Shaping the Transcriptional Landscape through MAPK Signaling

A change in the transcriptional landscape is an equilibrium-breaking event important for many biological processes. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways are dedicated to sensing extracellular cues and are highly conserved across eukaryotes. Modulation of gene expression in response to the extracellular environment is one of the main mechanisms by which MAPK regulates proteome homeostasis to orchestrate adaptive responses that determine cell fate. A massive body of knowledge generated from population and single-cell analyses has led to an understanding of how MAPK pathways operate. MAPKs have thus emerged as fundamental transcriptome regulators that function through a multi-layered control of gene expression, a process often deregulated in disease, which therefore provides an attractive target for therapeutic strategies. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying MAPK-mediated gene expression in organisms ranging from yeast to mammals

Positive feedback induces switch between distributive and processive phosphorylation of Hog1

Cellular decision making often builds on ultrasensitive MAPK pathways. The phosphorylation mechanism of MAP kinase has so far been described as either distributive or processive, with distributive mechanisms generating ultrasensitivity in theoretical analyses. However, the in vivo mechanism of MAP kinase phosphorylation and its activation dynamics remain unclear. Here, we characterize the regulation of the MAP kinase Hog1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae via topologically different ODE models, parameterized on multimodal activation data. Interestingly, our best fitting model switches between distributive and processive phosphorylation behavior regulated via a positive feedback loop composed of an affinity and a catalytic component targeting the MAP kinase-kinase Pbs2. Indeed, we show that Hog1 directly phosphorylates Pbs2 on serine 248 (S248), that cells expressing a non-phosphorylatable (S248A) or phosphomimetic (S248E) mutant show behavior that is consistent with simulations of disrupted or constitutively active affinity feedback and that Pbs2-S248E shows significantly increased affinity to Hog1 in vitro. Simulations further suggest that this mixed Hog1 activation mechanism is required for full sensitivity to stimuli and to ensure robustness to different perturbations.© 2023. The Author(s)

Control of Ubp3 ubiquitin protease activity by the Hog1 SAPK modulates transcription upon osmostress

Here, the Hog1 kinase interacts with and activates the ubiquitin protease Ubp3 in a stress-dependent manner. The phosphorylation of Ubp3 enhances RNA polymerase II occupancy on osmotic stress-responsive genes

Structural disruption of BAF chromatin remodeller impairs neuroblastoma metastasis by reverting an invasiveness epigenomic program

Background Epigenetic programming during development is essential for determining cell lineages, and alterations in this programming contribute to the initiation of embryonal tumour development. In neuroblastoma, neural crest progenitors block their course of natural differentiation into sympathoadrenergic cells, leading to the development of aggressive and metastatic paediatric cancer. Research of the epigenetic regulators responsible for oncogenic epigenomic networks is crucial for developing new epigenetic-based therapies against these tumours. Mammalian switch/sucrose non-fermenting (mSWI/SNF) ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling complexes act genome-wide translating epigenetic signals into open chromatin states. The present study aimed to understand the contribution of mSWI/SNF to the oncogenic epigenomes of neuroblastoma and its potential as a therapeutic target. Methods Functional characterisation of the mSWI/SNF complexes was performed in neuroblastoma cells using proteomic approaches, loss-of-function experiments, transcriptome and chromatin accessibility analyses, and in vitro and in vivo assays. Results Neuroblastoma cells contain three main mSWI/SNF subtypes, but only BRG1-associated factor (BAF) complex disruption through silencing of its key structural subunits, ARID1A and ARID1B, impairs cell proliferation by promoting cell cycle blockade. Genome-wide chromatin remodelling and transcriptomic analyses revealed that BAF disruption results in the epigenetic repression of an extensive invasiveness-related expression program involving integrins, cadherins, and key mesenchymal regulators, thereby reducing adhesion to the extracellular matrix and the subsequent invasion in vitro and drastically inhibiting the initiation and growth of neuroblastoma metastasis in vivo. Conclusions We report a novel ATPase-independent role for the BAF complex in maintaining an epigenomic program that allows neuroblastoma invasiveness and metastasis, urging for the development of new BAF pharmacological structural disruptors for therapeutic exploitation in metastatic neuroblastoma

Coordinated gene regulation in the initial phase of salt stress adaptation

This research was originally published in Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2015 - 16 : 10175- 10163 © the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology[EN] Stress triggers complex transcriptional responses, which include both gene activation and repression. We used time-resolved reporter assays in living yeast cells to gain insights into the coordination of positive and negative control of gene expression upon salt stress. We found that the repression of housekeeping genes coincides with the transient activation of defense genes and that the timing of this expression pattern depends on the severity of the stress. Moreover, we identified mutants that caused an alteration in the kinetics of this transcriptional control. Loss of function of the vacuolar H+-ATPase (vma1) or a defect in the biosynthesis of the osmolyte glycerol (gpd1) caused a prolonged repression of housekeeping genes and a delay in gene activation at inducible loci. Both mutants have a defect in the relocation of RNA polymerase II complexes at stress defense genes. Accordingly salt-activated transcription is delayed and less efficient upon partially respiratory growth conditions in which glycerol production is significantly reduced. Furthermore, the loss of Hog1 MAP kinase function aggravates the loss of RNA polymerase II from housekeeping loci, which apparently do not accumulate at inducible genes. Additionally the Def1 RNA polymerase II degradation factor, but not a high pool of nuclear polymerase II complexes, is needed for efficient stress-induced gene activation. The data presented here indicate that the finely tuned transcriptional control upon salt stress is dependent on physiological functions of the cell, such as the intracellular ion balance, the protective accumulation of osmolyte molecules, and the RNA polymerase II turnover.This work was supported by Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad Grant BFU2011-23326 (to M. 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Ask yeast how to burn your fats: lessons learned from the metabolic adaptation to salt stress

[EN] Here, we review and update the recent advances in the metabolic control during the adaptive response of budding yeast to hyperosmotic and salt stress, which is one of the best understood signaling events at the molecular level. This environmental stress can be easily applied and hence has been exploited in the past to generate an impressively detailed and comprehensive model of cellular adaptation. It is clear now that this stress modulates a great number of different physiological functions of the cell, which altogether contribute to cellular survival and adaptation. Primary defense mechanisms are the massive induction of stress tolerance genes in the nucleus, the activation of cation transport at the plasma membrane, or the production and intracellular accumulation of osmolytes. At the same time and in a coordinated manner, the cell shuts down the expression of housekeeping genes, delays the progression of the cell cycle, inhibits genomic replication, and modulates translation efficiency to optimize the response and to avoid cellular damage. To this fascinating interplay of cellular functions directly regulated by the stress, we have to add yet another layer of control, which is physiologically relevant for stress tolerance. Salt stress induces an immediate metabolic readjustment, which includes the up-regulation of peroxisomal biomass and activity in a coordinated manner with the reinforcement of mitochondrial respiratory metabolism. Our recent findings are consistent with a model, where salt stress triggers a metabolic shift from fermentation to respiration fueled by the enhanced peroxisomal oxidation of fatty acids. We discuss here the regulatory details of this stress-induced metabolic shift and its possible roles in the context of the previously known adaptive functions.The work of the authors was supported by grants from Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (BFU2011- 23326 and BFU2016-75792-R).Pascual-Ahuir Giner, MD.; Manzanares-Estreder, S.; Timón Gómez, A.; Proft ., MH. (2017). Ask yeast how to burn your fats: lessons learned from the metabolic adaptation to salt stress. Current Genetics. 64(1):63-69. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00294-017-0724-5S6369641Aguilera J, Prieto JA (2001) The Saccharomyces cerevisiae aldose reductase is implied in the metabolism of methylglyoxal in response to stress conditions. Curr Genet 39:273–283Albertyn J, Hohmann S, Thevelein JM, Prior BA (1994) GPD1, which encodes glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, is essential for growth under osmotic stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and its expression is regulated by the high-osmolarity glycerol response pathway. 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Control of transcription by the stress activated Hog1 kinase

A fundamental property of living cells is the ability to sense and robustly respond to fluctuations in their environment. In budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) changes in extracellular osmolarity are sensed by the HOG pathway, which evokes the program for cell adaptation required for cell survival. The aim of this thesis was to further characterize the molecular mechanisms by which Hog1 regulates gene expression upon osmostress. A genome-wide genetic screen lead to the identification of several activities required for regulation of gene expression. Here we describe the characterization of a novel substrate for the SAPK whose activity is required for proper transcription initiation and elongation in response to stress. This thesis also aimed to globally characterize the role of Hog1 in reprogramming the transcriptome of S. cerevisiae under osmostress conditions. By the combination of molecular approaches coupled to genome-wide techniques (ChIP-seq, MNase-seq and Tiling arrays) we have been able to fully characterize the localization of the key components that drive osmoresponsive transcription, providing for the first time a complete picture of the transcription process. The high resolution of the genome-wide approaches, has allowed us to identify new transcriptional roles for the SAPK such as the targeting of RNA Pol III machinery, and the regulation of a novel class of functional long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA). In summary, results presented in this thesis provide novel insights into the mechanisms by which the Hog1 SAPK modulates gene expression.Una propietat cel·lular fonamental és l’habilitat de detectar i respondre de forma robusta a les fluctuacions en el seu entorn. En cèl·lules de llevat (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), els canvis en l’ osmolaritat extracel·lular són detectats per la via de senyalització de HOG, que coordina el procés d’adaptació cel·lular imprescindible per sobreviure a un estrès osmòtic. L’objectiu d’aquest estudi és identificar i caracteritzar els mecanismes moleculars utilitzats per Hog1 per regular l’expressió gènica en resposta a estrès osmòtic. Fent servir un crivatge genètic a gran escala dissenyat per identificar activitats necessàries per la regulació de l’expressió gènica en resposta a estrès osmòtic, hem identificat un nou substrat de Hog1, l’activitat del qual és requereix tan per la iniciació com l’ elongació de la transcripció. En aquest treball també ens hem centrat en caracteritzar el paper global de Hog1 en la reorganització del transcriptoma de S. cerevisae en condicions d’ estrès osmòtic. Mitjançant la combinació de tècniques moleculars amb tècniques de seqüenciació (ChIP-seq, MNase-seq, Tiling arrays) hem definit el posicionament en el genoma dels components claus que regulen la transcripció, oferint per primera vegada una visió general del procés de transcripció en resposta a estrès osmòtic L’alta resolució d’aquestes tècniques ens ha permès identificar noves dianes transcripcionals de Hog1, com és la regulació d’una altra maquinària transcripcional (RNA Pol III) i la regulació de la transcripció de una nova classe de RNAs no codificants (lncRNAs). En conjunt, els resultats presentats en aquesta tesi proporcionen una nova visió dels mecanismes per els quals Hog1 modula l’expressió gènic

The rise of single-cell transcriptomics in yeast

The field of single-cell omics has transformed our understanding of biological processes and is constantly advancing both experimentally and computationally. One of the most significant developments is the ability to measure the transcriptome of individual cells by single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq), which was pioneered in higher eukaryotes. While yeast has served as a powerful model organism in which to test and develop transcriptomic technologies, the implementation of scRNA-seq has been significantly delayed in this organism, mainly because of technical constraints associated with its intrinsic characteristics, namely the presence of a cell wall, a small cell size and little amounts of RNA. In this review, we examine the current technologies for scRNA-seq in yeast and highlight their strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, we explore opportunities for developing novel technologies and the potential outcomes of implementing single-cell transcriptomics and extension to other modalities. Undoubtedly, scRNA-seq will be invaluable for both basic and applied yeast research, providing unique insights into fundamental biological processes.The laboratories of FP and EdeN are supported by a coordinated grant from the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (PID2021-124723NB-C21/C22 and FEDER). We also gratefully acknowledge institutional funding from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the Centres of Excellence Severo Ochoa Award, and from the CERCA Programme of the Government of Catalonia and the Unidad de Excelencia María de Maeztu, funded by the AEI (CEX2018-000792-M)

Transient activation of the HOG MAPK pathway regulates bimodal gene expression

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are conserved signalling modules that control many cellular processes by integrating intra- and extracellular cues. The p38/Hog1 MAPK is transiently activated in response to osmotic stress, leading to rapid translocation into the nucleus and induction of a specific transcriptional program. When investigating the dynamic interplay between Hog1 activation and Hog1-driven gene expression, we found that Hog1 activation increases linearly with stimulus, whereas the transcriptional output is bimodal. Modelling predictions, corroborated by single cell experiments, established that a slow stochastic transition from a repressed to an activated transcriptional state in conjunction with transient Hog1 activation generates this behaviour. Together, these findings provide a molecular mechanism by which a cell can impose a transcriptional threshold in response to a linear signalling behaviour