Spatial mapping of DNA synthesis reveals dynamics and geometry of human replication nanostructures

Abstract

DNA replication is essential to life and ensures the accurate transmission of genetic information, which is significantly disturbed during cancer development and chemotherapy. While DNA replication is tightly controlled in time and space, methods to visualise and quantify replication dynamics within 3D human cells are lacking. Here, we introduce 3D-Spatial Assay for Replication Kinetics (3D-SPARK), an approach enabling nanoscale analysis of DNA synthesis dynamics in situ. 3D-SPARK integrates optimised nucleotide analogue pulse labelling with super-resolution microscopy to detect, classify, and quantify replication nanostructures in single cells. By combining immunofluorescence techniques with click chemistry-based nascent DNA labelling and transfection of fluorescent nucleotide derivatives, we map multi-colour DNA synthesis events in relation to established replication proteins, local RNA-protein condensates or large subnuclear domains. We demonstrate quantitative changes in size, relative abundance and spatial arrangement of nanoscale DNA synthesis events upon chemotherapeutic treatment, CDC6 oncogene expression and loss of chromatin organiser RIF1. The flexibility, precision and modular design of 3D-SPARK helps bridging the gap between spatial cell biology, genomics, and 2D fibre-based replication studies in health and disease.