Induction of the Erythroid Differentiation of K562 Cells Is Coupled with Changes in the Inter-Chromosomal Contacts of rDNA Clusters

The expression of clusters of rDNA genes influences pluripotency; however, the underlying mechanisms are not yet known. These clusters shape inter-chromosomal contacts with numerous genes controlling differentiation in human and Drosophila cells. This suggests a possible role of these contacts in the formation of 3D chromosomal structures and the regulation of gene expression in development. However, it has not yet been demonstrated whether inter-chromosomal rDNA contacts are changed during differentiation. In this study, we used human leukemia K562 cells and induced their erythroid differentiation in order to study both the changes in rDNA contacts and the expression of genes. We observed that approximately 200 sets of rDNA-contacting genes are co-expressed in different combinations in both untreated and differentiated K562 cells. rDNA contacts are changed during differentiation and coupled with the upregulation of genes whose products are mainly located in the nucleus and are highly associated with DNA- and RNA-binding, along with the downregulation of genes whose products mainly reside in the cytoplasm or intra- or extracellular vesicles. The most downregulated gene is ID3, which is known as an inhibitor of differentiation, and thus should be switched off to allow for differentiation. Our data suggest that the differentiation of K562 cells leads to alterations in the inter-chromosomal contacts of rDNA clusters and 3D structures in particular chromosomal regions as well as to changes in the expression of genes located in the corresponding chromosomal domains. We conclude that approximately half of the rDNA-contacting genes are co-expressed in human cells and that rDNA clusters are involved in the global regulation of gene expression.

Genome-Wide Study of Colocalization between Genomic Stretches: A Method and Applications to the Regulation of Gene Expression

In this paper, we describe a method for the study of colocalization effects between stretch-stretch and stretch-point genome tracks based on a set of indices varying within the (-1, +1) interval. The indices combine the distances between the centers of neighboring stretches and their lengths. The extreme boundaries of the interval correspond to the complete colocalization of the genome tracks or its complete absence. We also obtained the relevant criteria of statistical significance for such indices using the complete permutation test. The method is robust with respect to strongly inhomogeneous positioning and length distribution of the genome tracks. On the basis of this approach, we created command-line software, the Genome Track Colocalization Analyzer. The software was tested, compared with other available packages, and applied to particular problems related to gene expression. The package, Genome Track Colocalization Analyzer (GTCA), is freely available to the users. GTCA complements our previous software, the Genome Track Analyzer, intended for the search for pairwise correlations between point-like genome tracks (also freely available). The corresponding details are provided in Data Availability Statement at the end of the text.

Genes Possessing the Most Frequent DNA DSBs Are Highly Associated with Development and Cancers, and Essentially Overlap with the rDNA-Contacting Genes

Double-strand DNA breakes (DSBs) are the most deleterious and widespread examples of DNA damage. They inevitably originate from endogenous mechanisms in the course of transcription, replication, and recombination, as well as from different exogenous factors. If not properly repaired, DSBs result in cell death or diseases. Genome-wide analysis of DSBs has revealed the numerous endogenous DSBs in human chromosomes. However, until now, it has not been clear what kind of genes are preferentially subjected to breakage. We performed a genetic and epigenetic analysis of the most frequent DSBs in HEK293T cells. Here, we show that they predominantly occur in the active genes controlling differentiation, development, and morphogenesis. These genes are highly associated with cancers and other diseases. About one-third of the genes possessing frequent DSBs correspond to rDNA-contacting genes. Our data suggest that a specific set of active genes controlling morphogenesis are the main targets of DNA breakage in human cells, although there is a specific set of silent genes controlling metabolism that also are enriched in DSBs. We detected this enrichment by different activators and repressors of transcription at DSB target sites, as well breakage at promoters. We propose that both active transcription and silencing of genes give a propensity for DNA breakage. These results have implications for medicine and gene therapy.

Fragments of rDNA Genes Scattered over the Human Genome Are Targets of Small RNAs

Small noncoding RNAs of different origins and classes play several roles in the regulation of gene expression. Here, we show that diverged and rearranged fragments of rDNA units are scattered throughout the human genome and that endogenous small noncoding RNAs are processed by the Microprocessor complex from specific regions of ribosomal RNAs shaping hairpins. These small RNAs correspond to particular sites inside the fragments of rDNA that mostly reside in intergenic regions or the introns of about 1500 genes. The targets of these small ribosomal RNAs (srRNAs) are characterized by a set of epigenetic marks, binding sites of Pol II, RAD21, CBP, and P300, DNase I hypersensitive sites, and by enrichment or depletion of active histone marks. In HEK293T cells, genes that are targeted by srRNAs (srRNA target genes) are involved in differentiation and development. srRNA target genes are enriched with more actively transcribed genes. Our data suggest that remnants of rDNA sequences and srRNAs may be involved in the upregulation or downregulation of a specific set of genes in human cells. These results have implications for diverse fields, including epigenetics and gene therapy.

The Role of rDNA Clusters in Global Epigenetic Gene Regulation

The regulation of gene expression has been studied for decades, but the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. As well as local and distant regulation, there are specific mechanisms of regulation during development and physiological modulation of gene activity in differentiated cells. Current research strongly supports a role for the 3D chromosomal structure in the regulation of gene expression. However, it is not known whether the genome structure reflects the formation of active or repressed chromosomal domains or if these structures play a primary role in the regulation of gene expression. During early development, heterochromatinization of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) is coupled with silencing or activation of the expression of different sets of genes. Although the mechanisms behind this type of regulation are not known, rDNA clusters shape frequent inter-chromosomal contacts with a large group of genes controlling development. This review aims to shed light on the involvement of clusters of ribosomal genes in the global regulation of gene expression. We also discuss the possible role of RNA-mediated and phase-separation mechanisms in the global regulation of gene expression by nucleoli.

Structural coordinates: A novel approach to predict protein backbone conformation

Motivation

Local protein structure is usually described via classifying each peptide to a unique class from a set of pre-defined structures. These classifications may differ in the number of structural classes, the length of peptides, or class attribution criteria. Most methods that predict the local structure of a protein from its sequence first rely on some classification and only then proceed to the 3D conformation assessment. However, most classification methods rely on homologous proteins’ existence, unavoidably lose information by attributing a peptide to a single class or suffer from a suboptimal choice of the representative classes.

Results

To alleviate the above challenges, we propose a method that constructs a peptide’s structural representation from the sequence, reflecting its similarity to several basic representative structures. For 5-mer peptides and 16 representative structures, we achieved the Q16 classification accuracy of 67.9%, which is higher than what is currently reported in the literature. Our prediction method does not utilize information about protein homologues but relies only on the amino acids’ physicochemical properties and the resolved structures’ statistics. We also show that the 3D coordinates of a peptide can be uniquely recovered from its structural coordinates, and show the required conditions under various geometric constraints.

Interchromosomal Contacts of rDNA Clusters in Three Human Cell Lines Are Associated with Silencing of Genes Controlling Morphogenesis

To study the rDNA contacts with genes in three human cell lines of different origin, we used 4C approach. Our data indicate that the same set of about five hundred genes frequently shape contacts with rDNA clusters in HEK293T, K652, and hESM01 cells. Gene ontology search suggests that the genes are involved in development and morphogenesis. Approximately one hundred of these genes are highly associated with silencing by H3K27me3 mark in different normal cells, including bronchial epithelial cells, keratinocytes, myoblasts, monocytes, endothelial cells, kidney epithelial cells, and some others. We conclude that the concerted silencing of specific group of rDNA-contacting genes controlling development occurs during differentiation. We assume that the phase separation mechanisms may be involved in the rDNA-mediated silencing of a set of genes via the contacts with inactive rDNA clusters.

Dynamics of Whole-Genome Contacts of Nucleoli in Drosophila Cells Suggests a Role for rDNA Genes in Global Epigenetic Regulation

Chromosomes are organized into 3D structures that are important for the regulation of gene expression and differentiation. Important role in formation of inter-chromosome contacts play rDNA clusters that make up nucleoli. In the course of differentiation, heterochromatization of rDNA units in mouse cells is coupled with the repression or activation of different genes. Furthermore, the nucleoli of human cells shape the direct contacts with genes that are involved in differentiation and cancer. Here, we identified and categorized the genes located in the regions where rDNA clusters make frequent contacts. Using a 4C approach, we demonstrate that in Drosophila S2 cells, rDNA clusters form contacts with genes that are involved in chromosome organization and differentiation. Heat shock treatment induces changes in the contacts between nucleoli and hundreds of genes controlling morphogenesis. We show that nucleoli form contacts with regions that are enriched with active or repressive histone marks and where small non-coding RNAs are mapped. These data indicate that rDNA contacts are involved in the repression and activation of gene expression and that rDNA clusters orchestrate large groups of Drosophila genes involved in differentiation.

[Drosophila rDNA Genes Shape the Stable Contacts with the Tlk Gene at the Expression Area of Small RNAs and Affect on Looped Domains inside the Gene]

In experiments on mouse and human cells it was demonstrated that rDNA plays an important role in epigenetic regulation of many genes. To identify and study rDNA-contacting genes in Drosophila we used the 4С (circular chromosome conformation capture) approach. We detected very stable contacts of rDNA genes within a 5-kb region inside the Tlk gene residing in X chromosome. This 5-kb region corresponds to small RNAs. After heat shock treatment both the amount of contacts, and the expression level of the gene were increased. Tlk and Rala are genes that share the same short bidirectional promoter but exhibit different expression levels. Around the region of rDNA contacts inside the Tlk gene, looped domains were formed. We conclude that rDNA contact-dependent epigenetic regulation is guided by small RNAs and that the contacts are involved in rearrangements of the looped domains.

[Contact Sites of rDNA Clusters with FANK1 Gene Correspond to Repressed Chromatin]

rDNA genes play an important role in epigenetic regulation and in differentiation of eukaryotic cells. Using the 4C (circular chromosome conformation capture) approach and model HEK293T cells, we analyzed the rDNA-contacting gene FANK1, using anchor located inside rDNA genes. At the 5' end of the FANK1 gene we detected frequent contacts with rDNA clusters. The contact sites coincide with the border where chromatin state changes and nucleosome positioning. The adjacent genes DHX32, BCCIP and UROS are located in the active chromatin and are transcribed, but do not contact with rDNA genes, while FANK1 gene is silenced, and is located in repressed chromatin. Heat shock treatment dramatically changes the pattern of rDNA contacts in the region and induces about 4-fold increase in activation of the FANK1 gene. We conclude that rDNA contacts may be involved in repression of the FANK1 gene.

Interchromosomal Contacts of rDNA Clusters with DUX Genes in Human Chromosome 4 Are Very Sensitive to Heat Shock Treatment

In order to study the effects of heat shock treatment on the distribution of rDNA contacts at the region possessing DUX genes inside chromosome 4 we used 4C approach. Our data indicate that the treatment removes the frequent rDNA contacts in this region. The recent data on involvement of superenhancers that are decorated by broad H3K27ac marks in the phase separation mechanisms and the previous data demonstrating that these broad marks are the favorite sites of rDNA contacts taken together with our data on sensitivity of the contacts to the heat shock treatment suggest that the phase separation mechanisms are involved in the reversible rDNA-mediated regulation of gene expression via the contacts.

[Homeotic DUX4 Genes that Control Human Embryonic Development at the Two-Cell Stage Are Surrounded by Regions Contacting with rDNA Gene Clusters]

Many human genes that control human embryonic development and differentiation of human cells form chromosomal contact with rRNA gene clusters, which are involved in the epigenetic regulation of many genes. The sites of rRNA gene contact often fall on extended (up to 50 kb) regions containing a chromatin mark, H3K27ac histone, typical for superenhancers, as well as on pericentromeric and subtelomeric regions of chromosomes. We found that the DUX4 genes located in the subtelomeric region of human chromosome 4 are surrounded by regions that are often in contact with the rRNA genes. The 25 kb region of this chromosome, presented in version hg19 of the sequenced human genome, contains several copies of the DUX4 gene. The sites of rRNA gene contacts located around this region contain methylation sites as well as CTCF binding sites. It is assumed that the rRNA gene contacts are important in silencing these DUX4 gene copies.

[Mutation Frequencies in HIV-1 Genome in Regions Containing Efficient RNAi Targets As Calculated from Ultra-Deep Sequencing Data]

HIV-1 is one of the most variable viruses. The development of gene therapy technology using RNAi for AIDS/HIV-1 treatment is a potential alternative for traditional anti-retroviral therapy. Anti-HIV-1 siRNA should aim to exploit the most conserved viral targets. Using the deep sequencing of potential RNAi targets in 100-nt HIV-1 genome fragments from the clinical HIV-1 subtype A isolates in Russia, we found that the frequencies of all possible transversions and transitions in certain RNAi targets are 3-38 times lower than in adjacent sequences. Therefore, these targets are conserved. We propose the development of these RNAi targets for AIDS/HIV-1 treatment. Deep sequencing also enables the detection of the characteristic mutational bias of RT during the replication of viral RNA.

Analysis of Variability in HIV-1 Subtype A Strains in Russia Suggests a Combination of Deep Sequencing and Multitarget RNA Interference for Silencing of the Virus

Any method for silencing the activity of the HIV-1 retrovirus should tackle the extremely high variability of HIV-1 sequences and mutational escape. We studied sequence variability in the vicinity of selected RNA interference (RNAi) targets from isolates of HIV-1 subtype A in Russia, and we propose that using artificial RNAi is a potential alternative to traditional antiretroviral therapy. We prove that using multiple RNAi targets overcomes the variability in HIV-1 isolates. The optimal number of targets critically depends on the conservation of the target sequences. The total number of targets that are conserved with a probability of 0.7-0.8 should exceed at least 2. Combining deep sequencing and multitarget RNAi may provide an efficient approach to cure HIV/AIDS.

[Mutation frequencies in HIV-1 subtype-A genome in regions containing efficient RNAi targets]

The development of gene-therapy technology using RNAi for AIDS/HIV-1 treatment is a prospective alternative to traditional anti-retroviral therapy. RNAi targets could be selected in HIV-1 transcripts and in CCR5 mRNA. Previously, we experimentally selected a number of efficient siRNAs that target HIV-1 RNAs. The viral genome mutates frequently, and RNAi strength is very sensitive, even for a single mismatches. That is why it is important to study nucleotide sequences of targets in clinical isolates of HIV-1. In the present study, we analyzed mutations in 6 of about 300-bp regions containing RNAi targets from HIV-1 subtype A isolates in Russia. Estimates of the mean frequencies of mutations in the targets were obtained and the frequencies of mutations in the different codon positions were compared. The frequencies of mutations in the vicinity of the targets and directly within the targets were also compared and have been shown to be approximately the same. The frequencies of indels in the chosen regions have been assessed. Their frequencies have proved to be two to three orders of magnitude less compared to that for mutations.

Hot spots of DNA double-strand breaks in human rDNA units are produced in vivo

Endogenous hot spots of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are tightly linked with transcription patterns and cancer genomics(1,2). There are nine hot spots of DSBs located in human rDNA units(3-6). Here we describe that the profiles of these hot spots coincide with the profiles of γ-H2AX or H2AX, strongly suggesting a high level of in vivo breakage inside rDNA genes. The data were confirmed by microscopic observation of the largest γ-H2AX foci inside nucleoli in interphase chromosomes. In metaphase chromosomes, we observed that only some portion of rDNA clusters possess γ-H2AX foci and that all γ-H2AX foci co-localize with UBF-1 binding sites, which strongly suggests that only active rDNA units possess the hot spots of DSBs. Both γ-H2AX and UBF-1 are epigenetically inherited and thus indicate the rDNA units that were active in the previous cell cycle. These results have implications for diverse fields, including epigenetics and cancer genomics.

Conserved sequences in the current strains of HIV-1 subtype A in Russia are effectively targeted by artificial RNAi in vitro

Highly active antiretroviral therapy has greatly reduced the morbidity and mortality of AIDS. However, many of the antiretroviral drugs are toxic with long-term use, and all currently used anti-HIV agents generate drug-resistant mutants. Therefore, there is a great need for new approaches to AIDS therapy. RNAi is a powerful means of inhibiting HIV-1 production in human cells. We propose to use RNAi for gene therapy of HIV/AIDS. Previously we identified a number of new biologically active siRNAs targeting several moderately conserved regions in HIV-1 transcripts. Here we analyze the heterogeneity of nucleotide sequences in three RNAi targets in sequences encoding the reverse transcriptase and integrase domains of current isolates of HIV-1 subtype A in Russia. These data were used to generate genetic constructs expressing short hairpin RNAs 28-30-bp in length that could be processed in cells into siRNAs. After transfection of the constructs we observed siRNAs that efficiently attacked the selected targets. We expect that targeting several viral genes important for HIV-1 reproduction will help overcome the problem of viral adaptation and will prevent the appearance of RNAi escape mutants in current virus strains, an important feature of gene therapy of HIV/AIDS.

Genome-wide study of correlations between genomic features and their relationship with the regulation of gene expression

The broad class of tasks in genetics and epigenetics can be reduced to the study of various features that are distributed over the genome (genome tracks). The rapid and efficient processing of the huge amount of data stored in the genome-scale databases cannot be achieved without the software packages based on the analytical criteria. However, strong inhomogeneity of genome tracks hampers the development of relevant statistics. We developed the criteria for the assessment of genome track inhomogeneity and correlations between two genome tracks. We also developed a software package, Genome Track Analyzer, based on this theory. The theory and software were tested on simulated data and were applied to the study of correlations between CpG islands and transcription start sites in the Homo sapiens genome, between profiles of protein-binding sites in chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster, and between DNA double-strand breaks and histone marks in the H. sapiens genome. Significant correlations between transcription start sites on the forward and the reverse strands were observed in genomes of D. melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, Mus musculus, H. sapiens, and Danio rerio. The observed correlations may be related to the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes. Genome Track Analyzer is freely available at http://ancorr.eimb.ru/.

Hot spots of DNA double-strand breaks and genomic contacts of human rDNA units are involved in epigenetic regulation

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are involved in many cellular mechanisms, including replication, transcription, and genome rearrangements. The recent observation that hot spots of DSBs in human chromosomes delimit DNA domains that possess coordinately expressed genes suggests a strong relationship between the organization of transcription patterns and hot spots of DSBs. In this study, we performed mapping of hot spots of DSBs in a human 43-kb ribosomal DNA (rDNA) repeated unit. We observed that rDNA units corresponded to the most fragile sites in human chromosomes and that these units possessed at least nine specific regions containing clusters of extremely frequently occurring DSBs, which were located exclusively in non-coding intergenic spacer (IGS) regions. The hot spots of DSBs corresponded to only a specific subset of DNase-hypersensitive sites, and coincided with CTCF, PARP1, and HNRNPA2B1 binding sites, and H3K4me3 marks. Our rDNA-4C data indicate that the regions of IGS containing the hot spots of DSBs often form contacts with specific regions in different chromosomes, including the pericentromeric regions, as well as regions that are characterized by H3K27ac and H3K4me3 marks, CTCF binding sites, ChIA-PET and RIP signals, and high levels of DSBs. The data suggest a strong link between chromosome breakage and several different mechanisms of epigenetic regulation of gene expression.

DNA double-strand breaks coupled with PARP1 and HNRNPA2B1 binding sites flank coordinately expressed domains in human chromosomes

Genome instability plays a key role in multiple biological processes and diseases, including cancer. Genome-wide mapping of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) is important for understanding both chromosomal architecture and specific chromosomal regions at DSBs. We developed a method for precise genome-wide mapping of blunt-ended DSBs in human chromosomes, and observed non-random fragmentation and DSB hot spots. These hot spots are scattered along chromosomes and delimit protected 50-250 kb DNA domains. We found that about 30% of the domains (denoted forum domains) possess coordinately expressed genes and that PARP1 and HNRNPA2B1 specifically bind DNA sequences at the forum domain termini. Thus, our data suggest a novel type of gene regulation: a coordinated transcription or silencing of gene clusters delimited by DSB hot spots as well as PARP1 and HNRNPa2B1 binding sites.

Genome-wide profiling of forum domains in Drosophila melanogaster

Forum domains are stretches of chromosomal DNA that are excised from eukaryotic chromosomes during their spontaneous non-random fragmentation. Most forum domains are 50-200 kb in length. We mapped forum domain termini using FISH on polytene chromosomes and we performed genome-wide mapping using a Drosophila melanogaster genomic tiling microarray consisting of overlapping 3 kb fragments. We found that forum termini very often correspond to regions of intercalary heterochromatin and regions of late replication in polytene chromosomes. We found that forum domains contain clusters of several or many genes. The largest forum domains correspond to the main clusters of homeotic genes inside BX-C and ANTP-C, cluster of histone genes and clusters of piRNAs. PRE/TRE and transcription factor binding sites often reside inside domains and do not overlap with forum domain termini. We also found that about 20% of forum domain termini correspond to small chromosomal regions where Ago1, Ago2, small RNAs and repressive chromatin structures are detected. Our results indicate that forum domains correspond to big multi-gene chromosomal units, some of which could be coordinately expressed. The data on the global mapping of forum domains revealed a strong correlation between fragmentation sites in chromosomes, particular sets of mobile elements and regions of intercalary heterochromatin.