Chromatin structure and transcription

Chromatin structure and transcriptional regulation

We are interested in the investigation of chromatin structure and at the mechanisms involved in this organization. Our model systems are Drosophila, mice, human, and bacteria. To reach this objective, we develop multiplexed super-resolution and other advanced microscopy methods, as well as gene editing and genome-wide approaches. Below you will find a description of our most recent studies:

Multiplexed chromatin imaging reveals predominantly pairwise long-range coordination between Drosophila Polycomb genes
Julian Gurgo, Jean-Charles Walter, Jean-Bernard Fiche, Christophe Houbron, Marie Schaeffer, Giacomo Cavalli, Frédéric Bantignies, Marcelo Nollmann

Cell Reports, 2024, in press

Polycomb (Pc) group proteins are transcriptional regulators with key roles in development, cell identity and differentiation. Pc-bound chromatin regions form repressive domains that interact in 3D to assemble repressive nuclear compartments. Here, we used multiplexed chromatin imaging to investigate whether Pc compartments involve the clustering of multiple Pc domains during Drosophila development. Notably, 3D proximity between Pc targets is rare and involves predominantly pairwise interactions. These 3D proximities are particularly enhanced in segments where Pc genes are co-repressed. In addition, segment-specific expression of Hox Pc targets leads to their spatial segregation from Pc repressed genes. Finally, non-Hox Pc targets are proximal in regions where they are co-expressed. These results indicate that long-range Pc interactions are temporally and spatially regulated during differentiation and development but do not involve clustering of multiple distant Pc genes.

3D chromatin interactions involving Drosophila insulators are infrequent but preferential and arise before TADs and transcription
Olivier Messina, Flavien Raynal, Julian Gurgo, Jean-Bernard Fiche, Vera Pancaldi, Marcelo Nollmann

Nature Communications 2023, 14, 6678.

In mammals, insulators contribute to the regulation of loop extrusion to organize chromatin into topologically associating domains. In Drosophila the role of insulators in 3D genome organization is, however, under current debate. Here, we addressed this question by combining bioinformatics analysis and multiplexed chromatin imaging. We describe a class of Drosophila insulators enriched at regions forming preferential chromatin interactions genome-wide. Notably, most of these 3D interactions do not involve TAD borders. Multiplexed imaging shows that these interactions occur infrequently, and only rarely involve multiple genomic regions coalescing together in space in single cells. Finally, we show that non-border preferential 3D interactions enriched in this class of insulators are present before TADs and transcription during Drosophila development. Our results are inconsistent with insulators forming stable hubs in single cells, and instead suggest that they fine-tune existing 3D chromatin interactions, providing an additional regulatory layer for transcriptional regulation.

Multiple parameters shape the 3D chromatin structure of single nuclei
Markus Goetz, Olivier Messina, Sergio Espinola, Jean-Bernard Fiche, Marcelo Nollmann

Nature Communications, 2022, 13:5375.

The spatial organization of chromatin at the scale of topologically associating domains (TADs) and below displays large cell-to-cell variations. Up until now, how this heterogeneity in chromatin conformation is shaped by chromatin condensation, TAD insulation, and transcription has remained mostly elusive. Here, we used Hi-M, a multiplexed DNA-FISH imaging technique providing developmental timing and transcriptional status, to show that the emergence of TADs at the ensemble level partially segregates the conformational space explored by single nuclei during the early development of Drosophila embryos. Surprisingly, a substantial fraction of nuclei display strong insulation even before TADs emerge. Moreover, active transcription within a TAD leads to minor changes to the local inter- and intra-TAD chromatin conformation in single nuclei and only weakly affects insulation to the neighboring TAD. Overall, our results indicate that multiple parameters contribute to shaping the chromatin architecture of single nuclei at the TAD scale.

Cis-regulatory chromatin loops arise before TADs and gene activation, and are independent of cell fate during development
**Sergio Martin Espinola, Markus Götz, Maelle Bellec, Olivier Messina, Jean-Bernard Fiche, Christophe Houbron, Matthieu Dejean, Ingolf Reim, Andrés M. Cardozo Gizzi, Mounia Lagha#, Marcelo Nollmann#.**
[* co-authors] [#co-corresponding]

Nature Genetics, 2021, 53, pages 477-486.

Acquisition of cell fate is thought to rely on the specific interaction of remote cis-regulatory modules (CRMs), for example, enhancers and target promoters. However, the precise interplay between chromatin structure and gene expression is still unclear, particularly within multicellular developing organisms. In the present study, we employ Hi-M, a single-cell spatial genomics approach, to detect CRM-promoter looping interactions within topologically associating domains (TADs) during early Drosophila development. By comparing cis-regulatory loops in alternate cell types, we show that physical proximity does not necessarily instruct transcriptional states. Moreover, multi-way analyses reveal that multiple CRMs spatially coalesce to form hubs. Loops and CRM hubs are established early during development, before the emergence of TADs. Moreover, CRM hubs are formed, in part, via the action of the pioneer transcription factor Zelda and precede transcriptional activation. Our approach provides insight into the role of CRM-promoter interactions in defining transcriptional states, as well as distinct cell types.

Direct and simultaneous observation of transcription and chromosome architecture in single cells with Hi-M

Andrés M. Cardozo Gizzi, Sergio M. Espinola, Julian Gurgo, Christophe Houbron, Jean-Bernard Fiche, Diego I. Cattoni, Marcelo Nollmann

Nature Protocols 2020; 15(3):840-876

Simultaneous observation of 3D chromatin organization and transcription at the single cell level and with high spatial resolution may hold the key to unveil the mechanisms regulating embryonic development, cell differentiation and even disease. We have recently developed Hi-M, a technology that allows for the sequential labelling, 3D imaging and localization of multiple genomic DNA loci together with RNA expression in single cells within whole, intact Drosophila embryos. Importantly, Hi-M enables simultaneous detection of RNA expression and chromosome organization without requiring sample unmounting and primary probe re-hybridization. Here, we provide a step-by-step protocol describing the design of probes, the preparation of samples, the stable immobilization of embryos into microfluidics chambers, and the complete procedure for image acquisition. The combined RNA/DNA fluorescence in situ hybridization procedure takes 4-5 days including embryo collection. In addition, we describe image analysis software to segment nuclei, detect genomic spots, correct for drift and produce Hi-M matrices. A typical Hi-M experiment takes 1-2 days to complete all rounds of labelling and imaging and 4 additional days for image analysis. This technology can be easily expanded to investigate cell differentiation in cultured cells, or organization of chromatin within complex tissues.

Microscopy-based chromosome conformation capture enables simultaneous visualization of genome organization and transcription in intact organisms

Andrés M. Cardozo Gizzi, Diego I. Cattoni, Jean-Bernard Fiche, Sergio M. Espinola, Julian Gurgo, Olivier Messina, Christophe Houbron, Yuki Ogiyama, Giorgio L. Papadopoulos, Giacomo Cavalli, Mounia Lagha, Marcelo Nollmann

Molecular Cell 2019; 74(1):212-222

Eukaryotic chromosomes are organized in multiple scales, from nucleosomes to chromosome territories. Recently, genome-wide methods identified an intermediate level of chromosome organization, topologically associating domains (TADs), that play key roles in transcriptional regulation. However, these methods cannot directly examine the interplay between transcriptional activation and chromosome architecture while maintaining spatial information. Here, we present a multiplexed, sequential imaging approach (Hi-M) that permits the simultaneous detection of chromosome organization and transcription in single nuclei. This allowed us to unveil the changes in 3D chromatin organization occurring upon transcriptional activation and homologous chromosome un-pairing during the awakening of the zygotic genome in intact Drosophila embryos. Excitingly, the ability of Hi-M to explore the multi-scale chromosome architecture with spatial resolution at different stages of development or during the cell cycle will be key to understand the mechanisms and consequences of the 4D organization of the genome.

TADs Are 3D Structural Units of Higher-Order Chromosome Organization in Drosophila

Quentin Szabo, Daniel Jost, Jia-Ming Chang , Diego I Cattoni, Giorgio L Papadopoulos, Boyan Bonev, Tom Sexton, Julian Gurgo, Caroline Jacquier, Marcelo Nollmann, Frédéric Bantignies, Giacomo Cavalli

Sci Adv 2018 Feb 28;4(2):eaar8082.

Deciphering the rules of genome folding in the cell nucleus is essential to understand its functions. Recent chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) studies have revealed that the genome is partitioned into topologically associating domains (TADs), which demarcate functional epigenetic domains defined by combinations of specific chromatin marks. However, whether TADs are true physical units in each cell nucleus or whether they reflect statistical frequencies of measured interactions within cell populations is unclear. Using a combination of Hi-C, three-dimensional (3D) fluorescent in situ hybridization, super-resolution microscopy, and polymer modeling, we provide an integrative view of chromatin folding in Drosophila. We observed that repressed TADs form a succession of discrete nanocompartments, interspersed by less condensed active regions. Single-cell analysis revealed a consistent TAD-based physical compartmentalization of the chromatin fiber, with some degree of heterogeneity in intra-TAD conformations and in cis and trans inter-TAD contact events. These results indicate that TADs are fundamental 3D genome units that engage in dynamic higher-order inter-TAD connections. This domain-based architecture is likely to play a major role in regulatory transactions during DNA-dependent processes.

Single-cell Absolute Contact Probability Detection Reveals Chromosomes Are Organized by Multiple Low-Frequency Yet Specific Interactions

Diego I Cattoni , Andrés M Cardozo Gizzi , Mariya Georgieva , Marco Di Stefano, Alessandro Valeri , Delphine Chamousset , Christophe Houbron, Stephanie Déjardin, Jean-Bernard Fiche, Inma González, Jia-Ming Chang, Thomas Sexton, Marc A Marti-Renom, Frédéric Bantignies, Giacomo Cavalli, Marcelo Nollmann

Nat Commun 2017 Nov 24;8(1):1753

At the kilo- to megabase pair scales, eukaryotic genomes are partitioned into self-interacting modules or topologically associated domains (TADs) that associate to form nuclear compartments. Here, we combine high-content super-resolution microscopies with state-of-the-art DNA-labeling methods to reveal the variability in the multiscale organization of the Drosophila genome. We find that association frequencies within TADs and between TAD borders are below ~10%, independently of TAD size, epigenetic state, or cell type. Critically, despite this large heterogeneity, we are able to visualize nanometer-sized epigenetic domains at the single-cell level. In addition, absolute contact frequencies within and between TADs are to a large extent defined by genomic distance, higher-order chromosome architecture, and epigenetic identity. We propose that TADs and compartments are organized by multiple, small-frequency, yet specific interactions that are regulated by epigenetics and transcriptional state.

Bacterial partition complexes segregate within the volume of the nucleoid

Antoine Le Gall, Diego I. Cattoni, Baptiste Guilhas, Céline Mathieu-Demazière, Laura Oudjedi, Jean-Bernard Fiche, Jérôme Rech, Sara Abrahamsson, Heath Murray, Jean-Yves Bouet, Marcelo Nollmann

Nature Communications 2016; 7:12107

Precise and rapid DNA segregation is required for proper inheritance of genetic material. In most bacteria and archaea, this process is assured by a broadly conserved mitotic-like apparatus in which a NTPase (ParA) displaces the partition complex. Competing observations and models imply starkly different 3D localization patterns of the components of the partition machinery during segregation. Here we use super-resolution microscopies to localize in 3D each component of the segregation apparatus with respect to the bacterial chromosome. We show that Par proteins locate within the nucleoid volume and reveal that proper volumetric localization and segregation of partition complexes requires ATPase and DNA-binding activities of ParA. Finally, we find that the localization patterns of the different components of the partition system highly correlate with dense chromosomal regions. We propose a new mechanism in which the nucleoid provides a scaffold to guide the proper segregation of partition complexes.

Condensin- and replication-mediated dynamic folding of a bacterial chromosome and its origin domain revealed by super-resolution imaging and Hi-C

Martial Marbouty*, Antoine Le Gall*, Diego I. Cattoni, Axel Cournac, Alan Koh, Jean-Bernard Fiche, Julien Mozziconacci, Heath Murray, Romain Koszul#, Marcelo Nollmann#

Molecular Cell 2015; 59(4):588-602

Chromosomes of a broad range of kingdoms, from bacteria to mammals, are structured by large topological domains, whose precise functional roles and regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we combine super-resolution microscopies and chromosome-capture technologies to unravel the higher-order organization of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome and its dynamic rearrangements during the cell cycle. We decipher the fine 3D architecture of the origin domain, revealing folding motifs regulated by condensin-like complexes. This organization, along with global folding throughout the genome, is present before replication, disrupted by active DNA replication and re-established thereafter. Single-cell analysis revealed a strict correspondence between sub-cellular localization of origin domains and their condensation state. Our results suggest that the precise 3D folding pattern of the origin domain plays a role in the regulation of replication initiation, chromosome organization and DNA segregation.

Stochastic Self-Assembly of ParB Proteins Builds the Bacterial DNA Segregation Apparatus

Aurore Sanchez,Diego I. Cattoni, Jean-Charles Walter, Jerome Rech, Andrea Parmeggiani, Marcelo Nollmann, and Jean-Yves Bouet

Cell Systems 2015; 1(2):163-73

Many canonical processes in molecular biology rely on the dynamic assembly of higher-order nucleoprotein complexes. In bacteria, the assembly mechanism of ParABS , the nucleoprotein super-complex that actively segregates the bacterial chromosome and many plasmids, remains elusive. We combined super-resolution microscopy, quantitative genomewide surveys, biochemistry, and mathematical modeling to investigate the assembly of ParB at the centromere-like sequences parS . We found that nearly all ParB molecules are actively confined around parS by a network of synergistic protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. Interrogation of the empirically determined, high-resolution ParB genomic distribution with modeling suggests that instead of binding only to specific sequences and subsequently spreading, ParB binds stochastically around parS over long distances. We propose a new model for the formation of the ParABS partition complex based on nucleation and caging: ParB forms a dynamic lattice with the DNA around parS . This assembly model and approach to characterizing large-scale, dynamic interactions between macromolecules may be generalizable to many unrelated machineries that self-assemble in superstructures

A matter of scale: how emerging technologies are redefining our view of chromosome architecture.

Cattoni DI, Valeri A, Le Gall A, Nollmann M.

Trends Genet. 2015 Aug;31(8):454-64.

The 3D folding of the genome and its relation to fundamental processes such as gene regulation, replication, and segregation remains one of the most puzzling and exciting questions in genetics. In this review, we describe how the use of new technologies is starting to revolutionize the field of chromosome organization, and to shed light on the mechanisms of transcription, replication, and repair. In particular, we concentrate on recent studies using genome-wide methods, single-molecule technologies, and super-resolution microscopy (SRM). We summarize some of the main concerns when employing these techniques, and discuss potential new and exciting perspectives that illuminate the connection between 3D genomic organization and gene regulation.

Chromatin insulator factors involved in long-range DNA interactions and their role in the folding of the Drosophila genome
Vogelmann J, Le Gall A, Dejardin S, Allemand F, Gamot A, Labesse G, Cuvier O, Nègre N, Cohen-Gonsaud M, Margeat E, Nöllmann M.

PLoS Genetics 2014; 10(8):e1004544

Chromatin insulators are genetic elements implicated in the organization of chromatin and the regulation of transcription. In Drosophila, different insulator types were characterized by their locus-specific composition of insulator proteins and co-factors. Insulators mediate specific long-range DNA contacts required for the three dimensional organization of the interphase nucleus and for transcription regulation, but the mechanisms underlying the formation of these contacts is currently unknown. Here, we investigate the molecular associations between different components of insulator complexes (BEAF32, CP190 and Chromator) by biochemical and biophysical means, and develop a novel single-molecule assay to determine what factors are necessary and essential for the formation of long-range DNA interactions. We show that BEAF32 is able to bind DNA specifically and with high affinity, but not to bridge long-range interactions (LRI). In contrast, we show that CP190 and Chromator are able to mediate LRI between specifically-bound BEAF32 nucleoprotein complexes in vitro. This ability of CP190 and Chromator to establish LRI requires specific contacts between BEAF32 and their C-terminal domains, and dimerization through their N-terminal domains. In particular, the BTB/POZ domains of CP190 form a strict homodimer, and its C-terminal domain interacts with several insulator binding proteins. We propose a general model for insulator function in which BEAF32/dCTCF/Su(HW) provide DNA specificity (first layer proteins) whereas CP190/Chromator are responsible for the physical interactions required for long-range contacts (second layer). This network of organized, multi-layer interactions could explain the different activities of insulators as chromatin barriers, enhancer blockers, and transcriptional regulators, and suggest a general mechanism for how insulators may shape the organization of higher-order chromatin during cell division.