MSF (MLL septin-like fusion)

Review on MSF (MLL septin-like fusion), with data on DNA, on the protein encoded, and where the gene is implicated

Tumor cell-collagen interactions: Identification and semi-quantitative evaluation of selectively-expressed genes by combination of differential display- and multiplex-PCR

<p>It is widely acknowledged that the presence of extracellular matrix components as substrates can drastically modulate the phenotype and gene expression of cultured cells, including tumor cells. A number of published reports indicated that substrates made from two peculiar collagen species, i.e. type V and OF/LB, which are abnormally deposited in the stroma of primary ductal infiltrating carcinoma (d.i.c.) of the breast &ldquo;in vivo,&rdquo; were able to exert marked and opposite effects on &ldquo;in vitro&rdquo; viability, growth and invasiveness of the 8701-BC cell line, isolated from d.i.c.-affected breast epithelium. To complement such functional data on the effect of cell-collagen interactions with information at molecular level, we have utilized a combination of differential display- and semi-quantitative multiplex-PCR techniques with the aim of detecting variations in the expression levels of selected genes by cells maintained in either culture condition. Here we report some prototypical data on the identification and semi-quantitation of three of the differentially-amplified PCR products found, i.e. <it>HSP2A</it> and <it>MSF-B</it> which are up-regulated in cells grown onto OF/LB collagen substrate, and <it>SRCAP </it>which is prominently down-regulated in the presence of type V collagen substrate. This protocol represents a powerful tool for evaluating changes in the levels and patterns of gene expression which can be theoretically adapted to any experimental model system

Micro-ring structures stabilize microdroplets to enable long term spheroid culture in 384 hanging drop array plates

Using stereolithography, 20 different structural variations comprised of millimeter diameter holes surrounded by trenches, plateaus, or micro-ring structures were prepared and tested for their ability to stably hold arrays of microliter sized droplets within the structures over an extended period of time. The micro-ring structures were the most effective in stabilizing droplets against mechanical and chemical perturbations. After confirming the importance of micro-ring structures using rapid prototyping, we developed an injection molding tool for mass production of polystyrene 3D cell culture plates with an array of 384 such micro-ring surrounded through-hole structures. These newly designed and injection molded polystyrene 384 hanging drop array plates with micro-rings were stable and robust against mechanical perturbations as well as surface fouling-facilitated droplet spreading making them capable of long term cell spheroid culture of up to 22 days within the droplet array. This is a significant improvement over previously reported 384 hanging drop array plates which are susceptible to small mechanical shocks and could not reliably maintain hanging drops for longer than a few days. With enhanced droplet stability, the hanging drop array plates with micro-ring structures provide better platforms and open up new opportunities for high-throughput preparation of microscale 3D cell constructs for drug screening and cell analysisclose11