scholarly journals CTCF and transcription influence chromatin structure re-configuration after mitosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haoyue Zhang ◽  
Jessica Lam ◽  
Di Zhang ◽  
Marit Vermunt ◽  
Yemin Lan ◽  
...  

During mitosis, transcription is globally attenuated and chromatin architecture is dramatically reconfigured. Here we exploited the M- to G1-phase progression to interrogate the contributions of the architectural factor CTCF and the process of transcription to re-sculpting the genome in newborn nuclei. Depletion of CTCF specifically during the M- to G1-phase transition altered the re-establishment of local short-range compartmentalization after mitosis. Chromatin domain boundary reformation was impaired upon CTCF loss, but a subset (~27%) of boundaries, characterized by transitions in chromatin states, was established normally. Without CTCF, structural loops failed to form, leading to illegitimate contacts between cis-regulatory elements (CREs). Transient CRE contacts that are normally resolved after telophase persisted deeply into G1-phase in CTCF depleted cells. CTCF loss-associated gains in transcription were often linked to increased, normally illegitimate enhancer-promoter contacts. In contrast, at genes whose expression declined upon CTCF loss, CTCF seems to function as a conventional transcription activator, independent of its architectural role. CTCF-anchored structural loops facilitated formation CRE loops nested within them, especially those involving weak CREs. Transcription inhibition did not elicit global architectural changes and left transcription start site-associated boundaries intact. However, ongoing transcription contributed considerably to the formation of gene domains, regions of enriched contacts spanning the length of gene bodies. Notably, gene domains formed rapidly in ana/telophase prior to the completion of the first round of transcription, suggesting that epigenetic features in gene bodies contribute to genome reconfiguration prior to transcription. The focus on the de novo formation of nuclear architecture during G1 entry yielded novel insights into how CTCF and transcription contribute to the dynamic re-configuration of chromatin architecture during the mitosis to G1 phase progression.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haoyue Zhang ◽  
Jessica Lam ◽  
Di Zhang ◽  
Yemin Lan ◽  
Marit W. Vermunt ◽  
...  

AbstractDuring mitosis, transcription is globally attenuated and chromatin architecture is dramatically reconfigured. We exploited the M- to G1-phase progression to interrogate the contributions of the architectural factor CTCF and the process of transcription to genome re-sculpting in newborn nuclei. Depletion of CTCF during the M- to G1-phase transition alters short-range compartmentalization after mitosis. Chromatin domain boundary re-formation is impaired upon CTCF loss, but a subset of boundaries, characterized by transitions in chromatin states, is established normally. Without CTCF, structural loops fail to form, leading to illegitimate contacts between cis-regulatory elements (CREs). Transient CRE contacts that are normally resolved after telophase persist deeply into G1-phase in CTCF-depleted cells. CTCF loss-associated gains in transcription are often linked to increased, normally illegitimate enhancer-promoter contacts. In contrast, at genes whose expression declines upon CTCF loss, CTCF seems to function as a conventional transcription activator, independent of its architectural role. CTCF-anchored structural loops facilitate formation of CRE loops nested within them, especially those involving weak CREs. Transcription inhibition does not significantly affect global architecture or transcription start site-associated boundaries. However, ongoing transcription contributes considerably to the formation of gene domains, regions of enriched contacts along gene bodies. Notably, gene domains emerge in ana/telophase prior to completion of the first round of transcription, suggesting that epigenetic features in gene bodies contribute to genome reconfiguration prior to transcription. The focus on the de novo formation of nuclear architecture during G1 entry yields insights into the contributions of CTCF and transcription to chromatin architecture dynamics during the mitosis to G1-phase progression.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanxiao Zhang ◽  
Ting Li ◽  
Sebastian Preissl ◽  
Jonathan Grinstein ◽  
Elie N. Farah ◽  
...  

AbstractDynamic restructuring of chromatin architecture has been implicated in cell-type specific gene regulatory programs; yet, how chromatin remodels during lineage specification remains to be elucidated. Through interrogating chromatin reorganization during human cardiomyocyte differentiation, we uncover dynamic chromatin interactions between genes and distal regulatory elements harboring noncoding variants associated with adult and congenital heart diseases. Unexpectedly, we also discover a new class of human pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-specific topologically associating domains (TAD) that are created by the actively transcribed endogenous retrotransposon HERV-H. Deletion or silencing of specific HERV-H elements eliminates corresponding TAD boundaries, while de novo insertion of HERV-H can introduce new chromatin domain boundaries in human PSCs. Furthermore, comparative analysis of chromatin architecture in other species that lack HERV-H sequences supports a role for actively transcribed HERV-H in demarcating human PSC-specific TADs. The biological role of HERV-H is further underscored by the observation that deletion of a specific HERV-H reduces transcription of genes upstream and facilitates cell differentiation. Overall, our results highlight a previously unrecognized role for retrotransposons in restructuring genome architecture in the human genome and delineate dynamic gene regulatory networks during cardiomyocyte development that inform how non-coding genetic variants contribute to human heart diseases.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shreekant Verma ◽  
Rashmi U. Pathak ◽  
Rakesh K. Mishra

In Drosophila, expression of eyeless (ey) gene is restricted to the developing eyes and central nervous system. However, the flanking genes, myoglianin (myo), and bent (bt) have different temporal and spatial expression patterns as compared to the ey. How distinct regulation of ey is maintained is mostly unknown. Earlier, we have identified a boundary element intervening myo and ey genes (ME boundary) that prevents the crosstalk between the cis-regulatory elements of myo and ey genes. In the present study, we further searched for the cis-elements that define the domain of ey and maintain its expression pattern. We identify another boundary element between ey and bt, the EB boundary. The EB boundary separates the regulatory landscapes of ey and bt genes. The two boundaries, ME and EB, show a long-range interaction as well as interact with the nuclear architecture. This suggests functional autonomy of the ey locus and its insulation from differentially regulated flanking regions. We also identify a new Polycomb Response Element, the ey-PRE, within the ey domain. The expression state of the ey gene, once established during early development is likely to be maintained with the help of ey-PRE. Our study proposes a general regulatory mechanism by which a gene can be maintained in a functionally independent chromatin domain in gene-rich euchromatin.


Author(s):  
Shreekant Verma ◽  
Rashmi U Pathak ◽  
Rakesh K Mishra

Abstract In Drosophila, expression of eyeless (ey) gene is restricted to the developing eyes and central nervous system. However, the flanking genes, myoglianin (myo), and bent (bt) have different temporal and spatial expression patterns as compared to the ey. How distinct regulation of ey is maintained is mostly unknown. Earlier, we have identified a boundary element intervening myo and ey genes (ME boundary) that prevents the crosstalk between the cis-regulatory elements of myo and ey genes. In the present study, we further searched for the cis-elements that define the domain of ey and maintain its expression pattern. We identify another boundary element between ey and bt, the EB boundary. The EB boundary separates the regulatory landscapes of ey and bt genes. The two boundaries, ME and EB, show a long-range interaction as well as interact with the nuclear architecture. This suggests functional autonomy of the ey locus and its insulation from differentially regulated flanking regions. We also identify a new Polycomb Response Element, the ey-PRE, within the ey domain. The expression state of the ey gene, once established during early development is likely to be maintained with the help of ey-PRE. Our study proposes a general regulatory mechanism by which a gene can be maintained in a functionally independent chromatin domain in gene-rich euchromatin.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3735
Author(s):  
Guillaume Velasco ◽  
Damien Ulveling ◽  
Sophie Rondeau ◽  
Pauline Marzin ◽  
Motoko Unoki ◽  
...  

DNA methylation (DNAme) profiling is used to establish specific biomarkers to improve the diagnosis of patients with inherited neurodevelopmental disorders and to guide mutation screening. In the specific case of mendelian disorders of the epigenetic machinery, it also provides the basis to infer mechanistic aspects with regard to DNAme determinants and interplay between histone and DNAme that apply to humans. Here, we present comparative methylomes from patients with mutations in the de novo DNA methyltransferases DNMT3A and DNMT3B, in their catalytic domain or their N-terminal parts involved in reading histone methylation, or in histone H3 lysine (K) methylases NSD1 or SETD2 (H3 K36) or KMT2D/MLL2 (H3 K4). We provide disease-specific DNAme signatures and document the distinct consequences of mutations in enzymes with very similar or intertwined functions, including at repeated sequences and imprinted loci. We found that KMT2D and SETD2 germline mutations have little impact on DNAme profiles. In contrast, the overlapping DNAme alterations downstream of NSD1 or DNMT3 mutations underlines functional links, more specifically between NSD1 and DNMT3B at heterochromatin regions or DNMT3A at regulatory elements. Together, these data indicate certain discrepancy with the mechanisms described in animal models or the existence of redundant or complementary functions unforeseen in humans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5483
Author(s):  
Luisa F. Bustamante-Jaramillo ◽  
Celia Ramos ◽  
Cristina Martín-Castellanos

Cyclins and CDKs (Cyclin Dependent Kinases) are key players in the biology of eukaryotic cells, representing hubs for the orchestration of physiological conditions with cell cycle progression. Furthermore, as in the case of meiosis, cyclins and CDKs have acquired novel functions unrelated to this primal role in driving the division cycle. Meiosis is a specialized developmental program that ensures proper propagation of the genetic information to the next generation by the production of gametes with accurate chromosome content, and meiosis-specific cyclins are widespread in evolution. We have explored the diversification of CDK functions studying the meiosis-specific Crs1 cyclin in fission yeast. In addition to the reported role in DSB (Double Strand Break) formation, this cyclin is required for meiotic S-phase progression, a canonical role, and to maintain the architecture of the meiotic chromosomes. Crs1 localizes at the SPB (Spindle Pole Body) and is required to stabilize the cluster of telomeres at this location (bouquet configuration), as well as for normal SPB motion. In addition, Crs1 exhibits CDK(Cdc2)-dependent kinase activity in a biphasic manner during meiosis, in contrast to a single wave of protein expression, suggesting a post-translational control of its activity. Thus, Crs1 displays multiple functions, acting both in cell cycle progression and in several key meiosis-specific events.


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