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Gómez-Redondo I, Pericuesta E, Navarrete-Lopez P, Ramos-Ibeas P, Planells B, Fonseca-Balvís N, Vaquero-Rey A, Fernández-González R, Laguna-Barraza R, Horiuchi K, Gutiérrez-Adán A. Zrsr2 and functional U12-dependent spliceosome are necessary for follicular development. iScience 2022; 25:103860. [PMID: 35198906 PMCID: PMC8850803 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ZRSR2 is a splicing factor involved in recognition of 3′-intron splice sites that is frequently mutated in myeloid malignancies and several tumors; however, the role of mutations of Zrsr2 in other tissues has not been analyzed. To explore the biological role of ZRSR2, we generated three Zrsr2 mutant mouse lines. All Zrsr2 mutant lines exhibited blood cell anomalies, and in two lines, oogenesis was blocked at the secondary follicle stage. RNA-seq of Zrsr2mu secondary follicles showed aberrations in gene expression and showed altered alternative splicing (AS) events involving enrichment of U12-type intron retention (IR), supporting the functional Zrsr2 action in minor spliceosomes. IR events were preferentially associated with centriole replication, protein phosphorylation, and DNA damage checkpoint. Notably, we found alterations in AS events of 50 meiotic genes. These results indicate that ZRSR2 mutations alter splicing mainly in U12-type introns, which may affect peripheral blood cells, and impede oogenesis and female fertility. Zrsr2mu mice allow us to identify functions of Zrsr2 in vivo Minor splicing factor Zrsr2 is essential for oogenesis and peripheral blood cells Zrsr2 impairment affects the splicing of U12-type intron-containing genes Zrsr2mu aberrant splicing causes a global alteration of gene expression
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Gómez-Redondo
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Avda. Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva Pericuesta
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Avda. Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Paula Navarrete-Lopez
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Avda. Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Priscila Ramos-Ibeas
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Avda. Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Benjamín Planells
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Avda. Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Noelia Fonseca-Balvís
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Avda. Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Aida Vaquero-Rey
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Avda. Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Raúl Fernández-González
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Avda. Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Laguna-Barraza
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Avda. Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Keiko Horiuchi
- Department of Protein-Protein Interaction Research, Institute for Advanced Medical Sciences, Nippon Medical School, 1-396 Kosugi-cho, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 211-8533, Japan
| | - Alfonso Gutiérrez-Adán
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Avda. Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Madan V, Cao Z, Teoh WW, Dakle P, Han L, Shyamsunder P, Jeitany M, Zhou S, Li J, Nordin HBM, Shi J, Yu S, Yang H, Hossain MZ, Chng WJ, Koeffler HP. ZRSR1 cooperates with ZRSR2 in regulating splicing of U12-type introns in murine hematopoietic cells. Haematologica 2021; 107:680-689. [PMID: 33691379 PMCID: PMC8883539 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2020.260562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Recurrent loss-of-function mutations of spliceosome gene, ZRSR2, occur in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Mutation/loss of ZRSR2 in human myeloid cells primarily causes impaired splicing of the U12-type introns. In order to further investigate the role of this splice factor in RNA splicing and hematopoietic development, we generated mice lacking ZRSR2. Unexpectedly, Zrsr2-deficient mice developed normal hematopoiesis with no abnormalities in myeloid differentiation evident in either young or ≥1-year old knockout mice. Repopulation ability of Zrsr2-deficient hematopoietic stem cells was also unaffected in both competitive and non-competitive reconstitution assays. Myeloid progenitors lacking ZRSR2 exhibited mis-splicing of U12-type introns, however, this phenotype was moderate compared to the ZRSR2-deficient human cells. Our investigations revealed that a closely related homolog, Zrsr1, expressed in the murine hematopoietic cells, but not in human cells contributes to splicing of U12-type introns. Depletion of Zrsr1 in Zrsr2 KO myeloid cells exacerbated retention of the U12-type introns, thus highlighting a collective role of ZRSR1 and ZRSR2 in murine U12-spliceosome. We also demonstrate that aberrant retention of U12-type introns of MAPK9 and MAPK14 leads to their reduced protein expression. Overall, our findings highlight that both ZRSR1 and ZRSR2 are functional components of the murine U12-spliceosome, and depletion of both proteins is required to accurately model ZRSR2-mutant MDS in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Madan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Zeya Cao
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Weoi Woon Teoh
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pushkar Dakle
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lin Han
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pavithra Shyamsunder
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Programme in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Maya Jeitany
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Siqin Zhou
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jia Li
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - JiZhong Shi
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shuizhou Yu
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Henry Yang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Md Zakir Hossain
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wee Joo Chng
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Hematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, NUHS, Singapore
| | - H Phillip Koeffler
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Division of Hematology/Oncology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA; National University Cancer Institute, National University Hospital Singapore, Singapore
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Gómez-Redondo I, Ramos-Ibeas P, Pericuesta E, Fernández-González R, Laguna-Barraza R, Gutiérrez-Adán A. Minor Splicing Factors Zrsr1 and Zrsr2 Are Essential for Early Embryo Development and 2-Cell-Like Conversion. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4115. [PMID: 32527007 PMCID: PMC7312986 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Minor splicing plays an important role in vertebrate development. Zrsr1 and Zrsr2 paralog genes have essential roles in alternative splicing, mainly participating in the recognition of minor (U12) introns. To further explore their roles during early embryo development, we produced Zrsr1mu and Zrsr2mu mutant mice, containing truncating mutations within the second zinc finger domain. Both homozygous mutant mice were viable with a normal lifespan. When we crossed a homozygous Zrsr2mu/mu female with Zrsr1mu/mu male, the double heterozygotes were non-viable, giving rise to embryos that stopped developing mainly between the 2- and 4-cell stages, just after zygotic gene activation. RNA-seq analysis of Zrsr1/2mu 2-cell embryos showed altered gene and isoform expression of thousands of genes enriched in gene ontology terms and biological pathways related to ribosome, RNA transport, spliceosome, and essential zygotic gene activation steps. Alternative splicing was analyzed, showing a significant increase in intron retention in both U2 and U12 intron-containing genes related to cell cycle and mitotic nuclear division. Remarkably, both Zrsr1 and Zrsr2 were required for the conversion of mouse-induced pluripotent stem cells into 2C-like cells. According to our results, Zrsr1 or Zrsr2 are necessary for ZGA and both are indispensable for the conversion of induced pluripotent stem cells into 2C-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Alfonso Gutiérrez-Adán
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda. Puerta de Hierro n° 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (I.G.-R.); (P.R.-I.); (E.P.); (R.F.-G.); (R.L.-B.)
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Horiuchi K, Perez-Cerezales S, Papasaikas P, Ramos-Ibeas P, López-Cardona AP, Laguna-Barraza R, Fonseca Balvís N, Pericuesta E, Fernández-González R, Planells B, Viera A, Suja JA, Ross PJ, Alén F, Orio L, Rodriguez de Fonseca F, Pintado B, Valcárcel J, Gutiérrez-Adán A. Impaired Spermatogenesis, Muscle, and Erythrocyte Function in U12 Intron Splicing-Defective Zrsr1 Mutant Mice. Cell Rep 2019; 23:143-155. [PMID: 29617656 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The U2AF35-like ZRSR1 has been implicated in the recognition of 3' splice site during spliceosome assembly, but ZRSR1 knockout mice do not show abnormal phenotypes. To analyze ZRSR1 function and its precise role in RNA splicing, we generated ZRSR1 mutant mice containing truncating mutations within its RNA-recognition motif. Homozygous mutant mice exhibited severe defects in erythrocytes, muscle stretch, and spermatogenesis, along with germ cell sloughing and apoptosis, ultimately leading to azoospermia and male sterility. Testis RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses revealed increased intron retention of both U2- and U12-type introns, including U12-type intron events in genes with key functions in spermatogenesis and spermatid development. Affected U2 introns were commonly found flanking U12 introns, suggesting functional cross-talk between the two spliceosomes. The splicing and tissue defects observed in mutant mice attributed to ZRSR1 loss of function suggest a physiological role for this factor in U12 intron splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Horiuchi
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Quantitative Biology and Medicine, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
| | - Serafín Perez-Cerezales
- Dpto. de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Panagiotis Papasaikas
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Priscila Ramos-Ibeas
- Dpto. de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Ricardo Laguna-Barraza
- Dpto. de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Noelia Fonseca Balvís
- Dpto. de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva Pericuesta
- Dpto. de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Raul Fernández-González
- Dpto. de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Benjamín Planells
- Dpto. de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Viera
- Unidad de Biología Celular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose Angel Suja
- Unidad de Biología Celular, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Juan Ross
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Francisco Alén
- Dpto. Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, UCM, Campus de Somosaguas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Orio
- Dpto. Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, UCM, Campus de Somosaguas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Rodriguez de Fonseca
- Dpto. Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, UCM, Campus de Somosaguas, Madrid, Spain; UGC Salud Mental, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Universidad de Málaga-Hospital Universitario Regional de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Pabellón de Gobierno, 29010 Málaga, Spain
| | - Belén Pintado
- Servicio de Transgénicos, CNB-CSIC, UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Valcárcel
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Alfonso Gutiérrez-Adán
- Dpto. de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda Puerta de Hierro nº 12. Local 10, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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Sex-Dimorphic Behavioral Alterations and Altered Neurogenesis in U12 Intron Splicing-Defective Zrsr1 Mutant Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20143543. [PMID: 31331069 PMCID: PMC6678158 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20143543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutant mice with respect to the splicing factor Zrsr1 present altered spermatogenesis and infertility. To investigate whether Zrsr1 is involved in the homeostatic control that the hypothalamus exerts over reproductive functions, we first analyzed both differential gene and isoform expression and alternative splicing alterations in Zrsr1 mutant (Zrsr1mu) hypothalamus; second, we analyzed the spontaneous and social behavior of Zrsr1mu mice; and third, we analyzed adult cell proliferation and survival in the Zrsr1mu hypothalamus. The Zrsr1mu hypothalamus showed altered expression of genes and isoforms related to the glutathione metabolic process, synaptonemal complex assembly, mRNA transport, and altered splicing events involving the enrichment of U12-type intron retention (IR). Furthermore, increased IR in U12-containing genes related with the prolactin, progesterone, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) reproductive signaling pathway was observed. This was associated with a hyperactive phenotype in both males and females, with an anxious phenotype in females, and with increased social interaction in males, instead of the classical aggressive behavior. In addition, Zrsr1mu females but not males exhibited reduced cell proliferation in both the hypothalamus and the subventricular zone. Overall, these results suggest that Zrsr1 expression and function are relevant to organization of the hypothalamic cell network controlling behavior.
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Varmuza S, Miri K. What does genetics tell us about imprinting and the placenta connection? Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:51-72. [PMID: 25194419 PMCID: PMC11114082 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-014-1714-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2014] [Revised: 08/25/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic gene silencing phenomenon that is specific to eutherians in the vertebrate lineage. The acquisition of both placentation and genomic imprinting has spurred interest in the possible evolutionary link for many years. In this review we examine the genetic evidence and find that while many imprinted domains are anchored by genes required for proper placenta development in a parent of origin fashion, an equal number of imprinted genes have no apparent function that depends on imprinting. Examination of recent data from studies of molecular and genetic mechanisms points to a maternal control of the selection and maintenance of imprint marks, reinforcing the importance of the oocyte in the healthy development of the placenta and fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susannah Varmuza
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 611-25 Harbord Street, Toronto, M5S 3G5, Canada,
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Cleaton MA, Edwards CA, Ferguson-Smith AC. Phenotypic Outcomes of Imprinted Gene Models in Mice: Elucidation of Pre- and Postnatal Functions of Imprinted Genes. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2014; 15:93-126. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-091212-153441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Carol A. Edwards
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, United Kingdom;
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Tunster SJ, Jensen AB, John RM. Imprinted genes in mouse placental development and the regulation of fetal energy stores. Reproduction 2013; 145:R117-37. [PMID: 23445556 DOI: 10.1530/rep-12-0511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Imprinted genes, which are preferentially expressed from one or other parental chromosome as a consequence of epigenetic events in the germline, are known to functionally converge on biological processes that enable in utero development in mammals. Over 100 imprinted genes have been identified in the mouse, the majority of which are both expressed and imprinted in the placenta. The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of the current knowledge regarding imprinted gene function in the mouse placenta. Few imprinted genes have been assessed with respect to their dosage-related action in the placenta. Nonetheless, current data indicate that imprinted genes converge on two key functions of the placenta, nutrient transport and placental signalling. Murine studies may provide a greater understanding of certain human pathologies, including low birth weight and the programming of metabolic diseases in the adult, and complications of pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes, resulting from fetuses carrying abnormal imprints.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Tunster
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK
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Smallwood SA, Kelsey G. De novo DNA methylation: a germ cell perspective. Trends Genet 2011; 28:33-42. [PMID: 22019337 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2011.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 279] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2011] [Revised: 09/16/2011] [Accepted: 09/19/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation is a fundamentally important epigenetic modification of the mammalian genome that has widespread influences on gene expression. During germ-cell specification and maturation, epigenetic reprogramming occurs and the DNA methylation landscape is profoundly remodelled. Defects in this process have major consequences for embryonic development and are associated with several genetic disorders. In this review we report our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with de novo DNA methylation in germ cells. We discuss recent discoveries connecting histone modifications, transcription and the DNA methylation machinery, and consider how these new findings could lead to a model for methylation establishment. Elucidating how DNA methylation marks are established in the germline has been a challenge for nearly 20 years, but represents a key step towards a full understanding of several biological processes including genomic imprinting, epigenetic reprogramming and the establishment of the pluripotent state in early embryos.
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Li C, Chen Z, Liu Z, Huang J, Zhang W, Zhou L, Keefe DL, Liu L. Correlation of expression and methylation of imprinted genes with pluripotency of parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells. Hum Mol Genet 2009; 18:2177-87. [PMID: 19324901 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddp150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian parthenogenetic embryos (pE) are not viable due to placental deficiency, presumably resulting from lack of paternally expressed imprinted genes. Pluripotent parthenogenetic embryonic stem (pES) cells derived from pE could advance regenerative medicine by avoiding immuno-rejection and ethical roadblocks. We attempted to explore the epigenetic status of imprinted genes in the generation of pES cells from parthenogenetic blastocysts, and its relationship to pluripotency of pES cells. Pluripotency was evaluated for developmental and differentiation potential in vivo, based on contributions of pES cells to chimeras and development to day 9.5 of pES fetuses complemented by tetraploid embryos (TEC). Consistently, pE and fetuses failed to express paternally expressed imprinted genes, but pES cells expressed those genes in a pattern resembling that of fertilized embryos (fE) and fertilized embryonic stem (fES) cells derived from fE. Like fE and fES cells, but unlike pE or fetuses, pES cells and pES cell-fetuses complemented by TEC exhibited balanced methylation of Snrpn, Peg1 and U2af1-rs1. Coincidently, global methylation increased in pE but decreased in pES cells, further suggesting dramatic epigenetic reprogramming occurred during isolation and culture of pES cells. Moreover, we identified decreased methylation of Igf2r, Snrpn, and especially U2af1-rs1, in association with increased contributions of pES cells to chimeras. Our data show that in vitro culture changes epigenetic status of imprinted genes during isolation of pES cells from their progenitor embryos and that increased expression of U2af1-rs1 and Snrpn and decreased expression of Igf2r correlate with pluripotency of pES cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Li
- School of Life Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
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Miri K, Varmuza S. Chapter 5 Imprinting and Extraembryonic Tissues—Mom Takes Control. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2009; 276:215-62. [DOI: 10.1016/s1937-6448(09)76005-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Okamura K, Wintle RF, Scherer SW. Characterization of the differentially methylated region of the Impact gene that exhibits Glires-specific imprinting. Genome Biol 2008; 9:R160. [PMID: 19014519 PMCID: PMC2614492 DOI: 10.1186/gb-2008-9-11-r160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2008] [Accepted: 11/13/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparative genomic analysis of the Impact locus, which is imprinted in Glires but not in other mammals, reveals features required for genomic imprinting. Background Imprinted genes are exclusively expressed from one of the two parental alleles in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. In mammals, nearly 100 genes are documented to be imprinted. To understand the mechanism behind this gene regulation and to identify novel imprinted genes, common features of DNA sequences have been analyzed; however, the general features required for genomic imprinting have not yet been identified, possibly due to variability in underlying molecular mechanisms from locus to locus. Results We performed a thorough comparative genomic analysis of a single locus, Impact, which is imprinted only in Glires (rodents and lagomorphs). The fact that Glires and primates diverged from each other as recent as 70 million years ago makes comparisons between imprinted and non-imprinted orthologues relatively reliable. In species from the Glires clade, Impact bears a differentially methylated region, whereby the maternal allele is hypermethylated. Analysis of this region demonstrated that imprinting was not associated with the presence of direct tandem repeats nor with CpG dinucleotide density. In contrast, a CpG periodicity of 8 bp was observed in this region in species of the Glires clade compared to those of carnivores, artiodactyls, and primates. Conclusions We show that tandem repeats are dispensable, establishment of the differentially methylated region does not rely on G+C content and CpG density, and the CpG periodicity of 8 bp is meaningful to the imprinting. This interval has recently been reported to be optimal for de novo methylation by the Dnmt3a-Dnmt3L complex, suggesting its importance in the establishment of imprinting in Impact and other genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohji Okamura
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, MaRS Centre TMDT, 101 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada.
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Okamura K, Ito T. Lessons from comparative analysis of species-specific imprinted genes. Cytogenet Genome Res 2006; 113:159-64. [PMID: 16575176 DOI: 10.1159/000090828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2005] [Accepted: 09/01/2005] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic imprinting is generally believed to be conserved in all mammals except for egg-laying monotremes, suggesting that it is closely related to placental and fetal growth. As expected, the imprinting status of most imprinted genes is conserved between mouse and human, and some are imprinted even in marsupials. On the other hand, a small number of genes were reported to exhibit species-specific imprinting that is not necessarily accounted for by either the placenta or conflict hypotheses. Since mouse and human represent a single, phylogenetically restricted clade in the mammalian class, a much broader comparison including mammals diverged earlier than rodents is necessary to fully understand the species-specificity and variation in evolution of genomic imprinting. Indeed, comparative analysis of a species-specific imprinted gene Impact using a broader range of mammals led us to propose an alternative dosage control hypothesis for the evolution of genomic imprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Okamura
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
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Cattanach BM, Beechey CV, Peters J. Interactions between imprinting effects: summary and review. Cytogenet Genome Res 2006; 113:17-23. [PMID: 16575158 DOI: 10.1159/000090810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2005] [Accepted: 08/24/2005] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mice with uniparental disomies (uniparental duplications) for defined regions of certain chromosomes, or certain disomies, show a range of developmental abnormalities most of which affect growth. These defects can be attributed to incorrect dosages of maternal or paternal copies of imprinted genes lying within the regions involved. Combinations of certain partial disomies result in interactions between the imprinting effects that seemingly independently affect foetal and/or placental growth in different ways or modify neonatal and postnatal development. The findings are generally in accord with the 'conflict hypothesis' for the evolution of genomic imprinting but do not demonstrate common growth axes within which imprinted genes may interact. Instead, it would seem that any gene that favours embryonic/foetal development, at consequent cost to the mother, will have been subject to evolutionary selection for only paternal allele expression. Reciprocally, any gene that reduces embryonic/foetal growth to limit disadvantage to the mother will have been selected for only maternal allele expression. It is concluded that survival of the placenta is core to the evolution of imprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- B M Cattanach
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council, Harwell, Didcot, UK.
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15
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Zhang Z, Joh K, Yatsuki H, Wang Y, Arai Y, Soejima H, Higashimoto K, Iwasaka T, Mukai T. Comparative analyses of genomic imprinting and CpG island-methylation in mouse Murr1 and human MURR1 loci revealed a putative imprinting control region in mice. Gene 2006; 366:77-86. [PMID: 16305817 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2005.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2005] [Accepted: 08/13/2005] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Human MURR1 is an orthologue of mouse Murr1 gene, which was previously reported to be imprinted only in adult brain with a maternal allele-predominant expression and to contain another imprinted gene, U2af1-rs1, in the first intron. Human MURR1 was found not to harbor the U2af1-rs1 orthologue and to be expressed biallelically in tissues, including adult brain. Three genes identified around Murr1 and their orthologues around MURR1 were expressed biallelically. These findings suggest that the mouse imprinting locus is limited to a small region and the introduction of U2af1-rs1 in mouse causes the imprinting of this locus. The CpG island (CGI) at U2af1-rs1 with maternal methylation was the only differentially methylated region among CGIs found in these loci. Detailed methylation analyses of the U2af1-rs1 CGI in germ cells led to identification of a region with oocyte-specific methylation. These results suggest that this region is the imprinting control region of the Murr1/U2af1-rs1 locus in mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongming Zhang
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga 849-8501, Japan
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16
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Arnaud P, Feil R. Epigenetic deregulation of genomic imprinting in human disorders and following assisted reproduction. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 75:81-97. [PMID: 16035043 DOI: 10.1002/bdrc.20039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Imprinted genes play important roles in the regulation of growth and development, and several have been shown to influence behavior. Their allele-specific expression depends on inheritance from either the mother or the father, and is regulated by "imprinting control regions" (ICRs). ICRs are controlled by DNA methylation, which is present on one of the two parental alleles only. These allelic methylation marks are established in either the female or the male germline, following the erasure of preexisting DNA methylation in the primordial germ cells. After fertilization, the allelic DNA methylation at ICRs is maintained in all somatic cells of the developing embryo. This epigenetic "life cycle" of imprinting (germline erasure, germline establishment, and somatic maintenance) can be disrupted in several human diseases, including Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), Angelman syndrome and Hydatidiform mole. In the neurodevelopmental Rett syndrome, the way the ICR mediates imprinted expression is perturbed. Recent studies indicate that assisted reproduction technologies (ART) can sometimes affect the epigenetic cycle of imprinting as well, and that this gives rise to imprinting disease syndromes. This finding warrants careful monitoring of the epigenetic effects, and absolute risks, of currently used and novel reproduction technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Arnaud
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Montpellier II, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 05, France.
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17
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Abstract
Mice with uniparental partial or complete disomies for any one of 11 identified chromosomes show abnormal phenotypes. The abnormalities, or imprinting effects, can be attributable to an incorrect dosage of maternal or paternal copies of imprinted gene(s) located within the regions involved. Here we show that combinations of partial disomies may result in interactions between imprinting effects that seemingly independently affect fetal and/or placental growth in different ways or modify neonatal and postnatal imprinting effects. Candidate genes within the regions have been identified. The findings are generally in accord with the "conflict hypothesis" for the evolution of genomic imprinting but do not clearly demonstrate common growth axes within which imprinted genes may interact. Instead, it would seem that any gene that represses or limits embryonic/fetal growth to the advantage of the mother--by any developmental means--will have been subject to evolutionary selection for paternal allele repression. Likewise, any gene that favors embryonic/fetal development at consequent cost to the mother--by any developmental means--will have faced selection for maternal allele repression. The classical Igf2-Igf2r axis may therefore be unique. The findings involve reinterpretation of older imprinting data and consequently revision of the mouse imprinting map.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce M Cattanach
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, United Kingdom.
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18
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Okamura K, Sakaki Y, Ito T. Comparative genomics approach toward critical determinants for the imprinting of an evolutionarily conserved gene Impact. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2005; 329:824-30. [PMID: 15752730 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.02.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2005] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The Impact is an evolutionarily conserved gene subjected to genomic imprinting in mouse but not in human. A characteristic tandem repeat similar to those found in many other imprinted genes and an elevated expression level, both observed only for the mouse gene, are implicated in the evolution of imprinting, to which the repeat might have contributed via enhancement of the expression. To pursue the possibility further, we examined the correlation among the repeat, expression level, and imprinting of Impact in various mammals ranging from rodents, lagomorphs, carnivores, artiodactyls to primates. Intriguingly, rabbit Impact is abundantly expressed and imprinted like those of rodents, but is missing the repeat from its first intron like those of other mammals that express both alleles weakly. It thus seems that lineage-specific enhancement of gene expression rather than the tandem repeat per se played a critical role in the evolution of imprinting of Impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohji Okamura
- Human Genome Center, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
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Lewis A, Mitsuya K, Constancia M, Reik W. Tandem repeat hypothesis in imprinting: deletion of a conserved direct repeat element upstream of H19 has no effect on imprinting in the Igf2-H19 region. Mol Cell Biol 2004; 24:5650-6. [PMID: 15199123 PMCID: PMC480907 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.24.13.5650-5656.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2003] [Revised: 03/07/2004] [Accepted: 04/09/2004] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Igf2 and H19 are reciprocally imprinted genes on mouse distal chromosome 7. They share several regulatory elements, including a differentially methylated region (DMR) upstream of H19 that is paternally methylated throughout development. The cis-acting sequence requirements for targeting DNA methylation to the DMR remain unknown; however, it has been suggested that direct tandem repeats near DMRs could be involved. Previous studies of the imprinted Rasgrf1 locus demonstrate indeed that a direct repeat element adjacent to a DMR is responsible for establishing paternal allele-specific methylation at the DMR and therefore allelic expression of the Rasgrf1 transcript. We identified a prominent and conserved direct tandem repeat 1 kb upstream of the H19 DMR and proposed that it played a similar role in imprinted regulation of H19. To test our hypothesis, we generated mice harboring a 1.7-kb targeted deletion of the direct repeat element and analyzed fetal growth, allelic expression, and methylation within the Igf2-H19 region. Surprisingly the deletion had no effect on imprinting. These results together with deletions of other repeats close to imprinted genes suggest that direct repeats may not be important for the targeting of methylation at the majority of imprinted loci and that the Rasgrf1 locus may be an exception to this rule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabelle Lewis
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics and Imprinting, Developmental Genetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB2 4AT, United Kingdom
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20
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Coombes C, Arnaud P, Gordon E, Dean W, Coar EA, Williamson CM, Feil R, Peters J, Kelsey G. Epigenetic properties and identification of an imprint mark in the Nesp-Gnasxl domain of the mouse Gnas imprinted locus. Mol Cell Biol 2003; 23:5475-88. [PMID: 12897124 PMCID: PMC166348 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.23.16.5475-5488.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2002] [Revised: 04/07/2003] [Accepted: 05/20/2003] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gnas locus in the mouse is imprinted with a complex arrangement of alternative transcripts defined by promoters with different patterns of monoallelic expression. The Gnas transcript is subject to tissue-specific imprinted expression, Nesp is expressed only from the maternal allele, and Gnasxl is expressed only from the paternal allele. The mechanisms controlling these expression patterns are not known. To identify potential imprinting regulatory regions, particularly for the reciprocally expressed Nesp and Gnasxl promoters, we examined epigenetic properties of the locus in gametes, embryonic stem cells, and fetal and adult tissues. The Nesp and Gnasxl promoter regions are contained in extensive CpG islands with methylation of the paternal allele at Nesp and the maternal allele at Gnasxl. Parental allele-specific DNase I-hypersensitive sites were found at these regions, which correlate with hypomethylation rather than actual expression status. A germ line methylation mark was identified covering the promoters for Gnasxl and the antisense transcript Nespas. Prominent DNase I-hypersensitive sites present on paternal alleles in embryonic stem cells are contained within this mark. This is the second gametic mark identified at Gnas and suggests that the Nesp and Gnasxl promoters are under separate control from the Gnas promoter. We propose models to account for the regulation of imprinting at the locus.
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MESH Headings
- Alleles
- Animals
- Blotting, Southern
- Cell Nucleus/metabolism
- Cells, Cultured
- Chromatin/metabolism
- Chromogranins
- Chromosome Mapping
- DNA Methylation
- Deoxyribonuclease I/metabolism
- Exons
- GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs
- Genomic Imprinting
- Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Models, Genetic
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics
- Oligonucleotides, Antisense/metabolism
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
- Sulfites/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Candice Coombes
- Developmental Genetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB2 4AT, United Kingdom
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Thorvaldsen JL, Mann MRW, Nwoko O, Duran KL, Bartolomei MS. Analysis of sequence upstream of the endogenous H19 gene reveals elements both essential and dispensable for imprinting. Mol Cell Biol 2002; 22:2450-62. [PMID: 11909940 PMCID: PMC133727 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.22.8.2450-2462.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Imprinting of the linked and oppositely expressed mouse H19 and Igf2 genes requires a 2-kb differentially methylated domain (DMD) that is located 2 kb upstream of H19. This element is postulated to function as a methylation-sensitive insulator. Here we test whether an additional sequence 5' of H19 is required for H19 and Igf2 imprinting. Because repetitive elements have been suggested to be important for genomic imprinting, the requirement of a G-rich repetitive element that is located immediately 3' to the DMD was first tested in two targeted deletions: a 2.9-kb deletion (Delta D MD Delta G) that removes the DMD and G-rich repeat and a 1.3-kb deletion (Delta G) removing only the latter. There are also four 21-bp GC-rich repetitive elements within the DMD that bind the insulator-associated CTCF (CCCTC-binding factor) protein and are implicated in mediating methylation-sensitive insulator activity. As three of the four repeats of the 2-kb DMD were deleted in the initial 1.6-kb Delta DMD allele, we analyzed a 3.8-kb targeted allele (Delta 3.8kb-5'H19), which deletes the entire DMD, to test the function of the fourth repeat. Comparative analysis of the 5' deletion alleles reveals that (i) the G-rich repeat element is dispensable for imprinting, (ii) the Delta DMD and Delta DMD Delta G alleles exhibit slightly more methylation upon paternal transmission, (iii) removal of the 5' CTCF site does not further perturb H19 and Igf2 imprinting, suggesting that one CTCF-binding site is insufficient to generate insulator activity in vivo, (iv) the DMD sequence is required for full activation of H19 and Igf2, and (v) deletion of the DMD disrupts H19 and Igf2 expression in a tissue-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne L Thorvaldsen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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