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

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Liu ◽  
Wenjie Xu ◽  
Vincent M. Bruno ◽  
Quynh T. Phan ◽  
Norma V. Solis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Invasive Aspergillosis ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Transcriptional Profiling ◽  
Transcriptional Response ◽  
Transcription Factor Genes

AbstractTo 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 governs the ability of the organism to proliferate in the lung. The other was ace1, 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 Δace1 mutant is due 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.Author summaryAlthough A. fumigatus causes the majority of cases of invasive aspergillosis, the function of most of the genes in its genome remains unknown. To identify genes encoding transcription factors that may be important for virulence, we used a NanoString nCounter to measure the mRNA levels of A. fumigatus transcription factor genes in the lungs of mice with invasive aspergillosis. The transcriptional profiling data indicate that the organism is exposed to nutrient limitation and stress during growth in the lungs, and that it responds by up-regulating genes that encode mycotoxins and secondary metabolites. In vitro, this response was most closely mimicked by growth in medium that was deficient in nitrogen, iron and/or zinc. Using the transcriptional profiling data, we identified two transcription factors that govern A. fumigatus virulence. These were RlmA, which is governs proliferation in the lung and Ace1, which controls the production of mycotoxins and secondary metabolites.

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.

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 Arsenic Directly Binds to and Activates the Yeast AP-1-Like Transcription Factor Yap8

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 913-922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nallani Vijay Kumar ◽  
Jianbo Yang ◽  
Jitesh K. Pillai ◽  
Swati Rawat ◽  
Carlos Solano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Transcriptional Response ◽  
Transcriptional Regulator ◽  
Yeast Protein ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Arsenic Tolerance ◽  
Arsenic Sensing

The AP-1-like transcription factor Yap8 is critical for arsenic tolerance in the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae. However, the mechanism by which Yap8 senses the presence of arsenic and activates transcription of detoxification genes is unknown. Here we demonstrate that Yap8 directly binds to trivalent arsenite [As(III)]in vitroandin vivoand that approximately one As(III) molecule is bound per molecule of Yap8. As(III) is coordinated by three sulfur atoms in purified Yap8, and our genetic and biochemical data identify the cysteine residues that form the binding site as Cys132, Cys137, and Cys274. As(III) binding by Yap8 does not require an additional yeast protein, and Yap8 is regulated neither at the level of localization nor at the level of DNA binding. Instead, our data are consistent with a model in which a DNA-bound form of Yap8 acts directly as an As(III) sensor. Binding of As(III) to Yap8 triggers a conformational change that in turn brings about a transcriptional response. Thus, As(III) binding to Yap8 acts as a molecular switch that converts inactive Yap8 into an active transcriptional regulator. This is the first report to demonstrate how a eukaryotic protein couples arsenic sensing to transcriptional activation.

scholarly journals Efficient Clearance of Aspergillus fumigatus in Murine Lungs by an Ultrashort Antimicrobial Lipopeptide, Palmitoyl-Lys-Ala-dAla-Lys

2008 ◽  
Vol 52 (9) ◽  
pp. 3118-3126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Vallon-Eberhard ◽  
Arik Makovitzki ◽  
Anne Beauvais ◽  
Jean-Paul Latgé ◽  
Steffen Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Aspergillosis ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
New Family ◽  
Therapeutic Properties ◽  
Survival Assay ◽  
Opportunistic Fungal Pathogen

ABSTRACT Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen responsible for invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised individuals. The inefficiency of antifungal agents and high mortality rate resulting from invasive aspergillosis remain major clinical concerns. Recently, we reported on a new family of ultrashort cationic lipopeptides active in vitro against fungi. Mode of action studies supported a membranolytic or a detergent-like effect. Here, we screened several lipopeptides in vitro for their anti-A. fumigatus activity. To investigate the therapeutic properties of the selected peptides in vivo, we challenged immunosuppressed C57BL/6 wild-type mice intranasally with DsRed-labeled A. fumigatus conidia and subsequently treated the animals locally with the lipopeptides. Confocal microscopic analysis revealed the degradation of DsRed-labeled hyphal forms and residual conidia in the lungs of the mice. The most efficient peptide was tested further using a survival assay and was found to significantly prolong the life of the treated animals, whereas no mice survived with the current standard antifungal treatment with amphotericin B. Moreover, as opposed to the drug-treated lungs, the peptide-treated lungs did not display any toxicity of the peptide. Our results highlight the potential of this family of lipopeptides for the treatment of pulmonary invasive aspergillosis.

scholarly journals Aspergillus fumigatus inhibits angiogenesis through the production of gliotoxin and other secondary metabolites

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (26) ◽  
pp. 5393-5399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronen Ben-Ami ◽  
Russell E. Lewis ◽  
Konstantinos Leventakos ◽  
Dimitrios P. Kontoyiannis
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Aspergillosis ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Capillary Tube ◽  
Umbilical Vein ◽  
Tube Formation ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Antiangiogenic Effect ◽  
Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

AbstractIn susceptible hosts, angioinvasion by Aspergillus fumigatus triggers thrombosis, hypoxia, and proinflammatory cytokine release, all of which are stimuli for angiogenesis. We sought to determine whether A fumigatus directly modulates angiogenesis. A fumigatus culture filtrates profoundly inhibited the differentiation, migration, and capillary tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro. To measure angiogenesis at the site of infection, we devised an in vivo Matrigel assay in cyclophosphamide-treated BALB/c mice with cutaneous invasive aspergillosis. Angiogenesis was significantly suppressed in Matrigel plugs implanted in A fumigatus–infected mice compared with plugs from uninfected control mice. The antiangiogenic effect of A fumigatus was completely abolished by deletion of the global regulator of secondary metabolism, laeA, and to a lesser extent by deletion of gliP, which controls gliotoxin production. Moreover, pure gliotoxin potently inhibited angiogenesis in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, overexpression of multiple angiogenesis mediator–encoding genes was observed in the lungs of cortisone-treated mice during early invasive aspergillosis, whereas gene expression returned rapidly to baseline levels in cyclophosphamide/cortisone-treated mice. Taken together, these results indicate that suppression of angiogenesis by A fumigatus both in vitro and in a neutropenic mouse model is mediated through secondary metabolite production.

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.

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 LEAFY is a pioneer transcription factor and licenses cell reprogramming to floral fate

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Run Jin ◽  
Samantha Klasfeld ◽  
Yang Zhu ◽  
Meilin Fernandez Garcia ◽  
Jun Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Chromatin Accessibility ◽  
Binding Motifs ◽  
Chromatin Remodelers ◽  
Pioneer Transcription Factor ◽  
Chromatin Reprogramming

AbstractMaster transcription factors reprogram cell fate in multicellular eukaryotes. Pioneer transcription factors have prominent roles in this process because of their ability to contact their cognate binding motifs in closed chromatin. Reprogramming is pervasive in plants, whose development is plastic and tuned by the environment, yet little is known about pioneer transcription factors in this kingdom. Here, we show that the master transcription factor LEAFY (LFY), which promotes floral fate through upregulation of the floral commitment factor APETALA1 (AP1), is a pioneer transcription factor. In vitro, LFY binds to the endogenous AP1 target locus DNA assembled into a nucleosome. In vivo, LFY associates with nucleosome occupied binding sites at the majority of its target loci, including AP1. Upon binding, LFY ‘unlocks’ chromatin locally by displacing the H1 linker histone and by recruiting SWI/SNF chromatin remodelers, but broad changes in chromatin accessibility occur later. Our study provides a mechanistic framework for patterning of inflorescence architecture and uncovers striking similarities between LFY and animal pioneer transcription factor.

scholarly journals Nutrient restriction synergizes with retinoic acid to induce mammalian meiotic initiation in vitro

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyu Zhang ◽  
Sumedha Gunewardena ◽  
Ning Wang
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Retinoic Acid ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Nutrient Restriction ◽  
Meiotic Gene ◽  
Transcription Factor Genes ◽  
Molecular Machinery ◽  
Meiotic Initiation

AbstractThe molecular machinery and chromosome structures carrying out meiosis are frequently conserved from yeast to mammals. However, signals initiating meiosis appear divergent: while nutrient restriction induces meiosis in the yeast system, retinoic acid (RA) and its target Stra8 have been shown to be necessary but not sufficient to induce meiotic initiation in mammalian germ cells. Here, we use primary culture of mouse undifferentiated spermatogonia without the support of gonadal somatic cells to show that nutrient restriction in combination with RA is sufficient to induce Stra8- and Spo11-dependent meiotic gene and chromosome programs that recapitulate the transcriptomic and cytologic features of in vivo meiosis. We demonstrate that neither nutrient restriction nor RA alone exerts these effects. Moreover, we identify a distinctive network of 11 nutrient restriction-upregulated transcription factor genes, which are associated with early meiosis in vivo and whose expression does not require RA. Our study proposes a conserved model, in which nutrient restriction induces meiotic initiation by upregulating key transcription factor genes for the meiotic gene program and provides an in vitro platform for meiotic induction that could facilitate research and haploid gamete production.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document