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Decreased cohesin in the brain leads to defective synapse development and anxiety-related behavior.

ABSTRACT: Abnormal epigenetic regulation can cause the nervous system to develop abnormally. Here, we sought to understand the mechanism by which this occurs by investigating the protein complex cohesin, which is considered to regulate gene expression and, when defective, is associated with higher-level brain dysfunction and the developmental disorder Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS). We generated conditional Smc3-knockout mice and observed greater dendritic complexity and larger numbers of immature synapses in the cerebral cortex of Smc3^+/- mice. Smc3^+/- mice also exhibited more anxiety-related behavior, which is a symptom of CdLS. Further, a gene ontology analysis after RNA-sequencing suggested the enrichment of immune processes, particularly the response to interferons, in the Smc3^+/- mice. Indeed, fewer synapses formed in their cortical neurons, and this phenotype was rescued by STAT1 knockdown. Thus, low levels of cohesin expression in the developing brain lead to changes in gene expression that in turn lead to a specific and abnormal neuronal and behavioral phenotype.

SUBMITTER: Fujita Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5413336 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Decreased cohesin in the brain leads to defective synapse development and anxiety-related behavior.

Fujita Yuki Y Masuda Koji K Bando Masashige M Nakato Ryuichiro R Katou Yuki Y Tanaka Takashi T Nakayama Masahiro M Takao Keizo K Miyakawa Tsuyoshi T Tanaka Tatsunori T Ago Yukio Y Hashimoto Hitoshi H Shirahige Katsuhiko K Yamashita Toshihide T

The Journal of experimental medicine 20170413 5

Abnormal epigenetic regulation can cause the nervous system to develop abnormally. Here, we sought to understand the mechanism by which this occurs by investigating the protein complex cohesin, which is considered to regulate gene expression and, when defective, is associated with higher-level brain dysfunction and the developmental disorder Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS). We generated conditional <i>Smc3</i>-knockout mice and observed greater dendritic complexity and larger numbers of immatu ...[more]

PMID: 28408410

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Project description:Neurodevelopment is a tightly coordinated process, in which genome is exposed to spectra of endogenous agents at different stages of differentiation. Increasing body of evidence suggests that DNA damage is an important feature of developing brain, tightly linked to gene expression programs and neuronal activity. Some of the most frequent DNA damage includes changes to DNA bases, recognized by DNA glycosylases and repaired through base excision repair (BER). The only mammalian DNA glycosylase able to remove frequent alkylated DNA based is alkyladenine DNA glycosylase (Aag, aka Mpg). Recently we showed that, besides participation in DNA repair, AAG affects expression of neurodevelopmental genes in human cells. Aag was further proposed to act as reader of epigenetic marks, including 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), in the mouse brain. Despite the evidence of potential Aag involvement in the key brain processes, the impact of Aag loss on developing brain remains unknown. Here, by using Aag knockout (Aag-/-) mice, we show that Aag absence leads to reduced DNA damage levels, evident in lowered number of γH2AX foci in P5 hippocampi. This is accompanied by changes in 5hmC signal intensity in different hippocampal regions. Analysis of gene expression in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, at multiple developmental stages, indicates that lack of Aag results in altered gene expression, primarily of genes involved in regulation of response to stress. One of the most prominent genes deregulated in Aag-dependent manner, at all tested developmental stages, is aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (Aldh2). In line with the changes in hippocampal DNA damage levels and the gene expression, adult Aag-/- mice exhibit altered behavior, evident in decreased anxiety in the Elevated Zero Maze and increased alternations in the Elevated T Maze tests. Taken together these results suggests that Aag has functions in modulation of genome dynamics during brain development, important for animal behavior.

Dataset Information

Decreased cohesin in the brain leads to defective synapse development and anxiety-related behavior.

Publications

Decreased cohesin in the brain leads to defective synapse development and anxiety-related behavior.

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