scholarly journals Optogenetic manipulation of YAP cellular localisation and function

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Y. Toh ◽  
J. K. H. Lai ◽  
A. Hermann ◽  
O. Destaing ◽  
M. P. Sheetz ◽  
...  

AbstractYAP, an effector of the Hippo signalling pathway, promotes organ growth and regeneration. Prolonged YAP activation results in uncontrolled proliferation and cancer. Therefore, exogenous regulation of YAP activity has potential translational applications. We present a versatile optogenetic construct (optoYAP) for manipulating YAP localisation, and consequently its activity and function. We attached a LOV2 domain that photocages a nuclear localisation signal (NLS) to the N-terminus of YAP. In 488 nm light, the LOV2 domain unfolds, exposing the NLS, which shuttles optoYAP into the nucleus. Nuclear import of optoYAP is reversible and tuneable by light intensity. In cell culture, activated optoYAP promotes YAP target gene expression, cell proliferation, and anchorage-independent growth. Similarly, we can utilise optoYAP in zebrafish embryos to modulate target genes. OptoYAP is functional in both cell culture and in vivo, providing a powerful tool to address basic research questions and therapeutic applications in regeneration and disease.

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 795-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katia Urso ◽  
Arantzazu Alfranca ◽  
Sara Martínez-Martínez ◽  
Amelia Escolano ◽  
Inmaculada Ortega ◽  
...  

Abstract The nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) family of transcription factors plays important roles in many biologic processes, including the development and function of the immune and vascular systems. Cells usually express more than one NFAT member, raising the question of whether NFATs play overlapping roles or if each member has selective functions. Using mRNA knock-down, we show that NFATc3 is specifically required for IL2 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) gene expression in transformed and primary T cells and for T-cell proliferation. We also show that NFATc3 regulates COX2 in endothelial cells, where it is required for COX2, dependent migration and angiogenesis in vivo. These results indicate that individual NFAT members mediate specific functions through the differential regulation of the transcription of target genes. These effects, observed on short-term suppression by mRNA knock-down, are likely to have been masked by compensatory effects in gene-knockout studies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (7) ◽  
pp. 1288-1299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumaya Ben-Aicha ◽  
Rafael Escate ◽  
Laura Casaní ◽  
Teresa Padró ◽  
Esther Peña ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are circulating micelles that transport proteins, lipids, and miRNAs. HDL-transported miRNAs (HDL-miRNAs) have lately received attention but their effects on vascular cells are not fully understood. Additionally, whether cardiovascular risk factors affect HDL-miRNAs levels and miRNA transfer to recipient cells remains equally poorly known. Here, we have investigated the changes induced by hypercholesterolaemia on HDL-miRNA levels and its effect on recipient endothelial cells (ECs). Methods and results Pigs were kept on a high-fat diet (HC; n = 10) or a normocholesterolaemic chow (NC; n = 10) for 10 days reaching cholesterol levels of 321.0 (229.7–378.5) mg/dL and 74.0 (62.5–80.2) mg/dL, respectively. HDL particles were isolated, purified, and quantified. HDL-miRNA profiling (n = 149 miRNAs) of HC- and NC-HDLs was performed by multipanel qPCR. Cell cultures of porcine aortic ECs were used to determine whether HDL-miRNAs were delivered to ECs. Potential target genes modulated by miRNAs were identified by bioinformatics and candidate miRNAs were validated by molecular analysis. In vivo effects in the coronary arteries of normocholesterolaemic swine administered HC- or NC-HDLs were analysed. Among the HDL-miRNAs, four were found in different amounts in HC- and NC-HDL (P < 0.05). miR-126-5p and -3p and miR-30b-5p (2.7×, 1.7×, and 1.3×, respectively) were found in higher levels and miR-103a-3p and miR-let-7g-5p (−1.6×, −1.4×, respectively) in lower levels in HC-HDL. miR-126-5p and -3p were transferred from HC-HDL to EC (2.5×; P < 0.05), but not from NC-HDL, by a SRB1-mediated mechanism. Bioinformatics revealed that HIF1α was the miR-126 target gene with the highest predictive value, which was accordingly found to be markedly reduced in HC-HDL-treated ECs and in miR126 mimic transfected ECs. In vivo validation confirmed that HIF1α was diminished in the coronary endothelial layer of NC pigs administered HC-HDL vs. those administered NC-HDL (P < 0.05). Conclusion Hypercholesterolaemia induces changes in the miRNA content of HDL enhancing miR126 and its delivery to ECs with the consequent down-regulation of its target gene HIF1α.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (24) ◽  
pp. 9401
Author(s):  
Antonio Bouthelier ◽  
Florinda Meléndez-Rodríguez ◽  
Andrés A. Urrutia ◽  
Julián Aragonés

Cellular response to hypoxia is controlled by the hypoxia-inducible transcription factors HIF1α and HIF2α. Some genes are preferentially induced by HIF1α or HIF2α, as has been explored in some cell models and for particular sets of genes. Here we have extended this analysis to other HIF-dependent genes using in vitro WT8 renal carcinoma cells and in vivo conditional Vhl-deficient mice models. Moreover, we generated chimeric HIF1/2 transcription factors to study the contribution of the HIF1α and HIF2α DNA binding/heterodimerization and transactivation domains to HIF target specificity. We show that the induction of HIF1α-dependent genes in WT8 cells, such as CAIX (CAR9) and BNIP3, requires both halves of HIF, whereas the HIF2α transactivation domain is more relevant for the induction of HIF2 target genes like the amino acid carrier SLC7A5. The HIF selectivity for some genes in WT8 cells is conserved in Vhl-deficient lung and liver tissue, whereas other genes like Glut1 (Slc2a1) behave distinctly in these tissues. Therefore the relative contribution of the DNA binding/heterodimerization and transactivation domains for HIF target selectivity can be different when comparing HIF1α or HIF2α isoforms, and that HIF target gene specificity is conserved in human and mouse cells for some of the genes analyzed.


2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 2800-2820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Swanson ◽  
Hongfang Qiu ◽  
Laarni Sumibcay ◽  
Anna Krueger ◽  
Soon-ja Kim ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Transcriptional activators interact with multisubunit coactivators that modify chromatin structure or recruit the general transcriptional machinery to their target genes. Budding yeast cells respond to amino acid starvation by inducing an activator of amino acid biosynthetic genes, Gcn4p. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of viable mutants affecting known coactivator subunits from the Saccharomyces Genome Deletion Project for defects in activation by Gcn4p in vivo. The results confirm previous findings that Gcn4p requires SAGA, SWI/SNF, and SRB mediator (SRB/MED) and identify key nonessential subunits of these complexes required for activation. Among the numerous histone acetyltransferases examined, only that present in SAGA, Gcn5p, was required by Gcn4p. We also uncovered a dependence on CCR4-NOT, RSC, and the Paf1 complex. In vitro binding experiments suggest that the Gcn4p activation domain interacts specifically with CCR4-NOT and RSC in addition to SAGA, SWI/SNF, and SRB/MED. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments show that Mbf1p, SAGA, SWI/SNF, SRB/MED, RSC, CCR4-NOT, and the Paf1 complex all are recruited by Gcn4p to one of its target genes (ARG1) in vivo. We observed considerable differences in coactivator requirements among several Gcn4p-dependent promoters; thus, only a subset of the array of coactivators that can be recruited by Gcn4p is required at a given target gene in vivo.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoinette F. van Ouwerkerk ◽  
Fernanda M. Bosada ◽  
Karel van Duijvenboden ◽  
Matthew C. Hill ◽  
Lindsey E. Montefiori ◽  
...  

Abstract Disease-associated genetic variants that lie in non-coding regions found by genome-wide association studies are thought to alter the functionality of transcription regulatory elements and target gene expression. To uncover causal genetic variants, variant regulatory elements and their target genes, here we cross-reference human transcriptomic, epigenomic and chromatin conformation datasets. Of 104 genetic variant regions associated with atrial fibrillation candidate target genes are prioritized. We optimize EMERGE enhancer prediction and use accessible chromatin profiles of human atrial cardiomyocytes to more accurately predict cardiac regulatory elements and identify hundreds of sub-threshold variants that co-localize with regulatory elements. Removal of mouse homologues of atrial fibrillation-associated regions in vivo uncovers a distal regulatory region involved in Gja1 (Cx43) expression. Our analyses provide a shortlist of genes likely affected by atrial fibrillation-associated variants and provide variant regulatory elements in each region that link genetic variation and target gene regulation, helping to focus future investigations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Zhao ◽  
Jiajian Zhou ◽  
Liangqiang He ◽  
Yuying Li ◽  
Jie Yuan ◽  
...  

AbstractEmerging evidence supports roles of enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) in regulating target gene. Here, we study eRNA regulation and function during skeletal myoblast differentiation. We provide a panoramic view of enhancer transcription and categorization of eRNAs. Master transcription factor MyoD is crucial in activating eRNA production. Super enhancer (se) generated seRNA-1 and -2 promote myogenic differentiation in vitro and in vivo. seRNA-1 regulates expression levels of two nearby genes, myoglobin (Mb) and apolipoprotein L6 (Apol6), by binding to heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (hnRNPL). A CAAA tract on seRNA-1 is essential in mediating seRNA-1/hnRNPL binding and function. Disruption of seRNA-1-hnRNPL interaction attenuates Pol II and H3K36me3 deposition at the Mb locus, in coincidence with the reduction of its transcription. Furthermore, analyses of hnRNPL binding transcriptome-wide reveal its association with eRNAs is a general phenomenon in multiple cells. Collectively, we propose that eRNA-hnRNPL interaction represents a mechanism contributing to target mRNA activation.


2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (14) ◽  
pp. 5343-5349 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Cliff Yoon ◽  
Troy W. Chickering ◽  
Evan D. Rosen ◽  
Barry Dussault ◽  
Yubin Qin ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ regulates adipose differentiation and systemic insulin signaling via ligand-dependent transcriptional activation of target genes. However, the identities of the biologically relevant target genes are largely unknown. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of a novel target gene induced by PPARγ ligands, termed PGAR (for PPARγ angiopoietin related), which encodes a novel member of the angiopoietin family of secreted proteins. The transcriptional induction of PGAR follows a rapid time course typical of immediate-early genes and occurs in the absence of protein synthesis. The expression of PGAR is predominantly localized to adipose tissues and placenta and is consistently elevated in genetic models of obesity. Hormone-dependent adipocyte differentiation coincides with a dramatic early induction of the PGAR transcript. Alterations in nutrition and leptin administration are found to modulate the PGAR expression in vivo. Taken together, these data suggest a possible role for PGAR in the regulation of systemic lipid metabolism or glucose homeostasis.


2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (17) ◽  
pp. 3242-3252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter Maier ◽  
Patricia Kurth ◽  
Adriana Schulz ◽  
Andrew Russell ◽  
Zhenyu Yuan ◽  
...  

In metazoans, the highly conserved Notch pathway drives cellular specification. On receptor activation, the intracellular domain of Notch assembles a transcriptional activator complex that includes the DNA-binding protein CSL, a composite of human C-promoter binding factor 1, Suppressor of Hairless of Drosophila melanogaster [Su(H)], and lin-12 and Glp-1 phenotype of Caenorhabditis elegans. In the absence of ligand, CSL represses Notch target genes. However, despite the structural similarity of CSL orthologues, repression appears largely diverse between organisms. Here we analyze the Notch repressor complex in Drosophila, consisting of the fly CSL protein, Su(H), and the corepressor Hairless, which recruits general repressor proteins. We show that the C-terminal domain of Su(H) is necessary and sufficient for forming a high-affinity complex with Hairless. Mutations in Su(H) that affect interactions with Notch and Mastermind have no effect on Hairless binding. Nonetheless, we demonstrate that Notch and Hairless compete for CSL in vitro and in cell culture. In addition, we identify a site in Hairless that is crucial for binding Su(H) and subsequently show that this Hairless mutant is strongly impaired, failing to properly assemble the repressor complex in vivo. Finally, we demonstrate Hairless-mediated inhibition of Notch signaling in a cell culture assay, which hints at a potentially similar repression mechanism in mammals that might be exploited for therapeutic purposes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 119 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuzana Broskova ◽  
Kyoung-mi Park ◽  
Yongchao Wang ◽  
Il-man Kim

Cardiac injury is accompanied by dynamic changes in the expression of microRNAs (miRs), small non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate target genes. For example, miR-125a is up-regulated in patients with heart failure (HF), while miR-125b is down-regulated in patients with end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and ischemic DCM. Circulating levels of these two miRs have been recently proposed as potential biomarkers of HF. We previously showed that β1-adrenergic receptor-mediated cardioprotective signaling through β-arrestin1 stimulates the processing of miR-125a and miR-125b in mouse heart (Figure A-C). Here, we hypothesize that these two miRs might confer cardioprotection against ischemic injury. Using cultured cardiomyocyte (CM) and in vivo approaches, we show that these miRs are ischemic stress-responsive protectors against CM apoptosis. CMs lacking miR-125a or miR-125b have an increased sensitivity to stress-induced apoptosis, while CMs overexpressing miR-125a or miR-125b have increased phospho-AKT pro-survival signaling. Moreover, we demonstrate that loss-of-function of miR-125b in mouse heart causes abnormalities in cardiac structure and function after myocardial infarction. The cardioprotective roles of the two miRs during ischemic injury are in part attributed to direct repression of the pro-apoptotic genes Bak1 and Klf13 in CMs (Figure D). In conclusion, these findings reveal pivotal roles for miR-125a and miR-125b as important regulators of CM survival during cardiac injury.


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