1
|
Khatun A, Wu X, Qi F, Gai K, Kharel A, Kudek MR, Fraser L, Ceicko A, Kasmani MY, Majnik A, Burns R, Chen Y, Salzman N, Taparowsky EJ, Fang D, Williams CB, Cui W. BATF is Required for Treg Homeostasis and Stability to Prevent Autoimmune Pathology. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2023; 10:e2206692. [PMID: 37587835 PMCID: PMC10558681 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206692] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are inevitable to prevent deleterious immune responses to self and commensal microorganisms. Treg function requires continuous expression of the transcription factor (TF) FOXP3 and is divided into two major subsets: resting (rTregs) and activated (aTregs). Continuous T cell receptor (TCR) signaling plays a vital role in the differentiation of aTregs from their resting state, and in their immune homeostasis. The process by which Tregs differentiate, adapt tissue specificity, and maintain stable phenotypic expression at the transcriptional level is still inconclusivei. In this work, the role of BATF is investigated, which is induced in response to TCR stimulation in naïve T cells and during aTreg differentiation. Mice lacking BATF in Tregs developed multiorgan autoimmune pathology. As a transcriptional regulator, BATF is required for Treg differentiation, homeostasis, and stabilization of FOXP3 expression in different lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues. Epigenetically, BATF showed direct regulation of Treg-specific genes involved in differentiation, maturation, and tissue accumulation. Most importantly, FOXP3 expression and Treg stability require continuous BATF expression in Tregs, as it regulates demethylation and accessibility of the CNS2 region of the Foxp3 locus. Considering its role in Treg stability, BATF should be considered an important therapeutic target in autoimmune disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Achia Khatun
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
- Versiti Blood Research InstituteVersiti WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
| | - Xiaopeng Wu
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
- Versiti Blood Research InstituteVersiti WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
| | - Fu Qi
- Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City2401 Gillham RdKansas CityMO64108USA
| | - Kexin Gai
- Department of PathologyFeinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University303 E Chicago AveChicagoIL60611USA
| | - Arjun Kharel
- Department of PathologyFeinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University303 E Chicago AveChicagoIL60611USA
| | - Matthew R. Kudek
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
- Versiti Blood Research InstituteVersiti WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
- Department of PediatricsMedical College of Wisconsin8701 Watertown Plank RoadMilwaukeeWI53226USA
| | - Lisa Fraser
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
| | - Ashley Ceicko
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
| | - Moujtaba Y. Kasmani
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
- Versiti Blood Research InstituteVersiti WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
| | - Amber Majnik
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
- Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City2401 Gillham RdKansas CityMO64108USA
| | - Robert Burns
- Versiti Blood Research InstituteVersiti WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
| | - Yi‐Guang Chen
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
- Max McGee National Research Center for Juvenile DiabetesMedical College of Wisconsin8701 Watertown Plank RoadMilwaukeeWI53226USA
| | - Nita Salzman
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
- Department of PediatricsMedical College of Wisconsin8701 Watertown Plank RoadMilwaukeeWI53226USA
| | | | - Dayu Fang
- Department of PathologyFeinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University303 E Chicago AveChicagoIL60611USA
| | - Calvin B. Williams
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
- Department of PediatricsMedical College of Wisconsin8701 Watertown Plank RoadMilwaukeeWI53226USA
| | - Weiguo Cui
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
- Versiti Blood Research InstituteVersiti WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
- Department of PathologyFeinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern University303 E Chicago AveChicagoIL60611USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kharel A, Shen J, Brown R, Chen Y, Nguyen C, Alson D, Bluemn T, Fan J, Gai K, Zhang B, Kudek M, Zhu N, Cui W. Loss of PBAF promotes expansion and effector differentiation of CD8 + T cells during chronic viral infection and cancer. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112649. [PMID: 37330910 PMCID: PMC10592487 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112649] [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: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
During chronic viral infection and cancer, it has been established that a subset of progenitor CD8+ T cells continuously gives rise to terminally exhausted cells and cytotoxic effector cells. Although multiple transcriptional programs governing the bifurcated differentiation trajectories have been previously studied, little is known about the chromatin structure changes regulating CD8+ T cell-fate decision. In this study, we demonstrate that the chromatin remodeling complex PBAF restrains expansion and promotes exhaustion of CD8+ T cells during chronic viral infection and cancer. Mechanistically, transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses reveal the role of PBAF in maintaining chromatin accessibility of multiple genetic pathways and transcriptional programs to restrain proliferation and promote T cell exhaustion. Harnessing this knowledge, we demonstrate that perturbation of PBAF complex constrained exhaustion and promoted expansion of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells resulting in antitumor immunity in a preclinical melanoma model, implicating PBAF as an attractive target for cancer immunotherapeutic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arjun Kharel
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jian Shen
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ryan Brown
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Yao Chen
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Christine Nguyen
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Donia Alson
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Theresa Bluemn
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Jie Fan
- Department of Medicine/Hematology and Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kexin Gai
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Medicine/Hematology and Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Matthew Kudek
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Nan Zhu
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Weiguo Cui
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Courtney AJ, Kamei M, Ferraro AR, Gai K, He Q, Honda S, Lewis ZA. Normal Patterns of Histone H3K27 Methylation Require the Histone Variant H2A.Z in Neurospora crassa. Genetics 2020; 216:51-66. [PMID: 32651262 PMCID: PMC7463285 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.120.303442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurospora crassa contains a minimal Polycomb repression system, which provides rich opportunities to explore Polycomb-mediated repression across eukaryotes and enables genetic studies that can be difficult in plant and animal systems. Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 is a multi-subunit complex that deposits mono-, di-, and trimethyl groups on lysine 27 of histone H3, and trimethyl H3K27 is a molecular marker of transcriptionally repressed facultative heterochromatin. In mouse embryonic stem cells and multiple plant species, H2A.Z has been found to be colocalized with H3K27 methylation. H2A.Z is required for normal H3K27 methylation in these experimental systems, though the regulatory mechanisms are not well understood. We report here that Neurospora crassa mutants lacking H2A.Z or SWR-1, the ATP-dependent histone variant exchanger, exhibit a striking reduction in levels of H3K27 methylation. RNA-sequencing revealed downregulation of eed, encoding a subunit of PRC2, in an hH2Az mutant compared to wild type, and overexpression of EED in a ΔhH2Az;Δeed background restored most H3K27 methylation. Reduced eed expression leads to region-specific losses of H3K27 methylation, suggesting that differential dependence on EED concentration is critical for normal H3K27 methylation at certain regions in the genome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abigail J Courtney
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Masayuki Kamei
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Aileen R Ferraro
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Kexin Gai
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qun He
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shinji Honda
- Division of Chromosome Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, 910-1193, Japan
| | - Zachary A Lewis
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhao X, Shao P, Gai K, Li F, Shan Q, Xue HH. β-catenin and γ-catenin are dispensable for T lymphocytes and AML leukemic stem cells. eLife 2020; 9:55360. [PMID: 32820720 PMCID: PMC7462606 DOI: 10.7554/elife.55360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The β-catenin transcriptional coregulator is involved in various biological and pathological processes; however, its requirements in hematopoietic cells remain controversial. We re-targeted the Ctnnb1 gene locus to generate a true β-catenin-null mutant mouse strain. Ablation of β-catenin alone, or in combination with its homologue γ-catenin, did not affect thymocyte maturation, survival or proliferation. Deficiency in β/γ-catenin did not detectably affect differentiation of CD4+T follicular helper cells or that of effector and memory CD8+ cytotoxic cells in response to acute viral infection. In an MLL-AF9 AML mouse model, genetic deletion of β-catenin, or even all four Tcf/Lef family transcription factors that interact with β-catenin, did not affect AML onset in primary recipients, or the ability of leukemic stem cells (LSCs) in propagating AML in secondary recipients. Our data thus clarify on a long-standing controversy and indicate that β-catenin is dispensable for T cells and AML LSCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhao
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack University Medical Center, Nutley, United States
| | - Peng Shao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States
| | - Kexin Gai
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack University Medical Center, Nutley, United States
| | - Fengyin Li
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Qiang Shan
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack University Medical Center, Nutley, United States
| | - Hai-Hui Xue
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack University Medical Center, Nutley, United States.,New Jersey Veterans Affairs Health Care System, East Orange, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Xing S, Gai K, Li X, Shao P, Zeng Z, Zhao X, Zhao X, Chen X, Paradee WJ, Meyerholz DK, Peng W, Xue HH. Tcf1 and Lef1 are required for the immunosuppressive function of regulatory T cells. J Exp Med 2019; 216:847-866. [PMID: 30837262 PMCID: PMC6446865 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20182010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [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: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tcf1 and Lef1 are underexpressed in T reg cells compared with conventional CD4+ T cells. Xing et al. demonstrate that genetic ablation of both factors impairs immunosuppressive function of T reg cells and leads to spontaneous multi-organ autoimmunity. Tcf1 and Lef1 have versatile functions in regulating T cell development and differentiation, but intrinsic requirements for these factors in regulatory T (T reg) cells remain to be unequivocally defined. Specific ablation of Tcf1 and Lef1 in T reg cells resulted in spontaneous multi-organ autoimmunity that became more evident with age. Tcf1/Lef1-deficient T regs showed reduced protection against experimentally induced colitis, indicative of diminished immuno-suppressive capacity. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that Tcf1 and Lef1 were responsible for positive regulation of a subset of T reg–overrepresented signature genes such as Ikzf4 and Izumo1r. Unexpectedly, Tcf1 and Lef1 were necessary for restraining expression of cytotoxic CD8+ effector T cell–associated genes in T reg cells, including Prdm1 and Ifng. Tcf1 ChIP-seq revealed substantial overlap between Tcf1 and Foxp3 binding peaks in the T reg cell genome, with Tcf1-Foxp3 cooccupancy observed at key T reg signature and cytotoxic effector genes. Our data collectively indicate that Tcf1 and Lef1 are critical for sustaining T reg suppressive functions and preventing loss of self-tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaojun Xing
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Department of Pathogen Biology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Kexin Gai
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Physics, The George Washington University, Washington DC
| | - Peng Shao
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Zhouhao Zeng
- Department of Physics, The George Washington University, Washington DC
| | - Xudong Zhao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Xia Chen
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | | | - David K Meyerholz
- Department of Pathology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Weiqun Peng
- Department of Physics, The George Washington University, Washington DC
| | - Hai-Hui Xue
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA .,Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, IA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Dong Q, Wang Y, Qi S, Gai K, He Q, Wang Y. Histone variant H2A.Z antagonizes the positive effect of the transcriptional activator CPC1 to regulate catalase-3 expression under normal and oxidative stress conditions. Free Radic Biol Med 2018; 121:136-148. [PMID: 29738831 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
In eukaryotes, deposition of the histone variant H2A.Z into nucleosomes through the chromatin remodeling complex, SWR1, is a crucial step in modulating gene transcription. Recently, H2A.Z has been shown to control the expression of responsive genes, but the underlying mechanism of how H2A.Z responds to physiological stimuli is not well understood. Here, we reveal that, in Neurospora crassa, H2A.Z is a negative regulator of catalase-3 gene, which is responsible for resistance to oxidative stress. H2A.Z represses cat-3 gene expression through direct incorporation at cat-3 locus in a SWR1 complex dependent pathway. Notably, loss of H2A.Z or SWR1 subunits leads to increased binding of a transcription factor, CPC1, at cat-3 locus. Additionally, introduction of plasmids containing gene encoding H2A.Z or SWR1 complex subunits into wild-type strains decreased CAT-3 expression, indicating that H2A.Z counteracts the positive effect of CPC1 to achieve low level cat-3 expression under non-inductive condition. Furthermore, upon oxidative stress, H2A.Z is rapidly evicted from cat-3 locus for the recruitment of CPC1, resulting in robust and full cat-3 gene expression in response to external stimuli. Collectively, this study strongly demonstrates that H2A.Z antagonizes the function of transcription factor to regulate responsive gene transcription under normal conditions and to poise for gene full activation under oxidative stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qing Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yajun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shaohua Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Kexin Gai
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qun He
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Gai K, Cao X, Dong Q, Ding Z, Wei Y, Liu Y, Liu X, He Q. Transcriptional repression of frequency by the IEC-1-INO80 complex is required for normal Neurospora circadian clock function. PLoS Genet 2017; 13:e1006732. [PMID: 28403234 PMCID: PMC5406019 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhythmic activation and repression of the frequency (frq) gene are essential for normal function of the Neurospora circadian clock. WHITE COLLAR (WC) complex, the positive element of the Neurospora circadian system, is responsible for stimulation of frq transcription. We report that a C2H2 finger domain-containing protein IEC-1 and its associated chromatin remodeling complex INO80 play important roles in normal Neurospora circadian clock function. In iec-1KO strains, circadian rhythms are abolished, and the frq transcript levels are increased compared to that of the wild-type strain. Similar results are observed in mutant strains of the INO80 subunits. Furthermore, ChIP data show that recruitment of the INO80 complex to the frq promoter is IEC-1-dependent. WC-mediated transcription of frq contributes to the rhythmic binding of the INO80 complex at the frq promoter. As demonstrated by ChIP analysis, the INO80 complex is required for the re-establishment of the dense chromatin environment at the frq promoter. In addition, WC-independent frq transcription is present in ino80 mutants. Altogether, our data indicate that the INO80 complex suppresses frq transcription by re-assembling the suppressive mechanisms at the frq promoter after transcription of frq. Circadian clocks organize inner physiology to anticipate changes in the external environment. These clocks are controlled by the oscillation of central clock proteins which form the central oscillator. Transcriptional regulation is a critical step in the regulation of the oscillation of these core proteins. In eukaryotes, chromatin remodeling is a common mechanism to regulate gene transcription by conquering or establishing nucleosomal barriers for the transcription machinery. Here, we showed that a C2H2 finger domain-containing protein IEC-1 and its associated chromatin remodeling complex INO80 are required for transcriptional repression of the core clock gene frq in the Neurospora circadian system. Moreover, the activator WHITE COLLAR (WC) complex is responsible for the transcriptional activation of frq; thus, considering the different timing of the transcriptional activation and suppression of frq, there must be a mechanism that coordinates the two opposite processes. We also demonstrated that the WC-mediated open state of the frq promoter facilitates the binding of INO80 to this region, which prepares for subsequent transcriptional suppression. Collectively, our data provide novel insights into the regulation of the frq gene and the circadian clock.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Gai
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuemei Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaolan Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yashang Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yingchun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- Department of Physiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Qun He
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wang Y, Dong Q, Ding Z, Gai K, Han X, Kaleri FN, He Q, Wang Y. Regulation of Neurospora Catalase-3 by global heterochromatin formation and its proximal heterochromatin region. Free Radic Biol Med 2016; 99:139-152. [PMID: 27458122 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2015] [Revised: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Catalase-3 (CAT-3) constitutes the main catalase activity in growing hyphae of Neurospora crassa, and its activity increases during exponential growth or is induced under different stress conditions. Although extensive progress has been made to identify catalase regulators, the regulation mechanism of CAT-3 at the chromatin level still remains unclear. Here, we aim at investigating the molecular regulation mechanisms of cat-3 at the chromatin level. We found that CAT-3 protein levels increased in mutants defective in proper global heterochromatin formation. Bioinformatics analysis identified a 5-kb AT-rich sequence adjacent to the cat-3 promoter as a heterochromatin region because of its enrichment of H3K9me3 and HP1. Expression of CAT-3 was induced by H2O2 treatment in wild-type and such change occurred along with the accumulation of histone H3 acetylation at 5-kb heterochromatin boundaries and cat-3 locus, but without alteration of its H3K9me3 repressive modification. Moreover, disruption of 5-kb heterochromatin region results in elevated cat-3 expression, and higher levels of cat-3 expression were promoted by the combination with global heterochromatin defective mutants. Interestingly, the molecular weight and activity bands of CAT-3 protein are different in heterochromatin defective mutants compared with those in wild-type, suggesting that its N-terminal processing and modification may be altered. Our study indicates that the local chromatin structure creates a heterochromatin repressive environment to repress nearby gene expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qing Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhaolan Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Kexin Gai
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaoyun Han
- College of Life Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Farah Naz Kaleri
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qun He
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Sun G, Zhou Z, Liu X, Gai K, Liu Q, Cha J, Kaleri FN, Wang Y, He Q. Suppression of WHITE COLLAR-independent frequency Transcription by Histone H3 Lysine 36 Methyltransferase SET-2 Is Necessary for Clock Function in Neurospora. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:11055-63. [PMID: 27002152 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.711333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The circadian system in Neurospora is based on the transcriptional/translational feedback loops and rhythmic frequency (frq) transcription requires the WHITE COLLAR (WC) complex. Our previous paper has shown that frq could be transcribed in a WC-independent pathway in a strain lacking the histone H3K36 methyltransferase, SET-2 (su(var)3-9-enhancer-of-zeste-trithorax-2) (1), but the mechanism was unclear. Here we disclose that loss of histone H3K36 methylation, due to either deletion of SET-2 or H3K36R mutation, results in arrhythmic frq transcription and loss of overt rhythmicity. Histone acetylation at frq locus increases in set-2(KO) mutant. Consistent with these results, loss of H3K36 methylation readers, histone deacetylase RPD-3 (reduced potassium dependence 3) or EAF-3 (essential SAS-related acetyltransferase-associated factor 3), also leads to hyperacetylation of histone at frq locus and WC-independent frq expression, suggesting that proper chromatin modification at frq locus is required for circadian clock operation. Furthermore, a mutant strain with three amino acid substitutions (histone H3 lysine 9, 14, and 18 to glutamine) was generated to mimic the strain with hyperacetylation state of histone H3. H3K9QK14QK18Q mutant exhibits the same defective clock phenotype as rpd-3(KO) mutant. Our results support a scenario in which H3K36 methylation is required to establish a permissive chromatin state for circadian frq transcription by maintaining proper acetylation status at frq locus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guangyan Sun
- From the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhipeng Zhou
- From the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China, and
| | - Xiao Liu
- From the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Kexin Gai
- From the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qingqing Liu
- From the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Joonseok Cha
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Farah Naz Kaleri
- From the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ying Wang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qun He
- From the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China,
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Yang S, Li W, Qi S, Gai K, Chen Y, Suo J, Cao Y, He Y, Wang Y, He Q. The highly expressed methionine synthase gene of Neurospora crassa is positively regulated by its proximal heterochromatic region. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:6183-95. [PMID: 24711369 PMCID: PMC4041435 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In Neurospora crassa, the methionine synthase gene met-8 plays a key role in methionine synthesis. In this study, we found that MET-8 protein levels were compromised in several mutants defective in proper heterochromatin formation. Bioinformatics analysis revealed a 50-kb AT-rich region adjacent to the met-8 promoter. ChIP assays confirmed that trimethylated H3K9 was enriched in this region, indicating that heterochromatin may form upstream of met-8. In an H3K9R mutant strain, the output of met-8 was dramatically reduced, similar to what we observed in mutant strains that had defective heterochromatin formation. Furthermore, the production of ectopically expressed met-8 at the his-3 locus in the absence of a normal heterochromatin environment was inefficient, whereas ectopic expression of met-8 downstream of two other heterochromatin domains was efficient. In addition, our data show that the expression of mig-6 was also controlled by an upstream 4.2-kb AT-rich region similar to that of the met-8 gene, and we demonstrate that the AT-rich regions adjacent to met-8 or mig-6 are required for their peak expression. Our study indicates that met-8 and mig-6 may represent a novel type of gene, whose expression relies on the proper formation of a nearby heterochromatin region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agro-biotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Weihua Li
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Shaohua Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Agro-biotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Kexin Gai
- State Key Laboratory of Agro-biotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yibo Chen
- Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Jingxia Suo
- State Key Laboratory of Agro-biotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yingqiong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Agro-biotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yubo He
- Beijing Zhong Guan Cun High School, Beijing 100086, China
| | - Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agro-biotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qun He
- State Key Laboratory of Agro-biotechnology and MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| |
Collapse
|