Project description:The Gnas mutant mice driver by AdCre injection showed heterotopic osssification. In order to understand the underlying mechanism, we performed RNA seq experiments using total RNA from the control and Gnas mutant subcutaneous progenitor cells.
Project description:The Gnas mutant mice driver by AdCre injection showed heterotopic osssification. In order to understand the underlying mechanism, we performed ATAC seq experiments from the control and Gnas mutant subcutaneous progenitor cells.
Project description:The GNASR201 gain-of-function mutation is the single most frequent cancer-causing mutation across all heterotrimeric G proteins, driving oncogenesis in various low-grade/benign gastrointestinal and pancreatic tumors. In this study, we investigated the role of GNAS and its product Gαs in tumor progression using peritoneal models of colorectal cancer (CRC). GNAS was knocked out in multiple CRC cell lines harboring GNASR201C/H mutations (KM12, SNU175, SKCO1), leading to decreased cell-growth in 2D and 3D organoid models. Nude mice were peritoneally injected with GNAS-knockout KM12 cells, leading to a decrease in tumor growth and drastically improved survival at 7 weeks. Supporting these findings, GNAS overexpression in LS174T cells led to increased cell-growth in 2D and 3D organoid models, and increased tumor growth in PDX mouse models. GNAS knockout decreased levels of cyclic AMP in KM12 cells, and molecular profiling identified phosphorylation of β-catenin and activation of its targets as critical downstream effects of mutant GNAS signaling. Supporting these findings, chemical inhibition of both PKA and β-catenin reduced growth of GNAS mutant organoids. Our findings demonstrate oncogene addiction to GNAS in peritoneal models of GNASR201C/H tumors, which signal through the cAMP/PKA and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Thus, GNAS and its downstream mediators are promising therapeutic targets for GNAS mutant tumors.
Project description:Mutations in splicing factors (SFs) are the predominant class of mutations in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), but convergent downstream disease drivers remain elusive. To identify common direct targets of mis-splicing by mutant U2AF1 and SRSF2, we performed RNA-Seq and eCLIP in human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) derived from isogenic induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models. Integrative analyses of alternative splicing and differential binding converged on a long isoform of GNAS (GNAS-L), promoted by both mutant factors. MDS population genetics, functional and biochemical analyses support that GNAS-L is a driver of MDS and encodes a hyperactive long form of the stimulatory G protein alpha subunit, Gas-L, that activates ERK/MAPK signaling. SF-mutant MDS cells have activated ERK signaling and consequently are sensitive to MEK inhibitors. Our findings highlight an unexpected and unifying mechanism by which SF mutations drive oncogenesis with potential therapeutic implications for MDS and other SF-mutant neoplasms.
Project description:Gain-of-function mutation of GNAS is frequently observed in pancreatic and other gastrointestinal cancers. Aim of this study was to delineate the oncogenic mechanisms downstream of mutant GNAS. To gain insight into the expression of different transcripts, we perforemd RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) studies. For this total RNA was isolated in duplicate from two independent KRAS,GNAS mutant lines (A and B) grown in 3D culture with doxycycline supplementation. RNA samples were prepared using Illumina TruSeq RNA Sample Preparation Kit v2 and sequenced using an Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencer, generating 50-bp single-end reads. Data was processed using a standard RNA-seq pipeline that used Tophat2 to align the reads to mm9, and the Cufflinks suite to calculate FPKM values. Our results shows level of RNA expression in KRAS, GNAS mutant cells.
Project description:Analysis of skin lesions from adult mice with epidermal conditional deletion of heterotrimeric G protein Galpha s in cytokeratin 14 positive cells, compared with control mouse skin. Epidermal Gnas ablation leads to skin defects, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Results provide insight into role of Galpha s in the regulation of stem cells from the skin. Changes in gene expression following Gnas deletion from the mouse epidermis were analyzed. Skin from four independent mice of each wild type (control) and Gnas epidermal knockout (Gnas eKO) were analyzed.
Project description:Gene expression analysis of mouse hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) transduced with lentiviral vectors for control (GFP), GNAS wild-type, and GNAS-R201c mutant.
Project description:Expression profiling of progenitor cells from human supraclavicular and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Studies in animal models revealed that brown and white adipocytes derive from different progenitor cells. Molecular characteristics of these cells have not been investigated in detail in humans. Results provide evidence into the molecular basis of the difference of white and brown progenitor cells in humans. Progenitor cells from paired samples of supraclavicular and subcutaneous of six patients undergoing neck surgery were isolated by collagenase digestion and subsequently transferred to cell culture. After reaching subconfluency (7 days), we harvested RNA and analyzed differencens in gene expression by microarray analysis.
Project description:Expression profiling of progenitor cells from human supraclavicular and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Studies in animal models revealed that brown and white adipocytes derive from different progenitor cells. Molecular characteristics of these cells have not been investigated in detail in humans. Results provide evidence into the molecular basis of the difference of white and brown progenitor cells in humans.