Project description:We observed that upon the activation of the oncogene KRasG12D and the deletion of the tumour suppressor Fbw7 in pancreatic ducts (KFCkY model), not all ducts respond in the same way. Some ductal cells remain morphologically normal while others exhibit signs of transformation (cellular and nuclear enlargement) with the concomitant upregulation of CD44. Here we wanted to understand the differences between the normal-looking and transformed cells at the transcriptional level.
Project description:To study effect of VRK1 deletion on spermatogenesis of the mouse, transciptomic analysis of genes in postnatal 8-day testicular cells of wild type and VRK1-deficient Mus musculus was performed.
Project description:We found that BAP1 (BRCA1 Associated Protein-1) shows loss of heterozygosity in over 25% of pancreatic cancer patients and functions as tumor suppressor. Conditional deletion of Bap1 in murine pancreas led to genomic instability, accumulation of DNA damage, and an inflammatory response that evolved to pancreatitis with full penetrance. Concomitant expression of oncogenic KrasG12D led to malignant transformation and development of invasive and metastatic pancreatic cancer. At the molecular level, BAP1 maintains the integrity of the exocrine pancreas by regulating genomic stability and its loss confers sensitivity to radio- and platinum-based therapies.
Project description:To study effect of VRK1 deletion on spermatogenesis of the mouse, transciptomic analysis of genes in postnatal 8-day testicular cells of wild type and VRK1-deficient Mus musculus was performed. Gene expression in testes from from wild type and VRK1-deficient mutant Mus musculus, respectively, was measured. Four independent experiments for wild type and mutant, respectively, were performed.
Project description:The adult pancreas is capable of limited regeneration after injury, but has no defined stem cell population. The cell types and molecular signals that govern the production of new pancreatic tissue are not well understood. Here we show that inactivation of the SCF-type E3 ubiquitin ligase substrate recognition component Fbw7 induces pancreatic ductal cells to reprogram into β-cells. The induced β-cells resemble islet β-cells in morphology and histology, express genes essential for β-cell function, and release insulin upon glucose challenge. Thus, loss of Fbw7 appears to reawaken an endocrine developmental differentiation program in adult pancreatic ductal cells. Our study highlights the plasticity of seemingly differentiated adult cells, identifies Fbw7 as a master regulator of cell fate decisions in the pancreas, and reveals adult pancreatic duct cells as a latent multipotent cell type. We used microarray to compare adult mouse fbw7 knock out ductal cells with bonafide beta cells In order to isolate fbw7 ko, fbw7 wt ductal cells and beta cells we used adult mice with the following genotypes: MIP-GFP (beta cells are constitutively labelled with GFP), Ck19-CreERT; R26-LSL-YFP; Fbw7 +/+ (ductal cells are labelled with YFP upon tamoxifen injection) and Ck19-CreERT; R26-LSL-YFP; Fbw7 F/F mice (ductal cells are labelled with YFP upon tamoxifen injection). 30000 GFP+ cells were isolated by FACS-sorting. RNA was extracted and amplified using NuGEN kit.
Project description:PURPOSE: To provide a detailed gene expression profile of the normal postnatal mouse cornea. METHODS: Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) was performed on postnatal day (PN)9 and adult mouse (6 week) total corneas. The expression of selected genes was analyzed by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: A total of 64,272 PN9 and 62,206 adult tags were sequenced. Mouse corneal transcriptomes are composed of at least 19,544 and 18,509 unique mRNAs, respectively. One third of the unique tags were expressed at both stages, whereas a third was identified exclusively in PN9 or adult corneas. Three hundred thirty-four PN9 and 339 adult tags were enriched more than fivefold over other published nonocular libraries. Abundant transcripts were associated with metabolic functions, redox activities, and barrier integrity. Three members of the Ly-6/uPAR family whose functions are unknown in the cornea constitute more than 1% of the total mRNA. Aquaporin 5, epithelial membrane protein and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) omega-1, and GST alpha-4 mRNAs were preferentially expressed in distinct corneal epithelial layers, providing new markers for stratification. More than 200 tags were differentially expressed, of which 25 mediate transcription. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to providing a detailed profile of expressed genes in the PN9 and mature mouse cornea, the present SAGE data demonstrate dynamic changes in gene expression after eye opening and provide new probes for exploring corneal epithelial cell stratification, development, and function and for exploring the intricate relationship between programmed and environmentally induced gene expression in the cornea. Keywords: other
Project description:Fbw7 plays a negative role in pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis and progression. To further clarify the function and mechanism that Fbw7 plays in pancreatic cancer,mRNA microarray assays were performed to identify the genes and signaling pathways that were changed upon Fbw7 overexpression.