Satellite repeat transcripts modulate heterochromatin condensates and safeguard chromosome stability in mouse embryonic stem cells

Clara Lopes Novo; Emily V. Wong; Colin Hockings; Chetan Poudel; Eleanor Sheekey; Meike Wiese; Hanneke Okkenhaug; Simon J. Boulton; Srinjan Basu; Simon Walker; Gabriele S. Kaminski Schierle; Geeta J. Narlikar; Peter J. Rugg-Gunn

doi:10.1038/s41467-022-31198-3

Nature Communications (Jun 2022)

Satellite repeat transcripts modulate heterochromatin condensates and safeguard chromosome stability in mouse embryonic stem cells

Clara Lopes Novo,
Emily V. Wong,
Colin Hockings,
Chetan Poudel,
Eleanor Sheekey,
Meike Wiese,
Hanneke Okkenhaug,
Simon J. Boulton,
Srinjan Basu,
Simon Walker,
Gabriele S. Kaminski Schierle,
Geeta J. Narlikar,
Peter J. Rugg-Gunn

Affiliations

Clara Lopes Novo: Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute
Emily V. Wong: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco
Colin Hockings: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge
Chetan Poudel: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge
Eleanor Sheekey: Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute
Meike Wiese: Wellcome – Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge
Hanneke Okkenhaug: Imaging Facility, The Babraham Institute
Simon J. Boulton: The Francis Crick Institute
Srinjan Basu: Wellcome – Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge
Simon Walker: Imaging Facility, The Babraham Institute
Gabriele S. Kaminski Schierle: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge
Geeta J. Narlikar: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco
Peter J. Rugg-Gunn: Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-31198-3
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 16

Abstract

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Here the authors show satellite transcripts in mouse embryonic stem cells drive HP1α into droplets in vitro and also control HP1α organisation and association with chromatin in vivo. Depleting the satellite transcripts converts heterochromatin into a less dynamic and more static state and leads to chromosome instability.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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