Sequential centromere shift via de novo formation in maize
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: The ability of centromeres to alternate between active and inactive states indicates significant epigenetic elements controlling centromere assembly and centromere function. In maize (Zea mays), misdivision of the B chromosome centromere on a translocation with the short arm of chromosome 9 (TB-9Sb) can produce many variants with varying centromere sizes and centromeric DNA sequences. In derivatives of TB-9Sb, we found a de novo centromere on chromosome telo-3-3, which has no canonical centromeric repeat sequences. This centromere is derived from a 288-kb region on the short arm of chromosome 9, and is 19 megabases (Mb) removed from the translocation breakpoint of chromosome 9 in TB-9Sb. This centromere is much smaller than normal ones but can be maintained through meiosis. The functional B centromere in progenitor telo2-2 is deleted from telo3-3 but some B-repeat sequences remain. The de novo centromere of telo3-3 becomes inactive in three further derivatives with new centromeres being formed elsewhere on the chromosomes. One such de novo centromere contains only 200-kb CENH3 binding domain. This 200-kb centromere is located 3 Mb removed from the translocation breakpoint in a new location. The deleted B centromere in telo3-3 is activated in two derivatives. Our results suggest that de novo centromere formation is more common than previously thought and can persist on chromosomal fragments without a canonical centromere providing implications for karyotype evolution.
Project description:The ability of centromeres to alternate between active and inactive states indicates significant epigenetic elements controlling centromere assembly and centromere function. In maize (Zea mays), misdivision of the B chromosome centromere on a translocation with the short arm of chromosome 9 (TB-9Sb) can produce many variants with varying centromere sizes and centromeric DNA sequences. In derivatives of TB-9Sb, we found a de novo centromere on chromosome telo-3-3, which has no canonical centromeric repeat sequences. This centromere is derived from a 288-kb region on the short arm of chromosome 9, and is 19 megabases (Mb) removed from the translocation breakpoint of chromosome 9 in TB-9Sb. This centromere is much smaller than normal ones but can be maintained through meiosis. The functional B centromere in progenitor telo2-2 is deleted from telo3-3 but some B-repeat sequences remain. The de novo centromere of telo3-3 becomes inactive in three further derivatives with new centromeres being formed elsewhere on the chromosomes. One such de novo centromere contains only 200-kb CENH3 binding domain. This 200-kb centromere is located 3 Mb removed from the translocation breakpoint in a new location. The deleted B centromere in telo3-3 is activated in two derivatives. Our results suggest that de novo centromere formation is more common than previously thought and can persist on chromosomal fragments without a canonical centromere providing implications for karyotype evolution. ChIP-seq was carried out with anti-CENH3 antibodies using material from young leaves with control, telo3-3 and its derivate.
Project description:In maize (Zea mays), irradiation can produce many variants with varying centromeric DNA sequences. We found de novo centromeres in F3-152 and F3-600, which has no canonical centromeric repeat sequences. This centromere is derived from a 1520-kb and 188-kb region on the arm of chromosome 10 and 3. Our results suggest that de novo centromere formation is more common than previously thought and can persist on chromosomal fragments without a canonical centromere providing implications for karyotype evolution.
Project description:Centromeres typically contain repeat sequences, but centromere function does not necessarily depend on these sequences. In aneuploid wheat (Triticum aestivum) and wheat distant hybridization offspring, we found functional centromeres with dramatic changes to centromeric retrotransposon of wheat (CRW) sequences. CRW sequences were greatly reduced in the ditelosomic lines 1BS, 5DS, 5DL, and a wheat-Thinopyrum elongatum addition line. CRWs were completely lost in the ditelosomic line 4DS, but a 994 kb ectopic genomic DNA sequence was involved in de novo centromere formation on the 4DS chromosome. In addition, two ectopic sequences were incorporated in a de novo centromere in a wheat-Th. intermedium addition line. Centromeric sequences were also expanded to the chromosome arm in wide hybridizations. Stable alien chromosomes with two and three regions containing centromeric sequences were found in wheat-Th. elongatum hybrid derivatives, but only one is functional. In wheat-rye (Secale cereale) hybrids, rye centromere specific sequences spread to the chromosome arm and may cause centromere expansion. Thus, distant wheat hybridizations cause frequent and significant changes to the centromere via centromere misdivision, which may affect retention or loss of alien chromosomes in hybrids. ChIP-seq was carried out with anti-CENH3 antibody using material 4DS and control (Chinese Spring, CS as short).
Project description:De novo centromeres originate occasionally from non-centromeric regions of chromosomes, providing an excellent model system to study centromeric chromatin. The maize mini-chromosome Derivative 3-3 contains a de novo centromere, which was derived from a euchromatic site on the short arm of chromosome 9 that lacks traditional centromeric repeat sequences. Our previous study found that the CENH3 binding domain of this de novo centromere is only 288 kb with a high-density gene distribution with low-density of transposons. Here we applied next generation sequencing technology to analyze gene transcription, DNA methylation for this region. Our RNA-seq data revealed that active chromatin is not a barrier for de novo centromere formation. Bisulfite-ChIP-seq results indicate a slightly increased DNA methylation level after de novo centromere formation, reaching the level of a native centromere. These results provide insight into the mechanism of de novo centromere formation and subsequent consequences.
Project description:Centromeres typically contain repeat sequences, but centromere function does not necessarily depend on these sequences. In aneuploid wheat (Triticum aestivum) and wheat distant hybridization offspring, we found functional centromeres with dramatic changes to centromeric retrotransposon of wheat (CRW) sequences. CRW sequences were greatly reduced in the ditelosomic lines 1BS, 5DS, 5DL, and a wheat-Thinopyrum elongatum addition line. CRWs were completely lost in the ditelosomic line 4DS, but a 994 kb ectopic genomic DNA sequence was involved in de novo centromere formation on the 4DS chromosome. In addition, two ectopic sequences were incorporated in a de novo centromere in a wheat-Th. intermedium addition line. Centromeric sequences were also expanded to the chromosome arm in wide hybridizations. Stable alien chromosomes with two and three regions containing centromeric sequences were found in wheat-Th. elongatum hybrid derivatives, but only one is functional. In wheat-rye (Secale cereale) hybrids, rye centromere specific sequences spread to the chromosome arm and may cause centromere expansion. Thus, distant wheat hybridizations cause frequent and significant changes to the centromere via centromere misdivision, which may affect retention or loss of alien chromosomes in hybrids.
Project description:De novo centromeres originate occasionally from non-centromeric regions of chromosomes, providing an excellent model system to study centromeric chromatin. The maize mini-chromosome Derivative 3-3 contains a de novo centromere, which was derived from a euchromatic site on the short arm of chromosome 9 that lacks traditional centromeric repeat sequences. Our previous study found that the CENH3 binding domain of this de novo centromere is only 288 kb with a high-density gene distribution with low-density of transposons. Here we applied next generation sequencing technology to analyze gene transcription, DNA methylation for this region. Our RNA-seq data revealed that active chromatin is not a barrier for de novo centromere formation. Bisulfite-ChIP-seq results indicate a slightly increased DNA methylation level after de novo centromere formation, reaching the level of a native centromere. These results provide insight into the mechanism of de novo centromere formation and subsequent consequences. RNA-seq was carried out using material from seedling and young leaves between control and Derivative 3-3. Bisulfite-ChIP-seq was carried out with anti-CENH3 antibodies using material from young leaves in Derivative 3-3.
Project description:De novo centromeres originate occasionally from non-centromeric regions of chromosomes, providing an excellent model system to study centromeric chromatin. The maize mini-chromosome Dp3a contains a de novo centromere, which was derived from a euchromatic site on the long arm of chromosome 3 that lacks traditional centromeric repeat sequences. Our previous study found that the CENH3 binding domain of this de novo centromere is only 350 kb with a high-density gene distribution with low-density of transposons. Here we analyzed the kinetochore complex assembled on the de novo centromere, which revealed that it resembles the native centromeres. Meiotic analyses showed that the Dp3a mini-chromosome formed bi-orientation during meiosis I and could stably transmit through meiosis. We applied next generation sequencing technology to analyze gene transcription, DNA methylation and histone modifications for this region. Our RNA-seq data revealed that active chromatin is not a barrier for de novo centromere formation. The gene expression level within the Dp3a breakpoints of native chromosome 3 indicated a gene dosage effect due to the additional copy of Dp3a mini-chromosome region in chromosome 3. Bisulfite-ChIP-seq results indicate a slightly increased DNA methylation level after de novo centromere formation, reaching the level of a native centromere. No strand-specific bias of DNA methylation was found at maize native and Dp3a de novo centromeres. H2A-T133 phosphorylation occurs in the CENH3 nucleosome. These results provide insight into the mechanism of de novo centromere formation and subsequent consequences.
Project description:To determine the centromere of the maize B chromosome, we used previously published anti-CENH3-ChIP-seq data from TB-9Sb, which contain a complete functional B centromere. Distribution of centromere-specific DNA repeats, including CentC, CRM element and B-repeat, were observed in the proximal end of the assembled maize B chromosome, and this region was shown to be associated with CENH3 nucleosomes. Furthermore, six small scaffolds with sizes ranging from 10 to 174 kilobase display CENH3 enrichment, also with the distribution of these repeat sequences. These results were consistent with previously cytogenetic observation. Therefore, approximately 520 kb centromeric regions were determined in the assembled maize B chromosome.
Project description:Unbalanced translocations are a relatively common type of copy number variation and are a major contributor to neurodevelopmental disorders. We analyzed the breakpoints of 57 unique unbalanced translocations to investigate the mechanisms of how they form. 51 are simple unbalanced translocations between two different chromosome ends, and six rearrangements have more than three breakpoints involving two to five chromosomes. Sequencing 37 breakpoint junctions revealed that simple translocations have between zero and four basepairs (bp) of microhomology (n=26), short inserted sequences (n=8), or paralogous repeats (n=3) at the junctions, indicating that translocations do not arise primarily from non-allelic homologous recombination, but instead form most often via non-homologous end joining or microhomology-mediated break-induced replication. Three simple translocations fuse genes that are predicted to produce in-frame transcripts of SIRPG-WWOX, SMOC2-PROX1, and PIEZO2-MTA1, which may lead to gain of function. Three complex translocations have inversions, insertions, and multiple breakpoint junctions between only two chromosomes. Whole- genome sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of two de novo translocations revealed at least 18 and 33 breakpoints involving five different chromosomes. Breakpoint sequencing of one inherited translocation involving four chromosomes uncovered multiple breakpoints with inversions and insertions. All of these breakpoint junctions had zero to four bp of microhomology consistent with germline chromothripsis, and both de novo events occurred on paternal alleles. Breakpoint sequencing of our large collection of chromosome rearrangements offers a comprehensive analysis of the molecular mechanisms behind germline translocation formation. High resolution array CGH; two-color experiment, clinical patient vs. normal control gDNA; sex mis-matched