Project description:To assess cellular changes upon abrogation of the WNT-signaling pathway, we induced expression of a dominant-negative T-cell factor 4 (TCF4). This showed a remarkable overlap with activation of the unfolded protein response (UTR) in the same colon cancer cell line.
Project description:To assess cellular changes upon abrogation of the WNT-signaling pathway, we induced expression of a dominant-negative T-cell factor 4 (TCF4). This showed a remarkable overlap with activation of the unfolded protein response (UTR) in the same colon cancer cell line. 500,000 cells were plated in a 10 cm2 plate, and the following day, treated for 20 hrs with doxycycline (Dox) or vehicle. Three independent biological replicates per treatment.
Project description:Microarray-based gene expression data were generated from RNA from Ls174T colorectal carcinoma cell lines in which Wnt-dependent transcriptional activity can be abrogated by inducible overexpression of a dominant-negative form of Tcf4 or siRNA against M-NM-2-catenin. shRNA against M-NM-2-catenin, or a dominant-negative Tcf4 transgene, were induced in Ls174T cells for 72 or 24 hours, respectively. Uninduced cells were used as a control. Three replicates per condition.
Project description:Dysregulation of Wnt/TCF signaling is closely associated with cancers arising from the gastrointestinal tract, inlcluding colon cancer and liver cancer. The goal of this study is to understand the transcriptional programs underlying Wnt/TCF activation in gastrointestinal cancers. We examined the transcriptional responses to TCF inhibition in cultured human colon cancer cells and liver cancer cells that are characteristic of Wnt pathway activation. Human liver cancer cell line HepG2 and colon cancer cell line LS174T with or without expression of a dominant negative form of TCF4
Project description:Microarray-based gene expression data were generated from RNA from Ls174T colorectal carcinoma cell lines in which Wnt-dependent transcriptional activity can be abrogated by inducible overexpression of a dominant-negative form of Tcf4 or siRNA against β-catenin.
Project description:Using mice with targeted gene mutations, we identify (1) distinct roles for different canonical Wnt signaling components in central nervous system (CNS) vascular development and in the specification of the blood-brain and blood-retina barriers (BBB and BRB) and (2) differential sensitivities of the vasculature in various CNS regions to perturbations in canonical Wnt signaling components. We find nearly equivalent roles for Lrp5 and Lrp6 in brain vascular development and barrier maintenance but a dominant role for Lrp5 in the retinal vasculature, an especially high sensitivity of the BBB in the cerebellum and pons/interpeduncular nuclei to decrements in canonical Wnt signaling, and plasticity in the barrier properties of mature CNS vasculature. Brain and retinal vascular defects caused by loss of Norrin/Frizzled4 signaling can be fully rescued by stabilizing beta-catenin, and loss of beta-catenin’s transcriptional activation domain or expression of a dominant negative Tcf4 recapitulates the vascular development and barrier defects seen with loss of receptor, co-receptor, or ligand, indicating that Norrin/Frizzled4 signaling acts predominantly by beta-catenin-dependent transcriptional regulation. This work strongly supports a model in which identical or nearly identical canonical Wnt signaling mechanisms mediate neural tube and retinal vascularization and maintain the BBB and BRB. Total retina RNA from P10 WT, NdpKO, Ctnnb1flex3/+;Pdgfb-CreER, and NdpKO;Ctnnb1flex3/+;Pdgfb-CreER mice was subjected to RNAseq
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:Wnt signals control three functions of intestinal crypts: maintenance of Lgr5 stem cells, proliferation of transit-amplifying daughters and formation of Paneth cells. Here, we study how the Wnt effector β-catenin/Tcf4 cooperates with the Wnt-activated transcription factor Ascl2 to control a stem cell transcription program. DNA elements that are co-occupied and synergistically regulated by Ascl2 and Tcf4 specifically map to stem cell genes. In vitro, Tcf4-/- mini-guts are rescued by Ascl2 expression, while Ascl2-/- organoids are rescued by Wnt signaling. A direct auto-activatory loop leads to an on/off expression pattern of Ascl2 with a threshold that depends on the previous state. Wnt/R-spondin1 activates this loop. This mechanism interprets Wnt levels in crypts and translates this continuous signal into a discrete Ascl2 âonâ or âoffâ decision. In turn Ascl2, together with β-catenin/Tcf, activates stem cell genes. Thus, Ascl2 forms a transcriptional 'stemness switch' that is both Wnt-responsive and Wnt-dependent Examination of Tcf4, B-catenin and Ascl2 DNA occupancy in murine intestinal organoids and human colorectal cancer cell lines *** Original raw files unavailable due to loss during backup ***
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:Using mice with targeted gene mutations, we identify (1) distinct roles for different canonical Wnt signaling components in central nervous system (CNS) vascular development and in the specification of the blood-brain and blood-retina barriers (BBB and BRB) and (2) differential sensitivities of the vasculature in various CNS regions to perturbations in canonical Wnt signaling components. We find nearly equivalent roles for Lrp5 and Lrp6 in brain vascular development and barrier maintenance but a dominant role for Lrp5 in the retinal vasculature, an especially high sensitivity of the BBB in the cerebellum and pons/interpeduncular nuclei to decrements in canonical Wnt signaling, and plasticity in the barrier properties of mature CNS vasculature. Brain and retinal vascular defects caused by loss of Norrin/Frizzled4 signaling can be fully rescued by stabilizing beta-catenin, and loss of beta-catenin’s transcriptional activation domain or expression of a dominant negative Tcf4 recapitulates the vascular development and barrier defects seen with loss of receptor, co-receptor, or ligand, indicating that Norrin/Frizzled4 signaling acts predominantly by beta-catenin-dependent transcriptional regulation. This work strongly supports a model in which identical or nearly identical canonical Wnt signaling mechanisms mediate neural tube and retinal vascularization and maintain the BBB and BRB.