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At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Gene profiling and bioinformatic analysis of Schwann cell embryonic development and myelination.

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in Schwann cell development, we profiled gene expression in the developing and injured rat sciatic nerve. The genes that showed significant changes in expression in developing and dedifferentiated nerve were validated with RT-PCR, in situ hybridisation, Western blot and immunofluorescence. A comprehensive approach to annotating micro-array probes and their associated transcripts was performed using Biopendium, a database of sequence and structural annotation. This approach significantly increased the number of genes for which a functional insight could be found. The analysis implicates agrin and two members of the collapsin response-mediated protein (CRMP) family in the switch from precursors to Schwann cells, and synuclein-1 and alphaB-crystallin in peripheral nerve myelination. We also identified a group of genes typically related to chondrogenesis and cartilage/bone development, including type II collagen, that were expressed in a manner similar to that of myelin-associated genes. The comprehensive function annotation also identified, among the genes regulated during nerve development or after nerve injury, proteins belonging to high-interest families, such as cytokines and kinases, and should therefore provide a uniquely valuable resource for future research.

Agrin↗

Comprehensive gene expression analysis by transcript profiling.

After the completion of the genomic sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana, it is now a priority to identify all the genes, their patterns of expression and functions. Transcript profiling is playing a substantial role in annotating and determining gene functions, having advanced from one-gene-at-a-time methods to technologies that provide a holistic view of the genome. In this review, comprehensive transcript profiling methodologies are described, including two that are used extensively by the authors, cDNA-AFLP and cDNA microarraying. Both these technologies illustrate the requirement to integrate molecular biology, automation, LIMS and data analysis. With so much uncharted territory in the Arabidopsis genome, and the desire to tackle complex biological traits, such integrated systems will provide a rich source of data for the correlative, functional annotation of genes.

Gene Expression Profiling↗

Discovery of immune-related genes expressed in hemocytes of the tarantula spider Acanthoscurria gomesiana.

The present study reports the identification of immune related transcripts from hemocytes of the spider Acanthoscurria gomesiana by high throughput sequencing of expressed sequence tags (ESTs). To generate ESTs from hemocytes, two cDNA libraries were prepared: one by directional cloning (primary) and the other by the normalization of the first (normalized). A total of 7584 clones were sequenced and the identical ESTs were clustered, resulting in 3723 assembled sequences (AS). At least 20% of these sequences are putative novel genes. The automatic functional annotation of AS based on Gene Ontology revealed several abundant transcripts related to the following functional classes: hemocyanin, lectin, and structural constituents of ribosome and cytoskeleton. From this annotation, 73 transcripts possibly involved in immune response were also identified, suggesting the existence of several molecular processes not previously described for spiders, such as: pathogen recognition, coagulation, complement activation, cell adhesion and intracellular signaling pathway for the activation of cellular defenses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Arabidopsis thaliana full genome longmer microarrays: a powerful gene discovery tool for agriculture and forestry.

Sequenced plant genomes provide a large reservoir of known genes with potential for use in crop and tree improvement, but assignment of specific functions to annotated genes in sequenced plant genomes remains a challenge. Furthermore, most plant genes belong to families encoding proteins with related but distinct functions. In this commentary, we discuss our development of Arabidopsis spotted whole genome longmer oligonucleotide microarrays, and their use in global transcription profiling. We show that longmer array based transcriptome analysis in Arabidopsis can be used as an efficient and effective gene discovery and functional genomics tool, particularly for functional analyses of members of large gene families. We discuss experiments that focus on gene families involved in phenylpropanoid natural product biosynthesis and fiber differentiation. These analyses have helped to elucidate functions of individual gene family members, and have identified new candidate genes involved in fiber development and differentiation. Results obtained by these studies in Arabidopsis can be used as the basis for gene discovery in commercially important plants, and we have focused our attention on Populus trichocarpa (poplar), a species important in forestry and agroforestry for which complete genome sequence information is available.

Agriculture↗

GOstat: find statistically overrepresented Gene Ontologies within a group of genes.

SUMMARY: Modern experimental techniques, as for example DNA microarrays, as a result usually produce a long list of genes, which are potentially interesting in the analyzed process. In order to gain biological understanding from this type of data, it is necessary to analyze the functional annotations of all genes in this list. The Gene-Ontology (GO) database provides a useful tool to annotate and analyze the functions of a large number of genes. Here, we introduce a tool that utilizes this information to obtain an understanding of which annotations are typical for the analyzed list of genes. This program automatically obtains the GO annotations from a database and generates statistics of which annotations are overrepresented in the analyzed list of genes. This results in a list of GO terms sorted by their specificity. AVAILABILITY: Our program GOstat is accessible via the Internet at http://gostat.wehi.edu.au

Abstracting and Indexing↗

Changes of DNA methylation and gene expression profile in placental villi and chorioamniotic membranes under preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious pregnancy complication with elusive pathogenesis. Although epigenetic dysregulation is implicated, its layer-specific placental roles are poorly defined. This study aimed to identify shared and layer-specific epigenetic alterations in PE by profiling DNA methylation and gene expression in placental villi (PV) and chorioamniotic membranes (CAM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: PV and CAM samples were collected from 7 normal and 8 PE pregnancies, and three public DNA methylation datasets (GSE98224, GSE44667, GSE75196) were integrated. Differentially methylated genes (DMGs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified based on whole-genome methylation and transcriptome sequencing. Layer-specific and shared gene sets were identified by cross-analysis, with functional annotation using Gene Ontology (GO). RESULTS: EM-seq revealed a hypermethylation-dominant, tissue-specific methylation landscape in PE placentas. Cross-tissue comparison identified shared DMGs between the two layers, including nine key genes consistently altered in public datasets. Integrated analysis in PV further identified 22 co-dysregulated genes, enriched in thermoregulation, maternal-fetal immunity, signal transduction, and cell differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: This study elucidates the shared and layer-specific dysregulation of gene networks at methylomic and transcriptomic levels in PE placenta. Comparing PV and CAM highlights placental epigenetic heterogeneity and dysfunction, offering novel clues for mechanistic research and layer-targeted therapies.

Humans↗

Validation and functional annotation of expression-based clusters based on gene ontology.

BACKGROUND: The biological interpretation of large-scale gene expression data is one of the paramount challenges in current bioinformatics. In particular, placing the results in the context of other available functional genomics data, such as existing bio-ontologies, has already provided substantial improvement for detecting and categorizing genes of interest. One common approach is to look for functional annotations that are significantly enriched within a group or cluster of genes, as compared to a reference group. RESULTS: In this work, we suggest the information-theoretic concept of mutual information to investigate the relationship between groups of genes, as given by data-driven clustering, and their respective functional categories. Drawing upon related approaches (Gibbons and Roth, Genome Research 12:1574-1581, 2002), we seek to quantify to what extent individual attributes are sufficient to characterize a given group or cluster of genes. CONCLUSION: We show that the mutual information provides a systematic framework to assess the relationship between groups or clusters of genes and their functional annotations in a quantitative way. Within this framework, the mutual information allows us to address and incorporate several important issues, such as the interdependence of functional annotations and combinatorial combinations of attributes. It thus supplements and extends the conventional search for overrepresented attributes within a group or cluster of genes. In particular taking combinations of attributes into account, the mutual information opens the way to uncover specific functional descriptions of a group of genes or clustering result. All datasets and functional annotations used in this study are publicly available. All scripts used in the analysis are provided as additional files.

Algorithms↗

The TIGR gene indices: reconstruction and representation of expressed gene sequences.

Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) have provided a first glimpse of the collection of transcribed sequences in a variety of organisms. However, a careful analysis of this sequence data can provide significant additional functional, structural and evolutionary information. Our analysis of the public EST sequences, available through the TIGR Gene Indices (TGI; http://www.tigr.org/tdb/tdb.html ), is an attempt to identify the genes represented by that data and to provide additional information regarding those genes. Gene Indices are constructed for selected organisms by first clustering, then assembling EST and annotated gene sequences from GenBank. This process produces a set of unique, high-fidelity virtual transcripts, or tentative consensus (TC) sequences. The TC sequences can be used to provide putative genes with functional annotation, to link the transcripts to mapping and genomic sequence data, and to provide links between orthologous and paralogous genes.

Base Sequence↗

Identification and validation of novel ERBB2 (HER2, NEU) targets including genes involved in angiogenesis.

V-erb-b2 erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 2 (ERBB2; synonyms HER2, NEU) encodes a transmembrane glycoprotein with tyrosine kinase-specific activity that acts as a major switch in different signal-transduction processes. ERBB2 amplification and overexpression have been found in a number of human cancers, including breast, ovary and kidney carcinoma. Our aim was to detect ERBB2-regulated target genes that contribute to its tumorigenic effect on a genomewide scale. The differential gene expression profile of ERBB2-transfected and wild-type mouse fibroblasts was monitored employing DNA microarrays. Regulated expression of selected genes was verified by RT-PCR and validated by Western blot analysis. Genome wide gene expression profiling identified (i) known targets of ERBB2 signaling, (ii) genes implicated in tumorigenesis but so far not associated with ERBB2 signaling as well as (iii) genes not yet associated with oncogenic transformation, including novel genes without functional annotation. We also found that at least a fraction of coexpressed genes are closely linked on the genome. ERBB2 overexpression suppresses the transcription of antiangiogenic factors (e.g., Sparc, Timp3, Serpinf1) but induces expression of angiogenic factors (e.g., Klf5, Tnfaip2, Sema3c). Profiling of ERBB2-dependent gene regulation revealed a compendium of potential diagnostic markers and putative therapeutic targets. Identification of coexpressed genes that colocalize in the genome may indicate gene regulatory mechanisms that require further study to evaluate functional coregulation. (Supplementary material for this article can be found on the International Journal of Cancer website at http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0020-7136/suppmat/index.html.)

Animals↗

'PACLIMS': a component LIM system for high-throughput functional genomic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in sequencing techniques leading to cost reduction have resulted in the generation of a growing number of sequenced eukaryotic genomes. Computational tools greatly assist in defining open reading frames and assigning tentative annotations. However, gene functions cannot be asserted without biological support through, among other things, mutational analysis. In taking a genome-wide approach to functionally annotate an entire organism, in this application the approximately 11,000 predicted genes in the rice blast fungus (Magnaporthe grisea), an effective platform for tracking and storing both the biological materials created and the data produced across several participating institutions was required. RESULTS: The platform designed, named PACLIMS, was built to support our high throughput pipeline for generating 50,000 random insertion mutants of Magnaporthe grisea. To be a useful tool for materials and data tracking and storage, PACLIMS was designed to be simple to use, modifiable to accommodate refinement of research protocols, and cost-efficient. Data entry into PACLIMS was simplified through the use of barcodes and scanners, thus reducing the potential human error, time constraints, and labor. This platform was designed in concert with our experimental protocol so that it leads the researchers through each step of the process from mutant generation through phenotypic assays, thus ensuring that every mutant produced is handled in an identical manner and all necessary data is captured. CONCLUSION: Many sequenced eukaryotes have reached the point where computational analyses are no longer sufficient and require biological support for their predicted genes. Consequently, there is an increasing need for platforms that support high throughput genome-wide mutational analyses. While PACLIMS was designed specifically for this project, the source and ideas present in its implementation can be used as a model for other high throughput mutational endeavors.

Algorithms↗

Computational method for discovery of estrogen responsive genes.

Estrogen has a profound impact on human physiology and affects numerous genes. The classical estrogen reaction is mediated by its receptors (ERs), which bind to the estrogen response elements (EREs) in target gene's promoter region. Due to tedious and expensive experiments, a limited number of human genes are functionally well characterized. It is still unclear how many and which human genes respond to estrogen treatment. We propose a simple, economic, yet effective computational method to predict a subclass of estrogen responsive genes. Our method relies on the similarity of ERE frames across different promoters in the human genome. Matching ERE frames of a test set of 60 known estrogen responsive genes to the collection of over 18,000 human promoters, we obtained 604 candidate genes. Evaluating our result by comparison with the published microarray data and literature, we found that more than half (53.6%, 324/604) of predicted candidate genes are responsive to estrogen. We believe this method can significantly reduce the number of testing potential estrogen target genes and provide functional clues for annotating part of genes that lack functional information.

Computational Biology↗

Small interfering RNA screens reveal enhanced cisplatin cytotoxicity in tumor cells having both BRCA network and TP53 disruptions.

RNA interference technology allows the systematic genetic analysis of the molecular alterations in cancer cells and how these alterations affect response to therapies. Here we used small interfering RNA (siRNA) screens to identify genes that enhance the cytotoxicity (enhancers) of established anticancer chemotherapeutics. Hits identified in drug enhancer screens of cisplatin, gemcitabine, and paclitaxel were largely unique to the drug being tested and could be linked to the drug's mechanism of action. Hits identified by screening of a genome-scale siRNA library for cisplatin enhancers in TP53-deficient HeLa cells were significantly enriched for genes with annotated functions in DNA damage repair as well as poorly characterized genes likely having novel functions in this process. We followed up on a subset of the hits from the cisplatin enhancer screen and validated a number of enhancers whose products interact with BRCA1 and/or BRCA2. TP53(+/-) matched-pair cell lines were used to determine if knockdown of BRCA1, BRCA2, or validated hits that associate with BRCA1 and BRCA2 selectively enhances cisplatin cytotoxicity in TP53-deficient cells. Silencing of BRCA1, BRCA2, or BRCA1/2-associated genes enhanced cisplatin cytotoxicity approximately 4- to 7-fold more in TP53-deficient cells than in matched TP53 wild-type cells. Thus, tumor cells having disruptions in BRCA1/2 network genes and TP53 together are more sensitive to cisplatin than cells with either disruption alone.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Global molecular and morphological effects of 24-hour chromium(VI) exposure on Shewanella oneidensis MR-1.

The biological impact of 24-h ("chronic") chromium(VI) [Cr(VI) or chromate] exposure on Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 was assessed by analyzing cellular morphology as well as genome-wide differential gene and protein expression profiles. Cells challenged aerobically with an initial chromate concentration of 0.3 mM in complex growth medium were compared to untreated control cells grown in the absence of chromate. At the 24-h time point at which cells were harvested for transcriptome and proteome analyses, no residual Cr(VI) was detected in the culture supernatant, thus suggesting the complete uptake and/or reduction of this metal by cells. In contrast to the untreated control cells, Cr(VI)-exposed cells formed apparently aseptate, nonmotile filaments that tended to aggregate. Transcriptome profiling and mass spectrometry-based proteomic characterization revealed that the principal molecular response to 24-h Cr(VI) exposure was the induction of prophage-related genes and their encoded products as well as a number of functionally undefined hypothetical genes that were located within the integrated phage regions of the MR-1 genome. In addition, genes with annotated functions in DNA metabolism, cell division, biosynthesis and degradation of the murein (peptidoglycan) sacculus, membrane response, and general environmental stress protection were upregulated, while genes encoding chemotaxis, motility, and transport/binding proteins were largely repressed under conditions of 24-h chromate treatment.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Transcriptional profiling of wheat caryopsis development using cDNA microarrays.

The expression of 7,835 genes in developing wheat caryopses was analyzed using cDNA arrays. Using a mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) method, 29% (2,237) of the genes on the array were identified to be differentially expressed at the 6 different time-points examined, which covers the developmental stages from coenocytic endosperm to physiological maturity. Comparison of genes differentially expressed between two time-points revealed a dynamic transcript accumulation profile with major re-programming events that occur at 3-7, 7-14 and 21-28 DPA. A k-means clustering algorithm grouped the differentially expressed genes into 10 clusters, revealing co-expression of genes involved in the same pathway such as carbohydrate and protein synthesis or preparation for desiccation. Functional annotation of genes that show peak expression at specific time-points correlated with the developmental events associated with the respective stages. Results provide information on the temporal expression during caryopsis development for a significant number of differentially expressed genes with unknown function.

DNA, Complementary↗

The TIGR Gene Indices: analysis of gene transcript sequences in highly sampled eukaryotic species.

While genome sequencing projects are advancing rapidly, EST sequencing and analysis remains a primary research tool for the identification and categorization of gene sequences in a wide variety of species and an important resource for annotation of genomic sequence. The TIGR Gene Indices (http://www.tigr.org/tdb/tgi. shtml) are a collection of species-specific databases that use a highly refined protocol to analyze EST sequences in an attempt to identify the genes represented by that data and to provide additional information regarding those genes. Gene Indices are constructed by first clustering, then assembling EST and annotated gene sequences from GenBank for the targeted species. This process produces a set of unique, high-fidelity virtual transcripts, or Tentative Consensus (TC) sequences. The TC sequences can be used to provide putative genes with functional annotation, to link the transcripts to mapping and genomic sequence data, to provide links between orthologous and paralogous genes and as a resource for comparative sequence analysis.

Animals↗

Draft genome assembly of the green-bronze dung beetle, Onthophagus orpheus.

Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) are ecologically important insects, yet genomic resources for this diverse lineage remain limited. Here, we present a high-quality genome assembly for Onthophagus orpheus, an understudied species that is abundant in urban forests in the eastern United States. The assembled genome is a scaffold-level assembly, with a high degree of genic completeness as assessed by Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Ortholog (BUSCO) analyses, indicating robust representation of conserved protein-coding genes. Structural and functional annotation recovered a comprehensive gene set consistent with expectations for coleopteran genomes. This genome assembly provides an important resource for future work on the behavioral ecology and population genetics of Onthophagus orpheus, specifically, and Scarabaeidae more broadly.

Onthophagus↗

A probabilistic learning approach to whole-genome operon prediction.

We present a computational approach to predicting operons in the genomes of prokaryotic organisms. Our approach uses machine learning methods to induce predictive models for this task from a rich variety of data types including sequence data, gene expression data, and functional annotations associated with genes. We use multiple learned models that individually predict promoters, terminators and operons themselves. A key part of our approach is a dynamic programming method that uses our predictions to map every known and putative gene in a given genome into its most probable operon. We evaluate our approach using data from the E. coli K-12 genome.

Gene Expression Profiling↗

Chromosome-level genome assembly of Manglietia pachyphylla.

Manglietia pachyphylla, an endangered evergreen tree within the Magnoliaceae family, is renowned for its exceptional ornamental value in landscape horticulture. Despite its classification as a Category II nationally protected plant species in China, the genetic basis of its adaptive traits and conservation priorities remains poorly understood. To address this, we present the first chromosome-scale genome assembly of M. pachyphylla utilizing an integrated approach combining PacBio HiFi long-read and Hi-C chromosome conformation capture sequencing technologies. The assembled genome spans 2.15 Gb (contig N50 = 43.57 Mb), exhibiting a heterozygosity rate of 0.78% and repeat content of 78.64%, predominantly comprising long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons (52.86%). Hi-C scaffolding anchored 99.57% of the assembly to 19 pseudochromosomes, achieving a BUSCO completeness score of 96.4%. Annotation revealed 42,505 putative protein-coding genes, with 84.46% of predicted genes were functionally annotated. Phylogenomic analysis positioned M. pachyphylla and Oyama sieboldii clustered together in a well-supported group. This high-contiguity genome assembly enables future investigations into adaptive evolution, functional genomics, and evidence-based conservation strategies for this endangered species.

Chromosomes, Plant↗