(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 8,790,922 B2 Tuschl Et Al
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2008-Annual-Report.Pdf
whitehead institute 2008 AnnuAl RepoRt. a year in the life of a scientific community empowered to explore biology’s most fundamental questions for the betterment of human health. whitehead institute 2008 annual report a Preserving the mission, contents facing the future 1 preserving the mission, it’s customary in this space to recount and reflect facing the future on the accomplishments of the year gone by. i’ll certainly do so here—proudly—but in many 5 scientific achievement important ways, 2008 was about positioning the institute for years to come. 15 principal investigators many colleges, universities, and independent 30 whitehead fellows research institutions found themselves in dire fiscal positions at the close of 2008 and entered 34 community evolution 2009 in operational crisis reflective of the global economic environment. hiring freezes and large- 40 honor roll of donors scale workforce reductions have become the norm. although whitehead institute is certainly not 46 financial summary insulated from the impact of the downturn, i am 48 leadership pleased and somewhat humbled to report that the institute remains financially strong and no less 49 sited for science committed to scientific excellence. david page, director over the past two years, we have been engaged in a focused effort to increase efficiency and editor & direCtor reduce our administrative costs, with the explicit goal of ensuring that as much of the institute’s matt fearer revenue as possible directly supports Whitehead research. Our approach, which has resulted in assoCiate editor nicole giese a 10-percent reduction in operational expense, has been carefully considered. every decision offiCe of CommuniCation and PubliC affairs has been evaluated not just for its potential effects on our scientific mission, but also for 617.258.5183 www.whitehead.mit.edu possible consequences to the whitehead community and its unique culture. -
Der Mann, Der Die Gene Zum Schweigen Brachte
PORTRÄT: THOMAS TUSCHL Der Mann, der die Gene zum Schweigen brachte Der deutsche Chemiker Thomas Tuschl entdeckte, wie sich Gene im Menschen unterdrücken lassen. Doch das war für ihn nicht mehr als eine Zwischenstation, um zu erforschen, wie menschliche Zellen ihre Gene regulieren. Von Hubertus Breuer drew Fire und Craig Mello für die ursprüngliche Entdeckung des Phänomens im Fadenwurm den Nobelpreis für Medizin. lle halbe Stunde springt der Kuckuck aus seinem Holzver- Die Methode, Gene zum Schweigen zu bringen, wirkt – wie viele schlag. Das Souvenir, ein Andenken aus der deutschen geniale Entdeckungen, welche die Welt verändern sollten – im Heimat, hängt hoch an der Wand eines sanierten Brown- Nachhinein nicht besonders kompliziert. Will eine Zelle ein Protein stones, eines im 19. Jahrhundert erbauten bürgerlichen produzieren, erstellt sie zunächst vom zugehörigen Gen eine Blau- AReihenhauses in Brooklyn. Genauer in Crown Heights, einem Vier- pause der Bauanleitung: ein Botenmolekül aus einzelsträngiger tel, das lokale Radiomoderatoren das »schwarze Herz« Amerikas RNA. Werden jedoch doppelsträngige, der Blaupause sequenz- nennen. Während in Harlem, der einstigen Hochburg kulturellen Le- gleiche RNA-Stücke in die Zelle eingeschleust, lässt sich der weitere bens der Afroamerikaner im Norden Manhattans, die Bourgeoisie Ablauf unterbinden. Denn dort werden die eingeführten Abschnitte von der Wall Street und aus anderen lukrativen Branchen reihen- erst einmal in relativ kurze Schnipsel zerhackt, die bei Fliegen und weise Häuser aufkauft und luxussaniert, sieht man hier nach wie auch Säugetieren, wie Tuschl herausfand, exakt 21 Bausteine lang vor nur selten ein weißes Gesicht auf der Straße. An Straßenecken sind. Anschließend werden sie in Einzelstränge aufgetrennt – und wird mit Drogen gehandelt. -
Profile of Dinshaw J. Patel
PROFILE PROFILE Profile of Dinshaw J. Patel Tinsley H. Davis Science Writer Small-noncoding RNA molecules are the “It was clear to me that the excitement in re- dark matter of molecular biology. From small search had shifted to the life sciences,” he says. interfering (si) RNAs that silence invading Switching fields, Patel performed his first pathogens to microRNAs that fine-tune gene postdoctoral training with biochemist Robert expression, noncoding RNAs carry out a vast Chambers at New York University School of number of functions within the cell. “It was Medicine, studying transfer RNA molecules. generally believed in the early days of molec- Meanwhile, a former colleague from Caltech, ular biology that RNA was just a passive Angelo Lamola, had moved to AT&T Bell Dinshaw J. Patel. Image courtesy of Memorial intermediate on the pathway from DNA to Laboratories (Bell Labs) in Murray Hill, New Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. protein, but noncoding RNA architecture Jerseyand,in1968,invitedPateltojoinhis and its interactions with partners is much biophysics group as a postdoc. Patel recalls more intricate and interesting,” says struc- that Lamola and the set-up at Bell Labs, with academic jobs, eventually taking a position at tural biologist Dinshaw J. Patel. Elected to only one scientist and one technician per Columbia University Medical School in 1984 the National Academy of Sciences in 2009, laboratory, provided independence and fos- as a Professor in the Biochemistry and Mo- Patel has spent his career deciphering the tered creativity. Soon, Patel had published lecular Biophysics Department. “The envi- shapes of biomolecules and principles under- several single-author papers on isomeriza- ronment changed dramatically,” he recalls. -
Dr. David P. Bartel Journal Interviews
Home About Scientific Press Room Contact Us ● ScienceWatch Home ● Interviews Featured Interviews Author Commentaries Institutional Interviews 2008 : June 2008 - Author Commentaries : Dr. David P. Bartel Journal Interviews Podcasts AUTHOR COMMENTARIES - 2008 ● Analyses June 2008 Featured Analyses Dr. David P. Bartel A Featured Scientist from Essential Science IndicatorsSM What's Hot In... Special Topics Earlier this year, ScienceWatch.com published an analysis of high-impact research in Molecular Biology & Genetics over the past five years. The ● Data & Rankings analysis ranked David Bartel #2 among authors publishing high-impact papers in this field, based on 19 papers cited a total of 4,542 times. Sci-Bytes In Essential Science Indicators from Thomson Reuters, Dr. Bartel's record Fast Breaking Papers includes 76 original articles and review papers published between January 1, New Hot Papers 1998 and February 29, 2008, with a total of 10,386 cites. These papers can be found in the fields of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Biology & Emerging Research Fronts Biochemistry, and Plant & Animal Science. Fast Moving Fronts Research Front Maps Current Classics Dr. Bartel is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator whose lab is based at the Whitehead Institute Top Topics for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is also a Professor in the Department of Biology at MIT. Rising Stars New Entrants In the interview below, he talks with correspondent Gary Taubes about his highly cited research. Country Profiles What motivated your research originally on these small, non-coding RNAs, and particularly the 2000 Cell paper (Zamore PD, et al., RNAi: double-stranded RNA directs the ATP-dependent ● About Science Watch cleavage of mRNA at 21 to 23 nucleotide intervals," 101[1]: 25-33, 31 March 200), which is your most-highly cited paper that’s not a review? Methodology Tom Tuschl and Phil Zamore [see also] were postdocs in my lab working in collaboration with Phil Sharp Archives [see also] on the biochemistry of RNAi. -
Gene Silencing with Sirna Duplexes Composed of Target-Mrna- Complementary and Partially Palindromic Or Partially Complementary Single-Stranded Sirnas
[RNA Biology 3:2, 82-89, April/May/June 2006]; ©2006 Landes Bioscience Research Paper Gene Silencing with siRNA Duplexes Composed of Target-mRNA- Complementary and Partially Palindromic or Partially Complementary Single-Stranded siRNAs Markus Hossbach2,† ABSTRACT Jens Gruber1,†,§ Synthetic small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes are widely used to transiently and sequence-specifically disrupt gene expression in mammalian cultured cells. The efficiency 1 . Mary Osborn and specificity of mRNA cleavage is partly affected by the presence of the nontargeting Klaus Weber1,* “passenger” or “sense” siRNA strand, which is required for presentation of the target-complementary or guide siRNA strand to the double-strand-specific RNA silencing 3, Thomas Tuschl * protein machinery. We show that siRNA duplexes can be designed that are solely composed of two fully target-complementary guide strands that are sufficiently complementary to 1Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology; 2Department of Cellular Biochemistry; Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry; Göttingen, Germany each other to form stable duplexes with characteristic 3’ overhanging ends. The general feasibility of this approach is documented by transient knockdown of lamin A/C and emerin 3 Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Laboratory of RNA Molecular Biology; The in HeLa cells. The silencing efficiencies of guide-only siRNA duplexes are comparable to Rockefeller University; New York, New York, USA prototypical fully paired passenger/guide duplex siRNAs, even though guide-only siRNA †These authors contributed equally to this work. duplexes may contain a significant number of nonWatson-Crick and G/U wobble base §Present Address: Department of Human Retrovirology; Academic Medical Center pairs. Such siRNA duplexes may offer advantagesT DISTRIBUTE regarding production costs and of the University of Amsterdam; Amsterdam, The Netherlands specificity of gene silencing. -
Gotham Therapeutics Strengthens Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board
Gotham Therapeutics Strengthens Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board Carlo Incerti joins as independent Board Member, Thomas Tuschl as Scientific Advisor New York, NY, USA, February 14, 2019 – Gotham Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing a novel drug class targeting RNA-modifying proteins, today announced the appointment of Carlo Incerti, M.D., Ph.D. as an independent Board Member. In addition, the company today added Thomas Tuschl, Ph.D. as a Scientific Advisor. He joins fellow SAB members Dr. Samie Jaffrey, Weill Medical College of Cornell University & Co-founder of Gotham, Dr. Schraga Schwartz, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Dr. Andrew Mortlock, AstraZeneca/Acerta Pharma and Dr. Jorge DiMartino, Celgene, together forming an exceptionally experienced and multifaceted advisory board. “Carlo and Thomas bring two unique sets of experience and expertise to Gotham. Carlo’s translational medicine experience and years of leadership at pharmaceutical companies will be essential as we continue to build our platform and grow the company following our Series A financing late last year. Additionally, Thomas insight and advisement as a leading researcher in the RNA field will help to guide our R&D decision making process,” said Lee Babiss, Ph.D., CEO of Gotham. “We look forward to their strategic counsel as we progress toward our goal of becoming the leader in epitranscriptomics.” Carlo Incerti, M.D., Ph.D. brings over three decades of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, during which he brought to market 24 new active substances in rare diseases, oncology, immunology, CNS and other therapeutic areas based on several technological platforms, including small molecules, recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies, cell and gene therapies, RNA silencing and biopolymers. -
Fire Departments of Pathology and Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Room L235, Stanford, CA 94305-5324, USA
GENE SILENCING BY DOUBLE STRANDED RNA Nobel Lecture, December 8, 2006 by Andrew Z. Fire Departments of Pathology and Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Room L235, Stanford, CA 94305-5324, USA. I would like to thank the Nobel Assembly of the Karolinska Institutet for the opportunity to describe some recent work on RNA-triggered gene silencing. First a few disclaimers, however. Telling the full story of gene silencing would be a mammoth enterprise that would take me many years to write and would take you well into the night to read. So we’ll need to abbreviate the story more than a little. Second (and as you will see) we are only in the dawn of our knowledge; so consider the following to be primer... the best we could do as of December 8th, 2006. And third, please understand that the story that I am telling represents the work of several generations of biologists, chemists, and many shades in between. I’m pleased and proud that work from my labo- ratory has contributed to the field, and that this has led to my being chosen as one of the messengers to relay the story in this forum. At the same time, I hope that there will be no confusion of equating our modest contributions with those of the much grander RNAi enterprise. DOUBLE STRANDED RNA AS A BIOLOGICAL ALARM SIGNAL These disclaimers in hand, the story can now start with a biography of the first main character. Double stranded RNA is probably as old (or almost as old) as life on earth. -
Cucumber Mosaic Virus-Encoded 2B Suppressor Inhibits Arabidopsis Argonaute1 Cleavage Activity to Counter Plant Defense
Downloaded from genesdev.cshlp.org on October 1, 2021 - Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press Cucumber mosaic virus-encoded 2b suppressor inhibits Arabidopsis Argonaute1 cleavage activity to counter plant defense Xiuren Zhang,1 Yu-Ren Yuan,2 Yi Pei,3 Shih-Shun Lin,1 Thomas Tuschl,3 Dinshaw J. Patel,2 and Nam-Hai Chua1,4 1Laboratory of Plant Molecular Biology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021, USA; 2Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA; 3Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Laboratory of RNA Molecular Biology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021, USA RNA silencing refers to small regulatory RNA-mediated processes that repress endogenous gene expression and defend hosts from offending viruses. As an anti-host defense mechanism, viruses encode suppressors that can block RNA silencing pathways. Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)-encoded 2b protein was among the first suppressors identified that could inhibit post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS), but with little or no effect on miRNA functions. The mechanisms underlying 2b suppression of RNA silencing are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the CMV 2b protein also interferes with miRNA pathways, eliciting developmental anomalies partially phenocopying ago1 mutant alleles. In contrast to most characterized suppressors, 2b directly interacts with Argonaute1 (AGO1) in vitro and in vivo, and this interaction occurs primarily on one surface of the PAZ-containing module and part of the PIWI-box of AGO1. Consistent with this interaction, 2b specifically inhibits AGO1 cleavage activity in RISC reconstitution assays. In addition, AGO1 recruits virus-derived small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in vivo, suggesting that AGO1 is a major factor in defense against CMV infection. -
Dissertation
Regulation of gene silencing: From microRNA biogenesis to post-translational modifications of TNRC6 complexes DISSERTATION zur Erlangung des DOKTORGRADES DER NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN (Dr. rer. nat.) der Fakultät Biologie und Vorklinische Medizin der Universität Regensburg vorgelegt von Johannes Danner aus Eggenfelden im Jahr 2017 Das Promotionsgesuch wurde eingereicht am: 12.09.2017 Die Arbeit wurde angeleitet von: Prof. Dr. Gunter Meister Johannes Danner Summary ‘From microRNA biogenesis to post-translational modifications of TNRC6 complexes’ summarizes the two main projects, beginning with the influence of specific RNA binding proteins on miRNA biogenesis processes. The fate of the mature miRNA is determined by the incorporation into Argonaute proteins followed by a complex formation with TNRC6 proteins as core molecules of gene silencing complexes. miRNAs are transcribed as stem-loop structured primary transcripts (pri-miRNA) by Pol II. The further nuclear processing is carried out by the microprocessor complex containing the RNase III enzyme Drosha, which cleaves the pri-miRNA to precursor-miRNA (pre-miRNA). After Exportin-5 mediated transport of the pre-miRNA to the cytoplasm, the RNase III enzyme Dicer cleaves off the terminal loop resulting in a 21-24 nt long double-stranded RNA. One of the strands is incorporated in the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), where it directly interacts with a member of the Argonaute protein family. The miRNA guides the mature RISC complex to partially complementary target sites on mRNAs leading to gene silencing. During this process TNRC6 proteins interact with Argonaute and recruit additional factors to mediate translational repression and target mRNA destabilization through deadenylation and decapping leading to mRNA decay. -
Duplexes of 21±Nucleotide Rnas Mediate RNA Interference in Cultured Mammalian Cells
letters to nature ogy), respectively. Staining speci®city was controlled by single staining, as well as by using augments the B-cell antigen-presentation function independently of internalization of receptor- secondary antibodies in the absence of the primary stain. antigen complex. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 82, 5890±5894 (1985). 25. Siemasko, K., Eisfelder, B. J., Williamson, E., Kabak, S. & Clark, M. R. Signals from the B lymphocyte Generation of target cells antigen receptor regulate MHC class II containing late endosomes. J. Immunol. 160, 5203±5208 (1998). Target cells displaying a membrane-integral version of either wild-type HEL or a mutant10 26. Serre, K. et al. Ef®cient presentation of multivalent antigens targeted to various cell surface molecules exhibiting reduced af®nity for HyHEL10 ([R21,D101,G102,N103] designated HEL*) were of dendritic cells and surface Ig of antigen-speci®c B cells. J. Immunol. 161, 6059±6067 (1998). generated by transfecting mouse J558L plasmacytoma cells with constructs analogous to 27. Green, S. M., Lowe, A. D., Parrington, J. & Karn, J. Transformation of growth factor-dependent those used10 for expression of soluble HEL/HEL*, except that 14 Ser/Gly codons, the H2Kb myeloid stem cells with retroviral vectors carrying c-myc. Oncogene 737±751 (1989). transmembrane region, and a 23-codon cytoplasmic domain were inserted immediately 28. Russell, D. M. et al. Peripheral deletion of self-reactive B cells. Nature 354, 308±311 (1991). upstream of the termination codon by polymerase chain reaction. For mHEL±GFP, we 29. Goodnow, C. C. et al. Altered immunoglobulin expression and functional silencing of self-reactive B included the EGFP coding domain in the Ser/Gly linker. -
Whitehead Faculty and Fellows Members
Whitehead Faculty and Fellows Members Ask a visiting scientist to describe Whitehead Institute and three themes David Bartel studies microRNAs and other small RNAs emerge immediately: the exceptional quality of the scientific staff, the that specify the destruction and/or translational collaborative spirit, and the ethos that encourages researchers at every level repression of mRNAs. He also studies mRNAs, focusing to share new ideas and benefit from the insights and experience of their on their untranslated regions and poly(A) tails, and colleagues. how these regions recruit and mediate regulatory processes. His lab found that microRNAs affect most human protein-coding genes, either by regulating The key to this combination of excellence and accessibility is, of course, the them or by shaping their evolution. Faculty. “From the beginning, we sought researchers who had terrific scientific instincts, but we were also looking for people who would feel comfortable in Iain Cheeseman investigates the process of our open environment,” says Founding Member Gerald Fink. “The exchange chromosome segregation and cell division. In of energy and new ideas never stops, from the formal research retreat, to the particular, he uses proteomics, biochemistry, cell faculty lunches, to the countless informal conversations in hallways and biology, and functional approaches to examine the lounges.” composition, structure, organization and function of the kinetochore — the group of proteins that assemble Whitehead Institute faculty, known as Members, are selected through a joint at the centromere and are required for chromosome appointment process with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) segregation and cell division. Department of Biology. Whitehead Institute is solely responsible for their salary and research. -
The Genetic Basis of Differences in Drug Response
The genetic basis of differences in drug response Radboud Honours Academy – FNWI programme May 2017, Nijmegen Mara Nicolasen Biology Quinten Rutgers Physics & Mathematics Anne Savenije Science Janneke Toorians Biology Under guidance of Dr. J.L. Peters Table of contents 1. Details 1) Details of proposal 3 2) Details of the applicants 3 3) Supervisor 3 2. Summary 1) Scientific summary 4 2) Summary for the broad scientific committee 4 3) Summary for the general public 4 3. Description of the proposed research 1) Introduction 5 2) Thiopurines and metabolites 5 3) Important enzymes in the thiopurine pathway 7 4) Genome-wide association studies 8 5) Outline of the research 10 6) Cell lines 10 7) siRNA 10 8) Proteome analysis 12 9) Thiopurine metabolites analysis 13 4. Timetable of the project 15 5. Statements by the applicant 15 6. References 16 2 1. Details 1a. Details of proposal Title: The genetic basis of differences in drug response Area: Ο (bio)Chemistry Ο Physics and Mathematics ⚫ Health 1b. Details of the applicants Name: Janneke Toorians Gender: Ο Male ⚫ Female Name: Anne Savenije Gender: Ο Male ⚫ Female Name: Quinten Rutgers Gender: ⚫ Male Ο Female Name: Mara Nicolasen Gender: Ο Male ⚫ Female 1c. Supervisor Name: Janny Peters Tel: +49 1577 1401583 Email: [email protected] Institute and Department: Molecular Plant Physiology 3 2. Summary 2a. Scientific summary This research proposal focuses on the effect that a person’s genes have on the response to the thiopurine drugs. Through a genome wide association study, seventeen SNPs outside the thiopurine pathway have been found to be correlated with an adverse response to a treatment with thiopurines.