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Ortega-Alarcon D, Claveria-Gimeno R, Vega S, Kalani L, Jorge-Torres OC, Esteller M, Ausio J, Abian O, Velazquez-Campoy A. Extending MeCP2 interactome: canonical nucleosomal histones interact with MeCP2. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:3636-3653. [PMID: 38321951 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
MeCP2 is a general regulator of transcription involved in the repression/activation of genes depending on the local epigenetic context. It acts as a chromatin regulator and binds with exquisite specificity to gene promoters. The set of epigenetic marks recognized by MeCP2 has been already established (mainly, cytosine modifications in CpG and CpA), as well as many of the constituents of its interactome. We unveil a new set of interactions for MeCP2 with the four canonical nucleosomal histones. MeCP2 interacts with high affinity with H2A, H2B, H3 and H4. In addition, Rett syndrome associated mutations in MeCP2 and histone epigenetic marks modulate these interactions. Given the abundance and the structural/functional relevance of histones and their involvement in epigenetic regulation, this new set of interactions and its modulating elements provide a new addition to the 'alphabet' for this epigenetic reader.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Ortega-Alarcon
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Unit GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Sonia Vega
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Unit GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ladan Kalani
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BCV8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Olga C Jorge-Torres
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manel Esteller
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
- Physiological Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), 08907 l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Ausio
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BCV8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Olga Abian
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Unit GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Adrian Velazquez-Campoy
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Unit GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
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Rastegar M, Davie JR. MeCP2 is the protector of epigenome integrity, membrane-less nuclear architecture, and stability of chromatin assembly. Epigenomics 2023; 15:1027-1031. [PMID: 37937403 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2023-0310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Tweetable abstract MeCP2 is an epigenetic factor with global impact in epigenome integrity, membrane-less nuclear architecture, and chromatin stability. Our Editorial covers recent advances on these important topics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojgan Rastegar
- Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, MB, R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - James R Davie
- Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, MB, R3E 0J9, Canada
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Ortega-Alarcon D, Claveria-Gimeno R, Vega S, Jorge-Torres OC, Esteller M, Abian O, Velazquez-Campoy A. Unexpected thermodynamic signature for the interaction of hydroxymethylated DNA with MeCP2. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 232:123373. [PMID: 36702223 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Hydroxymethylated cytosine (5hmC) is a stable DNA epigenetic mark recognized by methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), which acts as a transcriptional regulator and a global chromatin-remodeling element. Because 5hmC triggers a gene regulation response markedly different from that produced by methylated cytosine (5mC), both modifications must affect DNA structure and/or DNA interaction with MeCP2 differently. MeCP2 is a six-domain intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) with two domains responsible for dsDNA binding: methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) and intervening domain (ID). Here we report the detailed thermodynamic characterization of the interaction of hmCpG-DNA with MeCP2. We find that hmCpG-DNA interacts with MeCP2 in a distinctly different mode with a particular thermodynamic signature, compared to methylated or unmethylated DNA. In addition, we find evidence for Rett syndrome-associated mutations altering the interaction of MeCP2 with dsDNA in a cytosine modification-specific manner which may correlate with disease onset time and clinical severity score.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Ortega-Alarcon
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units GBsC-CSIC-BIFI and ICVV-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain
| | - Rafael Claveria-Gimeno
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units GBsC-CSIC-BIFI and ICVV-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sonia Vega
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units GBsC-CSIC-BIFI and ICVV-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain
| | - Olga C Jorge-Torres
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, 08916 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manel Esteller
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, 08916 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain; Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain; Physiological Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olga Abian
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units GBsC-CSIC-BIFI and ICVV-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Adrian Velazquez-Campoy
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units GBsC-CSIC-BIFI and ICVV-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, 08916 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
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Pathak H, Borchert A, Garaali S, Burkert A, Frieling H. BDNF exon IV promoter methylation and antidepressant action: a complex interplay. Clin Epigenetics 2022; 14:187. [PMID: 36572893 PMCID: PMC9793565 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01415-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND BDNF exon IV promoter methylation is a potential biomarker for treatment response to antidepressants in MDD. We have previously shown CpG-87 methylation as a successful biomarker for the prediction of non-response to monoaminergic antidepressants like the SSRI Fluoxetine or the SNRI Venlafaxine. This study aimed to dissect the biological evidence and mechanisms for the functionality of CpG-87 methylation in a cell culture model. RESULTS We observed a significant interaction between methylation and antidepressant-mediated transcriptional activity in BDNF exon IV promoter. In addition, antidepressant treatment increased the promoter methylation in a concentration-dependent manner. Further single CpG methylation of -87 did not change the promoter activity, but methylation of CREB domain CpG-39 increased the transcriptional activity in an antidepressant-dependent manner. Interestingly, DNMT3a overexpression also increases the BDNF exon IV transcription and more so in Venlafaxine-treated cells. CONCLUSIONS The study strengthens the previously reported association between antidepressant treatment and BDNF exon IV promoter methylation as well as hints toward the mechanism of action. We argue that potential CpG methylation biomarkers display a complex synergy with the molecular changes at the neighboring CpG positions, thus highlighting the importance of epiallele analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hansi Pathak
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Laboratory for Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School (MHH), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Anton Borchert
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Laboratory for Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School (MHH), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Sara Garaali
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Laboratory for Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School (MHH), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexandra Burkert
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Laboratory for Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School (MHH), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Helge Frieling
- grid.10423.340000 0000 9529 9877Laboratory for Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School (MHH), 30625 Hannover, Germany
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Loers G, Kleene R, Girbes Minguez M, Schachner M. The Cell Adhesion Molecule L1 Interacts with Methyl CpG Binding Protein 2 via Its Intracellular Domain. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073554. [PMID: 35408913 PMCID: PMC8998178 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell adhesion molecule L1 regulates multiple cell functions, and L1 deficiency is linked to several neural diseases. Recently, we have identified methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) as a potential binding partner of the intracellular L1 domain. By ELISA we show here that L1's intracellular domain binds directly to MeCP2 via the sequence motif KDET. Proximity ligation assay with cultured cerebellar and cortical neurons suggests a close association between L1 and MeCP2 in nuclei of neurons. Immunoprecipitation using MeCP2 antibodies and nuclear mouse brain extracts indicates that MeCP2 interacts with an L1 fragment of ~55 kDa (L1-55). Proximity ligation assay indicates that metalloproteases, β-site of amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE1) and ɣ-secretase, are involved in the generation of L1-55. Reduction in MeCP2 expression by siRNA decreases L1-dependent neurite outgrowth from cultured cortical neurons as well as the migration of L1-expressing HEK293 cells. Moreover, L1 siRNA, MeCP2 siRNA, or a cell-penetrating KDET-containing L1 peptide leads to reduced levels of myocyte enhancer factor 2C (Mef2c) mRNA and protein in cortical neurons, suggesting that the MeCP2/L1 interaction regulates Mef2c expression. Altogether, the present findings indicate that the interaction of the novel fragment L1-55 with MeCP2 affects L1-dependent functions, such as neurite outgrowth and neuronal migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Loers
- Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (G.L.); (R.K.); (M.G.M.)
| | - Ralf Kleene
- Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (G.L.); (R.K.); (M.G.M.)
| | - Maria Girbes Minguez
- Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (G.L.); (R.K.); (M.G.M.)
| | - Melitta Schachner
- Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-848-445-1780
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6
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Bouzroud W, Tazzite A, Berrada S, Gazzaz B, Dehbi H. R306X Mutation in the MECP2 Gene Causes an Atypical Rett Syndrome in a Moroccan Patient: A Case Report. CLINICAL PATHOLOGY (THOUSAND OAKS, VENTURA COUNTY, CALIF.) 2022; 15:2632010X221124269. [PMID: 36147795 PMCID: PMC9486266 DOI: 10.1177/2632010x221124269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a rare X-linked syndrome that predominantly affects girls.
It is characterized by a severe and progressive neurodevelopmental disorder with
neurological regression and autism spectrum features. The Rett syndrome is
associated with a broad phenotypic spectrum. It ranges from a classical Rett
syndrome defined by well-established criteria to atypical cases with symptoms
similar to other syndromes, such as Angelman syndrome. The first case of a
Moroccan female child carrying a R306X mutation in the MECP2
(Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2) gene, with an unusual manifestation of Rett
syndrome, is presented here. She showed autistic regression, behavioral
stagnation, epilepsy, unmotivated laughter, and craniofacial dysmorphia. Whole
exome sequencing revealed a nonsense mutation (R306X), resulting in a truncated,
nonfunctional MECP2 protein. The overlapping phenotypic spectrums between Rett
and Angelman syndromes have been described, and an interaction between the
MECP2 gene and the UBE3A (Ubiquitin
Protein Ligase E3A) gene pathways is possible but has not yet been proven. An
extensive genetic analysis is highly recommended in atypical cases to ensure an
accurate diagnosis and to improve patient management and genetic counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wafaa Bouzroud
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Amal Tazzite
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Sarah Berrada
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Bouchaïb Gazzaz
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco.,Genetics Analysis Institute, Royal Gendarmerie, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Hind Dehbi
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco.,Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
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Stabilization Effect of Intrinsically Disordered Regions on Multidomain Proteins: The Case of the Methyl-CpG Protein 2, MeCP2. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11081216. [PMID: 34439881 PMCID: PMC8391517 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsic disorder plays an important functional role in proteins. Disordered regions are linked to posttranslational modifications, conformational switching, extra/intracellular trafficking, and allosteric control, among other phenomena. Disorder provides proteins with enhanced plasticity, resulting in a dynamic protein conformational/functional landscape, with well-structured and disordered regions displaying reciprocal, interdependent features. Although lacking well-defined conformation, disordered regions may affect the intrinsic stability and functional properties of ordered regions. MeCP2, methyl-CpG binding protein 2, is a multifunctional transcriptional regulator associated with neuronal development and maturation. MeCP2 multidomain structure makes it a prototype for multidomain, multifunctional, intrinsically disordered proteins (IDP). The methyl-binding domain (MBD) is one of the key domains in MeCP2, responsible for DNA recognition. It has been reported previously that the two disordered domains flanking MBD, the N-terminal domain (NTD) and the intervening domain (ID), increase the intrinsic stability of MBD against thermal denaturation. In order to prove unequivocally this stabilization effect, ruling out any artifactual result from monitoring the unfolding MBD with a local fluorescence probe (the single tryptophan in MBD) or from driving the protein unfolding by temperature, we have studied the MBD stability by differential scanning calorimetry (reporting on the global unfolding process) and chemical denaturation (altering intramolecular interactions by a different mechanism compared to thermal denaturation).
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Spatiotemporal 22q11.21 Protein Network Implicates DGCR8-Dependent MicroRNA Biogenesis as a Risk for Late-Fetal Cortical Development in Psychiatric Diseases. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11060514. [PMID: 34073122 PMCID: PMC8227527 DOI: 10.3390/life11060514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The chromosome 22q11.21 copy number variant (CNV) is a vital risk factor that can be a genetic predisposition to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). As the 22q11.21 CNV affects multiple genes, causal disease genes and mechanisms affected are still poorly understood. Thus, we aimed to identify the most impactful 22q11.21 CNV genes and the potential impacted human brain regions, developmental stages and signaling pathways. We constructed the spatiotemporal dynamic networks of 22q11.21 CNV genes using the brain developmental transcriptome and physical protein–protein interactions. The affected brain regions, developmental stages, driver genes and pathways were subsequently investigated via integrated bioinformatics analysis. As a result, we first identified that 22q11.21 CNV genes affect the cortical area mainly during late fetal periods. Interestingly, we observed that connections between a driver gene, DGCR8, and its interacting partners, MECP2 and CUL3, also network hubs, only existed in the network of the late fetal period within the cortical region, suggesting their functional specificity during brain development. We also confirmed the physical interaction result between DGCR8 and CUL3 by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In conclusion, our results could suggest that the disruption of DGCR8-dependent microRNA biogenesis plays a vital role in NDD for late fetal cortical development.
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Sar P, Dalai S. CRISPR/Cas9 in epigenetics studies of health and disease. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2021; 181:309-343. [PMID: 34127198 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2021.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetics is the heritable phenotypic changes without altering the genotype. Epigenetic processes are such as histone methylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, sumoylation, phosphorylation, ADP ribosylation, DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs interactions associated with structural changes in chromatin. The change of structure is either open chromatin for "active" state or closed chromatin for "inactive" state, that regulates important biological phenomenon like chromatin condensation, gene expression, DNA repair, cellular development, differentiation and homeostasis, etc. However, dysregulation of epigenetic patterns causes diseases like cancer, diabetes, neurological disorder, infectious diseases, autoimmunity etc. Besides, the most important clinical uses of Epigenetics studies are i. identification of disease biomarkers and ii. development of their therapeutics. Epigenetic therapies include epi-drugs, combinatorial therapy, nanocarriers, plant-derived products that are being used for changing the epigenetic pattern to reverse gene expression. However, the developed epi- drugs cause off-target gene and transposable elements activation; promote mutagenesis and carcinogenesis in normal cells, are the major hurdles regarding their clinical use. Therefore, advanced epigenetic therapeutics are required to develop target-specific epigenetic modifications to reverse gene expression pattern. CRISPR-Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Palindrome Repeats-associated protein 9) system-mediated gene activation mechanism paves new methods of target-specific epigenetic therapeutics to cure diseases. In this chapter, we discuss how CRISPR/Cas9 and dCas9 have recently been engineered for epigenome editing. Different strategies have been discussed used for epigenome editing based on their efficacy and complexity. Last but not least we have discussed the limitations, different uses of CRISPR/Cas9 and dCas9 in the area of genetic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranati Sar
- Institute of Science, NIRMA University, Ahmedabad, India.
| | - Sarat Dalai
- Institute of Science, NIRMA University, Ahmedabad, India.
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10
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D'Mello SR. MECP2 and the Biology of MECP2 Duplication Syndrome. J Neurochem 2021; 159:29-60. [PMID: 33638179 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS), a rare X-linked genomic disorder affecting predominantly males, is caused by duplication of the chromosomal region containing the methyl CpG binding protein-2 (MECP2) gene, which encodes methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2), a multi-functional protein required for proper brain development and maintenance of brain function during adulthood. Disease symptoms include severe motor and cognitive impairment, delayed or absent speech development, autistic features, seizures, ataxia, recurrent respiratory infections and shortened lifespan. The cellular and molecular mechanisms by which a relatively modest increase in MECP2 protein causes such severe disease symptoms are poorly understood and consequently there are no treatments available for this fatal disorder. This review summarizes what is known to date about the structure and complex regulation of MECP2 and its many functions in the developing and adult brain. Additionally, recent experimental findings on the cellular and molecular underpinnings of MDS based on cell culture and mouse models of the disorder are reviewed. The emerging picture from these studies is that MDS is a neurodegenerative disorder in which neurons die in specific parts of the central nervous system, including the cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum and spinal cord. Neuronal death likely results from astrocytic dysfunction, including a breakdown of glutamate homeostatic mechanisms. The role of elevations in the expression of glial acidic fibrillary protein (GFAP) in astrocytes and the microtubule-associated protein, Tau, in neurons to the pathogenesis of MDS is discussed. Lastly, potential therapeutic strategies to potentially treat MDS are discussed.
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11
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Ortega-Alarcon D, Claveria-Gimeno R, Vega S, Jorge-Torres OC, Esteller M, Abian O, Velazquez-Campoy A. Influence of the disordered domain structure of MeCP2 on its structural stability and dsDNA interaction. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 175:58-66. [PMID: 33548325 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.01.206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a transcriptional regulator and a chromatin-associated structural protein. MeCP2 deregulation results in two neurodevelopmental disorders: MeCP2 dysfunction is associated with Rett syndrome, while excess of activity is associated with MeCP2 duplication syndrome. MeCP2 is an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) constituted by six structural domains with variable, small percentage of well-defined secondary structure. Two domains, methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) and transcription repressor domain (TRD), are the elements responsible for dsDNA binding ability and recruitment of the gene transcription/silencing machinery, respectively. Previously we studied the influence of the completely disordered, MBD-flanking domains (N-terminal domain, NTD, and intervening domain, ID) on the structural and functional features of the MBD (Claveria-Gimeno, R. et al. Sci Rep. 2017, 7, 41,635). Here we report the biophysical study of the influence of the remaining domains (transcriptional repressor domain, TRD, and C-terminal domains, CTDα and CTDβ) on the structural stability of MBD and the dsDNA binding capabilities of MBD and ID. The influence of distant disordered domains on MBD properties makes it necessary to consider the NTD-MBD-ID variant as the minimal protein construct for studying dsDNA/chromatin binding properties, while the full-length protein should be considered for transcriptional regulation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Ortega-Alarcon
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain
| | - Rafael Claveria-Gimeno
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sonia Vega
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain
| | - Olga C Jorge-Torres
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manel Esteller
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Cancer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain; Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain; Physiological Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), 08907, l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olga Abian
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Adrian Velazquez-Campoy
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Fundación ARAID, Gobierno de Aragón, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
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12
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Puente-Bedia A, Berciano MT, Tapia O, Martínez-Cué C, Lafarga M, Rueda N. Nuclear Reorganization in Hippocampal Granule Cell Neurons from a Mouse Model of Down Syndrome: Changes in Chromatin Configuration, Nucleoli and Cajal Bodies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22031259. [PMID: 33514010 PMCID: PMC7865916 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) or trisomy of chromosome 21 (Hsa21) is characterized by impaired hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. These alterations are due to defective neurogenesis and to neuromorphological and functional anomalies of numerous neuronal populations, including hippocampal granular cells (GCs). It has been proposed that the additional gene dose in trisomic cells induces modifications in nuclear compartments and on the chromatin landscape, which could contribute to some DS phenotypes. The Ts65Dn (TS) mouse model of DS carries a triplication of 92 genes orthologous to those found in Hsa21, and shares many phenotypes with DS individuals, including cognitive and neuromorphological alterations. Considering its essential role in hippocampal memory formation, we investigated whether the triplication of this set of Hsa21 orthologous genes in TS mice modifies the nuclear architecture of their GCs. Our results show that the TS mouse presents alterations in the nuclear architecture of its GCs, affecting nuclear compartments involved in transcription and pre-rRNA and pre-mRNA processing. In particular, the GCs of the TS mouse show alterations in the nucleolar fusion pattern and the molecular assembly of Cajal bodies (CBs). Furthermore, hippocampal GCs of TS mice present an epigenetic dysregulation of chromatin that results in an increased heterochromatinization and reduced global transcriptional activity. These nuclear alterations could play an important role in the neuromorphological and/or functional alterations of the hippocampal GCs implicated in the cognitive dysfunction characteristic of TS mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Puente-Bedia
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain; (A.P.-B.); (C.M.-C.)
| | - María T. Berciano
- Department of Molecular Biology, “Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED)” and University of Cantabria-IDIVAL, 39011 Santander, Spain;
| | - Olga Tapia
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Valdecilla (IDIVAL), “Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED)” and Universidad Europea del Atlántico, 39011 Santander, Spain;
| | - Carmen Martínez-Cué
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain; (A.P.-B.); (C.M.-C.)
| | - Miguel Lafarga
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, “Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED)” and University of Cantabria-IDIVAL, 39011 Santander, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.L.); (N.R.); Tel.: +34-942201966 (N.R.); Fax: +34-942201903 (N.R.)
| | - Noemí Rueda
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain; (A.P.-B.); (C.M.-C.)
- Correspondence: (M.L.); (N.R.); Tel.: +34-942201966 (N.R.); Fax: +34-942201903 (N.R.)
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13
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Wang Y, Xie Y, Dong ZC, Jiang XJ, Gong P, Lu J, Wan F. Levels of sgRNA as a Major Factor Affecting CRISPRi Knockdown Efficiency in K562 Cells. Mol Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893321010143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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14
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Ortega-Alarcon D, Claveria-Gimeno R, Vega S, Jorge-Torres OC, Esteller M, Abian O, Velazquez-Campoy A. Molecular Context-Dependent Effects Induced by Rett Syndrome-Associated Mutations in MeCP2. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10111533. [PMID: 33182787 PMCID: PMC7696773 DOI: 10.3390/biom10111533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a transcriptional regulator and a chromatin-binding protein involved in neuronal development and maturation. Loss-of-function mutations in MeCP2 result in Rett syndrome (RTT), a neurodevelopmental disorder that is the main cause of mental retardation in females. MeCP2 is an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) constituted by six domains. Two domains are the main responsible elements for DNA binding (methyl-CpG binding domain, MBD) and recruitment of gene transcription/silencing machinery (transcription repressor domain, TRD). These two domains concentrate most of the RTT-associated mutations. R106W and R133C are associated with severe and mild RTT phenotype, respectively. We have performed a comprehensive characterization of the structural and functional impact of these substitutions at molecular level. Because we have previously shown that the MBD-flanking disordered domains (N-terminal domain, NTD, and intervening domain, ID) exert a considerable influence on the structural and functional features of the MBD (Claveria-Gimeno, R. et al. Sci Rep. 2017, 7, 41635), here we report the biophysical study of the influence of the protein scaffold on the structural and functional effect induced by these two RTT-associated mutations. These results represent an example of how a given mutation may show different effects (sometimes opposing effects) depending on the molecular context.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Ortega-Alarcon
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain; (D.O.-A.); (R.C.-G.); (S.V.)
| | - Rafael Claveria-Gimeno
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain; (D.O.-A.); (R.C.-G.); (S.V.)
- Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sonia Vega
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain; (D.O.-A.); (R.C.-G.); (S.V.)
| | - Olga C. Jorge-Torres
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (O.C.J.-T.); (M.E.)
| | - Manel Esteller
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (O.C.J.-T.); (M.E.)
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Cancer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
- Physiological Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olga Abian
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain; (D.O.-A.); (R.C.-G.); (S.V.)
- Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Correspondence: (O.A.); (A.V.-C.); Tel.: +34-876-555-417 (O.A.); +34-976-762-996 (A.V.-C.)
| | - Adrian Velazquez-Campoy
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain; (D.O.-A.); (R.C.-G.); (S.V.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Fundación ARAID, Gobierno de Aragón, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Correspondence: (O.A.); (A.V.-C.); Tel.: +34-876-555-417 (O.A.); +34-976-762-996 (A.V.-C.)
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15
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Sevastre-Berghian AC, Ielciu I, Mitre AO, Filip GA, Oniga I, Vlase L, Benedec D, Gheldiu AM, Toma VA, Mihart B, Mihuţ A, Bâldea I, Olteanu D, Chis IC, Clichici SV, Hanganu D. Targeting Oxidative Stress Reduction and Inhibition of HDAC1, MECP2, and NF-kB Pathways in Rats With Experimentally Induced Hyperglycemia by Administration of Thymus marshallianus Willd. Extracts. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:581470. [PMID: 33071792 PMCID: PMC7538623 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.581470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The effects of two lyophilized extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Thymus marschallianus Willd. and harvested from wild flora (TMW) and obtained from culture (TMC) were evaluated in Wistar rats with experimentally induced hyperglycemia. The hyperglycemia was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) administration and the obtained results were evaluated in comparison for TMW and TMC. The polyphenolic composition of extracts was evaluated by spectrophotometrical and LC-MS methods. In vitro antioxidant capacity assays (DPPH, FRAP, EPR) were performed in order to preliminary establish the ability of tested samples to protect against free radical induced damage. Afterwards, the effects of these extracts were assessed in vivo on rats with experimental-induced hyperglycemia. Oxidative stress biomarkers (e.g. malondialdehyde—MDA), phosphorylated transcription factor subunit of nuclear kappaB (NF-kB) p65, methyl CpG binding protein (MECP) 2 and histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) expressions in hippocampus and frontal lobe were assessed. Open Field Test (OFT) and Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) were conducted on tested animals. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and HDAC1and MeCP2 expressions increased significantly in hippocampus (p<0.05) and frontal lobe (p<0.001) of diabetes group compared to the control group in parallel with decreasing of GSH/GSSG ratio. TMW and TMC administration reduced blood glucose levels and diminished lipid peroxidation, HDAC1 expression and enhanced antioxidant capacity in frontal lobe. TMW improved central locomotion of rats, increased phospho-NFkB p65 and diminished MECP2 expressions in hippocampus. Both tested samples exerted a beneficial effect by increasing the antioxidant defense. Our findings indicate that the administration of these extracts might represent a good option in the treatment of diabetes and its complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra C Sevastre-Berghian
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Irina Ielciu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei Otto Mitre
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gabriela A Filip
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ilioara Oniga
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Laurian Vlase
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Daniela Benedec
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ana-Maria Gheldiu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Vlad A Toma
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Department of Biochemistry and Experimental Biology, Institute of Biological Research, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Department of Molecular and Biomolecular Physics, NIRD for Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Bianca Mihart
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andra Mihuţ
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ioana Bâldea
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Diana Olteanu
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Irina C Chis
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Simona V Clichici
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Daniela Hanganu
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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16
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Girbes Minguez M, Wolters-Eisfeld G, Lutz D, Buck F, Schachner M, Kleene R. The cell adhesion molecule L1 interacts with nuclear proteins via its intracellular domain. FASEB J 2020; 34:9869-9883. [PMID: 32533745 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201902242r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Proteolytic cleavage of the cell adhesion molecule L1 (L1) in brain tissue and in cultured cerebellar neurons results in the generation and nuclear import of a 30 kDa fragment comprising most of L1's C-terminal, intracellular domain. In search of molecules that interact with this domain, we performed affinity chromatography with the recombinant intracellular L1 domain and a nuclear extract from mouse brains, and identified potential nuclear L1 binding partners involved in transcriptional regulation, RNA processing and transport, DNA repair, chromatin remodeling, and nucleocytoplasmic transport. By co-immunoprecipitation and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant proteins, we verified the direct interaction between L1 and the nuclear binding partners non-POU domain containing octamer-binding protein and splicing factor proline/glutamine-rich. The proximity ligation assay confirmed this close interaction in cultures of cerebellar granule cells. Our findings suggest that L1 fragments regulate multiple nuclear functions in the nervous system. We discuss possible physiological and pathological roles of these interactions in regulation of chromatin structure, gene expression, RNA processing, and DNA repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Girbes Minguez
- Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gerrit Wolters-Eisfeld
- Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - David Lutz
- Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Buck
- Zentrum für Diagnostik, Institut für Klinische Chemie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Melitta Schachner
- Center for Neuroscience, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience and Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Ralf Kleene
- Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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17
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Hsu JY, Major JL, Riching AS, Sen R, Pires da Silva J, Bagchi RA. Beyond the genome: challenges and potential for epigenetics-driven therapeutic approaches in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Biochem Cell Biol 2020; 98:631-646. [PMID: 32706995 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2020-0039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease of the cardiopulmonary system caused by the narrowing of the pulmonary arteries, leading to increased vascular resistance and pressure. This leads to right ventricle remodeling, dysfunction, and eventually, death. While conventional therapies have largely focused on targeting vasodilation, other pathological features of PAH including aberrant inflammation, mitochondrial dynamics, cell proliferation, and migration have not been well explored. Thus, despite some recent improvements in PAH treatment, the life expectancy and quality of life for patients with PAH remains poor. Showing many similarities to cancers, PAH is characterized by increased pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation, decreased apoptotic signaling pathways, and changes in metabolism. The recent successes of therapies targeting epigenetic modifiers for the treatment of cancer has prompted epigenetic research in PAH, revealing many new potential therapeutic targets. In this minireview we discuss the emergence of epigenetic dysregulation in PAH and highlight epigenetic-targeting compounds that may be effective for the treatment of PAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Y Hsu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jennifer L Major
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Andrew S Riching
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Rwik Sen
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Julie Pires da Silva
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Rushita A Bagchi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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18
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Fan C, Zhang H, Fu L, Li Y, Du Y, Qiu Z, Lu F. Rett mutations attenuate phase separation of MeCP2. Cell Discov 2020; 6:38. [PMID: 32566246 PMCID: PMC7296026 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-020-0172-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
| | - Honglian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
| | - Liangzheng Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Yuejiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Yi Du
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Zilong Qiu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031 Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031 Shanghai, China
| | - Falong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
- The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
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19
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Jagtap S, Thanos JM, Fu T, Wang J, Lalonde J, Dial TO, Feiglin A, Chen J, Kohane I, Lee JT, Sheridan SD, Perlis RH. Aberrant mitochondrial function in patient-derived neural cells from CDKL5 deficiency disorder and Rett syndrome. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:3625-3636. [PMID: 31518399 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The X-linked neurodevelopmental diseases CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) and Rett syndrome (RTT) are associated with intellectual disability, infantile spasms and seizures. Although mitochondrial dysfunction has been suggested in RTT, less is understood about mitochondrial function in CDD. A comparison of bioenergetics and mitochondrial function between isogenic wild-type and mutant neural progenitor cell (NPC) lines revealed increased oxygen consumption in CDD mutant lines, which is associated with altered mitochondrial function and structure. Transcriptomic analysis revealed differential expression of genes related to mitochondrial and REDOX function in NPCs expressing the mutant CDKL5. Furthermore, a similar increase in oxygen consumption specific to RTT patient-derived isogenic mutant NPCs was observed, though the pattern of mitochondrial functional alterations was distinct from CDKL5 mutant-expressing NPCs. We propose that aberrant neural bioenergetics is a common feature between CDD and RTT disorders. The observed changes in oxidative stress and mitochondrial function may facilitate the development of therapeutic agents for CDD and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smita Jagtap
- Center for Quantitative Health, Center for Genomic Medicine, and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jessica M Thanos
- Center for Quantitative Health, Center for Genomic Medicine, and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ting Fu
- Center for Quantitative Health, Center for Genomic Medicine, and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jennifer Wang
- Center for Quantitative Health, Center for Genomic Medicine, and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jasmin Lalonde
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Thomas O Dial
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ariel Feiglin
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jeffrey Chen
- Center for Quantitative Health, Center for Genomic Medicine, and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Isaac Kohane
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jeannie T Lee
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Steven D Sheridan
- Center for Quantitative Health, Center for Genomic Medicine, and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Roy H Perlis
- Center for Quantitative Health, Center for Genomic Medicine, and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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20
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Chen CH, Cheng MC, Huang A, Hu TM, Ping LY, Chang YS. Detection of Rare Methyl-CpG Binding Protein 2 Gene Missense Mutations in Patients With Schizophrenia. Front Genet 2020; 11:476. [PMID: 32457807 PMCID: PMC7227600 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Deleterious mutations of MECP2 are responsible for Rett syndrome, a severe X-linked childhood neurodevelopmental disorder predominates in females, male patients are considered fatal. However, increasing reports indicate that some MECP2 mutations may also present various neuropsychiatric phenotypes, including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, depression, cocaine addiction, and schizophrenia in both males and females, suggesting varied clinical expressivity in some MECP2 mutations. Most of the MECP2 mutations are private de novo mutations. To understand whether MECP2 mutations are associated with schizophrenia, we systematically screen for mutations at the protein-coding regions of the MECP2 gene in a sample of 404 schizophrenic patients (171 females, 233 males) and 390 non-psychotic controls (171 females, 218 males). We identified six rare missense mutations in this sample, including T197M in one male patient and two female controls, L201V in nine patients (three males and six females) and 4 controls (three females and one male), L213V in one female patient, A358T in one male patient and one female control, P376S in one female patient, and P419S in one male patient. These mutations had been reported to be present in patients with various neuropsychiatric disorders other than Rett syndrome in the literature. Furthermore, we detected a novel double-missense mutation P376S-P419R in a male patient. The family study revealed that his affected sister also had this mutation. The mutation was transmitted from their mother who had a mild cognitive deficit. Our findings suggest that rare MECP2 mutations exist in some schizophrenia patients and the MECP2 gene could be considered a risk gene of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Hsiang Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department and Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Min-Chih Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, Yuli Mental Health Research Center, Yuli Branch, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Ailing Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yuli Mental Health Research Center, Yuli Branch, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Ming Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yuli Mental Health Research Center, Yuli Branch, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Lieh-Yung Ping
- Department of Psychiatry, Yuli Mental Health Research Center, Yuli Branch, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Syuan Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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21
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MeCP2 inhibits cell functionality through FoxO3a and autophagy in endothelial progenitor cells. Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 11:6714-6733. [PMID: 31477637 PMCID: PMC6756911 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved intracellular degradation mechanism in which cell constituents are phagocytosed to maintain cellular homeostasis. Forkhead box O 3a (FoxO3a) promotes autophagy to protect cells from environmental stress. Methylated CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a nuclear protein that binds DNA and represses transcription. However, the mechanism and interplay between FoxO3a and MeCP2 underlying endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) function are not fully understood. Results: In EPCs, MeCP2 overexpression attenuated autophagy and cell functionality, which were reversed by the autophagy activator rapamycin or co-transfection with FoxO3a. FoxO3a promoted cell function, which was reversed by the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine. Following MeCP2 overexpression, MeCP2 was found enriched on the FoxO3a promoter, resulting in promoter hypermethylation and enhanced H3K9 histone modification in nucleosomes of the FoxO3a promoter. Conclusions: MeCP2 attenuated cell functionality via DNA hypermethylation and histone modification of the FoxO3a promoter to inhibit FoxO3a transcription and autophagy. Materials and Methods: EPCs were isolated from human umbilical cord blood and treated with adenoviral vectors containing interference sequences. The effects and mechanism of MeCP2 and FoxO3a were analyzed by utilizing western blotting, cell counting kit-8, transwell plates, Matrigel, matrix adhesion, transmission electron microscopy, and chromatin immunoprecipitation.
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22
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Plasticity at the DNA recognition site of the MeCP2 mCG-binding domain. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2019; 1862:194409. [PMID: 31356990 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2019.194409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
MeCP2 is an abundant protein, involved in transcriptional repression by binding to CG and non-CG methylated DNA. However, MeCP2 might also function as a transcription activator as MeCP2 is found bound to sparsely methylated promoters of actively expressed genes. Furthermore, Attachment Region Binding Protein (ARBP), the chicken ortholog of MeCP2, has been reported to bind to Matrix/scaffold attachment regions (MARs/SARs) DNA with an unmethylated 5'-CAC/GTG-3' consensus sequence. In our previous study, although we have systemically measured the binding abilities of MBDs to unmethylated CAC/GTG DNA and the complex structures reveal that the MBD2-MBD (MBD of MBD2) binds to the unmethylated CAC/GTG DNA by recognizing the complementary GTG trinucleotide, how the MeCP2-MBD (MBD of MeCP2) recognizes the unmethylated CAC/GTG DNA, especially the MARs DNA, is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the binding characteristics of MeCP2 in recognizing unmethylated 5'-CAC/GTG-3' motif containing DNA by binding and structural studies. We found that MeCP2-MBD binds to MARs DNA with a comparable binding affinity to mCG DNA, and the MeCP2-CAC/GTG complex structure revealed that MeCP2 residues R111 and R133 form base-specific interactions with the GTG motif. For comparison, we also determined crystal structures of the MeCP2-MBD bound to mCG and mCAC/GTG DNA, respectively. Together, these crystal structures illustrate the adaptability of the MeCP2-MBD toward the GTG motif as well as the mCG DNA, and also provide structural basis of a biological role of MeCP2 as a transcription activator and its disease implications in Rett syndrome.
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23
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Rajavelu A, Lungu C, Emperle M, Dukatz M, Bröhm A, Broche J, Hanelt I, Parsa E, Schiffers S, Karnik R, Meissner A, Carell T, Rathert P, Jurkowska RZ, Jeltsch A. Chromatin-dependent allosteric regulation of DNMT3A activity by MeCP2. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:9044-9056. [PMID: 30102379 PMCID: PMC6158614 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite their central importance in mammalian development, the mechanisms that regulate the DNA methylation machinery and thereby the generation of genomic methylation patterns are still poorly understood. Here, we identify the 5mC-binding protein MeCP2 as a direct and strong interactor of DNA methyltransferase 3 (DNMT3) proteins. We mapped the interaction interface to the transcriptional repression domain of MeCP2 and the ADD domain of DNMT3A and find that binding of MeCP2 strongly inhibits the activity of DNMT3A in vitro. This effect was reinforced by cellular studies where a global reduction of DNA methylation levels was observed after overexpression of MeCP2 in human cells. By engineering conformationally locked DNMT3A variants as novel tools to study the allosteric regulation of this enzyme, we show that MeCP2 stabilizes the closed, autoinhibitory conformation of DNMT3A. Interestingly, the interaction with MeCP2 and its resulting inhibition were relieved by the binding of K4 unmodified histone H3 N-terminal tail to the DNMT3A-ADD domain. Taken together, our data indicate that the localization and activity of DNMT3A are under the combined control of MeCP2 and H3 tail modifications where, depending on the modification status of the H3 tail at the binding sites, MeCP2 can act as either a repressor or activator of DNA methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arumugam Rajavelu
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Cristiana Lungu
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Max Emperle
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Michael Dukatz
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Alexander Bröhm
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Julian Broche
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Ines Hanelt
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Edris Parsa
- Center for Integrated Protein Science (CiPSM) at the Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Sarah Schiffers
- Center for Integrated Protein Science (CiPSM) at the Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Rahul Karnik
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Thomas Carell
- Center for Integrated Protein Science (CiPSM) at the Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Philipp Rathert
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Renata Z Jurkowska
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Albert Jeltsch
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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24
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Abstract
Elucidating the functions of a particular gene is paramount to the understanding of how its dysfunction contributes to disease. This is especially important when the gene is implicated in multiple different disorders. One such gene is methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2), which has been most prominently associated with the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome, as well as major neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. Being initially identified as a transcriptional regulator that modulates gene expression and subsequently also shown to be involved in other molecular events, dysfunction of the MeCP2 protein has the potential to affect many cellular processes. In this chapter, we will briefly review the functions of the MeCP2 protein and how its mutations are implicated in Rett syndrome and other neuropsychiatric disorders. We will further discuss about the mouse models that have been generated to specifically dissect the function of MeCP2 in different cell types and brain regions. It is envisioned that such thorough and targeted examination of MeCP2 functions can aid in enlightening the role that it plays in normal and dysfunctional physiological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunice W M Chin
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Faculty, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Eyleen L K Goh
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Faculty, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
- Department of Research, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore.
- Neuroscience Academic Clinical Programme, Singhealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Center, Singapore, Singapore.
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25
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Biswas S, Rao CM. Epigenetic tools (The Writers, The Readers and The Erasers) and their implications in cancer therapy. Eur J Pharmacol 2018; 837:8-24. [PMID: 30125562 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Addition of chemical tags on the DNA and modification of histone proteins impart a distinct feature on chromatin architecture. With the advancement in scientific research, the key players underlying these changes have been identified as epigenetic modifiers of the chromatin. Indeed, the plethora of enzymes catalyzing these modifications, portray the diversity of epigenetic space and the intricacy in regulating gene expression. These epigenetic players are categorized as writers: that introduce various chemical modifications on DNA and histones, readers: the specialized domain containing proteins that identify and interpret those modifications and erasers: the dedicated group of enzymes proficient in removing these chemical tags. Research over the past few decades has established that these epigenetic tools are associated with numerous disease conditions especially cancer. Besides, with the involvement of epigenetics in cancer, these enzymes and protein domains provide new targets for cancer drug development. This is certain from the volume of epigenetic research conducted in universities and R&D sector of pharmaceutical industry. Here we have highlighted the different types of epigenetic enzymes and protein domains with an emphasis on methylation and acetylation. This review also deals with the recent developments in small molecule inhibitors as potential anti-cancer drugs targeting the epigenetic space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhankar Biswas
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - C Mallikarjuna Rao
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India.
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26
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Sharma K, Singh J, Pillai PP. MeCP2 Differentially Regulate the Myelin MBP and PLP Protein Expression in Oligodendrocytes and C6 Glioma. J Mol Neurosci 2018; 65:343-350. [DOI: 10.1007/s12031-018-1112-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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27
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Wang C, Wang F, Li Z, Cao Q, Huang L, Chen S. MeCP2-mediated epigenetic regulation in senescent endothelial progenitor cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2018; 9:87. [PMID: 29615114 PMCID: PMC5883541 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-018-0828-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Revised: 02/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cellular aging may be associated with epigenetics. Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) are two important epigenetic factors. Our former work demonstrated that MeCP2 expression increased and SIRT1 expression decreased in senescent endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). This article aims to reveal the epigenetic regulation caused by MeCP2 in EPCs and discuss its mechanism. METHODS Tube formation assay and cell apoptosis detection were used to evaluate the function of senescent EPCs induced by MeCP2 overexpression. Western blot analysis was used to testify the relative protein expression changed by MeCP2. Bisulfite sequencing methylation assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay were used to assess the degree of methylation and the relation of MeCP2 and SIRT1. RESULTS MeCP2 reduced angiogenesis of senescent EPCs, promoted apoptosis, and caused senescent EPC dysfunction through SIRT1 promoter hypermethylation and histone modification. CONCLUSIONS MeCP2 mediated senescent EPC dysfunction through epigenetic regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunli Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Geriatrics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Cao
- Department of Geriatrics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liya Huang
- Department of Geriatrics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuyan Chen
- Department of Geriatrics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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28
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Wei S, Hua HR, Chen QQ, Zhang Y, Chen F, Li SQ, Li F, Li JL. Dynamic changes in DNA demethylation in the tree shrew ( Tupaia belangeri chinensis) brain during postnatal development and aging. Zool Res 2018; 38:96-102. [PMID: 28409505 PMCID: PMC5396032 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2017.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain development and aging are associated with alterations in multiple epigenetic systems, including DNA methylation and demethylation patterns. Here, we observed that the levels of the 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzyme-mediated active DNA demethylation products were dynamically changed and involved in postnatal brain development and aging in tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri chinensis). The levels of 5hmC in multiple anatomic structures showed a gradual increase throughout postnatal development, whereas a significant decrease in 5hmC was found in several brain regions in aged tree shrews, including in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, but not the cerebellum. Active changes in Tet mRNA levels indicated that TET2 and TET3 predominantly contributed to the changes in 5hmC levels. Our findings provide new insight into the dynamic changes in 5hmC levels in tree shrew brains during postnatal development and aging processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Wei
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China; Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Hai-Rong Hua
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Qian-Quan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Fei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China; School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei Anhui 230027, China
| | - Shu-Qing Li
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming Yunnan 650500, China.
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming Yunnan 650500, China.
| | - Jia-Li Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China; Kunming Primate Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China.
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29
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Hardwick JS, Lane AN, Brown T. Epigenetic Modifications of Cytosine: Biophysical Properties, Regulation, and Function in Mammalian DNA. Bioessays 2018; 40. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201700199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Revised: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jack S. Hardwick
- Chemistry Research Laboratory; Department of Chemistry; University of Oxford; 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Andrew N. Lane
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology; University of Kentucky; 789 S. Limestone St. Lexington KY 40536 USA
| | - Tom Brown
- Chemistry Research Laboratory; Department of Chemistry; University of Oxford; 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
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30
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Sharma K, Singh J, Frost EE, Pillai PP. MeCP2 in central nervous system glial cells: current updates. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars) 2018. [DOI: 10.21307/ane-2018-007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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31
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Mushtaq AU, Lee Y, Hwang E, Bang JK, Hong E, Byun Y, Song JJ, Jeon YH. Biophysical characterization of the basic cluster in the transcription repression domain of human MeCP2 with AT-rich DNA. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 495:145-150. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.10.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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32
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Abstract
Skeletal muscle regeneration is an efficient stem cell-based repair system that ensures healthy musculature. For this repair system to function continuously throughout life, muscle stem cells must contribute to the process of myofiber repair as well as repopulation of the stem cell niche. The decision made by the muscle stem cells to commit to the muscle repair or to remain a stem cell depends upon patterns of gene expression, a process regulated at the epigenetic level. Indeed, it is well accepted that dynamic changes in epigenetic landscapes to control DNA accessibility and expression is a critical component during myogenesis for the effective repair of damaged muscle. Changes in the epigenetic landscape are governed by various posttranslational histone tail modifications, nucleosome repositioning, and DNA methylation events which collectively allow the control of changes in transcription networks during transitions of satellite cells from a dormant quiescent state toward terminal differentiation. This chapter focuses upon the specific epigenetic changes that occur during muscle stem cell-mediated regeneration to ensure myofiber repair and continuity of the stem cell compartment. Furthermore, we explore open questions in the field that are expected to be important areas of exploration as we move toward a more thorough understanding of the epigenetic mechanism regulating muscle regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C L Robinson
- Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada; University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Francis J Dilworth
- Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada; University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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33
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Abstract
Aging endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) exhibit functional impairment in terms of proliferation, migration and survival. SIRT1 plays an important role in improving EPCs function. MeCP2, another important epigenetic regulator, is involved in regulating many life-related activities such as cell growth, death and senescence. Here we aim to explore the effect of MeCP2 on the functional activities of senescent EPCs and the underlying mechanisms. By using western blot and real-time PCR, we found that the expression levels of MeCP2 were up-regulated and SIRT1 were down-regulated with replicative senescence and H2O2-induced senescence. Through transduction with adenoviral vectors, EPCs overexpressing MeCP2 had significantly reduced EPCs function, and silencing MeCP2 improved EPCs function. In addition, the protein and mRNA levels of SIRT1 were decreased with MeCP2 overexpression and increased with MeCP2 knockdown. Through co-transfection of EPCs with MeCP2 and SIRT1, we observed that SIRT1 could reverse the effects of MeCP2 on EPCs. In summary, our work demonstrated that MeCP2 inhibited SIRT1 in senescent EPCs.
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34
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Ludwig AK, Zhang P, Hastert FD, Meyer S, Rausch C, Herce HD, Müller U, Lehmkuhl A, Hellmann I, Trummer C, Storm C, Leonhardt H, Cardoso MC. Binding of MBD proteins to DNA blocks Tet1 function thereby modulating transcriptional noise. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:2438-2457. [PMID: 27923996 PMCID: PMC5389475 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw1197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant DNA methylation is a hallmark of various human disorders, indicating that the spatial and temporal regulation of methylation readers and modifiers is imperative for development and differentiation. In particular, the cross-regulation between 5-methylcytosine binders (MBD) and modifiers (Tet) has not been investigated. Here, we show that binding of Mecp2 and Mbd2 to DNA protects 5-methylcytosine from Tet1-mediated oxidation. The mechanism is not based on competition for 5-methylcytosine binding but on Mecp2 and Mbd2 directly restricting Tet1 access to DNA. We demonstrate that the efficiency of this process depends on the number of bound MBDs per DNA molecule. Accordingly, we find 5-hydroxymethylcytosine enriched at heterochromatin of Mecp2-deficient neurons of a mouse model for Rett syndrome and Tet1-induced reexpression of silenced major satellite repeats. These data unveil fundamental regulatory mechanisms of Tet enzymes and their potential pathophysiological role in Rett syndrome. Importantly, it suggests that Mecp2 and Mbd2 have an essential physiological role as guardians of the epigenome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne K Ludwig
- Cell Biology and Epigenetics, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Peng Zhang
- Cell Biology and Epigenetics, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Florian D Hastert
- Cell Biology and Epigenetics, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stephanie Meyer
- Cell Biology and Epigenetics, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Cathia Rausch
- Cell Biology and Epigenetics, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Henry D Herce
- Cell Biology and Epigenetics, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Udo Müller
- Human Biology and BioImaging, Department of Biology II, LMU Munich, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Anne Lehmkuhl
- Cell Biology and Epigenetics, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Ines Hellmann
- Anthropology and Human Genomics, Department Biology II, LMU Munich, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Carina Trummer
- Human Biology and BioImaging, Department of Biology II, LMU Munich, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Christian Storm
- Chemical Plant Ecology, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Heinrich Leonhardt
- Human Biology and BioImaging, Department of Biology II, LMU Munich, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - M Cristina Cardoso
- Cell Biology and Epigenetics, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
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35
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Kharrat M, Kamoun Y, Kamoun F, Ellouze E, Maalej M, Fendri-Kriaa N, Ammar-Keskes L, Belghith N, Gargouri A, Triki C, Fakhfakh F. Clinical, Molecular, and Computational Analysis in Patients With a Novel Double Mutation and a New Synonymous Variant in MeCP2: Report of the First Missense Mutation Within the AT-hook1 Cluster in Rett Syndrome. J Child Neurol 2017; 32:694-703. [PMID: 28399682 DOI: 10.1177/0883073817701622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Rett syndrome is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder, primarily caused by MECP2 mutations. In this study, clinical, molecular and bioinformatics analyses were performed in Rett patients to understand the relationship between MECP2 mutation type and the clinical severity. Two double MeCP2 mutations were detected: a novel one (p.G185 V in cis with p.R255X) in P1 and a known one (p.P179 S in cis with p.R255X) in P2. Besides, a novel synonymous mutation (c.807C>T; p.G269G), which could affect mRNA splicing, was identified in P3. The results from clinical severity analysis have shown that P1 was more severely affected than P2 with CSS being 35 and 14, respectively. Therefore, the phenotypic variability in P1 and P2 could be explained by the potential pathogenic effect of the RTT-causing missense mutation p.G185 V in the AT-hook1. In conclusion, clinical, molecular, and in silico investigations in the studied patients have been proven to be substantial for the genotype-phenotype correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Kharrat
- 1 Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Genetics, Faculty of Science of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.,2 Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Yosra Kamoun
- 3 Laboratory of Molecular Biotechnologie of Eukaryotes, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Fatma Kamoun
- 4 Service de Neurologie Infantile, C.H.U. Hédi Chaker de Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Emna Ellouze
- 4 Service de Neurologie Infantile, C.H.U. Hédi Chaker de Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Marwa Maalej
- 2 Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Nourhene Fendri-Kriaa
- 1 Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Genetics, Faculty of Science of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Leila Ammar-Keskes
- 2 Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Neila Belghith
- 2 Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Ali Gargouri
- 3 Laboratory of Molecular Biotechnologie of Eukaryotes, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Chahnez Triki
- 4 Service de Neurologie Infantile, C.H.U. Hédi Chaker de Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Faiza Fakhfakh
- 1 Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Genetics, Faculty of Science of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
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Zhang P, Ludwig AK, Hastert FD, Rausch C, Lehmkuhl A, Hellmann I, Smets M, Leonhardt H, Cardoso MC. L1 retrotransposition is activated by Ten-eleven-translocation protein 1 and repressed by methyl-CpG binding proteins. Nucleus 2017; 8:548-562. [PMID: 28524723 PMCID: PMC5703239 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2017.1330238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the major functions of DNA methylation is the repression of transposable elements, such as the long-interspersed nuclear element 1 (L1). The underlying mechanism(s), however, are unclear. Here, we addressed how retrotransposon activation and mobilization are regulated by methyl-cytosine modifying ten-eleven-translocation (Tet) proteins and how this is modulated by methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) proteins. We show that Tet1 activates both, endogenous and engineered L1 retrotransposons. Furthermore, we found that Mecp2 and Mbd2 repress Tet1-mediated activation of L1 by preventing 5hmC formation at the L1 promoter. Finally, we demonstrate that the methyl-CpG binding domain, as well as the adjacent non-sequence specific DNA binding domain of Mecp2 are each sufficient to mediate repression of Tet1-induced L1 mobilization. Our study reveals a mechanism how L1 elements get activated in the absence of Mecp2 and suggests that Tet1 may contribute to Mecp2/Mbd2-deficiency phenotypes, such as the Rett syndrome. We propose that the balance between methylation "reader" and "eraser/writer" controls L1 retrotransposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- a Department of Biology , Technical University Darmstadt , Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Anne K Ludwig
- a Department of Biology , Technical University Darmstadt , Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Florian D Hastert
- a Department of Biology , Technical University Darmstadt , Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Cathia Rausch
- a Department of Biology , Technical University Darmstadt , Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Anne Lehmkuhl
- a Department of Biology , Technical University Darmstadt , Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Ines Hellmann
- b Anthropology and Human Genomics, Department Biology II , LMU Munich , Germany
| | - Martha Smets
- c Human Biology and BioImaging, Department of Biology II , LMU Munich , Germany
| | - Heinrich Leonhardt
- c Human Biology and BioImaging, Department of Biology II , LMU Munich , Germany
| | - M Cristina Cardoso
- a Department of Biology , Technical University Darmstadt , Darmstadt , Germany
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Claveria-Gimeno R, Lanuza PM, Morales-Chueca I, Jorge-Torres OC, Vega S, Abian O, Esteller M, Velazquez-Campoy A. The intervening domain from MeCP2 enhances the DNA affinity of the methyl binding domain and provides an independent DNA interaction site. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41635. [PMID: 28139759 PMCID: PMC5282554 DOI: 10.1038/srep41635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) preferentially interacts with methylated DNA and it is involved in epigenetic regulation and chromatin remodelling. Mutations in MeCP2 are linked to Rett syndrome, the leading cause of intellectual retardation in girls and causing mental, motor and growth impairment. Unstructured regions in MeCP2 provide the plasticity for establishing interactions with multiple binding partners. We present a biophysical characterization of the methyl binding domain (MBD) from MeCP2 reporting the contribution of flanking domains to its structural stability and dsDNA interaction. The flanking disordered intervening domain (ID) increased the structural stability of MBD, modified its dsDNA binding profile from an entropically-driven moderate-affinity binding to an overwhelmingly enthalpically-driven high-affinity binding. Additionally, ID provided an additional site for simultaneously and autonomously binding an independent dsDNA molecule, which is a key feature linked to the chromatin remodelling and looping activity of MeCP2, as well as its ability to interact with nucleosomes replacing histone H1. The dsDNA interaction is characterized by an unusually large heat capacity linked to a cluster of water molecules trapped within the binding interface. The dynamics of disordered regions together with extrinsic factors are key determinants of MeCP2 global structural properties and functional capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Claveria-Gimeno
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain.,Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), Zaragoza, 50009, Spain.,Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, 50009, Spain
| | - Pilar M Lanuza
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain.,Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, 50009, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50009, Spain
| | - Ignacio Morales-Chueca
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain.,Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), Zaragoza, 50009, Spain
| | - Olga C Jorge-Torres
- Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08908, Spain
| | - Sonia Vega
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain
| | - Olga Abian
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain.,Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), Zaragoza, 50009, Spain.,Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, 50009, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50009, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manel Esteller
- Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08908, Spain.,Department of Physiological Sciences II, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08907, Spain.,Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, 08010, Spain
| | - Adrian Velazquez-Campoy
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain.,Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, 50009, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50009, Spain.,Fundacion ARAID, Government of Aragon, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain
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MeCP2, A Modulator of Neuronal Chromatin Organization Involved in Rett Syndrome. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 978:3-21. [PMID: 28523538 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-53889-1_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
From an epigenetic perspective, the genomic chromatin organization of neurons exhibits unique features when compared to somatic cells. Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), through its ability to bind to methylated DNA, seems to be a major player in regulating such unusual organization. An important contribution to this uniqueness stems from the intrinsically disordered nature of this highly abundant chromosomal protein in neurons. Upon its binding to methylated/hydroxymethylated DNA, MeCP2 is able to recruit a plethora of interacting protein and RNA partners. The final outcome is a highly specialized chromatin organization wherein linker histones (histones of the H1 family) and MeCP2 share an organizational role that dynamically changes during neuronal development and that it is still poorly understood. MeCP2 mutations alter its chromatin-binding dynamics and/or impair the ability of the protein to interact with some of its partners, resulting in Rett syndrome (RTT). Therefore, deciphering the molecular details involved in the MeCP2 neuronal chromatin arrangement is critical for our understanding of the proper and altered functionality of these cells.
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Samanta S, Rajasingh S, Cao T, Dawn B, Rajasingh J. Epigenetic dysfunctional diseases and therapy for infection and inflammation. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2016; 1863:518-528. [PMID: 27919711 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2016.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Even though the discovery of the term 'epigenetics' was in the 1940s, it has recently become one of the most promising and expanding fields to unravel the gene expression pattern in several diseases. The most well studied example is cancer, but other diseases like metabolic disorders, autism, or inflammation-associated diseases such as lung injury, autoimmune disease, asthma, and type-2 diabetes display aberrant gene expression and epigenetic regulation during their occurrence. The change in the epigenetic pattern of a gene may also alter gene function because of a change in the DNA status. Constant environmental pressure, lifestyle, as well as food habits are the other important parameters responsible for transgenerational inheritance of epigenetic traits. Discovery of epigenetic modifiers targeting DNA methylation and histone deacetylation enzymes could be an alternative source to treat or manipulate the pathogenesis of diseases. Particularly, the combination of epigenetic drugs such as 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine (Aza) and trichostatin A (TSA) are well studied to reduce inflammation in an acute lung injury model. It is important to understand the epigenetic machinery and the function of its components in specific diseases to develop targeted epigenetic therapy. Moreover, it is equally critical to know the specific inhibitors other than the widely used pan inhibitors in clinical trials and explore their roles in regulating specific genes in a more defined way during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saheli Samanta
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Sheeja Rajasingh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Thuy Cao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Buddhadeb Dawn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Johnson Rajasingh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
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Claveria-Gimeno R, Abian O, Velazquez-Campoy A, Ausió J. MeCP2… Nature’s Wonder Protein or Medicine’s Most Feared One? CURRENT GENETIC MEDICINE REPORTS 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s40142-016-0107-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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41
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Riedmann C, Fondufe-Mittendorf YN. Comparative analysis of linker histone H1, MeCP2, and HMGD1 on nucleosome stability and target site accessibility. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33186. [PMID: 27624769 PMCID: PMC5021983 DOI: 10.1038/srep33186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromatin architectural proteins (CAPs) bind the entry/exit DNA of nucleosomes and linker DNA to form higher order chromatin structures with distinct transcriptional outcomes. How CAPs mediate nucleosome dynamics is not well understood. We hypothesize that CAPs regulate DNA target site accessibility through alteration of the rate of spontaneous dissociation of DNA from nucleosomes. We investigated the effects of histone H1, high mobility group D1 (HMGD1), and methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), on the biophysical properties of nucleosomes and chromatin. We show that MeCP2, like the repressive histone H1, traps the nucleosome in a more compact mononucleosome structure. Furthermore, histone H1 and MeCP2 hinder model transcription factor Gal4 from binding to its cognate DNA site within the nucleosomal DNA. These results demonstrate that MeCP2 behaves like a repressor even in the absence of methylation. Additionally, MeCP2 behaves similarly to histone H1 and HMGD1 in creating a higher-order chromatin structure, which is susceptible to chromatin remodeling by ISWI. Overall, we show that CAP binding results in unique changes to nucleosome structure and dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlyn Riedmann
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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Khrapunov S, Tao Y, Cheng H, Padlan C, Harris R, Galanopoulou AS, Greally JM, Girvin ME, Brenowitz M. MeCP2 Binding Cooperativity Inhibits DNA Modification-Specific Recognition. Biochemistry 2016; 55:4275-85. [PMID: 27420643 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.6b00451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a multifunctional protein that guides neuronal development through its binding to DNA, recognition of sites of methyl-CpG (mCpG) DNA modification, and interaction with other regulatory proteins. Our study explores the relationship between mCpG and hydroxymethyl-CpG (hmCpG) recognition mediated by its mCpG binding domain (MBD) and binding cooperativity mediated by its C-terminal polypeptide. Previous study of the isolated MBD of MeCP2 documented an unusual mechanism by which ion uptake is required for discrimination of mCpG and hmCpG from CpG. MeCP2 binding cooperativity suppresses discrimination of modified DNA and is highly sensitive to both the total ion concentration and the type of counterions. Higher than physiological total ion concentrations completely suppress MeCP2 binding cooperativity, indicating a dominant electrostatic component to the interaction. Substitution of SO4(2-) for Cl(-) at physiological total ion concentrations also suppresses MeCP2 binding cooperativity, This effect is of particular note as the intracellular Cl(-) concentration changes during neuronal development. A related effect is that the protein-stabilizing solutes, TMAO and glutamate, reduce MeCP2 (but not isolated MBD) binding affinity by 2 orders of magnitude without affecting the apparent binding cooperativity. These observations suggest that polypeptide flexibility facilitates DNA binding by MeCP2. Consistent with this view, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses show that ions have discrete effects on the structure of MeCP2, both MBD and the C-terminal domains. Notably, anion substitution results in changes in the NMR chemical shifts of residues, including some whose mutation causes the autism spectrum disorder Rett syndrome. Binding cooperativity makes MeCP2 an effective competitor with histone H1 for accessible DNA sites. The relationship between MeCP2 binding specificity and cooperativity is discussed in the context of chromatin binding, neuronal function, and neuronal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergei Khrapunov
- Department of Biochemistry, ‡Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, and §Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine , 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461, United States
| | - Yisong Tao
- Department of Biochemistry, ‡Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, and §Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine , 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461, United States
| | - Huiyong Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry, ‡Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, and §Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine , 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461, United States
| | - Camille Padlan
- Department of Biochemistry, ‡Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, and §Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine , 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461, United States
| | - Richard Harris
- Department of Biochemistry, ‡Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, and §Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine , 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461, United States
| | - Aristea S Galanopoulou
- Department of Biochemistry, ‡Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, and §Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine , 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461, United States
| | - John M Greally
- Department of Biochemistry, ‡Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, and §Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine , 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461, United States
| | - Mark E Girvin
- Department of Biochemistry, ‡Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, and §Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine , 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461, United States
| | - Michael Brenowitz
- Department of Biochemistry, ‡Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, and §Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine , 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461, United States
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Williams AA, Mehler VJ, Mueller C, Vonhoff F, White R, Duch C. Apoptotic Activity of MeCP2 Is Enhanced by C-Terminal Truncating Mutations. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159632. [PMID: 27442528 PMCID: PMC4956225 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a widely abundant, multifunctional protein most highly expressed in post-mitotic neurons. Mutations causing Rett syndrome and related neurodevelopmental disorders have been identified along the entire MECP2 locus, but symptoms vary depending on mutation type and location. C-terminal mutations are prevalent, but little is known about the function of the MeCP2 C-terminus. We employ the genetic efficiency of Drosophila to provide evidence that expression of p.Arg294* (more commonly identified as R294X), a human MECP2 E2 mutant allele causing truncation of the C-terminal domains, promotes apoptosis of identified neurons in vivo. We confirm this novel finding in HEK293T cells and then use Drosophila to map the region critical for neuronal apoptosis to a small sequence at the end of the C-terminal domain. In vitro studies in mammalian systems previously indicated a role of the MeCP2 E2 isoform in apoptosis, which is facilitated by phosphorylation at serine 80 (S80) and decreased by interactions with the forkhead protein FoxG1. We confirm the roles of S80 phosphorylation and forkhead domain transcription factors in affecting MeCP2-induced apoptosis in Drosophila in vivo, thus indicating mechanistic conservation between flies and mammalian cells. Our findings are consistent with a model in which C- and N-terminal interactions are required for healthy function of MeCP2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison A. Williams
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Institute of Zoology- Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Vera J. Mehler
- Institute of Zoology- Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Fernando Vonhoff
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Department, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Robin White
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Carsten Duch
- Institute of Zoology- Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Li R, Dong Q, Yuan X, Zeng X, Gao Y, Chiao C, Li H, Zhao X, Keles S, Wang Z, Chang Q. Misregulation of Alternative Splicing in a Mouse Model of Rett Syndrome. PLoS Genet 2016; 12:e1006129. [PMID: 27352031 PMCID: PMC4924826 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the human MECP2 gene cause Rett syndrome (RTT), a severe neurodevelopmental disorder that predominantly affects girls. Despite decades of work, the molecular function of MeCP2 is not fully understood. Here we report a systematic identification of MeCP2-interacting proteins in the mouse brain. In addition to transcription regulators, we found that MeCP2 physically interacts with several modulators of RNA splicing, including LEDGF and DHX9. These interactions are disrupted by RTT causing mutations, suggesting that they may play a role in RTT pathogenesis. Consistent with the idea, deep RNA sequencing revealed misregulation of hundreds of splicing events in the cortex of Mecp2 knockout mice. To reveal the functional consequence of altered RNA splicing due to the loss of MeCP2, we focused on the regulation of the splicing of the flip/flop exon of Gria2 and other AMPAR genes. We found a significant splicing shift in the flip/flop exon toward the flop inclusion, leading to a faster decay in the AMPAR gated current and altered synaptic transmission. In summary, our study identified direct physical interaction between MeCP2 and splicing factors, a novel MeCP2 target gene, and established functional connection between a specific RNA splicing change and synaptic phenotypes in RTT mice. These results not only help our understanding of the molecular function of MeCP2, but also reveal potential drug targets for future therapies. Rett syndrome (RTT) is a debilitating neurodevelopmental disorder with no cure or effective treatment. To fully understand the disease mechanism and develop therapies, it is necessary to study all aspects of the molecular function of methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), mutations in which have been identified as the genetic cause of RTT. Over the years, MeCP2 has been shown to maintain DNA methylation, regulate transcription and chromatin structure, control microRNA processing, and modulate RNA splicing. Among these known functions, the role of MeCP2 in modulating RNA splicing is less well understood. We took several unbiased approaches to investigate the how MeCP2 may regulate splicing, what splicing changes are caused by the loss of MeCP2, and what functional consequences are caused by altered splicing. We discovered that MeCP2 interacts with splicing factors to regulated the splicing of glutamate receptor genes, which mediate the vast majority of excitatory synaptic transmission in the brain; and linked the altered splicing of glutamate receptor genes to specific synaptic changes in a RTT mouse model. Our findings not only advance the understanding of RTT disease mechanism, but also reveal a potential drug target for future development of therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronghui Li
- CMB Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Qiping Dong
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Xinni Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Xin Zeng
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Yu Gao
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Cassandra Chiao
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Hongda Li
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Genetics Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Xinyu Zhao
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Sunduz Keles
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Zefeng Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Chang
- CMB Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Genetics Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Departments of Medical Genetics and Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Williams AA, White R, Siniard A, Corneveaux J, Huentelman M, Duch C. MECP2 impairs neuronal structure by regulating KIBRA. Neurobiol Dis 2016; 91:284-91. [PMID: 27015692 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Revised: 03/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Using a Drosophila model of MECP2 gain-of-function, we identified memory associated KIBRA as a target of MECP2 in regulating dendritic growth. We found that expression of human MECP2 increased kibra expression in Drosophila, and targeted RNAi knockdown of kibra in identified neurons fully rescued dendritic defects as induced by MECP2 gain-of-function. Validation in mouse confirmed that Kibra is similarly regulated by Mecp2 in a mammalian system. We found that Mecp2 gain-of-function in cultured mouse cortical neurons caused dendritic impairments and increased Kibra levels. Accordingly, Mecp2 loss-of-function in vivo led to decreased Kibra levels in hippocampus, cortex, and cerebellum. Together, our results functionally link two neuronal genes of high interest in human health and disease and highlight the translational utility of the Drosophila model for understanding MECP2 function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison A Williams
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Institute of Zoology- Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128, Germany.
| | - Robin White
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center, Mainz 55128, Germany
| | - Ashley Siniard
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Jason Corneveaux
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Matt Huentelman
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Carsten Duch
- Institute of Zoology- Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128, Germany
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Muthurajan U, Mattiroli F, Bergeron S, Zhou K, Gu Y, Chakravarthy S, Dyer P, Irving T, Luger K. In Vitro Chromatin Assembly: Strategies and Quality Control. Methods Enzymol 2016; 573:3-41. [PMID: 27372747 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2016.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chromatin accessibility is modulated by structural transitions that provide timely access to the genetic and epigenetic information during many essential nuclear processes. These transitions are orchestrated by regulatory proteins that coordinate intricate structural modifications and signaling pathways. In vitro reconstituted chromatin samples from defined components are instrumental in defining the mechanistic details of such processes. The bottleneck to appropriate in vitro analysis is the production of high quality, and quality-controlled, chromatin substrates. In this chapter, we describe methods for in vitro chromatin reconstitution and quality control. We highlight the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches and emphasize quality control steps that ensure reconstitution of a bona fide homogenous chromatin preparation. This is essential for optimal reproducibility and reliability of ensuing experiments using chromatin substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Muthurajan
- University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - F Mattiroli
- University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - S Bergeron
- University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - K Zhou
- University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States; Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Y Gu
- University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States; Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - S Chakravarthy
- Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - P Dyer
- University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - T Irving
- Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - K Luger
- University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States; Institute for Genome Architecture and Function, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States.
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Questa JI, Rius SP, Casadevall R, Casati P. ZmMBD101 is a DNA-binding protein that maintains Mutator elements chromatin in a repressive state in maize. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2016; 39:174-184. [PMID: 26147461 DOI: 10.1111/pce.12604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Revised: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/26/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In maize (Zea mays), as well as in other crops, transposable elements (TEs) constitute a great proportion of the genome. Chromatin modifications play a vital role in establishing transposon silencing and perpetuating the acquired repressive state. Nucleosomes associated with TEs are enriched for dimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 and 27 (H3K9me2 and H3K27me2, respectively), signals of repressive chromatin. Here, we describe a chromatin protein, ZmMBD101, involved in the regulation of Mutator (Mu) genes in maize. ZmMBD101 is localized to the nucleus and contains a methyl-CpG-binding domain (MBD) and a zinc finger CW (CW) domain. Transgenic lines with reduced levels of ZmMBD101 transcript present enhanced induction of Mu genes when plants are irradiated with UV-B. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis with H3K9me2 and H3K27me2 antibodies indicated that ZmMBD101 is required to maintain the levels of these histone repressive marks at Mu terminal inverted repeats (TIRs) under UV-B conditions. Although Mutator inactivity is associated with DNA methylation, cytosine methylation at Mu TIRs is not affected in ZmMBD101 deficient plants. Several plant proteins are predicted to share the simple CW-MBD domain architecture present in ZmMBD101. We hypothesize that plant CW-MBD proteins may also function to protect plant genomes from deleterious transposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia I Questa
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Sebastián P Rius
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Romina Casadevall
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Paula Casati
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000, Rosario, Argentina
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Linker histone H1 and H3K56 acetylation are antagonistic regulators of nucleosome dynamics. Nat Commun 2015; 6:10152. [PMID: 26648124 PMCID: PMC4682114 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 11/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
H1 linker histones are highly abundant proteins that compact nucleosomes and chromatin to regulate DNA accessibility and transcription. However, the mechanisms that target H1 regulation to specific regions of eukaryotic genomes are unknown. Here we report fluorescence measurements of human H1 regulation of nucleosome dynamics and transcription factor (TF) binding within nucleosomes. H1 does not block TF binding, instead it suppresses nucleosome unwrapping to reduce DNA accessibility within H1-bound nucleosomes. We then investigated H1 regulation by H3K56 and H3K122 acetylation, two transcriptional activating histone post translational modifications (PTMs). Only H3K56 acetylation, which increases nucleosome unwrapping, abolishes H1.0 reduction of TF binding. These findings show that nucleosomes remain dynamic, while H1 is bound and H1 dissociation is not required for TF binding within the nucleosome. Furthermore, our H3K56 acetylation measurements suggest that a single-histone PTM can define regions of the genome that are not regulated by H1. The linker histone H1 is highly abundant and regulates DNA accessibility by compacting chromatin. Here the authors analyze transcription factor binding to nucleosomes and show that histone H1 suppresses unwrapping but does not directly block the binding of transcription factors.
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Filosa S, Pecorelli A, D'Esposito M, Valacchi G, Hajek J. Exploring the possible link between MeCP2 and oxidative stress in Rett syndrome. Free Radic Biol Med 2015; 88:81-90. [PMID: 25960047 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2015.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2015] [Revised: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT, MIM 312750) is a rare and orphan progressive neurodevelopmental disorder affecting girls almost exclusively, with a frequency of 1/15,000 live births of girls. The disease is characterized by a period of 6 to 18 months of apparently normal neurodevelopment, followed by early neurological regression, with a progressive loss of acquired cognitive, social, and motor skills. RTT is known to be caused in 95% of the cases by sporadic de novo loss-of-function mutations in the X-linked methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene encoding methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), a nuclear protein able to regulate gene expression. Despite almost two decades of research into the functions and role of MeCP2, little is known about the mechanisms leading from MECP2 mutation to the disease. Oxidative stress (OS) is involved in the pathogenic mechanisms of several neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, although in many cases it is not clear whether OS is a cause or a consequence of the pathology. Fairly recently, the presence of a systemic OS has been demonstrated in RTT patients with a strong correlation with the patients' clinical status. The link between MECP2 mutation and the redox imbalance found in RTT is not clear. Animal studies have suggested a possible direct correlation between Mecp2 mutation and increased OS levels. In addition, the restoration of Mecp2 function in astrocytes significantly improves the developmental outcome of Mecp2-null mice and reexpression of Mecp2 gene in the brain of null mice restored oxidative damage, suggesting that Mecp2 loss of function can be involved in oxidative brain damage. Starting from the evidence that oxidative damage in the brain of Mecp2-null mice precedes the onset of symptoms, we evaluated whether, based on the current literature, the dysfunctions described in RTT could be a consequence or, in contrast, could be caused by OS. We also analyzed whether therapies that at least partially treated some RTT symptoms can play a role in defense against OS. At this stage we can propose that OS could be one of the main causes of the dysfunctions observed in RTT. In addition, the major part of the therapies recommended to alleviate RTT symptoms have been shown to interfere with oxidative homeostasis, suggesting that MeCP2 could somehow be involved in the protection of the brain from OS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Filosa
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources-CNR, UOS Naples, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Alessandra Pecorelli
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, University General Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | - Maurizio D'Esposito
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "A. Buzzati-Traverso"-CNR, Naples, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Valacchi
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Joussef Hajek
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, University General Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
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Flanagan TW, Brown DT. Molecular dynamics of histone H1. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2015; 1859:468-75. [PMID: 26454113 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2015.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2015] [Revised: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The H1 or linker histones bind dynamically to chromatin in living cells via a process that involves transient association with the nucleosome near the DNA entry/exit site followed by dissociation, translocation to a new location, and rebinding. The mean residency time of H1 on any given nucleosome is about a minute, which is much shorter than that of most core histones but considerably longer than that of most other chromatin-binding proteins, including transcription factors. Here we review recent advances in understanding the kinetic pathway of H1 binding and how it relates to linker histone structure and function. We also describe potential mechanisms by which the dynamic binding of H1 might contribute directly to the regulation of gene expression and discuss several situations for which there is experimental evidence to support these mechanisms. Finally, we review the evidence for the participation of linker histone chaperones in mediating H1 exchange.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Flanagan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
| | - David T Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
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