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Forni D, Mozzi A, Sironi M, Cagliani R. Positive Selection Drives the Evolution of the Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) Complexes. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:1159. [PMID: 39336750 PMCID: PMC11431564 DOI: 10.3390/genes15091159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) complexes are an evolutionary conserved protein family. In most eukaryotes, three SMC complexes have been characterized, as follows: cohesin, condensin, and SMC5/6 complexes. These complexes are involved in a plethora of functions, and defects in SMC genes can lead to an increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities, infertility, and cancer. To investigate the evolution of SMC complex genes in mammals, we analyzed their selective patterns in an extended phylogeny. Signals of positive selection were identified for condensin NCAPG, for two SMC5/6 complex genes (SMC5 and NSMCE4A), and for all cohesin genes with almost exclusive meiotic expression (RAD21L1, REC8, SMC1B, and STAG3). For the latter, evolutionary rates correlate with expression during female meiosis, and most positively selected sites fall in intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). Our results support growing evidence that IDRs are fast evolving, and that they most likely contribute to adaptation through modulation of phase separation. We suggest that the natural selection signals identified in SMC complexes may be the result of different selective pressures: a host-pathogen arms race in the condensin and SMC5/6 complexes, and an intragenomic conflict for meiotic cohesin genes that is similar to that described for centromeres and telomeres.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rachele Cagliani
- Computational Biology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy; (D.F.); (A.M.); (M.S.)
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2
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Arora UP, Dumont BL. Molecular evolution of the mammalian kinetochore complex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.27.600994. [PMID: 38979348 PMCID: PMC11230421 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.27.600994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian centromeres are satellite-rich chromatin domains that serve as sites for kinetochore complex assembly. Centromeres are highly variable in sequence and satellite organization across species, but the processes that govern the co-evolutionary dynamics between rapidly evolving centromeres and their associated kinetochore proteins remain poorly understood. Here, we pursue a course of phylogenetic analyses to investigate the molecular evolution of the complete kinetochore complex across primate and rodent species with divergent centromere repeat sequences and features. We show that many protein components of the core centromere associated network (CCAN) harbor signals of adaptive evolution, consistent with their intimate association with centromere satellite DNA and roles in the stability and recruitment of additional kinetochore proteins. Surprisingly, CCAN and outer kinetochore proteins exhibit comparable rates of adaptive divergence, suggesting that changes in centromere DNA can ripple across the kinetochore to drive adaptive protein evolution within distant domains of the complex. Our work further identifies kinetochore proteins subject to lineage-specific adaptive evolution, including rapidly evolving proteins in species with centromere satellites characterized by higher-order repeat structure and lacking CENP-B boxes. Thus, features of centromeric chromatin beyond the linear DNA sequence may drive selection on kinetochore proteins. Overall, our work spotlights adaptively evolving proteins with diverse centromere-associated functions, including centromere chromatin structure, kinetochore protein assembly, kinetochore-microtubule association, cohesion maintenance, and DNA damage response pathways. These adaptively evolving kinetochore protein candidates present compelling opportunities for future functional investigations exploring how their concerted changes with centromere DNA ensure the maintenance of genome stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uma P Arora
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor ME 04609
- Tufts University, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 136 Harrison Ave, Boston MA 02111
| | - Beth L Dumont
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor ME 04609
- Tufts University, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 136 Harrison Ave, Boston MA 02111
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, The University of Maine, Orono, Maine, 04469
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3
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Kitaoka M, Smith OK, Straight AF, Heald R. Molecular conflicts disrupting centromere maintenance contribute to Xenopus hybrid inviability. Curr Biol 2022; 32:3939-3951.e6. [PMID: 35973429 PMCID: PMC9529917 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Although central to evolution, the causes of hybrid inviability that drive reproductive isolation are poorly understood. Embryonic lethality occurs when the eggs of the frog X. tropicalis are fertilized with either X. laevis or X. borealis sperm. We observed that distinct subsets of paternal chromosomes failed to assemble functional centromeres, causing their mis-segregation during embryonic cell divisions. Core centromere DNA sequence analysis revealed little conservation among the three species, indicating that epigenetic mechanisms that normally operate to maintain centromere integrity are disrupted on specific paternal chromosomes in hybrids. In vitro reactions combining X. tropicalis egg extract with either X. laevis or X. borealis sperm chromosomes revealed that paternally matched or overexpressed centromeric histone CENP-A and its chaperone HJURP could rescue centromere assembly on affected chromosomes in interphase nuclei. However, although the X. laevis chromosomes maintained centromeric CENP-A in metaphase, X. borealis chromosomes did not and also displayed ultra-thin regions containing ribosomal DNA. Both centromere assembly and morphology of X. borealis mitotic chromosomes could be rescued by inhibiting RNA polymerase I or preventing the collapse of stalled DNA replication forks. These results indicate that specific paternal centromeres are inactivated in hybrids due to the disruption of associated chromatin regions that interfere with CENP-A incorporation, at least in some cases due to conflicts between replication and transcription machineries. Thus, our findings highlight the dynamic nature of centromere maintenance and its susceptibility to disruption in vertebrate interspecies hybrids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiko Kitaoka
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA
| | - Owen K Smith
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5307, USA
| | - Aaron F Straight
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5307, USA
| | - Rebecca Heald
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA.
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4
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Kläser K, Molteni E, Graham M, Canas LS, Österdahl MF, Antonelli M, Chen L, Deng J, Murray B, Kerfoot E, Wolf J, May A, Fox B, Capdevila J, Modat M, Hammers A, Spector TD, Steves CJ, Sudre CH, Ourselin S, Duncan EL. COVID-19 due to the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant compared to B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant of SARS-CoV-2: a prospective observational cohort study. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10904. [PMID: 35764879 PMCID: PMC9240087 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14016-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Delta (B.1.617.2) variant was the predominant UK circulating SARS-CoV-2 strain between May and December 2021. How Delta infection compares with previous variants is unknown. This prospective observational cohort study assessed symptomatic adults participating in the app-based COVID Symptom Study who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 from May 26 to July 1, 2021 (Delta overwhelmingly the predominant circulating UK variant), compared (1:1, age- and sex-matched) with individuals presenting from December 28, 2020 to May 6, 2021 (Alpha (B.1.1.7) the predominant variant). We assessed illness (symptoms, duration, presentation to hospital) during Alpha- and Delta-predominant timeframes; and transmission, reinfection, and vaccine effectiveness during the Delta-predominant period. 3581 individuals (aged 18 to 100 years) from each timeframe were assessed. The seven most frequent symptoms were common to both variants. Within the first 28 days of illness, some symptoms were more common with Delta versus Alpha infection (including fever, sore throat, and headache) and some vice versa (dyspnoea). Symptom burden in the first week was higher with Delta versus Alpha infection; however, the odds of any given symptom lasting ≥ 7 days was either lower or unchanged. Illness duration ≥ 28 days was lower with Delta versus Alpha infection, though unchanged in unvaccinated individuals. Hospitalisation for COVID-19 was unchanged. The Delta variant appeared more (1.49) transmissible than Alpha. Re-infections were low in all UK regions. Vaccination markedly reduced the risk of Delta infection (by 69-84%). We conclude that COVID-19 from Delta or Alpha infections is similar. The Delta variant is more transmissible than Alpha; however, current vaccines showed good efficacy against disease. This research framework can be useful for future comparisons with new emerging variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Kläser
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Erika Molteni
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mark Graham
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Liane S Canas
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Marc F Österdahl
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital Campus, 3rd Floor South Wing Block D, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK
- Department of Aging and Health, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Michela Antonelli
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Liyuan Chen
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jie Deng
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Benjamin Murray
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Eric Kerfoot
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Marc Modat
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Alexander Hammers
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- King's College London & Guy's and St Thomas' PET Centre, London, UK
| | - Tim D Spector
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital Campus, 3rd Floor South Wing Block D, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Claire J Steves
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital Campus, 3rd Floor South Wing Block D, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK
- Department of Aging and Health, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Carole H Sudre
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, Department of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sebastien Ourselin
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Emma L Duncan
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital Campus, 3rd Floor South Wing Block D, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK.
- Department of Endocrinology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
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Allipra S, Anirudhan K, Shivanandan S, Raghunathan A, Maruthachalam R. The kinetochore protein NNF1 has a moonlighting role in the vegetative development of Arabidopsis thaliana. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 109:1064-1085. [PMID: 34850467 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The kinetochore is a supramolecular protein complex assembled on the chromosomes, essential for faithful segregation of the genome during cell divisions. More than 100 proteins are known to constitute the eukaryotic kinetochore architecture, primarily identified using non-plant organisms. A majority of them are fast evolving and are under positive selection. Thus, functional characterization of the plant kinetochore proteins is limited as only a few conserved orthologs sharing sequence similarity with their animal counterparts have been examined. Here, we report the functional characterization of the Arabidopsis thaliana homolog of the yeast NNF1/human PMF1 outer kinetochore protein and show that it has both kinetochore and non-kinetochore functions in plant growth and development. Knockout of NNF1 causes embryo lethality implying its essential role in cell division. AtNNF1 interacts with MIS12 in Y2H and co-immunoprecipitation assays, confirming it is one of the constituents of the plant MIS12 complex. GFP-NNF1 localizes to the kinetochore, rescuing the embryo lethal nnf1-1-/- phenotype, but the rescued plants (GFP-NNF1nnf1-/- ) are dwarf, displaying hypomorphic phenotypes with no evidence of mitotic or meiotic segregation defects. GFP-NNF1nnf1-/- dwarf plants have reduced levels of endogenous polyamines, which are partially rescued to wild-type levels upon exogenous application of polyamines. Mutations in the putative leucine zipper-like binding motif of NNF1 gave rise to a dominant-negative tall plant phenotype reminiscent of constitutive gibberellic acid (GA) action. These contrasting hypomorphic dwarf and antimorphic tall phenotypes facilitated us to attribute a moonlighting role to Arabidopsis NNF1 affecting polyamine and GA metabolism apart from its primary role in kinetochores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreejith Allipra
- School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram (IISER TVM), Maruthamala PO, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695551, India
| | - Krishnapriya Anirudhan
- School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram (IISER TVM), Maruthamala PO, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695551, India
| | - Siddharth Shivanandan
- School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram (IISER TVM), Maruthamala PO, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695551, India
| | - Abhishek Raghunathan
- School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram (IISER TVM), Maruthamala PO, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695551, India
| | - Ravi Maruthachalam
- School of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram (IISER TVM), Maruthamala PO, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695551, India
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6
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Abstract
Repeat-enriched genomic regions evolve rapidly and yet support strictly conserved functions like faithful chromosome transmission and the preservation of genome integrity. The leading resolution to this paradox is that DNA repeat-packaging proteins evolve adaptively to mitigate deleterious changes in DNA repeat copy number, sequence, and organization. Exciting new research has tested this model of coevolution by engineering evolutionary mismatches between adaptively evolving chromatin proteins of one species and the DNA repeats of a close relative. Here, we review these innovative evolution-guided functional analyses. The studies demonstrate that vital, chromatin-mediated cellular processes, including transposon suppression, faithful chromosome transmission, and chromosome retention depend on species-specific versions of chromatin proteins that package species-specific DNA repeats. In many cases, the ever-evolving repeats are selfish genetic elements, raising the possibility that chromatin is a battleground of intragenomic conflict.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara L Brand
- Department of Biology and Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA;
| | - Mia T Levine
- Department of Biology and Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA;
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Tromer EC, Wemyss TA, Ludzia P, Waller RF, Akiyoshi B. Repurposing of synaptonemal complex proteins for kinetochores in Kinetoplastida. Open Biol 2021; 11:210049. [PMID: 34006126 PMCID: PMC8131943 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromosome segregation in eukaryotes is driven by the kinetochore, a macromolecular complex that connects centromeric DNA to microtubules of the spindle apparatus. Kinetochores in well-studied model eukaryotes consist of a core set of proteins that are broadly conserved among distant eukaryotic phyla. By contrast, unicellular flagellates of the class Kinetoplastida have a unique set of 36 kinetochore components. The evolutionary origin and history of these kinetochores remain unknown. Here, we report evidence of homology between axial element components of the synaptonemal complex and three kinetoplastid kinetochore proteins KKT16-18. The synaptonemal complex is a zipper-like structure that assembles between homologous chromosomes during meiosis to promote recombination. By using sensitive homology detection protocols, we identify divergent orthologues of KKT16-18 in most eukaryotic supergroups, including experimentally established chromosomal axis components, such as Red1 and Rec10 in budding and fission yeast, ASY3-4 in plants and SYCP2-3 in vertebrates. Furthermore, we found 12 recurrent duplications within this ancient eukaryotic SYCP2-3 gene family, providing opportunities for new functional complexes to arise, including KKT16-18 in the kinetoplastid parasite Trypanosoma brucei. We propose the kinetoplastid kinetochore system evolved by repurposing meiotic components of the chromosome synapsis and homologous recombination machinery that were already present in early eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eelco C. Tromer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cell Biochemistry, Groningen Institute of Biomolecular Sciences & Biotechnology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas A. Wemyss
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Patryk Ludzia
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ross F. Waller
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bungo Akiyoshi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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