Ronin Governs Early Heart Development by Controlling Core Gene Expression Programs.
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Ronin (THAP11), a DNA-binding protein that evolved from a primordial DNA transposon by molecular domestication, recognizes a hyperconserved promoter sequence to control developmentally and metabolically essential genes in pluripotent stem cells. However, it remains unclear whether Ronin or related THAP proteins perform similar functions in development. Here, we present evidence that Ronin functions within the nascent heart as it arises from the mesoderm and forms a four-chambered organ. We show that Ronin is vital for cardiogenesis during midgestation by controlling a set of critical genes. The activity of Ronin coincided with the recruitment of its cofactor, Hcf-1, and the elevation of H3K4me3 levels at specific target genes, suggesting the involvement of an epigenetic mechanism. On the strength of these findings, we propose that Ronin activity during cardiogenesis offers a template to understand how important gene programs are sustained across different cell types within a developing organ such as the heart.
Date Issued
2017-11-07
Date Acceptance
2017-10-10
Citation
Cell Reports, 2017, 21 (6), pp.1562-1573
ISSN
2211-1247
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
1562
End Page
1573
Journal / Book Title
Cell Reports
Volume
21
Issue
6
Copyright Statement
© 2017 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
PII: S2211-1247(17)31483-3
Subjects
dilative cardiomyopathy
heart development
heart disease
organ growth
transcriptional control
Publication Status
Published