Project description:Microarray expression analysis to identify global changes in transcription in response to RAF inhibition. Genes under RAF control were identified in a panel of BRAFV600E tumor cells, following the short-term inhibition of RAF using a pan-RAF kinase inhibitor, PLX4032 (Plexxikon). For comparison with changes in gene expression in response to MEK inhibition using PD0325901 (Pfizer), the following array data was referenced: (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/ (accession no. GSE10086)). Cell lines growing in culture (n=5) were treated with the RAF inhibitor PLX4032 (250nM or 1000nM) or vehicle alone (0.1% DMSO) as control, for eight hours.
Project description:The RAF family kinases function in the RAS-ERK pathway to transmit signals from activated RAS to the downstream kinases MEK and ERK. This pathway regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival enabling mutations in RAS and RAF to act as potent drivers of human cancers. Drugs targeting the prevalent oncogenic mutant BRAFV600E have shown great efficacy in the clinic but long-term effectiveness is limited by resistance mechanisms that often exploit the dimerization-dependent process by which RAF kinases are activated. Here, we investigated a proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) approach to BRAF inhibition. The most effective PROTAC termed P4B displayed superior specificity and inhibitory properties relative to non-PROTAC controls in BRAFV600E cell lines. In addition, P4B displayed utility in two cell lines harboring alternate BRAF mutations that impart resistance to conventional BRAF inhibitors. This work provides a rationale for optimizing the drug-like properties of P4B to enable proof of concept studies in vivo.
Project description:Microarray expression analysis to identify global changes in transcription in response to RAF inhibition. Genes under RAF control were identified in a panel of BRAFV600E tumor cells, following the short-term inhibition of RAF using a pan-RAF kinase inhibitor, PLX4032 (Plexxikon). For comparison with changes in gene expression in response to MEK inhibition using PD0325901 (Pfizer), the following array data was referenced: (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/ (accession no. GSE10086)).
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression.