1
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Newton AH, Smith CA. Resolving the mechanisms underlying epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of the lateral plate mesoderm. Genesis 2024; 62:e23531. [PMID: 37443419 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Formation of the vertebrate limb buds begins with a localized epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the somatic lateral plate mesoderm (LPM). While the processes that drive proliferation and outgrowth of the limb mesenchyme are well established, the fundamental mechanisms that precede this process and initiate EMT are less understood. In this review, we outline putative drivers of EMT of the LPM, drawing from analyses across a range of vertebrates and developmental models. We detail the expression patterns of key EMT transcriptional regulators in the somatic LPM of the presumptive limb fields, and their potential role in producing a mesenchymal cell fate. These include a putative cooperative role between the EMT inducers PRRX1 and TWIST1, supported by evidence in zebrafish and chicken models but unconfirmed data from mice. As such, additional functional data are required to definitively determine the mechanisms that initiate and drive EMT of the somatic LPM, a critical transition preceding formation of the limb bud mesenchyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel H Newton
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Craig A Smith
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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2
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Rohner PT, Hu Y, Moczek AP. Utilizing geometric morphometrics to investigate gene function during organ growth: Insights through the study of beetle horn shape allometry. Evol Dev 2024; 26:e12464. [PMID: 38041612 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Static allometry is a major component of morphological variation. Much of the literature on the development of allometry investigates how functional perturbations of diverse pathways affect the relationship between trait size and body size. Often, this is done with the explicit objective to identify developmental mechanisms that enable the sensing of organ size and the regulation of relative growth. However, changes in relative trait size can also be brought about by a range of other distinctly different developmental processes, such as changes in patterning or tissue folding, yet standard univariate biometric approaches are usually unable to distinguish among alternative explanations. Here, we utilize geometric morphometrics to investigate the degree to which functional genetic manipulations known to affect the size of dung beetle horns also recapitulate the effect of horn shape allometry. We reasoned that the knockdown phenotypes of pathways governing relative growth should closely resemble shape variation induced by natural allometric variation. In contrast, we predicted that if genes primarily affect alternative developmental processes, knockdown effects should align poorly with shape allometry. We find that the knockdown effects of several genes (e.g., doublesex, Foxo) indeed closely aligned with shape allometry, indicating that their corresponding pathways may indeed function primarily in the regulation of relative trait growth. In contrast, other knockdown effects (e.g., Distal-less, dachs) failed to align with allometry, implicating these pathways in potentially scaling-independent processes. Our findings moderate the interpretation of studies focusing on trait length and highlight the usefulness of multivariate approaches to study allometry and phenotypic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick T Rohner
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
- Department of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Yonggang Hu
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Institute of Sericulture and Systems Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Armin P Moczek
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
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3
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Haga CL, Booker CN, Carvalho A, Boregowda SV, Phinney DG. Transcriptional Targets of TWIST1 in Human Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Mechanistically Link Stem/Progenitor and Paracrine Functions. Stem Cells 2023; 41:1185-1200. [PMID: 37665974 PMCID: PMC10723815 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxad070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite extensive clinical testing, mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC)-based therapies continue to underperform with respect to efficacy, which reflects the paucity of biomarkers that predict potency prior to patient administration. Previously, we reported that TWIST1 predicts inter-donor differences in MSC quality attributes that confer potency. To define the full spectrum of TWIST1 activity in MSCs, the present work employed integrated omics-based profiling to identify a high-confidence set of TWIST1 targets, which mapped to cellular processes related to ECM structure/organization, skeletal and circulatory system development, interferon gamma signaling, and inflammation. These targets are implicated in contributing to both stem/progenitor and paracrine activities of MSCs indicating these processes are linked mechanistically in a TWIST1-dependent manner. Targets implicated in extracellular matrix dynamics further implicate TWIST1 in modulating cellular responses to niche remodeling. Novel TWIST1-regulated genes identified herein may be prioritized for future mechanistic and functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L Haga
- The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Cori N Booker
- The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Ana Carvalho
- The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Siddaraju V Boregowda
- The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Donald G Phinney
- The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Jupiter, FL, USA
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4
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Bertol JW, Johnston S, Ahmed R, Xie VK, Hubka KM, Cruz L, Nitschke L, Stetsiv M, Goering JP, Nistor P, Lowell S, Hoskens H, Claes P, Weinberg SM, Saadi I, Farach-Carson MC, Fakhouri WD. TWIST1 interacts with β/δ-catenins during neural tube development and regulates fate transition in cranial neural crest cells. Development 2022; 149:dev200068. [PMID: 35781329 PMCID: PMC9440756 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Cell fate determination is a necessary and tightly regulated process for producing different cell types and structures during development. Cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs) are unique to vertebrate embryos and emerge from the neural plate borders into multiple cell lineages that differentiate into bone, cartilage, neurons and glial cells. We have previously reported that Irf6 genetically interacts with Twist1 during CNCC-derived tissue formation. Here, we have investigated the mechanistic role of Twist1 and Irf6 at early stages of craniofacial development. Our data indicate that TWIST1 is expressed in endocytic vesicles at the apical surface and interacts with β/δ-catenins during neural tube closure, and Irf6 is involved in defining neural fold borders by restricting AP2α expression. Twist1 suppresses Irf6 and other epithelial genes in CNCCs during the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and cell migration. Conversely, a loss of Twist1 leads to a sustained expression of epithelial and cell adhesion markers in migratory CNCCs. Disruption of TWIST1 phosphorylation in vivo leads to epidermal blebbing, edema, neural tube defects and CNCC-derived structural abnormalities. Altogether, this study describes a previously uncharacterized function of mammalian Twist1 and Irf6 in the neural tube and CNCCs, and provides new target genes for Twist1 that are involved in cytoskeletal remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica W. Bertol
- Center for Craniofacial Research, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Shelby Johnston
- Center for Craniofacial Research, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Rabia Ahmed
- Center for Craniofacial Research, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Victoria K. Xie
- Center for Craniofacial Research, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Kelsea M. Hubka
- Center for Craniofacial Research, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Lissette Cruz
- Center for Craniofacial Research, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Larissa Nitschke
- Department of Pathology and Immunology,Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Marta Stetsiv
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Jeremy P. Goering
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Paul Nistor
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Sally Lowell
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Hanne Hoskens
- Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT/PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium
- Medical Imaging Research Center, UZ Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Peter Claes
- Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT/PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium
- Medical Imaging Research Center, UZ Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Seth M. Weinberg
- Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Irfan Saadi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Mary C. Farach-Carson
- Center for Craniofacial Research, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Walid D. Fakhouri
- Center for Craniofacial Research, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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5
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Torres-Machorro AL. Homodimeric and Heterodimeric Interactions among Vertebrate Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12855. [PMID: 34884664 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The basic helix–loop–helix transcription factor (bHLH TF) family is involved in tissue development, cell differentiation, and disease. These factors have transcriptionally positive, negative, and inactive functions by combining dimeric interactions among family members. The best known bHLH TFs are the E-protein homodimers and heterodimers with the tissue-specific TFs or ID proteins. These cooperative and dynamic interactions result in a complex transcriptional network that helps define the cell’s fate. Here, the reported dimeric interactions of 67 vertebrate bHLH TFs with other family members are summarized in tables, including specifications of the experimental techniques that defined the dimers. The compilation of these extensive data underscores homodimers of tissue-specific bHLH TFs as a central part of the bHLH regulatory network, with relevant positive and negative transcriptional regulatory roles. Furthermore, some sequence-specific TFs can also form transcriptionally inactive heterodimers with each other. The function, classification, and developmental role for all vertebrate bHLH TFs in four major classes are detailed.
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Romanelli Tavares VL, Guimarães-Ramos SL, Zhou Y, Masotti C, Ezquina S, Moreira DDP, Buermans H, Freitas RS, Den Dunnen JT, Twigg SRF, Passos-Bueno MR. New locus underlying auriculocondylar syndrome (ARCND): 430 kb duplication involving TWIST1 regulatory elements. J Med Genet 2021; 59:895-905. [PMID: 34750192 PMCID: PMC9411924 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2021-107825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Background Auriculocondylar syndrome (ARCND) is a rare genetic disease that affects structures derived from the first and second pharyngeal arches, mainly resulting in micrognathia and auricular malformations. To date, pathogenic variants have been identified in three genes involved in the EDN1-DLX5/6 pathway (PLCB4, GNAI3 and EDN1) and some cases remain unsolved. Here we studied a large unsolved four-generation family. Methods We performed linkage analysis, resequencing and Capture-C to investigate the causative variant of this family. To test the pathogenicity of the CNV found, we modelled the disease in patient craniofacial progenitor cells, including induced pluripotent cell (iPSC)-derived neural crest and mesenchymal cells. Results This study highlights a fourth locus causative of ARCND, represented by a tandem duplication of 430 kb in a candidate region on chromosome 7 defined by linkage analysis. This duplication segregates with the disease in the family (LOD score=2.88) and includes HDAC9, which is located over 200 kb telomeric to the top candidate gene TWIST1. Notably, Capture-C analysis revealed multiple cis interactions between the TWIST1 promoter and possible regulatory elements within the duplicated region. Modelling of the disease revealed an increased expression of HDAC9 and its neighbouring gene, TWIST1, in neural crest cells. We also identified decreased migration of iPSC-derived neural crest cells together with dysregulation of osteogenic differentiation in iPSC-affected mesenchymal stem cells. Conclusion Our findings support the hypothesis that the 430 kb duplication is causative of the ARCND phenotype in this family and that deregulation of TWIST1 expression during craniofacial development can contribute to the phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yan Zhou
- Clinical Genetics Group, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Cibele Masotti
- Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade de São Paulo Instituto de Biociências, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Molecular Oncology Center, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Suzana Ezquina
- Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade de São Paulo Instituto de Biociências, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Danielle de Paula Moreira
- Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade de São Paulo Instituto de Biociências, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Henk Buermans
- Leiden Genome Technology Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Renato S Freitas
- Centro de Atendimento Integral ao Fissurado Lábio Palatal, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Johan T Den Dunnen
- Leiden Genome Technology Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Stephen R F Twigg
- Clinical Genetics Group, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Maria Rita Passos-Bueno
- Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade de São Paulo Instituto de Biociências, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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7
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de Martin X, Sodaei R, Santpere G. Mechanisms of Binding Specificity among bHLH Transcription Factors. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9150. [PMID: 34502060 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcriptome of every cell is orchestrated by the complex network of interaction between transcription factors (TFs) and their binding sites on DNA. Disruption of this network can result in many forms of organism malfunction but also can be the substrate of positive natural selection. However, understanding the specific determinants of each of these individual TF-DNA interactions is a challenging task as it requires integrating the multiple possible mechanisms by which a given TF ends up interacting with a specific genomic region. These mechanisms include DNA motif preferences, which can be determined by nucleotide sequence but also by DNA’s shape; post-translational modifications of the TF, such as phosphorylation; and dimerization partners and co-factors, which can mediate multiple forms of direct or indirect cooperative binding. Binding can also be affected by epigenetic modifications of putative target regions, including DNA methylation and nucleosome occupancy. In this review, we describe how all these mechanisms have a role and crosstalk in one specific family of TFs, the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH), with a very conserved DNA binding domain and a similar DNA preferred motif, the E-box. Here, we compile and discuss a rich catalog of strategies used by bHLH to acquire TF-specific genome-wide landscapes of binding sites.
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8
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George RM, Firulli AB. Deletion of a Hand1 lncRNA-Containing Septum Transversum Enhancer Alters lncRNA Expression but Is Not Required for Hand1 Expression. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 8:jcdd8050050. [PMID: 34064373 PMCID: PMC8147853 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd8050050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
We have previously identified a Hand1 transcriptional enhancer that drives expression within the septum transversum, the origin of the cells that contribute to the epicardium. This enhancer directly overlaps a common exon of a predicted family of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) that are specific to mice. To interrogate the necessity of this Hand1 enhancer, as well as the importance of these novel lncRNAs, we deleted the enhancer sequences, including the common exon shared by these lncRNAs, using genome editing. Resultant homozygous Hand1 enhancer mutants (Hand1ΔST/ΔST) present with no observable phenotype. Assessment of lncRNA expression reveals that Hand1ΔST/ΔST mutants effectively eliminate detectable lncRNA expression. Expression analysis within Hand1ΔST/ΔST mutant hearts indicates higher levels of Hand1 than in controls. The generation of Hand1 compound heterozygous mutants with the Hand1LacZ null allele (Hand1ΔST/LacZ) also did not reveal any observable phenotypes. Together these data indicate that deletion of this Hand1 enhancer and by consequence a family of murine-specific lncRNAs does not impact embryonic development in observable ways.
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Vincentz JW, Firulli BA, Toolan KP, Osterwalder M, Pennacchio LA, Firulli AB. HAND transcription factors cooperatively specify the aorta and pulmonary trunk. Dev Biol 2021; 476:1-10. [PMID: 33757801 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) affecting the cardiac outflow tract (OFT) constitute a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The OFT develops from migratory cell populations which include the cardiac neural crest cells (cNCCs) and secondary heart field (SHF) derived myocardium and endocardium. The related transcription factors HAND1 and HAND2 have been implicated in human CHDs involving the OFT. Although Hand1 is expressed within the OFT, Hand1 NCC-specific conditional knockout mice (H1CKOs) are viable. Here we show that these H1CKOs present a low penetrance of OFT phenotypes, whereas SHF-specific Hand1 ablation does not reveal any cardiac phenotypes. Further, HAND1 and HAND2 appear functionally redundant within the cNCCs, as a reduction/ablation of Hand2 on an NCC-specific H1CKO background causes pronounced OFT defects. Double conditional Hand1 and Hand2 NCC knockouts exhibit persistent truncus arteriosus (PTA) with 100% penetrance. NCC lineage-tracing and Sema3c in situ mRNA expression reveal that Sema3c-expressing cells are mis-localized, resulting in a malformed septal bridge within the OFTs of H1CKO;H2CKO embryos. Interestingly, Hand1 and Hand2 also genetically interact within the SHF, as SHF H1CKOs on a heterozygous Hand2 background exhibit Ventricular Septal Defects (VSDs) with incomplete penetrance. Previously, we identified a BMP, HAND2, and GATA-dependent Hand1 OFT enhancer sufficient to drive reporter gene expression within the nascent OFT and aorta. Using these transcription inputs as a probe, we identify a novel Hand2 OFT enhancer, suggesting that a conserved BMP-GATA dependent mechanism transcriptionally regulates both HAND factors. These findings support the hypothesis that HAND factors interpret BMP signaling within the cNCCs to cooperatively coordinate OFT morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua W Vincentz
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research Department of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN, 46202-5225, USA.
| | - Beth A Firulli
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research Department of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN, 46202-5225, USA
| | - Kevin P Toolan
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research Department of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN, 46202-5225, USA
| | - Marco Osterwalder
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 35, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Len A Pennacchio
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Comparative Biochemistry Program, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Anthony B Firulli
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research Department of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN, 46202-5225, USA.
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Fan X, Masamsetti VP, Sun JQ, Engholm-Keller K, Osteil P, Studdert J, Graham ME, Fossat N, Tam PP. TWIST1 and chromatin regulatory proteins interact to guide neural crest cell differentiation. eLife 2021; 10:62873. [PMID: 33554859 PMCID: PMC7968925 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein interaction is critical molecular regulatory activity underlining cellular functions and precise cell fate choices. Using TWIST1 BioID-proximity-labeling and network propagation analyses, we discovered and characterized a TWIST-chromatin regulatory module (TWIST1-CRM) in the neural crest cells (NCC). Combinatorial perturbation of core members of TWIST1-CRM: TWIST1, CHD7, CHD8, and WHSC1 in cell models and mouse embryos revealed that loss of the function of the regulatory module resulted in abnormal differentiation of NCCs and compromised craniofacial tissue patterning. Following NCC delamination, low level of TWIST1-CRM activity is instrumental to stabilize the early NCC signatures and migratory potential by repressing the neural stem cell programs. High level of TWIST1 module activity at later phases commits the cells to the ectomesenchyme. Our study further revealed the functional interdependency of TWIST1 and potential neurocristopathy factors in NCC development. Shaping the head and face during development relies on a complex ballet of molecular signals that orchestrates the movement and specialization of various groups of cells. In animals with a backbone for example, neural crest cells (NCCs for short) can march long distances from the developing spine to become some of the tissues that form the skull and cartilage but also the pigment cells and nervous system. NCCs mature into specific cell types thanks to a complex array of factors which trigger a precise sequence of binary fate decisions at the right time and place. Amongst these factors, the protein TWIST1 can set up a cascade of genetic events that control how NCCs will ultimately form tissues in the head. To do so, the TWIST1 protein interacts with many other molecular actors, many of which are still unknown. To find some of these partners, Fan et al. studied TWIST1 in the NCCs of mice and cells grown in the lab. The experiments showed that TWIST1 interacted with CHD7, CHD8 and WHSC1, three proteins that help to switch genes on and off, and which contribute to NCCs moving across the head during development. Further work by Fan et al. then revealed that together, these molecular actors are critical for NCCs to form cells that will form facial bones and cartilage, as opposed to becoming neurons. This result helps to show that there is a trade-off between NCCs forming the face or being part of the nervous system. One in three babies born with a birth defect shows anomalies of the head and face: understanding the exact mechanisms by which NCCs contribute to these structures may help to better predict risks for parents, or to develop new approaches for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochen Fan
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
| | - V Pragathi Masamsetti
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jane Qj Sun
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kasper Engholm-Keller
- Synapse Proteomics Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Pierre Osteil
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Joshua Studdert
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mark E Graham
- Synapse Proteomics Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nicolas Fossat
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
| | - Patrick Pl Tam
- Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
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11
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Fan X, Waardenberg AJ, Demuth M, Osteil P, Sun JQJ, Loebel DAF, Graham M, Tam PPL, Fossat N. TWIST1 Homodimers and Heterodimers Orchestrate Lineage-Specific Differentiation. Mol Cell Biol 2020; 40:e00663-19. [PMID: 32179550 DOI: 10.1128/MCB.00663-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The extensive array of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors and their combinations as dimers underpin the diversity of molecular function required for cell type specification during embryogenesis. The bHLH factor TWIST1 plays pleiotropic roles during development. However, which combinations of TWIST1 dimers are involved and what impact each dimer imposes on the gene regulation network controlled by TWIST1 remain elusive. In this work, proteomic profiling of human TWIST1-expressing cell lines and transcriptome analysis of mouse cranial mesenchyme have revealed that TWIST1 homodimers and heterodimers with TCF3, TCF4, and TCF12 E-proteins are the predominant dimer combinations. Disease-causing mutations in TWIST1 can impact dimer formation or shift the balance of different types of TWIST1 dimers in the cell, which may underpin the defective differentiation of the craniofacial mesenchyme. Functional analyses of the loss and gain of TWIST1-E-protein dimer activity have revealed previously unappreciated roles in guiding lineage differentiation of embryonic stem cells: TWIST1-E-protein heterodimers activate the differentiation of mesoderm and neural crest cells, which is accompanied by the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. At the same time, TWIST1 homodimers maintain the stem cells in a progenitor state and block entry to the endoderm lineage.
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Ma C, Khederzadeh S, Adeola AC, Han XM, Xie HB, Zhang YP. Whole genome resequencing reveals an association of ABCC4 variants with preaxial polydactyly in pigs. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:268. [PMID: 32228435 PMCID: PMC7106734 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-6690-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Polydactyly is one of the most common congenital limb dysplasia in many animal species. Although preaxial polydactyly (PPD) has been comprehensively studied in humans as a common abnormality, the genetic variations in other animal species have not been fully understood. Herein, we focused on the pig, as an even-toed ungulate mammal model with its unique advantages in medical and genetic researches, two PPD families consisting of four affected and 20 normal individuals were sequenced. Results Our results showed that the PPD in the sampled pigs were not related to previously reported variants. A strong association was identified at ABCC4 and it encodes a transmembrane protein involved in ciliogenesis. We found that the affected and normal individuals were highly differentiated at ABCC4, and all the PPD individuals shared long haplotype stretches as compared with the unaffected individuals. A highly differentiated missense mutation (I85T) in ABCC4 was observed at a residue from a transmembrane domain highly conserved among a variety of organisms. Conclusions This study reports ABCC4 as a new candidate gene and identifies a missense mutation for PPD in pigs. Our results illustrate a putative role of ciliogenesis process in PPD, coinciding with an earlier observation of ciliogenesis abnormality resulting in pseudo-thumb development in pandas. These results expand our knowledge on the genetic variations underlying PPD in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Saber Khederzadeh
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Adeniyi C Adeola
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Xu-Man Han
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Hai-Bing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.
| | - Ya-Ping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.
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13
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Chen RZ, Cheng X, Tan Y, Chang TC, Lv H, Jia Y. An ENU-induced mutation in Twist1 transactivation domain causes hindlimb polydactyly with complete penetrance and dominant-negatively impairs E2A-dependent transcription. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2501. [PMID: 32051525 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59455-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Twist1 encodes a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor (TF), which forms homodimer or heterodimer with other TFs, like E2A, to regulate target genes' expression. Mutations in TWIST1 are associated with Saethre-Chotzen syndrome (SCS), a rare congenital disorder characterized with osteogenesis abnormalities. However, how dysfunction of TWIST1 leads to SCS is still largely unknown. Here, using an unbiased ENU-induced mutagenesis screening, we identified a novel Twist1 mutation and the mutant mouse phenocopies some features of SCS in a dominant manner. Physically, our mutation p.F191S lies at the edge of a predicted α-helix in Twist1 transactivation (TA) domain. Adjacent to F191, a consecutive three-residue (AFS) has been hit by 3 human and 2 mouse disease-associated mutations, including ours. Unlike previously reported mouse null and p.S192P alleles that lead to hindlimb polydactyly with incomplete penetrance but a severe craniofacial malformation, our p.F191S causes the polydactyly (84.2% bilateral and 15.8% unilateral) with complete penetrance but a mild craniofacial malformation. Consistent with the higher penetrance, p.F191S has stronger impairment on E2A-dependent transcription than p.S192P. Although human p.A186T and mouse p.S192P disease mutations are adjacent to ours, these three mutations function differently to impair the E2A-dependent transcription. Unlike p.A186T and p.S192S that disturb local protein conformation and unstabilize the mutant proteins, p.F191S keeps the mutant protein stable and its interaction with E2A entire. Therefore, we argue that p.F191S we identified acts in a dominant-negative manner to impair E2A-dependent transcription and to cause the biological consequences. In addition, the mutant mouse we provided here could be an additional and valuable model for better understanding the disease mechanisms underlying SCS caused by TWIST1 dysfunction.
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Abstract
Background Twist1 is a basic helix-loop-helix domain containing transcription factor that regulates cell differentiation, migration, proliferation, survival, and inflammatory responses by transcriptionally regulating a wide range of downstream target genes. Its homologous protein, Twist2, shares many structural and functional similarities with Twist1. Summary Accumulating evidence from both preclinical and clinical studies suggests that Twist1 is a pivotal regulator of several forms of renal disease. Twist1 is persistently activated following renal insults, particularly in chronic kidney diseases, and contributes to the renal inflammatory responses, tubular cell transformation programs, and possibly fibroblast activation, all of which are involved in the initiation and progression of kidney diseases. Key Message This review will specifically focus on Twist1 and outline our understanding of its functions in kidney disorders along with the introduction of Twist2 where pertinent. The thorough knowledge of Twist1's actions in the pathogenesis of kidney diseases should facilitate the development of novel therapeutics for kidney injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiafa Ren
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University and Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Steven D Crowley
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University and Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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15
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Firulli BA, Firulli AB. Partially Penetrant Cardiac Neural Crest Defects in Hand1 Phosphomutant Mice: Dimer Choice That Is Not So Critical. Pediatr Cardiol 2019; 40:1339-44. [PMID: 31338559 DOI: 10.1007/s00246-019-02162-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Hand1 is a basic Helix-loop-Helix transcription factor that exhibits post-translationally regulated dimer partner choice that allows for a diverse set of Hand1 transcriptional complexes. Indeed, when Hand1 phosphoregulation is altered, conditionally activated hypophorylation (Hand1PO4-) and phosphorylation mimic (Hand1PO4+) Hand1 alleles disrupt both craniofacial and limb morphogenesis with 100% penetrance. Interestingly, activation of conditional Hand1 Phosphomutant alleles within post-migratory neural crest cells produce heart defects that include ventricular septal defects, double-outlet right ventricle, persistent truncus arteriosus with partial penetrance. Single versus double-lobed thymus is a distinguishing feature between Wnt1-Cre;Hand1PO4-/+ and Wnt1-Cre;Hand1PO4+/+ mice. These data show that although Hand1 dimer regulation plays critical and consistent roles in disrupting craniofacial and limb morphogenesis, Hand1 dimer regulation during cardiac outflow track formation is less critical for normal morphogenesis. This review will present the OFT phenotypes observed in Hand1 Phosphomutant mice, and discuss possible mechanisms of how penetrance differences within the same tissues within the same embryos could be variable.
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Mikheeva SA, Camp ND, Huang L, Jain A, Jung SY, Avci NG, Tokita M, Wolf-Yadlin A, Zhang J, Tapscott SJ, Rostomily RC, Mikheev AM. TWIST1 Heterodimerization with E12 Requires Coordinated Protein Phosphorylation to Regulate Periostin Expression. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E1392. [PMID: 31540485 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11091392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffuse invasion into adjacent brain matter by glioblastoma (GBM) is largely responsible for their dismal prognosis. Previously, we showed that the TWIST1 (TW) bHLH transcription factor and its regulated gene periostin (POSTN) promote invasive phenotypes of GBM cells. Since TW functional effects are regulated by phosphorylation and dimerization, we investigated how phosphorylation of serine 68 in TW regulates TW dimerization, POSTN expression, and invasion in glioma cells. Compared with wild-type TW, the hypophosphorylation mutant, TW(S68A), impaired TW heterodimerization with the E12 bHLH transcription factor and cell invasion in vitro but had no effect on TW homodimerization. Overexpression of TW:E12 forced dimerization constructs (FDCs) increased glioma cell invasion and upregulated pro-invasive proteins, including POSTN, in concert with cytoskeletal reorganization. By contrast, TW:TW homodimer FDCs inhibited POSTN expression and cell invasion in vitro. Further, phosphorylation of analogous PXSP phosphorylation sites in TW:E12 FDCs (TW S68 and E12 S139) coordinately regulated POSTN and PDGFRa mRNA expression. These results suggested that TW regulates pro-invasive phenotypes in part through coordinated phosphorylation events in TW and E12 that promote heterodimer formation and regulate downstream targets. This new mechanistic understanding provides potential therapeutic strategies to inhibit TW-POSTN signaling in GBM and other cancers.
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Firulli BA, Toolan KP, Harkin J, Millar H, Pineda S, Firulli AB. The HAND1 frameshift A126FS mutation does not cause hypoplastic left heart syndrome in mice. Cardiovasc Res 2018; 113:1732-1742. [PMID: 29016838 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvx166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims To test if a human Hand1 frame shift mutation identified in human samples is causative of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). Methods and results HLHS is a poorly understood single ventricle congenital heart defect that affects two to three infants in every 10 000 live births. The aetiologies of HLHS are largely unknown. The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor HAND1 is required for normal heart development. Interrogation of HAND1 sequence from fixed HLHS tissues identified a somatic frame-shift mutation at Alanine 126 (NP_004812.1 p.Ala126Profs13X defined as Hand1A126fs). Hand1A126fs creates a truncated HAND1 protein that predictively functions as dominant negative. To determine if this mutation is causative of HLHS, we engineered a conditional Hand1A126fs mouse allele. Activation of this allele with Nkx2.5Cre results in E14.5 lethality accompanied by cardiac outflow tract and intraventricular septum abnormalities. Using αMHC-Cre or Mef2CAHF-Cre to activate Hand1A126fs results in reduced phenotype and limited viability. Left ventricles of Hand1A126FS mutant mice are not hypoplastic. Conclusions Somatically acquired Hand1A126FS mutation is not causative of HLHS. Hand1A126FS mutation does exhibit embryonic lethal cardiac defects that reflect a dominant negative function supporting the critical role of Hand1 in cardiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth A Firulli
- Departments of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Riley Heart Research Center, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana School of Medicine, 1044 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46202-5225, USA
| | - Kevin P Toolan
- Departments of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Riley Heart Research Center, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana School of Medicine, 1044 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46202-5225, USA
| | - Jade Harkin
- Departments of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Riley Heart Research Center, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana School of Medicine, 1044 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46202-5225, USA
| | - Hannah Millar
- Departments of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Riley Heart Research Center, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana School of Medicine, 1044 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46202-5225, USA
| | - Santiago Pineda
- Departments of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Riley Heart Research Center, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana School of Medicine, 1044 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46202-5225, USA
| | - Anthony B Firulli
- Departments of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Riley Heart Research Center, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana School of Medicine, 1044 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46202-5225, USA
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18
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Abstract
Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a pathological process that occurs in a variety of diseases, including organ fibrosis. Twist1, a basic helix–loop–helix transcription factor, is involved in EMT and plays significant roles in various fibrotic diseases. Suppression of the EMT process represents a promising approach for the treatment of fibrotic diseases. In this review, we discuss the roles and the underlying molecular mechanisms of Twist1 in fibrotic diseases, including those affecting kidney, lung, skin, oral submucosa and other tissues. We aim at providing new insight into the pathogenesis of various fibrotic diseases and facilitating the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic methods for their treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan Ning
- Department of Geriatrics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.,State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Qingfeng Wu
- Department of Geriatrics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.,State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Minna Liu
- Department of Nephrology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shiren Sun
- Department of Nephrology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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Yochum ZA, Cades J, Mazzacurati L, Neumann NM, Khetarpal SK, Chatterjee S, Wang H, Attar MA, Huang EHB, Chatley SN, Nugent K, Somasundaram A, Engh JA, Ewald AJ, Cho YJ, Rudin CM, Tran PT, Burns TF. A First-in-Class TWIST1 Inhibitor with Activity in Oncogene-Driven Lung Cancer. Mol Cancer Res 2017; 15:1764-1776. [PMID: 28851812 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-17-0298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
TWIST1, an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) transcription factor, is critical for oncogene-driven non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumorigenesis. Given the potential of TWIST1 as a therapeutic target, a chemical-bioinformatic approach using connectivity mapping (CMAP) analysis was used to identify TWIST1 inhibitors. Characterization of the top ranked candidates from the unbiased screen revealed that harmine, a harmala alkaloid, inhibited multiple TWIST1 functions, including single-cell dissemination, suppression of normal branching in 3D epithelial culture, and proliferation of oncogene driver-defined NSCLC cells. Harmine treatment phenocopied genetic loss of TWIST1 by inducing oncogene-induced senescence or apoptosis. Mechanistic investigation revealed that harmine targeted the TWIST1 pathway through its promotion of TWIST1 protein degradation. As dimerization is critical for TWIST1 function and stability, the effect of harmine on specific TWIST1 dimers was examined. TWIST1 and its dimer partners, the E2A proteins, which were found to be required for TWIST1-mediated functions, regulated the stability of the other heterodimeric partner posttranslationally. Harmine preferentially promoted degradation of the TWIST1-E2A heterodimer compared with the TWIST-TWIST1 homodimer, and targeting the TWIST1-E2A heterodimer was required for harmine cytotoxicity. Finally, harmine had activity in both transgenic and patient-derived xenograft mouse models of KRAS-mutant NSCLC. These studies identified harmine as a first-in-class TWIST1 inhibitor with marked anti-tumor activity in oncogene-driven NSCLC including EGFR mutant, KRAS mutant and MET altered NSCLC.Implications: TWIST1 is required for oncogene-driven NSCLC tumorigenesis and EMT; thus, harmine and its analogues/derivatives represent a novel therapeutic strategy to treat oncogene-driven NSCLC as well as other solid tumor malignancies. Mol Cancer Res; 15(12); 1764-76. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary A Yochum
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jessica Cades
- Department of Pharmacology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Lucia Mazzacurati
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Neil M Neumann
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Cell Dynamics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Susheel K Khetarpal
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Suman Chatterjee
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Hailun Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Myriam A Attar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Eric H-B Huang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Sarah N Chatley
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Katriana Nugent
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ashwin Somasundaram
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Johnathan A Engh
- Department of Neurological Surgery University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Andrew J Ewald
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Cell Dynamics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yoon-Jae Cho
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Charles M Rudin
- Department of Medicine, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Phuoc T Tran
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Timothy F Burns
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. .,Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Firulli BA, Milliar H, Toolan KP, Harkin J, Fuchs RK, Robling AG, Firulli AB. Defective Hand1 phosphoregulation uncovers essential roles for Hand1 in limb morphogenesis. Development 2017; 144:2480-2489. [PMID: 28576769 PMCID: PMC5536869 DOI: 10.1242/dev.149963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The morphogenesis of the vertebrate limbs is a complex process in which cell signaling and transcriptional regulation coordinate diverse structural adaptations in diverse species. In this study, we examine the consequences of altering Hand1 dimer choice regulation within developing vertebrate limbs. Although Hand1 deletion via the limb-specific Prrx1-Cre reveals a non-essential role for Hand1 in mouse limb morphogenesis, altering Hand1 phosphoregulation, and consequently Hand1 dimerization affinities, results in a severe truncation of proximal-anterior limb elements. Molecular analysis reveals a non-cell-autonomous mechanism that causes widespread cell death within the embryonic limb bud. In addition, we observe changes in proximal-anterior gene regulation, including a reduction in the expression of Irx3, Irx5, Gli3 and Alx4, all of which are upregulated in Hand2 limb conditional knockouts. A reduction of Hand2 and Shh gene dosage improves the integrity of anterior limb structures, validating the importance of the Twist-family bHLH dimer pool in limb morphogenesis. Summary: Altering Hand1 phosphoregulation, and consequently Hand1 dimerization affinities, results in a severe truncation of anterior-proximal limb elements in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth A Firulli
- Riley Heart Research Center, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine
| | - Hannah Milliar
- Riley Heart Research Center, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine
| | - Kevin P Toolan
- Riley Heart Research Center, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine
| | - Jade Harkin
- Riley Heart Research Center, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine
| | - Robyn K Fuchs
- Department of Physical Therapy and the Center for Translational Musculoskeletal Research, School of Health and Rehabilitation Science, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Alex G Robling
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5225, USA
| | - Anthony B Firulli
- Riley Heart Research Center, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine
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Bouard C, Terreux R, Tissier A, Jacqueroud L, Vigneron A, Ansieau S, Puisieux A, Payen L. Destabilization of the TWIST1/E12 complex dimerization following the R154P point-mutation of TWIST1: an in silico approach. BMC Struct Biol 2017; 17:6. [PMID: 28521820 PMCID: PMC5437649 DOI: 10.1186/s12900-017-0076-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Background The bHLH transcription factor TWIST1 plays a key role in the embryonic development and in tumorigenesis. Some loss-of-function mutations of the TWIST1 gene have been shown to cause an autosomal dominant craniosynostosis, known as the Saethre-Chotzen syndrome (SCS). Although the functional impacts of many TWIST1 mutations have been experimentally reported, little is known on the molecular mechanisms underlying their loss-of-function. In a previous study, we highlighted the predictive value of in silico molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in deciphering the molecular function of TWIST1 residues. Results Here, since the substitution of the arginine 154 amino acid by a glycine residue (R154G) is responsible for the SCS phenotype and the substitution of arginine 154 by a proline experimentally decreases the dimerizing ability of TWIST1, we investigated the molecular impact of this point mutation using MD approaches. Consistently, MD simulations highlighted a clear decrease in the stability of the α-helix during the dimerization of the mutated R154P TWIST1/E12 dimer compared to the wild-type TE complex, which was further confirmed in vitro using immunoassays. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that MD simulations provide a structural explanation for the loss-of-function associated with the SCS TWIST1 mutation and provides a proof of concept of the predictive value of these MD simulations. This in silico methodology could be used to determine reliable pharmacophore sites, leading to the application of docking approaches in order to identify specific inhibitors of TWIST1 complexes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12900-017-0076-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Bouard
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, 69373, France.,CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, 69373, France.,LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France.,UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, 69008, France.,Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, 69373, France
| | - Raphael Terreux
- Université de Lyon1, ISPB, Lyon, 69008, France.,Pole Rhône-Alpes de Bioinformatique - Lyon Gerland (PRABI-LG), Lyon, 69007, France.,CNRS UMR 5305, Lyon, France
| | - Agnès Tissier
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, 69373, France.,CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, 69373, France.,LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France.,UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, 69008, France.,Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, 69373, France
| | - Laurent Jacqueroud
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, 69373, France.,CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, 69373, France.,LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France.,UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, 69008, France.,Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, 69373, France
| | - Arnaud Vigneron
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, 69373, France.,CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, 69373, France.,LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France.,UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, 69008, France.,Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, 69373, France
| | - Stéphane Ansieau
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, 69373, France.,CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, 69373, France.,LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France.,UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, 69008, France.,Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, 69373, France
| | - Alain Puisieux
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, 69373, France.,CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, 69373, France.,LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France.,UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, 69008, France.,Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, 69373, France.,Université de Lyon1, ISPB, Lyon, 69008, France.,Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, 75231, France
| | - Léa Payen
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, 69373, France. .,CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, 69373, France. .,LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France. .,UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, 69008, France. .,Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, 69373, France. .,Université de Lyon1, ISPB, Lyon, 69008, France. .,Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire (CHLS), Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, 69003, France.
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22
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Jacqueroud L, Bouard C, Richard G, Payen L, Devouassoux-Shisheboran M, Spicer DB, Caramel J, Collin G, Puisieux A, Tissier A, Ansieau S. The Heterodimeric TWIST1-E12 Complex Drives the Oncogenic Potential of TWIST1 in Human Mammary Epithelial Cells. Neoplasia 2017; 18:317-327. [PMID: 27237323 PMCID: PMC4887617 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2016.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The TWIST1 embryonic transcription factor displays biphasic functions during the course of carcinogenesis. It facilitates the escape of cells from oncogene-induced fail-safe programs (senescence, apoptosis) and their consequent neoplastic transformation. Additionally, it promotes the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and the initiation of the metastatic spread of cancer cells. Interestingly, cancer cells recurrently remain dependent on TWIST1 for their survival and/or proliferation, making TWIST1 their Achilles’ heel. TWIST1 has been reported to form either homodimeric or heterodimeric complexes mainly in association with the E bHLH class I proteins. These complexes display distinct, sometimes even antagonistic, functions during development and unequal prometastatic functions in prostate cancer cells. Using a tethered dimer strategy, we successively assessed the ability of TWIST1 dimers to cooperate with an activated version of RAS in human mammary epithelial cell transformation, to provide mice with the ability to spontaneously develop breast tumors, and lastly to maintain a senescence program at a latent state in several breast cancer cell lines. We demonstrate that the TWIST1-E12 complex, unlike the homodimer, is an oncogenic form of TWIST1 in mammary epithelial cells and that efficient binding of both partners is a prerequisite for its activity. The detection of the heterodimer in human premalignant lesions by a proximity ligation assay, at a stage preceding the initiation of the metastatic cascade, is coherent with such an oncogenic function. TWIST1-E protein heterodimeric complexes may thus constitute the main active forms of TWIST1 with regard to senescence inhibition over the time course of breast tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Jacqueroud
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France; UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, France; Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Charlotte Bouard
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France; UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, France; Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Geoffrey Richard
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France; UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, France; Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Léa Payen
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France; UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, France; Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France; Université de Lyon 1, ISPB, Lyon, France; Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Mojgan Devouassoux-Shisheboran
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France; UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, France; Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France; Université de Lyon 1, ISPB, Lyon, France; Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Lyon, France
| | - Douglas B Spicer
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Main Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME, USA
| | - Julie Caramel
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France; UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, France; Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France; Université de Lyon 1, ISPB, Lyon, France
| | - Guillaume Collin
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France; UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, France; Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Alain Puisieux
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France; UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, France; Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France; Université de Lyon 1, ISPB, Lyon, France; Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | - Agnès Tissier
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France; UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, France; Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Stéphane Ansieau
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, France; LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France; UNIV UMR1052, Lyon, France; Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France.
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23
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Middelkamp S, van Heesch S, Braat AK, de Ligt J, van Iterson M, Simonis M, van Roosmalen MJ, Kelder MJE, Kruisselbrink E, Hochstenbach R, Verbeek NE, Ippel EF, Adolfs Y, Pasterkamp RJ, Kloosterman WP, Kuijk EW, Cuppen E. Molecular dissection of germline chromothripsis in a developmental context using patient-derived iPS cells. Genome Med 2017; 9:9. [PMID: 28126037 PMCID: PMC5270341 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-017-0399-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Germline chromothripsis causes complex genomic rearrangements that are likely to affect multiple genes and their regulatory contexts. The contribution of individual rearrangements and affected genes to the phenotypes of patients with complex germline genomic rearrangements is generally unknown. Methods To dissect the impact of germline chromothripsis in a relevant developmental context, we performed trio-based RNA expression analysis on blood cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and iPSC-derived neuronal cells from a patient with de novo germline chromothripsis and both healthy parents. In addition, Hi-C and 4C-seq experiments were performed to determine the effects of the genomic rearrangements on transcription regulation of genes in the proximity of the breakpoint junctions. Results Sixty-seven genes are located within 1 Mb of the complex chromothripsis rearrangements involving 17 breakpoints on four chromosomes. We find that three of these genes (FOXP1, DPYD, and TWIST1) are both associated with developmental disorders and differentially expressed in the patient. Interestingly, the effect on TWIST1 expression was exclusively detectable in the patient’s iPSC-derived neuronal cells, stressing the need for studying developmental disorders in the biologically relevant context. Chromosome conformation capture analyses show that TWIST1 lost genomic interactions with several enhancers due to the chromothripsis event, which likely led to deregulation of TWIST1 expression and contributed to the patient’s craniosynostosis phenotype. Conclusions We demonstrate that a combination of patient-derived iPSC differentiation and trio-based molecular profiling is a powerful approach to improve the interpretation of pathogenic complex genomic rearrangements. Here we have applied this approach to identify misexpression of TWIST1, FOXP1, and DPYD as key contributors to the complex congenital phenotype resulting from germline chromothripsis rearrangements. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13073-017-0399-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sjors Middelkamp
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Division Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, Utrecht, 3584CG, The Netherlands
| | - Sebastiaan van Heesch
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Division Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, Utrecht, 3584CG, The Netherlands.,Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, Berlin, 13125, Germany
| | - A Koen Braat
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine and Regenerative Medicine Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 6, Utrecht, 3584CT, The Netherlands
| | - Joep de Ligt
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Division Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, Utrecht, 3584CG, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten van Iterson
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, Leiden, 2333ZC, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke Simonis
- Cergentis B.V., Yalelaan 62, Utrecht, 3584CM, The Netherlands
| | - Markus J van Roosmalen
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Division Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, Utrecht, 3584CG, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn J E Kelder
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Evelien Kruisselbrink
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology & Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre, Lundlaan 6, Utrecht, 3584EA, The Netherlands
| | - Ron Hochstenbach
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Division Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, Utrecht, 3584CG, The Netherlands
| | - Nienke E Verbeek
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Lundlaan 6, Utrecht, 3584EA, The Netherlands
| | - Elly F Ippel
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Lundlaan 6, Utrecht, 3584EA, The Netherlands
| | - Youri Adolfs
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, Utrecht, 3584CG, The Netherlands
| | - R Jeroen Pasterkamp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, Utrecht, 3584CG, The Netherlands
| | - Wigard P Kloosterman
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Division Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, Utrecht, 3584CG, The Netherlands
| | - Ewart W Kuijk
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Division Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, Utrecht, 3584CG, The Netherlands.
| | - Edwin Cuppen
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Cancer Genomics Netherlands, Division Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, Utrecht, 3584CG, The Netherlands.
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24
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Bildsoe H, Fan X, Wilkie EE, Ashoti A, Jones VJ, Power M, Qin J, Wang J, Tam PP, Loebel DA. Transcriptional targets of TWIST1 in the cranial mesoderm regulate cell-matrix interactions and mesenchyme maintenance. Dev Biol 2016; 418:189-203. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Revised: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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25
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Vincentz JW, Casasnovas JJ, Barnes RM, Que J, Clouthier DE, Wang J, Firulli AB. Exclusion of Dlx5/6 expression from the distal-most mandibular arches enables BMP-mediated specification of the distal cap. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:7563-8. [PMID: 27335460 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1603930113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cranial neural crest cells (crNCCs) migrate from the neural tube to the pharyngeal arches (PAs) of the developing embryo and, subsequently, differentiate into bone and connective tissue to form the mandible. Within the PAs, crNCCs respond to local signaling cues to partition into the proximo-distally oriented subdomains that convey positional information to these developing tissues. Here, we show that the distal-most of these subdomains, the distal cap, is marked by expression of the transcription factor Hand1 (H1) and gives rise to the ectomesenchymal derivatives of the lower incisors. We uncover a H1 enhancer sufficient to drive reporter gene expression within the crNCCs of the distal cap. We show that bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling and the transcription factor HAND2 (H2) synergistically regulate H1 distal cap expression. Furthermore, the homeodomain proteins distal-less homeobox 5 (DLX5) and DLX6 reciprocally inhibit BMP/H2-mediated H1 enhancer regulation. These findings provide insights into how multiple signaling pathways direct transcriptional outcomes that pattern the developing jaw.
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26
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Bouard C, Terreux R, Honorat M, Manship B, Ansieau S, Vigneron AM, Puisieux A, Payen L. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying the binding of the TWIST1/E12 complex to regulatory E-box sequences. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:5470-89. [PMID: 27151200 PMCID: PMC4914114 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The TWIST1 bHLH transcription factor controls embryonic development and cancer processes. Although molecular and genetic analyses have provided a wealth of data on the role of bHLH transcription factors, very little is known on the molecular mechanisms underlying their binding affinity to the E-box sequence of the promoter. Here, we used an in silico model of the TWIST1/E12 (TE) heterocomplex and performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of its binding to specific (TE-box) and modified E-box sequences. We focused on (i) active E-box and inactive E-box sequences, on (ii) modified active E-box sequences, as well as on (iii) two box sequences with modified adjacent bases the AT- and TA-boxes. Our in silico models were supported by functional in vitro binding assays. This exploration highlighted the predominant role of protein side-chain residues, close to the heart of the complex, at anchoring the dimer to DNA sequences, and unveiled a shift towards adjacent ((-1) and (-1*)) bases and conserved bases of modified E-box sequences. In conclusion, our study provides proof of the predictive value of these MD simulations, which may contribute to the characterization of specific inhibitors by docking approaches, and their use in pharmacological therapies by blocking the tumoral TWIST1/E12 function in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Bouard
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69373, France CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69373, France LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France UNIV UMR1052, Lyon 69008, France Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon 69373, France Université de Lyon1, ISPB, Lyon 69008, France
| | - Raphael Terreux
- Université de Lyon1, ISPB, Lyon 69008, France Institut de Biochimie des protéines IBCP, Lyon 69007, France CNRS UMR 5305, Lyon 69007, France
| | - Mylène Honorat
- Institut de Biochimie des protéines IBCP, Lyon 69007, France
| | | | - Stéphane Ansieau
- CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69373, France LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France UNIV UMR1052, Lyon 69008, France Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon 69373, France
| | - Arnaud M Vigneron
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69373, France CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69373, France LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France UNIV UMR1052, Lyon 69008, France Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon 69373, France
| | - Alain Puisieux
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69373, France CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69373, France LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France UNIV UMR1052, Lyon 69008, France Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon 69373, France Université de Lyon1, ISPB, Lyon 69008, France Institut Universitaire de France, Paris 75231, France
| | - Léa Payen
- Inserm UMR-S1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69373, France CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69373, France LabEX DEVweCAN, Lyon, France UNIV UMR1052, Lyon 69008, France Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon 69373, France Université de Lyon1, ISPB, Lyon 69008, France Hospices Civils de Lyon, Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire du CHLS, Lyon 69003, France
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27
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Guzzo RM, Alaee F, Paglia D, Gibson JD, Spicer D, Drissi H. Aberrant expression of Twist1 in diseased articular cartilage and a potential role in the modulation of osteoarthritis severity. Genes Dis 2016; 3:88-99. [PMID: 30258877 PMCID: PMC6146614 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2015.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The bHLH transcription factor Twist1 has emerged as a negative regulator of chondrogenesis in skeletal progenitor cells and as an inhibitor of maturation in growth plate chondrocytes. However, its role in articular cartilage remains obscure. Here we examine Twist1 expression during re-differentiation of expanded human articular chondrocytes, the distribution of Twist1 proteins in normal versus OA human articular cartilage, and its role in modulating OA development in mice. High levels of Twist1 transcripts were detected by qPCR analyses of expanded de-differentiated human articular chondrocytes that had acquired mesenchymal-like features. The induction of hallmark cartilage genes by Bmp-2 mediated chondrogenic differentiation was paralleled by the dramatic suppression of Twist1 in vitro. In normal human articular cartilage, Twist1-expressing chondrocytes were most abundant in the superficial zone with little to no expression in the middle and deep zones. However, our analyses revealed a higher proportion of deep zone articular chondrocytes expressing Twist1 in human OA cartilage as compared to normal articular cartilage. Moreover, Twist1 expression was prominent within proliferative cell clusters near fissure sites in more severely affected OA samples. To assess the role of Twist1 in OA pathophysiology, we subjected wild type mice and transgenic mice with gain of Twist1 function in cartilage to surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus. At 12 weeks post-surgery, micro-CT and histological analyses revealed attenuation of the OA phenotype in Twist1 transgenic mice compared to wild type mice. Collectively, the data reveal a role for Twist in articular cartilage maintenance and the attenuation of cartilage degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa M Guzzo
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA.,Stem Cell Institute, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Farhang Alaee
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - David Paglia
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Jason D Gibson
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Douglas Spicer
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME, USA
| | - Hicham Drissi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA.,Stem Cell Institute, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA
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28
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Herriges JC, Verheyden JM, Zhang Z, Sui P, Zhang Y, Anderson MJ, Swing DA, Zhang Y, Lewandoski M, Sun X. FGF-Regulated ETV Transcription Factors Control FGF-SHH Feedback Loop in Lung Branching. Dev Cell 2016; 35:322-32. [PMID: 26555052 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2015.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Revised: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian lung forms its elaborate tree-like structure following a largely stereotypical branching sequence. While a number of genes have been identified to play essential roles in lung branching, what coordinates the choice between branch growth and new branch formation has not been elucidated. Here we show that loss of FGF-activated transcription factor genes, Etv4 and Etv5 (collectively Etv), led to prolonged branch tip growth and delayed new branch formation. Unexpectedly, this phenotype is more similar to mutants with increased rather than decreased FGF activity. Indeed, an increased Fgf10 expression is observed, and reducing Fgf10 dosage can attenuate the Etv mutant phenotype. Further evidence indicates that ETV inhibits Fgf10 via directly promoting Shh expression. SHH in turn inhibits local Fgf10 expression and redirects growth, thereby initiating new branches. Together, our findings establish ETV as a key node in the FGF-ETV-SHH inhibitory feedback loop that dictates branching periodicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Herriges
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Jamie M Verheyden
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Physiological Chemistry, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Pengfei Sui
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Ying Zhang
- Cancer and Developmental Biology Lab, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Matthew J Anderson
- Cancer and Developmental Biology Lab, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Deborah A Swing
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Yan Zhang
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Mark Lewandoski
- Cancer and Developmental Biology Lab, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Xin Sun
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
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29
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Hutchins ED, Wilson-rawls J, Kusumi K. Regeneration: Lessons from the Lizard. Innovations in Molecular Mechanisms and Tissue Engineering 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-44996-8_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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30
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Pedmale UV, Huang SSC, Zander M, Cole BJ, Hetzel J, Ljung K, Reis PAB, Sridevi P, Nito K, Nery JR, Ecker JR, Chory J. Cryptochromes Interact Directly with PIFs to Control Plant Growth in Limiting Blue Light. Cell 2015; 164:233-245. [PMID: 26724867 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 330] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2014] [Revised: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Sun-loving plants have the ability to detect and avoid shading through sensing of both blue and red light wavelengths. Higher plant cryptochromes (CRYs) control how plants modulate growth in response to changes in blue light. For growth under a canopy, where blue light is diminished, CRY1 and CRY2 perceive this change and respond by directly contacting two bHLH transcription factors, PIF4 and PIF5. These factors are also known to be controlled by phytochromes, the red/far-red photoreceptors; however, transcriptome analyses indicate that the gene regulatory programs induced by the different light wavelengths are distinct. Our results indicate that CRYs signal by modulating PIF activity genome wide and that these factors integrate binding of different plant photoreceptors to facilitate growth changes under different light conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ullas V Pedmale
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Plant Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Shao-Shan Carol Huang
- Plant Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Genomic Analysis Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Mark Zander
- Plant Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Benjamin J Cole
- Plant Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jonathan Hetzel
- Plant Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Karin Ljung
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Pedro A B Reis
- Plant Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular/BIOAGRO, National Institute of Science and Technology in Plant-Pest Interactions, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570.000 Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Priya Sridevi
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kazumasa Nito
- Plant Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Joseph R Nery
- Genomic Analysis Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Joseph R Ecker
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Plant Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Genomic Analysis Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Joanne Chory
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Plant Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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Deng X, Pan H, Wang J, Wang B, Cheng Z, Cheng L, Zhao L, Li H, Ma X. Functional Analysis of Two Novel Mutations in TWIST1 Protein Motifs Found in Ventricular Septal Defect Patients. Pediatr Cardiol 2015; 36:1602-9. [PMID: 25981568 DOI: 10.1007/s00246-015-1202-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the possible genetic effect of sequence variations in TWIST1 on the pathogenesis of ventricular septal defect in humans. We examined the coding region of TWIST1 in a cohort of 196 Chinese people with non-syndromic ventricular septal defect patients and 200 healthy individuals as the controls. We identified two novel potential disease-associated mutations, NM_000474.3:c.247G>A (G83S) and NM_000474.3:c.283A>G (S95G). Both of them were identified for the first time and were not observed in the 200 controls without congenital heart disease. Using a dual-luciferase reporter assay, we showed that both of the mutations significantly down-regulated the repressive effect of TWIST1 on the E-cadherin promoter. Furthermore, a mammalian two-hybrid assay showed that both of the mutations significantly affected the interaction between TWIST1 and KAT2B. New mutations in the transcription factor TWIST1 that affect protein function were identified in 1.0 % (2/196) of Chinese patients with ventricular septal defect. Our data show, for the first time, that TWIST1 has a potential causative effect on the development of ventricular septal defect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Deng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No.36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Hong Pan
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100080, China.,Center for Genetics, National Research Institute for Family Planning, 12 Dahuisi Road, Haidian, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100080, China.,Center for Genetics, National Research Institute for Family Planning, 12 Dahuisi Road, Haidian, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Binbin Wang
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100080, China.,Center for Genetics, National Research Institute for Family Planning, 12 Dahuisi Road, Haidian, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Zhi Cheng
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100080, China.,Center for Genetics, National Research Institute for Family Planning, 12 Dahuisi Road, Haidian, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Longfei Cheng
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100080, China.,Center for Genetics, National Research Institute for Family Planning, 12 Dahuisi Road, Haidian, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Lixi Zhao
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100080, China.,Center for Genetics, National Research Institute for Family Planning, 12 Dahuisi Road, Haidian, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No.36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, China.
| | - Xu Ma
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100080, China. .,Center for Genetics, National Research Institute for Family Planning, 12 Dahuisi Road, Haidian, Beijing, 100081, China. .,World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research in Human Reproduction, Beijing, 100081, China.
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Gajula RP, Chettiar ST, Williams RD, Nugent K, Kato Y, Wang H, Malek R, Taparra K, Cades J, Annadanam A, Yoon AR, Fertig E, Firulli BA, Mazzacurati L, Burns TF, Firulli AB, An SS, Tran PT. Structure-function studies of the bHLH phosphorylation domain of TWIST1 in prostate cancer cells. Neoplasia 2015; 17:16-31. [PMID: 25622896 PMCID: PMC4309734 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2014.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2014] [Revised: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The TWIST1 gene has diverse roles in development and pathologic diseases such as cancer. TWIST1 is a dimeric basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor existing as TWIST1-TWIST1 or TWIST1-E12/47. TWIST1 partner choice and DNA binding can be influenced during development by phosphorylation of Thr125 and Ser127 of the Thr-Gln-Ser (TQS) motif within the bHLH of TWIST1. The significance of these TWIST1 phosphorylation sites for metastasis is unknown. We created stable isogenic prostate cancer cell lines overexpressing TWIST1 wild-type, phospho-mutants, and tethered versions. We assessed these isogenic lines using assays that mimic stages of cancer metastasis. In vitro assays suggested the phospho-mimetic Twist1-DQD mutation could confer cellular properties associated with pro-metastatic behavior. The hypo-phosphorylation mimic Twist1-AQA mutation displayed reduced pro-metastatic activity compared to wild-type TWIST1 in vitro, suggesting that phosphorylation of the TWIST1 TQS motif was necessary for pro-metastatic functions. In vivo analysis demonstrates that the Twist1-AQA mutation exhibits reduced capacity to contribute to metastasis, whereas the expression of the Twist1-DQD mutation exhibits proficient metastatic potential. Tethered TWIST1-E12 heterodimers phenocopied the Twist1-DQD mutation for many in vitro assays, suggesting that TWIST1 phosphorylation may result in heterodimerization in prostate cancer cells. Lastly, the dual phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor BEZ235 strongly attenuated TWIST1-induced migration that was dependent on the TQS motif. TWIST1 TQS phosphorylation state determines the intensity of TWIST1-induced pro-metastatic ability in prostate cancer cells, which may be partly explained mechanistically by TWIST1 dimeric partner choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajendra P Gajula
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sivarajan T Chettiar
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Russell D Williams
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Katriana Nugent
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yoshinori Kato
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Cancer Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hailun Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Reem Malek
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kekoa Taparra
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Cellular and Molecular Medicine Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jessica Cades
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anvesh Annadanam
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - A-Rum Yoon
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elana Fertig
- Department of Oncology, Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Beth A Firulli
- Department of Pediatrics, Riley Heart Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Lucia Mazzacurati
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Timothy F Burns
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anthony B Firulli
- Department of Pediatrics, Riley Heart Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Steven S An
- In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Phuoc T Tran
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Cellular and Molecular Medicine Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Abstract
TWIST proteins are important for development of embryonic skeletal muscle and play a role in the metabolism of tumor and white adipose tissue. The impact of TWIST on metabolism in skeletal muscle is incompletely studied. Our aim was to assess the impact of TWIST1 and TWIST2 overexpression on glucose and lipid metabolism. In intact mouse muscle, overexpression of Twist reduced total glycogen content without altering glucose uptake. Expression of TWIST1 or TWIST2 reduced Pdk4 mRNA, while increasing mRNA levels of Il6, Tnfα, and Il1β. Phosphorylation of AKT was increased and protein abundance of acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) was decreased in skeletal muscle overexpressing TWIST1 or TWIST2. Glycogen synthesis and fatty acid oxidation remained stable in C2C12 cells overexpressing TWIST1 or TWIST2. Finally, skeletal muscle mRNA levels remain unaltered in ob/ob mice, type 2 diabetic patients, or in healthy subjects before and after 3 months of exercise training. Collectively, our results indicate that TWIST1 and TWIST2 are expressed in skeletal muscle. Overexpression of these proteins impacts proteins in metabolic pathways and mRNA level of cytokines. However, skeletal muscle levels of TWIST transcripts are unaltered in metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Mudry
- Section for Integrative PhysiologyDepartment of Molecular Medicine and SurgerySection for Integrative PhysiologyDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Julie Massart
- Section for Integrative PhysiologyDepartment of Molecular Medicine and SurgerySection for Integrative PhysiologyDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ferenc L M Szekeres
- Section for Integrative PhysiologyDepartment of Molecular Medicine and SurgerySection for Integrative PhysiologyDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Krook
- Section for Integrative PhysiologyDepartment of Molecular Medicine and SurgerySection for Integrative PhysiologyDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden Section for Integrative PhysiologyDepartment of Molecular Medicine and SurgerySection for Integrative PhysiologyDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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VanDusen NJ, Casanovas J, Vincentz JW, Firulli BA, Osterwalder M, Lopez-Rios J, Zeller R, Zhou B, Grego-Bessa J, De La Pompa JL, Shou W, Firulli AB. Hand2 is an essential regulator for two Notch-dependent functions within the embryonic endocardium. Cell Rep 2014; 9:2071-83. [PMID: 25497097 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Revised: 10/24/2014] [Accepted: 11/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor Hand2 plays critical roles during cardiac morphogenesis via expression and function within myocardial, neural crest, and epicardial cell populations. Here, we show that Hand2 plays two essential Notch-dependent roles within the endocardium. Endocardial ablation of Hand2 results in failure to develop a patent tricuspid valve, intraventricular septum defects, and hypotrabeculated ventricles, which collectively resemble the human congenital defect tricuspid atresia. We show endocardial Hand2 to be an integral downstream component of a Notch endocardium-to-myocardium signaling pathway and a direct transcriptional regulator of Neuregulin1. Additionally, Hand2 participates in endocardium-to-endocardium-based cell signaling, with Hand2 mutant hearts displaying an increased density of coronary lumens. Molecular analyses further reveal dysregulation of several crucial components of Vegf signaling, including VegfA, VegfR2, Nrp1, and VegfR3. Thus, Hand2 functions as a crucial downstream transcriptional effector of endocardial Notch signaling during both cardiogenesis and coronary vasculogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan J VanDusen
- Riley Heart Research Center, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Jose Casanovas
- Riley Heart Research Center, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Joshua W Vincentz
- Riley Heart Research Center, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Beth A Firulli
- Riley Heart Research Center, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Marco Osterwalder
- Developmental Genetics, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Javier Lopez-Rios
- Developmental Genetics, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rolf Zeller
- Developmental Genetics, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Bin Zhou
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Joaquim Grego-Bessa
- Department of Developmental Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - José Luis De La Pompa
- Cardiovascular Developmental Biology Program, Cardiovascular Development and Repair Department, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Weinian Shou
- Riley Heart Research Center, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Anthony B Firulli
- Riley Heart Research Center, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Departments of Pediatrics and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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Lee MP, Ratner N, Yutzey KE. Genome-wide Twist1 occupancy in endocardial cushion cells, embryonic limb buds, and peripheral nerve sheath tumor cells. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:821. [PMID: 25262113 PMCID: PMC4190347 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Accepted: 09/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Twist1 has well-documented roles in progenitor populations of the developing embryo, including endocardial cushions (ECC) and limb buds, and also in cancer. Whether Twist1 regulates the same transcriptional targets in different tissue types is largely unknown. Results The tissue-specificity of Twist1 genomic occupancy was examined in mouse ECCs, limb buds, and peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST) cells using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (Chip-seq) analysis. Consistent with known Twist1 functions during development and in cancer cells, Twist1-DNA binding regions associated with genes related to cell migration and adhesion were detected in all three tissues. However, the vast majority of Twist1 binding regions were specific to individual tissue types. Thus, while Twist1 has similar functions in ECCs, limb buds, and PNST cells, the specific genomic sequences occupied by Twist1 were different depending on cellular context. Subgroups of shared genes, also predominantly related to cell adhesion and migration, were identified in pairwise comparisons of ECC, limb buds and PNST cells. Twist1 genomic occupancy was detected for six binding regions in all tissue types, and Twist1-binding sequences associated with Chst11, Litaf, Ror2, and Spata5 also bound the potential Twist1 cofactor RREB1. Pathway analysis of the genes associated with Twist1 binding suggests that Twist1 may regulate genes associated with the Wnt signaling pathway in ECCs and limb buds. Conclusions Together, these data indicate that Twist1 interacts with genes that regulate adhesion and migration in different tissues, potentially through distinct sets of target genes. In addition, there is a small subset of genes occupied by Twist1 in all three tissues that may represent a core group of Twist1 target genes in multiple cell types. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-821) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Katherine E Yutzey
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA.
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Firulli BA, Fuchs RK, Vincentz JW, Clouthier DE, Firulli AB. Hand1 phosphoregulation within the distal arch neural crest is essential for craniofacial morphogenesis. Development 2014; 141:3050-61. [PMID: 25053435 DOI: 10.1242/dev.107680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
In this study we examine the consequences of altering Hand1 phosphoregulation in the developing neural crest cells (NCCs) of mice. Whereas Hand1 deletion in NCCs reveals a nonessential role for Hand1 in craniofacial development and embryonic survival, altering Hand1 phosphoregulation, and consequently Hand1 dimerization affinities, in NCCs results in severe mid-facial clefting and neonatal death. Hand1 phosphorylation mutants exhibit a non-cell-autonomous increase in pharyngeal arch cell death accompanied by alterations in Fgf8 and Shh pathway expression. Together, our data indicate that the extreme distal pharyngeal arch expression domain of Hand1 defines a novel bHLH-dependent activity, and that disruption of established Hand1 dimer phosphoregulation within this domain disrupts normal craniofacial patterning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth A Firulli
- Riley Heart Research Center, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Departments of Anatomy and Medical, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, Indiana Medical School, 1044 W. Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5225, USA
| | - Robyn K Fuchs
- Department of Physical Therapy and the Center for Translational Musculoskeletal Research, School of Health and Rehabilitation Science, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Joshua W Vincentz
- Riley Heart Research Center, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Departments of Anatomy and Medical, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, Indiana Medical School, 1044 W. Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5225, USA
| | - David E Clouthier
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12801 E 17th Avenue, Rm. 11-109, MS 8120, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Anthony B Firulli
- Riley Heart Research Center, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Departments of Anatomy and Medical, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, Indiana Medical School, 1044 W. Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5225, USA
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Meijer DH, Sun Y, Liu T, Kane MF, Alberta JA, Adelmant G, Kupp R, Marto JA, Rowitch DH, Nakatani Y, Stiles CD, Mehta S. An amino terminal phosphorylation motif regulates intranuclear compartmentalization of Olig2 in neural progenitor cells. J Neurosci 2014; 34:8507-18. [PMID: 24948806 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0309-14.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The bHLH transcription factor Olig2 is expressed in cycling neural progenitor cells but also in terminally differentiated, myelinating oligodendrocytes. Sustained expression of Olig2 is counterintuitive because all known functions of the protein in expansion of neural progenitors and specification of oligodendrocyte progenitors are completed with the formation of mature white matter. How are the biological functions of Olig2 suppressed in terminally differentiated oligodendrocytes? In previous studies, we have shown that a triple serine motif in the amino terminus of Olig2 is phosphorylated in cycling neural progenitors but not in their differentiated progeny. We now show that phosphorylation of the triple serine motif regulates intranuclear compartmentalization of murine Olig2. Phosphorylated Olig2 is preferentially localized to a transcriptionally active "open" chromatin compartment together with coregulator proteins essential for regulation of gene expression. Unphosphorylated Olig2, as seen in mature white matter, is localized mainly within a transcriptionally inactive, chromatin fraction characterized by condensed and inaccessible DNA. Of special note is the observation that the p53 tumor suppressor protein is confined to the open chromatin fraction. Proximity ligation assays show that phosphorylation brings Olig2 within 30 nm of p53 within the open chromatin compartment. The data thus shed light on previously noted promitogenic functions of phosphorylated Olig2, which reflect, at least in part, an oppositional relationship with p53 functions.
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Loebel DA, Hor AC, Bildsoe HK, Tam PP. Timed deletion of Twist1 in the limb bud reveals age-specific impacts on autopod and zeugopod patterning. PLoS One 2014; 9:e98945. [PMID: 24893291 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2014] [Accepted: 05/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Twist1 encodes a transcription factor that plays a vital role in limb development. We have used a tamoxifen-inducible Cre transgene, Ubc-CreERT2, to generate time-specific deletions of Twist1 by inducing Cre activity in mouse embryos at different ages from embryonic (E) day 9.5 onwards. A novel forelimb phenotype of supernumerary pre-axial digits and enlargement or partial duplication of the distal radius was observed when Cre activity was induced at E9.5. Gene expression analysis revealed significant upregulation of Hoxd10, Hoxd11 and Grem1 in the anterior half of the forelimb bud at E11.5. There is also localized upregulation of Ptch1, Hand2 and Hoxd13 at the site of ectopic digit formation, indicating a posterior molecular identity for the supernumerary digits. The specific skeletal phenotypes, which include duplication of digits and distal zeugopods but no overt posteriorization, differ from those of other Twist1 conditional knockout mutants. This outcome may be attributed to the deferment of Twist1 ablation to a later time frame of limb morphogenesis, which leads to the ectopic activation of posterior genes in the anterior tissues after the establishment of anterior-posterior anatomical identities in the forelimb bud.
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Abstract
Preaxial polydactyly (PPD) is a common congenital abnormality and its classification varies among geneticists and hand surgeons. For example, the triphalangeal thumb, preaxial polysyndactyly, and the mirror hand deformity are considered as forms of PPD only in the genetics literature. Preaxial polydactyly is an error in the anteroposterior axis of the development of the upper limb. In this paper, the development of this axis is detailed and all molecular events that are known to lead to PPD are reviewed. Finally, based on the review, PPD is viewed as a spectrum of severity of embryonic events.
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Bouard C, Terreux R, Hope J, Chemelle JA, Puisieux A, Ansieau S, Payen L. Interhelical loops within the bHLH domain are determinant in maintaining TWIST1-DNA complexes. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2013; 32:226-41. [PMID: 23527594 PMCID: PMC3869052 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2012.762722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor TWIST1 is essential to embryonic development, and hijacking of its function contributes to the development of numerous cancer types. It forms either a homodimer or a heterodimeric complex with an E2A or HAND partner. These functionally distinct complexes display sometimes antagonistic functions during development, so that alterations in the balance between them lead to pronounced morphological alterations, as observed in mice and in Saethre–Chotzen syndrome patients. We, here, describe the structures of TWIST1 bHLH–DNA complexes produced in silico through molecular dynamics simulations. We highlight the determinant role of the interhelical loops in maintaining the TWIST1–DNA complex structures and provide a structural explanation for the loss of function associated with several TWIST1 mutations/insertions observed in Saethre–Chotzen syndrome patients. An animated interactive 3D complement (I3DC) is available in Proteopedia at http://proteopedia.org/w/Journal:JBSD:27
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Bouard
- a Centre de Recherche en Cancerologie de Lyon , Lyon , F-69000 , France
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Vincentz JW, Firulli BA, Lin A, Spicer DB, Howard MJ, Firulli AB. Twist1 controls a cell-specification switch governing cell fate decisions within the cardiac neural crest. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003405. [PMID: 23555309 PMCID: PMC3605159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2012] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural crest cells are multipotent progenitor cells that can generate both ectodermal cell types, such as neurons, and mesodermal cell types, such as smooth muscle. The mechanisms controlling this cell fate choice are not known. The basic Helix-loop-Helix (bHLH) transcription factor Twist1 is expressed throughout the migratory and post-migratory cardiac neural crest. Twist1 ablation or mutation of the Twist-box causes differentiation of ectopic neuronal cells, which molecularly resemble sympathetic ganglia, in the cardiac outflow tract. Twist1 interacts with the pro-neural factor Sox10 via its Twist-box domain and binds to the Phox2b promoter to repress transcriptional activity. Mesodermal cardiac neural crest trans-differentiation into ectodermal sympathetic ganglia-like neurons is dependent upon Phox2b function. Ectopic Twist1 expression in neural crest precursors disrupts sympathetic neurogenesis. These data demonstrate that Twist1 functions in post-migratory neural crest cells to repress pro-neural factors and thereby regulate cell fate determination between ectodermal and mesodermal lineages. During vertebrate development, a unique population of cells, termed neural crest cells, migrates throughout the developing embryo, generating various cell types, for example, the smooth muscle that divides the aorta and pulmonary artery where they connect to the heart, and the autonomic neurons, which coordinate organ function. The distinctions between neural crest cells that will form smooth muscle and those that will become neurons are thought to occur prior to migration. Here, we show that, in mice with mutations of the transcription factor Twist1, a subpopulation of presumptive smooth muscle cells, following migration to the heart, instead mis-specify to resemble autonomic neurons. Twist1 represses transcription of the pro-neural factor Phox2b both through antagonism of its upstream effector, Sox10, and through direct binding to its promoter. Phox2b is absolutely required for autonomic neuron development, and indeed, the aberrant neurons in Twist1 mutants disappear when Phox2b is also mutated. Ectopic Twist1 expression within all neural crest cells disrupts the specification of normal autonomic neurons. Collectively, these data reveal that neural crest cells can alter their cell fate from mesoderm to ectoderm after they have migrated and that Twist1 functions to maintain neural crest cell potency during embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua W Vincentz
- Riley Heart Research Center, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Division of Pediatrics Cardiology, Departments of Anatomy, Indiana University Medical School, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
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Kragl M, Roensch K, Nüsslein I, Tazaki A, Taniguchi Y, Tarui H, Hayashi T, Agata K, Tanaka EM. Muscle and connective tissue progenitor populations show distinct Twist1 and Twist3 expression profiles during axolotl limb regeneration. Dev Biol 2012; 373:196-204. [PMID: 23103585 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2012] [Revised: 10/16/2012] [Accepted: 10/16/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Limb regeneration involves re-establishing a limb development program from cells within adult tissues. Identifying molecular handles that provide insight into the relationship between cell differentiation status and cell lineage is an important step to study limb blastema cell formation. Here, using single cell PCR, focusing on newly isolated Twist1 sequences, we molecularly profile axolotl limb blastema cells using several progenitor cell markers. We link their molecular expression profile to their embryonic lineage via cell tracking experiments. We use in situ hybridization to determine the spatial localization and extent of overlap of different markers and cell types. Finally, we show by single cell PCR that the mature axolotl limb harbors a small but significant population of Twist1(+) cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kragl
- Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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Li S, Mattar P, Zinyk D, Singh K, Chaturvedi CP, Kovach C, Dixit R, Kurrasch DM, Ma YC, Chan JA, Wallace V, Dilworth FJ, Brand M, Schuurmans C. GSK3 temporally regulates neurogenin 2 proneural activity in the neocortex. J Neurosci 2012; 32:7791-805. [PMID: 22674256 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1309-12.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The neocortex is comprised of six neuronal layers that are generated in a defined temporal sequence. While extrinsic and intrinsic cues are known to regulate the sequential production of neocortical neurons, how these factors interact and function in a coordinated manner is poorly understood. The proneural gene Neurog2 is expressed in progenitors throughout corticogenesis, but is only required to specify early-born, deep-layer neuronal identities. Here, we examined how neuronal differentiation in general and Neurog2 function in particular are temporally controlled during murine neocortical development. We found that Neurog2 proneural activity declines in late corticogenesis, correlating with its phosphorylation by GSK3 kinase. Accordingly, GSK3 activity, which is negatively regulated by canonical Wnt signaling, increases over developmental time, while Wnt signaling correspondingly decreases. When ectopically activated, GSK3 inhibits Neurog2-mediated transcription in cultured cells and Neurog2 proneural activities in vivo. Conversely, a reduction in GSK3 activity promotes the precocious differentiation of later stage cortical progenitors without influencing laminar fate specification. Mechanistically, we show that GSK3 suppresses Neurog2 activity by influencing its choice of dimerization partner, promoting heterodimeric interactions with E47 (Tcfe2a), as opposed to Neurog2-Neurog2 homodimer formation, which occurs when GSK3 activity levels are low. At the functional level, Neurog2-E47 heterodimers have a reduced ability to transactivate neuronal differentiation genes compared with Neurog2-Neurog2 homodimers, both in vitro and in vivo. We thus conclude that the temporal regulation of Neurog2-E47 heterodimerization by GSK3 is a central component of the neuronal differentiation "clock" that coordinates the timing and tempo of neocortical neurogenesis in mouse.
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Pham D, Vincentz JW, Firulli AB, Kaplan MH. Twist1 regulates Ifng expression in Th1 cells by interfering with Runx3 function. J Immunol 2012; 189:832-40. [PMID: 22685315 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1200854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
A transcription factor network that includes STAT4, T-bet, and Runx3 promotes the differentiation of Th1 cells and inflammatory immune responses. How additional transcription factors regulate the function of Th1 cells has not been defined. In this study we show that the negative regulatory factor Twist1 decreases expression of T-bet, Runx3, and IL-12Rβ2 as it inhibits IFN-γ production. Ectopic expression of Runx3, but not T-bet or IL-12Rβ2, compensates for the effects of Twist1 on IFN-γ production, and Twist1 regulation of Ifng depends on complex formation with Runx3. Twist1 decreases Runx3 and T-bet binding at the Ifng locus, and it decreases chromatin looping within the Ifng locus. These data define an IL-12/STAT4-induced negative regulatory loop that impacts multiple components of the Th1 transcriptional network and provide further insight into regulation of Th1 differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duy Pham
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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Rabinowitz AH, Vokes SA. Integration of the transcriptional networks regulating limb morphogenesis. Dev Biol 2012; 368:165-80. [PMID: 22683377 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2012] [Revised: 05/29/2012] [Accepted: 05/29/2012] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The developing limb is one of the best described vertebrate systems for understanding how coordinated gene expression during embryogenesis leads to the structures present in the mature organism. This knowledge, derived from decades of research, is largely based upon gain- and loss-of-function experiments. These studies have provided limited information about how the key signaling pathways interact with each other and the downstream effectors of these pathways. We summarize our current understanding of known genetic interactions in the context of three temporally defined gene regulatory networks. These networks crystallize our current knowledge, depicting a dynamic process involving multiple feedback loops between the ectoderm and mesoderm. At the same time, they highlight the fact that many essential processes are still largely undescribed. Much of the dynamic transcriptional activity occurring during development is regulated by distal cis-regulatory elements. Modern genomic tools have provided new approaches for studying the function of cis-regulatory elements and we discuss the results of these studies in regard to understanding limb development. Ultimately, these genomic techniques will allow scientists to understand how multiple signaling pathways are integrated in space and time to drive gene expression and regulate the formation of the limb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam H Rabinowitz
- Section of Molecular Cell & Developmental Biology, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, One University Station A4800, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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Abstract
This review focuses predominantly on the human congenital malformations caused by alterations affecting the morphoregulatory gene networks that control early limb bud patterning and outgrowth. Limb defects are among the most frequent congenital malformations in humans that are caused by genetic mutations or teratogenic effects resulting either in abnormal, loss of, or additional skeletal elements. Spontaneous and engineered mouse models have been used to identify and study the molecular alterations and disrupted gene networks that underlie human congenital limb malformations. More recently, mouse genetics has begun to reveal the alterations that affect the often-large cis-regulatory landscapes that control gene expression in limb buds and cause devastating effects on limb bud development. These findings have paved the way to identifying mutations in cis-regulatory regions as causal to an increasing number of congenital limb malformations in humans. In these cases, no mutations in the coding region of a presumed candidate were previously detected. This review highlights how the current understanding of the molecular gene networks and interactions that control mouse limb bud development provides insight into the etiology of human congenital limb malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimée Zuniga
- Developmental Genetics, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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VanDusen NJ, Firulli AB. Twist factor regulation of non-cardiomyocyte cell lineages in the developing heart. Differentiation 2012; 84:79-88. [PMID: 22516205 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2012.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2011] [Revised: 02/14/2012] [Accepted: 03/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The heart is a complex organ that is composed of numerous cell types, which must integrate their programs for proper specification, differentiation and cardiac morphogenesis. During cardiogenesis members of the Twist-family of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors play distinct roles within cardiac lineages such as the endocardium and extra-cardiac lineages such as the cardiac neural crest (cNCC) and epicardium. While the study of these cell populations is often eclipsed by that of cardiomyocytes, the contributions of non-cardiomyocytes to development and disease are increasingly being appreciated as both dynamic and essential. This review summarizes what is known regarding Twist-family bHLH function in extra-cardiac cell populations and the endocardium, with a focus on regulatory mechanisms, downstream targets, and expression profiles. Improving our understanding of the molecular pathways that Twist-family bHLH factors mediate in these lineages will be necessary to ascertain how their dysfunction leads to congenital disease and adult pathologies such as myocardial infarctions and cardiac fibroblast induced fibrosis. Indeed, this knowledge will prove to be critical to clinicians seeking to improve current treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan J VanDusen
- Riley Heart Research Center, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana Medical School, 1044 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46202-5225, USA
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Zhang Y, Blackwell EL, McKnight MT, Knutsen GR, Vu WT, Ruest LB. Specific inactivation of Twist1 in the mandibular arch neural crest cells affects the development of the ramus and reveals interactions with hand2. Dev Dyn 2012; 241:924-40. [PMID: 22411303 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.23776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor Twist1 fulfills an essential function in neural crest cell formation, migration, and survival and is associated with the craniosynostic Saethre-Chotzen syndrome in humans. However, its functions during mandibular development, when it may interact with other bHLH transcription factors like Hand2, are unknown because mice homozygous for the Twist1 null mutation die in early embryogenesis. To determine the role of Twist1 during mandibular development, we used the Hand2-Cre transgene to conditionally inactivate the gene in the neural crest cells populating the mandibular pharyngeal arch. RESULTS The mutant mice exhibited a spectrum of craniofacial anomalies, including mandibular hypoplasia, altered middle ear development, and cleft palate. It appears that Twist1 is essential for the survival of the neural crest cells involved in the development of the mandibular ramal elements. Twist1 plays a role in molar development and cusp formation by participating in the reciprocal signaling needed for the formation of the enamel knot. This gene is also needed to control the ossification of the mandible, a redundant role shared with Hand2. CONCLUSION Twist1, along with Hand2, is essential for the proximodistal patterning and development of the mandible and ossification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, TAMHSC-Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas, USA
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Vincentz JW, VanDusen NJ, Fleming AB, Rubart M, Firulli BA, Howard MJ, Firulli AB. A Phox2- and Hand2-dependent Hand1 cis-regulatory element reveals a unique gene dosage requirement for Hand2 during sympathetic neurogenesis. J Neurosci 2012; 32:2110-20. [PMID: 22323723 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3584-11.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural crest cell specification and differentiation to a sympathetic neuronal fate serves as an important model for neurogenesis and depends upon the function of both bHLH transcription factors, notably Hand2, and homeodomain transcription factors, including Phox2b. Here, we define a 1007 bp cis-regulatory element 5' of the Hand1 gene sufficient to drive reporter expression within the sympathetic chain of transgenic mice. Comparative genomic analyses uncovered evolutionarily conserved consensus-binding sites within this element, which chromatin immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assays confirm are bound by Hand2 and Phox2b. Mutational analyses revealed that the conserved Phox2 and E-box binding sites are necessary for proper cis-regulatory element activity, and expression analyses on both Hand2 conditionally null and hypomorphic backgrounds demonstrate that Hand2 is required for reporter activation in a gene dosage-dependent manner. We demonstrate that Hand2 and Hand1 differentially bind the E-boxes in this cis-regulatory element, establishing molecular differences between these two factors. Finally, we demonstrate that Hand1 is dispensable for normal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) expression in sympathetic neurons, even when Hand2 gene dosage is concurrently reduced by half. Together, these data define a tissue-specific Hand1 cis-regulatory element controlled by two factors essential for the development of the sympathetic nervous system and provide in vivo regulatory evidence to support previous findings that Hand2, rather than Hand1, is predominantly responsible for regulating TH, DBH, and Hand1 expression in developing sympathetic neurons.
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