Project description:Nuclear long RNA-seq was used to profile gene expression in Germline, Neurons, Muscle, Hypodermis and Intestine nuclei from young adult worms.
Project description:RNA profiling has provided increasingly detailed knowledge of gene expression patterns, yet the different regulatory architectures that drive them are not well understood. To address this, we profiled and compared transcriptional and regulatory element activities across five tissues of Caenorhabditis elegans, covering ?90% of cells. We find that the majority of promoters and enhancers have tissue-specific accessibility, and we discover regulatory grammars associated with ubiquitous, germline, and somatic tissue-specific gene expression patterns. In addition, we find that germline-active and soma-specific promoters have distinct features. Germline-active promoters have well-positioned +1 and -1 nucleosomes associated with a periodic 10-bp WW signal (W = A/T). Somatic tissue-specific promoters lack positioned nucleosomes and this signal, have wide nucleosome-depleted regions, and are more enriched for core promoter elements, which largely differ between tissues. We observe the 10-bp periodic WW signal at ubiquitous promoters in other animals, suggesting it is an ancient conserved signal. Our results show fundamental differences in regulatory architectures of germline and somatic tissue-specific genes, uncover regulatory rules for generating diverse gene expression patterns, and provide a tissue-specific resource for future studies.
Project description:The objective of the study is the provide proof of high correlation between somatic and germline mismatch repair instability. This correlation is specifically researched in an area where patients have less access to cancer education and genetic testing for various reasons such as lack of insurance and general accessibility.
The study concentrates on early diagnosis of Lynch syndrome. Lynch syndrome is usually diagnosed from a blood test resulting in a mutation of one of the mismatch repair genes. Those are MLH1, MSH2, MSH 6, PMS2. A mutation in one of these genes creates a mismatch repair instability,hence higher incidence of cancers in specific organ groups. Amongst these organs are the Uterus, Ovaries, Upper genitourinary system, Pancreas and GI system.
The most common endometrial carcinoma which is found in Lynch syndrome is of endometrioid histology. Most patients with known germline mismatch repair instability, have the same somatic mutation. Our study is looking into correlating somatic mutation to germline mutation.
By doing so, patients diagnosed with somatic mismatch repair instability will be also diagnosed with lynch syndrome without germline genetic testing.
Screening programs will be utilized earlier and preventive procedures offered.
Due to less access to educational programs, genetic counseling and testing in underserved areas, patients are sometimes lost to follow up. Our study seeks to prove high correlation between somatic and germline mutations and by doing so, patient will be diagnosed with Lynch syndrome straight after endometrial cancer staging. As a result, increased compliance will be expected and patients will be offered the recommended preventative surgeries and screening protocols.