The purpose of this study was to identify putative downstream targets of the transcription factor ZIC2 in the mouse embryo. The results indicate loss of NODAL pathway expression, consistent with the observed phenotype of right isomerism in heart, lungs and viscera.
A Requirement for Zic2 in the Regulation of Nodal Expression Underlies the Establishment of Left-Sided Identity.
Specimen part
View SamplesDespite decades of interest, the mechanisms that control Hox gene expression are not yet fully understood. It was recently proposed that Hotair, a lncRNA transcribed from the HoxC cluster, regulates HoxD gene expression via Polycomb targeting and thus is important for correct skeletal development. However, genetic manipulations of the locus led to conflicting results regarding the roles of Hotair. Here, we analyze the molecular and phenotypic consequences of deleting the Hotair locus in vivo. In contradiction with previous findings, we show that deleting Hotair has no detectable effect on HoxD gene expression in vivo. We could not observe any morphological alteration in mice lacking the Hotair locus. However, we find a significant impact of deleting Hotair on the expression of neighboring genes Hoxc11 and Hoxc12. Our results do not support an RNA-dependent role for Hotair in vivo, but argue in favor of a DNA-dependent effect of Hotair deletion on the transcriptional landscape in cis. Overall design: We micro-dissected wild type and Del(Hotair)-/- E12.5 embryos into 6 segments: forelimbs (FL), hindlimbs (HL), genital tubercle (GT), trunk section corresponding to the lumbar/sacral region (T1); trunk section corresponding to the sacral/caudal region (T2) and trunk section corresponding to the caudal region (T3). We generated strand-specific RNA-seq data for each segment, in two biological replicates and we performed differential expression analyses for each tissue. Furthermore, we analyzed the impact of deleting the Hotair locus on the local transcriptional landscape, in the HoxC cluster.
Hotair Is Dispensible for Mouse Development.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesIn this work we have analyzed the transcriptomic profiles of E9 mouse embryos. We show that Hoxd1 and Haglr transcripts are absent after targeted deletion of the CpG: 114 island. Overall design: RNA-seq analysis of trunk from the anterior limit of the forelimb bud to the tailbud, aiming to exclude all extra-embryonic, head, cervical and heart tissues. Individuals 443 (wt) and 445 (Del(CpG114) homozygous), were siblings from the same dam, while biological replicates 456 (wt) and 455 (Del(CpG114) homozygous) were siblings from another dam.
Control of growth and gut maturation by <i>HoxD</i> genes and the associated lncRNA <i>Haglr</i>.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesHox genes are required during the morphogenesis of both vertebrate digits and external genitals.We investigated whether transcription in such distinct contexts involves a shared enhancer-containing landscape. We show that the same regulatory topology is used, yet with some tissue-specific enhancer-promoter interactions, suggesting the hijacking of a regulatory backbone from one context to the other. In addition, comparable organizations are observed at both HoxA and HoxD clusters, which separated through genome duplication in an ancestral invertebrate animal.We propose that this convergent regulatory evolution was triggered by the pre-existence of some chromatin architecture, thus facilitating the subsequent recruitment of the appropriate transcription factors. Such regulatory topologies may have both favored and constrained the evolution of pleiotropic developmental loci in vertebrates. Overall design: RNA-seq from mouse E12.5 digits cells and mouse E15.5 genital tubercle cells.
Convergent evolution of complex regulatory landscapes and pleiotropy at Hox loci.
No sample metadata fields
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Integrated transcriptomic and epigenomic analysis of primary human lung epithelial cell differentiation.
Sex, Specimen part, Time
View SamplesAnalysis of gene expression during differentiation of alveolar epithelial type 2 (AT2) cells into AT1 cells. Timepoints taken at Day 0 (AT2 cell), Days 2, 4, and 6 in culture (differentiating) and Day 8 in culture (AT1-like cells).
Integrated transcriptomic and epigenomic analysis of primary human lung epithelial cell differentiation.
Sex, Specimen part, Time
View SamplesThe spatial and temporal control of Hox gene transcription is essential for patterning the vertebrate body axis. Although this process involves changes in histone posttranslational modifications, the existence of particular three-dimensional (3D) architectures remained to be assessed in vivo. Using high-resolution chromatin conformation capture methodology, we examined the spatial configuration of Hox clusters in embryonic mouse tissues where different Hox genes are active. When the cluster is transcriptionally inactive, Hox genes associate into a single 3D structure delimited from flanking regions. Once transcription starts, Hox clusters switch to a bimodal 3D organization where newly activated genes progressively cluster into a transcriptionally active compartment. This transition in spatial configurations coincides with the dynamics of chromatin marks, which label the progression of the gene clusters from a negative to a positive transcription status. This spatial compartmentalization may be key to process the collinear activation of these compact gene clusters.
The dynamic architecture of Hox gene clusters.
Specimen part
View SamplesHox genes are required for the development of the intestinal caecum, a major organ of species eating plants. We have analysed the transcriptional regulation of Hoxd genes in caecal buds and show that they are controlled by a series of enhancers located in a gene desert telomeric to the HoxD cluster. The start site of two neighboring and opposite long non-coding RNAs, Hotdog and Twin of Hotdog, specifically transcribed in the caecum, contacts the expressed Hoxd genes in the framework of a topological domain, a large domain of interactions, which ensures a robust transcription of these genes during caecum budding. We show that hedgehogs have kept this regulatory potential despite the absence of caecum, suggesting that these enhancers are used in other developmental situations. In this context, we discuss some striking similarities between the caecum and the limb buds, suggesting the implementation of a common budding tool-kit. Overall design: Transcriptional activity at the HoxD locus in the murine developing gut at E13, Differential gene expression analysis along the murine developing gut
Multiple enhancers regulate Hoxd genes and the Hotdog LncRNA during cecum budding.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesHox genes are required for the development of the intestinal caecum, a major organ of species eating plants. We have analysed the transcriptional regulation of Hoxd genes in caecal buds and show that they are controlled by a series of enhancers located in a gene desert telomeric to the HoxD cluster. The start site of two neighboring and opposite long non-coding RNAs, Hotdog and Twin of Hotdog, specifically transcribed in the caecum, contacts the expressed Hoxd genes in the framework of a topological domain, a large domain of interactions, which ensures a robust transcription of these genes during caecum budding. We show that hedgehogs have kept this regulatory potential despite the absence of caecum, suggesting that these enhancers are used in other developmental situations. In this context, we discuss some striking similarities between the caecum and the limb buds, suggesting the implementation of a common budding tool-kit. Transcriptional activity at the HoxD locus in developing caeca at E13.5 Overall design: Transcriptional activity at the HoxD locus in developing caeca at E13.5
Multiple enhancers regulate Hoxd genes and the Hotdog LncRNA during cecum budding.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesAnalysis of gene expression in the distal forelimbs Overall design: RNA-Seq polyA on transcripts extracted from the dissection of three pairs of embryonnic forelimbs at E12.5
Nanoscale spatial organization of the HoxD gene cluster in distinct transcriptional states.
Cell line, Subject
View Samples