Project description:The goal was to identify DNA binding sites for the transcription factor Meis2 in native embryonic day 16 (E16) and adult sensory neurons from dorsal root ganglion (DRGs).
Project description:Calpains are non-lysosomal, Ca2+-dependent cysteine proteases, which are associated with various cellular functions but have so far been mainly studied in the context of disease. Their contribution to homeostasis in the healthy organism is still not well understood and their substrates have remained enigmatic in most cases. In the present study, we describe a previously unrecognized role for the calpain protease calpain2 in the regulation of neuronal differentiation of adult neural stem- and progenitor cells through cleavage and elimintation of the neuronal fate determinant MEIS2. Mass spectrometry analysis was performed on immunoprecipitated MEIS2 protein to identify phosphory¬lated residues in MEIS2 and on immunoprecipitated MEIS2 incubated with native porcine calpain2 to map calpain2-induced cleavage sites in the protein.
Project description:To better understand the molecular changes underlying tactile defects in Meis2 mutant mice, we performed bulk RNAseq analysis on Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) dissected form WT, Isl1Cre/+ and Isl1Cre/+::Meis2LoxP/LoxP E18.5 embryos
Project description:Single cell RNAseq was performed on naïve adult mouse lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) cells. Neuronal and non-neuronal cell populations were identified.
Project description:The genomic basis of limb adaptations in tetrapods is thought to be largely driven by changes in gene regulation. However, the mechanisms by which regulatory programs evolve are not well understood. In bats, wing membrane development has been shown to be associated with expression of the transcription factor MEIS2 in the interdigital tissue of the forelimb. However, MEIS2 alone is insufficient to recapitulate wing morphology, suggesting that its regulatory context has also undergone divergence. Here, we integrate functional genomics with sequence-to-function deep learning to dissect both the mechanistic and evolutionary roles of MEIS2 in bat forelimb development. Using models trained on embryonic limb data from bat and mouse, we identify a strong association between MEIS2 binding and the transcription factor TWIST1, a finding which is supported by single-cell transcriptomic analyses. To investigate the evolutionary dimension, we applied these models across more than 100 genomes, including extant bats, closely related species, and reconstructed ancestors. This analysis identified divergences in regulatory regions, which likely contribute to bat-specific forelimb expression of genes that lead to wing morphogenesis. Notably, these changes are prominent in the regulatory domains of the MEIS dimerization partner PBX1, indicating coordinated regulatory evolution. Together, our results demonstrate that the evolution of a complex morphological trait involves coordinated changes in both trans-regulatory environments and cis-regulatory landscapes. More broadly, this study provides a framework for integrating deep learning with comparative and functional genomics to investigate regulatory evolution.
Project description:Visceral sensory neurons encode distinct sensations from healthy organs and initiate pain states that are resistant to common analgesics. Transcriptome analysis is transforming our understanding of sensory neuron subtypes but has generally focused on somatic sensory neurons or the total population of neurons in which visceral neurons form the minority. Our aim was to define transcripts specifically expressed by sacral visceral sensory neurons, as a step towards understanding the unique biology of these neurons and potentially lead to identification of new analgesic targets for pelvic visceral pain. Our strategy was to identify genes differentially expressed between sacral dorsal root ganglia (DRG) that include somatic neurons and sacral visceral neurons, and adjacent lumbar DRG that comprise exclusively somatic sensory neurons. This was performed in male and female mice (adult and E18.5). By developing a method to restrict analyses to nociceptive Trpv1 neurons, a larger group of genes were detected as differentially expressed between spinal level. We identified many novel genes not previously been associated with pelvic visceral sensation or nociception. Limited sex differences were detected across the transcriptome of sensory ganglia, but more were revealed in sacral levels and especially in Trpv1 nociceptive neurons. These data will facilitate development of new tools to modify mature and developing sensory neurons and nociceptive pathways.
Project description:The goal of this study was to compare the gene expression profile, using RNA-seq technology, of mouse Meis1-Meis2 double KO or wild-type fetal or adult hearts.