Dataset Information

Divergence of mammalian higher order chromatin structure is associated with developmental loci.

ABSTRACT: Several recent studies have examined different aspects of mammalian higher order chromatin structure - replication timing, lamina association and Hi-C inter-locus interactions - and have suggested that most of these features of genome organisation are conserved over evolution. However, the extent of evolutionary divergence in higher order structure has not been rigorously measured across the mammalian genome, and until now little has been known about the characteristics of any divergent loci present. Here, we generate a dataset combining multiple measurements of chromatin structure and organisation over many embryonic cell types for both human and mouse that, for the first time, allows a comprehensive assessment of the extent of structural divergence between mammalian genomes. Comparison of orthologous regions confirms that all measurable facets of higher order structure are conserved between human and mouse, across the vast majority of the detectably orthologous genome. This broad similarity is observed in spite of many loci possessing cell type specific structures. However, we also identify hundreds of regions (from 100 Kb to 2.7 Mb in size) showing consistent evidence of divergence between these species, constituting at least 10% of the orthologous mammalian genome and encompassing many hundreds of human and mouse genes. These regions show unusual shifts in human GC content, are unevenly distributed across both genomes, and are enriched in human subtelomeric regions. Divergent regions are also relatively enriched for genes showing divergent expression patterns between human and mouse ES cells, implying these regions cause divergent regulation. Particular divergent loci are strikingly enriched in genes implicated in vertebrate development, suggesting important roles for structural divergence in the evolution of mammalian developmental programmes. These data suggest that, though relatively rare in the mammalian genome, divergence in higher order chromatin structure has played important roles during evolution.

SUBMITTER: Chambers EV

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3617018 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Divergence of mammalian higher order chromatin structure is associated with developmental loci.

Chambers Emily V EV Bickmore Wendy A WA Semple Colin A CA

PLoS computational biology 20130404 4

Several recent studies have examined different aspects of mammalian higher order chromatin structure - replication timing, lamina association and Hi-C inter-locus interactions - and have suggested that most of these features of genome organisation are conserved over evolution. However, the extent of evolutionary divergence in higher order structure has not been rigorously measured across the mammalian genome, and until now little has been known about the characteristics of any divergent loci pre ...[more]

PMID: 23592965

Similar Datasets

Project description:It is increasingly being recognized that physical interactions between distant chromosomal loci influence the expressivity of the genome. Thus, multiple enhancers may converge on a single gene promoter 1,2 and a single enhancer can stochastically loop to multiple promoters 3. Regulatory elements from neighboring domains or from other chromosomes may interact to generate chromatin structures poised for transcription4-8 or repression 9-11. However, a broader perspective on the formation and function of such networks remains largely unexplored. Using the high-resolution 4C (Circular Chromosome Conformation Capture) analysis, we identify here a genome-wide physical network between genomically imprinted domains impinging H19 imprinting control region (ICR). Sequences interacting with the H19 ICR constitutively map at or within most of known imprinted domains both in mouse embryonic stem cells and in vitro-derived embryoid bodies, despite distinct differences in chromatin environments. Moreover, all-to-all 3D DNA FISH analyses revealed that imprinted domains from 7 different chromosomes co-localize with each other in pair-wise patterns, highlighting the dynamic nature of these interactions. The observed interaction network is dependent on CTCF binding sites within the maternally inherited H19 ICR allele and delays reprogramming of epigenetic features at imprinted domains during male germline development. As other imprinted regions can interact with each other in an H19 ICR-dependent manner, the H19 ICR emerges as an organizer of chromosomal networks by specifically recognizing and reconfiguring imprinted domains. We propose that an ancient key regulatory region, such as the H19 ICR, gradually impacted epigenetic modifications via long-range interactions in the germline to facilitate the recruitment of imprinted genes and their formation in clusters during mammalian radiation. Furthermore, the perspective of epigenetic lesions de-stabilizing such chromosomal networks may advance our understanding of how quantitative traits influence human diseases, such as cancer.

Dataset Information

Divergence of mammalian higher order chromatin structure is associated with developmental loci.

Publications

Divergence of mammalian higher order chromatin structure is associated with developmental loci.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets