Evolutionary-driven C-MYC gene expression in mammalian fibroblasts

Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 6;10(1):11056. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-67391-x.

Abstract

The extent to which mammalian cells share similar transcriptomes remains unclear. Notwithstanding, such cross-species gene expression inquiries have been scarce for defined cell types and most lack the dissection of gene regulatory landscapes. Therefore, the work was aimed to determine C-MYC relative expression across mammalian fibroblasts (Ovis aries and Bos taurus) via cross-species RT-qPCR and comprehensively explore its regulatory landscape by in silico tools. The prediction of transcription factor binding sites in C-MYC and its 2.5 kb upstream sequence revealed substantial variation, thus indicating evolutionary-driven re-wiring of cis-regulatory elements. C-MYC and its downstream target TBX3 were up-regulated in Bos taurus fibroblasts. The relative expression of C-MYC regulators [RONIN (also known as THAP11), RXRβ, and TCF3] and the C-MYC-associated transcript elongation factor CDK9 did not differ between species. Additional in silico analyses suggested Bos taurus-specific C-MYC exonization, alternative splicing, and binding sites for non-coding RNAs. C-MYC protein orthologs were highly conserved, while variation was in the transactivation domain and the leucine zipper motif. Altogether, mammalian fibroblasts display evolutionary-driven C-MYC relative expression that should be instructive for understanding cellular physiology, cellular reprogramming, and C-MYC-related diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cattle / genetics*
  • Cattle / metabolism
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 9 / genetics
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Gene Expression
  • Genes, myc*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • Regulatory Elements, Transcriptional
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Sheep, Domestic / genetics*
  • Sheep, Domestic / metabolism
  • Species Specificity
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / genetics
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 9