Concurrent profiling of multiscale 3D genome organization and gene expression in single mammalian cells
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ABSTRACT: The organization of mammalian genomes within the nucleus features a complex, multiscale three-dimensional (3D) architecture. The functional significance of these 3D genome features, however, remains largely elusive due to limited single-cell technologies that can concurrently profile genome organization and transcriptional activities. Here, we report GAGE-seq, a highly scalable, robust single-cell co-assay that simultaneously measures 3D genome structure and transcriptome within the same cell. Employing GAGE-seq on mouse brain cortex and human bone marrow CD34+ cells, we comprehensively characterized the intricate relationships between 3D genome and gene expression. We found that these multiscale 3D genome features collectively inform cell type-specific gene expressions, hence contributing to defining cell identity at the single-cell level. Integration of GAGE-seq data with spatial transcriptomic data revealed in situ variations of the 3D genome in mouse cortex. Moreover, our observations of lineage commitment in normal human hematopoiesis unveiled notable discordant changes between 3D genome organization and gene expression, underscoring a complex, temporal interplay at the single-cell level that is more nuanced than previously appreciated. Together, GAGE-seq provides a powerful, cost-effective approach for interrogating genome structure and gene expression relationships at the single-cell level across diverse biological contexts.
Project description:Persistent DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in neurons are an early pathological hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), with the potential to disrupt genome integrity. We used single-nucleus RNA-seq in human post-mortem prefrontal cortex samples and found that excitatory neurons in AD were enriched for somatic mosaic gene fusions. Gene fusions were particularly enriched in excitatory neurons with DNA damage repair and senescence gene signatures. In addition, somatic genome structural variations and gene fusions were enriched in neurons burdened with DSBs in the CK-p25 mouse model of neurodegeneration. Neurons enriched for DSBs also had elevated levels of cohesin along with progressive multiscale disruption of the 3D genome organization aligned with transcriptional changes in synaptic, neuronal development, and histone genes. Overall, this study demonstrates the disruption of genome stability and the 3D genome organization by DSBs in neurons as pathological steps in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
Project description:Persistent DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in neurons are an early pathological hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), with the potential to disrupt genome integrity. We used single-nucleus RNA-seq in human post-mortem prefrontal cortex samples and found that excitatory neurons in AD were enriched for somatic mosaic gene fusions. Gene fusions were particularly enriched in excitatory neurons with DNA damage repair and senescence gene signatures. In addition, somatic genome structural variations and gene fusions were enriched in neurons burdened with DSBs in the CK-p25 mouse model of neurodegeneration. Neurons enriched for DSBs also had elevated levels of cohesin along with progressive multiscale disruption of the 3D genome organization aligned with transcriptional changes in synaptic, neuronal development, and histone genes. Overall, this study demonstrates the disruption of genome stability and the 3D genome organization by DSBs in neurons as pathological steps in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
Project description:Persistent DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in neurons are an early pathological hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) with the potential to disrupt genome integrity. We show increased mosaic structural variations and gene fusions in neurons burdened with DSBs in the CK-p25 inducible mouse model of neurodegeneration. Next, we used full-transcript single-nucleus RNA-seq across 47 human post-mortem prefrontal cortex and find that excitatory neurons in AD are enriched for mosaic gene fusions. In addition, gene fusions are particularly enriched in excitatory neurons with senescence and DNA repair gene signatures. Neurons enriched for DSBs also have elevated levels of cohesin along with progressive multiscale disruption of the 3D genome organization aligned with transcriptional changes in synaptic and neuronal development genes. Overall, this study demonstrates the disruption of genome stability and the 3D genome organization by DSBs in neurons as pathological steps in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
Project description:Chromatin conformation capture assays, such as 3C and Hi-C, allow for studies of three-dimensional (3D) genome structures in bulk samples through proximity ligation of DNA. However, the difference between cells can only be observed by single-cell measurements that avoid ensemble averaging3, 4,5. To study 3D chromatin organization and dynamics before and after fertilization in flowering plants, we analyzed the 3D genomes of rice egg, sperm, and unicellular zygote as well as shoot cells. We show that chromatin architectures of rice egg and sperm are comparable to that of somatic cells and are reorganized after fertilization in unicellular zygote. The rice single cell 3D genomes display specific features of chromosome compartments and configuration of telomeres/centromeres compared to those shown in mammalian single cells. Active and silent chromatin domains gather to form multiple foci in the nuclear space. Notably, the 3D genomes of egg, unicellular zygote, and shoot cells contain a compact silent center (CSC), which is absent in sperm. CSC is dynamically reorganized after fertilization and is likely to be involved in gene regulation related to zygotic genome activation (ZGA). Our results reveal specific 3D genome features of plant gametes and unicellular zygote and provide a spatial chromatin basis for ZGA and gene expression in plant.
Project description:The three-dimensional architecture of the genome affects genomic functions. Multiple genome architectures at different length scales, including chromatin loops, domains, compartments, and regions associated with nuclear lamina and nucleoli, have been discovered. However, how these structures are arranged in the same cell and how they are correlated with each other in different cell types in mammalian tissue are largely unknown. Here, we developed Multiplexed Imaging of Nucleome Architectures that measures multiscale chromatin folding, copy numbers of numerous RNA species, and associations of numerous genomic regions with nuclear lamina, nucleoli and surface of chromosomes in the same, single cells. We applied this method in mouse fetal liver, and identified de novo cell-type-specific chromatin architectures associated with gene expression, as well as chromatin organization principles independent of cell type. Polymer simulation showed that both intra-chromosomal self-associating interactions and extra-chromosomal interactions are necessary to establish the observed organization. Our experiments and modeling provide a multiscale and multi-faceted picture of chromatin folding and nucleome architectures in mammalian tissue and illustrate physical principles for maintaining chromatin organization. Here we submit our bulk RNA-sequencing data on E14.5 mouse fetal liver, used in the study to validate image-based RNA profiling results.
Project description:Several general principles of global 3D genome organization have recently been established, including non-random positioning of chromosomes and genes in the cell nucleus, distinct chromatin compartments, and topologically associating domains (TADs). However, the extent and nature of cell-to-cell and cell-intrinsic variability in genome architecture are still poorly characterized. Here, we systematically probe heterogeneity in genome organization. High-throughput optical mapping of several hundred intra-chromosomal interactions in individual human fibroblasts demonstrates low association frequencies, which are determined by genomic distance, higher-order chromatin architecture, and chromatin environment. The structure of TADs is variable between individual cells, and inter-TAD associations are common. Furthermore, single-cell analysis reveals independent behavior of individual alleles in single nuclei. Our observations reveal extensive variability and heterogeneity in genome organization at the level of individual alleles and demonstrate the coexistence of a broad spectrum of genome configurations in a cell population.
Project description:The three-dimensional (3D) organization of chromosomes can influence transcription. However, the frequency and magnitude of these effects is still controversial. To determine how changes in chromosome positioning affect transcription we characterized nuclear organization and global gene expression after large-scale chromosomal rearrangements in budding yeast. We used computational modelling and single cell imaging to determine chromosome position and integrated these data with genome-wide transcriptional profiles from RNA sequencing. Chromosome displacement relative to the nuclear periphery has mild but widespread and significant effects on transcription. Our study suggests that basal transcriptional activity is sensitive to radial changes on chromosomal position, and provides support for the functional relevance of budding yeast chromosome-level 3D organization in gene expression.
Project description:Dynamic 3D chromatin conformation is a critical mechanism for gene regulation during development and disease. Despite this, profiling of 3D genome structure from complex tissues with cell-type specific resolution remains challenging. Recent efforts have demonstrated that cell-type specific epigenomic features can be resolved in complex tissues using single-cell assays. However, it remains unclear whether single-cell Chromatin Conformation Capture (3C) or Hi-C profiles can effectively identify cell types and reconstruct cell-type specific chromatin conformation maps. To address these challenges, we have developed single-nucleus methyl-3C sequencing (sn-m3C-seq) to capture chromatin organization and DNA methylation information and robustly separate heterogeneous cell types. Applying this method to >4,200 single human brain prefrontal cortex cells, we reconstruct cell-type specific chromatin conformation maps from 14 cortical cell types. These datasets reveal the genome-wide association between cell-type specific chromatin conformation and differential DNA methylation, suggesting pervasive interactions between epigenetic processes regulating gene expression.