Cellular differentiation from pluripotency is dependent on global shifts in genomic expression patterns and preservation of inherited transcriptional states throughout development of the mouse embryo. This transcriptional memory can be translated directly through promoter DNA methylation or more indirectly through chromatin structure. These epigenetic changes are dynamic, extensively utilized mechanisms of gene and genome regulation. X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) in the preimplantation mouse embryo is a model for epigenetic studies. The epiblast precursor cells, unlike the primitive endoderm or trophectoderm, undergo imprinted XCI, then reactivation, and finally random XCI during implantation. This cycle of inactivation, termed reprogramming, was hypothesized to occur because of loss of Xist non-coding RNA coating. However, it is now known that Xist expression is not required for initiation of imprinted XCI in the preimplantation mouse embryo, thereby leaving open the question as to whether epiblast precursor cells actually ever undergo imprinted XCI. Experiments are proposed to answer this question as well as determine if reactivation of the paternal-X is observed - does it occur via a Xist-dependent mechanism. Although certain genetic requirements for XCI have been identified, much remains unknown about how a single X chromosome is targeted and then maintained in a silenced state. A large-scale analysis of gene silencing and chromatin structure over the X chromosome using trophoblast stem (TS) cell lines that exhibit imprinted XCI will be undertaken. This global analysis will molecularly define XCI at an unprecedented level. A high-throughput method to identify genomic regions of the inactive X-chromosome that physically interact is also being developed, allowing correlation of gene activity and local chromatin modifications with 3-dimensional chromosome structure.

Public Health Relevance

Many human diseases are the result of incorrect interpretation of genome sequence due to abnormalities in the structure of chromatin that packages DNA in the nucleus (epigenetics). Studies on chromatin remodeling proteins and non-coding RNAs have demonstrated their ability to disrupt histone-DNA contacts and reposition nucleosomes. Consequently, these complexes are critical in regulating global gene expression. Genetic experiments that elucidate the biological specificity of these proteins and non- coding RNAs, along with the abnormal outcomes associated with disease states when inappropriately expressed, ultimately may lead to targeted epigenetic disease treatments.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM101974-27
Application #
8823799
Study Section
Development - 2 Study Section (DEV2)
Program Officer
Carter, Anthony D
Project Start
1989-12-01
Project End
2016-03-31
Budget Start
2015-04-01
Budget End
2016-03-31
Support Year
27
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$361,103
Indirect Cost
$116,103
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Smith, Keriayn N; Starmer, Joshua; Magnuson, Terry (2018) Interactome determination of a Long Noncoding RNA implicated in Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal. Sci Rep 8:17568
Wijayatunge, Ranjula; Liu, Fang; Shpargel, Karl B et al. (2018) The histone demethylase Kdm6b regulates a mature gene expression program in differentiating cerebellar granule neurons. Mol Cell Neurosci 87:4-17
Smith, Keriayn N; Starmer, Joshua; Miller, Sarah C et al. (2017) Long Noncoding RNA Moderates MicroRNA Activity to Maintain Self-Renewal in Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports 9:108-121
Mu, Weipeng; Starmer, Joshua; Shibata, Yoichiro et al. (2017) EZH1 in germ cells safeguards the function of PRC2 during spermatogenesis. Dev Biol 424:198-207
Shpargel, Karl B; Starmer, Joshua; Wang, Chaochen et al. (2017) UTX-guided neural crest function underlies craniofacial features of Kabuki syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:E9046-E9055
Serber, Daniel W; Runge, John S; Menon, Debashish U et al. (2016) The Mouse INO80 Chromatin-Remodeling Complex Is an Essential Meiotic Factor for Spermatogenesis. Biol Reprod 94:8
Starmer, Joshua; Magnuson, Terry (2016) Detecting broad domains and narrow peaks in ChIP-seq data with hiddenDomains. BMC Bioinformatics 17:144
Yang, Yang; Poe, Jonathan C; Yang, Lisong et al. (2016) Rad18 confers hematopoietic progenitor cell DNA damage tolerance independently of the Fanconi Anemia pathway in vivo. Nucleic Acids Res 44:4174-88
Cook, Kevin D; Shpargel, Karl B; Starmer, Joshua et al. (2015) T Follicular Helper Cell-Dependent Clearance of a Persistent Virus Infection Requires T Cell Expression of the Histone Demethylase UTX. Immunity 43:703-14
Calabrese, J Mauro; Starmer, Joshua; Schertzer, Megan D et al. (2015) A survey of imprinted gene expression in mouse trophoblast stem cells. G3 (Bethesda) 5:751-9

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