1. Academic Validation
  2. A small proportion of X-linked genes contribute to X chromosome upregulation in early embryos via BRD4-mediated transcriptional activation

A small proportion of X-linked genes contribute to X chromosome upregulation in early embryos via BRD4-mediated transcriptional activation

  • Curr Biol. 2022 Sep 7;S0960-9822(22)01381-1. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.059.
Qingji Lyu 1 Qianying Yang 1 Jia Hao 1 Yuan Yue 1 Xiaodong Wang 1 Jianhui Tian 1 Lei An 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P.R. China.
  • 2 Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P.R. China. Electronic address: [email protected].
Abstract

Females have two X chromosomes and males have only one in most mammals. X chromosome inactivation (XCI) occurs in females to equalize X-dosage between sexes. Besides, mammals also balance the dosage between X chromosomes and autosomes via X chromosome upregulation (XCU) to fine-tune X-linked expression and thus maintain genomic homeostasis. Despite some studies highlighting the importance of XCU in somatic cells, little is known about how XCU is achieved and its developmental role during early embryogenesis. Herein, using mouse preimplantation embryos as the model, we reported that XCU initially occurs upon major zygotic genome activation and co-regulates X-linked expression in cooperation with imprinted XCI during preimplantation development. An in-depth analysis further indicated, unexpectedly, only a small proportion of, but not X chromosome-wide, X-linked genes contribute greatly to XCU. Furthermore, we identified that bromodomain containing 4 (BRD4) plays a key role in the transcription activation of XCU during preimplantation development. BRD4 deficiency or inhibition caused an impaired XCU, thus leading to reduced developmental potential and mitochondrial dysfunctions of blastocysts. Our finding was also supported by the tight association of BRD4 dysregulation and XCU disruption in the pathology of cholangiocarcinoma. Thus, our results not only advanced the current knowledge of X-dosage compensation and provided a mechanism for understanding XCU initiation but also presented an important clue for understanding the developmental and pathological role of XCU.

Keywords

X chromosome upregulation; bromodomain containing 4; dosage compensation; preimplantation embryos.

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