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Luo Z, Wu L, Miao X, Zhang S, Wei N, Zhao S, Shang X, Hu H, Xue J, Zhang T, Yang F, Xu S, Li L. A dynamic regulome of shoot-apical-meristem-related homeobox transcription factors modulates plant architecture in maize. Genome Biol 2024; 25:245. [PMID: 39300560 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03391-8] [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: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The shoot apical meristem (SAM), from which all above-ground tissues of plants are derived, is critical to plant morphology and development. In maize (Zea mays), loss-of-function mutant studies have identified several SAM-related genes, most encoding homeobox transcription factors (TFs), located upstream of hierarchical networks of hundreds of genes. RESULTS Here, we collect 46 transcriptome and 16 translatome datasets across 62 different tissues or stages from the maize inbred line B73. We construct a dynamic regulome for 27 members of three SAM-related homeobox subfamilies (KNOX, WOX, and ZF-HD) through machine-learning models for the detection of TF targets across different tissues and stages by combining tsCUT&Tag, ATAC-seq, and expression profiling. This dynamic regulome demonstrates the distinct binding specificity and co-factors for these homeobox subfamilies, indicative of functional divergence between and within them. Furthermore, we assemble a SAM dynamic regulome, illustrating potential functional mechanisms associated with plant architecture. Lastly, we generate a wox13a mutant that provides evidence that WOX13A directly regulates Gn1 expression to modulate plant height, validating the regulome of SAM-related homeobox genes. CONCLUSIONS The SAM-related homeobox transcription-factor regulome presents an unprecedented opportunity to dissect the molecular mechanisms governing SAM maintenance and development, thereby advancing our understanding of maize growth and shoot architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi Luo
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Leiming Wu
- The National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Resistance Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
| | - Xinxin Miao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Shuang Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetics Improvement of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712199, China
| | - Ningning Wei
- The Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetics Improvement of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712199, China
| | - Shiya Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xiaoyang Shang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Hongyan Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Jiquan Xue
- The Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetics Improvement of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712199, China
| | - Tifu Zhang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Agrobiology, Institute of Germplasm Resources and Biotechnology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, China
| | - Fang Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Shutu Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetics Improvement of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712199, China.
| | - Lin Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China.
- Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518120, China.
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2
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Li X, Hu Z, Shi Q, Qiu W, Liu Y, Liu Y, Huang S, Liang L, Chen Z, He X. Elevated choline drives KLF5-dominated transcriptional reprogramming to facilitate liver cancer progression. Oncogene 2024:10.1038/s41388-024-03150-w. [PMID: 39251845 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-03150-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 08/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
An increase in the total choline-containing compound content is a common characteristic of cancer cells, and aberrant choline metabolism in cancer is closely associated with malignant progression. However, the potential role of choline-induced global transcriptional changes in cancer cells remains unclear. In this study, we reveal that an elevated choline content facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell proliferation by reprogramming Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5)-dominated core transcriptional regulatory circuitry (CRC). Mechanistically, choline administration leads to elevated S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) levels, inducing the formation of H3K4me1 within the super-enhancer (SE) region of KLF5 and activating its transcription. KLF5, as a key transcription factor (TF) of CRC established by choline, further transactivates downstream genes to facilitate HCC cell cycle progression. Additionally, KLF5 can increase the expression of choline kinase-α (CHKA) and CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT) resulting in a positive feedback loop to promote HCC cell proliferation. Notably, the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) vorinostat (SAHA) significantly suppressed KLF5 expression and liver tumor growth in mice, leading to a prolonged lifespan. In conclusion, these findings highlight the epigenetic regulatory mechanism of the SE-driven key regulatory factor KLF5 conducted by choline metabolism in HCC and suggest a potential therapeutic strategy for HCC patients with high choline content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinrong Li
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhixiang Hu
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qili Shi
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenying Qiu
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yizhe Liu
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanfang Liu
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shenglin Huang
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Linhui Liang
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiao Chen
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xianghuo He
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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3
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Vojnits K, Feng Z, Johnson P, Porras D, Manocha E, Vandersluis S, Pfammatter S, Thibault P, Bhatia M. Targeting of human cancer stem cells predicts efficacy and toxicity of FDA-approved oncology drugs. Cancer Lett 2024; 599:217108. [PMID: 38986735 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.217108] [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: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Cancer remains the leading cause of death worldwide with approved oncology drugs continuing to have heterogenous patient responses and accompanied adverse effects (AEs) that limits effectiveness. Here, we examined >100 FDA-approved oncology drugs in the context of stemness using a surrogate model of transformed human pluripotent cancer stem cells (CSCs) vs. healthy stem cells (hSCs) capable of distinguishing abnormal self-renewal and differentiation. Although a proportion of these drugs had no effects (inactive), a larger portion affected CSCs (active), and a unique subset preferentially affected CSCs over hSCs (selective). Single cell gene expression and protein profiling of each drug's FDA recognized target provided a molecular correlation of responses in CSCs vs. hSCs. Uniquely, drugs selective for CSCs demonstrated clinical efficacy, measured by overall survival, and reduced AEs. Our findings reveal that while unintentional, half of anticancer drugs are active against CSCs and associated with improved clinical outcomes. Based on these findings, we suggest ability to target CSC targeting should be included as a property of early onco-therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Vojnits
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Zhuohang Feng
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Paige Johnson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Deanna Porras
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Ekta Manocha
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Sean Vandersluis
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Sibylle Pfammatter
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre Thibault
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mick Bhatia
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
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4
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Peng SY, Chen CY, Chen H, Yang YP, Wang ML, Tsai FT, Chien CS, Weng PY, Tsai ET, Wang IC, Hsu CC, Lin TC, Hwang DK, Chen SJ, Chiou SH, Chiao CC, Chien Y. Inhibition of angiogenesis by the secretome from iPSC-derived retinal ganglion cells with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy-like phenotypes. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 178:117270. [PMID: 39126773 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117270] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The blood supply in the retina ensures photoreceptor function and maintains regular vision. Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), caused by the mitochondrial DNA mutations that deteriorate complex I activity, is characterized by progressive vision loss. Although some reports indicated retinal vasculature abnormalities as one of the comorbidities in LHON, the paracrine influence of LHON-affected retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) on vascular endothelial cell physiology remains unclear. To address this, we established an in vitro model of mitochondrial complex I deficiency using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived RGCs (iPSC-RGCs) treated with a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor rotenone (Rot) to recapitulate LHON pathologies. The secretomes from Rot-treated iPSC-RGCs (Rot-iPSC-RGCs) were collected, and their treatment effect on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was studied. Rot induced LHON-like characteristics in iPSC-RGCs, including decreased mitochondrial complex I activity and membrane potential, and increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. When HUVECs were exposed to conditioned media (CM) from Rot-iPSC-RGCs, the angiogenesis of HUVECs was suppressed compared to those treated with CM from control iPSC-RGCs (Ctrl-iPSC-RGCs). Angiogenesis-related proteins were altered in the secretomes from Rot-iPSC-RGC-derived CM, particularly angiopoietin, MMP-9, uPA, collagen XVIII, and VEGF were reduced. Notably, GeneMANIA analysis indicated that VEGFA emerged as the pivotal angiogenesis-related protein among the identified proteins secreted by health iPSC-RGCs but reduced in the secretomes from Rot-iPSC-RGCs. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blots confirmed the reduction of VEGFA at both transcription and translation levels, respectively. Our study reveals that Rot-iPSC-RGCs establish a microenvironment to diminish the angiogenic potential of vascular cells nearby, shedding light on the paracrine regulation of LHON-affected RGCs on retinal vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Yuan Peng
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chih-Ying Chen
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hsin Chen
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan, ROC; Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300044, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Ping Yang
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan, ROC; Institute of Food Safety and Health Risk Assessment, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Mong-Lien Wang
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan, ROC; Institute of Food Safety and Health Risk Assessment, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Fu-Ting Tsai
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chian-Shiu Chien
- Institute of Physiology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Pei-Yu Weng
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan, ROC
| | - En-Tung Tsai
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan, ROC
| | - I-Chieh Wang
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chih-Chien Hsu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112201, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Tai-Chi Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112201, Taiwan, ROC
| | - De-Kuang Hwang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112201, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Shih-Jen Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112201, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Shih-Hwa Chiou
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan, ROC; Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112201, Taiwan, ROC; Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan, ROC.
| | - Chuan-Chin Chiao
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300044, Taiwan, ROC.
| | - Yueh Chien
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan, ROC.
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5
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Zhao Y, Wytock TP, Reynolds KA, Motter AE. Irreversibility in bacterial regulatory networks. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eado3232. [PMID: 39196926 PMCID: PMC11352831 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado3232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/30/2024]
Abstract
Irreversibility, in which a transient perturbation leaves a system in a new state, is an emergent property in systems of interacting entities. This property has well-established implications in statistical physics but remains underexplored in biological networks, especially for bacteria and other prokaryotes whose regulation of gene expression occurs predominantly at the transcriptional level. Focusing on the reconstructed regulatory network of Escherichia coli, we examine network responses to transient single-gene perturbations. We predict irreversibility in numerous cases and find that the incidence of irreversibility increases with the proximity of the perturbed gene to positive circuits in the network. Comparison with experimental data suggests a connection between the predicted irreversibility to transient perturbations and the evolutionary response to permanent perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhao
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Center for Network Dynamics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Thomas P. Wytock
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Center for Network Dynamics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Kimberly A. Reynolds
- The Green Center for Systems Biology–Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Adilson E. Motter
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Center for Network Dynamics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- National Institute for Theory and Mathematics in Biology, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
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6
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Zeng R, Huang X, Fu W, Ji W, Cai W, Xu M, Lan D. Construction of Lentiviral Vectors Carrying Six Pluripotency Genes in Yak to Obtain Yak iPSC Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9431. [PMID: 39273379 PMCID: PMC11394755 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179431] [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: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Yak is an excellent germplasm resource on the Tibetan Plateau and is able to live in high-altitude areas with hypoxic, cold, and harsh environments. Studies on induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in large ruminants commonly involve a combination strategy involving six transcription factors, Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc, Nanog, and Lin28 (OSKMNL). This strategy tends to utilize genes from the same species to optimize pluripotency maintenance. In this study, we cloned the six pluripotency genes (OSKMNL) from yak and constructed a multi-cistronic lentiviral vector carrying these genes. This vector efficiently delivered the genes into yak fibroblasts, aiming to promote the reprogramming process. We verified that the treated cells had several pluripotency characteristics, marking the first successful construction of a lentiviral system carrying yak pluripotency genes. This achievement lays the foundation for subsequent establishment of yak iPSCs and holds significant implications for yak-breed improvement and germplasm-resource conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruilin Zeng
- College of Animal & Verterinary Sciences, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xianpeng Huang
- College of Animal & Verterinary Sciences, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wei Fu
- College of Animal & Verterinary Sciences, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wenhui Ji
- College of Animal & Verterinary Sciences, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wenyi Cai
- College of Animal & Verterinary Sciences, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Meng Xu
- College of Animal & Verterinary Sciences, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Daoliang Lan
- College of Animal & Verterinary Sciences, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Animal Genetic Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Education, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
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7
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Liu J, Castillo-Hair SM, Du LY, Wang Y, Carte AN, Colomer-Rosell M, Yin C, Seelig G, Schier AF. Dissecting the regulatory logic of specification and differentiation during vertebrate embryogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.27.609971. [PMID: 39253514 PMCID: PMC11383055 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.27.609971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
The interplay between transcription factors and chromatin accessibility regulates cell type diversification during vertebrate embryogenesis. To systematically decipher the gene regulatory logic guiding this process, we generated a single-cell multi-omics atlas of RNA expression and chromatin accessibility during early zebrafish embryogenesis. We developed a deep learning model to predict chromatin accessibility based on DNA sequence and found that a small number of transcription factors underlie cell-type-specific chromatin landscapes. While Nanog is well-established in promoting pluripotency, we discovered a new function in priming the enhancer accessibility of mesendodermal genes. In addition to the classical stepwise mode of differentiation, we describe instant differentiation, where pluripotent cells skip intermediate fate transitions and terminally differentiate. Reconstruction of gene regulatory interactions reveals that this process is driven by a shallow network in which maternally deposited regulators activate a small set of transcription factors that co-regulate hundreds of differentiation genes. Notably, misexpression of these transcription factors in pluripotent cells is sufficient to ectopically activate their targets. This study provides a rich resource for analyzing embryonic gene regulation and reveals the regulatory logic of instant differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialin Liu
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, 4056, Switzerland
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | | | - Lucia Y Du
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, 4056, Switzerland
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Yiqun Wang
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, 4056, Switzerland
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Adam N Carte
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, 4056, Switzerland
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, USA
| | - Mariona Colomer-Rosell
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, 4056, Switzerland
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Christopher Yin
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Georg Seelig
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Alexander F Schier
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, 4056, Switzerland
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
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8
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Mohajer F, Khoradmehr A, Riazalhosseini B, Zendehboudi T, Nabipour I, Baghban N. In vitro detection of marine invertebrate stem cells: utilizing molecular and cellular biology techniques and exploring markers. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1440091. [PMID: 39239558 PMCID: PMC11374967 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1440091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Marine invertebrate stem cells (MISCs) represent a distinct category of pluripotent and totipotent cells with remarkable abilities for self-renewal and differentiation into multiple germ layers, akin to their vertebrate counterparts. These unique cells persist throughout an organism's adult life and have been observed in various adult marine invertebrate phyla. MISCs play crucial roles in numerous biological processes, including developmental biology phenomena specific to marine invertebrates, such as senescence, delayed senescence, whole-body regeneration, and asexual reproduction. Furthermore, they serve as valuable models for studying stem cell biology. Despite their significance, information about MISCs remains scarce and scattered in the scientific literature. In this review, we have carefully collected and summarized valuable information about MISC detection by perusing the articles that study and detect MISCs in various marine invertebrate organisms. The review begins by defining MISCs and highlighting their unique features compared to vertebrates. It then discusses the common markers for MISC detection and in vitro techniques employed in invertebrate and vertebrates investigation. This comprehensive review provides researchers and scientists with a cohesive and succinct overview of MISC characteristics, detection methods, and associated biological phenomena in marine invertebrate organisms. We aim to offer a valuable resource to researchers and scientists interested in marine invertebrate stem cells, fostering a better understanding of their broader implications in biology. With ongoing advancements in scientific techniques and the continued exploration of marine invertebrate species, we anticipate that further discoveries will expand our knowledge of MISCs and their broader implications in biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Mohajer
- Student Research and Technology Committee, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Arezoo Khoradmehr
- The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Behnaz Riazalhosseini
- The Pharmacogenomics Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Tuba Zendehboudi
- Student Research and Technology Committee, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Iraj Nabipour
- The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Neda Baghban
- Food Control Laboratory, Food and Drug Deputy, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
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9
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Limonta P, Chiaramonte R, Casati L. Unveiling the Dynamic Interplay between Cancer Stem Cells and the Tumor Microenvironment in Melanoma: Implications for Novel Therapeutic Strategies. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2861. [PMID: 39199632 PMCID: PMC11352669 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16162861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma still represents a significant health burden worldwide, being responsible for the majority of skin cancer deaths. Key advances in therapeutic strategies have significantly improved patient outcomes; however, most patients experience drug resistance and tumor relapse. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subpopulation of cells in different tumors, including melanoma, endowed with distinctive capacities of self-renewal and differentiation into bulk tumor cells. Melanoma CSCs are characterized by the expression of specific biomarkers and intracellular pathways; moreover, they play a pivotal role in tumor onset, progression and drug resistance. In recent years, great efforts have been made to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying the protumor activities of melanoma CSCs to provide the basis for novel CSC-targeted therapies. Herein, we highlight the intricate crosstalk between melanoma CSCs and bystander cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), including immune cells, endothelial cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and its role in melanoma progression. Specifically, we discuss the peculiar capacities of melanoma CSCs to escape the host immune surveillance, to recruit immunosuppressive cells and to educate immune cells toward an immunosuppressive and protumor phenotype. We also address currently investigated CSC-targeted strategies that could pave the way for new promising therapeutic approaches for melanoma care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Limonta
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences “R. Paoletti”, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Chiaramonte
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy;
| | - Lavinia Casati
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy;
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10
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Kiri S, Ryba T. Cancer, metastasis, and the epigenome. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:154. [PMID: 39095874 PMCID: PMC11295362 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02069-w] [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: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide and disease burden is expected to increase globally throughout the next several decades, with the majority of cancer-related deaths occurring in metastatic disease. Cancers exhibit known hallmarks that endow them with increased survival and proliferative capacities, frequently as a result of de-stabilizing mutations. However, the genomic features that resolve metastatic clones from primary tumors are not yet well-characterized, as no mutational landscape has been identified as predictive of metastasis. Further, many cancers exhibit no known mutation signature. This suggests a larger role for non-mutational genome re-organization in promoting cancer evolution and dissemination. In this review, we highlight current critical needs for understanding cell state transitions and clonal selection advantages for metastatic cancer cells. We examine links between epigenetic states, genome structure, and misregulation of tumor suppressors and oncogenes, and discuss how recent technologies for understanding domain-scale regulation have been leveraged for a more complete picture of oncogenic and metastatic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurav Kiri
- College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, 6850 Lake Nona Blvd., Orlando, 32827, Florida, USA.
| | - Tyrone Ryba
- Department of Natural Sciences, New College of Florida, 5800 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, 34243, Florida, USA.
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11
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Pepin AS, Schneider R. Emerging toolkits for decoding the co-occurrence of modified histones and chromatin proteins. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:3202-3220. [PMID: 39095610 PMCID: PMC11316037 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00199-2] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotes, DNA is packaged into chromatin with the help of highly conserved histone proteins. Together with DNA-binding proteins, posttranslational modifications (PTMs) on these histones play crucial roles in regulating genome function, cell fate determination, inheritance of acquired traits, cellular states, and diseases. While most studies have focused on individual DNA-binding proteins, chromatin proteins, or histone PTMs in bulk cell populations, such chromatin features co-occur and potentially act cooperatively to accomplish specific functions in a given cell. This review discusses state-of-the-art techniques for the simultaneous profiling of multiple chromatin features in low-input samples and single cells, focusing on histone PTMs, DNA-binding, and chromatin proteins. We cover the origins of the currently available toolkits, compare and contrast their characteristic features, and discuss challenges and perspectives for future applications. Studying the co-occurrence of histone PTMs, DNA-binding proteins, and chromatin proteins in single cells will be central for a better understanding of the biological relevance of combinatorial chromatin features, their impact on genomic output, and cellular heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Sophie Pepin
- Institute of Functional Epigenetics (IFE), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Robert Schneider
- Institute of Functional Epigenetics (IFE), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
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12
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Ma H, Qu J, Pang Z, Luo J, Yan M, Xu W, Zhuang H, Liu L, Qu Q. Super-enhancer omics in stem cell. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:153. [PMID: 39090713 PMCID: PMC11293198 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02066-z] [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: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The hallmarks of stem cells, such as proliferation, self-renewal, development, differentiation, and regeneration, are critical to maintain stem cell identity which is sustained by genetic and epigenetic factors. Super-enhancers (SEs), which consist of clusters of active enhancers, play a central role in maintaining stemness hallmarks by specifically transcriptional model. The SE-navigated transcriptional complex, including SEs, non-coding RNAs, master transcriptional factors, Mediators and other co-activators, forms phase-separated condensates, which offers a toggle for directing diverse stem cell fate. With the burgeoning technologies of multiple-omics applied to examine different aspects of SE, we firstly raise the concept of "super-enhancer omics", inextricably linking to Pan-omics. In the review, we discuss the spatiotemporal organization and concepts of SEs, and describe links between SE-navigated transcriptional complex and stem cell features, such as stem cell identity, self-renewal, pluripotency, differentiation and development. We also elucidate the mechanism of stemness and oncogenic SEs modulating cancer stem cells via genomic and epigenetic alterations hijack in cancer stem cell. Additionally, we discuss the potential of targeting components of the SE complex using small molecule compounds, genome editing, and antisense oligonucleotides to treat SE-associated organ dysfunction and diseases, including cancer. This review also provides insights into the future of stem cell research through the paradigm of SEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongying Ma
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, People's Republic of China
- Institute for Rational and Safe Medication Practices, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Qu
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
- Hunan key laboratory of the Research and Development of Novel Pharmaceutical Preparations, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, 410219, China
| | - Zicheng Pang
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, People's Republic of China
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jian Luo
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, People's Republic of China
- Institute for Rational and Safe Medication Practices, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Yan
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, People's Republic of China
- Institute for Rational and Safe Medication Practices, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, People's Republic of China
| | - Weixin Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
| | - Haihui Zhuang
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
| | - Linxin Liu
- Department of Hematology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Qu
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, People's Republic of China.
- Institute for Rational and Safe Medication Practices, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Hematology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China.
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13
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Kucinski J, Tallan A, Taslim C, Wang M, Cannon MV, Silvius KM, Stanton BZ, Kendall GC. Rhabdomyosarcoma fusion oncoprotein initially pioneers a neural signature in vivo. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.12.603270. [PMID: 39071299 PMCID: PMC11275748 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.12.603270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive pediatric cancer molecularly characterized by arrested myogenesis. The defining genetic driver, PAX3::FOXO1, functions as a chimeric gain-of-function transcription factor. An incomplete understanding of PAX3::FOXO1's in vivo epigenetic mechanisms has hindered therapeutic development. Here, we establish a PAX3::FOXO1 zebrafish injection model and semi-automated ChIP-seq normalization strategy to evaluate how PAX3::FOXO1 initially interfaces with chromatin in a developmental context. We investigated PAX3::FOXO1's recognition of chromatin and subsequent transcriptional consequences. We find that PAX3::FOXO1 interacts with inaccessible chromatin through partial/homeobox motif recognition consistent with pioneering activity. However, PAX3::FOXO1-genome binding through a composite paired-box/homeobox motif alters chromatin accessibility and redistributes H3K27ac to activate neural transcriptional programs. We uncover neural signatures that are highly representative of clinical rhabdomyosarcoma gene expression programs that are enriched following chemotherapy. Overall, we identify partial/homeobox motif recognition as a new mode for PAX3::FOXO1 pioneer function and identify neural signatures as a potentially critical PAX3::FOXO1 tumor initiation event.
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14
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Schock EN, York JR, Li AP, Tu AY, LaBonne C. SoxB1 transcription factors are essential for initiating and maintaining neural plate border gene expression. Development 2024; 151:dev202693. [PMID: 38940470 PMCID: PMC11369808 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202693] [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: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
SoxB1 transcription factors (Sox2/3) are well known for their role in early neural fate specification in the embryo, but little is known about functional roles for SoxB1 factors in non-neural ectodermal cell types, such as the neural plate border (NPB). Using Xenopus laevis, we set out to determine whether SoxB1 transcription factors have a regulatory function in NPB formation. Here, we show that SoxB1 factors are necessary for NPB formation, and that prolonged SoxB1 factor activity blocks the transition from a NPB to a neural crest state. Using ChIP-seq, we demonstrate that Sox3 is enriched upstream of NPB genes in early NPB cells and in blastula stem cells. Depletion of SoxB1 factors in blastula stem cells results in downregulation of NPB genes. Finally, we identify Pou5f3 factors as potential Sox3 partners in regulating the formation of the NPB and show that their combined activity is needed for normal NPB gene expression. Together, these data identify a role for SoxB1 factors in the establishment and maintenance of the NPB, in part through partnership with Pou5f3 factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth N. Schock
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Joshua R. York
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Austin P. Li
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Ashlyn Y. Tu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Carole LaBonne
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- NSF-Simons National Institute for Theory and Mathematics in Biology, 875 N Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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15
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Corrigendum to: A logical model of Ewing sarcoma cell epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition supports the existence of hybrid cellular phenotypes https://doi.org/10.1002/1873-3468.14724. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:1667-1670. [PMID: 38880658 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
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16
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Edenhofer FC, Térmeg A, Ohnuki M, Jocher J, Kliesmete Z, Briem E, Hellmann I, Enard W. Generation and characterization of inducible KRAB-dCas9 iPSCs from primates for cross-species CRISPRi. iScience 2024; 27:110090. [PMID: 38947524 PMCID: PMC11214527 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Comparisons of molecular phenotypes across primates provide unique information to understand human biology and evolution, and single-cell RNA-seq CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screens are a powerful approach to analyze them. Here, we generate and validate three human, three gorilla, and two cynomolgus iPS cell lines that carry a dox-inducible KRAB-dCas9 construct at the AAVS1 locus. We show that despite variable expression levels of KRAB-dCas9 among lines, comparable downregulation of target genes and comparable phenotypic effects are observed in a single-cell RNA-seq CRISPRi screen. Hence, we provide valuable resources for performing and further extending CRISPRi in human and non-human primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona C. Edenhofer
- Anthropology and Human Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg, Germany
| | - Anita Térmeg
- Anthropology and Human Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg, Germany
| | - Mari Ohnuki
- Anthropology and Human Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg, Germany
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
- Hakubi Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Jessica Jocher
- Anthropology and Human Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg, Germany
| | - Zane Kliesmete
- Anthropology and Human Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg, Germany
| | - Eva Briem
- Anthropology and Human Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg, Germany
| | - Ines Hellmann
- Anthropology and Human Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Enard
- Anthropology and Human Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Planegg, Germany
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17
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Razavipour SF, Yoon H, Jang K, Kim M, Nawara HM, Bagheri A, Huang WC, Shin M, Zhao D, Zhou Z, Van Boven D, Briegel K, Morey L, Ince TA, Johnson M, Slingerland JM. C-terminally phosphorylated p27 activates self-renewal driver genes to program cancer stem cell expansion, mammary hyperplasia and cancer. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5152. [PMID: 38886396 PMCID: PMC11183067 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48742-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: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
In many cancers, a stem-like cell subpopulation mediates tumor initiation, dissemination and drug resistance. Here, we report that cancer stem cell (CSC) abundance is transcriptionally regulated by C-terminally phosphorylated p27 (p27pT157pT198). Mechanistically, this arises through p27 co-recruitment with STAT3/CBP to gene regulators of CSC self-renewal including MYC, the Notch ligand JAG1, and ANGPTL4. p27pTpT/STAT3 also recruits a SIN3A/HDAC1 complex to co-repress the Pyk2 inhibitor, PTPN12. Pyk2, in turn, activates STAT3, creating a feed-forward loop increasing stem-like properties in vitro and tumor-initiating stem cells in vivo. The p27-activated gene profile is over-represented in STAT3 activated human breast cancers. Furthermore, mammary transgenic expression of phosphomimetic, cyclin-CDK-binding defective p27 (p27CK-DD) increases mammary duct branching morphogenesis, yielding hyperplasia and microinvasive cancers that can metastasize to liver, further supporting a role for p27pTpT in CSC expansion. Thus, p27pTpT interacts with STAT3, driving transcriptional programs governing stem cell expansion or maintenance in normal and cancer tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyedeh Fatemeh Razavipour
- Cancer Host Interactions Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
- Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fl, USA
| | - Hyunho Yoon
- Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fl, USA
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon-si, South Korea
| | - Kibeom Jang
- Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fl, USA
| | - Minsoon Kim
- Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fl, USA
| | - Hend M Nawara
- Cancer Host Interactions Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Amir Bagheri
- Cancer Host Interactions Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Wei-Chi Huang
- Cancer Host Interactions Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Miyoung Shin
- Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fl, USA
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Dekuang Zhao
- Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fl, USA
| | - Zhiqun Zhou
- Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fl, USA
| | - Derek Van Boven
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Karoline Briegel
- Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fl, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fl, USA
| | - Lluis Morey
- Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fl, USA
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Tan A Ince
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Johnson
- Cancer Host Interactions Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Joyce M Slingerland
- Cancer Host Interactions Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA.
- Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fl, USA.
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18
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Stanton BZ, Pomella S. Epigenetic determinants of fusion-driven sarcomas: paradigms and challenges. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1416946. [PMID: 38946804 PMCID: PMC11211607 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1416946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
We describe exciting recent advances in fusion-driven sarcoma etiology, from an epigenetics perspective. By exploring the current state of the field, we identify and describe the central mechanisms that determine sarcomagenesis. Further, we discuss seminal studies in translational genomics, which enabled epigenetic characterization of fusion-driven sarcomas. Important context for epigenetic mechanisms include, but are not limited to, cell cycle and metabolism, core regulatory circuitry, 3-dimensional chromatin architectural dysregulation, integration with ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling, and translational animal modeling. Paradoxically, while the genetic requirements for oncogenic transformation are highly specific for the fusion partners, the epigenetic mechanisms we as a community have uncovered are categorically very broad. This dichotomy prompts the question of whether the investigation of rare disease epigenomics should prioritize studying individual cell populations, thereby examining whether the mechanisms of chromatin dysregulation are specific to a particular tumor. We review recent advances focusing on rhabdomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, alveolar soft part sarcoma, clear cell sarcoma, undifferentiated round cell sarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, myxoid/round liposarcoma, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and desmoplastic round cell tumor. The growing number of groundbreaking discoveries in the field, motivated us to anticipate further exciting advances in the area of mechanistic epigenomics and direct targeting of fusion transcription factors in the years ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Z. Stanton
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Silvia Pomella
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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19
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Wang Z, Gong W, Yao Z, Jin K, Niu Y, Li B, Zuo Q. Mechanisms of Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency Maintenance and Their Application in Livestock and Poultry Breeding. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1742. [PMID: 38929361 PMCID: PMC11201147 DOI: 10.3390/ani14121742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are remarkably undifferentiated cells that originate from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst. They possess the ability to self-renew and differentiate into multiple cell types, making them invaluable in diverse applications such as disease modeling and the creation of transgenic animals. In recent years, as agricultural practices have evolved from traditional to biological breeding, it has become clear that pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), either ESCs or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), are optimal for continually screening suitable cellular materials. However, the technologies for long-term in vitro culture or establishment of cell lines for PSCs in livestock are still immature, and research progress is uneven, which poses challenges for the application of PSCs in various fields. The establishment of a robust in vitro system for these cells is critically dependent on understanding their pluripotency maintenance mechanisms. It is believed that the combined effects of pluripotent transcription factors, pivotal signaling pathways, and epigenetic regulation contribute to maintaining their pluripotent state, forming a comprehensive regulatory network. This article will delve into the primary mechanisms underlying the maintenance of pluripotency in PSCs and elaborate on the applications of PSCs in the field of livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyu Wang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Z.W.); (W.G.); (Z.Y.); (K.J.); (Y.N.); (B.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Wei Gong
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Z.W.); (W.G.); (Z.Y.); (K.J.); (Y.N.); (B.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Zeling Yao
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Z.W.); (W.G.); (Z.Y.); (K.J.); (Y.N.); (B.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Kai Jin
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Z.W.); (W.G.); (Z.Y.); (K.J.); (Y.N.); (B.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yingjie Niu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Z.W.); (W.G.); (Z.Y.); (K.J.); (Y.N.); (B.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Bichun Li
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Z.W.); (W.G.); (Z.Y.); (K.J.); (Y.N.); (B.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Qisheng Zuo
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Z.W.); (W.G.); (Z.Y.); (K.J.); (Y.N.); (B.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
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20
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Brandani GB, Gu C, Gopi S, Takada S. Multiscale Bayesian simulations reveal functional chromatin condensation of gene loci. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae226. [PMID: 38881841 PMCID: PMC11179106 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Chromatin, the complex assembly of DNA and associated proteins, plays a pivotal role in orchestrating various genomic functions. To aid our understanding of the principles underlying chromatin organization, we introduce Hi-C metainference, a Bayesian approach that integrates Hi-C contact frequencies into multiscale prior models of chromatin. This approach combines both bottom-up (the physics-based prior) and top-down (the data-driven posterior) strategies to characterize the 3D organization of a target genomic locus. We first demonstrate the capability of this method to accurately reconstruct the structural ensemble and the dynamics of a system from contact information. We then apply the approach to investigate the Sox2, Pou5f1, and Nanog loci of mouse embryonic stem cells using a bottom-up chromatin model at 1 kb resolution. We observe that the studied loci are conformationally heterogeneous and organized as crumpled globules, favoring contacts between distant enhancers and promoters. Using nucleosome-resolution simulations, we then reveal how the Nanog gene is functionally organized across the multiple scales of chromatin. At the local level, we identify diverse tetranucleosome folding motifs with a characteristic distribution along the genome, predominantly open at cis-regulatory elements and compact in between. At the larger scale, we find that enhancer-promoter contacts are driven by the transient condensation of chromatin into compact domains stabilized by extensive internucleosome interactions. Overall, this work highlights the condensed, but dynamic nature of chromatin in vivo, contributing to a deeper understanding of gene structure-function relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni B Brandani
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Chenyang Gu
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Soundhararajan Gopi
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Shoji Takada
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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21
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Alzer H, Alsoleihat F. Odontoblasts or odontocytes, expression of stem cells markers and differentiation markers among human adult odontoblasts. Saudi Dent J 2024; 36:894-898. [PMID: 38883894 PMCID: PMC11178958 DOI: 10.1016/j.sdentj.2024.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite that, the odontoblasts of the dental pulp are considered a terminally differentiated type of cell. We were interested in investigating if they express any embryonic, mesenchymal, or neural stem cell markers, along with other differentiation markers they were reported to express previously. Methods: An immunohistochemistry study was performed on wisdom teeth extracted from healthy donors aged between 17 and 19 for dental reasons. Nine markers were tested: c-Myc, SOX2, MCAM, CD73, NCAM1, STRO1, osteocalcin, S100, and Thy1. Results: Odontoblasts expressed the following markers: embryonic stem cell markers SOX2, c-Myc, mesenchymal stem cell marker MCAM, the neural differentiation marker S100, and the osteogenic differentiation marker osteocalcin. Odontoblasts did not express the following markers: mesenchymal stem cell markers CD73, STRO1, Thy1, and neural stem cell marker NCAM1. Conclusion: These findings suggest that odontoblasts' expression of these stem cell markers may enable them to dedifferentiate under certain conditions. Further investigation is needed into whether dental materials could induce such dedifferentiation for functional dentin regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heba Alzer
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Firas Alsoleihat
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
- Department of Restorative Dentistry and Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Petra, Amman 11196, Jordan
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22
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Chen B, Ren C, Ouyang Z, Xu J, Xu K, Li Y, Guo H, Bai X, Tian M, Xu X, Wang Y, Li H, Bo X, Chen H. Stratifying TAD boundaries pinpoints focal genomic regions of regulation, damage, and repair. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae306. [PMID: 38935071 PMCID: PMC11210073 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae306] [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: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Advances in chromatin mapping have exposed the complex chromatin hierarchical organization in mammals, including topologically associating domains (TADs) and their substructures, yet the functional implications of this hierarchy in gene regulation and disease progression are not fully elucidated. Our study delves into the phenomenon of shared TAD boundaries, which are pivotal in maintaining the hierarchical chromatin structure and regulating gene activity. By integrating high-resolution Hi-C data, chromatin accessibility, and DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) data from various cell lines, we systematically explore the complex regulatory landscape at high-level TAD boundaries. Our findings indicate that these boundaries are not only key architectural elements but also vibrant hubs, enriched with functionally crucial genes and complex transcription factor binding site-clustered regions. Moreover, they exhibit a pronounced enrichment of DSBs, suggesting a nuanced interplay between transcriptional regulation and genomic stability. Our research provides novel insights into the intricate relationship between the 3D genome structure, gene regulation, and DNA repair mechanisms, highlighting the role of shared TAD boundaries in maintaining genomic integrity and resilience against perturbations. The implications of our findings extend to understanding the complexities of genomic diseases and open new avenues for therapeutic interventions targeting the structural and functional integrity of TAD boundaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijia Chen
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Chao Ren
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Zhangyi Ouyang
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Jingxuan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Kang Xu
- School of Software, Shandong University, Jinan 250101, China
| | - Yaru Li
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Hejiang Guo
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Xuemei Bai
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Mengge Tian
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Xiang Xu
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yuyang Wang
- College of Computer and Data Science, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Hao Li
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Xiaochen Bo
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Hebing Chen
- Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
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23
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Shen Z, Wu Y, Manna A, Yi C, Cairns BR, Evason KJ, Chandrasekharan MB, Tantin D. Oct4 redox sensitivity potentiates reprogramming and differentiation. Genes Dev 2024; 38:308-321. [PMID: 38719541 PMCID: PMC11146590 DOI: 10.1101/gad.351411.123] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
The transcription factor Oct4/Pou5f1 is a component of the regulatory circuitry governing pluripotency and is widely used to induce pluripotency from somatic cells. Here we used domain swapping and mutagenesis to study Oct4's reprogramming ability, identifying a redox-sensitive DNA binding domain, cysteine residue (Cys48), as a key determinant of reprogramming and differentiation. Oct4 Cys48 sensitizes the protein to oxidative inhibition of DNA binding activity and promotes oxidation-mediated protein ubiquitylation. Pou5f1 C48S point mutation has little effect on undifferentiated embryonic stem cells (ESCs) but upon retinoic acid (RA) treatment causes retention of Oct4 expression, deregulated gene expression, and aberrant differentiation. Pou5f1 C48S ESCs also form less differentiated teratomas and contribute poorly to adult somatic tissues. Finally, we describe Pou5f1 C48S (Janky) mice, which in the homozygous condition are severely developmentally restricted after E4.5. Rare animals bypassing this restriction appear normal at birth but are sterile. Collectively, these findings uncover a novel Oct4 redox mechanism involved in both entry into and exit from pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuolian Shen
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Yifan Wu
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Asit Manna
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Chongil Yi
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Bradley R Cairns
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Kimberley J Evason
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Mahesh B Chandrasekharan
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Dean Tantin
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA;
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
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24
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Zhang B, Ye Q. Linc00662 sponges miR-15b-5p to promote hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma progression by facilitating cancer stem cell-like phenotypes. J Cancer 2024; 15:3781-3793. [PMID: 38911389 PMCID: PMC11190759 DOI: 10.7150/jca.95852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are associated with multiple head and neck tumors and play important roles in cancer. This study explored the molecular mechanism of Linc00662 in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC). Methods: Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect gene expression in HSCC tissues. The viability and proliferation of tumor cells were measured using CCK-8 assays. HSCC cell apoptosis was measured using flow cytometry and western blotting. Cell stemness was examined using the sphere formation assay. A xenograft tumor model was established to investigate the role of Linc00662 in vivo. Results: The expression level of Linc00662 in HSCC tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal tissues. The expression of Linc00662 had no significant relationship with the tumor stage. Patients with high Linc00662 expression were found to have shorter overall survival than those with low Linc00662 expression. Linc00662 over-expression promoted cell viability and inhibited apoptosis. Using online databases and a dual luciferase reporter, miR-15b-5p was confirmed as a potential downstream sponge of Linc00662. Moreover, Linc00662 was negatively associated with miR-15b-5p in HSCC cells. Depletion of miR-15b-5p can reverse the function of Linc00662 in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, Linc00662 promotes tumor growth, which was abolished by miR-15b-5p mimics. Importantly, the stemness of cancer stem cells was mediated by the Linc00662/miR-15b-5p axis. Conclusion: Patients with HSCC with high Linc00662 showed poor prognosis and high Linc00662 induced stemness of tumor cells by targeting miR-15b-5p. Linc00662 may serve as a novel diagnostic and target marker for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Qing Ye
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, China
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25
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Waisman A, Sevlever F, Saulnier D, Francia M, Blanco R, Amín G, Lombardi A, Biani C, Palma MB, Scarafía A, Smucler J, La Greca A, Moro L, Sevlever G, Guberman A, Miriuka S. The transcription factor OCT6 promotes the dissolution of the naïve pluripotent state by repressing Nanog and activating a formative state gene regulatory network. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10420. [PMID: 38710730 PMCID: PMC11074312 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59247-5] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
In the mouse embryo, the transition from the preimplantation to the postimplantation epiblast is governed by changes in the gene regulatory network (GRN) that lead to transcriptional, epigenetic, and functional changes. This transition can be faithfully recapitulated in vitro by the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) to epiblast-like cells (EpiLCs), that reside in naïve and formative states of pluripotency, respectively. However, the GRN that drives this conversion is not fully elucidated. Here we demonstrate that the transcription factor OCT6 is a key driver of this process. Firstly, we show that Oct6 is not expressed in mESCs but is rapidly induced as cells exit the naïve pluripotent state. By deleting Oct6 in mESCs, we find that knockout cells fail to acquire the typical morphological changes associated with the formative state when induced to differentiate. Additionally, the key naïve pluripotency TFs Nanog, Klf2, Nr5a2, Prdm14, and Esrrb were expressed at higher levels than in wild-type cells, indicating an incomplete dismantling of the naïve pluripotency GRN. Conversely, premature expression of Oct6 in naïve cells triggered a rapid morphological transformation mirroring differentiation, that was accompanied by the upregulation of the endogenous Oct6 as well as the formative genes Sox3, Zic2/3, Foxp1, Dnmt3A and FGF5. Strikingly, we found that OCT6 represses Nanog in a bistable manner and that this regulation is at the transcriptional level. Moreover, our findings also reveal that Oct6 is repressed by NANOG. Collectively, our results establish OCT6 as a key TF in the dissolution of the naïve pluripotent state and support a model where Oct6 and Nanog form a double negative feedback loop which could act as an important toggle mediating the transition to the formative state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Waisman
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Federico Sevlever
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Denisse Saulnier
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marcos Francia
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Renata Blanco
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guadalupe Amín
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Antonella Lombardi
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Celeste Biani
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Belén Palma
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina Scarafía
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Joaquín Smucler
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro La Greca
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucía Moro
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Sevlever
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandra Guberman
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Santiago Miriuka
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a Neurociencias (LIAN), Fundación Para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU), CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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26
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Ferreon JC, Ta HM, Yun H, Choi KJ, Quan MD, Tsoi PS, Kim C, Lee CW, Ferreon ACM. Stereospecific NANOG PEST Stabilization by Pin1. Biochemistry 2024; 63:1067-1074. [PMID: 38619104 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.4c00056] [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: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
NANOG protein levels correlate with stem cell pluripotency. NANOG concentrations fluctuate constantly with low NANOG levels leading to spontaneous cell differentiation. Previous literature implicated Pin1, a phosphorylation-dependent prolyl isomerase, as a key player in NANOG stabilization. Here, using NMR spectroscopy, we investigate the molecular interactions of Pin1 with the NANOG unstructured N-terminal domain that contains a PEST sequence with two phosphorylation sites. Phosphorylation of NANOG PEST peptides increases affinity to Pin1. By systematically increasing the amount of cis PEST conformers, we show that the peptides bind tighter to the prolyl isomerase domain (PPIase) of Pin1. Phosphorylation and cis Pro enhancement at both PEST sites lead to a 5-10-fold increase in NANOG binding to the Pin1 WW domain and PPIase domain, respectively. The cis-populated NANOG PEST peptides can be potential inhibitors for disrupting Pin1-dependent NANOG stabilization in cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine C Ferreon
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Hai Minh Ta
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Hyosuk Yun
- Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung-Jae Choi
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - My Diem Quan
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Phoebe S Tsoi
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Choel Kim
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Chul Won Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Allan Chris M Ferreon
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
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27
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Ren D, Li W, Zeng R, Liu X, Liang H, Xiong W, Yang C, Jin X. Retinoblastoma-associated protein is important for TRIM24-mediated activation of the mTOR signaling pathway through DUSP2 action in prostate cancer. Cell Death Differ 2024; 31:592-604. [PMID: 38514847 PMCID: PMC11094112 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-024-01282-w] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
RB transcriptional corepressor 1 (RB) deletion is the most important genomic factor associated with the prognosis of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients receiving androgen receptor (AR) signaling inhibitor therapy. Loss of RB could support prostate cancer cell growth in a hormone-independent manner, but the underlying mechanism by which RB regulates tumor progression extends far beyond the cell cycle pathway. A previous study indicated that RB inactivates AKT signaling but has no effect on mTOR signaling in cancer cells. Here, we found that the S249/T252 site in RB is key to regulating the transcriptional activity of the tumor-promoting factor TRIM24 in CRPC, as identified through FXXXV mapping. The RB/TRIM24 complex functions through DUSP2, which serves as an intermediate bridge, to activate the mTOR pathway and promote prostate cancer progression. Accordingly, we designed RB-linker-proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) molecules, which decreased TRIM24 protein levels and inactivated the mTOR signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting prostate cancer. Therefore, this study not only elucidates the novel function of RB but also provides a theoretical basis for the development of new drugs for treating prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Ren
- Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Uro-Oncology Institute of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Uro-Oncology Institute of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Ruijiang Zeng
- Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Uro-Oncology Institute of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Xinlin Liu
- Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Uro-Oncology Institute of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Huaiyuan Liang
- Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Uro-Oncology Institute of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Uro-Oncology Institute of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Chunguang Yang
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Xin Jin
- Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
- Uro-Oncology Institute of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
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28
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Ghasemi N, Azizi H, Skutella T. Unraveling the Significance of Nanog in the Generation of Embryonic Stem-like Cells from Spermatogonia Stem Cells: A Combined In Silico Analysis and In Vitro Experimental Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4833. [PMID: 38732061 PMCID: PMC11084519 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094833] [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: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem-like cells (ES-like cells) are promising for medical research and clinical applications. Traditional methods involve "Yamanaka" transcription (OSKM) to derive these cells from somatic cells in vitro. Recently, a novel approach has emerged, obtaining ES-like cells from spermatogonia stem cells (SSCs) in a time-related process without adding artificial additives to cell cultures, like transcription factors or small molecules such as pten or p53 inhibitors. This study aims to investigate the role of the Nanog in the conversion of SSCs to pluripotent stem cells through both in silico analysis and in vitro experiments. We used bioinformatic methods and microarray data to find significant genes connected to this derivation path, to construct PPI networks, using enrichment analysis, and to construct miRNA-lncRNA networks, as well as in vitro experiments, immunostaining, and Fluidigm qPCR analysis to connect the dots of Nanog significance. We concluded that Nanog is one of the most crucial differentially expressed genes during SSC conversion, collaborating with critical regulators such as Sox2, Dazl, Pou5f1, Dnmt3, and Cdh1. This intricate protein network positions Nanog as a pivotal factor in pathway enrichment for generating ES-like cells, including Wnt signaling, focal adhesion, and PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling. Nanog expression is presumed to play a vital role in deriving ES-like cells from SSCs in vitro. Finding its pivotal role in this path illuminates future research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nima Ghasemi
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol 49767, Iran;
| | - Hossein Azizi
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol 49767, Iran;
| | - Thomas Skutella
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 307, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
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29
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Umeyama T, Matsuda T, Nakashima K. Lineage Reprogramming: Genetic, Chemical, and Physical Cues for Cell Fate Conversion with a Focus on Neuronal Direct Reprogramming and Pluripotency Reprogramming. Cells 2024; 13:707. [PMID: 38667322 PMCID: PMC11049106 DOI: 10.3390/cells13080707] [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: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Although lineage reprogramming from one cell type to another is becoming a breakthrough technology for cell-based therapy, several limitations remain to be overcome, including the low conversion efficiency and subtype specificity. To address these, many studies have been conducted using genetics, chemistry, physics, and cell biology to control transcriptional networks, signaling cascades, and epigenetic modifications during reprogramming. Here, we summarize recent advances in cellular reprogramming and discuss future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taichi Umeyama
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Taito Matsuda
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
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30
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Shen Z, Wu Y, Mana A, Yi C, Cairns B, Evason KJ, Chandrasekharan MB, Tantin D. Oct4 redox sensitivity potentiates reprogramming and differentiation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.02.21.529404. [PMID: 36865286 PMCID: PMC9980064 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.21.529404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factor Oct4/Pou5f1 is a component of the regulatory circuitry governing pluripotency and is widely used to induce pluripotency from somatic cells. Here we use domain swapping and mutagenesis to study Oct4s reprogramming ability, identifying a redox-sensitive DNA binding domain cysteine residue (Cys48) as a key determinant of reprogramming and differentiation. Oct4 Cys48 sensitizes the protein to oxidative inhibition of DNA binding activity and promotes oxidation-mediated protein ubiquitylation. Pou5f1C48S point mutation has little effect on undifferentiated embryonic stem cells (ESCs), but upon retinoic acid (RA) treatment causes retention of Oct4 expression, deregulated gene expression and aberrant differentiation. Pou5f1C48S ESCs also form less differentiated teratomas and contribute poorly to adult somatic tissues. Finally, we describe Pou5f1C48S (Janky) mice, which in the homozygous condition are severely developmentally restricted after E4.5. Rare animals bypassing this restriction appear normal at birth but are sterile. Collectively, these findings uncover a novel Oct4 redox mechanism involved in both entry into and exit from pluripotency.
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Balint V, Peric M, Dacic S, Stanisavljevic Ninkovic D, Marjanovic J, Popovic J, Stevanovic M, Lazic A. The Role of SOX2 and SOX9 Transcription Factors in the Reactivation-Related Functional Properties of NT2/D1-Derived Astrocytes. Biomedicines 2024; 12:796. [PMID: 38672150 PMCID: PMC11048103 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are the main homeostatic cells in the central nervous system, with the unique ability to transform from quiescent into a reactive state in response to pathological conditions by reacquiring some precursor properties. This process is known as reactive astrogliosis, a compensatory response that mediates tissue damage and recovery. Although it is well known that SOX transcription factors drive the expression of phenotype-specific genetic programs during neurodevelopment, their roles in mature astrocytes have not been studied extensively. We focused on the transcription factors SOX2 and SOX9, shown to be re-expressed in reactive astrocytes, in order to study the reactivation-related functional properties of astrocytes mediated by those proteins. We performed an initial screening of SOX2 and SOX9 expression after sensorimotor cortex ablation injury in rats and conducted gain-of-function studies in vitro using astrocytes derived from the human NT2/D1 cell line. Our results revealed the direct involvement of SOX2 in the reacquisition of proliferation in mature NT2/D1-derived astrocytes, while SOX9 overexpression increased migratory potential and glutamate uptake in these cells. Our results imply that modulation of SOX gene expression may change the functional properties of astrocytes, which holds promise for the discovery of potential therapeutic targets in the development of novel strategies for tissue regeneration and recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanda Balint
- Laboratory for Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia; (V.B.); (M.P.); (D.S.N.); (J.M.); (J.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Mina Peric
- Laboratory for Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia; (V.B.); (M.P.); (D.S.N.); (J.M.); (J.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Sanja Dacic
- Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry “Ivan Djaja”, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Danijela Stanisavljevic Ninkovic
- Laboratory for Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia; (V.B.); (M.P.); (D.S.N.); (J.M.); (J.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Jelena Marjanovic
- Laboratory for Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia; (V.B.); (M.P.); (D.S.N.); (J.M.); (J.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Jelena Popovic
- Laboratory for Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia; (V.B.); (M.P.); (D.S.N.); (J.M.); (J.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Milena Stevanovic
- Laboratory for Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia; (V.B.); (M.P.); (D.S.N.); (J.M.); (J.P.); (M.S.)
- Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry “Ivan Djaja”, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia;
- Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Kneza Mihaila 35, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Andrijana Lazic
- Laboratory for Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia; (V.B.); (M.P.); (D.S.N.); (J.M.); (J.P.); (M.S.)
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Tu R, Ping Z, Liu J, Tsoi ML, Song X, Liu W, Xie T. Niche Tet maintains germline stem cells independently of dioxygenase activity. EMBO J 2024; 43:1570-1590. [PMID: 38499787 PMCID: PMC11021519 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00074-9] [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: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins are dioxygenases that convert 5-methylcytosine (5mC) into 5-hydroxylmethylcytosine (5hmC) in DNA and RNA. However, their involvement in adult stem cell regulation remains unclear. Here, we identify a novel enzymatic activity-independent function of Tet in the Drosophila germline stem cell (GSC) niche. Tet activates the expression of Dpp, the fly homologue of BMP, in the ovary stem cell niche, thereby controlling GSC self-renewal. Depletion of Tet disrupts Dpp production, leading to premature GSC loss. Strikingly, both wild-type and enzyme-dead mutant Tet proteins rescue defective BMP signaling and GSC loss when expressed in the niche. Mechanistically, Tet interacts directly with Bap55 and Stat92E, facilitating recruitment of the Polybromo Brahma associated protein (PBAP) complex to the dpp enhancer and activating Dpp expression. Furthermore, human TET3 can effectively substitute for Drosophila Tet in the niche to support BMP signaling and GSC self-renewal. Our findings highlight a conserved novel catalytic activity-independent role of Tet as a scaffold protein in supporting niche signaling for adult stem cell self-renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renjun Tu
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Zhaohua Ping
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Jian Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Neuronal Structural Biology, Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Centre, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Man Lung Tsoi
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science and Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, New Territories, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Xiaoqing Song
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Wei Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Neuronal Structural Biology, Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Centre, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Ting Xie
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO, USA.
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Giri A, Kar S. Interlinked bi-stable switches govern the cell fate commitment of embryonic stem cells. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:915-934. [PMID: 38408774 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14832] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
The development of embryonic stem (ES) cells to extraembryonic trophectoderm and primitive endoderm lineages manifests distinct steady-state expression patterns of two key transcription factors-Oct4 and Nanog. How dynamically such kind of steady-state expressions are maintained remains elusive. Herein, we demonstrate that steady-state dynamics involving two bistable switches which are interlinked via a stepwise (Oct4) and a mushroom-like (Nanog) manner orchestrate the fate specification of ES cells. Our hypothesis qualitatively reconciles various experimental observations and elucidates how different feedback and feedforward motifs orchestrate the extraembryonic development and stemness maintenance of ES cells. Importantly, the model predicts strategies to optimize the dynamics of self-renewal and differentiation of embryonic stem cells that may have therapeutic relevance in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amitava Giri
- Department of Chemistry, IIT Bombay, Powai, India
| | - Sandip Kar
- Department of Chemistry, IIT Bombay, Powai, India
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You S, Xu J, Guo Y, Guo X, Zhang Y, Zhang N, Sun G, Sun Y. E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP2 as a promising therapeutic target for diverse human diseases. Mol Aspects Med 2024; 96:101257. [PMID: 38430667 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2024.101257] [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: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian E3 ubiquitin ligases have emerged in recent years as critical regulators of cellular homeostasis due to their roles in targeting substrate proteins for ubiquitination and triggering subsequent downstream signals. In this review, we describe the multiple roles of WWP2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase with unique and important functions in regulating a wide range of biological processes, including DNA repair, gene expression, signal transduction, and cell-fate decisions. As such, WWP2 has evolved to play a key role in normal physiology and diseases, such as tumorigenesis, skeletal development and diseases, immune regulation, cardiovascular disease, and others. We attempt to provide an overview of the biochemical, physiological, and pathophysiological roles of WWP2, as well as open questions for future research, particularly in the context of putative therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilong You
- Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Jiaqi Xu
- Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yushan Guo
- Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaofan Guo
- Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Institute of Health Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| | - Naijin Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Institute of Health Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Advanced Reproductive Medicine and Fertility, National Health Commission, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| | - Guozhe Sun
- Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| | - Yingxian Sun
- Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Institute of Health Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
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Yuikawa T, Sato T, Ikeda M, Tsuruoka M, Yasuda K, Sato Y, Nasu K, Yamasu K. Elongation of the developing spinal cord is driven by Oct4-type transcription factor-mediated regulation of retinoic acid signaling in zebrafish embryos. Dev Dyn 2024; 253:404-422. [PMID: 37850839 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elongation of the spinal cord is dependent on neural development from neuromesodermal progenitors in the tail bud. We previously showed the involvement of the Oct4-type gene, pou5f3, in this process in zebrafish mainly by dominant-interference gene induction, but, to compensate for the limitation of this transgene approach, mutant analysis was indispensable. pou5f3 involvement in the signaling pathways was another unsolved question. RESULTS We examined the phenotypes of pou5f3 mutants and the effects of Pou5f3 activation by the tamoxifen-ERT2 system in the posterior neural tube, together confirming the involvement of pou5f3. The reporter assays using P19 cells implicated tail bud-related transcription factors in pou5f3 expression. Regulation of tail bud development by retinoic acid (RA) signaling was confirmed by treatment of embryos with RA and the synthesis inhibitor, and in vitro reporter assays further showed that RA signaling regulated pou5f3 expression. Importantly, the expression of the RA degradation enzyme gene, cyp26a1, was down-regulated in embryos with disrupted pou5f3 activity. CONCLUSIONS The involvement of pou5f3 in spinal cord extension was supported by using mutants and the gain-of-function approach. Our findings further suggest that pou5f3 regulates the RA level, contributing to neurogenesis in the posterior neural tube.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Yuikawa
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan
| | - Takehisa Sato
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan
| | - Masaaki Ikeda
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan
| | - Momo Tsuruoka
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kaede Yasuda
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yuto Sato
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kouhei Nasu
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kyo Yamasu
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan
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Mallika L, Rajarathinam M, Thangavel S. Cancer stem cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and its associated markers: A review. INDIAN J PATHOL MICR 2024; 67:250-258. [PMID: 38394427 DOI: 10.4103/ijpm.ijpm_467_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Evidences of the current research say that cancer is multifactorial with varied mechanisms of origin. Most theories evolve either intrinsic (genetic) or extrinsic factors like tobacco and alcoholism as the major cause of oral cancer in India. There is growing evidence that human papilloma virus may act as a co-carcinogen, along with tobacco, in the causation of cancers. The cells being triggered by the agents may be somatic (differentiated functional cell) or a normal stem cell with multipotency or even the transient proliferative cells derived from the stem cells. These stem cells possess several features like slow cell cycle, ability to extrude chemotherapeutic drugs, exhibit epithelial mesenchymal transition, and inhibit apoptosis. Targeting these progenitor stem cells may aid in improving the overall prognosis of the patient. These cancer stem cells are targeted using various markers that are apparently more or less specific to various types of stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavanya Mallika
- Department of Microbiology, Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mani Rajarathinam
- Dean, Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sundararajan Thangavel
- Associate Professor and Principal Investigator, Viral Research Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
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Ranek JS, Stallaert W, Milner JJ, Redick M, Wolff SC, Beltran AS, Stanley N, Purvis JE. DELVE: feature selection for preserving biological trajectories in single-cell data. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2765. [PMID: 38553455 PMCID: PMC10980758 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46773-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Single-cell technologies can measure the expression of thousands of molecular features in individual cells undergoing dynamic biological processes. While examining cells along a computationally-ordered pseudotime trajectory can reveal how changes in gene or protein expression impact cell fate, identifying such dynamic features is challenging due to the inherent noise in single-cell data. Here, we present DELVE, an unsupervised feature selection method for identifying a representative subset of molecular features which robustly recapitulate cellular trajectories. In contrast to previous work, DELVE uses a bottom-up approach to mitigate the effects of confounding sources of variation, and instead models cell states from dynamic gene or protein modules based on core regulatory complexes. Using simulations, single-cell RNA sequencing, and iterative immunofluorescence imaging data in the context of cell cycle and cellular differentiation, we demonstrate how DELVE selects features that better define cell-types and cell-type transitions. DELVE is available as an open-source python package: https://github.com/jranek/delve .
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolene S Ranek
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Computational Medicine Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Wayne Stallaert
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - J Justin Milner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Margaret Redick
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Computational Medicine Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Samuel C Wolff
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Computational Medicine Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Adriana S Beltran
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Human Pluripotent Cell Core, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Natalie Stanley
- Computational Medicine Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Jeremy E Purvis
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Computational Medicine Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Martinez KP, Gasmi N, Jeronimo C, Klimova N, Robert F, Turcotte B. Yeast zinc cluster transcription factors involved in the switch from fermentation to respiration show interdependency for DNA binding revealing a novel type of DNA recognition. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:2242-2259. [PMID: 38109318 PMCID: PMC10954478 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1185] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In budding yeast, fermentation is the most important pathway for energy production. Under low-glucose conditions, ethanol is used for synthesis of this sugar requiring a shift to respiration. This process is controlled by the transcriptional regulators Cat8, Sip4, Rds2 and Ert1. We characterized Gsm1 (glucose starvation modulator 1), a paralog of Rds2 and Ert1. Genome-wide analysis showed that Gsm1 has a DNA binding profile highly similar to Rds2. Binding of Gsm1 and Rds2 is interdependent at the gluconeogenic gene FBP1. However, Rds2 is required for Gsm1 to bind at other promoters but not the reverse. Gsm1 and Rds2 also bind to DNA independently of each other. Western blot analysis revealed that Rds2 controls expression of Gsm1. In addition, we showed that the DNA binding domains of Gsm1 and Rds2 bind cooperatively in vitro to the FBP1 promoter. In contrast, at the HAP4 gene, Ert1 cooperates with Rds2 for DNA binding. Mutational analysis suggests that Gsm1/Rds2 and Ert1/Rds2 bind to short common DNA stretches, revealing a novel mode of binding for this class of factors. Two-point mutations in a HAP4 site convert it to a Gsm1 binding site. Thus, Rds2 controls binding of Gsm1 at many promoters by two different mechanisms: regulation of Gsm1 levels and increased DNA binding by formation of heterodimers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Páez Martinez
- Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Boul. Décarie, Room E02.7212, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Najla Gasmi
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, 1001 Boul. Décarie, Room E02.7212, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Célia Jeronimo
- Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, 110 avenue des Pins Ouest, Montréal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Natalia Klimova
- Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Boul. Décarie, Room E02.7212, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - François Robert
- Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, 110 avenue des Pins Ouest, Montréal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
- Département de Médecine, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boul. Édouard-Montpetit, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Bernard Turcotte
- Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Boul. Décarie, Room E02.7212, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, 1001 Boul. Décarie, Room E02.7212, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, 1001 Boul. Décarie, Room E02.7212, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
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Son B, Park S, Cho S, Kim JA, Baek SH, Yoo KH, Han D, Joo J, Park HH, Park TH. Improved Neural Inductivity of Size-Controlled 3D Human Embryonic Stem Cells Using Magnetic Nanoparticles. Biomater Res 2024; 28:0011. [PMID: 38500782 PMCID: PMC10944702 DOI: 10.34133/bmr.0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: To improve the efficiency of neural development from human embryonic stem cells, human embryoid body (hEB) generation is vital through 3-dimensional formation. However, conventional approaches still have limitations: long-term cultivation and laborious steps for lineage determination. Methods: In this study, we controlled the size of hEBs for ectodermal lineage specification using cell-penetrating magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), which resulted in reduced time required for initial neural induction. The magnetized cells were applied to concentrated magnetic force for magnet-derived multicellular organization. The uniformly sized hEBs were differentiated in neural induction medium (NIM) and suspended condition. This neurally induced MNP-hEBs were compared with other groups. Results: As a result, the uniformly sized MNP-hEBs in NIM showed significantly improved neural inductivity through morphological analysis and expression of neural markers. Signaling pathways of the accelerated neural induction were detected via expression of representative proteins; Wnt signaling, dopaminergic neuronal pathway, intercellular communications, and mechanotransduction. Consequently, we could shorten the time necessary for early neurogenesis, thereby enhancing the neural induction efficiency. Conclusion: Overall, this study suggests not only the importance of size regulation of hEBs at initial differentiation stage but also the efficacy of MNP-based neural induction method and stimulations for enhanced neural tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boram Son
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Department of Bioengineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimri-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Sora Park
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungwoo Cho
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Ah Kim
- Center for Scientific Instrumentation, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28119, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Ho Baek
- Center for Bio-based Chemistry, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Ulsan 44429, Korea
| | - Ki Hyun Yoo
- SIMPLE Planet Inc., 48 Achasan-ro 17-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04799, Korea
| | - Dongoh Han
- SIMPLE Planet Inc., 48 Achasan-ro 17-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04799, Korea
| | - Jinmyoung Joo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Ho Park
- Department of Bioengineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimri-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Science, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Tai Hyun Park
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
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40
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Cheng M, Nie Y, Song M, Chen F, Yu Y. Forkhead box O proteins: steering the course of stem cell fate. CELL REGENERATION (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 13:7. [PMID: 38466341 DOI: 10.1186/s13619-024-00190-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Stem cells are pivotal players in the intricate dance of embryonic development, tissue maintenance, and regeneration. Their behavior is delicately balanced between maintaining their pluripotency and differentiating as needed. Disruptions in this balance can lead to a spectrum of diseases, underscoring the importance of unraveling the complex molecular mechanisms that govern stem cell fate. Forkhead box O (FOXO) proteins, a family of transcription factors, are at the heart of this intricate regulation, influencing a myriad of cellular processes such as survival, metabolism, and DNA repair. Their multifaceted role in steering the destiny of stem cells is evident, as they wield influence over self-renewal, quiescence, and lineage-specific differentiation in both embryonic and adult stem cells. This review delves into the structural and regulatory intricacies of FOXO transcription factors, shedding light on their pivotal roles in shaping the fate of stem cells. By providing insights into the specific functions of FOXO in determining stem cell fate, this review aims to pave the way for targeted interventions that could modulate stem cell behavior and potentially revolutionize the treatment and prevention of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengdi Cheng
- Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yujie Nie
- Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Min Song
- Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fulin Chen
- Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuan Yu
- Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
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41
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Fatma H, Siddique HR. Cancer cell plasticity, stem cell factors, and therapy resistance: how are they linked? Cancer Metastasis Rev 2024; 43:423-440. [PMID: 37796391 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10144-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Cellular plasticity can occur naturally in an organism and is considered an adapting mechanism during the developmental stage. However, abnormal cellular plasticity is observed in different diseased conditions, including cancer. Cancer cell plasticity triggers the stimuli of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), abnormal epigenetic changes, expression of stem cell factors and implicated signaling pathways, etc., and helps in the maintenance of CSC phenotype. Conversely, CSC maintains the cancer cell plasticity, EMT, and epigenetic plasticity. EMT contributes to increased cell migration and greater diversity within tumors, while epigenetic changes, stem cell factors (OCT4, NANOG, and SOX2), and various signaling pathways allow cancer cells to maintain various phenotypes, giving rise to intra- and inter-tumoral heterogeneity. The intricate relationships between cancer cell plasticity and stem cell factors help the tumor cells adopt drug-tolerant states, evade senescence, and successfully acquire drug resistance with treatment dismissal. Inhibiting molecules/signaling pathways involved in promoting CSCs, cellular plasticity, EMT, and epigenetic plasticity might be helpful for successful cancer therapy management. This review discussed the role of cellular plasticity, EMT, and stem cell factors in tumor initiation, progression, reprogramming, and therapy resistance. Finally, we discussed how the intervention in this axis will help better manage cancers and improve patient survivability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Homa Fatma
- Molecular Cancer Genetics & Translational Research Lab, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, UP, 202002, India
| | - Hifzur R Siddique
- Molecular Cancer Genetics & Translational Research Lab, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, UP, 202002, India.
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42
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Teague S, Primavera G, Chen B, Liu ZY, Yao L, Freeburne E, Khan H, Jo K, Johnson C, Heemskerk I. Time-integrated BMP signaling determines fate in a stem cell model for early human development. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1471. [PMID: 38368368 PMCID: PMC10874454 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45719-9] [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: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
How paracrine signals are interpreted to yield multiple cell fate decisions in a dynamic context during human development in vivo and in vitro remains poorly understood. Here we report an automated tracking method to follow signaling histories linked to cell fate in large numbers of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Using an unbiased statistical approach, we discover that measured BMP signaling history correlates strongly with fate in individual cells. We find that BMP response in hPSCs varies more strongly in the duration of signaling than the level. However, both the level and duration of signaling activity control cell fate choices only by changing the time integral. Therefore, signaling duration and level are interchangeable in this context. In a stem cell model for patterning of the human embryo, we show that signaling histories predict the fate pattern and that the integral model correctly predicts changes in cell fate domains when signaling is perturbed. Our data suggest that mechanistically, BMP signaling is integrated by SOX2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth Teague
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gillian Primavera
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Bohan Chen
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Zong-Yuan Liu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - LiAng Yao
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Emily Freeburne
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Hina Khan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kyoung Jo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Craig Johnson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Idse Heemskerk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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43
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Chen A, Ren Q, Zhou T, Burrage P, Tian T, Burrage K. Balanced implicit Patankar-Euler methods for positive solutions of stochastic differential equations of biological regulatory systems. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:064117. [PMID: 38353308 DOI: 10.1063/5.0187202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Stochastic differential equations (SDEs) are a powerful tool to model fluctuations and uncertainty in complex systems. Although numerical methods have been designed to simulate SDEs effectively, it is still problematic when numerical solutions may be negative, but application problems require positive simulations. To address this issue, we propose balanced implicit Patankar-Euler methods to ensure positive simulations of SDEs. Instead of considering the addition of balanced terms to explicit methods in existing balanced methods, we attempt the deletion of possible negative terms from the explicit methods to maintain positivity of numerical simulations. The designed balanced terms include negative-valued drift terms and potential negative diffusion terms. The proposed method successfully addresses the issue of divisions with very small denominators in our recently designed stochastic Patankar method. Stability analysis shows that the balanced implicit Patankar-Euler method has much better stability properties than our recently designed composite Patankar-Euler method. Four SDE systems are used to examine the effectiveness, accuracy, and convergence properties of balanced implicit Patankar-Euler methods. Numerical results suggest that the proposed balanced implicit Patankar-Euler method is an effective and efficient approach to ensure positive simulations when any appropriate stepsize is used in simulating SDEs of biological regulatory systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimin Chen
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Quanwei Ren
- College of Science, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Tianshou Zhou
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhong 510275, China
| | - Pamela Burrage
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4001, Australia
| | - Tianhai Tian
- School of Mathematics, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Australia
| | - Kevin Burrage
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4001, Australia
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QD, United Kingdom
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44
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Sun H, Zhang H. Lysine Methylation-Dependent Proteolysis by the Malignant Brain Tumor (MBT) Domain Proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2248. [PMID: 38396925 PMCID: PMC10889763 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042248] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Lysine methylation is a major post-translational protein modification that occurs in both histones and non-histone proteins. Emerging studies show that the methylated lysine residues in non-histone proteins provide a proteolytic signal for ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis. The SET7 (SETD7) methyltransferase specifically transfers a methyl group from S-Adenosyl methionine to a specific lysine residue located in a methylation degron motif of a protein substrate to mark the methylated protein for ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis. LSD1 (Kdm1a) serves as a demethylase to dynamically remove the methyl group from the modified protein. The methylated lysine residue is specifically recognized by L3MBTL3, a methyl-lysine reader that contains the malignant brain tumor domain, to target the methylated proteins for proteolysis by the CRL4DCAF5 ubiquitin ligase complex. The methylated lysine residues are also recognized by PHF20L1 to protect the methylated proteins from proteolysis. The lysine methylation-mediated proteolysis regulates embryonic development, maintains pluripotency and self-renewal of embryonic stem cells and other stem cells such as neural stem cells and hematopoietic stem cells, and controls other biological processes. Dysregulation of the lysine methylation-dependent proteolysis is associated with various diseases, including cancers. Characterization of lysine methylation should reveal novel insights into how development and related diseases are regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Nevada Institute of Personalized Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 South Maryland Parkway, P.O. Box 454003, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4003, USA;
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45
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Bell D. Top IHC/ISH Hacks for and Molecular Surrogates of Poorly Differentiated Sinonasal Small Round Cell Tumors. Head Neck Pathol 2024; 18:2. [PMID: 38315310 PMCID: PMC10844182 DOI: 10.1007/s12105-023-01608-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Poorly differentiated sinonasal small round cell tumors (SRCTs) are rare and heterogeneous, posing challenges in diagnosis and treatment. METHODS Recent advances in molecular findings and diagnostic refinement have promoted better understanding and management of these tumors. RESULTS The newly defined and emerging sinonasal entities demonstrate diverse morphologies, specific genomic signatures, and clinical behavior from conventional counterparts. In this review of SRCTs, emphasis is placed on the diagnostic approach with the employment of a pertinent panel of immunohistochemistry studies and/or molecular tests, fine-tuned to the latest WHO 5 classification of sinonasal/paranasal tumors and personalized treatment. CONCLUSION Specifically, this review focuses on tumors with epithelial and neuroectodermal derivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Bell
- Anatomic Pathology, Disease Team Alignment: Head and Neck, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA.
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46
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Qiao Y, Shen L, Zhang Y, Zhou M, Sun Z. Boldine promotes stemness of human urine-derived stem cells by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Mol Cell Biochem 2024; 479:243-254. [PMID: 37036633 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04721-3] [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: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Human urine-derived stem cells (hUSCs) process self-renewal and multilineage differentiation ability. Due to their non-invasive and easily available clinical source, hUSCs represent a promising alternative source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for application potential in cytotherapy. However, technical limitations, such as stemness property maintenance, have hindered hUSCs' clinical application. Certain some small molecules have been recognized with advantage in maintaining the stemness of stem cells. In this study, we identified stemness-regulated key targets of hUSCs based on the StemCellNet database, CMAP database and literature mining. Furthermore, we identified a small molecule compound, boldine, which may have the potential to promote the stemness of hUSCs. It promotes cell proliferation, multilineage differentiation and maintains stemness of hUSCs by cell viability assay, single-cell clone formation, osteogenic differentiation and stemness marker expression (OCT-4 and C-MYC). We identified that boldine may be a potential GSK-3β inhibitor by molecular docking and confirmed that it can upregulate the level of β-catenin and promote translocation of β-catenin into nucleus of hUSCs using Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis. Our study indicates boldine activates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in hUSCs and provides an effective strategy for MSCs research and application of small molecules in maintaining the stemness of hUSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinggu Qiao
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China
| | - Liangliang Shen
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China
| | - Yixue Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China
| | - Ming Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China
| | - Zhenxiao Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China.
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47
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Mousa NA, Hussein A, Elemam NM, Mohammed G, Elwany M, Basha T, AlHammadi AA, Majzob RS, Talaat IM. Are embryonic stem cell markers and ALDH1A1 relevant in the context of breast cancer estrogen positivity? Cancer Med 2024; 13:e7004. [PMID: 38400679 PMCID: PMC10891463 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.7004] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Embryonic pluripotency markers are recognized for their role in ER- BC aggressiveness, but their significance in ER+ BC remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of expression of pluripotency markers in ER+ BC and their effect on survival and prognostic indicators. METHODS We analyzed data of ER+ BC patients from three large cancer datasets to assess the expression of three pluripotency markers (NANOG, SOX-2, and OCT4), and the stem cell marker ALDH1A1. Additionally, we investigated associations between gene expression, through mRNA-Seq analysis, and overall survival (OS). The prevalence of mutational variants within these genes was explored. Using immunohistochemistry (IHC), we examined the expression and associations with clinicopathologic prognostic indicators of the four markers in 81 ER+ BC patients. RESULTS Through computational analysis, NANOG and ALDH1A1 genes were significantly upregulated in ER+ BC compared to ER- BC patients (p < 0.001), while POU5F1 (OCT4) was downregulated (p < 0.001). NANOG showed an adverse impact on OS whereas ALDH1A1 was associated with a highly significant improved survival in ER+ BC (p = 4.7e-6), except for the PR- and HER2+ subgroups. Copy number alterations (CNAs) ranged from 0.4% to 1.6% in these genes, with the highest rate detected in SOX2. In the IHC study, approximately one-third of tumors showed moderate to strong expression of each of the four markers, with 2-4 markers strongly co-expressed in 56.8% of cases. OCT-4 and ALDH1A1 showed a significant association with a high KI-67 index (p = 0.009 and 0.008, respectively), while SOX2 showed a significant association with perinodal fat invasion (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION Pluripotency markers and ALDH1A1 are substantially expressed in ER+ BC tumors with different, yet significant, associations with prognostic and survival outcomes. This study suggests these markers as targets for prospective clinical validation studies of their prognostic value and their possible therapeutic roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noha A. Mousa
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of MedicineUniversity of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Amal Hussein
- Family and Community Medicine and Behavioural Sciences Department, College of MedicineUniversity of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Noha M. Elemam
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of MedicineUniversity of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Ghada Mohammed
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of MedicineUniversity of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Mona Elwany
- Medical Research Institute, Alexandria UniversityAlexandriaEgypt
| | - Tasneem Basha
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of MedicineUniversity of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Amal A. AlHammadi
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of MedicineUniversity of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Rana S. Majzob
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of MedicineUniversity of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Iman M. Talaat
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of MedicineUniversity of SharjahSharjahUnited Arab Emirates
- Medical Research Institute, Alexandria UniversityAlexandriaEgypt
- Pathology Department, Faculty of MedicineAlexandria UniversityAlexandriaEgypt
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48
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Beltran AS. Novel Approaches to Studying SLC13A5 Disease. Metabolites 2024; 14:84. [PMID: 38392976 PMCID: PMC10890222 DOI: 10.3390/metabo14020084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The role of the sodium citrate transporter (NaCT) SLC13A5 is multifaceted and context-dependent. While aberrant dysfunction leads to neonatal epilepsy, its therapeutic inhibition protects against metabolic disease. Notably, insights regarding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these phenomena are limited due to the intricacy and complexity of the latent human physiology, which is poorly captured by existing animal models. This review explores innovative technologies aimed at bridging such a knowledge gap. First, I provide an overview of SLC13A5 variants in the context of human disease and the specific cell types where the expression of the transporter has been observed. Next, I discuss current technologies for generating patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their inherent advantages and limitations, followed by a summary of the methods for differentiating iPSCs into neurons, hepatocytes, and organoids. Finally, I explore the relevance of these cellular models as platforms for delving into the intricate molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying SLC13A5-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana S Beltran
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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49
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Huang M, Liao X, Wang X, Qian Y, Zhang W, Chen G, Wu Q. POZ/BTB and AT hook containing zinc finger 1 (PATZ1) suppresses differentiation and regulates metabolism in human embryonic stem cells. Int J Biol Sci 2024; 20:1142-1159. [PMID: 38385086 PMCID: PMC10878140 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.83927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can proliferate infinitely (self-renewal) and give rise to almost all types of somatic cells (pluripotency). Hence, understanding the molecular mechanism of pluripotency regulation is important for applications of hESCs in regenerative medicine. Here we report that PATZ1 is a key factor that regulates pluripotency and metabolism in hESCs. We found that depletion of PATZ1 is associated with rapid downregulation of master pluripotency genes and prominent deceleration of cell growth. We also revealed that PATZ1 regulates hESC pluripotency though binding the regulatory regions of OCT4 and NANOG. In addition, we demonstrated PATZ1 is a key node in the OCT4/NANOG transcriptional network. We further revealed that PATZ1 is essential for cell growth in hESCs. Importantly, we discovered that depletion of PATZ1 drives hESCs to exploit glycolysis which energetically compensates for the mitochondrial dysfunction. Overall, our study establishes the fundamental role of PATZ1 in regulating pluripotency in hESCs. Moreover, PATZ1 is essential for maintaining a steady metabolic homeostasis to refine the stemness of hESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Huang
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Xiaohua Liao
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Xuepeng Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Yiwei Qian
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Wensheng Zhang
- Cam-Su Genomic Resource Center, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Guokai Chen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Qiang Wu
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao SAR 999078, China
- The Precision Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR 999078, China
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50
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Chai Z, Wu J, Qi Z, Liu Y, Lv Y, Zhang Y, Yu Z, Jiang C, Liu Z. Molecular characterizations and functional roles of NANOG in early development of porcine embryos. Gene 2024; 892:147856. [PMID: 37778417 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147856] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Nanog homeobox (NANOG) is the gateway to the pluripotent ground state in mouse embryonic stem cells and early embryos. However, understanding of the molecular signatures and functional characteristics of porcine NANOG remains limited. In this study, we analyzed the gene structure and sequence characteristics of porcine NANOG and found that the porcine NANOG gene is localized on chromosome 5, while NANOG sequence on chromosome 1 is the processed pseudogene. We explored the expression pattern of NANOG in porcine early embryos by immunofluorescence staining and Realtime-PCR and RNA-seq, the results showed that transcription of porcine NANOG commences at the 4-cell stage, while expression of the NANOG protein is initially observed in the inner cell mass of blastocysts. Furthermore, we identified a NANOG splicing variant in porcine early embryos, which maintain the overall structure of the original NANOG mRNA, except for a deletion of 38 base pairs in the second exon. To further investigate the function of NANOG in early embryo development in pigs, we employed siRNA-mediated deletion of the two specific transcripts on porcine zygotes. The results showed that blastocyst rate was significantly reduced after NANOG deleting. A significant decrease in the expression of DNA methylation-related gene DNMT3B was also observed in D3 embryo from the NANOG deleting group. In conclusion, the porcine NANOG gene, accompanied by a single-exon processed pseudogene, exhibits two transcripts and plays a pivotal role in the development of early-stage embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuang Chai
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
| | - Jing Wu
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
| | - Zicheng Qi
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
| | - Yan Liu
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
| | - Yanjiao Lv
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
| | - Yuting Zhang
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
| | - Zhuoran Yu
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
| | - Chaoqian Jiang
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
| | - Zhonghua Liu
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
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