Expressing and characterization of mLIN-41 in mouse early embryos and adult muscle tissues

De Novo Mutation in Genes Regulating Neural Stem Cell Fate in Human Congenital Hydrocephalus

Congenital hydrocephalus (CH), featuring markedly enlarged brain ventricles, is thought to arise from failed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) homeostasis and is treated with lifelong surgical CSF shunting with substantial morbidity. CH pathogenesis is poorly understood. Exome sequencing of 125 CH trios and 52 additional probands identified three genes with significant burden of rare damaging de novo or transmitted mutations: TRIM71 (p = 2.15 × 10-7), SMARCC1 (p = 8.15 × 10-10), and PTCH1 (p = 1.06 × 10-6). Additionally, two de novo duplications were identified at the SHH locus, encoding the PTCH1 ligand (p = 1.2 × 10-4). Together, these probands account for ∼10% of studied cases. Strikingly, all four genes are required for neural tube development and regulate ventricular zone neural stem cell fate. These results implicate impaired neurogenesis (rather than active CSF accumulation) in the pathogenesis of a subset of CH patients, with potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic ramifications.

E3 ubiquitin ligase tripartite motif-containing 71 promotes the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer through the inhibitor of kappaB-α/nuclear factor kappaB pathway

Tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) 71 belongs to the TRIM protein family. Many studies have shown that TRIM71 plays conserved roles in stem cell proliferation, differentiation, and embryonic development; however, the relationship between TRIM71 and tumorigenesis is not clear. In this study, we demonstrate that TRIM71 expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is associated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and poor prognosis. We found that TRIM71 was highly expressed in NSCLC cell lines compared with that in human normal bronchial epithelial cells. Moreover, by altering the expression of TRIM71 in selected cell lines, we found that TRIM71 promoted the proliferation of NSCLC cells through activation of the inhibitor of kappaB/nuclear factor kappaB pathway. These results suggested that TRIM71 plays a role in promoting the development of NSCLC.

LIN-41/TRIM71: emancipation of a miRNA target

lin-41 (lineage variant 41)/TRIM71 (tripartite motif 71) is well known for being a conserved target of the let-7 (lethal 7) microRNA (miRNA), a regulatory relationship found in animals evolutionarily as distant as Caenorhabditis elegans and humans. It has thus been studied extensively as a model for miRNA-mediated gene silencing. In contrast, the developmental and molecular functions of LIN41 have historically received less attention. However, LIN41 proteins are now emerging as important regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation in stem and progenitor cells. Moreover, LIN41's functions appear to involve two distinct molecular activities; namely, protein ubiquitylation and post-transcriptional silencing of mRNAs. Thus, LIN41 is ready for a scientific life of its own.