Magister Scientiae - MSc / In summary there currently exist techniques to discover miRNA however both require many calculations to be performed during the identification limiting their use at a genomic level. Machine learning techniques are currently providing the best results by combining a number of calculated and statistically derived features to identify miRNA candidates, however almost all of these still include computationally intensive secondary-structure calculations. It is the aim of this project to produce a miRNA identification process that minimises and simplifies the number of computational elements required during the identification process. / South Africa

Orientador: Marcelo Palma Sircili / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T01:00:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Culler_HebertFabricio_D.pdf: 4509234 bytes, checksum: 996664e9d72f80df8f43076b618a7f73 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: As Escherichia coli enteropatogênicas atípicas são capazes de formar biofilme em superfícies abióticas e bióticas. Diversos mecanismos em E. coli são regulados por Quorum Sensing, incluindo a expressão de fatores de virulência e formação de biofilme. Quorum Sensing é um sistema de sinalização que confere às bactérias a habilidade de responder à moléculas químicas denominadas autoindutores (AI). SdiA e QseC são receptores de quorum sensing encontrados em diversas bactérias, entre elas EPECa. SdiA detecta moléculas autoindutoras do tipo 1 (AI-1) denominadas N-acil homoserina lactonas (AHLs). Entretanto as Escherichia coli não possuem a sintase para estas moléculas e, deste modo, SdiA detecta AHLs produzidas por outras bactérias. O receptor QseC detecta moléculas autoindutoras do tipo 3, além dos hormônios humanos adrenalina e noradrenalina. Neste estudo verificamos a influência da deleção de sdiA e qseC na formação e arquitetura do biofilme, formação de película, anel e também na transcrição de alguns dos genes envolvidos nestes fenótipos (bcsA, csgA, csgD, fliC, fimA e rpoS) em duas amostras de EPECa, sendo uma do sorotipo O55:H7 e outra do sorotipo ONT:H25. Os resultados das análises nas duas amostras de EPECa foram distintos, confirmando a grande heterogeneidade reportada em outros estudos em amostras deste patótipo. A amostra ONT:H25?sdiA formou espesso biofilme em placas de 96 poços e espessa estrutura (em anel) como anéis na parede do tubo de ensaio em relação às amostras selvagem e complementada. Além disso, o mutante sdiA desta amostra foi capaz de formar película na superfície do meio enquanto as amostras selvagem e complementada foram negativas. A amostra O55:H7?sdiA não apresentou diferença significativa na formação (das estruturas analisadas) destas estruturas em relação às amostras selvagem e complementada. Análises de qRT-PCR demonstraram (maiores níveis de transcrição de) um aumento na transcrição de csgA, csgD e fimA na amostra ONT:H25 deletada em sdiA, possivelmente indicando que o aumento na formação de biofilme por esta amostra esteja relacionado ao aumento da expressão das fímbrias tipo 1 e curli. A adição de AHLs à amostra selvagem ONT:H25 diminuiu a formação de biofilme e os níveis transcricionais de csgD e fimA, enquanto na amostra deletada não houve diferença, indicando que sdiA participa da regulação da formação de biofilme em EPECa e que as AHLs aumentam os efeitos repressores deste receptor nos genes relacionados à formação de biofilme. Quanto às amostras deletadas em qseC foi possível verificar uma diminuição da formação de biofilme em relação às amostras selvagens e complementadas, mas não houve diferença na formação de película na interface ar-líquido e também na formação de anel na parede dos tubos. A amostra ONT:H25?qseC foi negativa para expressão de fímbria curli em placas contendo vermelho congo e apresentou aumento da transcrição de bcsA e fimA, enquanto teve a transcrição de csgA, csgD e fliC diminuída em relação à amostra selvagem. A adição de adrenalina aumentou a formação de biofilme e motilidade nas duas amostras mutantes indicando a possível presença de outro receptor em EPECa responsável pela detecção destes hormônios na ausência de QseC. Portanto, conclui-se que estes dois receptores de quorum sensing estão relacionados, direta ou indiretamente, à formação de biofilme em EPECa / Abstract: Atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli are capable to form biofilm on biotic and abiotic surfaces. Several E. coli mechanisms are regulated by Quorum Sensing, including expression of virulence factors and biofilm formation. Quorum Sensing is a signaling system that confers bacteria the ability to respond to chemical molecules known as autoinducers. SdiA and QseC are Quorum Sensing receptors found in several bacteria, including aEPEC. SdiA detects type 1 autoinducer molecules (AI-1) known as N-acil homoserin lactones. However, Escherichia coli do not produce this kind of molecules and SdiA detects AHLs produced by other bacteria. QseC receptor detects type 3 autoinducer molecules and the human hormones adrenalin and noradrenaline. In this study the influence of the sdiA and qseC deletion in the biofilm formation and architecture, pellicle and ring-like structure formation and transcription of some genes (bcsA, csgA, csgD, fliC, fimA and rpoS) in two strains of aEPEC (O55:H7 and ONT:H25) was verified. The results of the analysis of the two aEPEC strains were distinct, confirming the heterogeneity reported by other studies in the same patotypes. The strain ONT:H25?sdiA formed a thick biofilm in 96-well plates and thick ring-like structure on the tube wall compared with the wild type and complemented strains. Furthermore, the sdiA mutant strain was capable to form pellicle on both surfaces, while the wild type and complemented strains were negative. The strain O55:H7?sdiA did not show a significant difference on the formation of these structures compared to the wild type and complemented strains. qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated an enhance on the transcription of csgA, csgD and fimA in the deleted sdiA ONT:H25 strain, suggesting that a relative increase of biofilm formation in ONT:H25 strain could be related to the increase of the expression of type 1 and curli fimbriae. The addition of AHLs to the wild type strain ONT:H25 decreased the biofilm formation and the transcriptional levels of csgD and fimA, but not in the mutant strain, indicating that sdiA plays a role in the regulation of biofilm formation in aEPEC. AHLs also increased the repressor efects of this receptor in biofilm related genes. The mutant qseC strains showed a decrease in biofilm formation when compared to wild type and complemented strains, but there was no difference in the pellicle formation in the air-liquid interface, as in the ring-like structure formation in the tube wall. The ONT:H25?qseC strain was negative to curli fimbriae expression in congo red plates and displayed an increase in the transcription of bcsA and fimA genes, while a decrease was verified in the csgA, csgD and fliC genes compared to the wild type strain. The addition of adrenalin increased the biofilm formation and motility in both mutant strains, possibly indicating the presence of other receptor in aEPEC involved in the detection of these hormones in the absence of QseC. In conclusion, these two Quorum Sensing receptors are related with biofilm formation in aEPEC / Doutorado / Genetica de Microorganismos / Doutor em Genetica e Biologia Molecular

Fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) and Retinoic acid (RA) are known to be involved in patterning the posterior embryo. Work has shown that Fgf can convert anterior tissue into posterior fates and that embryos deficient in Fgf signaling lack posterior trunk and tail structures. Likewise, studies performed on RA have shown that overexpression of RA posteriorizes anterior tissue, while disrupting RA signaling yields a loss of posterior fates. While it appears these signals are necessary for posterior development, the role Fgf and RA play in development of the hindbrain is still enigmatic. A detailed study of the requirements for Fgf and RA in the early vertebrate hindbrain are lacking, namely due to a deficiency in gene markers for the presumptive hindbrain at early developmental stages. In this study, we make use of recently isolated genes, which are expressed in the presumptive hindbrain region at early developmental stages, to explore Fgf and RA regulation of the early vertebrate hindprain. We employed both overexpression and loss of function approaches to explore the role of Fgf in early vertebrate development with an emphasis on the presumptive hindbrain region in zebrafish embryos. By loss of function analysis, we show that Fgf regulates genes expressed exclusively in the hindbrain region (meis3 and hoxbla) as well as genes whose expression domains encompass both the hindbrain and more caudal regions (nlz and hoxb1b), thus demonstrating a requirement for Fgf signaling throughout the anteroposterior axis of the hindbrain (rostral to caudal hindbrain) by mid-gastrula stages. To further characterize early gene regulation by Fgf, we utilized an in vitro system and found that Fgf is sufficient to induce nlz directly and hoxb1b indirectly, while it does not induce meis3 or hoxb1a. Furthermore, in vivo work demonstrates that Fgf soaked beads can induce nlz and hoxb1b adjacent to the bead and meis3at a distance. Given the regulation of these genes in vitro and in vivo by Fgf and their position along the rostrocaudal axis of the embryo, our results suggest an early acting Fgf resides in the caudal end of the embryo and signals at a distance to the hindbrain. We detect a similar regulation of hindbrain genes by RA at gastrula stages as well, suggesting that both factors are essential for early hindbrain development. Interestingly however, we find that the relationship between Fgf and RA is dynamic throughout development. Both signals are required at gastrula stages as disruption of either pathway alone disrupts hindbrain gene expression, but a simultaneous disruption of both pathways at later stages is required to disrupt the hindbrain. We suggest that Fgf and RA are present in limiting concentrations at gastrula stages, such that both factors are required for gene expression or that one factor is necessary for activation of the other. Our results also reveal a changing and dynamic relationship between Fgf and RA in the regulation of the zebrafish hindbrain, suggesting that at segmentation stages, Fgf and RA may no longer be limiting or that they are no longer interdependent. As we have demonstrated that an early Fgf signal is required for gastrula stage hindbrain development, we next questioned which Fgf performed this function. We have demonstrated that the early Fgf signal required for hindbrain development is not Fgf3 or Fgf8, two Fgfs known to be involved in signaling centers at the mid-hindbrain boundary (MHB) and rhombomere (r) 4. We further show that two recently identified Fgfs, Fgf4 and Fgf24 are also insufficient alone or in combination with other known Fgfs to regulate hindbrain gene expression. However, as Fgfs may act combinatorially, we do not rule out the possibility of their involvement in early hindbrain gene regulation. However, as time passes and additional Fgfs are isolated and cloned, the elusive Fgf signal required for early hindbrain development will likely be identified. Taken together, we propose that an early acting Fgf residing in the caudal end of the embryo regulates hindbrain genes together with RA at gastrula stages. We suggest that both Fgf and RA are required for gene expression at gastrula stages, but this requirements changes over time as Fgf and RA become redundant. We also demonstrate that the Fgf required for gastrula stage hindbrain development has yet to be identified.

Transcription by RNA polymerase II is a highly regulated process requiring a number of general and promoter specific transcription factors. Although many of the factors involved in the transcription reaction are known, exactly how they function to stimulate or repress transcription is not well understood. Central to understanding gene regulation is understanding the mechanism by which promoter specific transcription activators (activators) stimulate transcription. A group of factors called coactivators have been shown to be required for activator function in vitro. The best characterized coactivators to date are members of the TFIID complex. TFIID is a multisubunit complex composed of the TATA box binding protein (TBP) and 8-12 TBP associated factors (TAFIIs). Results from numerous in vitro experiments indicate that TAFIIs function by binding to activators and forming a bridge between the activator and the basal transcription machinery. In order to gain insight into the mechanism by which activators stimulate transcription, we chose to analyze the in vivo function of TAFIIs, their proposed targets. Results from the genetic disruption of a number of TAFIIs in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed that most are encoded by essential genes. In order to study their function, temperature-sensitive and conditional alleles were constructed. Cells depleted of individual TAFIIs by either of these two methods displayed no defect in global transcription activation. Inactivation of yTAFII17, however, resulted in a promoter specific defect. In addition, inactivation of yTAFII145, yTAFII90, or TSM1, resulted in an inability of cells to progress through the cell-cycle. In an attempt to identify genes whose expression required yTAFII90, we performed subtractive hybridization on strains containing wild-type and temperature-sensitive alleles. Although this technique successfully identified genes differentially expressed in the two strains, it failed to identify genes whose expression required yTAFII90. These results indicate that TAFIIs are not the obligatory targets of activators, and that other factors must provide this role in vivo. Furthermore, that many of TAFIIs are required for cell-cycle progression.

Coordination of mitosis and cytokinesis is crucial to generate healthy daughter cells with equal amounts of genetic and cytoplasmic materials. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, an evolutionarily conserved Cdc14-like phosphatase (Clp1) functions to couple mitosis and cytokinesis by antagonizing CDK activity. The activity of Clp1 is thought to be regulated in part by its subcellular localization. It is sequestered in the nucleolus and the spindle pole body (SPB) during interphase. Upon mitotic entry, it is released into the cytoplasm and localized to the kinetochores, the actomyosin ring, and the mitotic spindle to carry out distinct functions. It is not clear how Clp1 is released from the nucleolus, however, once released, a conserved signaling pathway termed Septation Initiation Network (SIN) functions to retain Clp1 in the cytoplasm until completion of cytokinesis. The SIN and Clp1 function together in a positive feedback loop to promote each other’s activity. That is, the SIN promotes cytoplasmic retention of Clp1, and cytoplasmic Clp1 antagonizes CDK activity and reverses CDK inhibition on the SIN pathway to promote its function and activity. However, at the start of this thesis, the mechanism by which the SIN regulated Clp1 was unknown. The SIN pathway is also required to promote constriction of the actomyosin ring, and the septum formation. However, its downstream targets were still uncharacterized. In two separate studies, we studied how Clp1 is released from the nucleolus at mitotic entry and how the SIN kinase Sid2 acts to retain Clp1 in the cytoplasm. We identified several Sid2 candidate substrates, and revealed other functions of the SIN pathway in coordinating mitotic events.

The immune response to viral infection involves a complexity of both innate and adaptive pathways at the cellular and the molecular level. There are many approaches to begin to define the pathways at work to control viral pathogenesis. The approach favored in this thesis was to conduct a broad screen of the innate immune response at the gene expression level of infected cells. The innate immune response is critical to the control of viral infections. Type I interferons (IFN), IFNα and IFNβ, are antiviral proteins that are an integral part of the innate immune response. Furthermore, by virtue of their effects on maturation and activation of antigen-presenting cells, IFNs are a pivotal link between the innate and adaptive immune systems. Most cell types produce type-I IFN when exposed to viruses. However, viruses have evolved multiple strategies to suppress IFN production or signaling. It is imperative to understand the virus-host interaction at the molecular level in order to identify as yet unknown mechanisms of the host antiviral response; these additional pathways may be useful in counteracting the viral suppression of IFN. Type-I IFNs regulate expression of at least five hundred genes, suggesting a complex network of signaling pathways. Depending on the cell type different proteins regulate the induction of IFN or the expression of IFN-inducible genes. Identification of proteins that induce selected IFN-inducible genes may provide synergistic activity with or may have an advantage over type-I IFN for anti-viral therapy in the future. Many diseases are untreatable if identified late in their progression. In resource-limited countries, many diseases are diagnosed clinically, which can lead to incorrect or delayed diagnosis and treatment. The identification of biomarkers of disease has the potential to guide the correct therapy in a timely fashion. The objective of this thesis was to identify novel anti-viral therapies and disease biomarkers for dengue virus (DENV) infection. DENV is a mosquito-borne positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus, which causes an estimated 50 million infections annually. Most DENV infections result in a febrile illness called Dengue fever (DF). Less frequently, infections cause Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), a potentially fatal vascular leakage syndrome associated with the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. At present patients infected with DENV can only be treated by intravenous fluid support to prevent hypovolemia and hypotensive shock. This treatment is less effective in severe cases if the diagnosis is delayed. Identification of therapeutics with both antiviral and immune-modulatory activity may lower patient mortality and reduce the burden of DENV on society. DENV infection is cleared in most individuals after a short period of viremia {Libraty, 2002 #2225}. Based on in vitro and mouse models, type-I and type-II IFN signaling pathways are thought to be critical in the regulation of DENV infection. Higher serum levels of type I and type II IFNs during acute DENV infection in patients lend support to the above hypothesis {Kurane, 1993 #2152; Libraty, 2002 #2225}. To understand the DENV-human host cell interaction at the molecular level, we performed global gene expression analysis on DENV-infected primary human cells using Affymetrix GeneChips (HG-U133A). We studied dendritic cells (DC), monocytes, B cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), all of which are known to be permissive to DENV infection. We first identified genes commonly regulated in multiple cell types in response to DENV infection; we hypothesized that understanding this common gene expression profile would identify signaling pathways involved in regulation of viral spread, activation of immune cells or induction of inflammation. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), one of the 23 common response genes, was identified as a key link between type I and type II interferon response genes. Pretreatment of cells with recombinant TRAIL (rTRAIL) inhibited DENV replication in monocytes, B cells, HUVECs and DCs. Using the DC infection model, we showed that this inhibition of viral replication was apoptosis-independent. Type-I IFN receptor (IFNR) blocking experiments showed that signaling through the type-I IFN receptor played an important role in the antiviral activity of exogenous rTRAIL. Furthermore, TRAIL also significantly reduced the expression of mRNA and protein of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, MIP-1β and IFNα) and chemokines (MCP-2, IP-10 and IL-6) in response to DENV infection. The data that TRAIL inhibits both viral replication and pro-inflammatory cytokine production suggest that TRAIL has therapeutic value in dengue. The endothelial cell is the site of pathology in DENV infection in vivo (vascular permeability and plasma leakage). To understand the direct effect of DENV infection on endothelial cells and its role in the induction of genes regulating vascular permeability, we compared gene expression in DENV-infected HUVECs to that of uninfected cells and cells infected with other RNA and DNA viruses, including flaviviruses (West Nile, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis viruses), bunyaviruses (Sin Nombre and Hantaan viruses), Epstein-Barr virus and vaccinia virus. Among the genes confirmed for their differential expression, ST2 (Interkeukin-1 receptor-like-1 protein-IL1RL1) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) were identified to be upregulated specifically in response to DENV infection. Higher serum soluble ST2 (sST2) levels were detected in DENV-infected patients than in patients with other febrile illnesses (OFI) at the end of the febrile stage and at defervescence (p=0.0088 and p=0.0004, respectively). In addition, patients with secondary DENV infections had higher serum sST2 levels compared with patients with primary DENV infections (p=0.047 at the last day of fever and p=0.030 at defervescence). Higher levels of IDO activity (pIn conclusion, global gene expression analysis identified novel proteins with promising characteristics for the treatment and/or diagnosis of DENV infection. Although further studies will be needed to validate the clinical utility of TRAIL, sST2, and IDO, these studies demonstrate the utility of this unbiased genomics approach to identify therapies to currently incurable diseases.

Proteins of the CSL family (CBF1/RBP-Jκ/Suppressor of Hairless/LAG-1) act as effectors of the Notch signalling pathway in metazoan organisms. They function as repressors or activators of gene transcription in the framework of this pathway and influence many developmental processes. Metazoan CSL proteins can regulate gene expression Notch-independently as well. Notch-independent functions of CSL proteins might be evolutionarily ancestral and in cells and organisms may be important equally as Notch-dependent functions. Presence of CSL proteins was identified in several fungal species, organisms lacking the Notch signalling pathway components and most of known metazoan interacting partners of CSL proteins. CSL paralogs of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, cbf11 and cbf12, are non-essential genes encoding proteins localized in the nucleus of the cell. They exert antagonistic effects on regulation of processes like coordination of nuclear and cellular division and cell cycle progression, ploidy maintenance, cell adhesion and other. In this study, we have proved that both CSL paralogs are able to sequence-specifically bind the CSL-response element DNA in vitro and Cbf11 in vivo as well. Both proteins could activate gene expression in vivo and perform the function of transcription factors....

Long-range chromosomal interactions have been discovered in a number of organisms, suggesting that gene regulation through direct physical association with regulatory elements and/or other genes is a common and conserved phenomenon. This thesis investigates the relationship between direct physical contact of genomic loci and how these interactions may play a role in gene regulation. Analysis of such levels of chromosomal organization has been made possible in part by the emergence of Chromosome Conformation Capture (3C). This technique makes use of formaldehyde crosslinking to trap interacting chromosomal fragments, which can be detected after a number of manipulations. By adapting the 3C protocol for use in intact Saccharomyces cerevisiaecells, one can determine the structure of a chromosome or chromosomal region without introducing artifacts due to the harsh isolation of nuclei. A number of 3C-based technologies, such as 4C (Circular 3C or 3C-on-Chip) and 5C (3C Carbon Copy) have added to the knowledge of physical association of genes with regulatory elements and/or other genes. Here, we present a new non-biased technology that allows for determination of chromosomal interactions between all fragments throughout a genome. We present two-dimensional heatmaps of chromosomal interactions for all 16 chromosomes in yeast. These techniques promise to shed light onto the biochemical process by which clustering of genes and elements can result in up- or down-gene expression, which is still poorly understood. To understand how chromosomal interactions play a role in gene regulation, we study clustering of heterochromatic loci. Clustering of heterochromatic loci in silenced nuclear compartments is a phenomenon that has been observed throughout evolution. These clusters are thought to represent nuclear sub-compartments that are enriched in silencing proteins, while the rest of the nucleus is depleted in such factors. Chromosome III in Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains four heterochromatic regions: the two telomeres and the silent mating type loci, HML and HMR, located on either end of the chromosome. Our work describes a long-range interaction between the heterochromatic regions on chromosome III. We analyze the mechanism that drive these interactions and reveal roles for silencing proteins and proper nucleosome assembly in mediating heterochromatic clustering. In addition we identify a novel step in heterochromatin formation that is not essential for gene silencing but is required for long-range interactions.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death among men and women after heart disease. Though our knowledge associated with the complexities of the cancer network has significantly improved over the past several decades, we have only recently started to get a more complete molecular understanding of the disease. To better comprehend signaling pathways that prevent disease development, we focused our efforts on investigating endogenous tumor suppression networks in controlling effectors of cancer cell survival and proliferation. Survivin is one such effector molecule that controls both cell proliferation and survival. In order to identify how this protein is overexpressed in cancer cells as opposed to normal cells, we looked at signaling molecules that negatively regulate this inhibitor of apoptosis protein. PTEN and caspase 2 are two of the identified proteins that utilize their enzymatic activity to suppress tumor growth by inhibiting downstream cell survival effectors, namely survivin. PTEN uses its phosphatase activity to suppress the PI3K/AKT pathway and maintain cellular homeostasis. In the absence of AKT activity, FOXO transcription factors are able to target downstream gene expression and regulate cell proliferation and survival. Here we have identified survivin as a novel gene target of FOXO, which binds to a specific promoter region of survivin and suppresses its transcription. Alternatively, caspase 2 uses its catalytic activity to suppress survivin gene expression by targeting the NFκB pathway. Caspase 2 acts by cleaving a novel substrate known as RIP1 that prevents NFκB from entering the nucleus, thus inhibiting target gene transcription. Interestingly, survivin is known to be a direct gene target of NFκB that controls cancer cell survival. In our investigation, we found that survivin is downregulated upon caspase 2 activation via the NFκB pathway, resulting in decreased cell cycle kinetics, increased apoptotic threshold and suppressed tumor growth in mice. These studies conclude that survivin is a common effector molecule that is regulated by tumor suppressors to maintain cellular homeostasis. However, upon deactivation of the tumor suppressor pathway, survivin is deregulated and contributes significantly to disease progression. These observations may lead to potential therapeutic implications and novel targeting strategies that will help eradicate harmful cancer cells and spare surrounding healthy cells; often the most persistent problem of most conventional chemotherapy.

Regulation of gene expression comprises a wide range of mechanisms that control the abundance of gene products in response to environmental and developmental changes. These biological processes can be modulated by posttranslational modifications including arginine methylation. Among the enzymes that catalyze the methylation, protein arginine methyltransferase 7 (PRMT7) is known to modify histones to repress gene expression. Jumonji domain-containing protein 6 (JMJD6) is a putative arginine demethylase that potentially antagonize PRMT7. However, the biological significance of these enzymes is not well understood. This thesis summarizes the investigation of both PRMT7 and JMJD6 in cell culture models for adipocyte differentiation. The results suggest that PRMT7 is not required for the differentiation, whereas JMJD6 is necessary for the differentiation by promoting the expression of the lineage determining transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancerbinding proteins (C/EBPs). The underlying mechanisms by which JMJD6 regulate differentiation involve transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of gene expression. Unexpectedly, the adipogenic function of JMJD6 is independent of its enzymatic activity. Collectively, the present research reveals a novel role of JMJD6 in gene regulation during the differentiation of adipocytes.