Project description:We used microarrays to generate differentially expressed gene profiles upon cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of transcriptionally-active N-termini of either ATF6α or ATF6β
Project description:Hemodynamic stress on the mammalian heart results in compensatory hypertrophy and activation of the unfolded protein response through activating transcription factor 6α (ATF6α) in cardiac myocytes, but the roles of ATF6α or the related transcription factor ATF6β in regulating this hypertrophic response are not well-understood. Here we examined the effects of loss of ATF6α or ATF6β on the cardiac response to pressure overload. Mice gene-deleted for Atf6 or Atf6b were subjected to 2 weeks of transverse aortic constriction, and each showed a significant reduction in hypertrophy with reduced expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-associated proteins compared with controls. However, with long-term pressure overload both Atf6 and Atf6b null mice showed enhanced decompensation typified by increased heart weight, pulmonary edema and reduced function compared to control mice. Our subsequent studies using cardiac-specific transgenic mice expressing the transcriptionally active N-terminus of ATF6α or ATF6β revealed that these factors control overlapping gene expression networks that include numerous ER protein chaperones and ER associated degradation components. This work reveals previously unappreciated roles for ATF6α and ATF6β in regulating the pressure overload induced cardiac hypertrophic response and in controlling the expression of genes that condition the ER during hemodynamic stress.
Project description:The bZIP transcription factor ATF6α is a master regulator of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response genes. In this report, we identify the multifunctional RNA polymerase II transcription factor Elongin as a cofactor for ATF6α-dependent transcription activation. Biochemical studies reveal that Elongin functions at least in part by facilitating ATF6α-dependent loading of Mediator at the promoters and enhancers of ER stress response genes. Depletion of Elongin from cells leads to impaired transcription of ER stress response genes and to defects in the recruitment of Mediator and, in particular, its CDK8 kinase subunit. Taken together, these findings bring to light a new role for Elongin as a loading factor for Mediator during the ER stress response.
Project description:The bZIP transcription factor ATF6α is a master regulator of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response genes. In this report, we identify the multifunctional RNA polymerase II transcription factor Elongin as a cofactor for ATF6α-dependent transcription activation. Biochemical studies reveal that Elongin functions at least in part by facilitating ATF6α-dependent loading of Mediator at the promoters and enhancers of ER stress response genes. Depletion of Elongin from cells leads to impaired transcription of ER stress response genes and to defects in the recruitment of Mediator and, in particular, its CDK8 kinase subunit. Taken together, these findings bring to light a new role for Elongin as a loading factor for Mediator during the ER stress response.
Project description:To investigate the molecular mechanism that triggers endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced cellular senescence in breast cancer cells, we established MCF7 cell lines exposed to ATF6α ectopic expression. We then performed gene expression profiling analysis using data obtained from RNA-seq of 9 different cells at three time points.
Project description:The single-stranded DNA binding proteins SSB1 and SSB2 are crucial regulators of the DNA damage response, however the overlapping functions of these related proteins is incompletely understood. We generated mice where both Ssb1 and Ssb2 were constitutively or conditionally deleted. Constitutive Ssb1/Ssb2 double knockout (DKO) caused early embryonic lethality, while conditional Ssb1/Ssb2 double knockout (cDKO) in adult mice resulted in acute lethality due to bone marrow failure and intestinal atrophy featured by stem and progenitor cell depletion. cDKO cells exhibited increased replication stress, R-loop accumulation, genome wide double strand breaks and cytosolic single-stranded DNA. Transcriptional profiling of cDKO cells revealed activation of p53 DNA damage and interferon responses. Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in cDKO mice showed enforced cell cycling, with subsequent apoptotic cell death. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Ssb1 and Ssb2 have compensatory functions in maintaining genomic stability and are collectively necessary for adult stem cell homeostasis. Single colour, Illumina MouseRef-8 v2.0 Beadarrays.
Project description:The single-stranded DNA binding proteins SSB1 and SSB2 are crucial regulators of the DNA damage response, however the overlapping functions of these related proteins is incompletely understood. We generated mice where both Ssb1 and Ssb2 were constitutively or conditionally deleted. Constitutive Ssb1/Ssb2 double knockout (DKO) caused early embryonic lethality, while conditional Ssb1/Ssb2 double knockout (cDKO) in adult mice resulted in acute lethality due to bone marrow failure and intestinal atrophy featured by stem and progenitor cell depletion. cDKO cells exhibited increased replication stress, R-loop accumulation, genome wide double strand breaks and cytosolic single-stranded DNA. Transcriptional profiling of cDKO cells revealed activation of p53 DNA damage and interferon responses. Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in cDKO mice showed enforced cell cycling, with subsequent apoptotic cell death. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Ssb1 and Ssb2 have compensatory functions in maintaining genomic stability and are collectively necessary for adult stem cell homeostasis. Single colour, Illumina MouseRef-8 v2.0 Beadarrays.