Journal Article

RNAs coordinate nuclear envelope assembly and DNA replication through ELYS recruitment to chromatin

Aze, Antoine, Bocquet, Stéphane, Fragkos, Michalis, Cau, Julien, Méchali, Marcel

2017

Overview

Upon fertilisation, the sperm pronucleus acquires the competence to replicate the genome through a cascade of events that link chromatin remodelling to nuclear envelope formation. The factors involved have been partially identified and are poorly characterised. Here, using Xenopus laevis egg extracts we show that RNAs are required for proper nuclear envelope assembly following sperm DNA decondensation. Although chromatin remodelling and pre-replication complex formation occur normally, RNA-depleted extracts show a defect in pre-RC activation. The nuclear processes affected by RNA-depletion included ELYS recruitment, which accounts for the deficiency in nuclear pore complex assembly. This results in failure in chromatin relaxation as well as in the import and proper nuclear concentration of the S-phase kinases necessary for DNA replication activation. Our results highlight a translation-independent RNA function necessary for the parental genome progression towards the early embryonic cell cycle programme. The factors that link chromatin remodelling to nuclear envelope formation in the sperm pronucleus are not fully characterised. Here, the authors show that in RNA-depleted Xenopus laevis egg extracts, ELYS recruitment and nuclear pore complex formation are impaired, resulting in defective nuclear processes.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 631/136/2091 / 631/80/641/151 / Activation / Animals / Assembly / Auditory defects / Cell cycle / Cell Cycle - drug effects / Cell Cycle - genetics / Cell Extracts - chemistry / Cell Extracts - pharmacology / Cell Nucleus - genetics / Cell Nucleus - metabolism / Chromatin - genetics / Chromatin - metabolism / Chromatin remodeling / Complex formation / Deoxyribonucleic acid / DNA / DNA - genetics / DNA - metabolism / DNA biosynthesis / DNA Replication / DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics / DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism / Embryos / Fertilization / Genetics / Genomes / Humanities and Social Sciences / Kinases / Life Sciences / Male / multidisciplinary / Nuclear Envelope - genetics / Nuclear Envelope - metabolism / Nuclear Pore - genetics / Nuclear Pore - metabolism / Ovum - cytology / Ovum - metabolism / Pronucleus / Recruitment / Replication / Ribonucleic acid / RNA / RNA - genetics / RNA - metabolism / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Sperm / Spermatozoa - metabolism / Transcription Factors - genetics / Transcription Factors - metabolism / Xenopus laevis / Xenopus Proteins - genetics / Xenopus Proteins - metabolism