When grown on solid substrates, different microorganisms often form colonies with very specific morphologies. Whereas the pioneers of microbiology often used colony morphology to discriminate between species and strains, the phenomenon has not received much recent attention. In this study, we use a genome-wide assay in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to identify all genes that affect colony morphology. We show that several major signaling cascades, including the MAPK, TORC, SNF1 and RIM101 pathways play a role, indicating that morphological changes are a reaction to changing environments. Other genes that affect colony morphology are involved in protein sorting and epigenetic regulation. Interestingly, the screen reveals only few genes that are likely to play a direct role in establishing colony morphology, one notable exception being FLO11, a gene encoding a cell-surface adhesin that has already been implicated in colony morphology, biofilm formation, and invasive and pseudohyphal growth. Using a series of modified promoters to tune FLO11 expression, we confirm the central role of Flo11 and show that differences in FLO11 expression result in distinct colony morphologies. Together, our results provide a first comprehensive looks at the complex genetic network that underlies the diversity in the morphologies of yeast colonies.
Identification of a complex genetic network underlying Saccharomyces cerevisiae colony morphology.
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View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
TET1 and hydroxymethylcytosine in transcription and DNA methylation fidelity.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
The demethylase JMJD2C localizes to H3K4me3-positive transcription start sites and is dispensable for embryonic development.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesEnzymes catalyzing the methylation of the 5-position of cytosine (mC) have essential roles in regulating gene expression, genome stability, and maintaining cellular identity. Recently Tet1, which is highly expressed in embryonic stem (ES) cells, was found to oxidize the methyl group of mC converting it to 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine (hmC)3. Here, we present the genome-wide mapping of Tet1 and hmC in mouse ES cells. We show that Tet1 binds throughout the genome with the majority of binding sites located at transcription start sites (TSSs) and within genes. Similar to Tet1 and mC, also hmC is found throughout the genome and in particular in gene bodies. However, in contrast to mC, hmC is enriched at TSSs. Tet1 and hmC are associated with genes critical for the control of development and differentiation, which become methylated during differentiation. Surprisingly our results also suggest that Tet1 has a role in transcriptional repression. We show that Tet1 binds to a significant proportion of target genes that are positive for the Polycomb repressive histone mark H3K27me3, and that downregulation of Tet1 also leads to increased expression of a group of Tet1 target genes. In agreement with a potential repressive function, we show that Tet1 associates with the Sin3A co-repressor complex, which also co-localises with Tet1 throughout the genome. We propose that Tet1 fulfils dual functions in transcriptional regulation, where it fine-tunes DNA methylation and associates with the Sin3A co-repressor complex to prevent transcriptional activation.
TET1 and hydroxymethylcytosine in transcription and DNA methylation fidelity.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe have mapped transcriptional changes after depletion of the histone demethylases JMJD2C/GASC1/KDM4C and JMJD2A/KDM4A alone or in combination in the esophageal squamous carcinoma cell line, KYSE150. The KYSE150 cell line contains an amplification of the JMJD2C locus.
The demethylase JMJD2C localizes to H3K4me3-positive transcription start sites and is dispensable for embryonic development.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesIn order to identify the gene targets of frequently altered chromosomal regions in retinoblastoma, a meta-analysis of genome-wide copy number alterations studies on primary retinoblastoma tissue and retinoblastoma cell lines was performed. Published studies were complemented by copy number and gene expression analysis on primary and cell line samples of retinoblastoma. This dataset includes the gene expression data of the retinoblastoma cell lines
A Meta-Analysis of Retinoblastoma Copy Numbers Refines the List of Possible Driver Genes Involved in Tumor Progression.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesIn high income countries 90% of the patients achieve complete remission after induction chemotherapy. However, 30-40% of these patients suffer from relapse. These patients face a dismal prognosis, as the majority (>60%) of relapsed patients die within 5 years. As a result, outcome for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients remains poor and has stabilized over the past 15 years. To prevent or better treat relapse of AML is the best option to improve outcome. Despite patient specific differences, most patients do respond to initial therapy. This suggests that at relapse, mechanisms are active that cause the altered response to chemotherapy. Detailed understanding of mechanisms that cause relapse remain largely elusive. To gain insight in the molecular pathways that characterize relapsed AML, we performed genome wide gene expression profiling on paired initial diagnosis and relapsed AML samples of 23 pediatric AML patients. We used pathway analysis to find which molecular pathways are involved in altered gene expression between diagnosis and relapse samples of individual AML patients.
Gene expression profiles associated with pediatric relapsed AML.
Disease
View SamplesBortezomib (Velcade) is widely used for the treatment of various human cancers, however, its mechanisms of action are not fully understood, particularly in myeloid malignancies. Bortezomib is a selective and reversible inhibitor of the proteasome. Paradoxically, we find that Bortezomib induces proteasome-independent degradation of TRAF6 protein, but not mRNA, in Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) cell lines and primary cells. The reduction in TRAF6 protein coincides with Bortezomib-induced autophagy, and subsequently with apoptosis in MDS/AML cells. RNAi-mediated knockdown of TRAF6 sensitized Bortezomib-sensitive and -resistant cell lines, underscoring the importance of TRAF6 in Bortezomib-induced cytotoxicity. Bortezomib-resistant cells expressing an shRNA targeting TRAF6 were resensitized to the cytotoxic effects of Bortezomib due to down-regulation of the proteasomal subunit alpha-1 (PSMA1). To uncover the molecular consequences following loss of TRAF6 in MDS/AML cells, we applied gene expression profiling and identified an apoptosis gene signature. Knockdown of TRAF6 in MDS/AML cell lines or patient samples resulted in rapid apoptosis and impaired malignant hematopoietic stem/progenitor function. In summary, we describe novel mechanisms by which TRAF6 is regulated through Bortezomib/autophagy-mediated degradation and by which it alters MDS/AML sensitivity to Bortezomib by controlling PSMA1 expression.
Cytotoxic effects of bortezomib in myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia depend on autophagy-mediated lysosomal degradation of TRAF6 and repression of PSMA1.
Treatment
View SamplesHigh VEGFC mRNA expression of AML blasts is related to increased in vitro and in vivo drug resistance. The prognostic significance of VEGFC on long-term outcome and its associated gene expression profiles remain to be defined. We studied the effect of VEGFC on treatment outcome and investigated gene expression profiles associated with VEGFC using microarray data of 525 adult and 100 pediatric AML patients. High VEGFC expression appeared strongly associated with reduced complete remission rate, reduced overall and event-free survival (OS and EFS) in adult AML. Multivariable analysis established high VEGFC as prognostic indicator independent of cytogenetic risk, FLT3-ITD, NPM1, CEBPA, age and WBC. Also in pediatric AML high VEGFC was related to reduced OS. A unique series of differentially expressed genes was identified that distinguished AML with high VEGFC from AML with low VEGFC, i.e., 331 upregulated genes (representative of proliferation, VEGF-receptor activity, signal transduction) and 44 downregulated genes (e.g. related to apoptosis) consistent with a role in enhanced chemoresistance. In conclusion, high VEGFC predicts adverse long-term prognosis and provides prognostic information in addition to well-known prognostic factors.
High VEGFC expression is associated with unique gene expression profiles and predicts adverse prognosis in pediatric and adult acute myeloid leukemia.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesBackground
Loss of photoreceptorness and gain of genomic alterations in retinoblastoma reveal tumor progression.
Specimen part
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