Project description:Phenotypic plasticity, the ability to switch between different morphological types, plays critical roles in environmental adaptation, leading to infections, and allowing for sexual reproduction in pathogenic Candida species. Candida tropicalis, which is both an emerging human fungal pathogen and an environmental fungus, can switch between two heritable cell types termed white and opaque. In this study, we report the discovery of a novel phenotype in C. tropicalis, named the gray phenotype. Similar to Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis, white, gray, and opaque cell types of C. tropicalis also form a tristable switching system, where gray cells are relatively small and elongated. In C. tropicalis, gray cells exhibit intermediate levels of mating competency and virulence in a mouse systemic infection model compared to the white and opaque cell types, express a set of cell type-enriched genes, and exhibit both common and species-specific biological features. The key regulators of white-opaque transitions, Wor1 and Efg1, are not required for the gray phenotype. A comparative study of the gray phenotypes in C. tropicalis, C. albicans, and C. dubliniensis provides clues to explain the species differences in terms of virulence, ecological niches, and prevalence among these three species.

2017-01-30 | GSE81514 | GEO

FOX transcription factors are common regulators of Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Project description:The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is a critical regulator of development and stem cell maintenance. Mounting evidence suggests that the context-specific outcome of Wnt signaling is determined by the collaborative action of multiple transcription factors, including members of the highly conserved forkhead box (FOX) protein family. The contribution of FOX transcription factors to Wnt signaling has not been investigated in a systemic manner. Here, by combining β-catenin reporter assays with Wnt pathway-focused qPCR arrays and proximity proteomics of selected FOX family members, we determine that most FOX proteins are involved in the regulation of Wnt pathway activity and the expression of Wnt ligands and target genes. We conclude that FOX proteins are common regulators of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway that may control the outcome of Wnt signaling in a tissue-specific manner.

2023-04-19 | PXD038811 | Pride

Polar Fox Lagoon sediment

Project description:Polar Fox Lagoon sediment Metagenome

| PRJNA821074 | ENA

Gray but not white matter astroglia-specific connexin 43 ablation ameliorates neuroinflammation [Affymetrix]

Project description:Objective: We previously reported that white matter connexin43 (Cx43) may related to the severity of the multiple sclerosis (MS), whereas the role of gray matter Cx43 in demyelinating disease is unknown. It was considered MS lesions were only exist in white matter, but recent studies revealed that demyelinating lesions are also exist in the cerebral cortex. This fact suggest the possibility that gray matter is somewhat related to the pathophysiology of MS. In this study, we aimed to clarify the role of gray matter Cx43 in a mouse model of MS (experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis [EAE]). Methods: We developed Cx43F/F;Glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST)-CreER(T2)KI/+ mice as gray matter specific Cx43 conditional knock-out (Cx43cKO) mice. We induced MOG-EAE 10 days after tamoxifen injection, and analyze its clinical course and pathology. We used Cx43F/F mice as controls. Results: EAE was significantly milder in gray matter astrocyte-specific Cx43cKO mice from acute phase to chronic phase, as compared with control mice. Pathology demonstrated less demyelinating lesions and infiltrating cells. Infiltrating immune cells did not express Cx43 in the active demyelinating lesions of the lumbar cord in both groups. The expression level of Cx43 was similar between these two groups in the spleen and the inguinal lymph nodes. Interpretation: Acute KO of gray matter specific Cx43 before induction of EAE reduce its aggressiveness. This finding may suggest the possibility that gray matter Cx43 modify the MS pathophysiology.

2021-04-20 | GSE148931 | GEO

Gray but not white matter astroglia-specific connexin 43 ablation ameliorates neuroinflammation [Agilent]

2021-04-20 | GSE148929 | GEO