原钙粘蛋白基因簇调控区域中成簇的CTCF结合位点分析

哺乳动物中原钙粘蛋白(Protocadherin, Pcdh)基因簇包含50多个串联排列的基因,这些基因形成3个紧密相连的基因簇(Pcdhα、Pcdhβ和Pcdhγ),所编码的原钙粘蛋白质群在神经元多样性(Neuronal diversity)和单细胞特异性(Single cell identity)以及神经突触信号转导中发挥重要作用。前期的工作已证实转录因子CTCF(CCCTC-binding factor)与CTCF结合位点(CTCF-binding site, CBS)的方向性结合能够决定增强子和启动子环化的方向以及其远距离交互作用的特异性,并进一步在Pcdh基因座(Locus)形成两个(Pcdhα和Pcdhγ)染色质拓扑结构域(CTCF/cohesin- mediated chromatin domain, CCD),而且染色质拓扑结构域对于控制基因表达调控至关重要。本文通过生物信息学方法对比人类和小鼠序列,发现Pcdhβγ染色质拓扑结构域调控区域中的DNase I超敏位点(DNase I hypersensitive sites, HSs)较为保守。染色质免疫沉淀及大规模测序实验(Chromatin immunoprecipitation and massive parallel sequencing, ChIP-Seq)揭示CBS位点在Pcdhβγ调控区域中成簇分布并且具有相同的方向。凝胶电泳迁移实验(Electrophoresis mobility shift assay, EMSA)确定Pcdhβγ调控区域内具体的42 bp CBS位点并且发现一个CTCF峰包含两个CBS位点。在全基因组范围内,运用计算生物学方法分析CTCF和增强子、启动子等调控元件的关系,发现CBS位点在调控元件附近有较多分布,推测CTCF通过介导增强子和启动子的特异性交互作用,在细胞核三维基因组内形成活性转录枢纽调控基因精准表达。     

KLFs对珠蛋白基因表达和红系分化的调控作用

Krüppel样因子(Krüppel-like factors, KLFs)是一组与真核基因转录调控密切相关的锌指蛋白.KLFs高度保守的羧基末端含3个串联的Cys2His2型锌指结构,用于结合GC盒和CACCC盒等DNA序列. 红细胞中特异表达的珠蛋白基因和许多红系调控因子中都含有CACCC盒.已有研究发现,多个KLFs通过结合CACCC盒参与调控珠蛋白基因表达和红系分化,例如,KLF1通过结合β-珠蛋白启动子和位点控制区(locus control region, LCR),促进β-珠蛋白的表达、γ-向β-珠蛋白基因的转换和红系分化;KLF2、KLF11和KLF13分别促进ε-和γ-珠蛋白基因的表达;KLF4促进α-和γ-珠蛋白基因的表达;KLF3和KLF8则抑制ε-和γ-珠蛋白基因的表达. 本文综述了KLFs调控珠蛋白基因表达和红系分化的研究进展.     

绝缘子调控基因的表达

绝缘子在调控真核基因时空特异表达的过程中起着至关重要的作用.它的主要功能是增强子阻断和异染色质屏障.已经有竞争、阻断和成环等模型描述其增强子阻断功能;而它的异染色质屏障功能主要是通过影响染色质组蛋白的翻译后修饰来实现.已经确定的绝缘子包括果蝇基因组中的染色质特化结构(specialized chromatin structures, scs)和scs、gypsy、鸡珠蛋白β基因座上游的DNaseⅠ高敏感位点cHS4以及小鼠或人Igf2/H19基因座上的印记控制区(imprinting control region, ICR)和DNA甲基化区域(DNA methylated regions, DMR)元件等.许多转录因子参与绝缘子的基因调控作用,例如脊椎动物中的CCCTC结合因子(CCCTC binding factor,CTCF).利用基因组学和生物信息学等方法,还可以在基因组中发现新的绝缘子元件.     

肝癌细胞HepG2中增强子的识别及生物信息学分析

目的:整合增强子特征识别肝癌细胞HepG2增强子,并对其保守性、GC含量、转录因子调控、靶基因功能等进行分析,以期解析肝癌细胞增强子参与的调控网络。方法:通过整合H3K27ac、H3K4me1和H3K4me3组蛋白修饰及DNaseⅠ高敏位点的Chip-seq数据预测HepG2中的增强子,计算每个增强子的平均Phast Cons分数和GC含量,评估整体增强子的保守性与GC含量,整合ENCODE转录因子结合位点数据寻找转录因子-增强子调控,使用GREAT和DAVID分别对增强子和增强子的靶基因进行GO与KEGG通路功能富集分析。结果:共识别2254个肝细胞癌增强子,1432个增强子靶基因,135个转录因子的9983个增强子结合位点;比较随机位点靶基因,发现增强子显著正调控靶基因的表达;保守性与GC含量分析表明增强子具有显著高的保守性与GC含量,并存在C-T/C-T/C-T-G模式的motif;增强子功能分析显示增强子显著富集于蛋白结合、酶结合、转录因子结合、RNA聚合酶Ⅱ结合等已知增强子功能,增强子GO与KEGG通路功能富集分析表明增强子靶基因显著参与细胞增殖、细胞凋亡、细胞周期调控和细胞迁移等肿瘤相关的生物进程与信号通路。结论:识别的肝细胞癌增强子具有显著高的保守性与GC含量,受多种转录因子调控,对其靶基因起正调控作用并且显著富集于肿瘤相关生物学进程与信号通路中。     

串联反向CTCF位点的系列删除揭示增强子调控HOXD基因簇表达的平衡

三维基因组染色质架构蛋白CTCF(CCCTC-bindingfactor)能够介导增强子与基因启动子的远距离染色质相互作用,也可以结合调控区域的绝缘子发挥增强子绝缘功能,对发育中的基因表达调控具有重要作用。同源框基因家族(Homeoboxgenefamily,Hox)编码一类控制动物发育的关键转录因子,在发育中主要沿胚胎首尾轴(head-to-tail axis)呈时空线性表达。在哺乳动物中,Hox基因分为HoxA、HoxB、HoxC和HoxD四个基因簇,在中枢神经系统、骨骼和四肢发育中发挥重要功能。HoxD基因簇主要调控四肢发育,受位于其两侧调控域内的增强子调节,沿肢体近远轴(proximal-distal axis)呈时空线性表达。在人类基因组中,HOXD基因簇及其两侧的调控区域分布有串联排列的CTCF结合位点(简称CTCF位点),参与9个HOXD基因的表达调控。本研究以HOXD基因簇为模式基因,探究CTCF对发育基因(developmentalgenes)转录调控的影响。利用CRISPRDNA片段编辑技术在人HEK293T细胞中获得一系列的串联反向CTCF位点删除的单细胞克隆株。RNA-seq实验揭示CTCF位点删除后HOXD基因表达下降。定量高分辨率染色体构象捕获实验显示,HOXD与上游增强子簇的远距离染色质相互作用增强,与下游增强子簇的远距离染色质相互作用减弱。综上所述,串联反向的CTCF位点通过其绝缘子功能维持上下游增强子簇对HOXD基因簇表达调控的平衡,为探究动物发育过程中Hox基因表达的精准调控机制提供参考。     

在Yunnanese(Aγδβ)0-地贫3′缺失端点下游鉴别到两个增强子样顺序

利用荧光酶报告基因系统搜索了Yunnanese(Aγδβ)0-地中海贫血缺失3′端点下游11.5 kb区域内的调控顺序.确定缺失3′端点立即下游区1.7 kb片段,在人红白血病细胞K562及鼠红白血病细胞MELGM979中,可使γ-珠蛋白基因启动子驱动的荧光酶基因表达增加3.8～4.0倍,而在HeLa细胞中仅增加1.5倍.位于缺失3′端点约10 kb的一个长1.4 kb片段在K562和MELGM979中,可使γ-基因启动子驱动的荧光酶基因表达增加2.4～2.9倍,而在HeLa细胞中无增加.结果说明这两段顺序均有增强子活性,并且这种活性具有一定的红细胞特异性.进一步证明1.7 kb片段内包含多个转录调节蛋白结合模体的430 bp片段包含了1.7 kb片段的大部分增强子活性.这些结果为缺失导致增强子样顺序并入到接近Gγ-基因,是Yunnanese(Aγδβ)0-地贫缺失突变体中胎儿Gγ-珠蛋白基因,在成人期持续活跃表达原因的假设提供了实验证据.     

Tol2转座子介导斑马鱼rps26基因附近增强子捕获及注解分析

随着人类等生物大规模基因组测序工作的完成,认识和理解基因组上表达调控元件成为后基因组时代的重要研究任务,增强子捕获技术是一种鉴定基因组上增强子元件及其对基因表达调控机制的有效方法。本研究选择Tol2转座子系统介导制备的稳定增强子捕获品系TK4系(头部和躯干特异性GFP表达),利用Splinkerette PCR(sp-PCR)、原位杂交和比较基因组学等技术手段进行所捕获增强子的解析研究。将TK4系的F1代与野生型斑马鱼杂交,收集受精卵,于6 hpf(Hour post fertilization)、24 hpf、48 hpf、3 dpf(Day post fertilization)、4 dpf、5 dpf六个发育阶段通过荧光显微镜检测绿色荧光蛋白报告基因的表达模式;然后通过sp-PCR方法克隆到Tol2转座子插入位点斑马鱼基因组侧翼序列,经比对分析表明插入位点位于基因组23号染色体27749253位置,在rps26基因的intron1中,且报告基因插入方向与基因方向相反。在插入位点100 kb的基因组范围内有7个基因,分别为arf3a、wnt10b、wnt1、rps26、IKZF4、dnajc22和lmbr1l。通过VISTA程序对不同脊椎动物基因组同源序列比对结果显示,在rps26基因下游有2个潜在保守的非编码序列区CNS1(Conserved non-coding sequence)和CNS2,为可能的增强子元件。胚胎原位杂交表明:rps26基因的两个转录本有母源性表达,rps26-201在合子中的表达早于rps26-001,而TK4系斑马鱼的GFP在早期(6 hpf)不表达,后期rps26与GFP的表达模式既存在相似性,也存在差异性,提示两者可能既接受共同的增强子调控,但也存在不同增强子调控,所获得的2个潜在的增强子(CNS1和CNS2)可能对附近的基因(包括rps26)发挥差异的时空表达调控作用。本研究首次成功获得rps26基因附近2个潜在增强子,为深入研究这两个增强子对基因组附近基因的表达调控机制奠定基础,本研究所采用的结合技术手段也为增强子解析提供参考。     

HS5-1增强子eRNA PEARL对原钙粘蛋白α基因簇的表达调控

远端增强子对关键靶基因的表达调控通常可以决定细胞的命运和功能,激活的增强子可以双向转录产生长非编码(longnoncoding)增强子RNA(enhancerRNA,eRNA)调控靶基因表达,课题组前期研究发现增强子eRNA能够通过形成R环(R-loop)来促进增强子与靶基因的染色质远距离互作,引起局部三维基因组TAD(topologically associated domain)的改变。为了进一步探究eRNA在基因转录过程中的生物学功能,本研究选取原钙粘蛋白(protocadherin, Pcdh)基因簇的增强子eRNA PEARL (Pcdh eRNA associated with R-loop formation)作为研究对象,通过CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) DNA片段编辑技术、逆转录PCR、荧光定量PCR等遗传学和分子生物学实验,揭示了增强子eRNAPEARL对Pcdhα基因簇表达的促进作用。首先,本研究通过分析不同组织中HS5-1增强子eRNA发现其表达具有组织特异性...     

β地中海贫血基因治疗的研究进展

基因治疗是根治β地中海贫血研究的重点方向。位点控制（LCR）的发现以及新型基因转移系统不断开发研制,结导入正常β珠蛋白基因以实现基因治疗的设想带来了希望但同时也产生了新课题;与此同时,分别从DNA和RNA水平对受损的β珠蛋白基因进行修正治疗的研究也在开展当中。随着珠蛋白基因表达调控机制研究不断深入,同时开发出安全高效的新型病毒载体,有可能最终实现β地中海贫血基因治疗。     

在Yunnanese(Aγδβ)0-地贫3′缺失端点下游鉴别到两个增强子样顺序

利用荧光酶报告基因系统搜索了Yunnanese(Aγδβ)⁰-地中海贫血缺失3′端点下游11.5 kb区域内的调控顺序.确定缺失3′端点立即下游区1.7 kb片段,在人红白血病细胞K562及鼠红白血病细胞MELGM979中,可使γ-珠蛋白基因启动子驱动的荧光酶基因表达增加3.8～4.0倍,而在HeLa细胞中仅增加1.5倍.位于缺失3′端点约10 kb的一个长1.4 kb片段在K562和MELGM979中,可使γ-基因启动子驱动的荧光酶基因表达增加2.4～2.9倍,而在HeLa细胞中无增加.结果说明这两段顺序均有增强子活性,并且这种活性具有一定的红细胞特异性.进一步证明1.7 kb片段内包含多个转录调节蛋白结合模体的430 bp片段包含了1.7 kb片段的大部分增强子活性.这些结果为缺失导致增强子样顺序并入到接近Gγ-基因,是Yunnanese(Aγδβ)⁰-地贫缺失突变体中胎儿Gγ-珠蛋白基因,在成人期持续活跃表达原因的假设提供了实验证据.     

Joining the loops: beta-globin gene regulation

The mammalian beta-globin locus is a multigene locus containing several globin genes and a number of regulatory elements. During development, the expression of the genes changes in a process called "switching." The most important regulatory element in the locus is the locus control region (LCR) upstream of the globin genes that is essential for high-level expression of these genes. The discovery of the LCR initially raised the question how this element could exert its effect on the downstream globin genes. The question was solved by the finding that the LCR and activate globin genes are in physical contact, forming a chromatin structure named the active chromatin hub (ACH). Here we discuss the significance of ACH formation, provide an overview of the proteins implicated in chromatin looping at the beta-globin locus, and evaluate the relationship between nuclear organization and beta-globin gene expression.     

Human gamma- to beta-globin gene switching using a mini construct in transgenic mice.

The developmental regulation of the human globin genes involves a key switch from fetal (gamma-) to adult (beta-) globin gene expression. It is possible to study the mechanism of this switch by expressing the human globin genes in transgenic mice. Previous work has shown that high-level expression of the human globin genes in transgenic mice requires the presence of the locus control region (LCR) upstream of the genes in the beta-globin locus. High-level, correct developmental regulation of beta-globin gene expression in transgenic mice has previously been accomplished only in 30- to 40-kb genomic constructs containing the LCR and multiple genes from the locus. This suggests that either competition for LCR sequences by other globin genes or the presence of intergenic sequences from the beta-globin locus is required to silence the beta-globin gene in embryonic life. The results presented here clearly show that the presence of the gamma-globin gene (3.3 kb) alone is sufficient to down-regulate the beta-globin gene in embryonic transgenic mice made with an LCR-gamma-beta-globin mini construct. The results also show that the gamma-globin gene is down-regulated in adult mice from most transgenic lines made with LCR-gamma-globin constructs not including the beta-globin gene, i.e., that the gamma-globin gene can be autonomously regulated. Evidence presented here suggests that a region 3' of the gamma-globin gene may be important for down-regulation in the adult. The 5'HS2 gamma en beta construct described is a suitable model for further study of the mechanism of human gamma- to beta-globin gene switching in transgenic mice.     

Cohesin mediates chromatin interactions that regulate mammalian β-globin expression

The β-globin locus undergoes dynamic chromatin interaction changes in differentiating erythroid cells that are thought to be important for proper globin gene expression. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The CCCTC-binding factor, CTCF, binds to the insulator elements at the 5' and 3' boundaries of the locus, but these sites were shown to be dispensable for globin gene activation. We found that, upon induction of differentiation, cohesin and the cohesin loading factor Nipped-B-like (Nipbl) bind to the locus control region (LCR) at the CTCF insulator and distal enhancer regions as well as at the specific target globin gene that undergoes activation upon differentiation. Nipbl-dependent cohesin binding is critical for long-range chromatin interactions, both between the CTCF insulator elements and between the LCR distal enhancer and the target gene. We show that the latter interaction is important for globin gene expression in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, the results indicate that such cohesin-mediated chromatin interactions associated with gene regulation are sensitive to the partial reduction of Nipbl caused by heterozygous mutation. This provides the first direct evidence that Nipbl haploinsufficiency affects cohesin-mediated chromatin interactions and gene expression. Our results reveal that dynamic Nipbl/cohesin binding is critical for developmental chromatin organization and the gene activation function of the LCR in mammalian cells.     

The 5'HS4 core element of the human beta-globin locus control region is required for high-level globin gene expression in definitive but not in primitive erythropoiesis.

To assess the contribution of DNase I-hypersensitive site 4 (HS4) of the beta-globin locus control region (LCR) to overall LCR function we deleted a 280 bp fragment encompassing the core element of 5'HS4 from a 248 kb beta-globin locus yeast artificial chromosome (beta-YAC) and analyzed globin gene expression during development in beta-YAC transgenic mice. Four transgenic lines were established; each contained at least one intact copy of the beta-globin locus. The deletion of the 5'HS4 core element had no effect on globin gene expression during embryonic erythropoiesis. In contrast, deletion of the 5'HS4 core resulted in a significant decrease of gamma and beta-globin gene expression during definitive erythropoiesis in the fetal liver and a decrease of beta-globin gene expression in adult blood. We conclude that the core element of 5'HS4 is required for globin gene expression only in definitive erythropoiesis. Absence of the core element of HS4 may limit the ability of the LCR to provide an open chromatin domain and/or enhance gamma and beta-globin gene expression in the adult erythroid cells.