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Summary: Aberrant alternative splicing (AS) contributes to leukemogenesis, but reports on the clinical and biological implications of aberrant AS in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) remain limited. Here, we used RNA‐seq to analyse AS in AML cells from 341 patients, comparing them to healthy CD34+ haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Our findings highlight distinct AS patterns in the nuclear transcription factor Y subunit alpha (NFYA) gene, with two main isoforms: NFYA‐L (Long) and NFYA‐S (Short), differing in exon 3 inclusion. Patients with lower NFYA‐L but higher NFYA‐S expression, termed NFYA‐S predominance, displayed more favourable characteristics and better outcomes following intensive chemotherapy, regardless of age and European LeukemiaNet risk classification, compared to those with higher NFYA‐L but lower NFYA‐S expression, termed NFYA‐L predominance. The prognostic effects were validated using The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort. Transcriptome analysis revealed upregulated cell cycle genes in NFYA‐S predominant cases, resembling those of active HSCs, demonstrating relative chemosensitivity. Conversely, NFYA‐L predominant cases, as observed in KMT2A‐rearranged leukaemia, were associated with relative chemoresistance. NFYA‐S overexpression in OCI‐AML3 cells promoted cell proliferation, S‐phase entry and increased cytarabine sensitivity, suggesting its clinical and therapeutic relevance in AML. Our study underscores NFYA AS as a potential prognostic biomarker in AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the intricate involvement of nuclear Transcription Factor Y Subunit Alpha (NFYA) in the advancement of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and its consequential impact on early Growth Response 4 (EGR4) expression. NFYA demonstrates a significant elevation in CRPC tissues and cell lines, displaying robust upregulation in metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) samples, closely associated with the Gleason score. Immunohistochemistry validates heightened nuclear staining of NFYA in CRPC patients, highlighting its crucial role in the progression of advanced prostate cancer. Silencing NFYA through siRNA in androgen-independent cell lines markedly impedes cell growth and migration, emphasizing NFYA's pivotal role in promoting CRPC behavior. RNA-seq analysis identifies EGR4 as a downstream target of NFYA, with both genes consistently upregulated in CRPC. Validating this finding, heightened expression of EGR4 is observed in CRPC samples. In vivo studies utilizing a mouse model demonstrate that NFYA silencing substantially inhibits LNCaP-AI/22RV1shNFYA xenograft tumor growth, accompanied by reduced expression of EGR4 and Ki67. This comprehensive study reveals the multifaceted role of NFYA in CRPC progression, elucidates its downstream impact on EGR4, and underscores the therapeutic potential of targeting NFYA to inhibit CRPC growth in vivo. These findings contribute valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies for managing CRPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to investigate the role of Jumonji AT Rich Interacting Domain 2 (JARID2) in regulating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) stemness and its mechanism. Research design and methods: Bioinformatics analysis examined JARID2 expression, prognosis, and transcription factors. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunohistochemistry detected expression. Dual luciferase reporter gene and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays verified binding. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and colony formation assay detected viability and proliferation. Sphere formation assay detected the sphere formation efficiency. Flow cytometry detected CD44+/CD24− -marked stem cells. A xenograft tumor model verified the effect of JARID2 in vivo. Results: JARID2 and nuclear transcription factor Y subunit α (NFYA) were upregulated in TNBC tissues and positively correlated. Knockdown of JARID2 or NFYA inhibited cell stemness by inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (PKB/AKT) signaling pathway. Enforced JARID2 expression rescued the suppressive effect of NFYA knockdown on the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and cell stemness. Knockdown of JARID2 inhibited tumor growth and cell stemness in mice but was alleviated by concurrent overexpression of NFYA. Conclusions: NFYA promotes TNBC cell stemness by upregulating JARID2 expression and regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, suggesting JARID2 as a potential target for innovating drugs that target TNBC stem cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This research investigates the intricate involvement of nuclear Transcription Factor Y Subunit Alpha (NFYA) in the advancement of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and its consequential impact on early Growth Response 4 (EGR4) expression. NFYA demonstrates a significant elevation in CRPC tissues and cell lines, displaying robust upregulation in metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) samples, closely associated with the Gleason score. Immunohistochemistry validates heightened nuclear staining of NFYA in CRPC patients, highlighting its crucial role in the progression of advanced prostate cancer. Silencing NFYA through siRNA in androgen-independent cell lines markedly impedes cell growth and migration, emphasizing NFYA’s pivotal role in promoting CRPC behavior. RNA-seq analysis identifies EGR4 as a downstream target of NFYA, with both genes consistently upregulated in CRPC. Validating this finding, heightened expression of EGR4 is observed in CRPC samples. In vivo studies utilizing a mouse model demonstrate that NFYA silencing substantially inhibits LNCaP-AI/22RV1shNFYA xenograft tumor growth, accompanied by reduced expression of EGR4 and Ki67. This comprehensive study reveals the multifaceted role of NFYA in CRPC progression, elucidates its downstream impact on EGR4, and underscores the therapeutic potential of targeting NFYA to inhibit CRPC growth in vivo. These findings contribute valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies for managing CRPC.

Objective: To analyze the expression and clinical significance of nuclear transcription factor Y subunit A (NFYA) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on public databases and studies in vitro cell lines and tumor tissues. Methods: Transcriptome and clinical data of HCC patients were obtained and analyzed from the TCGA database. The expression of NFYA in HCC cell lines and patient tissues was validated through qRT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining. The correlation between NFYA expression levels and clinical-pathological features, prognosis, potential pathogenic mechanisms and immune cell infiltration was analyzed using univariate and multifactorial Cox regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier analysis, GO and KEGG analysis. Results: NFYA mRNA expression was significantly increased in HCC tissues compared to normal liver tissues, and this phenomenon was also confirmed in HCC cell lines. In the study cohort of HCC tissues, NFYA protein expression was significantly upregulated. NFYA mRNA expression level was correlated with tumor histological grade, T stage, and pathological stage. HCC patients with high NFYA expression had a worse prognosis. NFYA-related genes in HCC were mainly enriched in biological processes such as nuclear cleavage and cell cycle. The analysis of the tumor microenvironment suggested that high NFYA expression was associated with lower immune cell infiltration and stromal cell infiltration, and that NFYA expression was positively correlated with the expression of multiple immune checkpoint genes. Conclusion: NFYA is overexpressed and associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients and may serve as a potential prognostic marker. This activity of NFYA in HCC might be related to its influence on cell cycle and immune cell infiltration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embryonic genome activation (EGA) is a critical step during embryonic development. Several transcription factors have been identified that play major roles in initiating EGA; however, this gradual and complex mechanism still needs to be explored. In this study, we investigated the role of nuclear transcription factor Y subunit A (NFYA) in bovine EGA and bovine embryonic development and its relationship with the platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFRβ) by using a potent selective activator (PDGF-BB) and inhibitor (CP-673451) of PDGF receptors. Activation and inhibition of PDGFRβ using PDGF-BB and CP-673451 revealed that NFYA expression is significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the PDGFRβ. In addition, PDGFRβ mRNA expression was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the activator group and significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the inhibitor group when compared with PDGFRα. Downregulation of NFYA following PDGFRβ inhibition was associated with the expression of critical EGA-related genes, bovine embryo development rate, and implantation potential. Moreover, ROS and mitochondrial apoptosis levels and expression of pluripotency-related markers necessary for inner cell mass development were also significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the downregulation of NFYA while interrupting trophoblast cell (CDX2) differentiation. In conclusion, the PDGFRβ-NFYA axis is critical for bovine embryonic genome activation and embryonic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

microRNA（miRNA）is a small non-coding RNA that negatively regulates its complementary target genes by cleaving mRNA or inhibiting translation. In recent years, the regulatory module of miRNA/target genes is extensively and deeply involved in the plant physiological and biochemical processes. Plant miR169 and the main targets Nuclear Factor Y-As（NFYAs）are also participated in these processes through abscisic acid-mediated hormone signaling pathways. This paper summarizes the mechanism of miR169/NFYA module and their growth and development in plant abiotic stress and provides a reference for in-depth theoretical studies and resistance molecular breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Polyribonucleotide nucleotidyltransferase 1 gene (PNPT1) encodes polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase), a 3′-5′ exoribonuclease involved in mitochondrial RNA degradation and surveillance and RNA import into the mitochondrion. Here, we have characterized the PNPT1 promoter by in silico analysis, luciferase reporter assays, electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), siRNA-based mRNA silencing and RT-qPCR. We show that the Specificity protein 1 (SP1) transcription factor and Nuclear transcription factor Y (NFY) bind the PNPT1 promoter, and have a relevant role regulating the promoter activity, PNPT1 expression, and mitochondrial activity. We also found in Kaplan–Meier survival curves that a high expression of either PNPase, SP1 or NFY subunit A (NFYA) is associated with a poor prognosis in liver cancer. In summary, our results show the relevance of SP1 and NFY in PNPT1 expression, and point to SP1/NFY and PNPase as possible targets in anti-cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reprogramming of glucose metabolism occurs in many human tumor types, and one of these, gluconeogenesis, is known to exhibit anti-tumor effects in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The transcription factor NFYA regulates gluconeogenesis in the normal liver tissue, but the function of the NFYA-gluconeogenesis axis in cancer and the functional differences of NFYA splicing variants in the regulation of gluconeogenesis is still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that NFYAv2, the short-form variant, upregulates the transcription of a gluconeogenic enzyme PCK1. We further reveal that its regulation induces high ROS levels and energy crisis in HCC and promotes cell death. These indicate that the NFYAv2-gluconeogenesis axis has enhanced anti-tumor effects in HCC, suggesting that the axis may be a potential therapeutic target for HCC. Furthermore, Nfyav1-deficient mice, spontaneously overexpressing Nfyav2, had no increasing gluconeogenesis in the liver. Taken together, our results reveal NFYAv2-gluconeogenesis axis has anti-tumor effects and the potential for NFYAv2 to be a safer therapeutic target for HCC.

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent programmed cell death mediated by lipid peroxidation. The purpose was to explore the molecular mechanism by which phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein 1 (PEBP1) regulates ferroptosis in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), hoping to identify novel therapeutic targets for LUAD. The expression, enrichment pathways and upstream transcription factors of PEBP1 were analyzed using bioinformatics tools. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments were conducted to validate the interaction and binding relationship between PEBP1 and the upstream transcription factor nuclear transcription factor Y subunit α (NFYA). Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) was conducted to measure the expression levels of PEBP1 and NFYA mRNA in LUAD cells. Cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 assay. In addition, levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), Fe2+, and lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed to evaluate ferroptosis levels in LUAD cells. PEBP1 was downregulated and significantly enriched in the ferroptosis signaling pathway in LUAD. Overexpression of PEBP1 suppressed cell viability remarkably, while levels of MDA, Fe2+, and lipid ROS were increased. Conversely, knockdown of PEBP1 produced the opposite effects. The upstream transcription factor NFYA, predicted to be involved in the regulation of PEBP1, was also upregulated in LUAD. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, ChIP, and molecular experiments revealed that NFYA transcriptionally suppressed the expression of PEBP1, and overexpression of NFYA could reverse the effects caused by PEBP1 overexpression. PEBP1 regulated ferroptosis in LUAD, and the transcription factor NFYA inhibited ferroptosis in LUAD cells by transcriptionally downregulating PEBP1 expression. • PEBP1 induced ferroptosis in LUAD. • Transcription factor NFYA suppressed ferroptosis in LUAD cells by transcriptionally downregulating PEBP1. • Elucidated the molecular mechanism of NFYA/PEBP1 regulation in ferroptosis in LUAD and offered a theoretical foundation for the clinical treatment of LUAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Legume crops contribute a great portion of clean nitrogen (N) to agro‐ecosystems through symbiotic N2 fixation in the nodule; however, the nodulation is always inhibited by high N availability which is known as the N inhibitory effect through largely unknown mechanisms.We functionally investigated miR169c‐GmNFYA‐C‐GmENOD40 under multiple N conditions in soybean (Glycine max) (ENOD, Early Nodulin; NFYA, Nuclear Factor‐Y Subunit A). We elucidated their regulatory roles in soybean nodulation through analyzing expression patterns, micro–messenger RNA (miRNA–mRNA) interactions, phenotypes of transgenic soybean plants and genetic interactions.We found that miR169c expression was induced by high N, whereas its target GmNFYA‐C was preferentially expressed in nodules and induced by rhizobium inoculation. Overexpression of miR169c inhibited nodulation through targeting 3′‐UTR of GmNFYA‐C, whereas knockout miR169c through CRISPR‐cas9 promoted nodulation. However, overexpression of GmNFYA‐C promoted soybean nodulation through facilitating rhizobium infection and increasing the expression of symbiotic signaling gene GmENOD40. Besides, GmNFYA‐C directly induced the expression of GmENOD40. In addition, overexpression of GmNFYA‐C without the target site of miR169c partially attenuated the inhibitory effect of high N on soybean nodulation.We discovered a new regulatory pathway involving the miR169c‐NFYA‐C‐ENOD40 module that regulates soybean nodulation in response to N availability. This pathway provides substantial new insights into the mechanisms underlying the N inhibitory effect on nodulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • 25-Hydroxycholesterol down-regulates the expression of OSBPL2 in the HeLa cells. • Nuclear transcription factor y subunit alpha was bound at C−62CAAT-58 in the OSBPL2 promoter (−109∼+110). • 25-hydroxycholesterol down-regulates OSBPL2 via the p53/SREBP2/NFYA signaling pathway. Abstract Oxysterol Binding Protein Like 2 (OSBPL2) is a lipid-binding protein implicated in various cellular processes. Previous studies have shown that depression of OSBPL2 significantly increases the level of cellular 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-OHC) which regulates the expression of lipid-metabolism-related genes. However, whether 25-OHC can regulate the expression of OSBPL2 remains unanswered. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of 25-OHC regulating the expression of OSBPL2. Using dual-luciferase reporter assay, we found a decrease of nuclear transcription factor Y subunit alpha (NFYA) bound with OSBPL2 promoter when HeLa cells were treated with 25-OHC. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing and RNA interference results revealed that the p53/sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 2 (SREBF2) signaling pathway was involved in the NFYA-dependent transcription of OSBPL2 induced by 25-OHC. Based on these results, we concluded that pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1) and NFYA participated in the basal transcription of OSBPL2 and that 25-OHC decreased the transcription of OSBPL2 via the p53/SREBF2/NFYA signaling pathway. 25-OHC will accumulate over time in OSBPL2 knockdown cells. These results may provide a new insight into the deafness caused by OSBPL2 mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B3GALT5 is involved in the synthesis of embryonic stem (ES) cell marker glycan, stage-specific embryonic antigen-3 (SSEA3). This gene has three native promoters and an integrated retroviral long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter. We found that B3GALT5-LTR is expressed at high levels in human ES cells. B3GALT5-LTR is also involved in the synthesis of the cancer-associated glycan, sialyl Lewis a. Sialyl Lewis a is expressed in ES cells and its expression decreases upon differentiation. Retinoic acid induced differentiation of ES cells, decreased the short form of NFYA (NFYAs), increased phosphorylation of STAT3, and decreased B3GALT5-LTR expression. NFYAs activated, and constitutively-active STAT3 (STAT3C) repressed B3GALT5-LTR promoter. The NFYAs and STAT3C effects were eliminated when their binding sites were deleted. Retinoic acid decreased the binding of NFYA to B3GALT5-LTR promoter and increased phospho-STAT3 binding. Lamin A repressed NFYAs and SSEA3 expression. SSEA3 repression mediated by a SIRT1 inhibitor was reversed by a STAT3 inhibitor. Repression of SSEA3 and sialyl Lewis a synthesis mediated by retinoic acid was partially reversed by lamin A short interfering RNA (siRNA) and a STAT3 inhibitor. In conclusion, B3GALT5-LTR is regulated by lamin A-NFYA and SIRT1-STAT3 signaling that regulates SSEA3 and sialyl Lewis a synthesis in ES cells, and sialyl Lewis a is also a ES cell marker.

Summary How the chromatin regulatory landscape in the inner cell mass cells is established from differentially packaged sperm and egg genomes during preimplantation development is unknown. Here, we develop a low-input DNase I sequencing (liDNase-seq) method that allows us to generate maps of DNase I-hypersensitive site (DHS) of mouse preimplantation embryos from 1-cell to morula stage. The DHS landscape is progressively established with a drastic increase at the 8-cell stage. Paternal chromatin accessibility is quickly reprogrammed after fertilization to the level similar to maternal chromatin, while imprinted genes exhibit allelic accessibility bias. We demonstrate that transcription factor Nfya contributes to zygotic genome activation and DHS formation at the 2-cell stage and that Oct4 contributes to the DHSs gained at the 8-cell stage. Our study reveals the dynamic chromatin regulatory landscape during early development and identifies key transcription factors important for DHS establishment in mammalian embryos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blood–tumor barrier (BTB) forms a major obstacle in brain tumor therapy by preventing the delivery of sufficient quantities of therapeutic drugs. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in both normal development and diseases including cancer. Here, we elucidated the expression of lncRNA metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) and defined its functional role in the regulation of BTB function as well as its possible molecular mechanisms. Our results proved that MALAT1 expression was up-regulated in brain microvessels of human glioma and glioma endothelial cells (GECs) which were obtained by co-culturing endothelial cells with glioma cells. Functionally, knockdown of MALAT1 resulted in an impairment and increased the permeability of BTB as well as decreased the expression of ZO-1, occludin and claudin-5 in GECs. Further, there was reciprocal repression between MALAT1 and miR-140, and miR-140 mediated the effects that MALAT1 knockdown exerted. Mechanistic investigations defined that nuclear factor YA (NFYA), a CCAAT box-binding transcription factor, was a direct and functional downstream target of miR-140, which was involved in the MALAT1 knockdown induced regulation of BTB function. Furthermore, NFYA could up-regulate the promoter activities and bind to the promoters of ZO-1, occludin and claudin-5 in GECs. Taken together, we have demonstrated the fact that knockdown of MALAT1 resulted in the increased permeability of BTB, which might contribute to establishing potential therapeutic strategies for human gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NF-Y is a trimeric pioneer Transcription Factor (TF) whose target sequence –the CCAAT box– is present in ~25% of mammalian promoters. We reconstruct the phylogenetic history of the regulatory NF-YA subunit in vertebrates. We find that in addition to the remarkable conservation of the subunits-interaction and DNA-binding parts, the Transcriptional Activation Domain (TAD) is also conserved (>90% identity among bony vertebrates). We infer the phylogeny of the alternatively spliced exon-3 and partial splicing events of exon-7 –7N and 7C– revealing independent clade-specific losses of these regions. These isoforms shape the TAD. Absence of exon-3 in basal deuterostomes, cartilaginous fishes and hagfish, but not in lampreys, suggests that the "short" isoform is primordial, with emergence of exon-3 in chordates. Exon 7N was present in the vertebrate common ancestor, while 7C is a molecular innovation of teleost fishes. RNA-seq analysis in several species confirms expression of all these isoforms. We identify 3 blocks of amino acids in the TAD shared across deuterostomes, yet structural predictions and sequence analyses suggest an evolutionary drive for maintenance of an Intrinsically Disordered Region –IDR– within the TAD. Overall, these data help reconstruct the logic for alternative splicing of this essential eukaryotic TF. • Reconstruction of NF-YA evolution in vertebrates and in other deuterostomes • Conservation of NF-YA Transcriptional Activation Domain (TAD) • Alternative splicing shapes the Q-rich intrinsically disordered TAD • Emergence/loss of alternatively spliced regions in the TAD • Expression of alternatively spliced exons assessed in vertebrates [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reprogramming of glucose metabolism occurs in many human tumor types, and one of these, gluconeogenesis, is known to exhibit anti-tumor effects in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The transcription factor NFYA regulates gluconeogenesis in the normal liver tissue, but the function of the NFYA-gluconeogenesis axis in cancer and the functional differences of NFYA splicing variants in the regulation of gluconeogenesis is still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that NFYAv2, the short-form variant, upregulates the transcription of a gluconeogenic enzyme PCK1. We further reveal that its regulation induces high ROS levels and energy crisis in HCC and promotes cell death. These indicate that the NFYAv2-gluconeogenesis axis has enhanced anti-tumor effects in HCC, suggesting that the axis may be a potential therapeutic target for HCC. Furthermore, Nfyav1-deficient mice, spontaneously overexpressing Nfyav2, had no increasing gluconeogenesis in the liver. Taken together, our results reveal NFYAv2-gluconeogenesis axis has anti-tumor effects and the potential for NFYAv2 to be a safer therapeutic target for HCC., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Tsujimoto, Ito, Yoshikawa, Ueki and Okada.)

Recent studies have revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate plant adaptive responses to nutrient deprivation. However, the functional significance of miRNAs in adaptive responses to nitrogen (N) limitation remains to be explored. The Arabidopsis miR169 was strongly down-regulated, whereas its targets, NFYA (Nuclear Factor Y, subunit A) family members, were strongly induced by nitrogen N starvation. Analysis of the expression of miR169 precursors showed that MIR169a was substantially down-regulated in both roots and shoots by N starvation. Accumulation of the NFYA family members was suppressed in transgenic Arabidopsis with constitutive expression of MIR169a. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing MIR169a accumulated less N and were more sensitive to N stress than the wild type. N sensitivity of 35S::MIR169a might be attributable to impaired uptake systems. These results provide evidence that miRNAs have functional roles in helping plants to cope with fluctuations in N availability in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adult mammalian heart is incapable of regeneration following injury. In contrast, the neonatal mouse heart can efficiently regenerate during the first week of life. The molecular mechanisms that mediate the regenerative response and its blockade in later life are not understood. Here, by single-nucleus RNA sequencing, we map the dynamic transcriptional landscape of five distinct cardiomyocyte populations in healthy, injured, and regenerating mouse hearts. We identify immature cardiomyocytes that enter the cell cycle following injury and disappear as the heart loses the ability to regenerate. These proliferative neonatal cardiomyocytes display a unique transcriptional program dependent on nuclear transcription factor Y subunit alpha (NFYa) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 1 (NFE2L1) transcription factors, which exert proliferative and protective functions, respectively. Cardiac overexpression of these two factors conferred protection against ischemic injury in mature mouse hearts that were otherwise non-regenerative. These findings advance our understanding of the cellular basis of neonatal heart regeneration and reveal a transcriptional landscape for heart repair following injury. • Neonatal cardiomyocytes (CMs) in mice are heterogeneous • Immature CMs enriched in regenerative hearts enter the cell cycle upon injury • Defined transcriptome changes occur in regenerating CMs in response to injury • NFYa and NFE2L1 exert proliferative and protective functions, respectively, in CMs Using single-nucleus RNA sequencing, Cui et al. identified a unique immature cardiomyocyte population associated with heart regeneration in newborn mice. The NFYa and NFE2L1 factors are activated in these cardiomyocytes after injury and can confer protection against ischemic injury in mature mouse hearts that are otherwise non-regenerative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinoblastoma binding protein 9 (RBBP9) is required for maintaining the expression of both pluripotency and cell cycle genes in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). An siRNA-based study from our group showed it does so by influencing cell cycle progression through the RB/E2F pathway. In non-pluripotent cells, RBBP9 is also known to have serine hydrolase (SH) activity, acting on currently undefined target proteins. The role of RBBP9 SH activity in hPSCs, and during normal development, is currently unknown. To begin assessing whether RBBP9 SH activity might contribute to hPSC maintenance, hPSCs were treated with ML114-a selective chemical inhibitor of RBBP9 SH activity. Stem cells treated with ML114 showed significantly reduced population growth rate, colony size and progression through the cell cycle, with no observable change in cell morphology or decrease in pluripotency antigen expression-suggesting no initiation of hPSC differentiation. Consistent with this, hPSCs treated with ML114 retained the capacity for tri-lineage differentiation, as seen through teratoma formation. Subsequent microarray and Western blot analyses of ML114-treated hPSCs suggest the nuclear transcription factor Y subunit A (NFYA) may be a candidate effector of RBBP9 SH activity in hPSCs. These data support a role for RBBP9 in regulating hPSC proliferation independent of differentiation, whereby inhibition of RBBP9 SH activity de-couples decreased hPSC proliferation from initiation of differentiation.

NFYA (nuclear transcription factor Y, subunit A) is a CCAAT-binding transcription factor. Accumulating evidence suggests that NFYA plays an important role in breast, ovarian, lung and gastric cancer. However, the role of NFYA in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains unclear. In this study, it was discovered that the expression of NFYA is elevated in tissues of ccRCC patient and high NFYA expression is linked to poor overall survival in ccRCC patient. Inhibition of G1/S cell cycle transition and decreased cell proliferation were observed upon NFYA knockdown in ccRCC cells. Moreover, further investigation revealed that NFYA binds directly to the promoter region of both CDK4 and cyclin D1 (CCND1) thus transactivating their expression, resulting in RB phosphorylation and the activation of subsequent E2F pathway activation. Taken together, these findings imply the oncogenic role of NFYA in ccRCC progression and its potential as a target for ccRCC therapy., Competing Interests: None., (AJCR Copyright © 2020.)

B3GALT5 is involved in the synthesis of embryonic stem (ES) cell marker glycan, stage-specific embryonic antigen-3 (SSEA3). This gene has three native promoters and an integrated retroviral long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter. We found that B3GALT5 -LTR is expressed at high levels in human ES cells. B3GALT5 -LTR is also involved in the synthesis of the cancer-associated glycan, sialyl Lewis a. Sialyl Lewis a is expressed in ES cells and its expression decreases upon differentiation. Retinoic acid induced differentiation of ES cells, decreased the short form of NFYA (NFYAs), increased phosphorylation of STAT3, and decreased B3GALT5-LTR expression. NFYAs activated, and constitutively-active STAT3 (STAT3C) repressed B3GALT5-LTR promoter. The NFYAs and STAT3C effects were eliminated when their binding sites were deleted. Retinoic acid decreased the binding of NFYA to B3GALT5-LTR promoter and increased phospho-STAT3 binding. Lamin A repressed NFYAs and SSEA3 expression. SSEA3 repression mediated by a SIRT1 inhibitor was reversed by a STAT3 inhibitor. Repression of SSEA3 and sialyl Lewis a synthesis mediated by retinoic acid was partially reversed by lamin A short interfering RNA (siRNA) and a STAT3 inhibitor. In conclusion, B3GALT5 -LTR is regulated by lamin A-NFYA and SIRT1-STAT3 signaling that regulates SSEA3 and sialyl Lewis a synthesis in ES cells, and sialyl Lewis a is also a ES cell marker.

Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) type 17 is an autosomal dominant ataxia caused by expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in the TATA-box binding protein (TBP). Substantial studies have shown involvement of compromised mitochondria biogenesis regulator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), nuclear factor-Y subunit A (NFYA), and their downstream target genes in the pathogenesis of polyQ-expansion diseases. The extracts of Paeonia lactiflora ( P. lactiflora ) and Glycyrrhiza uralensis ( G. uralensis ) have long been used as a Chinese herbal medicine (CHM). Shaoyao Gancao Tang (SG-Tang) is a formulated CHM made of P. lactiflora and G. uralensis at a 1:1 ratio. In the present study, we demonstrated the aggregate-inhibitory and anti-oxidative effect of SG-Tang in 293 TBP/Q 79 cells. We then showed that SG-Tang reduced the aggregates and ameliorated the neurite outgrowth deficits in TBP/Q 79 SH-SY5Y cells. SG-Tang upregulated expression levels of NFYA, PGC-1α, NRF2, and their downstream target genes in TBP/Q 79 SH-SY5Y cells. Knock down of NFYA, PGC-1α, and NRF2 attenuated the neurite outgrowth promoting effect of SG-Tang on TBP/Q 79 SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, SG-Tang inhibited aggregation and rescued motor-deficits in SCA17 mouse model. The study results suggest the potential of SG-Tang in treating SCA17 and probable other polyQ diseases.

The blood-tumor barrier (BTB) forms a major obstacle in brain tumor therapy by preventing the delivery of sufficient quantities of therapeutic drugs. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in both normal development and diseases including cancer. Here, we elucidated the expression of lncRNA metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) and defined its functional role in the regulation of BTB function as well as its possible molecular mechanisms. Our results proved that MALAT1 expression was up-regulated in brain microvessels of human glioma and glioma endothelial cells (GECs) which were obtained by co-culturing endothelial cells with glioma cells. Functionally, knockdown of MALAT1 resulted in an impairment and increased the permeability of BTB as well as decreased the expression of ZO-1, occludin and claudin-5 in GECs. Further, there was reciprocal repression between MALAT1 and miR-140, and miR-140 mediated the effects that MALAT1 knockdown exerted. Mechanistic investigations defined that nuclear factor YA (NFYA), a CCAAT box-binding transcription factor, was a direct and functional downstream target of miR-140, which was involved in the MALAT1 knockdown induced regulation of BTB function. Furthermore, NFYA could up-regulate the promoter activities and bind to the promoters of ZO-1, occludin and claudin-5 in GECs. Taken together, we have demonstrated the fact that knockdown of MALAT1 resulted in the increased permeability of BTB, which might contribute to establishing potential therapeutic strategies for human gliomas., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)