1
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Hinrichs AK, Koch A, Richter AM. Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay for Prescreening CRISPR (d)Cas9-Mediated Epigenetic Editing on a Plant Promoter Using Human Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2788:273-285. [PMID: 38656520 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3782-1_16] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic editing, also known as EpiEdit, offers an exciting way to control gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. In this study, we evaluate the application of EpiEdit to plant promoters, specifically the MLO (mildew locus o) gene promoter. We use a modified CRISPR-(d)Cas9 system, in which the nuclease-deficient Cas9 (dCas9) is fused to an epigenetic modifier, to experimentally demonstrate the utility of this tool for optimizing epigenetic engineering of a plant promoter prior to in vivo plant epigenome editing. Guide RNAs are used to deliver the dCas9-epigenetic modifier fusion protein to the target gene sequence, where it induces modification of MLO gene expression. We perform preliminary experiments using a plant promoter cloned into the luciferase reporter system, which is transfected into a human system and analyzed using the dual-luciferase reporter assay. The results suggest that this approach may be useful in the early stages of plant epigenome editing, as it can aid in the selection of appropriate modifications to the plant promoter prior to conducting in vivo experiments under plant system conditions. Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of CRISPR (d)Cas9-based EpiEdit for precise and controlled regulation of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Kathrin Hinrichs
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Department of Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, Plant RNA Transport, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Aline Koch
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Department of Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, Plant RNA Transport, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Antje M Richter
- Institute for Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
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2
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Tiane A, Schepers M, Reijnders RA, van Veggel L, Chenine S, Rombaut B, Dempster E, Verfaillie C, Wasner K, Grünewald A, Prickaerts J, Pishva E, Hellings N, van den Hove D, Vanmierlo T. From methylation to myelination: epigenomic and transcriptomic profiling of chronic inactive demyelinated multiple sclerosis lesions. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 146:283-299. [PMID: 37286732 PMCID: PMC10328906 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02596-8] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In the progressive phase of multiple sclerosis (MS), the hampered differentiation capacity of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) eventually results in remyelination failure. We have previously shown that DNA methylation of Id2/Id4 is highly involved in OPC differentiation and remyelination. In this study, we took an unbiased approach by determining genome-wide DNA methylation patterns within chronically demyelinated MS lesions and investigated how certain epigenetic signatures relate to OPC differentiation capacity. We compared genome-wide DNA methylation and transcriptional profiles between chronically demyelinated MS lesions and matched normal-appearing white matter (NAWM), making use of post-mortem brain tissue (n = 9/group). DNA methylation differences that inversely correlated with mRNA expression of their corresponding genes were validated for their cell-type specificity in laser-captured OPCs using pyrosequencing. The CRISPR-dCas9-DNMT3a/TET1 system was used to epigenetically edit human-iPSC-derived oligodendrocytes to assess the effect on cellular differentiation. Our data show hypermethylation of CpGs within genes that cluster in gene ontologies related to myelination and axon ensheathment. Cell type-specific validation indicates a region-dependent hypermethylation of MBP, encoding for myelin basic protein, in OPCs obtained from white matter lesions compared to NAWM-derived OPCs. By altering the DNA methylation state of specific CpGs within the promotor region of MBP, using epigenetic editing, we show that cellular differentiation and myelination can be bidirectionally manipulated using the CRISPR-dCas9-DNMT3a/TET1 system in vitro. Our data indicate that OPCs within chronically demyelinated MS lesions acquire an inhibitory phenotype, which translates into hypermethylation of crucial myelination-related genes. Altering the epigenetic status of MBP can restore the differentiation capacity of OPCs and possibly boost (re)myelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assia Tiane
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- University MS Center (UMSC) Hasselt, Pelt, Belgium
| | - Melissa Schepers
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- University MS Center (UMSC) Hasselt, Pelt, Belgium
| | - Rick A. Reijnders
- Department Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Lieve van Veggel
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- University MS Center (UMSC) Hasselt, Pelt, Belgium
| | - Sarah Chenine
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- University MS Center (UMSC) Hasselt, Pelt, Belgium
| | - Ben Rombaut
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- University MS Center (UMSC) Hasselt, Pelt, Belgium
| | - Emma Dempster
- Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Catherine Verfaillie
- Stem Cell Institute, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kobi Wasner
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Anne Grünewald
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jos Prickaerts
- Department Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Ehsan Pishva
- Department Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Niels Hellings
- University MS Center (UMSC) Hasselt, Pelt, Belgium
- Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Daniel van den Hove
- Department Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tim Vanmierlo
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- University MS Center (UMSC) Hasselt, Pelt, Belgium
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3
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Morita S, Horii T, Hatada I. Regulation of Gene Expression Using dCas9-SunTag Platforms. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2577:189-195. [PMID: 36173574 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2724-2_13] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Regulating gene expression is important for basic research and therapeutic applications. The epigenome is a record of genetic modifications such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, and epigenetic changes can play a key role in modifying gene expression. With the advent of genome editing technologies, it has become possible to manipulate the epigenome of specific genomic regions to control gene expression. In particular, CRISPR-Cas9 systems have been used widely for epigenome editing due to their high efficiency, versatility, specificity, and ease of use. Here, we describe a protocol for the upregulation of specific genes using the dCas9-SunTag system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumiyo Morita
- Laboratory of Genome Science, Biosignal Genome Resource Center, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Takuro Horii
- Laboratory of Genome Science, Biosignal Genome Resource Center, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Izuho Hatada
- Laboratory of Genome Science, Biosignal Genome Resource Center, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
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4
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Gevaert AB, Wood N, Boen JRA, Davos CH, Hansen D, Hanssen H, Krenning G, Moholdt T, Osto E, Paneni F, Pedretti RFE, Plösch T, Simonenko M, Bowen TS. Epigenetics in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: influence of exercise and nutrition. Eur J Prev Cardiol 2022; 29:2183-2199. [PMID: 35989414 DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwac179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence links changes in epigenetic systems, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA expression, to the occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). These epigenetic modifications can change genetic function under influence of exogenous stimuli and can be transferred to next generations, providing a potential mechanism for inheritance of behavioural intervention effects. The benefits of exercise and nutritional interventions in the primary and secondary prevention of CVD are well established, but the mechanisms are not completely understood. In this review, we describe the acute and chronic epigenetic effects of physical activity and dietary changes. We propose exercise and nutrition as potential triggers of epigenetic signals, promoting the reshaping of transcriptional programmes with effects on CVD phenotypes. Finally, we highlight recent developments in epigenetic therapeutics with implications for primary and secondary CVD prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas B Gevaert
- Research Group Cardiovascular Diseases, GENCOR Department, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken D.T.228, Universiteitsplein 1, Antwerp 2610, Belgium.,Department of Cardiology, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Edegem, Belgium
| | - Nathanael Wood
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Jente R A Boen
- Research Group Cardiovascular Diseases, GENCOR Department, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken D.T.228, Universiteitsplein 1, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Constantinos H Davos
- Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dominique Hansen
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center Hasselt, Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium.,BIOMED-REVAL-Rehabilitation Research Centre, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Henner Hanssen
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Sports and Exercise Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Guido Krenning
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Trine Moholdt
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Women's Health, St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Elena Osto
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,University Heart Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Laboratory of Translational Nutrition Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Paneni
- University Heart Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Research and Education, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roberto F E Pedretti
- Cardiovascular Department, IRCCS MultiMedica, Care and Research Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Torsten Plösch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Perinatal Neurobiology, Department of Human Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Maria Simonenko
- Physiology Research and Blood Circulation Department, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test SRL, Federal State Budgetary Institution, 'V.A. Almazov National Medical Research Centre' of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - T Scott Bowen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
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5
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Marx N, Dhiman H, Schmieder V, Freire CM, Nguyen LN, Klanert G, Borth N. Enhanced targeted DNA methylation of the CMV and endogenous promoters with dCas9-DNMT3A3L entails distinct subsequent histone modification changes in CHO cells. Metab Eng 2021; 66:268-282. [PMID: 33965614 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2021.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
With the emergence of new CRISPR/dCas9 tools that enable site specific modulation of DNA methylation and histone modifications, more detailed investigations of the contribution of epigenetic regulation to the precise phenotype of cells in culture, including recombinant production subclones, is now possible. These also allow a wide range of applications in metabolic engineering once the impact of such epigenetic modifications on the chromatin state is available. In this study, enhanced DNA methylation tools were targeted to a recombinant viral promoter (CMV), an endogenous promoter that is silenced in its native state in CHO cells, but had been reactivated previously (β-galactoside α-2,6-sialyltransferase 1) and an active endogenous promoter (α-1,6-fucosyltransferase), respectively. Comparative ChIP-analysis of histone modifications revealed a general loss of active promoter histone marks and the acquisition of distinct repressive heterochromatin marks after targeted methylation. On the other hand, targeted demethylation resulted in autologous acquisition of active promoter histone marks and loss of repressive heterochromatin marks. These data suggest that DNA methylation directs the removal or deposition of specific histone marks associated with either active, poised or silenced chromatin. Moreover, we show that de novo methylation of the CMV promoter results in reduced transgene expression in CHO cells. Although targeted DNA methylation is not efficient, the transgene is repressed, thus offering an explanation for seemingly conflicting reports about the source of CMV promoter instability in CHO cells. Importantly, modulation of epigenetic marks enables to nudge the cell into a specific gene expression pattern or phenotype, which is stabilized in the cell by autologous addition of further epigenetic marks. Such engineering strategies have the added advantage of being reversible and potentially tunable to not only turn on or off a targeted gene, but also to achieve the setting of a desirable expression level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Marx
- BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Center for Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Heena Dhiman
- BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Center for Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Valerie Schmieder
- BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Center for Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Ly Ngoc Nguyen
- BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Center for Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerald Klanert
- Austrian Center for Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicole Borth
- BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Center for Industrial Biotechnology GmbH, Vienna, Austria.
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6
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Rahman MM, Tollefsbol TO. Targeting cancer epigenetics with CRISPR-dCAS9: Principles and prospects. Methods 2021; 187:77-91. [PMID: 32315755 PMCID: PMC7572534 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2020.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer therapeutics is an ever-evolving field due to incessant demands for effective and precise treatment options. Over the last few decades, cancer treatment strategies have shifted somewhat from surgery to targeted precision medicine. CRISPR-dCas9 is an emerging version of precision cancer therapy that has been adapted from the prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas system. Once ligated to epigenetic effectors (EE), CRISPR-dCas9 can function as an epigenetic editing tool and CRISPR-dCas9-EE complexes could be exploited to alter cancerous epigenetic features associated with different cancer hallmarks. In this article, we discuss the rationale of epigenetic editing as a therapeutic strategy against cancer. We also outline how sgRNA-dCas9 was derived from the CRISPR-Cas system. In addition, the current status of sgRNA-dCas9 use (in vivo and in vitro) in cancer is updated with a molecular illustration of CRISPR-dCas9-mediated epigenetic and transcriptional modulation. As sgRNA-dCas9 is still at the developmental phase, challenges are inherent to its use. We evaluate major challenges in targeting cancer with sgRNA-dCas9 such as off-target effects, lack of sgRNA designing rubrics, target site selection dilemmas and deficient sgRNA-dCas9 delivery systems. Finally, we appraise the sgRNA-dCas9 as a prospective cancer therapeutic by summarizing ongoing improvements of sgRNA-dCas9 methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Mijanur Rahman
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1300 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Trygve O Tollefsbol
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1300 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging, University of Alabama Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama Birmingham, 1802 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; Nutrition Obesity Research Center, University of Alabama Birmingham, 1675 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; Comprehensive Diabetes Center, University of Alabama Birmingham, 1825 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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7
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Li X, Huang L, Pan L, Wang B, Pan L. CRISPR/dCas9-mediated epigenetic modification reveals differential regulation of histone acetylation on Aspergillus niger secondary metabolite. Microbiol Res 2021; 245:126694. [PMID: 33482403 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2020.126694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic studies on secondary metabolites (SMs) mainly relied so far on non-selective epigenetic factors deletion or feeding epigenetic inhibitors in Aspergillus niger. Although technologies developed for epigenome editing at specific loci now enable the direct study of the functional relevance of precise gene regulation and epigenetic modification, relevant assays are limited in filamentous fungi. Herein, we show that CRISPR/dCas9-mediated histone epigenetic modification systems efficiently reprogramed the expression of target genes in A. niger. First, we constructed a p300-dCas9 system and demonstrated the activation of a EGFP fluorescent reporter. Second, by precisely locating histone acetylase p300 on ATG adjacent region of secondary metabolic gene breF, the transcription of breF was activated. Third, p300-dCas9 was guided to the native polyketide synthase (PKS) gene fuml, which increased production of the compound fumonisin B2 detected by HPLC and LC-MS. Then, endogenous histone acetylase GcnE-dCas9 and histone deacetylases HosA-dCas9 and RpdA-dCas9 repressed the transcription of breF. Finally, by targeting HosA-dCa9 fusion to pigment gene fwnA, we confirmed that histone deacetylase HosA activated the expression of fwnA, accelerated the synthesis of melanin. Targeted epigenome editing is a promising technology and this study is the first time to apply the epigenetic CRISPR/dCas9 system on regulating the expression of the secondary metabolic genes in A. niger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejie Li
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, No. 382 Waihuan East Rd, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Lianggang Huang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, No. 382 Waihuan East Rd, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Lijie Pan
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, No. 382 Waihuan East Rd, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bin Wang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, No. 382 Waihuan East Rd, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Li Pan
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, No. 382 Waihuan East Rd, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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8
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Deutschmeyer VE, Richter AM. The ZAR1 protein in cancer; from epigenetic silencing to functional characterisation and epigenetic therapy of tumour suppressors. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2020; 1874:188417. [PMID: 32828887 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 06/21/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
ZAR1, zygote arrest 1, is a zinc finger protein (C-terminus), which was initially identified in mouse oocytes. Later it was found that its expression is present in various human tissues e.g. lung and kidney. Interestingly, it was observed that in various tumour types the ZAR1 transcript is missing due to hypermethylation of its CpG island promoter, but not ZAR2. Since methylation of the ZAR1 promoter is described as a frequent event in tumourigenesis, ZAR1 could serve as a useful diagnostic marker in cancer screens. ZAR1 was described as a useful prognostic/diagnostic cancer marker for lung cancer, kidney cancer, melanoma and possibly liver carcinoma. Furthermore, ZAR1 was reactivated as a tumour suppressor by epigenetic therapy using CRISPR-dCas9 method. This method holds the potential to precisely target not only ZAR1 and reactivate tumour suppressors in a tailored cancer therapy. ZAR1 is highly conserved amongst vertebrates, especially its zinc finger, which is the relevant domain for its protein and RNA binding ability. ZAR1 is implicated in various cellular mechanisms including regulation of oocyte/embryo development, cell cycle control and mRNA binding, though little was known about the underlying mechanisms. ZAR1 was reported to regulate and activate translation through the binding to TCS translation control sequences in the 3'UTRs of its target mRNA the kinase WEE1. ZAR1 has a tumour suppressing function by inhibiting cell cycle progression. Here we review the current literature on ZAR1 focusing on structural, functional and epigenetic aspects. Characterising the cellular mechanisms that regulate the signalling pathways ZAR1 is involved in, could lead to a deeper understanding of tumour development and, furthermore, to new strategies in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antje M Richter
- Institute for Genetics, University of Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; Max-Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
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9
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Deutschmeyer V, Breuer J, Walesch SK, Sokol AM, Graumann J, Bartkuhn M, Boettger T, Rossbach O, Richter AM. Epigenetic therapy of novel tumour suppressor ZAR1 and its cancer biomarker function. Clin Epigenetics 2019; 11:182. [PMID: 31801617 PMCID: PMC6894338 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0774-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer still is one of the leading causes of death and its death toll is predicted to rise further. We identified earlier the potential tumour suppressor zygote arrest 1 (ZAR1) to play a role in lung carcinogenesis through its epigenetic inactivation. Results We are the first to report that ZAR1 is epigenetically inactivated not only in lung cancer but also across cancer types, and ZAR1 methylation occurs across its complete CpG island. ZAR1 hypermethylation significantly correlates with its expression reduction in cancers. We are also the first to report that ZAR1 methylation and expression reduction are of clinical importance as a prognostic marker for lung cancer and kidney cancer. We further established that the carboxy (C)-terminally present zinc-finger of ZAR1 is relevant for its tumour suppression function and its protein partner binding associated with the mRNA/ribosomal network. Global gene expression profiling supported ZAR1's role in cell cycle arrest and p53 signalling pathway, and we could show that ZAR1 growth suppression was in part p53 dependent. Using the CRISPR-dCas9 tools, we were able to prove that epigenetic editing and reactivation of ZAR1 is possible in cancer cell lines. Conclusion ZAR1 is a novel cancer biomarker for lung and kidney, which is epigenetically silenced in various cancers by DNA hypermethylation. ZAR1 exerts its tumour suppressive function in part through p53 and through its zinc-finger domain. Epigenetic therapy can reactivate the ZAR1 tumour suppressor in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Janina Breuer
- Institute for Genetics, University of Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany.,Institute for Biochemistry, University of Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Sara K Walesch
- Institute for Genetics, University of Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Anna M Sokol
- Scientific Service Group Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry, Max-Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231, Bad Nauheim, Germany.,The German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Max-Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Johannes Graumann
- Scientific Service Group Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry, Max-Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231, Bad Nauheim, Germany.,The German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Max-Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Marek Bartkuhn
- Institute for Genetics, University of Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany.,Institute for Bioinformatics, University of Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Boettger
- Max-Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Oliver Rossbach
- Institute for Biochemistry, University of Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Antje M Richter
- Institute for Genetics, University of Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany. .,Max-Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
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10
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Martinez-Redondo P, Izpisua Belmonte JC. Tailored chromatin modulation to promote tissue regeneration. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2019; 97:3-15. [PMID: 31028854 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2019.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [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: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is fundamental in the maintenance of cellular identity and the regulation of cellular plasticity during tissue repair. In fact, epigenetic modulation is associated with the processes of cellular de-differentiation, proliferation, and re-differentiation that takes place during tissue regeneration. In here we explore the epigenetic events that coordinate tissue repair in lower vertebrates with high regenerative capacity, and in mammalian adult stem cells, which are responsible for the homeostasis maintenance of most of our tissues. Finally we summarize promising CRISPR-based editing technologies developed during the last years, which look as promising tools to not only study but also promote specific events during tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paloma Martinez-Redondo
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, United States
| | - Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, United States.
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11
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Tong Y, Sun J, Wong CF, Kang Q, Ru B, Wong CN, Chan AS, Leung SY, Zhang J. MICMIC: identification of DNA methylation of distal regulatory regions with causal effects on tumorigenesis. Genome Biol 2018; 19:73. [PMID: 29871649 PMCID: PMC5989391 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-018-1442-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant promoter methylation is a common mechanism for tumor suppressor inactivation in cancer. We develop a set of tools to identify genome-wide DNA methylation in distal regions with causal effect on tumorigenesis called MICMIC. Many predictions are directly validated by dCas9-based epigenetic editing to support the accuracy and efficiency of our tool. Oncogenic and lineage-specific transcription factors are shown to aberrantly shape the methylation landscape by modifying tumor-subtype core regulatory circuitry. Notably, the gene regulatory networks orchestrated by enhancer methylation across different cancer types are seen to converge on a common architecture. MICMIC is available on https://github.com/ZhangJlab/MICMIC .
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Tong
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jianlong Sun
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chi Fat Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Qingzheng Kang
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Beibei Ru
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Ching Ngar Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - April Sheila Chan
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Suet Yi Leung
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Jiangwen Zhang
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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12
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Abstract
The hallmarks of cancer were proposed as a logical framework to guide research efforts that aim to understand the molecular mechanisms and derive treatments for this highly complex disease. Recent technological advances, including comprehensive sequencing of different cancer subtypes, have illuminated how genetic and epigenetic alterations are associated with specific hallmarks of cancer. However, as these associations are purely descriptive, one particularly exciting development is the emergence of genome editing technologies, which enable rapid generation of precise genetic and epigenetic modifications to assess the consequences of these perturbations on the cancer phenotype. The most recently developed of these tools, the system of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR), consists of an RNA-guided endonuclease that can be repurposed to edit both genome and epigenome with high specificity, and facilitates the functional interrogation of multiple loci in parallel. This system has the potential to dramatically accelerate progress in cancer research, whether by modelling the genesis and progression of cancer in vitro and in vivo, screening for novel therapeutic targets, conducting functional genomics/epigenomics, or generating targeted cancer therapies. Here, we discuss CRISPR research on each of the ten hallmarks of cancer, outline potential barriers for its clinical implementation and speculate on the advances it may allow in cancer research in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colette Moses
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Perth, Australia; School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Benjamin Garcia-Bloj
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Perth, Australia; School of Medicine, P. Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alan R Harvey
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, Australia
| | - Pilar Blancafort
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Perth, Australia; School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
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13
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Wu DD, Song J, Bartel S, Krauss-Etschmann S, Rots MG, Hylkema MN. The potential for targeted rewriting of epigenetic marks in COPD as a new therapeutic approach. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 182:1-14. [PMID: 28830839 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2017.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an age and smoking related progressive, pulmonary disorder presenting with poorly reversible airflow limitation as a result of chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The prevalence, disease burden for the individual, and mortality of COPD continues to increase, whereas no effective treatment strategies are available. For many years now, a combination of bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory corticosteroids has been most widely used for therapeutic management of patients with persistent COPD. However, this approach has had disappointing results as a large number of COPD patients are corticosteroid resistant. In patients with COPD, there is emerging evidence showing aberrant expression of epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNAs in blood, sputum and lung tissue. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches may exist using epigenetic therapy. This review aims to describe and summarize current knowledge of aberrant expression of epigenetic marks in COPD. In addition, tools available for restoration of epigenetic marks are described, as well as delivery mechanisms of epigenetic editors to cells. Targeting epigenetic marks might be a very promising tool for treatment and lung regeneration in COPD in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Dan Wu
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, The Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, GRIAC Research Institute, Groningen, The Netherlands; Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Epigenetics, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Juan Song
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, The Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, GRIAC Research Institute, Groningen, The Netherlands; Tianjin Medical University, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Immunology, Tianjin, China
| | - Sabine Bartel
- Early Life Origins of Chronic Lung Disease, Priority Area Asthma & Allergy, Leibnitz Center for Medicine and Biosciences, Research Center Borstel and Christian Albrechts University Kiel; Airway Research Center North, member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Germany
| | - Susanne Krauss-Etschmann
- Early Life Origins of Chronic Lung Disease, Priority Area Asthma & Allergy, Leibnitz Center for Medicine and Biosciences, Research Center Borstel and Christian Albrechts University Kiel; Airway Research Center North, member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Germany
| | - Marianne G Rots
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Machteld N Hylkema
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, The Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, GRIAC Research Institute, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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14
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Abstract
DNA methylation, one of the most studied epigenetic modifications, regulates many biological processes. Dysregulation of DNA methylation is implicated in the etiology of several diseases, such as cancer and imprinting diseases. Accordingly, technologies designed to manipulate DNA methylation at specific loci are very important, and many epigenome editing technologies have been developed, based on zinc finger proteins, TALEs, and CRISPR/dCas9 targeting. We describe a protocol to induce and assess DNA demethylation on a target gene. It is based on a modification of the dCas9-SunTag system for efficient, targeted demethylation at specific DNA loci. The original SunTag system consists of ten copies of the GCN4 peptide separated by 5-amino-acid linkers. To achieve efficient recruitment of an anti-GCN4 scFv fused to the ten-eleven (TET) 1 hydroxylase, an enzyme that demethylates DNA, we changed the linker length to 22 amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumiyo Morita
- Biosignal Genome Resource Center, IMCR, Gunma University, Maebashi City, Gunma, Japan
| | - Takuro Horii
- Biosignal Genome Resource Center, IMCR, Gunma University, Maebashi City, Gunma, Japan
| | - Izuho Hatada
- Biosignal Genome Resource Center, IMCR, Gunma University, Maebashi City, Gunma, Japan.
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Abstract
Studies of the mammalian nervous system have revealed widespread epigenetic regulation underlying gene expression intrinsic to basic neurobiological function as well as neurological disease. Over the past decade, a critical role has emerged for the neural regulation of chromatin-modifying enzymes during both development and adulthood, and in response to external stimuli. These biochemical data are complemented by numerous next generation sequencing (NGS) studies that quantify the extent of chromatin and DNA modifications in neurons. Neuroepigenetic editing tools can be applied to distinguish between the mere presence and functional relevance of such modifications to neural transcription and animal behavior. This review discusses current advances in neuroepigenetic editing, highlighting methodological considerations pertinent to neuroscience, such as delivery methods and the spatiotemporal specificity of editing. Although neuroepigenetic editing is a nascent field, the studies presented in this review demonstrate the enormous potential of this approach for basic neurobiological research and therapeutic application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Hamilton
- The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, New York, USA
| | - Carissa J Lim
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Eric J Nestler
- The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, New York, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Heller
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. .,Penn Epigenetics Institute, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Jurkowski TP, Ravichandran M, Stepper P. Synthetic epigenetics-towards intelligent control of epigenetic states and cell identity. Clin Epigenetics 2015; 7:18. [PMID: 25741388 PMCID: PMC4347971 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-015-0044-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics is currently one of the hottest topics in basic and biomedical research. However, to date, most of the studies have been descriptive in nature, designed to investigate static distribution of various epigenetic modifications in cells. Even though tremendous amount of information has been collected, we are still far from the complete understanding of epigenetic processes, their dynamics or even their direct effects on local chromatin and we still do not comprehend whether these epigenetic states are the cause or the consequence of the transcriptional profile of the cell. In this review, we try to define the concept of synthetic epigenetics and outline the available genome targeting technologies, which are used for locus-specific editing of epigenetic signals. We report early success stories and the lessons we have learned from them, and provide a guide for their application. Finally, we discuss existing limitations of the available technologies and indicate possible areas for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz P Jurkowski
- Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Mirunalini Ravichandran
- Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Peter Stepper
- Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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