Detection of R-Loop Structures by Immunofluorescence Using the S9.6 Monoclonal Antibody

This protocol describes a method of detection of R-loop structures by Immunofluorescence using the S9.6 antibody. R-loops are three-stranded nucleic acid structures that comprise the nascent RNA hybridized with the DNA template strand (RNA-DNA hybrid) leaving the nontemplate DNA strand single-stranded (ssDNA). R-loops are dynamic structures that have been linked to transcription-associated DNA damage and genomic instability in certain contexts but they also possess critical regulatory functions. They are direct products of transcription and they have been associated with transcriptional activation, repression and termination in cases of both protein-coding and noncoding genes. Visualizing and mapping R-loops has been a sought-after task over the last years. Next-generation sequencing of RNA-DNA hybrids, which are components of R-loops, using the S9.6 antibody, aims to detect R-loops genome-wide, whereas Immunofluorescence is performed to visualize R-loops in single cells. While mapping R-loops genome-wide is very important for identifying and studying their location-specific role, microscopy offers the advantage of spatial information and the ability to quantify them on a single cell level. In this chapter, I will describe the protocol I have used to image RNA-DNA hybrids in the nucleus of mammalian cells.

SALL4 controls cell fate in response to DNA base composition

Mammalian genomes contain long domains with distinct average compositions of A/T versus G/C base pairs. In a screen for proteins that might interpret base composition by binding to AT-rich motifs, we identified the stem cell factor SALL4, which contains multiple zinc fingers. Mutation of the domain responsible for AT binding drastically reduced SALL4 genome occupancy and prematurely upregulated genes in proportion to their AT content. Inactivation of this single AT-binding zinc-finger cluster mimicked defects seen in Sall4 null cells, including precocious differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and embryonic lethality in mice. In contrast, deletion of two other zinc-finger clusters was phenotypically neutral. Our data indicate that loss of pluripotency is triggered by downregulation of SALL4, leading to de-repression of a set of AT-rich genes that promotes neuronal differentiation. We conclude that base composition is not merely a passive byproduct of genome evolution and constitutes a signal that aids control of cell fate.

R-Loops Enhance Polycomb Repression at a Subset of Developmental Regulator Genes

R-loops are three-stranded nucleic acid structures that form during transcription, especially over unmethylated CpG-rich promoters of active genes. In mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), CpG-rich developmental regulator genes are repressed by the Polycomb complexes PRC1 and PRC2. Here, we show that R-loops form at a subset of Polycomb target genes, and we investigate their contribution to Polycomb repression. At R-loop-positive genes, R-loop removal leads to decreased PRC1 and PRC2 recruitment and Pol II activation into a productive elongation state, accompanied by gene derepression at nascent and processed transcript levels. Stable removal of PRC2 derepresses R-loop-negative genes, as expected, but does not affect R-loops, PRC1 recruitment, or transcriptional repression of R-loop-positive genes. Our results highlight that Polycomb repression does not occur via one mechanism but consists of different layers of repression, some of which are gene specific. We uncover that one such mechanism is mediated by an interplay between R-loops and RING1B recruitment.

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R-loops form at a subset of PcG target genes

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R-loops contribute to PcG recruitment genome-wide

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Loss of R-loops leads to transcriptional activation of R-loop-positive PcG targets

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R-loops and PRC1 contribute to transcriptional repression of PcG targets

BRCA1 recruitment to transcriptional pause sites is required for R-loop-driven DNA damage repair

The mechanisms contributing to transcription-associated genomic instability are both complex and incompletely understood. Although R-loops are normal transcriptional intermediates, they are also associated with genomic instability. Here, we show that BRCA1 is recruited to R-loops that form normally over a subset of transcription termination regions. There it mediates the recruitment of a specific, physiological binding partner, senataxin (SETX). Disruption of this complex led to R-loop-driven DNA damage at those loci as reflected by adjacent γ-H2AX accumulation and ssDNA breaks within the untranscribed strand of relevant R-loop structures. Genome-wide analysis revealed widespread BRCA1 binding enrichment at R-loop-rich termination regions (TRs) of actively transcribed genes. Strikingly, within some of these genes in BRCA1 null breast tumors, there are specific insertion/deletion mutations located close to R-loop-mediated BRCA1 binding sites within TRs. Thus, BRCA1/SETX complexes support a DNA repair mechanism that addresses R-loop-based DNA damage at transcriptional pause sites.

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Endogenous BRCA1 and senataxin (SETX) interact in a BRCA1-driven process

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BRCA1/SETX complexes are recruited to R-loop-associated termination regions (TRs)

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BRCA1/SETX complexes suppress transcriptional DNA damage arising at nearby R-loops

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BRCA1 breast cancers reveal indel mutations near BRCA1 TR binding regions

R-loops induce repressive chromatin marks over mammalian gene terminators

The formation of R-loops is a natural consequence of the transcription process, caused by invasion of the DNA duplex by nascent transcripts. These structures have been considered rare transcriptional by-products with potential harmful effects on genome integrity, due to the fragility of the displaced DNA coding strand¹. However R-loops may also possess beneficial effects as their widespread formation has been detected over CpG island promoters in human genes^2,3. Furthermore we have previously shown that R-loops are particularly enriched over G-rich terminator elements. These facilitate RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pausing prior to efficient termination⁴. Here we reveal an unanticipated link between R-loops and RNA interference (RNAi)-dependent H3K9me2 formation over pause site termination regions of mammalian protein coding genes. We show that R-loops induce antisense transcription over these pause elements which in turn lead to the generation of double-strand RNA (dsRNA) and recruitment of Dicer, Ago1, Ago2, and G9a histone lysine methyltransferase (HKMT). Consequently an H3K9me2 repressive mark is formed and Heterochromatin Protein 1γ (HP1γ) is recruited, that reinforces Pol II pausing prior to efficient transcriptional termination. We predict that R-loops promote a chromatin architecture that defines the termination region for a substantial subset of mammalian genes.

A double-edged sword: R loops as threats to genome integrity and powerful regulators of gene expression

R loops are three-stranded nucleic acid structures that comprise nascent RNA hybridized with the DNA template, leaving the nontemplate DNA single-stranded. These structures form naturally during transcription even though their persistent formation can have deleterious effects on genome integrity. Interestingly, an increasing number of studies also suggest that R loops function as potential gene expression regulators. Here, Skourti-Stathaki and Proudfoot review the most recent findings about R loops, highlighting their opposite roles in cellular fitness.

R loops are three-stranded nucleic acid structures that comprise nascent RNA hybridized with the DNA template, leaving the nontemplate DNA single-stranded. R loops form naturally during transcription even though their persistent formation can be a risky outcome with deleterious effects on genome integrity. On the other hand, over the last few years, an increasingly strong case has been built for R loops as potential regulators of gene expression. Therefore, understanding their function and regulation under these opposite situations is essential to fully characterize the mechanisms that control genome integrity and gene expression. Here we review recent findings about these interesting structures that highlight their opposite roles in cellular fitness.

Histone 3 s10 phosphorylation: "caught in the R loop!"

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Castellano-Pozo et al. (2013) describe a connection between R loop structures and histone 3 S10 phosphorylation (H3S10P), a mark of chromatin compaction. Their results constitute a significant advance in our understanding of the role of R loops in genomic instability.

R-loop stabilization represses antisense transcription at the Arabidopsis FLC locus

Roles for long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in gene expression are emerging, but regulation of the lncRNA itself is poorly understood. We have identified a homeodomain protein, AtNDX, that regulates COOLAIR, a set of antisense transcripts originating from the 3' end of Arabidopsis FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). AtNDX associates with single-stranded DNA rather than double-stranded DNA non-sequence-specifically in vitro, and localizes to a heterochromatic region in the COOLAIR promoter in vivo. Single-stranded DNA was detected in vivo as part of an RNA-DNA hybrid, or R-loop, that covers the COOLAIR promoter. R-loop stabilization mediated by AtNDX inhibits COOLAIR transcription, which in turn modifies FLC expression. Differential stabilization of R-loops could be a general mechanism influencing gene expression in many organisms.

Human senataxin resolves RNA/DNA hybrids formed at transcriptional pause sites to promote Xrn2-dependent termination

We present a molecular dissection of pause site-dependent transcriptional termination for mammalian RNA polymerase II (Pol II)-transcribed genes. We show that nascent transcripts form RNA/DNA hybrid structures (R-loops) behind elongating Pol II and are especially prevalent over G-rich pause sites positioned downstream of gene poly(A) signals. Senataxin, a helicase protein associated with AOA2/ALS4 neurodegenerative disorders, acts to resolve these R-loop structures and by so doing allows access of the 5′–3′ exonuclease Xrn2 at 3′ cleavage poly(A) sites. This affords 3′ transcript degradation and consequent Pol II termination. In effect, R-loops formed over G-rich pause sites, followed by their resolution by senataxin, are key steps in the termination process.

Novel regulation of Smad3 oligomerization and DNA binding by its linker domain

Smad proteins are key effectors of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) signaling pathway in mammalian cells. Smads are composed of two highly structured and conserved domains called Mad homology 1 (MH1) and 2 (MH2), which are linked together by a nonconserved linker region. The recent identification of phosphorylation sites and binding sites for ubiquitin ligases in the linker regions of TGFbeta and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor-regulated Smads suggested that the linker may contribute to the regulation of Smad function by facilitating cross-talks with other signaling pathways. In the present study, we have generated and characterized novel Smad3 mutants bearing individual substitutions of conserved and nonconserved amino acid residues within a previously described transcriptionally active linker fragment. Our analysis showed that the conserved linker amino acids glutamine 222 and proline 229 play important roles in Smad functions such as homo- and hetero-oligomerization, nuclear accumulation in response to TGFbeta stimulation, and DNA binding. Furthermore, a Smad3 mutant bearing a substitution of the nonconserved amino acid asparagine 218 to alanine displayed enhanced transactivation potential relative to wild type Smad3. Finally, Smad3 P229A inhibited TGFbeta signaling when overexpressed in mammalian cells. In conclusion, our data are in line with previous studies supporting an important regulatory role of the linker region of Smads in their function as key transducers of TGFbeta signaling.