scholarly journals Subnuclear localisation is associated with gene activation not repression or parental origin at the imprinted Dlk1-Dio3 locus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahia Mashoodh ◽  
Lisa C Hulsmann ◽  
Frances L Dearden ◽  
Nozomi Takahashi ◽  
Anne C Ferguson-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcriptional Repression ◽  
Es Cells ◽  
In Situ Hybridisation ◽  
Nuclear Periphery ◽  
Gene Activation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Parental Origin ◽  
Fluorescence In Situ Hybridisation

At interphase, de-condensed chromosomes have a non-random three-dimensional architecture within the nucleus, however, little is known about the extent to which nuclear organisation might influence expression or vice versa. Here, using imprinting as a model, we use 3D RNA- and DNA-fluorescence-in-situ-hybridisation in normal and mutant mouse embryonic stem cells to assess the relationship between imprinting control, gene expression and allelic distance from the nuclear periphery. We compared the two parentally inherited imprinted domains at the Dlk1-Dio3 domain and find a small but reproducible trend for the maternally inherited domain to be further away from the periphery if the maternally expressed gene Gtl2/Meg3 is active compared to when it is silenced. Using Zfp57KO ES cells, which harbour a paternal to maternal epigenotype switch, we observe active alleles significantly further away from the nuclear periphery with the distance from the periphery being proportional to the number of alleles active within the cell. This distribution of alleles suggests an activating effect of the nuclear interior rather than a repressive association with the nuclear periphery. Although we see a trend for the paternally inherited copy of the locus to be closer to the nuclear periphery, this appears to be linked to stochastic gene expression differences rather than parental origin. Our results suggest that transcriptional activity, rather than transcriptional repression or parental origin, defines sub-nuclear localisation at an endogenous imprinted domain.

scholarly journals MOZ and BMI1 play opposing roles during Hox gene activation in ES cells and in body segment identity specification in vivo

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (17) ◽  
pp. 5437-5442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bilal N. Sheikh ◽  
Natalie L. Downer ◽  
Belinda Phipson ◽  
Hannah K. Vanyai ◽  
Andrew J. Kueh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Es Cells ◽  
Gene Activation ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Body Segment ◽  
Initial Activation ◽  
Activation Phase

Hox genes underlie the specification of body segment identity in the anterior–posterior axis. They are activated during gastrulation and undergo a dynamic shift from a transcriptionally repressed to an active chromatin state in a sequence that reflects their chromosomal location. Nevertheless, the precise role of chromatin modifying complexes during the initial activation phase remains unclear. In the current study, we examined the role of chromatin regulators during Hox gene activation. Using embryonic stem cell lines lacking the transcriptional activator MOZ and the polycomb-family repressor BMI1, we showed that MOZ and BMI1, respectively, promoted and repressed Hox genes during the shift from the transcriptionally repressed to the active state. Strikingly however, MOZ but not BMI1 was required to regulate Hox mRNA levels after the initial activation phase. To determine the interaction of MOZ and BMI1 in vivo, we interrogated their role in regulating Hox genes and body segment identity using Moz;Bmi1 double deficient mice. We found that the homeotic transformations and shifts in Hox gene expression boundaries observed in single Moz and Bmi1 mutant mice were rescued to a wild type identity in Moz;Bmi1 double knockout animals. Together, our findings establish that MOZ and BMI1 play opposing roles during the onset of Hox gene expression in the ES cell model and during body segment identity specification in vivo. We propose that chromatin-modifying complexes have a previously unappreciated role during the initiation phase of Hox gene expression, which is critical for the correct specification of body segment identity.

scholarly journals H4K20me3 methyltransferase SUV420H2 shapes the chromatin landscape of pluripotent embryonic stem cells

Development ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 147 (23) ◽  
pp. dev188516
Author(s):  
Jiji T. Kurup ◽  
Zhijun Han ◽  
Wenfei Jin ◽  
Benjamin L. Kidder
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Es Cells ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Pericentric Heterochromatin ◽  
Es Cell ◽  
Chromatin Interactions ◽  
Repressive Histone Modification ◽  
Dna Elements

ABSTRACTHeterochromatin, a densely packed chromatin state that is transcriptionally silent, is a critical regulator of gene expression. However, it is unclear how the repressive histone modification H4K20me3 or the histone methyltransferase SUV420H2 regulates embryonic stem (ES) cell fate by patterning the epigenetic landscape. Here, we report that depletion of SUV420H2 leads to a near-complete loss of H4K20me3 genome wide, dysregulated gene expression and delayed ES cell differentiation. SUV420H2-bound regions are enriched with repetitive DNA elements, which are de-repressed in SUV420H2 knockout ES cells. Moreover, SUV420H2 regulation of H4K20me3-marked heterochromatin controls chromatin architecture, including fine-scale chromatin interactions in pluripotent ES cells. Our results indicate that SUV420H2 plays a crucial role in stabilizing the three-dimensional chromatin landscape of ES cells, as loss of SUV420H2 resulted in A/B compartment switching, perturbed chromatin insulation, and altered chromatin interactions of pericentric heterochromatin and surrounding regions, indicative of localized decondensation. In addition, depletion of SUV420H2 resulted in compromised interactions between H4K20me3 and gene-regulatory regions. Together, these findings describe a new role for SUV420H2 in regulating the chromatin landscape of ES cells.

The responsiveness of embryonic stem cells to alpha and beta interferons provides the basis of an inducible expression system for analysis of developmental control genes

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 7971-7976
Author(s):  
L M Whyatt ◽  
A Düwel ◽  
A G Smith ◽  
P D Rathjen
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Inner Cell Mass ◽  
Es Cells ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Expression Vectors ◽  
Developmental Control ◽  
Developmental Potential

Embryonic stem (ES) cells, derived from the inner cell mass of the preimplantation mouse embryo, are used increasingly as an experimental tool for the investigation of early mammalian development. The differentiation of these cells in vitro can be used as an assay for factors that regulate early developmental decisions in the embryo, while the effects of altered gene expression during early embryogenesis can be analyzed in chimeric mice generated from modified ES cells. The experimental versatility of ES cells would be significantly increased by the development of systems which allow precise control of heterologous gene expression. In this paper, we report that ES cells are responsive to alpha and beta interferons (IFNs). This property has been exploited for the development of inducible ES cell expression vectors, using the promoter of the human IFN-inducible gene, 6-16. The properties of these vectors have been analyzed in both transiently and stably transfected ES cells. Expression was minimal or absent in unstimulated ES cells, could be stimulated up to 100-fold by treatment of the cells with IFN, and increased in linear fashion with increasing levels of IFN. High levels of induced expression were maintained for extended periods of time in the continuous presence of the inducing signal or following a 12-h pulse with IFN. Treatment of ES cells with IFN did not affect their growth or differentiation in vitro or compromise their developmental potential. This combination of features makes the 6-16-based expression vectors suitable for the functional analysis of developmental control control genes in ES cells.

scholarly journals Differences in Gene Expression between Wild Type and Hoxa1 Knockout Embryonic Stem Cells after Retinoic Acid Treatment or Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) Removal

2005 ◽  
Vol 280 (16) ◽  
pp. 16484-16498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Martinez-Ceballos ◽  
Pierre Chambon ◽  
Lorraine J. Gudas
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Retinoic Acid ◽  
Leukemia Inhibitory Factor ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Hox Genes ◽  
Es Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Inhibitory Factor ◽  
Hoxa Cluster

Homeobox (Hox) genes encode a family of transcription factors that regulate embryonic patterning and organogenesis. In embryos, alterations of the normal pattern of Hox gene expression result in homeotic transformations and malformations. Disruption of theHoxa1gene, the most 3′ member of the Hoxa cluster and a retinoic acid (RA) direct target gene, results in abnormal ossification of the skull, hindbrain, and inner ear deficiencies, and neonatal death. We have generated Hoxa1-/-embryonic stem (ES) cells (named Hoxa1-15) from Hoxa1-/-mutant blastocysts to study the Hoxa1 signaling pathway. We have characterized in detail these Hoxa1-/-ES cells by performing microarray analyses, and by this technique we have identified a number of putative Hoxa-1 target genes, including genes involved in bone development (e.g. Col1a1,Postn/Osf2, and the bone sialoprotein gene orBSP), genes that are expressed in the developing brain (e.g. Nnat,Wnt3a,BDNF,RhoB, andGbx2), and genes involved in various cellular processes (e.g. M-RAS,Sox17,Cdkn2b,LamA1,Col4a1,Foxa2,Foxq1,Klf5, andIgf2). Cell proliferation assays and Northern blot analyses of a number of ES cell markers (e.g. Rex1,Oct3/4,Fgf4, andBmp4) suggest that the Hoxa1 protein plays a role in the inhibition of cell proliferation by RA in ES cells. Additionally, Hoxa1-/-ES cells express high levels of various endodermal markers, includingGata4andDab2, and express much lessFgf5after leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) withdrawal. Finally, we propose a model in which the Hoxa1 protein mediates repression of endodermal differentiation while promoting expression of ectodermal and mesodermal characteristics.

scholarly journals Non-invasive somatotransgenic bioimaging in living animals

F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 1216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliette M. Delhove ◽  
Rajvinder Karda ◽  
Lorna M. FitzPatrick ◽  
Suzanne M.K. Buckley ◽  
Simon N. Waddington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Reporter Gene ◽  
Viral Vectors ◽  
Es Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Gene Promoters ◽  
Luciferase Reporter Gene ◽  
Endogenous Gene

Bioluminescence imaging enables noninvasive quantification of luciferase reporter gene expression in transgenic tissues of living rodents. Luciferase transgene expression can be regulated by endogenous gene promoters after targeted knock-in of the reporter gene, usually within the first intron of the gene. Even using CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genome editing this can be a time consuming and costly process. The generation of germline transgenic (GLT) rodents by targeted genomic integration of a gene expression cassette in embryonic stem (ES) cells is commonplace but results in the wastage of large numbers of animals during colony generation, back-crossing and maintenance. Using a synthetic/truncated promoter-driven luciferase gene to study promoter activity in a given tissue or organ of a GLT also often results in unwanted background luciferase activity during whole-body bioluminescent imaging as every cell contains the reporter. We have developed somatotransgenic bioimaging; a method to generate tissue-restricted transcription factor activated luciferase reporter (TFAR) cassettes in rodents that substantially reduces the number of animals required for experimentation. Bespoke designed TFARs are delivered to newborn pups using viral vectors targeted to specific organs by tissue-tropic pseudotypes. Retention and proliferation of TFARs is facilitated by stem/progenitor cell transduction and immune tolerance to luciferase due to the naïve neonatal immune system. We have successfully applied both lentiviral and adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors in longitudinal rodent studies, targeting TFARs to the liver and brain during normal development and in well-established disease models. Development of somatotransgenic animals has broad applicability to non-invasively determine mechanistic insights into homeostatic and disease states and assess toxicology and efficacy testing. Somatotransgenic bioimaging technology is superior to current whole-body, light-emitting transgenic models as it reduces the numbers of animals used by generating only the required number of animals. It is also a refinement over current technologies given the ability to use conscious, unrestrained animals.

X chromosome retains the memory of its parental origin in murine embryonic stem cells

Development ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 813-821 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Tada ◽  
M. Tada ◽  
N. Takagi
Keyword(s):  
X Chromosome ◽  
Polar Region ◽  
Biochemical Study ◽  
Es Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Embryoid Bodies ◽  
Parental Origin ◽  
Visceral Endoderm ◽  
Es Cell ◽  
Preferential Inactivation

A cytogenetic and biochemical study of balloon-like cystic embryoid bodies, formed by newly established embryonic stem (ES) cell lines having a cytogenetically or genetically marked X chromosome, revealed that the paternally derived X chromosome was inactivated in the majority of cells in the yolk sac-like mural region consisting of the visceral endoderm and mesoderm. The nonrandomness was less evident in the more solid polar region containing the ectodermal vesicle, mesoderm and visceral endoderm. Since the same was true in embryoid bodies derived from ES cells at the 30th subculture generation, it was concluded that the imprinting responsible for the preferential inactivation of the paternal X chromosome that was limited to non-epiblast cells of the female mouse embryos, was stably maintained in undifferentiated ES cells. Differentiating epiblast cells should be able to erase or avoid responding to the imprint.

Mutations in the fission yeast silencing factors clr4+ and rik1+ disrupt the localisation of the chromo domain protein Swi6p and impair centromere function

1996 ◽  
Vol 109 (11) ◽  
pp. 2637-2648 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Ekwall ◽  
E.R. Nimmo ◽  
J.P. Javerzat ◽  
B. Borgstrom ◽  
R. Egel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Mating Type ◽  
Transcriptional Repression ◽  
In Situ Hybridisation ◽  
Chromosome Loss ◽  
Fluorescence In Situ Hybridisation ◽  
Type Region ◽  
Centromere Function ◽  
Mutant Cells

Transcriptional silencing is known to occur at centromeres, telomeres and the mating type region in the nucleus of fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Mating-type silencing factors have previously been shown also to affect transcriptional repression within centromeres and to some extent at telomeres. Mutations in the clr4+, rik1+ and swi6+ genes dramatically reduce silencing at certain centromeric regions and cause elevated chromosome loss rates. Recently, Swi6p was found to co-localise with the three silent chromosomal regions. Here the involvement of clr4+, rik1+ and swi6+ in centromere function is investigated in further detail. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) was used to show that, as in swi6 mutant cells, centromeres lag on late anaphase spindles in clr4 and rik1 mutant cells. This phenotype is consistent with a role for these three gene products in fission yeast centromere function. The Swi6 protein was found to be delocalised from all three silent chromosomal regions, and dispersed within the nucleus, in both clr4 and rik1 mutant cells. The phenotypic similarity observed in all three mutants is consistent with the products of both the clr4+ and rik1+ genes being required to recruit Swi6p to the centromere and other silent regions. Mutations in clr4, rik1 and swi6 also result in elevated sensitivity to reagents which destabilise microtubules and show a synergistic interaction with a mutation in the beta-tubulin gene (nda3). These observations suggest that clr4+ and rik1+ must play a role in the assembly of Swi6p into a transcriptionally silent, inaccessible chromatin structure at fission yeast centromeres which is required to facilitate interactions with spindle microtubules and to ensure normal chromosome segregation.

scholarly journals 169 CULTURE OF MURINE EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS ON NWPF DISCS

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 235 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Cetinkaya ◽  
S. Arat ◽  
H. Odaman Mercan ◽  
M.A. Onur ◽  
A. Tumer
Keyword(s):  
Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Alkaline Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Es Cells ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Signalling Pathways ◽  
Feeder Layers ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Matrix Bound

Murine embryonic stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of mouse blastocysts can be maintained in culture for extended periods by using feeder layers and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Maintenance of undifferentiated status occurs via LIF-mediated signalling pathways. In this study we cultured embryonic stem (ES) cells in Knockout-DMEM with serum replacement on a three-dimensional matrix, non-woven polyester fabric (NWPF), which is formed from non-arrayed polyethylene teraphthalate fibers. The surface of the fibers was modified by immobilizing LIF. While stimulating the matrix-bound form of LIF in vitro, we also tried to induce LIF-mediated signalling pathways continually. Our goal was to constitute a synthetic microenvironment that would support the undifferentiated growth of murine ES cells. Experimental groups were examined according to colony morphology, alkaline phosphatase activity, SSEA-1 antibody immunoreactivity, and SEM analyses. It was shown that three dimensional macroporous fibrous matrix, NWPF could support growth of undifferentiated ES cells. However, the ratio of undifferentiated colonies was higher on feeder layers than an polymeric surfaces (93% on mouse embryonic fibroblasts; 63,7% on hydrolized polymeric surface, P < 0,05). Results showed that LIF-immobilized surfaces supported undifferentiated growth of ES cells better than hydrolyzed surfaces. Colonies cultured on LIF-immobilized surfaces, had higher alkaline phosphatase activity and undifferentiated phenotype ratio than those on hydrolyzed surfaces. When the soluble or the matrix-bound form of LIF was used, the number of undifferentiated colonies increased in the polymeric groups (77.8% soluble LIF; 81.6% matrix bound LIF P < 0,05). On NWPF discs, ES cells formed big cell aggregates which had high alkaline phosphatase activity but low SSEA-1 immunoreactivity . When they were passaged to feeder layers, SSEA-1 activity increased. We managed to obtain undifferentiated colonies on NWPF discs by using LIF but the skeletal structure of polymeric matrix would be more convenient for differentiation studies. This study was performed in TUBITAK-RIGEB and supported by a part of grant from Hacettepe University (0102601001).

scholarly journals Specific Double-Stranded RNA Interference in Undifferentiated Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (22) ◽  
pp. 7807-7816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shicheng Yang ◽  
Stephen Tutton ◽  
Eric Pierce ◽  
Kyonggeun Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Es Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Transient Transfection ◽  
Interferon Response ◽  
Green Fluorescent Protein Gene ◽  
Double Stranded Rna ◽  
Rnai Activity

ABSTRACT Specific mRNA degradation mediated by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) interference (RNAi) is a powerful way of suppressing gene expression in plants, nematodes, and fungal, insect, and protozoan systems. However, only a few cases of RNAi have been reported in mammalian systems. Here, we investigated the feasibility of the RNAi strategy in several mammalian cells by using the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene as a target, either by in situ production of dsRNA from transient transfection of a plasmid harboring a 547-bp inverted repeat or by direct transfection of dsRNA made by in vitro transcription. Several mammalian cells including differentiated embryonic stem (ES) cells did not exhibit specific RNAi in transient transfection. This long dsRNA, however, was capable of inducing a sequence-specific RNAi for the episomal and chromosomal target gene in undifferentiated ES cells. dsRNA at 8.3 nM decreased the cognate gene expression up to 70%. However, RNAi activity was not permanent because it was more pronounced in early time points and diminished 5 days after transfection. Thus, undifferentiated ES cells may lack the interferon response, similar to mouse embryos and oocytes. Regardless of their apparent RNAi activity, however, cytoplasmic extracts from mammalian cells produced a small RNA of 21 to 22 nucleotides from the long dsRNA. Our results suggest that mammalian cells may possess RNAi activity but nonspecific activation of the interferon response by longer dsRNA may mask the specific RNAi. The findings offer an opportunity to use dsRNA for inhibition of gene expression in ES cells to study differentiation.

500. THE MANIPULATION OF THE EPIGENETIC MARK HISTONE 3 LYSINE 9 TRIMETHYLATION IN DONOR CELLS AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CLONED MOUSE EMBRYOS

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
J. Antony ◽  
F. Oback ◽  
R. Broadhurst ◽  
S. Cole ◽  
C. Graham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Es Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Histone Demethylase ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Epigenetic Mark ◽  
Epigenetic Marks ◽  
Donor Cells

To produce live cloned mammals from adult somatic cells the nuclei of these cells must be first reprogrammed from a very restricted, cell lineage-specific gene expression profile to an embryo-like expression pattern, compatible with embryonic development. Although this has been achieved in a number of species the efficiency of cloning remains very low. Inadequate reprogramming of epigenetic marks in the donor cells correlated with aberrant embryonic gene expression profiles has been identified as a key cause of this inefficiency. Some of the most common epigenetic marks are chemical modifications of histones, the main structural proteins of chromatin. A range of different histone modifications, including acetylation and methylation, exists and can be attributed to either repression or activation of genes. One epigenetic mark which is known to be very stable and difficult to remove during reprogramming is the trimethylation of lysine 9 in histone H3 (H3K9Me3). To test the hypothesis that H3K9Me3 marks are a major stumbling block for successful cloning we are attempting to remove these marks by overexpression of the H3K9Me3 specific histone demethylase, jmjd2b, in donor cells, prior to their use for nuclear transfer. We have engineered mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells for the tet inducible expression of a fusion protein with a functional jmjd2b or non-functional mutant jmjd2b histone demethylase. Approximately 94% and 88% of the cells can be induced for the expression of functional and mutant jmjd2b-EGFP in the respective ES cell lines. Immunofluorescence analyses have shown that induction of functional jmjd2b-EGFP results in an approximately 50% reduction of H3K9Me3 levels compared to non-induced cells and induced mutant jmjd2b-EGFP cells. The comparison of the in-vitro embryo development following nuclear transfer with induced and non-induced donor cells show significantly better overall development to blastocysts and morulae from induced donor cells with reduced H3K9Me3 levels.

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