DNA replication is an essential and regulated cycle event required for the inheritance of genetic information. Every cell cycle, thousands of replication start sites (origins) must be selected and activated to ensure that the genome is copied exactly once within the confines of S-phase. Failure to properly regulate the DNA replication program may lead to catastrophic genomic instability. Our work in D. melanogaster and S. cerevisiae has identified chromatin architecture and ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling activities as important determinants of origin selection. We are proposing genetic, genomic and biochemical approaches to understand how the local chromatin architecture and ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling contribute to the selection and regulation of replication origins in yeast and Drosophila. Specifically, we will assess the interplay between chromatin dynamics (replication independent histone H3/H4 exchange) and origin selection and activation. We will also test the role of candidate ATP- dependent chromatin remodeling activities on origin selection and activation using comprehensive genomic approaches. We have recently developed a genome-wide 'footprinting' assay that will be used to address fundamental questions regarding origin architecture and the distribution of key replication initiation factors t individual origins. As part of our modENCODE studies, we identified multiple components of the NURF chromatin remodeling complex as having strong predictive value for ORC localization. We will test the role of NURF in specifying Drosophila origins of replication. By exploiting the experimental strengths of both yeast and Drosophila, we will generate important mechanistic insights into how the chromatin architecture specifies eukaryotic origins of replication.

Public Health Relevance

Genomic instabilities commonly associated with tumorigenesis including chromosomal fragile sites, deletions, translocations, gene amplifications and regions of copy number variation are all likely intricately linked to the DNA replication program. We will identify chromatin-dependent mechanisms and factors that mediate the selection and regulation of individual origins of replication along the chromosome. An increased understanding of how individual origins are selected and regulated to maintain genomic stability will have important implications for developmental, stem cell and cancer biology.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM104097-03
Application #
8900314
Study Section
Molecular Genetics B Study Section (MGB)
Program Officer
Reddy, Michael K
Project Start
2013-08-09
Project End
2016-07-31
Budget Start
2015-08-01
Budget End
2016-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Duke University
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
044387793
City
Durham
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27705
Armstrong, Robin L; Penke, Taylor J R; Strahl, Brian D et al. (2018) Chromatin conformation and transcriptional activity are permissive regulators of DNA replication initiation in Drosophila. Genome Res 28:1688-1700
Wang, Yating; Khan, Abid; Marks, Anna B et al. (2017) Temporal association of ORCA/LRWD1 to late-firing origins during G1 dictates heterochromatin replication and organization. Nucleic Acids Res 45:2490-2502
Azmi, Ishara F; Watanabe, Shinya; Maloney, Michael F et al. (2017) Nucleosomes influence multiple steps during replication initiation. Elife 6:
Prioleau, Marie-Noƫlle; MacAlpine, David M (2016) DNA replication origins-where do we begin? Genes Dev 30:1683-97
MacAlpine, David M (2016) ORChestrating the human DNA replication program. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:9136-8
Li, Yulong; Armstrong, Robin L; Duronio, Robert J et al. (2016) Methylation of histone H4 lysine 20 by PR-Set7 ensures the integrity of late replicating sequence domains in Drosophila. Nucleic Acids Res 44:7204-18
Feng, Jianxun; Gan, Haiyun; Eaton, Matthew L et al. (2016) Noncoding Transcription Is a Driving Force for Nucleosome Instability in spt16 Mutant Cells. Mol Cell Biol 36:1856-67
Tsai, Feng-Ling; Vijayraghavan, Sriram; Prinz, Joseph et al. (2015) Mcm2-7 Is an Active Player in the DNA Replication Checkpoint Signaling Cascade via Proposed Modulation of Its DNA Gate. Mol Cell Biol 35:2131-43
Creager, Rachel L; Li, Yulong; MacAlpine, David M (2015) SnapShot: Origins of DNA replication. Cell 161:418-418.e1
Belsky, Jason A; MacAlpine, Heather K; Lubelsky, Yoav et al. (2015) Genome-wide chromatin footprinting reveals changes in replication origin architecture induced by pre-RC assembly. Genes Dev 29:212-24

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