Domain-wide regulation of DNA replication timing during mammalian development

Collisions of RNA polymerases behind the replication fork promote alternative RNA splicing in newly replicated chromatin

DNA replication produces a global disorganization of chromatin structure that takes hours to be restored. However, how these chromatin rearrangements affect the regulation of gene expression and the maintenance of cell identity is not clear. Here, we use ChOR-seq and ChrRNA-seq experiments to analyze RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) activity and nascent RNA synthesis during the first hours after chromatin replication in human cells. We observe that transcription elongation is rapidly reactivated in nascent chromatin but that RNAPII abundance and distribution are altered, producing heterogeneous changes in RNA synthesis. Moreover, this first wave of transcription results in RNAPII blockages behind the replication fork, leading to changes in alternative splicing. Altogether, our results deepen our understanding of how transcriptional programs are regulated during cell division and uncover molecular mechanisms that explain why chromatin replication is an important source of gene expression variability.

A novel, rapid and sensitive flow cytometry method reveals degradation of promoter proximal paused RNAPII in the presence and absence of UV

RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) is emerging as an important factor in DNA damage responses, but how it responds to genotoxic stress is not fully understood. We have developed a rapid and sensitive flow cytometry method to study chromatin binding of RNAPII in individual human cells through the cell cycle. Indicating enhanced transcription initiation at early timepoints, levels of RNAPII were increased at 15–30min after UV-induced DNA damage. This was particularly evident for the S5 phosphorylated form of RNAPII (pRNAPII S5), which is typically associated with promoter proximal pausing. Furthermore, degradation of pRNAPII S5 frequently occurs, as its levels on chromatin were strongly enhanced by the proteasome inhibitor MG132 with and without UV. Remarkably, inhibiting pause release with 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-ribo-furanosyl benzimidazole (DRB) further promoted UV-induced degradation of pRNAPII S5, suggesting enhanced initiation may lead to a phenomenon of ‘promoter proximal crowding’ resulting in premature termination via degradation of RNAPII. Moreover, pRNAPII S2 levels on chromatin were more stable in S phase of the cell cycle 2h after UV, indicating cell cycle specific effects. Altogether our results demonstrate a useful new method and suggest that degradation of promoter proximal RNAPII plays an unanticipated large role both during normal transcription and after UV.

High-throughput analysis of single human cells reveals the complex nature of DNA replication timing control

DNA replication initiates from replication origins firing throughout S phase. Debate remains about whether origins are a fixed set of loci, or a loose agglomeration of potential sites used stochastically in individual cells, and about how consistent their firing time is. We develop an approach to profile DNA replication from whole-genome sequencing of thousands of single cells, which includes in silico flow cytometry, a method for discriminating replicating and non-replicating cells. Using two microfluidic platforms, we analyze up to 2437 replicating cells from a single sample. The resolution and scale of the data allow focused analysis of replication initiation sites, demonstrating that most occur in confined genomic regions. While initiation order is remarkably similar across cells, we unexpectedly identify several subtypes of initiation regions in late-replicating regions. Taken together, high throughput, high resolution sequencing of individual cells reveals previously underappreciated variability in replication initiation and progression.

Transcription-Replication Collisions-A Series of Unfortunate Events

Transcription-replication interactions occur when DNA replication encounters genomic regions undergoing transcription. Both replication and transcription are essential for life and use the same DNA template making conflicts unavoidable. R-loops, DNA supercoiling, DNA secondary structure, and chromatin-binding proteins are all potential obstacles for processive replication or transcription and pose an even more potent threat to genome integrity when these processes co-occur. It is critical to maintaining high fidelity and processivity of transcription and replication while navigating through a complex chromatin environment, highlighting the importance of defining cellular pathways regulating transcription-replication interaction formation, evasion, and resolution. Here we discuss how transcription influences replication fork stability, and the safeguards that have evolved to navigate transcription-replication interactions and maintain genome integrity in mammalian cells.

Low Replicative Stress Triggers Cell-Type Specific Inheritable Advanced Replication Timing

DNA replication timing (RT), reflecting the temporal order of origin activation, is known as a robust and conserved cell-type specific process. Upon low replication stress, the slowing of replication forks induces well-documented RT delays associated to genetic instability, but it can also generate RT advances that are still uncharacterized. In order to characterize these advanced initiation events, we monitored the whole genome RT from six independent human cell lines treated with low doses of aphidicolin. We report that RT advances are cell-type-specific and involve large heterochromatin domains. Importantly, we found that some major late to early RT advances can be inherited by the unstressed next-cellular generation, which is a unique process that correlates with enhanced chromatin accessibility, as well as modified replication origin landscape and gene expression in daughter cells. Collectively, this work highlights how low replication stress may impact cellular identity by RT advances events at a subset of chromosomal domains.

Histone modifications form a cell-type-specific chromosomal bar code that persists through the cell cycle

Chromatin configuration influences gene expression in eukaryotes at multiple levels, from individual nucleosomes to chromatin domains several Mb long. Post-translational modifications (PTM) of core histones seem to be involved in chromatin structural transitions, but how remains unclear. To explore this, we used ChIP-seq and two cell types, HeLa and lymphoblastoid (LCL), to define how changes in chromatin packaging through the cell cycle influence the distributions of three transcription-associated histone modifications, H3K9ac, H3K4me3 and H3K27me3. We show that chromosome regions (bands) of 10-50 Mb, detectable by immunofluorescence microscopy of metaphase (M) chromosomes, are also present in G1 and G2. They comprise 1-5 Mb sub-bands that differ between HeLa and LCL but remain consistent through the cell cycle. The same sub-bands are defined by H3K9ac and H3K4me3, while H3K27me3 spreads more widely. We found little change between cell cycle phases, whether compared by 5 Kb rolling windows or when analysis was restricted to functional elements such as transcription start sites and topologically associating domains. Only a small number of genes showed cell-cycle related changes: at genes encoding proteins involved in mitosis, H3K9 became highly acetylated in G2M, possibly because of ongoing transcription. In conclusion, modified histone isoforms H3K9ac, H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 exhibit a characteristic genomic distribution at resolutions of 1 Mb and below that differs between HeLa and lymphoblastoid cells but remains remarkably consistent through the cell cycle. We suggest that this cell-type-specific chromosomal bar-code is part of a homeostatic mechanism by which cells retain their characteristic gene expression patterns, and hence their identity, through multiple mitoses.

Developmental differences in genome replication program and origin activation

To ensure error-free duplication of all (epi)genetic information once per cell cycle, DNA replication follows a cell type and developmental stage specific spatio-temporal program. Here, we analyze the spatio-temporal DNA replication progression in (un)differentiated mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells. Whereas telomeres replicate throughout S-phase, we observe mid S-phase replication of (peri)centromeric heterochromatin in mES cells, which switches to late S-phase replication upon differentiation. This replication timing reversal correlates with and depends on an increase in condensation and a decrease in acetylation of chromatin. We further find synchronous duplication of the Y chromosome, marking the end of S-phase, irrespectively of the pluripotency state. Using a combination of single-molecule and super-resolution microscopy, we measure molecular properties of the mES cell replicon, the number of replication foci active in parallel and their spatial clustering. We conclude that each replication nanofocus in mES cells corresponds to an individual replicon, with up to one quarter representing unidirectional forks. Furthermore, with molecular combing and genome-wide origin mapping analyses, we find that mES cells activate twice as many origins spaced at half the distance than somatic cells. Altogether, our results highlight fundamental developmental differences on progression of genome replication and origin activation in pluripotent cells.

Replication timing alterations in leukemia affect clinically relevant chromosome domains

Human B-cell precursor acute lymphoid leukemias (BCP-ALLs) comprise a group of genetically and clinically distinct disease entities with features of differentiation arrest at known stages of normal B-lineage differentiation. We previously showed that BCP-ALL cells display unique and clonally heritable, stable DNA replication timing (RT) programs (ie, programs describing the variable order of replication and subnuclear 3D architecture of megabase-scale chromosomal units of DNA in different cell types). To determine the extent to which BCP-ALL RT programs mirror or deviate from specific stages of normal human B-cell differentiation, we transplanted immunodeficient mice with quiescent normal human CD34+ cord blood cells and obtained RT signatures of the regenerating B-lineage populations. We then compared these with RT signatures for leukemic cells from a large cohort of BCP-ALL patients with varied genetic subtypes and outcomes. The results identify BCP-ALL subtype-specific features that resemble specific stages of B-cell differentiation and features that seem to be associated with relapse. These results suggest that the genesis of BCP-ALL involves alterations in RT that reflect biologically significant and potentially clinically relevant leukemia-specific epigenetic changes.

Replication timing in Drosophila and its peculiarities in polytene chromosomes

Drosophila melanogaster is one of the popular model organisms in DNA replication studies. Since the 1960s, DNA replication of polytene chromosomes has been extensively studied by cytological methods. In the recent two decades, the progress in our understanding of DNA replication was associated with new techniques. Use of fluorescent dyes increased the resolution of cytological methods significantly. High-throughput methods allowed analysis of DNA replication on a genome scale, as well as its correlation with chromatin structure and gene activi ty. Precise mapping of the cytological structures of polytene chromosomes to the genome assembly allowed comparison of replication between polytene chromosomes and chromosomes of diploid cells. New features of replication characteristic for D. melanogaster were described for both diploid and polytene chromosomes. Comparison of genomic replication profiles revealed a significant similarity between Drosophila and other well-studi ed eukaryotic species, such as human. Early replication is often confined to intensely transcribed gene-dense regions characterized by multiple replication initiation sites. Features of DNA replication in Drosophila might be explained by a compact genome. The organization of replication in polytene chromosomes has much in common with the organization of replication in chromosomes in diploid cells. The most important feature of replication in polytene chromosomes is its low rate and the dependence of S-phase duration on many factors: external and internal, local and global. The speed of replication forks in D. melanogaster polytene chromosomes is affected by SUUR and Rif1 proteins. It is not known yet how universal the mechanisms associated with these factors are, but their study is very promising.

Insights into the Link between the Organization of DNA Replication and the Mutational Landscape

The generation of a complete and accurate copy of the genetic material during each cell cycle is integral to cell growth and proliferation. However, genetic diversity is essential for adaptation and evolution, and the process of DNA replication is a fundamental source of mutations. Genome alterations do not accumulate randomly, with variations in the types and frequencies of mutations that arise in different genomic regions. Intriguingly, recent studies revealed a striking link between the mutational landscape of a genome and the spatial and temporal organization of DNA replication, referred to as the replication program. In our review, we discuss how this program may contribute to shaping the profile and spectrum of genetic alterations, with implications for genome dynamics and organismal evolution in natural and pathological contexts.

Linking the organization of DNA replication with genome maintenance

The spatial and temporal organization of genome duplication, also referred to as the replication program, is defined by the distribution and the activities of the sites of replication initiation across the genome. Alterations to the replication profile are associated with cell fate changes during development and in pathologies, but the importance of undergoing S phase with distinct and specific programs remains largely unexplored. We have recently addressed this question, focusing on the interplay between the replication program and genome maintenance. In particular, we demonstrated that when cells encounter challenges to DNA synthesis, the organization of DNA replication drives the response to replication stress that is mediated by the ATR/Rad3 checkpoint pathway, thus shaping the pattern of genome instability along the chromosomes. In this review, we present the major findings of our study and discuss how they may bring new perspectives to our understanding of the biological importance of the replication program.

Recent advances in understanding DNA replication: cell type-specific adaptation of the DNA replication program

DNA replication is an essential process occurring prior to cell division. Cell division coupled to proliferation ensures the growth and renewal of a large variety of specialized cell types generated during embryonic development. Changes in the DNA replication program occur during development. Embryonic undifferentiated cells show a high replication rate and fast proliferation, whereas more differentiated cells are characterized by reduced DNA synthesis and a low proliferation rate. Hence, the DNA replication program must adapt to the specific features of cells committed to different fates. Recent findings on DNA synthesis regulation in different cell types open new perspectives for developing efficient and more adapted therapies to treat various diseases such as genetic diseases and cancer. This review will put the emphasis on recent progress made in this field.

Regulation of the program of DNA replication by CDK: new findings and perspectives

Progression through the cell cycle is driven by the activities of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) family of enzymes, which establish an ordered passage through the cell cycle phases. CDK activity is crucial for the cellular transitions from G1 to S and G2 to M, which are highly controlled to promote the faithful duplication of the genetic material and the transmission of the genome into daughter cells, respectively. While oscillations in CDK activity are essential for cell division, how its specific dynamics may shape cellular processes remains an open question. Recently, we have investigated the potential role of CDK in establishing the profile of replication initiation along the chromosomes, also referred to as the replication program. Our results demonstrated that the timing and level of CDK activity at G1/S provide two critical and independent inputs that modulate the pattern of origin usage. In this review, we will present the conclusions of our study and discuss the implications of our findings for cellular function and physiology.

Genome-wide analysis of replication timing by next-generation sequencing with E/L Repli-seq

This protocol is an extension to: Nat. Protoc. 6, 870-895 (2014); doi:10.1038/nprot.2011.328; published online 02 June 2011Cycling cells duplicate their DNA content during S phase, following a defined program called replication timing (RT). Early- and late-replicating regions differ in terms of mutation rates, transcriptional activity, chromatin marks and subnuclear position. Moreover, RT is regulated during development and is altered in diseases. Here, we describe E/L Repli-seq, an extension of our Repli-chip protocol. E/L Repli-seq is a rapid, robust and relatively inexpensive protocol for analyzing RT by next-generation sequencing (NGS), allowing genome-wide assessment of how cellular processes are linked to RT. Briefly, cells are pulse-labeled with BrdU, and early and late S-phase fractions are sorted by flow cytometry. Labeled nascent DNA is immunoprecipitated from both fractions and sequenced. Data processing leads to a single bedGraph file containing the ratio of nascent DNA from early versus late S-phase fractions. The results are comparable to those of Repli-chip, with the additional benefits of genome-wide sequence information and an increased dynamic range. We also provide computational pipelines for downstream analyses, for parsing phased genomes using single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to analyze RT allelic asynchrony, and for direct comparison to Repli-chip data. This protocol can be performed in up to 3 d before sequencing, and requires basic cellular and molecular biology skills, as well as a basic understanding of Unix and R.

CDK activity provides temporal and quantitative cues for organizing genome duplication

In eukaryotes, the spatial and temporal organization of genome duplication gives rise to distinctive profiles of replication origin usage along the chromosomes. While it has become increasingly clear that these programs are important for cellular physiology, the mechanisms by which they are determined and modulated remain elusive. Replication initiation requires the function of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), which associate with various cyclin partners to drive cell proliferation. Surprisingly, although we possess detailed knowledge of the CDK regulators and targets that are crucial for origin activation, little is known about whether CDKs play a critical role in establishing the genome-wide pattern of origin selection. We have addressed this question in the fission yeast, taking advantage of a simplified cell cycle network in which cell proliferation is driven by a single cyclin-CDK module. This system allows us to precisely control CDK activity in vivo using chemical genetics. First, in contrast to previous reports, our results clearly show that distinct cyclin-CDK pairs are not essential for regulating specific subsets of origins and for establishing a normal replication program. Importantly, we then demonstrate that the timing at which CDK activity reaches the S phase threshold is critical for the organization of replication in distinct efficiency domains, while the level of CDK activity at the onset of S phase is a dose-dependent modulator of overall origin efficiencies. Our study therefore implicates these different aspects of CDK regulation as versatile mechanisms for shaping the architecture of DNA replication across the genome.

The duplication of the genetic material is a highly conserved and tightly regulated process that is essential for cell proliferation. DNA synthesis initiates at sites called origins that are distributed throughout the genome. Replication origins are not all used equivalently, and their patterns of activation along the chromosomes give rise to specific profiles, or programs, of DNA replication. These programs change during development and in response to external stimuli, and we have previously shown that they have important consequences for cellular function. However, we still do not understand the mechanisms by which cells establish different replication patterns. Here we investigate the role of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) family of proteins, whose activities are critical for cell cycle progression, in regulating the organization of genome duplication. Taking advantage of a system that allows us to precisely modulate CDK activity levels in living cells, we demonstrate that both the temporal and quantitative controls of CDK function are crucial for determining distinct programs of DNA replication. Our work therefore uncovers a fundamental link between CDK activity, a central input in a variety of cellular and developmental processes, and the architecture of genome duplication.

Genome organization during the cell cycle: unity in division

During the cell cycle, the genome must undergo dramatic changes in structure, from a decondensed, yet highly organized interphase structure to a condensed, generic mitotic chromosome and then back again. For faithful cell division, the genome must be replicated and chromosomes and sister chromatids physically segregated from one another. Throughout these processes, there is feedback and tension between the information-storing role and the physical properties of chromosomes. With a combination of recent techniques in fluorescence microscopy, chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C), biophysical experiments, and computational modeling, we can now attribute mechanisms to many long-observed features of chromosome structure changes during cell division. Apparent conflicts that arise when integrating the concepts from these different proposed mechanisms emphasize that orchestrating chromosome organization during cell division requires a complex system of factors rather than a simple pathway. Cell division is both essential for and threatening to proper genome organization. As interphase three-dimensional (3D) genome structure is quite static at a global level, cell division provides an important window of opportunity to make substantial changes in 3D genome organization in daughter cells, allowing for proper differentiation and development. Mistakes in the process of chromosome condensation or rebuilding the structure after mitosis can lead to diseases such as cancer, premature aging, and neurodegeneration. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2017, 9:e1389. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1389 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.

Spatio-temporal re-organization of replication foci accompanies replication domain consolidation during human pluripotent stem cell lineage specification

Lineage specification of both mouse and human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) is accompanied by spatial consolidation of chromosome domains and temporal consolidation of their replication timing. Replication timing and chromatin organization are both established during G1 phase at the timing decision point (TDP). Here, we have developed live cell imaging tools to track spatio-temporal replication domain consolidation during differentiation. First, we demonstrate that the fluorescence ubiquitination cell cycle indicator (Fucci) system is incapable of demarcating G1/S or G2/M cell cycle transitions. Instead, we employ a combination of fluorescent PCNA to monitor S phase progression, cytokinesis to demarcate mitosis, and fluorescent nucleotides to label early and late replication foci and track their 3D organization into sub-nuclear chromatin compartments throughout all cell cycle transitions. We find that, as human PSCs differentiate, the length of S phase devoted to replication of spatially clustered replication foci increases, coincident with global compartmentalization of domains into temporally clustered blocks of chromatin. Importantly, re-localization and anchorage of domains was completed prior to the onset of S phase, even in the context of an abbreviated PSC G1 phase. This approach can also be employed to investigate cell fate transitions in single PSCs, which could be seen to differentiate preferentially from G1 phase. Together, our results establish real-time, live-cell imaging methods for tracking cell cycle transitions during human PSC differentiation that can be applied to study chromosome domain consolidation and other aspects of lineage specification.

Direct non transcriptional role of NF-Y in DNA replication

NF-Y is a heterotrimeric transcription factor, which plays a pioneer role in the transcriptional control of promoters containing the CCAAT-box, among which genes involved in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis and DNA damage response. The knock-down of the sequence-specific subunit NF-YA triggers defects in S-phase progression, which lead to apoptotic cell death. Here, we report that NF-Y has a critical function in DNA replication progression, independent from its transcriptional activity. NF-YA colocalizes with early DNA replication factories, its depletion affects the loading of replisome proteins to DNA, among which Cdc45, and delays the passage from early to middle-late S phase. Molecular combing experiments are consistent with a role for NF-Y in the control of fork progression. Finally, we unambiguously demonstrate a direct non-transcriptional role of NF-Y in the overall efficiency of DNA replication, specifically in the DNA elongation process, using a Xenopus cell-free system. Our findings broaden the activity of NF-Y on a DNA metabolism other than transcription, supporting the existence of specific TFs required for proper and efficient DNA replication.

BRPF3-HBO1 regulates replication origin activation and histone H3K14 acetylation

During DNA replication, thousands of replication origins are activated across the genome. Chromatin architecture contributes to origin specification and usage, yet it remains unclear which chromatin features impact on DNA replication. Here, we perform a RNAi screen for chromatin regulators implicated in replication control by measuring RPA accumulation upon replication stress. We identify six factors required for normal rates of DNA replication and characterize a function of the bromodomain and PHD finger-containing protein 3 (BRPF3) in replication initiation. BRPF3 forms a complex with HBO1 that specifically acetylates histone H3K14, and genomewide analysis shows high enrichment of BRPF3, HBO1 and H3K14ac at ORC1-binding sites and replication origins found in the vicinity of TSSs. Consistent with this, BRPF3 is necessary for H3K14ac at selected origins and efficient origin activation. CDC45 recruitment, but not MCM2-7 loading, is impaired in BRPF3-depleted cells, identifying a BRPF3-dependent function of HBO1 in origin activation that is complementary to its role in licencing. We thus propose that BRPF3-HBO1 acetylation of histone H3K14 around TSS facilitates efficient activation of nearby replication origins.

The epigenetic regulation of autonomous replicons

The discovery of autonomous replicating sequences (ARSs) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in 1979 was considered a milestone in unraveling the regulation of replication in eukaryotic cells. However, shortly afterwards it became obvious that in Saccharomyces pombe and all other higher organisms ARSs were not sufficient to initiate independent replication. Understanding the mechanisms of replication is a major challenge in modern cell biology and is also a prerequisite to developing application-oriented autonomous replicons for gene therapeutic treatments. This review will focus on the development of non-viral episomal vectors, their use in gene therapeutic applications and our current knowledge about their epigenetic regulation.

ASAR15, A cis-acting locus that controls chromosome-wide replication timing and stability of human chromosome 15

DNA replication initiates at multiple sites along each mammalian chromosome at different times during each S phase, following a temporal replication program. We have used a Cre/loxP-based strategy to identify cis-acting elements that control this replication-timing program on individual human chromosomes. In this report, we show that rearrangements at a complex locus at chromosome 15q24.3 result in delayed replication and structural instability of human chromosome 15. Characterization of this locus identified long, RNA transcripts that are retained in the nucleus and form a “cloud” on one homolog of chromosome 15. We also found that this locus displays asynchronous replication that is coordinated with other random monoallelic genes on chromosome 15. We have named this locus ASynchronous replication and Autosomal RNA on chromosome 15, or ASAR15. Previously, we found that disruption of the ASAR6 lincRNA gene results in delayed replication, delayed mitotic condensation and structural instability of human chromosome 6. Previous studies in the mouse found that deletion of the Xist gene, from the X chromosome in adult somatic cells, results in a delayed replication and instability phenotype that is indistinguishable from the phenotype caused by disruption of either ASAR6 or ASAR15. In addition, delayed replication and chromosome instability were detected following structural rearrangement of many different human or mouse chromosomes. These observations suggest that all mammalian chromosomes contain similar cis-acting loci. Thus, under this scenario, all mammalian chromosomes contain four distinct types of essential cis-acting elements: origins, telomeres, centromeres and “inactivation/stability centers”, all functioning to promote proper replication, segregation and structural stability of each chromosome.

Mammalian cells replicate their DNA along each chromosome during a precise temporal replication program. In this report, we used a novel “chromosome-engineering” strategy to identify a DNA element that controls this replication-timing program of human chromosome 15. Characterization of this element indicated that it encodes large non-protein-coding RNAs that are retained in the nucleus and form a “cloud” on one copy of chromosome 15. Previously, we found that structural rearrangements of a similar element on human chromosome 6 causes delayed replication and structural instability of chromosome 6. Mammalian chromosomes are known to contain three distinct types of essential DNA elements that promote proper chromosome function. Thus, every chromosome contains: 1) origins of replication, which are responsible for proper initiation of DNA synthesis; 2) centromeres, which are responsible for proper chromosome separation during cell division; and 3) telomeres, which are responsible for replication and protection of the ends of linear chromosomes. Our work supports a model in which all mammalian chromosomes contain a fourth type of essential DNA element, the “inactivation/stability center”, which is responsible for proper DNA replication timing and structural stability of each chromosome.

Depletion of the chromatin looping proteins CTCF and cohesin causes chromatin compaction: insight into chromatin folding by polymer modelling

Folding of the chromosomal fibre in interphase nuclei is an important element in the regulation of gene expression. For instance, physical contacts between promoters and enhancers are a key element in cell-type-specific transcription. We know remarkably little about the principles that control chromosome folding. Here we explore the view that intrachromosomal interactions, forming a complex pattern of loops, are a key element in chromosome folding. CTCF and cohesin are two abundant looping proteins of interphase chromosomes of higher eukaryotes. To investigate the role of looping in large-scale (supra Mb) folding of human chromosomes, we knocked down the gene that codes for CTCF and the one coding for Rad21, an essential subunit of cohesin. We measured the effect on chromosome folding using systematic 3D fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Results show that chromatin becomes more compact after reducing the concentration of these two looping proteins. The molecular basis for this counter-intuitive behaviour is explored by polymer modelling usingy the Dynamic Loop model (Bohn M, Heermann DW (2010) Diffusion-driven looping provides a consistent framework for chromatin organization. PLoS ONE 5: e12218.). We show that compaction can be explained by selectively decreasing the number of short-range loops, leaving long-range looping unchanged. In support of this model prediction it has recently been shown by others that CTCF and cohesin indeed are responsible primarily for short-range looping. Our results suggest that the local and the overall changes in of chromosome structure are controlled by a delicate balance between short-range and long-range loops, allowing easy switching between, for instance, open and more compact chromatin states.

Replication initiation and genome instability: a crossroads for DNA and RNA synthesis

Nuclear DNA replication requires the concerted action of hundreds of proteins to efficiently unwind and duplicate the entire genome while also retaining epigenetic regulatory information. Initiation of DNA replication is tightly regulated, rapidly firing thousands of origins once the conditions to promote rapid and faithful replication are in place, and defects in replication initiation lead to proliferation defects, genome instability, and a range of developmental abnormalities. Interestingly, DNA replication in metazoans initiates in actively transcribed DNA, meaning that replication initiation occurs in DNA that is co-occupied with tens of thousands of poised and active RNA polymerase complexes. Active transcription can induce genome instability, particularly during DNA replication, as RNA polymerases can induce torsional stress, formation of secondary structures, and act as a physical barrier to other enzymes involved in DNA metabolism. Here we discuss the challenges facing mammalian DNA replication, their impact on genome instability, and the development of cancer.

The programme of DNA replication: beyond genome duplication

The accurate duplication and transmission of genetic information is critical for cell growth and proliferation, and this is ensured in part by the multi-layered regulation of DNA synthesis. One of the key steps in this process is the selection and activation of the sites of replication initiation, or origins, across the genome. Interestingly, origin usage changes during development and in different pathologies, suggesting an integral interplay between the establishment of replication initiation along the chromosomes and cellular function. The present review discusses how the spatiotemporal organization of replication origin activation may play crucial roles in the control of biological events.

Epigenetic landscape for initiation of DNA replication

The key genetic process of DNA replication is initiated at specific sites referred to as replication origins. In eukaryotes, origins of DNA replication are not specified by a defined nucleotide sequence. Recent studies have shown that the structural context and topology of DNA sequence, chromatin features, and its transcriptional activity play an important role in origin choice. During differentiation and development, significant changes in chromatin organization and transcription occur, influencing origin activity and choice. In the last few years, a number of different genome-wide studies have broadened the understanding of replication origin regulation. In this review, we discuss the epigenetic factors and mechanisms that modulate origin choice and firing.

DNA replication timing

Patterns of replication within eukaryotic genomes correlate with gene expression, chromatin structure, and genome evolution. Recent advances in genome-scale mapping of replication kinetics have allowed these correlations to be explored in many species, cell types, and growth conditions, and these large data sets have allowed quantitative and computational analyses. One striking new correlation to emerge from these analyses is between replication timing and the three-dimensional structure of chromosomes. This correlation, which is significantly stronger than with any single histone modification or chromosome-binding protein, suggests that replication timing is controlled at the level of chromosomal domains. This conclusion dovetails with parallel work on the heterogeneity of origin firing and the competition between origins for limiting activators to suggest a model in which the stochastic probability of individual origin firing is modulated by chromosomal domain structure to produce patterns of replication. Whether these patterns have inherent biological functions or simply reflect higher-order genome structure is an open question.

[Regulation of DNA replication timing]

Although distinct chromatin types have been long known to replicate at different timepoints of S phase, fine replication control has only recently become considered as an epigenetic phenomenon. It is now clear that in course of differentiation significant changes in genome replication timing occur, and these changes are intimately linked with the changes in transcriptional activity and nuclear architecture. Temporally coordinate replication is organized spatially into discrete units having specific chromosomal organization and function. Even though the functional aspects of such tight control of replication timing remain to be explored, one can confidently consider the replication program as yet another fundamental feature characteristic of the given differentiation state. The present review touches upon the molecular mechanisms of spatial and temporal control of replication timing, involving individual replication origins as well as large chromatin domains.

Induced transcription results in local changes in chromatin structure, replication timing, and DNA polytenization in a site of intercalary heterochromatin

In salivary gland polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster, the regions of intercalary heterochromatin are characterized by late replication, under-replication, and genetic silencing. Using Gal4/UAS system, we induced transcription of sequences adjacent to transgene insertions in the band 11A6-9. This activation resulted in a loss of "silent" and appearance of "active" epigenetic marks, recruitment of RNA polymerase II, and formation of a puff. The activated region is now early replicating and shows increased level of DNA polytenization. Notably, all these changes are restricted to the area around the inserts, whereas the rest of the band remains inactive and late replicating. Although only a short area near the insertion site is transcribed, it results in an "open" chromatin conformation in a much broader region. We conclude that regions of intercalary heterochromatin do not form stand-alone units of late replication and under-replication. Every part of such regions can be activated and polytenized independently of other parts.

Genome-wide analysis of replication timing in mammalian cells: troubleshooting problems encountered when comparing different cell types

DNA is replicated in a defined temporal order that is developmentally regulated and constitutes a unique and stable fingerprint of a given cell type. Recently, we developed a robust assay to profile replication timing genome wide that can be applied to essentially any proliferating cell population. Asynchronously cycling cells are pulse labeled with the nucleotide analog 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU). The cells are sorted into S-phase fractions on the basis of DNA content using flow cytometry. BrdU-labeled DNA from each fraction is immunoprecipitated (BrdU IP), amplified, differentially labeled and co-hybridized to a whole-genome comparative genomic hybridization microarray (or sequenced). Since the basic steps of this protocol have been detailed elsewhere, here we focus on problems encountered when adapting this protocol to different cell types or tissue sources and modifications that have been successfully applied to troubleshoot these problems. There is an increasing demand for such studies to address how replication is regulated during development, its relationship to chromatin architecture and other chromosome functions, and the relevance of cell culture models to regulation in the native organismal niche.

A genome-wide analysis of common fragile sites: what features determine chromosomal instability in the human genome?

Chromosomal common fragile sites (CFSs) are unstable genomic regions that break under replication stress and are involved in structural variation. They frequently are sites of chromosomal rearrangements in cancer and of viral integration. However, CFSs are undercharacterized at the molecular level and thus difficult to predict computationally. Newly available genome-wide profiling studies provide us with an unprecedented opportunity to associate CFSs with features of their local genomic contexts. Here, we contrasted the genomic landscape of cytogenetically defined aphidicolin-induced CFSs (aCFSs) to that of nonfragile sites, using multiple logistic regression. We also analyzed aCFS breakage frequencies as a function of their genomic landscape, using standard multiple regression. We show that local genomic features are effective predictors both of regions harboring aCFSs (explaining ∼77% of the deviance in logistic regression models) and of aCFS breakage frequencies (explaining ∼45% of the variance in standard regression models). In our optimal models (having highest explanatory power), aCFSs are predominantly located in G-negative chromosomal bands and away from centromeres, are enriched in Alu repeats, and have high DNA flexibility. In alternative models, CpG island density, transcription start site density, H3K4me1 coverage, and mononucleotide microsatellite coverage are significant predictors. Also, aCFSs have high fragility when colocated with evolutionarily conserved chromosomal breakpoints. Our models are predictive of the fragility of aCFSs mapped at a higher resolution. Importantly, the genomic features we identified here as significant predictors of fragility allow us to draw valuable inferences on the molecular mechanisms underlying aCFSs.

Regulation of DNA replication during development

As development unfolds, DNA replication is not only coordinated with cell proliferation, but is regulated uniquely in specific cell types and organs. This differential regulation of DNA synthesis requires crosstalk between DNA replication and differentiation. This dynamic aspect of DNA replication is highlighted by the finding that the distribution of replication origins varies between differentiated cell types and changes with differentiation. Moreover, differential DNA replication in some cell types can lead to increases or decreases in gene copy number along chromosomes. This review highlights the recent advances and technologies that have provided us with new insights into the developmental regulation of DNA replication.

Late replication domains in polytene and non-polytene cells of Drosophila melanogaster

In D. melanogaster polytene chromosomes, intercalary heterochromatin (IH) appears as large dense bands scattered in euchromatin and comprises clusters of repressed genes. IH displays distinctly low gene density, indicative of their particular regulation. Genes embedded in IH replicate late in the S phase and become underreplicated. We asked whether localization and organization of these late-replicating domains is conserved in a distinct cell type. Using published comprehensive genome-wide chromatin annotation datasets (modENCODE and others), we compared IH organization in salivary gland cells and in a Kc cell line. We first established the borders of 60 IH regions on a molecular map, these regions containing underreplicated material and encompassing ∼12% of Drosophila genome. We showed that in Kc cells repressed chromatin constituted 97% of the sequences that corresponded to IH bands. This chromatin is depleted for ORC-2 binding and largely replicates late. Differences in replication timing between the cell types analyzed are local and affect only sub-regions but never whole IH bands. As a rule such differentially replicating sub-regions display open chromatin organization, which apparently results from cell-type specific gene expression of underlying genes. We conclude that repressed chromatin organization of IH is generally conserved in polytene and non-polytene cells. Yet, IH domains do not function as transcription- and replication-regulatory units, because differences in transcription and replication between cell types are not domain-wide, rather they are restricted to small “islands” embedded in these domains. IH regions can thus be defined as a special class of domains with low gene density, which have narrow temporal expression patterns, and so displaying relatively conserved organization.

Evidence for sequential and increasing activation of replication origins along replication timing gradients in the human genome

Genome-wide replication timing studies have suggested that mammalian chromosomes consist of megabase-scale domains of coordinated origin firing separated by large originless transition regions. Here, we report a quantitative genome-wide analysis of DNA replication kinetics in several human cell types that contradicts this view. DNA combing in HeLa cells sorted into four temporal compartments of S phase shows that replication origins are spaced at 40 kb intervals and fire as small clusters whose synchrony increases during S phase and that replication fork velocity (mean 0.7 kb/min, maximum 2.0 kb/min) remains constant and narrowly distributed through S phase. However, multi-scale analysis of a genome-wide replication timing profile shows a broad distribution of replication timing gradients with practically no regions larger than 100 kb replicating at less than 2 kb/min. Therefore, HeLa cells lack large regions of unidirectional fork progression. Temporal transition regions are replicated by sequential activation of origins at a rate that increases during S phase and replication timing gradients are set by the delay and the spacing between successive origin firings rather than by the velocity of single forks. Activation of internal origins in a specific temporal transition region is directly demonstrated by DNA combing of the IGH locus in HeLa cells. Analysis of published origin maps in HeLa cells and published replication timing and DNA combing data in several other cell types corroborate these findings, with the interesting exception of embryonic stem cells where regions of unidirectional fork progression seem more abundant. These results can be explained if origins fire independently of each other but under the control of long-range chromatin structure, or if replication forks progressing from early origins stimulate initiation in nearby unreplicated DNA. These findings shed a new light on the replication timing program of mammalian genomes and provide a general model for their replication kinetics.

Eukaryotic chromosomes replicate from multiple replication origins that fire at different times in S phase. The mechanisms that specify origin position and firing time and coordinate origins to ensure complete genome duplication are unclear. Previous studies proposed either that origins are arranged in temporally coordinated groups or fire independently of each other in a stochastic manner. Here, we have performed a quantitative analysis of human genome replication kinetics using a combination of DNA combing, which reveals local patterns of origin firing and replication fork progression on single DNA molecules, and massive sequencing of newly replicated DNA, which reveals the population-averaged replication timing profile of the entire genome. We show that origins are activated synchronously in large regions of uniform replication timing but more gradually in temporal transition regions and that the rate of origin firing increases as replication progresses. Large regions of unidirectional fork progression are abundant in embryonic stem cells but rare in differentiated cells. We propose a model in which replication forks progressing from early origins stimulate initiation in nearby unreplicated DNA in a manner that explains the shape of the replication timing profile. These results provide a fundamental insight into the temporal regulation of mammalian genome replication.

DNA replication timing is maintained genome-wide in primary human myoblasts independent of D4Z4 contraction in FSH muscular dystrophy

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is linked to contraction of an array of tandem 3.3-kb repeats (D4Z4) at 4q35.2 from 11-100 copies to 1-10 copies. The extent to which D4Z4 contraction at 4q35.2 affects overall 4q35.2 chromatin organization remains unclear. Because DNA replication timing is highly predictive of long-range chromatin interactions, we generated genome-wide replication-timing profiles for FSHD and control myogenic precursor cells. We compared non-immortalized myoblasts from four FSHD patients and three control individuals to each other and to a variety of other human cell types. This study also represents the first genome-wide comparison of replication timing profiles in non-immortalized human cell cultures. Myoblasts from both control and FSHD individuals all shared a myoblast-specific replication profile. In contrast, male and female individuals were readily distinguished by monoallelic differences in replication timing at DXZ4 and other regions across the X chromosome affected by X inactivation. We conclude that replication timing is a robust cell-type specific feature that is unaffected by FSHD-related D4Z4 contraction.

Multiple pathways can bypass the essential role of fission yeast Hsk1 kinase in DNA replication initiation

A number of different genetic backgrounds and growth conditions bypass DNA replication defects caused by the absence of yeast Hsk1 kinase, demonstrating the plasticity of the eukaryotic DNA replication program.

Cdc7/Hsk1 is a conserved kinase required for initiation of DNA replication that potentially regulates timing and locations of replication origin firing. Here, we show that viability of fission yeast hsk1Δ cells can be restored by loss of mrc1, which is required for maintenance of replication fork integrity, by cds1Δ, or by a checkpoint-deficient mutant of mrc1. In these mutants, normally inactive origins are activated in the presence of hydroxyurea and binding of Cdc45 to MCM is stimulated. mrc1Δ bypasses hsk1Δ more efficiently because of its checkpoint-independent inhibitory functions. Unexpectedly, hsk1Δ is viable at 37°C. More DNA is synthesized, and some dormant origins fire in the presence of hydroxyurea at 37°C. Furthermore, hsk1Δ bypass strains grow poorly at 25°C compared with higher temperatures. Our results show that Hsk1 functions for DNA replication can be bypassed by different genetic backgrounds as well as under varied physiological conditions, providing additional evidence for plasticity of the replication program in eukaryotes.

Replication timing: a fingerprint for cell identity and pluripotency

Many types of epigenetic profiling have been used to classify stem cells, stages of cellular differentiation, and cancer subtypes. Existing methods focus on local chromatin features such as DNA methylation and histone modifications that require extensive analysis for genome-wide coverage. Replication timing has emerged as a highly stable cell type-specific epigenetic feature that is regulated at the megabase-level and is easily and comprehensively analyzed genome-wide. Here, we describe a cell classification method using 67 individual replication profiles from 34 mouse and human cell lines and stem cell-derived tissues, including new data for mesendoderm, definitive endoderm, mesoderm and smooth muscle. Using a Monte-Carlo approach for selecting features of replication profiles conserved in each cell type, we identify “replication timing fingerprints” unique to each cell type and apply a k nearest neighbor approach to predict known and unknown cell types. Our method correctly classifies 67/67 independent replication-timing profiles, including those derived from closely related intermediate stages. We also apply this method to derive fingerprints for pluripotency in human and mouse cells. Interestingly, the mouse pluripotency fingerprint overlaps almost completely with previously identified genomic segments that switch from early to late replication as pluripotency is lost. Thereafter, replication timing and transcription within these regions become difficult to reprogram back to pluripotency, suggesting these regions highlight an epigenetic barrier to reprogramming. In addition, the major histone cluster Hist1 consistently becomes later replicating in committed cell types, and several histone H1 genes in this cluster are downregulated during differentiation, suggesting a possible instrument for the chromatin compaction observed during differentiation. Finally, we demonstrate that unknown samples can be classified independently using site-specific PCR against fingerprint regions. In sum, replication fingerprints provide a comprehensive means for cell characterization and are a promising tool for identifying regions with cell type-specific organization.

While continued advances in stem cell and cancer biology have uncovered a growing list of clinical applications for stem cell technology, errors in indentifying cell lines have undermined a number of recent studies, highlighting a growing need for improvements in cell typing methods for both basic biological and clinical applications of stem cells. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)—adult cells reprogrammed to a pluripotent state—show great promise for patient-specific stem cell treatments, but more efficient derivation of iPSCs depends on a more comprehensive understanding of pluripotency. Here, we describe a method to identify sets of regions that replicate at unique times in any given cell type (replication timing fingerprints) using pluripotent stem cells as an example, and show that genes in the pluripotency fingerprint belong to a class previously shown to be resistant to reprogramming in iPSCs, identifying potential new target genes for more efficient iPSC production. We propose that the order in which DNA is replicated (replication timing) provides a novel means for classifying cell types, and can reveal cell type specific features of genome organization.

Genetic variation and DNA replication timing, or why is there late replicating DNA?

Mutation rates vary significantly within the genome and across species. Recent studies revealed a long suspected replication-timing effect on mutation rate, but the mechanisms that regulate the increase in mutation rate as the genome is replicated remain unclear. Evidence is emerging, however, that DNA repair systems, in general, are less efficient in late replicating heterochromatic regions compared to early replicating euchromatic regions of the genome. At the same time, mutation rates in both vertebrates and invertebrates have been shown to vary with generation time (GT). GT is correlated with genome size, which suggests a possible nucleotypic effect on species-specific mutation rates. These and other observations all converge on a role for DNA replication checkpoints in modulating generation times and mutation rates during the DNA synthetic phase (S phase) of the cell cycle. The following will examine the potential role of the intra-S checkpoint in regulating cell cycle times (GT) and mutation rates in eukaryotes. This article was published online on August 5, 2011. An error was subsequently identified. This notice is included in the online and print versions to indicate that both have been corrected October 4, 2011.

Genome-scale analysis of replication timing: from bench to bioinformatics

Replication timing profiles are cell type-specific and reflect genome organization changes during differentiation. In this protocol, we describe how to analyze genome-wide replication timing (RT) in mammalian cells. Asynchronously cycling cells are pulse labeled with the nucleotide analog 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) and sorted into S-phase fractions on the basis of DNA content using flow cytometry. BrdU-labeled DNA from each fraction is immunoprecipitated, amplified, differentially labeled and co-hybridized to a whole-genome comparative genomic hybridization microarray, which is currently more cost effective than high-throughput sequencing and equally capable of resolving features at the biologically relevant level of tens to hundreds of kilobases. We also present a guide to analyzing the resulting data sets based on methods we use routinely. Subjects include normalization, scaling and data quality measures, LOESS (local polynomial) smoothing of RT values, segmentation of data into domains and assignment of timing values to gene promoters. Finally, we cover clustering methods and means to relate changes in the replication program to gene expression and other genetic and epigenetic data sets. Some experience with R or similar programming languages is assumed. All together, the protocol takes ∼3 weeks per batch of samples.

Open sesame: activating dormant replication origins in the mouse immunoglobulin heavy chain (Igh) locus

Chromosomal DNA replication in mammals initiates from replication origins whose activity differs in accordance with cell type and differentiation state. In addition to origins that are active in unperturbed conditions, chromosomes also contain dormant origins that can become functional in response to certain genotoxic stress conditions. Improper regulation of origin usage can cause genomic instability leading to tumorigenesis. We review findings from recent single-molecule DNA fiber studies examining replication of the mouse immunoglobulin heavy chain (Igh) locus, in which origin activity over a 400kb region is subject to dramatic developmental regulation. Possible models are discussed to explain such differential origin usage, particularly during replication stress conditions that can activate dormant origins.

Heterochromatin replication: better late than ever

Different heterochromatic properties appear on satellite DNA during successive embryonic division cycles in Drosophila. One such property, late replication, precedes HP1 recruitment, is under the control of zygotic transcription, and helps to lengthen S phase.

Genomic approaches to the initiation of DNA replication and chromatin structure reveal a complex relationship

The mechanisms regulating the coordinate activation of tens of thousands of replication origins in multicellular organisms remain poorly explored. Recent advances in genomics have provided valuable information about the sites at which DNA replication is initiated and the selection mechanisms of specific sites in both yeast and vertebrates. Studies in yeast have advanced to the point that it is now possible to develop convincing models for origin selection. A general model has emerged, but yeast data have also revealed an unsuspected diversity of strategies for origin positioning. We focus here on the ways in which chromatin structure may affect the formation of pre-replication complexes, a prerequisite for origin activation. We also discuss the need to exercise caution when trying to extrapolate yeast models directly to more complex vertebrate genomes.

Cell fate transitions and the replication timing decision point

Recent findings suggest that large-scale remodeling of three dimensional (3D) chromatin architecture occurs during a brief period in early G1 phase termed the replication timing decision point (TDP). In this speculative article, I suggest that the TDP may represent an as yet unappreciated window of opportunity for extracellular cues to influence 3D architecture during stem cell fate decisions. I also describe several testable predictions of this hypothesis.

Evaluating genome-scale approaches to eukaryotic DNA replication

Mechanisms regulating where and when eukaryotic DNA replication initiates remain a mystery. Recently, genome-scale methods have been brought to bear on this problem. The identification of replication origins and their associated proteins in yeasts is a well-integrated investigative tool, but corresponding data sets from multicellular organisms are scarce. By contrast, standardized protocols for evaluating replication timing have generated informative data sets for most eukaryotic systems. Here, I summarize the genome-scale methods that are most frequently used to analyse replication in eukaryotes, the kinds of questions each method can address and the technical hurdles that must be overcome to gain a complete understanding of the nature of eukaryotic replication origins.

Clusters, factories and domains: The complex structure of S-phase comes into focus

During S-phase of the cell cycle, chromosomal DNA is replicated according to a complex replication timing program, with megabase-sized domains replicating at different times. DNA fibre analysis reveals that clusters of adjacent replication origins fire near-synchronously. Analysis of replicating cells by light microscopy shows that DNA synthesis occurs in discrete foci or factories. The relationship between timing domains, origin clusters and replication foci is currently unclear. Recent work, using a hybrid Xenopus/hamster replication system, has shown that when CDK levels are manipulated during S-phase the activation of replication factories can be uncoupled from progression through the replication timing program. Here, we use data from this hybrid system to investigate potential relationships between timing domains, origin clusters and replication foci. We suggest that each timing domain typically comprises several replicon clusters, which are usually processed sequentially by replication factories. We discuss how replication might be regulated at different levels to create this complex organisation and the potential involvement of CDKs in this process.

Single-molecule analysis reveals changes in the DNA replication program for the POU5F1 locus upon human embryonic stem cell differentiation

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), due to their pluripotent nature, represent a particularly relevant model system to study the relationship between the replication program and differentiation state. Here, we define the basic properties of the replication program in hESCs and compare them to the programs of hESC-derived multipotent cells (neural rosette cells) and primary differentiated cells (microvascular endothelial cells [MECs]). We characterized three genomic loci: two pluripotency regulatory genes, POU5F1 (OCT4) and NANOG, and the IGH locus, a locus that is transcriptionally active specifically in B-lineage cells. We applied a high-resolution approach to capture images of individual replicated DNA molecules. We demonstrate that for the loci studied, several basic properties of replication, including the average speed of replication forks and the average density of initiation sites, were conserved among the cells analyzed. We also demonstrate, for the first time, the presence of initiation zones in hESCs. However, significant differences were evident in other aspects of replication for the DNA segment containing the POU5F1 gene. Specifically, the locations of centers of initiation zones and the direction of replication fork progression through the POU5F1 gene were conserved in two independent hESC lines but were different in hESC-derived multipotent cells and MECs. Thus, our data identify features of the replication program characteristic of hESCs and define specific changes in replication during hESC differentiation.

G2 phase chromatin lacks determinants of replication timing

Chromatin spatial organization helps establish the replication timing decision point at early G1. However, at G2, although retained, chromatin organization is no longer necessary or sufficient to maintain the replication timing program.

DNA replication in all eukaryotes follows a defined replication timing program, the molecular mechanism of which remains elusive. Using a Xenopus laevis egg extract replication system, we previously demonstrated that replication timing is established during early G1 phase of the cell cycle (timing decision point [TDP]), which is coincident with the repositioning and anchorage of chromatin in the newly formed nucleus. In this study, we use this same system to show that G2 phase chromatin lacks determinants of replication timing but maintains the overall spatial organization of chromatin domains, and we confirm this finding by genome-wide analysis of rereplication in vivo. In contrast, chromatin from quiescent cells retains replication timing but exhibits disrupted spatial organization. These data support a model in which events at the TDP, facilitated by chromatin spatial organization, establish determinants of replication timing that persist independent of spatial organization until the process of chromatin replication during S phase erases those determinants.

S-phase progression in mammalian cells: modelling the influence of nuclear organization

The control of DNA replication is of fundamental importance as cell proliferation demands that identical copies of the genetic material are passed to the two daughter cells that form during mitosis. These genetic copies are generated in the preceding S phase, where the entire DNA complement of the mother cell must be copied exactly once. As part of this process, it is known that different regions of mammalian genomes are replicated at specific times of a temporally defined replication programme. The key feature of this programme is that active genes in euchromatin are replicated before inactive ones in heterochromatin. This separation of S phase into periods where different classes of chromatin are duplicated is important in maintaining changes in gene expression that define individual cell types. Recent attempts to understand the structure of the S-phase timing programme have focused on the use of genome-wide strategies that inevitably use DNA isolated from large cell populations for analysis. However, this approach provides a composite view of events that occur within a population without knowledge of the cell-to-cell variability across the population. In this review, we attempt to combine information generated using genome-wide and single cell strategies in order to develop a coherent molecular understanding of S-phase progression. During this integration, we have explored how available information can be introduced into a modelling environment that best describes S-phase progression in mammalian cells.