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Transcriptional regulation of post-aggregation genes in Dictyostelium by a feed-forward loop involving GBF and LagC.

Expression profiles of developmental genes in Dictyostelium were determined on microarrays during development of wild type cells and mutant cells lacking either the DNA binding protein GBF or the signaling protein LagC. We found that the mutant strains developed in suspension with added cAMP expressed the pulse-induced and early adenylyl cyclase (ACA)-dependent genes, but not the later ACA-dependent, post-aggregation genes. Since expression of lagC itself is dependent on GBF, expression of the post-aggregation genes might be controlled only by signaling from LagC. However, expression of lagC in a GBF-independent manner in a gbfA- null strain did not result in expression of the post-aggregation genes. Since GBF is necessary for accumulation of LagC and both the DNA binding protein and the LagC signal transduction pathway are necessary for expression of post-aggregation genes, GBF and LagC form a feed-forward loop. Such network architecture is a common motif in diverse organisms and can act as a filter for noisy inputs. Breaking the feed-forward loop by expressing lagC in a GBF-independent manner in a gbfA+ strain does not significantly affect the patterns of gene expression for cells developed in suspension with added cAMP, but results in a significant delay at the mound stage and asynchronous development on solid supports. This feed-forward loop can integrate temporal information with morphological signals to ensure that post-aggregation genes are only expressed after cell contacts have been made.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

A novel developmentally regulated gene in lung mesenchyme: homology to a tumor-derived trypsin inhibitor.

We used differential display-PCR (DD-PCR) to identify glucocorticoid-inducible genes that regulate lung development in late gestation. DD-PCR, a method to screen for differentially expressed genes, is based on a comparison of mRNAs isolated from a subset of two or more cell populations by analysis of RT-PCR products on DNA-sequencing gels. We isolated cDNA probes representing mRNAs expressed in primary cultures of rat lung fibroblasts, but not in epithelial cells, on fetal day 20. A day 20 glucocorticoid-treated fibroblast cDNA library was screened with a single probe to isolate the 3.1-kb cDNA late-gestation lung 1 (LGL1; GenBank accession no. AF109674) encoding a deduced polypeptide of 188 amino acids. Northern analysis confirmed that LGL1 is expressed in human, rat, and mouse fetal lungs, induced by glucocorticoid, developmentally regulated in fibroblasts but not detectable in epithelium. In situ hybridization confirmed LGL1 expression in the mesenchyme, but not in the epithelium, of fetal rat lung, kidney, and gut. The predicted LGL1 gene product (lgl1) showed 81% homology to P25TI, a polypeptide trypsin inhibitor recently identified in human glioblastoma and neuroblastoma cells but not detected in normal human tissues. Both lgl1 and P25TI belong to the CRISP family of cysteine-rich extracellular proteins. Trypsin is produced by both normal bronchial epithelial and lung adenocarcinoma cells. Although additional studies will be necessary to clearly establish a functional role for lgl1, we propose that lgl1 has a role in normal lung development that is likely to be via regulation of extracellular matrix degradation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The 5'-flanking region of the rat synapsin I gene directs neuron-specific and developmentally regulated reporter gene expression in transgenic mice.

The expression of the synapsin I gene is neuron-specific and developmentally regulated. As a step toward characterizing the molecular mechanisms that are responsible for its transcriptional regulation in vivo, we have generated transgenic mice that carry the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) receptor gene under the control of approximately 4,300 nucleotides of 5'-flanking sequence of the rat synapsin I gene. In four independent transgenic mouse lines, high level CAT expression is observed specifically in the brain and other neural tissues. Two of these lines also exhibit notable CAT expression in testis. The transgene is expressed at similar levels in many different regions of the central nervous system. Immunohistochemical staining detects the CAT marker protein in various cell populations of neuronal morphology within the brain and the spinal cord. Transgene expression is developmentally regulated in a way that correlates well with the expression of the endogenous synapsin I gene. Both follow a characteristic, biphasic postnatal time course with a maximum around day 20. We conclude that the DNA region investigated contains cis-regulatory elements sufficient to drive the expression of a reporter gene in a spatial and temporal pattern that resembles the expression of the endogenous synapsin I gene.

Animals↗

REN: a novel, developmentally regulated gene that promotes neural cell differentiation.

Expansion and fate choice of pluripotent stem cells along the neuroectodermal lineage is regulated by a number of signals, including EGF, retinoic acid, and NGF, which also control the proliferation and differentiation of central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) neural progenitor cells. We report here the identification of a novel gene, REN, upregulated by neurogenic signals (retinoic acid, EGF, and NGF) in pluripotent embryonal stem (ES) cells and neural progenitor cell lines in association with neurotypic differentiation. Consistent with a role in neural promotion, REN overexpression induced neuronal differentiation as well as growth arrest and p27Kip1 expression in CNS and PNS neural progenitor cell lines, and its inhibition impaired retinoic acid induction of neurogenin-1 and NeuroD expression. REN expression is developmentally regulated, initially detected in the neural fold epithelium of the mouse embryo during gastrulation, and subsequently throughout the ventral neural tube, the outer layer of the ventricular encephalic neuroepithelium and in neural crest derivatives including dorsal root ganglia. We propose that REN represents a novel component of the neurogenic signaling cascade induced by retinoic acid, EGF, and NGF, and is both a marker and a regulator of neuronal differentiation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Developmentally regulated gene expression of all eight metabotropic glutamate receptors in hypothalamic suprachiasmatic and arcuate nuclei--a PCR analysis.

Previous studies have demonstrated the critical role glutamate plays in the hypothalamus, both in the developing and adult brain. The expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) mRNA (mGluR1-8) was studied in the suprachiasmatic (SCN) and arcuate (ARC) nuclei. Using reverse Northern blots and cDNA-PCR, we found that all eight cloned mGluRs were expressed in these brain regions. Most had not previously been detected here. Surprisingly, this included mGluRs that had previously been thought to be restricted to the retina, such as mGluR6. We also detected, cloned, and sequenced a splice variant of mGluR7 (mGluR7b). Developmentally, the age of maximal expression of mGluRs was dependent on the region. For instance, mGluR5 was more strongly expressed in neonatal ARC than in adult, whereas the opposite was true in the SCN. Compared with P10 neonates, mGluR1, R3, R6, R7a, R7b, and R8 showed a greater expression in adult SCN and ARC.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The Drosophila TIS11 homologue encodes a developmentally controlled gene.

We previously identified a murine primary response gene family containing three members; TIS11, TIS11B and TIS11D. Using degenerate oligonucleotides derived from conserved regions of the mouse TIS11 family cDNAs as primers and Drosophila genomic DNA as template for polymerase chain reaction amplification, we have identified a fly TIS11 homologue called DTIS11. The DTIS11 protein shares 90% sequence identity with the murine TIS11B and TIS11D proteins, over a 74 amino acid region that contains two CX8CX5CX3H repeated motifs separated by 18 amino acids. DTIS11 maps to region 11B(14-16) on the X-chromosome. Northern blot and in situ hybridization show that a maternal 3 kb message is present in embryos of early developmental stages. A 6 kb DTIS11 mRNA subsequently appears. In KC embryonal cells, both a strong 3 kb message and a less intense 6 kb message are present. The larger (6 kb) message is modestly induced in KC cells by both forskolin and tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate, and is stabilized by cycloheximide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[T-Box genes and developmental decisions that cells make].

During gastrulation in vertebrate embryos, three definitive germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm) are formed by organized and coordinated cell movements. In zebrafish, further subdivision of the mesoderm gives rise to the axial, adaxial and paraxial mesoderm. The axial mesoderm contributes to the prechordal plate and notochord whereas the adaxial and paraxial cells give rise to slow and fast muscles, respectively (Devoto et al., 1996; Blagden et al., 1997; Currie and Ingham, 1998). An inductive interaction in which the notochord plays an essential role will also provide an input in forming other specialized types of tissue contributing to the axial structures: the floor plate located dorsally to the notochord in the ventral spinal cord and the hypochord located ventrally of the notochord and deriving probably from the endoerm. It is known that despite the difference in developmental roles (Strähle et al., 1993; Krauss et al., 1993), the floor plate and hypochord co-express a number of common molecular markers (Jan et al., 1995; our unpublished results) that may illustrate a certain similarity of their origin. Their close proximity to the notochord determines specialized features of these structures that differ substantially from the rest of the neural tube and endoderm, correspondingly. Once formed under the influence of the notochordal signaling, the floor plate will acquire an ability, similar to the notochord, to express genes of the Hedgehog family and several other groups of genes and to induce specification of ventral cell types in the neural tube during later development (for review, see Korzh, 1998). The biology of the hypochord is much less understood. It seems that the hypochord develops slightly later than the floor plate. It may be required for proper positioning of the dorsal aorta as well as induction of some other endoderm derivatives.

Animals↗

Strong evidence that KIAA0319 on chromosome 6p is a susceptibility gene for developmental dyslexia.

Linkage between developmental dyslexia (DD) and chromosome 6p has been replicated in a number of independent samples. Recent attempts to identify the gene responsible for the linkage have produced inconsistent evidence for association of DD with a number of genes in a 575-kb region of chromosome 6p22.2, including VMP, DCDC2, KIAA0319, TTRAP, and THEM2. We aimed to identify the specific gene or genes involved by performing a systematic, high-density (approximately 2-3-kb intervals) linkage disequilibrium screen of these genes in an independent sample, incorporating family-based and case-control designs in which dyslexia was defined as an extreme representation of reading disability. Using DNA pooling, we first observed evidence for association with 17 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 13 of which were located in the KIAA0319 gene (P<.01-.003). After redundant SNPs were excluded, 10 SNPs were individually genotyped in 223 subjects with DD and 273 controls. Those SNPs that were significant at P</=.05 were next genotyped in a semi-independent sample of 143 trios of probands with DD and their parents, to control for possible population stratification. Six SNPs showed significant evidence of association in both samples (P</=.04-.002), including a SNP (rs4504469) in exon 4 of the KIAA0319 gene that changes an amino acid (P=.002; odds ratio 1.5). Logistic regression analysis showed that two SNPs (rs4504469 and rs6935076) in the KIAA0319 gene best explained DD status. The haplotype composed of these two markers was significantly associated with DD (global P=.00001 in the case-control sample; P=.02 in trios). This finding was largely driven by underrepresentation of the most common haplotype in cases (P=.00003 in the case-control sample; P=.006 in trios; 1-degree-of-freedom tests). Our data strongly implicate KIAA0319 as a susceptibility gene for dyslexia. The gene product is expressed in brain, but its specific function is currently unknown.

Adolescent↗

Isolation of two novel ras genes in Dictyostelium discoideum; evidence for a complex, developmentally regulated ras gene subfamily.

In Dictyostelium discoideum, three ras genes (rasD, rasG and rasB) and one ras-related gene (rap1) have been previously isolated and characterized, and the deduced amino acid sequence of their predicted protein products share at least 50% sequence identity with the human H-Ras protein. We have now cloned and characterized two additional members of the ras gene subfamily in Dictyostelium, rasC and rasS. These genes are developmentally regulated and unlike the previously isolated Dictyostelium ras genes, maximum levels of their transcripts were detected during aggregation, suggesting that the encoded proteins have distinct functions during aggregation. The rasC cDNA encodes a 189 amino acid protein that is 65% identical to the Dictyostelium RasD and RasG proteins and 56% identical to the human H-Ras protein. The predicted 194 amino acid gene product encoded by rasS is 60% identical to the Dictyostelium RasD and RasG proteins and 54% identical to the human H-Ras protein. Whereas RasD, RasG, RasB and Rap1 are totally conserved in their putative effector domains relative to H-Ras, RasC and RasS have single amino acid substitutions in their effector domains, consistent with the idea that they have unique functions. In RasC, aspartic acid-38 has been replaced by asparagine (D38N), and in RasS, isoleucine-36 has been replaced by leucine (I36L). In addition, both proteins have several differences in the effector-proximal domain, a domain which is believed to play a role in Ras target activation. In RasC, there is a single conservative amino acid change in the canonical sequence of the binding site for the Ras-specific monoclonal antibody Y13-259, and consequently, RasC is less immunoreactive with the antibody than either of the Dictyostelium RasD or RasG proteins. In contrast, RasS, which has three substitutions in the Y13-259 binding site, does not react with the Y13-259 antibody.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Estrogen modulates developmentally regulated gene expression in the fetal baboon liver.

Although estrogen plays a central integrative role in regulating key aspects of placental and fetal endocrine development in the primate, our understanding of the regulation of maturation of the fetal liver is incomplete. In adults, estrogen modulates several aspects of hepatic function. Therefore, the current study determined whether fetal hepatic gene expression development was modulated by estrogen. mRNA differential display was used to identify genes whose expression was altered in fetal livers obtained on d 165 of gestation (term = d 184) from baboons that were untreated or treated on d 60-164 with the aromatase inhibitor CGS 20267 (2 mg/d; sc), which suppressed estrogen levels in the fetus by >95% (p < 0.01). As confirmed by Northern blot, the mRNA levels (ratio to 18s RNA) of metallothionein I (MT-I), porphobilinogen deaminase (PBG-D), and cytochrome P450 2C8 (CYP 2C8) in the livers of estrogen-deprived fetuses were 5-, 12-, and 3-fold higher (p < 0.05) than respective values of untreated fetuses. Moreover, mRNA levels of MT-I and PBG-D, expressed as a ratio to 18s RNA, were 3-fold and 26-fold higher (p < 0.05) on d 60-100 of gestation than on d 165 and in the adult. In contrast, CYP 2C8 mRNA increased 10-fold between d 100 and 165 and was not further altered in adult liver. Immunohistochemistry confirmed expression of MT-I in hepatocytes. Erythropoietic cells, normally present in the fetal baboon liver on d 100 but not on d 165, were also detected on d 165 in animals treated with the aromatase inhibitor. Thus, upregulation of PBG-D mRNA in estrogen-deprived baboons may reflect prolongation of the erythropoietic role of the fetal liver. In summary, these results indicate that the normal developmental change in MT-I, PBG-D, and CYP 2C8 mRNA expression in baboon fetal liver with advancing gestation are dependent on increased secretion of estrogen into the fetus. We suggest, therefore, that estrogen regulates normal development of the primate fetal liver.

Animals↗

Convergent evolution of gene expression in two high-toothed stickleback populations.

Changes in developmental gene regulatory networks enable evolved changes in morphology. These changes can be in cis regulatory elements that act in an allele-specific manner, or changes to the overall trans regulatory environment that interacts with cis regulatory sequences. Here we address several questions about the evolution of gene expression accompanying a convergently evolved constructive morphological trait, increases in tooth number in two independently derived freshwater populations of threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Are convergently evolved cis and/or trans changes in gene expression associated with convergently evolved morphological evolution? Do cis or trans regulatory changes contribute more to gene expression changes accompanying an evolved morphological gain trait? Transcriptome data from dental tissue of ancestral low-toothed and two independently derived high-toothed stickleback populations revealed significantly shared gene expression changes that have convergently evolved in the two high-toothed populations. Comparing cis and trans regulatory changes using phased gene expression data from F1 hybrids, we found that trans regulatory changes were predominant and more likely to be shared among both high-toothed populations. In contrast, while cis regulatory changes have evolved in both high-toothed populations, overall these changes were distinct and not shared among high-toothed populations. Together these data suggest that a convergently evolved trait can occur through genetically distinct regulatory changes that converge on similar trans regulatory environments.

Alleles↗

Precocious sporulation and developmental lethality in yelA null mutants of Dictyostelium.

A novel developmental gene, yelA, has been found that plays as essential role in regulating terminal differentiation of Dictyostelium discoideum. Strains in which yelA is disrupted by plasmid insertion are arrested at the tight mound stage but accumulate the bright yellow pigment characteristic of mature sori. Although these mutant strains do not form fruiting bodies, many of the cells encapsulate within the mounds. Sporulation occurs about 6 hours earlier in yelA- cells than in wild-type cells, accompanied by precocious expression of a prespore gene, spiA. However, the spores are defective and lose viability over a period of several hours. Unencapsulated cells also die unless they are dissociated from the mounds and shaken in suspension. The yelA gene was isolated by plasmid rescue and found to encode a protein of 102 kDa in which the N-terminal sequence shows significant similarity to domains found in the eIF-4G subunits of the translational initiation complex eIF-4F. In wild-type cells yelA mRNA first accumulates at 8 hours of development and is maintained in both prespore and prestalk cells until culmination when it is found only is stalk cells. Mutations in yelA can partially suppress the block to sporulation in mutant strains in which either of the prestalk genes tagB or tagC is disrupted such that an encapsulation signal is not produced. It appears that premature encapsulation is normally inhibited by YelA until a signal is received from prestalk cells during culmination.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The molecular evolution of development.

Morphological differences between species, from simple single-character differences to large-scale variation in body plans, can be traced to changes in the timing and location of developmental events. This has led to a growing interest in understanding the genetic basis behind the evolution of developmental systems. Molecular evolutionary genetics provides one of several approaches to dissecting the evolution of developmental systems, by allowing us to reconstruct the history of developmental genetic pathways, infer the origin and diversification of developmental gene functions, and assess the relative contributions of various evolutionary forces in shaping regulatory gene evolution.

Animal Population Groups↗

Alpha-fetoprotein gene regulation: lessons from transgenic mice.

The mouse alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene provides an excellent model system to study developmental gene activation and different aspects of liver-specific transcriptional control. AFP is activated early in hepatogenesis, repressed post-natally, and can be reactivated during liver regeneration and in hepatocellular carcinomas. Transgenic studies have also revealed that AFP enhancers, when linked individually to a heterologous promoter, can confer zonal control in the adult liver. Continued transgenic studies, combined with analysis using in vitro and tissue culture systems, will help elucidate mechanisms of transcriptional regulation during liver development and hepatocarcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Environmental cues affecting development.

Multiple receptors connect environmental cues to developmental genes via shortcuts and more tortuous pathways, creating a network of interactive signals in which negative regulators play a key role. The elements of the circuitry, their connections, and their functional significance are being uncovered thanks to the analysis of genetic interactions, protein-protein interactions, sub-cellular localisation and transcriptome patterns.

Arabidopsis Proteins↗

Defining the specific physiological requirements for c-Myc in T cell development.

c-Myc is associated with cell growth and cycling in many tissues and its deregulated expression is causally implicated in cancer, particularly lymphomagenesis. However, the contribution of c-Myc to lymphocyte development is unresolved. We show here that the formation of normal lymphocytes by c-Myc-/- cells is selectively defective. c-Myc-/- cells are inefficient, in an age-dependent manner, at populating the thymus, and subsequent thymocyte maturation is ineffective: they fail to grow and proliferate normally at the late double-negative (DN) CD4-CD8- stage. Because N-Myc expression in thymocytes usually declines at the late DN stage, these results confirm that the nonredundant contributions of Myc family members to development are related to their distinct patterns of developmental gene expression.

Animals↗