Welcome to the Van Bortle Lab!
Our group combines biochemical, molecular and genomic approaches to investigate RNA polymerase III (Pol III) transcription dynamics and mechanisms and pathways that regulate Pol III. We are probing the full extent of Pol III transcription, its dynamic, context-specific activities during development, and the regulatory factors and molecular events that modulate Pol III activity. We are also pursuing the functional activities of specific, cancer-associated small ncRNA expressed by Pol III with the overarching goal of understanding how Pol III contributes to cancer growth and metastasis. Our long-term vision includes developing novel approaches to inhibit Pol III transcription as a potential strategy for cancer therapy.
Research
Our genes are expressed by three DNA-dependent RNA polymerase machineries, Pol I, Pol II, and Pol III. RNA polymerase III (Pol III) is unique in that it exclusively transcribes genes encoding small noncoding RNA (ncRNA), many of which are critical for cell growth and proliferation. Upregulation of Pol III activity and specific small ncRNA are hallmarks of cancer. Currently, a mechanistic understanding of the events that give rise to Pol III overactivity and the downstream functions of multiple cancer-associated small RNA species remains lacking.
The Pol III apparatus itself is unique in multiple respects, including the fact that Pol III switches its "identity" by replacing a single subunit during mammalian development. We have recently found that one form of Pol III, which re-emerges in many cancer types and is associated with poor survival outcomes, promotes the expression of snaR-A, a small ncRNA implicated in cancer growth and metastasis. In the Van Bortle lab, we are investigating the mechanisms underlying Pol III identity-driven transcription potential, as well as the downstream function(s) of snaR-A and other Pol III-derived small ncRNA with the goal of deconstructing the relationship between Pol III overactivity, cancer growth, and human health outcomes.
Lab News
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02.08.23 | Sihang's review on the Pol III transcriptome is published in WIREs RNA!
https://wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wrna.1782
01.12.23 | Jenny's mini-review on Pol III RPC7 subunits (POLR3G and POLR3GL) is published in Frontiers Molecular Biosciences!
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmolb.2022.1073795/full
10.22.22 | Sihang and Jenny presented their work at the CDB
Cell and Developmental Biology Retreat, congratulations Sihang on winning a 3MT award!
09.01.22 | Welcome MCB undergraduate students Anshita Jayanth and Leela Mouli and Graduate Student Simón Lizarazo from Molecular and Integrative Physiology (MIP)!
05.30.22 | Our study on Pol III Identity and transcription is published in Nature Communications!
01.12.22 | Welcome graduate student Rajendra K C from the Center for Biophysics & Quantitative Biology (CBQB)!
photo by Max Yang (IG: yangjiacheng011)
11.01.21 | Hello World from the Van Bortle Lab. Welcome graduate students Sihang Zhou and Ruiying (Jenny) Cheng from Molecular & Cell Biology (MCB)!
Kevin Van Bortle Assistant Professor
Cell and Developmental Biology | School of Molecular and Cellular Biology | Cancer Center at Illinois | kvbortle@illinois.edu
Postdoc. Genetics, Stanford University, 2015-2021 (advisor Mike Snyder)
PhD. Biochemistry, Cell, and Developmental Biology, Emory University, 2009-2014 (advisor Victor Corces)
BS. Biochemistry, University of Rochester, 2005-2009
Sihang Zhou Graduate Student
Cell and Developmental Biology | B.S. Sun Yat-Sen University - China, M.S. Northwestern University | sihangz2@illinois.edu
I'm a PhD student in Cell and Developmental Biology. I study specific Pol III-transcribed small RNA using a combination of biochemical and genomic approaches with the goal of understanding the biological functions and contributions of Pol III-derived small ncRNA to cancer. Outside of the lab you can find me reading manga, watching anime, and catching pokemon on campus.
Ruiying Cheng Graduate Student
Cell and Developmental Biology | B.S. Shandong University - China | rcheng14@illinois.edu
I'm a PhD student in Cell and Developmental Biology. I study the functional difference between RNA polymerase III subunits POLR3G and POLR3GL using biochemical and functional genomic approaches with the goal of understanding how Pol III identity shapes transcription during differentiation. Outside of the lab you can find me checking out new restaurants, hiking, or working on my indoor veggie garden.
Rajendra K C Graduate Student
Biophysics and Quantitative Biology | B.Tech.,M.Tech. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur - India | rkc5@illinois.edu
I'm a PhD student in the Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology at Illinois. I study RNA Polymerase III transcription using bioinformatics to integrate and analyze multi-omic data with the goal of identifying the full extent of Pol III recruitment and transcription in cellular models of differentiation. Outside of the lab, you can find me with my friends around the quad.
Simón Lizarazo Chaparro Graduate Student
Molecular and Integrative Physiology | B.S. Universidad Nacional de Colombia, M.S. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | simonl3@illinois.edu
I'm a PhD student in Molecular and Integrative Physiology co-advised by Dr. Nien-Pei Tsai. I study specific Pol III-transcribed small RNAs that play a role during mRNA translation using molecular and bioinformatic tools with the goal of understanding the biological and cellular functions that they have in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Outside of the lab you can find me biking, swimming or hanging out with my friends at bars.
Anshita Jayanth Undergraduate Student
Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB)
I’m an undergraduate student majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology on a pre-med track. I work on investigating differences between the two isoforms of RNA Pol III - POLR3G and POLR3GL. I use genomic and biochemical approaches to explore alternative splicing events and their role in cancer contexts. Outside of the lab, you can find me playing tennis, reading, or hanging out with friends!
Leela Mouli Undergraduate Student
Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB)
I am a sophomore majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology. In the lab, I study the functions of small non-coding RNA transcribed in Pol III and its effects on cancer. Outside of the lab, I spend time playing badminton, singing, and spending time with my friends.
The Pol III transcriptome: Basic features, recurrent patterns, and emerging roles in cancer (Review)
Zhou, S., Van Bortle, K.
WIREs RNA. 2023
The RNA polymerase III (Pol III) transcriptome is universally comprised of short, highly structured noncoding RNA (ncRNA). Through RNA-protein interactions, the Pol III transcriptome actuates functional activities ranging from nuclear gene regulation (7SK), splicing (U6, U6atac), and RNA maturation and stability (RMRP, RPPH1, Y RNA), to cytoplasmic protein targeting (7SL) and translation (tRNA, 5S rRNA). In higher eukaryotes, the Pol III transcriptome has expanded to include additional, recently evolved ncRNA species that effectively broaden the footprint of Pol III transcription to additional cellular activities. Newly evolved ncRNAs function as riboregulators of autophagy (vault), immune signaling cascades (nc886), and translation (Alu, BC200, snaR). Notably, upregulation of Pol III transcription is frequently observed in cancer, and multiple ncRNA species are linked to both cancer progression and poor survival outcomes among cancer patients. In this review, we outline the basic features and functions of the Pol III transcriptome, and the evidence for dysregulation and dysfunction for each ncRNA in cancer. When taken together, recurrent patterns emerge, ranging from shared functional motifs that include molecular scaffolding and protein sequestration, overlapping protein interactions, and immunostimulatory activities, to the biogenesis of analogous small RNA fragments and noncanonical miRNAs, augmenting the function of the Pol III transcriptome and further broadening its role in cancer.
RNA polymerase III transcription and cancer: A tale of two RPC7 subunits (Mini-Review)
Cheng, R., Van Bortle, K.
Front. Mol. Biosci.. 2023
RNA polymerase III composition is shaped by the mutually exclusive incorporation of two paralogous subunits, RPC7α and RPC7β, encoded by genes POLR3G and POLR3GL in vertebrates. The expression of POLR3G and POLR3GL is spatiotemporally regulated during development, and multiple reports point to RPC7α-enhanced Pol III activity patterns, indicating that Pol III identity may underly dynamic Pol III transcription patterns observed in higher eukaryotes. In cancer, upregulation of POLR3G, but not POLR3GL, is associated with poor survival outcomes among patients, suggesting differences between RPC7α and RPC7β further influence disease progression and may translate into future biomarkers and therapeutic strategies. Here, we outline our current understanding of Pol III identity and transcription and reexamine the distinct protein characteristics of Pol III subunits RPC7α and RPC7β. Drawing on both structural and genomic studies, we discuss differences between RPC7α and RPC7β and the potential mechanisms by which Pol III identity may establish differential activities during development and disease.
A cancer-associated RNA polymerase III identity drives robust transcription and expression of snaR-A noncoding RNA
Van Bortle, K., Marciano, D.P., Liu, Q., Chou, T., Lipchik, A.M., Gollapudi, S., Geller, B., Monte, E., Kamakaka, R., Snyder, M.P.
Nature Commun. 2022
RNA polymerase III (Pol III) includes two alternate isoforms, defined by mutually exclusive incorporation of subunit POLR3G (RPC7α) or POLR3GL (RPC7β), in mammals. The contributions of POLR3G and POLR3GL to transcription potential has remained poorly defined. Here, we discover that loss of subunit POLR3G is accompanied by a restricted repertoire of genes transcribed by Pol III. Particularly sensitive is snaR-A, a small noncoding RNA implicated in cancer proliferation and metastasis. Analysis of Pol III isoform biases and downstream chromatin features identifies loss of POLR3G and snaR-A during differentiation, and conversely, re-establishment of POLR3G gene expression and SNAR-A gene features in cancer contexts. Our results support a model in which Pol III identity functions as an important transcriptional regulatory mechanism. Upregulation of POLR3G, which is driven by MYC, identifies a subgroup of patients with unfavorable survival outcomes in specific cancers, further implicating the POLR3G-enhanced transcription repertoire as a potential disease factor.
Topological organization and dynamic regulation of human tRNA genes during macrophage differentiation
Van Bortle, K., Phanstiel, D.H., Snyder, M.P.
Genome Biol. 2017
The human genome is hierarchically organized into local and long-range structures that help shape cell-type-specific transcription patterns. Transfer RNA (tRNA) genes (tDNAs), which are transcribed by RNA polymerase III (RNAPIII) and encode RNA molecules responsible for translation, are dispersed throughout the genome and, in many cases, linearly organized into genomic clusters with other tDNAs. Whether the location and three-dimensional organization of tDNAs contribute to the activity of these genes has remained difficult to address, due in part to unique challenges related to tRNA sequencing. We therefore devised integrated tDNA expression profiling, a method that combines RNAPIII mapping with biotin-capture of nascent tRNAs. We apply this method to the study of dynamic tRNA gene regulation during macrophage development and further integrate these data with high-resolution maps of 3D chromatin structure.
Static and dynamic DNA loops form AP-1-bound activation hubs during macrophage development
Phanstiel, DH.*, Van Bortle, K.*, Spacek, D., Hess, GT., Shamim, MS., Machol, I., Love, MI., Aiden, EL., Bassik, MC., Snyder, MP.
Mol. Cell. 2017
The three-dimensional arrangement of the human genome comprises a complex network of structural and regulatory chromatin loops important for coordinating changes in transcription during human development. To better understand the mechanisms underlying context-specific 3D chromatin structure and transcription during cellular differentiation, we generated comprehensive in situ Hi-C maps of DNA loops in human monocytes and differentiated macrophages. We demonstrate that dynamic looping events are regulatory rather than structural in nature and uncover widespread coordination of dynamic enhancer activity at preformed and acquired DNA loops. Enhancer-bound loop formation and enhancer activation of preformed loops together form multi-loop activation hubs at key macrophage genes. Activation hubs connect 3.4 enhancers per promoter and exhibit a strong enrichment for activator protein 1 (AP-1)-binding events, suggesting that multi-loop activation hubs involving cell-type-specific transcription factors represent an important class of regulatory chromatin structures for the spatiotemporal control of transcription.
Integrated tRNA, transcript, and protein profiles in response to steroid hormone signaling
Van Bortle, K., Nichols, M.H., Ramos, E., Corces, V.G.
RNA. 2015
The accurate and efficient transfer of genetic information into amino acid sequences is carried out through codon–anticodon interactions between mRNA and tRNA, respectively. In this way, tRNAs function at the interface between gene expression and protein synthesis. Whether tRNA levels are dynamically regulated and to what degree tRNA abundance influences the cellular proteome remains largely unexplored. Here we profile tRNA, transcript and protein levels in Drosophila Kc167 cells, a plasmatocyte cell line that, upon treatment with 20-hydroxyecdysone, differentiates into macrophages. We find that high abundance tRNAs associate with codons that are overrepresented in the Kc167 cell proteome, whereas tRNAs that are in low supply associate with codons that are underrepresented. Ecdysone-induced differentiation of Kc167 cells leads to changes in mRNA codon usage in a manner consistent with the developmental progression of the cell. At both early and late time points, ecdysone treatment concomitantly increases the abundance of tRNAThr(CGU), which decodes a differentiation-associated codon that becomes enriched in the macrophage proteome. These results together suggest that tRNA levels may provide a meaningful regulatory mechanism for defining the cellular proteomic landscape.
CTCF-dependent co-localization of canonical Smad signaling factors at architectural protein binding sites in D. melanogaster
Van Bortle, K., Peterson, A.J., Takenaka, N., O'Connor, M.B., Corces, V.G.
Cell Cycle. 2015
The transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathways transduce extracellular signals into tissue-specific transcriptional responses. During this process, signaling effector Smad proteins translocate into the nucleus to direct changes in transcription, but how and where they localize to DNA remain important questions. We have mapped Drosophila TGF-β signaling factors Mad, dSmad2, Medea, and Schnurri genome-wide in Kc cells and find that numerous sites for these factors overlap with the architectural protein CTCF. Depletion of CTCF by RNAi results in the disappearance of a subset of Smad sites, suggesting Smad proteins localize to CTCF binding sites in a CTCF-dependent manner. Sensitive Smad binding sites are enriched at low occupancy CTCF peaks within topological domains, rather than at the physical domain boundaries where CTCF may function as an insulator. In response to Decapentaplegic, CTCF binding is not significantly altered, whereas Mad, Medea, and Schnurri are redirected from CTCF to non-CTCF binding sites. These results suggest that CTCF participates in the recruitment of Smad proteins to a subset of genomic sites and in the redistribution of these proteins in response to BMP signaling.
Insulator function and topological domain border strength scale with architectural protein occupancy
Van Bortle, K., Nichols, M.H., Li L., Ong, C.T., Takenaka, N., Qing, Z.S., Corces, V.G.
Genome Biol. 2014
Chromosome conformation capture studies suggest that eukaryotic genomes are organized into structures called topologically associating domains. The borders of these domains are highly enriched for architectural proteins with characterized roles in insulator function. However, a majority of architectural protein binding sites localize within topological domains, suggesting sites associated with domain borders represent a functionally different subclass of these regulatory elements. How topologically associating domains are established and what differentiates border-associated from non-border architectural protein binding sites remain unanswered questions. By mapping the genome-wide target sites for several Drosophila architectural proteins, including previously uncharacterized profiles for TFIIIC and SMC-containing condensin complexes, we uncover an extensive pattern of colocalization in which architectural proteins establish dense clusters at the borders of topological domains. Reporter-based enhancer-blocking insulator activity as well as endogenous domain border strength scale with the occupancy level of architectural protein binding sites, suggesting co-binding by architectural proteins underlies the functional potential of these loci. Analyses in mouse and human stem cells suggest that clustering of architectural proteins is a general feature of genome organization, and conserved architectural protein binding sites may underlie the tissue-invariant nature of topologically associating domains observed in mammals.
Drosophila CTCF tandemly aligns with other insulator proteins at the borders of H3K27me3 domains
Van Bortle, K., Ramos, E., Takenaka, N., Yang, J., Wahi, J.E., Corces, V.G.
Genome Res. 2012
Several multiprotein DNA complexes capable of insulator activity have been identified in Drosophila melanogaster, yet only CTCF, a highly conserved zinc finger protein, and the transcription factor TFIIIC have been shown to function in mammals. CTCF is involved in diverse nuclear activities, and recent studies suggest that the proteins with which it associates and the DNA sequences that it targets may underlie these various roles. Here we show that the Drosophila homolog of CTCF (dCTCF) aligns in the genome with other Drosophila insulator proteins such as Suppressor of Hairy wing [SU(HW)] and Boundary Element Associated Factor of 32 kDa (BEAF-32) at the borders of H3K27me3 domains, which are also enriched for associated insulator proteins and additional cofactors. RNAi depletion of dCTCF and combinatorial knockdown of gene expression for other Drosophila insulator proteins leads to a reduction in H3K27me3 levels within repressed domains, suggesting that insulators are important for the maintenance of appropriate repressive chromatin structure in Polycomb (Pc) domains. These results shed new insights into the roles of insulators in chromatin domain organization and support recent models suggesting that insulators underlie interactions important for Pc-mediated repression. We reveal an important relationship between dCTCF and other Drosophila insulator proteins and speculate that vertebrate CTCF may also align with other nuclear proteins to accomplish similar functions.