Decoding YAP dependent transcription in the liver.

The transcriptional coactivator YAP is emerging as a master regulator of cell growth. In the liver, YAP activity is linked to hepatomegaly, regeneration, dedifferentiation, and aggressive tumor growth. Here we present genomic studies to address how YAP may elicit such profound biological changes in murine models. YAP bound the genome in a TEAD-dependent manner, either at loci constitutively occupied by TEAD or by pioneering enhancers, which comprised a fraction of HNF4a/FOXA-bound embryonic enhancers active during embryonic development but silent in the adult. YAP triggered transcription on promoters by recruiting BRD4, enhancing H3K122 acetylation, and promoting RNApol2 loading and pause-release. YAP also repressed HNF4a target genes by binding to their promoters and enhancers, thus preventing RNApol2 pause-release. YAP activation led to the induction of hepatocyte proliferation, accompanied by tissue remodeling, characterized by polarized macrophages, exhausted T-lymphocytes and dedifferentiation of endothelial cells into proliferative progenitors. Overall, these analyses suggest that YAP is a master regulator of liver function that reshapes the enhancer landscape to control transcription of genes involved in metabolism, proliferation, and inflammation, subverts lineage specification programs by antagonizing HNF4a and modulating the immune infiltrate and the vascular architecture of the liver.

Polycomb group ring finger protein 6 suppresses Myc-induced lymphomagenesis.

Max is an obligate dimerization partner for the Myc transcription factors and for several repressors, such as Mnt, Mxd1-4, and Mga, collectively thought to antagonize Myc function in transcription and oncogenesis. Mga, in particular, is part of the variant Polycomb group repressive complex PRC1.6. Here, we show that ablation of the distinct PRC1.6 subunit Pcgf6-but not Mga-accelerates Myc-induced lymphomagenesis in Eµ-myc transgenic mice. Unexpectedly, however, Pcgf6 loss shows no significant impact on transcriptional profiles, in neither pre-tumoral B-cells, nor lymphomas. Altogether, these data unravel an unforeseen, Mga- and PRC1.6-independent tumor suppressor activity of Pcgf6.

Integrated requirement of non-specific and sequence-specific DNA binding in Myc-driven transcription.

Eukaryotic transcription factors recognize specific DNA sequence motifs, but are also endowed with generic, non-specific DNA-binding activity. How these binding modes are integrated to determine select transcriptional outputs remains unresolved. We addressed this question by site-directed mutagenesis of the Myc transcription factor. Impairment of non-specific DNA backbone contacts caused pervasive loss of genome interactions and gene regulation, associated with increased intra-nuclear mobility of the Myc protein in murine cells. In contrast, a mutant lacking base-specific contacts retained DNA-binding and mobility profiles comparable to those of the wild-type protein, but failed to recognize its consensus binding motif (E-box) and could not activate Myc-target genes. Incidentally, this mutant gained weak affinity for an alternative motif, driving aberrant activation of different genes. Altogether, our data show that non-specific DNA binding is required to engage onto genomic regulatory regions; sequence recognition in turn contributes to transcriptional activation, acting at distinct levels: stabilization and positioning of Myc onto DNA, and-unexpectedly-promotion of its transcriptional activity. Hence, seemingly pervasive genome interaction profiles, as detected by ChIP-seq, actually encompass diverse DNA-binding modalities, driving defined, sequence-dependent transcriptional responses.

Reactivation of Myc transcription in the mouse heart unlocks its proliferative capacity.

It is unclear why some tissues are refractory to the mitogenic effects of the oncogene Myc. Here we show that Myc activation induces rapid transcriptional responses followed by proliferation in some, but not all, organs. Despite such disparities in proliferative response, Myc is bound to DNA at open elements in responsive (liver) and non-responsive (heart) tissues, but fails to induce a robust transcriptional and proliferative response in the heart. Using heart as an exemplar of a non-responsive tissue, we show that Myc-driven transcription is re-engaged in mature cardiomyocytes by elevating levels of the positive transcription elongation factor (P-TEFb), instating a large proliferative response. Hence, P-TEFb activity is a key limiting determinant of whether the heart is permissive for Myc transcriptional activation. These data provide a greater understanding of how Myc transcriptional activity is determined and indicate modification of P-TEFb levels could be utilised to drive regeneration of adult cardiomyocytes for the treatment of heart myopathies.

Cooperation Between MYC and ß-Catenin in Liver Tumorigenesis Requires Yap/Taz.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Activation of MYC and catenin beta-1 (CTNNB1, encoding ß-catenin) can co-occur in liver cancer, but how these oncogenes cooperate in tumorigenesis remains unclear. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We generated a mouse model allowing conditional activation of MYC and WNT/ß-catenin signaling (through either ß-catenin activation or loss of APC - adenomatous polyposis coli) upon expression of CRE recombinase in the liver and monitored their effects on hepatocyte proliferation, apoptosis, gene expression profiles, and tumorigenesis. Activation of WNT/ß-catenin signaling strongly accelerated MYC-driven carcinogenesis in the liver. Both pathways also cooperated in promoting cellular transformation in vitro, demonstrating their cell-autonomous action. Short-term induction of MYC and ß-catenin in hepatocytes, followed by RNA-sequencing profiling, allowed the identification of a "Myc/ß-catenin signature," composed of a discrete set of Myc-activated genes whose expression increased in the presence of active ß-catenin. Notably, this signature enriched for targets of Yes-associated protein (Yap) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (Taz), two transcriptional coactivators known to be activated by WNT/ß-catenin signaling and to cooperate with MYC in mitogenic activation and liver transformation. Consistent with these regulatory connections, Yap/Taz accumulated upon Myc/ß-catenin activation and were required not only for the ensuing proliferative response, but also for tumor cell growth and survival. Finally, the Myc/ß-catenin signature was enriched in a subset of human hepatocellular carcinomas characterized by comparatively poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Myc and ß-catenin show a strong cooperative action in liver carcinogenesis, with Yap and Taz serving as mediators of this effect. These findings warrant efforts toward therapeutic targeting of Yap/Taz in aggressive liver tumors marked by elevated Myc/ß-catenin activity.

Correction to: c-MYC overexpression induces choroid plexus papillomas through a T-cell mediated inflammatory mechanism.

In the original version of this article [1], there was 1 error in the affiliation of the European Institute of Oncology (affiliation 3). In this correction article the updated affiliation is shown for clarification.

An early Myc-dependent transcriptional program orchestrates cell growth during B-cell activation.

Upon activation, lymphocytes exit quiescence and undergo substantial increases in cell size, accompanied by activation of energy-producing and anabolic pathways, widespread chromatin decompaction, and elevated transcriptional activity. These changes depend upon prior induction of the Myc transcription factor, but how Myc controls them remains unclear. We addressed this issue by profiling the response to LPS stimulation in wild-type and c-myc-deleted primary mouse B-cells. Myc is rapidly induced, becomes detectable on virtually all active promoters and enhancers, but has no direct impact on global transcriptional activity. Instead, Myc contributes to the swift up- and down-regulation of several hundred genes, including many known regulators of the aforementioned cellular processes. Myc-activated promoters are enriched for E-box consensus motifs, bind Myc at the highest levels, and show enhanced RNA Polymerase II recruitment, the opposite being true at down-regulated loci. Remarkably, the Myc-dependent signature identified in activated B-cells is also enriched in Myc-driven B-cell lymphomas: hence, besides modulation of new cancer-specific programs, the oncogenic action of Myc may largely rely on sustained deregulation of its normal physiological targets.

c-MYC overexpression induces choroid plexus papillomas through a T-cell mediated inflammatory mechanism.

Choroid plexus tumours (CPTs) account for 2-5% of brain tumours in children. They can spread along the neuraxis and can recur after treatment. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying their formation and only few high fidelity mouse models of p53-deficient malignant CPTs are available.We show here that c-MYC overexpression in the choroid plexus epithelium induces T-cell inflammation-dependent choroid plexus papillomas in a mouse model. We demonstrate that c-MYC is expressed in a substantial proportion of human choroid plexus tumours and that this subgroup of tumours is characterised by an inflammatory transcriptome and significant inflammatory infiltrates. In compound mutant mice, overexpression of c-MYC in an immunodeficient background led to a decreased incidence of CPP and reduced tumour bulk. Finally, reduced tumour size was also observed upon T-cell depletion in CPP-bearing mice. Our data raise the possibility that benign choroid plexus tumours expressing c-MYC could be amenable to medical therapy with anti-inflammatory drugs.

MYC in Germinal Center-derived lymphomas: Mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities.

The rearrangement of immunoglobulin loci during the germinal center reaction is associated with an increased risk of chromosomal translocations that activate oncogenes such as MYC, BCL2 or BCL6, thus contributing to the development of B-cell lymphomas. MYC and BCL2 activation are initiating events in Burkitt's (BL) and Follicular Lymphoma (FL), respectively, but can occur at later stages in other subtypes such as Diffuse Large-B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). MYC can also be activated during the progression of FL to the transformed stage. Thus, either DLBCL or FL can give rise to aggressive double-hit lymphomas (DHL) with concurrent activation of MYC and BCL2. Research over the last three decades has improved our understanding of the functions of these oncogenes and the basis for their cooperative action in lymphomagenesis. MYC, in particular, is a transcription factor that contributes to cell activation, growth and proliferation, while concomitantly sensitizing cells to apoptosis, the latter being blocked by BCL2. Here, we review our current knowledge about the role of MYC in germinal center B-cells and lymphomas, discuss MYC-induced dependencies that can sensitize cancer cells to select pharmacological inhibitors, and illustrate their therapeutic potential in aggressive lymphomas-and in particular in DHL, in combination with BCL2 inhibitors.

p53 Loss in Breast Cancer Leads to Myc Activation, Increased Cell Plasticity, and Expression of a Mitotic Signature with Prognostic Value.

Loss of p53 function is invariably associated with cancer. Its role in tumor growth was recently linked to its effects on cancer stem cells (CSCs), although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we show that c-myc is a transcriptional target of p53 in mammary stem cells (MaSCs) and is activated in breast tumors as a consequence of p53 loss. Constitutive Myc expression in normal mammary cells leads to increased frequency of MaSC symmetric divisions, extended MaSC replicative-potential, and MaSC-reprogramming of progenitors, whereas Myc activation in breast cancer is necessary and sufficient to maintain the expanding pool of CSCs. Concomitant p53 loss and Myc activation trigger the expression of 189 mitotic genes, which identify patients at high risk of mortality and relapse, independently of other risk factors. Altogether, deregulation of the p53:Myc axis in mammary tumors increases CSC content and plasticity and is a critical determinant of tumor growth and clinical aggressiveness.

Integrative analysis of RNA polymerase II and transcriptional dynamics upon MYC activation.

Overexpression of the MYC transcription factor causes its widespread interaction with regulatory elements in the genome but leads to the up- and down-regulation of discrete sets of genes. The molecular determinants of these selective transcriptional responses remain elusive. Here, we present an integrated time-course analysis of transcription and mRNA dynamics following MYC activation in proliferating mouse fibroblasts, based on chromatin immunoprecipitation, metabolic labeling of newly synthesized RNA, extensive sequencing, and mathematical modeling. Transcriptional activation correlated with the highest increases in MYC binding at promoters. Repression followed a reciprocal scenario, with the lowest gains in MYC binding. Altogether, the relative abundance (henceforth, "share") of MYC at promoters was the strongest predictor of transcriptional responses in diverse cell types, predominating over MYC's association with the corepressor ZBTB17 (also known as MIZ1). MYC activation elicited immediate loading of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) at activated promoters, followed by increases in pause-release, while repressed promoters showed opposite effects. Gains and losses in RNAPII loading were proportional to the changes in the MYC share, suggesting that repression by MYC may be partly indirect, owing to competition for limiting amounts of RNAPII. Secondary to the changes in RNAPII loading, the dynamics of elongation and pre-mRNA processing were also rapidly altered at MYC regulated genes, leading to the transient accumulation of partially or aberrantly processed mRNAs. Altogether, our results shed light on how overexpressed MYC alters the various phases of the RNAPII cycle and the resulting transcriptional response.

Opposing macrophage polarization programs show extensive epigenomic and transcriptional cross-talk.

Stimulation of macrophages with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) triggers distinct and opposing activation programs. During mixed infections or cancer, macrophages are often exposed to both cytokines, but how these two programs influence each other remains unclear. We found that IFN-γ and IL-4 mutually inhibited the epigenomic and transcriptional changes induced by each cytokine alone. Computational and functional analyses revealed the genomic bases for gene-specific cross-repression. For instance, while binding motifs for the transcription factors STAT1 and IRF1 were associated with robust and IL-4-resistant responses to IFN-γ, their coexistence with binding sites for auxiliary transcription factors such as AP-1 generated vulnerability to IL-4-mediated inhibition. These data provide a core mechanistic framework for the integration of signals that control macrophage activation in complex environmental conditions.

Smyd2 is a Myc-regulated gene critical for MLL-AF9 induced leukemogenesis.

The Smyd2 protein (Set- and Mynd domain containing protein 2) is a methyl-transferase that can modify both histones and cytoplasmic proteins. Smyd2 is over-expressed in several cancer types and was shown to be limiting for tumor development in the pancreas. However, genetic evidence for a role of Smyd2 in other cancers or in mouse development was missing to date. Using germ line-deleted mouse strains, we now show that Smyd2 and the related protein Smyd3 are dispensable for normal development. Ablation of Smyd2 did not affect hematopoiesis, but retarded the development of leukemia promoted by MLL-AF9, a fusion oncogene associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in humans. Smyd2-deleted leukemic cells showed a competitive disadvantage relative to wild-type cells, either in vitro or in vivo. The Smyd2 gene was directly activated by the oncogenic transcription factor Myc in either MLL9-AF9-induced leukemias, Myc-induced lymphomas, or fibroblasts. However, unlike leukemias, the development of lymphomas was not dependent upon Smyd2. Our data indicate that Smyd2 has a critical role downstream of Myc in AML.

The mitochondrial translation machinery as a therapeutic target in Myc-driven lymphomas.

The oncogenic transcription factor Myc is required for the progression and maintenance of diverse tumors. This has led to the concept that Myc itself, Myc-activated gene products, or associated biological processes might constitute prime targets for cancer therapy. Here, we present an in vivo reverse-genetic screen targeting a set of 241 Myc-activated mRNAs in mouse B-cell lymphomas, unraveling a critical role for the mitochondrial ribosomal protein (MRP) Ptcd3 in tumor maintenance. Other MRP-coding genes were also up regulated in Myc-induced lymphoma, pointing to a coordinate activation of the mitochondrial translation machinery. Inhibition of mitochondrial translation with the antibiotic Tigecycline was synthetic-lethal with Myc activation, impaired respiratory activity and tumor cell survival in vitro, and significantly extended lifespan in lymphoma-bearing mice. We have thus identified a novel Myc-induced metabolic dependency that can be targeted by common antibiotics, opening new therapeutic perspectives in Myc-overexpressing tumors.

Targeting MYC in cancer therapy: RNA processing offers new opportunities.

MYC is a transcription factor, which not only directly modulates multiple aspects of transcription and co-transcriptional processing (e.g. RNA-Polymerase II initiation, elongation, and mRNA capping), but also indirectly influences several steps of RNA metabolism, including both constitutive and alternative splicing, mRNA stability, and translation efficiency. As MYC is an oncoprotein whose expression is deregulated in multiple human cancers, identifying its critical downstream activities in tumors is of key importance for designing effective therapeutic strategies. With this knowledge and recent technological advances, we now have multiple angles to reach the goal of targeting MYC in tumors, ranging from the direct reduction of MYC levels, to the dampening of selected house-keeping functions in MYC-overexpressing cells, to more targeted approaches based on MYC-induced secondary effects.

MYC: connecting selective transcriptional control to global RNA production.

Two opposing models have been proposed to describe the function of the MYC oncoprotein in shaping cellular transcriptomes: one posits that MYC amplifies transcription at all active loci; the other that MYC differentially controls discrete sets of genes, the products of which affect global transcript levels. Here, we argue that differential gene regulation by MYC is the sole unifying model that is consistent with all available data. Among other effects, MYC endows cells with physiological and metabolic changes that have the potential to feed back on global RNA production, processing and turnover. The field is progressing steadily towards a full characterization of the MYC-regulated genes and pathways that mediate these biological effects and - by the same token - endow MYC with its pervasive oncogenic potential.

Genome-wide analysis of p53 transcriptional programs in B cells upon exposure to genotoxic stress in vivo.

The tumor suppressor p53 is a transcription factor that coordinates the cellular response to DNA damage. Here we provide an integrated analysis of p53 genomic occupancy and p53-dependent gene regulation in the splenic B and non-B cell compartments of mice exposed to whole-body ionizing radiation, providing insight into general principles of p53 activity in vivo. In unstressed conditions, p53 bound few genomic targets; induction of p53 by ionizing radiation increased the number of p53 bound sites, leading to highly overlapping profiles in the different cell types. Comparison of these profiles with chromatin features in unstressed B cells revealed that, upon activation, p53 localized at active promoters, distal enhancers, and a smaller set of unmarked distal regions. At promoters, recognition of the canonical p53 motif as well as binding strength were associated with p53-dependent transcriptional activation, but not repression, indicating that the latter was most likely indirect. p53-activated targets constituted the core of a cell type-independent response, superimposed onto a cell type-specific program. Core response genes included most of the known p53-regulated genes, as well as many new ones. Our data represent a unique characterization of the p53-regulated response to ionizing radiation in vivo.

Selective transcriptional regulation by Myc: Experimental design and computational analysis of high-throughput sequencing data.

The gene expression programs regulated by the Myc transcription factor were evaluated by integrated genome-wide profiling of Myc binding sites, chromatin marks and RNA expression in several biological models. Our results indicate that Myc directly drives selective transcriptional regulation, which in certain physiological conditions may indirectly lead to RNA amplification. Here, we illustrate in detail the experimental design concerning the high-throughput sequencing data associated with our study (Sabò et al., Nature. (2014) 511:488-492) and the R scripts used for their computational analysis.

MYC regulates the core pre-mRNA splicing machinery as an essential step in lymphomagenesis.

Deregulated expression of the MYC transcription factor occurs in most human cancers and correlates with high proliferation, reprogrammed cellular metabolism and poor prognosis. Overexpressed MYC binds to virtually all active promoters within a cell, although with different binding affinities, and modulates the expression of distinct subsets of genes. However, the critical effectors of MYC in tumorigenesis remain largely unknown. Here we show that during lymphomagenesis in Eµ-myc transgenic mice, MYC directly upregulates the transcription of the core small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle assembly genes, including Prmt5, an arginine methyltransferase that methylates Sm proteins. This coordinated regulatory effect is critical for the core biogenesis of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles, effective pre-messenger-RNA splicing, cell survival and proliferation. Our results demonstrate that MYC maintains the splicing fidelity of exons with a weak 5' donor site. Additionally, we identify pre-messenger-RNAs that are particularly sensitive to the perturbation of the MYC-PRMT5 axis, resulting in either intron retention (for example, Dvl1) or exon skipping (for example, Atr, Ep400). Using antisense oligonucleotides, we demonstrate the contribution of these splicing defects to the anti-proliferative/apoptotic phenotype observed in PRMT5-depleted Eµ-myc B cells. We conclude that, in addition to its well-documented oncogenic functions in transcription and translation, MYC also safeguards proper pre-messenger-RNA splicing as an essential step in lymphomagenesis.