Project description:We report the genome-wide effects of KAP1 loss on the transcriptome, the chromatin state, and on recruitment of various components of the transcription machinery in the colon colorectal cancer cell line HCT116.
Project description:TRIM28 (KAP1 - KRAB-associated protein 1) is critical for the silencing of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) in embryonic stem (ES) cells. Here, we reveal that an essential impact of this process is the protection of cellular gene expression in early embryos from perturbation by cis-acting activators contained within these genetic invaders. In TRIM28-depleted ES cells, repressive chromatin marks at ERVs are replaced by histone modifications typical of active enhancers, stimulating transcription of nearby cellular genes, notably those harboring bivalent promoters. Correspondingly, ERV-derived sequences can repress or enhance expression from an adjacent promoter in transgenic embryos depending on their TRIM28-sensitivity in ES cells. TRIM28-mediated control of ERVs is therefore crucial not just to prevent retrotransposition, but more broadly to safeguard the transcriptional dynamics of early embryos. Analyses of transcriptional profiles and chromatin state in TRIM28 WT and KO cells
Project description:KAP1 is overexpressed in breast cancer. To determine KAP1 regulated genes, we performed microarray analysis of gene expression in KAP1 depleted breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231LN. The transcriptional regulator TRIM28/KAP1 plays an important role in development, stem cell self-renewal, chromatin organization and the DNA damage response. KAP1 is an essential co-repressor for KRAB zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZNFs). Though KRAB-ZNFs represent the largest family of human transcription factors, their biological functions are largely unknown. Using the conserved zinc fingers linker region (ZnFL) as antigen, we have developed a ZnFL antibody that recognizes multiple KRAB-ZNFs. We showed that KAP1 and many KRAB-ZNFs were overexpressed in human breast cancers and breast cancer cell lines. In addition, an active SUMOylated form of KAP1 was markedly increased in breast cancer cells. Furthermore, KAP1 depletion in breast cancer cell lines reduced cell proliferation and inhibited tumor growth and metastasis of tumor xenografts. Conversely, KAP1 overexpression stimulated cell proliferation and tumor growth. KAP1 knockdown led to down-regulation of genes previously linked to tumor progression and metastasis, including PTGS2/COX2, EREG, CD44, MMP1 and MMP2. Interestingly, KAP1 depletion or genomic deletion led to dramatic down-regulation of multiple KRAB-ZNF proteins due in part to their increased degradation. KAP1-dependent stabilization of KRAB-ZNFs required a direct KRAB-ZNF-KAP1 interaction. These results establish KAP1 as a positive regulator of multiple KRAB-ZNFs and an important factor in the development of breast cancer. 7 total samples were analyzed. Stable sublines of MDA-MB-231LN cells expressing control non-targeting shRNA (Scr, 3 biological replicates) and two different shRNAs against KAP1 (KAP1-3, 2 biological replicates and KAP1-4, 2 biological replicates) from doxycycline-inducible pTRIPZ vector were cultured in the presence of 0.5 ug/ml doxycycline for 7 days to induce shRNA expression. Cells were lysed and total RNA was isolated using mirVana miRNA isolation kit (Ambion) in the WVU Genomics Core Facility.
Project description:Embryonic stem (ES) cells express pluripotency-associated genes and repress differentiation-inducible genes. The activities of these genes are coordinately reversed during differentiation. The changes in the transcriptome upon conditional KAP1 knockout in ES cells overlapped with the changes during embryoid body formation. KAP1 repressed differentiation-inducible genes and derepressed pluripotency-associated genes in ES cells. KAP1 formed complexes with polycomb repressive complexes 1 (PRC1) through an interaction that was mediated by the KAP1 coiled-coil region. KAP1 and PRC1 bound cooperatively at the promoters of differentiation-inducible genes and repressed their transcription. In contrast, KAP1 bound the transcribed and flanking sequences of pluripotency-associated genes, did not enhance PRC1 binding, and derepressed their transcription. KAP1 had opposite effects on differentiation-inducible and pluripotency-associated gene transcription both in ES cells and in differentiating embryoid bodies. The region of KAP1 that mediated the interaction with PRC1 was required for KAP1 enhancement of PRC1 binding and for KAP1 repression of transcription at differentiation-inducible promoters. This region of KAP1 was not required for KAP1 suppression of PRC1 binding or for KAP1 derepression of transcription at pluripotency-associated promoters. The opposite effects of KAP1 on transcription of differentiation-inducible versus pluripotency-associated genes contributed to the reciprocal changes in their transcription during differentiation. Analysis of the regions occupied by KAP1(TRIM28/TIF1beta) and by Ring1b(Rnf2) in mouse embryonic stem cells before and after conditional KAP fl/fl and Ring1b fl/fl knockout
Project description:KAP1 (TRIM28) is a transcriptional regulator in embryonic development that controls stem cell self-renewal, chromatin organization and the DNA damage response, acting as an essential co-repressor for KRAB family zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZNF). To gain insight into the function of this large gene family, we developed an antibody that recognizes the conserved zinc fingers linker region (ZnFL) in multiple KRAB-ZNF. Here we report that the expression of many KRAB-ZNF along with active SUMOlyated KAP1 is elevated widely in human breast cancers. KAP1 silencing in breast cancer cells reduced proliferation and inhibited the growth and metastasis of tumor xenografts. Conversely, KAP1 overexpression stimulated cell proliferation and tumor growth. In cells where KAP1 was silenced, we identified multiple downregulated genes linked to tumor progression and metastasis, including EREG/epiregulin, PTGS2/COX2, MMP1, MMP2 and CD44, along with downregulation of multiple KRAB-ZNF proteins. KAP1-dependent stabilization of KRAB-ZNF required direct interactions with KAP1. Together, our results show that KAP1-mediated stimulation of multiple KRAB-ZNF contributes to the growth and metastasis of breast cancer.
Project description:A new actor of HCMV latency is unveiled, where KAP1 protein binds to viral genome to recruit SetDB1 and trigger H3K9 trimethylation. A switch of phosphorylation state mediated by mTOR leads to lytic replication, opening new approaches to curtail CMV infection but also to purge the virus from organ transplants.
Project description:Heterochromatin binding protein HP1β plays an important role in chromatin organization and cell differentiation, however the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we generated HP1β-/- embryonic stem cells and observed reduced heterochromatin clustering and impaired differentiation. We found that during stem cell differentiation, HP1β is phosphorylated at serine 89 by CK2, which creates a binding site for the pluripotency regulator KAP1. This phosphorylation dependent sequestration of KAP1 in heterochromatin compartments causes a downregulation of pluripotency factors and triggers pluripotency exit. Accordingly, HP1β-/- and phospho-mutant cells exhibited impaired differentiation, while ubiquitination-deficient KAP1ΔRing cells had the opposite phenotype with enhanced differentiation. These results suggest that KAP1 regulates pluripotency via its ubiquitination activity. We propose that the formation of subnuclear membraneless heterochromatin compartments may serve as a dynamic reservoir to trap or release cellular factors. The sequestration of essential regulators defines a novel and active role of heterochromatin in gene regulation and represents a dynamic mode of remote control to regulate cellular processes like cell fate decisions.
Project description:Reverse transcription-derived sequences account for at least half of the human genome. Although these retroelements are formidable motors of evolution, they can occasionally cause disease, and accordingly are inactivated during early embryogenesis through epigenetic mechanisms. In the mouse, at least for endogenous retroviruses, important mediators of this process are the tetrapod-specific KRAB-containing zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs) and their cofactor TRIM28. The present study demonstrates that KRAB/TRIM28-mediated regulation is responsible for controlling a very broad range of human-specific endogenous retroelements (EREs) in human embryonic stem (ES) cells and that it exerts, as a consequence, a marked effect on the transcriptional dynamics of these cells. It further reveals reciprocal dependence between TRIM28 recruitment at specific families of EREs and DNA methylation. It finally points to the importance of persistent TRIM28-mediated control of ERE transcriptional impact beyond their presumed inactivation by DNA methylation. Analyses of epigentic effectors and marks in KAP1 WT and KD human embryonic stem cells
Project description:An E3 ubiquitin ligase Smurf2 and transcriptional co-repressor KAP1 have been documented to play crucial roles in similar cellular pathways including cell cycle, DNA damage response, chromatin compaction, senescence and cell death. Smurf2 and KAP1, through regulation of these cellular processes either drive or suppress tumorigenesis. Studies till date confer Smurf2 with a dual role in carcinogenesis, an oncogene and a tumor suppressor, depending on the cellular context. However, the molecular mechanisms governing Smurf2 functions remain unclear. Furthermore, studies have demonstrated significantly altered KAP1 protein levels in many human malignancies, despite which, the mechanisms operating in and regulating KAP1 stability and activity are obscure. In this study, we obtained evidence which indicates a strong and dynamic association between Smurf2 and KAP1. We found that Smurf2 directly binds KAP1 through its C2, WW1 and HECT domains. Further mechanistic studies also revealed that Smurf2 multi(mono)ubiquitinates KAP1 in E3 ligase-dependent manner. Moreover, Smurf2 differentially alters KAP1 protein levels in different types of mammalian and cancer cells and tissues, and significantly alters KAP1 interactome. Based on these findings, we propose a mechanism to explain the dual role and differential regulation of Smurf2 on KAP1 in a cell-context dependent manner. Further investigations of the identified Smurf2/KAP1 module could potentially lead to development of new, more efficient diagnostics tools and treatment paradigms.