Annalena Moliner

Cross-talk between the Notch and TGF-β signaling pathways mediated by interaction of the Notch intracellular domain with Smad3

The Notch and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathways play critical roles in the control of cell fate during metazoan development. However, mechanisms of cross-talk and signal integration between the two systems are unknown. Here, we demonstrate a functional synergism between Notch and TGF-β signaling in the regulation of Hes-1, a direct target of the Notch pathway. Activation of TGF-β signaling up-regulated Hes-1 expression in vitro and in vivo. This effect was abrogated in myogenic cells by a dominant-negative form of CSL, an essential DNA-binding component of the Notch pathway. TGF-β regulated transcription from the Hes-1 promoter in a Notch-dependent manner, and the intracellular domain of Notch1 (NICD) cooperated synergistically with Smad3, an intracellular transducer of TGF-β signals, to induce the activation of synthetic promoters containing multimerized CSL- or Smad3-binding sites. NICD and Smad3 were shown to interact directly, both in vitro and in cells, in a ligand-dependent manner, and Smad3 could be recruited to CSL-binding sites on DNA in the presence of CSL and NICD. These findings indicate that Notch and TGF-β signals are integrated by direct protein–protein interactions between the signal-transducing intracellular elements from both pathways.

Histone H2AX-dependent GABA A receptor regulation of stem cell proliferation

Stem cell self-renewal implies proliferation under continued maintenance of multipotency. Small changes in numbers of stem cells may lead to large differences in differentiated cell numbers, resulting in significant physiological consequences. Proliferation is typically regulated in the G1 phase, which is associated with differentiation and cell cycle arrest. However, embryonic stem (ES) cells may lack a G1 checkpoint. Regulation of proliferation in the ‘DNA damage’ S/G2 cell cycle checkpoint pathway is known for its role in the maintenance of chromatin structural integrity. Here we show that autocrine/paracrine γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signalling by means of GABAA receptors negatively controls ES cell and peripheral neural crest stem (NCS) cell proliferation, preimplantation embryonic growth and proliferation in the boundary-cap stem cell niche, resulting in an attenuation of neuronal progenies from this stem cell niche. Activation of GABAA receptors leads to hyperpolarization, increased cell volume and accumulation of stem cells in S phase, thereby causing a rapid decrease in cell proliferation. GABAA receptors signal through S-phase checkpoint kinases of the phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase-related kinase family and the histone variant H2AX. This signalling pathway critically regulates proliferation independently of differentiation, apoptosis and overt damage to DNA. These results indicate the presence of a fundamentally different mechanism of proliferation control in these stem cells, in comparison with most somatic cells, involving proteins in the DNA damage checkpoint pathway.

Highly multiplexed and strand-specific single-cell RNA 5[prime] end sequencing

Single-cell analysis of gene expression is increasingly important for the analysis of complex tissues, including cancer, developing organs and adult stem cell niches. Here we present a detailed protocol for quantitative gene expression analysis in single cells, by the sequencing of mRNA 5′ ends. In all, 96 cells are lysed, and their mRNA is converted to cDNA. By using a template-switching mechanism, a bar code and an upstream primer-binding sequence are introduced simultaneously with reverse transcription. All cDNA is pooled and then prepared for 5′ end sequencing, including fragmentation, adapter ligation and PCR amplification. The chief advantage of this approach is the great reduction in cost and time, afforded by the early bar-coding strategy. Compared with previous methods, it is more suitable for large-scale quantitative analysis, as well as for the characterization of transcription start sites, but it is unsuitable for the detection of alternatively spliced transcripts. Sample preparation takes 3 d, and two sets of 96 cells can be prepared in parallel. Finally, the sequencing and data analysis can take an additional 4 d altogether.

Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Spheres with Distinct Neurogenic Potentials

Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells grown in feeder-free suspension cultures in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) form spheres that retain pluripotency after multiple passages. ES cell-derived spheres of any passage acquired increased competence to differentiate into neurons over time in culture. Eight-day-old spheres produced many neurons upon plating in differentiation conditions whereas 3-day-old spheres produce none, even after monolayer expansion or treatment with blockers of inhibitory signals, indicating the acquisition of a reversible, proto-neurogenic state during sphere development. Gene expression profiling with oligonucleotide microarrays was used to identify the transcriptional changes accompanying this process. Sphere growth was characterized by down-regulation of a subset of ES cell-expressed genes during the first few days of sphere formation, and progressive up-regulation of novel genes over the course of 1 week in culture. Differential gene expression between 3-day-old and 8 day-old spheres was verified by quantitative real-time PCR experiments. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) of microarray data indicated that neurogenic potential in the late stages of sphere development correlated predominantly with up-regulation of pathways related to mitochondrial function, cell metabolism, oxidative stress, hypoxia, and down-regulation of RNA transcription and proteasome machineries, as well as pathways induced by myc and repressed by retinoic acid. We propose that differences in cellular metabolic state brought about by cell-cell contact and paracrine interactions in the sphere niche may play crucial roles in biasing the early stages of ES cell differentiation toward a neuronal phenotype.

Optimized mouse ES cell culture system by suspension growth in a fully defined medium.

Mouse and human embryonic stem (mES and hES) cells have become one of the most intensively studied primary cell types in biomedical research. However, culturing ES cells is notoriously labor intensive. We have optimized current ES cell culture methods by growing mES cells in suspension in a defined medium. This protocol is unsurpassed in time efficiency and typically requires only 20 min of effective hands-on time per week. This protocol maintains a very high degree of pluripotent cells partly by mechanical separation of spontaneously differentiating cells. mES cells can be cultured for extended periods (>6 months) without the loss of pluripotency markers. High passage (>20) adherent mES cultures containing contaminating differentiated cells can be rescued and enriched in undifferentiated ES cells.

Adipocyte ALK7 links nutrient overload to catecholamine resistance in obesity

Obesity is associated with blunted β-adrenoreceptor (β-AR)-mediated lipolysis and lipid oxidation in adipose tissue, but the mechanisms linking nutrient overload to catecholamine resistance are poorly understood. We report that targeted disruption of TGF-β superfamily receptor ALK7 alleviates diet-induced catecholamine resistance in adipose tissue, thereby reducing obesity in mice. Global and fat-specific Alk7 knock-out enhanced adipose β-AR expression, β-adrenergic signaling, mitochondrial biogenesis, lipid oxidation, and lipolysis under a high fat diet, leading to elevated energy expenditure, decreased fat mass, and resistance to diet-induced obesity. Conversely, activation of ALK7 reduced β-AR-mediated signaling and lipolysis cell-autonomously in both mouse and human adipocytes. Acute inhibition of ALK7 in adult mice by a chemical-genetic approach reduced diet-induced weight gain, fat accumulation, and adipocyte size, and enhanced adipocyte lipolysis and β-adrenergic signaling. We propose that ALK7 signaling contributes to diet-induced catecholamine resistance in adipose tissue, and suggest that ALK7 inhibitors may have therapeutic value in human obesity. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.03245.001

Neuroendocrine control of female reproductive function by the activin receptor ALK7

Activins are critical components of the signaling network that controls female reproduction. However, their roles in hypothalamus, and the specific functions of their different receptors, have not been elucidated. Here, we investigated the expression and function of the activin receptor ALK7 in the female reproductive axis using Alk7‐knockout mice. ALK7 was found in subsets of SF1‐expressing granulosa cells in the ovary, FSH gonadotrophs in the pituitary, and NPY‐expressing neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Alk7‐knockout females showed delayed onset of puberty and abnormal estrous cyclicity, had abnormal diestrous levels of FSH and LH in serum, and their ovaries showed premature depletion of follicles, oocyte degeneration, and impaired responses to exogenous gonadotropins. In the arcuate nucleus, mutant mice showed reduced expression of Npy mRNA and lower numbers of Npy‐expressing neurons than wild‐type controls. Alk7 knockouts showed a selective loss of arcuate NPY/AgRP innervation in the medial preoptic area, a key central regulator of reproduction. These results indicate that ALK7 is an important regulator of female reproductive function and reveal a new role for activin signaling in the control of hypothalamic gene expression and wiring. Alk7 gene variants may contribute to female reproductive disorders in humans, such as polycystic ovary syndrome.—Sandoval‐Guzmán, T., Göngrich, C., Moliner, A., Guo, T., Wu, H., Broberger, C., Ibáñez, C. F. Neuroendocrine control of female reproductive function by the activin receptor ALK7. FASEB J. 26, 4966–4976 (2012). www.fasebj.org

Differential regulation of mouse pancreatic islet insulin secretion and Smad proteins by activin ligands

Aims/hypothesisGlucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) from pancreatic beta cells is regulated by paracrine factors, the identity and mechanisms of action of which are incompletely understood. Activins are expressed in pancreatic islets and have been implicated in the regulation of GSIS. Activins A and B signal through a common set of intracellular components, but it is unclear whether they display similar or distinct functions in glucose homeostasis.MethodsWe examined glucose homeostatic responses in mice lacking activin B and in pancreatic islets derived from these mutants. We compared the ability of activins A and B to regulate downstream signalling, ATP production and GSIS in islets and beta cells.ResultsMice lacking activin B displayed elevated serum insulin levels and GSIS. Injection of a soluble activin B antagonist phenocopied these changes in wild-type mice. Isolated pancreatic islets from mutant mice showed enhanced GSIS, which could be rescued by exogenous activin B. Activin B negatively regulated GSIS and ATP production in wild-type islets, while activin A displayed the opposite effects. The downstream mediator Smad3 responded preferentially to activin B in pancreatic islets and beta cells, while Smad2 showed a preference for activin A, indicating distinct signalling effects of the two activins. In line with this, overexpression of Smad3, but not Smad2, decreased GSIS in pancreatic islets.Conclusions/interpretationThese results reveal a tug-of-war between activin ligands in the regulation of insulin secretion by beta cells, and suggest that manipulation of activin signalling could be a useful strategy for the control of glucose homeostasis in diabetes and metabolic disease.

MET signaling in GABAergic neuronal precursors of the medial ganglionic eminence restricts GDNF activity in cells that express GFRα1 and a new transmembrane receptor partner.

GDNF (glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor) promotes the differentiation and migration of GABAergic neuronal precursors of the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE). These functions are dependent on the GPI-anchored receptor GFRα1, but independent of its two known transmembrane receptor partners RET and NCAM. Here we show that soluble GFRα1 is also able to promote differentiation and migration of GABAergic MGE neurons. These activities require endogenous production of GDNF. Although GDNF responsiveness is abolished in Gfra1−/− neurons, it can be restored upon addition of soluble GFRα1, a result that is only compatible with the existence of a previously unknown transmembrane signaling partner for the GDNF-GFRα1 complex in GABAergic neurons. The roles of two candidate transmembrane receptors previously implicated in GABAergic interneuron development - MET, a receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and ErbB4, the neuregulin receptor – were examined. GDNF did not induce the activation of either receptor, nor did inhibition of MET or ErbB4 impair GDNF activity in GABAergic MGE neurons. Unexpectedly, however, inhibition of MET or HGF per se promoted neuronal differentiation and migration and enhanced the activity of GDNF on MGE neurons. These effects were dependent on endogenous GDNF and GFRα1, suggesting that MET signaling negatively regulates GDNF activity in the MGE. In agreement with this, Met mutant MGE neurons showed enhanced responses to GDNF and inhibition of MET or HGF increased Gfra1 mRNA expression in MGE cells. In vivo, expression of MET and GFRα1 overlapped in the MGE, and a loss-of-function mutation in Met increased Gfra1 expression in this region. Together, these observations demonstrate the existence of a novel transmembrane receptor partner for the GDNF–GFRα1 complex and uncover an unexpected interplay between GDNF–GFRα1 and HGF–MET signaling in the early diversification of cortical GABAergic interneuron subtypes.

Loading of the antigen-presenting protein CD1d with synthetic glycolipids

CD1 proteins present mammalian and microbial lipid and glycolipid antigens to different subsets of T cells. Few such antigens have been identified and the binding of these to CD1 molecules has mainly been studied by using responding T cells in cellular assays or recombinant solid‐phase CD1 proteins. In the present study we use four different glycolipids, some of which contain tumor‐associated carbohydrate antigens, to develop a procedure to easily detect binding of glycolipids to CD1 proteins on viable cells. Two of these glycolipids are novel glycoconjugates containing α‐D‐N‐acetylgalactosamine (α‐GalNAc) that were prepared by a combined solution and solid‐phase approach. The key step, a Fischer glycosylation of 9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonylaminoethanol with GalNAc, furnished the α‐glycoside 4 in 34 % yield. Cells were incubated with glycolipids and stained with monoclonal antibodies specific for the carbohydrate part. The level of glycolipid bound to cells was then determined by flow cytometry with a secondary antibody labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. All four glycolipids were found to bind to CD1d but with different selectivity. The loading was dose dependent and could be inhibited by an established CD1d ligand, α‐galactosylceramide. Through use of this procedure, glycolipids were selectively loaded onto CD1d expressed on professional antigen‐presenting cells for future use as cellular vaccines. Moreover, the glycolipids described in this study represent novel CD1d‐binding ligands that will be useful derivatives in the study of CD1d‐dependent immune responses, for example, against tumors.