Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is one of the most promising gene therapy vectors and is widely used as a gene delivery vehicle for basic research. As AAV continues to become the vector of choice, it is increasingly important for new researchers to have access to a simplified production and purification protocol for laboratory grade recombinant AAV. Here we report a detailed protocol for serotype independent production of AAV using a helper-free HEK293 cell system followed by iodixanol gradient purification, a method described earlier.1 While the core principals of this mammalian AAV production system are unchanged, there have been significant advancements in the production and purification procedure that serve to boost yield, maximize efficiency, and increase the purity of AAV preps. Using this protocol, we are able to constantly obtain high quantities of laboratory grade AAV particles (>5 × 1012 vg) in a week’s time, largely independent of serotype.

Abstract The metabolic hormone adiponectin is secreted into the circulation by adipocytes and mediates key biological functions, including insulin sensitivity, adipocyte development, and fatty acid oxidation. Adiponectin is also abundant in saliva, where its functions are poorly understood. Here we report that murine taste receptor cells (TRCs) express specific adiponectin receptors and may be a target for salivary adiponectin. This is supported by the presence of all three known adiponectin receptors in transcriptomic data obtained by RNA-seq analysis of purified circumvallate (CV) taste buds. As well, immunohistochemical analysis of murine CV papillae showed that two adiponectin receptors, ADIPOR1 and T-cadherin, are localized to subsets of TRCs. Immunofluorescence for T-cadherin was primarily co-localized with the Type 2 TRC marker phospholipase C β2, suggesting that adiponectin signaling could impact sweet, bitter, or umami taste signaling. However, adiponectin null mice showed no differences in behavioral lick responsiveness compared with wild-type controls in brief-access lick testing. AAV-mediated overexpression of adiponectin in the salivary glands of adiponectin null mice did result in a small but significant increase in behavioral lick responsiveness to the fat emulsion Intralipid. Together, these results suggest that salivary adiponectin can affect TRC function, although its impact on taste responsiveness and peripheral taste coding remains unclear.

9The metabolic hormone adiponectin is secreted into the circulation by adipocytes, and 1 0mediates key biological functions including insulin sensitivity, adipocyte development, and fatty 1 1 acid oxidation. Adiponectin is also abundant in saliva, where its functions are poorly understood.

No abstract

We previously showed that elevated TYMS exhibits oncogenic properties and promotes tumorigenesis after a long latency, suggesting cooperation with sequential somatic mutations. Here we report the cooperation of ectopic expression of human TYMS with loss of Ink4a/Arf, one of the most commonly mutated somatic events in human cancer. Using an hTS/Ink4a/Arf−/− genetically engineered mouse model we showed that deregulated TYMS expression in Ink4a/Arf null background accelerates tumorigenesis and metastasis. In addition, tumors from TYMS-expressing mice were associated with a phenotype of genomic instability including enhanced double strand DNA damage, aneuploidy and loss of G1/S checkpoint. Downregulation of TYMS in vitro decreased cell proliferation and sensitized tumor cells to antimetabolite chemotherapy. In addition, depletion of TYMS in vivo by TYMS shRNA reduced tumor incidence, delayed tumor progression and prolonged survival in hTS/Ink4a/Arf−/− mice. Our data shows that activation of TYMS in Ink4a/Arf null background enhances uncontrolled cell proliferation and tumor growth, supporting the development of new agents and strategies targeting TYMS to delay tumorigenesis and prolong survival.