Project description:To identify QKI targets, we performed QKI knockdown in BEAS2B cells and analyzed alternative splicing patterns by high-throughput RNA sequencing. The mRNA profiles of control- and QKI-knockdown BEAS2B cells were generated by deep sequencing using Illumina GAIIx sequencer.
Project description:To identify QKI targets, we performed QKI knockdown in BEAS2B cells and analyzed alternative splicing patterns by high-throughput RNA sequencing.
Project description:QKI is required for myelin formation in the verterbrate brain. It functions by binding RNA and regulating its stability, translation, and/or aternative splicing. We have used Affymetrix exon arrays to assess changes in gene expression in response to QKI knockdown on an exon level in rat CG-4 oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Knockdown cells were compared to control cells. Knockdown groups included QKI siRNA transfection, QKI shRNA stable transfection, and hnRNP A1 transient transfection. Control groups consisted of untransfected, control siRNA transfection, control shRNA stable transfection. Each group was analyzed in triplicate.
Project description:Members of the miR-200 family are critical gatekeepers of the epithelial state, restraining expression of pro-mesenchymal genes that drive epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and contribute to metastatic cancer progression. Here, we show that miR-200c and another epithelial-enriched miRNA, miR-375, exert widespread control of alternative splicing in cancer cells. This is achieved by their strong suppression of the RNA binding protein Quaking (QKI), which is required to mediate the splicing changes regulated by these miRNAs. During EMT, QKI-5 directly binds to and regulates hundreds of alternative splicing events and exerts pleiotropic effects, such as increasing cell migration and invasion and restraining tumour growth, without appreciably affecting mRNA levels. QKI-5 is both necessary and sufficient to direct EMT alternative splicing changes, and this splicing signature is broadly conserved across many epithelial-derived cancer types. Importantly, several actin cytoskeleton-associated genes are directly targeted both by QKI and miR-200c, revealing coordinated control of alternative splicing and mRNA abundance during EMT. These findings demonstrate the existence of a miR-200/miR-375/QKI axis that impacts cancer-associated epithelial cell plasticity through widespread control of alternative splicing. The purpose of the CLIP experiment was to determine direct targets of QKI.
Project description:QKI is required for myelin formation in the verterbrate brain. It functions by binding RNA and regulating its stability, translation, and/or aternative splicing. We have used Affymetrix exon arrays to assess changes in gene expression in response to QKI knockdown on an exon level in rat CG-4 oligodendrocyte precursor cells.
Project description:We sequenced mRNA from cardiomyocytes derived from hESCS in vitro. By using the Cas9n, we generated the QKI null hESCs. The gene expression level and alternative splicing events were compared between 4 control and 4 QkI KO samples. Here, we applied a widely used cardiomyocyte differentiation protocol that was reported to produce a population of more than 90% cardiac troponin T (TNNT2)-positive cardiomyocytes. And we are able to demonstrate that QKI is indespensible to cardiac sarcomerogenesis and cardiac function through its regulation of alternative splicing in genes involved in Z-disc formation, such as ACTN2, NEBL, ABLIM1, and PDLIM5.
Project description:Transcriptomic analyses have identified two molecular PDAC subtypes, one of which, namely basal-like subtype, is associated with chemoresistance and worse clinical outcomes. Splicing dysregulation is known to contribute to PDAC malignancy. Functional studies in PDAC cells lines identified the splicing factor QKI as a key determinant of a basal-like splicing signature associated with increased tumor aggressiveness. Our studies demonstrate that QKI represses splicing events associated with the classical subtype and improved clinical outcome, while promoting basal-like events associated with shorter survival.
Project description:Transcription profiling by array of siRNA against Quaking (QKI) transcripts to identify transcripts that are modulated by QKI activity. MiR-155 is an oncogene and we report here that it targets QKI transcripts. Therefore, we believe that QKI acts as a tumor suppressor gene in different leukemias. We ablated the expression of QKI transcripts using siRNAs in order to further elucidate the effects of QKI in leukemogenesis, and how miR-155 and QKI functionally interact with each other.