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:RNA polymerase II progression from initiation to elongation is driven in part by a cascade of protein kinases acting on the core transcription machinery. Conversely, the corresponding phosphatases, notably PP2A and PP1—the most abundant serine-threonine phosphatases in cells—are thought to mainly impede polymerase progression, respectively restraining pause release at promoters and polymerase elongation at terminators. Here we reveal an unexpected role of PP1, within the PNUTS-PP1 complex, in sustaining global transcriptional activation. Acute disruption of PNUTS-PP1 leads to severe defects in the release of paused polymerase and subsequent downregulation for the majority of transcribed genes. Mechanistically, PNUTS-PP1 promotes pause release by dephosphorylating multiple substrates, including the 7SK snRNP subunit MEPCE, a known regulator of pause release. PNUTS-PP1 exhibits antagonistic functions compared to INTAC phosphatase, which generally inhibits pause release. Our research thus highlights the opposing roles of PP1 and PP2A in modulating genome-wide transcriptional pausing and gene expression.
Project description:RNA polymerase II progression from initiation to elongation is driven in part by a cascade of protein kinases acting on the core transcription machinery. Conversely, the corresponding phosphatases, notably PP2A and PP1—the most abundant serine-threonine phosphatases in cells—are thought to mainly impede polymerase progression, respectively restraining pause release at promoters and polymerase elongation at terminators. Here we reveal an unexpected role of PP1, within the PNUTS-PP1 complex, in sustaining global transcriptional activation. Acute disruption of PNUTS-PP1 leads to severe defects in the release of paused polymerase and subsequent downregulation for the majority of transcribed genes. Mechanistically, PNUTS-PP1 promotes pause release by dephosphorylating multiple substrates, including the 7SK snRNP subunit MEPCE, a known regulator of pause release. PNUTS-PP1 exhibits antagonistic functions compared to INTAC phosphatase, which generally inhibits pause release. Our research thus highlights the opposing roles of PP1 and PP2A in modulating genome-wide transcriptional pausing and gene expression.
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.