scholarly journals Chromatin Network Retards Droplet Coalescence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yifeng Qi ◽  
Bin Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Nuclear Body ◽  
Free Energy Calculations ◽  
Nuclear Bodies ◽  
Chromosome Conformation ◽  
Chromatin Interactions ◽  
Dynamical Simulations ◽  
Correlated Motion ◽  
Kinetics Of

AbstractNuclear bodies are membraneless condensates that may form via liquid-liquid phase separation. The viscoelastic chromatin network could impact their stability and may hold the key for understanding experimental observations that defy predictions of classical theories. However, quantitative studies on the role of the chromatin network in phase separation have remained challenging. Using a diploid human genome model parameterized with chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) data, we studied the thermodynamics and kinetics of droplet formation inside the nucleus. Dynamical simulations predicted the formation of multiple droplets for protein particles that experience specific interactions with nucleolus-associated domains (NADs). Coarsening dynamics, surface tension, and coalescence kinetics of the simulated droplets are all in quantitative agreements with experimental measurements for nucleoli. Free energy calculations further supported that a two-droplet state, which is often observed for nucleoli seen in somatic cells, is metastable and separated from the single-droplet state with an entropic barrier. Our study suggests that protein-chromatin interactions facilitate the nucleation of droplets, but hinders their coarsening due to the correlated motion between droplets and the chromatin network: as droplets coalesce, the chromatin network becomes increasingly constrained. Therefore, protein-chromatin interactions arrest phase separation in multi-droplet states and may drive the variation of nuclear body numbers across cell types.

scholarly journals Chromatin network retards nucleoli coalescence

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yifeng Qi ◽  
Bin Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Quantitative Agreement ◽  
Free Energy Calculations ◽  
Nuclear Bodies ◽  
Chromosome Conformation ◽  
Chromatin Interactions ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
Dynamical Simulations ◽  
Genome Model ◽  
Kinetics Of

AbstractNuclear bodies are membraneless condensates that may form via liquid-liquid phase separation. The viscoelastic chromatin network could impact their stability and may hold the key for understanding experimental observations that defy predictions of classical theories. However, quantitative studies on the role of the chromatin network in phase separation have remained challenging. Using a diploid human genome model parameterized with chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) data, we study the thermodynamics and kinetics of nucleoli formation. Dynamical simulations predict the formation of multiple droplets for nucleolar particles that experience specific interactions with nucleolus-associated domains (NADs). Coarsening dynamics, surface tension, and coalescence kinetics of the simulated droplets are all in quantitative agreement with experimental measurements for nucleoli. Free energy calculations further support that a two-droplet state, often observed for nucleoli in somatic cells, is metastable and separated from the single-droplet state with an entropic barrier. Our study suggests that nucleoli-chromatin interactions facilitate droplets’ nucleation but hinder their coarsening due to the coupled motion between droplets and the chromatin network: as droplets coalesce, the chromatin network becomes increasingly constrained. Therefore, the chromatin network supports a nucleation and arrest mechanism to stabilize the multi-droplet state for nucleoli and possibly for other nuclear bodies.

scholarly journals Phase separation and DAXX redistribution contribute to LANA nuclear body and KSHV genome dynamics during latency and reactivation

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e1009231
Author(s):  
Olga Vladimirova ◽  
Alessandra De Leo ◽  
Zhong Deng ◽  
Andreas Wiedmer ◽  
James Hayden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Nuclear Body ◽  
Lytic Replication ◽  
Nuclear Bodies ◽  
Nuclear Antigen ◽  
Morphological Transformation ◽  
Chromosome Conformation ◽  
Lytic Reactivation ◽  
Morphological Transitions ◽  
Nuclear Structures

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) can drive formation of diverse and essential macromolecular structures, including those specified by viruses. Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) genomes associate with the viral encoded Latency-Associated Nuclear Antigen (LANA) to form stable nuclear bodies (NBs) during latent infection. Here, we show that LANA-NB formation and KSHV genome conformation involves LLPS. Using LLPS disrupting solvents, we show that LANA-NBs are partially disrupted, while DAXX and PML foci are highly resistant. LLPS disruption altered the LANA-dependent KSHV chromosome conformation but did not stimulate lytic reactivation. We found that LANA-NBs undergo major morphological transformation during KSHV lytic reactivation to form LANA-associated replication compartments encompassing KSHV DNA. DAXX colocalizes with the LANA-NBs during latency but is evicted from the LANA-associated lytic replication compartments. These findings indicate the LANA-NBs are dynamic super-molecular nuclear structures that partly depend on LLPS and undergo morphological transitions corresponding the different modes of viral replication.

scholarly journals Nuclear body phase separation drives telomere clustering in ALT cancer cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (18) ◽  
pp. 2048-2056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huaiying Zhang ◽  
Rongwei Zhao ◽  
Jason Tones ◽  
Michel Liu ◽  
Robert L. Dilley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Repair ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Nuclear Body ◽  
Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽  
Nuclear Bodies ◽  
Telomere Elongation ◽  
Alternative Lengthening ◽  
Induce Phase Separation ◽  
Induce Phase

A chemical dimerization approach is developed to induce phase separation of APB nuclear bodies involved in telomere elongation in alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) cancer cells. It reveals that ALT telomere-associated promyelocytic leukemia nuclear body (APB) fusion leads to telomere clustering to provide templates for homology-directed telomere synthesis, an ability that is decoupled from APB function in enriching DNA repair factors.

scholarly journals Clastosome: A Subtype of Nuclear Body Enriched in 19S and 20S Proteasomes, Ubiquitin, and Protein Substrates of Proteasome

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2771-2782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Lafarga ◽  
Maria Teresa Berciano ◽  
Emma Pena ◽  
Isabel Mayo ◽  
Jose G. Castaño ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Proteasome Inhibitors ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Nuclear Body ◽  
Nuclear Bodies ◽  
26S Proteasome ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Protein Substrates ◽  
Adenovirus E1a ◽  
Ubiquitin Proteasome ◽  
Nuclear Structures

Nuclear bodies represent a heterogeneous class of nuclear structures. Herein, we describe that a subset of nuclear bodies is highly enriched in components of the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway of proteolysis. We coined the term clastosome (from the Greekklastos, broken and soma, body) to refer to this type of nuclear body. Clastosomes contain a high concentration of 1) ubiquitin conjugates, 2) the proteolytically active 20S core and the 19S regulatory complexes of the 26S proteasome, and 3) protein substrates of the proteasome. Although detected in a variety of cell types, clastosomes are scarce under normal conditions; however, they become more abundant when proteasomal activity is stimulated. In contrast, clastosomes disappear when cells are treated with proteasome inhibitors. Protein substrates of the proteasome that are found concentrated in clastosomes include the short-lived transcription factors c-Fos and c-Jun, adenovirus E1A proteins, and the PML protein. We propose that clastosomes are sites where proteolysis of a variety of protein substrates is taking place.

scholarly journals Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) SM Protein Induces and Recruits Cellular Sp110b To Stabilize mRNAs and Enhance EBV Lytic Gene Expression

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (17) ◽  
pp. 9412-9422 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Nicewonger ◽  
Garnet Suck ◽  
Donald Bloch ◽  
Sankar Swaminathan
Keyword(s):  
Epstein Barr Virus ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Nuclear Body ◽  
Nuclear Bodies ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Body Protein ◽  
Barr Virus ◽  
Pml Nuclear Bodies ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Epstein Barr

ABSTRACT Promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) nuclear bodies or nuclear domain 10s (ND10s) are multiprotein nuclear structures implicated in transcriptional and posttranscriptional gene regulation that are disrupted during replication of many DNA viruses. Interferon increases the size and number of PML nuclear bodies and stimulates transcription of several genes encoding PML nuclear body proteins. Moreover, some PML nuclear body proteins colocalize at sites of viral DNA synthesis and transcription. In this study, the relationship between lytic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) replication and Sp110b, a PML nuclear body protein, was investigated. Sp110b is shown to physically and functionally interact with the EBV protein SM. SM is expressed early in the EBV replicative cycle and posttranscriptionally increases the level of target EBV lytic transcripts. SM bound to Sp110b via two distinct sites in Sp110b in an RNA-independent manner. SM also specifically induced expression of Sp110b during lytic EBV replication and in several cell types. Exogenous expression of Sp110b synergistically enhanced SM-mediated accumulation of intronless and lytic viral transcripts. This synergistic effect was shown to be promoter independent, posttranscriptional, and the result of increased stabilization of target transcripts. Finally, inhibiting Sp110b expression decreased accumulation of an SM-responsive lytic EBV transcript in EBV-infected cells. These findings imply that SM induces Sp110b expression, binds to Sp110b, and utilizes the recruited Sp110b protein to increase the stability of lytic EBV transcripts, indicating that Sp110b is a component of the cellular machinery that EBV utilizes to enhance lytic EBV replication.

scholarly journals RNA transcription modulates phase transition-driven nuclear body assembly

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (38) ◽  
pp. E5237-E5245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Berry ◽  
Stephanie C. Weber ◽  
Nilesh Vaidya ◽  
Mikko Haataja ◽  
Clifford P. Brangwynne
Keyword(s):  
Phase Transition ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Ribosome Biogenesis ◽  
Ostwald Ripening ◽  
Nuclear Body ◽  
Nuclear Bodies ◽  
Separation Mechanism ◽  
Independent Manner

Nuclear bodies are RNA and protein-rich, membraneless organelles that play important roles in gene regulation. The largest and most well-known nuclear body is the nucleolus, an organelle whose primary function in ribosome biogenesis makes it key for cell growth and size homeostasis. The nucleolus and other nuclear bodies behave like liquid-phase droplets and appear to condense from the nucleoplasm by concentration-dependent phase separation. However, nucleoli actively consume chemical energy, and it is unclear how such nonequilibrium activity might impact classical liquid–liquid phase separation. Here, we combine in vivo and in vitro experiments with theory and simulation to characterize the assembly and disassembly dynamics of nucleoli in early Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. In addition to classical nucleoli that assemble at the transcriptionally active nucleolar organizing regions, we observe dozens of “extranucleolar droplets” (ENDs) that condense in the nucleoplasm in a transcription-independent manner. We show that growth of nucleoli and ENDs is consistent with a first-order phase transition in which late-stage coarsening dynamics are mediated by Brownian coalescence and, to a lesser degree, Ostwald ripening. By manipulating C. elegans cell size, we change nucleolar component concentration and confirm several key model predictions. Our results show that rRNA transcription and other nonequilibrium biological activity can modulate the effective thermodynamic parameters governing nucleolar and END assembly, but do not appear to fundamentally alter the passive phase separation mechanism.

scholarly journals 7C: Computational Chromosome Conformation Capture by Correlation of ChIP-seq at CTCF motifs

BMC Genomics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Ibn-Salem ◽  
Miguel A. Andrade-Navarro
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Prediction Method ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Chromosome Conformation Capture ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Single Chip ◽  
Chromosome Conformation ◽  
Chromatin Looping ◽  
Chromatin Interactions ◽  
Cross Links

Abstract Background Knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of the genome is necessary to understand how gene expression is regulated. Recent experimental techniques such as Hi-C or ChIA-PET measure long-range chromatin interactions genome-wide but are experimentally elaborate, have limited resolution and such data is only available for a limited number of cell types and tissues. Results While ChIP-seq was not designed to detect chromatin interactions, the formaldehyde treatment in the ChIP-seq protocol cross-links proteins with each other and with DNA. Consequently, also regions that are not directly bound by the targeted TF but interact with the binding site via chromatin looping are co-immunoprecipitated and sequenced. This produces minor ChIP-seq signals at loop anchor regions close to the directly bound site. We use the position and shape of ChIP-seq signals around CTCF motif pairs to predict whether they interact or not. We implemented this approach in a prediction method, termed Computational Chromosome Conformation Capture by Correlation of ChIP-seq at CTCF motifs (7C). We applied 7C to all CTCF motif pairs within 1 Mb in the human genome and validated predicted interactions with high-resolution Hi-C and ChIA-PET. A single ChIP-seq experiment from known architectural proteins (CTCF, Rad21, Znf143) but also from other TFs (like TRIM22 or RUNX3) predicts loops accurately. Importantly, 7C predicts loops in cell types and for TF ChIP-seq datasets not used in training. Conclusion 7C predicts chromatin loops which can help to associate TF binding sites to regulated genes. Furthermore, profiling of hundreds of ChIP-seq datasets results in novel candidate factors functionally involved in chromatin looping. Our method is available as an R/Bioconductor package: http://bioconductor.org/packages/sevenC.

scholarly journals Identifying regulatory and spatial genomic architectural elements using cell type independent machine and deep learning models

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura D. Martens ◽  
Oisín Faust ◽  
Liviu Pirvan ◽  
Dóra Bihary ◽  
Shamith A. Samarajiwa
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Chromosome Conformation ◽  
Architectural Elements ◽  
Chromatin Interactions ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Chromatin Organisation ◽  
Different Cell Types

AbstractChromosome conformation capture methods such as Hi-C enables mapping of genome-wide chromatin interactions and is a promising technology to understand the role of spatial chromatin organisation in gene regulation. However, the generation and analysis of these data sets at high resolutions remain technically challenging and costly. We developed a machine and deep learning approach to predict functionally important, highly interacting chromatin regions (HICR) and topologically associated domain (TAD) boundaries independent of Hi-C data in both normal physiological states and pathological conditions such as cancer. This approach utilises gradient boosted trees and convolutional neural networks trained on both Hi-C and histone modification epigenomic data from three different cell types. Given only epigenomic modification data these models are able to predict chromatin interactions and TAD boundaries with high accuracy. We demonstrate that our models are transferable across cell types, indicating that combinatorial histone mark signatures may be universal predictors for highly interacting chromatin regions and spatial chromatin architecture elements.

Nuclear coiled bodies and the nucleolus

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 20-21
Author(s):  
K. Brasch ◽  
J. Williams ◽  
D. Gallo ◽  
T. Lee ◽  
R. L. Ochs
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Liver ◽  
Nuclear Body ◽  
Nuclear Bodies ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Coiled Body ◽  
Rrna Processing ◽  
Malignant Cells ◽  
Sm Proteins ◽  
Coiled Bodies ◽  
Unique Protein

Though first described in 1903 by Ramon-y-Cajal as silver-staining “accessory bodies” to nucleoli, nuclear bodies were subsequently rediscovered by electron microscopy about 30 years ago. Nuclear bodies are ubiquitous, but seem most abundant in hyperactive and malignant cells. The best studied type of nuclear body is the coiled body (CB), so termed due to characteristic morphology and content of a unique protein, p80-coilin (Fig.1). While no specific functions have as yet been assigned to CBs, they contain spliceosome snRNAs and proteins, and also the nucleolar protein fibrillarin. In addition, there is mounting evidence that CBs arise from or are generated near the nucleolus and then migrate into the nucleoplasm. This suggests that as yet undefined links may exist, between nucleolar pre-rRNA processing events and the spliceosome-associated Sm proteins in CBs.We are examining CB and nucleolar changes in three diverse model systems: (1) estrogen stimulated chick liver, (2) normal and neoplastic cells, and (3) polyploid mouse liver.

scholarly journals Solvent Exposure and Ionic Condensation Drive Fuzzy Dimerization of Disordered Heterochromatin Protein Sequence

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 915
Author(s):  
Jazelli Mueterthies ◽  
Davit A. Potoyan
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Low Complexity ◽  
Nuclear Bodies ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Solvent Exposure ◽  
Ion Release ◽  
Dimer Formation ◽  
Eukaryotic Organisms

Proteins with low complexity, disordered sequences are receiving increasing attention due to their central roles in the biogenesis and regulation of membraneless organelles. In eukaryotic organisms, a substantial fraction of disordered proteins reside in the nucleus, thereby facilitating the formation of nuclear bodies, nucleolus, and chromatin compartmentalization. The heterochromatin family of proteins (HP1) is an important player in driving the formation of gene silenced mesoscopic heterochromatin B compartments and pericentric regions. Recent experiments have shown that the HP1a sequence of Drosophila melanogaster can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation under both in vitro and in vivo conditions, induced by changes of the monovalent salt concentration. While the phase separation of HP1a is thought to be the mechanism underlying chromatin compartmentalization, the molecular level mechanistic picture of salt-driven phase separation of HP1a has remained poorly understood. The disordered hinge region of HP1a is seen as the driver of salt-induced condensation because of its charge enriched sequence and post-translational modifications. Here, we set out to decipher the mechanisms of salt-induced condensation of HP1a through a systematic study of salt-dependent conformations of single chains and fuzzy dimers of disordered HP1a hinge sequences. Using multiple independent all-atom simulations with and without enhanced sampling, we carry out detailed characterization of conformational ensembles of disordered HP1a chains under different ionic conditions using various polymeric and structural measures. We show that the mobile ion release, enhancement of local transient secondary structural elements, and side-chain exposure to solvent are robust trends that accompany fuzzy dimer formation. Furthermore, we find that salt-induced changes in the ensemble of conformations of HP1a disordered hinge sequence fine-tune the inter-chain vs. self-chain interactions in ways that favor fuzzy dimer formation under low salt conditions in the agreement with condensation trends seen in experiments.

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