Sox2 interacts with Atoh1 and Huwe1 loci to regulate Atoh1 transcription and stability during hair cell differentiation.

Stem cell pluripotency gene Sox2 stimulates expression of proneural basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor Atoh1. Sox2 is necessary for the development of cochlear hair cells and binds to the Atoh1 3' enhancer to stimulate Atoh1 expression. We show here that Sox2 deletion in late embryogen...

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Main Authors: Yen-Fu Cheng, Judith S Kempfle, Hao Chiang, Kohsuke Tani, Quan Wang, Sheng-Hong Chen, Danielle Lenz, Wei-Yi Chen, Wenjin Wu, Marco Petrillo, Albert S B Edge
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS Genetics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1011573
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author Yen-Fu Cheng
Judith S Kempfle
Hao Chiang
Kohsuke Tani
Quan Wang
Sheng-Hong Chen
Danielle Lenz
Wei-Yi Chen
Wenjin Wu
Marco Petrillo
Albert S B Edge
author_facet Yen-Fu Cheng
Judith S Kempfle
Hao Chiang
Kohsuke Tani
Quan Wang
Sheng-Hong Chen
Danielle Lenz
Wei-Yi Chen
Wenjin Wu
Marco Petrillo
Albert S B Edge
author_sort Yen-Fu Cheng
collection DOAJ
description Stem cell pluripotency gene Sox2 stimulates expression of proneural basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor Atoh1. Sox2 is necessary for the development of cochlear hair cells and binds to the Atoh1 3' enhancer to stimulate Atoh1 expression. We show here that Sox2 deletion in late embryogenesis results in the formation of extra hair cells, in contrast to the absence of hair cell development obtained after Sox2 knockout early in gestation. Sox2 overexpression decreased the level of Atoh1 protein despite an increase in Atoh1 mRNA. Sox2 upregulated E3 ubiquitin ligase, Huwe1, by direct binding to the Huwe1 gene. By upregulating its cognate E3 ligase, Sox2 disrupts the positive feedback loop through which Atoh1 protein increases the expression of Atoh1. We conclude that Sox2 initiates expression, while also limiting continued activity of bHLH transcription factor, Atoh1, and this inhibition represents a new mechanism for regulating the activity of this powerful initiator of hair cell development.
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institution DOAJ
issn 1553-7390
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS Genetics
spelling doaj-art-984bfa718f854a9381fdf3342385e0be2025-08-20T02:57:02ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Genetics1553-73901553-74042025-01-01211e101157310.1371/journal.pgen.1011573Sox2 interacts with Atoh1 and Huwe1 loci to regulate Atoh1 transcription and stability during hair cell differentiation.Yen-Fu ChengJudith S KempfleHao ChiangKohsuke TaniQuan WangSheng-Hong ChenDanielle LenzWei-Yi ChenWenjin WuMarco PetrilloAlbert S B EdgeStem cell pluripotency gene Sox2 stimulates expression of proneural basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor Atoh1. Sox2 is necessary for the development of cochlear hair cells and binds to the Atoh1 3' enhancer to stimulate Atoh1 expression. We show here that Sox2 deletion in late embryogenesis results in the formation of extra hair cells, in contrast to the absence of hair cell development obtained after Sox2 knockout early in gestation. Sox2 overexpression decreased the level of Atoh1 protein despite an increase in Atoh1 mRNA. Sox2 upregulated E3 ubiquitin ligase, Huwe1, by direct binding to the Huwe1 gene. By upregulating its cognate E3 ligase, Sox2 disrupts the positive feedback loop through which Atoh1 protein increases the expression of Atoh1. We conclude that Sox2 initiates expression, while also limiting continued activity of bHLH transcription factor, Atoh1, and this inhibition represents a new mechanism for regulating the activity of this powerful initiator of hair cell development.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1011573
spellingShingle Yen-Fu Cheng
Judith S Kempfle
Hao Chiang
Kohsuke Tani
Quan Wang
Sheng-Hong Chen
Danielle Lenz
Wei-Yi Chen
Wenjin Wu
Marco Petrillo
Albert S B Edge
Sox2 interacts with Atoh1 and Huwe1 loci to regulate Atoh1 transcription and stability during hair cell differentiation.
PLoS Genetics
title Sox2 interacts with Atoh1 and Huwe1 loci to regulate Atoh1 transcription and stability during hair cell differentiation.
title_full Sox2 interacts with Atoh1 and Huwe1 loci to regulate Atoh1 transcription and stability during hair cell differentiation.
title_fullStr Sox2 interacts with Atoh1 and Huwe1 loci to regulate Atoh1 transcription and stability during hair cell differentiation.
title_full_unstemmed Sox2 interacts with Atoh1 and Huwe1 loci to regulate Atoh1 transcription and stability during hair cell differentiation.
title_short Sox2 interacts with Atoh1 and Huwe1 loci to regulate Atoh1 transcription and stability during hair cell differentiation.
title_sort sox2 interacts with atoh1 and huwe1 loci to regulate atoh1 transcription and stability during hair cell differentiation
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1011573
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