Selective association between nucleosomes with identical DNA sequences

Modulation of biomolecular phase behavior by metal ions

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) appears to be a newly appreciated aspect of the cellular organization of biomolecules that leads to the formation of membraneless organelles (MLOs). MLOs generate distinct microenvironments where particular biomolecules are highly concentrated compared to those in the surrounding environment. Their thermodynamically driven formation is reversible, and their liquid nature allows them to fuse with each other. Dysfunctional biomolecular condensation is associated with human diseases. Pathological states of MLOs may originate from the mutation of proteins or may be induced by other factors. In most aberrant MLOs, transient interactions are replaced by stronger and more rigid interactions, preventing their dissolution, and causing their uncontrolled growth and dysfunction. For these reasons, there is great interest in identifying factors that modulate LLPS. In this review, we discuss an enigmatic and mostly unexplored aspect of this process, namely, the regulatory effects of metal ions on the phase behavior of biomolecules.

Cryoelectron tomography reveals the multiplex anatomy of condensed native chromatin and its unfolding by histone citrullination

Nucleosome chains fold and self-associate to form higher-order structures whose internal organization is unknown. Here, cryoelectron tomography (cryo-ET) of native human chromatin reveals intrinsic folding motifs such as (1) non-uniform nucleosome stacking, (2) intermittent parallel and perpendicular orientations of adjacent nucleosome planes, and (3) a regressive nucleosome chain path, which deviates from the direct zigzag topology seen in reconstituted nucleosomal arrays. By examining the self-associated structures, we observed prominent nucleosome stacking in cis and anti-parallel nucleosome interactions, which are consistent with partial nucleosome interdigitation in trans. Histone citrullination strongly inhibits nucleosome stacking and self-association with a modest effect on chromatin folding, whereas the reconstituted arrays undergo a dramatic unfolding into open zigzag chains induced by histone citrullination. This study sheds light on the internal structure of compact chromatin nanoparticles and suggests a mechanism for how epigenetic changes in chromatin folding are retained across both open and condensed forms.

Studies of the Mechanism of Nucleosome Dynamics: A Review on Multifactorial Regulation from Computational and Experimental Cases

The nucleosome, which organizes the long coil of genomic DNA in a highly condensed, polymeric way, is thought to be the basic unit of chromosomal structure. As the most important protein–DNA complex, its structural and dynamic features have been successively revealed in recent years. However, its regulatory mechanism, which is modulated by multiple factors, still requires systemic discussion. This study summarizes the regulatory factors of the nucleosome’s dynamic features from the perspective of histone modification, DNA methylation, and the nucleosome-interacting factors (transcription factors and nucleosome-remodeling proteins and cations) and focuses on the research exploring the molecular mechanism through both computational and experimental approaches. The regulatory factors that affect the dynamic features of nucleosomes are also discussed in detail, such as unwrapping, wrapping, sliding, and stacking. Due to the complexity of the high-order topological structures of nucleosomes and the comprehensive effects of regulatory factors, the research on the functional modulation mechanism of nucleosomes has encountered great challenges. The integration of computational and experimental approaches, the construction of physical modes for nucleosomes, and the application of deep learning techniques will provide promising opportunities for further exploration.

Nucleic acid paranemic structures: a promising building block for functional nanomaterials in biomedical and bionanotechnological applications

Over the past few decades, DNA has been recognized as a powerful self-assembling material capable of crafting supramolecular nanoarchitectures with quasi-angstrom precision, which promises various applications in the fields of materials science, nanoengineering, and biomedical science. Notable structural features include biocompatibility, biodegradability, high digital encodability by Watson-Crick base pairing, nanoscale dimension, and surface addressability. Bottom-up fabrication of complex DNA nanostructures relies on the design of fundamental DNA motifs, including parallel (PX) and antiparallel (AX) crossovers. However, paranemic or PX motifs have not been thoroughly explored for the construction of DNA-based nanostructures compared to AX motifs. In this review, we summarize the developments of PX-based DNA nanostructures, highlight the advantages as well as challenges of PX-based assemblies, and give an overview of the structural and chemical features that lend their utilization in a variety of applications. The works presented cover PX-based DNA nanostructures in biological systems, dynamic systems, and biomedical contexts. The possible future advances of PX structures and applications are also summarized, discussed, and postulated.

Networks and Islands of Genome Nano-architecture and Their Potential Relevance for Radiation Biology : (A Hypothesis and Experimental Verification Hints)

The cell nucleus is a complex biological system in which simultaneous reactions and functions take place to keep the cell as an individualized, specialized system running well. The cell nucleus contains chromatin packed in various degrees of density and separated in volumes of chromosome territories and subchromosomal domains. Between the chromatin, however, there is enough "free" space for floating RNA, proteins, enzymes, ATPs, ions, water molecules, etc. which are trafficking by super- and supra-diffusion to the interaction points where they are required. It seems that this trafficking works somehow automatically and drives the system perfectly. After exposure to ionizing radiation causing DNA damage from single base damage up to chromatin double-strand breaks, the whole system "cell nucleus" responds, and repair processes are starting to recover the fully functional and intact system. In molecular biology, many individual epigenetic pathways of DNA damage response or repair of single and double-strand breaks are described. How these responses are embedded into the response of the system as a whole is often out of the focus of consideration. In this article, we want to follow the hypothesis of chromatin architecture's impact on epigenetic pathways and vice versa. Based on the assumption that chromatin acts like an "aperiodic solid state within a limited volume," functionally determined networks and local topologies ("islands") can be defined that drive the appropriate repair process at a given damage site. Experimental results of investigations of the chromatin nano-architecture and DNA repair clusters obtained by means of single-molecule localization microscopy offer hints and perspectives that may contribute to verifying the hypothesis.

Control of Chromatin Organization and Chromosome Behavior during the Cell Cycle through Phase Separation

Phase-separated condensates participate in various biological activities. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) can be driven by collective interactions between multivalent and intrinsically disordered proteins. The manner in which chromatin-with various morphologies and activities-is organized in a complex and small nucleus still remains to be fully determined. Recent findings support the claim that phase separation is involved in the regulation of chromatin organization and chromosome behavior. Moreover, phase separation also influences key events during mitosis and meiosis. This review elaborately dissects how phase separation regulates chromatin and chromosome organization and controls mitotic and meiotic chromosome behavior.

Nucleosome-induced homology recognition in chromatin

One of the least understood properties of chromatin is the ability of its similar regions to recognize each other through weak interactions. Theories based on electrostatic interactions between helical macromolecules suggest that the ability to recognize sequence homology is an innate property of the non-ideal helical structure of DNA. However, this theory does not account for the nucleosomal packing of DNA. Can homologous DNA sequences recognize each other while wrapped up in the nucleosomes? Can structural homology arise at the level of nucleosome arrays? Here, we present a theoretical model for the recognition potential well between chromatin fibres sliding against each other. This well is different from the one predicted for bare DNA; the minima in energy do not correspond to literal juxtaposition, but are shifted by approximately half the nucleosome repeat length. The presence of this potential well suggests that nucleosome positioning may induce mutual sequence recognition between chromatin fibres and facilitate the formation of chromatin nanodomains. This has implications for nucleosome arrays enclosed between CTCF-cohesin boundaries, which may form stiffer stem-like structures instead of flexible entropically favourable loops. We also consider switches between chromatin states, e.g. through acetylation/deacetylation of histones, and discuss nucleosome-induced recognition as a precursory stage of genetic recombination.

Interplay between genome organization and epigenomic alterations of pericentromeric DNA in cancer

In eukaryotic genome biology, the genomic organization inside the three-dimensional (3D) nucleus is highly complex, and whether this organization governs gene expression is poorly understood. Nuclear lamina (NL) is a filamentous meshwork of proteins present at the lining of inner nuclear membrane that serves as an anchoring platform for genome organization. Large chromatin domains termed as lamina-associated domains (LADs), play a major role in silencing genes at the nuclear periphery. The interaction of the NL and genome is dynamic and stochastic. Furthermore, many genes change their positions during developmental processes or under disease conditions such as cancer, to activate certain sorts of genes and/or silence others. Pericentromeric heterochromatin (PCH) is mostly in the silenced region within the genome, which localizes at the nuclear periphery. Studies show that several genes located at the PCH are aberrantly expressed in cancer. The interesting question is that despite being localized in the pericentromeric region, how these genes still manage to overcome pericentromeric repression. Although epigenetic mechanisms control the expression of the pericentromeric region, recent studies about genome organization and genome-nuclear lamina interaction have shed light on a new aspect of pericentromeric gene regulation through a complex and coordinated interplay between epigenomic remodeling and genomic organization in cancer.

A perspective on the molecular simulation of DNA from structural and functional aspects

As genetic material, DNA not only carries genetic information by sequence, but also affects biological functions ranging from base modification to replication, transcription and gene regulation through its structural and dynamic properties and variations. The motion and structural properties of DNA involved in related biological processes are also multi-scale, ranging from single base flipping to local DNA deformation, TF binding, G-quadruplex and i-motif formation, TAD establishment, compartmentalization and even chromosome territory formation, just to name a few. The sequence-dependent physical properties of DNA play vital role in all these events, and thus it is interesting to examine how simple sequence information affects DNA and the formation of the chromatin structure in these different hierarchical orders. Accordingly, molecular simulations can provide atomistic details of interactions and conformational dynamics involved in different biological processes of DNA, including those inaccessible by current experimental methods. In this perspective, which is mainly based on our recent studies, we provide a brief overview of the atomistic simulations on how the hierarchical structure and dynamics of DNA can be influenced by its sequences, base modifications, environmental factors and protein binding in the context of the protein-DNA interactions, gene regulation and structural organization of chromatin. We try to connect the DNA sequence, the hierarchical structures of DNA and gene regulation.

Stability and folding pathways of tetra-nucleosome from six-dimensional free energy surface

The three-dimensional organization of chromatin is expected to play critical roles in regulating genome functions. High-resolution characterization of its structure and dynamics could improve our understanding of gene regulation mechanisms but has remained challenging. Using a near-atomistic model that preserves the chemical specificity of protein-DNA interactions at residue and base-pair resolution, we studied the stability and folding pathways of a tetra-nucleosome. Dynamical simulations performed with an advanced sampling technique uncovered multiple pathways that connect open chromatin configurations with the zigzag crystal structure. Intermediate states along the simulated folding pathways resemble chromatin configurations reported from in situ experiments. We further determined a six-dimensional free energy surface as a function of the inter-nucleosome distances via a deep learning approach. The zigzag structure can indeed be seen as the global minimum of the surface. However, it is not favored by a significant amount relative to the partially unfolded, in situ configurations. Chemical perturbations such as histone H4 tail acetylation and thermal fluctuations can further tilt the energetic balance to stabilize intermediate states. Our study provides insight into the connection between various reported chromatin configurations and has implications on the in situ relevance of the 30 nm fiber.

The three-dimensional organization of chromatin plays critical roles in regulating genome function. Here the authors apply a near atomistic model to study the structure and dynamics of the chromatin folding unit - the tetra-nucleosome - to provide insight into how chromatin folds.

Topoisomerase IIβ targets DNA crossovers formed between distant homologous sites to induce chromatin opening

Type II DNA topoisomerases (topo II) flip the spatial positions of two DNA duplexes, called G- and T- segments, by a cleavage-passage-resealing mechanism. In living cells, these DNA segments can be derived from distant sites on the same chromosome. Due to lack of proper methodology, however, no direct evidence has been described so far. The beta isoform of topo II (topo IIβ) is essential for transcriptional regulation of genes expressed in the final stage of neuronal differentiation. Here we devise a genome-wide mapping technique (eTIP-seq) for topo IIβ target sites that can measure the genomic distance between G- and T-segments. It revealed that the enzyme operates in two distinctive modes, termed proximal strand passage (PSP) and distal strand passage (DSP). PSP sites are concentrated around transcription start sites, whereas DSP sites are heavily clustered in small number of hotspots. While PSP represent the conventional topo II targets that remove local torsional stresses, DSP sites have not been described previously. Most remarkably, DSP is driven by the pairing between homologous sequences or repeats located in a large distance. A model-building approach suggested that topo IIβ acts on crossovers to unknot the intertwined DSP sites, leading to chromatin decondensation.

Effects of Psoralen on Histone-DNA Interactions Studied by Using Atomic Force Microscopy

The investigation of the DNA-histone interactions and factors that affect such interactions in the nucleosome is essential for understanding the role of chromatin organization in all cellular processes involved in the repair, transcription, and replication of the eukaryotic genome. As a kind of photosensitive molecule, psoralen (PSO) is used in the treatment of skin disease with ultraviolet light (PSO and ultra violet light, type A). The effect of treatment is remarkable, but the side effect is also obvious. PSO can be embedded in a 5' TA sequence in double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), and dsDNA is mainly wrapped around a histone octamer to form a nucleosome structure in human cells. Therefore, it is very necessary to explore the influence of PSO on DNA-histone interactions. To this end, the binding specificity and mode of DNA and histone in the presence or absence of PSO are investigated systematically. The results show that the presence of PSO (no matter if there is ultra violet light treatment) can increase the overall probability of histone binding to dsDNA while lowering the selectivity of histone binding to the specific DNA sequence in vitro. In addition, the increase of solution ionic strength can lower the ratio of histone binding to nonspecific DNA.

Genome-Protecting Compounds as Potential Geroprotectors

Throughout life, organisms are exposed to various exogenous and endogenous factors that cause DNA damages and somatic mutations provoking genomic instability. At a young age, compensatory mechanisms of genome protection are activated to prevent phenotypic and functional changes. However, the increasing stress and age-related deterioration in the functioning of these mechanisms result in damage accumulation, overcoming the functional threshold. This leads to aging and the development of age-related diseases. There are several ways to counteract these changes: 1) prevention of DNA damage through stimulation of antioxidant and detoxification systems, as well as transition metal chelation; 2) regulation of DNA methylation, chromatin structure, non-coding RNA activity and prevention of nuclear architecture alterations; 3) improving DNA damage response and repair; 4) selective removal of damaged non-functional and senescent cells. In the article, we have reviewed data about the effects of various trace elements, vitamins, polyphenols, terpenes, and other phytochemicals, as well as a number of synthetic pharmacological substances in these ways. Most of the compounds demonstrate the geroprotective potential and increase the lifespan in model organisms. However, their genome-protecting effects are non-selective and often are conditioned by hormesis. Consequently, the development of selective drugs targeting genome protection is an advanced direction.

New Aspects of Magnesium Function: A Key Regulator in Nucleosome Self-Assembly, Chromatin Folding and Phase Separation

Metal cations are associated with many biological processes. The effects of these cations on nucleic acids and chromatin were extensively studied in the early stages of nucleic acid and chromatin research. The results revealed that some monovalent and divalent metal cations, including Mg²⁺, profoundly affect the conformations and stabilities of nucleic acids, the folding of chromatin fibers, and the extent of chromosome condensation. Apart from these effects, there have only been a few reports on the functions of these cations. In 2007 and 2013, however, Mg²⁺-implicated novel phenomena were found: Mg²⁺ facilitates or enables both self-assembly of identical double-stranded (ds) DNA molecules and self-assembly of identical nucleosomes in vitro. These phenomena may be deeply implicated in the heterochromatin domain formation and chromatin-based phase separation. Furthermore, a recent study showed that elevation of the intranuclear Mg²⁺ concentration causes unusual differentiation of mouse ES (embryonic stem) cells. All of these phenomena seem to be closely related to one another. Mg²⁺ seems to be a key regulator of chromatin dynamics and chromatin-based biological processes.

Deficiency of the Fanconi anemia E2 ubiqitin conjugase UBE2T only partially abrogates Alu-mediated recombination in a new model of homology dependent recombination

The primary function of the UBE2T ubiquitin conjugase is in the monoubiquitination of the FANCI-FANCD2 heterodimer, a central step in the Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway. Genetic inactivation of UBE2T is responsible for the phenotypes of FANCT patients; however, a FANCT patient carrying a maternal duplication and a paternal deletion in the UBE2T loci displayed normal peripheral blood counts and UBE2T protein levels in B-lymphoblast cell lines. To test whether reversion by recombination between UBE2T AluYa5 elements could have occurred in the patient's hematopoietic stem cells despite the defects in homologous recombination (HR) in FA cells, we constructed HeLa cell lines containing the UBE2T AluYa5 elements and neighboring intervening sequences flanked by fluorescent reporter genes. Introduction of a DNA double strand break in the model UBE2T locus in vivo promoted single strand annealing (SSA) between proximal Alu elements and deletion of the intervening color marker gene, recapitulating the reversion of the UBE2T duplication in the FA patient. To test whether UBE2T null cells retain HR activity, the UBE2T genes were knocked out in HeLa cells and U2OS cells. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genetic knockout of UBE2T only partially reduced HR, demonstrating that UBE2T-independent pathways can compensate for the recombination defect in UBE2T/FANCT null cells.

Complex between a Multicrossover DNA Nanostructure, PX-DNA, and T7 Endonuclease I

Paranemic crossover DNA (PX-DNA) is a four-stranded multicrossover structure that has been implicated in recombination-independent recognition of homology. Although existing evidence has suggested that PX is the DNA motif in homologous pairing (HP), this conclusion remains ambiguous. Further investigation is needed but will require development of new tools. Here, we report characterization of the complex between PX-DNA and T7 endonuclease I (T7endoI), a junction-resolving protein that could serve as the prototype of an anti-PX ligand (a critical prerequisite for the future development of such tools). Specifically, nuclease-inactive T7endoI was produced and its ability to bind to PX-DNA was analyzed using a gel retardation assay. The molar ratio of PX to T7endoI was determined using gel electrophoresis and confirmed by the Hill equation. Hydroxyl radical footprinting of T7endoI on PX-DNA is used to verify the positive interaction between PX and T7endoI and to provide insight into the binding region. Cleavage of PX-DNA by wild-type T7endoI produces DNA fragments, which were used to identify the interacting sites on PX for T7endoI and led to a computational model of their interaction. Altogether, this study has identified a stable complex of PX-DNA and T7endoI and lays the foundation for engineering an anti-PX ligand, which can potentially assist in the study of molecular mechanisms for HP at an advanced level.

A strong structural correlation between short inverted repeat sequences and the polyadenylation signal in yeast and nucleosome exclusion by these inverted repeats

DNA sequences that read the same from 5′ to 3′ in either strand are called inverted repeat sequences or simply IRs. They are found throughout a wide variety of genomes, from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. Despite extensive research, their in vivo functions, if any, remain unclear. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we performed genome-wide analyses for the distribution, occurrence frequency, sequence characteristics and relevance to chromatin structure, for the IRs that reportedly have a cruciform-forming potential. Here, we provide the first comprehensive map of these IRs in the S. cerevisiae genome. The statistically significant enrichment of the IRs was found in the close vicinity of the DNA positions corresponding to polyadenylation [poly(A)] sites and ~ 30 to ~ 60 bp downstream of start codon-coding sites (referred to as ‘start codons’). In the former, ApT- or TpA-rich IRs and A-tract- or T-tract-rich IRs are enriched, while in the latter, different IRs are enriched. Furthermore, we found a strong structural correlation between the former IRs and the poly(A) signal. In the chromatin formed on the gene end regions, the majority of the IRs causes low nucleosome occupancy. The IRs in the region ~ 30 to ~ 60 bp downstream of start codons are located in the + 1 nucleosomes. In contrast, fewer IRs are present in the adjacent region downstream of start codons. The current study suggests that the IRs play similar roles in Escherichia coli and S. cerevisiae to regulate or complete transcription at the RNA level.

Paranemic Crossover DNA: There and Back Again

Over the past 35 years, DNA has been used to produce various nanometer-scale constructs, nanomechanical devices, and walkers. Construction of complex DNA nanostructures relies on the creation of rigid DNA motifs. Paranemic crossover (PX) DNA is one such motif that has played many roles in DNA nanotechnology. Specifically, PX cohesion has been used to connect topologically closed molecules, to assemble a three-dimensional object, and to create two-dimensional DNA crystals. Additionally, a sequence-dependent nanodevice based on conformational change between PX and its topoisomer, JX₂, has been used in robust nanoscale assembly lines, as a key component in a DNA transducer, and to dictate polymer assembly. Furthermore, the PX motif has recently found a new role directly in basic biology, by possibly serving as the molecular structure for double-stranded DNA homology recognition, a prominent feature of molecular biology and essential for many crucial biological processes. This review discusses the many attributes and usages of PX-DNA-its design, characteristics, applications, and potential biological relevance-and aims to accelerate the understanding of PX-DNA motif in its many roles and manifestations.

Introducing a model of pairing based on base pair specific interactions between identical DNA sequences

At present, there have been suggested two types of physical mechanism that may facilitate preferential pairing between DNA molecules, with identical or similar base pair texts, without separation of base pairs. One mechanism solely relies on base pair specific patterns of helix distortion being the same on the two molecules, discussed extensively in the past. The other mechanism proposes that there are preferential interactions between base pairs of the same composition. We introduce a model, built on this second mechanism, where both thermal stretching and twisting fluctuations are included, as well as the base pair specific helix distortions. Firstly, we consider an approximation for weak pairing interactions, or short molecules. This yields a dependence of the energy on the square root of the molecular length, which could explain recent experimental data. However, analysis suggests that this approximation is no longer valid at large DNA lengths. In a second approximation, for long molecules, we define two adaptation lengths for twisting and stretching, over which the pairing interaction can limit the accumulation of helix disorder. When the pairing interaction is sufficiently strong, both adaptation lengths are finite; however, as we reduce pairing strength, the stretching adaptation length remains finite but the torsional one becomes infinite. This second state persists to arbitrarily weak values of the pairing strength; suggesting that, if the molecules are long enough, the pairing energy scales as length. To probe differences between the two pairing mechanisms, we also construct a model of similar form. However, now, pairing between identical sequences solely relies on the intrinsic helix distortion patterns. Between the two models, we see interesting qualitative differences. We discuss our findings, and suggest new work to distinguish between the two mechanisms.

Discrimination of DNA and RNA distribution in a mammalian cell by scanning transmission soft X-ray microscopy

Soft X-ray spectromicroscopy was applied to study the distribution of DNA and RNA in a mammalian cell at the spatial resolution of 400 nm. The relative distribution of DNA and RNA was examined by the SVD (singular value decomposition) method in aXis2000 program using combined full spectra of DNA and RNA at the absorption edge regions of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. The absorption of nucleic acid was evaluated using 1s-π* transitions in the NEXAFS spectra at the nitrogen K absorption edge and distributed to DNA and RNA according to the relative level obtained above. The present results revealed the usefulness of the SVD method to discriminate closely related molecules such as DNA and RNA.

Potential Role of Phase Separation of Repetitive DNA in Chromosomal Organization

The basic principles of chromosomal organization in eukaryotic cells remain elusive. Current mainstream research efforts largely concentrate on searching for critical packaging proteins involved in organizing chromosomes. I have taken a different perspective, by considering the role of genomic information in chromatins. In particular, I put forward the concept that repetitive DNA elements are key chromosomal packaging modules, and their intrinsic property of homology-based interaction can drive chromatin folding. Many repetitive DNA families have high copy numbers and clustered distribution patterns in the linear genomes. These features may facilitate the interactions among members in the same repeat families. In this paper, the potential liquid–liquid phase transition of repetitive DNAs that is induced by their extensive interaction in chromosomes will be considered. I propose that the interaction among repetitive DNAs may lead to phase separation of interacting repetitive DNAs from bulk chromatins. Phase separation of repetitive DNA may provide a physical mechanism that drives rapid massive changes of chromosomal conformation.

Statistical mechanical model for a closed loop plectoneme with weak helix specific forces

We develop a statistical mechanical framework, based on a variational approximation, to describe closed loop plectonemes. This framework incorporates weak helix structure dependent forces into the determination of the free energy and average structure of a plectoneme. Notably, due to their chiral nature, helix structure dependent forces break the symmetry between left and right handed supercoiling. The theoretical approach, presented here, also provides a systematic way of enforcing the topological constraint of closed loop supercoiling in the variational approximation. At large plectoneme lengths, by considering correlation functions in an expansion in terms of the spatial mean twist density about its thermally averaged value, it can be argued that topological constraint may be approximated by replacing twist and writhe by their thermal averages. A Lagrange multiplier, containing the sum of average twist and writhe, can be added to the free energy to conveniently inforce this result. The average writhe can be calculated through the thermal average of the Gauss' integral in the variational approximation. Furthermore, this approach allows for a possible way to calculate finite size corrections due to the topological constraint. Using interaction energy terms from the mean-field Kornyshev-Leikin theory, for parameter values that correspond to weak helix dependent forces, we calculate the free energy, fluctuation magnitudes and mean geometric parameters for the plectoneme. We see a slight asymmetry, where interestingly, left handed supercoils have a looser structure than right handed ones, although with a lower free energy, unlike what the previous ground state calculations would suggest.

Mechanisms of fast and stringent search in homologous pairing of double-stranded DNA

Self-organization in the cell relies on the rapid and specific binding of molecules to their cognate targets. Correct bindings must be stable enough to promote the desired function even in the crowded and fluctuating cellular environment. In systems with many nearly matched targets, rapid and stringent formation of stable products is challenging. Mechanisms that overcome this challenge have been previously proposed, including separating the process into multiple stages; however, how particular in vivo systems overcome the challenge remains unclear. Here we consider a kinetic system, inspired by homology dependent pairing between double stranded DNA in bacteria. By considering a simplified tractable model, we identify different homology testing stages that naturally occur in the system. In particular, we first model dsDNA molecules as short rigid rods containing periodically spaced binding sites. The interaction begins when the centers of two rods collide at a random angle. For most collision angles, the interaction energy is weak because only a few binding sites near the collision point contribute significantly to the binding energy. We show that most incorrect pairings are rapidly rejected at this stage. In rare cases, the two rods enter a second stage by rotating into parallel alignment. While rotation increases the stability of matched and nearly matched pairings, subsequent rotational fluctuations reduce kinetic trapping. Finally, in vivo chromosome are much longer than the persistence length of dsDNA, so we extended the model to include multiple parallel collisions between long dsDNA molecules, and find that those additional interactions can greatly accelerate the searching.

Protein folding and the binding of sequence dependent proteins to DNA are examples of self-assembling systems in which the binding energy varies continuously throughout the interaction. Previous theoretical work has highlighted the importance of dividing the interaction into separate stages characterized by interaction times and binding energies that vary by orders of magnitude. Insight into how such a division might naturally arise and promote accurate and efficient self-assembly is provided by our study of a simple tractable model inspired by the homology dependent pairing of double stranded DNA molecules in vivo. In the model, the binding energy is controlled by one single continuously tunable variable whose natural evolution creates stages that efficiently and accurately form stable products.

New Evidence for the Theory of Chromosome Organization by Repetitive Elements (CORE)

Repetitive DNA elements were proposed to coordinate chromatin folding and interaction in chromosomes by their intrinsic homology-based clustering ability. A recent analysis of the data sets from chromosome-conformation-capture experiments confirms the spatial clustering of DNA repeats of the same family in the nuclear space, and thus provides strong new support for the CORE theory.

Magnesium chloride and polyamine can differentiate mouse embryonic stem cells into trophectoderm or endoderm

Magnesium chloride and polyamines stabilize DNA and chromatin. Furthermore, they can induce nucleosome aggregation and chromatin condensation in vitro. To determine the effects of elevating the cation concentrations in the nucleus of a living cell, we microinjected various concentrations of mono-, di- and polyvalent cation solutions into the nuclei of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and traced their fates. Here, we show that an elevation of either MgCl₂, spermidine or spermine concentration in the nucleus exerts a significant effect on mouse ES cells, and can differentiate a certain population of the cells into trophectoderm, a lineage that mouse ES cells do not normally generate, or endoderm. It is hypothesized that the cell differentiation was most probably caused by the condensation of chromatin including the Oct3/4 locus, which was induced by the elevated concentrations of these cations.

Evidence of protein-free homology recognition in magnetic bead force-extension experiments

Earlier theoretical studies have proposed that the homology-dependent pairing of large tracts of dsDNA may be due to physical interactions between homologous regions. Such interactions could contribute to the sequence-dependent pairing of chromosome regions that may occur in the presence or the absence of double-strand breaks. Several experiments have indicated the recognition of homologous sequences in pure electrolytic solutions without proteins. Here, we report single-molecule force experiments with a designed 60 kb long dsDNA construct; one end attached to a solid surface and the other end to a magnetic bead. The 60 kb constructs contain two 10 kb long homologous tracts oriented head to head, so that their sequences match if the two tracts fold on each other. The distance between the bead and the surface is measured as a function of the force applied to the bead. At low forces, the construct molecules extend substantially less than normal, control dsDNA, indicating the existence of preferential interaction between the homologous regions. The force increase causes no abrupt but continuous unfolding of the paired homologous regions. Simple semi-phenomenological models of the unfolding mechanics are proposed, and their predictions are compared with the data.

The R-Operon: A Model of Repetitive DNA-Organized Transcriptional Compartmentation of Eukaryotic Chromosomes for Coordinated Gene Expression

In eukaryotic genomes, it is essential to coordinate the activity of genes that function together to fulfill the same biological processes. Genomic organization likely plays a key role in coordinating transcription of different genes. However, little is known about how co-regulated genes are organized in the cell nucleus and how the chromosomal organization facilitates the co-regulation of different genes. I propose that eukaryotic genomes are organized into repeat assembly (RA)-based structural domains (“R-operons”) in the nuclear space. R-operons result from the interaction of homologous DNA repeats. In an R-operon, genes in different loci of the linear genome are brought into spatial vicinity and co-regulated by the same pool of transcription factors. This type of large-scale chromosomal organization may provide a mechanism for functional compartmentation of chromosomes to facilitate the transcriptional coordination of gene expression.

Coherence and organisation in lanthanoid complexes: from single ion magnets to spin qubits

Molecular magnetism is reaching a degree of development that will allow for the rational design of sophisticated systems.

Which way up? Recognition of homologous DNA segments in parallel and antiparallel alignments

Homologous gene shuffling between DNA molecules promotes genetic diversity and is an important pathway for DNA repair. For this to occur, homologous genes need to find and recognize each other. However, despite its central role in homologous recombination, the mechanism of homology recognition has remained an unsolved puzzle of molecular biology. While specific proteins are known to play a role at later stages of recombination, an initial coarse grained recognition step has, however, been proposed. This relies on the sequence dependence of the DNA structural parameters, such as twist and rise, mediated by intermolecular interactions, in particular, electrostatic ones. In this proposed mechanism, sequences that have the same base pair text, or are homologous, have lower interaction energy than those sequences with uncorrelated base pair texts. The difference between the two energies is termed the "recognition energy." Here, we probe how the recognition energy changes when one DNA fragment slides past another, and consider, for the first time, homologous sequences in antiparallel alignment. This dependence on sliding is termed the "recognition well." We find there is a recognition well for anti-parallel, homologous DNA tracts, but only a very shallow one, so that their interaction will differ little from the interaction between two nonhomologous tracts. This fact may be utilized in single molecule experiments specially targeted to test the theory. As well as this, we test previous theoretical approximations in calculating the recognition well for parallel molecules against MC simulations and consider more rigorously the optimization of the orientations of the fragments about their long axes upon calculating these recognition energies. The more rigorous treatment affects the recognition energy a little, when the molecules are considered rigid. When torsional flexibility of the DNA molecules is introduced, we find excellent agreement between the analytical approximation and simulations.

Chromosome Scaffold is a Double-Stranded Assembly of Scaffold Proteins

Chromosome higher order structure has been an enigma for over a century. The most important structural finding has been the presence of a chromosome scaffold composed of non-histone proteins; so-called scaffold proteins. However, the organization and function of the scaffold are still controversial. Here, we use three dimensional-structured illumination microscopy (3D-SIM) and focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) to reveal the axial distributions of scaffold proteins in metaphase chromosomes comprising two strands. We also find that scaffold protein can adaptably recover its original localization after chromosome reversion in the presence of cations. This reversion to the original morphology underscores the role of the scaffold for intrinsic structural integrity of chromosomes. We therefore propose a new structural model of the chromosome scaffold that includes twisted double strands, consistent with the physical properties of chromosomal bending flexibility and rigidity. Our model provides new insights into chromosome higher order structure.

Direct recognition of homology between double helices of DNA in Neurospora crassa

Chromosomal regions of identical or nearly identical DNA sequence can preferentially associate with one another in the apparent absence of DNA breakage. Molecular mechanism(s) underlying such homology-dependent pairing phenomena remain(s) unknown. Using Neurospora crassa repeat-induced point mutation (RIP) as a model system, we show that a pair of DNA segments can be recognized as homologous if they share triplets of base pairs arrayed with the matching periodicity of 11 or 12 base pairs. This pattern suggests direct interactions between slightly underwound co-aligned DNA duplexes engaging once per turn and over many consecutive turns. The process occurs in the absence of MEI3, the only RAD51/DMC1 protein in N. crassa, demonstrating independence from the canonical homology recognition pathway. A new perspective is thus provided for further analysis of the breakage-independent recognition of homology that underlies RIP and, potentially, other processes where sequence-specific pairing of intact chromosomes is involved.

Structure-driven homology pairing of chromatin fibers: the role of electrostatics and protein-induced bridging

Chromatin domains formed in vivo are characterized by different types of 3D organization of interconnected nucleosomes and architectural proteins. Here, we quantitatively test a hypothesis that the similarities in the structure of chromatin fibers (which we call "structural homology") can affect their mutual electrostatic and protein-mediated bridging interactions. For example, highly repetitive DNA sequences in heterochromatic regions can position nucleosomes so that preferred inter-nucleosomal distances are preserved on the surfaces of neighboring fibers. On the contrary, the segments of chromatin fiber formed on unrelated DNA sequences have different geometrical parameters and lack structural complementarity pivotal for stable association and cohesion. Furthermore, specific functional elements such as insulator regions, transcription start and termination sites, and replication origins are characterized by strong nucleosome ordering that might induce structure-driven iterations of chromatin fibers. We propose that shape-specific protein-bridging interactions facilitate long-range pairing of chromatin fragments, while for closely-juxtaposed fibers electrostatic forces can in addition yield fine-tuned structure-specific recognition and pairing. These pairing effects can account for some features observed for mitotic and inter-phase chromatins.