Publications by authors named "Zenglai Tan"

Transcription factors (TFs) are the main regulators of gene expression, controlling diverse cellular processes such as development, differentiation, and disease progression. A comprehensive analysis of their interactomes and targetomes provides valuable insights into their functions, regulatory mechanisms, and context-dependent roles. This chapter presents a robust methodological framework for investigating the interactome and targetome of TFs, applicable to a wide range of TF families.

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The Nuclear Factor I (NFI) family of transcription factors (TFs) plays key roles in cellular differentiation, proliferation, and homeostasis. As such, NFI family members engage in a large number of interactions with other proteins and chromatin. However, despite their well-established significance, the NFIs' interactomes, their dynamics, and their functions have not been comprehensively examined.

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Embryonic genome activation (EGA) occurs during preimplantation development and is characterized by the initiation of de novo transcription from the embryonic genome. Despite its importance, the regulation of EGA and the transcription factors involved in this process are poorly understood. Paired-like homeobox (PRDL) family proteins are implicated as potential transcriptional regulators of EGA, yet the PRDL-mediated gene regulatory networks remain uncharacterized.

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Background: Aberrant somatic genomic alteration including copy number amplification is a hallmark of cancer genomes. We previously profiled genomic landscapes of prostate cancer (PCa), yet the underlying causal genes with prognostic potential has not been defined. It remains unclear how a somatic genomic event cooperates with inherited germline variants contribute to cancer predisposition and progression.

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Background: Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant genetic neoplastic disorder caused by germline mutation or deletion of the VHL gene, characterized by the tendency to develop multisystem benign or malignant tumors. The mechanism of VHL mutants in pathogenicity is poorly understand.

Results: Here we identified heterozygous missense mutations c.

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Transcription factors (TFs) interact with several other proteins in the process of transcriptional regulation. Here, we identify 6703 and 1536 protein-protein interactions for 109 different human TFs through proximity-dependent biotinylation (BioID) and affinity purification mass spectrometry (AP-MS), respectively. The BioID analysis identifies more high-confidence interactions, highlighting the transient and dynamic nature of many of the TF interactions.

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Generation of kidney organoids from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) is regarded as a potentially powerful way to study kidney development, disease, and regeneration. Direct differentiation of PSCs towards renal lineages is well studied; however, most of the studies relate to generation of nephron progenitor population from PSCs. Until now, differentiation of PSCs into ureteric bud (UB) progenitor cells has had limited success.

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The kidney is a complex organ that is comprised of thousands of nephrons developing through reciprocal inductive interactions between metanephric mesenchyme (MM) and ureteric bud (UB). The MM undergoes mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) in response to the signaling from the UB. The secreted protein Wnt4, one of the Wnt family members, is critical for nephrogenesis as mouse Wnt4 mutants fail to form pretubular aggregates (PTA) and therefore lack functional nephrons.

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The Wilms' tumor suppressor gene 1 (WT1) encodes a zinc finger transcription factor. Mutation of WT1 in humans leads to Wilms' tumor, a pediatric kidney tumor, or other kidney diseases, such as Denys-Drash and Frasier syndromes. We showed previously that inactivation of WT1 in podocytes of adult mice results in proteinuria, foot process effacement, and glomerulosclerosis.

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