1
|
Sacristan C, Samejima K, Ruiz LA, Deb M, Lambers MLA, Buckle A, Brackley CA, Robertson D, Hori T, Webb S, Kiewisz R, Bepler T, van Kwawegen E, Risteski P, Vukušić K, Tolić IM, Müller-Reichert T, Fukagawa T, Gilbert N, Marenduzzo D, Earnshaw WC, Kops GJPL. Vertebrate centromeres in mitosis are functionally bipartite structures stabilized by cohesin. Cell 2024; 187:3006-3023.e26. [PMID: 38744280 PMCID: PMC11164432 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Centromeres are scaffolds for the assembly of kinetochores that ensure chromosome segregation during cell division. How vertebrate centromeres obtain a three-dimensional structure to accomplish their primary function is unclear. Using super-resolution imaging, capture-C, and polymer modeling, we show that vertebrate centromeres are partitioned by condensins into two subdomains during mitosis. The bipartite structure is found in human, mouse, and chicken cells and is therefore a fundamental feature of vertebrate centromeres. Super-resolution imaging and electron tomography reveal that bipartite centromeres assemble bipartite kinetochores, with each subdomain binding a distinct microtubule bundle. Cohesin links the centromere subdomains, limiting their separation in response to spindle forces and avoiding merotelic kinetochore-spindle attachments. Lagging chromosomes during cancer cell divisions frequently have merotelic attachments in which the centromere subdomains are separated and bioriented. Our work reveals a fundamental aspect of vertebrate centromere biology with implications for understanding the mechanisms that guarantee faithful chromosome segregation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Sacristan
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Kumiko Samejima
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Lorena Andrade Ruiz
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Moonmoon Deb
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Maaike L A Lambers
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Adam Buckle
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Chris A Brackley
- SUPA School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Daniel Robertson
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tetsuya Hori
- Laboratory of Chromosome Biology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shaun Webb
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Robert Kiewisz
- Simons Machine Learning Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY 10027, USA; Biocomputing Unit, Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia (CNB-CSIC), Darwin, 3, Campus Universidad Autonoma, Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Tristan Bepler
- Simons Machine Learning Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Eloïse van Kwawegen
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Thomas Müller-Reichert
- Experimental Center, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tatsuo Fukagawa
- Laboratory of Chromosome Biology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Nick Gilbert
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Davide Marenduzzo
- SUPA School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - William C Earnshaw
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Geert J P L Kops
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bihani A, Avvaru AK, Mishra RK. Biochemical Deconstruction and Reconstruction of Nuclear Matrix Reveals the Layers of Nuclear Organization. Mol Cell Proteomics 2023; 22:100671. [PMID: 37863319 PMCID: PMC10687341 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear matrix (NuMat) is the fraction of the eukaryotic nucleus insoluble to detergents and high-salt extractions that manifests as a pan-nuclear fiber-granule network. NuMat consists of ribonucleoprotein complexes, members of crucial nuclear functional modules, and DNA fragments. Although NuMat captures the organization of nonchromatin nuclear space, very little is known about components organization within NuMat. To understand the organization of NuMat components, we subfractionated it with increasing concentrations of the chaotrope guanidinium hydrochloride (GdnHCl) and analyzed the proteomic makeup of the fractions. We observe that the solubilization of proteins at different concentrations of GdnHCl is finite and independent of the broad biophysical properties of the protein sequences. Looking at the extraction pattern of the nuclear envelope and nuclear pore complex, we surmise that this fractionation represents easily solubilized/loosely bound and difficultly solubilized/tightly bound components of NuMat. Microscopic analyses of the localization of key NuMat proteins across sequential GdnHCl extractions of in situ NuMat further elaborate on the divergent extraction patterns. Furthermore, we solubilized NuMat in 8M GdnHCl and upon removal of GdnHCl through dialysis, en masse renaturation leads to RNA-dependent self-assembly of fibrous structures. The major proteome component of the self-assembled fibers comes from the difficultly solubilized, tightly bound component. This fractionation of the NuMat reveals different organizational levels within it which may reflect the structural and functional organization of nuclear architecture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Bihani
- CSIR - Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India.
| | - Akshay K Avvaru
- CSIR - Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Rakesh K Mishra
- CSIR - Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India; Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Bengaluru, India.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mishra PK, Au WC, Castineira PG, Ali N, Stanton J, Boeckmann L, Takahashi Y, Costanzo M, Boone C, Bloom KS, Thorpe PH, Basrai MA. Misregulation of cell cycle-dependent methylation of budding yeast CENP-A contributes to chromosomal instability. Mol Biol Cell 2023; 34:ar99. [PMID: 37436802 PMCID: PMC10551700 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e23-03-0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Centromere (CEN) identity is specified epigenetically by specialized nucleosomes containing evolutionarily conserved CEN-specific histone H3 variant CENP-A (Cse4 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, CENP-A in humans), which is essential for faithful chromosome segregation. However, the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate Cse4 function have not been fully defined. In this study, we show that cell cycle-dependent methylation of Cse4-R37 regulates kinetochore function and high-fidelity chromosome segregation. We generated a custom antibody that specifically recognizes methylated Cse4-R37 and showed that methylation of Cse4 is cell cycle regulated with maximum levels of methylated Cse4-R37 and its enrichment at the CEN chromatin occur in the mitotic cells. Methyl-mimic cse4-R37F mutant exhibits synthetic lethality with kinetochore mutants, reduced levels of CEN-associated kinetochore proteins and chromosome instability (CIN), suggesting that mimicking the methylation of Cse4-R37 throughout the cell cycle is detrimental to faithful chromosome segregation. Our results showed that SPOUT methyltransferase Upa1 contributes to methylation of Cse4-R37 and overexpression of UPA1 leads to CIN phenotype. In summary, our studies have defined a role for cell cycle-regulated methylation of Cse4 in high-fidelity chromosome segregation and highlight an important role of epigenetic modifications such as methylation of kinetochore proteins in preventing CIN, an important hallmark of human cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prashant K. Mishra
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Wei-Chun Au
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Pedro G. Castineira
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Nazrin Ali
- Queen Mary University of London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - John Stanton
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Lars Boeckmann
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Yoshimitsu Takahashi
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Michael Costanzo
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Charles Boone
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | | | | | - Munira A. Basrai
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lawrimore J, de Larminat SC, Cook D, Friedman B, Doshi A, Yeh E, Bloom K. Polymer models reveal how chromatin modification can modulate force at the kinetochore. Mol Biol Cell 2022; 33:ar97. [PMID: 35704466 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e22-02-0041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A key feature of chromosome segregation is the ability to sense tension between sister kinetochores. DNA between sister kinetochores must be packaged in a way that sustains tension propagation from one kinetochore to its sister, approximately 1 micron away. A molecular bottlebrush consisting of a primary axis populated with a crowded array of side chains provides a means to build tension over length scales considerably larger than the stiffness of the individual elements, that is, DNA polymer. Evidence for the bottlebrush organization of chromatin between sister kinetochores comes from genetic, cell biological, and polymer modeling of the budding yeast centromere. In this study, we have used polymer dynamic simulations of the bottlebrush to recapitulate experimental observations of kinetochore structure. Several aspects of the spatial distribution of kinetochore proteins and their response to perturbation lack a mechanistic understanding. Changes in physical parameters of bottlebrush, DNA stiffness, and DNA loops directly impact the architecture of the inner kinetochore. This study reveals that the bottlebrush is an active participant in building tension between sister kinetochores and proposes a mechanism for chromatin feedback to the kinetochore.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josh Lawrimore
- Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Solenn C de Larminat
- Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Diana Cook
- Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Brandon Friedman
- Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Ayush Doshi
- Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Elaine Yeh
- Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Kerry Bloom
- Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
The centromere serves as the binding site for the kinetochore and is essential for the faithful segregation of chromosomes throughout cell division. The point centromere in yeast is encoded by a ∼115 bp specific DNA sequence, whereas regional centromeres range from 6-10 kbp in fission yeast to 5-10 Mbp in humans. Understanding the physical structure of centromere chromatin (pericentromere in yeast), defined as the chromatin between sister kinetochores, will provide fundamental insights into how centromere DNA is woven into a stiff spring that is able to resist microtubule pulling forces during mitosis. One hallmark of the pericentromere is the enrichment of the structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) proteins cohesin and condensin. Based on studies from population approaches (ChIP-seq and Hi-C) and experimentally obtained images of fluorescent probes of pericentromeric structure, as well as quantitative comparisons between simulations and experimental results, we suggest a mechanism for building tension between sister kinetochores. We propose that the centromere is a chromatin bottlebrush that is organized by the loop-extruding proteins condensin and cohesin. The bottlebrush arrangement provides a biophysical means to transform pericentromeric chromatin into a spring due to the steric repulsion between radial loops. We argue that the bottlebrush is an organizing principle for chromosome organization that has emerged from multiple approaches in the field.
Collapse
|
6
|
Kefer P, Iqbal F, Locatelli M, Lawrimore J, Zhang M, Bloom K, Bonin K, Vidi PA, Liu J. Performance of deep learning restoration methods for the extraction of particle dynamics in noisy microscopy image sequences. Mol Biol Cell 2021; 32:903-914. [PMID: 33502895 PMCID: PMC8108534 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e20-11-0689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Particle tracking in living systems requires low light exposure and short exposure times to avoid phototoxicity and photobleaching and to fully capture particle motion with high-speed imaging. Low-excitation light comes at the expense of tracking accuracy. Image restoration methods based on deep learning dramatically improve the signal-to-noise ratio in low-exposure data sets, qualitatively improving the images. However, it is not clear whether images generated by these methods yield accurate quantitative measurements such as diffusion parameters in (single) particle tracking experiments. Here, we evaluate the performance of two popular deep learning denoising software packages for particle tracking, using synthetic data sets and movies of diffusing chromatin as biological examples. With synthetic data, both supervised and unsupervised deep learning restored particle motions with high accuracy in two-dimensional data sets, whereas artifacts were introduced by the denoisers in three-dimensional data sets. Experimentally, we found that, while both supervised and unsupervised approaches improved tracking results compared with the original noisy images, supervised learning generally outperformed the unsupervised approach. We find that nicer-looking image sequences are not synonymous with more precise tracking results and highlight that deep learning algorithms can produce deceiving artifacts with extremely noisy images. Finally, we address the challenge of selecting parameters to train convolutional neural networks by implementing a frugal Bayesian optimizer that rapidly explores multidimensional parameter spaces, identifying networks yielding optimal particle tracking accuracy. Our study provides quantitative outcome measures of image restoration using deep learning. We anticipate broad application of this approach to critically evaluate artificial intelligence solutions for quantitative microscopy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Kefer
- Department of Physics, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109
| | - Fadil Iqbal
- Department of Physics, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Maelle Locatelli
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, and
| | - Josh Lawrimore
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Mengdi Zhang
- Department of Physics, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Kerry Bloom
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Keith Bonin
- Department of Physics, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109.,Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157
| | - Pierre-Alexandre Vidi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, and.,Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Physics, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
He Y, Lawrimore J, Cook D, Van Gorder EE, De Larimat SC, Adalsteinsson D, Forest MG, Bloom K. Statistical mechanics of chromosomes: in vivo and in silico approaches reveal high-level organization and structure arise exclusively through mechanical feedback between loop extruders and chromatin substrate properties. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:11284-11303. [PMID: 33080019 PMCID: PMC7672462 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The revolution in understanding higher order chromosome dynamics and organization derives from treating the chromosome as a chain polymer and adapting appropriate polymer-based physical principles. Using basic principles, such as entropic fluctuations and timescales of relaxation of Rouse polymer chains, one can recapitulate the dominant features of chromatin motion observed in vivo. An emerging challenge is to relate the mechanical properties of chromatin to more nuanced organizational principles such as ubiquitous DNA loops. Toward this goal, we introduce a real-time numerical simulation model of a long chain polymer in the presence of histones and condensin, encoding physical principles of chromosome dynamics with coupled histone and condensin sources of transient loop generation. An exact experimental correlate of the model was obtained through analysis of a model-matching fluorescently labeled circular chromosome in live yeast cells. We show that experimentally observed chromosome compaction and variance in compaction are reproduced only with tandem interactions between histone and condensin, not from either individually. The hierarchical loop structures that emerge upon incorporation of histone and condensin activities significantly impact the dynamic and structural properties of chromatin. Moreover, simulations reveal that tandem condensin–histone activity is responsible for higher order chromosomal structures, including recently observed Z-loops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunyan He
- Department of Mathematics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Josh Lawrimore
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Diana Cook
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | | | | | - David Adalsteinsson
- Department of Mathematics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - M Gregory Forest
- Department of Mathematics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kerry Bloom
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
The kinetochore is a complex structure whose function is absolutely essential. Unlike the centromere, the kinetochore at first appeared remarkably well conserved from yeast to humans, especially the microtubule-binding outer kinetochore. However, recent efforts towards biochemical reconstitution of diverse kinetochores challenge the notion of a similarly conserved architecture for the constitutively centromere-associated network of the inner kinetochore. This review briefly summarizes the evidence from comparative genomics for interspecific variability in inner kinetochore composition and focuses on novel biochemical evidence indicating that even homologous inner kinetochore protein complexes are put to different uses in different organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G E Hamilton
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - T N Davis
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Mishra PK, Chakraborty A, Yeh E, Feng W, Bloom KS, Basrai MA. R-loops at centromeric chromatin contribute to defects in kinetochore integrity and chromosomal instability in budding yeast. Mol Biol Cell 2020; 32:74-89. [PMID: 33147102 PMCID: PMC8098821 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e20-06-0379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
R-loops, the byproduct of DNA–RNA hybridization and the displaced single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), have been identified in bacteria, yeasts, and other eukaryotic organisms. The persistent presence of R-loops contributes to defects in DNA replication and repair, gene expression, and genomic integrity. R-loops have not been detected at centromeric (CEN) chromatin in wild-type budding yeast. Here we used an hpr1∆ strain that accumulates R-loops to investigate the consequences of R-loops at CEN chromatin and chromosome segregation. We show that Hpr1 interacts with the CEN-histone H3 variant, Cse4, and prevents the accumulation of R-loops at CEN chromatin for chromosomal stability. DNA–RNA immunoprecipitation (DRIP) analysis showed an accumulation of R-loops at CEN chromatin that was reduced by overexpression of RNH1 in hpr1∆ strains. Increased levels of ssDNA, reduced levels of Cse4 and its assembly factor Scm3, and mislocalization of histone H3 at CEN chromatin were observed in hpr1∆ strains. We determined that accumulation of R-loops at CEN chromatin contributes to defects in kinetochore biorientation and chromosomal instability (CIN) and these phenotypes are suppressed by RNH1 overexpression in hpr1∆ strains. In summary, our studies provide mechanistic insights into how accumulation of R-loops at CEN contributes to defects in kinetochore integrity and CIN.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prashant K Mishra
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | | | - Elaine Yeh
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Wenyi Feng
- SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210
| | - Kerry S Bloom
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Munira A Basrai
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Biggs RJ, Liu N, Peng Y, Marko JF, Qiao H. Micromanipulation of prophase I chromosomes from mouse spermatocytes reveals high stiffness and gel-like chromatin organization. Commun Biol 2020; 3:542. [PMID: 32999386 PMCID: PMC7528058 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01265-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Meiosis produces four haploid cells after two successive divisions in sexually reproducing organisms. A critical event during meiosis is construction of the synaptonemal complex (SC), a large, protein-based bridge that physically links homologous chromosomes. The SC facilitates meiotic recombination, chromosome compaction, and the eventual separation of homologous chromosomes at metaphase I. We present experiments directly measuring physical properties of captured mammalian meiotic prophase I chromosomes. Mouse meiotic chromosomes are about ten-fold stiffer than somatic mitotic chromosomes, even for genetic mutants lacking SYCP1, the central element of the SC. Meiotic chromosomes dissolve when treated with nucleases, but only weaken when treated with proteases, suggesting that the SC is not rigidly connected, and that meiotic prophase I chromosomes are a gel meshwork of chromatin, similar to mitotic chromosomes. These results are consistent with a liquid- or liquid-crystal SC, but with SC-chromatin stiff enough to mechanically drive crossover interference. Ronald Biggs et al. report biophysical measurements of intact chromosomes isolated from mouse spermatocytes. They compare chromosomes in meiosis prophase I to mitotic chromosomes and find that meiotic chromosomes are much stiffer, and this stiffness does not depend on the central element of the synaptonemal complex (SYCP1).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ronald J Biggs
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Ning Liu
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
| | - Yiheng Peng
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
| | - John F Marko
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA. .,Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
| | - Huanyu Qiao
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lawrimore CJ, Lawrimore J, He Y, Chavez S, Bloom K. Polymer perspective of genome mobilization. Mutat Res 2020; 821:111706. [PMID: 32516654 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2020.111706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chromosome motion is an intrinsic feature of all DNA-based metabolic processes and is a particularly well-documented response to both DNA damage and repair. By using both biological and polymer physics approaches, many of the contributing factors of chromatin motility have been elucidated. These include the intrinsic properties of chromatin, such as stiffness, as well as the loop modulators condensin and cohesin. Various biological factors such as external tethering to nuclear domains, ATP-dependent processes, and nucleofilaments further impact chromatin motion. DNA damaging agents that induce double-stranded breaks also cause increased chromatin motion that is modulated by recruitment of repair and checkpoint proteins. Approaches that integrate biological experimentation in conjunction with models from polymer physics provide mechanistic insights into the role of chromatin dynamics in biological function. In this review we discuss the polymer models and the effects of both DNA damage and repair on chromatin motion as well as mechanisms that may underlie these effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Colleen J Lawrimore
- Department of Biology, 623 Fordham Hall CB#3280, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, United States
| | - Josh Lawrimore
- Department of Biology, 623 Fordham Hall CB#3280, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, United States
| | - Yunyan He
- Department of Biology, 623 Fordham Hall CB#3280, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, United States
| | - Sergio Chavez
- Department of Biology, 623 Fordham Hall CB#3280, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, United States
| | - Kerry Bloom
- Department of Biology, 623 Fordham Hall CB#3280, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Beseda T, Cápal P, Kubalová I, Schubert V, Doležel J, Šimková H. Mitotic chromosome organization: General rules meet species-specific variability. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:1311-1319. [PMID: 32612754 PMCID: PMC7305364 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on the formation of mitotic chromosomes from interphase chromatin domains, ongoing for several decades, made significant progress in recent years. It was stimulated by the development of advanced microscopic techniques and implementation of chromatin conformation capture methods that provide new insights into chromosome ultrastructure. This review aims to summarize and compare several models of chromatin fiber folding to form mitotic chromosomes and discusses them in the light of the novel findings. Functional genomics studies in several organisms confirmed condensins and cohesins as the major players in chromosome condensation. Here we compare available data on the role of these proteins across lower and higher eukaryotes and point to differences indicating evolutionary different pathways to shape mitotic chromosomes. Moreover, we discuss a controversial phenomenon of the mitotic chromosome ultrastructure - chromosome cavities - and using our super-resolution microscopy data, we contribute to its elucidation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Beseda
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Acad. Sci., Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Šlechtitelů 31, CZ-77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Cápal
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Acad. Sci., Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Šlechtitelů 31, CZ-77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Ivona Kubalová
- The Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Corrensstrasse 3, D-06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Veit Schubert
- The Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Corrensstrasse 3, D-06466 Seeland, Germany
| | - Jaroslav Doležel
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Acad. Sci., Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Šlechtitelů 31, CZ-77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Šimková
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Acad. Sci., Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Šlechtitelů 31, CZ-77900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lawrimore CJ, Bloom K. Common Features of the Pericentromere and Nucleolus. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E1029. [PMID: 31835574 PMCID: PMC6947172 DOI: 10.3390/genes10121029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Both the pericentromere and the nucleolus have unique characteristics that distinguish them amongst the rest of genome. Looping of pericentromeric DNA, due to structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) proteins condensin and cohesin, drives its ability to maintain tension during metaphase. Similar loops are formed via condensin and cohesin in nucleolar ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Condensin and cohesin are also concentrated in transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, genes which may be located within the pericentromere as well as tethered to the nucleolus. Replication fork stalling, as well as downstream consequences such as genomic recombination, are characteristic of both the pericentromere and rDNA. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that the pericentromere may function as a liquid-liquid phase separated domain, similar to the nucleolus. We therefore propose that the pericentromere and nucleolus, in part due to their enrichment of SMC proteins and others, contain similar domains that drive important cellular activities such as segregation, stability, and repair.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kerry Bloom
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lawrimore J, Bloom K. The regulation of chromosome segregation via centromere loops. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2019; 54:352-370. [PMID: 31573359 PMCID: PMC6856439 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2019.1670130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Biophysical studies of the yeast centromere have shown that the organization of the centromeric chromatin plays a crucial role in maintaining proper tension between sister kinetochores during mitosis. While centromeric chromatin has traditionally been considered a simple spring, recent work reveals the centromere as a multifaceted, tunable shock absorber. Centromeres can differ from other regions of the genome in their heterochromatin state, supercoiling state, and enrichment of structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) protein complexes. Each of these differences can be utilized to alter the effective stiffness of centromeric chromatin. In budding yeast, the SMC protein complexes condensin and cohesin stiffen chromatin by forming and cross-linking chromatin loops, respectively, into a fibrous structure resembling a bottlebrush. The high density of the loops compacts chromatin while spatially isolating the tension from spindle pulling forces to a subset of the chromatin. Paradoxically, the molecular crowding of chromatin via cohesin and condensin also causes an outward/poleward force. The structure allows the centromere to act as a shock absorber that buffers the variable forces generated by dynamic spindle microtubules. Based on the distribution of SMCs from bacteria to human and the conserved distance between sister kinetochores in a wide variety of organisms (0.4 to 1 micron), we propose that the bottlebrush mechanism is the foundational principle for centromere function in eukaryotes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josh Lawrimore
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kerry Bloom
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|