Project description:Hox genes are required for the development of the intestinal caecum, a major organ of species eating plants. We have analysed the transcriptional regulation of Hoxd genes in caecal buds and show that they are controlled by a series of enhancers located in a gene desert telomeric to the HoxD cluster. The start site of two neighboring and opposite long non-coding RNAs, Hotdog and Twin of Hotdog, specifically transcribed in the caecum, contacts the expressed Hoxd genes in the framework of a topological domain, a large domain of interactions, which ensures a robust transcription of these genes during caecum budding. We show that hedgehogs have kept this regulatory potential despite the absence of caecum, suggesting that these enhancers are used in other developmental situations. In this context, we discuss some striking similarities between the caecum and the limb buds, suggesting the implementation of a common budding tool-kit. Transcriptional activity at the HoxD locus in the hedgehog developing gut at E13.5, Differential gene expression analysis along the hedgehog developing gut
Project description:The Hedgehog signaling pathway plays important roles in gut development and homeostasis. In this study, we use Affymatrix Miroarray to analyze the gene expression profiles of wild type stomach and SmoM2-expressing stomach at E13.5. The goal of this study is to understand the transcription program regulated by Hedgehog in the developing gut. SmoM2 is a constitutively active form of Smo, whick leads to Hedgehog ligand independent cell-autonomous pathway activation.
Project description:The morphogen Indian Hedgehog plays a very important role during intestinal embryogenesis, but also maintains homeostasis in the adult gut. Intestinal Hedgehog is expressed by the intestinal epithelium and signals in paracrine manner to fibroblasts in the stromal compartment. We studied the colonic changes upon activation of the Hedgehog pathway by deleting the Hedgehog receptor Patched1 in order to alleviate its repressive function.
Project description:Hox genes are required for the development of the intestinal caecum, a major organ of species eating plants. We have analysed the transcriptional regulation of Hoxd genes in caecal buds and show that they are controlled by a series of enhancers located in a gene desert telomeric to the HoxD cluster. The start site of two neighboring and opposite long non-coding RNAs, Hotdog and Twin of Hotdog, specifically transcribed in the caecum, contacts the expressed Hoxd genes in the framework of a topological domain, a large domain of interactions, which ensures a robust transcription of these genes during caecum budding. We show that hedgehogs have kept this regulatory potential despite the absence of caecum, suggesting that these enhancers are used in other developmental situations. In this context, we discuss some striking similarities between the caecum and the limb buds, suggesting the implementation of a common budding tool-kit. Transcriptional activity at the HoxD locus in the murine developing gut at E13, Differential gene expression analysis along the murine developing gut
Project description:Purpose: The response to Hedgehog signaling in the limb is driven by GLI bound enhancers and the majority of Hh targets in the developing limb bud are regulated solely by the activity of GLI-repressor. Currently, we do not have a comprehensive understanding of how GLI bound enhancers respond to Hedgehog signaling. The goal of this study is to identify how GLI bound enhancers are regulated by Hedgehog signaling and specifically by GLI-repressor. Methods: ATAC-seq was done in embryonic day 10.5 posterior limb buds from control and Shh-null embryos to identify GLI enhancers that change chromatin accessibility in response to Hedgehog signaling. Results: We found that Hedgehog signaling regulates the chromatin accessibility of a subset of GLI binding regions. This subset of GLI bound enhancers has reduced accessibility in the absence of Hedgehog signaling and largely overlaps with GLI enhancers that also have reduced H3K27ac in the absence of Hedgehog signaling.
Project description:Purpose: The response to Hedgehog signaling in the limb is driven by GLI bound enhancers and the majority of Hh targets in the developing limb bud are regulated solely by the activity of GLI-repressor. Currently we do not have a comprehensive understanding of how GLI bound enhancers respond Hedgehog signaling. The goal of this study is to identify how GLI bound enhancers are regulated by Hedgehog signaling and specifically by GLI-repressor. Methods: Histone modification ChIP-sequencing was done in Embryonic day 10.5 limb buds from control and Shh null embryos to identify histone modifications that change in response to Hedgehog signaling. We also did a comparative analysis of histone modificaiton response to Hedgehog stimulation in NIH3T3 cells to assess tissue specificity of GLI bound enhancer response to Hedgehog signaling. Results: We found that Hedgehog signaling specifically regulates the acetylation status of Histone 3 lysine 27 at a subset of GLI binding regions. These regions correlate with both known Hedgehog target genes in the limb bud and with characterized enhancers in the limb. This set of Hedgehog responsive GLI bound enhancers demonstrate enhanced tissue specificity.