Project description:Tino is an A+U-Rich Element (ARE) binding protein first identified through its ability to bind to bcl-2 mRNA and to contribute to its degradation. It has recently been recognized as a shorter form of the human Mex-3D protein (hMex-3D), one of the four members of the family of Mex-3 RNA-binding phosphoproteins. In C. elegans, ceMex-3 is a translational regulator that plays a key role in early embryonic development and in the maintenance of worm germ line totipotency. To examine the potential functional conservation between ceMex-3 and hMex3, we have used complementary microarray-based approaches to identify mRNAs directly bound to Tino/hMex-3D. Computational analysis of these target mRNAs resulted in the identification of an U-rich, 34- to 39-nucleotide long, consensus, forming loops of variable sizes. Remarkably, more than half of Tino/hMex-3D targets also contain the consensus for Quaking, which is the human ortholog of GLD-1, a regulator of nematode gametogenesis. All together, our results suggest that Tino/hMex-3D belongs to a regulatory circuit of mRNA trans-acting factors involved in cell fate and differentiation. Keywords: RIP-chip and (recombinant)RIP-Chip analysis of Tino/hMEX-3D mRNPs
Project description:Kynureninase is a member of a large family of catalytically diverse but structurally homologous pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzymes known as the aspartate aminotransferase superfamily or alpha-family. The Homo sapiens and other eukaryotic constitutive kynureninases preferentially catalyze the hydrolytic cleavage of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine to produce 3-hydroxyanthranilate and l-alanine, while l-kynurenine is the substrate of many prokaryotic inducible kynureninases. The human enzyme was cloned with an N-terminal hexahistidine tag, expressed, and purified from a bacterial expression system using Ni metal ion affinity chromatography. Kinetic characterization of the recombinant enzyme reveals classic Michaelis-Menten behavior, with a Km of 28.3 +/- 1.9 microM and a specific activity of 1.75 micromol min-1 mg-1 for 3-hydroxy-dl-kynurenine. Crystals of recombinant kynureninase that diffracted to 2.0 A were obtained, and the atomic structure of the PLP-bound holoenzyme was determined by molecular replacement using the Pseudomonas fluorescens kynureninase structure (PDB entry 1qz9) as the phasing model. A structural superposition with the P. fluorescens kynureninase revealed that these two structures resemble the "open" and "closed" conformations of aspartate aminotransferase. The comparison illustrates the dynamic nature of these proteins' small domains and reveals a role for Arg-434 similar to its role in other AAT alpha-family members. Docking of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine into the human kynureninase active site suggests that Asn-333 and His-102 are involved in substrate binding and molecular discrimination between inducible and constitutive kynureninase substrates.
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes
Project description:Tino is an A+U-Rich Element (ARE) binding protein first identified through its ability to bind to bcl-2 mRNA and to contribute to its degradation. It has recently been recognized as a shorter form of the human Mex-3D protein (hMex-3D), one of the four members of the family of Mex-3 RNA-binding phosphoproteins. In C. elegans, ceMex-3 is a translational regulator that plays a key role in early embryonic development and in the maintenance of worm germ line totipotency. To examine the potential functional conservation between ceMex-3 and hMex3, we have used complementary microarray-based approaches to identify mRNAs directly bound to Tino/hMex-3D. Computational analysis of these target mRNAs resulted in the identification of an U-rich, 34- to 39-nucleotide long, consensus, forming loops of variable sizes. Remarkably, more than half of Tino/hMex-3D targets also contain the consensus for Quaking, which is the human ortholog of GLD-1, a regulator of nematode gametogenesis. All together, our results suggest that Tino/hMex-3D belongs to a regulatory circuit of mRNA trans-acting factors involved in cell fate and differentiation. Keywords: RIP-chip and (recombinant)RIP-Chip analysis of Tino/hMEX-3D mRNPs To identify the transcripts directly bound in vivo by Tino/hMex-3D, we have used two complementary strategies. First, using Tino-his transfected HEK293 cells, we have analysed the RNAs immunoprecipitated by Tino/hMex-3D (RNA-IP complexes). Second, we have developed an in vitro nitrocellulose RNA-protein binding assay using a truncated form of Tino, TinoΔRING-his. First for the in vivo approach, we have transiently transfected HEK293 cells with a His-tagged Tino expressing construct (see Materials) and isolated Tino target mRNAs by immunoprecipitation (IP) assays carried out under conditions preserving mRNA-protein complex integrity. Second, for the in vitro approach, cRNAs were prepared from a human placenta cDNA library and incubated with TinoΔRING-his. This deleted form of Tino-his protein conserves its mRNA binding activity. mRNAs directly bound to TinoΔRING-his protein were subsequently isolated using a nitrocellulose RNA-protein binding assay. A supplementary file of ordered genes based on z-ratios, derived from experimental and negative control samples for each Affymetrix probe, is appended below.
Project description:As the evolution of miRNA genes has been found to be one of the important factors in formation of the modern type of man, we performed a comparative analysis of the evolution of miRNA genes in two archaic hominines, Homo sapiens neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens denisova, and elucidated the expression of their target mRNAs in bain.A comparative analysis of the genomes of primates, including species in the genus Homo, identified a group of miRNA genes having fixed substitutions with important implications for the evolution of Homo sapiens neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens denisova. The mRNAs targeted by miRNAs with mutations specific for Homo sapiens denisova exhibited enhanced expression during postnatal brain development in modern humans. By contrast, the expression of mRNAs targeted by miRNAs bearing variations specific for Homo sapiens neanderthalensis was shown to be enhanced in prenatal brain development.Our results highlight the importance of changes in miRNA gene sequences in the course of Homo sapiens denisova and Homo sapiens neanderthalensis evolution. The genetic alterations of miRNAs regulating the spatiotemporal expression of multiple genes in the prenatal and postnatal brain may contribute to the progressive evolution of brain function, which is consistent with the observations of fine technical and typological properties of tools and decorative items reported from archaeological Denisovan sites. The data also suggest that differential spatial-temporal regulation of gene products promoted by the subspecies-specific mutations in the miRNA genes might have occurred in the brains of Homo sapiens denisova and Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, potentially contributing to the cultural differences between these two archaic hominines.
Project description:PurposeWe investigated the evidence of recent positive selection in the human phototransduction system at single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and gene level.MethodsSNP genotyping data from the International HapMap Project for European, Eastern Asian, and African populations was used to discover differences in haplotype length and allele frequency between these populations. Numeric selection metrics were computed for each SNP and aggregated into gene-level metrics to measure evidence of recent positive selection. The level of recent positive selection in phototransduction genes was evaluated and compared to a set of genes shown previously to be under recent selection, and a set of highly conserved genes as positive and negative controls, respectively.ResultsSix of 20 phototransduction genes evaluated had gene-level selection metrics above the 90th percentile: RGS9, GNB1, RHO, PDE6G, GNAT1, and SLC24A1. The selection signal across these genes was found to be of similar magnitude to the positive control genes and much greater than the negative control genes.ConclusionsThere is evidence for selective pressure in the genes involved in retinal phototransduction, and traces of this selective pressure can be demonstrated using SNP-level and gene-level metrics of allelic variation. We hypothesize that the selective pressure on these genes was related to their role in low light vision and retinal adaptation to ambient light changes. Uncovering the underlying genetics of evolutionary adaptations in phototransduction not only allows greater understanding of vision and visual diseases, but also the development of patient-specific diagnostic and intervention strategies.
Project description:Cortical thickness has been investigated since the beginning of the 20th century, but we do not know how similar the cortical thickness profiles among humans are. In this study, the local similarity of cortical thickness profiles was investigated using sliding window methods. Here, we show that approximately 5% of the cortical thickness profiles are similarly expressed among humans while 45% of the cortical thickness profiles show a high level of heterogeneity. Therefore, heterogeneity is the rule, not the exception. Cortical thickness profiles of somatosensory homunculi and the anterior insula are consistent among humans, while the cortical thickness profiles of the motor homunculus are more variable. Cortical thickness profiles of homunculi that code for muscle position and skin stimulation are highly similar among humans despite large differences in sex, education, and age. This finding suggests that the structure of these cortices remains well preserved over a lifetime. Our observations possibly relativize opinions on cortical plasticity.