scholarly journals The pioneer factor hypothesis is not necessary to explain ectopic liver gene activation

eLife ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey L Hansen ◽  
Kaiser J Loell ◽  
Barak A Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Gene Activation ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Silent Genes ◽  
Pioneer Factor ◽  
Pioneer Factors ◽  
Liver Gene ◽  
Ectopic Liver ◽  
Lymphoblast Cells

The Pioneer Factor Hypothesis (PFH) states that pioneer factors (PFs) are a subclass of transcription factors (TFs) that bind to and open inaccessible sites and then recruit non-pioneer factors (nonPFs) that activate batteries of silent genes. The PFH predicts that ectopic gene activation requires the sequential activity of qualitatively different TFs. We tested the PFH by expressing the endodermal PF FOXA1 and nonPF HNF4A in K562 lymphoblast cells. While co-expression of FOXA1 and HNF4A activated a burst of endoderm-specific gene expression, we found no evidence for a functional distinction between these two TFs. When expressed independently, both TFs bound and opened inaccessible sites, activated endodermal genes, and 'pioneered' for each other, although FOXA1 required fewer copies of its motif for binding. A subset of targets required both TFs, but the predominant mode of action at these targets did not conform to the sequential activity predicted by the PFH. From these results we hypothesize an alternative to the PFH where 'pioneer activity' depends not on categorically different TFs but rather on the affinity of interaction between TF and DNA.

scholarly journals A Test of the Pioneer Factor Hypothesis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey L Hansen ◽  
Barak A Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Binding Affinity ◽  
Mode Of Action ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Genomic Context ◽  
Silent Genes ◽  
Pioneer Factor ◽  
Pioneer Factors ◽  
Lymphoblast Cells

AbstractThe Pioneer Factor Hypothesis (PFH) states that pioneer factors (PFs) are a subclass of transcription factors (TFs) that bind to and open inaccessible sites and then recruit non-pioneer factors (nonPFs) that activate batteries of silent genes. We tested the PFH by expressing the endodermal PF FoxA1 and nonPF Hnf4a in K562 lymphoblast cells. While co-expression of FoxA1 and Hnf4a activated a burst of endoderm-specific gene expression, we found no evidence for functional distinction between these two TFs. When expressed independently, both TFs bound and opened inaccessible sites, activated endodermal genes, and “pioneered” for each other, although FoxA1 required fewer copies of its motif to bind at inaccessible sites. A subset of targets required both TFs, but the mode of action at these targets did not conform to the sequential activity predicted by the PFH. From these results we propose an alternative to the PFH where “pioneer activity” depends not on the existence of discrete TF subclasses, but on TF binding affinity and genomic context.

scholarly journals Aspergillus nidulans wetA activates spore-specific gene expression.

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
M A Marshall ◽  
W E Timberlake
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Wall ◽  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Gene Activation ◽  
Regulatory Function ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Vegetative Cells ◽  
Mutant Strains ◽  
Late Stages

The Aspergillus nidulans wetA gene is required for synthesis of cell wall layers that make asexual spores (conidia) impermeable. In wetA mutant strains, conidia take up water and autolyze rather than undergoing the final stages of maturation. wetA is activated during conidiogenesis by sequential expression of the brlA and abaA regulatory genes. To determine whether wetA regulates expression of other sporulation-specific genes, its coding region was fused to a nutritionally regulated promoter that permits gene activation in vegetative cells (hyphae) under conditions that suppress conidiation. Expression of wetA in hyphae inhibited growth and caused excessive branching. It did not lead to activation of brlA or abaA but did cause accumulation of transcripts from genes that are normally expressed specifically during the late stages of conidiation and whose mRNAs are stored in mature spores. Thus, wetA directly or indirectly regulates expression of some spore-specific genes. At least one gene (wA), whose mRNA does not occur in spores but rather accumulates in the sporogenous phialide cells, was activated by wetA, suggesting that wetA may have a regulatory function in these cells as well as in spores. We propose that wetA is responsible for activating a set of genes whose products make up the final two conidial wall layers or direct their assembly and through this activity is responsible for acquisition of spore dormancy.

Transcription Factors Controlling Muscle-Specific Gene Expression

1993 ◽  
pp. 93-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Schwarz ◽  
James F. Martin ◽  
Eric N. Olson
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Specific Gene Expression

scholarly journals Core regulatory circuitries in defining cancer cell identity across the malignant spectrum

Open Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 200121
Author(s):  
Leila Jahangiri ◽  
Loukia Tsaprouni ◽  
Ricky M. Trigg ◽  
John A. Williams ◽  
Georgios V. Gkoutos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Chromatin Structure ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Molecular Dissection ◽  
Cell Identity ◽  
Lineage Specific Gene

Gene expression programmes driving cell identity are established by tightly regulated transcription factors that auto- and cross-regulate in a feed-forward manner, forming core regulatory circuitries (CRCs). CRC transcription factors create and engage super-enhancers by recruiting acetylation writers depositing permissive H3K27ac chromatin marks. These super-enhancers are largely associated with BET proteins, including BRD4, that influence higher-order chromatin structure. The orchestration of these events triggers accessibility of RNA polymerase machinery and the imposition of lineage-specific gene expression. In cancers, CRCs drive cell identity by superimposing developmental programmes on a background of genetic alterations. Further, the establishment and maintenance of oncogenic states are reliant on CRCs that drive factors involved in tumour development. Hence, the molecular dissection of CRC components driving cell identity and cancer state can contribute to elucidating mechanisms of diversion from pre-determined developmental programmes and highlight cancer dependencies. These insights can provide valuable opportunities for identifying and re-purposing drug targets. In this article, we review the current understanding of CRCs across solid and liquid malignancies and avenues of investigation for drug development efforts. We also review techniques used to understand CRCs and elaborate the indication of discussed CRC transcription factors in the wider context of cancer CRC models.

scholarly journals The GATA-4 transcription factor transactivates the cardiac muscle-specific troponin C promoter-enhancer in nonmuscle cells.

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 7517-7526 ◽  
Author(s):  
H S Ip ◽  
D B Wilson ◽  
M Heikinheimo ◽  
Z Tang ◽  
C N Ting ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Cardiac Muscle ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Cardiac Myocytes ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
Troponin C ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Cardiac Muscle Cells

The unique contractile phenotype of cardiac myocytes is determined by the expression of a set of cardiac muscle-specific genes. By analogy to other mammalian developmental systems, it is likely that the coordinate expression of cardiac genes is controlled by lineage-specific transcription factors that interact with promoter and enhancer elements in the transcriptional regulatory regions of these genes. Although previous reports have identified several cardiac muscle-specific transcriptional elements, relatively little is known about the lineage-specific transcription factors that regulate these elements. In this report, we demonstrate that the slow/cardiac muscle-specific troponin C (cTnC) enhancer contains a specific binding site for the lineage-restricted zinc finger transcription factor GATA-4. This GATA-4-binding site is required for enhancer activity in primary cardiac myocytes. Moreover, the cTnC enhancer can be transactivated by overexpression of GATA-4 in non-cardiac muscle cells such as NIH 3T3 cells. In situ hybridization studies demonstrate that GATA-4 and cTnC have overlapping patterns of expression in the hearts of postimplantation mouse embryos and that GATA-4 gene expression precedes cTnC expression. Indirect immunofluorescence reveals GATA-4 expression in cultured cardiac myocytes from neonatal rats. Taken together, these results are consistent with a model in which GATA-4 functions to direct tissue-specific gene expression during mammalian cardiac development.

scholarly journals Analysis of temporal changes in the expression of estrogen-regulated genes in the uterus

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Watanabe ◽  
A Suzuki ◽  
M Kobayashi ◽  
E Takahashi ◽  
M Itamoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Gene Activation ◽  
Gene Expression Profiles ◽  
Ovariectomized Mice ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Er Alpha ◽  
Inducible Genes

In order to understand early events caused by estrogen in vivo, temporal uterine gene expression profiles at early stages were examined using DNA microarray analysis. Ovariectomized mice were exposed to 17beta-estradiol and the temporal mRNA expression changes of ten thousand various genes were analyzed. Clustering analysis revealed that there are at least two phases of gene activation during the period up to six hours. One involved immediate-early genes, which included certain transcription factors and growth factors as well as oncogenes. The other involved early-late genes, which included genes related to RNA and protein synthesis. In clusters of down-regulated genes, transcription factors, proteases, apoptosis and cell cycle genes were found. These hormone-inducible genes were not induced in estrogen receptor (ER) alpha knockout mice. Although expression of ERbeta is known in the uterus, these findings indicate the importance of ERalpha in the changes in gene expression in the uterus.

scholarly journals Steroid-like signalling by interferons: making sense of specific gene activation by cytokines

2012 ◽  
Vol 443 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard M. Johnson ◽  
Ezra N. Noon-Song ◽  
Kaisa Kemppainen ◽  
Chulbul M. Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Tyrosine Kinases ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Classical Model ◽  
Gene Activation ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Janus Kinase ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Nuclear Events

Many cytokines, hormones and growth factors use the JAK (Janus kinase)/STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) pathway for cell signalling and specific gene activation. In the classical model, ligand is said to interact solely with the receptor extracellular domain, which triggers JAK activation of STATs at the receptor cytoplasmic domain. Activated STATs are then said to carry out nuclear events of specific gene activation. Given the limited number of STATs (seven) and the activation of the same STATs by cytokines with different functions, the mechanism of the specificity of their signalling is not obvious. Focusing on IFNγ (interferon γ), we have shown that ligand, receptor and activated JAKs are involved in nuclear events that are associated with specific gene activation, where the receptor subunit IFNGR1 (IFNγ receptor 1) functions as a transcription/co-transcription factor and the JAKs are involved in key epigenetic events. RTKs (receptor tyrosine kinases) such as EGFR [EGF (epidermal growth factor) receptor] and FGFR [FGF (fibroblast growth factor) receptor] also undergo nuclear translocation in association with their respective ligands. EGFR and FGFR, like IFNGR1, have been shown to function as transcription/co-transcription factors. The RTKs also regulate other kinases that have epigenetic effects. Our IFNγ model, as well as the RTKs EGFR and FGFR, have similarities to that of steroid receptor signalling. These systems consist of ligand–receptor–co-activator complexes at the genes that they activate. The co-activators consist of transcription factors and kinases, of which the latter play an important role in the associated epigenetics. It is our view that signalling by cytokines such as IFNγ is but a variation of specific gene activation by steroid hormones.

scholarly journals Identifying Transcription Regulatory Elements in the Human and Mouse Genomes Using Tissue-specific Gene Expression Profiles

2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Amitava Karmaker ◽  
Kihoon Yoon ◽  
Mark Doderer ◽  
Russell Kruzelock ◽  
Stephen Kwek
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Gene Expression Profiles ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Tissue Specific Gene ◽  
Human And Mouse

Summary Revealing the complex interaction between trans- and cis-regulatory elements and identifying these potential binding sites are fundamental problems in understanding gene expression. The progresses in ChIP-chip technology facilitate identifying DNA sequences that are recognized by a specific transcription factor. However, protein-DNA binding is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for transcription regulation. We need to demonstrate that their gene expression levels are correlated to further confirm regulatory relationship. Here, instead of using a linear correlation coefficient, we used a non-linear function that seems to better capture possible regulatory relationships. By analyzing tissue-specific gene expression profiles of human and mouse, we delineate a list of pairs of transcription factor and gene with highly correlated expression levels, which may have regulatory relationships. Using two closely-related species (human and mouse), we perform comparative genome analysis to cross-validate the quality of our prediction. Our findings are confirmed by matching publicly available TFBS databases (like TRANFAC and ConSite) and by reviewing biological literature. For example, according to our analysis, 80% and 85.71% of the targets genes associated with E2F5 and RELB transcription factors have the corresponding known binding sites. We also substantiated our results on some oncogenes with the biomedical literature. Moreover, we performed further analysis on them and found that BCR and DEK may be regulated by some common transcription factors. Similar results for BTG1, FCGR2B and LCK genes were also reported.

scholarly journals Groucho/TLE/R-esp proteins associate with the nuclear matrix and repress RUNX (CBF(alpha)/AML/PEBP2(alpha)) dependent activation of tissue-specific gene transcription

2000 ◽  
Vol 113 (12) ◽  
pp. 2221-2231 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Javed ◽  
B. Guo ◽  
S. Hiebert ◽  
J.Y. Choi ◽  
J. Green ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Gene Transcription ◽  
Nuclear Matrix ◽  
Gene Activation ◽  
Multi Drug Resistance ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Subnuclear Localization ◽  
Rous Sarcoma ◽  
C Terminus

The Runt related transcription factors RUNX (AML/CBF(alpha)/PEBP2(alpha)) are key regulators of hematopoiesis and osteogenesis. Using co-transfection experiments with four natural promoters, including those of the osteocalcin (OC), multi drug resistance (MDR), Rous Sarcoma Virus long terminal repeat (LTR), and bone sialoprotein (BSP) genes, we show that each of these promoters responds differently to the forced expression of RUNX proteins. However, the three RUNX subtypes (i.e. AML1, AML2, and AML3) regulate each promoter in a similar manner. Although the OC promoter is activated in a C terminus dependent manner, the MDR, LTR and BSP promoters are repressed by three distinct mechanisms, either independent of or involving the AML C terminus, or requiring only the conserved C-terminal pentapeptide VWRPY. Using yeast two hybrid assays we find that the C terminus of AML1 interacts with a Groucho/TLE/R-esp repressor protein. Co-expression assays reveal that TLE proteins repress AML dependent activation of OC gene transcription. Western and northern blot analyses suggest that TLE expression is regulated reciprocally with the levels of OC gene expression during osteoblast differentiation. Digital immunofluorescence microscopy results show that TLE1 and TLE2 are both associated with the nuclear matrix, and that a significant subset of each colocalizes with AML transcription factors. This co-localization of TLE and AML proteins is lost upon removing the C terminus of AML family members. Our findings indicate that suppression of AML-dependent gene activation by TLE proteins involves functional interactions with the C terminus of AML at the nuclear matrix in situ. Our data are consistent with the concept that the C termini of AML proteins support activation or repression of cell-type specific genes depending on the regulatory organization of the target promoter and subnuclear localization.

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