Browsing by Author "Chang, Jan-Gowth"

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16-Hydroxycleroda-3,13-dien-15,16-olide deregulates PI3K and Aurora B activities that involve in cancer cell apoptosis
(2011-07-11)
Lin, Yi-Hsiung
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Lee, Chien-Chih
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Chan, Wen-Li
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Chang, Wen-Hsin
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Wu, Yang-Chang
The PI3K-AKT pathway and Aurora kinase play essential roles in such cellular processes as cell survival, angiogenesis, and differentiation, and are usually expressed at maximum levels during cancer cell proliferation. The present study investigated the effect of the natural compound, 16-hydroxycleroda-3,13-dien-15,16-olide (PL3), on regulating the PI3K-AKT pathway and Aurora B, which led to cancer cell apoptosis. PL3 acts as a PI3K inhibitor by influencing cell survival, signaling transduction, and cell cycle progression. It was observed that PL3 targeted and induced dephosphorylation of the PI3K pathway, degradation of Aurora B and mitotic-related gene expressions, and sequentially shut down the cell cycle. This eventually resulted in cell death. As Aurora B was downregulated, spindle dysfunction and destruction of the G(2)/M phase checkpoint resulted in DNA-damaged cells undergoing apoptosis. Moreover. PL3 also resensitized T31 5I-mutated Bcr-ABL(+) BA/F3 cells to improve the cytotoxicity of Imatinib in Imatinib-resistant cell line. Taken together, PL3 can perturb the PI3K-AKT pathway and Aurora B resulting in gene silencing and cell cycle disturbance. It was demonstrated that PL3 acted like a novel small-molecule PI3K modulator, thereby potentially contributing to cancer chemotherapy and combination medication. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Alternative splicing in human cancer cells is modulated by the amiloride derivative 3,5-diamino-6-chloro-N-(N-(2,6-dichlorobenzoyl)carbamimidoyl)pyrazine-2-carboxide
(1970-01-01)
Lee, Chien-Chin
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Chang, Wen-Hsin
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Chang, Ya-Sian
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Yang, Jinn-Moon
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Chang, Chih-Shiang
Alternative splicing (AS) is a process that enables the generation of multiple protein isoforms with different biological properties from a single mRNA. Cancer cells often use the maneuverability conferred by AS to produce proteins that contribute to growth and survival. In our previous studies, we identified that amiloride modulates AS in cancer cells. However, the effective concentration of amiloride required to modulate AS is too high for use in cancer treatment. In this study, we used computational algorithms to screen potential amiloride derivatives for their ability to regulate AS in cancer cells. We found that 3,5-diamino-6-chloro-N-(N-(2,6-dichlorobenzoyl)carbamimidoyl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide (BS008) can regulate AS of apoptotic gene transcripts, including HIPK3, SMAC, and BCL-X, at a lower concentration than amiloride. This splicing regulation involved various splicing factors, and it was accompanied by a change in the phosphorylation state of serine/arginine-rich proteins (SR proteins). RNA sequencing was performed to reveal that AS of many other apoptotic gene transcripts, such as AATF, ATM, AIFM1, NFKB1, and API5, was also modulated by BS008. In vivo experiments further indicated that treatment of tumor-bearing mice with BS008 resulted in a marked decrease in tumor size. BS008 also had inhibitory effects in vitro, either alone or in a synergistic combination with the cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents sorafenib and nilotinib. BS008 enabled sorafenib dose reduction without compromising antitumor activity. These findings suggest that BS008 may possess therapeutic potential for cancer treatment.
Characteristics and prevalence of KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA mutations in colorectal cancer by high-resolution melting analysis in Taiwanese population
(2012-10-09)
Hsieh, Li-Ling
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Er, Tze-Kiong
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Chen, Chih-Chieh
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Hsieh, Jan-Sing
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Chang, Jan-Gowth
Background: The identification of KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA mutations before the administration of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapy of colorectal cancer has become important The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA mutations in the Taiwanese population with colorectal cancer. This study was undertaken to identify BRAF and PIK3CA mutations in patients with colorectal cancer by high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis. HRM analysis is a new gene scan tool that quickly performs the PCR and identifies sequence alterations without requiring post-PCR treatment Methods: In the present study, DNAs were extracted from 182 cases of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) colorectal cancer samples for clinical KRAS mutational analysis by direct sequencing. All the samples were also tested for mutations within BRAF V600E and PIK3CA (exons 9 and 20) by HRM analysis. Results: The results were confirmed by direct sequencing. The frequency of BRAF and PIK3CA mutations is 1.1%, and 7.1%, respectively. Intriguingly, we found that nine patients (4.9%) with the KRAS mutation were coexistent with the PIK3CA mutation. Four patients (22%) without the KRAS mutation were existent with the PIK3CA mutation. Two patients (1.1%) without the KRAS mutation were existent with the BRAF mutation. Conclusions: In the current study, we suppose that HRM analysis is rapid, feasible, and powerful diagnostic tool for the detection of BRAF and PIK3CA mutations in a clinical setting. Additionally, our results indicated the prevalence of KRAS. BRAF, and PIK3C4 mutational status in the Taiwanese population. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Computational analysis of a novel mutation in ETFDH gene highlights its long-range effects on the FAD-binding motif
(2011-10-21)
Er, Tze-Kiong
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Chen, Chih-Chieh
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Liu, Yen-Yi
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Chang, Hui-Chiu
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Chien, Yin-Hsiu
Background: Multiple acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by the defects in the mitochondrial electron transfer system and the metabolism of fatty acids. Recently, mutations in electron transfer flavoprotein dehydrogenase (ETFDH) gene, encoding electron transfer flavoprotein: ubiquinone oxidoreductase (ETF:QO) have been reported to be the major causes of riboflavin-responsive MADD. To date, no studies have been performed to explore the functional impact of these mutations or their mechanism of disrupting enzyme activity. Results: High resolution melting (HRM) analysis and sequencing of the entire ETFDH gene revealed a novel mutation (p.Phe128Ser) and the hotspot mutation (p.Ala84Thr) from a patient with MADD. According to the predicted 3D structure of ETF: QO, the two mutations are located within the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) binding domain; however, the two residues do not have direct interactions with the FAD ligand. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and normal mode analysis (NMA), we found that the p. Ala84Thr and p.Phe128Ser mutations are most likely to alter the protein structure near the FAD binding site as well as disrupt the stability of the FAD binding required for the activation of ETF: QO. Intriguingly, NMA revealed that several reported disease-causing mutations in the ETF: QO protein show highly correlated motions with the FAD-binding site. Conclusions: Based on the present findings, we conclude that the changes made to the amino acids in ETF: QO are likely to influence the FAD-binding stability.
Evaluation of whole exome sequencing by targeted gene sequencing and Sanger sequencing
(2017-08-01)
Chang, Ya-Sian
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Huang, Hsien-Da
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Yeh, Kun-Tu
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Chang, Jan-Gowth
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生物科技學系
Background: Targeted gene sequencing (TGS) and whole exome sequencing (WES) are being used in clinical testing in laboratories. We compared the performances of TGS and WES using the same DNA samples. Methods: DNA was extracted from 10 endometrial tumor tissue specimens. Sequencing were performed with an Illumina HiSeq 2000. We randomly selected variants to confirm through Sanger sequencing or mutant-enriched PCR with Sanger sequencing. Results: We found that the variants identified in both TGS and WES were true positives (47/47), regardless of the sequencing depth. Most variants found in TGS only were true positives (34/40), and most of the variants found by WES only were false positives (8/18). From these results, we suggest that the sequencing depth may not play important role in the accuracy of NGS-based methods. After analysis, we found that WES had a sensitivity of 72.70%, specificity of 96.27%, precision of 99.44%, and accuracy of 75.03%. Conclusions: The results of NGS-based methods must currently be validated, especially for important reported variants regardless of the methods used, and for the use of WES in cancers a higher false negative rate must be considered. More sensitive methods should be used to confirm the NGS results in uneven cancer tissues.
Genetic alterations in endometrial cancer by targeted next-generation sequencing
(2016-02)
Chang, Ya-Sian
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Huang, Hsien-Da
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Yeh, Kun-Tu
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Chang, Jan-Gowth
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生物科技學系
Many genetic factors play important roles in the development of endometrial cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate genetic alterations in the Taiwanese population with endometrial cancer. DNA was extracted from 10 cases of fresh-frozen endometrial cancer tissue. The exomes of cancer-related genes were captured using the NimbleGen Comprehensive Cancer Panel (578 cancer-related genes) and sequenced using the Illumina Genomic Sequencing Platform. Our results revealed 120 variants in 99 genes, 21 of which were included in the Oncomine Cancer Research Panel used in the National Cancer Institute Match Trial. The 21 genes comprised 8 tumor suppressor candidates (AIM, MSH2, PIK3R1, PTCH1, PTEN, TET2, TP53, and TSC1) and 13 oncogene candidates (ALK, BCL9, CTNNB1, ERBB2, FGFR2, FLT3, HNF1A, KIT, MTOR, PDGFRA, PPP2R1A, PTPN11, and SF3B1). We identified a high frequency of mutations in PTEN (50%) and genes involved in the endometrial cancer-related molecular pathway, which involves the IL-7 signaling pathway (PIK3R1, n = 1; AKT2, n = 1; FOXO1, n = 1). We report the mutational landscape of endometrial cancer in the Taiwanese population. We believe that this study will shed new light on fundamental aspects for understanding the molecular pathogenesis of endometrial cancer and may aid in the development of new targeted therapies. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
High Expression Level of Tra2-beta 1 Is Responsible for Increased SMN2 Exon 7 Inclusion in the Testis of SMA Mice
(2015-03-17)
Chen, Yu-Chia
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Chang, Jan-Gowth
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Jong, Yuh-Jyh
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Liu, Ting-Yuan
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Yuo, Chung-Yee
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited neuromuscular disease caused by deletion or mutation of SMN1 gene. All SMA patients carry a nearly identical SMN2 gene, which produces low level of SMN protein due to mRNA exon 7 exclusion. Previously, we found that the testis of SMA mice (smn(-/-) SMN2) expresses high level of SMN2 full-length mRNA, indicating a testis-specific mechanism for SMN2 exon 7 inclusion. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we established primary cultures of testis cells from SMA mice and analyzed them for SMN2 exon 7 splicing. We found that primary testis cells after a 2-hour culture still expressed high level of SMN2 full-length mRNA, but the level decreased after longer cultures. We then compared the protein levels of relevant splicing factors, and found that the level of Tra2-beta 1 also decreased during testis cell culture, correlated with SMN2 full-length mRNA downregulation. In addition, the testis of SMA mice expressed the highest level of Tra2-beta 1 among the many tissues examined. Furthermore, overexpression of Tra2-beta 1, but not ASF/SF2, increased SMN2 minigene exon 7 inclusion in primary testis cells and spinal cord neurons, whereas knockdown of Tra2-beta 1 decreased SMN2 exon 7 inclusion in primary testis cells of SMA mice. Therefore, our results indicate that high expression level of Tra2-beta 1 is responsible for increased SMN2 exon 7 inclusion in the testis of SMA mice. This study also suggests that the expression level of Tra2-beta 1 may be a modifying factor of SMA disease and a potential target for SMA treatment.
IDENTIFICATION A NOVEL MISSENSE MUTATION P.F128S IN A TAIWANESE PATIENT WITH RIBOFLAVIN-RESPONSIVE MULTIPLE ACYL-COA DEHYDROGENASE DEFIENCY
(2011-05-01)
Er, Tze-Kiong
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Liang, Wen-Chen
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Chen, Chih-Chieh
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Liu, Ta-Chi
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Chang, Jan-Gowth
Identification of novel mutations in endometrial cancer patients by whole-exome sequencing
(2017-05-01)
Chang, Ya-Sian
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Huang, Hsien-Da
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Yeh, Kun-Tu
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Chang, Jan-Gowth
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生物科技學系
The aim of the present study was to identify genomic alterations in Taiwanese endometrial cancer patients. This information is vitally important in Taiwan, where endometrial cancer is the second most common gynecological cancer. We performed whole-exome sequencing on DNA from 14 tumor tissue samples from Taiwanese endometrial cancer patients. We used the Genome Analysis Tool kit software package for data analysis, and the dbSNP, Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases for comparisons. Variants were validated via Sanger sequencing. We identified 143 non-synonymous mutations in 756 canonical cancer-related genes and 1,271 non-synonymous mutations in non-canonical cancer-related genes in 14 endometrial samples. PTEN, KRAS and PIK3R1 were the most frequently mutated canonical cancer-related genes. Our results revealed nine potential driver genes (MAPT, IL24, MCM6,TSC1,BIRC2, CIITA, DST, CASP8 and NOTCH2) and 21 potential passenger genes (ARMCX4, IGSF10, VPS13C, DCT,DNAH14,TLN1,ZNF605,ZSCAN29, MOCOS, CMYA5, PCDH17, UGT1A8, CYFIP2, MACF1, NUDT5, JAKMIP1, PCDHGB4, FAM178A, SNX6, IMP4 and PCMTD1). The detected molecular aberrations led to putative activation of the mTOR, Wnt, MAPK, VEGF and ErbB pathways, as well as aberrant DNA repair, cell cycle control and apoptosis pathways. We characterized the mutational landscape and genetic alterations in multiple cellular pathways of endometrial cancer in the Taiwanese population.
Impact of Enterobius vermicularis infection and mebendazole treatment on intestinal microbiota and host immune response
(2017-09-01)
Yang, Chin-An
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Liang, Chao
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Lin, Chia-Li
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Hsiao, Chiung-Tzu
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Peng, Ching-Tien
Background Previous studies on the association of enterobiasis and chronic inflammatory diseases have revealed contradictory results. The interaction of Enterobius vermicularis infection in particular with gut microbiota and induced immune responses has never been thoroughly examined. Methodology/Findings In order to answer the question of whether exposure to pinworm and mebendazole can shift the intestinal microbial composition and immune responses, we recruited 109 (30 pinwormnegative, 79 pinworm-infected) first and fourth grade primary school children in Taichung, Taiwan, for a gut microbiome study and an intestinal cytokine and SIgA analysis. In the pinworm-infected individuals, fecal samples were collected again at 2 weeks after administration of 100 mg mebendazole. Gut microbiota diversity increased after Enterobius infection, and it peaked after administration of mebendazole. At the phylum level, pinworm infection and mebendazole deworming were associated with a decreased relative abundance of Fusobacteria and an increased proportion of Actinobacteria. At the genus level, the relative abundance of the probiotic Bifidobacterium increased after enterobiasis and mebendazole treatment. The intestinal SIgA level was found to be lower in the pinworm-infected group, and was elevated in half of the mebendazole-treated group. A higher proportion of pre-treatment Salmonella spp. was associated with a non-increase in SIgA after mebendazole deworming treatment. Conclusions/Significance Childhood exposure to pinworm plus mebendazole is associated with increased bacterial diversity, an increased abundance of Actinobacteria including the probiotic Bifidobacterium, and a decreased proportion of Fusobacteria. The gut SIgA level was lower in the pinworminfected group, and was increased in half of the individuals after mebendazole deworming treatment.
IncRNAMap: A map of putative regulatory functions in the long non-coding transcriptome
(2014-06-01)
Chan, Wen-Ling
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Huang, Hsien-Da
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Chang, Jan-Gowth
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生物科技學系
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生物資訊及系統生物研究所
Background: Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of long non-coding RNAs (IncRNAs) in chromatin remodeling, and in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. However, only a few specific IncRNAs are well understood, whereas others are completely uncharacterized. To address this, there is a need for user-friendly platform to studying the putative regulatory functions of human IncRNAs. Description: IncRNAMap is an integrated and comprehensive database relating to exploration of the putative regulatory functions of human IncRNAs with two mechanisms of regulation, by encoding siRNAs and by acting as miRNA decoys. To investigate IncRNAs producing siRNAs that regulate protein-coding genes, IncRNAMap integrated small RNAs (sRNAs) that were supported by publicly available deep sequencing data from various sRNA libraries and constructed IncRNA-derived siRNA-target interactions. In addition, IncRNAMap demonstrated that IncRNAs can act as targets for miRNAs that would otherwise regulate protein-coding genes. Previously studies indicated that intergenic IncRNAs (lincRNAs) either positive or negative regulated neighboring genes, therefore, IncRNAMap surveyed neighboring genes within a 1 Mb distance from the genomic location of specific IncRNAs and provided the expression profiles of IncRNA and its neighboring genes. The gene expression profiles may supply the relationship between incRNA and its neighboring genes. Conclusions: lncRNAMap is a powerful user-friendly platform for the investigation of putative regulatory functions of human IncRNAs with producing siRNAs and acting as miRNA decoy. IncRNAMap is freely available on the web at http://IncRNAMap.mbc.nctu.edu.tw/., (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
IncRNAMap: A map of putative regulatory functions in the long non-coding transcriptome
(2014-06-01)
Chan, Wen-Ling
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Huang, Hsien-Da
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Chang, Jan-Gowth
;
生物科技學系
;
生物資訊及系統生物研究所
Background: Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of long non-coding RNAs (IncRNAs) in chromatin remodeling, and in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. However, only a few specific IncRNAs are well understood, whereas others are completely uncharacterized. To address this, there is a need for user-friendly platform to studying the putative regulatory functions of human IncRNAs. Description: IncRNAMap is an integrated and comprehensive database relating to exploration of the putative regulatory functions of human IncRNAs with two mechanisms of regulation, by encoding siRNAs and by acting as miRNA decoys. To investigate IncRNAs producing siRNAs that regulate protein-coding genes, IncRNAMap integrated small RNAs (sRNAs) that were supported by publicly available deep sequencing data from various sRNA libraries and constructed IncRNA-derived siRNA-target interactions. In addition, IncRNAMap demonstrated that IncRNAs can act as targets for miRNAs that would otherwise regulate protein-coding genes. Previously studies indicated that intergenic IncRNAs (lincRNAs) either positive or negative regulated neighboring genes, therefore, IncRNAMap surveyed neighboring genes within a 1 Mb distance from the genomic location of specific IncRNAs and provided the expression profiles of IncRNA and its neighboring genes. The gene expression profiles may supply the relationship between incRNA and its neighboring genes. Conclusions: lncRNAMap is a powerful user-friendly platform for the investigation of putative regulatory functions of human IncRNAs with producing siRNAs and acting as miRNA decoy. IncRNAMap is freely available on the web at http://IncRNAMap.mbc.nctu.edu.tw/., (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Long noncoding RNA TUG1 is downregulated in non-small cell lung cancer and can regulate CELF1 on binding to PRC2
(2016-08-02)
Lin, Pei-Chin
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Huang, Hsien-Da
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Chang, Chun-Chi
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Chang, Ya-Sian
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Yen, Ju-Chen
Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in tumorigenesis, and lncRNA taurine-upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) has been proven to be associated with several human cancers. However, the mechanisms of TUG1-involved regulation remain largely unknown. Methods: We examined the expressions of TUG1 in a cohort of 89 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to determine the association between TUG1 expression and clinical parameters. We used circular chromosome conformation capture (4C) coupled with next-generation sequencing to explore the genome regions that interact with TUG1 and the TUG1-mediated regulation. Results: TUG1 was significantly downregulated, and the TUG1 downregulation correlated with sex (p = 0.006), smoking status (p = 0.016), and tumor differentiation grade (p = 0.001). Knockdown of TUG1 significantly promoted the proliferation of NSCLC cells. According to the bioinformatic analysis result of TUG1 4C sequencing data, 83 candidate genes and their interaction regions were identified. Among these candidate genes, CUGBP and Elav-like family member 1 (CELF1) are potential targets of TUG1 in-trans regulation. To confirm the interaction between TUG1 and CELF1, relative expressions of CELF1 were examined in TUG1 knockdown H520 cells; results showed that CELF1 was significantly upregulated in TUG1 knockdown H520 cells. RNA immunoprecipitation was then performed to examine whether TUG1 RNA was bound to PRC2, a TUG1-involved regulation mechanism reported in previous studies. The results demonstrated that TUG1 RNA was bound to enhancer of zeste protein 2/embryonic ectoderm development (EZH2/EED), which is essential for PRC2. Finally, our designed ChIP assay revealed that the EZH2/EED was bound to the promotor region of CELF1 within 992 bp upstream of the transcript start site. Conclusion: TUG1 is downregulated in NSCLC. Using TUG1 4C sequencing and bioinformatic analysis, we found CELF1 to be a potential target of TUG1 RNA in in-trans regulation. Moreover, subsequent experiments showed that TUG1 RNA could bind to PRC2 in the promotor region of CELF1 and negatively regulate CELF1 expressions in H520 cells. Our results may facilitate developing new treatment modalities targeting TUG1/PRC2/CELF1 interactions in patients with NSCLC.
Muscle developmental defects in heterogeneous nuclear Ribonucleoprotein A1 knockout mice
(2017-01-01)
Liu, Ting-Yuan
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Chen, Yu-Chia
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Jong, Yuh-Jyh
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Tsai, Huai-Jen
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Lee, Chien-Chin
Heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) is crucial for regulating alternative splicing. Its integrated function within an organism has not, however, been identified. We generated hnRNP A1 knockout mice to study the role of hnRNPA1 in vivo. The knockout mice, hnRNP A1(-/-), showed embryonic lethality because of muscle developmental defects. The blood pressure and heart rate of the heterozygous mice were higher than those of the wild-type mice, indicating heart function defects. We performed mouse exon arrays to study the muscle development mechanism. The processes regulated by hnRNP A1 included cell adhesion and muscle contraction. The expression levels of muscle development-related genes in hnRNPA1(+/-) mice were significantly different from those in wild-type mice, as detected using qRT-PCR. We further confirmed the alternative splicing patterns of muscle development-related genes including mef2c, lrrfip1, usp28 and abcc9. Alternative mRNA isoforms of these genes were increased in hnRNP A1(+/-) mice compared with wild-type mice. Furthermore, we revealed that the functionally similar hnRNP A2/B1 did not compensate for the expression of hnRNP A1 in organisms. In summary, our study demonstrated that hnRNP A1 plays a critical and irreplaceable role in embryonic muscle development by regulating the expression and alternative splicing of muscle-related genes.
Muscle developmental defects in heterogeneous nuclear Ribonucleoprotein A1 knockout mice
(2017-01)
Liu, Ting-Yuan
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Chen, Yu-Chia
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Jong, Yuh-Jyh
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Tsai, Huai-Jen
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Lee, Chien-Chin
Heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) is crucial for regulating alternative splicing. Its integrated function within an organism has not, however, been identified. We generated hnRNP A1 knockout mice to study the role of hnRNPA1 in vivo. The knockout mice, hnRNP A1(-/-), showed embryonic lethality because of muscle developmental defects. The blood pressure and heart rate of the heterozygous mice were higher than those of the wild-type mice, indicating heart function defects. We performed mouse exon arrays to study the muscle development mechanism. The processes regulated by hnRNP A1 included cell adhesion and muscle contraction. The expression levels of muscle development-related genes in hnRNPA1(+/-) mice were significantly different from those in wild-type mice, as detected using qRT-PCR. We further confirmed the alternative splicing patterns of muscle development-related genes including mef2c, lrrfip1, usp28 and abcc9. Alternative mRNA isoforms of these genes were increased in hnRNP A1(+/-) mice compared with wild-type mice. Furthermore, we revealed that the functionally similar hnRNP A2/B1 did not compensate for the expression of hnRNP A1 in organisms. In summary, our study demonstrated that hnRNP A1 plays a critical and irreplaceable role in embryonic muscle development by regulating the expression and alternative splicing of muscle-related genes.
pseudoMap: an innovative and comprehensive resource for identification of siRNA-mediated mechanisms in human transcribed pseudogenes
(2013-02-08)
Chan, Wen-Ling
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Yang, Wen-Kuang
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Huang, Hsien-Da
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Chang, Jan-Gowth
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生物科技學系
RNA interference (RNAi) is a gene silencing process within living cells, which is controlled by the RNA-induced silencing complex with a sequence-specific manner. In flies and mice, the pseudogene transcripts can be processed into short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that regulate protein-coding genes through the RNAi pathway. Following these findings, we construct an innovative and comprehensive database to elucidate siRNA-mediated mechanism in human transcribed pseudogenes (TPGs). To investigate TPG producing siRNAs that regulate protein-coding genes, we mapped the TPGs to small RNAs (sRNAs) that were supported by publicly deep sequencing data from various sRNA libraries and constructed the TPG-derived siRNA-target interactions. In addition, we also presented that TPGs can act as a target for miRNAs that actually regulate the parental gene. To enable the systematic compilation and updating of these results and additional information, we have developed a database, pseudoMap, capturing various types of information, including sequence data, TPG and cognate annotation, deep sequencing data, RNA-folding structure, gene expression profiles, miRNA annotation and target prediction. As our knowledge, pseudoMap is the first database to demonstrate two mechanisms of human TPGs: encoding siRNAs and decoying miRNAs that target the parental gene. pseudoMap is freely accessible at http://pseudomap.mbc.nctu.edu.tw/. Database URL: http://pseudomap.mbc.nctu.edu.tw/
Securinine enhances SMN2 exon 7 inclusion in spinal muscular atrophy cells
(2017-04)
Chen, Yu-Chia
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Chang, Jan-Gowth
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Liu, Ting-Yuan
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Jong, Yuh-Jyh
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Cheng, Wei-Lin
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord, leading to muscular atrophy. SMA is caused by deletions or mutations in the survival motor neuron gene (SMN1) on chromosome 5q13. A second copy of the SMN gene (SMN2) also exists on chromosome 5, and both genes can produce functional protein. However, due to alternative splicing of the exon 7, the majority of SMN protein produced by SMN2 is truncated and unable to compensate for the loss of SMN1. Increasing full-length SMN protein production by promoting the exon 7 inclusion in SMN2 mRNA or increasing SMN2 gene transcription could be a therapeutic approach for SMA. In this study, we screened for the compounds that enhance SMN2 exon 7 inclusion by using SMN2 minigene-luciferase reporter system. We found that securinine can increase luciferase activity, indicating that securinine promoted SMN2 exon 7 inclusion. In addition, securinine increased full-length SMN2 mRNA and SMN protein expression in SMA patient-derived lymphoid cell lines. To investigate the mechanism of securinine effect on SMN2 splicing, we compared the protein levels of relevant splicing factors between securinine-treated and untreated cells. We found that securinine downregulated hnRNP A1 and Sam68 and upregulated Tra2-b1 expression. However, securinine, unlike HDAC inhibitors, did not enhance tra2-b1 gene transcription, indicating a post-transcriptional mechanism for Tra2-b1 upregulation. Furthermore, we treated SMA-like mice with securinine by i.p. injection and found that securinine treatment increased SMN2 exon 7 inclusion and SMN protein expression in the brain and spinal cord. According to our results, securinine might have the potential to become a therapeutic drug for SMA disease. (C) 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
Small Molecule Amiloride Modulates Oncogenic RNA Alternative Splicing to Devitalize Human Cancer Cells
(2011-06-09)
Chang, Jan-Gowth
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Yang, Den-Mei
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Chang, Wen-Hsin
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Chow, Lu-Ping
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Chan, Wen-Ling
Alternative splicing involves differential exon selection of a gene transcript to generate mRNA and protein isoforms with structural and functional diversity. Abnormal alternative splicing has been shown to be associated with malignant phenotypes of cancer cells, such as chemo-resistance and invasive activity. Screening small molecules and drugs for modulating RNA splicing in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Huh-7, we discovered that amiloride, distinct from four pH-affecting amiloride analogues, could "normalize" the splicing of BCL-X, HIPK3 and RON/MISTR1 transcripts. Our proteomic analyses of amiloride-treated cells detected hypo-phosphorylation of splicing factor SF2/ASF, and decreased levels of SRp20 and two un-identified SR proteins. We further observed decreased phosphorylation of AKT, ERK1/2 and PP1, and increased phosphorylation of p38 and JNK, suggesting that amiloride treatment down-regulates kinases and up-regulates phosphatases in the signal pathways known to affect splicing factor protein phosphorylation. These amiloride effects of "normalized" oncogenic RNA splicing and splicing factor hypo-phosphorylation were both abrogated by pretreatment with a PP1 inhibitor. Global exon array of amiloride-treated Huh-7 cells detected splicing pattern changes involving 584 exons in 551 gene transcripts, many of which encode proteins playing key roles in ion transport, cellular matrix formation, cytoskeleton remodeling, and genome maintenance. Cellular functional analyses revealed subsequent invasion and migration defects, cell cycle disruption, cytokinesis impairment, and lethal DNA degradation in amiloride-treated Huh-7 cells. Other human solid tumor and leukemic cells, but not a few normal cells, showed similar amiloride-altered RNA splicing with devitalized consequence. This study thus provides mechanistic underpinnings for exploiting small molecule modulation of RNA splicing for cancer therapeutics.
Transcribed pseudogene psi PPM1K generates endogenous siRNA to suppress oncogenic cell growth in hepatocellular carcinoma
(2013-04-01)
Chan, Wen-Ling
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Yuo, Chung-Yee
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Yang, Wen-Kuang
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Hung, Shih-Ya
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Chang, Ya-Sian
Pseudogenes, especially those that are transcribed, may not be mere genomic fossils, but their biological significance remains unclear. Postulating that in the human genome, as in animal models, pseudogenes may function as gene regulators through generation of endo-siRNAs (esiRNAs), antisense RNAs or RNA decoys, we performed bioinformatic and subsequent experimental tests to explore esiRNA-mediated mechanisms of pseudogene involvement in oncogenesis. A genome-wide survey revealed a partial retrotranscript pseudogene psi PPM1K containing inverted repeats capable of folding into hairpin structures that can be processed into two esiRNAs; these esiRNAs potentially target many cellular genes, including NEK8. In 41 paired surgical specimens, we found significantly reduced expression of two predicted psi PPM1K-specific esiRNAs, and the cognate gene PPM1K, in hepatocellular carcinoma compared with matched non-tumour tissues, whereas the expression of target gene NEK8 was increased in tumours. Additionally, NEK8 and PPM1K were downregulated in stably transfected psi PPM1K-overexpressing cells, but not in cells transfected with an esiRNA1-deletion mutant of psi PPM1K. Furthermore, expression of NEK8 in psi PPM1K-transfected cells demonstrated that NEK8 can counteract the growth inhibitory effects of psi PPM1K. These findings indicate that a transcribed pseudogene can exert tumour-suppressor activity independent of its parental gene by generation of esiRNAs that regulate human cell growth.