scholarly journals Chromatin and transcriptional response to loss of TBX1 in early differentiation of mouse cells

Author(s):  
Andrea Cirino ◽  
Ilaria Aurigemma ◽  
Monica Franzese ◽  
Gabriella Lania ◽  
Dario Righelli ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe T-box transcription factor TBX1 has critical roles in the cardiopharyngeal lineage and the gene is haploinsufficient in DiGeorge syndrome, a typical developmental anomaly of the pharyngeal apparatus. Despite almost two decades of research, if and how TBX1 function triggers chromatin remodeling is not known.Here, we explored genome-wide gene expression and chromatin remodeling in two independent cellular models of Tbx1 loss of function, mouse embryonic carcinoma cells P19Cl6, and mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). The results of our study revealed that the loss or knockdown of TBX1 caused extensive transcriptional changes, some of which were cell type-specific, some were in common between the two models. However, unexpectedly we observed only limited chromatin changes in both systems. In P19Cl6 cells, differentially accessible regions (DARs) were not enriched in T-BOX binding motifs; in contrast, in mESCs, 34% (n=47) of all DARs included a T-BOX binding motif and almost all of them gained accessibility in Tbx1-/- cells.In conclusion, despite a clear transcriptional response of our cell models to loss of TBX1 in early cell differentiation, chromatin changes were relatively modest.

Author(s):  
Farshad Niri ◽  
Alaina Terpstra ◽  
Kenji Rowel Quintana Lim ◽  
Heather McDermid

Chromatin remodeling complexes alter chromatin structure to control access to DNA and therefore control cellular processes such as transcription, DNA replication, and DNA repair. CECR2 is a chromatin remodeling factor that plays an important role in neural tube closure and reproduction. Loss-of-function mutations in Cecr2 result primarily in the perinatal lethal neural tube defect exencephaly, with non-penetrant mice that survive to adulthood exhibiting subfertility. CECR2 forms a complex with ISWI proteins SMARCA5 and/or SMARCA1, but further information on the structure and function of the complex is not known. We therefore have identified candidate components of the CECR2-containing remodeling factor (CERF) complex in embryonic stem (ES) cells through mass spectroscopy. Both SMARCA5 and SMARCA1 were confirmed to be present in CERF complexes in ES cells and testis. However, novel proteins CCAR2 and LUZP1 are CERF components in ES cells but not testis. This tissue specificity in mice suggests these complexes may also have functional differences. Furthermore, LUZP1, loss of which is also associated with exencephaly, appears to play a role in stabilizing the CERF complex in ES cells. Keywords: CECR2, LUZP1, CCAR2, Chromatin remodeling factor, Neural tube defects


Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 520
Author(s):  
Wenfeng Nie ◽  
Jinyu Wang

As essential structural components of ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling complex, the nucleolus-localized actin-related proteins (ARPs) play critical roles in many biological processes. Among them, ARP4 is identified as an integral subunit of chromatin remodeling complex SWR1, which is conserved in yeast, humans and plants. It was shown that RNAi mediated knock-down of Arabidopsis thaliana ARP4 (AtARP4) could affect plant development, specifically, leading to early flowering. However, so far, little is known about how ARP4 functions in the SWR1 complex in plant. Here, we identified a loss-of-function mutant of AtARP4 with a single nucleotide change from glycine to arginine, which had significantly smaller leaf size. The results from the split luciferase complementation imaging (LCI) and yeast two hybrid (Y2H) assays confirmed its physical interaction with the scaffold and catalytic subunit of SWR1 complex, photoperiod-independent early flowering 1 (PIE1). Furthermore, mutation of AtARP4 caused altered transcription response of hundreds of genes, in which the number of up-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was much larger than those down-regulated. Although most DEGs in atarp4 are related to plant defense and response to hormones such as salicylic acid, overall, it has less overlapping with other swr1 mutants and the hta9 hta11 double-mutant. In conclusion, our results reveal that AtARP4 is important for plant growth and such an effect is likely attributed to its repression on gene expression, typically at defense-related loci, thus providing some evidence for the coordination of plant growth and defense, while the regulatory patterns and mechanisms are distinctive from other SWR1 complex components.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Donghong Zhang ◽  
Jinfeng Ning ◽  
Imoh Okon ◽  
Xiaoxu Zheng ◽  
Ganesh Satyanarayana ◽  
...  

AbstractOncogenic KRAS mutations combined with the loss of the LKB1 tumor-suppressor gene (KL) are strongly associated with aggressive forms of lung cancer. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) in mRNA is a crucial epigenetic modification that controls cancer self-renewal and progression. However, the regulation and role of m6A modification in this cancer are unclear. We found that decreased m6A levels correlated with the disease progression and poor survival for KL patients. The correlation was mediated by a special increase in ALKBH5 (AlkB family member 5) levels, an m6A demethylase. ALKBH5 gain- or loss-of function could effectively reverse LKB1 regulated cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration of KRAS-mutated lung cancer cells. Mechanistically, LKB1 loss upregulated ALKBH5 expression by DNA hypermethylation of the CTCF-binding motif on the ALKBH5 promoter, which inhibited CTCF binding but enhanced histone modifications, including H3K4me3, H3K9ac, and H3K27ac. This effect could successfully be rescued by LKB1 expression. ALKBH5 demethylation of m6A stabilized oncogenic drivers, such as SOX2, SMAD7, and MYC, through a pathway dependent on YTHDF2, an m6A reader protein. The above findings were confirmed in clinical KRAS-mutated lung cancer patients. We conclude that loss of LKB1 promotes ALKBH5 transcription by a DNA methylation mechanism, reduces m6A modification, and increases the stability of m6A target oncogenes, thus contributing to aggressive phenotypes of KRAS-mutated lung cancer.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Narendra Pratap Singh ◽  
Bony De Kumar ◽  
Ariel Paulson ◽  
Mark E. Parrish ◽  
Carrie Scott ◽  
...  

Knowledge of the diverse DNA binding specificities of transcription factors is important for understanding their specific regulatory functions in animal development and evolution. We have examined the genome-wide binding properties of the mouse HOXB1 protein in embryonic stem cells differentiated into neural fates. Unexpectedly, only a small number of HOXB1 bound regions (7%) correlate with binding of the known HOX cofactors PBX and MEIS. In contrast, 22% of the HOXB1 binding peaks display co-occupancy with the transcriptional repressor REST. Analyses revealed that co-binding of HOXB1 with PBX correlates with active histone marks and high levels of expression, while co-occupancy with REST correlates with repressive histone marks and repression of the target genes. Analysis of HOXB1 bound regions uncovered enrichment of a novel 15 base pair HOXB1 binding motif HB1RE (HOXB1 response element). In vitro template binding assays showed that HOXB1, PBX1, and MEIS can bind to this motif. In vivo, this motif is sufficient for direct expression of a reporter gene and over-expression of HOXB1 selectively represses this activity. Our analyses suggest that HOXB1 has evolved an association with REST in gene regulation and the novel HB1RE motif contributes to HOXB1 function in part through a repressive role in gene expression.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Secchi ◽  
Paola Benaglio ◽  
Francesca Mulas ◽  
Martina Belli ◽  
Dwayne Stupack ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Adult granulosa cell tumor (aGCT) is a rare type of stromal cell malignant cancer of the ovary characterized by elevated estrogen levels. aGCTs ubiquitously harbor a somatic mutation in FOXL2 gene, Cys134Trp (c.402C < G); however, the general molecular effect of this mutation and its putative pathogenic role in aGCT tumorigenesis is not completely understood. We previously studied the role of FOXL2C134W, its partner SMAD3 and its antagonist FOXO1 in cellular models of aGCT. Methods In this work, seeking more comprehensive profiling of FOXL2C134W transcriptomic effects, we performed an RNA-seq analysis comparing the effect of FOXL2WT/SMAD3 and FOXL2C134W/SMAD3 overexpression in an established human GC line (HGrC1), which is not luteinized, and bears normal alleles of FOXL2. Results Our data shows that FOXL2C134W/SMAD3 overexpression alters the expression of 717 genes. These genes include known and novel FOXL2 targets (TGFB2, SMARCA4, HSPG2, MKI67, NFKBIA) and are enriched for neoplastic pathways (Proteoglycans in Cancer, Chromatin remodeling, Apoptosis, Tissue Morphogenesis, Tyrosine Kinase Receptors). We additionally expressed the FOXL2 antagonistic Forkhead protein, FOXO1. Surprisingly, overexpression of FOXO1 mitigated 40% of the altered genome-wide effects specifically related to FOXL2C134W, suggesting it can be a new target for aGCT treatment. Conclusions Our transcriptomic data provide novel insights into potential genes (FOXO1 regulated) that could be used as biomarkers of efficacy in aGCT patients.


Author(s):  
Ane Iturbide ◽  
Mayra L. Ruiz Tejeda Segura ◽  
Camille Noll ◽  
Kenji Schorpp ◽  
Ina Rothenaigner ◽  
...  

AbstractTotipotent cells hold enormous potential for regenerative medicine. Thus, the development of cellular models recapitulating totipotent-like features is of paramount importance. Cells resembling the totipotent cells of early embryos arise spontaneously in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell cultures. Such ‘2-cell-like-cells’ (2CLCs) recapitulate 2-cell-stage features and display expanded cell potential. Here, we used 2CLCs to perform a small-molecule screen to identify new pathways regulating the 2-cell-stage program. We identified retinoids as robust inducers of 2CLCs and the retinoic acid (RA)-signaling pathway as a key component of the regulatory circuitry of totipotent cells in embryos. Using single-cell RNA-seq, we reveal the transcriptional dynamics of 2CLC reprogramming and show that ES cells undergo distinct cellular trajectories in response to RA. Importantly, endogenous RA activity in early embryos is essential for zygotic genome activation and developmental progression. Overall, our data shed light on the gene regulatory networks controlling cellular plasticity and the totipotency program.


2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (38) ◽  
pp. 13213-13223
Author(s):  
Sergio Attanasio ◽  
Rosa Ferriero ◽  
Gwladys Gernoux ◽  
Rossella De Cegli ◽  
Annamaria Carissimo ◽  
...  

α1-Antitrypsin (AAT) encoded by the SERPINA1 gene is an acute-phase protein synthesized in the liver and secreted into the circulation. Its primary role is to protect lung tissue by inhibiting neutrophil elastase. The Z allele of SERPINA1 encodes a mutant AAT, named ATZ, that changes the protein structure and leads to its misfolding and polymerization, which cause endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and liver disease through a gain-of-function toxic mechanism. Hepatic retention of ATZ results in deficiency of one of the most important circulating proteinase inhibitors and predisposes to early-onset emphysema through a loss-of-function mechanism. The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the liver disease are not completely understood. C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), a transcription factor induced by ER stress, was found among the most up-regulated genes in livers of PiZ mice that express ATZ and in human livers of patients homozygous for the Z allele. Compared with controls, juvenile PiZ/Chop−/− mice showed reduced hepatic ATZ and a transcriptional response indicative of decreased ER stress by RNA-Seq analysis. Livers of PiZ/Chop−/− mice also showed reduced SERPINA1 mRNA levels. By chromatin immunoprecipitations and luciferase reporter–based transfection assays, CHOP was found to up-regulate SERPINA1 cooperating with c-JUN, which was previously shown to up-regulate SERPINA1, thus aggravating hepatic accumulation of ATZ. Increased CHOP levels were detected in diseased livers of children homozygous for the Z allele. In summary, CHOP and c-JUN up-regulate SERPINA1 transcription and play an important role in hepatic disease by increasing the burden of proteotoxic ATZ, particularly in the pediatric population.


eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy T Ku ◽  
Timothy M Shaver ◽  
Ajay S Rao ◽  
Jeffrey M Howard ◽  
Christine N Rodriguez ◽  
...  

The transcription factor TCF7L1 is an embryonic stem cell signature gene that is upregulated in multiple aggressive cancer types, but its role in skin tumorigenesis has not yet been defined. Here we document TCF7L1 upregulation in skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and demonstrate that TCF7L1 overexpression increases tumor incidence, tumor multiplicity, and malignant progression in the chemically induced mouse model of skin SCC. Additionally, we show that downregulation of TCF7L1 and its paralogue TCF7L2 reduces tumor growth in a xenograft model of human skin SCC. Using separation-of-function mutants, we show that TCF7L1 promotes tumor growth, enhances cell migration, and overrides oncogenic RAS-induced senescence independently of its interaction with β-catenin. Through transcriptome profiling and combined gain- and loss-of-function studies, we identified LCN2 as a major downstream effector of TCF7L1 that drives tumor growth. Our findings establish a tumor-promoting role for TCF7L1 in skin and elucidate the mechanisms underlying its tumorigenic capacity.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroko Nomaru ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
Christopher De Bono ◽  
Dario Righelli ◽  
Andrea Cirino ◽  
...  

AbstractThe poles of the heart and branchiomeric muscles of the face and neck are formed from the cardiopharyngeal mesoderm (CPM) within the pharyngeal apparatus. The formation of the cardiac outflow tract and branchiomeric muscles are disrupted in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS), due to haploinsufficiency of TBX1, encoding a T-box transcription factor. Here, using single cell RNA-sequencing, we identified a multilineage primed population (MLP) within the CPM, marked by the Tbx1 lineage, which has bipotent properties to form cardiac and skeletal muscle cells. The MLPs are localized within the nascent mesoderm of the caudal lateral pharyngeal apparatus and provide a continuous source of progenitors that undergo TBX1-dependent progression towards maturation. Tbx1 also regulates the balance between MLP maintenance and maturation while restricting ectopic non-mesodermal gene expression. We further show that TBX1 confers this balance by direct regulation of MLP enriched genes and downstream pathways, partly through altering chromatin accessibility. Our study thus uncovers a new cell population and reveals novel mechanisms by which Tbx1 directs the development of the pharyngeal apparatus, which is profoundly altered in 22q11.2DS.


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