Spatial genome reorganization is associated with chromosomal breakage regions and karyotype changes induced by programmed DNA elimination.

ABSTRACT: Programmed DNA elimination (PDE) is a notable exception to genome integrity, characterized by significant DNA loss during development. In many nematodes, PDE is initiated by DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which lead to chromosome fragmentation and subsequent DNA loss. However, the mechanism of nematode DNA breakage remains largely unclear. Interestingly, in the human and pig parasitic nematode Ascaris, no conserved motif or sequence structures are present at chromosomal breakage regions (CBRs), suggesting the recognition of CBRs may be sequence-independent. Using Hi-C, we revealed that Ascaris CBRs engage in three-dimensional (3D) interactions before PDE, indicating that physical contacts of the break regions may contribute to the PDE process. The 3D interactions are establ

SUBMITTER: Simmons JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12633552 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature