In order to identify candidate target genes of the OBP1 (At3g50410) transcription factor we used dexamethasone inducible system (Lloyd et al, 1994). A single inducible over-expression line was compared to an empty vector control line 10h after DEX induction to identify candidate genes that were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR.
The DOF transcription factor OBP1 is involved in cell cycle regulation in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Specimen part
View SamplesDrought is an important environmental factor affecting plant growth and biomass production. Despite this importance little is known on the molecular mechanisms regulating plant growth under water limiting conditions. The main goal of this work was to investigate, using a combination of growth and molecular profiling techniques, how stress arrests CELl proliferation in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves upon osmotic stress imposition.
Pause-and-stop: the effects of osmotic stress on cell proliferation during early leaf development in Arabidopsis and a role for ethylene signaling in cell cycle arrest.
Specimen part
View SamplesDrought is an important environmental factor affecting plant growth and biomass production. Despite this importance, little is known on the molecular mechanisms regulating plant growth under water limiting conditions. The main goal of this work was to investigate, using a combination of growth and molecular profiling techniques, how Arabidopsis thaliana leaves adapt their growth to prolonged mild osmotic stress. Fully proliferating, expanding and mature leaves were harvested from plants grown on plates without (control) or with 25mM mannitol (osmotic stress) and compared to seedlings at stage 1.03.
Developmental stage specificity and the role of mitochondrial metabolism in the response of Arabidopsis leaves to prolonged mild osmotic stress.
Specimen part
View SamplesGlioblastoma multiforme is the most common and most aggressive type of primary brain tumor. The brain-infiltrative character of glioblastoma makes complete surgical removal of the tumor impossible and neither radiation nor current chemotherapy provide cure. Recent evidence shows that glioblastoma multiforme consists of heterogeneous cell populations which differ in tumor-forming potential. Enriched tumor-initiating capacity has been linked to poorly differentiated glioblastoma cells sharing features with neural stem cells. Thus, these cells are important targets for new therapeutic strategies.
An RNAi screen identifies TRRAP as a regulator of brain tumor-initiating cell differentiation.
Cell line
View SamplesThis experiment was designed to identify genes expressed preferentially in the two integuments of the Arabidopsis ovule. Pistils from wild type and two ovule mutants were compared against each aintegumenta-4 (ant-4) which lacks both integuments and inner no outer (ino-1) which lacks the outer integument. Genes that are highly expressed only in the integuments were expected to be reduced in expression in the mutants, as compared with wild type. Pistils containing ovules through all stages of ovule development prior to pollination were pooled for one experiment (FULL arrays), and for two separate experiments, a set of early differentiation stages (EARLY arrays) and a set of later differentiation stages (LATE ARRAYS) were pooled. Wild type and mutant lines are in the ecotype Landsberg erecta.
Expression-based discovery of candidate ovule development regulators through transcriptional profiling of ovule mutants.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe ability of an endocrine disruptor exposure during gonadal sex determination to promote a transgenerational prostate disease phenotype was investigated in the current study.
Transgenerational effects of the endocrine disruptor vinclozolin on the prostate transcriptome and adult onset disease.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesPrimordial follicle assembly is the process by which ovarian primordial follicles are formed. During follicle assembly oocyte nests break down and a layer of pre-granulosa cells surrounds individual oocytes to form primordial follicles. The pool of primordial follicles formed is the source of oocytes for ovulation during a females reproductive life. Complex networks of cellular signaling and gene expression are essential for any biological process. A systems biology experimental approach provides a global view of these gene relationships in a particular developmental process. The current study utilized a systems approach to detect all genes that are differentially expressed in response to seven different growth factor and hormone treatments known to influence primordial follicle assembly in a neonatal rat ovary culture system. One novel growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), was experimentally determined to inhibit follicle assembly. The different growth factor and hormone treatments were all found to affect the same physiological pathways, but each treatment affected a unique set of differentially expressed genes (signature gene set). A gene bionetwork analysis identified gene modules of coordinately expressed interconnected genes and it was found that different gene modules appear to accomplish distinct tasks during primordial follicle assembly. Unique gene networks were identified for a number of the modules and signature gene sets. Predictions of physiological pathways important to follicle assembly were validated using ovary culture experiments in which ERK1/2 (MAPK1) activity was increased. A number of the highly interconnected genes in these gene networks have previously been linked to primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) and polycystic ovarian disease syndrome (PCOS). Observations have identified novel factors and gene networks that regulate primordial follicle assembly. This systems approach has helped elucidate the molecular control of primordial follicle assembly and provided potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of ovarian disease.
Gene bionetworks that regulate ovarian primordial follicle assembly.
Sex, Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesEmbryonic exposure to the endocrine disruptor vinclozolin during gonadal sex determination appears to promote an epigenetic reprogramming of the male germ line that is associated with transgenerational adult-onset disease states. Transgenerational effects on the embryonic day 16 (E16) testis demonstrated reproducible changes in the testis transcriptome for multiple generations (F1-F3). The expression of 196 genes was found to be influenced, with the majority of gene expression being decreased or silenced. Dramatic changes in the gene expression of methyltransferases during gonadal sex determination were observed in the F1 and F2 vinclozolin generation (E16) embryonic testis, but the majority returned to control-generation levels by the F3 generation. The most dramatic effects were on the germ-line-associated Dnmt3A and Dnmt3L isoforms. Observations demonstrate that an embryonic exposure to vinclozolin appears to promote an epigenetic reprogramming of the male germ line that correlates with transgenerational alterations in the testis transcriptome in subsequent generations.
Transgenerational epigenetic programming of the embryonic testis transcriptome.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesNeurotrophins are growth factors that are known to have a role in promoting cell survival and differentiation. The focus of the current study is to examine the role of neurotrophins in regulating ovarian primordial follicle development. Ovaries from 4-day old rats were placed into organ culture and cultured for 10 days in the absence or presence of neurotrophin-3 (NT3), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), or nerve growth factor (NGF). Treatment of ovaries with NT3 resulted in a significant (P<0.01) increase in primordial follicle development (i.e. primordial to primary follicle transition). Treatment with BDNF at high doses of 100250 ng/ml also significantly (P<0.01) increased primordial follicle development, but NGF had no effect. Immunohistochemical studies determined that NT3 was present in granulosa cells, interstitial tissue, and in the oocytes of primordial and primary follicles. The NT3 receptor NTRK3 was present in oocytes at all stages of development. Analysis of ovaries that contain predominantly primordial follicles demonstrated the transcripts for NT3, NTRK3, NGF, and the BDNF/neurotrophin-4 (NT4) receptor NTRK2 are expressed, while BDNF, NT4, and the NGF receptor NTRK1 are not detectable. Inhibition of the NTRK3 receptor with the tyrophostin AG 879 resulted in oocyte death and a significant (P<0.01) reduction in follicle pool size. Inhibition of the NTRK receptors with K252a slowed primordial to primary follicle transition. A microarray analysis demonstrated that a small number of genes were differentially expressed after NT3 treatment. Observations indicate that the neurotrophin NT3, acting through the NTRK3 receptor in oocytes, promotes the primordial to primary follicle transition. Reproduction (2009) 138, pp. 697-707
Neurotrophin NT3 promotes ovarian primordial to primary follicle transition.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesPrimordial follicle assembly is a process that occurs in the embryonic or early post natal ovary in which oocyte nests break down to form individual primordial follicles. The size of this initial pool of primordial follicles in part determines the reproductive lifespan of the female. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was identified as a potential regulatory candidate for this process in a previous microarray analysis of follicle development. The current study examines the effects of CTGF and associated transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFbeta-1) on follicle assembly. Ovaries were removed from newborn rat pups and placed in an organ culture system for two days to measure the effect of these factors on follicle assembly. In addition, ovaries were cultured and treated for ten days to determine the potential of CTGF and TGFbeta-1 to manipulate the primordial follicle pool size over a longer developmental time period. The ovaries treated with CTGF for two days were found to have an increased proportion of assembled follicles. TGFbeta-1 had no effect on primordial follicle assembly and in combination with CTGF decreased oocyte number in the ovary after two days of culture. Over ten days of treatment only the combined treatment of CTGF and TGFbeta-1 was found to cause an increase in the proportion of assembled follicles. Interestingly, treatment with TGFbeta-1 alone resulted in fewer total oocytes in the ovary and decreased the primordial follicle pool size after ten days of culture. Observations indicate that CTGF alone or in combination with TGFbeta-1 stimulates primordial follicle assembly and TGFbeta-1 can decrease the primordial follicle pool size. CTGF was found to regulate the ovarian transcriptome during primordial follicle assembly and an integrative network of genes was identified. CTGF is one of the first growth factors shown to promote primordial follicle assembly, while TGFbeta-1 is one of the first factors shown to decrease the primordial follicle pool size. These observations suggest the possibility of manipulating primordial follicle pool size and influencing female reproductive lifespan.
Induction of ovarian primordial follicle assembly by connective tissue growth factor CTGF.
Sex, Specimen part
View Samples