scholarly journals Dynamic control of gene regulatory logic by seemingly redundant transcription factors

eLife ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zohreh AkhavanAghdam ◽  
Joydeb Sinha ◽  
Omar P Tabbaa ◽  
Nan Hao

Many transcription factors co-express with their homologs to regulate identical target genes, however the advantages of such redundancies remain elusive. Using single-cell imaging and microfluidics, we study the yeast general stress response transcription factor Msn2 and its seemingly redundant homolog Msn4. We find that gene regulation by these two factors is analogous to logic gate systems. Target genes with fast activation kinetics can be fully induced by either factor, behaving as an 'OR' gate. In contrast, target genes with slow activation kinetics behave as an 'AND' gate, requiring distinct contributions from both factors, upon transient stimulation. Furthermore, such genes become an 'OR' gate when the input duration is prolonged, suggesting that the logic gate scheme is not static but rather dependent on the input dynamics. Therefore, Msn2 and Msn4 enable a time-based mode of combinatorial gene regulation that might be applicable to homologous transcription factors in other organisms.

2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shagufta H. Khan ◽  
Raj Kumar

A number of proteins with intrinsically disordered (ID) regions/domains are reported to be found disproportionately higher in transcription factors. Available evidences suggest that presence of ID region/domain within a transcription factor plays an important role in its biological functions. These ID sequences provide large flexible surfaces that can allow them to make more efficient physical and functional interactions with their target partners. Since transcription factors regulate expression of target genes by interacting with specific coregulatory proteins, these ID regions/domains can be used as a platform for such large macromolecular interactions, and may represent a mechanism for regulation of cellular processes. The precise structural basis for the function of these ID regions/domains of the transcription factors remains to be determined. In the recent years there has been growing evidence suggesting that an induced fit-like process leads to imposition of folded functional structure in these ID domains on which large multiprotein complexes are built. These multiprotein complexes may eventually dictate the final outcome of the gene regulation by the transcription factors.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin F. Orth ◽  
Didier Surdez ◽  
Aruna Marchetto ◽  
Sandrine Grossetete ◽  
Julia S. Gerke ◽  
...  

Cell lines have been essential for major discoveries in cancer including Ewing sarcoma (EwS). EwS is a highly aggressive pediatric bone or soft-tissue cancer characterized by oncogenic EWSR1-ETS fusion transcription factors converting polymorphic GGAA-microsatellites (mSats) into neo-enhancers. However, further detailed mechanistic evaluation of gene regulation in EwS have been hindered by the limited number of well-characterized cell line models. Here, we present the Ewing Sarcoma Cell Line Atlas (ESCLA) comprising 18 EwS cell lines with inducible EWSR1-ETS knockdown that were profiled by whole-genome-sequencing, DNA methylation arrays, gene expression and splicing arrays, mass spectrometry-based proteomics, and ChIP-seq for EWSR1-ETS and histone marks. Systematic analysis of these multi-dimensional data illuminated hundreds of new potential EWSR1-ETS target genes, the nature of EWSR1-ETS-preferred GGAA-mSats, and potential indirect modes of EWSR1-ETS-mediated gene regulation. Moreover, we identified putative co-regulatory transcription factors and heterogeneously regulated EWSR1-ETS target genes that may have implications for the clinical heterogeneity of EwS. Collectively, our freely available ESCLA constitutes an extremely rich resource for EwS research and highlights the power of leveraging multidimensional and comprehensive datasets to unravel principles of heterogeneous gene regulation by dominant fusion oncogenes.


2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 460-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Li ◽  
Shihua He ◽  
Jian-Min Sun ◽  
James R Davie

The Sp family of transcription factors is united by a particular combination of three conserved Cys2His2 zinc fingers that form the sequence-specific DNA-binding domain. Within the Sp family of transcription factors, Sp1 and Sp3 are ubiquitously expressed in mammalian cells. They can bind and act through GC boxes to regulate gene expression of multiple target genes. Although Sp1 and Sp3 have similar structures and high homology in their DNA binding domains, in vitro and in vivo studies reveal that these transcription factors have strikingly different functions. Sp1 and Sp3 are able to enhance or repress promoter activity. Regulation of the transcriptional activity of Sp1 and Sp3 occurs largely at the post-translational level. In this review, we focus on the roles of Sp1 and Sp3 in the regulation of gene expression.Key words: Sp1, Sp3, gene regulation, sub-cellular localization.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-147
Author(s):  
Mina Zafarpiran ◽  
Roya Sharifi ◽  
Zeinab Shirvani-Farsani

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, and genetic factors play an important role in its susceptibility. The expressions of many inflammatory genes implicated in MS are regulated by microRNA (miRNAs), whose function is to suppress the translation by pairing with miRNA Recognition Elements (MREs) present in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of target mRNA. Recently, it has been shown that the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs) present within the 3'UTR of mRNAs can affect the miRNA-mediated gene regulation and susceptibility to a variety of human diseases. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the SNPs within the 3'UTR of miRNA inflammatory target genes related to multiple sclerosis. Methods: By DisGeNET, dbGaP, Ovid, DAVID, Web of knowledge, and SNPs databases, 3'UTR genetic variants were identified in all inflammatory genes associated with MS. Also, miRNA's target prediction databases were used for predicting the miRNA binding sites. Results: We identified 125 SNPs with MAF>0.05 located in the binding site of the miRNA of 35 genes among 59 inflammatory genes related to MS. Bioinformatics analysis predicted 62 MRE-modulating SNPs and 59 MRE-creating SNPs in the 3'UTR of MSimplicated inflammatory genes. These candidate SNPs within miRNA binding sites of inflammatory genes can alter the miRNAs binding, and consequently lead to the mRNA gene regulation. Conclusion: Therefore, these miRNA and MRE-SNPs may play important roles in personalized medicine of MS, and hence, they would be valuable for further functional verification investigations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 8193
Author(s):  
Daniel Pérez-Cremades ◽  
Ana B. Paes ◽  
Xavier Vidal-Gómez ◽  
Ana Mompeón ◽  
Carlos Hermenegildo ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Estrogen has been reported to have beneficial effects on vascular biology through direct actions on endothelium. Together with transcription factors, miRNAs are the major drivers of gene expression and signaling networks. The objective of this study was to identify a comprehensive regulatory network (miRNA-transcription factor-downstream genes) that controls the transcriptomic changes observed in endothelial cells exposed to estradiol. Methods: miRNA/mRNA interactions were assembled using our previous microarray data of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) treated with 17β-estradiol (E2) (1 nmol/L, 24 h). miRNA–mRNA pairings and their associated canonical pathways were determined using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. Transcription factors were identified among the miRNA-regulated genes. Transcription factor downstream target genes were predicted by consensus transcription factor binding sites in the promoter region of E2-regulated genes by using JASPAR and TRANSFAC tools in Enrichr software. Results: miRNA–target pairings were filtered by using differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs characterized by a regulatory relationship according to miRNA target prediction databases. The analysis identified 588 miRNA–target interactions between 102 miRNAs and 588 targets. Specifically, 63 upregulated miRNAs interacted with 295 downregulated targets, while 39 downregulated miRNAs were paired with 293 upregulated mRNA targets. Functional characterization of miRNA/mRNA association analysis highlighted hypoxia signaling, integrin, ephrin receptor signaling and regulation of actin-based motility by Rho among the canonical pathways regulated by E2 in HUVEC. Transcription factors and downstream genes analysis revealed eight networks, including those mediated by JUN and REPIN1, which are associated with cadherin binding and cell adhesion molecule binding pathways. Conclusion: This study identifies regulatory networks obtained by integrative microarray analysis and provides additional insights into the way estradiol could regulate endothelial function in human endothelial cells.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5968
Author(s):  
Egor A. Turovsky ◽  
Maria V. Turovskaya ◽  
Evgeniya I. Fedotova ◽  
Alexey A. Babaev ◽  
Viktor S. Tarabykin ◽  
...  

Transcription factors Satb1 and Satb2 are involved in the processes of cortex development and maturation of neurons. Alterations in the expression of their target genes can lead to neurodegenerative processes. Molecular and cellular mechanisms of regulation of neurotransmission by these transcription factors remain poorly understood. In this study, we have shown that transcription factors Satb1 and Satb2 participate in the regulation of genes encoding the NMDA-, AMPA-, and KA- receptor subunits and the inhibitory GABA(A) receptor. Deletion of gene for either Satb1 or Satb2 homologous factors induces the expression of genes encoding the NMDA receptor subunits, thereby leading to higher amplitudes of Ca2+-signals in neurons derived from the Satb1-deficient (Satb1fl/+ * NexCre/+) and Satb1-null mice (Satb1fl/fl * NexCre/+) in response to the selective agonist reducing the EC50 for the NMDA receptor. Simultaneously, there is an increase in the expression of the Gria2 gene, encoding the AMPA receptor subunit, thus decreasing the Ca2+-signals of neurons in response to the treatment with a selective agonist (5-Fluorowillardiine (FW)). The Satb1 deletion increases the sensitivity of the KA receptor to the agonist (domoic acid), in the cortical neurons of the Satb1-deficient mice but decreases it in the Satb1-null mice. At the same time, the Satb2 deletion decreases Ca2+-signals and the sensitivity of the KA receptor to the agonist in neurons from the Satb1-null and the Satb1-deficient mice. The Satb1 deletion affects the development of the inhibitory system of neurotransmission resulting in the suppression of the neuron maturation process and switching the GABAergic responses from excitatory to inhibitory, while the Satb2 deletion has a similar effect only in the Satb1-null mice. We show that the Satb1 and Satb2 transcription factors are involved in the regulation of the transmission of excitatory signals and inhibition of the neuronal network in the cortical cell culture.


Biomedicines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suresh P. Khadke ◽  
Aniket A. Kuvalekar ◽  
Abhay M. Harsulkar ◽  
Nitin Mantri

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by impaired insulin action and its secretion. The objectives of the present study were to establish an economical and efficient animal model, mimicking pathophysiology of human T2DM to understand probable molecular mechanisms in context with lipid metabolism. In the present study, male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Animals were fed with high fat diet (HFD) except healthy control (HC) for 12 weeks. After eight weeks, intra peritoneal glucose tolerance test was performed. After confirmation of glucose intolerance, diabetic control (DC) group was injected with streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg b.w., i.p.). HFD fed rats showed increase (p ≤ 0.001) in glucose tolerance and HOMA-IR as compared to HC. Diabetes rats showed abnormal (p ≤ 0.001) lipid profile as compared to HC. The hepatocyte expression of transcription factors SREBP-1c and NFκβ, and their target genes were found to be upregulated, while PPAR-γ, CPT1A and FABP expressions were downregulated as compared to the HC. A number of animal models have been raised for studying T2DM, but the study has been restricted to only the biochemical level. The model is validated at biochemical, molecular and histopathological levels, which can be used for screening new therapeutics for the effective management of T2DM.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangzhong Xu ◽  
Kai Li ◽  
Nengwei Zhang ◽  
Bin Zhu ◽  
Guosheng Feng

Background. Construction of the transcriptional regulatory network can provide additional clues on the regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic applications in gastric cancer.Methods. Gene expression profiles of gastric cancer were downloaded from GEO database for integrated analysis. All of DEGs were analyzed by GO enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment. Transcription factors were further identified and then a global transcriptional regulatory network was constructed.Results. By integrated analysis of the six eligible datasets (340 cases and 43 controls), a bunch of 2327 DEGs were identified, including 2100 upregulated and 227 downregulated DEGs. Functional enrichment analysis of DEGs showed that digestion was a significantly enriched GO term for biological process. Moreover, there were two important enriched KEGG pathways: cell cycle and homologous recombination. Furthermore, a total of 70 differentially expressed TFs were identified and the transcriptional regulatory network was constructed, which consisted of 566 TF-target interactions. The top ten TFs regulating most downstream target genes were BRCA1, ARID3A, EHF, SOX10, ZNF263, FOXL1, FEV, GATA3, FOXC1, and FOXD1. Most of them were involved in the carcinogenesis of gastric cancer.Conclusion. The transcriptional regulatory network can help researchers to further clarify the underlying regulatory mechanisms of gastric cancer tumorigenesis.


Development ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. 1137-1150 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Reuter ◽  
M. Leptin

Two zygotic genes, snail (sna) and twist (twi), are required for mesoderm development, which begins with the formation of the ventral furrow. Both twi and sna are expressed ventrally in the blastoderm, encode transcription factors and promote the invagination of the ventral furrow by activating or repressing appropriate target genes. However, sna and twi alone do not define the position of the ventral furrow, since they are also expressed in ventral cells that do not invaginate. We show that huckebein (hkb) sets the anterior and the posterior borders of the ventral furrow, but acts by different modes of regulation. In the posterior part of the blastoderm, hkb represses the expression of sna in the endodermal primordium (which we suggest to be adjacent to the mesodermal primordium). In the anterior part, hkb antagonizes the activation of target genes by twi and sna. Here, bicoid permits the co-expression of hkb, sna and twi, which are all required for the development of the anterior digestive tract. We suggest that mesodermal fate is determined where sna and twi but not hkb are expressed. Anteriorly hkb together with sna determines endodermal fate, and hkb together with sna and twi are required for foregut development.


Development ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 122 (11) ◽  
pp. 3355-3362 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Gabay ◽  
H. Scholz ◽  
M. Golembo ◽  
A. Klaes ◽  
B.Z. Shilo ◽  
...  

The induction of different cell fates along the dorsoventral axis of the Drosophila embryo requires a graded activity of the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase (DER). Here we have identified primary and secondary target genes of DER, which mediate the determination of discrete ventral cell fates. High levels of DER activation in the ventralmost cells trigger expression of the transcription factors encoded by ventral nervous system defective (vnd) and pointed P1 (pntPl). Concomitant with the induction of pntP1, high levels of DER activity lead to inactivation of the Yan protein, a transcriptional repressor of Pointed-target genes. These two antagonizing transcription factors subsequently control the expression of secondary target genes such as otd, argos and tartan. The simultaneous effects of the DER pathway on pntP1 induction and Yan inactivation may contribute to the definition of the border of the ventralmost cell fates.


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