1
|
Sood V, Holewinski R, Andresson T, Larson DR, Misteli T. Identification of molecular determinants of gene-specific bursting patterns by high-throughput imaging screens. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.08.597999. [PMID: 38903099 PMCID: PMC11188098 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.08.597999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Stochastic transcriptional bursting is a universal property of active genes. While different genes exhibit distinct bursting patterns, the molecular mechanisms for gene-specific stochastic bursting are largely unknown. We have developed and applied a high-throughput-imaging based screening strategy to identify cellular factors and molecular mechanisms that determine the bursting behavior of human genes. Focusing on epigenetic regulators, we find that protein acetylation is a strong acute modulator of burst frequency, burst size and heterogeneity of bursting. Acetylation globally affects the Off-time of genes but has gene-specific effects on the On-time. Yet, these effects are not strongly linked to promoter acetylation, which do not correlate with bursting properties, and forced promoter acetylation has variable effects on bursting. Instead, we demonstrate acetylation of the Integrator complex as a key determinant of gene bursting. Specifically, we find that elevated Integrator acetylation decreases bursting frequency. Taken together our results suggest a prominent role of non-histone proteins in determining gene bursting properties, and they identify histone-independent acetylation of a transcription cofactor as an allosteric modulator of bursting via a far-downstream bursting checkpoint.
Collapse
|
2
|
Breimann L, Bahry E, Zouinkhi M, Kolyvanov K, Street LA, Preibisch S, Ercan S. Analysis of developmental gene expression using smFISH and in silico staging of C. elegans embryos. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.15.594414. [PMID: 38798598 PMCID: PMC11118362 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.15.594414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Regulation of transcription during embryogenesis is key to development and differentiation. To study transcript expression throughout Caenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis at single-molecule resolution, we developed a high-throughput single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH) method that relies on computational methods to developmentally stage embryos and quantify individual mRNA molecules in single embryos. We applied our system to sdc-2, a zygotically transcribed gene essential for hermaphrodite development and dosage compensation. We found that sdc-2 is rapidly activated during early embryogenesis by increasing both the number of mRNAs produced per transcription site and the frequency of sites engaged in transcription. Knockdown of sdc-2 and dpy-27, a subunit of the dosage compensation complex (DCC), increased the number of active transcription sites for the X chromosomal gene dpy-23 but not the autosomal gene mdh-1, suggesting that the DCC reduces the frequency of dpy-23 transcription. The temporal resolution from in silico staging of embryos showed that the deletion of a single DCC recruitment element near the dpy-23 gene causes higher dpy-23 mRNA expression after the start of dosage compensation, which could not be resolved using mRNAseq from mixed-stage embryos. In summary, we have established a computational approach to quantify temporal regulation of transcription throughout C. elegans embryogenesis and demonstrated its potential to provide new insights into developmental gene regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Breimann
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ella Bahry
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Helmholtz Imaging, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Marwan Zouinkhi
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Klim Kolyvanov
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lena Annika Street
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephan Preibisch
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Sevinç Ercan
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Meeussen JVW, Lenstra TL. Time will tell: comparing timescales to gain insight into transcriptional bursting. Trends Genet 2024; 40:160-174. [PMID: 38216391 PMCID: PMC10860890 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.11.003] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Recent imaging studies have captured the dynamics of regulatory events of transcription inside living cells. These events include transcription factor (TF) DNA binding, chromatin remodeling and modification, enhancer-promoter (E-P) proximity, cluster formation, and preinitiation complex (PIC) assembly. Together, these molecular events culminate in stochastic bursts of RNA synthesis, but their kinetic relationship remains largely unclear. In this review, we compare the timescales of upstream regulatory steps (input) with the kinetics of transcriptional bursting (output) to generate mechanistic models of transcription dynamics in single cells. We highlight open questions and potential technical advances to guide future endeavors toward a quantitative and kinetic understanding of transcription regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph V W Meeussen
- Division of Gene Regulation, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Oncode Institute, Amsterdam 1066CX, The Netherlands
| | - Tineke L Lenstra
- Division of Gene Regulation, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Oncode Institute, Amsterdam 1066CX, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Martinez-Corral R, Park M, Biette KM, Friedrich D, Scholes C, Khalil AS, Gunawardena J, DePace AH. Transcriptional kinetic synergy: A complex landscape revealed by integrating modeling and synthetic biology. Cell Syst 2023; 14:324-339.e7. [PMID: 37080164 PMCID: PMC10472254 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2023.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) control gene expression, often acting synergistically. Classical thermodynamic models offer a biophysical explanation for synergy based on binding cooperativity and regulated recruitment of RNA polymerase. Because transcription requires polymerase to transition through multiple states, recent work suggests that "kinetic synergy" can arise through TFs acting on distinct steps of the transcription cycle. These types of synergy are not mutually exclusive and are difficult to disentangle conceptually and experimentally. Here, we model and build a synthetic circuit in which TFs bind to a single shared site on DNA, such that TFs cannot synergize by simultaneous binding. We model mRNA production as a function of both TF binding and regulation of the transcription cycle, revealing a complex landscape dependent on TF concentration, DNA binding affinity, and regulatory activity. We use synthetic TFs to confirm that the transcription cycle must be integrated with recruitment for a quantitative understanding of gene regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Minhee Park
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Kelly M Biette
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dhana Friedrich
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Clarissa Scholes
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ahmad S Khalil
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jeremy Gunawardena
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Angela H DePace
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wang P, Wang HY, Gao XJ, Zhu HX, Zhang XP, Liu F, Wang W. Encoding and Decoding of p53 Dynamics in Cellular Response to Stresses. Cells 2023; 12:cells12030490. [PMID: 36766831 PMCID: PMC9914463 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In the cellular response to stresses, the tumor suppressor p53 is activated to maintain genomic integrity and fidelity. As a transcription factor, p53 exhibits rich dynamics to allow for discrimination of the type and intensity of stresses and to direct the selective activation of target genes involved in different processes including cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In this review, we focused on how stresses are encoded into p53 dynamics and how the dynamics are decoded into cellular outcomes. Theoretical modeling may provide a global view of signaling in the p53 network by coupling the encoding and decoding processes. We discussed the significance of modeling in revealing the mechanisms of the transition between p53 dynamic modes. Moreover, we shed light on the crosstalk between the p53 network and other signaling networks. This review may advance the understanding of operating principles of the p53 signaling network comprehensively and provide insights into p53 dynamics-based cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ping Wang
- Kuang Yaming Honors School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Key Laboratory of High Performance Scientific Computation, School of Science, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, China
| | - Hang-Yu Wang
- Kuang Yaming Honors School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xing-Jie Gao
- Kuang Yaming Honors School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Hua-Xia Zhu
- Kuang Yaming Honors School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiao-Peng Zhang
- Kuang Yaming Honors School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Institute of Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- Correspondence: (X.-P.Z.); (W.W.)
| | - Feng Liu
- Institute of Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Institute of Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- Correspondence: (X.-P.Z.); (W.W.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Guo M, Fang Z, Chen B, Songyang Z, Xiong Y. Distinct dosage compensations of ploidy-sensitive and -insensitive X chromosome genes during development and in diseases. iScience 2023; 26:105997. [PMID: 36798435 PMCID: PMC9926305 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.105997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The active X chromosome in mammals is upregulated to balance its dosage to autosomes during evolution. However, it is elusive why the known dosage compensation machinery showed uneven and small influence on X genes. Here, based on >20,000 transcriptomes, we identified two X gene groups (ploidy-sensitive [PSX] and ploidy-insensitive [PIX]), showing distinct but evolutionarily conserved dosage compensations (termed XAR). We demonstrated that XAR-PIX was downregulated whereas XAR-PSX upregulated at both RNA and protein levels across cancer types, in contrast with their trends during stem cell differentiation. XAR-PIX, but not XAR-PSX, was lower and correlated with autoantibodies and inflammation in patients of lupus, suggesting that insufficient dosage of PIX genes contribute to lupus pathogenesis. We further identified and experimentally validated two XAR regulators, TP53 and ATRX. Collectively, we provided insights into X dosage compensation in mammals and demonstrated different regulation of PSX and PIX and their pathophysiological roles in human diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengbiao Guo
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhengwen Fang
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bohong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhou Songyang
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yuanyan Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China,Corresponding author
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Luo S, Wang Z, Zhang Z, Zhou T, Zhang J. Genome-wide inference reveals that feedback regulations constrain promoter-dependent transcriptional burst kinetics. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 51:68-83. [PMID: 36583343 PMCID: PMC9874261 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression in mammalian cells is highly variable and episodic, resulting in a series of discontinuous bursts of mRNAs. A challenge is to understand how static promoter architecture and dynamic feedback regulations dictate bursting on a genome-wide scale. Although single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides an opportunity to address this challenge, effective analytical methods are scarce. We developed an interpretable and scalable inference framework, which combined experimental data with a mechanistic model to infer transcriptional burst kinetics (sizes and frequencies) and feedback regulations. Applying this framework to scRNA-seq data generated from embryonic mouse fibroblast cells, we found Simpson's paradoxes, i.e. genome-wide burst kinetics exhibit different characteristics in two cases without and with distinguishing feedback regulations. We also showed that feedbacks differently modulate burst frequencies and sizes and conceal the effects of transcription start site distributions on burst kinetics. Notably, only in the presence of positive feedback, TATA genes are expressed with high burst frequencies and enhancer-promoter interactions mainly modulate burst frequencies. The developed inference method provided a flexible and efficient way to investigate transcriptional burst kinetics and the obtained results would be helpful for understanding cell development and fate decision.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zhenquan Zhang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Computational Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, P. R. China,School of Mathematics, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510275, P. R. China
| | - Tianshou Zhou
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Tianshou Zhou. Tel: +86 20 84134958;
| | - Jiajun Zhang
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +86 20 84111829;
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bahry E, Breimann L, Zouinkhi M, Epstein L, Kolyvanov K, Mamrak N, King B, Long X, Harrington KIS, Lionnet T, Preibisch S. RS-FISH: precise, interactive, fast, and scalable FISH spot detection. Nat Methods 2022; 19:1563-1567. [PMID: 36396787 PMCID: PMC9718671 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-022-01669-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH)-based methods extract spatially resolved genetic and epigenetic information from biological samples by detecting fluorescent spots in microscopy images, an often challenging task. We present Radial Symmetry-FISH (RS-FISH), an accurate, fast, and user-friendly software for spot detection in two- and three-dimensional images. RS-FISH offers interactive parameter tuning and readily scales to large datasets and image volumes of cleared or expanded samples using distributed processing on workstations, clusters, or the cloud. RS-FISH maintains high detection accuracy and low localization error across a wide range of signal-to-noise ratios, a key feature for single-molecule FISH, spatial transcriptomics, or spatial genomics applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ella Bahry
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Laura Breimann
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marwan Zouinkhi
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Berlin, Germany
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Leo Epstein
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Berlin, Germany
- Helmholtz Imaging Platform, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klim Kolyvanov
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicholas Mamrak
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Cell Biology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin King
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Cell Biology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xi Long
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Kyle I S Harrington
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Berlin, Germany.
- Helmholtz Imaging Platform, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Timothée Lionnet
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Cell Biology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
| | - Stephan Preibisch
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
A transcriptional cycling model recapitulates chromatin-dependent features of noisy inducible transcription. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010152. [PMID: 36084132 PMCID: PMC9491597 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of gene expression in response to environmental cues results in substantial phenotypic heterogeneity between cells that can impact a wide range of outcomes including differentiation, viral activation, and drug resistance. An important source of gene expression noise is transcriptional bursting, or the process by which transcripts are produced during infrequent bursts of promoter activity. Chromatin accessibility impacts transcriptional bursting by regulating the assembly of transcription factor and polymerase complexes on promoters, suggesting that the effect of an activating signal on transcriptional noise will depend on the initial chromatin state at the promoter. To explore this possibility, we simulated transcriptional activation using a transcriptional cycling model with three promoter states that represent chromatin remodeling, polymerase binding and pause release. We initiated this model over a large parameter range representing target genes with different chromatin environments, and found that, upon increasing the polymerase pause release rate to activate transcription, changes in gene expression noise varied significantly across initial promoter states. This model captured phenotypic differences in activation of latent HIV viruses integrated at different chromatin locations and mediated by the transcription factor NF-κB. Activating transcription in the model via increasing one or more of the transcript production rates, as occurs following NF-κB activation, reproduced experimentally measured transcript distributions for four different latent HIV viruses, as well as the bimodal pattern of HIV protein expression that leads to a subset of reactivated virus. Importantly, the parameter ‘activation path’ differentially affected gene expression noise, and ultimately viral activation, in line with experimental observations. This work demonstrates how upstream signaling pathways can be connected to biological processes that underlie transcriptional bursting, resulting in target gene-specific noise profiles following stimulation of a single upstream pathway. Many genes are transcribed in infrequent bursts of mRNA production through a process called transcriptional bursting, which contributes to variability in responses between cells. Heterogeneity in cell responses can have important biological impacts, such as whether a cell supports viral replication or responds to a drug, and thus there is an effort to describe this process with mathematical models to predict biological outcomes. Previous models described bursting as a transition between an “OFF” state or an “ON” state, an elegant and simple mathematical representation of complex molecular mechanisms, but one which failed to capture how upstream activation signals affected bursting. To address this, we added an additional promoter state to better reflect biological mechanisms underlying bursting. By fitting this model to variable activation of quiescent HIV infections in T cells, we showed that our model more accurately described viral expression variability across cells in response to an upstream stimulus. Our work highlights how mathematical models can be further developed to understand complex biological mechanisms and suggests ways to connect transcriptional bursting to upstream activation pathways.
Collapse
|
10
|
Cancer: More than a geneticist’s Pandora’s box. J Biosci 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12038-022-00254-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
11
|
Hisaoka M, Schott J, Bortecen T, Lindner D, Krijgsveld J, Stoecklin G. Preferential translation of p53 target genes. RNA Biol 2022; 19:437-452. [PMID: 35388737 PMCID: PMC8993080 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2022.2048562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor p53 exerts its tumour suppressive effect through transcriptional activation of numerous target genes controlling cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, cellular senescence and DNA repair. In addition, there is evidence that p53 influences the translation of specific mRNAs, including translational inhibition of ribosomal protein synthesis and translational activation of MDM2. A challenge in the analysis of translational control is that changes in mRNA abundance exert a kinetic (passive) effect on ribosome densities. In order to separate these passive effects from active regulation of translation efficiency in response to p53 activation, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of translational regulation by comparative analysis of mRNA levels and ribosome densities upon DNA damage induced by neocarzinostatin in wild-type and TP53−/− HCT116 colorectal carcinoma cells. Thereby, we identified a specific group of mRNAs that are preferentially translated in response to p53 activation, many of which correspond to p53 target genes including MDM2, SESN1 and CDKN1A. By subsequent polysome profile analysis of SESN1 and CDKN1A mRNA, we could demonstrate that p53-dependent translational activation relies on a combination of inducing the expression of translationally advantageous isoforms and trans-acting mechanisms that further enhance the translation of these mRNAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miharu Hisaoka
- Division of Biochemistry Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3) and Mannheim Cancer Center (MCC), Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.,Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBHAlliance, Heidelberg, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) partner site, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johanna Schott
- Division of Biochemistry Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3) and Mannheim Cancer Center (MCC), Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.,Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBHAlliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Toman Bortecen
- Division of Proteomics of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Bioscience, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Doris Lindner
- Division of Biochemistry Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3) and Mannheim Cancer Center (MCC), Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.,Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBHAlliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jeroen Krijgsveld
- Division of Proteomics of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Georg Stoecklin
- Division of Biochemistry Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3) and Mannheim Cancer Center (MCC), Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.,Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBHAlliance, Heidelberg, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) partner site, Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Marx C, Sonnemann J, Beyer M, Maddocks ODK, Lilla S, Hauzenberger I, Piée‐Staffa A, Siniuk K, Nunna S, Marx‐Blümel L, Westermann M, Wagner T, Meyer FB, Thierbach R, Mullins CS, Kdimati S, Linnebacher M, Neri F, Heinzel T, Wang Z, Krämer OH. Mechanistic insights into p53-regulated cytotoxicity of combined entinostat and irinotecan against colorectal cancer cells. Mol Oncol 2021; 15:3404-3429. [PMID: 34258881 PMCID: PMC8637561 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Late-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) is still a clinically challenging problem. The activity of the tumor suppressor p53 is regulated via post-translational modifications (PTMs). While the relevance of p53 C-terminal acetylation for transcriptional regulation is well defined, it is unknown whether this PTM controls mitochondrially mediated apoptosis directly. We used wild-type p53 or p53-negative human CRC cells, cells with acetylation-defective p53, transformation assays, CRC organoids, and xenograft mouse models to assess how p53 acetylation determines cellular stress responses. The topoisomerase-1 inhibitor irinotecan induces acetylation of several lysine residues within p53. Inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs) with the class I HDAC inhibitor entinostat synergistically triggers mitochondrial damage and apoptosis in irinotecan-treated p53-positive CRC cells. This specifically relies on the C-terminal acetylation of p53 by CREB-binding protein/p300 and the presence of C-terminally acetylated p53 in complex with the proapoptotic BCL2 antagonist/killer protein. This control of C-terminal acetylation by HDACs can mechanistically explain why combinations of irinotecan and entinostat represent clinically tractable agents for the therapy of p53-proficient CRC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Marx
- Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
- Department of ToxicologyUniversity Medical CenterJohannes Gutenberg University MainzGermany
- Cancer Research UK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
- Department of BiochemistryCenter for Molecular BiomedicineInstitute for Biochemistry and BiophysicsFriedrich Schiller University of JenaGermany
| | - Jürgen Sonnemann
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and OncologyChildren's ClinicJena University HospitalGermany
- Research Center LobedaJena University HospitalGermany
| | - Mandy Beyer
- Department of ToxicologyUniversity Medical CenterJohannes Gutenberg University MainzGermany
| | - Oliver D. K. Maddocks
- Cancer Research UK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
- Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research CentreInstitute of Cancer SciencesUniversity of GlasgowUK
| | | | - Irene Hauzenberger
- Department of ToxicologyUniversity Medical CenterJohannes Gutenberg University MainzGermany
| | - Andrea Piée‐Staffa
- Department of ToxicologyUniversity Medical CenterJohannes Gutenberg University MainzGermany
| | | | - Suneetha Nunna
- Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
| | - Lisa Marx‐Blümel
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and OncologyChildren's ClinicJena University HospitalGermany
- Research Center LobedaJena University HospitalGermany
| | | | - Tobias Wagner
- Department of BiochemistryCenter for Molecular BiomedicineInstitute for Biochemistry and BiophysicsFriedrich Schiller University of JenaGermany
- Cellular and Molecular MedicineHoward Hughes Medical InstituteUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCAUSA
| | - Felix B. Meyer
- Department of Human NutritionInstitute of NutritionFriedrich Schiller University of JenaGermany
| | - René Thierbach
- Department of Human NutritionInstitute of NutritionFriedrich Schiller University of JenaGermany
| | - Christina S. Mullins
- Molecular Oncology and ImmunotherapyDepartment of Thoracic SurgeryUniversity of RostockGermany
| | - Said Kdimati
- Molecular Oncology and ImmunotherapyDepartment of General, Visceral, Vascular and Transplantation SurgeryUniversity of RostockGermany
| | - Michael Linnebacher
- Molecular Oncology and ImmunotherapyDepartment of General, Visceral, Vascular and Transplantation SurgeryUniversity of RostockGermany
| | - Francesco Neri
- Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
| | - Thorsten Heinzel
- Department of BiochemistryCenter for Molecular BiomedicineInstitute for Biochemistry and BiophysicsFriedrich Schiller University of JenaGermany
| | - Zhao‐Qi Wang
- Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
- Faculty of Biological SciencesFriedrich‐Schiller‐University of JenaGermany
| | - Oliver H. Krämer
- Department of ToxicologyUniversity Medical CenterJohannes Gutenberg University MainzGermany
- Department of BiochemistryCenter for Molecular BiomedicineInstitute for Biochemistry and BiophysicsFriedrich Schiller University of JenaGermany
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Progress and challenges in understanding the regulation and function of p53 dynamics. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:2123-2131. [PMID: 34495325 PMCID: PMC8765192 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210148] [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: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The dynamics of p53 expression provide a mechanism to increase differentiation between cellular stresses and specificity in appropriate responses. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating p53 dynamics and the functions of the dynamics in the regulation of p53-dependent cell stress responses. We also compare dynamic encoding in the p53 system with that found in other important cell signaling systems, many of which can interact with the p53 network. Finally, we highlight some of the current challenges in understanding dynamic cell signaling within a larger cellular network context.
Collapse
|
14
|
Bass VL, Wong VC, Bullock ME, Gaudet S, Miller‐Jensen K. TNF stimulation primarily modulates transcriptional burst size of NF-κB-regulated genes. Mol Syst Biol 2021; 17:e10127. [PMID: 34288498 PMCID: PMC8290835 DOI: 10.15252/msb.202010127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-to-cell heterogeneity is a feature of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-stimulated inflammatory response mediated by the transcription factor NF-κB, motivating an exploration of the underlying sources of this noise. Here, we combined single-transcript measurements with computational models to study transcriptional noise at six NF-κB-regulated inflammatory genes. In the basal state, NF-κB-target genes displayed an inverse correlation between mean and noise characteristic of transcriptional bursting. By analyzing transcript distributions with a bursting model, we found that TNF primarily activated transcription by increasing burst size while maintaining burst frequency for gene promoters with relatively high basal histone 3 acetylation (AcH3) that marks open chromatin environments. For promoters with lower basal AcH3 or when AcH3 was decreased with a small molecule drug, the contribution of burst frequency to TNF activation increased. Finally, we used a mathematical model to show that TNF positive feedback amplified gene expression noise resulting from burst size-mediated transcription, leading to a subset of cells with high TNF protein expression. Our results reveal potential sources of noise underlying intercellular heterogeneity in the TNF-mediated inflammatory response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor L Bass
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental BiologyYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
- Present address:
Neuro‐Immune Regulome UnitNational Eye InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Victor C Wong
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental BiologyYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
- Present address:
Janelia Research CampusHoward Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnVAUSA
| | - M Elise Bullock
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
| | - Suzanne Gaudet
- Department of Cancer Biology and Center for Cancer Systems BiologyDana‐Farber Cancer InstituteBostonMAUSA
- Department of GeneticsHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
- Present address:
Novartis Institute for BioMedical ResearchCambridgeMAUSA
| | - Kathryn Miller‐Jensen
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental BiologyYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Iakovlev M, Faravelli S, Becskei A. Gene Families With Stochastic Exclusive Gene Choice Underlie Cell Adhesion in Mammalian Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:642212. [PMID: 33996799 PMCID: PMC8117012 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.642212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Exclusive stochastic gene choice combines precision with diversity. This regulation enables most T-cells to express exactly one T-cell receptor isoform chosen from a large repertoire, and to react precisely against diverse antigens. Some cells express two receptor isoforms, revealing the stochastic nature of this process. A similar regulation of odorant receptors and protocadherins enable cells to recognize odors and confer individuality to cells in neuronal interaction networks, respectively. We explored whether genes in other families are expressed exclusively by analyzing single-cell RNA-seq data with a simple metric. This metric can detect exclusivity independently of the mean value and the monoallelic nature of gene expression. Chromosomal segments and gene families are more likely to express genes concurrently than exclusively, possibly due to the evolutionary and biophysical aspects of shared regulation. Nonetheless, gene families with exclusive gene choice were detected in multiple cell types, most of them are membrane proteins involved in ion transport and cell adhesion, suggesting the coordination of these two functions. Thus, stochastic exclusive expression extends beyond the prototypical families, permitting precision in gene choice to be combined with the diversity of intercellular interactions.
Collapse
|
16
|
Friedel L, Loewer A. The guardian's choice: how p53 enables context-specific decision-making in individual cells. FEBS J 2021; 289:40-52. [PMID: 33590949 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
p53 plays a central role in defending the genomic integrity of our cells. In response to genotoxic stress, this tumour suppressor orchestrates the expression of hundreds of target genes, which induce a variety of cellular outcomes ranging from damage repair to induction of apoptosis. In this review, we examine how the p53 response is regulated on several levels in individual cells to allow precise and context-specific fate decisions. We discuss that the p53 response is not only controlled by its canonical regulators but also controlled by interconnected signalling pathways that influence the dynamics of p53 accumulation upon damage and modulate its transcriptional activity at target gene promoters. Additionally, we consider how the p53 response is diversified through a variety of mechanisms at the promoter level and beyond to induce context-specific outcomes in individual cells. These layers of regulation allow p53 to react in a stimulus-specific manner and fine-tune its signalling according to the individual needs of a given cell, enabling it to take the right decision on survival or death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Friedel
- Systems Biology of the Stress Response, Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Alexander Loewer
- Systems Biology of the Stress Response, Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Sammons MA, Nguyen TAT, McDade SS, Fischer M. Tumor suppressor p53: from engaging DNA to target gene regulation. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:8848-8869. [PMID: 32797160 PMCID: PMC7498329 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The p53 transcription factor confers its potent tumor suppressor functions primarily through the regulation of a large network of target genes. The recent explosion of next generation sequencing protocols has enabled the study of the p53 gene regulatory network (GRN) and underlying mechanisms at an unprecedented depth and scale, helping us to understand precisely how p53 controls gene regulation. Here, we discuss our current understanding of where and how p53 binds to DNA and chromatin, its pioneer-like role, and how this affects gene regulation. We provide an overview of the p53 GRN and the direct and indirect mechanisms through which p53 affects gene regulation. In particular, we focus on delineating the ubiquitous and cell type-specific network of regulatory elements that p53 engages; reviewing our understanding of how, where, and when p53 binds to DNA and the mechanisms through which these events regulate transcription. Finally, we discuss the evolution of the p53 GRN and how recent work has revealed remarkable differences between vertebrates, which are of particular importance to cancer researchers using mouse models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Morgan A Sammons
- Department of Biological Sciences and The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Thuy-Ai T Nguyen
- Genome Integrity & Structural Biology Laboratory and Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/National Institutes of Health, 111 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Simon S McDade
- Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7AE, UK
| | - Martin Fischer
- Computational Biology Group, Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Hafner A, Reyes J, Stewart-Ornstein J, Tsabar M, Jambhekar A, Lahav G. Quantifying the Central Dogma in the p53 Pathway in Live Single Cells. Cell Syst 2020; 10:495-505.e4. [PMID: 32533938 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2020.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) integrate signals to regulate target gene expression, but we generally lack a quantitative understanding of how changes in TF levels regulate mRNA and protein production. Here, we established a system to simultaneously monitor the levels of p53, a TF that shows oscillations following DNA damage, and the transcription and protein levels of its target p21 in individual cells. p21 transcription tracked p53 dynamics, while p21 protein steadily accumulated. p21 transcriptional activation showed bursts of mRNA production, with p53 levels regulating the probability but not magnitude of activation. Variations in p53 levels between cells contributed to heterogeneous p21 transcription while independent p21 alleles exhibited highly correlated behaviors. Pharmacologically elevating p53 increased the probability of p21 transcription with minor effects on its magnitude, leading to a strong increase in p21 protein levels. Our results reveal quantitative mechanisms by which TF dynamics can regulate protein levels of its targets. A record of this paper's transparent peer review process is included in the Supplemental Information.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonina Hafner
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - José Reyes
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Michael Tsabar
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ashwini Jambhekar
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Galit Lahav
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|