Real-time Analysis of Transcription Factor Binding, Transcription, Translation, and Turnover to Display Global Events During Cellular Activation

Upon activation, cells rapidly change their functional programs and, thereby, their gene expression profile. Massive changes in gene expression occur, for ...

Helmholtz Zentrum München

Roche Innovation Center Penzberg

The molecular mechanism by which roquin controls the expression of inducible costimulator (ICOS) to prevent autoimmunity remains unsolved. Here we show that in helper T cells, roquin localized to processing (P) bodies and downregulated ICOS expression. The repression was dependent on the RNA helicase Rck, and roquin interacted with Rck and the enhancer of decapping Edc4, which act together in mRNA decapping. Sequences in roquin that confer P-body localization were essential for roquin-mediated ICOS repression. However, this process did not require microRNAs or the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). Instead, roquin bound ICOS mRNA directly, showing an intrinsic preference for a previously unrecognized sequence in the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR). Our results support a model in which roquin controls ICOS expression through binding to the 3' UTR of ICOS mRNA and by interacting with proteins that confer post-transcriptional repression.

Roquin binds inducible costimulator mRNA and effectors of mRNA decay to induce microRNA-independent post-transcriptional repression.

Argonaute (Ago) proteins interact with small regulatory RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and facilitate gene-silencing processes. miRNAs guide Ago proteins to specific mRNAs leading to translational silencing or mRNA decay. In order to understand the mechanistic details of miRNA function, it is important to characterize Ago protein interactors. Although several proteomic studies have been performed, it is not clear how the Ago interactome changes on miRNA or mRNA binding. Here, we report the analysis of Ago protein interactions in miRNA-containing and miRNA-depleted cells. Using stable isotope labeling in cell culture in conjunction with Dicer knock out mouse embryonic fibroblasts, we identify proteins that interact with Ago2 in the presence or the absence of Dicer. In contrast to our current view, we find that Ago-mRNA interactions can also take place in the absence of miRNAs. Our proteomics approach provides a rich resource for further functional studies on the cellular roles of Ago proteins.

Dicer-dependent and -independent Argonaute2 protein interaction networks in mammalian cells.

Adaptive thermogenesis is the process of heat generation in response to cold stimulation. It is under the control of the sympathetic nervous system, whose chief effector is the catecholamine norepinephrine (NE). NE enhances thermogenesis through β3-adrenergic receptors to activate brown adipose tissue and by 'browning' white adipose tissue. Recent studies have reported that alternative activation of macrophages in response to interleukin (IL)-4 stimulation induces the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a key enzyme in the catecholamine synthesis pathway, and that this activation provides an alternative source of locally produced catecholamines during the thermogenic process. Here we report that the deletion of Th in hematopoietic cells of adult mice neither alters energy expenditure upon cold exposure nor reduces browning in inguinal adipose tissue. Bone marrow-derived macrophages did not release NE in response to stimulation with IL-4, and conditioned media from IL-4-stimulated macrophages failed to induce expression of thermogenic genes, such as uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1), in adipocytes cultured with the conditioned media. Furthermore, chronic treatment with IL-4 failed to increase energy expenditure in wild-type, Ucp1and interleukin-4 receptor-α double-negative (Il4ra) mice. In agreement with these findings, adipose-tissue-resident macrophages did not express TH. Thus, we conclude that alternatively activated macrophages do not synthesize relevant amounts of catecholamines, and hence, are not likely to have a direct role in adipocyte metabolism or adaptive thermogenesis.

Alternatively activated macrophages do not synthesize catecholamines or contribute to adipose tissue adaptive thermogenesis.

Activation of immune cells results in rapid functional changes, but how such fast changes are accomplished remains enigmatic. By combining time courses of 4sU-seq, RNA-seq, ribosome profiling (RP), and RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) ChIP-seq during T cell activation, we illustrate genome-wide temporal dynamics for ∼10,000 genes. This approach reveals not only immediate-early and posttranscriptionally regulated genes but also coupled changes in transcription and translation for >90% of genes. Recruitment, rather than release of paused RNA Pol II, primarily mediates transcriptional changes. This coincides with a genome-wide temporary slowdown in cotranscriptional splicing, even for polyadenylated mRNAs that are localized at the chromatin. Subsequent splicing optimization correlates with increasing Ser-2 phosphorylation of the RNA Pol II carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) and activation of the positive transcription elongation factor (pTEFb). Thus, rapid de novo recruitment of RNA Pol II dictates the course of events during T cell activation, particularly transcription, splicing, and consequently translation.

Rapid Genome-wide Recruitment of RNA Polymerase II Drives Transcription, Splicing, and Translation Events during T Cell Responses.

Bcl-3 is an atypical NF-κB family member that regulates NF-κB-dependent gene expression in effector T cells, but a cell-intrinsic function in regulatory T (Treg) cells and colitis is not clear. Here we show that Bcl-3 expression levels in colonic T cells correlate with disease manifestation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Mice with T-cell-specific overexpression of Bcl-3 develop severe colitis that can be attributed to defective Treg cell development and function, leading to the infiltration of immune cells such as pro-inflammatory γδT cells, but not αβ T cells. In Treg cells, Bcl-3 associates directly with NF-κB p50 to inhibit DNA binding of p50/p50 and p50/p65 NF-κB dimers, thereby regulating NF-κB-mediated gene expression. This study thus reveals intrinsic functions of Bcl-3 in Treg cells, identifies Bcl-3 as a potential prognostic marker for colitis and illustrates the mechanism by which Bcl-3 regulates NF-κB activity in Tregs to prevent colitis.

Elevated levels of Bcl-3 inhibits Treg development and function resulting in spontaneous colitis.

Differential splicing of mRNAs not only enables regulation of gene expression levels, but also ensures a high degree of gene-product diversity. The extent to which splicing of mRNAs is utilized as a mechanism in immune cells has become evident within the last few years. Still, only a few of these mechanisms have been well studied. In this review, we discuss some of the best-understood mechanisms, for instance the differential splicing of CD45 in T cells, as well as immunoglobulin genes in B cells. Beyond that we provide general mechanistic insights on how, when and where this process takes place and discuss the current knowledge regarding these topics in immune cells. We also highlight some of the reported links to immune-related diseases, genome-wide sequencing studies that revealed thousands of differentially spliced transcripts, as well as splicing studies on immune cells that remain mechanistically not fully understood. We thereby display potential emerging topics for future studies centered on splicing mechanisms in immune cells.

Splicing in immune cells-mechanistic insights and emerging topics.

Diverse gene regulatory mechanisms impact on immune homeostasis, and a new model now emerges as fundamental in light of recent genome-wide studies. In this picture, transcriptional networks drive functional changes during immune activation, whereas autoregulatory feedback loops of post-transcriptional programs ensure the original cell lineage identity and subsequent immune resolution.

Elke Glasmacher

Institute for Diabetes and Obesity (IDO),
German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD),
Institute for Diabetes and Obesity (IDO), German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)

Helmholtz Zentrum München

Real-time Analysis of Transcription Factor Binding, Transcription, Translation, and Turnover to Display Global Events During Cellular Activation

Elke Glasmacher

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Helmholtz Zentrum München

Real-time Analysis of Transcription Factor Binding, Transcription, Translation, and Turnover to Display Global Events During Cellular Activation

Institute for Diabetes and Obesity (IDO),
German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD),
Institute for Diabetes and Obesity (IDO), German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)