Project description:Our study reports the CCR2 dependent functional specialization of monocytes into immature macrophages occurs within the TNF-TNFR2 activated vasculature and establishes a chemokine-based autocrine, feed-forward loop that may aplify the inflammation and renal injury.
Project description:Our study reports that CCR2 dependent functional specialization of monocytes into immature macrophages occurs within the TNF-TNFR2 activated vasculature and establishes a chemokine-based autocrine, feed-forward loop that may aplify the inflammation and renal injury.
Project description:Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder and a leading cause of intellectual disability. In FXS, the neuronal regulator, FMR1, is epigenetically silenced by a CGG repeat expansion. Here, we investigate conditions under which repeat expansion and gene silencing could be reversed. Surprisingly, inducing formation of R-loops (3-stranded RNA-DNA structures) within FMR1 is sufficient to initiate CGG contraction, promoter demethylation, and FMR1 reactivation. Recruiting RNaseH degrades the R-loop and abolishes the response. Targeting the nascent mRNA for degradation also eliminates the response. Thus, we have identified an exogenous nuclease-free method of contracting CGG repeats and reversing FMR1 silencing. We propose that DNA demethylation, new transcription, and R-loop formation engage in a feed-forward cycle to contract CGG repeats and reactivate FMR1.
Project description:A case of transcriptional gene silencing, originally observed in tetraploid Arabidopsis plants, created an epiallele resistant to many mutations or inhibitor treatments that activate other suppressed genes. This raised the question about the molecular basis of this extreme stability. A combination of forward and reverse genetics, transcriptome profiling and drug application provides evidence for a double safeguard system that is only alleviated upon the simultaneous removal of both DNA methylation and histone methylation by loss of DDM1 or HOG1 acitivity.
Project description:A case of transcriptional gene silencing, originally observed in tetraploid Arabidopsis plants, created an epiallele resistant to many mutations or inhibitor treatments that activate other suppressed genes. This raised the question about the molecular basis of this extreme stability. A combination of forward and reverse genetics, transcriptome profiling and drug application provides evidence for a double safeguard system that is only alleviated upon the simultaneous removal of both DNA methylation and histone methylation by loss of DDM1 or HOG1 acitivity. Three biological replicates per line are provided. C2S1 = Wt line; hog1-7=774; ddm1-12=1135
Project description:MicroRNA-221/222 receive activation signal from IL-23 and suppression signal from TGFb, and target Maf and IL-23R for degradation, therebt acting in an inflammatory arm of Th17 response, and works as a negative feedback rheostat to constrain otherwise feed-forward loop of inflammatory Th17 response in the gut.
Project description:Animal germ cells produce PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), small silencing RNAs that suppress transposons and enable gamete maturation. Mammalian transposon-silencing piRNAs accumulate early in spermatogenesis, whereas pachytene piRNAs are produced later during post-natal spermatogenesis and account for >95% of all piRNAs in the adult mouse testis. Mutants defective for pachytene piRNA pathway proteins fail to produce mature sperm, but neither the piRNA precursor transcripts nor the trigger for pachytene piRNA production is known. Here, we show that the transcription factor A-MYB initiates pachytene piRNA production. A-MYB drives transcription of both pachytene piRNA precursor RNAs and the mRNAs for core piRNA biogenesis factors, including MIWI, the protein through which pachytene piRNAs function. A-MYB regulation of piRNA pathway proteins and piRNA genes creates a coherent feed-forward loop that ensures the robust accumulation of pachytene piRNAs. This regulatory circuit, which can be detected in rooster testes, likely predates the divergence of birds and mammals. Transcriptome and ChIP sequencing in mouse and rooster testes
Project description:Animal germ cells produce PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), small silencing RNAs that suppress transposons and enable gamete maturation. Mammalian transposon-silencing piRNAs accumulate early in spermatogenesis, whereas pachytene piRNAs are produced later during post-natal spermatogenesis and account for >95% of all piRNAs in the adult mouse testis. Mutants defective for pachytene piRNA pathway proteins fail to produce mature sperm, but neither the piRNA precursor transcripts nor the trigger for pachytene piRNA production is known. Here, we show that the transcription factor A-MYB initiates pachytene piRNA production. A-MYB drives transcription of both pachytene piRNA precursor RNAs and the mRNAs for core piRNA biogenesis factors, including MIWI, the protein through which pachytene piRNAs function. A-MYB regulation of piRNA pathway proteins and piRNA genes creates a coherent feed-forward loop that ensures the robust accumulation of pachytene piRNAs. This regulatory circuit, which can be detected in rooster testes, likely predates the divergence of birds and mammals. PAS-Seq and CAGE in mouse testes
Project description:Animal germ cells produce PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), small silencing RNAs that suppress transposons and enable gamete maturation. Mammalian transposon-silencing piRNAs accumulate early in spermatogenesis, whereas pachytene piRNAs are produced later during post-natal spermatogenesis and account for >95% of all piRNAs in the adult mouse testis. Mutants defective for pachytene piRNA pathway proteins fail to produce mature sperm, but neither the piRNA precursor transcripts nor the trigger for pachytene piRNA production is known. Here, we show that the transcription factor A-MYB initiates pachytene piRNA production. A-MYB drives transcription of both pachytene piRNA precursor RNAs and the mRNAs for core piRNA biogenesis factors, including MIWI, the protein through which pachytene piRNAs function. A-MYB regulation of piRNA pathway proteins and piRNA genes creates a coherent feed-forward loop that ensures the robust accumulation of pachytene piRNAs. This regulatory circuit, which can be detected in rooster testes, likely predates the divergence of birds and mammals. ChIP sequencing in mouse and rooster testes.