1
|
Crawford BI, Talley MJ, Russman J, Riddle J, Torres S, Williams T, Longworth MS. Condensin-mediated restriction of retrotransposable elements facilitates brain development in Drosophila melanogaster. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2716. [PMID: 38548759 PMCID: PMC10978865 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47042-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Neural stem and progenitor cell (NSPC) maintenance is essential for ensuring that organisms are born with proper brain volumes and head sizes. Microcephaly is a disorder in which babies are born with significantly smaller head sizes and cortical volumes. Mutations in subunits of the DNA organizing complex condensin have been identified in microcephaly patients. However, the molecular mechanisms by which condensin insufficiency causes microcephaly remain elusive. We previously identified conserved roles for condensins in repression of retrotransposable elements (RTEs). Here, we show that condensin subunit knockdown in NSPCs of the Drosophila larval central brain increases RTE expression and mobility which causes cell death, and significantly decreases adult head sizes and brain volumes. These findings suggest that unrestricted RTE expression and activity may lead to improper brain development in condensin insufficient organisms, and lay the foundation for future exploration of causative roles for RTEs in other microcephaly models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bert I Crawford
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Mary Jo Talley
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Joshua Russman
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - James Riddle
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Sabrina Torres
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Troy Williams
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Michelle S Longworth
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Repression of essential cell cycle genes increases cellular fitness. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010349. [PMID: 36037231 PMCID: PMC9462756 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A network of transcription factors (TFs) coordinates transcription with cell cycle events in eukaryotes. Most TFs in the network are phosphorylated by cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK), which limits their activities during the cell cycle. Here, we investigate the physiological consequences of disrupting CDK regulation of the paralogous repressors Yhp1 and Yox1 in yeast. Blocking Yhp1/Yox1 phosphorylation increases their levels and decreases expression of essential cell cycle regulatory genes which, unexpectedly, increases cellular fitness in optimal growth conditions. Using synthetic genetic interaction screens, we find that Yhp1/Yox1 mutations improve the fitness of mutants with mitotic defects, including condensin mutants. Blocking Yhp1/Yox1 phosphorylation simultaneously accelerates the G1/S transition and delays mitotic exit, without decreasing proliferation rate. This mitotic delay partially reverses the chromosome segregation defect of condensin mutants, potentially explaining their increased fitness when combined with Yhp1/Yox1 phosphomutants. These findings reveal how altering expression of cell cycle genes leads to a redistribution of cell cycle timing and confers a fitness advantage to cells.
Collapse
|
3
|
Roca J, Dyson S, Segura J, Valdés A, Martínez-García B. Keeping intracellular DNA untangled: A new role for condensin? Bioessays 2021; 44:e2100187. [PMID: 34761394 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The DNA-passage activity of topoisomerase II accidentally produces DNA knots and interlinks within and between chromatin fibers. Fortunately, these unwanted DNA entanglements are actively removed by some mechanism. Here we present an outline on DNA knot formation and discuss recent studies that have investigated how intracellular DNA knots are removed. First, although topoisomerase II is able to minimize DNA entanglements in vitro to below equilibrium values, it is unclear whether such capacity performs equally in vivo in chromatinized DNA. Second, DNA supercoiling could bias topoisomerase II to untangle the DNA. However, experimental evidence indicates that transcriptional supercoiling of intracellular DNA boosts knot formation. Last, cohesin and condensin could tighten DNA entanglements via DNA loop extrusion (LE) and force their dissolution by topoisomerase II. Recent observations indicate that condensin activity promotes the removal of DNA knots during interphase and mitosis. This activity might facilitate the spatial organization and dynamics of chromatin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joaquim Roca
- Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Dyson
- Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joana Segura
- Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Valdés
- Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Belén Martínez-García
- Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dyson S, Segura J, Martínez‐García B, Valdés A, Roca J. Condensin minimizes topoisomerase II-mediated entanglements of DNA in vivo. EMBO J 2021; 40:e105393. [PMID: 33155682 PMCID: PMC7780148 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020105393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The juxtaposition of intracellular DNA segments, together with the DNA-passage activity of topoisomerase II, leads to the formation of DNA knots and interlinks, which jeopardize chromatin structure and gene expression. Recent studies in budding yeast have shown that some mechanism minimizes the knotting probability of intracellular DNA. Here, we tested whether this is achieved via the intrinsic capacity of topoisomerase II for simplifying the equilibrium topology of DNA; or whether it is mediated by SMC (structural maintenance of chromosomes) protein complexes like condensin or cohesin, whose capacity to extrude DNA loops could enforce dissolution of DNA knots by topoisomerase II. We show that the low knotting probability of DNA does not depend on the simplification capacity of topoisomerase II nor on the activities of cohesin or Smc5/6 complexes. However, inactivation of condensin increases the occurrence of DNA knots throughout the cell cycle. These results suggest an in vivo role for the DNA loop extrusion activity of condensin and may explain why condensin disruption produces a variety of alterations in interphase chromatin, in addition to persistent sister chromatid interlinks in mitotic chromatin.
Collapse
Grants
- BFU2015-67007-P Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Gobierno de España (MINECO)
- PID2019-109482GB-I00 Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Gobierno de España (MINECO)
- BES-2016-077806 Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Gobierno de España (MINECO)
- BES-2012-061167 Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Gobierno de España (MINECO)
- BES-2015-071597 Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Gobierno de España (MINECO)
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia Dyson
- Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB)Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Joana Segura
- Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB)Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Belén Martínez‐García
- Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB)Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Antonio Valdés
- Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB)Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Joaquim Roca
- Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB)Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)BarcelonaSpain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Condensin ATPase motifs contribute differentially to the maintenance of chromosome morphology and genome stability. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2003980. [PMID: 29949571 PMCID: PMC6039025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2003980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Effective transfer of genetic information during cell division requires a major reorganization of chromosome structure. This process is triggered by condensin, a conserved pentameric ATPase essential for chromosome condensation. How condensin harnesses the energy of ATP hydrolysis to promote chromatin reorganization is unknown. To address this issue, we performed a genetic screen specifically focused on the ATPase domain of Smc4, a core subunit of condensin. Our screen identified mutational hotspots that impair condensin’s ability to condense chromosomes to various degrees. These mutations have distinct effects on viability, genome stability, and chromosome morphology, revealing unique thresholds for condensin enzymatic activity in the execution of its cellular functions. Biochemical analyses indicate that inactivation of Smc4 ATPase activity can result in cell lethality because it favors a specific configuration of condensin that locks ATP in the enzyme. Together, our results provide critical insights into the mechanism used by condensin to harness the energy of ATP hydrolysis for the compaction of chromatin. In eukaryotes, the deletion of a single copy of most genes shows little or no detectable phenotype under standard proliferative conditions. This implies that a large reduction in the level of a gene product can be tolerated by eukaryotic organisms and that a “reserve capacity” is built in the protein machinery that drives most cellular processes. Here, we test if the main effector of chromosome condensation—the condensin complex—operates with a reserve enzymatic capacity in the execution of its multiple functions in vivo. To achieve this, we created an allelic series of mutations that selectively inactivate condensin ATPase activity in a graded manner. We show that many core functions of condensin can be maintained even at low levels of ATPase activity. Our data also reveal the existence of various thresholds of ATPase activity that are necessary and sufficient for the execution of different cellular functions by condensin. Notably, loss of genome stability at repetitive DNA is only observed when condensin ATPase activity is severely impaired. Taken together, our results reveal key insights into the process of ATP hydrolysis by condensin and how the energy it releases promotes genome remodeling and stability during cell division.
Collapse
|
6
|
Lai AG, Kosaka N, Abnave P, Sahu S, Aboobaker AA. The abrogation of condensin function provides independent evidence for defining the self-renewing population of pluripotent stem cells. Dev Biol 2018; 433:218-226. [PMID: 28757112 PMCID: PMC5771471 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Heterogeneity of planarian stem cells has been categorised on the basis of single cell expression analyses and subsequent experiments to demonstrate lineage relationships. Some data suggest that despite heterogeneity in gene expression amongst cells in the cell cycle, in fact only one sub-population, known as sigma neoblasts, can self-renew. Without the tools to perform live in vivo lineage analysis, we instead took an alternative approach to provide independent evidence for defining the self-renewing stem cell population. We exploited the role of highly conserved condensin family genes to functionally assay neoblast self-renewal properties. Condensins are involved in forming properly condensed chromosomes to allow cell division to proceed during mitosis, and their abrogation inhibits mitosis and can lead to repeated endoreplication of the genome in cells that make repeated attempts to divide. We find that planarians possess only the condensin I complex, and that this is required for normal stem cell function. Abrogation of condensin function led to rapid stem cell depletion accompanied by the appearance of 'giant' cells with increased DNA content. Using previously discovered markers of heterogeneity we show that enlarged cells are always from the sigma-class of the neoblast population and we never observe evidence for endoreplication for the other neoblast subclasses. Overall, our data establish that condensins are essential for stem cell maintenance and provide independent evidence that only sigma-neoblasts are capable of multiple rounds of cell division and hence self-renewal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alvina G Lai
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Tinbergen Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom
| | - Nobuyoshi Kosaka
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Tinbergen Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom
| | - Prasad Abnave
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Tinbergen Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom
| | - Sounak Sahu
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Tinbergen Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom
| | - A Aziz Aboobaker
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Tinbergen Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Eeftens J, Dekker C. Catching DNA with hoops—biophysical approaches to clarify the mechanism of SMC proteins. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2017; 24:1012-1020. [DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.3507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
|
8
|
Ono T, Sakamoto C, Nakao M, Saitoh N, Hirano T. Condensin II plays an essential role in reversible assembly of mitotic chromosomes in situ. Mol Biol Cell 2017; 28:2875-2886. [PMID: 28835373 PMCID: PMC5638589 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e17-04-0252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
A modified protocol for inducing reversible assembly of mitotic chromosomes in situ is developed. As judged by this assay, which is combined with quantitative morphological analyses using a supervised machine-learning algorithm, condensin II plays a crucial role in both the recovery of chromatin shapes and the reorganization of chromosome axes. Condensins I and II are multisubunit complexes that play a central role in mitotic chromosome assembly. Although both complexes become concentrated along the axial region of each chromatid by metaphase, it remains unclear exactly how such axes might assemble and contribute to chromosome shaping. To address these questions from a physico-chemical point of view, we have established a set of two-step protocols for inducing reversible assembly of chromosome structure in situ, namely within a whole cell. In this assay, mitotic chromosomes are first expanded in a hypotonic buffer containing a Mg2+-chelating agent and then converted into different shapes in a NaCl concentration-dependent manner. Both chromatin and condensin-positive chromosome axes are converted into near-original shapes at 100 mM NaCl. This assay combined with small interfering RNA depletion demonstrates that the recovery of chromatin shapes and the reorganization of axes are highly sensitive to depletion of condensin II but less sensitive to depletion of condensin I or topoisomerase IIα. Furthermore, quantitative morphological analyses using the machine-learning algorithm wndchrm support the notion that chromosome shaping is tightly coupled to the reorganization of condensin II-based axes. We propose that condensin II makes a primary contribution to mitotic chromosome architecture and maintenance in human cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takao Ono
- Chromosome Dynamics Laboratory, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Chiyomi Sakamoto
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Mitsuyoshi Nakao
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Noriko Saitoh
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Hirano
- Chromosome Dynamics Laboratory, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
An SMC-like protein binds and regulates Caenorhabditis elegans condensins. PLoS Genet 2017; 13:e1006614. [PMID: 28301465 PMCID: PMC5373644 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Revised: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) family proteins participate in multisubunit complexes that govern chromosome structure and dynamics. SMC-containing condensin complexes create chromosome topologies essential for mitosis/meiosis, gene expression, recombination, and repair. Many eukaryotes have two condensin complexes (I and II); C. elegans has three (I, II, and the X-chromosome specialized condensin IDC) and their regulation is poorly understood. Here we identify a novel SMC-like protein, SMCL-1, that binds to C. elegans condensin SMC subunits, and modulates condensin functions. Consistent with a possible role as a negative regulator, loss of SMCL-1 partially rescued the lethal and sterile phenotypes of a hypomorphic condensin mutant, while over-expression of SMCL-1 caused lethality, chromosome mis-segregation, and disruption of condensin IDC localization on X chromosomes. Unlike canonical SMC proteins, SMCL-1 lacks hinge and coil domains, and its ATPase domain lacks conserved amino acids required for ATP hydrolysis, leading to the speculation that it may inhibit condensin ATPase activity. SMCL-1 homologs are apparent only in the subset of Caenorhabditis species in which the condensin I and II subunit SMC-4 duplicated to create the condensin IDC- specific subunit DPY-27, suggesting that SMCL-1 helps this lineage cope with the regulatory challenges imposed by evolution of a third condensin complex. Our findings uncover a new regulator of condensins and highlight how the duplication and divergence of SMC complex components in various lineages has created new proteins with diverse functions in chromosome dynamics.
Collapse
|
10
|
Transvection in Drosophila: trans-interaction between yellow enhancers and promoter is strongly suppressed by a cis-promoter only in certain genomic regions. Chromosoma 2016; 126:431-441. [DOI: 10.1007/s00412-016-0605-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Revised: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
|
11
|
Condensin I and II behaviour in interphase nuclei and cells undergoing premature chromosome condensation. Chromosome Res 2016; 24:243-69. [PMID: 27008552 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-016-9519-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Condensin is an integral component of the mitotic chromosome condensation machinery, which ensures orderly segregation of chromosomes during cell division. In metazoans, condensin exists as two complexes, condensin I and II. It is not yet clear what roles these complexes may play outside mitosis, and so we have examined their behaviour both in normal interphase and in premature chromosome condensation (PCC). We find that a small fraction of condensin I is retained in interphase nuclei, and our data suggests that this interphase nuclear condensin I is active in both gene regulation and chromosome condensation. Furthermore, live cell imaging demonstrates condensin II dramatically increases on G1 nuclei following completion of mitosis. Our PCC studies show condensins I and II and topoisomerase II localise to the chromosome axis in G1-PCC and G2/M-PCC, while KIF4 binding is altered. Individually, condensins I and II are dispensable for PCC. However, when both are knocked out, G1-PCC chromatids are less well structured. Our results define new roles for the condensins during interphase and provide new information about the mechanism of PCC.
Collapse
|