Project description:The RNA-binding protein hnRNP K was knocked down using siRNA in human SH-SY5Y. As a control, cells were treated with an siRNA against firefly luciferase.
Project description:Ribo-seq with firefly luciferase optimality reporters to determine whether incomplete translation and/or inhibited translation initiation is responsible for the reduced ribosome occupancy on nonoptimal transcripts.
Project description:Gene expression profiles of primary lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) isolated from human foreskin were analyzed after siRNA-mediated knockdown of control (firefly luciferase), Prox1, NR2F2 or Prox1/NR2F2 for 48 hours.
Project description:Firefly larvae are highly specialized predators of snails, which utilize midgut secretions to incapacitate and pre-digest their much larger prey. With the current analysis we aim to shed light on the composition of the midgut secretion of these larvae utilizing a proteo-transcriptomic approach.
Project description:Postcopulatory sexual selection is recognized as a key driver of reproductive trait evolution, including the machinery required to produce endogenous nuptial gifts. Despite the importance of such gifts, the molecular composition of the non-gametic components of male ejaculates and their interactions with female reproductive tracts remain poorly understood. During mating, male Photinus fireflies transfer to females a spermatophore gift manufactured by multiple reproductive glands. Here we combined transcriptomics of both male and female reproductive glands with proteomics and metabolomics to better understand the synthesis, composition and fate of the spermatophore in the common Eastern firefly, Photinus pyralis. Our transcriptome of male glands revealed up-regulation of proteases that may enhance male fertilization success and activate female immune response. Using bottom-up proteomics we identified 208 functionally annotated proteins that males transfer to the female in their spermatophore. Targeted metabolomic analysis also provided the first evidence that Photinus nuptial gifts contain lucibufagin, a firefly defensive toxin. The reproductive tracts of female fireflies showed increased gene expression for several proteases that may be involved in egg production. This study offers new insights into the molecular composition of male spermatophores, and extends our understanding of how nuptial gifts may mediate postcopulatory interactions between the sexes.