scholarly journals Chemical map-based prediction of nucleosome positioning using the Bioconductor package nuCpos

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroaki Kato ◽  
Mitsuhiro Shimizu ◽  
Takeshi Urano
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Nucleosome Positioning ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Micrococcal Nuclease ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Bioconductor Package ◽  
Nucleosomal Dna ◽  
Nucleosome Formation

Abstract Background Assessing the nucleosome-forming potential of specific DNA sequences is important for understanding complex chromatin organization. Methods for predicting nucleosome positioning include bioinformatics and biophysical approaches. An advantage of bioinformatics methods, which are based on in vivo nucleosome maps, is the use of natural sequences that may contain previously unknown elements involved in nucleosome positioning in vivo. The accuracy of such prediction attempts reflects the genomic coordinate resolution of the nucleosome maps applied. Nucleosome maps are constructed using micrococcal nuclease digestion followed by high-throughput sequencing (MNase-seq). However, as MNase has a strong preference for A/T-rich sequences, MNase-seq may not be appropriate for this purpose. In addition to MNase-seq-based maps, base pair-resolution chemical maps of in vivo nucleosomes from three different species (budding and fission yeasts, and mice) are currently available. However, these chemical maps have yet to be integrated into publicly available computational methods. Results We developed a Bioconductor package (named nuCpos) to demonstrate the superiority of chemical maps in predicting nucleosome positioning. The accuracy of chemical map-based prediction in rotational settings was higher than that of the previously developed MNase-seq-based approach. With our method, predicted nucleosome occupancy reasonably matched in vivo observations and was not affected by A/T nucleotide frequency. Effects of genetic alterations on nucleosome positioning that had been observed in living yeast cells could also be predicted. nuCpos calculates individual histone binding affinity (HBA) scores for given 147-bp sequences to examine their suitability for nucleosome formation. We also established local HBA as a new parameter to predict nucleosome formation, which was calculated for 13 overlapping nucleosomal DNA subsequences. HBA and local HBA scores for various sequences agreed well with previous in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, our results suggest that nucleosomal subsegments that are disfavored in different rotational settings contribute to the defined positioning of nucleosomes. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that chemical map-based statistical models are beneficial for studying nucleosomal DNA features. Studies employing nuCpos software can enhance understanding of chromatin regulation and the interpretation of genetic alterations and facilitate the design of artificial sequences.

scholarly journals Chemical map–based prediction of nucleosome positioning using the Bioconductor package nuCpos

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroaki Kato ◽  
Mitsuhiro Shimizu ◽  
Takeshi Urano
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Nucleosome Positioning ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Micrococcal Nuclease ◽  
Bioconductor Package ◽  
Nucleosomal Dna ◽  
Nucleosome Formation

AbstractBackgroundAssessing the nucleosome-forming potential of specific DNA sequences is important for understanding complex chromatin organization. Methods for predicting nucleosome positioning include bioinformatics and biophysical approaches. An advantage of bioinformatics methods, which are based on in vivo nucleosome maps, is the use of natural sequences that may contain previously unknown elements involved in nucleosome positioning in vivo. The accuracy of such prediction attempts reflects the genomic coordinate resolution of the nucleosome maps applied. Nucleosome maps are constructed using micrococcal nuclease digestion followed by high-throughput sequencing (MNase-seq). However, as MNase has a strong preference for A/T-rich sequences, MNase-seq may not be appropriate for this purpose. In addition to MNase-seq–based maps, base pair–resolution chemical maps of in vivo nucleosomes from three different species (budding and fission yeasts, and mice) are currently available. However, these chemical maps have yet to be integrated into publicly available computational methods.ResultsWe developed a Bioconductor package (named nuCpos) to demonstrate the superiority of chemical maps in predicting nucleosome positioning. The accuracy of chemical map–based prediction in rotational settings was higher than that of the previously developed MNase-seq–based approach. With our method, predicted nucleosome occupancy reasonably matched in vivo observations and was not affected by A/T nucleotide frequency. Effects of genetic alterations on nucleosome positioning that had been observed in living yeast cells could also be predicted. nuCpos calculates individual histone binding affinity (HBA) scores for given 147-bp sequences to examine their suitability for nucleosome formation. We also established local HBA as a new parameter to predict nucleosome formation, which was calculated for 13 overlapping nucleosomal DNA subsequences. HBA and local HBA scores for various sequences agreed well with previous in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, our results suggest that nucleosomal subsegments that are disfavored in different rotational settings contribute to the defined positioning of nucleosomes.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that chemical map–based statistical models are beneficial for studying nucleosomal DNA features. Studies employing nuCpos software can enhance understanding of chromatin regulation and the interpretation of genetic alterations and facilitate the design of artificial sequences.

Heat shock factor can activate transcription while bound to nucleosomal DNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-199
Author(s):  
D S Pederson ◽  
T Fidrych
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Heat Shock ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Heat Shock Factor ◽  
Micrococcal Nuclease ◽  
Nucleosome Assembly ◽  
Heat Shock Element ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Nucleosomal Dna

After each round of replication, new transcription initiation complexes must assemble on promoter DNA. This process may compete with packaging of the same promoter sequences into nucleosomes. To elucidate interactions between regulatory transcription factors and nucleosomes on newly replicated DNA, we asked whether heat shock factor (HSF) could be made to bind to nucleosomal DNA in vivo. A heat shock element (HSE) was embedded at either of two different sites within a DNA segment that directs the formation of a stable, positioned nucleosome. The resulting DNA segments were coupled to a reporter gene and transfected into the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Transcription from these two plasmid constructions after induction by heat shock was similar in amount to that from a control plasmid in which HSF binds to nucleosome-free DNA. High-resolution genomic footprint mapping of DNase I and micrococcal nuclease cleavage sites indicated that the HSE in these two plasmids was, nevertheless, packaged in a nucleosome. The inclusion of HSE sequences within (but relatively close to the edge of) the nucleosome did not alter the position of the nucleosome which formed with the parental DNA fragment. Genomic footprint analyses also suggested that the HSE-containing nucleosome was unchanged by the induction of transcription. Quantitative comparisons with control plasmids ruled out the possibility that HSF was bound only to a small fraction of molecules that might have escaped nucleosome assembly. Analysis of the helical orientation of HSE DNA in the nucleosome indicated that HSF contacted DNA residues that faced outward from the histone octamer. We discuss the significance of these results with regard to the role of nucleosomes in inhibiting transcription and the normal occurrence of nucleosome-free regions in promoters.

scholarly journals Acetylation of a Specific Promoter Nucleosome Accompanies Activation of the ɛ-Globin Gene by β-Globin Locus Control Region HS2

2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1155-1163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang-Yun Gui ◽  
Ann Dean
Keyword(s):  
Control Region ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Trichostatin A ◽  
Globin Gene ◽  
Chromatin Modification ◽  
Locus Control Region ◽  
Micrococcal Nuclease ◽  
Nuclease Sensitivity

ABSTRACT On stably replicating episomes, transcriptional activation of the ɛ-globin promoter by the β-globin locus control region HS2 enhancer is correlated with an increase in nuclease sensitivity which is limited to the TATA-proximal nucleosome (N1). To elucidate what underlies this increase in nuclease sensitivity and the link between chromatin modification and gene expression, we examined the nucleoprotein composition and histone acetylation status of transcriptionally active and inactive promoters. Micrococcal nuclease digestion of active promoters in nuclei released few nucleosome-like nucleoprotein complexes containing N1 sequences in comparison to results with inactive promoters. We also observed that N1 DNA fragments from active promoters are of a subnucleosomal length. Nevertheless, chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments indicate that histones H3 and H4 are present on N1 sequences from active promoters, with H3 being dramatically hyperacetylated compared with that from inactive promoters and vector sequences. Strikingly, H3 in the adjacent upstream nucleosome (N2) does not appear to be differentially acetylated in active and inactive promoters, indicating that the nucleosome modification of the promoter that accompanies transactivation by HS2 is highly directed and specific. However, global acetylation of histones in vivo by trichostatin A did not activate transcription in the absence of HS2, suggesting that HS2 contributes additional activities necessary for transactivation. N1 sequences from active promoters also contain reduced levels of linker histone H1. The detection of a protected subnucleosomal sized N1 DNA fragment and the recovery of N1 DNA sequences in immunoprecipitations using anti-acetylated H3 and H4 antibodies argue that N1 is present, but in an altered conformation, in the active promoters.

A transcriptionally active tRNA gene interferes with nucleosome positioning in vivo

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 4015-4025
Author(s):  
R H Morse ◽  
S Y Roth ◽  
R T Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Trna Gene ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iii ◽  
Nucleosome Positioning ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Trna Genes ◽  
Start Site ◽  
Cis Acting

Incorporation into a positioned nucleosome of a cis-acting element essential for replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae disrupts the function of the element in vivo [R. T. Simpson, Nature (London) 343:387-389, 1990]. Furthermore, nucleosome positioning has been implicated in repression of transcription by RNA polymerase II in yeast cells. We have now asked whether the function of cis-acting elements essential for transcription of a gene transcribed by RNA polymerase III can be similarly affected. A tRNA gene was fused to either of two nucleosome positioning signals such that the predicted nucleosome would incorporate near its center the tRNA start site and essential A-box element. These constructs were then introduced into yeast cells on stably maintained, multicopy plasmids. Competent tRNA genes were transcribed in vivo and were not incorporated into positioned nucleosomes. Mutated, inactive tRNA genes were incorporated into nucleosomes whose positions were as predicted. This finding demonstrates that the transcriptional competence of the tRNA gene determined its ability to override a nucleosome positioning signal in vivo and establishes that a hierarchy exists between cis-acting elements and nucleosome positioning signals.

scholarly journals PPAR, PTEN, and the Fight against Cancer

PPAR Research ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary E. Teresi ◽  
Kristin A. Waite
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Suppressor ◽  
Hormone Receptors ◽  
Susceptibility Gene ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Cellular Growth ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor, which belongs to the family of nuclear hormone receptors. Recent in vitro studies have shown that PPAR can regulate the transcription ofphosphatase and tensin homolog on chromosometen(PTEN), a known tumor suppressor.PTENis a susceptibility gene for a number of disorders, including breast and thyroid cancer. Activation of PPAR through agonists increases functional PTEN protein levels that subsequently induces apoptosis and inhibits cellular growth, which suggests that PPAR may be a tumor suppressor. Indeed, several in vivo studies have demonstrated that genetic alterations of PPAR can promote tumor progression. These results are supported by observations of the beneficial effects of PPAR agonists in the in vivo cancer setting. These studies signify the importance of PPAR andPTEN's interaction in cancer prevention.

scholarly journals Binding of Gal4p and Bicoid to Nucleosomal Sites in Yeast in the Absence of Replication

1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 2977-2985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhuvana Balasubramanian ◽  
Randall H. Morse
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Dna Replication ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Transcriptional Activator ◽  
Nucleosome Positioning ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Intracellular Environment ◽  
Nucleosomal Dna

ABSTRACT The yeast transcriptional activator Gal4p can bind to sites in nucleosomal DNA in vivo which it is unable to access in vitro. One event which could allow proteins to bind to otherwise inaccessible sites in chromatin in living cells is DNA replication. To determine whether replication is required for Gal4p to bind to nucleosomal sites in yeast, we have used previously characterized chromatin reporters in which Gal4p binding sites are incorporated into nucleosomes. We find that Gal4p is able to perturb nucleosome positioning via nucleosomal binding sites in yeast arrested either in G1, with α-factor, or in G2/M, with nocodazole. Similar results were obtained whether Gal4p synthesis was induced from the endogenous promoter by growth in galactose medium or by an artificial, hormone-inducible system. We also examined binding of theDrosophila transcriptional activator Bicoid, which belongs to the homeodomain class of transcription factors. We show that Bicoid, like Gal4p, can bind to nucleosomal sites inSWI + and swi1Δ yeast and in the absence of replication. Our results indicate that some feature of the intracellular environment other than DNA replication or the SWI-SNF complex permits factor access to nucleosomal sites.

scholarly journals Nucleosome positioning on large tandem DNA repeats of the '601' sequence engineered in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid Lancrey ◽  
Alexandra Joubert ◽  
Evelyne Duvernois-Berthet ◽  
Etienne Routhier ◽  
Saurabh Raj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Dna Sequence ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Nucleosome Occupancy ◽  
Nucleosome Positioning ◽  
Dna Repeats ◽  
Repeat Array ◽  
Synthetic Dna

The so-called 601 DNA sequence is often used to constrain the position of nucleosomes on a DNA molecule in vitro. Although the ability of the 147 base pair sequence to precisely position a nucleosome in vitro is well documented, in vivo application of this property has been explored only in a few studies and yielded contradictory conclusions. Our goal in the present study was to test the ability of the 601 sequence to dictate nucleosome positioning in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the context of a long tandem repeat array inserted in a yeast chromosome. We engineered such arrays with three different repeat size, namely 167, 197 and 237 base pairs. Although our arrays are able to position nucleosomes in vitro as expected, analysis of nucleosome occupancy on these arrays in vivo revealed that nucleosomes are not preferentially positioned as expected on the 601-core sequence along the repeats and that the measured nucleosome repeat length does not correspond to the one expected by design. Altogether our results demonstrate that the rules defining nucleosome positions on this DNA sequence in vitro are not valid in vivo, at least in this chromosomal context, questioning the relevance of using the 601 sequence in vivo to achieve precise nucleosome positioning on designer synthetic DNA sequences.

scholarly journals Insight into the Influence of Cultivar Type, Cultivation Year, and Site on the Lignans and Related Phenolic Profiles, and the Health-Promoting Antioxidant Potential of Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) Seeds

Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 2636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurine Garros ◽  
Samantha Drouet ◽  
Cyrielle Corbin ◽  
Cédric Decourtil ◽  
Thibaud Fidel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Antioxidant Power ◽  
Accumulation Pattern ◽  
The Impact

Flaxseeds are a functional food representing, by far, the richest natural grain source of lignans, and accumulate substantial amounts of other health beneficial phenolic compounds (i.e., flavonols, hydroxycinnamic acids). This specific accumulation pattern is related to their numerous beneficial effects on human health. However, to date, little data is available concerning the relative impact of genetic and geographic parameters on the phytochemical yield and composition. Here, the major influence of the cultivar over geographic parameters on the flaxseed phytochemical accumulation yield and composition is evidenced. The importance of genetic parameters on the lignan accumulation was further confirmed by gene expression analysis monitored by RT-qPCR. The corresponding antioxidant activity of these flaxseed extracts was evaluated, both in vitro, using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and iron chelating assays, as well as in vivo, by monitoring the impact of UV-induced oxidative stress on the lipid membrane peroxidation of yeast cells. Our results, both the in vitro and in vivo studies, confirm that flaxseed extracts are an effective protector against oxidative stress. The results point out that secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, caffeic acid glucoside, and p-coumaric acid glucoside are the main contributors to the antioxidant capacity. Considering the health benefits of these compounds, the present study demonstrates that the flaxseed cultivar type could greatly influence the phytochemical intakes and, therefore, the associated biological activities. We recommend that this crucial parameter be considered in epidemiological studies dealing with flaxseeds.

scholarly journals Nucleosome breathing and remodeling constrain CRISPR-Cas9 function

eLife ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Stefan Isaac ◽  
Fuguo Jiang ◽  
Jennifer A Doudna ◽  
Wendell A Lim ◽  
Geeta J Narlikar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chromatin Remodeling ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Dynamic Properties ◽  
Eukaryotic Cells ◽  
Chromatin Remodelers ◽  
Nucleosomal Dna ◽  
Eukaryotic Chromatin ◽  
Versatile Tool

The CRISPR-Cas9 bacterial surveillance system has become a versatile tool for genome editing and gene regulation in eukaryotic cells, yet how CRISPR-Cas9 contends with the barriers presented by eukaryotic chromatin is poorly understood. Here we investigate how the smallest unit of chromatin, a nucleosome, constrains the activity of the CRISPR-Cas9 system. We find that nucleosomes assembled on native DNA sequences are permissive to Cas9 action. However, the accessibility of nucleosomal DNA to Cas9 is variable over several orders of magnitude depending on dynamic properties of the DNA sequence and the distance of the PAM site from the nucleosome dyad. We further find that chromatin remodeling enzymes stimulate Cas9 activity on nucleosomal templates. Our findings imply that the spontaneous breathing of nucleosomal DNA together with the action of chromatin remodelers allow Cas9 to effectively act on chromatin in vivo.

scholarly journals A transcriptionally active tRNA gene interferes with nucleosome positioning in vivo.

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 4015-4025 ◽  
Author(s):  
R H Morse ◽  
S Y Roth ◽  
R T Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Trna Gene ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iii ◽  
Nucleosome Positioning ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Trna Genes ◽  
Start Site ◽  
Cis Acting

Incorporation into a positioned nucleosome of a cis-acting element essential for replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae disrupts the function of the element in vivo [R. T. Simpson, Nature (London) 343:387-389, 1990]. Furthermore, nucleosome positioning has been implicated in repression of transcription by RNA polymerase II in yeast cells. We have now asked whether the function of cis-acting elements essential for transcription of a gene transcribed by RNA polymerase III can be similarly affected. A tRNA gene was fused to either of two nucleosome positioning signals such that the predicted nucleosome would incorporate near its center the tRNA start site and essential A-box element. These constructs were then introduced into yeast cells on stably maintained, multicopy plasmids. Competent tRNA genes were transcribed in vivo and were not incorporated into positioned nucleosomes. Mutated, inactive tRNA genes were incorporated into nucleosomes whose positions were as predicted. This finding demonstrates that the transcriptional competence of the tRNA gene determined its ability to override a nucleosome positioning signal in vivo and establishes that a hierarchy exists between cis-acting elements and nucleosome positioning signals.

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