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Regional chromatin decompaction in Cornelia de Lange syndrome associated with NIPBL disruption can be uncoupled from cohesin and CTCF.

Abstract
Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a developmental disorder caused by mutations in NIPBL, a protein which has functionally been associated with the cohesin complex. Mutations in core cohesin complex components have also been reported in individuals with CdLS-like phenotypes. In addition to its role in sister chromatid cohesion, cohesin is thought to play a role in regulating gene expression during development. The mechanism of this gene regulation remains unclear, but NIPBL and cohesin have been reported to affect long-range chromosomal interactions, both independently and through interactions with CTCF. We used fluorescence in situ hybridization to investigate whether the disruption of NIPBL affects chromosome architecture. We show that cells from CdLS patients exhibit visible chromatin decompaction, that is most pronounced across gene-rich regions of the genome. Cells carrying mutations predicted to have a more severe effect on NIPBL function show more extensive chromatin decompaction than those carrying milder mutations. This cellular phenotype was reproduced in normal cells depleted for NIPBL with siRNA, but was not seen following the knockdown of either the cohesin component SMC3, or CTCF. We conclude that NIPBL has a function in modulating chromatin architecture, particularly for gene-rich areas of the chromosome, that is not dependent on SMC3/cohesin or CTCF, raising the possibility that the aetiology of disorders associated with the mutation of core cohesin components is distinct from that associated with the disruption of NIPBL itself in classical CdLS.
AuthorsLeisha D Nolen, Shelagh Boyle, Morad Ansari, Emily Pritchard, Wendy A Bickmore
JournalHuman molecular genetics (Hum Mol Genet) Vol. 22 Issue 20 Pg. 4180-93 (Oct 15 2013) ISSN: 1460-2083 [Electronic] England
PMID23760082 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • CCCTC-Binding Factor
  • CTCF protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans
  • Chromatin
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • NIPBL protein, human
  • Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • SMC3 protein, human
  • cohesins
Topics
  • CCCTC-Binding Factor
  • Cell Cycle Proteins (genetics)
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Nucleus (ultrastructure)
  • Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans (genetics)
  • Chromatin (chemistry, genetics, ultrastructure)
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone (genetics)
  • Chromosomes, Human
  • De Lange Syndrome (genetics, pathology)
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Genome, Human
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Mutation
  • Phenotype
  • Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
  • Repressor Proteins (genetics)

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