Project description:The activating E2F-transcription factors are best known for their dependence on the Retinoblastoma protein and their role in cellular proliferation. E2F3 is uniquely amplified in specific human tumours where its expression is inversely correlated with the survival of patients. Here, E2F3 interaction partners were identified by mass spectrometric analysis. We show that the SNF2-like HELLS interacts with E2F3 in vivo and cooperates with its oncogenic functions. Depletion of HELLS severely perturbs the induction of E2F-target genes, hinders cell cycle re-entry and growth. Using chromatin immmunoprecipitation coupled to sequencing we identified genome-wide targets of HELLS and E2F3. Our analysis revealed that HELLS binds near promoters of active genes, including the trithorax-related MLL1, and co-regulates E2F3-dependent genes. Our analysis is the first to link HELLS with E2F-controlled processes that are critical to establish a proliferative tumour circuitry. Strikingly, just as E2F3, HELLS is overexpressed in human tumours including prostate cancer, indicating that either factor may contribute to the malignant progression of tumours. Our work reveals that HELLS is important for E2F3 in tumour cell proliferation. Examination of E2F3, Hells, and H3K27me3 in 2 cell types.
Project description:The activating E2F-transcription factors are best known for their dependence on the Retinoblastoma protein and their role in cellular proliferation. E2F3 is uniquely amplified in specific human tumours where its expression is inversely correlated with the survival of patients. Here, E2F3 interaction partners were identified by mass spectrometric analysis. We show that the SNF2-like HELLS interacts with E2F3 in vivo and cooperates with its oncogenic functions. Depletion of HELLS severely perturbs the induction of E2F-target genes, hinders cell cycle re-entry and growth. Using chromatin immmunoprecipitation coupled to sequencing we identified genome-wide targets of HELLS and E2F3. Our analysis revealed that HELLS binds near promoters of active genes, including the trithorax-related MLL1, and co-regulates E2F3-dependent genes. Our analysis is the first to link HELLS with E2F-controlled processes that are critical to establish a proliferative tumour circuitry. Strikingly, just as E2F3, HELLS is overexpressed in human tumours including prostate cancer, indicating that either factor may contribute to the malignant progression of tumours. Our work reveals that HELLS is important for E2F3 in tumour cell proliferation.
Project description:Deregulation of chromatin modifiers, including DNA helicases, are emerging as one of the mechanism underlying the transformation of anaplastic lymphoma kinase negative (ALK−) anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). We recently identified the DNA helicase HELLS as central for proficient ALK-ALCL proliferation and progression. By performing RNA-sequencing profiling coupled with bioinformatic prediction, we demonstrated that HELLS contributes to an appropriate cytokinesis via the transcriptional regulation of genes involved in cleavage furrow regulation in ALK- anaplastic large cell lymphoma
Project description:Meiotic recombination starts with the formation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) at specific genomic locations that correspond to PRDM9-binding sites. The molecular steps occurring from PRDM9 binding to DSB formation are unknown. Using proteomic approaches to find PRDM9 partners, we identified HELLS, a member of the SNF2-like family of chromatin remodelers. Upon functional analyses during mouse male meiosis, we demonstrated that HELLS is required for PRDM9 binding and DSB activity at PRDM9 sites. However, HELLS is not required for DSB activity at PRDM9-independent sites. HELLS is also essential for 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) enrichment at PRDM9 sites. Analyses of 5hmC in mice deficient for SPO11, which catalyzes DSB formation, and in PRDM9 methyltransferase deficient mice reveal that 5hmC is triggered at DSB-prone sites upon PRDM9 binding and histone modification, but independent of DSB activity. These findings highlight the complex regulation of the chromatin and epigenetic environments at PRDM9-specified hotspots.
Project description:Histone acetylation and nucleosome remodeling play a pivotal role in transcriptional regulation. While histone acetylase and ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling activities have been well characterized, how the two activities are coordinated remains to be uncovered. We discovered ATP-dependent histone H2A acetylation activity in Drosophila nuclear extracts. This activity was column-purified and demonstrated to be composed of CBP and SMARCAD1, which belongs to the Etl1 subfamily of the Snf2 family of helicase-related proteins. SMARCAD1 enhanced acetylation of H2A K5 and K8 by CBP in nucleosomes in an ATP-dependent fashion. Expression array analysis of S2 cells having ectopically expressed SMARCAD1 revealed up-regulated genes. Using native genome templates of these up-regulated genes, we found that SMARCAD1 activates their transcription in vitro. Knockdown analysis of SMARCAD1 and CBP indicated overlapping gene control, and ChIP-seq analysis of these commonly controlled genes showed that CBP is recruited to the promoter prior to SMARCAD1. Moreover, Drosophila genetic experiments demonstrated interaction between SMARCAD1/Etl1 and CBP/nej during development. The interplay between the remodeling activity of SMARCAD1 and histone acetylation by CBP sheds light on chromatin and the genome-integrity network. Examination of 2 different protein in 1 cell type.
Project description:Amplification and overexpression of the E2F3 gene at 6p22 in human bladder cancer is associated with increased tumour stage, grade and proliferation index, and in prostate cancer E2F3 overexpression is linked to tumour aggressiveness. We first used small interfering RNA technology to confirm the potential importance of E2F3 overexpression in bladder cancer development. Knockdown of E2F3 expression in bladder cells containing the 6p22 amplicon strongly reduced the extent of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and the rate of cellular proliferation. In contrast, knockdown of CDKAL1/ FLJ20342, another proposed oncogene, from this amplicon had no effect. Expression cDNA microarray analysis on bladder cancer cells following E2F3 knockdown was then used to identify genes regulated by E2F3, leading to the identification of known E2F3 targets such as Cyclin A and CDC2 and novel targets including pituitary tumour transforming gene 1, Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) and Caveolin-2. For both bladder and prostate cancer, we have proposed that E2F3 protein overexpression may cooperate with removal of the E2F inhibitor retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (pRB) to drive cellular proliferation. In support of this model, we found that ectopic expression of E2F3a enhanced the BrdU incorporation, a marker of cellular proliferation rate, of prostate cancer DU145 cells, which lack pRB, but had no effect on the proliferation rate of PC3 prostate cancer cells that express wild-type pRB. BrdU incorporation in PC3 cells could, however, be increased by overexpressing E2F3a in cells depleted of pRB. When taken together, these observations indicate that E2F3 levels have a critical role in modifying cellular proliferation rate in human bladder and prostate cancer. Keywords: siRNA knock down
Project description:The precise control of the self-renewal and differentiation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) is essential for intestinal homeostasis, efficient regeneration and prevention of tumorigenesis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain only partially understood, especially in regeneration and cancer. Here, it is demonstrated that RNA-binding protein Mex3a is specifically expressed in ISCs and promotes their stemness and proliferative status. Its depletion results in compromised ISCs, impaired intestinal regeneration and suppressed oncogenic transformation. Mechanistically, upregulation of Mex3a in ISCs at homeostasis, in postirradiation regenerative foci and in colorectal cancer model is regulated by the upstream transcription factor E2f3. In turn, Mex3a activates Wnt signaling by directly suppressing pro-differentiation transcription factor Klf4 at the mRNA level. Furthermore, expression of E2F3 and MEX3A significantly increases in human radiation enteritis and colorectal carcinoma (CRC), accompanied by KLF4 downregulation and Wnt signaling hyperactivation. These findings indicate that the E2f3-Mex3a-Klf4-Wnt as the critical molecular switch between ISC self-renewal and differentiation. It can represent a putative therapeutic target for CRC and regeneration-related gut diseases.