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Intercalation of small molecules into DNA in chromatin is primarily controlled by superhelical constraint. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224936. [PMID: 31747397 PMCID: PMC6867626 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The restricted access of regulatory factors to their binding sites on DNA wrapped around the nucleosomes is generally interpreted in terms of molecular shielding exerted by nucleosomal structure and internucleosomal interactions. Binding of proteins to DNA often includes intercalation of hydrophobic amino acids into the DNA. To assess the role of constrained superhelicity in limiting these interactions, we studied the binding of small molecule intercalators to chromatin in close to native conditions by laser scanning cytometry. We demonstrate that the nucleosome-constrained superhelical configuration of DNA is the main barrier to intercalation. As a result, intercalating compounds are virtually excluded from the nucleosome-occupied regions of the chromatin. Binding of intercalators to extranucleosomal regions is limited to a smaller degree, in line with the existence of net supercoiling in the regions comprising linker and nucleosome free DNA. Its relaxation by inducing as few as a single nick per ~50 kb increases intercalation in the entire chromatin loop, demonstrating the possibility for long-distance effects of regulatory potential.
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Hegedüs É, Kókai E, Nánási P, Imre L, Halász L, Jossé R, Antunovics Z, Webb MR, El Hage A, Pommier Y, Székvölgyi L, Dombrádi V, Szabó G. Endogenous single-strand DNA breaks at RNA polymerase II promoters in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:10649-10668. [PMID: 30445637 PMCID: PMC6237785 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular combing and gel electrophoretic studies revealed endogenous nicks with free 3'OH ends at ∼100 kb intervals in the genomic DNA (gDNA) of unperturbed and G1-synchronized Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. Analysis of the distribution of endogenous nicks by Nick ChIP-chip indicated that these breaks accumulated at active RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) promoters, reminiscent of the promoter-proximal transient DNA breaks of higher eukaryotes. Similar periodicity of endogenous nicks was found within the ribosomal rDNA cluster, involving every ∼10th of the tandemly repeated 9.1 kb units of identical sequence. Nicks were mapped by Southern blotting to a few narrow regions within the affected units. Three of them were overlapping the RNAP II promoters, while the ARS-containing IGS2 region was spared of nicks. By using a highly sensitive reverse-Southwestern blot method to map free DNA ends with 3'OH, nicks were shown to be distinct from other known rDNA breaks and linked to the regulation of rDNA silencing. Nicks in rDNA and the rest of the genome were typically found at the ends of combed DNA molecules, occasionally together with R-loops, comprising a major pool of vulnerable sites that are connected with transcriptional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Éva Hegedüs
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Endre Kókai
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Péter Nánási
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - László Imre
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - László Halász
- MTA-DE Momentum Genome Architecture and Recombination Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Rozenn Jossé
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (CCR-NCI), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Zsuzsa Antunovics
- Department of Genetics and Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | | | - Aziz El Hage
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (CCR-NCI), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lóránt Székvölgyi
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.,MTA-DE Momentum Genome Architecture and Recombination Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Viktor Dombrádi
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gábor Szabó
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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Peška V, Fajkus P, Fojtová M, Dvořáčková M, Hapala J, Dvořáček V, Polanská P, Leitch AR, Sýkorová E, Fajkus J. Characterisation of an unusual telomere motif (TTTTTTAGGG)n in the plant Cestrum elegans (Solanaceae), a species with a large genome. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 82:644-54. [PMID: 25828846 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Revised: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The characterization of unusual telomere sequence sheds light on patterns of telomere evolution, maintenance and function. Plant species from the closely related genera Cestrum, Vestia and Sessea (family Solanaceae) lack known plant telomeric sequences. Here we characterize the telomere of Cestrum elegans, work that was a challenge because of its large genome size and few chromosomes (1C 9.76 pg; n = 8). We developed an approach that combines BAL31 digestion, which digests DNA from the ends and chromosome breaks, with next-generation sequencing (NGS), to generate data analysed in RepeatExplorer, designed for de novo repeats identification and quantification. We identify an unique repeat motif (TTTTTTAGGG)n in C. elegans, occurring in ca. 30 400 copies per haploid genome, averaging ca. 1900 copies per telomere, and synthesized by telomerase. We demonstrate that the motif is synthesized by telomerase. The occurrence of an unusual eukaryote (TTTTTTAGGG)n telomeric motif in C. elegans represents a switch in motif from the 'typical' angiosperm telomere (TTTAGGG)n . That switch may have happened with the divergence of Cestrum, Sessea and Vestia. The shift in motif when it arose would have had profound effects on telomere activity. Thus our finding provides a unique handle to study how telomerase and telomeres responded to genetic change, studies that will shed more light on telomere function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vratislav Peška
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Královopolská 135, CZ-61265, Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, and CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Fajkus
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Královopolská 135, CZ-61265, Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, and CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miloslava Fojtová
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Královopolská 135, CZ-61265, Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, and CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Dvořáčková
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Královopolská 135, CZ-61265, Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, and CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Hapala
- Faculty of Science, and CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtěch Dvořáček
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Královopolská 135, CZ-61265, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Polanská
- Faculty of Science, and CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Andrew R Leitch
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Eva Sýkorová
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Královopolská 135, CZ-61265, Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, and CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Fajkus
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Královopolská 135, CZ-61265, Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, and CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500, Brno, Czech Republic
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Sjakste N, Bielskiene K, Bagdoniene L, Labeikyte D, Gutcaits A, Vassetzky Y, Sjakste T. Tightly bound to DNA proteins: Possible universal substrates for intranuclear processes. Gene 2012; 492:54-64. [PMID: 22001404 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2011.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2011] [Revised: 09/08/2011] [Accepted: 09/22/2011] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- N Sjakste
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, Šarlotes 1a, LV1001, Riga, Latvia
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Sjakste N, Bagdoniene L, Gutcaits A, Labeikyte D, Bielskiene K, Trapiņa I, Muižnieks I, Vassetzky Y, Sjakste T. Proteins tightly bound to DNA: new data and old problems. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2010; 75:1240-51. [PMID: 21166641 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297910100056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Proteins tightly bound to DNA (TBP) comprise a group of proteins that remain bound to DNA after usual deproteinization procedures such as salting out and treatment with phenol or chloroform. TBP bind to DNA by covalent phosphotriester and noncovalent ionic and hydrogen bonds. Some TBP are conservative, and they are usually covalently bound to DNA. However, the TBP composition is very diverse and significantly different in different tissues and in different organisms. TBP include transcription factors, enzymes of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, phosphatases, protein kinases, serpins, and proteins of retrotransposons. Their distribution within the genome is nonrandom. However, the DNA primary structure or DNA curvatures do not define the affinity of TBP to DNA. But there are repetitive DNA sequences with which TBP interact more often. The TBP distribution within genes and chromosomes depends on a cell's physiological state, differentiation type, and stage of organism development. TBP do not interact with DNA in the sites of its association with nuclear matrix and most likely they are not components of the latter.
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Sjakste NI, Sjakste TG. Possible involvement of DNA breaks in epigenetic regulation of cell differentiation. RUSS J GENET+ 2007. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795407050018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Székvölgyi L, Hegedüs E, Molnár M, Bacsó Z, Szarka K, Beck Z, Dombrádi V, Austin C, Szabó G. Nick-forming sequences may be involved in the organization of eukaryotic chromatin into approximately 50 kbp loops. Histochem Cell Biol 2005; 125:63-73. [PMID: 16195888 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-005-0073-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2005] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Phenomena involving the disassembly of chromosomes to approximately 50 kbp double-stranded fragments upon protein denaturing treatments of normal and apoptotic mammalian nuclei as well as yeast protoplasts may be an indication of special, hypersensitive regions positioned regularly at loop-size intervals in the eukaryotic chromatin. Here we show evidence in yeast cell systems that loop-size fragmentation can occur in any phase of the cell cycle and that the plating efficiency of these cells is approximately 100%. The possibility of sequence specificity was investigated within the breakpoint cluster region (bcr) of the human MLL gene, frequently rearranged in certain leukemias. Our data suggest that DNA isolated from yeast cultures or mammalian cell lines carry nicks or secondary structures predisposing DNA for a specific nicking activity, at non-random positions. Furthermore, exposure of MLL bcr-carrying plasmid DNA to S1 nuclease or nuclear extracts or purified topoisomerase II elicited cleavages at the nucleotide positions of nick formation on human genomic DNA. These data support the possibility that certain sequence elements are preferentially involved in the cleavage processes responsible for the en masse disassembly of chromatin to loop-size fragments upon isolation of DNA from live eukaryotic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lóránt Székvölgyi
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, University Medical School of Debrecen, P.O. Box 39, 4012, Debrecen, Hungary
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Szilágyi I, Varga T, Székvölgyi L, Hegedüs E, Goda K, Kaczur V, Bacsó Z, Nakayama Y, Pósafi J, Pongor S, Szabó G. Non-random features of loop-size chromatin fragmentation. J Cell Biochem 2003; 89:1193-205. [PMID: 12898517 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.10591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Upon isolation of DNA from normal eukaryotic cells by standard methods involving extensive proteolytic treatment, a rather homogeneous population of loop-size, double-stranded DNA fragments is regularly obtained. These DNA molecules can be efficiently end-labeled by the DNA polymerase I Klenow fragment, as well as by a 3'- to -5'-exonuclease-free Klenow enzyme, but not by terminal transferase (TdT) unless the ends have been filled up by Klenow, suggesting that dominantly 5' protruding termini are generated upon fragmentation. The filled-up termini were used for cloning the distal parts of the approximately 50 kb fragments. BLAST analysis of the sequence of several clones allowed us to determine the sequence of the non-cloned side of the breakpoints. Comparison of 25, 600 bp-long breakpoint sequences demonstrated prevalence of repetitive elements. Consensus motives characteristic of the breakpoint sequences have been identified. Several sequences exhibit peculiar computed conformational characteristics, with sharp transition or center of symmetry located exactly at the breakpoint. Our data collectively suggest that chromatin fragmentation involves nucleolytic cleavages at fragile/hypersensitive sites delimiting loop-size fragments in a non-random manner. Interestingly, the sequence characteristics of the breakpoints are reminiscent of certain breakpoint cluster regions frequently subject to gene rearrangements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ildikó Szilágyi
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, University Medical School of Debrecen, 4012 Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, Hungary
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Gál I, Varga T, Szilágyi I, Balázs M, Schlammadinger J, Szabó G. Protease-elicited TUNEL positivity of non-apoptotic fixed cells. J Histochem Cytochem 2000; 48:963-70. [PMID: 10858273 DOI: 10.1177/002215540004800709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The appearance of free DNA ends in the chromatin is usually considered an indication of advanced apoptosis. Unexpectedly, the nuclei of non-apoptotic cells derived from mouse thymuses could be specifically labeled by terminal transferase after proteinase K treatment of the fixed, cytocentrifuged samples. Artifactual mechanical or contaminating nucleolytic factors have been ruled out as players in the generation of free DNA ends. The phenomenon was detected in both formaldehyde- and ethanol-fixed specimens, in agarose-embedded fixed cells, and in chromatin spreads. By urea-agarose gel electrophoresis, the average single-strand size of the DNA molecules carrying the free ends was found between 50 and 250 kb. We suggest that ss discontinuities preexisting in the fixed normal cells are unmasked by protease treatment eliciting TUNEL (terminal transferase-mediated nick end-labeling) positivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Gál
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, University Medical School of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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