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Ruan K, Bai G, Fang Y, Li D, Li T, Liu X, Lu B, Lu Q, Songyang Z, Sun S, Wang Z, Zhang X, Zhou W, Zhang H. Biomolecular condensates and disease pathogenesis. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:1792-1832. [PMID: 39037698 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-024-2661-3] [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: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates or membraneless organelles (MLOs) formed by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) divide intracellular spaces into discrete compartments for specific functions. Dysregulation of LLPS or aberrant phase transition that disturbs the formation or material states of MLOs is closely correlated with neurodegeneration, tumorigenesis, and many other pathological processes. Herein, we summarize the recent progress in development of methods to monitor phase separation and we discuss the biogenesis and function of MLOs formed through phase separation. We then present emerging proof-of-concept examples regarding the disruption of phase separation homeostasis in a diverse array of clinical conditions including neurodegenerative disorders, hearing loss, cancers, and immunological diseases. Finally, we describe the emerging discovery of chemical modulators of phase separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Ruan
- The First Affiliated Hospital & School of Life Sciences, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membrane-less Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
| | - Ge Bai
- Nanhu Brain-computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou, 311100, China.
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Yanshan Fang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Dan Li
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Tingting Li
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Xingguo Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
- Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
| | - Boxun Lu
- Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Qing Lu
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Zhou Songyang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
| | - Shuguo Sun
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Zheng Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
| | - Xin Zhang
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, 310024, China.
| | - Wen Zhou
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Hong Zhang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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2
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Xue Z, Qin L, Xuan H, Luo K, Huang M, Xie L, Su Y, Xu L, Harsh J, Dale B, Shi X, Chen X, Kaniskan HÜ, Jin J, Wen H. A potent and selective ENL degrader suppresses oncogenic gene expression and leukemia progression. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eado1432. [PMID: 39196923 PMCID: PMC11352836 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado1432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/30/2024]
Abstract
The histone acylation reader eleven-nineteen leukemia (ENL) plays a pivotal role in sustaining oncogenesis in acute leukemias, particularly in mixed-lineage leukemia-rearranged (MLL-r) leukemia. ENL relies on its reader domain to recognize histone lysine acylation promoting oncogenic gene expression and leukemia progression. Here, we report the development of MS41, a highly potent and selective von Hippel-Lindau-recruiting ENL degrader that effectively inhibits the growth of ENL-dependent leukemia cells. MS41-induced ENL degradation reduces the chromatin occupancy of ENL-associated transcription elongation machinery, resulting in the suppression of key oncogenic gene expression programs and the activation of differentiation genes. MS41 is well-tolerated in vivo and substantially suppresses leukemia progression in a xenograft mouse model of MLL-r leukemia. Notably, MS41 also induces the degradation of mutant ENL proteins identified in Wilms' tumors. Our findings emphasize the therapeutic potential of pharmacological ENL degradation for treating ENL-dependent cancers, making MS41 not only a valuable chemical probe but also potential anticancer therapeutic for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoyu Xue
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Lihuai Qin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences, and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, New York, USA
| | - Hongwen Xuan
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Kaixiu Luo
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences, and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, New York, USA
| | - Mengying Huang
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Ling Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Yangzhou Su
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Longxia Xu
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Josiah Harsh
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Brandon Dale
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences, and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, New York, USA
| | - Xiaobing Shi
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Xian Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - H Ümit Kaniskan
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences, and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, New York, USA
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences, and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, New York, USA
| | - Hong Wen
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
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3
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Kim YR, Joo J, Lee HJ, Kim C, Park JC, Yu YS, Kim CR, Lee DH, Cha J, Kwon H, Hanssen KM, Grünewald TGP, Choi M, Han I, Bae S, Jung I, Shin Y, Baek SH. Prion-like domain mediated phase separation of ARID1A promotes oncogenic potential of Ewing's sarcoma. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6569. [PMID: 39095374 PMCID: PMC11297139 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51050-0] [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: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) facilitates the formation of membraneless organelles within cells, with implications in various biological processes and disease states. AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 1A (ARID1A) is a chromatin remodeling factor frequently associated with cancer mutations, yet its functional mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we find that ARID1A harbors a prion-like domain (PrLD), which facilitates the formation of liquid condensates through PrLD-mediated LLPS. The nuclear condensates formed by ARID1A LLPS are significantly elevated in Ewing's sarcoma patient specimen. Disruption of ARID1A LLPS results in diminished proliferative and invasive abilities in Ewing's sarcoma cells. Through genome-wide chromatin structure and transcription profiling, we identify that the ARID1A condensate localizes to EWS/FLI1 target enhancers and induces long-range chromatin architectural changes by forming functional chromatin remodeling hubs at oncogenic target genes. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that ARID1A promotes oncogenic potential through PrLD-mediated LLPS, offering a potential therapeutic approach for treating Ewing's sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Ryoul Kim
- Creative Research Initiatives Center for Epigenetic Code and Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jaegeon Joo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hee Jung Lee
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Chaelim Kim
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ju-Chan Park
- Research Center of Genomic Medicine Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young Suk Yu
- Creative Research Initiatives Center for Epigenetic Code and Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Chang Rok Kim
- Creative Research Initiatives Center for Epigenetic Code and Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Do Hui Lee
- Creative Research Initiatives Center for Epigenetic Code and Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Joowon Cha
- Creative Research Initiatives Center for Epigenetic Code and Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyemin Kwon
- Creative Research Initiatives Center for Epigenetic Code and Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kimberley M Hanssen
- Hopp-Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, (A Partnership) Between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas G P Grünewald
- Hopp-Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, (A Partnership) Between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Murim Choi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ilkyu Han
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sangsu Bae
- Research Center of Genomic Medicine Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Inkyung Jung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology, Daejeon, South Korea.
| | - Yongdae Shin
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Sung Hee Baek
- Creative Research Initiatives Center for Epigenetic Code and Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
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4
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Liu Y, Li Q, Song L, Gong C, Tang S, Budinich KA, Vanderbeck A, Mathias KM, Wertheim GB, Nguyen SC, Outen R, Joyce EF, Maillard I, Wan L. Condensate-Promoting ENL Mutation Drives Tumorigenesis In Vivo Through Dynamic Regulation of Histone Modifications and Gene Expression. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:1522-1546. [PMID: 38655899 PMCID: PMC11294821 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-0876] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Gain-of-function mutations in the histone acetylation "reader" eleven-nineteen-leukemia (ENL), found in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and Wilms tumor, are known to drive condensate formation and gene activation in cellular systems. However, their role in tumorigenesis remains unclear. Using a conditional knock-in mouse model, we show that mutant ENL perturbs normal hematopoiesis, induces aberrant expansion of myeloid progenitors, and triggers rapid onset of aggressive AML. Mutant ENL alters developmental and inflammatory gene programs in part by remodeling histone modifications. Mutant ENL forms condensates in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells at key leukemogenic genes, and disrupting condensate formation via mutagenesis impairs its chromatin and oncogenic function. Moreover, treatment with an acetyl-binding inhibitor of the mutant ENL displaces these condensates from target loci, inhibits mutant ENL-induced chromatin changes, and delays AML initiation and progression in vivo. Our study elucidates the function of ENL mutations in chromatin regulation and tumorigenesis and demonstrates the potential of targeting pathogenic condensates in cancer treatment. Significance: A direct link between ENL mutations, condensate formation, and tumorigenesis is lacking. This study elucidates the function and mechanism of ENL mutations in leukemogenesis, establishing these mutations as bona fide oncogenic drivers. Our results also support the role of condensate dysregulation in cancer and reveal strategies to target pathogenic condensates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiman Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Qinglan Li
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Lele Song
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Chujie Gong
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Sylvia Tang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Krista A. Budinich
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Cancer Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Ashley Vanderbeck
- VMD-PhD Program, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Immunology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Kaeli M. Mathias
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Center for Computational and Genomic Medicine, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Gerald B. Wertheim
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Division of Hematopathology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Son C. Nguyen
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Riley Outen
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Eric F. Joyce
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Ivan Maillard
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Liling Wan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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5
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Song L, Li Q, Xia L, Sahay AE, Qiu Q, Li Y, Li H, Sasaki K, Susztak K, Wu H, Wan L. Single-cell multiomics reveals ENL mutation perturbs kidney developmental trajectory by rewiring gene regulatory landscape. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5937. [PMID: 39009564 PMCID: PMC11250843 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50171-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
How disruptions to normal cell differentiation link to tumorigenesis remains incompletely understood. Wilms tumor, an embryonal tumor associated with disrupted organogenesis, often harbors mutations in epigenetic regulators, but their role in kidney development remains unexplored. Here, we show at single-cell resolution that a Wilms tumor-associated mutation in the histone acetylation reader ENL disrupts kidney differentiation in mice by rewiring the gene regulatory landscape. Mutant ENL promotes nephron progenitor commitment while restricting their differentiation by dysregulating transcription factors such as Hox clusters. It also induces abnormal progenitors that lose kidney-associated chromatin identity. Furthermore, mutant ENL alters the transcriptome and chromatin accessibility of stromal progenitors, resulting in hyperactivation of Wnt signaling. The impacts of mutant ENL on both nephron and stroma lineages lead to profound kidney developmental defects and postnatal mortality in mice. Notably, a small molecule inhibiting mutant ENL's histone acetylation binding activity largely reverses these defects. This study provides insights into how mutations in epigenetic regulators disrupt kidney development and suggests a potential therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lele Song
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Qinglan Li
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Lingbo Xia
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Arushi Eesha Sahay
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Qi Qiu
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Haitao Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Kotaro Sasaki
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Katalin Susztak
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Renal, Electrolyte, and Hypertension Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Liling Wan
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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6
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Ding M, Xu W, Pei G, Li P. Long way up: rethink diseases in light of phase separation and phase transition. Protein Cell 2024; 15:475-492. [PMID: 38069453 PMCID: PMC11214837 DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwad057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular condensation, driven by multivalency, serves as a fundamental mechanism within cells, facilitating the formation of distinct compartments, including membraneless organelles that play essential roles in various cellular processes. Perturbations in the delicate equilibrium of condensation, whether resulting in gain or loss of phase separation, have robustly been associated with cellular dysfunction and physiological disorders. As ongoing research endeavors wholeheartedly embrace this newly acknowledged principle, a transformative shift is occurring in our comprehension of disease. Consequently, significant strides have been made in unraveling the profound relevance and potential causal connections between abnormal phase separation and various diseases. This comprehensive review presents compelling recent evidence that highlight the intricate associations between aberrant phase separation and neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, and infectious diseases. Additionally, we provide a succinct summary of current efforts and propose innovative solutions for the development of potential therapeutics to combat the pathological consequences attributed to aberrant phase separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingrui Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
- NuPhase Therapeutics, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Weifan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
- NuPhase Therapeutics, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Gaofeng Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Pilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
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7
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Li D, Lin L, Xu F, Feng T, Tao Y, Miao H, Yang F. Protein crotonylation: Basic research and clinical diseases. Biochem Biophys Rep 2024; 38:101694. [PMID: 38586826 PMCID: PMC10997999 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2024.101694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Crotonylation is an importantly conserved post-translational modification, which is completely different from acetylation. In recent years, it has been confirmed that crotonylation occurs on histone and non-histone. Crotonylated Histone primarily affects gene expression through transcriptional regulation, while non-histone Crotonylation mainly regulates protein functions including protein activity, localization, and stability, as well as protein-protein interactions. The change in protein expression and function will affect the physiological process of cells and even cause disease. Reviewing previous studies, this article summarizes the mechanisms of histone and non-histone crotonylation in regulating diseases and cellular physiological processes to explore the possibility of precise regulation of crotonylation sites as potential targets for disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongling Li
- School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
- Central Laboratory of Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing University Central Hospital, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Ling Lin
- Central Laboratory of Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing University Central Hospital, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Fan Xu
- School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
- Central Laboratory of Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing University Central Hospital, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Tianlin Feng
- Central Laboratory of Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing University Central Hospital, Chongqing, 400014, China
- College of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, China
| | - Yang Tao
- Central Laboratory of Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing University Central Hospital, Chongqing, 400014, China
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Chongqing University Central Hospital, Chongqing, 400000, China
| | - Hongming Miao
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Central Laboratory of Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing University Central Hospital, Chongqing, 400014, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
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8
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Tian G, Li X, Li XD. Genetically Encoded Epitope Tag for Probing Lysine Acylation-Mediated Protein-Protein Interactions. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:1376-1386. [PMID: 38829775 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.4c00240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Histone lysine acetylation (Kac) and crotonylation (Kcr) marks mediate the recruitment of YEATS domains to chromatin. In this way, YEATS domain-containing proteins such as AF9 participate in the regulation of DNA-templated processes. Our previous study showed that the replacement of Kac/Kcr by a 2-furancarbonyllysine (Kfu) residue led to greatly enhanced affinity toward the AF9 YEATS domain, rendering Kfu-containing peptides useful chemical tools to probe the AF9 YEATS-Kac/Kcr interactions. Here, we report the genetic incorporation of Kfu in Escherichia coli and mammalian cells through the amber codon suppression technology. We develop a Kfu-containing epitope tag, termed RAY-tag, which can robustly and selectively engage with the AF9 YEATS domain in vitro and in cellulo. We further demonstrate that the fusion of RAY-tag to different protein modules, including fluorescent proteins and DNA binding proteins, can facilitate the interrogation of the histone lysine acylation-mediated recruitment of the AF9 YEATS domain in different biological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaofei Tian
- Departments of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Xin Li
- Greater Bay Biomedical InnoCenter, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Xiang David Li
- Departments of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong 999077, China
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9
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Waterbury AL, Kwok HS, Lee C, Narducci DN, Freedy AM, Su C, Raval S, Reiter AH, Hawkins W, Lee K, Li J, Hoenig SM, Vinyard ME, Cole PA, Hansen AS, Carr SA, Papanastasiou M, Liau BB. An autoinhibitory switch of the LSD1 disordered region controls enhancer silencing. Mol Cell 2024; 84:2238-2254.e11. [PMID: 38870936 PMCID: PMC11193646 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Transcriptional coregulators and transcription factors (TFs) contain intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) that are critical for their association and function in gene regulation. More recently, IDRs have been shown to promote multivalent protein-protein interactions between coregulators and TFs to drive their association into condensates. By contrast, here we demonstrate how the IDR of the corepressor LSD1 excludes TF association, acting as a dynamic conformational switch that tunes repression of active cis-regulatory elements. Hydrogen-deuterium exchange shows that the LSD1 IDR interconverts between transient open and closed conformational states, the latter of which inhibits partitioning of the protein's structured domains with TF condensates. This autoinhibitory switch controls leukemic differentiation by modulating repression of active cis-regulatory elements bound by LSD1 and master hematopoietic TFs. Together, these studies unveil alternative mechanisms by which disordered regions and their dynamic crosstalk with structured regions can shape coregulator-TF interactions to control cis-regulatory landscapes and cell fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Waterbury
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Hui Si Kwok
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ceejay Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Domenic N Narducci
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Allyson M Freedy
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Cindy Su
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Shaunak Raval
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Andrew H Reiter
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - William Hawkins
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kwangwoon Lee
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jiaming Li
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Samuel M Hoenig
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Philip A Cole
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anders S Hansen
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Steven A Carr
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Brian B Liau
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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10
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Hu X, Huang X, Yang Y, Sun Y, Zhao Y, Zhang Z, Qiu D, Wu Y, Wu G, Lei L. Dux activates metabolism-lactylation-MET network during early iPSC reprogramming with Brg1 as the histone lactylation reader. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:5529-5548. [PMID: 38512058 PMCID: PMC11162783 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae183] [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: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The process of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) reprogramming involves several crucial events, including the mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), activation of pluripotent genes, metabolic reprogramming, and epigenetic rewiring. Although these events intricately interact and influence each other, the specific element that regulates the reprogramming network remains unclear. Dux, a factor known to promote totipotency during the transition from embryonic stem cells (ESC) to 2C-like ESC (2CLC), has not been extensively studied in the context of iPSC reprogramming. In this study, we demonstrate that the modification of H3K18la induced by Dux overexpression controls the metabolism-H3K18la-MET network, enhancing the efficiency of iPSC reprogramming through a metabolic switch and the recruitment of p300 via its C-terminal domain. Furthermore, our proteomic analysis of H3K18la immunoprecipitation experiment uncovers the specific recruitment of Brg1 during reprogramming, with both H3K18la and Brg1 being enriched on the promoters of genes associated with pluripotency and epithelial junction. In summary, our study has demonstrated the significant role of Dux-induced H3K18la in the early reprogramming process, highlighting its function as a potent trigger. Additionally, our research has revealed, for the first time, the binding of Brg1 to H3K18la, indicating its role as a reader of histone lactylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinglin Hu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, 194 Xuefu Rd, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150081, China
| | - Xingwei Huang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, 194 Xuefu Rd, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150081, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, No. 9 XingDaoHuanBei Road, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou 510005 Guangdong Province, China
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510320, China
| | - Yue Yang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, 194 Xuefu Rd, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150081, China
| | - Yuchen Sun
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, 194 Xuefu Rd, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150081, China
| | - Yanhua Zhao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, 194 Xuefu Rd, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150081, China
| | - Zhijing Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, 194 Xuefu Rd, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150081, China
| | - Dan Qiu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, 194 Xuefu Rd, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150081, China
| | - Yanshuang Wu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, 194 Xuefu Rd, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150081, China
| | - Guangming Wu
- Guangzhou Laboratory, No. 9 XingDaoHuanBei Road, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou 510005 Guangdong Province, China
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510320, China
| | - Lei Lei
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, 194 Xuefu Rd, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province 150081, China
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11
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Mabe NW, Perry JA, Malone CF, Stegmaier K. Pharmacological targeting of the cancer epigenome. NATURE CANCER 2024; 5:844-865. [PMID: 38937652 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-024-00777-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic dysregulation is increasingly appreciated as a hallmark of cancer, including disease initiation, maintenance and therapy resistance. As a result, there have been advances in the development and evaluation of epigenetic therapies for cancer, revealing substantial promise but also challenges. Three epigenetic inhibitor classes are approved in the USA, and many more are currently undergoing clinical investigation. In this Review, we discuss recent developments for each epigenetic drug class and their implications for therapy, as well as highlight new insights into the role of epigenetics in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel W Mabe
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer A Perry
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clare F Malone
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kimberly Stegmaier
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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12
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Mathias KM, Liu Y, Wan L. Dysregulation of transcriptional condensates in human disease: mechanisms, biological functions, and open questions. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 86:102203. [PMID: 38788489 PMCID: PMC11162900 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2024.102203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Precise gene expression, crucial for normal development and health, depends on the co-ordinated assembly and function of various factors within the crowded nucleus. Recent evidence suggests that this process is in part regulated by mesoscale compartmentalization and concentration of transcriptional components within condensates, offering a new perspective on gene regulation. Dysregulation of transcriptional condensates is increasingly associated with diseases, indicating a potential role in pathogenesis. In this mini-review, we provide a concise overview of the current understanding of the formation and function of transcriptional condensates, with a specific focus on recent advances in their dysregulation and implications in diseases, notably cancer. We also address limitations in the field and highlight open questions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaeli M Mathias
- Department of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Biochemistry Biophysics Chemical Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Computational and Genomic Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yiman Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Liling Wan
- Department of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Computational and Genomic Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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13
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Xie M, Zhou L, Li T, Lin Y, Zhang R, Zheng X, Zeng C, Zheng L, Zhong L, Huang X, Zou Y, Kang T, Wu Y. Targeting the KAT8/YEATS4 Axis Represses Tumor Growth and Increases Cisplatin Sensitivity in Bladder Cancer. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2310146. [PMID: 38526153 PMCID: PMC11165526 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202310146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most common tumors characterized by a high rate of relapse and a lack of targeted therapy. Here, YEATS domain-containing protein 4 (YEATS4) is an essential gene for BC cell viability using CRISPR-Cas9 library screening is reported, and that HUWE1 is an E3 ligase responsible for YEATS4 ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation by the Protein Stability Regulators Screening Assay. KAT8-mediated acetylation of YEATS4 impaired its interaction with HUWE1 and consequently prevented its ubiquitination and degradation. The protein levels of YEATS4 and KAT8 are positively correlated and high levels of these two proteins are associated with poor overall survival in BC patients. Importantly, suppression of YEATS4 acetylation with the KAT8 inhibitor MG149 decreased YEATS4 acetylation, reduced cell viability, and sensitized BC cells to cisplatin treatment. The findings reveal a critical role of the KAT8/YEATS4 axis in both tumor growth and cisplatin sensitivity in BC cells, potentially generating a novel therapeutic strategy for BC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miner Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060P. R. China
- Department of HematologyGuangzhou First People's HospitalSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - Liwen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - Ting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - Yujie Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - Ruhua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - Xianchong Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - Cuiling Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - Lisi Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - Li Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060P. R. China
- Center of Digestive DiseaseScientific Research CenterThe Seventh Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhen518107P. R. China
| | - Xiaodan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - Yezi Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060P. R. China
- School of MedicineShenzhen Campus of Sun Yat‐Sen UniversityShenzhen518107P. R. China
| | - Tiebang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - Yuanzhong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060P. R. China
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14
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Zhang Z, Xu J, Liu J, Wang J, Lei L. SEC: A core hub during cell fate alteration. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23680. [PMID: 38758186 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202400514r] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Pol II pause release is a rate-limiting step in gene transcription, influencing various cell fate alterations. Numerous proteins orchestrate Pol II pause release, thereby playing pivotal roles in the intricate process of cellular fate modulation. Super elongation complex (SEC), a large assembly comprising diverse protein components, has garnered attention due to its emerging significance in orchestrating physiological and pathological cellular identity changes by regulating the transcription of crucial genes. Consequently, SEC emerges as a noteworthy functional complex capable of modulating cell fate alterations. Therefore, a comprehensive review is warranted to systematically summarize the core roles of SEC in different types of cell fate alterations. This review focuses on elucidating the current understanding of the structural and functional basis of SEC. Additionally, we discuss the intricate regulatory mechanisms governing SEC in various models of cell fate alteration, encompassing both physiological and pathological contexts. Furthermore, leveraging the existing knowledge of SEC, we propose some insightful directions for future research, aiming to enhance our mechanistic and functional comprehension of SEC within the diverse landscape of cell fate alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijing Zhang
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Jingyi Xu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Jiqiang Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Jiaqiang Wang
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Lei Lei
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
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15
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He J, Huo X, Pei G, Jia Z, Yan Y, Yu J, Qu H, Xie Y, Yuan J, Zheng Y, Hu Y, Shi M, You K, Li T, Ma T, Zhang MQ, Ding S, Li P, Li Y. Dual-role transcription factors stabilize intermediate expression levels. Cell 2024; 187:2746-2766.e25. [PMID: 38631355 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.023] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Precise control of gene expression levels is essential for normal cell functions, yet how they are defined and tightly maintained, particularly at intermediate levels, remains elusive. Here, using a series of newly developed sequencing, imaging, and functional assays, we uncover a class of transcription factors with dual roles as activators and repressors, referred to as condensate-forming level-regulating dual-action transcription factors (TFs). They reduce high expression but increase low expression to achieve stable intermediate levels. Dual-action TFs directly exert activating and repressing functions via condensate-forming domains that compartmentalize core transcriptional unit selectively. Clinically relevant mutations in these domains, which are linked to a range of developmental disorders, impair condensate selectivity and dual-action TF activity. These results collectively address a fundamental question in expression regulation and demonstrate the potential of level-regulating dual-action TFs as powerful effectors for engineering controlled expression levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinnan He
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiangru Huo
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Gaofeng Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zeran Jia
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yiming Yan
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jiawei Yu
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Haozhi Qu
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yunxin Xie
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Junsong Yuan
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuan Zheng
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yanyan Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Minglei Shi
- Bioinformatics Division, National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Kaiqiang You
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Tianhua Ma
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Michael Q Zhang
- Bioinformatics Division, National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Systems Biology, The University of Texas, Dallas, TX 75080-3021, USA
| | - Sheng Ding
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Pilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Yinqing Li
- The IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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16
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Talukdar P, Pal S, Biswas D. Post-translational modification-dependent oligomerization switch in regulation of global transcription and DNA damage repair during genotoxic stress. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4128. [PMID: 38750015 PMCID: PMC11096357 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48530-8] [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: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms of functional cross-talk between global transcriptional repression and efficient DNA damage repair during genotoxic stress are poorly known. In this study, using human AF9 as representative of Super Elongation Complex (SEC) components, we delineate detailed mechanisms of these processes. Mechanistically, we describe that Poly-Serine domain-mediated oligomerization is pre-requisite for AF9 YEATS domain-mediated TFIID interaction-dependent SEC recruitment at the promoter-proximal region for release of paused RNA polymerase II. Interestingly, during genotoxic stress, CaMKII-mediated phosphorylation-dependent nuclear export of AF9-specific deacetylase HDAC5 enhances concomitant PCAF-mediated acetylation of K339 residue. This causes monomerization of AF9 and reduces TFIID interaction for transcriptional downregulation. Furthermore, the K339 acetylation-dependent enhanced AF9-DNA-PKc interaction leads to phosphorylation at S395 residue which reduces AF9-SEC interaction resulting in transcriptional downregulation and efficient repair of DNA damage. After repair, nuclear re-entry of HDAC5 reduces AF9 acetylation and restores its TFIID and SEC interaction to restart transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sujay Pal
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, 700032, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Debabrata Biswas
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, 700032, India.
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17
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Xie X, Zhang O, Yeo MJR, Lee C, Harry SA, Paul L, Li Y, Payne NC, Nam E, Kwok HS, Jiang H, Mao H, Hadley JL, Lin H, Batts M, Gosavi PM, D'Angiolella V, Cole PA, Mazitschek R, Northcott PA, Zheng N, Liau BB. KBTBD4 Cancer Hotspot Mutations Drive Neomorphic Degradation of HDAC1/2 Corepressor Complexes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.14.593970. [PMID: 38798357 PMCID: PMC11118371 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.14.593970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Cancer mutations can create neomorphic protein-protein interactions to drive aberrant function 1 . As a substrate receptor of the CULLIN3-RBX1 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, KBTBD4 is recurrently mutated in medulloblastoma (MB) 2 , the most common embryonal brain tumor in children, and pineoblastoma 3 . These mutations impart gain-of-function to KBTBD4 to induce aberrant degradation of the transcriptional corepressor CoREST 4 . However, their mechanism of action remains unresolved. Here, we elucidate the mechanistic basis by which KBTBD4 mutations promote CoREST degradation through engaging HDAC1/2, the direct neomorphic target of the substrate receptor. Using deep mutational scanning, we systematically map the mutational landscape of the KBTBD4 cancer hotspot, revealing distinct preferences by which insertions and substitutions can promote gain-of-function and the critical residues involved in the hotspot interaction. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) analysis of two distinct KBTBD4 cancer mutants bound to LSD1-HDAC1-CoREST reveals that a KBTBD4 homodimer asymmetrically engages HDAC1 with two KELCH-repeat propeller domains. The interface between HDAC1 and one of the KBTBD4 propellers is stabilized by the MB mutations, which directly insert a bulky side chain into the active site pocket of HDAC1. Our structural and mutational analyses inform how this hotspot E3-neo-substrate interface can be chemically modulated. First, our results unveil a converging shape complementarity-based mechanism between gain-of-function E3 mutations and a molecular glue degrader, UM171. Second, we demonstrate that HDAC1/2 inhibitors can block the mutant KBTBD4-HDAC1 interface, the aberrant degradation of CoREST, and the growth of KBTBD4-mutant MB models. Altogether, our work reveals the structural and mechanistic basis of cancer mutation-driven neomorphic protein-protein interactions and pharmacological strategies to modulate their action for therapeutic applications.
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Song L, Li Q, Xia L, Sahay A, Qiu Q, Li Y, Li H, Sasaki K, Susztak K, Wu H, Wan L. Single-Cell multiomics reveals ENL mutation perturbs kidney developmental trajectory by rewiring gene regulatory landscape. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.09.591709. [PMID: 38766219 PMCID: PMC11100752 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.09.591709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Cell differentiation during organogenesis relies on precise epigenetic and transcriptional control. Disruptions to this regulation can result in developmental abnormalities and malignancies, yet the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Wilms tumors, a type of embryonal tumor closely linked to disrupted organogenesis, harbor mutations in epigenetic regulators in 30-50% of cases. However, the role of these regulators in kidney development and pathogenesis remains unexplored. By integrating mouse modeling, histological characterizations, and single-cell transcriptomics and chromatin accessibility profiling, we show that a Wilms tumor-associated mutation in the chromatin reader protein ENL disrupts kidney development trajectory by rewiring the gene regulatory landscape. Specifically, the mutant ENL promotes the commitment of nephron progenitors while simultaneously restricting their differentiation by dysregulating key transcription factor regulons, particularly the HOX clusters. It also induces the emergence of abnormal progenitor cells that lose their chromatin identity associated with kidney specification. Furthermore, the mutant ENL might modulate stroma-nephron interactions via paracrine Wnt signaling. These multifaceted effects caused by the mutation result in severe developmental defects in the kidney and early postnatal mortality in mice. Notably, transient inhibition of the histone acetylation binding activity of mutant ENL with a small molecule displaces transcriptional condensates formed by mutant ENL from target genes, abolishes its gene activation function, and restores developmental defects in mice. This work provides new insights into how mutations in epigenetic regulators can alter the gene regulatory landscape to disrupt kidney developmental programs at single-cell resolution in vivo . It also offers a proof-of-concept for the use of epigenetics-targeted agents to rectify developmental defects.
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19
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Chen Y, Ying Y, Ma W, Ma H, Shi L, Gao X, Jia M, Li M, Song X, Kong W, Chen W, Zheng X, Muluh TA, Wang X, Wang M, Shu XS. Targeting the Epigenetic Reader ENL Inhibits Super-Enhancer-Driven Oncogenic Transcription and Synergizes with BET Inhibition to Suppress Tumor Progression. Cancer Res 2024; 84:1237-1251. [PMID: 38241700 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-1836] [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: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic alterations at cis-regulatory elements (CRE) fine-tune transcriptional output. Epigenetic readers interact with CREs and can cooperate with other chromatin regulators to drive oncogene transcription. Here, we found that the YEATS domain-containing histone acetylation reader ENL (eleven-nineteen leukemia) acts as a key regulator of super-enhancers (SE), which are highly active distal CREs, across cancer types. ENL occupied the majority of SEs with substantially higher preference over typical enhancers, and the enrichment of ENL at SEs depended on its ability to bind acetylated histones. Rapid depletion of ENL by auxin-inducible degron tagging severely repressed the transcription of SE-controlled oncogenes, such as MYC, by inducing the decommissioning of their SEs, and restoring ENL protein expression largely reversed these effects. Additionally, ENL was indispensable for the rapid activation of SE-regulated immediate early genes in response to growth factor stimulation. Furthermore, ENL interacted with the histone chaperone FACT complex and was required for the deposition of FACT over CREs, which mediates nucleosome reorganization required for transcription initiation and elongation. Proper control of transcription by ENL and ENL-associated FACT was regulated by the histone reader BRD4. ENL was overexpressed in colorectal cancer and functionally contributed to colorectal cancer growth and metastasis. ENL degradation or inhibition synergized with BET inhibitors that target BRD4 in restraining colorectal cancer progression. These findings establish the essential role of epigenetic reader ENL in governing SE-driven oncogenic transcription and uncover the potential of ENL intervention to increase sensitivity to BET inhibition. SIGNIFICANCE ENL plays a key role in decoding epigenetic marks at highly active oncogenic super-enhancers and can be targeted in combination with BET inhibition as a promising synergistic strategy for optimizing cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongheng Chen
- Department of Physiology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
- Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
- Graduate Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ying Ying
- Department of Physiology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenlong Ma
- Department of Physiology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hongchao Ma
- Department of Physiology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liang Shi
- Department of Physiology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xuefeng Gao
- Integrative Microecology Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Min Jia
- Department of Physiology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Meiqi Li
- Department of Physiology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoman Song
- Department of Physiology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Weixiao Kong
- Department of Physiology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Physiology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
- Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiangyi Zheng
- Department of Physiology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tobias Achu Muluh
- Department of Physiology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaobin Wang
- Southern University of Science and Technology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Maolin Wang
- Department of Physiology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
- Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xing-Sheng Shu
- Department of Physiology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
- Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
- Graduate Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China
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20
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Michino M, Khan TA, Miller MW, Fukase Y, Vendome J, Adura C, Glickman JF, Liu Y, Wan L, Allis CD, Stamford AW, Meinke PT, Renzetti LM, Kargman S, Liverton NJ, Huggins DJ. Lead Optimization of Small Molecule ENL YEATS Inhibitors to Enable In Vivo Studies: Discovery of TDI-11055. ACS Med Chem Lett 2024; 15:524-532. [PMID: 38628784 PMCID: PMC11017412 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.4c00016] [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: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Eleven-nineteen leukemia (ENL) is an epigenetic reader protein that drives oncogenic transcriptional programs in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML is one of the deadliest hematopoietic malignancies, with an overall 5-year survival rate of 27%. The epigenetic reader activity of ENL is mediated by its YEATS domain that binds to acetyl and crotonyl marks on histone tails and colocalizes with promoters of actively transcribed genes that are essential for leukemia. Prior to the discovery of TDI-11055, existing inhibitors of ENL YEATS showed in vitro potency, but had not shown efficacy in in vivo animal models. During the course of the medicinal chemistry campaign described here, we identified ENL YEATS inhibitor TDI-11055 that has an improved pharmacokinetic profile and is appropriate for in vivo evaluation of the ENL YEATS inhibition mechanism in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayako Michino
- Sanders
Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, 1230 York Ave, Box 122, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Tanweer A. Khan
- Sanders
Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, 1230 York Ave, Box 122, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Michael W. Miller
- Sanders
Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, 1230 York Ave, Box 122, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Yoshiyuki Fukase
- Sanders
Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, 1230 York Ave, Box 122, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Jeremie Vendome
- Schrödinger,
Inc., 1540 Broadway,
24th Floor, New York, New
York 10036, United States
| | - Carolina Adura
- Fisher
Drug Discovery Resource Center, The Rockefeller
University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - J. Fraser Glickman
- Fisher
Drug Discovery Resource Center, The Rockefeller
University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Yiman Liu
- Department
of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Liling Wan
- Department
of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - C. David Allis
- Laboratory
of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics, The
Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Andrew W. Stamford
- Sanders
Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, 1230 York Ave, Box 122, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Peter T. Meinke
- Sanders
Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, 1230 York Ave, Box 122, New York, New York 10065, United States
- Department
of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021, United States
| | - Louis M. Renzetti
- Bridge
Medicines, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, Smith Hall Annex,
C-Floor, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Stacia Kargman
- Sanders
Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, 1230 York Ave, Box 122, New York, New York 10065, United States
- Bridge
Medicines, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, Smith Hall Annex,
C-Floor, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Nigel J. Liverton
- Sanders
Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, 1230 York Ave, Box 122, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - David J. Huggins
- Sanders
Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, 1230 York Ave, Box 122, New York, New York 10065, United States
- Department
of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell
Medicine, New York, New York 10021, United States
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21
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Xuan F, Xuan H, Huang M, He W, Xu H, Shi X, Wen H. The Tudor-knot Domain of KAT5 Regulates Nucleosomal Substrate Acetylation. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168414. [PMID: 38141874 PMCID: PMC10957329 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
The lysine acetyltransferase KAT5 is a pivotal enzyme responsible for catalyzing histone H4 acetylation in cells. In addition to its indispensable HAT domain, KAT5 also encompasses a conserved Tudor-knot domain at its N-terminus. However, the function of this domain remains elusive, with conflicting findings regarding its role as a histone reader. In our study, we have employed a CRISPR tiling array approach and unveiled the Tudor-knot motif as an essential domain for cell survival. The Tudor-knot domain does not bind to histone tails and is not required for KAT5's chromatin occupancy. However, its absence leads to a global reduction in histone acetylation, accompanied with genome-wide alterations in gene expression that consequently result in diminished cell viability. Mechanistically, we find that the Tudor-knot domain regulates KAT5's HAT activity on nucleosomes by fine-tuning substrate accessibility. In summary, our study uncovers the Tudor-knot motif as an essential domain for cell survival and reveals its critical role in modulating KAT5's catalytic efficiency on nucleosome and KAT5-dependent transcriptional programs critical for cell viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Xuan
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Hongwen Xuan
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Mengying Huang
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Wei He
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Han Xu
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xiaobing Shi
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Hong Wen
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
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22
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Lu Q, Xi P, Xu S, Zhang Z, Gong B, Liu J, Zhu Q, Sun T, Zhu S, Chen R. A novel risk signature based on liquid-liquid phase separation-related genes reveals prognostic and tumour microenvironmental features in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:6118-6134. [PMID: 38546385 PMCID: PMC11042959 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205691] [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: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC) is one of the most common malignancies. However, there are still many barriers to its underlying causes, early diagnostic techniques and therapeutic approaches. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)- Kidney renal clear cell (KIRC) cohort differentially analysed liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS)-related genes from the DrLLPS website. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and LASSO regression analyses were used to construct prognostic models. The E-MTAB-1980 cohort was used for external validation. Then, potential functions, immune infiltration analysis, and mutational landscapes were analysed for the high-risk and low-risk groups. Finally, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) experiments as well as single-cell analyses validated the genes key to the model. RESULTS We screened 174 LLPS-related genes in ccRCC and constructed a risk signature consisting of five genes (CLIC5, MXD3, NUF2, PABPC1L, PLK1). The high-risk group was found to be associated with worse prognosis in different subgroups. A nomogram constructed by combining age and tumour stage had a strong predictive power for the prognosis of ccRCC patients. In addition, there were differences in pathway enrichment, immune cell infiltration, and mutational landscapes between the two groups. The results of qRT-PCR in renal cancer cell lines and renal cancer tissues were consistent with the biosignature prediction. Three single-cell data of GSE159115, GSE139555, and GSE121636 were analysed for differences in the presence of these five genes in different cells. CONCLUSIONS We developed a risk signature constructed based on the five LLPS-related genes and can have a high ability to predict the prognosis of ccRCC patients, further providing a strong support for clinical decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Lu
- Department of Urology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian, P.R. China
| | - Ping Xi
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Suling Xu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhicheng Zhang
- Department of Surgery, Fuzhou First People’s Hospital, Fuzhou 344000, Jiangxi, China
| | - Binbin Gong
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Ji Liu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qiqi Zhu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Ting Sun
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Shaoxing Zhu
- Department of Urology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian, P.R. China
| | - Ru Chen
- Department of Urology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian, P.R. China
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23
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Perotti D, Williams RD, Wegert J, Brzezinski J, Maschietto M, Ciceri S, Gisselsson D, Gadd S, Walz AL, Furtwaengler R, Drost J, Al-Saadi R, Evageliou N, Gooskens SL, Hong AL, Murphy AJ, Ortiz MV, O'Sullivan MJ, Mullen EA, van den Heuvel-Eibrink MM, Fernandez CV, Graf N, Grundy PE, Geller JI, Dome JS, Perlman EJ, Gessler M, Huff V, Pritchard-Jones K. Hallmark discoveries in the biology of Wilms tumour. Nat Rev Urol 2024; 21:158-180. [PMID: 37848532 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-023-00824-0] [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] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
The modern study of Wilms tumour was prompted nearly 50 years ago, when Alfred Knudson proposed the 'two-hit' model of tumour development. Since then, the efforts of researchers worldwide have substantially expanded our knowledge of Wilms tumour biology, including major advances in genetics - from cloning the first Wilms tumour gene to high-throughput studies that have revealed the genetic landscape of this tumour. These discoveries improve understanding of the embryonal origin of Wilms tumour, familial occurrences and associated syndromic conditions. Many efforts have been made to find and clinically apply prognostic biomarkers to Wilms tumour, for which outcomes are generally favourable, but treatment of some affected individuals remains challenging. Challenges are also posed by the intratumoural heterogeneity of biomarkers. Furthermore, preclinical models of Wilms tumour, from cell lines to organoid cultures, have evolved. Despite these many achievements, much still remains to be discovered: further molecular understanding of relapse in Wilms tumour and of the multiple origins of bilateral Wilms tumour are two examples of areas under active investigation. International collaboration, especially when large tumour series are required to obtain robust data, will help to answer some of the remaining unresolved questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Perotti
- Predictive Medicine: Molecular Bases of Genetic Risk, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
| | - Richard D Williams
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Section of Genetics and Genomics, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Jenny Wegert
- Theodor-Boveri-Institute/Biocenter, Developmental Biochemistry, Wuerzburg University, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Jack Brzezinski
- Division of Haematology/Oncology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mariana Maschietto
- Research Center, Boldrini Children's Hospital, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sara Ciceri
- Predictive Medicine: Molecular Bases of Genetic Risk, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - David Gisselsson
- Cancer Cell Evolution Unit, Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Clinical Genetics, Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Office of Medical Services, Skåne, Sweden
| | - Samantha Gadd
- Department of Pathology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Amy L Walz
- Division of Hematology,Oncology, Neuro-Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplant, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rhoikos Furtwaengler
- Division of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital Bern University, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jarno Drost
- Princess Máxima Center for Paediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Reem Al-Saadi
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
| | - Nicholas Evageliou
- Divisions of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, CHOP Specialty Care Center, Vorhees, NJ, USA
| | - Saskia L Gooskens
- Princess Máxima Center for Paediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Andrew L Hong
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Andrew J Murphy
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Michael V Ortiz
- Department of Paediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maureen J O'Sullivan
- Histology Laboratory, Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Elizabeth A Mullen
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Conrad V Fernandez
- Division of Paediatric Hematology Oncology, IWK Health Centre and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Norbert Graf
- Department of Paediatric Oncology and Hematology, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany
| | - Paul E Grundy
- Department of Paediatrics Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - James I Geller
- Division of Oncology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Dome
- Division of Oncology, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's National Hospital and the Department of Paediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Perlman
- Department of Pathology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Manfred Gessler
- Theodor-Boveri-Institute/Biocenter, Developmental Biochemistry, Wuerzburg University, Wuerzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Vicki Huff
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathy Pritchard-Jones
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
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24
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Peng X, Hu Z, Zeng L, Zhang M, Xu C, Lu B, Tao C, Chen W, Hou W, Cheng K, Bi H, Pan W, Chen J. Overview of epigenetic degraders based on PROTAC, molecular glue, and hydrophobic tagging technologies. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:533-578. [PMID: 38322348 PMCID: PMC10840439 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic pathways play a critical role in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of cancer. Over the past few decades, significant progress has been made in the development of targeted epigenetic modulators (e.g., inhibitors). However, epigenetic inhibitors have faced multiple challenges, including limited clinical efficacy, toxicities, lack of subtype selectivity, and drug resistance. As a result, the design of new epigenetic modulators (e.g., degraders) such as PROTACs, molecular glue, and hydrophobic tagging (HyT) degraders has garnered significant attention from both academia and pharmaceutical industry, and numerous epigenetic degraders have been discovered in the past decade. In this review, we aim to provide an in-depth illustration of new degrading strategies (2017-2023) targeting epigenetic proteins for cancer therapy, focusing on the rational design, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, clinical status, and crystal structure information of these degraders. Importantly, we also provide deep insights into the potential challenges and corresponding remedies of this approach to drug design and development. Overall, we hope this review will offer a better mechanistic understanding and serve as a useful guide for the development of emerging epigenetic-targeting degraders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Peng
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Zhihao Hu
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Limei Zeng
- College of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Meizhu Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Congcong Xu
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Benyan Lu
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Chengpeng Tao
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Weiming Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Wen Hou
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Kui Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Huichang Bi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Wanyi Pan
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Jianjun Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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25
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Zhao J, Cato LD, Arora UP, Bao EL, Bryant SC, Williams N, Jia Y, Goldman SR, Nangalia J, Erb MA, Vos SM, Armstrong SA, Sankaran VG. Inherited blood cancer predisposition through altered transcription elongation. Cell 2024; 187:642-658.e19. [PMID: 38218188 PMCID: PMC10872907 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.12.016] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Despite advances in defining diverse somatic mutations that cause myeloid malignancies, a significant heritable component for these cancers remains largely unexplained. Here, we perform rare variant association studies in a large population cohort to identify inherited predisposition genes for these blood cancers. CTR9, which encodes a key component of the PAF1 transcription elongation complex, is among the significant genes identified. The risk variants found in the cases cause loss of function and result in a ∼10-fold increased odds of acquiring a myeloid malignancy. Partial CTR9 loss of function expands human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by increased super elongation complex-mediated transcriptional activity, which thereby increases the expression of key regulators of HSC self-renewal. By following up on insights from a human genetic study examining inherited predisposition to the myeloid malignancies, we define a previously unknown antagonistic interaction between the PAF1 and super elongation complexes. These insights could enable targeted approaches for blood cancer prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Zhao
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Center for Cancer Immunology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen, China.
| | - Liam D Cato
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Uma P Arora
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Erik L Bao
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Nicholas Williams
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK; UK and MRC-Wellcome Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Yuemeng Jia
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA; Stem Cell Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Seth R Goldman
- Nascent Transcriptomics Core, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jyoti Nangalia
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK; UK and MRC-Wellcome Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael A Erb
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Seychelle M Vos
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Scott A Armstrong
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Vijay G Sankaran
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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26
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Erb MA. Small-molecule tools for YEATS domain proteins. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2023; 77:102404. [PMID: 37924571 PMCID: PMC10842393 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.102404] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Chromatin reader domains are protein folds that bind to post-translational modifications of histones and other chromatin-associated proteins. Compared to other families of reader domains, the discovery that YEATS domains bind to acylated lysines is relatively recent. Four human proteins harbor a YEATS domain, and each is present in protein complexes that regulate chromatin and transcription (ENL, AF9, YEATS2, and YEATS4). Without chemical tools to enable temporally resolved perturbations, it is often unclear how reader domains contribute to protein function. Here, we will discuss recent progress in developing small-molecule tools for YEATS domains and highlight their usefulness for making biological discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Erb
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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27
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Gao G, Sumrall ES, Pitchiaya S, Bitzer M, Alberti S, Walter NG. Biomolecular condensates in kidney physiology and disease. Nat Rev Nephrol 2023; 19:756-770. [PMID: 37752323 DOI: 10.1038/s41581-023-00767-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
The regulation and preservation of distinct intracellular and extracellular solute microenvironments is crucial for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. In mammals, the kidneys control bodily salt and water homeostasis. Specifically, the urine-concentrating mechanism within the renal medulla causes fluctuations in extracellular osmolarity, which enables cells of the kidney to either conserve or eliminate water and electrolytes, depending on the balance between intake and loss. However, relatively little is known about the subcellular and molecular changes caused by such osmotic stresses. Advances have shown that many cells, including those of the kidney, rapidly (within seconds) and reversibly (within minutes) assemble membraneless, nano-to-microscale subcellular assemblies termed biomolecular condensates via the biophysical process of hyperosmotic phase separation (HOPS). Mechanistically, osmotic cell compression mediates changes in intracellular hydration, concentration and molecular crowding, rendering HOPS one of many related phase-separation phenomena. Osmotic stress causes numerous homo-multimeric proteins to condense, thereby affecting gene expression and cell survival. HOPS rapidly regulates specific cellular biochemical processes before appropriate protective or corrective action by broader stress response mechanisms can be initiated. Here, we broadly survey emerging evidence for, and the impact of, biomolecular condensates in nephrology, where initial concentration buffering by HOPS and its subsequent cellular escalation mechanisms are expected to have important implications for kidney physiology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoming Gao
- Biophysics Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Center for RNA Biomedicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Emily S Sumrall
- Biophysics Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Center for RNA Biomedicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Markus Bitzer
- Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Simon Alberti
- Technische Universität Dresden, Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC) and Center for Molecular and Cellular Engineering (CMCB), Dresden, Germany
| | - Nils G Walter
- Department of Chemistry and Center for RNA Biomedicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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28
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Jin J, Bai H, Yan H, Deng T, Li T, Xiao R, Fan L, Bai X, Ning H, Liu Z, Zhang K, Wu X, Liang K, Ma P, Gao X, Hu D. PRMT2 promotes HIV-1 latency by preventing nucleolar exit and phase separation of Tat into the Super Elongation Complex. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7274. [PMID: 37949879 PMCID: PMC10638354 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43060-1] [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: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The HIV-1 Tat protein hijacks the Super Elongation Complex (SEC) to stimulate viral transcription and replication. However, the mechanisms underlying Tat activation and inactivation, which mediate HIV-1 productive and latent infection, respectively, remain incompletely understood. Here, through a targeted complementary DNA (cDNA) expression screening, we identify PRMT2 as a key suppressor of Tat activation, thus contributing to proviral latency in multiple cell line latency models and in HIV-1-infected patient CD4+ T cells. Our data reveal that the transcriptional activity of Tat is oppositely regulated by NPM1-mediated nucleolar retention and AFF4-induced phase separation in the nucleoplasm. PRMT2 preferentially methylates Tat arginine 52 (R52) to reinforce its nucleolar sequestration while simultaneously counteracting its incorporation into the SEC droplets, thereby leading to its functional inactivation to promote proviral latency. Thus, our studies unveil a central and unappreciated role for Tat methylation by PRMT2 in connecting its subnuclear distribution, liquid droplet formation, and transactivating function, which could be therapeutically targeted to eradicate latent viral reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxing Jin
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Hui Bai
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Han Yan
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Ting Deng
- Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 300060, Tianjin, China
| | - Tianyu Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Ruijing Xiao
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Lina Fan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Nankai University, 300192, Tianjin, China
| | - Xue Bai
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Hanhan Ning
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhe Liu
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Xudong Wu
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Kaiwei Liang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Ping Ma
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Nankai University, 300192, Tianjin, China.
| | - Xin Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 300020, Tianjin, China.
- Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, 301600, Tianjin, China.
| | - Deqing Hu
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China.
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29
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Perlee S, Kikuchi S, Nakadai T, Masuda T, Ohtsuki S, Matsumoto M, Rahmutulla B, Fukuyo M, Cifani P, Kentsis A, Roeder RG, Kaneda A, Hoshii T. SETD1A function in leukemia is mediated through interaction with mitotic regulators BuGZ/BUB3. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e57108. [PMID: 37535603 PMCID: PMC10561176 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202357108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The H3K4 methyltransferase SETD1A plays a crucial role in leukemia cell survival through its noncatalytic FLOS domain-mediated recruitment of cyclin K and regulation of DNA damage response genes. In this study, we identify a functional nuclear localization signal in and interaction partners of the FLOS domain. Our screen for FLOS domain-binding partners reveals that the SETD1A FLOS domain binds mitosis-associated proteins BuGZ/BUB3. Inhibition of both cyclin K and BuGZ/BUB3-binding motifs in SETD1A shows synergistic antileukemic effects. BuGZ/BUB3 localize to SETD1A-bound promoter-TSS regions and SETD1A-negative H3K4me1-positive enhancer regions adjacent to SETD1A target genes. The GLEBS motif and intrinsically disordered region of BuGZ are required for both SETD1A-binding and leukemia cell proliferation. Cell-cycle-specific SETD1A restoration assays indicate that SETD1A expression at the G1/S phase of the cell cycle promotes both the expression of DNA damage response genes and cell cycle progression in leukemia cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Perlee
- Department of Cancer Biology and GeneticsMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNew YorkNYUSA
- Gerstner Graduate School of Biomedical SciencesMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Sota Kikuchi
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of MedicineChiba UniversityChibaJapan
| | - Tomoyoshi Nakadai
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Takeshi Masuda
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Life SciencesKumamoto UniversityKumamotoJapan
- Institute for Advanced BiosciencesKeio UniversityTsuruokaJapan
| | - Sumio Ohtsuki
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Life SciencesKumamoto UniversityKumamotoJapan
| | - Makoto Matsumoto
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of MedicineChiba UniversityChibaJapan
| | - Bahityar Rahmutulla
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of MedicineChiba UniversityChibaJapan
| | - Masaki Fukuyo
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of MedicineChiba UniversityChibaJapan
| | - Paolo Cifani
- Molecular Pharmacology ProgramMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Alex Kentsis
- Molecular Pharmacology ProgramMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Robert G Roeder
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Atsushi Kaneda
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of MedicineChiba UniversityChibaJapan
| | - Takayuki Hoshii
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of MedicineChiba UniversityChibaJapan
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30
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Chen L, Zhang Z, Han Q, Maity BK, Rodrigues L, Zboril E, Adhikari R, Ko SH, Li X, Yoshida SR, Xue P, Smith E, Xu K, Wang Q, Huang THM, Chong S, Liu Z. Hormone-induced enhancer assembly requires an optimal level of hormone receptor multivalent interactions. Mol Cell 2023; 83:3438-3456.e12. [PMID: 37738977 PMCID: PMC10592010 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) activate enhancers to drive cell-specific gene programs in response to signals, but our understanding of enhancer assembly during signaling events is incomplete. Here, we show that androgen receptor (AR) forms condensates through multivalent interactions mediated by its N-terminal intrinsically disordered region (IDR) to orchestrate enhancer assembly in response to androgen signaling. AR IDR can be substituted by IDRs from selective proteins for AR condensation capacity and its function on enhancers. Expansion of the poly(Q) track within AR IDR results in a higher AR condensation propensity as measured by multiple methods, including live-cell single-molecule microscopy. Either weakening or strengthening AR condensation propensity impairs its heterotypic multivalent interactions with other enhancer components and diminishes its transcriptional activity. Our work reveals the requirement of an optimal level of AR condensation in mediating enhancer assembly and suggests that alteration of the fine-tuned multivalent IDR-IDR interactions might underlie AR-related human pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizhen Chen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
| | - Zhao Zhang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Qinyu Han
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Barun K Maity
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Leticia Rodrigues
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Emily Zboril
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Rashmi Adhikari
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Su-Hyuk Ko
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Shawn R Yoshida
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Pengya Xue
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Emilie Smith
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Kexin Xu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Qianben Wang
- Department of Pathology, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Tim Hui-Ming Huang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Shasha Chong
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
| | - Zhijie Liu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
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31
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Feng L, Barrows D, Zhong L, Mätlik K, Porter EG, Djomo AM, Yau I, Soshnev AA, Carroll TS, Wen D, Hatten ME, Garcia BA, Allis CD. Altered chromatin occupancy of patient-associated H4 mutants misregulate neuronal differentiation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.29.560141. [PMID: 37808786 PMCID: PMC10557780 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.29.560141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Chromatin is a crucial regulator of gene expression and tightly controls development across species. Mutations in only one copy of multiple histone genes were identified in children with developmental disorders characterized by microcephaly, but their mechanistic roles in development remain unclear. Here we focus on dominant mutations affecting histone H4 lysine 91. These H4K91 mutants form aberrant nuclear puncta at specific heterochromatin regions. Mechanistically, H4K91 mutants demonstrate enhanced binding to the histone variant H3.3, and ablation of H3.3 or the H3.3-specific chaperone DAXX diminishes the mutant localization to chromatin. Our functional studies demonstrate that H4K91 mutant expression increases chromatin accessibility, alters developmental gene expression through accelerating pro-neural differentiation, and causes reduced mouse brain size in vivo, reminiscent of the microcephaly phenotypes of patients. Together, our studies unveil a distinct molecular pathogenic mechanism from other known histone mutants, where H4K91 mutants misregulate cell fate during development through abnormal genomic localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Feng
- The Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics, New York, NY
| | - Douglas Barrows
- The Rockefeller University, Bioinformatics Resource Center, New York, NY
| | - Liangwen Zhong
- Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Kärt Mätlik
- The Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, New York, NY
| | - Elizabeth G. Porter
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Annaelle M. Djomo
- The Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics, New York, NY
| | - Iris Yau
- The Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics, New York, NY
- Hunter College of the City University of New York, Yalow Honors Scholar Program, New York, NY
| | - Alexey A. Soshnev
- The Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics, New York, NY
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Thomas S. Carroll
- The Rockefeller University, Bioinformatics Resource Center, New York, NY
| | - Duancheng Wen
- Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Mary E. Hatten
- The Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, New York, NY
| | - Benjamin A. Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - C. David Allis
- The Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics, New York, NY
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32
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Huang YP, Harmon L, Gardner E, Ma X, Harsh J, Xue Z, Wen H, Ramos M, Davis S, Triche TJ. bamSliceR: cross-cohort variant and allelic bias analysis for rare variants and rare diseases. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.15.558026. [PMID: 37745420 PMCID: PMC10516001 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.15.558026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Rare diseases and conditions create unique challenges for genetic epidemiologists precisely because cases and samples are scarce. In recent years, whole-genome and whole-transcriptome sequencing (WGS/WTS) have eased the study of rare genetic variants. Paired WGS and WTS data are ideal, but logistical and financial constraints often preclude generating paired WGS and WTS data. Thus, many databases contain a patchwork of specimens with either WGS or WTS data, but only a minority of samples have both. The NCI Genomic Data Commons facilitates controlled access to genomic and transcriptomic data for thousands of subjects, many with unpaired sequencing results. Local reanalysis of expressed variants across whole transcriptomes requires significant data storage, compute, and expertise. We developed the bamSliceR package to facilitate swift transition from aligned sequence reads to expressed variant characterization. bamSliceR leverages the NCI Genomic Data Commons API to query genomic sub-regions of aligned sequence reads from specimens identified through the robust Bioconductor ecosystem. We demonstrate how population-scale targeted genomic analysis can be completed using orders of magnitude fewer resources in this fashion, with minimal compute burden. We demonstrate pilot results from bamSliceR for the TARGET pediatric AML and BEAT-AML projects, where identification of rare but recurrent somatic variants directly yields biologically testable hypotheses. bamSliceR and its documentation are freely available on GitHub at https://github.com/trichelab/bamSliceR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhou Peter Huang
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, US
- Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, US
| | | | | | - Xiaotu Ma
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, US
| | | | - Zhaoyu Xue
- Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, US
| | - Hong Wen
- Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, US
| | | | - Sean Davis
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus: Aurora, CO, US
| | - Timothy J Triche
- Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, US
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, US
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33
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Xu C, Kim A, Corbin JM, Wang GG. Onco-condensates: formation, multi-component organization, and biological functions. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:738-751. [PMID: 37349246 PMCID: PMC10524369 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Numerous cellular processes occur in the context of condensates, a type of large, membrane-less biomolecular assembly generated through phase separation. These condensates function as a hub of diversified cellular events by concentrating the required components. Cancer frequently coopts biomolecular condensation mechanisms to promote survival and/or proliferation. Onco-condensates, which refer to those that have causal roles or are critically involved in tumorigenicity, operate to abnormally elevate biological output of a proliferative process, or to suppress a tumor-suppressive pathway, thereby promoting oncogenesis. Here, we summarize advances regarding how multi-component onco-condensates are established and organized to promote oncogenesis, with those related to chromatin and transcription deregulation used as showcases. A better understanding should enable development of new means of targeting onco-condensates as potential therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Xu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Arum Kim
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Joshua M Corbin
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Gang Greg Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Nishinakamura R. Advances and challenges toward developing kidney organoids for clinical applications. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:1017-1027. [PMID: 37541208 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.07.011] [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: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Kidney organoids have enabled modeling of human development and disease. While methods of generating the nephron lineage are well established, new protocols to induce another lineage, the ureteric bud/collecting duct, have been reported in the past 5 years. Many reports have described modeling of various hereditary kidney diseases, with polycystic kidney disease serving as the archetypal disease, by using patient-derived or genome-edited kidney organoids. The generation of more organotypic kidneys is also becoming feasible. In this review, I also discuss the significant challenges for more sophisticated disease modeling and for realizing the ambitious goal of generating transplantable synthetic kidneys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryuichi Nishinakamura
- Department of Kidney Development, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan.
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Hu H, Muntean AG. The YEATS domain epigenetic reader proteins ENL and AF9 and their therapeutic value in leukemia. Exp Hematol 2023; 124:15-21. [PMID: 37295550 PMCID: PMC10527611 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2023.06.001] [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: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have uncovered similarities and differences between 2 highly homologous epigenetic reading proteins, namely, ENL (MLLT1) and AF9 (MLLT3) with therapeutic implications. The importance of these proteins has traditionally been exemplified by their involvement in chromosomal translocations with the mixed-lineage leukemia gene (MLL; aka KMT2a). MLL rearrangements occur in a subset of acute leukemias and generate potent oncogenic MLL-fusion proteins that impact epigenetic and transcriptional regulation. Leukemic patients with MLL rearrangements display intermediate-to-poor prognoses, necessitating further mechanistic research. Several protein complexes involved in regulating RNA polymerase II transcription and the epigenetic landscape are hijacked in MLL-r leukemia, which include ENL and AF9. Recent biochemical studies have defined a highly homologous YEATS domain in ENL and AF9 that binds acylated histones, which aids in the localization and retention of these proteins to transcriptional targets. In addition, detailed characterization of the homologous ANC-1 homology domain (AHD) on ENL and AF9 revealed differential association with transcriptional activating and repressing complexes. Importantly, CRISPR knockout screens have demonstrated a unique role for wild-type ENL in leukemic stem cell function, whereas AF9 appears important for normal hematopoietic stem cells. In this perspective, we examine the ENL and AF9 proteins with attention to recent work characterizing the epigenetic reading YEATS domains and AHD on both wild-type proteins and when fused to MLL. We summarized the drug development efforts and their therapeutic potential and assess ongoing research that has refined our understanding of how these proteins function, which continues to reveal new therapeutic avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiangyu Hu
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Andrew G Muntean
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI.
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36
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Zhang S, Pei G, Li B, Li P, Lin Y. Abnormal phase separation of biomacromolecules in human diseases. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2023; 55:1133-1152. [PMID: 37475546 PMCID: PMC10423695 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane-less organelles (MLOs) formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) are associated with numerous important biological functions, but the abnormal phase separation will also dysregulate the physiological processes. Emerging evidence points to the importance of LLPS in human health and diseases. Nevertheless, despite recent advancements, our knowledge of the molecular relationship between LLPS and diseases is frequently incomplete. In this review, we outline our current understanding about how aberrant LLPS affects developmental disorders, tandem repeat disorders, cancers and viral infection. We also examine disease mechanisms driven by aberrant condensates, and highlight potential treatment approaches. This study seeks to expand our understanding of LLPS by providing a valuable new paradigm for understanding phase separation and human disorders, as well as to further translate our current knowledge regarding LLPS into therapeutic discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songhao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane BiologyTsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life SciencesSchool of Life SciencesTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Gaofeng Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane BiologyTsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life SciencesSchool of Life SciencesTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
- Frontier Research Center for Biological StructureTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Boya Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane BiologyTsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life SciencesSchool of Life SciencesTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Pilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane BiologyTsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life SciencesSchool of Life SciencesTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
- Frontier Research Center for Biological StructureTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Yi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane BiologyTsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life SciencesSchool of Life SciencesTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
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37
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Liu N, Konuma T, Sharma R, Wang D, Zhao N, Cao L, Ju Y, Liu D, Wang S, Bosch A, Sun Y, Zhang S, Ji D, Nagatoishi S, Suzuki N, Kikuchi M, Wakamori M, Zhao C, Ren C, Zhou TJ, Xu Y, Meslamani J, Fu S, Umehara T, Tsumoto K, Akashi S, Zeng L, Roeder RG, Walsh MJ, Zhang Q, Zhou MM. Histone H3 lysine 27 crotonylation mediates gene transcriptional repression in chromatin. Mol Cell 2023; 83:2206-2221.e11. [PMID: 37311463 PMCID: PMC11138481 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Histone lysine acylation, including acetylation and crotonylation, plays a pivotal role in gene transcription in health and diseases. However, our understanding of histone lysine acylation has been limited to gene transcriptional activation. Here, we report that histone H3 lysine 27 crotonylation (H3K27cr) directs gene transcriptional repression rather than activation. Specifically, H3K27cr in chromatin is selectively recognized by the YEATS domain of GAS41 in complex with SIN3A-HDAC1 co-repressors. Proto-oncogenic transcription factor MYC recruits GAS41/SIN3A-HDAC1 complex to repress genes in chromatin, including cell-cycle inhibitor p21. GAS41 knockout or H3K27cr-binding depletion results in p21 de-repression, cell-cycle arrest, and tumor growth inhibition in mice, explaining a causal relationship between GAS41 and MYC gene amplification and p21 downregulation in colorectal cancer. Our study suggests that H3K27 crotonylation signifies a previously unrecognized, distinct chromatin state for gene transcriptional repression in contrast to H3K27 trimethylation for transcriptional silencing and H3K27 acetylation for transcriptional activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Liu
- Bethune Institute of Epigenetic Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China; International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
| | - Tsuyoshi Konuma
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; School of Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Rajal Sharma
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Deyu Wang
- Bethune Institute of Epigenetic Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China
| | - Nan Zhao
- Bethune Institute of Epigenetic Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China
| | - Lingling Cao
- Bethune Institute of Epigenetic Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China
| | - Ying Ju
- Bethune Institute of Epigenetic Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China
| | - Di Liu
- Bethune Institute of Epigenetic Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China
| | - Shuai Wang
- Bethune Institute of Epigenetic Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China
| | - Almudena Bosch
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Yifei Sun
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Siwei Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Donglei Ji
- Bethune Institute of Epigenetic Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China
| | - Satoru Nagatoishi
- Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Noa Suzuki
- School of Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Masaki Kikuchi
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | | | - Chengcheng Zhao
- Bethune Institute of Epigenetic Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China
| | - Chunyan Ren
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Thomas Jiachi Zhou
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Yaoyao Xu
- Bethune Institute of Epigenetic Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China
| | - Jamel Meslamani
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Shibo Fu
- Bethune Institute of Epigenetic Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China; International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Takashi Umehara
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Kouhei Tsumoto
- Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan; Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Satoko Akashi
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; School of Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Lei Zeng
- Bethune Institute of Epigenetic Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China; International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Robert G Roeder
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Rockefeller University, New Nork, NY 10065, USA
| | - Martin J Walsh
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Bethune Institute of Epigenetic Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China; International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
| | - Ming-Ming Zhou
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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Li C, Li Z, Wu Z, Lu H. Phase separation in gene transcription control. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2023; 55:1052-1063. [PMID: 37265348 PMCID: PMC10415188 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023099] [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: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Phase separation provides a general mechanism for the formation of biomolecular condensates, and it plays a vital role in regulating diverse cellular processes, including gene expression. Although the role of transcription factors and coactivators in regulating transcription has long been understood, how phase separation is involved in this process is just beginning to be explored. In this review, we highlight recent advance in elucidating the molecular mechanisms and functions of transcriptional condensates in gene expression control. We discuss the different condensates formed at each stage of the transcription cycle and how they are dynamically regulated in response to diverse cellular and extracellular cues that cause rapid changes in gene expression. Furthermore, we present new findings regarding the dysregulation of transcription condensates and their implications in human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengyu Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell BiologyLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
| | - Zhuo Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell BiologyLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
| | - Zhibing Wu
- Department of OncologyAffiliated Zhejiang HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou310058China
| | - Huasong Lu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell BiologyLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
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Hirose T, Ninomiya K, Nakagawa S, Yamazaki T. A guide to membraneless organelles and their various roles in gene regulation. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:288-304. [PMID: 36424481 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00558-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 106.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Membraneless organelles (MLOs) are detected in cells as dots of mesoscopic size. By undergoing phase separation into a liquid-like or gel-like phase, MLOs contribute to intracellular compartmentalization of specific biological functions. In eukaryotes, dozens of MLOs have been identified, including the nucleolus, Cajal bodies, nuclear speckles, paraspeckles, promyelocytic leukaemia protein (PML) nuclear bodies, nuclear stress bodies, processing bodies (P bodies) and stress granules. MLOs contain specific proteins, of which many possess intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), and nucleic acids, mainly RNA. Many MLOs contribute to gene regulation by different mechanisms. Through sequestration of specific factors, MLOs promote biochemical reactions by simultaneously concentrating substrates and enzymes, and/or suppressing the activity of the sequestered factors elsewhere in the cell. Other MLOs construct inter-chromosomal hubs by associating with multiple loci, thereby contributing to the biogenesis of macromolecular machineries essential for gene expression, such as ribosomes and spliceosomes. The organization of many MLOs includes layers, which might have different biophysical properties and functions. MLOs are functionally interconnected and are involved in various diseases, prompting the emergence of therapeutics targeting them. In this Review, we introduce MLOs that are relevant to gene regulation and discuss their assembly, internal structure, gene-regulatory roles in transcription, RNA processing and translation, particularly in stress conditions, and their disease relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuro Hirose
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
- Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
| | - Kensuke Ninomiya
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Yamazaki
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
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40
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Niu X, Zhang L, Wu Y, Zong Z, Wang B, Liu J, Zhang L, Zhou F. Biomolecular condensates: Formation mechanisms, biological functions, and therapeutic targets. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e223. [PMID: 36875159 PMCID: PMC9974629 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates are cellular structures composed of membraneless assemblies comprising proteins or nucleic acids. The formation of these condensates requires components to change from a state of solubility separation from the surrounding environment by undergoing phase transition and condensation. Over the past decade, it has become widely appreciated that biomolecular condensates are ubiquitous in eukaryotic cells and play a vital role in physiological and pathological processes. These condensates may provide promising targets for the clinic research. Recently, a series of pathological and physiological processes have been found associated with the dysfunction of condensates, and a range of targets and methods have been demonstrated to modulate the formation of these condensates. A more extensive description of biomolecular condensates is urgently needed for the development of novel therapies. In this review, we summarized the current understanding of biomolecular condensates and the molecular mechanisms of their formation. Moreover, we reviewed the functions of condensates and therapeutic targets for diseases. We further highlighted the available regulatory targets and methods, discussed the significance and challenges of targeting these condensates. Reviewing the latest developments in biomolecular condensate research could be essential in translating our current knowledge on the use of condensates for clinical therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Niu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling NetworkLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of OrthopedicsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouChina
| | - Yuchen Wu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The First School of MedicineWenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouChina
| | - Zhi Zong
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling NetworkLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Bin Wang
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling NetworkLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Jisheng Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouChina
| | - Long Zhang
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling NetworkLife Sciences InstituteZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Fangfang Zhou
- Institutes of Biology and Medical ScienceSoochow UniversitySuzhouChina
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Disrupting the phase separation of KAT8-IRF1 diminishes PD-L1 expression and promotes antitumor immunity. NATURE CANCER 2023; 4:382-400. [PMID: 36894639 PMCID: PMC10042735 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00522-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis have become first-line treatments in multiple cancers. However, only a limited subset of individuals achieves durable benefits because of the elusive mechanisms regulating PD-1/PD-L1. Here, we report that in cells exposed to interferon-γ (IFNγ), KAT8 undergoes phase separation with induced IRF1 and forms biomolecular condensates to upregulate PD-L1. Multivalency from both the specific and promiscuous interactions between IRF1 and KAT8 is required for condensate formation. KAT8-IRF1 condensation promotes IRF1 K78 acetylation and binding to the CD247 (PD-L1) promoter and further enriches the transcription apparatus to promote transcription of PD-L1 mRNA. Based on the mechanism of KAT8-IRF1 condensate formation, we identified the 2142-R8 blocking peptide, which disrupts KAT8-IRF1 condensate formation and consequently inhibits PD-L1 expression and enhances antitumor immunity in vitro and in vivo. Our findings reveal a key role of KAT8-IRF1 condensates in PD-L1 regulation and provide a competitive peptide to enhance antitumor immune responses.
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Wang XQD, Fan D, Han Q, Liu Y, Miao H, Wang X, Li Q, Chen D, Gore H, Himadewi P, Pfeifer GP, Cierpicki T, Grembecka J, Su J, Chong S, Wan L, Zhang X. Mutant NPM1 Hijacks Transcriptional Hubs to Maintain Pathogenic Gene Programs in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancer Discov 2023; 13:724-745. [PMID: 36455589 PMCID: PMC9975662 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-22-0424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Nucleophosmin (NPM1) is a ubiquitously expressed nucleolar protein with a wide range of biological functions. In 30% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the terminal exon of NPM1 is often found mutated, resulting in the addition of a nuclear export signal and a shift of the protein to the cytoplasm (NPM1c). AMLs carrying this mutation have aberrant expression of the HOXA/B genes, whose overexpression leads to leukemogenic transformation. Here, for the first time, we comprehensively prove that NPM1c binds to a subset of active gene promoters in NPM1c AMLs, including well-known leukemia-driving genes-HOXA/B cluster genes and MEIS1. NPM1c sustains the active transcription of key target genes by orchestrating a transcription hub and maintains the active chromatin landscape by inhibiting the activity of histone deacetylases. Together, these findings reveal the neomorphic function of NPM1c as a transcriptional amplifier for leukemic gene expression and open up new paradigms for therapeutic intervention. SIGNIFICANCE NPM1 mutation is the most common mutation in AML, yet the mechanism of how the mutant protein results in AML remains unclear. Here, for the first time, we prove mutant NPM1 directly binds to active chromatin regions and hijacks the transcription of AML-driving genes. See related article by Uckelmann et al., p. 746. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 517.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Qing David Wang
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Dandan Fan
- Institute of Biomedical Big Data, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Qinyu Han
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
| | - Yiman Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Hongzhi Miao
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Big Data, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Qinglan Li
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
| | - Dong Chen
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Haley Gore
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Pamela Himadewi
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Gerd P. Pfeifer
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Tomasz Cierpicki
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jolanta Grembecka
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jianzhong Su
- Institute of Biomedical Big Data, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Shasha Chong
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
- Corresponding Authors: Xiaotian Zhang, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Room MSB 6.202, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030. Phone: 713-500-5146; E-mail: ; Liling Wan, University of Pennsylvania, BRB II/III, RM751, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Phone: 215-898-3116; E-mail: ; and Shasha Chong, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, MC 147-75, Pasadena, CA 91125. Phone: 626-395-5736; E-mail:
| | - Liling Wan
- Department of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Corresponding Authors: Xiaotian Zhang, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Room MSB 6.202, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030. Phone: 713-500-5146; E-mail: ; Liling Wan, University of Pennsylvania, BRB II/III, RM751, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Phone: 215-898-3116; E-mail: ; and Shasha Chong, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, MC 147-75, Pasadena, CA 91125. Phone: 626-395-5736; E-mail:
| | - Xiaotian Zhang
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas
- Corresponding Authors: Xiaotian Zhang, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Room MSB 6.202, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030. Phone: 713-500-5146; E-mail: ; Liling Wan, University of Pennsylvania, BRB II/III, RM751, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Phone: 215-898-3116; E-mail: ; and Shasha Chong, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, MC 147-75, Pasadena, CA 91125. Phone: 626-395-5736; E-mail:
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Baweja L, Wereszczynski J. Conformational and Thermodynamic Differences Underlying Wild-Type and Mutant Eleven-Nineteen-Leukemia YEATS Domain Specificity for Epigenetic Marks. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:1229-1238. [PMID: 36786550 PMCID: PMC10332472 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01660] [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] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) are interpreted by multiple reader domains and proteins to regulate gene expression. The eleven-nineteen-leukemia (ENL) YEATS domain is a prototypical PTM reader that recognizes multiple lysine acetylation marks on the histone H3 tails as a way of recruiting chromatin remodellers. Two ENL YEATS mutations have been identified which have been linked with leukemia, Wilms tumor, and other forms of cancer and result in either an insertion or deletion of residues in the loop connecting beta sheets distant from the protein active site. In vitro experiments have shown that these mutations modulate the selectivities of YEATS domains for various lysine acetylation marks, although different experiments have provided contrasting views on the abilities of the insertion and deletion mutants to discern specific PTMs. Here, we have performed multiple molecular dynamics simulations of wild-type and insertion and deletion mutant YEATS domains free from and in complex with two PTM peptides: one that is acetylated at K9 of H3 and the other that is acetylated at residue K27 of H3. Results show that these two peptides have distinct flexibilities and binding energetics when bound to YEATS domains and that these properties are affected by interactions with residues within and outside of the peptide consensus motif. Furthermore, these properties are modulated by the YEATS insertion and deletion mutants, which results in disparate binding effects in these systems. Together, these results suggest that only the partial exposure of histone tails is sufficient in the context of nucleosomes for YEATS-mediated recognition of acetylation marks on histone tails. They also caution against the overinterpretation of results obtained from experiments on reader domain-histone peptide binding in isolation and not in the full-length nucleosome context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lokesh Baweja
- Department of Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
- Center for Molecular Study of Condensed Soft Matter, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
| | - Jeff Wereszczynski
- Departments of Physics and Biology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
- Center for Molecular Study of Condensed Soft Matter, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
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Li MM, Awasthi S, Ghosh S, Bisht D, Coban Akdemir ZH, Sheynkman GM, Sahni N, Yi SS. Gain-of-Function Variomics and Multi-omics Network Biology for Precision Medicine. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2660:357-372. [PMID: 37191809 PMCID: PMC10476052 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3163-8_24] [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: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Traditionally, disease causal mutations were thought to disrupt gene function. However, it becomes more clear that many deleterious mutations could exhibit a "gain-of-function" (GOF) behavior. Systematic investigation of such mutations has been lacking and largely overlooked. Advances in next-generation sequencing have identified thousands of genomic variants that perturb the normal functions of proteins, further contributing to diverse phenotypic consequences in disease. Elucidating the functional pathways rewired by GOF mutations will be crucial for prioritizing disease-causing variants and their resultant therapeutic liabilities. In distinct cell types (with varying genotypes), precise signal transduction controls cell decision, including gene regulation and phenotypic output. When signal transduction goes awry due to GOF mutations, it would give rise to various disease types. Quantitative and molecular understanding of network perturbations by GOF mutations may provide explanations for 'missing heritability" in previous genome-wide association studies. We envision that it will be instrumental to push current paradigm toward a thorough functional and quantitative modeling of all GOF mutations and their mechanistic molecular events involved in disease development and progression. Many fundamental questions pertaining to genotype-phenotype relationships remain unresolved. For example, which GOF mutations are key for gene regulation and cellular decisions? What are the GOF mechanisms at various regulation levels? How do interaction networks undergo rewiring upon GOF mutations? Is it possible to leverage GOF mutations to reprogram signal transduction in cells, aiming to cure disease? To begin to address these questions, we will cover a wide range of topics regarding GOF disease mutations and their characterization by multi-omic networks. We highlight the fundamental function of GOF mutations and discuss the potential mechanistic effects in the context of signaling networks. We also discuss advances in bioinformatic and computational resources, which will dramatically help with studies on the functional and phenotypic consequences of GOF mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark M Li
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Department of Oncology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Sharad Awasthi
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sumanta Ghosh
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Deepa Bisht
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zeynep H Coban Akdemir
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gloria M Sheynkman
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Center for Public Health Genomics, and UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Nidhi Sahni
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Quantitative and Computational Biosciences Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - S Stephen Yi
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Department of Oncology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences (ICES), The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Programs (ILSGP), College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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Wen H, Shi X. Histone Readers and Their Roles in Cancer. Cancer Treat Res 2023; 190:245-272. [PMID: 38113004 PMCID: PMC11395558 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-45654-1_8] [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] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Histone proteins in eukaryotic cells are subjected to a wide variety of post-translational modifications, which are known to play an important role in the partitioning of the genome into distinctive compartments and domains. One of the major functions of histone modifications is to recruit reader proteins, which recognize the epigenetic marks and transduce the molecular signals in chromatin to downstream effects. Histone readers are defined protein domains with well-organized three-dimensional structures. In this Chapter, we will outline major histone readers, delineate their biochemical and structural features in histone recognition, and describe how dysregulation of histone readout leads to human cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Wen
- Van Andel Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Xiaobing Shi
- Van Andel Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA.
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46
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Li W, Jiang H. Analysis of Phase-Separated Biomolecular Condensates in Cancer. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2660:345-356. [PMID: 37191808 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3163-8_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Phase-separated biomolecular condensates play important roles in virtually all cellular processes, and their dysregulation is associated with many pathological processes including cancer. Here we concisely review some basic methodologies and strategies to analyze the phase-separated biomolecular condensates in cancer, including physical characterization of phase separation for the protein of interest, functional demonstration of this property in cancer regulation, as well as mechanistic studies on how phase separation regulates the protein's function in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Virology, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Hao Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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Hu H, Saha N, Yang Y, Ahmad E, Lachowski L, Shrestha U, Premkumar V, Ropa J, Chen L, Teahan B, Grigsby S, Marschalek R, Nikolovska-Coleska Z, Muntean AG. The ENL YEATS epigenetic reader domain critically links MLL-ENL to leukemic stem cell frequency in t(11;19) Leukemia. Leukemia 2023; 37:190-201. [PMID: 36435883 PMCID: PMC11246743 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01765-0] [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: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
MLL (KMT2a) translocations are found in ~10% of acute leukemia patients, giving rise to oncogenic MLL-fusion proteins. A common MLL translocation partner is ENL and associated with a poor prognosis in t(11;19) patients. ENL contains a highly conserved N-terminal YEATS domain that binds acetylated histones and interacts with the PAF1c, an epigenetic regulator protein complex essential for MLL-fusion leukemogenesis. Recently, wild-type ENL, and specifically the YEATS domain, was shown to be essential for leukemic cell growth. However, the inclusion and importance of the YEATS domain in MLL-ENL-mediated leukemogenesis remains unexplored. We found the YEATS domain is retained in 84.1% of MLL-ENL patients and crucial for MLL-ENL-mediated leukemogenesis in mouse models. Mechanistically, deletion of the YEATS domain impaired MLL-ENL fusion protein binding and decreased expression of pro-leukemic genes like Eya1 and Meis1. Point mutations that disrupt YEATS domain binding to acetylated histones decreased stem cell frequency and increased MLL-ENL-mediated leukemia latency. Therapeutically, YEATS containing MLL-ENL leukemic cells display increased sensitivity to the YEATS inhibitor SGC-iMLLT compared to control AML cells. Our results demonstrate that the YEATS domain is important for MLL-ENL fusion protein-mediated leukemogenesis and exposes an "Achilles heel" that may be therapeutically targeted for treating t(11;19) patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiangyu Hu
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nirmalya Saha
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yuting Yang
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ejaz Ahmad
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lauren Lachowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Uttar Shrestha
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Vidhya Premkumar
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - James Ropa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 950 West Walnut Street, R2-302, Indianapolis, IN, 46202-5181, USA
| | - Lili Chen
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Blaine Teahan
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sierrah Grigsby
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rolf Marschalek
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology / Diagnostic Center of Acute Leukemia, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | | | - Andrew G Muntean
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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48
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Travis CR, Francis DY, Williams DC, Waters ML. Evaluation of acyllysine isostere interactions with the aromatic pocket of the AF9 YEATS domain. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4533. [PMID: 36482045 PMCID: PMC9793969 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amide-π interactions, in which an amide interacts with an aromatic group, are ubiquitous in biology, yet remain understudied relative to other noncovalent interactions. Recently, we demonstrated that an electrostatically tunable amide-π interaction is key to recognition of histone acyllysine by the AF9 YEATS domain, a reader protein which has emerged as a therapeutic target due to its dysregulation in cancer. Amide isosteres are commonly employed in drug discovery, often to prevent degradation by proteases, and have proven valuable in achieving selectivity when targeting epigenetic proteins. However, like amide-π interactions, interactions of amide isosteres with aromatic rings have not been thoroughly studied despite widespread use. Herein, we evaluate the recognition of a series of amide isosteres by the AF9 YEATS domain using genetic code expansion to evaluate the amide isostere-π interaction. We show that compared to the amide-π interaction with the native ligand, each isostere exhibits similar electrostatic tunability with an aromatic residue in the binding pocket, demonstrating that the isosteres maintain similar interactions with the aromatic residue. We identify a urea-containing ligand that binds with enhanced affinity for the AF9 YEATS domain, offering a promising starting point for inhibitor development. Furthermore, we demonstrate that carbamate and urea isosteres of crotonyllysine are resistant to enzymatic removal by SIRT1, a protein that cleaves acyl post-translational modifications, further indicating the potential of amide isosteres in YEATS domain inhibitor development. These results also provide experimental precedent for interactions of these common drug discovery moieties with aromatic rings that can inform computational methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R. Travis
- Department of Chemistry, CB 3290University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Denver Y. Francis
- Department of Chemistry, CB 3290University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - David C. Williams
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, CB 7525University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Marcey L. Waters
- Department of Chemistry, CB 3290University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
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49
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Luo Y, Xiang S, Feng J. Protein Phase Separation: New Insights into Carcinogenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235971. [PMID: 36497453 PMCID: PMC9740862 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Phase separation is now acknowledged as an essential biologic mechanism wherein distinct activated molecules assemble into a different phase from the surrounding constituents of a cell. Condensates formed by phase separation play an essential role in the life activities of various organisms under normal physiological conditions, including the advanced structure and regulation of chromatin, autophagic degradation of incorrectly folded or unneeded proteins, and regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. During malignant transformation, abnormally altered condensate assemblies are often associated with the abnormal activation of oncogenes or inactivation of tumor suppressors, resulting in the promotion of the carcinogenic process. Thus, understanding the role of phase separation in various biological evolutionary processes will provide new ideas for the development of drugs targeting specific condensates, which is expected to be an effective cancer therapy strategy. However, the relationship between phase separation and cancer has not been fully elucidated. In this review, we mainly summarize the main processes and characteristics of phase separation and the main methods for detecting phase separation. In addition, we summarize the cancer proteins and signaling pathways involved in phase separation and discuss their promising future applications in addressing the unmet clinical therapeutic needs of people with cancer. Finally, we explain the means of targeted phase separation and cancer treatment.
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50
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Song L, Yao X, Li H, Peng B, Boka AP, Liu Y, Chen G, Liu Z, Mathias KM, Xia L, Li Q, Mir M, Li Y, Li H, Wan L. Hotspot mutations in the structured ENL YEATS domain link aberrant transcriptional condensates and cancer. Mol Cell 2022; 82:4080-4098.e12. [PMID: 36272410 PMCID: PMC10071517 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.09.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests prevalence of transcriptional condensates on chromatin, yet their mechanisms of formation and functional significance remain largely unclear. In human cancer, a series of mutations in the histone acetylation reader ENL create gain-of-function mutants with increased transcriptional activation ability. Here, we show that these mutations, clustered in ENL's structured acetyl-reading YEATS domain, trigger aberrant condensates at native genomic targets through multivalent homotypic and heterotypic interactions. Mechanistically, mutation-induced structural changes in the YEATS domain, ENL's two disordered regions of opposing charges, and the incorporation of extrinsic elongation factors are all required for ENL condensate formation. Extensive mutagenesis establishes condensate formation as a driver of oncogenic gene activation. Furthermore, expression of ENL mutants beyond the endogenous level leads to non-functional condensates. Our findings provide new mechanistic and functional insights into cancer-associated condensates and support condensate dysregulation as an oncogenic mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lele Song
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Xinyi Yao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Hangpeng Li
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Bo Peng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Alan P Boka
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Computational and Genomic Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yiman Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Guochao Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhenyang Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Kaeli M Mathias
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Computational and Genomic Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lingbo Xia
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Qinglan Li
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mustafa Mir
- Center for Computational and Genomic Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Haitao Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Liling Wan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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