BRAF oncogene is mutated in ~50% of human cutaneous melanomas. The BRAF V600E mutation leads to constitutive activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway fuelling cancer growth. The inhibitors of BRAF V600E (BRAFi), lead to massive and high response rate. However, BRAFi-resistant cells that operate as a cellular reservoir for relapses severely limits the duration of the clinical response. The recent depiction of these resistant cells did not identify druggable targets to ensure long-term survival under BRAFi. Here, we identify the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) as a target to eradicate resistant cells. We show that BRAFi bind to AhR on a new site, named beta-pocket, and reprogram gene expression independently of its partner ARNT. beta-pocket activation induces a pigmentation signature, which is associated to BRAFi-induced cell death of sensitive BRAF V600E melanoma cells and tumour shrinkage. Intriguingly, in resistant cells, BRAFi does not induced a pigmentation signature since these cells display another AhR program; AhR-ARNT dependant. By this way, AhR directs several key BRAFi-resistant genes. At single cell level, this constitutive activation of AhR-ARNT is identified in rare cells before BRAFi-treatment of melanoma tumours and an enrichment of these alpha-cells is observed under BRAFi. Our data strongly suggest that an endogenous AhR ligand activates AhR-ARNT via the canonical AhR pocket (alpha-pocket), thus favouring BRAFi-resistant gene expression. Importantly, we identify the clinically compatible AhR antagonist, the resveratrol (RSV), able to abrogate the deleterious constitutive activation of AhR and to reduce the cellular reservoir for the relapse. Taken together, this work reveals that constitutive AhR signalling drives BRAFi resistance and constitutes a therapeutic target to achieve long-term patient survival under BRAFi. More broadly, the constitutive activation of AhR by endogenous ligands is in line with the ability of UV radiations to generate potent AhR ligands and to favour melanoma onset. Overall design: Total RNA isolated from 12 human melanoma cell lines (501Mel) after different treatments was subjected to multiplexed RNA-sequencing using Illumina NextSeq500 sequencing tehnology.
Sustained activation of the Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor transcription factor promotes resistance to BRAF-inhibitors in melanoma.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesInsulators delimit independent transcriptional domains within genomes by constraining enhancer and silencer action. These transcriptional effects depend upon DNA recognition by insulator binding proteins that recruit partners that protect against inappropriate long range modulation of non-target promoters. Insulator binding proteins are broadly expressed during development, with largely constitutive binding to thousands of genomic sites. Yet, tissue-specific transcriptional changes result from the loss of individual insulator binding proteins. To understand the molecular basis for such effects, we are studying the classic Drosophila insulator protein Suppressor of Hairy-wing [Su(Hw)]. Genetic studies show that loss of this broadly expressed insulator protein prevents oocyte development. To determine the basis for the block in oogenesis, we coupled transcriptional analyses in su(Hw) mutant ovaries with genome-wide definition of Su(Hw) binding in this tissue. These studies identified 71 direct targets of Su(Hw) regulation, with nearly 70% of these genes showing increased RNA accumulation when Su(Hw) is lost. Surprisingly, derepressed Su(Hw) target genes correspond to genes normally highly expressed in neural tissues, suggesting that Su(Hw) has a critical role in silencing neural genes in the ovary. Support for this postulate was obtained by genetic studies. We found that oocyte production was restored in su(Hw) mutant females that carry a deletion of one allele of the elav family RNA binding protein 9 (Rbp9) gene. These su(Hw) null oocytes can be fertilized, with evidence that embryos lacking Su(Hw) show compromised development. Our studies extend the known transcriptional activities of Su(Hw), indicating that Su(Hw) can function as an insulator, activator and repressor, the latter function being essential for oogenesis. These findings highlight that insulator proteins are versatile transcriptional regulatory proteins, suggesting that tissue specific contributions to transcription result from direct regulation of individual genes.
The insulator protein Suppressor of Hairy-wing is an essential transcriptional repressor in the Drosophila ovary.
Specimen part
View SamplesSuppressor of Hairy-wing [Su(Hw)] is a multi-zinc finger DNA binding factor required for gypsy insulator function and female germline development in Drosophila. The enhancer-blocking and barrier functions of the gypsy retrotransposon involve Su(Hw) binding to twelve clustered Su(Hw) binding sites (SBSs) and recruitment of the Centrosomal Protein of 190 kD (CP190) and Modifier of mdg4 67.2 kD isoform (Mod67.2) insulator proteins. In contrast, the Su(Hw) germline function involves binding to non-clustered genomic SBSs and does not require CP190 or Mod67.2. Here, we use genome-wide expression analyses in the ovary to identify the first Su(Hw) regulated target genes.
The insulator protein Suppressor of Hairy-wing is an essential transcriptional repressor in the Drosophila ovary.
Specimen part
View SamplesTo follow the changes in the transcriptional programs accompanying the specification of the adult ISCs we sequenced whole transcriptomes of embryonic intestinal epithelium progenitors (at E11.5 and E12.5) and adult ISCs. EpCAM positive embryonic gut epithelium was isolated from dissected small intestines using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Adult ISCs were purified on the basis of GFP fluorescence from crypts of Lgr5GFP-Cre-ERT mice (Barker et al. 2007) Double positive adlut ISCs were isolated by FACS based on GFP and tdTomato fluorescence. Overall design: Intestinal epithelial cells from two embryonic stages (E11.5 and E13.5), mesenchymal (E11.5) and adult Lgr5+ ISCs were used. For embryonic stages biological triplicates were analysed. For the adult ISCs either 4 biological replicates ot duplicates were analysed.
Id2 controls specification of Lgr5<sup>+</sup> intestinal stem cell progenitors during gut development.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesLEM Domain proteins are key components of the nuclear lamina. Mutations in LEM-D proteins cause dystrophic diseases associated with compromised adult stem cells, yet it remains unclear how LEM-D proteins support stem cell function. Studies described here use the homologue of the LEM-D protein emerin in Drosophila, Otefin (Ote) as a model to understand LEM-D protein function in adult stem cells. Loss of Ote causes female sterility due to a complex germline stem cell (GSC) phenotype that includes both an early block in germline differentiation followed by GSC death. In vivo cell cycle analysis revealed that ote mutant GSCs display a lengthened S phase.We find that loss of the DNA Damage Response (DDR) Chk2 is able to not only rescue the lengthened S phase, but also GSC death and the block in germline differentiation. Activation of detrimental checkpoint in absence of Ote is conserved in both male and female GSCs and surprisingly occurs independent of detectable canonical DDR triggers, including transposon de-repression and DNA damage. Two defects were found to occur upstream of Chk2 activation: nuclear lamina morphological defects and altered heterochromatin organization. Together, our data identify the primary cause for a compromised adult stem cell population in the absence of a LEM-D protein.
Nuclear lamina dysfunction triggers a germline stem cell checkpoint.
Specimen part
View SamplesNoroviruses have been widely recognized for their importance as causative agents of non-bacterial gastroenteritis. Mouse norovirus is the only representative of the norovirus genus, family Caliciviridae, able to grow in cell culture. The aim of this study is to describe the differences in the expression profiles of MNV-1 and mock-infected macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells), in order to better understand the response of the host cell to norovirus infection.
Apoptosis in murine norovirus-infected RAW264.7 cells is associated with downregulation of survivin.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesEpithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) facilitate breast cancer (BC) metastasis, however stable molecular changes that result as a consequence of these processes remain poorly defined. Therefore, we sought to identify molecular markers that could distinguish tumor cells that had completed the EMT:MET cycle in the hopes of identifying and targeting unique aspects of metastatic tumor outgrowth.Therefore, normal murine mammary gland (NMumG) cells transformed by overexpression of EGFR (NME) cells were cultured in the presence of TGF-beta1 (5 ng/ml) for 4 weeks, at which point TGF-beta1 supplementation was discontinued and the cells were allowed to recover for an additional 4 weeks (Post-TGF-Rec). Total RNA was prepared from unstimulated cells (Pre-TGF) of similar passage and compared by microarray analysis.
Fibroblast growth factor receptor splice variants are stable markers of oncogenic transforming growth factor β1 signaling in metastatic breast cancers.
Specimen part
View SamplesHere we report the characterization of a novel role for the retinoblastoma protein (pRb) as a regulator of osteoblast adhesion. Abrogation of pRb in osteoblasts resulted in aberrant cadherin expression and loss of adherens junctions. This produced defects suggestive of a transformed phenotype such as impaired cell-to-cell adhesion, loss of contact-dependent growth arrest, and the capacity to evade anoikis. This also resulted in profound abnormalities in bone structure. Consistent with this, microarray analyses showed that pRb regulates a wide repertoire of osteoblast cell adhesion genes. In addition, pRb loss also resulted in altered expression and function of several known regulators of cellular adhesion and adherens junction assembly, such as the Rho GTPase Rac1 and the merlin tumor suppressor. Taken together, our results show that pRb controls cell adhesion by regulating the expression and adherens junction components and by regulating the function of molecules involved in adherens junction assembly and stability.
A role for the retinoblastoma protein as a regulator of mouse osteoblast cell adhesion: implications for osteogenesis and osteosarcoma formation.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe used this microarray data to survey the differentially expressed genes in sweet orange by comparing leaves challenged with X. citri ssp. citri (Xcc) strain 306 with the pthA4 gene and leaves challenged with mutant Xcc306pthA4 without the pthA4 gene 120 hours after inoculation. The deletion of the pthA4 gene reduced the virulence of Xcc306, and eliminated pustule formation. The gene expression changes after inoculation of these two strains represent PthA4-mediated molecular events in a susceptible reaction.
Lateral organ boundaries 1 is a disease susceptibility gene for citrus bacterial canker disease.
Specimen part, Treatment, Time
View SamplesMany Gram-negative bacteria employ cell-to-cell communication mediated by N-acyl homoserine lactones (quorum sensing) to control expression of a wide range of genes including, but not limited to, genes encoding virulence factors. Outside the laboratory, the bacteria live in complex communities where signals may be perceived across species. We here present a newly found natural quorum sensing inhibitor, produced by the pseudomonads Pseudomonas sp. B13 and Pseudomonas reinekei MT1 as a blind end in the biodegradation of organochloride xenobiotics, which inhibits quorum sensing in P.aeruginosa in naturally occurring concentrations. This catabolite, 4-methylenebut-2-en-4-olide, also known as protoanemonin, has been reported to possess antibacterial properties, but seems to have dual functions. Using transcriptomics and proteomics, we found that protoanemonin significantly reduced expression of genes and secretion of proteins known to be under control of quorum sensing in P.aeruginosa. Moreover, we found activation of genes and gene products involved in iron starvation response. It is thus likely that inhibition of quorum sensing, as the production of antibiotics, is a phenomenon found in complex bacterial communities.
Protoanemonin: a natural quorum sensing inhibitor that selectively activates iron starvation response.
Compound
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