The landscape of alternative polyadenylation during EMT and its regulation by the RNA-binding protein Quaking.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays important roles in tumour progression and is orchestrated by dynamic changes in gene expression. While it is well established that post-transcriptional regulation plays a significant role in EMT, the extent of alternative polyadenylation (APA) during EMT has not yet been explored. Using 3' end anchored RNA sequencing, we mapped the alternative polyadenylation (APA) landscape following Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β-mediated induction of EMT in human mammary epithelial cells and found APA generally causes 3'UTR lengthening during this cell state transition.

Quaking isoforms cooperate to promote the mesenchymal phenotype.

The RNA-binding protein Quaking (QKI) has widespread effects on mRNA regulation including alternative splicing, stability, translation, and localization of target mRNAs. Recently, QKI was found to be induced during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), where it promotes a mesenchymal alternative splicing signature that contributes to the mesenchymal phenotype. QKI is itself alternatively spliced to produce three major isoforms, QKI-5, QKI-6, and QKI-7.

Selective Microfluidic Capture and Detection of Prostate Cancer Cells from Urine without Digital Rectal Examination.

Urine-based biomarkers have shown suitable diagnostic potential for prostate cancer (PCa) detection. Yet, until now, prostatic massage remains required prior to urine sampling. Here, we test a potential diagnostic approach using voided urine collected without prior digital rectal examination (DRE).

MicroRNA-143-3p targets pyruvate carboxylase expression and controls proliferation and migration of MDA-MB-231 cells.

Pyruvate carboxylase (PC) is a biotin-containing enzyme that converts pyruvate to oxaloacetate. We have previously shown that PC is overexpressed in highly invasive cancer cell lines where it supports biosynthesis during rapid cell growth. Here, we show that miR-143-3p suppresses the expression of PC in MDA-MB-231 cells by targeting its conserved binding site in the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of human PC mRNA.

miR-200/375 control epithelial plasticity-associated alternative splicing by repressing the RNA-binding protein Quaking.

Members of the miR-200 family are critical gatekeepers of the epithelial state, restraining expression of pro-mesenchymal genes that drive epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and contribute to metastatic cancer progression. Here, we show that miR-200c and another epithelial-enriched miRNA, miR-375, exert widespread control of alternative splicing in cancer cells by suppressing the RNA-binding protein Quaking (QKI). During EMT, QKI-5 directly binds to and regulates hundreds of alternative splicing targets and exerts pleiotropic effects, such as increasing cell migration and invasion and restraining tumour growth, without appreciably affecting mRNA levels.

Non-dietary analytical features of chimpanzee scats.

Non-dietary aspects of ape scats such as scat weight and diameter are correlated with age and sex of defaecator for gorillas and orangutans. Defaecation rates of primates, including apes, illuminate their role as primary seed dispersers. We assess if non-dietary features of scats for East African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) reveal such insights for members of the Kanyawara community in Kibale National Park, Uganda.

Fecal carbon and nitrogen isotopic analysis as an indicator of diet in Kanyawara chimpanzees, Kibale National Park, Uganda.

Objectives: The shorter-term overview from feces provides scope to investigate dietary fluctuations. We assess the correlation of stable isotopic fecal values with recorded seasonal diet of 10 adult chimpanzees (P. t.

The RNA binding protein quaking regulates formation of circRNAs.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), formed by non-sequential back-splicing of pre-mRNA transcripts, are a widespread form of non-coding RNA in animal cells. However, it is unclear whether the majority of circRNAs represent splicing by-products without function or are produced in a regulated manner to carry out specific cellular functions. We show that hundreds of circRNAs are regulated during human epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and find that the production of over one-third of abundant circRNAs is dynamically regulated by the alternative splicing factor, Quaking (QKI), which itself is regulated during EMT.

Macroscopic inspection of ape feces: what's in a quantification method?

Macroscopic inspection of feces has been used to investigate primate diet. The limitations of this method to identify food-items to species level have long been recognized, but ascertaining aspects of diet (e.g.

Standardised protocol for primate faecal analysis.

Macroscopic analysis of primate faeces as a way to study diet is well established, but lack of standardisation of methods may handicap comparative studies of the resulting data. Here we present a proven technique, including equipment and supplies, protocol and procedure, that yields quantitative data suitable for systematic investigation within and across primate taxa. As the problems of habituation become more obvious, the application of such indirect methods may increase in usefulness.