Project description:Circadian clocks are essential for generating and coordinating rhythms in animals’ physiology, behaviour, and metabolism. These activities are regulated by intracellular molecular clocks that operate with a ~24 hour periodicity. The African striped mouse, Rhabdomys pumilio, is notable for undergoing temporal niche switching from ancestrally nocturnal to diurnal, although the molecular components of its’ circadian organization remain unknown. We undertook transcriptome profiling of daily rhythms in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and in the liver, lung and retina of Rhabdomys stably housed under a stable 12h:12h light:dark cycle with bright (n=10) or dim (n=10) daytime light intensity. Tissues were collected at two time points: two hours after lights on (Zeitgeber Time (ZT2)) coinciding with high behavioural activity, or two hours after lights off (ZT14) during the animal’s resting/sleep period, and RNA-sequencing performed.
Project description:Paternal care is rare among mammals and the neural mechanisms governing its emergence are poorly understood. We leveraged the natural paternal behaviour of African striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio), and natural variation therein, to explore the neurobiological mechanisms that subserve male parental care. To support this aim, we performed single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) using the 10X Genomics platform in MPOA samples from sexually naïve alloparental (n=3), infanticidal (n=3), or control males (n=3), as well as sires (n=4), and dams (n = 4).
Project description:RNA sequencing of suprachiasmatic nuclues, retina, liver and lung collected at day and night from African Four Striped Mice (Rhabdomys pumilio) housed under dim vs bright daytime light
Project description:Environmental and evolutionary drivers of species distributions and range limits : the case of the African four striped mouse (Rhabdomys sp.)
Project description:Purpose: PUMILIO proteins are known to repress target genes by specifically binding to PUMILIO response elements (PREs) in target mRNAs. NORAD is a noncoding RNA that negatively regulates PUMILIO activity. The goal of this study was to determine the gene expression changes that result from knockout of NORAD or overexpression of PUMILIO and to test whether NORAD knockout causes PUMILIO hyperactivity. Methods: RNA-seq libraries were prepared using the TruSeq Stranded Total RNA with Ribo-Zero Human/Mouse/Rat Sample Preparation kit (Illumina) and sequenced using the 100 bp paired-end protocol on an Illumina HiSeq 2000. For comparing NORAD+/+ and NORAD-/- HCT116 cells, 3 biological replicates per genotype were sequenced. For PUM overexpression experiments, 3 replicates of GFP-expressing HCT116 cells (negative control) and 2 independent PUM1- or PUM2-overexpressing clones (2 replicates each) were sequenced. Results: Gene expression profiles show that PUMILIO target genes are downregulated in both NORAD knockout cells and PUMILIO overexpressing cells. Conclusions: These data indicate that NORAD sequesters PUMILIO, preventing excessive repression of PUMILIO target genes that are important for maintaining genomic stability.
Project description:In this study, we identified the transcriptome-wide direct RNA target sites of the entire family of Pumilio proteins in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by deep sequencing of RNA regions bound by each of six Pumilio proteins. As a family, the Pumilio proteins of yeast interact with over half of the entire transcriptome. Computational analysis of Pumilio target sites reveal striking differences in mRNA stability, gene set categories, and response to nutrient deprivation conditions based on features of Pumilio binding. Some of these features include variations in primary sequence motif and presence of predicted structured RNA hairpins. Puf6p also binds snoRNAs.
Project description:Primary objectives: The primary objective is to investigate circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) via deep sequencing for mutation detection and by whole genome sequencing for copy number analyses before start (baseline) with regorafenib and at defined time points during administration of regorafenib for treatment efficacy in colorectal cancer patients in terms of overall survival (OS).
Primary endpoints: circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) via deep sequencing for mutation detection and by whole genome sequencing for copy number analyses before start (baseline) with regorafenib and at defined time points during administration of regorafenib for treatment efficacy in colorectal cancer patients in terms of overall survival (OS).