Project description:To interrogate single-base resolution 6mA sites in the genome-wide, we develop DA-6mA-seq (DpnI-Assisted N6-methylAdenine sequencing), an optimized sequencing method taking advantage of restriction enzyme DpnI, which exclusively cleaves methylated adenine sites. We find DpnI also recognizes other sequence motifs besides the canonical GATC restriction sites, largely expanding the application range of this method. DA-6mA-seq requires less starting material and lower sequencing depth than previous methods, but achieves higher sensitivity, providing a good strategy to identify 6mA in large genome with a low abundance of 6mA. We rebuild the 6mA maps of Chlamydomonas by DA-6mA-seq and then apply this method to another two eukaryotic organisms, Plasmodium and Penicillium. Further analysis reveals most 6mA sites are symmetric at various sequence contexts, suggesting 6mA may function as a new heritable epigenetic mark in eukaryotes. A new sequencing method is developed to detect 6mA in eukaryotes
Project description:N6-methyladenine (6mA) is a natural DNA modification and functions primarily in restriction-modification (R-M) systems in prokaryotes. Recent studies uncovered the existence and revealed the genome-wide distribution of 6mA in eukaryotes. Specifically, it was reported that 6mA was mainly enriched in mammalian mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and could regulate mitochondrial activity. we achieved the genome-wide mapping of 6mA in E. coli genome and mammalian mtDNA at single-nucleotide resolution.
Project description:It has widely accepted that 5-methylcytosine is the only form of DNA methylation in mammalian genomes, whereas the other forms, such as N6-methyladenine, primarily exist in prokaryotes and only a few eukaryotes. Herein, we demonstrated the surprising presence of N6-methyladenine in mammalian genomes, especially, mouse embryonic stem cells. This modification is enriched at histone variant H2A.X-deposited genomic regions in wild type embryonic stem cells. Our work also showed that a previously unknown DNA demethylase, Alkbh1, is the major demethylase for N6-methyladenine in embryonic stem cells. Increase of N6-methyladenine levels in Alkbh1 deficient cells leads to silencing of genes that regulate embryonic development. Surprisingly, genes located on the X-chromosome, but not the Y-chromosome or autosomes are preferentially silenced by N6-methyladenine. Strikingly, N6-methyladenine in Alkbh1 deficient cells are specifically deposition at young, full-length subfamilies of LINE1 transposons that are strongly enriched on the X chromosome. Furthermore, N6-methyladenine deposition on LINE1s pattern is inversely correlated with their evolutionary age. The deposition of N6-methyladenine results in epigenetic silencing of such L1s, which are otherwise actively transcribed in wild type embryonic stem cells, and the neighboring enhancers and genes. Furthermore, N6-methyladenine induced-silencing resists gene activation signals during embryonic stem cell differentiation. Thus, N6-methyladenine adopts a new function in epigenetic silencing in evolution, distinct from its role in gene activation in other organisms. In summary, our results demonstrate that N6-methyladenine unexpectedly constitutes a crucial component of the epigenetic regulation repertoire in mammalian genomes. First, we used N6mA or 5mC antibody to enrich for DNA molecules with DNA modification in mouse ESCs as previously described methods. Then, co-purified DNA molecules from WT or KO ESCs were subject to HiSeq2000 sequencing and data analysis for DNA modification sites. DNA IP coupling with HiSeq sequencing
Project description:It has widely accepted that 5-methylcytosine is the only form of DNA methylation in mammalian genomes, whereas the other forms, such as N6-methyladenine, primarily exist in prokaryotes and only a few eukaryotes. Herein, we demonstrated the surprising presence of N6-methyladenine in mammalian genomes, especially, mouse embryonic stem cells. This modification is enriched at histone variant H2A.X-deposited genomic regions in wild type embryonic stem cells. Our work also showed that a previously unknown DNA demethylase, Alkbh1, is the major demethylase for N6-methyladenine in embryonic stem cells. Increase of N6-methyladenine levels in Alkbh1 deficient cells leads to silencing of genes that regulate embryonic development. Surprisingly, genes located on the X-chromosome, but not the Y-chromosome or autosomes are preferentially silenced by N6-methyladenine. Strikingly, N6-methyladenine in Alkbh1 deficient cells are specifically deposition at young, full-length subfamilies of LINE1 transposons that are strongly enriched on the X chromosome. Furthermore, N6-methyladenine deposition on LINE1s pattern is inversely correlated with their evolutionary age. The deposition of N6-methyladenine results in epigenetic silencing of such L1s, which are otherwise actively transcribed in wild type embryonic stem cells, and the neighboring enhancers and genes. Furthermore, N6-methyladenine induced-silencing resists gene activation signals during embryonic stem cell differentiation. Thus, N6-methyladenine adopts a new function in epigenetic silencing in evolution, distinct from its role in gene activation in other organisms. In summary, our results demonstrate that N6-methyladenine unexpectedly constitutes a crucial component of the epigenetic regulation repertoire in mammalian genomes. First, we used different histone antibodies to enrich for DNA molecules with histone modification or specific variant in mouse ESCs as previously described Native-ChIP methods. Then, co-purified DNA molecules from WT or KO ESCs were subject to HiSeq2000 sequencing and data analysis for histone modification or variant peaks. Native ChIP coupling with HiSeq sequencing
Project description:It has widely accepted that 5-methylcytosine is the only form of DNA methylation in mammalian genomes, whereas the other forms, such as N6-methyladenine, primarily exist in prokaryotes and only a few eukaryotes. Herein, we demonstrated the surprising presence of N6-methyladenine in mammalian genomes, especially, mouse embryonic stem cells. This modification is enriched at histone variant H2A.X-deposited genomic regions in wild type embryonic stem cells. Our work also showed that a previously unknown DNA demethylase, Alkbh1, is the major demethylase for N6-methyladenine in embryonic stem cells. Increase of N6-methyladenine levels in Alkbh1 deficient cells leads to silencing of genes that regulate embryonic development. Surprisingly, genes located on the X-chromosome, but not the Y-chromosome or autosomes are preferentially silenced by N6-methyladenine. Strikingly, N6-methyladenine in Alkbh1 deficient cells are specifically deposition at young, full-length subfamilies of LINE1 transposons that are strongly enriched on the X chromosome. Furthermore, N6-methyladenine deposition on LINE1s pattern is inversely correlated with their evolutionary age. The deposition of N6-methyladenine results in epigenetic silencing of such L1s, which are otherwise actively transcribed in wild type embryonic stem cells, and the neighboring enhancers and genes. Furthermore, N6-methyladenine induced-silencing resists gene activation signals during embryonic stem cell differentiation. Thus, N6-methyladenine adopts a new function in epigenetic silencing in evolution, distinct from its role in gene activation in other organisms. In summary, our results demonstrate that N6-methyladenine unexpectedly constitutes a crucial component of the epigenetic regulation repertoire in mammalian genomes. First, we used a native-ChIP approach to enrich for DNA molecules residing in H2A.X-deposition regions in mouse ESCs as previously described. Then, co-purified DNA molecules from WT or KO ESCs were subject to SMRT sequencing and data analysis for DNA modifications (Pacific Biosciences). H2A.X Native ChIP coupling with SMRT sequencing (separate the short "S" and long "L" part to sequencing)