Project description:The global gene expression profiles of adult and fetal murine prostate stem cells were determined to define common and unique regulators whose misexpression might play a role in the development of prostate cancer. A distinctive core of transcriptional regulators common to both fetal and adult primitive prostate cells was identified as well as molecules that are exclusive to each population. Elements common to fetal and adult prostate stem cells include expression profiles of Wnt, Shh and other pathways identified in stem cells of other organs, signatures of the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor, and up-regulation of components of the aldehyde dehydrogenase/retinoic acid receptor axis. There is also a significant lipid metabolism signature, marked by overexpression of lipid metabolizing enzymes and the presence of the binding motif for Srebp1. The fetal stem cell population, characterized by more rapid proliferation and self-renewal, expresses regulators of the cell cycle, such as E2f, Nfy, Tead2 and Ap2, at elevated levels, while adult stem cells show a signature in which TGF-? has a prominent role. Finally, comparison of the signatures of primitive prostate cells with previously described profiles of human prostate tumors identified stem cell molecules and pathways with deregulated expression in prostate tumors including chromatin modifiers and the oncogene, Erg. Our data indicate that adult prostate stem or progenitor cells may acquire characteristics of self-renewing primitive fetal prostate cells during oncogenesis and suggest that aberrant activation of components of prostate stem cell pathways may contribute to the development of prostate tumors. In order to identify molecules and pathways that are active in primitive prostate populations we determined the transcriptional profiles of four populations of cells: (i) fetal urogenital sinus epithelial cells, enriched in fetal prostate stem cells, (ii) Sca-1Hi, cells that express high levels of Sca-1, enriched in adult prostate stem cells, (iii) Sca-1Lo, cells that express medium to low levels of Sca-1 and are enriched in transit-amplifying cells, and (iv) Sca-1Neg, cells with no Sca expression, that represent the most mature population and have almost no in vivo regenerative potential.

Project description:The genomes of three newly isolated Dehalococcoides strains (11a, 11a5 and MB) were compared against known genomes in the Dehalococcoides genus via a microarray targeting four sequenced Dehalococcoides strains (195, CBDB1, BAV1, and VS). All three strains exhibit different dechlorination patterns, with strains 11a dechlorinating TCE to ethene, 11a5 dechlorinating TCE to VC and MB dechlorinating PCE only to isomers of DCE. Hybridization of their respective genomic DNA to the microarrays showed that the genomes of strains 11a and 11a5 show great similarity to each other and to strains CBDB1 and BAV1 of the Pinellas subgroup, while strain MB shows strong genome similarity to members of the Cornell subgroup. All genes within the respective subgroups that were not detected by microarray are within the respective high plasticity regions or integrated elements of the sequenced strains. A large number of reductive dehalogenase (RDase)-encoding genes are present within each genome, and the presence of the vcrA and tceA genes in strains 11a and 11a5 respectively, and the absence of any of the four functionally-characterized chlorinated ethene RDases (pceA, tceA, vcrA, bvcA) within strain MB appear to dictate chlorinated ethene usages regardless of the respective core genome phylogeny of the three strains. Considering the current data set together with previous comparative genomics results from application of the Dehalococcoides genus microarray to two other un-sequenced strains, the observed incongruence between the core genome phylogeny and chlorinated ethene usage of Dehalococcoides strains is likely driven by horizontal gene transfer of functional RDases. The other genomic features that are repeatedly observed in the microarray analyses of all five un-sequenced Dehalococcoides strains as well as the environmental implications on this work are presented in this study. The genomic DNA (gDNA) of each culture was analyzed in triplicate. gDNA from the two newly isolated Dehalococcoides strains 11a and 11a5 were analyzed.

Project description:The chlorinated ethene-respiring bacteria of the genus Dehalococcoides are important for bioremediation. A microarray targeting genes from all available sequenced genomes of the Dehalococcoides genus was designed with 4305 probe sets to target 98.6% of all genes from strains 195, CBDB1, BAV1, and VS. The microarrays were validated with genomic DNA (gDNA) of strains 195 and BAV1 and satisfactory analytical reproducibility, quantitative response and gene detection accuracy were obtained. These microarrays were applied to query the genomes of two recently isolated Dehalococcoides strains, ANAS1 and ANAS2. Strains ANAS1 and ANAS2 can both couple the reduction of TCE, cDCE and 1,1-DCE but not PCE and tDCE with growth while only strain ANAS2 couples VC reduction to growth. Analysis of the respective gDNA using the microarrays showed that the genomes of both strains are similar to each other and to strain 195, except for genes that are within the previously defined integrated elements (IEs) or high plasticity regions (HPRs). Similar results to the combined isolates were obtained when gDNA of ANAS, the enrichment culture from which the two Dehalococcoides isolates originated, was applied to the microarrays. The genome similarities, together with the distinct chlorinated ethene usage of strains ANAS1, ANAS2 and 195 demonstrate that closely phylogenetically related strains can be physiologically different. This incongruence between physiology and core genome phylogeny appears to be driven by the presence of distinct reductive dehalogenase (RDase)-encoding genes with characterized chlorinated ethene functions (pceA, tceA in strain 195; tceA in strain ANAS1; vcrA in strain ANAS2). Genes encoding central metabolic functions of strain 195 were all detected in strains ANAS1 and ANAS2, while interestingly, the tryptophan operon of these strains is similar to that of strain VS. Overall, the microarrays are a valuable high-throughput tool for comparative genomics of un-sequenced Dehalococcoides-containing samples. The genomic DNA (gDNA) of each culture was analyzed in triplicate. gDNA from strain 195 and strain BAV1 was used as positive control, while gDNA from Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans strain 2CP-C served as negative control in validating the microarray. gDNA from the two newly isolated strains ANAS1 and ANAS2 as well as the enrichment culture (ANAS) where the two strains originated was also analyzed.

Project description:Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), have two distinct phenotypes in the developing brain: amoeboid form, known to be amoeboid microglial cells (AMC) and ramified form, known to be ramified microglial cells (RMC) alongside several intermediate forms. The AMC are characterized by being proliferative, phagocytic and migratory whereas the RMC are quiescent and exhibit a slow turnover rate. The AMC transform into RMC with advancing age, and this transformation is indicative of the gradual shift in the microglial functions. Both AMC and RMC respond to CNS inflammation, and they become hypertrophic when they are activated by trauma, infection or neurodegenerative stimuli. The molecular mechanisms and functional significance of morphological transformation of microglia during normal development and in disease conditions is not clear. It is hypothesized that AMC and RMC are functionally regulated by a specific set of genes encoding various signaling molecules and transcription factors. To address this, we carried out cDNA microarray analysis using lectin-labeled AMC and RMC isolated from frozen tissue sections of the corpus callosum of 5-day and 4-week old rat brain respectively, by laser capture microdissection (LCM). The global gene expression profiles of both microglial phenotypes were compared and the differentially expressed genes in AMC and RMC were clustered based on their functional annotations. This genome wide comparative analysis helps in identifying genes that are specific to AMC and RMC. The novel and specific molecules identified in both microglial phenotypes can be targeted for therapeutic purposes in developing and adult brain diseases. We used microarrays to identify the genes specific to amoeboid and ramified microglia. RNA was isolated from the laser-captured amoeboid and ramified microglia from the corpus callosum of 5-day and 4-week old rat brain. The RNA was hybridised onto Affymetrix Rat 230 2.0 array.

Project description:Dominantly inherited expanded repeat neurodegenerative diseases are typically caused by the expansion of existing variable copy number tandem repeat sequences in otherwise unrelated genes. Repeats located in translated regions encode polyglutamine that is thought to be the toxic agent, however in several instances the expanded repeat is in an untranslated region, necessitating multiple pathogenic pathways or an alternative common toxic agent. As numerous clinical features are shared by several of these diseases, and expanded repeat RNA is a common intermediary, RNA has been proposed as a common pathogenic agent. Various forms of repeat RNA are toxic in animal models, by multiple distinct pathways. In Drosophila, repeat-containing double-stranded RNA (rCAG.rCUG~100) toxicity is dependent on Dicer processing evident with the presence of single-stranded rCAG7, which have been detected in affected HD brains. Microarray analysis of Drosophila rCAG.rCUG~100 repeat RNA toxicity revealed perturbation of several pathways including innate immunity. Recent reports of elevated circulating cytokines prior to clinical onset, and age-dependent increased inflammatory signaling and microglia activation in the brain, suggest that immune activation precedes neuronal toxicity. Since the Toll pathway is activated by certain forms of RNA, we assessed the role of this pathway in RNA toxicity. We find that rCAG.rCUG~100 activates Toll signaling and that RNA toxicity is dependent on this pathway. The sensitivity of RNA toxicity to autophagy further implicates innate immune activation. Expression of rCAG.rCUG~100 was therefore directed in glial cells and found to be sufficient to cause neuronal dysfunction. Non-autonomous toxicity due to expanded repeat-containing double-stranded RNA mediated activation of innate immunity is therefore proposed as a candidate pathway for this group of human genetic diseases. The heads from newly eclosed male Drosophila were used for RNA extraction and profiling on Affymetrix Drosophile Genome 2.0 microarrays. Nine samples were analysed, representing control and experimental lines. Two independent lines of rCAG.rCUG~100 double-stranded RNA were analysed in triplicate. These were compared to 4xUAS control analysed in triplicate. All transgenes were expressed using the elavII-GAL4 pan-neuronal driver. Candidates were selected from the pool of transcripts which showed a 'present' call in all samples. T-tests were performed on raw values to determine samples that showed a significant difference with a P-value < 0.05.

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