Project description:Although the molecular composition and architecture of synapses have been widely explored, much less is known about what genetic programs directly activate synaptic gene expression and how they are modulated. Here, using Caenorhabditis elegans dopaminergic neurons, we reveal that EGL-43/MECOM and FOS-1/FOS control an activity-dependent synaptogenesis program. Loss of either factor severely reduces presynaptic protein expression. Both factors bind directly to promoters of synaptic genes and act together with CUT homeobox transcription factors to activate transcription. egl-43 and fos-1 mutually promote each other's expression, and increasing the binding affinity of FOS-1 to the egl-43 locus results in increased presynaptic protein expression and synaptic function. EGL-43 regulates the expression of multiple transcription factors, including activity-regulated factors and developmental factors that define multiple aspects of dopaminergic identity. Together, we describe a robust genetic program underlying activity-regulated synapse formation during development.
Project description:To test the connection between the molecular mechanisms underlying autistic disorder and human cognitive evolution, we analyzed the gene expression changes taking place during prefrontal cortex development in autism patients and healthy controls, as well as non-human primates. We found the genes with expression changes in autism are significantly overlapped with genes showing human-specific developmental profile. A major pattern of the overlapped genes reflects the aberrant acceleration of synaptogenesis and synaptic maturation followed by premature synaptic pruning in the prefrontal cortex of autism patients. This pattern involves the same developmental program that controls human-specific extension of cortical synaptogenesis in healthy individuals. Taken together, these findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying autistic phenotype and provide potential targets for clinical intervention.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE38232: HSF1 drives a transcriptional program distinct from heat shock to support highly malignant human cancers [gene expression] GSE38901: HSF1 drives a transcriptional program distinct from heat shock to support highly malignant human cancers [ChIP-Seq] Refer to individual Series
Project description:Heat-Shock Factor 1 (HSF1), master regulator of the heat-shock response, facilitates malignant transformation, cancer cell survival and proliferation in model systems. The common assumption is that these effects are mediated through regulation of heat-shock protein (HSP) expression. However, the transcriptional network that HSF1 coordinates directly in malignancy and its relationship to the heat-shock response have never been defined. By comparing cells with high and low malignant potential alongside their non-transformed counterparts, we identify an HSF1-regulated transcriptional program specific to highly malignant cells and distinct from heat shock. Cancer-specific genes in this program support oncogenic processes: cell-cycle regulation, signaling, metabolism, adhesion and translation. HSP genes are integral to this program, however, even these genes are uniquely regulated in malignancy. This HSF1 cancer program is active in breast, colon and lung tumors isolated directly from human patients and is strongly associated with metastasis and death. Thus, HSF1 rewires the transcriptome in tumorigenesis, with prognostic and therapeutic implications. ChIP-seq was used to characterize HSF1 binding
Project description:Heat-Shock Factor 1 (HSF1), master regulator of the heat-shock response, facilitates malignant transformation, cancer cell survival and proliferation in model systems. The common assumption is that these effects are mediated through regulation of heat-shock protein (HSP) expression. However, the transcriptional network that HSF1 coordinates directly in malignancy and its relationship to the heat-shock response have never been defined. By comparing cells with high and low malignant potential alongside their non-transformed counterparts, we identify an HSF1-regulated transcriptional program specific to highly malignant cells and distinct from heat shock. Cancer-specific genes in this program support oncogenic processes: cell-cycle regulation, signaling, metabolism, adhesion and translation. HSP genes are integral to this program, however, even these genes are uniquely regulated in malignancy. This HSF1 cancer program is active in breast, colon and lung tumors isolated directly from human patients and is strongly associated with metastasis and death. Thus, HSF1 rewires the transcriptome in tumorigenesis, with prognostic and therapeutic implications. We used microarrays to examine affect of HSF1 depletion on gene expression in cancer cell lines. Three cancer cell lines (BPLER, HMLER & MCF7) were transduced with either control shRNAi (Scramble or GFP) or an shRNAi that targets and depletes HSF1 (hA6). Another BPLER sample was subjected to a 1H, 42M-KM-^Z C heat shock. Two biological replicates for all samples.