Biology subjects

Herzog, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Herzog, M..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2018

Failure to learn during roving, analysing the unsupervised bias hypothesis.

We examine the unsupervised bias hypothesis [11] as an explanation for failure to learn two bisection tasks, when task sequencing is randomly alternating (roving). This hypothesis is based on the idea that a covariance based synaptic plasticity rule, which is modulated by a reward signal, can be biased when reward is averaged across multiple tasks of differing difficulties. We find that, in our hands, the hypothesis in its original form can never explain roving. This drives us to develop an extended mathematical analysis, which demonstrates not one but two forms of unsupervised bias. One form interacts with overlapping task representations and the other does not. We find that overlapping task representations are much more susceptible to unsupervised biases than non-overlapping representations. Biases from non-overlapping representations are more likely to stabilise learning. But this in turn is incompatible with the experimental understanding of perceptual learning and task representation, in bisection tasks. Finally, we turn to alternative network encodings and find that they also are unlikely to explain failure to learn during task roving as a result of unsupervised biases. As a solution, we present a single critic hypothesis, which is consistent with recent literature and could explain roving by a, much simpler, certainty normalised reward signalling mechanism.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2018

OUTRIDER: A statistical method for detecting aberrantly expressed genes in RNA sequencing data

RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) is gaining popularity as a complementary assay to genome sequencing for precisely identifying the molecular causes of rare disorders. A powerful approach is to identify aberrant gene expression levels as potential pathogenic events. However, existing methods for detecting aberrant read counts in RNA-seq data either lack assessments of statistical significance, so that establishing cutoffs is arbitrary, or rely on subjective manual corrections for confounders. Here, we describe OUTRIDER (OUTlier in RNA-seq fInDER), an algorithm developed to address these issues. The algorithm uses an autoencoder to model read count expectations according to the co-variation among genes resulting from technical, environmental, or common genetic variations. Given these expectations, the RNA-seq read counts are assumed to follow a negative binomial distribution with a gene-specific dispersion. Outliers are then identified as read counts that significantly deviate from this distribution. The model is automatically fitted to achieve the best correction of artificially corrupted data. Precision-recall analyses using simulated outlier read counts demonstrated the importance of combining correction for co-variation and significance-based thresholds. OUTRIDER is open source and includes functions for filtering out genes not expressed in a data set, for identifying outlier samples with too many aberrantly expressed genes, and for the P-value-based detection of aberrant gene expression, with false discovery rate adjustment. Overall, OUTRIDER provides a computationally fast and scalable end-to-end solution for identifying aberrantly expressed genes, suitable for use by rare disease diagnostic platforms.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2018

ATM orchestrates the DNA-damage response to counter toxic non-homologous end-joining at broken replication forks

Mutations in the ATM tumor suppressor confer hypersensitivity to DNA-damaging agents. To explore genetic resistance mechanisms, we performed genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens in cells treated with the DNA topoisomerase poison topotecan. Thus, we establish that loss of terminal components of the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) machinery or the BRCA1-A complex specifically confers topotecan resistance to ATM-deficient cells. We show that hypersensitivity of ATM-mutant cells to topotecan or the poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor olaparib is due to delayed homologous recombination repair at DNA-replication-fork-associated double-strand breaks (DSBs), resulting in toxic NHEJ-mediated chromosome fusions. Accordingly, restoring legitimate repair in ATM-deficient cells, either by preventing NHEJ DNA ligation or by enhancing DSB-resection by BRCA1-A complex inactivation, markedly suppresses this toxicity. Our work suggests opportunities for patient stratification in ATM-deficient cancers and when using ATM inhibitors in the clinic, and identifies additional therapeutic vulnerabilities that might be exploited when such cancers evolve drug resistance.\n\nOne Sentence SummaryATM counteracts toxic NHEJ at broken replication forks

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Loss-of-function in IRF2BPL is associated with neurological phenotypes

The Interferon Regulatory Factor 2 Binding Protein Like (IRF2BPL) gene encodes a member of the IRF2BP family of transcriptional regulators. Currently the biological function of this gene is obscure, and the gene has not been associated with a Mendelian disease. Here we describe seven individuals affected with neurological symptoms who carry damaging heterozygous variants in IRF2BPL. Five cases carrying nonsense variants in IRF2BPL resulting in a premature stop codon display severe neurodevelopmental regression, hypotonia, progressive ataxia, seizures, and a lack of coordination. Two additional individuals, both with missense variants, display global developmental delay and seizures and a relatively milder phenotype than those with nonsense alleles. The bioinformatics signature for IRF2BPL based on population genomics is consistent with a gene that is intolerant to variation. We show that the IRF2BPL ortholog in the fruit fly, called pits (protein interacting with Ttk69 and Sin3A), is broadly expressed including the nervous system. Complete loss of pits is lethal early in development, whereas partial knock-down with RNA interference in neurons leads to neurodegeneration, revealing requirement for this gene in proper neuronal function and maintenance. The nonsense variants in IRF2BPL identified in patients behave as severe loss-of-function alleles in this model organism, while ectopic expression of the missense variants leads to a range of phenotypes. Taken together, IRF2BPL and pits are required in the nervous system in humans and flies, and their loss leads to a range of neurological phenotypes in both species.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2017

Detection of functional protein domains by unbiased genome-wide forward genetic screening

Genetic and chemo-genetic interactions have played key roles in elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which certain chemicals perturb cellular functions. Many studies have employed gene knockout collections or gene disruption/depletion strategies to identify routes for evolving resistance to chemical agents. By contrast, searching for point-mutational genetic suppressors that can identify separation- or gain-of-function mutations, has been limited even in simpler, genetically amenable organisms such as yeast, and has not until recently been possible in mammalian cell culture systems. Here, by demonstrating its utility in identifying suppressors of cellular sensitivity to the drugs camptothecin or olaparib, we describe an approach allowing systematic, large-scale detection of spontaneous or chemically-induced suppressor mutations in yeast and in haploid mouse embryonic stem cells in a short timeframe, and with potential applications in essentially any other haploid system. In addition to its utility for molecular biology research, this protocol can be used to identify drug targets and to predict mechanisms leading to drug resistance. Mapping suppressor mutations on the primary sequence or three-dimensional structures of protein suppressor hits provides insights into functionally relevant protein domains, advancing our molecular understanding of protein functions, and potentially helping to improve drug design and applicability.

molecular biology↗