NK cell development, maturation, and activation by cytokines is driven by alterations in gene expression mediated by activation and repression or transcriptional programs. In particular, we have extensively studied the role of STAT3 in human NK cells. This was based in part on a method we developed for in vitro expansion of large numbers of highly active NK cells using a genetically-modified feeder cell expressing 4-1BBL and membrane-bound IL-21. To dissect the various gene expression profiles induced by IL-21 from the various other signals received from the feeder cell, we purified peripheral NK cells from 4 healthy subjects (naïve, N), expanded NK cells for 14 days using CSTX002 feeder cells (expanded, E), and extracted RNA from the cells without (Neg) or after (Pos) the cells were activated with IL-21. We then performed RNA sequencing on each sample. Overall design: NK cells were purified from buffy coats obtained from 4 normal healthy blood-bank donors using RosetteSep NK for negative depletion of other cell subsets. NK cells were expanded by weekly stimulation with irradiated CSTX002 feeder cells. Naïve or expanded NK cells were stimulated for 30 minutes with 20 ng/ml recombinant human IL-21. Total RNA was prepared using the Total RNA Purification Plus Kit (Norgen Biotek, Ontario, ON, Canada). Libraries were prepared using the TruSeq RNA Sample Preparation Kit (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA). 60–80 million paired-end 150 bp sequence reads per library were generated using the Illumina HiSeq4000 platform.
Efficient and Robust NK-Cell Transduction With Baboon Envelope Pseudotyped Lentivector.
Specimen part, Disease, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesDemethyl fructiculin A is a diterpenoid quinone component of the exudates from Salvia corrugata (SCO-1) leafes. SCO-1 was recently reported to induce anoikis in mammalian cell lines via a molecular mechanism involving the presence of the membrane scavenging receptor CD36. However, experiments performed with cells lacking CD36, showed that SCO-1 was able to induce apoptosis also via alternate pathways. To contribute to a better characterization of the molecular mechanisms underlining the cytotoxic activity of SCO-1, we decided to pursue an unbiased pharmacogenomic approach by generating the gene expression profile of GBM TICs subjected to the administration of SCO-1 and comparing it with that of control cells exposed to the solvent. With this strategy we hypothesized to highlight those pathways and biological processes unlashed by SCO-1.
Demethyl fruticulin A (SCO-1) causes apoptosis by inducing reactive oxygen species in mitochondria.
Time
View SamplesNeuroblastoma (NB) is a neoplasm of the sympathetic nervous system, and is the most common solid tumor of infancy. NBs are very heterogeneous, with a clinical course ranging from spontaneous regression to resistance to all current forms of treatment. High-risk patients need intense chemotherapy, and only 30-40% will be cured. Relapsed or metastatic tumors acquire multi-drug resistance, raising the need for alternative treatments. Owing to the diverse mechanisms that are responsible of NB chemoresistance, we aimed to target epigenetic factors that control multiple pathways to bypass therapy resistance. We found that the SWI/SNF-related, matrix-associated, actin- dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily a, member 4 (SMARCA4/BRG1) was consistently upregulated in advanced stages of NB, with high BRG1 levels being indicative of poor outcome. Loss-of-function experiments in vitro and in vivo showed that BRG1 is essential for the proliferation of NB cells. Furthermore, whole genome transcriptome analysis revealed that BRG1 controls the expression of key elements of oncogenic pathways such as PI3K/AKT and BCL2, which offers a promising new combination therapy for high-risk NB
BRG1/SMARCA4 is essential for neuroblastoma cell viability through modulation of cell death and survival pathways.
Cell line
View SamplesPlant cells contain different O-acetylserine(thiol)lyase (OASTL) enzymes involved in Cys biosynthesis and located in different subcellular compartments. These enzymes are made up of a complex variety of isoforms resulting in different subcellular Cys pools. To unravel the contribution of cytosolic Cys to plant metabolism, we characterized the knockout oas-a1.1 and osa-a1.2 mutants, deficient in the most abundant cytosolic OASTL isoform in Arabidposis thaliana. Total intracellular Cys and glutathione concentrations were reduced, and the glutathione redox state was shifted in favour of its oxidized form. Interestingly, the capability of the mutants to chelate heavy metals did not differ from that of the wild type, but the mutants have an enhanced sensitivity to Cd. With the aim of establishing the metabolic network most influenced by the cytosolic Cys pool, we used the ATH1 GeneChip for evaluation of differentially expressed genes in the oas-a1.1 mutant grown under non-stress conditions. The transcriptomic footprints of mutant plants had predicted functions associated with various physiological responses that are dependent on reactive oxygen species and suggested that the mutant was oxidatively stressed. To further elucidate the specific function(s) of the OAS-A1 isoform in the adaptation response to cadmium we extended the trasncriptome experiment to the wild type and oas-a1.1 mutant plants exposed to Cd. The comparison of transcriptomic profiles showed a higher proportion of genes with altered expression in the mutant than in the wild type, highlighting up-regulated genes identified as of the general oxidative stress response rather than metal-responsive genes.
Knocking out cytosolic cysteine synthesis compromises the antioxidant capacity of the cytosol to maintain discrete concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in Arabidopsis.
Specimen part
View SamplesIn bacteria, the biosynthesis of cysteine is accomplished by two enzymes that are encoged by the cysK and cysM genes. CysM is also able to incorporate thiosulfate to produce S-sulfocysteine. In plant cells, the biosynthesis of cysteine occurs in the cytosol, mitochondria and chloroplasts. Chloroplasts contain two O-acetylserine(thiol)lyase homologs, which are encoded by the OAS-B and CS26 genes. An in vitro enzymatic analysis of the recombinant CS26 protein demonstrated that this isoform possesses S-sulfocysteine synthase activity and lacks O-acetylserine(thiol)lyase activity. In vivo functional analysis of this enzyme in knockout mutants demonstrated that mutation of cs26 suppressed the S-sulfocysteine synthase activity that was detected in wild type; furthermore, the mutants exhibited a growth phenotype, but penetrance depended on the light regime. The cs26 mutant plants also had reductions in chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity (neither of which were observed in oas-b mutants), as well as elevated glutathione levels. However, cs26 leaves were not able to properly detoxify ROS, which accumulated to high levels under long-day growth conditions. The transcriptional profile of the cs26 mutant revealed that the mutation had a pleiotropic effect on many cellular and metabolic processes. Our finding reveals that S-sulfocysteine and the activity of S-sulfocysteine synthase play an important role in chloroplast function and are essential for light-dependent redox regulation within the chloroplast.
Arabidopsis S-sulfocysteine synthase activity is essential for chloroplast function and long-day light-dependent redox control.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe oocytes of many species, both invertebrate and vertebrate, contain a large collection of localized determinants in the form of proteins and translationally inactive maternal mRNAs. However, it is unknown whether mouse oocytes contain localized MmRNA determinants and what mechanisms might be responsible for their control. We collected intact MII oocytes, enucleated MII oocyte cytoplasts (with the spindle removed), and spindle-chromosome complexes which had been microsurgically removed. RNA was extracted, amplified, labeled, and applied to microarrays to determine if any MmRNA determinants were localized to the SCC.
Association of maternal mRNA and phosphorylated EIF4EBP1 variants with the spindle in mouse oocytes: localized translational control supporting female meiosis in mammals.
Sex, Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesAnalysis of gene-probe expression data (FPKM) for mouse skin using single-end read RNA-seq Overall design: RNA was collected and analyzed for 2 biological replicates each from 3 developmental stages (E18.5, P3, 10 weeks)
RNA-seq studies reveal new insights into p63 and the transcriptomic landscape of the mouse skin.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesHere we show using RNA-seq that cleavage by RNase E direct entry pervades in both the degradation and processing of RNA. We also give further evidence that direct entry is facilitated by cooperative interaction with segments in addition to the ones in which cleavage occurs. Overall design: RNA-seq profiles were compared between a temperature-sensitive mutant of rne and its congenic wild-type incubated at a non-permissive temperature. RNA seq profiles were also compared between samples before and after incubation with a 5''-sensing mutant of RNase E in vitro.
Direct entry by RNase E is a major pathway for the degradation and processing of RNA in Escherichia coli.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesWe developed a Tet-inducible system to express deltaNp63alpha isoform under the control of keratin 5 promoter. Transgenic mice, which were Bigenic (BG) developed a severe skin phenotype with abnormal keratinocyte differentiation and defects in hair follicle development and cycling. Skin samples from transgenic animals and wild type animals were analyzed for global transcriptome changes.
Abnormal hair follicle development and altered cell fate of follicular keratinocytes in transgenic mice expressing DeltaNp63alpha.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe use of low quality RNA samples in whole-genome gene expression profiling remains controversial. It is unclear if transcript degradation in low quality RNA samples occurs uniformly, in which case the effects of degradation can be normalized, or whether different transcripts are degraded at different rates, potentially biasing measurements of expression levels. This concern has rendered the use of low quality RNA samples in whole-genome expression profiling problematic. Yet, low quality samples are at times the sole means of addressing specific questions – e.g., samples collected in the course of fieldwork.
RNA-seq: impact of RNA degradation on transcript quantification.
No sample metadata fields
View Samples