Biology subjects

Beucher, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Beucher, A..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Genetic regulation of RNA splicing in human pancreatic islets

Genetic variants that influence transcriptional regulation in pancreatic islets play a major role in the susceptibility to type 2 diabetes (T2D). For many susceptibility loci, however, the mechanisms are unknown. We examined splicing QTLs (sQTLs) in islets from 399 donors and observed that genetic variation has a widespread influence on splicing of genes with important functions in islet biology. In parallel, we profiled expression QTLs, and used transcriptome-wide association and co-localization studies to assign islet sQTLs or eQTLs to T2D susceptibility signals that lacked candidate effector genes. We found novel T2D associations, including an sQTL that creates a nonsense isoform in ERO1B, a regulator of ER-stress and proinsulin biosynthesis. The expanded list of T2D risk effectors revealed overrepresented pathways, including regulators of G-protein-mediated cAMP production. This data exposes an underappreciated layer of genetic regulation in pancreatic islets, and nominates molecular mediators of T2D susceptibility.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2021

HASTER is a transcriptional stabilizer of HNF1A

The biological purpose and disease relevance of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is poorly understood. We examined HASTER, a lncRNA antisense to HNF1A. Haploinsufficient mutations in HNF1A, encoding a homeodomain transcription factor, cause diabetes mellitus. Using mouse and human models, we show that HASTER maintains HNF1A at cell-specific physiological concentrations through positive and negative feedback loops. Haster mutant pancreatic {beta} cells thus showed variegated HNF1A overexpression or silencing, causing insulin-deficiency and diabetes. We demonstrate that the HASTER promoter acts in cis to prevent HNF1A overexpression and silencing, and link HASTER-dependent inhibition to local remodelling of 3D chromatin architecture. We further show that HASTER negative feedback ensures that HNF1A creates open chromatin at appropriate cell-specific genome regions. Our studies expose a cis-regulatory element that is unlike enhancers or silencers, and instead stabilizes expression levels of a pioneer transcription factor. They also show that disruption of a mammalian lncRNA can cause diabetes mellitus.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2019

Rfx6 promotes the differentiation of peptide-secreting enteroendocrine cells while repressing genetic programs controlling serotonin production

ObjectiveEnteroendocrine cells (EECs) of the gastro-intestinal tract sense gut luminal factors and release peptide hormones or serotonin (5-HT) to coordinate energy uptake and storage. Our goal is to decipher the gene regulatory networks controlling EECs specification from enteroendocrine progenitors. In this context, we studied the role of the transcription factor Rfx6 which had been identified as the cause of Mitchell-Riley syndrome characterized by neonatal diabetes and congenital malabsorptive diarrhea. We previously reported that Rfx6 was essential for pancreatic beta cell development and function, however, the role of Rfx6 in EECs differentiation remained to be elucidated.\n\nMethodsWe examined the molecular, cellular and metabolic consequences of constitutive and conditional deletion of Rfx6 in the embryonic and adult mouse intestine. We performed single cell and bulk RNA-Seq to characterize EECs diversity and identify Rfx6-regulated genes.\n\nResultsRfx6 is expressed in the gut endoderm; later it is turned on in, and restricted to, enteroendocrine progenitors and persists in hormone-positive EECs. In the embryonic intestine, the constitutive lack of Rfx6 leads to gastric heterotopia, suggesting a role in the maintenance of intestinal identity. In the absence of intestinal Rfx6, EECs differentiation is severely impaired both in the embryo and adult. However, the number of serotonin-producing enterochromaffin cells and mucosal 5-HT content are increased. Concomitantly, Neurog3-positive enteroendocrine progenitors accumulate. Combined analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA-Seq data revealed that enteroendocrine progenitors differentiate in two main cell trajectories, the enterochromaffin (EC) cells and the Peptidergic Enteroendocrine (PE) cells, whose differentiation programs are differentially regulated by Rfx6. Rfx6 operates upstream of Arx, Pax6 and Isl1 to trigger the differentiation of peptidergic EECs such as GIP-, GLP-1- or CCK-secreting cells. On the contrary, Rfx6 represses Lmx1a and Tph1, two genes essential for serotonin biosynthesis. Finally, we identified transcriptional changes uncovering adaptive responses to the prolonged lack of enteroendocrine hormones and leading to malabsorption and lower food efficiency ratio in Rfx6-deficient mouse intestine.\n\nConclusionThese studies identify Rfx6 as an essential transcriptional regulator of EECs specification and shed light on the molecular mechanisms of intestinal failures in human RFX6-deficiencies such as Mitchell-Riley syndrome.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2019

HNF1A recruits UTX to activate a differentiation program that suppresses pancreatic cancer

Defects in transcriptional regulators of pancreatic exocrine differentiation have been implicated in pancreatic tumorigenesis, but the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. The locus encoding the transcription factor HNF1A harbors susceptibility variants for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), while KDM6A, encoding the histone demethylase UTX, carries somatic mutations in PDAC. Here, we show that pancreas-specific Hnf1a null mutations phenocopy Utx deficient mutations, and both synergize with KrasG12D to cause PDAC with sarcomatoid features. We combine genetic, epigenomic and biochemical studies to show that HNF1A recruits UTX to genomic binding sites in pancreatic acinar cells. This remodels the acinar enhancer landscape, activates a differentiation program, and indirectly suppresses oncogenic and epithelial-mesenchymal transition genes. Finally, we identify a subset of non-classical PDAC samples that exhibit the HNF1A/UTX-deficient molecular phenotype. These findings provide direct genetic evidence that HNF1A-deficiency promotes PDAC. They also connect the tumor suppressive role of UTX deficiency with a cell-specific molecular mechanism that underlies PDAC subtype definition.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2018

Human pancreatic islet 3D chromatin architecture provides insights into the genetics of type 2 diabetes

Genetic studies promise to provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying type 2 diabetes (T2D). Variants associated with T2D are often located in tissue-specific enhancer regions (enhancer clusters, stretch enhancers or super-enhancers). So far, such domains have been defined through clustering of enhancers in linear genome maps rather than in 3D-space. Furthermore, their target genes are generally unknown. We have now created promoter capture Hi-C maps in human pancreatic islets. This linked diabetes-associated enhancers with their target genes, often located hundreds of kilobases away. It further revealed sets of islet enhancers, super-enhancers and active promoters that form 3D higher-order hubs, some of which show coordinated glucose-dependent activity. Hub genetic variants impact the heritability of insulin secretion, and help identify individuals in whom genetic variation of islet function is important for T2D. Human islet 3D chromatin architecture thus provides a framework for interpretation of T2D GWAS signals.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2016

Human pancreatic β cell lncRNAs control cell-specific regulatory networks

Recent studies have uncovered thousands of long non-coding RNAs (IncRNAs) in human pancreatic {beta} cells. {beta} cell lncRNAs are often cell type-specific, and exhibit dynamic regulation during differentiation or upon changing glucose concentrations. Although these features hint at a role of lncRNAs in {beta} cell gene regulation and diabetes, the function of {beta} cell lncRNAs remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the function of {beta} cell-specific lncRNAs and transcription factors using transcript knockdowns and co-expression network analysis. This revealed lncRNAs that function in concert with transcription factors to regulate {beta} cell-specific transcriptional networks. We further demonstrate that lncRNA PLUTO affects local three-dimensional chromatin structure and transcription of PDX1, encoding a key {beta} cell transcription factor, and that both PLUTO and PDX1 are downregulated in islets from donors with type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance. These results implicate lncRNAs in the regulation of {beta} cell-specific transcription factor networks.

genomics↗