N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a common modification of mRNA, with potential roles in fine-tuning the RNA life cycle, but little is known about the pathways regulating this process and its physiological role. Here, we used mass-spectrometry to identify a dense network of proteins physically interacting with METTL3, a core component of the methyltransferase complex, and show that two of them, WTAP and KIAA1429, are required for methylation. Combining high resolution m6A-Seq with knockdown of WTAP allowed us to define accurate maps, at near single-nucleotide resolution, of sites of mRNA methylation across four dynamic programs in human and mouse, including development, differentiation, reprogramming and immune response. Internal WTAP-dependent methylation sites were largely static across the different surveyed conditions and present in the majority of mRNAs. However, methylations were found at much lower levels within highly expressed mRNAs, and methylation is inversely correlated with mRNA stability, consistent with a role in establishing an overall basal, cell-type invariant, distribution of degradation rates. In addition, we identify thousands of WTAP-independent methylation sites at transcription initiation sites, forming part of the mRNA cap structure. We show that the methylations occur at the first transcribed nucleotide, and find that thousands of transcripts are present in different isoforms differing in the methylation state of the first transcribed nucleotide, a previously unappreciated complexity of the transcriptome. Together, our data sheds new light on the proteomic and transcriptional underpinnings of this epitranscriptomic modification in mammals. Overall design: Examination of m6A methylation in human Hek293 and A549 cell lines, in human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) undergoing differentiation to neural progenitor cells (NPCs), in OKMS inducible fibroblasts reprogrammed into iPSC, and upon knockdown of factors using siRNAs or shRNAs.
Perturbation of m6A writers reveals two distinct classes of mRNA methylation at internal and 5' sites.
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View SamplesN6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a common modification of mRNA, with potential roles in fine-tuning the RNA life cycle, but little is known about the pathways regulating this process and its physiological role. Here, we used mass-spectrometry to identify a dense network of proteins physically interacting with METTL3, a core component of the methyltransferase complex, and show that two of them, WTAP and KIAA1429, are required for methylation. Combining high resolution m6A-Seq with knockdown of WTAP allowed us to define accurate maps, at near single-nucleotide resolution, of sites of mRNA methylation across four dynamic programs in human and mouse, including development, differentiation, reprogramming and immune response. Internal WTAP-dependent methylation sites were largely static across the different surveyed conditions and present in the majority of mRNAs. However, methylations were found at much lower levels within highly expressed mRNAs, and methylation is inversely correlated with mRNA stability, consistent with a role in establishing an overall basal, cell-type invariant, distribution of degradation rates. In addition, we identify thousands of WTAP-independent methylation sites at transcription initiation sites, forming part of the mRNA cap structure. We show that the methylations occur at the first transcribed nucleotide, and find that thousands of transcripts are present in different isoforms differing in the methylation state of the first transcribed nucleotide, a previously unappreciated complexity of the transcriptome. Together, our data sheds new light on the proteomic and transcriptional underpinnings of this epitranscriptomic modification in mammals. Overall design: Examination of m6A methylation across different knockdowns using shRNAs in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, in embyronic and adult brains, and in dendritic cell stimulated with LPS.
Perturbation of m6A writers reveals two distinct classes of mRNA methylation at internal and 5' sites.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesDNA damage activates a complex signaling network in cells that blocks cell cycle progression, recruits factors involved in DNA repair, and/or triggers programs that control senescence or programmed cell death. Alterations in chromatin structure are known to be important for the initiation and propagation of the DNA damage response, although the molecular details are unclear. We investigated the role of chromatin structure in the DNA damage response by monitoring multiple timedependent checkpoint signaling and response events with a high-content multiplex image-based RNAi screen of chromatin modifying and interacting genes. We discovered that Brd4, a double bromodomain-containing protein, functions as an endogenous inhibitor of DNA damage signaling by binding to acetylated histones at sites of open chromatin and altering chromatin accessibility. Loss of Brd4 or disruption of acetyl-lysine binding results in an increase in both the number and size of radiation-induced !H2AX nuclear foci while overexpression of a Brd4 splice isoform completely suppresses !H2AX formation, despite equivalent double strand break formation. Brd4 knock-down cells displayed altered chromatin structure, prolonged cell cycle checkpoint arrest and enhanced survival after irradiation, while overexpression of Brd4 isoform B results in enhanced radiationinduced lethality. Brd4 is the target of the t(15;19) chromosomal translocation in a rare form of cancer, NUT Midline Carcinoma. Acetyl lysine-bromodomain interactions of the Brd4-NUT fusion protein suppresses !H2AX foci in discrete nuclear compartments, rendering cells more radiosensitive, mimicking overexpression of Brd4 isoform B. NUT Midline Carcinoma is sensitive to radiotherapy, however tumor material from this rare cancer is scarce. We therefore investigated Brd4 expression in another human cancer commonly treated with radiotherapy, glioblastoma multiforme, and found that expression of Brd4 isoform B correlated specifically with treatment response to radiotherapy. These data implicate Brd4 as an endogenous insulator of DNA damage signaling through recognition of epigenetic modifications in chromatin and suggest that expression of the Brd4 in human cancer can modulate the clinical response to DNA-damaging cancer therapy.
The bromodomain protein Brd4 insulates chromatin from DNA damage signalling.
Cell line
View SamplesAvian pathogenic Escherichia coli strains frequently cause extra-intestinal infections and are responsible for significant economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. APEC isolates are closely related to human extraintestinal pathogenic E.coli strains and may also act as pathogens for humans. In this work, three type VI secretion systems were deleted to analyze which pathogenicity characteristics would change in the mutants, compared to wild type strain (SEPT 362).
The type VI secretion system plays a role in type 1 fimbria expression and pathogenesis of an avian pathogenic Escherichia coli strain.
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View SamplesIn order to gain insight into the molecular pathogenesis of collagen VI defects we have performed gene expression microarray analysis of dermal fibroblasts. We have compared the transcriptome of fibroblasts, treated or untreated with ascorbic acid, from UCMD patients (n = 6) and aged-matched healthy children (n = 5).
Transcriptome Analysis of Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy Fibroblasts Reveals a Disease Extracellular Matrix Signature and Key Molecular Regulators.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Treatment
View SamplesRORt+ innate lymphoid cells (ILC) are crucial players of innate immune responses and represent a major source of IL-22, which has an important role in mucosal homeostasis. The signals required by RORt+ ILC to express IL-22 and other cytokines, including TNF, have only partially been elucidated. Here we show that RORt+ ILC can directly sense the environment by the engagement of the activating receptor NKp44. NKp44 triggering in RORt+ ILC selectively activates a coordinated pro-inflammatory program, including TNF, while cytokine stimulation induces preferentially IL-22 expression. However, combined engagement of NKp44 and cytokine receptors results in a strong synergistic effect. These data support the concept that NKp44+ RORt+ ILC can be activated without cytokines and are able to switch between IL-22 or TNF production, depending on the triggering stimulus.
RORγt⁺ innate lymphoid cells acquire a proinflammatory program upon engagement of the activating receptor NKp44.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesBipolar disorder (BD) is a highly heritable and heterogeneous mental illness whose manifestations often include impulsive and risk-taking behavior. This particular phenotype suggests that abnormal striatal function could be involved in BD etiology, yet most transcriptomic studies of this disorder have concentrated on cortical brain regions. We report the first transcriptome profiling by RNA-Seq of the human dorsal striatum comparing bipolar and control subjects. Differential expression analysis and functional pathway enrichment analysis were performed to identify changes in gene expression that correlate with BD status. Further co-expression and enrichment analyses were performed to identify sets of correlated genes that show association to BD. Overall design: Total RNA samples were isolated from 36 postmortem dorsal striatum subjects (18 bipolar and 18 control) and sequenced. One outlier sample was removed and 35 samples (18 bipolar and 17 control) were analyzed.
Transcriptome sequencing implicates dorsal striatum-specific gene network, immune response and energy metabolism pathways in bipolar disorder.
Sex, Subject
View SamplesBackground: Breastfed human infants are predominantly colonized by bifidobacteria that thrive on human milk oligosaccharides (HMO). The two most predominant species of bifidobacteria in infant feces are Bifidobacterium breve (B. breve) and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (B. infantis), both avid HMO-consumer strains. Our laboratory has previously shown that B. infantis, when grown on HMO, increase adhesion to intestinal cells and increase the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of carbon source—glucose, lactose, or HMO—on the ability of B. breve and B. infantis to adhere to and affect the transcription of intestinal epithelial cells on a genome-wide basis. Results: HMO-grown B. infantis had higher percent binding to Caco-2 cell monolayers compared to B. infantis grown on glucose or lactose. B. breve had low adhesive ability regardless of carbon source. Despite differential binding ability, both HMO-grown strains significantly differentially affected the Caco-2 transcriptome compared to their glucose or lactose grown controls. HMO-grown B. breve and B. infantis both down-regulated genes in Caco-2 cells associated with chemokine activity. Conclusion: The choice of carbon source affects the interaction of bifidobacteria with intestinal epithelial cells. HMO-grown bifidobacteria reduce markers of inflammation, compared to glucose or lactose-grown bifidobacteria. In the future, the design of preventative or therapeutic probiotic supplements may need to include appropriately chosen prebiotics. Overall design: CACO-2 cells incubated with Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis grown on (1) glucose, (2) lactose, or (3) human milk oligosaccharides. All experiments were run in triplicate.
Bifidobacteria grown on human milk oligosaccharides downregulate the expression of inflammation-related genes in Caco-2 cells.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesBackground: Breastfed human infants are predominantly colonized by bifidobacteria that thrive on human milk oligosaccharides (HMO). The two most predominant species of bifidobacteria in infant feces are Bifidobacterium breve (B. breve) and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (B. infantis), both avid HMO-consumer strains. Our laboratory has previously shown that B. infantis, when grown on HMO, increase adhesion to intestinal cells and increase the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of carbon source—glucose, lactose, or HMO—on the ability of B. breve and B. infantis to adhere to and affect the transcription of intestinal epithelial cells on a genome-wide basis. Results: HMO-grown B. infantis had higher percent binding to Caco-2 cell monolayers compared to B. infantis grown on glucose or lactose. B. breve had low adhesive ability regardless of carbon source. Despite differential binding ability, both HMO-grown strains significantly differentially affected the Caco-2 transcriptome compared to their glucose or lactose grown controls. HMO-grown B. breve and B. infantis both down-regulated genes in Caco-2 cells associated with chemokine activity. Conclusion: The choice of carbon source affects the interaction of bifidobacteria with intestinal epithelial cells. HMO-grown bifidobacteria reduce markers of inflammation, compared to glucose or lactose-grown bifidobacteria. In the future, the design of preventative or therapeutic probiotic supplements may need to include appropriately chosen prebiotics. Overall design: CACO-2 cells incubated with Bifidobacterium breve grown on (1) glucose, (2) lactose, or (3) human milk oligosaccharides. All experiments were run in triplicate.
Bifidobacteria grown on human milk oligosaccharides downregulate the expression of inflammation-related genes in Caco-2 cells.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesA375P melanoma cells were treated with 1uM of the MEK inhibitor PD184352 or 0.4uM of the V600EBRAF inhibitor PLX4720 for 2hr, 6hr and 24hrs.
Identification of direct transcriptional targets of (V600E)BRAF/MEK signalling in melanoma.
Cell line, Treatment, Time
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