Dynamic O-GlcNAc cycling at promoters of Caenorhabditis elegans genes regulating longevity, stress, and immunity.
Nutrient-driven O-GlcNAcylation of key components of the transcription machinery may epigenetically modulate gene expression in metazoans. The global effects of GlcNAcylation on transcription can be addressed directly in C. elegans because knockouts of the O-GlcNAc cycling enzymes are viable and fertile. Using anti-O-GlcNAc ChIP-on-chip whole-genome tiling arrays on wild-type and mutant strains, we detected over 800 promoters where O-GlcNAc cycling occurs, including microRNA loci and multigene operons. Intriguingly, O-GlcNAc-marked promoters are biased toward genes associated with PIP3 signaling, hexosamine biosynthesis, and lipid/carbohydrate metabolism. These marked genes are linked to insulin-like signaling, metabolism, aging, stress, and pathogen-response pathways in C. elegans. Whole-genome transcriptional profiling of the O-GlcNAc cycling mutants confirmed dramatic deregulation of genes in these key pathways. As predicted, the O-GlcNAc cycling mutants show altered lifespan and UV stress susceptibility phenotypes. We propose that O-GlcNAc cycling at promoters participates in a molecular program impacting nutrient-responsive pathways in C. elegans, including stress, pathogen response, and adult lifespan. The observed impact of O-GlcNAc cycling on both signaling and transcription in C. elegans has important implications for human diseases of aging, including diabetes and neurodegeneration.
Love
Dona C
DC
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-0851, USA.
Ghosh
Salil
S
Mondoux
Michelle A
MA
Fukushige
Tetsunari
T
Wang
Peng
P
Wilson
Mark A
MA
Iser
Wendy B
WB
Wolkow
Catherine A
CA
Krause
Michael W
MW
Hanover
John A
JA
D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007107:Immune System; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D009876:Operon; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015398:Signal Transduction
D002241:Carbohydrates; D002843:Chromatin; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D000117:Acetylglucosamine