O presente trabalho teve por objetivo compreender e analisar os mecanismos genéticos e epigenéticos da expressão diferencial de regiões organizadoras do nucléolo - RONs através do estudo de dois acessos (CRT-1 e CRT-2) de Crotalaria retusa. O acesso CRT-1 é uma cultivar, enquanto que o acesso CRT-2 é proveniente de uma população periférica da orla marítima de Ilhéus BA. Por serem temporalmente e espacialmente separados, acredita-se que os acessos foram submetidos a pressões seletivas diferentes, resultando em alterações dos padrões epigenéticos, principalmente nas RONs. Para o desenvolvimento deste trabalho foram realizadas medidas cromossômicas e nucleolares a partir de células coradas pelo método de Feulgen e por nitrato de prata, coloração com fluorocromos específicos às regiões cromossômicas ricas em nucleotídeos GC e AT, mapeamento físico dos locos de DNA ribossômico 45S por hibridação in situ fluorescente, análise qualitativa e quantitativa de modificações pós-traducionais de histonas por Western blot e eletroforese bidimensional de extrato protéico radicular com enfoque em proteínas envolvidas nos mecanismos epigenéticos. As análises citológicas demonstraram uma grande semelhança nos cariótipos dos dois acessos, diferindo apenas no tamanho do segmento proximal do braço curto do cromossomo 1. Em ambos os acessos foi observada uma expressão nucleolar diferencial em, aproximadamente, 50% das células; contudo, a expressão diferencial em CRT-2 apresentou-se consideravelmente maior. Além disso, os dois acessos demonstraram diferenças quantitativas nas modificações pós-traducionais de histonas e em proteínas possivelmente envolvidas em mecanismos epigenéticos. Uma vez que as variações epigenéticas podem ser modificadas por fatores ambientais, sugere-se que as diferenças nos padrões de modificações de histonas e nos perfis protéicos encontradas entre os acessos, como também a expressão diferencial mais expressiva em CRT-2, sejam devidas às diferentes pressões seletivas as quais as populações originais foram submetidas. O estudo dos mecanismos genéticos e epigenéticos na dominância nucleolar possibilita uma maior compreensão da ação do remodelamento da cromatina no controle da expressão gênica do rDNA, como também da expressão gênica em geral. / The aim of this present work was to understand and analyze the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of differential expression of the nucleolus organizer regions - NORs through the study of two accesses (CRT-1 and CRT-2) of Crotalaria retusa. Access CRT-1 is a cultivar, while access CRT-2 is from a peripheral population of the shoreline of Ilhéus BA. Because they are temporally and spatially separated, it is believed that the accesses were submitted to different selective pressures, resulting in changes in epigenetic patterns, primarily in NORs. To develop this work, it was carried out chromosomal and nucleolar measurements from cell stained by Feulgen method and silver nitrate, staining with specific fluorochromes to chromosomal regions rich in GC and AT nucleotides, physical mapping of 45S ribosomal DNA loci by fluorescent in situ hybridization, qualitative and quantitative analysis of post-translational histone modifications by western blot, and two-dimensional electrophoresis of root extract protein focusing on proteins involved in epigenetic mechanisms. The cytological analysis showed a great similarity in karyotypes of two accessions, differing only in size of the proximal segment of the sort arm of chromosome 1. In both accesses, it was observed a differential nucleolar expression in approximately 50% of the cells; however, the differential expression in CRT-2 showed considerably larger. Furthermore, the two accesses showed quantitative differences in the posttranslational histone modifications, and in a protein possibly involved in epigenetic mechanisms. Since epigenetic variations can be modified by environmental factors, it is suggested that differences in patterns of histone modifications and protein profiles found between the accesses, but also the most significant differential expression in CRT-2, are due to different selective pressures to which the original populations were submitted. Studies of the epigenetic mechanisms in nucleolar dominance allows a better understanding of the action of the remodeling of chromatin in controlling the dosage of rRNA genes, but also in the control of gene expression in general.

A manipulação seletiva de alvos epigenéticos usando pequenas moléculas inibidoras das enzimas histona-desacetilases (HDACs) e DNA metiltransferases (DNMTs) é uma estratégia para estimular a expressão das vias biossintéticas e a produção de novos metabólitos secundários em fungos. Neste trabalho, inibidores de histonadesacetilases (butirato de sódio, ácido hidroxâmico suberoilanilida e ácido valproico) e inibidores de DNA metiltransferases (5-azacitidina, hidralazina, procaína e procainamida) foram suplementados em culturas líquidas e sólidas dos fungos endofíticos Fusarium oxysporum SS46, Hyphodermella corrugata FLe8.2 e Chaetomium globosum VR10, das linhagens comerciais Fusarium oxysporum ATCC MYA 4623 e Chaetomium globosum ATCC 56726 e do fitopatógeno Botrytis cinerea B0510. O fungo endofítico H. corrugata FLe8.2, em meio PDB, produziu o composto 2-(2-metoxifenil)-4H-piran-4-ona, e sua cultura em meio Czapek suplementada com hidralazina levou ao isolamento de 3-metil-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-a]-ftalazina. O tratamento de F. oxysporum SS46 e F. oxysporum ATCC MYA 4623 com hidralazina em meio Czapek levou ao isolamento de um novo composto, 2H-[1,2,4]triazino[3,4- a]-ftalazina. Nestas culturas houve biotransformação da hidralazina pelos fungos, provavelmente como mecanismo de desintoxicação. Ainda, a hidralazina teve um efeito inibidor sobre a biossíntese do ciclohexadepsipeptídeo beauvericina em F. oxysporum SS46. Nas culturas de C. globosum VR10 em meio Czapek os inibidores de HDACs e de DNMTs suprimiram a biossíntese de chaetoglobosinas. A adição de ácido valproico na cultura de C. globosum VR10 em meio PDB eliciou a produção da chaetoviridina B. A adição de 5-azacitidina nas culturas de C. globosum VR10 em meio sólido PDA não modificou a produção da chaetoglosina A. A produção de chaetoviridina B por C. globosum ATCC 56726 em meio PDA foi inibida na menor concentração de 5-azacitidina, 50 ?M, e retomada na concentração de 150 ?M. O tratamento de B. cinerea B0510 com ácido hidroxâmico suberoilanilida SAHA levou à biossíntese de um novo composto, ácido 5-benzil-2,3-di-hidroxi-3-isopropil-4- oxotetrahidrofuran-2-carboxílico, o qual também foi isolado da linhagem geneticamente modificada B. cinerea Bc ?STC2. No geral, considerando as linhagens fúngicas estudadas, os resultados mostram que a adição de moduladores químicos que atuam em mecanismos epigenéticos promove mudanças no perfil de metabólitos secundários. / The selective manipulation of epigenetic targets using small molecule inhibitors of histone deacetylase (HDAC) and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) activities is a strategy to elicit the expression of biosynthetic pathways and production of new secondary metabolites in fungi. In this work, HDAC inhibitors (sodium butyrate, suberohydroxamic acid and valproic acid) and DNMT inhibitors (5-azacitidine, hydralazine, procaine and procainamide) were supplemented in liquid and solid cultures of the endophytic fungi Fusarium oxysporum SS46, Hyphodermella corrugata FLe8.2 and Chaetomium globosum VR10, of the commercial fungal strains Fusarium oxysporum ATCC MYA 4623 and Chaetomium globosum ATCC 56726 and of the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea B0510. The endophytic fungus H. corrugata FLe8.2 produced 2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4H-pyran-4-one in PDB medium, while in the presence of hydralazine in Czapek medium the fungus produced 3- methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-a]-phthalazine. Treatment of F. oxysporum SS46 and F. oxysporum ATCC MYA 4623 with hydralazine in a Czapek medium led to the isolation of new compound, 2H-[1,2,4]triazino[3,4-a]-phthalazine. Hydralazine was biotransformed by these three fungi probably as a detoxification strategy. In addition, hydralazine also inhibited the biosynthesis of the cyclodepsipeptide beauvericin by F. oxysporum SS46. HDAC and DNMT inhibitors suppressed chaetoglobosins\' biosynthesis by C. globosum VR10 cultures in Czapek medium. The biosynthesis of chaetoviridin B by C. globosum VR10 was elicited by acid valproic in PDB medium. The production of chaetogosin A by C. globosum VR10 in PDA medium has not been affected by 5-azacitidine. The biosynthesis of chaetoviridin B by C. globosum ATCC 56726 in PDA medium was inhibited in the presence of lower concentration 5- azacitidine (50 ?M) and recovered in the higher concentration (150 ?M). Treatment of B. cinerea B0510 with suberohydroxamic acid led to the biosynthesis of the new compound 5-benzyl-2,3-dihydroxy-3-isopropyl-4-oxotetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acid, which was also isolated from the genetically modified strain B. cinerea Bc ?STC2. Results showed that chemical compounds that act in epigenetic mechanisms can induce changes in the secondary metabolite profiles in the fungal strains studied in this work.

Bien que l’ADN contenu dans les cellules eucaryotes permette le stockage de l’information génétique, c’est l’empaquetage de l’ADN en chromatine qui permet d’organiser finement cette information au cours du développement des organismes. Cependant cette structure constitue une barrière pour l’accessibilité de séquences d’ADN régulatrices. Ainsi, il existe différents mécanismes qui permettent de moduler la structure de la chromatine afin de définir le programme transcriptionnel spécifique de chaque cellule durant le développement des organismes. Dans cette étude nous avons montré que BAF60, une sous unité des complexes de remodelage de la chromatine de type SWI/SNF, favorise la transition florale en réprimant l’expression du gène FLC, répresseur de la floraison, et en contrôlant la formation d’une boucle intra-génique sur ce gène via la modulation de la condensation de la chromatine, la composition en histone et la régulation de marques épigénétiques au niveau de ce locus. De plus, nous avons mis en évidence que BAF60 agit sur la croissance des racines en régulant négativement la production de cytokinines et en favorisant la progression du cycle cellulaire grâce à son rôle sur l’architecture chromatinienne. Nous avons également montré que BAF60 se fixe préférentiellement sur les G-box des gènes actifs au niveau des régions sans nucléosome. BAF60 est exprimé durant le jour et favorise la répression de gènes impliqués dans l’élongation de l’hypocotyle. L’ensemble des résultats obtenus dans cette étude a montré que BAF60 régule des étapes clés du développement d’Arabidopsis thaliana en modulant l’architecture chromatinienne afin de réguler l’expression de nombreux gènes indispensables à différentes voies développementales de la plante. Comprendre comment BAF60 peut réguler l’organisation chromatinienne au sein de tissus spécifiques constituera le prochain défi. / Although DNA in eukaryotic cells allows storage of genetic information, it is its packaging into chromatin which allows to finely organize this information throughout the development of organisms. Chromatin constitutes a barrier to regulatory DNA sequences accessibility. Different mechanisms modulate chromatin structure in order to set the specific transcriptional program for each cell type during development. In this study, we have shown that BAF60, a subunit of SWI/SNF complexes, promotes flowering, by repressing the expression of FLC, a key flowering repressor. BAF60 regulates FLC by controlling gene loop formation via modulation of chromatin condensation, histone composition and post-translational modifications. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that BAF60 acts on root growth by negatively regulating cytokinin production and by promoting cell cycle progression through its role in chromatin architecture. We have also shown that BAF60 binds preferentially G-box of active genes at nucleosome-free region. BAF60 is expressed during the day to promote repression of genes involved in hypocotyl elongation. All together these results have shown that BAF60 regulates key steps of Arabidopsis thaliana development. BAF60 can thus modulate chromatin architecture to regulate the expression of many genes required for different plant developmental pathways. Understanding how BAF60 can regulate chromatin organization in specific cell types is the next challenge.

Orientador: Luiz Fernando Rolim de Almeida / Resumo: Apesar de serem organismos sésseis, as plantas movimentam ativamente estruturas vegetativas e reprodutivas, levando a interação com o ambiente ao redor. As plantas mantêm comunicação com plantas vizinhas, herbívoros e predadores através da emissão de compostos químicos exsudados pela raiz e esses eventos modificam o ambiente ocupado pelos vegetais. Esses exsudatos podem induzir a alteração de padrões morfológicos e fisiológicos além da expressão gênica de plantas vizinhas. Utilizamos o metil jasmonato, um regulador vegetal, para desencadear dois ciclos indutivos em plantas e comunicação com plantas vizinhas. Durante o estímulo, analisamos assimilação líquida de CO2 (A), condutância estomática (gs), taxa de transpiração (E), eficiência do uso da água (EUA), taxa de transporte de elétrons (ETR), fluorescência máxima (FM) e basal (F0), dissipação fotoquímica (qP) e rendimento quântico efetivo do PSII (PSII), além da expressão do gene SHR, padrão de metilação de histonas e parâmetros anatômicos em plantas com aplicação e plantas vizinhas. Plantas com aplicação de metil jasmonato apresentaram queda nos parâmetros fisiológicos horas após o contato com o elicitor, porém em segundo contato, tais parâmetros não diferiram do controle, indicando possível efeito de memória (imprint). Plantas induzidas pelo metil jasmonato podem ter emitido sinais às plantas vizinhas, proporcionando maiores taxas de A, gs, FM e F0 das plantas vizinhas em relação às induzidas. Portanto a comunicação entre... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Although they are sessile organisms, plants actively move their vegetative and reproductive structures, leading to interaction with the surrounding environment. Plants maintain communication with neighboring plants, herbivores and predators through emission of chemical compounds by root and these events modify the environment occupied by plants. These exudates may induce changes in morphological and physiological patterns beyond the gene expression of neighboring plants. We used methyl jasmonate, a plant regulator, to trigger two inductive cycles in plants and communication with neighboring plants. During the stimulus, we analyzed CO2 net assimilation (A), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (E), water use efficiency (WUE), electron transport rate (ETR), maximum fluorescence (FM), basal fluorescence (F0), photochemical dissipation (qP) and quantum yield of PSII (FPSII), as well as SHR gene expression, histone methylation pattern and anatomical parameters in plants with application and neighboring plants. Plants with methyl jasmonate application showed minor physiological parameters hours after the elicitor contact, but in the second contact, these parameters did not differ from the control group, indicating a possible memory effect (imprint). Plants induced by methyl jasmonate may have emitted signals to neighboring plants, providing higher rates of A, gs, FM and F0 of the neighboring plants in relation to the induced ones. Therefore the communication between plants... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms play important roles in the control of lineage-specific differentiation during development. However, mechanisms that regulate higher-order chromatin remodelling and transcription of keratinocyte-specific genes that are clustered in the genome into three distinct loci (Keratin type I/II loci and Epidermal Differentiation Complex (EDC)) during differentiation of the epidermis are poorly understood. By using 3D-Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH), we determined that in the epidermal keratinocytes, the KtyII and EDC loci are located closely to each other in the nuclear compartment enriched by the nuclear speckles. However, in KtyII locus knockout mice, EDC locus moved away from the KtyII locus flanking regions and nuclear speckles towards the nuclear periphery, which is associated with marked changes in gene expression described previously. Chromatin architectural protein Ctcf has previously been implicated in the control of long-range enhancer-promoter contacts and inter-chromosomal interactions. Ctcf is broadly expressed in the skin including epidermal keratinocytes and hair follicles. Conditional Keratin 14-driven Ctcf ablation in mice results in the increase of the epidermal thickness, proliferation, alterations of the epidermal barrier and the development of epidermal pro-inflammatory response. Epidermal barrier defects in Krt14CreER/Ctcf fl/fl mice are associated with marked changes in gene expression in the EDC and KtyII loci, which become topologically segregated in the nucleus upon Ctcf ablation. Therefore, these data suggest that Ctcf serves as critical determinant regulating higher-order chromatin organization in lineage-specific gene loci in epidermal keratinocytes, which is required for the proper control of gene expression, maintenance of the epidermal barrier and its function.

La lysyl oxydase-like 1 (LOXL1) est une enzyme nécessaire à la maturation des fibres élastiques dans matrice extra-cellulaire lors des processus de réparation tissulaire à l'âge adulte. Chez l'Homme, le niveau d'expression de LOXL1 dans les fibroblastes dermiques diminue avec l'âge contribuant ainsi au relâchement cutané. Dans la pathologie génétique cutis laxa, pouvant être considérée comme un modèle de vieillissement accéléré, le promoteur du gène loxl1 est la cible de méthylation au niveau de sites riches en cytosines et guanosines, appelés îlots CpG, ce qui empêche l'initiation de la transcription. Dans ce travail de thèse, d'une part, nous avons voulu savoir si le déficit en fibres élastiques au cours du vieillissement du derme humain pouvait être la conséquence de l'hyperméthylation de loxl1 ; et d'autre part, nous avons recherché des actifs végétaux capables de contrer ce mécanisme. Pour cela, nous avons testé des modèles de vieillissement in vitro afin de corréler la perte en fibres élastiques et l'hyperméthylation de loxl1. Une méthode d'analyse de la méthylation nous a permis de déceler l'hyperméthylation spécifique de loxl1 au cours du vieillissement chronologique. Des analyses transcriptomiques en PCR en temps réel, des expériences de précipitation de la chromatine ainsi que des analyses d'activités de promoteurs ont permis de mettre en évidence l'importance de l'ADN méthyltransférase 3a (DNMT3a) dans la régulation du promoteur loxl1. Cette enzyme a été clonée en système eucaryote et deux nouveaux partenaires ont été identifiés: la protein arginin methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) et la methylosome protein 50 (MEP50). Enfin, ce mécanisme de régulation a été testé lors d'un criblage d'actifs végétaux à des fins cosmétiques. Nous avons trouvé deux actifs ayant la capacité de contrer de façon directe ou indirecte l'activité de la DNMT3a et de supprimer la méthylation de loxl1 dans des fibroblastes âgés / Lysyl oxidase-like 1 (LOXL1) is an enzyme required for the maturation of elastic fibres in the extracellular matrix during tissue repair process at adulthood. In human dermal fibroblasts, LOXL1 expression decreases with age, thus contributing to sagging skin. In the genetic disease cutis laxa, which can be regarded as a model of accelerated ageing, the loxl1 gene promoter has been shown to undergo DNA methylations in a cytosine-guanine rich region, known as CpG Island, which prevented the initiation of transcription. In this thesis, firstly, we wanted to know whether the deficit in elastic fibres in the dermis of human during ageing could be the result of loxl1 hypermethylation; and secondly, we sought plant extracts capable of counteracting this mechanism. Different in vitro ageing models were assessed to correlate the loss of elastic fibres and hypermethylation of loxl1. A particular methylation analysis method allowed us to identify specific hypermethylation of loxl1 during chronological ageing. Transcriptomic analyses by real-time PCR, precipitation of chromatin experiments and analysis of promoter activity led to highlight the importance of DNA methyltransferase 3a (DNMT3a) in the regulation of loxl1 promoter. This enzyme has been cloned in an eukaryotic system and two new partners have been identified: protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) and methylosome protein 50 (MEP50). Finally, this regulatory mechanism has been tested as a screening tool for cosmetic purposes. We selected two plant extracts with the ability to counteract, directly or indirectly, the activity of DNMT3a and remove methylation from loxl1 promoter in aged fibroblasts

Ce travail porte sur l'étude chimique d'une souche endophyte de Botryosphaeria mamane, un micromycète relativement peu étudié, isolée des feuilles de Bixa orellana. Des travaux préliminaires portant sur le screening de 409 souches de champignons isolés à partir de plantes médicinales d'Amérique du Sud a révélé que parmi celles-ci, B. mamane E224 était l'une des souches les plus actives in vitro sur un modèle de Leishmania infantum. L'objectif de ce travail a consisté en l'induction de la production de nouveaux métabolites secondaires produits par B. mamane via l'optimisation des conditions de culture de cette souche, la mise en place de méthodes de co-cultures et l'ajout de modificateurs épigénétiques. Une analyse des métabolomes dans les différentes conditions a été réalisée à travers une approche métabolomique, utilisant un couplage UHPLC-HRMS, ainsi que grâce à différents outils statistiques. Deux grandes classes de composés ont ainsi été détectées dans les cultures axéniques de B. mamane. Premièrement, la famille des cyclopeptides, incluant les cyclodipeptides soufrés avec en particulier trois nouveaux composés, les botryosulfuranols A-C. Puis la famille des isocoumarines, avec des dérivés de la melleine (trans-4-hydroxymelleine, 4-hydroxymelleine et 5-hydroxymellein). A travers l'ajout de modificateurs épigénétiques à la culture de B. mamane, nous avons pu étudier les effets de deux inhibiteurs d'histone désacétylases (HDACis), l'acide suberoylanilidehydroxamique (SAHA) et le valproate sodique, ajoutés à deux stades différents de la culture fongique. L'ajout de HDACi dans la culture de B. mamane a entraîné des changements importants dans la production de métabolites secondaires. En effet, une induction de certains métabolites mais également une réduction et l'inactivation de la production d'autres métabolites, ont été observés, et ceci selon la nature du modificateur épigénétique ajouté. Cette étude illustre l'importance du choix des HDACis pour l'induction de la production de métabolites spécifiques. Concernant l'optimisation de la co-culture de B.[...] / This study focused on the strain of a poorly studied fungal endophyte Botryosphaeria mamane E224, isolated from Bixa orellana leaves. Our previous screening involving 409 fungal strains isolated from medicinal plants from South America revealed that among all these strains, B. mamane was shown to be the most bioactive on in vitro model against Leishmania infantum. The objectives of this work consisted in the introduction of new metabolite production by B. mamane by optimizing the fungal culture conditions, and by using co-cultivation methods and addition of epigenetic modifiers. This work was followed by an analysis of the different metabolomes via a metabolomics approach using UHPLC-HRMS and integration of informatics and statistical tools for metabolomics. Two major compound classes were detected in B. mamane. First, the cyclopeptide family including the thiodiketopiperazines (TDKPs) alkaloids with three new compounds proposed as botryosulfuranols A-C; and the isocoumarin family, with the mellein derivatives, trans-4-hydroxymellein, 4-hydroxymellein, and 5-hydroxymellein. Regarding the exploration of B. mamane metabolome cultured in the presence of epigenetic modifier, the effects of two different histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis), suberoylanilidehydroxamic acid (SAHA) and valproate sodium added in two different stages of fungal growth, were investigated. As expected, HDACis addition in the culture of B. mamane led to significant changes in the secondary metabolite production. Addition of modifier not only induced metabolites production but also reduced and may inactivate metabolite production in fungi, depending on the nature of the epigenetic modifier added. This study illustrates the importance in the choice of HDACis to fungal culture in order to induce specific metabolite productions. In the study of B. mamane and C. albicans co-cultivation in different culture conditions, we showed the influence of the conditions (static versus agitation) on the metabolome of the fungi. However, the co-culture with yeast did not induce any modification in the fungal metabolome. The investigation of fungal interactions between B. mamane, Fusarium solani, and Colletotrichum linicola in 6-multi well plates in time-series based analysis has been carried out. [...]

Malgré les diagnostics précoces et les avancées thérapeutiques, le taux de mortalité chez les patients diagnostiqués d’un CCR au stade métastatique reste très élevé. L’objectif de ce travail a été d’étudier le rôle de la chimiokine CXCL12 et ses deux récepteurs CXCR4 et CXCR7 dans processus métastatique. J’ai comparé l’expression de la chimiokine CXCL12 dans des tumeurs coliques humaines avec les tissus sains associés puis je me suis intéressée aux mécanismes de régulation de cette expression et plus particulièrement la régulation épigénétique. J’ai montré que le promoteur de CXCL12 est méthylé dans 35% des CCR et qu’un défaut d’acétylation des histones du promoteur entraîne la perte d’expression de CXCL12. Des enzymes impliquées dans la régulation des mécanismes épigénétiques, potentiellement liées à ce défaut d’acétylation ont été identifiées par l’analyse des tumeurs par PCR Array et parmi ces facteurs, j’ai identifié l’histone acétyl-transférase PCAF dont l’expression est diminuée dans les tumeurs. Enfin, pour comprendre le rôle respectif de CXCR4 et de CXCR7 dans la dissémination métastatique, j’ai invalidé l’expression du gène des récepteurs dans la lignée colique humaine SW480 par Crispr-Cas9, puis j’ai comparé la capacité migratoire des cellules in vitro et leur potentiel métastatique in vivo. L’induction d’une perte d’expression du récepteur CXCR7 n’a pas eu d’impact sur le développement des métastases pulmonaire et hépatique in vivo, mais a entraîné une baisse de la migration in vitro. / Despite early cancer detection and therapeutic advances, the mortality rate in patients diagnosed with CRC at the metastatic stage remains very high. The aim of this work was to study the role of the chemokine CXCL12 and its two receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 in the metastatic process. I compared the expression of the chemokine CXCL12 in human colon tumors with the associated healthy tissues, then I focused on the mechanisms regulating this expression and more particularly the epigenetic regulation. I have shown that the CXCL12 promoter is methylated in 35% of the CCR and that a lack of histone acetylation of the CXCL12 promoter causes the loss of its expression. Enzymes involved in the regulation of epigenetic mechanisms, potentially related to this acetylation defect, were identified by Array PCR on tumors and among these factors, the histone acetyl transferase PCAF, whose expression is decreased in tumors, was identified. Finally, to understand the respective role of CXCR4 and CXCR7 in metastatic spread, I invalidated the expression of both receptor genes in the human colonic line SW480 by Crispr-Cas9, and then compared the migratory capacity of the cells in vitro and their metastatic potential in vivo. Inducing a loss of expression of CXCR7 receptor did not have an impact on the development of pulmonary and hepatic metastases in vivo, but resulted in a decrease in in vitro migration.

<p>In multicellular organisms all cells in one individual have an identical genotype, and yet their bodies consist of many and very different tissues and thus many different cell types. Somehow there must be a difference in how genes are interpreted. So, there must be signals that tell the genes when and where to be active and inactive, respectively. In some instances a specific an expression pattern (active or inactive) is epigenetic; it is established and maintained throughout multiple rounds of cell divisions. In the developing <i>Drosophila</i> embryo, the proper expression pattern of e.g. the homeotic genes <i>Abd-B</i> and <i>Ubx</i> is to be kept active in the posterior part and silenced in the anterior. Properly silenced homeotic genes are crucial for the correct segmentation pattern of the fly and the Polycomb group (Pc-G) proteins are vital for maintaining this type of stable repression.</p><p>As part of this thesis, <i>Suppressor of zeste 12 (Su(z)12)</i> is characterized as a <i>Drosophila</i> Pc-G gene. Mutations in the gene cause widespread misexpression of several homeotic genes in embryos and larvae. Results show that the silencing of the homeotic genes <i>Abd-B</i> and <i>Ubx</i>, probably is mediated via physical binding of SU(Z)12 to Polycomb Response Elements in the BX-C. <i>Su(z)12</i> mutations are strong suppressors of position-effect-variegation and the SU(Z)12 protein binds weakly to the heterochromatic centromeric region. These results indicate that SU(Z)12 has a function in heterochromatin-mediated repression, which is an unusual feature for a Pc-G protein. The structure of the <i>Su(z)12</i> gene was determined and the deduced protein contains a C2-H2 zinc finger domain, several nuclear localization signals, and a region, the VEFS box, with high homology to mammalian and plant homologues. <i>Su(z)12 </i>was originally isolated in a screen for modifiers of the zeste-white interaction and I present results that suggests that this effect is mediated through an interaction between <i>Su(z)12 </i>and <i>zeste</i>. I also show that <i>Su(z)12</i> interact genetically with other Pc-G mutants and that the SU(Z)12 protein binds more than 100 euchromatic bands on polytene chromosomes. I also present results showing that SU(Z)12 is a subunit of two different E(Z)/ESC embryonic silencing complexes, one 1MDa and one 600 kDa complex, where the larger complex also contains PCL and RPD3. </p><p>In conclusion, results presented in this thesis show that the recently identified Pc-G gene, <i>Su(z)12</i>, is of vital importance for correct maintenance of silencing of the developmentally important homeotic genes.</p>

In multicellular organisms all cells in one individual have an identical genotype, and yet their bodies consist of many and very different tissues and thus many different cell types. Somehow there must be a difference in how genes are interpreted. So, there must be signals that tell the genes when and where to be active and inactive, respectively. In some instances a specific an expression pattern (active or inactive) is epigenetic; it is established and maintained throughout multiple rounds of cell divisions. In the developing Drosophila embryo, the proper expression pattern of e.g. the homeotic genes Abd-B and Ubx is to be kept active in the posterior part and silenced in the anterior. Properly silenced homeotic genes are crucial for the correct segmentation pattern of the fly and the Polycomb group (Pc-G) proteins are vital for maintaining this type of stable repression. As part of this thesis, Suppressor of zeste 12 (Su(z)12) is characterized as a Drosophila Pc-G gene. Mutations in the gene cause widespread misexpression of several homeotic genes in embryos and larvae. Results show that the silencing of the homeotic genes Abd-B and Ubx, probably is mediated via physical binding of SU(Z)12 to Polycomb Response Elements in the BX-C. Su(z)12 mutations are strong suppressors of position-effect-variegation and the SU(Z)12 protein binds weakly to the heterochromatic centromeric region. These results indicate that SU(Z)12 has a function in heterochromatin-mediated repression, which is an unusual feature for a Pc-G protein. The structure of the Su(z)12 gene was determined and the deduced protein contains a C2-H2 zinc finger domain, several nuclear localization signals, and a region, the VEFS box, with high homology to mammalian and plant homologues. Su(z)12 was originally isolated in a screen for modifiers of the zeste-white interaction and I present results that suggests that this effect is mediated through an interaction between Su(z)12 and zeste. I also show that Su(z)12 interact genetically with other Pc-G mutants and that the SU(Z)12 protein binds more than 100 euchromatic bands on polytene chromosomes. I also present results showing that SU(Z)12 is a subunit of two different E(Z)/ESC embryonic silencing complexes, one 1MDa and one 600 kDa complex, where the larger complex also contains PCL and RPD3. In conclusion, results presented in this thesis show that the recently identified Pc-G gene, Su(z)12, is of vital importance for correct maintenance of silencing of the developmentally important homeotic genes.