We describe cell type–specific significance analysis of microarrays (cssam) for analyzing differential gene expression for each cell type in a biological sample from microarray data and relative cell-type frequencies. first, we validated cssam with predesigned mixtures and then applied it to whole-blood gene expression datasets from stable post-transplant kidney transplant recipients and those experiencing acute transplant rejection, which revealed hundreds of differentially expressed genes that were otherwise undetectable.

De novo mutations (DNMs) originating in gametogenesis are an important source of genetic variation. We use a data set of 7,216 autosomal DNMs with resolved parent of origin from whole-genome sequencing of 816 parent-offspring trios to investigate differences between maternally and paternally derived DNMs and study the underlying mutational mechanisms. Our results show that the number of DNMs in offspring increases not only with paternal age, but also with maternal age, and that some genome regions show enrichment for maternally derived DNMs. We identify parent-of-origin-specific mutation signatures that become more pronounced with increased parental age, pointing to different mutational mechanisms in spermatogenesis and oogenesis. Moreover, we find DNMs that are spatially clustered to have a unique mutational signature with no significant differences between parental alleles, suggesting a different mutational mechanism. Our findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms that underlie mutagenesis and are relevant to disease and evolution in humans.

This report describes an unbiased method for systematically determining gene function in mammalian cells. A total of 20,704 predicted human full-length cDNAs were tested for induction of the IL-8 promoter. A number of genes, including those for cytokines, receptors, adapters, kinases, and transcription factors, were identified that induced the IL-8 promoter through known regulatory sites. Proteins that acted through a cooperative interaction between an AP-1 and an unrecognized cAMP response element (CRE)-like site were also identified. A protein, termed transducer of regulated cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) (TORC1), was identified that activated expression through the variant CRE and consensus CRE sites. TORC1 potently induced known CREB1 target genes, bound CREB1, and activated expression through a potent transcription activation domain. A functional Drosophila TORC gene was also identified. Thus, TORCs represent a family of highly conserved CREB coactivators that may control the potency and specificity of CRE-mediated responses.IL-8 ͉ genomics ͉ high-throughput screening ͉ transducer of regulated cAMP response element-binding protein

The structurally related T cell surface molecules CD28 and CTLA-4 interact with cell surface ligands CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2) on antigen-presenting cells (APC) and modulate T cell antigen recognition. Preliminary reports have suggested that CD80 binds CTLA-4 and CD28 with affinities (K d values ∼12 and ∼200 nM, respectively) that are high when compared with other molecular interactions that contribute to T cell–APC recognition. In the present study, we use surface plasmon resonance to measure the affinity and kinetics of CD80 binding to CD28 and CTLA-4. At 37°C, soluble recombinant CD80 bound to CTLA-4 and CD28 with K d values of 0.42 and 4 μM, respectively. Kinetic analysis indicated that these low affinities were the result of very fast dissociation rate constants (koff); sCD80 dissociated from CD28 and CTLA-4 with koff values of ⩾1.6 and ⩾0.43 s−1, respectively. Such rapid binding kinetics have also been reported for the T cell adhesion molecule CD2 and may be necessary to accommodate dynamic T cell–APC contacts and to facilitate scanning of APC for antigen.