Kdm2b Regulates Somatic Reprogramming through Variant PRC1 Complex-Dependent Function

20 years of histone lysine demethylases: From discovery to the clinic and beyond

Twenty years ago, histone lysine demethylases (KDMs) were discovered. Since their discovery, they have been increasingly studied and shown to be important across species, development, and diseases. Considerable advances have been made toward understanding their (1) enzymology, (2) role as critical components of biological complexes, (3) role in normal cellular processes and functions, (4) implications in pathological conditions, and (5) therapeutic potential. This Review covers these key relationships related to the KDM field with the awareness that numerous laboratories have contributed to this field. The current knowledge coupled with future insights will shape our understanding about cell function, development, and disease onset and progression, which will allow for novel biomarkers to be identified and for optimal therapeutic options to be developed for KDM-related diseases in the years ahead.

Interplay between pioneer transcription factors and epigenetic modifiers in cell reprogramming

The generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from differentiated somatic cells by Yamanaka factors, including pioneer transcription factors (TFs), has greatly reshaped our traditional understanding of cell plasticity and demonstrated the remarkable potential of pioneer TFs. In addition to iPSC reprogramming, pioneer TFs are pivotal in direct reprogramming or transdifferentiation where somatic cells are converted into different cell types without passing through a pluripotent state. Pioneer TFs initiate a reprogramming process through chromatin opening, thereby establishing competence for new gene regulatory programs. The action of pioneer TFs is both influenced by and exerts influence on epigenetic regulation. Despite significant advances, many direct reprogramming processes remain inefficient, which limits their reliability for clinical applications. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying pioneer TF-driven reprogramming, with a focus on their interactions with epigenetic modifiers, including Polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs), nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complexes, and the DNA methylation machinery. A deeper understanding of the dynamic interplay between pioneer TFs and epigenetic modifiers will be essential for advancing reprogramming technologies and unlocking their full clinical potential.

Reconstitution of pluripotency from mouse fibroblast through Sall4 overexpression

Somatic cells can be reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by overexpressing defined transcription factors. Specifically, overexpression of OCT4 alone has been demonstrated to reprogram mouse fibroblasts into iPSCs. However, it remains unclear whether any other single factor can induce iPSCs formation. Here, we report that SALL4 alone, under an optimized reprogramming medium iCD4, is capable of reprogramming mouse fibroblasts into iPSCs. Mechanistically, SALL4 facilitates reprogramming by inhibiting somatic genes and activating pluripotent genes, such as Esrrb and Tfap2c. Furthermore, we demonstrate that co-overexpressing SALL4 and OCT4 synergistically enhances reprogramming efficiency. Specifically, the activation of Rsk1/Esrrb/Tfap2c by SALL4, alongside OCT4's activation of Sox2 and the suppression of Mndal by SALL4 and Sbsn by OCT4, cooperate to facilitate SALL4+OCT4-mediated reprogramming. Overall, our study not only establishes an efficient method for iPSCs induction using the SALL4 single factor but also provides insights into the synergistic effects of SALL4 and OCT4 in reprogramming.

NUP98 fusion proteins and KMT2A-MENIN antagonize PRC1.1 to drive gene expression in AML

Control of stem cell-associated genes by Trithorax group (TrxG) and Polycomb group (PcG) proteins is frequently misregulated in cancer. In leukemia, oncogenic fusion proteins hijack the TrxG homolog KMT2A and disrupt PcG activity to maintain pro-leukemogenic gene expression, though the mechanisms by which oncofusion proteins antagonize PcG proteins remain unclear. Here, we define the relationship between NUP98 oncofusion proteins and the non-canonical polycomb repressive complex 1.1 (PRC1.1) in leukemia using Menin-KMT2A inhibitors and targeted degradation of NUP98 fusion proteins. Eviction of the NUP98 fusion-Menin-KMT2A complex from chromatin is not sufficient to silence pro-leukemogenic genes. In the absence of PRC1.1, key oncogenes remain transcriptionally active. Transition to a repressed chromatin state requires the accumulation of PRC1.1 and repressive histone modifications. We show that PRC1.1 loss leads to resistance to small-molecule Menin-KMT2A inhibitors in vivo. Therefore, a critical function of oncofusion proteins that hijack Menin-KMT2A activity is antagonizing repressive chromatin complexes.

Cbx7 promotes the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells

The iPS cells were discovered in 2006. With their ability to differentiate into cells of all three germ layers, iPS cells have great potential for clinical applications. Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4 were identified as the most effective factors for generating iPS cells. Despite this, iPS cells manufactured with these factors would still be inefficient. As a member of the chromobox family, chromobox protein homolog 7 (Cbx7) binds to PRC1 and PRC2 to inhibit genes involved in differentiation. A decrease in the expression of Cbx7 is observed during embryonic stem cell differentiation. Currently, no report discusses the role of Cbx7 in the production of iPS cells. In this study, we hypothesized that Cbx7 could increase iPS cell generation. We confirmed that Cbx7 is highly expressed in pluripotent stem cells (including ES and iPS cells). In addition, transfecting Cbx7 into fibroblasts increased Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4 expression. Moreover, we describe a novel approach to producing iPS cells using Cbx7 in combination with Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4. In summary, we have demonstrated that Cbx7 enhances the reprogramming of iPS cells and characterized the stemness and pluripotency of iPS cells.

Roles of Polycomb Complexes in the Reconstruction of 3D Genome Architecture during Preimplantation Embryonic Development

The appropriate deployment of developmental programs depends on complex genetic information encoded by genomic DNA sequences and their positioning and contacts in the three-dimensional (3D) space within the nucleus. Current studies using novel techniques including, but not limited to, Hi-C, ChIA-PET, and Hi-ChIP reveal that regulatory elements (Res), such as enhancers and promoters, may participate in the precise regulation of expression of tissue-specific genes important for both embryogenesis and organogenesis by recruiting Polycomb Group (PcG) complexes. PcG complexes usually poise the transcription of developmental genes by forming Polycomb bodies to compact poised enhancers and promoters marked by H3K27me3 in the 3D space. Additionally, recent studies have also uncovered their roles in transcriptional activation. To better understand the full complexities in the mechanisms of how PcG complexes regulate transcription and long-range 3D contacts of enhancers and promoters during developmental programs, we outline novel insights regarding PcG-associated dramatic changes in the 3D chromatin conformation in developmental programs of early embryos and naïve-ground-state transitions of pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs), and highlight the distinct roles of unique and common subunits of canonical and non-canonical PcG complexes in shaping genome architectures and transcriptional programs.

Fast and Efficient Mouse Pluripotency Reprogramming Using a Chemically-Defined Medium

The reprogramming of somatic cells to obtain induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is an important biological and medical breakthrough, providing important applications for fields such as regenerative medicine and disease modeling. However, this promising technology is damped due to its low efficiency and slow kinetics. Therefore, we generated a practical workflow to rapidly and efficiently induce iPSCs from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) using iCD1 (iPS chemically-defined medium 1). This protocol can easily be implemented in a standard cell culture laboratory and be applied to cell fate research.

CpG island reconfiguration for the establishment and synchronization of polycomb functions upon exit from naive pluripotency

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are essential for post-implantation development by depositing repressive histone modifications at promoters, mainly CpG islands (CGIs), of developmental regulator genes. However, promoter PcG marks are erased after fertilization and de novo established in peri-implantation embryos, coinciding with the transition from naive to primed pluripotency. Nevertheless, the molecular basis for this establishment remains unknown. In this study, we show that the expression of the long KDM2B isoform (KDM2BLF), which contains the demethylase domain, is specifically induced at peri-implantation and that its H3K36me2 demethylase activity is required for PcG enrichment at CGIs. Moreover, KDM2BLF interacts with BRG1/BRM-associated factor (BAF) and stabilizes BAF occupancy at CGIs for subsequent gain of accessibility, which precedes PcG enrichment. Consistently, KDM2BLF inactivation results in significantly delayed post-implantation development. In summary, our data unveil dynamic chromatin configuration of CGIs during exit from naive pluripotency and provide a conceptual framework for the spatiotemporal establishment of PcG functions.

Epigenetic regulation of inflammation by CxxC domain-containing proteins

Epigenetic regulation of gene transcription in the immune system is important for proper control of protective and pathogenic inflammation. Aberrant epigenetic modifications are often associated with dysregulation of the immune cells, including lymphocytes and macrophages, leading to pathogenic inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Two classical epigenetic markers-histone modifications and DNA cytosine methylation, the latter is the 5 position of the cytosine base in the context of CpG dinucleotides-play multiple roles in the immune system. CxxC domain-containing proteins, which basically bind to the non-methylated CpG (i.e., epigenetic "readers"), often function as "writers" of the epigenetic markers via their catalytic domain within the proteins or by interacting with other epigenetic modifiers. We herein report the most recent advances in our understanding of the functions of CxxC domain-containing proteins in the immune system and inflammation, mainly focusing on T cells and macrophages.

AP-1 activity is a major barrier of human somatic cell reprogramming

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) technology has been widely applied to cell regeneration and disease modeling. However, most mechanism of somatic reprogramming is studied on mouse system, which is not always generic in human. Consequently, the generation of human iPSCs remains inefficient. Here, we map the chromatin accessibility dynamics during the induction of human iPSCs from urine cells. Comparing to the mouse system, we found that the closing of somatic loci is much slower in human. Moreover, a conserved AP-1 motif is highly enriched among the closed loci. The introduction of AP-1 repressor, JDP2, enhances human reprogramming and facilitates the reactivation of pluripotent genes. However, ESRRB, KDM2B and SALL4, several known pluripotent factors promoting mouse somatic reprogramming fail to enhance human iPSC generation. Mechanistically, we reveal that JDP2 promotes the closing of somatic loci enriching AP-1 motifs to enhance human reprogramming. Furthermore, JDP2 can rescue reprogramming deficiency without MYC or KLF4. These results indicate AP-1 activity is a major barrier to prevent chromatin remodeling during somatic cell reprogramming.

KDM2B Overexpression Facilitates Lytic De Novo KSHV Infection by Inducing AP-1 Activity Through Interaction with the SCF E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Complex

It is still largely unknown what host factors are involved in controlling the expression of the lytic viral gene RTA during primary infection, which determines if Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) establishes latent or lytic infection. We have recently identified the histone demethylase KDM2B as a repressor of RTA expression during both de novo KSHV infection and latency based on an epigenetic factor siRNA screen. Here, we report that surprisingly, KDM2B overexpression can promote lytic de novo infection by using a mechanism that differs from what is needed for its repressor function. Our study revealed that while the DNA-binding and demethylase activities of KDM2B linked to its transcription repressive function are dispensable, its C-terminal F-box and LRR domains are required for the lytic infection-inducing function of KDM2B. We found that overexpressed KDM2B increases the half-life of the AP-1 subunit c-Jun protein and induces the AP-1 signaling pathway. This effect is dependent upon the binding of KDM2B to the SKP1-CUL1-F-box (SCF) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex via its F-box domain. Importantly, the inhibition of AP-1 reduces KDM2B-mediated lytic de novo KSHV infection. Overall, our findings indicate that KDM2B may induce the degradation of some host factors by using the SCF complex resulting in the enrichment of c-Jun. This leads to increased AP-1 transcriptional activity, which facilitates lytic gene expression following de novo infection interfering with the establishment of viral latency.SignificanceThe expression of epigenetic factors is often dysregulated in cancers or upon specific stress signals, which often results in a display of non-canonical functions of the epigenetic factors that are independent from their chromatin-modifying roles. We have previously demonstrated that KDM2B normally inhibits KSHV lytic cycle using its histone demethylase activity. Surprisingly, we found that KDM2B overexpression can promote lytic de novo infection, which does not require its histone demethylase or DNA-binding functions. Instead, KDM2B uses the SKP1-CUL1-F-box (SCF) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex to induce AP-1 transcriptional activity, which promotes lytic gene expression. This is the first report that demonstrates a functional link between SFC^KDM2B and AP-1 in the regulation of KSHV lytic cycle.

Construction of Gene Modules and Analysis of Prognostic Biomarkers for Cervical Cancer by Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis

Background

Despite advances in the understanding of neoplasm, patients with cervical cancer still have a poor prognosis. Identifying prognostic markers of cervical cancer may enable early detection of recurrence and more effective treatment.

Methods

Gene expression profiling data were acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. After data normalization, genes with large variation were screened out. Next, we built co-expression modules by using weighted gene co-expression network analysis to investigate the relationship between the modules and clinical traits related to cervical cancer progression. Functional enrichment analysis was also applied on these co-expressed genes. We integrated the genes into a human protein-protein interaction (PPI) network to expand seed genes and build a co-expression network. For further analysis of the dataset, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to identify seed genes and their correlation to cervical cancer prognosis. Verification was further conducted by qPCR and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database to measure the expression of hub genes.

Results

Using WGCNA, we identified 25 co-expression modules from 10,016 genes in 128 human cervical cancer samples. After functional enrichment analysis, the magenta, brown, and darkred modules were selected as the three most correlated modules for cancer progression. Additionally, seed genes in the three modules were combined with a PPI network to identify 31 tumor-specific genes. Hierarchical clustering and Gepia results indicated that the expression quantity of hub genes NDC80, TIPIN, MCM3, MCM6, POLA1, and PRC1 may determine the prognosis of cervical cancer. Finally, TIPIN and POLA1 were further filtered by a LASSO model. In addition, their expression was identified by immunohistochemistry in HPA database as well as a biological experiment.

Conclusion

Our research provides a co-expression network of gene modules and identifies TIPIN and POLA1 as stable potential prognostic biomarkers for cervical cancer.

The histone demethylase KDM2B regulates human primordial germ cell-like cells specification

Germline specification is a fundamental step for human reproduction and this biological phenomenon possesses technical challenges to study in vivo as it occurs immediately after blastocyst implantation. The establishment of in vitro human primordial germ cell-like cells (hPGCLCs) induction system allows sophisticated characterization of human primordial germ cells (hPGCs) development. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of hPGCLC specification are not fully elucidated. Here, we observed particularly high expression of the histone demethylase KDM2B in male fetal germ cells (FGCs) but not in male somatic cells. Besides, KDM2B shared similar expression pattern with hPGC marker genes in hPGCLCs, suggesting an important role of KDM2B in germ cell development. Although deletion of KDM2B had no significant effects on human embryonic stem cell (hESC)'s pluripotency, loss of KDM2B dramatically impaired hPGCLCs differentiation whereas ectopically expressed KDM2B could efficiently rescue such defect, indicating this defect was due to KDM2B's loss in hPGCLC specification. Mechanistically, as revealed by the transcriptional profiling, KDM2B suppressed the expression of somatic genes thus inhibited somatic differentiation during hPGCLC specification. These data collectively indicate that KDM2B is an indispensable epigenetic regulator for hPGCLC specification, shedding lights on how epigenetic regulations orchestrate transcriptional events in hPGC development for future investigation.

Polycomb group-mediated histone H2A monoubiquitination in epigenome regulation and nuclear processes

Histone posttranslational modifications are key regulators of chromatin-associated processes including gene expression, DNA replication and DNA repair. Monoubiquitinated histone H2A, H2Aub (K118 in Drosophila or K119 in vertebrates) is catalyzed by the Polycomb group (PcG) repressive complex 1 (PRC1) and reversed by the PcG-repressive deubiquitinase (PR-DUB)/BAP1 complex. Here we critically assess the current knowledge regarding H2Aub deposition and removal, its crosstalk with PcG repressive complex 2 (PRC2)-mediated histone H3K27 methylation, and the recent attempts toward discovering its readers and solving its enigmatic functions. We also discuss mounting evidence of the involvement of H2A ubiquitination in human pathologies including cancer, while highlighting some knowledge gaps that remain to be addressed.

Histone H2A monoubiquitination on lysine 119 in vertebrate and lysine 118 in Drosophila (H2Aub) is an epigenomic mark usually associated with gene repression by Polycomb group factors. Here the authors review the current knowledge on the deposition and removal of H2Aub, its function in transcription and other DNA-associated processes as well as its relevance to human disease.

Alternative isoforms of KDM2A and KDM2B lysine demethylases negatively regulate canonical Wnt signaling

A precisely balanced activity of canonical Wnt signaling is essential for a number of biological processes and its perturbation leads to developmental defects or diseases. Here, we demonstrate that alternative isoforms of the KDM2A and KDM2B lysine demethylases have the ability to negatively regulate canonical Wnt signaling. These KDM2A and KDM2B isoforms (KDM2A-SF and KDM2B-SF) lack the N-terminal demethylase domain, but they still have the ability to bind to CpG islands in promoters and to interact with their protein partners via their other functional domains. We have observed that KDM2A-SF and KDM2B-SF bind to the promoters of axin 2 and cyclin D1, two canonical Wnt signaling target genes, and repress their activity. Moreover, KDM2A-SF and KDM2B-SF are both able to strongly repress a Wnt-responsive luciferase reporter. The transcriptional repression mediated by KDM2A-SF and KDM2B-SF, but also by KDM2A-LF, is dependent on their DNA binding domain, while the N-terminal demethylase domain is dispensable for this process. Surprisingly, KDM2B-LF is unable to repress both the endogenous promoters and the luciferase reporter. Finally, we show that both KDM2A-SF and KDM2B-SF are able to interact with TCF7L1, one of the transcriptional mediators of canonical Wnt signaling. KDM2A-SF and KDM2B-SF are thus likely to negatively affect the transcription of canonical Wnt signaling target genes by binding to their promoters and by interacting with TCF7L1 and other co-repressors.

Modular arrangements of sequence motifs determine the functional diversity of KDM proteins

Histone lysine demethylases (KDMs) play a vital role in regulating chromatin dynamics and transcription. KDM proteins are given modular activities by its sequence motifs with obvious roles division, which endow the complex and diverse functions. In our review, according to functional features, we classify sequence motifs into four classes: catalytic motifs, targeting motifs, regulatory motifs and potential motifs. JmjC, as the main catalytic motif, combines to Fe2+ and α-ketoglutarate by residues H-D/E-H and S-N-N/Y-K-N/Y-T/S. Targeting motifs make catalytic motifs recognize specific methylated lysines, such as PHD that helps KDM5 to demethylate H3K4me3. Regulatory motifs consist of a functional network. For example, NLS, Ser-rich, TPR and JmjN motifs regulate the nuclear localization. And interactions through the CW-type-C4H2C2-SWIRM are necessary to the demethylase activity of KDM1B. Additionally, many conservative domains that have potential functions but no deep exploration are reviewed for the first time. These conservative domains are usually amino acid-rich regions, which have great research value. The arrangements of four types of sequence motifs generate that KDM proteins diversify toward modular activities and biological functions. Finally, we draw a blueprint of functional mechanisms to discuss the modular activity of KDMs.

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Metabolic Switching in Cancer: Lessons From Somatic Cell Reprogramming

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its critical roles during cancer progression have long been recognized and extensively reviewed. Recent studies on the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have established the connections among EMT, energy metabolism, DNA methylation, and histone modification. Since energy metabolism, DNA methylation, and histone modification are important for cancer development and there are common characteristics between cancer cells and stem cells, it is reasonable to identify mechanisms that have been established during both reprogramming and cancer progression. In the current review, we start from a brief review on EMT and related processes during cancer progression, and then switch to the EMT during somatic cell reprogramming. We summarize the connection between EMT and metabolic switch during reprogramming, and further review the involvements of DNA methylation and cell proliferation. The connections between EMT and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) and cellular aspects including DNA methylation, histone modification and energy metabolism may provide potential new targets for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Defining Reprogramming Checkpoints from Single-Cell Analyses of Induced Pluripotency

Elucidating the mechanism of reprogramming is confounded by heterogeneity due to the low efficiency and differential kinetics of obtaining induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from somatic cells. Therefore, we increased the efficiency with a combination of epigenomic modifiers and signaling molecules and profiled the transcriptomes of individual reprogramming cells. Contrary to the established temporal order, somatic gene inactivation and upregulation of cell cycle, epithelial, and early pluripotency genes can be triggered independently such that any combination of these events can occur in single cells. Sustained co-expression of Epcam, Nanog, and Sox2 with other genes is required to progress toward iPSCs. Ehf, Phlda2, and translation initiation factor Eif4a1 play functional roles in robust iPSC generation. Using regulatory network analysis, we identify a critical role for signaling inhibition by 2i in repressing somatic expression and synergy between the epigenomic modifiers ascorbic acid and a Dot1L inhibitor for pluripotency gene activation.

BMP4 resets mouse epiblast stem cells to naive pluripotency through ZBTB7A/B-mediated chromatin remodelling

BMP4 regulates a plethora of developmental processes, including the dorsal-ventral axis and neural patterning. Here, we report that BMP4 reconfigures the nuclear architecture during the primed-to-naive transition (PNT). We first established a BMP4-driven PNT and show that BMP4 orchestrates the chromatin accessibility dynamics during PNT. Among the loci opened early by BMP4, we identified Zbtb7a and Zbtb7b (Zbtb7a/b) as targets that drive PNT. ZBTB7A/B in turn facilitate the opening of naive pluripotent chromatin loci and the activation of nearby genes. Mechanistically, ZBTB7A not only binds to chromatin loci near to the genes that are activated, but also strategically occupies those that are silenced, consistent with a role of BMP4 in both activating and suppressing gene expression during PNT at the chromatin level. Our results reveal a previously unknown function of BMP4 in regulating nuclear architecture and link its targets ZBTB7A/B to chromatin remodelling and pluripotent fate control.

KDM2A/B lysine demethylases and their alternative isoforms in development and disease

Aberrant levels of histone modifications lead to chromatin malfunctioning and consequently to various developmental defects and human diseases. Therefore, the proteins bearing the ability to modify histones have been extensively studied and the molecular mechanisms of their action are now fairly well understood. However, little attention has been paid to naturally occurring alternative isoforms of chromatin modifying proteins and to their biological roles. In this review, we focus on mammalian KDM2A and KDM2B, the only two lysine demethylases whose genes have been described to produce also an alternative isoform lacking the N-terminal demethylase domain. These short KDM2A/B-SF isoforms arise through alternative promoter usage and seem to play important roles in development and disease. We hypothesise about the biological significance of these alternative isoforms, which might represent a more common evolutionarily conserved regulatory mechanism.

Interplay between the Epigenetic Enzyme Lysine (K)-Specific Demethylase 2B and Epstein-Barr Virus Infection

The histone modifier lysine (K)-specific demethylase 2B (KDM2B) plays a role in the differentiation of hematopoietic cells, and its expression appears to be deregulated in certain cancers of hematological and lymphoid origins. We have previously found that the KDM2B gene is differentially methylated in cell lines derived from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL) compared with that in EBV-negative sporadic Burkitt lymphoma-derived cells. However, whether KDM2B plays a role in eBL development has not been previously investigated. Oncogenic viruses have been shown to hijack the host cell epigenome to complete their life cycle and to promote the transformation process by perturbing cell chromatin organization. Here, we investigated whether EBV alters KDM2B levels to enable its life cycle and promote B-cell transformation. We show that infection of B cells with EBV leads to downregulation of KDM2B levels. We also show that LMP1, one of the main EBV transforming proteins, induces increased DNMT1 recruitment to the KDM2B gene and augments its methylation. By altering KDM2B levels and performing chromatin immunoprecipitation in EBV-infected B cells, we show that KDM2B is recruited to the EBV gene promoters and inhibits their expression. Furthermore, forced KDM2B expression in immortalized B cells led to altered mRNA levels of some differentiation-related genes. Our data show that EBV deregulates KDM2B levels through an epigenetic mechanism and provide evidence for a role of KDM2B in regulating virus and host cell gene expression, warranting further investigations to assess the role of KDM2B in the process of EBV-mediated lymphomagenesis.IMPORTANCE In Africa, Epstein-Barr virus infection is associated with endemic Burkitt lymphoma, a pediatric cancer. The molecular events leading to its development are poorly understood compared with those leading to sporadic Burkitt lymphoma. In a previous study, by analyzing the DNA methylation changes in endemic compared with sporadic Burkitt lymphoma cell lines, we identified several differential methylated genomic positions in the proximity of genes with a potential role in cancer, and among them was the KDM2B gene. KDM2B encodes a histone H3 demethylase already shown to be involved in some hematological disorders. However, whether KDM2B plays a role in the development of Epstein-Barr virus-mediated lymphoma has not been investigated before. In this study, we show that Epstein-Barr virus deregulates KDM2B expression and describe the underlying mechanisms. We also reveal a role of the demethylase in controlling viral and B-cell gene expression, thus highlighting a novel interaction between the virus and the cellular epigenome.

Histone demethylase Kdm2a regulates germ cell genes and endogenous retroviruses in embryonic stem cells

Aim: To investigate the function of Kdm2a in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Materials & methods: Expression profile analysis after Kdm2a knockout. Analysis of Kdm2a, H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 ChIP-seq data in ESCs. qPCR analysis and ChIP-qPCR analysis of epigenetic changes after Kdm2a loss. Results:Kdm2a was dispensable for pluripotency maintenance in ESCs. Kdm2a genomic binding profile was positively correlated with that of H3K4me3, Zfx and Tet1. Kdm2a directly regulated germ cell genes in primordial germ cell-like cells. Kdm2a loss led to the reduced expression of endogenous retrovirus IAPEy and resulted in the gain of H3K36me2 and loss of H3K4me3 on IAPEy. Conclusion: Kdm2a regulates germ cell genes and endogenous retroviruses in ESCs possibly through demethylating H3K36me2 and influencing H3K4me3 deposition.

Dynamic regulation of epigenetic demethylation by oxygen availability and cellular redox

The chromatin structure of the mammalian genome must facilitate both precisely-controlled DNA replication together with tightly-regulated gene transcription. This necessarily involves complex mechanisms and processes which remain poorly understood. It has long been recognised that the epigenetic landscape becomes established during embryonic development and acts to specify and determine cell fate. In addition, the chromatin structure is highly dynamic and allows for both cellular reprogramming and homeostatic modulation of cell function. In this respect, the functions of epigenetic "erasers", which act to remove covalently-linked epigenetic modifications from DNA and histones are critical. The enzymatic activities of the TET and JmjC protein families have been identified as demethylases which act to remove methyl groups from DNA and histones, respectively. Further, they are characterised as members of the Fe(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase superfamily. This provides the intriguing possibility that their enzymatic activities may be modulated by cellular metabolism, oxygen availability and redox-based mechanisms, all of which are likely to display dynamic cell- and tissue-specific patterns of flux. Here we discuss the current evidence for such [O₂]- and redox-dependent regulation of the TET and Jmjc demethylases and the potential physiological and pathophysiological functional consequences of such regulation.

The Role of DNA/Histone Modifying Enzymes and Chromatin Remodeling Complexes in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors

It is well established that cancer cells exhibit alterations in chromatin structure and accessibility. Indeed, the dysregulation of many protein-coding players with enzymatic activity (DNA and histone-modifying enzymes) and chromatin remodelers have been depicted in various tumor models in recent years. Still, little attention has been directed towards testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs)-representing the most common neoplasm among young adult Caucasian men-with most studies focusing on exploring the role of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and DNA demethylases (TETs). TGCTs represent a complex tumor model, associated with developmental and embryogenesis-related phenomena, and display seldom (cyto)genetic aberrations, leaving room for Epigenetics to explain such morphological and clinical diversity. Herein, we have summarized the major findings that were reported in literature regarding the dysregulation of DNA/histone-modifying enzymes and chromatin remodelers in TGCTs. Additionally, we performed in silico analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas database to find the most relevant of those players in TGCTs. We concluded that several DNA/histone-modifying enzymes and chromatin remodelers may serve as biomarkers for subtyping, dictating prognosis and survival, and, possibly, for serving as targets of directed, less toxic therapies.

Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen 3C Inhibits Expression of COBLL1 and the ADAM28-ADAMDEC1 Locus via Interaction with the Histone Lysine Demethylase KDM2B

EBV is a virus associated with human cancers and is well known for its ability to transform B lymphocytes into continuously proliferating lymphoblastoid cell lines. EBNA3C is considered an oncoprotein and has been shown to be essential for B cell transformation by EBV. EBNA3C is well characterized as a viral transcription factor, but very little is known about its mechanisms of action. In the present study, we demonstrate that removal of the activating histone mark H3K4me3 and deposition of the repressive mark H3K27me3 by EBNA3C on COBLL1 are achieved by at least two distinct mechanisms. Furthermore, we discovered that EBNA3C interacts with the lysine demethylase KDM2B and that this interaction is important for its transcriptional repressive function. The findings in this study provide new insights into the mechanism used by the oncoprotein EBNA3C to repress cellular target genes.

Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 3C (EBNA3C) is a well-defined repressor of host gene expression in B cells transformed by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) that cooperates with various cellular factors. It is established that EBNA3C interacts with the cellular factor RBPJ (RBP-Jκ or CBF1) through two distinct motifs: the TFGC motif, also called the homology domain (HD) motif, and the VWTP motif. In this study, we investigated the role of each motif in EBNA3C transcriptional repression activity by using two novel recombinant viruses with single RBPJ interaction motifs mutated (EBNA3C HDmut and EBNA3C W227S). Infection of primary B cells with either of these recombinant EBVs led to the successful establishment of lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Gene expression analysis showed that full repression of EBNA3C target genes is not achieved by EBNA3C HDmut compared to that with EBNA3C W227S or the EBNA3C wild type (WT). Focusing on the well-characterized EBNA3C-repressed genes COBLL1, ADAM28, and ADAMDEC1, we investigated the mechanism of EBNA3C-mediated transcriptional repression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis indicated that EBNA3C HDmut is still able to recruit Polycomb proteins BMI1 and SUZ12 to COBLL1 as efficiently as EBNA3C WT does, leading to the full deposition of the repressive histone mark H3K27me3. However, we found that the activation-associated chromatin mark H3K4me3 is highly enriched at EBNA3C target genes in LCLs expressing EBNA3C HDmut. We show here that EBNA3C interacts with the histone lysine demethylase KDM2B and that this interaction is important for H3K4me3 removal and for the EBNA3C-mediated repression of COBLL1 and the ADAM28-ADAMDEC1 locus.

IMPORTANCE EBV is a virus associated with human cancers and is well known for its ability to transform B lymphocytes into continuously proliferating lymphoblastoid cell lines. EBNA3C is considered an oncoprotein and has been shown to be essential for B cell transformation by EBV. EBNA3C is well characterized as a viral transcription factor, but very little is known about its mechanisms of action. In the present study, we demonstrate that removal of the activating histone mark H3K4me3 and deposition of the repressive mark H3K27me3 by EBNA3C on COBLL1 are achieved by at least two distinct mechanisms. Furthermore, we discovered that EBNA3C interacts with the lysine demethylase KDM2B and that this interaction is important for its transcriptional repressive function. The findings in this study provide new insights into the mechanism used by the oncoprotein EBNA3C to repress cellular target genes.

The role of α-ketoglutarate-dependent proteins in pluripotency acquisition and maintenance

α-Ketoglutarate is an important metabolic intermediate that acts as a cofactor for several chromatin-modifying enzymes, including histone demethylases and the Tet family of enzymes that are involved in DNA demethylation. In this review, we focus on the function and genomic localization of these α-ketoglutarate-dependent enzymes in the maintenance of pluripotency during cellular reprogramming to induced pluripotent stem cells and in disruption of pluripotency during in vitro differentiation. The enzymatic function of many of these α-ketoglutarate-dependent proteins is required for pluripotency acquisition and maintenance. A better understanding of their specific function will be essential in furthering our knowledge of pluripotency.