YY2 in Mouse Preimplantation Embryos and in Embryonic Stem Cells.

encodes a mammalian-specific transcription factor (YY2) that shares high homology in the zinc finger region with both YY1 and REX1/ZFP42, encoded by the and gene, respectively. In contrast to the well-established roles of the latter two in gene regulation, X chromosome inactivation and binding to specific transposable elements (TEs), much less is known about YY2, and its presence during mouse preimplantation development has not been described. As it has been reported that mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) cannot be propagated in the absence of , the mechanistic understanding of how contributes to mESC maintenance remains only very partially characterized.

Neuron-derived orphan receptor-1 modulates cardiac gene expression and exacerbates angiotensin II-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy (HCH) is a common cause of heart failure (HF), a major public health problem worldwide. However, the molecular bases of HCH have not been completely elucidated. Neuron-derived orphan receptor-1 (NOR-1) is a nuclear receptor whose role in cardiac remodelling is poorly understood.

In Vivo Chromatin Targets of the Transcription Factor Yin Yang 2 in Trophoblast Stem Cells.

Background: Yin Yang 2 (YY2) is a zinc finger protein closely related to the well-characterized Yin Yang 1 (YY1). YY1 is a DNA-binding transcription factor, with defined functions in multiple developmental processes, such as implantation, cell differentiation, X inactivation, imprinting and organogenesis. Yy2 has been treated as a largely immaterial duplication of Yy1, as they share high homology in the Zinc Finger-region and similar if not identical in vitro binding sites.

Regulation of Mouse Retroelement MuERV-L/MERVL Expression by REX1 and Epigenetic Control of Stem Cell Potency.

About half of the mammalian genome is occupied by DNA sequences that originate from transposable elements. Retrotransposons can modulate gene expression in different ways and, particularly retrotransposon-derived long terminal repeats, profoundly shape expression of both surrounding and distant genomic loci. This is especially important in pre-implantation development, during which extensive reprograming of the genome takes place and cells pass through totipotent and pluripotent states.

Over-expression of neuron-derived orphan receptor-1 (NOR-1) exacerbates neointimal hyperplasia after vascular injury.

We have previously shown that NOR-1 (NR4A3) modulates the proliferation and survival of vascular cells in culture. However, in genetically modified animal models, somewhat conflicting results have been reported concerning the involvement of NOR-1 in neointimal formation after vascular injury. The aim of this study was to generate a transgenic mouse model over-expressing NOR-1 in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and assess the consequence of a gain of function of this receptor on intimal hyperplasia after vascular injury.

Functional analysis of Rex1 during preimplantation development.

Rex1/Zfp42 is a nuclear protein that is highly conserved in mammals, and widely used as an embryonic stem (ES) cell marker. Although Rex1 expression is associated with enhanced pluripotency, loss-of-function models recently described do not exhibit major phenotypes, and both preimplantation development and ES cell derivation appear normal in the absence of Rex1. To better understand the functional role of Rex1, we examined the expression and localization of Rex1 during preimplantation development.

Knowledge of the biological actions of extra virgin olive oil gained from mice lacking apolipoprotein E.

The low incidence of cardiovascular disease in countries bordering the Mediterranean basin, where olive oil is the main source of dietary fat, has stimulated interest in the chemical composition of olive oil and in the production of other oils enriched with its minor components. This review summarizes what has been learned about the effects of different olive oil preparations on the development of atherosclerosis and about the prognostic value of associated plasma variables in the disease from experiments on genetically modified mice that spontaneously develop atherosclerosis. The limitations of this animal model associated with its morphological and physiological differences with humans are minimized by the similarity of the two genomes and by the potential for increased understanding attainable, given that the dietary interventions reported here would have taken 400 years to achieve in humans.

Microarray analysis of hepatic gene expression identifies new genes involved in steatotic liver.

Unlabelled: Trans-10, cis-12-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)-enriched diets promote fatty liver in mice, while cis-9, trans-11-CLA ameliorates this effect, suggesting regulation of multiple genes. To test this hypothesis, apoE-deficient mice were fed a Western-type diet enriched with linoleic acid isomers, and their hepatic gene expression was analyzed with DNA microarrays. To provide an initial screening of candidate genes, only 12 with remarkably modified expression between both CLA isomers were considered and confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR.

Apolipoprotein E determines the hepatic transcriptional profile of dietary maslinic acid in mice.

The hypothesis that the maslinic acid (MA) of olive oil (OO) dramatically influences hepatic gene expression was tested in mice. Two OOs only differing in the presence of MA were prepared. Using DNA microarrays, we analyzed hepatic gene expression in apolipoprotein E (apoE)-deficient mice with a C57BL/6J genetic background that were fed with isocaloric, isonitrogenous diets containing either 10% (w/w) OO or 10% MA-enriched OO.

Increased Goodpasture antigen-binding protein expression induces type IV collagen disorganization and deposit of immunoglobulin A in glomerular basement membrane.

Increased expression of Goodpasture antigen-binding protein (GPBP), a protein that binds and phosphorylates basement membrane collagen, has been associated with immune complex-mediated pathogenesis. However, recent reports have questioned this biological function and proposed that GPBP serves as a cytosolic ceramide transporter (CERT(L)). Thus, the role of GPBP in vivo remains unknown.

Pax7 identifies neural crest, chromatophore lineages and pigment stem cells during zebrafish development.

Using immunostaining during early zebrafish embryogenesis, we report that the cranial and trunk neural crest expresses the paired box protein Pax7, thus revealing a novel neural crest marker in zebrafish. In the head, we show that Pax7 is broadly expressed in the cranial crest cells, which indicates that duplication of the paralogous group Pax3/7 at the origin of vertebrates included the conserved expression of Pax7 in the head neural crest of all of the vertebrates species studied so far. In the trunk, Pax7 recognizes both premigratory and migratory neural crest cells.

Cystathionine beta-synthase is essential for female reproductive function.

In human reproduction, hyperhomocysteinemia has been reported as a risk factor for early pregnancy loss and congenital birth defects. Hyperhomocysteinemia is also recognized as a cause of maternal obstetric complications such as preeclampsia. The role of plasma hyperhomocysteinemia in female fertility was examined using cystathionine beta synthase knockout (cbs KO) mice.

Novel expression patterns of Pax3/Pax7 in early trunk neural crest and its melanocyte and non-melanocyte lineages in amniote embryos.

Neural crest cells are considered a key vertebrate feature that is studied intensively because of their relevance to development and evolution. Here we report the expression of Pax7 in the dorsal non-neural ectoderm and in the trunk neural crest of the early chick embryo. Pax7 is expressed in the trunk neural crest migrating along the ventral and dorsolateral routes.