Project description:Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) protein is a central kinase that regulates numerous cellular functions, including cellular polarity, motility, proliferation and apoptosis. Here, we demonstrate that ROCK has antiviral properties and inhibition of its activity results in enhanced propagation of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). We show that during HCMV infection ROCK1 translocates to the nucleus and concentrates in the nucleolus were it co-localizes with the stress related chaperone, heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein (Hsc70) . Gene expression measurements showed that inhibition of ROCK activity does not affect the cellular stress response. We further demonstrate that inhibition of myosin, one of the central targets of ROCK, also increases HCMV propagation, implying that the anti-viral activity of ROCK might be mediated by activation of the actomyosin network. Finally, we demonstrate that inhibition of ROCK results in increased levels of the tegument protein UL32 and of viral DNA in the cytoplasm, suggesting ROCK activity hinders the efficient egress of HCMV particles out of the nucleus. Altogether our findings illustrate ROCK activity restricts HCMV propagation and suggest this inhibitory effect may be mediated by suppression of capsid egress out of the nucleus.
Project description:Liver-specific deletion of ROCK1 leads to a significant decrease in gene expression of key molecules invovled in lipid systhesis. The study was designed to determine whether hepatic ROCK1 plays a role in the regulation of fatty acid synthesis
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human hepatoellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line: MHCC-97H comparing control untreated MHCC-97H cells with MHCC-97H cells overexpressed ROCK1 protein. Goal was to determine the effect of ROCK1 on global MHCC-97H cell mRNA and lncRNA expression. Transcriptional profiling of human hepatoellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line: MHCC-97H comparing control untreated MHCC-97H cells with MHCC-97H cells overexpressed ROCK2 protein. Goal was to determine the effect of ROCK2 on global MHCC-97H cell mRNA and lncRNA expression. Transcriptional profiling of human hepatoellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line: MHCC-97H comparing MHCC-97H cells overexpressed ROCK1 with MHCC-97H cells overexpressed ROCK2 protein. Goal was to determine the distinction of ROCK1 & 2 on global MHCC-97H cell mRNA and lncRNA expression.
Project description:Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) and zipper-interacting protein kinase (ZIPK) have been implicated in diverse physiological functions, including smooth muscle contraction, cell proliferation, cell adhesion, apoptosis, cell migration and inflammation. Many aspects of regulation via ROCK and ZIPK, however, remain unclear. In this study, we utilized an siRNA approach to knock down ROCK1 and ZIPK in cultured human arterial smooth muscle cells. Microarray analysis was performed, using a whole-transcript expression chip, to identify changes in gene expression profiles induced by ROCK1 and ZIPK knockdown. ROCK1 knockdown affected the expression of 553 genes (355 down-regulated and 198 up-regulated), while ZIPK knockdown affected the expression of 390 genes (219 down-regulated and 171 up-regulated). A high incidence of up- and down-regulation of transcription regulator genes was observed in both ROCK1 and ZIPK knockdowns. Other markedly affected groups included transporters, kinases, peptidases, transmembrane and G protein-coupled receptors, growth factors, phosphatases and ion channels. Three microRNAs (mir-145, mir-199 and mir-622) were up-regulated by ROCK1 knockdown, whereas ZIPK knockdown had no effect on microRNA expression. 76 differentially expressed genes were common to ROCK1 and ZIPK knockdown, of which 41 were down-regulated and 26 up-regulated by both treatments, while the other 9 genes were differentially up/down-regulated. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis identified five pathways shared between the two knockdowns, which are mainly involved in cell cycle regulation. Marked differences in the effects of ROCK1 and ZIPK knockdown on the genes involved in cell cycle regulation suggested that ROCK1 and ZIPK regulate the cell cycle by different mechanisms. ROCK1, but not ZIPK knockdown significantly reduced the viability of vascular SMC. ROCK1 knockdown also affected several cytokine signaling pathways with up-regulation of 5 and down-regulation of 4 cytokine genes, in contrast to ZIPK knockdown, which affected the expression of only two cytokine genes (both down-regulated). IL-6 gene expression and secretion of IL-6 protein were up-regulated by ROCK1 knockdown, whereas ZIPK knockdown reduced IL-6 mRNA expression and IL-6 protein secretion and ROCK1 protein expression, suggesting that ROCK1 may inhibit IL-6 secretion. IL-1β mRNA and protein levels were increased in response to ROCK1 knockdown. Finally, ROCK1 but not ZIPK knockdown inhibited proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. We conclude that ROCK1 and ZIPK have diverse, but predominantly distinct regulatory functions in vascular smooth muscle cells.
Project description:Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) and zipper-interacting protein kinase (ZIPK) have been implicated in diverse physiological functions, including smooth muscle contraction, cell proliferation, cell adhesion, apoptosis, cell migration and inflammation. Many aspects of regulation via ROCK and ZIPK, however, remain unclear. In this study, we utilized an siRNA approach to knock down ROCK1 and ZIPK in cultured human arterial smooth muscle cells. Microarray analysis was performed, using a whole-transcript expression chip, to identify changes in gene expression profiles induced by ROCK1 and ZIPK knockdown. ROCK1 knockdown affected the expression of 553 genes (355 down-regulated and 198 up-regulated), while ZIPK knockdown affected the expression of 390 genes (219 down-regulated and 171 up-regulated). A high incidence of up- and down-regulation of transcription regulator genes was observed in both ROCK1 and ZIPK knockdowns. Other markedly affected groups included transporters, kinases, peptidases, transmembrane and G protein-coupled receptors, growth factors, phosphatases and ion channels. Three microRNAs (mir-145, mir-199 and mir-622) were up-regulated by ROCK1 knockdown, whereas ZIPK knockdown had no effect on microRNA expression. 76 differentially expressed genes were common to ROCK1 and ZIPK knockdown, of which 41 were down-regulated and 26 up-regulated by both treatments, while the other 9 genes were differentially up/down-regulated. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis identified five pathways shared between the two knockdowns, which are mainly involved in cell cycle regulation. Marked differences in the effects of ROCK1 and ZIPK knockdown on the genes involved in cell cycle regulation suggested that ROCK1 and ZIPK regulate the cell cycle by different mechanisms. ROCK1, but not ZIPK knockdown significantly reduced the viability of vascular SMC. ROCK1 knockdown also affected several cytokine signaling pathways with up-regulation of 5 and down-regulation of 4 cytokine genes, in contrast to ZIPK knockdown, which affected the expression of only two cytokine genes (both down-regulated). IL-6 gene expression and secretion of IL-6 protein were up-regulated by ROCK1 knockdown, whereas ZIPK knockdown reduced IL-6 mRNA expression and IL-6 protein secretion and ROCK1 protein expression, suggesting that ROCK1 may inhibit IL-6 secretion. IL-1β mRNA and protein levels were increased in response to ROCK1 knockdown. Finally, ROCK1 but not ZIPK knockdown inhibited proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. We conclude that ROCK1 and ZIPK have diverse, but predominantly distinct regulatory functions in vascular smooth muscle cells. Human coronary artery smooth muscle cells were transfected with siRNA targeting ROCK1 or ZIPK or with negative control siRNA that does not target any gene product. 48 h later, total RNA was isolated, reverse transcribed, amplified, labeled with the Ambion WT Express kit and hybridized to Human Gene 1.0 ST arrays (Affymetrix) at 45 oC for 16 h. The probe arrays were washed and stained on an Affymetrix GeneChip Fluidics-450 and scanned on an Affymetrix GeneChip Scanner 3000 7G System. Triplicates were prepared under all three conditions for microarray analysis.
Project description:Cytoplasmic long non coding RNAs have been shown to act at many different levels to control post-transcriptional gene expression; though their role in translational control is still poorly understood. Here we show that lnc-31 is a translational activator of Rock1, a negative regulator of myogenesis which prevents the exit of myoblasts from the cell cycle. This activity well correlates with the described role of lnc-31 in supporting myoblast proliferation. We show that lnc-31 binds the translational regulator YB-1 and targets the Rock1 mRNA by direct base pair interaction. We present evidences that lnc-31 stabilizes YB-1 on the Rock1 mRNA; this effect would in turn allow the YB-1-dependent remodelling of the Rock1 5’UTR and the promotion of its translation.
Project description:Cell migration driven by actomyosin filament assembly is a critical step in tumour invasion and metastasis. Herein, we report identification of myosin binding protein H (MYBPH) as a transcriptional target of NKX2-1 (also known as TTF-1 and TITF1), a lineage-survival oncogene in lung adenocarcinoma. MYBPH inhibits assembly competence-conferring phosphorylation of the myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) as well as activating phosphorylation of LIM domain kinase (LIMK). These are unexpectedly implemented through direct physical interaction of MYBPH with Rho kinase 1 (ROCK1) rather than with RLC. In addition, MYBPH is shown to directly bind with non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (NMHC IIA), resulting in inhibition of NMHC IIA assembly. Thus, MYBPH plays multi-facetted roles in negative regulation of actomyosin organization, which in turn reduces cell motility, invasion, and metastasis. Finally, we also show that MYBPH is epigenetically inactivated by promoter DNA methylation in a fraction of lung adenocarcinomas abundantly expressing NKX2-1, which appears to be in accordance with its deleterious function for lung adenocarcinoma invasion and metastasis, as well as with the paradoxical association of NKX2-1 expression with favourable prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Dye-swap experiment, vector control vs. transiently transfectanted with TTF-1 in HPL1D, immortalized human peripheral lung epithelial cell line.
Project description:During its long infection cycle, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) extensively manipulates cellular gene expression to maintain conditions favorable for viral propagation. In order to reveal the signature of cellular genes that are manipulated by HCMV, we measured RNA abundance and rate of protein production through the course of HCMV infection. We characterized changes for most expressed cellular genes and although much of the regulation was transcriptional we uncover diverse and dynamic translational regulation for subsets of host genes, revealing unappreciated coordination in translational control that suggests common regulators Ribosome profiling and mRNA-seq along HCMV infection