Project description:Long noncoding RNA sequences evolve relatively rapidly, but it is unclear whether this is due to relaxed constraint or accelerated evolution. Here, we trace the recent evolutionary history of human lncRNAs, using genomes of multiple individuals from all great ape species to map fixed lineage-specific nucleotide variants. We find that the lower conservation of lncRNAs compared to protein coding genes partially arises from lncRNA’s more recent evolutionary origin. We identify more than one hundred lncRNAs that show some evidence of accelerated evolution in at least one primate species, including 17 in human. Several of these display transcriptional regulatory activity in an RNA-specific reporter assay. By experimentally reconstructing the ancestral lncRNA sequence, we find that this activity has been altered by human-specific nucleotide substitutions. Functional analysis of accelerated lncRNAs with specific expression in blood suggests lncRNAs have participated in adaptive regulatory changes in the immune system during recent human evolution. Together our results provide evidence that accelerated evolution of lncRNAs may have contributed, through regulatory changes, to human-specific phenotypes.
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes
Project description:We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3’ and/or 5’ end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5’ differences and in support of this we report that a 5’ isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5’ isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes Sequence library of miRNAs from a single sample of human foetal mesenchymal stem cells. Results tested and confirmed by northern blotting. Please note that only raw data files are available for the embryonic and neual samples and thus, directly submitted to SRA (SRX547311, SRX548700, respectively under SRP042115/PRJNA247767)
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression.
Project description:Gene methylation profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells comparing HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs cells with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)- and HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs. hTERT may increase gene methylation in MSCs. Goal was to determine the effects of different transfected genes on global gene methylation in MSCs.
Project description:ATAC-seq samples from 2 species and 2 cell types were generated to study cis-regulatory element evolution. Briefly, previously generated urinary stem cell derived iPS-cells (Homo sapiens) of 2 human individuals and fibroblast derived cynomolgus macaque iPSCs (Macaca fascicularis) of 2 individuals (Geuder et al. 2021) were differentiated to neural progenitor cells via dual-SMAD inhibition as three-dimensional aggregation culture (Chambers et al. 2009; Ohnuki et al. 2014). The NPC lines were cultured in NPC proliferation medium and passaged 2 - 4 times until they were dissociated and subjected to ATAC-seq together with the respective iPSC clones. ATAC-seq libraries were generated using the Omni-ATAC protocol (Corces et al. 2017) with minor modifications.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs. One-condition experment, gene expression of 3A6