Background:Dysregulation of enhancer transcription occurs in multiple cancers.Enhancer RNAs(eRNAs)are transcribed products from enhancers that play critical roles in transcriptional control.Characterizing the genetic ...Background:Dysregulation of enhancer transcription occurs in multiple cancers.Enhancer RNAs(eRNAs)are transcribed products from enhancers that play critical roles in transcriptional control.Characterizing the genetic basis of eRNA expression may elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying cancers.Methods:Initially,a comprehensive analysis of eRNA quantitative trait loci(eRNAQTLs)was performed in The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA),and functional features were characterized using multi-omics data.To establish the first eRNAQTL profiles for colorectal cancer(CRC)in China,epigenomic data were used to define active enhancers,which were subsequently integrated with transcription and genotyping data from 154 paired CRC samples.Finally,largescale case-control studies(34,585 cases and 69,544 controls)were conducted along with multipronged experiments to investigate the potential mechanisms by which candidate eRNAQTLs affect CRC risk.Results:A total of 300,112 eRNAQTLs were identified across 30 different cancer types,which exert their influence on eRNA transcription by modulating chromatin status,binding affinity to transcription factors and RNA-binding proteins.These eRNAQTLs were found to be significantly enriched in cancer risk loci,explaining a substantial proportion of cancer heritability.Additionally,tumor-specific eRNAQTLs exhibited high responsiveness to the development of cancer.Moreover,the target genes of these eRNAs were associated with dysregulated signaling pathways and immune cell infiltration in cancer,highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets.Furthermore,multiple ethnic population studies have confirmed that an eRNAQTL rs3094296-T variant decreases the risk of CRC in populations from China(OR=0.91,95%CI 0.88–0.95,P=2.92×10^(-7))and Europe(OR=0.92,95%CI 0.88–0.95,P=4.61×10^(-6)).Mechanistically,rs3094296 had an allele-specific effect on the transcription of the eRNA ENSR00000155786,which functioned as a transcriptional activator promoting the expression of its target gene SENP7.These two genes synergistically suppressed tumor cell proliferation.Our curated list of variants,genes,and drugs has been made available in CancereRNAQTL(http://canernaqtl.whu.edu.cn/#/)to serve as an informative resource for advancing this field.Conclusion:Our findings underscore the significance of eRNAQTLs in transcriptional regulation and disease heritability,pinpointing the potential of eRNA-based therapeutic strategies in cancers.展开更多
In recent years,environmental DNA(e DNA)has garnered significant attention as a novel tool in biodiversity monitoring,recognized for its efficiency,convenience,and non-invasiveness.Despite its extensive application in...In recent years,environmental DNA(e DNA)has garnered significant attention as a novel tool in biodiversity monitoring,recognized for its efficiency,convenience,and non-invasiveness.Despite its extensive application in various ecological studies,such as conservation,invasion biology,biomonitoring and biodiversity survey assessment,its use in avian monitoring remains in its infancy.This review critically examines the potential and limitations of e DNA technology for avian monitoring,focusing on current advancements and ongoing challenges in this emerging field.Water and air are the primary environmental media for collecting avian e DNA,although other sources like spider webs and plant flowers have been explored as well.Notably,airborne e DNA has been reported to capture the highest diversity of avian species.While avian e DNA technology has shown promise for monitoring rare and endangered species and assessing avian diversity,significant challenges remain,particularly in sampling strategies,DNA extraction methodology,primer selection,and ascertain abundance.Additionally,we discussed the factors influencing the production,transportation,and degradation of avian e DNA in the environment.Finally,we suggested future research directions,including optimizing sampling strategies,developing avian-specific universal primers,expanding avian DNA barcode databases,enhancing e DNA detectability,and integrating environmental RNA(e RNA)and e DNA approaches.展开更多
Enhancers modulate gene expression by interacting with promoters.Models of enhancer-promoter interactions(EPIs)in the literature involve the activity of many components,including transcription factors and nucleic acid...Enhancers modulate gene expression by interacting with promoters.Models of enhancer-promoter interactions(EPIs)in the literature involve the activity of many components,including transcription factors and nucleic acid.However,the role that sequence similarity plays in EPIs remains largely unexplored.Herein,we report that Alu-derived sequences dominate sequence similarity between enhancers and promoters.After rejecting alternative DNA:DNA and DNA:RNA triplex models,we propose that enhancer-associated RNAs(eRNAs)may directly contact their targeted promoters by forming trans-acting R-loops at those Alu sequences.We show how the characteristic distribution of functional genomic data,such as RNA-DNA proximate ligation reads,binding of transcription factors,and RNA-binding proteins,all align with the Alu sequences of EPIs.We also show that these aligned Alu sequences may be subject to the constraint of coevolution,further implying the functional significance of these R-loop hybrids.Finally,our results imply that eRNA and Alu elements associate in a manner previously unrecognized in EPIs and the evolution of gene regulation networks in mammals.展开更多
Currently,enhancers have key transcriptional regulatory roles in muscle development.Skeletal muscle formation involves various molecules,and in animals,enhancers are one of the main types of transcriptional regulatory...Currently,enhancers have key transcriptional regulatory roles in muscle development.Skeletal muscle formation involves various molecules,and in animals,enhancers are one of the main types of transcriptional regulatory regions that are of great importance to regulate myogenic gene expression.In muscle development,enhancers can generate enhancer RNAs(eRNAs)that are involved in the regulation of gene transcription.The regulation of gene expression by eRNAs offers great potential in improving animal production traits.Herein we comprehensively review the roles of enhancers in muscle formation and its potential function in skeletal muscle development.This review will describe the future application of enhancers in skeletal muscle development and discuss the prospects that enhancer studies offer for agriculture,biotechnology,and animal breeding.展开更多
基金supported by the National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars(NSFC-82322058)the Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC-82103929,NSFC-82273713)+10 种基金the Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST(2022QNRC001)the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Hubei Province of China(2023AFA046)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(WHU:2042022kf1205)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(WHU:2042022kf1031)for Ying Zhuthe Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2042022rc0026,2042023kf1005)for Xiao-Ping Miaothe Knowledge Innovation Program of Wuhan(whkxjsj011,2023020201010073)for Jian-Bo Tianthe Science and Technology Innovation Seed Fund of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University(znpy2019060)for Yong-Chang Weithe Distinguished Young Scholars of China(NSFC-81925032)the Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC-82130098)the Youth Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC-82003547)the Program of Health Commission of Hubei Province(WJ2023M045)。
文摘Background:Dysregulation of enhancer transcription occurs in multiple cancers.Enhancer RNAs(eRNAs)are transcribed products from enhancers that play critical roles in transcriptional control.Characterizing the genetic basis of eRNA expression may elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying cancers.Methods:Initially,a comprehensive analysis of eRNA quantitative trait loci(eRNAQTLs)was performed in The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA),and functional features were characterized using multi-omics data.To establish the first eRNAQTL profiles for colorectal cancer(CRC)in China,epigenomic data were used to define active enhancers,which were subsequently integrated with transcription and genotyping data from 154 paired CRC samples.Finally,largescale case-control studies(34,585 cases and 69,544 controls)were conducted along with multipronged experiments to investigate the potential mechanisms by which candidate eRNAQTLs affect CRC risk.Results:A total of 300,112 eRNAQTLs were identified across 30 different cancer types,which exert their influence on eRNA transcription by modulating chromatin status,binding affinity to transcription factors and RNA-binding proteins.These eRNAQTLs were found to be significantly enriched in cancer risk loci,explaining a substantial proportion of cancer heritability.Additionally,tumor-specific eRNAQTLs exhibited high responsiveness to the development of cancer.Moreover,the target genes of these eRNAs were associated with dysregulated signaling pathways and immune cell infiltration in cancer,highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets.Furthermore,multiple ethnic population studies have confirmed that an eRNAQTL rs3094296-T variant decreases the risk of CRC in populations from China(OR=0.91,95%CI 0.88–0.95,P=2.92×10^(-7))and Europe(OR=0.92,95%CI 0.88–0.95,P=4.61×10^(-6)).Mechanistically,rs3094296 had an allele-specific effect on the transcription of the eRNA ENSR00000155786,which functioned as a transcriptional activator promoting the expression of its target gene SENP7.These two genes synergistically suppressed tumor cell proliferation.Our curated list of variants,genes,and drugs has been made available in CancereRNAQTL(http://canernaqtl.whu.edu.cn/#/)to serve as an informative resource for advancing this field.Conclusion:Our findings underscore the significance of eRNAQTLs in transcriptional regulation and disease heritability,pinpointing the potential of eRNA-based therapeutic strategies in cancers.
基金supported by the Key Research and Development Project of Tianjin,China(23YFZCSN00040)。
文摘In recent years,environmental DNA(e DNA)has garnered significant attention as a novel tool in biodiversity monitoring,recognized for its efficiency,convenience,and non-invasiveness.Despite its extensive application in various ecological studies,such as conservation,invasion biology,biomonitoring and biodiversity survey assessment,its use in avian monitoring remains in its infancy.This review critically examines the potential and limitations of e DNA technology for avian monitoring,focusing on current advancements and ongoing challenges in this emerging field.Water and air are the primary environmental media for collecting avian e DNA,although other sources like spider webs and plant flowers have been explored as well.Notably,airborne e DNA has been reported to capture the highest diversity of avian species.While avian e DNA technology has shown promise for monitoring rare and endangered species and assessing avian diversity,significant challenges remain,particularly in sampling strategies,DNA extraction methodology,primer selection,and ascertain abundance.Additionally,we discussed the factors influencing the production,transportation,and degradation of avian e DNA in the environment.Finally,we suggested future research directions,including optimizing sampling strategies,developing avian-specific universal primers,expanding avian DNA barcode databases,enhancing e DNA detectability,and integrating environmental RNA(e RNA)and e DNA approaches.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China of China(91940304,31871331,31671342)Beijing Natural Science Foundation(Z200021)+2 种基金Special Investigation on Science and Technology Basic Resources of MOST,China(2019FY100102)the National Key R&D Program of China(2018YFC2000400)the Beijing Advanced Discipline Fund(115200S001)。
文摘Enhancers modulate gene expression by interacting with promoters.Models of enhancer-promoter interactions(EPIs)in the literature involve the activity of many components,including transcription factors and nucleic acid.However,the role that sequence similarity plays in EPIs remains largely unexplored.Herein,we report that Alu-derived sequences dominate sequence similarity between enhancers and promoters.After rejecting alternative DNA:DNA and DNA:RNA triplex models,we propose that enhancer-associated RNAs(eRNAs)may directly contact their targeted promoters by forming trans-acting R-loops at those Alu sequences.We show how the characteristic distribution of functional genomic data,such as RNA-DNA proximate ligation reads,binding of transcription factors,and RNA-binding proteins,all align with the Alu sequences of EPIs.We also show that these aligned Alu sequences may be subject to the constraint of coevolution,further implying the functional significance of these R-loop hybrids.Finally,our results imply that eRNA and Alu elements associate in a manner previously unrecognized in EPIs and the evolution of gene regulation networks in mammals.
基金This work was supported by the Key R&D Programmes of Guangdong Province,China(2018B020203003)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31830090)+1 种基金the Shenzhen Science Technology and Innovation Commission,China(JCYJ20170307160516413)and the Science and Technology Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(CAAS-ZDRW202006).We appreciate Postdoctoral Fellow AdeyinkaAbiolaAdetula,for grammar checking and suggestions.
文摘Currently,enhancers have key transcriptional regulatory roles in muscle development.Skeletal muscle formation involves various molecules,and in animals,enhancers are one of the main types of transcriptional regulatory regions that are of great importance to regulate myogenic gene expression.In muscle development,enhancers can generate enhancer RNAs(eRNAs)that are involved in the regulation of gene transcription.The regulation of gene expression by eRNAs offers great potential in improving animal production traits.Herein we comprehensively review the roles of enhancers in muscle formation and its potential function in skeletal muscle development.This review will describe the future application of enhancers in skeletal muscle development and discuss the prospects that enhancer studies offer for agriculture,biotechnology,and animal breeding.
