genome, represented at least in part by novel exons of known and novel genes. The novel transcripts containing these exons can be massively, up to thousands-fold, induced by specific stresses, and at least some can represent bi-cistronic protein-coding mRNAs. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, these results argue that many unannotated and non-canonical human transcripts, including those that appear as aberrant splice products, have biological relevance under specific biological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyang Xu
- Institute of Genomics, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, 668 Jimei Road, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Lu Tang
- Institute of Genomics, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, 668 Jimei Road, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Junjun Zhou
- Institute of Genomics, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, 668 Jimei Road, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Institute of Genomics, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, 668 Jimei Road, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Huifen Cao
- Institute of Genomics, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, 668 Jimei Road, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Yu Huang
- Institute of Genomics, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, 668 Jimei Road, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Philipp Kapranov
- Institute of Genomics, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, 668 Jimei Road, Xiamen, 361021, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
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15
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Srivastava A, Srivastava A, Singh RK. Insight into the Epigenetics of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14955. [PMID: 37834404 PMCID: PMC10573522 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic reprogramming represents a series of essential events during many cellular processes including oncogenesis. The genome of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), an oncogenic herpesvirus, is predetermined for a well-orchestrated epigenetic reprogramming once it enters into the host cell. The initial epigenetic reprogramming of the KSHV genome allows restricted expression of encoded genes and helps to hide from host immune recognition. Infection with KSHV is associated with Kaposi's sarcoma, multicentric Castleman's disease, KSHV inflammatory cytokine syndrome, and primary effusion lymphoma. The major epigenetic modifications associated with KSHV can be labeled under three broad categories: DNA methylation, histone modifications, and the role of noncoding RNAs. These epigenetic modifications significantly contribute toward the latent-lytic switch of the KSHV lifecycle. This review gives a brief account of the major epigenetic modifications affiliated with the KSHV genome in infected cells and their impact on pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anusha Srivastava
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ankit Srivastava
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rajnish Kumar Singh
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Charotar University of Science and Technology, Changa 388421, Gujarat, India
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16
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Kontos CK, Karousi P, Artemaki PI, Abdelgawad A, Dimitriadou A, Machairas NP, Sideris DC, Pappa V, Scorilas A, Batish M, Papageorgiou SG. Novel circular RNAs of the apoptosis-related BAX and BCL2L12 genes identified in a chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell line using nanopore sequencing. FEBS Open Bio 2023; 13:1953-1966. [PMID: 37424436 PMCID: PMC10549219 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel RNA type generated by back-splicing, are key regulators of gene expression, with deregulated expression and established involvement in leukemia. The products of BCL2 and its homologs, including BAX and BCL2L12, are implicated in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, to the best of our knowledge, nothing is known about circRNAs produced by these two genes and their role in CLL. We sought to further elucidate the contribution of BAX and BCL2L12 in CLL by unraveling the identity, localization, and potential role of their circRNAs. Therefore, total RNA from the EHEB cell line and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of CLL patients and non-leukemic blood donors was extracted and reverse-transcribed using random hexamers. Next, nested PCRs with divergent primers were performed and the purified PCR products were subjected to 3rd generation nanopore sequencing. Nested PCRs were also applied to first-strand cDNAs synthesized from total RNA extracts of PBMCs from CLL patients and non-leukemic blood donors. Lastly, a single-molecule resolution fluorescent in situ hybridization method called circFISH was used to visualize the circRNA distribution in EHEB cells. We discovered several novel circRNAs produced by BAX and BCL2L12, which were characterized by great exon structure diversity. In addition, intriguing findings regarding their formation emerged. Interestingly, visualization of the most abundant circRNAs showed distinct intracellular localization. Moreover, a complex BAX and BCL2L12 circRNA expression pattern was revealed in CLL patients and non-leukemic blood donors. Our data suggest a multifaceted role of BAX and BCL2L12 circRNAs in B-cell CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos K. Kontos
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of BiologyNational and Kapodistrian University of AthensGreece
| | - Paraskevi Karousi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of BiologyNational and Kapodistrian University of AthensGreece
| | - Pinelopi I. Artemaki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of BiologyNational and Kapodistrian University of AthensGreece
| | - Ahmed Abdelgawad
- Department of Medical and Molecular SciencesUniversity of DelawareNewarkDEUSA
| | - Aspasia Dimitriadou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of BiologyNational and Kapodistrian University of AthensGreece
| | - Nikolaos P. Machairas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of BiologyNational and Kapodistrian University of AthensGreece
| | - Diamantis C. Sideris
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of BiologyNational and Kapodistrian University of AthensGreece
| | - Vasiliki Pappa
- Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research UnitUniversity General Hospital “Attikon”AthensGreece
| | - Andreas Scorilas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of BiologyNational and Kapodistrian University of AthensGreece
| | - Mona Batish
- Department of Medical and Molecular SciencesUniversity of DelawareNewarkDEUSA
| | - Sotirios G. Papageorgiou
- Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research UnitUniversity General Hospital “Attikon”AthensGreece
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17
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Menger FM, Rizvi SAA. Preassembly Theory Invoking Prehistoric DNA Alterations. WORLD FUTURES 2023; 79:635-646. [DOI: 10.1080/02604027.2023.2226594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
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18
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Rheindt FE, Bouchard P, Pyle RL, Welter-Schultes F, Aescht E, Ahyong ST, Ballerio A, Bourgoin T, Ceríaco LMP, Dmitriev D, Evenhuis N, Grygier MJ, Harvey MS, Kottelat M, Kluge N, Krell FT, Kojima JI, Kullander SO, Lucinda P, Lyal CHC, Scioscia CL, Whitmore D, Yanega D, Zhang ZQ, Zhou HZ, Pape T. Tightening the requirements for species diagnoses would help integrate DNA-based descriptions in taxonomic practice. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002251. [PMID: 37607211 PMCID: PMC10443861 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Modern advances in DNA sequencing hold the promise of facilitating descriptions of new organisms at ever finer precision but have come with challenges as the major Codes of bionomenclature contain poorly defined requirements for species and subspecies diagnoses (henceforth, species diagnoses), which is particularly problematic for DNA-based taxonomy. We, the commissioners of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, advocate a tightening of the definition of "species diagnosis" in future editions of Codes of bionomenclature, for example, through the introduction of requirements for specific information on the character states of differentiating traits in comparison with similar species. Such new provisions would enhance taxonomic standards and ensure that all diagnoses, including DNA-based ones, contain adequate taxonomic context. Our recommendations are intended to spur discussion among biologists, as broad community consensus is critical ahead of the implementation of new editions of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and other Codes of bionomenclature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank E. Rheindt
- National University of Singapore, Department of Biological Sciences, Singapore
| | - Patrice Bouchard
- Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard L. Pyle
- Department of Natural Sciences, Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Francisco Welter-Schultes
- Abteilung Evolution und Biodiversität der Tiere und Zoologisches Museum, Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Erna Aescht
- Biology Centre of the Upper Austrian Museum, Linz, Austria
| | - Shane T. Ahyong
- Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia
| | | | - Thierry Bourgoin
- Institut Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), MNHN-CNRS-Sorbonne Université-EPHE- Université des Antilles, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Luis M. P. Ceríaco
- Departamento de Vertebrados, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Dmitry Dmitriev
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Neal Evenhuis
- Department of Natural Sciences, Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Mark J. Grygier
- National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Checheng, Taiwan
| | - Mark S. Harvey
- Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool DC, Australia
| | | | - Nikita Kluge
- Department of Entomology, Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Frank-T. Krell
- Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Jun-ichi Kojima
- Natural History Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, Mito, Japan
| | - Sven O. Kullander
- Department of Zoology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Paulo Lucinda
- Laboratório de Ictiologia Sistemática, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Tocantins, Brazil
| | | | - Cristina Luisa Scioscia
- Arachnology Division, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniel Whitmore
- Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Douglas Yanega
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Zhi-Qiang Zhang
- Manaaki Whenua–Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Hong-Zhang Zhou
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Thomas Pape
- Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
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19
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Fan K, Pfister E, Weng Z. Toward a comprehensive catalog of regulatory elements. Hum Genet 2023; 142:1091-1111. [PMID: 36935423 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-023-02519-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory elements are the genomic regions that interact with transcription factors to control cell-type-specific gene expression in different cellular environments. A precise and complete catalog of functional elements encoded by the human genome is key to understanding mammalian gene regulation. Here, we review the current state of regulatory element annotation. We first provide an overview of assays for characterizing functional elements, including genome, epigenome, transcriptome, three-dimensional chromatin interaction, and functional validation assays. We then discuss computational methods for defining regulatory elements, including peak-calling and other statistical modeling methods. Finally, we introduce several high-quality lists of regulatory element annotations and suggest potential future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaili Fan
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, ASC5-1069, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Edith Pfister
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, ASC5-1069, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Zhiping Weng
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, ASC5-1069, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
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20
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Li Y, Zhai H, Tong L, Wang C, Xie Z, Zheng K. LncRNA Functional Screening in Organismal Development. Noncoding RNA 2023; 9:36. [PMID: 37489456 PMCID: PMC10366883 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna9040036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Controversy continues over the functional prevalence of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) despite their being widely investigated in all kinds of cells and organisms. In animals, lncRNAs have aroused general interest from exponentially increasing transcriptomic repertoires reporting their highly tissue-specific and developmentally dynamic expression, and more importantly, from growing experimental evidence supporting their functionality in facilitating organogenesis and individual fitness. In mammalian testes, while a great multitude of lncRNA species are identified, only a minority of them have been shown to be useful, and even fewer have been demonstrated as true requirements for male fertility using knockout models to date. This noticeable gap is attributed to the virtual existence of a large number of junk lncRNAs, the lack of an ideal germline culture system, difficulty in loss-of-function interrogation, and limited screening strategies. Facing these challenges, in this review, we discuss lncRNA functionality in organismal development and especially in mouse testis, with a focus on lncRNAs with functional screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Huicong Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Lingxiu Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Cuicui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Zhiming Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Ke Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
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21
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Ilan Y. Constrained disorder principle-based variability is fundamental for biological processes: Beyond biological relativity and physiological regulatory networks. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 180-181:37-48. [PMID: 37068713 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
The constrained disorder principle (CDP) defines systems based on their degree of disorder bounded by dynamic boundaries. The principle explains stochasticity in living and non-living systems. Denis Noble described the importance of stochasticity in biology, emphasizing stochastic processes at molecular, cellular, and higher levels in organisms as having a role beyond simple noise. The CDP and Noble's theories (NT) claim that biological systems use stochasticity. This paper presents the CDP and NT, discussing common notions and differences between the two theories. The paper presents the CDP-based concept of taking the disorder beyond its role in nature to correct malfunctions of systems and improve the efficiency of biological systems. The use of CDP-based algorithms embedded in second-generation artificial intelligence platforms is described. In summary, noise is inherent to complex systems and has a functional role. The CDP provides the option of using noise to improve functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaron Ilan
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Department of Medicine, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
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22
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Xu D, Tang L, Kapranov P. Complexities of mammalian transcriptome revealed by targeted RNA enrichment techniques. Trends Genet 2023; 39:320-333. [PMID: 36681580 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.12.004] [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: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Studies using highly sensitive targeted RNA enrichment methods have shown that a large portion of the human transcriptome remains to be discovered and that most of the genome is transcribed in a complex, interleaved fashion characterized by a complex web of transcripts emanating from protein coding and noncoding loci. These results resonate with those from single-cell transcriptome profiling endeavors that reveal the existence of multiple novel, cell type-specific transcripts and clearly demonstrate that our understanding of the complexities of the human transcriptome is far from being complete. Here, we review the current status of the targeted RNA enrichment techniques, their application to the discovery of novel cell type-specific transcripts, and their impact on our understanding of the human genome and transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyang Xu
- Institute of Genomics, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, 668 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Lu Tang
- Institute of Genomics, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, 668 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Philipp Kapranov
- Institute of Genomics, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, 668 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China.
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23
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Bertels F, Rainey PB. Ancient Darwinian replicators nested within eubacterial genomes. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2200085. [PMID: 36456469 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Integrative mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as transposons and insertion sequences, propagate within bacterial genomes, but persistence times in individual lineages are short. For long-term survival, MGEs must continuously invade new hosts by horizontal transfer. Theoretically, MGEs that persist for millions of years in single lineages, and are thus subject to vertical inheritance, should not exist. Here we draw attention to an exception - a class of MGE termed REPIN. REPINs are non-autonomous MGEs whose duplication depends on non-jumping RAYT transposases. Comparisons of REPINs and typical MGEs show that replication rates of REPINs are orders of magnitude lower, REPIN population size fluctuations correlate with changes in available genome space, REPIN conservation depends on RAYT function, and REPIN diversity accumulates within host lineages. These data lead to the hypothesis that REPINs form enduring, beneficial associations with eubacterial chromosomes. Given replicative nesting, our hypothesis predicts conflicts arising from the diverging effects of selection acting simultaneously on REPINs and host genomes. Evidence in support comes from patterns of REPIN abundance and diversity in two distantly related bacterial species. Together this bolsters the conclusion that REPINs are the genetic counterpart of mutualistic endosymbiotic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Bertels
- Department of Microbial Population Biology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
| | - Paul B Rainey
- Department of Microbial Population Biology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany.,Laboratory of Biophysics and Evolution, CBI, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Paris, France
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24
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Mani N, Daiya A, Chowdhury R, Mukherjee S, Chowdhury S. Epigenetic adaptations in drug-tolerant tumor cells. Adv Cancer Res 2023; 158:293-335. [PMID: 36990535 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2022.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Traditional chemotherapy against cancer is often severely hampered by acquired resistance to the drug. Epigenetic alterations and other mechanisms like drug efflux, drug metabolism, and engagement of survival pathways are crucial in evading drug pressure. Herein, growing evidence suggests that a subpopulation of tumor cells can often tolerate drug onslaught by entering a "persister" state with minimal proliferation. The molecular features of these persister cells are gradually unraveling. Notably, the "persisters" act as a cache of cells that can eventually re-populate the tumor post-withdrawal drug pressure and contribute to acquiring stable drug-resistant features. This underlines the clinical significance of the tolerant cells. Accumulating evidence highlights the importance of modulation of the epigenome as a critical adaptive strategy for evading drug pressure. Chromatin remodeling, altered DNA methylation, and de-regulation of non-coding RNA expression and function contribute significantly to this persister state. No wonder targeting adaptive epigenetic modifications is increasingly recognized as an appropriate therapeutic strategy to sensitize them and restore drug sensitivity. Furthermore, manipulating the tumor microenvironment and "drug holiday" is also explored to maneuver the epigenome. However, heterogeneity in adaptive strategies and lack of targeted therapies have significantly hindered the translation of epigenetic therapy to the clinics. In this review, we comprehensively analyze the epigenetic alterations adapted by the drug-tolerant cells, the therapeutic strategies employed to date, and their limitations and future prospects.
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25
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Boman J, Arnqvist G. Larger genomes show improved buffering of adult fitness against environmental stress in seed beetles. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20220450. [PMID: 36693428 PMCID: PMC9873469 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Our general understanding of the evolution of genome size (GS) is incomplete, and it has long been clear that GS does not reflect organismal complexity. Here, we assess the hypothesis that larger genomes may allow organisms to better cope with environmental variation. It is, for example, possible that genome expansion due to proliferation of transposable elements or gene duplications may affect the ability to regulate and fine-tune transcriptional profiles. We used 18 populations of the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus, which differ in GS by up to 4.5%, and exposed adults and juveniles to environmental stress in a series of experiments where stage-specific fitness was assayed. We found that populations with larger genomes were indeed better buffered against environmental stress for adult, but not for juvenile, fitness. The genetic correlation across populations between GS and canalization of adult fitness is consistent with a role for natural selection in the evolution of GS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesper Boman
- Evolutionary Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Göran Arnqvist
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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26
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Systems Biology of Ageing. Subcell Biochem 2023; 102:415-424. [PMID: 36600142 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-21410-3_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The ageing process is highly complex involving multiple processes operating at different biological levels. Systems Biology presents an approach using integrative computational and laboratory study that allows us to address such complexity. The approach relies on the computational analysis of knowledge and data to generate predictive models that may be validated with further laboratory experimentation. Our understanding of ageing is such that translational opportunities are within reach and systems biology offers a means to ensure that optimal decisions are made. We present an overview of the methods employed from bioinformatics and computational modelling and describe some of the insights into ageing that have been gained.
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27
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Neatu R, Enekwa I, Thompson DJ, Schwalbe EC, Fois G, Abdelaal G, Veuger S, Frick M, Braubach P, Moschos SA. The Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis-Associated Single Nucleotide Polymorphism RS35705950 Is Transcribed in a MUC5B Promoter Associated Long Non-Coding RNA (AC061979.1). Noncoding RNA 2022; 8:ncrna8060083. [PMID: 36548182 PMCID: PMC9781688 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna8060083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
LncRNAs are involved in regulatory processes in the human genome, including gene expression. The rs35705950 SNP, previously associated with IPF, overlaps with the recently annotated lncRNA AC061979.1, a 1712 nucleotide transcript located within the MUC5B promoter at chromosome 11p15.5. To document the expression pattern of the transcript, we processed 3.9 TBases of publicly available RNA-SEQ data across 27 independent studies involving lung airway epithelial cells. Epithelial lung cells showed expression of this putative pancRNA. The findings were independently validated in cell lines and primary cells. The rs35705950 is found within a conserved region (from fish to primates) within the expressed sequence indicating functional importance. These results implicate the rs35705950-containing AC061979.1 pancRNA as a novel component of the MUC5B expression control minicircuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruxandra Neatu
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Ifeanyi Enekwa
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Dean J. Thompson
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Edward C. Schwalbe
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Giorgio Fois
- Institue of General Physiology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, D89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Gina Abdelaal
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Stephany Veuger
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Manfred Frick
- Institue of General Physiology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, D89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Peter Braubach
- Institute of Pathology, MHH Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Sterghios A. Moschos
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
- Correspondence:
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28
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García-Andrade F, Vigueras-Villaseñor RM, Chávez-Saldaña MD, Rojas-Castañeda JC, Bahena-Ocampo IU, Aréchaga-Ocampo E, Díaz-Chávez J, Landero-Huerta DA. The Role of microRNAs in the Gonocyte Theory as Target of Malignancy: Looking for Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810526. [PMID: 36142439 PMCID: PMC9505168 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Some pediatric patients with cryptorchidism preserve cells with gonocyte characteristics beyond their differentiation period, which could support the theory of the gonocyte as a target for malignancy in the development of testicular neoplasia. One of the key molecules in gonocyte malignancy is represented by microRNAs (miRNAs). The goal of this review is to give an overview of miRNAs, a class of small non-coding RNAs that participate in the regulation of gene expression. We also aim to review the crucial role of several miRNAs that have been further described in the regulation of gonocyte differentiation to spermatogonia, which, when transformed, could give rise to germ cell neoplasia in situ, a precursor lesion to testicular germ cell tumors. Finally, the potential use of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in testicular neoplasia is addressed, due to their specificity and sensitivity compared to conventional markers, as well as their applications in therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola García-Andrade
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Ciudad de México 04530, Mexico
- Posgrado en Biología Experimental, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México 09310, Mexico
| | - Rosa María Vigueras-Villaseñor
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Ciudad de México 04530, Mexico
- Correspondence: (R.M.V.-V.); (D.A.L.-H.); Tel.: +52-(55)-1084-0900 (ext. 1453) (R.M.V.-V. & D.A.L.-H.); Fax: +52-(55)-1084-5533 (R.M.V.-V. & D.A.L.-H.)
| | | | | | - Iván Uriel Bahena-Ocampo
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México 09310, Mexico
| | - Elena Aréchaga-Ocampo
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Cuajimalpa, Ciudad de México 05348, Mexico
| | - José Díaz-Chávez
- Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico
| | - Daniel Adrian Landero-Huerta
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Ciudad de México 04530, Mexico
- Correspondence: (R.M.V.-V.); (D.A.L.-H.); Tel.: +52-(55)-1084-0900 (ext. 1453) (R.M.V.-V. & D.A.L.-H.); Fax: +52-(55)-1084-5533 (R.M.V.-V. & D.A.L.-H.)
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29
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Kõks S, Pfaff AL, Singleton LM, Bubb VJ, Quinn JP. Non-reference genome transposable elements (TEs) have a significant impact on the progression of the Parkinson's disease. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2022; 247:1680-1690. [PMID: 36000172 PMCID: PMC9597212 DOI: 10.1177/15353702221117147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex process of the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Studies on the genetic component of PD have predominantly focused on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using a cross-sectional case-control design in large genome-wide association studies. This approach while giving insight into a significant portion of the genetics of PD does not fully account for all the genetic components resulting in missing heritability. In this study, we approached this problem by focusing on the non-reference genome transposable elements (TEs) and their impact on the progression of PD using a longitudinal study design within the Parkinson's progression markers initiative (PPMI) cohort. We analyzed 2886 Alu repeats, 360 LINE1 and 128 SINE-VNTR-Alus (SVAs) that were called from the whole-genome sequence data which are not within the reference genome. The presence or absence of these non-reference TE variants is known as a retrotransposon insertion polymorphism, and measuring this polymorphism describes the impact of TEs on the traits. The variations for the presence or absence of the non-reference TE elements were modeled to align with the changes in the 114 outcome measures during the five-year follow-up period of the PPMI cohort. Linear mixed-effects models were used, and many TEs were found to have a highly significant effect on the longitudinal changes in the clinically important PD outcomes such as UPDRS subscale II, UPDRS total scores, and modified Schwab and England ADL scale. In addition, the progression of several imaging and functional measures, including the Caudate/Putamen ratio and levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) were also significantly affected by the TEs. In conclusion, this study identified the overwhelming effect of the non-reference TEs on the progression of PD and is a good example of the impact the variations in the "junk DNA" have on complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sulev Kõks
- Perron Institute for Neurological and
Translational Science, Perth, WA 6009, Australia,Centre for Molecular Medicine and
Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia,Sulev Kõks.
| | - Abigail L Pfaff
- Perron Institute for Neurological and
Translational Science, Perth, WA 6009, Australia,Centre for Molecular Medicine and
Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Lewis M Singleton
- Perron Institute for Neurological and
Translational Science, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Vivien J Bubb
- Department of Pharmacology and
Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of
Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
| | - John P Quinn
- Department of Pharmacology and
Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of
Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
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30
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Ponting CP, Haerty W. Genome-Wide Analysis of Human Long Noncoding RNAs: A Provocative Review. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2022; 23:153-172. [PMID: 35395170 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-112921-123710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Do long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) contribute little or substantively to human biology? To address how lncRNA loci and their transcripts, structures, interactions, and functions contribute to human traits and disease, we adopt a genome-wide perspective. We intend to provoke alternative interpretation of questionable evidence and thorough inquiry into unsubstantiated claims. We discuss pitfalls of lncRNA experimental and computational methods as well as opposing interpretations of their results. The majority of evidence, we argue, indicates that most lncRNA transcript models reflect transcriptional noise or provide minor regulatory roles, leaving relatively few human lncRNAs that contribute centrally to human development, physiology, or behavior. These important few tend to be spliced and better conserved but lack a simple syntax relating sequence to structure and mechanism, and so resist simple categorization. This genome-wide view should help investigators prioritize individual lncRNAs based on their likely contribution to human biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris P Ponting
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom;
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31
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Park EG, Ha H, Lee DH, Kim WR, Lee YJ, Bae WH, Kim HS. Genomic Analyses of Non-Coding RNAs Overlapping Transposable Elements and Its Implication to Human Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23168950. [PMID: 36012216 PMCID: PMC9409130 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It is estimated that up to 80% of the human genome is transcribed into RNA molecules but less than 2% of the genome encodes the proteins, and the rest of the RNA transcripts that are not translated into protein are called non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Many studies have revealed that ncRNAs have biochemical activities as epigenetic regulators at the post-transcriptional level. Growing evidence has demonstrated that transposable elements (TEs) contribute to a large percentage of ncRNAs’ transcription. The TEs inserted into certain parts of the genome can act as alternative promoters, enhancers, and insulators, and the accumulation of TEs increases genetic diversity in the human genome. The TEs can also generate microRNAs, so-called miRNA-derived from transposable elements (MDTEs), and are also implicated in disease progression, such as infectious diseases and cancer. Here, we analyzed the origin of ncRNAs and reviewed the published literature on MDTEs related to disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Gyung Park
- Department of Integrated Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
- Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Hongseok Ha
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Du Hyeong Lee
- Department of Integrated Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
- Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Woo Ryung Kim
- Department of Integrated Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
- Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Yun Ju Lee
- Department of Integrated Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
- Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Woo Hyeon Bae
- Department of Integrated Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
- Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Heui-Soo Kim
- Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
- Correspondence:
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32
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Exploring high-resolution chromatin interaction changes and functional enhancers of myogenic marker genes during myogenic differentiation. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102149. [PMID: 35787372 PMCID: PMC9352921 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102149] [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: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle differentiation (myogenesis) is a complex and highly coordinated biological process regulated by a series of myogenic marker genes. Chromatin interactions between gene’s promoters and their enhancers have an important role in transcriptional control. However, the high-resolution chromatin interactions of myogenic genes and their functional enhancers during myogenesis remain largely unclear. Here, we used circularized chromosome conformation capture coupled with next generation sequencing (4C-seq) to investigate eight myogenic marker genes in C2C12 myoblasts (C2C12-MBs) and C2C12 myotubes (C2C12-MTs). We revealed dynamic chromatin interactions of these marker genes during differentiation and identified 163 and 314 significant interaction sites (SISs) in C2C12-MBs and C2C12-MTs, respectively. The interacting genes of SISs in C2C12-MTs were mainly involved in muscle development, and histone modifications of the SISs changed during differentiation. Through functional genomic screening, we also identified 25 and 41 putative active enhancers in C2C12-MBs and C2C12-MTs, respectively. Using luciferase reporter assays for putative enhancers of Myog and Myh3, we identified eight activating enhancers. Furthermore, dCas9-KRAB epigenome editing and RNA-Seq revealed a role for Myog enhancers in the regulation of Myog expression and myogenic differentiation in the native genomic context. Taken together, this study lays the groundwork for understanding 3D chromatin interaction changes of myogenic genes during myogenesis and provides insights that contribute to our understanding of the role of enhancers in regulating myogenesis.
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33
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Haig D. Paradox lost: Concerted evolution and centromeric instability: Centromeres are hospitable habitats for repeats that evolve adaptations for proliferation within the nucleus sometimes at organismal cost.: Centromeres are hospitable habitats for repeats that evolve adaptations for proliferation within the nucleus sometimes at organismal cost. Bioessays 2022; 44:e2200023. [PMID: 35748194 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200023] [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: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Homologous centromeres compete for segregation to the secondary oocyte nucleus at female meiosis I. Centromeric repeats also compete with each other to populate centromeres in mitotic cells of the germline and have become adapted to use the recombinational machinery present at centromeres to promote their own propagation. Repeats are not needed at centromeres, rather centromeres appear to be hospitable habitats for the colonization and proliferation of repeats. This is probably an indirect consequence of two distinctive features of centromeric DNA. Centromeres are subject to breakage by the mechanical forces exerted by microtubules and meiotic crossing-over is suppressed. Centromeric proteins acting in trans are under selection to mitigate the costs of centromeric repeats acting in cis. Collateral costs of mitotic competition at centromeres may help to explain the high rates of aneuploidy observed in early human embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Haig
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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34
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fingeRNAt—A novel tool for high-throughput analysis of nucleic acid-ligand interactions. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1009783. [PMID: 35653385 PMCID: PMC9197077 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Computational methods play a pivotal role in drug discovery and are widely applied in virtual screening, structure optimization, and compound activity profiling. Over the last decades, almost all the attention in medicinal chemistry has been directed to protein-ligand binding, and computational tools have been created with this target in mind. With novel discoveries of functional RNAs and their possible applications, RNAs have gained considerable attention as potential drug targets. However, the availability of bioinformatics tools for nucleic acids is limited. Here, we introduce fingeRNAt—a software tool for detecting non-covalent interactions formed in complexes of nucleic acids with ligands. The program detects nine types of interactions: (i) hydrogen and (ii) halogen bonds, (iii) cation-anion, (iv) pi-cation, (v) pi-anion, (vi) pi-stacking, (vii) inorganic ion-mediated, (viii) water-mediated, and (ix) lipophilic interactions. However, the scope of detected interactions can be easily expanded using a simple plugin system. In addition, detected interactions can be visualized using the associated PyMOL plugin, which facilitates the analysis of medium-throughput molecular complexes. Interactions are also encoded and stored as a bioinformatics-friendly Structural Interaction Fingerprint (SIFt)—a binary string where the respective bit in the fingerprint is set to 1 if a particular interaction is present and to 0 otherwise. This output format, in turn, enables high-throughput analysis of interaction data using data analysis techniques. We present applications of fingeRNAt-generated interaction fingerprints for visual and computational analysis of RNA-ligand complexes, including analysis of interactions formed in experimentally determined RNA-small molecule ligand complexes deposited in the Protein Data Bank. We propose interaction fingerprint-based similarity as an alternative measure to RMSD to recapitulate complexes with similar interactions but different folding. We present an application of interaction fingerprints for the clustering of molecular complexes. This approach can be used to group ligands that form similar binding networks and thus have similar biological properties. The fingeRNAt software is freely available at https://github.com/n-szulc/fingeRNAt.
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35
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Nowak PG, Stencel A. How many ways can you die? Multiple biological deaths as a consequence of the multiple concepts of an organism. THEORETICAL MEDICINE AND BIOETHICS 2022; 43:127-154. [PMID: 35859085 PMCID: PMC9477939 DOI: 10.1007/s11017-022-09583-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
According to the mainstream position in the bioethical definition of death debate, death is to be equated with the cessation of an organism. Given such a perspective, some bioethicists uphold the position that brain-dead patients are dead, while others claim that they are alive. Regardless of the specific opinion on the status of brain-dead patients, the mere bioethical concept of death, according to many bioethicists, has the merit of being unanimous and univocal, as well as grounded in biology. In the present article, we challenge such a thesis. We provide evidence that theoretical biology operates with a plurality of equally valid organismic concepts, which imply different conclusions regarding the organismal status of a brain-dead patient. Moreover, the theoretical biology concepts of an organism are very distant from the view on an organism that appears by way of bioethicists theorizing on death. We conclude that if death is to be understood as the cessation of an organism, there is no single correct answer to the question of whether a brain-dead patient is alive or dead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Grzegorz Nowak
- Institute of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, Grodzka 52, 31-044 Kraków, Poland
| | - Adrian Stencel
- Institute of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, Grodzka 52, 31-044 Kraków, Poland
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36
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Cao H, Kapranov P. Methods to Analyze the Non-Coding RNA Interactome—Recent Advances and Challenges. Front Genet 2022; 13:857759. [PMID: 35368711 PMCID: PMC8969105 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.857759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Most of the human genome is transcribed to generate a multitude of non-coding RNAs. However, while these transcripts have generated an immense amount of scientific interest, their biological function remains a subject of an intense debate. Understanding mechanisms of action of non-coding RNAs is a key to addressing the issue of biological relevance of these transcripts. Based on some well-understood non-coding RNAs that function inside the cell by interacting with other molecules, it is generally believed many other non-coding transcripts could also function in a similar fashion. Therefore, development of methods that can map RNA interactome is the key to understanding functionality of the extensive cellular non-coding transcriptome. Here, we review the vast progress that has been made in the past decade in technologies that can map RNA interactions with different sites in DNA, proteins or other RNA molecules; the general approaches used to validate the existence of novel interactions; and the challenges posed by interpreting the data obtained using the interactome mapping methods.
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37
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Palazzo AF, Kejiou NS. Non-Darwinian Molecular Biology. Front Genet 2022; 13:831068. [PMID: 35251134 PMCID: PMC8888898 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.831068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
With the discovery of the double helical structure of DNA, a shift occurred in how biologists investigated questions surrounding cellular processes, such as protein synthesis. Instead of viewing biological activity through the lens of chemical reactions, this new field used biological information to gain a new profound view of how biological systems work. Molecular biologists asked new types of questions that would have been inconceivable to the older generation of researchers, such as how cellular machineries convert inherited biological information into functional molecules like proteins. This new focus on biological information also gave molecular biologists a way to link their findings to concepts developed by genetics and the modern synthesis. However, by the late 1960s this all changed. Elevated rates of mutation, unsustainable genetic loads, and high levels of variation in populations, challenged Darwinian evolution, a central tenant of the modern synthesis, where adaptation was the main driver of evolutionary change. Building on these findings, Motoo Kimura advanced the neutral theory of molecular evolution, which advocates that selection in multicellular eukaryotes is weak and that most genomic changes are neutral and due to random drift. This was further elaborated by Jack King and Thomas Jukes, in their paper “Non-Darwinian Evolution”, where they pointed out that the observed changes seen in proteins and the types of polymorphisms observed in populations only become understandable when we take into account biochemistry and Kimura’s new theory. Fifty years later, most molecular biologists remain unaware of these fundamental advances. Their adaptionist viewpoint fails to explain data collected from new powerful technologies which can detect exceedingly rare biochemical events. For example, high throughput sequencing routinely detects RNA transcripts being produced from almost the entire genome yet are present less than one copy per thousand cells and appear to lack any function. Molecular biologists must now reincorporate ideas from classical biochemistry and absorb modern concepts from molecular evolution, to craft a new lens through which they can evaluate the functionality of transcriptional units, and make sense of our messy, intricate, and complicated genome.
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38
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Nwokwu CD, Xiao AY, Harrison L, Nestorova GG. Identification of microRNA-mRNA regulatory network associated with oxidative DNA damage in human astrocytes. ASN Neuro 2022; 14:17590914221101704. [PMID: 35570825 PMCID: PMC9118907 DOI: 10.1177/17590914221101704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The high lipid content of the brain, coupled with its heavy oxygen dependence and relatively weak antioxidant system, makes it highly susceptible to oxidative DNA damage that contributes to neurodegeneration. This study is aimed at identifying specific ROS-responsive miRNAs that modulate the expression and activity of the DNA repair proteins in human astrocytes, which could serve as potential biomarkers and lead to the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for neurological diseases. Oxidative DNA damage was established after treatment of human astrocytes with 10μM sodium dichromate for 16 h. Comet assay analysis indicated a significant increase in oxidized guanine lesions. RT-qPCR and ELISA assays confirmed that sodium dichromate reduced the mRNA and protein expression levels of the human base-excision repair enzyme, 8-deoxyguanosine DNA glycosylase 1 (hOGG1). Small RNAseq data were generated on an Ion Torrent™ system and the differentially expressed miRNAs were identified using Partek Flow® software. The biologically significant miRNAs were selected using miRNet 2.0. Oxidative-stress-induced DNA damage was associated with a significant decrease in miRNA expression: 231 downregulated miRNAs and 2 upregulated miRNAs (p < 0.05; >2-fold). In addition to identifying multiple miRNA-mRNA pairs involved in DNA repair processes, this study uncovered a novel miRNA-mRNA pair interaction: miR-1248:OGG1. Inhibition of miR-1248 via the transfection of its inhibitor restored the expression levels of hOGG1. Therefore, targeting the identified microRNA candidates could ameliorate the nuclear DNA damage caused by the brain's exposure to mutagens, reduce the incidence and improve the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adam Y. Xiao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA
| | - Lynn Harrison
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA
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39
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Fagundes NJ, Bisso-Machado R, Figueiredo PI, Varal M, Zani AL. OUP accepted manuscript. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:6583081. [PMID: 35535669 PMCID: PMC9086759 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
“Junk DNA” is a popular yet controversial concept that states that organisms carry in their genomes DNA that has no positive impact on their fitness. Nonetheless, biochemical functions have been identified for an increasing fraction of DNA elements traditionally seen as “Junk DNA”. These findings have been interpreted as fundamentally undermining the “Junk DNA” concept. Here, we reinforce previous arguments that this interpretation relies on an inadequate concept of biological function that does not consider the selected effect of a given genomic structure, which is central to the “Junk DNA” concept. Next, we suggest that another (though ignored) confounding factor is that the discussion about biological functions includes two different dimensions: a horizontal, ecological dimension that reflects how a given genomic element affects fitness in a specific time, and a vertical, temporal dimension that reflects how a given genomic element persisted along time. We suggest that “Junk DNA” should be used exclusively relative to the horizontal dimension, while for the vertical dimension, we propose a new term, “Spam DNA”, that reflects the fact that a given genomic element may persist in the genome even if not selected for on their origin. Importantly, these concepts are complementary. An element can be both “Spam DNA” and “Junk DNA”, and “Spam DNA” can also be recruited to perform evolved biological functions, as illustrated in processes of exaptation or constructive neutral evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rafael Bisso-Machado
- Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Pedro I.C.C. Figueiredo
- Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Maikel Varal
- Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - André L.S. Zani
- Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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40
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Akhlaghpour H. An RNA-Based Theory of Natural Universal Computation. J Theor Biol 2021; 537:110984. [PMID: 34979104 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2021.110984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Life is confronted with computation problems in a variety of domains including animal behavior, single-cell behavior, and embryonic development. Yet we currently do not know of a naturally existing biological system that is capable of universal computation, i.e., Turing-equivalent in scope. Generic finite-dimensional dynamical systems (which encompass most models of neural networks, intracellular signaling cascades, and gene regulatory networks) fall short of universal computation, but are assumed to be capable of explaining cognition and development. I present a class of models that bridge two concepts from distant fields: combinatory logic (or, equivalently, lambda calculus) and RNA molecular biology. A set of basic RNA editing rules can make it possible to compute any computable function with identical algorithmic complexity to that of Turing machines. The models do not assume extraordinarily complex molecular machinery or any processes that radically differ from what we already know to occur in cells. Distinct independent enzymes can mediate each of the rules and RNA molecules solve the problem of parenthesis matching through their secondary structure. In the most plausible of these models all of the editing rules can be implemented with merely cleavage and ligation operations at fixed positions relative to predefined motifs. This demonstrates that universal computation is well within the reach of molecular biology. It is therefore reasonable to assume that life has evolved - or possibly began with - a universal computer that yet remains to be discovered. The variety of seemingly unrelated computational problems across many scales can potentially be solved using the same RNA-based computation system. Experimental validation of this theory may immensely impact our understanding of memory, cognition, development, disease, evolution, and the early stages of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hessameddin Akhlaghpour
- Laboratory of Integrative Brain Function, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
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41
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Helmy M, Selvarajoo K. Systems Biology to Understand and Regulate Human Retroviral Proinflammatory Response. Front Immunol 2021; 12:736349. [PMID: 34867957 PMCID: PMC8635014 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.736349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The majority of human genome are non-coding genes. Recent research have revealed that about half of these genome sequences make up of transposable elements (TEs). A branch of these belong to the endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), which are germline viral infection that occurred over millions of years ago. They are generally harmless as evolutionary mutations have made them unable to produce viral agents and are mostly epigenetically silenced. Nevertheless, ERVs are able to express by still unknown mechanisms and recent evidences have shown links between ERVs and major proinflammatory diseases and cancers. The major challenge is to elucidate a detailed mechanistic understanding between them, so that novel therapeutic approaches can be explored. Here, we provide a brief overview of TEs, human ERVs and their links to microbiome, innate immune response, proinflammatory diseases and cancer. Finally, we recommend the employment of systems biology approaches for future HERV research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Helmy
- Bioinformatics Institute (BII), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Computer Science, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Kumar Selvarajoo
- Bioinformatics Institute (BII), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology Translational Research Program & SynCTI, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS), Kent Ridge, Singapore
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Levchenko SM, Pliss A, Peng X, Prasad PN, Qu J. Fluorescence lifetime imaging for studying DNA compaction and gene activities. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2021; 10:224. [PMID: 34728612 PMCID: PMC8563720 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-021-00664-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Optical imaging is a most useful and widespread technique for the investigation of the structure and function of the cellular genomes. However, an analysis of immensely convoluted and irregularly compacted DNA polymer is highly challenging even by modern super-resolution microscopy approaches. Here we propose fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) for the advancement of studies of genomic structure including DNA compaction, replication as well as monitoring of gene expression. The proposed FLIM assay employs two independent mechanisms for DNA compaction sensing. One mechanism relies on the inverse quadratic relation between the fluorescence lifetimes of fluorescence probes incorporated into DNA and their local refractive index, variable due to DNA compaction density. Another mechanism is based on the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) process between the donor and the acceptor fluorophores, both incorporated into DNA. Both these proposed mechanisms were validated in cultured cells. The obtained data unravel a significant difference in compaction of the gene-rich and gene-poor pools of genomic DNA. We show that the gene-rich DNA is loosely compacted compared to the dense DNA domains devoid of active genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svitlana M Levchenko
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
- Department of Cell Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Artem Pliss
- Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14260-3000, USA
| | - Xiao Peng
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
| | - Paras N Prasad
- Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14260-3000, USA.
| | - Junle Qu
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China.
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Zhou L, Zhu C, Fang X, Liu H, Zhong S, Li Y, Liu J, Song Y, Jian X, Lin Z. Gene duplication drove the loss of awn in sorghum. MOLECULAR PLANT 2021; 14:1831-1845. [PMID: 34271177 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2021.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Loss of the awn in some cereals, including sorghum, is a key transition during cereal domestication or improvement that has facilitated grain harvest and storage. The genetic basis of awn loss in sorghum during domestication or improvement remains unknown. Here, we identified the awn1 gene encoding a transcription factor with the ALOG domain that is responsible for awn loss during sorghum domestication or improvement. awn1 arose from a gene duplication on chromosome 10 that translocated to chromosome 3, recruiting a new promoter from the neighboring intergenic region filled with "noncoding DNA" and recreating the first exon and intron. awn1 acquired high expression after duplication and represses the elongation of awns in domesticated sorghum. Comparative mapping revealed high collinearity at the awn1 paralog locus on chromosome 10 across cereals, and awn growth and development were successfully reactivated on the rice spikelet by inactivating the rice awn1 ortholog. RNA-seq and DAP-seq revealed that as a transcriptional repressor, AWN1 bound directly to a motif in the regulatory regions of three MADS genes related to flower development and two genes, DL and LKS2, involved in awn development. AWN1 downregulates the expression of these genes, thereby repressing awn elongation. The preexistence of regulatory elements in the neighboring intergenic region of awn1 before domestication implicates that noncoding DNA may serve as a treasure trove for evolution during sorghum adaptation to a changing world. Taken together, our results suggest that gene duplication can rapidly drive the evolution of gene regulatory networks in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leina Zhou
- National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Crop Molecular Breeding, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Can Zhu
- National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Crop Molecular Breeding, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaojian Fang
- National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Crop Molecular Breeding, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hangqin Liu
- National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Crop Molecular Breeding, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shuyang Zhong
- National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Crop Molecular Breeding, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yan Li
- National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Crop Molecular Breeding, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jiacheng Liu
- National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Crop Molecular Breeding, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yang Song
- National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Crop Molecular Breeding, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xing Jian
- National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Crop Molecular Breeding, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhongwei Lin
- National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Crop Molecular Breeding, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
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Munyenyembe K, Timmons C, Weiner AKM, Katz LA, Yan Y. DAPI staining and DNA content estimation of nuclei in uncultivable microbial eukaryotes (Arcellinida and Ciliates). Eur J Protistol 2021; 81:125840. [PMID: 34717075 PMCID: PMC8699166 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2021.125840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Though representing a major component of eukaryotic biodiversity, many microbial eukaryotes remain poorly studied, including the focus of the present work, testate amoebae of the order Arcellinida (Amoebozoa) and non-model lineages of ciliates (Alveolata). In particular, knowledge of genome structures and changes in genome content over the often-complex life cycles of these lineages remains enigmatic. However, the limited available knowledge suggests that microbial eukaryotes have the potential to challenge our textbook views on eukaryotic genomes and genome evolution. In this study, we developed protocols for DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining of Arcellinida nuclei and adapted protocols for ciliates. In addition, image analysis software was used to estimate the DNA content in the nuclei of Arcellinida and ciliates, and the measurements of target organisms were compared to those of well-known model organisms.The results demonstrate that the methods we have developed for nuclear staining in these lineages are effective and can be applied to other microbial eukaryotic groups by adjusting certain stages in the protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketty Munyenyembe
- Smith College, Department of Biological Sciences, Northampton, MA, USA
| | - Caitlin Timmons
- Smith College, Department of Biological Sciences, Northampton, MA, USA
| | - Agnes K M Weiner
- Smith College, Department of Biological Sciences, Northampton, MA, USA
| | - Laura A Katz
- Smith College, Department of Biological Sciences, Northampton, MA, USA; University of Massachusetts Amherst, Program in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Amherst, MA, USA.
| | - Ying Yan
- Smith College, Department of Biological Sciences, Northampton, MA, USA.
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Eukaryotic Genomes Show Strong Evolutionary Conservation of k-mer Composition and Correlation Contributions between Introns and Intergenic Regions. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12101571. [PMID: 34680967 PMCID: PMC8536142 DOI: 10.3390/genes12101571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Several strongly conserved DNA sequence patterns in and between introns and intergenic regions (IIRs) consisting of short tandem repeats (STRs) with repeat lengths <3 bp have already been described in the kingdom of Animalia. In this work, we expanded the search and analysis of conserved DNA sequence patterns to a wider range of eukaryotic genomes. Our aims were to confirm the conservation of these patterns, to support the hypothesis on their functional constraints and/or the identification of unknown patterns. We pairwise compared genomic DNA sequences of genes, exons, CDS, introns and intergenic regions of 34 Embryophyta (land plants), 30 Protista and 29 Fungi using established k-mer-based (alignment-free) comparison methods. Additionally, the results were compared with values derived for Animalia in former studies. We confirmed strong correlations between the sequence structures of IIRs spanning over the entire domain of Eukaryotes. We found that the high correlations within introns, intergenic regions and between the two are a result of conserved abundancies of STRs with repeat units ≤2 bp (e.g., (AT)n). For some sequence patterns and their inverse complementary sequences, we found a violation of equal distribution on complementary DNA strands in a subset of genomes. Looking at mismatches within the identified STR patterns, we found specific preferences for certain nucleotides stable over all four phylogenetic kingdoms. We conclude that all of these conserved patterns between IIRs indicate a shared function of these sequence structures related to STRs.
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Linquist S, Fullerton B. Transposon dynamics and the epigenetic switch hypothesis. THEORETICAL MEDICINE AND BIOETHICS 2021; 42:137-154. [PMID: 34919173 PMCID: PMC8938347 DOI: 10.1007/s11017-021-09548-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The recent explosion of interest in epigenetics is often portrayed as the dawning of a scientific revolution that promises to transform biomedical science along with developmental and evolutionary biology. Much of this enthusiasm surrounds what we call the epigenetic switch hypothesis, which regards certain examples of epigenetic inheritance as an adaptive organismal response to environmental change. This interpretation overlooks an alternative explanation in terms of coevolutionary dynamics between parasitic transposons and the host genome. This raises a question about whether epigenetics researchers tend to overlook transposon dynamics more generally. To address this question, we surveyed a large sample of scientific publications on the topics of epigenetics and transposons over the past fifty years. We found that enthusiasm for epigenetics is often inversely related to interest in transposon dynamics across the four disciplines we examined. Most surprising was a declining interest in transposons within biomedical science and cellular and molecular biology over the past two decades. Also notable was a delayed and relatively muted enthusiasm for epigenetics within evolutionary biology. An analysis of scientific abstracts from the past twenty-five years further reveals systematic differences among disciplines in their uses of the term epigenetic, especially with respect to heritability commitments and functional interpretations. Taken together, these results paint a nuanced picture of the rise of epigenetics and the possible neglect of transposon dynamics, especially among biomedical scientists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Linquist
- Department of Philosophy, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
| | - Brady Fullerton
- Department of Philosophy, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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47
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Treaster S, Daane JM, Harris MP. Refining Convergent Rate Analysis with Topology in Mammalian Longevity and Marine Transitions. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:5190-5203. [PMID: 34324001 PMCID: PMC8557430 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The quest to map the genetic foundations of phenotypes has been empowered by the modern diversity, quality, and availability of genomic resources. Despite these expanding resources, the abundance of variation within lineages makes it challenging to associate genetic change to specific phenotypes, without an a priori means of isolating the changes from background genomic variation. Evolution provides this means through convergence-i.e., the shared variation that may result from replicate evolutionary experiments across independent trait occurrences. To leverage these opportunities, we developed TRACCER: Topologically Ranked Analysis of Convergence via Comparative Evolutionary Rates. Compared to current methods, this software empowers rate convergence analysis by factoring in topological relationships, because genetic variation between phylogenetically proximate trait changes is more likely to be facilitating the trait. Comparisons are performed not with singular branches, but with the complete paths to the most recent common ancestor for each pair of lineages. This ensures that comparisons represent a single context diverging over the same timeframe while obviating the problematic requirement of assigning ancestral states. We applied TRACCER to two case studies: mammalian transitions to marine environments, an unambiguous collection of traits which have independently evolved three times; and the evolution of mammalian longevity, a less delineated trait but with more instances to compare. By factoring in topology, TRACCER identifies highly significant, convergent genetic signals, with important incongruities and statistical resolution when compared to existing approaches. These improvements in sensitivity and specificity of convergence analysis generates refined targets for downstream validation and identification of genotype-phenotype relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Treaster
- Department of Orthopaedic Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02124, USA.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02124, USA
| | - Jacob M Daane
- Department of Orthopaedic Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02124, USA.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02124, USA.,Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University Marine Science Center, Nahant, MA, 01908, USA
| | - Matthew P Harris
- Department of Orthopaedic Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02124, USA.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02124, USA
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48
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Shen Q, Wang YE, Palazzo AF. Crosstalk between nucleocytoplasmic trafficking and the innate immune response to viral infection. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:100856. [PMID: 34097873 PMCID: PMC8254040 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The nuclear pore complex is the sole gateway connecting the nucleoplasm and cytoplasm. In humans, the nuclear pore complex is one of the largest multiprotein assemblies in the cell, with a molecular mass of ∼110 MDa and consisting of 8 to 64 copies of about 34 different nuclear pore proteins, termed nucleoporins, for a total of 1000 subunits per pore. Trafficking events across the nuclear pore are mediated by nuclear transport receptors and are highly regulated. The nuclear pore complex is also used by several RNA viruses and almost all DNA viruses to access the host cell nucleoplasm for replication. Viruses hijack the nuclear pore complex, and nuclear transport receptors, to access the nucleoplasm where they replicate. In addition, the nuclear pore complex is used by the cell innate immune system, a network of signal transduction pathways that coordinates the first response to foreign invaders, including viruses and other pathogens. Several branches of this response depend on dynamic signaling events that involve the nuclear translocation of downstream signal transducers. Mounting evidence has shown that these signaling cascades, especially those steps that involve nucleocytoplasmic trafficking events, are targeted by viruses so that they can evade the innate immune system. This review summarizes how nuclear pore proteins and nuclear transport receptors contribute to the innate immune response and highlights how viruses manipulate this cellular machinery to favor infection. A comprehensive understanding of nuclear pore proteins in antiviral innate immunity will likely contribute to the development of new antiviral therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingtang Shen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
| | - Yifan E Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alexander F Palazzo
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Torcivia JP, Mazumder R. Scanning window analysis of non-coding regions within normal-tumor whole-genome sequence samples. Brief Bioinform 2021; 22:bbaa203. [PMID: 32940334 PMCID: PMC8138877 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbaa203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomics has benefited from an explosion in affordable high-throughput technology for whole-genome sequencing. The regulatory and functional aspects in non-coding regions may be an important contributor to oncogenesis. Whole-genome tumor-normal paired alignments were used to examine the non-coding regions in five cancer types and two races. Both a sliding window and a binning strategy were introduced to uncover areas of higher than expected variation for additional study. We show that the majority of cancer associated mutations in 154 whole-genome sequences covering breast invasive carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma and uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma cancers and two races are found outside of the coding region (4 432 885 in non-gene regions versus 1 412 731 in gene regions). A pan-cancer analysis found significantly mutated windows (292 to 3881 in count) demonstrating that there are significant numbers of large mutated regions in the non-coding genome. The 59 significantly mutated windows were found in all studied races and cancers. These offer 16 regions ripe for additional study within 12 different chromosomes-2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 16, 18, 20, 21 and X. Many of these regions were found in centromeric locations. The X chromosome had the largest set of universal windows that cluster almost exclusively in Xq11.1-an area linked to chromosomal instability and oncogenesis. Large consecutive clusters (super windows) were found (19 to 114 in count) providing further evidence that large mutated regions in the genome are influencing cancer development. We show remarkable similarity in highly mutated non-coding regions across both cancer and race.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Torcivia
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - R Mazumder
- The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
- McCormick Genomic and Proteomic Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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50
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Lopes M, Louzada S, Gama-Carvalho M, Chaves R. Genomic Tackling of Human Satellite DNA: Breaking Barriers through Time. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4707. [PMID: 33946766 PMCID: PMC8125562 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
(Peri)centromeric repetitive sequences and, more specifically, satellite DNA (satDNA) sequences, constitute a major human genomic component. SatDNA sequences can vary on a large number of features, including nucleotide composition, complexity, and abundance. Several satDNA families have been identified and characterized in the human genome through time, albeit at different speeds. Human satDNA families present a high degree of sub-variability, leading to the definition of various subfamilies with different organization and clustered localization. Evolution of satDNA analysis has enabled the progressive characterization of satDNA features. Despite recent advances in the sequencing of centromeric arrays, comprehensive genomic studies to assess their variability are still required to provide accurate and proportional representation of satDNA (peri)centromeric/acrocentric short arm sequences. Approaches combining multiple techniques have been successfully applied and seem to be the path to follow for generating integrated knowledge in the promising field of human satDNA biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Lopes
- Laboratory of Cytogenomics and Animal Genomics (CAG), Department of Genetics and Biotechnology (DGB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; (M.L.); (S.L.)
- Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Sandra Louzada
- Laboratory of Cytogenomics and Animal Genomics (CAG), Department of Genetics and Biotechnology (DGB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; (M.L.); (S.L.)
- Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Margarida Gama-Carvalho
- Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Raquel Chaves
- Laboratory of Cytogenomics and Animal Genomics (CAG), Department of Genetics and Biotechnology (DGB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; (M.L.); (S.L.)
- Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal;
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