Single molecule MATAC-seq reveals key determinants of DNA replication origin efficiency.

Stochastic origin activation gives rise to significant cell-to-cell variability in the pattern of genome replication. The molecular basis for heterogeneity in efficiency and timing of individual origins is a long-standing question. Here, we developed Methylation Accessibility of TArgeted Chromatin domain Sequencing (MATAC-Seq) to determine single-molecule chromatin accessibility of four specific genomic loci. MATAC-Seq relies on preferential modification of accessible DNA by methyltransferases combined with Nanopore-Sequencing for direct readout of methylated DNA-bases. Applying MATAC-Seq to selected early-efficient and late-inefficient yeast replication origins revealed large heterogeneity of chromatin states. Disruption of INO80 or ISW2 chromatin remodeling complexes leads to changes at individual nucleosomal positions that correlate with changes in their replication efficiency. We found a chromatin state with an accessible nucleosome-free region in combination with well-positioned +1 and +2 nucleosomes as a strong predictor for efficient origin activation. Thus, MATAC-Seq identifies the large spectrum of alternative chromatin states that co-exist on a given locus previously masked in population-based experiments and provides a mechanistic basis for origin activation heterogeneity during eukaryotic DNA replication. Consequently, our single-molecule chromatin accessibility assay will be ideal to define single-molecule heterogeneity across many fundamental biological processes such as transcription, replication, or DNA repair in vitro and ex vivo.

Nuclear actin polymerization rapidly mediates replication fork remodeling upon stress by limiting PrimPol activity.

Cells rapidly respond to replication stress actively slowing fork progression and inducing fork reversal. How replication fork plasticity is achieved in the context of nuclear organization is currently unknown. Using nuclear actin probes in living and fixed cells, we visualized nuclear actin filaments in unperturbed S phase and observed their rapid extension in number and length upon genotoxic treatments, frequently taking contact with replication factories. Chemically or genetically impairing nuclear actin polymerization shortly before these treatments prevents active fork slowing and abolishes fork reversal. Defective fork remodeling is linked to deregulated chromatin loading of PrimPol, which promotes unrestrained and discontinuous DNA synthesis and limits the recruitment of RAD51 and SMARCAL1 to nascent DNA. Moreover, defective nuclear actin polymerization upon mild replication interference induces chromosomal instability in a PRIMPOL-dependent manner. Hence, by limiting PrimPol activity, nuclear F-actin orchestrates replication fork plasticity and is a key molecular determinant in the rapid cellular response to genotoxic treatments.

Direct visualization of transcription-replication conflicts reveals post-replicative DNA:RNA hybrids.

Transcription-replication collisions (TRCs) are crucial determinants of genome instability. R-loops were linked to head-on TRCs and proposed to obstruct replication fork progression. The underlying mechanisms, however, remained elusive due to the lack of direct visualization and of non-ambiguous research tools. Here, we ascertained the stability of estrogen-induced R-loops on the human genome, visualized them directly by electron microscopy (EM), and measured R-loop frequency and size at the single-molecule level. Combining EM and immuno-labeling on locus-specific head-on TRCs in bacteria, we observed the frequent accumulation of DNA:RNA hybrids behind replication forks. These post-replicative structures are linked to fork slowing and reversal across conflict regions and are distinct from physiological DNA:RNA hybrids at Okazaki fragments. Comet assays on nascent DNA revealed a marked delay in nascent DNA maturation in multiple conditions previously linked to R-loop accumulation. Altogether, our findings suggest that TRC-associated replication interference entails transactions that follow initial R-loop bypass by the replication fork.

Replication fork plasticity upon replication stress requires rapid nuclear actin polymerization.

Cells rapidly respond to replication stress actively slowing fork progression and inducing fork reversal. How replication fork plasticity is achieved in the context of nuclear organization is currently unknown. Using nuclear actin probes in living and fixed cells, we visualized nuclear actin filaments in unperturbed S phase, rapidly extending in number and thickness upon genotoxic treatments, and taking frequent contact with replication factories. Chemically or genetically impairing nuclear actin polymerization shortly before these treatments prevents active fork slowing and abolishes fork reversal. Defective fork plasticity is linked to reduced recruitment of RAD51 and SMARCAL1 to nascent DNA. Conversely, PRIMPOL gains access to replicating chromatin, promoting unrestrained and discontinuous DNA synthesis, which is associated with increased chromosomal instability and decreased cellular resistance to replication stress. Hence, nuclear F-actin orchestrates replication fork plasticity and is a key molecular determinant in the rapid cellular response to genotoxic treatments.

Dynamics of Chromatin Accessibility During Hematopoietic Stem Cell Differentiation Into Progressively Lineage-Committed Progeny.

Epigenetic mechanisms regulate the multilineage differentiation capacity of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) into a variety of blood and immune cells. Mapping the chromatin dynamics of functionally defined cell populations will shed mechanistic insight into 2 major, unanswered questions in stem cell biology: how does epigenetic identity contribute to a cell type's lineage potential, and how do cascades of chromatin remodeling dictate ensuing fate decisions? Our recent work revealed evidence of multilineage gene priming in HSCs, where open cis-regulatory elements (CREs) exclusively shared between HSCs and unipotent lineage cells were enriched for DNA binding motifs of known lineage-specific transcription factors. Oligopotent progenitor populations operating between the HSCs and unipotent cells play essential roles in effecting hematopoietic homeostasis. To test the hypothesis that selective HSC-primed lineage-specific CREs remain accessible throughout differentiation, we used ATAC-seq to map the temporal dynamics of chromatin remodeling during progenitor differentiation. We observed epigenetic-driven clustering of oligopotent and unipotent progenitors into distinct erythromyeloid and lymphoid branches, with multipotent HSCs and MPPs associating with the erythromyeloid lineage. We mapped the dynamics of lineage-primed CREs throughout hematopoiesis and identified both unique and shared CREs as potential lineage reinforcement mechanisms at fate branch points. Additionally, quantification of genome-wide peak count and size revealed overall greater chromatin accessibility in HSCs, allowing us to identify HSC-unique peaks as putative regulators of self-renewal and multilineage potential. Finally, CRISPRi-mediated targeting of ATACseq-identified putative CREs in HSCs allowed us to demonstrate the functional role of selective CREs in lineage-specific gene expression. These findings provide insight into the regulation of stem cell multipotency and lineage commitment throughout hematopoiesis and serve as a resource to test functional drivers of hematopoietic lineage fate.

Stress-triggered hematopoietic stem cell proliferation relies on PrimPol-mediated repriming.

Stem cell division is linked to tumorigenesis by yet-elusive mechanisms. The hematopoietic system reacts to stress by triggering hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) proliferation, which can be accompanied by chromosomal breakage in activated hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). However, whether these lesions persist in their downstream progeny and induce a canonical DNA damage response (DDR) remains unclear. Inducing HSPC proliferation by simulated viral infection, we report that the associated DNA damage is restricted to HSCs and that proliferating HSCs rewire their DDR upon endogenous and clastogen-induced damage. Combining transcriptomics, single-cell and single-molecule assays on murine bone marrow cells, we found accelerated fork progression in stimulated HSPCs, reflecting engagement of PrimPol-dependent repriming, at the expense of replication fork reversal. Ultimately, competitive bone marrow transplantation revealed the requirement of PrimPol for efficient HSC amplification and bone marrow reconstitution. Hence, fine-tuning replication fork plasticity is essential to support stem cell functionality upon proliferation stimuli.

New transgenic mouse models enabling pan-hematopoietic or selective hematopoietic stem cell depletion in vivo.

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) multipotency and self-renewal are typically defined through serial transplantation experiments. Host conditioning is necessary for robust HSC engraftment, likely by reducing immune-mediated rejection and by clearing limited HSC niche space. Because irradiation of the recipient mouse is non-specific and broadly damaging, there is a need to develop alternative models to study HSC performance at steady-state and in the absence of radiation-induced stress. We have generated and characterized two new mouse models where either all hematopoietic cells or only HSCs can be specifically induced to die in vivo or in vitro. Hematopoietic-specific Vav1-mediated expression of a loxP-flanked diphtheria-toxin receptor (DTR) renders all hematopoietic cells sensitive to diphtheria toxin (DT) in "Vav-DTR" mice. Crossing these mice to Flk2-Cre mice results in "HSC-DTR" mice which exhibit HSC-selective DT sensitivity. We demonstrate robust, rapid, and highly selective cell ablation in these models. These new mouse models provide a platform to test whether HSCs are required for long-term hematopoiesis in vivo, for understanding the mechanisms regulating HSC engraftment, and interrogating in vivo hematopoietic differentiation pathways and mechanisms regulating hematopoietic homeostasis.

Chromatin accessibility maps provide evidence of multilineage gene priming in hematopoietic stem cells.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have the capacity to differentiate into vastly different types of mature blood cells. The epigenetic mechanisms regulating the multilineage ability, or multipotency, of HSCs are not well understood. To test the hypothesis that cis-regulatory elements that control fate decisions for all lineages are primed in HSCs, we used ATAC-seq to compare chromatin accessibility of HSCs with five unipotent cell types. We observed the highest similarity in accessibility profiles between megakaryocyte progenitors and HSCs, whereas B cells had the greatest number of regions with de novo gain in accessibility during differentiation. Despite these differences, we identified cis-regulatory elements from all lineages that displayed epigenetic priming in HSCs. These findings provide new insights into the regulation of stem cell multipotency, as well as a resource to identify functional drivers of lineage fate.

Sequential role of RAD51 paralog complexes in replication fork remodeling and restart.

Homologous recombination (HR) factors were recently implicated in DNA replication fork remodeling and protection. While maintaining genome stability, HR-mediated fork remodeling promotes cancer chemoresistance, by as-yet elusive mechanisms. Five HR cofactors - the RAD51 paralogs RAD51B, RAD51C, RAD51D, XRCC2 and XRCC3 - recently emerged as crucial tumor suppressors. Albeit extensively characterized in DNA repair, their role in replication has not been addressed systematically. Here, we identify all RAD51 paralogs while screening for modulators of RAD51 recombinase upon replication stress. Single-molecule analysis of fork progression and architecture in isogenic cellular systems shows that the BCDX2 subcomplex restrains fork progression upon stress, promoting fork reversal. Accordingly, BCDX2 primes unscheduled degradation of reversed forks in BRCA2-defective cells, boosting genomic instability. Conversely, the CX3 subcomplex is dispensable for fork reversal, but mediates efficient restart of reversed forks. We propose that RAD51 paralogs sequentially orchestrate clinically relevant transactions at replication forks, cooperatively promoting fork remodeling and restart.

CDC7 kinase promotes MRE11 fork processing, modulating fork speed and chromosomal breakage.

The CDC7 kinase is essential for the activation of DNA replication origins and has been implicated in the replication stress response. Using a highly specific chemical inhibitor and a chemical genetic approach, we now show that CDC7 activity is required to coordinate multiple MRE11-dependent processes occurring at replication forks, independently from its role in origin firing. CDC7 localizes at replication forks and, similarly to MRE11, mediates active slowing of fork progression upon mild topoisomerase inhibition. Both proteins are also retained on stalled forks, where they promote fork processing and restart. Moreover, MRE11 phosphorylation and localization at replication factories are progressively lost upon CDC7 inhibition. Finally, CDC7 activity at reversed forks is required for their pathological MRE11-dependent degradation in BRCA2-deficient cells. Thus, upon replication interference CDC7 is a key regulator of fork progression, processing and integrity. These results highlight a dual role for CDC7 in replication, modulating both initiation and elongation steps of DNA synthesis, and identify a key intervention point for anticancer therapies exploiting replication interference.

ATR-Mediated Global Fork Slowing and Reversal Assist Fork Traverse and Prevent Chromosomal Breakage at DNA Interstrand Cross-Links.

Interstrand cross-links (ICLs) are toxic DNA lesions interfering with DNA metabolism that are induced by widely used anticancer drugs. They have long been considered absolute roadblocks for replication forks, implicating complex DNA repair processes at stalled or converging replication forks. Recent evidence challenged this view, proposing that single forks traverse ICLs by yet elusive mechanisms. Combining ICL immunolabeling and single-molecule approaches in human cells, we now show that ICL induction leads to global replication fork slowing, involving forks not directly challenged by ICLs. Active fork slowing is linked to rapid recruitment of RAD51 to replicating chromatin and to RAD51/ZRANB3-mediated fork reversal. This global modulation of fork speed and architecture requires ATR activation, promotes single-fork ICL traverse-here, directly visualized by electron microscopy-and prevents chromosomal breakage by untimely ICL processing. We propose that global fork slowing by remodeling provides more time for template repair and promotes bypass of residual lesions, limiting fork-associated processing.

Histone Ubiquitination by the DNA Damage Response Is Required for Efficient DNA Replication in Unperturbed S Phase.

Chromatin ubiquitination by the ubiquitin ligase RNF168 is critical to regulate the DNA damage response (DDR). DDR deficiencies lead to cancer-prone syndromes, but whether this reflects DNA repair defects is still elusive. We identified key factors of the RNF168 pathway as essential mediators of efficient DNA replication in unperturbed S phase. We found that loss of RNF168 leads to reduced replication fork progression and to reversed fork accumulation, particularly evident at repetitive sequences stalling replication. Slow fork progression depends on MRE11-dependent degradation of reversed forks, implicating RNF168 in reversed fork protection and restart. Consistent with regular nucleosomal organization of reversed forks, the replication function of RNF168 requires H2A ubiquitination. As this novel function is shared with the key DDR players ATM, γH2A.X, RNF8, and 53BP1, we propose that double-stranded ends at reversed forks engage classical DDR factors, suggesting an alternative function of this pathway in preventing genome instability and human disease.

Replication Fork Slowing and Reversal upon DNA Damage Require PCNA Polyubiquitination and ZRANB3 DNA Translocase Activity.

DNA damage tolerance during eukaryotic replication is orchestrated by PCNA ubiquitination. While monoubiquitination activates mutagenic translesion synthesis, polyubiquitination activates an error-free pathway, elusive in mammals, enabling damage bypass by template switching. Fork reversal is driven in vitro by multiple enzymes, including the DNA translocase ZRANB3, shown to bind polyubiquitinated PCNA. However, whether this interaction promotes fork remodeling and template switching in vivo was unknown. Here we show that damage-induced fork reversal in mammalian cells requires PCNA ubiquitination, UBC13, and K63-linked polyubiquitin chains, previously involved in error-free damage tolerance. Fork reversal in vivo also requires ZRANB3 translocase activity and its interaction with polyubiquitinated PCNA, pinpointing ZRANB3 as a key effector of error-free DNA damage tolerance. Mutations affecting fork reversal also induced unrestrained fork progression and chromosomal breakage, suggesting fork remodeling as a global fork slowing and protection mechanism. Targeting these fork protection systems represents a promising strategy to potentiate cancer chemotherapy.

HELB Is a Feedback Inhibitor of DNA End Resection.

DNA double-strand break repair by homologous recombination is initiated by the formation of 3' single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) overhangs by a process termed end resection. Although much focus has been given to the decision to initiate resection, little is known of the mechanisms that regulate the ongoing formation of ssDNA tails. Here we report that DNA helicase B (HELB) underpins a feedback inhibition mechanism that curtails resection. HELB is recruited to ssDNA by interacting with RPA and uses its 5'-3' ssDNA translocase activity to inhibit EXO1 and BLM-DNA2, the nucleases catalyzing resection. HELB acts independently of 53BP1 and is exported from the nucleus as cells approach S phase, concomitant with the upregulation of resection. Consistent with its role as a resection antagonist, loss of HELB results in PARP inhibitor resistance in BRCA1-deficient tumor cells. We conclude that mammalian DNA end resection triggers its own inhibition via the recruitment of HELB.

Progressive Chromatin Condensation and H3K9 Methylation Regulate the Differentiation of Embryonic and Hematopoietic Stem Cells.

Epigenetic regulation serves as the basis for stem cell differentiation into distinct cell types, but it is unclear how global epigenetic changes are regulated during this process. Here, we tested the hypothesis that global chromatin organization affects the lineage potential of stem cells and that manipulation of chromatin dynamics influences stem cell function. Using nuclease sensitivity assays, we found a progressive decrease in chromatin digestion among pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs), multipotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and mature hematopoietic cells. Quantitative high-resolution microscopy revealed that ESCs contain significantly more euchromatin than HSCs, with a further reduction in mature cells. Increased cellular maturation also led to heterochromatin localization to the nuclear periphery. Functionally, prevention of heterochromatin formation by inhibition of the histone methyltransferase G9A resulted in delayed HSC differentiation. Our results demonstrate global chromatin rearrangements during stem cell differentiation and that heterochromatin formation by H3K9 methylation regulates HSC differentiation.

GST-His purification: a two-step affinity purification protocol yielding full-length purified proteins.

Key assays in enzymology for the biochemical characterization of proteins in vitro necessitate high concentrations of the purified protein of interest. Protein purification protocols should combine efficiency, simplicity and cost effectiveness. Here, we describe the GST-His method as a new small-scale affinity purification system for recombinant proteins, based on a N-terminal Glutathione Sepharose Tag (GST) and a C-terminal 10xHis tag, which are both fused to the protein of interest. The latter construct is used to generate baculoviruses, for infection of Sf9 infected cells for protein expression. GST is a rather long tag (29 kDa) which serves to ensure purification efficiency. However, it might influence physiological properties of the protein. Hence, it is subsequently cleaved off the protein using the PreScission enzyme. In order to ensure maximum purity and to remove the cleaved GST, we added a second affinity purification step based on the comparatively small His-Tag. Importantly, our technique is based on two different tags flanking the two ends of the protein, which is an efficient tool to remove degraded proteins and, therefore, enriches full-length proteins. The method presented here does not require an expensive instrumental setup, such as FPLC. Additionally, we incorporated MgCl2 and ATP washes to remove heat shock protein impurities and nuclease treatment to abolish contaminating nucleic acids. In summary, the combination of two different tags flanking the N- and the C-terminal and the capability to cleave off one of the tags, guaranties the recovery of a highly purified and full-length protein of interest.

Human CD1c+ dendritic cells secrete high levels of IL-12 and potently prime cytotoxic T-cell responses.

Dendritic cells (DC) have the unique capacities to induce primary T-cell responses. In mice, CD8α(+)DC are specialized to cross-prime CD8(+) T cells and produce interleukin-12 (IL-12) that promotes cytotoxicity. Human BDCA-3(+)DC share several relevant characteristics with CD8α(+)DC, but the capacities of human DC subsets to induce CD8(+) T-cell responses are incompletely understood. Here we compared CD1c(+) myeloid DC (mDC)1, BDCA-3(+)mDC2, and plasmacytoid DC (pDC) in peripheral blood and lymphoid tissues for phenotype, cytokine production, and their capacities to prime cytotoxic T cells. mDC1 were surprisingly the only human DC that secreted high amounts of IL-12p70, but they required combinational Toll-like receptor (TLR) stimulation. mDC2 and pDC produced interferon-λ and interferon-α, respectively. Importantly, mDC1 and mDC2 required different combinations of TLR ligands to cross-present protein antigens to CD8(+) T cells. pDC were inefficient and also expressed lower levels of major histocompatibility complex and co-stimulatory molecules. Nevertheless, all DC induced CD8(+) memory T-cell expansions upon licensing by CD4(+) T cells, and primed naive CD8(+) T cells following appropriate TLR stimulation. However, because mDC1 produced IL-12, they induced the highest levels of cytotoxic molecules. In conclusion, CD1c(+)mDC1 are the relevant source of IL-12 for naive T cells and are fully equipped to cross-prime cytotoxic T-cell responses.

Reprogramming cellular events by poly(ADP-ribose)-binding proteins.

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation is a posttranslational modification catalyzed by the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs). These enzymes covalently modify glutamic, aspartic and lysine amino acid side chains of acceptor proteins by the sequential addition of ADP-ribose (ADPr) units. The poly(ADP-ribose) (pADPr) polymers formed alter the physico-chemical characteristics of the substrate with functional consequences on its biological activities. Recently, non-covalent binding to pADPr has emerged as a key mechanism to modulate and coordinate several intracellular pathways including the DNA damage response, protein stability and cell death. In this review, we describe the basis of non-covalent binding to pADPr that has led to the emerging concept of pADPr-responsive signaling pathways. This review emphasizes the structural elements and the modular strategies developed by pADPr-binding proteins to exert a fine-tuned control of a variety of pathways. Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation reactions are highly regulated processes, both spatially and temporally, for which at least four specialized pADPr-binding modules accommodate different pADPr structures and reprogram protein functions. In this review, we highlight the role of well-characterized and newly discovered pADPr-binding modules in a diverse set of physiological functions.

PARP activation regulates the RNA-binding protein NONO in the DNA damage response to DNA double-strand breaks.

After the generation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is one of the first proteins to be recruited and activated through its binding to the free DNA ends. Upon activation, PARP-1 uses NAD+ to generate large amounts of poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR), which facilitates the recruitment of DNA repair factors. Here, we identify the RNA-binding protein NONO, a partner protein of SFPQ, as a novel PAR-binding protein. The protein motif being primarily responsible for PAR-binding is the RNA recognition motif 1 (RRM1), which is also crucial for RNA-binding, highlighting a competition between RNA and PAR as they share the same binding site. Strikingly, the in vivo recruitment of NONO to DNA damage sites completely depends on PAR, generated by activated PARP-1. Furthermore, we show that upon PAR-dependent recruitment, NONO stimulates nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) and represses homologous recombination (HR) in vivo. Our results therefore place NONO after PARP activation in the context of DNA DSB repair pathway decision. Understanding the mechanism of action of proteins that act in the same pathway as PARP-1 is crucial to shed more light onto the effect of interference on PAR-mediated pathways with PARP inhibitors, which have already reached phase III clinical trials but are until date poorly understood.

Quantitative proteomics profiling of the poly(ADP-ribose)-related response to genotoxic stress.

Upon DNA damage induction, DNA-dependent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) synthesize an anionic poly(ADP-ribose) (pADPr) scaffold to which several proteins bind with the subsequent formation of pADPr-associated multiprotein complexes. We have used a combination of affinity-purification methods and proteomics approaches to isolate these complexes and assess protein dynamics with respect to pADPr metabolism. As a first approach, we developed a substrate trapping strategy by which we demonstrate that a catalytically inactive Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) mutant can act as a physiologically selective bait for the isolation of specific pADPr-binding proteins through its macrodomain-like domain. In addition to antibody-mediated affinity-purification methods, we used a pADPr macrodomain affinity resin to recover pADPr-binding proteins and their complexes. Second, we designed a time course experiment to explore the changes in the composition of pADPr-containing multiprotein complexes in response to alkylating DNA damage-mediated PARP activation. Spectral count clustering based on GeLC-MS/MS analysis was complemented with further analyses using high precision quantitative proteomics through isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)- and Stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC)-based proteomics. Here, we present a valuable resource in the interpretation of systems biology of the DNA damage response network in the context of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and provide a basis for subsequent investigations of pADPr-binding protein candidates.