Project description:We used AAV to overexpress ATF4 in murine cardiomyocytes in vivo and perfomred bioChIP-Seq to profile the chromatin occupancy of the exogenous protein
Project description:Identification of genes and functions regulated by DDIT3/GADD153/CHOP by transcriptional profiling of cell lines expressing high levels of tamoxifen induced DDIT3.
Project description:Here, we characterize the transcriptome of the mouse embryonic stem cell line CM7-1 during differentiation into beating cardiomyocytes and compared the gene expression profiles with those from primary adult murine cardiomyocytes and left ventricular myocardium.
Project description:Myxoid liposarcoma (MLS) represents a common subtype of liposarcoma molecularly characterized by a recurrent chromosomal translocation that generates a chimeric FUS DDIT3 fusion gene. The FUS-DDIT3 oncoprotein has been shown to be crucial in MLS pathogenesis. Acting as a transcriptional dysregulator, FUS-DDIT3 stimulates proliferation and interferes with adipogenic differentiation. As the fusion protein represents a therapeutically challenging target, a profound understanding of MLS biology is elementary to uncover FUS DDIT3-dependent molecular vulnerabilities. Recently, a specific reliance on the Hippo pathway effector and transcriptional co-regulator YAP1 was detected in MLS; however, details on the molecular mechanism of FUS-DDIT3-dependent YAP1 activation, and YAP1's precise mode of action remain unclear. In elaborate in vitro studies, employing RNA interference-based approaches, small-molecule inhibitors, and stimulation experiments with IGF-II, we show that FUS-DDIT3-driven IGF-IR/PI3K/AKT signaling promotes stability and nuclear accumulation of YAP1 via deregulation of the Hippo pathway. Co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays revealed nuclear co localization of FUS-DDIT3 and YAP1/TEAD in FUS-DDIT3-expressing mesenchymal stem cells and MLS cell lines. Transcriptome sequencing of MLS cells demonstrated that FUS DDIT3 and YAP1 co-regulate oncogenic gene signatures related to proliferation, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and adipogenesis. In adipogenic differentiation assays, we show that YAP1 critically contributes to FUS-DDIT3-mediated adipogenic differentiation arrest. Taken together, our study provides mechanistic insights into a complex FUS-DDIT3-driven network involving IGF-IR/PI3K/AKT signals acting on Hippo/YAP1, and uncovers substantial cooperative effects of YAP1 and FUS-DDIT3 in the pathogenesis of MLS.
Project description:For additional details see Ebert et al, Identification and Small Molecule Inhibition of an ATF4-dependent Pathway to Age-related Skeletal Muscle Weakness and Atrophy. Quadriceps femoris muscles were harvested from 22-month-old muscle-specfic ATF4 knockout (ATF4 mKO) mice and littermate controls. mRNA levels in ATF4 mKO muscles were normalized to levels in littermate control muscles.