Sister chromatid cohesion is essential for accurate chromosome segregation. Cohesion is generated by cohesin, a conserved multi-subunit protein complex composed of four core subunits: Smc1, Smc3, Scc1, and Scc3. Cohesin holds sister chromatids together in mitotic cells starting from S-phase, when DNA replicates, until their separation at the onset of anaphase where its Scc1 subunit is cleaved. In budding yeast, most Scc1 is destroyed by cleavage at anaphase and is only re-synthesised in late G1, whereupon it associates with the unreplicated chromatin. Although sister chromatid cohesion is known to be mediated by a topological interaction of cohesin complexes around sister DNAs, the nature of cohesin`s interaction with chromatin before DNA replication remains to be elucidated. My project aims to develop a new system in order to find out whether ‘non-cohesive’ cohesin interacts with chromatin topologically. This is important for two main reasons. Firstly, understanding the physical nature of cohesin’s interaction with chromatin before DNA replication is essential for determining how cohesion is established during DNA replication. Another reason is that most cohesin in multicellular organisms is associated with the unreplicated chromatin of post mitotic cells where it regulates transcription. How cohesin mediates gene expression is unknown. Understanding how cohesin binds unreplicated chromatin may therefore bring insights into the mechanisms by which cohesin complex performs its non-canonical functions. In order to address this, we needed a situation where cohesin is already loaded onto chromosomes, but either DNA replication or cohesion establishment is prevented. Therefore, we used a temperature sensitive allele of Eco1 (required for establishment of cohesion). Quantitative measurement of cohesin levels on chromosomes in either wild type allele or temperature sensitive allele of Eco1 showed that the amount of cohesin associated with centromeric and inner pericentromeric regions in both strains are almost indistinguishable from each other throughout the whole cell cycle. Despite normal levels of cohesin, we confirmed by minichromosomal assay that no sister chromatid cohesion is established in the absence of functional Eco1 protein. If “non-cohesive” cohesin interacts with the chromatin in a topological manner when there is no sister chromatid cohesion, then its association with chromatin should be resistant to denaturing conditions in the presence of a modified version of the cohesin complex that can be covalently circularized. To test this prediction, a cross-linkable cohesin molecule was needed, which should be resistant to SDS denaturation and should not have major cohesion defects due to the modifications making it to be cross-linkable. The previously created cross-linkable cohesin molecule had cohesion defects due to the presence of Smc3-Scc1 fusion protein. In addition, this fusion alone could bypass the requirement for Eco1, and therefore we could not test how “non-cohesive” cohesin interacts with chromatin, using this version of cross-linkable cohesin complex. We tried two different methods to conditionally close Smc3/Scc1 interface in a way resistant to protein-denaturants and create a new cross-linkable cohesin complex. In our first attempt, the C-terminus of Smc3 and the N-terminus of Scc1 were fused to FRB and FKBP12 respectively, proteins that can form a complex upon addition of rapamycin. Crystal structure of the ternary complex of FKP12/rapamycin/FRB enabled us to design cysteine pairs for the crosslinking of FRB and FKBP12 only in the presence of rapamycin. A more efficient in vivo crosslinking was achieved between the Smc3 and Scc1 in our second attempt. Amino acids within the coiled coil region of Smc3 were replaced by the unnatural photo-cross-linkable amino acid ρ-benzoyl-phenylalanine that can be induced to form covalent bonds with neighbouring proteins (T.Gligoris, unpublished data). Photo and chemically cross-linkable interfaces of cohesin were then integrated with each other to generate a new version of cross-linkable cohesin molecule.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

The chromosome passenger complex (CPC) is an essential mitotic regulator with key roles in mitotic processes such as chromosome condensation, spindle dynamics, chromosome bi-orientation, the spindle checkpoint and cytokinesis. The Aurora B kinase is the CPC’s catalytic subunit. Its targeting and activation are dependent on interactions with the other components of the complex: inner centromere protein (INCENP), survivin and borealin/Dasra B. INCENP serves both as a scaffolding subunit for the CPC as a whole and as an activator of Aurora B via its highly conserved INbox domain. Aurora B is a putative anti‐cancer target; several inhibitors of the kinase are currently in clinical trials. All these are ATP-analogues targeting the kinase active site. The protein-­protein interaction between Aurora B and the INCENP INbox is also essential for CPC function. Earlier studies have demonstrated that INCENP INbox mutants unable to bind and/or activate Aurora B cannot rescue lethality in the absence of endogenous INCENP. The first goal of this study was to test the in vivo effects of disrupting the interaction between endogenous wild type INCENP and Aurora B. For this, a cell-based CPC function assay was developed in HeLa cells. Using this assay, I show that expression of soluble INbox in HeLa cells produces a significant increase in multinucleated and micronucleated cells: both effects consistent with Aurora B loss of function. Expression of soluble INbox bearing the mutations W845G and/or F881A does not elicit this effect suggesting that those mutants cannot bind to Aurora B and occlude INCENP binding. The result concerning the F881A mutant contrasts with earlier reports that equivalent mutants could bind, but not activate, Aurora B. Expression of an INbox mutant lacking the C-­terminal TSS motif reported to be involved in Aurora B activation but not binding has effects similar to those of the wild type INbox. Using the INbox/Aurora B interaction as a model, a secondary goal of this study was to develop and evaluate a novel approach to identify small peptides capable of dissociating intracellular protein‐protein interactions. For this, a library of small (5-­9 residues long) circular peptides (CPs) mimicking the INbox was generated using the split intein circular ligation of proteins and peptides (SICLOPPS) methodology and assayed using the cell-­based CPC function assay. Over two successive rounds of screening, a small number of CPs were identified that caused a significant increase in rates of multinucleated and micronucleated cells. Although statistically significant, these increases were very modest. Furthermore, due to high heterogeneity in SICLOPPS processing efficiencies, it was not practicable to compare the effects of different peptides side-­by-side by transfection. The level of variation in processing efficiency – thus, CP production – was unexpectedly high and puts into question the functional complexity of more commonly used combinatorial cyclic peptide libraries derived using current SICLOPPS methodology. The results of this study are divided into three sections. The first is a methods section concerning the testing of SICLOPPS in HeLa cells and the development of a cell­‐based CPC function assay. In the second, the effects of expressing soluble INbox and mutants thereof in HeLa cells are presented. The final results section presents the results of the feasibility study of the rationally-­designed genetically encoded library approach.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Giardia intestinalis is a parasitic protist that causes one of the most common diarrheal disease of parasite origin. The cell of Giardia contains two nuclei with unknown number of chromosomes until recently. Karyotype was determined five years ago using conventional cytogenetic method by Tůmová and collaborators. In my work, I assessed karyotype of four isolates, six lines and three clonal lines by the same method. It was confirmed, that two nuclei within one cell could differ in chromosome number, the differences found were 1, 2 or 6 chromosomes. Aneuploid number of chromosomes was found too. In case that both nuclei within single cell contained the same number of chromosomes, there were 10 chromosomes indentified in each nucleus. It was also revealed, that karyotype is not specific feature for different genetic groups (in this work assemblages A and E). Karyotype can be different even among lines and clonal populations derived from the same isolate. Changes in karyotype in the course of in vitro cultivation were detected within three populations. Results are discussed in relation to known facts.

Human Artificial Chromosomes (HAC) are fascinating extrachromosomal molecules that stay independently from the host genome and are capable of segregating as efficiently as endogenous chromosomes. It has been proven that HAC are potential tools for both basic chromosome behavioural research and agents for gene therapy purposes. My DPhil project is divided into two main themes. The first theme was to develop a novel artificial chromosome in mouse embryonic stem cells. The second theme was to understand the factors affecting chromosome stability which may also affect the efficiency of artificial chromosome formation. so that our protocol for better HAC preparation can be refined. There are six results chapters in my thesis. The first three chapters described how I developed human artificial chromosomes in mouse embryonic stem cells. Initially, vectors containing a long stretch of human alphoid DNA were delivered to mouse cells using the Herpes Simplex Virus-I (HSV-l) amplicon system but the efficiency was low. Next, mouse pericentromeric and centromeric DNAs were employed for mouse artificial chromosome (MAC) via HSV-l system. However, the efficiency remained the same. Finally, I used the Microcell-Mediated Chromosome Transfer (MMCT) system to transfer HAC from HTl 080 cells into mouse ES cells and successfully established HAC in ES which were highly stable. The results obtained in this first part of my thesis suggested that to increase HAC formation efficiency it would be necessary to improve the techniques of HSV-I delivery and MMCT. Moreover, it would also be important to better characterize factors affecting chromosome behaviour. The last three results chapters focus on factors affecting chromosomes stability and improving the HSV -1 delivery system and MMCT. I undertook an in vivo study of whole cell fusion experiments with the aid of live cell irnaging system, and found that histone H2B proteins underwent a dynamic assembly/disassembly processes. Live cell imaging of MMCT suggested that the microcell delivery is a very slow process and the results may lead to a refinement of the MMCT protocol. I found it is possible to generate a single HAC using two HSV-l amplicons containing two different constructs, potentially doubling the HSV-l HAC capacity from 150 kb to 300 kb. The last chapter illustrated how the expression of non- coding centromeric satellites impaired chromosome stability in both human cultured and human embryonic stem cells. The findings revealed that non-coding centromeric RNA plays an important role on chromosome stability that might be important for artificial chromosome development.

Y chromosome is due to its special characteristics the ideal tool of archaeogenetic studies. Its diversity is influenced by several factors and I analysed two of them (geographical location and subsistence). I generated SNPs and STRs data from several loci of samples from Slovakia (156 samples, 5 regions) and sub-Saharan Africa, where I analysed samples of sedentary farmers (481 samples, 18 regions) and nomadic pastorals (405 samples, 16 regions). Slovakia is situated at the meeting point of two migration ways. First of them was spread from the east to the west and is associated with enlargement of haplogroup R1a in Europe. The second came from the Iberian Peninsula eastward and is associated with enlargement of haplogroup R1b. Results of MDS graphs replicate the geographical map of Europe. Slovakia is situated in the middle of Russian, Balkanian and Iberian samples. Correlation between genetics and geographic distances is indicated by hierarchical AMOVA analysis and Mantel tests. Populations in sub-Saharan Africa differ from each other by the subsistence pattern. Different life style influence the diversity of the Y chromosome. Nomadic pastoralists and sedentary farmers share different haplogroups, for example, while haplogroup R1b was detected only in nomadic pastoral groups, sedentary farmers...

Uma população experimental F2 foi desenvolvida a partir do cruzamento de uma linhagem macho de frangos de corte com uma linhagem de postura, com o objetivo de mapear QTLs (locos controladores de características quantitativas) para características de desempenho e carcaça. Um total de 2.063 animais F2 em 21 famílias de irmãos completos obtidas em 17 incubações. As aves foram criadas como frangos de corte e abatidas a 6 semanas de idade, foram avaliadas 19 características de desempenho e carcaça. A genotipagem foi realizada em 3 fases: 1) Um total de 80 marcadores microssatélites do cromossomo 1 foram testados nos indivíduos parentais e F1 para identificar marcadores informativos. 2) Genotipagem seletiva dos indivíduos F2 que representam os extremos fenotípicos para peso vivo aos 42 dias de idade (P42), para identificar regiões potencialmente associadas (P < 0,10) com esta característica. 3) Sete famílias de irmãos completos (649 F2) foram genotipados para 12 marcadores associados na fase 2 e para 14 marcadores flanqueadores. Mapeamento por intervalo utilizando regressão foi aplicado para dois modelos genéticos (F2 e meio-irmãos) para detectar QTLs Foram encontradas fortes evidências de QTLs afetando peso vivo, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar e peso de asas, coxas e sobrecoxas, peito, gordura abdominal, fígado, pulmão e coração no cromossomo 1. / An F2 chicken population was developed by crossing a broiler sire line and a layer line, with the objective of mapping Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) for performance and carcass traits. A total of 2,063 F2 chicks in 21 full-sib families from 17 hatches were reared as broilers and slaughtered at 6 weeks of age. Nineteen performance and carcass quality traits were measured. The genotyping was done in three phases: 1) A total of 80 microsatellite markers from chromosome 1 were tested in the parental and F1 individuals to identify informative markers. 2) Selective genotyping of F2 individuals, representing extreme phenotypes for body weight at 42 days of age (BW42), to identify regions potentially associated (P < 0,10) with this trait. 3) Seven full-sib families (649 F2 chicks) were genotyped for 12 markers associated in phase 2 and for additional 14 flanking markers. Interval mapping using regression methods was applied to two different genetic models: 1) Line-cross; 2) Half-sib analyses for mapping QTL. Strong evidences for QTL affecting body weight, feed intake, feed conversion and weights of drums and thighs, breast, abdominal fat, liver, lung and heart were found on chromosome 1.

In order to equally segregate their genetic material into daughter cells during mitosis, it is essential that chromosomes undergo major restructuring to facilitate compaction. However, the process of transforming diffuse, entangled interphase chromatin into discrete, highly organised chromosomal structures is extremely complex, and currently not completely understood. The complexes involved in chromatin compaction and sister chromatid decatenation in preparation for mitosis include condensins I and II. Mutations in condensin subunits have been identified in human tumours, reflecting the importance of accurate cell division in the prevention of aneuploidy and tumour formation. Most mutations described in TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) and COSMIC (Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer) are missense, and therefore likely to only partially affect condensin function. Most functional genetic studies of condensin, however, have used loss of function systems, which typically cause severe chromosome segregation defects and cell death. Mice carrying global hypomorphic mutations within the kleisin subunit of the condensin II complex develop T cell lymphomas. The Caph2nes/nes mouse model is therefore a good system for understanding how condensin dysfunction can influence tumourigenesis. However, little is known about which cellular processes are affected in mutant cells before transformation. I therefore set out to use the Caph2nes/nes mouse model to study the consequences of the condensin II deficiency on cell cycle regulation in several different hematopoietic lineages. The Caph2nes/nes mice are viable and fertile, with no obvious abnormalities other than the thymus, which is drastically reduced in size. Previous studies reported greater than a hundred-fold reduction in the number of CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes. I set out to understand why the alteration of a ubiquitously expressed protein which functions in a fundamental cellular process would result in such a cell-type specific block in development. To achieve this, I investigated the possibility that condensin II is involved in interphase processes as well as in mitosis. In addition, I studied the aspects of T cell development that may make this lineage particularly vulnerable to condensin II deficiency. Finally, I carried out a preliminary investigation into the biochemical properties of the condensin complexes. During my PhD., I found strong evidence to suggest that the Caph2nes/nes T cell-specific phenotype arises due to abnormal cell division. However, I was unable to find any evidence to support the hypothesis that the phenotype is a consequence of abnormal interphase processes. Upon systematic analysis of several stages of hematopoietic differentiation, I found that at a specific stage of T cell development, the mutation results in an increased proportion of cells with abnormal ploidy, followed by a drastic reduction in cell numbers. Erythroid cells revealed a similar increase in the frequency of hyperdiploid cells, but no reduction in cell numbers. B cells and hematopoietic precursors did not reveal an increase in hyperdiploidy, or a reduction in cell numbers in wildtype relative to mutant. Subsequently, I found preliminary evidence to suggest that the T cell-specificity may be due to more rapid progression of CD4+ CD8+ T cells from S phase to M phase, relative to other hematopoietic stages. Finally, a preliminary investigation into the biochemical properties of the condensin complex revealed apparent imbalances in the expression of condensin subunits in T, B and erythroid cells. The sedimentation profile of CAP-H2 from whole-thymus extract did not exclude the possibility that condensin subunits might be forming heavier-weight complexes with non-SMC proteins. Further work must be carried out to determine whether this sedimentation pattern is unique to T cells.