Project description:Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), a cytosolic DNA sensor that initiates a STING-dependent innate immune response, binds tightly to chromatin, where its catalytic activity is inhibited. However, the mechanisms underlying cGAS recruitment to chromatin and the functions of chromatin-bound cGAS (ccGAS) remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that mTORC2-mediated serine 37 phosphorylation promotes human cGAS chromatin localization, regulating colorectal cancer cell growth and drug resistance independently of STING. We discovered that ccGAS recruits the SWI/SNF complex at specific chromatin regions to regulate expression of genes involved in glutaminolysis and DNA replication. Knockdown of ccGAS inhibits colorectal cancer cell growth but induces chemoresistance under fluorouracil exposure both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, inhibition of kidney-type glutaminase (KGA), a downstream target of ccGAS, overcomes chemoresistance induced by ccGAS knockdown in human and murine colorectal cancer. Thus, our study demonstrates that ccGAS coordinates colorectal cancer plasticity and acquired chemoresistance through epigenetic patterning, and illustrates that simultaneously targeting mTORC2-ccGAS and KGA provides a promising theraputic strategy to eliminate quiescent resistant cancer cells.
Project description:We herein demonstrate that mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2), a critical core component of the growth factor signaling system, globally alters histone acetylation through metabolic reprogramming in the highly malignant brain tumor glioblastoma (GBM). Integrated analyses unravel that mTORC2 regulates iron trafficking via histone H3K9 acetylation of the ferritin promoter, facilitating GBM growth and survival. These findings nominate mTORC2 as a critical epigenetic regulator of iron metabolism in cancer.
Project description:Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an extreme example of cell plasticity, important for normal development, injury repair, and malignant progression. Widespread epigenetic reprogramming occurs during stem cell differentiation and malignant transformation, but EMT-related epigenetic reprogramming is poorly understood. Here we investigated epigenetic modifications during TGF-β-mediated EMT. While DNA methylation was unchanged during EMT, we found global reduction of the heterochromatin mark H3-lys9 dimethylation (H3K9Me2), increase of the euchromatin mark H3-lys4 trimethylation (H3K4Me3), and increase of the transcriptional mark H3-lys36 trimethylation (H3K36Me3). These changes were largely dependent on lysine-specific deaminase-1 (LSD1), and LSD1 loss-of-function experiments showed marked effects on EMT-driven cell migration and chemoresistance. Genome-scale mapping revealed that chromatin changes were largely specific to large organized heterochromatin K9-modifications (LOCKs), suggesting that EMT is characterized by reprogramming of specific chromatin domains across the genome.
Project description:mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2) phosphorylates AKT in a hydrophobic motif site that is a biomarker of insulin sensitivity. In adipocytes, mTORC2 regulates glucose and lipid metabolism; however, the mechanism has been unclear because downstream AKT signaling appears unaffected by mTORC2 loss. Here, by applying immunoblotting, targeted phosphoproteomics and metabolite profiling in brown preadipocytes, we identify ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) as a distinctly mTORC2-sensitive AKT substrate. mTORC2 appears dispensable for most other AKT actions examined indicating a previously unappreciated selectivity in mTORC2-AKT signaling. Rescue experiments show brown preadipocytes require the mTORC2/AKT/ACLY pathway to induce PPAR-gamma and establish the epigenetic landscape during differentiation. mTORC2 also acts through ACLY in mature brown adipocytes to increase ChREBP activity, histone acetylation, and gluco-lipogenic gene expression. Substrate utilization studies additionally implicate mTORC2 in promoting acetyl-CoA synthesis from acetate through acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2). These data suggest that a principal mTORC2 action is controlling nuclear-cytoplasmic acetyl-CoA synthesis.
Project description:Despite rapid progress in characterizing transcription factor-driven reprogramming of somatic cells to an induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell state, many mechanistic questions still remain. To gain insight into the earliest events in the reprogramming process, we systematically analyzed the transcriptional and epigenetic changes that occur during early factor induction after discrete numbers of divisions. We observed rapid, genome-wide changes in the euchromatic histone modification, H3K4me2, at more than a thousand loci including large subsets of pluripotency or developmentally related gene promoters and enhancers. In contrast, patterns of the repressive H3K27me3 modification remained largely unchanged except for focused depletion specifically at positions where H3K4 methylation is gained. These chromatin regulatory events precede transcriptional changes within the corresponding loci. Our data provide evidence for an early, organized, and population-wide epigenetic response to ectopic reprogramming factors that clarify the temporal order through which somatic identity is reset during reprogramming. Gene expression was measured by Affymetric microarrays during the initial phase of the reprogramming of mouse embryonic fibroblasts.
Project description:The hypothesis tested was that lentiviral driven cGAS expression activates antiviral gene expression. Cells were transduced with lentiviruses expressing cGAS or a control (firefly luciferase). Total RNA was harvested 48 h post-transduction and processed for Illumina BeadArray.
Project description:Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with extremely poor prognosis due to late diagnosis and therapeutic resistance. Here we show that PDAC cells undergo progressive reprogramming of the global epigenetic landscape during the process of acquiring chemoresistance. Through an epigenetic inhibitor screen, we identified Protein Arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) as a central driver of chemoresistance in PDAC. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of PRMT1 impaired adaptive epigenetic reprogramming, sensitized PDAC cells to Gemcitabine and other commonly used chemo drugs, and delayed the development of acquired resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we find that PRMT1, through its enzymatic activity, limits the accumulation of small bZIP transcription factor MAFF in the nucleus, and the assembly of chromatin-bound MAFF/BACH1 hetero-oligomeric complexes following Gemcitabine treatment. Genetic silencing of MAFF heightened the resistance of PDAC cells to Gemcitabine, and to combination of Gemcitabine and PRMT1 inhibitors. Cut&Tag chromatin profiling of H3K27Ac, MAFF and BACH1 suggests a pivotal role for MAFF/BACH1 in orchestrating global epigenetic reprogramming during the course of acquiring Gemcitabine resistance. Supporting the clinical relevance of our findings, predicted PRMT1 and MAFF/BACH1 genes signatures based on our Cut&Tag analysis were able to distinguish Gemcitabine-resistant from Gemcitabine-sensitive PDAC patient-derived xenografts according to expression changes induced by Gemcitabine. Together, our study reveals a novel epigenetic regulatory axis involving PRMT1 and MAFF/BACH1 that modulates Gemcitabine response, which could be potentially exploited for improving therapeutic response in advanced PDAC.
Project description:Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an extreme example of cell plasticity, important for normal development, injury repair, and malignant progression. Widespread epigenetic reprogramming occurs during stem cell differentiation and malignant transformation, but EMT-related epigenetic reprogramming is poorly understood. Here we investigated epigenetic modifications during TGF-β-mediated EMT. While DNA methylation was unchanged during EMT, we found global reduction of the heterochromatin mark H3-lys9 dimethylation (H3K9Me2), increase of the euchromatin mark H3-lys4 trimethylation (H3K4Me3), and increase of the transcriptional mark H3-lys36 trimethylation (H3K36Me3). These changes were largely dependent on lysine-specific deaminase-1 (LSD1), and LSD1 loss-of-function experiments showed marked effects on EMT-driven cell migration and chemoresistance. Genome-scale mapping revealed that chromatin changes were largely specific to large organized heterochromatin K9-modifications (LOCKs), suggesting that EMT is characterized by reprogramming of specific chromatin domains across the genome. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) was performed with antibodies against H3K9Me2 (Abcam, ab1220), H3K36Me3 (ab9050), and H3K4Me3 (ab8580) on native (unfixed) chromatin isolated from fully differentiated mouse AML12 cells (confluent, serum starved for 48hrs) either treated with TGF-β for 36hrs to induce EMT or not treated with TGF-β (0hrs, differentiated AML12 cells). DNA purified from these samples was then either whole-genome amplified (H3K36Me3 and H3K4Me3) and hybridized or directly (H3K9Me2) hybridized to NimbleGen 2.1M economy whole-genome tiling arrays #2 (listed below as array 1) and #3 (listed below as array 2), which cover mouse chromosomes 4-14. For each sample, the immunoprecipitated DNA (IP) and the input (control) DNA were hybridized to the arrays, and the IP is normalized to the input. There are 16 total samples listed below. There are 8 sample for H3K9Me2 (TGF-β and no TGF-β for arrays 1 and 2, done in replicate for a total of 8). There are 4 samples for H3K36Me3 (TGF-β and no TGF-β done on array 1 and array 2). There are 4 total samples for H3K4Me3 (TGF-β and no TGF-β done on array 1 and array 2).
Project description:Despite rapid progress in characterizing transcription factor-driven reprogramming of somatic cells to an induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell state, many mechanistic questions still remain. To gain insight into the earliest events in the reprogramming process, we systematically analyzed the transcriptional and epigenetic changes that occur during early factor induction after discrete numbers of divisions. We observed rapid, genome-wide changes in the euchromatic histone modification, H3K4me2, at more than a thousand loci including large subsets of pluripotency or developmentally related gene promoters and enhancers. In contrast, patterns of the repressive H3K27me3 modification remained largely unchanged except for focused depletion specifically at positions where H3K4 methylation is gained. These chromatin regulatory events precede transcriptional changes within the corresponding loci. Our data provide evidence for an early, organized, and population-wide epigenetic response to ectopic reprogramming factors that clarify the temporal order through which somatic identity is reset during reprogramming. Genome-scale DNA methylation was measured by reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) during the initial phase in the reprogramming of mouse embryonic fibroblasts.