Project description:Rif1 regulates replication timing and repair of double-stranded DNA breaks. Using Chromatin-immunoprecipitation-Sequencing method, we have identified 35 high-affinity Rif1 binding sites in fission yeast chromosomes. Binding sites, preferentially located to the vicinity of dormant origins, tended to contain at least two copies of a conserved motif, CNWWGTGGGGG, and base substitution within these motifs resulted in complete loss of Rif1 binding and activation of late-firing or dormant origins located as far as 50 kb away. We show that Rif1 binding sites adopt G-quadruplex-like structures in vitro in a manner dependent on the conserved sequence as well as on other G-tracts, and that the purified Rif1 preferentially binds to this structure. These results suggest that Rif1 recognizes and binds to G-quadruplex-like structures at selected intergenic regions to generate local chromatin structures that may exert a long-range suppressive effects on origin firing. ChIP-Seq profiles of Rif1 and DNA replicaiton (BrdU-incorporation) vs Input in wildt type, rap1∆, taz1∆, Rif1BS mutants and rif1∆
Project description:To unveil the still-elusive nature of metazoan replication origins, we identified them genome-wide and at unprecedented high-resolution in mouse ES cells. This allowed initiation sites (IS) and initiation zones (IZ) to be differentiated. We then characterized their genetic signatures and organization and integrated these data with 43 chromatin marks and factors. Our results reveal that replication origins can be grouped into three main classes with distinct organization, chromatin environment and sequence motifs. Class 1 contains relatively isolated, low-efficiency origins that are poor in epigenetic marks and are enriched in an asymmetric AC repeat at the initiation site. Late origins are mainly found in this class. Class 2 origins are particularly rich in enhancer elements. Class 3 origins are the most efficient and are associated with open chromatin and polycomb protein-enriched regions. The presence of Origin G-rich Repeated elements (OGRE) potentially forming G-quadruplexes (G4) was confirmed at most origins. These coincide with nucleosome-depleted regions located upstream of the initiation sites, which are associated with a labile nucleosomes containing H3K64ac. These data demonstrate that specific chromatin landscapes and combinations of specific signatures regulate origin localization. They explain the frequently-observed links between DNA replication and transcription. They also emphasize the plasticity of metazoan replication origins, and suggest that in multicellular eukaryotes, the combination of distinct genetic features and chromatin configurations act in synergy to define and adapt the origin profile.
Project description:It is generally thought that splicing factors regulate alternative splicing through binding to RNA consensus sequences. In addition to these linear motifs, RNA secondary structure is emerging as an important layer in splicing regulation. Here we demonstrate that RNA elements with G-quadruplex forming capacity promote exon inclusion. Destroying G-quadruplex forming capacity while keeping G-tracts intact abrogates exon inclusion. Analysis of RNA binding protein footprints revealed that G-quadruplexes are enriched in hnRNPF-binding sites and near hnRNPF-regulated alternatively spliced exons in the human transcriptome. Moreover, hnRNPF regulates an EMT-associated CD44 isoform switch in a G-quadruplex-dependent manner, which results in inhibition of EMT. Mining breast cancer TCGA datasets, we demonstrate that hnRNPF negatively correlates with an EMT gene signature and positively correlates with patient survival. These data suggest a critical role for RNA G-quadruplexes in regulating alternative splicing. Modulation of G-quadruplex structural integrity may control cellular processes important for tumor progression.
Project description:G-quadruplexes (G4) are non-canonical nucleic acid structures that can form at certain DNA or RNA guanine-rich sequences. G4 motifs are dispersed throughout the genome and considerably enriched at promoters, where they flank the transcription start site (TSS) and cluster at the 5’ end of the first intron, which suggests potential regulatory roles of quadruplexes in transcription. To improve our understanding of these roles, we have associated gene expression with the frequency of canonical G4 motifs near gene promoters and characterized perturbations caused by treatment with three G-quadruplex ligands, Pyridostatin and the two bisquinolinium compounds PhenDC3 and PhenDC6. We show that enrichment of G4 motifs characterizes the most actively transcribed genes, challenging the notion that quadruplexes chiefly exert negative regulation by blocking progress of RNA polymerase. G4 ligand-treatment altered splicing of transcripts at genes enriched for G4 motifs at the 5’-end of intron 1, suggesting that G-quadruplexes in the pre-mRNA can regulate splicing. Furthermore, our analysis also revealed some of the effects of G4 ligand treatment that likely reflect quadruplex-dependent replication stress leading to the induction of transcriptional signatures compatible with impaired cell cycle progression. Collectively, our results support the view that G-quadruplexes typically function as positive regulators of transcription, suggesting that quadruplexes may stabilize promoter architecture to enable efficient transcription. This analysis provides strong support for function of quadruplexes near the promoter as regulators of transcription and splicing.
Project description:Rif1 regulates replication timing and repair of double-stranded DNA breaks. Using Chromatin-immunoprecipitation-Sequencing method, we have identified 35 high-affinity Rif1 binding sites in fission yeast chromosomes. Binding sites, preferentially located to the vicinity of dormant origins, tended to contain at least two copies of a conserved motif, CNWWGTGGGGG, and base substitution within these motifs resulted in complete loss of Rif1 binding and activation of late-firing or dormant origins located as far as 50 kb away. We show that Rif1 binding sites adopt G-quadruplex-like structures in vitro in a manner dependent on the conserved sequence as well as on other G-tracts, and that the purified Rif1 preferentially binds to this structure. These results suggest that Rif1 recognizes and binds to G-quadruplex-like structures at selected intergenic regions to generate local chromatin structures that may exert a long-range suppressive effects on origin firing.
Project description:The effect of bisquinolinium compounds PhenDC3 and 360A genome wide gene expression changes modulated via promoter based G-quadruplex (G4) motifs. The total RNA was extracted after treating HeLa S3 cells with 10 µM of no molecule (DMSO), 8979A (control molecule), PhenDC3 (G4 specific molecule) or 360A (G4 specific molecule) for 48 hrs in triplicate.
Project description:The G9a mediates mono- and dimethylation of Lys9 of histone H3 at specific gene loci, which is associated with transcriptional repression. ZNF644 and WIZ contain multiple zinc finger motifs that recognize consensus DNA sequences.
Project description:Mini-chromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins are loaded to chromatin during G1-phase and define potential locations of DNA replication initiation. MCM protein deficiency results in genome instability and high rates of cancer in mouse models. Here we develop a method of nascent strand capture and release and show that MCM2 deficiency reduces DNA replication initiation in gene rich regions of the genome. DNA structural properties are shown to correlate with sequence motifs associated with replication origins and with locations that are preferentially affected by MCM2 deficiency. Reduced nascent strand density correlates with sites of recurrent focal CNVs in tumors arising in MCM2-deficient mice, consistent with a direct relationship between sites of reduced DNA replication initiation and genetic damage. Between 10 and 90% of human tumors, depending on type, carry heterozygous loss or mutation of one or more Mcm2-7 genes which is expected to compromise DNA replication origin licensing and result in elevated rates of genome damage at a subset of gene rich locations. Mcm2 deficient vs. wild type
Project description:Bloom syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive genetic instability and cancer predisposition syndrome caused by loss of function mutations in the BLM RECQ helicase gene. To ask if some of the distinctive pathological features of Bloom syndrome might reflect altered gene expression, we analyzed global mRNA and miRNA expression in fibroblasts from 16 patients and 15 matched normal controls, and in control primary diploid fibroblasts depleted of the BLM protein. We document significant differential expression of both protein-coding genes and miRNAs with well-characterized cancer associations in BLM-deficient cells. Differences in expression correlated significantly with G4 motifs, which are associated with potential to form G-quadruplex structures. These results indicate that BLM helicase may modulate gene expression by regulating the in vivo stability of G-quadruplex structures, and identify sets of genes and miRNAs whose expression, when altered, may drive the pathogenesis of Bloom syndrome and associated cancers. Global profiling of mRNA and miRNA expression was analyzed in primary fibroblasts from 16 patients and 15 matched normal controls, and in 9 primary diploid fibroblasts depleted of BLM protein by BLM-specific (3), control (3) and scrambled (3) shRNA.
Project description:G-quadruplexes (G4s) are noncanonical nucleic acid structures pivotal to cellular processes and disease pathways. Deciphering G4-interacting proteins is imperative for unraveling G4's biological significance. In this study, we developed a G4-targeting biotin ligase named G4PID, meticulously assessing its binding affinity and specificity both in vitro and in vivo. Capitalizing on G4PID, we devised a tailored approach termed G-quadruplex-interacting proteins specific biotin-ligation procedure (PLGPB) to precisely profile G4-interacting proteins.