Project description:RNA Sequencing of H1 WT hESCs, H1 QSER1 KO hESCs, H1 TET1 KO hESCs, H1 QSER1/TET1 DKO hESCs, WT Day10 embryoid bodies (EBs), QSER1 KO Day10 EBs, TET1 KO Day10 EBs, QSER1/TET1 DKO Day10 EBs, WT pancreatic progenitors (PP1), QSER1 KO PP1, TET1 KO PP1, and QSER1/TET1 DKO PP1. DNA methylation is essential to mammalian development, and dysregulation can cause serious pathological conditions. Key enzymes responsible for deposition and removal of DNA methylation are known, but how they cooperate to tightly regulate the methylation landscape remains a central question. Utilizing a knockin DNA methylation reporter, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas screen in human embryonic stem cells to discover DNA methylation regulators. The top screen hit was an uncharacterized gene QSER1, which proved to be a key guardian of bivalent promoters and poised enhancers of developmental genes, especially those residing in DNA methylation valleys (or canyons). We further demonstrate cooperation of QSER1 and TET1 through genetic and biochemical interactions to inhibit DNMT3-mediated de novo methylation and safeguard developmental programs.
Project description:Three-dimensional genome organisation and replication timing are known to be correlated, however, it remains unknown whether nuclear architecture overall plays an instructive role in the replication-timing program and, if so, how. Here we demonstrate that RIF1 is a molecular hub that co-regulates both processes. Both nuclear organisation and replication timing depend upon the interaction between RIF1 and PP1. However, whereas nuclear architecture requires the full complement of RIF1 and its interaction with PP1, replication timing is not sensitive to RIF1 dosage. RIF1’s role in replication timing also extends beyond its interaction with PP1. Availing of this separation-of-function approach, we have therefore identified in RIF1 dual function the molecular bases of the co-dependency of the replication-timing program and nuclear architecture.
Project description:The deletion of the protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) regulator NIPP1 is embryonic lethal during gastrulation, hinting at a key role of PP1-NIPP1 in lineage specification. Consistent with this notion we show here that a mild, stable overexpression of NIPP1 in HeLa cells caused a massive induction of genes of the mesenchymal lineage, in particular smooth/cardiac-muscle and matrix markers. This reprogramming was associated with the formation of actin-based stress fibers and retracting filopodia, and a reduced proliferation potential. The NIPP1-induced mesenchymal transition required functional substrate and PP1-binding domains, suggesting that it involves the selective dephosphorylation of substrates of PP1-NIPP1.
Project description:To study the consequences of MAK-2 activity modulation during vegetative cell fusion, we took advantage of a previously constructed allele of MAK-2 (MAK-2Q100G) to specifically perturb kinase signaling during germling vegetative cell fusion (inhibition of MAK-2Q100G activity by addition of the ATP analog 1NM-PP1 results in a phenotype indistinguishable from mak-2 deletion strains). Whole genome microarrays of mak-2Q100G cells following 20 min 1NM-PP1 treatment were performed. Two-condition experiment, Neurospora crassa cells containing MAK2Q100G allele treated with 1NM-PP1 inhibitor vs untreated control. Cy3 and Cy5 dye swaps were performed.
Project description:The deletion of the protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) regulator NIPP1 is embryonic lethal during gastrulation, hinting at a key role of PP1-NIPP1 in lineage specification. Consistent with this notion we show here that a mild, stable overexpression of NIPP1 in HeLa cells caused a massive induction of genes of the mesenchymal lineage, in particular smooth/cardiac-muscle and matrix markers. This reprogramming was associated with the formation of actin-based stress fibers and retracting filopodia, and a reduced proliferation potential. The NIPP1-induced mesenchymal transition required functional substrate and PP1-binding domains, suggesting that it involves the selective dephosphorylation of substrates of PP1-NIPP1. In total 16 samples were processed. Four different cell lines were analysed: HTO_parental, HTO_NIPP1wt, HTO_NIPP1m (= alias NIPP1-Pm) and HTO_NIPP1-Pa. For each cell line 4 replicates were obtained. The HTO_parental cell line is the control cell line. For the HTO_NIPP1wt and the HTO_NIPP1-Pa the 4 replicates were obtained from two replicates of two different transgenic cell lines expressing FlagNIPP1wt (cell line wt n°1 and 2) and FlagNIPP1-Pa (cell line n°1 and 2), respectively. Each cell line was derived from the same parental control cell line.
Project description:To study the consequences of MAK-2 activity modulation during vegetative cell fusion, we took advantage of a previously constructed allele of MAK-2 (MAK-2Q100G) to specifically perturb kinase signaling during germling vegetative cell fusion (inhibition of MAK-2Q100G activity by addition of the ATP analog 1NM-PP1 results in a phenotype indistinguishable from mak-2 deletion strains). Whole genome microarrays of mak-2Q100G cells following 20 min 1NM-PP1 treatment were performed.
Project description:The end of the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription cycle is strictly regulated to ensure proper mRNA maturation and prevent interference between neighboring genes. Pol II slowing downstream of the cleavage and polyadenylation signal (CPS) leads to recruitment of cleavage and polyadenylation factors and termination, but how this chain of events is initiated remains unclear. In a chemical-genetic screen we identified protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) isoforms as substrates of human positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), the cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (Cdk9)-cyclin T1 complex. Here we show that Cdk9 and PP1 govern phosphorylation of the conserved transcription factor Spt5 in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Cdk9 phosphorylates both Spt5 and a negative regulatory site on the PP1 isoform Dis2. Sites phosphorylated by Cdk9 in the Spt5 carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) are dephosphorylated by Dis2 in vitro, and Cdk9 inhibition in vivo leads to rapid Spt5 dephosphorylation that is retarded by concurrent Dis2 inactivation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing (ChIP-seq) analysis indicates that Spt5 is dephosphorylated as transcription complexes traverse the CPS, prior to or concomitant with Pol II pausing. A Dis2-inactivating mutation stabilizes Spt5 phosphorylation (pSpt5) on chromatin, promotes transcription beyond the normal termination zone detected by precision run-on transcription and sequencing (PRO-seq), and is suppressed by ablation of Cdk9 target sites in Spt5. These results support a model whereby the transition of Pol II from elongation to termination is regulated by opposing activities of Cdk9 and Dis2 towards their common substrate Spt5—a bistable switch analogous to a Cdk1-PP1 module that controls exit from mitosis.
Project description:Control of transcription speed, which influences many co-transcriptional processes, is poorly understood. We report that PNUTS-PP1 phosphatase is a negative regulator of RNA pol II elongation rate. The PNUTS W401A mutation, which disrupts PP1 binding, causes genome-wide acceleration of transcription associated with hyper-phosphorylation of the Spt5 elongation factor. Immediately downstream of poly(A) sites, pol II decelerates from >2kb/min to <1 kb/min, which correlates with Spt5 dephosphorylation. Pol II deceleration and Spt5 dephosphorylation require poly(A) site recognition and the PNUTS-PP1 complex, which is in turn necessary for transcription termination. These results lead to a new model for termination, the “sitting duck torpedo” mechanism, where poly(A) site-dependent deceleration caused by PNUTS-PP1 and Spt5 dephosphorylation is required to convert pol II into a viable target for the Xrn2 terminator exonuclease. Spt5 and its bacterial homologue NusG therefore have related functions controlling kinetic competition between RNA polymerases and the termination factors that pursue them.