scholarly journals Transcription factor-based gene therapy to treat glioblastoma through direct neuronal conversion

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Wang ◽  
Zifei Pei ◽  
Aasma Hossain ◽  
Yuting Bai ◽  
Gong Chen
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Glioblastoma Cells ◽  
Alternative Approach ◽  
Cell Conversion ◽  
Neuronal Genes ◽  
Neuronal Conversion

AbstractGlioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent and aggressive adult primary cancer in the central nervous system (CNS). Therapeutic approaches for glioblastoma are under intense investigation, such as the emerging immunotherapy, but so far only marginal progress has been made due to the heterogeneity and highly invasive nature of glioblastoma. Here, we propose an alternative approach to tackle GBM through reprogramming proliferative GBM cells into non-proliferative neurons. We report efficient neuronal conversion from human GBM cells by overexpressing single neural transcription factor Neurogenic differentiation 1 (NeuroD1), Neurogenin-2 (Neurog2) or Achaete-scute homolog 1 (Ascl1). Subtype characterization reveals that the majority of Neurog2- and NeuroD1-converted neurons are glutamatergic, while Ascl1 favors GABAergic neuron generation. The GBM cell-converted neurons not only express pan-neuronal markers, such as NeuN and MAP2, but also exhibit neuron-specific electrophysiological activities. We further conducted transcriptome analyses to investigate the underlying cell conversion mechanism. Our RNA-seq analyses discover that neuronal genes are activated among glioma cells after overexpression of neural transcription factors, and different signaling pathways are activated by different neural transcription factors. Importantly, the neuronal conversion of GBM cells is accompanied by significant inhibition of GBM cell proliferation in both in vitro and in vivo models. Therefore, these results suggest that GBM cells can be reprogrammed into different subtypes of neurons, leading to a potential alternative approach to treat brain tumor.SignificanceConverting dividing glioblastoma cells into non-dividing neurons may provide an innovative therapeutic approach to treat glioblastoma.HighlightsEfficient neuronal conversion of human glioblastoma cells achieved by overexpression of neural transcription factorsNeurog2- and NeuroD1-converted neurons are mostly glutamatergic, while Ascl1-converted neurons are mainly GABAergicTranscriptome analyses reveal the activation of neuronal genes after overexpression of neural transcription factors in glioblastoma cellsInhibition of cell proliferation during glioblastoma cell conversion both in vitro and in vivo

Subnuclear compartmentalization of sequence-specific transcription factors and regulation of eukaryotic gene expression

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gareth N Corry ◽  
D Alan Underhill
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Nuclear Architecture ◽  
Subnuclear Localization ◽  
Modular Structures

To date, the majority of the research regarding eukaryotic transcription factors has focused on characterizing their function primarily through in vitro methods. These studies have revealed that transcription factors are essentially modular structures, containing separate regions that participate in such activities as DNA binding, protein–protein interaction, and transcriptional activation or repression. To fully comprehend the behavior of a given transcription factor, however, these domains must be analyzed in the context of the entire protein, and in certain cases the context of a multiprotein complex. Furthermore, it must be appreciated that transcription factors function in the nucleus, where they must contend with a variety of factors, including the nuclear architecture, chromatin domains, chromosome territories, and cell-cycle-associated processes. Recent examinations of transcription factors in the nucleus have clarified the behavior of these proteins in vivo and have increased our understanding of how gene expression is regulated in eukaryotes. Here, we review the current knowledge regarding sequence-specific transcription factor compartmentalization within the nucleus and discuss its impact on the regulation of such processes as activation or repression of gene expression and interaction with coregulatory factors.Key words: transcription, subnuclear localization, chromatin, gene expression, nuclear architecture.

scholarly journals Regulation of E2F1-Dependent Gene Transcription and Apoptosis by the ETS-Related Transcription Factor GABPγ1

2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 2147-2158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludger Hauck ◽  
Rudolf G. Kaba ◽  
Martin Lipp ◽  
Rainer Dietz ◽  
Rüdiger von Harsdorf
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Pocket Proteins ◽  
Related Transcription Factor ◽  
Terminal Amino ◽  
Fate Decision

ABSTRACT The E2F family of transcription factors comprises six related members which are involved in the control of the coordinated progression through the G1/S-phase transition of cell cycle or in cell fate decision. Their activity is regulated by pocket proteins, including pRb, p107, and p130. Here we show that E2F1 directly interacts with the ETS-related transcription factor GABPγ1 in vitro and in vivo. The binding domain interacting with GABPγ1 was mapped to the C-terminal amino acids 310 to 437 of E2F1, which include its transactivation and pRb binding domain. Among the E2F family of transcription factors, the interaction with GABPγ1 is restricted to E2F1. DNA-binding E2F1 complexes containing GABPγ1 are characterized by enhanced E2F1-dependent transcriptional activity. Moreover, GABPγ1 suppresses E2F1-dependent apoptosis by mechanisms other than the inhibition of the transactivation capacity of E2F1. In summary, our results provide evidence for a novel pRb-independent mechanism regulating E2F1-dependent transcription and apoptosis.

scholarly journals Single-molecule imaging reveals the interplay between transcription factors, nucleosomes, and transcriptional bursting

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin T. Donovan ◽  
Anh Huynh ◽  
David A. Ball ◽  
Michael G. Poirier ◽  
Daniel R. Larson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Burst Size ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Single Molecule Imaging ◽  
Transcriptional Bursting

SummaryTranscription factors show rapid and reversible binding to chromatin in living cells, and transcription occurs in sporadic bursts, but how these phenomena are related is unknown. Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo single-molecule imaging approaches, we directly correlated binding of the transcription factor Gal4 with the transcriptional bursting kinetics of the Gal4 target genes GAL3 and GAL10 in living yeast cells. We find that Gal4 dwell times sets the transcriptional burst size. Gal4 dwell time depends on the affinity of the binding site and is reduced by orders of magnitude by nucleosomes. Using a novel imaging platform, we simultaneously tracked transcription factor binding and transcription at one locus, revealing the timing and correlation between Gal4 binding and transcription. Collectively, our data support a model where multiple polymerases initiate during a burst as long as the transcription factor is bound to DNA, and a burst terminates upon transcription factor dissociation.

scholarly journals Determining Aspergillus fumigatus transcription factor expression and function during invasion of the mammalian lung

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. e1009235
Author(s):  
Hong Liu ◽  
Wenjie Xu ◽  
Vincent M. Bruno ◽  
Quynh T. Phan ◽  
Norma V. Solis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Transcriptional Profiling ◽  
Transcriptional Response ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Transcription Factor Genes ◽  
And Function

To gain a better understanding of the transcriptional response of Aspergillus fumigatus during invasive pulmonary infection, we used a NanoString nCounter to assess the transcript levels of 467 A. fumigatus genes during growth in the lungs of immunosuppressed mice. These genes included ones known to respond to diverse environmental conditions and those encoding most transcription factors in the A. fumigatus genome. We found that invasive growth in vivo induces a unique transcriptional profile as the organism responds to nutrient limitation and attack by host phagocytes. This in vivo transcriptional response is largely mimicked by in vitro growth in Aspergillus minimal medium that is deficient in nitrogen, iron, and/or zinc. From the transcriptional profiling data, we selected 9 transcription factor genes that were either highly expressed or strongly up-regulated during in vivo growth. Deletion mutants were constructed for each of these genes and assessed for virulence in mice. Two transcription factor genes were found to be required for maximal virulence. One was rlmA, which is required for the organism to achieve maximal fungal burden in the lung. The other was sltA, which regulates of the expression of multiple secondary metabolite gene clusters and mycotoxin genes independently of laeA. Using deletion and overexpression mutants, we determined that the attenuated virulence of the ΔsltA mutant is due in part to decreased expression aspf1, which specifies a ribotoxin, but is not mediated by reduced expression of the fumigaclavine gene cluster or the fumagillin-pseruotin supercluster. Thus, in vivo transcriptional profiling focused on transcription factors genes provides a facile approach to identifying novel virulence regulators.

scholarly journals De-Ubiquitinating Enzymes USP21 Regulate MAPK1 Expression by Binding to Transcription Factor GATA3 to Regulate Tumor Growth and Cell Stemness of Gastric Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingqu Guo ◽  
Dike Shi ◽  
Lele Lin ◽  
Hongbo Li ◽  
Yunhai Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Regulatory Mechanism ◽  
Malignant Progression ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
Deubiquitinating Enzymes

USP21 is a kind of deubiquitinating enzymes involved in the malignant progression of various cancers, while its role in gastric cancer (GC) and the specific molecular mechanism are still unclear. This study probed into the function of USP21 in vitro and in vivo, and discussed the regulatory mechanism of USP21 in GC in vitro. We reported that USP21 promoted GC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and stemness in vitro, and regulated GC tumor growth and cell stemness in mice in vivo. USP21 stabilized the expression of GATA3 by binding to GATA3. Besides, GATA3 also regulated the expression of MAPK1 at the transcriptional level. A series of in vitro experiments testified that USP21 regulated the expression of MAPK1 by binding to transcription factor GATA3, thereby regulating the tumor growth and cell stemness of GC. Overall, this study identified a new USP21/GATA3/MAPK1 axis, which plays a pivotal role in promoting the malignant progression of GC and might provide a potential target for treatment.

GATA-1 Forms Distinct Activating and Repressive Complexes in Erythroid Cells.

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 356-356
Author(s):  
John Strouboulis ◽  
Patrick Rodriguez ◽  
Edgar Bonte ◽  
Jeroen Krijgsveld ◽  
Katarzyna Kolodziej ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Chromatin Remodeling ◽  
Gene Activation ◽  
Erythroid Differentiation ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Erythroid Cells ◽  
In Erythroid Cells

Abstract GATA-1 is a key transcription factor essential for the differentiation of the erythroid, megakaryocytic and eosinophilic lineages. GATA-1 functions in erythropoiesis involve lineage-specific gene activation and repression of early hematopoietic transcription programs. GATA-1 is known to interact with other transcription factors, such as FOG-1, TAL-1 and Sp1 and also with CBP/p300 and the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex in vitro. Despite this information the molecular basis of its essential functions in erythropoiesis remains unclear. We show here that GATA-1 is mostly present in a high (> 670kDa) molecular weight complex that appears to be dynamic during erythroid differentiation. In order to characterize the GATA-1 complex(es) from erythroid cells, we employed an in vivo biotinylation tagging approach in mouse erythroleukemic (MEL) cells1. Briefly, this involved the fusion of a small (23aa) peptide tag to GATA-1 and its specific, efficient biotinylation by the bacterial BirA biotin ligase which is co-expressed with tagged GATA-1 in MEL cells. Nuclear extracts expressing biotinylated tagged GATA-1 were bound directly to streptavidin beads and co-purifying proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. In addition to the known GATA-1-interacting transcription factors FOG-1, TAL-1 and Ldb-1, we describe novel interactions with the essential hematopoietic transcription factor Gfi-1b and the chromatin remodeling complexes MeCP1 and ACF/WCRF. Significantly, GATA-1 interaction with the repressive MeCP1 complex requires FOG-1. We also show in erythroid cells that GATA-1, FOG-1 and MeCP1 are stably bound to repressed genes representing early hematopoietic (e.g. GATA-2) or alternative lineage-specific (e.g. eosinophilic) transcription programs, whereas the GATA-1/Gfi1b complex is bound to repressed genes involved in cell proliferation. In contrast, GATA-1 and TAL-1 are bound to the active erythroid-specific EKLF gene. Our findings on GATA-1 complexes provide novel insight as to the critical roles that GATA-1 plays in many aspects of erythropoiesis by revealing the GATA-1 partners in the execution of specific functions.

scholarly journals Placenta to cartilage: direct conversion of human placenta to chondrocytes with transformation by defined factors

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (18) ◽  
pp. 3511-3521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryuga Ishii ◽  
Daisuke Kami ◽  
Masashi Toyoda ◽  
Hatsune Makino ◽  
Satoshi Gojo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Human Fibroblasts ◽  
Direct Conversion ◽  
Cellular Reprogramming ◽  
Irreversible Processes ◽  
Cell Based Therapy ◽  
Decidual Cells ◽  
Cell Conversion

Cellular differentiation and lineage commitment are considered to be robust and irreversible processes during development. Recent work has shown that mouse and human fibroblasts can be reprogrammed to a pluripotent state with a combination of four transcription factors. We hypothesized that combinatorial expression of chondrocyte-specific transcription factors could directly convert human placental cells into chondrocytes. Starting from a pool of candidate genes, we identified a combination of only five genes (5F pool)—BCL6, T (also called BRACHYURY), c-MYC, MITF, and BAF60C (also called SMARCD3)—that rapidly and efficiently convert postnatal human chorion and decidual cells into chondrocytes. The cells generated expressed multiple cartilage-specific genes, such as Collagen type II α1, LINK PROTEIN-1, and AGGRECAN, and exhibited characteristics of cartilage both in vivo and in vitro. Expression of the endogenous genes for T and MITF was initiated, implying that the cell conversion is due to not only the forced expression of the transgenes, but also to cellular reprogramming by the transgenes. This direct conversion system from noncartilage tissue to cartilaginous tissue is a substantial advance toward understanding cartilage development, cell-based therapy, and oncogenesis of chondrocytes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document