Project description:Food proteins differ in their allergenic potential. Currently, there is no predictive and validated bio-assay to evaluate the allergenicity of novel food proteins. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of a human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) gene expression assay to identify biomarkers to predict the allergenicity of legume proteins. PBMCs from healthy donors were exposed to weakly and strongly allergenic legume proteins. Inclusion of multiple protein pairs from 2S albumins (lupine and peanut) and 7S globulins (white bean and soybean) in a larger study, led to the selection of CCL2, CCL7, and RASD2 as biomarkers to distinguish weakly from strongly allergenic proteins.
Project description:We have used deep sequencing of small RNAs from nodules and root apexes of the model legume Medicago truncatula, to identify 113 novel candidate miRNAs. These miRNAs (legume or Mt-specific) are encoded by 278 putative hairpin precursors in the M. truncatula genome. Several miRNAs are differentially expressed in nodules and root tips and large variety of targets could be predicted for these genes. Specific miRNA isoforms showed contrasting expression patterns in these tissues Keywords: Transcriptome analysis
Project description:Legumes interact with rhizobial bacteria to form nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Host signalling following mutual recognition ensures a specific response, but is only partially understood. Focusing on the stage of epidermal infection with Mesorhizobium loti, we analysed endogenous small RNAs (sRNAs) of the model legume Lotus japonicus to investigate their involvement in host response regulation. We used Illumina sequencing to annotate the L. japonicus sRNA-ome and isolate infection-responsive sRNAs, followed by candidate-based functional characterization. Sequences from four libraries revealed 219 novel L. japonicus micro RNAs (miRNAs) from 114 newly assigned families, and 76 infection-responsive sRNAs. Unlike infection-associated coding genes such as NODULE INCEPTION (NIN), a micro RNA 172 (miR172) isoform showed strong accumulation in dependency of both Nodulation (Nod) factor and compatible rhizobia. The genetics of miR172 induction support the existence of distinct epidermal and cortical signalling events. MIR172a promoter activity followed a previously unseen pattern preceding infection thread progression in epidermal and cortical cells. Nodule-associated miR172a expression was infection-independent, representing the second of two genetically separable activity waves. The combined data provide a valuable resource for further study, and identify miR172 as an sRNA marking successful epidermal infection. We show that miR172 acts upstream of several APETALA2-type (AP2) transcription factors, and suggest that it has a role in fine-tuning AP2 levels during bacterial symbiosis.
Project description:Using a dedicated split-root approach, we identified miRNAs regulated systemically by nitrogen availability in both shoots and roots of the Medicago truncatula model legume, depending on the CRA2 pathway, highlighting the phosphate-related miR399.
Project description:Few studies have reported that the mutual regulation of miRNAs and alternative cleavage and polyadenylation in CRC. Our study helps to understand the cellular regulation in CRC from the perspective of post-transcriptional level.
