Role and mechanisms of gene silencing and heterochromatin in lymphocyte development
Lead Research Organisation:
Babraham Institute
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
For normal cell function, it is equally important to switch on and switch off the correct genes in the correct cells. We have discovered an important factor, Smarcad1, that switches of large parts of the genome in cells where this is necessary. In this project we will remove this factor in B and T cells which are the major cells that fight infection in the body. We will determine what role this factor plays in helping these cells to perform their specialized functions, in particular which genes are switched off by Smarcad1.
Planned Impact
unavailable
Publications
Fellows R
(2018)
Microbiota derived short chain fatty acids promote histone crotonylation in the colon through histone deacetylases.
in Nature communications
| Description | The packaging of the genome, referred to as chromatin, is central to genome regulation. This occurs in part by packing the genome tightly (called heterochromatin) or unpacking the genome. Smarcad1 is a chromatin remodeling factor for which we have shown a role in heterochromatin maintenance through replication in cells in culture (Rowbotham et al., Mol Cell 2011). The task of this grant was to explore, if this factor has this role in immune cells, primarilly B and T cells (important immune cells of adaptive immunity), including during their development. We analyzed the role of Smarcad1 in B and T cell development in bone marrow and also B and T cell populations in the spleen using conditional knockout animals (where this factor is deleted in the T and B cells early on during their development). We also explored the role of this factor in generating mature immunoglobulins in a process called somatic hypermutation. We did not find a clear effect of Smarcad1 deletion in B and T cell development or somatic hypermutation. However, we found that this factor has a role in the maintenance of a specific set of T cells in the intestinal epithelium, intraepithelial lymphocytes. These cells are thought to have an important role in intestinal immunity by providing a first layer of defense. The exploration of the role of Smarcad1 in iIELs is ongoing. However, we widened the analysis and explore the role of Smarcad1 in intestinal immunity both in the iIELs and also the cells that make up the majority of the epithelium. Indeed, we find that in intestinal epithelium cells Smarcad1 is involved in the regulation of many factors acting in immunity, such as anti-bacterial peptides, This work led to a funded grant application from the MRC and this, in turn, resulted in a publication that shows that Smarcad1 is required for the colitis response in mouse (Kazakevych et al., Genome Biology, 2020, in press). In summary, our work shows (1) a role of Smarcad1 in intestinal immunity, and (2) demonstrates that this occurs, at least in part, through its role in gene regulation. Furthermore, this work ultimately led us to explore the role of microbioal products, so called short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), generated by their digestion of plant fibres, in the regulatin of chromatin and gene expression. This work showed that SCFAs affect genome function through their impact on a recently identified modification of chromatin called histone crotonylation. This work is now published (Fellows et al., Nat Comms. 2018). |
| Exploitation Route | Our work will illuminate mechanisms of intestinal health and immunity. Our findings, in the long run, may help in science based decisions concerning healthy nutrition advice. We identified candidate colitogenic bacteria (Kazakevych et al, genome Biology 2020) and this may lead to novel approaches to treat diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases, e.g. Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis. Furthermore, by studying molecules involved in intestinal immunity and health, we may provide new rationals for drug targets and design. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | This work led to further, published studies on the role of bacterially derived short chain fatty acids in genome regulation. Our published work (Fellows et al. Nat Comms, 2018) raised some attention in the media, e.g. a radio interview of the PhD student Rachel Fellows at BBC3 Cambridgeshire, comments in online media etc. Thus, our work contributed to the awareness of the wider public on the gut microbiota and its effect on health. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2018 |
| Sector | Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | Acquisition of the Drosophila model system to understand mechanisms of innate immunity regulation by chromatin dynamics |
| Amount | £64,940 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NC/W001047/1 |
| Organisation | National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2021 |
| End | 06/2023 |
| Description | BBSRC-Brazil Partnering Award |
| Amount | £76,021 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/L026988/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2014 |
| End | 10/2018 |
| Description | FAPESP Pump-Priming Awards |
| Amount | £13,500 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/N013565/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2015 |
| End | 05/2017 |
| Description | MRC project grant |
| Amount | £406,182 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/N009398/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 02/2019 |
| Description | Collaboration with Marc Veldhoen |
| Organisation | Babraham Institute |
| Department | Lymphocyte Signalling |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | My team provided expertise in chromatin analysis, including genome-wide profiling of histone modifications. We also contributed expertise in transcriptome analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Marc Veldhoen established gut organoid culture for our lab and provided reagents for this. |
| Impact | Our collaboration resulted in a joint authorship: Microbiota derived short chain fatty acids promote histone crotonylation in the colon through histone deacetylases. Fellows R, et al., Nat Commun. 2018 Jan 9;9(1):105. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-02651-5. |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Collaboration with Marc Veldhoen, Babraham Institute |
| Organisation | Babraham Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We investigate the role of chromatin remodeling by Smarcad1 in maintenance of intestinal immunity, especially of intraepithelial lymphocytes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in intestinal immunity. |
| Impact | This work led to a grant application to the BBSRC (not successful) and a joint application to the EU under the HORIZON 2020 programme. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Collaboration with Professor Marco Aurelia Ramirez Vinolo and his lab, University of Campinas, Brazil |
| Organisation | State University of Campinas |
| Department | Institute of Biology |
| Country | Brazil |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | As a result of meeting through the BBSRC-Brazil Partnering Award, my lab and the lab of Marco Vinolo set up a collaboration, in part funded through a BBSRC-FAPESP Pump priming Award. In this collaboration, my lab defined the overall research agenda, which was the elucidation of the link between the microbiota in the gut and gene regulation through histone modifications. My team and I provided the expertise in chromatin biology, histone modifications and the initial observation that have been generated, in aprt, in collaboration with Dr Tiziana Bonald, Italy. We also provided expertise in genome-wide chromatin and gene expression analysis. I also largely wrote the manuscript that was generated through this collaboration:Microbiota derived short chain fatty acids promote histone crotonylation in the colon through histone deacetylases R Fellows etal., Nature communications 9 (1), 105; 10.1038/s41467-017-02651-5. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The lab of Prof. Marco Vinolo provided expertise regarding then role and analysis of short chain fatty acids and manipulation of microbiota in mice. This expertise was pivotal for our work examining the role of microbiota in shaping chromatin and gene expression in the colon epithelium. Therefore, the BBSRC-Brazil partnering award was instrumental and succeeded in its aim to foster a productive collaboration between UK and Brazilian scientists. |
| Impact | This collaboration resulted in a publication in Nature Communications that elicited much attention, as indicated by its current Altmetric score of 273: Microbiota derived short chain fatty acids promote histone crotonylation in the colon through histone deacetylases. Nat Commun. 2018 Jan 9;9(1):105. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-02651-5. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Collaboration with TB |
| Organisation | European Institute of Oncology (IEO) |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | provided research question and materials |
| Collaborator Contribution | provided expert mass spec analysis |
| Impact | Funded MRC project grant |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Radio Interview at BBC 3 Cambridgeshire |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Radio Interviews of PhD student Rachel Fellows from the Varga-Weisz lab concerning her research on gut microbiota and gene regulation, in the wake of the publication of her paper. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |