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Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

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Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
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Commonly used reporter...
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Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...

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Single-cell Profiling of Developing and Mature Retinal Neurons
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Shared gene expression in distinct neurons expressing common selector genes.

Irini Topalidou1, Martin Chalfie

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|November 17, 2011
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Master regulators like mec-3/unc-86 can inappropriately activate touch receptor neuron (TRN) genes in other Caenorhabditis elegans neurons. Despite this, FLP neurons maintain their distinct fate through post-transcriptional regulation.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The mec-3/unc-86 gene complex controls touch receptor neuron (TRN) differentiation in Caenorhabditis elegans.
  • These genes are also expressed in FLP neurons, which are mechanosensory but lack TRN characteristics.
  • Understanding gene expression differences is key to deciphering cell fate determination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify genes differentially regulated in TRNs and FLP neurons.
  • To investigate the mechanisms preventing FLP neurons from adopting TRN fates despite shared transcription factor expression.
  • To explore the role of transcription factors like ALR-1 in cell fate plasticity.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized DNA microarrays to compare gene expression profiles in TRNs and FLP neurons.
  • Analyzed mRNA and protein levels for specific TRN-related genes in FLP neurons.
  • Investigated the effect of ectopic ALR-1 expression on FLP neuron differentiation.

Main Results:

  • Approximately 300 genes were upregulated in both TRNs and FLP neurons, with 23% common to both.
  • Some TRN-specific genes showed mRNA expression in FLP neurons, but lacked detectable protein, indicating post-transcriptional silencing.
  • Ectopic expression of ALR-1 in FLP neurons induced TRN mRNA and protein expression, suggesting a potential for fate change.

Conclusions:

  • Transcription control can be imprecise, with apparent errors tolerated and cell fate maintained by post-transcriptional mechanisms.
  • FLP neurons possess regulatory layers that prevent them from adopting a TRN fate, despite shared master regulators.
  • Misexpression of effector genes due to common master regulators can render cells vulnerable to alternative fate acquisition.