Tag

Transcriptional Regulation

All articles tagged with #transcriptional regulation

science2 months ago•96 min saved

Diverse autism mutations converge on a shared chromatin-regulation network in stem-cell–derived human cortex

A large hiPSC-based study generated cortical organoids from eight ASD-risk mutations, idiopathic ASD, and controls, profiling gene expression across 25–100 days. Early mutation-specific changes give way to convergent transcriptional and chromatin-regulatory disruptions enriched for ASD risk genes, including SWI–SNF components. CRISPRi validation supports key regulators driving this convergent network, suggesting that diverse genetic risks in ASD propagate through shared transcriptional pathways that affect early neurodevelopment, while idiopathic cases show less convergence.

via Nature|

#autism #crispr #ipsc

science-and-technology2 years ago•67 min saved

Decoding the Mechanisms of Olfactory Receptor Selection in Mammalian Nose

Researchers have discovered that olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) use RNA-mediated symmetry breaking to achieve singular olfactory receptor (OR) choice. OSNs stably express one OR from over 1,000 available genes in a monogenic and monoallelic fashion. The expression of ORs in mature OSNs requires genomic interactions between the active OR allele and a network of OR gene-specific enhancers called Greek islands (GIs). Through single-nucleus ATAC-seq and RNA-seq, the researchers found that GI accessibility gradually increases during neuronal differentiation and then declines sharply during the transition to mature OSNs. They also observed distinct features between active and inactive GI hubs, including differences in contact specificity, biochemical properties, and histone modification patterns. These findings provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms underlying singular OR transcription in OSNs.

via Nature.com|

#cellular-differentiation #chromatin-structure #gene-expression

science-and-technology2 years ago•3 min saved

"Primate-specific RNA polymerase II elongation factor found in new human gene cluster sequence"

Researchers have discovered a new repeat gene cluster sequence that is exclusively expressed in humans and non-human primates. The discovery has implications for understanding transcriptional regulation, human evolution, and repetitive DNA sequences. The gene cluster encodes the protein Elongin A3 (ELOA3), which is closely related to a protein previously studied for its role in regulating gene expression. The number of ELOA3 gene repeats varies among individuals and primate species, suggesting concerted evolution and gene homogenization. The discovery enhances our understanding of the human genome and opens up possibilities for targeted drug design in cancer. Further research will explore the expression of ELOA3 in genomes and its potential role in developmental disorders and diseases.

via Phys.org|

#gene-cluster-sequence #human-evolution #human-genome-biology