Project description:Purpose: Macrophages are often classified into M1 ‘classical’ and M2 ‘alternatively-activated’ macrophages. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are biomolecule carriers involved in cell-cell communication. Here, we provide a first insight into the complete small RNA cargo of human macrophage M1/M2 EVs. Methods: Monocyte-derived macrophages were polarised into M1 (GM-CSF+LPS+IFNγ) or M2 (M-CSF+IL-4+IL-13) and EVs isolated by size exclusion chromatography. EVs were characterised by nanoparticle tracking analysis, electron microscopy and ELISA. EV RNA samples were prepared for small RNA sequencing using Qiagen’s GIAseq small RNA Library Prep kit and sequenced on an Illumina NextSeq500, single end 75 bp. Functional enrichment analysis was performed using MIENTURNET, based on validated miR-target interactions from miRTarBase. Results: Many types of small non-coding RNAs were found in EVs from M1/M2 macrophages including miRNAs, isomiRs, tRNA fragments, piRNA, snRNA, snoRNA and yRNA fragments. Distinct differences were observed between M1 and M2 EVs, with higher relative abundance of miRNAs, and lower abundance of tRNA fragments in M1 EVs compared to M2 EVs. MicroRNA-target enrichment analysis identified several gene targets involved in gene expression and metabolic processes. Conclusions: M1 and M2 cells release EVs with distinct tRNA and miRNA cargo, which have the potential to contribute to the unique effect of these cell subsets on their microenvironment.
Project description:Most studies of cohesin function consider the Stromalin Antigen (STAG/SA) proteins as core complex members given their ubiquitous interaction with the cohesin ring. Here, we provide functional data to support the notion that the SA subunit is not a mere passenger in this structure, but instead plays a key role in cohesins localization to diverse biological processes and promotes loading of the complex at these sites. We show that in cells acutely depleted for RAD21, SA proteins remain bound to chromatin and interact with CTCF, as well as a wide range of RNA binding proteins involved in multiple RNA processing mechanisms. Accordingly, SA proteins interact with RNA and are localised to endogenous R-loops where they act to suppress R-loop formation. Our results place SA proteins on chromatin upstream of the cohesin complex and reveal a role for SA in cohesin loading at R-loops which is independent of NIPBL, the canonical cohesin loader. We propose that SA takes advantage of this structural R-loop platform to link cohesin loading and chromatin structure with diverse genome functions. Since SA proteins are pan-cancer targets, and R-loops play an increasingly prevalent role in cancer biology, our results have important implications for the mechanistic understanding of SA proteins in cancer and disease.
Project description:The first GSSM of V. vinifera was reconstructed (MODEL2408120001). Tissue-specific models for stem, leaf, and berry of the Cabernet Sauvignon cultivar were generated from the original model, through the integration of RNA-Seq data. These models have been merged into diel multi-tissue models to study the interactions between tissues at light and dark phases.
Project description:Non-invasive molecular biomarkers for differential diagnosis of the origin of azoospermia into obstructive azoospermia (OA) or secretory azoospermia (SA), as well as for prediction of the presence of residual spermatogenesis in testicular tissue of patients presenting with SA, are of great interest for TESE outcome prediction in assisted reproduction. Our previous study of several hundreds of miRNAs suggested the use of some sEV-miRNAs from seminal plasma as biomarkers for the origin of azoospermia. In this regard, studying more in depth sncRNAs in EVs from semen of azoospermic individuals will be useful to select additional non-invasive biomarkers with diagnostic/prognostic purposes which could help in the identification of those individuals with real chances of positive sperm recovery on the testicular biopsy prior to assisted reproduction technology (ART) treatment. A high-throughput sncRNA profiling analysis using paired-end small RNA-seq was performed in seminal sEVs from azoospermia and normozoospermic individuals.