Intrinsic multiplication rate variation and plasticity of human blood stage malaria parasites.

Pathogen multiplication rate is theoretically an important determinant of virulence, although often poorly understood and difficult to measure accurately. We show intrinsic asexual blood stage multiplication rate variation of the major human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum to be associated with blood-stage infection intensity in patients. A panel of clinical isolates from a highly endemic West African population was analysed repeatedly during five months of continuous laboratory culture, showing a range of exponential multiplication rates at all timepoints tested, mean rates increasing over time. All isolates had different genome sequences, many containing within-isolate diversity that decreased over time in culture, but increases in multiplication rates were not primarily attributable to genomic selection. New mutants, including premature stop codons emerging in a few isolates, did not attain sufficiently high frequencies to substantially affect overall multiplication rates. Significantly, multiplication rate variation among the isolates at each of the assayed culture timepoints robustly correlated with parasite levels seen in patients at clinical presentation, indicating innate parasite control of multiplication rate that contributes to virulence

Transcriptional supercoiling boosts topoisomerase II-mediated knotting of intracellular DNA

Recent studies have revealed that the DNA cross-inversion mechanism of topoisomerase II (topo II) not only removes DNA supercoils and DNA replication intertwines, but also produces small amounts of DNA knots within the clusters of nucleosomes that conform to eukaryotic chromatin. Here, we examine how transcriptional supercoiling of intracellular DNA affects the occurrence of these knots. We show that although (-) supercoiling does not change the basal DNA knotting probability, (+) supercoiling of DNA generated in front of the transcribing complexes increases DNA knot formation over 25-fold. The increase of topo II-mediated DNA knotting occurs both upon accumulation of (+) supercoiling in topoisomerase-deficient cells and during normal transcriptional supercoiling of DNA in TOP1 TOP2 cells. We also show that the high knotting probability (Pkn 65 0.5) of (+) supercoiled DNA reflects a 5-fold volume compaction of the nucleosomal fibers in vivo. Our findings indicate that topo II-mediated DNA knotting could be inherent to transcriptional supercoiling of DNA and other chromatin condensation processes and establish, therefore, a new crucial role of topoisomerase II in resetting the knotting-unknotting homeostasis of DNA during chromatin dynamics

Topología del ADN nucleosomal en centrómeros y promotores génicos de Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Este proyecto de tesis se ha focalizado en determinar con precisión, en células de Saccharomyces cerevisiae, la diferencia de enlace del ADN estabilizada por nucleosomas canónicos in vivo, así como la contribución topológica del centrómero y de diferentes promotores génicos sensibles a topoisomerasa II. Para ello, tanto la secuencia TRP1ARS1 como derivados de esta, se han introducido en diferentes cepas de S. cerevisiae: JCW25 (TOP1 TOP2 TOP3), JCW26 (TOP1 top2ts TOP3) y JCW27 (Δtop1 TOP2 TOP3), se han extraído en forma de cromatina y se han analizado mediante técnicas electroforéticas para determinar su topología in vivo. Gracias al pequeño tamaño de estos anillos de ADN (nunca superior a 2kb), las distribuciones de topoisomeros generadas han permitido identificar cualquier modificación en la estructura de la cromatina. Topología región TRP1ARS1: La secuencia de 1453 pb de la región TRP1ARS1 (TA1) se ha ciclado y usado para la transformación de las diferentes cepas de S. cerevisiae. Un análisis topológico de los nucleosomas ensamblados en esta región ha determinado una diferencia de enlace (ΔLk), respecto al anillo relajado, de -9.6 unidades. Este valor indica una estabilización de -1.37 unidades por nucleosoma, contrastando con el valor generalmente aceptado de -1 unidad por nucleosoma conocido como “linking number paradox”. Centrómero: El centrómero puntual de S. cerevisiae se caracteriza por: una secuencia de entre 111 y 120bp con tres elementos diferenciados (CDEI, CDEII y CDEIII) y por un hemisoma (H2A+H2B+cenH3+H4) con la histona H3 modificada (CenH3). Sobre las secuencias CDEI y CDEIII se unen dos complejos proteicos, Cbf1 y CBF3 respectivamente, capaces de doblar el ADN in vitro. Durante esta tesis se ha estudiado la topología del centrómero del cromosoma 4 de S. cerevisiae (CEN4), clonado en el anillo TA1, observando que produce una ganancia de +0.6 unidades de ΔLk. Este valor se ha establecido al comparar la topología del anillo TA1+CEN4 con la observada en anillos donde CEN4 ha sido mutado en CDEIII, impidiendo la unión de CBF3 y como consecuencia anulando su función, o sustituido por la secuencia High2 que estabiliza de forma muy eficiente un nucleosoma. El análisis topológico de anillos CEN4 de diferente tamaño y de anillos con la secuencia centromérica invertida, en cepas deficientes en topoisomerasa I y II, han ratificado que la estabilización de ΔLk =+0.6 es una propiedad robusta e intrínseca del complejo centromérico. Además, del estudio comparativo de los centrómeros CEN2, CEN4, CEN7 y CEN12 se ha descartado que la estabilización de +0.6 unidades dependa de la fase rotacional de CDEI y CDEIII y por tanto, se deba a una interacción entre ambos complejos proteicos. A partir de todos estos datos, se puede concluir que la estabilización de ΔLk = +0.6 estaría determinada por un enrollamiento dextrógiro del ADN en el hemisoma formado en CDEII o bien, por la combinación de distintos planos de curvatura del ADN en los segmentos CEI, CDEII y CDEIII. Promotores: Aprovechando la metodología usada para el análisis topológico del centrómero y del anillo TA1, se ha comenzado el estudio de la estructura de promotores de genes sensibles a topoisomerasa II. Se ha observado que la estructura de la cromatina de estos promotores no estabiliza el mismo número de enlace que segmentos de cromatina del mismo tamaño formados por nucleosomas típicos (cromatina control). Además,.la ianctivación de la topoisoemrasa II produce en estos promotores cambios topológicos distintos a los de la croamtina control lo que sugiere la posible presencia de mecanismos de regulación de la transcripción mediados por la topoisomerasa.This thesis has focused on the accurate measure, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, of the DNA linking number stabilized by canonical nucleosomes in vivo, as well as the centromere and several promoter regions topological contributions. To that end, TRP1ARS1 sequences, as well as its derivatives, were introduced in different S. cerevisiae strains: JCW25 (TOP1 TOP2 TOP3), JCW26 (TOP1 top2ts TOP3) y JCW27 (Δtop1 TOP2 TOP3), extracted as chromatin and analyzed by electrophoretic techniques in order to determine its in vivo topology. Thanks to the little size of these DNA ring (never bigger than 2kb), the distributions of the topoisomers have allowed to identified any modification of the chromatin structure Topology of TRP1ARS1: The TRP1ARS1 (TA1)1453 bp sequence has been cycled and used to electroporate different S. cerevisiae strains. The topological analysis of the nucleosomes located in this region has resulted in a Linking number difference (ΔLk) of -9.6 units. This value points to the stabilization of -1.37 per nucleosome, contrasting with the assumed value of -1 unit per nucleosome, known as the “linking number paradox” Centromere: S. cerevisiae centromere is characterized by 11-120 bp sequence, with three differentiated elements (CDEI, CDEII y CDEIII), as well as a hemisome (H2A+H2B+cenH3+H4) harboring the variant H3 histone CenH3. Over CDEI and CDEII sequences two protein complexes are bound, Cbf1 and CBF3 respectively, which are able to bend the DNA in vitro. Along this thesis, the topology of centromere of chromosome IV (CEN4) of S. cerevisiae, cloned in TA1 ring, has been studied resulting in a gain of +0.6 units of ΔLk. This value has been established when comparing the topology of TA1+CEN4 with the observed in DNA rings where CDEIII of CEN4 has been mutated, preventing CBF3 bound and as a consequence, abolishing centromere function, or where CEN4 has been substituted by High2 sequence which establishes a well-positioned nucleosome. The topological analysis of CEN4 rings of different size, in different strains of S. cerevisiae with altered topoisomerase activity, have confirmed that the stabilization of ΔLk =+0.6 is a strong and intrinsic characteristic of the centromeric complex. Besides this, the comparative study of CEN2, CEN4, CEN7 and CEN12 centromeres has discarded the stabilization of +0.6 units depending on the rotational phase of CDEI and CDEIII so, it is not due to an interaction between both protein complexes. From these data, it can be concluded that the stabilization of ΔLk = +0.6 would be determined by a right-handed loop around the hemisome formed over CDEII or, by the mixed of different DNA curvature planes in the regions of CDEI, CDEII y CDEIII. Promoters: Taking the advantage of the methodology used in the topological analysisi of the centromere, a study of promoters structure which are located in genes affected by topoisomerase II activity has just been started. It has been observed a difference between the linking number established by these promoters and a non-promoter fragment of chromatin used as a control. Furthermore, the inactivation of Topo II causes in these promoters topological changes that differ from the chromatin used as a control which suggests a trasncription regulation mechanism by Topo II

Topología del ADN nucleosomal en centrómeros y promotores génicos de Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Este proyecto de tesis se ha focalizado en determinar con precisión, en células de Saccharomyces cerevisiae, la diferencia de enlace del ADN estabilizada por nucleosomas canónicos in vivo, así como la contribución topológica del centrómero y de diferentes promotores génicos sensibles a topoisomerasa II. Para ello, tanto la secuencia TRP1ARS1 como derivados de esta, se han introducido en diferentes cepas de S. cerevisiae: JCW25 (TOP1 TOP2 TOP3), JCW26 (TOP1 top2ts TOP3) y JCW27 (Δtop1 TOP2 TOP3), se han extraído en forma de cromatina y se han analizado mediante técnicas electroforéticas para determinar su topología in vivo. Gracias al pequeño tamaño de estos anillos de ADN (nunca superior a 2kb), las distribuciones de topoisomeros generadas han permitido identificar cualquier modificación en la estructura de la cromatina. Topología región TRP1ARS1: La secuencia de 1453 pb de la región TRP1ARS1 (TA1) se ha ciclado y usado para la transformación de las diferentes cepas de S. cerevisiae. Un análisis topológico de los nucleosomas ensamblados en esta región ha determinado una diferencia de enlace (ΔLk), respecto al anillo relajado, de -9.6 unidades. Este valor indica una estabilización de -1.37 unidades por nucleosoma, contrastando con el valor generalmente aceptado de -1 unidad por nucleosoma conocido como "linking number paradox". Centrómero: El centrómero puntual de S. cerevisiae se caracteriza por: una secuencia de entre 111 y 120bp con tres elementos diferenciados (CDEI, CDEII y CDEIII) y por un hemisoma (H2A+H2B+cenH3+H4) con la histona H3 modificada (CenH3). Sobre las secuencias CDEI y CDEIII se unen dos complejos proteicos, Cbf1 y CBF3 respectivamente, capaces de doblar el ADN in vitro. Durante esta tesis se ha estudiado la topología del centrómero del cromosoma 4 de S. cerevisiae (CEN4), clonado en el anillo TA1, observando que produce una ganancia de +0.6 unidades de ΔLk. Este valor se ha establecido al comparar la topología del anillo TA1+CEN4 con la observada en anillos donde CEN4 ha sido mutado en CDEIII, impidiendo la unión de CBF3 y como consecuencia anulando su función, o sustituido por la secuencia High2 que estabiliza de forma muy eficiente un nucleosoma. El análisis topológico de anillos CEN4 de diferente tamaño y de anillos con la secuencia centromérica invertida, en cepas deficientes en topoisomerasa I y II, han ratificado que la estabilización de ΔLk =+0.6 es una propiedad robusta e intrínseca del complejo centromérico. Además, del estudio comparativo de los centrómeros CEN2, CEN4, CEN7 y CEN12 se ha descartado que la estabilización de +0.6 unidades dependa de la fase rotacional de CDEI y CDEIII y por tanto, se deba a una interacción entre ambos complejos proteicos. A partir de todos estos datos, se puede concluir que la estabilización de ΔLk = +0.6 estaría determinada por un enrollamiento dextrógiro del ADN en el hemisoma formado en CDEII o bien, por la combinación de distintos planos de curvatura del ADN en los segmentos CEI, CDEII y CDEIII. Promotores: Aprovechando la metodología usada para el análisis topológico del centrómero y del anillo TA1, se ha comenzado el estudio de la estructura de promotores de genes sensibles a topoisomerasa II. Se ha observado que la estructura de la cromatina de estos promotores no estabiliza el mismo número de enlace que segmentos de cromatina del mismo tamaño formados por nucleosomas típicos (cromatina control). Además,.la ianctivación de la topoisoemrasa II produce en estos promotores cambios topológicos distintos a los de la croamtina control lo que sugiere la posible presencia de mecanismos de regulación de la transcripción mediados por la topoisomerasa.This thesis has focused on the accurate measure, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, of the DNA linking number stabilized by canonical nucleosomes in vivo, as well as the centromere and several promoter regions topological contributions. To that end, TRP1ARS1 sequences, as well as its derivatives, were introduced in different S. cerevisiae strains: JCW25 (TOP1 TOP2 TOP3), JCW26 (TOP1 top2ts TOP3) y JCW27 (Δtop1 TOP2 TOP3), extracted as chromatin and analyzed by electrophoretic techniques in order to determine its in vivo topology. Thanks to the little size of these DNA ring (never bigger than 2kb), the distributions of the topoisomers have allowed to identified any modification of the chromatin structure Topology of TRP1ARS1: The TRP1ARS1 (TA1)1453 bp sequence has been cycled and used to electroporate different S. cerevisiae strains. The topological analysis of the nucleosomes located in this region has resulted in a Linking number difference (ΔLk) of -9.6 units. This value points to the stabilization of -1.37 per nucleosome, contrasting with the assumed value of -1 unit per nucleosome, known as the "linking number paradox" Centromere: S. cerevisiae centromere is characterized by 11-120 bp sequence, with three differentiated elements (CDEI, CDEII y CDEIII), as well as a hemisome (H2A+H2B+cenH3+H4) harboring the variant H3 histone CenH3. Over CDEI and CDEII sequences two protein complexes are bound, Cbf1 and CBF3 respectively, which are able to bend the DNA in vitro. Along this thesis, the topology of centromere of chromosome IV (CEN4) of S. cerevisiae, cloned in TA1 ring, has been studied resulting in a gain of +0.6 units of ΔLk. This value has been established when comparing the topology of TA1+CEN4 with the observed in DNA rings where CDEIII of CEN4 has been mutated, preventing CBF3 bound and as a consequence, abolishing centromere function, or where CEN4 has been substituted by High2 sequence which establishes a well-positioned nucleosome. The topological analysis of CEN4 rings of different size, in different strains of S. cerevisiae with altered topoisomerase activity, have confirmed that the stabilization of ΔLk =+0.6 is a strong and intrinsic characteristic of the centromeric complex. Besides this, the comparative study of CEN2, CEN4, CEN7 and CEN12 centromeres has discarded the stabilization of +0.6 units depending on the rotational phase of CDEI and CDEIII so, it is not due to an interaction between both protein complexes. From these data, it can be concluded that the stabilization of ΔLk = +0.6 would be determined by a right-handed loop around the hemisome formed over CDEII or, by the mixed of different DNA curvature planes in the regions of CDEI, CDEII y CDEIII. Promoters: Taking the advantage of the methodology used in the topological analysisi of the centromere, a study of promoters structure which are located in genes affected by topoisomerase II activity has just been started. It has been observed a difference between the linking number established by these promoters and a non-promoter fragment of chromatin used as a control. Furthermore, the inactivation of Topo II causes in these promoters topological changes that differ from the chromatin used as a control which suggests a trasncription regulation mechanism by Topo II