Yegor S. Vassetzky
Moscow State University
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Featured researches published by Yegor S. Vassetzky.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications | 1991
Sergey V. Razin; Yegor S. Vassetzky; Ronald Hancock
We have mapped nuclear matrix attachment regions (MARs), defined by their specific binding to nuclear matrices in vitro, and sites of topoisomerase II reaction, detected by DNA cleavage in vitro in the presence of the inhibitor VM-26, in the vicinity of the replication origin of the chicken alpha-globin gene domain. Two MARs are located close to the downstream end (in the direction of transcription) of a 3 kb fragment which includes the origin. These MARs contain sites for strong topoisomerase II binding and reaction. Our observations on this gene domain support two hypotheses concerning MARs in eukaryotic cells, namely that they are close to DNA replication origins and that they contain multiple topoisomerase II recognition sites.
Nucleic Acids Research | 2011
Sergey V. Razin; Alexey A. Gavrilov; A. Pichugin; M. Lipinski; Olga V. Iarovaia; Yegor S. Vassetzky
In the eukaryotic nucleus, genes are transcribed in transcription factories. In the present review, we re-evaluate the models of transcription factories in the light of recent and older data. Based on this analysis, we propose that transcription factories result from the aggregation of RNA polymerase II-containing pre-initiation complexes assembled next to each other in the nuclear space. Such an aggregation can be triggered by the phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II molecules and their interaction with various transcription factors. Individual transcription factories would thus incorporate tissue-specific, co-regulated as well as housekeeping genes based only on their initial proximity to each other in the nuclear space. Targeting genes to be transcribed to protein-dense factories that contain all factors necessary for transcription initiation and elongation through chromatin templates clearly favors a more economical utilization and better recycling of the transcription machinery.
Molecular Cancer | 2014
Olga V. Iarovaia; Mikhail A. Rubtsov; E. S. Ioudinkova; Tatiana Tsfasman; Sergey V. Razin; Yegor S. Vassetzky
Chromosomal translocations are a major cause of cancer. At the same time, the mechanisms that lead to specific chromosomal translocations that associate different gene regions remain largely unknown. Translocations are induced by double strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA. Here we review recent data on the mechanisms of generation, mobility and repair of DSBs and stress the importance of the nuclear organization in this process.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications | 1992
C.V. de Moura Gallo; Yegor S. Vassetzky; Michèle Huesca; Klaus Scherrer
A site of hypersensitivity to DNase I has been found at the 5-side of the chicken alpha-globin gene domain, ca. 8 Kbp upstream to the first gene. The presence of this site in different types of chicken cells correlates with the transcriptional status of the domain. A matrix attachment region (MAR) has also been found in the same subfragment, suggesting that it may be involved in the control of transcription of the chicken alpha-globin genes.
Cell Biology International Reports | 1992
Sergey V. Razin; Yegor S. Vassetzky
INTRODUCTION It is a well-established fact that transcription of eukaryotic genes is regulated at several levels. One of these levels is represented by mechanisms that operate within relatively large genomic domains. Active domains are preferentially sensitive to DNase I (for review see Gross and Garrard, 1988). They could be several dozens kb long and usually include a group of functionally related genes (e.g. globin genes). The borders of the domains are quite sharp. Recent fmdings indicate that transcrip- tional status of a whole domain can be determined by a so-called dominant control region (DCR). The best known example is the dominant control region of the domain of human ~-globin genes (Grosveld et al., 1987; Groodin et al., 1989). A relatively short region located in the upstream area of this domain drastically influences the functional status of a genomic region that is more than 100 Kbp long (in particular: transcriptional status of this region, sensitivity to DNase I, methylation pattern and replication thning). Existence of functional domains in eukaryotic genome raises a question whether these domains correspond to some stmctural units in chromatin. There are at least three levels of DNA packaging in chromatin, namely nucleosomal level, solenoid level and DNA loops level (for review see Reeves, 1984). Only the structural units of the third level of DNA compactization (i.e. DNA loops anchored at the chromosomal skeleton) have the size comparable with the size of the above discussed functional genomic domains. The DNA loops were first recognized when sedimen- tation properties of high-salt extracted nuclei were studied (Cook and BrazeU, 1980). It turned out that after extraction of histones the DNA was topologically constrained and could be either supercofled or relaxed depending on some external parameters. The average size of constrained domains determined by several independent methods was found to be of the order of 100 kb (for review see Hancock and Huges, 1982). An attractive hypothesis has been suggested that individual loops correspond to the functional genomic domains (Cook, 1989) In the frame of this hypothesis it was easy to explain how the preferential sensitivity to DNase I could be maintained within the limited though large areas of the genome and why the borders of the sensitive regions are rather sharp. The most simple suggestion appeals to the possibility of reversible distraction of solenoid level of DNP packaging within the individual loops. All the above mentioned considerations draw particular attention to the problem of sequence specificity of DNA interaction with the chromosomal skeletal elements. Indeed, if loops correspond to functional genomic domains, one could expect that borders of the loops have specific positions on the DNA chain and and are located
Molecular Genetics and Genomics | 1993
Yegor S. Vassetzky; C. V. De Moura Gallo; A.N. Bogdanova; Sergey V. Razin; Klaus Scherrer
The sequence-specific DNA-binding protein factor F6, which binds upstream of the cluster of the chicken α-globin genes, has previously been found to interact with a DNA fragment containing a replication origin and a nuclear matrix binding site. This protein has been partially characterized. Based on its molecular weight and binding affinity, F6 belongs to a family of GATA proteins, the chicken equivalent of transcription factor NFE-1. An oligonucleotide including the binding site for F6 competes for binding of the above-mentioned DNA fragment to the nuclear matrix. This indicates an involvement of this protein in the interaction between DNA and the nuclear matrix.
Journal of Molecular Biology | 1991
Sergey V. Razin; Yegor S. Vassetzky; A.I. Kvartskhava; N.F. Grinenko; Georgii P. Georgiev
A transcriptional enhancer is located near a replication origin within an upstream area of chicken domain of alpha-globin genes. Minimal region possessing enhancer properties is located about 4 kb upstream from the alpha-pi gene. Addition of the neighbouring 500 base-pair DNA fragment, including the constitutive DNase I hypersensitive site, increases the enhancer activity approximately twofold.
Free Radical Biology and Medicine | 2016
Petr Dmitriev; Yara Bou Saada; Carla Dib; Eugénie Ansseau; Ana Barat; Aline Hamade; Philippe Dessen; Thomas Robert; Vladimir Lazar; Ruy A. N. Louzada; Corinne Dupuy; Vlada V. Zakharova; Gilles Carnac; Marc Lipinski; Yegor S. Vassetzky
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the three most common muscular dystrophies in the Western world, however, its etiology remains only partially understood. Here, we provide evidence of constitutive DNA damage in in vitro cultured myoblasts isolated from FSHD patients and demonstrate oxidative DNA damage implication in the differentiation of these cells into phenotypically-aberrant myotubes. Double homeobox 4 (DUX4), the major actor in FSHD pathology induced DNA damage accumulation when overexpressed in normal human myoblasts, and RNAi-mediated DUX4 inhibition reduced the level of DNA damage in FSHD myoblasts. Addition of tempol, a powerful antioxidant, to the culture medium of proliferating DUX4-transfected myoblasts and FSHD myoblasts reduced the level of DNA damage, suggesting that DNA alterations are mainly due to oxidative stress. Antioxidant treatment during the myogenic differentiation of FSHD myoblasts significantly reduced morphological defects in myotube formation. We propose that the induction of DNA damage is a novel function of the DUX4 protein affecting myogenic differentiation of FSHD myoblasts.
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences | 2016
Yana R. Musinova; Eugene V. Sheval; Carla Dib; Diego Germini; Yegor S. Vassetzky
Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) Tat protein is one of the most important regulatory proteins for viral gene expression in the host cell and can modulate different cellular processes. In addition, Tat is secreted by the infected cell and can be internalized by neighboring cells; therefore, it affects both infected and uninfected cells. Tat can modulate cellular processes by interacting with different cellular structures and signaling pathways. In the nucleus, Tat might be localized either in the nucleoplasm or the nucleolus depending on its concentration. Here we review the distinct functions of Tat in the nucleoplasm and the nucleolus in connection with viral infection and HIV-induced oncogenesis.
Journal of Cellular Biochemistry | 2000
Yegor S. Vassetzky; Anna N. Bogdanova; Sergey V. Razin
Ten short DNA fragments have been selected from a library of the nuclear matrix–attached DNA (nmDNA) from chicken erythrocytes by their ability to hybridize with the fraction of chicken replication origins isolated by nascent DNA strand extrusion. The primary structure of these fragments has been determined. Five of the sequences contained a topoisomerase II recognition site. Most of the studied DNA fragments also have a common eight‐nucleotide motif, GCAGACCG/A. A sequence‐specific DNA‐binding protein with a MW of 55 kDa that interacted with this motif has been identified. Some of the cloned DNA fragments promoted an increased level of transient plasmid replication in transfected chicken cells. The ability of plasmid bearing nmDNA fragments to replicate correlated directly with their ability to target plasmids to the nuclear matrix compartment. J. Cell. Biochem. 79:1–14, 2000.