Mapping nucleosome resolution chromosome folding in yeast by Micro-C
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ABSTRACT: We describe a Hi-C based method, Micro-C, in which micrococcal nuclease is used instead of restriction enzymes to fragment chromatin, enabling nucleosome resolution chromosome folding maps. Analysis of Micro-C maps for budding yeast reveals abundant self-associating domains similar to those reported in other species, but not previously observed in yeast. These structures, far shorted than topologically-associating domains in mammals, typically encompass one to five genes in yeast. Strong boundaries between self-associating domains occur at promoters of highly transcribed genes, and regions of rapid histone turnover that are typically bound by the RSC chromatin-remodeling complex. Investigation of chromosome folding in mutants confirms roles for RSC, “gene looping” factor Ssu72, Mediator, H3K56 acetyltransferase Rtt109, and N-terminal tail of H4 in folding of the yeast genome. This approach provides detailed structural maps of a eukaryotic genome and our findings provide insights into the machinery underlying chromosome compaction. Chromatin is fragmented by Mnase, subsequenct nucleosomal end repair, and a modified two-step method for purfiying ligation products. Using Illumina paired-end sequencing maps Micro-C library and generates nucleosome resolution contact maps. The readme.txt file contains additional description of how each processed data file was generated.
Project description:We describe a Hi-C based method, Micro-C, in which micrococcal nuclease is used instead of restriction enzymes to fragment chromatin, enabling nucleosome resolution chromosome folding maps. Analysis of Micro-C maps for budding yeast reveals abundant self-associating domains similar to those reported in other species, but not previously observed in yeast. These structures, far shorted than topologically-associating domains in mammals, typically encompass one to five genes in yeast. Strong boundaries between self-associating domains occur at promoters of highly transcribed genes, and regions of rapid histone turnover that are typically bound by the RSC chromatin-remodeling complex. Investigation of chromosome folding in mutants confirms roles for RSC, “gene looping” factor Ssu72, Mediator, H3K56 acetyltransferase Rtt109, and N-terminal tail of H4 in folding of the yeast genome. This approach provides detailed structural maps of a eukaryotic genome and our findings provide insights into the machinery underlying chromosome compaction.
Project description:Structural analysis of chromosome folding in vivo has been revolutionized by Chromosome Conformation Capture (3C) and related methods, which use proximity ligation to identify chromosomal loci in physical contact. We recently described a variant 3C technique, Micro-C, in which chromatin is fragmented to mononucleosomes using micrococcal nuclease, enabling nucleosome-resolution folding maps of the genome. Here, we describe an improved Micro-C protocol using long crosslinkers, termed Micro-C XL, which exhibits greatly increased signal to noise, and provides further insight into the folding of the yeast genome. We also find that signal to noise is much improved in Micro-C XL libraries generated from relatively insoluble chromatin as opposed to soluble material, providing a simple method to physically enrich for bona-fide long-range interactions. Micro-C XL maps of the budding and fission yeast genomes reveal both short-range chromosome fiber features such as chromosomally-interacting domains (CIDs), as well as higher-order features such as clustering of centromeres and telomeres, thereby addressing the primary discrepancy between prior Micro-C data and reported 3C and Hi-C analyses. Interestingly, comparison of chromosome folding maps of S. cerevisiae and S. pombe revealed widespread qualitative similarities, yet quantitative differences, between these distantly-related species. Micro-C XL thus provides a single assay suitable for interrogation of chromosome folding at length scales from the nucleosome to the full genome.
Project description:Chemical cross-linking and high-throughput sequencing have revealed regions of intra-chromosomal interaction, referred to as topologically associating domains (TADs), interspersed with regions of little or no such interaction, in interphase nuclei. We find that TADs and the regions between them correspond with the bands and interbands of polytene chromosomes of Drosophila. We further establish the conservation of TADs between polytene and diploid cells of Drosophila. From direct measurements on light micrographs of polytene chromosomes, we then deduce the states of chromatin folding in the diploid cell nucleus. Two states of chromatin folding, fully extended fibers containing regulatory regions and promoters, and fibers condensed up to ten-fold containing coding regions of active genes, constitute the euchromatin of the nuclear interior. Chromatin fibers condensed up to 30-fold, containing coding regions of inactive genes, represent the heterochromatin of the nuclear periphery. A convergence of molecular analysis with direct observation thus reveals the architecture of interphase chromosomes. This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below. Refer to individual Series
Project description:Chemical cross-linking and high-throughput sequencing have revealed regions of intra-chromosomal interaction, referred to as topologically associating domains (TADs), interspersed with regions of little or no such interaction, in interphase nuclei. We find that TADs and the regions between them correspond with the bands and interbands of polytene chromosomes of Drosophila. We further establish the conservation of TADs between polytene and diploid cells of Drosophila. From direct measurements on light micrographs of polytene chromosomes, we then deduce the states of chromatin folding in the diploid cell nucleus. Two states of chromatin folding, fully extended fibers containing regulatory regions and promoters, and fibers condensed up to ten-fold containing coding regions of active genes, constitute the euchromatin of the nuclear interior. Chromatin fibers condensed up to 30-fold, containing coding regions of inactive genes, represent the heterochromatin of the nuclear periphery. A convergence of molecular analysis with direct observation thus reveals the architecture of interphase chromosomes. Hi-C experiments where ligation is performed on beads (tethered) on male Drosophila salivary glands from three independent biological replicates. Also one Hi-C experiment where the ligation is performed in solution (conventional).
Project description:Nucleosomes are a significant barrier to the repair of UV damage because they impede damage recognition by nucleotide excision repair (NER). The RSC and SWI/SNF chromatin remodelers function in cells to promote DNA access by moving or evicting nucleosomes and both have been linked to NER in yeast. Here, we report genome-wide repair maps of UV-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) in yeast cells lacking RSC or SWI/SNF activity. Our data indicate that SWI/SNF is not generally required for NER, but instead promotes repair of CPD lesions at specific yeast genes. In contrast, mutation or depletion of RSC subunits causes a general defect in NER across the yeast genome. Our data indicate that RSC is required for repair not only in nucleosomal DNA, but also neighboring linker DNA and nucleosome-free regions (NFRs). Furthermore, our data indicate that RSC plays a direct role in transcription coupled-NER (TC-NER) of transcribed DNA. These findings help to define the specific genomic and chromatin contexts in which each chromatin remodeler functions in DNA repair, and indicate that RSC plays a unique function in facilitating repair by both NER subpathways.
Project description:Nucleosomes are a significant barrier to the repair of UV damage because they impede damage recognition by nucleotide excision repair (NER). The RSC and SWI/SNF chromatin remodelers function in cells to promote DNA access by moving or evicting nucleosomes and both have been linked to NER in yeast. Here, we report genome-wide repair maps of UV-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) in yeast cells lacking RSC or SWI/SNF activity. Our data indicate that SWI/SNF is not generally required for NER, but instead promotes repair of CPD lesions at specific yeast genes. In contrast, mutation or depletion of RSC subunits causes a general defect in NER across the yeast genome. Our data indicate that RSC is required for repair not only in nucleosomal DNA, but also neighboring linker DNA and nucleosome-free regions (NFRs). Intriguingly, while depletion of the RSC catalytic subunit also affects base excision repair (BER) of N-methylpurine (NMP) lesions, RSC activity is less important for BER in linker DNA and NFRs. Furthermore, our data indicate that RSC plays a direct role in transcription coupled-NER (TC-NER) of transcribed DNA. These findings help to define the specific genomic and chromatin contexts in which each chromatin remodeler functions in DNA repair, and indicate that RSC plays a unique function in facilitating repair by both NER subpathways.
Project description:The chicken LSCC-HD3 cell line (HD3) generated from erythroid precursors is an established avian model for erythroid differentiation and lineage-specific gene expression. We obtained Hi-C maps of genomic interactions for HD3 cell line and revealed A/B compartments and topologically-associating domains. By analysis of contact patterns in the Hi-C maps of HD3 cells we identified more than 25 interchromosomal translocations of regions ≥200 Kb on both micro- and macrochromosomes. Intrachromosomal inversions, deletions and duplications were also detected in HD3 cells. Hi-C data obtained for HD3 chicken cell line demonstrate that it has a highly rearranged karyotype, with most of the chromosomes involved in unbalanced translocations.
Project description:Eukaryotic genomes are folded into a hierarchy of three-dimensional structures that impact nuclear functions, including transcription, replication, and repair1-3. Studies in Drosophila and mammals have revealed megabase-sized topologically associated domains (TADs) within chromosomes, which in turn are spatially restricted within the nucleus4-8. However, little is known about local physical constraints that drive higher-order folding of chromosomes. Here we performed Hi-C analysis of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe to explore genome organization at high resolution. S. pombe comprises a small genome ideal for examining structural features of chromatin folding, and contains fundamental components present in higher eukaryotes. Large domains of heterochromatin coat centromeres and telomeres and recruit cohesin, a ring-like protein complex that binds sister chromatids and mediates long range looping of interphase chromosomes. Our analyses reveal a highly ordered chromosome organization, consistent with a Rabl configuration, which is dependent on constraints imposed at centromeres and telomeres. We find that local chromatin compaction and cohesin recruitment to centromeres mediated by heterochromatin is required for maintaining global genome territorial restraint. In addition to larger complex domains, we also observed locally interacting regions of chromatin ~50 kilobases long, which organize chromosome arms into structures referred to as “globules”. Globule boundaries are enriched in cohesin and convergent gene orientation. The role of cohesin in maintaining globule domains is independent of its role in sister chromatid cohesion, as globule domains are also a feature of G1 chromosome architecture. Defect in cohesin disrupts globule domains and results in an altered chromosome organization at larger scales, including the loss of chromosome territories. Disruption of globules also affects functional annotation of the genome, leading to impairment of borders between neighboring transcriptional units. Our analyses reveal key features of chromatin organization and folding and show that distinct mechanisms uniquely impact the hierarchy of genome organization to protect genome integrity and to coordinate nuclear functions. Comparison of HiC contact maps under various conditions reveal fundamental principles of genome organization
Project description:ChIP-chip analyses of Psc3 in wild-type and mutant fission yeast cells. Eukaryotic genomes are folded into three-dimensional structures that govern diverse hromosomal procsses. Studeis in Drosophila and mammals have revealed large self-associating tomological domains whose borders are enriched in cohesin/CTCF factors that are required for long-range intrations. However, mechanisms governing higher-order folding of chromatin fivbers and the exact function of cohesin in this process remain poor understood. Here we perform Hi-C to explore the organization of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe genome at high-resolution, which despite its small size comprises fundamental features found in higher eukaryotes. Our analyses reveal that in addition to determinants of Rabl-like chromosome architecture, smaller locally interacting regions of chromatin, referred to as globules, are a distinctive features of S. pombe chromosome organization. This feature of chromatin architecture requires a function of cohesin distinct from its role in sister chromatid cohesion. Cohesin is enriched at globule boundaries and its loss causes disruption of local globule structure and global chromosome territories. Heterochromatin, which selectively loads cohesin at specific loci including pericentromric and subtelomeric domains, is dispensable for globule formation but uniquely impacts genome organization through chromatin compaction by enforcing Rabl configuration. Genome-wide distribution of Psc3 were determined by ChIP-chip analysis in wild-type and mutant fission yeast cells.
Project description:Chromatin transactions are typically studied in vivo, or in vitro using artificial chromatin lacking the epigenetic complexity of the natural material. Attempting to bridge the gap between these approaches, we established a system for isolating the yeast genome as a library of mono-nucleosomes harbouring the natural epigenetic signature, suitable for biochemical manipulation. Combined with deep sequencing, this library was used to investigate the stability of individual nucleosomes, and – as proof of principle - the nucleosome preference of the chromatin remodeling complex, RSC. In order to generate a library of native yeast nucleosomes, we developed a three-step purification protocol: first, purified yeast nuclei were incubated with micrococcal nuclease (MNase), which preferentially digests naked DNA to generate short chromatin fragments. The resulting fragments were extracted from the nuclei, then bound to and eluted from DEAE sepharose. This was followed by ultracentrifugation through a sucrose gradient to separate the fragments by length to further remove contaminating proteins and free DNA. We chose a simple disassembly assay, which involves incubating the nucleosome library with ATP and the histone chaperone Nap1, with or without RSC. In this assay, RSC binds to nucleosomes and transfers the histones to Nap1, thereby releasing ‘naked’ DNA. Under certain conditions, reaction intermediates can be observed (tetramers or hexasomes), but for simplicity we chose to compare the input nucleosomes with the final naked DNA product. To separate the RSC-dependent released DNA from the non-remodeled nucleosomes, the reactions were subjected to native agarose gel electrophoresis, and DNA of the four bands isolated by gel-extraction. The upper bands, harboring nucleosomes, were named NUC (no RSC) and NUCR (with RSC), whereas the lower, ‘naked’ DNA bands were named DNA (no RSC) and DNAR (with RSC).