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Li H, Wu J, Zhang N, Zheng Q. Transglutaminase 2-mediated histone monoaminylation and its role in cancer. Biosci Rep 2024; 44:BSR20240493. [PMID: 39115570 PMCID: PMC11345673 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20240493] [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: 06/27/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Transglutaminase 2 (TGM2) has been known as a well-characterized factor regulating the progression of multiple types of cancer, due to its multifunctional activities and the ubiquitous signaling pathways it is involved in. As a member of the transglutaminase family, TGM2 catalyzes protein post-translational modifications (PTMs), including monoaminylation, amide hydrolysis, cross-linking, etc., through the transamidation of variant glutamine-containing protein substrates. Recent discoveries revealed histone as an important category of TGM2 substrates, thus identifying histone monoaminylation as an emerging epigenetic mark, which is highly enriched in cancer cells and possesses significant regulatory functions of gene transcription. In this review, we will summarize recent advances in TGM2-mediated histone monoaminylation as well as its role in cancer and discuss the key research methodologies to better understand this unique epigenetic mark, thereby shedding light on the therapeutic potential of TGM2 as a druggable target in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huapeng Li
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A
- Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A
| | - Jinghua Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A
- Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A
- Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A
| | - Qingfei Zheng
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A
- Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, IN, U.S.A
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2
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Al-Kachak A, Di Salvo G, Fulton SL, Chan JC, Farrelly LA, Lepack AE, Bastle RM, Kong L, Cathomas F, Newman EL, Menard C, Ramakrishnan A, Safovich P, Lyu Y, Covington HE, Shen L, Gleason K, Tamminga CA, Russo SJ, Maze I. Histone serotonylation in dorsal raphe nucleus contributes to stress- and antidepressant-mediated gene expression and behavior. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5042. [PMID: 38871707 PMCID: PMC11176395 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49336-4] [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: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Mood disorders are an enigmatic class of debilitating illnesses that affect millions of individuals worldwide. While chronic stress clearly increases incidence levels of mood disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), stress-mediated disruptions in brain function that precipitate these illnesses remain largely elusive. Serotonin-associated antidepressants (ADs) remain the first line of therapy for many with depressive symptoms, yet low remission rates and delays between treatment and symptomatic alleviation have prompted skepticism regarding direct roles for serotonin in the precipitation and treatment of affective disorders. Our group recently demonstrated that serotonin epigenetically modifies histone proteins (H3K4me3Q5ser) to regulate transcriptional permissiveness in brain. However, this non-canonical phenomenon has not yet been explored following stress and/or AD exposures. Here, we employed a combination of genome-wide and biochemical analyses in dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) of male and female mice exposed to chronic social defeat stress, as well as in DRN of human MDD patients, to examine the impact of stress exposures/MDD diagnosis on H3K4me3Q5ser dynamics, as well as associations between the mark and depression-related gene expression. We additionally assessed stress-induced/MDD-associated regulation of H3K4me3Q5ser following AD exposures, and employed viral-mediated gene therapy in mice to reduce H3K4me3Q5ser levels in DRN and examine its impact on stress-associated gene expression and behavior. We found that H3K4me3Q5ser plays important roles in stress-mediated transcriptional plasticity. Chronically stressed mice displayed dysregulated H3K4me3Q5ser dynamics in DRN, with both AD- and viral-mediated disruption of these dynamics proving sufficient to attenuate stress-mediated gene expression and behavior. Corresponding patterns of H3K4me3Q5ser regulation were observed in MDD subjects on vs. off ADs at their time of death. These findings thus establish a neurotransmission-independent role for serotonin in stress-/AD-associated transcriptional and behavioral plasticity, observations of which may be of clinical relevance to human MDD and its treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amni Al-Kachak
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Giuseppina Di Salvo
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Sasha L Fulton
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Jennifer C Chan
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Lorna A Farrelly
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Ashley E Lepack
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Ryan M Bastle
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Lingchun Kong
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Flurin Cathomas
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Emily L Newman
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Caroline Menard
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Aarthi Ramakrishnan
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Polina Safovich
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Yang Lyu
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Herbert E Covington
- Department of Psychology, Empire State College, State University of New York, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866, USA
| | - Li Shen
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Kelly Gleason
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Carol A Tamminga
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Scott J Russo
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Ian Maze
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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3
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Yuan S, Jiang SC, Zhang ZW, Li ZL, Hu J. Substance Addiction Rehabilitation Drugs. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:615. [PMID: 38794185 PMCID: PMC11124501 DOI: 10.3390/ph17050615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The relapse rate of substance abusers is high, and addiction rehabilitation adjunct drugs need to be developed urgently. There have been numerous reports on blocking the formation of substance addiction, but studies on drugs that can alleviate withdrawal symptoms are very limited. Both the dopamine transporter (DAT) hypothesis and D3 dopamine receptor (D3R) hypothesis are proposed. DAT activators reduce the extracellular dopamine level, and D3R antagonists reduce the neuron's sensitivity to dopamine, both of which may exacerbate the withdrawal symptoms subsequently. The D3R partial agonist SK608 has biased signaling properties via the G-protein-dependent pathway but did not induce D3R desensitization and, thus, may be a promising drug for the withdrawal symptoms. Drugs for serotoninergic neurons or GABAergic neurons and anti-inflammatory drugs may have auxiliary effects to addiction treatments. Drugs that promote structural synaptic plasticity are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Yuan
- College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China;
| | - Si-Cong Jiang
- Haisco Pharmaceutical Group Comp. Ltd., Chengdu 611138, China;
| | - Zhong-Wei Zhang
- College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China;
| | - Zi-Lin Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Medical University of the Air Force, Xi’an 710032, China;
| | - Jing Hu
- School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China;
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Chan JC, Alenina N, Cunningham AM, Ramakrishnan A, Shen L, Bader M, Maze I. Serotonin Transporter-dependent Histone Serotonylation in Placenta Contributes to the Neurodevelopmental Transcriptome. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168454. [PMID: 38266980 PMCID: PMC10957302 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Brain development requires appropriate regulation of serotonin (5-HT) signaling from distinct tissue sources across embryogenesis. At the maternal-fetal interface, the placenta is thought to be an important contributor of offspring brain 5-HT and is critical to overall fetal health. Yet, how placental 5-HT is acquired, and the mechanisms through which 5-HT influences placental functions, are not well understood. Recently, our group identified a novel epigenetic role for 5-HT, in which 5-HT can be added to histone proteins to regulate transcription, a process called H3 serotonylation. Here, we show that H3 serotonylation undergoes dynamic regulation during placental development, corresponding to gene expression changes that are known to influence key metabolic processes. Using transgenic mice, we demonstrate that placental H3 serotonylation is dependent on 5-HT uptake by the serotonin transporter (SERT/SLC6A4). SERT deletion robustly reduces enrichment of H3 serotonylation across the placental genome, and disrupts neurodevelopmental gene networks in early embryonic brain tissues. Thus, these findings suggest a novel role for H3 serotonylation in coordinating placental transcription at the intersection of maternal physiology and offspring brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer C Chan
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Natalia Alenina
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany; DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ashley M Cunningham
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aarthi Ramakrishnan
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Shen
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Bader
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany; DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Institute for Biology, University of Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ian Maze
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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5
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West AE, Day JJ. Genetics and epigenetics approaches as a path to the future of addiction science. Mol Cell Neurosci 2023; 127:103898. [PMID: 37657727 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2023.103898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anne E West
- Dept of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - Jeremy J Day
- Dept of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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Chan JC, Alenina N, Cunningham AM, Ramakrishnan A, Shen L, Bader M, Maze I. Serotonin transporter-dependent histone serotonylation in placenta contributes to the neurodevelopmental transcriptome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.14.567020. [PMID: 38014301 PMCID: PMC10680709 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.14.567020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Brain development requires appropriate regulation of serotonin (5-HT) signaling from distinct tissue sources across embryogenesis. At the maternal-fetal interface, the placenta is thought to be an important contributor of offspring brain 5-HT and is critical to overall fetal health. Yet, how placental 5-HT is acquired, and the mechanisms through which 5-HT influences placental functions, are not well understood. Recently, our group identified a novel epigenetic role for 5-HT, in which 5-HT can be added to histone proteins to regulate transcription, a process called H3 serotonylation. Here, we show that H3 serotonylation undergoes dynamic regulation during placental development, corresponding to gene expression changes that are known to influence key metabolic processes. Using transgenic mice, we demonstrate that placental H3 serotonylation largely depends on 5-HT uptake by the serotonin transporter (SERT/SLC6A4). SERT deletion robustly reduces enrichment of H3 serotonylation across the placental genome, and disrupts neurodevelopmental gene networks in early embryonic brain tissues. Thus, these findings suggest a novel role for H3 serotonylation in coordinating placental transcription at the intersection of maternal physiology and offspring brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer C Chan
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Natalia Alenina
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ashley M Cunningham
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aarthi Ramakrishnan
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Shen
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Bader
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, University of Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ian Maze
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Di Liegro CM, Schiera G, Schirò G, Di Liegro I. Involvement of the H3.3 Histone Variant in the Epigenetic Regulation of Gene Expression in the Nervous System, in Both Physiological and Pathological Conditions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11028. [PMID: 37446205 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
All the cells of an organism contain the same genome. However, each cell expresses only a minor fraction of its potential and, in particular, the genes encoding the proteins necessary for basal metabolism and the proteins responsible for its specific phenotype. The ability to use only the right and necessary genes involved in specific functions depends on the structural organization of the nuclear chromatin, which in turn depends on the epigenetic history of each cell, which is stored in the form of a collection of DNA and protein modifications. Among these modifications, DNA methylation and many kinds of post-translational modifications of histones play a key role in organizing the complex indexing of usable genes. In addition, non-canonical histone proteins (also known as histone variants), the synthesis of which is not directly linked with DNA replication, are used to mark specific regions of the genome. Here, we will discuss the role of the H3.3 histone variant, with particular attention to its loading into chromatin in the mammalian nervous system, both in physiological and pathological conditions. Indeed, chromatin modifications that mark cell memory seem to be of special importance for the cells involved in the complex processes of learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Maria Di Liegro
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Gabriella Schiera
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Schirò
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Italia Di Liegro
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
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Al-Kachak A, Maze I. Post-translational modifications of histone proteins by monoamine neurotransmitters. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2023; 74:102302. [PMID: 37054563 PMCID: PMC10225327 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.102302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Protein monoaminylation is a biochemical process through which biogenic monoamines (e.g., serotonin, dopamine, histamine, etc.) are covalently bonded to certain protein substrates via Transglutaminase 2, an enzyme that catalyzes the transamidation of primary amines to the γ-carboxamides of glutamine residues. Since their initial discovery, these unusual post-translational modifications have been implicated in a wide variety of biological processes, ranging from protein coagulation to platelet activation and G-protein signaling. More recently, histone proteins - specifically histone H3 at glutamine 5 (H3Q5) - have been added to the growing list of monoaminyl substrates in vivo, with H3Q5 monoaminylation demonstrated to regulate permissive gene expression in cells. Such phenomena have further been shown to contribute critically to various aspects of (mal)adaptive neuronal plasticity and behavior. In this short review, we examine the evolution of our understanding of protein monoaminylation events, highlighting recent advances in the elucidation of their roles as important chromatin regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amni Al-Kachak
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Ian Maze
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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