Project description:Meiotic recombination is initiated by programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and proceeds via binding of RPA, RAD51 and DMC1 to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) substrates created after the formation of DSBs. Here, we report high-resolution in vivo maps of RPA and RAD51 binding in meiosis, mapping their binding locations and lifespans in a B6 and a genetically modified B6xCAST F1 mouse. We ascribe signals separately to the individual homologous chromosomes in the hybrid mouse, thereby separating the signal of binding to the chromosome where DSBs occurred and the chromosome that was used as template for repair. Together with super-resolution microscopy and DMC1 binding maps, we show that DMC1 and RAD51 have distinct spatial localization on ssDNA: whereas DMC1 binds near the break-site, RAD51 binds away from it. We characterize the D-loop, a critical intermediate bound by RPA, in vivo. These data show that DMC1, not RAD51, performs strand exchange in mammalian meiosis. We find that the localisation of D-loop intermediates is similar in crossover and non-crossover pathways, with a longer lifespan for crossover-destined intermediates. These findings answer long-standing questions about the molecular intermediates of recombination.
Project description:We report the application of ChIP-seq targeted at the meiosis-specific protein DMC1 to reveal the genome-wide distribution of initiation of meiotic recombination. The mouse model here employed is Hop2-/- because it is unable to repair the DNA double-stranded breaks and therefore the DMC1 signal is more persistent. We also provide the resulting dataset of ChIP-seq targeted at RAD51 which is not meiosis specific but is also targeted at initiation of recombination loci in meiotic tissue. In addition, we report DMC1 ChIP-seq on wild type mouse pup testis. Finally, we present ChIP-seq targeted at H3K4me3 in testis and liver tissues.
Project description:The formation of RAD51/DMC1 filaments on single-stranded (ss)DNAs, which is essential for homology search and strand exchange in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair and for the protection of stalled DNA replication forks, is tightly regulated in time and space. FIGNL1 AAA+++ ATPase plays positive and negative roles in the RAD51-mediated recombination in human cells. However, the role of FIGNL1 in gametogenesis remains unsolved. Here, we characterized a germ-line-specific conditional knockout (cKO) mouse of FIGNL1. The Fignl1 cKO male mice showed defective chromosome synapsis and impaired meiotic DSB repair with the accumulation of RAD51/DMC1 on chromosomes in mid-meiotic prophase I, supporting a role of FIGNL1 in a post-assembly stage of RAD51/DMC1 filaments. Fignl1 cKO spermatocytes accumulate RAD51 and DMC1 ensembles on chromosomes not only in early meiotic prophase I but also in meiotic S-phase. These RAD51/DMC1 assemblies are independent of meiotic DSB formation. Finally, we showed that purified FIGNL1 dismantles RAD51 filament on double-stranded (ds)DNA as well as ssDNA. These results suggest a critical role of FIGNL1 to limit the uncontrolled assembly of RAD51 and DMC1 on native dsDNAs during the meiotic S-phase and meiotic prophase I.
Project description:DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) initiate meiotic recombination. Past DSB-mapping studies have used rad50S or sae2? mutants, which are defective in break processing, to accumulate DSBs, and report large (= 50 kb) “DSB-hot” regions that are separated by “DSB-cold” domains of similar size. Substantial recombination occurs in some DSB-cold regions, suggesting that DSB patterns are not normal in rad50S or sae2? mutants. We therefore developed novel methods that detect DSBs using ssDNA enrichment and microarray hybridization, and that use background-based normalization to allow cross-comparison between array datasets, to map genome-wide the DSBs that accumulate in processing-capable, repair-defective dmc1î and dmc1î rad51î mutants. DSBs were observed at known hotspots, but also in most previously-identified “DSB-cold” regions, including near centromeres and telomeres. While about 40% of the genome is DSB-cold in rad50S mutants, analysis of meiotic ssDNA from dmc1? shows that most of these regions have significant DSB activity. Thus, DSBs are distributed much more uniformly than was previously believed. Southern-blot assays of DSBs in selected regions in dmc1?, rad50S and wild-type cells confirm these findings. Comparisons of DSB signals in dmc1, dmc1 rad51, and dmc1 spo11 mutant strains identify Dmc1 as the primary strand transfer activity genome-wide, and Spo11-induced lesions as initiating all meiotic recombination. Keywords: DSB mapping, ChIP-chip, single strand DNA , BND cellulose We use two different strategies to map the genome-wide distribution of meiotic DSBs in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The first is a chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) based approach that targets the Spo11p protein, which remains covalently attached to DSB ends in the rad50S mutant background. The second approach involves BND cellulose enrichment of the single strand DNA (ssDNA) recombination intermediate formed by end-resection at DSB sites following Spo11p removal. We use dmc1 and dmc1 rad51 mutants that accumulates meiotic single strand DNA intermediates
Project description:Mammalian meiotic recombination proceeds via repair of hundreds of programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). This process requires choreographed binding of RPA, DMC1 and RAD51 to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) substrates and in vivo binding maps of these proteins provide insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms. When assayed in F1-hybrid mice, these maps can distinguish the broken chromosome from the homologous chromosome used as template for repair, which reveals further mechanistic detail and enables the structure of the recombination intermediates to be inferred. By applying CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis directly on F1-hybrid embryos, we have extended this powerful analysis technique to explore the molecular detail of recombination when a key component is knocked-out. As a proof-of-concept, we have generated biallelic knockouts of Dmc1 and built maps of meiotic binding of RAD51 and RPA in these knockout hybrid mice. Dmc1 mutants undergo meiotic arrest and comparison of these maps with those from wild-type mice is informative about the structure and timing of recombination intermediates in both genotypes. We confirm a complete abrogation of strand exchange in Dmc1 mutants, and observe a redistribution of RAD51 binding across both the distal and proximal ends of the resected DNA. We observe unexpected RPA and DMC1 binding in the wild-type, which suggests multiple rounds of strand invasion with template-switching in mouse. The methodology used involves direct phenotyping of hybrid “founder” mice following CRISPR mutagenesis and provides a high-throughput approach for the analysis of gene function during meiotic recombination, at low animal cost.
Project description:DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) initiate meiotic recombination. Past DSB-mapping studies have used rad50S or sae2? mutants, which are defective in break processing, to accumulate DSBs, and report large (= 50 kb) “DSB-hot” regions that are separated by “DSB-cold” domains of similar size. Substantial recombination occurs in some DSB-cold regions, suggesting that DSB patterns are not normal in rad50S or sae2? mutants. We therefore developed novel methods that detect DSBs using ssDNA enrichment and microarray hybridization, and that use background-based normalization to allow cross-comparison between array datasets, to map genome-wide the DSBs that accumulate in processing-capable, repair-defective dmc1î and dmc1î rad51î mutants. DSBs were observed at known hotspots, but also in most previously-identified “DSB-cold” regions, including near centromeres and telomeres. While about 40% of the genome is DSB-cold in rad50S mutants, analysis of meiotic ssDNA from dmc1? shows that most of these regions have significant DSB activity. Thus, DSBs are distributed much more uniformly than was previously believed. Southern-blot assays of DSBs in selected regions in dmc1?, rad50S and wild-type cells confirm these findings. Comparisons of DSB signals in dmc1, dmc1 rad51, and dmc1 spo11 mutant strains identify Dmc1 as the primary strand transfer activity genome-wide, and Spo11-induced lesions as initiating all meiotic recombination. Keywords: DSB mapping, ChIP-chip, single strand DNA , BND cellulose
Project description:Recombinational repair of meiotic DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) uses the homologous chromosome as a template, although the sister chromatid offers itself as a spatially more convenient substrate. In many organisms, this choice of the homolog rather than the sister is reinforced by the recombination protein Dmc1. We found that, in Tetrahymena, in the absence of two novel proteins, Mcmd1 and Pamd1, Dmc1 is misregulated. Hence, to find out potential interactions, we did LC-MS/MS analysis for Mcmd1 and Pamd1 immunoprecipitation samples.
Project description:Mapping physiological double strand breaks (DSBs) in cancer cells uncovers transcription-coupled repair mechanism at oncogenic super-enhancers in which RAD51 of the homologous recombination pathway plays a key role supporting the hyper-transcription of related oncogenes.
Project description:Cells have developed effective mechanisms, namely homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), to repair DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which are considered to be the most deleterious type of damage that can challenge genome integrity. While these pathways coexist to repair DSBs, the mechanisms by which one of these pathways is chosen to repair a particular DSB remain unclear. Here, we show that the chromatin context in which a break occurs participates in this choice and that transcriptionnaly active chromatin channels repair to HR. By using a human cell line expressing a restriction enzyme fused to the ligand binding domain of the oestrogen receptor (AsiSI-ER)2,3, together with a genome wide chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) approach, we establish that distinct DSBs induced across the genome are not necessarily repaired by the same pathway. Indeed, we identify an HR-prone subset of DSBs that recruit the HR protein RAD51, undergo resection, and rely on RAD51 for efficient repair. These DSBs are located in actively transcribed genes, and repair at such DSBs can be switched to RAD51-independent repair pathway upon transcriptional inhibition. Moreover, we show that HR is targeted to transcribed loci thanks to the elongation-associated H3K36me3 histone mark. Indeed depletion of HYPB, the main H3K36 tri methyltransferase severally impedes the use of HR at those DSBs. Our study, thereby demonstrates a clear role for chromatin in DSB repair pathway choice in human cells.