Project description:Cardiac function is dynamically regulated by intercellular signalling. As an important intercellular signalling mediator, this study focused on isolating and defining membrane bound signalling packages termed extracellular vesicles (EVs) directly from heart using mechanical approaches (direct tissue).
Project description:The 5-methylcytosine (m5C) modification is present at appreciable amounts in the mammalian transcriptome, but its precise location and function is still poorly understood. Here, we identify high m5C levels and map their locations in a model retrovirus, the murine leukemia virus, and show that the ALYREF m5C reader protein regulates viral replication. Our results reveal a single-nucleotide m5C profile in a virus and its function in a eukaryotic mRNA.
Project description:To search for factors regulating paternally imprinted genes (PEGs), we performed a genome-wide loss-of-function CRISPR/Cas9 screen in haploid parthenogenetic ESCs. This by staining a pooled CRISPR library with a PEG10 antibody and next FACS-sorted for cells that presented de-novo PEG10 expression.
Project description:Circulating microRNAs (miRNA) are relatively stable in plasma and are a new class of disease biomarkers. Here we present evidence that human high-density lipoprotein (HDL) transports endogenous miRNAs and delivers them to recipient cells with functional targeting capabilities. Highly-purified fractions of human HDL contain small RNAs, and the HDL-miRNA profile from normal subjects is significantly different than familial hypercholesterolemia subjects. miRNAs were demonstrated to associate with both native and reconstituted HDL particles, and reconstituted HDL injected into mice retrieved distinct miRNA profiles from normal and atherogenic models. Cellular export of miRNAs to HDL was demonstrated to be regulated by neutral sphingomyelinase. HDL-mediated delivery of miRNAs to recipient cells was demonstrated to be scavenger receptor BI-dependent. Furthermore, HDL delivery of both exogenous and endogenous miRNAs resulted in the direct targeting of mRNA reporters. Notably, HDL-miRNA from atherosclerotic subjects induced differential gene expression, with significant loss of conserved mRNA targets in cultured hepatocytes. Collectively, these observations suggest that HDL participates in a novel mechanism of intercellular communication involving the transport and delivery of miRNAs. Human HDL and Exosome miRNA Signatures Profiled miRNA signatures from HDL and exosome in matched subjects
Project description:Circulating microRNAs (miRNA) are relatively stable in plasma and are a new class of disease biomarkers. Here we present evidence that human high-density lipoprotein (HDL) transports endogenous miRNAs and delivers them to recipient cells with functional targeting capabilities. Highly-purified fractions of human HDL contain small RNAs, and the HDL-miRNA profile from normal subjects is significantly different than familial hypercholesterolemia subjects. miRNAs were demonstrated to associate with both native and reconstituted HDL particles, and reconstituted HDL injected into mice retrieved distinct miRNA profiles from normal and atherogenic models. Cellular export of miRNAs to HDL was demonstrated to be regulated by neutral sphingomyelinase. HDL-mediated delivery of miRNAs to recipient cells was demonstrated to be scavenger receptor BI-dependent. Furthermore, HDL delivery of both exogenous and endogenous miRNAs resulted in the direct targeting of mRNA reporters. Notably, HDL-miRNA from atherosclerotic subjects induced differential gene expression, with significant loss of conserved mRNA targets in cultured hepatocytes. Collectively, these observations suggest that HDL participates in a novel mechanism of intercellular communication involving the transport and delivery of miRNAs. Human HDL miRNA Signatures Profiled miRNA Signatures from N=6 Normal Human HDL; n=5 FH Human HDL
Project description:Circulating microRNAs (miRNA) are relatively stable in plasma and are a new class of disease biomarkers. Here we present evidence that human high-density lipoprotein (HDL) transports endogenous miRNAs and delivers them to recipient cells with functional targeting capabilities. Highly-purified fractions of human HDL contain small RNAs, and the HDL-miRNA profile from normal subjects is significantly different than familial hypercholesterolemia subjects. miRNAs were demonstrated to associate with both native and reconstituted HDL particles, and reconstituted HDL injected into mice retrieved distinct miRNA profiles from normal and atherogenic models. Cellular export of miRNAs to HDL was demonstrated to be regulated by neutral sphingomyelinase. HDL-mediated delivery of miRNAs to recipient cells was demonstrated to be scavenger receptor BI-dependent. Furthermore, HDL delivery of both exogenous and endogenous miRNAs resulted in the direct targeting of mRNA reporters. Notably, HDL-miRNA from atherosclerotic subjects induced differential gene expression, with significant loss of conserved mRNA targets in cultured hepatocytes. Collectively, these observations suggest that HDL participates in a novel mechanism of intercellular communication involving the transport and delivery of miRNAs. Human exosome, LDL, and HDL miRNA Signatures Profiled miRNA signatures from exosome, LDL, HDL in same subject
Project description:Circulating microRNAs (miRNA) are relatively stable in plasma and are a new class of disease biomarkers. Here we present evidence that human high-density lipoprotein (HDL) transports endogenous miRNAs and delivers them to recipient cells with functional targeting capabilities. Highly-purified fractions of human HDL contain small RNAs, and the HDL-miRNA profile from normal subjects is significantly different than familial hypercholesterolemia subjects. miRNAs were demonstrated to associate with both native and reconstituted HDL particles, and reconstituted HDL injected into mice retrieved distinct miRNA profiles from normal and atherogenic models. Cellular export of miRNAs to HDL was demonstrated to be regulated by neutral sphingomyelinase. HDL-mediated delivery of miRNAs to recipient cells was demonstrated to be scavenger receptor BI-dependent. Furthermore, HDL delivery of both exogenous and endogenous miRNAs resulted in the direct targeting of mRNA reporters. Notably, HDL-miRNA from atherosclerotic subjects induced differential gene expression, with significant loss of conserved mRNA targets in cultured hepatocytes. Collectively, these observations suggest that HDL participates in a novel mechanism of intercellular communication involving the transport and delivery of miRNAs. Gene expression changes in human Huh7 cells with familial hypercholesterolemia HDL treatment. Gene expression (mRNA) profiles in human Huh7 cells treated with normal HDL (n=3) or FH HDL (n=3) in lipoprotein-depleted serum (48h).
Project description:The prevailing dogma that approximately 50% of our genome is “junk” DNA composed of transposable elements and retroviral insertions has recently been challenged. It has become evident that our genome has taken advantage of these transposable elements and uses them as a source of DNA to generate novel genes, which subsequently allow the organism to evolve. This process is termed “domestication of transposable elements” and the majority of these genes have been found to be essential for the existence of the organism. One of these developmentally essential domesticated genes: Peg10 (paternally expressed gene 10), was derived from a Ty3/gyspy LTR retrotransposon, yet lost its ability to transpose due to mutational events during its domestication. Remarkably, Peg10 has successfully maintained its Gag and Pol-like domains for millions of years. Peg10 orthologues are expressed in eutherian mammals and are essential for placentogenesis. To address the functional mechanisms of Peg10 we studied it in Trophoblast Stem Cells (TSCs). We find that the Gag of Peg10 is fully active: it promotes budding of vesicles, akin to the viral counterpart that catalyzes the budding of viruses. TSCs, deleted for Peg10, fail to differentiate into placental lineages, underscoring a critical role in lineage specification. This paper discusses our efforts to characterize the contents of Peg10 vesicles and whether such vesicles regulate lineage specification.