Genome-wide expression analysis in murine brain in E14.5 vs. 10.5m old mice
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: NBS1 (Nbn in Mus musculus) is a critical component of the MRN (MRE11/RAD50/NBS1) complex, which regulates ATM- and ATR-mediated DNA damage response (DDR) pathways. NBS1 mutations cause the human genomic instability syndrome Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome (NBS), in which microcephaly and intellectual disability are marked neuronal deficits. NBS1 is essential for life, because of its function in the DDR to ensure proliferation and preventing the cell death of replicating cells. However, the function of NBS1 in postmitotic cells is unclear. To explore the possible role of Nbs1 in non-dividing cells and the effection of its deletion on gene expression, RNA-seq was carried out to compare the expression of Nbs1 and other DDR molecules in developing and adult brain.
Project description:NBS1 (Nbn in Mus musculus) is a critical component of the MRN (MRE11/RAD50/NBS1) complex, which regulates ATM- and ATR-mediated DNA damage response (DDR) pathways. NBS1 mutations cause the human genomic instability syndrome Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome (NBS), in which microcephaly and intellectual disability are marked neuronal deficits. NBS1 is essential for life, because of its function in the DDR to ensure proliferation and preventing the cell death of replicating cells. However, the function of NBS1 in postmitotic cells is unclear. To explore the possible role of Nbs1 in non-dividing cells and the effection of its deletion on gene expression, RNA-seq was carried out with Nbs1 induced knockout liver samples, in which most cells are postmitotic.
Project description:Rad50 is a component of the conserved MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 (MRN) complex, which functions in genome stability and the cell’s ability to deal with stalled DNA replication forks. We identified Rad50 as a factor important for R-loop tolerance and thus mapped DNA:RNA hybrids in Rad50KO cells and compare them to previously reported wild-type and Sgs1KO profiles.
Project description:Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) results from the absence of the NBS1 protein, responsible for detection of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). NBS is characterized by microcephaly, growth retardation, immunodeficiency, and cancer predisposition. Here we show successful reprogramming of NBS fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells (NBS-iPSCs). Our data suggest a strong selection for karyotypically normal fibroblasts to go through the reprogramming process. NBS-iPSCs then acquire numerous chromosomal aberrations and show a delayed response to DSB induction. Furthermore, NBS-iPSCs display slower growth, mitotic inhibition, a reduced apoptotic response to stress and abnormal cell cycle-related gene expression. Importantly, NBS neural progenitor cells (NBS-NPCs) show down-regulation of neural developmental genes, which seems to be mediated by P53. Our results demonstrate the importance of NBS1 in early human development, shed new light on the molecular mechanisms underlying this severe syndrome and further expand our knowledge of the genomic stress cells experience during the reprogramming process. Gene expression analysis was performed on a total of 6 human cell lines, including WT and NBS Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and NBS-iPSCs
Project description:Mutations of NBS1 gene result in Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS), and the gene encodes NBS1 that forms a complex with MRE11 and RAD50 and participates in DNA damage repair. However, the molecular mechanism by which the mutations of NBS1 cause clinical phenotypes of NBS, such as craniofacial dysmorphism, is still unclear. Here, we show that NBS1 localizes at the rDNA loci in the nucleoli and interacts with ribosome RNA (rRNA) transcription machinery including RNA polymerase I (Pol I) and TCOF1. Loss of NBS1 impairs Pol I-dependent transcription of pre-rRNA and induces nucleolar stress. In particular, lacking Nbs1 in mouse neural crest cells not only leads to the reduction of ribosome biogenesis but also craniofacial abnormalities during prenatal development. Moreover, the C-terminus of NBS1 is associated with pre-rRNA and a number of pre-rRNA processing factors, which may also facilitate pre-rRNA maturation. Taken together, our study reveals the functions of NBS1 in rRNA biogenesis.
Project description:Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome (NBS) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by mutations within nibrin (NBN), a DNA damage repair protein. Hallmarks of NBS include chromosomal instability and clinical manifestations such as growth retardation, immunodeficiency, and progressive microcephaly. We employed induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cerebral organoids from two NBS patients to study the etiology of microcephaly. We show that NBS organoids carrying the homozygous 657del5 NBN mutation are significantly smaller with disrupted cyto-architecture. The organoids exhibit premature differentiation, and Neuronatin (NNAT) over-expression. Furthermore, pathways related to DNA damage response and cell cycle are differentially regulated compared to controls. After exposure to bleomycin, NBS organoids undergo delayed p53-mediated DNA damage response and aberrant trans-synaptic signaling, which ultimately leads to neuronal apoptosis. Our data provide insights into how mutations within NBN alters neurogenesis in NBS patients, thus providing a proof of concept that cerebral organoids are a valuable tool for studying DNA damage-related disorders.
Project description:Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) results from the absence of the NBS1 protein, responsible for detection of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). NBS is characterized by microcephaly, growth retardation, immunodeficiency, and cancer predisposition. Here we show successful reprogramming of NBS fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells (NBS-iPSCs). Our data suggest a strong selection for karyotypically normal fibroblasts to go through the reprogramming process. NBS-iPSCs then acquire numerous chromosomal aberrations and show a delayed response to DSB induction. Furthermore, NBS-iPSCs display slower growth, mitotic inhibition, a reduced apoptotic response to stress and abnormal cell cycle-related gene expression. Importantly, NBS neural progenitor cells (NBS-NPCs) show down-regulation of neural developmental genes, which seems to be mediated by P53. Our results demonstrate the importance of NBS1 in early human development, shed new light on the molecular mechanisms underlying this severe syndrome and further expand our knowledge of the genomic stress cells experience during the reprogramming process.
Project description:he human MRE11/RAD50/NBS1 (MRN) complex plays a crucial role in sensing and repairing DNA DSB. MRE11 possesses 3’-5’ exonuclease and endonuclease activity and forms the core of the multifunctional MRN complex. We previously identified a C-terminally truncated form of MRE11 (TR-MRE11) associated with post-translational MRE11 degradation. Here we identified the approximate cleavage site of TR-MRE11 at 559-580 amino acids, its DNA damage repair function and the factors regulating TR-MRE11 accumulation. The nuclease enzymatic activity of TR-MRE11 was dramatically reduced, associated with a lack of DNA binding efficiency, whilst TR-MRE11 still interacted efficiently with RAD50 and NBS1. Lack of the MRE11 C-terminal resulted in deficient HR repair and increased cellular radiosensitivity. Knockdown of SprT-like N-terminal domain (SPRTN), an essential metalloprotease for DNA-protein crosslink repair, resulted in failure of MRE11 cleavage, with TR-MRE11 protein levels being positively correlated with SPRTN protein expression. The presence of this DNA repair-defective C-terminal truncation could explain the finding of high MRE11 expression, by immunohistochemistry using an antibody against MRE11 prior to the C-terminal, being associated with survival following radical radiotherapy in cancer patients. Ultimately, understanding the functional differences between intact and repair-defective MRE11 may lead to improvements in patient outcomes through a more informed choice of treatment.
Project description:Nucleolytic resection of DNA ends is critical for homologous recombination, but its mechanism is not fully understood, particularly in mammalian meiosis. Here we examine roles of the conserved MRN complex (MRE11, RAD50, and NBS1) through genome-wide analysis of meiotic resection during spermatogenesis in mice with various MRN mutations, including several that cause chromosomal instability in humans. Meiotic DSBs form at elevated levels but remain unresected if Mre11 is conditionally deleted, thus MRN is required for both resection initiation and regulation of DSB numbers. Resection lengths are reduced to varying degrees in MRN hypomorphs or if MRE11 nuclease activity is attenuated in a conditional nuclease-dead Mre11 model. These findings unexpectedly establish that MRN is needed for longer-range extension of resection beyond that carried out by the orthologous proteins in budding yeast meiosis. Finally, resection defects are additively worsened by combining MRN and Exo1 mutations, and mice that are unable to initiate resection or have greatly curtailed resection lengths experience catastrophic spermatogenic failure. Our results elucidate MRN roles in meiotic DSB end processing and establish the importance of resection for mammalian meiosis.
Project description:Nucleolytic resection of DNA ends is critical for homologous recombination, but its mechanism is not fully understood, particularly in mammalian meiosis. Here we examine roles of the conserved MRN complex (MRE11, RAD50, and NBS1) through genome-wide analysis of meiotic resection during spermatogenesis in mice with various MRN mutations, including several that cause chromosomal instability in humans. Meiotic DSBs form at elevated levels but remain unresected if Mre11 is conditionally deleted, thus MRN is required for both resection initiation and regulation of DSB numbers. Resection lengths are reduced to varying degrees in MRN hypomorphs or if MRE11 nuclease activity is attenuated in a conditional nuclease-dead Mre11 model. These findings unexpectedly establish that MRN is needed for longer-range extension of resection beyond that carried out by the orthologous proteins in budding yeast meiosis. Finally, resection defects are additively worsened by combining MRN and Exo1 mutations, and mice that are unable to initiate resection or have greatly curtailed resection lengths experience catastrophic spermatogenic failure. Our results elucidate MRN roles in meiotic DSB end processing and establish the importance of resection for mammalian meiosis.
Project description:Nucleolytic resection of DNA ends is critical for homologous recombination, but its mechanism is not fully understood, particularly in mammalian meiosis. Here we examine roles of the conserved MRN complex (MRE11, RAD50, and NBS1) through genome-wide analysis of meiotic resection during spermatogenesis in mice with various MRN mutations, including several that cause chromosomal instability in humans. Meiotic DSBs form at elevated levels but remain unresected if Mre11 is conditionally deleted, thus MRN is required for both resection initiation and regulation of DSB numbers. Resection lengths are reduced to varying degrees in MRN hypomorphs or if MRE11 nuclease activity is attenuated in a conditional nuclease-dead Mre11 model. These findings unexpectedly establish that MRN is needed for longer-range extension of resection beyond that carried out by the orthologous proteins in budding yeast meiosis. Finally, resection defects are additively worsened by combining MRN and Exo1 mutations, and mice that are unable to initiate resection or have greatly curtailed resection lengths experience catastrophic spermatogenic failure. Our results elucidate MRN roles in meiotic DSB end processing and establish the importance of resection for mammalian meiosis.