Project description:Transfection experiments aimed at understanding the impact of upregulating lncRNA RP11-326A19.4 on the transcriptome; follow-up of GSE132451
Project description:We report the generation of CRISPR-dCas9 DNA methyltransferases to mediate targeted DNA methylation. Using the dCas9-BFP-DNMT3A and dCas9-BFP-DNMT3B methyltransferases, we have demonstrated that these two methyltransferase can mediate targeted methylation in three human genes tested: uPA, TGFBR3, and CDKN2A in human HEK293T cells. We also showed that these methyltransferases could mediate gene inhibition. five samples co-transfected with five uPA sgRNAs and each of the four dCas9 fusions, or control transfection with pUC19 plasmid
Project description:Downregulations of TCAM1P-004 and RP11-598D14.1 were frequently observed in HCC tumors as compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues. To further study the molecular functions of TCAM1P-004 and RP11-598D14.1, we attempted to identify the gene targets regulated by either lncRNAs. Knockdown of TCAM1P-004 or RP11-598D14.1 were achieved by transduction of lentivirus carrying respective shRNAs in non-tumor hepatocyte MIHA cells. Diffferentially expressed genes after knockdown of the lncRNAs were compared to cells tranduced with lentivirus carrying scramble shRNAs.
Project description:RP11-115N4.1 was identified as the most differentially expressed lncRNA which was highly upregulated in peripheral blood of non-pregnant URSA patients (P = 3.63E-07, Fold change = 2.96),andthis dysregulation was further validated in approximately 26.7% additional patients (4/15). RP11-115N4.1 expression was detected in both lymphocytes and monocytes of human peripheral blood, andin vitro overexpression of RP11-115N4.1 decreased cell proliferation in K562 cellssignificantly. Furthermore, heat-shock HSP70 genes (HSPA1A and HSPA1B) were found to be significantly upregulated upon RP11-115N4.1 overexpression by transcriptome analysis (HSPA1A (P = 4.39E-08, Fold change = 4.17), HSPA1B (P = 2.26E-06, Fold change = 2.99)).RNApull down and RNA immunoprecipitation assay (RIP) analysis demonstrated that RP11-115N4.1 bound to HNRNPH3 protein directly, which in turn activateheat-shock proteins (HSP70) analyzed by protein-protein interaction and HNRNP` knockdown assays. Most importantly,the high expression of HSP70 was also verified in the serum of URSA patients and the supernatant of K562 cells with RP11-115N4.1 activation, andHSP70 in supernatant can exacerbate inflammatory responses in monocytes by inducing IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α and inhibit the migration of trophoblast cells, which might associate with URSA.
Project description:CRISPR-Cas transcriptional tools have been widely applied for programmable regulation of complex biological networks. In comparison to eukaryotic systems, bacterial CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) has stringent target site requirements for effective gene activation. While genes may not always have an NGG protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) at the appropriate position, PAM-flexible dCas9 variants can expand the range of targetable sites. Here we systematically evaluate a panel of PAM-flexible dCas9 variants for their ability to activate bacterial genes. We observe that dxCas9-NG provides a high dynamic range of gene activation for sites with NGN PAMs while dSpRY permits modest activity across almost any PAM. Similar trends were observed for heterologous and endogenous promoters. For all variants tested, improved PAM-flexibility comes with the tradeoff that CRISPRi-mediated gene repression becomes less effective. Weaker CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) gene repression can be partially rescued by expressing multiple sgRNAs to target many sites in the gene of interest. Our work provides a framework to choose the most effective dCas9 variant for a given set of gene targets, which will further expand the utility of CRISPRa/i gene regulation in bacterial systems.
Project description:Through deep RNA-seq of human monocyte-derived macrophages, we identified RP11-184M15.1, a human macrophage-specific lincRNA, to be highly induced in the cytoplasm of IL-4-stimulated macrophage. Preliminary data showed that treatment of IL-4-stimulated THP1 human macrophages with RP11-184M15.1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) repressed apoptosis of resolving macrophages, as shown by decreased Annexin V+ macrophages, and reduced protein expression of cleaved PARP. Biotinylated RP11-184M15.1 pulldown coupled with mass spectrometry indicated an interaction between RP11-184M15.1 and zinc finger RNA-binding protein (ZFR). RIP corroborated the proposed interaction between RP11-184M15.1 and ZFR. RNAInter revealed mRNAs predicted to interact with ZFR, and some of those genes (e.g., ALYREF, CCNYL1) were also differentially expressed in RNA-seq data of control versus RP11-184M15.1 knockdown in IL-4-stimulated THP1 macrophages. qPCR validated that ALYREF and CCNYL1 expression are reduced with RP11-184M15.1 knockdown. In contrast, with ZFR siRNA, ALYREF and CCNYL1 mRNA expressions were elevated. Thus, a hypothesis to be further tested is that RP11-184M15.1 interacts with ZFR to regulate mRNA stability in IL-4-stimulated macrophages. Nuclear RNA export factor 1 (NXF1) was also validated by RIP to interact with RP11-184M15.1. NXF1 is a known interacting partner of ALYREF in the transcription-export (TREX) complex. With RP11-184M15.1 knockdown, the protein level of ALYREF decreased, and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) of RNA-seq data of control versus RP11-184M15.1 knockdown revealed that THO complex subunit 5 homolog (THOC5), another component of the TREX complex, may be an upstream regulator. In addition, past studies have revealed that ALYREF and NXF1 are involved in nuclear export of inflammatory mRNAs and proinflammatory macrophage phenotype, respectively. With RP11-184M15.1 knockdown, there was decreased expression of inflammatory macrophage-associated genes. It may be possible that RP11-184M15.1 functions in mRNA export, along with NXF1 and ALYREF.
Project description:Dravet syndrome (DS) is a severe epileptic encephalopathy caused by heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the SCN1A gene, indicating a haploinsufficient genetic mechanism underlining this pathology. Here, we tested whether dCas9-mediated Scn1a gene activation could rescue Scn1a haploinsufficiency and restore physiological levels of its gene product, the Nav1.1 voltage-gated sodium channel. We screeened sgRNAs for their ability to stimulate Scn1a gene transcription in association with the dCas9 activation system. Interestingly, we identified one single sgRNA able to significantly increase Scn1a gene expression levels in cell lines as well as in primary neurons, with high specificity. Accordingly, levels of Nav1.1 protein were sufficiently augmented to potentiate firing ability of wild-type immature GABAergic interneurons. A similar effect in activating the Scn1a transcription was elicited in Dravet GABAergic interneurons rescuing their dysfunctional properties. To determine whether this approach could have therapeutic effect, we packaged adeno-associated viruses with the Scn1a-dCas9 activation system and showed their ability to ameliorate the febrile epileptic crises in DS mice. Our results pave the way for exploiting the dCas9-based gene activation as an effective and targeted approach to DS and other similar disorders resulting from altered gene dosage.
Project description:Deletion experiment aimed at understanding the role of lncRNA RP11-326A19.4 /CARMAL via its deletion. The impact on of the deletion on the transcriptome was assessed by array analysis.