Dynamic expression patterns of Irx3 and Irx5 during germline nest breakdown and primordial follicle formation promote follicle survival in mouse ovaries.

Women and other mammalian females are born with a finite supply of oocytes that determine their reproductive lifespan. During fetal development, individual oocytes are enclosed by a protective layer of granulosa cells to form primordial follicles that will grow, mature, and eventually release the oocyte for potential fertilization. Despite the knowledge that follicles are dysfunctional and will die without granulosa cell-oocyte interactions, the mechanisms by which these cells establish communication is unknown. We previously identified that two members of the Iroquois homeobox transcription factor gene family, Irx3 and Irx5, are expressed within developing ovaries but not testes. Deletion of both factors (Irx3-Irx5EGFP/Irx3-Irx5EGFP) disrupted granulosa cell-oocyte contact during early follicle development leading to oocyte death. Thus, we hypothesized that Irx3 and Irx5 are required to develop cell-cell communication networks to maintain follicle integrity and female fertility. A series of Irx3 and Irx5 mutant mouse models were generated to assess roles for each factor. While both Irx3 and Irx5 single mutant females were subfertile, their breeding outcomes and ovary histology indicated distinct causes. Careful analysis of Irx3- and Irx5-reporter mice linked the cause of this disparity to dynamic spatio-temporal changes in their expression patterns. Both factors marked the progenitor pre-granulosa cell population in fetal ovaries. At the critical phase of germline nest breakdown and primordial follicle formation however, Irx3 and Irx5 transitioned to oocyte- and granulosa cell-specific expression respectively. Further investigation into the cause of follicle death in Irx3-Irx5EGFP/Irx3-Irx5EGFP ovaries uncovered specific defects in both granulosa cells and oocytes. Granulosa cell defects included poor contributions to basement membrane deposition and mis-localization of gap junction proteins. Granulosa cells and oocytes both presented fewer cell projections resulting in compromised cell-cell communication. Altogether, we conclude that Irx3 and Irx5 first work together to define the pregranulosa cell population of germline nests. During primordial follicle formation, they transition to oocyte- and granulosa cell-specific expression patterns where they cooperate in neighboring cells to build the foundation for follicle integrity. This foundation is left as their legacy of the essential oocyte-granulosa cell communication network that ensures and ultimately optimizes the integrity of the ovarian reserve and therefore, the female reproductive lifespan.

The Power of Human Protective Modifiers: PLS3 and CORO1C Unravel Impaired Endocytosis in Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Rescue SMA Phenotype.

Homozygous loss of SMN1 causes spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the most common and devastating childhood genetic motor-neuron disease. The copy gene SMN2 produces only ∼10% functional SMN protein, insufficient to counteract development of SMA. In contrast, the human genetic modifier plastin 3 (PLS3), an actin-binding and -bundling protein, fully protects against SMA in SMN1-deleted individuals carrying 3-4 SMN2 copies. Here, we demonstrate that the combinatorial effect of suboptimal SMN antisense oligonucleotide treatment and PLS3 overexpression-a situation resembling the human condition in asymptomatic SMN1-deleted individuals-rescues survival (from 14 to >250 days) and motoric abilities in a severe SMA mouse model. Because PLS3 knockout in yeast impairs endocytosis, we hypothesized that disturbed endocytosis might be a key cellular mechanism underlying impaired neurotransmission and neuromuscular junction maintenance in SMA. Indeed, SMN deficit dramatically reduced endocytosis, which was restored to normal levels by PLS3 overexpression. Upon low-frequency electro-stimulation, endocytotic FM1-43 (SynaptoGreen) uptake in the presynaptic terminal of neuromuscular junctions was restored to control levels in SMA-PLS3 mice. Moreover, proteomics and biochemical analysis revealed CORO1C, another F-actin binding protein, whose direct binding to PLS3 is dependent on calcium. Similar to PLS3 overexpression, CORO1C overexpression restored fluid-phase endocytosis in SMN-knockdown cells by elevating F-actin amounts and rescued the axonal truncation and branching phenotype in Smn-depleted zebrafish. Our findings emphasize the power of genetic modifiers to unravel the cellular pathomechanisms underlying SMA and the power of combinatorial therapy based on splice correction of SMN2 and endocytosis improvement to efficiently treat SMA.

WNT/ß-catenin and p27/FOXL2 differentially regulate supporting cell proliferation in the developing ovary.

Sexual development is initiated through differentiation of testicular Sertoli cells or ovarian granulosa cells. Although these supporting cells are considered to develop from common bipotential precursors, recent evidence suggests that distinct supporting cell populations are present in the ovary, with one providing granulosa cells of the medullary follicles and the other providing granulosa cells of the cortical follicles, the latter of which support lifelong fertility. Here, we demonstrate that XX fetal gonads contain GATA4 expressing supporting cells that either enter mitotic arrest, or remain proliferative. Blocking WNT signalling reduces XX supporting cell proliferation, while stabilising ß-catenin signalling promotes proliferation, indicating that the renewal of pre-granulosa cells is dependent on WNT/ß-catenin signalling in the proliferative supporting cell population. In contrast, XX supporting cells express p27 and FOXL2 and are maintained in mitotic arrest. Although FOXL2 is required for maintaining high levels of p27 expression, it is dispensable for entry and maintenance of mitotic arrest in XX supporting cells. Combined our data suggest that both medullary and cortical precursors arise from a common GATA4 expressing cell type. In addition, this work indicates that a balance between supporting cell self-renewal and differentiation is maintained in the developing ovary by relative WNT/ß-catenin and p27/FOXL2 activities. This study provides significant new insights into the origin and formation of ovarian follicles and evidence supporting a common fetal origin of medullary and cortical granulosa cells.

Non-coding RNAs: An Introduction.

For many years the main role of RNA, it addition to the housekeeping functions of for example tRNAs and rRNAs, was believed to be a messenger between the genes encoded on the DNA and the functional units of the cell, the proteins. This changed drastically with the identification of the first small non-coding RNA, termed microRNA, some 20 years ago. This discovery opened the field of regulatory RNAs with no or little protein-coding potential. Since then many new classes of regulatory non-coding RNAs, including endogenous small interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs), PIWI-associated RNAs (piRNAs), and long non-coding RNAs, have been identified and we have made amazing progress in elucidating their expression, biogenesis, mechanisms and mode of action, and function in many, if not all, biological processes. In this chapter we provide an introduction about the current knowledge of the main classes of non-coding RNAs, what is know about their biogenesis and mechanism of function.

Marker genes identify three somatic cell types in the fetal mouse ovary.

The two main functions of the ovary are the production of oocytes, which allows the continuation of the species, and secretion of female sex hormones, which control many aspects of female development and physiology. Normal development of the ovaries during embryogenesis is critical for their function and the health of the individual in later life. Although the adult ovary has been investigated in great detail, we are only starting to understand the cellular and molecular biology of early ovarian development. Here we show that the adult stem cell marker Lgr5 is expressed in the cortical region of the fetal ovary and this expression is mutually exclusive to FOXL2. Strikingly, a third somatic cell population can be identified, marked by the expression of NR2F2, which is expressed in LGR5- and FOXL2 double-negative ovarian somatic cells. Together, these three marker genes label distinct ovarian somatic cell types. Using lineage tracing in mice, we show that Lgr5-positive cells give rise to adult cortical granulosa cells, which form the follicles of the definitive reserve. Moreover, LGR5 is required for correct timing of germ cell differentiation as evidenced by a delay of entry into meiosis in Lgr5 loss-of-function mutants, demonstrating a key role for LGR5 in the differentiation of pre-granulosa cells, which ensure the differentiation of oogonia, the formation of the definitive follicle reserve, and long-term female fertility.

The role of non-coding RNAs in male sex determination and differentiation.

A complex network of gene regulation and interaction drives male sex determination and differentiation. While many important protein-coding genes that are necessary for proper male development have been identified, many disorders in human sex development are still unexplained at the molecular level. This suggests that key factors and regulatory mechanisms are still unknown. In recent years, extensive data have shown that different classes of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a role in almost all developmental and physiological pathways. Here we review what is known about their role in male sex determination and differentiation not only in mammals, but also other species. While for some processes a key role for ncRNA has been identified, we are still far from having a complete picture.

Coronin 2A (CRN5) expression is associated with colorectal adenoma-adenocarcinoma sequence and oncogenic signalling.

BACKGROUND: Coronin proteins are known as regulators of actin-based cellular processes, and some of them are associated with the malignant progression of human cancer. Here, we show that expression of coronin 2A is up-regulated in human colon carcinoma. METHODS: This study included 26 human colon tumour specimens and 9 normal controls. Expression and localisation of coronin 2A was studied by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence imaging, cell fractionation, and immunoblotting. Functional roles of coronin 2A were analysed by over-expression and knock-down of the protein. Protein interactions were studied by co-immunoprecipitation and pull-down experiments, mass spectrometry analyses, and in vitro kinase and methylation assays. RESULTS: Histopathological investigation revealed that the expression of coronin 2A in colon tumour cells is up-regulated during the adenoma-adenocarcinoma progression. At the subcellular level, coronin 2A localised to multiple compartments, i.e. F-actin stress fibres, the front of lamellipodia, focal adhesions, and the nuclei. Over-expression of coronin 2A led to a reduction of F-actin stress fibres and elevated cell migration velocity. We identified two novel direct coronin 2A interaction partners. The interaction of coronin 2A with MAPK14 (mitogen activated protein kinase 14 or MAP kinase p38α) led to phosphorylation of coronin 2A and also to activation of the MAPK14 pathway. Moreover, coronin 2A interacted with PRMT5 (protein arginine N-methyltransferase 5), which modulates the sensitivity of tumour cells to TRAIL-induced cell death. CONCLUSIONS: We show that increased expression of coronin 2A is associated with the malignant phenotype of human colon carcinoma. Moreover, we linked coronin 2A to MAPK14 and PRMT5 signalling pathways involved in tumour progression.

Novel Coronin7 interactions with Cdc42 and N-WASP regulate actin organization and Golgi morphology.

The contribution of the actin cytoskeleton to the unique architecture of the Golgi complex is manifold. An important player in this process is Coronin7 (CRN7), a Golgi-resident protein that stabilizes F-actin assembly at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) thereby facilitating anterograde trafficking. Here, we establish that CRN7-mediated association of F-actin with the Golgi apparatus is distinctly modulated via the small Rho GTPase Cdc42 and N-WASP. We identify N-WASP as a novel interaction partner of CRN7 and demonstrate that CRN7 restricts spurious F-actin reorganizations by repressing N-WASP 'hyperactivity' upon constitutive Cdc42 activation. Loss of CRN7 leads to increased cellular F-actin content and causes a concomitant disruption of the Golgi structure. CRN7 harbours a Cdc42- and Rac-interactive binding (CRIB) motif in its tandem ß-propellers and binds selectively to GDP-bound Cdc42N17 mutant. We speculate that CRN7 can act as a cofactor for active Cdc42 generation. Mutation of CRIB motif residues that abrogate Cdc42 binding to CRN7 also fail to rescue the cellular defects in fibroblasts derived from CRN7 KO mice. Cdc42N17 overexpression partially rescued the KO phenotypes whereas N-WASP overexpression failed to do so. We conclude that CRN7 spatiotemporally influences F-actin organization and Golgi integrity in a Cdc42- and N-WASP-dependent manner.

Coronin 1C-free primary mouse fibroblasts exhibit robust rearrangements in the orientation of actin filaments, microtubules and intermediate filaments.

Coronin 1C is an established modulator of actin cytoskeleton dynamics. It has been shown to be involved in protrusion formation, cell migration and invasion. Here, we report the generation of primary fibroblasts from coronin 1C knock-out mice in order to investigate the impact of the loss of coronin 1C on cellular structural organisation. We demonstrate that the lack of coronin 1C not only affects the actin system, but also the microtubule and the vimentin intermediate filament networks. In particular, we show that the knock-out cells exhibit a reduced proliferation rate, impaired cell migration and protrusion formation as well as an aberrant subcellular localisation and function of mitochondria. Moreover, we demonstrate that coronin 1C specifically interacts with the non-α-helical amino-terminal domain ("head") of vimentin. Our data suggest that coronin 1C acts as a cytoskeletal integrator of actin filaments, microtubules and intermediate filaments.

Phosphorylation of CRN2 by CK2 regulates F-actin and Arp2/3 interaction and inhibits cell migration.

CRN2 (synonyms: coronin 1C, coronin 3) functions in the re-organization of the actin network and is implicated in cellular processes like protrusion formation, secretion, migration and invasion. We demonstrate that CRN2 is a binding partner and substrate of protein kinase CK2, which phosphorylates CRN2 at S463 in its C-terminal coiled coil domain. Phosphomimetic S463D CRN2 loses the wild-type CRN2 ability to inhibit actin polymerization, to bundle F-actin, and to bind to the Arp2/3 complex. As a consequence, S463D mutant CRN2 changes the morphology of the F-actin network in the front of lamellipodia. Our data imply that CK2-dependent phosphorylation of CRN2 is involved in the modulation of the local morphology of complex actin structures and thereby inhibits cell migration.

Structural and functional diversity of novel coronin 1C (CRN2) isoforms in muscle.

Coronin 1C (synonyms: coronin-3, CRN2), a WD40 repeat-containing protein involved in cellular actin dynamics, is ubiquitously expressed in human tissues. Here, we report on the identification and functional characterization of two novel coronin 1C isoforms, referred to as CRN2i2 and CRN2i3, which also associate with F-actin. Analyses of the coronin 1C gene disclosed a single promoter containing binding sites for myogenic regulatory factors and an alternative first exon 1b present in intron 1, which give rise to the novel isoforms. Chromatin immunoprecipitation studies demonstrate MyoD binding to a region of the CRN2 gene, which contains a highly conserved E-box element in exon 1a. Gel-filtration assays suggest that the largest isoform 3 exists as a monomer, in contrast to isoform 1 and isoform 2 appearing as trimers. CRN2i3, which can be induced by MyoD, is exclusively expressed in well-differentiated myoblasts as well as in mature skeletal muscle tissue. In human skeletal muscle, CRN2i3 is a novel component of postsynaptic neuromuscular junctions and thin filaments of myofibrils. Together, our findings postulate a role for CRN2 isoforms in the structural and functional organization of F-actin in highly ordered protein complexes.