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At least 37 records · Page 2

Four-dimensional chromosome reconstruction elucidates the spatiotemporal reorganization of the mammalian X chromosome

Significance Breakthrough technological advances such as Hi-C have enabled large-scale sequencing of pairwise genomic contacts. However, translating the 2D contacts to 3D spatial models remains challenging. Here we develop the “4DHiC” modeling method to infer 3D information from 2D datasets across time and construct a 3D model of the inactive X-chromosome (Xi). Our model not only demonstrates a spatial phase-separation between A/B and S1/S2 compartments to form “hemispheres,” but also reveals persistent smaller-scale structures hidden under the Xi superstructure. We also simulate Xist RNA spreading dynamics and deduce that the RNA spreads between hemispheres via both surface and core to establish the Xi. Our 4DHiC will serve a growing demand for data-driven methodologies that extract spatial information from biochemical interaction data.

Lappala, Anna↗

Analysis of Terminal Deletions using a Generalized Time-Dependent Model of Radiation-Induced Formation of Chromosomal Aberrations

We have developed a model that can simulate different types of radiation induced chromosomal aberrations (CA's) and can provide predictions on the frequency and size of chromosomes with terminal deletions. Chromosomes with terminal deletions lack telomeres and this can elicit sister chromatid unions and the prolonged breakage/fusion/bridge (B/F/B) cycles that have been observed in mammalian tumors. The loss of a single telomere has been shown to cause extensive genomic instability through the B/F/B cycle process. Our model uses a stochastic process of DNA broken end joining, in which a realistic spectrum of CA's is created from improperly joined DNA free ends formed by DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). The distribution of the DNA free ends is given by a mechanistic model that takes into account the chromatin structure and track structure for high-LET radiation. The model allows for DSB clustering from high-LET radiation and simulates the formation of CA's in stages that correspond to the actual time after radiation exposure. The time scale for CA formation is derived from experimental data on DSB repair kinetics. At any given time a nucleus may have intact chromosomes, CA's, and/or unrepaired fragments, some of which are defined as terminal deletions, if they are capped by one telomere. The model produces a spectrum of terminal deletions with their corresponding probabilities and size distributions for different heavy ions exposures for the first division after exposure. This data provides valuable information because there is limited experimental data available in the literature on the on the actual size of terminal deletions. We compare our model output to the available experimental data and make a reasonable extrapolation on the number of chromosomes lacking telomeres in human lymphocytes exposed to heavy ions. This model generates data which may lead to predictions on the rate of genomic instability in cells after exposure to high charge and energy nuclei affecting astronauts during space missions.

Ponomarev, Artem L.↗

Structure of orthoreovirus RNA chaperone σNS, a component of viral replication factories

Abstract The mammalian orthoreovirus (reovirus) σNS protein is required for formation of replication compartments that support viral genome replication and capsid assembly. Despite its functional importance, a mechanistic understanding of σNS is lacking. We conducted structural and biochemical analyses of a σNS mutant that forms dimers instead of the higher-order oligomers formed by wildtype (WT) σNS. The crystal structure shows that dimers interact with each other using N-terminal arms to form a helical assembly resembling WT σNS filaments in complex with RNA observed using cryo-EM. The interior of the helical assembly is of appropriate diameter to bind RNA. The helical assembly is disrupted by bile acids, which bind to the same site as the N-terminal arm. This finding suggests that the N-terminal arm functions in conferring context-dependent oligomeric states of σNS, which is supported by the structure of σNS lacking an N-terminal arm. We further observed that σNS has RNA chaperone activity likely essential for presenting mRNA to the viral polymerase for genome replication. This activity is reduced by bile acids and abolished by N-terminal arm deletion, suggesting that the activity requires formation of σNS oligomers. Our studies provide structural and mechanistic insights into the function of σNS in reovirus replication.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Knowledge graph-aided Bayesian active learning for top- K genetic interaction discovery

In silico methods for predicting the effects of multi-gene perturbations hold great promise for advancing functional genomics, computational drug discovery, and disease modeling. However, the development of these predictive algorithms for mammalian systems has been hampered by limited datasets and high experimental costs. In this study, we present a Bayesian active learning framework designed to discover pairwise host gene knockdowns that effectively inhibit viral proliferation in an in vitro HIV-1 infection model. Our method leverages a biological knowledge graph as side information and employs a computationally efficient batch diversification approach. We evaluated this framework using a dataset of viral load measurements obtained from multi-day dual-gene depletion experiments, encompassing all possible pairwise knockdowns of over 350 host genes associated with HIV infection. We demonstrate that our framework rapidly identifies the most effective gene knockdown pairs for reducing viral load. Furthermore, we show that incorporating side information enhances performance during the early stages of active learning (low data regime), while our batch diversification strategy significantly boosts performance in later stages (high data regime). This framework is general and can be adapted to explore gene interactions in other contexts, such as synthetic lethality prediction and mapping epistatic effects across quantitative trait loci.

Computational biology and bioinformatics↗

Successful Validation of RNA Purification and Quantitative Real-Time PCR Analysis of Gene Expression on the International Space Station

The NASA Ames WetLab-2 system was developed to offer new on-orbit gene expression analysis capabilities to ISS researchers and can be used to conduct on-orbit RNA isolation and quantitative real time PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis of gene expression from a wide range of biological samples ranging from microbes to mammalian tissues. On orbit validation included three quantitative PCR (qPCR) runs using an E. coli genomic DNA template pre-loaded at three different concentrations. The flight Ct values for the DNA standards showed no statistically significant differences relative to ground controls although there was increased noise in Ct curves, likely due to microgravity-related bubble retention in the optical windows. RNA was successfully purified from both E. coli and mouse liver samples and successfully generated singleplex, duplex and triplex data although with higher standard deviations than ground controls, also likely due to bubbles. Using volunteer science activities, a potential bubble reduction strategy was tested and resulted in smooth amplification curves and tighter Cts between replicates. The WetLab-2 validation experiment demonstrates a novel molecular biology workbench on ISS which allows scientists to purify and stabilize RNA, and to conduct RT-qPCR analyses on-orbit with rapid results. This novel ability is an important step towards utilizing ISS as a National Laboratory facility with the capability to conduct and adjust science experiments in real time without sample return, and opens new possibilities for rapid medical diagnostics and biological environmental monitoring on ISS.

microgravity↗

Metabolic Stress in Space: ROS-Induced Mutations in Mice Hint at A New Path to Cancer

Long-duration spaceflight beyond Earth's magnetosphere poses serious health risks, including muscle atrophy, bone loss, liver and kidney damage, and the Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS). RNA-seq of mice aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for 37 days revealed extraordinary hypermutation in tissue-specific genes, with guanine base conversion predominating, potentially contributing to spaceflight-associated health risks. Our results suggest that the genome-wide accelerated mutation that we measured, seemingly independent of radiation dose, was induced by oxidative damage from higher atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) levels and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the ISS. This accelerated mutation, faster via RNA transcription than replication and more numerous than by radiation alone, unveils novel hotspots in the mammalian proteome. Notably, these hotspots correlate with commonly mutated genes across various human cancers, highlighting the ISS as a crucial platform for studying accelerated mutation, genome instability, and the induction of disease-causing mutations in model organisms. Our results suggest that metabolic processes can contribute to somatic mutation, and thus may play a role in the development of cancer. A metabolic link to genetic instability potentially has far-reaching implications for various diseases, with implications for human health on Earth and in space.

mice↗

Cbp1, a fungal virulence factor under positive selection, forms an effector complex that drives macrophage lysis

Intracellular pathogens secrete effectors to manipulate their host cells. Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) is a fungal intracellular pathogen of humans that grows in a yeast form in the host. Hc yeasts are phagocytosed by macrophages, where fungal intracellular replication precedes macrophage lysis. The most abundant virulence factor secreted by Hc yeast cells is Calcium Binding Protein 1 (Cbp1), which is absolutely required for macrophage lysis. Here we take an evolutionary, structural, and cell biological approach to understand Cbp1 function. We find that Cbp1 is present only in the genomes of closely related dimorphic fungal species of the Ajellomycetaceae family that lead primarily intracellular lifestyles in their mammalian hosts (Histoplasma, Paracoccidioides, and Emergomyces), but not conserved in the extracellular fungal pathogen Blastomyces dermatitidis. We observe a high rate of fixation of non-synonymous substitutions in the Cbp1 coding sequences, indicating that Cbp1 is under positive selection. We determine the de novo structures of Hc H88 Cbp1 and the Paracoccidioides americana (Pb03) Cbp1, revealing a novel “binocular” fold consisting of a helical dimer arrangement wherein two helices from each monomer contribute to a four-helix bundle. In contrast to Pb03 Cbp1, we show that Emergomyces Cbp1 orthologs are unable to stimulate macrophage lysis when expressed in the Hc cbp1 mutant. Consistent with this result, we find that wild-type Emergomyces africanus yeast are able to grow within primary macrophages but are incapable of lysing them. Finally, we use subcellular fractionation of infected macrophages and indirect immunofluorescence to show that Cbp1 localizes to the macrophage cytosol during Hc infection, making this the first instance of a phagosomal human fungal pathogen directing an effector into the cytosol of the host cell. We additionally show that Cbp1 forms a complex with Yps-3, another known Hc virulence factor that accesses the cytosol. Taken together, these data imply that Cbp1 is a fungal virulence factor under positive selection that localizes to the cytosol to trigger host cell lysis.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Genome-wide functional screens enable the prediction of high activity CRISPR-Cas9 and -Cas12a guides in Yarrowia lipolytica

Abstract Genome-wide functional genetic screens have been successful in discovering genotype-phenotype relationships and in engineering new phenotypes. While broadly applied in mammalian cell lines and in E. coli , use in non-conventional microorganisms has been limited, in part, due to the inability to accurately design high activity CRISPR guides in such species. Here, we develop an experimental-computational approach to sgRNA design that is specific to an organism of choice, in this case the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica . A negative selection screen in the absence of non-homologous end-joining, the dominant DNA repair mechanism, was used to generate single guide RNA (sgRNA) activity profiles for both SpCas9 and LbCas12a. This genome-wide data served as input to a deep learning algorithm, DeepGuide, that is able to accurately predict guide activity. DeepGuide uses unsupervised learning to obtain a compressed representation of the genome, followed by supervised learning to map sgRNA sequence, genomic context, and epigenetic features with guide activity. Experimental validation, both genome-wide and with a subset of selected genes, confirms DeepGuide’s ability to accurately predict high activity sgRNAs. DeepGuide provides an organism specific predictor of CRISPR guide activity that with retraining could be applied to other fungal species, prokaryotes, and other non-conventional organisms.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Omics Research on the International Space Station

The International Space Station (ISS) is an orbiting laboratory whose goals include advancing science and technology research. Completion of ISS assembly ushered a new era focused on utilization, encompassing multiple disciplines such as Biology and Biotechnology, Physical Sciences, Technology Development and Demonstration, Human Research, Earth and Space Sciences, and Educational Activities. The research complement planned for upcoming ISS Expeditions 45&46 includes several investigations in the new field of omics, which aims to collectively characterize sets of biomolecules (e.g., genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic products) that translate into organismic structure and function. For example, Multi‐Omics is a JAXA investigation that analyzes human microbial metabolic cross‐talk in the space ecosystem by evaluating data from immune dysregulation biomarkers, metabolic profiles, and microbiota composition. The NASA OsteoOmics investigation studies gravitational regulation of osteoblast genomics and metabolism. Tissue Regeneration uses pan‐omics approaches with cells cultured in bioreactors to characterize factors involved in mammalian bone tissue regeneration in microgravity. Rodent Research‐3 includes an experiment that implements pan‐omics to evaluate therapeutically significant molecular circuits, markers, and biomaterials associated with microgravity wound healing and tissue regeneration in bone defective rodents. The JAXA Mouse Epigenetics investigation examines molecular alterations in organ specific gene expression patterns and epigenetic modifications, and analyzes murine germ cell development during long term spaceflight. Lastly, Twins Study ("Differential effects of homozygous twin astronauts associated with differences in exposure to spaceflight factors"), NASA's first foray into human omics research, applies integrated analyses to assess biomolecular responses to physical, physiological, and environmental stressors associated with spaceflight.

Love, John↗

Perfect and imperfect views of ultraconserved sequences

Across the human genome, there are nearly 500 'ultraconserved' elements: regions of at least 200 contiguous nucleotides that are perfectly conserved in both the mouse and rat genomes. Remarkably, the majority of these sequences are non-coding, and many can function as enhancers that activate tissue-specific gene expression during embryonic development. From their first description more than 15 years ago, their extreme conservation has both fascinated and perplexed researchers in genomics and evolutionary biology. The intrigue around ultraconserved elements only grew with the observation that they are dispensable for viability. Here, in this paper, we review recent progress towards understanding the general importance and the specific functions of ultraconserved sequences in mammalian development and human disease and discuss possible explanations for their extreme conservation.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Dependence of Early and Late Chromosomal Aberrations on Radiation Quality and Cell Types

Exposure to radiation induces different types of DNA damage, increases mutation and chromosome aberration rates, and increases cellular transformation in vitro and in vivo. The susceptibility of cells to radiation depends on genetic background and growth condition of cells, as well as types of radiation. Mammalian cells of different tissue types and with different genetic background are known to have different survival rate and different mutation rate after cytogenetic insults. Genomic instability, induced by various genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors including radiation, is the driving force of tumorigenesis. Accurate measurements of the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) is important for estimating radiation-related risks. To further understand genomic instability induced by charged particles and their RBE, we exposed human lymphocytes ex vivo, human fibroblast AG1522, human mammary epithelial cells (CH184B5F5/M10), and bone marrow cells isolated from CBA/CaH(CBA) and C57BL/6 (C57) mice to high energy protons and Fe ions. Normal human fibroblasts AG1522 have apparently normal DNA damage response and repair mechanisms, while mammary epithelial cells (M10) are deficient in the repair of DNA DSBs. Mouse strain CBA is radio-sensitive while C57 is radio-resistant. Metaphase chromosomes at different cell divisions after radiation exposure were collected and chromosome aberrations were analyzed as RBE for different cell lines exposed to different radiations at various time points up to one month post irradiation.

Lu, Tao↗

Conserved enhancers control notochord expression of vertebrate Brachyury

The cell type-specific expression of key transcription factors is central to development and disease. Brachyury/T/TBXT is a major transcription factor for gastrulation, tailbud patterning, and notochord formation; however, how its expression is controlled in the mammalian notochord has remained elusive. Here, we identify the complement of notochord-specific enhancers in the mammalian Brachyury/T/TBXT gene. Using transgenic assays in zebrafish, axolotl, and mouse, we discover three conserved Brachyury-controlling notochord enhancers, T3, C, and I, in human, mouse, and marsupial genomes. Acting as Brachyury-responsive, auto-regulatory shadow enhancers, in cis deletion of all three enhancers in mouse abolishes Brachyury/T/Tbxt expression selectively in the notochord, causing specific trunk and neural tube defects without gastrulation or tailbud defects. The three Brachyury-driving notochord enhancers are conserved beyond mammals in the brachyury/tbxtb loci of fishes, dating their origin to the last common ancestor of jawed vertebrates. Our data define the vertebrate enhancers for Brachyury/T/TBXTB notochord expression through an auto-regulatory mechanism that conveys robustness and adaptability as ancient basis for axis development.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

A Monte-Carlo Model for the Formation of Radiation-induced Chromosomal Aberrations

Purpose: To simulate radiation-induced chromosome aberrations in mammalian cells (e.g., rings, translocations, and dicentrics) and to calculate their frequency distributions following exposure to DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) produced by high-LET ions. Methods: The interphase genome was assumed to be comprised of a collection of 2 kbp rigid-block monomers following the random-walk geometry. Additional details for the modeling of chromosomal structure, such as chromosomal domains and chromosomal loops, were included. A radial energy profile for heavy ion tracks was used to simulate the high-LET pattern of induced DSBs. The induced DSB pattern depended on the ion charge and kinetic energy, but always corresponded to the DSB yield of 25 DSBs/cell/Gy. The sum of all energy contributions from Poisson-distributed particle tracks was taken to account for all possible one-track and multi-track effects. The relevant output of the model was DNA fragments produced by DSBs. The DSBs, or breakpoints, were defined by (x, y, z, l) positions, where x, y, z were the Euclidian coordinates of a DSB, and where l was the relative position along the genome. Results: The code was used to carry out Monte Carlo simulations for DSB rejoinings at low doses. The resulting fragments were analyzed to estimate the frequencies of specific types of chromosomal aberrations. Histograms for relative frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and P.D.F.s (probability density functions) of a given aberration type were produced. The relative frequency of dicentrics to rings was compared to empirical data to calibrate rejoining probabilities. Of particular interest was the predicted distribution of ring sizes, irrespective of their frequencies relative to other aberrations. Simulated ring sizes were . 4 kbp, which are far too small to be observed experimentally (i.e., by microscopy) but which, nevertheless, are conjectured to exist. Other aberrations, for example, inversions, translocations, as well as multi-centrics were also recorded. Conclusion: High-LET DNA damage affects the frequencies of chromosomal aberrations. The ratio of rings to dicentrics is correct for the genomic size cut-offs corresponding to available experimental data. The present work predicts a relative abundance of small rings following irradiation by heavy ions.

Ponomarev, Artem L.↗

Identification of a new EF-hand superfamily member from Trypanosoma brucei

We identified several open reading frames between the regions encoding calmodulin and ubiquitin-EP52/1 in the genome of Trypanosoma brucei. One of these, EFH5, encodes a protein 192 amino acids long. The EFH5 transcript is present in poly(A)+ mRNA and is present at similar levels in the mammalian bloodstream form and the insect procyclic form. EFH5 contains four EF-hand homolog domains, two of which are inferred to bind Ca2+ ions. We expressed EFH5 as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli and demonstrated calcium-binding activity of the fusion protein using the 45Ca-overlay technique. The function of EFH5 remains unknown; however, as the fourth EF-hand homolog identified in trypanosomes, it attests to the broad range of functions assumed by calcium functioning as a second messenger. EFH5, which is most closely related to LAV1-2 from Physarum, represents a distinct subfamily among the EF-hand-containing proteins.

Non-NASA Center↗

Multiplex base editing to convert $\mathrm{TAG}$ into $\mathrm{TAA}$ codons in the human genome

Whole-genome recoding has been shown to enable nonstandard amino acids, biocontainment and viral resistance in bacteria. Here we take the first steps to extend this to human cells demonstrating exceptional base editing to convert TAG to TAA for 33 essential genes via a single transfection, and examine base-editing genome-wide (observing ~40 C-to-T off-target events in essential gene exons). We also introduce GRIT, a computational tool for recoding. This demonstrates the feasibility of recoding, and highly multiplex editing in mammalian cells.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Novel viruses of the family Partitiviridae discovered in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

It has been 49 years since the last discovery of a new virus family in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae . A large-scale screen to determine the diversity of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) viruses in S . cerevisiae has identified multiple novel viruses from the family Partitiviridae that have been previously shown to infect plants, fungi, protozoans, and insects. Most S . cerevisiae partitiviruses (ScPVs) are associated with strains of yeasts isolated from coffee and cacao beans. The presence of partitiviruses was confirmed by sequencing the viral dsRNAs and purifying and visualizing isometric, non-enveloped viral particles. ScPVs have a typical bipartite genome encoding an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) and a coat protein (CP). Phylogenetic analysis of ScPVs identified three species of ScPV, which are most closely related to viruses of the genus Cryspovirus from the mammalian pathogenic protozoan Cryptosporidium parvum . Molecular modeling of the ScPV RdRP revealed a conserved tertiary structure and catalytic site organization when compared to the RdRPs of the Picornaviridae . The ScPV CP is the smallest so far identified in the Partitiviridae and has structural homology with the CP of other partitiviruses but likely lacks a protrusion domain that is a conspicuous feature of other partitivirus particles. ScPVs were stably maintained during laboratory growth and were successfully transferred to haploid progeny after sporulation, which provides future opportunities to study partitivirus-host interactions using the powerful genetic tools available for the model organism S . cerevisiae .

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Campylobacter isolates recovered from consecutively reused broiler litter

ABSTRACT Campylobacterinfections are a leading cause of bacterial diarrhea in humans globally. Infections are due to consumption of contaminated food products and are highly associated with chicken meat, with chickens being an important reservoir forCampylobacter. Here, we characterized the genetic diversity ofCampylobacter jejuni(C. jejuni) andCampylobacter coli(C. coli) detected in broiler chicken litter over three consecutive flocks and determined their antimicrobial resistance (ARM) and virulence factor (VF) profiles.Campylobacterwas detected in 9.38% (27/288) of litter samples collected. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole genome sequencing were performed onC. jejuni(n= 39) andC. coli(n= 5) isolates.Campylobactervirulence factors differed within and across broiler houses but were explained by the broiler flock cohort raised on litter,Campylobacterspecies andCampylobactermultilocus sequence type (MLST). Virulence factors involved in the ability to invade and colonize host tissues and evade host defenses were present inC. jejuniisolates (ST-464) from flock cohorts 1 and 2 but absent inC. jejuniisolates (ST-48) from flock cohort 3.C. jejuniisolates from house three harbored a significantly higher proportion of virulence genes with functions related to glycosylation and immune evasion thanC. jejuniisolates from houses 1 and 2 (P< 0.01). AllC. jejuniisolates were susceptible to all antibiotics tested whileC. coli(n= 4) were resistant to tetracycline and harbored the tetracycline resistant ribosomal protection protein (TetO). Our results suggest that house environment and broiler management practices imposed selective pressures on virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes ofCampylobacter. IMPORTANCE Campylobacteris a leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States due to consumption of contaminated or mishandled food products, often associated with chicken meat.Campylobacteris common in the microbiota of avian and mammalian gut; however, acquisition of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factors (VFs) may result in strains that pose significant threat to public health. Although there are studies investigating the genetic diversity ofCampylobacterstrains isolated from post-harvest chicken samples, there are limited data on the genome characteristics of isolates recovered from preharvest broiler production. Here, we show thatCampylobacter jejuniandCampylobacter colidiffer in their carriage of antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors may also differ in their ability to persist in litter during consecutive grow-out of broiler flocks. We found that presence/absence of virulence factors needed for evasion of host defense mechanisms and gut colonization played an integral role in differentiatingCampylobacterstrains.

Microbiology↗

Heavy ion induced DNA-DSB in yeast and mammalian cells

Molecular changes at the DNA are assumed to be the main cause for radiation effects in a number of organisms. During the course of the last decades techniques have been developed for measuring DNA double-strand breaks (dsb), generally assumed to be the most critical DNA lesions. The outcome of all those different approaches portrays a collection of data useful for a theoretical description of radiation action mechanisms. However, in the case of heavy ion induced DNA dsb the picture is not quite clear yet and further projects and strategies have to be developed. The biological systems studied in our group are yeast and mammalian cells. While in the case of yeast cells technical and methodical reasons highlight these organisms mammalian cells reach greater importance when dsb repair studies are performed. In both types of organisms the technique of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is applied, although with different modifications and evaluation procedures mainly due to the different genome sizes.

Loebrich, M.↗