scholarly journals Defining the location of promoter-associated R-loops at near-nucleotide resolution using bisDRIP-seq

eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason G Dumelie ◽  
Samie R Jaffrey

R-loops are features of chromatin consisting of a strand of DNA hybridized to RNA, as well as the expelled complementary DNA strand. R-loops are enriched at promoters where they have recently been shown to have important roles in modifying gene expression. However, the location of promoter-associated R-loops and the genomic domains they perturb to modify gene expression remain unclear. To resolve this issue, we developed a bisulfite-based approach, bisDRIP-seq, to map R-loops across the genome at near-nucleotide resolution in MCF-7 cells. We found the location of promoter-associated R-loops is dependent on the presence of introns. In intron-containing genes, R-loops are bounded between the transcription start site and the first exon-intron junction. In intronless genes, the 3' boundary displays gene-specific heterogeneity. Moreover, intronless genes are often associated with promoter-associated R-loop formation. Together, these studies provide a high-resolution map of R-loops and identify gene structure as a critical determinant of R-loop formation.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maika Malig ◽  
Stella R. Hartono ◽  
Jenna M. Giafaglione ◽  
Lionel A. Sanz ◽  
Frederic Chedin

ABSTRACTR-loops are a prevalent class of non-B DNA structures that form during transcription upon reannealing of the nascent RNA to the template DNA strand. R-loops have been profiled using the S9.6 antibody to immunoprecipitate DNA:RNA hybrids. S9.6-based DNA:RNA immunoprecipitation (DRIP) techniques revealed that R-loops form dynamically over conserved genic hotspots. We developed an orthogonal profiling methodology that queries R-loops via the presence of long stretches of single-stranded DNA on the looped-out strand. Non-denaturing sodium bisulfite treatment catalyzes the conversion of unpaired cytosines to uracils, creating permanent genetic tags for the position of an R-loop. Long read, single-molecule PacBio sequencing allows the identification of R-loop ‘footprints’ at near nucleotide resolution in a strand-specific manner on single DNA molecules and at ultra-deep coverage. Single-molecule R-loop footprinting (SMRF-seq) revealed a strong agreement between S9.6-and bisulfite-based R-loop mapping and confirmed that R-loops form from unspliced transcripts over genic hotspots. Using the largest single-molecule R-loop dataset to date, we show that individual R-loops generate overlapping sets of molecular clusters that pile-up through larger R-loop-prone zones. SMRF-seq further established that R-loop distribution patterns are driven by both intrinsic DNA sequence features and DNA topological constraints, revealing the principles of R-loop formation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Bakhtou ◽  
Asiie Olfatbakhsh ◽  
Abdolkhaegh Deezagi ◽  
Ghasem Ahangari

Background:Breast cancer is one of the common causes of mortality for women in Iran and other parts of the world. The substantial increasing rate of breast cancer in both developed and developing countries warns the scientists to provide more preventive steps and therapeutic measures. This study is conducted to investigate the impact of neurotransmitters (e.g., Dopamine) through their receptors and the importance of cancers via damaging immune system. It also evaluates dopamine receptors gene expression in the women with breast cancer at stages II or III and dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) related agonist and antagonist drug effects on human breast cancer cells, including MCF-7 and SKBR-3.Methods:The patients were categorized into two groups: 30 native patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer at stages II and III, with the mean age of 44.6 years and they were reported to have the experience of a chronic stress or unpleasant life event. The second group included 30 individuals with the mean age of 39 years as the control group. In order to determine the RNA concentration in all samples, the RNA samples were extracted and cDNA was synthesized. The MCF-7 cells and SKBR-3 cells were treated with dopamine receptors agonists and antagonists. The MTT test was conducted to identify oxidative and reductive enzymes and to specify appropriate dosage at four concentrations of dopamine and Cabergoline on MCF-7 and SKBR-3 cells. Immunofluorescence staining was done by the use of a mixed dye containing acridine orange and ethidiume bromide on account of differentiating between apoptotic and necrotic cells. Flow cytometry assay was an applied method to differentiate necrotic from apoptotic cells.Results:Sixty seven and thirty three percent of the patients were related to stages II and III, respectively. About sixty three percent of the patients expressed ER, while fifty seven percent expressed PR. Thirty seven percent of the patients were identified as HER-2 positive. All types of D2-receptors were expressed in PBMC of patients with breast cancer and healthy individuals. The expression of the whole dopamine receptor subtypes (DRD2-DRD4) was carried out on MCF-7 cell line. The results of RT-PCR confirmed the expression of DRD2 on SKBR-3 cells, whereas the other types of D2- receptors did not have an expression. The remarkable differences in gene expression rates between patients and healthy individuals were revealed in the result of the Real-time PCR analysis. The over expression in DRD2 and DRD4 genes of PBMCs was observed in the patients with breast cancer at stages II and III. The great amount of apoptosis and necrosis occurred after the treatment of MCF-7 cells by Cabergoline from 25 to 100 µmolL-1 concentrations.Conclusion:This study revealed the features of dopamine receptors associated with apoptosis induction in breast cancer cells. Moreover, the use of D2-agonist based on dopamine receptors expression in various breast tumoral cells could be promising as a new insight of complementary therapy in breast cancer.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Zhang ◽  
Diyin Luo ◽  
Yu Li ◽  
Vanja Perčulija ◽  
Jing Chen ◽  
...  

AbstractCas12i is a newly identified member of the functionally diverse type V CRISPR-Cas effectors. Although Cas12i has the potential to serve as genome-editing tool, its structural and functional characteristics need to be investigated in more detail before effective application. Here we report the crystal structures of the Cas12i1 R-loop complexes before and after target DNA cleavage to elucidate the mechanisms underlying target DNA duplex unwinding, R-loop formation and cis cleavage. The structure of the R-loop complex after target DNA cleavage also provides information regarding trans cleavage. Besides, we report a crystal structure of the Cas12i1 binary complex interacting with a pseudo target oligonucleotide, which mimics target interrogation. Upon target DNA duplex binding, the Cas12i1 PAM-interacting cleft undergoes a remarkable open-to-closed adjustment. Notably, a zipper motif in the Helical-I domain facilitates unzipping of the target DNA duplex. Formation of the 19-bp crRNA-target DNA strand heteroduplex in the R-loop complexes triggers a conformational rearrangement and unleashes the DNase activity. This study provides valuable insights for developing Cas12i1 into a reliable genome-editing tool.


Genomics ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphane Schurmans ◽  
Roberto Carrió ◽  
Jens Behrends ◽  
Valérie Pouillon ◽  
Jesús Merino ◽  
...  

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