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Fu L, Wu Q, Fu J. Exploring the biological roles of DHX36, a DNA/RNA G-quadruplex helicase, highlights functions in male infertility: A comprehensive review. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 268:131811. [PMID: 38677694 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
It is estimated that 15 % of couples at reproductive age worldwide suffer from infertility, approximately 50 % of cases are caused by male factors. Significant progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility through assisted reproductive technology and molecular genetics methods. However, there is still inadequate research on the underlying mechanisms of gene regulation in the process of spermatogenesis. Guanine-quadruplexes (G4s) are a class of non-canonical secondary structures of nucleic acid commonly found in genomes and RNAs that play important roles in various biological processes. Interestingly, the DEAH-box helicase 36 (DHX36) displays high specificity for the G4s which can unwind both DNA G4s and RNA G4s enzymatically and is highly expressed in testis, thereby regulating multiple cellular functions including transcription, pre-mRNA splicing, translation, telomere maintenance, genomic stability, and RNA metabolism in development and male infertility. This review provides an overview of the roles of G4s and DHX36 in reproduction and development. We mainly focus on the potential role of DHX36 in male infertility. We also discuss possible future research directions regarding the mechanism of spermatogenesis mediated by DHX36 through G4s in spermatogenesis-related genes and provide new targets for gene therapy of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Fu
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China; Key Laboratory of Epigenetics and Oncology, The Research Center for Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China; Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China; Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
| | - Qiang Wu
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China.
| | - Junjiang Fu
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China; Key Laboratory of Epigenetics and Oncology, The Research Center for Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
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Mitteaux J, Raevens S, Wang Z, Pirrotta M, Valverde IE, Hudson RHE, Monchaud D. PhpC modulates G-quadruplex-RNA landscapes in human cells. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:424-427. [PMID: 38086624 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc05155b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Stabilizing DNA/RNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) using small molecules (ligands) has proven an efficient strategy to decipher G4 biology. Quite paradoxically, this search has also highlighted the need for finding molecules able to disrupt G4s to tackle G4-associated cellular dysfunctions. We report here on both qualitative and quantitative investigations that validate the G4-RNA-destabilizing properties of the leading compound PhpC in human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémie Mitteaux
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), CNRS UMR 6302, 9, avenue Alain Savary, Dijon 21078, France.
| | - Sandy Raevens
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), CNRS UMR 6302, 9, avenue Alain Savary, Dijon 21078, France.
| | - Zi Wang
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Marc Pirrotta
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), CNRS UMR 6302, 9, avenue Alain Savary, Dijon 21078, France.
| | - Ibai E Valverde
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), CNRS UMR 6302, 9, avenue Alain Savary, Dijon 21078, France.
| | - Robert H E Hudson
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - David Monchaud
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), CNRS UMR 6302, 9, avenue Alain Savary, Dijon 21078, France.
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Tollis P, Vitiello E, Migliaccio F, D'Ambra E, Rocchegiani A, Garone MG, Bozzoni I, Rosa A, Carissimo A, Laneve P, Caffarelli E. The long noncoding RNA nHOTAIRM1 is necessary for differentiation and activity of iPSC-derived spinal motor neurons. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:741. [PMID: 37963881 PMCID: PMC10646148 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06196-y] [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] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian nervous system is made up of an extraordinary array of diverse cells that form intricate functional connections. The programs underlying cell lineage specification, identity and function of the neuronal subtypes are managed by regulatory proteins and RNAs, which coordinate the succession of steps in a stereotyped temporal order. In the central nervous system (CNS), motor neurons (MNs) are responsible for controlling essential functions such as movement, breathing, and swallowing by integrating signal transmission from the cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord (SC) towards peripheral muscles. A prime role in guiding the progression of progenitor cells towards the MN fate has been largely attributed to protein factors. More recently, the relevance of a class of regulatory RNAs abundantly expressed in the CNS - the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) - has emerged overwhelmingly. LncRNA-driven gene expression control is key to regulating any step of MN differentiation and function, and its derangement profoundly impacts neuronal pathophysiology. Here, we uncover a novel function for the neuronal isoform of HOTAIRM1 (nHOTAIRM1), a lncRNA specifically expressed in the SC. Using a model system that recapitulates spinal MN (spMN) differentiation, we show that nHOTAIRM1 intervenes in the binary cell fate decision between MNs and interneurons, acting as a pro-MN factor. Furthermore, human iPSC-derived spMNs without nHOTAIRM1 display altered neurite outgrowth, with a significant reduction of both branch and junction numbers. Finally, the expression of genes essential for synaptic connectivity and neurotransmission is also profoundly impaired when nHOTAIRM1 is absent in spMNs. Mechanistically, nHOTAIRM1 establishes both direct and indirect interactions with a number of target genes in the cytoplasm, being a novel post-transcriptional regulator of MN biology. Overall, our results indicate that the lncRNA nHOTAIRM1 is essential for the specification of MN identity and the acquisition of proper morphology and synaptic activity of post-mitotic MNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Tollis
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nano-& Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Erika Vitiello
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Center for Human Technology, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesco Migliaccio
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
- Institute for Applied Mathematics "Mauro Picone", CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Eleonora D'Ambra
- Center for Life Nano-& Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Rocchegiani
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria Giovanna Garone
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine, reNEW Melbourne, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Stem Cell Biology Department, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Irene Bozzoni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nano-& Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rosa
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nano-& Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Pietro Laneve
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Rome, CNR, Italy.
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