Gene expression profile in StarD7 siRNA-transfected JEG-3 cells

FLORES MARTIN J; RENA VC; PANZETTA DUTARI G; GENTI RAIMONDI S

San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina

Congreso; XLV Reunión Anual: Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular (SAIB); 2009

SAIB

StarD7 protein is a member of the StarD2 subfamily of START domain proteins, whose function remains poorly defined. We have recently reported that StarD7 is expressed in trophoblast cytoplasm and is partially re-localized in vitro differentiating cytotrophoblast cells. Furthermore we described that ß-catenin activates human StarD7 through Wnt/ß-catenin signalling. Herein, we used StarD7 siRNA to block down its expression in JEG-3 cells to pursue its function. Labeled complementary ribonucleic acid from StarD7 siRNA- and scrambled siRNA-transfected JEG-3 cells was hybridized to a custom Affymetrix oligonucleotide DNA microarray. Identification of altered gene expression in both conditions was assessed by using the Significance score (S-score) method. The data demonstrated differential expression of 89 genes (46 increased, 43 decreased). Among them, several Wnt signalling pathway-associated genes were identified. The mRNA levels of six differentially expressed genes (ß-catenin, Cnx43, iNOS, MBD2, Smurf2 and TGF) were validated using qRT-PCR. From this genome-wide siRNA study, novel aspects of the molecular background of StarD7 were revealed, and thus may lead to the identification of candidate StarD7-dependent genes probably related to its cell function.