Active nucleosome positioning beyond intrinsic biophysics is revealed by in vitro reconstitution

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Korber
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequence ◽  
Nucleosome Occupancy ◽  
Nucleosome Positioning ◽  
Major Theme ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Nucleosome Formation ◽  
Dna Binders

Genome-wide nucleosome maps revealed well-positioned nucleosomes as a major theme in eukaryotic genome organization. Promoter regions often show a conserved pattern with an NDR (nucleosome-depleted region) from which regular nucleosomal arrays emanate. Three mechanistic contributions to such NDR-array-organization and nucleosome positioning in general are discussed: DNA sequence, DNA binders and DNA-templated processes. Especially, intrinsic biophysics of DNA sequence preferences for nucleosome formation was prominently suggested to explain the majority of nucleosome positions (‘genomic code for nucleosome positioning’). Nonetheless, non-histone factors that bind DNA with high or low specificity, such as transcription factors or remodelling enzymes respectively and processes such as replication, transcription and the so-called ‘statistical positioning’ may be involved too. Recently, these models were tested for yeast by genome-wide reconstitution. DNA sequence preferences as probed by SGD (salt gradient dialysis) reconstitution generated many NDRs, but only few individual nucleosomes, at their proper positions, and no arrays. Addition of a yeast extract and ATP led to dramatically more in vivo-like nucleosome positioning, including regular arrays for the first time. This improvement depended essentially on the extract and ATP but not on transcription or replication. Nucleosome occupancy and close spacing were maintained around promoters, even at lower histone density, arguing for active packing of nucleosomes against the 5′ ends of genes rather than statistical positioning. A first extract fractionation identified a direct, specific, necessary, but not sufficient role for the RSC (remodels the structure of chromatin) remodelling enzyme. Collectively, nucleosome positioning in yeast is actively determined by factors beyond intrinsic biophysics, and in steady-state rather than at equilibrium.

scholarly journals Nucleosome positioning on large tandem DNA repeats of the '601' sequence engineered in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid Lancrey ◽  
Alexandra Joubert ◽  
Evelyne Duvernois-Berthet ◽  
Etienne Routhier ◽  
Saurabh Raj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Dna Sequence ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Nucleosome Occupancy ◽  
Nucleosome Positioning ◽  
Dna Repeats ◽  
Repeat Array ◽  
Synthetic Dna

The so-called 601 DNA sequence is often used to constrain the position of nucleosomes on a DNA molecule in vitro. Although the ability of the 147 base pair sequence to precisely position a nucleosome in vitro is well documented, in vivo application of this property has been explored only in a few studies and yielded contradictory conclusions. Our goal in the present study was to test the ability of the 601 sequence to dictate nucleosome positioning in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the context of a long tandem repeat array inserted in a yeast chromosome. We engineered such arrays with three different repeat size, namely 167, 197 and 237 base pairs. Although our arrays are able to position nucleosomes in vitro as expected, analysis of nucleosome occupancy on these arrays in vivo revealed that nucleosomes are not preferentially positioned as expected on the 601-core sequence along the repeats and that the measured nucleosome repeat length does not correspond to the one expected by design. Altogether our results demonstrate that the rules defining nucleosome positions on this DNA sequence in vitro are not valid in vivo, at least in this chromosomal context, questioning the relevance of using the 601 sequence in vivo to achieve precise nucleosome positioning on designer synthetic DNA sequences.

scholarly journals Sequence-based prediction of single nucleosome positioning and genome-wide nucleosome occupancy

2012 ◽  
Vol 109 (38) ◽  
pp. E2514-E2522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thijn van der Heijden ◽  
Joke J.F.A. van Vugt ◽  
Colin Logie ◽  
John van Noort
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Nucleosome Occupancy ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Simple Algorithm ◽  
Nucleosome Positioning ◽  
Mechanics Model ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Sequence Effects

Nucleosome positioning dictates eukaryotic DNA compaction and access. To predict nucleosome positions in a statistical mechanics model, we exploited the knowledge that nucleosomes favor DNA sequences with specific periodically occurring dinucleotides. Our model is the first to capture both dyad position within a few base pairs, and free binding energy within 2 kBT, for all the known nucleosome positioning sequences. By applying Percus’s equation to the derived energy landscape, we isolate sequence effects on genome-wide nucleosome occupancy from other factors that may influence nucleosome positioning. For both in vitro and in vivo systems, three parameters suffice to predict nucleosome occupancy with correlation coefficients of respectively 0.74 and 0.66. As predicted, we find the largest deviations in vivo around transcription start sites. This relatively simple algorithm can be used to guide future studies on the influence of DNA sequence on chromatin organization.

scholarly journals A unified computational framework for modeling genome-wide nucleosome landscape

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hu Jin ◽  
Alex I. Finnegan ◽  
Jun S. Song
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequence ◽  
Genomic Sequence ◽  
Nucleosome Occupancy ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Computational Framework ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Eukaryotic Chromatin

AbstractNucleosomes form the fundamental building blocks of eukaryotic chromatin, and previous attempts to understand the principles governing their genome-wide distribution have spurred much interest and debate in biology. In particular, the precise role of DNA sequence in shaping local chromatin structure has been controversial. This paper rigorously quantifies of the contribution of hitherto-debated sequence features – including G+C content, 10.5-bp periodicity, and poly(dA:dT) tracts – to three distinct aspects of genome-wide nucleosome landscape: occupancy, translational positioning and rotational positioning. Our computational framework simultaneously learns nucleosome number and nucleosome-positioning energy from genome-wide nucleosome maps. In contrast to other previous studies, our model can predict bothin-vitroandin-vivonucleosome maps inS. cerevisiae. We find that although G+C content is the primary determinant of MNase-derived nucleosome occupancy, MNase digestion biases may substantially influence this GC dependence. By contrast, poly(dA:dT) tracts are seen to deter nucleosome formation, regardless of the experimental method used. We further show that the 10.5-bp nucleotide periodicity facilitates rotational but not translational positioning. Applying our method toin-vivonucleosome maps demonstrates that, for a subset of genes, the regularly-spaced nucleosome arrays observed around transcription start sites can be partially recapitulated by DNA sequence alone. Finally,in-vivonucleosome occupancy derived from MNase-seq experiments around transcription termination sites can be mostly explained by the genomic sequence. Implications of these results and potential extensions of the proposed computational framework are discussed

scholarly journals c-Jun/c-Fos heterodimers regulate cellular genes via a newly identified class of methylated DNA sequence motifs

2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 3059-3072 ◽  
Author(s):  
Montse Gustems ◽  
Anne Woellmer ◽  
Ulrich Rothbauer ◽  
Sebastian H. Eck ◽  
Thomas Wieland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Dna Sequence ◽  
Epigenetic Silencing ◽  
Activator Protein 1 ◽  
Sequence Motifs ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Barr Virus ◽  
Dna Sequence Motifs

Abstract CpG methylation in mammalian DNA is known to interfere with gene expression by inhibiting the binding of transactivators to their cognate sequence motifs or recruiting proteins involved in gene repression. An Epstein–Barr virus-encoded transcription factor, Zta, was the first example of a sequence-specific transcription factor that preferentially recognizes and selectively binds DNA sequence motifs with methylated CpG residues, reverses epigenetic silencing and activates gene transcription. The DNA binding domain of Zta is homologous to c-Fos, a member of the cellular AP-1 (activator protein 1) transcription factor family, which regulates cell proliferation and survival, apoptosis, transformation and oncogenesis. We have identified a novel AP-1 binding site termed meAP-1, which contains a CpG dinucleotide. If methylated, meAP-1 sites are preferentially bound by the AP-1 heterodimer c-Jun/c-Fos in vitro and in cellular chromatin in vivo. In activated human primary B cells, c-Jun/c-Fos locates to these methylated elements in promoter regions of transcriptionally activated genes. Reminiscent of the viral Zta protein, c-Jun/c-Fos is the first identified cellular member of the AP-1 family of transactivators that can induce expression of genes with methylated, hence repressed promoters, reversing epigenetic silencing.

scholarly journals DNA-guided establishment of canonical nucleosome patterns in a eukaryotic genome

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie Y Beh ◽  
Noam Kaplan ◽  
Manuel M Muller ◽  
Tom W Muir ◽  
Laura F Landweber
Keyword(s):  
Tetrahymena Thermophila ◽  
Gc Content ◽  
Transcription Start ◽  
Transcription Start Sites ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Nucleosome Formation ◽  
Eukaryotic Chromatin ◽  
Nucleosome Array

A conserved hallmark of eukaryotic chromatin architecture is the distinctive array of well-positioned nucleosomes downstream of transcription start sites (TSS). Recent studies indicate that trans-acting factors establish this stereotypical array. Here, we present the first genome-wide in vitro and in vivo nucleosome maps for the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila. In contrast with previous studies in yeast, we find that the stereotypical nucleosome array is preserved in the in vitro reconstituted map, which is governed only by the DNA sequence preferences of nucleosomes. Remarkably, this average in vitro pattern arises from the presence of subsets of nucleosomes, rather than the whole array, in individual Tetrahymena genes. Variation in GC content contributes to the positioning of these sequence-directed nucleosomes, and affects codon usage and amino acid composition in genes. We propose that these ‘seed’ nucleosomes may aid the AT-rich Tetrahymena genome – which is intrinsically unfavorable for nucleosome formation – in establishing nucleosome arrays in vivo in concert with trans-acting factors, while minimizing changes to the coding sequences they are embedded within.

scholarly journals Proximal-end bias from in-vitro reconstituted nucleosomes and the result on downstream data analysis

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0258737
Author(s):  
David A. Bates ◽  
Charles E. Bates ◽  
Andrew S. Earl ◽  
Colin Skousen ◽  
Ashley N. Fetbrandt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleosome Occupancy ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Dna Fragments ◽  
Nucleosome Formation ◽  
Eukaryotic Gene ◽  
Dna Regulatory Elements ◽  
Dna Ends ◽  
Basic Level

The most basic level of eukaryotic gene regulation is the presence or absence of nucleosomes on DNA regulatory elements. In an effort to elucidate in vivo nucleosome patterns, in vitro studies are frequently used. In vitro, short DNA fragments are more favorable for nucleosome formation, increasing the likelihood of nucleosome occupancy. This may in part result from the fact that nucleosomes prefer to form on the terminal ends of linear DNA. This phenomenon has the potential to bias in vitro reconstituted nucleosomes and skew results. If the ends of DNA fragments are known, the reads falling close to the ends are typically discarded. In this study we confirm the phenomenon of end bias of in vitro nucleosomes. We describe a method in which nearly identical libraries, with different known ends, are used to recover nucleosomes which form towards the terminal ends of fragmented DNA. Finally, we illustrate that although nucleosomes prefer to form on DNA ends, it does not appear to skew results or the interpretation thereof.

scholarly journals Genome-Wide Transcriptomic Identification and Functional Insight of Lily WRKY Genes Responding to Botrytis Fungal Disease

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 776
Author(s):  
Shipra Kumari ◽  
Bashistha Kumar Kanth ◽  
Ju young Ahn ◽  
Jong Hwa Kim ◽  
Geung-Joo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Stress ◽  
Biotic Stress ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Lilium Longiflorum ◽  
Biotic And Abiotic Stress ◽  
Biotic Stresses ◽  
Genome Wide

Genome-wide transcriptome analysis using RNA-Seq of Lilium longiflorum revealed valuable genes responding to biotic stresses. WRKY transcription factors are regulatory proteins playing essential roles in defense processes under environmental stresses, causing considerable losses in flower quality and production. Thirty-eight WRKY genes were identified from the transcriptomic profile from lily genotypes, exhibiting leaf blight caused by Botrytis elliptica. Lily WRKYs have a highly conserved motif, WRKYGQK, with a common variant, WRKYGKK. Phylogeny of LlWRKYs with homologous genes from other representative plant species classified them into three groups- I, II, and III consisting of seven, 22, and nine genes, respectively. Base on functional annotation, 22 LlWRKY genes were associated with biotic stress, nine with abiotic stress, and seven with others. Sixteen unique LlWRKY were studied to investigate responses to stress conditions using gene expression under biotic and abiotic stress treatments. Five genes—LlWRKY3, LlWRKY4, LlWRKY5, LlWRKY10, and LlWRKY12—were substantially upregulated, proving to be biotic stress-responsive genes in vivo and in vitro conditions. Moreover, the expression patterns of LlWRKY genes varied in response to drought, heat, cold, and different developmental stages or tissues. Overall, our study provides structural and molecular insights into LlWRKY genes for use in the genetic engineering in Lilium against Botrytis disease.

scholarly journals Activation of MAT2A-RIP1 signaling axis reprograms monocytes in gastric cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e001364
Author(s):  
Yan Zhang ◽  
Hui Yang ◽  
Jun Zhao ◽  
Ping Wan ◽  
Ye Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Cell Metabolism ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Methionine Metabolism ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Normal Tissues ◽  
Methionine Cycle

BackgroundThe activation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) facilitates the progression of gastric cancer (GC). Cell metabolism reprogramming has been shown to play a vital role in the polarization of TAMs. However, the role of methionine metabolism in function of TAMs remains to be explored.MethodsMonocytes/macrophages were isolated from peripheral blood, tumor tissues or normal tissues from healthy donors or patients with GC. The role of methionine metabolism in the activation of TAMs was evaluated with both in vivo analyses and in vitro experiments. Pharmacological inhibition of the methionine cycle and modulation of key metabolic genes was employed, where molecular and biological analyses were performed.ResultsTAMs have increased methionine cycle activity that are mainly attributed to elevated methionine adenosyltransferase II alpha (MAT2A) levels. MAT2A modulates the activation and maintenance of the phenotype of TAMs and mediates the upregulation of RIP1 by increasing the histone H3K4 methylation (H3K4me3) at its promoter regions.ConclusionsOur data cast light on a novel mechanism by which methionine metabolism regulates the anti-inflammatory functions of monocytes in GC. MAT2A might be a potential therapeutic target for cancer cells as well as TAMs in GC.

scholarly journals A deformation energy model reveals sequence-dependent property of nucleosome positioning

Chromosoma ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-40
Author(s):  
Guoqing Liu ◽  
Hongyu Zhao ◽  
Hu Meng ◽  
Yongqiang Xing ◽  
Lu Cai
Keyword(s):  
Budding Yeast ◽  
Nucleosome Occupancy ◽  
Nucleosome Positioning ◽  
Deformation Energy ◽  
Energy Model ◽  
Structural Parameter ◽  
High Deformation ◽  
Dna Deformation ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Genomic Regions

AbstractWe present a deformation energy model for predicting nucleosome positioning, in which a position-dependent structural parameter set derived from crystal structures of nucleosomes was used to calculate the DNA deformation energy. The model is successful in predicting nucleosome occupancy genome-wide in budding yeast, nucleosome free energy, and rotational positioning of nucleosomes. Our model also indicates that the genomic regions underlying the MNase-sensitive nucleosomes in budding yeast have high deformation energy and, consequently, low nucleosome-forming ability, while the MNase-sensitive non-histone particles are characterized by much lower DNA deformation energy and high nucleosome preference. In addition, we also revealed that remodelers, SNF2 and RSC8, are likely to act in chromatin remodeling by binding to broad nucleosome-depleted regions that are intrinsically favorable for nucleosome positioning. Our data support the important role of position-dependent physical properties of DNA in nucleosome positioning.

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