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Ilker E, Hinczewski M. Bioenergetic costs and the evolution of noise regulation by microRNAs. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2308796121. [PMID: 38386708 PMCID: PMC10907262 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308796121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Noise control, together with other regulatory functions facilitated by microRNAs (miRNAs), is believed to have played important roles in the evolution of multicellular eukaryotic organisms. miRNAs can dampen protein fluctuations via enhanced degradation of messenger RNA (mRNA), but this requires compensation by increased mRNA transcription to maintain the same expression levels. The overall mechanism is metabolically expensive, leading to questions about how it might have evolved in the first place. We develop a stochastic model of miRNA noise regulation, coupled with a detailed analysis of the associated metabolic costs. Additionally, we calculate binding free energies for a range of miRNA seeds, the short sequences which govern target recognition. We argue that natural selection may have fine-tuned the Michaelis-Menten constant [Formula: see text] describing miRNA-mRNA affinity and show supporting evidence from analysis of experimental data. [Formula: see text] is constrained by seed length, and optimal noise control (minimum protein variance at a given energy cost) is achievable for seeds of 6 to 7 nucleotides in length, the most commonly observed types. Moreover, at optimality, the degree of noise reduction approaches the theoretical bound set by the Wiener-Kolmogorov linear filter. The results illustrate how selective pressure toward energy efficiency has potentially shaped a crucial regulatory pathway in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efe Ilker
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden01187, Germany
| | - Michael Hinczewski
- Department of Physics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH44106
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2
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Tyson JJ, Csikasz-Nagy A, Gonze D, Kim JK, Santos S, Wolf J. Time-keeping and decision-making in living cells: Part II. Interface Focus 2022. [PMCID: PMC9184961 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2022.0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- John J. Tyson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Attila Csikasz-Nagy
- Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, 1088 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Didier Gonze
- Unit of Theoretical Chronobiology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jae Kyoung Kim
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, South Korea
- Biomedical Mathematics Group, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon 34126, South Korea
| | - Silvia Santos
- Quantitative Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Jana Wolf
- Mathematical Modeling of Cellular Processes, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Free University, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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3
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Exosome Carrier Effects; Resistance to Digestion in Phagolysosomes May Assist Transfers to Targeted Cells; II Transfers of miRNAs Are Better Analyzed via Systems Approach as They Do Not Fit Conventional Reductionist Stoichiometric Concepts. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116192. [PMID: 35682875 PMCID: PMC9181154 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Carrier effects of extracellular vesicles (EV) like exosomes refer to properties of the vesicles that contribute to the transferred biologic effects of their contents to targeted cells. This can pertain to ingested small amounts of xenogeneic plant miRNAs and oral administration of immunosuppressive exosomes. The exosomes contribute carrier effects on transfers of miRNAs by contributing both to the delivery and the subsequent functional intracellular outcomes. This is in contrast to current quantitative canonical rules that dictate just the minimum copies of a miRNA for functional effects, and thus successful transfers, independent of the EV carrier effects. Thus, we argue here that transfers by non-canonical minute quantities of miRNAs must consider the EV carrier effects of functional low levels of exosome transferred miRNA that may not fit conventional reductionist stoichiometric concepts. Accordingly, we have examined traditional stoichiometry vs. systems biology that may be more appropriate for delivered exosome functional responses. Exosome carrier properties discussed include; their required surface activating interactions with targeted cells, potential alternate targets beyond mRNAs, like reaching a threshold, three dimensional aspects of the RNAs, added EV kinetic dynamic aspects making transfers four dimensional, and unique intracellular release from EV that resist intracellular digestion in phagolysosomes. Together these EV carrier considerations might allow systems analysis. This can then result in a more appropriate understanding of transferred exosome carrier-assisted functional transfers. A plea is made that the miRNA expert community, in collaboration with exosome experts, perform new experiments on molecular and quantitative miRNA functional effects in systems that include EVs, like variation in EV type and surface constituents, delivery, dose and time to hopefully create more appropriate and truly current canonical concepts of the consequent miRNA functional transfers by EVs like exosomes.
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Nordick B, Yu PY, Liao G, Hong T. Nonmodular oscillator and switch based on RNA decay drive regeneration of multimodal gene expression. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:3693-3708. [PMID: 35380686 PMCID: PMC9023291 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Periodic gene expression dynamics are key to cell and organism physiology. Studies of oscillatory expression have focused on networks with intuitive regulatory negative feedback loops, leaving unknown whether other common biochemical reactions can produce oscillations. Oscillation and noise have been proposed to support mammalian progenitor cells’ capacity to restore heterogenous, multimodal expression from extreme subpopulations, but underlying networks and specific roles of noise remained elusive. We use mass-action-based models to show that regulated RNA degradation involving as few as two RNA species—applicable to nearly half of human protein-coding genes—can generate sustained oscillations without explicit feedback. Diverging oscillation periods synergize with noise to robustly restore cell populations’ bimodal expression on timescales of days. The global bifurcation organizing this divergence relies on an oscillator and bistable switch which cannot be decomposed into two structural modules. Our work reveals surprisingly rich dynamics of post-transcriptional reactions and a potentially widespread mechanism underlying development, tissue regeneration, and cancer cell heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Nordick
- School of Genome Science and Technology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37916, USA
| | - Polly Y Yu
- NSF-Simons Center for Mathematical and Statistical Analysis of Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
| | - Guangyuan Liao
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37916, USA
| | - Tian Hong
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37916, USA.,National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis, Knoxville, Tennessee 37916, USA
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5
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The miRNome of Depression. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111312. [PMID: 34768740 PMCID: PMC8582693 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Depression is an effect of complex interactions between genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. It is well established that stress responses are associated with multiple modest and often dynamic molecular changes in the homeostatic balance, rather than with a single genetic factor that has a strong phenotypic penetration. As depression is a multifaceted phenotype, it is important to study biochemical pathways that can regulate the overall allostasis of the brain. One such biological system that has the potential to fine-tune a multitude of diverse molecular processes is RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi is an epigenetic process showing a very low level of evolutionary diversity, and relies on the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression using, in the case of mammals, primarily short (17–23 nucleotides) noncoding RNA transcripts called microRNAs (miRNA). In this review, our objective was to examine, summarize and discuss recent advances in the field of biomedical and clinical research on the role of miRNA-mediated regulation of gene expression in the development of depression. We focused on studies investigating post-mortem brain tissue of individuals with depression, as well as research aiming to elucidate the biomarker potential of miRNAs in depression and antidepressant response.
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6
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Li C, Liau ES, Lee Y, Huang Y, Liu Z, Willems A, Garside V, McGlinn E, Chen J, Hong T. MicroRNA governs bistable cell differentiation and lineage segregation via a noncanonical feedback. Mol Syst Biol 2021; 17:e9945. [PMID: 33890404 PMCID: PMC8062999 DOI: 10.15252/msb.20209945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Positive feedback driven by transcriptional regulation has long been considered a key mechanism underlying cell lineage segregation during embryogenesis. Using the developing spinal cord as a paradigm, we found that canonical, transcription-driven feedback cannot explain robust lineage segregation of motor neuron subtypes marked by two cardinal factors, Hoxa5 and Hoxc8. We propose a feedback mechanism involving elementary microRNA-mRNA reaction circuits that differ from known feedback loop-like structures. Strikingly, we show that a wide range of biologically plausible post-transcriptional regulatory parameters are sufficient to generate bistable switches, a hallmark of positive feedback. Through mathematical analysis, we explain intuitively the hidden source of this feedback. Using embryonic stem cell differentiation and mouse genetics, we corroborate that microRNA-mRNA circuits govern tissue boundaries and hysteresis upon motor neuron differentiation with respect to transient morphogen signals. Our findings reveal a previously underappreciated feedback mechanism that may have widespread functions in cell fate decisions and tissue patterning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung‐Jung Li
- Molecular and Cell BiologyTaiwan International Graduate ProgramAcademia Sinica and Graduate Institute of Life ScienceNational Defense Medical CenterTaipeiTaiwan
- Institute of Molecular BiologyAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Ee Shan Liau
- Molecular and Cell BiologyTaiwan International Graduate ProgramAcademia Sinica and Graduate Institute of Life ScienceNational Defense Medical CenterTaipeiTaiwan
- Institute of Molecular BiologyAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Yi‐Han Lee
- Institute of Molecular BiologyAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Yang‐Zhe Huang
- Institute of Molecular BiologyAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Ziyi Liu
- Genome Science and Technology ProgramThe University of TennesseeKnoxvilleTNUSA
| | - Andrew Willems
- Genome Science and Technology ProgramThe University of TennesseeKnoxvilleTNUSA
| | - Victoria Garside
- EMBL AustraliaAustralian Regenerative Medicine InstituteMonash UniversityClaytonVicAustralia
| | - Edwina McGlinn
- EMBL AustraliaAustralian Regenerative Medicine InstituteMonash UniversityClaytonVicAustralia
| | - Jun‐An Chen
- Molecular and Cell BiologyTaiwan International Graduate ProgramAcademia Sinica and Graduate Institute of Life ScienceNational Defense Medical CenterTaipeiTaiwan
- Institute of Molecular BiologyAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
- Neuroscience Program Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Tian Hong
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular BiologyThe University of TennesseeKnoxvilleTNUSA
- National Institute for Mathematical and Biological SynthesisKnoxvilleTNUSA
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Wang F, Han S, Yang J, Yan W, Hu G. Knowledge-Guided "Community Network" Analysis Reveals the Functional Modules and Candidate Targets in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Cells 2021; 10:cells10020402. [PMID: 33669233 PMCID: PMC7919838 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents a heterogeneous group of malignancies that are the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Although many NSCLC-related genes and pathways have been identified, there remains an urgent need to mechanistically understand how these genes and pathways drive NSCLC. Here, we propose a knowledge-guided and network-based integration method, called the node and edge Prioritization-based Community Analysis, to identify functional modules and their candidate targets in NSCLC. The protein–protein interaction network was prioritized by performing a random walk with restart algorithm based on NSCLC seed genes and the integrating edge weights, and then a “community network” was constructed by combining Girvan–Newman and Label Propagation algorithms. This systems biology analysis revealed that the CCNB1-mediated network in the largest community provides a modular biomarker, the second community serves as a drug regulatory module, and the two are connected by some contextual signaling motifs. Moreover, integrating structural information into the signaling network suggested novel protein–protein interactions with therapeutic significance, such as interactions between GNG11 and CXCR2, CXCL3, and PPBP. This study provides new mechanistic insights into the landscape of cellular functions in the context of modular networks and will help in developing therapeutic targets for NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Wang
- Center for Systems Biology, Department of Bioinformatics, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; (F.W.); (S.H.); (J.Y.)
| | - Shuqing Han
- Center for Systems Biology, Department of Bioinformatics, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; (F.W.); (S.H.); (J.Y.)
| | - Ji Yang
- Center for Systems Biology, Department of Bioinformatics, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; (F.W.); (S.H.); (J.Y.)
| | - Wenying Yan
- Center for Systems Biology, Department of Bioinformatics, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; (F.W.); (S.H.); (J.Y.)
- Correspondence: (W.Y.); (G.H.)
| | - Guang Hu
- Center for Systems Biology, Department of Bioinformatics, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; (F.W.); (S.H.); (J.Y.)
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Correspondence: (W.Y.); (G.H.)
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Winner-takes-all resource competition redirects cascading cell fate transitions. Nat Commun 2021; 12:853. [PMID: 33558556 PMCID: PMC7870843 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21125-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Failure of modularity remains a significant challenge for assembling synthetic gene circuits with tested modules as they often do not function as expected. Competition over shared limited gene expression resources is a crucial underlying reason. It was reported that resource competition makes two seemingly separate genes connect in a graded linear manner. Here we unveil nonlinear resource competition within synthetic gene circuits. We first build a synthetic cascading bistable switches (Syn-CBS) circuit in a single strain with two coupled self-activation modules to achieve two successive cell fate transitions. Interestingly, we find that the in vivo transition path was redirected as the activation of one switch always prevails against the other, contrary to the theoretically expected coactivation. This qualitatively different type of resource competition between the two modules follows a ‘winner-takes-all’ rule, where the winner is determined by the relative connection strength between the modules. To decouple the resource competition, we construct a two-strain circuit, which achieves successive activation and stable coactivation of the two switches. These results illustrate that a highly nonlinear hidden interaction between the circuit modules due to resource competition may cause counterintuitive consequences on circuit functions, which can be controlled with a division of labor strategy. Synthetic gene circuits may not function as expected due to the resource competition between modules. Here the authors build cascading bistable switches to achieve two successive cell fate transitions but found a ‘winner-takes-all’ behaviour, which is overcome by a division of labour strategy.
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9
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Tyson JJ, Novak B. A Dynamical Paradigm for Molecular Cell Biology. Trends Cell Biol 2020; 30:504-515. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2020.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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10
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Varghese RS, Zhou Y, Barefoot M, Chen Y, Di Poto C, Balla AK, Oliver E, Sherif ZA, Kumar D, Kroemer AH, Tadesse MG, Ressom HW. Identification of miRNA-mRNA associations in hepatocellular carcinoma using hierarchical integrative model. BMC Med Genomics 2020; 13:56. [PMID: 32228601 PMCID: PMC7106691 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-020-0706-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The established role miRNA-mRNA regulation of gene expression has in oncogenesis highlights the importance of integrating miRNA with downstream mRNA targets. These findings call for investigations aimed at identifying disease-associated miRNA-mRNA pairs. Hierarchical integrative models (HIM) offer the opportunity to uncover the relationships between disease and the levels of different molecules measured in multiple omic studies. Methods The HIM model we formulated for analysis of mRNA-seq and miRNA-seq data can be specified with two levels: (1) a mechanistic submodel relating mRNAs to miRNAs, and (2) a clinical submodel relating disease status to mRNA and miRNA, while accounting for the mechanistic relationships in the first level. Results mRNA-seq and miRNA-seq data were acquired by analysis of tumor and normal liver tissues from 30 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We analyzed the data using HIM and identified 157 significant miRNA-mRNA pairs in HCC. The majority of these molecules have already been independently identified as being either diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic biomarker candidates for HCC. These pairs appear to be involved in processes contributing to the pathogenesis of HCC involving inflammation, regulation of cell cycle, apoptosis, and metabolism. For further evaluation of our method, we analyzed miRNA-seq and mRNA-seq data from TCGA network. While some of the miRNA-mRNA pairs we identified by analyzing both our and TCGA data are previously reported in the literature and overlap in regulation and function, new pairs have been identified that may contribute to the discovery of novel targets. Conclusion The results strongly support the hypothesis that miRNAs are important regulators of mRNAs in HCC. Furthermore, these results emphasize the biological relevance of studying miRNA-mRNA pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rency S Varghese
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Room 175, Building D, 4000 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Room 175, Building D, 4000 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Megan Barefoot
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Room 175, Building D, 4000 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Yifan Chen
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Room 175, Building D, 4000 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Cristina Di Poto
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Room 175, Building D, 4000 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | | | - Everett Oliver
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Room 175, Building D, 4000 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Zaki A Sherif
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Deepak Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Mahlet G Tadesse
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Habtom W Ressom
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Room 175, Building D, 4000 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA.
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Barefoot ME, Varghese RS, Zhou Y, Poto CD, Ferrarini A, Ressom HW. Multi-omic Pathway and Network Analysis to Identify Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2019:1350-1354. [PMID: 31946143 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2019.8856576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The threat of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a growing problem, with incidence rates anticipated to near double over the next two decades. The increasing burden makes discovery of novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers distinguishing HCC from underlying cirrhosis a significant focus. In this study, we analyzed tissue and serum samples from 40 HCC cases and 25 patients with liver cirrhosis (CIRR) to better understand the mechanistic differences between HCC and CIRR. Through pathway and network analysis, we are able to take a systems biology approach to conduct multi-omic analysis of transcriptomic, glycoproteomic, and metabolomic data acquired through various platforms. As a result, we are able to identify the FXR/RXR Activation pathway as being represented by molecules spanning multiple molecular compartments in these samples. Specifically, serum metabolites deoxycholate and chenodeoxycholic acid and serum glycoproteins C4A/C4B, KNG1, and HPX are biomarker candidates identified from this analysis that are of interest for future targeted studies. These results demonstrate the integrative power of multi-omic analysis to prioritize clinically and biologically relevant biomarker candidates that can increase understanding of molecular mechanisms driving HCC and make an impact in patient care.
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12
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Goetz H, Melendez-Alvarez JR, Chen L, Tian XJ. A plausible accelerating function of intermediate states in cancer metastasis. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1007682. [PMID: 32155144 PMCID: PMC7083331 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental cellular process and plays an essential role in development, tissue regeneration, and cancer metastasis. Interestingly, EMT is not a binary process but instead proceeds with multiple partial intermediate states. However, the functions of these intermediate states are not fully understood. Here, we focus on a general question about how the number of partial EMT states affects cell transformation. First, by fitting a hidden Markov model of EMT with experimental data, we propose a statistical mechanism for EMT in which many unobservable microstates may exist within one of the observable macrostates. Furthermore, we find that increasing the number of intermediate states can accelerate the EMT process and that adding parallel paths or transition layers may accelerate the process even further. Last, a stabilized intermediate state traps cells in one partial EMT state. This work advances our understanding of the dynamics and functions of EMT plasticity during cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanah Goetz
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Juan R. Melendez-Alvarez
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Luonan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Tian
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
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Miotto M, Marinari E, De Martino A. Competing endogenous RNA crosstalk at system level. PLoS Comput Biol 2019; 15:e1007474. [PMID: 31675359 PMCID: PMC6853376 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression at post-transcriptional level by repressing target RNA molecules. Competition to bind miRNAs tends in turn to correlate their targets, establishing effective RNA-RNA interactions that can influence expression levels, buffer fluctuations and promote signal propagation. Such a potential has been characterized mathematically for small motifs both at steady state and away from stationarity. Experimental evidence, on the other hand, suggests that competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) crosstalk is rather weak. Extended miRNA-RNA networks could however favour the integration of many crosstalk interactions, leading to significant large-scale effects in spite of the weakness of individual links. To clarify the extent to which crosstalk is sustained by the miRNA interactome, we have studied its emergent systemic features in silico in large-scale miRNA-RNA network reconstructions. We show that, although generically weak, system-level crosstalk patterns (i) are enhanced by transcriptional heterogeneities, (ii) can achieve high-intensity even for RNAs that are not co-regulated, (iii) are robust to variability in transcription rates, and (iv) are significantly non-local, i.e. correlate weakly with miRNA-RNA interaction parameters. Furthermore, RNA levels are generically more stable when crosstalk is strongest. As some of these features appear to be encoded in the network's topology, crosstalk may functionally be favoured by natural selection. These results suggest that, besides their repressive role, miRNAs mediate a weak but resilient and context-independent network of cross-regulatory interactions that interconnect the transcriptome, stabilize expression levels and support system-level responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Miotto
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Enzo Marinari
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea De Martino
- Soft & Living Matter Lab, CNR NANOTEC, Rome, Italy
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, Turin, Italy
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14
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Xing J, Tian XJ. Investigating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition with integrated computational and experimental approaches. Phys Biol 2019; 16:031001. [PMID: 30665206 PMCID: PMC6609444 DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/ab0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The transition between epithelial and mesenchymal (EMT) is a fundamental cellular process that plays critical roles in development, cancer metastasis, and tissue wound healing. EMT is not a binary process but involves multiple partial EMT states that give rise to a high degree of cell state plasticity. Here, we first reviewed several studies on theoretical predictions and experimental verification of these intermediate states, the role of partial EMT on kidney fibrosis development, and how quantitative signaling information controls cell commitment to partial or full EMT upon transient signals. Next, we summarized existing knowledge and open questions on the coupling between EMT and other biological processes, such as the cell cycle, epigenetic regulation, stemness, and apoptosis. Taken together, EMT is a model system that has attracted increasing interests for quantitative experimental and theoretical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Xing
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261, United States of America. UPMC-Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America. To whom correspondence should be addressed
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Abstract
Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play critical roles in essential cell fate decisions. However, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying ncRNA-mediated bistable switches remain elusive and controversial. In recent years, systematic mathematical and quantitative experimental analyses have made significant contributions on elucidating the molecular mechanisms of controlling ncRNA-mediated cell fate decision processes. In this chapter, we review and summarize the general framework of mathematical modeling of ncRNA in a pedagogical way and the application of this general framework on real biological processes. We discuss the emerging properties resulting from the reciprocal regulation between mRNA, miRNA, and competing endogenous mRNA (ceRNA), as well as the role of mathematical modeling of ncRNA in synthetic biology. Both the positive feedback loops between ncRNAs and transcription factors and the emerging properties from the miRNA-mRNA reciprocal regulation enable bistable switches to direct cell fate decision.
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Mukilan M, Rajathei DM, Jeyaraj E, Kayalvizhi N, Rajan KE. MiR-132 regulated olfactory bulb proteins linked to olfactory learning in greater short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx. Gene 2018; 671:10-20. [PMID: 29859284 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.05.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Earlier, we showed that micro RNA-132 (miR-132) regulate the immediate early genes (IEGs) in the olfactory bulb (OB) of fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx during olfactory learning. This study was designed to examine whether the miR-132 regulate other proteins in OB during olfactory learning. To test this, miR-132 anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotide (AS-ODN) was delivered to the OB and then trained to novel odor. The 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis showed that inhibition of miR-132 altered olfactory training induced expression of 321 proteins. Further, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis reveals the identity of differently expressed proteins such as phosphoribosyl transferase domain containing protein (PRTFDC 1), Sorting nexin-8 (SNX8), Creatine kinase B-type (CKB) and Annexin A11 (ANX A11). Among them PRTFDC 1 showing 189 matching peptides with highest sequence coverage (67.0%) and protein-protein interaction analysis showed that PRTFDC 1 is a homolog of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase-1 (HPRT-1). Subsequent immunohistochemical analysis (IHC) showed that inhibition of miR-132 down-regulated HPRT expression in OB of C. sphinx. In addition, western blot analysis depicts that HPRT, serotonin transporter (SERT), N-methyl-d-asparate (NMDA) receptors (2A,B) were down-regulated, but not altered in OB of non-sense oligodeoxynucleotide (NS-ODN) infused groups. These analyses suggest that miR-132 regulates the process of olfactory learning and memory formation through SERT and NMDA receptors signalling, which is possibly associated with the PRTFDC1-HPRT interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murugan Mukilan
- Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India
| | - David Mary Rajathei
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India
| | - Edwin Jeyaraj
- Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India
| | | | - Koilmani Emmanuvel Rajan
- Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India.
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Sengupta D, Govindaraj V, Kar S. Alteration in microRNA-17-92 dynamics accounts for differential nature of cellular proliferation. FEBS Lett 2018; 592:446-458. [PMID: 29331028 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs associated with the mir-17-92 cluster are crucial regulators of the mammalian cell cycle, as they inhibit transcription factors related to the E2F family that tightly control decision-making events for a cell to commit for active cellular proliferation. Intriguingly, in many solid cancers, these mir-17-92 cluster members are overexpressed, whereas in some hematopoietic cancers they are down-regulated. Our proposed model of the Myc/E2F/mir-17-92 network demonstrates that the differential expression pattern of mir-17-92 in different cell types can be conceived due to having a contrasting E2F dynamics induced by mir-17-92. The model predicts that by explicitly altering the mir-17-92-related part of the network, experimentally it is possible to control cellular proliferation in a cell type-dependent manner for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sandip Kar
- Department of Chemistry, IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India
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18
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Burger GA, Danen EHJ, Beltman JB. Deciphering Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Regulatory Networks in Cancer through Computational Approaches. Front Oncol 2017; 7:162. [PMID: 28824874 PMCID: PMC5540937 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2017.00162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), the process by which epithelial cells can convert into motile mesenchymal cells, plays an important role in development and wound healing but is also involved in cancer progression. It is increasingly recognized that EMT is a dynamic process involving multiple intermediate or “hybrid” phenotypes rather than an “all-or-none” process. However, the role of EMT in various cancer hallmarks, including metastasis, is debated. Given the complexity of EMT regulation, computational modeling has proven to be an invaluable tool for cancer research, i.e., to resolve apparent conflicts in experimental data and to guide experiments by generating testable hypotheses. In this review, we provide an overview of computational modeling efforts that have been applied to regulation of EMT in the context of cancer progression and its associated tumor characteristics. Moreover, we identify possibilities to bridge different modeling approaches and point out outstanding questions in which computational modeling can contribute to advance our understanding of pathological EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard A Burger
- Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Erik H J Danen
- Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Joost B Beltman
- Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
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