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Price, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Price, J..

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Combinatorial transcription factor binding encodes cis-regulatory wiring of forebrain GABAergic neurogenesis

Transcription factors (TFs) bind combinatorially to genomic cis-regulatory elements (cREs), orchestrating transcription programs. While studies of chromatin state and chromosomal interactions have revealed dynamic neurodevelopmental cRE landscapes, parallel understanding of the underlying TF binding lags. To elucidate the combinatorial TF-cRE interactions driving mouse basal ganglia development, we integrated ChIP-seq for twelve TFs, H3K4me3-associated enhancer-promoter interactions, chromatin and transcriptional state, and transgenic enhancer assays. We identified TF-cREs modules with distinct chromatin features and enhancer activity that have complementary roles driving GABAergic neurogenesis and suppressing other developmental fates. While the majority of distal cREs were bound by one or two TFs, a small proportion were extensively bound, and these enhancers also exhibited exceptional evolutionary conservation, motif density, and complex chromosomal interactions. Our results provide new insights into how modules of combinatorial TF-cRE interactions activate and repress developmental expression programs and demonstrate the value of TF binding data in modeling gene regulatory wiring.

developmental biology↗

Loss of the E3 ubiquitin ligases UBR-5 or HECD-1 restores Caenorhabditis elegans development in the absence of SWI/SNF function

SWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermenting (SWI/SNF) complexes are a family of chromatin remodellers that are conserved across eukaryotes. Mutations in subunits of SWI/SNF cause a multitude of different developmental disorders in humans, most of which have no current treatment options. Here we identify an alanine to valine causing mutation in the SWI/SNF subunit snfc-5 (SMARCB1 in humans) that prevents embryonic lethality in C. elegans nematodes harbouring a loss-of-function mutation in the SWI/SNF subunit swsn-1 (SMARCC1/2 in humans). Furthermore, we found that the combination of this specific mutation in snfc-5 and a loss-of-function mutation in either of the E3 ubiquitin ligases ubr-5 (UBR5 in humans) or hecd-1 (HECTD1 in humans) can restore development to adulthood in swsn-1 loss-of-function mutants that otherwise die as embryos. Using these mutant models, we established a set of 335 genes that are dysregulated in SWI/SNF mutants that arrest their development embryonically but exhibit near wild-type levels of expression in the presence of suppressor mutations that prevent embryonic lethality, suggesting that SWI/SNF promotes development by regulating this specific subset of genes. In addition, we show that SWI/SNF protein levels are reduced in swsn-1; snfc-5 double mutants and partly restored to wild-type levels in swsn-1; snfc-5; ubr-5 triple mutants, consistent with a model in which UBR-5 regulates SWI/SNF levels by tagging the complex for proteasomal degradation. Our findings establish a link between two E3 ubiquitin ligases and SWI/SNF function and suggest that UBR5 and HECTD1 might be viable therapeutic targets for the many developmental disorders caused by missense mutations in SWI/SNF subunits.

developmental biology↗

Metamorphosis of memory circuits in Drosophila reveal a strategy for evolving a larval brain.

Insects like Drosophila produce a second brain adapted to the form and behavior of a larva. Neurons for both larval and adult brains are produced by the same stem cells (neuroblasts) but the larva possesses only the earliest born neurons produced from each. To understand how a functional larval brain is made from this reduced set of neurons, we examined the origins and metamorphic fates of the neurons of the larval and adult mushroom body circuits. The adult mushroom body core is built sequentially of {gamma} Kenyon cells, that form a medial lobe, followed by {beta}, and {beta} Kenyon cells that form additional medial lobes and two vertical lobes. Extrinsic input (MBINs) and output (MBONs) neurons divide this core into computational compartments. The larval mushroom body contains only {gamma} neurons. Its medial lobe compartments are roughly homologous to those of the adult and same MBONs are used for both. The larval vertical lobe, however, is an analogous "facsimile" that uses a larval-specific branch on the {gamma} neurons to make up for the missing {beta}, and {beta} neurons. The extrinsic cells for the facsimile are early-born neurons that trans-differentiate to serve a mushroom body function in the larva and then shift to other brain circuits in the adult. These findings are discussed in the context of the evolution of a larval brain in insects with complete metamorphosis.

developmental biology↗

Predictable and stable epimutations induced during clonal propagation with embryonic transcription factors

Although clonal propagation is frequently used in commercial plant breeding and plant biotechnology programs because it minimizes genetic variation, it is not uncommon to observe clonal plants with stable phenotypic changes, a phenomenon known as somaclonal variation. Several studies have shown that epigenetic modifications induced during regeneration are associated with this newly acquired phenotypic variation. However, the factors that determine the extent of somaclonal variation and the molecular changes associated with it remain poorly understood. To address this gap in our knowledge, we compared clonally propagated Arabidopsis thaliana plants derived from somatic embryogenesis using two different embryonic transcription factors-RWP-RK DOMAIN-CONTAINING 4 (RKD4) or LEAFY COTYLEDON2 (LEC2) and from two epigenetically distinct tissues. We found that both the epi(genetic) status of explant and the regeneration protocol employed play critical roles in shaping the molecular and phenotypic state of clonal plants. Phenotypic variation of regenerated plants can be largely explained by the inheritance of tissue-specific DNA methylation imprints, which are associated with specific transcriptional and metabolic changes in sexual progeny of clonal plants. Moreover, regenerants from roots were particularly affected by the inheritance of epigenetic imprints, which resulted in increased accumulation of salicylic acid in leaves and accelerated plant senescence. Collectively, our data reveal pathways for targeted manipulation of phenotypic variation in clonal plants.

plant biology↗

Assembly of functional diversity in an oceanic island flora

Oceanic island floras are well-known for their morphological peculiarities and exhibit striking examples of trait evolution1,2. These morphological shifts are commonly attributed to insularity and thought to be shaped by biogeographical processes and evolutionary histories of oceanic islands1,3. However, the mechanisms through which biogeography and evolution have shaped the distribution and diversity of plant functional traits remain unclear. Here, we describe the functional trait space of an oceanic island flora (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain) using extensive field and laboratory measurements, and relate it to global trade-offs in ecological strategies. We find that the island trait space is concentrated around a functional hotspot dominated by shrubs with a conservative life-history strategy. By dividing the island flora into species groups with distinct biogeographical distributions and diversification histories, our results reveal that long-distance dispersal, and the interplay between inter-island dispersal and archipelago-level speciation processes drive functional divergence and expand trait space. Conversely, speciation via cladogenesis has overall led to functional convergence, densely packing trait space around shrubbiness. Our approach combines ecology, biogeography and evolution and opens avenues for new trait-based insights into how dispersal and speciation shape the assembly of native island floras.

ecology↗

Immunization with a self-assembling nanoparticle vaccine displaying EBV gH/gL protects humanized mice against lethal viral challenge

Summary/AbstractEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a cancer-associated pathogen responsible for 140,000 deaths per year. EBV is also the etiological agent of infectious mononucleosis and is associated with multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, an EBV vaccine could alleviate significant morbidity and mortality. EBV is orally transmitted and has tropism for both epithelial cells and B cells which are present in the oral cavity. Therefore, a prophylactic vaccine would need to prevent infection of both cell types. Passive transfer neutralizing monoclonal antibodies targeting the viral gH/gL glycoprotein complex prevent experimental EBV infection in humanized mice and rhesus macaques, suggesting that gH/gL is an attractive vaccine candidate. Here, we produced and evaluated the immunogenicity of several nanoparticle immunogens displaying gH/gL with distinct valencies and geometries. After one or two immunizations, all nanoparticles elicited superior binding and neutralizing titers relative to monomeric gH/gL. Antibodies elicited by a computationally designed self-assembling nanoparticle that displays 60 copies of the gH/gL protein conferred protection against a lethal dose of EBV in a humanized mouse challenge model, whereas antibodies elicited by monomeric gH/gL did not. Taken together, these data motivate further development of gH/gL nanoparticle vaccine candidates for EBV.

immunology↗

Attenuated transcriptional response to pro-inflammatory cytokines in schizophrenia hiPSC-derived neural progenitor cells

Maternal immune activation (MIA) during prenatal development is an environmental risk factor for psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia (SZ). This link is particularly well established in the case of schizophrenia. Converging lines of evidence from human and animal model studies have suggested that elevated cytokine levels in the maternal and fetal compartments are an important indication of the mechanisms driving this association. However, there is variability in susceptibility to the psychiatric risk conferred by MIA, likely influenced by genetic factors. How MIA interacts with a genetic profile susceptible to SZ is challenging to test in animal models. To address this gap, we examined whether differential gene expression responses occur in forebrain-lineage neural progenitor cells (NPCs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) generated from three individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and three healthy controls. Following acute (24 hour) treatment with either interferon-gamma (IFN{gamma}; 25 ng/l) or interleukin (IL)-1{beta} (10 ng/l), we identified, by RNA sequencing, 3380 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the IFN{gamma}-treated control lines (compared to untreated controls), and 1980 DEGs in IFN{gamma}-treated SZ lines (compared to untreated SZ lines). Of these, 359 genes responded differently to IFN{gamma} treatment in SZ relative to control lines, which were enriched for genes differentially expressed in adult SZ cases and in pathways related to the regulation of antigen processing, neuronal post-synaptic density, and the presynapse. There were no differentially expressed genes in the IL-1{beta}-treatment conditions after Benjamini-Hochberg correction. Gene set enrichment analysis however showed that IL-1{beta} impacts immune function and neuronal differentiation. Collectively, our data suggest that a) SZ NPCs show an attenuated transcriptional response to IFN{gamma} treatment compared to control NPCs; b) IL-1{beta} may be less relevant to NPC cultures than IFN{gamma} and c) the genes differentially regulated in schizophrenia lines are primarily mitochondrial, loss-of-function, pre- and post-synaptic genes. Our findings particularly highlight early synaptic development as a key target for future research into the mechanisms of association between maternal immune activation and schizophrenia risk. Highlights* There is a significant transcriptional response to IFN{gamma} treatment in human induced cortical neural progenitor cells (NPCs) * Differential expression implicates mitochondrial complex genes in this IFN{gamma}-dependent response, which are underexpressed in response to treatment in schizophrenia (SZ) NPCs. * SZ NPCs do not upregulate pre- and post-synaptic genes in response to IFN{gamma} as much as control NPCs * IL-1{beta} may be less relevant to NPC cultures than IFN{gamma} due to low IL1 receptor expression in NPCs.

neuroscience↗

MOV10 facilitates messenger RNA decay in an N6-methyladenosine (m6A) dependent manner to maintain the mouse embryonic stem cells state

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most predominant internal mRNA modification in eukaryotes, recognised by its reader proteins (so-called m6A-readers) for regulating subsequent mRNA fates -- splicing, export, localisation, decay, stability, and translation -- to control several biological processes. Although a few m6A-readers have been identified, yet the list is incomplete. Here, we identify a new m6A-reader protein, Moloney leukaemia virus 10 homologue (MOV10), in the m6A pathway. MOV10 recognises m6A-containing mRNAs with a conserved GGm6ACU motif. Mechanistic studies uncover that MOV10 facilitates mRNA decay of its bound m6A-containing mRNAs in an m6A-dependent manner within the cytoplasmic processing bodies (P-bodies). Furthermore, MOV10 decays the Gsk-3{beta} mRNA through m6A that stabilises the {beta}-CATENIN expression of a WNT/{beta}-CATENIN signalling pathway to regulate downstream NANOG expression for maintaining the mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) state. Thus, our findings reveal how a newly identified m6A-reader, MOV10 mediates mRNA decay via m6A that impact embryonic stem cell biology.

biochemistry↗

RNA uridyl transferases TUT4/7 differentially regulate miRNA variants depending on the cancer cell-type

The human terminal uridyl transferases TUT4 and TUT7 (TUT4/7) catalyse additions of uridines at the 3' end of RNAs such as the precursors of the tumour suppressor miRNA let-7, upon recruitment by the oncoprotein LIN28A. Consequently, let-7 family miRNAs are downregulated. Disruption of this TUT4/7 activity inhibits tumorigenesis and hence targeting TUT4/7 can be a potential anti-cancer therapy. In this study, we investigate TUT4/7-mediated RNA regulation in two cancer cell lines by establishing catalytic knockout models. Upon TUT4/7 mutation, we observe a significant reduction in miRNA uridylation, which results in defects in cancer cell properties such as cell proliferation and migration. With the loss of TUT4/7-mediated miRNA uridylation, the uridylated miRNA variants are replaced by adenylated isomiRs. Changes in miRNA modification profiles are accompanied by deregulation of expression levels in specific cases. Unlike let-7s, most miRNAs do not depend on LIN28A for TUT4/7-mediated regulation. Additionally, we identify TUT4/7-regulated cell-type-specific miRNA clusters and deregulation in their corresponding mRNA targets. Expression levels of miR-200c-3p and miR-141-3p are regulated by TUT4/7 in a cancer cell type specific manner. Subsequently, BCL2 which is a well-established target of miR-200c is upregulated. Therefore, TUT4/7 loss triggers deregulation of miRNA-mRNA networks in a cell-type-specific manner. Understanding of the underlying biology of such cell-type-specific deregulation will be key when targeting TUT4/7 for cancer therapy. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=198 SRC="FIGDIR/small/451846v2_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (53K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@a18bdcorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1e5534forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@c08e76org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1c90423_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG Highlights TUT4/7 catalyse 3' uridylation of most miRNAs Loss of uridylated isomiRs leads to the gain of adenylated isomiRs TUT4/7-mediated miRNA deregulation and miRNA-mRNA interactions are specific to the cell line type Loss of TUT4/7-mediated RNA uridylation inhibits cancer cell function

molecular biology↗

Intergenerational adaptations to stress are evolutionarily conserved, stress-specific, and have deleterious trade-offs

Despite reports of parental exposure to stress promoting physiological adaptations in progeny in diverse organisms, there remains considerable debate over the significance and evolutionary conservation of such multigenerational effects. Here, we investigate four independent models of intergenerational adaptations to stress in C. elegans - bacterial infection, eukaryotic infection, osmotic stress and nutrient stress - across multiple species. We found that all four intergenerational physiological adaptations are conserved in at least one other species, that they are stress-specific, and that they have deleterious trade-offs in mismatched environments. By profiling the effects of parental bacterial infection and osmotic stress exposure on progeny gene expression across species we established a core set of 279 highly conserved genes that exhibited intergenerational changes in expression in response to stress in all species tested and provide evidence suggesting that presumed adaptive and deleterious intergenerational effects are molecularly related at the gene expression level. By contrast, we found that these same stresses did not elicit any similarly conserved transgenerational changes in progeny gene expression three generations after stress exposure. We conclude that intergenerational responses to stress play a substantial and evolutionarily conserved role in regulating animal physiology and that the vast majority of the effects of parental stress on progeny gene expression are reversible and not maintained transgenerationally.

genetics↗

Autism risk gene POGZ promotes chromatin accessibility and expression of clustered synaptic genes

De novo mutations in POGZ, which encodes the chromatin regulator Pogo Transposable Element with ZNF Domain protein, are strongly associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here we find that in the developing mouse and human brain POGZ binds predominantly euchromatic loci and these are enriched for human neurodevelopmental disorder genes and transposable elements. We profile chromatin accessibility and gene expression in Pogz-/- mice and find that POGZ promotes chromatin accessibility of candidate regulatory elements (REs) and the expression of clustered synaptic genes. We further demonstrate that POGZ forms a nuclear complex and co-occupies loci with HP1{gamma} and ADNP, another high-confidence ASD risk gene. In Pogz+/- mice, Adnp expression is reduced. We postulate that reduced POGZ dosage disrupts cortical function through alterations in the POGZ-ADNP balance which modifies neuronal gene expression.

neuroscience↗

Novel epigenetic clock for fetal brain development predicts fetal epigenetic age for iPSCs and iPSC-derived neurons.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their differentiated neurons (iPSC-neurons) are a widely used cellular model in the research of the central nervous system. However, it is unknown how well they capture age-associated processes, particularly given that pluripotent cells are only present during the earliest stages of mammalian development. Epigenetic clocks utilize coordinated age-associated changes in DNA methylation to make predictions that correlate strongly with chronological age. It has been shown that the induction of pluripotency rejuvenates predicted epigenetic age. As existing clocks are not optimized for the study of brain development, we developed the fetal brain clock (FBC), a bespoke epigenetic clock trained in human prenatal brain samples in order to investigate more precisely the epigenetic age of iPSCs and iPSC-neurons. The FBC was tested in two independent validation cohorts across a total of 194 samples, confirming that the FBC outperforms other established epigenetic clocks in fetal brain cohorts. We applied the FBC to DNA methylation data from iPSCs and iPSC-derived neuronal precursor cells and neurons, finding that these cell types are epigenetically characterized as having an early fetal age. Furthermore, while differentiation from iPSCs to neurons significantly increases epigenetic age, iPSC-neurons are still predicted as being fetal. Together our findings reiterate the need to better understand the limitations of existing epigenetic clocks for answering biological research questions and highlight a limitation of iPSC-neurons as a cellular model of age-related diseases.

neuroscience↗

HIV antiretrovirals have differential effects on viability and function in human iPSC-derived neurons and neural precursor cells

Despite viral suppression due to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) continue to affect half of people with HIV, suggesting that certain antiretrovirals (ARVs) may contribute to HAND. We examined the effects of nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors tenofovir disproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC) and the integrase inhibitors dolutegravir (DTG) and elvitegravir (EVG) on viability, structure, and function of glutamatergic neurons (a subtype of CNS neuron involved in cognition) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-neurons), and primary human neural precursor cells (hNPCs), which are responsible for neurogenesis. Using automated digital microscopy and image analysis (high content analysis, HCA), we found that DTG, EVG, and TDF decreased hiPSC-neuron viability, neurites, and synapses after seven days of treatment. Analysis of hiPSC-neuron calcium activity using Kinetic Image Cytometry (KIC) demonstrated that DTG and EVG also decreased the frequency and magnitude of intracellular calcium transients. Longer ARV exposures and simultaneous exposure to multiple ARVs increased the magnitude of these neurotoxic effects. Using the Microscopic Imaging of Epigenetic Landscapes (MIEL) assay, we found that TDF decreased hNPC viability and changed the distribution of histone modifications that regulate chromatin packing, suggesting that TDF may reduce neuroprogenitor pools important for CNS development and maintenance of cognition in adults. This study establishes human preclinical assays that can screen potential ARVs for CNS toxicity to develop safer cART regimens and HAND therapeutics.

neuroscience↗

Purification of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike, its receptor binding domain, and CR3022 mAb for serological assay

Serology testing for COVID-19 is highly attractive because of the relatively short diagnosis time and the ability to test for an active immune response against the SARS-CoV-2. In many types of serology tests, the sensitivity and the specificity are directly influenced by the quality of the antigens manufactured. Protein purification of these recombinantly expressed viral antigens [e.g., spike and its receptor binding domain (RBD)] is an important step in the manufacturing process. Simple and high-capacity protein purification schemes for spike, RBD, and CR3022 mAb, recombinantly expressed in CHO and HEK293 cells, are reported in this article. The schemes consist of an affinity chromatography step and a desalting step. Purified proteins were validated in ELISA-based serological tests. Interestingly, extracellular matrix proteins [most notably heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG)] were co-purified from spike-expressing CHO culture with a long cultivation time. HSPG-spike interaction could play a functional role in the pathology and the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses.

biochemistry↗

The short and long-range RNA-RNA Interactome of SARS-CoV-2

The Coronaviridae is a family of positive-strand RNA viruses that includes SARS-CoV-2, the etiologic agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bearing the largest single-stranded RNA genomes in nature, coronaviruses are critically dependent on long-distance RNA-RNA interactions to regulate the viral transcription and replication pathways. Here we experimentally mapped the in vivo RNA-RNA interactome of the full-length SARS-CoV-2 genome and subgenomic mRNAs. We uncovered a network of RNA-RNA interactions spanning tens of thousands of nucleotides. These interactions reveal that the viral genome and subgenomes adopt alternative topologies inside cells, and engage in different interactions with host RNAs. Notably, we discovered a long-range RNA-RNA interaction - the FSE-arch - that encircles the programmed ribosomal frameshifting element. The FSE-arch is conserved in the related MERS-CoV and is under purifying selection. Our findings illuminate RNA structure based mechanisms governing replication, discontinuous transcription, and translation of coronaviruses, and will aid future efforts to develop antiviral strategies.

molecular biology↗

Striatal dopamine supports reward reactivity and learning: A simultaneous PET/fMRI study

Converging evidence from both human neuroimaging and animal studies has supported a model of mesolimbic processing in computing prediction errors, which form the basis of reward learning behaviors. However, direct evidence demonstrating how human dopamine signaling in the basal ganglia contributes to learning has been hampered by limitations of individual imaging modalities. Here, we present data from a large (N=81, 18-30 year olds), multi-modal neuroimaging study using simultaneously acquired task fMRI, affording temporal resolution of reward system function, and PET imaging with [11C]Raclopride (RAC) assessing striatal D2/3 receptor binding. Results indicated that task-related dopamine release in the ventral striatum, measured as a change in RAC binding, was greater among those who demonstrated successful reward learning on a probabilistic map learning task. This learning response was specific to the ventral striatum and was not present in fMRI BOLD reward response activation. This provides support for considering task-related DA release in ventral striatum as a key signal for translating reward outcomes into a learning signal, rather the representing the reward outcome in isolation. These data provide novel, human in vivo evidence that dopaminergic function may support reward reactivity as well as reward learning as distinct processes.

neuroscience↗

The RNA Polymerase II core subunit RPB-9 directs transcriptional elongation at piRNA loci in Caenorhabditis elegans

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are genome-encoded small RNAs that regulate germ cell development and maintain germline integrity in many animals. Mature piRNAs engage Piwi Argonaute proteins to silence complementary transcripts, including transposable elements and endogenous genes. piRNA biogenesis mechanisms are diverse and remain poorly understood. Here, we identify the RNA Polymerase II (RNA Pol II) core subunit RPB-9 as required for piRNA-mediated silencing in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. rpb-9 mutants fail to initiate heritable piRNA-mediated gene silencing. Furthermore, we show that RPB-9 is required to repress two DNA transposon families and a subset of somatic genes in the C. elegans germline. We provide genetic and biochemical evidence that RPB-9 is required for piRNA biogenesis. We demonstrate that RPB-9 acts to promote transcriptional elongation/termination at endogenous piRNA loci. We conclude that as a part of its rapid evolution the piRNA pathway has co-opted another ancient machinery, this time for high-fidelity transcription.

genetics↗

Translational adaptation to heat stress is mediated by 5-methylcytosine RNA modification in Caenorhabditis elegans

Methylation of carbon-5 of cytosines (m5C) is a post-transcriptional nucleotide modification of RNA found in all kingdoms of life. While individual m5C-methyltransferases have been studied, the impact of the global cytosine-5 methylome on development, homeostasis and stress remains unknown. Here, using Caenorhabditis elegans, we generated the first organism devoid of m5C in RNA, demonstrating that this modification is non-essential. We determined the localisation and enzymatic specificity of m5C sites in RNA in vivo and showed that animals devoid of m5C are sensitive to temperature stress. At the molecular level, we showed that loss of m5C specifically impacts decoding of leucine and proline thus reducing the translation efficiency of transcripts enriched in these amino acids. Finally, we found translation of leucine UUG codons to be the most strongly affected upon heat shock, suggesting a role of m5C tRNA wobble methylation in the adaptation to heat stress.

genetics↗