Project description:DNA i-motif structures are formed in the nuclei of human cells and are believed to provide critical genomic regulation. While the existence of i-motif structures in human cells has been demonstrated by immunofluorescent staining and by the characterisation of select model genes, the abundance and distribution of such structures in the human genome have remained unclear. Here we utilise high affinity i-motif immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing to map i-motifs in the genomic DNA of human MCF7, U2OS and HEK293T cells. Validated by biolayer interferometry and circular dichroism spectroscopy, our approach identified i-motif structures that are widely distributed throughout the human genome and are common in genes upregulated in G0/G1 cell cycle phases.
Project description:The G-quadruplex is an alternative DNA structural motif that is considered to be functionally important in the mammalian genome. Herein, we address the hypothesis that G-quadruplex structures can exist within double-stranded genomic DNA using a G-quadruplex-specific probe. An engineered antibody is employed to enrich for DNA containing G-quadruplex structures, followed by deep sequencing to detect and map G-quadruplexes at high resolution in genomic DNA from human breast adenocarcinoma cells. Our high sensitivity structure-based pull-down strategy enables the isolation of genomic DNA fragments bearing a single as well as multiple G-quadruplex structures. Stable G-quadruplex structures are found in sub-telomeres, gene bodies and gene regulatory regions. For a sample of identified target genes, we show that G-quadruplex stabilizing ligands can modulate transcription. These results confirm the existence of G-quadruplex structures and their persistence in human genomic DNA. Four independent libraries have been enriched in DNA G-quadruplex structures using a G-quadruplex-specific probe. One genomic input library was sequenced as control. Deep-sequencing of these libraries allowed the mapping of G-quadruplexes on the genome.
Project description:The G-quadruplex is an alternative DNA structural motif that is considered to be functionally important in the mammalian genome. Herein, we address the hypothesis that G-quadruplex structures can exist within double-stranded genomic DNA using a G-quadruplex-specific probe. An engineered antibody is employed to enrich for DNA containing G-quadruplex structures, followed by deep sequencing to detect and map G-quadruplexes at high resolution in genomic DNA from human breast adenocarcinoma cells. Our high sensitivity structure-based pull-down strategy enables the isolation of genomic DNA fragments bearing a single as well as multiple G-quadruplex structures. Stable G-quadruplex structures are found in sub-telomeres, gene bodies and gene regulatory regions. For a sample of identified target genes, we show that G-quadruplex stabilizing ligands can modulate transcription. These results confirm the existence of G-quadruplex structures and their persistence in human genomic DNA.
Project description:Non-canonical DNA structures such as G-quadruplex (G4) and i-motif (iM) are formed at the guanine- and cytosine-rich sequences, respectively, and prohibit DNA replication and transcription. The formation and resolution of these non-canonical structures are therefore required to be dynamically regulated by either physiological conditions or factors able to bind the G4 and iM structures. Although many G4 binding proteins responsible for tuning of the G4 structure have been discovered, understanding of structural regulation of the iM structure by iM binding proteins is far less behind. Here, we developed a protein-labeling DNA probe bearing an alkyne moiety through a reactive tosylate linker for proximity labeling of nucleic acid-binding proteins and searched for iM binding proteins. The proteome analyses of the captured proteins suggested new candidates that potentially bind the iM structure, in addition to the known iM binders.
Project description:The structure of broken DNA ends is a critical determinant of the pathway used for DNA double strand break (DSB) repair. Here, we develop an approach, hairpin capture of DNA end structures (HCoDES), which elucidates chromosomal DNA end structures at single nucleotide resolution. HCoDES defines structures of physiologic DSBs generated by the RAG endonuclease, as well as those generated by nucleases widely used for genome editing. Analysis of G1-phase cells deficient in H2AX or 53BP1 reveals DNA ends that are frequently resected to form long single-stranded overhangs that can be repaired by mutagenic pathways. In addition to 3’ overhangs, many of these DNA ends unexpectedly form long 5’ single-stranded overhangs. The divergence in DNA end structures resolved by HCoDES suggests that H2AX and 53BP1 may have distinct activities in end protection. Thus, the high-resolution end structures obtained by HCoDES identify new features of DNA end processing during DSB repair. Single stranded DNA ligation of genomic DNA isolated from G1 arrested LigaseIV-/-, LigaseIV-/- 53BP1-/- and LigaseIV-/- H2AX-/- Abelson pre-B cells harboring site specific DSBs generated by the RAG recombinase, Cas9 endonuclease or Zinc Finger Endonuclease.
Project description:The structure of broken DNA ends is a critical determinant of the pathway used for DNA double strand break (DSB) repair. Here, we develop an approach, hairpin capture of DNA end structures (HCoDES), which elucidates chromosomal DNA end structures at single nucleotide resolution. HCoDES defines structures of physiologic DSBs generated by the RAG endonuclease, as well as those generated by nucleases widely used for genome editing. Analysis of G1-phase cells deficient in H2AX or 53BP1 reveals DNA ends that are frequently resected to form long single-stranded overhangs that can be repaired by mutagenic pathways. In addition to 3’ overhangs, many of these DNA ends unexpectedly form long 5’ single-stranded overhangs. The divergence in DNA end structures resolved by HCoDES suggests that H2AX and 53BP1 may have distinct activities in end protection. Thus, the high-resolution end structures obtained by HCoDES identify new features of DNA end processing during DSB repair.