Project description:In order to establish a list of candidate direct COUP-TFI gene targets in the inner ear, we analyzed the differential gene expression profiles of the wild-type and the COUP-TFI–/– P0 inner ears.
Project description:These data support a translational control of COUP-TFI gradient expression by FGF8 via miR-21 and contribute to our understanding of how regionalized expression is established during neocortical area mapping
Project description:In order to establish a list of candidate direct COUP-TFI gene targets in the inner ear, we analyzed the differential gene expression profiles of the wild-type and the COUP-TFIâ/â P0 inner ears. We performed a total of 8 microarray experiments using Affymetrix MG-U74Av2 chips, including 2 biological and 2 experimental replicates per genotype sample. Due to limiting RNA yields from the newborn inner ear, each microarray chip was hybridized with an RNA pool from multiple tissue samples. We analyzed our data using two different algorithms: GC-Robust Multi-Array (GCRMA) and dChip. Each normalized expression dataset was subsequently analyzed by 2-way ANOVA, evaluating both genotype and experimental effects. This statistical approach allowed us to 1) account for an experimental effect observed in the expression value of many genes, therefore increasing the power of the analysis, and 2) filter out potential expression differences due to contamination during dissections (contaminating genes would present as probes with a significant interaction p-value). Using this methodology, the gene hits from the GCRMA-normalized expression dataset consisted of 256 genes with a significant genotype effect (p<0.01) and no interaction (p>0.01). Similar cutoffs applied on the dChip-normalized dataset resulted in 250 significant gene hits. Within both groups, COUP-TFI has the lowest genotype p-value, validating our statistical approach.
Project description:The human neural retina is enriched for alternative splicing, and it is estimated that more than 10% of variants associated with inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) alter splicing. Previous research mainly used short-read RNA-sequencing techniques to investigate retina-specific splicing and splicing factors. However, this technique provides limited information about transcript isoforms. To gain a deeper understanding of the human neural retina and its isoforms, we generated a proteogenomic atlas that combined PacBio long-read RNA-sequencing data with mass-spectrometry and whole-genome sequencing data from three healthy human neural retina samples. RNA-sequencing revealed that one-third of all transcripts were novel, and for IRD-associated genes, even 43% were novel. The most common novel elements of these transcripts were alternative poly(A) sites, exon elongation, and intron retention. Some novel elements affect the non-coding region but for more than 50% of the novel transcripts a novel open reading frame was predicted. Using proteomics, ten novel peptides confirmed novel isoforms in five genes. Additionally, we found novel isoforms of IMPDH1, an IRD-associated gene, with supporting peptide evidence. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the transcript and protein isoforms expressed in the healthy human neural retina. Moreover, it highlights the importance of studying tissue specific transcriptomes in greater detail to better understand tissue-specific regulation and to identify disease-causing variants.
Project description:Otx2 has been shown to be non cell autonomously required for photoreceptor cell survival in the adult mouse RPE. This study aims to identify Otx2 DNA binding profile in both RPE and neural retina to i) identify direct targets of Otx2 in the RPE ii) compare Otx2 binding profile in neural retina and RPE to unveil hidden functions in the neural retina. WT and GFP antibodies were used to perform two independent ChIP-seq experiments using Illumina GAIIx.
Project description:Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factor II (COUP-TFII; NR2F2) is an orphan nuclear receptor involved in cell-fate specification, organogenesis, angiogenesis and metabolism. Ablation of COUP-TFII in the mouse uterus causes infertility due to defects in embryo attachment and impaired uterine stromal cell decidualization. Although the function of COUP-TFII in uterine decidualization has been described in mice, its role in the human uterus remains unknown. To better elucidate the mechanisms with which COUP-TFII regulates target gene transcription, genome-wide COUP-TFII binding sites in human endometrial stromal cells (HESC) treated with deciduogenic hormones were identified using ChIP-seq. A total of 16,298 intervals (binding regions) for COUP-TFII were identified compared with the input in HESC chromatin with a very low false discovery rate (0.17%) using a stringent cutoff of p =1x10-10. Distribution of intervals showed that more than half (58.6%) of the COUP-TFII binding sites are located within 10 kb of gene boundaries. 7.5% of total intervals reside within the 10 kb promoter region. A total of 6,077 unique genes were identified to have COUP-TFII binding sites within 10 kb of their gene boundaries.
Project description:ChickenM-BM- ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factor II (COUP-TFII; NR2F2) is an orphan nuclear receptor involved in cell-fate specification, organogenesis, angiogenesis and metabolism. Ablation of COUP-TFII in the mouse uterus causes infertility due to defects in embryo attachment and impaired uterine stromal cell decidualization. Although the function of COUP-TFII in uterine decidualization has been described in mice, its role in the human uterus remains unknown. To better elucidate the mechanisms with which COUP-TFII regulates target gene transcription, genome-wide COUP-TFII binding sites in human endometrial stromal cells (HESC) treated with deciduogenic hormones were identified using ChIP-seq. A total of 16,298 intervals (binding regions) for COUP-TFII were identified compared with the input in HESC chromatin with a very low false discovery rate (0.17%) using a stringent cutoff of p =1x10-10. Distribution of intervals showed that more than half (58.6%) of the COUP-TFII binding sites are located within 10 kb of gene boundaries. 7.5% of total intervals reside within the 10 kb promoter region. A total of 6,077 unique genes were identified to have COUP-TFII binding sites within 10 kb of their gene boundaries. Examination of NR2F2 binding in pooled primary human endometrial stromal cells from 6 healthy women upon decidualization with a hormone cocktail of cAMP, E2 and medroxyprogesterone acetate.
Project description:Embryonic cardiomyocytes possess the plasticity to choose between atrial and ventricular fates. For a limited window of time, the transcription factor COUP-TFII (Nr2f2) sufficiently and essentially confers the atrial identity through direct and indirect regulation of nearly half of chamber specific genes. Examination of COUP-TFII binding sites in embryonic artia
Project description:Otx2 has been shown to be non cell autonomously required for photoreceptor cell survival in the adult mouse RPE. This study aims to identify Otx2 DNA binding profile in both RPE and neural retina to i) identify direct targets of Otx2 in the RPE ii) compare Otx2 binding profile in neural retina and RPE to unveil hidden functions in the neural retina.
Project description:Synchrony between embryo competency and uterine receptivity is essential for a successful implantation. Mice with ablation of COUP-TFII in the uterus (PRCre/+;COUP-TFIIflox/flox), exhibit implantation defects and increased ER activity in the luminal epithelium, suggesting the high ER activity may disrupt the window of uterine receptivity. In order to determine if the increased ER activity in PRCre/+;COUP-TFIIflox/flox mutant is the cause of the defective implantation, we inhibited of ER activity in order to rescue the implantation defect in mutant mice. ICI 182,780 (ICI), a pure ER antagonist, was administered to PRCre/+;COUP-TFIIflox/flox mutant and COUP-TFIIflox/flox control mice during receptive period and the number of implantation sites were examined. COUP-TFIIflox/flox control mice treated with oil or ICI showed the normal number of implantation sites. As expected no implantation sites were observed in PRCre/+;COUP-TFIIflox/flox mutant mice treated with oil, consistent with previous observation. However, implantation sites were detected, albeit at a reduced number in comparison to the control in PRCre/+;COUP-TFIIflox/flox mutant mice upon ICI treatment.. ICI treatment was also able to rescue the expression of WNT4 and BMP2, genes important for endometrial decidualization in the PRCre/+;COUP-TFIIflox/flox mutant mice. To ensure the rescue of embryo attachment and decidualization is a consequence of a reduction of estrogen receptor activity with ICI treatment of the mutants, we examined the expression of ER target gene, such as lactoferrin, in PRCre/+;COUP-TFIIflox/flox mutant mice. Having shown that ICI could rescue the implantation and decidualization defects of the PRCre/+;COUP-TFIIflox/flox mutant mice, the ability of ICI treatment to rescue pregnancy in these mice was assayed. While mice were born in COUP-TFIIflox/flox control mice given ICI, no pups were born in the PRCre/+;COUP-TFIIflox/flox mutant mice, with the loss in pregnancy in the PRCre/+;COUP-TFIIflox/flox mutant mice treated with ICI being due to defects in placentation. These results demonstrate that during the peri implantation period, COUP-TFII’s role in regulating embryo attachment and decidualiton is through the reduction of ER activity. However COUP-TFII expression is still required in the post implantation period to facilitate placentation.