Zinc (Zn2+) is an integral component of many proteins and has been shown to act in a regulatory capacity in different mammalian systems, including as a neurotransmitter in neurons throughout the brain. While Zn2+ plays an important role in modulating neuronal potentiation and synaptic plasticity, little is known about the signaling mechanisms of this regulation. In dissociated rat hippocampal neuron cultures, we used fluorescent Zn2+ sensors to rigorously define resting Zn2+ levels and stimulation-dependent intracellular Zn2+ dynamics, and we performed RNA-Seq to characterize Zn2+-dependent transcriptional effects upon stimulation. We found that relatively small changes in cytosolic Zn2+ during stimulation altered expression levels of 931 genes, and these Zn2+ dynamics induced transcription of many genes implicated in neurite expansion and synaptic growth. Additionally, while we were unable to verify the presence of synaptic Zn2+ in these cultures, we did detect the synaptic vesicle Zn2+ transporter ZnT3 and found it to be substantially upregulated by cytosolic Zn2+ increases. These results provide the first global sequencing-based examination of Zn2+-dependent changes in transcription and identify genes that may mediate Zn2+-dependent processes and functions. Overall design: 3 replicates of each of 3 conditions (KCl treatment, KCl/Zn treatment, KCl/TPA treatment), none of which are control conditions. KCl treatment was used as the reference condition for all comparisons. TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, a Zn2+ chelator.
Intracellular Zn<sup>2+</sup> transients modulate global gene expression in dissociated rat hippocampal neurons.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesTotal RNA from three replicate cultures of wild-type and mutant strains was isolated and the expression profiles were determined using Affymetrix arrays. Comparisons between the sample groups allow the identification of genes regulated by histone H2B K111A mutant.
Novel functional residues in the core domain of histone H2B regulate yeast gene expression and silencing and affect the response to DNA damage.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesTotal RNA from three replicate cultures of wild-type and mutant strains was isolated and the expression profiles were determined using Affymetrix arrays. Comparisons between the sample groups allow the identification of genes regulated by histone H2B R102A mutant.
Novel functional residues in the core domain of histone H2B regulate yeast gene expression and silencing and affect the response to DNA damage.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesIn this study, we analyzed how non-coding double stranded RNA (dsRNAs) act as a damage associated molecular pattern (DAMP) in the skin, and how the human cathelicidin AMP LL-37 might influence growth factor production in response to this DAMP. Overall design: Each sample''s RNA was isolated form a single biological source of P6 NHEKs. In total there are 4 samples (non-replicates); Control (PBS treated), 1.75uM LL-37 treated, 0.1ug/ml Poly(I:C) treated, and co-treated with 1.75uM LL-37 and 0.1ug/ml Poly(I:C).
Non-coding Double-stranded RNA and Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37 Induce Growth Factor Expression from Keratinocytes and Endothelial Cells.
Cell line, Treatment, Subject, Time
View SamplesIn order to find a relationship between gene expression of blood and brain in Rett Syndrome (RTT), we performed RNA sequencing on from cerebella and blood of 7 week-old male Mecp2-null mice (a model of RTT) and WT controls. Overall design: Transcriptional profiles were generated from cerebellum and blood of 3 Mecp2-null and 3 WT 7 week-old male mice, by RNAseq performed on an Illumina HiSeq 2000 System, generating approximately 60 million 2x75bp paired-end reads/sample. Blood and cerebellum samples originate from the same animal
Transcriptomic Analysis of <i>Mecp2</i> Mutant Mice Reveals Differentially Expressed Genes and Altered Mechanisms in Both Blood and Brain.
Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesPrevious studies have shown that ischemia alters gene expression in normal and malignant tissues. There are no studies that evaluated effects of ischemia in renal tumors. This study examines the impact of ischemia and tissue procurement conditions on RNA integrity and gene expression in renal cell carcinoma.
Impact of ischemia and procurement conditions on gene expression in renal cell carcinoma.
Specimen part, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesThis study integrated Affymetrix SNPchip data for CNV estimation, Affymetrix HuEx1.0 data for gene expression estimation, and Illumina HumanMethylation27k BeadChip data for promoter methylation to estimate pathway activity
Activation of the NOTCH pathway in head and neck cancer.
Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesGenomic technologies have unmasked molecularly distinct subgroups among tumors of the same histological type; but understanding the biologic basis of these subgroups has proved difficult since their defining alterations are often numerous, and the cellular origins of most cancers remain unknown. We sought to decipher complex genomic data sets by matching the genetic alterations contained within these, with candidate cells of origin, to generate accurate disease models. Using an integrated genomic analysis we first identified subgroups of human ependymoma: a form of neural tumor that arises throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Validated alterations included amplifications and homozygous deletions of genes not yet implicated in ependymoma. Matching the transcriptomes of human ependymoma subgroups to those of distinct types of mouse radial glia (RG)neural stem cells (NSCs) that we identified previously to be a candidate cell of origin of ependymoma - allowed us to select RG types most likely to represent cells of origin of disease subgroups. The transcriptome of human cerebral ependymomas that amplify EPHB2 and delete INK4A/ARF matched most closely that of embryonic cerebral Ink4a/Arf-/- RG: remarkably, activation of EphB2 signaling in this RG type, but not others, generated highly penetrant ependymomas that modeled accurately the histology and transcriptome of one human cerebral tumor subgroup (subgroup D). Further comparative genomic analysis revealed selective alterations in the copy number and expression of genes that regulate neural differentiation, particularly synaptogenesis, in both mouse and human subgroup D ependymomas; pinpointing this pathway as a previously unknown target of ependymoma tumorigenesis. Our data demonstrate the power of comparative genomics to sift complex genetic data sets to identify key molecular alterations in cancer subgroups.
Cross-species genomics matches driver mutations and cell compartments to model ependymoma.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesMedulloblastoma encompasses a collection of clinically and molecularly diverse tumor subtypes that together comprise the most common malignant childhood brain tumor. These tumors are thought to arise within the cerebellum, with approximately 25% originating from granule neuron precursor cells (GNPCs) following aberrant activation of the Sonic Hedgehog pathway (hereafter, SHH-subtype). The pathological processes that drive heterogeneity among the other medulloblastoma subtypes are not known, hindering the development of much needed new therapies. Here, we provide evidence that a discrete subtype of medulloblastoma that contains activating mutations in the WNT pathway effector CTNNB1 (hereafter, WNT-subtype), arises outside the cerebellum from cells of the dorsal brainstem. We found that genes marking human WNT-subtype medulloblastomas are more frequently expressed in the lower rhombic lip (LRL) and embryonic dorsal brainstem than in the upper rhombic lip (URL) and developing cerebellum. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and intra-operative reports showed that human WNT-subtype tumors infiltrate the dorsal brainstem, while SHH-subtype tumors are located within the cerebellar hemispheres. Activating mutations in Ctnnb1 had little impact on progenitor cell populations in the cerebellum, but caused the abnormal accumulation of cells on the embryonic dorsal brainstem that included aberrantly proliferating Zic1+ precursor cells. These lesions persisted in all mutant adult mice and in 15% of cases in which Tp53 was concurrently deleted, progressed to form medulloblastomas that recapitulated the anatomy and gene expression profiles of human WNT-subtype medulloblastoma. We provide the first evidence that subtypes of medulloblastoma have distinct cellular origins. Our data provide an explanation for the marked molecular and clinical differences between SHH and WNT-subtype medulloblastomas and have profound implications for future research and treatment of this important childhood cancer.
Subtypes of medulloblastoma have distinct developmental origins.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe gastrointestinal (GI) tract can have significant impact on the regulation of the whole body metabolism and may contribute to the development of obesity and diabetes. To systemically elucidate the role of the GI tract in obesity, we performed a transcriptomic analyses in different parts of the GI tract of two obese mouse models: ob/ob and high-fat diet (HFD) fed mice. Compared to their lean controls, both obese mouse groups had significant amount of gene expression changes in the stomach (ob/ob: 959; HFD: 542), much more than the number of changes in the intestine. Despite the difference in genetic background, the two mouse models shared 296 similar gene expression changes in the stomach. Among those genes, some had known associations to obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance. In addition, the gene expression profile strongly suggested an increased gastric acid secretion in both obese mouse models, probably through an activation of the gastrin pathway. In conclusion, our data reveal a previously unknown dominant connection between the stomach and obesity.
Significant obesity-associated gene expression changes occur in the stomach but not intestines in obese mice.
Specimen part
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