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Nussinov R, Yavuz BR, Jang H. Single cell spatial biology over developmental time can decipher pediatric brain pathologies. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 199:106597. [PMID: 38992777 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106597] [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: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Pediatric low grade brain tumors and neurodevelopmental disorders share proteins, signaling pathways, and networks. They also share germline mutations and an impaired prenatal differentiation origin. They may differ in the timing of the events and proliferation. We suggest that their pivotal distinct, albeit partially overlapping, outcomes relate to the cell states, which depend on their spatial location, and timing of gene expression during brain development. These attributes are crucial as the brain develops sequentially, and single-cell spatial organization influences cell state, thus function. Our underlying premise is that the root cause in neurodevelopmental disorders and pediatric tumors is impaired prenatal differentiation. Data related to pediatric brain tumors, neurodevelopmental disorders, brain cell (sub)types, locations, and timing of expression in the developing brain are scant. However, emerging single cell technologies, including transcriptomic, spatial biology, spatial high-resolution imaging performed over the brain developmental time, could be transformational in deciphering brain pathologies thereby pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Nussinov
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
| | - Bengi Ruken Yavuz
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Hyunbum Jang
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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2
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Nakamura YT, Himeoka Y, Saito N, Furusawa C. Evolution of hierarchy and irreversibility in theoretical cell differentiation model. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgad454. [PMID: 38205032 PMCID: PMC10776358 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The process of cell differentiation in multicellular organisms is characterized by hierarchy and irreversibility in many cases. However, the conditions and selection pressures that give rise to these characteristics remain poorly understood. By using a mathematical model, here we show that the network of differentiation potency (differentiation diagram) becomes necessarily hierarchical and irreversible by increasing the number of terminally differentiated states under certain conditions. The mechanisms generating these characteristics are clarified using geometry in the cell state space. The results demonstrate that the hierarchical organization and irreversibility can manifest independently of direct selection pressures associated with these characteristics, instead they appear to evolve as byproducts of selective forces favoring a diversity of differentiated cell types. The study also provides a new perspective on the structure of gene regulatory networks that produce hierarchical and irreversible differentiation diagrams. These results indicate some constraints on cell differentiation, which are expected to provide a starting point for theoretical discussion of the implicit limits and directions of evolution in multicellular organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiyuki T Nakamura
- Department of Physics, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku 113-0033, Japan
- Universal Biology Institute, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku 113-0033, Japan
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, Suita 565-0874, Japan
| | - Yusuke Himeoka
- Universal Biology Institute, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku 113-0033, Japan
| | - Nen Saito
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashihiroshima 739-8526, Japan
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
| | - Chikara Furusawa
- Department of Physics, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku 113-0033, Japan
- Universal Biology Institute, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku 113-0033, Japan
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, Suita 565-0874, Japan
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3
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Westbrook ER, Lenn T, Chubb JR, Antolović V. Collective signalling drives rapid jumping between cell states. Development 2023; 150:dev201946. [PMID: 37921687 PMCID: PMC10730084 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Development can proceed in 'fits and starts', with rapid transitions between cell states involving concerted transcriptome-wide changes in gene expression. However, it is not clear how these transitions are regulated in complex cell populations, in which cells receive multiple inputs. We address this issue using Dictyostelium cells undergoing development in their physiological niche. A continuous single cell transcriptomics time series identifies a sharp 'jump' in global gene expression marking functionally different cell states. By simultaneously imaging the physiological dynamics of transcription and signalling, we show the jump coincides with the onset of collective oscillations of cAMP. Optogenetic control of cAMP pulses shows that different jump genes respond to distinct dynamic features of signalling. Late jump gene expression changes are almost completely dependent on cAMP, whereas transcript changes at the onset of the jump require additional input. The coupling of collective signalling with gene expression is a potentially powerful strategy to drive robust cell state transitions in heterogeneous signalling environments. Based on the context of the jump, we also conclude that sharp gene expression transitions may not be sufficient for commitment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth R. Westbrook
- UCL Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Tchern Lenn
- UCL Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Jonathan R. Chubb
- UCL Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Vlatka Antolović
- UCL Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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4
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Gattiglio M, Protzek M, Schröter C. Population-level antagonism between FGF and BMP signaling steers mesoderm differentiation in embryonic stem cells. Biol Open 2023; 12:bio059941. [PMID: 37530863 PMCID: PMC10445724 DOI: 10.1242/bio.059941] [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: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The mesodermal precursor populations for different internal organ systems are specified during gastrulation by the combined activity of extracellular signaling systems such as BMP, Wnt, Nodal and FGF. The BMP, Wnt and Nodal signaling requirements for the differentiation of specific mesoderm subtypes in mammals have been mapped in detail, but how FGF shapes mesodermal cell type diversity is not precisely known. It is also not clear how FGF signaling integrates with the activity of other signaling systems involved in mesoderm differentiation. Here, we address these questions by analyzing the effects of targeted signaling manipulations in differentiating stem cell populations at single-cell resolution. We identify opposing functions of BMP and FGF, and map FGF-dependent and -independent mesodermal lineages. Stimulation with exogenous FGF boosts the expression of endogenous Fgf genes while repressing Bmp ligand genes. This positive autoregulation of FGF signaling, coupled with the repression of BMP signaling, may contribute to the specification of reproducible and coherent cohorts of cells with the same identity via a community effect, both in the embryo and in synthetic embryo-like systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Gattiglio
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Department of Systemic Cell Biology, 44227Dortmund, Germany
| | - Michelle Protzek
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Department of Systemic Cell Biology, 44227Dortmund, Germany
| | - Christian Schröter
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Department of Systemic Cell Biology, 44227Dortmund, Germany
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5
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NetAct: a computational platform to construct core transcription factor regulatory networks using gene activity. Genome Biol 2022; 23:270. [PMID: 36575445 PMCID: PMC9793520 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02835-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
A major question in systems biology is how to identify the core gene regulatory circuit that governs the decision-making of a biological process. Here, we develop a computational platform, named NetAct, for constructing core transcription factor regulatory networks using both transcriptomics data and literature-based transcription factor-target databases. NetAct robustly infers regulators' activity using target expression, constructs networks based on transcriptional activity, and integrates mathematical modeling for validation. Our in silico benchmark test shows that NetAct outperforms existing algorithms in inferring transcriptional activity and gene networks. We illustrate the application of NetAct to model networks driving TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and macrophage polarization.
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6
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Design and Fabrication of Artificial Stem Cell Microenvironments. BIOENGINEERING (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:bioengineering9120756. [PMID: 36550962 PMCID: PMC9774650 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9120756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Major key features of stem cells' functions are self-renewal and their capacity for differentiation, allowing for maintain a proper stem cell reservoir as well as producing lineage-committed cells [...].
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7
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Valcourt JR, Huang RE, Kundu S, Venkatasubramanian D, Kingston RE, Ramanathan S. Modulating mesendoderm competence during human germ layer differentiation. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109990. [PMID: 34758327 PMCID: PMC8601596 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
As pluripotent human embryonic stem cells progress toward one germ layer fate, they lose the ability to adopt alternative fates. Using a low-dimensional reaction coordinate to monitor progression toward ectoderm, we show that a differentiating stem cell's probability of adopting a mesendodermal fate given appropriate signals falls sharply at a point along the ectoderm trajectory. We use this reaction coordinate to prospectively isolate and profile differentiating cells based on their mesendoderm competence and analyze their RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) profiles to identify transcription factors that control the cell's mesendoderm competence. By modulating these key transcription factors, we can expand or contract the window of competence to adopt the mesendodermal fate along the ectodermal differentiation trajectory. The ability of the underlying gene regulatory network to modulate competence is essential for understanding human development and controlling the fate choices of stem cells in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Valcourt
- Systems, Synthetic, and Quantitative Biology Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Division of Applied Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| | - Roya E Huang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Division of Applied Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Sharmistha Kundu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Divya Venkatasubramanian
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Division of Applied Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Robert E Kingston
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sharad Ramanathan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Division of Applied Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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8
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Velluva A, Radtke M, Horn S, Popp B, Platzer K, Gjermeni E, Lin CC, Lemke JR, Garten A, Schöneberg T, Blüher M, Abou Jamra R, Le Duc D. Phenotype-tissue expression and exploration (PTEE) resource facilitates the choice of tissue for RNA-seq-based clinical genetics studies. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:802. [PMID: 34743696 PMCID: PMC8573933 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08125-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND RNA-seq emerges as a valuable method for clinical genetics. The transcriptome is "dynamic" and tissue-specific, but typically the probed tissues to analyze (TA) are different from the tissue of interest (TI) based on pathophysiology. RESULTS We developed Phenotype-Tissue Expression and Exploration (PTEE), a tool to facilitate the decision about the most suitable TA for RNA-seq. We integrated phenotype-annotated genes, used 54 tissues from GTEx to perform correlation analyses and identify expressed genes and transcripts between TAs and TIs. We identified skeletal muscle as the most appropriate TA to inquire for cardiac arrhythmia genes and skin as a good proxy to study neurodevelopmental disorders. We also explored RNA-seq limitations and show that on-off switching of gene expression during ontogenesis or circadian rhythm can cause blind spots for RNA-seq-based analyses. CONCLUSIONS PTEE aids the identification of tissues suitable for RNA-seq for a given pathology to increase the success rate of diagnosis and gene discovery. PTEE is freely available at https://bioinf.eva.mpg.de/PTEE/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhil Velluva
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 30, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Maximillian Radtke
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Susanne Horn
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 30, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Bernt Popp
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Konrad Platzer
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Erind Gjermeni
- Department of Electrophysiology, Heart Center Leipzig at University of Leipzig, 04289, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Cardiology, Median Centre for Rehabilitation Schmannewitz, 04774, Dahlen, Germany
| | - Chen-Ching Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan
| | - Johannes R Lemke
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Antje Garten
- Pediatric Research Center, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Torsten Schöneberg
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 30, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Matthias Blüher
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rami Abou Jamra
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Diana Le Duc
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
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9
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Mitra R, MacLean AL. RVAgene: Generative modeling of gene expression time series data. Bioinformatics 2021; 37:3252-3262. [PMID: 33974008 PMCID: PMC8504625 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btab260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Motivation Methods to model dynamic changes in gene expression at a genome-wide level are not currently sufficient for large (temporally rich or single-cell) datasets. Variational autoencoders offer means to characterize large datasets and have been used effectively to characterize features of single-cell datasets. Here, we extend these methods for use with gene expression time series data. Results We present RVAgene: a recurrent variational autoencoder to model gene expression dynamics. RVAgene learns to accurately and efficiently reconstruct temporal gene profiles. It also learns a low dimensional representation of the data via a recurrent encoder network that can be used for biological feature discovery, and from which we can generate new gene expression data by sampling the latent space. We test RVAgene on simulated and real biological datasets, including embryonic stem cell differentiation and kidney injury response dynamics. In all cases, RVAgene accurately reconstructed complex gene expression temporal profiles. Via cross validation, we show that a low-error latent space representation can be learnt using only a fraction of the data. Through clustering and gene ontology term enrichment analysis on the latent space, we demonstrate the potential of RVAgene for unsupervised discovery. In particular, RVAgene identifies new programs of shared gene regulation of Lox family genes in response to kidney injury. Availability and implementation All datasets analyzed in this manuscript are publicly available and have been published previously. RVAgene is available in Python, at GitHub: https://github.com/maclean-lab/RVAgene; Zenodo archive: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4271097. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raktim Mitra
- Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA-90007, USA
| | - Adam L MacLean
- Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA-90007, USA
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10
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Meisig J, Dreser N, Kapitza M, Henry M, Rotshteyn T, Rahnenführer J, Hengstler J, Sachinidis A, Waldmann T, Leist M, Blüthgen N. Kinetic modeling of stem cell transcriptome dynamics to identify regulatory modules of normal and disturbed neuroectodermal differentiation. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:12577-12592. [PMID: 33245762 PMCID: PMC7736781 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa1089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Thousands of transcriptome data sets are available, but approaches for their use in dynamic cell response modelling are few, especially for processes affected simultaneously by two orthogonal influencing variables. We approached this problem for neuroepithelial development of human pluripotent stem cells (differentiation variable), in the presence or absence of valproic acid (signaling variable). Using few basic assumptions (sequential differentiation states of cells; discrete on/off states for individual genes in these states), and time-resolved transcriptome data, a comprehensive model of spontaneous and perturbed gene expression dynamics was developed. The model made reliable predictions (average correlation of 0.85 between predicted and subsequently tested expression values). Even regulations predicted to be non-monotonic were successfully validated by PCR in new sets of experiments. Transient patterns of gene regulation were identified from model predictions. They pointed towards activation of Wnt signaling as a candidate pathway leading to a redirection of differentiation away from neuroepithelial cells towards neural crest. Intervention experiments, using a Wnt/beta-catenin antagonist, led to a phenotypic rescue of this disturbed differentiation. Thus, our broadly applicable model allows the analysis of transcriptome changes in complex time/perturbation matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Meisig
- Institute of Pathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- IRI Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nadine Dreser
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Dept inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair foundation, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Marion Kapitza
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Dept inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair foundation, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Margit Henry
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Tamara Rotshteyn
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Jörg Rahnenführer
- Department of Statistics, TU Dortmund University, 44221 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Jan G Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), TU Dortmund University, 44139 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Agapios Sachinidis
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Tanja Waldmann
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Dept inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair foundation, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Marcel Leist
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Dept inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair foundation, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Nils Blüthgen
- Institute of Pathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- IRI Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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11
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McDonald D, Wu Y, Dailamy A, Tat J, Parekh U, Zhao D, Hu M, Tipps A, Zhang K, Mali P. Defining the Teratoma as a Model for Multi-lineage Human Development. Cell 2020; 183:1402-1419.e18. [PMID: 33152263 PMCID: PMC7704916 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We propose that the teratoma, a recognized standard for validating pluripotency in stem cells, could be a promising platform for studying human developmental processes. Performing single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of 179,632 cells across 23 teratomas from 4 cell lines, we found that teratomas reproducibly contain approximately 20 cell types across all 3 germ layers, that inter-teratoma cell type heterogeneity is comparable with organoid systems, and teratoma gut and brain cell types correspond well to similar fetal cell types. Furthermore, cellular barcoding confirmed that injected stem cells robustly engraft and contribute to all lineages. Using pooled CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens, we showed that teratomas can enable simultaneous assaying of the effects of genetic perturbations across all germ layers. Additionally, we demonstrated that teratomas can be sculpted molecularly via microRNA (miRNA)-regulated suicide gene expression to enrich for specific tissues. Taken together, teratomas are a promising platform for modeling multi-lineage development, pan-tissue functional genetic screening, and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniella McDonald
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Yan Wu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Amir Dailamy
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Justin Tat
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Udit Parekh
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Dongxin Zhao
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Michael Hu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ann Tipps
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92103, USA
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Prashant Mali
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA.
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12
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Svensson V, Gayoso A, Yosef N, Pachter L. Interpretable factor models of single-cell RNA-seq via variational autoencoders. Bioinformatics 2020; 36:3418-3421. [PMID: 32176273 PMCID: PMC7267837 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btaa169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Motivation Single-cell RNA-seq makes possible the investigation of variability in gene expression among cells, and dependence of variation on cell type. Statistical inference methods for such analyses must be scalable, and ideally interpretable. Results We present an approach based on a modification of a recently published highly scalable variational autoencoder framework that provides interpretability without sacrificing much accuracy. We demonstrate that our approach enables identification of gene programs in massive datasets. Our strategy, namely the learning of factor models with the auto-encoding variational Bayes framework, is not domain specific and may be useful for other applications. Availability and implementation The factor model is available in the scVI package hosted at https://github.com/YosefLab/scVI/. Contact v@nxn.se Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentine Svensson
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | | | - Nir Yosef
- Center for Computational Biology.,Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA 91125, USA.,Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Lior Pachter
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.,Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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13
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Zheng X, Huang Y, Zou X. scPADGRN: A preconditioned ADMM approach for reconstructing dynamic gene regulatory network using single-cell RNA sequencing data. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1007471. [PMID: 32716923 PMCID: PMC7410337 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Disease development and cell differentiation both involve dynamic changes; therefore, the reconstruction of dynamic gene regulatory networks (DGRNs) is an important but difficult problem in systems biology. With recent technical advances in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), large volumes of scRNA-seq data are being obtained for various processes. However, most current methods of inferring DGRNs from bulk samples may not be suitable for scRNA-seq data. In this work, we present scPADGRN, a novel DGRN inference method using “time-series” scRNA-seq data. scPADGRN combines the preconditioned alternating direction method of multipliers with cell clustering for DGRN reconstruction. It exhibits advantages in accuracy, robustness and fast convergence. Moreover, a quantitative index called Differentiation Genes’ Interaction Enrichment (DGIE) is presented to quantify the interaction enrichment of genes related to differentiation. From the DGIE scores of relevant subnetworks, we infer that the functions of embryonic stem (ES) cells are most active initially and may gradually fade over time. The communication strength of known contributing genes that facilitate cell differentiation increases from ES cells to terminally differentiated cells. We also identify several genes responsible for the changes in the DGIE scores occurring during cell differentiation based on three real single-cell datasets. Our results demonstrate that single-cell analyses based on network inference coupled with quantitative computations can reveal key transcriptional regulators involved in cell differentiation and disease development. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data are gaining popularity for providing access to cell-level measurements. Currently, time-series scRNA-seq data allow researchers to study dynamic changes during biological processes. This work proposes a novel method, scPADGRN, for application to time-series scRNA-seq data to construct dynamic gene regulatory networks, which are informative for investigating dynamic changes during disease development and cell differentiation. The proposed method shows satisfactory performance on both simulated data and three real datasets concerning cell differentiation. To quantify network dynamics, we present a quantitative index, DGIE, to measure the degree of activity of a certain set of genes in a regulatory network. Quantitative computations based on dynamic networks identify key regulators in cell differentiation and reveal the activity states of the identified regulators. Specifically, Bhlhe40, Msx2, Foxa2 and Dnmt3l might be important regulatory genes involved in differentiation from mouse ES cells to primitive endoderm (PrE) cells. For differentiation from mouse embryonic fibroblast cells to myocytes, Scx, Fos and Tcf12 are suggested to be key regulators. Sox5, Meis2, Hoxb3, Tcf7l1 and Plagl1 critically contribute during differentiation from human ES cells to definitive endoderm cells. These results may guide further theoretical and experimental efforts to understand cell differentiation processes and explore cell heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Zheng
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yuan Huang
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Xiufen Zou
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- * E-mail:
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14
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Shanak S, Helms V. DNA methylation and the core pluripotency network. Dev Biol 2020; 464:145-160. [PMID: 32562758 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
From the onset of fertilization, the genome undergoes cell division and differentiation. All of these developmental transitions and differentiation processes include cell-specific signatures and gradual changes of the epigenome. Understanding what keeps stem cells in the pluripotent state and what leads to differentiation are fascinating and biomedically highly important issues. Numerous studies have identified genes, proteins, microRNAs and small molecules that exert essential effects. Notably, there exists a core pluripotency network that consists of several transcription factors and accessory proteins. Three eminent transcription factors, OCT4, SOX2 and NANOG, serve as hubs in this core pluripotency network. They bind to the enhancer regions of their target genes and modulate, among others, the expression levels of genes that are associated with Gene Ontology terms related to differentiation and self-renewal. Also, much has been learned about the epigenetic rewiring processes during these changes of cell fate. For example, DNA methylation dynamics is pivotal during embryonic development. The main goal of this review is to highlight an intricate interplay of (a) DNA methyltransferases controlling the expression levels of core pluripotency factors by modulation of the DNA methylation levels in their enhancer regions, and of (b) the core pluripotency factors controlling the transcriptional regulation of DNA methyltransferases. We discuss these processes both at the global level and in atomistic detail based on information from structural studies and from computer simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siba Shanak
- Faculty of Science, Arab-American University, Jenin, Palestine; Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | - Volkhard Helms
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany.
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15
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Kang X, Li C. Landscape inferred from gene expression data governs pluripotency in embryonic stem cells. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:366-374. [PMID: 32128066 PMCID: PMC7044515 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can differentiate into diverse cell types and have the ability of self-renewal. Therefore, the study of cell fate decisions on embryonic stem cells has far-reaching significance for regenerative medicine and other biomedical fields. Mathematical models have been used to study emryonic stem cell differentiation. However, the underlying mechanisms of cell differentiation and lineage reprogramming remain to be elucidated. Especially, how to integrate the computational models with quantitative experimental data is still challenging. In this work, we developed a data-constrained modelling approach, and established a model of mouse embryonic stem cells. We used the truncated moment equations (TME) method to quantify the potential landscape of the ESC network. We identified two attractors on the landscape, which represent the embryonic stem cell (ESC) state and differentiated cell (DC) state, respectively, and quantified high dimensional biological paths for differentiation and reprogramming process. Through identifying the optimal combinations of gene targets based on a landscape control strategy, we offered some predictions about the key regulatory factors that govern the differentiation and reprogramming in ESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Kang
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunhe Li
- Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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16
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Devaraj V, Bose B. Morphological State Transition Dynamics in EGF-Induced Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8070911. [PMID: 31247884 PMCID: PMC6678216 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8070911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is a multi-state process. Here, we investigated phenotypic state transition dynamics of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)-induced EMT in a breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468. We have defined phenotypic states of these cells in terms of their morphologies and have shown that these cells have three distinct morphological states-cobble, spindle, and circular. The spindle and circular states are the migratory phenotypes. Using quantitative image analysis and mathematical modeling, we have deciphered state transition trajectories in different experimental conditions. This analysis shows that the phenotypic state transition during EGF-induced EMT in these cells is reversible, and depends upon the dose of EGF and level of phosphorylation of the EGF receptor (EGFR). The dominant reversible state transition trajectory in this system was cobble to circular to spindle to cobble. We have observed that there exists an ultrasensitive on/off switch involving phospho-EGFR that decides the transition of cells in and out of the circular state. In general, our observations can be explained by the conventional quasi-potential landscape model for phenotypic state transition. As an alternative to this model, we have proposed a simpler discretized energy-level model to explain the observed state transition dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vimalathithan Devaraj
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, India
| | - Biplab Bose
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, India.
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17
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Bonnaffoux A, Herbach U, Richard A, Guillemin A, Gonin-Giraud S, Gros PA, Gandrillon O. WASABI: a dynamic iterative framework for gene regulatory network inference. BMC Bioinformatics 2019; 20:220. [PMID: 31046682 PMCID: PMC6498543 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-019-2798-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inference of gene regulatory networks from gene expression data has been a long-standing and notoriously difficult task in systems biology. Recently, single-cell transcriptomic data have been massively used for gene regulatory network inference, with both successes and limitations. RESULTS In the present work we propose an iterative algorithm called WASABI, dedicated to inferring a causal dynamical network from time-stamped single-cell data, which tackles some of the limitations associated with current approaches. We first introduce the concept of waves, which posits that the information provided by an external stimulus will affect genes one-by-one through a cascade, like waves spreading through a network. This concept allows us to infer the network one gene at a time, after genes have been ordered regarding their time of regulation. We then demonstrate the ability of WASABI to correctly infer small networks, which have been simulated in silico using a mechanistic model consisting of coupled piecewise-deterministic Markov processes for the proper description of gene expression at the single-cell level. We finally apply WASABI on in vitro generated data on an avian model of erythroid differentiation. The structure of the resulting gene regulatory network sheds a new light on the molecular mechanisms controlling this process. In particular, we find no evidence for hub genes and a much more distributed network structure than expected. Interestingly, we find that a majority of genes are under the direct control of the differentiation-inducing stimulus. CONCLUSIONS Together, these results demonstrate WASABI versatility and ability to tackle some general gene regulatory networks inference issues. It is our hope that WASABI will prove useful in helping biologists to fully exploit the power of time-stamped single-cell data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Bonnaffoux
- University Lyon, ENS de Lyon, University Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, Lyon, France
- Inria Team Dracula, Inria Center Grenoble Rhône-Alpes, Lyon, France
- Cosmotech, Lyon, France
| | - Ulysse Herbach
- University Lyon, ENS de Lyon, University Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, Lyon, France
- Inria Team Dracula, Inria Center Grenoble Rhône-Alpes, Lyon, France
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5208, Institut Camille Jordan, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Angélique Richard
- University Lyon, ENS de Lyon, University Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, Lyon, France
| | - Anissa Guillemin
- University Lyon, ENS de Lyon, University Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, Lyon, France
| | - Sandrine Gonin-Giraud
- University Lyon, ENS de Lyon, University Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, Lyon, France
| | | | - Olivier Gandrillon
- University Lyon, ENS de Lyon, University Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, Lyon, France
- Inria Team Dracula, Inria Center Grenoble Rhône-Alpes, Lyon, France
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18
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Cantini L, Caselle M. Hope4Genes: a Hopfield-like class prediction algorithm for transcriptomic data. Sci Rep 2019; 9:337. [PMID: 30674955 PMCID: PMC6344502 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36744-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
After its introduction in 1982, the Hopfield model has been extensively applied for classification and pattern recognition. Recently, its great potential in gene expression patterns retrieval has also been shown. Following this line, we develop Hope4Genes a single-sample class prediction algorithm based on a Hopfield-like model. Differently from previous works, we here tested the performances of the algorithm for class prediction, a task of fundamental importance for precision medicine and therapeutic decision-making. Hope4Genes proved better performances than the state-of-art methodologies in the field independently of the size of the input dataset, its profiling platform, the number of classes and the typical class-imbalance present in biological data. Our results provide encoraging evidence that the Hopfield model, together with the use of its energy for the estimation of the false discoveries, is a particularly promising tool for precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cantini
- PhD in Complex Systems for Life Sciences, Universitá degli Studi di Torino, Turin, Italy. .,Computational Systems Biology Team, Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS UMR8197, INSERM U1024, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Paris, 75005, France.
| | - Michele Caselle
- Universitá degli Studi di Torino, Department of Physics and INFN, via P. Giuria 1, I-10125, Turin, Italy
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19
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Abstract
Embryonic development and stem cell differentiation, during which coordinated cell fate specification takes place in a spatial and temporal context, serve as a paradigm for studying the orderly assembly of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) and the fundamental mechanism of GRNs in driving lineage determination. However, knowledge of reliable GRN annotation for dynamic development regulation, particularly for unveiling the complex temporal and spatial architecture of tissue stem cells, remains inadequate. With the advent of single-cell RNA sequencing technology, elucidating GRNs in development and stem cell processes poses both new challenges and unprecedented opportunities. This review takes a snapshot of some of this work and its implication in the regulative nature of early mammalian development and specification of the distinct cell types during embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangdun Peng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing-Dong J. Han
- Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Max Planck Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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20
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Fletcher RB. Creating Lineage Trajectory Maps Via Integration of Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing and Lineage Tracing: Integrating transgenic lineage tracing and single-cell RNA-sequencing is a robust approach for mapping developmental lineage trajectories and cell fate changes. Bioessays 2018; 40:e1800056. [PMID: 29944188 PMCID: PMC6161781 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201800056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mapping the paths that stem and progenitor cells take en route to differentiate and elucidating the underlying molecular controls are key goals in developmental and stem cell biology. However, with population level analyses it is difficult - if not impossible - to define the transition states and lineage trajectory branch points within complex developmental lineages. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis can discriminate heterogeneity in a population of cells and even identify rare or transient intermediates. In this review, we propose that using these data, one can infer the lineage trajectories of individual stem cells and identify putative branch points. Clonal lineage tracing of stem cells allows one to define the outcome of differentiation. Integrating these single cell-based approaches provides a robust strategy for establishing and testing models of how an individual stem cell changes through time to differentiate and self-renew.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell B. Fletcher
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, 265 LSA, #3200, Berkeley, CA 94720,USA,
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21
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Farrell JA, Wang Y, Riesenfeld SJ, Shekhar K, Regev A, Schier AF. Single-cell reconstruction of developmental trajectories during zebrafish embryogenesis. Science 2018; 360:science.aar3131. [PMID: 29700225 DOI: 10.1126/science.aar3131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 459] [Impact Index Per Article: 76.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
During embryogenesis, cells acquire distinct fates by transitioning through transcriptional states. To uncover these transcriptional trajectories during zebrafish embryogenesis, we sequenced 38,731 cells and developed URD, a simulated diffusion-based computational reconstruction method. URD identified the trajectories of 25 cell types through early somitogenesis, gene expression along them, and their spatial origin in the blastula. Analysis of Nodal signaling mutants revealed that their transcriptomes were canalized into a subset of wild-type transcriptional trajectories. Some wild-type developmental branch points contained cells that express genes characteristic of multiple fates. These cells appeared to trans-specify from one fate to another. These findings reconstruct the transcriptional trajectories of a vertebrate embryo, highlight the concurrent canalization and plasticity of embryonic specification, and provide a framework with which to reconstruct complex developmental trees from single-cell transcriptomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey A Farrell
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Yiqun Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Samantha J Riesenfeld
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Karthik Shekhar
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Aviv Regev
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA
| | - Alexander F Schier
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. .,Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,FAS Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Biozentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland.,Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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22
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scmap: projection of single-cell RNA-seq data across data sets. Nat Methods 2018; 15:359-362. [DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.4644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 359] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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23
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Trixl L, Amort T, Wille A, Zinni M, Ebner S, Hechenberger C, Eichin F, Gabriel H, Schoberleitner I, Huang A, Piatti P, Nat R, Troppmair J, Lusser A. RNA cytosine methyltransferase Nsun3 regulates embryonic stem cell differentiation by promoting mitochondrial activity. Cell Mol Life Sci 2018; 75:1483-1497. [PMID: 29103146 PMCID: PMC5852174 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2700-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Chemical modifications of RNA have been attracting increasing interest because of their impact on RNA fate and function. Therefore, the characterization of enzymes catalyzing such modifications is of great importance. The RNA cytosine methyltransferase NSUN3 was recently shown to generate 5-methylcytosine in the anticodon loop of mitochondrial tRNAMet. Further oxidation of this position is required for normal mitochondrial translation and function in human somatic cells. Because embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are less dependent on oxidative phosphorylation than somatic cells, we examined the effects of catalytic inactivation of Nsun3 on self-renewal and differentiation potential of murine ESCs. We demonstrate that Nsun3-mutant cells show strongly reduced mt-tRNAMet methylation and formylation as well as reduced mitochondrial translation and respiration. Despite the lower dependence of ESCs on mitochondrial activity, proliferation of mutant cells was reduced, while pluripotency marker gene expression was not affected. By contrast, ESC differentiation was skewed towards the meso- and endoderm lineages at the expense of neuroectoderm. Wnt3 was overexpressed in early differentiating mutant embryoid bodies and in ESCs, suggesting that impaired mitochondrial function disturbs normal differentiation programs by interfering with cellular signalling pathways. Interestingly, basal levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were not altered in ESCs, but Nsun3 inactivation attenuated induction of mitochondrial ROS upon stress, which may affect gene expression programs upon differentiation. Our findings not only characterize Nsun3 as an important regulator of stem cell fate but also provide a model system to study the still incompletely understood interplay of mitochondrial function with stem cell pluripotency and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Trixl
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Thomas Amort
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexandra Wille
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Manuela Zinni
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Susanne Ebner
- Daniel Swarovski Research Laboratory, Department of Visceral, Transplant, and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Clara Hechenberger
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Felix Eichin
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hanna Gabriel
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ines Schoberleitner
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anming Huang
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Roxana Nat
- Institute for Neuroscience, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jakob Troppmair
- Daniel Swarovski Research Laboratory, Department of Visceral, Transplant, and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexandra Lusser
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
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24
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Lin YT, Hufton PG, Lee EJ, Potoyan DA. A stochastic and dynamical view of pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells. PLoS Comput Biol 2018; 14:e1006000. [PMID: 29451874 PMCID: PMC5833290 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent embryonic stem cells are of paramount importance for biomedical sciences because of their innate ability for self-renewal and differentiation into all major cell lines. The fateful decision to exit or remain in the pluripotent state is regulated by complex genetic regulatory networks. The rapid growth of single-cell sequencing data has greatly stimulated applications of statistical and machine learning methods for inferring topologies of pluripotency regulating genetic networks. The inferred network topologies, however, often only encode Boolean information while remaining silent about the roles of dynamics and molecular stochasticity inherent in gene expression. Herein we develop a framework for systematically extending Boolean-level network topologies into higher resolution models of networks which explicitly account for the promoter architectures and gene state switching dynamics. We show the framework to be useful for disentangling the various contributions that gene switching, external signaling, and network topology make to the global heterogeneity and dynamics of transcription factor populations. We find the pluripotent state of the network to be a steady state which is robust to global variations of gene switching rates which we argue are a good proxy for epigenetic states of individual promoters. The temporal dynamics of exiting the pluripotent state, on the other hand, is significantly influenced by the rates of genetic switching which makes cells more responsive to changes in extracellular signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen Ting Lin
- Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States of America
- School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Peter G. Hufton
- School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Esther J. Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Davit A. Potoyan
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
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25
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Szedlak A, Sims S, Smith N, Paternostro G, Piermarocchi C. Cell cycle time series gene expression data encoded as cyclic attractors in Hopfield systems. PLoS Comput Biol 2017; 13:e1005849. [PMID: 29149186 PMCID: PMC5711035 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Modern time series gene expression and other omics data sets have enabled unprecedented resolution of the dynamics of cellular processes such as cell cycle and response to pharmaceutical compounds. In anticipation of the proliferation of time series data sets in the near future, we use the Hopfield model, a recurrent neural network based on spin glasses, to model the dynamics of cell cycle in HeLa (human cervical cancer) and S. cerevisiae cells. We study some of the rich dynamical properties of these cyclic Hopfield systems, including the ability of populations of simulated cells to recreate experimental expression data and the effects of noise on the dynamics. Next, we use a genetic algorithm to identify sets of genes which, when selectively inhibited by local external fields representing gene silencing compounds such as kinase inhibitors, disrupt the encoded cell cycle. We find, for example, that inhibiting the set of four kinases AURKB, NEK1, TTK, and WEE1 causes simulated HeLa cells to accumulate in the M phase. Finally, we suggest possible improvements and extensions to our model. Cell cycle—the process in which a parent cell replicates its DNA and divides into two daughter cells—is an upregulated process in many forms of cancer. Identifying gene inhibition targets to regulate cell cycle is important to the development of effective therapies. Although modern high throughput techniques offer unprecedented resolution of the molecular details of biological processes like cell cycle, analyzing the vast quantities of the resulting experimental data and extracting actionable information remains a formidable task. Here, we create a dynamical model of the process of cell cycle using the Hopfield model (a type of recurrent neural network) and gene expression data from human cervical cancer cells and yeast cells. We find that the model recreates the oscillations observed in experimental data. Tuning the level of noise (representing the inherent randomness in gene expression and regulation) to the “edge of chaos” is crucial for the proper behavior of the system. We then use this model to identify potential gene targets for disrupting the process of cell cycle. This method could be applied to other time series data sets and used to predict the effects of untested targeted perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Szedlak
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Spencer Sims
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Smith
- Salgomed Inc., Del Mar, California, United States of America
| | - Giovanni Paternostro
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Carlo Piermarocchi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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26
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27
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Li MA, Amaral PP, Cheung P, Bergmann JH, Kinoshita M, Kalkan T, Ralser M, Robson S, von Meyenn F, Paramor M, Yang F, Chen C, Nichols J, Spector DL, Kouzarides T, He L, Smith A. A lncRNA fine tunes the dynamics of a cell state transition involving Lin28, let-7 and de novo DNA methylation. eLife 2017; 6:e23468. [PMID: 28820723 PMCID: PMC5562443 DOI: 10.7554/elife.23468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Execution of pluripotency requires progression from the naïve status represented by mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to a state capacitated for lineage specification. This transition is coordinated at multiple levels. Non-coding RNAs may contribute to this regulatory orchestra. We identified a rodent-specific long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) linc1281, hereafter Ephemeron (Eprn), that modulates the dynamics of exit from naïve pluripotency. Eprn deletion delays the extinction of ESC identity, an effect associated with perduring Nanog expression. In the absence of Eprn, Lin28a expression is reduced which results in persistence of let-7 microRNAs, and the up-regulation of de novo methyltransferases Dnmt3a/b is delayed. Dnmt3a/b deletion retards ES cell transition, correlating with delayed Nanog promoter methylation and phenocopying loss of Eprn or Lin28a. The connection from lncRNA to miRNA and DNA methylation facilitates the acute extinction of naïve pluripotency, a pre-requisite for rapid progression from preimplantation epiblast to gastrulation in rodents. Eprn illustrates how lncRNAs may introduce species-specific network modulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Amy Li
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Division of Cellular and Developmental Biology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Paulo P Amaral
- The Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Priscilla Cheung
- Division of Cellular and Developmental Biology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Jan H Bergmann
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, United States
| | - Masaki Kinoshita
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Tüzer Kalkan
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Meryem Ralser
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sam Robson
- The Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Maike Paramor
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Fengtang Yang
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Caifu Chen
- Integrated DNA Technologies, Redwood, United States
| | - Jennifer Nichols
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - David L Spector
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, United States
| | - Tony Kouzarides
- The Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Lin He
- Division of Cellular and Developmental Biology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Austin Smith
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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28
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Rusk N. Defining developmental grammar. Nat Methods 2017. [DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.4279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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29
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Abstract
A combination of single-cell techniques and computational analysis enables the simultaneous discovery of cell states, lineage relationships and the genes that control developmental decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuwei Zhang
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, United States.,Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
| | - Nir Yosef
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, United States.,Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
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30
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Furchtgott LA, Melton S, Menon V, Ramanathan S. Discovering sparse transcription factor codes for cell states and state transitions during development. eLife 2017; 6:e20488. [PMID: 28296636 PMCID: PMC5352226 DOI: 10.7554/elife.20488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Computational analysis of gene expression to determine both the sequence of lineage choices made by multipotent cells and to identify the genes influencing these decisions is challenging. Here we discover a pattern in the expression levels of a sparse subset of genes among cell types in B- and T-cell developmental lineages that correlates with developmental topologies. We develop a statistical framework using this pattern to simultaneously infer lineage transitions and the genes that determine these relationships. We use this technique to reconstruct the early hematopoietic and intestinal developmental trees. We extend this framework to analyze single-cell RNA-seq data from early human cortical development, inferring a neocortical-hindbrain split in early progenitor cells and the key genes that could control this lineage decision. Our work allows us to simultaneously infer both the identity and lineage of cell types as well as a small set of key genes whose expression patterns reflect these relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon A Furchtgott
- FAS Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
- Biophysics Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
| | - Samuel Melton
- FAS Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
| | - Vilas Menon
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States
| | - Sharad Ramanathan
- FAS Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
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31
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Conrad S, Azizi H, Skutella T. Single-Cell Expression Profiling and Proteomics of Primordial Germ Cells, Spermatogonial Stem Cells, Adult Germ Stem Cells, and Oocytes. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 1083:77-87. [DOI: 10.1007/5584_2017_117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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