Replication study: The common feature of leukemia-associated IDH1 and IDH2 mutations is a neomorphic enzyme activity converting alpha-ketoglutarate to 2-hydroxyglutarate
Project description:In 2016, as part of the Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology, we published a Registered Report (Fiehn et al., 2016), that described how we intended to replicate selected experiments from the paper "The common feature of leukemia-associated IDH1 and IDH2 mutations is a neomorphic enzyme activity converting alpha-ketoglutarate to 2-hydroxyglutarate" (Ward et al., 2010). Here, we report the results of those experiments. We found that cells expressing R172K mutant IDH2 did not display isocitrate-dependent NADPH production above vector control levels, in contrast to the increased production observed with wild-type IDH2. Conversely, expression of R172K mutant IDH2 resulted in increased alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent consumption of NADPH compared to wild-type IDH2 or vector control. These results are similar to those reported in the original study (Figure 2; Ward et al., 2010). Further, expression of R172K mutant IDH2 resulted in increased 2HG levels within cells compared to the background levels observed in wild-type IDH2 and vector control, similar to the original study (Figure 3D; Ward et al., 2010). In primary human AML samples, the 2HG levels observed in samples with mutant IDH1 or IDH2 status were higher than those observed in samples without an IDH mutation, similar to what was observed in the original study (Figure 5C; Ward et al., 2010). Finally, we report meta-analyses for each result.
Project description:Mammalian pyruvate kinase catalyzes the final step of glycolysis, and its M2 isoform (PKM2) is widely expressed in proliferative tissues. Mutations in PKM2 are found in some human cancers; however, the effects of these mutations on enzyme activity and regulation are unknown. Here, we characterized five cancer-associated PKM2 mutations, occurring at various locations on the enzyme, with respect to substrate kinetics and activation by the allosteric activator fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP). The mutants exhibit reduced maximal velocity, reduced substrate affinity, and/or altered activation by FBP. The kinetic parameters of five additional PKM2 mutants that have been used to study enzyme function or regulation also demonstrate the deleterious effects of mutations on PKM2 function. Our findings indicate that PKM2 is sensitive to many amino acid changes and support the hypothesis that decreased PKM2 activity is selected for in rapidly proliferating cells.
Project description:The somatic mutations in cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) observed in gliomas can lead to the production of 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG). Here, we report that tumor 2HG is elevated in a high percentage of patients with cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Surprisingly, less than half of cases with elevated 2HG possessed IDH1 mutations. The remaining cases with elevated 2HG had mutations in IDH2, the mitochondrial homolog of IDH1. These data demonstrate that a shared feature of all cancer-associated IDH mutations is production of the oncometabolite 2HG. Furthermore, AML patients with IDH mutations display a significantly reduced number of other well characterized AML-associated mutations and/or associated chromosomal abnormalities, potentially implicating IDH mutation in a distinct mechanism of AML pathogenesis.
Project description:We report for the first time movement of Correia Repeat Enclosed Elements, through inversion of the element at its chromosomal location. Analysis of Ion Torrent generated genome sequence data from Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain NCCP11945 passaged for 8 weeks in the laboratory under standard conditions and stress conditions revealed a total of 37 inversions: 24 were exclusively seen in the stressed sample; 7 in the control sample; and the remaining 3 were seen in both samples. These inversions have the capability to alter gene expression in N. gonorrhoeae through the previously determined activities of the sequence features of these elements. In addition, the locations of predicted non-coding RNAs were investigated to identify potential associations with CREE. Associations varied between strains, as did the number of each element identified. The analysis indicates a role for CREE in disrupting ancestral regulatory networks, including non-coding RNAs. RNA-Seq was used to examine expression changes related to Correia repeats in the strain
Project description:Brk (breast tumor kinase, also known as PTK6) is a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase that is aberrantly expressed in several cancers and promotes cell proliferation and transformation. Genome sequencing studies have revealed a number of cancer-associated somatic mutations in the Brk gene; however, their effect on Brk activity has not been examined. We analyzed a panel of cancer-associated mutations and determined that several of the mutations activate Brk, while two eliminated enzymatic activity. Three of the mutations (L16F, R131L, and P450L) are located in important regulatory domains of Brk (the SH3, SH2 domains, and C-terminal tail, respectively). Biochemical data suggest that they activate Brk by disrupting intramolecular interactions that normally maintain Brk in an autoinhibited conformation. We also observed differential effects on recognition and phosphorylation of substrates, suggesting that the mutations can influence downstream Brk signaling by multiple mechanisms.
Project description:In order to determine whether dis-regulation of a genetic pathway could explain the increased apoptosis of parp-2-/- double positive thymocytes, the gene expression profiles in double positive thymocytes derived from wild-type and parp-2-/- mice were analysed using Affymetrix oligonucleotide chips (mouse genome 430 2.0).
Project description:ADAM10, a member of a disintegrin and metalloprotease family, is an alpha-secretase capable of anti-amyloidogenic proteolysis of the amyloid precursor protein. Here, we present evidence for genetic association of ADAM10 with Alzheimer's disease (AD) as well as two rare potentially disease-associated non-synonymous mutations, Q170H and R181G, in the ADAM10 prodomain. These mutations were found in 11 of 16 affected individuals (average onset age 69.5 years) from seven late-onset AD families. Each mutation was also found in one unaffected subject implying incomplete penetrance. Functionally, both mutations significantly attenuated alpha-secretase activity of ADAM10 (>70% decrease), and elevated Abeta levels (1.5-3.5-fold) in cell-based studies. In summary, we provide the first evidence of ADAM10 as a candidate AD susceptibility gene, and report two potentially pathogenic mutations with incomplete penetrance for late-onset familial AD.
Project description:ERα is essential for the anti-proliferative response of breast cancer cells not only to estrogen antagonists, but also to estrogen withdrawal by means of aromatase inhibitors. We explored here one of the simplest explanation for this, consisting in the possibility that ERα may have a wide genomic function in absence of ligands. The genomic binding of ERα in the complete absence of estrogen was then studied using hormone-dependent MCF7 cells, by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing. From these data, 4.2K highly significant binding events were identified, which were further confirmed by comparing binding events in cells expressing ERα to cells silenced for ERα. Apo-ERα binding sites were distributed close to genes with functions associated to cell growth and epithelial maintenance and show significant overlap with binding of other transcription factors important for luminal epithelial breast cancer. Interestingly, we found that upon ERα silencing cognate gene transcription in absence of estrogen is downregulated and this is accompanied by increased H27Kme3 at ERα binding sites. RNA-Seq experiments showed that unliganded ERα controls basal transcription widely, including both coding and noncoding transcripts. Genes affected by ERα silencing can be easily functionally related to mammary epithelium differentiation and maintenance, especially when considering downregulated genes. Additional functions related to inflammatory and immune response was observed. Our data unravel unexpected actions of ERα in breast cancer cells and provide a novel framework to understand success and failure of hormone therapy in breast cancer. Examination of unligandend estrogen receptor alpha (aERα) DNA interactions in control and aERα siRNA treated MCF7 cells.
Project description:Estrogen Receptor ? (ER?) has central role in hormone-dependent breast cancer and its ligand-induced functions have been extensively characterized. However, evidence exists that ER? has functions which are independent of ligands. In the present work, we investigated the binding of ER? to chromatin in absence of ligands, and its function(s) on gene regulation. We demonstrated that in MCF7 breast cancer cells unliganded ER? binds to more than four thousands chromatin sites. Unexpectedly, although almost entirely comprised in the larger group of estrogen-induced binding sites, we found that unliganded-ER? binding is specifically linked to genes with developmental functions, as compared to estrogen-induced binding. Moreover, we found that siRNA-mediated downregulation of ER? in absence of estrogen is accompanied by changes in the expression levels of hundreds of coding and noncoding RNAs. Downregulated mRNAs showed enrichment in genes related to epithelial cell growth and development. Stable ER? downregulation using shRNA, which caused cell-growth arrest, was accompanied by increased H3K27me3 at ER? binding sites. Finally, we found that FOXA1 and AP2? binding to several sites is decreased upon ER? silencing, suggesting that unliganded ER? participates, together with other factors, to the maintenance of the luminal-specific cistrome in breast cancer cells. Examination of unligandend estrogen receptor alpha (apoER?) DNA interactions in control and ER? siRNA treated MCF7 cells.
Project description:Deep subsurface environments can harbour high concentrations of dissolved ions, yet we know little about how this shapes the conditions for life. We know even less about how the combined effects of high pressure influence the way in which ions constrain the possibilities for life. One such ion is perchlorate, which is found in extreme environments on Earth and pervasively on Mars. We investigated the interactions of high pressure and high perchlorate concentrations on enzymatic activity. We demonstrate that high pressures increase α-chymotrypsin enzyme activity even in the presence of high perchlorate concentrations. Perchlorate salts were shown to shift the folded α-chymotrypsin phase space to lower temperatures and pressures. The results presented here may suggest that high pressures increase the habitability of environments under perchlorate stress. Therefore, deep subsurface environments that combine these stressors, potentially including the subsurface of Mars, may be more habitable than previously thought.