%0 Journal Article %J Cell Death Discov %D 2023 %T Rapid degeneration of iPSC-derived motor neurons lacking Gdap1 engages a mitochondrial-sustained innate immune response. %A León, Marian %A Prieto, Javier %A Molina-Navarro, María Micaela %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Barneo-Muñoz, Manuela %A Ponsoda, Xavier %A Sáez, Rosana %A Palau, Francesc %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Izpisua Belmonte, Juan Carlos %A Torres, Josema %X

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a chronic hereditary motor and sensory polyneuropathy targeting Schwann cells and/or motor neurons. Its multifactorial and polygenic origin portrays a complex clinical phenotype of the disease with a wide range of genetic inheritance patterns. The disease-associated gene GDAP1 encodes for a mitochondrial outer membrane protein. Mouse and insect models with mutations in Gdap1 have reproduced several traits of the human disease. However, the precise function in the cell types affected by the disease remains unknown. Here, we use induced-pluripotent stem cells derived from a Gdap1 knockout mouse model to better understand the molecular and cellular phenotypes of the disease caused by the loss-of-function of this gene. Gdap1-null motor neurons display a fragile cell phenotype prone to early degeneration showing (1) altered mitochondrial morphology, with an increase in the fragmentation of these organelles, (2) activation of autophagy and mitophagy, (3) abnormal metabolism, characterized by a downregulation of Hexokinase 2 and ATP5b proteins, (4) increased reactive oxygen species and elevated mitochondrial membrane potential, and (5) increased innate immune response and p38 MAP kinase activation. Our data reveals the existence of an underlying Redox-inflammatory axis fueled by altered mitochondrial metabolism in the absence of Gdap1. As this biochemical axis encompasses a wide variety of druggable targets, our results may have implications for developing therapies using combinatorial pharmacological approaches and improving therefore human welfare. A Redox-immune axis underlying motor neuron degeneration caused by the absence of Gdap1. Our results show that Gdap1 motor neurons have a fragile cellular phenotype that is prone to degeneration. Gdap1 iPSCs differentiated into motor neurons showed an altered metabolic state: decreased glycolysis and increased OXPHOS. These alterations may lead to hyperpolarization of mitochondria and increased ROS levels. Excessive amounts of ROS might be the cause of increased mitophagy, p38 activation and inflammation as a cellular response to oxidative stress. The p38 MAPK pathway and the immune response may, in turn, have feedback mechanisms, leading to the induction of apoptosis and senescence, respectively. CAC, citric acid cycle; ETC, electronic transport chain; Glc, glucose; Lac, lactate; Pyr, pyruvate.

%B Cell Death Discov %V 9 %P 217 %8 2023 Jul 01 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1038/s41420-023-01531-w %0 Journal Article %J Nucleic Acids Res %D 2021 %T CSVS, a crowdsourcing database of the Spanish population genetic variability. %A Peña-Chilet, Maria %A Roldán, Gema %A Perez-Florido, Javier %A Ortuno, Francisco M %A Carmona, Rosario %A Aquino, Virginia %A López-López, Daniel %A Loucera, Carlos %A Fernandez-Rueda, Jose L %A Gallego, Asunción %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A González-Neira, Anna %A Pita, Guillermo %A Núñez-Torres, Rocío %A Santoyo-López, Javier %A Ayuso, Carmen %A Minguez, Pablo %A Avila-Fernandez, Almudena %A Corton, Marta %A Moreno-Pelayo, Miguel Ángel %A Morin, Matías %A Gallego-Martinez, Alvaro %A Lopez-Escamez, Jose A %A Borrego, Salud %A Antiňolo, Guillermo %A Amigo, Jorge %A Salgado-Garrido, Josefa %A Pasalodos-Sanchez, Sara %A Morte, Beatriz %A Carracedo, Ángel %A Alonso, Ángel %A Dopazo, Joaquin %K Alleles %K Chromosome Mapping %K Crowdsourcing %K Databases, Genetic %K Exome %K Gene Frequency %K Genetic Variation %K Genetics, Population %K Genome, Human %K Genomics %K Humans %K Internet %K Precision Medicine %K Software %K Spain %X

The knowledge of the genetic variability of the local population is of utmost importance in personalized medicine and has been revealed as a critical factor for the discovery of new disease variants. Here, we present the Collaborative Spanish Variability Server (CSVS), which currently contains more than 2000 genomes and exomes of unrelated Spanish individuals. This database has been generated in a collaborative crowdsourcing effort collecting sequencing data produced by local genomic projects and for other purposes. Sequences have been grouped by ICD10 upper categories. A web interface allows querying the database removing one or more ICD10 categories. In this way, aggregated counts of allele frequencies of the pseudo-control Spanish population can be obtained for diseases belonging to the category removed. Interestingly, in addition to pseudo-control studies, some population studies can be made, as, for example, prevalence of pharmacogenomic variants, etc. In addition, this genomic data has been used to define the first Spanish Genome Reference Panel (SGRP1.0) for imputation. This is the first local repository of variability entirely produced by a crowdsourcing effort and constitutes an example for future initiatives to characterize local variability worldwide. CSVS is also part of the GA4GH Beacon network. CSVS can be accessed at: http://csvs.babelomics.org/.

%B Nucleic Acids Res %V 49 %P D1130-D1137 %8 2021 01 08 %G eng %N D1 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32990755?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1093/nar/gkaa794 %0 Journal Article %J Genes (Basel) %D 2020 %T Transcriptomic Analysis of a Diabetic Skin-Humanized Mouse Model Dissects Molecular Pathways Underlying the Delayed Wound Healing Response. %A León, Carlos %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Llames, Sara %A García-Pérez, Eva %A Carretero, Marta %A Arriba, María Del Carmen %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Del Rio, Marcela %A Escamez, Maria José %A Martínez-Santamaría, Lucía %K Animals %K Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental %K Gene Expression Profiling %K Gene Expression Regulation %K Gene ontology %K Humans %K Metabolic Networks and Pathways %K Mice %K Mice, Nude %K Microarray Analysis %K Molecular Sequence Annotation %K Principal Component Analysis %K Signal Transduction %K Skin %K Skin Transplantation %K Skin Ulcer %K Streptozocin %K Tissue Engineering %K Transcriptome %K Transplantation, Heterologous %K Wound Healing %X

Defective healing leading to cutaneous ulcer formation is one of the most feared complications of diabetes due to its consequences on patients' quality of life and on the healthcare system. A more in-depth analysis of the underlying molecular pathophysiology is required to develop effective healing-promoting therapies for those patients. Major architectural and functional differences with human epidermis limit extrapolation of results coming from rodents and other small mammal-healing models. Therefore, the search for reliable humanized models has become mandatory. Previously, we developed a diabetes-induced delayed humanized wound healing model that faithfully recapitulated the major histological features of such skin repair-deficient condition. Herein, we present the results of a transcriptomic and functional enrichment analysis followed by a mechanistic analysis performed in such humanized wound healing model. The deregulation of genes implicated in functions such as angiogenesis, apoptosis, and inflammatory signaling processes were evidenced, confirming published data in diabetic patients that in fact might also underlie some of the histological features previously reported in the delayed skin-humanized healing model. Altogether, these molecular findings support the utility of such preclinical model as a valuable tool to gain insight into the molecular basis of the delayed diabetic healing with potential impact in the translational medicine field.

%B Genes (Basel) %V 12 %8 2020 12 31 %G eng %N 1 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33396192?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3390/genes12010047 %0 Journal Article %J Oncotarget %D 2017 %T Genomic expression differences between cutaneous cells from red hair color individuals and black hair color individuals based on bioinformatic analysis. %A Puig-Butille, Joan Anton %A Gimenez-Xavier, Pol %A Visconti, Alessia %A Nsengimana, Jérémie %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Tell-Marti, Gemma %A Escamez, Maria José %A Newton-Bishop, Julia %A Bataille, Veronique %A Del Rio, Marcela %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Falchi, Mario %A Puig, Susana %K Adult %K Coculture Techniques %K Computational Biology %K gene expression %K Genetic Predisposition to Disease %K Genomics %K Hair Color %K Humans %K Keratinocytes %K Melanocytes %K Middle Aged %K Phenotype %K Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1 %X

The MC1R gene plays a crucial role in pigmentation synthesis. Loss-of-function MC1R variants, which impair protein function, are associated with red hair color (RHC) phenotype and increased skin cancer risk. Cultured cutaneous cells bearing loss-of-function MC1R variants show a distinct gene expression profile compared to wild-type MC1R cultured cutaneous cells. We analysed the gene signature associated with RHC co-cultured melanocytes and keratinocytes by Protein-Protein interaction (PPI) network analysis to identify genes related with non-functional MC1R variants. From two detected networks, we selected 23 nodes as hub genes based on topological parameters. Differential expression of hub genes was then evaluated in healthy skin biopsies from RHC and black hair color (BHC) individuals. We also compared gene expression in melanoma tumors from individuals with RHC versus BHC. Gene expression in normal skin from RHC cutaneous cells showed dysregulation in 8 out of 23 hub genes (CLN3, ATG10, WIPI2, SNX2, GABARAPL2, YWHA, PCNA and GBAS). Hub genes did not differ between melanoma tumors in RHC versus BHC individuals. The study suggests that healthy skin cells from RHC individuals present a constitutive genomic deregulation associated with the red hair phenotype and identify novel genes involved in melanocyte biology.

%B Oncotarget %V 8 %P 11589-11599 %8 2017 Feb 14 %G eng %U http://www.impactjournals.com/oncotarget/index.php?journal=oncotarget&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=14140&path%5B%5D=45094 %N 7 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28030792?dopt=Abstract %R 10.18632/oncotarget.14140 %0 Journal Article %J Cereb Cortex %D 2017 %T Global Transcriptome Analysis of Primary Cerebrocortical Cells: Identification of Genes Regulated by Triiodothyronine in Specific Cell Types. %A Gil-Ibañez, Pilar %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Bernal, Juan %A Morte, Beatriz %K Animals %K Astrocytes %K Cells, Cultured %K Cerebral Cortex %K Fluorescent Antibody Technique %K Gene Expression Profiling %K Mice, 129 Strain %K Mice, Inbred BALB C %K Mice, Inbred C57BL %K Neurons %K Piperazines %K Transcriptome %K Triiodothyronine %X

Thyroid hormones, thyroxine, and triiodothyronine (T3) are crucial for cerebral cortex development acting through regulation of gene expression. To define the transcriptional program under T3 regulation, we have performed RNA-Seq of T3-treated and untreated primary mouse cerebrocortical cells. The expression of 1145 genes or 7.7% of expressed genes was changed upon T3 addition, of which 371 responded to T3 in the presence of cycloheximide indicating direct transcriptional regulation. The results were compared with available transcriptomic datasets of defined cellular types. In this way, we could identify targets of T3 within genes enriched in astrocytes and neurons, in specific layers including the subplate, and in specific neurons such as prepronociceptin, cholecystokinin, or cortistatin neurons. The subplate and the prepronociceptin neurons appear as potentially major targets of T3 action. T3 upregulates mostly genes related to cell membrane events, such as G-protein signaling, neurotransmission, and ion transport and downregulates genes involved in nuclear events associated with the M phase of cell cycle, such as chromosome organization and segregation. Remarkably, the transcriptomic changes induced by T3 sustain the transition from fetal to adult patterns of gene expression. The results allow defining in molecular terms the elusive role of thyroid hormones on neocortical development.

%B Cereb Cortex %V 27 %P 706-717 %8 2017 01 01 %G eng %N 1 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26534908?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1093/cercor/bhv273 %0 Journal Article %J Plant Mol Biol %D 2017 %T Integration of transcriptomic and metabolic data reveals hub transcription factors involved in drought stress response in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). %A Moschen, Sebastián %A Di Rienzo, Julio A %A Higgins, Janet %A Tohge, Takayuki %A Watanabe, Mutsumi %A Gonzalez, Sergio %A Rivarola, Máximo %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Hopp, H Esteban %A Hoefgen, Rainer %A Fernie, Alisdair R %A Paniego, Norma %A Fernandez, Paula %A Heinz, Ruth A %K Chlorophyll %K Gene Expression Regulation, Plant %K Helianthus %K Plant Leaves %K Plant Proteins %K Protein Array Analysis %K RNA, Plant %K Stress, Physiological %K Transcription Factors %K Water %X

By integration of transcriptional and metabolic profiles we identified pathways and hubs transcription factors regulated during drought conditions in sunflower, useful for applications in molecular and/or biotechnological breeding. Drought is one of the most important environmental stresses that effects crop productivity in many agricultural regions. Sunflower is tolerant to drought conditions but the mechanisms involved in this tolerance remain unclear at the molecular level. The aim of this study was to characterize and integrate transcriptional and metabolic pathways related to drought stress in sunflower plants, by using a system biology approach. Our results showed a delay in plant senescence with an increase in the expression level of photosynthesis related genes as well as higher levels of sugars, osmoprotectant amino acids and ionic nutrients under drought conditions. In addition, we identified transcription factors that were upregulated during drought conditions and that may act as hubs in the transcriptional network. Many of these transcription factors belong to families implicated in the drought response in model species. The integration of transcriptomic and metabolomic data in this study, together with physiological measurements, has improved our understanding of the biological responses during droughts and contributes to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved under this environmental condition. These findings will provide useful biotechnological tools to improve stress tolerance while maintaining crop yield under restricted water availability.

%B Plant Mol Biol %V 94 %P 549-564 %8 2017 Jul %G eng %N 4-5 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28639116?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1007/s11103-017-0625-5 %0 Journal Article %J Hum Mutat %D 2017 %T Mutations in TRAPPC11 are associated with a congenital disorder of glycosylation. %A Matalonga, Leslie %A Bravo, Miren %A Serra-Peinado, Carla %A García-Pelegrí, Elisabeth %A Ugarteburu, Olatz %A Vidal, Silvia %A Llambrich, Maria %A Quintana, Ester %A Fuster-Jorge, Pedro %A Gonzalez-Bravo, Maria Nieves %A Beltran, Sergi %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Foulquier, François %A Matthijs, Gert %A Mills, Philippa %A Ribes, Antonia %A Egea, Gustavo %A Briones, Paz %A Tort, Frederic %A Girós, Marisa %K Abnormalities, Multiple %K Alleles %K Amino Acid Substitution %K Brain %K Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation %K Genotype %K Humans %K Magnetic Resonance Imaging %K Male %K mutation %K Phenotype %K Vesicular Transport Proteins %K Whole Genome Sequencing %X

Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are a heterogeneous and rapidly growing group of diseases caused by abnormal glycosylation of proteins and/or lipids. Mutations in genes involved in the homeostasis of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the Golgi apparatus (GA), and the vesicular trafficking from the ER to the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) have been found to be associated with CDG. Here, we report a patient with defects in both N- and O-glycosylation combined with a delayed vesicular transport in the GA due to mutations in TRAPPC11, a subunit of the TRAPPIII complex. TRAPPIII is implicated in the anterograde transport from the ER to the ERGIC as well as in the vesicle export from the GA. This report expands the spectrum of genetic alterations associated with CDG, providing new insights for the diagnosis and the understanding of the physiopathological mechanisms underlying glycosylation disorders.

%B Hum Mutat %V 38 %P 148-151 %8 2017 02 %G eng %N 2 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27862579?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1002/humu.23145 %0 Journal Article %J Molecular biology and evolution %D 2016 %T 267 Spanish exomes reveal population-specific differences in disease-related genetic variation. %A Joaquín Dopazo %A Amadoz, Alicia %A Bleda, Marta %A García-Alonso, Luz %A Alemán, Alejandro %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Rodriguez, Juan A %A Daub, Josephine T %A Muntané, Gerard %A Antonio Rueda %A Vela-Boza, Alicia %A López-Domingo, Francisco J %A Florido, Javier P %A Arce, Pablo %A Ruiz-Ferrer, Macarena %A Méndez-Vidal, Cristina %A Arnold, Todd E %A Spleiss, Olivia %A Alvarez-Tejado, Miguel %A Navarro, Arcadi %A Bhattacharya, Shomi S %A Borrego, Salud %A Santoyo-López, Javier %A Antiňolo, Guillermo %K disease %K NGS %K polymorphisms %K Population genomics %K prioritization %K SNP %X Recent results from large-scale genomic projects suggest that allele frequencies, which are highly relevant for medical purposes, differ considerably across different populations. The need for a detailed catalogue of local variability motivated the whole exome sequencing of 267 unrelated individuals, representative of the healthy Spanish population. Like in other studies, a considerable number of rare variants were found (almost one third of the described variants). There were also relevant differences in allelic frequencies in polymorphic variants, including about 10,000 polymorphisms private to the Spanish population. The allelic frequencies of variants conferring susceptibility to complex diseases (including cancer, schizophrenia, Alzheimer disease, type 2 diabetes and other pathologies) were overall similar to those of other populations. However, the trend is the opposite for variants linked to Mendelian and rare diseases (including several retinal degenerative dystrophies and cardiomyopathies) that show marked frequency differences between populations. Interestingly, a correspondence between differences in allelic frequencies and disease prevalence was found, highlighting the relevance of frequency differences in disease risk. These differences are also observed in variants that disrupt known drug binding sites, suggesting an important role for local variability in population-specific drug resistances or adverse effects. We have made the Spanish population variant server web page that contains population frequency information for the complete list of 170,888 variant positions we found publicly available (http://spv.babelomics.org/), We show that it if fundamental to determine population-specific variant frequencies in order to distinguish real disease associations from population-specific polymorphisms. %B Molecular biology and evolution %8 2016 Jan 13 %G eng %U https://mbe.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/02/17/molbev.msw005.full %R 10.1093/molbev/msw005 %0 Journal Article %J The Journal of molecular diagnostics : JMD %D 2016 %T Assessment of Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing as a Tool for the Diagnosis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease and Hereditary Motor Neuropathy. %A Lupo, Vincenzo %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Sancho, Paula %A Tello, Cristina %A García-Romero, Mar %A Villarreal, Liliana %A Alberti, Antonia %A Sivera, Rafael %A Joaquín Dopazo %A Pascual-Pascual, Samuel I %A Márquez-Infante, Celedonio %A Casasnovas, Carlos %A Sevilla, Teresa %A Espinós, Carmen %K Charcot-Marie-Tooth %K CMT %K Diagnostic %K NGS %K Panels %K rare diseases %K Targeted resequencing %X Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is characterized by broad genetic heterogeneity with >50 known disease-associated genes. Mutations in some of these genes can cause a pure motor form of hereditary motor neuropathy, the genetics of which are poorly characterized. We designed a panel comprising 56 genes associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease/hereditary motor neuropathy. We validated this diagnostic tool by first testing 11 patients with pathological mutations. A cohort of 33 affected subjects was selected for this study. The DNAJB2 c.352+1G>A mutation was detected in two cases; novel changes and/or variants with low frequency (<1%) were found in 12 cases. There were no candidate variants in 18 cases, and amplification failed for one sample. The DNAJB2 c.352+1G>A mutation was also detected in three additional families. On haplotype analysis, all of the patients from these five families shared the same haplotype; therefore, the DNAJB2 c.352+1G>A mutation may be a founder event. Our gene panel allowed us to perform a very rapid and cost-effective screening of genes involved in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease/hereditary motor neuropathy. Our diagnostic strategy was robust in terms of both coverage and read depth for all of the genes and patient samples. These findings demonstrate the difficulty in achieving a definitive molecular diagnosis because of the complexity of interpreting new variants and the genetic heterogeneity that is associated with these neuropathies. %B The Journal of molecular diagnostics : JMD %8 2016 Jan 2 %G eng %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525157815002615 %R 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2015.10.005 %0 Journal Article %J Cell Cycle %D 2016 %T Dysfunctional mitochondrial fission impairs cell reprogramming. %A Prieto, Javier %A León, Marian %A Ponsoda, Xavier %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Bort, Roque %A Serna, Eva %A Barneo-Muñoz, Manuela %A Palau, Francesc %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A López-García, Carlos %A Torres, Josema %K Animals %K Cell Cycle Checkpoints %K Cellular Reprogramming %K DNA Damage %K G2 Phase %K Gene Knockdown Techniques %K Mice %K Mitochondrial Dynamics %K Mitosis %K Nerve Tissue Proteins %K Pluripotent Stem Cells %K Transcription Factors %X

We have recently shown that mitochondrial fission is induced early in reprogramming in a Drp1-dependent manner; however, the identity of the factors controlling Drp1 recruitment to mitochondria was unexplored. To investigate this, we used a panel of RNAi targeting factors involved in the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics and we observed that MiD51, Gdap1 and, to a lesser extent, Mff were found to play key roles in this process. Cells derived from Gdap1-null mice were used to further explore the role of this factor in cell reprogramming. Microarray data revealed a prominent down-regulation of cell cycle pathways in Gdap1-null cells early in reprogramming and cell cycle profiling uncovered a G2/M growth arrest in Gdap1-null cells undergoing reprogramming. High-Content analysis showed that this growth arrest was DNA damage-independent. We propose that lack of efficient mitochondrial fission impairs cell reprogramming by interfering with cell cycle progression in a DNA damage-independent manner.

%B Cell Cycle %V 15 %P 3240-3250 %8 2016 Dec %G eng %N 23 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27753531?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1080/15384101.2016.1241930 %0 Journal Article %J Bioinformatics %D 2016 %T Integrated gene set analysis for microRNA studies. %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Panadero, Joaquin %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Montaner, David %K Computational Biology %K Gene Expression Profiling %K Gene ontology %K Gene Regulatory Networks %K High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing %K Humans %K MicroRNAs %K Neoplasms %K Reproducibility of Results %X

MOTIVATION: Functional interpretation of miRNA expression data is currently done in a three step procedure: select differentially expressed miRNAs, find their target genes, and carry out gene set overrepresentation analysis Nevertheless, major limitations of this approach have already been described at the gene level, while some newer arise in the miRNA scenario.Here, we propose an enhanced methodology that builds on the well-established gene set analysis paradigm. Evidence for differential expression at the miRNA level is transferred to a gene differential inhibition score which is easily interpretable in terms of gene sets or pathways. Such transferred indexes account for the additive effect of several miRNAs targeting the same gene, and also incorporate cancellation effects between cases and controls. Together, these two desirable characteristics allow for more accurate modeling of regulatory processes.

RESULTS: We analyze high-throughput sequencing data from 20 different cancer types and provide exhaustive reports of gene and Gene Ontology-term deregulation by miRNA action.

AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The proposed methodology was implemented in the Bioconductor library mdgsa http://bioconductor.org/packages/mdgsa For the purpose of reproducibility all of the scripts are available at https://github.com/dmontaner-papers/gsa4mirna

CONTACT: : david.montaner@gmail.com

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

%B Bioinformatics %V 32 %P 2809-16 %8 2016 09 15 %G eng %N 18 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27324197?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1093/bioinformatics/btw334 %0 Journal Article %J Plant Biotechnol J %D 2016 %T Integrating transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis to understand natural leaf senescence in sunflower. %A Moschen, Sebastián %A Bengoa Luoni, Sofía %A Di Rienzo, Julio A %A Caro, María Del Pilar %A Tohge, Takayuki %A Watanabe, Mutsumi %A Hollmann, Julien %A Gonzalez, Sergio %A Rivarola, Máximo %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Hopp, Horacio Esteban %A Hoefgen, Rainer %A Fernie, Alisdair R %A Paniego, Norma %A Fernandez, Paula %A Heinz, Ruth A %K Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry %K Gene Expression Profiling %K Gene Expression Regulation, Plant %K Gene ontology %K Genes, Plant %K Helianthus %K Ions %K metabolomics %K Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis %K Plant Leaves %K Principal Component Analysis %K RNA, Messenger %K Transcription Factors %X

Leaf senescence is a complex process, which has dramatic consequences on crop yield. In sunflower, gap between potential and actual yields reveals the economic impact of senescence. Indeed, sunflower plants are incapable of maintaining their green leaf area over sustained periods. This study characterizes the leaf senescence process in sunflower through a systems biology approach integrating transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses: plants being grown under both glasshouse and field conditions. Our results revealed a correspondence between profile changes detected at the molecular, biochemical and physiological level throughout the progression of leaf senescence measured at different plant developmental stages. Early metabolic changes were detected prior to anthesis and before the onset of the first senescence symptoms, with more pronounced changes observed when physiological and molecular variables were assessed under field conditions. During leaf development, photosynthetic activity and cell growth processes decreased, whereas sucrose, fatty acid, nucleotide and amino acid metabolisms increased. Pathways related to nutrient recycling processes were also up-regulated. Members of the NAC, AP2-EREBP, HB, bZIP and MYB transcription factor families showed high expression levels, and their expression level was highly correlated, suggesting their involvement in sunflower senescence. The results of this study thus contribute to the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in the onset and progression of leaf senescence in sunflower leaves as well as to the identification of candidate genes involved in this process.

%B Plant Biotechnol J %V 14 %P 719-34 %8 2016 Feb %G eng %N 2 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26132509?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1111/pbi.12422 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Med Genet A %D 2016 %T Screening of CD96 and ASXL1 in 11 patients with Opitz C or Bohring-Opitz syndromes. %A Urreizti, Roser %A Roca-Ayats, Neus %A Trepat, Judith %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Alemán, Alejandro %A Orteschi, Daniela %A Marangi, Giuseppe %A Neri, Giovanni %A Opitz, John M %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Cormand, Bru %A Vilageliu, Lluïsa %A Balcells, Susana %A Grinberg, Daniel %K Adolescent %K Antigens, CD %K Child %K Child, Preschool %K Craniosynostoses %K Exome %K Female %K High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing %K Humans %K Infant %K Intellectual Disability %K Male %K mutation %K Pedigree %K Phenotype %K Prognosis %K Repressor Proteins %X

Opitz C trigonocephaly (or Opitz C syndrome, OTCS) and Bohring-Opitz syndrome (BOS or C-like syndrome) are two rare genetic disorders with phenotypic overlap. The genetic causes of these diseases are not understood. However, two genes have been associated with OTCS or BOS with dominantly inherited de novo mutations. Whereas CD96 has been related to OTCS (one case) and to BOS (one case), ASXL1 has been related to BOS only (several cases). In this study we analyze CD96 and ASXL1 in a group of 11 affected individuals, including 2 sibs, 10 of them were diagnosed with OTCS, and one had a BOS phenotype. Exome sequences were available on six patients with OTCS and three parent pairs. Thus, we could analyze the CD96 and ASXL1 sequences in these patients bioinformatically. Sanger sequencing of all exons of CD96 and ASXL1 was carried out in the remaining patients. Detailed scrutiny of the sequences and assessment of variants allowed us to exclude putative pathogenic and private mutations in all but one of the patients. In this patient (with BOS) we identified a de novo mutation in ASXL1 (c.2100dupT). By nature and location within the gene, this mutation resembles those previously described in other BOS patients and we conclude that it may be responsible for the condition. Our results indicate that in 10 of 11, the disease (OTCS or BOS) cannot be explained by small changes in CD96 or ASXL1. However, the cohort is too small to make generalizations about the genetic etiology of these diseases.

%B Am J Med Genet A %V 170A %P 24-31 %8 2016 Jan %G eng %N 1 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26768331?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1002/ajmg.a.37418 %0 Journal Article %J Oncotarget %D 2016 %T Serum metabolomic profiling facilitates the non-invasive identification of metabolic biomarkers associated with the onset and progression of non-small cell lung cancer. %A Puchades-Carrasco, Leonor %A Jantus-Lewintre, Eloisa %A Pérez-Rambla, Clara %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Lucas, Rut %A Calabuig, Silvia %A Blasco, Ana %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Camps, Carlos %A Pineda-Lucena, Antonio %K Adult %K Aged %K Biomarkers, Tumor %K Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung %K Disease Progression %K Female %K Humans %K Lung Neoplasms %K Male %K metabolomics %K Middle Aged %K Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy %X

Lung cancer (LC) is responsible for most cancer deaths. One of the main factors contributing to the lethality of this disease is the fact that a large proportion of patients are diagnosed at advanced stages when a clinical intervention is unlikely to succeed. In this study, we evaluated the potential of metabolomics by 1H-NMR to facilitate the identification of accurate and reliable biomarkers to support the early diagnosis and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).We found that the metabolic profile of NSCLC patients, compared with healthy individuals, is characterized by statistically significant changes in the concentration of 18 metabolites representing different amino acids, organic acids and alcohols, as well as different lipids and molecules involved in lipid metabolism. Furthermore, the analysis of the differences between the metabolic profiles of NSCLC patients at different stages of the disease revealed the existence of 17 metabolites involved in metabolic changes associated with disease progression.Our results underscore the potential of metabolomics profiling to uncover pathophysiological mechanisms that could be useful to objectively discriminate NSCLC patients from healthy individuals, as well as between different stages of the disease.

%B Oncotarget %V 7 %P 12904-16 %8 2016 Mar 15 %G eng %N 11 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26883203?dopt=Abstract %R 10.18632/oncotarget.7354 %0 Journal Article %J Sci Rep %D 2016 %T The transcriptomics of an experimentally evolved plant-virus interaction. %A Hillung, Julia %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Cuevas, José M %A Elena, Santiago F %K Arabidopsis %K Ecotype %K Gene Expression Profiling %K Host-Pathogen Interactions %K Potyvirus %X

Models of plant-virus interaction assume that the ability of a virus to infect a host genotype depends on the matching between virulence and resistance genes. Recently, we evolved tobacco etch potyvirus (TEV) lineages on different ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana, and found that some ecotypes selected for specialist viruses whereas others selected for generalists. Here we sought to evaluate the transcriptomic basis of such relationships. We have characterized the transcriptomic responses of five ecotypes infected with the ancestral and evolved viruses. Genes and functional categories differentially expressed by plants infected with local TEV isolates were identified, showing heterogeneous responses among ecotypes, although significant parallelism existed among lineages evolved in the same ecotype. Although genes involved in immune responses were altered upon infection, other functional groups were also pervasively over-represented, suggesting that plant resistance genes were not the only drivers of viral adaptation. Finally, the transcriptomic consequences of infection with the generalist and specialist lineages were compared. Whilst the generalist induced very similar perturbations in the transcriptomes of the different ecotypes, the perturbations induced by the specialist were divergent. Plant defense mechanisms were activated when the infecting virus was specialist but they were down-regulated when infecting with generalist.

%B Sci Rep %V 6 %P 24901 %8 2016 04 26 %G eng %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27113435?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1038/srep24901 %0 Journal Article %J Nucleic acids research %D 2015 %T Babelomics 5.0: functional interpretation for new generations of genomic data. %A Alonso, Roberto %A Salavert, Francisco %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Carbonell-Caballero, José %A Bleda, Marta %A García-Alonso, Luz %A Sanchis-Juan, Alba %A Perez-Gil, Daniel %A Marin-Garcia, Pablo %A Sánchez, Rubén %A Cubuk, Cankut %A Hidalgo, Marta R %A Amadoz, Alicia %A Hernansaiz-Ballesteros, Rosa D %A Alemán, Alejandro %A Tárraga, Joaquín %A Montaner, David %A Medina, Ignacio %A Dopazo, Joaquin %K babelomics %K data integration %K gene set analysis %K interactome %K network analysis %K NGS %K RNA-seq %K Systems biology %K transcriptomics %X Babelomics has been running for more than one decade offering a user-friendly interface for the functional analysis of gene expression and genomic data. Here we present its fifth release, which includes support for Next Generation Sequencing data including gene expression (RNA-seq), exome or genome resequencing. Babelomics has simplified its interface, being now more intuitive. Improved visualization options, such as a genome viewer as well as an interactive network viewer, have been implemented. New technical enhancements at both, client and server sides, makes the user experience faster and more dynamic. Babelomics offers user-friendly access to a full range of methods that cover: (i) primary data analysis, (ii) a variety of tests for different experimental designs and (iii) different enrichment and network analysis algorithms for the interpretation of the results of such tests in the proper functional context. In addition to the public server, local copies of Babelomics can be downloaded and installed. Babelomics is freely available at: http://www.babelomics.org. %B Nucleic acids research %V 43 %P W117-W121 %8 2015 Apr 20 %G eng %U http://nar.oxfordjournals.org/content/43/W1/W117 %R 10.1093/nar/gkv384 %0 Journal Article %J BMC cancer %D 2015 %T BRCA1 Alternative splicing landscape in breast tissue samples. %A Romero, Atocha %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A López-Perolio, Irene %A Ruiz de Garibay, Gorka %A García-Sáenz, José A %A Garre, Pilar %A Ayllón, Patricia %A Benito, Esperanza %A Joaquín Dopazo %A Díaz-Rubio, Eduardo %A Caldés, Trinidad %A de la Hoya, Miguel %X BACKGROUND: BRCA1 is a key protein in cell network, involved in DNA repair pathways and cell cycle. Recently, the ENIGMA consortium has reported a high number of alternative splicing (AS) events at this locus in blood-derived samples. However, BRCA1 splicing pattern in breast tissue samples is unknown. Here, we provide an accurate description of BRCA1 splicing events distribution in breast tissue samples. METHODS: BRCA1 splicing events were scanned in 70 breast tumor samples, 4 breast samples from healthy individuals and in 72 blood-derived samples by capillary electrophoresis (capillary EP). Molecular subtype was identified in all tumor samples. Splicing events were considered predominant if their relative expression level was at least the 10% of the full-length reference signal. RESULTS: 54 BRCA1 AS events were identified, 27 of them were annotated as predominant in at least one sample. Δ5q, Δ13, Δ9, Δ5 and ▼1aA were significantly more frequently annotated as predominant in breast tumor samples than in blood-derived samples. Predominant splicing events were, on average, more frequent in tumor samples than in normal breast tissue samples (P = 0.010). Similarly, likely inactivating splicing events (PTC-NMDs, Non-Coding, Δ5 and Δ18) were more frequently annotated as predominant in tumor than in normal breast samples (P = 0.020), whereas there were no significant differences for other splicing events (No-Fs) frequency distribution between tumor and normal breast samples (P = 0.689). CONCLUSIONS: Our results complement recent findings by the ENIGMA consortium, demonstrating that BRCA1 AS, despite its tremendous complexity, is similar in breast and blood samples, with no evidences for tissue specific AS events. Further on, we conclude that somatic inactivation of BRCA1 through spliciogenic mutations is, at best, a rare mechanism in breast carcinogenesis, albeit our data detects an excess of likely inactivating AS events in breast tumor samples. %B BMC cancer %V 15 %P 219 %8 2015 %G eng %U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/15/219 %R 10.1186/s12885-015-1145-9 %0 Journal Article %J Human molecular genetics %D 2015 %T Whole Exome Sequencing Reveals ZNF408 as a New Gene Associated With Autosomal Recessive Retinitis Pigmentosa with Vitreal Alterations. %A Avila-Fernandez, Almudena %A Perez-Carro, Raquel %A Corton, Marta %A Lopez-Molina, Maria Isabel %A Campello, Laura %A Garanto, Alex %A Fernadez-Sanchez, Laura %A Duijkers, Lonneke %A Lopez-Martinez, Miguel Angel %A Riveiro-Alvarez, Rosa %A da Silva, Luciana Rodrigues Jacy %A Sanchez-Alcudia, Rocío %A Martin-Garrido, Esther %A Reyes, Noelia %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Garcia-Sandoval, Blanca %A Collin, Rob W %A Cuenca, Nicolas %A Ayuso, Carmen %X Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a group of progressive inherited retinal dystrophies that cause visual impairment as a result of photoreceptor cell death. RP is heterogeneous, both clinically and genetically making difficult to establish precise genotype-phenotype correlations. In a Spanish family with autosomal recessive RP (arRP), homozygosity mapping and whole exome sequencing led to the identification of a homozygous mutation (c.358_359delGT; p.Ala122Leufs*2) in the ZNF408 gene. A screening performed in 217 additional unrelated families revealed another homozygous mutation (c.1621C>T; p.Arg541Cys) in an isolated RP case. ZNF408 encodes a transcription factor that harbors ten predicted C2H2-type fingers thought to be implicated in DNA binding. To elucidate the ZNF408 role in the retina and the pathogenesis of these mutations we have performed different functional studies. By immunohistochemical analysis in healthy human retina, we identified that ZNF408 is expressed in both cone and rod photoreceptors, in a specific type of amacrine and ganglion cells, and in retinal blood vessels. ZNF408 revealed a cytoplasmic localization and a nuclear distribution in areas corresponding with the euchromatin fraction. Immunolocalization studies showed a partial mislocalization of the p.Arg541Cys mutant protein retaining part of the WT protein in the cytoplasm. Our study demonstrates that ZNF408, previously associated with Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), is a new gene causing arRP with vitreous condensations supporting the evidence that this protein plays additional functions into the human retina. %B Human molecular genetics %V 24 %P 4037-4048 %8 2015 Apr 16 %G eng %U http://hmg.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/04/16/hmg.ddv140.abstract %R 10.1093/hmg/ddv140 %0 Journal Article %J Hum Mol Genet %D 2015 %T Whole-exome sequencing reveals ZNF408 as a new gene associated with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa with vitreal alterations. %A Avila-Fernandez, Almudena %A Perez-Carro, Raquel %A Corton, Marta %A Lopez-Molina, Maria Isabel %A Campello, Laura %A Garanto, Alejandro %A Fernandez-Sanchez, Laura %A Duijkers, Lonneke %A Lopez-Martinez, Miguel Angel %A Riveiro-Alvarez, Rosa %A da Silva, Luciana Rodrigues Jacy %A Sanchez-Alcudia, Rocío %A Martin-Garrido, Esther %A Reyes, Noelia %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Garcia-Sandoval, Blanca %A Collin, Rob W J %A Cuenca, Nicolas %A Ayuso, Carmen %K Amino Acid Sequence %K Animals %K Chlorocebus aethiops %K Chromosome Mapping %K COS Cells %K DNA-Binding Proteins %K Exome %K Genome-Wide Association Study %K High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing %K Homozygote %K Humans %K Molecular Sequence Data %K Mutant Proteins %K Pedigree %K Retina %K Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells %K Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells %K Retinitis pigmentosa %K Transcription Factors %X

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of progressive inherited retinal dystrophies that cause visual impairment as a result of photoreceptor cell death. RP is heterogeneous, both clinically and genetically making difficult to establish precise genotype-phenotype correlations. In a Spanish family with autosomal recessive RP (arRP), homozygosity mapping and whole-exome sequencing led to the identification of a homozygous mutation (c.358_359delGT; p.Ala122Leufs*2) in the ZNF408 gene. A screening performed in 217 additional unrelated families revealed another homozygous mutation (c.1621C>T; p.Arg541Cys) in an isolated RP case. ZNF408 encodes a transcription factor that harbors 10 predicted C2H2-type fingers thought to be implicated in DNA binding. To elucidate the ZNF408 role in the retina and the pathogenesis of these mutations we have performed different functional studies. By immunohistochemical analysis in healthy human retina, we identified that ZNF408 is expressed in both cone and rod photoreceptors, in a specific type of amacrine and ganglion cells, and in retinal blood vessels. ZNF408 revealed a cytoplasmic localization and a nuclear distribution in areas corresponding with the euchromatin fraction. Immunolocalization studies showed a partial mislocalization of the p.Arg541Cys mutant protein retaining part of the WT protein in the cytoplasm. Our study demonstrates that ZNF408, previously associated with Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), is a new gene causing arRP with vitreous condensations supporting the evidence that this protein plays additional functions into the human retina.

%B Hum Mol Genet %V 24 %P 4037-48 %8 2015 Jul 15 %G eng %N 14 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25882705?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1093/hmg/ddv140 %0 Journal Article %J Front Oncol %D 2014 %T The Activation of the Sox2 RR2 Pluripotency Transcriptional Reporter in Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines is Dynamic and Labels Cells with Higher Tumorigenic Potential. %A Iglesias, Juan Manuel %A Leis, Olatz %A Pérez Ruiz, Estíbaliz %A Gumuzio Barrie, Juan %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Aduriz, Ariane %A Beloqui, Izaskun %A Hernandez-Garcia, Susana %A Lopez-Mato, Maria Paz %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Pandiella, Atanasio %A Menendez, Javier A %A Martin, Angel Garcia %X

The striking similarity displayed at the mechanistic level between tumorigenesis and the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells and the fact that genes and pathways relevant for embryonic development are reactivated during tumor progression highlights the link between pluripotency and cancer. Based on these observations, we tested whether it is possible to use a pluripotency-associated transcriptional reporter, whose activation is driven by the SRR2 enhancer from the Sox2 gene promoter (named S4+ reporter), to isolate cancer stem cells (CSCs) from breast cancer cell lines. The S4+ pluripotency transcriptional reporter allows the isolation of cells with enhanced tumorigenic potential and its activation was switched on and off in the cell lines studied, reflecting a plastic cellular process. Microarray analysis comparing the populations in which the reporter construct is active versus inactive showed that positive cells expressed higher mRNA levels of cytokines (IL-8, IL-6, TNF) and genes (such as ATF3, SNAI2, and KLF6) previously related with the CSC phenotype in breast cancer.

%B Front Oncol %V 4 %P 308 %8 2014 %G eng %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25414831?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3389/fonc.2014.00308 %0 Journal Article %J PLoS One %D 2014 %T Permanent cardiac sarcomere changes in a rabbit model of intrauterine growth restriction. %A Torre, Iratxe %A González-Tendero, Anna %A García-Cañadilla, Patricia %A Crispi, Fátima %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Bijnens, Bart %A Iruretagoyena, Igor %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Amat-Roldán, Ivan %A Gratacós, Eduard %K Animals %K biomarkers %K Blood Pressure %K Body Weight %K Disease Models, Animal %K Echocardiography %K Female %K Fetal Growth Retardation %K Fetal Heart %K Fetus %K Gene Expression Profiling %K Organ Size %K Placenta %K Pregnancy %K Rabbits %K Sarcomeres %X

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) induces fetal cardiac remodelling and dysfunction, which persists postnatally and may explain the link between low birth weight and increased cardiovascular mortality in adulthood. However, the cellular and molecular bases for these changes are still not well understood. We tested the hypothesis that IUGR is associated with structural and functional gene expression changes in the fetal sarcomere cytoarchitecture, which remain present in adulthood.

METHODS AND RESULTS: IUGR was induced in New Zealand pregnant rabbits by selective ligation of the utero-placental vessels. Fetal echocardiography demonstrated more globular hearts and signs of cardiac dysfunction in IUGR. Second harmonic generation microscopy (SHGM) showed shorter sarcomere length and shorter A-band and thick-thin filament interaction lengths, that were already present in utero and persisted at 70 postnatal days (adulthood). Sarcomeric M-band (GO: 0031430) functional term was over-represented in IUGR fetal hearts.

CONCLUSION: The results suggest that IUGR induces cardiac dysfunction and permanent changes on the sarcomere.

%B PLoS One %V 9 %P e113067 %8 2014 %G eng %N 11 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25402351?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1371/journal.pone.0113067 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of experimental botany %D 2014 %T Programmed cell death activated by Rose Bengal in Arabidopsis thaliana cell suspension cultures requires functional chloroplasts. %A Gutiérrez, Jorge %A González-Pérez, Sergio %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Daly, Cara T %A Lorenzo, Oscar %A Revuelta, José L %A McCabe, Paul F %A Arellano, Juan B %X Light-grown Arabidopsis thaliana cell suspension culture (ACSC) were subjected to mild photooxidative damage with Rose Bengal (RB) with the aim of gaining a better understanding of singlet oxygen-mediated defence responses in plants. Additionally, ACSC were treated with H2O2 at concentrations that induced comparable levels of protein oxidation damage. Under low to medium light conditions, both RB and H2O2 treatments activated transcriptional defence responses and inhibited photosynthetic activity, but they differed in that programmed cell death (PCD) was only observed in cells treated with RB. When dark-grown ACSC were subjected to RB in the light, PCD was suppressed, indicating that the singlet oxygen-mediated signalling pathway in ACSC requires functional chloroplasts. Analysis of up-regulated transcripts in light-grown ACSC, treated with RB in the light, showed that both singlet oxygen-responsive transcripts and transcripts with a key role in hormone-activated PCD (i.e. ethylene and jasmonic acid) were present. A co-regulation analysis proved that ACSC treated with RB exhibited higher correlation with the conditional fluorescence (flu) mutant than with other singlet oxygen-producing mutants or wild-type plants subjected to high light. However, there was no evidence for the up-regulation of EDS1, suggesting that activation of PCD was not associated with the EXECUTER- and EDS1-dependent signalling pathway described in the flu mutant. Indigo Carmine and Methylene Violet, two photosensitizers unable to enter chloroplasts, did not activate transcriptional defence responses in ACSC; however, whether this was due to their location or to their inherently low singlet oxygen quantum efficiencies was not determined. %B Journal of experimental botany %8 2014 Apr 10 %G eng %U http://jxb.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/04/09/jxb.eru151.long %R 10.1093/jxb/eru151 %0 Journal Article %J Nucleic acids research %D 2014 %T A web tool for the design and management of panels of genes for targeted enrichment and massive sequencing for clinical applications. %A Alemán, Alejandro %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Medina, Ignacio %A Joaquín Dopazo %K Diagnostic %K Targeted enrichment sequencing %K WES %X Disease targeted sequencing is gaining importance as a powerful and cost-effective application of high throughput sequencing technologies to the diagnosis. However, the lack of proper tools to process the data hinders its extensive adoption. Here we present TEAM, an intuitive and easy-to-use web tool that fills the gap between the predicted mutations and the final diagnostic in targeted enrichment sequencing analysis. The tool searches for known diagnostic mutations, corresponding to a disease panel, among the predicted patient’s variants. Diagnostic variants for the disease are taken from four databases of disease-related variants (HGMD-public, HUMSAVAR, ClinVar and COSMIC.) If no primary diagnostic variant is found, then a list of secondary findings that can help to establish a diagnostic is produced. TEAM also provides with an interface for the definition of and customization of panels, by means of which, genes and mutations can be added or discarded to adjust panel definitions. TEAM is freely available at: http://team.babelomics.org. %B Nucleic acids research %V 42 %P W83-W87 %8 2014 May 26 %G eng %U http://nar.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=24861626 %R 10.1093/nar/gku472 %0 Journal Article %J Nucleic acids research %D 2014 %T A web-based interactive framework to assist in the prioritization of disease candidate genes in whole-exome sequencing studies. %A Alemán, Alejandro %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Salavert, Francisco %A Medina, Ignacio %A Joaquín Dopazo %K NGS. prioritization %X Whole-exome sequencing has become a fundamental tool for the discovery of disease-related genes of familial diseases and the identification of somatic driver variants in cancer. However, finding the causal mutation among the enormous background of individual variability in a small number of samples is still a big challenge. Here we describe a web-based tool, BiERapp, which efficiently helps in the identification of causative variants in family and sporadic genetic diseases. The program reads lists of predicted variants (nucleotide substitutions and indels) in affected individuals or tumor samples and controls. In family studies, different modes of inheritance can easily be defined to filter out variants that do not segregate with the disease along the family. Moreover, BiERapp integrates additional information such as allelic frequencies in the general population and the most popular damaging scores to further narrow down the number of putative variants in successive filtering steps. BiERapp provides an interactive and user-friendly interface that implements the filtering strategy used in the context of a large-scale genomic project carried out by the Spanish Network for Research in Rare Diseases (CIBERER) in which more than 800 exomes have been analyzed. BiERapp is freely available at: http://bierapp.babelomics.org/ %B Nucleic acids research %V 42 %P W88-W93. %8 2014 May 6 %G eng %U http://nar.oxfordjournals.org/content/42/W1/W88 %R 10.1093/nar/gku407 %0 Journal Article %J Oncotarget %D 2013 %T Capturing the biological impact of CDKN2A and MC1R genes as an early predisposing event in melanoma and non melanoma skin cancer. %A Puig-Butille, Joan Anton %A Escamez, Maria José %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Tell-Marti, Gemma %A Fabra, Angels %A Martínez-Santamaría, Lucía %A Badenas, Celia %A Aguilera, Paula %A Pevida, Marta %A Joaquín Dopazo %A Del Rio, Marcela %A Puig, Susana %X Germline mutations in CDKN2A and/or red hair color variants in MC1R genes are associated with an increased susceptibility to develop cutaneous melanoma or non melanoma skin cancer. We studied the impact of the CDKN2A germinal mutation p.G101W and MC1R variants on gene expression and transcription profiles associated with skin cancer. To this end we set-up primary skin cell co-cultures from siblings of melanoma prone-families that were later analyzed using the expression array approach. As a result, we found that 1535 transcripts were deregulated in CDKN2A mutated cells, with over-expression of immunity-related genes (HLA-DPB1, CLEC2B, IFI44, IFI44L, IFI27, IFIT1, IFIT2, SP110 and IFNK) and down-regulation of genes playing a role in the Notch signaling pathway. 3570 transcripts were deregulated in MC1R variant carriers. In particular, genes related to oxidative stress and DNA damage pathways were up-regulated as well as genes associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer and Huntington. Finally, we observed that the expression signatures indentified in phenotypically normal cells carrying CDKN2A mutations or MC1R variants are maintained in skin cancer tumors (melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma). These results indicate that transcriptome deregulation represents an early event critical for skin cancer development. %B Oncotarget %8 2013 Dec 16 %G eng %U http://www.impactjournals.com/oncotarget/index.php?journal=oncotarget&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=1444&path%5B%5D=1824 %0 Journal Article %J Carcinogenesis %D 2013 %T Grape antioxidant dietary fiber (GADF) inhibits intestinal polyposis in ApcMin/+ mice: relation to cell cycle and immune response. %A Sánchez-Tena, Susana %A Lizarraga, Daneida %A Miranda, Anibal %A Vinardell, Maria Pilar %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Joaquín Dopazo %A Torres, Josep Lluís %A Saura-Calixto, Fulgencio %A Capellà, Gabriel %A Cascante, Marta %X Epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that fiber and phenolic compounds might have a protective effect on the development of colon cancer in humans. Accordingly, we assessed the chemopreventive efficacy and associated mechanisms of action of a lyophilized red grape pomace containing proanthocyanidin-rich dietary fiber (Grape Antioxidant Dietary Fiber, GADF) on spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis in the Apc(Min/+) mouse model. Mice were fed a standard diet (control group) or a 1% (w/w) GADF-supplemented diet (GADF group) for 6 weeks. GADF supplementation greatly reduced intestinal tumorigenesis, significantly decreasing the total number of polyps by 76%. Moreover, size distribution analysis showed a considerable reduction in all polyp size categories [diameter <1 mm (65%), 1-2 mm (67%) and >2 mm (87%)]. In terms of polyp formation in the proximal, middle and distal portions of the small intestine a decrease of 76%, 81% and 73% was observed respectively. Putative molecular mechanisms underlying the inhibition of intestinal tumorigenesis were investigated by comparison of microarray expression profiles of GADF-treated and non-treated mice. We observed that the effects of GADF are mainly associated with the induction of a G1 cell cycle arrest and the downregulation of genes related to the immune response and inflammation. Our findings show for the first time the efficacy and associated mechanisms of action of GADF against intestinal tumorigenesis in Apc(Min/+) mice, suggesting its potential for the prevention of colorectal cancer. %B Carcinogenesis %8 2013 Apr 24 %G eng %U http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/04/23/carcin.bgt140.abstract %R 10.1093/carcin/bgt140 %0 Journal Article %J Carcinogenesis %D 2013 %T Grape antioxidant dietary fiber inhibits intestinal polyposis in ApcMin/+ mice: relation to cell cycle and immune response. %A Sánchez-Tena, Susana %A Lizarraga, Daneida %A Miranda, Anibal %A Vinardell, Maria P %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Torres, Josep L %A Saura-Calixto, Fulgencio %A Capellà, Gabriel %A Cascante, Marta %K Animals %K Antioxidants %K Body Weight %K Carcinogenesis %K Cell Cycle %K Cell Cycle Checkpoints %K Colorectal Neoplasms %K Dietary Fiber %K Dietary Supplements %K Down-Regulation %K G1 Phase %K Inflammation %K Intestinal Polyposis %K Intestinal Polyps %K Intestine, Small %K Male %K Mice %K Transcriptome %K Vitis %X

Epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that fiber and phenolic compounds might have a protective effect on the development of colon cancer in humans. Accordingly, we assessed the chemopreventive efficacy and associated mechanisms of action of a lyophilized red grape pomace containing proanthocyanidin (PA)-rich dietary fiber [grape antioxidant dietary fiber (GADF)] on spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis in the Apc(Min/+) mouse model. Mice were fed a standard diet (control group) or a 1% (w/w) GADF-supplemented diet (GADF group) for 6 weeks. GADF supplementation greatly reduced intestinal tumorigenesis, significantly decreasing the total number of polyps by 76%. Moreover, size distribution analysis showed a considerable reduction in all polyp size categories [diameter <1mm (65%), 1-2mm (67%) and >2mm (87%)]. In terms of polyp formation in the proximal, middle and distal portions of the small intestine, a decrease of 76, 81 and 73% was observed, respectively. Putative molecular mechanisms underlying the inhibition of intestinal tumorigenesis were investigated by comparison of microarray expression profiles of GADF-treated and non-treated mice. We observed that the effects of GADF are mainly associated with the induction of a G1 cell cycle arrest and the downregulation of genes related to the immune response and inflammation. Our findings show for the first time the efficacy and associated mechanisms of action of GADF against intestinal tumorigenesis in Apc(Min/+) mice, suggesting its potential for the prevention of colorectal cancer.

%B Carcinogenesis %V 34 %P 1881-8 %8 2013 Aug %G eng %N 8 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23615403?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1093/carcin/bgt140 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol %D 2013 %T Intrauterine growth restriction is associated with cardiac ultrastructural and gene expression changes related to the energetic metabolism in a rabbit model. %A González-Tendero, Anna %A Torre, Iratxe %A García-Cañadilla, Patricia %A Crispi, Fátima %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Bijnens, Bart %A Gratacós, Eduard %K Animals %K Disease Models, Animal %K Energy Metabolism %K Female %K Fetal Growth Retardation %K gene expression %K Mitochondria %K Myocardium %K Oxidative Phosphorylation %K Placenta %K Pregnancy %K Rabbits %X

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) affects 7-10% of pregnancies and is associated with cardiovascular remodeling and dysfunction, which persists into adulthood. The underlying subcellular remodeling and cardiovascular programming events are still poorly documented. Cardiac muscle is central in the fetal adaptive mechanism to IUGR given its high energetic demands. The energetic homeostasis depends on the correct interaction of several molecular pathways and the adequate arrangement of intracellular energetic units (ICEUs), where mitochondria interact with the contractile machinery and the main cardiac ATPases to enable a quick and efficient energy transfer. We studied subcellular cardiac adaptations to IUGR in an experimental rabbit model. We evaluated the ultrastructure of ICEUs with transmission electron microscopy and observed an altered spatial arrangement in IUGR, with significant increases in cytosolic space between mitochondria and myofilaments. A global decrease of mitochondrial density was also observed. In addition, we conducted a global gene expression profile by advanced bioinformatics tools to assess the expression of genes involved in the cardiomyocyte energetic metabolism and identified four gene modules with a coordinated over-representation in IUGR: oxygen homeostasis (GO: 0032364), mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I (GO:0005747), oxidative phosphorylation (GO: 0006119), and NADH dehydrogenase activity (GO:0003954). These findings might contribute to changes in energetic homeostasis in IUGR. The potential persistence and role of these changes in long-term cardiovascular programming deserves further investigation.

%B Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol %V 305 %P H1752-60 %8 2013 Dec %G eng %N 12 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24097427?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1152/ajpheart.00514.2013 %0 Journal Article %J PLoS ONE %D 2013 %T Mammosphere Formation in Breast Carcinoma Cell Lines Depends upon Expression of E-cadherin %A Manuel Iglesias, Juan %A Beloqui, Izaskun %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Leis, Olatz %A Vazquez-Martin, Alejandro %A Eguiara, Arrate %A Cufi, Silvia %A Pavon, Andres %A Menendez, Javier A. %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Martin, Angel G. %X

Tumors are heterogeneous at the cellular level where the ability to maintain tumor growth resides in discrete cell populations. Floating sphere-forming assays are broadly used to test stem cell activity in tissues, tumors and cell lines. Spheroids are originated from a small population of cells with stem cell features able to grow in suspension culture and behaving as tumorigenic in mice. We tested the ability of eleven common breast cancer cell lines representing the major breast cancer subtypes to grow as mammospheres, measuring the ability to maintain cell viability upon serial non-adherent passage. Only MCF7, T47D, BT474, MDA-MB-436 and JIMT1 were successfully propagated as long-term mammosphere cultures, measured as the increase in the number of viable cells upon serial non-adherent passages. Other cell lines tested (SKBR3, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-435) formed cell clumps that can be disaggregated mechanically, but cell viability drops dramatically on their second passage. HCC1937 and HCC1569 cells formed typical mammospheres, although they could not be propagated as long-term mammosphere cultures. All the sphere forming lines but MDA-MB-436 express E-cadherin on their surface. Knock down of E-cadherin expression in MCF-7 cells abrogated its ability to grow as mammospheres, while re-expression of E-cadherin in SKBR3 cells allow them to form mammospheres. Therefore, the mammosphere assay is suitable to reveal stem like features in breast cancer cell lines that express E-cadherin.

%B PLoS ONE %I Public Library of Science %V 8 %P e77281 - %8 2013/10/04 %G eng %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0077281 %0 Journal Article %J PLoS One %D 2013 %T Mammosphere formation in breast carcinoma cell lines depends upon expression of E-cadherin. %A Manuel Iglesias, Juan %A Beloqui, Izaskun %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Leis, Olatz %A Vazquez-Martin, Alejandro %A Eguiara, Arrate %A Cufi, Silvia %A Pavon, Andres %A Menendez, Javier A %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Martin, Angel G %K Breast Neoplasms %K Cadherins %K Cell Line, Tumor %K Cell Proliferation %K Cluster Analysis %K Female %K gene expression %K Gene Expression Profiling %K Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic %K Gene Knockdown Techniques %K Humans %K MCF-7 Cells %K Neoplastic Stem Cells %K Spheroids, Cellular %K Tumor Cells, Cultured %X

Tumors are heterogeneous at the cellular level where the ability to maintain tumor growth resides in discrete cell populations. Floating sphere-forming assays are broadly used to test stem cell activity in tissues, tumors and cell lines. Spheroids are originated from a small population of cells with stem cell features able to grow in suspension culture and behaving as tumorigenic in mice. We tested the ability of eleven common breast cancer cell lines representing the major breast cancer subtypes to grow as mammospheres, measuring the ability to maintain cell viability upon serial non-adherent passage. Only MCF7, T47D, BT474, MDA-MB-436 and JIMT1 were successfully propagated as long-term mammosphere cultures, measured as the increase in the number of viable cells upon serial non-adherent passages. Other cell lines tested (SKBR3, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-435) formed cell clumps that can be disaggregated mechanically, but cell viability drops dramatically on their second passage. HCC1937 and HCC1569 cells formed typical mammospheres, although they could not be propagated as long-term mammosphere cultures. All the sphere forming lines but MDA-MB-436 express E-cadherin on their surface. Knock down of E-cadherin expression in MCF-7 cells abrogated its ability to grow as mammospheres, while re-expression of E-cadherin in SKBR3 cells allow them to form mammospheres. Therefore, the mammosphere assay is suitable to reveal stem like features in breast cancer cell lines that express E-cadherin.

%B PLoS One %V 8 %P e77281 %8 2013 %G eng %N 10 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24124614?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1371/journal.pone.0077281 %0 Journal Article %J PloS one %D 2013 %T Maslinic Acid-Enriched Diet Decreases Intestinal Tumorigenesis in Apc(Min/+) Mice through Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Reprogramming. %A Sánchez-Tena, Susana %A Reyes-Zurita, Fernando J %A Díaz-Moralli, Santiago %A Vinardell, Maria Pilar %A Reed, Michelle %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Joaquín Dopazo %A Lupiáñez, José A %A Günther, Ulrich %A Cascante, Marta %X Chemoprevention is a pragmatic approach to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in western countries. In this regard, maslinic acid (MA), a pentacyclic triterpene extracted from wax-like coatings of olives, is known to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in colon cancer cell lines without affecting normal intestinal cells. The present study evaluated the chemopreventive efficacy and associated mechanisms of maslinic acid treatment on spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis in Apc(Min/+) mice. Twenty-two mice were randomized into 2 groups: control group and MA group, fed with a maslinic acid-supplemented diet for six weeks. MA treatment reduced total intestinal polyp formation by 45% (P<0.01). Putative molecular mechanisms associated with suppressing intestinal polyposis in Apc(Min/+) mice were investigated by comparing microarray expression profiles of MA-treated and control mice and by analyzing the serum metabolic profile using NMR techniques. The different expression phenotype induced by MA suggested that it exerts its chemopreventive action mainly by inhibiting cell-survival signaling and inflammation. These changes eventually induce G1-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, the metabolic changes induced by MA treatment were associated with a protective profile against intestinal tumorigenesis. These results show the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of MA against intestinal tumor development in the Apc(Min/+) mice model, suggesting its chemopreventive potential against colorectal cancer. %B PloS one %V 8 %P e59392 %8 2013 %G eng %R 10.1371/journal.pone.0059392 %0 Journal Article %J Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry %D 2013 %T Novel genes detected by transcriptional profiling from whole-blood cells in patients with early onset of acute coronary syndrome: Transcriptional profiling of acute coronary syndrome. %A Silbiger, Vivian N %A Luchessi, André D %A Hirata, Rosário D C %A Lima-Neto, Lídio G %A Cavichioli, Débora %A Carracedo, Ángel %A Brión, Maria %A Joaquín Dopazo %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Dos Santos, Elizabete S %A Ramos, Rui F %A Sampaio, Marcelo F %A Armaganijan, Dikran %A Sousa, Amanda G M R %A Hirata, Mario H %X {BACKGROUND: Genome-wide expression analysis using microarrays has been used as a research strategy to discovery new biomarkers and candidate genes for a number of diseases. We aim to find new biomarkers for the prediction of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with a differentially expressed mRNA profiling approach using whole genomic expression analysis in a peripheral blood cell model from patients with early ACS. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was carried out in two phases. On phase 1 a restricted clinical criteria (ACS-Ph1 %B Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry %8 2013 Mar 24 %G eng %R 10.1016/j.cca.2013.03.011 %0 Journal Article %J Clin Chim Acta %D 2013 %T Novel genes detected by transcriptional profiling from whole-blood cells in patients with early onset of acute coronary syndrome. %A Silbiger, Vivian N %A Luchessi, André D %A Hirata, Rosário D C %A Lima-Neto, Lídio G %A Cavichioli, Débora %A Carracedo, Ángel %A Brión, Maria %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Dos Santos, Elizabete S %A Ramos, Rui F %A Sampaio, Marcelo F %A Armaganijan, Dikran %A Sousa, Amanda G M R %A Hirata, Mario H %K Acute Coronary Syndrome %K Acute-Phase Proteins %K Adult %K biomarkers %K Blood Cells %K Early Diagnosis %K gene expression %K Gene Expression Profiling %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis %K RNA, Messenger %K Transcriptome %X

BACKGROUND: Genome-wide expression analysis using microarrays has been used as a research strategy to discovery new biomarkers and candidate genes for a number of diseases. We aim to find new biomarkers for the prediction of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with a differentially expressed mRNA profiling approach using whole genomic expression analysis in a peripheral blood cell model from patients with early ACS.

METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was carried out in two phases. On phase 1 a restricted clinical criteria (ACS-Ph1, n=9 and CG-Ph1, n=6) was used in order to select potential mRNA biomarkers candidates. A subsequent phase 2 study was performed using selected phase 1 markers analyzed by RT-qPCR using a larger and independent casuistic (ACS-Ph2, n=74 and CG-Ph2, n=41). A total of 549 genes were found to be differentially expressed in the first 48 h after the ACS-Ph1. Technical and biological validation further confirmed that ALOX15, AREG, BCL2A1, BCL2L1, CA1, COX7B, ECHDC3, IL18R1, IRS2, KCNE1, MMP9, MYL4 and TREML4, are differentially expressed in both phases of this study.

CONCLUSIONS: Transcriptomic analysis by microarray technology demonstrated differential expression during a 48 h time course suggesting a potential use of some of these genes as biomarkers for very early stages of ACS, as well as for monitoring early cardiac ischemic recovery.

%B Clin Chim Acta %V 421 %P 184-90 %8 2013 Jun 05 %G eng %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23535507?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.cca.2013.03.011 %0 Journal Article %J Exp Dermatol %D 2013 %T Role of CPI-17 in restoring skin homoeostasis in cutaneous field of cancerization: effects of topical application of a film-forming medical device containing photolyase and UV filters. %A Puig-Butille, Joan Anton %A Malvehy, Josep %A Potrony, Miriam %A Trullas, Carles %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Puig, Susana %K Administration, Topical %K Adult %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Biopsy %K Deoxyribodipyrimidine Photo-Lyase %K Female %K Gene Expression Profiling %K Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic %K Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic %K Homeostasis %K Humans %K Inflammation %K Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins %K Liposomes %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Muscle Proteins %K Phenotype %K Phosphoprotein Phosphatases %K Reactive Oxygen Species %K Skin %K Skin Neoplasms %K Ultraviolet Rays %X

Cutaneous field of cancerization (CFC) is caused in part by the carcinogenic effect of the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers CPD and 6-4 photoproducts (6-4PPs). Photoreactivation is carried out by photolyases which specifically recognize and repair both photoproducts. The study evaluates the molecular effects of topical application of a film-forming medical device containing photolyase and UV filters on the precancerous field in AK from seven patients. Skin improvement after treatment was confirmed in all patients by histopathological and molecular assessment. A gene set analysis showed that skin recovery was associated with biological processes involved in tissue homoeostasis and cell maintenance. The CFC response was associated with over-expression of the CPI-17 gene, and a dependence on the initial expression level was observed (P = 0.001). Low CPI-17 levels were directly associated with pro-inflammatory genes such as TNF (P = 0.012) and IL-1B (P = 0.07). Our results suggest a role for CPI-17 in restoring skin homoeostasis in CFC lesions.

%B Exp Dermatol %V 22 %P 494-6 %8 2013 Jul %G eng %N 7 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23800065?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1111/exd.12177 %0 Journal Article %J PloS one %D 2012 %T Development, Characterization and Experimental Validation of a Cultivated Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Gene Expression Oligonucleotide Microarray. %A Fernandez, Paula %A Soria, Marcelo %A Blesa, David %A Dirienzo, Julio %A Moschen, Sebastián %A Rivarola, Máximo %A Clavijo, Bernardo Jose %A Gonzalez, Sergio %A Peluffo, Lucila %A Príncipi, Dario %A Dosio, Guillermo %A Aguirrezabal, Luis %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Ana Conesa %A Hopp, Esteban %A Joaquín Dopazo %A Heinz, Ruth Amelia %A Paniego, Norma %X Oligonucleotide-based microarrays with accurate gene coverage represent a key strategy for transcriptional studies in orphan species such as sunflower, H. annuus L., which lacks full genome sequences. The goal of this study was the development and functional annotation of a comprehensive sunflower unigene collection and the design and validation of a custom sunflower oligonucleotide-based microarray. A large scale EST (>130,000 ESTs) curation, assembly and sequence annotation was performed using Blast2GO (www.blast2go.de). The EST assembly comprises 41,013 putative transcripts (12,924 contigs and 28,089 singletons). The resulting Sunflower Unigen Resource (SUR version 1.0) was used to design an oligonucleotide-based Agilent microarray for cultivated sunflower. This microarray includes a total of 42,326 features: 1,417 Agilent controls, 74 control probes for sunflower replicated 10 times (740 controls) and 40,169 different non-control probes. Microarray performance was validated using a model experiment examining the induction of senescence by water deficit. Pre-processing and differential expression analysis of Agilent microarrays was performed using the Bioconductor limma package. The analyses based on p-values calculated by eBayes (p<0.01) allowed the detection of 558 differentially expressed genes between water stress and control conditions; from these, ten genes were further validated by qPCR. Over-represented ontologies were identified using FatiScan in the Babelomics suite. This work generated a curated and trustable sunflower unigene collection, and a custom, validated sunflower oligonucleotide-based microarray using Agilent technology. Both the curated unigene collection and the validated oligonucleotide microarray provide key resources for sunflower genome analysis, transcriptional studies, and molecular breeding for crop improvement. %B PloS one %V 7 %P e45899 %8 2012 %G eng %U http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0045899 %R 10.1371/journal.pone.0045899 %0 Journal Article %J International journal of cancer. Journal international du cancer %D 2012 %T Expression profiling shows differential molecular pathways and provides potential new diagnostic biomarkers for colorectal serrated adenocarcinoma. %A Conesa-Zamora, Pablo %A García-Solano, José %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Del Carmen Turpin, María %A Trujillo-Santos, Javier %A Torres-Moreno, Daniel %A Oviedo-Ramírez, Isabel %A Carbonell-Muñoz, Rosa %A Muñoz-Delgado, Encarnación %A Rodriguez-Braun, Edith %A Ana Conesa %A Pérez-Guillermo, Miguel %X Serrated adenocarcinoma (SAC) is a recently recognized colorectal cancer (CRC) subtype accounting for 7.5-8.7% of CRCs. It has been shown that SAC has a poorer prognosis and has different molecular and immunohistochemical features compared to conventional carcinoma (CC) but, to date, only one previous study has analysed its mRNA expression profile by microarray. Using a different microarray platform, we have studied the molecular signature of 11 SACs and compared it with that of 15 matched CC with the aim of discerning the functions which characterize SAC biology and validating, at the mRNA and protein level, the most differentially expressed genes which were also tested using a validation set of 70 SACs and 70 CCs to assess their diagnostic and prognostic values. Microarray data showed a higher representation of morphogenesis-, hypoxia-, cytoskeleton- and vesicle transport-related functions and also an over-expression of fascin1 (actin-bundling protein associated with invasion) and the antiapoptotic gene hippocalcin in SAC all of which were validated both by qPCR and immunohistochemistry. Fascin1 expression was statistically associated with KRAS mutation with 88.6% sensitivity and 85.7% specificity for SAC diagnosis and the positivity of fascin1 or hippocalcin was highly suggestive of SAC diagnosis (sensitivity=100%). Evaluation of these markers in CRCs showing histological and molecular characteristics of high-level microsatellite instability (MSI-H) also helped to distinguish SACs from MSI-H CRCs. Molecular profiling demonstrates that SAC shows activation of distinct signalling pathways and that immunohistochemical fascin1 and hippocalcin expression can be reliably used for its differentiation from other CRC subtypes. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. %B International journal of cancer. Journal international du cancer %8 2012 Jun 14 %G eng %R 10.1002/ijc.27674 %0 Journal Article %J Stem Cell Rev Rep %D 2012 %T IL1β induces mesenchymal stem cells migration and leucocyte chemotaxis through NF-κB. %A Carrero, Rubén %A Cerrada, Inmaculada %A Lledó, Elisa %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Rubio, Mari-Paz %A Trigueros, César %A Dorronsoro, Akaitz %A Ruiz-Sauri, Amparo %A Montero, José Anastasio %A Sepúlveda, Pilar %K Cell Adhesion %K Cell Movement %K Cell Proliferation %K Chemokines %K Chemotaxis, Leukocyte %K Collagen %K Fibronectins %K Gene Expression Profiling %K Gene Knockdown Techniques %K HEK293 Cells %K Humans %K I-kappa B Kinase %K Inflammation Mediators %K Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins %K Interleukin-1beta %K Laminin %K Leukocytes %K Mesenchymal Stem Cells %K NF-kappa B %K Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis %K RNA Interference %K Signal Transduction %X

Mesenchymal stem cells are often transplanted into inflammatory environments where they are able to survive and modulate host immune responses through a poorly understood mechanism. In this paper we analyzed the responses of MSC to IL-1β: a representative inflammatory mediator. Microarray analysis of MSC treated with IL-1β revealed that this cytokine activateds a set of genes related to biological processes such as cell survival, cell migration, cell adhesion, chemokine production, induction of angiogenesis and modulation of the immune response. Further more detailed analysis by real-time PCR and functional assays revealed that IL-1β mainly increaseds the production of chemokines such as CCL5, CCL20, CXCL1, CXCL3, CXCL5, CXCL6, CXCL10, CXCL11 and CX(3)CL1, interleukins IL-6, IL-8, IL23A, IL32, Toll-like receptors TLR2, TLR4, CLDN1, metalloproteins MMP1 and MMP3, growth factors CSF2 and TNF-α, together with adhesion molecules ICAM1 and ICAM4. Functional analysis of MSC proliferation, migration and adhesion to extracellular matrix components revealed that IL-1β did not affect proliferation but also served to induce the secretion of trophic factors and adhesion to ECM components such as collagen and laminin. IL-1β treatment enhanced the ability of MSC to recruit monocytes and granulocytes in vitro. Blockade of NF-κβ transcription factor activation with IκB kinase beta (IKKβ) shRNA impaired MSC migration, adhesion and leucocyte recruitment, induced by IL-1β demonstrating that NF-κB pathway is an important downstream regulator of these responses. These findings are relevant to understanding the biological responses of MSC to inflammatory environments.

%B Stem Cell Rev Rep %V 8 %P 905-16 %8 2012 Sep %G eng %N 3 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22467443?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1007/s12015-012-9364-9 %0 Journal Article %J Plant signaling & behavior %D 2011 %T Does singlet oxygen activate cell death in Arabidopsis cell suspension cultures? Analysis of the early transcriptional defence responses to high light stress. %A Gutiérrez, Jorge %A González-Pérez, Sergio %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Lorenzo, Oscar %A Arellano, Juan B %X

Can Arabidopsis cell suspension cultures (ACSC) provide a useful working model to investigate genetically-controlled defence responses with signalling cascades starting in chloroplasts? In order to provide a convincing answer, we analysed the early transcriptional profile of Arabidopsis cells at high light (HL). The results showed that ACSC respond to HL in a manner that resembles the singlet oxygen ( ( 1) O 2)-mediated defence responses described for the conditional fluorescent (flu) mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana. The flu mutant is characterized by the accumulation of free protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) in plastids when put into darkness and the subsequent production of ( 1) O 2 when the light is on. In ACSC, ( 1) O 2 is produced in chloroplasts at HL when excess excitation energy flows into photosystem II (PSII). Other reactive oxygen species are also produced in ACSC at HL, but to a lesser extent. When the HL stress ceases, ACSC recovers the initial rate of oxygen evolution and cell growth continues. We can conclude that chloroplasts of ACSC are both photosynthetically active and capable of initiating ( 1) O 2-mediated signalling cascades that activate a broad range of genetically-controlled defence responses. The up-regulation of transcripts associated with the biosynthesis and signalling pathways of OPDA (12-oxophytodienoic acid) and ethylene (ET) suggests that the activated defence responses at HL are governed by these two hormones. In contrast to the flu mutant, the ( 1) O 2-mediated defence responses were independent of the up-regulation of EDS1 (enhanced disease susceptibility) required for the accumulation of salicylic acid (SA) and genetically-controlled cell death. 

%B Plant signaling & behavior %V 6 %8 2011 Dec 1 %G eng %0 Journal Article %J BMC Med Genomics %D 2011 %T Early peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma regulated genes involved in expansion of pancreatic beta cell mass. %A Vivas, Yurena %A Martinez-Garcia, Cristina %A Izquierdo, Adriana %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Callejas, Sergio %A Velasco, Ismael %A Campbell, Mark %A Ros, Manuel %A Dopazo, Ana %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Vidal-Puig, Antonio %A Medina-Gomez, Gema %K Animals %K Cell Proliferation %K Cell Survival %K Cholesterol %K Down-Regulation %K Female %K Gene Expression Regulation %K Gene Knockout Techniques %K Insulin Resistance %K Insulin-Secreting Cells %K Mice %K obesity %K Oxidation-Reduction %K Phosphorylation %K PPAR gamma %K Signal Transduction %K Transcription, Genetic %K Transforming Growth Factor beta %X

BACKGROUND: The progression towards type 2 diabetes depends on the allostatic response of pancreatic beta cells to synthesise and secrete enough insulin to compensate for insulin resistance. The endocrine pancreas is a plastic tissue able to expand or regress in response to the requirements imposed by physiological and pathophysiological states associated to insulin resistance such as pregnancy, obesity or ageing, but the mechanisms mediating beta cell mass expansion in these scenarios are not well defined. We have recently shown that ob/ob mice with genetic ablation of PPARγ2, a mouse model known as the POKO mouse failed to expand its beta cell mass. This phenotype contrasted with the appropriate expansion of the beta cell mass observed in their obese littermate ob/ob mice. Thus, comparison of these models islets particularly at early ages could provide some new insights on early PPARγ dependent transcriptional responses involved in the process of beta cell mass expansion

RESULTS: Here we have investigated PPARγ dependent transcriptional responses occurring during the early stages of beta cell adaptation to insulin resistance in wild type, ob/ob, PPARγ2 KO and POKO mice. We have identified genes known to regulate both the rate of proliferation and the survival signals of beta cells. Moreover we have also identified new pathways induced in ob/ob islets that remained unchanged in POKO islets, suggesting an important role for PPARγ in maintenance/activation of mechanisms essential for the continued function of the beta cell.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the expansion of beta cell mass observed in ob/ob islets is associated with the activation of an immune response that fails to occur in POKO islets. We have also indentified other PPARγ dependent differentially regulated pathways including cholesterol biosynthesis, apoptosis through TGF-β signaling and decreased oxidative phosphorylation.

%B BMC Med Genomics %V 4 %P 86 %8 2011 Dec 30 %G eng %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22208362?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1186/1755-8794-4-86 %0 Journal Article %J Plant physiology %D 2011 %T Early transcriptional defence responses in Arabidopsis cell suspension culture under high light conditions. %A González-Pérez, Sergio %A Gutiérrez, Jorge %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Osuna, Daniel %A Joaquín Dopazo %A Lorenzo, Oscar %A Revuelta, José L %A Arellano, Juan B %X

The early transcriptional defence responses and ROS production in Arabidopsis cell suspension culture (ACSC), containing functional chloroplasts, were examined at high light (HL). The transcriptional analysis revealed that most of the ROS markers identified among the 449 transcripts with significant differential expression were transcripts specifically up-regulated by singlet oxygen (1O2). On the contrary, minimal correlation was established with transcripts specifically up-regulated by superoxide radical (O2•) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The transcriptional analysis was supported by fluorescence microscopy experiments. The incubation of ACSC with the 1O2 sensor green reagent and 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescein diacetate showed that the 30-min-HL-treated cultures emitted fluorescence that corresponded with the production of 1O2, but not of H2O2. Furthermore, the in vivo photodamage of the D1 protein of photosystem II (PSII) indicated that the photogeneration of 1O2 took place within the PSII reaction centre. Functional enrichment analyses identified transcripts that are key components of the ROS signalling transduction pathway in plants as well as others encoding transcription factors that regulate both ROS scavenging and water deficit stress. A meta-analysis examining the transcriptional profiles of mutants and hormone treatments in Arabidopsis showed a high correlation between ACSC at HL and the flu mutant family of Arabidopsis, a producer of 1O2 in plastids. Intriguingly, a high correlation was also observed with aba1 and max4, two mutants with defects in the biosynthesis pathways of two key (apo)carotenoid-derived plant hormones (i.e. ABA and strigolactones, respectively). ACSC has proven to be a valuable system for studying early transcriptional responses to HL stress.

%B Plant physiology %V 156 %P 1439-56 %8 2011 Apr 29 %G eng %U http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/early/2011/04/29/pp.111.177766.short?keytype=ref&ijkey=ph5B6J2khjnqwzN %0 Journal Article %J Plant Physiol %D 2011 %T Early transcriptional defense responses in Arabidopsis cell suspension culture under high-light conditions. %A González-Pérez, Sergio %A Gutiérrez, Jorge %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Osuna, Daniel %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Lorenzo, Oscar %A Revuelta, José L %A Arellano, Juan B %K Arabidopsis %K Blotting, Western %K Cell Culture Techniques %K Cells, Cultured %K Chloroplasts %K Cluster Analysis %K Gene Expression Profiling %K Gene Expression Regulation, Plant %K Hydrogen Peroxide %K Light %K mutation %K Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis %K Photosystem II Protein Complex %K Plant Growth Regulators %K Reproducibility of Results %K Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction %K RNA, Messenger %K Signal Transduction %K Stress, Physiological %K Transcription, Genetic %X

The early transcriptional defense responses and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) cell suspension culture (ACSC), containing functional chloroplasts, were examined at high light (HL). The transcriptional analysis revealed that most of the ROS markers identified among the 449 transcripts with significant differential expression were transcripts specifically up-regulated by singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)). On the contrary, minimal correlation was established with transcripts specifically up-regulated by superoxide radical or hydrogen peroxide. The transcriptional analysis was supported by fluorescence microscopy experiments. The incubation of ACSC with the (1)O(2) sensor green reagent and 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate showed that the 30-min-HL-treated cultures emitted fluorescence that corresponded with the production of (1)O(2) but not of hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, the in vivo photodamage of the D1 protein of photosystem II indicated that the photogeneration of (1)O(2) took place within the photosystem II reaction center. Functional enrichment analyses identified transcripts that are key components of the ROS signaling transduction pathway in plants as well as others encoding transcription factors that regulate both ROS scavenging and water deficit stress. A meta-analysis examining the transcriptional profiles of mutants and hormone treatments in Arabidopsis showed a high correlation between ACSC at HL and the fluorescent mutant family of Arabidopsis, a producer of (1)O(2) in plastids. Intriguingly, a high correlation was also observed with ABA deficient1 and more axillary growth4, two mutants with defects in the biosynthesis pathways of two key (apo)carotenoid-derived plant hormones (i.e. abscisic acid and strigolactones, respectively). ACSC has proven to be a valuable system for studying early transcriptional responses to HL stress.

%B Plant Physiol %V 156 %P 1439-56 %8 2011 Jul %G eng %N 3 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21531897?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1104/pp.111.177766 %0 Journal Article %J BMC Bioinformatics %D 2009 %T Functional assessment of time course microarray data. %A Nueda, Maria José %A Sebastián, Patricia %A Tarazona, Sonia %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Dopazo, Joaquin %A Ferrer, Alberto %A Conesa, Ana %K Computer Simulation %K Gene Expression Profiling %K Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis %K Time Factors %X

MOTIVATION: Time-course microarray experiments study the progress of gene expression along time across one or several experimental conditions. Most developed analysis methods focus on the clustering or the differential expression analysis of genes and do not integrate functional information. The assessment of the functional aspects of time-course transcriptomics data requires the use of approaches that exploit the activation dynamics of the functional categories to where genes are annotated.

METHODS: We present three novel methodologies for the functional assessment of time-course microarray data. i) maSigFun derives from the maSigPro method, a regression-based strategy to model time-dependent expression patterns and identify genes with differences across series. maSigFun fits a regression model for groups of genes labeled by a functional class and selects those categories which have a significant model. ii) PCA-maSigFun fits a PCA model of each functional class-defined expression matrix to extract orthogonal patterns of expression change, which are then assessed for their fit to a time-dependent regression model. iii) ASCA-functional uses the ASCA model to rank genes according to their correlation to principal time expression patterns and assess functional enrichment on a GSA fashion. We used simulated and experimental datasets to study these novel approaches. Results were compared to alternative methodologies.

RESULTS: Synthetic and experimental data showed that the different methods are able to capture different aspects of the relationship between genes, functions and co-expression that are biologically meaningful. The methods should not be considered as competitive but they provide different insights into the molecular and functional dynamic events taking place within the biological system under study.

%B BMC Bioinformatics %V 10 Suppl 6 %P S9 %8 2009 Jun 16 %G eng %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19534758?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1186/1471-2105-10-S6-S9 %0 Journal Article %J Genomics %D 2008 %T Direct functional assessment of the composite phenotype through multivariate projection strategies. %A Conesa, Ana %A Bro, Rasmus %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Prats, José Manuel %A Götz, Stefan %A Kjeldahl, Karin %A Montaner, David %A Dopazo, Joaquin %K Breast Neoplasms %K Computational Biology %K Databases, Genetic %K Female %K Gene Expression Profiling %K Humans %K Mathematical Computing %K Multivariate Analysis %K Phenotype %X

We present a novel approach for the analysis of transcriptomics data that integrates functional annotation of gene sets with expression values in a multivariate fashion, and directly assesses the relation of functional features to a multivariate space of response phenotypical variables. Multivariate projection methods are used to obtain new correlated variables for a set of genes that share a given function. These new functional variables are then related to the response variables of interest. The analysis of the principal directions of the multivariate regression allows for the identification of gene function features correlated with the phenotype. Two different transcriptomics studies are used to illustrate the statistical and interpretative aspects of the methodology. We demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method over equivalent approaches.

%B Genomics %V 92 %P 373-83 %8 2008 Dec %G eng %N 6 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18652888?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.ygeno.2008.05.015 %0 Journal Article %J Nucleic Acids Res %D 2008 %T GEPAS, a web-based tool for microarray data analysis and interpretation. %A Tárraga, Joaquín %A Medina, Ignacio %A Carbonell, José %A Huerta-Cepas, Jaime %A Minguez, Pablo %A Alloza, Eva %A Al-Shahrour, Fátima %A Vegas-Azcárate, Susana %A Goetz, Stefan %A Escobar, Pablo %A Garcia-Garcia, Francisco %A Conesa, Ana %A Montaner, David %A Dopazo, Joaquin %K Computer Graphics %K Dose-Response Relationship, Drug %K Gene Expression Profiling %K Internet %K Kinetics %K Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis %K Software %X

Gene Expression Profile Analysis Suite (GEPAS) is one of the most complete and extensively used web-based packages for microarray data analysis. During its more than 5 years of activity it has continuously been updated to keep pace with the state-of-the-art in the changing microarray data analysis arena. GEPAS offers diverse analysis options that include well established as well as novel algorithms for normalization, gene selection, class prediction, clustering and functional profiling of the experiment. New options for time-course (or dose-response) experiments, microarray-based class prediction, new clustering methods and new tests for differential expression have been included. The new pipeliner module allows automating the execution of sequential analysis steps by means of a simple but powerful graphic interface. An extensive re-engineering of GEPAS has been carried out which includes the use of web services and Web 2.0 technology features, a new user interface with persistent sessions and a new extended database of gene identifiers. GEPAS is nowadays the most quoted web tool in its field and it is extensively used by researchers of many countries and its records indicate an average usage rate of 500 experiments per day. GEPAS, is available at http://www.gepas.org.

%B Nucleic Acids Res %V 36 %P W308-14 %8 2008 Jul 01 %G eng %N Web Server issue %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18508806?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1093/nar/gkn303