Genetic requirement of dact1/2 to regulate noncanonical Wnt signaling and calpain 8 during embryonic convergent extension and craniofacial morphogenesis

Wnt signaling plays crucial roles in embryonic patterning including the regulation of convergent extension (CE) during gastrulation, the establishment of the dorsal axis, and later, craniofacial morphogenesis. Further, Wnt signaling is a crucial regulator of craniofacial morphogenesis. The adapter proteins Dact1 and Dact2 modulate the Wnt signaling pathway through binding to Disheveled. However, the distinct relative functions of Dact1 and Dact2 during embryogenesis remain unclear. We found that dact1 and dact2 genes have dynamic spatiotemporal expression domains that are reciprocal to one another suggesting distinct functions during zebrafish embryogenesis. Both dact1 and dact2 contribute to axis extension, with compound mutants exhibiting a similar CE defect and craniofacial phenotype to the wnt11f2 mutant. Utilizing single-cell RNAseq and an established noncanonical Wnt pathway mutant with a shortened axis (gpc4), we identified dact1/2-specific roles during early development. Comparative whole transcriptome analysis between wildtype and gpc4 and wildtype and dact1/2 compound mutants revealed a novel role for dact1/2 in regulating the mRNA expression of the classical calpain capn8. Overexpression of capn8 phenocopies dact1/2 craniofacial dysmorphology. These results identify a previously unappreciated role of capn8 and calcium-dependent proteolysis during embryogenesis. Taken together, our findings highlight the distinct and overlapping roles of dact1 and dact2 in embryonic craniofacial development, providing new insights into the multifaceted regulation of Wnt signaling.

MARCH2, a Novel Oncogene-regulated SNAIL E3 Ligase, Suppresses Triple-negative Breast Cancer Metastases

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer promotes metastasis and chemotherapy resistance. A subset of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) exhibits a mesenchymal gene signature that is associated with poor patient outcomes. We previously identified PTK6 tyrosine kinase as an oncogenic driver of EMT in a subset of TNBC. PTK6 induces EMT by stabilizing SNAIL, a key EMT-initiating transcriptional factor. Inhibition of PTK6 activity reverses mesenchymal features of TNBC cells and suppresses their metastases by promoting SNAIL degradation via a novel mechanism. In the current study, we identify membrane-associated RING-CH2 (MARCH2) as a novel PTK6-regulated E3 ligase that promotes the ubiquitination and degradation of SNAIL protein. The MARCH2 RING domain is critical for SNAIL ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. PTK6 inhibition promotes the interaction of MARCH2 with SNAIL. Overexpression of MARCH2 exhibits tumor suppressive properties and phenocopies the effects of SNAIL downregulation and PTK6 inhibition in TNBC cells, such as inhibition of migration, anoikis resistance, and metastasis. Consistent with this, higher levels of MARCH2 expression in breast and other cancers are associated with better prognosis. We have identified MARCH2 as a novel SNAIL E3 ligase that regulates EMT and metastases of mesenchymal TNBC.

SIGNIFICANCE

EMT is a process directly linked to drug resistance and metastasis of cancer cells. We identified MARCH2 as a novel regulator of SNAIL, a key EMT driver, that promotes SNAIL ubiquitination and degradation in TNBC cells. MARCH2 is oncogene regulated and inhibits growth and metastasis of TNBC. These insights could contribute to novel strategies to therapeutically target TNBC.

Identification of protein phosphatase 4 catalytic subunit as a Wnt promoting factor in pan-cancer and Xenopus early embryogenesis

Protein Phosphatase 4 Catalytic Subunit (PPP4C) is an evolutionarily conserved protein involved in multiple biological and pathological events, including embryogenesis, organogenesis, cellular homeostasis, and oncogenesis. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying these processes remain largely unknown. Thus, we investigated the potential correlation between PPP4C and biological processes (BPs) and canonical Wnt signaling using pan-cancer analysis and Xenopus laevis (X. laevis) embryo model. Our results indicate that PPP4C is a potential biomarker for specific cancer types due to its high diagnostic accuracy and significant prognostic correlation. Furthermore, in multiple cancer types, PPP4C-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly enriched in pattern specification, morphogenesis, and canonical Wnt activation. Consistently, perturbation of Ppp4c in X. laevis embryos interfered with normal embryogenesis and canonical Wnt responses. Moreover, biochemical analysis of X. laevis embryos demonstrated that both endogenous and exogenous Ppp4c negatively regulated AXIN1 (Wnt inhibitor) abundance. This study provides novel insights into PPP4C roles in pattern specification and Wnt activation. The similarities in BPs and Wnt signaling regulation regarding PPP4C support the intrinsic link between tumorigenesis and early embryogenesis.

Cyclin G2 upregulation impairs migration, invasion, and network formation through RNF123/Dvl2/JNK signaling in the trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo, a possible role in preeclampsia

Disruption of extravillous trophoblast (EVT) migration and invasion is considered to be responsible for pathological placentation in preeclampsia (PE). Cyclin G2 (CCNG2) is an atypical cyclin that inhibits cell cycle progression. However, its biological function and underlying molecular mechanism in PE are poorly understood. In this study, clinical data demonstrated that CCNG2 was significantly upregulated in PE placenta and associated with invasive EVT dysfunction. Additionally, Ccng2 knockout led to an attenuation of PE-like symptoms in the PE mouse model produced via treatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). In vitro, CCNG2 inhibited the migration, invasion, and endothelial-like network formation of human trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo. Mechanically, CCNG2 suppressed JNK-dependent Wnt/PCP signaling and its downstream indicators including epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) via promoting the polyubiquitination degradation of dishevelled 2 (Dvl2) protein in HTR8/SVneo cells. We also discovered that the E3 ligase Ring finger protein 123 (RNF123), as a novel CCNG2 target among HTR8/SVneo cells, interacted with Dvl2 and participated in CCNG2-induced polyubiquitination degradation of Dvl2. Moreover, we verified that the treatment of HTR8/SVneo cells with RNF123-specific siRNA improved polyubiquitination-induced degradation of Dvl2 and the activity of Wnt/PCP-JNK signaling mediated by CCNG2. Taken together, our results reveal that the CCNG2/RNF123/Dvl2/JNK axis may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of PE through trophoblastic cell function modulation, thus probably providing us with new therapeutic strategies for PE treatment.

Foxd4l1.1 negatively regulates transcription of neural repressor ventx1.1 during neuroectoderm formation in Xenopus embryos

Neuroectoderm formation is the first step in development of a proper nervous system for vertebrates. The developmental decision to form a non-neural ectoderm versus a neural one involves the regulation of BMP signaling, first reported many decades ago. However, the precise regulatory mechanism by which this is accomplished has not been fully elucidated, particularly for transcriptional regulation of certain key transcription factors. BMP4 inhibition is a required step in eliciting neuroectoderm from ectoderm and Foxd4l1.1 is one of the earliest neural genes highly expressed in the neuroectoderm and conserved across vertebrates, including humans. In this work, we focused on how Foxd4l1.1 downregulates the neural repressive pathway. Foxd4l1.1 inhibited BMP4/Smad1 signaling and triggered neuroectoderm formation in animal cap explants of Xenopus embryos. Foxd4l1.1 directly bound within the promoter of endogenous neural repressor ventx1.1 and inhibited ventx1.1 transcription. Foxd4l1.1 also physically interacted with Xbra in the nucleus and inhibited Xbra-induced ventx1.1 transcription. In addition, Foxd4l1.1 also reduced nuclear localization of Smad1 to inhibit Smad1-mediated ventx1.1 transcription. Foxd4l1.1 reduced the direct binding of Xbra and Smad1 on ventx1.1 promoter regions to block Xbra/Smad1-induced synergistic activation of ventx1.1 transcription. Collectively, Foxd4l1.1 negatively regulates transcription of a neural repressor ventx1.1 by multiple mechanisms in its exclusively occupied territory of neuroectoderm, and thus leading to primary neurogenesis. In conjunction with the results of our previous findings that ventx1.1 directly represses foxd4l1.1, the reciprocal repression of ventx1.1 and foxd4l1.1 is significant in at least in part specifying the mechanism for the non-neural versus neural ectoderm fate determination in Xenopus embryos.

Negative regulation of NEMO signaling by the ubiquitin E3 ligase MARCH2

NF‐κB essential modulator (NEMO) is a key regulatory protein that functions during NF‐κB‐ and interferon‐mediated signaling in response to extracellular stimuli and pathogen infections. Tight regulation of NEMO is essential for host innate immune responses and for maintenance of homeostasis. Here, we report that the E3 ligase MARCH2 is a novel negative regulator of NEMO‐mediated signaling upon bacterial or viral infection. MARCH2 interacted directly with NEMO during the late phase of infection and catalyzed K‐48‐linked ubiquitination of Lys326 on NEMO, which resulted in its degradation. Deletion of MARCH2 resulted in marked resistance to bacterial/viral infection, along with increased innate immune responses both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, MARCH2^−/− mice were more susceptible to LPS challenge due to massive production of cytokines. Taken together, these findings provide new insight into the molecular regulation of NEMO and suggest an important role for MARCH2 in homeostatic control of innate immune responses.

Many functionally connected loci foster adaptive diversification along a neotropical hybrid zone

Characterizing the genetic complexity of adaptation and trait evolution is a major emphasis of evolutionary biology and genetics. Incongruent findings from genetic studies have resulted in conceptual models ranging from a few large-effect loci to massively polygenic architectures. Here, we combine chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, Hi-C, RNA sequencing, and 40 whole-genome sequences from Heliconius butterflies to show that red color pattern diversification occurred via many genomic loci. We find that the red wing pattern master regulatory transcription factor Optix binds dozens of loci also under selection, which frequently form three-dimensional adaptive hubs with selection acting on multiple physically interacting genes. Many Optix-bound genes under selection are tied to pigmentation and wing development, and these loci collectively maintain separation between adaptive red color pattern phenotypes in natural populations. We propose a model of trait evolution where functional connections between loci may resolve much of the disparity between large-effect and polygenic evolutionary models.

Regulation of Wnt Signaling through Ubiquitination and Deubiquitination in Cancers

The Wnt signaling pathway plays important roles in embryonic development, homeostatic processes, cell differentiation, cell polarity, cell proliferation, and cell migration via the β-catenin binding of Wnt target genes. Dysregulation of Wnt signaling is associated with various diseases such as cancer, aging, Alzheimer’s disease, metabolic disease, and pigmentation disorders. Numerous studies entailing the Wnt signaling pathway have been conducted for various cancers. Diverse signaling factors mediate the up- or down-regulation of Wnt signaling through post-translational modifications (PTMs), and aberrant regulation is associated with several different malignancies in humans. Of the numerous PTMs involved, most Wnt signaling factors are regulated by ubiquitination and deubiquitination. Ubiquitination by E3 ligase attaches ubiquitins to target proteins and usually induces proteasomal degradation of Wnt signaling factors such as β-catenin, Axin, GSK3, and Dvl. Conversely, deubiquitination induced by the deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) detaches the ubiquitins and modulates the stability of signaling factors. In this review, we discuss the effects of ubiquitination and deubiquitination on the Wnt signaling pathway, and the inhibitors of DUBs that can be applied for cancer therapeutic strategies.

Ubiquitin Ligases Involved in the Regulation of Wnt, TGF-β, and Notch Signaling Pathways and Their Roles in Mouse Development and Homeostasis

The Wnt, TGF-β, and Notch signaling pathways are essential for the regulation of cellular polarity, differentiation, proliferation, and migration. Differential activation and mutual crosstalk of these pathways during animal development are crucial instructive forces in the initiation of the body axis and the development of organs and tissues. Due to the ability to initiate cell proliferation, these pathways are vulnerable to somatic mutations selectively producing cells, which ultimately slip through cellular and organismal checkpoints and develop into cancer. The architecture of the Wnt, TGF-β, and Notch signaling pathways is simple. The transmembrane receptor, activated by the extracellular stimulus, induces nuclear translocation of the transcription factor, which subsequently changes the expression of target genes. Nevertheless, these pathways are regulated by a myriad of factors involved in various feedback mechanisms or crosstalk. The most prominent group of regulators is the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). To open the door to UPS-based therapeutic manipulations, a thorough understanding of these regulations at a molecular level and rigorous confirmation in vivo are required. In this quest, mouse models are exceptional and, thanks to the progress in genetic engineering, also an accessible tool. Here, we reviewed the current understanding of how the UPS regulates the Wnt, TGF-β, and Notch pathways and we summarized the knowledge gained from related mouse models.

Developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein 1 modulates ciliogenesis via an interaction with Dishevelled

Our study reveals Drg1 as a new binding partner of Dishevelled. The Drg1–Dishevelled association regulates Daam1 and RhoA interactions and activity, leading to polymerization and stability of the actin cytoskeleton, a process that is essential for proper multiciliation.

Cilia are critical for proper embryonic development and maintaining homeostasis. Although extensively studied, there are still significant gaps regarding the proteins involved in regulating ciliogenesis. Using the Xenopus laevis embryo, we show that Dishevelled (Dvl), a key Wnt signaling scaffold that is critical to proper ciliogenesis, interacts with Drg1 (developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein 1). The loss of Drg1 or disruption of the interaction with Dvl reduces the length and number of cilia and displays defects in basal body migration and docking to the apical surface of multiciliated cells (MCCs). Moreover, Drg1 morphants display abnormal rotational polarity of basal bodies and a decrease in apical actin and RhoA activity that can be attributed to disruption of the protein complex between Dvl and Daam1, as well as between Daam1 and RhoA. These results support the concept that the Drg1–Dvl interaction regulates apical actin polymerization and stability in MCCs. Thus, Drg1 is a newly identified partner of Dvl in regulating ciliogenesis.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase MARCH2 regulates ERGIC3-dependent trafficking of secretory proteins

The E3 ubiquitin ligase membrane-associated ring-CH-type finger 2 (MARCH2) is known to be involved in intracellular vesicular trafficking, but its role in the early secretory pathway between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi compartments is largely unknown. Human ER-Golgi intermediate compartment protein 2 (ERGIC2) and ERGIC3 are orthologs of Erv41 and Erv46 in yeast, proteins that form a heteromeric complex, cycle between the ER and Golgi, and function as cargo receptors in both anterograde and retrograde protein trafficking. Here, we report that MARCH2 directs ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of ERGIC3 and that MARCH2 depletion increases endogenous ERGIC3 levels. We provide evidence that the lysine residues at positions 6 and 8 of ERGIC3 are the major sites of MARCH2-mediated ubiquitination. Of note, MARCH2 did not significantly decrease the levels of an ERGIC3 variant with lysine-to-arginine substitutions at residues 6 and 8. We also show that ERGIC3 binds to itself or to ERGIC2, whereas ERGIC2 is unable to interact with itself. Our results indicate that α₁-antitrypsin and haptoglobin are likely to be cargo proteins of ERGIC3. We further observed that α₁-antitrypsin and haptoglobin specifically bind to ERGIC3 and that ERGIC3 depletion decreases their secretion. Moreover, MARCH2 reduced secretion of α₁-antitrypsin and haptoglobin, and coexpression of the ubiquitination-resistant ERGIC3 variant largely restored their secretion, suggesting that MARCH2-mediated ERGIC3 ubiquitination is the major cause of the decrease in trafficking of ERGIC3-binding secretory proteins. Our findings provide detailed insights into the regulation of the early secretory pathway by MARCH2 and into ERGIC3 function.

DVL1 and DVL3 differentially localize to CYP19A1 promoters and regulate aromatase mRNA in breast cancer cells

The CYP19A1 gene encodes aromatase, an enzyme that converts androgens into estrogens and consequently directly contributes to both the depletion of androgens and the synthesis of estrogens in several organs. Aromatase is critical for diverse biological processes such as proliferation, regulation of fat metabolism and hormone signaling. Additionally, it is also overexpressed in diverse cancers and drives hormone-dependent tumor progression and increases 17-β-estradiol (E₂) within tumors and the tumor microenvironment. Although the inhibition of E₂ production via aromatase inhibitors represents a major therapeutic paradigm in clinical oncology, fundamental questions regarding how cancer cells gain the capacity to overexpress aromatase remain unanswered. Multiple tissue-specific CYP19A1 promoters are known to be aberrantly active in tumors, yet how this occurs is unclear. Here, for the first time, we report that Dishevelled (DVL) proteins, which are key mediators of Wnt signaling, regulate aromatase expression in multiple breast cancer cell lines. We also report that DVL enters the nucleus and localizes to at least two different CYP19A1 promoters (pII and I.4) previously reported to drive overexpression in breast tumors and to a very distal CYP19A1 placental promoter (I.1) that remains poorly characterized. We go on to demonstrate that DVL-1 and DVL-3 loss of function leads to differential changes in various aromatase transcripts and in E₂ production. The report, herein, uncovers a new regulator of CYP19A1 transcription and for the first time demonstrates that DVL, a critical mediator of WNT signaling, contributes to aberrant breast cancer-associated estrogen production.