Project description:We hypothesized that the potential ability of the 18 kDa mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO) to regulate gene expression may underlie its numerous reported functions, ranging from mitochondrial activity till mental disorders. Therefore, we applied microarray analysis of gene expression to U118MG glioblastoma cells. Within 1 hr the TSPO ligand PK 11195 induced changes in expression of immediate early genes and transcription factors. After 24 hrs primarily gene expression for enzymes and other proteins is changed. The associated gene products are known to affect various cellular functions: programmed cell death, cell cycle, viability, proliferation, migration, differentiation, development, tumorigenesis, and inflammatory / immune responses. Our microscopic studies showed intense TSPO mitochondrial labeling but no TSPO signal in the cell nuclei. Thus, it appears that the TSPO is part of the retrograde mitochondrial-nuclear signaling pathway for modulation of gene expression and thereby may exert its numerous effects on cell function, phenotype, and disease. U118MG cells (1.255 à 106) were seeded in Petri dishes (i.e. 28.5 à 103 cells / cm2) and allowed to proliferate for 3 days in full medium. Experiments for gene expression assayed with microarray typically consisted of three experimental groups and a vehicle control group (n = 3 for each group). Serum deprived medium was applied for 24 hrs, in the experimental groups ending with the inclusion a choice of various PK 11195 exposures i.e. either 1 hr, 3 hrs, or 24 hrs. Exposure to PK 11195 implies serum deprived medium with 1% alcohol (vehicle) and PK 11195 (25 µM final concentration) for the required time period. 25 µM of PK 11195 is the optimal concentration for these types of experiments with U118MG cells (Kugler et al., 2008). The cells were collected by trypsinization, washed by centrifugation in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (400 à g, 5 min), and lysed [RLT lysis buffer provided with the RNeasy Mini Kit diluted with β-mercaptoethanol (1 : 100)], according to the manufacturer's instructions. Lysates were stored at -70oC.
Project description:It is known that application of TSPO ligands as well as knockdown of the mitochondrial 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) modulate viability, proliferation, adhesion, and migration of glioblastoma cells, as well as angiogenesis. To study the ability of the TSPO to regulate gene expression in relation to these functions we applied microarray analysis of gene expression to U118MG glioblastoma cells. Seen at the time points of 15, 30, and 45 minutes, the TSPO ligand PK 11195 induced changes in expression of immediate early genes and transcription factors. These changes also included gene products that are part of the canonical pathway for modulation of general gene expression. These changes peaked at 30 minutes. Thus, it appears that the TSPO is part of the retrograde mitochondrial-nuclear signaling pathway for modulation of gene expression. Consequently, our data indicate that this is a major venue whereby TSPO may drive its numerous functional effects. Keywords: modulation of nuclear gene expression, mitochondrial 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO), TSPO ligand, PK 11195, 2-Cl-MGV-1, retrograde mitochondrial-nuclear signaling pathway, microscopy, mitochondria, cell nucleus abstract of annual meetingof the israel society for neuroscience, section B, abstract # 98.
Project description:We hypothesized that the potential ability of the 18 kDa mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO) to regulate gene expression may underlie its numerous reported functions, ranging from mitochondrial activity till mental disorders. Therefore, we applied microarray analysis of gene expression to U118MG glioblastoma cells. Within 1 hr the TSPO ligand PK 11195 induced changes in expression of immediate early genes and transcription factors. After 24 hrs primarily gene expression for enzymes and other proteins is changed. The associated gene products are known to affect various cellular functions: programmed cell death, cell cycle, viability, proliferation, migration, differentiation, development, tumorigenesis, and inflammatory / immune responses. Our microscopic studies showed intense TSPO mitochondrial labeling but no TSPO signal in the cell nuclei. Thus, it appears that the TSPO is part of the retrograde mitochondrial-nuclear signaling pathway for modulation of gene expression and thereby may exert its numerous effects on cell function, phenotype, and disease.
Project description:Regulation of nuclear gene expression by PK 11195, a ligand specific for the mitochondrial 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) (15, 30, and 45 minutes of exposure)
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.
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: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. One-condition experment, gene expression of 3A6
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.