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Tian Y, Yu F, Yun E, Lin JW, Man HY. mRNA nuclear retention reduces AMPAR expression and promotes autistic behavior in UBE3A-overexpressing mice. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:1282-1309. [PMID: 38316900 PMCID: PMC10933332 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00073-1] [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: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
UBE3A is a common genetic factor in ASD etiology, and transgenic mice overexpressing UBE3A exhibit typical autistic-like behaviors. Because AMPA receptors (AMPARs) mediate most of the excitatory synaptic transmission in the brain, and synaptic dysregulation is considered one of the primary cellular mechanisms in ASD pathology, we investigate here the involvement of AMPARs in UBE3A-dependent ASD. We show that expression of the AMPAR GluA1 subunit is decreased in UBE3A-overexpressing mice, and that AMPAR-mediated neuronal activity is reduced. GluA1 mRNA is trapped in the nucleus of UBE3A-overexpressing neurons, suppressing GluA1 protein synthesis. Also, SARNP, an mRNA nuclear export protein, is downregulated in UBE3A-overexpressing neurons, causing GluA1 mRNA nuclear retention. Restoring SARNP levels not only rescues GluA1 mRNA localization and protein expression, but also normalizes neuronal activity and autistic behaviors in mice overexpressing UBE3A. These findings indicate that SARNP plays a crucial role in the cellular and behavioral phenotypes of UBE3A-induced ASD by regulating nuclear mRNA trafficking and protein translation of a key AMPAR subunit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Tian
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Feiyuan Yu
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Eunice Yun
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Jen-Wei Lin
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Heng-Ye Man
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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2
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Brouns T, Lux V, Van Belle S, Christ F, Veverka V, Debyser Z. The Impact of Lens Epithelium-Derived Growth Factor p75 Dimerization on Its Tethering Function. Cells 2024; 13:227. [PMID: 38334618 PMCID: PMC10854676 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030227] [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: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The transcriptional co-activator lens epithelium-derived growth factor/p75 (LEDGF/p75) plays an important role in the biology of the cell and in several human diseases, including MLL-rearranged acute leukemia, autoimmunity, and HIV-1 infection. In both health and disease, LEDGF/p75 functions as a chromatin tether that interacts with proteins such as MLL1 and HIV-1 integrase via its integrase-binding domain (IBD) and with chromatin through its N-terminal PWWP domain. Recently, dimerization of LEDGF/p75 was shown, mediated by a network of electrostatic contacts between amino acids from the IBD and the C-terminal α6-helix. Here, we investigated the functional impact of LEDGF/p75 variants on the dimerization using biochemical and cellular interaction assays. The data demonstrate that the C-terminal α6-helix folds back in cis on the IBD of monomeric LEDGF/p75. We discovered that the presence of DNA stimulates LEDGF/p75 dimerization. LEDGF/p75 dimerization enhances binding to MLL1 but not to HIV-1 integrase, a finding that was observed in vitro and validated in cell culture. Whereas HIV-1 replication was not dependent on LEDGF/p75 dimerization, colony formation of MLLr-dependent human leukemic THP-1 cells was. In conclusion, our data indicate that intricate changes in the quaternary structure of LEDGF/p75 modulate its tethering function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tine Brouns
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium; (T.B.); (S.V.B.); (F.C.)
| | - Vanda Lux
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 16000 Prague, Czech Republic; (V.L.); (V.V.)
| | - Siska Van Belle
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium; (T.B.); (S.V.B.); (F.C.)
| | - Frauke Christ
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium; (T.B.); (S.V.B.); (F.C.)
| | - Václav Veverka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 16000 Prague, Czech Republic; (V.L.); (V.V.)
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zeger Debyser
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium; (T.B.); (S.V.B.); (F.C.)
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3
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Nettles SA, Ikeuchi Y, Lefton KB, Abbasi L, Erickson A, Agwu C, Papouin T, Bonni A, Gabel HW. MeCP2 represses the activity of topoisomerase IIβ in long neuronal genes. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113538. [PMID: 38096051 PMCID: PMC10844882 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113538] [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: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A unique signature of neurons is the high expression of the longest genes in the genome. These genes have essential neuronal functions, and disruption of their expression has been implicated in neurological disorders. DNA topoisomerases resolve DNA topological constraints and facilitate neuronal long gene expression. Conversely, the Rett syndrome protein, methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), can transcriptionally repress long genes. How these factors regulate long genes is not well understood, and whether they interact is not known. Here, we identify and map a functional interaction between MeCP2 and topoisomerase IIβ (TOP2β) in mouse neurons. We profile neuronal TOP2β activity genome wide, detecting enrichment at regulatory regions and gene bodies of long genes, including MeCP2-regulated genes. We show that loss and overexpression of MeCP2 alter TOP2β activity at MeCP2-regulated genes. These findings uncover a mechanism of TOP2β inhibition by MeCP2 in neurons and implicate TOP2β dysregulation in disorders caused by MeCP2 disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabin A Nettles
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Yoshiho Ikeuchi
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Katheryn B Lefton
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ladan Abbasi
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Alyssa Erickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Chibueze Agwu
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Thomas Papouin
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Azad Bonni
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Harrison W Gabel
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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4
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Jung S, Shah S, Han G, Richter JD. FMRP deficiency leads to multifactorial dysregulation of splicing and mislocalization of MBNL1 to the cytoplasm. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002417. [PMID: 38048343 PMCID: PMC10721184 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002417] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is often modeled in Fmr1 knockout mice where the RNA-binding protein FMRP is absent. Here, we show that in Fmr1-deficient mice, RNA mis-splicing occurs in several brain regions and peripheral tissues. To assess molecular mechanisms of splicing mis-regulation, we employed N2A cells depleted of Fmr1. In the absence of FMRP, RNA-specific exon skipping events are linked to the splicing factors hnRNPF, PTBP1, and MBNL1. FMRP regulates the translation of Mbnl1 mRNA as well as Mbnl1 RNA auto-splicing. Elevated Mbnl1 auto-splicing in FMRP-deficient cells results in the loss of a nuclear localization signal (NLS)-containing exon. This in turn alters the nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio of MBNL1. This redistribution of MBNL1 isoforms in Fmr1-deficient cells could result in downstream splicing changes in other RNAs. Indeed, further investigation revealed that splicing disruptions resulting from Fmr1 depletion could be rescued by overexpression of nuclear MBNL1. Altered Mbnl1 auto-splicing also occurs in human FXS postmortem brain. These data suggest that FMRP-controlled translation and RNA processing may cascade into a general dys-regulation of splicing in Fmr1-deficient cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suna Jung
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sneha Shah
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Geongoo Han
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Joel D. Richter
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
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5
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Liu R, Zhao E, Yu H, Yuan C, Abbas MN, Cui H. Methylation across the central dogma in health and diseases: new therapeutic strategies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:310. [PMID: 37620312 PMCID: PMC10449936 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01528-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The proper transfer of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein is essential for cell-fate control, development, and health. Methylation of DNA, RNAs, histones, and non-histone proteins is a reversible post-synthesis modification that finetunes gene expression and function in diverse physiological processes. Aberrant methylation caused by genetic mutations or environmental stimuli promotes various diseases and accelerates aging, necessitating the development of therapies to correct the disease-driver methylation imbalance. In this Review, we summarize the operating system of methylation across the central dogma, which includes writers, erasers, readers, and reader-independent outputs. We then discuss how dysregulation of the system contributes to neurological disorders, cancer, and aging. Current small-molecule compounds that target the modifiers show modest success in certain cancers. The methylome-wide action and lack of specificity lead to undesirable biological effects and cytotoxicity, limiting their therapeutic application, especially for diseases with a monogenic cause or different directions of methylation changes. Emerging tools capable of site-specific methylation manipulation hold great promise to solve this dilemma. With the refinement of delivery vehicles, these new tools are well positioned to advance the basic research and clinical translation of the methylation field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruochen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Erhu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Huijuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Chaoyu Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Muhammad Nadeem Abbas
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Hongjuan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China.
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, 400716, China.
- Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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6
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Yamada M, Nitta Y, Uehara T, Suzuki H, Miya F, Takenouchi T, Tamura M, Ayabe S, Yoshiki A, Maeno A, Saga Y, Furuse T, Yamada I, Okamoto N, Kosaki K, Sugie A. Heterozygous loss-of-function DHX9 variants are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders: Human genetic and experimental evidences. Eur J Med Genet 2023:104804. [PMID: 37369308 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2023.104804] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
DExH-box helicases are involved in unwinding of RNA and DNA. Among the 16 DExH-box genes, monoallelic variants of DHX16, DHX30, DHX34, and DHX37 are known to be associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. In particular, DHX30 is well established as a causative gene for neurodevelopmental disorders. Germline variants of DHX9, the closest homolog of DHX30, have not been reported until now as being associated with congenital disorders in humans, except that one de novo heterozygous variant, p.(Arg1052Gln) of the gene was identified during comprehensive screening in a patient with autism; unfortunately, the phenotypic details of this individual are unknown. Herein, we report a patient with a heterozygous de novo missense variant, p.(Gly414Arg) of DHX9 who presented with a short stature, intellectual disability, and ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy. The variant was located in the glycine codon of the ATP-binding site, G-C-G-K-T. To assess the pathogenicity of this variants, we generated transgenic Drosophila lines expressing human wild-type and mutant DHX9 proteins: 1) the mutant proteins showed aberrant localization both in the nucleus and the cytoplasm; 2) ectopic expression of wild-type protein in the visual system led to the rough eye phenotype, whereas expression of the mutant proteins had minimal effect; 3) overexpression of the wild-type protein in the retina led to a reduction in axonal numbers, whereas expression of the mutant proteins had a less pronounced effect. Furthermore, in a gene-editing experiment of Dhx9 G416 to R416, corresponding to p.(Gly414Arg) in humans, heterozygous mice showed a reduced body size, reduced emotionality, and cardiac conduction abnormality. In conclusion, we established that heterozygosity for a loss-of-function variant of DHX9 can lead to a new neurodevelopmental disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamiko Yamada
- Center for Medical Genetics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yohei Nitta
- Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Tomoko Uehara
- Center for Medical Genetics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hisato Suzuki
- Center for Medical Genetics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fuyuki Miya
- Center for Medical Genetics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiki Takenouchi
- Department of Pediatrics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaru Tamura
- Mouse Phenotype Analysis Division, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Shinya Ayabe
- Experimental Animal Division, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Atsushi Yoshiki
- Experimental Animal Division, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Akiteru Maeno
- Cell Architecture Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yumiko Saga
- Mammalian Development Laboratory, Department of Gene Function and Phenomics, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Tamio Furuse
- Mouse Phenotype Analysis Division, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Ikuko Yamada
- Mouse Phenotype Analysis Division, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Okamoto
- Department of Medical Genetics, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kenjiro Kosaki
- Center for Medical Genetics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Atsushi Sugie
- Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.
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7
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LaForce GR, Philippidou P, Schaffer AE. mRNA isoform balance in neuronal development and disease. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 14:e1762. [PMID: 36123820 PMCID: PMC10024649 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1762] [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: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Balanced mRNA isoform diversity and abundance are spatially and temporally regulated throughout cellular differentiation. The proportion of expressed isoforms contributes to cell type specification and determines key properties of the differentiated cells. Neurons are unique cell types with intricate developmental programs, characteristic cellular morphologies, and electrophysiological potential. Neuron-specific gene expression programs establish these distinctive cellular characteristics and drive diversity among neuronal subtypes. Genes with neuron-specific alternative processing are enriched in key neuronal functions, including synaptic proteins, adhesion molecules, and scaffold proteins. Despite the similarity of neuronal gene expression programs, each neuronal subclass can be distinguished by unique alternative mRNA processing events. Alternative processing of developmentally important transcripts alters coding and regulatory information, including interaction domains, transcript stability, subcellular localization, and targeting by RNA binding proteins. Fine-tuning of mRNA processing is essential for neuronal activity and maintenance. Thus, the focus of neuronal RNA biology research is to dissect the transcriptomic mechanisms that underlie neuronal homeostasis, and consequently, predispose neuronal subtypes to disease. This article is categorized under: RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geneva R LaForce
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Polyxeni Philippidou
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Ashleigh E Schaffer
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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8
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Giuliani A, Sabbatinelli J, Amatori S, Graciotti L, Silvestrini A, Matacchione G, Ramini D, Mensà E, Prattichizzo F, Babini L, Mattiucci D, Busilacchi EM, Bacalini MG, Espinosa E, Lattanzio F, Procopio AD, Olivieri F, Poloni A, Fanelli M, Rippo MR. MiR-422a promotes adipogenesis via MeCP2 downregulation in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:75. [PMID: 36847916 PMCID: PMC9971129 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04719-6] [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: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a ubiquitous transcriptional regulator. The study of this protein has been mainly focused on the central nervous system because alterations of its expression are associated with neurological disorders such as Rett syndrome. However, young patients with Rett syndrome also suffer from osteoporosis, suggesting a role of MeCP2 in the differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (hBMSCs), the precursors of osteoblasts and adipocytes. Here, we report an in vitro downregulation of MeCP2 in hBMSCs undergoing adipogenic differentiation (AD) and in adipocytes of human and rat bone marrow tissue samples. This modulation does not depend on MeCP2 DNA methylation nor on mRNA levels but on differentially expressed miRNAs during AD. MiRNA profiling revealed that miR-422a and miR-483-5p are upregulated in hBMSC-derived adipocytes compared to their precursors. MiR-483-5p, but not miR-422a, is also up-regulated in hBMSC-derived osteoblasts, suggesting a specific role of the latter in the adipogenic process. Experimental modulation of intracellular levels of miR-422a and miR-483-5p affected MeCP2 expression through direct interaction with its 3' UTR elements, and the adipogenic process. Accordingly, the knockdown of MeCP2 in hBMSCs through MeCP2-targeting shRNA lentiviral vectors increased the levels of adipogenesis-related genes. Finally, since adipocytes released a higher amount of miR-422a in culture medium compared to hBMSCs we analyzed the levels of circulating miR-422a in patients with osteoporosis-a condition characterized by increased marrow adiposity-demonstrating that its levels are negatively correlated with T- and Z-scores. Overall, our findings suggest that miR-422a has a role in hBMSC adipogenesis by downregulating MeCP2 and its circulating levels are associated with bone mass loss in primary osteoporosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Giuliani
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Jacopo Sabbatinelli
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy.,SOD Medicina di Laboratorio, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Stefano Amatori
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Molecular Pathology Laboratory "PaoLa", University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Fano, PU, Italy
| | - Laura Graciotti
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Andrea Silvestrini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giulia Matacchione
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy
| | - Deborah Ramini
- Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Emanuela Mensà
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Lucia Babini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy
| | - Domenico Mattiucci
- Section of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Elena Marinelli Busilacchi
- Section of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Maria Giulia Bacalini
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Laboratorio Brain Aging, Bologna, Italy
| | - Emma Espinosa
- Geriatrics, Santa Croce Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord, Fano, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Domenico Procopio
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy.,Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Fabiola Olivieri
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy.,Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Antonella Poloni
- Section of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Mirco Fanelli
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Molecular Pathology Laboratory "PaoLa", University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Fano, PU, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Rippo
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy.
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9
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Epstein RJ, Lin FPY, Brink RA, Blackburn J. Synonymous alterations of cancer-associated Trp53 CpG mutational hotspots cause fatal developmental jaw malocclusions but no tumors in knock-in mice. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284327. [PMID: 37053216 PMCID: PMC10101519 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Intragenic CpG dinucleotides are tightly conserved in evolution yet are also vulnerable to methylation-dependent mutation, raising the question as to why these functionally critical sites have not been deselected by more stable coding sequences. We previously showed in cell lines that altered exonic CpG methylation can modify promoter start sites, and hence protein isoform expression, for the human TP53 tumor suppressor gene. Here we extend this work to the in vivo setting by testing whether synonymous germline modifications of exonic CpG sites affect murine development, fertility, longevity, or cancer incidence. We substituted the DNA-binding exons 5-8 of Trp53, the mouse ortholog of human TP53, with variant-CpG (either CpG-depleted or -enriched) sequences predicted to encode the normal p53 amino acid sequence; a control construct was also created in which all non-CpG sites were synonymously substituted. Homozygous Trp53-null mice were the only genotype to develop tumors. Mice with variant-CpG Trp53 sequences remained tumor-free, but were uniquely prone to dental anomalies causing jaw malocclusion (p < .0001). Since the latter phenotype also characterises murine Rett syndrome due to dysfunction of the trans-repressive MeCP2 methyl-CpG-binding protein, we hypothesise that CpG sites may exert non-coding phenotypic effects via pre-translational cis-interactions of 5-methylcytosine with methyl-binding proteins which regulate mRNA transcript initiation, expression or splicing, although direct effects on mRNA structure or translation are also possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Epstein
- University of New South Wales, St Vincent's Hospital Campus, Sydney, Australia
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - Frank P Y Lin
- University of New South Wales, St Vincent's Hospital Campus, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Clinical Genomics, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Sydney, Australia
| | - Robert A Brink
- University of New South Wales, St Vincent's Hospital Campus, Sydney, Australia
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - James Blackburn
- University of New South Wales, St Vincent's Hospital Campus, Sydney, Australia
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
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10
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Engal E, Baker M, Salton M. The chromatin roots of abnormal splicing in autism. Trends Genet 2022; 38:892-894. [PMID: 35750536 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Spatiotemporal gene expression drives neurodevelopment. Therefore, abnormal expression during development results in atypical brain function. Alterations in gene expression have been described in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, we focus on one aspect of gene expression, pre-mRNA splicing, specifically, the mechanism of its regulation by chromatin and how this is altered in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eden Engal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Mai Baker
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Maayan Salton
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
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11
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Siqueira E, Obiols-Guardia A, Jorge-Torres OC, Oliveira-Mateos C, Soler M, Ramesh-Kumar D, Setién F, van Rossum D, Pascual-Alonso A, Xiol C, Ivan C, Shimizu M, Armstrong J, Calin GA, Pasterkamp RJ, Esteller M, Guil S. Analysis of the circRNA and T-UCR populations identifies convergent pathways in mouse and human models of Rett syndrome. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 27:621-644. [PMID: 35036070 PMCID: PMC8749388 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Noncoding RNAs play regulatory roles in physiopathology, but their involvement in neurodevelopmental diseases is poorly understood. Rett syndrome is a severe, progressive neurodevelopmental disorder linked to loss-of-function mutations of the MeCP2 gene for which no cure is yet available. Analysis of the noncoding RNA profile corresponding to the brain-abundant circular RNA (circRNA) and transcribed-ultraconserved region (T-UCR) populations in a mouse model of the disease reveals widespread dysregulation and enrichment in glutamatergic excitatory signaling and microtubule cytoskeleton pathways of the corresponding host genes. Proteomic analysis of hippocampal samples from affected individuals confirms abnormal levels of several cytoskeleton-related proteins together with key alterations in neurotransmission. Importantly, the glutamate receptor GRIA3 gene displays altered biogenesis in affected individuals and in vitro human cells and is influenced by expression of two ultraconserved RNAs. We also describe post-transcriptional regulation of SIRT2 by circRNAs, which modulates acetylation and total protein levels of GluR-1. As a consequence, both regulatory mechanisms converge on the biogenesis of AMPA receptors, with an effect on neuronal differentiation. In both cases, the noncoding RNAs antagonize MeCP2-directed regulation. Our findings indicate that noncoding transcripts may contribute to key alterations in Rett syndrome and are not only useful tools for revealing dysregulated processes but also molecules of biomarker value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edilene Siqueira
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, 08916 Catalonia, Spain
- Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08908 Catalonia, Spain
- National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brasilia, 71605-001 Federal District, Brazil
| | - Aida Obiols-Guardia
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, 08916 Catalonia, Spain
- Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08908 Catalonia, Spain
| | - Olga C. Jorge-Torres
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, 08916 Catalonia, Spain
- Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08908 Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - Marta Soler
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, 08916 Catalonia, Spain
| | - Deepthi Ramesh-Kumar
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, 08916 Catalonia, Spain
| | - Fernando Setién
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, 08916 Catalonia, Spain
| | - Daniëlle van Rossum
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ainhoa Pascual-Alonso
- Fundación San Juan de Dios, Barcelona, 08950 Catalonia, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, 08950 Catalonia, Spain
| | - Clara Xiol
- Fundación San Juan de Dios, Barcelona, 08950 Catalonia, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, 08950 Catalonia, Spain
| | - Cristina Ivan
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for RNA Interference and Non-coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Masayoshi Shimizu
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for RNA Interference and Non-coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Judith Armstrong
- Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, 08950 Catalonia, Spain
- Servei de Medicina Genètica i Molecular, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, 08950 Catalonia, Spain
- CIBER-ER (Biomedical Network Research Center for Rare Diseases), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - George A. Calin
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for RNA Interference and Non-coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - R. Jeroen Pasterkamp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Manel Esteller
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, 08916 Catalonia, Spain
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, 08010 Catalonia, Spain
- Physiological Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, 08907 Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sonia Guil
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, 08916 Catalonia, Spain
- Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08908 Catalonia, Spain
- Germans Trias i Pujol Health Science Research Institute, Badalona, Barcelona, 08916 Catalonia, Spain
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12
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Jiang Y, Fu X, Zhang Y, Wang SF, Zhu H, Wang WK, Zhang L, Wu P, Wong CCL, Li J, Ma J, Guan JS, Huang Y, Hui J. Rett syndrome linked to defects in forming the MeCP2/Rbfox/LASR complex in mouse models. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5767. [PMID: 34599184 PMCID: PMC8486766 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26084-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurological disorder and a leading cause of intellectual disability in young females. RTT is mainly caused by mutations found in the X-linked gene encoding methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2). Despite extensive studies, the molecular mechanism underlying RTT pathogenesis is still poorly understood. Here, we report MeCP2 as a key subunit of a higher-order multiunit protein complex Rbfox/LASR. Defective MeCP2 in RTT mouse models disrupts the assembly of the MeCP2/Rbfox/LASR complex, leading to reduced binding of Rbfox proteins to target pre-mRNAs and aberrant splicing of Nrxns and Nlgn1 critical for synaptic plasticity. We further show that MeCP2 disease mutants display defective condensate properties and fail to promote phase-separated condensates with Rbfox proteins in vitro and in cultured cells. These data link an impaired function of MeCP2 with disease mutation in splicing control to its defective properties in mediating the higher-order assembly of the MeCP2/Rbfox/LASR complex. MeCP2 mutations can cause Rett syndrome, a severe childhood neurological disorder. Here the authors show that MeCP2 mediates the higher-order assembly of a large splicing complex Rbfox/LASR, which is disrupted in the mouse models of Rett syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China
| | - Xing Fu
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201602, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Genetics and Development, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China.,Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Biliary Tract Disease Research, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Shen-Fei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-Kang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Wu
- National Facility for Protein Science in Shanghai, Zhangjiang Lab, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Catherine C L Wong
- National Facility for Protein Science in Shanghai, Zhangjiang Lab, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201210, Shanghai, China.,Center for Precision Medicine Multi-Omics Research, Peking University Health Science Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Jinsong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinbiao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Genetics and Development, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Ji-Song Guan
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China.,Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Biliary Tract Disease Research, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200092, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jingyi Hui
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China.
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13
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Xu W, Hong Q, Lin Z, Ma H, Chen W, Zhuang D, Zhu H, Lai M, Fu D, Zhou W, Liu H. Role of nucleus accumbens microRNA-181a and MeCP2 in incubation of heroin craving in male rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:2313-2324. [PMID: 33932163 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05854-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Epigenetic regulation has been implicated in the incubation of drug craving (the time-dependent increase in drug seeking after prolonged withdrawal from drug self-administration). There is little information available on the role of microRNAs in incubation of heroin craving. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the roles and mechanisms of miR-181a and methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in incubation of heroin seeking. METHODS MiRNA sequencing was used to predict potential miRNAs, and miRNA profiles were performed in the NAc after 1 day or 14 days after withdrawal from heroin self-administration. Following 14 days of heroin self-administration, rats were injected of lentiviral vectors into the NAc and evaluated for the effects of overexpression of miR-181a or knockdown of MeCP2 on non-reinforced heroin seeking after 14 withdrawal days. RESULTS Lever presses during the heroin-seeking tests were higher after 14 withdrawal days than after 1 day (incubation of heroin craving). miR-181a expression in NAc was lower after 14 withdrawal days than after 1 day, and meCP2 expression in NAc was higher after 14 days than after 1 day. Luciferase activity assay showed that the 3'UTR of MeCP2 is directly regulated by miR-181a. Overexpression of miR-181a in NAc decreased heroin seeking after 14 withdrawal days and decreased MeCP2 mRNA and protein expression. Knockdown of MeCP2 expression in NAc by LV-siRNA-MeCP2 also decreased heroin seeking after 14 withdrawal days. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that incubation of heroin craving is mediated in part by time-dependent decreases in NAc miR181a expression that leads to time-dependent increases in MeCP2 expression. Our data suggest that NAc miR-181a and MeCP2 contribute to incubation of heroin craving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjin Xu
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingxiao Hong
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Zi Lin
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Ma
- Department of Psychiatry, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, 315201, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Weisheng Chen
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Dingding Zhuang
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Huaqiang Zhu
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Miaojun Lai
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Fu
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenhua Zhou
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
| | - Huifen Liu
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
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14
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Transcriptomic and Epigenomic Landscape in Rett Syndrome. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11070967. [PMID: 34209228 PMCID: PMC8301932 DOI: 10.3390/biom11070967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is an extremely invalidating, cureless, developmental disorder, and it is considered one of the leading causes of intellectual disability in female individuals. The vast majority of RTT cases are caused by de novo mutations in the X-linked Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene, which encodes a multifunctional reader of methylated DNA. MeCP2 is a master epigenetic modulator of gene expression, with a role in the organization of global chromatin architecture. Based on its interaction with multiple molecular partners and the diverse epigenetic scenario, MeCP2 triggers several downstream mechanisms, also influencing the epigenetic context, and thus leading to transcriptional activation or repression. In this frame, it is conceivable that defects in such a multifaceted factor as MeCP2 lead to large-scale alterations of the epigenome, ranging from an unbalanced deposition of epigenetic modifications to a transcriptional alteration of both protein-coding and non-coding genes, with critical consequences on multiple downstream biological processes. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge concerning the transcriptomic and epigenomic alterations found in RTT patients and animal models.
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15
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Herbrechter R, Hube N, Buchholz R, Reiner A. Splicing and editing of ionotropic glutamate receptors: a comprehensive analysis based on human RNA-Seq data. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:5605-5630. [PMID: 34100982 PMCID: PMC8257547 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03865-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) play key roles for signaling in the central nervous system. Alternative splicing and RNA editing are well-known mechanisms to increase iGluR diversity and to provide context-dependent regulation. Earlier work on isoform identification has focused on the analysis of cloned transcripts, mostly from rodents. We here set out to obtain a systematic overview of iGluR splicing and editing in human brain based on RNA-Seq data. Using data from two large-scale transcriptome studies, we established a workflow for the de novo identification and quantification of alternative splice and editing events. We detected all canonical iGluR splice junctions, assessed the abundance of alternative events described in the literature, and identified new splice events in AMPA, kainate, delta, and NMDA receptor subunits. Notable events include an abundant transcript encoding the GluA4 amino-terminal domain, GluA4-ATD, a novel C-terminal GluD1 (delta receptor 1) isoform, GluD1-b, and potentially new GluK4 and GluN2C isoforms. C-terminal GluN1 splicing may be controlled by inclusion of a cassette exon, which shows preference for one of the two acceptor sites in the last exon. Moreover, we identified alternative untranslated regions (UTRs) and species-specific differences in splicing. In contrast, editing in exonic iGluR regions appears to be mostly limited to ten previously described sites, two of which result in silent amino acid changes. Coupling of proximal editing/editing and editing/splice events occurs to variable degree. Overall, this analysis provides the first inventory of alternative splicing and editing in human brain iGluRs and provides the impetus for further transcriptome-based and functional investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Herbrechter
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Nadine Hube
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Raoul Buchholz
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Andreas Reiner
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany.
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16
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D'Mello SR. MECP2 and the Biology of MECP2 Duplication Syndrome. J Neurochem 2021; 159:29-60. [PMID: 33638179 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS), a rare X-linked genomic disorder affecting predominantly males, is caused by duplication of the chromosomal region containing the methyl CpG binding protein-2 (MECP2) gene, which encodes methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2), a multi-functional protein required for proper brain development and maintenance of brain function during adulthood. Disease symptoms include severe motor and cognitive impairment, delayed or absent speech development, autistic features, seizures, ataxia, recurrent respiratory infections and shortened lifespan. The cellular and molecular mechanisms by which a relatively modest increase in MECP2 protein causes such severe disease symptoms are poorly understood and consequently there are no treatments available for this fatal disorder. This review summarizes what is known to date about the structure and complex regulation of MECP2 and its many functions in the developing and adult brain. Additionally, recent experimental findings on the cellular and molecular underpinnings of MDS based on cell culture and mouse models of the disorder are reviewed. The emerging picture from these studies is that MDS is a neurodegenerative disorder in which neurons die in specific parts of the central nervous system, including the cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum and spinal cord. Neuronal death likely results from astrocytic dysfunction, including a breakdown of glutamate homeostatic mechanisms. The role of elevations in the expression of glial acidic fibrillary protein (GFAP) in astrocytes and the microtubule-associated protein, Tau, in neurons to the pathogenesis of MDS is discussed. Lastly, potential therapeutic strategies to potentially treat MDS are discussed.
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17
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Emerging physiological and pathological roles of MeCP2 in non-neurological systems. Arch Biochem Biophys 2021; 700:108768. [PMID: 33485848 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2021.108768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Numerous neurological and non-neurological disorders are associated with dysfunction of epigenetic modulators, and methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is one of such proteins. Initially identified as a transcriptional repressor, MeCP2 specifically binds to methylated DNA, and mutations of MeCP2 have been shown to cause Rett syndrome (RTT), a severe neurological disorder. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that ubiquitously expressed MeCP2 also plays a central role in non-neurological disorders including cardiac dysfunction, liver injury, respiratory disorders, urological dysfunction, adipose tissue metabolism disorders, movement abnormality and inflammatory responses in a DNA methylation dependent or independent manner. Despite significant progresses in our understanding of MeCP2 over the last few decades, there is still a considerable knowledge gap to translate the in vitro and in vivo experimental findings into therapeutic interventions. In this review, we provide a synopsis of the role of MeCP2 in the pathophysiology of non-neurological disorders, MeCP2-based research directions and therapeutic strategies for non-neurological disorders are also discussed.
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18
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Good KV, Vincent JB, Ausió J. MeCP2: The Genetic Driver of Rett Syndrome Epigenetics. Front Genet 2021; 12:620859. [PMID: 33552148 PMCID: PMC7859524 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.620859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) are the major cause of Rett syndrome (RTT), a rare neurodevelopmental disorder with a notable period of developmental regression following apparently normal initial development. Such MeCP2 alterations often result in changes to DNA binding and chromatin clustering ability, and in the stability of this protein. Among other functions, MeCP2 binds to methylated genomic DNA, which represents an important epigenetic mark with broad physiological implications, including neuronal development. In this review, we will summarize the genetic foundations behind RTT, and the variable degrees of protein stability exhibited by MeCP2 and its mutated versions. Also, past and emerging relationships that MeCP2 has with mRNA splicing, miRNA processing, and other non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) will be explored, and we suggest that these molecules could be missing links in understanding the epigenetic consequences incurred from genetic ablation of this important chromatin modifier. Importantly, although MeCP2 is highly expressed in the brain, where it has been most extensively studied, the role of this protein and its alterations in other tissues cannot be ignored and will also be discussed. Finally, the additional complexity to RTT pathology introduced by structural and functional implications of the two MeCP2 isoforms (MeCP2-E1 and MeCP2-E2) will be described. Epigenetic therapeutics are gaining clinical popularity, yet treatment for Rett syndrome is more complicated than would be anticipated for a purely epigenetic disorder, which should be taken into account in future clinical contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina V. Good
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - John B. Vincent
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry & Development (MiND) Lab, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Juan Ausió
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
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19
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Shah S, Richter JD. Do Fragile X Syndrome and Other Intellectual Disorders Converge at Aberrant Pre-mRNA Splicing? Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:715346. [PMID: 34566717 PMCID: PMC8460907 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.715346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X Syndrome is a neuro-developmental disorder caused by the silencing of the FMR1 gene, resulting in the loss of its protein product, FMRP. FMRP binds mRNA and represses general translation in the brain. Transcriptome analysis of the Fmr1-deficient mouse hippocampus reveals widespread dysregulation of alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs. Many of these aberrant splicing changes coincide with those found in post-mortem brain tissue from individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) as well as in mouse models of intellectual disability such as PTEN hamartoma syndrome (PHTS) and Rett Syndrome (RTT). These splicing changes could result from chromatin modifications (e.g., in FXS, RTT) and/or splicing factor alterations (e.g., PTEN, autism). Based on the identities of the RNAs that are mis-spliced in these disorders, it may be that they are at least partly responsible for some shared pathophysiological conditions. The convergence of splicing aberrations among these autism spectrum disorders might be crucial to understanding their underlying cognitive impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneha Shah
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Joel D Richter
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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20
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Brito DVC, Gulmez Karaca K, Kupke J, Frank L, Oliveira AMM. MeCP2 gates spatial learning-induced alternative splicing events in the mouse hippocampus. Mol Brain 2020; 13:156. [PMID: 33203444 PMCID: PMC7672966 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-020-00695-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term memory formation is supported by functional and structural changes of neuronal networks, which rely on de novo gene transcription and protein synthesis. The modulation of the neuronal transcriptome in response to learning depends on transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. DNA methylation writers and readers regulate the activity-dependent genomic program required for memory consolidation. The most abundant DNA methylation reader, the Methyl CpG binding domain protein 2 (MeCP2), has been shown to regulate alternative splicing, but whether it establishes splicing events important for memory consolidation has not been investigated. In this study, we identified the alternative splicing profile of the mouse hippocampus in basal conditions and after a spatial learning experience, and investigated the requirement of MeCP2 for these processes. We observed that spatial learning triggers a wide-range of alternative splicing events in transcripts associated with structural and functional remodeling and that virus-mediated knockdown of MeCP2 impairs learning-dependent post-transcriptional responses of mature hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, we found that MeCP2 preferentially affected the splicing modalities intron retention and exon skipping and guided the alternative splicing of distinct set of genes in baseline conditions and after learning. Lastly, comparative analysis of the MeCP2-regulated transcriptome with the alternatively spliced mRNA pool, revealed that MeCP2 disruption alters the relative abundance of alternatively spliced isoforms without affecting the overall mRNA levels. Taken together, our findings reveal that adult hippocampal MeCP2 is required to finetune alternative splicing events in basal conditions, as well as in response to spatial learning. This study provides new insight into how MeCP2 regulates brain function, particularly cognitive abilities, and sheds light onto the pathophysiological mechanisms of Rett syndrome, that is characterized by intellectual disability and caused by mutations in the Mecp2 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- David V C Brito
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kubra Gulmez Karaca
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Janina Kupke
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lukas Frank
- Division of Chromatin Networks, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Bioquant (Heidelberg University), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ana M M Oliveira
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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21
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Arsenault J, Hooper AWM, Gholizadeh S, Kong T, Pacey LK, Koxhioni E, Niibori Y, Eubanks JH, Wang LY, Hampson DR. Interregulation between fragile X mental retardation protein and methyl CpG binding protein 2 in the mouse posterior cerebral cortex. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 29:3744-3756. [PMID: 33084871 PMCID: PMC7861017 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Several X-linked neurodevelopmental disorders including Rett syndrome, induced by mutations in the MECP2 gene, and fragile X syndrome (FXS), caused by mutations in the FMR1 gene, share autism-related features. The mRNA coding for methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) has previously been identified as a substrate for the mRNA-binding protein, fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), which is silenced in FXS. Here, we report a homeostatic relationship between these two key regulators of gene expression in mouse models of FXS (Fmr1 Knockout (KO)) and Rett syndrome (MeCP2 KO). We found that the level of MeCP2 protein in the cerebral cortex was elevated in Fmr1 KO mice, whereas MeCP2 KO mice displayed reduced levels of FMRP, implicating interplay between the activities of MeCP2 and FMRP. Indeed, knockdown of MeCP2 with short hairpin RNAs led to a reduction of FMRP in mouse Neuro2A and in human HEK-293 cells, suggesting a reciprocal coupling in the expression level of these two regulatory proteins. Intra-cerebroventricular injection of an adeno-associated viral vector coding for FMRP led to a concomitant reduction in MeCP2 expression in vivo and partially corrected locomotor hyperactivity. Additionally, the level of MeCP2 in the posterior cortex correlated with the severity of the hyperactive phenotype in Fmr1 KO mice. These results demonstrate that MeCP2 and FMRP operate within a previously undefined homeostatic relationship. Our findings also suggest that MeCP2 overexpression in Fmr1 KO mouse posterior cerebral cortex may contribute to the fragile X locomotor hyperactivity phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Arsenault
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.,Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Alexander W M Hooper
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Shervin Gholizadeh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Tian Kong
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.,Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Laura K Pacey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Enea Koxhioni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Yosuke Niibori
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - James H Eubanks
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.,Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1P5, Canada
| | - Lu-Yang Wang
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.,Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - David R Hampson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
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22
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De Paola E, Forcina L, Pelosi L, Pisu S, La Rosa P, Cesari E, Nicoletti C, Madaro L, Mercatelli N, Biamonte F, Nobili A, D'Amelio M, De Bardi M, Volpe E, Caporossi D, Sette C, Musarò A, Paronetto MP. Sam68 splicing regulation contributes to motor unit establishment in the postnatal skeletal muscle. Life Sci Alliance 2020; 3:3/10/e201900637. [PMID: 32753528 PMCID: PMC7409371 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201900637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sam68 ensures the establishment of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) and motor unit integrity by orchestrating a neuronal splicing program. RNA-binding proteins orchestrate the composite life of RNA molecules and impact most physiological processes, thus underlying complex phenotypes. The RNA-binding protein Sam68 regulates differentiation processes by modulating splicing, polyadenylation, and stability of select transcripts. Herein, we found that Sam68−/− mice display altered regulation of alternative splicing in the spinal cord of key target genes involved in synaptic functions. Analysis of the motor units revealed that Sam68 ablation impairs the establishment of neuromuscular junctions and causes progressive loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord. Importantly, alterations of neuromuscular junction morphology and properties in Sam68−/− mice correlate with defects in muscle and motor unit integrity. Sam68−/− muscles display defects in postnatal development, with manifest signs of atrophy. Furthermore, fast-twitch muscles in Sam68−/− mice show structural features typical of slow-twitch muscles, suggesting alterations in the metabolic and functional properties of myofibers. Collectively, our data identify a key role for Sam68 in muscle development and suggest that proper establishment of motor units requires timely expression of synaptic splice variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa De Paola
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico," Rome, Italy.,IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Forcina
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Pelosi
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Pisu
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Piergiorgio La Rosa
- IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cesari
- IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Institute of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Nicoletti
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Madaro
- Institute of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Neri Mercatelli
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico," Rome, Italy.,IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Biamonte
- Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Nobili
- IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Medicine, University Campus-Biomedico, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello D'Amelio
- IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Medicine, University Campus-Biomedico, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco De Bardi
- IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Volpe
- IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Caporossi
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico," Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Sette
- IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy .,Institute of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Musarò
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Paronetto
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico," Rome, Italy .,IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
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23
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Yu P, Li J, Deng SP, Zhang F, Grozdanov PN, Chin EWM, Martin SD, Vergnes L, Islam MS, Sun D, LaSalle JM, McGee SL, Goh E, MacDonald CC, Jin P. Integrated analysis of a compendium of RNA-Seq datasets for splicing factors. Sci Data 2020; 7:178. [PMID: 32546682 PMCID: PMC7297722 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-020-0514-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A vast amount of public RNA-sequencing datasets have been generated and used widely to study transcriptome mechanisms. These data offer precious opportunity for advancing biological research in transcriptome studies such as alternative splicing. We report the first large-scale integrated analysis of RNA-Seq data of splicing factors for systematically identifying key factors in diseases and biological processes. We analyzed 1,321 RNA-Seq libraries of various mouse tissues and cell lines, comprising more than 6.6 TB sequences from 75 independent studies that experimentally manipulated 56 splicing factors. Using these data, RNA splicing signatures and gene expression signatures were computed, and signature comparison analysis identified a list of key splicing factors in Rett syndrome and cold-induced thermogenesis. We show that cold-induced RNA-binding proteins rescue the neurite outgrowth defects in Rett syndrome using neuronal morphology analysis, and we also reveal that SRSF1 and PTBP1 are required for energy expenditure in adipocytes using metabolic flux analysis. Our study provides an integrated analysis for identifying key factors in diseases and biological processes and highlights the importance of public data resources for identifying hypotheses for experimental testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yu
- West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Medical Big Data Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Jin Li
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Su-Ping Deng
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215009, China
| | - Feiran Zhang
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Petar N Grozdanov
- Department of Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, 79430, USA
| | - Eunice W M Chin
- Neuroscience Academic Clinical Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, NA, Singapore
| | - Sheree D Martin
- Metabolic Reprogramming Laboratory, Metabolic Research Unit, School of Medicine and Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Laurent Vergnes
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - M Saharul Islam
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Genome Center, and MIND Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Deqiang Sun
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Janine M LaSalle
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Genome Center, and MIND Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sean L McGee
- Metabolic Reprogramming Laboratory, Metabolic Research Unit, School of Medicine and Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Eyleen Goh
- Neuroscience Academic Clinical Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, NA, Singapore
| | - Clinton C MacDonald
- Department of Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, 79430, USA
| | - Peng Jin
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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24
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Fagiolini M, Patrizi A, LeBlanc J, Jin LW, Maezawa I, Sinnett S, Gray SJ, Molholm S, Foxe JJ, Johnston MV, Naidu S, Blue M, Hossain A, Kadam S, Zhao X, Chang Q, Zhou Z, Zoghbi H. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Understand the Pathogenesis of Methyl-CpG Binding Protein 2-related Disorders. Neuroscience 2020; 445:190-206. [PMID: 32360592 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Disruptions in the gene encoding methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) underlie complex neurodevelopmental disorders including Rett Syndrome (RTT), MECP2 duplication disorder, intellectual disabilities, and autism. Significant progress has been made on the molecular and cellular basis of MECP2-related disorders providing a new framework for understanding how altered epigenetic landscape can derail the formation and refinement of neuronal circuits in early postnatal life and proper neurological function. This review will summarize selected major findings from the past years and particularly highlight the integrated and multidisciplinary work done at eight NIH-funded Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (IDDRC) across the US. Finally, we will outline a path forward with identification of reliable biomarkers and outcome measures, longitudinal preclinical and clinical studies, reproducibility of results across centers as a synergistic effort to decode and treat the pathogenesis of the complex MeCP2 disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Fagiolini
- Children's Hospital Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Annarita Patrizi
- Children's Hospital Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jocelyn LeBlanc
- Children's Hospital Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lee-Way Jin
- UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Izumi Maezawa
- UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Sarah Sinnett
- UNC Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, University of North Carolina, Gene Therapy Center and Dept. of Ophthalmology, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Steven J Gray
- UNC Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, University of North Carolina, Gene Therapy Center and Dept. of Ophthalmology, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sophie Molholm
- The Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Departments of Pediatrics, Neuroscience, and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - John J Foxe
- The Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Michael V Johnston
- Kennedy Krieger Institute Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center/Hugo Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, USA
| | - Sakkubai Naidu
- Kennedy Krieger Institute Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center/Hugo Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, USA
| | - Mary Blue
- Kennedy Krieger Institute Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center/Hugo Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, USA
| | - Ahamed Hossain
- Kennedy Krieger Institute Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center/Hugo Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, USA
| | - Shilpa Kadam
- Kennedy Krieger Institute Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center/Hugo Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, USA
| | - Xinyu Zhao
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Quiang Chang
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Zhaolan Zhou
- Department of Genetic, Epigenetic Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Huda Zoghbi
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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25
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Tillotson R, Bird A. The Molecular Basis of MeCP2 Function in the Brain. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:1602-1623. [PMID: 31629770 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
MeCP2 is a reader of the DNA methylome that occupies a large proportion of the genome due to its high abundance and the frequency of its target sites. It has been the subject of extensive study because of its link with 'MECP2-related disorders', of which Rett syndrome is the most prevalent. This review integrates evidence from patient mutation data with results of experimental studies using mouse models, cell lines and in vitro systems to critically evaluate our understanding of MeCP2 protein function. Recent evidence challenges the idea that MeCP2 is a multifunctional hub that integrates diverse processes to underpin neuronal function, suggesting instead that its primary role is to recruit the NCoR1/2 co-repressor complex to methylated sites in the genome, leading to dampening of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah Tillotson
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Medical Research Council (MRC) Molecular Haematology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Adrian Bird
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, The Michael Swann Building, King's Buildings, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK.
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26
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Ortiz-Hernandez GL, Sanchez-Hernandez ES, Casiano CA. Twenty years of research on the DFS70/LEDGF autoantibody-autoantigen system: many lessons learned but still many questions. AUTOIMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS 2020; 11:3. [PMID: 32127038 PMCID: PMC7065333 DOI: 10.1186/s13317-020-0126-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The discovery and initial characterization 20 years ago of antinuclear autoantibodies (ANAs) presenting a dense fine speckled (DFS) nuclear pattern with strong staining of mitotic chromosomes, detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay in HEp-2 cells (HEp-2 IIFA test), has transformed our view on ANAs. Traditionally, ANAs have been considered as reporters of abnormal immunological events associated with the onset and progression of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD), also called ANA-associated rheumatic diseases (AARD), as well as clinical biomarkers for the differential diagnosis of these diseases. However, based on our current knowledge, it is not apparent that autoantibodies presenting the DFS IIF pattern fall into these categories. These antibodies invariably target a chromatin-associated protein designated as dense fine speckled protein of 70 kD (DFS70), also known as lens epithelium-derived growth factor protein of 75 kD (LEDGF/p75) and PC4 and SFRS1 Interacting protein 1 (PSIP1). This multi-functional protein, hereafter referred to as DFS70/LEDGF, plays important roles in the formation of transcription complexes in active chromatin, transcriptional activation of specific genes, regulation of mRNA splicing, DNA repair, and cellular survival against stress. Due to its multiple functions, it has emerged as a key protein contributing to several human pathologies, including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), leukemia, cancer, ocular diseases, and Rett syndrome. Unlike other ANAs, "monospecific" anti-DFS70/LEDGF autoantibodies (only detectable ANA in serum) are not associated with SARD and have been detected in healthy individuals and some patients with non-SARD inflammatory conditions. These observations have led to the hypotheses that these antibodies could be considered as negative biomarkers of SARD and might even play a protective or beneficial role. In spite of 20 years of research on this autoantibody-autoantigen system, its biological and clinical significance still remains enigmatic. Here we review the current state of knowledge of this system, focusing on the lessons learned and posing emerging questions that await further scrutiny as we continue our quest to unravel its significance and potential clinical and therapeutic utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greisha L Ortiz-Hernandez
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA.,Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, USA
| | - Evelyn S Sanchez-Hernandez
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA.,Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, USA
| | - Carlos A Casiano
- Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA. .,Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, USA. .,Department of Medicine/Division of Rheumatology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, USA.
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27
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Keidar L, Gerlitz G, Kshirsagar A, Tsoory M, Olender T, Wang X, Yang Y, Chen YS, Yang YG, Voineagu I, Reiner O. Interplay of LIS1 and MeCP2: Interactions and Implications With the Neurodevelopmental Disorders Lissencephaly and Rett Syndrome. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:370. [PMID: 31474834 PMCID: PMC6703185 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
LIS1 is the main causative gene for lissencephaly, while MeCP2 is the main causative gene for Rett syndrome, both of which are neurodevelopmental diseases. Here we report nuclear functions for LIS1 and identify previously unrecognized physical and genetic interactions between the products of these two genes in the cell nucleus, that has implications on MeCP2 organization, neuronal gene expression and mouse behavior. Reduced LIS1 levels affect the association of MeCP2 with chromatin. Transcriptome analysis of primary cortical neurons derived from wild type, Lis1±, MeCP2−/y, or double mutants mice revealed a large overlap in the differentially expressed (DE) genes between the various mutants. Overall, our findings provide insights on molecular mechanisms involved in the neurodevelopmental disorders lissencephaly and Rett syndrome caused by dysfunction of LIS1 and MeCP2, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liraz Keidar
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gabi Gerlitz
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Aditya Kshirsagar
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Michael Tsoory
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tsviya Olender
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Xing Wang
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Sheng Chen
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yun-Gui Yang
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Irina Voineagu
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Orly Reiner
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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28
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Salpietro V, Dixon CL, Guo H, Bello OD, Vandrovcova J, Efthymiou S, Maroofian R, Heimer G, Burglen L, Valence S, Torti E, Hacke M, Rankin J, Tariq H, Colin E, Procaccio V, Striano P, Mankad K, Lieb A, Chen S, Pisani L, Bettencourt C, Männikkö R, Manole A, Brusco A, Grosso E, Ferrero GB, Armstrong-Moron J, Gueden S, Bar-Yosef O, Tzadok M, Monaghan KG, Santiago-Sim T, Person RE, Cho MT, Willaert R, Yoo Y, Chae JH, Quan Y, Wu H, Wang T, Bernier RA, Xia K, Blesson A, Jain M, Motazacker MM, Jaeger B, Schneider AL, Boysen K, Muir AM, Myers CT, Gavrilova RH, Gunderson L, Schultz-Rogers L, Klee EW, Dyment D, Osmond M, Parellada M, Llorente C, Gonzalez-Peñas J, Carracedo A, Van Haeringen A, Ruivenkamp C, Nava C, Heron D, Nardello R, Iacomino M, Minetti C, Skabar A, Fabretto A, Raspall-Chaure M, Chez M, Tsai A, Fassi E, Shinawi M, Constantino JN, De Zorzi R, Fortuna S, Kok F, Keren B, Bonneau D, Choi M, Benzeev B, Zara F, Mefford HC, Scheffer IE, Clayton-Smith J, Macaya A, Rothman JE, Eichler EE, Kullmann DM, Houlden H. AMPA receptor GluA2 subunit defects are a cause of neurodevelopmental disorders. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3094. [PMID: 31300657 PMCID: PMC6626132 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10910-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
AMPA receptors (AMPARs) are tetrameric ligand-gated channels made up of combinations of GluA1-4 subunits encoded by GRIA1-4 genes. GluA2 has an especially important role because, following post-transcriptional editing at the Q607 site, it renders heteromultimeric AMPARs Ca2+-impermeable, with a linear relationship between current and trans-membrane voltage. Here, we report heterozygous de novo GRIA2 mutations in 28 unrelated patients with intellectual disability (ID) and neurodevelopmental abnormalities including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Rett syndrome-like features, and seizures or developmental epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). In functional expression studies, mutations lead to a decrease in agonist-evoked current mediated by mutant subunits compared to wild-type channels. When GluA2 subunits are co-expressed with GluA1, most GRIA2 mutations cause a decreased current amplitude and some also affect voltage rectification. Our results show that de-novo variants in GRIA2 can cause neurodevelopmental disorders, complementing evidence that other genetic causes of ID, ASD and DEE also disrupt glutamatergic synaptic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Salpietro
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", 16147, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Christine L Dixon
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Hui Guo
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, Hunan, China
| | - Oscar D Bello
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Jana Vandrovcova
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Stephanie Efthymiou
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Reza Maroofian
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Gali Heimer
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 526121, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Lydie Burglen
- Centre de Référence des Malformations et Maladies Congénitales du Cervelet, Département de Génétique et Embryologie Médicale, APHP, Hôpital Trousseau, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Stephanie Valence
- Centre de Référence des Malformations et Maladies Congénitales du Cervelet, Service de Neurologie Pédiatrique, APHP, Hôpital Trousseau, 75012, Paris, France
| | | | - Moritz Hacke
- Biochemistry Center, Heidelberg University, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Rankin
- Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, EX1 2ED, UK
| | - Huma Tariq
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Estelle Colin
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University Hospital, 49933, Angers, France
- MitoLab, UMR CNRS 6015-INSERM U1083, MitoVasc Institute, Angers University, 49100, Angers, France
| | - Vincent Procaccio
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University Hospital, 49933, Angers, France
- MitoLab, UMR CNRS 6015-INSERM U1083, MitoVasc Institute, Angers University, 49100, Angers, France
| | - Pasquale Striano
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", 16147, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Kshitij Mankad
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Andreas Lieb
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Sharon Chen
- Division of Medical Genetics, Northwell Health/Hofstra University SOM, New York, 11020, USA
| | - Laura Pisani
- Division of Medical Genetics, Northwell Health/Hofstra University SOM, New York, 11020, USA
| | - Conceicao Bettencourt
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences and Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Roope Männikkö
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Andreea Manole
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Alfredo Brusco
- Department of Medical Sciences, Medical Genetics Unit, University of Torino, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Enrico Grosso
- Department of Medical Sciences, Medical Genetics Unit, University of Torino, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | | | - Judith Armstrong-Moron
- Unit of Medical and Molecular Genetics, University Hospital Sant Joan de Deu Barcelona, 08950, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sophie Gueden
- Unit of Neuropediatrics, University Hospital, Angers Cedex, 49933, France
| | - Omer Bar-Yosef
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 526121, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Michal Tzadok
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 526121, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Yongjin Yoo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, South Korea
| | - Jong-Hee Chae
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, South Korea
| | - Yingting Quan
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, Hunan, China
| | - Huidan Wu
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, Hunan, China
| | - Tianyun Wang
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, Hunan, China
| | - Raphael A Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Kun Xia
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, Hunan, China
| | - Alyssa Blesson
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, 21211, USA
| | - Mahim Jain
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, 21211, USA
| | - Mohammad M Motazacker
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Bregje Jaeger
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, 1105, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Amy L Schneider
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia
| | - Katja Boysen
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia
| | - Alison M Muir
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Candace T Myers
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetic Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | | | - Lauren Gunderson
- Department of Clinical Genomics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, 55902, MN, USA
| | | | - Eric W Klee
- Department of Clinical Genomics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, 55902, MN, USA
| | - David Dyment
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Matthew Osmond
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1H 8L1, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
- Genome Québec Innovation Center, Montréal, QC, H3A 0G1, Canada
| | - Mara Parellada
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, IiSGM, CIBERSAM, 28007, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cloe Llorente
- Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Maranon, Universidad Complutense, CIBERSAM, 28007, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Gonzalez-Peñas
- Hospital Gregorio Maranon, IiSGM, School of Medicine, Calle Dr Esquerdo, 46, 28007, Madrid, Spain
| | - Angel Carracedo
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), CIMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Fundación Pública Galega de Medicina Xenómica- IDIS- Servicio Galego de Saúde (SERGAS), 15706, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Arie Van Haeringen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Claudia Ruivenkamp
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Caroline Nava
- Department of Genetics, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, University Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Delphine Heron
- Department of Genetics, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, University Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Rosaria Nardello
- Department of Health Promotion,Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, 90133, Palermo, Italy
| | - Michele Iacomino
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", 16147, Genova, Italy
| | - Carlo Minetti
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", 16147, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Aldo Skabar
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", University of Trieste, 34134, Trieste, Italy
| | - Antonella Fabretto
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", University of Trieste, 34134, Trieste, Italy
| | - Miquel Raspall-Chaure
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Michael Chez
- Neuroscience Medical Group, 1625 Stockton Boulevard, Suite 104, Sacramento, CA, 95816, USA
| | - Anne Tsai
- Department of Genetics and Inherited Metabolic diseases, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Emily Fassi
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Marwan Shinawi
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - John N Constantino
- William Greenleaf Eliot Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Rita De Zorzi
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34134, Trieste, Italy
| | - Sara Fortuna
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34134, Trieste, Italy
| | - Fernando Kok
- Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 01308-000, Brazil
- Mendelics Genomic Analysis, Sao Paulo, SP, 04013-000, Brazil
| | - Boris Keren
- Department of Genetics, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, University Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Dominique Bonneau
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University Hospital, 49933, Angers, France
- MitoLab, UMR CNRS 6015-INSERM U1083, MitoVasc Institute, Angers University, 49100, Angers, France
| | - Murim Choi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, South Korea
| | - Bruria Benzeev
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 526121, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Federico Zara
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", 16147, Genova, Italy
| | - Heather C Mefford
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Ingrid E Scheffer
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia
| | - Jill Clayton-Smith
- Centre for Genomic Medicine, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Lancashire, M13 9WL, UK
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Alfons Macaya
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - James E Rothman
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Evan E Eichler
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Dimitri M Kullmann
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
| | - Henry Houlden
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
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Sanfeliu A, Kaufmann WE, Gill M, Guasoni P, Tropea D. Transcriptomic Studies in Mouse Models of Rett Syndrome: A Review. Neuroscience 2019; 413:183-205. [PMID: 31229631 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Rett Syndrome (RTT) is a neurological disorder mainly associated with mutations in the X-linked gene coding for the methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2). To assist in studying MECP2's function, researchers have generated Mecp2 mouse mutants showing that MECP2's product (MeCP2) mostly functions as a transcriptional regulator. During the last two decades, these models have been used to determine the genes that are regulated by MeCP2, slowly dissecting the etiological mechanisms underlying RTT. In the present review, we describe the findings of these transcriptomic studies, and highlight differences between them, and discuss how studies on these genetic models can sharpen our understanding of the human disorder. We conclude that - while there's large variability regarding the number of differentially expressed genes identified - there are overlapping features that inform on the biology of RTT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Sanfeliu
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics, School of Medicine, Trinity Center for Health Sciences, St James Hospital D8, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Walter E Kaufmann
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine and Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Michael Gill
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics, School of Medicine, Trinity Center for Health Sciences, St James Hospital D8, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Paolo Guasoni
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, D9, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Daniela Tropea
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics, School of Medicine, Trinity Center for Health Sciences, St James Hospital D8, Dublin, Ireland; Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Lloyd Building, D2, Dublin, Ireland.
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Sanfeliu A, Hokamp K, Gill M, Tropea D. Transcriptomic Analysis of Mecp2 Mutant Mice Reveals Differentially Expressed Genes and Altered Mechanisms in Both Blood and Brain. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:278. [PMID: 31110484 PMCID: PMC6501143 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome is a rare neuropsychiatric disorder with a wide symptomatology including impaired communication and movement, cardio-respiratory abnormalities, and seizures. The clinical presentation is typically associated to mutations in the gene coding for the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2), which is a transcription factor. The gene is ubiquitously present in all the cells of the organism with a peak of expression in neurons. For this reason, most of the studies in Rett models have been performed in brain. However, some of the symptoms of Rett are linked to the peripheral expression of MECP2, suggesting that the effects of the mutations affect gene expression levels in tissues other than the brain. We used RNA sequencing in Mecp2 mutant mice and matched controls, to identify common genes and pathways differentially regulated across different tissues. We performed our study in brain and peripheral blood, and we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways in each tissue. Then, we compared the genes and mechanisms identified in each preparation. We found that some genes and molecular pathways that are differentially expressed in brain are also differentially expressed in blood of Mecp2 mutant mice at a symptomatic-but not presymptomatic-stage. This is the case for the gene Ube2v1, linked to ubiquitination system, and Serpin1, involved in complement and coagulation cascades. Analysis of biological functions in the brain shows the enrichment of mechanisms correlated to circadian rhythms, while in the blood are enriched the mechanisms of response to stimulus-including immune response. Some mechanisms are enriched in both preparations, such as lipid metabolism and response to stress. These results suggest that analysis of peripheral blood can reveal ubiquitous altered molecular mechanisms of Rett and have applications in diagnosis and treatments' assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Sanfeliu
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Karsten Hokamp
- Department of Genetics, School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michael Gill
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Daniela Tropea
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Montes M, Sanford BL, Comiskey DF, Chandler DS. RNA Splicing and Disease: Animal Models to Therapies. Trends Genet 2019; 35:68-87. [PMID: 30466729 PMCID: PMC6339821 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing of pre-mRNA increases genetic diversity, and recent studies estimate that most human multiexon genes are alternatively spliced. If this process is not highly regulated and accurate, it leads to mis-splicing events, which may result in proteins with altered function. A growing body of work has implicated mis-splicing events in a range of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and muscular dystrophies. Understanding the mechanisms that cause aberrant splicing events and how this leads to disease is vital for designing effective therapeutic strategies. In this review, we focus on advances in therapies targeting splicing, and highlight the animal models developed to recapitulate disease phenotypes as a model for testing these therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías Montes
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program and The Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Brianne L Sanford
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Daniel F Comiskey
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program and The Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Dawn S Chandler
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program and The Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Mao M, Hu Y, Yang Y, Qian Y, Wei H, Fan W, Yang Y, Li X, Wang Z. Modeling and Predicting the Activities of Trans-Acting Splicing Factors with Machine Learning. Cell Syst 2018; 7:510-520.e4. [PMID: 30414922 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is generally regulated by trans-splicing factors that specifically bind to cis-elements in pre-mRNAs. The human genome encodes ∼1,500 RNA binding proteins (RBPs) that potentially regulate AS, yet their functions remain largely unknown. To explore their potential activities, we fused the putative functional domains of RBPs to a sequence-specific RNA-binding domain and systemically analyzed how these engineered factors affect splicing. We discovered that ∼80% of low-complexity domains in endogenous RBPs displayed distinct context-dependent activities in regulating splicing, indicating that AS is under more extensive regulation than previously expected. We developed a machine learning approach to classify and predict the activities of RBPs based on their sequence compositions and further validated this model using endogenous RBPs and synthetic polypeptides. These results represent a systematic inspection, modeling, prediction, and validation of how RBP sequences affect their activities in controlling splicing, paving the way for de novo engineering of artificial splicing factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaowei Mao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Yue Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yun Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yajie Qian
- Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Huanhuan Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wei Fan
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Yi Yang
- Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xiaoling Li
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Zefeng Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
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Activity-dependent aberrations in gene expression and alternative splicing in a mouse model of Rett syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E5363-E5372. [PMID: 29769330 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1722546115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder that affects about 1 in 10,000 female live births. The underlying cause of RTT is mutations in the X-linked gene, methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2); however, the molecular mechanism by which these mutations mediate the RTT neuropathology remains enigmatic. Specifically, although MeCP2 is known to act as a transcriptional repressor, analyses of the RTT brain at steady-state conditions detected numerous differentially expressed genes, while the changes in transcript levels were mostly subtle. Here we reveal an aberrant global pattern of gene expression, characterized predominantly by higher levels of expression of activity-dependent genes, and anomalous alternative splicing events, specifically in response to neuronal activity in a mouse model for RTT. Notably, the specific splicing modalities of intron retention and exon skipping displayed a significant bias toward increased retained introns and skipped exons, respectively, in the RTT brain compared with the WT brain. Furthermore, these aberrations occur in conjunction with higher seizure susceptibility in response to neuronal activity in RTT mice. Our findings advance the concept that normal MeCP2 functioning is required for fine-tuning the robust and immediate changes in gene transcription and for proper regulation of alternative splicing induced in response to neuronal stimulation.
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Lewis EMA, Kroll KL. Development and disease in a dish: the epigenetics of neurodevelopmental disorders. Epigenomics 2018; 10:219-231. [PMID: 29334242 PMCID: PMC5810842 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2017-0113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Human neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) involve mutations in hundreds of individual genes, with over-representation in genes encoding proteins that alter chromatin structure to modulate gene expression. Here, we highlight efforts to model these NDDs through in vitro differentiation of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells into neurons. We discuss how epigenetic regulation controls normal cortical development, how mutations in several classes of epigenetic regulators contribute to NDDs, and approaches for modeling cortical development and function using both directed differentiation and formation of cerebral organoids. We explore successful applications of these models to study both syndromic and nonsyndromic NDDs and to define convergent mechanisms, addressing both the potential and challenges of using this approach to define cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily MA Lewis
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kristen L Kroll
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Kyle SM, Vashi N, Justice MJ. Rett syndrome: a neurological disorder with metabolic components. Open Biol 2018; 8:170216. [PMID: 29445033 PMCID: PMC5830535 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.170216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurological disorder caused by mutations in the X-linked gene methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2), a ubiquitously expressed transcriptional regulator. Despite remarkable scientific progress since its discovery, the mechanism by which MECP2 mutations cause RTT symptoms is largely unknown. Consequently, treatment options for patients are currently limited and centred on symptom relief. Thought to be an entirely neurological disorder, RTT research has focused on the role of MECP2 in the central nervous system. However, the variety of phenotypes identified in Mecp2 mutant mouse models and RTT patients implicate important roles for MeCP2 in peripheral systems. Here, we review the history of RTT, highlighting breakthroughs in the field that have led us to present day. We explore the current evidence supporting metabolic dysfunction as a component of RTT, presenting recent studies that have revealed perturbed lipid metabolism in the brain and peripheral tissues of mouse models and patients. Such findings may have an impact on the quality of life of RTT patients as both dietary and drug intervention can alter lipid metabolism. Ultimately, we conclude that a thorough knowledge of MeCP2's varied functional targets in the brain and body will be required to treat this complex syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Kyle
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A4
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Neeti Vashi
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A4
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1
| | - Monica J Justice
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A4
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1
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Pacheco NL, Heaven MR, Holt LM, Crossman DK, Boggio KJ, Shaffer SA, Flint DL, Olsen ML. RNA sequencing and proteomics approaches reveal novel deficits in the cortex of Mecp2-deficient mice, a model for Rett syndrome. Mol Autism 2017; 8:56. [PMID: 29090078 PMCID: PMC5655833 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-017-0174-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rett syndrome (RTT) is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the transcriptional regulator MeCP2. Much of our understanding of MeCP2 function is derived from transcriptomic studies with the general assumption that alterations in the transcriptome correlate with proteomic changes. Advances in mass spectrometry-based proteomics have facilitated recent interest in the examination of global protein expression to better understand the biology between transcriptional and translational regulation. METHODS We therefore performed the first comprehensive transcriptome-proteome comparison in a RTT mouse model to elucidate RTT pathophysiology, identify potential therapeutic targets, and further our understanding of MeCP2 function. The whole cortex of wild-type and symptomatic RTT male littermates (n = 4 per genotype) were analyzed using RNA-sequencing and data-independent acquisition liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Ingenuity® Pathway Analysis was used to identify significantly affected pathways in the transcriptomic and proteomic data sets. RESULTS Our results indicate these two "omics" data sets supplement one another. In addition to confirming previous works regarding mRNA expression in Mecp2-deficient animals, the current study identified hundreds of novel protein targets. Several selected protein targets were validated by Western blot analysis. These data indicate RNA metabolism, proteostasis, monoamine metabolism, and cholesterol synthesis are disrupted in the RTT proteome. Hits common to both data sets indicate disrupted cellular metabolism, calcium signaling, protein stability, DNA binding, and cytoskeletal cell structure. Finally, in addition to confirming disrupted pathways and identifying novel hits in neuronal structure and synaptic transmission, our data indicate aberrant myelination, inflammation, and vascular disruption. Intriguingly, there is no evidence of reactive gliosis, but instead, gene, protein, and pathway analysis suggest astrocytic maturation and morphological deficits. CONCLUSIONS This comparative omics analysis supports previous works indicating widespread CNS dysfunction and may serve as a valuable resource for those interested in cellular dysfunction in RTT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha L. Pacheco
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1918 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
| | - Michael R. Heaven
- Vulcan Analytical, LLC, 1500 1st Ave. North, Birmingham, AL 35203 USA
| | - Leanne M. Holt
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1918 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Life Sciences Building Room 213, 970 Washington St. SW, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| | - David K. Crossman
- UAB Heflin Center for Genomic Science, Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Kaul 424A, 1720 2nd Ave. South, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
| | - Kristin J. Boggio
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Facility, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 222 Maple Ave., Fuller Building, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 USA
| | - Scott A. Shaffer
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Facility, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 222 Maple Ave., Fuller Building, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 USA
| | - Daniel L. Flint
- Luxumbra Strategic Research, LLC, 1331 South Eads St, Arlington, VA 22202 USA
| | - Michelle L. Olsen
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1918 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294 USA
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Life Sciences Building Room 213, 970 Washington St. SW, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
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Deciphering MECP2-associated disorders: disrupted circuits and the hope for repair. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2017; 48:30-36. [PMID: 28961504 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2017.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
MECP2 is a critical gene for neural development, mutations or duplication of which led to severe neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Rett syndrome (RTT) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Extensive works during the past decade yield ample insights into the molecular and cellular functions of MeCP2 in neural development. Furthermore, genetic manipulations in Mecp2 mouse models strongly suggested that deficiency in synaptic plasticity and various behaviors of Mecp2 null or transgenic mice could be rescued in adulthood. Further studies elucidating neural circuits responsible for symptoms in MECP2-associated disorders in rodent and non-human primate models will shed light on the development of potential therapeutic interventions.
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Zheng Z, Ambigapathy G, Keifer J. MeCP2 regulates Tet1-catalyzed demethylation, CTCF binding, and learning-dependent alternative splicing of the BDNF gene in Turtle. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28594324 PMCID: PMC5481183 DOI: 10.7554/elife.25384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
MECP2 mutations underlying Rett syndrome cause widespread misregulation of gene expression. Functions for MeCP2 other than transcriptional are not well understood. In an ex vivo brain preparation from the pond turtle Trachemys scripta elegans, an intraexonic splicing event in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene generates a truncated mRNA transcript in naïve brain that is suppressed upon classical conditioning. MeCP2 and its partners, splicing factor Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1) and methylcytosine dioxygenase 1 (Tet1), bind to BDNF chromatin in naïve but dissociate during conditioning; the dissociation correlating with decreased DNA methylation. Surprisingly, conditioning results in new occupancy of BDNF chromatin by DNA insulator protein CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), which is associated with suppression of splicing in conditioning. Knockdown of MeCP2 shows it is instrumental for splicing and inhibits Tet1 and CTCF binding thereby negatively impacting DNA methylation and conditioning-dependent splicing regulation. Thus, mutations in MECP2 can have secondary effects on DNA methylation and alternative splicing. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.25384.001
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoqing Zheng
- Neuroscience Group, Basic Biomedical Sciences, University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, United States
| | - Ganesh Ambigapathy
- Neuroscience Group, Basic Biomedical Sciences, University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, United States
| | - Joyce Keifer
- Neuroscience Group, Basic Biomedical Sciences, University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, United States
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Namjoshi SV, Raab-Graham KF. Screening the Molecular Framework Underlying Local Dendritic mRNA Translation. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:45. [PMID: 28286470 PMCID: PMC5323403 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, bioinformatic analyses of high-throughput proteomics and transcriptomics data have enabled researchers to gain insight into the molecular networks that may underlie lasting changes in synaptic efficacy. Development and utilization of these techniques have advanced the field of learning and memory significantly. It is now possible to move from the study of activity-dependent changes of a single protein to modeling entire network changes that require local protein synthesis. This data revolution has necessitated the development of alternative computational and statistical techniques to analyze and understand the patterns contained within. Thus, the focus of this review is to provide a synopsis of the journey and evolution toward big data techniques to address still unanswered questions regarding how synapses are modified to strengthen neuronal circuits. We first review the seminal studies that demonstrated the pivotal role played by local mRNA translation as the mechanism underlying the enhancement of enduring synaptic activity. In the interest of those who are new to the field, we provide a brief overview of molecular biology and biochemical techniques utilized for sample preparation to identify locally translated proteins using RNA sequencing and proteomics, as well as the computational approaches used to analyze these data. While many mRNAs have been identified, few have been shown to be locally synthesized. To this end, we review techniques currently being utilized to visualize new protein synthesis, a task that has proven to be the most difficult aspect of the field. Finally, we provide examples of future applications to test the physiological relevance of locally synthesized proteins identified by big data approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeev V Namjoshi
- Center for Learning and Memory, The University of Texas at Austin, AustinTX, USA; Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, AustinTX, USA
| | - Kimberly F Raab-Graham
- Center for Learning and Memory, The University of Texas at Austin, AustinTX, USA; Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, AustinTX, USA; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest Health Sciences, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-SalemNC, USA
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