The histone methyltransferase SUV420H2 and Heterochromatin Proteins HP1 interact but show different dynamic behaviours

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Histone lysine methylation plays a fundamental role in chromatin organization and marks distinct chromatin regions. In particular, trimethylation at lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3K9) and at lysine 20 of histone H4 (H4K20) governed by the histone methyltransferases SUV39H1/2 and SUV420H1/2 respectively, have emerged as a hallmark of pericentric heterochromatin. Controlled chromatin organization is crucial for gene expression regulation and genome stability. Therefore, it is essential to analyze mechanisms responsible for high order chromatin packing and in particular the interplay between enzymes involved in histone modifications, such as histone methyltransferases and proteins that recognize these epigenetic marks.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To gain insights into the mechanisms of SUV420H2 recruitment at heterochromatin, we applied a tandem affinity purification approach coupled to mass spectrometry. We identified heterochromatin proteins HP1 as main interacting partners. The regions responsible for the binding were mapped to the heterochromatic targeting module of SUV420H2 and HP1 chromoshadow domain. We studied the dynamic properties of SUV420H2 and the HP1 in living cells using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. Our results showed that HP1 proteins are highly mobile with different dynamics during the cell cycle, whereas SUV420H2 remains strongly bound to pericentric heterochromatin. An 88 amino-acids region of SUV420H2, the heterochromatic targeting module, recapitulates both, HP1 binding and strong association to heterochromatin.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>FRAP experiments reveal that in contrast to HP1, SUV420H2 is strongly associated to pericentric heterochromatin. Then, the fraction of SUV420H2 captured and characterized by TAP/MS is a soluble fraction which may be in a stable association with HP1. Consequently, SUV420H2 may be recruited to heterochromatin in association with HP1, and stably maintained at its heterochromatin sites in an HP1-independent fashion.</p

Direct interaction of TrkA/CD44v3 is essential for NGF-promoted aggressiveness of breast cancer cells

Background CD44 is a multifunctional membrane glycoprotein. Through its heparan sulfate chain, CD44 presents growth factors to their receptors. We have shown that CD44 and Tropomyosin kinase A (TrkA) form a complex following nerve growth factor (NGF) induction. Our study aimed to understand how CD44 and TrkA interact and the consequences of inhibiting this interaction regarding the pro-tumoral effect of NGF in breast cancer. Methods After determining which CD44 isoforms (variants) are involved in forming the TrkA/CD44 complex using proximity ligation assays, we investigated the molecular determinants of this interaction. By molecular modeling, we isolated the amino acids involved and confirmed their involvement using mutations. A CD44v3 mimetic peptide was then synthesized to block the TrkA/CD44v3 interaction. The effects of this peptide on the growth, migration and invasion of xenografted triple-negative breast cancer cells were assessed. Finally, we investigated the correlations between the expression of the TrkA/CD44v3 complex in tumors and histo-pronostic parameters. Results We demonstrated that isoform v3 (CD44v3), but not v6, binds to TrkA in response to NGF stimulation. The final 10 amino acids of exon v3 and the TrkA H112 residue are necessary for the association of CD44v3 with TrkA. Functionally, the CD44v3 mimetic peptide impairs not only NGF-induced RhoA activation, clonogenicity, and migration/invasion of breast cancer cells in vitro but also tumor growth and metastasis in a xenograft mouse model. We also detected TrkA/CD44v3 only in cancerous cells, not in normal adjacent tissues. Conclusion Collectively, our results suggest that blocking the CD44v3/TrkA interaction can be a new therapeutic option for triple-negative breast cancers

Structure and Function of the Polycomb Repressive Complexes PRC1 and PRC2

Epigenetic regulation contributes to the control of gene expression programs through local chromatin rearrangements [...

L’ingénierie des génomes par les TALEN

La modification précise des génomes est un des enjeux majeurs des biotechnologies et de la recherche biomédicale. La découverte des TALE (transcription activator-like effector) et le développement récent des TALEN (transcription activator-like effector nuclease) artificiels offrent la possibilité d’éditer les génomes de nombreux organismes modèles de manière rapide, spécifique et efficace. Les TALEN sont des ciseaux moléculaires qui permettent d’induire différentes modifications génétiques en un site choisi du génome, et il est probable qu’ils deviennent, au cours des prochaines années, un des outils incontournables de la génétique inverse appliquée à la médecine

Analyse protéomique des complexes associés aux membres de la famille CBX (HP1 et Polycomb) dans des cellules humaines

Dans le noyau des cellules eucaryotes, l ADN est associé aux histones pour former la chromatine. Les extrémités terminales des histones peuvent subir un grand nombre de modifications posttraductionnelles réversibles (méthylation, acétylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitinylation ). Certaines de ces marques épigénétiques définissent des domaines chromatiniens particuliers du noyau. Les triméthylations des lysines 9 et 27 de l histone H3 (H3K9me3 et H3K27me3) correspondent respectivement à des domaines d hétérochromatine constitutive et d hétérochromatine facultative. Les proteines qui possèdent un chromo-domaine sont capables de se lier à des lysines méthylées, et permettent de recruter des complexes qui ont une activité enzymatique ou mécanique sur la chromatine. Les protéines de la famille CBX (ChromoBoX) possèdent toutes un chromodomaine, elles sont subdivisées en 2 groupes: les protéines du groupe HP1 (CBX1, CBX3 et CBX5) et celles du groupe Polycomb (CBX2, CBX4, CBX6, CBX7 et CBX8) qui se fixent respectivement sur H3K9me3 et H3K27me3, respectivement. Afin de mieux comprendre comment s organise la chromatine au niveau des régions hétérochromatiques, nous avons purifié, en condition native, les complexes associés à ces 8 protéines dans des cellules humaines en culture. Pour ce faire, nous avons opté pour la purification d affinité en tandem (TAP). Les protéines co-éluées ont été identifiées par spectrométrie de masse. Nos résultats confirment que, d une part les protéines du groupe Polycomb sont associées au complexe PRC1 (Polycomb Repressive Complex 1). Toutefois, ces protéines sont mutuellement exclusives au sein du complexe PRC1, indiquant qu il existe plusieurs complexes PRC1 de composition distincte dans la cellule. D autre part, de nouveaux partenaires associés aux protéines du groupe HP1 ont été identifiés. La mise au point et le développement de la technologie TAP sur des cellules humaines en culture nous ont permis de purifier des complexes associés à la chromatine. Cette technique demeure un outil biochimique efficace pour la purification de complexes protéiquesIn the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, DNA is wrapped around histones to form chromatin. The terminal ends of histones may undergo many reversible post-translational modifications (methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitinylation...). Some of these epigenetic marks define specific chromatic regions in the nucleus. The tri-methylation of lysines 9 and 27 of histone H3 (H3K9me3 and H3K27me3) correspond respectively to constitutive and facultative heterochromatin. Chromo-domain containing proteins can bind to methylated lysines, and can recruit complexes having enzymatic or mechanical activity on chromatin. All the members of the CBX (ChromoBoX) family contain a chromodomain, they are divided into 2 groups: the HP1 group (CBX1, CBX3 and CBX5) and the Polycomb group (CBX2, CBX4, CBX6, CBX7 and CBX8) able to bind to H3K9me3 and H3K27me3, respectively. To better understand how the chromatin is organized in heterochromatic regions we purified, in native condition, the complexes associated with these 8 proteins from human cells in culture. To this end, we opted for the tandem affinity purification (TAP). The co-eluted proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. Our results confirm that firstly, Polycomb group proteins are involved in PRC1 complex (Polycomb Repressive Complex 1). However, these proteins are mutually exclusive in the PRC1 complex, indicating that several PRC1 of distinct compositions co-exist in the cell. On the other hand, new partners associated with HP1 group were identified. The development of the TAP technology to cultured human cells allowed us to purify complexes associated with chromatin. This technique remains an effective tool for the biochemical purification of protein complexes.LILLE1-Bib. Electronique (590099901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Targeted insertion results in a Rhombomere 2-specificHoxa2 knockdown and ectopic activation ofHoxa1 expression

International audienceRecent studies indicated that retention of selectable marker cassettes in targeted Hox loci may cause unexpected phenotypes in mutant mice, due to neighborhood effects. However, the molecular mechanisms have been poorly investigated. Here, we analysed the effects of the targeted insertion of a PGK-neo cassette in the 3' untranslated region of Hoxa2. Even at this 3' position, the insertion resulted in homozygous mutants that unexpectedly did not survive beyond 3 weeks of age. Molecular analysis of the targeted allele revealed a selective "knockdown" of Hoxa2 expression in rhombomere 2 and associated patterning abnormalities. Moreover, Hoxa1 was ectopically expressed in the hindbrain and branchial arches of mutant embryos. Of interest, we demonstrated that the ectopic expression was due to the generation of neo-Hoxa1 fusion transcripts, resulting from aberrant alternative splicing. These defects could be rescued after removal of the PGK-neo cassette by Flp-mediated recombination. These results underscore the complexity of transcriptional regulation at Hox loci and provide insights into the in vivo regulation of Hoxa2 segmental expression. They also provide a molecular basis for the interpretation of unexpected Hox knockout phenotypes in which the targeted selectable marker is retained in the locus

Genetic Engineering of Zebrafish in Cancer Research

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an excellent model to study a wide diversity of human cancers. In this review, we provide an overview of the genetic and reverse genetic toolbox allowing the generation of zebrafish lines that develop tumors. The large spectrum of genetic tools enables the engineering of zebrafish lines harboring precise genetic alterations found in human patients, the generation of zebrafish carrying somatic or germline inheritable mutations or zebrafish showing conditional expression of the oncogenic mutations. Comparative transcriptomics demonstrate that many of the zebrafish tumors share molecular signatures similar to those found in human cancers. Thus, zebrafish cancer models provide a unique in vivo platform to investigate cancer initiation and progression at the molecular and cellular levels, to identify novel genes involved in tumorigenesis as well as to contemplate new therapeutic strategies