Nuclear quiescence and histone hyper-acetylation jointly improve protamine-mediated nuclear remodeling in sheep fibroblasts

PLoS One. 2018 Mar 15;13(3):e0193954. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193954. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Recently we have demonstrated the possibility to replace histones with protamine, through the heterologous expression of human protamine 1 (hPrm1) gene in sheep fibroblasts. Here we have optimized protaminization of somatic nucleus by adjusting the best concentration and exposure time to trichostatin A (TSA) in serum-starved fibroblasts (nuclear quiescence), before expressing Prm1 gene. To stop cell proliferation, we starved cells in 0.5% FBS in MEM ("starved"-ST group), whereas in the Control group (CTR) the cells were cultured in 10% FBS in MEM. To find the most effective TSA concentration, we treated the cells with increasing concentrations of TSA in MEM + 10% FBS. Our results show that combination of cell culture conditions in 50 nM TSA, is more effective in terminating cell proliferation than ST and CTR groups (respectively 8%, 17.8% and 90.2% p<0.0001). Moreover, nuclear quiescence marker genes expression (Dicer1, Smarca 2, Ezh1 and Ddx39) confirmed that our culture conditions kept the cells in a nuclear quiescent state. Finally, ST and 50 nM TSA jointly increased the number of spermatid-like cell (39.4%) at higher rate compared to 25 nM TSA (20.4%, p<0.05) and 100 nM TSA (13.7%, p<0.05). To conclude, we have demonstrated that nuclear quiescence in ST cells and the open nuclear structure conferred by TSA resulted in an improved Prm1-mediated conversion of somatic nuclei into spermatid-like structures. This finding might improve nuclear reprogramming of somatic cells following nuclear transfer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / drug effects
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cellular Reprogramming / drug effects
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Histones / metabolism*
  • Hydroxamic Acids / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Nuclear Transfer Techniques
  • Protamines / metabolism*
  • Ribonuclease III / metabolism
  • Sheep / metabolism*
  • Spermatids / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Histones
  • Hydroxamic Acids
  • Protamines
  • trichostatin A
  • Ribonuclease III
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases

Grants and funding

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 734434 and No 698165. The research presented is funded by MIUR/CNR and Program FIRB GA B81J12002520001 “GenHome”. The authors are also participating in the COST Action CA16119.