scholarly journals Convergent evolution of psilocybin biosynthesis by psychedelic mushrooms

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali R. Awan ◽  
Jaclyn M. Winter ◽  
Daniel Turner ◽  
William M. Shaw ◽  
Laura M. Suz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcriptome Analysis ◽  
Convergent Evolution ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
Ecological Role ◽  
Complete Protection ◽  
Mushroom Species ◽  
Genome Assemblies ◽  
Defense Compound

AbstractPsilocybin is a psychoactive compound with clinical applications produced by dozens of mushroom species1. There has been a longstanding interest in psilocybin research with regard to treatment for addiction2, depression3, and end-of-life suffering4. However, until recently very little was known about psilocybin biosynthesis and its ecological role. Here we confirm and refine recent findings5 about the genes underpinning psilocybin biosynthesis, discover that there is more than one psilocybin biosynthesis cluster in mushrooms, and we provide the first data directly addressing psilocybin’s ecological role. By analysing independent genome assemblies for the hallucinogenic mushrooms Psilocybe cyanescens and Pluteus salicinus we recapture the recently discovered psilocybin biosynthesis cluster5,6 and show that a transcription factor previously implicated in its regulation is actually not part of the cluster. Further, we show that the mushroom Inocybe corydalina produces psilocybin but does not contain the established biosynthetic cluster, and we present an alternative cluster. Finally, a meta-transcriptome analysis of wild-collected mushrooms provides evidence for intra-mushroom insect gene expression of flies whose larvae grow inside Psilocybe cyanescens. These larvae were successfully reared into adults. Our results show that psilocybin does not confer complete protection against insect mycophagy, and the hypothesis that it is produced as an adaptive defense compound may need to be reconsidered.

scholarly journals Interplay between the androgen receptor signaling axis and microRNAs in prostate cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. R237-R257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rayzel C Fernandes ◽  
Theresa E Hickey ◽  
Wayne D Tilley ◽  
Luke A Selth
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Androgen Receptor ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
Cancer Growth ◽  
Androgen Receptor Signaling ◽  
Resistance To Therapy ◽  
Signaling Axis

The androgen receptor (AR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that drives prostate cancer. Since therapies that target the AR are the mainstay treatment for men with metastatic disease, it is essential to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying oncogenic AR signaling in the prostate. miRNAs are small, non-coding regulators of gene expression that play a key role in prostate cancer and are increasingly recognized as targets or modulators of the AR signaling axis. In this review, we examine the regulation of AR signaling by miRNAs and vice versa and discuss how this interplay influences prostate cancer growth, metastasis and resistance to therapy. Finally, we explore the potential clinical applications of miRNAs implicated in the regulation of AR signaling in this prevalent hormone-driven disease.

scholarly journals Induction of Glucoraphasatin Biosynthesis Genes by MYB29 in Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) Roots

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (16) ◽  
pp. 5721
Author(s):  
Ji-Nam Kang ◽  
So Youn Won ◽  
Mi-Suk Seo ◽  
Jeongyeo Lee ◽  
Si Myung Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcriptome Analysis ◽  
Raphanus Sativus ◽  
Biosynthesis Pathway ◽  
Comparative Transcriptome ◽  
Qrt Pcr ◽  
Raphanus Sativus L ◽  
Significant Expression ◽  
Aliphatic Glucosinolate

Glucoraphasatin (GRH) is a specific aliphatic glucosinolate (GSL) that is only abundant in radish (Raphanus sativus L.). The gene expression regulating GRH biosynthesis in radish is still poorly understood. We employed a total of 59 radish accessions to analyze GSL profiles and showed that GRH was specific and predominant among the aliphatic GSLs in radish roots. We selected five accessions roots with high, moderate and low GSL biosynthesis, respectively, to conduct a comparative transcriptome analysis and the qRT-PCR of the biosynthesis genes for aliphatic GSLs. In this study, among all the accessions tested, roots with the accession RA157-74 had a high GRH content and showed a significant expression of the aliphatic GSL biosynthesis genes. We defined the genes involved in the GRH biosynthesis process and found that they were regulated by a transcription factor (RSG00789) at the MYB29 locus in radish roots. We found 13 aliphatic GSL biosynthesis genes regulated by the RSG00789 gene in the GRH biosynthesis pathway.

scholarly journals Aberrant expression of USF2 in refractory rheumatoid arthritis and its regulation of proinflammatory cytokines in Th17 cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (48) ◽  
pp. 30639-30648
Author(s):  
Dan Hu ◽  
Emily C. Tjon ◽  
Karin M. Andersson ◽  
Gabriela M. Molica ◽  
Minh C. Pham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Gene Expression ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Proinflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Th17 Cells ◽  
Gene Set Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Signature Genes ◽  
The Impact

IL-17–producing Th17 cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and TNF-α, a proinflammatory cytokine in the rheumatoid joint, facilitates Th17 differentiation. Anti-TNF therapy ameliorates disease in many patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, a significant proportion of patients do not respond to this therapy. The impact of anti-TNF therapy on Th17 responses in RA is not well understood. We conducted high-throughput gene expression analysis of Th17-enriched CCR6+CXCR3−CD45RA−CD4+T (CCR6+T) cells isolated from anti-TNF–treated RA patients classified as responders or nonresponders to therapy. CCR6+T cells from responders and nonresponders had distinct gene expression profiles. Proinflammatory signaling was elevated in the CCR6+T cells of nonresponders, and pathogenic Th17 signature genes were up-regulated in these cells. Gene set enrichment analysis on these signature genes identified transcription factor USF2 as their upstream regulator, which was also increased in nonresponders. Importantly, short hairpin RNA targetingUSF2in pathogenic Th17 cells led to reduced expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-17A, IFN-γ, IL-22, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as well as transcription factor T-bet. Together, our results revealed inadequate suppression of Th17 responses by anti-TNF in nonresponders, and direct targeting of the USF2-signaling pathway may be a potential therapeutic approach in the anti-TNF refractory RA.

Subnuclear compartmentalization of sequence-specific transcription factors and regulation of eukaryotic gene expression

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gareth N Corry ◽  
D Alan Underhill
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Nuclear Architecture ◽  
Subnuclear Localization ◽  
Modular Structures

To date, the majority of the research regarding eukaryotic transcription factors has focused on characterizing their function primarily through in vitro methods. These studies have revealed that transcription factors are essentially modular structures, containing separate regions that participate in such activities as DNA binding, protein–protein interaction, and transcriptional activation or repression. To fully comprehend the behavior of a given transcription factor, however, these domains must be analyzed in the context of the entire protein, and in certain cases the context of a multiprotein complex. Furthermore, it must be appreciated that transcription factors function in the nucleus, where they must contend with a variety of factors, including the nuclear architecture, chromatin domains, chromosome territories, and cell-cycle-associated processes. Recent examinations of transcription factors in the nucleus have clarified the behavior of these proteins in vivo and have increased our understanding of how gene expression is regulated in eukaryotes. Here, we review the current knowledge regarding sequence-specific transcription factor compartmentalization within the nucleus and discuss its impact on the regulation of such processes as activation or repression of gene expression and interaction with coregulatory factors.Key words: transcription, subnuclear localization, chromatin, gene expression, nuclear architecture.

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