The Polycomb Group Protein Pcgf1 Is Dispensable in Zebrafish but Involved in Early Growth and Aging

PLoS One. 2016 Jul 21;11(7):e0158700. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158700. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Polycomb Repressive Complex (PRC) 1 regulates the control of gene expression programs via chromatin structure reorganization. Through mutual exclusion, different PCGF members generate a variety of PRC1 complexes with potentially distinct cellular functions. In this context, the molecular function of each of the PCGF family members remains elusive. The study of PCGF family member expression in zebrafish development and during caudal fin regeneration reveals that the zebrafish pcgf genes are subjected to different regulations and that all PRC1 complexes in terms of Pcgf subunit composition are not always present in the same tissues. To unveil the function of Pcgf1 in zebrafish, a mutant line was generated using the TALEN technology. Mutant pcgf1-/- fish are viable and fertile, but the growth rate at early developmental stages is reduced in absence of pcgf1 gene function and a significant number of pcgf1-/- fish show signs of premature aging. This first vertebrate model lacking Pcgf1 function shows that this Polycomb Group protein is involved in cell proliferation during early embryogenesis and establishes a link between epigenetics and aging.

MeSH terms

  • Aging / genetics*
  • Animal Fins / physiology
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Bone and Bones / embryology
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism
  • Cartilage / embryology
  • Cartilage / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Embryonic Development / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / genetics*
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / metabolism
  • Regeneration
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Skull / blood supply
  • Skull / embryology
  • Skull / metabolism
  • Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases
  • Zebrafish / embryology*
  • Zebrafish / genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Histones
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • pcgf1 protein, Danio rerio
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1
  • Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (www.inserm.fr/), the University of Lille 1 (http://www.univ-lille1.fr/), and grants from le Comité du Nord de la Ligue Contre le Cancer (https://www.ligue-cancer.net/) and l’ITMO Biologie Cellulaire, Développement et Evolution (http://www.aviesan.fr/aviesan/accueil/menu-header/instituts-thematiques-multi-organismes/biologie-cellulaire-developpement-et-evolution). BD is supported by a fellowship from the Région Nord-Pas de Calais and the University of Lille. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.