Biology subjects

Tramier, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Tramier, M..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2018

The RNA-binding proteins CELF1 and ELAVL1 cooperatively control alternative splicing

ELAVL1 and CELF1 are RNA-binding proteins that are involved in alternative splicing control. To explore their functional relationship, we looked for mRNAs that are differentially spliced following the depletion of CELF1, ELAVL1, or both. We found that these proteins control the usage of their target exons in the same direction. Double depletion has a greater effect than individual depletions, showing that CELF1 and ELAVL1 exert additive control. To confirm these results, we carried out RT-PCR on the alternative cassette exons of several mRNAs, including CD44, WNK1, PHACTR2, MICAL3, SPTBN1, and PPP3CB. Using FRET, we found that CELF1 and ELAVL1 directly interact in cell nuclei. We demonstrated that the combined levels of CELF1 and ELAVL1 are a valuable biomarker in several cancers, even when their individual levels may yield very limited information. CD44 alternative splicing probably accounts in part for the effects of CELF1 and ELAVL1 levels on patient survival. These data point to strong functional interactions between CELF1 and ELAVL1 in the control of mRNA isoform production, resulting in significant impacts on human pathology.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Chromatin Condensation Fluctuations Rather Than Steady-State Predict Chromatin Accessibility

Chromatin accessibility to protein factors is critical for genome activities. Dynamic changes in nucleosomal DNA compaction and higher order chromatin structures are expected to allow specific sites to be accessible to regulatory factors and the transcriptional machinery. However, the dynamic properties of chromatin that regulate its accessibility are poorly understood. Here, we took advantage of the microenvironment sensitivity of the fluorescence lifetime of EGFP-H4 histone incorporated in chromatin to map in the nucleus of live cells the dynamics of chromatin condensation and its direct interaction with a tail acetylation recognition domain (the double bromodomain module of human TAFII250, dBD). We reveal chromatin condensation fluctuations supported by mechanisms fundamentally distinct from that of condensation. Fluctuations are spontaneous, yet their amplitudes are affected by their sub-nuclear localization and by distinct and competing mechanisms dependent on histone acetylation, ATP, and both. Moreover, we show that accessibility of acetylated histone H4 to dBD is not restricted by chromatin condensation nor predicted by acetylation, rather, it is predicted by chromatin condensation fluctuations.\n\nSignificanceIn higher eukaryotes, the structure and compaction of chromatin are considered as barriers to genome activities. Epigenetic marks such as post-translational modifications of histones can modify the structure and compaction of chromatin. The accessibility of protein factors to these epigenetic marks is therefore of paramount importance for genome activities. We reveal chromatin condensation fluctuations supported by mechanisms fundamentally distinct from that of condensation itself. We show that accessibility of acetylated histone H4 to double bromodomains is not restricted by chromatin condensation nor predicted by acetylation, rather, it is predicted by chromatin condensation fluctuations.\n\nClassificationBiological Sciences, Cell Biology

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2017

Dynamics Of Dynein At Microtubule Plus-Ends And The Cortex During The Division Of The C. elegans Zygote

During asymmetric cell division, dynein generates forces, which position the spindle to reflect polarity and ensure correct daughter cell fates. The transient cortical localization of dynein raises the question of its targeting. We found that it accumulates at the microtubule plus-ends like in budding yeast, indirectly hitch-hiking on EBP-2EB1 likely via dynactin. Importantly, this mechanism, which modestly accounts for cortical forces, does not transport dynein, which displays the same binding/unbinding dynamics as EBP-2EB1. At the cortex, dynein tracks can be classified as having either directed or diffusive-like motion. Diffusive-like tracks reveal force-generating dyneins. Their densities are higher on the posterior tip of the embryos, where GPR-1/2LGN concentrate, but their durations are symmetric. Since dynein flows to the cortex are non-polarized, we suggest that this posterior enrichment increases dynein binding, thus accounts for the force imbalance reflecting polarity, and supplements the regulation of mitotic progression via the non-polarized detachment rate.

biophysics↗