Biology subjects

Brunette, G. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Brunette, G. J..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Haplotype-resolved karyotype construction from Hi-C data using refLinker

Genomic characterization has revealed widespread structural complexity in cancer karyotypes, however shotgun sequencing cannot resolve genomic rearrangements with chromosome-length continuity. Here, we describe a two-tiered approach to determine the segmental composition of rearranged chromosomes with haplotype resolution. First, we present refLinker, a new method for robust determination of chromosomal haplotypes using cancer Hi-C data. Second, we use haplotype-specific Hi-C contacts to determine the segmental structure of rearranged chromosomes. By contrast with existing methods for diploid haplotype inference, our approach is robust to the confounding effects of large-scale DNA deletions, duplications, and high-level amplification in cancer sequencing. Using this approach, we examine haplotype-specific expression changes on rearranged homologs and provide direct evidence for long-range transcriptional activation and repression associated with rearrangements of the inactive X chromosome (Xi). Together, these results reveal the significant transcriptional consequences of somatic Xi rearrangements, highlighting refLinkers broad utility for studying the functional consequences of chromosomal rearrangements.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2021

Origins of cancer genome complexity revealed by haplotype-resolved genomic analysis of evolution of Barretts esophagus to esophageal adenocarcinoma

The progression of precancerous lesions to malignancy is often accompanied by increasing complexity of chromosomal alterations but how these alterations arise is poorly understood. Here we performed haplotype-specific analysis of chromosomal copy-number evolution in the progression of Barretts esophagus (BE) to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) on multiregional whole-genome sequencing data of BE with dysplasia and microscopic EAC foci. We identified distinct patterns of copy-number evolution indicating multigenerational chromosomal instability that is initiated by cell division errors but propagated only after p53 loss. While abnormal mitosis, including whole-genome duplication, underlies chromosomal copy-number changes, segmental alterations display signatures of successive breakage-fusion-bridge cycles and chromothripsis of unstable dicentric chromosomes. Our analysis elucidates how multigenerational chromosomal instability generates copy-number variation in BE cells, precipitates complex alterations including DNA amplifications, and promotes their independent clonal expansion and transformation. In particular, we suggest sloping copy-number variation as a signature of ongoing chromosomal instability that precedes copy-number complexity. These findings suggest copy-number heterogeneity in advanced cancers originates from chromosomal instability in precancerous cells and such instability may be identified from the presence of sloping copy-number variation in bulk sequencing data.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2019

Identification of MCM8IP, an interactor of MCM8-9 and RPA1 that promotes homologous recombination and DNA synthesis in response to DNA damage

Homologous recombination (HR) mediates the error-free repair of DNA double-strand breaks to maintain genomic stability. HR is carried out by a complex network of DNA repair factors. Here we identify C17orf53/MCM8IP, an OB-fold containing protein that binds ssDNA, as a novel DNA repair factor involved in HR. MCM8IP-deficient cells exhibit HR defects, especially in long-tract gene conversion, occurring downstream of RAD51 loading, consistent with a role for MCM8IP in HR-dependent DNA synthesis. Moreover, loss of MCM8IP confers cellular sensitivity to crosslinking agents and PARP inhibition. Importantly, we identify a direct interaction with MCM8-9, a putative helicase complex mutated in Primary Ovarian Insufficiency, that is crucial for MCM8IPs ability to promote resistance to DNA damaging agents. In addition to its association with MCM8-9, MCM8IP also binds directly to RPA1. We show that the interactions of MCM8IP with both MCM8-9 and RPA are required to maintain replication fork progression in response to treatment with crosslinking agents. Collectively, our work identifies MCM8IP as a key regulator of DNA damage-associated DNA synthesis during DNA recombination and replication.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2019

Differential Requirements for the RAD51 Paralogs in Genome Repair and Maintenance in Human Cells

Deficiency in several of the classical human RAD51 paralogs [RAD51B, RAD51C, RAD51D, XRCC2 and XRCC3] is associated with cancer predisposition and Fanconi anemia. To investigate their functions, isogenic disruption mutants for each were generated in non-transformed MCF10A mammary epithelial cells and in transformed U2OS and HEK293 cells. In U2OS and HEK293 cells, viable ablated clones were readily isolated for each RAD51 paralog; in contrast, with the exception of RAD51B, RAD51 paralogs are cell-essential in MCF10A cells. Underlining their importance for genomic stability, mutant cell lines display variable growth defects, impaired sister chromatid recombination, reduced levels of stable RAD51 nuclear foci, and hypersensitivity to mitomycin C and olaparib. Altogether these observations underscore the contributions of RAD51 paralogs in diverse DNA repair processes, and demonstrate essential differences in different cell types. Finally, this study will provide useful reagents to analyze patient-derived mutations and to investigate mechanisms of chemotherapeutic resistance deployed by cancers.

cell biology↗