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Thyroid hormone induces a reprogramming of gene expression in the liver of premetamorphic Rana catesbeiana tadpoles.

During spontaneous or thyroid hormone-induced metamorphosis of the Rana catesbeiana tadpole, postembryonic changes occur in its liver that are permanent and necessary for the transition of this organism from an aquatic, ammonotelic larva to a semiterrestrial, ureotelic adult. These changes include the coordinated expression of genes encoding the urea cycle enzymes carbamyl phosphate synthetase and ornithine transcarbamylase. Although these changes are dependent on thyroid hormone and occur within the resident hepatocytes, the mechanism(s) by which this hormone reprograms gene expression in these cells and initiates the tissue-specific expression of these genes is poorly understood. Our contention is that the thyroid hormone-induced expression of these genes is an indirect effect of thyroid hormone and involves an early, thyroid hormone-induced upregulation of a gene(s) encoding a tissue-specific transcription factor(s), which in turn, upregulates in a coordinated fashion, the expression of these urea cycle enzyme genes. Herein, we present results that demonstrate a role for a Rana homologue of a mammalian transcription factor, C/EBPalpha(designated as RcC/EBP-1), in the thyroid hormone-induced cascade of gene activity responsible for reprogramming gene expression and initiating the coordinated expression of genes, such as carbamyl phosphate synthetase-I and ornithine transcarbamylase, which are characteristic of the adult liver phenotype.

Animals↗

The concept of developmental reprogramming and the quest for an inclusive theory of evolutionary mechanisms.

Evolutionary developmental biology has already made a major contribution to our understanding of evolutionary patterns, notably homology. However, while it has the potential to make an equally important contribution to our understanding of evolutionary mechanisms, and indeed to the integration of mechanism and pattern, it has not yet done so. This paper explores how this potential may be realized. In particular, I focus on the limitations of present-day neo-Darwinian theory, and indicate how a combination of the neo-Darwinian and "evo-devo" approaches provides a more inclusive view of evolutionary mechanisms with greater explanatory power. There is a particular focus on developmental reprogramming, which lies logically between mutation and selection, yet has been neglected in mainstream evolutionary theory. The inclusion of developmental reprogramming in the list of evolutionary mechanisms leads to a view that the direction of evolutionary change is determined by a combination of internal and external factors, rather than being controlled entirely by the environment.

Biological Evolution↗

Genetic reprogramming of tumor cells by zinc finger transcription factors.

Cancer arises by the accumulation of genetic alterations in DNA leading to aberrant gene transcription. Expression-profiling studies have correlated genomewide expression signatures with malignancy. However, functional analysis elucidating the contribution and synergy of genes in specific cancer cell phenotypes remains a formidable obstacle. Herein, we describe an alternative genetic approach for identification of genes involved in tumor progression by using a library of zinc finger artificial transcription factors (ATFs) and functional screening of tumor cells as a source of genetic plasticity and clonal selection. We isolated a six-zinc finger transcriptional activator (TF 20-VP, TF 20 containing the VP64 activator domain) that acts to reprogram a drug-sensitive, poorly invasive, and nonmetastatic cell line into a cell line with a drug-resistant, highly invasive, and metastatic phenotype. Differential expression profiles of cells expressing TF 20-VP followed by functional studies, both in vitro and in animal models, revealed that invasion and metastasis requires co-regulation of multiple target genes. Significantly, the E48 antigen, associated with poor metastasis-free survival in head and neck cancer, was identified as one specific target of TF 20-VP. We have shown phenotypic modulation of tumor cell behavior by E48 expression, including enhanced cell migration in vitro and tumor cell dissemination in vivo. This study demonstrates the use of ATFs to identify the group of genes that cooperate during tumor progression. By co-regulating multiple targets, ATFs can be used as master genetic switches to reprogram and modulate complex neoplastic phenotypes.

Animals↗

Reprogramming of tau alternative splicing by spliceosome-mediated RNA trans-splicing: implications for tauopathies.

Frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the microtubule-associated protein, tau. Some FTDP-17 mutations affect exon 10 splicing. To correct aberrant exon 10 splicing while retaining endogenous transcriptional control, we evaluated the feasibility of using spliceosome-mediated RNA trans-splicing (SMaRT) to reprogram tau mRNA. We designed a pre-trans-splicing molecule containing human tau exons 10 to 13 and a binding domain complementary to the 3' end of tau intron 9. A minigene comprising tau exons 9, 10, and 11 and minimal flanking intronic sequences was used as a target. RT-PCR analysis of SH-SY5Y cells or COS cells cotransfected with a minigene and a pre-trans-splicing molecule using primers to opposite sides of the predicted splice junction generated products containing exons 9 to 13. Sequencing of the chimeric products showed that an exact exon 9-exon 10 junction had been created, thus demonstrating that tau RNA can be reprogrammed by trans-splicing. Furthermore, by using the same paradigm with a minigene containing full-length intronic sequences, we show that cis-splicing exclusion of exon 10 can be by-passed by trans-splicing and that conversion of exon 10(-) tau RNA into exon 10(+) tau RNA could be achieved with approximately 34% efficiency. Our results demonstrate that an alternatively spliced exon can be replaced by trans-splicing and open the way to novel therapeutic applications of SMaRT for tauopathies and other disorders linked to aberrant alternative splicing.

Alternative Splicing↗

Reprogramming leukemic cells to terminal differentiation by inhibiting specific cyclin-dependent kinases in G1.

Some tumor cells can be stimulated to differentiate and undergo terminal cell division and loss of tumorigenicity. The in vitro differentiation of murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells is a dramatic example of tumor-cell reprogramming. We found that reentry of MEL cells into terminal differentiation is accompanied by an early transient decline in the activity of cyclin-dependant kinase (CDK) 2, followed by a decline of CDK6. Later, as cells undergo terminal arrest, CDK2 and CDK4 activities decline. By analyzing stable MEL-cell transfectants containing vectors directing inducible expression of specific CDK inhibitors, we show that only inhibitors that block the combination of CDK2 and CDK6 trigger differentiation. Inhibiting CDK2 and CDK4 does not cause differentiation. Importantly, we also show that reprogramming through inhibition of CDKs is restricted to G(1) phase of the cell cycle. The results imply that abrogation of normal cell-cycle controls in tumor cells contributes to their inability to differentiate fully and that restoration of such controls in G(1) can lead to resumption of differentiation and terminal cell division. The results also indicate that CDK4 and CDK6 are functionally distinct and support our hypothesis that the two CDKs regulate cell division at different stages of erythroid maturation.

Animals↗

In vitro reprogramming of the photoperiodic clock in an insect brain-retrocerebral complex.

Pupal diapause in the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta is a photoperiodically induced event expressed by the absence of release of the cerebral peptide prothoracicotropic hormone. A short-day photoperiod (light-dark, 12:12) during larval development programs the brain to forego the release of prothoracicotropic hormone in the pupal stage. Prothoracicotropic hormone release can occur in the pupae and diapause can be averted if developing larvae experience an intervening long-day photoperiod (light-dark, 16:8) for 3 days early in the last larval instar. Implanted brains from larvae that received such long-day stimulation can reverse the diapause commitment of short-day-reared diapause-destined larvae, thus overriding the diapause program of the recipient. A system was established that demonstrated that this photoperiodic reprogramming of the insect's brain occurs in vitro. Brain-retrocerebral complexes from day 1 instar larvae were cultured in vitro for 3 days under long-day conditions. The effect of this non-diapause photoperiod on the diapause program of these brain-retrocerebral complexes was assessed by assaying the effect of the brains from these cultures on the incidence of non-diapause development in diapause-destined larval hosts. Brains that received a long-day photoperiod reversed the pupal diapause program of the recipient larvae, whereas brains that received a short-day photoperiod were ineffective. Therefore, the larval brain-retrocerebral complex of this insect is capable of photoperiodic light reception in vitro, in that it can sense the number of light-dark cycles to which it is exposed, store this environmental input, and express the information 9 days later at another stage of development. These findings demonstrate that the photoperiodic clock of an animal can be reprogrammed by a light-dark cycle in vitro.

Animals↗

Skeletal muscle reprogramming by activation of calcineurin improves insulin action on metabolic pathways.

The protein phosphatase calcineurin is a signaling intermediate that induces the transformation of fast-twitch skeletal muscle fibers to a slow-twitch phenotype. This reprogramming of the skeletal muscle gene expression profile may have therapeutic applications for metabolic disease. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle is both impaired in individuals with type II diabetes mellitus and positively correlated with the percentage of slow- versus fast-twitch muscle fibers. Using transgenic mice expressing activated calcineurin in skeletal muscle, we report that skeletal muscle reprogramming by calcineurin activation leads to improved insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake in extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles compared with wild-type mice, concomitant with increased protein expression of the insulin receptor, Akt, glucose transporter 4, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator 1. Transgenic mice exhibited elevated glycogen deposition, enhanced amino acid uptake, and increased fatty acid oxidation in EDL muscle. When fed a high-fat diet, transgenic mice maintained superior rates of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in EDL muscle and were protected against diet-induced glucose intolerance. These results validate calcineurin as a target for enhancing insulin action in skeletal muscle.

Animals↗

Cellular reprogramming in the F3 mouse with paternal F0 radiation history.

PURPOSE: In the mouse, paternal F0 acute irradiation of Type B spermatogonia produces biological effects in offspring, including altered signalling kinase activities and protein levels. It was hypothesized that these effects represented cellular reprogramming that would alter the response of somatic cells in these offspring to an acute ionizing radiation exposure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen-day-old third generation (F3) CD1 mice with and without an acute 1.0 Gy paternal F0 radiation history each received an acute dose of 1.0 Gy from attenuated 137C n-rays. Kidney PKC and MAPK activities, and p53 protein levels were evaluated immediately following F3 irradiation. The same endpoints and DNA damage were evaluated in kidney-derived fibroblast primary cell cultures 3 weeks post-irradiation. RESULTS: Kidneys had significantly decreased PKC and MAPK activities and p53 protein levels related to F0 irradiation and increased PKC and MAPK activities following F3 irradiation irrespective of F0 radiation history. Kidney-derived fibroblasts had significant changes or strong trends for all selected endpoints based upon cross-interaction of F0 radiation history with F3 irradiation. Comet assays demonstrated significantly increased DNA damage in fibroblasts related to F0 irradiation and increased DNA damage following F3 irradiation. However, significantly decreased F3 irradiation damage was demonstrated based upon cross-interaction of F0 radiation. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that irradiation of paternal F0 Type B spermatogonia resulted in cellular reprogramming causing offspring with this radiation history to have altered responses to acute somatic n-irradiation.

Animals↗

Reprogramming of fibroblast nuclei after transfer into bovine oocytes.

Recent landmark achievements in animal cloning have demonstrated that the events of cell differentiation can, in principle, be reversed. This reversal necessarily requires large-scale genetic reprogramming, of which little is known. In the present study we characterized the extent to which blastocyst stage-specific mRNA expression would be conserved in bovine embryos produced by nuclear transfer (NT) using fetal fibroblasts as nuclei donors (FF NT). The mRNA pool of FF NT embryos was compared with that of NT embryos reconstructed from embryonic blastomeres (Emb NT), with embryos produced under in vivo or in vitro conditions, and finally with fibroblast cells. Embryo/cell-specific mRNA pools were contrasted using differential display methodology. Random oligonucleotide primer pair combinations were used to subfractionate mRNA populations and represent individual mRNAs as copy DNA (cDNA) bands ranging in size from 100 to 800 base pairs. Regardless of whether bovine blastocysts developed in vivo or in vitro, or were derived after nuclear transplantation with embryonic blastomeres or fetal fibroblasts, their mRNA profile was highly conserved and distinct from that of fetal fibroblast cells. There was approximately 95% conservation in cDNA banding patterns between FF NT, Emb NT, and in vivo derived blastocysts, when compared with in vitro derived blastocysts. In contrast, the cDNA banding in fibroblasts was only 67% conserved with in vitro derived blastocysts (p < 0.0001), indicating that dramatic changes in gene transcription are induced by nuclear transplantation. After nuclear transplantation, gene expression in fetal fibroblasts is reprogrammed so to mimic that of preimplantation embryo development. Future characterization of these changes will be invaluable for the identification of suitable cell types to serve as nuclear donors for embryo reconstruction and provide information that can be used to improve the efficiency of cloning animals by nuclear transplantation.

Animals↗

Isolation of bovine cardiomyocytes for reprogramming studies based on nuclear transfer.

The goal of this study was to establish and validate a protocol for preparing bovine cardiomyocytes from slaughterhouse material for nuclear transfer experiments. The cardiomyocyte was selected because it is a terminally differentiated cell and strongly expresses a unique subset of genes which can be monitored during the reprogramming period. A total of 39 trials were conducted, and an optimized protocol was developed yielding individual contractile cardiomyocytes from 3-5-month-old bovine fetuses The basic protocol involves stabilization of bovine heart tissue for transportation from the slaughterhouse to the laboratory by perfusion with Custodiol. This was followed by an enzymatic dissociation with collagenase in calcium-free medium and yielded individual contractile rod-shaped cardiomyocytes. Subsequent addition of Ca2+ caused the cardiomyocytes to round up which was an essential pre-condition for drawing them into glass transfer pipettes for delivery into the perivitelline space and for efficient electrofusion with cytoplasts derived from in vitro matured bovine oocytes. The use of cardiomyocytes maintained at 37 degrees C in nuclear transfer, resulted in a significantly reduced proportion of blastocysts compared to adult fibroblasts (14.0% versus 32.7%). Storage of cardiomyocytes at 4 degrees C prior to nuclear transfer was not compatible with blastocyst development. It is expected that this system will be valuable for investigating the reprogramming of gene expression which occurs after somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Animals↗

Induction of dedifferentiation, genomewide transcriptional programming, and epigenetic reprogramming by extracts of carcinoma and embryonic stem cells.

Functional reprogramming of a differentiated cell toward pluripotency may have long-term applications in regenerative medicine. We report the induction of dedifferentiation, associated with genomewide programming of gene expression and epigenetic reprogramming of an embryonic gene, in epithelial 293T cells treated with an extract of undifferentiated human NCCIT carcinoma cells. 293T cells exposed for 1 h to extract of NCCIT cells, but not of 293T or Jurkat T-cells, form defined colonies that are maintained for at least 23 passages in culture. Microarray and quantitative analyses of gene expression reveal that the transition from a 293T to a pluripotent cell phenotype involves a dynamic up-regulation of hundreds of NCCIT genes, concomitant with down-regulation of 293T genes and of indicators of differentiation such as A-type lamins. Up-regulated genes encompass embryonic and stem cell markers, including OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, and Oct4-responsive genes. OCT4 activation is associated with DNA demethylation in the OCT4 promoter and nuclear targeting of Oct4 protein. In fibroblasts exposed to extract of mouse embryonic stem cells, Oct4 activation is biphasic and RNA-PolII dependent, with the first transient rise of Oct4 up-regulation being necessary for the second, long-term activation of Oct4. Genes characteristic of multilineage differentiation potential are also up-regulated in NCCIT extract-treated cells, suggesting the establishment of "multilineage priming." Retinoic acid triggers Oct4 down-regulation, de novo activation of A-type lamins, and nestin. Furthermore, the cells can be induced to differentiate toward neurogenic, adipogenic, osteogenic, and endothelial lineages. The data provide a proof-of-concept that an extract of undifferentiated carcinoma cells can elicit differentiation plasticity in an otherwise more developmentally restricted cell type.

Carcinoma↗

Reprogrammed gene expression in a somatic cell-free extract.

We have developed a somatic cell-free system that remodels chromatin and activates gene expression in heterologous differentiated nuclei. Extracts of stimulated human T cells elicit chromatin binding of transcriptional activators of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene, anchoring and activity of a chromatin-remodeling complex and hyperacetylation of the IL-2 promoter in purified exogenous resting T-cell nuclei. The normally repressed IL-2 gene is transcribed in nuclei from quiescent human T cells and from various non-T-cell lines. This demonstrates that somatic cell extracts can be used to reprogram gene expression in differentiated nuclei. In vitro reprogramming may be useful for investigating regulation of gene expression and for producing replacement cells for the treatment of a wide variety of diseases.

Acetylation↗

Embryonic germ cells induce epigenetic reprogramming of somatic nucleus in hybrid cells.

Genomic reprogramming of primordial germ cells (PGCs), which includes genome-wide demethylation, prevents aberrant epigenetic modifications from being transmitted to subsequent generations. This process also ensures that homologous chromosomes first acquire an identical epigenetic status before an appropriate switch in the imprintable loci in the female and male germ lines. Embryonic germ (EG) cells have a similar epigenotype to PGCs from which they are derived. We used EG cells to investigate the mechanism of epigenetic modifications in the germ line by analysing the effects on a somatic nucleus in the EG-thymic lymphocyte hybrid cells. There were striking changes in methylation of the somatic nucleus, resulting in demethylation of several imprinted and non-imprinted genes. These epigenetic modifications were heritable and affected gene expression as judged by re-activation of the silent maternal allele of Peg1/Mest imprinted gene in the somatic nucleus. This remarkable change in the epigenotype of the somatic nucleus is consistent with the observed pluripotency of the EG-somatic hybrid cells as they differentiated into a variety of tissues in chimeric embryos. The epigenetic modifications observed in EG-somatic cell hybrids in vitro are comparable to the reprogramming events that occur during germ cell development.

Alleles↗

Imprinted X inactivation and reprogramming in the preimplantation mouse embryo.

X chromosome inactivation is a developmentally regulated process that causes one of the two X chromosomes in normal female mammals to become transcriptionally silenced, thus equalizing the expression of X-linked genes between the sexes. Such dosage compensation depends upon dynamic genetic and epigenetic events occurring very early in development. X inactivation is controlled by an X inactivation centre that is associated with the expression of non-coding RNAs required for the silencing. Also associated with the inactive X are repressive histone modifications and polycomb protein-mediated states, which are progressively acquired during the inactivation process. In mouse, two forms of X inactivation have been described. Random X inactivation happens in the derivatives of the inner cell mass (ICM) giving rise to embryos where the maternally inherited X(Xm) is inactive in some cells and the paternally derived X (Xp) is inactive in others. Random X inactivation occurs around the time of implantation. Imprinted X inactivation, the preferential inactivation of the Xp chromosome, occurs earlier and, although there has been some debate as to the precise timing of initiation of this event, is apparent in all cells early in preimplantation development, then is subsequently confined to the cells of the extraembryonic lineages. A picture is emerging whereby initial epigenetic asymmetry between the two parental X chromosomes is reprogrammed in a lineage specific manner resulting in a switch from imprinted to random inactivation in embryonic derivatives. Neither the underlying reason nor the full extent of these early lineage specific epigenetic changes is known, but they may be correlated with more genome-wide reprogramming events essential for normal development.

Alleles↗

Penicillium melinii promotes root growth through subtle host reprogramming across model and crop species.

Root development is highly responsive to microbial interactions, yet the mechanisms by which beneficial fungi promote root growth remain incompletely understood. Here, we identified Penicillium melinii 'isolate 2' through a screen of endophytic fungi isolated from Arabidopsis and characterized it as a promoter of root development in both Arabidopsis and crop species. We combined phenotyping in vitro, rhizotron, greenhouse and field assays with reporter and mutant analyses, transcriptomics, phytohormone profiling and sequencing and annotation of the fungal genome to investigate the basis of this interaction. P. melinii consistently stimulated root growth and modified root architecture across experimental systems and host species. These effects were associated with subtle but reproducible host transcriptional reprogramming, supporting a model in which the fungus fine-tunes endogenous developmental programmes rather than broadly perturbing stress or growth pathways. Genetic and reporter analyses further suggested that this interaction modulates root branching through localized developmental reprogramming. Genomic analysis provided a framework for understanding the fungal traits associated with this beneficial interaction. The conservation of the response across model and crop species supports the relevance of P. melinii as both a useful experimental system to study beneficial plant-fungus interactions and a promising candidate for improving root traits and crop performance.

Penicillium melinii↗

Telomerase-immortalized sheep fibroblasts can be reprogrammed by nuclear transfer to undergo early development.

Telomere shortening and lack of telomerase activity have been implicated in cellular senescence in human fibroblasts. Expression of the human telomerase catalytic reverse transcriptase subunit (hTERT) in these cells reconstitutes telomerase activity and immortalizes the cells without tumor transformation. In this report, we show that sheep fibroblasts are similar to human cells. They do not have detectable telomerase activity and undergo only a finite numbers of cell divisions before replicative senescence. Telomere lengths in sheep fibroblasts are similar to those reported for human cells and shorten at a rate of 50-200 base pairs (bp) each cell division. Expression of the human telomerase catalytic subunit restored the telomerase activity in the sheep cells and extended their proliferative life span. None of the telomerase positive sheep fibroblasts exhibited a transformed phenotype after 200 days of continuous culture, and the higher hTERT expressing cells maintained their telomere lengths and normal cell characteristics for more than 500 days in culture. In cloning experiments using one of these cell lines as a nuclear donor, the reconstructed karyoplasts were reprogrammed and developed to the blastocyst stage at a similar frequency to that observed with the parental, telomerase negative cell line. After embryo transfer the blastocysts exhibited a relatively high frequency of implantation, early fetal development, and organogenesis. No fetuses survived beyond 40 days of development, however, showing that although these cells could be substantially reprogrammed, they were not fully competent for nuclear transfer.

Animals↗

Irreversible barrier to the reprogramming of donor cells in cloning with mouse embryos and embryonic stem cells.

Somatic cloning does not always result in ontogeny in mammals, and development is often associated with various abnormalities and embryo loss with a high frequency. This is considered to be due to aberrant gene expression resulting from epigenetic reprogramming errors. However, a fundamental question in this context is whether the developmental abnormalities reported to date are specific to somatic cloning. The aim of this study was to determine the stage of nuclear differentiation during development that leads to developmental abnormalities associated with embryo cloning. In order to address this issue, we reconstructed cloned embryos using four- and eight-cell embryos, morula embryos, inner cell mass (ICM) cells, and embryonic stem cells as donor nuclei and determined the occurrence of abnormalities such as developmental arrest and placentomegaly, which are common characteristics of all mouse somatic cell clones. The present analysis revealed that an acute decline in the full-term developmental competence of cloned embryos occurred with the use of four- and eight-cell donor nuclei (22.7% vs. 1.8%) in cases of standard embryo cloning and with morula and ICM donor nuclei (11.4% vs. 6.6%) in serial nuclear transfer. Histological observation showed abnormal differentiation and proliferation of trophoblastic giant cells in the placentae of cloned concepti derived from four-cell to ICM cell donor nuclei. Enlargement of placenta along with excessive proliferation of the spongiotrophoblast layer and glycogen cells was observed in the clones derived from morula embryos and ICM cells. These results revealed that irreversible epigenetic events had already started to occur at the four-cell stage. In addition, the expression of genes involved in placentomegaly is regulated at the blastocyst stage by irreversible epigenetic events, and it could not be reprogrammed by the fusion of nuclei with unfertilized oocytes. Hence, developmental abnormalities such as placentomegaly as well as embryo loss during development may occur even in cloned embryos reconstructed with nuclei from preimplantation-stage embryos, and these abnormalities are not specific to somatic cloning.

Animals↗

Direct exposure of chromosomes to nonactivated ovum cytoplasm is effective for bovine somatic cell nucleus reprogramming.

We examined the in vitro developmental potential of nonactivated and activated enucleated ova receiving cumulus cells at various stages of the cell cycle. Eleven to 29% of activated ova receiving donor cells stopped developing at the 8-cell stage but 21% to 50% of nonactivated ova receiving donor cells at either the G(0), G(1), G(2), or M phase, or cycling cells developed into blastocysts. One normal calf was born after transferring five blastocysts that had developed from ova receiving donor cells at the M phase. The present study demonstrated that direct exposure of donor chromosomes to nonactivated ovum cytoplasm is effective for somatic cell nucleus reprogramming, and activated ovum cytoplasm does not reprogram the nucleus.

Animals↗