Identification of PHLPP1 as a tumor suppressor reveals the role of feedback compensation in PTEN-mutant prostate cancer progression
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Hyper-activation of the PI 3-Kinase/ AKT pathway is a driving force of many cancers. Here we identify the AKT-inactivating phosphatase PHLPP1 as a prostate tumor suppressor. We show that Phlpp1-loss causes neoplasia and, upon partial Pten-loss, carcinoma in mouse prostate. This genetic setting initially triggers a growth suppressive response via p53 and the Phlpp2 ortholog, and reveals spontaneous Trp53 inactivation as a condition for full-blown disease. Surprisingly, the co-deletion of PTEN and PHLPP1 in patient samples is highly restricted to metastatic disease and tightly correlated to deletion of TP53 and PHLPP2. These data establish a conceptual framework for progression of PTEN-mutant prostate cancer to life-threatening disease. To better assess the role of Phlpp in prostate we performed micorarray analysis of gene expression in the WT and Pten+/-; Phlpp1-/- mice.
Project description:Ribosomes are emerging as direct regulators of gene expression, with ribosome-associated proteins (RAPs) allowing ribosomes to modulate translation. Nevertheless, a lack of technologies to enrich RAPs across sample types has prevented systematic analysis of RAP identities, dynamics, and functions. We have developed a label-free methodology called RAPIDASH to enrich ribosomes and RAPs from any sample. We applied RAPIDASH to mouse embryonic tissues and identified hundreds of potential RAPs, including DHX30 and LLPH, two forebrain RAPs important for neurodevelopment. We identified a critical role of LLPH in neural development linked to the translation of genes with long coding sequences. In addition, we showed RAPIDASH can identify ribosome changes in cancer cells. Finally, we characterized ribosome composition remodeling during immune cell activation and observed extensive changes post-stimulation. RAPIDASH has therefore enabled the discovery of RAPs in multiple cell types, tissues, and stimuli and is adaptable to characterize ribosome remodeling in several contexts.This dataset refers to label-free identification of RAPs enriched by RAPIDASH from L36-FLAG and S17-FLAG mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). This dataset is used for comparison with Ribo-FLAG IP and elaborated in Figures 1G-H.
Project description:Melanoma is an invasive malignancy with a high frequency of blood-borne metastases, but circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have not been readily isolated. We adapted microfluidic CTC capture to a tamoxifen-driven B-RAF/PTEN mouse melanoma model. CTCs were detected in all tumor-bearing mice, rapidly declining after B-RAF inhibitor treatment. CTCs were shed early from localized tumors and a short course of B-RAF inhibition following surgical resection was sufficient to dramatically suppress distant metastases. The large number of CTCs in melanoma-bearing mice enabled comparison of RNA sequencing profiles with the matched primary tumor. A mouse melanoma CTC-derived signature correlated with invasiveness and cellular motility in human melanoma. In patients with metastatic melanoma, CTCs were detected in smaller numbers in patients with metastatic melanoma and declined with successful B-RAF targeted therapy. Together, the capture of CTCs and their molecular characterization provide insight into the hematogenous spread of melanoma. We adapted a microfluidic platform, the HbCTC-Chip (Stott et al., 2010, Pubmed ID: 20930119), to capture melanoma CTCs derived from mouse tumors, using panels of antibodies against melanoma-specific cell surface markers, followed by staining for melanoma antigens and optimized on-chip fluorescent imaging. We used a tamoxifen inducible BRAF(CA/+)/PTEN(flox/flox) melanoma mouse model (Dankort et al., 2009, Pubmed ID: 19282848) derived from a C57BL/6 background. Such mice received focal subcutaneous injection of tamoxifen (Sigma) (50ul at 5mg/ml in 50% EtOH suspension) at the left flank at 6-7 weeks after birth. Blood samples were collected from five mice with high tumor burden following tamoxifen injection. Blood from each mouse was split and processed through the CTC-chips functionalized with anti-CSPG4/MCAM antibody and control IgGs, respectively. Matched primary (from the tamoxifen injection site) and metastatic (from upper or lower back) tumors were harvested from the same mouse and immediately flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen. RNA extraction, single molecular sequencing and determination of Digital Gene Expression was as in Yu et al., 2012 (Pubmed ID: 22763454). One of the five mice yielded no CTC or IgG data. In addition, skin was taken from a sixth mouse, which was a complete wild type C57BL/6 mouse (without the BRAF/PTEN transgenes).The skin was taken after euthanasia of the animal and was processed as the tissue from the matched primary and metastatic tumors.
Project description:The gas-1(fc21) mutation affects the 49 kD subunit of complex I, decreasing the rate of complex I-dependent oxidative phosphorylation. This is a model for human mitochondrial respiratory chain disease. NAD+ and PPAR-modifying drugs may confer benefits with respect to lifespan in these short-lived mutant worms. Analysis of gas-1(fc21) electron transport chain complex I mutants treated either starting in development or in young adulthood only with nicotinic acid (1 mM), resveratrol (50 microM), rosiglitazone (5 mM) or fenofibrate (14 microM) is presented. The goal is to detect transcriptional changes in clusters of genes using gene set enrichment analysis to explain treament effects in these mutant worms. Four biological replicates were performed for each treatment condition (nicotinic acid, resveratrol, rosiglitazone, and fenofibrate) for each drug beginning either in development or in young adulthood for gas-1 mutant worms, i.e., 8 treated samples in total. At most one outlier was excluded from each analysis. Untreated N2 and gas-1 in each of the control solvents (S-basal, for nicotinic acid, and 1% DMSO, for resveratrol, rosiglitazone, and fenofibrate) were also analyzed; at least 3 replicates of each were included. These were used as sources of total RNA, each for hybridization to a single Affymetrix whole-genome microarray. Analysis was performed to reveal transcriptional changes related to mutantion and/or drug treatment effects.
Project description:LUHMES cells share many characteritics with human dopamingeric neurons in the substantia nigra, the cells whose demise is responsible for the motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD). LUHMES cells can therefore be used bona fide as a model to study pathophysiological processes involved in PD. Previously, we showed that LUHMES cell degenerate after six days upon overexpression of wild type alpha-synuclein. In the present study we performed a transcriptome and proteome expression analysis in alpha-synuclein-overexpressing cells and GFP-expressing control cells in order to identify genes and proteins that are differentially regulated upon overexpression of alpha-synuclein. The analysis was performed four days after the initiation of alpha-synuclein or GFP overexpression, before the cells died in order to identify processes that preceded cell death.
Project description:Our aim was to investigate gene expression changes over time in liver of ApOE3*Leiden mice on a high-fat diet. Probesets were remapped and annotated into Entrez gene-ids using the custom MBNI CDF-file, version 9.0.1 - the GCRMA data generated
Project description:Thirteen HER2 positive breast cancer cell lines were screened with 22 commercially available compounds, mainly targeting proteins in the ErbB2 signaling pathway, and the molecular mechanisms related to treatment response were sought. To search for response predictors, genomic and transcriptomic profiling, PIK3CA mutations and PTEN status were associated to the drug responses and several genes involved in the response of the compounds were identified. RNA from thirteen HER2 positive breast cancer cell lines was isolated and hybridized on Affymetrix arrays.
Project description:Down syndrome is characterized by a complex phenotype that includes developmental disabilities and congenital anomalies. The molecular origin of these abnormalities is poorly understood. The objective of this study is to analyze whole transcriptome changes in the cortex and hippocampus of the Ts1Cje mouse model of Down syndrome to identify signaling pathways and cellular processes that are consistently perturbed in both brain regions. These pathways will offer a new opportunity for therapeutic interventions to improve cognition in Down syndrome. We refined the translocation breakpoints of MMU12 and MMU16 described previously and established the brain transcriptional map for both monosomic (MMU12) and trisomic (MMU16) regions in Ts1Cje mice. We showed that the hippocampus have more differentially regulated genes, however, the directions of regulation of these genes were generally similar in both brain regions. The secondary genome-wide effect implicated genes known to play major roles in cellular functions that are affected in Down syndrome. Functional analyses highlighted the importance of NFAT signaling, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, hormone metabolism and olfactory perception via G-protein signaling. This study offers novel targets for therapeutic intervention in Down syndrome. We analyzed the cerebral cortex and hippocampus whole transcriptome from 8-10 weeks old Ts1Cje (n=6) and wild-type (n=5) using Affymetrix mouse gene 1.0 ST array. Data were normalized and analyzed to identify and accurately map genes that are significantly differentially expressed. Functional analyses were performed using GSEA and DAVID to better characterize cellular processes and pathways that are consistently affected in both brain regions.
Project description:In this paper we demonstrated the potential to flag toxicity issues by utilizing data from exploratory experiments which are typically generated for target evaluation purposes during early drug discovery During drug discovery and development, the early identification of adverse effects is expected to reduce costly late stage failures of candidate drugs. As risk/safety assessment takes place rather late during the development process and due to the limited predictivity of animal models to the human situation, modern unbiased high-dimensional biology read-outs are sought, such as molecular signatures of in vivo response using high-throughput cell-based assays. In this theoretical proof-of-concept we provide findings of an in-depth exploration of a single chemical core structure. Via transcriptional profiling we identified a subset of close analogs which commonly down-regulate tubulin genes across cellular contexts, suggesting possible spindle poison effects. Confirmation via a qualified toxicity assay (in vitro micronucleus test) and the identification of a characteristic aggregate-formation phenotype via exploratory high content imaging validated the inititial findings. SAR analysis triggered the synthesis of a new set of compounds and allowed us to extend the series showing the genotoxic effect. We demonstrate the potential to flag toxicity issues by utilizing data from exploratory experiments which are typically generated for target evaluation purposes during early drug discovery. We share our thoughts on how this approach may be incorporated into drug development strategies. Cells were cultured using standard protocols, seeded in 96 well plate, cultured for 8 hours before treatment with a number of inhouse synthesized compounds. The treatments represent different chemical structures/small molecules that have been synthesized in the context of developing a new drug targeting PDE10A.
Project description:In this paper we demonstrated the potential to flag toxicity issues by utilizing data from exploratory experiments which are typically generated for target evaluation purposes during early drug discovery During drug discovery and development, the early identification of adverse effects is expected to reduce costly late stage failures of candidate drugs. As risk/safety assessment takes place rather late during the development process and due to the limited predictivity of animal models to the human situation, modern unbiased high-dimensional biology read-outs are sought, such as molecular signatures of in vivo response using high-throughput cell-based assays. In this theoretical proof-of-concept we provide findings of an in-depth exploration of a single chemical core structure. Via transcriptional profiling we identified a subset of close analogs which commonly down-regulate tubulin genes across cellular contexts, suggesting possible spindle poison effects. Confirmation via a qualified toxicity assay (in vitro micronucleus test) and the identification of a characteristic aggregate-formation phenotype via exploratory high content imaging validated the inititial findings. SAR analysis triggered the synthesis of a new set of compounds and allowed us to extend the series showing the genotoxic effect. We demonstrate the potential to flag toxicity issues by utilizing data from exploratory experiments which are typically generated for target evaluation purposes during early drug discovery. We share our thoughts on how this approach may be incorporated into drug development strategies. Cells were cultured using standard protocols, seeded in 96 well plate, cultured for 8 hours before treatment with a number of inhouse synthesized compounds. The treatments represent different chemical structures/small molecules that have been synthesized in the context of developing a new drug targeting PDE10A.