Many thousand long non-coding (lnc) RNAs are mapped in the human genome. Time consuming studies using reverse genetic approaches by post-transcriptional knock-down or genetic modification of the locus demonstrated diverse biological functions for a few of these transcripts. The Human Gene Trap Mutant Collection in haploid KBM7 cells is a ready-to-use tool for studying protein-coding gene function. As lncRNAs show remarkable differences in RNA biology compared to protein-coding genes, it is unclear if this gene trap collection is useful for functional analysis of lncRNAs. Here we use the uncharacterized LOC100288798 lncRNA as a model to answer this question. Using public RNA-seq data we show that LOC100288798 is ubiquitously expressed, but inefficiently spliced. The minor spliced LOC100288798 isoforms are exported to the cytoplasm, whereas the major unspliced isoform is nuclear localized. This shows that LOC100288798 RNA biology differs markedly from typical mRNAs. De novo assembly from RNA-seq data suggests that LOC100288798 extends 289kb beyond its annotated 3'' end and overlaps the downstream SLC38A4 gene. Three cell lines with independent gene trap insertions in LOC100288798 were available from the KBM7 gene trap collection. RT-qPCR and RNA-seq confirmed successful lncRNA truncation and its extended length. Expression analysis from RNA-seq data shows significant deregulation of 41 protein-coding genes upon LOC100288798 truncation. Our data shows that gene trap collections in human haploid cell lines are useful tools to study lncRNAs, and identifies the previously uncharacterized LOC100288798 as a potential gene regulator. Overall design: We cultured and processed 8 KBM7 cell lines in one batch. These cell lines were: two wild type KBM7 cells (WT2 and WT3), two monoclonal KBM7 cell lines with gene trap cassette insertions outside of the body of LOC100288798 (C1 and C2), two independently obtained KBM7 clones with gene trap cassette insertion 3kb downstream LOC100288798 transcriptional start site (TSS) (3kb1 and 3kb2), one independently obtained KBM7 clone with gene trap cassette insertion 100kb downstream LOC100288798 TSS replicated twice at the thawing step (100kb1 and 100kb2). We isolated total RNA from all th 8 cell lines, applied DNAseI treatment and ribosomal RNA depletion, and thhen prepared strand-specific RNA-seq libraries, which were pooled in equal molarities and sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2000 (8 pooled samples were sequence on 2 lanes). We performed 50bp single-end RNA-seq. We used these 8 samples (4 untreated: WT2, WT3, C1, C2 and 4 treated:3kb1, 3kb2, 100kbk1, 100kb2) to analyze genome-wide gene deregulation associated with LOC100288798 lncRNA truncation
A human haploid gene trap collection to study lncRNAs with unusual RNA biology.
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View SamplesA loss of StarPap would be predicted to result in a decrease in cellular levels of mRNAs which it polyadenylates. Moreover, if PIPKIalpha has a function relationship with StarPap, knockdown of PIPKIalpha should cause a decrease in a pool of target mRNAs which require both StarPap and PIPKIalpha for their maturation. To test this, we independently knocked down StarPap and PIPKIalpha, and performed microarray analysis of total polyadenylated mRNAs from each group.
A PtdIns4,5P2-regulated nuclear poly(A) polymerase controls expression of select mRNAs.
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View SamplesAltered Ca2+ handling has both immediate physiological effects and long-term genomic effects on vascular smooth muscle function. Previously we have shown that elevation of cytoplasmic Ca2+ through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs) or store-operated Ca2+ channels (SOCCs) results in phosphorylation of the Ca2+/cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in cerebral arteries. Here we demonstrate that stimulation of these different Ca2+ influx pathways results in transcriptional activation of a distinct, yet overlapping set of genes, and that the induction of selected CRE-regulated genes is prevented by the addition of corresponding Ca2+ channel blockers. Using oligonucleotide array analysis, changes in mRNA levels were quantified following membrane depolarization with K+ or depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores with thapsigargin in human cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells. Array results for differentially regulated genes containing a CRE were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR, and corresponding changes in protein expression were shown by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence. Membrane depolarization induced a transient increase in c-fos mRNA and a sustained increase in early growth response-1 (Egr-1) mRNA and protein that were inhibited by application of the VDCC blocker, nimodipine, and the SOCC inhibitor, 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborate (2-APB). Thapsigargin induced a sustained increase in c-fos mRNA and MAP kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) mRNA and protein, and these effects were decreased by 2-APB but not by nimodipine. Our findings thus indicate that Ca2+ entry through VDCCs and SOCCs can differentially regulate CRE-containing genes in vascular smooth muscle and imply that signals involved in growth modulation are both temporally and spatially regulated by Ca2+.
Ca2+ source-dependent transcription of CRE-containing genes in vascular smooth muscle.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesLeukemia stem cells (LSCs) are found in most aggressive myeloid diseases and contribute to therapeutic resistance. Genetic and epigenetic alterations cause a dysregulated developmental program in leukemia. The MSI2 RNA binding protein has been previously shown to predict poor survival in leukemia. We demonstrate that the conditional deletion of Msi2 results in delayed leukemogenesis, reduced disease burden and a loss of LSC function. Gene expression profiling of the Msi2 ablated LSCs demonstrates a loss of the HSC/LSC and an increase in the differentiation program. The gene signature from the Msi2 deleted LSCs correlates with survival in AML patients. MSI2’s maintains the MLL self-renewal program by interacting with and retaining efficient translation of Hoxa9, Myc and Ikzf2. We further demonstrate that shRNA depletion of the MLL target gene Ikzf2 also contributes to MLL leukemia cell survival. Our data provides evidence that MSI2 controls efficient translation of the oncogenic LSC self-renewal program and a rationale for clinically targeting MSI2 in myeloid leukemia. Overall design: RNA-Seq was performed on sorted c-Kit high leukemic cells from 2 Msi2 -/- and 2 Msi2 f/f mice.
Musashi2 sustains the mixed-lineage leukemia-driven stem cell regulatory program.
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View SamplesBackground: Progressive neurological dysfunction is a key aspect of human aging. Because of underlying differences in the aging of mice and humans, useful mouse models have been difficult to obtain and study. We have used gene-expression analysis and polymorphism screening to study molecular senescence of the retina and hippocampus in two rare inbred mouse models of accelerated neurological senescence (SAMP8 and SAMP10) that closely mimic human neurological aging, and in a related normal strain (SAMR1) and an unrelated normal strain (C57BL/6J).
Mechanisms of aging in senescence-accelerated mice.
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View SamplesBackground: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly implicated as gene regulators and may ultimately be more numerous than protein-coding genes in the human genome. Despite large numbers of reported lncRNAs, reference annotations are likely incomplete due to their lower and tighter tissue-specific expression compared to mRNAs. An unexplored factor potentially confounding lncRNA identification is inter-individual expression variability. Here, we characterize lncRNA natural expression variability in human primary granulocytes. Results: We annotate granulocyte lncRNAs and mRNAs in RNA-seq data from ten healthy individuals, identifying multiple lncRNAs absent from reference annotations, and use this to investigate three known features (higher tissue-specificity, lower expression, and reduced splicing efficiency) of lncRNAs relative to mRNAs. Expression variability was examined in seven individuals sampled three times at one or more than one month intervals. We show that lncRNAs display significantly more inter-individual expression variability compared to mRNAs. We confirm this finding in 2 independent human datasets by analyzing multiple tissues from the GTEx project and lymphoblastoid cell lines from the GEUVADIS project. Using the latter dataset we also show that including more human donors into the transcriptome annotation pipeline allows identification of an increasing number of lncRNAs, but minimally affects mRNA gene number. Conclusions: A comprehensive annotation of lncRNAs is known to require an approach that is sensitive to low and tight tissue-specific expression. Here we show that increased inter-individual expression variability is an additional general lncRNA feature to consider when creating a comprehensive annotation of human lncRNAs or proposing their use as prognostic or disease markers. Overall design: We used PolyA+ RNA-seq data from human primary granulocytes of 10 healthy individuals to de novo annotate lncRNAs and mRNAs in this cell type and ribosomal depleted (total) RNA-seq data from seven of these individuals sampled three times to analyze lncRNA amd mRNA expression variability
Long non-coding RNAs display higher natural expression variation than protein-coding genes in healthy humans.
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View SamplesThe origin of humans was accompanied by the emergence of new behavioral and cognitive functions, including language and specialized forms of abstract representation. However, the molecular foundations of these human capabilities are poorly understood. Because of the extensive similarity between human and chimpanzee DNA sequences, it has been suggested that many of the key phenotypic differences between species result primarily from alterations in the regulation of genes rather than in their sequences.
Elevated gene expression levels distinguish human from non-human primate brains.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesThe Hippo pathway directs cell differentiation during organogenesis, in part by restricting proliferation. How Hippo signaling maintains a proliferation-differentiation balance in developing tissues and its underlying molecular targets are poorly understood. Our study shows that Hippo suppresses NF?B signaling in pancreatic progenitors to permit cell differentiation and developmental progression. We found that pancreas-specific Lats1/2 kinase deletion (Lats1/2PanKO) from mouse progenitor epithelia results in failure to differentiate 3 key pancreatic lineages: acinar, ductal, and endocrine. We performed an unbiased transcriptome analysis to query the differentiation defects in Lats1/2PanKO. This analysis revealed increased NF?B activator expression, including the pantetheinase Vanin1 (Vnn1). Through in vivo and ex vivo studies, we show that VNN1 activates a detrimental cascade of processes in Lats1/2PanKO epithelium, whereby 1) NF?B activation and 2) initiation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) together override normal differentiation. We show that exogenous stimulation of VNN1 or NF?B can also trigger this cascade in WT pancreatic progenitors. These findings show that pancreas development requires active suppression of NF?B by LATS1/2 kinases to restrain a cell-autonomous transcriptional program and thereby allow for differentiation. Overall design: RNA-Seq comparing total RNA from 5 WT samples and 3 Lats1/2-deficient pancreas samples at E11.0.
LATS1/2 suppress NFκB and aberrant EMT initiation to permit pancreatic progenitor differentiation.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesComparison of gene expression in intestinal epithelial cells in the presence or absence of ectopic induction of Msi1 in vivo
The Msi Family of RNA-Binding Proteins Function Redundantly as Intestinal Oncoproteins.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe rod photoreceptor-specific neural retina leucine zipper protein Nrl is essential for rod differentiation and plays a critical role in regulating gene expression. In the mouse retina, rods account for 97% of the photoreceptors; however, in the absence of Nrl (Nrl-/-), no rods are present and a concomitant increase in cones is observed.
Expression profiling of the developing and mature Nrl-/- mouse retina: identification of retinal disease candidates and transcriptional regulatory targets of Nrl.
Specimen part
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