Anthony L. Shiver

Bio: Anthony L. Shiver is an academic researcher from Stanford University. The author has contributed to research in topics: RNA polymerase & Medicine. The author has an hindex of 14, co-authored 23 publications receiving 3631 citations. Previous affiliations of Anthony L. Shiver include University of California, San Francisco & University of Oregon.

Rapid SNP Discovery and Genetic Mapping Using Sequenced RAD Markers

Abstract: Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discovery and genotyping are essential to genetic mapping. There remains a need for a simple, inexpensive platform that allows high-density SNP discovery and genotyping in large populations. Here we describe the sequencing of restriction-site associated DNA (RAD) tags, which identified more than 13,000 SNPs, and mapped three traits in two model organisms, using less than half the capacity of one Illumina sequencing run. We demonstrated that different marker densities can be attained by choice of restriction enzyme. Furthermore, we developed a barcoding system for sample multiplexing and fine mapped the genetic basis of lateral plate armor loss in threespine stickleback by identifying recombinant breakpoints in F2 individuals. Barcoding also facilitated mapping of a second trait, a reduction of pelvic structure, by in silico re-sorting of individuals. To further demonstrate the ease of the RAD sequencing approach we identified polymorphic markers and mapped an induced mutation in Neurospora crassa. Sequencing of RAD markers is an integrated platform for SNP discovery and genotyping. This approach should be widely applicable to genetic mapping in a variety of organisms.

DNA methylation and normal chromosome behavior in Neurospora depend on five components of a histone methyltransferase complex, DCDC.

Abstract: Methylation of DNA and of Lysine 9 on histone H3 (H3K9) is associated with gene silencing in many animals, plants, and fungi. In Neurospora crassa, methylation of H3K9 by DIM-5 directs cytosine methylation by recruiting a complex containing Heterochromatin Protein-1 (HP1) and the DIM-2 DNA methyltransferase. We report genetic, proteomic, and biochemical investigations into how DIM-5 is controlled. These studies revealed DCDC, a previously unknown protein complex including DIM-5, DIM-7, DIM-9, CUL4, and DDB1. Components of DCDC are required for H3K9me3, proper chromosome segregation, and DNA methylation. DCDC-defective strains, but not HP1-defective strains, are hypersensitive to MMS, revealing an HP1-independent function of H3K9 methylation. In addition to DDB1, DIM-7, and the WD40 domain protein DIM-9, other presumptive DCAFs (DDB1/CUL4 associated factors) co-purified with CUL4, suggesting that CUL4/DDB1 forms multiple complexes with distinct functions. This conclusion was supported by results of drug sensitivity tests. CUL4, DDB1, and DIM-9 are not required for localization of DIM-5 to incipient heterochromatin domains, indicating that recruitment of DIM-5 to chromatin is not sufficient to direct H3K9me3. DIM-7 is required for DIM-5 localization and mediates interaction of DIM-5 with DDB1/CUL4 through DIM-9. These data support a two-step mechanism for H3K9 methylation in Neurospora.

Role for dithiolopyrrolones in disrupting bacterial metal homeostasis

Abstract: Natural products harbor unique and complex structures that provide valuable antibiotic scaffolds. With an increase in antibiotic resistance, natural products once again hold promise for new antimicrobial therapies, especially those with unique scaffolds that have been overlooked due to a lack of understanding of how they function. Dithiolopyrrolones (DTPs) are an underexplored class of disulfide-containing natural products, which exhibit potent antimicrobial activities against multidrug-resistant pathogens. DTPs were thought to target RNA polymerase, but conflicting observations leave the mechanisms elusive. Using a chemical genomics screen in Escherichia coli, we uncover a mode of action for DTPs—the disruption of metal homeostasis. We show that holomycin, a prototypical DTP, is reductively activated, and reduced holomycin chelates zinc with high affinity. Examination of reduced holomycin against zinc-dependent metalloenzymes revealed that it inhibits E. coli class II fructose bisphosphate aldolase, but not RNA polymerase. Reduced holomycin also strongly inhibits metallo–β-lactamases in vitro, major contributors to clinical carbapenem resistance, by removing active site zinc. These results indicate that holomycin is an intracellular metal-chelating antibiotic that inhibits a subset of metalloenzymes and that RNA polymerase is unlikely to be the primary target. Our work establishes a link between the chemical structures of DTPs and their antimicrobial action; the ene-dithiol group of DTPs enables high-affinity metal binding as a central mechanism to inhibit metabolic processes. Our study also validates the use of chemical genomics in characterizing modes of actions of antibiotics and emphasizes the potential of metal-chelating natural products in antimicrobial therapy.

High-Density Detection of Restriction-Site-Associated DNA Markers for Rapid Mapping of Mutated Loci in Neurospora

Abstract: The wealth of sequence information available for Neurospora crassa and other fungi has greatly facilitated evolutionary and molecular analyses of this group. Although “reverse” genetics, in which genes are first identified by their sequence rather than by their mutant phenotypes, serves as a valuable new approach for elucidating biological processes, classical “forward” genetic analysis is still extremely useful. Unfortunately, mapping mutations and identifying the corresponding genes has typically been slow and laborious. To facilitate forward genetics in Neurospora, we have adapted microarray-based restriction-site-associated DNA (RAD) mapping for use with N. crassa oligonucleotide microarrays. This technique was used to simultaneously detect an unprecedented number of genomewide restriction site polymorphisms from two N. crassa strains: Mauriceville and Oak Ridge. Furthermore, RAD mapping was used to quickly map a previously unknown gene, defective in methylation-7 (dim-7).

A Robust, Simple Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) Approach for High Diversity Species

Abstract: Advances in next generation technologies have driven the costs of DNA sequencing down to the point that genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) is now feasible for high diversity, large genome species. Here, we report a procedure for constructing GBS libraries based on reducing genome complexity with restriction enzymes (REs). This approach is simple, quick, extremely specific, highly reproducible, and may reach important regions of the genome that are inaccessible to sequence capture approaches. By using methylation-sensitive REs, repetitive regions of genomes can be avoided and lower copy regions targeted with two to three fold higher efficiency. This tremendously simplifies computationally challenging alignment problems in species with high levels of genetic diversity. The GBS procedure is demonstrated with maize (IBM) and barley (Oregon Wolfe Barley) recombinant inbred populations where roughly 200,000 and 25,000 sequence tags were mapped, respectively. An advantage in species like barley that lack a complete genome sequence is that a reference map need only be developed around the restriction sites, and this can be done in the process of sample genotyping. In such cases, the consensus of the read clusters across the sequence tagged sites becomes the reference. Alternatively, for kinship analyses in the absence of a reference genome, the sequence tags can simply be treated as dominant markers. Future application of GBS to breeding, conservation, and global species and population surveys may allow plant breeders to conduct genomic selection on a novel germplasm or species without first having to develop any prior molecular tools, or conservation biologists to determine population structure without prior knowledge of the genome or diversity in the species.

Rapid SNP Discovery and Genetic Mapping Using Sequenced RAD Markers

Abstract: Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discovery and genotyping are essential to genetic mapping. There remains a need for a simple, inexpensive platform that allows high-density SNP discovery and genotyping in large populations. Here we describe the sequencing of restriction-site associated DNA (RAD) tags, which identified more than 13,000 SNPs, and mapped three traits in two model organisms, using less than half the capacity of one Illumina sequencing run. We demonstrated that different marker densities can be attained by choice of restriction enzyme. Furthermore, we developed a barcoding system for sample multiplexing and fine mapped the genetic basis of lateral plate armor loss in threespine stickleback by identifying recombinant breakpoints in F2 individuals. Barcoding also facilitated mapping of a second trait, a reduction of pelvic structure, by in silico re-sorting of individuals. To further demonstrate the ease of the RAD sequencing approach we identified polymorphic markers and mapped an induced mutation in Neurospora crassa. Sequencing of RAD markers is an integrated platform for SNP discovery and genotyping. This approach should be widely applicable to genetic mapping in a variety of organisms.

Stacks: an analysis tool set for population genomics

Abstract: Massively parallel short-read sequencing technologies, coupled with powerful software platforms, are enabling investigators to analyse tens of thousands of genetic markers. This wealth of data is rapidly expanding and allowing biological questions to be addressed with unprecedented scope and precision. The sizes of the data sets are now posing significant data processing and analysis challenges. Here we describe an extension of the Stacks software package to efficiently use genotype-by-sequencing data for studies of populations of organisms. Stacks now produces core population genomic summary statistics and SNP-by-SNP statistical tests. These statistics can be analysed across a reference genome using a smoothed sliding window. Stacks also now provides several output formats for several commonly used downstream analysis packages. The expanded population genomics functions in Stacks will make it a useful tool to harness the newest generation of massively parallel genotyping data for ecological and evolutionary genetics.

Double Digest RADseq: An Inexpensive Method for De Novo SNP Discovery and Genotyping in Model and Non-Model Species

Abstract: The ability to efficiently and accurately determine genotypes is a keystone technology in modern genetics, crucial to studies ranging from clinical diagnostics, to genotype-phenotype association, to reconstruction of ancestry and the detection of selection. To date, high capacity, low cost genotyping has been largely achieved via ‘‘SNP chip’’ microarray-based platforms which require substantial prior knowledge of both genome sequence and variability, and once designed are suitable only for those targeted variable nucleotide sites. This method introduces substantial ascertainment bias and inherently precludes detection of rare or population-specific variants, a major source of information for both population history and genotypephenotype association. Recent developments in reduced-representation genome sequencing experiments on massively parallel sequencers (commonly referred to as RAD-tag or RADseq) have brought direct sequencing to the problem of population genotyping, but increased cost and procedural and analytical complexity have limited their widespread adoption. Here, we describe a complete laboratory protocol, including a custom combinatorial indexing method, and accompanying software tools to facilitate genotyping across large numbers (hundreds or more) of individuals for a range of markers (hundreds to hundreds of thousands). Our method requires no prior genomic knowledge and achieves per-site and per-individual costs below that of current SNP chip technology, while requiring similar hands-on time investment, comparable amounts of input DNA, and downstream analysis times on the order of hours. Finally, we provide empirical results from the application of this method to both genotyping in a laboratory cross and in wild populations. Because of its flexibility, this modified RADseq approach promises to be applicable to a diversity of biological questions in a wide range of organisms.

Genome-wide genetic marker discovery and genotyping using next-generation sequencing.

Abstract: The authors describe the best practices for a growing number of methods that use next-generation sequencing to rapidly discover and assess genetic markers across any genome, with applications from population genomics and quantitative trait locus mapping to marker-assisted selection.