1
|
Santinello B, Sun R, Amjad A, Hoyt SJ, Ouyang L, Courret C, Drennan R, Leo L, Larracuente AM, Core LM, O’Neill RJ, Mellone BG. A centromere-derived retroelement RNA localizes in cis and is a core element of the transcriptional landscape of Drosophila centromeres. bioRxiv 2024:2024.01.14.574223. [PMID: 38293134 PMCID: PMC10827089 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.14.574223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Centromeres are essential chromosomal landmarks that dictate the point of attachment between chromosomes and spindle microtubules during cell division. The stable transmission of the centromere site through generations is ensured by a unique chromatin containing the histone H3 variant CENP-A. Previous studies have highlighted the impact of transcription on promoting CENP-A deposition. However, the specific sequences undergoing this transcription and their contribution to centromere function in metazoan systems remain elusive. In this study, we unveil the centromeric transcriptional landscape and explore its correlation with CENP-A in D. melanogaster, currently the only in vivo model with assembled centromeres. We find that the centromere-enriched retroelement G2/Jockey-3 (hereafter referred to as Jockey-3) is a major driver of centromere transcription, producing RNAs that localize to all mitotic centromeres, with the Y centromere showing the most transcription. Taking advantage of the polymorphism of Jockey-3, we show that these RNAs remain associated with their cognate DNA sequences in cis. Using a LacI/lacO system to generate de novo centromeres, we find that Jockey-3 transcripts do not localize to ectopic sites, suggesting they are unlikely to function as non-coding RNAs with a structural role at centromeres. At de novo centromeres on the lacO array, the presence of CENP-A augments the detection of exogenous lacO-derived transcripts specifically in metaphase. We propose that Jockey-3 contributes to the epigenetic maintenance of the centromere by promoting chromatin transcription, while inserting in a region that permits its continuous transmission. Given the conservation of retroelements as centromere components across taxa, our findings have broad implications in understanding this widespread association.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B Santinello
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, US
| | - R Sun
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, US
| | - A Amjad
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, US
| | - SJ Hoyt
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, US
| | - L Ouyang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, US
| | - C Courret
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, US
| | - R Drennan
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, US
| | - L Leo
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, US
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Present address: RNA editing Lab, Onco-Haematology Department, Genetics and Epigenetics of Pediatric Cancers, Bambino Gesù Children Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - AM Larracuente
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, US
| | - LM Core
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, US
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs CT, US
| | - RJ O’Neill
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, US
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs CT, US
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, US
| | - BG Mellone
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, US
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs CT, US
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kniola B, O'Toole E, McIntosh JR, Mellone B, Allshire R, Mengarelli S, Hultenby K, Ekwall K. The domain structure of centromeres is conserved from fission yeast to humans. Mol Biol Cell 2001; 12:2767-75. [PMID: 11553715 PMCID: PMC59711 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.12.9.2767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The centromeric DNA of fission yeast is arranged with a central core flanked by repeated sequences. The centromere-associated proteins, Mis6p and Cnp1p (SpCENP-A), associate exclusively with central core DNA, whereas the Swi6 protein binds the surrounding repeats. Here, electron microscopy and immunofluorescence light microscopy reveal that the central core and flanking regions occupy distinct positions within a heterochromatic domain. An "anchor" structure containing the Ndc80 protein resides between this heterochromatic domain and the spindle pole body. The organization of centromere-associated proteins in fission yeast is reminiscent of the multilayered structures of human kinetochores, indicating that such domain structure is conserved in eukaryotes.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Cell Cycle Proteins
- Centromere/chemistry
- Centromere/genetics
- Centromere/ultrastructure
- Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/metabolism
- Chromosomes, Fungal/chemistry
- Chromosomes, Fungal/genetics
- Chromosomes, Fungal/ultrastructure
- DNA, Fungal/chemistry
- DNA, Fungal/genetics
- DNA, Fungal/metabolism
- Evolution, Molecular
- Fungal Proteins/chemistry
- Fungal Proteins/metabolism
- Heterochromatin/chemistry
- Heterochromatin/genetics
- Heterochromatin/ultrastructure
- Humans
- Kinetochores
- Microscopy, Electron
- Microscopy, Fluorescence
- Nuclear Proteins/metabolism
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid/genetics
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
- Schizosaccharomyces/cytology
- Schizosaccharomyces/genetics
- Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins/chemistry
- Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins/metabolism
- Transcription Factors/chemistry
- Transcription Factors/metabolism
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B Kniola
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Biosciences Novum/University College Sodertorn, Department of Natural Sciences, S-141 04 Huddinge, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|