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Homo sapiens
5 Downloadable Samples
Illumina HumanRef-8 v3.0 expression beadchip
Description
Frankincense oil is prepared from aromatic hardened wood resin obtained by tapping Boswellia trees. For thousands of years, it has been important both socially and economically as an ingredient in incense and perfumes. Frankincense oil is a botanical oil distillate made from fermented plants that contains boswellic acid, a component known to have anti-neoplastic properties. We evaluated frankincense oil-induced cytotoxicity in bladder cancer cells. With a window of concentration, frankincense oil suppressed cell viability and induced cytotoxicity in bladder transitional carcinoma J82 cells but not normal bladder urothelial UROtsa cells immortalized with SV40 large T antigen. However, frankincense oil-induced J82 cell death did not result in DNA fragmentation. Microarray and bioinformatics analysis confirmed that frankincense oil activated cell cycle arrest, suppressed cell proliferation, and activated apoptosis in J82 cells through a series of potential pathways. These finding suggest that bladder cancer can be treated through intravesical administration of pharmaceutical agents similar to direct application on melanoma.
Publication Title
Frankincense oil derived from Boswellia carteri induces tumor cell specific cytotoxicity.
Sample Metadata Fields
No sample metadata fields
View Samples- Mus musculus
- 8 Downloadable Samples
Illumina HiSeq 2500
Description
Gene expression is controlled by transcription factors (TFs) that consist of DNA-binding domains (DBDs) and activation domains (ADs). The DBDs have been well- characterized, but little is known about the mechanisms by which ADs effect gene activation. Here we report that diverse ADs form phase-separated condensates with the Mediator coactivator. For the OCT4 and GCN4 TFs, we show that the ability to form phase-separated droplets with Mediator in vitro and the ability to activate genes in vivo are dependent on the same amino acid residues. For the estrogen receptor (ER), a ligand-dependent activator, we show that estrogen enhances phase separation with Mediator, again linking phase separation with gene activation. These results suggest that diverse TFs can interact with Mediator through the phase-separating capacity of their ADs and that formation of condensates with Mediator is involved in gene activation. Overall design: RNA-seq in mouse embryonic stem cells after OCT4 degradation or LIF withdrawal
Publication Title
Transcription Factors Activate Genes through the Phase-Separation Capacity of Their Activation Domains.
Sample Metadata Fields
Treatment, Subject
View Samples- Mus musculus
- 2 Downloadable Samples
- Illumina HiSeq 2500
Description
Super-enhancers (SEs) are clusters of enhancers that cooperatively assemble a high density of transcriptional apparatus to drive robust expression of genes with prominent roles in cell identity. We recently proposed that a phase-separated multi-molecular assembly underlies the formation and function of SEs. Here, we demonstrate that the SE-enriched factors BRD4 and MED1 form nuclear puncta that occur at SEs and exhibit properties of liquid-like condensates. Disruption of BRD4 and MED1 puncta by 1,6-hexanediol is accompanied by a loss of BRD4 and MED1 at SEs and a loss of RNAPII from SE-driven genes. We find that the intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) of BRD4 and MED1 are sufficient to form phase-separated droplets in vitro and the MED1 IDR promotes phase separation in living cells. The MED1 IDR droplets are capable of compartmentalizing BRD4 and other transcriptional machinery in nuclear extracts. These results support the idea that SEs form phase-separated condensates that compartmentalize the transcription apparatus at key genes, provide insights into the role of cofactor IDRs in this process, and offer new insights into mechanisms involved in control of key cell identity genes. Overall design: polyA RNA-Seq in mouse embryonic stem cells
Publication Title
Coactivator condensation at super-enhancers links phase separation and gene control.
Sample Metadata Fields
Specimen part, Subject
View Samples- Mus musculus
- 2 Downloadable Samples
- Affymetrix Mouse Genome 430 2.0 Array (mouse4302)
Description
Lineage negative, CD44 negative, CD25 positive thymocytes were isolated from wt mice or Miz1 POZ-domain knockout mice to analyze the effect of loss of Miz1 in the DN3 population of T-cells
Publication Title
Miz-1 is required to coordinate the expression of TCRbeta and p53 effector genes at the pre-TCR "beta-selection" checkpoint.
Sample Metadata Fields
Specimen part
View Samples- Homo sapiens
- 19 Downloadable Samples
- Illumina HiSeq 2000
Description
Background & Aims Hepatocytes differentiated from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have the potential to overcome the shortage of primary hepatocytes for clinical use and drug development. Many strategies for this process have been reported, but the functionality of the resulting cells is incomplete. We hypothesize that the functionality of hPSC-derived hepatocytes might be improved by making the differentiation method more similar to normal in vivo hepatic development. Methods We tested combinations of growth factors and small molecules targeting candidate signaling pathways culled from the literature to identify optimal conditions for differentiation of hESCs to hepatocytes, using qRT-PCR for stage-specific markers to identify the best conditions. Immunocytochemistry was then used to validate the selected conditions. Finally, induction of expression of metabolic enzymes in terminally differentiated cells was used to assess the functionality of the hESC-derived hepatocytes. Results Optimal differentiation of hESCs was attained using a 5-stage protocol. After initial induction of definitive endoderm (stage 1), we showed that inhibition of the WNT/ß-catenin pathway during the 2nd and 3rd stages of differentiation was required to specify first posterior foregut, and then hepatic gut cells. In contrast, during the 4th stage of differentiation, we found that activation of the WNT/ß-catenin pathway allowed generation of proliferative bipotent hepatoblasts, which then were efficiently differentiated into hepatocytes in the 5th stage by dual inhibition of TGF-ß and NOTCH signaling. Conclusion Here, we show that stage-specific regulation of the WNT/ß-catenin pathway results in improved differentiation of hESCs to functional hepatocytes. Overall design: mRNA profiles of undifferentiated, definitive endoderm, stage 2-5 cell ines were generated by deep sequencing, in duplicate, as well as five liver samples.
Publication Title
Stage-specific regulation of the WNT/β-catenin pathway enhances differentiation of hESCs into hepatocytes.
Sample Metadata Fields
Specimen part, Subject
View Samples- Mus musculus
- 12 Downloadable Samples
- Illumina Genome Analyzer II
Description
Ribsome profiling analysis of mRNA translation in mouse cells under conditions of mTOR activiation or inhibition. Overall design: embryonic fibroblasts from 4EBP1/2 p53 mutants treated with Torin1
Publication Title
A unifying model for mTORC1-mediated regulation of mRNA translation.
Sample Metadata Fields
Specimen part, Treatment, Subject
View Samples- Homo sapiens
- 85 Downloadable Samples
- Affymetrix Human Gene 1.0 ST Array (hugene10st)
Description
Human brown fat tumors (hibernomas) display concomitant loss of the tumor suppressor genes MEN1 and AIP. In the present study, we hypothesized that the brown fat phenotype is attributed to these mutations. Accordingly, we demonstrate that silencing of AIP in human brown preadipocytic and white fat cell lines results in the induction of the brown fat marker UCP1. In human adipocytic tumors, loss of MEN1 was found both in white (one out of 51 lipomas) and brown fat tumors. In contrast, concurrent loss of AIP was always accompanied by a brown fat morphology. We conclude that this white-to-brown phenotype switch in brown fat tumors is mediated by the loss of AIP.
Publication Title
Loss of the tumour suppressor gene AIP mediates the browning of human brown fat tumours.
Sample Metadata Fields
Specimen part
View Samples
GSE54054- Mus musculus
- 20 Downloadable Samples
- Affymetrix Mouse Gene 1.0 ST Array (mogene10st)
Description
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a deadly disease, often unnoticed till the late stages, where treatment options become limited. Thus, there is a critical need to identify early biomarkers for detection of the developing HCC, as well as molecular pathways that would be amenable to therapeutic intervention. While efforts using human serum and tissues from late stage patients have been undertaken, progress has been limited. We have therefore explored the possibility of utilizing established mouse models for the discovery of biomarkers, as well as to understand in a systematic manner the molecular pathways that are progressively deregulated by the various etiological factors in contributing to HCC formation. As an initial effort, we have used the Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) transgenic mice as a hepatitis model, which have been exposed to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). In this report, we present the initial findings from a extensive longitudinal study, which confirms the synergistic effect of both these etiological factors, with a gender bias towards male mice. Tumors from the mouse models were validated both histologically as well as by molecular transcriptome analysis by comparison with human HCCs. In addition, using these models, we have identified carnitine as a novel biomarker for HCC development, which was again validated using human HCC samples. Conclusion: This study therefore highlights the utility of these mouse models in identifying biomarkers for detection of human HCCs, as well as for the systematic analysis of molecular pathways that are affected by various etiological agents during the progression of HCC from an untransformed hepatocyte, which could provide novel options for targeted therapy.
Publication Title
Molecular characterization of hepatocarcinogenesis using mouse models.
Sample Metadata Fields
Specimen part
View Samples- Mus musculus
- 10 Downloadable Samples
- Affymetrix Mouse Gene 1.0 ST Array (mogene10st)
Description
An understanding of the mechanisms regulating white adipose tissue (WAT) formation is key for developing of new tools to treat obesity and its related diseases. Here, we identify DEPTOR as a positive regulator of adipogenesis whose expression is associated with obesity. In a polygenic mouse model of obesity/leanness, Deptor is part of the Fob3a QTL linked to obesity and we fine that Deptor is the highest priority candidate gene regulating WAT accumulation in this model. Using a doxycycline-inducible mouse model for Deptor overexpression, we confirmed that Deptor promotes WAT expansion in vivo. DEPTOR expression is elevated in WAT of obese humans and strongly correlates with the degree of obesity. We show that DEPTOR is induced during adipogenesis and that its overexpression cell-autonomously promotes, while its suppression blocks, adipogenesis. DEPTOR positively regulates adipogenesis by promoting the activity of the pro-adipogenic factors Akt/PKB and PPAR-gamma. These results establish DEPTOR as a physiological regulator of adipogenesis and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms controlling WAT formation.
Publication Title
DEPTOR cell-autonomously promotes adipogenesis, and its expression is associated with obesity.
Sample Metadata Fields
Sex, Specimen part
View Samples- Homo sapiens
- 12 Downloadable Samples
- IlluminaHiSeq2500
Description
The potential safety issues related to the acquisition of common genomic aberrations in hPSC cultures are well-recognized, but these risks have not been evaluated for sporadic mutations. Here, we explore whether a sporadic mutation that spontaneously arose in a hESC culture consisting of a single-copy deletion of chr17p13.1 would confer a survival advantage to the mutant cells. Compared to wild-type cells with two normal copies of the chr17p13.1 region, the mutant cells displayed a selective advantage when exposed to stressful conditions, and retained a higher percentage of pluripotent cells after two weeks of in vitro differentiation. Knockdown of TP53, which is a gene encompassed by the deleted region, in wild-type cells mimicked the chr17p13.1 deletion phenotype. RNA sequencing analysis showed differential expression of genes in pathways related to proliferation and differentiation. Thus, phenotypic implications of sporadic mutations must be taken into consideration before using the hPSC for clinical applications. Overall design: Triplicate cDNA libraries of two mutant WA09 lines with a single-copy deletion of chr17p13.1, and two wild-type WA09 lines, for a total of 12 libraries were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2500. The sequence reads were mapped to hg19 reference genome and hits that passed quality filters were analyzed for differential expression.
Publication Title
Spontaneous Single-Copy Loss of TP53 in Human Embryonic Stem Cells Markedly Increases Cell Proliferation and Survival.
Sample Metadata Fields
No sample metadata fields
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