On-target and Off-target Activities of RAG Are Restricted by Topological Chromatin Domains
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
SUBMITTER: Jiazhi Hu
PROVIDER: E-GEOD-73007 | biostudies-arrayexpress |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress
Similar Datasets
Project description:RAG initiates V(D)J recombination in developing lymphocytes by generating "on-target" DNA double-stranded breaks at bona fide recombination signal sequence (RSS) pairs. We now employ RAG-generated DNA breaks in endogenous or ectopically-inserted RSS pairs as bait to identify huge numbers of RAG "off-target" sites. These off-target DNA breaks occur across convergent CTCF-binding element (CBE)-flanked loop domains containing the bait RSS pairs. Such off-target cleavage occurs at the simple CAC motif that defines the RSS cleavage-site and shows orientation-dependence best explained by a two-dimensional tracking mechanism. Deletion of the CBE-based IGCR1 IgH regulatory element disrupts antibody IgH recombination domains and, correspondingly, alters distributions of RAG on- and off-targets across the IgH locus. RAG off-targets frequently involved in chromosomal translocations occur in convergent RSS pairs at enhancer regions within a loop. Our findings reveal how RAG is developmentally focused and re-focused in lymphocytes and implicate mechanisms by which chromatin domains harness biological processes within them.
2015-09-15 | GSE73007 | GEO
Project description:Chromatin looping mediated by the CCCTC binding factor CTCF regulates V(D)J recombination at antigen receptor loci. CTCF-mediated looping can influence recombination signal sequence accessibility by regulating enhancer activation of germline promoters. CTCF-mediated looping has also been shown to limit directional tracking of the RAG recombinase along chromatin, and to regulate through-space interactions between recombination signal sequences, independent of the RAG recombinase. However, in all prior instances in which CTCF-mediated looping was shown to influence V(D)J recombination, it was not possible to fully resolve the relative contributions to the V(D)J recombination phenotype of changes in accessibility, RAG-tracking, and RAG-independent long-distance interactions. Here, to assess mechanisms by which CTCF-mediated looping can impact V(D)J recombination, we introduced an ectopic CTCF binding element (CBE) immediately downstream of Eδ in the murine Tcra-Tcrd locus. The ectopic CBE impaired inversional rearrangement of Trdv5 in the absence of measurable effects on Trdv5 transcription and chromatin accessibility. Moreover, although the ectopic CBE limited directional RAG tracking from the Tcrd recombination center, such tracking cannot account for Trdv5-to-Trdd2 inversional rearrangement. Rather, the defect in Trdv5 rearrangement could only be attributed to a reconfigured chromatin loop organization that limited RAG-independent through-space interactions between the Trdv5 and Trdd2 RSSs. We conclude that CTCF can regulate V(D)J recombination by segregating RSSs into distinct loop domains and inhibiting RSS synapsis, independent of any effects on transcription, RSS accessibility and RAG tracking. RAG-initiatd Tcrd D segment rearrangements in developing thymocytes were generated by deep sequencing using illumine Miseq
2016-09-02 | E-GEOD-81351 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:In developing B lymphocytes, V(D)J recombination assembles IgH and Igk variable region exons from hundreds of gene segments clustered across mega-base Igh and Igk loci. V, D, and J segments are flanked by conserved recombination signal sequences (RSSs) that target RAG endonuclease. RAG orchestrates Igh V(D)J recombination upon capturing a JH-RSS within the JH-RSS-based recombination center (RC). JH-RSS orientation programs RAG to scan upstream D- and VH-containing chromatin linearly presented by cohesin-mediated loop extrusion. During Igh scanning, RAG robustly utilizes only D- or VH-RSSs in convergent ("deletional") orientation with JH-RSSs. However, for Vk-to-Jk joining, RAG utilizes Vk-RSSs from deletional- and inversional-oriented clusters, inconsistent with linear scanning. Here, we elucidate the Vk-to-Jk joining mechanism. Igk undergoes robust primary and secondary rearrangements, which confounds scanning assays. Thus, we engineered cells to undergo only primary Vk-to-Jk rearrangements and found that RAG-scanning from the primary Jk-RC terminates just 8kb upstream within the CTCF-Site-based Sis element. While Sis and the Jk-RC barely interacted with the Vk locus, the CTCF-site-based Cer element, 4kb upstream of Sis, interacted with various loop-extrusion impediments across the locus. Like VH-locus inversion, DJH inversion abrogated VH-to-DJH joining; yet Vk-locus or Jk inversion allowed robust Vk-to-Jk joining. Together, these experiments implicated loop extrusion in bringing Vks near Cer for short-range diffusion-mediated capture by RC-based RAG. To elucidate key mechanistic elements for diffusional V(D)J recombination in Igk versus Igh, we assayed Vk-to-JH and D-to-Jk rearrangements in hybrid Igh-Igk loci generated by targeted chromosomal translocations, and pinpointed remarkably strong Vk and Jk RSSs. Indeed, RSS replacements in hybrid or normal Igk and Igh loci confirmed ability of Igk versus Igh RSSs to promote robust diffusional joining. We propose that Igk evolved strong RSSs to mediate diffusional Vk-to-Jk joining; while Igh evolved weaker RSSs requisite for modulating VH joining by RAG scanning impediments.
2024-04-08 | GSE254039 | GEO
Project description:In developing B lymphocytes, V(D)J recombination assembles IgH and Igk variable region exons from hundreds of gene segments clustered across mega-base Igh and Igk loci. V, D, and J segments are flanked by conserved recombination signal sequences (RSSs) that target RAG endonuclease. RAG orchestrates Igh V(D)J recombination upon capturing a JH-RSS within the JH-RSS-based recombination center (RC). JH-RSS orientation programs RAG to scan upstream D- and VH-containing chromatin linearly presented by cohesin-mediated loop extrusion. During Igh scanning, RAG robustly utilizes only D- or VH-RSSs in convergent ("deletional") orientation with JH-RSSs. However, for Vk-to-Jk joining, RAG utilizes Vk-RSSs from deletional- and inversional-oriented clusters, inconsistent with linear scanning. Here, we elucidate the Vk-to-Jk joining mechanism. Igk undergoes robust primary and secondary rearrangements, which confounds scanning assays. Thus, we engineered cells to undergo only primary Vk-to-Jk rearrangements and found that RAG-scanning from the primary Jk-RC terminates just 8kb upstream within the CTCF-Site-based Sis element. While Sis and the Jk-RC barely interacted with the Vk locus, the CTCF-site-based Cer element, 4kb upstream of Sis, interacted with various loop-extrusion impediments across the locus. Like VH-locus inversion, DJH inversion abrogated VH-to-DJH joining; yet Vk-locus or Jk inversion allowed robust Vk-to-Jk joining. Together, these experiments implicated loop extrusion in bringing Vks near Cer for short-range diffusion-mediated capture by RC-based RAG. To elucidate key mechanistic elements for diffusional V(D)J recombination in Igk versus Igh, we assayed Vk-to-JH and D-to-Jk rearrangements in hybrid Igh-Igk loci generated by targeted chromosomal translocations, and pinpointed remarkably strong Vk and Jk RSSs. Indeed, RSS replacements in hybrid or normal Igk and Igh loci confirmed ability of Igk versus Igh RSSs to promote robust diffusional joining. We propose that Igk evolved strong RSSs to mediate diffusional Vk-to-Jk joining; while Igh evolved weaker RSSs requisite for modulating VH joining by RAG scanning impediments.
2024-04-08 | GSE263123 | GEO
Project description:During B cell development, RAG endonuclease cleaves immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) V, D, and J gene segments and orchestrates their fusion as deletional events that assemble a V(D)J exon in the same transcriptional orientation as adjacent Cμ constant region exons. In mice, six additional sets of constant region exons (CHs) lie 100-200kb downstream in the same transcriptional orientation as V(D)J and Cμ exons. Long repetitive switch (S) regions precede Cμ and downstream CHs. In mature B cells, class switch recombination (CSR) generates different antibody classes by replacing Cμ with a downstream CH. Activation Induced Cytidine Deaminase (AID) initiates CSR by promoting deamination lesions within Sμ and a downstream acceptor S region; these lesions are converted into DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) by general DNA repair factors. Productive CSR must occur in a deletional orientation by joining the upstream end of an Sμ DSB to the downstream end of an acceptor S region DSB. However, the relative frequency of deletional to inversional CSR junctions had not been measured. Thus, whether orientation-specific joining is a programmed mechanistic feature of CSR as it is for V(D)J recombination and, if so, how this is achieved was unknown. To address this question, we adapted high throughput genome wide translocation sequencing (HTGTS) into a highly sensitive DSB end-joining assay and applied it to endogenous AID-initiated S region DSBs. We find that CSR indeed is programmed to occur in a productive deletional orientation and does so via an unprecedented mechanism that involves in cis IgH organizational features in combination with frequent S region DSBs initiated by AID. We further implicate ATM-dependent DSB response (DSBR) factors in enforcing this mechanism and provide a solution to the enigma of why CSR is so reliant on the 53BP1 DSBR factor. We performed high-throughput genome-wide translocation sequencing (HTGTS) with different B cell genotypes that induces either I-SceI or AID-initiated DSBs as bait to study their joining pattern to AID-initiated S region breaks Please note that the 'ΔSγ1_2xI/ΔSµ_2xI-3' raw data files were analyzed twice with different reference assemblies to address specific points, and associated with both 'ΔSγ1_2xI_ΔSµ_2xI-3'.txt and Sγ1_2xI_ΔSµ_2xI-3'_trans-Sm.txt processed data files. As for the reference genome mm9_129_IgHC, it is a custom built generated based on mm9 (Bl6 line based mouse genome) and the partial genome sequence of another mouse line 129sv. It is not currently available in any public database however can be easily obtained either from the authors or self-built using information provided in the associated manuscript.
2015-08-26 | E-GEOD-71005 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:During V(D)J recombination RAG proteins introduce DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) adjacent to conserved recombination signal sequences (RSS) that contain either 12- or 23-nucleotide spacer regions. Coordinated cleavage following the “12/23” rule predicts that DSBs at variable (V) gene segments should not exceed the level of breakage at joining (J) segments, thereby ensuring that V regions do not engage in undesirable recombination events with one another. Here we report abundant RAG dependent DSBs at a multitude of V gene segments within the Ig locus independent of V-J rearrangement. We discover that a large fraction of V gene segments are flanked not only by a bone-fide 12 spacer, but also an overlapping, 23 spacer flipped RSS. These compatible pairs of RSS mediate recombination and deletion inside the V cluster even in the complete absence of J gene segments, and support a novel recombination center (RC) independent of the conventional J-centered RC. We propose a model that explains V gene segment usage by taking into account not only the probability of V-to-J rearrangement but also the surprisingly frequent, evolutionarily conserved intra-V cluster recombination events. These findings shed light on the diverse molecular strategies that shape the primary antigen receptor repertoires.
2020-01-01 | GSE140672 | GEO
Project description:During V(D)J recombination RAG proteins introduce DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) adjacent to conserved recombination signal sequences (RSS) that contain either 12- or 23-nucleotide spacer regions. Coordinated cleavage following the “12/23” rule predicts that DSBs at variable (V) gene segments should not exceed the level of breakage at joining (J) segments, thereby ensuring that V regions do not engage in undesirable recombination events with one another. Here we report abundant RAG dependent DSBs at a multitude of V gene segments within the Ig locus independent of V-J rearrangement. We discover that a large fraction of V gene segments are flanked not only by a bone-fide 12 spacer, but also an overlapping, 23 spacer flipped RSS. These compatible pairs of RSS mediate recombination and deletion inside the V cluster even in the complete absence of J gene segments, and support a novel recombination center (RC) independent of the conventional J-centered RC. We propose a model that explains V gene segment usage by taking into account not only the probability of V-to-J rearrangement but also the surprisingly frequent, evolutionarily conserved intra-V cluster recombination events. These findings shed light on the diverse molecular strategies that shape the primary antigen receptor repertoires.
2020-01-01 | GSE140655 | GEO
Project description:During V(D)J recombination RAG proteins introduce DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) adjacent to conserved recombination signal sequences (RSS) that contain either 12- or 23-nucleotide spacer regions. Coordinated cleavage following the “12/23” rule predicts that DSBs at variable (V) gene segments should not exceed the level of breakage at joining (J) segments, thereby ensuring that V regions do not engage in undesirable recombination events with one another. Here we report abundant RAG dependent DSBs at a multitude of V gene segments within the Ig locus independent of V-J rearrangement. We discover that a large fraction of V gene segments are flanked not only by a bone-fide 12 spacer, but also an overlapping, 23 spacer flipped RSS. These compatible pairs of RSS mediate recombination and deletion inside the V cluster even in the complete absence of J gene segments, and support a novel recombination center (RC) independent of the conventional J-centered RC. We propose a model that explains V gene segment usage by taking into account not only the probability of V-to-J rearrangement but also the surprisingly frequent, evolutionarily conserved intra-V cluster recombination events. These findings shed light on the diverse molecular strategies that shape the primary antigen receptor repertoires.
2020-01-01 | GSE140635 | GEO
Project description:The RAG1 endonuclease, together with its cofactor RAG2, is essential for V(D)J recombination but is a potent threat to genome stability. The sources of RAG1 mistargeting and the mechanisms that have evolved to suppress it are poorly understood. Here, we report the surprising finding that RAG1 binds to thousands of sites in the genome of developing lymphocytes, primarily at active promoters and enhancers. The genome has responded by reducing the abundance of "cryptic" recombination signals near sites of RAG1 binding. This depletion operates specifically on the RSS heptamer, with nonamers enriched at RAG1 binding sites. Reversing this RAG-driven depletion of cleavage sites by insertion of strong recombination signals creates an ectopic hub of RAG-mediated V(D)J recombination and chromosomal translocations. Our findings delineate rules governing RAG binding in the genome, identify areas at risk of RAG-mediated damage, and highlight the evolutionary struggle to accommodate programmed DNA damage in developing lymphocytes. MNase-seq profiles of mouse thymocytes
2015-08-06 | E-GEOD-69474 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:The RAG1 endonuclease, together with its cofactor RAG2, is essential for V(D)J recombination but is a potent threat to genome stability. The sources of RAG1 mistargeting and the mechanisms that have evolved to suppress it are poorly understood. Here, we report the surprising finding that RAG1 binds to thousands of sites in the genome of developing lymphocytes, primarily at active promoters and enhancers. The genome has responded by reducing the abundance of "cryptic" recombination signals near sites of RAG1 binding. This depletion operates specifically on the RSS heptamer, with nonamers enriched at RAG1 binding sites. Reversing this RAG-driven depletion of cleavage sites by insertion of strong recombination signals creates an ectopic hub of RAG-mediated V(D)J recombination and chromosomal translocations. Our findings delineate rules governing RAG binding in the genome, identify areas at risk of RAG-mediated damage, and highlight the evolutionary struggle to accommodate programmed DNA damage in developing lymphocytes. RNA-seq profiles of mouse thymocytes
2015-08-06 | E-GEOD-69473 | biostudies-arrayexpress