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Chen YL, Jones AN, Crawford A, Sattler M, Ettinger A, Torres-Padilla ME. Determinants of minor satellite RNA function in chromosome segregation in mouse embryonic stem cells. J Cell Biol 2024; 223:e202309027. [PMID: 38625077 PMCID: PMC11022885 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202309027] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The centromere is a fundamental higher-order structure in chromosomes ensuring their faithful segregation upon cell division. Centromeric transcripts have been described in several species and suggested to participate in centromere function. However, low sequence conservation of centromeric repeats appears inconsistent with a role in recruiting highly conserved centromeric proteins. Here, we hypothesized that centromeric transcripts may function through a secondary structure rather than sequence conservation. Using mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), we show that an imbalance in the levels of forward or reverse minor satellite (MinSat) transcripts leads to severe chromosome segregation defects. We further show that MinSat RNA adopts a stem-loop secondary structure, which is conserved in human α-satellite transcripts. We identify an RNA binding region in CENPC and demonstrate that MinSat transcripts function through the structured region of the RNA. Importantly, mutants that disrupt MinSat secondary structure do not cause segregation defects. We propose that the conserved role of centromeric transcripts relies on their secondary RNA structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Li Chen
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES), Helmholtz Munich, München, Germany
| | - Alisha N. Jones
- Institute of Structural Biology, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Amy Crawford
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Sattler
- Institute of Structural Biology, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Bioscience, Bavarian NMR Center, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Andreas Ettinger
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES), Helmholtz Munich, München, Germany
| | - Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES), Helmholtz Munich, München, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, München, Germany
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The Role of microRNAs in Inflammation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415479. [PMID: 36555120 PMCID: PMC9779565 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is a biological response of the immune system to various insults, such as pathogens, toxic compounds, damaged cells, and radiation. The complex network of pro- and anti-inflammatory factors and their direction towards inflammation often leads to the development and progression of various inflammation-associated diseases. The role of small non-coding RNAs (small ncRNAs) in inflammation has gained much attention in the past two decades for their regulation of inflammatory gene expression at multiple levels and their potential to serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in various diseases. One group of small ncRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), has become a key regulator in various inflammatory disease conditions. Their fine-tuning of target gene regulation often turns out to be an important factor in controlling aberrant inflammatory reactions in the system. This review summarizes the biogenesis of miRNA and the mechanisms of miRNA-mediated gene regulation. The review also briefly discusses various pro- and anti-inflammatory miRNAs, their targets and functions, and provides a detailed discussion on the role of miR-10a in inflammation.
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Kejnovsky E, Jedlicka P. Nucleic acids movement and its relation to genome dynamics of repetitive DNA: Is cellular and intercellular movement of DNA and RNA molecules related to the evolutionary dynamic genome components?: Is cellular and intercellular movement of DNA and RNA molecules related to the evolutionary dynamic genome components? Bioessays 2022; 44:e2100242. [PMID: 35112737 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100242] [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: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
There is growing evidence of evolutionary genome plasticity. The evolution of repetitive DNA elements, the major components of most eukaryotic genomes, involves the amplification of various classes of mobile genetic elements, the expansion of satellite DNA, the transfer of fragments or entire organellar genomes and may have connections with viruses. In addition to various repetitive DNA elements, a plethora of large and small RNAs migrate within and between cells during individual development as well as during evolution and contribute to changes of genome structure and function. Such migration of DNA and RNA molecules often results in horizontal gene transfer, thus shaping the whole genomic network of interconnected species. Here, we propose that a high evolutionary dynamism of repetitive genome components is often related to the migration/movement of DNA or RNA molecules. We speculate that the cytoplasm is probably an ideal compartment for such evolutionary experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduard Kejnovsky
- Department of Plant Developmental Genetics, Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Jedlicka
- Department of Plant Developmental Genetics, Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
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4
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Wu T, Lane SIR, Morgan SL, Tang F, Jones KT. Loss of centromeric RNA activates the spindle assembly checkpoint in mammalian female meiosis I. J Cell Biol 2021; 220:212548. [PMID: 34379093 PMCID: PMC8360762 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202011153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The repetitive sequences of DNA centromeric regions form the structural basis for kinetochore assembly. Recently they were found to be transcriptionally active in mitosis, with their RNAs providing noncoding functions. Here we explore the role, in mouse oocytes, of transcripts generated from within the minor satellite repeats. Depletion of minor satellite transcripts delayed progression through meiosis I by activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint. Arrested oocytes had poorly congressed chromosomes, and centromeres were frequently split by microtubules. Thus, we have demonstrated that the centromeric RNA plays a specific role in female meiosis I compared with mitosis and is required for maintaining the structural integrity of centromeres. This may contribute to the high aneuploidy rates observed in female meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Wu
- Department of Central Laboratory, Clinical Laboratory, Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, the State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Simon I R Lane
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Stephanie L Morgan
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Feng Tang
- Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Keith T Jones
- Genome Damage and Stability Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
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Liu Y, Liu Q, Su H, Liu K, Xiao X, Li W, Sun Q, Birchler JA, Han F. Genome-wide mapping reveals R-loops associated with centromeric repeats in maize. Genome Res 2021; 31:1409-1418. [PMID: 34244230 PMCID: PMC8327920 DOI: 10.1101/gr.275270.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
R-loops are stable chromatin structures comprising a DNA:RNA hybrid and a displaced single-stranded DNA. R-loops have been implicated in gene expression and chromatin structure, as well as in replication blocks and genome instability. Here, we conducted a genome-wide identification of R-loops and identified more than 700,000 R-loop peaks in the maize (Zea mays) genome. We found that sense R-loops were mainly enriched in promoters and transcription termination sites and relatively less enriched in gene bodies, which is different from the main gene-body localization of sense R-loops in Arabidopsis and Oryza sativa. At the chromosome scale, maize R-loops were enriched in pericentromeric heterochromatin regions, and a significant portion of R-loops were derived from transposable elements. In centromeres, R-loops preferentially formed within the binding regions of the centromere-specific histone CENH3, and centromeric retrotransposons were strongly associated with R-loop formation. Furthermore, centromeric retrotransposon R-loops were observed by applying the single-molecule imaging technique of atomic force microscopy. These findings elucidate the fundamental character of R-loops in the maize genome and reveal the potential role of R-loops in centromeres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Handong Su
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Kunpeng Liu
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences and Center for Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xue Xiao
- National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Wei Li
- National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Qianwen Sun
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences and Center for Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - James A Birchler
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211-7400, USA
| | - Fangpu Han
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Jernfors T, Danforth J, Kesäniemi J, Lavrinienko A, Tukalenko E, Fajkus J, Dvořáčková M, Mappes T, Watts PC. Expansion of rDNA and pericentromere satellite repeats in the genomes of bank voles Myodes glareolus exposed to environmental radionuclides. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:8754-8767. [PMID: 34257925 PMCID: PMC8258220 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered copy number of certain highly repetitive regions of the genome, such as satellite DNA within heterochromatin and ribosomal RNA loci (rDNA), is hypothesized to help safeguard the genome against damage derived from external stressors. We quantified copy number of the 18S rDNA and a pericentromeric satellite DNA (Msat-160) in bank voles (Myodes glareolus) inhabiting the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ), an area that is contaminated by radionuclides and where organisms are exposed to elevated levels of ionizing radiation. We found a significant increase in 18S rDNA and Msat-160 content in the genomes of bank voles from contaminated locations within the CEZ compared with animals from uncontaminated locations. Moreover, 18S rDNA and Msat-160 copy number were positively correlated in the genomes of bank voles from uncontaminated, but not in the genomes of animals inhabiting contaminated, areas. These results show the capacity for local-scale geographic variation in genome architecture and are consistent with the genomic safeguard hypothesis. Disruption of cellular processes related to genomic stability appears to be a hallmark effect in bank voles inhabiting areas contaminated by radionuclides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni Jernfors
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - John Danforth
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular BiologyRobson DNA Science CentreArnie Charbonneau Cancer InstituteCumming School of MedicineUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryCanada
| | - Jenni Kesäniemi
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Anton Lavrinienko
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Eugene Tukalenko
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
- National Research Center for Radiation Medicine of the National Academy of Medical ScienceKyivUkraine
| | - Jiří Fajkus
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and ProteomicsCentral European Institute of Technology (CEITEC)Masaryk UniversityBrnoCzech Republic
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and ProteomicsNCBRFaculty of ScienceMasaryk UniversityBrnoCzech Republic
- Department of Cell Biology and RadiobiologyInstitute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of SciencesBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Martina Dvořáčková
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and ProteomicsCentral European Institute of Technology (CEITEC)Masaryk UniversityBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Tapio Mappes
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Phillip C. Watts
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
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Enukashvily NI, Dobrynin MA, Chubar AV. RNA-seeded membraneless bodies: Role of tandemly repeated RNA. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2021; 126:151-193. [PMID: 34090614 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2020.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2023]
Abstract
Membraneless organelles (bodies, granules, etc.) are spatially distinct sub-nuclear and cytoplasmic foci involved in all the processes in a living cell, such as development, cell death, carcinogenesis, proliferation, and differentiation. Today the list of the membraneless organelles includes a wide spectrum of intranuclear and cytoplasmic bodies. Proteins with intrinsically disordered regions are the key players in the membraneless body assembly. However, recent data assume an important role of RNA molecules in the process of the liquid-liquid phase separation. High-level expression of RNA above a critical concentration threshold is mandatory to nucleate interactions with specific proteins and for seeding membraneless organelles. RNA components are considered by many authors as the principal determinants of organelle identity. Tandemly repeated (TR) DNA of big satellites (a TR family that includes centromeric and pericentromeric DNA sequences) was believed to be transcriptionally silent for a long period. Now we know about the TR transcription upregulation during gameto- and embryogenesis, carcinogenesis, stress response. In the review, we summarize the recent data about the involvement of TR RNA in the formation of nuclear membraneless granules, bodies, etc., with different functions being in some cases an initiator of the structures assembly. These RNP structures sequestrate and inactivate different proteins and transcripts. The TR induced sequestration is one of the key principles of nuclear architecture and genome functioning. Studying the role of the TR-based membraneless organelles in stress and disease will bring some new ideas for translational medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natella I Enukashvily
- Institute of Cytology RAS, St. Petersburg, Russia; North-Western Medical State University named after I.I. Mechnikov, St. Petersburg, Russia.
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8
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Lauria Sneideman MP, Meller VH. Drosophila Satellite Repeats at the Intersection of Chromatin, Gene Regulation and Evolution. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR AND SUBCELLULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 60:1-26. [PMID: 34386870 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-74889-0_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Satellite repeats make up a large fraction of the genomes of many higher eukaryotes. Until recently these sequences were viewed as molecular parasites with few functions. Drosophila melanogaster and related species have a wealth of diverse satellite repeats. Comparative studies of Drosophilids have been instrumental in understanding how these rapidly evolving sequences change and move. Remarkably, satellite repeats have been found to modulate gene expression and mediate genetic conflicts between chromosomes and between closely related fly species. This suggests that satellites play a key role in speciation. We have taken advantage of the depth of research on satellite repeats in flies to review the known functions of these sequences and consider their central role in evolution and gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Victoria H Meller
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
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Kirov I, Odintsov S, Omarov M, Gvaramiya S, Merkulov P, Dudnikov M, Ermolaev A, Van Laere K, Soloviev A, Khrustaleva L. Functional Allium fistulosum Centromeres Comprise Arrays of a Long Satellite Repeat, Insertions of Retrotransposons and Chloroplast DNA. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:562001. [PMID: 33193489 PMCID: PMC7644871 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.562001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The centromere is a unique part of the chromosome combining a conserved function with an extreme variability in its DNA sequence. Most of our knowledge about the functional centromere organization is obtained from species with small and medium genome/chromosome sizes while the progress in plants with big genomes and large chromosomes is lagging behind. Here, we studied the genomic organization of the functional centromere in Allium fistulosum and A. cepa, both species with a large genome (13 Gb and 16 Gb/1C, 2n = 2x = 16) and large-sized chromosomes. Using low-depth DNA sequencing for these two species and previously obtained CENH3 immunoprecipitation data we identified two long (1.2 Kb) and high-copy repeats, AfCen1K and AcCen1K. FISH experiments showed that AfCen1K is located in all centromeres of A. fistulosum chromosomes while no AcCen1K FISH signals were identified on A. cepa chromosomes. Our molecular cytogenetic and bioinformatics survey demonstrated that these repeats are partially similar but differ in chromosomal location, sequence structure and genomic organization. In addition, we could conclude that the repeats are transcribed and their RNAs are not polyadenylated. We also observed that these repeats are associated with insertions of retrotransposons and plastidic DNA and the landscape of A. cepa and A. fistulosum centromeric regions possess insertions of plastidic DNA. Finally, we carried out detailed comparative satellitome analysis of A. cepa and A. fistulosum genomes and identified a new chromosome- and A. cepa-specific tandem repeat, TR2CL137, located in the centromeric region. Our results shed light on the Allium centromere organization and provide unique data for future application in Allium genome annotation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilya Kirov
- Laboratory of Marker-assisted and genomic selection of plants, All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Moscow, Russia
- Kurchatov Genomics Center of ARRIAB, All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Moscow, Russia
- *Correspondence: Ilya Kirov,
| | - Sergey Odintsov
- Center of Molecular Biotechnology, Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Moscow, Russia
| | - Murad Omarov
- Laboratory of Marker-assisted and genomic selection of plants, All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Moscow, Russia
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sofya Gvaramiya
- Laboratory of Marker-assisted and genomic selection of plants, All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Pavel Merkulov
- Laboratory of Marker-assisted and genomic selection of plants, All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maxim Dudnikov
- Laboratory of Marker-assisted and genomic selection of plants, All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey Ermolaev
- Center of Molecular Biotechnology, Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Moscow, Russia
| | - Katrijn Van Laere
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Plant Sciences Unit, Melle, Belgium
| | - Alexander Soloviev
- Laboratory of Marker-assisted and genomic selection of plants, All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ludmila Khrustaleva
- Center of Molecular Biotechnology, Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Moscow, Russia
- Plant Cell Engineering Laboratory, All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Moscow, Russia
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