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BMAL1 and MEX3A co-regulate intestinal stem cell succession

Chang, F.-P.; Wang, C.-K.; Chou, Y.-C.; Chen, T.-J.; Wu, Y.-W.; Sridharan, S.; Hsu, P.-H.; Hwang-Verslues, W. W.

2022-03-10 cell biology
10.1101/2022.03.08.483537 bioRxiv
Show abstract

Chemotherapeutic agents, such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), often induce intestinal mucositis due to toxicity to rapidly dividing intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Drug delivery at different times of day can alter 5-FU toxicity; however, the underlying biology is unclear. We found that homeostasis and succession between two ISC types, fast proliferating Lgr5+ crypt base columnar (CBC) cells and stress-resistant +4 cells (Bmi1+), are controlled by the circadian clock transcription factor BMAL1 and the BMAL1-regulated RNA-binding protein MEX3A via both direct transcriptional regulation and post-transcriptional control of Lgr5 mRNA stability. Bmal1 knockout in Lgr5+ CBCs reduced MEX3A expression and CBC numbers but increased Bmi1 expression in the crypts. Timing 5-FU delivery when crypt cells had low Lgr5 but peak level of Bmi1 protected ISCs from apoptosis. Together, these findings identify a novel role of BMAL1 in ISC homeostasis and provide a biological explanation for chronotherapeutic chemoprotection.

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