Publicaties

Silent voltage-gated K+ (Kv) subunits interact with Kv2 subunits and primarily modulate the voltage dependence of inactivation of these heterotetrameric channels. Both Kv2 and silent Kv subunits are expressed in the mammalian nervous system, but little is known about their expression and function in sensory neurons. This study reports the presence of Kv2.1, Kv2.2, and silent subunit Kv6.1, Kv8.1, Kv9.1, Kv9.2, and Kv9.3 mRNA in mouse dorsal root ...

In this thesis, I aimed to define the dynamics and the mechanisms that orchestrate the reversal of stable gene silencing during reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). I used X chromosome reactivation as a paradigm to better understand the reversal of silent chromatin. In addition, my goal was also to define the gene regulatory logic of mammalian pre- implantation development and reprogramming, as well as to ...

The diversity of the voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channel subfamily Kv2 is increased by interactions with auxiliary beta-subunits and by assembly with members of the modulatory so-called silent Kv subfamilies (Kv5-Kv6 and Kv8-Kv9). However, it has not yet been investigated whether these two types of modulating subunits can associate within and modify a single channel complex simultaneously. Here, we demonstrate that the transmembrane beta-subunit KCNE5 ...

Asparaginase (ASNase) is an important anti-leukaemic drug in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). A substantial proportion of patients develop hypersensitivity reactions with anti-ASNase neutralising antibodies, resulting in allergic reactions or silent inactivation (SI), and characterised by inactivation and rapid clearance of ASNase. We report results of a prospective, real-time ...

Dosage compensation between XX female and XY male cells is achieved by a process known as X chromosome inactivation (XCI) in mammals. XCI is initiated early during development in female cells and is subsequently stably maintained in most somatic cells. Despite its stability, the robust transcriptional silencing of XCI is reversible, in the embryo and also in a number of reprogramming settings. Although XCI has been intensively studied, the ...

Scientific summaryThe main focus of the human genome lab is the study of X-chromosome Linked Intellectual Disability (XLID). One aspect is to screen XLID-patients for copy-number variations (CNVs) using an in house-developed X-BAC-array, that covers the entire X-chromosome with a resolution of 80 kb, and more recently, an X-oligo-array with a much higher resolution. In addition, our research focuses on the functional characterization of the ...

Neuroplasticity allows the brain to organize and reorganize itself structurally and functionally based on sensory information, a well-studied phenomenon in the mammalian visual cortex. Previously, our research lab observed after a period of seven weeks of unilateral vision loss through monocular enucleation (7wME) in adult mice, that the contralateral visual cortex almost completely reactivated, by measuring the expression of the immediate early ...

BACKGROUND: The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatases or dual specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) are a family of proteins that catalyse the inactivation of MAPK in eukaryotic cells. Little is known of the expression, regulation or function of the DUSPs in human neoplasia. METHODS: We used RT-PCR and quantitative PCR (qPCR) to examine the expression of DUSP16 mRNA. The methylation in the DUSP16 CpG island was analysed using ...