Genome-wide depletion of replication initiation events in highly transcribed regions

Human DNA replication initiation sites are specified epigenetically by oxidation of 5-methyl-deoxycytidine

DNA replication initiates at tens of thousands of sites on the human genome during each S phase. However, no consensus DNA sequence has been found that specifies the locations of these replication origins. Here, we investigate modifications of human genomic DNA by density equilibrium centrifugation and DNA sequencing. We identified short discrete sites with increased density during quiescence and G1 phase that overlap with DNA replication origins before their activation in S phase. The increased density is due to the oxidation of 5-methyl-deoxycytidines by ten-eleven-translocation DNA dioxygenase (TET) enzymes at GC-rich domains. Reversible inhibition of de novo methylation and of subsequent oxidation of deoxycytidines results in a reversible inhibition of DNA replication and of cell proliferation. Our findings suggest a mechanism for the epigenetic specification and semiconservative inheritance of DNA replication origin sites in human cells that also provides a stable integral DNA replication licence to support once-per-cell cycle control of origin activation.

The double life of mammalian DNA replication origins

Mammalian DNA replication origins have been historically difficult to identify and their determinants are still unresolved. Here, we first review methods developed over the last decades to map replication initiation sites either directly via initiation intermediates or indirectly via determining replication fork directionality profiles. We also discuss the factors that may specify these sites as replication initiation sites. Second, we address the controversy that has emerged from these results over whether origins are narrowly defined and localized to specific sites or are more dispersed and organized into broad zones. Ample evidence in favor of both scenarios currently creates an impression of unresolved confusion in the field. We attempt to formulate a synthesis of both models and to reconcile discrepant findings. It is evident that not only one approach is sufficient in isolation but that the combination of several is instrumental toward understanding initiation sites in mammalian genomes. We argue that an aggregation of several individual and often inefficient initiation sites into larger initiation zones and the existence of efficient unidirectional initiation sites and fork stalling at the borders of initiation zones can reconcile the different observations.

RNA Polymerase II is a Polar Roadblock to a Progressing DNA Fork

DNA replication and transcription occur simultaneously on the same DNA template, leading to inevitable conflicts between the replisome and RNA polymerase. These conflicts can stall the replication fork and threaten genome stability. Although numerous studies show that head-on conflicts are more detrimental and more prone to promoting R-loop formation than co-directional conflicts, the fundamental cause for the RNA polymerase roadblock polarity remains unclear, and the structure of these R-loops is speculative. In this work, we use a simple model system to address this complex question by examining the Pol II roadblock to a DNA fork advanced via mechanical unzipping to mimic the replisome progression. We found that the Pol II binds more stably to resist removal in the head-on configuration, even with minimal transcript size, demonstrating that the Pol II roadblock has an inherent polarity. However, an elongating Pol II with a long RNA transcript becomes an even more potent and persistent roadblock while retaining the polarity, and the formation of an RNA-DNA hybrid mediates this enhancement. Surprisingly, we discovered that when a Pol II collides with the DNA fork head-on and becomes backtracked, an RNA-DNA hybrid can form on the lagging strand in front of Pol II, creating a topological lock that traps Pol II at the fork. TFIIS facilitates RNA-DNA hybrid removal by severing the connection of Pol II with the hybrid. We further demonstrate that this RNA-DNA hybrid can prime lagging strand replication by T7 DNA polymerase while Pol II is still bound to DNA. Our findings capture basal properties of the interactions of Pol II with a DNA fork, revealing significant implications for transcription-replication conflicts.

Replication initiation sites and zones in the mammalian genome: Where are they located and how are they defined?

Eukaryotic DNA replication is a tightly controlled process that occurs in two main steps, i.e., licensing and firing, which take place in the G1 and S phases of the cell cycle, respectively. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the budding yeast, replication origins contain consensus sequences that are recognized and bound by the licensing factor Orc1-6, which then recruits the replicative Mcm2-7 helicase. By contrast, mammalian initiation sites lack such consensus sequences, and the mammalian ORC does not exhibit sequence specificity. Studies performed over the past decades have identified replication initiation sites in the mammalian genome using sequencing-based assays, raising the question of whether replication initiation occurs at confined sites or in broad zones across the genome. Although recent reports have shown that the licensed MCMs in mammalian cells are broadly distributed, suggesting that ORC-dependent licensing may not determine the initiation sites/zones, they are predominantly located upstream of actively transcribed genes. This review compares the mechanism of replication initiation in yeast and mammalian cells, summarizes the sequencing-based technologies used for the identification of initiation sites/zones, and proposes a possible mechanism of initiation-site/zone selection in mammalian cells. Future directions and challenges in this field are also discussed.

Human DNA topoisomerase I poisoning causes R loop-mediated genome instability attenuated by transcription factor IIS

DNA topoisomerase I can contribute to cancer genome instability. During catalytic activity, topoisomerase I forms a transient intermediate, topoisomerase I-DNA cleavage complex (Top1cc) to allow strand rotation and duplex relaxation, which can lead to elevated levels of DNA-RNA hybrids and micronuclei. To comprehend the underlying mechanisms, we have integrated genomic data of Top1cc-triggered hybrids and DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) shortly after Top1cc induction, revealing that Top1ccs increase hybrid levels with different mechanisms. DSBs are at highly transcribed genes in early replicating initiation zones and overlap with hybrids downstream of accumulated RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) at gene 5'-ends. A transcription factor IIS mutant impairing transcription elongation further increased RNAPII accumulation likely due to backtracking. Moreover, Top1ccs can trigger micronuclei when occurring during late G1 or early/mid S, but not during late S. As micronuclei and transcription-replication conflicts are attenuated by transcription factor IIS, our results support a role of RNAPII arrest in Top1cc-induced transcription-replication conflicts leading to DSBs and micronuclei.

Chromatin's Influence on Pre-Replication Complex Assembly and Function

In all eukaryotes, the initiation of DNA replication requires a stepwise assembly of factors onto the origins of DNA replication. This is pioneered by the Origin Recognition Complex, which recruits Cdc6. Together, they bring Cdt1, which shepherds MCM2-7 to form the OCCM complex. Sequentially, a second Cdt1-bound hexamer of MCM2-7 is recruited by ORC-Cdc6 to form an MCM double hexamer, which forms a part of the pre-RC. Although the mechanism of ORC binding to DNA varies across eukaryotes, how ORC is recruited to replication origins in human cells remains an area of intense investigation. This review discusses how the chromatin environment influences pre-RC assembly, function, and, eventually, origin activity.

DNA replication and replication stress response in the context of nuclear architecture

The DNA replication process needs to be coordinated with other DNA metabolism transactions and must eventually extend to the full genome, regardless of chromatin status, gene expression, secondary structures and DNA lesions. Completeness and accuracy of DNA replication are crucial to maintain genome integrity, limiting transformation in normal cells and offering targeting opportunities for proliferating cancer cells. DNA replication is thus tightly coordinated with chromatin dynamics and 3D genome architecture, and we are only beginning to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms. While much has recently been discovered on how DNA replication initiation is organised and modulated in different genomic regions and nuclear territories-the so-called "DNA replication program"-we know much less on how the elongation of ongoing replication forks and particularly the response to replication obstacles is affected by the local nuclear organisation. Also, it is still elusive how specific components of nuclear architecture participate in the replication stress response. Here, we review known mechanisms and factors orchestrating replication initiation, and replication fork progression upon stress, focusing on recent evidence linking genome organisation and nuclear architecture with the cellular responses to replication interference, and highlighting open questions and future challenges to explore this exciting new avenue of research.

Where and when to start: Regulating DNA replication origin activity in eukaryotic genomes

In eukaryotic genomes, hundreds to thousands of potential start sites of DNA replication named origins are dispersed across each of the linear chromosomes. During S-phase, only a subset of origins is selected in a stochastic manner to assemble bidirectional replication forks and initiate DNA synthesis. Despite substantial progress in our understanding of this complex process, a comprehensive 'identity code' that defines origins based on specific nucleotide sequences, DNA structural features, the local chromatin environment, or 3D genome architecture is still missing. In this article, we review the genetic and epigenetic features of replication origins in yeast and metazoan chromosomes and highlight recent insights into how this flexibility in origin usage contributes to nuclear organization, cell growth, differentiation, and genome stability.

Unveiling human origins of replication using deep learning: accurate prediction and comprehensive analysis

Accurate identification of replication origins (ORIs) is crucial for a comprehensive investigation into the progression of human cell growth and cancer therapy. Here, we proposed a computational approach Ori-FinderH, which can efficiently and precisely predict the human ORIs of various lengths by combining the Z-curve method with deep learning approach. Compared with existing methods, Ori-FinderH exhibits superior performance, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.9616 for K562 cell line in 10-fold cross-validation. In addition, we also established a cross-cell-line predictive model, which yielded a further improved AUC of 0.9706. The model was subsequently employed as a fitness function to support genetic algorithm for generating artificial ORIs. Sequence analysis through iORI-Euk revealed that a vast majority of the created sequences, specifically 98% or more, incorporate at least one ORI for three cell lines (Hela, MCF7 and K562). This innovative approach could provide more efficient, accurate and comprehensive information for experimental investigation, thereby further advancing the development of this field.

SIRT1 Prevents R-Loops during Chronological Aging by Modulating DNA Replication at rDNA Loci

In metazoans, the largest sirtuin, SIRT1, is a nuclear protein implicated in epigenetic modifications, circadian signaling, DNA recombination, replication, and repair. Our previous studies have demonstrated that SIRT1 binds replication origins and inhibits replication initiation from a group of potential initiation sites (dormant origins). We studied the effects of aging and SIRT1 activity on replication origin usage and the incidence of transcription-replication collisions (creating R-loop structures) in adult human cells obtained at different time points during chronological aging and in cancer cells. In primary, untransformed cells, SIRT1 activity declined and the prevalence of R-loops rose with chronological aging. Both the reduction in SIRT1 activity and the increased abundance of R-loops were also observed during the passage of primary cells in culture. All cells, regardless of donor age or transformation status, reacted to the short-term, acute chemical inhibition of SIRT1 with the activation of excessive replication initiation events coincident with an increased prevalence of R-loops. However, cancer cells activated dormant replication origins, genome-wide, during long-term proliferation with mutated or depleted SIRT1, whereas, in primary cells, the aging-associated SIRT1-mediated activation of dormant origins was restricted to rDNA loci. These observations suggest that chronological aging and the associated decline in SIRT1 activity relax the regulatory networks that protect cells against excess replication and that the mechanisms protecting from replication-transcription collisions at the rDNA loci manifest as differentially enhanced sensitivities to SIRT1 decline and chronological aging.

Delineating highly transcribed noncoding elements landscape in breast cancer

Highly transcribed noncoding elements (HTNEs) are critical noncoding elements with high levels of transcriptional capacity in particular cohorts involved in multiple cellular biological processes. Investigation of HTNEs with persistent aberrant expression in abnormal tissues could be of benefit in exploring their roles in disease occurrence and progression. Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease for which early screening and prognosis are exceedingly crucial. In this study, we developed a HTNE identification framework to systematically investigate HTNE landscapes in breast cancer patients and identified over ten thousand HTNEs. The robustness and rationality of our framework were demonstrated via public datasets. We revealed that HTNEs had significant chromatin characteristics of enhancers and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and were significantly enriched with RNA-binding proteins as well as targeted by miRNAs. Further, HTNE-associated genes were significantly overexpressed and exhibited strong correlations with breast cancer. Ultimately, we explored the subtype-specific transcriptional processes associated with HTNEs and uncovered the HTNE signatures that could classify breast cancer subtypes based on the properties of hormone receptors. Our results highlight that the identified HTNEs as well as their associated genes play crucial roles in breast cancer progression and correlate with subtype-specific transcriptional processes of breast cancer.

Genome-Wide Profiling of Endogenous Single-Stranded DNA Using the SSiNGLe-P1 Method

Endogenous single-stranded DNA (essDNA) can form in a mammalian genome as the result of a variety of molecular processes and can both play important roles inside the cell as well as have detrimental consequences to genome integrity, much of which remains to be fully understood. Here, we established the SSiNGLe-P1 approach based on limited digestion by P1 endonuclease for high-throughput genome-wide identification of essDNA regions. We applied this method to profile essDNA in both human mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. In the mitochondrial genome, the profiles of essDNA provide new evidence to support the strand-displacement model of mitochondrial DNA replication. In the nuclear genome, essDNA regions were found to be enriched in certain types of functional genomic elements, particularly, the origins of DNA replication, R-loops, and to a lesser degree, in promoters. Furthermore, interestingly, many of the essDNA regions identified by SSiNGLe-P1 have not been annotated and thus could represent yet unknown functional elements.

Detection and characterization of constitutive replication origins defined by DNA polymerase epsilon

BACKGROUND

Despite the process of DNA replication being mechanistically highly conserved, the location of origins of replication (ORI) may vary from one tissue to the next, or between rounds of replication in eukaryotes, suggesting flexibility in the choice of locations to initiate replication. Lists of human ORI therefore vary widely in number and location, and there are currently no methods available to compare them. Here, we propose a method of detection of ORI based on somatic mutation patterns generated by the mutator phenotype of damaged DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE).

RESULTS

We report the genome-wide localization of constitutive ORI in POLE-mutated human tumors using whole genome sequencing data. Mutations accumulated after many rounds of replication of unsynchronized dividing cell populations in tumors allow to identify constitutive origins, which we show are shared with high fidelity between individuals and tumor types. Using a Smith-Waterman-like dynamic programming approach, we compared replication origin positions obtained from multiple different methods. The comparison allowed us to define a consensus set of replication origins, identified consistently by multiple ORI detection methods. Many DNA features co-localized with the consensus set of ORI, including chromatin loop anchors, G-quadruplexes, S/MARs, and CpGs. Among all features, the H2A.Z histone exhibited the most significant association.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that mutation-based detection of replication origins is a viable approach to determining their location and associated sequence features.

Temporal regulation of head-on transcription at replication initiation sites

Head-on (HO) collisions between the DNA replication machinery and RNA polymerase over R-loop forming sequences (RLFS) are genotoxic, leading to replication fork blockage and DNA breaks. Current models suggest that HO collisions are avoided through replication initiation site (RIS) positioning upstream of active genes, ensuring co-orientation of replication fork movement and genic transcription. However, this model does not account for pervasive transcription, or intragenic RIS. Moreover, pervasive transcription initiation and CG-rich DNA is a feature of RIS, suggesting that HO transcription units (HO TUs) capable of forming R-loops might occur. Through mining phased GRO-seq data, and developing an informatics strategy to stringently identify RIS, we demonstrate that HO TUs containing RLFS occur at RIS in MCF-7 cells, and are downregulated at the G1/S phase boundary. Our analysis reveals a novel spatiotemporal relationship between transcription and replication, and supports the idea that HO collisions are avoided through transcriptional regulatory mechanisms.

Accurate Identification of DNA Replication Origin by Fusing Epigenomics and Chromatin Interaction Information

DNA replication initiation is a complex process involving various genetic and epigenomic signatures. The correct identification of replication origins (ORIs) could provide important clues for the study of a variety of diseases caused by replication. Here, we design a computational approach named iORI-Epi to recognize ORIs by incorporating epigenome-based features, sequence-based features, and 3D genome-based features. The iORI-Epi displays excellent robustness and generalization ability on both training datasets and independent datasets of K562 cell line. Further experiments confirm that iORI-Epi is highly scalable in other cell lines (MCF7 and HCT116). We also analyze and clarify the regulatory role of epigenomic marks, DNA motifs, and chromatin interaction in DNA replication initiation of eukaryotic genomes. Finally, we discuss gene enrichment pathways from the perspective of ORIs in different replication timing states and heuristically dissect the effect of promoters on replication initiation. Our computational methodology is worth extending to ORI identification in other eukaryotic species.

Safeguarding DNA Replication: A Golden Touch of MiDAS and Other Mechanisms

DNA replication is a tightly regulated fundamental process allowing the correct duplication and transfer of the genetic information from the parental cell to the progeny. It involves the coordinated assembly of several proteins and protein complexes resulting in replication fork licensing, firing and progression. However, the DNA replication pathway is strewn with hurdles that affect replication fork progression during S phase. As a result, cells have adapted several mechanisms ensuring replication completion before entry into mitosis and segregating chromosomes with minimal, if any, abnormalities. In this review, we describe the possible obstacles that a replication fork might encounter and how the cell manages to protect DNA replication from S to the next G1.

Impact of Chromosomal Context on Origin Selection and the Replication Program

Eukaryotic DNA replication is regulated by conserved mechanisms that bring about a spatial and temporal organization in which distinct genomic domains are copied at characteristic times during S phase. Although this replication program has been closely linked with genome architecture, we still do not understand key aspects of how chromosomal context modulates the activity of replication origins. To address this question, we have exploited models that combine engineered genomic rearrangements with the unique replication programs of post-quiescence and pre-meiotic S phases. Our results demonstrate that large-scale inversions surprisingly do not affect cell proliferation and meiotic progression, despite inducing a restructuring of replication domains on each rearranged chromosome. Remarkably, these alterations in the organization of DNA replication are entirely due to changes in the positions of existing origins along the chromosome, as their efficiencies remain virtually unaffected genome wide. However, we identified striking alterations in origin firing proximal to the fusion points of each inversion, suggesting that the immediate chromosomal neighborhood of an origin is a crucial determinant of its activity. Interestingly, the impact of genome reorganization on replication initiation is highly comparable in the post-quiescent and pre-meiotic S phases, despite the differences in DNA metabolism in these two physiological states. Our findings therefore shed new light on how origin selection and the replication program are governed by chromosomal architecture.

Convergence of SIRT1 and ATR signaling to modulate replication origin dormancy

During routine genome duplication, many potential replication origins remain inactive or 'dormant'. Such origin dormancy is achieved, in part, by an interaction with the metabolic sensor SIRT1 deacetylase. We report here that dormant origins are a group of consistent, pre-determined genomic sequences that are distinguished from baseline (i.e. ordinarily active) origins by their preferential association with two phospho-isoforms of the helicase component MCM2. During normal unperturbed cell growth, baseline origins, but not dormant origins, associate with a form of MCM2 that is phosphorylated by DBF4-dependent kinase (DDK) on serine 139 (pS139-MCM2). This association facilitates the initiation of DNA replication from baseline origins. Concomitantly, SIRT1 inhibits Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR)-kinase-mediated phosphorylation of MCM2 on serine 108 (pS108-MCM2) by deacetylating the ATR-interacting protein DNA topoisomerase II binding protein 1 (TOPBP1), thereby preventing ATR recruitment to chromatin. In cells devoid of SIRT1 activity, or challenged by replication stress, this inhibition is circumvented, enabling ATR-mediated S108-MCM2 phosphorylation. In turn, pS108-MCM2 enables DDK-mediated phosphorylation on S139-MCM2 and facilitates replication initiation at dormant origins. These observations suggest that replication origin dormancy and activation are regulated by distinct post-translational MCM modifications that reflect a balance between SIRT1 activity and ATR signaling.

DNA molecular combing-based replication fork directionality profiling

The replication strategy of metazoan genomes is still unclear, mainly because definitive maps of replication origins are missing. High-throughput methods are based on population average and thus may exclusively identify efficient initiation sites, whereas inefficient origins go undetected. Single-molecule analyses of specific loci can detect both common and rare initiation events along the targeted regions. However, these usually concentrate on positioning individual events, which only gives an overview of the replication dynamics. Here, we computed the replication fork directionality (RFD) profiles of two large genes in different transcriptional states in chicken DT40 cells, namely untranscribed and transcribed DMD and CCSER1 expressed at WT levels or overexpressed, by aggregating hundreds of oriented replication tracks detected on individual DNA fibres stretched by molecular combing. These profiles reconstituted RFD domains composed of zones of initiation flanking a zone of termination originally observed in mammalian genomes and were highly consistent with independent population-averaging profiles generated by Okazaki fragment sequencing. Importantly, we demonstrate that inefficient origins do not appear as detectable RFD shifts, explaining why dispersed initiation has remained invisible to population-based assays. Our method can both generate quantitative profiles and identify discrete events, thereby constituting a comprehensive approach to study metazoan genome replication.

Dynamics of replication origin over-activation

Safeguards against excess DNA replication are often dysregulated in cancer, and driving cancer cells towards over-replication is a promising therapeutic strategy. We determined DNA synthesis patterns in cancer cells undergoing partial genome re-replication due to perturbed regulatory interactions (re-replicating cells). These cells exhibited slow replication, increased frequency of replication initiation events, and a skewed initiation pattern that preferentially reactivated early-replicating origins. Unlike in cells exposed to replication stress, which activated a novel group of hitherto unutilized (dormant) replication origins, the preferred re-replicating origins arose from the same pool of potential origins as those activated during normal growth. Mechanistically, the skewed initiation pattern reflected a disproportionate distribution of pre-replication complexes on distinct regions of licensed chromatin prior to replication. This distinct pattern suggests that circumventing the strong inhibitory interactions that normally prevent excess DNA synthesis can occur via at least two pathways, each activating a distinct set of replication origins.

Replication initiation: Implications in genome integrity

In every cell cycle, billions of nucleotides need to be duplicated within hours, with extraordinary precision and accuracy. The molecular mechanism by which cells regulate the replication event is very complicated, and the entire process begins way before the onset of S phase. During the G1 phase of the cell cycle, cells prepare by assembling essential replication factors to establish the pre-replicative complex at origins, sites that dictate where replication would initiate during S phase. During S phase, the replication process is tightly coupled with the DNA repair system to ensure the fidelity of replication. Defects in replication and any error must be recognized by DNA damage response and checkpoint signaling pathways in order to halt the cell cycle before cells are allowed to divide. The coordination of these processes throughout the cell cycle is therefore critical to achieve genomic integrity and prevent diseases. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of how the replication initiation events are regulated to achieve genome stability.

TRPS1 drives heterochromatic origin refiring and cancer genome evolution

Exploitation of naturally occurring genetic mutations could empower the discovery of novel aspects of established cancer genes. We report here that TRPS1, a gene linked to the tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome (TRPS) and recently identified as a potential breast cancer driver, promotes breast carcinogenesis through regulating replication. Epigenomic decomposition of TRPS1 landscape reveals nearly half of H3K9me3-marked heterochromatic origins are occupied by TRPS1, where it encourages the chromatin loading of APC/C, resulting in uncontrolled origin refiring. TRPS1 binds to the genome through its atypical H3K9me3 reading via GATA and IKAROS domains, while TRPS-related mutations affect its chromatin binding, replication boosting, and tumorigenicity. Concordantly, overexpression of wild-type but not TRPS-associated mutants of TRPS1 is sufficient to drive cancer genome amplifications, which experience an extrachromosomal route and dynamically evolve to confer therapeutic resistance. Together, these results uncover a critical function of TRPS1 in driving heterochromatin origin firing and breast cancer genome evolution.

Human ORC/MCM density is low in active genes and correlates with replication time but does not delimit initiation zones

Eukaryotic DNA replication initiates during S phase from origins that have been licensed in the preceding G1 phase. Here, we compare ChIP-seq profiles of the licensing factors Orc2, Orc3, Mcm3, and Mcm7 with gene expression, replication timing, and fork directionality profiles obtained by RNA-seq, Repli-seq, and OK-seq. Both, the origin recognition complex (ORC) and the minichromosome maintenance complex (MCM) are significantly and homogeneously depleted from transcribed genes, enriched at gene promoters, and more abundant in early- than in late-replicating domains. Surprisingly, after controlling these variables, no difference in ORC/MCM density is detected between initiation zones, termination zones, unidirectionally replicating regions, and randomly replicating regions. Therefore, ORC/MCM density correlates with replication timing but does not solely regulate the probability of replication initiation. Interestingly, H4K20me3, a histone modification proposed to facilitate late origin licensing, was enriched in late-replicating initiation zones and gene deserts of stochastic replication fork direction. We discuss potential mechanisms specifying when and where replication initiates in human cells.

A deep learning framework combined with word embedding to identify DNA replication origins

The DNA replication influences the inheritance of genetic information in the DNA life cycle. As the distribution of replication origins (ORIs) is the major determinant to precisely regulate the replication process, the correct identification of ORIs is significant in giving an insightful understanding of DNA replication mechanisms and the regulatory mechanisms of genetic expressions. For eukaryotes in particular, multiple ORIs exist in each of their gene sequences to complete the replication in a reasonable period of time. To simplify the identification process of eukaryote's ORIs, most of existing methods are developed by traditional machine learning algorithms, and target to the gene sequences with a fixed length. Consequently, the identification results are not satisfying, i.e. there is still great room for improvement. To break through the limitations in previous studies, this paper develops sequence segmentation methods, and employs the word embedding technique, 'Word2vec', to convert gene sequences into word vectors, thereby grasping the inner correlations of gene sequences with different lengths. Then, a deep learning framework to perform the ORI identification task is constructed by a convolutional neural network with an embedding layer. On the basis of the analysis of similarity reduction dimensionality diagram, Word2vec can effectively transform the inner relationship among words into numerical feature. For four species in this study, the best models are obtained with the overall accuracy of 0.975, 0.765, 0.885, 0.967, the Matthew's correlation coefficient of 0.940, 0.530, 0.771, 0.934, and the AUC of 0.975, 0.800, 0.888, 0.981, which indicate that the proposed predictor has a stable ability and provide a high confidence coefficient to classify both of ORIs and non-ORIs. Compared with state-of-the-art methods, the proposed predictor can achieve ORI identification with significant improvement. It is therefore reasonable to anticipate that the proposed method will make a useful high throughput tool for genome analysis.

Histone H3K79 demethylation by KDM2B facilitates proper DNA replication through PCNA dissociation from chromatin

Objectives

The level of histone H3 lysine 79 methylation is regulated by the cell cycle and involved in cell proliferation. KDM2B is an H3K79 demethylase. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a component of the DNA replication machinery. This study aimed at elucidating a molecular link between H3K79me recognition of PCNA and cell cycle control.

Materials and methods

We generated KDM2B‐depleted 293T cells and histone H3‐K79R mutant‐expressing 293T cells. Western blots were primarily utilized to examine the H3K79me level and its effect on subsequent PCNA dissociation from chromatin. We applied IP, peptide pull‐down, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and ChIP experiments to show the PCNA binding towards methylated H3K79 and DNA replication origins. Flow cytometry, MTT, iPOND and DNA fibre assays were used to assess the necessity of KDM2B for DNA replication and cell proliferation.

Results

We revealed that KDM2B‐mediated H3K79 demethylation regulated cell cycle progression. We found that PCNA bound chromatin in an H3K79me‐dependent manner during S phase. KDM2B was responsible for the timely dissociation of PCNA from chromatin, allowing to efficient DNA replication. Depletion of KDM2B aberrantly enriched chromatin with PCNA and caused slow dissociation of residual PCNA, leading to a negative effect on cell proliferation.

Conclusions

We suggested a novel interaction between PCNA and H3K79me. Thus, our findings provide a new mechanism of KDM2B in regulation of DNA replication and cell proliferation.

A predictable conserved DNA base composition signature defines human core DNA replication origins

DNA replication initiates from multiple genomic locations called replication origins. In metazoa, DNA sequence elements involved in origin specification remain elusive. Here, we examine pluripotent, primary, differentiating, and immortalized human cells, and demonstrate that a class of origins, termed core origins, is shared by different cell types and host ~80% of all DNA replication initiation events in any cell population. We detect a shared G-rich DNA sequence signature that coincides with most core origins in both human and mouse genomes. Transcription and G-rich elements can independently associate with replication origin activity. Computational algorithms show that core origins can be predicted, based solely on DNA sequence patterns but not on consensus motifs. Our results demonstrate that, despite an attributed stochasticity, core origins are chosen from a limited pool of genomic regions. Immortalization through oncogenic gene expression, but not normal cellular differentiation, results in increased stochastic firing from heterochromatin and decreased origin density at TAD borders.

In metazoan the DNA sequence elements characterizing origin specification are unknown. By generating and analysing 19 SNS-seq datasets from different human cell types, the authors reveal a class and features of Core origins of replication which can be predicted by an algorithm.

Superresolution imaging reveals spatiotemporal propagation of human replication foci mediated by CTCF-organized chromatin structures

Mammalian DNA replication is initiated at numerous replication origins, which are clustered into thousands of replication domains (RDs) across the genome. However, it remains unclear whether the replication origins within each RD are activated stochastically or preferentially near certain chromatin features. To understand how DNA replication in single human cells is regulated at the sub-RD level, we directly visualized and quantitatively characterized the spatiotemporal organization, morphology, and in situ epigenetic signatures of individual replication foci (RFi) across S-phase at superresolution using stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy. Importantly, we revealed a hierarchical radial pattern of RFi propagation dynamics that reverses directionality from early to late S-phase and is diminished upon caffeine treatment or CTCF knockdown. Together with simulation and bioinformatic analyses, our findings point to a "CTCF-organized REplication Propagation" (CoREP) model, which suggests a nonrandom selection mechanism for replication activation at the sub-RD level during early S-phase, mediated by CTCF-organized chromatin structures. Collectively, these findings offer critical insights into the key involvement of local epigenetic environment in coordinating DNA replication across the genome and have broad implications for our conceptualization of the role of multiscale chromatin architecture in regulating diverse cell nuclear dynamics in space and time.

BAMscale: quantification of next-generation sequencing peaks and generation of scaled coverage tracks

Background

Next-generation sequencing allows genome-wide analysis of changes in chromatin states and gene expression. Data analysis of these increasingly used methods either requires multiple analysis steps, or extensive computational time. We sought to develop a tool for rapid quantification of sequencing peaks from diverse experimental sources and an efficient method to produce coverage tracks for accurate visualization that can be intuitively displayed and interpreted by experimentalists with minimal bioinformatics background. We demonstrate its strength and usability by integrating data from several types of sequencing approaches.

Results

We have developed BAMscale, a one-step tool that processes a wide set of sequencing datasets. To demonstrate the usefulness of BAMscale, we analyzed multiple sequencing datasets from chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing data (ChIP-seq), chromatin state change data (assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing: ATAC-seq, DNA double-strand break mapping sequencing: END-seq), DNA replication data (Okazaki fragments sequencing: OK-seq, nascent-strand sequencing: NS-seq, single-cell replication timing sequencing: scRepli-seq) and RNA-seq data. The outputs consist of raw and normalized peak scores (multiple normalizations) in text format and scaled bigWig coverage tracks that are directly accessible to data visualization programs. BAMScale also includes a visualization module facilitating direct, on-demand quantitative peak comparisons that can be used by experimentalists. Our tool can effectively analyze large sequencing datasets (~ 100 Gb size) in minutes, outperforming currently available tools.

Conclusions

BAMscale accurately quantifies and normalizes identified peaks directly from BAM files, and creates coverage tracks for visualization in genome browsers. BAMScale can be implemented for a wide set of methods for calculating coverage tracks, including ChIP-seq and ATAC-seq, as well as methods that currently require specialized, separate tools for analyses, such as splice-aware RNA-seq, END-seq and OK-seq for which no dedicated software is available. BAMscale is freely available on github (https://github.com/ncbi/BAMscale).

Genomic methods for measuring DNA replication dynamics

Genomic DNA replicates according to a defined temporal program in which early-replicating loci are associated with open chromatin, higher gene density, and increased gene expression levels, while late-replicating loci tend to be heterochromatic and show higher rates of genomic instability. The ability to measure DNA replication dynamics at genome scale has proven crucial for understanding the mechanisms and cellular consequences of DNA replication timing. Several methods, such as quantification of nucleotide analog incorporation and DNA copy number analyses, can accurately reconstruct the genomic replication timing profiles of various species and cell types. More recent developments have expanded the DNA replication genomic toolkit to assays that directly measure the activity of replication origins, while single-cell replication timing assays are beginning to reveal a new level of replication timing regulation. The combination of these methods, applied on a genomic scale and in multiple biological systems, promises to resolve many open questions and lead to a holistic understanding of how eukaryotic cells replicate their genomes accurately and efficiently.

Origins of DNA replication

In all kingdoms of life, DNA is used to encode hereditary information. Propagation of the genetic material between generations requires timely and accurate duplication of DNA by semiconservative replication prior to cell division to ensure each daughter cell receives the full complement of chromosomes. DNA synthesis of daughter strands starts at discrete sites, termed replication origins, and proceeds in a bidirectional manner until all genomic DNA is replicated. Despite the fundamental nature of these events, organisms have evolved surprisingly divergent strategies that control replication onset. Here, we discuss commonalities and differences in replication origin organization and recognition in the three domains of life.

Genome-wide analysis of the spatiotemporal regulation of firing and dormant replication origins in human cells

In metazoan cells, only a limited number of mini chromosome maintenance (MCM) complexes are fired during S phase, while the majority remain dormant. Several methods have been used to map replication origins, but such methods cannot identify dormant origins. Herein, we determined MCM7-binding sites in human cells using ChIP-Seq, classified them into firing and dormant origins using origin data and analysed their association with various chromatin signatures. Firing origins, but not dormant origins, were well correlated with open chromatin regions and were enriched upstream of transcription start sites (TSSs) of transcribed genes. Aggregation plots of MCM7 signals revealed minimal difference in the efficacy of MCM loading between firing and dormant origins. We also analysed common fragile sites (CFSs) and found a low density of origins at these sites. Nevertheless, firing origins were enriched upstream of the TSSs. Based on the results, we propose a model in which excessive MCMs are actively loaded in a genome-wide manner, irrespective of chromatin status, but only a fraction are passively fired in chromatin areas with an accessible open structure, such as regions upstream of TSSs of transcribed genes. This plasticity in the specification of replication origins may minimize collisions between replication and transcription.

5-hydroxymethylcytosine Marks Mammalian Origins Acting as a Barrier to Replication

In most mammalian cells, DNA replication occurs once, and only once between cell divisions. Replication initiation is a highly regulated process with redundant mechanisms that prevent errant initiation events. In lower eukaryotes, replication is initiated from a defined consensus sequence, whereas a consensus sequence delineating mammalian origin of replication has not been identified. Here we show that 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is present at mammalian replication origins. Our data support the hypothesis that 5hmC has a role in cell cycle regulation. We show that 5hmC level is inversely proportional to proliferation; indeed, 5hmC negatively influences cell division by increasing the time a cell resides in G1. Our data suggest that 5hmC recruits replication-licensing factors, then is removed prior to or during origin firing. Later we propose that TET2, the enzyme catalyzing 5mC to 5hmC conversion, acts as barrier to rereplication. In a broader context, our results significantly advance the understating of 5hmC involvement in cell proliferation and disease states.

Involvement of G-quadruplex regions in mammalian replication origin activity

Genome-wide studies of DNA replication origins revealed that origins preferentially associate with an Origin G-rich Repeated Element (OGRE), potentially forming G-quadruplexes (G4). Here, we functionally address their requirements for DNA replication initiation in a series of independent approaches. Deletion of the OGRE/G4 sequence strongly decreased the corresponding origin activity. Conversely, the insertion of an OGRE/G4 element created a new replication origin. This element also promoted replication of episomal EBV vectors lacking the viral origin, but not if the OGRE/G4 sequence was deleted. A potent G4 ligand, PhenDC3, stabilized G4s but did not alter the global origin activity. However, a set of new, G4-associated origins was created, whereas suppressed origins were largely G4-free. In vitro Xenopus laevis replication systems showed that OGRE/G4 sequences are involved in the activation of DNA replication, but not in the pre-replication complex formation. Altogether, these results converge to the functional importance of OGRE/G4 elements in DNA replication initiation.

Monitoring early S-phase origin firing and replication fork movement by sequencing nascent DNA from synchronized cells

A better understanding of DNA replication initiation in human cells and how this process is altered upon DNA replication stress requires the ability to study origin firing genome wide. Previously described methods of mapping DNA replication origins in higher eukaryotes rely principally on fractionation of DNA fragments based on their size and, optionally, on the presence of ribonucleotides at their 5' end. Here, we describe a protocol for EdUseq-HU, a method for mapping early S-phase replication origins. Cells, synchronized by mitotic shake-off, are released in medium containing 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU; to label nascent DNA) and hydroxyurea (HU; to limit fork progression after origin firing). After using click chemistry to tag the EdU label with a biotin conjugate that is cleavable under mild conditions, the nascent DNA is captured on streptavidin beads. One variant of EdUseq-HU allows mapping of DNA replication origins on the genome at a resolution of 10 kb, and a second variant monitors progression of replication forks. Using EdUseq-HU, the spatiotemporal program of DNA replication in human cell lines can be interrogated in <2 weeks. The protocol requires basic cell culture and molecular biology skills, as well as familiarity with the Perl programming language and the Linux operating system.

SLFN11 Blocks Stressed Replication Forks Independently of ATR

SLFN11 sensitizes cancer cells to a broad range of DNA-targeted therapies. Here we show that, in response to replication stress induced by camptothecin, SLFN11 tightly binds chromatin at stressed replication foci via RPA1 together with the replication helicase subunit MCM3. Unlike ATR, SLFN11 neither interferes with the loading of CDC45 and PCNA nor inhibits the initiation of DNA replication but selectively blocks fork progression while inducing chromatin opening across replication initiation sites. The ATPase domain of SLFN11 is required for chromatin opening, replication block, and cell death but not for the tight binding of SLFN11 to chromatin. Replication stress by the CHK1 inhibitor Prexasertib also recruits SLFN11 to nascent replicating DNA together with CDC45 and PCNA. We conclude that SLFN11 is recruited to stressed replication forks carrying extended RPA filaments where it blocks replication by changing chromatin structure across replication sites.

Endogenous DNA Double-Strand Breaks during DNA Transactions: Emerging Insights and Methods for Genome-Wide Profiling

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) jeopardize genome integrity and can-when repaired unfaithfully-give rise to structural rearrangements associated with cancer. Exogenous agents such as ionizing radiation or chemotherapy can invoke DSBs, but a vast amount of breakage arises during vital endogenous DNA transactions, such as replication and transcription. Additionally, chromatin looping involved in 3D genome organization and gene regulation is increasingly recognized as a possible contributor to DSB events. In this review, we first discuss insights into the mechanisms of endogenous DSB formation, showcasing the trade-off between essential DNA transactions and the intrinsic challenges that these processes impose on genomic integrity. In the second part, we highlight emerging methods for genome-wide profiling of DSBs, and discuss future directions of research that will help advance our understanding of genome-wide DSB formation and repair.

The Protective Role of Dormant Origins in Response to Replicative Stress

Genome stability requires tight regulation of DNA replication to ensure that the entire genome of the cell is duplicated once and only once per cell cycle. In mammalian cells, origin activation is controlled in space and time by a cell-specific and robust program called replication timing. About 100,000 potential replication origins form on the chromatin in the gap 1 (G1) phase but only 20⁻30% of them are active during the DNA replication of a given cell in the synthesis (S) phase. When the progress of replication forks is slowed by exogenous or endogenous impediments, the cell must activate some of the inactive or "dormant" origins to complete replication on time. Thus, the many origins that may be activated are probably key to protect the genome against replication stress. This review aims to discuss the role of these dormant origins as safeguards of the human genome during replicative stress.

The replication initiation determinant protein (RepID) modulates replication by recruiting CUL4 to chromatin

Cell cycle progression in mammals is modulated by two ubiquitin ligase complexes, CRL4 and SCF, which facilitate degradation of chromatin substrates involved in the regulation of DNA replication. One member of the CRL4 complex, the WD-40 containing protein RepID (DCAF14/PHIP), selectively binds and activates a group of replication origins. Here we show that RepID recruits the CRL4 complex to chromatin prior to DNA synthesis, thus playing a crucial architectural role in the proper licensing of chromosomes for replication. In the absence of RepID, cells rely on the alternative ubiquitin ligase, SKP2-containing SCF, to progress through the cell cycle. RepID depletion markedly increases cellular sensitivity to SKP2 inhibitors, which triggered massive genome re-replication. Both RepID and SKP2 interact with distinct, non-overlapping groups of replication origins, suggesting that selective interactions of replication origins with specific CRL components execute the DNA replication program and maintain genomic stability by preventing re-initiation of DNA replication.

RepID has previously been shown to promote origin firing. Here the authors reveal that RepID regulates replication origins via the recruitment of the CRL4 complex, and prevents re-initiation and unscheduled DNA replication.

The eukaryotic bell-shaped temporal rate of DNA replication origin firing emanates from a balance between origin activation and passivation

The time-dependent rate I(t) of origin firing per length of unreplicated DNA presents a universal bell shape in eukaryotes that has been interpreted as the result of a complex time-evolving interaction between origins and limiting firing factors. Here, we show that a normal diffusion of replication fork components towards localized potential replication origins (p-oris) can more simply account for the I(t) universal bell shape, as a consequence of a competition between the origin firing time and the time needed to replicate DNA separating two neighboring p-oris. We predict the I(t) maximal value to be the product of the replication fork speed with the squared p-ori density. We show that this relation is robustly observed in simulations and in experimental data for several eukaryotes. Our work underlines that fork-component recycling and potential origins localization are sufficient spatial ingredients to explain the universality of DNA replication kinetics.

Before a cell can divide, it must duplicate its DNA. In eukaryotes – organisms such as animals and fungi, which store their DNA in the cell’s nucleus – DNA replication starts at specific sites in the genome called replication origins. At each origin sits a protein complex that will activate when it randomly captures an activating protein that diffuses within the nucleus. Once a replication origin activates or “fires”, the complex then splits into two new complexes that move away from each other as they duplicate the DNA. If an active complex collides with an inactive one at another origin, the latter is inactivated – a phenomenon known as origin passivation. When two active complexes meet, they release the activating proteins, which diffuse away and eventually activate other origins in unreplicated DNA.

The number of origins that activate each minute divided by the length of unreplicated DNA is referred to as the “rate of origin firing”. In all eukaryotes, this rate – also known as I(t) – follows the same pattern. First, it increases until more than half of the DNA is duplicated. Then it decreases until everything is duplicated. This means that, if plotted out, the graph of origin firing rate would always be a bell-shaped curve, even for organisms with genomes of different sizes that have different numbers of origins. The reason for this universal shape remained unclear.

Scientists had tried to create numerical simulations that model the rate of origin firing. However, for these simulations to reproduce the bell-shape curve, a number of untested assumptions had to be made about how DNA replication takes place. In addition, these models ignored the fact that it takes time to replicate the DNA between origins.

To take this time into account, Arbona et al. instead decided to model the replication origins as discrete and distinct entities. This way of building the mathematical model succeeded in reproducing the universal bell curve shape without additional assumptions. With this simulation, the balance between origin activation and passivation is enough to achieve the observed pattern.

The new model also predicts that the maximum rate of origin firing is determined by the speed of DNA replication and the density of origins in the genome. Arbona et al. verified this prediction in yeast, fly, frog and human cells – organisms with different sized genomes that take between 20 minutes and 8 hours to replicate their DNA. Lastly, the prediction also held true in yeast treated with hydroxyurea, an anticancer drug that slows DNA replication.

A better understanding of DNA replication can help scientists to understand how this process is perturbed in cancers and how drugs that target DNA replication can treat these diseases. Future work will explore how the 3D organization of the genome affects the diffusion of activating proteins within the cell nucleus.

Replication timing and nuclear structure

DNA replication proceeds along spatially and temporally coordinated patterns within the nucleus, thus protecting the genome during the synthesis of new genetic material. While we have been able to visualize replication patterns on DNA fibers for 50 years, recent developments and discoveries have provided a greater insight into how DNA replication is controlled. In this review, we highlight many of these discoveries. Of great interest are the physiological role of the replication timing program, cis and trans-acting factors that modulate replication timing and the effects of chromatin structure on the replication timing program. We also discuss future directions in the study of replication timing.

Intragenic origins due to short G1 phases underlie oncogene-induced DNA replication stress

Oncogene-induced DNA replication stress contributes critically to the genomic instability that is present in cancer. However, elucidating how oncogenes deregulate DNA replication has been impeded by difficulty in mapping replication initiation sites on the human genome. Here, using a sensitive assay to monitor nascent DNA synthesis in early S phase, we identified thousands of replication initiation sites in cells before and after induction of the oncogenes CCNE1 and MYC. Remarkably, both oncogenes induced firing of a novel set of DNA replication origins that mapped within highly transcribed genes. These ectopic origins were normally suppressed by transcription during G1, but precocious entry into S phase, before all genic regions had been transcribed, allowed firing of origins within genes in cells with activated oncogenes. Forks from oncogene-induced origins were prone to collapse, as a result of conflicts between replication and transcription, and were associated with DNA double-stranded break formation and chromosomal rearrangement breakpoints both in our experimental system and in a large cohort of human cancers. Thus, firing of intragenic origins caused by premature S phase entry represents a mechanism of oncogene-induced DNA replication stress that is relevant for genomic instability in human cancer.

Targeting GLI by GANT61 involves mechanisms dependent on inhibition of both transcription and DNA licensing

The GLI genes are transcription factors and in cancers are oncogenes, aberrantly and constitutively activated. GANT61, a specific GLI inhibitor, has induced extensive cytotoxicity in human models of colon cancer. The FOXM1 promoter was determined to be a transcriptional target of GLI1. In HT29 cells, inhibition of GLI1 binding at the GLI consensus sequence by GANT61 led to inhibited binding of Pol II, the pause-release factors DSIF, NELF and p-TEFb. The formation of R-loops (RNA:DNA hybrids, ssDNA), were reduced by GANT61 at the FOXM1 promoter. Pretreatment of HT29 cells with α-amanitin reduced GANT61-induced γH2AX foci. Co-localization of GLI1 and BrdU foci, inhibited by GANT61, indicated GLI1 and DNA replication to be linked. By co-immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy, GLI1 co-localized with the DNA licensing factors ORC4, CDT1, and MCM2. Significant co-localization of GLI1 and ORC4 was inhibited by GANT61, and enrichment of ORC4 occurred at the GLI binding site in the FOXM1 promoter. CDT1 was found to be a transcription target of GLI1. Overexpression of CDT1 in HT29 and SW480 cells reduced GANT61-induced cell death, gH2AX foci, and cleavage of caspase-3. Data demonstrate involvement of transcription and of DNA replication licensing factors by non-transcriptional and transcriptional mechanisms in the GLI-dependent mechanism of action of GANT61.

Temporal association of ORCA/LRWD1 to late-firing origins during G1 dictates heterochromatin replication and organization

DNA replication requires the recruitment of a pre-replication complex facilitated by Origin Recognition Complex (ORC) onto the chromatin during G1 phase of the cell cycle. The ORC-associated protein (ORCA/LRWD1) stabilizes ORC on chromatin. Here, we evaluated the genome-wide distribution of ORCA using ChIP-seq during specific time points of G1. ORCA binding sites on the G1 chromatin are dynamic and temporally regulated. ORCA association to specific genomic sites decreases as the cells progressed towards S-phase. The majority of the ORCA-bound sites represent replication origins that also associate with the repressive chromatin marks H3K9me3 and methylated-CpGs, consistent with ORCA-bound origins initiating DNA replication late in S-phase. Further, ORCA directly associates with the repressive marks and interacts with the enzymes that catalyze these marks. Regions that associate with both ORCA and H3K9me3, exhibit diminished H3K9 methylation in ORCA-depleted cells, suggesting a role for ORCA in recruiting the H3K9me3 mark at certain genomic loci. Similarly, DNA methylation is altered at ORCA-occupied sites in cells lacking ORCA. Furthermore, repressive chromatin marks influence ORCA's binding on chromatin. We propose that ORCA coordinates with the histone and DNA methylation machinery to establish a repressive chromatin environment at a subset of origins, which primes them for late replication.

Phosphorylated SIRT1 associates with replication origins to prevent excess replication initiation and preserve genomic stability

Chromatin structure affects DNA replication patterns, but the role of specific chromatin modifiers in regulating the replication process is yet unclear. We report that phosphorylation of the human SIRT1 deacetylase on Threonine 530 (T530-pSIRT1) modulates DNA synthesis. T530-pSIRT1 associates with replication origins and inhibits replication from a group of 'dormant' potential replication origins, which initiate replication only when cells are subject to replication stress. Although both active and dormant origins bind T530-pSIRT1, active origins are distinguished from dormant origins by their unique association with an open chromatin mark, histone H3 methylated on lysine 4. SIRT1 phosphorylation also facilitates replication fork elongation. SIRT1 T530 phosphorylation is essential to prevent DNA breakage upon replication stress and cells harboring SIRT1 that cannot be phosphorylated exhibit a high prevalence of extrachromosomal elements, hallmarks of perturbed replication. These observations suggest that SIRT1 phosphorylation modulates the distribution of replication initiation events to insure genomic stability.

Identification and characterization of ARS-like sequences as putative origin(s) of replication in human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

DNA replication is a fundamental process in genome maintenance, and initiates from several genomic sites (origins) in eukaryotes. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, conserved sequences known as autonomously replicating sequences (ARSs) provide a landing pad for the origin recognition complex (ORC), leading to replication initiation. Although origins from higher eukaryotes share some common sequence features, the definitive genomic organization of these sites remains elusive. The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum undergoes multiple rounds of DNA replication; therefore, control of initiation events is crucial to ensure proper replication. However, the sites of DNA replication initiation and the mechanism by which replication is initiated are poorly understood. Here, we have identified and characterized putative origins in P. falciparum by bioinformatics analyses and experimental approaches. An autocorrelation measure method was initially used to search for regions with marked fluctuation (dips) in the chromosome, which we hypothesized might contain potential origins. Indeed, S. cerevisiae ARS consensus sequences were found in dip regions. Several of these P. falciparum sequences were validated with chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR, nascent strand abundance and a plasmid stability assay. Subsequently, the same sequences were used in yeast to confirm their potential as origins in vivo. Our results identify the presence of functional ARSs in P. falciparum and provide meaningful insights into replication origins in these deadly parasites. These data could be useful in designing transgenic vectors with improved stability for transfection in P. falciparum.

DNA replication origins-where do we begin?

In this review, Prioleau and MacAlpine summarize recent advances in our understanding of how primary sequence, chromatin environment, and nuclear architecture contribute to the dynamic selection and activation of replication origins across diverse cell types and developmental stages.

For more than three decades, investigators have sought to identify the precise locations where DNA replication initiates in mammalian genomes. The development of molecular and biochemical approaches to identify start sites of DNA replication (origins) based on the presence of defining and characteristic replication intermediates at specific loci led to the identification of only a handful of mammalian replication origins. The limited number of identified origins prevented a comprehensive and exhaustive search for conserved genomic features that were capable of specifying origins of DNA replication. More recently, the adaptation of origin-mapping assays to genome-wide approaches has led to the identification of tens of thousands of replication origins throughout mammalian genomes, providing an unprecedented opportunity to identify both genetic and epigenetic features that define and regulate their distribution and utilization. Here we summarize recent advances in our understanding of how primary sequence, chromatin environment, and nuclear architecture contribute to the dynamic selection and activation of replication origins across diverse cell types and developmental stages.

A journey through the microscopic ages of DNA replication

Scientific discoveries and technological advancements are inseparable but not always take place in a coherent chronological manner. In the next, we will provide a seemingly unconnected and serendipitous series of scientific facts that, in the whole, converged to unveil DNA and its duplication. We will not cover here the many and fundamental contributions from microbial genetics and in vitro biochemistry. Rather, in this journey, we will emphasize the interplay between microscopy development culminating on super resolution fluorescence microscopy (i.e., nanoscopy) and digital image analysis and its impact on our understanding of DNA duplication. We will interlace the journey with landmark concepts and experiments that have brought the cellular DNA replication field to its present state.

Order from clutter: selective interactions at mammalian replication origins

Mammalian chromosome duplication progresses in a precise order and is subject to constraints that are often relaxed in developmental disorders and malignancies. Molecular information about the regulation of DNA replication at the chromatin level is lacking because protein complexes that initiate replication seem to bind chromatin indiscriminately. High-throughput sequencing and mathematical modelling have yielded detailed genome-wide replication initiation maps. Combining these maps and models with functional genetic analyses suggests that distinct DNA-protein interactions at subgroups of replication initiation sites (replication origins) modulate the ubiquitous replication machinery and supports an emerging model that delineates how indiscriminate DNA-binding patterns translate into a consistent, organized replication programme.

The gastrula transition reorganizes replication-origin selection in Caenorhabditis elegans

Although some features underlying replication-origin activation in metazoan cells have been determined, little is known about their regulation during metazoan development. Using the nascent-strand purification method, here we identified replication origins throughout Caenorhabditis elegans embryonic development and found that the origin repertoire is thoroughly reorganized after gastrulation onset. During the pluripotent embryonic stages (pregastrula), potential cruciform structures and open chromatin are determining factors that establish replication origins. The observed enrichment of replication origins in transcription factor-binding sites and their presence in promoters of highly transcribed genes, particularly operons, suggest that transcriptional activity contributes to replication initiation before gastrulation. After the gastrula transition, when embryonic differentiation programs are set, new origins are selected at enhancers, close to CpG-island-like sequences, and at noncoding genes. Our findings suggest that origin selection coordinates replication initiation with transcriptional programs during metazoan development.