Medulloblastoma is a malignant childhood brain tumour comprising four discrete subgroups. To identify mutations that drive medulloblastoma we sequenced the entire genomes of 37 tumours and matched normal blood. One hundred and thirty-six genes harbouring somatic mutations in this discovery set were sequenced in an additional 56 medulloblastomas. Recurrent mutations were detected in 41 genes not yet implicated in medulloblastoma: several target distinct components of the epigenetic machinery in different disease subgroups, e.g., regulators of H3K27 and H3K4 trimethylation in subgroup-3 and 4 (e.g., KDM6A and ZMYM3), and CTNNB1-associated chromatin remodellers in WNT-subgroup tumours (e.g., SMARCA4 and CREBBP). Modelling of mutations in mouse lower rhombic lip progenitors that generate WNT-subgroup tumours, identified genes that maintain this cell lineage (DDX3X) as well as mutated genes that initiate (CDH1) or cooperate (PIK3CA) in tumourigenesis. These data provide important new insights into the pathogenesis of medulloblastoma subgroups and highlight targets for therapeutic development.
Novel mutations target distinct subgroups of medulloblastoma.
Sex
View SamplesAcute lymphoblastic leukaemia with early T-cell precursor immunophenotype (ETP ALL) is a highly aggressive subtype of ALL of unknown aetiology. To gain insights into the genetic basis of this disease, we performed whole genome sequencing of tumour and normal DNA of 12 children with ETP ALL. Analysis of structural and sequence variants in this discovery cohort, and mutation recurrence screening in a panel of 51 ETP and 43 non ETP ALL samples identified a high frequency of activating mutations in genes regulating cytokine receptor and Ras signalling, including IL7R, NRAS, KRAS, FLT3, BRAF, JAK1 and JAK3 in ETP ALL. Moreover, we identified multiple new targets of mutation in including GATA3, EP300, RUNX1, DNM2, ECT2L, HNRNPA1 and HNRNPR, as well as genes known to be mutated in T-ALL, including NOTCH1, PHF6, and WT1.. Five of 12 ETP ALL cases harboured novel chromosomal translocations, several of which accompanied complex multichromosomal rearrangements and resulted in the expression of chimeric in-frame fusion genes disrupting hematopoietic regulators, including ETV6-INO80D, NAP1L1-MLLT10 and RUNX1-EVX1. These results indicate that although ETP ALL is genetically heterogeneous, activation of Ras and cytokine receptor signalling distinguishes this disease from non-ETP ALL. These findings suggest that targeting this pathway may improve the currently dismal outcome of this disease.
The genetic basis of early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Specimen part
View SamplesEarly T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ETP ALL) is an aggressive malignancy of unknown genetic basis. We performed whole genome sequencing of tumour and normal DNA from 12 children with ETP ALL and assessed the frequency of somatic alterations in 52 ETP and 42 non-ETP T-ALL samples by sequencing and DNA copy number analysis. ETP ALL was characterised by a high frequency of activating mutations in genes regulating cytokine receptor and Ras signalling (67% of cases; NRAS, KRAS, FLT3, IL7R, JAK3, JAK1, SH2B3 and BRAF); alterations disrupting haemopoietic development (58%; GATA3, ETV6, RUNX1, IKZF1, EP300); and inactivating mutations in histone modifying genes (48%; EZH2, EED, SUZ12, SETD2 and EP300). We also identified new targets of mutation including DNM2, ECT2L and RELN. Ten of 12 ETP ALL cases harboured chromosomal rearrangements, several of which complex and resulted in the expression of novel chimeric in-frame fusion genes disrupting haemopoietic regulators. Thus, similar to myeloid malignancies, mutations that drive proliferation, impair differentiation and disrupt histone modification are hallmarks of ETP ALL. Moreover, the global transcriptional profile of ETP ALL was similar to that of normal and myeloid leukaemia haemopoietic stem cells. These findings suggest that addition of myeloid-directed therapies might improve the poor outcome of ETP ALL.
The genetic basis of early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Specimen part
View SamplesThere is an association between transcriptome and the exercise-related phenotype. Peripheral blood cells suffer alterations in the gene expression pattern in response to perturbations caused by exercise. The acute response to endurance activates stress and inflammation, as well as growth and tissue repair responses.
PBMCs express a transcriptome signature predictor of oxygen uptake responsiveness to endurance exercise training in men.
Sex, Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Treatment, Subject, Time
View SamplesA limited number of growth factors are capable of regulating numerous developmental processes, but how they accomplish this is unclear. In the gustatory system, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-4 (NT4) have different developmental roles but exert their effects through the same receptors (TrkB and p75).
BDNF and NT4 play interchangeable roles in gustatory development.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe root apex is an important section of the plant root, involved in environmental sensing and cellular development. Analyzing the gene profile of root apex in diverse environments is important and challenging, especially when the samples are limiting and precious, such as in spaceflight. The feasibility of using tiny root sections for transcriptome analysis was examined in this study.To understand the gene expression profiles of the root apex, Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 roots were sectioned into Zone-I (0.5 mm, root cap and meristematic zone) and Zone-II (1.5 mm, transition, elongation and growth terminating zone). Gene expression was analyzed using microarray and RNA seq.Both the techniques, arrays and RNA-Seq identified 4180 common genes as differentially expressed (with > two-fold changes) between the zones. In addition, 771 unique genes and 19 novel TARs were identified by RNA-Seq as differentially expressed which were not detected in the arrays. Single root tip zones can be used for full transcriptome analysis; further, the root apex zones are functionally very distinct from each other. RNA-Seq provided novel information about the transcripts compared to the arrays. These data will help optimize transcriptome techniques for dealing with small, rare samples. Overall design: Arabidopsis thaliana var. Columbia (COL-0) seedlings were grown on sterile solid media plates containing 0.5 % phytagel. The plates were vertically placed in growth chambers with continuous light (80-100 µmol m -2) at a constant temperature of 19° C. Eight day old seedlings were harvested into RNA-later solution in a 50 mL centrifuge tubes and stored at -20 °C freezer. The root tips were dissected into zone-I: 0.5mm from the tip including the root cap and root division zones, and zone-II: 1.5mm sections including root elongation and root hair zone. Microarray and sequencing experiments were performed.
Comparing RNA-Seq and microarray gene expression data in two zones of the <i>Arabidopsis</i> root apex relevant to spaceflight.
Age, Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesA growing body of evidence suggests that the vasoactive peptides endothelins (ETs) and their receptors (primarily the ETB receptor) are contributors to neurodegeneration in glaucoma. However, ETs actions in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to determine ETs effects on gene expression in primary RGCs.
Endothelin-Mediated Changes in Gene Expression in Isolated Purified Rat Retinal Ganglion Cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesGenome-wide transcriptome analysis was carried out in root tissue of Arabidopsis seedlings treated with gold (Au) as Chloroauric acid (HAuCl4). This study demonstrated remarkable changes in root transcriptome within the 12 h exposure. Most of the genes differentially expressed were related to glutathione binding, methylations, secondary metabolism, sugar metabolism, ABA, ethylene, auxin related signalling, transport and signal-transduction pathways.
Genome wide transcriptome analysis reveals ABA mediated response in Arabidopsis during gold (AuCl(-) 4) treatment.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Comparing RNA-Seq and microarray gene expression data in two zones of the <i>Arabidopsis</i> root apex relevant to spaceflight.
Age, Specimen part
View SamplesGlobal analysis of brassinosteroid (BR)-mediated gene expression under abiotic stress identifies BR associated mechanisms of stress tolerance, and new stress-related genes
Gene expression and functional analyses in brassinosteroid-mediated stress tolerance.
Age, Specimen part
View Samples