Project description:CASZ1 is a novel and potent activator of terminal epidermal differentiation. CASZ1 knockdown inhibits transcription of the epidermal differentiation program. p63 and p300 are required to activate CASZ1 expression.
Project description:Using an unbiased systems-based screen, we demonstrate the cardiac transcription factor TBX20 physically and genetically interacts with the essential transcription factor CASZ1. This interaction is required for survival as mice heterozygous for both Tbx20 and Casz1 die post-natally as a result of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).We have used quantitative proteomic approaches to define the molecular pathways mis-regulated in Tbx20 and Casz1 mice and thus, are associated with DCM. Using an unbiased systems-based screen, we demonstrate the cardiac transcription factor TBX20 physically and genetically interacts with the essential transcription factor CASZ1. This interaction is required for survival as mice heterozygous for both Tbx20 and Casz1 die post-natally as a result of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).We have used quantitative proteomic approaches to define the molecular pathways mis-regulated in Tbx20 and Casz1 mice and thus, are associated with DCM.
Project description:Disrupted differentiation is a hallmark of numerous diseases, which in epidermis alone impact >25% of the population. In a search for dominant mediators of differentiation, we defined a requirement for the ZNF750 nuclear protein in terminal epidermal differentiation. ZNF750 controlled genes mutated in numerous human skin diseases, including FLG, LOR, LCE3B, ALOXE3, and SPINK5. ZNF750 potently induced progenitor differentiation via an evolutionarily conserved C2H2 zinc finger motif. The epidermal master regulator, p63, bound the ZNF750 promoter and was necessary for its induction. ZNF750 restored differentiation to p63-deficient tissue, suggesting it acts downstream of p63. A search for functionally important ZNF750 targets via analysis of ZNF750-regulated genes identified KLF4, a transcription factor that activates late epidermal differentiation genes. ZNF750 binds the Klf4 promoter and controls its expression. ZNF750 thus provides a direct link between a tissue-specifying factor, p63, and an effector of terminal differentiation, Klf4, and represents a potential future target for disorders of this process. Gene expression analysis: To establish a differentiation signature for primary human keratinocytes, with ZNF750-depleted, and Klf4-depleted, total RNA was isolated in biologic duplicate from cells in different conditions and hybridized to Affymetrix HG-U133 2.0 Plus arrays.
Project description:Disrupted differentiation is a hallmark of numerous diseases, which in epidermis alone impact >25% of the population. In a search for dominant mediators of differentiation, we defined a requirement for the ZNF750 nuclear protein in terminal epidermal differentiation. ZNF750 controlled genes mutated in numerous human skin diseases, including FLG, LOR, LCE3B, ALOXE3, and SPINK5. ZNF750 potently induced progenitor differentiation via an evolutionarily conserved C2H2 zinc finger motif. The epidermal master regulator, p63, bound the ZNF750 promoter and was necessary for its induction. ZNF750 restored differentiation to p63-deficient tissue, suggesting it acts downstream of p63. A search for functionally important ZNF750 targets via analysis of ZNF750-regulated genes identified KLF4, a transcription factor that activates late epidermal differentiation genes. ZNF750 binds the Klf4 promoter and controls its expression. ZNF750 thus provides a direct link between a tissue-specifying factor, p63, and an effector of terminal differentiation, Klf4, and represents a potential future target for disorders of this process.
Project description:Hair follicle formation depends on reciprocal epidermal-dermal interactions and occurs during skin development, but not in adult life. This suggests that the properties of dermal fibroblasts change during postnatal development. To examine this, we used a PdgfraEGFP mouse line to isolate GFP-positive fibroblasts from neonatal skin, adult telogen and anagen skin and adult skin in which ectopic hair follicles had been induced (EF skin) by transgenic epidermal activation of beta-catenin. We also isolated epidermal cells from each mouse. The gene expression profile of EF epidermis was most similar to that of anagen epidermis, consistent with activation of beta-catenin signalling. In contrast, adult dermis with ectopic hair follicles more closely resembled neonatal dermis than adult telogen or anagen dermis. In particular, genes associated with mitosis were upregulated and extracellular matrix-associated genes were downregulated in neonatal and EF fibroblasts. We confirmed that sustained epidermal beta-catenin activation stimulated fibroblasts to proliferate to reach the high cell density of neonatal skin. In addition, the extracellular matrix was comprehensively remodelled, with mature collagen being replaced by collagen subtypes normally present only in developing skin. The changes in proliferation and extracellular matrix composition originated from a specific subpopulation of fibroblasts located beneath the sebaceous gland. Our results show that adult dermis is an unexpectedly plastic tissue that can be reprogrammed to acquire the molecular, cellular and structural characteristics of neonatal dermis in response to cues from the overlying epidermis. We have isolated the following populations of cells from mouse back skin by flow cytometry: 1A) GFP+ WT neonatal dermal fibroblasts, 1B) ItgA6+ WT neonatal epidermal keratinocytes, 2A) GFP+ WT telogen dermal fibroblasts, 2B) ItgA6+ WT telogen epidermal keratinocytes, 3A) GFP+ D2 transient activation (anagen) dermal fibroblasts, 3B) ItgA6+ D2 transient activation (anagen) epidermal keratinocytes, 4A) GFP+ D2 sustained activation (ectopic follicles) dermal fibroblasts, 4B) ItgA6+ D2 sustained activation (ectopic follicles) epidermal keratinocytes