Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Dynamic Regulation OF The Chromatin Environment By Ash1L Modulates Human Neuronal Structure And Function

doi: 10.1101/2024.12.02.625500

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) Diagram of ASH1L protein domains showing the location of the pathogenic variant E2148* (blue) in ASH1L catalytic domain and itsr associated clinical phenotypes. (B) Illustration depicts the dual SMAD inhibition protocol used to generate cortical excitatory human neurons. ( C ) ASH1L expression was quantified by qPCR using human neurons at day 35 of neuronal induction. Fold change is normalized to control. Bar represents the mean and individual measures from four independent experiments are shown for control (grey with open circles), and E2148* (light blue with solid blue circles). Samples were analyzed as a ratio of the control. Statistical analysis was conducted using unpaired t-test. **** P < 0.0001. ( D ) Representative images are shown for human neurons from control, and E2148* cultures at day 35 of neuronal induction. Neurons stained with MAP2 are shown in black and white for ease of viewing. Calibration bars represent 20µm. ( E-H ) Morphogenesis measures are shown for four independent experiments for control neurons (grey bar with open circles), and E2148* mutant neurons (light blue bars with solid dark blue circles). Individual points represent the average of 4 independent experiments, an average of 30 neurons were measured per experiment. ( E ) Mean neurite length is shown for control (n=124 neurons; 56.9 ± 2.41), and E2148* (n=118 neurons; 47.47 ± 1.99). Grouped statistical analysis was conducted using unpaired t-test, **P < 0.004. ( F ) Total neurite length is shown for control (n=124 neurons; 182.7 ± 6.39), and E2148* (n=118 neurons; 139.3 ± 4.66). Grouped statistical analysis was conducted using unpaired t-test, **** P < 0.0001. ( G ) Neuronal morphology analyzed by measuring the complexity index (see methods). Calculations were conducted after identifying outliers using the ROUT 1% method for control (n=115; 289.5 ± 18.21), and E2148* (n=112; 228.8 ± 13.42). Grouped statistical analysis was conducted unpaired t-test ** P < 0.0099. ( H ) Cell soma size was analyzed for three independent experiments by measuring the area for control (n=96; 77.67 ± 3.47), and E2148* (n=91; 69.15 ± 2.51). Statistical analysis was conducted using unpaired t-test P=0.056. ( I ) Sholl analysis was used to measure neuronal arborization. The number intersections away from the cell soma were measured every 10µm and are shown for control (open gray circles), and E2148* (solid dark blue circles) neurons from 10µm to 120µm. Statistical analysis was conducted using a mixed model effects *** P < 0.0006, and **** P < 0.0001. ( J-L ) Analysis of H3K36me2 and H3K4me3 levels on chromatin fraction for four independent experiments is shown for neurons at day 41 of neuronal induction. ( J ) Representative western blot shows H3K36me2, H3K4me3 and histone H3 for control, and E2148* neurons. H3 Histone marks were normalized to histone H3 levels for analysis. ( K ) H3K36me2 protein levels are shown for control (1± 0), and E2148* (0.67 ± 0.26). ( L ) H3K4me3 protein levels are shown for control (1± 0), and E2148* (0.68± 0.11). (K -L ) Statistical analysis was conducted using unpaired t-test *P< 0.025. Not significant P value is not shown.

Article Snippet: Primary antibody for MAP2 (Aves lab, #MAP) was added and cells were incubated overnight at 4°C, followed by secondary antibody incubation for 1 hour at room temperature using Alexa Fluor 647 (Thermo Scientific, #A-21449) at a dilution of 1:1000.

Techniques: Variant Assay, Inhibition, Expressing, Control, Staining, Mutagenesis, Western Blot

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Dynamic Regulation OF The Chromatin Environment By Ash1L Modulates Human Neuronal Structure And Function

doi: 10.1101/2024.12.02.625500

Figure Lengend Snippet: ( A ) PCA plots shows biological replicates (n=4) for control (green), and E2148* (salmon) neurons RNA seq experiments. ( B ) Heatmap shows top 100 DEGs for control (green), and E2148* (salmon) neurons at day 35 (n=4 biological replicates). The top 15 DEGs are listed. ( C ) Volcano plots showing DEGs in the heterozygous E2148* mutant iPSC-derived neurons. Log 2 fold changes (LFC) gene expression (x-axis) and -log 10 adjusted P values (y-axis) generated from DESeq2 differential gene expression analysis are shown. Vertical dotted lines represent 0.58 LFC (1.5 FC) and horizontal dotted line shows adjusted P=0.05. Significant DEGs are shown in red with the top 20 labelled in the plot. ( D-F ) Functional enrichment analysis by EnrichR for biological process ( D ), cellular compartment ( E ), and molecular function ( F ) show enrichment for all DEGs, upregulated and downregulated DEGs in E2148* mutant neurons vs. control neurons. Circle size represents the number of DEGs in that category and the color represents the adjusted P value. ( G ) Correlation of gene length to fold change analyzed for all significant DEGs in E2148* (blue line) mutant neurons. Grey shade shows the variability across samples. ( H ) Analysis of gene length in upregulated (blue) and downregulated (red) DEGs for E2148* neurons. ( I ) Analysis of de novo transcription by EU click chemistry at day 41 of neuronal differentiation. Representative images of human neurons that incorporated EU (gray), stained with neuronal marker MAP2 (cyan) and nuclear marker DAPI (blue) are shown for control (top row), and E2148* (bottom row). Enlarged nuclei stained with EU is shown. Calibration bars are 20µm. ( J-K ) Measurements of EU incorporation are shown for control neurons (grey bars with open circles), and E2148* (light blue bars with solid deep blue circles) mutant neurons. Mean and standard error are shown with individual dots representing the average of individual measures for five independent experiments. ( I ) Pearsons’ correlation coefficient analysis is shown for five independent experiments for control (n=187; 0.785 ± 0.003), and E2148* (n=115; 0.746 ± 0.005) neurons. ( J ) EU nuclear intensity normalized to control is shown for five independent experiments for control (n=187; 1.017 ± 0.029), and E2148* (n=115; 0.817 ± 0.027) neurons. ( I-J ) Grouped data analyzed using unpaired t test with Welch’s correction, ****P < 0.0001. Not significant P values are not shown.

Article Snippet: Primary antibody for MAP2 (Aves lab, #MAP) was added and cells were incubated overnight at 4°C, followed by secondary antibody incubation for 1 hour at room temperature using Alexa Fluor 647 (Thermo Scientific, #A-21449) at a dilution of 1:1000.

Techniques: Control, RNA Sequencing, Mutagenesis, Derivative Assay, Gene Expression, Generated, Functional Assay, Staining, Marker

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Dynamic Regulation OF The Chromatin Environment By Ash1L Modulates Human Neuronal Structure And Function

doi: 10.1101/2024.12.02.625500

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) Representative images are shown for day 35 human neurons from control, and E2148* cultures treated for 3 days with DMSO, Tazemetostat (0.5µM) and Vorinostat (0.1µM). Neurons stained with MAP2 are shown in black and white for ease of viewing. Calibration bars represent 30µm. ( B-F ) Morphogenesis analysis is shown for at least 4 independent experiments (unless otherwise annotated) in which we measured at least 30 neurons per experiment for control (grey bar with open circles) and E2148* (light blue bars with solid dark blue circles) neurons treated with either DMSO, Tazemetostat (TAZ) or Vorinostat (VOR). Individual points represent the average of multiple independent experiments. ( B ) Total neurite length is shown as the mean (bar) with the average of individual measurements represented by the circles for: control + DMSO (n=93 neurons; 231.9 ± 7.27); control + TAZ (n=119; 184.4± 5.46); control + VOR (n=118 neurons; 227.3± 6.8); E2148* + DMSO (n=113 neurons; 163.3 ± 4.83); E2148* + TAZ (n=112; 200.5± 5.94); E2148* + VOR (n=129 neurons; 225.2± 8.38). ( C ) Mean neurite length is shown as the mean (bar) with the average of individual measurements represented by the circles for: control + DMSO (n=90 neurons; 69.86 ± 2.409); control + TAZ (n=117; 64.16± 2.04); control + VOR (n=118 neurons; 81.28± 2.75); E2148* + DMSO (n=112 neurons; 55.75 ± 1.88); E2148* + TAZ (n=111; 66.16 ± 2.47); E2148* + VOR (n=126 neurons; 76.02 ± 2.58). ( D ) Complexity index measurements were first analyzed using the “identify outliers” ROUT function in graph pad and are shown as the mean (bar) with the average of individual measurements represented by the circles for: control + DMSO (n=90 neurons; 390± 26.88); control + TAZ (n=111; 329.4 ± 22.40); control + VOR (n=116 neurons; 461.8 ± 25.45); E2148* + DMSO (n=116 neurons; 261.9 ± 18.80); E2148* + TAZ (n=105; 357.6 ± 20.83); E2148* + VOR (n=125 neurons; 458.3 ± 29.66). ( B-D ) Statistical analysis of grouped measurements was conducted using TWO-way ANOVA with Tukey’s test for multiple comparisons: * P < 0.04 ** P < 0.009, *** P < 0.0006, **** P < 0.0001. ( E ) Sholl analysis was used to measure neuronal arborization across three different treatments in the E2148* mutant neurons. The number intersections away from the cell soma were measured every 10µm and are shown for E2148* + DMSO (inverted dark blue triangles), E2148* + TAZ (open triangles), and E2148* + VOR (solid light blue triangles) neurons. Statistical analysis by TWO-way ANOVA with mixed model effects * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.009, and *** P = 0.0008. Green asterisk (E2148* +DMSO vs. E2148* + VOR), red asterisk (E2148* + DMSO vs. E2148* + TAZ). ( F ) Sholl analysis is shown to compare the most effective treatment (vorinostat) to the untreated control and E2148* mutant neurons. The number of intersections away from the cell soma were measured every 10µm and are shown for control+ DMSO (open gray circles), E2148* + DMSO (solid dark blue circles) and E2148* + VOR (half pink/light blue circles) neurons. Statistical analysis by TWO-way ANOVA with mixed model effects * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.005, *** P = 0.0005, and **** P < 0.0001. Green asterisk (E2148*+DMSO vs. Control + DMSO), red asterisk (E2148* + DMSO vs. E2148* + VOR). ( G-K ) Analysis of nuclear levels of H3K27me3 and H4K16ac in four independent experiments (unless otherwise indicated) across all treatments is shown for neurons at day 35 of neuronal induction. ( G ) Representative images of nuclear H3K27me3 (red) are shown for either DMSO (left column) or Tazemetostat (right column) treated control, or E2148* mutant neurons stained with MAP2 (cyan) and nuclei is stain with DAPI (blue). ( H ) Quantification of H3K27me3 nuclear levels measured by mean gray value is shown for all treatments. Measurements from at least 3 independent experiments with at least 30 neurons analyzed per experiment were analyzed as a group and are shown as the mean (bar) with the average of individual measurements represented by the circles for: control + DMSO (n=134 neurons; 547.4 ± 13.19); control + TAZ (n=154; 258.1 ± 10.83); control + VOR (n=101 neurons; 545.5 ± 19.07); E2148* + DMSO (n=141 neurons; 471.0 ± 10.87); E2148* + TAZ (n=140; 301.1 ± 8.03); E2148* + VOR (n=103 neurons; 539.4 ± 18.79). ( I ) Representative images of nuclear H4K16ac (red) are shown for either DMSO (left column) or Tazemetostat (right column) treated control, and E2148* mutant neurons stained with MAP2 (cyan) and nuclei is stain with DAPI (blue). ( J ) Quantification of H4K16ac nuclear levels measured by mean gray value is shown for all treatments. Measurements from at least 3 independent experiments with at least 30 neurons analyzed per experiment were analyzed as a group and are shown as the mean (bar) with the average of individual measurements represented by the circles for: control + DMSO (N= 4 experiments; n=114 neurons; 322.8 ± 12.85); control + TAZ (n=95; 360.5 ± 13.04); control + VOR (n=145 neurons; 581.6 ± 16.45); E2148* + DMSO (n=166 neurons; 270.3 ± 10.33); E2148* + TAZ (n=106; 350.4 ± 11.81); E2148* + VOR (n=158 neurons; 654.7 ± 9.49). ( H and J ) Statistical analysis of grouped measurements was conducted using TWO-way ANOVA with Tukey’s test for multiple comparisons: * P < 0.05, *** P < 0.005, *** P < 0.0005, **** P < 0.0001.

Article Snippet: Primary antibody for MAP2 (Aves lab, #MAP) was added and cells were incubated overnight at 4°C, followed by secondary antibody incubation for 1 hour at room temperature using Alexa Fluor 647 (Thermo Scientific, #A-21449) at a dilution of 1:1000.

Techniques: Control, Staining, Mutagenesis

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Hyperexcitability in Alzheimer’s Disease triggers a compensatory neuroprotective response via TREK1

doi: 10.1101/2025.10.16.682816

Figure Lengend Snippet: a, Representative immunofluorescence images showing increased VGLUT1 intensity in the hippocampus of 3xTg mice 15 days after intrahippocampal injection with TREK1 shRNA lentivirus compared with vehicle-injected controls. b, Representative images showing decreased VGAT intensity under the same TREK1 knockdown conditions. c, Quantification of VGLUT1 fluorescence intensity in 3xTg mice after TREK1 knockdown (n = 67–76 sections; ****p < 0.0001; unpaired t-test). d, Quantification of VGAT fluorescence intensity in 3xTg mice after TREK1 knockdown (n = 60–63 sections; ****p < 0.0001; unpaired t-test). e, Quantification of Excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) ratio, calculated as VGLUT1/VGAT intensity, is markedly elevated in TREK1 knockdown mice compared with vehicle injected controls (n = 3– 4; **p < 0.01; unpaired t-test). f, Representative immunofluorescence images demonstrating enhanced Aβ deposition in the hippocampus of TREK1 knockdown 3xTg mice compared with vehicle-injected controls. g, Quantification of Aβ fluorescence intensity in 3xTg mice after TREK1 knockdown (n = 50 sections; *p < 0.05; unpaired t-test). h, Quantification showing a significant decrease in MAP2 intensity in the hippocampus of 3xTg mice injected with TREK1 shRNA compared with scrambled (Sc) shRNA controls (n = 159–166 sections; ****p < 0.0001; unpaired t-test). i, Schematic representation illustrating the effects of TREK1 knockdown on excitatory/inhibitory balance. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM from 3–4 mice per group.

Article Snippet: Primary antibodies- chicken MAP2 (1:1000, Invitrogen, PA1-10005), rabbit TREK1 (1:100, Alomone Labs, #APC-047), Rabbit CTCF (1:100, Invitrogen, #MA5-88115), Mouse AC1 (1:50, Santa Cruz, #SC- 365350), Mouse AC8 (1:50, Santa Cruz, #SC-377442) and rabbit MAP2 (1:150, Cell Signalling Technology, #8707S) were diluted in PBST and applied overnight at 4°C.

Techniques: Immunofluorescence, Injection, shRNA, Knockdown, Fluorescence

Journal: iScience

Article Title: FAM65A, as a potential predictor of prognosis, promotes colorectal cancer progression via activating Ras/ERK/RSK signaling

doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.114662

Figure Lengend Snippet: FAM65A binds to Ras and activates the Ras/ERK signaling to mediate RSK activation (A) The volcano plot analysis results for the FAM65A high-expression and low-expression groups from the TCGA database were shown. (B) The KEGG and GO results were shown. (C) The GSEA results were shown. (D) GSEA on DEGs between the FAM65A high-expression group and low-expression group in the Reactome database were shown. (E) IP was performed to detect the binding of FAM65A and Ras/p-RSK. (F) IP was performed to detect the binding of Ras and FAM65A/p-RSK. (G) Immunofluorescence was performed to detect the co-localization of FAM65A and Ras. Scale bars, 20 μm. (H) Western blot analysis the Ras and p -ERK expression in FAM65A knockdown or overexpression cells. Data are presented as mean ± SEM of biologically independent experiments.

Article Snippet: p -ERK , Proteintech , Cat# 28733-1-AP; RRID: AB_2881202.

Techniques: Activation Assay, Expressing, Binding Assay, Immunofluorescence, Western Blot, Knockdown, Over Expression

Journal: iScience

Article Title: FAM65A, as a potential predictor of prognosis, promotes colorectal cancer progression via activating Ras/ERK/RSK signaling

doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.114662

Figure Lengend Snippet: Ras/ERK signaling activation was indispensable for FAM65A-mediated RSK activation and CRC progression (A) Western blot analysis of Ras and p -ERK expression in HCT116-FAM65A cells treated with 10 μM Abd-7, or without treatment. (B) Results from the CCK8 cell proliferation assay conducted on HCT116-FAM65A cells with and without the application of Abd-7, n = 3, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001. (C) Colony formation assay performed on HCT116-FAM65A cells treated with Abd-7 or not. (D) Quantitative analysis of the colony formation assay results, n = 3, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001. (E) Results from the EdU assay conducted on HCT116-FAM65A cells with and without the application of Abd-7. Scale bars, 100 μm. (F) Quantitative analysis of the EdU assay results, n = 3, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001. (G) Western blot analysis of Ki-67, cleaved Caspase 3, Bcl-2, and Bax expression in HCT116-FAM65A cells treated with Abd-7 or not. (H) Results from the apoptosis assay conducted on HCT116-FAM65A cells treated with Abd-7 or not. Scale bars, 50 μm. (I) Quantitative analysis of the apoptosis experiments, n = 3, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001. (J) Results from the Transwell migration assay conducted on HCT116-FAM65A cells with and without the application of Abd-7. Scale bars, 50 μm. (K) Quantitative analysis of the Transwell migration assay results, n = 3, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001. (L) Results from the wound healing assay performed on HCT116-FAM65A cells treated with Abd-7 or not. Scale bars, 50 μm. (M) Quantitative analysis of the wound healing assay results, n = 3, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001. (N) Western blot analysis the expression of EMT markers in HCT116-FAM65A cells treated with Abd-7 or not. (O) Proposed model of FAM65A in CRC progression. Data are presented as mean ± SEM of biologically independent experiments.

Article Snippet: p -ERK , Proteintech , Cat# 28733-1-AP; RRID: AB_2881202.

Techniques: Activation Assay, Western Blot, Expressing, Proliferation Assay, Colony Assay, EdU Assay, Apoptosis Assay, Transwell Migration Assay, Wound Healing Assay

Journal: iScience

Article Title: FAM65A, as a potential predictor of prognosis, promotes colorectal cancer progression via activating Ras/ERK/RSK signaling

doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.114662

Figure Lengend Snippet: Knockdown of FAM65A inhibits tumor progression in vivo (A) LOVO-shCtrl and LOVO-shFAM65A cells were administered into the fourth fat pad of nude mice, and the resulting tumor growth curves were subsequently generated, n = 5, ∗ p < 0.05. (B) The tumors excised from mice across various experimental groups are presented. (C) Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining results of lung tissue from the different groups is displayed. (D) A quantitative analysis of metastatic lung nodules is provided, n = 5, ∗∗ p < 0.01. (E) IHC results for FAM65A, Ki-67, p -RSK, p -ERK, Ras, N-cadherin, vimentin, cleaved Caspase 3, ZO-1, and E-cadherin in tumor tissues are illustrated. (F) A quantitative analysis of the IHC results is included. Data are presented as mean ± SEM of biologically independent experiments, n = 5, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001.

Article Snippet: p -ERK , Proteintech , Cat# 28733-1-AP; RRID: AB_2881202.

Techniques: Knockdown, In Vivo, Generated, Staining

Journal: Oncogene

Article Title: Activation of the protein kinase B pathway by the HPV-16 E7 oncoprotein occurs through a mechanism involving interaction with PP2A.

doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1208935

Figure Lengend Snippet: Figure 4 The HPV-16 E7-mediated increase in PKB/Akt phos- phorylation correlates with increased phosphorylation of Bad on serine 136. Murine GST-BAD was coexpressed with HAPKB/Akt in 293 cells under conditions as described previously. Western blots were probed sequentially for phosphorylated PKB/Akt and BAD, then for total PKB/Akt and BAD

Article Snippet: Antibodies against total or phosphorylated forms of PKB/Akt, and total or ser136-phosphorylated BAD (cell signaling technology) were used according to the manufacturers instructions.

Techniques: Phospho-proteomics, Western Blot