Imbalzano Lab

Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 7 Regulates Cellular Response to DNA Damage by Methylating Promoter Histones H2A and H4 of the Polymerase delta Catalytic Subunit Gene, POLD1

Vrajesh Karkhanis et al. — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 08:40:23 PDT

Covalent modification of histones by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) impacts genome organization and gene expression. In this report, we show that PRMT7 interacts with the BRG1-based hSWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex and specifically methylates histone H2A Arg-3 (H2AR3) and histone H4 Arg-3 (H4R3). To elucidate the biological function of PRMT7, we knocked down its expression in NIH 3T3 cells and analyzed global gene expression. Our findings show that PRMT7 negatively regulates expression of genes involved in DNA repair, including ALKBH5, APEX2, POLD1, and POLD2. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) revealed that PRMT7 and dimethylated H2AR3 and H4R3 are enriched at target DNA repair genes in parental cells, whereas PRMT7 knockdown caused a significant decrease in PRMT7 recruitment and H2AR3/H4R3 methylation. Decreased PRMT7 expression also resulted in derepression of target DNA repair genes and enhanced cell resistance to DNA-damaging agents. Furthermore, we show that BRG1 co-localizes with PRMT7 on target promoters and that expression of a catalytically inactive form of BRG1 results in derepression of PRMT7 target DNA repair genes. Remarkably, reducing expression of individual PRMT7 target DNA repair genes showed that only the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase, POLD1, was able to resensitize PRMT7 knock-down cells to DNA-damaging agents. These results provide evidence for the important role played by PRMT7 in epigenetic regulation of DNA repair genes and cellular response to DNA damage.

Chd2 interacts with H3.3 to determine myogenic cell fate

Akihito Harada et al. — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 08:40:23 PDT

Cell differentiation is mediated by lineage-determining transcription factors. We show that chromodomain helicase DNA-binding domain 2 (Chd2), a SNF2 chromatin remodelling enzyme family member, interacts with MyoD and myogenic gene regulatory sequences to specifically mark these loci via deposition of the histone variant H3.3 prior to cell differentiation. Directed and genome-wide analysis of endogenous H3.3 incorporation demonstrates that knockdown of Chd2 prevents H3.3 deposition at differentiation-dependent, but not housekeeping, genes and inhibits myogenic gene activation. The data indicate that MyoD determines cell fate and facilitates differentiation-dependent gene expression through Chd2-dependent deposition of H3.3 at myogenic loci prior to differentiation.

Versatility of PRMT5-induced methylation in growth control and development

Vrajesh Karkhanis et al. — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 07:32:59 PDT

Arginine methylation governs important cellular processes that impact growth and proliferation, as well as differentiation and development. Through their ability to catalyze symmetric or asymmetric methylation of histone and non-histone proteins, members of the protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) family regulate chromatin structure and expression of a wide spectrum of target genes. Unlike other PRMTs, PRMT5 works in concert with a variety of cellular proteins including ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers and co-repressors to induce epigenetic silencing. Recent work also implicates PRMT5 in the control of growth-promoting and pro-survival pathways, which demonstrates its versatility as an enzyme involved in both epigenetic regulation of anti-cancer target genes and organelle biogenesis. These studies not only provide insight into the molecular mechanisms by which PRMT5 contributes to growth control, but also justify therapeutic targeting of PRMT5.

Isolation of nuclei from skeletal muscle satellite cells and myofibers for use in chromatin immunoprecipitation assays

Yasuyuki Ohkawa et al. — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 07:32:57 PDT

Studies investigating mechanisms controlling gene regulation frequently examine specific DNA sequences using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays to determine whether specific regulatory factors or modified histones are present. While use of primary cells or cell line models for differentiating or differentiated tissue is widespread, the ability to assess factor binding and histone modification in tissue defines the events that occur in vivo and provides corroboration for studies in cultured cells. Many tissues can be analyzed with minimal modification to existing ChIP protocols that are designed for cultured cells; however, some tissues, such as skeletal muscle, are problematic in that accessibility of the cross-linking agent is limited. We describe a method to isolate skeletal muscle tissue nuclei suitable for use in ChIP protocols. Furthermore, we utilize a simple fractionation of digested skeletal muscle tissue that can separate mature myofibers from satellite cells, which are responsible for postnatal skeletal muscle regeneration, thereby allowing simultaneous preparation of nuclei from both cell types.

An Improved Restriction Enzyme Accessibility Assay for Analyzing Changes in Chromatin Structure in Samples of Limited Cell Number

Yasuyuki Ohkawa et al. — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 07:32:55 PDT

Studies investigating mechanisms that control gene regulation frequently examine the accessibility of specific DNA sequences to nuclease cleavage. In general, sequences that are sensitive to nuclease cleavage are considered to be in an "open" chromatin conformation that is associated with regulatory factor binding, while sequences resistant to nuclease cleavage are considered to be in a "closed" conformation commonly associated with chromatin that is neither poised for transcription nor being actively transcribed. Changes in nuclease accessibility at specific genomic sequences reflect changes in the local chromatin structure that can occur as a result of signaling cues in the extracellular environment. These changes in chromatin structure usually precede or are coincident with changes in gene expression patterns and are therefore a useful marker of regulatory events controlling transcription. We describe a method to perform restriction enzyme accessibility assays (REAA) that utilizes ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction (LM-PCR) technology and that permits assessment of samples from any source containing as few as 1,000 cells. Use of this modified REAA protocol will enhance analysis of chromatin structural changes at specific DNA sequences of interest by making it possible to analyze samples where unrestricted amounts of sample are not readily available.

Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5 (Prmt5) Promotes Gene Expression of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma2 (PPARgamma2) and Its Target Genes during Adipogenesis

Scott E. LeBlanc et al. — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 07:32:54 PDT

Regulation of adipose tissue formation by adipogenic-regulatory proteins has long been a topic of interest given the ever-increasing health concerns of obesity and type 2 diabetes in the general population. Differentiation of precursor cells into adipocytes involves a complex network of cofactors that facilitate the functions of transcriptional regulators from the CCATT/enhancer binding protein, and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) families. Many of these cofactors are enzymes that modulate the structure of chromatin by altering histone-DNA contacts in an ATP-dependent manner or by posttranslationally modifying the histone proteins. Here we report that inhibition of protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (Prmt5) expression in multiple cell culture models for adipogenesis prevented the activation of adipogenic genes. In contrast, overexpression of Prmt5 enhanced adipogenic gene expression and differentiation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments indicated that Prmt5 binds to and dimethylates histones at adipogenic promoters. Furthermore, the presence of Prmt5 promoted the binding of ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling enzymes and was required for the binding of PPARgamma2 at PPARgamma2-regulated promoters. The data indicate that Prmt5 acts as a coactivator for the activation of adipogenic gene expression and promotes adipogenic differentiation.

Human SWI/SNF nucleosome remodeling activity is partially inhibited by linker histone H1

David A. Hill et al. — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:59:53 PST

The physical structure and the compact nature of the eukaryotic genome present a functional barrier for any cellular process that requires access to the DNA. The linker histone H1 is intrinsically involved in both the determination of and the stability of higher order chromatin structure. Because histone H1 plays a pivotal role in the structure of chromatin, we investigated the effect of histone H1 on the nucleosome remodeling activity of human SWI/SNF, an ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complex. The results from both DNase I digestion and restriction endonuclease accessibility assays indicate that the presence of H1 partially inhibits the nucleosome remodeling activity of hSWI/SNF. Neither H1 bound to the nucleosome nor free H1 affected the ATPase activity of hSWI/SNF, suggesting that the observed inhibition of hSWI/SNF nucleosome remodeling activity depends on the structure formed by the addition of H1 to nucleosomes.

Mammalian SWI/SNF complexes promote MyoD-mediated muscle differentiation

Ivana L. de la Serna et al. — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:59:51 PST

Mammalian SWI/SNF complexes are ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling enzymes that have been implicated in the regulation of gene expression, cell-cycle control and oncogenesis. MyoD is a muscle-specific regulator able to induce myogenesis in numerous cell types. To ascertain the requirement for chromatin remodeling enzymes in cellular differentiation processes, we examined MyoD-mediated induction of muscle differentiation in fibroblasts expressing dominant-negative versions of the human brahma-related gene-1 (BRG1) or human brahma (BRM), the ATPase subunits of two distinct SWI/SNF enzymes. We find that induction of the myogenic phenotype is completely abrogated in the presence of the mutant enzymes. We further demonstrate that failure to induce muscle-specific gene expression correlates with inhibition of chromatin remodeling in the promoter region of an endogenous muscle-specific gene. Our results demonstrate that SWI/SNF enzymes promote MyoD-mediated muscle differentiation and indicate that these enzymes function by altering chromatin structure in promoter regions of endogenous, differentiation-specific loci.

HMGN1 is dispensable for myogenesis and adipogenesis

David A. Hill et al. — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:59:50 PST

Expression of key regulatory and tissue specific proteins necessary for myogenesis and adipogenesis are dependent on functional SWI/SNF enzymes that hydrolyze ATP to remodel chromatin and allow factors access to chromatinized DNA. Functional chromatin structural changes also can be facilitated by the high mobility group-N1 (HMGN1) protein. HMGN1 is a chromatin architectural protein that specifically interacts with nucleosomes and has been shown to facilitate the reversal of repressive chromatin structure, thereby making it more conducive for transcription. To determine if HMGN1 functions in myogenesis or adipogensis, two SWI/SNF-dependent processes, we used RNA interference to created stable cell lines with reduced HMGN1 protein levels and differentiated them along the myogenic and adipogenic pathways. We show that neither myogenesis nor adipogenesis was affected by reduced HMGN1 protein levels. We further demonstrate that HMGN1 levels naturally decrease as a function of contact-mediated cell cycle arrest, thereby explaining the lack of requirement for HMGN1 in these cellular differentiation processes.

Chromatin remodelling in mammalian differentiation: lessons from ATP-dependent remodellers

Ivana L. de la Serna et al. — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:59:49 PST

The initiation of cellular differentiation involves alterations in gene expression that depend on chromatin changes, at the level of both higher-order structures and individual genes. Consistent with this, chromatin-remodelling enzymes have key roles in differentiation and development. The functions of ATP-dependent chromatin-remodelling enzymes have been studied in several mammalian differentiation pathways, revealing cell-type-specific and gene-specific roles for these proteins that add another layer of precision to the regulation of differentiation. Recent studies have also revealed a role for ATP-dependent remodelling in regulating the balance between proliferation and differentiation, and have uncovered intriguing links between chromatin remodelling and other cellular processes during differentiation, including recombination, genome organization and the cell cycle.

The ultrastructure of MCF-10A acini

Jean. M. Underwood et al. — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:59:48 PST

MCF-10A human mammary epithelial cells cultured inside reconstituted basement membrane form acini that resemble the acinar structures of mammary lobules. This three-dimensional culture system has been used for identifying and characterizing the signal transduction pathways controlling cell proliferation and death, and for studying their disregulation in malignant progression. We have compared the ultrastructure of MCF-10A acini, MCF-10A cells grown in monolayer, and the acinar structures of human breast lobules. The tissue architecture of MCF-10A acini was formed by hemidesmosomes connected to a basement membrane and by abundant desmosomes between acinar cells. Intermediate filaments that joined into large and abundant filament bundles connected hemidesmosomes and desmosomes to sites at the nuclear surface. Fewer and thinner bundles of filaments were observed in monolayer MCF-10A cells and even fewer in breast tissue. Tight junctions were observed between cells in breast tissue but missing in MCF-10A acini. The cytoplasm of MCF-10A acinar cells had a polar organization similar to that observed in breast tissue, with centrosomes and the Golgi apparatus on the apical side of the nucleus. MCF-10A acinar nuclei had an irregular, frequently invaginated surface and had a single nucleolus. The distribution of heterochromatin was similar to that in the epithelial cells of breast tissue. The nuclei of monolayer MCF-10A cells had multiple nucleoli, a more regular profile, and less heterochromatin. Electron microscopy has the resolution required to survey features of MCF-10A cell and acinus architecture that may change with manipulations designed to induce malignant phenotypes.

The expression of myogenic microRNAs indirectly requires protein arginine methyltransferase (Prmt)5 but directly requires Prmt4

Chandrashekara Mallappa et al. — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:59:46 PST

Myogenic microRNAs are important regulators of muscle development and differentiation. To better understand the roles of chromatin-modifying and remodeling enzymes in the activation of myogenic microRNA expression, we have functionally analyzed two different protein arginine methyltransferases, Prmt5 and Prmt4, both of which have previously been implicated in the regulation of myogenic mRNA expression. Both Prmts are required for myogenic microRNA induction during differentiation. Prmt5 is indirectly required due to the necessity of Prmt5 for expression of the transcriptional regulator, myogenin, as ectopic expression of myogenin eliminates Prmt5 dependency. By contrast, Prmt4 binds to the upstream regulatory regions of myogenic microRNAs and is required for dimethylation of the Prmt4 substrate, H3R17, at microRNA regulatory sequences. Deletion of Prmt4 does not alter MyoD binding at myogenic microRNA regulatory sequences but prevents the binding of both myogenin and the Brg1 ATPase that catalyzes SWI/SNF-dependent chromatin remodeling, resulting in an inhibition of microRNA expression.

Comparative in silico analysis identifies bona fide MyoD binding sites within the Myocyte stress 1 gene promoter

Samir Ounzain et al. — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:43:36 PST

BACKGROUND: Myocyte stress 1 (MS1) is a striated muscle actin binding protein required for the muscle specific activity of the evolutionary ancient myocardin related transcription factor (MRTF)/serum response factor (SRF) transcriptional pathway. To date, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that govern skeletal muscle specific expression of MS1. Such mechanisms are likely to play a major role in modulating SRF activity and therefore muscle determination, differentiation and regeneration. In this study we employed a comparative in silico analysis coupled with an experimental promoter characterisation to delineate these mechanisms.

RESULTS: Analysis of MS1 expression in differentiating C2C12 muscle cells demonstrated a temporal differentiation dependent up-regulation in ms1 mRNA. An in silico comparative sequence analysis identified two conserved putative myogenic regulatory domains within the proximal 1.5 kbp of 5' upstream sequence. Co-transfecting C2C12 myoblasts with ms1 promoter/luciferase reporters and myogenic regulatory factor (MRF) over-expression plasmids revealed specific sensitivity of the ms1 promoter to MyoD. Subsequent mutagenesis and EMSA analysis demonstrated specific targeting of MyoD at two distinct E-Boxes (E1 and E2) within identified evolutionary conserved regions (ECRs, alpha and beta). Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis indicates that co-ordinated binding of MyoD at E-Boxes located within ECRs alpha and beta correlates with the temporal induction in ms1 mRNA.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the tissue specific and differentiation dependent up-regulation in ms1 mRNA is mediated by temporal binding of MyoD at distinct evolutionary conserved E-Boxes within the ms1 5' upstream sequence. We believe, through its activation of ms1, this is the first study to demonstrate a direct link between MyoD activity and SRF transcriptional signalling, with clear implications for the understanding of muscle determination, differentiation and regeneration.

Ectopic runx2 expression in mammary epithelial cells disrupts formation of normal acini structure: implications for breast cancer progression

Jitesh Pratap et al. — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:43:35 PST

The transcription factor Runx2 is highly expressed in breast cancer cells compared with mammary epithelial cells and contributes to metastasis. Here we directly show that Runx2 expression promotes a tumor cell phenotype of mammary acini in three-dimensional culture. Human mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A) form polarized, growth-arrested, acini-like structures with glandular architecture. The ectopic expression of Runx2 disrupts acini formation, and electron microscopic ultrastructural analysis revealed the absence of lumens. Characterization of the disrupted acini structures showed increased cell proliferation (Ki-67 positive cells), decreased apoptosis (Bcl-2 induction), and loss of basement membrane formation (absence of beta(4) integrin expression). In complementary experiments, inhibition of Runx2 function in metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells by stable expression of either short hairpin RNA-Runx2 or a mutant Runx2 deficient in subnuclear targeting resulted in reversion of acini to more normal structures and reduced tumor growth in vivo. These novel findings provide direct mechanistic evidence for the biological activity of Runx2, dependent on its subnuclear localization, in promoting early events of breast cancer progression and suggest a molecular therapeutic target.

SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling enzyme ATPases promote cell proliferation in normal mammary epithelial cells

Nathalie Cohet et al. — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:43:34 PST

The ATPase subunits of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling enzymes, Brahma (BRM) and Brahma-related gene 1 (BRG1), can induce cell cycle arrest in BRM and BRG1 deficient tumor cell lines, and mice heterozygous for Brg1 are pre-disposed to breast tumors, implicating loss of BRG1 as a mechanism for unregulated cell proliferation. To test the hypothesis that loss of BRG1 can contribute to breast cancer, we utilized RNA interference to reduce the amounts of BRM or BRG1 protein in the nonmalignant mammary epithelial cell line, MCF-10A. When grown in reconstituted basement membrane (rBM), these cells develop into acini that resemble the lobes of normal breast tissue. Contrary to expectations, knockdown of either BRM or BRG1 resulted in an inhibition of cell proliferation in monolayer cultures. This inhibition was strikingly enhanced in three-dimensional rBM culture, although some BRM-depleted cells were later able to resume proliferation. Cells did not arrest in any specific stage of the cell cycle; instead, the cell cycle length increased by approximately 50%. Thus, SWI/SNF ATPases promote cell cycle progression in nonmalignant mammary epithelial cells.

Chromatin accessibility and transcription factor binding at the PPARgamma2 promoter during adipogenesis is protein kinase a-dependent

Hengyi Xiao et al. — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:43:33 PST

The nuclear hormone receptor peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that specifies formation of the adipocyte lineage. PPARgamma also serves as a primary target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, illustrating both its medical relevance as well as the need to understand fundamental aspects of PPARgamma expression and function. Here, we characterize molecular changes that occur at the PPARgamma2 promoter within the first several hours of adipocyte differentiation in culture. Our results demonstrate that changes in chromatin accessibility at the PPARgamma2 promoter and occupancy of the promoter by the c-Fos transcription factor occur within an hour of the onset of differentiation, followed closely by the binding of the CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein beta (C/EBPbeta) transcription factor. All three events show a remarkable dependency on protein kinase A (PKA) activity. These results reflect novel requirements for the PKA signaling pathway and reinforce the importance of PKA function during the onset of adipocyte differentiation. J. Cell. Physiol. (c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.