Despite inheritance of hypertension in families, identifying genetic mechanisms predisposing individuals to hypertension has remained challenging. The effects of single genes contributing to the development of hypertension may not be readily detected in individuals whose genomes also contain other genetic factors that resist hypertension. By using a highly permissive rat genome for inherited hypertension, we demonstrate that increased expression of one such gene, Rififylin (Rffl), is a novel inherited risk factor for hypertension and increased mortality. Animals overexpressing Rffl demonstrated delayed endocytic recycling, accumulated polyubiquitinated proteins, increased beats/min of neonatal cardiomyocytes, had shorter QT-intervals and developed salt-insensitive hypertension very early in their life (50-52 days). Thus, the discovery of a physiological link between overexpression of rififylin and the development of hypertension constitutes a novel mechanism that could be targeted for rectifying normal QT-interval and preventing hypertension.
Augmented rififylin is a risk factor linked to aberrant cardiomyocyte function, short-QT interval and hypertension.
Age, Specimen part
View SamplesEvidence from multiple linkage and genome-wide association studies suggest that human chromosome 2 (HSA2) contains alleles that influence blood pressure (BP). Homologous to a large segment of HSA2 is rat chromosome 9 (RNO9), to which a BP quantitative trait locus (QTL) was previously mapped. The objective of the current study was to further resolve this BP QTL. Eleven congenic strains with introgressed segments spanning <81.8kb to <1.33Mb were developed by introgressing genomic segments of RNO9 from the Dahl salt-resistant (R) rat onto the genome of the Dahl salt-sensitive (S) rat and tested for BP. The congenic strain with the shortest introgressed segment spanning <81.8kb significantly lowered BP of the hypertensive S rat by 25 mm Hg and significantly increased its mean survival by 45 days. In contrast, two other congenic strains had increased BP compared with the S. We focused on the <81.8kb congenic strain which represents the shortest genomic segment to which a BP QTL has been definitively mapped to date in any species. Sequencing of this entire region in both S and R rats detected 563 variants. The region did not contain any known or predicted rat protein coding genes. Further, a whole genome renal transcriptome analysis between S and the <81.8kb S.R congenic strain revealed alterations in several critical genes implicated in renal homeostasis. Taken together, our results provide the basis for future studies to examine the relationship between the candidate variants within the QTL region and the renal differentially expressed genes as potential causal mechanisms for BP regulation.
Defining a rat blood pressure quantitative trait locus to a &lt;81.8 kb congenic segment: comprehensive sequencing and renal transcriptome analysis.
Age, Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Positional identification of variants of Adamts16 linked to inherited hypertension.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe used Affymetrix GeneChips to expression profile rat kidney NRK-52E cells treated with control scrambled siRNA or siRNA specifically targeting Adamts16. The goal of this project was to identify the downstream genes regulated by Adamts16 (the function of Adamts16 has yet to be fully delineated). Gene expression differences resulting from these siRNA-mediated gene knockdown experiments will be compared to the gene expression profiling experiments comparing kidneys from Dahl salt-senstive hypertensive inbred strain versus less hypertensive S.LEW(D1MCO4x1x3Bx1) congenic strain. The S.LEW(D1MCO4x1x3Bx1) congenic animal is an S rat containing the LEWIS allele for Adamts16 instead of the S allele. Gene expression differences in the kidneys of S.LEW(D1MCO4x1x3Bx1) versus S are hypothesized to result from sequence differences between the S and LEWIS alleles for Adamts16. It is further hypothesized that allelic differences in Adamts16 in inbred rats is responsible for blood pressure variance. The downstream genes regulated by Adamts16 may provide insight pertaining to the mechanism of blood pressure differences.
Positional identification of variants of Adamts16 linked to inherited hypertension.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe used Affymetrix GeneChips to expression profile kidneys from Dahl salt-senstive hypertensive inbred strain and less hypertensive S.LEW(D1MCO4x1x3Bx1) congenic strain to identify genes downstream of Adamts16 (the function of Adamts16 has yet to be fully delineated). The S.LEW(D1MCO4x1x3Bx1) congenic animal is an S rat containing the LEWIS allele for Adamts16 instead of the S allele. It is hypothesized that allelic differences in Adamts16 in inbred rats is responsible for blood pressure variance. We further hypothesize that gene expression differences in the kidneys of S.LEW(D1MCO4x1x3Bx1) versus S result from sequence differences between the S and LEWIS alleles of Adamts16. Lastly, the downstream genes differentially regulated by the Adamts16 alleles may provide insight pertaining to the mechanism of blood pressure differences. Gene expression differences resulting from these kidney comparisons will be compared to the gene expression profiling experiments comparing siRNA-mediated knockdown of Adamts16 in NRK-52E kidney cells versus scrambled siRNA control.
Positional identification of variants of Adamts16 linked to inherited hypertension.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesTransgenic animals were engineered to express human amyloid peptide controlled by a muscle-specific, heat-inducible promoter. At low temperatures (16C) Abeta expression is minimal, while at higher temperatures (20-25C) Abeta accummulates in large quantities and causes paralysis.
Identifying Aβ-specific pathogenic mechanisms using a nematode model of Alzheimer's disease.
Time
View SamplesTORC1 is a structurally and functionally conserved multiprotein complex that regulates many aspects of eukaryote growth including the synthesis and assembly of ribosomes. The protein kinase activity of this complex is responsive to environmental cues and is potently inhibited by the natural product macrolide rapamycin. Insights into how TORC1 regulates growth have been provided with the recent identification of the rapamycin-sensitive phosphoproteome in yeast. Building on these data, we show here that Sch9, an AGC family kinase and direct substrate of TORC1, promotes ribosome biogenesis (ribi) and ribosomal protein (RP) gene expression via direct inhibitory phosphorylation of three transcription repressors, Stb3, Dot6 and Tod6. Dephosphorylation of these factors allows them to recruit the RPD3L histone deactelyase complex to ribi/RP gene promoters. Since rRNA and tRNA transcription are also under its control, Sch9 appears to be well positioned to coordinately regulate transcriptional aspects of ribosome biogenesis. Overall design: mRNA-Seq of 8 S. cerevisiae strains treated with either DMSO alone or 1NM-PP1, a small molecule inhibitor for analog-sensitive kinases such as sch9-as.
Sch9 regulates ribosome biogenesis via Stb3, Dot6 and Tod6 and the histone deacetylase complex RPD3L.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesAtrial fibrillation (AF) is a progressive arrhythmia for which current therapy is inadequate. During AF, rapid stimulation causes atrial remodeling that promotes further AF. The cellular signals that trigger this process remain poorly understood, however, and elucidation of these factors would likely identify new therapeutic targets. We have previously shown that immortalized mouse atrial (HL-1) myocytes subjected to 24 hr of rapid stimulation in culture undergo remodeling similar to that seen in animal models of atrial tachycardia (AT) and human AF. This preparation is devoid of confounding in vivo variables that can modulate gene expression (e.g., hemodynamics). Therefore, we investigated the transcriptional profile associated with early atrial cell remodeling. RNA was harvested from HL-1 cells cultured for 24 hr in the absence and presence of rapid stimulation and subjected to microarray analysis. Data were normalized using Robust Multichip Analysis (RMA), and genes exhibiting significant differential expression were identified using the Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM) method. Using this approach, 919 genes were identified that were significantly altered with rapid stimulation (763 up-regulated and 156 down-regulated). For many individual transcripts, changes typical of AF/AT were observed, with marked up-regulation of genes encoding BNP and ANP precursors, heat shock proteins, and MAP kinases, while novel signaling pathways and molecules were also identified. Both stress and survival response were evident, as well as up-regulation of multiple transcription factors. Genes were also functionally classified based on cellular component, biologic process, and molecular function using the Gene Ontology database to permit direct comparison of our data with other gene sets regulated in human AF and experimental AT. For broad categories of genes grouped by functional classification, there was striking conservation between rapidly stimulated HL-1 cells and AF/AT. Results were confirmed using real-time quantitative RT-PCR on 13 genes selected by physiological relevance in AF/AT and regulation in the microarray analysis (up, down, and nonregulated). Rapidly-stimulated atrial myocytes provide a complementary experimental paradigm to explore the initial cellular signals in AT remodeling to identify novel targets in the treatment of AF.
Transcriptional remodeling of rapidly stimulated HL-1 atrial myocytes exhibits concordance with human atrial fibrillation.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesIn Drosophila, fibrillar flight muscles (IFMs) enable flight, while tubular muscles mediate other body movements. Here, we use RNA-sequencing and isoform-specific reporters to show that spalt major (salm) determines fibrillar muscle physiology by regulating transcription and alternative splicing of a large set of sarcomeric proteins. We identify the RNA binding protein Arrest (Aret, Bruno) as downstream of salm. Aret shuttles between cytoplasm and nuclei, and is essential for myofibril maturation and sarcomere growth of IFMs. Molecularly, Aret regulates IFM-specific transcription and splicing of various sarcomeric targets, including Stretchin and wupA (TnI), and thus maintains muscle fiber integrity. As Aret and its sarcomeric targets are evolutionarily conserved, similar principles may regulate mammalian muscle morphogenesis. Overall design: 9 samples from Drosophila melanogaster were analyzed in duplicate: control dissected wildtype flight muscle at 30h APF, 72h APF and 0 day adult, jump muscle and whole leg from 1d adult and RNAi/mutant conditions for salm (1d flight muscle) and aret (30h, 72h and 1d flight muscle)
The RNA-binding protein Arrest (Bruno) regulates alternative splicing to enable myofibril maturation in Drosophila flight muscle.
Subject
View SamplesMuscles organise a pseudo-crystalline array of actin, myosin and titin filaments to build force-producing sarcomeres. To study how sarcomeres are built, we performed mRNA-sequencing of developing Drosophila flight muscles and identified 40 distinct expression profile clusters. Strikingly, two clusters are strongly enriched for sarcomeric components. Temporal gene expression together with detailed morphological analysis enabled us to define two distinct phases of sarcomere development, both of which require the transcriptional regulator Spalt major. During the first sarcomere formation phase, 2.0 µm long immature sarcomeres assemble myofibrils that spontaneously contract. In the second sarcomere maturation phase, sarcomeres grow to their final 3.2 µm length and 1.5 µm diameter and acquire stretch-sensitivity. Interestingly, the final number of myofibrils per flight muscle fiber is determined at the onset of the first phase and remains constant. Together, this defines a biphasic mode of sarcomere and myofibril morphogenesis – a new concept which may also apply to vertebrate muscle or heart development. Overall design: Part I: An 8-point timecourse of wild-type flight muscle development in Drosophila melanogaster was analyzed with duplicates/triplicates for each timepoint Part II: A Mef2-Gal4 x salmIR timecourse in duplicate at 4 timepoints was compared to wild-type flight muscle
A transcriptomics resource reveals a transcriptional transition during ordered sarcomere morphogenesis in flight muscle.
Specimen part, Subject
View Samples