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Bludau A, Schwartz U, Zeitler DM, Royer M, Meister G, Neumann ID, Menon R. Functional involvement of septal miR-132 in extinction and oxytocin-mediated reversal of social fear. Mol Psychiatry 2023:10.1038/s41380-023-02309-3. [PMID: 37938765 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02309-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Social interactions are critical for mammalian survival and evolution. Dysregulation of social behavior often leads to psychopathologies such as social anxiety disorder, denoted by intense fear and avoidance of social situations. Using the social fear conditioning (SFC) paradigm, we analyzed expression levels of miR-132-3p and miR-124-3p within the septum, a brain region essential for social preference and avoidance behavior, after acquisition and extinction of social fear. Here, we found that SFC dynamically altered both microRNAs. Functional in vivo approaches using pharmacological strategies, inhibition of miR-132-3p, viral overexpression of miR-132-3p, and shRNA-mediated knockdown of miR-132-3p specifically within oxytocin receptor-positive neurons confirmed septal miR-132-3p to be critically involved not only in social fear extinction, but also in oxytocin-induced reversal of social fear. Moreover, Argonaute-RNA-co-immunoprecipitation-microarray analysis and further in vitro and in vivo quantification of target mRNA and protein, revealed growth differentiation factor-5 (Gdf-5) as a target of miR-132-3p. Septal application of GDF-5 impaired social fear extinction suggesting its functional involvement in the reversal of social fear. In summary, we show that septal miR-132-3p and its downstream target Gdf-5 regulate social fear expression and potentially mediate oxytocin-induced reversal of social fear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bludau
- Department of Behavioral and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Uwe Schwartz
- NGS Analysis Center, Biology and Pre-Clinical Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Daniela M Zeitler
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, Laboratory of RNA Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Melanie Royer
- Department of Behavioral and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, Laboratory of RNA Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Gunter Meister
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, Laboratory of RNA Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Inga D Neumann
- Department of Behavioral and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Rohit Menon
- Department of Behavioral and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Shah VN, Neumeier J, Huberdeau MQ, Zeitler DM, Bruckmann A, Meister G, Simard MJ. Casein kinase 1 and 2 phosphorylate Argonaute proteins to regulate miRNA-mediated gene silencing. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e57250. [PMID: 37712432 PMCID: PMC10626430 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202357250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) together with Argonaute (AGO) proteins form the core of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) to regulate gene expression of their target RNAs post-transcriptionally. Argonaute proteins are subjected to intensive regulation via various post-translational modifications that can affect their stability, silencing efficacy and specificity for targeted gene regulation. We report here that in Caenorhabditis elegans, two conserved serine/threonine kinases - casein kinase 1 alpha 1 (CK1A1) and casein kinase 2 (CK2) - regulate a highly conserved phosphorylation cluster of 4 Serine residues (S988:S998) on the miRNA-specific AGO protein ALG-1. We show that CK1A1 phosphorylates ALG-1 at sites S992 and S995, while CK2 phosphorylates ALG-1 at sites S988 and S998. Furthermore, we demonstrate that phospho-mimicking mutants of the entire S988:S998 cluster rescue the various developmental defects observed upon depleting CK1A1 and CK2. In humans, we show that CK1A1 also acts as a priming kinase of this cluster on AGO2. Altogether, our data suggest that phosphorylation of AGO within the cluster by CK1A1 and CK2 is required for efficient miRISC-target RNA binding and silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek Nilesh Shah
- CHU de Québec‐Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division)Quebec CityQuebecCanada
- Université Laval Cancer Research CentreQuebec CityQuebecCanada
| | - Julia Neumeier
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry (RCB), Laboratory for RNA BiologyUniversity of RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Miguel Quévillon Huberdeau
- CHU de Québec‐Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division)Quebec CityQuebecCanada
- Université Laval Cancer Research CentreQuebec CityQuebecCanada
| | - Daniela M Zeitler
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry (RCB), Laboratory for RNA BiologyUniversity of RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Astrid Bruckmann
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry (RCB), Laboratory for RNA BiologyUniversity of RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Gunter Meister
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry (RCB), Laboratory for RNA BiologyUniversity of RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Martin J Simard
- CHU de Québec‐Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division)Quebec CityQuebecCanada
- Université Laval Cancer Research CentreQuebec CityQuebecCanada
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Kataruka S, Modrak M, Kinterova V, Malik R, Zeitler DM, Horvat F, Kanka J, Meister G, Svoboda P. MicroRNA dilution during oocyte growth disables the microRNA pathway in mammalian oocytes. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:8050-8062. [PMID: 32609824 PMCID: PMC7430632 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are ubiquitous small RNAs guiding post-transcriptional gene repression in countless biological processes. However, the miRNA pathway in mouse oocytes appears inactive and dispensable for development. We propose that marginalization of the miRNA pathway activity stems from the constraints and adaptations of RNA metabolism elicited by the diluting effects of oocyte growth. We report that miRNAs do not accumulate like mRNAs during the oocyte growth because miRNA turnover has not adapted to it. The most abundant miRNAs total tens of thousands of molecules in growing (∅ 40 μm) and fully grown (∅ 80 μm) oocytes, a number similar to that observed in much smaller fibroblasts. The lack of miRNA accumulation results in a 100-fold lower miRNA concentration in fully grown oocytes than in somatic cells. This brings a knock-down-like effect, where diluted miRNAs engage targets but are not abundant enough for significant repression. Low-miRNA concentrations were observed in rat, hamster, porcine and bovine oocytes, arguing that miRNA inactivity is not mouse-specific but a common mammalian oocyte feature. Injection of 250,000 miRNA molecules was sufficient to restore reporter repression in mouse and porcine oocytes, suggesting that miRNA inactivity comes from low-miRNA abundance and not from some suppressor of the pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubhangini Kataruka
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Modrak
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Kinterova
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburská 89, 277 21 Liběchov, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Malik
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Daniela M Zeitler
- RNA Biology, Biochemistry Center Regensburg, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Filip Horvat
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic.,Bioinformatics Group, Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jiri Kanka
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburská 89, 277 21 Liběchov, Czech Republic
| | - Gunter Meister
- RNA Biology, Biochemistry Center Regensburg, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Petr Svoboda
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
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Tiwari MD, Zeitler DM, Meister G, Wodarz A. Molecular profiling of stem cell-like female germ line cells in Drosophila delineates networks important for stemness and differentiation. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio.046789. [PMID: 31649115 PMCID: PMC6899027 DOI: 10.1242/bio.046789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cells can self-renew and produce daughter cells destined for differentiation. The precise control of the balance between these two outcomes is essential to ensure tissue homeostasis and to prevent uncontrolled proliferation resulting in tumor formation. As self-renewal and differentiation are likely to be controlled by different gene expression programs, unraveling the underlying gene regulatory networks is crucial for understanding the molecular logic of this system. In this study, we have characterized by next generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) the transcriptome of germline stem cell (GSC)-like cells isolated from bag of marbles (bam) mutant Drosophila ovaries and compared it to the transcriptome of germ line cells isolated from wild-type ovaries. We have complemented this dataset by utilizing an RNA-immunoprecipitation strategy to identify transcripts bound to the master differentiation factor Bam. Protein complex enrichment analysis on these combined datasets allows us to delineate known and novel networks essential for GSC maintenance and differentiation. Further comparative transcriptomics illustrates similarities between GSCs and primordial germ cells and provides a molecular footprint of the stem cell state. Our study represents a useful resource for functional studies on stem cell maintenance and differentiation. Summary: Fruit fly germline stem cell differentiation is accompanied by major changes of the transcriptome that may be regulated at the post-transcriptional level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu D Tiwari
- Molecular Cell Biology, Institute I for Anatomy, University of Cologne Medical School, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Köln, Germany .,Cluster of Excellence - Cellular stress response in aging-associated diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany.,Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Daniela M Zeitler
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry (RCB), University of Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Gunter Meister
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry (RCB), University of Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Wodarz
- Molecular Cell Biology, Institute I for Anatomy, University of Cologne Medical School, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Köln, Germany .,Cluster of Excellence - Cellular stress response in aging-associated diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany.,Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Str. 21, 50931 Cologne, Germany
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Gust A, Jakob L, Zeitler DM, Bruckmann A, Kramm K, Willkomm S, Tinnefeld P, Meister G, Grohmann D. Site-Specific Labelling of Native Mammalian Proteins for Single-Molecule FRET Measurements. Chembiochem 2018; 19:780-783. [PMID: 29394002 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201700696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Human cells are complex entities in which molecular recognition and selection are critical for cellular processes often driven by structural changes and dynamic interactions. Biomolecules appear in different chemical states, and modifications, such as phosphorylation, affect their function. Hence, using proteins in their chemically native state in biochemical and biophysical assays is essential. Single-molecule FRET measurements allow exploration of the structure, function and dynamics of biomolecules but cannot be fully exploited for the human proteome, as a method for the site-specific coupling of organic dyes into native, non-recombinant mammalian proteins is lacking. We address this issue showing the site-specific engineering of fluorescent dyes into human proteins on the basis of bioorthogonal reactions. We show the applicability of the method to study functional and post-translationally modified proteins on the single-molecule level, among them the hitherto inaccessible human Argonaute 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Gust
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Single-Molecule Biochemistry Lab, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Leonhard Jakob
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Single-Molecule Biochemistry Lab, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Daniela M Zeitler
- Department for Biochemistry I, Biochemistry Centre University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Astrid Bruckmann
- Department for Biochemistry I, Biochemistry Centre University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kevin Kramm
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Single-Molecule Biochemistry Lab, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Willkomm
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Single-Molecule Biochemistry Lab, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Philip Tinnefeld
- Department of Chemistry and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377, München, Germany
| | - Gunter Meister
- Department for Biochemistry I, Biochemistry Centre University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Dina Grohmann
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Single-Molecule Biochemistry Lab, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
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Quévillon Huberdeau M, Zeitler DM, Hauptmann J, Bruckmann A, Fressigné L, Danner J, Piquet S, Strieder N, Engelmann JC, Jannot G, Deutzmann R, Simard MJ, Meister G. Phosphorylation of Argonaute proteins affects mRNA binding and is essential for microRNA-guided gene silencing in vivo. EMBO J 2017. [PMID: 28645918 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201696386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Argonaute proteins associate with microRNAs and are key components of gene silencing pathways. With such a pivotal role, these proteins represent ideal targets for regulatory post-translational modifications. Using quantitative mass spectrometry, we find that a C-terminal serine/threonine cluster is phosphorylated at five different residues in human and Caenorhabditis elegans In human, hyper-phosphorylation does not affect microRNA binding, localization, or cleavage activity of Ago2. However, mRNA binding is strongly affected. Strikingly, on Ago2 mutants that cannot bind microRNAs or mRNAs, the cluster remains unphosphorylated indicating a role at late stages of gene silencing. In C. elegans, the phosphorylation of the conserved cluster of ALG-1 is essential for microRNA function in vivo Furthermore, a single point mutation within the cluster is sufficient to phenocopy the loss of its complete phosphorylation. Interestingly, this mutant retains its capacity to produce and bind microRNAs and represses expression when artificially tethered to an mRNA Altogether, our data suggest that the phosphorylation state of the serine/threonine cluster is important for Argonaute-mRNA interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Quévillon Huberdeau
- St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre (L'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec), Quebec City, Québec, Canada.,Laval University Cancer Research Centre, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Daniela M Zeitler
- Biochemistry Center Regensburg (BZR), Laboratory for RNA Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Judith Hauptmann
- Biochemistry Center Regensburg (BZR), Laboratory for RNA Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Astrid Bruckmann
- Biochemistry Center Regensburg (BZR), Laboratory for RNA Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lucile Fressigné
- St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre (L'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec), Quebec City, Québec, Canada.,Laval University Cancer Research Centre, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Johannes Danner
- Biochemistry Center Regensburg (BZR), Laboratory for RNA Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sandra Piquet
- St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre (L'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec), Quebec City, Québec, Canada.,Laval University Cancer Research Centre, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Nicholas Strieder
- Department of Statistical Bioinformatics, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Julia C Engelmann
- Department of Statistical Bioinformatics, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Guillaume Jannot
- St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre (L'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec), Quebec City, Québec, Canada.,Laval University Cancer Research Centre, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Rainer Deutzmann
- Biochemistry Center Regensburg (BZR), Laboratory for RNA Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Martin J Simard
- St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre (L'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec), Quebec City, Québec, Canada .,Laval University Cancer Research Centre, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Gunter Meister
- Biochemistry Center Regensburg (BZR), Laboratory for RNA Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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