Chromosomes articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    The three-dimensional architecture of the genome affects genomic functions. Here, the authors developed Multiplexed Imaging of Nucleome Architectures to measure multiscale chromatin folding, RNA profiles, and associations of numerous genomic regions with nuclear lamina and nucleoli in the same, single cells in heterogeneous tissue.

    • Miao Liu
    • , Yanfang Lu
    •  & Siyuan Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    B chromosomes are supernumerary chromosomes exhibiting dramatic differences between different organs in same species. Here, the authors show programmed B chromosome elimination in goatgrass starts at the onset of embryo differentiation by nondisjunction of chromatids, anaphase lagging, and ends with the degradation of micronucleated DNA.

    • Alevtina Ruban
    • , Thomas Schmutzer
    •  & Andreas Houben

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The nuclear pore complex components, nucleoporins, have been proposed to mediate spatial and temporal organization of chromatin. Here, the authors show that Nucleoporin 153 interacts with CTCF and cohesin, and mediates their binding across cis-regulatory elements and TAD boundaries in mouse embryonic stem cells.

    • Shinichi Kadota
    • , Jianhong Ou
    •  & Eda Yildirim

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Pop1 and 6 are subunits of RNase P and RNase MRP, which process ribosomal and tRNAs. The authors show that when Pop1 and 6 are impaired, the telomerase subunit Est1 binds telomerase RNA at normal levels, but the binding is unstable. As a result, nuclear import of the telomerase holoenzyme is inhibited.

    • P. Daniela Garcia
    • , Robert W. Leach
    •  & Virginia A. Zakian

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The second messenger c-di-GMP modulates multiple responses to environmental and cellular signals in bacteria. Here, Skotnicka et al. identify a protein that binds c-di-GMP and contributes to chromosome organization and segregation in Myxococcus xanthus, with DNA-binding activity regulated by c-di-GMP.

    • Dorota Skotnicka
    • , Wieland Steinchen
    •  & Lotte Søgaard-Andersen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The BRCA2 tumour suppressor protein is known to play an important role in homologous recombination. Here the authors reveal how the phosphorylation of BRCA2 by Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) contributes to the regulation of mitosis.

    • Åsa Ehlén
    • , Charlotte Martin
    •  & Aura Carreira

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Centromeres are a self-propagating chromatin structure that feature nucleosomes containing histone H3 variant CENP-A. Here, the authors screen for factors that play a role in CENP-A chromatin maintenance, finding that SUMO-protease SENP6 controls inheritance of chromatin bound CENP-A and is required for the maintenance of the centromere and kinetochore complex.

    • Sreyoshi Mitra
    • , Dani L. Bodor
    •  & Lars E. T. Jansen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Major effect loci controlling natural, heritable variation in telomere length are not known. Here, the authors use QTL mapping and transgenic manipulations in Arabidopsis to implicate the rRNA-processing genes NOP2A and RPL5 in telomere length set point regulation in this model species.

    • Liliia R. Abdulkina
    • , Callie Kobayashi
    •  & Eugene V. Shakirov

  • Article
    | Open Access

    In Drosophila, dosage compensation involves a twofold transcriptional upregulation of the single male chromosome X. Here the authors show that global conformational differences are specifically present in the male X chromosome and detectable using Hi-C data, indicating that dosage compensation affects global chromosome structure.

    • Koustav Pal
    • , Mattia Forcato
    •  & Francesco Ferrari

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The chromosomal kinase JIL-1 is responsible for interphase histone H3S10 phosphorylation and has been proposed to protect active chromatin from heterochromatinisation. Here, the authors show that JIL-1 is stabilized and anchored to active genes and telomeric transposons by JASPer, which binds to H3K36me3 nucleosomes via its PWWP domain.

    • Christian Albig
    • , Chao Wang
    •  & Catherine Regnard

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Skewing of X chromosome inactivation (XCI) occurs when the silencing of one parental X chromosome is non-random. Here, Zito et al. report XCI patterns in lymphoblastoid cell lines, blood, subcutaneous adipose tissue samples and skin samples of monozygotic and dizygotic twins and find XCI skew to associate with tissue and age.

    • Antonino Zito
    • , Matthew N. Davies
    •  & Kerrin S. Small

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome causes premature aging. Here the authors show that activation of the DNA damage response at dysfunctional telomeres and transcription of telomeric non-coding RNAs contributes to the pathogenesis, which can be ameliorated by treatment with sequence-specific telomeric antisense oligonucleotides.

    • Julio Aguado
    • , Agustin Sola-Carvajal
    •  & Fabrizio d’Adda di Fagagna

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Topoisomerase 2 (Top2) is known to resolve DNA topological stress through double strand breaks (DSBs), yet Top2 inhibition has been reported to result in a significant amount of single-strand breaks (SSBs). Here the authors develop CC-seq—a method that allows direct mapping of both Top2-linked SSBs and DSBs—and reveal a significant impact of primary DNA sequence on Top2 directed cleavage.

    • William H. Gittens
    • , Dominic J. Johnson
    •  & Matthew J. Neale

  • Article
    | Open Access

    During cell division, tetraploidy can drive chromosomal instability (CIN) via supernumerary centrosomes, but it is unclear if this is the only route to CIN. Here the authors show that, in early mouse embryos, tetraploidy can drive chromosomal instability by altering microtubule dynamics and attachment.

    • Lia Mara Gomes Paim
    •  & Greg FitzHarris

  • Article
    | Open Access

    During meiotic prophase chromosomes organise into a series of chromatin loops, but the mechanisms of assembly remain unclear. Here the authors use Saccharomyces cerevisiae to elucidate how this elaborate three-dimensional chromosome organisation is linked to genomic sequence, and demonstrate an essential role for cohesin during this process.

    • Stephanie A. Schalbetter
    • , Geoffrey Fudenberg
    •  & Matthew J. Neale

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Human centromeric nucleosomes contain the specific CENP-A histone variant, which replaces canonical histone H3 and epigenetically marks the centromeres. Here the authors show that CENP-A nucleosomes form large supramolecular clusters during the G1 phase of the cell cycle which are arranged as rosette-like structures.

    • Leonid Andronov
    • , Khalid Ouararhni
    •  & Ali Hamiche

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The CENP-A chaperone HJURP associates with Mis18α, Mis18β, and M18BP1 to target centromeres and deposit new CENP-A. Here the authors provide evidence that two repeats in human HJURP previously proposed to be functionally distinct are interchangeable and bind concomitantly to the 4:2:2 Mis18α:Mis18β:M18BP1 complex without dissociating it.

    • Dongqing Pan
    • , Kai Walstein
    •  & Andrea Musacchio

  • Article
    | Open Access

    While the biological roles of ubiquitin chains are well studied, little is known about the functions of SUMO polymers. Here, the authors identify poly-SUMOylation substrates and provide evidence that SUMO polymers regulate the accumulation of CCAN subunits at chromatin and centromeres.

    • Frauke Liebelt
    • , Nicolette S. Jansen
    •  & Alfred C. O. Vertegaal

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Conversion of dermal fibroblasts into Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) can play an important role in keratinocyte tumour development. Here the authors reveal that CSL plays a role in maintenance of telomeres and genomic integrity in both dermal fibroblasts and CAFs.

    • Giulia Bottoni
    • , Atul Katarkar
    •  & G. Paolo Dotto

  • Article
    | Open Access

    In bacteria, DNA replication and segregation are commonly coupled. Here, by investigating the dynamics of these processes in the marine bacterium Hyphomonas neptunium, the authors unravel a two-step chromosomal segregation process reminiscent of eukaryotic mitosis, providing insights into the evolution of bacterial cell organization.

    • Alexandra Jung
    • , Anne Raßbach
    •  & Martin Thanbichler

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The kinase PLK1 has important roles during cell division, including mitotic entry and bipolar spindle formation. Here, the authors show that PLK1 also functions in centromere protection, with loss leading to DNA unwinding by Bloom’s syndrome helicase and subsequent collapse of chromosome alignment.

    • Owen Addis Jones
    • , Ankana Tiwari
    •  & Kok-Lung Chan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Shortening of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with age and increased risk for various chronic diseases. Here, the authors report genome-wide association studies for LTL in Singaporean Chinese populations and find that longer LTL associates with less severe outcomes of respiratory disease phenotypes.

    • Rajkumar Dorajoo
    • , Xuling Chang
    •  & Chew-Kiat Heng

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Although the centromere-specific histone CENP-A usually assembles on specific genomic sequences, centromeric DNA is not conserved. Here the authors characterize the genome and centromeres of related fission yeasts and provide evidence that Schizosaccharomyces centromere DNA possesses intrinsic conserved properties that promote assembly of CENP-A chromatin.

    • Pin Tong
    • , Alison L. Pidoux
    •  & Robin C. Allshire

  • Article
    | Open Access

    CENP-A histone variants replace histones H3 at centromeres. Here the authors use a single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) to stabilize human CENP-A nucleosome containing a native α-satellite DNA and solved its structure by cryo-EM to 2.6 Å resolution, providing insight into the structure and function of the CENP-A nucleosome.

    • Bing-Rui Zhou
    • , K. N. Sathish Yadav
    •  & Ping Zhang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Bacterial chromosomes are tightly packed, limiting structural analysis by imaging techniques. Here, by quantitative time-lapse single-cell imaging of widened Escherichia coli cells, Wu and Japaridze et al. show that the chromosome exhibits a ring-like torus topology and a dynamic domain structure.

    • Fabai Wu
    • , Aleksandre Japaridze
    •  & Cees Dekker

  • Article
    | Open Access

    LncRNA TERRA forms RNA-DNA hybrids at telomere sites leading to telomere instability. Here the authors identify the RNA interacting factors NONO and SFPQ as proteins that interact with TERRA and telomere chromatin and reveal putative roles for these factors in telomere integry maintenance by interfering with RNA:DNA hybrid formation.

    • Eleonora Petti
    • , Valentina Buemi
    •  & Stefan Schoeftner

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Cell rounding at mitosis is driven by cortical tension and maintained through metaphase, although the mechanism is unknown. Here, the authors demonstrate that Cdk1 phosphorylation of DIAPH1 is required for both cortical tension maintenance and inactivation of the spindle assembly checkpoint.

    • Koutarou Nishimura
    • , Yoshikazu Johmura
    •  & Makoto Nakanishi

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Mammalian transcription factors (TFs) differ broadly in their DNA binding properties. Here authors quantify mitotic chromosome binding (MCB) of 501 TFs and suggest that MCB can be used as a proxy for non-specific TF-DNA interactions that regulate TF search for specific genomic sites.

    • Mahé Raccaud
    • , Elias T. Friman
    •  & David M. Suter

  • Article
    | Open Access

    During cell division, faithful chromosome segregation requires proper chromosome congression and dynamic maintenance of the aligned chromosomes. Here, the authors find that LUBAC promotes dynamic chromosome congression and alignment by targeting kinetochore motor CENP-E to the KMN network.

    • Min Wu
    • , Yan Chang
    •  & Huiyan Li

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Phosphorylation of CENP-A on serine 7 has been proposed to control centromere assembly and function. Here, the authors use gene targeting at both endogenous CENP-A alleles and gene replacement in human cells to demonstrate that CENP-A that cannot be phosphorylated at serine 7 maintains correct CENP-C recruitment, faithful chromosome segregation and long-term cell viability.

    • Viviana Barra
    • , Glennis A. Logsdon
    •  & Daniele Fachinetti

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The inactive X chromosome (Xi) has an atypical structure, with global loss of TADs, A/B compartments and formation of mega-domains. Here the authors show that the non-canonical SMC family protein, SmcHD1, important for developmental gene silencing on Xi, antagonises TAD formation and compartmentalization on the Xi in a transcription independent way.

    • Michal R. Gdula
    • , Tatyana B. Nesterova
    •  & Neil Brockdorff

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The mammalian inactive X-chromosome (Xi) is organized into megadomains and superloops directed by the noncoding loci, Dxz4 and Firre. Here the authors provide evidence that megadomains do not precede Xist expression or Xi gene silencing, and suggest that Dxz4, Firre, and megadomains are dispensable for Xi silencing and escape from X-inactivation.

    • John E. Froberg
    • , Stefan F. Pinter
    •  & Jeannie T. Lee

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Chromatin dynamics is thought to play an important role in the maintenance of telomeres, yet how has remained poorly understood. Here the authors locally enrich heterochromatin protein 1α (HP1α) at human telomeres to provide insights into the crosstalk between epigenetic regulations and structural dynamics at the telomeres.

    • Tracy T. Chow
    • , Xiaoyu Shi
    •  & Elizabeth H. Blackburn

  • Article
    | Open Access

    During ‘meiotic drive’, some chromosomes can bias their spindle orientation and thus be retained in the egg. Here, the authors find that this phenomenon can be driven by microtubule force asymmetry on chromosomes with differently sized centromeres and kinetochores.

    • Tianyu Wu
    • , Simon I. R. Lane
    •  & Keith T. Jones

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The human CST complex (CTC1-STN1-TEN1) is essential for telomere homeostasis. Here the authors dissect the roles of individual CST subunits in telomere length maintenance through regulation of telomerase-mediated G-strand synthesis and DNA polymerase-mediated C-strand synthesis in colon cancer cells.

    • Xuyang Feng
    • , Shih-Jui Hsu
    •  & Carolyn M. Price

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The histone H3 CENP-A is known to play a role during meiosis but its role in the testes in the fly is unknown. Here, the authors identify the mitochondrial metabolic protein complex ATP synthase F1 as interacting with CENP-A, promoting centromere cohesion during meiosis and affecting fly fertility.

    • Caitríona M. Collins
    • , Beatrice Malacrida
    •  & Elaine M. Dunleavy

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Mutations in the RNA component TERC can cause telomerase dysfunction but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, the authors show that RNA-binding protein HuR regulates telomerase function by enhancing the methylation of TERC, which is impaired by several disease-relevant TERC mutations.

    • Hao Tang
    • , Hu Wang
    •  & Wengong Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Glioblastoma can be classified based on IDH and TERT promoter mutations, but ~20% of glioblastoma do not have these mutations (TERTpWT-IDHWT glioblastoma). Here, the authors present a genetic landscape of TERTpWT-IDHWT glioblastoma, identifying a telomerase-positive subgroup driven by TERT-structural rearrangements and an ALT-positive subgroup with mutations in ATRX or SMARCAL1.

    • Bill H. Diplas
    • , Xujun He
    •  & Hai Yan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Sustained spindle tension applied to sister centromeres during mitosis leads to loss of sister chromatid cohesion which is known as cohesion fatigue. Here the authors show that Aurora A-dependent phosphorylation of CENP-A at the inner centromeres protects bioriented chromosomes against cohesion fatigue.

    • Grégory Eot-Houllier
    • , Laura Magnaghi-Jaulin
    •  & Christian Jaulin

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