Agrobacterium VirE2 Proteins Can Form a Complex with T Strands in the Plant Cytoplasm

Wild-type VirE2 and VirD2 proteins from Agrobacterium tumefaciens contain nuclear targeting sequences (NLS) that are likely involved in directing transferred T strands to the plant nucleus. An A. tumefaciens virE2 virD2ΔNLS double mutant was able to form tumors on VirE2-producing transgenic tobacco but not on wild-type tobacco. Because this mutant bacterial strain contains no known T-strand nuclear targeting signal, the data indicate that wild-type VirE2 proteins produced by the plant can interact with the T strands in the plant cytoplasm and direct them to the nucleus.     

Up-regulation of the embryonic self-renewal network through reversible polyploidy in irradiated p53-mutant tumour cells

We have previously documented that transient polyploidy is a potential cell survival strategy underlying the clonogenic re-growth of tumour cells after genotoxic treatment. In an attempt to better define this mechanism, we recently documented the key role of meiotic genes in regulating the DNA repair and return of the endopolyploid tumour cells (ETC) to diploidy through reduction divisions after irradiation. Here, we studied the role of the pluripotency and self-renewal stem cell genes NANOG, OCT4 and SOX2 in this polyploidy-dependent survival mechanism. In irradiation-resistant p53-mutated lymphoma cell-lines (Namalwa and WI-L2-NS) but not sensitive p53 wild-type counterparts (TK6), low background expression of OCT4 and NANOG was up-regulated by ionising radiation with protein accumulation evident in ETC as detected by OCT4/DNA flow cytometry and immunofluorescence (IF). IF analysis also showed that the ETC generate PML bodies that appear to concentrate OCT4, NANOG and SOX2 proteins, which extend into complex nuclear networks. These polyploid tumour cells resist apoptosis, overcome cellular senescence and undergo bi- and multi-polar divisions transmitting the up-regulated OCT4, NANOG and SOX2 self-renewal cassette to their descendents. Altogether, our observations indicate that irradiation-induced ETC up-regulate key components of germ-line cells, which potentially facilitate survival and propagation of the tumour cell population.     

The appearance of truncated cyclin A2 correlates with differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells

The presence of a form of cyclin A2 with an N-terminal truncation has recently been reported in various murine cell lines and tissues. The truncated cyclin A2 binds to and activates the cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2). However, CDK2 bound by the truncated cyclin A2 is located in the cytoplasm in contrast to CDK2 bound to full-length cyclin A2, which is in the nucleus. Here, we show that proliferating mouse embryonic stem cells (ES cells) contain very little truncated cyclin A2 but as the cells are induced to differentiate the amount of truncated cyclin A2 increases. The expression pattern of truncated cyclin A2 was the same in p27(Kip1) -/- differentiating ES cells as in the differentiating wild-type cells. We conclude that p27(Kip1) is not necessary for the proteolytic cleavage that gives rise to the truncated form of cyclin A2 in differentiating ES cells and that this post-translational modification is not a function of the cell density but is correlated with differentiation.     

Cytoplasmic retention of the sex-determining factor SOX9 via the microtubule network

SOX9 is a sex-determining factor which induces Sertoli cell differentiation and subsequent testis cord formation. It is expressed both in male and female undifferentiated gonads in the cytoplasmic compartment of pre-Sertoli cells. At the time of sexual differentiation, SOX9 moves into the nucleus of male pre-Sertoli cells whereas in female, it remains in the cytoplasm and then its expression decreases. To study the cytoplasmic localization of SOX9, we have analyzed its interaction with the cytoskeleton components. By treatment of NT2/D1 and transfected NIH3T3 cell lines and embryonic gonads with nocodazole, a drug depolymerizing the microtubules, we show that cytoplasmic retention of SOX9 requires the integrity of the microtubule network. Using biochemical experiments, we demonstrated that SOX9 is able to interact with microtubules in vitro and in vivo. On the other hand, we observed a complete male-specific reorganization of the microtubule network in epithelial Sertoli cells of the male embryonic gonad at the time of sexual differentiation and testis cord formation.     

SOX2 and OCT4 mRNA-Expressing Cells,Detected by Molecular Beacons,Localize to the Center of Neurospheres during Differentiation

Neurospheres are used as in vitro assay to measure the properties of neural stem cells. To investigate the molecular and phenotypic heterogeneity of neurospheres, molecular beacons (MBs) targeted against the stem cell markers OCT4 and SOX2 were designed, and synthesized with a 2’-O-methyl RNA backbone. OCT4 and SOX2 MBs were transfected into human embryonic mesencephalon derived cells, which spontaneously form neurospheres when grown on poly-L-ornitine/fibronectin matrix and medium complemented with bFGF. OCT4 and SOX2 gene expression were tracked in individual cell using the MBs. Quantitative image analysis every day for seven days showed that the OCT4 and SOX2 mRNA-expressing cells clustered in the centre of the neurospheres cultured in differentiation medium. By contrast, cells at the periphery of the differentiating spheres developed neurite outgrowths and expressed the tyrosine hydroxylase protein, indicating terminal differentiation. Neurospheres cultured in growth medium contained OCT4 and SOX2-positive cells distributed throughout the entire sphere, and no differentiating neurones. Gene expression of SOX2 and OCT4 mRNA detected by MBs correlated well with gene and protein expression measured by qRT-PCR and immunostaining, respectively. These experimental data support the theoretical model that stem cells cluster in the centre of neurospheres, and demonstrate the use of MBs for the spatial localization of specific gene-expressing cells within heterogeneous cell populations.     

Generation of virus-free induced pluripotent stem cell clones on a synthetic matrix via a single cell subcloning in the naïve state

CD34+ cord blood cells can be reprogrammed effectively on dishes coated with a synthetic RGD motif polymer (PronectinF?) using a temperature sensitive Sendai virus vector (SeV TS7) carrying reprogramming factors OCT3/4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC. Dish-shaped human ES cell-like colonies emerged in serum-free primate ES cell medium (supplemented with bFGF) in 20% O2 culture conditions. The copy numbers of SeV TS7 vectors in the cytoplasm were drastically reduced by a temperature shift at 38°C for three days. Then, single cells from colonies were seeded on PronectinF?-coated 96-well plates and cultured under na?ve culture conditions (N2B27-based medium supplemented with LIF, forskolin, a MAPK inhibitor, and a GSK inhibitor in 5% O2) for cloning purpose. Dome-shaped mouse ES cell-like colonies from single cells emerged on PronectinF?-coated dishes. These cells were collected and cultured again in primate ES cell medium supplemented with bFGF in 20% O2 and maintained on PronectinF?-coated dishes. Cells were assessed for reprogramming, including the absence of residual SeV and their potential for three germ layer differentiation. Generation of virus-free induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) clones from single cells under feeder-free conditions will solve some of the safety concerns related to use of xeno- or allogeneic-material in culture, and contribute to the characterization and the standardization of iPS cells intended for use in a clinical setting.     

Epigenetic regulation of gene expression in porcine epiblast, hypoblast, trophectoderm and epiblast-derived neural progenitor cells

After fertilization, lineage specification is governed by a complicated molecular network in which permissiveness and repression of expression of pluripotency- and differentiation-associated genes are regulated by epigenetic modifications. DNA methylation operates as a very stable repressive mark in this process. In this study, we investigated the relationship between DNA methylation and expression of pluripotency-associated genes (OCT4, NANOG and SOX2), a trophectoderm (TE)-specific gene (ELF5), and genes associated with neural differentiation (SOX2 and VIMENTIN) in porcine Day 10 (E10) epiblast, hypoblast, and TE as well as in epiblast-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs). We found that OCT4, NANOG, and SOX2 were highly expressed in the epiblast and hypoblast, while VIMENTIN was only highly expressed in the epiblast. Moreover, low expression of OCT4, NANOG, SOX2 and VIMENTIN was noted in the TE. Most CpG sites of OCT4, NANOG, SOX2 and VIMENTIN displayed low methylation levels in the epiblast and hypoblast and, strikingly, also in the TE. Hence, the expression patterns of these genes were not directly related to levels of DNA methylation in the TE in contrast to the situation in the mouse. In contrast, ELF5 was exclusively expressed in the TE and was correspondingly hypomethylated in this tissue. In NPCs, we observed down-regulation of NANOG and OCT4 expression, which correlated with hypermethylation of their promoters, whereas VIMENTIN displayed up-regulation in accordance with hypomethylation of its promoter. In conclusion, DNA methylation is an inconsistently operating epigenetic mechanism in porcine E10 blastocysts, whereas in porcine epiblast-derived NPCs, expression of pluripotency-associated and differentiation genes appear to be regulated by this modification.