Project description:Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved signal transduction pathway that is essential for metazoan development. At the molecular level, the key components of the Notch pathway are the NOTCH-family receptors, the ligands of the DSL (Delta, Serrate, Lag-2) family and the transcription factor CSL [CBF1/RBPJ, Su(H), Lag-1]. Upon ligand binding, the NOTCH Intra-Cellular Domain (NOTCH ICD) translocates into the nucleus and forms a complex with RBPJ to activate the transcription of target genes. In the absence of NOTCH ICD, RBPJ acts as a transcriptional repressor. Using a proteomic approach, we identified L3MBTL3 as a novel interactor of RBPJ. We discovered that L3MBTL3 competes with NOTCH ICD for binding to RBPJ. In the absence of NOTCH ICD, RBPJ recruits L3MBTL3 and its co-factor KDM1A [lysine (K)-specific demethylase 1A] to the promoters/enhancers of Notch target genes to promote H3K4me2 demethylation and transcriptional repression. In three distinct cell contexts in which Notch signaling governs cell fate, i.e., mature T-cells as well as brain and breast tumor cells, the loss of L3MBTL3 results in the de-repression of Notch target genes. Finally, the genetic analyses of the homologs of RBPJ and L3MBTL3 in Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans demonstrate that the functional link between RBPJ/Su(H)/lag-1 and L3MBTL3/dL(3)mbt/lin-61 is evolutionarily conserved, thus identifying L3MBTL3 as a universal modulator of Notch signaling in metazoans.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE36346: The histone demethylase KDM1A sustains the oncogenic potential of MLL-AF9 leukemia stem cells (ChIP-Seq data) GSE36347: The histone demethylase KDM1A sustains the oncogenic potential of MLL-AF9 leukemia stem cells (expression data) Refer to individual Series
Project description:KRAS mutations occur in approximately 25% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). They account for the therapy resistance to EGFR inhibitors and are suggested to be difficult to target by specific drugs. Therefore, new therapies for KRAS mutant NSCLC are urgently needed. The histone H3K4 and H3K9 di/mono-demethylase KDM1A is a key epigenetic writer, aberrantly upregulated in many cancer types, including NSCLC. In order to understand the functional role of KDM1A in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma, KDM1A expression profiles were analysed in tissue microarrays (TMAs) including 182 lung adenocarcinoma. KDM1A expression correlated with high grade and metastasized tumor. To investigate the impact of KDM1A in lung adenocarcinoma development, we used the KRAS mutated A549 cell line to establish a shRNA-mediated stable KDM1A knockdown cell clone. Unexpectedly, KDM1A knockdown had only a slight effect on retardation of cell growth. However, cell invasion and self-renewal capability was significantly decreased by KDM1A inhibition. KDM1A knockdown in A549 cell resulted in a dramatic change in the transcriptome profile as determined by RNA-Seq. Interestingly, genes involved in the KRAS signature and lung epithelial marker genes were significantly affected upon KDM1A knockdown. Ingenuity pathway analysis also suggested that the alternative integrin β3-KRAS signaling axis, which is involved in stem cell like properties, is abrogated upon KDM1A knockdown. Indeed, Integrin β3 and its non-canonical ligand galectin-3 were strongly downregulated and their downstream NF-κB activity was decreased upon KDM1A knockdown. Finally, correlation of KDM1A to the Integrin β3 level was validated in TMAs.
Project description:Lysine Specific Demethylase 1 (LSD1, KDM1A) functions as a transcriptional corepressor through demethylation of histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4), but has coactivator function on some genes through unclear mechanisms. We show that LSD1, interacting with CoREST, associates with and coactivates androgen receptor (AR) on a large fraction of androgen-stimulated genes. A subset of these AR/LSD1-associated enhancer sites have histone 3 threonine 6 phosphorylation (H3T6ph), and these sites are further enriched for androgen-stimulated genes. Significantly, despite its coactivator activity, LSD1 still mediates H3K4me2 demethylation at these androgen-stimulated enhancers. FOXA1 is also associated with LSD1 at AR regulated enhancer sites, and a FOXA1 interaction with LSD1 enhances binding of both proteins at these sites. These findings show LSD1 functions broadly as a regulator of AR function, that it maintains a transcriptional repression function at AR-regulated enhancers through H3K4 demethylation, and has a distinct AR-linked coactivator function mediated by demethylation of other substrates. Determine the role of LSD1 in androgen signaling.
Project description:Among all cancers, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 3rd most common and the 2nd leading cause of death worldwide. New therapeutic strategies are required to target cancer stem cells (CSCs), a subset of tumor cells highly resistant to present-day therapy and responsible for tumor relapse. CSCs display dynamic genetic and epigenetic alterations that allow quick adaptations to perturbations. Lysine-specific histone demethylase 1A (KDM1A), a FAD-dependent H3K4me1/2 and H3K9me1/2 demethylase, was found to be upregulated in several tumors and associated with a poor prognosis due to its ability to maintain CSCs staminal features. Here, we explored the potential role of KDM1A targeting in CRC by characterizing the effect of KDM1A silencing in differentiated and CRC stem cells (CRC-SCs). In CRC primary samples, KDM1A expression was associated with a worse prognosis, confirming its role as an independent negative prognostic factor of CRC. Consistently, biological assays such as methylcellulose colony formation, invasion, and migration assays demonstrated a significantly decreased self-renewal potential, as well as migration and invasion potential upon KDM1A silencing. Our untargeted omics approach (transcriptomic and proteomic) revealed the association of KDM1A silencing with CRC-SCs cytoskeletal and metabolism remodeling towards a differentiated phenotype (e.g., the activation of a collateral mitochondrial metabolic pathway independent from succinate-CoA ligase GDP-forming subunit beta 2, expressions of brush border’s protein villin, and ketogenic enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A synthase 2) suggesting a key role of KDM1A in cell metabolism. Also, KDM1A silencing resulted in a 3-fold increase in the expression of miR-506-3p. Lastly, loss of KDM1A markedly reduced 53BP1 DNA repair foci, implying the involvement of KDM1A in the DNA damage response. Overall, our results indicate that KDM1A plays a key role in CRC progression and therefore it represents a promising epigenetic target to prevent tumor relapse.
Project description:Using a mouse model of human MLL-AF9 leukemia, we identified the lysine-specific demethylase KDM1A (LSD1 or AOF2) as an essential regulator of leukemia stem cell (LSC) potential. KDM1A acts at genomic loci bound by MLL-AF9 to sustain expression of the associated oncogenic program, thus preventing differentiation and apoptosis. In vitro and in vivo pharmacologic targeting of KDM1A using tranylcypromine analogues active in the nanomolar range phenocopied Kdm1a knockdown in both murine and primary human AML cells exhibiting MLL translocations. By contrast, the clonogenic and repopulating potential of normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells was spared. Our data establish KDM1A as a key effector of the differentiation block in MLL leukemia which may be selectively targeted to therapeutic effect. To investigate the effects of Kdm1a KD on histone modifications, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by next-generation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) in control and Kdm1a KD MLL-AF9 AML cells for dimethyl-H3K4 and dimethyl-H3K9, as well as for trimethyl-H3K4 and trimethyl-H3K9. Dimethyl-H3K4 and dimethyl-H3K9 are targeted for demethylation by KDM1A. For each of these histone modifications, we compared the mean ChIP-Seq signal across and around protein coding genes bound by the MLL-AF9 oncoprotein (Bernt et al., 2011) with the mean signal from genes not bound by MLL-AF9 expressed at high, middle or low levels.
Project description:Although Kdm1a is the most expressed histone demethylase in neurons, its molecular function in the adult brain remains unknown. Here, we found that inducible and forebrain-restricted knockout (ifKO) mice, in which Kdm1a is specifically eliminated in forebrain excitatory neurons during adulthood, display a prominent transcriptional and epigenomic dysregulation signature characterized by the neuronal expression of nonneuronal genes. The combination of super-resolution microscopy images and multi-omic analysis integrating transcriptome, epigenome and chromatin conformation data showed that these genes are target of the polycomb repressor complex 2 (PRC2) and locate in H3K27me3-microdomains encapsulated within the euchromatin compartment. Furthermore, functional assays revealed that both the catalytic activity and the N-terminus intrinsically disordered region of Kdm1a, which provides phase separation properties, are needed to maintain the boundaries between these silent micro-domains and the active chromatin environment. As a result, Kdm1a loss led to the spreading of active histone modifications into the PRC2-repressed genes causing their de-repression. Intriguingly, the investigation of aged mice suggested that these boundaries may also weaken during natural aging. Overall, these results underscore the role of Kdm1a safeguarding chromatin compartmentalization, nuclear phase separation and gene silencing in the adult and aging brain.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE34672: Inhibition of the LSD1 (KDM1A) demethylase reactivates the all-trans-retinoic acid differentiation pathway in acute myeloid leukemia [Illumina HumanHT-12 gene expression array] GSE34725: Inhibition of the LSD1 (KDM1A) demethylase reactivates the all-trans-retinoic acid differentiation pathway in acute myeloid leukemia [ChIP-Seq] Refer to individual Series
Project description:A father’s lifetime experiences can be transmitted to his offspring to affect health and development. The mechanisms underlying paternal epigenetic transmission are unclear. Unlike somatic cells, there are few nucleosomes in sperm and their function in epigenetic inheritance is unknown. We generated transgenic mice in which overexpression of the histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) demethylase LSD1/KDM1A during spermatogenesis reduced H3K4 dimethylation in sperm. KDM1A overexpression in one generation severely impaired development and survivability of offspring. These defects persisted transgenerationally in the absence of KDM1A germ line expression and were associated with altered RNA profiles in sperm and offspring. We show that epigenetic inheritance of aberrant development can be initiated by histone demethylase activity in developing sperm, without changes to DNA methylation at CpG-rich regions.
Project description:A father’s lifetime experiences can be transmitted to his offspring to affect health and development. The mechanisms underlying paternal epigenetic transmission are unclear. Unlike somatic cells, there are few nucleosomes in sperm and their function in epigenetic inheritance is unknown. We generated transgenic mice in which overexpression of the histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) demethylase LSD1/KDM1A during spermatogenesis reduced H3K4 dimethylation in sperm. KDM1A overexpression in one generation severely impaired development and survivability of offspring. These defects persisted transgenerationally in the absence of KDM1A germ line expression and were associated with altered RNA profiles in sperm and offspring. We show that epigenetic inheritance of aberrant development can be initiated by histone demethylase activity in developing sperm, without changes to DNA methylation at CpG-rich regions.