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Liang W, Xu F, Li L, Peng C, Sun H, Qiu J, Sun J. Epigenetic control of skeletal muscle atrophy. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2024; 29:99. [PMID: 38978023 PMCID: PMC11229277 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-024-00618-1] [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: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscular atrophy is a complex disease involving a large number of gene expression regulatory networks and various biological processes. Despite extensive research on this topic, its underlying mechanisms remain elusive, and effective therapeutic approaches are yet to be established. Recent studies have shown that epigenetics play an important role in regulating skeletal muscle atrophy, influencing the expression of numerous genes associated with this condition through the addition or removal of certain chemical modifications at the molecular level. This review article comprehensively summarizes the different types of modifications to DNA, histones, RNA, and their known regulators. We also discuss how epigenetic modifications change during the process of skeletal muscle atrophy, the molecular mechanisms by which epigenetic regulatory proteins control skeletal muscle atrophy, and assess their translational potential. The role of epigenetics on muscle stem cells is also highlighted. In addition, we propose that alternative splicing interacts with epigenetic mechanisms to regulate skeletal muscle mass, offering a novel perspective that enhances our understanding of epigenetic inheritance's role and the regulatory network governing skeletal muscle atrophy. Collectively, advancements in the understanding of epigenetic mechanisms provide invaluable insights into the study of skeletal muscle atrophy. Moreover, this knowledge paves the way for identifying new avenues for the development of more effective therapeutic strategies and pharmaceutical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenpeng Liang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 26001, China
- Department of Prenatal Screening and Diagnosis Center, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University and First People's Hospital of Nantong City, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Li Li
- Nantong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Chunlei Peng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Nantong, 226000, China
| | - Hualin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 26001, China
| | - Jiaying Qiu
- Department of Prenatal Screening and Diagnosis Center, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Junjie Sun
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 26001, China.
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Kumar V, Dhanjal JK, Sari AN, Khurana M, Kaul SC, Wadhwa R, Sundar D. Effect of Withaferin-A, Withanone, and Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester on DNA Methyltransferases: Potential in Epigenetic Cancer Therapy. Curr Top Med Chem 2024; 24:379-391. [PMID: 37496252 DOI: 10.2174/1568026623666230726105017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) have been reported to be potential drug targets in various cancers. The major hurdle in inhibiting DNMTs is the lack of knowledge about different DNMTs and their role in the hypermethylation of gene promoters in cancer cells. Lack of information on specificity, stability, and higher toxicity of previously reported DNMT inhibitors is the major reason for inadequate epigenetic cancer therapy. DNMT1 and DNMT3A are the two DNMTs that are majorly overexpressed in cancers. OBJECTIVE In this study, we have presented computational and experimental analyses of the potential of some natural compounds, withaferin A (Wi-A), withanone (Wi-N), and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), as DNMT inhibitors, in comparison to sinefungin (SFG), a known dual inhibitor of DNMT1 and DNMT3A. METHODS We used classical simulation methods, such as molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, to investigate the binding potential and properties of the test compounds with DNMT1 and DNMT3A. Cell culture-based assays were used to investigate the inactivation of DNMTs and the resulting hypomethylation of the p16INK4A promoter, a key tumour suppressor that is inactivated by hypermethylation in cancer cells, resulting in upregulation of its expression. RESULTS Among the three test compounds (Wi-A, Wi-N, and CAPE), Wi-A showed the highest binding affinity to both DNMT1 and DNMT3A; CAPE showed the highest affinity to DNMT3A, and Wi-N showed a moderate affinity interaction with both. The binding energies of Wi-A and CAPE were further compared with SFG. Expression analysis of DNMTs showed no difference between control and treated cells. Cell viability and p16INK4A expression analysis showed a dose-dependent decrease in viability, an increase in p16INK4A, and a stronger effect of Wi-A compared to Wi-N and CAPE. CONCLUSION The study demonstrated the differential binding ability of Wi-A, Wi-N, and CAPE to DNMT1 and DNMT3A, which was associated with their inactivation, leading to hypomethylation and desilencing of the p16INK4A tumour suppressor in cancer cells. The test compounds, particularly Wi-A, have the potential for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vipul Kumar
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Jaspreet Kaur Dhanjal
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi, Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase III, New Delhi, 110020, India
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, 3058565, Japan
| | - Anissa Nofita Sari
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, 3058565, Japan
| | - Mallika Khurana
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, 3058565, Japan
| | - Sunil C Kaul
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, 3058565, Japan
| | - Renu Wadhwa
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, 3058565, Japan
| | - Durai Sundar
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India
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Kawaguchi K, Ohashi T, Kobayashi N, Kanemoto K, Nose M, Shinozaki R, Kataoka T, Fujii H. Aberrant DNA methylation-mediated NF-κB/fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) feed-forward loop promotes malignancy of colorectal cancer cells. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2023:159362. [PMID: 37414211 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2023.159362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are intracellular lipid-binding proteins that play roles in fatty acid transport and the regulation of gene expression. Dysregulated FABP expression and/or activity have been associated with cancer pathogenesis; in particular, epidermal-type FABP (FABP5) is upregulated in many types of cancer. However, the mechanisms regulating FABP5 expression and its involvement in cancer remain largely unknown. Here, we examined the regulation of FABP5 gene expression in non-metastatic and metastatic human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. We found that FABP5 expression was upregulated in metastatic compared with non-metastatic CRC cells as well as in human CRC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissue. Analysis of the DNA methylation status of the FABP5 promoter showed that hypomethylation correlated with the malignant potential of the CRC cell lines. Moreover, FABP5 promoter hypomethylation also correlated with the expression pattern of splice variants of the DNA methyltransferase DNMT3B. ChIP assays and luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) was involved in regulating FABP5 expression. FABP5 expression could be upregulated in metastatic CRC cells by sequential promotion of DNA demethylation followed by activation of NF-κB. We also found that upregulated FABP5 in turn controlled NF-κB activity through IL-8 production. Collectively, these findings suggest the existence of a DNA methylation-dependent NF-κB /FABP5 positive feed-forward loop that may lead to constitutive activation of NF-κB signaling pathway and play a crucial role in CRC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichiro Kawaguchi
- Department of Bioscience and Food Production Science, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina, Nagano 399-4598, Japan; Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan.
| | - Tsubasa Ohashi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina, Nagano 399-4598, Japan
| | - Narumi Kobayashi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina, Nagano 399-4598, Japan
| | - Kotoya Kanemoto
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Makoto Nose
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Rin Shinozaki
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Takao Kataoka
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan; Biomedical Research Center, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Fujii
- Department of Bioscience and Food Production Science, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina, Nagano 399-4598, Japan; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-minowa, Kami-ina, Nagano 399-4598, Japan.
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Sae-Lee C, Barrow TM, Colicino E, Choi SH, Rabanal-Ruiz Y, Green D, Korolchuk VI, Mathers JC, Byun HM. Genomic targets and selective inhibition of DNA methyltransferase isoforms. Clin Epigenetics 2022; 14:103. [PMID: 35987848 PMCID: PMC9392947 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01325-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background DNA methylation in the human genome is established and maintained by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). DNMT isoforms show differential expression by cell lineage and during development, but much remains to be elucidated about their shared and unique genomic targets. Results We examined changes in the epigenome following overexpression of 13 DNMT isoforms in HEK293T cells. We observed increased methylation (Δβ > 0.2) at 43,405 CpG sites, with expression of DNMT3A2, DNMTΔ3B4 and DNMTΔ3B2 associated with the greatest impact. De novo methylation occurred primarily within open sea regions and at loci with intermediate methylation levels (β: 0.2–0.6). 53% of differentially methylated loci showed specificity towards a single DNMT subfamily, primarily DNMTΔ3B and DNMT3A and 39% towards a single isoform. These loci were significantly enriched for pathways related to neuronal development (DNMTΔ3B4), calcium homeostasis (DNMTΔ3B3) and ion transport (DNMT3L). Repetitive elements did not display differential sensitivity to overexpressed DNMTs, but hypermethylation of Alu elements was associated with their evolutionary age following overexpression of DNMT3A2, DNMT3B1, DNMT3B2 and DNMT3L. Differential methylation (Δβ > 0.1) was observed at 121 of the 353 loci associated with the Horvath ‘epigenetic clock’ model of ageing, with 51 showing isoform specificity, and was associated with reduction of epigenetic age by 5–15 years following overexpression of seven isoforms. Finally, we demonstrate the potential for dietary constituents to modify epigenetic marks through isoform-specific inhibition of methylation activity. Conclusions Our results provide insight into regions of the genome methylated uniquely by specific DNMT isoforms and demonstrate the potential for dietary intervention to modify the epigenome. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-022-01325-4.
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Expression of DNA Methyltransferase 3B Isoforms Is Associated with DNA Satellite 2 Hypomethylation and Clinical Prognosis in Advanced High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232112759. [PMID: 36361550 PMCID: PMC9654283 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations in DNA methylation are critical for the carcinogenesis of ovarian tumors, especially ovarian carcinoma (OC). DNMT3B, a de novo DNA methyltransferase (DNMT), encodes for fifteen spliced protein products or isoforms. DNMT3B isoforms lack exons for the catalytic domain, with functional consequences on catalytic activity. Abnormal expression of DNMT3B isoforms is frequently observed in several types of cancer, such as breast, lung, kidney, gastric, liver, skin, leukemia, and sarcoma. However, the expression patterns and consequences of DNMT3B isoforms in OC are unknown. In this study, we analyzed each DNMT and DNMT3B isoforms expression by qPCR in 63 OC samples and their association with disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and tumor progression. We included OC patients with the main histological subtypes of EOC and patients in all the disease stages and found that DNMTs were overexpressed in advanced stages (p-value < 0.05) and high-grade OC (p-value < 0.05). Remarkably, we found DNMT3B1 overexpression in advanced stages (p-value = 0.0251) and high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) (p-value = 0.0313), and DNMT3B3 was overexpressed in advanced stages (p-value = 0.0098) and high-grade (p-value = 0.0004) serous ovarian carcinoma (SOC). Finally, we observed that overexpression of DNMT3B isoforms was associated with poor prognosis in OC and SOC. DNMT3B3 was also associated with FDS (p-value = 0.017) and OS (p-value = 0.038) in SOC patients. In addition, the ovarian carcinoma cell lines OVCAR3 and SKOV3 also overexpress DNMT3B3. Interestingly, exogenous overexpression of DNMT3B3 in OVCAR3 causes demethylation of satellite 2 sequences in the pericentromeric region. In summary, our results suggest that DNMT3B3 expression is altered in OC.
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Muylaert C, Van Hemelrijck LA, Maes A, De Veirman K, Menu E, Vanderkerken K, De Bruyne E. Aberrant DNA methylation in multiple myeloma: A major obstacle or an opportunity? Front Oncol 2022; 12:979569. [PMID: 36059621 PMCID: PMC9434119 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.979569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance (DR) of cancer cells leading to relapse is a huge problem nowadays to achieve long-lasting cures for cancer patients. This also holds true for the incurable hematological malignancy multiple myeloma (MM), which is characterized by the accumulation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM). Although new treatment approaches combining immunomodulatory drugs, corticosteroids, proteasome inhibitors, alkylating agents, and monoclonal antibodies have significantly improved median life expectancy, MM remains incurable due to the development of DR, with the underlying mechanisms remaining largely ill-defined. It is well-known that MM is a heterogeneous disease, encompassing both genetic and epigenetic aberrations. In normal circumstances, epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and posttranslational histone modifications, play an important role in proper chromatin structure and transcriptional regulation. However, in MM, numerous epigenetic defects or so-called ‘epimutations’ have been observed and this especially at the level of DNA methylation. These include genome-wide DNA hypomethylation, locus specific hypermethylation and somatic mutations, copy number variations and/or deregulated expression patterns in DNA methylation modifiers and regulators. The aberrant DNA methylation patterns lead to reduced gene expression of tumor suppressor genes, genomic instability, DR, disease progression, and high-risk disease. In addition, the frequency of somatic mutations in the DNA methylation modifiers seems increased in relapsed patients, again suggesting a role in DR and relapse. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in understanding the involvement of aberrant DNA methylation patterns and/or DNA methylation modifiers in MM development, progression, and relapse. In addition, we discuss their involvement in MM cell plasticity, driving myeloma cells to a cancer stem cell state characterized by a more immature and drug-resistant phenotype. Finally, we briefly touch upon the potential of DNA methyltransferase inhibitors to prevent relapse after treatment with the current standard of care agents and/or new, promising (immuno) therapies.
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DNA Methyltransferases: From Evolution to Clinical Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23168994. [PMID: 36012258 PMCID: PMC9409253 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is an epigenetic mark that living beings have used in different environments. The MTases family catalyzes DNA methylation. This process is conserved from archaea to eukaryotes, from fertilization to every stage of development, and from the early stages of cancer to metastasis. The family of DNMTs has been classified into DNMT1, DNMT2, and DNMT3. Each DNMT has been duplicated or deleted, having consequences on DNMT structure and cellular function, resulting in a conserved evolutionary reaction of DNA methylation. DNMTs are conserved in the five kingdoms of life: bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. The importance of DNMTs in whether methylate or not has a historical adaptation that in mammals has been discovered in complex regulatory mechanisms to develop another padlock to genomic insurance stability. The regulatory mechanisms that control DNMTs expression are involved in a diversity of cell phenotypes and are associated with pathologies transcription deregulation. This work focused on DNA methyltransferases, their biology, functions, and new inhibitory mechanisms reported. We also discuss different approaches to inhibit DNMTs, the use of non-coding RNAs and nucleoside chemical compounds in recent studies, and their importance in biological, clinical, and industry research.
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Fagg WS, Liu N, Braunschweig U, Pereira de Castro K, Chen X, Ditmars F, Widen S, Donohue JP, Modis K, Russell W, Fair JH, Weirauch M, Blencowe B, Garcia-Blanco M. Definition of germ layer cell lineage alternative splicing programs reveals a critical role for Quaking in specifying cardiac cell fate. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:5313-5334. [PMID: 35544276 PMCID: PMC9122611 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing is critical for development; however, its role in the specification of the three embryonic germ layers is poorly understood. By performing RNA-Seq on human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and derived definitive endoderm, cardiac mesoderm, and ectoderm cell lineages, we detect distinct alternative splicing programs associated with each lineage. The most prominent splicing program differences are observed between definitive endoderm and cardiac mesoderm. Integrative multi-omics analyses link each program with lineage-enriched RNA binding protein regulators, and further suggest a widespread role for Quaking (QKI) in the specification of cardiac mesoderm. Remarkably, knockout of QKI disrupts the cardiac mesoderm-associated alternative splicing program and formation of myocytes. These changes arise in part through reduced expression of BIN1 splice variants linked to cardiac development. Mechanistically, we find that QKI represses inclusion of exon 7 in BIN1 pre-mRNA via an exonic ACUAA motif, and this is concomitant with intron removal and cleavage from chromatin. Collectively, our results uncover alternative splicing programs associated with the three germ lineages and demonstrate an important role for QKI in the formation of cardiac mesoderm.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Samuel Fagg
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Naiyou Liu
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | | | | | - Xiaoting Chen
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology (CAGE), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Frederick S Ditmars
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Steven G Widen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - John Paul Donohue
- Sinsheimer Labs, RNA Center for Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Katalin Modis
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - William K Russell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Jeffrey H Fair
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology (CAGE), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Benjamin J Blencowe
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONM5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, ONM5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Mariano A Garcia-Blanco
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
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Farah E, Zhang Z, Utturkar SM, Liu J, Ratliff TL, Liu X. Targeting DNMTs to overcome enzalutamide resistance in prostate cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 21:193-205. [PMID: 34728570 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. The androgen receptor (AR) antagonist enzalutamide is a FDA-approved drug for treatment of patients with late-stage prostate cancer and is currently under clinical study for early-stage prostate cancer treatment. After a short positive response period to enzalutamide, tumors will develop drug resistance. In this study, we uncovered that DNA methylation was deregulated in enzalutamide-resistant cells. DNMT activity and DNMT3B expression were upregulated in resistant cell lines. Enzalutamide induced the expression of DNMT3A and DNMT3B in prostate cancer cells with a potential role of p53 and pRB in this process. The overexpression of DNMT3B3, a DNMT3B variant, promoted an enzalutamide-resistant phenotype in C4-2B cell lines. Inhibition of DNA methylation and DNMT3B knockdown induced a re-sensitization to enzalutamide. Decitabine treatment in enzalutamide-resistant cells induced a decrease of the expression of AR-V7 and changes of genes for apoptosis, DNA repair and mRNA splicing. Combination treatment of Decitabine and enzalutamide induced a decrease of tumor weight, Ki-67 and AR-V7 expression and an increase of cleaved-caspase3 levels in 22Rv1 xenografts. The collective results suggest that DNA methylation pathway is deregulated after enzalutamide resistance onset and that targeting DNA methyltransferases restores the sensitivity to enzalutamide in prostate cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sagar M Utturkar
- Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University West Lafayette
| | - Jinpeng Liu
- Markey Cancer Center, Department of Biostatistics, University of Kentucky
| | - Timothy L Ratliff
- Comparative Pathobiology and the Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University West Lafayette
| | - Xiaoqi Liu
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky
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Abstract
Neuroepigenetics, a new branch of epigenetics, plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression. Neuroepigenetics is associated with holistic neuronal function and helps in formation and maintenance of memory and learning processes. This includes neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative defects in which histone modification enzymes appear to play a crucial role. These modifications, carried out by acetyltransferases and deacetylases, regulate biologic and cellular processes such as apoptosis and autophagy, inflammatory response, mitochondrial dysfunction, cell-cycle progression and oxidative stress. Alterations in acetylation status of histone as well as non-histone substrates lead to transcriptional deregulation. Histone deacetylase decreases acetylation status and causes transcriptional repression of regulatory genes involved in neural plasticity, synaptogenesis, synaptic and neural plasticity, cognition and memory, and neural differentiation. Transcriptional deactivation in the brain results in development of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Mounting evidence implicates histone deacetylase inhibitors as potential therapeutic targets to combat neurologic disorders. Recent studies have targeted naturally-occurring biomolecules and micro-RNAs to improve cognitive defects and memory. Multi-target drug ligands targeting HDAC have been developed and used in cell-culture and animal-models of neurologic disorders to ameliorate synaptic and cognitive dysfunction. Herein, we focus on the implications of histone deacetylase enzymes in neuropathology, their regulation of brain function and plausible involvement in the pathogenesis of neurologic defects.
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Toubiana S, Tzur-Gilat A, Selig S. Epigenetic Characteristics of Human Subtelomeres Vary in Cells Utilizing the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) Pathway. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11040278. [PMID: 33810393 PMCID: PMC8065733 DOI: 10.3390/life11040278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Most human cancers circumvent senescence by activating a telomere length maintenance mechanism, most commonly involving telomerase activation. A minority of cancers utilize the recombination-based alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway. The exact requirements for unleashing normally repressed recombination at telomeres are yet unclear. Epigenetic modifications at telomeric regions were suggested to be pivotal for activating ALT; however, conflicting data exist regarding their exact nature and necessity. To uncover common ALT-positive epigenetic characteristics, we performed a comprehensive analysis of subtelomeric DNA methylation, histone modifications, and TERRA expression in several ALT-positive and ALT-negative cell lines. We found that subtelomeric DNA methylation does not differentiate between the ALT-positive and ALT-negative groups, and most of the analyzed subtelomeres within each group do not share common DNA methylation patterns. Additionally, similar TERRA levels were measured in the ALT-positive and ALT-negative groups, and TERRA levels varied significantly among the members of the ALT-positive group. Subtelomeric H3K4 and H3K9 trimethylation also differed significantly between samples in the ALT-positive group. Our findings do not support a common route by which epigenetic modifications activate telomeric recombination in ALT-positive cells, and thus, different therapeutic approaches will be necessary to overcome ALT-dependent cellular immortalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shir Toubiana
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion, Haifa 31096, Israel; (S.T.); (A.T.-G.)
| | - Aya Tzur-Gilat
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion, Haifa 31096, Israel; (S.T.); (A.T.-G.)
| | - Sara Selig
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion, Haifa 31096, Israel; (S.T.); (A.T.-G.)
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa 31096, Israel
- Correspondence:
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12
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Li H, Blanco MA. A catalytic dependent role for DNMT3B in tumor suppression. EBioMedicine 2021; 65:103237. [PMID: 33714886 PMCID: PMC7966975 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Haitao Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Mario Andrés Blanco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA.
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13
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Ferrer AI, Trinidad JR, Sandiford O, Etchegaray JP, Rameshwar P. Epigenetic dynamics in cancer stem cell dormancy. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2021; 39:721-738. [PMID: 32394305 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-020-09882-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer remains one of the most challenging diseases despite significant advances of early diagnosis and therapeutic treatments. Cancerous tumors are composed of various cell types including cancer stem cells capable of self-renewal, proliferation, differentiation, and invasion of distal tumor sites. Most notably, these cells can enter a dormant cellular state that is resistant to conventional therapies. Thereby, cancer stem cells have the intrinsic potential for tumor initiation, tumor growth, metastasis, and tumor relapse after therapy. Both genetic and epigenetic alterations are attributed to the formation of multiple tumor types. This review is focused on how epigenetic dynamics involving DNA methylation and DNA oxidations are implicated in breast cancer and glioblastoma multiforme. The emergence and progression of these cancer types rely on cancer stem cells with the capacity to enter quiescence also known as a dormant cellular state, which dictates the distinct tumorigenic aggressiveness between breast cancer and glioblastomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra I Ferrer
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Jonathan R Trinidad
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA
| | - Oleta Sandiford
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | | | - Pranela Rameshwar
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA.
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14
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Saravanaraman P, Selvam M, Ashok C, Srijyothi L, Baluchamy S. De novo methyltransferases: Potential players in diseases and new directions for targeted therapy. Biochimie 2020; 176:85-102. [PMID: 32659446 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2020.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications govern gene expression by guiding the human genome on 'what to express and what not to'. DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) establish methylation patterns on DNA, particularly in CpG islands, and such patterns play a major role in gene silencing. DNMTs are a family of proteins/enzymes (DNMT1, 2, 3A, 3B, and 3L), among which, DNMT1 (maintenance methyltransferase) and DNMT3 (de novo methyltransferases) that direct mammalian development and genome imprinting are highly investigated. In recent decades, many studies revealed a strong association of DNA methylation patterns with gene expression in various clinical conditions. Differential expression of DNMT3 family proteins and their splice variants result in changes in methylation patterns and such alterations have been associated with the initiation and progression of various diseases, especially cancer. This review will discuss the aberrant modifications generated by DNMT3 proteins under various clinical conditions, suggesting a potential signature for de novo methyltransferases in targeted disease therapy. Further, this review discusses the possibility of using 'CpG island methylation signatures' as promising biomarkers and emphasizes 'targeted hypomethylation' by disrupting the interaction of specific DNMT-protein complexes as the future of cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ponne Saravanaraman
- Department of Biotechnology, Pondicherry Central University, Pondicherry, 605014, India
| | - Murugan Selvam
- Department of Biotechnology, Pondicherry Central University, Pondicherry, 605014, India
| | - Cheemala Ashok
- Department of Biotechnology, Pondicherry Central University, Pondicherry, 605014, India
| | - Loudu Srijyothi
- Department of Biotechnology, Pondicherry Central University, Pondicherry, 605014, India
| | - Sudhakar Baluchamy
- Department of Biotechnology, Pondicherry Central University, Pondicherry, 605014, India.
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15
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Charlton J, Jung EJ, Mattei AL, Bailly N, Liao J, Martin EJ, Giesselmann P, Brändl B, Stamenova EK, Müller FJ, Kiskinis E, Gnirke A, Smith ZD, Meissner A. TETs compete with DNMT3 activity in pluripotent cells at thousands of methylated somatic enhancers. Nat Genet 2020; 52:819-827. [PMID: 32514123 PMCID: PMC7415576 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-020-0639-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian cells stably maintain high levels of DNA methylation despite expressing both positive (DNMT3A/B) and negative (TET1-3) regulators. Here, we analyzed the independent and combined effects of these regulators on the DNA methylation landscape using a panel of knockout human embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines. The greatest impact on global methylation levels was observed in DNMT3-deficient cells, including reproducible focal demethylation at thousands of normally methylated loci. Demethylation depends on TET expression and occurs only when both DNMT3s are absent. Dynamic loci are enriched for hydroxymethylcytosine and overlap with subsets of putative somatic enhancers that are methylated in ESCs and can be activated upon differentiation. We observe similar dynamics in mouse ESCs that were less frequent in epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs) and scarce in somatic tissues, suggesting a conserved pluripotency-linked mechanism. Taken together, our data reveal tightly regulated competition between DNMT3s and TETs at thousands of somatic regulatory sequences within pluripotent cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn Charlton
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eunmi J Jung
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alexandra L Mattei
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nina Bailly
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jing Liao
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Eric J Martin
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Pay Giesselmann
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Björn Brändl
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Franz-Josef Müller
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.,Zentrum für Integrative Psychiatrie gGmbH, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Evangelos Kiskinis
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Zachary D Smith
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA. .,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA. .,Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany. .,Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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16
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Zhang H, Ying H, Wang X. Methyltransferase DNMT3B in leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 2020; 61:263-273. [PMID: 31547729 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2019.1666377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are highly conserved DNA-modifying enzymes that play important roles in epigenetic regulation and they are involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In mammalian cells, three active DNMTs have been identified: DNMT1 acts as a maintenance methyltransferase to replicate preexisting methylation patterns, whereas DNMT3A and DNMT3B primarily act as de novo methyltransferases that are responsible for establishing DNA methylation patterns by adding a methyl group to cytosine bases. The expression of DNMT3B is widespread in a variety of hematological cells and it is altered in each type of leukemia, which is associated with its pathogenesis, progression, treatment, and prognosis. Here, we review current information on DNMT3B in leukemia, including its expression, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, mutations, regulation, function, and clinical value for anti-leukemic therapy and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibin Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Houqun Ying
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xiaozhong Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
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17
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Nibau C, Dadarou D, Kargios N, Mallioura A, Fernandez-Fuentes N, Cavallari N, Doonan JH. A Functional Kinase Is Necessary for Cyclin-Dependent Kinase G1 (CDKG1) to Maintain Fertility at High Ambient Temperature in Arabidopsis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:586870. [PMID: 33240303 PMCID: PMC7683410 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.586870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Maintaining fertility in a fluctuating environment is key to the reproductive success of flowering plants. Meiosis and pollen formation are particularly sensitive to changes in growing conditions, especially temperature. We have previously identified cyclin-dependent kinase G1 (CDKG1) as a master regulator of temperature-dependent meiosis and this may involve the regulation of alternative splicing (AS), including of its own transcript. CDKG1 mRNA can undergo several AS events, potentially producing two protein variants: CDKG1L and CDKG1S, differing in their N-terminal domain which may be involved in co-factor interaction. In leaves, both isoforms have distinct temperature-dependent functions on target mRNA processing, but their role in pollen development is unknown. In the present study, we characterize the role of CDKG1L and CDKG1S in maintaining Arabidopsis fertility. We show that the long (L) form is necessary and sufficient to rescue the fertility defects of the cdkg1-1 mutant, while the short (S) form is unable to rescue fertility. On the other hand, an extra copy of CDKG1L reduces fertility. In addition, mutation of the ATP binding pocket of the kinase indicates that kinase activity is necessary for the function of CDKG1. Kinase mutants of CDKG1L and CDKG1S correctly localize to the cell nucleus and nucleus and cytoplasm, respectively, but are unable to rescue either the fertility or the splicing defects of the cdkg1-1 mutant. Furthermore, we show that there is partial functional overlap between CDKG1 and its paralog CDKG2 that could in part be explained by overlapping gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candida Nibau
- Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Candida Nibau,
| | - Despoina Dadarou
- Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Nestoras Kargios
- Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - Areti Mallioura
- Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - Narcis Fernandez-Fuentes
- Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Cavallari
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - John H. Doonan
- Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
- John H. Doonan,
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18
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Tan HK, Wu CS, Li J, Tan ZH, Hoffman JR, Fry CJ, Yang H, Di Ruscio A, Tenen DG. DNMT3B shapes the mCA landscape and regulates mCG for promoter bivalency in human embryonic stem cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:7460-7475. [PMID: 31219573 PMCID: PMC6698669 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
DNMT3B is known as a de novo DNA methyltransferase. However, its preferential target sites for DNA methylation are largely unknown. Our analysis on ChIP-seq experiment in human embryonic stem cells (hESC) revealed that DNMT3B, mCA and H3K36me3 share the same genomic distribution profile. Deletion of DNMT3B or its histone-interacting domain (PWWP) demolished mCA in hESCs, suggesting that PWWP domain of DNMT3B directs the formation of mCA landscape. In contrast to the common presumption that PWWP guides DNMT3B-mediated mCG deposition, we found that deleting PWWP does not affect the mCG landscape. Nonetheless, DNMT3B knockout led to the formation of 2985 de novo hypomethylated regions at annotated promoter sites. Upon knockout, most of these promoters gain the bivalent marks, H3K4me3 and H3K27me3. We call them spurious bivalent promoters. Gene ontology analysis associated spurious bivalent promoters with development and cell differentiation. Overall, we found the importance of DNMT3B for shaping the mCA landscape and for maintaining the fidelity of the bivalent promoters in hESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Kee Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, #12-01, Singapore 117599
- National University of Singapore Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, 21 Lower Kent Ridge, Singapore 119077
| | - Chan-Shuo Wu
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, #12-01, Singapore 117599
| | - Jia Li
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, #12-01, Singapore 117599
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Zi Hui Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, #12-01, Singapore 117599
| | | | | | - Henry Yang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, #12-01, Singapore 117599
| | - Annalisa Di Ruscio
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, NO 28100, Italy
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Daniel G Tenen
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, #12-01, Singapore 117599
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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19
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Lu R, Wang J, Ren Z, Yin J, Wang Y, Cai L, Wang GG. A Model System for Studying the DNMT3A Hotspot Mutation (DNMT3A R882) Demonstrates a Causal Relationship between Its Dominant-Negative Effect and Leukemogenesis. Cancer Res 2019; 79:3583-3594. [PMID: 31164355 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-3275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Mutation of DNA methyltransferase 3A at arginine 882 (DNMT3AR882mut) is prevalent in hematologic cancers and disorders. Recently, DNMT3AR882mut has been shown to have hypomorphic, dominant-negative, and/or gain-of-function effects on DNA methylation under different biological contexts. However, the causal role for such a multifaceted effect of DNMT3AR882mut in leukemogenesis remains undetermined. Here, we report TF-1 leukemia cells as a robust system useful for modeling the DNMT3AR882mut-dependent transformation and for dissecting the cause-effect relationship between multifaceted activities of DNMT3AR882mut and leukemic transformation. Ectopic expression of DNMT3AR882mut and not wild-type DNMT3A promoted TF-1 cell transformation characterized by cytokine-independent growth, and induces CpG hypomethylation predominantly at enhancers. This effect was dose dependent, acted synergistically with the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation, and resembled what was seen in human leukemia patients carrying DNMT3AR882mut. The transformation- and hypomethylation-inducing capacities of DNMT3AR882mut relied on a motif involved in heterodimerization, whereas its various chromatin-binding domains were dispensable. Mutation of the heterodimerization motif that interferes with DNMT3AR882mut binding to endogenous wild-type DNMT proteins partially reversed the CpG hypomethylation phenotype caused by DNMT3AR882mut, thus supporting a dominant-negative mechanism in cells. In mice, bromodomain inhibition repressed gene-activation events downstream of DNMT3AR882mut-induced CpG hypomethylation, thereby suppressing leukemogenesis mediated by DNMT3AR882mut. Collectively, this study reports a model system useful for studying DNMT3AR882mut, shows a requirement of the dominant-negative effect by DNMT3AR882mut for leukemogenesis, and describes an attractive strategy for the treatment of leukemias carrying DNMT3AR882mut. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings highlight a model system to study the functional impact of a hotspot mutation of DNMT3A at R882 in leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Lu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Jun Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Zhihong Ren
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Jiekai Yin
- Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, California.,Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California
| | - Yinsheng Wang
- Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, California.,Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California
| | - Ling Cai
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Gang Greg Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. .,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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20
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The Roles of Human DNA Methyltransferases and Their Isoforms in Shaping the Epigenome. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10020172. [PMID: 30813436 PMCID: PMC6409524 DOI: 10.3390/genes10020172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A DNA sequence is the hard copy of the human genome and it is a driving force in determining the physiological processes in an organism. Concurrently, the chemical modification of the genome and its related histone proteins is dynamically involved in regulating physiological processes and diseases, which overall constitutes the epigenome network. Among the various forms of epigenetic modifications, DNA methylation at the C-5 position of cytosine in the cytosine–guanine (CpG) dinucleotide is one of the most well studied epigenetic modifications. DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are a family of enzymes involved in generating and maintaining CpG methylation across the genome. In mammalian systems, DNA methylation is performed by DNMT1 and DNMT3s (DNMT3A and 3B). DNMT1 is predominantly involved in the maintenance of DNA methylation during cell division, while DNMT3s are involved in establishing de novo cytosine methylation and maintenance in both embryonic and somatic cells. In general, all DNMTs require accessory proteins, such as ubiquitin-like containing plant homeodomain (PHD) and really interesting new gene (RING) finger domain 1 (UHRF1) or DNMT3-like (DNMT3L), for their biological function. This review mainly focuses on the role of DNMT3B and its isoforms in de novo methylation and maintenance of DNA methylation, especially with respect to their role as an accessory protein.
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21
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Velasco G, Francastel C. Genetics meets DNA methylation in rare diseases. Clin Genet 2018; 95:210-220. [DOI: 10.1111/cge.13480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Velasco
- Sorbonne Paris Cité, Epigenetics and Cell Fate; UMR 7216 CNRS, Université Paris Diderot; Paris France
| | - Claire Francastel
- Sorbonne Paris Cité, Epigenetics and Cell Fate; UMR 7216 CNRS, Université Paris Diderot; Paris France
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22
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Zhang Y, Charlton J, Karnik R, Beerman I, Smith ZD, Gu H, Boyle P, Mi X, Clement K, Pop R, Gnirke A, Rossi DJ, Meissner A. Targets and genomic constraints of ectopic Dnmt3b expression. eLife 2018; 7:e40757. [PMID: 30468428 PMCID: PMC6251628 DOI: 10.7554/elife.40757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation plays an essential role in mammalian genomes and expression of the responsible enzymes is tightly controlled. Deregulation of the de novo DNA methyltransferase DNMT3B is frequently observed across cancer types, yet little is known about its ectopic genomic targets. Here, we used an inducible transgenic mouse model to delineate rules for abnormal DNMT3B targeting, as well as the constraints of its activity across different cell types. Our results explain the preferential susceptibility of certain CpG islands to aberrant methylation and point to transcriptional state and the associated chromatin landscape as the strongest predictors. Although DNA methylation and H3K27me3 are usually non-overlapping at CpG islands, H3K27me3 can transiently co-occur with DNMT3B-induced DNA methylation. Our genome-wide data combined with ultra-deep locus-specific bisulfite sequencing suggest a distributive activity of ectopically expressed Dnmt3b that leads to discordant CpG island hypermethylation and provides new insights for interpreting the cancer methylome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Zhang
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative BiologyHarvard UniversityMassachusettsUnited States
| | - Jocelyn Charlton
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative BiologyHarvard UniversityMassachusettsUnited States
- Department of Genome RegulationMax Planck Institute for Molecular GeneticsBerlinGermany
| | - Rahul Karnik
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative BiologyHarvard UniversityMassachusettsUnited States
| | - Isabel Beerman
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative BiologyHarvard UniversityMassachusettsUnited States
- Department of PediatricsHarvard Medical SchoolMassachusettsUnited States
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Division of Hematology/OncologyBoston Children's HospitalMassachusettsUnited States
| | - Zachary D Smith
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative BiologyHarvard UniversityMassachusettsUnited States
| | - Hongcang Gu
- Broad Institute of MIT and HarvardMassachusettsUnited States
| | - Patrick Boyle
- Broad Institute of MIT and HarvardMassachusettsUnited States
| | - Xiaoli Mi
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative BiologyHarvard UniversityMassachusettsUnited States
| | - Kendell Clement
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative BiologyHarvard UniversityMassachusettsUnited States
| | - Ramona Pop
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative BiologyHarvard UniversityMassachusettsUnited States
| | - Andreas Gnirke
- Broad Institute of MIT and HarvardMassachusettsUnited States
| | - Derrick J Rossi
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative BiologyHarvard UniversityMassachusettsUnited States
- Department of PediatricsHarvard Medical SchoolMassachusettsUnited States
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Division of Hematology/OncologyBoston Children's HospitalMassachusettsUnited States
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative BiologyHarvard UniversityMassachusettsUnited States
- Department of Genome RegulationMax Planck Institute for Molecular GeneticsBerlinGermany
- Broad Institute of MIT and HarvardMassachusettsUnited States
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23
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Gagliardi M, Strazzullo M, Matarazzo MR. DNMT3B Functions: Novel Insights From Human Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2018; 6:140. [PMID: 30406101 PMCID: PMC6204409 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2018.00140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation plays important roles in gene expression regulation and chromatin structure. Its proper establishment and maintenance are essential for mammalian development and cellular differentiation. DNMT3B is the major de novo DNA methyltransferase expressed and active during the early stage of embryonic development, including implantation. In addition to its well-known role to methylate centromeric, pericentromeric, and subtelomeric repeats, recent observations suggest that DNMT3B acts as the main enzyme methylating intragenic regions of active genes. Although largely studied, much remains unknown regarding how these specific patterns of de novo CpG methylation are established in mammalian cells, and which are the rules governing DNMT3B recruitment and activity. Latest evidence indicates that DNMT3B recruitment is regulated by numerous mechanisms including chromatin modifications, transcription levels, non-coding RNAs, and the presence of DNA-binding factors. DNA methylation abnormalities are a common mark of human diseases involving chromosomal and genomic instabilities, such as inherited disease and cancer. The autosomal recessive Immunodeficiency, Centromeric instability and Facial anomalies syndrome, type I (ICF-1), is associated to hypomorphic mutations in DNMT3B gene, while its altered expression has been correlated with the development of tumors. In both cases, this implies that abnormal DNA hypomethylation and hypermethylation patterns affect gene expression and genomic architecture contributing to the pathological states. We will provide an overview of the most recent research aimed at deciphering the molecular mechanisms by which DNMT3B abnormalities are associated with the onset and progression of these pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Gagliardi
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "Adriano Buzzati Traverso", CNR, Naples, Italy.,Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Maria Strazzullo
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "Adriano Buzzati Traverso", CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria R Matarazzo
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "Adriano Buzzati Traverso", CNR, Naples, Italy
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24
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Gowher H, Jeltsch A. Mammalian DNA methyltransferases: new discoveries and open questions. Biochem Soc Trans 2018; 46:1191-1202. [PMID: 30154093 PMCID: PMC6581191 DOI: 10.1042/bst20170574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
As part of the epigenetic network, DNA methylation is a major regulator of chromatin structure and function. In mammals, it mainly occurs at palindromic CpG sites, but asymmetric methylation at non-CpG sites is also observed. Three enzymes are involved in the generation and maintenance of DNA methylation patterns. DNMT1 has high preference for hemimethylated CpG sites, and DNMT3A and DNMT3B equally methylate unmethylated and hemimethylated DNA, and also introduce non-CpG methylation. Here, we review recent observations and novel insights into the structure and function of mammalian DNMTs (DNA methyltransferases), including new structures of DNMT1 and DNMT3A, data on their mechanism, regulation by post-translational modifications and on the function of DNMTs in cells. In addition, we present news findings regarding the allosteric regulation and targeting of DNMTs by chromatin modifications and chromatin proteins. In combination, the recent publications summarized here impressively illustrate the intensity of ongoing research in this field. They provide a deeper understanding of key mechanistic properties of DNMTs, but they also document still unsolved issues, which need to be addressed in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Humaira Gowher
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, U.S.A
| | - Albert Jeltsch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
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25
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Saldívar-González FI, Gómez-García A, Chávez-Ponce de León DE, Sánchez-Cruz N, Ruiz-Rios J, Pilón-Jiménez BA, Medina-Franco JL. Inhibitors of DNA Methyltransferases From Natural Sources: A Computational Perspective. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1144. [PMID: 30364171 PMCID: PMC6191485 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Naturally occurring small molecules include a large variety of natural products from different sources that have confirmed activity against epigenetic targets. In this work we review chemoinformatic, molecular modeling, and other computational approaches that have been used to uncover natural products as inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases, a major family of epigenetic targets with therapeutic interest. Examples of computational approaches surveyed in this work are docking, similarity-based virtual screening, and pharmacophore modeling. It is also discussed the chemoinformatic-guided exploration of the chemical space of naturally occurring compounds as epigenetic modulators which may have significant implications in epigenetic drug discovery and nutriepigenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alejandro Gómez-García
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Norberto Sánchez-Cruz
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Javier Ruiz-Rios
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - B Angélica Pilón-Jiménez
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José L Medina-Franco
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
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26
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Davegårdh C, García-Calzón S, Bacos K, Ling C. DNA methylation in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes in humans. Mol Metab 2018; 14:12-25. [PMID: 29496428 PMCID: PMC6034041 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2018.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Revised: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a multifactorial, polygenic disease caused by impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were expected to resolve a large part of the genetic component of diabetes; yet, the single nucleotide polymorphisms identified by GWAS explain less than 20% of the estimated heritability for T2D. There was subsequently a need to look elsewhere to find disease-causing factors. Mechanisms mediating the interaction between environmental factors and the genome, such as epigenetics, may be of particular importance in the pathogenesis of T2D. Scope of Review This review summarizes knowledge of the impact of epigenetics on the pathogenesis of T2D in humans. In particular, the review will focus on alterations in DNA methylation in four human tissues of importance for the disease; pancreatic islets, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and the liver. Case–control studies and studies examining the impact of non-genetic and genetic risk factors on DNA methylation in humans will be considered. These studies identified epigenetic changes in tissues from subjects with T2D versus non-diabetic controls. They also demonstrate that non-genetic factors associated with T2D such as age, obesity, energy rich diets, physical activity and the intrauterine environment impact the epigenome in humans. Additionally, interactions between genetics and epigenetics seem to influence the pathogenesis of T2D. Conclusions Overall, previous studies by our group and others support a key role for epigenetics in the growing incidence of T2D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cajsa Davegårdh
- Epigenetics and Diabetes, Lund University Diabetes Centre (LUDC), Box 50332, 20213 Malmö, Sweden.
| | - Sonia García-Calzón
- Epigenetics and Diabetes, Lund University Diabetes Centre (LUDC), Box 50332, 20213 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Karl Bacos
- Epigenetics and Diabetes, Lund University Diabetes Centre (LUDC), Box 50332, 20213 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Ling
- Epigenetics and Diabetes, Lund University Diabetes Centre (LUDC), Box 50332, 20213 Malmö, Sweden
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27
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Manzo M, Wirz J, Ambrosi C, Villaseñor R, Roschitzki B, Baubec T. Isoform-specific localization of DNMT3A regulates DNA methylation fidelity at bivalent CpG islands. EMBO J 2017; 36:3421-3434. [PMID: 29074627 PMCID: PMC5709737 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201797038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 10/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is a prevalent epigenetic modification involved in transcriptional regulation and essential for mammalian development. While the genome-wide distribution of this mark has been studied to great detail, the mechanisms responsible for its correct deposition, as well as the cause for its aberrant localization in cancers, have not been fully elucidated. Here, we have compared the activity of individual DNMT3A isoforms in mouse embryonic stem and neuronal progenitor cells and report that these isoforms differ in their genomic binding and DNA methylation activity at regulatory sites. We identify that the longer isoform DNMT3A1 preferentially localizes to the methylated shores of bivalent CpG island promoters in a tissue-specific manner. The isoform-specific targeting of DNMT3A1 coincides with elevated hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) deposition, suggesting an involvement of this isoform in mediating turnover of DNA methylation at these sites. Through genetic deletion and rescue experiments, we demonstrate that this isoform-specific recruitment plays a role in de novo DNA methylation at CpG island shores, with potential implications on H3K27me3-mediated regulation of developmental genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Manzo
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Molecular Life Sciences, PhD Program of the Life Sciences, Zurich Graduate School, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Joël Wirz
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christina Ambrosi
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Molecular Life Sciences, PhD Program of the Life Sciences, Zurich Graduate School, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rodrigo Villaseñor
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bernd Roschitzki
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tuncay Baubec
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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28
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Singh P, Sailu S, Palchamy E, Coumar MS, Baluchamy S. Identification of a novel leukemic-specific splice variant of DNMT3B and its stability. Med Oncol 2017; 34:145. [PMID: 28730333 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-017-1008-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
DNA methyltransferases make use of alternative splicing mechanism to generate various splice variants, but their role(s) in modulating DNA methylation patterns in the cells is unclear. Notably, DNMT3B alone contains nearly 40 different splice variants. In this study, we have identified a novel splice variant of DNMT3B, which lacks exon 7 and 10 from leukemic cell lines which we termed as DNMT3B9. The exon 7 codes for the major part of PWWP domain, and exon 10 inclusion serves as a pluripotent marker. By quantitative RT-PCR using exon-exon junction-specific primers, we showed higher level of DNMT3B9 transcripts in several leukemic cell lines. However, DNMT3B9 expression was less in other tested cancer cell lines indicating that DNMT3B9 might serve as a leukemic-specific biomarker. Surprisingly, endogenous protein for DNMT3B9 was not detected in leukemic cells suggesting the unidentified RNA-related function(s) for DNMT3B9. In addition, we showed that DNMT3B9 protein lacks PWWP domain is less stable compared to other DNMT3B variants which contain PWWP domain through computational predictions and by cycloheximide half-life experiment. Taken together, we demonstrated the existence of novel leukemic-specific splice variant of DNMT3B and provide the evidence for the role of PWWP domain in the stability of DNMT3B. The findings reported here have relevance in epigenetic therapy, which is aimed to target the DNMT3B in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prachi Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Pondicherry Central University, Pondicherry, 605014, India
| | - Sarvagalla Sailu
- Centre for Bioinformatics, Pondicherry Central University, Pondicherry, 605014, India
| | - Elango Palchamy
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute On Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | | | - Sudhakar Baluchamy
- Department of Biotechnology, Pondicherry Central University, Pondicherry, 605014, India.
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29
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Liang G, Weisenberger DJ. DNA methylation aberrancies as a guide for surveillance and treatment of human cancers. Epigenetics 2017; 12:416-432. [PMID: 28358281 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2017.1311434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation aberrancies are hallmarks of human cancers and are characterized by global DNA hypomethylation of repetitive elements and non-CpG rich regions concomitant with locus-specific DNA hypermethylation. DNA methylation changes may result in altered gene expression profiles, most notably the silencing of tumor suppressors, microRNAs, endogenous retorviruses and tumor antigens due to promoter DNA hypermethylation, as well as oncogene upregulation due to gene-body DNA hypermethylation. Here, we review DNA methylation aberrancies in human cancers, their use in cancer surveillance and the interplay between DNA methylation and histone modifications in gene regulation. We also summarize DNA methylation inhibitors and their therapeutic effects in cancer treatment. In this context, we describe the integration of DNA methylation inhibitors with conventional chemotherapies, DNA repair inhibitors and immune-based therapies, to bring the epigenome closer to its normal state and increase sensitivity to other therapeutic agents to improve patient outcome and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gangning Liang
- a Department of Urology , University of Southern California, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Daniel J Weisenberger
- b Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine , University of Southern California, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center , Los Angeles , CA , USA
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30
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Ambrosi C, Manzo M, Baubec T. Dynamics and Context-Dependent Roles of DNA Methylation. J Mol Biol 2017; 429:1459-1475. [PMID: 28214512 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2017.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation is one of the most extensively studied epigenetic marks. It is involved in transcriptional gene silencing and plays important roles during mammalian development. Its perturbation is often associated with human diseases. In mammalian genomes, DNA methylation is a prevalent modification that decorates the majority of cytosines. It is found at the promoters and enhancers of inactive genes, at repetitive elements, and within transcribed gene bodies. Its presence at promoters is dynamically linked to gene activity, suggesting that it could directly influence gene expression patterns and cellular identity. The genome-wide distribution and dynamic behaviour of this mark have been studied in great detail in a variety of tissues and cell lines, including early embryonic development and in embryonic stem cells. In combination with functional studies, these genome-wide maps of DNA methylation revealed interesting features of this mark and provided important insights into its dynamic nature and potential functional role in genome regulation. In this review, we discuss how these recent observations, in combination with insights obtained from biochemical and functional genetics studies, have expanded our current knowledge about the regulation and context-dependent roles of DNA methylation in mammalian genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Ambrosi
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Molecular Life Sciences PhD Program of the Life Sciences Zurich Graduate School, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Massimiliano Manzo
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Molecular Life Sciences PhD Program of the Life Sciences Zurich Graduate School, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tuncay Baubec
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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31
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He Y, Deng Z, Alghamdi M, Lu L, Fear MW, He L. From genetics to epigenetics: new insights into keloid scarring. Cell Prolif 2017; 50. [PMID: 28054407 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Keloid scarring is a dermal fibroproliferative response characterized by excessive and progressive deposition of collagen; aetiology and molecular pathology underlying keloid formation and progression remain unclear. Genetic predisposition is important in the pathogenic processes of keloid formation, however, environmental factors and epigenetic mechanisms may also play pivotal roles. Epigenetic modification is a recent area of investigation in understanding the molecular pathogenesis of keloid scarring and there is increasing evidence that epigenetic changes may play a role in induction and persistent activation of fibroblasts in keloid scars. Here we have reviewed three epigenetic mechanisms: DNA methylation, histone modification and the role of non-coding RNAs. We also review the evidence that these mechanisms may play a role in keloid formation - in future, it may be possible that epigenetic markers may be used instead of prognostic or diagnostic markers here. However, there is a significant amount of work required to increase our current understanding of the role of epigenetic modification in keloid disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjing He
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Zhenjun Deng
- Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.,Department of Physiology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Mansour Alghamdi
- Burn Injury Research Unit, School of Surgery, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.,Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lechun Lu
- Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.,Department of Physiology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Mark W Fear
- Burn Injury Research Unit, School of Surgery, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Li He
- Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
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32
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Misregulation of DNA Methylation Regulators in Cancer. DNA AND HISTONE METHYLATION AS CANCER TARGETS 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-59786-7_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Plourde KV, Labrie Y, Ouellette G, Pouliot MC, Durocher F. Genome-wide methylation analysis of DNMT3B gene isoforms revealed specific methylation profiles in breast cell lines. Epigenomics 2016; 8:1209-26. [PMID: 27586997 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2016-0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM The goal of this study is to characterize the specific methylation profile triggered by DNMT3B protein isoforms expressed at different levels in breast cell lines. MATERIALS & METHODS Microarray DNA methylation data were analyzed and associated with functional genome annotation data. RESULTS A large spectrum of DNMT3B3/DNMT3B2 expression ratio values was observed in parental breast cell lines. According to their methylation profiles, hierarchical clustering of untransfected cell lines revealed clustering based on their ER/PR status. Overexpression of DNMT3B3 triggered methylation changes of thousands of CpG sites in breast cells. Based on the trend of methylation changes, the results suggest an antiproliferative action of the DNMT3B3 isoform through a dominant negative effect on its wild-type counterpart DNMT3B2. CONCLUSION This study revealed specific pathways modulated by DNMT3B isoforms, which could regulate cell proliferation and other biological mechanisms. This illustrates the importance of multiple interactions between isoforms in the complexity of methylation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine V Plourde
- CHU de Québec Research Centre-Université Laval, Department of Molecular Medicine, Québec, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Yvan Labrie
- CHU de Québec Research Centre-Université Laval, Department of Molecular Medicine, Québec, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Geneviève Ouellette
- CHU de Québec Research Centre-Université Laval, Department of Molecular Medicine, Québec, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Marie-Christine Pouliot
- CHU de Québec Research Centre-Université Laval, Department of Molecular Medicine, Québec, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Francine Durocher
- CHU de Québec Research Centre-Université Laval, Department of Molecular Medicine, Québec, G1V 4G2, Canada
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Duymich CE, Charlet J, Yang X, Jones PA, Liang G. DNMT3B isoforms without catalytic activity stimulate gene body methylation as accessory proteins in somatic cells. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11453. [PMID: 27121154 PMCID: PMC4853477 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Promoter DNA methylation is a key epigenetic mechanism for stable gene silencing, but is correlated with expression when located in gene bodies. Maintenance and de novo DNA methylation by catalytically active DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1 and DNMT3A/B) require accessory proteins such as UHRF1 and DNMT3L. DNMT3B isoforms are widely expressed, although some do not have active catalytic domains and their expression can be altered during cell development and tumourigenesis, questioning their biological roles. Here, we show that DNMT3B isoforms stimulate gene body methylation and re-methylation after methylation-inhibitor treatment. This occurs independently of the isoforms' catalytic activity, demonstrating a similar functional role to the accessory protein DNMT3L, which is only expressed in undifferentiated cells and recruits DNMT3A to initiate DNA methylation. This unexpected role for DNMT3B suggests that it might substitute for the absent accessory protein DNMT3L to recruit DNMT3A in somatic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher E. Duymich
- Department of Urology, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA
| | - Jessica Charlet
- Department of Urology, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA
| | - Xiaojing Yang
- Department of Urology, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA
| | - Peter A. Jones
- Department of Urology, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA
| | - Gangning Liang
- Department of Urology, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA
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Tannorella P, Stoccoro A, Tognoni G, Bonuccelli U, Migliore L, Coppedè F. Association study between the DNMT3A -448A>G polymorphism and risk of Alzheimer's disease in Caucasians of Italian origin. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE 2016; 5:85-93. [PMID: 27073746 PMCID: PMC4788735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence points to an epigenetic contribution in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. In this regard, variants and polymorphisms of DNA methyltransferase genes (DNMTs) are being investigated for their contribution to cognitive decline and dementia, but results are still scarce or controversial. In the present study we genotyped 710 Caucasian subjects of Italian descent, including 320 late-onset AD (LOAD) patients, 70 individuals with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and 320 matched healthy controls, for the presence of a functional DNMT3A -448A>G (rs1550117) polymorphism, searching for association with disease risk. In addition, we searched for correlation between the studied polymorphism and circulating levels of folate, homocysteine (hcy) and vitamin B12, all involved in DNA methylation reactions and available from 189 LOAD patients and 186 matched controls. Both allele and genotype frequencies of rs1550117 were closely similar between MCI, LOAD and control subjects, and no association with dementia or pre-dementia conditions was observed. Plasma hcy levels were significantly higher (p = 0.04) and serum folate levels significantly lower (p = 0.01) in LOAD than in controls, but no difference in circulating folate, hcy or vitamin B12 levels was seen between carriers and non-carriers of the minor DNMT3A -448A allele. Collectively, present results confirmed previous associations of increased hcy and decreased folate with LOAD risk, but do not support an association between the DNMT3A -448A>G polymorphism and AD in our population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierpaola Tannorella
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Section of Medical Genetics, University of PisaVia Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Stoccoro
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Section of Medical Genetics, University of PisaVia Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Doctoral School in Genetics Oncology and Clinical Medicine, University of SienaSiena, Italy
| | - Gloria Tognoni
- Unit of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Pisa University HospitalVia Roma 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Ubaldo Bonuccelli
- Unit of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Pisa University HospitalVia Roma 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Neurological ClinicVia Roma 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Lucia Migliore
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Section of Medical Genetics, University of PisaVia Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Interdepartmental Research Center Nutrafood “Nutraceuticals and Food for Health”, University of PisaVia del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Coppedè
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Section of Medical Genetics, University of PisaVia Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Interdepartmental Research Center Nutrafood “Nutraceuticals and Food for Health”, University of PisaVia del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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Lardenoije R, Iatrou A, Kenis G, Kompotis K, Steinbusch HWM, Mastroeni D, Coleman P, Lemere CA, Hof PR, van den Hove DLA, Rutten BPF. The epigenetics of aging and neurodegeneration. Prog Neurobiol 2015; 131:21-64. [PMID: 26072273 PMCID: PMC6477921 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2015.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 246] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetics is a quickly growing field encompassing mechanisms regulating gene expression that do not involve changes in the genotype. Epigenetics is of increasing relevance to neuroscience, with epigenetic mechanisms being implicated in brain development and neuronal differentiation, as well as in more dynamic processes related to cognition. Epigenetic regulation covers multiple levels of gene expression; from direct modifications of the DNA and histone tails, regulating the level of transcription, to interactions with messenger RNAs, regulating the level of translation. Importantly, epigenetic dysregulation currently garners much attention as a pivotal player in aging and age-related neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, where it may mediate interactions between genetic and environmental risk factors, or directly interact with disease-specific pathological factors. We review current knowledge about the major epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation and DNA demethylation, chromatin remodeling and non-coding RNAs, as well as the involvement of these mechanisms in normal aging and in the pathophysiology of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, we examine the current state of epigenetics-based therapeutic strategies for these diseases, which either aim to restore the epigenetic homeostasis or skew it to a favorable direction to counter disease pathology. Finally, methodological challenges of epigenetic investigations and future perspectives are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Lardenoije
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Artemis Iatrou
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Gunter Kenis
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Konstantinos Kompotis
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Genopode Building, 1015 Lausanne-Dorigny, Switzerland
| | - Harry W M Steinbusch
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Diego Mastroeni
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; L.J. Roberts Alzheimer's Disease Center, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, 10515 W. Santa Fe Drive, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA
| | - Paul Coleman
- L.J. Roberts Alzheimer's Disease Center, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, 10515 W. Santa Fe Drive, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA
| | - Cynthia A Lemere
- Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Daniel L A van den Hove
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Fuechsleinstrasse 15, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Bart P F Rutten
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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Liao J, Karnik R, Gu H, Ziller MJ, Clement K, Tsankov AM, Akopian V, Gifford CA, Donaghey J, Galonska C, Pop R, Reyon D, Tsai SQ, Mallard W, Joung JK, Rinn JL, Gnirke A, Meissner A. Targeted disruption of DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B in human embryonic stem cells. Nat Genet 2015; 47:469-78. [PMID: 25822089 PMCID: PMC4414868 DOI: 10.1038/ng.3258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 340] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation is a key epigenetic modification involved in regulating gene expression and maintaining genomic integrity. Here we inactivated all three catalytically active DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) in human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to further investigate the roles and genomic targets of these enzymes. Disruption of DNMT3A or DNMT3B individually as well as of both enzymes in tandem results in viable, pluripotent cell lines with distinct effects on the DNA methylation landscape, as assessed by whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. Surprisingly, in contrast to findings in mouse, deletion of DNMT1 resulted in rapid cell death in human ESCs. To overcome this immediate lethality, we generated a doxycycline-responsive tTA-DNMT1* rescue line and readily obtained homozygous DNMT1-mutant lines. However, doxycycline-mediated repression of exogenous DNMT1* initiates rapid, global loss of DNA methylation, followed by extensive cell death. Our data provide a comprehensive characterization of DNMT-mutant ESCs, including single-base genome-wide maps of the targets of these enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liao
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rahul Karnik
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hongcang Gu
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael J. Ziller
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kendell Clement
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alexander M. Tsankov
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Veronika Akopian
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Casey A. Gifford
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Julie Donaghey
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christina Galonska
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ramona Pop
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Deepak Reyon
- Department of Pathology, Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shengdar Q. Tsai
- Department of Pathology, Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - William Mallard
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - J. Keith Joung
- Department of Pathology, Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John L. Rinn
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andreas Gnirke
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Abstract
DNA methylation patterns are disrupted in various malignancies, suggesting a role in the development of cancer, but genetic aberrations directly linking the DNA methylation machinery to malignancies were rarely observed, so this association remained largely correlative. Recently, however, mutations in the gene encoding DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) were reported in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), and subsequently in patients with various other haematological malignancies, pointing to DNMT3A as a critically important new tumour suppressor. Here, we review the clinical findings related to DNMT3A, tie these data to insights from basic science studies conducted over the past 20 years and present a roadmap for future research that should advance the agenda for new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liubin Yang
- 1] Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. [2]
| | - Rachel Rau
- 1] Department of Pediatrics, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. [2]
| | - Margaret A Goodell
- 1] Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. [2] Department of Pediatrics, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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Dnmt3b Prefers Germ Line Genes and Centromeric Regions: Lessons from the ICF Syndrome and Cancer and Implications for Diseases. BIOLOGY 2014; 3:578-605. [PMID: 25198254 PMCID: PMC4192629 DOI: 10.3390/biology3030578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2014] [Revised: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The correct establishment and maintenance of DNA methylation patterns are critical for mammalian development and the control of normal cell growth and differentiation. DNA methylation has profound effects on the mammalian genome, including transcriptional repression, modulation of chromatin structure, X chromosome inactivation, genomic imprinting, and the suppression of the detrimental effects of repetitive and parasitic DNA sequences on genome integrity. Consistent with its essential role in normal cells and predominance at repetitive genomic regions, aberrant changes of DNA methylation patterns are a common feature of diseases with chromosomal and genomic instabilities. In this context, the functions of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) can be affected by mutations or alterations of their expression. DNMT3B, which is involved in de novo methylation, is of particular interest not only because of its important role in development, but also because of its dysfunction in human diseases. Expression of catalytically inactive isoforms has been associated with cancer risk and germ line hypomorphic mutations with the ICF syndrome (Immunodeficiency Centromeric instability Facial anomalies). In these diseases, global genomic hypomethylation affects repeated sequences around centromeric regions, which make up large blocks of heterochromatin, and is associated with chromosome instability, impaired chromosome segregation and perturbed nuclear architecture. The review will focus on recent data about the function of DNMT3B, and the consequences of its deregulated activity on pathological DNA hypomethylation, including the illicit activation of germ line-specific genes and accumulation of transcripts originating from repeated satellite sequences, which may represent novel physiopathological biomarkers for human diseases. Notably, we focus on cancer and the ICF syndrome, pathological contexts in which hypomethylation has been extensively characterized. We also discuss the potential contribution of these deregulated protein-coding and non-coding transcription programs to the perturbation of cellular phenotypes.
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Pollema-Mays SL, Centeno MV, Apkarian AV, Martina M. Expression of DNA methyltransferases in adult dorsal root ganglia is cell-type specific and up regulated in a rodent model of neuropathic pain. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:217. [PMID: 25152711 PMCID: PMC4126486 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2014] [Accepted: 07/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is associated with hyperexcitability and intrinsic firing of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. These phenotypical changes can be long lasting, potentially spanning the entire life of animal models, and depend on altered expression of numerous proteins, including many ion channels. Yet, how DRGs maintain long-term changes in protein expression in neuropathic conditions remains unclear. DNA methylation is a well-known mechanism of epigenetic control of gene expression and is achieved by the action of three enzymes: DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) 1, 3a, and 3b, which have been studied primarily during development. We first performed immunohistochemical analysis to assess whether these enzymes are expressed in adult rat DRGs (L4–5) and found that DNMT1 is expressed in both glia and neurons, DNMT3a is preferentially expressed in glia and DNMT3b is preferentially expressed in neurons. A rat model of neuropathic pain was then used to determine whether nerve injury may induce epigenetic changes in DRGs at multiple time points after pain onset. Real-time RT PCR analysis revealed robust and time-dependent changes in DNMT transcript expression in ipsilateral DRGs from spared nerve injury (SNI) but not sham rats. Interestingly, DNMT3b transcript showed a robust upregulation that appeared already 1 week after surgery and persisted at 4 weeks (our endpoint); in contrast, DNMT1 and DNMT3a transcripts showed only moderate upregulation that was transient and did not appear until the second week. We suggest that DNMT regulation in adult DRGs may be a contributor to the pain phenotype and merits further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Pollema-Mays
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Maria V Centeno
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL, USA
| | - A V Apkarian
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Marco Martina
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL, USA
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Wegner M, Neddermann D, Piorunska-Stolzmann M, Jagodzinski PP. Role of epigenetic mechanisms in the development of chronic complications of diabetes. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2014; 105:164-75. [PMID: 24814876 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2014.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Revised: 03/13/2014] [Accepted: 03/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that epigenetic regulation of gene expression including post-translational histone modifications (PTHMs), DNA methylation and microRNA (miRNA)-regulation of mRNA translation could play a crucial role in the development of chronic, diabetic complications. Hyperglycemia can induce an abnormal action of PTHMs and DNA methyltransferases as well as alter the levels of numerous miRNAs in endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, cardiomyocytes, retina, and renal cells. These epigenetic abnormalities result in changes in the expression of numerous genes contributing to effects such as development of chronic inflammation, impaired clearance of reactive oxygen species (ROS), endothelial cell dysfunction and/or the accumulation of extracellular matrix in the kidney, which causing the development of retinopathy, nephropathy or cardiomyopathy. Some epigenetic modifications, for example PTHMs and DNA methylation, become irreversible over time. Therefore, these processes have gained much attention in explaining the long-lasting detrimental consequences of hyperglycaemia causing the development of chronic complications even after improved glycaemic control is achieved. Our review suggests that the treatment of chronic complications should focus on erasing metabolic memory by targeting chromatin modification enzymes and by restoring miRNA levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Wegner
- Lipid Metabolism Laboratory, Chair of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Grunwaldzka Street, 60-780 Poznan, Poland.
| | - Daniel Neddermann
- Novartis Pharma AG, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Postfach, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maria Piorunska-Stolzmann
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Chair of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Grunwaldzka Street, 60-780 Poznan, Poland
| | - Pawel P Jagodzinski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Swiecickiego Street, 60-781 Poznan, Poland
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42
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Understanding the relationship between DNA methylation and histone lysine methylation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2014; 1839:1362-72. [PMID: 24560929 PMCID: PMC4316174 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2014.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 349] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2013] [Accepted: 02/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation acts as an epigenetic modification in vertebrate DNA. Recently it has become clear that the DNA and histone lysine methylation systems are highly interrelated and rely mechanistically on each other for normal chromatin function in vivo. Here we examine some of the functional links between these systems, with a particular focus on several recent discoveries suggesting how lysine methylation may help to target DNA methylation during development, and vice versa. In addition, the emerging role of non-methylated DNA found in CpG islands in defining histone lysine methylation profiles at gene regulatory elements will be discussed in the context of gene regulation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Methylation: A Multifaceted Modification — looking at transcription and beyond. There is an emerging realisation that DNA and histone lysine methylation in mammals are highly interrelated. Targeting of DNA methylation is mechanistically linked to H3K9 methylation. Uhrf1 acts as a link between H3K9 methylation and maintenance methylation during DNA replication. Targeting of Dnmt3a/b is influenced by H3K4 and H3K36 methylation. Non-methylated DNA at CpG islands influences histone methylation through ZF-CxxC proteins.
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43
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Rack JGM, VanLinden MR, Lutter T, Aasland R, Ziegler M. Constitutive nuclear localization of an alternatively spliced sirtuin-2 isoform. J Mol Biol 2013; 426:1677-91. [PMID: 24177535 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2013.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2013] [Revised: 10/19/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Sirtuin-2 (SIRT2), the cytoplasmic member of the sirtuin family, has been implicated in the deacetylation of nuclear proteins. Although the enzyme has been reported to be located to the nucleus during G2/M phase, its spectrum of targets suggests functions in the nucleus throughout the cell cycle. While a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling mechanism has been proposed for SIRT2, recent studies have indicated the presence of a constitutively nuclear isoform. Here we report the identification of a novel splice variant (isoform 5) of SIRT2 that lacks a nuclear export signal and encodes a predominantly nuclear isoform. This novel isoform 5 fails to show deacetylase activity using several assays, both in vitro and in vivo, and we are led to conclude that this isoform is catalytically inactive. Nevertheless, it retains the ability to interact with p300, a known interaction partner. Moreover, changes in intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence upon denaturation indicate that the protein is properly folded. These data, together with computational analyses, confirm the structural integrity of the catalytic domain. Our results suggest an activity-independent nuclear function of the novel isoform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes G M Rack
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Postbox 7803, 5020 Bergen, Norway.
| | - Magali R VanLinden
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Postbox 7803, 5020 Bergen, Norway.
| | - Timo Lutter
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Postbox 7803, 5020 Bergen, Norway.
| | - Rein Aasland
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Postbox 7803, 5020 Bergen, Norway.
| | - Mathias Ziegler
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Postbox 7803, 5020 Bergen, Norway.
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