Project description:Deregulated DNA replication is a major contributor to human developmental disorders and cancer, yet our understanding of how replication is coordinated with changes in transcription and chromatin structure is limited. Our lab has employed the zebrafish model to investigate the mechanisms driving changes in the replication timing program during development. Previous studies have identified changes in replication timing patterns from the onset of zygotic transcription through gastrulation in zebrafish embryos. The protein Rif1 is crucial for replication timing in a wide range of eukaryotes, yet its role in establishing the replication timing program and chromatin structure during early vertebrate development is not well understood. Using Rif1 mutant zebrafish and performing RNA sequencing and whole-genome replication timing analysis, we found that Rif1 mutants were viable but had a defect in female sex determination. Interestingly, Rif1 loss primarily affected DNA replication timing after gastrulation, while its impact on transcription was more pronounced during zygotic genome activation. Our results indicate that Rif1 has distinct roles in regulating DNA replication and transcription at different stages of development.
Project description:Deregulated DNA replication is a major contributor to human developmental disorders and cancer, yet our understanding of how replication is coordinated with changes in transcription and chromatin structure is limited. Our lab has employed the zebrafish model to investigate the mechanisms driving changes in the replication timing program during development. Previous studies have identified changes in replication timing patterns from the onset of zygotic transcription through gastrulation in zebrafish embryos. The protein Rif1 is crucial for replication timing in a wide range of eukaryotes, yet its role in establishing the replication timing program and chromatin structure during early vertebrate development is not well understood. Using Rif1 mutant zebrafish and performing RNA sequencing and whole-genome replication timing analysis, we found that Rif1 mutants were viable but had a defect in female sex determination. Interestingly, Rif1 loss primarily affected DNA replication timing after gastrulation, while its impact on transcription was more pronounced during zygotic genome activation. Our results indicate that Rif1 has distinct roles in regulating DNA replication and transcription at different stages of development.
Project description:Deregulated DNA replication is a major contributor to human developmental disorders and cancer, yet our understanding of how replication is coordinated with changes in transcription and chromatin structure is limited. Our lab has employed the zebrafish model to investigate the mechanisms driving changes in the replication timing program during development. Previous studies have identified changes in replication timing patterns from the onset of zygotic transcription through gastrulation in zebrafish embryos. The protein Rif1 is crucial for replication timing in a wide range of eukaryotes, yet its role in establishing the replication timing program and chromatin structure during early vertebrate development is not well understood. Using Rif1 mutant zebrafish and performing RNA sequencing and whole-genome replication timing analysis, we found that Rif1 mutants were viable but had a defect in female sex determination. Interestingly, Rif1 loss primarily affected DNA replication timing after gastrulation, while its impact on transcription was more pronounced during zygotic genome activation. Our results indicate that Rif1 has distinct roles in regulating DNA replication and transcription at different stages of development.
Project description:The mammalian DNA replication timing (RT) program is crucial for the proper functioning and integrity of the genome. The best-known mechanism for controlling RT is the suppression of late origins of replication in heterochromatin by RIF1. Here, we report that in antigen-activated, hypermutating murine B lymphocytes, RIF1 binds predominantly to early-replicating active chromatin and promotes early replication, but plays a minor role in regulating replication origin activity, gene expression and genome organization in B cells. Furthermore, we find that RIF1 functions in a complementary and non-epistatic manner with minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins to establish early RT signatures genome-wide and, specifically, to ensure the early replication of highly transcribed genes. These findings reveal new layers of regulation within the B cell RT program, driven by the coordinated activity of RIF1 and MCM proteins.
Project description:The mammalian DNA replication timing (RT) program is crucial for the proper functioning and integrity of the genome. The best-known mechanism for controlling RT is the suppression of late origins of replication in heterochromatin by RIF1. Here, we report that in antigen-activated, hypermutating B lymphocytes, RIF1 binds predominantly to early-replicating active chromatin, regulates early origin firing and promotes early replication. However, RIF1 has a minor role in gene expression and genome organization in B cells. Furthermore, we find that RIF1 functions in a complementary and non-epistatic manner with minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins to establish early RT signatures genome-wide and, specifically, to ensure the early replication of highly transcribed genes. These findings reveal a new layer of regulation within the B cell RT program, driven by the coordinated activity of RIF1 and MCM proteins.
Project description:The mammalian DNA replication timing (RT) program is crucial for the proper functioning and integrity of the genome. The best-known mechanism for controlling RT is the suppression of late origins of replication in heterochromatin by RIF1. Here, we report that in antigen-activated, hypermutating B lymphocytes, RIF1 binds predominantly to early-replicating active chromatin, regulates early origin firing and promotes early replication. However, RIF1 has a minor role in gene expression and genome organization in B cells. Furthermore, we find that RIF1 functions in a complementary and non-epistatic manner with minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins to establish early RT signatures genome-wide and, specifically, to ensure the early replication of highly transcribed genes. These findings reveal a new layer of regulation within the B cell RT program, driven by the coordinated activity of RIF1 and MCM proteins.
Project description:The mammalian DNA replication timing (RT) program is crucial for the proper functioning and integrity of the genome. The best-known mechanism for controlling RT is the suppression of late origins of replication in heterochromatin by RIF1. Here, we report that in antigen-activated, hypermutating B lymphocytes, RIF1 binds predominantly to early-replicating active chromatin, regulates early origin firing and promotes early replication. However, RIF1 has a minor role in gene expression and genome organization in B cells. Furthermore, we find that RIF1 functions in a complementary and non-epistatic manner with minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins to establish early RT signatures genome-wide and, specifically, to ensure the early replication of highly transcribed genes. These findings reveal a new layer of regulation within the B cell RT program, driven by the coordinated activity of RIF1 and MCM proteins.
Project description:The mammalian DNA replication timing (RT) program is crucial for the proper functioning and integrity of the genome. The best-known mechanism for controlling RT is the suppression of late origins of replication in heterochromatin by RIF1. Here, we report that in antigen-activated, hypermutating B lymphocytes, RIF1 binds predominantly to early-replicating active chromatin, regulates early origin firing and promotes early replication. However, RIF1 has a minor role in gene expression and genome organization in B cells. Furthermore, we find that RIF1 functions in a complementary and non-epistatic manner with minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins to establish early RT signatures genome-wide and, specifically, to ensure the early replication of highly transcribed genes. These findings reveal a new layer of regulation within the B cell RT program, driven by the coordinated activity of RIF1 and MCM proteins.
Project description:The mammalian DNA replication timing (RT) program is crucial for the proper functioning and integrity of the genome. The best-known mechanism for controlling RT is the suppression of late origins of replication in heterochromatin by RIF1. Here, we report that in antigen-activated, hypermutating B lymphocytes, RIF1 binds predominantly to early-replicating active chromatin, regulates early origin firing and promotes early replication. However, RIF1 has a minor role in gene expression and genome organization in B cells. Furthermore, we find that RIF1 functions in a complementary and non-epistatic manner with minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins to establish early RT signatures genome-wide and, specifically, to ensure the early replication of highly transcribed genes. These findings reveal a new layer of regulation within the B cell RT program, driven by the coordinated activity of RIF1 and MCM proteins.