Project description:Here we present a novel example of genetic heterogeneity in human malignant brain tumors, in which multiple closely-related driver genes are amplified and activated simultaneously in adjacent intermingled cells. We have observed up to 3 different receptor tyrosine kinases (EGFR, MET, PDGFRA) amplified in single tumors in different cells in a mutually exclusive fashion. However, these subpopulations cannot be always observed with a genome wide studies such as aCGH. Here we include aCGH on three such mosaic cases. Analyses were performed on 350 archival specimens of glioblastoma, WHO Grade IV, seen at the Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital from 2009 to 2011. CGH on three such mosaic cases.
Project description:Amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, A0 for non-amplified and A1 for amplified) gene is one of the most common oncogenic alterations in glioblastoma (45%) making it a prime target for therapy. However, small molecule inhibitors of the EGFR tyrosine kinase showed disappointing efficacy in clinical trials for glioblastoma. Here we report expression data for 33 samples including 6 GBM derived xenografts (3 controls and 3 treated by tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib) and 27 glioblastoma tumors (11 controls and 16 treated by tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib). Note that T0, T1 and T2 treatment types mean that control, Gefitinib treatment and Gefitinib treatment (but not according to protocol schedule), respectively.
Project description:Here we present a novel example of genetic heterogeneity in human malignant brain tumors, in which multiple closely-related driver genes are amplified and activated simultaneously in adjacent intermingled cells. We have observed up to 3 different receptor tyrosine kinases (EGFR, MET, PDGFRA) amplified in single tumors in different cells in a mutually exclusive fashion. However, these subpopulations cannot be always observed with a genome wide studies such as aCGH. Here we include aCGH on three such mosaic cases. Analyses were performed on 350 archival specimens of glioblastoma, WHO Grade IV, seen at the Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital from 2009 to 2011.
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.