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Interplay between DNA sequence and negative superhelicity drives R-loop structures.

ABSTRACT: R-loops are abundant three-stranded nucleic-acid structures that form in cis during transcription. Experimental evidence suggests that R-loop formation is affected by DNA sequence and topology. However, the exact manner by which these factors interact to determine R-loop susceptibility is unclear. To investigate this, we developed a statistical mechanical equilibrium model of R-loop formation in superhelical DNA. In this model, the energy involved in forming an R-loop includes four terms-junctional and base-pairing energies and energies associated with superhelicity and with the torsional winding of the displaced DNA single strand around the RNA:DNA hybrid. This model shows that the significant energy barrier imposed by the formation of junctions can be overcome in two ways. First, base-pairing energy can favor RNA:DNA over DNA:DNA duplexes in favorable sequences. Second, R-loops, by absorbing negative superhelicity, partially or fully relax the rest of the DNA domain, thereby returning it to a lower energy state. In vitro transcription assays confirmed that R-loops cause plasmid relaxation and that negative superhelicity is required for R-loops to form, even in a favorable region. Single-molecule R-loop footprinting following in vitro transcription showed a strong agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental mapping of stable R-loop positions and further revealed the impact of DNA topology on the R-loop distribution landscape. Our results clarify the interplay between base sequence and DNA superhelicity in controlling R-loop stability. They also reveal R-loops as powerful and reversible topology sinks that cells may use to nonenzymatically relieve superhelical stress during transcription.

SUBMITTER: Stolz R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6442632 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Interplay between DNA sequence and negative superhelicity drives R-loop structures.

Stolz Robert R Sulthana Shaheen S Hartono Stella R SR Malig Maika M Benham Craig J CJ Chedin Frederic F

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20190308 13

R-loops are abundant three-stranded nucleic-acid structures that form <i>in cis</i> during transcription. Experimental evidence suggests that R-loop formation is affected by DNA sequence and topology. However, the exact manner by which these factors interact to determine R-loop susceptibility is unclear. To investigate this, we developed a statistical mechanical equilibrium model of R-loop formation in superhelical DNA. In this model, the energy involved in forming an R-loop includes four terms- ...[more]

PMID: 30850542

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Project description:The association between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphisms or mutations and the prognoses of cancer have been investigated previously, but the results have been ambiguous. In the present study, the associations between sequence variations in the mtDNA D-loop region and the outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were analysed. A total of 140 patients with HCC (123 males and 17 females), who were hospitalised to undergo radical resection, were studied. Polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing were performed to detect the sequence variations in the mtDNA D-loop region. Multivariate and univariate analyses were conducted to determine important factors in the prognosis of HCC. A total of 150 point sequence variations were observed in the 140 cases (13 point mutations, 8 insertions, 20 deletions and 116 polymorphisms). The variation rate was 13.4% (150/1, 122). mtDNA nucleotide 150 (C/T) was an independent factor in the logistic regression for early/late recurrence of HCC. Patients with 150T appeared to have later recurrences. In a Cox proportional hazards regression model, hepatitis B virus DNA, Child-Pugh class, differentiation degree, tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, nucleotide 16263 (T/C) and nucleotide 315 (N/insertion C) were independent factors for tumour-free survival time. Patients with the 16263T allele had a greater tumour-free survival time than patients with the 16263C allele. Similarly, patients with 315 insertion C had a superior tumour-free survival time when compared with patients with 315 N (normal). In the Cox proportional hazards regression model, recurrence type (early/late), Child-Pugh class, TNM stage and adjuvant treatment after tumour recurrence (none or one/more than one treatment) were independent factors for overall survival. None of the mtDNA variations served as independent factors. Patients with late recurrence, Child-Pugh class A, and low TNM stages and/or those who received more than one adjuvant treatment following tumour recurrence had favourable outcomes. mtDNA D-loop polymorphisms were associated with early recurrence and tumour-free survival time, but not with overall survival. mtDNA D-loop mutations in HCC were infrequent and lacked prognostic utility. The detection of mtDNA D-loop polymorphisms may assist in identifying risk factors for HCC prognosis, particularly for the short-term outcome, thereby aiding the construction of an appropriate therapeutic strategy.

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Interplay between DNA sequence and negative superhelicity drives R-loop structures.

Publications

Interplay between DNA sequence and negative superhelicity drives R-loop structures.

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