Project description:Many environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors are known to affect the frequency and positioning of meiotic crossovers (COs). Suppression of COs by large, cytologically visible inversions and translocations has long been recognized, but relatively little is known about how smaller structural variants (SVs) affect COs. To examine fine-scale determinants of the CO landscape, including SVs, we used a rapid, cost-effective method for high-throughput sequencing to generate a precise map of over 17,000 COs between the Col-0 and Ler accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana. COs were generally suppressed in regions with SVs, but this effect did not depend on the size of the variant region, and was only marginally affected by the variant type. CO suppression did not extend far beyond the SV borders, and CO rates were slightly elevated in the flanking regions. Disease resistance gene clusters, which often exist as SVs, exhibited high CO rates at some loci, but there was a tendency toward depressed CO rates at loci where large structural differences exist between the two parents. Our high-density map also revealed in fine detail how CO positioning relates to genetic (DNA motifs) and epigenetic (chromatin structure) features of the genome. We conclude that suppression of COs occurs over a narrow region spanning large and small-scale SVs, representing influence on the CO landscape in addition to sequence and epigenetic variation along chromosomes.
Project description:A protocol for ligation-dependent cloning using the Flexi Vector method in a 96-well format is described. The complete protocol includes PCR amplification of the desired gene to append Flexi Vector cloning sequences, restriction digestion of the PCR products, ligation of the digested PCR products into a similarly digested acceptor vector, transformation and growth of host cells, analysis of the transformed clones, and storage of a sequence-verified clone. The protocol also includes transfer of the sequence-verified clones into another Flexi Vector plasmid backbone. Smaller numbers of cloning reactions can be undertaken by appropriate scaling of the indicated reaction volumes.
Project description:DNA cloning is an essential tool regarding DNA recombinant technology as it allows the replication of foreign DNA fragments within a cell. pELMO was here constructed as an in-house cloning vector for rapid and low-cost PCR product propagation; it is an optimally designed vector containing the ccdB killer gene from the pDONR 221 plasmid, cloned into the pUC18 vector's multiple cloning site (Thermo Scientific). The ccdB killer gene has a cleavage site (CCC/GGG) for the SmaI restriction enzyme which is used for vector linearisation and cloning blunt-ended products. pELMO transformation efficiency was evaluated with different sized inserts and its cloning efficiency was compared to that of the pGEM-T Easy commercial vector. The highest pELMO transformation efficiency was observed for ~500 bp DNA fragments; pELMO vector had higher cloning efficiency for all insert sizes tested. In-house and commercial vector cloned insert reads after sequencing were similar thus highlighting that sequencing primers were designed and localised appropriately. pELMO is thus proposed as a practical alternative for in-house cloning of PCR products in molecular biology laboratories.
Project description:Abstract: Chemogenomic fitness assays were combined with a transcriptome analysis to understand both the mode of action and the mechanisms of resistance to Chitosan oligosaccharides (COS). COS are deacetylated chitin compounds, with antimicrobial properties, that are presumed to act by disrupting the cell membrane. The fitness assays identified 39 yeast deletion strains sensitive to COS and 21 suppressors of COS sensitivity. The genes identified encode membrane proteins and members of the protein degradation/ proteosome pathway. The transcriptomes of wild-type and five suppressor strains overexpressing ARL1, BCK2, ERG24, MSG5, or RBA50, were analyzed in the presence and absence of COS. The COS-induced transcriptional response is distinct from previously described environmental stress responses (i.e. thermal, salt, osmotic and oxidative stress) and furthermore, treatment with environmental stressors does not provide resistance to COS. Some of the up-regulated transcripts in the suppressor overexpressing strains exposed to COS included genes involved in transcription, cell cycle, stress response and the RAS signal transduction pathway. Down-regulated transcripts included those encoding protein folding components, and respiratory chain proteins. Overexpression of the ARL1 gene, a member of the Ras superfamily that regulates membrane trafficking, provides protection against COS-induced cell membrane permeability and damage. We found that the ARL1 COS-resistant over-expression strain was as sensitive to amphotericin B, fluconazole and terbinafine as the wild-type (vector control). The gene targets of COS identified in this study suggest that COSM-bM-^@M-^Ys mechanism of action is different from other commonly studied fungicides, suggesting that COS may be an effective fungicide for drug-resistant fungal pathogens. We selected the 5 overexpressing strains based on the characteristics of the genes. ARL1, encoding a GTPase and is involved in membrane trafficking, was selected since it was observed in the HIP-HOP assay as a sensitive homozygous deletion strain and in the MSP assay as multicopy suppressor. The rest of selected overexpressing strains were BCK2 and MSG5, involved in cell integrity pathways, ERG24 in ergosterol synthesis, and RBA50 in transcription. BCK2 is a Ser-Thr rich protein with protein kinase C activity that acts in signal transduction. Overexpression of BCK2 can rescue defects in yeast cwh43M-NM-^T, which displays several cell wall defects [29]. BCK2 overexpression also can suppress a cell lysis defect of mpk1M-NM-^T and pck1M-NM-^T [30]. MSG5 is also involved in signal transduction. This gene encodes a protein phosphatase involved in cell cycle control through the dephosphorylation of MAPK and is indispensable for restricting the signaling by the cell integrity pathway in yeast [31]. The inhibition of MAPK signaling leads to inhibition of cell differentiation and cell division [32]. The functions of ARL1 and ERG24 and their potential roles in chitosan resistance will be described in more detail in the Discussion. To gain a further understanding on the mode of action and mechanisms of resistance to COS, we performed a transcriptome analysis of the above mentioned five overexpressing strains known to increase resistance to COS-5.44. Each overexpressing strain and the wild type (vector control) were treated with COS-5.44 and RNAs isolated from both treated and untreated cells. The RNAs were converted to labeled cDNA and hybridized to NimbleGen expression microarrays (see Methods). Three cDNA biological replicates either with or without a 60 minutes exposure to COS-5.44 for each of the five overexpressing strains as well as an untransformed wild type BY4743 cells (vector control; for a total of 36 samples) were hybridized to NimbleGen 4X72k microarrays (Roche NimbleGen, Inc. Design ID A6186-00-01, TI4932 60mer expr X4).
Project description:We report using a single-cell transcriptomic study of cerebral organiods (COs) developed from WA09 hESCs with gene editing-induced NGLY1 mutations and from NGLY1-deficient patient's hiPSCs at 40 or 80 days of development. WA09 hESC-derived COs with and without mutant NGLY1 and patient's hiPSC-derived COs with and without the ectopic expression NGLY1 were analyzed.
Project description:miRNA profiling comparing modified (COS = Cytokine (low dose), Oxygen (physiological), Stimulation (low frequency electrical)) or standard (STD) culture condtions for 72hrs prior to harvest at day 8 post differentiation. Secondary experiment to assess additional impact of dexamethasone when given in COS conditions. 5 arrays were labeled with same RNA in each channel (self-self hybridisations) to establish parameters for detecting real change for each probe on the arrays.
Project description:During sexual reproduction half of the genetic material is deposited in gametes and a complete set of chromosomes is restored upon fertilisation. Reduction of the genetic information prior gametogenesis occurs in meiosis where crossovers (COs) between homologous chromosomes secure an exchange of their genetic information. COs are not evenly distributed along chromosomes and are suppressed in chromosomal regions encompassing compact, hypermethylated centromeric and pericentromeric DNA. Therefore, it has been postulated that DNA hypermethylation is inhibitory to COs. Here by analysing meiotic recombination in mutant plants with hypomethylated DNA we observed unexpected and counterintuitive effects of the DNA methylation losses on COs distribution, further promoting recombination in the naturally hypomethylated euchromatic chromosome arms, while inhibiting it in heterochromatic regions encompassing centromeric and pericentromeric hypermethylated DNA. Importantly, the total number of COs was not affected, implying that the loss of DNA methylation only led to a global redistribution of COs along chromosomes. To determine by which mechanisms altered levels of DNA methylation influenced recombination, namely whether this occurred directly in cis or indirectly in trans by changing expression of genes encoding recombination components, we analysed COs distribution in WT lines with randomly scattered and well mapped hypomethylated chromosomal segments. Results of these experiments, supported by expression profiling data, suggest that DNA methylation affects meiotic recombination in cis. As DNA methylation is subjected to significant variation even within a single species, our results implicate that it could influence evolution of plant genomes through the control of meiotic recombination. 2 samples: Col, epiRIL12, with 3 replicates each
Project description:Noonan syndrome (NS) is a genetic disorder mainly caused by gain-of-function mutations of SHP2. Although diverse neurological manifestations are commonly diagnosed in NS patients, mechanisms on how the SHP2 mutation induces the neurodevelopmental defects remain elusive. Here, we report that cortical organoids (NS-COs) derived from NS-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) exhibit developmental abnormalities, especially in excitatory neurons (ENs). Although NS-COs normally develop in appearance, single-cell transcriptomic analysis represented increment of EN population and overexpression of cortical layer markers in NS-COs. Surprisingly, EN subpopulation co-expressing upper layer marker SATB2 and deep layer maker CTIP2 was enriched in NS-COs during the cortical development. In parallel with the developmental disruptions, NS-COs also exhibited reduced synaptic connectivity. Collectively, our findings suggest that perturbed cortical layer identity and impeded neuronal connectivity account for the neurological manifestations of NS.