Knockdown of NUP62 of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line UMSCC1
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ABSTRACT: p63, especially its dominant isoform ∆Np63⍺, plays essential roles in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs); yet the mechanisms controlling its nuclear transport remain unknown. Nucleoporins (NUPs) are a family of proteins building nuclear pore complex (NPC) and mediating nuclear transport across the nuclear envelope. Recent evidence suggests a cell-type-specific function for certain NUPs; however, the significance of NUPs in SCC biology remains unknown. In this study, we report that nucleoporin 62 (NUP62) is highly expressed in stratified squamous epithelia, which is further elevated in SCCs. Depletion of NUP62 inhibited the proliferation ability and augmented differentiation characteristics of SCC cells. This loss of dedifferentiation status was associated with defects in ∆Np63⍺ nuclear transport. We further found that differentiation inducible Rho kinase reduced an interaction between NUP62 and ∆Np63a by phosphorylation of phenylalanine-glycine regions of NUP62, resulting in attenuated ∆Np63⍺ nuclear import. Our results characterize NUP62 as a key gatekeeper for ∆Np63⍺ and uncover its significant function to control ∆Np63⍺ nuclear transport in SCC.
Project description:Nucleoporins (Nups) are a family of proteins best known as the constituent building blocks of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), the transport channels that mediate nuclear transport. Recent evidence suggest that several Nups have additional roles in controlling the activation and silencing of developmental genes, however, the mechanistic details of these functions remain poorly understood. Here, we show that depletion of Nup153 in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) causes the de-repression of developmental genes and induction of early differentiation. This loss of pluripotency is not associated with defects in global nucleo-cytoplasmic transport activity. Instead, Nup153 binds to the transcriptional start site (TSS) of developmental genes and mediates the recruitment of the polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) to its target loci. Our results reveal a nuclear transport-independent role of Nup153 in maintaining stem cell pluripotency and introduce a role of NPC proteins in mammalian epigenetic gene silencing. RNA-seq, ChIP-Seq, and DamID-Seq for Nup153, Oct4, and key chromatin regulators in mouse ES cells and neural progenitors
Project description:We used RNA-seq approach to distinguish roles of basket nucleoporins Nup153, Nup50, and Tpr in transcription and nucleocytoplasmic trafficking. AID-mediated depletion of BSK-NUPs caused rapid and drastic changes in transcriptomic profiles within two hours of auxin addition. Changes upon Tpr nucleoporin loss were distinct from Nup153 and Nup50, but similar to changes upon loss of export factor NXF1 and GANP subunit of the TREX-2 mRNA export complex. Altogether, we demonstrated a unique role of Tpr nucleoporin in regulating genes expression through mRNA export.
Project description:Nucleoporins (Nups) are a family of proteins best known as the constituent building blocks of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), the transport channels that mediate nuclear transport. Recent evidence suggest that several Nups have additional roles in controlling the activation and silencing of developmental genes, however, the mechanistic details of these functions remain poorly understood. Here, we show that depletion of Nup153 in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) causes the de-repression of developmental genes and induction of early differentiation. This loss of pluripotency is not associated with defects in global nucleo-cytoplasmic transport activity. Instead, Nup153 binds to the transcriptional start site (TSS) of developmental genes and mediates the recruitment of the polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) to its target loci. Our results reveal a nuclear transport-independent role of Nup153 in maintaining stem cell pluripotency and introduce a role of NPC proteins in mammalian epigenetic gene silencing.
Project description:The oncoprotein ∆Np63 is an essential transcriptional master- and cell identity regulator in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of various origins, encompassing lung, head and neck, oesophagus, cervix and skin. While in non-transformed cells ∆Np63 protein abundance is tightly regulated by the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS), in tumours E3-ligases ubiquitylating ∆Np63, such as FBXW7, are commonly mutated or lost, resulting in a hyper-stabilisation of the oncogenic driver. Targeting ∆Np63 protein abundance in SCC could present a possible therapeutic avenue. Here, we report that the deubiquitylase USP28 regulates ∆Np63 protein stability and abundance in SCC by counteracting the degradative UPS system. Interference with USP28 activity by pharmacological inhibition specifically affected human SCC cell lines and, finally, we were able to demonstrate in vivo using CRISPR/Cas9 mouse models that Usp28 is required for SCC induction and maintenance. Hence, targeting USP28 is a viable option to tackle ∆Np63 protein abundance in SCC tumours.
Project description:delta-Np63 is highly expressed in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). To evaluate its function in HNSCC we depleted delta-Np63 by siRNAs in the HNSCC cell line UT-SCC-74A. The transcriptome was analysed by cDNA microarray.
Project description:Nuclear pore complex components (Nups) are involved in neural development and alterations in Nup genes are linked to human neurological diseases. However, the physiological functions of specific Nups and the underlying mechanisms involved in these processes remain elusive. Here we show that tissue-specific depletion of nucleoporin Seh1 causes dramatic myelination defects in the Central Nervous System (CNS). Seh1-deficient Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells (OPCs) proliferate properly, but fail to differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes, which impairs myelin production and remyelination after demyelinating injury. Genome-wide analyses show that Seh1 regulates a core myelinogenic regulatory network and depletion of Seh1 alters open chromatin configurations at its target genes. Mechanistically, Seh1 regulates OPCs differentiation by assembling Olig2 and Brd7 into a transcription complex at nuclear pores. Together, our results reveal that Seh1 is required for oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination by promoting assembly of an Olig2-dependent transcription complex and expose nucleoporins as key players in the CNS.
Project description:Nuclear pore complex components (Nups) are involved in neural development and alterations in Nup genes are linked to human neurological diseases. However, the physiological functions of specific Nups and the underlying mechanisms involved in these processes remain elusive. Here we show that tissue-specific depletion of nucleoporin Seh1 causes dramatic myelination defects in the Central Nervous System (CNS). Seh1-deficient Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells (OPCs) proliferate properly, but fail to differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes, which impairs myelin production and remyelination after demyelinating injury. Genome-wide analyses show that Seh1 regulates a core myelinogenic regulatory network and depletion of Seh1 alters open chromatin configurations at its target genes. Mechanistically, Seh1 regulates OPCs differentiation by assembling Olig2 and Brd7 into a transcription complex at nuclear pores. Together, our results reveal that Seh1 is required for oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination by promoting assembly of an Olig2-dependent transcription complex and expose nucleoporins as key players in the CNS.
Project description:Nuclear pore complex components (Nups) are involved in neural development and alterations in Nup genes are linked to human neurological diseases. However, the physiological functions of specific Nups and the underlying mechanisms involved in these processes remain elusive. Here we show that tissue-specific depletion of nucleoporin Seh1 causes dramatic myelination defects in the Central Nervous System (CNS). Seh1-deficient Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells (OPCs) proliferate properly, but fail to differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes, which impairs myelin production and remyelination after demyelinating injury. Genome-wide analyses show that Seh1 regulates a core myelinogenic regulatory network and depletion of Seh1 alters open chromatin configurations at its target genes. Mechanistically, Seh1 regulates OPCs differentiation by assembling Olig2 and Brd7 into a transcription complex at nuclear pores. Together, our results reveal that Seh1 is required for oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination by promoting assembly of an Olig2-dependent transcription complex and expose nucleoporins as key players in the CNS.
Project description:Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) mediate transport across the nuclear envelope. In yeast, they have also been proposed to interact with active genes, attracting or retaining them at the nuclear periphery. However, some NPC components (nucleoporins) in higher eukaryotes are also found in the nucleoplasm, with so far unknown function. Therefore, we have functionally distinguished between nucleoporin-chromatin interactions at the NPC and within the nucleoplasm in Drosophila. For this we analyzed genomic interactions of full-length nucleoporins Nup98, Nup50 and Nup62 and nucleoplasmic and NPC-tethered forms of Nup98. We found that nucleoporins predominantly interacted with transcriptionally active genes inside the nucleoplasm. A smaller set of non-active genes interacted with the NPC. We identified a direct role for nucleoplasmic Nup98 in stimulating gene expression, as genes downregulated upon Nup98 depletion were activated upon nucleoplasmic Nup98 overexpression and showed strong nucleoplasmic Nup98 interaction. Thus, nucleoporins stimulate gene expression away from the NPC by interacting with genes inside the nucleoplasm.
Project description:Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) discriminate non-specific macromolecules from importin and exportin receptors, collectively termed karyopherins (Kaps), that mediate nucleocytoplasmic transport. This selective barrier function is attributed to the behavior of intrinsically disordered phenylalanine-glycine nucleoporins (FG Nups) that guard the NPC channel. However, NPCs in vivo are typically enriched with different Kaps, and how they impact on the NPC barrier remains unknown. Here, we show that two major Kaps, importinβ1/karyopherinβ1 (Kapβ1) and exportin 1/chromosomal maintenance 1 (CRM1) are required to fortify NPC barrier function in vivo. Their enrichment at the NPC is sustained by promiscuous binding interactions with the FG Nups resulting in a compensatory mechanism that is constrained by their respective cellular abundances and different binding kinetics as evidenced for another Kap, Importin-5. Hence, Kapβ1 and CRM1 engage in a balancing act to reinforce NPC barrier function. Consequently, NPC malfunction and nucleocytoplasmic leakage result from poor Kap enrichment.