High-Resolution Whole-Genome Analysis of Sister-Chromatid Contacts

Mol Cell. 2020 Sep 3;79(5):857-869.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.06.033. Epub 2020 Jul 17.

Abstract

Sister-chromatid cohesion describes the orderly association of newly replicated DNA molecules behind replication forks. It plays an essential role in the maintenance and faithful transmission of genetic information. Cohesion is created by DNA topological links and proteinaceous bridges, whose formation and deposition could be potentially affected by many processes. Current knowledge on cohesion has been mainly gained by fluorescence microscopy observation. However, the resolution limit of microscopy and the restricted number of genomic positions that can be simultaneously visualized considerably hampered progress. Here, we present a high-throughput methodology to monitor sister-chromatid contacts (Hi-SC2). Using the multi-chromosomal Vibrio cholerae bacterium as a model, we show that Hi-SC2 permits to monitor local variations in sister-chromatid cohesion at a high resolution over a whole genome.

Keywords: Cre; H-NS; VPI-1; Xer; bacteria; cholera; cohesion; deep sequencing; segregation; site-specific recombination.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromatids / physiology*
  • Chromosomes, Bacterial / physiology
  • DNA Replication
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Genetic Techniques*
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Integrases / metabolism
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Vibrio cholerae / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases