Synthetic transcription factors can be applied to many areas of biotechnology, medicine, and basic research. Currently, the most common method for engineering synthetic transcription factors has been based on programmable DNA-binding domains of zinc finger proteins, Transcription Activator-Like Effectors (TALEs), and most recently the CRISPR/Cas9 system. These transcription factor platforms consist of the DNA-binding domain fused to potent transcriptional activation domains, most commonly the tetramer of the minimal transactivation domain of the VP16 protein from herpes simplex virus, referred to as VP64. Although many applications are well-suited for the targeted activation of a single gene, genetic reprogramming requires the coordinated regulation of many nodes of natural gene networks as is typically performed by naturally occurring reprogramming factors. Thus we sought to combine principles from each of these approaches by attaching potent transcriptional activation domains to a natural reprogramming factor to increase the efficiency and/or rate of cell fate conversion. In this study, we evaluated the effects of fusing potent activation domains to the transcription factor MyoD, the master regulator of the skeletal myoblast lineage. In certain non-myogenic lineages, MyoD overexpression causes upregulation of the myogenic gene network and conversion to a myoblast phenotype including cell fusion into multinucleated myotubes. Compared to wild-type MyoD, the VP64-MyoD fusion protein induced greater overall reprogramming of global gene expression. This simple approach for increasing the potency of natural reprogramming factors circumvents the need for screening engineered proteins and leads to a more robust cellular reprogramming compared to treatment with the wild type transcription factor. Overall design: Human dermal fibroblasts were transduced with a single tet inducible lentivirus that expresses either WT-MyoD or VP64-MyoD in response to treatment with doxycycline. Untreated human dermal fibroblast served as the negative control. Gene expression was measured using mRNA-seq, and differential expression was calculated using DESeq. All experiments were performed in biological duplicates.
Enhanced MyoD-induced transdifferentiation to a myogenic lineage by fusion to a potent transactivation domain.
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View SamplesSynthetic transcription factors can be applied in many areas of biotechnology, medicine, and basic research. In contrast to current methods based on engineering new DNA-binding proteins, we show that Cas9 fused to a transcriptional activation domain can be targeted by combinations of guide RNA molecules to induce the expression of endogenous human genes. This simple approach for targeted gene activation circumvents the need for engineering new proteins and will enable widespread synthetic gene regulation. Overall design: HEK293T cells were transfected with plasmid expressing Cas9-VP64 fusion protein and a guide RNA. As a control, empty guide RNA was transfected. Gene expression was then measured using mRNA-seq, and differential expression calculated using DESeq. All experiments were performed in biological duplicates or triplicates.
RNA-guided gene activation by CRISPR-Cas9-based transcription factors.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesTo understand the underlying cause and mechanisms of embryonic lethality observed in combined loss of E2f7 and E2f8, we compared global gene expression profiles of wild type, germline deleted and sox2-Cre/Cyp19-Cre deleted embryos and placentas.
Atypical E2F repressors and activators coordinate placental development.
Specimen part
View SamplesSequencing data related to our manuscript "Systematic identification of general and context-specific regulators of phagocytosis using magnetic genome-wide CRISPR screens" Overall design: Two groups of U937 cells were sequenced before and after PMA differentiation. One group carried Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 and a safe-harbor control sgRNA, and the second group was a clonally expanded U937 line expressing GFP. Each group was separated into eight separate wells at d0, and half of the wells were treated with 50 nM PMA. At day 3, undifferentiated cells were split to prevent overcrowding, and differentiated cells were trypsinized and replated. Cells were allowed to recover for 2 additional days before cells were lysed for RNA harvest and sequencing.
Identification of phagocytosis regulators using magnetic genome-wide CRISPR screens.
Cell line, Subject
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Canonical and atypical E2Fs regulate the mammalian endocycle.
Age, Specimen part
View SamplesTo understand the underlying cause and mechanisms of changes in hepatocyte ploidy upon Albumin-Cre mediated deletion of E2f7&8 and Mx1-Cre mediated deletion of E2f1,2&3, we analysed global gene expression of 6 weeks and 2 months liver tissues.
Canonical and atypical E2Fs regulate the mammalian endocycle.
Age, Specimen part
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