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Greer EL, Lee SS, Prahlad V. Chromatin and epigenetics in aging biology. Genetics 2025; 230:iyaf055. [PMID: 40202900 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyaf055] [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: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2025] [Indexed: 04/11/2025] Open
Abstract
This book chapter will focus on modifications to chromatin itself, how chromatin modifications are regulated, and how these modifications are deciphered by the cell to impact aging. In this chapter, we will review how chromatin modifications change with age, examine how chromatin-modifying enzymes have been shown to regulate aging and healthspan, discuss how some of these epigenetic changes are triggered and how they can regulate the lifespan of the individual and its naïve descendants, and speculate on future directions for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Lieberman Greer
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Siu Sylvia Lee
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Veena Prahlad
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
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2
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Banushi B, Collova J, Milroy H. Epigenetic Echoes: Bridging Nature, Nurture, and Healing Across Generations. Int J Mol Sci 2025; 26:3075. [PMID: 40243774 PMCID: PMC11989090 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26073075] [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: 03/06/2025] [Revised: 03/19/2025] [Accepted: 03/25/2025] [Indexed: 04/18/2025] Open
Abstract
Trauma can impact individuals within a generation (intragenerational) and future generations (transgenerational) through a complex interplay of biological and environmental factors. This review explores the epigenetic mechanisms that have been correlated with the effects of trauma across generations, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs. These mechanisms can regulate the expression of stress-related genes (such as the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) and FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) gene), linking trauma to biological pathways that may affect long-term stress regulation and health outcomes. Although research using model organisms has elucidated potential epigenetic mechanisms underlying the intergenerational effects of trauma, applying these findings to human populations remains challenging due to confounding variables, methodological limitations, and ethical considerations. This complexity is compounded by difficulties in establishing causality and in disentangling epigenetic influences from shared environmental factors. Emerging therapies, such as psychedelic-assisted treatments and mind-body interventions, offer promising avenues to address both the psychological and potential epigenetic aspects of trauma. However, translating these findings into effective interventions will require interdisciplinary methods and culturally sensitive approaches. Enriched environments, cultural reconnection, and psychosocial interventions have shown the potential to mitigate trauma's impacts within and across generations. By integrating biological, social, and cultural perspectives, this review highlights the critical importance of interdisciplinary frameworks in breaking cycles of trauma, fostering resilience, and advancing comprehensive healing across generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blerida Banushi
- School of Indigenous Studies, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (J.C.); (H.M.)
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3
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Mueller SA, Merondun J, Lečić S, Wolf JBW. Epigenetic variation in light of population genetic practice. Nat Commun 2025; 16:1028. [PMID: 39863592 PMCID: PMC11762325 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-55989-6] [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: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2025] [Indexed: 01/27/2025] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary impact of epigenetic variation depends on its transgenerational stability and source - whether genetically determined, environmentally induced, or due to spontaneous, genotype-independent mutations. Here, we evaluate current approaches for investigating an independent role of epigenetics in evolution, pinpointing methodological challenges. We further identify opportunities arising from integrating epigenetic data with population genetic analyses in natural populations. Efforts to advance data quality, study design, and statistical treatment are encouraged to consolidate our understanding of the source of heritable epigenetic variation, quantify its autonomous potential for evolution, and enrich population genetic analyses with an additional layer of information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Mueller
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Justin Merondun
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Department of Microevolution and Biodiversity, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Sonja Lečić
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Department of Ecosystem Management, Climate and Biodiversity, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jochen B W Wolf
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
- Department of Microevolution and Biodiversity, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Seewiesen, Germany.
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4
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Filipowicz A, Allard P. Caenorhabditis Elegans as a Model for Environmental Epigenetics. Curr Environ Health Rep 2025; 12:6. [PMID: 39828873 PMCID: PMC11743352 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-025-00472-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] [Accepted: 01/02/2025] [Indexed: 01/22/2025]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The burgeoning field of environmental epigenetics has revealed the malleability of the epigenome and uncovered numerous instances of its sensitivity to environmental influences; however, pinpointing specific mechanisms that tie together environmental triggers, epigenetic pathways, and organismal responses has proven difficult. This article describes how Caenorhabditis elegans can fill this gap, serving as a useful model for the discovery of molecular epigenetic mechanisms that are conserved in humans. RECENT FINDINGS Recent results show that environmental stressors such as methylmercury, arsenite, starvation, heat, bacterial infection, and mitochondrial inhibitors can all have profound effects on the epigenome, with some insults showing epigenetic and organismal effects for multiple generations. In some cases, the pathways connecting the stressor to epigenetic pathways and organismal responses have been elucidated. For example, a small RNA from the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa induces transgenerational learned avoidance by activating the RNA interference PIWI-interacting RNA pathways across generations to downregulate, via Cer1 retrotransposon particles and histone methylation, maco-1, a gene that functions in sensory neurons to regulate chemotaxis. Mitochondrial inhibitors seem to have a profound effect on both the DNA methylation mark 6mA and histone methylation, and may act within mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to regulate mitochondrial stress response genes. Transgenerational transcriptional responses to alcohol have also been worked out at the single-nucleus resolution in C. elegans, demonstrating its utility when combined with modern sequencing technologies. These recent studies highlight how C. elegans can serve as a bridge between biochemical in vitro experiments and the more associative findings of epidemiological studies in humans to unveil possible mechanisms of environmental influence on the epigenome. The nematode is particularly well-suited to transgenerational experiments thanks to its rapid generation time and ability to self-fertilize. These studies have revealed connections between the various epigenetic mechanisms, and so studies in C. elegans that take advantage of recent advancements in sequencing technologies, including single-cell techniques, to gain unprecedented resolution of the whole epigenome across development and generations will be critical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Filipowicz
- Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Boyer Hall, Room 332, 611 Charles E Young Dr E., UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Environmental and Molecular Toxicology Program, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Patrick Allard
- Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Boyer Hall, Room 332, 611 Charles E Young Dr E., UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Environmental and Molecular Toxicology Program, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
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5
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Rodriguez JD, Reeves MN, Wang HLV, Chavez JZ, Rastogi R, Chavez SR, Preston EA, Chadha MS, Sun LI, Hill EJ, Corces VG, Schmeichel KL, Murray JI, Katz DJ. Ectopic transcription due to inappropriately inherited histone methylation may interfere with the ongoing function of terminally differentiated cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.10.29.564525. [PMID: 37961655 PMCID: PMC10634925 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.29.564525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
How mutations in histone modifying enzymes lead to neurodevelopmental disorders is unknown. We took advantage of the invariant embryonic lineage and adult nervous system in C. elegans to investigate a double mutant between spr-5/Lsd1/Kdm1a (H3K4me1/2 demethylase) and met-2/Setdb1 (H3K9 methyltransferase). We demonstrate that spr-5; met-2 double mutant worms have a severe chemotaxis defect caused by the ectopic expression of germline genes in somatic tissues. Despite this behavioral defect, we observe few embryonic lineage alterations and an intact adult nervous system. This raises the possibility that the abnormal chemotaxis behavior may be due to ongoing defects in terminally differentiated cells rather than alterations in development. Remarkably, we found that shutting off the ectopic germline expression rescues normal chemotaxis in the same spr-5; met-2 adult worms that had a chemotaxis defect earlier. This suggests that ongoing inappropriate transcription can block normal behavior in an intact nervous system. Based on these data, it is possible that the intellectual disability and altered behavior observed in human neurodevelopmental syndromes caused by mutations in histone modifying enzymes could be due to ongoing ectopic transcription and may be reversible.
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6
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Netea MG, Joosten LAB. Trained innate immunity: Concept, nomenclature, and future perspectives. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024; 154:1079-1084. [PMID: 39278362 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.09.005] [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: 07/08/2024] [Revised: 09/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 09/18/2024]
Abstract
During the past decade, compelling evidence has accumulated demonstrating that innate immune cells can mount adaptive characteristics, leading to long-term changes in their function. This de facto innate immune memory has been termed trained immunity. Trained immunity, which is mediated through extensive metabolic rewiring and epigenetic modifications, has important effects in human diseases. Although the upregulation of trained immunity by certain vaccines provides heterologous protection against infections, the inappropriate activation of trained immunity by endogenous stimuli contributes to the pathogenesis of inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders. Development of vaccines that can induce both classical adaptive immunity and trained immunity may lead to a new generation of vaccines with increased efficacy. Activation of trained immunity can also lead to novel strategies for the treatment of cancer, whereas modulation of trained immunity can provide new approaches to the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department for Immunology and Metabolism, Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Leo A B Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Genetics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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7
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Chen H, Chen X, Gu Y, Jiang Y, Guo H, Chen J, Yu J, Wang C, Chen C, Li H. Transgenerational reproductive toxicity induced by carboxyl and amino charged microplastics at environmental concentrations in Caenorhabditis elegans: Involvement of histone methylation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 949:175132. [PMID: 39084367 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics, recognized as emerging contaminants, are commonly observed to be charged in the environment, potentially exerting toxic effects on various organisms. However, the transgenerational reproductive toxicity and underlying mechanisms of polystyrene (PS), particularly carboxyl-modified PS (PS-COOH) and amino-modified PS (PS-NH2), remain largely unexplored. In this study, the parental generation (P0) of Caenorhabditis elegans was subjected to environmental concentrations (0.1-100 μg/L) of PS, PS-COOH, and PS-NH2, with subsequent generations (F1-F4) cultured under normal conditions. Exposure to PS-NH2 at concentrations of 10-100 μg/L exhibited more pronounced reproductive toxicity compared to PS or PS-COOH, resulting in decreased brood size, egg ejection rate, number of fertilized eggs, and cell corpses per gonad. Similarly, maternal exposure to 100 μg/L of PS-NH2 induced more severe transgenerational reproductive effects in C. elegans. Significant increases in H3 on lysine 4 dimethylation (H3K4me2) and H3 on lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) levels were observed in the subsequent generation, concurrent with the transgenerational upregulation of set-30 and met-2 following parental exposure to PS, PS-COOH, and PS-NH2. Correlation analyses revealed significant associations between the expression of these genes with the reproductive ability. Molecular docking studies suggested that PS-NH2 exhibited higher affinity for SET-30 and MET-2. Further analysis demonstrated that transgenerational effects on reproduction were absent in set-30(gk315) and met-2(n4256) mutants, highlighting the pivotal role of set-30 and met-2 in mediating the transgenerational effect. This study provides novel insights into the environmental risks associated with negatively and positively charged microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Chen
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Xiaoxia Chen
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Yulun Gu
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Yongqi Jiang
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Hongzhi Guo
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Jinyu Chen
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Chao Chen
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Hui Li
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
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8
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Yadav AK, Gupta PK, Singh TR. PMTPred: machine-learning-based prediction of protein methyltransferases using the composition of k-spaced amino acid pairs. Mol Divers 2024; 28:2301-2315. [PMID: 39033257 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-024-10937-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Protein methyltransferases (PMTs) are a group of enzymes that help catalyze the transfer of a methyl group to its substrates. These enzymes play an important role in epigenetic regulation and can methylate various substrates with DNA, RNA, protein, and small-molecule secondary metabolites. Dysregulation of methyltransferases is implicated in various human cancers. However, in light of the well-recognized significance of PMTs, reliable and efficient identification methods are essential. In the present work, we propose a machine-learning-based method for the identification of PMTs. Various sequence-based features were calculated, and prediction models were trained using various machine-learning algorithms using a tenfold cross-validation technique. After evaluating each model on the dataset, the SVM-based CKSAAP model achieved the highest prediction accuracy with balanced sensitivity and specificity. Also, this SVM model outperformed deep-learning algorithms for the prediction of PMTs. In addition, cross-database validation was performed to ensure the robustness of the model. Feature importance was assessed using shapley additive explanations (SHAP) values, providing insights into the contributions of different features to the model's predictions. Finally, the SVM-based CKSAAP model was implemented in a standalone tool, PMTPred, due to its consistent performance during independent testing and cross-database evaluation. We believe that PMTPred will be a useful and efficient tool for the identification of PMTs. The PMTPred is freely available for download at https://github.com/ArvindYadav7/PMTPred and http://www.bioinfoindia.org/PMTPred/home.html for research and academic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvind Kumar Yadav
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Solan- 173234, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Pradeep Kumar Gupta
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Solan- 173234, Himachal Pradesh, India
- School of Computing, Department of Data Science and Engineering, Mohan Babu University, Tirupati- 517102, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Tiratha Raj Singh
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Solan- 173234, Himachal Pradesh, India.
- Centre of Excellence in Healthcare Technologies and Informatics (CHETI), Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Solan- 173234, Himachal Pradesh, India.
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9
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Abraham E, Athapaththu AMGK, Atanasova KR, Chen QY, Corcoran TJ, Piloto J, Wu CW, Ratnayake R, Luesch H, Choe KP. Chemical Genetics in C. elegans Identifies Anticancer Mycotoxins Chaetocin and Chetomin as Potent Inducers of a Nuclear Metal Homeostasis Response. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:1180-1193. [PMID: 38652683 PMCID: PMC11102292 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.4c00131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
C. elegans numr-1/2 (nuclear-localized metal-responsive) is an identical gene pair encoding a nuclear protein previously shown to be activated by cadmium and disruption of the integrator RNA metabolism complex. We took a chemical genetic approach to further characterize regulation of this novel metal response by screening 41,716 compounds and extracts for numr-1p::GFP activation. The most potent activator was chaetocin, a fungal 3,6-epidithiodiketopiperazine (ETP) with promising anticancer activity. Chaetocin activates numr-1/2 strongly in the alimentary canal but is distinct from metal exposure, because it represses canonical cadmium-responsive metallothionine genes. Chaetocin has diverse targets in cancer cells including thioredoxin reductase, histone lysine methyltransferase, and acetyltransferase p300/CBP; further work is needed to identify the mechanism in C. elegans as genetic disruption and RNAi screening of homologues did not induce numr-1/2 in the alimentary canal and chaetocin did not affect markers of integrator dysfunction. We demonstrate that disulfides in chaetocin and chetomin, a dimeric ETP analog, are required to induce numr-1/2. ETP monomer gliotoxin, despite possessing a disulfide linkage, had almost no effect on numr-1/2, suggesting a dimer requirement. Chetomin inhibits C. elegans growth at low micromolar levels, and loss of numr-1/2 increases sensitivity; C. elegans and Chaetomiaceae fungi inhabit similar environments raising the possibility that numr-1/2 functions as a defense mechanism. There is no direct orthologue of numr-1/2 in humans, but RNaseq suggests that chaetocin affects expression of cellular processes linked to stress response and metal homeostasis in colorectal cancer cells. Our results reveal interactions between metal response gene regulation and ETPs and identify a potential mechanism of resistance to this versatile class of preclinical compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elijah Abraham
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | | | - Kalina R. Atanasova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
- Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Qi-Yin Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
- Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Taylor J. Corcoran
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
- Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Juan Piloto
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Cheng-Wei Wu
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S&N 5B4 Canada
| | - Ranjala Ratnayake
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
- Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Hendrik Luesch
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
- Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Keith P. Choe
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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10
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Vuscan P, Kischkel B, Joosten LAB, Netea MG. Trained immunity: General and emerging concepts. Immunol Rev 2024; 323:164-185. [PMID: 38551324 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decade, compelling evidence has unveiled previously overlooked adaptive characteristics of innate immune cells. Beyond their traditional role in providing short, non-specific protection against pathogens, innate immune cells can acquire antigen-agnostic memory, exhibiting increased responsiveness to secondary stimulation. This long-term de-facto innate immune memory, also termed trained immunity, is mediated through extensive metabolic rewiring and epigenetic modifications. While the upregulation of trained immunity proves advantageous in countering immune paralysis, its overactivation contributes to the pathogenesis of autoinflammatory and autoimmune disorders. In this review, we present the latest advancements in the field of innate immune memory followed by a description of the fundamental mechanisms underpinning trained immunity generation and different cell types that mediate it. Furthermore, we explore its implications for various diseases and examine current limitations and its potential therapeutic targeting in immune-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Vuscan
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Brenda Kischkel
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Leo A B Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Genetics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department for Immunology and Metabolism, Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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11
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Sun W, Justice I, Green EM. Defining Biological and Biochemical Functions of Noncanonical SET Domain Proteins. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168318. [PMID: 37863247 PMCID: PMC10957327 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168318] [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: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Within the SET domain superfamily of lysine methyltransferases, there is a well-conserved subfamily, frequently referred to as the Set3 SET domain subfamily, which contain noncanonical SET domains carrying divergent amino acid sequences. These proteins are implicated in diverse biological processes including stress responses, cell differentiation, and development, and their disruption is linked to diseases including cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders. Interestingly, biochemical and structural analysis indicates that they do not possess catalytic methyltransferase activity. At the molecular level, Set3 SET domain proteins appear to play critical roles in the regulation of gene expression, particularly repression and heterochromatin maintenance, and in some cases, via scaffolding other histone modifying activities at chromatin. Here, we explore the common and unique functions among Set3 SET domain subfamily proteins and analyze what is known about the specific contribution of the conserved SET domain to functional roles of these proteins, as well as propose areas of investigation to improve understanding of this important, noncanonical subfamily of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winny Sun
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, United States
| | - Isabella Justice
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, United States
| | - Erin M Green
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, United States; Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States.
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12
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Al-Juhani A, Imran M, Aljaili ZK, Alzhrani MM, Alsalman RA, Ahmed M, Ali DK, Fallatah MI, Yousuf HM, Dajani LM. Beyond the Pump: A Narrative Study Exploring Heart Memory. Cureus 2024; 16:e59385. [PMID: 38694651 PMCID: PMC11061817 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The field of organ transplantation, particularly heart transplantation, has brought to light interesting phenomena challenging traditional understandings of memory, identity, and consciousness. Studies indicate that heart transplant recipients may exhibit preferences, emotions, and memories resembling those of the donors, suggesting a form of memory storage within the transplanted organ. Mechanisms proposed for this memory transfer include cellular memory, epigenetic modifications, and energetic interactions. Moreover, the heart's intricate neural network, often referred to as the "heart brain," communicates bidirectionally with the brain and other organs, supporting the concept of heart-brain connection and its role in memory and personality. Additionally, observations from hemispherectomy procedures highlight the brain's remarkable plasticity and functional preservation beyond expectations, further underscoring the complex interplay between the brain, body, and identity. However, ethical and philosophical questions regarding the implications of these findings, including the definition of death and the nature of personal identity, remain unresolved. Further interdisciplinary research is needed to unravel the intricacies of memory transfer, neuroplasticity, and organ integration, offering insights into both organ transplantation and broader aspects of neuroscience and human identity. Understanding these complexities holds promise for enhancing patient care in organ transplantation and deepens our understanding of fundamental aspects of human experience and existence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zeyad K Aljaili
- College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, SAU
| | | | | | - Marwah Ahmed
- College of Medicine, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, SAU
| | - Dana K Ali
- College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, SAU
| | - Mutaz I Fallatah
- College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, SAU
| | - Hamad M Yousuf
- College of Medicine, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, SAU
| | - Leena M Dajani
- College of Medicine, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, BHR
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13
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Ow MC, Hall SE. Inheritance of Stress Responses via Small Non-Coding RNAs in Invertebrates and Mammals. EPIGENOMES 2023; 8:1. [PMID: 38534792 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes8010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
While reports on the generational inheritance of a parental response to stress have been widely reported in animals, the molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon have only recently emerged. The booming interest in epigenetic inheritance has been facilitated in part by the discovery that small non-coding RNAs are one of its principal conduits. Discovered 30 years ago in the Caenorhabditis elegans nematode, these small molecules have since cemented their critical roles in regulating virtually all aspects of eukaryotic development. Here, we provide an overview on the current understanding of epigenetic inheritance in animals, including mice and C. elegans, as it pertains to stresses such as temperature, nutritional, and pathogenic encounters. We focus on C. elegans to address the mechanistic complexity of how small RNAs target their cohort mRNAs to effect gene expression and how they govern the propagation or termination of generational perdurance in epigenetic inheritance. Presently, while a great amount has been learned regarding the heritability of gene expression states, many more questions remain unanswered and warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Ow
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Sarah E Hall
- Department of Biology and Program in Neuroscience, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
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14
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Levis NA, Ragsdale EJ. A histone demethylase links the loss of plasticity to nongenetic inheritance and morphological change. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8439. [PMID: 38114491 PMCID: PMC10730525 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44306-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasticity is a widespread feature of development, enabling phenotypic change based on the environment. Although the evolutionary loss of plasticity has been linked both theoretically and empirically to increased rates of phenotypic diversification, molecular insights into how this process might unfold are generally lacking. Here, we show that a regulator of nongenetic inheritance links evolutionary loss of plasticity in nature to changes in plasticity and morphology as selected in the laboratory. Across nematodes of Diplogastridae, which ancestrally had a polyphenism, or discrete plasticity, in their feeding morphology, we use molecular evolutionary analyses to screen for change associated with independent losses of plasticity. Having inferred a set of ancestrally polyphenism-biased genes from phylogenetically informed gene-knockouts and gene-expression comparisons, selection signatures associated with plasticity's loss identify the histone H3K4 di/monodemethylase gene spr-5/LSD1/KDM1A. Manipulations of this gene affect both sensitivity and variation in plastic morphologies, and artificial selection of manipulated lines drive multigenerational shifts in these phenotypes. Our findings thus give mechanistic insight into how traits are modified as they traverse the continuum of greater to lesser environmental sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Levis
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
| | - Erik J Ragsdale
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
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15
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Chen H, Gu Y, Jiang Y, Yu J, Chen C, Shi C, Li H. Photoaged Polystyrene Nanoplastics Result in Transgenerational Reproductive Toxicity Associated with the Methylation of Histone H3K4 and H3K9 in Caenorhabditis elegans. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:19341-19351. [PMID: 37934861 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) are emerging environmental contaminants that are ubiquitously detected in various environments and have toxic effects on various organisms. Nevertheless, the transgenerational reproductive toxicity and underlying mechanisms of PS-NPs remain largely unknown, especially for photoaged PS-NPs under ultraviolet irradiation. In this study, only the parental generation (P0) was exposed to virgin and aged PS-NPs at environmentally relevant concentrations (0.1-100 μg/L), and subsequent generations (F1-F4) were cultured under normal conditions. Ultraviolet irradiation induced the generation of environmentally persistent free radicals and reactive oxygen species, which altered the physical and chemical characteristics of PS-NPs. The results of toxicity testing suggested that exposure to aged PS-NPs caused a more severe decrease in brood size, egg ejection rate, number of fertilized eggs, and hatchability than did the virgin PS-NPs in the P0, F1, and F2 generations. Additionally, a single maternal exposure to aged PS-NPs resulted in transgenerational effects on fertility in the F1 and F2 generations. Increased levels of H3K4 and H3K9 methylation were observed in the F1 and F2 generations, which were concomitant with the transgenerational downregulation of the expression of associated genes, such as spr-5, set-17, and met-2. On the basis of correlation analyses, the levels of histone methylation and the expression of these genes were significantly correlated to transgenerational reproductive effects. Further research showed that transgenerational effects on fertility were not observed in spr-5(by134), met-2(n4256), and set-17(n5017) mutants. Overall, maternal exposure to aged PS-NPs induced transgenerational reproductive effects via H3K4 and H3K9 methylation, and the spr-5, met-2, and set-17 genes were involved in the regulation of transgenerational toxicity. This study provides new insights into the potential risks of photoaging PS-NPs in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Chen
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Yulun Gu
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Yongqi Jiang
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Chao Chen
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Chongli Shi
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Hui Li
- Institute for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
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16
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Liberman N, Rothi MH, Gerashchenko MV, Zorbas C, Boulias K, MacWhinnie FG, Ying AK, Flood Taylor A, Al Haddad J, Shibuya H, Roach L, Dong A, Dellacona S, Lafontaine DLJ, Gladyshev VN, Greer EL. 18S rRNA methyltransferases DIMT1 and BUD23 drive intergenerational hormesis. Mol Cell 2023; 83:3268-3282.e7. [PMID: 37689068 PMCID: PMC11990152 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.08.014] [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: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Heritable non-genetic information can regulate a variety of complex phenotypes. However, what specific non-genetic cues are transmitted from parents to their descendants are poorly understood. Here, we perform metabolic methyl-labeling experiments to track the heritable transmission of methylation from ancestors to their descendants in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). We find heritable methylation in DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipids. We find that parental starvation elicits reduced fertility, increased heat stress resistance, and extended longevity in fed, naïve progeny. This intergenerational hormesis is accompanied by a heritable increase in N6'-dimethyl adenosine (m6,2A) on the 18S ribosomal RNA at adenosines 1735 and 1736. We identified DIMT-1/DIMT1 as the m6,2A and BUD-23/BUD23 as the m7G methyltransferases in C. elegans that are both required for intergenerational hormesis, while other rRNA methyltransferases are dispensable. This study labels and tracks heritable non-genetic material across generations and demonstrates the importance of rRNA methylation for regulating epigenetic inheritance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Liberman
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M Hafiz Rothi
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maxim V Gerashchenko
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Christiane Zorbas
- RNA Molecular Biology, Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (F.R.S./FNRS), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Biopark Campus, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Konstantinos Boulias
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fiona G MacWhinnie
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Albert Kejun Ying
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anya Flood Taylor
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph Al Haddad
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hiroki Shibuya
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lara Roach
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anna Dong
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scarlett Dellacona
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Denis L J Lafontaine
- RNA Molecular Biology, Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (F.R.S./FNRS), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Biopark Campus, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Vadim N Gladyshev
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eric Lieberman Greer
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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17
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Jain K, Marunde MR, Burg JM, Gloor SL, Joseph FM, Poncha KF, Gillespie ZB, Rodriguez KL, Popova IK, Hall NW, Vaidya A, Howard SA, Taylor HF, Mukhsinova L, Onuoha UC, Patteson EF, Cooke SW, Taylor BC, Weinzapfel EN, Cheek MA, Meiners MJ, Fox GC, Namitz KEW, Cowles MW, Krajewski K, Sun ZW, Cosgrove MS, Young NL, Keogh MC, Strahl BD. An acetylation-mediated chromatin switch governs H3K4 methylation read-write capability. eLife 2023; 12:e82596. [PMID: 37204295 PMCID: PMC10229121 DOI: 10.7554/elife.82596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In nucleosomes, histone N-terminal tails exist in dynamic equilibrium between free/accessible and collapsed/DNA-bound states. The latter state is expected to impact histone N-termini availability to the epigenetic machinery. Notably, H3 tail acetylation (e.g. K9ac, K14ac, K18ac) is linked to increased H3K4me3 engagement by the BPTF PHD finger, but it is unknown if this mechanism has a broader extension. Here, we show that H3 tail acetylation promotes nucleosomal accessibility to other H3K4 methyl readers, and importantly, extends to H3K4 writers, notably methyltransferase MLL1. This regulation is not observed on peptide substrates yet occurs on the cis H3 tail, as determined with fully-defined heterotypic nucleosomes. In vivo, H3 tail acetylation is directly and dynamically coupled with cis H3K4 methylation levels. Together, these observations reveal an acetylation 'chromatin switch' on the H3 tail that modulates read-write accessibility in nucleosomes and resolves the long-standing question of why H3K4me3 levels are coupled with H3 acetylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanishk Jain
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill of MedicineChapel HillUnited States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of MedicineChapel HillUnited States
| | | | | | | | - Faith M Joseph
- Verna & Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Karl F Poncha
- Verna & Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Spencer W Cooke
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill of MedicineChapel HillUnited States
| | - Bethany C Taylor
- Verna & Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | | | | | | | - Geoffrey C Fox
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of MedicineChapel HillUnited States
| | | | | | - Krzysztof Krajewski
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill of MedicineChapel HillUnited States
| | | | - Michael S Cosgrove
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseUnited States
| | - Nicolas L Young
- Verna & Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | | | - Brian D Strahl
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill of MedicineChapel HillUnited States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of MedicineChapel HillUnited States
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of MedicineChapel HillUnited States
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18
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Wamucho A, Unrine J, May J, Tsyusko O. Global DNA Adenine Methylation in Caenorhabditis elegans after Multigenerational Exposure to Silver Nanoparticles and Silver Nitrate. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:6168. [PMID: 37047139 PMCID: PMC10094302 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Multigenerational and transgenerational reproductive toxicity in a model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been shown previously after exposure to silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) and silver ions (AgNO3). However, there is a limited understanding on the transfer mechanism of the increased reproductive sensitivity to subsequent generations. This study examines changes in DNA methylation at epigenetic mark N6-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine (6mdA) after multigenerational exposure of C. elegans to pristine and transformed-via-sulfidation Ag-NPs and AgNO3. Levels of 6mdA were measured as 6mdA/dA ratios prior to C. elegans exposure (F0) after two generations of exposure (F2) and two generations of rescue (F4) using high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Although both AgNO3 and Ag-NPs induced multigenerational reproductive toxicity, only AgNO3 exposure caused a significant increase in global 6mdA levels after exposures (F2). However, after two generations of rescue (F4), the 6mdA levels in AgNO3 treatment returned to F0 levels, suggesting other epigenetic modifications may be also involved. No significant changes in global DNA methylation levels were observed after exposure to pristine and sulfidized sAg-NPs. This study demonstrates the involvement of an epigenetic mark in AgNO3 reproductive toxicity and suggests that AgNO3 and Ag-NPs may have different toxicity mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anye Wamucho
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone Street., Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Jason Unrine
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
- Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, 504 Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - John May
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
| | - Olga Tsyusko
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
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19
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McGraw S, Kimmins S. Inheritance of epigenetic DNA marks studied in new mouse model. Nature 2023; 615:800-802. [PMID: 36944769 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-00708-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
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20
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Carpenter BS, Scott A, Goldin R, Chavez SR, Rodriguez JD, Myrick DA, Curlee M, Schmeichel KL, Katz DJ. SPR-1/CoREST facilitates the maternal epigenetic reprogramming of the histone demethylase SPR-5/LSD1. Genetics 2023; 223:6992629. [PMID: 36655746 PMCID: PMC9991509 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad005] [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: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal reprogramming of histone methylation is critical for reestablishing totipotency in the zygote, but how histone-modifying enzymes are regulated during maternal reprogramming is not well characterized. To address this gap, we asked whether maternal reprogramming by the H3K4me1/2 demethylase SPR-5/LSD1/KDM1A, is regulated by the chromatin co-repressor protein, SPR-1/CoREST, in Caenorhabditis elegans and mice. In C. elegans, SPR-5 functions as part of a reprogramming switch together with the H3K9 methyltransferase MET-2. By examining germline development, fertility, and gene expression in double mutants between spr-1 and met-2, as well as fertility in double mutants between spr-1 and spr-5, we find that loss of SPR-1 results in a partial loss of SPR-5 maternal reprogramming function. In mice, we generated a separation of function Lsd1 M448V point mutation that compromises CoREST binding, but only slightly affects LSD1 demethylase activity. When maternal LSD1 in the oocyte is derived exclusively from this allele, the progeny phenocopy the increased perinatal lethality that we previously observed when LSD1 was reduced maternally. Together, these data are consistent with CoREST having a conserved function in facilitating maternal LSD1 epigenetic reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon S Carpenter
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
| | - Alyssa Scott
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Robert Goldin
- Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Sindy R Chavez
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Juan D Rodriguez
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Dexter A Myrick
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Marcus Curlee
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Karen L Schmeichel
- Natural Sciences Division, Oglethorpe University, Atlanta, GA 30319, USA
| | - David J Katz
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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21
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Švorcová J. Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance of Traumatic Experience in Mammals. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:120. [PMID: 36672861 PMCID: PMC9859285 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010120] [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: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, we have seen an increasing amount of evidence pointing to the existence of a non-genetic heredity of the effects of events such as separation from parents, threat to life, or other traumatising experiences such as famine. This heredity is often mediated by epigenetic regulations of gene expression and may be transferred even across several generations. In this review, we focus on studies which involve transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI), with a short detour to intergenerational studies focused on the inheritance of trauma or stressful experiences. The reviewed studies show a plethora of universal changes which stress exposure initiates on multiple levels of organisation ranging from hormonal production and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis modulation all the way to cognition, behaviour, or propensity to certain psychiatric or metabolic disorders. This review will also provide an overview of relevant methodology and difficulties linked to implementation of epigenetic studies. A better understanding of these processes may help us elucidate the evolutionary pathways which are at work in the course of emergence of the diseases and disorders associated with exposure to trauma, either direct or in a previous generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Švorcová
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic
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22
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Wang SY, Kim K, O'Brown ZK, Levan A, Dodson AE, Kennedy SG, Chernoff C, Greer EL. Hypoxia induces transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of small RNAs. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111800. [PMID: 36516753 PMCID: PMC9847139 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals sense and adapt to decreased oxygen availability, but whether and how hypoxia exposure in ancestors can elicit phenotypic consequences in normoxia-reared descendants are unclear. We show that hypoxia educes an intergenerational reduction in lipids and a transgenerational reduction in fertility in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The transmission of these epigenetic phenotypes is dependent on repressive histone-modifying enzymes and the argonaute HRDE-1. Feeding naive C. elegans small RNAs extracted from hypoxia-treated worms is sufficient to induce a fertility defect. Furthermore, the endogenous small interfering RNA F44E5.4/5 is upregulated intergenerationally in response to hypoxia, and soaking naive normoxia-reared C. elegans with F44E5.4/5 double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is sufficient to induce an intergenerational fertility defect. Finally, we demonstrate that labeled F44E5.4/5 dsRNA is itself transmitted from parents to children. Our results suggest that small RNAs respond to the environment and are sufficient to transmit non-genetic information from parents to their naive children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Yuan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Kathleen Kim
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zach Klapholz O'Brown
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Aileen Levan
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anne Elizabeth Dodson
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Scott G Kennedy
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Chaim Chernoff
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eric Lieberman Greer
- Department of Pediatrics, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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23
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Lin JMG, Kourtis S, Ghose R, Pardo Lorente N, Kubicek S, Sdelci S. Metabolic modulation of transcription: The role of one-carbon metabolism. Cell Chem Biol 2022; 29:S2451-9456(22)00415-9. [PMID: 36513079 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2022.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
While it is well known that expression levels of metabolic enzymes regulate the metabolic state of the cell, there is mounting evidence that the converse is also true, that metabolite levels themselves can modulate gene expression via epigenetic modifications and transcriptional regulation. Here we focus on the one-carbon metabolic pathway, which provides the essential building blocks of many classes of biomolecules, including purine nucleotides, thymidylate, serine, and methionine. We review the epigenetic roles of one-carbon metabolic enzymes and their associated metabolites and introduce an interactive computational resource that places enzyme essentiality in the context of metabolic pathway topology. Therefore, we briefly discuss examples of metabolic condensates and higher-order complexes of metabolic enzymes downstream of one-carbon metabolism. We speculate that they may be required to the formation of transcriptional condensates and gene expression control. Finally, we discuss new ways to exploit metabolic pathway compartmentalization to selectively target these enzymes in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Ming G Lin
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Savvas Kourtis
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia 08003, Spain
| | - Ritobrata Ghose
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia 08003, Spain
| | - Natalia Pardo Lorente
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia 08003, Spain
| | - Stefan Kubicek
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Sara Sdelci
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia 08003, Spain.
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24
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Ren X, Tian S, Meng Q, Kim HM. Histone Demethylase AMX-1 Regulates Fertility in a p53/CEP-1 Dependent Manner. Front Genet 2022; 13:929716. [PMID: 35846143 PMCID: PMC9280695 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.929716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone methylation shapes the epigenetic configuration and adjusts multiple fundamental nuclear processes, including transcription, cell cycle control and DNA repair. The absence of histone demethylase LSD1/SPR-5 leads to progressive fertility defects as well as a reduction in brood size. Similarly, C. elegans LSD2 homolog AMX-1 has been implicated in regulating H3K4me2 and maintaining interstrand crosslinks (ICL) susceptibility. However, the mechanisms of how lack of AMX-1 induces sterility have not been addressed so far. This study investigated the histone demethylase AMX-1 in C. elegans and uncovered how amx-1 contributes to sterility in a p53/CEP-1 dependent manner. We show that while sterility in spr-5 mutants exhibited progressive over generations, amx-1 mutants displayed non-transgenerational fertility defects. Also, amx-1 mutants exhibited a reduced number of sperms and produced low brood size (LBS) or sterile worms that retain neither sperms nor germline nuclei, suggesting that fertility defects originated from germline development failure. Surprisingly, sterility exhibited in amx-1 was mediated by p53/CEP-1 function. Consistent with this result, upregulation of Piwi expression in amx-1 mutants suggested that AMX-1 is essential for germline development by regulating Piwi gene expressions. We propose that AMX-1 is required for proper Piwi expression and transposon silencing in a p53/CEP-1 dependent manner; thus, the absence of AMX-1 expression leads to defective meiotic development and sterility. This study elucidates how LSD2/AMX-1 contributes to sterility, therefore, expanding the boundaries of histone demethylase function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Ren
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Sisi Tian
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qinghao Meng
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hyun-Min Kim
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Division of Natural and Applied Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, China
- *Correspondence: Hyun-Min Kim,
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Lyu Y, Ge Y. Toward Elucidating Epigenetic and Metabolic Regulation of Stem Cell Lineage Plasticity in Skin Aging. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:903904. [PMID: 35663405 PMCID: PMC9160930 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.903904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Skin is the largest organ in human body, harboring a plethora of cell types and serving as the organismal barrier. Skin aging such as wrinkling and hair graying is graphically pronounced, and the molecular mechanisms behind these phenotypic manifestations are beginning to unfold. As in many other organs and tissues, epigenetic and metabolic deregulations have emerged as key aging drivers. Particularly in the context of the skin epithelium, the epigenome and metabolome coordinately shape lineage plasticity and orchestrate stem cell function during aging. Our review discusses recent studies that proposed molecular mechanisms that drive the degeneration of hair follicles, a major appendage of the skin. By focusing on skin while comparing it to model organisms and adult stem cells of other tissues, we summarize literature on genotoxic stress, nutritional sensing, metabolic rewiring, mitochondrial activity, and epigenetic regulations of stem cell plasticity. Finally, we speculate about the rejuvenation potential of rate-limiting upstream signals during aging and the dominant role of the tissue microenvironment in dictating aged epithelial stem cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yejing Ge
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
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SETDB1-like MET-2 promotes transcriptional silencing and development independently of its H3K9me-associated catalytic activity. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2022; 29:85-96. [PMID: 35102319 PMCID: PMC8850192 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-021-00712-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptionally silenced heterochromatin bearing methylation of histone H3 on lysine 9 (H3K9me) is critical for maintaining organismal viability and tissue integrity. Here we show that in addition to ensuring H3K9me, MET-2, the Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of the SETDB1 histone methyltransferase, has a noncatalytic function that contributes to gene repression. Subnuclear foci of MET-2 coincide with H3K9me deposition, yet these foci also form when MET-2 is catalytically deficient and H3K9me is compromised. Whereas met-2 deletion triggers a loss of silencing and increased histone acetylation, foci of catalytically deficient MET-2 maintain silencing of a subset of genes, blocking acetylation on H3K9 and H3K27. In normal development, this noncatalytic MET-2 activity helps to maintain fertility. Under heat stress MET-2 foci disperse, coinciding with increased acetylation and transcriptional derepression. Our study suggests that the noncatalytic, focus-forming function of this SETDB1-like protein and its intrinsically disordered cofactor LIN-65 is physiologically relevant. Genetic and genome-wide analysis of a catalytically deficient SETDB1-like enzyme, MET-2, in Caenorhabditiselegans reveals that MET-2 promotes transcriptional silencing and fertility through both H3K9 methylation and focus formation, which blocks histone acetylation.
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Müller L, Soares GC, Josende ME, Monserrat JM, Ventura-Lima J. OUP accepted manuscript. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2022; 11:402-416. [PMID: 35782638 PMCID: PMC9244223 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfac010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although arsenic (As) is a persistent contaminant in the environment, few studies have assessed its effects over generations, as it requires an animal model with a short lifespan and rapid development, such as the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Furthermore, few studies have evaluated the effects of As metabolites such as dimethylarsinic acid (DMAV), and several authors have considered DMA as a moderately toxic intermediate of As, although recent studies have shown that this chemical form can be more toxic than inorganic arsenic (iAs) even at low concentrations. In the present study, we compared the toxic effects of arsenate (AsV) and DMAV in C. elegans over 5 subsequent generations. We evaluated biochemical parameters such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration, the activity of antioxidant defense system (ADS) enzymes such as catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and nonenzymatic components of ADS such as reduced glutathione (GSH) and protein-sulfhydryl groups (P-SH). Exposure to 50 μg L-1 of AsV led to an increase in ROS generation and GSH levels together with a decrease in GST activity, while exposure to DMAV led to an increase in ROS levels, with an increase in lipid peroxidation, CAT activity, and a decrease in GSH levels. In addition, both treatments reduced animal growth from the third generation onward and caused disturbances in their reproduction throughout all 5 generations. This study shows that the accumulated effects of DMA need to be considered; it highlights the importance of this type of multigenerational approach for evaluating the effects of organic contaminants considered low or nontoxic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Müller
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália KM 8, RS 96203-900, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas (PPGCF) - FURG, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Corrêa Soares
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália KM 8, RS 96203-900, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas (PPGCF) - FURG, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Estrella Josende
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália KM 8, RS 96203-900, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas (PPGCF) - FURG, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - José Maria Monserrat
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália KM 8, RS 96203-900, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas (PPGCF) - FURG, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Juliane Ventura-Lima
- Corresponding author: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande—FURG, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Av. Itália, Km 08, Rio Grande, RS 96201-900, Brazil.
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O’Brown ZK, Greer EL. N6-methyladenine: A Rare and Dynamic DNA Mark. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1389:177-210. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-11454-0_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Das S, Min S, Prahlad V. Gene bookmarking by the heat shock transcription factor programs the insulin-like signaling pathway. Mol Cell 2021; 81:4843-4860.e8. [PMID: 34648748 PMCID: PMC8642288 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Maternal stress can have long-lasting epigenetic effects on offspring. To examine how epigenetic changes are triggered by stress, we examined the effects of activating the universal stress-responsive heat shock transcription factor HSF-1 in the germline of Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that, when activated in germ cells, HSF-1 recruits MET-2, the putative histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferase responsible for repressive H3K9me2 (H3K9 dimethyl) marks in chromatin, and negatively bookmarks the insulin receptor daf-2 and other HSF-1 target genes. Increased H3K9me2 at these genes persists in adult progeny and shifts their stress response strategy away from inducible chaperone expression as a mechanism to survive stress and instead rely on decreased insulin/insulin growth factor (IGF-1)-like signaling (IIS). Depending on the duration of maternal heat stress exposure, this epigenetic memory is inherited by the next generation. Thus, paradoxically, HSF-1 recruits the germline machinery normally responsible for erasing transcriptional memory but, instead, establishes a heritable epigenetic memory of prior stress exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srijit Das
- Department of Biology, Aging Mind and Brain Initiative, 143 Biology Building, Iowa City, IA 52242-1324, USA
| | - Sehee Min
- Department of Biology, Aging Mind and Brain Initiative, 143 Biology Building, Iowa City, IA 52242-1324, USA
| | - Veena Prahlad
- Department of Biology, Aging Mind and Brain Initiative, 143 Biology Building, Iowa City, IA 52242-1324, USA; Department of Biology, 143 Biology Building, Iowa City, IA 52242-1324, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, 169 Newton Road, 2312 Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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Zhang Y, Zhao C, Zhang H, Lu Q, Zhou J, Liu R, Wang S, Pu Y, Yin L. Trans-generational effects of copper on nerve damage in Caenorhabditis elegans. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 284:131324. [PMID: 34225113 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The potential toxicity of copper has received great attention for a long time, however, trans-generational effects of copper have not been extensively investigated. Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was used to evaluate the trans-generational toxicities of copper several physiological endpoints: growth, head thrashes and body bends and degree of neuronal damage. Copper significantly inhibited growth, body bends, head thrashes and caused degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in a concentration-dependent manner in parental worms. Further we found oxidative damage was to underlying the onset of neuron degeneration. In our study copper promoted ROS accumulation, and led to an increased expression of the oxidative stress response-related genes sod-3 and a decreased expression of metal detoxification genes mtl-1 and mtl-2. Moreover, copper increased the fluorescence intensity of the transgenic strain that encodes the antioxidant enzyme SOD-3. Gradually decline in copper-induced impairments were observed in the filial generations without exposure. No growth impairment was shown in F3, the trend of head thrashes recovery gradually appeared in F2 and no growth impairment was shown in F3, the body bends impairment caused by the parental copper exposure was recovery until F4 and no growth impairment was shown in F5. Besides, dopamine neurons revealed damage related to neurobehavioral endpoints, with hereditary effects in the progeny together. In addition, sequencing results suggested that copper exposure could cause epigenetic changes. QRT-PCR results showed that differentially expressed genes can also be passed on to offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Chao Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Hu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Qiang Lu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Jingjing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Ran Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Shizhi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Yuepu Pu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Lihong Yin
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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Özdemir I, Steiner FA. Transmission of chromatin states across generations in C. elegans. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 127:133-141. [PMID: 34823984 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic inheritance refers to the transmission of phenotypes across generations without affecting the genomic DNA sequence. Even though it has been documented in many species in fungi, animals and plants, the mechanisms underlying epigenetic inheritance are not fully uncovered. Epialleles, the heritable units of epigenetic information, can take the form of several biomolecules, including histones and their post-translational modifications (PTMs). Here, we review the recent advances in the understanding of the transmission of histone variants and histone PTM patterns across generations in C. elegans. We provide a general overview of the intergenerational and transgenerational inheritance of histone PTMs and their modifiers and discuss the interplay among different histone PTMs. We also evaluate soma-germ line communication and its impact on the inheritance of epigenetic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isa Özdemir
- Department of Molecular Biology and Institute of Genetics and Genomics in Geneva, Section of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Florian A Steiner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Institute of Genetics and Genomics in Geneva, Section of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
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Hime GR, Stonehouse SLA, Pang TY. Alternative models for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance: Molecular psychiatry beyond mice and man. World J Psychiatry 2021; 11:711-735. [PMID: 34733638 PMCID: PMC8546770 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v11.i10.711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mental illness remains the greatest chronic health burden globally with few in-roads having been made despite significant advances in genomic knowledge in recent decades. The field of psychiatry is constantly challenged to bring new approaches and tools to address and treat the needs of vulnerable individuals and subpopulations, and that has to be supported by a continuous growth in knowledge. The majority of neuropsychiatric symptoms reflect complex gene-environment interactions, with epigenetics bridging the gap between genetic susceptibility and environmental stressors that trigger disease onset and drive the advancement of symptoms. It has more recently been demonstrated in preclinical models that epigenetics underpins the transgenerational inheritance of stress-related behavioural phenotypes in both paternal and maternal lineages, providing further supporting evidence for heritability in humans. However, unbiased prospective studies of this nature are practically impossible to conduct in humans so preclinical models remain our best option for researching the molecular pathophysiologies underlying many neuropsychiatric conditions. While rodents will remain the dominant model system for preclinical studies (especially for addressing complex behavioural phenotypes), there is scope to expand current research of the molecular and epigenetic pathologies by using invertebrate models. Here, we will discuss the utility and advantages of two alternative model organisms-Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster-and summarise the compelling insights of the epigenetic regulation of transgenerational inheritance that are potentially relevant to human psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary R Hime
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Sophie LA Stonehouse
- Mental Health Theme, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville 3052, VIC, Australia
| | - Terence Y Pang
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
- Mental Health Theme, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville 3052, VIC, Australia
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Rodriguez FD. Targeting Epigenetic Mechanisms to Treat Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD). Curr Pharm Des 2021; 27:3252-3272. [PMID: 33535943 PMCID: PMC8778698 DOI: 10.2174/1381612827666210203142539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of abusive alcohol consumption on human health is remarkable. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 3.3 million people die annually because of harmful alcohol consumption (the figure represents around 5.9% of global deaths). Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic disease where individuals exhibit compulsive alcohol drinking and present negative emotional states when they do not drink. In the most severe manifestations of AUD, the individuals lose control over intake despite a decided will to stop drinking. Given the multiple faces and the specific forms of this disease, the term AUD often appears in the plural (AUDs). Since only a few approved pharmacological treatments are available to treat AUD and they do not apply to all individuals or AUD forms, the search for compounds that may help to eliminate the burden of the disease and complement other therapeutical approaches is necessary. METHODS This work reviews recent research focused on the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in the pathophysiology of AUD. Excessive drinking leads to chronic and compulsive consumption that eventually damages the organism. The central nervous system is a key target and is the focus of this study. The search for the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms behind the intricated dysregulation induced by ethanol will aid researchers in establishing new therapy approaches. CONCLUSION Recent findings in the field of epigenetics are essential and offer new windows for observation and research. The study of small molecules that inhibit key epienzymes involved in nucleosome architecture dynamics is necessary in order to prove their action and specificity in the laboratory and to test their effectivity and safety in clinical trials with selected patients bearing defined alterations caused by ethanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. David Rodriguez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Salamanca and Group GIR BMD (Bases Moleculares del Desarrollo), University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
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Flasz B, Dziewięcka M, Kędziorski A, Tarnawska M, Augustyniak M. Multigenerational graphene oxide intoxication results in reproduction disorders at the molecular level of vitellogenin protein expression in Acheta domesticus. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 280:130772. [PMID: 34162089 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The anthropogenic activities may lead to accumulation of graphene oxide (GO) pollution in the environment. Organisms exposed to chronic or multigenerational GO intoxication can present reproduction depletion. Vitellogenin (Vg) has been used as a parameter for evaluating female fertility due to its importance in embryo nutrition. In this study, we used a promising model organism, Acheta domesticus, which was intoxicated with GO in food for three generations. The aim of the study was to investigate the process of Vg synthesis in crickets depending on the exposure time, GO concentration, and age of the females. The results revealed that chronic GO intoxication had adverse effects on the Vg expression pattern. The 1st generation of insects showing low Vg expression was most affected. The 2nd generation of A. domesticus presented a high Vg expression. The last investigated generation seemed to cope with stress caused by GO, and the Vg expression was balanced. We suggest that the epigenetic mechanisms may play a role in the information transfer to the next generations on how to react to the risk factor and keep reproduction at a high rate. We suspect that chronic GO intoxication can disturb the regular formation of the Vg quaternary structure, resulting in consequences for developing an embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Flasz
- University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Bankowa 9, 40-007, Katowice, Poland.
| | - Marta Dziewięcka
- University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Bankowa 9, 40-007, Katowice, Poland
| | - Andrzej Kędziorski
- University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Bankowa 9, 40-007, Katowice, Poland
| | - Monika Tarnawska
- University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Bankowa 9, 40-007, Katowice, Poland
| | - Maria Augustyniak
- University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Bankowa 9, 40-007, Katowice, Poland
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36
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Burton NO, Greer EL. Multigenerational epigenetic inheritance: Transmitting information across generations. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 127:121-132. [PMID: 34426067 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Inherited epigenetic information has been observed to regulate a variety of complex organismal phenotypes across diverse taxa of life. This continually expanding body of literature suggests that epigenetic inheritance plays a significant, and potentially fundamental, role in inheritance. Despite the important role these types of effects play in biology, the molecular mediators of this non-genetic transmission of information are just now beginning to be deciphered. Here we provide an intellectual framework for interpreting these findings and how they can interact with each other. We also define the different types of mechanisms that have been found to mediate epigenetic inheritance and to regulate whether epigenetic information persists for one or many generations. The field of epigenetic inheritance is entering an exciting phase, in which we are beginning to understand the mechanisms by which non-genetic information is transmitted to, and deciphered by, subsequent generations to maintain essential environmental information without permanently altering the genetic code. A more complete understanding of how and when epigenetic inheritance occurs will advance our understanding of numerous different aspects of biology ranging from how organisms cope with changing environments to human pathologies influenced by a parent's environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas O Burton
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK; Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK; Center for Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA.
| | - Eric L Greer
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Medical School Initiative for RNA Medicine, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Rawsthorne H, Calahorro F, Holden-Dye L, O’ Connor V, Dillon J. Investigating autism associated genes in C. elegans reveals candidates with a role in social behaviour. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0243121. [PMID: 34043629 PMCID: PMC8158995 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by a triad of behavioural impairments and includes disruption in social behaviour. ASD has a clear genetic underpinning and hundreds of genes are implicated in its aetiology. However, how single penetrant genes disrupt activity of neural circuits which lead to affected behaviours is only beginning to be understood and less is known about how low penetrant genes interact to disrupt emergent behaviours. Investigations are well served by experimental approaches that allow tractable investigation of the underpinning genetic basis of circuits that control behaviours that operate in the biological domains that are neuro-atypical in autism. The model organism C. elegans provides an experimental platform to investigate the effect of genetic mutations on behavioural outputs including those that impact social biology. Here we use progeny-derived social cues that modulate C. elegans food leaving to assay genetic determinants of social behaviour. We used the SAFRI Gene database to identify C. elegans orthologues of human ASD associated genes. We identified a number of mutants that displayed selective deficits in response to progeny. The genetic determinants of this complex social behaviour highlight the important contribution of synaptopathy and implicates genes within cell signalling, epigenetics and phospholipid metabolism functional domains. The approach overlaps with a growing number of studies that investigate potential molecular determinants of autism in C. elegans. However, our use of a complex, sensory integrative, emergent behaviour provides routes to enrich new or underexplored biology with the identification of novel candidate genes with a definable role in social behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Rawsthorne
- School of Biological Sciences, Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Fernando Calahorro
- School of Biological Sciences, Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Lindy Holden-Dye
- School of Biological Sciences, Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent O’ Connor
- School of Biological Sciences, Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - James Dillon
- School of Biological Sciences, Highfield Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Epigenetic Effects of Benzene in Hematologic Neoplasms: The Altered Gene Expression. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13102392. [PMID: 34069279 PMCID: PMC8156840 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Benzene is produced by diverse petroleum transformation processes and it is widely employed in industry despite its oncogenic effects. In fact, occupational exposure to benzene may cause hematopoietic malignancy. The leukemogenic action of benzene is particularly complex. Possible processes of onset of hematological malignancies have been recognized as a genotoxic action and the provocation of immunosuppression. However, benzene can induce modifications that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence, the so-called epigenetics changes. Acquired epigenetic modification may also induce leukemogenesis, as benzene may alter nuclear receptors, and cause changes at the protein level, thereby modifying the function of regulatory proteins, including oncoproteins and tumor suppressor proteins. Abstract Benzene carcinogenic ability has been reported, and chronic exposure to benzene can be one of the risk elements for solid cancers and hematological neoplasms. Benzene is acknowledged as a myelotoxin, and it is able to augment the risk for the onset of acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, aplastic anemia, and lymphomas. Possible mechanisms of benzene initiation of hematological tumors have been identified, as a genotoxic effect, an action on oxidative stress and inflammation and the provocation of immunosuppression. However, it is becoming evident that genetic alterations and the other causes are insufficient to fully justify several phenomena that influence the onset of hematologic malignancies. Acquired epigenetic alterations may participate with benzene leukemogenesis, as benzene may affect nuclear receptors, and provoke post-translational alterations at the protein level, thereby touching the function of regulatory proteins, comprising oncoproteins and tumor suppressor proteins. DNA hypomethylation correlates with stimulation of oncogenes, while the hypermethylation of CpG islands in promoter regions of specific tumor suppressor genes inhibits their transcription and stimulates the onset of tumors. The discovery of the systems of epigenetic induction of benzene-caused hematological tumors has allowed the possibility to operate with pharmacological interventions able of stopping or overturning the negative effects of benzene.
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Manterola M, Palominos MF, Calixto A. The Heritability of Behaviors Associated With the Host Gut Microbiota. Front Immunol 2021; 12:658551. [PMID: 34054822 PMCID: PMC8155505 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.658551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
What defines whether the interaction between environment and organism creates a genetic memory able to be transferred to subsequent generations? Bacteria and the products of their metabolism are the most ubiquitous biotic environments to which every living organism is exposed. Both microbiota and host establish a framework where environmental and genetic factors are integrated to produce adaptive life traits, some of which can be inherited. Thus, the interplay between host and microbe is a powerful model to study how phenotypic plasticity is inherited. Communication between host and microbe can occur through diverse molecules such as small RNAs (sRNAs) and the RNA interference machinery, which have emerged as mediators and carriers of heritable environmentally induced responses. Notwithstanding, it is still unclear how the organism integrates sRNA signaling between different tissues to orchestrate a systemic bacterially induced response that can be inherited. Here we discuss current evidence of heritability produced by the intestinal microbiota from several species. Neurons and gut are the sensing systems involved in transmitting changes through transcriptional and post-transcriptional modifications to the gonads. Germ cells express inflammatory receptors, and their development and function are regulated by host and bacterial metabolites and sRNAs thus suggesting that the dynamic interplay between host and microbe underlies the host's capacity to transmit heritable behaviors. We discuss how the host detects changes in the microbiota that can modulate germ cells genomic functions. We also explore the nature of the interactions that leave permanent or long-term memory in the host and propose mechanisms by which the microbiota can regulate the development and epigenetic reprogramming of germ cells, thus influencing the inheritance of the host. We highlight the vast contribution of the bacterivore nematode C. elegans and its commensal and pathogenic bacteria to the understanding on how behavioral adaptations can be inter and transgenerational inherited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia Manterola
- Programa de Genética Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - M. Fernanda Palominos
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Instituto de Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias, mención Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Andrea Calixto
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Instituto de Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
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40
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Lin Z, Yuen KWY. RbAp46/48LIN-53 and HAT-1 are required for initial CENP-AHCP-3 deposition and de novo holocentromere formation on artificial chromosomes in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:9154-9173. [PMID: 33872374 PMCID: PMC8450102 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Foreign DNA microinjected into the Caenorhabditis elegans syncytial gonad forms episomal extra-chromosomal arrays, or artificial chromosomes (ACs), in embryos. Short, linear DNA fragments injected concatemerize into high molecular weight (HMW) DNA arrays that are visible as punctate DAPI-stained foci in oocytes, and they undergo chromatinization and centromerization in embryos. The inner centromere, inner kinetochore and spindle checkpoint components, including AIR-2, CENP-AHCP-3, Mis18BP1KNL-2 and BUB-1, respectively, assemble onto the nascent ACs during the first mitosis. The DNA replication efficiency of ACs improves over several cell cycles, which correlates with the improvement of kinetochore bi-orientation and proper segregation of ACs. Depletion of condensin II subunits, like CAPG-2 and SMC-4, but not the replicative helicase component, MCM-2, reduces de novo CENP-AHCP-3 level on nascent ACs. Furthermore, H3K9ac, H4K5ac and H4K12ac are highly enriched on newly chromatinized ACs. RbAp46/48LIN-53 and HAT-1, which affect the acetylation of histone H3 and H4, are essential for chromatinization, de novo centromere formation and segregation competency of nascent ACs. RbAp46/48LIN-53 or HAT-1 depletion causes the loss of both CENP-AHCP-3 and Mis18BP1KNL-2 initial deposition at de novo centromeres on ACs. This phenomenon is different from centromere maintenance on endogenous chromosomes, where Mis18BP1KNL-2 functions upstream of RbAp46/48LIN-53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyang Lin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong. Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
| | - Karen Wing Yee Yuen
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong. Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
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Frolows N, Ashe A. Small RNAs and chromatin in the multigenerational epigenetic landscape of Caenorhabditis elegans. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200112. [PMID: 33866817 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
For decades, it was thought that the only heritable information transmitted from one individual to another was that encoded in the DNA sequence. However, it has become increasingly clear that this is not the case and that the transmission of molecules from within the cytoplasm of the gamete also plays a significant role in heritability. The roundworm, Caenorhabditis elegans, has emerged as one of the leading model organisms in which to study the mechanisms of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI). Collaborative efforts over the past few years have revealed that RNA molecules play a critical role in transmitting transgenerational responses, but precisely how they do so is as yet uncertain. In addition, the role of histone modifications in epigenetic inheritance is increasingly apparent, and RNA and histones interact in a way that we do not yet fully understand. Furthermore, both exogenous and endogenous RNA molecules, as well as other environmental triggers, are able to induce heritable epigenetic changes that affect transcription across the genome. In most cases, these epigenetic changes last only for a handful of generations, but occasionally can be maintained much longer: perhaps indefinitely. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the role of RNA and histones in TEI, as well as making clear the gaps in our knowledge. We also speculate on the evolutionary implications of epigenetic inheritance, particularly in the context of a short-lived, clonally propagating species. This article is part of the theme issue 'How does epigenetics influence the course of evolution?'
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalya Frolows
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.,CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Sydney, New South Wales, 2113, Australia
| | - Alyson Ashe
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
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42
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Yue W, Mo L, Zhang J. Reproductive toxicities of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide on Caenorhabditis elegans with oscillation between inhibition and stimulation over generations. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 765:144334. [PMID: 33385812 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ionic liquids (ILs) become emerging pollutants and their toxicities earn increasing attentions. Yet, their effects were seldom explored on reproduction which connects generations and also effects across generations. In the present study, reproductive effects of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C2mim]Br), one representative IL, were studied on C. elegans with 11 continuously exposed generations (F1 to F11). At 8.20E-5 g/L, the effects on the initial reproduction showed oscillatory changes between stimulation (in F1, F3, F4, F6 and F10) and inhibition (in F2, F5, F7, F8 and F11). At 8.20E-3 g/L, the effects on the reproduction over generations also showed such oscillation despite of different stimulation or inhibition levels, and even opposite influences in F4 and F11. The effects of [C2mim]Br on the total reproduction also showed the concentration-dependent oscillation between stimulation and inhibition over generations, though they had less alteration frequencies than those on the initial reproduction. Biochemical and molecular indicators were further measured in F1, F4, F7 and F11 to explore potential mechanisms. Results showed that the effects on spermatocyte protein 8 (SPE8) showed positive correlation with those on reproduction while the influences on major sperm protein (MSP) and sperm transmembrane protein 9 (SPE9) showed negative correlation with SPE8. Moreover, the dysregulation on expressions of acs-2 and akt-1 indicated the involvement of glucolipid metabolism. The changes in expressions of set-2, met-2, set-25 and mes-4 demonstrated that the long-term reproductive impacts of [C2mim]Br over generations also involved histone methylation at H3K4, H3K9 and H3K36, which also connected with the glucolipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanyan Yue
- College of Ecological Technology and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, PR China; Jiaxing Tongji Institute for Environment, Jiaxing, Zhejiang 314051, PR China
| | - Lingyun Mo
- The Guangxi Key Laboratory of Theory and Technology for Environmental Pollution Control, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, PR China
| | - Jing Zhang
- College of Ecological Technology and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, PR China.
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Houri-Zeevi L, Teichman G, Gingold H, Rechavi O. Stress resets ancestral heritable small RNA responses. eLife 2021; 10:e65797. [PMID: 33729152 PMCID: PMC8021399 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Transgenerational inheritance of small RNAs challenges basic concepts of heredity. In Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes, small RNAs are transmitted across generations to establish a transgenerational memory trace of ancestral environments and distinguish self-genes from non-self-elements. Carryover of aberrant heritable small RNA responses was shown to be maladaptive and to lead to sterility. Here, we show that various types of stress (starvation, high temperatures, and high osmolarity) induce resetting of ancestral small RNA responses and a genome-wide reduction in heritable small RNA levels. We found that mutants that are defective in various stress pathways exhibit irregular RNAi inheritance dynamics even in the absence of stress. Moreover, we discovered that resetting of ancestral RNAi responses is specifically orchestrated by factors that function in the p38 MAPK pathway and the transcription factor SKN-1/Nrf2. Stress-dependent termination of small RNA inheritance could protect from run-on of environment-irrelevant heritable gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Houri-Zeevi
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Guy Teichman
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Hila Gingold
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Oded Rechavi
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
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44
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How do histone modifications contribute to transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in C. elegans? Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 48:1019-1034. [PMID: 32539084 DOI: 10.1042/bst20190944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Gene regulatory information can be inherited between generations in a phenomenon termed transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI). While examples of TEI in many animals accumulate, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has proven particularly useful in investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon. In C. elegans and other animals, the modification of histone proteins has emerged as a potential carrier and effector of transgenerational epigenetic information. In this review, we explore the contribution of histone modifications to TEI in C. elegans. We describe the role of repressive histone marks, histone methyltransferases, and associated chromatin factors in heritable gene silencing, and discuss recent developments and unanswered questions in how these factors integrate with other known TEI mechanisms. We also review the transgenerational effects of the manipulation of histone modifications on germline health and longevity.
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45
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Balmer P, Hariton WVJ, Sayar BS, Jagannathan V, Galichet A, Leeb T, Roosje P, Müller EJ. SUV39H2 epigenetic silencing controls fate conversion of epidermal stem and progenitor cells. J Cell Biol 2021; 220:211810. [PMID: 33604655 PMCID: PMC7898489 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201908178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic histone trimethylation on lysine 9 (H3K9me3) represents a major molecular signal for genome stability and gene silencing conserved from worms to man. However, the functional role of the H3K9 trimethylases SUV39H1/2 in mammalian tissue homeostasis remains largely unknown. Here, we use a spontaneous dog model with monogenic inheritance of a recessive SUV39H2 loss-of-function variant and impaired differentiation in the epidermis, a self-renewing tissue fueled by stem and progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation. Our results demonstrate that SUV39H2 maintains the stem and progenitor cell pool by restricting fate conversion through H3K9me3 repressive marks on gene promoters encoding components of the Wnt/p63/adhesion axis. When SUV39H2 function is lost, repression is relieved, and enhanced Wnt activity causes progenitor cells to prematurely exit the cell cycle, a process mimicked by pharmacological Wnt activation in primary canine, human, and mouse keratinocytes. As a consequence, the stem cell growth potential of cultured SUV39H2-deficient canine keratinocytes is exhausted while epidermal differentiation and genome stability are compromised. Collectively, our data identify SUV39H2 and potentially also SUV39H1 as major gatekeepers in the delicate balance of progenitor fate conversion through H3K9me3 rate-limiting road blocks in basal layer keratinocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Balmer
- Division of Clinical Dermatology, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Dermfocus, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department for BioMedical Research, Molecular Dermatology and Stem Cell Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - William V J Hariton
- Dermfocus, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department for BioMedical Research, Molecular Dermatology and Stem Cell Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Beyza S Sayar
- Dermfocus, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department for BioMedical Research, Molecular Dermatology and Stem Cell Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vidhya Jagannathan
- Dermfocus, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Arnaud Galichet
- Dermfocus, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department for BioMedical Research, Molecular Dermatology and Stem Cell Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tosso Leeb
- Dermfocus, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Petra Roosje
- Division of Clinical Dermatology, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Dermfocus, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Eliane J Müller
- Dermfocus, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department for BioMedical Research, Molecular Dermatology and Stem Cell Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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46
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Carpenter BS, Lee TW, Plott CF, Rodriguez JD, Brockett JS, Myrick DA, Katz DJ. Caenorhabditis elegans establishes germline versus soma by balancing inherited histone methylation. Development 2021; 148:dev.196600. [PMID: 33462111 DOI: 10.1242/dev.196600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Formation of a zygote is coupled with extensive epigenetic reprogramming to enable appropriate inheritance of histone methylation and prevent developmental delays. In Caenorhabditis elegans, this reprogramming is mediated by the H3K4me2 demethylase SPR-5 and the H3K9 methyltransferase, MET-2. In contrast, the H3K36 methyltransferase MES-4 maintains H3K36me2/3 at germline genes between generations to facilitate re-establishment of the germline. To determine whether the MES-4 germline inheritance pathway antagonizes spr-5; met-2 reprogramming, we examined the interaction between these two pathways. We found that the developmental delay of spr-5; met-2 mutant progeny is associated with ectopic H3K36me3 and the ectopic expression of MES-4-targeted germline genes in somatic tissues. Furthermore, the developmental delay is dependent upon MES-4 and the H3K4 methyltransferase, SET-2. We propose that MES-4 prevents crucial germline genes from being repressed by antagonizing maternal spr-5; met-2 reprogramming. Thus, the balance of inherited histone modifications is necessary to distinguish germline versus soma and prevent developmental delay.This article has an associated 'The people behind the papers' interview.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon S Carpenter
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322, USA
| | - Teresa W Lee
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322, USA
| | - Caroline F Plott
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD 21205, USA
| | - Juan D Rodriguez
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322, USA
| | - Jovan S Brockett
- Department of Biology, Oglethorpe University, Atlanta GA 30319, USA
| | - Dexter A Myrick
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322, USA
| | - David J Katz
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 30322, USA
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Lister-Shimauchi EH, Dinh M, Maddox P, Ahmed S. Gametes deficient for Pot1 telomere binding proteins alter levels of telomeric foci for multiple generations. Commun Biol 2021; 4:158. [PMID: 33542458 PMCID: PMC7862594 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01624-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Deficiency for telomerase results in transgenerational shortening of telomeres. However, telomeres have no known role in transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. C. elegans Protection Of Telomeres 1 (Pot1) proteins form foci at the telomeres of germ cells that disappear at fertilization and gradually accumulate during development. We find that gametes from mutants deficient for Pot1 proteins alter levels of telomeric foci for multiple generations. Gametes from pot-2 mutants give rise to progeny with abundant POT-1::mCherry and mNeonGreen::POT-2 foci throughout development, which persists for six generations. In contrast, gametes from pot-1 mutants or pot-1; pot-2 double mutants induce diminished Pot1 foci for several generations. Deficiency for MET-2, SET-25, or SET-32 methyltransferases, which promote heterochromatin formation, results in gametes that induce diminished Pot1 foci for several generations. We propose that C. elegans POT-1 may interact with H3K9 methyltransferases during pot-2 mutant gametogenesis to induce a persistent form of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance that causes constitutively high levels of heterochromatic Pot1 foci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan H Lister-Shimauchi
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Michael Dinh
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Paul Maddox
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Shawn Ahmed
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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Zatecka E, Bohuslavova R, Valaskova E, Margaryan H, Elzeinova F, Kubatova A, Hylmarova S, Peknicova J, Pavlinkova G. The Transgenerational Transmission of the Paternal Type 2 Diabetes-Induced Subfertility Phenotype. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:763863. [PMID: 34803926 PMCID: PMC8602877 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.763863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and associated with many health complications due to the long-term damage and dysfunction of various organs. A consequential complication of diabetes in men is reproductive dysfunction, reduced fertility, and poor reproductive outcomes. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for diabetic environment-induced sperm damage and overall decreased reproductive outcomes are not fully established. We evaluated the effects of type 2 diabetes exposure on the reproductive system and the reproductive outcomes of males and their male offspring, using a mouse model. We demonstrate that paternal exposure to type 2 diabetes mediates intergenerational and transgenerational effects on the reproductive health of the offspring, especially on sperm quality, and on metabolic characteristics. Given the transgenerational impairment of reproductive and metabolic parameters through two generations, these changes likely take the form of inherited epigenetic marks through the germline. Our results emphasize the importance of improving metabolic health not only in women of reproductive age, but also in potential fathers, in order to reduce the negative impacts of diabetes on subsequent generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Zatecka
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Biotechnology and Biomedicine Center of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University in Vestec (BIOCEV), Vestec, Czechia
| | - Romana Bohuslavova
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathogenetics, Institute of Biotechnology Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Biotechnology and Biomedicine Center of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University in Vestec (BIOCEV), Vestec, Czechia
| | - Eliska Valaskova
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Biotechnology and Biomedicine Center of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University in Vestec (BIOCEV), Vestec, Czechia
| | - Hasmik Margaryan
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Biotechnology and Biomedicine Center of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University in Vestec (BIOCEV), Vestec, Czechia
| | - Fatima Elzeinova
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Biotechnology and Biomedicine Center of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University in Vestec (BIOCEV), Vestec, Czechia
| | - Alena Kubatova
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Biotechnology and Biomedicine Center of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University in Vestec (BIOCEV), Vestec, Czechia
| | - Simona Hylmarova
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathogenetics, Institute of Biotechnology Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Biotechnology and Biomedicine Center of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University in Vestec (BIOCEV), Vestec, Czechia
- Department of Internal Medicine, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jana Peknicova
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Biotechnology and Biomedicine Center of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University in Vestec (BIOCEV), Vestec, Czechia
| | - Gabriela Pavlinkova
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathogenetics, Institute of Biotechnology Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Biotechnology and Biomedicine Center of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University in Vestec (BIOCEV), Vestec, Czechia
- *Correspondence: Gabriela Pavlinkova,
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Lismer A, Siklenka K, Lafleur C, Dumeaux V, Kimmins S. Sperm histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation is altered in a genetic mouse model of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:11380-11393. [PMID: 33068438 PMCID: PMC7672453 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Advancing the molecular knowledge surrounding fertility and inheritance has become critical given the halving of sperm counts in the last 40 years, and the rise in complex disease which cannot be explained by genetics alone. The connection between both these trends may lie in alterations to the sperm epigenome and occur through environmental exposures. Changes to the sperm epigenome are also associated with health risks across generations such as metabolic disorders and cancer. Thus, it is imperative to identify the epigenetic modifications that escape reprogramming during spermatogenesis and embryogenesis. Here, we aimed to identify the chromatin signature(s) involved in transgenerational phenotypes in our genetic mouse model of epigenetic inheritance that overexpresses the histone demethylase KDM1A in their germ cells. We used sperm-specific chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by in depth sequencing (ChIP-seq), and computational analysis to identify whether differential enrichment of histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3), and histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) serve as mechanisms for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance through the paternal germline. Our analysis on the sperm of KDM1A transgenic males revealed specific changes in H3K4me3 enrichment that predominantly occurred independently from bivalent H3K4me3/H3K27me3 regions. Many regions with altered H3K4me3 enrichment in sperm were identified on the paternal allele of the pre-implantation embryo. These findings suggest that sperm H3K4me3 functions in the transmission of non-genetic phenotypes transgenerationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariane Lismer
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Keith Siklenka
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Christine Lafleur
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Vanessa Dumeaux
- PERFORM Center and Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Sarah Kimmins
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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DasGupta A, Lee TL, Li C, Saltzman AL. Emerging Roles for Chromo Domain Proteins in Genome Organization and Cell Fate in C. elegans. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:590195. [PMID: 33195254 PMCID: PMC7649781 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.590195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In most eukaryotes, the genome is packaged with histones and other proteins to form chromatin. One of the major mechanisms for chromatin regulation is through post-translational modification of histone proteins. Recognition of these modifications by effector proteins, often dubbed histone “readers,” provides a link between the chromatin landscape and gene regulation. The diversity of histone reader proteins for each modification provides an added layer of regulatory complexity. In this review, we will focus on the roles of chromatin organization modifier (chromo) domain containing proteins in the model nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. An amenability to genetic and cell biological approaches, well-studied development and a short life cycle make C. elegans a powerful system to investigate the diversity of chromo domain protein functions in metazoans. We will highlight recent insights into the roles of chromo domain proteins in the regulation of heterochromatin and the spatial conformation of the genome as well as their functions in cell fate, fertility, small RNA pathways and transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. The spectrum of different chromatin readers may represent a layer of regulation that integrates chromatin landscape, genome organization and gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhimanyu DasGupta
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tammy L Lee
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Chengyin Li
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Arneet L Saltzman
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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