Unknown,Transcriptomics,Genomics,Proteomics

Dataset Information

DUX4 activates germline genes, retroelements and immune-mediators: Implications for facioscapulohumeral dystrophy

ABSTRACT: Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most common inherited muscular dystrophies. The causative gene remains controversial and the mechanism of pathophysiology unknown. Here we identify genes associated with germline and early stem cell development as targets of the DUX4 transcription factor, a leading candidate gene for FSHD. The genes regulated by DUX4 are reliably detected in FSHD muscle but not in controls, providing direct support for the model that misexpression of DUX4 is a causal factor for FSHD. Additionally, we show that DUX4 binds and activates LTR elements from a class of MaLR endogenous primate retrotransposons and suppresses the innate immune response to viral infection, at least in part through the activation of DEFB103, a human defensin that can inhibit muscle differentiation. These findings suggest specific mechanisms of FSHD pathology and identify candidate biomarkers for disease diagnosis and progression. [Overexpression experiment] Quadruplicate total RNA samples were collected from control human primary myoblasts transduced with lentivirus carrying DUX4-fl, DUX4-s or GFP (MOI = 15) for 24 h and from untransduced myoblasts. [Defensin experiment] Quadruplicate samples were also collected from myoblasts and myotubes grown in media containing human beta-defensin 3 peptide or in control media.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

SUBMITTER: Janet Young

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-33799 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress

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Publications

DUX4 activates germline genes, retroelements, and immune mediators: implications for facioscapulohumeral dystrophy.

Geng Linda N LN Yao Zizhen Z Snider Lauren L Fong Abraham P AP Cech Jennifer N JN Young Janet M JM van der Maarel Silvere M SM Ruzzo Walter L WL Gentleman Robert C RC Tawil Rabi R Tapscott Stephen J SJ

Developmental cell 20111229 1

Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most common inherited muscular dystrophies. The causative gene remains controversial and the mechanism of pathophysiology unknown. Here we identify genes associated with germline and early stem cell development as targets of the DUX4 transcription factor, a leading candidate gene for FSHD. The genes regulated by DUX4 are reliably detected in FSHD muscle but not in controls, providing direct support for the model that misexpression of DUX4 is a c ...[more]

PMID: 22209328

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Project description:DUX4 is a double homeodomain transcription factor whose misexpression in the muscle causes facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). The transcriptional activity of DUX4 has been extensively characterized, and is thought to be the primary driver of FSHD pathogenesis. Yet, DUX4 expression lowers the protein level of an RNA quality control factor, UPF1, without affecting its transcript level, hinting at post-transcriptional regulatory activity downstream of DUX4 expression. How extensive the post-transcriptional activity of DUX4 is, and how relevant it is to FSHD pathogenesis, is unknown. In order to gain insight into DUX4-induced post-transcriptional gene regulation, we measured transcript and protein levels in DUX4 expressing cells via RNA-seq and SILAC-based quantitative mass spectrometry, respectively. We show that DUX4 transcriptional targets are robustly translated, including those genes previously identified as potential FSHD biomarkers. However, comparing the overall pattern of gene expression changes for RNA versus protein reveals striking differences in the most highly activated pathways, with the former showing changes in RNA processing and splicing, and the latter affecting the humoral immune response, proteolysis and exocytosis, among other pathways. Consistent with a misregulation of exocytosis, fluorescence imaging shows fragmented golgi apparatus in DUX4-expressing cells. Of the genes that showed discordant RNA and protein expression levels, post-transcriptional buffering was particularly evident for genes involved in stress response and may explain why DUX4-expressing cells succumb to toxicity despite robust transcriptional activation of stress response genes. Moreover, several genes involved in RNA decay including UPF1, UPF3B, SMG6 and XRN1 showed downregulation at the protein level, which may explain the massive inhibition of RNA quality control in DUX4-expressing cells. These results highlight the importance of considering post-transcriptional gene regulation in DUX4-expressing cells in order to fully understand the FSHD disease process.

Dataset Information

DUX4 activates germline genes, retroelements and immune-mediators: Implications for facioscapulohumeral dystrophy

Publications

DUX4 activates germline genes, retroelements, and immune mediators: implications for facioscapulohumeral dystrophy.

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