Showing papers on "genomic DNA published in 2014"

CRISPR/Cas9 systems have off-target activity with insertions or deletions between target DNA and guide RNA sequences

Abstract: CRISPR/Cas9 systems are a versatile tool for genome editing due to the highly efficient targeting of DNA sequences complementary to their RNA guide strands. However, it has been shown that RNA-guided Cas9 nuclease cleaves genomic DNA sequences containing mismatches to the guide strand. A better understanding of the CRISPR/Cas9 specificity is needed to minimize off-target cleavage in large mammalian genomes. Here we show that genomic sites could be cleaved by CRISPR/Cas9 systems when DNA sequences contain insertions ('DNA bulge') or deletions ('RNA bulge') compared to the RNA guide strand, and Cas9 nickases used for paired nicking can also tolerate bulges in one of the guide strands. Variants of single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) for four endogenous loci were used as model systems, and their cleavage activities were quantified at different positions with 1- to 5-bp bulges. We further investigated 114 putative genomic off-target loci of 27 different sgRNAs and confirmed 15 off-target sites, each harboring a single-base bulge and one to three mismatches to the guide strand. Our results strongly indicate the need to perform comprehensive off-target analysis related to DNA and sgRNA bulges in addition to base mismatches, and suggest specific guidelines for reducing potential off-target cleavage.

Protocol: a simple method for extracting next-generation sequencing quality genomic DNA from recalcitrant plant species.

Abstract: Next-generation sequencing technologies rely on high quality DNA that is suitable for library preparation followed by sequencing. Some plant species store large amounts of phenolics and polysaccharides within their leaf tissue making genomic DNA extraction difficult. While many DNA extraction methods exist that contend with the presence of phenolics and polysaccharides, these methods rely on long incubations, multiple precipitations or commercially available kits to produce high molecular weight and contaminant-free DNA. In this protocol, we describe simple modifications to the established CTAB- based extraction method that allows for reliable isolation of high molecular weight genomic DNA from difficult to isolate plant species Corymbia (a eucalypt) and Coffea (coffee). The simplified protocol does not require multiple clean up steps or commercial based kits, and the isolated DNA passed stringent quality control standards for whole genome sequencing on Illumina HiSeq and TruSeq sequencing platforms.

Different gDNA content in the subpopulations of prostate cancer extracellular vesicles: apoptotic bodies, microvesicles, and exosomes.

Abstract: BACKGROUND Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived membrane vesicles. EVs contain several RNAs such as mRNA, microRNAs, and ncRNAs, but less is known of their genomic DNA (gDNA) content. It is also unknown whether the DNA cargo is randomly sorted or if it is systematically packed into specific EV subpopulations. The aim of this study was to analyze whether different prostate cancer (PCa) cell-derived EV subpopulations (apoptotic bodies, microvesicles, and exosomes) carry different gDNA fragments. METHODS EV subpopulations were isolated from three PCa cell lines (LNCaP, PC-3, and RC92a/hTERT) and the plasma of PCa patients and healthy donors, and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis and total protein content. gDNA fragments of different genes were detected by real time quantitative PCR and confirmed by DNA sequencing. RESULTS We report that the concentration of EVs was higher in the cancer patients than in the healthy controls. EV subpopulations differed from each other in terms of total protein and DNA content. Analysis of gDNA fragments of MLH1, PTEN, and TP53 genes from the PCa cell-derived EV subpopulations showed that different EVs carried different gDNA content, which could even harbor specific mutations. Altogether, these results suggest that both nucleic acids and proteins are selectively and cell-dependently packed into the EV subtypes. CONCLUSIONS EVs derived from PCa cell lines and human plasma samples contain double-stranded gDNA fragments which could be used to detect specific mutations, making EVs potential biomarkers for cancer diagnostics and prognostics. Prostate 74:1379–1390, 2014. © 2014 The Authors. The Prostate published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Quantitative sequencing of 5-formylcytosine in DNA at single-base resolution

Abstract: Recently, the cytosine modifications 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and 5-formylcytosine (5fC) were found to exist in the genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of a wide range of mammalian cell types. It is now important to understand their role in normal biological function and disease. Here we introduce reduced bisulfite sequencing (redBS-Seq), a quantitative method to decode 5fC in DNA at single-base resolution, based on a selective chemical reduction of 5fC to 5hmC followed by bisulfite treatment. After extensive validation on synthetic and genomic DNA, we combined redBS-Seq and oxidative bisulfite sequencing (oxBS-Seq) to generate the first combined genomic map of 5-methylcytosine, 5hmC and 5fC in mouse embryonic stem cells. Our experiments revealed that in certain genomic locations 5fC is present at comparable levels to 5hmC and 5mC. The combination of these chemical methods can quantify and precisely map these three cytosine derivatives in the genome and will help provide insights into their function.

A major role for Tau in neuronal DNA and RNA protection in vivo under physiological and hyperthermic conditions.

Abstract: Nucleic acid protection is a substantial challenge for neurons, which are continuously exposed to oxidative stress in the brain. Neurons require powerful mechanisms to protect DNA and RNA integrity and ensure their functionality and longevity. Beside its well known role in microtubule dynamics, we recently discovered that Tau is also a key nuclear player in the protection of neuronal genomic DNA integrity under reactive oxygen species (ROS)-inducing heat stress (HS) conditions in primary neuronal cultures. In this report, we analyzed the capacity of Tau to protect neuronal DNA integrity in vivo in adult mice under physiological and HS conditions. We designed an in vivo mouse model of hyperthermia/HS to induce a transient increase in ROS production in the brain. Comet and TUNEL assays demonstrated that Tau protected genomic DNA in adult cortical and hippocampal neurons in vivo under physiological conditions in wild-type and Tau-deficient (KO-Tau) mice. HS increased DNA breaks in KO-Tau neurons. Notably, KO-Tau hippocampal neurons in the CA1 subfield restored DNA integrity after HS more weakly than the dentate gyrus neurons. The formation of phosphorylated histone H2AX foci, a double-strand break marker, was observed in KO-Tau neurons only after HS, indicating that Tau deletion did not trigger similar DNA damage under physiological or HS conditions. Moreover, genomic DNA and cytoplasmic and nuclear RNA integrity were altered under HS in hippocampal neurons exhibiting Tau deficiency, which suggests that Tau also modulates RNA metabolism. Our results suggest that Tau alterations lead to a loss of its nucleic acid safeguarding functions and participate in the accumulation of DNA and RNA oxidative damage observed in the Alzheimer’s disease brain.

Natural Competence and the Evolution of DNA Uptake Specificity

Abstract: Many bacteria are naturally competent, able to actively transport environmental DNA fragments across their cell envelope and into their cytoplasm. Because incoming DNA fragments can recombine with and replace homologous segments of the chromosome, competence provides cells with a potent mechanism of horizontal gene transfer as well as access to the nutrients in extracellular DNA. This review starts with an introductory overview of competence and continues with a detailed consideration of the DNA uptake specificity of competent proteobacteria in the Pasteurellaceae and Neisseriaceae. Species in these distantly related families exhibit strong preferences for genomic DNA from close relatives, a self-specificity arising from the combined effects of biases in the uptake machinery and genomic overrepresentation of the sequences this machinery prefers. Other competent species tested lack obvious uptake bias or uptake sequences, suggesting that strong convergent evolutionary forces have acted on these two families. Recent results show that uptake sequences have multiple "dialects," with clades within each family preferring distinct sequence variants and having corresponding variants enriched in their genomes. Although the genomic consensus uptake sequences are 12 and 29 to 34 bp, uptake assays have found that only central cores of 3 to 4 bp, conserved across dialects, are crucial for uptake. The other bases, which differ between dialects, make weaker individual contributions but have important cooperative interactions. Together, these results make predictions about the mechanism of DNA uptake across the outer membrane, supporting a model for the evolutionary accumulation and stability of uptake sequences and suggesting that uptake biases may be more widespread than currently thought.

Transcription-associated R-loop formation across the human FMR1 CGG-repeat region.

Abstract: Expansion of a trinucleotide (CGG) repeat element within the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR) of the human FMR1 gene is responsible for a number of heritable disorders operating through distinct pathogenic mechanisms: gene silencing for fragile X syndrome (>200 CGG) and RNA toxic gain-of-function for FXTAS (∼55–200 CGG). Existing models have focused almost exclusively on post-transcriptional mechanisms, but co-transcriptional processes could also contribute to the molecular dysfunction of FMR1. We have observed that transcription through the GC-rich FMR1 5′UTR region favors R-loop formation, with the nascent (G-rich) RNA forming a stable RNA:DNA hybrid with the template DNA strand, thereby displacing the non-template DNA strand. Using DNA:RNA (hybrid) immunoprecipitation (DRIP) of genomic DNA from cultured human dermal fibroblasts with both normal (∼30 CGG repeats) and premutation (55

PROTOCOLS: Chromatin Immunoprecipitation from Arabidopsis Tissues.

Abstract: The ability of proteins to associate with genomic DNA in the context of chromatin is critical for many nuclear processes including transcription, replication, recombination, and DNA repair. Chromatin immunoprecipication (ChIP) is a practical and useful technique for characterizing protein / DNA association in vivo. The procedure generally includes six steps: (1) crosslinking the protein to the DNA; (2) isolating the chromatin; (3) chromatin fragmentation; (4) imunoprecipitation with antibodies against the protein of interest; (5) DNA recovery; and (6) PCR identification of factor associated DNA sequences. In this protocol, we describe guidelines, experimental setup, and conditions for ChIP in intact Arabidopsis tissues. This protocol has been used to study association of histone modifications, of chromatin remodeling ATPases, as well as of sequence-specific transcription factors with the genomic DNA in various Arabidopsis thaliana tissues. The protocol described focuses on ChIP-qPCR, but can readily be adapted for use in ChIP-chip or ChIP-seq experiments. The entire procedure can be completed within 3 days.

Epigenetics and evolution.

Abstract: Epigenetic mechanisms traditionally have been studied in the domains of development and disease, but they may also play important roles in ecological and evolutionary processes. In this article, we revisit historical as well as recent studies that indicate significant impacts of epigenetic processes on evolution. Our main focus is DNA methylation, which is a prevalent chemical modification of genomic DNA. First, it has been long known that DNA methylation acts as a major mutational facilitator in animal genomes and influences nucleotide compositions of genomes. More recently, genome-wide analyses have demonstrated that the current levels of DNA methylation can be predicted from the evolutionary signatures of DNA methylation, indicating that these two processes are intimately correlated. Indeed, the recent explosive growth in the knowledge of genomic DNA methylation in wide-ranging taxa has revealed that patterns of DNA methylation are surprisingly conserved across deep phylogenies. Interestingly, comparative analyses of humans and closely related primate species show that genomic regions that do show evolutionary divergence of DNA methylation are enriched for developmental and tissue specializations. A key question is how epigenetic patterns transmit between generations and impact evolutionary dynamics. On the one hand, some studies report direct transmissions of epigenetic features to the next generation. On the other hand, it is becoming clear that genomic sequence variants exist that encode and presumably regulate distinctive epigenetic patterns. For instance, numerous single-nucleotide polymorphisms that affect DNA-methylation patterns have been discovered in human populations. These studies begin to unveil a dynamic interplay between genomic and epigenomic factors across long and short evolutionary timescales.

Effects of a Novel Long Noncoding RNA, lncUSMycN, on N-Myc Expression and Neuroblastoma Progression

Abstract: BACKGROUND Patients with neuroblastoma due to the amplification of a 130-kb genomic DNA region containing the MYCN oncogene have poor prognoses METHODS Bioinformatics data were used to discover a novel long noncoding RNA, lncUSMycN, at the 130-kb amplicon RNA-protein pull-down assays were used to identify proteins bound to lncUSMycN RNA Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, multivariable Cox regression, and two-sided log-rank test were used to examine the prognostic value of lncUSMycN and NonO expression in three cohorts of neuroblastoma patients (n = 47, 88, and 476, respectively) Neuroblastoma-bearing mice were treated with antisense oligonucleotides targeting lncUSMycN (n = 12) or mismatch sequence (n = 13), and results were analyzed by multiple comparison two-way analysis of variance All statistical tests were two-sided RESULTS Bioinformatics data predicted lncUSMycN gene and RNA, and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction confirmed its three exons and two introns The lncUSMycN gene was coamplified with MYCN in 88 of 341 human neuroblastoma tissues lncUSMycN RNA bound to the RNA-binding protein NonO, leading to N-Myc RNA upregulation and neuroblastoma cell proliferation High levels of lncUSMycN and NonO expression in human neuroblastoma tissues independently predicted poor patient prognoses (lncUSMycN: hazard ratio [HR] = 187, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 106 to 328, P = 03; NonO: HR = 248, 95% CI = 134 to 457, P = 004) Treatment with antisense oligonucleotides targeting lncUSMycN in neuroblastoma-bearing mice statistically significantly hindered tumor progression (P < 001) CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate the important roles of lncUSMycN and NonO in regulating N-Myc expression and neuroblastoma oncogenesis and provide the first evidence that amplification of long noncoding RNA genes can contribute to tumorigenesis

High resolution mapping of modified DNA nucleobases using excision repair enzymes

Abstract: The incorporation and creation of modified nucleobases in DNA have profound effects on genome function. We describe methods for mapping positions and local content of modified DNA nucleobases in genomic DNA. We combined in vitro nucleobase excision with massively parallel DNA sequencing (Excision-seq) to determine the locations of modified nucleobases in genomic DNA. We applied the Excision-seq method to map uracil in E. coli and budding yeast and discovered significant variation in uracil content, wherein uracil is excluded from the earliest and latest replicating regions of the genome, possibly driven by changes in nucleotide pool composition. We also used Excision-seq to identify sites of pyrimidine dimer formation induced by UV light exposure, where the method could distinguish between sites of cyclobutane and 6-4 photoproduct formation. These UV mapping data enabled analysis of local sequence bias around pyrimidine dimers and suggested a preference for an adenosine downstream from 6-4 photoproducts. The Excision-seq method is broadly applicable for high precision, genome-wide mapping of modified nucleobases with cognate repair enzymes.

Genome-wide Profiling of 8-Oxoguanine Reveals Its Association with Spatial Positioning in Nucleus

Abstract: 8-Oxoguanine (8-oxoG) is one of the most common DNA lesions generated by reactive oxygen species. In this study, we analysed the genome-wide distribution profile of 8-oxoG by combining immunoprecipitation by antibodies specific for the DNA fragments containing 8-oxoG with a microarray that covers rat genome. Genome-wide mapping of 8-oxoG in normal rat kidney revealed that 8-oxoG is preferentially located at gene deserts. We did not observe differences in 8-oxoG levels between groups of genes with high and low expression, possibly because of the generally low 8-oxoG levels in genic regions compared with gene deserts. The distribution of 8-oxoG and lamina-associated domains (LADs) were strongly correlated, suggesting that the spatial location of genomic DNA in the nucleus determines the susceptibility to oxidative modifications. One possible explanation for high 8-oxoG levels in LADs is that the nuclear periphery is more susceptible to the oxidative damage caused by the extra-nuclear factors. Moreover, LADs have a rather compact conformation, which may limit the recruitment of repair components to the modified bases.

A crispr/cas system-based novel fusion protein and its application in genome editing

Abstract: An inactive CRISPR/Cas system-based fusion protein and its applications in gene editing are disclosed. More particularly, chimeric fusion proteins including an inCas fused to a DNA modifying enzyme and methods of using the chimeric fusion proteins in gene editing are disclosed. The methods can be used to induce double-strand breaks and single-strand nicks in target DNAs, to generate gene disruptions, deletions, point mutations, gene replacements, insertions, inversions and other modifications of a genomic DNA within cells and organisms.

Selective Whole Genome Amplification for Resequencing Target Microbial Species from Complex Natural Samples

Abstract: Population genomic analyses have demonstrated power to address major questions in evolutionary and molecular microbiology. Collecting populations of genomes is hindered in many microbial species by the absence of a cost effective and practical method to collect ample quantities of sufficiently pure genomic DNA for next-generation sequencing. Here we present a simple method to amplify genomes of a target microbial species present in a complex, natural sample. The selective whole genome amplification (SWGA) technique amplifies target genomes using nucleotide sequence motifs that are common in the target microbe genome, but rare in the background genomes, to prime the highly processive phi29 polymerase. SWGA thus selectively amplifies the target genome from samples in which it originally represented a minor fraction of the total DNA. The post-SWGA samples are enriched in target genomic DNA, which are ideal for population resequencing. We demonstrate the efficacy of SWGA using both laboratory-prepared mixtures of cultured microbes as well as a natural host–microbe association. Targeted amplification of Borrelia burgdorferi mixed with Escherichia coli at genome ratios of 1:2000 resulted in >105-fold amplification of the target genomes with <6.7-fold amplification of the background. SWGA-treated genomic extracts from Wolbachia pipientis-infected Drosophila melanogaster resulted in up to 70% of high-throughput resequencing reads mapping to the W. pipientis genome. By contrast, 2–9% of sequencing reads were derived from W. pipientis without prior amplification. The SWGA technique results in high sequencing coverage at a fraction of the sequencing effort, thus allowing population genomic studies at affordable costs.

All-Food-Seq (AFS): a quantifiable screen for species in biological samples by deep DNA sequencing

Abstract: DNA-based methods like PCR efficiently identify and quantify the taxon composition of complex biological materials, but are limited to detecting species targeted by the choice of the primer assay. We show here how untargeted deep sequencing of foodstuff total genomic DNA, followed by bioinformatic analysis of sequence reads, facilitates highly accurate identification of species from all kingdoms of life, at the same time enabling quantitative measurement of the main ingredients and detection of unanticipated food components. Sequence data simulation and real-case Illumina sequencing of DNA from reference sausages composed of mammalian (pig, cow, horse, sheep) and avian (chicken, turkey) species are able to quantify material correctly at the 1% discrimination level via a read counting approach. An additional metagenomic step facilitates identification of traces from animal, plant and microbial DNA including unexpected species, which is prospectively important for the detection of allergens and pathogens. Our data suggest that deep sequencing of total genomic DNA from samples of heterogeneous taxon composition promises to be a valuable screening tool for reference species identification and quantification in biosurveillance applications like food testing, potentially alleviating some of the problems in taxon representation and quantification associated with targeted PCR-based approaches.

Transposition of native chromatin for personal epigenomics

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for analyzing polynucleotides such as genomic DNA. In certain embodiments, the method comprises: (a) treating chromatin isolated from a population of cells with an insertional enzyme complex to produce tagged fragments of genomic DNA; (b) sequencing a portion of the tagged fragments to produce a plurality of sequence reads; and (c) making an epigenetic map of a region of the genome of the cells by mapping information obtained from the sequence reads to the region. A kit for performing the method is also provided.

Genomic imprinting, methylation and parent-of-origin effects in reciprocal hybrid endosperm of castor bean

Abstract: Genomic imprinting often results in parent-of-origin specific differential expression of maternally and paternally inherited alleles. In plants, the triploid endosperm is where gene imprinting occurs most often, but aside from studies on Arabidopsis, little is known about gene imprinting in dicotyledons. In this study, we inspected genomic imprinting in castor bean (Ricinus communis) endosperm, which persists throughout seed development. After mapping out the polymorphic SNP loci between accessions ZB306 and ZB107, we generated deep sequencing RNA profiles of F1 hybrid seeds derived from reciprocal crosses. Using polymorphic SNP sites to quantify allele-specific expression levels, we identified 209 genes in reciprocal endosperms with potential parent-of-origin specific expression, including 200 maternally expressed genes and 9 paternally expressed genes. In total, 57 of the imprinted genes were validated via reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction sequencing, and analysis of the genomic DNA methylation distribution between embryo and endosperm tissues showed significant hypomethylation in the endosperm and an enrichment of differentially methylated regions around the identified genes. Curiously, the expression of the imprinted genes was not tightly linked to DNA methylation. These results largely extended gene imprinting information existing in plants, providing potential directions for further research in gene imprinting.

Identifying diagnostic DNA methylation profiles for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy in blood and saliva using bisulfite sequencing.

Abstract: Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is linked to chromatin relaxation due to epigenetic changes at the 4q35 D4Z4 macrosatellite array. Molecular diagnostic criteria for FSHD are complex and involve analysis of high molecular weight (HMW) genomic DNA isolated from lymphocytes, followed by multiple restriction digestions, pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and Southern blotting. A subject is genetically diagnosed as FSHD1 if one of the 4q alleles shows a contraction in the D4Z4 array to below 11 repeats, while maintaining at least 1 repeat, and the contraction is in cis with a disease-permissive A-type subtelomere. FSHD2 is contraction-independent and cannot be diagnosed or excluded by this common genetic diagnostic procedure. However, FSHD1 and FSHD2 are linked by epigenetic deregulation, assayed as DNA hypomethylation, of the D4Z4 array on FSHD-permissive alleles. We have developed a PCR-based assay that identifies the epigenetic signature for both types of FSHD, distinguishing FSHD1 from FSHD2, and can be performed on genomic DNA isolated from blood, saliva, or cultured cells. Samples were obtained from healthy controls or patients clinically diagnosed with FSHD, and include both FSHD1 and FSHD2. The genomic DNAs were subjected to bisulfite sequencing analysis for the distal 4q D4Z4 repeat with an A-type subtelomere and the DUX4 5’ promoter region. We compared genomic DNA isolated from saliva and blood from the same individuals and found similar epigenetic signatures. DNA hypomethylation was restricted to the contracted 4qA chromosome in FSHD1 patients while healthy control subjects were hypermethylated. Candidates for FSHD2 showed extreme DNA hypomethylation on the 4qA DUX4 gene body as well as all analyzed DUX4 5’ sequences. Importantly, our assay does not amplify the D4Z4 arrays with non-permissive B-type subtelomeres and accurately excludes the arrays with non-permissive A-type subtelomeres. We have developed an assay to identify changes in DNA methylation on the pathogenic distal 4q D4Z4 repeat. We show that the DNA methylation profile of saliva reflects FSHD status. This assay can distinguish FSHD from healthy controls, differentiate FSHD1 from FSHD2, does not require HMW genomic DNA or PFGE, and can be performed on either cultured cells, tissue, blood, or saliva samples.

Gene identification in prokaryotic genomes, phages, metagenomes, and EST sequences with GeneMarkS suite.

Abstract: This unit describes how to use several gene-finding programs from the GeneMark line developed for finding protein-coding ORFs in genomic DNA of prokaryotic species, in genomic DNA of eukaryotic species with intronless genes, in genomes of viruses and phages, and in prokaryotic metagenomic sequences, as well as in EST sequences with spliced-out introns. These bioinformatics tools were demonstrated to have state-of-the-art accuracy, and have been frequently used for gene annotation in novel nucleotide sequences. An additional advantage of these sequence-analysis tools is that the problem of algorithm parameterization is solved automatically, with parameters estimated by iterative self-training (unsupervised training). Curr. Protoc. Microbiol. 32:1E.7.1-1E.7.17. © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: gene finding; hidden Markov model; metagenome

Current understanding of genomic DNA of porcine circovirus type 2

Abstract: Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the primary causative agent of porcine circovirus-associated diseases in swine and is also described as the modulator of host immunity that exacerbates the clinical outcome of many bacterial and viral infections. To date, it has caused increasingly larger losses in the pig industry worldwide. The genomic DNA of PCV2 is predicted to contain 11 open reading frames (ORFs) and at least seven potential ORFs-encoding proteins larger than 5 kDa. Currently, however, only five virally encoded proteins (Rep, Rep′, Cap, ORF3, and ORF4 protein) have been identified in PCV2 replication. In the present review, we strive to discuss the current understanding of the genomic DNA of PCV2 with the purpose of providing insight into the scientific basis of the pathogenesis of PCV2 and the prevention of its infection.

Epigenome-wide analysis of piRNAs in gene-specific DNA methylation

Abstract: PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) have long been associated with the silencing of transposable elements (TEs). However, over 20,000 unique species of piRNAs mapped to the human genome are more than the relatively few presumably required to regulate the known human transposon classes. Here, we present the results of the first genome-wide effort to study the effects of piRNAs on gene specific DNA methylation. We found that exon-derived piRNAs consist almost universally of species with 10 or fewer genomic copies, whereas piRNAs existing in high copies originate predominately from intronic and intergenic regions. Genome-wide methylation profiling following transfection of human somatic cells with piRNA mimics revealed methylation changes at numerous genic loci in single copy piRNA-transfected cells. Moreover, genomic regions directly adjacent to differentially methylated CpG sites were enriched for sequence matches to the transfected piRNAs. These findings suggest that a subset of single copy piRNAs may be able to induce DNA methylation at non-TE genic loci, a process that may be mediated in part by direct binding to either genomic DNA or nascent mRNA near target CpG sites.

DNA methylation changes in triticale due to in vitro culture plant regeneration and consecutive reproduction

Abstract: Doubled haploids of triticale are of interest for plant breeders due to hybrid breeding programs based on cytoplasmic male sterility Tt phenomenon. However, (epi)mutations appearing during in vitro culture regeneration may lead to a phenotypic variation that makes the uniformity of plant materials questionable. Using RP-HPLC genomic DNA methylation of donor doubled haploid plants utilized as a source of tissues for the in vitro regeneration (via androgenesis and somatic embryogenesis) of triticale cv. Bogo and their consecutive generative progeny was evaluated. It was demonstrated that in vitro cultures induced a decrease of the DNA methylation of the regenerants independently of the approach used for plant regeneration. The decrease in DNA methylation of genomic DNA proceeded up to the first/second successive generations followed by the beginning of its reestablishment. Moreover, somatic embryogenesis resulted in a higher level of genomic DNA demethylation in regenerants than androgenesis and the process of methylation seems to be affected by donor plant. It is being speculated that long term changes in genomic DNA methylation may be a source of off-type individuals that may spontaneously arise during plant breeding.

Comparison of three DNA extraction methods for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of bacterial genomic DNA

Abstract: Rapid isolation of high-purity microbial genomic DNA is necessary for genome analysis. In this study, the authors compared a one-hour procedure using a microwave with enzymatic and boiling methods of genomic DNA extraction from Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. High DNA concentration and purity were observed for both MRSA and ESBL strains (80.1 and 91.1 µg/ml; OD260/280, 1.82 and 1.70, respectively) when the extraction protocol included microwave pre-heating. DNA quality was further confirmed by PCR detection of mecA and CTX-M. In conclusion, the microwave-based procedure was rapid, efficient, cost-effective, and applicable for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Key words: DNA, MRSA, ESBL, gene, enzymatic, boiling, microwave.