Biomedical subjects

Ranjit S Shetty

Publications and source records attributed to Ranjit S Shetty.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Therapeutic potential and mechanism of kinetin as a treatment for the human splicing disease familial dysautonomia.

Mutations that affect the splicing of pre-mRNA are a major cause of human disease. Familial dysautonomia (FD) is a recessive neurodegenerative disease caused by a T to C transition at base pair 6 of IKBKAP intron 20. This mutation results in variable tissue-specific skipping of exon 20. Previously, we reported that the plant cytokinin kinetin dramatically increases exon 20 inclusion in RNA isolated from cultured FD cells. The goal of the current study was to investigate the nature of the FD splicing defect and the mechanism by which kinetin improves exon inclusion, as such knowledge will facilitate the development of future therapeutics aimed at regulating mRNA splicing. In this study, we demonstrate that treatment of FD lymphoblast cell lines with kinetin increases IKBKAP mRNA and IKAP protein to normal levels. Using a series of minigene constructs, we show that deletion of a region at the end of IKBKAP exon 20 disrupts the ability of kinetin to improve exon inclusion, pinpointing a kinetin responsive sequence element. We next performed a screen of endogenously expressed genes with multiple isoforms resulting from exon skipping events and show that kinetin's ability to improve exon inclusion is not limited to IKBKAP. Lastly, we highlight the potential of kinetin for the treatment of other human splicing disorders by showing correction of a splicing defect in neurofibromatosis.

Carrier Proteins↗

PubMed2006

Gene expression and specificity in the mature zone of the lobster olfactory organ.

The lobster olfactory organ is an important model for investigating many aspects of the olfactory system. To facilitate study of the molecular basis of olfaction in lobsters, we made a subtracted cDNA library from the mature zone of the olfactory organ of Homarus americanus, the American lobster. Sequencing of the 5'-end of 5,184 cDNA clones produced 2,389 distinct high-quality sequences consisting of 1,944 singlets and 445 contigs. Matches to known sequences corresponded with the types of cells present in the olfactory organ, including specific markers of olfactory sensory neurons, auxiliary cells, secretory cells of the aesthetasc tegumental gland, and epithelial cells. The wealth of neuronal mRNAs represented among the sequences reflected the preponderance of neurons in the tissue. The sequences identified candidate genes responsible for known functions and suggested new functions not previously recognized in the olfactory organ. A cDNA microarray was designed and tested by assessing mRNA abundance differences between two of the lobster's major chemosensory structures: the mature zone of the olfactory organ and the dactyl of the walking legs, a taste organ. The 115 differences detected again emphasized the abundance of neurons in the olfactory organ, especially a cluster of mRNAs encoding cytoskeletal-associated proteins and cell adhesion molecules such as 14-3-3zeta, actins, tubulins, trophinin, Fax, Yel077cp, suppressor of profilin 2, and gelsolin.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Transcriptional changes during neuronal death and replacement in the olfactory epithelium.

The olfactory epithelium has the unusual ability to replace its neurons. We forced replacement of mouse olfactory sensory neurons by bulbectomy. Microarray, bioinformatics, and in situ hybridization techniques detected a rapid shift in favor of pro-apoptotic proteins, a progressive immune response by macrophages and dendritic cells, and identified or predicted 439 mRNAs enriched in olfactory sensory neurons, including gene silencing factors and sperm flagellar proteins. Transcripts encoding cell cycle regulators, axonogenesis proteins, and transcription factors and signaling proteins that promote proliferation and differentiation were increased at 5--7 days after bulbectomy and were expressed by basal progenitor cells or immature neurons. The transcription factors included Nhlh 1, Hes 6, Lmyc 1, c-Myc, Mxd 4, Id 1, Nmyc 1, Cited 2, c-Myb, Mybl 1, Tead 2, Dp 1, Gata 2, Lmo 1, and Sox1 1. The data reveal significant similarities with embryonic neurogenesis and make several mechanistic predictions, including the roles of the transcription factors in the olfactory sensory neuron lineage.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Transcriptional changes during neuronal death and replacement in the olfactory epithelium.

The olfactory epithelium has the unusual ability to replace its neurons.We forced replacement of mouse olfactory sensory neurons by bulbectomy. Microarray, bioinformatics, and in situ hybridization techniques detected a rapid shift in favor of pro-apoptotic proteins, a progressive immune response by macrophages and dendritic cells, and identified or predicted 439 mRNAs enriched in olfactory sensory neurons, including gene silencing factors and sperm flagellar proteins. Transcripts encoding cell cycle regulators, axonogenesis proteins, and transcription factors and signaling proteins that promote proliferation and differentiation were increased at 5-7 days after bulbectomy and were expressed by basal progenitor cells or immature neurons. The transcription factors included Nhlhl, Hes6, Lmycl, c-Myc, Mxd4, Idl,Nmycl, Cited2, c-Myb, Mybll, Tead2, Dpl, Gata2, Lmol, and Soxll. The data reveal significant similarities with embryonic neurogenesis and make several mechanistic predictions, including the roles of the transcription factors in the olfactory sensory neuron lineage.

Afferent Pathways↗

PubMed2004

Fluorescence-based sensing system for copper using genetically engineered living yeast cells.

A whole cell-based optical sensing system for copper was developed based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells harboring plasmid pYEX-GFPuv. The basis of this system was the ability of the transcriptional activator protein Ace1 present in S. cerevisiae to control the expression of the reporter protein, GFPuv. When copper ions are present in the sample, the Ace1 protein activates the cup1 promoter located upstream from the gfpuv gene in plasmid pYEX-GFPuv, thus inducing the production of GFPuv. The concentration of copper ions in the sample can then be related to the GFPuv expressed in the yeast. The amount of GFPuv produced in the system was determined by monitoring the fluorescence emitted at 507 nm after excitation at 397 nm. This system can detect copper at concentrations as low as 5 x 10(-7) M, and is selective for copper over a variety of metal ions, with the exception of silver. The applicability of this sensing system to different analytical platforms and in real samples is demonstrated.

Biological Assay↗

PubMed2003

Luminescence-based whole-cell-sensing systems for cadmium and lead using genetically engineered bacteria.

Whole-cell-based sensing systems that respond to cadmium and lead ions have been designed and developed using genetically engineered bacteria. These systems take advantage of the ability of certain bacteria to survive in environments polluted with cadmium and lead ions. The bacteria used in this investigation have been genetically engineered to produce reporter proteins in response to the toxic ions. This was achieved by modifying a strain of Escherichia colito harbor plasmids pYSC1 and pYS2/pYSG1. In these dual-plasmid-based sensing systems, the expression of the reporters beta-galactosidase and red-shifted green fluorescent protein (rs-GFP) was controlled by CadC, the regulatory protein of the cad operon. Regulation of the expression of the reporter proteins is related to the amount of cadmium and lead ions employed to induce the bacteria. The bacterial sensing systems were found to respond to cadmium, lead, and zinc ions, and had no significant response to nickel, copper, manganese, and cobalt.

Biosensing Techniques↗