A cohesin cancer mutation reveals a role for the hinge domain in genome organization and gene expression.

The cohesin complex spatially organizes interphase chromatin by bringing distal genomic loci into close physical proximity, looping out the intervening DNA. Mutation of cohesin complex subunits is observed in cancer and developmental disorders, but the mechanisms through which these mutations may co...

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Main Authors: Zachary M Carico, Holden C Stefan, Megan Justice, Askar Yimit, Jill M Dowen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2021-03-01
Series:PLoS Genetics
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1009435&type=printable
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author Zachary M Carico
Holden C Stefan
Megan Justice
Askar Yimit
Jill M Dowen
author_facet Zachary M Carico
Holden C Stefan
Megan Justice
Askar Yimit
Jill M Dowen
author_sort Zachary M Carico
collection DOAJ
description The cohesin complex spatially organizes interphase chromatin by bringing distal genomic loci into close physical proximity, looping out the intervening DNA. Mutation of cohesin complex subunits is observed in cancer and developmental disorders, but the mechanisms through which these mutations may contribute to disease remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate a recurrent missense mutation to the hinge domain of the cohesin subunit SMC1A, observed in acute myeloid leukemia. Engineering this mutation into murine embryonic stem cells caused widespread changes in gene expression, including dysregulation of the pluripotency gene expression program. This mutation reduced cohesin levels at promoters and enhancers, decreased DNA loops and interactions across short genomic distances, and weakened insulation at CTCF-mediated DNA loops. These findings provide insight into how altered cohesin function contributes to disease and identify a requirement for the cohesin hinge domain in three-dimensional chromatin structure.
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issn 1553-7390
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language English
publishDate 2021-03-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS Genetics
spelling doaj-art-74bd8bc1527a43c6862d1be5e8260b8a2025-08-20T02:17:49ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Genetics1553-73901553-74042021-03-01173e100943510.1371/journal.pgen.1009435A cohesin cancer mutation reveals a role for the hinge domain in genome organization and gene expression.Zachary M CaricoHolden C StefanMegan JusticeAskar YimitJill M DowenThe cohesin complex spatially organizes interphase chromatin by bringing distal genomic loci into close physical proximity, looping out the intervening DNA. Mutation of cohesin complex subunits is observed in cancer and developmental disorders, but the mechanisms through which these mutations may contribute to disease remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate a recurrent missense mutation to the hinge domain of the cohesin subunit SMC1A, observed in acute myeloid leukemia. Engineering this mutation into murine embryonic stem cells caused widespread changes in gene expression, including dysregulation of the pluripotency gene expression program. This mutation reduced cohesin levels at promoters and enhancers, decreased DNA loops and interactions across short genomic distances, and weakened insulation at CTCF-mediated DNA loops. These findings provide insight into how altered cohesin function contributes to disease and identify a requirement for the cohesin hinge domain in three-dimensional chromatin structure.https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1009435&type=printable
spellingShingle Zachary M Carico
Holden C Stefan
Megan Justice
Askar Yimit
Jill M Dowen
A cohesin cancer mutation reveals a role for the hinge domain in genome organization and gene expression.
PLoS Genetics
title A cohesin cancer mutation reveals a role for the hinge domain in genome organization and gene expression.
title_full A cohesin cancer mutation reveals a role for the hinge domain in genome organization and gene expression.
title_fullStr A cohesin cancer mutation reveals a role for the hinge domain in genome organization and gene expression.
title_full_unstemmed A cohesin cancer mutation reveals a role for the hinge domain in genome organization and gene expression.
title_short A cohesin cancer mutation reveals a role for the hinge domain in genome organization and gene expression.
title_sort cohesin cancer mutation reveals a role for the hinge domain in genome organization and gene expression
url https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1009435&type=printable
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