Project description:GLI1 is a transcription factor correlated to decreased survival in several cancers. We have identified SMARCA2 as a co-regulator that enhances GLI1-mediated transcriptional activity and functions through the C-terminal transcriptional activation domain of GLI1. Central domains including the ATPase motif of SMARCA2 physically interact with GLI1. Evaluation of DNA density indicates GLI1, like SMARCA2, can increase the DNA accessibility with a preference for sites distal to gene transcription start sites and outside the promoter regions (i.e. enhancers). The putative enhancers where accessibility is decreased by the knock down of GLI1 and SMARCA2 are located cis to genes, such as HHIP, that are regulated by GLI1 and implicated in cancer functions. At the putative enhancer for HHIP, the localization of SMARCA2 is at least partially dependent on GLI1’s presence. Understanding this transcriptional regulation by GLI1 and SMARCA2 through altering chromatin accessibility at enhances can provide additional therapeutic targets for cancers dependent on GLI1.
Project description:GLI1 is a transcription factor correlated to decreased survival in several cancers. We have identified SMARCA2 as a co-regulator that enhances GLI1-mediated transcriptional activity and functions through the C-terminal transcriptional activation domain of GLI1. Central domains including the ATPase motif of SMARCA2 physically interact with GLI1. Evaluation of DNA density indicates GLI1, like SMARCA2, can increase the DNA accessibility with a preference for sites distal to gene transcription start sites and outside the promoter regions (i.e. enhancers). The putative enhancers where accessibility is decreased by the knock down of GLI1 and SMARCA2 are located cis to genes, such as HHIP, that are regulated by GLI1 and implicated in cancer functions. At the putative enhancer for HHIP, the localization of SMARCA2 is at least partially dependent on GLI1’s presence. Understanding this transcriptional regulation by GLI1 and SMARCA2 through altering chromatin accessibility at enhances can provide additional therapeutic targets for cancers dependent on GLI1.
Project description:Transcriptome analysis was conducted on vorinostat resistant HCT116 cells (HCT116-VR) upon knockdown of potential vorinostat resistance candidate genes in the presence and absence of vorinostat. Potential vorinostat resistance candidate genes chosen for this study were GLI1 and PSMD13, which were identified through a genome-wide synthetic lethal RNA interference screen. To understand the transcriptional events underpinning the effect of GLI1 and PSMD13 knockdown (sensitisation to vorinostat-induced apoptosis), cells were first subjected to gene knockdown, then to treatment with vorinsotat or the solvent control. Two timepoints for drug treatment were assessed: a timepoint before induction of apoptosis (4hrs for siGLI1 and 8hrs for siPSMD13) and a timepoint when apoptosis could be detected (8hrs for siGLI1 and 12hrs for siPSMD13). There are 42 samples in total, from triplicate independent biological experiments of 14 samples each.
Project description:Increased expression of GLI1 is associated with poor prognosis for some breast cancer subtypes. A conditional transgenic GLI1 expressing mouse model, with or without heterozygous deletion of Trp53, was used to generate and study GLI1 induced mammary gland tumours. Tumour tissue was serially orthotopically transplanted for at least 10 generations in NSG mice.
Project description:Transcriptome analysis was conducted on vorinostat resistant HCT116 cells (HCT116-VR) upon knockdown of potential vorinostat resistance candidate genes in the presence and absence of vorinostat. Potential vorinostat resistance candidate genes chosen for this study were GLI1 and PSMD13, which were identified through a genome-wide synthetic lethal RNA interference screen. To understand the transcriptional events underpinning the effect of GLI1 and PSMD13 knockdown (sensitisation to vorinostat-induced apoptosis), cells were first subjected to gene knockdown, then to treatment with vorinsotat or the solvent control. Two timepoints for drug treatment were assessed: a timepoint before induction of apoptosis (4hrs for siGLI1 and 8hrs for siPSMD13) and a timepoint when apoptosis could be detected (8hrs for siGLI1 and 12hrs for siPSMD13).
Project description:To assess if Hedgehog (Hh) responding cells in the skin have a unique expression profile, isolated keratinocytes that express the Hh response gene Gli1 were collected by FACS and their gene expression was compared to sorted CD34-expressing cells from the middle bulge region of the hair follicle and to cells from the interfollicular epidermis (IFE) by hybridization of isolated RNA to gene expression microarrays. Dissociated keratinocytes isolated form back skin of Gli1-eGFP/+ mice (2 mice pooled for each replicate) in adult telogen were sorted based on GFP expression and immunostaining for CD34. Only viable, single cells with immunostaining for α6 Integrin (to mark basal keratinocytes) were collected. GFP(+) cells were collected as the Gli1 cohort. GFP(-) CD34(+) cells were collected as the CD34 cohort, and GFP(-) CD34(-) cells were collected as interfollicular epidermis (IFE) cohort. Total RNA was extracted from each cell population and labeled for hybridization to gene expression microarrays. The experiment was preformed in triplicate, however RNA from the Gli1(+) cells in one replicate was of insufficient quality to analyze. For staining of isolated keratinocytes, cells were incubated on ice for 1 hour in SMEM containing 1%BSA and 15μL of anti-CD49f-PE antibody (BDBioscience) plus 5μL anti-CD34-APC antibody (eBioscience) for each 100μL total volume for each 2 million cells. Immediately prior to sorting, DAPI (Invitrogen) was added to the washed cells at 1μg/mL final concentration.
Project description:Gli1+ progenitors are considered as metaphyseal mesenchymal progenitors in the distal femur and proximal tibia under the growth plate. We used single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to analyze the diversity of Gli1+ progenitors in response to methylprednisolone.
Project description:SHH signaling pathway is activated in many type of cancers. However, the role of its activation in particular type of cancer was poorly understood. The GLI family transcription factor GLI1 is the effector of Shh pathway activation and functions as oncogene. Our goal of research is to identify the GLI1 targets in desmoplastic medulloblastomas. We used microarrays to obtain the global gene expression profiles in cells transformed by GLI1 and identified distinct classes of genes by comparing with those of desmoplastic medulloblastomas