Project description:We investigated the gene expression changes associated with skin pigmentation variation between Virginia opossum populations inhabiting tropical and temperate environments. We found that gene expression variation in genes with melanocytic and immune functions is associated with the degree of skin pigmentation variation. Further, we found evidence suggesting that the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway might be regulating the depigmentation observed in temperate populations. We present several alternative hypotheses that may explain Gloger’s rule pattern of skin pigmentation variation in the Virginia opossum.
Project description:A longitudinal human rhinovirus (HRV) challenge study with 19 volunteers was performed at University of Virginia in Sept 2015. The study collected peripheral blood samples 3 times/day over a 8 day time period, where an incoculation with live virus (RV39) was administered on the 4th day (Day 0). The obective was to quantify changes in gene expression induced by the viral challenge.
Project description:As part of the West Virginia Chemical Spill research program, NTP evaluated three chemicals that were spilled into the Elk Rever in West Virginia for their ability to cause toxicity or biological changes in a short-term toxicogenomic study
Project description:We determined the set of newly acquired CRISPR spacers during naive and primed adaptation in E. coli. We compared primed adaptation when targeting different plasmid and chromosomal sites. These data provide insight into the sequence features that impact the efficiency of primed adaptation in E. coli.
Project description:ZIC2 and ZIC3 are essential for acquisition and maintenance of primed pluripotency. In this study, we conducted ATAC-seq in single and compound knockout of ZIC2, ZIC3 and ZIC5 primed hESCs, naïve hESCs lacking ZIC3 that inducibly express ZIC2, naive hESCs that inducible express ZIC2 or ZIC3, ZIC3-depleted primed hESCs that were cultured in 5iLAF medium for six days and undergoing reversion to a naive state, naive hESCs expressing ectopic ZIC2 in the presence of a BRG1 PROTAC.
Project description:ZIC2 and ZIC3 are essential for acquisition and maintenance of primed pluripotency. In this study, we profiled chromatin occupancy of BRG1, EZH2, H3K27ac and H3K4me3 upon concomitant loss of ZIC2 and ZIC3 in primed hESCs, and of BRG1 upon ectopic expression of ZIC2 for increasing periods of time in naïve hESCs.
Project description:<p>Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can self-renew infinitely or differentiate into the 3 germ layer lineages<em> in vitro</em> with certain cues, holding great promise to model early human embryo development <em>ex vivo</em>. It is wildly accepted that hESCs take advantage of both glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration to favor the naïve pluripotency, while prefer glycolysis to support the primed pluripotency. Thus, the function of mitochondrial respiration in primed hESCs has been underestimated for a long time, and has not been fully understood yet. Herein, we report that the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production rate is comparable between mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis, suggesting that mitoATP may serve as one of the major sources of the ATP pool in primed hESCs. To further reveal the function of mitochondrial respiration, we deployed inducible CRISPRi method to inhibit OGDH expression with high efficiency, resulting in the TCA cycle blockade as well as the diminishment of mitochondrial respiration activity and total ATP level. Of note, OGDH deficiency led to the exit of primed pluripotency accompanied by cell death. Furthermore, the treatment with small molecule inhibitors to block electron transport chain (ETC) can phenocopy the loss-of-function of OGDH in hESCs. Therefore, genetic and pharmacological perturbations on mitochondrial respiration can impair the stemness of primed hESCs. Collectively, the current study unveils that OGDH acts as a key regulator to fine-tune the abundance of TCA cycle metabolites to ensure the mitochondrial respiration activity in primed hESCs, and highlights the pivotal roles of mitochondrial respiration in terms of ATP production and the maintenance of primed pluripotency. Our findings may provide insights into the linkage between pluripotent states and energy metabolism in hESCs.</p>
Project description:Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can self-renew infinitely, or differentiate into the three germ layer lineages in vitro with certain cues, holding great promise to model early human embryo development ex vivo.It is wildly accepted that hESCs take advantage of both glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration to favor the naïve pluripotency, while prefer glycolysis to support the primed pluripotency. Thus, the function of mitochondrial respiration in primed hESCs has been underestimated for a long time, and has not been fully understood yet. Herein, we report that the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production rate is comparable between mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis, suggesting that mitoATP serves as one of the major sources of the ATP pool in primed hESCs. Next, we constructed a OGDH knockdown cell line whose ability of mitochondrial respiration was impired. Of note, OGDH deficiency led to the exit of primed pluripotency accompanied by cell death.Collectively, the current study unveils that OGDH acts as a key regulator to fine-tune the abundance of TCA cycle metabolites to ensure the mitochondrial respiration activity in primed hESCs, and highlights the pivotal roles of mitochondrial respiration in terms of ATP production and the maintenance of primed pluripotency.