Project description:BACKGROUND: Development of the neural tube is a highly orchestrated process relying on precise, spatio-temporal expression of numerous genes as well as hierarchies of signal transduction and gene regulatory networks. Disruption of expression of a number of genes participating in these networks is believed to underlie developmental anomalies such as neural tube defects (NTDs) resulting from anomalous neural tube morphogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a large family of noncoding RNAs, have been shown to function as gene silencers, and thus, are key modulators of cell and tissue differentiation. To elucidate potential roles of miRNAs in murine neural tube development, miRNA gene expression profiling has been utilized in the current study, to garner novel and in-depth knowledge on the expression and regulation of genes encoding miRNAs as well as their potential target genes governing maturation of the mammalian neural tube. METHODS: With the aim of identifying differentially expressed miRNAs during mammalian neural tube ontogenesis, miRNA expression profiles from gestation day (GD) -8.5, -9.0 and -9.5 murine neural tube tissue were compared utilizing miRXplore™ microarrays from Miltenyi Biotech GmbH. Gene expression changes observed in microarray analysis were verified by TaqManTM quantitative Real-Time PCR. clValid R package and the UPGMA (hierarchical) clustering method were utilized for cluster analysis of the microarray data. Functional associations among selected miRNAs were examined exploiting Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. RESULTS: Expression of approximately 12% of the 609 murine miRNA genes examined was detected in murine neural tube tissues from GD -8.5, -9.0 and -9.5. Clustering analysis revealed several developmentally regulated clusters among these expressed genes. MicroRNA target analysis enabled identification of a panoply of protein-coding target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs within such clusters. Interestingly, many of these target genes have been shown to be associated with vital cellular processes such as cell proliferation, cell adhesion, cell migration, differentiation, apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, all of which are essential for normal neural tube development. Utilization of Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA; Ingenuity Systems) allowed identification of interactive biological networks connecting differentially expressed miRNAs and their target genes highlighting functional relationships. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, a unique gene expression signature of a range of miRNAs in embryonic neural tube tissue was delineated. Analysis of miRNA target genes and gene interaction pathways emphasized that expression of numerous protein-encoding genes, indispensable for normal neural tube morphogenesis, may be regulated by specific miRNAs. Time-course experiment (Developmental Stages), ICR mice embryos on gestational days (GD) 8.5, 9.0 and 9.5. Biological replicates: For each day of gestation, 3 independent pools of 15 to 20 staged embryos were used to procure embryonic orofacial tissues for preparation of 3 distinct pools of RNA that were independently processed and applied to individual miRXplore™ microRNA Microarray chips (Miltenyi Biotec GmbH). Technology: 2-color spotted cDNA, Hy5 (experimental sample) vs. Hy3 (control - miRXplore Universal Reference).

Project description:Schmitz2014 - RNA triplex formation The model is parameterized using the parameters for gene CCDC3 from Supplementary Table S1. The two miRNAs which form the triplex together with CCDC3 are miR-551b and miR-138. This model is described in the article: Cooperative gene regulation by microRNA pairs and their identification using a computational workflow. Schmitz U, Lai X, Winter F, Wolkenhauer O, Vera J, Gupta SK. Nucleic Acids Res. 2014 Jul; 42(12): 7539-7552 Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an integral part of gene regulation at the post-transcriptional level. Recently, it has been shown that pairs of miRNAs can repress the translation of a target mRNA in a cooperative manner, which leads to an enhanced effectiveness and specificity in target repression. However, it remains unclear which miRNA pairs can synergize and which genes are target of cooperative miRNA regulation. In this paper, we present a computational workflow for the prediction and analysis of cooperating miRNAs and their mutual target genes, which we refer to as RNA triplexes. The workflow integrates methods of miRNA target prediction; triplex structure analysis; molecular dynamics simulations and mathematical modeling for a reliable prediction of functional RNA triplexes and target repression efficiency. In a case study we analyzed the human genome and identified several thousand targets of cooperative gene regulation. Our results suggest that miRNA cooperativity is a frequent mechanism for an enhanced target repression by pairs of miRNAs facilitating distinctive and fine-tuned target gene expression patterns. Human RNA triplexes predicted and characterized in this study are organized in a web resource at www.sbi.uni-rostock.de/triplexrna/. This model is hosted on BioModels Database and identified by: BIOMD0000000530. To cite BioModels Database, please use: BioModels Database: An enhanced, curated and annotated resource for published quantitative kinetic models. To the extent possible under law, all copyright and related or neighbouring rights to this encoded model have been dedicated to the public domain worldwide. Please refer to CC0 Public Domain Dedication for more information.

Project description:BACKGROUND: Orofacial development is a multifaceted process involving precise, spatio-temporal expression of a panoply of genes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute the largest family of noncoding RNAs involved in gene silencing, and represent critical regulators of cell and tissue differentiation. MicroRNA gene expression profiling is an effective means of acquiring novel and valuable information regarding the expression and regulation of genes, under the control of miRNA, involved in mammalian orofacial development. RESULTS: To identify differentially expressed miRNAs during mammalian orofacial ontogenesis, miRNA expression profiles from gestation day (GD) -12, -13 and -14 murine orofacial tissue were compared utilizing miRXplore™ microarrays from Miltenyi Biotech GmbH. TaqManTM quantitative Real-Time PCR was utilized for validation of gene expression changes. Cluster analysis of the microarray data was conducted with the clValid R package and the UPGMA (hierarchical) clustering method. Functional relationships between selected miRNAs were investigated using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Expression of over 26% of the approximately 588 murine miRNA genes examined was detected in murine orofacial tissues from GD 12, 13 and 14. Among these expressed genes several clusters were seen to be developmentally regulated. Differential expression of genes encoding miRNAs within such clusters were shown to target genes encoding proteins involved in cell proliferation, cell adhesion, differentiation, apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, all processes critical for normal orofacial development. Functional relationships between miRNAs differentially expressed were investigated using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA; Ingenuity Systems). CONCLUSIONS: Using miRNA microarray technology, unique gene expression signatures of hundreds of miRNAs in embryonic orofacial tissue were defined. Gene targeting and functional analysis revealed that the expression of numerous protein-encoding genes, crucial to normal orofacial ontogeny, may be regulated by specific miRNAs.

Project description:BACKGROUND: Orofacial development is a multifaceted process involving precise, spatio-temporal expression of a panoply of genes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute the largest family of noncoding RNAs involved in gene silencing, and represent critical regulators of cell and tissue differentiation. MicroRNA gene expression profiling is an effective means of acquiring novel and valuable information regarding the expression and regulation of genes, under the control of miRNA, involved in mammalian orofacial development. RESULTS: To identify differentially expressed miRNAs during mammalian orofacial ontogenesis, miRNA expression profiles from gestation day (GD) -12, -13 and -14 murine orofacial tissue were compared utilizing miRXplore™ microarrays from Miltenyi Biotech GmbH. TaqManTM quantitative Real-Time PCR was utilized for validation of gene expression changes. Cluster analysis of the microarray data was conducted with the clValid R package and the UPGMA (hierarchical) clustering method. Functional relationships between selected miRNAs were investigated using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Expression of over 26% of the approximately 588 murine miRNA genes examined was detected in murine orofacial tissues from GD 12, 13 and 14. Among these expressed genes several clusters were seen to be developmentally regulated. Differential expression of genes encoding miRNAs within such clusters were shown to target genes encoding proteins involved in cell proliferation, cell adhesion, differentiation, apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, all processes critical for normal orofacial development. Functional relationships between miRNAs differentially expressed were investigated using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA; Ingenuity Systems). CONCLUSIONS: Using miRNA microarray technology, unique gene expression signatures of hundreds of miRNAs in embryonic orofacial tissue were defined. Gene targeting and functional analysis revealed that the expression of numerous protein-encoding genes, crucial to normal orofacial ontogeny, may be regulated by specific miRNAs. Time-course experiment (Developmental Stages), ICR mice embryos on gestational days (GD) 12, 13 and 14. Biological replicates: For each day of gestation, 3 independent pools of 15 to 20 staged embryos were used to procure embryonic orofacial tissues for preparation of 3 distinct pools of RNA that were independently processed and applied to individual miRXplore™ microRNA Microarray chips (Miltenyi Biotec GmbH). Technology: 2-color spotted cDNA, Hy5 (experimental sample) vs. Hy3 (control - miRXplore Universal Reference).

Project description:Studying chemical disturbances during neural differentiation of mES cells has been established as an alternative in vitro testing approach for the identification of developmental toxicants. miRNAs represent a class of small regulatory RNA molecules, which bind to target mRNAs thereby repressing their translation. Many studies have shown an essential role of miRNAs in regulation of gene expression during development and ESC differentiation. Thus, neural differentiation of ESC in vitro allows investigating the role of miRNAs in chemical-mediated developmental toxicity. We analyzed the expression of miRNAs and transcriptomics changes during neural differentiation of mESC exposed to the developmental neurotoxicant sodium valproate (VPA). A total of 110 miRNAs and 377 mRNAs were identified differently expressed in neural differentiating mES cells under VPA treatment (300ÂµM) compared to solvent control on day 16 of differentiation. Analysis of miRNA expression revealed that valproate switches the lineage specification from neural to myogenic differentiation (upregulation of muscle-enriched miRNAs mir-206, mir-133a and mir-10a and downregulation of neuro-specific miRNAs mir-124a, mir-128 and mir-137). The findings on the miRNA level could be confirmed on mRNA level (induction of expression of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) as well as muscle specific genes (Actc1, calponin, myosin light chain, asporin, decorin) and repression of genes involved in neurogenesis (Otx1 and 2, Zic3, 4, 5)) as well as morphologically by immunocytochemistry. The observed results were VPA specific and most probably due to inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity of VPA for two reasons: (i) we did not observe any induction of muscle specific miRNAs in neural differentiating ES cells exposed to the unrelated developmental neurotoxicant sodium arsenite; (ii) expression of muscle specific mir-206 and muscle enriched mir-10a was similarly increased in cells exposed to a structurally different HDAC inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA). Furthermore, using our in vitro cell system we could confirm an aberrant expression of known VPA target genes and genes involved in neural tube closure. We conclude that miRNA expression profiling is a suitable molecular endpoint for developmental neurotoxicity. Observed lineage shift into myogenesis, where miRNAs play a significant role, could be a major developmental neurotoxical mechanism of VPA. We used microarray approach to identify altered miRNA expression in neural differentiated mES cells exposed to two known developmental neurotxicants and epigenetic active substances, sodium valproate (VPA) and sodium arsenite (As) mES cells line W4 were induced to differnetiate into neurons under exposure to VPA for 16 days. RNA for microarrays was collected on day 16 of differentiation from three biological replicates of solvent control (PBS) and VPA treated cells.

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DEVELOPMENTAL MicroRNA EXPRESSION PROFILING OF MURINE NEURAL TUBE

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