Project description:We identified a novel germline mutation of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF - E318K). This mutation was found to be present in numerous melanoma families, as well as the general population, where its association with melanoma has a significant effect. We determined the effect of the E318K mutation on global MITF target gene transcription. We developed a tetracycline-inducible system for expression of wild type MITF or the E318K variant in melanoma cell lines with constitutively low or undetectable levels of endogenous MITF (HT144 and C32). We examined whole-genome expression profiles in these cells following induction of either wild-type or E318K MITF for 48 hours. Analysis suggests that the MITF E318K mutant exhibits differential transcriptional activity against some, though not all, target genes. Expression profiling by array
Project description:We identified a novel germline mutation of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF - E318K). This mutation was found to be present in numerous melanoma families, as well as the general population, where its association with melanoma has a significant effect. We determined the effect of the E318K mutation on global MITF target gene transcription. We developed a tetracycline-inducible system for expression of wild type MITF or the E318K variant in melanoma cell lines with constitutively low or undetectable levels of endogenous MITF (HT144 and C32). We examined whole-genome expression profiles in these cells following induction of either wild-type or E318K MITF for 48 hours. Analysis suggests that the MITF E318K mutant exhibits differential transcriptional activity against some, though not all, target genes.
Project description:The aim of this study was to perform comparative gene expression analysis of AIP mutation-positive, AIP mutation-negative familial and sporadic somatotroph tumours to discover the genes/pathways responsible for the aggressive phenotype. Gene expression analysis was performed on 25 pituitary samples (five normal pituitary, six AIPpos GH, three AIPneg GH, four sporadic GH, two AIPneg familial NFPA and five sporadic NFPA adenomas) using the Affymetrix human Gene Chip HG-U133 Plus 2.0 array.
Project description:The most critical stage in initiation of melanoma metastasis is the radial to vertical growth transition, yet the triggers of this transition remain elusive. We introduce a novel perspective, suggesting that the microenvironment drives melanoma metastasis independently of mutation acquisition. Here we examined the changes in microenvironment that occur during melanoma radial growth. We show that direct contact of melanoma cells with the remote epidermal layer triggers vertical invasion via Notch signaling activation, the latter serving to inhibit MITF function. Briefly, within the native Notch ligand-free microenvironment, MITF, the melanocyte lineage master regulator, binds and represses miR-222/221 promoter in an RBPJK-dependent manner. However, when radial growth brings melanoma cells into contact with distal differentiated keratinocytes that express Notch ligands, the activated Notch intracellular domain impairs MITF binding to miR-222/221 promoter. This de-repression of miR-222/221 expression triggers initiation of invasion. Our findings may direct novel prevention opportunities via targeting specific microenvironment. Two replicates of Notch-activated cells that were seeded on Delta-like-1 (DLL1) (2 ng/µl ) coated plates were compared to two replicates of cells without Notch activation. The goal of this experiment is to evaluate the changes of miRs expression in melanoma cells upon Notch signaling activation.
Project description:The most critical stage in initiation of melanoma metastasis is the radial to vertical growth transition, yet the triggers of this transition remain elusive. We introduce a novel perspective, suggesting that the microenvironment drives melanoma metastasis independently of mutation acquisition. Here we examined the changes in microenvironment that occur during melanoma radial growth. We show that direct contact of melanoma cells with the remote epidermal layer triggers vertical invasion via Notch signaling activation, the latter serving to inhibit MITF function. Briefly, within the native Notch ligand-free microenvironment, MITF, the melanocyte lineage master regulator, binds and represses miR-222/221 promoter in an RBPJK-dependent manner. However, when radial growth brings melanoma cells into contact with distal differentiated keratinocytes that express Notch ligands, the activated Notch intracellular domain impairs MITF binding to miR-222/221 promoter. This de-repression of miR-222/221 expression triggers initiation of invasion. Our findings may direct novel prevention opportunities via targeting specific microenvironment.
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:MITF, a gene that is mutated in familial melanoma and Waardenburg syndrome, encodes multiple isoforms expressed from alternative promoters that share common coding exons but have unique amino termini. It is not completely understood how these isoforms influence pigmentation in different tissues and how expression of these independent isoforms of MITF are regulated. Here, we show that melanocytes express two isoforms of MITF, MITF-A and MITF-M. Expression of MITF-A is partially regulated by a newly identified retinoid enhancer element located upstream of the MITF-A promoter. Mitf-A knockout mice have only subtle changes in melanin accumulation in the hair and reduced Tyr expression in the eye. In contrast, Mitf-M null mice have enlarged kidneys, lack neural crest derived melanocytes in the skin, choroid, and iris stroma; yet maintain pigmentation within the retinal pigment epithelium and iris pigment epithelium of the eye. Taken together, these studies identify a critical role for MITF-M in melanocytes, a minor role for MITF-A in regulating pigmentation in the hair and Tyr expression in the eye, and a novel role for MITF-M in size control of the kidney.