Harry Scherthan

Cohesin SMC1 beta is required for meiotic chromosome dynamics, sister chromatid cohesion and DNA recombination.

Sister chromatid cohesion ensures the faithful segregation of chromosomes in mitosis and in both meiotic divisions. Meiosis-specific components of the cohesin complex, including the recently described SMC1 isoform SMC1β, were suggested to be required for meiotic sister chromatid cohesion and DNA recombination. Here we show that SMC1β-deficient mice of both sexes are sterile. Male meiosis is blocked in pachytene; female meiosis is highly error-prone but continues until metaphase II. Prophase axial elements (AEs) are markedly shortened, chromatin extends further from the AEs, chromosome synapsis is incomplete, and sister chromatid cohesion in chromosome arms and at centromeres is lost prematurely. In addition, crossover-associated recombination foci are absent or reduced, and meiosis-specific perinuclear telomere arrangements are impaired. Thus, SMC1β has a key role in meiotic cohesion, the assembly of AEs, synapsis, recombination, and chromosome movements.

Isolation and Characterization of Suv39h2, a Second Histone H3 Methyltransferase Gene That Displays Testis-Specific Expression

ABSTRACT Higher-order chromatin has been implicated in epigenetic gene control and in the functional organization of chromosomes. We have recently discovered mouse (Suv39h1) and human (SUV39H1) histone H3 lysine 9-selective methyltransferases (Suv39h HMTases) and shown that they modulate chromatin dynamics in somatic cells. We describe here the isolation, chromosomal assignment, and characterization of a second murine gene, Suv39h2. Like Suv39h1,Suv39h2 encodes an H3 HMTase that shares 59% identity with Suv39h1 but which differs by the presence of a highly basic N terminus. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization and haplotype analysis, theSuv39h2 locus was mapped to the subcentromeric region of mouse chromosome 2, whereas the Suv39h1 locus resides at the tip of the mouse X chromosome. Notably, although bothSuv39h loci display overlapping expression profiles during mouse embryogenesis, Suv39h2 transcripts remain specifically expressed in adult testes. Immunolocalization of Suv39h2 protein during spermatogenesis indicates enriched distribution at the heterochromatin from the leptotene to the round spermatid stage. Moreover, Suv39h2 specifically accumulates with chromatin of the sex chromosomes (XY body) which undergo transcriptional silencing during the first meiotic prophase. These data are consistent with redundant enzymatic roles for Suv39h1 and Suv39h2 during mouse development and suggest an additional function of the Suv39h2 HMTase in organizing meiotic heterochromatin that may even impart an epigenetic imprint to the male germ line.

hTERT associates with human telomeres and enhances genomic stability and DNA repair

Ectopic expression of telomerase in telomerase-silent cells is sufficient to overcome senescence and to extend cellular lifespan. We show here that the catalytic subunit of human telomerase (hTERT) crosslinks telomeres. This interaction is blocked by the telomere repeat binding factor 1, but not by a dominant negative form of this protein. It is also abolished by destruction of the RNA component of telomerase as well as by mutations in the hTERT protein. Ectopic expression of hTERT leads to transcriptional alterations of a subset of genes and changes in the interaction of the telomeres with the nuclear matrix. This is associated with reduction of spontaneous chromosome damage in G1 cells, enhancement of the kinetics of DNA repair and an increase in NTP levels. The effect on DNA repair is likely indirect as TERT does not directly affect DNA end rejoining in vitro or meiotic recombination in vivo. The observed effects of hTERT occurred rapidly before any significant lengthening of telomeres was observed. Our findings establish an intimate relationship between hTERT–telomere interactions and alteration in transcription of a subset of genes that may lead to increased genomic stability and enhanced repair of genetic damage. These novel functions of telomerase are distinct from its known effect on telomere length and have potentially important biological consequences.

Nuclear architecture and spatial positioning help establish transcriptional states of telomeres in yeast.

Recent experiments have shown that gene repression can be correlated with relocation of genes to heterochromatin-rich silent domains. Here, we investigate whether nuclear architecture and spatial positioning can contribute directly to the transcriptional activity of a genetic locus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. By disassembling telomeric silent domains without altering the chromatin-mediated silencing machinery, we show that the transcriptional activity of silencer–reporter constructs depends on intranuclear position. This demonstrates that telomeric silent domains are actively involved in transcriptional silencing. Employing fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in combination with genetic assays, we demonstrate that telomeres control the establishment of transcriptional states by reversible partitioning with the perinuclear silencing domains. Anchoring telomeres interferes with their ability to assume an active state, whereas disassembly of silencing domains prevents telomeres from assuming a repressed state. Our data support a model in which domains of enriched transcriptional regulators allow genes to determine transcriptional states by spatial positioning.

Comparative analysis of the cattle and human genomes: detection of ZOO-FISH and gene mapping-based chromosomal homologies

Comparative chromosome painting with individual human chromosome-specific libraries (CSLs) on cattle metaphase chromosomes delineated 46 homologous chromosomal segments between the two species. Continuous arrangement of these segments on individual cattle chromosomes demonstrates a nearly complete coverage of the bovine karyotype and shows physical boundaries of bovine chromosomal segments homologous to individual human chromosomes. Alignment of the available comparative gene mapping data with the homologous segments strongly supports the detected gross homologies between the karyotypes of the two species. In addition to cattle, four human CSLs were hybridized to sheep metaphase chromosomes also, to further verify the known karyotype homology within the Bovidae. Besides its application to karyotype evolution research, the comparative knowledge provides for rapid expansion of the much needed Type I locus-based bovine gene map.

A comparative map of the porcine and human genomes demonstrates ZOO-FISH and gene mapping-based chromosomal homologies

ZOO-FISH with chromosome-specific DNA libraries (CSLs) from individual flow-sorted human chromosomes was applied on porcine metaphase chromosomes to establish segment homology between the pig and human karyotypes. Forty-seven porcine chromosomal segments corresponding to all human chromosomes except the Y were delineated, resulting in a nearly complete coverage of the porcine karyotype. The syntenic segments detected were further confirmed by the gene mapping information available in the two species. A map demarcating physical boundaries of human homologies on individual pig chromosomes is complemented with a detail survey of the physical and genetic linkage mapping data in the two species. The resultant map, thus, provides a comprehensive and updated comparative status of the human and porcine genomes.

Zoo-FISH delineates conserved chromosomal segments in horse and man

Human chromosome specific libraries (CSLs) were individually applied to equine metaphase chromosomes using the fluorescencein situ hybridization (FISH) technique. All CSLs, except Y, showed painting signals on one or several horse chromosomes. In total 43 conserved chromosoma segments were painted. Homoeology could not, however, be detected for some segments of the equine genome. This is most likely related to the very weak signals displayed by some libraries, rather than to the absence of similarity with the human genome. In spite of divergence from the human genome, dated 70–80 million years ago, a fairly high degree of synteny conservation was observed. In seven cases, whole chromosome synteny was detected between the two species. The comparative painting results agreed completely with the limited gene mapping data available in horses, and also enabled us provisionally to assign one linkage group (U2) and one syntenic group (NP, MPI, IDH2) to specific equine chromosomes. Chromosomal assignments of three other syntenic groups are also proposed. The findings of this study will be of significant use in the expansion of the hitherto poorly developed equine gene map.

Real-time xCELLigence impedance analysis of the cytotoxicity of dental composite components on human gingival fibroblasts

OBJECTIVES Aim of this study was by continuous monitoring to assay the proliferative capacity of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs), to investigate cytotoxicity of the most common monomers/comonomers in dental resin composites: bisphenol-A-glycidylmethacrylate (BisGMA), hydroxyethylenemethacrylate (HEMA), triethyleneglycoldimethacrylate (TEGDMA), and urethanedimethacrylate (UDMA) in HGFs during 24h exposure using the xCELLigence system. METHODS xCELLigence cell index (CI) impedance measurements were performed according to the instructions of the supplier. HGFs were resuspended in medium and subsequently adjusted to 400,000, 200,000, 100,000, and 50,000 cells/mL. After seeding 100 microL of the cell suspensions into the wells of the E-plate 96, HGFs were monitored every 15 min for a period of up to 18 h by the xCELLigence system. RESULTS Half maximum effect concentrations (EC(50)) were determined based on the dose-response curves derived by xCELLigence measurements. Following real-time analysis, significantly increased EC(50) values of HGFs exposed for 24h to the following substances were obtained: HEMA(a), TEGDMA(b), UDMA(c). The EC(50) values (mean [mmol/L]+/-S.E.M.; n=5) were: HEMA 11.20+/-0.3, TEGDMA(a) 3.61+/-0.2, UDMA(a,b) 0.20+/-0.1, and BisGMA(a,b,c) 0.08+/-0.1. These results are similar to the EC(50) values previously observed with the XTT end-point assay. SIGNIFICANCE Our data suggests that the xCELLigence live cell analysis system offers dynamic live cell monitoring and combines high data acquisition rates with ease of handling. Therefore, the xCELLigence system can be used as a rapid monitoring tool for cellular viability and be applied in toxicity testing of xenobiotics using in vitro cell cultures.

HOPE fixation: a novel fixing method and paraffin-embedding technique for human soft tissues.

We have developed a novel method for tissue fixation, including subsequent paraffin-embedding and sectioning, that allows the complete pathological analysis of all types of human soft tissues. Furthermore, it maintains additional positive features relevant to immunohistochemistry and molecular pathology. The so-called HOPE-technique (Hepes-Glutamic acid buffer mediated Organic solvent Protection Effect) comprises a protection-solution with an organic buffer, acetone as the only dehydrating agent, and pure paraffin of 52-54 degrees C melting temperature. Although the exact mechanism of protection has still to be elucidated, it seems rather unlikely that chemical bindings occur during the whole process of fixation, which is described and compared with the standard formalin-paraffin technique. Essentially, HOPE-fixed sections show formalin-like morphology. However, the sections are somewhat difficult to handle because of their fragility. This is due to the absence of any type of protein cross-linking and the dynamic processes of immersion and outflow of the HOPE protection solution. HOPE-fixed sections provide an excellent preservation of proteins and antigenic structures for differential analysis by immunohistochemical and/or enzyme histochemical techniques. However, their most remarkable feature is the extremely low degradation of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) combined with good results obtained by in situ hybridization techniques. In conclusion, HOPE fixation may become a valuable additional tool in modern pathology.

Mutations in the polyglutamine binding protein 1 gene cause X-linked mental retardation.

We found mutations in the gene PQBP1 in 5 of 29 families with nonsyndromic (MRX) and syndromic (MRXS) forms of X-linked mental retardation (XLMR). Clinical features in affected males include mental retardation, microcephaly, short stature, spastic paraplegia and midline defects. PQBP1 has previously been implicated in the pathogenesis of polyglutamine expansion diseases. Our findings link this gene to XLMR and shed more light on the pathogenesis of this common disorder.