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Genetic imprinting ensures monoallelic gene expression critical for normal embryonic development. Here the authors take advantage of human haploid parthenogenic embryonic stem cells lacking paternal alleles to identify, by genome-wide screening, factors involved in the regulation of imprinted genes.

Summary: The parent-specific monoallelic expression of imprinted genes is controlled by DNA methylation marks that are established differentially in the germline. Perturbation of these marks leads to loss of imprinting (LOI), which is associated with developmental disorders and malignancy and may also obstruct applications of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Previous studies of LOI in hPSCs were performed on relatively small numbers of cell lines, often leading to conflicting conclusions regarding imprinting stability. Here, we chart the landscape of LOI in hPSCs by applying a large-scale analysis of allele-specific RNA-seq data from more than 270 hPSC samples. We show that reprogrammed hPSCs acquire higher levels of LOI compared with embryonic stem cells and that LOI can pre-exist in their somatic cells of origin. Furthermore, different imprinted genes vary with respect to LOI incidence, surprisingly revealing that those controlled paternally are more prone to disruption. Our findings emphasize the importance of inspecting the imprinting status of hPSCs. : Bar et al. present a large-scale analysis of loss of imprinting (LOI) in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). They demonstrate differences in LOI abundance between hPSCs depending on their derivation method and between imprinted genes according to their parent of origin. This should be considered in future applications of hPSCs. Keywords: pluripotent stem cells, embryonic stem cells, parental imprinting, maternal genes, paternal genes, DNA methylation, monoallelic expression

Summary: Dosage compensation of sex-chromosome gene expression between male and female mammals is achieved via X chromosome inactivation (XCI) by employing epigenetic modifications to randomly silence one X chromosome during early embryogenesis. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) were reported to present various states of XCI that differ according to the expression of the long non-coding RNA XIST and the degree of X chromosome silencing. To obtain a comprehensive perspective on XCI in female hPSCs, we performed a large-scale analysis characterizing different XCI parameters in more than 700 RNA high-throughput sequencing samples. Our findings suggest differences in XCI status between most published samples of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced PSCs (iPSCs). While the majority of iPSC lines maintain an inactive X chromosome, ESC lines tend to silence the expression of XIST and upregulate distal chromosomal regions. Our study highlights significant epigenetic heterogeneity within hPSCs, which may bear implications for their use in research and regenerative therapy. : Bar et al. perform a large-scale analysis of X chromosome inactivation (XCI) in over 700 samples of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). Erosion of XCI involves stable silencing of XIST and partial overexpression of distal X-linked genes and is prevalent in embryonic stem cells, but not in most induced PSCs. Keywords: X inactivation, human embryonic stem cells, human induced pluripotent stem cells, XIST

Parental imprinting results in monoallelic parent-of-origin-dependent gene expression. However, many imprinted genes identified by differential methylation do not exhibit complete monoallelic expression. Previous studies demonstrated complex tissue-dependent expression patterns for some imprinted genes. Still, the complete magnitude of this phenomenon remains largely unknown. By differentiating human parthenogenetic induced pluripotent stem cells into different cell types and combining DNA methylation with a 5′ RNA sequencing methodology, we were able to identify tissue- and isoform-dependent imprinted genes in a genome-wide manner. We demonstrate that nearly half of all imprinted genes express both biallelic and monoallelic isoforms that are controlled by tissue-specific alternative promoters. This study provides a global analysis of tissue-specific imprinting in humans and suggests that alternative promoters are central in the regulation of imprinted genes.

Loss of Paneth cell (PC) function is implicated in intestinal dysbiosis, mucosal inflammation, and numerous intestinal disorders, including necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Studies in mouse models show that zinc transporter ZnT2 (SLC30A2) is critical for PC function, playing a role in granule formation, secretion, and antimicrobial activity; however, no studies have investigated whether loss of ZnT2 function is associated with dysbiosis, mucosal inflammation, or intestinal dysfunction in humans. SLC30A2 was sequenced in healthy preterm infants (26–37 wks; n = 75), and structural analysis and functional assays determined the impact of mutations. In human stool samples, 16S rRNA sequencing and RNAseq of bacterial and human transcripts were performed. Three ZnT2 variants were common (>5%) in this population: H346Q, f = 19%; L293R, f = 7%; and a previously identified compound substitution in Exon7, f = 16%). H346Q had no effect on ZnT2 function or beta-diversity. Exon7 impaired zinc transport and was associated with a fractured gut microbiome. Analysis of microbial pathways suggested diverse effects on nutrient metabolism, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, and drug resistance, which were associated with increased expression of host genes involved in tissue remodeling. L293R caused profound ZnT2 dysfunction and was associated with overt gut dysbiosis. Microbial pathway analysis suggested effects on nucleotide, amino acid and vitamin metabolism, which were associated with the increased expression of host genes involved in inflammation and immune response. In addition, L293R was associated with reduced weight gain in the early postnatal period. This implicates ZnT2 as a novel modulator of mucosal homeostasis in humans and suggests that genetic variants in ZnT2 may affect the risk of mucosal inflammation and intestinal disease.

Remote propulsion of miniature mechanical devices possesses a great challenge to the scientific community. Herein, a lightweight two‐way shape memory polymer (2WSMP)‐based motor is presented, which operates a demo vehicle via a novel infrared‐irradiated 2WSMP actuator. Most of the polymers that possess 2WSMP properties suffer from inadequate mechanical properties and low durability in harsh environments. Herein, the 2WSMP bilayer actuator, based on Kapton and polyPOSS (PP), possesses superior 2WSMP and mechanical properties, high lifting abilities, and durability in harsh environments. Kapton is well known for its outstanding physical properties. PP, a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)‐based epoxy‐like thermoset, possesses unique properties. Its advanced ability to maintain mechanical properties over a range of temperatures, while presenting a constant coefficient of thermal expansion, is essential for its 2WSMP actuation properties. The effects of the Kapton and PP layers’ thickness on the force and deflection, generated by the 2WSMP actuators during heating, are studied. A theoretical model is used to predict the actuator's deflection, based on the layers’ thickness. These actuators present excellent thermal stability at temperatures as high as 150 °C, while maintaining outstanding motion repeatability and extremely high lifting capacity of up to 6500 times of their own weight.

Abstract Divalent d-block metal cations (DDMCs), such as Fe, Zn and Mn, participate in many biological processes. Understanding how specific DDMCs are transported to and within the cell and what controls their binding selectivity to different proteins is crucial for defining the mechanisms of metalloproteins. To better understand such processes, we scanned the RCSB Protein Data Bank, performed a de novo structural-based comprehensive analysis of seven DDMCs and found their amino acid binding and coordination geometry propensities. We then utilized these results to characterize the correlation between metal selectivity, specific binding site composition and phylogenetic classification of the cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) protein family, a family of DDMC transporters found throughout evolution and sharing a conserved structure, yet with different members displaying distinct metal selectivity. Our analysis shows that DDMCs differ, at times significantly, in terms of their binding propensities, and that in each CDF clade, the metal selectivity-related binding site has a unique and conserved sequence signature. However, only limited correlation exists between the composition of the DDMC binding site in each clade and the metal selectivity shown by its proteins.

Recent genome-wide experiments in different eukaryotic genomes provide an unprecedented view of transcription factor (TF) binding locations and of nucleosome occupancy. These experiments revealed that a large fraction of TF binding events occur in regions where only a small number of specific TF binding sites (TFBSs) have been detected. Furthermore, in vitro protein-DNA binding measurements performed for hundreds of TFs indicate that TFs are bound with wide range of affinities to different DNA sequences that lack known consensus motifs. These observations have thus challenged the classical picture of specific protein-DNA binding and strongly suggest the existence of additional recognition mechanisms that affect protein-DNA binding preferences. We have previously demonstrated that repetitive DNA sequence elements characterized by certain symmetries statistically affect protein-DNA binding preferences. We call this binding mechanism nonconsensus protein-DNA binding in order to emphasize the point that specific consensus TFBSs do not contribute to this effect. In this paper, using the simple statistical mechanics model developed previously, we calculate the nonconsensus protein-DNA binding free energy for the entire C. elegans and D. melanogaster genomes. Using the available chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) results on TF-DNA binding preferences for ~100 TFs, we show that DNA sequences characterized by low predicted free energy of nonconsensus binding have statistically higher experimental TF occupancy and lower nucleosome occupancy than sequences characterized by high free energy of nonconsensus binding. This is in agreement with our previous analysis performed for the yeast genome. We suggest therefore that nonconsensus protein-DNA binding assists the formation of nucleosome-free regions, as TFs outcompete nucleosomes at genomic locations with enhanced nonconsensus binding. In addition, here we perform a new, large-scale analysis using in vitro TF-DNA preferences obtained from the universal protein binding microarrays (PBM) for ~90 eukaryotic TFs belonging to 22 different DNA-binding domain types. As a result of this new analysis, we conclude that nonconsensus protein-DNA binding is a widespread phenomenon that significantly affects protein-DNA binding preferences and need not require the presence of consensus (specific) TFBSs in order to achieve genome-wide TF-DNA binding specificity.

Bordetella pertussis, the etiological agent of "whooping cough" disease, utilizes the type III secretion system (T3SS) to deliver a 69 kDa cytotoxic effector protein, BteA, directly into the host cells. As with other T3SS effectors, prior to its secretion BteA binds BtcA, a 13.9 kDa protein predicted to act as a T3SS class IA chaperone. While this interaction had been characterized for such effector-chaperone pairs in other pathogens, it has yet to be fully investigated in Bordetella. Here we provide the first biochemical proof that BtcA is indeed a class IA chaperone, responsible for the binding of BteA's N-terminal domain. We bring forth extensive evidence that BtcA binds its substrate effector through a dual-interface binding mechanism comprising of non-globular and bi-globular interactions at a moderate micromolar level binding affinity. We demonstrate that the non-globular interactions involve the first 31 N-terminal residues of BteA287 and their removal leads to destabilization of the effector-chaperone complex and lower binding affinities to BtcA. These findings represent an important first step towards a molecular understanding of BteA secretion and cell entry.