1
|
Alexanian AR. Epigenetic inheritance of acquired traits via stem cells dedifferentiation/differentiation or transdifferentiation cycles. Cells Dev 2024:203928. [PMID: 38768658 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2024.203928] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Inheritance of acquired characteristics is the once widely accepted idea that multiple modifications acquired by an organism during its life, can be inherited by the offspring. This belief is at least as old as Hippocrates and became popular in early 19th century, leading Lamarck to suggest his theory of evolution. Charles Darwin, along with other thinkers of the time attempted to explain the mechanism of acquired traits' inheritance by proposing the theory of pangenesis. While later this and similar theories were rejected because of the lack of hard evidence, the studies aimed at revealing the mechanism by which somatic information can be passed to germ cells have continued up to the present. In this paper, we present a new theory and provide supporting literature to explain this phenomenon. We hypothesize existence of pluripotent adult stem cells that can serve as collectors and carriers of new epigenetic traits by entering different developmentally active organ/tissue compartments through blood circulation and acquiring new epigenetic marks though cycles of differentiation/dedifferentiation or transdifferentiation. During gametogenesis, these epigenetically modified cells are attracted by gonads, transdifferentiate into germ cells, and pass the acquired epigenetic modifications collected from the entire body's somatic cells to the offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arshak R Alexanian
- Cell Reprogramming & Therapeutics LLC, Wauwatosa (Milwaukee County), WI 53226, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pliota P, Marvanova H, Koreshova A, Kaufman Y, Tikanova P, Krogull D, Hagmüller A, Widen SA, Handler D, Gokcezade J, Duchek P, Brennecke J, Ben-David E, Burga A. Selfish conflict underlies RNA-mediated parent-of-origin effects. Nature 2024; 628:122-129. [PMID: 38448590 PMCID: PMC10990930 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07155-z] [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: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Genomic imprinting-the non-equivalence of maternal and paternal genomes-is a critical process that has evolved independently in many plant and mammalian species1,2. According to kinship theory, imprinting is the inevitable consequence of conflictive selective forces acting on differentially expressed parental alleles3,4. Yet, how these epigenetic differences evolve in the first place is poorly understood3,5,6. Here we report the identification and molecular dissection of a parent-of-origin effect on gene expression that might help to clarify this fundamental question. Toxin-antidote elements (TAs) are selfish elements that spread in populations by poisoning non-carrier individuals7-9. In reciprocal crosses between two Caenorhabditis tropicalis wild isolates, we found that the slow-1/grow-1 TA is specifically inactive when paternally inherited. This parent-of-origin effect stems from transcriptional repression of the slow-1 toxin by the PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) host defence pathway. The repression requires PIWI Argonaute and SET-32 histone methyltransferase activities and is transgenerationally inherited via small RNAs. Remarkably, when slow-1/grow-1 is maternally inherited, slow-1 repression is halted by a translation-independent role of its maternal mRNA. That is, slow-1 transcripts loaded into eggs-but not SLOW-1 protein-are necessary and sufficient to counteract piRNA-mediated repression. Our findings show that parent-of-origin effects can evolve by co-option of the piRNA pathway and hinder the spread of selfish genes that require sex for their propagation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pinelopi Pliota
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Hana Marvanova
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alevtina Koreshova
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yotam Kaufman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Polina Tikanova
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniel Krogull
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Hagmüller
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Sonya A Widen
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Dominik Handler
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Joseph Gokcezade
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Duchek
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Julius Brennecke
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Eyal Ben-David
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Illumina Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Alejandro Burga
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Saredi G, Carelli FN, Rolland SGM, Furlan G, Piquet S, Appert A, Sanchez-Pulido L, Price JL, Alcon P, Lampersberger L, Déclais AC, Ramakrishna NB, Toth R, Macartney T, Alabert C, Ponting CP, Polo SE, Miska EA, Gartner A, Ahringer J, Rouse J. The histone chaperone SPT2 regulates chromatin structure and function in Metazoa. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024; 31:523-535. [PMID: 38238586 PMCID: PMC7615752 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01204-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Histone chaperones control nucleosome density and chromatin structure. In yeast, the H3-H4 chaperone Spt2 controls histone deposition at active genes but its roles in metazoan chromatin structure and organismal physiology are not known. Here we identify the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of SPT2 (CeSPT-2) and show that its ability to bind histones H3-H4 is important for germline development and transgenerational epigenetic gene silencing, and that spt-2 null mutants display signatures of a global stress response. Genome-wide profiling showed that CeSPT-2 binds to a range of highly expressed genes, and we find that spt-2 mutants have increased chromatin accessibility at a subset of these loci. We also show that SPT2 influences chromatin structure and controls the levels of soluble and chromatin-bound H3.3 in human cells. Our work reveals roles for SPT2 in controlling chromatin structure and function in Metazoa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Saredi
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
| | - Francesco N Carelli
- Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Stéphane G M Rolland
- IBS Centre for Genomic Integrity at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Giulia Furlan
- Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Transine Therapeutics, Babraham Hall, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sandra Piquet
- Laboratory of Epigenome Integrity, Epigenetics and Cell Fate Centre, UMR 7216 CNRS - Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Alex Appert
- Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Luis Sanchez-Pulido
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Jonathan L Price
- Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Pablo Alcon
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lisa Lampersberger
- Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Maxion Therapeutics, Unity Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anne-Cécile Déclais
- Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology Division, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Navin B Ramakrishna
- Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Rachel Toth
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Thomas Macartney
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Constance Alabert
- Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology Division, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Chris P Ponting
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sophie E Polo
- Laboratory of Epigenome Integrity, Epigenetics and Cell Fate Centre, UMR 7216 CNRS - Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Eric A Miska
- Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anton Gartner
- IBS Centre for Genomic Integrity at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Julie Ahringer
- Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - John Rouse
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mazzetto M, Gonzalez LE, Sanchez N, Reinke V. Characterization of the distribution and dynamics of chromatin states in the C. elegans germline reveals substantial H3K4me3 remodeling during oogenesis. Genome Res 2024; 34:57-69. [PMID: 38164610 PMCID: PMC10903938 DOI: 10.1101/gr.278247.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Chromatin organization in the C. elegans germline is tightly regulated and critical for germ cell differentiation. Although certain germline epigenetic regulatory mechanisms have been identified, how they influence chromatin structure and ultimately gene expression remains unclear, in part because most genomic studies have focused on data collected from intact worms comprising both somatic and germline tissues. We therefore analyzed histone modification and chromatin accessibility data from isolated germ nuclei representing undifferentiated proliferating and meiosis I populations to define chromatin states. We correlated these states with overall transcript abundance, spatiotemporal expression patterns, and the function of small RNA pathways. Because the essential role of the germline is to transmit genetic information and establish gene expression in the early embryo, we compared epigenetic and transcriptomic profiles from undifferentiated germ cells to those of embryos to define the epigenetic changes during this developmental transition. The active histone modification H3K4me3 shows particularly dynamic remodeling as germ cells differentiate into oocytes, which suggests a mechanism for establishing early transcription of essential genes during zygotic genome activation. This analysis highlights the dynamism of the chromatin landscape across developmental transitions and provides a resource for future investigation into epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in germ cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lauren E Gonzalez
- Department of Genetics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Nancy Sanchez
- Department of Genetics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Valerie Reinke
- Department of Genetics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chen S, Phillips CM. HRDE-2 drives small RNA specificity for the nuclear Argonaute protein HRDE-1. Nat Commun 2024; 15:957. [PMID: 38302462 PMCID: PMC10834429 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45245-8] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a conserved gene silencing process that exists in diverse organisms to protect genome integrity and regulate gene expression. In C. elegans, the majority of RNAi pathway proteins localize to perinuclear, phase-separated germ granules, which are comprised of sub-domains referred to as P granules, Mutator foci, Z granules, and SIMR foci. However, the protein components and function of the newly discovered SIMR foci are unknown. Here we demonstrate that HRDE-2 localizes to SIMR foci and interacts with the germline nuclear Argonaute HRDE-1 in its small RNA unbound state. In the absence of HRDE-2, HRDE-1 exclusively loads CSR-class 22G-RNAs rather than WAGO-class 22G-RNAs, resulting in inappropriate H3K9me3 deposition on CSR-target genes. Thus, our study demonstrates that the recruitment of unloaded HRDE-1 to germ granules, mediated by HRDE-2, is critical to ensure that the correct small RNAs are used to guide nuclear RNA silencing in the C. elegans germline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shihui Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Carolyn M Phillips
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu L, Wang X, Zhao W, Li Q, Li J, Chen H, Shan G. Systematic characterization of small RNAs associated with C. elegans Argonautes. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2023:10.1007/s11427-022-2304-8. [PMID: 37154856 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2304-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Argonaute proteins generally play regulatory roles by forming complexes with the corresponding small RNAs (sRNAs). An expanded Argonaute family with 20 potentially functional members has been identified in Caenorhabditis elegans. Canonical sRNAs in C. elegans are miRNAs, small interfering RNAs including 22G-RNAs and 26G-RNAs, and 21U-RNAs, which are C. elegans piRNAs. Previous studies have only covered some of these Argonautes for their sRNA partners, and thus, a systematic study is needed to reveal the comprehensive regulatory networks formed by C. elegans Argonautes and their associated sRNAs. We obtained in situ knockin (KI) strains of all C. elegans Argonautes with fusion tags by CRISPR/Cas9 technology. RNA immunoprecipitation against these endogenously expressed Argonautes and high-throughput sequencing acquired the sRNA profiles of individual Argonautes. The sRNA partners for each Argonaute were then analyzed. We found that there were 10 Argonautes enriched miRNAs, 17 Argonautes bound to 22G-RNAs, 8 Argonautes bound to 26G-RNAs, and 1 Argonaute PRG-1 bound to piRNAs. Uridylated 22G-RNAs were bound by four Argonautes HRDE-1, WAGO-4, CSR-1, and PPW-2. We found that all four Argonautes played a role in transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Regulatory roles of the corresponding Argonaute-sRNA complex in managing levels of long transcripts and interspecies regulation were also demonstrated. In this study, we portrayed the sRNAs bound to each functional Argonaute in C. elegans. Bioinformatics analyses together with experimental investigations provided perceptions in the overall view of the regulatory network formed by C. elegans Argonautes and sRNAs. The sRNA profiles bound to individual Argonautes reported here will be valuable resources for further studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
| | - Wenfang Zhao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Qiqi Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Jingxin Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - He Chen
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - Ge Shan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Regional Medical Center for National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Gleason RJ, Chen X. Epigenetic dynamics during germline development: insights from Drosophila and C. elegans. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 78:102017. [PMID: 36549194 PMCID: PMC10100592 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2022.102017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Gametogenesis produces the only cell type within a metazoan that contributes both genetic and epigenetic information to the offspring. Extensive epigenetic dynamics are required to express or repress gene expression in a precise spatiotemporal manner. On the other hand, early embryos must be extensively reprogrammed as they begin a new life cycle, involving intergenerational epigenetic inheritance. Seminal work in both Drosophila and C. elegans has elucidated the role of various regulators of epigenetic inheritance, including (1) histones, (2) histone-modifying enzymes, and (3) small RNA-dependent epigenetic regulation in the maintenance of germline identity. This review highlights recent discoveries of epigenetic regulation during the stepwise changes of transcription and chromatin structure that takes place during germline stem cell self-renewal, maintenance of germline identity, and intergenerational epigenetic inheritance. Findings from these two species provide precedence and opportunity to extend relevant studies to vertebrates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J. Gleason
- Department of Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Xin Chen
- HHMI, Department of Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Švorcová J. Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance of Traumatic Experience in Mammals. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:120. [PMID: 36672861 PMCID: PMC9859285 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010120] [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: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, we have seen an increasing amount of evidence pointing to the existence of a non-genetic heredity of the effects of events such as separation from parents, threat to life, or other traumatising experiences such as famine. This heredity is often mediated by epigenetic regulations of gene expression and may be transferred even across several generations. In this review, we focus on studies which involve transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI), with a short detour to intergenerational studies focused on the inheritance of trauma or stressful experiences. The reviewed studies show a plethora of universal changes which stress exposure initiates on multiple levels of organisation ranging from hormonal production and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis modulation all the way to cognition, behaviour, or propensity to certain psychiatric or metabolic disorders. This review will also provide an overview of relevant methodology and difficulties linked to implementation of epigenetic studies. A better understanding of these processes may help us elucidate the evolutionary pathways which are at work in the course of emergence of the diseases and disorders associated with exposure to trauma, either direct or in a previous generation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jana Švorcová
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wang SY, Kim K, O'Brown ZK, Levan A, Dodson AE, Kennedy SG, Chernoff C, Greer EL. Hypoxia induces transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of small RNAs. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111800. [PMID: 36516753 PMCID: PMC9847139 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals sense and adapt to decreased oxygen availability, but whether and how hypoxia exposure in ancestors can elicit phenotypic consequences in normoxia-reared descendants are unclear. We show that hypoxia educes an intergenerational reduction in lipids and a transgenerational reduction in fertility in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The transmission of these epigenetic phenotypes is dependent on repressive histone-modifying enzymes and the argonaute HRDE-1. Feeding naive C. elegans small RNAs extracted from hypoxia-treated worms is sufficient to induce a fertility defect. Furthermore, the endogenous small interfering RNA F44E5.4/5 is upregulated intergenerationally in response to hypoxia, and soaking naive normoxia-reared C. elegans with F44E5.4/5 double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is sufficient to induce an intergenerational fertility defect. Finally, we demonstrate that labeled F44E5.4/5 dsRNA is itself transmitted from parents to children. Our results suggest that small RNAs respond to the environment and are sufficient to transmit non-genetic information from parents to their naive children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Yuan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Kathleen Kim
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zach Klapholz O'Brown
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Aileen Levan
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anne Elizabeth Dodson
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Scott G Kennedy
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Chaim Chernoff
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eric Lieberman Greer
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Levinsky AJ, McEdwards G, Sethna N, Currie MA. Targets of histone H3 lysine 9 methyltransferases. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1026406. [PMID: 36568972 PMCID: PMC9768651 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1026406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone H3 lysine 9 di- and trimethylation are well-established marks of constitutively silenced heterochromatin domains found at repetitive DNA elements including pericentromeres, telomeres, and transposons. Loss of heterochromatin at these sites causes genomic instability in the form of aberrant DNA repair, chromosome segregation defects, replication stress, and transposition. H3K9 di- and trimethylation also regulate cell type-specific gene expression during development and form a barrier to cellular reprogramming. However, the role of H3K9 methyltransferases extends beyond histone methylation. There is a growing list of non-histone targets of H3K9 methyltransferases including transcription factors, steroid hormone receptors, histone modifying enzymes, and other chromatin regulatory proteins. Additionally, two classes of H3K9 methyltransferases modulate their own function through automethylation. Here we summarize the structure and function of mammalian H3K9 methyltransferases, their roles in genome regulation and constitutive heterochromatin, as well as the current repertoire of non-histone methylation targets including cases of automethylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aidan J. Levinsky
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada,Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gregor McEdwards
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada,Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nasha Sethna
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada,Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mark A. Currie
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada,Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada,*Correspondence: Mark A. Currie,
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Vinson DA, Stephens KE, O’Meally RN, Bhat S, Dancy BCR, Cole RN, Yegnasubramanian S, Taverna SD. De novo methylation of histone H3K23 by the methyltransferases EHMT1/GLP and EHMT2/G9a. Epigenetics Chromatin 2022; 15:36. [PMID: 36411491 PMCID: PMC9677696 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-022-00468-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications to histone proteins serve an important role in regulating permissive and repressive chromatin states, but despite the identification of many histone PTMs and their perceived role, the epigenetic writers responsible for generating these chromatin signatures are not fully characterized. Here, we report that the canonical histone H3K9 methyltransferases EHMT1/GLP and EHMT2/G9a are capable of catalyzing methylation of histone H3 lysine 23 (H3K23). Our data show that while both enzymes can mono- and di-methylate H3K23, only EHMT1/GLP can tri-methylate H3K23. We also show that pharmacologic inhibition or genetic ablation of EHMT1/GLP and/or EHMT2/G9a leads to decreased H3K23 methylation in mammalian cells. Taken together, this work identifies H3K23 as a new direct methylation target of EHMT1/GLP and EHMT2/G9a, and highlights the differential activity of these enzymes on H3K23 as a substrate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David A. Vinson
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Center for Epigenetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Kimberly E. Stephens
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Center for Epigenetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ,grid.241054.60000 0004 4687 1637Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72202 USA
| | - Robert N. O’Meally
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Shri Bhat
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Blair C. R. Dancy
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Center for Epigenetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ,grid.507680.c0000 0001 2230 3166Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910-7500 USA
| | - Robert N. Cole
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Srinivasan Yegnasubramanian
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Sean D. Taverna
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Center for Epigenetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Huang M, Hong M, Hou X, Zhu C, Chen D, Chen X, Guang S, Feng X. H3K9me1/2 methylation limits the lifespan of daf-2 mutants in C. elegans. eLife 2022; 11:74812. [PMID: 36125117 PMCID: PMC9514849 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74812] [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: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone methylation plays crucial roles in the development, gene regulation, and maintenance of stem cell pluripotency in mammals. Recent work shows that histone methylation is associated with aging, yet the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this work, we identified a class of putative histone 3 lysine 9 mono/dimethyltransferase genes (met-2, set-6, set-19, set-20, set-21, set-32, and set-33), mutations in which induce synergistic lifespan extension in the long-lived DAF-2 (insulin growth factor 1 [IGF-1] receptor) mutant in Caenorhabditis elegans. These putative histone methyltransferase plus daf-2 double mutants not only exhibited an average lifespan nearly three times that of wild-type animals and a maximal lifespan of approximately 100 days, but also significantly increased resistance to oxidative and heat stress. Synergistic lifespan extension depends on the transcription factor DAF-16 (FOXO). mRNA-seq experiments revealed that the mRNA levels of DAF-16 Class I genes, which are activated by DAF-16, were further elevated in the daf-2;set double mutants. Among these genes, tts-1, F35E8.7, ins-35, nhr-62, sod-3, asm-2, and Y39G8B.7 are required for the lifespan extension of the daf-2;set-21 double mutant. In addition, treating daf-2 animals with the H3K9me1/2 methyltransferase G9a inhibitor also extends lifespan and increases stress resistance. Therefore, investigation of DAF-2 and H3K9me1/2 deficiency-mediated synergistic longevity will contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of aging and therapeutic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meng Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Minjie Hong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xinhao Hou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Chengming Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Di Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiangyang Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Shouhong Guang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xuezhu Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ouyang JPT, Zhang WL, Seydoux G. The conserved helicase ZNFX-1 memorializes silenced RNAs in perinuclear condensates. Nat Cell Biol 2022; 24:1129-1140. [PMID: 35739318 PMCID: PMC9276528 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-00940-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) is a conserved mechanism that uses small RNAs (sRNAs) to silence gene expression. In the Caenorhabditis elegans germline, transcripts targeted by sRNAs are used as templates for sRNA amplification to propagate silencing into the next generation. Here we show that RNAi leads to heritable changes in the distribution of nascent and mature transcripts that correlate with two parallel sRNA amplification loops. The first loop, dependent on the nuclear Argonaute HRDE-1, targets nascent transcripts and reduces but does not eliminate productive transcription at the locus. The second loop, dependent on the conserved helicase ZNFX-1, targets mature transcripts and concentrates them in perinuclear condensates. ZNFX-1 interacts with sRNA-targeted transcripts that have acquired poly(UG) tails and is required to sustain pUGylation and robust sRNA amplification in the inheriting generation. By maintaining a pool of transcripts for amplification, ZNFX-1 prevents premature extinction of the RNAi response and extends silencing into the next generation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Paul Tsu Ouyang
- HHMI and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Wenyan Lucy Zhang
- HHMI and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Geraldine Seydoux
- HHMI and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Quarato P, Singh M, Bourdon L, Cecere G. Inheritance and maintenance of small RNA-mediated epigenetic effects. Bioessays 2022; 44:e2100284. [PMID: 35338497 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Heritable traits are predominantly encoded within genomic DNA, but it is now appreciated that epigenetic information is also inherited through DNA methylation, histone modifications, and small RNAs. Several examples of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of traits have been documented in plants and animals. These include even the inheritance of traits acquired through the soma during the life of an organism, implicating the transfer of epigenetic information via the germline to the next generation. Small RNAs appear to play a significant role in carrying epigenetic information across generations. This review focuses on how epigenetic information in the form of small RNAs is transmitted from the germline to the embryos through the gametes. We also consider how inherited epigenetic information is maintained across generations in a small RNA-dependent and independent manner. Finally, we discuss how epigenetic traits acquired from the soma can be inherited through small RNAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Piergiuseppe Quarato
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3738, Mechanisms of Epigenetic Inheritance, Paris, France
| | - Meetali Singh
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3738, Mechanisms of Epigenetic Inheritance, Paris, France
| | - Loan Bourdon
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3738, Mechanisms of Epigenetic Inheritance, Paris, France
| | - Germano Cecere
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3738, Mechanisms of Epigenetic Inheritance, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Chen X, Rechavi O. Plant and animal small RNA communications between cells and organisms. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2022; 23:185-203. [PMID: 34707241 PMCID: PMC9208737 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-021-00425-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Since the discovery of eukaryotic small RNAs as the main effectors of RNA interference in the late 1990s, diverse types of endogenous small RNAs have been characterized, most notably microRNAs, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). These small RNAs associate with Argonaute proteins and, through sequence-specific gene regulation, affect almost every major biological process. Intriguing features of small RNAs, such as their mechanisms of amplification, rapid evolution and non-cell-autonomous function, bestow upon them the capacity to function as agents of intercellular communications in development, reproduction and immunity, and even in transgenerational inheritance. Although there are many types of extracellular small RNAs, and despite decades of research, the capacity of these molecules to transmit signals between cells and between organisms is still highly controversial. In this Review, we discuss evidence from different plants and animals that small RNAs can act in a non-cell-autonomous manner and even exchange information between species. We also discuss mechanistic insights into small RNA communications, such as the nature of the mobile agents, small RNA signal amplification during transit, signal perception and small RNA activity at the destination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Chen
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.
| | - Oded Rechavi
- Department of Neurobiology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. .,Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Reprogramming the piRNA pathway for multiplexed and transgenerational gene silencing in C. elegans. Nat Methods 2022; 19:187-194. [PMID: 35115715 PMCID: PMC9798472 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-021-01369-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Single-guide RNAs can target exogenous CRISPR-Cas proteins to unique DNA locations, enabling genetic tools that are efficient, specific and scalable. Here we show that short synthetic guide Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) (21-nucleotide sg-piRNAs) expressed from extrachromosomal transgenes can, analogously, reprogram the endogenous piRNA pathway for gene-specific silencing in the hermaphrodite germline, sperm and embryos of Caenorhabditis elegans. piRNA-mediated interference ('piRNAi') is more efficient than RNAi and can be multiplexed, and auxin-mediated degradation of the piRNA-specific Argonaute PRG-1 allows conditional gene silencing. Target-specific silencing results in decreased messenger RNA levels, amplification of secondary small interfering RNAs and repressive chromatin modifications. Short (300 base pairs) piRNAi transgenes amplified from arrayed oligonucleotide pools also induce silencing, potentially making piRNAi highly scalable. We show that piRNAi can induce transgenerational epigenetic silencing of two endogenous genes (him-5 and him-8). Silencing is inherited for four to six generations after target-specific sg-piRNAs are lost, whereas depleting PRG-1 leads to essentially permanent epigenetic silencing.
Collapse
|
17
|
SETDB1-like MET-2 promotes transcriptional silencing and development independently of its H3K9me-associated catalytic activity. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2022; 29:85-96. [PMID: 35102319 PMCID: PMC8850192 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-021-00712-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptionally silenced heterochromatin bearing methylation of histone H3 on lysine 9 (H3K9me) is critical for maintaining organismal viability and tissue integrity. Here we show that in addition to ensuring H3K9me, MET-2, the Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of the SETDB1 histone methyltransferase, has a noncatalytic function that contributes to gene repression. Subnuclear foci of MET-2 coincide with H3K9me deposition, yet these foci also form when MET-2 is catalytically deficient and H3K9me is compromised. Whereas met-2 deletion triggers a loss of silencing and increased histone acetylation, foci of catalytically deficient MET-2 maintain silencing of a subset of genes, blocking acetylation on H3K9 and H3K27. In normal development, this noncatalytic MET-2 activity helps to maintain fertility. Under heat stress MET-2 foci disperse, coinciding with increased acetylation and transcriptional derepression. Our study suggests that the noncatalytic, focus-forming function of this SETDB1-like protein and its intrinsically disordered cofactor LIN-65 is physiologically relevant. Genetic and genome-wide analysis of a catalytically deficient SETDB1-like enzyme, MET-2, in Caenorhabditiselegans reveals that MET-2 promotes transcriptional silencing and fertility through both H3K9 methylation and focus formation, which blocks histone acetylation.
Collapse
|
18
|
Abstract
Increasing evidence indicates that non-DNA sequence-based epigenetic information can be inherited across several generations in organisms ranging from yeast to plants to humans. This raises the possibility of heritable 'epimutations' contributing to heritable phenotypic variation and thus to evolution. Recent work has shed light on both the signals that underpin these epimutations, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs, and the mechanisms by which they are transmitted across generations at the molecular level. These mechanisms can vary greatly among species and have a more limited effect in mammals than in plants and other animal species. Nevertheless, common principles are emerging, with transmission occurring either via direct replicative mechanisms or indirect reconstruction of the signal in subsequent generations. As these processes become clearer we continue to improve our understanding of the distinctive features and relative contribution of DNA sequence and epigenetic variation to heritable differences in phenotype.
Collapse
|
19
|
Seroussi U, Li C, Sundby AE, Lee TL, Claycomb JM, Saltzman AL. Mechanisms of epigenetic regulation by C. elegans nuclear RNA interference pathways. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 127:142-154. [PMID: 34876343 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a highly conserved gene regulatory phenomenon whereby Argonaute/small RNA (AGO/sRNA) complexes target transcripts by antisense complementarity to modulate gene expression. While initially appreciated as a cytoplasmic process, RNAi can also occur in the nucleus where AGO/sRNA complexes are recruited to nascent transcripts. Nuclear AGO/sRNA complexes recruit co-factors that regulate transcription by inhibiting RNA Polymerase II, modifying histones, compacting chromatin and, in some organisms, methylating DNA. C. elegans has a longstanding history in unveiling the mechanisms of RNAi and has become an outstanding model to delineate the mechanisms underlying nuclear RNAi. In this review we highlight recent discoveries in the field of nuclear RNAi in C. elegans and the roles of nuclear RNAi in the regulation of gene expression, chromatin organization, genome stability, and transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Uri Seroussi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Chengyin Li
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Adam E Sundby
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tammy L Lee
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Julie M Claycomb
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Arneet L Saltzman
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Anastasiadi D, Venney CJ, Bernatchez L, Wellenreuther M. Epigenetic inheritance and reproductive mode in plants and animals. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:1124-1140. [PMID: 34489118 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic inheritance is another piece of the puzzle of nongenetic inheritance, although the prevalence, sources, persistence, and phenotypic consequences of heritable epigenetic marks across taxa remain unclear. We systematically reviewed over 500 studies from the past 5 years to identify trends in the frequency of epigenetic inheritance due to differences in reproductive mode and germline development. Genetic, intrinsic (e.g., disease), and extrinsic (e.g., environmental) factors were identified as sources of epigenetic inheritance, with impacts on phenotype and adaptation depending on environmental predictability. Our review shows that multigenerational persistence of epigenomic patterns is common in both plants and animals, but also highlights many knowledge gaps that remain to be filled. We provide a framework to guide future studies towards understanding the generational persistence and eco-evolutionary significance of epigenomic patterns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dafni Anastasiadi
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd, Nelson Research Centre, 293 Akersten St, Nelson 7010, New Zealand
| | - Clare J Venney
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Systèmes (IBIS), Département de Biologie, Université Laval, 1030 Avenue de la Médecine, G1V 0A6, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Louis Bernatchez
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Systèmes (IBIS), Département de Biologie, Université Laval, 1030 Avenue de la Médecine, G1V 0A6, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Maren Wellenreuther
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd, Nelson Research Centre, 293 Akersten St, Nelson 7010, New Zealand; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, 3A Symonds St, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Özdemir I, Steiner FA. Transmission of chromatin states across generations in C. elegans. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 127:133-141. [PMID: 34823984 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic inheritance refers to the transmission of phenotypes across generations without affecting the genomic DNA sequence. Even though it has been documented in many species in fungi, animals and plants, the mechanisms underlying epigenetic inheritance are not fully uncovered. Epialleles, the heritable units of epigenetic information, can take the form of several biomolecules, including histones and their post-translational modifications (PTMs). Here, we review the recent advances in the understanding of the transmission of histone variants and histone PTM patterns across generations in C. elegans. We provide a general overview of the intergenerational and transgenerational inheritance of histone PTMs and their modifiers and discuss the interplay among different histone PTMs. We also evaluate soma-germ line communication and its impact on the inheritance of epigenetic traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isa Özdemir
- Department of Molecular Biology and Institute of Genetics and Genomics in Geneva, Section of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Florian A Steiner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Institute of Genetics and Genomics in Geneva, Section of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Cecere G. Small RNAs in epigenetic inheritance: from mechanisms to trait transmission. FEBS Lett 2021; 595:2953-2977. [PMID: 34671979 PMCID: PMC9298081 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Inherited information is transmitted to progeny primarily by the genome through the gametes. However, in recent years, epigenetic inheritance has been demonstrated in several organisms, including animals. Although it is clear that certain post‐translational histone modifications, DNA methylation, and noncoding RNAs regulate epigenetic inheritance, the molecular mechanisms responsible for epigenetic inheritance are incompletely understood. This review focuses on the role of small RNAs in transmitting epigenetic information across generations in animals. Examples of documented cases of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance are discussed, from the silencing of transgenes to the inheritance of complex traits, such as fertility, stress responses, infections, and behavior. Experimental evidence supporting the idea that small RNAs are epigenetic molecules capable of transmitting traits across generations is highlighted, focusing on the mechanisms by which small RNAs achieve such a function. Just as the role of small RNAs in epigenetic processes is redefining the concept of inheritance, so too our understanding of the molecular pathways and mechanisms that govern epigenetic inheritance in animals is radically changing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Germano Cecere
- Mechanisms of Epigenetic Inheritance, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, UMR3738, CNRS, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Liao S, Chen X, Xu T, Jin Q, Xu Z, Xu D, Zhou X, Zhu C, Guang S, Feng X. Antisense ribosomal siRNAs inhibit RNA polymerase I-directed transcription in C. elegans. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:9194-9210. [PMID: 34365510 PMCID: PMC8450093 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic cells express a wide variety of endogenous small regulatory RNAs that function in the nucleus. We previously found that erroneous rRNAs induce the generation of antisense ribosomal siRNAs (risiRNAs) which silence the expression of rRNAs via the nuclear RNAi defective (Nrde) pathway. To further understand the biological roles and mechanisms of this class of small regulatory RNAs, we conducted forward genetic screening to identify factors involved in risiRNA generation in Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that risiRNAs accumulated in the RNA exosome mutants. risiRNAs directed the association of NRDE proteins with pre-rRNAs and the silencing of pre-rRNAs. In the presence of risiRNAs, NRDE-2 accumulated in the nucleolus and colocalized with RNA polymerase I. risiRNAs inhibited the transcription elongation of RNA polymerase I by decreasing RNAP I occupancy downstream of the RNAi-targeted site. Meanwhile, exosomes mislocalized from the nucleolus to nucleoplasm in suppressor of siRNA (susi) mutants, in which erroneous rRNAs accumulated. These results established a novel model of rRNA surveillance by combining ribonuclease-mediated RNA degradation with small RNA-directed nucleolar RNAi system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shimiao Liao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China
| | - Xiangyang Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China
| | - Ting Xu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China
| | - Qile Jin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China
| | - Zongxiu Xu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China
| | - Demin Xu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China
| | - Xufei Zhou
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China
| | - Chengming Zhu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China
| | - Shouhong Guang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China
| | - Xuezhu Feng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Devanapally S, Raman P, Chey M, Allgood S, Ettefa F, Diop M, Lin Y, Cho YE, Jose AM. Mating can initiate stable RNA silencing that overcomes epigenetic recovery. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4239. [PMID: 34244495 PMCID: PMC8270896 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24053-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Stable epigenetic changes appear uncommon, suggesting that changes typically dissipate or are repaired. Changes that stably alter gene expression across generations presumably require particular conditions that are currently unknown. Here we report that a minimal combination of cis-regulatory sequences can support permanent RNA silencing of a single-copy transgene and its derivatives in C. elegans simply upon mating. Mating disrupts competing RNA-based mechanisms to initiate silencing that can last for >300 generations. This stable silencing requires components of the small RNA pathway and can silence homologous sequences in trans. While animals do not recover from mating-induced silencing, they often recover from and become resistant to trans silencing. Recovery is also observed in most cases when double-stranded RNA is used to silence the same coding sequence in different regulatory contexts that drive germline expression. Therefore, we propose that regulatory features can evolve to oppose permanent and potentially maladaptive responses to transient change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mary Chey
- University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | - Yixin Lin
- University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Frolows N, Ashe A. Small RNAs and chromatin in the multigenerational epigenetic landscape of Caenorhabditis elegans. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200112. [PMID: 33866817 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
For decades, it was thought that the only heritable information transmitted from one individual to another was that encoded in the DNA sequence. However, it has become increasingly clear that this is not the case and that the transmission of molecules from within the cytoplasm of the gamete also plays a significant role in heritability. The roundworm, Caenorhabditis elegans, has emerged as one of the leading model organisms in which to study the mechanisms of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI). Collaborative efforts over the past few years have revealed that RNA molecules play a critical role in transmitting transgenerational responses, but precisely how they do so is as yet uncertain. In addition, the role of histone modifications in epigenetic inheritance is increasingly apparent, and RNA and histones interact in a way that we do not yet fully understand. Furthermore, both exogenous and endogenous RNA molecules, as well as other environmental triggers, are able to induce heritable epigenetic changes that affect transcription across the genome. In most cases, these epigenetic changes last only for a handful of generations, but occasionally can be maintained much longer: perhaps indefinitely. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the role of RNA and histones in TEI, as well as making clear the gaps in our knowledge. We also speculate on the evolutionary implications of epigenetic inheritance, particularly in the context of a short-lived, clonally propagating species. This article is part of the theme issue 'How does epigenetics influence the course of evolution?'
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalya Frolows
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.,CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Sydney, New South Wales, 2113, Australia
| | - Alyson Ashe
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Lister-Shimauchi EH, Dinh M, Maddox P, Ahmed S. Gametes deficient for Pot1 telomere binding proteins alter levels of telomeric foci for multiple generations. Commun Biol 2021; 4:158. [PMID: 33542458 PMCID: PMC7862594 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01624-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Deficiency for telomerase results in transgenerational shortening of telomeres. However, telomeres have no known role in transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. C. elegans Protection Of Telomeres 1 (Pot1) proteins form foci at the telomeres of germ cells that disappear at fertilization and gradually accumulate during development. We find that gametes from mutants deficient for Pot1 proteins alter levels of telomeric foci for multiple generations. Gametes from pot-2 mutants give rise to progeny with abundant POT-1::mCherry and mNeonGreen::POT-2 foci throughout development, which persists for six generations. In contrast, gametes from pot-1 mutants or pot-1; pot-2 double mutants induce diminished Pot1 foci for several generations. Deficiency for MET-2, SET-25, or SET-32 methyltransferases, which promote heterochromatin formation, results in gametes that induce diminished Pot1 foci for several generations. We propose that C. elegans POT-1 may interact with H3K9 methyltransferases during pot-2 mutant gametogenesis to induce a persistent form of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance that causes constitutively high levels of heterochromatic Pot1 foci.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evan H Lister-Shimauchi
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Michael Dinh
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Paul Maddox
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Shawn Ahmed
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| |
Collapse
|