1
|
Blumenstiel JP. From the cauldron of conflict: Endogenous gene regulation by piRNA and other modes of adaptation enabled by selfish transposable elements. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 164:1-12. [PMID: 38823219 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2024.05.001] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) provide a prime example of genetic conflict because they can proliferate in genomes and populations even if they harm the host. However, numerous studies have shown that TEs, though typically harmful, can also provide fuel for adaptation. This is because they code functional sequences that can be useful for the host in which they reside. In this review, I summarize the "how" and "why" of adaptation enabled by the genetic conflict between TEs and hosts. In addition, focusing on mechanisms of TE control by small piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), I highlight an indirect form of adaptation enabled by conflict. In this case, mechanisms of host defense that regulate TEs have been redeployed for endogenous gene regulation. I propose that the genetic conflict released by meiosis in early eukaryotes may have been important because, among other reasons, it spurred evolutionary innovation on multiple interwoven trajectories - on the part of hosts and also embedded genetic parasites. This form of evolution may function as a complexity generating engine that was a critical player in eukaryotic evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin P Blumenstiel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Xiong S, Liu F, Sun J, Gao S, Wong CCL, Tu P, Wang Y. Abrogation of USP9X Is a Potential Strategy to Decrease PEG10 Levels and Impede Tumor Progression in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma. J Invest Dermatol 2024:S0022-202X(24)00307-5. [PMID: 38677662 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.02.039] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Advanced-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are notorious for their highly aggressive behavior, resistance to conventional treatments, and poor prognosis, particularly when large-cell transformation occurs. PEG10 has been recently proposed as a potent driver for large-cell transformation in CTCL. However, the targeting of PEG10 continues to present a formidable clinical challenge that has yet to be addressed. In this study, we report an important post-translational regulatory mechanism of PEG10 in CTCL. USP9X, a deubiquitinase, interacted with and deubiquitinated PEG10, thereby stabilizing PEG10. Knockdown of USP9X or pharmacological targeting of USP9X resulted in a prominent downregulation of PEG10 and its downstream pathway in CTCL. Moreover, USP9X inhibition conferred tumor cell growth disadvantage and enhanced apoptosis in vitro, an effect that occurred in part through its regulation on PEG10. Furthermore, we demonstrated that inhibition of USP9X obviously restrained CTCL tumor growth in vivo and that high expression of USP9X is associated with poor survival in patients with CTCL. Collectively, our findings uncover USP9X as a key post-translational regulator in the stabilization of PEG10 and suggest that targeting PEG10 stabilization through USP9X inhibition may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for advanced-stage CTCL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shan Xiong
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Fengjie Liu
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jingru Sun
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Shuaixin Gao
- Department of Human Sciences & James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA; James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Catherine C L Wong
- Clinical Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Tu
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tatarūnas V, Čiapienė I, Giedraitienė A. Precise Therapy Using the Selective Endogenous Encapsidation for Cellular Delivery Vector System. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:292. [PMID: 38399346 PMCID: PMC10893373 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16020292] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Interindividual variability in drug response is a major problem in the prescription of pharmacological treatments. The therapeutic effect of drugs can be influenced by human genes. Pharmacogenomic guidelines for individualization of treatment have been validated and used for conventional dosage forms. However, drugs can often target non-specific areas and produce both desired and undesired pharmacological effects. The use of nanoparticles, liposomes, or other available forms for drug formulation could help to overcome the latter problem. Virus-like particles based on retroviruses could be a potential envelope for safe and efficient drug formulations. Human endogenous retroviruses would make it possible to overcome the host immune response and deliver drugs to the desired target. PEG10 is a promising candidate that can bind to mRNA because it is secreted like an enveloped virus-like extracellular vesicle. PEG10 is a retrotransposon-derived gene that has been domesticated. Therefore, formulations with PEG10 may have a lower immunogenicity. The use of existing knowledge can lead to the development of suitable drug formulations for the precise treatment of individual diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vacis Tatarūnas
- Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukileliu 15, LT 50103 Kaunas, Lithuania; (V.T.); (I.Č.)
| | - Ieva Čiapienė
- Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukileliu 15, LT 50103 Kaunas, Lithuania; (V.T.); (I.Č.)
| | - Agnė Giedraitienė
- Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu 4, LT 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kitazawa M. Evolution of the nervous system by acquisition of retrovirus-derived genes in mammals. Genes Genet Syst 2024; 98:321-336. [PMID: 38220159 DOI: 10.1266/ggs.23-00197] [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] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In the course of evolution, the most highly developed organ is likely the brain, which has become more complex over time and acquired diverse forms and functions in different species. In particular, mammals have developed complex and high-functioning brains, and it has been reported that several genes derived from retroviruses were involved in mammalian brain evolution, that is, generating the complexity of the nervous system. Especially, the sushi-ichi-related retrotransposon homolog (SIRH)/retrotransposon gag-like (RTL) genes have been suggested to play a role in the evolutionary processes shaping brain morphology and function in mammals. Genetic mutation and altered expression of genes are linked to neurological disorders, highlighting how the acquisition of virus-derived genes in mammals has both driven brain evolution and imposed a susceptibility to diseases. This review provides an overview of the functions, diversity, evolution and diseases associated with SIRH/RTL genes in the nervous system. The contribution of retroviruses to brain evolution is an important research topic in evolutionary biology and neuroscience, and further insights are expected to be gained through future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Moe Kitazawa
- School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Arkhipova IR, Burns KH, Chiappinelli KB, Chuong EB, Goubert C, Guarné A, Larracuente AM, Lee EA, Levin HL. Meeting report: transposable elements at the crossroads of evolution, health and disease 2023. Mob DNA 2023; 14:19. [PMID: 38012685 PMCID: PMC10680173 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-023-00307-4] [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: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The conference "Transposable Elements at the Crossroads of Evolution, Health and Disease" was hosted by Keystone Symposia in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, on September 3-6, 2023, and was organized by Kathleen Burns, Harmit Malik and Irina Arkhipova. The central theme of the meeting was the incredible diversity of ways in which transposable elements (TEs) interact with the host, from disrupting the existing genes and pathways to creating novel gene products and expression patterns, enhancing the repertoire of host functions, and ultimately driving host evolution. The meeting was organized into six plenary sessions and two afternoon workshops with a total of 50 invited and contributed talks, two poster sessions, and a career roundtable. The topics ranged from TE roles in normal and pathological processes to restricting and harnessing TE activity based on mechanistic insights gained from genetic, structural, and biochemical studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irina R Arkhipova
- Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA.
| | - Kathleen H Burns
- Department of Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Katherine B Chiappinelli
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Edward B Chuong
- BioFrontiers Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Clement Goubert
- McGill Genome Centre, Department of Human Genomics, Canadian Centre for Computational Genomics, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
- Department of Pharmacy Practice & Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Alba Guarné
- Department of Biochemistry and Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | | | - E Alice Lee
- Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Henry L Levin
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Shiura H, Kitazawa M, Ishino F, Kaneko-Ishino T. Roles of retrovirus-derived PEG10 and PEG11/RTL1 in mammalian development and evolution and their involvement in human disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1273638. [PMID: 37842090 PMCID: PMC10570562 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1273638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
PEG10 and PEG11/RTL1 are paternally expressed, imprinted genes that play essential roles in the current eutherian developmental system and are therefore associated with developmental abnormalities caused by aberrant genomic imprinting. They are also presumed to be retrovirus-derived genes with homology to the sushi-ichi retrotransposon GAG and POL, further expanding our comprehension of mammalian evolution via the domestication (exaptation) of retrovirus-derived acquired genes. In this manuscript, we review the importance of PEG10 and PEG11/RTL1 in genomic imprinting research via their functional roles in development and human disease, including neurodevelopmental disorders of genomic imprinting, Angelman, Kagami-Ogata and Temple syndromes, and the impact of newly inserted DNA on the emergence of newly imprinted regions. We also discuss their possible roles as ancestors of other retrovirus-derived RTL/SIRH genes that likewise play important roles in the current mammalian developmental system, such as in the placenta, brain and innate immune system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hirosuke Shiura
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Moe Kitazawa
- School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Fumitoshi Ishino
- Institute of Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoko Kaneko-Ishino
- Faculty of Nursing, School of Medicine, Tokai University, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kaneko-Ishino T, Ishino F. Retrovirus-Derived RTL/SIRH: Their Diverse Roles in the Current Eutherian Developmental System and Contribution to Eutherian Evolution. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1436. [PMID: 37892118 PMCID: PMC10604271 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Eutherians have 11 retrotransposon Gag-like (RTL)/sushi-ichi retrotransposon homolog (SIRH) genes presumably derived from a certain retrovirus. Accumulating evidence indicates that the RTL/SIRH genes play a variety of roles in the current mammalian developmental system, such as in the placenta, brain, and innate immune system, in a eutherian-specific manner. It has been shown that the functional role of Paternally Expressed 10 (PEG10) in placental formation is unique to the therian mammals, as are the eutherian-specific roles of PEG10 and PEG11/RTL1 in maintaining the fetal capillary network and the endocrine regulation of RTL7/SIRH7 (aka Leucine Zipper Down-Regulated in Cancer 1 (LDOCK1)) in the placenta. In the brain, PEG11/RTL1 is expressed in the corticospinal tract and hippocampal commissure, mammalian-specific structures, and in the corpus callosum, a eutherian-specific structure. Unexpectedly, at least three RTL/SIRH genes, RTL5/SIRH8, RTL6/SIRH3, and RTL9/SIRH10, play important roles in combating a variety of pathogens, namely viruses, bacteria, and fungi, respectively, suggesting that the innate immunity system of the brain in eutherians has been enhanced by the emergence of these new components. In this review, we will summarize the function of 10 out of the 11 RTL/SIRH genes and discuss their roles in eutherian development and evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Kaneko-Ishino
- Faculty of Nursing, School of Medicine, Tokai University, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan
| | - Fumitoshi Ishino
- Center for Experimental Animals, Institute of Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Black HH, Hanson JL, Roberts JE, Leslie SN, Campodonico W, Ebmeier CC, Holling GA, Tay JW, Matthews AM, Ung E, Lau CI, Whiteley AM. UBQLN2 restrains the domesticated retrotransposon PEG10 to maintain neuronal health in ALS. eLife 2023; 12:e79452. [PMID: 36951542 PMCID: PMC10076021 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive motor neuron dysfunction and loss. A portion of ALS cases are caused by mutation of the proteasome shuttle factor Ubiquilin 2 (UBQLN2), but the molecular pathway leading from UBQLN2 dysfunction to disease remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that UBQLN2 regulates the domesticated gag-pol retrotransposon 'paternally expressed gene 10 (PEG10)' in human cells and tissues. In cells, the PEG10 gag-pol protein cleaves itself in a mechanism reminiscent of retrotransposon self-processing to generate a liberated 'nucleocapsid' fragment, which uniquely localizes to the nucleus and changes the expression of genes involved in axon remodeling. In spinal cord tissue from ALS patients, PEG10 gag-pol is elevated compared to healthy controls. These findings implicate the retrotransposon-like activity of PEG10 as a contributing mechanism in ALS through the regulation of gene expression, and restraint of PEG10 as a primary function of UBQLN2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Holly H Black
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Jessica L Hanson
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Julia E Roberts
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Shannon N Leslie
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Will Campodonico
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | | | - G Aaron Holling
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Jian Wei Tay
- Biofrontiers Institute, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Autumn M Matthews
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Elizabeth Ung
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Cristina I Lau
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | | |
Collapse
|