Condensin-Driven Remodeling of X-Chromosome Topology during Dosage Compensation [RNA-Seq]

ABSTRACT: The three-dimensional (3D) organization of a genome plays a critical role in regulating gene expression, yet little is known about the machinery and mechanisms that determine higher-order chromosome structure or how structure influences gene expression. Here we exploit the X-chromosome-wide process of dosage compensation to dissect these mechanisms. The dosage compensation complex (DCC) of C. elegans, a condensin complex, binds to both X chromosomes of hermaphrodites via sequence-specific recruitment sites (rex sites) to reduce chromosome-wide gene expression by half. Using genome-wide chromosome conformation capture and single-cell FISH to compare chromosome structure in wild-type and DCC-defective embryos (DC mutants), we show that the DCC remodels X chromosomes of hermaphrodites into a spatial conformation distinct from autosomes. The dosage-compensated X chromosomes are composed of Topologically Associating Domains (TADs) that have sharper boundaries and more regular spacing than TADs on autosomes. Most TAD boundaries on X coincide with the highest-affinity rex sites, and these boundaries are lost or diminished in DC mutants, thereby restoring the topology of X to a native conformation resembling that of autosomes. Although most rex sites engage in multiple strong DCC-dependent long-range interactions, the strongest interactions occur between rex sites at the DCC-dependent TAD boundaries. We propose the DCC actively shapes the topology of the entire X chromosome by forming new TAD boundaries and reinforcing pre-existing weak TAD boundaries through interactions between its highest affinity sites. Such changes in higher-order X-chromosome structure then influence gene expression over long distances.

ORGANISM(S): Caenorhabditis elegans

PROVIDER: GSE59715 | GEO | 2015/06/03

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA256014

REPOSITORIES: GEO