Project description:Telomere binding factor 2 (TRF2), is a protein that plays a major role in the maintenance of telomere integrity. In mitotic normal and transformed cells, TRF2 inhibition triggers a rapid telomere DNA damage response that results in cell senescence or apoptosis. Here we provide evidence that TRF2 plays a role suppressing neuronal differentiation. TRF2 interacts with the RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) in nuclear PML protein-containing compartments of neuronal cells in vivo. Inhibition of TRF2 function with a dominant-negative form of TRF2 elicits a telomeric DNA damage response, and disrupts the TRF2-REST complex resulting in proteasomal degradation of REST. Overexpression of REST impairs the ability of DN-TRF2 to induce neuronal differentiation, indicating that enhanced degradation of REST is sufficient to account for the differentiation-inducing effect of DN-TRF2. REST degradation derepresses RE1-regulated genes (L1CAM, BDNF, b3-tubulin, syntaxin and others) resulting in morphological and functional differentiation of neurons. Our findings identify a novel interaction between the telomeric protein TRF2 and REST which regulates the molecular differentiation program of neurons. Keywords: transfection and molecular inhibition
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression.
