The transition in developmental control from maternal to zygotic gene products marks a critical step in early embryogenesis. Here, we use GRO-seq analysis to map the genome-wide RNA polymerase distribution during the Drosophila maternal to zygotic transition. This analysis unambiguously identifies the zygotic transcriptome, and provides insight into its mechanisms of regulation. Overall design: Two replicates of GRO-seq at each time point.
Extensive polymerase pausing during Drosophila axis patterning enables high-level and pliable transcription.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject, Time
View SamplesResults from clinical and imaging studies provide evidence for changes in schizophrenia with disease progression, however, the underlying molecular differences that may occur at different stages of illness have not been investigated. To test the hypothesis that the molecular basis for schizophrenia changes from early to chronic illness, we profiled genome-wide expression patterns in prefrontal cortex of schizophrenic subjects at different stages of illness, along with their age- and sex-matched controls. Results show that gene expression profiles change dramatically depending on the stage of illness, whereby the greatest number and magnitude of gene expression differences were detected in subjects with short-term illness ( 4 years from diagnosis). Comprehensive pathways analyses revealed that each defined stage of illness was associated with dysfunction in both distinct, as well as overlapping systems. Short-term illness was particularly associated with disruptions in gene transcription, metal ion binding, RNA processing and vesicle-mediated transport. In contrast, long-term illness was associated with inflammation, stimulus-response and immune functions. We validated expression differences of 12 transcripts associated with these various functions by real-time PCR analysis. While only four genes, SAMSN1, CDC42BPB, DSC2 and PTPRE, were consistently expressed across all groups, there was dysfunction in overlapping systems among all stages, including cellular signal transduction, lipid metabolism and protein localization. Our results demonstrate that the molecular basis for schizophrenia changes from early to chronic stages, providing evidence for a changing nature of schizophrenia with disease progression.
Molecular profiles of schizophrenia in the CNS at different stages of illness.
Sex, Age
View SamplesEpithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been linked to cancer progression and metastatic propensity. The 4T1 tumor is a clinically relevant model of spontaneous breast cancer metastasis. Here we characterize 4T1-derived cell lines for EMT, in vitro invasiveness and in vivo metastatic ability. Contrary to expectations, the 67NR cells, which form primary tumors but fail to metastasize, express vimentin and N-cadherin, but not E-cadherin. 4T1 cells, however, express E-cadherin, are highly migratory and invasive, and metastasize to multiple sites. The 66cl4 metastatic cells display mixed epithelial and mesenchymal markers, but are less migratory and invasive than 67NR cells. These findings demonstrate that the metastatic ability of breast cancer cells does not correlate with genotypic and phenotypic properties of EMT per se, and suggest that other processes may govern metastatic capability. Gene expression analysis also has not identified differences in EMT markers, but has identified several candidate genes that may influence metastatic ability.
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is not sufficient for spontaneous murine breast cancer metastasis.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesDNA is strictly compartmentalised within the nucleus to prevent autoimmunity despite this cGAS, a cytosolic sensor of dsDNA, is activated in autoinflammatory disorders and by DNA damage. Precisely how cellular DNA gains access to the cytoplasm remains to be determined. Here, we report that cGAS localises to micronuclei arising from genome instability in a model of monogenic autoinflammation, after exogenous DNA damage and spontaneously in human cancer cells. These micronuclei occur after mis-segregation of DNA during cell division and consist of chromatin surrounded by their own nuclear membrane. Breakdown of the micronuclear envelope, a process associated with chromothripsis, leads to rapid accumulation of cGAS, providing a mechanism by which self-DNA becomes exposed to the cytosol. cGAS binds to and is activated by chromatin and consistent with a mitotic origin, micronuclei formation and the proinflammatory response following DNA-damage are cell-cycle dependent. Furthermore, by combining live-cell laser microdissection with single cell transcriptomics, we establish that induction of interferon stimulated gene expression occurs in micronucleated cells. We therefore conclude that micronuclei represent an important source of immunostimulatory DNA. As micronuclei formed from lagging chromosomes also activate this pathway, cGAS recognition of micronuclei may act as a cell-intrinsic immune surveillance mechanism detecting a range of neoplasia-inducing processes. Overall design: RNA-seq of 35 individual mouse embryonic fibroblasts 48 h after 1 Gy irradiation: 21 test (with micronuclei) and 14 controls (without micronuclei).
cGAS surveillance of micronuclei links genome instability to innate immunity.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesAdaptive immune responses to infection result in the formation of memory T cells that respond more rapidly and robustly to reinfections, providing the basis of the immunological memory targeted by vaccines. Underlying the enhanced responsiveness of memory cells is their ability to rapidly up-regulate the transcription of key effector genes at a higher level compared to nave cells (termed transcriptional memory). While transcriptionally permissive histone modifications are known to provide chromatin structures that facilitate transcriptional memory, the molecular mechanisms that underpin this process still remain elusive. Here we investigate the transcriptional response of the Jurkat T cell line to stimulation with PMA and Ionomycin and determine if this response differs in cells that have seen stimuli previously.
Nuclear PKC-θ facilitates rapid transcriptional responses in human memory CD4+ T cells through p65 and H2B phosphorylation.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesTo understand the molecular differences between adipocytes and their contribution to cell-type specific function, we comprehensively characterised the transcriptomes and DNA methylomes using WGBS of isolated adipocytes from the SAT and VAT from normal weight individuals Overall design: WGBS, RNA-seq, and microarrays were used to study epigenetics and transcriptomics human cancer isolated subcutaneous (abdominal - SA) and vieceral (omental - VA) adipocyte, peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT).
Methylome and transcriptome maps of human visceral and subcutaneous adipocytes reveal key epigenetic differences at developmental genes.
Sex, Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesTo understand the molecular differences between adipocytes and their contribution to cell-type specific function, we comprehensively characterised the transcriptomes and DNA methylomes using WGBS of isolated adipocytes from the SAT and VAT from normal weight individuals Overall design: WGBS, RNA-seq, and microarrays were used to study epigenetics and transcriptomics human cancer isolated subcutaneous (abdominal - SA) and vieceral (omental - VA) adipocyte, peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT).
Methylome and transcriptome maps of human visceral and subcutaneous adipocytes reveal key epigenetic differences at developmental genes.
Sex, Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThe Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway is a tractable target for the pharmacological prevention of tumorigenesis. 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (D3T) and 1-[2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oyl]imidazole (CDDO-Im) are representative members of two classes of Nrf2-activating chemopreventive agents. Natural dithiolethiones have been widely used in clinical trials for cancer chemoprevention. Synthetic triterpenoids, however, have been shown to be significantly more potent Nrf2 activators and are under clinical evaluation for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. This study seeks to characterize the structure-activity relationship between D3T and CDDO-Im in mouse liver tissue. To this end we treated Wt and Nrf2-null mice with 300 umol/kg bw D3T and 3, 10, and 30 umol/kg bw CDDO-Im every other day for 5 days and evaulated global gene expression changes as a product of both treamtent and genotype using Affymetrix microarray.
Pharmacogenomics of Chemically Distinct Classes of Keap1-Nrf2 Activators Identify Common and Unique Gene, Protein, and Pathway Responses In Vivo.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesYeast transcription factor Yap1 mediates adaptive response against H2O2 and the cystein thiol reactive Michael acceptor, N-ethylmaleimid (NEM) and acrolein. The response against H2O2 was found to be distinct from that against NEM and acrolein.
Yap1 activation by H2O2 or thiol-reactive chemicals elicits distinct adaptive gene responses.
Treatment
View SamplesCombining genome-wide microarray and functional analyses, we found that EGFR activation abrogates barrier function, increasing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and transepithelial permeability of water-soluble ions and higher molecular weight dextrans, in part by disrupting the expression of tight junction proteins. EGF decreases certain lipid matrix free fatty acids and ceramides by its actions to repress the expression of specific biosynthetic enzymes.
EGFR regulation of epidermal barrier function.
Specimen part
View Samples