Project description:We performed spatial transcriptome analysis on cryosections of gastrulating embryos from E6.5 to E7.5 by low-input RNA sequencing (Geo-seq). Careful spatial transcriptomic analysis revealed that the lncRNA Evx1as plays a transient spatiotemporal role in regulating embryonic patterning during gastrulation, yet is dispensable for overall development and survival. Altogether, these results suggest that many lncRNAs are generally dispensable for normal development and survival, but may be selectively required in a particular context in vivo.
Project description:Makorins are an evolutionary conserved family of proteins that contain C3H-type zinc finger modules and a RING E3 ubiquitin ligase domain. Previous analysis indicated a maternal role for Makorin 1 (Mkrn1) in Drosophila embryonic patterning and germ cell specification, but the underlying mechanism has remained elusive. Here, we show that Mkrn1 is specifically required for translational activation of oskar, which encodes a critical regulator of axis specification and germ plasm assembly. We demonstrate that Mkrn1 interacts with poly(A) binding protein (pAbp) and specifically binds osk 3’ UTR adjacent to A-rich sequences. The binding of Mkrn1 to osk 3’UTR occurs in a region that overlaps with Bruno responsive elements (BRE), previously shown to have a dual role in regulating osk translation. We observe an increased association of the translational repressor Bruno (Bru) with osk mRNA upon depletion of Mkrn1, implying that both proteins compete with each other for osk binding. Consistently, reducing Bru dosage is sufficient to partially rescue osk translation and the embryonic lethality associated with Mkrn1 alteration. Thus, we conclude that Mkrn1 controls embryonic patterning and germ cell formation by specifically activating osk translation via displacing Bru from its 3’ UTR
Project description:The dorsoventral gradient of BMP signaling plays an essential role in embryonic patterning, with high BMP signal activating ventral-lateral mesoderm markers directly, and low BMP signal inducing neural tissues. The Zinc finger SWIM domain-containing protein 4 (zswim4) is expressed in the dorsal blastopore lip at the onset of Xenopus gastrula and then enriched at the forming neuroectoderm at mid-gastrula stages. Overexpression of zswim4 in Xenopus embryos causes inhibition of the anterior axis and shortened, curved body, and knockdown or knockout of zswim4 disturbed embryonic body axis formation and head development. The expression of ventral-lateral mesoderm marker genes was reduced after zswim4 overexpression and increased in embryos with zswim4 knockdown. Neural marker genes were repressed in zswim4 morphant. Mechanistically Zswim4 attenuates BMP signal through reducing protein stability of Smad1 in both Xenopus embryos and HEK293T cells. Zswim4 interacts with Smad1 and promotes ubiquitination of Smad1 in HEK293T cells. To identify the interaction partner of Zswim4 in regulating Smad1 stability, we performed SILAC based IP in HEK293T cells, and the precipitates were analyzed by Mass Spectrometry.
Project description:Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) mediate important epigenetic regulation in a wide range of biological processes and diseases. We applied comprehensive analyses of RNA-seq and CAGE-seq (cap analysis of gene expression and sequencing) to characterize the dynamic changes in lncRNA expression in rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) brain in four representative age groups. We identified 18 anatomically diverse lncRNA modules and 14 mRNA modules representing spatial, age and sex specificities. Spatiotemporal- and sex-biased changes in lncRNA expression were generally higher than those observed in mRNA expression. A negative correlation between lncRNA and mRNA expression in cerebral cortex was observed and functionally validated. Our findings offer a fresh insight into spatial-, age- and sex-biased changes in lncRNA expression in macaque brain, and suggest that the changes represent a previously unappreciated regulatory system that potentially contributes to brain development and ageing.
Project description:Many long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) species have been identified in mammalian cells, but the genomic origin, regulation and function of these molecules in individual cell types is poorly understood. We have generated comprehensive catalogs of lncRNA species expressed in human and murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and mapped their genomic origin. A surprisingly large fraction of these transcripts (>60%) originate from divergent transcription at promoters of active protein-coding genes. The divergently transcribed lncRNA/mRNA gene pairs exhibit coordinated changes in transcription when ESCs are differentiated into endoderm. A significant number of the divergently transcribed lncRNAs/mRNA pairs are conserved between human and mouse ESCs. Disruption of promoter-associated lncRNA orthologs in a zebrafish model of early development causes gross developmental defects. Our results reveal that transcription of most lncRNA genes is coordinated with transcription of protein-coding genes and that these lncRNAs have roles in early development. Analysis of genome-wide lncRNA transcription in human embryonic stem cells and early differentiation using RNA-seq, GRO-seq and ChIP-seq
Project description:We report that long noncoding RNAs contribute to transcription and developmental process. Thousands of lncRNAs have been identified in the whole genome, and tend to located closely to protein-coding genes. To study position relationship between lncRNA and protein-coding genes, we classified all of lncRNA to several subgroups based on the genome position with their coding neighbors. XH, the head to head subgroup is associated with transcription and development in GO analysis. Here, we knockdown serveral XH lncRNA by shRNA in embryonic stem cells and induce nondirectional differnetiation by removing LIF or neural differnetiation by RA. Knockdown of XH lncRNAs led to uniform downregulation of nearby coding genes, and form regulatory circuits with its nearby coding genes to fine-tune embryonic lineage development. In addition, we also knockout one lncRNA-Evx1as and its nearby protein-coding gene-EVX1 by CRISPR, and get similar results as knockdown.We propose that XH lncRNA may function primarily as 'cis-regulators' of the expression of nearby protein-coding genes, and tend to participate in transcriptional or development regulations as their coding neighbors. All RNA-seq(s) were designed to reveal the differentially expressed genes between wild-type and XH lncRNA knockdown/knockout ESCs during differentiation.
Project description:Dynamic remodeling in architecture and function of mammalian brain, especially in primate, rely on a precisely orchestrated molecular and cellular regulation at distinct levels. Here, we applied comprehensive RNA-seq and CAGE-Seq analysis to characterize dynamics of lncRNA expression in Rhesus macaque brain across postnatal development and aging. We identified 18 anatomically diverse lncRNA modules and 14 mRNA modules representing spatial, age and sex specificities respectively. Highly spatiotemporal- and sex-specific dynamic changes in lncRNA but mRNA expression and the negative correlation between lncRNAs and mRNAs, functionally associate with brain development and aging, especially in the neocortex. Together with in situ hybridization (ISH) and quantitative real time-PCR (qRT-PCR) data, our findings provide an initial insight into spatial-, age- and sex-related dynamics of lncRNA expression during postnatal brain development and aging in macaque, implying that high dynamics of lncRNA expression might represent a previously unappreciated regulatory system in shaping brain architecture and function.