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Group Proteins (group + protein)
Kinds of Group Proteins Selected AbstractsE2f6 and Bmi1 cooperate in axial skeletal developmentDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 5 2008Maria Courel Abstract Bmi1 is a Polycomb Group protein that functions as a component of Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1) to control axial skeleton development through Hox gene repression. Bmi1 also represses transcription of the Ink4a-Arf locus and is consequently required to maintain the proliferative and self-renewal properties of hematopoietic and neural stem cells. Previously, one E2F family member, E2F6, has been shown to interact with Bmi1 and other known PRC1 components. However, the biological relevance of this interaction is unknown. In this study, we use mouse models to investigate the interplay between E2F6 and Bmi1. This analysis shows that E2f6 and Bmi1 cooperate in the regulation of Hox genes, and consequently axial skeleton development, but not in the repression of the Ink4a-Arf locus. These findings underscore the significance of the E2F6,Bmi1 interaction in vivo and suggest that the Hox and Ink4a-Arf loci are regulated by somewhat different mechanisms. Developmental Dynamics 237:1232-1242, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Expression of polycomb group protein EZH2 in nevi and melanomaJOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 8 2007Jonathan B. McHugh Background:, Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a polycomb group protein that regulates the cell cycle, has recently been implicated in the progression of several human cancers. We sought to determine the pattern of EZH2 expression in benign and malignant melanocytic tumors to see if EZH2 might play a role in melanoma pathogenesis and progression. Methods:, We identified and reviewed 11 compound nevi, 13 dysplastic nevi, 13 Spitz nevi, 9 in situ melanomas, 10 non-metastatic invasive melanomas and 19 melanomas metastatic to lymph nodes from the University of Michigan pathology archives. Sections immunostained with anti-EZH2 antibody were scored independently and blindly for staining intensity on a scale of 1,4 by three dermatopathologists. Results were analyzed and compared statistically. Results:, We observed an incremental increase in EZH2 expression from benign nevi to melanoma: scores of 1.18 and 1.08 for ordinary and dysplastic nevi, 1.7 and 1.78 for Spitz nevi and in situ melanoma, and 1.9 and 3.0 for invasive and metastatic melanoma, respectively. EZH2 expression for metastatic melanoma was significantly higher compared with invasive and in situ melanoma and benign nevi (p , 0.01). Conclusions:, EZH2 protein levels increase incrementally from benign nevi to melanoma, which suggests that EZH2 may play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of melanoma. [source] Potential protein markers for nutritional health effects on colorectal cancer in the mouse as revealed by proteomics analysisPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 9 2006Githa Breikers Abstract It is suggested that colorectal cancer might be prevented by changes in diet, and vegetable consumption has been demonstrated to have a protective effect. Until now, little is known about the effects of vegetable consumption at the proteome level. Therefore, the effect of increased vegetable intake on the protein expression in the colonic mucosa of healthy mice was studied. Aim was to identify the proteins that are differentially expressed by increased vegetable consumption and to discriminate their possible role in the protection against colorectal cancer. Mice were fed four different vegetable diets, which was followed by analysis of total cellular protein from colonic mucosal cells by a combination of 2-DE and MS. We found 30 proteins that were differentially expressed in one or more diets as compared to the control diet. Six could be identified by MALDI-TOF MS: myosin regulatory light chain 2, carbonic anhydrase I, high-mobility group protein 1, pancreatitis-associated protein 3, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and ATP synthase oligomycin sensitivity conferral protein. Alterations in the levels of these proteins agree with a role in the protection against colon cancer. We conclude that these proteins are suitable markers for the health effect of food on cancer. The observed altered protein levels therefore provide support for the protective effects of vegetables against colorectal cancer. [source] Differentially expressed proteins in gastrointestinal stromal tumors with KIT and PDGFRA mutationsPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 4 2006Hyun Ju Kang Abstract Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) have activating mutations in either KIT or PDGFRA. However, a small subset of GIST lacks either mutation. To investigate the molecular characteristics of GIST according to mutation type, protein expression profiles in 12 GIST (2 cases with PDGFRA mutations, 8 cases with KIT mutations and 2 cases lacking either mutation) were analyzed using 2-DE and MALDI-TOF-MS. Comparative analysis of the respective spot patterns using 2-DE showed that 15 proteins were differently expressed according to the mutation status. Expression levels of septin and heat shock protein (HSP) 27 were increased in GIST with KIT mutations and annexin V was overexpressed in GIST lacking either mutation. Among the 15 proteins, overexpression of 5 proteins [annexin V, high mobility group protein 1 (HMGB1), C13orf2, glutamate dehydrogenase 1 and fibrinogen beta chain] and decreased expression of RoXaN correlated with a higher tumor grade. These findings suggest that differential protein expression can be used as a diagnostic biomarker. Moreover, it may play a role in the development and progression of GIST according to activating mutation type, as these proteins have been shown to be involved in tumor metastasis, apoptosis and immune response. [source] Programming the genome in embryonic and somatic stem cellsJOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE, Issue 4 2007Philippe Collas ,,Introduction ,,Epigenetic makeup of embryonic stem cells: keeping chromatin loose -,DNA methylation and gene expression -,CpG methylation profiles in mouse ESCs -,CpG methylation patterns in human ESCs -,Both active and inactive histone modification marks on developmentally regulated genes in ESCs suggest transcriptional activation potential -,A regulatory role of histone H1 in gene expression in embryonic stem cells? -,Polycomb group proteins impose a transcriptional brake on lineage-priming genes ,,The epigenetic makeup of mesenchymal stem cells reflects restricted differentiation potential -,CpG methylation patterns on lineage-specific promoters in adipose stem cells -,CpG content affects the relationship between promoter DNA methylation and transcriptional activity -,Bivalent histone modifications on potentially active genes? ,,Linking DNA methylation to histone modifications, chromatin packaging and (re)organization of the nuclear compartment ,,Perspectives: towards remodelling the stem cell epigenome? Abstract In opposition to terminally differentiated cells, stem cells can self-renew and give rise to multiple cell types. Embryonic stem cells retain the ability of the inner cell mass of blastocysts to differentiate into all cell types of the body and have acquired in culture unlimited self-renewal capacity. Somatic stem cells are found in many adult tissues, have an extensive but finite lifespan and can differentiate into a more restricted array of cell types. A growing body of evidence indicates that multi-lineage differentiation ability of stem cells can be defined by the potential for expression of lineage-specification genes. Gene expression, or as emphasized here, potential for gene expression, is largely controlled by epigenetic modifications of DNA and chromatin on genomic regulatory and coding regions. These modifications modulate chromatin organization not only on specific genes but also at the level of the whole nucleus; they can also affect timing of DNA replication. This review highlights how mechanisms by which genes are poised for transcription in undifferentiated stem cells are being uncovered through primarily the mapping of DNA methylation, histone modifications and transcription factor binding throughout the genome. The combinatorial association of epigenetic marks on developmentally regulated and lineage-specifying genes in undifferentiated cells seems to define a pluripotent state. [source] Differential expression of human Polycomb group proteins in various tissues and cell typesJOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue S36 2001Marco J. Gunster Abstract Polycomb group proteins are involved in the maintenance of cellular identity. As multimeric complexes they repress cell type-specific sets of target genes. One model predicts that the composition of Polycomb group complexes determines the specificity for their target genes. To study this hypothesis, we analyzed the expression of Polycomb group genes in various human tissues using Northern blotting and immunohistochemistry. We found that Polycomb group expression varies greatly among tissues and even among specific cell types within a particular tissue. Variations in mRNA expression ranged from expression of all analyzed Polycomb group genes in the heart and testis to no detectable Polycomb group expression at all in bone marrow. Furthermore, each Polycomb group gene was expressed in a different number of tissues. RING1 was expressed in practically all tissues, while HPH1 was expressed in only a few tissues. Also within one tissue the level of Polycomb group expression varied greatly. Cell type-specific Polycomb group expression patterns were observed in thyroid, pancreas, and kidney. Finally, in various developmental stages of fetal kidney, different Polycomb group expression patterns were observed. We conclude that Polycomb group expression can vary depending on the tissue, cell type, and development stage. Polycomb group complexes can only be composed of the Polycomb group proteins that are expressed. This implies that with cell type-specific Polycomb group expression patterns, cell type-specific Polycomb group complexes exist. The fact that there are cell type-specific Polycomb group targets and cell type-specific Polycomb group complexes fits well with the hypothesis that the composition of Polycomb group complexes may determine their target specificity. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 36: 129,143, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Isolation and characterization of the RAD54 gene from Arabidopsis thalianaTHE PLANT JOURNAL, Issue 6 2006Keishi Osakabe Summary Homologous recombination (HR) is an essential process in maintaining genome integrity and variability. In eukaryotes, the Rad52 epistasis group proteins are involved in meiotic recombination and/or HR repair. One member of this group, Rad54, belongs to the SWI2/SNF2 family of DNA-stimulated ATPases. Recent studies indicate that Rad54 has important functions in HR, both as a chromatin remodelling factor and as a mediator of the Rad51 nucleoprotein filament. Despite the importance of Rad54 in HR, no study of Rad54 from plants has yet been performed. Here, we cloned the full-length AtRAD54 cDNA sequence; an open reading frame of 910 amino acids encodes a protein with a predicted molecular mass of 101.9 kDa. Western blotting analysis showed that the AtRad54 protein was indeed expressed as a protein of approximately 110 kDa in Arabidopsis. The predicted protein sequence of AtRAD54 contains seven helicase domains, which are conserved in all other Rad54s. Yeast two-hybrid analysis revealed an interaction between Arabidopsis Rad51 and Rad54. AtRAD54 transcripts were found in all tissues examined, with the highest levels of expression in flower buds. Expression of AtRAD54 was induced by , -irradiation. A T-DNA insertion mutant of AtRAD54 devoid of full-length AtRAD54 expression was viable and fertile; however, it showed increased sensitivity to , -irradiation and the cross-linking reagent cisplatin. In addition, the efficiency of somatic HR in the mutant plants was reduced relative to that in wild-type plants. Our findings point to an important role for Rad54 in HR repair in higher plants. [source] Polycomb group proteins: remembering how to catch chromatin during replicationBIOESSAYS, Issue 8 2009Ram Parikshan Kumar Abstract Polycomb group (PcG) proteins maintain the expression state of PcG-responsive genes during development of multicellular organisms. Recent observations suggest that "the H3K27me3 modification" acts to maintain Polycomb repressive complex (PRC) 2, the enzyme that creates this modification, on replicating chromatin. This could in turn promote propagation of H3K27me3 on newly replicated daughter chromatin, and promote recruitment of PRC1. Other work suggests that PRC1-class complexes can be maintained on replicating chromatin, at least in vitro, independently of H3K27me3. Thus, histone modifications and PcG proteins themselves may both be maintained through replication. [source] To SIR with Polycomb: linking silencing mechanismsBIOESSAYS, Issue 2 2005Vivek S. Chopra Yeast SIR2, the most evolutionarily conserved deacetylase, plays an essential role in epigenetic silencing at the silent mating type loci and telomeres. SIR2 has been implicated in chromatin silencing and lifespan determination in several organisms. Discovery that Drosophila SIR2 is also involved in epigenetic silencing mediated by the Polycomb group proteins and is physically associated with a complex containing the E(Z) histone methyltransferase1 has wide implications. These findings suggest possible link of Polycomb system to diverse cellular processes including senescence. BioEssays 27:119,121, 2005. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] |