Project description:Despite advances in nuclease-based genome editing technologies, correcting human disease-causing genomic inversions remains a challenge. Here, we describe the potential use of a recombinase-based system to correct a 140 kb int1h inversion frequently found in patients diagnosed with Hemophilia A. With the use of directed molecular evolution, we developed a linked heterodimeric recombinase system (RecF8) achieving 30% inversion of the target sequence in human tissue culture cells. Transient RecF8 treatment of endothelial cells, differentiated from int1h patient derived iPSCs, resulted in prominent correction of the inversion and restored Factor VIII mRNA expression. Our data suggest that the development of designer-recombinases represent an efficient and specific mean towards treatment of large gene inversions causing monogenic diseases.
Project description:A growing list of metazoans undergo programmed DNA elimination (PDE), where a significant amount of DNA is selectively lost from the genome during development. In some nematodes, PDE leads to the removal of the ends of all germline chromosomes. In several species, PDE also eliminates sequences in the interior of the chromosomes, leading to an increased number of somatic chromosomes. The biological significance of these karyotype changes associated with PDE and the origin and evolution of nematode PDE remain largely unknown. Here, we assembled the single pair of germline chromosomes of the horse parasite Parascaris univalens and compared the karyotypes, gene organization within the chromosomes, and PDE features among ascarids. We show that Parascaris converts an XX/XY sex-determination system in the germline into an XX/XO system in the somatic cells. Comparisons of Ascaris, Parascaris, and Baylisascaris chromosomes suggest that PDE existed in the ancestor of these parasites, and their current distinct germline karyotypes were derived from fusion events of the same ancestral smaller chromosomes. PDE resolves these fused germline chromosomes and restores their pre-fusion karyotypes, leading to alterations in genome architecture and gene expression in the somatic cells. Cytological and genomic analyses further reveal the dynamic organization of the Parascaris germline chromosome during meiosis and a potential function for the satellite DNA and the heterochromatin arms. Overall, our results show that chromosome fusion and PDE have been harnessed in these ascarids to shape their karyotypes that could modulate the organization and functions of the genomes.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE36822: Clonal competition with alternating dominance in multiple myeloma [244kCGH] GSE36823: Clonal competition with alternating dominance in multiple myeloma [44kCGH] GSE36824: Clonal competition with alternating dominance in multiple myeloma [GEP] Refer to individual Series
Project description:A growing list of metazoans undergo programmed DNA elimination (PDE), where a significant amount of DNA is selectively lost from the genome during development. In some nematodes, PDE leads to the removal of the ends of all germline chromosomes. In several species, PDE also eliminates sequences in the interior of the chromosomes, leading to an increased number of somatic chromosomes. The biological significance of these karyotype changes associated with PDE and the origin and evolution of nematode PDE remain largely unknown. Here, we assembled the single pair of germline chromosomes of the horse parasite Parascaris univalens and compared the karyotypes, gene organization within the chromosomes, and PDE features among ascarids. We show that Parascaris converts an XX/XY sex-determination system in the germline into an XX/XO system in the somatic cells. Comparisons of Ascaris, Parascaris, and Baylisascaris chromosomes suggest that PDE existed in the ancestor of these parasites, and their current distinct germline karyotypes were derived from fusion events of the same ancestral smaller chromosomes. PDE resolves these fused germline chromosomes and restores their pre-fusion karyotypes, leading to alterations in genome architecture and gene expression in the somatic cells. Cytological and genomic analyses further reveal the dynamic organization of the Parascaris germline chromosome during meiosis and a potential function for the satellite DNA and the heterochromatin arms. Overall, our results show that chromosome fusion and PDE have been harnessed in these ascarids to shape their karyotypes that could modulate the organization and functions of the genomes.
Project description:A growing list of metazoans undergo programmed DNA elimination (PDE), where a significant amount of DNA is selectively lost from the genome during development. In some nematodes, PDE leads to the removal of the ends of all germline chromosomes. In several species, PDE also eliminates sequences in the interior of the chromosomes, leading to an increased number of somatic chromosomes. The biological significance of these karyotype changes associated with PDE and the origin and evolution of nematode PDE remain largely unknown. Here, we assembled the single pair of germline chromosomes of the horse parasite Parascaris univalens and compared the karyotypes, gene organization within the chromosomes, and PDE features among ascarids. We show that Parascaris converts an XX/XY sex-determination system in the germline into an XX/XO system in the somatic cells. Comparisons of Ascaris, Parascaris, and Baylisascaris chromosomes suggest that PDE existed in the ancestor of these parasites, and their current distinct germline karyotypes were derived from fusion events of the same ancestral smaller chromosomes. PDE resolves these fused germline chromosomes and restores their pre-fusion karyotypes, leading to alterations in genome architecture and gene expression in the somatic cells. Cytological and genomic analyses further reveal the dynamic organization of the Parascaris germline chromosome during meiosis and a potential function for the satellite DNA and the heterochromatin arms. Overall, our results show that chromosome fusion and PDE have been harnessed in these ascarids to shape their karyotypes that could modulate the organization and functions of the genomes.
Project description:Aging is a time-dependent biological phenomenon governed by complex networks of regulatory components and their transitions over lifetime. Yet, there have been limited efforts to pin down age-associated networks and map their dynamic characteristics onto aging phenotypes. Here, we built time-course genetic regulatory networks of NAM/ATAF/CUC (NAC) transcription factors during the course of leaf aging in Arabidopsis, using causal regulatory relationships among NACs identified from mutants of 49 aging-associated NACs. These temporal networks revealed a regulatory inversion from activating to repressive regulatory modes at a pre-senescent stage. The inversion was governed by three hub NACs, and their mutants conferred earlier aging with altered expression of reactive oxygen species and salicylic acid response genes. Overexpression of the hub NACs delayed the regulatory inversion, rendering delayed age-dependent cell death. We conclude that the regulatory inversion in NAC networks at a pre-senescent stage directs when age-dependent cell death should proceed in plants.
Project description:Aging is a time-dependent biological phenomenon governed by complex networks of regulatory components and their transitions over lifetime. Yet, there have been limited efforts to pin down age-associated networks and map their dynamic characteristics onto aging phenotypes. Here, we built time-course genetic regulatory networks of NAM/ATAF/CUC (NAC) transcription factors during the course of leaf aging in Arabidopsis, using causal regulatory relationships among NACs identified from mutants of 49 aging-associated NACs. These temporal networks revealed a regulatory inversion from activating to repressive regulatory modes at a pre-senescent stage. The inversion was governed by three hub NACs, and their mutants conferred earlier aging with altered expression of reactive oxygen species and salicylic acid response genes. Overexpression of the hub NACs delayed the regulatory inversion, rendering delayed age-dependent cell death. We conclude that the regulatory inversion in NAC networks at a pre-senescent stage directs when age-dependent cell death should proceed in plants.