The mechanisms instructing genesis of neuronal subtypes from mammalian neural precursors are not well-understood. To address this issue, we have characterized the transcriptional landscape of radial glial precursors (RPs) in the embryonic murine cortex. We show that individual RPs express mRNA but not protein for transcriptional specifiers of both deep and superficial layer cortical neurons. Some of these mRNAs, including the superficial versus deep layer neuron transcriptional regulators Brn1 and Tle4, are translationally repressed by their association with the RNA-binding protein Pumilio2 and the 4E-T protein. When these repressive complexes are disrupted in RPs mid-neurogenesis by knocking down 4E-T or Pum2, this causes aberrant co-expression of deep layer neuron specification proteins in newborn superficial neurons. Thus, cortical RPs are transcriptionally primed to generate diverse types of neurons, and a 4E-T-Pum2 complex represses translation of some of these neuronal identity mRNAs to ensure appropriate temporal specification of daughter neurons.
A Translational Repression Complex in Developing Mammalian Neural Stem Cells that Regulates Neuronal Specification.
Specimen part
View SamplesAdult neural stem cells (NSCs) derive from embryonic precursors, but little is known about how or when this occurs. We have addressed this issue using single cell RNAseq at multiple developmental timepoints to analyze the embryonic murine cortex, one source of adult forebrain NSCs. We computationally identify all major cortical cell types, including the embryonic radial precursors (RPs) that generate adult NSCs. We define the initial emergence of RPs from neuroepithelial stem cells at E11.5. We show that by E13.5 these RPs express a transcriptional identity that is maintained and reinforced throughout their transition to a non-proliferative state between E15.5 and E17.5. These slowly-proliferating late embryonic RPs share a core transcriptional phenotype with quiescent adult forebrain NSCs. Together, these findings support a model where cortical RPs maintain a core transcriptional identity from embryogenesis through to adulthood, and where the transition to a quiescent adult NSC occurs during late neurogenesis. Overall design: We applied the high-throughput single-cell mRNA sequencing technique, Drop-seq, to the embryonic mouse cortex. 2000-5000 single cells from wildtype CD1 embryos of gestational ages E11.5, E13.5, E15.5 and E17.5 were characterized.
Developmental Emergence of Adult Neural Stem Cells as Revealed by Single-Cell Transcriptional Profiling.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesWe used microarrays to compare the gene expression profile in cultured primary neurospheres derived from the subventricular zone of adult (2 m.o.) offspring of mothers treated with PBS or methylglyoxal during pregnancy
A Glo1-Methylglyoxal Pathway that Is Perturbed in Maternal Diabetes Regulates Embryonic and Adult Neural Stem Cell Pools in Murine Offspring.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesKAP1 (TRIM28) is a transcriptional regulator in embryonic development that controls stem cell self-renewal, chromatin organization and the DNA damage response, acting as an essential co-repressor for KRAB family zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZNF). To gain insight into the function of this large gene family, we developed an antibody that recognizes the conserved zinc fingers linker region (ZnFL) in multiple KRAB-ZNF. Here we report that the expression of many KRAB-ZNF along with active SUMOlyated KAP1 is elevated widely in human breast cancers. KAP1 silencing in breast cancer cells reduced proliferation and inhibited the growth and metastasis of tumor xenografts. Conversely, KAP1 overexpression stimulated cell proliferation and tumor growth. In cells where KAP1 was silenced, we identified multiple downregulated genes linked to tumor progression and metastasis, including EREG/epiregulin, PTGS2/COX2, MMP1, MMP2 and CD44, along with downregulation of multiple KRAB-ZNF proteins. KAP1-dependent stabilization of KRAB-ZNF required direct interactions with KAP1. Together, our results show that KAP1-mediated stimulation of multiple KRAB-ZNF contributes to the growth and metastasis of breast cancer.
KAP1 promotes proliferation and metastatic progression of breast cancer cells.
Cell line
View SamplesAnkrd11 is a potential chromatin regulator implicated in neural development and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with no known function in the brain. Here, we show that knockdown of Ankrd11 in developing murine or human cortical neural precursors caused decreased proliferation, reduced neurogenesis, and aberrant neuronal positioning. Similar cellular phenotypes and aberrant ASD-like behaviors were observed in Yoda mice carrying a point mutation in the Ankrd11 HDAC-binding domain. Consistent with a role for Ankrd11 in histone acetylation, Ankrd11 was associated with chromatin, colocalized with HDAC3, and expression and histone acetylation of Ankrd11 target genes were altered in Yoda neural precursors. Moreover, the Ankrd11 knockdown-mediated decrease in precursor proliferation was rescued by inhibiting histone acetyltransferase activity or expressing HDAC3. Thus, Ankrd11 is a crucial epigenetic regulator of neural development that controls histone acetylation and gene expression, thereby providing a likely explanation for its association with cognitive dysfunction and ASD.
Ankrd11 is a chromatin regulator involved in autism that is essential for neural development.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe report the application of RNA sequencing for transcriptome analysis of virus infected tissues, enabling the study of tissue responses to infection Overall design: Transcriptome analysis of 2 different tissues infected with two different viruses
Correction for Weisblum et al., "Zika Virus Infects Early- and Midgestation Human Maternal Decidual Tissues, Inducing Distinct Innate Tissue Responses in the Maternal-Fetal Interface".
Specimen part, Subject, Time
View SamplesKRAS mutations are the ost abundand driver mutations found in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Unfortunately, there are no clinical approved inhibitors available, to directly target mutant forms of KRAS. The aim of the study was to unravel the impact of upstream Egfr activation in signaling of mutated K-ras. We found that upregulation of G12D mutant Kras induced genes was significantly impaired when Egfr was knocked out. Our data suggests that signaling of mutant Kras depends on upstream activation. This finding may be exploited therapeutically by targeting EGFR in KRAS mutant patients. Overall design: We isolated mouse alveolar type II cells and induced the Kras G12D mutation, with and without concomitant Egfr knockout, in vitro. Cells lysates were analyzed 5 days following transgene induction.
JAK-STAT inhibition impairs K-RAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma progression.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesIn order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying individual variation in sensitivity to ethanol we profiled the prefrontal cortex transcriptomes of two inbred strains that exhibit divergent responses to acute ethanol, the C57BL6/J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) strains, as well as 27 members of the BXD recombinant inbred panel, which was derived from a B6 x D2 cross. With this dataset we were able to identify several gene co-expression networks that were robustly altered by acute ethanol across the BXD panel. These ethanol-responsive gene-enriched networks were heavily populated by genes regulating synaptic transmission and neuroplasticity, and showed strong genetic linkage to discreet chromosomal loci. Network-based measurements of node importance identified several hub genes as established regulators of ethanol response phenotypes, while other hubs represent novel candidate modulators of ethanol responses.
Genetic dissection of acute ethanol responsive gene networks in prefrontal cortex: functional and mechanistic implications.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesThe aim of this experiment was to investigate the dysregulation of gene expression in whole E12.5 embryos containing a gene trap (CH) or point mutation (H275R) within the Klf3 gene
ENU-induced mutation in the DNA-binding domain of KLF3 reveals important roles for KLF3 in cardiovascular development and function in mice.
Specimen part
View SamplesIntranasal (IN) immunization induces different genotype expression in CD8 memory T cells compared to the CD8 memory T cells induced by intramuscular (IM) immunization. We used microarrays to detail the global program of gene expression underlying the differential induction after IN or IM immunization.
Induction of resident memory T cells enhances the efficacy of cancer vaccine.
Specimen part, Treatment
View Samples