Project description:We report the application of single-molecule-based sequencing technology for high-throughput profiling of DNA replication origins in K562 mammalian cells. We have optimized a specific method of peak detection adapted to the signal produced by the sequencing of short nascent strands (SNS) that are specific of replication initiation, with the aim to have both a good sensitivity and specificity. We demonstrated the existence of the spatiao-temporal program of DNA replication driven by a specific epigenetic signature. K562 human cells; five samples subjected to SNS-Seq.
Project description:We report the application of single-molecule-based sequencing technology for high-throughput profiling of DNA replication origins in K562 mammalian cells. We have optimized a specific method of peak detection adapted to the signal produced by the sequencing of short nascent strands (SNS) that are specific of replication initiation, with the aim to have both a good sensitivity and specificity. We demonstrated the existence of the spatiao-temporal program of DNA replication driven by a specific epigenetic signature.
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:Mammalian chromosome replication starts from distinct sites, but the principles governing initiation site selection are unclear because proteins essential for DNA replication do not exhibit sequence-specific DNA binding. We identified a replication initiation determinant (RepID) protein that binds a subset of replication initiation sites. A large fraction of RepID binding sites share a common G-rich motif and exhibit elevated replication initiation. RepID is required for initiation of DNA replication from Rep-ID bound replication origins, including the origin at the human beta-globin (HBB) locus. At HBB, RepID is involved in an interaction between the replication origin (Rep-P) and the locus control region. RepID depleted murine embryonic fibroblasts exhibit abnormal replication fork progression and fewer replication initiation events. These observations are consistent with a model suggesting that RepID facilitates replication initiation at a distinct group of human replication origins. Nascent strands were purified with the lambda exonuclease methods from HCT116 cells and sequenced. Chromatin from unsyncrhonized untreated cultures of U2OS cells was subjected to ChIP-Seq with antibody directed against RepID/PHIP
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: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.