1
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Charlton SJ, Flury V, Kanoh Y, Genzor AV, Kollenstart L, Ao W, Brøgger P, Weisser MB, Adamus M, Alcaraz N, Delvaux de Fenffe CM, Mattiroli F, Montoya G, Masai H, Groth A, Thon G. The fork protection complex promotes parental histone recycling and epigenetic memory. Cell 2024; 187:5029-5047.e21. [PMID: 39094569 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
The inheritance of parental histones across the replication fork is thought to mediate epigenetic memory. Here, we reveal that fission yeast Mrc1 (CLASPIN in humans) binds H3-H4 tetramers and operates as a central coordinator of symmetric parental histone inheritance. Mrc1 mutants in a key connector domain disrupted segregation of parental histones to the lagging strand comparable to Mcm2 histone-binding mutants. Both mutants showed clonal and asymmetric loss of H3K9me-mediated gene silencing. AlphaFold predicted co-chaperoning of H3-H4 tetramers by Mrc1 and Mcm2, with the Mrc1 connector domain bridging histone and Mcm2 binding. Biochemical and functional analysis validated this model and revealed a duality in Mrc1 function: disabling histone binding in the connector domain disrupted lagging-strand recycling while another histone-binding mutation impaired leading strand recycling. We propose that Mrc1 toggles histones between the lagging and leading strand recycling pathways, in part by intra-replisome co-chaperoning, to ensure epigenetic transmission to both daughter cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Jespersen Charlton
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Valentin Flury
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Yutaka Kanoh
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | | | - Leonie Kollenstart
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Wantong Ao
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Peter Brøgger
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Melanie Bianca Weisser
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Marek Adamus
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Nicolas Alcaraz
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | | | - Francesca Mattiroli
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Guillermo Montoya
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Hisao Masai
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Anja Groth
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark; Biotech Research & Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark.
| | - Geneviève Thon
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark.
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2
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Sahu RK, Dhakshnamoorthy J, Jain S, Folco HD, Wheeler D, Grewal SIS. Nucleosome remodeler exclusion by histone deacetylation enforces heterochromatic silencing and epigenetic inheritance. Mol Cell 2024; 84:3175-3191.e8. [PMID: 39096900 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
Heterochromatin enforces transcriptional gene silencing and can be epigenetically inherited, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that histone deacetylation, a conserved feature of heterochromatin domains, blocks SWI/SNF subfamily remodelers involved in chromatin unraveling, thereby stabilizing modified nucleosomes that preserve gene silencing. Histone hyperacetylation, resulting from either the loss of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity or the direct targeting of a histone acetyltransferase to heterochromatin, permits remodeler access, leading to silencing defects. The requirement for HDAC in heterochromatin silencing can be bypassed by impeding SWI/SNF activity. Highlighting the crucial role of remodelers, merely targeting SWI/SNF to heterochromatin, even in cells with functional HDAC, increases nucleosome turnover, causing defective gene silencing and compromised epigenetic inheritance. This study elucidates a fundamental mechanism whereby histone hypoacetylation, maintained by high HDAC levels in heterochromatic regions, ensures stable gene silencing and epigenetic inheritance, providing insights into genome regulatory mechanisms relevant to human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Kumar Sahu
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jothy Dhakshnamoorthy
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Shweta Jain
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hernan Diego Folco
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - David Wheeler
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Shiv I S Grewal
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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3
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Yu J, Zhang Y, Fang Y, Paulo JA, Yaghoubi D, Hua X, Shipkovenska G, Toda T, Zhang Z, Gygi SP, Jia S, Li Q, Moazed D. A replisome-associated histone H3-H4 chaperone required for epigenetic inheritance. Cell 2024; 187:5010-5028.e24. [PMID: 39094570 PMCID: PMC11380579 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Faithful transfer of parental histones to newly replicated daughter DNA strands is critical for inheritance of epigenetic states. Although replication proteins that facilitate parental histone transfer have been identified, how intact histone H3-H4 tetramers travel from the front to the back of the replication fork remains unknown. Here, we use AlphaFold-Multimer structural predictions combined with biochemical and genetic approaches to identify the Mrc1/CLASPIN subunit of the replisome as a histone chaperone. Mrc1 contains a conserved histone-binding domain that forms a brace around the H3-H4 tetramer mimicking nucleosomal DNA and H2A-H2B histones, is required for heterochromatin inheritance, and promotes parental histone recycling during replication. We further identify binding sites for the FACT histone chaperone in Swi1/TIMELESS and DNA polymerase α that are required for heterochromatin inheritance. We propose that Mrc1, in concert with FACT acting as a mobile co-chaperone, coordinates the distribution of parental histones to newly replicated DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juntao Yu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yujie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yimeng Fang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Joao A Paulo
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dadmehr Yaghoubi
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xu Hua
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, and Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Gergana Shipkovenska
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Takenori Toda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, and Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Steven P Gygi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Songtao Jia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Danesh Moazed
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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4
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Toda T, Fang Y, Shan CM, Hua X, Kim JK, Tang LC, Jovanovic M, Tong L, Qiao F, Zhang Z, Jia S. Mrc1 regulates parental histone segregation and heterochromatin inheritance. Mol Cell 2024; 84:3223-3236.e4. [PMID: 39094566 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Chromatin-based epigenetic memory relies on the symmetric distribution of parental histones to newly synthesized daughter DNA strands, aided by histone chaperones within the DNA replication machinery. However, the mechanism of parental histone transfer remains elusive. Here, we reveal that in fission yeast, the replisome protein Mrc1 plays a crucial role in promoting the transfer of parental histone H3-H4 to the lagging strand, ensuring proper heterochromatin inheritance. In addition, Mrc1 facilitates the interaction between Mcm2 and DNA polymerase alpha, two histone-binding proteins critical for parental histone transfer. Furthermore, Mrc1's involvement in parental histone transfer and epigenetic inheritance is independent of its known functions in DNA replication checkpoint activation and replisome speed control. Instead, Mrc1 interacts with Mcm2 outside of its histone-binding region, creating a physical barrier to separate parental histone transfer pathways. These findings unveil Mrc1 as a key player within the replisome, coordinating parental histone segregation to regulate epigenetic inheritance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takenori Toda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Yimeng Fang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Chun-Min Shan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Xu Hua
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, and Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jin-Kwang Kim
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | | | - Marko Jovanovic
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Liang Tong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Feng Qiao
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, and Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Songtao Jia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
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5
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Alexanian AR. Epigenetic inheritance of acquired traits via stem cells dedifferentiation/differentiation or transdifferentiation cycles. Cells Dev 2024; 179:203928. [PMID: 38768658 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2024.203928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Inheritance of acquired characteristics is the once widely accepted idea that multiple modifications acquired by an organism during its life, can be inherited by the offspring. This belief is at least as old as Hippocrates and became popular in early 19th century, leading Lamarck to suggest his theory of evolution. Charles Darwin, along with other thinkers of the time attempted to explain the mechanism of acquired traits' inheritance by proposing the theory of pangenesis. While later this and similar theories were rejected because of the lack of hard evidence, the studies aimed at revealing the mechanism by which somatic information can be passed to germ cells have continued up to the present. In this paper, we present a new theory and provide supporting literature to explain this phenomenon. We hypothesize existence of pluripotent adult stem cells that can serve as collectors and carriers of new epigenetic traits by entering different developmentally active organ/tissue compartments through blood circulation and acquiring new epigenetic marks though cycles of differentiation/dedifferentiation or transdifferentiation. During gametogenesis, these epigenetically modified cells are attracted by gonads, transdifferentiate into germ cells, and pass the acquired epigenetic modifications collected from the entire body's somatic cells to the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arshak R Alexanian
- Cell Reprogramming & Therapeutics LLC, Wauwatosa (Milwaukee County), WI 53226, USA.
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6
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Larkin A, Kunze C, Seman M, Levashkevich A, Curran J, Morris-Evans D, Lemieux S, Khalil AS, Ragunathan K. Mapping the dynamics of epigenetic adaptation in S. pombe during heterochromatin misregulation. Dev Cell 2024; 59:2222-2238.e4. [PMID: 39094565 PMCID: PMC11338711 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms enable cells to develop novel adaptive phenotypes without altering their genetic blueprint. Recent studies show histone modifications, such as heterochromatin-defining H3K9 methylation (H3K9me), can be redistributed to establish adaptive phenotypes. We developed a precision-engineered genetic approach to trigger heterochromatin misregulation on-demand in fission yeast. This enabled us to trace genome-scale RNA and H3K9me changes over time in long-term, continuous cultures. Adaptive H3K9me establishes over remarkably slow timescales relative to the initiating stress. We captured dynamic H3K9me redistribution events which depend on an RNA binding complex MTREC, ultimately leading to cells converging on an optimal adaptive solution. Upon stress removal, cells relax to new transcriptional and chromatin states, establishing memory that is tunable and primed for future adaptive epigenetic responses. Collectively, we identify the slow kinetics of epigenetic adaptation that allow cells to discover and heritably encode novel adaptive solutions, with implications for drug resistance and response to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Larkin
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Colin Kunze
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Melissa Seman
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | | | - Justin Curran
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | | | - Sophia Lemieux
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Ahmad S Khalil
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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7
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Aguirre S, Pappa S, Serna-Pujol N, Padilla N, Iacobucci S, Nacht AS, Vicent GP, Jordan A, de la Cruz X, Martínez-Balbás MA. PHF2-mediated H3K9me balance orchestrates heterochromatin stability and neural progenitor proliferation. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:3486-3505. [PMID: 38890452 PMCID: PMC11315909 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00178-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Heterochromatin stability is crucial for progenitor proliferation during early neurogenesis. It relays on the maintenance of local hubs of H3K9me. However, understanding the formation of efficient localized levels of H3K9me remains limited. To address this question, we used neural stem cells to analyze the function of the H3K9me2 demethylase PHF2, which is crucial for progenitor proliferation. Through mass-spectroscopy and genome-wide assays, we show that PHF2 interacts with heterochromatin components and is enriched at pericentromeric heterochromatin (PcH) boundaries where it maintains transcriptional activity. This binding is essential for silencing the satellite repeats, preventing DNA damage and genome instability. PHF2's depletion increases the transcription of heterochromatic repeats, accompanied by a decrease in H3K9me3 levels and alterations in PcH organization. We further show that PHF2's PHD and catalytic domains are crucial for maintaining PcH stability, thereby safeguarding genome integrity. These results highlight the multifaceted nature of PHF2's functions in maintaining heterochromatin stability and regulating gene expression during neural development. Our study unravels the intricate relationship between heterochromatin stability and progenitor proliferation during mammalian neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Aguirre
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Stella Pappa
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Núria Serna-Pujol
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Natalia Padilla
- Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron, 119, E-08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Simona Iacobucci
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - A Silvina Nacht
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Guillermo P Vicent
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Albert Jordan
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Xavier de la Cruz
- Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron, 119, E-08035, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Català per la Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, 08018, Spain
| | - Marian A Martínez-Balbás
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, 08028, Spain.
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8
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Ames A, Seman M, Larkin A, Raiymbek G, Chen Z, Levashkevich A, Kim B, Biteen JS, Ragunathan K. Epigenetic memory is governed by an effector recruitment specificity toggle in Heterochromatin Protein 1. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6276. [PMID: 39054315 PMCID: PMC11272775 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50538-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
HP1 proteins are essential for establishing and maintaining transcriptionally silent heterochromatin. They dimerize, forming a binding interface to recruit diverse chromatin-associated factors. Although HP1 proteins are known to rapidly evolve, the extent of variation required to achieve functional specialization is unknown. To investigate how changes in amino acid sequence impacts heterochromatin formation, we performed a targeted mutagenesis screen of the S. pombe HP1 homolog, Swi6. Substitutions within an auxiliary surface adjacent to the HP1 dimerization interface produce Swi6 variants with divergent maintenance properties. Remarkably, substitutions at a single amino acid position lead to the persistent gain or loss of epigenetic inheritance. These substitutions increase Swi6 chromatin occupancy in vivo and altered Swi6-protein interactions that reprogram H3K9me maintenance. We show how relatively minor changes in Swi6 amino acid composition in an auxiliary surface can lead to profound changes in epigenetic inheritance providing a redundant mechanism to evolve HP1-effector specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Ames
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - Melissa Seman
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - Ajay Larkin
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - Gulzhan Raiymbek
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Ziyuan Chen
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, USA
| | | | - Bokyung Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - Julie Suzanne Biteen
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, USA
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9
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Baduel P, Sammarco I, Barrett R, Coronado‐Zamora M, Crespel A, Díez‐Rodríguez B, Fox J, Galanti D, González J, Jueterbock A, Wootton E, Harney E. The evolutionary consequences of interactions between the epigenome, the genome and the environment. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13730. [PMID: 39050763 PMCID: PMC11266121 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The epigenome is the suite of interacting chemical marks and molecules that helps to shape patterns of development, phenotypic plasticity and gene regulation, in part due to its responsiveness to environmental stimuli. There is increasing interest in understanding the functional and evolutionary importance of this sensitivity under ecologically realistic conditions. Observations that epigenetic variation abounds in natural populations have prompted speculation that it may facilitate evolutionary responses to rapid environmental perturbations, such as those occurring under climate change. A frequent point of contention is whether epigenetic variants reflect genetic variation or are independent of it. The genome and epigenome often appear tightly linked and interdependent. While many epigenetic changes are genetically determined, the converse is also true, with DNA sequence changes influenced by the presence of epigenetic marks. Understanding how the epigenome, genome and environment interact with one another is therefore an essential step in explaining the broader evolutionary consequences of epigenomic variation. Drawing on results from experimental and comparative studies carried out in diverse plant and animal species, we synthesize our current understanding of how these factors interact to shape phenotypic variation in natural populations, with a focus on identifying similarities and differences between taxonomic groups. We describe the main components of the epigenome and how they vary within and between taxa. We review how variation in the epigenome interacts with genetic features and environmental determinants, with a focus on the role of transposable elements (TEs) in integrating the epigenome, genome and environment. And we look at recent studies investigating the functional and evolutionary consequences of these interactions. Although epigenetic differentiation in nature is likely often a result of drift or selection on stochastic epimutations, there is growing evidence that a significant fraction of it can be stably inherited and could therefore contribute to evolution independently of genetic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Baduel
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale SupérieurePSL University, CNRSParisFrance
| | - Iris Sammarco
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of SciencesPrůhoniceCzechia
| | - Rowan Barrett
- Redpath Museum and Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | | | | | | | - Janay Fox
- Redpath Museum and Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - Dario Galanti
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology (EvE)University of TuebingenTübingenGermany
| | | | - Alexander Jueterbock
- Algal and Microbial Biotechnology Division, Faculty of Biosciences and AquacultureNord UniversityBodøNorway
| | - Eric Wootton
- Redpath Museum and Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - Ewan Harney
- Institute of Evolutionary BiologyCSIC, UPFBarcelonaSpain
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
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10
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Khanduja JS, Joh RI, Perez MM, Paulo JA, Palmieri CM, Zhang J, Gulka AOD, Haas W, Gygi SP, Motamedi M. RNA quality control factors nucleate Clr4/SUV39H and trigger constitutive heterochromatin assembly. Cell 2024; 187:3262-3283.e23. [PMID: 38815580 PMCID: PMC11227895 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.04.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
In eukaryotes, the Suv39 family of proteins tri-methylate lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3K9me) to form constitutive heterochromatin. However, how Suv39 proteins are nucleated at heterochromatin is not fully described. In the fission yeast, current models posit that Argonaute1-associated small RNAs (sRNAs) nucleate the sole H3K9 methyltransferase, Clr4/SUV39H, to centromeres. Here, we show that in the absence of all sRNAs and H3K9me, the Mtl1 and Red1 core (MTREC)/PAXT complex nucleates Clr4/SUV39H at a heterochromatic long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) at which the two H3K9 deacetylases, Sir2 and Clr3, also accumulate by distinct mechanisms. Iterative cycles of H3K9 deacetylation and methylation spread Clr4/SUV39H from the nucleation center in an sRNA-independent manner, generating a basal H3K9me state. This is acted upon by the RNAi machinery to augment and amplify the Clr4/H3K9me signal at centromeres to establish heterochromatin. Overall, our data reveal that lncRNAs and RNA quality control factors can nucleate heterochromatin and function as epigenetic silencers in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasbeer S Khanduja
- Massachusetts General Hospital Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Richard I Joh
- Massachusetts General Hospital Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Monica M Perez
- Massachusetts General Hospital Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Joao A Paulo
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Christina M Palmieri
- Massachusetts General Hospital Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Jingyu Zhang
- Massachusetts General Hospital Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Alex O D Gulka
- Massachusetts General Hospital Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Willhelm Haas
- Massachusetts General Hospital Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Steven P Gygi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mo Motamedi
- Massachusetts General Hospital Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
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11
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Mori M, Sato M, Takahata S, Kajitani T, Murakami Y. A zinc-finger protein Moc3 functions as a transcription activator to promote RNAi-dependent constitutive heterochromatin establishment in fission yeast. Genes Cells 2024; 29:471-485. [PMID: 38629626 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.13116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
In fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, constitutive heterochromatin defined by methylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me) and its binding protein Swi6/HP1 localizes at the telomere, centromere, and mating-type loci. These loci contain DNA sequences called dg and dh, and the RNA interference (RNAi)-dependent system establishes and maintains heterochromatin at dg/dh. Bi-directional transcription at dg/dh induced by RNA polymerase II is critical in RNAi-dependent heterochromatin formation because the transcribed RNAs provide substrates for siRNA synthesis and a platform for assembling RNAi factors. However, a regulator of dg/dh transcription during the establishment of heterochromatin is not known. Here, we found that a zinc-finger protein Moc3 localizes dh and activates dh-forward transcription in its zinc-finger-dependent manner when heterochromatin structure or heterochromatin-dependent silencing is compromised. However, Moc3 does not localize at normal heterochromatin and does not activate the dh-forward transcription. Notably, the loss of Moc3 caused a retarded heterochromatin establishment, showing that Moc3-dependent dh-forward transcription is critical for RNAi-dependent heterochromatin establishment. Therefore, Moc3 is a transcriptional activator that induces RNAi to establish heterochromatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miyuki Mori
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Michiaki Sato
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Shinya Takahata
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takuya Kajitani
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yota Murakami
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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12
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Villalba de la Peña M, Kronholm I. Antimicrobial resistance in the wild: Insights from epigenetics. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13707. [PMID: 38817397 PMCID: PMC11134192 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Spreading of bacterial and fungal strains that are resistant to antimicrobials poses a serious threat to the well-being of humans, animals, and plants. Antimicrobial resistance has been mainly investigated in clinical settings. However, throughout their evolutionary history microorganisms in the wild have encountered antimicrobial substances, forcing them to evolve strategies to combat antimicrobial action. It is well known that many of these strategies are based on genetic mechanisms, but these do not fully explain important aspects of the antimicrobial response such as the rapid development of resistance, reversible phenotypes, and hetero-resistance. Consequently, attention has turned toward epigenetic pathways that may offer additional insights into antimicrobial mechanisms. The aim of this review is to explore the epigenetic mechanisms that confer antimicrobial resistance, focusing on those that might be relevant for resistance in the wild. First, we examine the presence of antimicrobials in natural settings. Then we describe the documented epigenetic mechanisms in bacteria and fungi associated with antimicrobial resistance and discuss innovative epigenetic editing techniques to establish causality in this context. Finally, we discuss the relevance of these epigenetic mechanisms on the evolutionary dynamics of antimicrobial resistance in the wild, emphasizing the critical role of priming in the adaptation process. We underscore the necessity of incorporating non-genetic mechanisms into our understanding of antimicrobial resistance evolution. These mechanisms offer invaluable insights into the dynamics of antimicrobial adaptation within natural ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ilkka Kronholm
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
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13
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Ames A, Seman M, Larkin A, Raiymbek G, Chen Z, Levashkevich A, Kim B, Biteen JS, Ragunathan K. Epigenetic memory is governed by an effector recruitment specificity toggle in Heterochromatin Protein 1. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.28.569027. [PMID: 38077059 PMCID: PMC10705379 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.28.569027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
HP1 proteins are essential for establishing and maintaining transcriptionally silent heterochromatin. They dimerize, forming a binding interface to recruit diverse chromatin-associated factors. HP1 proteins are specialized and rapidly evolve, but the extent of variation required to achieve functional specialization is unknown. To investigate how changes in amino acid sequence impacts epigenetic inheritance, we performed a targeted mutagenesis screen of the S. pombe HP1 homolog, Swi6. Substitutions within an auxiliary surface adjacent to the HP1 dimerization interface produced Swi6 variants with divergent maintenance properties. Remarkably, substitutions at a single amino acid position led to the persistent gain or loss of epigenetic inheritance. These substitutions increased Swi6 chromatin occupancy in vivo and altered Swi6-protein interactions that reprogram H3K9me maintenance. We show that relatively minor changes in Swi6 amino acid composition can lead to profound changes in epigenetic inheritance which provides a redundant mechanism to evolve novel effector specificity. .
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14
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Bell CG. Epigenomic insights into common human disease pathology. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:178. [PMID: 38602535 PMCID: PMC11008083 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05206-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
The epigenome-the chemical modifications and chromatin-related packaging of the genome-enables the same genetic template to be activated or repressed in different cellular settings. This multi-layered mechanism facilitates cell-type specific function by setting the local sequence and 3D interactive activity level. Gene transcription is further modulated through the interplay with transcription factors and co-regulators. The human body requires this epigenomic apparatus to be precisely installed throughout development and then adequately maintained during the lifespan. The causal role of the epigenome in human pathology, beyond imprinting disorders and specific tumour suppressor genes, was further brought into the spotlight by large-scale sequencing projects identifying that mutations in epigenomic machinery genes could be critical drivers in both cancer and developmental disorders. Abrogation of this cellular mechanism is providing new molecular insights into pathogenesis. However, deciphering the full breadth and implications of these epigenomic changes remains challenging. Knowledge is accruing regarding disease mechanisms and clinical biomarkers, through pathogenically relevant and surrogate tissue analyses, respectively. Advances include consortia generated cell-type specific reference epigenomes, high-throughput DNA methylome association studies, as well as insights into ageing-related diseases from biological 'clocks' constructed by machine learning algorithms. Also, 3rd-generation sequencing is beginning to disentangle the complexity of genetic and DNA modification haplotypes. Cell-free DNA methylation as a cancer biomarker has clear clinical utility and further potential to assess organ damage across many disorders. Finally, molecular understanding of disease aetiology brings with it the opportunity for exact therapeutic alteration of the epigenome through CRISPR-activation or inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher G Bell
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts & The London Faculty of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.
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15
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Qin L, Gong X, Nong J, Tang X, Cui K, Zhao Y, Xia S. Histone Methyltransferase SsDim5 Regulates Fungal Virulence through H3K9 Trimethylation in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:271. [PMID: 38667942 PMCID: PMC11051235 DOI: 10.3390/jof10040271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Histone post-translational modification is one of the main mechanisms of epigenetic regulation, which plays a crucial role in the control of gene expression and various biological processes. However, whether or not it affects fungal virulence in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is not clear. In this study, we identified and cloned the histone methyltransferase Defective in methylation 5 (Dim5) in S. sclerotiorum, which encodes a protein containing a typical SET domain. SsDim5 was found to be dynamically expressed during infection. Knockout experiment demonstrated that deletion of SsDim5 reduced the virulence in Ssdim5-1/Ssdim5-2 mutant strains, accompanied by a significant decrease in H3K9 trimethylation levels. Transcriptomic analysis further revealed the downregulation of genes associated with mycotoxins biosynthesis in SsDim5 deletion mutants. Additionally, the absence of SsDim5 affected the fungus's response to oxidative and osmotic, as well as cellular integrity. Together, our results indicate that the H3K9 methyltransferase SsDim5 is essential for H3K9 trimethylation, regulating fungal virulence throug mycotoxins biosynthesis, and the response to environmental stresses in S. sclerotiorum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Qin
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (L.Q.); (X.G.); (J.N.); (X.T.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Xin Gong
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (L.Q.); (X.G.); (J.N.); (X.T.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Jieying Nong
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (L.Q.); (X.G.); (J.N.); (X.T.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Xianyu Tang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (L.Q.); (X.G.); (J.N.); (X.T.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Kan Cui
- Institute of Plant Protection, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China;
| | - Yan Zhao
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (L.Q.); (X.G.); (J.N.); (X.T.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Shitou Xia
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (L.Q.); (X.G.); (J.N.); (X.T.); (Y.Z.)
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16
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Larkin A, Kunze C, Seman M, Levashkevich A, Curran J, Morris-Evans D, Lemieux S, Khalil AS, Ragunathan K. Mapping the dynamics of epigenetic adaptation during heterochromatin misregulation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.07.10.548368. [PMID: 37503217 PMCID: PMC10369875 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.10.548368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
A classical and well-established mechanism that enables cells to adapt to new and adverse conditions is the acquisition of beneficial genetic mutations. Much less is known about epigenetic mechanisms that allow cells to develop novel and adaptive phenotypes without altering their genetic blueprint. It has been recently proposed that histone modifications, such as heterochromatin-defining H3K9 methylation (H3K9me), normally reserved to maintain genome integrity, can be redistributed across the genome to establish new and potentially adaptive phenotypes. To uncover the dynamics of this process, we developed a precision engineered genetic approach to trigger H3K9me redistribution on-demand in fission yeast. This enabled us to trace genome-scale RNA and chromatin changes over time prior to and during adaptation in long-term continuous cultures. Establishing adaptive H3K9me occurs over remarkably slow time-scales relative to the initiating stress. During this time, we captured dynamic H3K9me redistribution events ultimately leading to cells converging on an optimal adaptive solution. Upon removal of stress, cells relax to new transcriptional and chromatin states rather than revert to their initial (ground) state, establishing a tunable memory for a future adaptive epigenetic response. Collectively, our tools uncover the slow kinetics of epigenetic adaptation that allow cells to search for and heritably encode adaptive solutions, with implications for drug resistance and response to infection.
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17
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Fang Y, Hua X, Shan CM, Toda T, Qiao F, Zhang Z, Jia S. Coordination of histone chaperones for parental histone segregation and epigenetic inheritance. Genes Dev 2024; 38:189-204. [PMID: 38479839 PMCID: PMC10982699 DOI: 10.1101/gad.351278.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Chromatin-based epigenetic memory relies on the accurate distribution of parental histone H3-H4 tetramers to newly replicated DNA strands. Mcm2, a subunit of the replicative helicase, and Dpb3/4, subunits of DNA polymerase ε, govern parental histone H3-H4 deposition to the lagging and leading strands, respectively. However, their contribution to epigenetic inheritance remains controversial. Here, using fission yeast heterochromatin inheritance systems that eliminate interference from initiation pathways, we show that a Mcm2 histone binding mutation severely disrupts heterochromatin inheritance, while mutations in Dpb3/4 cause only moderate defects. Surprisingly, simultaneous mutations of Mcm2 and Dpb3/4 stabilize heterochromatin inheritance. eSPAN (enrichment and sequencing of protein-associated nascent DNA) analyses confirmed the conservation of Mcm2 and Dpb3/4 functions in parental histone H3-H4 segregation, with their combined absence showing a more symmetric distribution of parental histone H3-H4 than either single mutation alone. Furthermore, the FACT histone chaperone regulates parental histone transfer to both strands and collaborates with Mcm2 and Dpb3/4 to maintain parental histone H3-H4 density and faithful heterochromatin inheritance. These results underscore the importance of both symmetric distribution of parental histones and their density at daughter strands for epigenetic inheritance and unveil distinctive properties of parental histone chaperones during DNA replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimeng Fang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Xu Hua
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Chun-Min Shan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Takenori Toda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Feng Qiao
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Songtao Jia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA;
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18
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Espinosa-Martínez M, Alcázar-Fabra M, Landeira D. The molecular basis of cell memory in mammals: The epigenetic cycle. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadl3188. [PMID: 38416817 PMCID: PMC10901381 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl3188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Cell memory refers to the capacity of cells to maintain their gene expression program once the initiating environmental signal has ceased. This exceptional feature is key during the formation of mammalian organisms, and it is believed to be in part mediated by epigenetic factors that can endorse cells with the landmarks required to maintain transcriptional programs upon cell duplication. Here, we review current literature analyzing the molecular basis of epigenetic memory in mammals, with a focus on the mechanisms by which transcriptionally repressive chromatin modifications such as methylation of DNA and histone H3 are propagated through mitotic cell divisions. The emerging picture suggests that cellular memory is supported by an epigenetic cycle in which reversible activities carried out by epigenetic regulators in coordination with cell cycle transition create a multiphasic system that can accommodate both maintenance of cell identity and cell differentiation in proliferating stem cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mencía Espinosa-Martínez
- Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research (GENYO), Avenue de la Ilustración 114, 18016 Granada, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - María Alcázar-Fabra
- Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research (GENYO), Avenue de la Ilustración 114, 18016 Granada, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - David Landeira
- Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research (GENYO), Avenue de la Ilustración 114, 18016 Granada, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
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19
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Muhammad A, Sarkadi Z, van Emden T, Mazumder A, Capella M, Fekete G, Sreechakram VNS, Al-Sady B, Papp B, Barrales RR, Braun S. A systematic quantitative approach comprehensively defines domain-specific functional pathways linked to Schizosaccharomyces pombe heterochromatin regulation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.13.579970. [PMID: 38405799 PMCID: PMC10888830 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.13.579970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Heterochromatin plays a critical role in regulating gene expression and maintaining genome integrity. While structural and enzymatic components have been linked to heterochromatin establishment, a comprehensive view of the underlying pathways at diverse heterochromatin domains remains elusive. Here, we developed a systematic approach to identify factors involved in heterochromatin silencing at pericentromeres, subtelomeres, and the silent mating type locus in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Using quantitative measures, iterative genetic screening, and domain-specific heterochromatin reporters, we identified 369 mutants with different degrees of reduced or enhanced silencing. As expected, mutations in the core heterochromatin machinery globally decreased silencing. However, most other mutants exhibited distinct qualitative and quantitative profiles that indicate domain-specific functions. For example, decreased mating type silencing was linked to mutations in heterochromatin maintenance genes, while compromised subtelomere silencing was associated with metabolic pathways. Furthermore, similar phenotypic profiles revealed shared functions for subunits within complexes. We also discovered that the uncharacterized protein Dhm2 plays a crucial role in maintaining constitutive and facultative heterochromatin, while its absence caused phenotypes akin to DNA replication-deficient mutants. Collectively, our systematic approach unveiled a landscape of domain-specific heterochromatin regulators controlling distinct states and identified Dhm2 as a previously unknown factor linked to heterochromatin inheritance and replication fidelity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abubakar Muhammad
- Institute for Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- BioMedical Center (BMC), Division of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Zsuzsa Sarkadi
- BioMedical Center (BMC), Division of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
- HCEMM-BRC Metabolic Systems Biology Lab, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Thomas van Emden
- BioMedical Center (BMC), Division of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Agnisrota Mazumder
- Institute for Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- BioMedical Center (BMC), Division of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Matias Capella
- BioMedical Center (BMC), Division of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Present address: Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Gergely Fekete
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
- HCEMM-BRC Metabolic Systems Biology Lab, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Vishnu N Suma Sreechakram
- Institute for Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- BioMedical Center (BMC), Division of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Bassem Al-Sady
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, George Williams Hooper Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Balázs Papp
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
- HCEMM-BRC Metabolic Systems Biology Lab, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ramón Ramos Barrales
- BioMedical Center (BMC), Division of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Present address: Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Junta de Andalucía, Seville, Spain
| | - Sigurd Braun
- Institute for Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- BioMedical Center (BMC), Division of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
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20
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Nathanailidou P, Dhakshnamoorthy J, Xiao H, Zofall M, Holla S, O’Neill M, Andresson T, Wheeler D, Grewal SIS. Specialized replication of heterochromatin domains ensures self-templated chromatin assembly and epigenetic inheritance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2315596121. [PMID: 38285941 PMCID: PMC10861883 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315596121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Heterochromatin, defined by histone H3 lysine 9 methylation (H3K9me), spreads across large domains and can be epigenetically inherited in a self-propagating manner. Heterochromatin propagation depends upon a read-write mechanism, where the Clr4/Suv39h methyltransferase binds to preexisting trimethylated H3K9 (H3K9me3) and further deposits H3K9me. How the parental methylated histone template is preserved during DNA replication is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate using Schizosaccharomyces pombe that heterochromatic regions are specialized replication domains demarcated by their surrounding boundary elements. DNA replication throughout these domains is distinguished by an abundance of replisome components and is coordinated by Swi6/HP1. Although mutations in the replicative helicase subunit Mcm2 that affect histone binding impede the maintenance of a heterochromatin domain at an artificially targeted ectopic site, they have only a modest impact on heterochromatin propagation via the read-write mechanism at an endogenous site. Instead, our findings suggest a crucial role for the replication factor Mcl1 in retaining parental histones and promoting heterochromatin propagation via a mechanism involving the histone chaperone FACT. Engagement of FACT with heterochromatin requires boundary elements, which position the heterochromatic domain at the nuclear peripheral subdomain enriched for heterochromatin factors. Our findings highlight the importance of replisome components and boundary elements in creating a specialized environment for the retention of parental methylated histones, which facilitates epigenetic inheritance of heterochromatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patroula Nathanailidou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Jothy Dhakshnamoorthy
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Hua Xiao
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Martin Zofall
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Sahana Holla
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Maura O’Neill
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD21701
| | - Thorkell Andresson
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD21701
| | - David Wheeler
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Shiv I. S. Grewal
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD20892
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21
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Yuan AH, Moazed D. Minimal requirements for the epigenetic inheritance of engineered silent chromatin domains. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2318455121. [PMID: 38198529 PMCID: PMC10801849 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318455121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms enabling genetically identical cells to differentially regulate gene expression are complex and central to organismal development and evolution. While gene silencing pathways involving DNA sequence-specific recruitment of histone-modifying enzymes are prevalent in nature, examples of sequence-independent heritable gene silencing are scarce. Studies of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe indicate that sequence-independent propagation of heterochromatin can occur but requires numerous multisubunit protein complexes and their diverse activities. Such complexity has so far precluded a coherent articulation of the minimal requirements for heritable gene silencing by conventional in vitro reconstitution approaches. Here, we take an unconventional approach to defining these requirements by engineering sequence-independent silent chromatin inheritance in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. The mechanism conferring memory upon these cells is remarkably simple and requires only two proteins, one that recognizes histone H3 lysine 9 methylation (H3K9me) and catalyzes the deacetylation of histone H4 lysine 16 (H4K16), and another that recognizes deacetylated H4K16 and catalyzes H3K9me. Together, these bilingual "read-write" proteins form an interdependent positive feedback loop that is sufficient for the transmission of DNA sequence-independent silent information over multiple generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy H. Yuan
- HHMI, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Danesh Moazed
- HHMI, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
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22
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Seman M, Levashkevich A, Larkin A, Huang F, Ragunathan K. Uncoupling the distinct functions of HP1 proteins during heterochromatin establishment and maintenance. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113428. [PMID: 37952152 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
H3K9 methylation (H3K9me) marks transcriptionally silent genomic regions called heterochromatin. HP1 proteins are required to establish and maintain heterochromatin. HP1 proteins bind to H3K9me, recruit factors that promote heterochromatin formation, and oligomerize to form phase-separated condensates. We do not understand how these different HP1 properties are involved in establishing and maintaining transcriptional silencing. Here, we demonstrate that the S. pombe HP1 homolog, Swi6, can be completely bypassed to establish silencing at ectopic and endogenous loci when an H3K4 methyltransferase, Set1, and an H3K14 acetyltransferase, Mst2, are deleted. Deleting Set1 and Mst2 enhances Clr4 enzymatic activity, leading to higher H3K9me levels and spreading. In contrast, Swi6 and its capacity to oligomerize were indispensable during epigenetic maintenance. Our results demonstrate the role of HP1 proteins in regulating histone modification crosstalk during establishment and identify a genetically separable function in maintaining epigenetic memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Seman
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02451, USA
| | | | - Ajay Larkin
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02451, USA
| | - Fengting Huang
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02451, USA
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23
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Depierre D, Perrois C, Schickele N, Lhoumaud P, Abdi-Galab M, Fosseprez O, Heurteau A, Margueron R, Cuvier O. Chromatin in 3D distinguishes dMes-4/NSD and Hypb/dSet2 in protecting genes from H3K27me3 silencing. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202302038. [PMID: 37684044 PMCID: PMC10491495 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell type-specific barcoding of genomes requires the establishment of hundreds of heterochromatin domains where heterochromatin-associated repressive complexes hinder chromatin accessibility thereby silencing genes. At heterochromatin-euchromatin borders, regulation of accessibility not only depends on the delimitation of heterochromatin but may also involve interplays with nearby genes and their transcriptional activity, or alternatively on histone modifiers, chromatin barrier insulators, and more global demarcation of chromosomes into 3D compartmentalized domains and topological-associating domain (TADs). Here, we show that depletion of H3K36 di- or tri-methyl histone methyltransferases dMes-4/NSD or Hypb/dSet2 induces reproducible increasing levels of H3K27me3 at heterochromatin borders including in nearby promoters, thereby repressing hundreds of genes. Furthermore, dMes-4/NSD influences genes demarcated by insulators and TAD borders, within chromatin hubs, unlike transcription-coupled action of Hypb/dSet2 that protects genes independently of TADs. Insulator mutants recapitulate the increase of H3K27me3 upon dMes-4/NSD depletion unlike Hypb/dSet2. Hi-C data demonstrate how dMes-4/NSD blocks propagation of long-range interactions onto active regions. Our data highlight distinct mechanisms protecting genes from H3K27me3 silencing, highlighting a direct influence of H3K36me on repressive TADs.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Depierre
- Chromatin Dynamics and Cell Proliferation, Center of Integrative Biology, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD/UMR5087), CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Charlène Perrois
- Chromatin Dynamics and Cell Proliferation, Center of Integrative Biology, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD/UMR5087), CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Naomi Schickele
- Chromatin Dynamics and Cell Proliferation, Center of Integrative Biology, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD/UMR5087), CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Priscillia Lhoumaud
- Chromatin Dynamics and Cell Proliferation, Center of Integrative Biology, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD/UMR5087), CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Mahdia Abdi-Galab
- Chromatin Dynamics and Cell Proliferation, Center of Integrative Biology, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD/UMR5087), CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Olivier Fosseprez
- Chromatin Dynamics and Cell Proliferation, Center of Integrative Biology, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD/UMR5087), CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Alexandre Heurteau
- Chromatin Dynamics and Cell Proliferation, Center of Integrative Biology, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD/UMR5087), CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Raphaël Margueron
- Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University; INSERM U934/ CNRS UMR3215, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Cuvier
- Chromatin Dynamics and Cell Proliferation, Center of Integrative Biology, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD/UMR5087), CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
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24
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Seman M, Levashkevich A, Larkin A, Huang F, Ragunathan K. Uncoupling the distinct functions of HP1 proteins during heterochromatin establishment and maintenance. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.30.538869. [PMID: 37961629 PMCID: PMC10634687 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.30.538869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
H3K9 methylation (H3K9me) marks transcriptionally silent genomic regions called heterochromatin. HP1 proteins are required to establish and maintain heterochromatin. HP1 proteins bind to H3K9me, recruit factors that promote heterochromatin formation, and oligomerize to form phase-separated condensates. We do not understand how HP1 protein binding to heterochromatin establishes and maintains transcriptional silencing. Here, we demonstrate that the S.pombe HP1 homolog, Swi6, can be completely bypassed to establish silencing at ectopic and endogenous loci when an H3K4 methyltransferase, Set1 and an H3K14 acetyltransferase, Mst2 are deleted. Deleting Set1 and Mst2 enhances Clr4 enzymatic activity, leading to higher H3K9me levels and spreading. In contrast, Swi6 and its capacity to oligomerize were indispensable during epigenetic maintenance. Our results demonstrate the role of HP1 proteins in regulating histone modification crosstalk during establishment and identifies a genetically separable function in maintaining epigenetic memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Seman
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02451 USA
| | | | - Ajay Larkin
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02451 USA
| | - Fengting Huang
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02451 USA
| | - Kaushik Ragunathan
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02451 USA
- Lead Contact
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25
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Bell O, Burton A, Dean C, Gasser SM, Torres-Padilla ME. Heterochromatin definition and function. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:691-694. [PMID: 37069331 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00599-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Bell
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, and Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Adam Burton
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES), Helmholtz Zentrum München, München, Germany.
| | | | - Susan M Gasser
- L'Institut Suisse de Recherche Expérimentale sur le Cancer (ISREC) Foundation, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES), Helmholtz Zentrum München, München, Germany.
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, München, Germany.
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26
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Wenger A, Biran A, Alcaraz N, Redó-Riveiro A, Sell AC, Krautz R, Flury V, Reverón-Gómez N, Solis-Mezarino V, Völker-Albert M, Imhof A, Andersson R, Brickman JM, Groth A. Symmetric inheritance of parental histones governs epigenome maintenance and embryonic stem cell identity. Nat Genet 2023; 55:1567-1578. [PMID: 37666988 PMCID: PMC10484787 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01476-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Modified parental histones are segregated symmetrically to daughter DNA strands during replication and can be inherited through mitosis. How this may sustain the epigenome and cell identity remains unknown. Here we show that transmission of histone-based information during DNA replication maintains epigenome fidelity and embryonic stem cell plasticity. Asymmetric segregation of parental histones H3-H4 in MCM2-2A mutants compromised mitotic inheritance of histone modifications and globally altered the epigenome. This included widespread spurious deposition of repressive modifications, suggesting elevated epigenetic noise. Moreover, H3K9me3 loss at repeats caused derepression and H3K27me3 redistribution across bivalent promoters correlated with misexpression of developmental genes. MCM2-2A mutation challenged dynamic transitions in cellular states across the cell cycle, enhancing naïve pluripotency and reducing lineage priming in G1. Furthermore, developmental competence was diminished, correlating with impaired exit from pluripotency. Collectively, this argues that epigenetic inheritance of histone modifications maintains a correctly balanced and dynamic chromatin landscape able to support mammalian cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Wenger
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (CPR), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Lexogen GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alva Biran
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (CPR), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nicolas Alcaraz
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (CPR), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alba Redó-Riveiro
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Annika Charlotte Sell
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Robert Krautz
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Valentin Flury
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (CPR), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nazaret Reverón-Gómez
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (CPR), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Moritz Völker-Albert
- EpiQMAx GmbH, Planegg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Center, Protein Analysis Unit, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg, Germany
| | - Axel Imhof
- Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Center, Protein Analysis Unit, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg, Germany
| | - Robin Andersson
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Genomic Mechanisms of Disease, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Joshua M Brickman
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Anja Groth
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (CPR), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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27
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Challal D, Menant A, Goksal C, Leroy E, Al-Sady B, Rougemaille M. A dual, catalytic role for the fission yeast Ccr4-Not complex in gene silencing and heterochromatin spreading. Genetics 2023; 224:iyad108. [PMID: 37279920 PMCID: PMC10411572 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterochromatic gene silencing relies on combinatorial control by specific histone modifications, the occurrence of transcription, and/or RNA degradation. Once nucleated, heterochromatin propagates within defined chromosomal regions and is maintained throughout cell divisions to warrant proper genome expression and integrity. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the Ccr4-Not complex partakes in gene silencing, but its relative contribution to distinct heterochromatin domains and its role in nucleation versus spreading have remained elusive. Here, we unveil major functions for Ccr4-Not in silencing and heterochromatin spreading at the mating type locus and subtelomeres. Mutations of the catalytic subunits Caf1 or Mot2, involved in RNA deadenylation and protein ubiquitinylation, respectively, result in impaired propagation of H3K9me3 and massive accumulation of nucleation-distal heterochromatic transcripts. Both silencing and spreading defects are suppressed upon disruption of the heterochromatin antagonizing factor Epe1. Overall, our results position the Ccr4-Not complex as a critical, dual regulator of heterochromatic gene silencing and spreading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drice Challal
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette 91198, France
| | - Alexandra Menant
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette 91198, France
| | - Can Goksal
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, George Williams Hooper Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Estelle Leroy
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette 91198, France
| | - Bassem Al-Sady
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, George Williams Hooper Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Mathieu Rougemaille
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette 91198, France
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28
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Yamamoto T, Asanuma T, Murakami Y. Polymeric nature of tandemly repeated genes enhances assembly of constitutive heterochromatin in fission yeast. Commun Biol 2023; 6:796. [PMID: 37542144 PMCID: PMC10403545 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05154-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Motivated by our recent experiments that demonstrate that the tandemly repeated genes become heterochromatin, here we show a theory of heterochromatin assembly by taking into account the connectivity of these genes along the chromatin in the kinetic equations of small RNA production and histone methylation, which are the key biochemical reactions involved in the heterochromatin assembly. Our theory predicts that the polymeric nature of the tandemly repeated genes ensures the steady production of small RNAs because of the stable binding of nascent RNAs produced from the genes to RDRC/Dicers at the surface of nuclear membrane. This theory also predicts that the compaction of the tandemly repeated genes suppresses the production of small RNAs, consistent with our recent experiments. This theory can be extended to the small RNA-dependent gene silencing in higher organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Yamamoto
- Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-0021, Hokkaido, Japan.
| | - Takahiro Asanuma
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yota Murakami
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810, Hokkaido, Japan
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29
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Brickner JH. Inheritance of epigenetic transcriptional memory through read-write replication of a histone modification. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1526:50-58. [PMID: 37391188 PMCID: PMC11216120 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic transcriptional regulation frequently requires histone modifications. Some, but not all, of these modifications are able to template their own inheritance. Here, I discuss the molecular mechanisms by which histone modifications can be inherited and relate these ideas to new results about epigenetic transcriptional memory, a phenomenon that poises recently repressed genes for faster reactivation and has been observed in diverse organisms. Recently, we found that the histone H3 lysine 4 dimethylation that is associated with this phenomenon plays a critical role in sustaining memory and, when factors critical for the establishment of memory are inactivated, can be stably maintained through multiple mitoses. This chromatin-mediated inheritance mechanism may involve a physical interaction between an H3K4me2 reader, SET3C, and an H3K4me2 writer, Spp1- COMPASS. This is the first example of a chromatin-mediated inheritance of a mark that promotes transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason H Brickner
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
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30
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Liu ZW, Liu J, Liu F, Zhong X. Depositing centromere repeats induces heritable intragenic heterochromatin establishment and spreading in Arabidopsis. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:6039-6054. [PMID: 37094065 PMCID: PMC10325890 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Stable transmission of non-DNA-sequence-based epigenetic information contributes to heritable phenotypic variants and thus to biological diversity. While studies on spontaneous natural epigenome variants have revealed an association of epialleles with a wide range of biological traits in both plants and animals, the function, transmission mechanism, and stability of an epiallele over generations in a locus-specific manner remain poorly investigated. Here, we invented a DNA sequence deposition strategy to generate a locus-specific epiallele by depositing CEN180 satellite repeats into a euchromatic target locus in Arabidopsis. Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in system, we demonstrated that depositing CEN180 repeats can induce heterochromatin nucleation accompanied by DNA methylation, H3K9me2, and changes in the nucleosome occupancy at the insertion sites. Interestingly, both DNA methylation and H3K9me2 are restricted within the depositing sites and depletion of an H3K9me2 demethylase IBM1 enables the outward heterochromatin propagation into the neighboring regions, leading to inheritable target gene silencing to persist for at least five generations. Together, these results demonstrate the promise of employing a cis-engineering system for the creation of stable and site-specific epialleles and provide important insights into functional epigenome studies and locus-specific transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang-Wei Liu
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery & Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery & Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Fengquan Liu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China
| | - Xuehua Zhong
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery & Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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31
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Grewal SIS. The molecular basis of heterochromatin assembly and epigenetic inheritance. Mol Cell 2023; 83:1767-1785. [PMID: 37207657 PMCID: PMC10309086 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Heterochromatin plays a fundamental role in gene regulation, genome integrity, and silencing of repetitive DNA elements. Histone modifications are essential for the establishment of heterochromatin domains, which is initiated by the recruitment of histone-modifying enzymes to nucleation sites. This leads to the deposition of histone H3 lysine-9 methylation (H3K9me), which provides the foundation for building high-concentration territories of heterochromatin proteins and the spread of heterochromatin across extended domains. Moreover, heterochromatin can be epigenetically inherited during cell division in a self-templating manner. This involves a "read-write" mechanism where pre-existing modified histones, such as tri-methylated H3K9 (H3K9me3), support chromatin association of the histone methyltransferase to promote further deposition of H3K9me. Recent studies suggest that a critical density of H3K9me3 and its associated factors is necessary for the propagation of heterochromatin domains across multiple generations. In this review, I discuss the key experiments that have highlighted the importance of modified histones for epigenetic inheritance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiv I S Grewal
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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32
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Croft JC, Colunga A, Solh L, Dillon MK, Lee TWS. Pharyngeal pumping rate does not reflect lifespan extension in C. elegans transgenerational longevity mutants. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2023; 2023:10.17912/micropub.biology.000719. [PMID: 36793895 PMCID: PMC9923420 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications must be reprogrammed with each new generation. In Caenorhabditis elegans , defects in histone methylation reprogramming allow for the transgenerational acquisition of longevity. For example, mutations in the putative H3K9 demethylase JHDM-1 extend lifespan after six to ten generations. We noticed that long-lived jhdm-1 mutants appear healthier than wild-type animals from the same generation. To quantify health, we compared the common metric of pharyngeal pumping rate at specific adult ages between early-gen populations with normal lifespans and late-gen populations with long lifespans. Longevity did not affect pumping rate, but long-lived mutants stop pumping at a younger age, suggesting a possible conservation of energy to extend lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime C. Croft
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Arthur Colunga
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Lea Solh
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Michaela K. Dillon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Teresa Wei-sy Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA, USA
,
Correspondence to: Teresa Wei-sy Lee (
)
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33
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Mühlen D, Li X, Dovgusha O, Jäckle H, Günesdogan U. Recycling of parental histones preserves the epigenetic landscape during embryonic development. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd6440. [PMID: 36724233 PMCID: PMC9891698 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add6440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic inheritance during DNA replication requires an orchestrated assembly of nucleosomes from parental and newly synthesized histones. We analyzed Drosophila HisC mutant embryos harboring a deletion of all canonical histone genes, in which nucleosome assembly relies on parental histones from cell cycle 14 onward. Lack of new histone synthesis leads to more accessible chromatin and reduced nucleosome occupancy, since only parental histones are available. This leads to up-regulated and spurious transcription, whereas the control of the developmental transcriptional program is partially maintained. The genomic positions of modified parental histone H2A, H2B, and H3 are largely restored during DNA replication. However, parental histones with active marks become more dispersed within gene bodies, which is linked to transcription. Together, the results suggest that parental histones are recycled to preserve the epigenetic landscape during DNA replication in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Mühlen
- University of Göttingen, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Department of Developmental Biology, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Department for Molecular Developmental Biology, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Xiaojuan Li
- University of Göttingen, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Department of Developmental Biology, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Oleksandr Dovgusha
- University of Göttingen, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Department of Developmental Biology, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Herbert Jäckle
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Department for Molecular Developmental Biology, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ufuk Günesdogan
- University of Göttingen, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Department of Developmental Biology, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Department for Molecular Developmental Biology, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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34
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Fukagawa T, Kakutani T. Transgenerational epigenetic control of constitutive heterochromatin, transposons, and centromeres. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 78:102021. [PMID: 36716679 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms are important not only for development but also for genome stability and chromosome dynamics. The latter types of epigenetic controls can often be transgenerational. Here, we review recent progress in two examples of transgenerational epigenetic control: i) the control of constitutive heterochromatin and transposable elements and ii) epigenetic mechanisms that regulate centromere specification and functions. We also discuss the biological significance of enigmatic associations among centromeres, transposons, and constitutive heterochromatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuo Fukagawa
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. https://twitter.com/tatsuofukagawa1
| | - Tetsuji Kakutani
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
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35
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Yelagandula R, Stecher K, Novatchkova M, Michetti L, Michlits G, Wang J, Hofbauer P, Vainorius G, Pribitzer C, Isbel L, Mendjan S, Schübeler D, Elling U, Brennecke J, Bell O. ZFP462 safeguards neural lineage specification by targeting G9A/GLP-mediated heterochromatin to silence enhancers. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:42-55. [PMID: 36604593 PMCID: PMC10038669 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-01051-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
ZNF462 haploinsufficiency is linked to Weiss-Kruszka syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by neurodevelopmental defects, including autism. Though conserved in vertebrates and essential for embryonic development, the molecular functions of ZNF462 remain unclear. We identified its murine homologue ZFP462 in a screen for mediators of epigenetic gene silencing. Here we show that ZFP462 safeguards neural lineage specification of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) by targeting the H3K9-specific histone methyltransferase complex G9A/GLP to silence meso-endodermal genes. ZFP462 binds to transposable elements that are potential enhancers harbouring pluripotency and meso-endoderm transcription factor binding sites. Recruiting G9A/GLP, ZFP462 seeds heterochromatin, restricting transcription factor binding. Loss of ZFP462 in ESCs results in increased chromatin accessibility at target sites and ectopic expression of meso-endodermal genes. Taken together, ZFP462 confers lineage and locus specificity to the broadly expressed epigenetic regulator G9A/GLP. Our results suggest that aberrant activation of lineage non-specific genes in the neuronal lineage underlies ZNF462-associated neurodevelopmental pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh Yelagandula
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Karin Stecher
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria Novatchkova
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Luca Michetti
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Georg Michlits
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jingkui Wang
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Pablo Hofbauer
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Gintautas Vainorius
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Carina Pribitzer
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Luke Isbel
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sasha Mendjan
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Dirk Schübeler
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ulrich Elling
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Julius Brennecke
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Oliver Bell
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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36
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Shan CM, Fang Y, Jia S. Leaving histone unturned for epigenetic inheritance. FEBS J 2023; 290:310-320. [PMID: 34726351 PMCID: PMC9058036 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Post-translational modifications in histones play important roles in regulating chromatin structure and gene expression programs, and the modified histones can be passed on to subsequent generations as an epigenetic memory. The fission yeast has been a great model organism for studying histone modifications in heterochromatin assembly and epigenetic inheritance. Here, we review findings in this organism that cemented the idea of chromatin-based inheritance and highlight recent studies that reveal the role of histone turnover in regulating this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Min Shan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
- Present address: State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yimeng Fang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Songtao Jia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
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37
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The influence of high-order chromatin state in the regulation of stem cell fate. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:1809-1822. [DOI: 10.1042/bst20220763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, genomic DNA is hierarchically compacted by histones into chromatin, which is initially assembled by the nucleosome and further folded into orderly and flexible structures that include chromatin fiber, chromatin looping, topologically associated domains (TADs), chromosome compartments, and chromosome territories. These distinct structures and motifs build the three-dimensional (3D) genome architecture, which precisely controls spatial and temporal gene expression in the nucleus. Given that each type of cell is characterized by its own unique gene expression profile, the state of high-order chromatin plays an essential role in the cell fate decision. Accumulating evidence suggests that the plasticity of high-order chromatin is closely associated with stem cell fate. In this review, we summarize the biological roles of the state of high-order chromatin in embryogenesis, stem cell differentiation, the maintenance of stem cell identity, and somatic cell reprogramming. In addition, we highlight the roles of epigenetic factors and pioneer transcription factors (TFs) involved in regulating the state of high-order chromatin during the determination of stem cell fate and discuss how H3K9me3-heterochromatin restricts stem cell fate. In summary, we review the most recent progress in research on the regulatory functions of high-order chromatin dynamics in the determination and maintenance of stem cell fate.
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38
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Du W, Shi G, Shan CM, Li Z, Zhu B, Jia S, Li Q, Zhang Z. Mechanisms of chromatin-based epigenetic inheritance. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2022; 65:2162-2190. [PMID: 35792957 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2120-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Multi-cellular organisms such as humans contain hundreds of cell types that share the same genetic information (DNA sequences), and yet have different cellular traits and functions. While how genetic information is passed through generations has been extensively characterized, it remains largely obscure how epigenetic information encoded by chromatin regulates the passage of certain traits, gene expression states and cell identity during mitotic cell divisions, and even through meiosis. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances on molecular mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance, discuss the potential impacts of epigenetic inheritance during normal development and in some disease conditions, and outline future research directions for this challenging, but exciting field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlong Du
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Guojun Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Chun-Min Shan
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Zhiming Li
- Institutes of Cancer Genetics, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Bing Zhu
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Songtao Jia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- Institutes of Cancer Genetics, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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39
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Zofall M, Sandhu R, Holla S, Wheeler D, Grewal SIS. Histone deacetylation primes self-propagation of heterochromatin domains to promote epigenetic inheritance. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2022; 29:898-909. [PMID: 36064597 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-022-00830-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Heterochromatin assembly, involving histone H3 lysine-9 methylation (H3K9me), is nucleated at specific genomic sites but can self-propagate across extended domains and, indeed, generations. Self-propagation requires Clr4/Suv39h methyltransferase recruitment by pre-existing H3K9 tri-methylation (H3K9me3) to perpetuate H3K9me deposition and is dramatically affected by chromatin context. However, the mechanism priming self-propagation of heterochromatin remains undefined. We show that robust chromatin association of fission yeast class II histone deacetylase Clr3 is necessary and sufficient to support heterochromatin propagation in different chromosomal contexts. Efficient targeting of Clr3, which suppresses histone turnover and maintains H3K9me3, enables self-propagation of an ectopic heterochromatin domain via the Clr4/Suv39h read-write mechanism requiring methylated histones. The deacetylase activity of Clr3 is necessary and, when inactivated, heterochromatin propagation can be recapitulated by removing two major histone acetyltransferases. Our results show that histone deacetylation, a conserved heterochromatin feature, preserves H3K9me3 that transmits epigenetic memory for stable propagation of silenced chromatin domains through multiple generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Zofall
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Rima Sandhu
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sahana Holla
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - David Wheeler
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Shiv I S Grewal
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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40
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Cheng J, Xu L, Bergér V, Bruckmann A, Yang C, Schubert V, Grasser KD, Schnittger A, Zheng B, Jiang H. H3K9 demethylases IBM1 and JMJ27 are required for male meiosis in Arabidopsis thaliana. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 235:2252-2269. [PMID: 35638341 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Dimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me2), a crucial modification for heterochromatin formation and transcriptional silencing, is essential for proper meiotic prophase progression in mammals. We analyzed meiotic defects and generated genome-wide profiles of H3K9me2 and transcriptomes for the mutants of H3K9 demethylases. Moreover, we also identified proteins interacting with H3K9 demethylases. H3K9me2 is usually found at transposable elements and repetitive sequences but is absent from the bodies of protein-coding genes. In this study, we show that the Arabidopsis thaliana H3K9 demethylases IBM1 and JMJ27 cooperatively regulate crossover formation and chromosome segregation. They protect thousands of protein-coding genes from ectopic H3K9me2, including genes essential for meiotic prophase progression. In addition to removing H3K9me2, IBM1 and JMJ27 interact with the Precocious Dissociation of Sisters 5 (PDS5) cohesin complex cofactors. The pds5 mutant shared similar transcriptional alterations with ibm1 jmj27, including meiosis-essential genes, yet without affecting H3K9me2 levels. Hence, PDS5s, together with IBM1 and JMJ27, regulate male meiosis and gene expression independently of H3K9 demethylation. These findings uncover a novel role of H3K9me2 removal in meiosis and a new function of H3K9 demethylases and cohesin cofactors in meiotic transcriptional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinping Cheng
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben, 06466, Germany
| | - Linhao Xu
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben, 06466, Germany
| | - Valentin Bergér
- Cell Biology & Plant Biochemistry, Biochemistry Center, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, 93053, Germany
| | - Astrid Bruckmann
- Department of Biochemistry, Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, 93053, Germany
| | - Chao Yang
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, 20146, Germany
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Veit Schubert
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben, 06466, Germany
| | - Klaus D Grasser
- Cell Biology & Plant Biochemistry, Biochemistry Center, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, 93053, Germany
| | - Arp Schnittger
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, 20146, Germany
| | - Binglian Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Hua Jiang
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben, 06466, Germany
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41
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Abdulla AZ, Vaillant C, Jost D. Painters in chromatin: a unified quantitative framework to systematically characterize epigenome regulation and memory. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:9083-9104. [PMID: 36018799 PMCID: PMC9458448 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotes, many stable and heritable phenotypes arise from the same DNA sequence, owing to epigenetic regulatory mechanisms relying on the molecular cooperativity of 'reader-writer' enzymes. In this work, we focus on the fundamental, generic mechanisms behind the epigenome memory encoded by post-translational modifications of histone tails. Based on experimental knowledge, we introduce a unified modeling framework, the painter model, describing the mechanistic interplay between sequence-specific recruitment of chromatin regulators, chromatin-state-specific reader-writer processes and long-range spreading mechanisms. A systematic analysis of the model building blocks highlights the crucial impact of tridimensional chromatin organization and state-specific recruitment of enzymes on the stability of epigenomic domains and on gene expression. In particular, we show that enhanced 3D compaction of the genome and enzyme limitation facilitate the formation of ultra-stable, confined chromatin domains. The model also captures how chromatin state dynamics impact the intrinsic transcriptional properties of the region, slower kinetics leading to noisier expression. We finally apply our framework to analyze experimental data, from the propagation of γH2AX around DNA breaks in human cells to the maintenance of heterochromatin in fission yeast, illustrating how the painter model can be used to extract quantitative information on epigenomic molecular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amith Z Abdulla
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, UMR5239, Inserm U1293, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 46 Allée d’Italie, 69007 Lyon, France,École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, Laboratoire de Physique, 46 Allée d’Italie, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Cédric Vaillant
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Cédric Vaillant. Tel: +33 4 72 72 81 54; Fax: +33 4 72 72 80 00;
| | - Daniel Jost
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +33 4 72 72 86 30; Fax: +33 4 72 72 80 00;
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42
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Saxton DS, Rine J. Distinct silencer states generate epigenetic states of heterochromatin. Mol Cell 2022; 82:3566-3579.e5. [PMID: 36041432 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Heterochromatic loci can exhibit different transcriptional states in genetically identical cells. A popular model posits that the inheritance of modified histones is sufficient for inheritance of the silenced state. However, silencing inheritance requires silencers and therefore cannot be driven by the inheritance of modified histones alone. To address these observations, we determined the chromatin architectures produced by strong and weak silencers in Saccharomyces. Strong silencers recruited Sir proteins and silenced the locus in all cells. Strikingly, weakening these silencers reduced Sir protein recruitment and stably silenced the locus in some cells; however, this silenced state could probabilistically convert to an expressed state that lacked Sir protein recruitment. Additionally, changes in the constellation of silencer-bound proteins or the concentration of a structural Sir protein modulated the probability that a locus exhibited the silenced or expressed state. These findings argued that distinct silencer states generate epigenetic states and regulate their dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel S Saxton
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | - Jasper Rine
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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43
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Wang L, Liu J, Li X, Lyu X, Liu Z, Zhao H, Jiao X, Zhang W, Xie J, Liu W. A histone H3K9 methyltransferase Dim5 mediates repression of sorbicillinoid biosynthesis in Trichoderma reesei. Microb Biotechnol 2022; 15:2533-2546. [PMID: 35921310 PMCID: PMC9518983 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Sorbicillinoids (also termed yellow pigment) are derived from either marine or terrestrial fungi, exhibit various biological activities and therefore show potential as commercial products for human or animal health. The cellulolytic filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei is capable to biosynthesize sorbicillinoids, but the underlying regulatory mechanism is not yet completely clear. Herein, we identified a histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferase, Dim5, in T. reesei. TrDIM5 deletion caused an impaired vegetative growth as well as conidiation, whereas the ∆Trdim5 strain displayed a remarkable increase in sorbicillinoid production. Post TrDIM5 deletion, the transcription of sorbicillinoid biosynthesis‐related (SOR) genes was significantly upregulated with a more open chromatin structure. Intriguingly, hardly any expression changes occurred amongst those genes located on both flanks of the SOR gene cluster. In addition, the assays provided evidence that H3K9 triple methylation (H3K9me3) modification acted as a repressive marker at the SOR gene cluster and thus directly mediated the repression of sorbicillinoid biosynthesis. Transcription factor Ypr1 activated the SOR gene cluster by antagonizing TrDim5‐mediated repression and therefore contributed to forming a relatively more open local chromatin environment, which further facilitated its binding and SOR gene expression. The results of this study will contribute to understanding the intricate regulatory network in sorbicillinoid biosynthesis and facilitate the endowment of T. reesei with preferred features for sorbicillinoid production by genetic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Reverse Microbial Etiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jialong Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Reverse Microbial Etiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiaotong Li
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Reverse Microbial Etiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xinxing Lyu
- Institute of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University&Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Zhizhen Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Reverse Microbial Etiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Hong Zhao
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Reverse Microbial Etiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiangying Jiao
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Reverse Microbial Etiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Weixin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jun Xie
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Reverse Microbial Etiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Weifeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
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44
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Yaseen I, White SA, Torres-Garcia S, Spanos C, Lafos M, Gaberdiel E, Yeboah R, El Karoui M, Rappsilber J, Pidoux AL, Allshire RC. Proteasome-dependent truncation of the negative heterochromatin regulator Epe1 mediates antifungal resistance. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2022; 29:745-758. [PMID: 35879419 PMCID: PMC7613290 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-022-00801-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Epe1 histone demethylase restricts H3K9-methylation-dependent heterochromatin, preventing it from spreading over, and silencing, gene-containing regions in fission yeast. External stress induces an adaptive response allowing heterochromatin island formation that confers resistance on surviving wild-type lineages. Here we investigate the mechanism by which Epe1 is regulated in response to stress. Exposure to caffeine or antifungals results in Epe1 ubiquitylation and proteasome-dependent removal of the N-terminal 150 residues from Epe1, generating truncated Epe1 (tEpe1) which accumulates in the cytoplasm. Constitutive tEpe1 expression increases H3K9 methylation over several chromosomal regions, reducing expression of underlying genes and enhancing resistance. Reciprocally, constitutive non-cleavable Epe1 expression decreases resistance. tEpe1-mediated resistance requires a functional JmjC demethylase domain. Moreover, caffeine-induced Epe1-to-tEpe1 cleavage is dependent on an intact cell integrity MAP kinase stress signaling pathway, mutations in which alter resistance. Thus, environmental changes elicit a mechanism that curtails the function of this key epigenetic modifier, allowing heterochromatin to reprogram gene expression, thereby bestowing resistance to some cells within a population. H3K9me-heterochromatin components are conserved in human and crop-plant fungal pathogens for which a limited number of antifungals exist. Our findings reveal how transient heterochromatin-dependent antifungal resistant epimutations develop and thus inform on how they might be countered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imtiyaz Yaseen
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- CSIR Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India
| | - Sharon A White
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sito Torres-Garcia
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Christos Spanos
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Marcel Lafos
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Elisabeth Gaberdiel
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rebecca Yeboah
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Meriem El Karoui
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- SynthSys, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Juri Rappsilber
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alison L Pidoux
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Robin C Allshire
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- SynthSys, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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45
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Wu W, McHugh T, Kelly DA, Pidoux AL, Allshire RC. Establishment of centromere identity is dependent on nuclear spatial organization. Curr Biol 2022; 32:3121-3136.e6. [PMID: 35830853 PMCID: PMC9616734 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.06.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The establishment of centromere-specific CENP-A chromatin is influenced by epigenetic and genetic processes. Central domain sequences from fission yeast centromeres are preferred substrates for CENP-ACnp1 incorporation, but their use is context dependent, requiring adjacent heterochromatin. CENP-ACnp1 overexpression bypasses heterochromatin dependency, suggesting that heterochromatin ensures exposure to conditions or locations permissive for CENP-ACnp1 assembly. Centromeres cluster around spindle-pole bodies (SPBs). We show that heterochromatin-bearing minichromosomes localize close to SPBs, consistent with this location promoting CENP-ACnp1 incorporation. We demonstrate that heterochromatin-independent de novo CENP-ACnp1 chromatin assembly occurs when central domain DNA is placed near, but not far from, endogenous centromeres or neocentromeres. Moreover, direct tethering of central domain DNA at SPBs permits CENP-ACnp1 assembly, suggesting that the nuclear compartment surrounding SPBs is permissive for CENP-ACnp1 incorporation because target sequences are exposed to high levels of CENP-ACnp1 and associated assembly factors. Thus, nuclear spatial organization is a key epigenetic factor that influences centromere identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weifang Wu
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, Scotland, UK
| | - Toni McHugh
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, Scotland, UK
| | - David A Kelly
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, Scotland, UK
| | - Alison L Pidoux
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, Scotland, UK
| | - Robin C Allshire
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, Scotland, UK.
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46
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Lee GS, Conine CC. The Transmission of Intergenerational Epigenetic Information by Sperm microRNAs. EPIGENOMES 2022; 6:12. [PMID: 35466187 PMCID: PMC9036291 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes6020012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic information is transmitted from one generation to the next, modulating the phenotype of offspring non-genetically in organisms ranging from plants to mammals. For intergenerational non-genetic inheritance to occur, epigenetic information must accumulate in germ cells. The three main carriers of epigenetic information-histone post-translational modifications, DNA modifications, and RNAs-all exhibit dynamic patterns of regulation during germ cell development. For example, histone modifications and DNA methylation are extensively reprogrammed and often eliminated during germ cell maturation and after fertilization during embryogenesis. Consequently, much attention has been given to RNAs, specifically small regulatory RNAs, as carriers of inherited epigenetic information. In this review, we discuss examples in which microRNAs have been implicated as key players in transmitting paternal epigenetic information intergenerationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace S. Lee
- Pharmacology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Colin C. Conine
- Departments of Genetics and Pediatrics—Penn Epigenetics Institute, Institute of Regenerative Medicine, and Center for Reproduction and Women’s Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Chen J, Yang S, Li P, Wu A, Nepovimova E, Long M, Wu W, Kuca K. MicroRNA regulates the toxicological mechanism of four mycotoxins in vivo and in vitro. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2022; 13:37. [PMID: 35197116 PMCID: PMC8867758 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-021-00653-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycotoxins can cause body poisoning and induce carcinogenesis, often with a high mortality rate. Therefore, it is of great significance to seek new targets that indicate mycotoxin activity and to diagnose and intervene in mycotoxin-induced diseases in their early stages. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are physiological regulators whose dysregulation is closely related to the development of diseases. They are thus important markers for the occurrence and development of diseases. In this review, consideration is given to the toxicological mechanisms associated with four major mycotoxins (ochratoxin A, aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone). The roles that miRNAs play in these mechanisms and the interactions between them and their target genes are explained, and summarize the important role of histone modifications in their toxicity. As a result, the ways that miRNAs are regulated in the pathogenicity signaling pathways are revealed which highlights the roles played by miRNAs in preventing and controlling the harmful effects of the mycotoxins. It is hoped that this review will provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of the damage caused by these mycotoxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Chen
- College of Animal Science & Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Shuhua Yang
- College of Animal Science & Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Peng Li
- College of Animal Science & Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Aibo Wu
- SIBS-UGENT-SJTU Joint Laboratory of Mycotoxin Research, CAS Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Eugenie Nepovimova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, 50003, Czech Republic
| | - Miao Long
- College of Animal Science & Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China.
| | - Wenda Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, 50003, Czech Republic. .,MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
| | - Kamil Kuca
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, 50003, Czech Republic. .,Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, 50003, Czech Republic.
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Bao K, Shan CM, Chen X, Raiymbek G, Monroe JG, Fang Y, Toda T, Koutmou KS, Ragunathan K, Lu C, Berchowitz LE, Jia S. The cAMP signaling pathway regulates Epe1 protein levels and heterochromatin assembly. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010049. [PMID: 35171902 PMCID: PMC8887748 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The epigenetic landscape of a cell frequently changes in response to fluctuations in nutrient levels, but the mechanistic link is not well understood. In fission yeast, the JmjC domain protein Epe1 is critical for maintaining the heterochromatin landscape. While loss of Epe1 results in heterochromatin expansion, overexpression of Epe1 leads to defective heterochromatin. Through a genetic screen, we found that mutations in genes of the cAMP signaling pathway suppress the heterochromatin defects associated with Epe1 overexpression. We further demonstrated that the activation of Pka1, the downstream effector of cAMP signaling, is required for the efficient translation of epe1+ mRNA to maintain Epe1 overexpression. Moreover, inactivation of the cAMP-signaling pathway, either through genetic mutations or glucose deprivation, leads to the reduction of endogenous Epe1 and corresponding heterochromatin changes. These results reveal the mechanism by which the cAMP signaling pathway regulates heterochromatin landscape in fission yeast. Genomic DNA is folded with histones into chromatin and posttranslational modifications on histones separate chromatin into active euchromatin and repressive heterochromatin. These chromatin domains often change in response to environmental cues, such as nutrient levels. How environmental changes affect histone modifications is not well understood. Here, we found that in fission yeast, the cAMP signaling pathway is required for the function of Epe1, an enzyme that removes histone modifications associated with heterochromatin. Moreover, we found that active cAMP signaling ensures the efficient translation of epe1+ mRNA and therefore maintains high Epe1 protein levels. Finally, we show that changing glucose levels, which modulate cAMP signaling, also affect heterochromatin in a way consistent with cAMP signaling-mediated Epe1 protein level changes. As histone-modifying enzymes often require cofactors that are metabolic intermediates, previous studies on the impact of nutrient levels on chromatin states have mainly focused on metabolites. Our results suggest that nutrient-sensing signaling pathways also regulate histone-modifying enzymes in response to nutritional conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kehan Bao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Chun-Min Shan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Xiao Chen
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Gulzhan Raiymbek
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Jeremy G. Monroe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Yimeng Fang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Takenori Toda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Kristin S. Koutmou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Kaushik Ragunathan
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Chao Lu
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Luke E. Berchowitz
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Songtao Jia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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49
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Yao Y, Wen Q, Zhang T, Yu C, Chan KM, Gan H. Advances in Approaches to Study Chromatin-Mediated Epigenetic Memory. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:16-25. [PMID: 34965084 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Chromatin structure contains critical epigenetic information in various forms, such as histone post-translational modifications (PTMs). The deposition of certain histone PTMs can remodel the chromatin structure, resulting in gene expression alteration. The epigenetic information carried by histone PTMs could be inherited by daughter cells to maintain the gene expression status. Recently, studies revealed that several conserved replisome proteins regulate the recycling of parental histones carrying epigenetic information in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Hence, the proper recycling and deposition of parental histones onto newly synthesized DNA strands is presumed to be essential for epigenetic inheritance. Here, we first reviewed the fundamental mechanisms of epigenetic modification establishment and maintenance discovered within fungal models. Next, we discussed the functions of parental histone chaperones and the potential impacts of the parental histone recycling process on heterochromatin-mediated transcriptional silencing inheritance. Subsequently, we summarized novel synthetic biology approaches developed to analyze individual epigenetic components during epigenetic inheritance in fungal and mammalian systems. These newly emerged research paradigms enable us to dissect epigenetic systems in a bottom-up manner. Furthermore, we highlighted the approaches developed in this emerging field and discussed the potential applications of these engineered regulators to building synthetic epigenetic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Yao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qing Wen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Tianjun Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Chuanhe Yu
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota 55912, United States
| | - Kui Ming Chan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Haiyun Gan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
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50
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Abstract
Increasing evidence indicates that non-DNA sequence-based epigenetic information can be inherited across several generations in organisms ranging from yeast to plants to humans. This raises the possibility of heritable 'epimutations' contributing to heritable phenotypic variation and thus to evolution. Recent work has shed light on both the signals that underpin these epimutations, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs, and the mechanisms by which they are transmitted across generations at the molecular level. These mechanisms can vary greatly among species and have a more limited effect in mammals than in plants and other animal species. Nevertheless, common principles are emerging, with transmission occurring either via direct replicative mechanisms or indirect reconstruction of the signal in subsequent generations. As these processes become clearer we continue to improve our understanding of the distinctive features and relative contribution of DNA sequence and epigenetic variation to heritable differences in phenotype.
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