Context-dependent regulation of IgH V(D)J recombination by cohesin-STAG1 and cohesin-STAG2 [HTGTS-V(D)J-Seq]
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE295770 | GEO | 2026/04/22
REPOSITORIES: GEO
Similar Datasets
Project description:Cohesin-mediated loop extrusion is central to IgH V(D)J recombination in early developing B cells, driving D-to-JH rearrangements and VH-to-DJH rearrangements, with the latter step regulated by the cohesin release factor WAPL. Here, we investigate the distinct contributions of two cohesin subunits, STAG1 and STAG2, which are incorporated in the somatic cohesin variants, cohesin-STAG1 and cohesin-STAG2, respectively. Using WAPL-sufficient mouse v-Abl pro-B cells to model the D-to-JH recombination stage, we show that STAG2 promotes balanced D-to-JH joining and restrains STAG1 expression. Loss of STAG2 elevates cohesin-STAG1 occupancy on chromatin, leading to premature long-range loop formation and expanded VH usage at the expense of distal DH usage. This phenotype persists in the absence of the cohesin acetyltransferase ESCO1 but requires the N-terminal YDF motif of CTCF, which protects cohesin from WAPL-mediated chromatin release. In WAPL-depleted cells modeling the VH-to-DJH recombination stage, the CTCF N-terminus is dispensable and both cohesin variants act cooperatively to establish a diverse VH repertoire. Thus, our findings uncover context-dependent and complementary roles of these two cohesin variants in shaping antibody gene diversity, and also highlight a regulatory axis between STAG1, STAG2, and CTCF in controlling long-range chromatin dynamics.
2026-04-22 | GSE295769 | GEO
Project description:Cohesin-mediated loop extrusion is central to IgH V(D)J recombination in early developing B cells, driving D-to-JH rearrangements and VH-to-DJH rearrangements, with the latter step regulated by the cohesin release factor WAPL. Here, we investigate the distinct contributions of two cohesin subunits, STAG1 and STAG2, which are incorporated in the somatic cohesin variants, cohesin-STAG1 and cohesin-STAG2, respectively. Using WAPL-sufficient mouse v-Abl pro-B cells to model the D-to-JH recombination stage, we show that STAG2 promotes balanced D-to-JH joining and restrains STAG1 expression. Loss of STAG2 elevates cohesin-STAG1 occupancy on chromatin, leading to premature long-range loop formation and expanded VH usage at the expense of distal DH usage. This phenotype persists in the absence of the cohesin acetyltransferase ESCO1 but requires the N-terminal YDF motif of CTCF, which protects cohesin from WAPL-mediated chromatin release. In WAPL-depleted cells modeling the VH-to-DJH recombination stage, the CTCF N-terminus is dispensable and both cohesin variants act cooperatively to establish a diverse VH repertoire. Thus, our findings uncover context-dependent and complementary roles of these two cohesin variants in shaping antibody gene diversity, and also highlight a regulatory axis between STAG1, STAG2, and CTCF in controlling long-range chromatin dynamics.
2026-04-22 | GSE295768 | GEO
Project description:Immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region exons are assembled in progenitor-B cells, from VH, D, and JH gene segments located in separate clusters across the Igh locus. RAG endonuclease orchestrates V(D)J recombination from a JH-based recombination center (RC). Cohesin-mediated extrusion of upstream chromatin past RC-bound RAG presents Ds for joining to JHs to form a DJHRC, from which RAG scans upstream for VHs to assemble VHDJH exons in an ordered recombination process. Cohesin-mediated chromatin loop extrusion is impeded by CTCF-bound elements (CBEs), with extrusion between two CBEs, particularly if convergently-oriented, forming chromatin-contact loops genome-wide. Igh has provocative CBE organization, with two divergently-oriented CBEs (CBE1 and CBE2) in the IGCR1 element between the VH and D/JH domains, dozens of VH domain CBEs convergent to CBE1, and 10 3'Igh-CBEs convergent to CBE2. IGCR1 CBEs segregate D/JH and VH domains by impeding RAG-scanning. After DJH formation, down-regulation of WAPL, a cohesin unloader, neutralizes IGCR1 and VH-domain CBEs, allowing RAG to scan the VH domain. To elucidate potential mechanisms underlying the developmental transition from D-to-JH to VH-to-DJH recombination and potential roles of IGCR1-based CBEs and 3'Igh-CBEs in regulating RAG-scanning, we tested effects of deleting or inverting IGCR1 or 3'Igh-CBEs in mice and/or progenitor-B cell lines. These studies revealed that normal IGCR1 CBE orientation augments its RAG-scanning impediment activity and that the 3'Igh-CBEs reinforce RC activity as a dynamic loop extrusion impediment, thereby, increasing its ability to support V(D)J recombination. Finally, our findings implicate a mechanism by which developmental WAPL down-regulation contributes to ordered V(D)J recombination.
2023-05-30 | GSE230604 | GEO
Project description:Immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region exons are assembled in progenitor-B cells, from VH, D, and JH gene segments located in separate clusters across the Igh locus. RAG endonuclease orchestrates V(D)J recombination from a JH-based recombination center (RC). Cohesin-mediated extrusion of upstream chromatin past RC-bound RAG presents Ds for joining to JHs to form a DJHRC, from which RAG scans upstream for VHs to assemble VHDJH exons in an ordered recombination process. Cohesin-mediated chromatin loop extrusion is impeded by CTCF-bound elements (CBEs), with extrusion between two CBEs, particularly if convergently-oriented, forming chromatin-contact loops genome-wide. Igh has provocative CBE organization, with two divergently-oriented CBEs (CBE1 and CBE2) in the IGCR1 element between the VH and D/JH domains, dozens of VH domain CBEs convergent to CBE1, and 10 3'Igh-CBEs convergent to CBE2. IGCR1 CBEs segregate D/JH and VH domains by impeding RAG-scanning. After DJH formation, down-regulation of WAPL, a cohesin unloader, neutralizes IGCR1 and VH-domain CBEs, allowing RAG to scan the VH domain. To elucidate potential mechanisms underlying the developmental transition from D-to-JH to VH-to-DJH recombination and potential roles of IGCR1-based CBEs and 3'Igh-CBEs in regulating RAG-scanning, we tested effects of deleting or inverting IGCR1 or 3'Igh-CBEs in mice and/or progenitor-B cell lines. These studies revealed that normal IGCR1 CBE orientation augments its RAG-scanning impediment activity and that the 3'Igh-CBEs reinforce RC activity as a dynamic loop extrusion impediment, thereby, increasing its ability to support V(D)J recombination. Finally, our findings implicate a mechanism by which developmental WAPL down-regulation contributes to ordered V(D)J recombination.
2023-05-30 | GSE230251 | GEO
Project description:Immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region exons are assembled in progenitor-B cells, from VH, D, and JH gene segments located in separate clusters across the Igh locus. RAG endonuclease orchestrates V(D)J recombination from a JH-based recombination center (RC). Cohesin-mediated extrusion of upstream chromatin past RC-bound RAG presents Ds for joining to JHs to form a DJHRC, from which RAG scans upstream for VHs to assemble VHDJH exons in an ordered recombination process. Cohesin-mediated chromatin loop extrusion is impeded by CTCF-bound elements (CBEs), with extrusion between two CBEs, particularly if convergently-oriented, forming chromatin-contact loops genome-wide. Igh has provocative CBE organization, with two divergently-oriented CBEs (CBE1 and CBE2) in the IGCR1 element between the VH and D/JH domains, dozens of VH domain CBEs convergent to CBE1, and 10 3'Igh-CBEs convergent to CBE2. IGCR1 CBEs segregate D/JH and VH domains by impeding RAG-scanning. After DJH formation, down-regulation of WAPL, a cohesin unloader, neutralizes IGCR1 and VH-domain CBEs, allowing RAG to scan the VH domain. To elucidate potential mechanisms underlying the developmental transition from D-to-JH to VH-to-DJH recombination and potential roles of IGCR1-based CBEs and 3'Igh-CBEs in regulating RAG-scanning, we tested effects of deleting or inverting IGCR1 or 3'Igh-CBEs in mice and/or progenitor-B cell lines. These studies revealed that normal IGCR1 CBE orientation augments its RAG-scanning impediment activity and that the 3'Igh-CBEs reinforce RC activity as a dynamic loop extrusion impediment, thereby, increasing its ability to support V(D)J recombination. Finally, our findings implicate a mechanism by which developmental WAPL down-regulation contributes to ordered V(D)J recombination.
2023-05-30 | GSE230249 | GEO
Project description:Immunoglobulin heavy chain locus (Igh) VH, D, and JH gene segments are developmentally assembled into V(D)J exons. RAG endonuclease initiates V(D)J recombination by binding a JH-recombination signal sequence (RSS) within a chromatin-based recombination center (RC) and then, in an orientation-dependent process, scans upstream D-containing chromatin presented by cohesin-mediated loop extrusion for convergent D-RSSs to initiate DJH-RC formation. In primary pro-B cells, 100s of upstream VH-associated RSSs, embedded in convergent orientation to the DJH-RC-RSS, gain proximity to the DJH-RC for VH-to-DJH joining via a mechanistically-undefined VH-locus contraction process. Here, we report that a 2.4 mega-base VH locus inversion in primary pro-B cells nearly abrogates rearrangements of normally convergent VH-RSSs and cryptic RSSs, even though locus contraction per se is maintained. Moreover, this inversion activated rearrangement of both cryptic VH-locus RSSs normally in the opposite orientation and, unexpectedly, of normally-oriented cryptic RSSs within multiple, sequential upstream convergent-CBE domains. Primary pro-B cells had significantly reduced transcription of Wapl, a cohesin-unloading factor, versus levels in v-Abl pro-B lines that lack marked locus contraction or distal VH rearrangements. Correspondingly, Wapl depletion in v-Abl lines activated VH-locus contraction and orientation-specific RAG-scanning across the VH-locus. Our findings indicate that locus contraction and physiological VH-to-DJH joining both are regulated via circumvention of CBE scanning impediments.
2020-11-08 | GSE151907 | GEO
Project description:Immunoglobulin heavy chain locus (Igh) VH, D, and JH gene segments are developmentally assembled into V(D)J exons. RAG endonuclease initiates V(D)J recombination by binding a JH-recombination signal sequence (RSS) within a chromatin-based recombination center (RC) and then, in an orientation-dependent process, scans upstream D-containing chromatin presented by cohesin-mediated loop extrusion for convergent D-RSSs to initiate DJH-RC formation. In primary pro-B cells, 100s of upstream VH-associated RSSs, embedded in convergent orientation to the DJH-RC-RSS, gain proximity to the DJH-RC for VH-to-DJH joining via a mechanistically-undefined VH-locus contraction process. Here, we report that a 2.4 mega-base VH locus inversion in primary pro-B cells nearly abrogates rearrangements of normally convergent VH-RSSs and cryptic RSSs, even though locus contraction per se is maintained. Moreover, this inversion activated rearrangement of both cryptic VH-locus RSSs normally in the opposite orientation and, unexpectedly, of normally-oriented cryptic RSSs within multiple, sequential upstream convergent-CBE domains. Primary pro-B cells had significantly reduced transcription of Wapl, a cohesin-unloading factor, versus levels in v-Abl pro-B lines that lack marked locus contraction or distal VH rearrangements. Correspondingly, Wapl depletion in v-Abl lines activated VH-locus contraction and orientation-specific RAG-scanning across the VH-locus. Our findings indicate that locus contraction and physiological VH-to-DJH joining both are regulated via circumvention of CBE scanning impediments.
2020-11-08 | GSE151906 | GEO
Project description:Immunoglobulin heavy chain locus (Igh) VH, D, and JH gene segments are developmentally assembled into V(D)J exons. RAG endonuclease initiates V(D)J recombination by binding a JH-recombination signal sequence (RSS) within a chromatin-based recombination center (RC) and then, in an orientation-dependent process, scans upstream D-containing chromatin presented by cohesin-mediated loop extrusion for convergent D-RSSs to initiate DJH-RC formation. In primary pro-B cells, 100s of upstream VH-associated RSSs, embedded in convergent orientation to the DJH-RC-RSS, gain proximity to the DJH-RC for VH-to-DJH joining via a mechanistically-undefined VH-locus contraction process. Here, we report that a 2.4 mega-base VH locus inversion in primary pro-B cells nearly abrogates rearrangements of normally convergent VH-RSSs and cryptic RSSs, even though locus contraction per se is maintained. Moreover, this inversion activated rearrangement of both cryptic VH-locus RSSs normally in the opposite orientation and, unexpectedly, of normally-oriented cryptic RSSs within multiple, sequential upstream convergent-CBE domains. Primary pro-B cells had significantly reduced transcription of Wapl, a cohesin-unloading factor, versus levels in v-Abl pro-B lines that lack marked locus contraction or distal VH rearrangements. Correspondingly, Wapl depletion in v-Abl lines activated VH-locus contraction and orientation-specific RAG-scanning across the VH-locus. Our findings indicate that locus contraction and physiological VH-to-DJH joining both are regulated via circumvention of CBE scanning impediments.
2020-11-08 | GSE151908 | GEO
Project description:Immunoglobulin heavy chain locus (Igh) VH, D, and JH gene segments are developmentally assembled into V(D)J exons. RAG endonuclease initiates V(D)J recombination by binding a JH-recombination signal sequence (RSS) within a chromatin-based recombination center (RC) and then, in an orientation-dependent process, scans upstream D-containing chromatin presented by cohesin-mediated loop extrusion for convergent D-RSSs to initiate DJH-RC formation. In primary pro-B cells, 100s of upstream VH-associated RSSs, embedded in convergent orientation to the DJH-RC-RSS, gain proximity to the DJH-RC for VH-to-DJH joining via a mechanistically-undefined VH-locus contraction process. Here, we report that a 2.4 mega-base VH locus inversion in primary pro-B cells nearly abrogates rearrangements of normally convergent VH-RSSs and cryptic RSSs, even though locus contraction per se is maintained. Moreover, this inversion activated rearrangement of both cryptic VH-locus RSSs normally in the opposite orientation and, unexpectedly, of normally-oriented cryptic RSSs within multiple, sequential upstream convergent-CBE domains. Primary pro-B cells had significantly reduced transcription of Wapl, a cohesin-unloading factor, versus levels in v-Abl pro-B lines that lack marked locus contraction or distal VH rearrangements. Correspondingly, Wapl depletion in v-Abl lines activated VH-locus contraction and orientation-specific RAG-scanning across the VH-locus. Our findings indicate that locus contraction and physiological VH-to-DJH joining both are regulated via circumvention of CBE scanning impediments.
2020-11-08 | GSE151909 | GEO
Project description:RAG endonuclease initiates V(D)J recombination in progenitor (pro)-B cells. Upon binding a recombination center (RC)-based JH, RAG scans upstream chromatin via loop extrusion, potentially mediated by cohesin, to locate Ds and assemble a DJH-based RC. CTCF looping factor-bound elements (CBEs) within the IGCR1 element upstream of the Ds impede RAG-scanning; but their inactivation allows scanning to proximal VHs where additional CBEs activate rearrangement and impede scanning any further upstream. Distal VH utilization is thought to involve diffusional RC access following large-scale Igh locus contraction. Here, we test the potential of linear RAG-scanning to mediate distal VH usage in G1-arrested, v-Abl-pro-B cell lines, which undergo robust D-to-JH rearrangement, but little VH-to-DJH rearrangement, presumably due to lack of locus contraction. Through an auxin-induced approach, we degrade cohesin-component Rad21 or CTCF in these G1-arrested lines, which maintain substantial viability throughout four-day experiments. Rad21 degradation eliminated all V(D)J recombination and RAG-scanning-associated interactions, except RC-located DQ52-to-JH joining in which synapsis occurs by diffusion11. Remarkably, while CTCF degradation suppressed most CBE-based chromatin interactions, it promoted robust RC interactions with, and VH-to-DJH joining of, distal VHs, with patterns similar to those of "locus-contracted" primary pro-B cells. Thus, down-modulation of CTCF-bound scanning-impediment activity promotes cohesin-driven RAG-scanning across the 2.7Mb Igh locus.
2020-05-11 | GSE142780 | GEO