Although genomewide RNA expression analysis has become a routine tool in biomedical research, extracting biological insight from such information remains a major challenge. Here, we describe a powerful analytical method called Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) for interpreting gene expression data. The method derives its power by focusing on gene sets, that is, groups of genes that share common biological function, chromosomal location, or regulation. We demonstrate how GSEA yields insights into several cancer-related data sets, including leukemia and lung cancer. Notably, where single-gene analysis finds little similarity between two independent studies of patient survival in lung cancer, GSEA reveals many biological pathways in common. The GSEA method is embodied in a freely available software package, together with an initial database of 1,325 biologically defined gene sets.

/pdf/gene-set-enrichment-analysis-a-knowledge-based-approach-for-mbpti6qljw.pdf

Gene set enrichment analysis: A knowledge-based approach for interpreting genome-wide expression profiles

DAVID bioinformatics resources consists of an integrated biological knowledgebase and analytic tools aimed at systematically extracting biological meaning from large gene/protein lists. This protocol explains how to use DAVID, a high-throughput and integrated data-mining environment, to analyze gene lists derived from high-throughput genomic experiments. The procedure first requires uploading a gene list containing any number of common gene identifiers followed by analysis using one or more text and pathway-mining tools such as gene functional classification, functional annotation chart or clustering and functional annotation table. By following this protocol, investigators are able to gain an in-depth understanding of the biological themes in lists of genes that are enriched in genome-scale studies.

http://dmrocke.ucdavis.edu/Class/BST226.2014.Winter/Nature%20Protocols%20DAVID.pdf

Systematic and integrative analysis of large gene lists using DAVID bioinformatics resources.

limma is an R/Bioconductor software package that provides an integrated solution for analysing data from gene expression experiments. It contains rich features for handling complex experimental designs and for information borrowing to overcome the problem of small sample sizes. Over the past decade, limma has been a popular choice for gene discovery through differential expression analyses of microarray and high-throughput PCR data. The package contains particularly strong facilities for reading, normalizing and exploring such data. Recently, the capabilities of limma have been significantly expanded in two important directions. First, the package can now perform both differential expression and differential splicing analyses of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data. All the downstream analysis tools previously restricted to microarray data are now available for RNA-seq as well. These capabilities allow users to analyse both RNA-seq and microarray data with very similar pipelines. Second, the package is now able to go past the traditional gene-wise expression analyses in a variety of ways, analysing expression profiles in terms of co-regulated sets of genes or in terms of higher-order expression signatures. This provides enhanced possibilities for biological interpretation of gene expression differences. This article reviews the philosophy and design of the limma package, summarizing both new and historical features, with an emphasis on recent enhancements and features that have not been previously described.

/pdf/limma-powers-differential-expression-analyses-for-rna-4yl7ae3arh.pdf

limma powers differential expression analyses for RNA-sequencing and microarray studies

抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1（PfPMP1）与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用，在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员，通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

疟原虫var基因转换速率变化导致抗原变异[英]／Paul H, Robert P, Christodoulou Z, et al//Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

http://bartellab.wi.mit.edu/publication_reprints/Bartel_Cell09.pdf

MicroRNAs: Target Recognition and Regulatory Functions

On the dynamic and even reversible nature of Leigh syndrome: Lessons from human imaging and mouse models.

64 Systematic identification of human mitochondrial disease genes through integrative genomics

Summary We describe the case of identical twin boys who presented with low body weight despite excessive caloric intake. An evaluation of their fibroblasts showed elevated oxygen consumption and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Exome analysis revealed a de novo heterozygous variant in ATP5F1B, which encodes the β subunit of mitochondrial ATP synthase (also called complex V). In yeast, mutations affecting the same region loosen coupling between the proton motive force and ATP synthesis, resulting in high rates of mitochondrial respiration. Expression of the mutant allele in human cell lines recapitulates this phenotype. These data support an autosomal dominant mitochondrial uncoupling syndrome with hypermetabolism.

Congenital hypermetabolism and uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation

Methods of promoting hypoxia or the hypoxia response for the treatment or prevention of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress disorders are described. Methods for screening for targets of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress disorders are also described.

Compositions and methods that promote the hypoxia response for treatment of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress disorders

Objective Transport of Ca2+ into pancreatic β-cell mitochondria facilitates nutrient-mediated insulin secretion. The underlying mechanism, however, is unclear. Recent establishment of the molecular identity of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) and associated proteins allows modification of mitochondrial Ca2+ transport in intact cells. We examined the consequences of deficiency of the accessory protein, MICU2, in rat and human insulin-secreting cells and mouse islets. Methods siRNA-silencing of Micu2 in INS1-832/13 and EndoC-βH1 cell lines was performed; Micu2-/- mice were also studied. Insulin secretion and mechanistic analyses, utilizing live confocal imaging to assess mitochondrial function and intracellular Ca2+ dynamics, were performed. Results Silencing of Micu2 abrogated GSIS in INS1 832/13 and EndoC-βH1 cells. Micu2-/- mice also displayed attenuated GSIS. Mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake declined in MICU2-deficient INS1 832/13 and EndoC-βH1 cells in response to high glucose and high K+. Furthermore, MICU2 silencing in INS1 832/13 cells, presumably through its effects on mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, perturbed mitochondrial function illustrated by absent mitochondrial membrane hyperpolarization and lowering of the ATP/ADP ratio in response to an elevation of glucose. Despite the loss of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, cytosolic Ca2+ was lower in siMICU2-treated INS1 832/13 cells in response to high K+. It was hypothesized that Ca2+ was accumulating in the submembrane compartment in MICU2-deficient cells, resulting in desensitization of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, thereby lowering total cytosolic Ca2+. Indeed, upon high K+ stimulation, MICU2-silenced cells showed higher and prolongated rises in submembrane Ca2+ levels. Conclusions MICU2 plays a critical role in β-cell mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. β-cell mitochondria sequester Ca2+ from the submembrane compartment preventing desensitization of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, thereby facilitating GSIS.

Vamsi K. Mootha

Papers

On the dynamic and even reversible nature of Leigh syndrome: Lessons from human imaging and mouse models.

64 Systematic identification of human mitochondrial disease genes through integrative genomics

Congenital hypermetabolism and uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation

Compositions and methods that promote the hypoxia response for treatment of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress disorders

Mitochondrial Clearance of Calcium Facilitated by MICU2 Controls Insulin Secretion