UpRegulation of Genes in Murine Spinal Cord Transcriptome

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Up-Regulation of Genes in Murine Spinal Cord
Transcriptome

• Solomon Park Research Institute
• Kanan Lathia

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(No Transcript)
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Neural Glial Cells
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Myelin Sheath
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Theories

• All agree that motor neurons degenerate
• Toxins, viruses, immune reactions, metabolic

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Hypothesis

• ALS is genetically controlled in all individuals
  that express this condition

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Approach

• Spinal cord is a
• primary site of injury
• in MND
• In the present study, we compare
• Spinal cord represents Motor Neuron
• Visual cortex represents Sensory Neuron

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Why Visual Cortex?
Spinal Cord
Visual Cortex
Result
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Specific Research Approach
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Subtractive Hybridization
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Expected findings

• Motor neuron specific genes
• Motor neuron markers

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Partial catalog of genes specific to Spinal Cord
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Analysis

• 25 DNA sequences are of Proteolipid protein
• 10 DNA sequences are for Ferretin heavy chain

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Confirming the Findings

• The Northern blot is a technique used in
  molecular biology research to study gene
  expression.
• Gene expression is the process by which a genes
  DNA sequence is converted into the structures and
  functions of a cell.

Northern Blot of CNP clone
Northern Blot of PLP clone
SC VC
0.5KB
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Facts

• Nearly 10,000 colonies were grown
• 600 colonies were analyzed
• 60 genes were unique
• Highlights
• - Proteolipid protein and N-myc down-regulated
  gene 4, identified are known to directly affect
  neuron survival
• Ferritin and Transferrin, are indirectly
  associated with apoptosis
• Several unknown proteins

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Interpretation

• Proteins that are highly represented are myelin
  specific
• Myelin is a protective sheath around the neurons
• Our results indicate that the influence of myelin
  in spinal cord should not be underestimated

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Expected findings

• Motor neuron specific genes
• Motor neuron markers

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Future Directions

• Peel the onion
• Compare the onions