Replication and Genome Dynamics

Genome dynamics

At each division, chromosomes should be duplicated and also maintain the memory of the specific transcription programs that were previously established. Initiation of DNA replication is a precisely regulated process that can start at around 100 000 potential sites dispersed along the genome and are called DNA replication origins (Méchali, 2010; Fragkos et al, 2015). Errors in this process can cause loss or gain of genetic material that will lead to genome instability, a hallmark of cancer cells.

 An intriguing and essential aspect of DNA replication origins in mammalian cells is their genetic and epigenetic nature, which remains quite elusive. Their characteristics are generally well established in bacterial, viruses, and unicellular eukaryotes, but unraveling their nature in multicellular eukaryotes has been our mains goal along the years. We also wish to understand how their positions along the genome may play a role in the organization of chromosomes in the nucleus and how they could play an essential role in transcriptional controls during development and cell differentiation.

Our laboratory discovered the first genetic consensus element present at drosophila or mouse replication origins and extended its characterization in human cells. We identified an Origin G-rich Repeated Element (OGRE) that could form G quadruplexes (G4). We also found that this element was orientated 150-300 bp upstream of the initiation site and was nucleosome-free. We could further demonstrate its functional importance in mouse cells. Finally, a striking observation of replication origins in mouse or human cells was their concentration at the borders of TAD domains and their disorganization in cancer cells.

Over the years, we have also discovered and/or characterized several proteins involved in DNA replication, including Cdt1, MCM4 (cdc21), MCM8, MCM9, and Obi1.

Our current research is to link DNA replication origins to the organization of chromatin domains in the nucleus.

Manon Bouvier
Manon BOUVIER
Technicienne biologiste
ITA

0434359919
Nadege Gaborit
Nadege GABORIT
ITA

0434359919
Sophie Marchizet
Sophie MARCHIZET
Technicienne biologiste
ITA

0434359919
Marcel MECHALI
Researcher

0434359917
Isabelle PEIFFER
ITA

0434359919

Publications of the team

A predictable conserved DNA base composition signature defines human core DNA replication origins.

Akerman I, Kasaai B, Bazarova A, Sang PB, Peiffer I, Artufel M, Derelle R, Smith G, Rodriguez-Martinez M, Romano M, Kinet S, Tino P, Theillet C, Taylor N, Ballester B, Méchali M

Mitosis without DNA replication in mammalian somatic cells

Ganier O, Lutzmann M, Cau, J, Peiffer I., Lemmers C, Zitouni S, Theillet C, and Méchali, M

more

MCM8- and MCM9 Deficiencies Cause Lifelong Increased Hematopoietic DNA Damage Driving p53- Dependent Myeloid Tumors

Malik Lutzmann, Florence Bernex, Cindy da Costa de Jesus, Dana Hodroj, Caroline Marty, Isabelle Plo, William Vainchenker, Marie Tosolini, Luc Forichon, Caroline Bret, Sophie Queille, Candice Marchive, Jean-Sébastien Hoffmann, Marcel Méchali

read publication

OBI1, an ORC ubiquitin ligase promoting DNA replication origin firing

Coulombe P, Nassar J, Peiffer I, Stanojcic S, Sterkers Y, Delamarre A, Bocquet S. and Méchali M.

Involvement of G-quadruplex regions in mammalian replication origin activity

Prorok P., Artufel, M., Aze, A., Coulombe, P., Peifer I., Lacroix L., Guédin A., Mergny J.L., Damaschke J., Schepers, A., Ballester, B., and Méchali, M.

Metazoan DNA replication origins

Ganier O., Prorok P, Akerman I. , and Méchali M.

Recent advances in understanding DNA replication: cell type-specific adaptation of the DNA replication program.

Aze A, Maiorano D


+ Genome Surveillance and Stability

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

Aze A, Fragkos M, Bocquet S, Cau J, Méchali M

Histone H4K20 tri-methylation at late-firing origins ensures timely heterochromatin replication

Brustel J, Kirstein N, Izard F, Grimaud C, Prorok P, Cayrou C, Schotta G, Abdelsamie AF, Déjardin J, Méchali M, Baldacci G, Sardet C, Cadoret JC, Schepers A, Julien E.


+ Biology of Repetitive Sequences

The gastrula transition reorganizes replication origin selection in Caenorhabditis elegans

Rodríguez-Martínez, M., Pinzón, N., Ghommidh, C., Beyne, E., Seitz, H., Cayrou, C., Méchali, M.

+ Systemic impact of small regulatory RNAs

Developmental determinants in non-communicable chronic diseases and ageing

Bousquet J, Anto JM, Berkouk K, Gergen P, Pinto Antunes J, Augé P, Camuzat T, Bringer J, Mercier J, Best N, Bourret R, Akdis M, Arshad SH, Bedbrook A, Berr C, Bush A, Cavalli G, Charles MA, Clavel-Chapelon F, Gillman M, Gold DR, Goldberg M, Holloway JW, Iozzo P, Jacquemin S, Jeandel C, Kauffmann F, Keil T, Koppelman GH, Krauss-Etschmann S, Kuh D, Lehmann S, Lodrup Carlsen KC, Maier D, Méchali M, Melén E, Moatti JP, Momas I, Nérin P, Postma DS, Ritchie K, Robine JM, Samolinski B, Siroux V, Slagboom PE, Smit HA, Sunyer J, Valenta R, Van de Perre P, Verdier JM, Vrijheid M, Wickman M, Yiallouros P, Zins M.


+ Chromatin and cell biology

Proteomic data on the nuclear interactome of human MCM9

Hutchins JR, Traver S, Coulombe P, Peiffer I, Kitzmann M, Latreille D, Méchali M.

The chromatin environment shapes DNA replication origin organization and defines origin classes

Cayrou C, Ballester B, Peiffer I, Fenouil R, Coulombe P, Andrau JC, van Helden J, Méchali M.

MCM9 Is Required for Mammalian DNA Mismatch Repair

Traver S, Coulombe P, Peiffer I, Hutchins JR, Kitzmann M, Latreille D, Méchali M

DNA replication origin activation in space and time

Fragkos M, Ganier O, Coulombe P, Méchali M

What's that gene (or protein)? Online resources for exploring functions of genes, transcripts, and proteins

Hutchins JR

DNA Replication Origins

Leonard AC, Méchali M

A spontaneous Cdt1 mutation in 129 mouse strains reveals a regulatory domain restraining replication licensing

Coulombe, P., Grégoire, D., Tsanov, N., and Méchali, M.

Sequential steps in DNA replication are inhibited to ensure reduction of ploidy in meiosis

Hua H, Namdar M, Ganier O, Gregan J, Méchali M, Kearsey SE.

Methods in DNA replication

Mechali, M.

Genome-scale identification of active DNA replication origins

Cayrou C, Grégoire D, Coulombe P, Danis E, Méchali M

MCM8- and MCM9-Deficient Mice Reveal Gametogenesis Defects and Genome Instability Due to Impaired Homologous Recombination

Lutzmann M, Grey C, Traver S, Ganier O, Maya-Mendoza A, Ranisavljevic N, Bernex F, Nishiyama A, Montel N, Gavois E, Forichon L, de Massy B, Méchali M.

+ Meiosis and recombination

DNA replication fading as proliferating cells advance in their commitment to terminal differentiation.

Estefanía MM, Ganier O, Hernández P, Schvartzman JB, Mechali M, Krimer DB.

New insights into replication origin characteristics in metazoans.

Cayrou C, Coulombe P, Puy A, Rialle S, Kaplan N, Segal E, Méchali M.

Synergic reprogramming of mammalian cells by combined exposure to mitotic Xenopus egg extracts and transcription factors.

Ganier O, Bocquet S, Peiffer I, Brochard V, Arnaud P, Puy A, Jouneau A, Feil R, Renard JP, and Méchali M

Genome-scale analysis of metazoan replication origins reveals their organization in specific but flexible sites defined by conserved features.

Cayrou C, Coulombe P, Vigneron A, Stanojcic S, Ganier O, Peiffer I, Rivals E, Puy A, Laurent-Chabalier S, Desprat R, Méchali M.

+ Laboratory of Molecular Virology

MCM-BP regulates unloading of the MCM2-7 helicase in late S phase.

Nishiyama A, Frappier L, Méchali M.

Eukaryotic DNA replication origins: many choices for appropriate answers.

Méchali, M.

Programming DNA replication origins and chromosome organization.

Cayrou, C., Coulombe, P., Méchali, M

A DNA replication signature of progression and negative outcome in colorectal cancer

Pillaire, M.J., Selves, J., Gordien, K., Gouraud, P.A., Gentil, C., Danjoux, M., Do, C., Negre, V., Bieth, A., Guimbaud, R., Trouche, D., Pasero, P., Méchali, M., Hoffmann, JS, and Cazaux, C

+ Maintenance of genome integrity during DNA replication

DNA replication origins: multiple choices and appropriate decisions

Méchali, M.

How to load a replicative helicase onto chromatin: a more and more complex matter during evolution.

Lutzmann, M., Méchali, M.

MCM9 binds Cdt1 and is required for the assembly of prereplication complexes.

Lutzmann M, Méchali M.

In Xenopus egg extracts DNA replication initiates preferentially at or near asymmetric AT sequences.

Stanojcic, S., Lemaitre, JM., Brodolin, K., Danis, E., Mechali, M.

A Topoisomerase II-dependent mechanism for resetting replicons at the S-M phase transition

Cuvier, O., Stanojcic, S., Lemaitre, JM., Méchali, M.

Cdk1 and Cdk2 activity levels determine the efficiency of replication origin firing in Xenopus

Krasinska, L., Besnard, E., Cot, E., Dohet, C., Méchali, M., Lemaitre, JM., Fisher, D.

The cell cycle: now live and in color.

Méchali M, and Lutzmann M.

New cell or new cycle?

Ganier, O. and Mechali, M.

Geminin is cleaved by caspase-3 during apoptosis in Xenopus egg extracts

Auziol C, Mechali M, Maiorano D.


+ Genome Surveillance and Stability

DNA replication origins, Development, and Cancer

Méchali, M.

Replication, development and totipotency

Lemaitre, JM., Gregoire, D., Mechali, M.

DNA replication during animal development and its relevance to gene expression

Grégoire, D., and Méchali, M.

A Cdt1-geminin complex licenses chromatin for DNA replication and prevents rereplication during S phase in Xenopus.

Lutzmann M, Maiorano D, Mechali M.

+ Genome Surveillance and Stability

Hox B domain induction silences replication origins within the locus and specifies a single origin at its boundary.

Gregoire, D., Brodolin, K., Mechali, M.

ORC is necessary at the interphase-to-mitosis transition to recruit cdc2 kinase and disassemble RPA foci.

Cuvier O, Lutzmann M, Mechali M.

Recruitment of Drosophila Polycomb Group proteins to chromatin by DSP1

Déjardin, J., Rappailles, A., Cuvier, O., Grimaud, C., Decoville, M., Locker, D., and Cavalli, G.


+ Chromatin and cell biology

Mitotic remodeling of the replicon.

Lemaitre, J-M., Danis, E., Vassetzky, Y., Pasero, P., and Mechali, M.

MCM8, a novel DNA helicase which is not required for licensing but functions during processive chromosomal replication in vertebratres.

Maiorano, D., Cuvier, O., Danis, E., and Mechali, M.

+ Genome Surveillance and Stability

Recombinant Cdt1 induces rereplication of G2 nuclei in Xenopus egg extracts

Maiorano, D., Krasinska, L., Lutzmann, M. and Mechali M.

+ Genome Surveillance and Stability

Identification of full genes and proteins of MCM9, a novel, vertebrate-specific member of the MCM2-8 protein family

Lutzmann, M., Maiorano, D., and Méchali, M.

+ Genome Surveillance and Stability

A hypophosphorylated form of RPA34 is a specific component of pre-replication centers.

Françon, P. ; Lemaitre, JM., Dreyer, C. ; Maiorano, D. ; Cuvier, O. and Marcel Méchali.

+ Genome Surveillance and Stability

The regulation of competence to replicate in meiosis by Cdc6 is conserved during evolution.

Lemaitre, JM., Bocquet, S., Terret, ME., Namdar, M., Ait-Ahmed, O., Kearsey, S., Verlhac, MH., and Méchali, M.

+ Meiosis and recombination

Crystal Structure of the Coiled-coil Dimerization Motif of Geminin : Structural and Functional Insights on DNA Replication Regulation.

Thepaut, M., Maiorano, D., Guichou, JF., Auge, MT., Dumas, C., Méchali, M., and Padilla, A.

+ Genome Surveillance and Stability

Sleeping policemen for DNA replication

Fisher D., and Marcel Méchali.

Specification of a DNA replication origin by a transcription complex.

Danis, E., Brodolin, K., Menut, S., Maiorano, D., Girard-Reydet, C. and Marcel Méchali.

+ Genome Surveillance and Stability

DNA replication initiates at domains overlapping with nuclear matrix attachment regions in the xenopus and mouse c-myc promoter.

Girard-Reydet, C., Gregoire, D., Vassetzky, Y., and Marcel Méchali.

Cell cycle regulation of the licensing activity of Cdt1 in Xenopus laevis.

Maiorano, D., Rul, W., and Marcel Mechali

+ Genome Surveillance and Stability

DNA replication origins in eukaryotes

Françon, P., and Méchali, M.

Vertebrate HoxB gene expression requires DNA replication

Fisher, D., and Mechali, M.

Organisation and Dynamics of the Cell Nucleus for DNA Replication.

Lemaitre, J-M., and Méchali, M.

Expression of ISWI and its binding to chromatin during the cell cycle and early development

Demeret, C., Bocquet, S., Lemaître, J-M., Françon, P., and Méchali, M.

Formation of extrachromosomal circles from telomeric DNA in Xenopus laevis

Cohen, S., and Méchali, M.

Competence to replicate in the unfertilized egg is conferred by Cdc6 during meiotic maturation

Lemaître, J-M., Bocquet, S., and Méchali, M.

DNA replication origins: from sequence specificity to epigenetics

Méchali, M.

A novel cell-free system reveals a mechanism of circular DNA formation from tandem repeats

Cohen, S., and Méchali, M.

Chromatin remodelling and DNA replication : from nucleosomes to loop domains

Demeret, C., Vassetzky, Y. and Mchali, M.

Repression of origin assembly in metaphase depends on inhibition of RLF-B/cdt1 by geminin.

Tada, S., Li, A., Maiorano, D., Méchali, M., and Blow, J.

+ Genome Surveillance and Stability

Stepwise Regulated Chromatin Assembly of MCM2-7 Proteins.

Maiorano, D., Lemaître, J.M. and Méchali, M.

+ Genome Surveillance and Stability

Specification of chromatin domains and regulation of replication and transcription during development.

Vassetzky, Y., Lemaitre, J.M. and Méchali, M.

Hsp90 is required for Mos activation and biphasic MAP kinase activation in Xenopus oocytes

Fisher, D.L., Mandart, E. and Dorée, M.

Rearrangement of chromatin domains during development in Xenopus

Vassetzky, Y., Hair, A., and Méchali M.

XCDT1 is required for the assembly of pre-replicative complexes in Xenopus laevis

Maiorano, D., Moreau, J., and Méchali, M.

+ Genome Surveillance and Stability

T-antigen interactions with chromatin and p53 during the cell cycle in extracts from Xenopus eggs.

Vassetzky, Y.S., Tchang, F., Fanning, E. and Méchali, M.

Nuclear import of p53 during Xenopus laevis early development in relation to DNA replication and DNA repair.

Tchang, F. and Méchali, M.

Characterization of xenopus RaIB and its involvment in F-actin control during early development.

Moreau, J., Lebreton, S., Iouzalen, N. and Méchali, M.

DNA replication and chromatin assembly using Xenopus egg or embryos.

Menut, S., Lemaitre, J.M., Hair, A. and Méchali, M.

Initiation of DNA replication in eukaryotes : questioning the origin.

Françon, P., Maiorano, D. and Méchali, M.

+ Genome Surveillance and Stability

Regulated formation of extrachromosomal circurlar DNA molecules during development in Xenopus laevis.

Cohen, S., Menut, S. and Méchali, M.

Dynamics of the genome during early Xenopus laevis development : karyomeres as independent units of replication.

Lemaitre, J.M., Géraud, G. and Méchali, M.

Control of gene expression during Xenopus early development.

Hair, A., Prioleau, M.N., Vassetzki, Y. and Méchali, M.

Evidence for different MCM subcomplexes with differential binding to chromatin in Xenopus.

Coué, M., Amariglio, F., Maiorano, D., Bocquet, S. and Méchali, M.

+ Genome Surveillance and Stability

Thèses et hdr

Characterization of the function of OBI1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, in DNA replication. 25/10/2019

COULOMBE Philippe
COULOMBE Philippe
send a message
SANG Pau biak
SANG Pau biak
send a message
KASAAI Bahar
KASAAI Bahar
send a message
NASSAR Joëlle
NASSAR Joëlle
send a message
AKERMAN Ildem
AKERMAN Ildem
send a message
BATISTA-GOMES Ana-rita
BATISTA-GOMES Ana-rita
send a message
RIZVI Ahsan
RIZVI Ahsan
send a message
FOROUZANFAR Faezeh
FOROUZANFAR Faezeh
send a message
GANIER Olivier
GANIER Olivier
send a message
ANGLES D'ORTOLI Stephanie
ANGLES D'ORTOLI Stephanie
send a message
AUZIOL Camille
AUZIOL Camille
send a message
MONTEL Nathalie
MONTEL Nathalie
send a message
CAYROU Christelle
CAYROU Christelle
send a message
NISHIYAMA Atsuya
NISHIYAMA Atsuya
send a message
RALPH Emma
RALPH Emma
send a message
STANOJCIC Slavica
STANOJCIC Slavica
INRA, Montpellier
send a message
GONZALEZ Laure
GONZALEZ Laure
Helle. Ulrich (Clare Hall Laboratories, UK)
send a message
GHELARDI Sophie
GHELARDI Sophie
send a message
CRIADO Florian
CRIADO Florian
send a message
SAUZAY Pierre
SAUZAY Pierre
send a message
BOUSSIER Amandine
BOUSSIER Amandine
send a message
BRODOLIN Konstantin
BRODOLIN Konstantin
send a message
COHEN Sarit
COHEN Sarit
send a message
COUDANE Fanny
COUDANE Fanny
send a message
CUCCHI-MOUILLOT Patricia
CUCCHI-MOUILLOT Patricia
Dettachement - UK
send a message
DANIS Etienne
DANIS Etienne
send a message
DELAFOSSE Beatrice
DELAFOSSE Beatrice
send a message
DUBOCQ Ellie
DUBOCQ Ellie
send a message
FIGARO Sabine
FIGARO Sabine
send a message
FLOC'H Nicolas
FLOC'H Nicolas
send a message
FRANCON Patricia
FRANCON Patricia
send a message
FULCRAND Geraldine
FULCRAND Geraldine
send a message
GIRARD-REYDET Claire
GIRARD-REYDET Claire
send a message
GONTARZ Renata
GONTARZ Renata
send a message
GOUDON Cecile
GOUDON Cecile
send a message
GRAJWODA Nicolas
GRAJWODA Nicolas
send a message
GREGOIRE Damien
GREGOIRE Damien
send a message
GUEZEL Frederic
GUEZEL Frederic
send a message
KRASINSKA Liliana
KRASINSKA Liliana
send a message
LESIMPLE Pierre
LESIMPLE Pierre
send a message
MAILLET Frederic
MAILLET Frederic
send a message
MARTINEZ Javier
MARTINEZ Javier
send a message
MICHELET Maud
MICHELET Maud
send a message
MORRIS Ann
MORRIS Ann
send a message
PIETTE Jacques
PIETTE Jacques
INSERM EMI 0229 CRLC Val d_Aurelle-Paul Lamarque
send a message
RUL Wilfrid
RUL Wilfrid
send a message
SELIGE Jens
SELIGE Jens
send a message
SKANDER Nadia
SKANDER Nadia
send a message
TAULET Nicolas
TAULET Nicolas
send a message
TROUILLOT Nathalie
TROUILLOT Nathalie
send a message
VALENTIN Guillaume
VALENTIN Guillaume
send a message
ZEKRI Latifa
ZEKRI Latifa
send a message
ZELENKA Nadine
ZELENKA Nadine
send a message
BASCUNANA Claire
BASCUNANA Claire
send a message
VELILLA Fabien
VELILLA Fabien
send a message
CHAWAF Mayssa
CHAWAF Mayssa
send a message
VIGNERON Alice
VIGNERON Alice
send a message
GLADEL Guillaume
GLADEL Guillaume
send a message
RODRIGUEZ-MARTINEZ Marta
RODRIGUEZ-MARTINEZ Marta
send a message
TRAVER Sabine
TRAVER Sabine
send a message
AGHERBI Hanane
AGHERBI Hanane
send a message
ARPINON Julie
ARPINON Julie
send a message
FRAGKOS Michail
FRAGKOS Michail
IRCM
send a message
DESPRAT Romain
DESPRAT Romain
send a message
LAN-LEUNG Benoit
LAN-LEUNG Benoit
send a message
MAYA-MENDOZA Apolinar
MAYA-MENDOZA Apolinar
send a message
PUY Aurore
PUY Aurore
send a message
RIALLE Stephanie
RIALLE Stephanie
IGF
send a message
HAMADA Thomas
HAMADA Thomas
send a message
AMARO Héloïse
AMARO Héloïse
send a message
DEL CORTE Maité
DEL CORTE Maité
send a message
DAMOUR Darlène
DAMOUR Darlène
send a message
DUCOUSSO Marie
DUCOUSSO Marie
send a message
FIORENTINO Anaïs
FIORENTINO Anaïs
Anais Fiorentino
send a message