1
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Sahoo S, Kadam S, Padinhateeri R, Kumar PBS. Nonequilibrium switching of segmental states can influence compaction of chromatin. SOFT MATTER 2024. [PMID: 38819321 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00274a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Knowledge about the dynamic nature of chromatin organization is essential to understand the regulation of processes like DNA transcription and repair. The existing models of chromatin assume that protein organization and chemical states along chromatin are static and the 3D organization is purely a result of protein-mediated intra-chromatin interactions. Here we present a new hypothesis that certain nonequilibrium processes, such as switching of chemical and physical states due to nucleosome assembly/disassembly or gene repression/activation, can also simultaneously influence chromatin configurations. To understand the implications of this inherent nonequilibrium switching, we present a block copolymer model of chromatin, with switching of its segmental states between two states, mimicking active/repressed or protein unbound/bound states. We show that competition between switching timescale Tt, polymer relaxation timescale τp, and segmental relaxation timescale τs can lead to non-trivial changes in chromatin organization, leading to changes in local compaction and contact probabilities. As a function of the switching timescale, the radius of gyration of chromatin shows a non-monotonic behavior with a prominent minimum when Tt ≈ τp and a maximum when Tt ≈ τs. We find that polymers with a small segment length exhibit a more compact structure than those with larger segment lengths. We also find that the switching can lead to higher contact probability and better mixing of far-away segments. Our study also shows that the nature of the distribution of chromatin clusters varies widely as we change the switching rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soudamini Sahoo
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad, Palakkad, 678623, India
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, 769008, India
| | - Sangram Kadam
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India.
| | - Ranjith Padinhateeri
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India.
| | - P B Sunil Kumar
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad, Palakkad, 678623, India
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India
- Center for Soft and Biological Matter, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India
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2
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Kant A, Guo Z, Vinayak V, Neguembor MV, Li WS, Agrawal V, Pujadas E, Almassalha L, Backman V, Lakadamyali M, Cosma MP, Shenoy VB. Active transcription and epigenetic reactions synergistically regulate meso-scale genomic organization. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4338. [PMID: 38773126 PMCID: PMC11109243 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48698-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
In interphase nuclei, chromatin forms dense domains of characteristic sizes, but the influence of transcription and histone modifications on domain size is not understood. We present a theoretical model exploring this relationship, considering chromatin-chromatin interactions, histone modifications, and chromatin extrusion. We predict that the size of heterochromatic domains is governed by a balance among the diffusive flux of methylated histones sustaining them and the acetylation reactions in the domains and the process of loop extrusion via supercoiling by RNAPII at their periphery, which contributes to size reduction. Super-resolution and nano-imaging of five distinct cell lines confirm the predictions indicating that the absence of transcription leads to larger heterochromatin domains. Furthermore, the model accurately reproduces the findings regarding how transcription-mediated supercoiling loss can mitigate the impacts of excessive cohesin loading. Our findings shed light on the role of transcription in genome organization, offering insights into chromatin dynamics and potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aayush Kant
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Zixian Guo
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Vinayak Vinayak
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Maria Victoria Neguembor
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Wing Shun Li
- Department of Applied Physics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60202, USA
| | - Vasundhara Agrawal
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60202, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Emily Pujadas
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60202, USA
| | - Luay Almassalha
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60202, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Vadim Backman
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60202, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Melike Lakadamyali
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Maria Pia Cosma
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, 08010, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, 08003, Spain
| | - Vivek B Shenoy
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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3
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Tam PLF, Leung D. The Molecular Impacts of Retrotransposons in Development and Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16418. [PMID: 38003607 PMCID: PMC10671454 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Retrotransposons are invasive genetic elements that constitute substantial portions of mammalian genomes. They have the potential to influence nearby gene expression through their cis-regulatory sequences, reverse transcription machinery, and the ability to mold higher-order chromatin structures. Due to their multifaceted functions, it is crucial for host fitness to maintain strict regulation of these parasitic sequences to ensure proper growth and development. This review explores how subsets of retrotransposons have undergone evolutionary exaptation to enhance the complexity of mammalian genomes. It also highlights the significance of regulating these elements, drawing on recent studies conducted in human and murine systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe Lut Fei Tam
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong SAR, China;
| | - Danny Leung
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong SAR, China;
- Center for Epigenomics Research, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong SAR, China
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4
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Agarwal A, Korsak S, Choudhury A, Plewczynski D. The dynamic role of cohesin in maintaining human genome architecture. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2200240. [PMID: 37603403 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in genomic and imaging techniques have revealed the complex manner of organizing billions of base pairs of DNA necessary for maintaining their functionality and ensuring the proper expression of genetic information. The SMC proteins and cohesin complex primarily contribute to forming higher-order chromatin structures, such as chromosomal territories, compartments, topologically associating domains (TADs) and chromatin loops anchored by CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) protein or other genome organizers. Cohesin plays a fundamental role in chromatin organization, gene expression and regulation. This review aims to describe the current understanding of the dynamic nature of the cohesin-DNA complex and its dependence on cohesin for genome maintenance. We discuss the current 3C technique and numerous bioinformatics pipelines used to comprehend structural genomics and epigenetics focusing on the analysis of Cohesin-centred interactions. We also incorporate our present comprehension of Loop Extrusion (LE) and insights from stochastic modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Agarwal
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sevastianos Korsak
- Faculty of Mathematics and Information Science, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Dariusz Plewczynski
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Faculty of Mathematics and Information Science, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland
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5
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Chan B, Rubinstein M. Theory of chromatin organization maintained by active loop extrusion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2222078120. [PMID: 37253009 PMCID: PMC10266055 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2222078120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The active loop extrusion hypothesis proposes that chromatin threads through the cohesin protein complex into progressively larger loops until reaching specific boundary elements. We build upon this hypothesis and develop an analytical theory for active loop extrusion which predicts that loop formation probability is a nonmonotonic function of loop length and describes chromatin contact probabilities. We validate our model with Monte Carlo and hybrid Molecular Dynamics-Monte Carlo simulations and demonstrate that our theory recapitulates experimental chromatin conformation capture data. Our results support active loop extrusion as a mechanism for chromatin organization and provide an analytical description of chromatin organization that may be used to specifically modify chromatin contact probabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Chan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
| | - Michael Rubinstein
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
- Department of Physics, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
- Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (World Premier International Research Center Initiative-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo001-0021, Japan
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6
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Attou A, Zülske T, Wedemann G. Cohesin and CTCF complexes mediate contacts in chromatin loops depending on nucleosome positions. Biophys J 2022; 121:4788-4799. [PMID: 36325618 PMCID: PMC9811664 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.10.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The spatial organization of the eukaryotic genome plays an important role in regulating transcriptional activity. In the nucleus, chromatin forms loops that assemble into fundamental units called topologically associating domains that facilitate or inhibit long-range contacts. These loops are formed and held together by the ring-shaped cohesin protein complex, and this can involve binding of CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF). High-resolution conformation capture experiments provide the frequency at which two DNA fragments physically associate in three-dimensional space. However, technical limitations of this approach, such as low throughput, low resolution, or noise in contact maps, make data interpretation and identification of chromatin intraloop contacts, e.g., between distal regulatory elements and their target genes, challenging. Herein, an existing coarse-grained model of chromatin at single-nucleosome resolution was extended by integrating potentials describing CTCF and cohesin. We performed replica-exchange Monte Carlo simulations with regularly spaced nucleosomes and experimentally determined nucleosome positions in the presence of cohesin-CTCF, as well as depleted systems as controls. In fully extruded loops caused by the presence of cohesin and CTCF, the number of contacts within the formed loops was increased. The number and types of these contacts were impacted by the nucleosome distribution and loop size. Microloops were observed within cohesin-mediated loops due to thermal fluctuations without additional influence of other factors, and the number, size, and shape of microloops were determined by nucleosome distribution and loop size. Nucleosome positions directly affect the spatial structure and contact probability within a loop, with presumed consequences for transcriptional activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymen Attou
- Competence Center Bioinformatics, Institute for Applied Computer Science, Hochschule Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany
| | - Tilo Zülske
- Competence Center Bioinformatics, Institute for Applied Computer Science, Hochschule Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany
| | - Gero Wedemann
- Competence Center Bioinformatics, Institute for Applied Computer Science, Hochschule Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany.
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7
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Yildirim A, Boninsegna L, Zhan Y, Alber F. Uncovering the Principles of Genome Folding by 3D Chromatin Modeling. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2022; 14:a039693. [PMID: 34400556 PMCID: PMC9248826 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a039693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Our understanding of how genomic DNA is tightly packed inside the nucleus, yet is still accessible for vital cellular processes, has grown dramatically over recent years with advances in microscopy and genomics technologies. Computational methods have played a pivotal role in the structural interpretation of experimental data, which helped unravel some organizational principles of genome folding. Here, we give an overview of current computational efforts in mechanistic and data-driven 3D chromatin structure modeling. We discuss strengths and limitations of different methods and evaluate the added value and benefits of computational approaches to infer the 3D structural and dynamic properties of the genome and its underlying mechanisms at different scales and resolution, ranging from the dynamic formation of chromatin loops and topological associated domains to nuclear compartmentalization of chromatin and nuclear bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asli Yildirim
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Lorenzo Boninsegna
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Yuxiang Zhan
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Quantitative and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA
| | - Frank Alber
- Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Quantitative and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA
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8
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Esposito A, Abraham A, Conte M, Vercellone F, Prisco A, Bianco S, Chiariello AM. The Physics of DNA Folding: Polymer Models and Phase-Separation. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14091918. [PMID: 35567087 PMCID: PMC9104579 DOI: 10.3390/polym14091918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Within cell nuclei, several biophysical processes occur in order to allow the correct activities of the genome such as transcription and gene regulation. To quantitatively investigate such processes, polymer physics models have been developed to unveil the molecular mechanisms underlying genome functions. Among these, phase-separation plays a key role since it controls gene activity and shapes chromatin spatial structure. In this paper, we review some recent experimental and theoretical progress in the field and show that polymer physics in synergy with numerical simulations can be helpful for several purposes, including the study of molecular condensates, gene-enhancer dynamics, and the three-dimensional reconstruction of real genomic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Esposito
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.E.); (A.A.); (M.C.); (F.V.)
| | - Alex Abraham
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.E.); (A.A.); (M.C.); (F.V.)
| | - Mattia Conte
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.E.); (A.A.); (M.C.); (F.V.)
| | - Francesca Vercellone
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.E.); (A.A.); (M.C.); (F.V.)
| | | | - Simona Bianco
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.E.); (A.A.); (M.C.); (F.V.)
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max-Delbrück Centre (MDC) for Molecular Medicine, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence: (S.B.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Andrea M. Chiariello
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.E.); (A.A.); (M.C.); (F.V.)
- Correspondence: (S.B.); (A.M.C.)
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9
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Davidson IF, Peters JM. Genome folding through loop extrusion by SMC complexes. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2021; 22:445-464. [PMID: 33767413 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-021-00349-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 65.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Genomic DNA is folded into loops and topologically associating domains (TADs), which serve important structural and regulatory roles. It has been proposed that these genomic structures are formed by a loop extrusion process, which is mediated by structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) protein complexes. Recent single-molecule studies have shown that the SMC complexes condensin and cohesin are indeed able to extrude DNA into loops. In this Review, we discuss how the loop extrusion hypothesis can explain key features of genome architecture; cellular functions of loop extrusion, such as separation of replicated DNA molecules, facilitation of enhancer-promoter interactions and immunoglobulin gene recombination; and what is known about the mechanism of loop extrusion and its regulation, for example, by chromatin boundaries that depend on the DNA binding protein CTCF. We also discuss how the loop extrusion hypothesis has led to a paradigm shift in our understanding of both genome architecture and the functions of SMC complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain F Davidson
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan-Michael Peters
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria.
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10
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Rusková R, Račko D. Entropic Competition between Supercoiled and Torsionally Relaxed Chromatin Fibers Drives Loop Extrusion through Pseudo-Topologically Bound Cohesin. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10020130. [PMID: 33562371 PMCID: PMC7915857 DOI: 10.3390/biology10020130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Chromatin dynamics and chromatin structure are a two-way relationship governed by polymer physics and active biological processes. Thanks to the research in the field of computational biology and modeling, computer simulations became indispensable in studying these complex relationships. It is now generally accepted that looped structures occurring in the intermediate range of ordering of chromatin are formed by a loop extrusion mechanism involving specialized proteins (structural maintenance complexes or SMCs). Although the motor activity of SMCs has been speculated for a long time, the motor activity of cohesin was discovered only recently (Davidson 2019). While evidence of the cohesin’s motor activity is missing, other mechanisms that could efficiently drive the loop extrusion without motor activity of SMCs have been discovered by computer simulations. These mechanisms account for transcriptionally driven loop extrusion or entropically driven loop extrusion by osmotic pressure. In our previous model, we have shown that the cohesin in handcuffed conformation can be pushed mechanically by emerging plectoneme formed during transcription, exerting pressure on the joint section of handcuffs. In the current work, we use coarse-grained molecular simulation to further explore the extrusion driven by supercoiling while employing much lower levels of supercoiling. Moreover, recent works favor non-topological binding of cohesin on fibers, which would solve a range of topological problems while bypassing other molecular machinery sitting on DNA. We show by means of computer simulations that supercoiling can drive loop extrusion without taking advantage of mechanic push on the joint section of cohesin handcuffs. As such, the work addresses current problems in molecular biology and employs advanced methods and original solutions in the study. Abstract We propose a model for cohesin-mediated loop extrusion, where the loop extrusion is driven entropically by the energy difference between supercoiled and torsionally relaxed chromatin fibers. Different levels of negative supercoiling are controlled by varying imposed friction between the cohesin ring and the chromatin fiber. The speed of generation of negative supercoiling by RNA polymerase associated with TOP1 is kept constant and corresponds to 10 rotations per second. The model was tested by coarse-grained molecular simulations for a wide range of frictions between 2 to 200 folds of that of generic fiber and the surrounding medium. The higher friction allowed for the accumulation of higher levels of supercoiling, while the resulting extrusion rate also increased. The obtained extrusion rates for the given range of investigated frictions were between 1 and 10 kbps, but also a saturation of the rate at high frictions was observed. The calculated contact maps indicate a qualitative improvement obtained at lower levels of supercoiling. The fits of mathematical equations qualitatively reproduce the loop sizes and levels of supercoiling obtained from simulations and support the proposed mechanism of entropically driven extrusion. The cohesin ring is bound on the fibers pseudo-topologically, and the model suggests that the topological binding is not necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renáta Rusková
- Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 3, 84541 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Department of Plastics, Rubber and Fibres (IPM FCFT), Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, 81237 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Dušan Račko
- Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 3, 84541 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +421-2-3229-4329
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11
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Maji A, Padinhateeri R, Mitra MK. The Accidental Ally: Nucleosome Barriers Can Accelerate Cohesin-Mediated Loop Formation in Chromatin. Biophys J 2020; 119:2316-2325. [PMID: 33181117 PMCID: PMC7732762 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
An important question in the context of the three-dimensional organization of chromosomes is the mechanism of formation of large loops between distant basepairs. Recent experiments suggest that the formation of loops might be mediated by loop extrusion factor proteins such as cohesin. Experiments on cohesin have shown that cohesins walk diffusively on the DNA and that nucleosomes act as obstacles to the diffusion, lowering the permeability and hence reducing the effective diffusion constant. An estimation of the times required to form the loops of typical sizes seen in Hi-C experiments using these low-effective-diffusion constants leads to times that are unphysically large. The puzzle then is the following: how does a cohesin molecule diffusing on the DNA backbone achieve speeds necessary to form the large loops seen in experiments? We propose a simple answer to this puzzle and show that although at low densities, nucleosomes act as barriers to cohesin diffusion, beyond a certain concentration they can reduce loop formation times because of a subtle interplay between the nucleosome size and the mean linker length. This effect is further enhanced on considering stochastic binding kinetics of nucleosomes on the DNA backbone and leads to predictions of lower loop formation times than might be expected from a naive obstacle picture of nucleosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajoy Maji
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
| | - Ranjith Padinhateeri
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
| | - Mithun K Mitra
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India.
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12
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Crippa M, Zhan Y, Tiana G. Effective model of loop extrusion predicts chromosomal domains. Phys Rev E 2020; 102:032414. [PMID: 33076010 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.102.032414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
An active loop-extrusion mechanism is regarded as the main out-of-equilibrium mechanism responsible for the structuring of megabase-sized domains in chromosomes. We developed a model to study the dynamics of the chromosome fiber by solving the kinetic equations associated with the motion of the extruder. By averaging out the position of the extruder along the chain, we build an effective equilibrium model capable of reproducing experimental contact maps based solely on the positions of extrusion-blocking proteins. We assessed the quality of the effective model using numerical simulations of chromosomal segments and comparing the results with explicit-extruder models and experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Crippa
- Department of Physics, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy and Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
| | - Yinxiu Zhan
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Guido Tiana
- Department of Physics and Center for Complexity and Biosystems, Università degli Studi di Milano and INFN, via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy
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13
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Abstract
The hierarchical three-dimensional folding of the mammalian genome constitutes an important regulatory layer of gene expression and cell fate control during processes such as development and tumorigenesis. Accumulating evidence supports the existence of complex topological assemblies in which multiple genes and regulatory elements are frequently interacting with each other in the 3D nucleus. Here, we will discuss the nature, organizational principles, and potential function of such assemblies, including the recently reported enhancer “hubs,” “cliques,” and FIREs (frequently interacting regions) as well as multi-contact hubs. We will also review recent studies that investigate the role of transcription factors (TFs) in driving the topological genome reorganization and hub formation in the context of cell fate transitions and cancer. Finally, we will highlight technological advances that enabled these studies, current limitations, and future directions necessary to advance our understating in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafne Campigli Di Giammartino
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine , New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexander Polyzos
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine , New York, NY, USA
| | - Effie Apostolou
- Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine , New York, NY, USA
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14
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Brackey CA, Marenduzzo D, Gilbert N. Mechanistic modeling of chromatin folding to understand function. Nat Methods 2020; 17:767-775. [PMID: 32514111 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-020-0852-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Experimental approaches have been applied to address questions in understanding three-dimensional chromatin organization and function. As datasets increase in size and complexity, it becomes a challenge to reach a mechanistic interpretation of experimental results. Polymer simulations and mechanistic modeling have been applied to explain experimental observations and their links to different aspects of genome function. Here we provide a guide for biologists, explaining different simulation approaches and the contexts in which they have been used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris A Brackey
- SUPA School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Davide Marenduzzo
- SUPA School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Nick Gilbert
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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15
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Di Stefano M, Stadhouders R, Farabella I, Castillo D, Serra F, Graf T, Marti-Renom MA. Transcriptional activation during cell reprogramming correlates with the formation of 3D open chromatin hubs. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2564. [PMID: 32444798 PMCID: PMC7244774 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16396-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromosome structure is a crucial regulatory factor for a wide range of nuclear processes. Chromosome conformation capture (3C)-based experiments combined with computational modelling are pivotal for unveiling 3D chromosome structure. Here, we introduce TADdyn, a tool that integrates time-course 3C data, restraint-based modelling, and molecular dynamics to simulate the structural rearrangements of genomic loci in a completely data-driven way. We apply TADdyn on in situ Hi-C time-course experiments studying the reprogramming of murine B cells to pluripotent cells, and characterize the structural rearrangements that take place upon changes in the transcriptional state of 21 genomic loci of diverse expression dynamics. By measuring various structural and dynamical properties, we find that during gene activation, the transcription starting site contacts with open and active regions in 3D chromatin domains. We propose that these 3D hubs of open and active chromatin may constitute a general feature to trigger and maintain gene transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Di Stefano
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri i Reixac 4, 08028, Barcelona, Spain. .,Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Ralph Stadhouders
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Irene Farabella
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri i Reixac 4, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Castillo
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri i Reixac 4, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - François Serra
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri i Reixac 4, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.,Computational Biology Group-Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Thomas Graf
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Marc A Marti-Renom
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri i Reixac 4, 08028, Barcelona, Spain. .,Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. .,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002, Barcelona, Spain. .,ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain.
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16
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Burley M, Roberts S, Parish JL. Epigenetic regulation of human papillomavirus transcription in the productive virus life cycle. Semin Immunopathol 2020; 42:159-171. [PMID: 31919577 PMCID: PMC7174255 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-019-00773-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are a large family of viruses which contain a circular, double-stranded DNA genome of approximately 8000 base pairs. The viral DNA is chromatinized by the recruitment of cellular histones which are subject to host cell-mediated post-translational epigenetic modification recognized as an important mechanism of virus transcription regulation. The HPV life cycle is dependent on the terminal differentiation of the target cell within epithelia-the keratinocyte. The virus life cycle begins in the undifferentiated basal compartment of epithelia where the viral chromatin is maintained in an epigenetically repressed state, stabilized by distal chromatin interactions between the viral enhancer and early gene region. Migration of the infected keratinocyte towards the surface of the epithelium induces cellular differentiation which disrupts chromatin looping and stimulates epigenetic remodelling of the viral chromatin. These epigenetic changes result in enhanced virus transcription and activation of the virus late promoter facilitating transcription of the viral capsid proteins. In this review article, we discuss the complexity of virus- and host-cell-mediated epigenetic regulation of virus transcription with a specific focus on differentiation-dependent remodelling of viral chromatin during the HPV life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Burley
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, B152TT, Birmingham, UK
| | - Sally Roberts
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, B152TT, Birmingham, UK
| | - Joanna L Parish
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, B152TT, Birmingham, UK.
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17
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Boettiger A, Murphy S. Advances in Chromatin Imaging at Kilobase-Scale Resolution. Trends Genet 2020; 36:273-287. [PMID: 32007290 PMCID: PMC7197267 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2019.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
It is now widely appreciated that the spatial organization of the genome is nonrandom, and its complex 3D folding has important consequences for many genome processes. Recent developments in multiplexed, super-resolution microscopy have enabled an unprecedented view of the polymeric structure of chromatin - from the loose folds of whole chromosomes to the detailed loops of cis-regulatory elements that regulate gene expression. Facilitated by the use of robotics, microfluidics, and improved approaches to super-resolution, thousands to hundreds of thousands of individual cells can now be analyzed in an individual experiment. This has led to new insights into the nature of genomic structural features identified by sequencing, such as topologically associated domains (TADs), and the nature of enhancer-promoter interactions underlying transcriptional regulation. We review these recent improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair Boettiger
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Sedona Murphy
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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18
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Ghosh SK, Jost D. Genome organization via loop extrusion, insights from polymer physics models. Brief Funct Genomics 2020; 19:119-127. [PMID: 31711163 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elz023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how genomes fold and organize is one of the main challenges in modern biology. Recent high-throughput techniques like Hi-C, in combination with cutting-edge polymer physics models, have provided access to precise information on 3D chromosome folding to decipher the mechanisms driving such multi-scale organization. In particular, structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) proteins play an important role in the local structuration of chromatin, putatively via a loop extrusion process. Here, we review the different polymer physics models that investigate the role of SMCs in the formation of topologically associated domains (TADs) during interphase via the formation of dynamic loops. We describe the main physical ingredients, compare them and discuss their relevance against experimental observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surya K Ghosh
- Univ Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, TIMC-IMAG, F-38000 Grenoble, France.,Department of Physics and Nanotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Daniel Jost
- Univ Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, TIMC-IMAG, F-38000 Grenoble, France.,Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, Univ Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Univ Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, Inserm U1210, F-69007 Lyon, France
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19
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Bonato A, Brackley CA, Johnson J, Michieletto D, Marenduzzo D. Chromosome compaction and chromatin stiffness enhance diffusive loop extrusion by slip-link proteins. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:2406-2414. [PMID: 32067018 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01875a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We use Brownian dynamics simulations to study the formation of chromatin loops through diffusive sliding of slip-link-like proteins, mimicking the behaviour of cohesin molecules. We recently proposed that diffusive sliding is sufficient to explain the extrusion of chromatin loops of hundreds of kilo-base-pairs (kbp), which may then be stabilised by interactions between cohesin and CTCF proteins. Here we show that the flexibility of the chromatin fibre strongly affects this dynamical process, and find that diffusive loop extrusion is more efficient on stiffer chromatin regions. We also show that the dynamics of loop formation are faster in confined and collapsed chromatin conformations but that this enhancement is counteracted by the increased crowding. We provide a simple theoretical argument explaining why stiffness and collapsed conformations favour diffusive extrusion. In light of the heterogeneous physical and conformational properties of eukaryotic chromatin, we suggest that our results are relevant to understand the looping and organisation of interphase chromosomes in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bonato
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, UK.
| | - C A Brackley
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, UK.
| | - J Johnson
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, UK.
| | - D Michieletto
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, UK. and MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK and Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Bath, North Rd, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - D Marenduzzo
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, UK.
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20
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Miermans CA, Broedersz CP. A lattice kinetic Monte-Carlo method for simulating chromosomal dynamics and other (non-)equilibrium bio-assemblies. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:544-556. [PMID: 31808764 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01835b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Biological assemblies in living cells such as chromosomes constitute large many-body systems that operate in a fluctuating, out-of-equilibrium environment. Since a brute-force simulation of that many degrees of freedom is currently computationally unfeasible, it is necessary to perform coarse-grained stochastic simulations. Here, we develop all tools necessary to write a lattice kinetic Monte-Carlo (LKMC) algorithm capable of performing such simulations. We discuss the validity and limits of this approach by testing the results of the simulation method in simple settings. Importantly, we illustrate how at large external forces Metropolis-Hastings kinetics violate the fluctuation-dissipation and steady-state fluctuation theorems and discuss better alternatives. Although this simulation framework is rather general, we demonstrate our approach using a DNA polymer with interacting SMC condensin loop-extruding enzymes. Specifically, we show that the scaling behavior of the loop-size distributions that we obtain in our LKMC simulations of this SMC-DNA system is consistent with that reported in other studies using Brownian dynamics simulations and analytic approaches. Moreover, we find that the irreversible dynamics of these enzymes under certain conditions result in frozen, sterically jammed polymer configurations, highlighting a potential pitfall of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiaan A Miermans
- Arnold-Sommerfeld-Center for Theoretical Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, D-80333 München, Germany.
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21
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Esposito A, Chiariello AM, Conte M, Fiorillo L, Musella F, Sciarretta R, Bianco S. Higher-order Chromosome Structures Investigated by Polymer Physics in Cellular Morphogenesis and Differentiation. J Mol Biol 2019; 432:701-711. [PMID: 31863751 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Experimental advances in Molecular Biology demonstrated that chromatin architecture and gene regulation are deeply related. Hi-C data, for instance, returned a scenario where chromosomes form a complex pattern of interactions, including TADs, metaTADs, and compartments, correlated with genomic and epigenomic features. Here, we discuss the emerging hierarchical organization of chromatin and show how it remains partially conserved during mouse neuronal differentiation with changes highly related to modifications in gene expression. In this scenario, models of polymer physics, such as the Strings & Binders (SBS) model, can be a crucial instrument to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of such a higher order 3D structure. In particular, we focus on the case study of the murine Pitx1 genomic region. At this locus, two alternative spatial conformations take place in the hindlimb and forelimb tissues, corresponding to two different transcriptional states of Pitx1. We finally show how the structural variants can affect the locus 3D organization leading to ectopic gene expression and limb malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Esposito
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy.
| | - Andrea M Chiariello
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Mattia Conte
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Luca Fiorillo
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Musella
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Renato Sciarretta
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Simona Bianco
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy.
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22
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Fiorillo L, Bianco S, Esposito A, Conte M, Sciarretta R, Musella F, Chiariello AM. A modern challenge of polymer physics: Novel ways to study, interpret, and reconstruct chromatin structure. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luca Fiorillo
- Dipartimento di Fisica Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Naples Italy
| | - Simona Bianco
- Dipartimento di Fisica Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Naples Italy
| | - Andrea Esposito
- Dipartimento di Fisica Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Naples Italy
| | - Mattia Conte
- Dipartimento di Fisica Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Naples Italy
| | - Renato Sciarretta
- Dipartimento di Fisica Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Naples Italy
| | - Francesco Musella
- Dipartimento di Fisica Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Naples Italy
| | - Andrea M. Chiariello
- Dipartimento di Fisica Università di Napoli Federico II, and INFN Napoli Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo Naples Italy
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23
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Abstract
Protein complexes built of structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) and kleisin subunits, including cohesin, condensin and the Smc5/6 complex, are master organizers of genome architecture in all kingdoms of life. How these large ring-shaped molecular machines use the energy of ATP hydrolysis to change the topology of chromatin fibers has remained a central unresolved question of chromosome biology. A currently emerging concept suggests that the common principle that underlies the essential functions of SMC protein complexes in the control of gene expression, chromosome segregation or DNA damage repair is their ability to expand DNA into large loop structures. Here, we review the current knowledge about the biochemical and structural properties of SMC protein complexes that might enable them to extrude DNA loops and compare their action to other motor proteins and nucleic acid translocases. We evaluate the currently predominant models of active loop extrusion and propose a detailed version of a 'scrunching' model, which reconciles much of the available mechanistic data and provides an elegant explanation for how SMC protein complexes fulfill an array of seemingly diverse tasks during the organization of genomes.
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24
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Racko D, Benedetti F, Dorier J, Stasiak A. Are TADs supercoiled? Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:521-532. [PMID: 30395328 PMCID: PMC6344874 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky1091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Topologically associating domains (TADs) are megabase-sized building blocks of interphase chromosomes in higher eukaryotes. TADs are chromosomal regions with increased frequency of internal interactions. On average a pair of loci separated by a given genomic distance contact each other 2–3 times more frequently when they are in the same TAD as compared to a pair of loci located in two neighbouring TADs. TADs are also functional blocks of chromosomes as enhancers and their cognate promoters are normally located in the same TAD, even if their genomic distance from each other can be as large as a megabase. The internal structure of TADs, causing their increased frequency of internal interactions, is not established yet. We survey here experimental studies investigating presence of supercoiling in interphase chromosomes. We also review numerical simulation studies testing whether transcription-induced supercoiling of chromatin fibres can explain how TADs are formed and how they can assure very efficient interactions between enhancers and their cognate promoters located in the same TAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dusan Racko
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.,SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.,Polymer Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, 842 36 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Fabrizio Benedetti
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.,Vital-IT, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Dorier
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.,Vital-IT, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Andrzej Stasiak
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.,SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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25
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Braccioli L, de Wit E. CTCF: a Swiss-army knife for genome organization and transcription regulation. Essays Biochem 2019; 63:157-165. [PMID: 30940740 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20180069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Orchestrating vertebrate genomes require a complex interplay between the linear composition of the genome and its 3D organization inside the nucleus. This requires the function of specialized proteins, able to tune various aspects of genome organization and gene regulation. The CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a DNA binding factor capable of regulating not only the 3D genome organization, but also key aspects of gene expression, including transcription activation and repression, RNA splicing, and enhancer/promoter insulation. A growing body of evidence proposes that CTCF, together with cohesin contributes to DNA loop formation and 3D genome organization. CTCF binding sites are mutation hotspots in cancer, while mutations in CTCF itself lead to intellectual disabilities, emphasizing its importance in disease etiology. In this review we cover various aspects of CTCF function, revealing the polyvalence of this factor as a highly diversified tool for vertebrate genome organization and transcription regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Braccioli
- Oncode Institute and Division of Gene Regulation, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Elzo de Wit
- Oncode Institute and Division of Gene Regulation, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
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26
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Sivakumar A, de Las Heras JI, Schirmer EC. Spatial Genome Organization: From Development to Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:18. [PMID: 30949476 PMCID: PMC6437099 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Every living organism, from bacteria to humans, contains DNA encoding anything from a few hundred genes in intracellular parasites such as Mycoplasma, up to several tens of thousands in many higher organisms. The first observations indicating that the nucleus had some kind of organization were made over a hundred years ago. Understanding of its significance is both limited and aided by the development of techniques, in particular electron microscopy, fluorescence in situ hybridization, DamID and most recently HiC. As our knowledge about genome organization grows, it becomes apparent that the mechanisms are conserved in evolution, even if the individual players may vary. These mechanisms involve DNA binding proteins such as histones, and a number of architectural proteins, some of which are very much conserved, with some others having diversified and multiplied, acquiring specific regulatory functions. In this review we will look at the principles of genome organization in a hierarchical manner, from DNA packaging to higher order genome associations such as TADs, and the significance of radial positioning of genomic loci. We will then elaborate on the dynamics of genome organization during development, and how genome architecture plays an important role in cell fate determination. Finally, we will discuss how misregulation can be a factor in human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aishwarya Sivakumar
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jose I de Las Heras
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Eric C Schirmer
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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27
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Baxter J, Oliver AW, Schalbetter SA. Are SMC Complexes Loop Extruding Factors? Linking Theory With Fact. Bioessays 2018; 41:e1800182. [PMID: 30506702 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201800182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The extreme length of chromosomal DNA requires organizing mechanisms to both promote functional genetic interactions and ensure faithful chromosome segregation when cells divide. Microscopy and genome-wide contact frequency analyses indicate that intra-chromosomal looping of DNA is a primary pathway of chromosomal organization during all stages of the cell cycle. DNA loop extrusion has emerged as a unifying model for how chromosome loops are formed in cis in different genomic contexts and cell cycle stages. The highly conserved family of SMC complexes have been found to be required for DNA cis-looping and have been suggested to be the enzymatic core of loop extruding machines. Here, the current body of evidence available for the in vivo and in vitro action of SMC complexes is discussed and compared to the predictions made by the loop extrusion model. How SMC complexes may differentially act on chromatin to generate DNA loops and how they could work to generate the dynamic and functionally appropriate organization of DNA in cells is explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Baxter
- Genome Damage and Stability Centre, Science Park Road, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 9RQ, UK
| | - Antony W Oliver
- Genome Damage and Stability Centre, Science Park Road, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 9RQ, UK
| | - Stephanie A Schalbetter
- Genome Damage and Stability Centre, Science Park Road, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 9RQ, UK
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28
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Nichols MH, Corces VG. A tethered-inchworm model of SMC DNA translocation. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2018; 25:906-910. [PMID: 30250225 PMCID: PMC6311135 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-018-0135-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The DNA loop extrusion model is a provocative new concept explaining the formation of chromatin loops that revolutionizes understanding of genome organization. Central to this model is the structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) protein family, which is now thought to function as a DNA motor. In this Perspective, we review and reinterpret the current knowledge of SMC structure and function and propose a novel mechanism for SMC motor activity.
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29
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Rada-Iglesias A, Grosveld FG, Papantonis A. Forces driving the three-dimensional folding of eukaryotic genomes. Mol Syst Biol 2018; 14:e8214. [PMID: 29858282 PMCID: PMC6024091 DOI: 10.15252/msb.20188214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The last decade has radically renewed our understanding of higher order chromatin folding in the eukaryotic nucleus. As a result, most current models are in support of a mostly hierarchical and relatively stable folding of chromosomes dividing chromosomal territories into A‐ (active) and B‐ (inactive) compartments, which are then further partitioned into topologically associating domains (TADs), each of which is made up from multiple loops stabilized mainly by the CTCF and cohesin chromatin‐binding complexes. Nonetheless, the structure‐to‐function relationship of eukaryotic genomes is still not well understood. Here, we focus on recent work highlighting the biophysical and regulatory forces that contribute to the spatial organization of genomes, and we propose that the various conformations that chromatin assumes are not so much the result of a linear hierarchy, but rather of both converging and conflicting dynamic forces that act on it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Rada-Iglesias
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany .,CECAD, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Frank G Grosveld
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Center, GE Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Argyris Papantonis
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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30
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Fudenberg G, Abdennur N, Imakaev M, Goloborodko A, Mirny LA. Emerging Evidence of Chromosome Folding by Loop Extrusion. COLD SPRING HARBOR SYMPOSIA ON QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGY 2018; 82:45-55. [PMID: 29728444 PMCID: PMC6512960 DOI: 10.1101/sqb.2017.82.034710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Chromosome organization poses a remarkable physical problem with many biological consequences: How can molecular interactions between proteins at the nanometer scale organize micron-long chromatinized DNA molecules, insulating or facilitating interactions between specific genomic elements? The mechanism of active loop extrusion holds great promise for explaining interphase and mitotic chromosome folding, yet remains difficult to assay directly. We discuss predictions from our polymer models of loop extrusion with barrier elements and review recent experimental studies that provide strong support for loop extrusion, focusing on perturbations to CTCF and cohesin assayed via Hi-C in interphase. Finally, we discuss a likely molecular mechanism of loop extrusion by structural maintenance of chromosomes complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Fudenberg
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Technology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158
| | - Nezar Abdennur
- Computational and Systems Biology Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139.,Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - Maxim Imakaev
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - Anton Goloborodko
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139.,Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - Leonid A Mirny
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139.,Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
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Sun L, Yu R, Dang W. Chromatin Architectural Changes during Cellular Senescence and Aging. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9040211. [PMID: 29659513 PMCID: PMC5924553 DOI: 10.3390/genes9040211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromatin 3D structure is highly dynamic and associated with many biological processes, such as cell cycle progression, cellular differentiation, cell fate reprogramming, cancer development, cellular senescence, and aging. Recently, by using chromosome conformation capture technologies, tremendous findings have been reported about the dynamics of genome architecture, their associated proteins, and the underlying mechanisms involved in regulating chromatin spatial organization and gene expression. Cellular senescence and aging, which involve multiple cellular and molecular functional declines, also undergo significant chromatin structural changes, including alternations of heterochromatin and disruption of higher-order chromatin structure. In this review, we summarize recent findings related to genome architecture, factors regulating chromatin spatial organization, and how they change during cellular senescence and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luyang Sun
- Huffington Center on Aging, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Ruofan Yu
- Huffington Center on Aging, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Weiwei Dang
- Huffington Center on Aging, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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