Molecular Biology and Genetics / Moleküler Biyoloji ve Genetik

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 117
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 5
    Citation - Scopus: 5
    A Microrna-Regulated Transcriptional State Defines Intratumoral Cd8+t Cells That Respond To Immunotherapy
    (Cell Press, 2025) Tang, William W.; Battistone, Ben; Bauer, Kaylyn M.; Weis, Allison M.; Barba, Cindy; Fadlullah, Muhammad Zaki Hidayatullah; O'Connell, Ryan M.
    The rising incidence of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) and poor survival outcomes necessitate new and effective therapies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), specifically anti-PD-1 therapy, show promise, yet clinical determinants of a positive response are suboptimal. Here, we identify microRNA-155 (miR-155) as necessary for CD8+ T cell-infiltrated tumors through an unbiased in vivo CRISPR-Cas9 screen identifying functional tumor antigen-specific CD8+ T cell-expressed microRNAs. T cell miR-155 is required for anti-PD-1 responses and for a vital intratumor CD8+ T cell differentiation cascade by repressing Ship-1, inhibiting Tcf-1 and stemness, and subsequently enhancing Cxcr6 expression, anti-tumor immunity, and effector functions. Based on an underlying miR-155-dependent CD8+ T cell transcriptional profile, we identify a gene signature that predicts ICI responses across 12 diverse cancers. Together, our findings support a model whereby miR155 serves as a central regulator of CD8+ T cell-dependent cancer immunity and ICI responses that may be leveraged for future therapeutics.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 6
    Epitranscriptomics M<sup>6</Sup>a Analyses Reveal Distinct M<sup>6</Sup>a Marks Under Tumor Necrosis Factor Α (tnf-Α) Apoptotic Conditions in Hela Cells
    (Wiley, 2024) Akçaöz Alasar, Azime; Tüncel, Özge; Sağlam, Buket; Gazaloğlu, Yasemin; Atbinek, Melis; Çağıral, Umut; Akgül, Bünyamin
    Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a ligand that induces both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways in HeLa cells by modulating complex gene regulatory mechanisms. However, the full spectrum of TNF-alpha-modulated epitranscriptomic m(6)A marks is unknown. We employed a genomewide approach to examine the extent of m(6)A RNA modifications under TNF-alpha-modulated apoptotic conditions in HeLa cells. miCLIP-seq analyses revealed a plethora of m(6)A marks on 632 target mRNAs with an enrichment on 99 mRNAs associated with apoptosis. Interestingly, the m(6)A RNA modification patterns were quite different under cisplatin- and TNF-alpha-mediated apoptotic conditions. We then examined the abundance and translational efficiencies of several mRNAs under METTL3 knockdown and/or TNF-alpha treatment conditions. Our analyses showed changes in the translational efficiency of TP53INP1 mRNA based on the polysome profile analyses. Additionally, TP53INP1 protein amount was modulated by METTL3 knockdown upon TNF-alpha treatment but not CP treatment, suggesting the existence of a pathway-specific METTL3-TP53INP1 axis. Congruently, METLL3 knockdown sensitized HeLa cells to TNF-alpha-mediated apoptosis, which was also validated in a zebrafish larval xenograft model. These results suggest that apoptotic pathway-specific m(6)A methylation marks exist in cells and TNF-alpha-METTL3-TP53INP1 axis modulates TNF-alpha-mediated apoptosis in HeLa cells.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 6
    Citation - Scopus: 5
    Epitranscriptomics M6a Analyses Reveal Distinct M6a Marks Under Tumor Necrosis Factor Α (tnf-Α) Apoptotic Conditions in Hela Cells
    (Wiley, 2024) Akçaöz Alasar, Azime; Tuncel, Özge; Sağlam, Buket; Gazaloğlu, Yasemin; Atbinek, Melis; Çağıral, Umut; İşcan, Evin; Özhan, Güneş; Akgül, Bünyamin
    Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a ligand that induces both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways in HeLa cells by modulating complex gene regulatory mechanisms. However, the full spectrum of TNF-alpha-modulated epitranscriptomic m(6)A marks is unknown. We employed a genomewide approach to examine the extent of m(6)A RNA modifications under TNF-alpha-modulated apoptotic conditions in HeLa cells. miCLIP-seq analyses revealed a plethora of m(6)A marks on 632 target mRNAs with an enrichment on 99 mRNAs associated with apoptosis. Interestingly, the m(6)A RNA modification patterns were quite different under cisplatin- and TNF-alpha-mediated apoptotic conditions. We then examined the abundance and translational efficiencies of several mRNAs under METTL3 knockdown and/or TNF-alpha treatment conditions. Our analyses showed changes in the translational efficiency of TP53INP1 mRNA based on the polysome profile analyses. Additionally, TP53INP1 protein amount was modulated by METTL3 knockdown upon TNF-alpha treatment but not CP treatment, suggesting the existence of a pathway-specific METTL3-TP53INP1 axis. Congruently, METLL3 knockdown sensitized HeLa cells to TNF-alpha-mediated apoptosis, which was also validated in a zebrafish larval xenograft model. These results suggest that apoptotic pathway-specific m(6)A methylation marks exist in cells and TNF-alpha-METTL3-TP53INP1 axis modulates TNF-alpha-mediated apoptosis in HeLa cells.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 8
    Citation - Scopus: 8
    Canonical Wnt and Tgf-β/Bmp Signaling Enhance Melanocyte Regeneration but Suppress Invasiveness, Migration, and Proliferation of Melanoma Cells
    (Frontiers Media S.A., 2023) Katkat, Esra; Demirci, Yeliz; Heger, Guillaume; Karagülle, Doğa; Papatheodorou, Irene; Brazma, Alvis; Özhan, Güneş
    Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and develops from the melanocytes that are responsible for the pigmentation of the skin. The skin is also a highly regenerative organ, harboring a pool of undifferentiated melanocyte stem cells that proliferate and differentiate into mature melanocytes during regenerative processes in the adult. Melanoma and melanocyte regeneration share remarkable cellular features, including activation of cell proliferation and migration. Yet, melanoma considerably differs from the regenerating melanocytes with respect to abnormal proliferation, invasive growth, and metastasis. Thus, it is likely that at the cellular level, melanoma resembles early stages of melanocyte regeneration with increased proliferation but separates from the later melanocyte regeneration stages due to reduced proliferation and enhanced differentiation. Here, by exploiting the zebrafish melanocytes that can efficiently regenerate and be induced to undergo malignant melanoma, we unravel the transcriptome profiles of the regenerating melanocytes during early and late regeneration and the melanocytic nevi and malignant melanoma. Our global comparison of the gene expression profiles of melanocyte regeneration and nevi/melanoma uncovers the opposite regulation of a substantial number of genes related to Wnt signaling and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta)/(bone morphogenetic protein) BMP signaling pathways between regeneration and cancer. Functional activation of canonical Wnt or TGF-beta/BMP pathways during melanocyte regeneration promoted melanocyte regeneration but potently suppressed the invasiveness, migration, and proliferation of human melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the opposite regulation of signaling mechanisms between melanocyte regeneration and melanoma can be exploited to stop tumor growth and develop new anti-cancer therapies.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 7
    Citation - Scopus: 6
    Addition of Exogenous Diacylglycerol Enhances Wnt/Β-catenin Signaling Through Stimulation of Macropinocytosis
    (Elsevier, 2023) Azbazdar, Yağmur; Tejeda-Munoz, Nydia; Monka, Julia C.; Dayrit, Alex; Binder, Grace; De Robertis, Edward M.; Özhan, Güneş
    Activation of Wnt signaling triggers macropinocytosis and drives many tumors. We now report that the exogenous addition of the second messenger lipid sn-1,2 DAG to the culture medium rapidly induces macropinocytosis. This is accompanied by potentiation of the effects of added Wnt3a recombinant protein or the glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) inhibitor lithium chloride (LiCl, which mimics Wnt signaling) in luciferase transcriptional reporter assays. In a colorectal carcinoma cell line in which mutation of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) causes constitutive Wnt signaling, DAG addition increased levels of nuclear β-catenin, and this increase was partially inhibited by an inhibitor of macropinocytosis. DAG also expanded multivesicular bodies marked by the tetraspan protein CD63. In an in vivo situation, microinjection of DAG induced Wnt-like twinned body axes when co-injected with small amounts of LiCl into Xenopus embryos. These results suggest that the DAG second messenger plays a role in Wnt-driven cancer progression. © 2023 The Author(s)
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 2
    Citation - Scopus: 2
    Gas Phase Fragmentation Behavior of Proline in Macrocyclic B7 Ions
    (American Chemical Society, 2023) Taşoğlu, Çağdaş; Arslanoğlu, Alper; Yalçın, Talat
    Thefragmentation characteristics of b (7) ionsproduced from proline-containing heptapeptides have been studiedin detail. The study has utilized the following C-terminally amidatedmodel peptides: PA(6), APA(5), A(2)PA(4), A(3)PA(3), A(4)PA(2), A(5)PA, A(6)P, PYAGFLV, PAGFLVY, PGFLVYA, PFLVYAG,PLVYAGF, PVYAGFL, YPAGFLV, YAPGFLV, YAGPFLV, YAGFPLV, YAGFLPV, YAGFLVP,PYAFLVG, PVLFYAG, A(2)PXA(3), and A(2)XPA(3) (where X = C, D, F, G, L, V, and Y, respectively). The resultshave shown that b (7) ions undergo head-to-tailcyclization and form a macrocyclic structure. Under the collision-induceddissociation (CID) condition, it generates nondirect sequence ionsregardless of the position of the proline and the neighboring aminoacid residues. This study highlights the unusual and unique fragmentationbehavior of proline-containing heptapeptides. Following the head-to-tailcyclization, the ring opens up and places the proline residue in theN-terminal position while forming a regular oxazolone form of b (2) ions for all peptide series. Then, the fragmentationreaction pathway is followed by the elimination of proline with itsC-terminal neighbor residue as an oxazolone (e.g., PXoxa) for all proline-containing peptide series.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 2
    Citation - Scopus: 2
    Plasmonic Functional Assay Platform Determines the Therapeutic Profile of Cancer Cells
    (American Chemical Society, 2023) Çetin, Arif E.; Topkaya, Seda Nur; Yazıcı, Ziya Ata; Yalçın Özuysal, Özden
    Functional assay platforms could identify the biophysicalpropertiesof cells and their therapeutic response to drug treatments. Despitetheir strong ability to assess cellular pathways, functional assaysrequire large tissue samples, long-term cell culture, and bulk measurements.Even though such a drawback is still valid, these limitations didnot hinder the interest in these platforms for their capacity to revealdrug susceptibility. Some of the limitations could be overcome withsingle-cell functional assays by identifying subpopulations usingsmall sample volumes. Along this direction, in this article, we developeda high-throughput plasmonic functional assay platform to identifythe growth profile of cells and their therapeutic profile under therapiesusing mass and growth rate statistics of individual cells. Our technologycould determine populations' growth profiles using the growthrate data of multiple single cells of the same population. Evaluatingspectral variations based on the plasmonic diffraction field intensityimages in real time, we could simultaneously monitor the mass changefor the cells within the field of view of a camera with the capacityof > & SIM;500 cells/h scanning rate. Our technology could determinethe therapeutic profile of cells under cancer drugs within few hours,while the classical techniques require days to show reduction in viabilitydue to antitumor effects. The platform could reveal the heterogeneitywithin the therapeutic profile of populations and determine subpopulationsshowing resistance to drug therapies. As a proof-of-principle demonstration,we studied the growth profile of MCF-7 cells and their therapeuticbehavior to standard-of-care drugs that have antitumor effects asshown in the literature, including difluoromethylornithine (DFMO),5-fluorouracil (5-FU), paclitaxel (PTX), and doxorubicin (Dox). Wesuccessfully demonstrated the resistant behavior of an MCF-7 variantthat could survive in the presence of DFMO. More importantly, we couldprecisely identify synergic and antagonistic effects of drug combinationsbased on the order of use in cancer therapy. Rapidly assessing thetherapeutic profile of cancer cells, our plasmonic functional assayplatform could be used to reveal personalized drug therapies for cancerpatients.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 3
    Citation - Scopus: 3
    Her2-Specific Peptide (ltvspwy) and Antibody (herceptin) Targeted Core Cross-Linked Micelles for Breast Cancer: a Comparative Study
    (MDPI, 2023) Bayram, N.N.; Ulu, G.T.; Abdulhadi, N.A.; Gürdap, S.; İşoğlu, İ.A.; Baran, Yusuf; İşoğlu, S.D.
    This study aims to prepare a novel breast cancer-targeted micelle-based nanocarrier, which is stable in circulation, allowing intracellular drug release, and to investigate its cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and cytostatic effects, in vitro. The shell part of the micelle is composed of zwitterionic sulfobetaine ((N-3-sulfopropyl-N,N-dimethylamonium)ethyl methacrylate), while the core part is formed by another block, consisting of AEMA (2-aminoethyl methacrylamide), DEGMA (di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate), and a vinyl-functionalized, acid-sensitive cross-linker. Following this, a targeting agent (peptide (LTVSPWY) and antibody (Herceptin®)), in varying amounts, were coupled to the micelles, and they were characterized by 1H NMR, FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy), Zetasizer, BCA protein assay, and fluorescence spectrophotometer. The cytotoxic, cytostatic, apoptotic, and genotoxic effects of doxorubicin-loaded micelles were investigated on SKBR-3 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive) and MCF10-A (HER2-negative). According to the results, peptide-carrying micelles showed a higher targeting efficiency and better cytostatic, apoptotic, and genotoxic activities than antibody-carrying and non-targeted micelles. Also, micelles masked the toxicity of naked DOX on healthy cells. In conclusion, this nanocarrier system has great potential to be used in different drug-targeting strategies, by changing targeting agents and drugs. © 2023 by the authors.
  • Conference Object
    Citation - WoS: 1
    Differential Susceptibility To Senescence in Cart Cells Based on Co-Stimulatory Signaling
    (American Society of Hematology, 2022) Can, İsmail; Sakemura, Reona Leo; Manriquez-Roman, Claudia; Sirpilla, Olivia; Stewart, Carli M.; Yun, Kun; Cox, Michelle J.; Ekiz, Atakan
    CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CART19) cells have emerged as a potentially curative immunotherapy in a subset of patients with hematological malignancies. While initial responses are impressive, the majority of responsive patients relapse within a year. Recent studies suggest that CART cells are susceptible to states of dysfunction. We aimed to study the development of T cell senescence in CART cells using similar constructs to the FDA-approved therapies, CART19-BBζ and CART19-28ζ, to determine the impact of co-stimulatory domains on CART cell senescence. We developed an in vitro model for repeated CART cell activation followed by rest to study the development of senescence and its impact on effector T cell functions. We examined CART cell immunophenotype, cell cycle regulators, and transcriptomic profile on days 0 (T cell), D8 (standard CART cell), 15 (after one activation cycle) and 22 (after two activation cycles).
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 11
    Citation - Scopus: 13
    Fli1 and Fra1 Transcription Factors Drive the Transcriptional Regulatory Networks Characterizing Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
    (Nature Research, 2023) Güneri Sözeri, Perihan Yağmur; Özden Yılmaz, Gülden; Kısım, Aslı; Çakıroğlu, Ece; Eray, Aleyna; Uzuner, Hamdiye; Karakülah, Gökhan; Pesen Okvur, Devrim; Şentürk, Şerif; Erkek Özhan, Serap
    is and progression of this disease. In this study, we defined the active regulatory landscape of MIBC and NMIBC cell lines using H3K27ac ChIP-seq and used an integrative approach to combine our findings with existing data. Our analysis revealed FRA1 and FLI1 as two critical transcription factors differentially regulating MIBC regulatory landscape. We show that FRA1 and FLI1 regulate the genes involved in epithelial cell migration and cell junction organization. Knock-down of FRA1 and FLI1 in MIBC revealed the downregulation of several EMT-related genes such as MAP4K4 and FLOT1. Further, ChIP-SICAP performed for FRA1 and FLI1 enabled us to infer chromatin binding partners of these transcription factors and link this information with their target genes. Finally, we show that knock-down of FRA1 and FLI1 result in significant reduction of invasion capacity of MIBC cells towards muscle microenvironment using IC-CHIP assays. Our results collectively highlight the role of these transcription factors in selection and design of targeted options for treatment of MIBC.