Browsing by keyword "SAF-A"

Now showing items 1-3 of 3

    • Nascent RNA scaffolds contribute to chromosome territory architecture and counter chromatin compaction
      Creamer, Kevin; Kolpa, Heather J.; Lawrence, Jeanne B. (2021-09-02)
      Nuclear chromosomes transcribe far more RNA than required to encode protein. Here we investigate whether non-coding RNA broadly contributes to cytological-scale chromosome territory architecture. We develop a procedure that depletes soluble proteins, chromatin, and most nuclear RNA from the nucleus but does not delocalize XIST, a known architectural RNA, from an insoluble chromosome "scaffold." RNA-seq analysis reveals that most RNA in the nuclear scaffold is repeat-rich, non-coding, and derived predominantly from introns of nascent transcripts. Insoluble, repeat-rich (C0T-1) RNA co-distributes with known scaffold proteins including scaffold attachment factor A (SAF-A), and distribution of these components inversely correlates with chromatin compaction in normal and experimentally manipulated nuclei. We further show that RNA is required for SAF-A to interact with chromatin and for enrichment of structurally embedded "scaffold attachment regions" prevalent in euchromatin. Collectively, the results indicate that long nascent transcripts contribute a dynamic structural role that promotes the open architecture of active chromosome territories.

    • XIST and CoT-1 Repeat RNAs are Integral Components of a Complex Nuclear Scaffold Required to Maintain SAF-A and Modify Chromosome Architecture: A Dissertation
      Kolpa, Heather J. (2016-04-08)
      XIST RNA established the precedent for a noncoding RNA that stably associates with and regulates chromatin, however it remains poorly understood how such RNAs structurally associate with the interphase chromosome territory. I demonstrate that transgenic XIST RNA localizes in cis to an autosome as it does to the inactive X chromosome, hence the RNA recognizes a structure common to all chromosomes. I reassess the prevalent thinking in the field that a single protein, Scaffold Attachment Factor-A (SAF-A/hnRNP U), provides a single molecule bridge required to directly tether the RNA to DNA. In an extensive series of experiments in multiple cell types, I examine the effects of SAF-A depletion or different SAF-A mutations on XIST RNA localization, and I force XIST RNA retention at mitosis to examine the effect on SAF-A. I find that SAF-A is not required to localize XIST RNA but is one of multiple proteins involved, some of which frequently become lost or compromised in cancer. I additionally examine SAF-A’s potential role localizing repeat-rich CoT-1 RNA, a class of abundant RNAs that we show tightly and stably localize to euchromatic interphase chromosome territories, but release upon disruption of the nuclear scaffold. Overall, findings suggest that instead of “tethering” chromosomal RNAs to the scaffold, SAF-A is one component of a multi-component matrix/scaffold supporting interphase nuclear architecture. Results indicate that Cot-1 and XIST RNAs form integral components of this scaffold and are required to maintain the chromosomal association of SAF-A, substantially advancing understanding of how chromatin-associated RNAs contribute to nuclear structure.

    • XIST RNA: a window into the broader role of RNA in nuclear chromosome architecture
      Creamer, Kevin; Lawrence, Jeanne B. (2017-11-05)
      XIST RNA triggers the transformation of an active X chromosome into a condensed, inactive Barr body and therefore provides a unique window into transitions of higher-order chromosome architecture. Despite recent progress, how XIST RNA localizes and interacts with the X chromosome remains poorly understood. Genetic engineering of XIST into a trisomic autosome demonstrates remarkable capacity of XIST RNA to localize and comprehensively silence that autosome. Thus, XIST does not require X chromosome-specific sequences but operates on mechanisms available genome-wide. Prior results suggested XIST localization is controlled by attachment to the insoluble nuclear scaffold. Our recent work affirms that scaffold attachment factor A (SAF-A) is involved in anchoring XIST, but argues against the view that SAF-A provides a unimolecular bridge between RNA and the chromosome. Rather, we suggest that a complex meshwork of architectural proteins interact with XIST RNA. Parallel work studying the territory of actively transcribed chromosomes suggests that repeat-rich RNA 'coats' euchromatin and may impact chromosome architecture in a manner opposite of XIST A model is discussed whereby RNA may not just recruit histone modifications, but more directly impact higher-order chromatin condensation via interaction with architectural proteins of the nucleus.This article is part of the themed issue 'X-chromosome inactivation: a tribute to Mary Lyon'.