MeCP2 binds cooperatively to its substrate and competes with histone H1 for chromatin binding sites

The intervening domain from MeCP2 enhances the DNA affinity of the methyl binding domain and provides an independent DNA interaction site

Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) preferentially interacts with methylated DNA and it is involved in epigenetic regulation and chromatin remodelling. Mutations in MeCP2 are linked to Rett syndrome, the leading cause of intellectual retardation in girls and causing mental, motor and growth impairment. Unstructured regions in MeCP2 provide the plasticity for establishing interactions with multiple binding partners. We present a biophysical characterization of the methyl binding domain (MBD) from MeCP2 reporting the contribution of flanking domains to its structural stability and dsDNA interaction. The flanking disordered intervening domain (ID) increased the structural stability of MBD, modified its dsDNA binding profile from an entropically-driven moderate-affinity binding to an overwhelmingly enthalpically-driven high-affinity binding. Additionally, ID provided an additional site for simultaneously and autonomously binding an independent dsDNA molecule, which is a key feature linked to the chromatin remodelling and looping activity of MeCP2, as well as its ability to interact with nucleosomes replacing histone H1. The dsDNA interaction is characterized by an unusually large heat capacity linked to a cluster of water molecules trapped within the binding interface. The dynamics of disordered regions together with extrinsic factors are key determinants of MeCP2 global structural properties and functional capabilities.

MeCP2, A Modulator of Neuronal Chromatin Organization Involved in Rett Syndrome

From an epigenetic perspective, the genomic chromatin organization of neurons exhibits unique features when compared to somatic cells. Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), through its ability to bind to methylated DNA, seems to be a major player in regulating such unusual organization. An important contribution to this uniqueness stems from the intrinsically disordered nature of this highly abundant chromosomal protein in neurons. Upon its binding to methylated/hydroxymethylated DNA, MeCP2 is able to recruit a plethora of interacting protein and RNA partners. The final outcome is a highly specialized chromatin organization wherein linker histones (histones of the H1 family) and MeCP2 share an organizational role that dynamically changes during neuronal development and that it is still poorly understood. MeCP2 mutations alter its chromatin-binding dynamics and/or impair the ability of the protein to interact with some of its partners, resulting in Rett syndrome (RTT). Therefore, deciphering the molecular details involved in the MeCP2 neuronal chromatin arrangement is critical for our understanding of the proper and altered functionality of these cells.

From Function to Phenotype: Impaired DNA Binding and Clustering Correlates with Clinical Severity in Males with Missense Mutations in MECP2

Mutations in the MECP2 gene cause Rett syndrome (RTT). MeCP2 binds to chromocentric DNA through its methyl CpG-binding domain (MBD) to regulate gene expression. In heterozygous females the variable phenotypic severity is modulated by non-random X-inactivation, thus making genotype-phenotype comparisons unreliable. However, genotype-phenotype correlations in males with hemizygousMECP2 mutations can provide more accurate insights in to the true biological effect of specific mutations. Here, we compared chromatin organization and binding dynamics for twelve MeCP2 missense mutations (including two novel and the five most common MBD missense RTT mutations) and identifiedacorrelation with phenotype in hemizygous males. We observed impaired interaction of MeCP2-DNA for mutations around the MBD-DNA binding interface, and defective chromatin clustering for distal MBD mutations. Furthermore, binding and mobility dynamics show a gradient of impairment depending on the amino acid properties and tertiary structure within the MBD. Interestingly, a wide range of phenotypic/clinical severity, ranging from neonatal encephalopathy to mild psychiatric abnormalities were observed and all are consistent with our functional/molecular results. Overall, clinical severity showed a direct correlation with the functional impairment of MeCP2. These mechanistic and phenotypic correlations of MeCP2 mutations will enable improved and individualized diagnostics, and may lead to personalized therapeutic interventions.

Comparative analysis of linker histone H1, MeCP2, and HMGD1 on nucleosome stability and target site accessibility

Chromatin architectural proteins (CAPs) bind the entry/exit DNA of nucleosomes and linker DNA to form higher order chromatin structures with distinct transcriptional outcomes. How CAPs mediate nucleosome dynamics is not well understood. We hypothesize that CAPs regulate DNA target site accessibility through alteration of the rate of spontaneous dissociation of DNA from nucleosomes. We investigated the effects of histone H1, high mobility group D1 (HMGD1), and methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), on the biophysical properties of nucleosomes and chromatin. We show that MeCP2, like the repressive histone H1, traps the nucleosome in a more compact mononucleosome structure. Furthermore, histone H1 and MeCP2 hinder model transcription factor Gal4 from binding to its cognate DNA site within the nucleosomal DNA. These results demonstrate that MeCP2 behaves like a repressor even in the absence of methylation. Additionally, MeCP2 behaves similarly to histone H1 and HMGD1 in creating a higher-order chromatin structure, which is susceptible to chromatin remodeling by ISWI. Overall, we show that CAP binding results in unique changes to nucleosome structure and dynamics.

MeCP2 Binding Cooperativity Inhibits DNA Modification-Specific Recognition

Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a multifunctional protein that guides neuronal development through its binding to DNA, recognition of sites of methyl-CpG (mCpG) DNA modification, and interaction with other regulatory proteins. Our study explores the relationship between mCpG and hydroxymethyl-CpG (hmCpG) recognition mediated by its mCpG binding domain (MBD) and binding cooperativity mediated by its C-terminal polypeptide. Previous study of the isolated MBD of MeCP2 documented an unusual mechanism by which ion uptake is required for discrimination of mCpG and hmCpG from CpG. MeCP2 binding cooperativity suppresses discrimination of modified DNA and is highly sensitive to both the total ion concentration and the type of counterions. Higher than physiological total ion concentrations completely suppress MeCP2 binding cooperativity, indicating a dominant electrostatic component to the interaction. Substitution of SO4(2-) for Cl(-) at physiological total ion concentrations also suppresses MeCP2 binding cooperativity, This effect is of particular note as the intracellular Cl(-) concentration changes during neuronal development. A related effect is that the protein-stabilizing solutes, TMAO and glutamate, reduce MeCP2 (but not isolated MBD) binding affinity by 2 orders of magnitude without affecting the apparent binding cooperativity. These observations suggest that polypeptide flexibility facilitates DNA binding by MeCP2. Consistent with this view, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses show that ions have discrete effects on the structure of MeCP2, both MBD and the C-terminal domains. Notably, anion substitution results in changes in the NMR chemical shifts of residues, including some whose mutation causes the autism spectrum disorder Rett syndrome. Binding cooperativity makes MeCP2 an effective competitor with histone H1 for accessible DNA sites. The relationship between MeCP2 binding specificity and cooperativity is discussed in the context of chromatin binding, neuronal function, and neuronal development.

Stochastic optimization with randomized smoothing for image registration

Image registration is typically formulated as an optimization process, which aims to find the optimal transformation parameters of a given transformation model by minimizing a cost function. Local minima may exist in the optimization landscape, which could hamper the optimization process. To eliminate local minima, smoothing the cost function would be desirable. In this paper, we investigate the use of a randomized smoothing (RS) technique for stochastic gradient descent (SGD) optimization, to effectively smooth the cost function. In this approach, Gaussian noise is added to the transformation parameters prior to computing the cost function gradient in each iteration of the SGD optimizer. The approach is suitable for both rigid and nonrigid registrations. Experiments on synthetic images, cell images, public CT lung data, and public MR brain data demonstrate the effectiveness of the novel RS technique in terms of registration accuracy and robustness.

MECP2, a multi-talented modulator of chromatin architecture

It has been a long trip from 1992, the year of the discovery of MECP2, to the present day. What is surprising is that some of the pivotal roles of MeCP2 were already postulated at that time, such as repression of inappropriate expression from repetitive elements and the regulation of pericentric heterochromatin condensation. However, MeCP2 performs many more functions. MeCP2 is a reader of epigenetic information contained in methylated (and hydroxymethylated) DNA, moving from the 'classical' CpG doublet to the more complex view addressed by the non-CpG methylation, which is a feature of the postnatal brain. MECP2 is a transcriptional repressor, although when it forms complexes with the appropriate molecules, it can become a transcriptional activator. For all of these aspects, Rett syndrome, which is caused by MECP2 mutations, is considered a paradigmatic example of a 'chromatin disorder'. Even if the hunt for bona-fide MECP2 target genes is far from concluded today, the role of MeCP2 in the maintenance of chromatin architecture appears to be clearly established. Taking a cue from the non-scientific literature, we can firmly attest that MeCP2 is a player with 'a great future behind it'*.*V. Gassmann 'Un grande avvenire dietro le spalle'. TEA Eds.

Developmental Dynamics of Rett Syndrome

Rett Syndrome was long considered to be simply a disorder of postnatal development, with phenotypes that manifest only late in development and into adulthood. A variety of recent evidence demonstrates that the phenotypes of Rett Syndrome are present at the earliest stages of brain development, including developmental stages that define neurogenesis, migration, and patterning in addition to stages of synaptic and circuit development and plasticity. These phenotypes arise from the pleotropic effects of MeCP2, which is expressed very early in neuronal progenitors and continues to be expressed into adulthood. The effects of MeCP2 are mediated by diverse signaling, transcriptional, and epigenetic mechanisms. Attempts to reverse the effects of Rett Syndrome need to take into account the developmental dynamics and temporal impact of MeCP2 loss.

Proteins That Read DNA Methylation

Covalent modification of DNA via deposition of a methyl group at the 5' position on cytosine residues alters the chemical groups available for interaction in the major groove of DNA. The information content inherent in this modification alters the affinity and the specificity of DNA binding; some proteins favor interaction with methylated DNA, and others disfavor it. Molecular recognition of cytosine methylation by proteins often initiates sequential regulatory events which impact gene expression and chromatin structure. The known methyl-DNA-binding proteins have unique domains responsible for DNA methylation recognition: (1) the methyl-CpG-binding domain (MBD), (2) the C2H2 zinc finger domain, and (3) the SET- and RING finger-associated (SRA) domain. Structural analyses have revealed that each domain has a characteristic methylated DNA-binding pattern, and this difference in the recognition mechanism renders the DNA methylation mark able to transmit complicated biological information. Recent genetic and genomic studies have revealed novel functions of methyl-DNA-binding proteins. These emerging data have also provided glimpses into how methyl-DNA-binding proteins possess unique features and, presumably, functions. In this review, we summarize structural and biochemical analyses elucidating the mechanism for recognition of DNA methylation and correlate this information with emerging genomic and functional data.

A high-resolution imaging approach to investigate chromatin architecture in complex tissues

We present ChromATin, a quantitative high-resolution imaging approach for investigating chromatin organization in complex tissues. This method combines analysis of epigenetic modifications by immunostaining, localization of specific DNA sequences by FISH, and high-resolution segregation of nuclear compartments using array tomography (AT) imaging. We then apply this approach to examine how the genome is organized in the mammalian brain using female Rett syndrome mice, which are a mosaic of normal and Mecp2-null cells. Side-by-side comparisons within the same field reveal distinct heterochromatin territories in wild-type neurons that are altered in Mecp2-null nuclei. Mutant neurons exhibit increased chromatin compaction and a striking redistribution of the H4K20me3 histone modification into pericentromeric heterochromatin, a territory occupied normally by MeCP2. These events are not observed in every neuronal cell type, highlighting ChromATin as a powerful in situ method for examining cell-type-specific differences in chromatin architecture in complex tissues.

Molecular dynamics of histone H1

The H1 or linker histones bind dynamically to chromatin in living cells via a process that involves transient association with the nucleosome near the DNA entry/exit site followed by dissociation, translocation to a new location, and rebinding. The mean residency time of H1 on any given nucleosome is about a minute, which is much shorter than that of most core histones but considerably longer than that of most other chromatin-binding proteins, including transcription factors. Here we review recent advances in understanding the kinetic pathway of H1 binding and how it relates to linker histone structure and function. We also describe potential mechanisms by which the dynamic binding of H1 might contribute directly to the regulation of gene expression and discuss several situations for which there is experimental evidence to support these mechanisms. Finally, we review the evidence for the participation of linker histone chaperones in mediating H1 exchange.

MECP2 disorders: from the clinic to mice and back

Two severe, progressive neurological disorders characterized by intellectual disability, autism, and developmental regression, Rett syndrome and MECP2 duplication syndrome, result from loss and gain of function, respectively, of the same critical gene, methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). Neurons acutely require the appropriate dose of MECP2 to function properly but do not die in its absence or overexpression. Instead, neuronal dysfunction can be reversed in a Rett syndrome mouse model if MeCP2 function is restored. Thus, MECP2 disorders provide a unique window into the delicate balance of neuronal health, the power of mouse models, and the importance of chromatin regulation in mature neurons. In this Review, we will discuss the clinical profiles of MECP2 disorders, the knowledge acquired from mouse models of the syndromes, and how that knowledge is informing current and future clinical studies.

DNA methylation effects on tetra-nucleosome compaction and aggregation

DNA CpG methylation has been associated with chromatin compaction and gene silencing. Whether DNA methylation directly contributes to chromatin compaction remains an open question. In this study, we used fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy (FFS) to evaluate the compaction and aggregation of tetra-nucleosomes containing specific CpG patterns and methylation levels. The compactness of both unmethylated and methylated tetra-nucleosomes is dependent on DNA sequences. Specifically, methylation of the CpG sites located in the central dyad and the major grooves of DNA seem to have opposite effects on modulating the compactness of tetra-nucleosomes. The interactions among tetra-nucleosomes, however, seem to be enhanced because of DNA methylation independent of sequence contexts. Our finding can shed light on understanding the role of DNA methylation in determining nucleosome positioning pattern and chromatin compactness.

Rett syndrome: a complex disorder with simple roots

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurological disorder caused by mutations in the X-linked gene MECP2 (methyl-CpG-binding protein 2). Two decades of research have fostered the view that MeCP2 is a multifunctional chromatin protein that integrates diverse aspects of neuronal biology. More recently, studies have focused on specific RTT-associated mutations within the protein. This work has yielded molecular insights into the critical functions of MeCP2 that promise to simplify our understanding of RTT pathology.

DNA modifications: function and applications in normal and disease States

Epigenetics refers to a variety of processes that have heritable effects on gene expression programs without changes in DNA sequence. Key players in epigenetic control are chemical modifications to DNA, histone, and non-histone chromosomal proteins, which establish a complex regulatory network that controls genome function. Methylation of DNA at the fifth position of cytosine in CpG dinucleotides (5-methylcytosine, 5mC), which is carried out by DNA methyltransferases, is commonly associated with gene silencing. However, high resolution mapping of DNA methylation has revealed that 5mC is enriched in exonic nucleosomes and at intron-exon junctions, suggesting a role of DNA methylation in the relationship between elongation and RNA splicing. Recent studies have increased our knowledge of another modification of DNA, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), which is a product of the ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins converting 5mC to 5hmC. In this review, we will highlight current studies on the role of 5mC and 5hmC in regulating gene expression (using some aspects of brain development as examples). Further the roles of these modifications in detection of pathological states (type 2 diabetes, Rett syndrome, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and teratogen exposure) will be discussed.

Sumoylated human histone H4 prevents chromatin compaction by inhibiting long-range internucleosomal interactions

The structure of eukaryotic chromatin directly influences gene function, and is regulated by chemical modifications of the core histone proteins. Modification of the human histone H4 N-terminal tail region by the small ubiquitin-like modifier protein, SUMO-3, is associated with transcription repression. However, the direct effect of sumoylation on chromatin structure and function remains unknown. Therefore, we employed a disulfide-directed strategy to generate H4 homogenously and site-specifically sumoylated at Lys-12 (suH4ss). Chromatin compaction and oligomerization assays with nucleosomal arrays containing suH4ss established that SUMO-3 inhibits array folding and higher order oligomerization, which underlie chromatin fiber formation. Moreover, the effect of sumoylation differed from that of acetylation, and could be recapitulated with the structurally similar protein ubiquitin. Mechanistic studies at the level of single nucleosomes revealed that, unlike acetylation, the effect of SUMO-3 arises from the attenuation of long-range internucleosomal interactions more than from the destabilization of a compacted dinucleosome state. Altogether, our results present the first insight on the direct structural effects of histone H4 sumoylation and reveal a novel mechanism by which SUMO-3 inhibits chromatin compaction.

Comparative structure of vertebrate sperm chromatin

A consistent feature of sperm nuclei is its exceptionally compact state in comparison with somatic nuclei. Here, we have examined the structural organization of sperm chromatin from representatives of three vertebrate lineages, bony fish (Danio rerio), birds (Gallus gallus domesticus) and mammals (Mus musculus) using light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Although the three sperm nuclei are all highly compact, they differ in morphology and in the complement of compaction-inducing proteins. Whereas zebrafish sperm retain somatic histones and a nucleosomal organization, in the rooster and mouse, histones are largely replaced by small, arginine-rich protamines. In contrast to the mouse, the rooster protamine contains no cysteine residues and lacks the potential stabilizing effects of S-S bonds. Protamine driven chromatin compaction results in a stable, highly condensed chromatin, markedly different from the somatic nucleosome-based beads-on-a-string architecture, but its structure remains poorly understood. When prepared gently for whole mount TEM, the rooster and mouse sperm chromatin reveal striking rod-like units 40-50 nm in width. Also present in the mouse, which has very flattened sperm nuclei, but not rooster, where nuclei take the form of elongated cylinders, are toroidal shaped structures, with an external diameter of about 90 nm. In contrast, similarly prepared zebrafish sperm exhibit nucleosomal chromatin. We also examined the early stages in the binding of salmine (the salmon protamine) to defined sequence DNA. These images suggest an initial side-by-side binding of linear DNA-protamine complexes leading to the nucleation of thin, flexible rods with the potential to bend, allowing the ends to come into contact and fuse to form toroidal structures. We discuss the relationship between these in vitro observations and the rods and toroids seen in nuclei, and suggest an explanation for the apparent absence of these structures in TEM images of fully condensed sperm nuclei.

Unusual characteristics of the DNA binding domain of epigenetic regulatory protein MeCP2 determine its binding specificity

The protein MeCP2 mediates epigenetic regulation by binding methyl-CpG (mCpG) sites on chromatin. MeCP2 consists of six domains of which one, the methyl binding domain (MBD), binds mCpG sites in duplex DNA. We show that solution conditions with physiological or greater salt concentrations or the presence of nonspecific competitor DNA is necessary for the MBD to discriminate mCpG from CpG with high specificity. The specificity for mCpG over CpG is >100-fold under these solution conditions. In contrast, the MBD does not discriminate hydroxymethyl-CpG from CpG. The MBD is unusual among site-specific DNA binding proteins in that (i) specificity is not conferred by the enhanced affinity for the specific site but rather by suppression of its affinity for generic DNA, (ii) its specific binding to mCpG is highly electrostatic, and (iii) it takes up as well as displaces monovalent cations upon DNA binding. The MBD displays an unusually high affinity for single-stranded DNA independent of modification or sequence. In addition, the MBD forms a discrete dimer on DNA via a noncooperative binding pathway. Because the affinity of the second monomer is 1 order of magnitude greater than that of nonspecific binding, the MBD dimer is a unique molecular complex. The significance of these results in the context of neuronal function and development and MeCP2-related developmental disorders such as Rett syndrome is discussed.

Rett syndrome and MeCP2

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe and progressive neurological disorder, which mainly affects young females. Mutations of the methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene are the most prevalent cause of classical RTT cases. MECP2 mutations or altered expression are also associated with a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders with recent links to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Collectively, MeCP2 relation to these neurodevelopmental disorders highlights the importance of understanding the molecular mechanisms by which MeCP2 impacts brain development, mental conditions, and compromised brain function. Since MECP2 mutations were discovered to be the primary cause of RTT, a significant progress has been made in the MeCP2 research, with respect to the expression, function and regulation of MeCP2 in the brain and its contribution in RTT pathogenesis. To date, there have been intensive efforts in designing effective therapeutic strategies for RTT benefiting from mouse models and cells collected from RTT patients. Despite significant progress in MeCP2 research over the last few decades, there is still a knowledge gap between the in vitro and in vivo research findings and translating these findings into effective therapeutic interventions in human RTT patients. In this review, we will provide a synopsis of Rett syndrome as a severe neurological disorder and will discuss the role of MeCP2 in RTT pathophysiology.

Chromatin context and ncRNA highlight targets of MeCP2 in brain

The discovery that Rett syndrome (RTT) is caused by mutation of the methyl-CpG-binding-protein MeCP2 provided a major breakthrough in understanding the neurodevelopmental disorder and accelerated MeCP2 research. However, gene regulation by MeCP2 is complicated. The current consensus for MeCP2 remains as a classical repressor complex, with major emphasis on its role in methylation-dependent binding and repression. However, recent evidence indicates additional regulatory roles, suggesting non-classical mechanisms in gene activation. This has opened the field of MeCP2 research and suggests that the gene targets may not be the usual suspects, that is, dependent only on DNA methylation. Here we examine how chromatin binding and sequence preference may confer MeCP2 functionality, and connect relevant pathways in an active genome. Finding both genomic and proteomic evidence to indicate MeCP2 spliceosome interaction, we consequently discovered broad MeCP2 enrichment of the transcriptome while our focus toward long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) revealed MeCP2 association with RNCR3. Our data may indicate an as-yet-unappreciated role between lncRNA and MeCP2. We hypothesize that ncRNA may mediate chromatin-remodeling events by interacting with MeCP2, thereby conferring changes in gene expression. We consider that these results may suggest new mechanisms of gene regulation conferred by MeCP2 and its interactions upon chromatin structure and gene function.

Chromatin regulators of neural development

During all stages of neural development-from the fate switches of neural precursor/progenitor cells to activity-dependent synapse maturation-chromatin-level modifications are important regulators of the gene expression that control developmental programs. Such modifications, including both alterations of histone tails and cytosine residues in the DNA, as well as changes in the chromatin structure, act dynamically throughout development and work together to determine the chromatin state at each time point. While many studies have shown localized action of chromatin modifiers at relevant gene loci, recent reports have also indicated that some chromatin modifications work on a more global scale, altering many loci throughout the genome. Here we review recent papers that describe the roles of chromatin-level regulation, at both the local and global scale, in the development of the mouse brain.

Site-specific methylated reporter constructs for functional analysis of DNA methylation

Methods to experimentally alter and functionally evaluate cytosine methylation in a site-specific manner have proven elusive. We describe a site-specific DNA methylation method, using synthetically methylated primers and high fidelity PCR coupled with ligation of reporter constructs. We applied this method to introduce methylated cytosines into fragments of the respective DAPK and RASSF1A promoters that had been cloned into luciferase reporters. We found that methylation of 3-7 residue CpG clusters that were 5' adjacent to the transcription start site (TSS) of the DAPK gene produced up to a 54% decrease in promoter activity (p<0.01). Similarly, for RASSF1A promoter reporter constructs, the methylation of either of two clusters of four CpGs each, but not an intervening cluster, produced a 63% decrease in promoter activity (p<0.01), suggesting that precise mCpG position is crucial, and factors other than simple proximity to the TSS are at play. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis of these reporter constructs demonstrated that transcription factor Oct-1 and Sp1 preferentially bound the unmethylated vs. methylated DAPK or RASSF1A promoter reporter constructs at the functional CpG sites. Histone H1, hnRNP1, and MeCP2 showed preferential binding to methylated sequence at functional sites in these reporter constructs, as well as highly preferential (> 8-80-fold) binding to native methylated vs. unmethylated chromatin. These results suggest that: (1) site-specific, precision DNA methylation of a reporter construct can be used for functional analysis of commonly observed gene promoter methylation patterns; (2) the reporter system contains key elements of the endogenous chromatin machinery.

A role for MeCP2 in switching gene activity via chromatin unfolding and HP1γ displacement

Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is generally considered to act as a transcriptional repressor, whereas recent studies suggest that MeCP2 is also involved in transcription activation. To gain insight into this dual function of MeCP2, we assessed the impact of MeCP2 on higher-order chromatin structure in living cells using mammalian cell systems harbouring a lactose operator and reporter gene-containing chromosomal domain to assess the effect of lactose repressor-tagged MeCP2 (and separate MeCP2 domains) binding in living cells. Our data reveal that targeted binding of MeCP2 elicits extensive chromatin unfolding. MeCP2-induced chromatin unfolding is triggered independently of the methyl-cytosine-binding domain. Interestingly, MeCP2 binding triggers the loss of HP1γ at the chromosomal domain and an increased HP1γ mobility, which is not observed for HP1α and HP1β. Surprisingly, MeCP2-induced chromatin unfolding is not associated with transcriptional activation. Our study suggests a novel role for MeCP2 in reorganizing chromatin to facilitate a switch in gene activity.

A synonymous change, p.Gly16Gly in MECP2 Exon 1, causes a cryptic splice event in a Rett syndrome patient

Background

Mutations in MECP2 are the main cause of Rett Syndrome. To date, no pathogenic synonymous MECP2 mutation has yet been identified. Here, we investigated a de novo synonymous variant c.48C>T (p.Gly16Gly) identified in a girl presenting with a typical RTT phenotype.

Methods

In silico analyses to predict the effects of sequence variation on mRNA splicing were employed, followed by sequencing and quantification of lymphocyte mRNAs from the subject for splice variants MECP2_E1 and MECP2_E2.

Results

Analysis of mRNA confirmed predictions that this synonymous mutation activates a splice-donor site at an early position in exon 1, leading to a deletion (r.[=, 48_63del]), codon frameshift and premature stop codon (p.Glu17Lysfs*16) for MECP2_E1. For MECP2_E2, the same premature splice site is used, but as this is located in the 5′untranslated region, no effect on the amino acid sequence is predicted. Quantitative analysis that specifically measured this cryptic splice variant also revealed a significant decrease in the quantity of the correct MECP2_E1 transcript, which indicates that this is the etiologically significant mutation in this patient.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that synonymous variants of MECP2 as well as other known disease genes—and de novo variants in particular— should be re-evaluated for potential effects on splicing.

Integrative analysis of methylome and transcriptome reveals the importance of unmethylated CpGs in non-CpG island gene activation

Background. Promoter methylation is associated with gene repression; however, little is known about its mechanism. It was proposed that the repression of methylated genes is achieved through the recruitment of methyl binding proteins (MBPs) that participate in closing the chromatin. An alternative mechanism suggests that methylation interferes with the binding of either site specific activators or more general activators that bind to the CpG dinucleotide. However, the relative contribution of these two mechanisms to gene repression is not known. Results. Bioinformatics analyses of genome-wide transcriptome and methylome data support the latter hypothesis by demonstrating a strong association between transcription and the number of unmethylated CpGs at the promoter of genes lacking CpG islands. Conclusions. Our results suggest that methylation represses gene expression mainly by preventing the binding of CpG binding activators.

The role of genetics in the establishment and maintenance of the epigenome

Epigenetic mechanisms play an important role in gene regulation during development. DNA methylation, which is probably the most important and best-studied epigenetic mechanism, can be abnormally regulated in common pathologies, but the origin of altered DNA methylation remains unknown. Recent research suggests that these epigenetic alterations could depend, at least in part, on genetic mutations or polymorphisms in DNA methyltransferases and certain genes encoding enzymes of the one-carbon metabolism pathway. Indeed, the de novo methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B) has been recently found to be mutated in several types of cancer and in the immunodeficiency, centromeric region instability and facial anomalies syndrome (ICF), in which these mutations could be related to the loss of global DNA methylation. In addition, mutations in glycine-N-methyltransferase (GNMT) could be associated with a higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver disease due to an unbalanced S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)/S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) ratio, which leads to aberrant methylation reactions. Also, genetic variants of chromatin remodeling proteins and histone tail modifiers are involved in genetic disorders like α thalassemia X-linked mental retardation syndrome, CHARGE syndrome, Cockayne syndrome, Rett syndrome, systemic lupus erythematous, Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, Coffin-Lowry syndrome, Sotos syndrome, and facioescapulohumeral syndrome, among others. Here, we review the potential genetic alterations with a possible role on epigenetic factors and discuss their contribution to human disease.

Impaired in vivo binding of MeCP2 to chromatin in the absence of its DNA methyl-binding domain

MeCP2 is a methyl-CpG-binding protein that is a main component of brain chromatin in vertebrates. In vitro studies have determined that in addition to its specific methyl-CpG-binding domain (MBD) MeCP2 also has several chromatin association domains. However, the specific interactions of MeCP2 with methylated or non-methylated chromatin regions and the structural characteristics of the resulting DNA associations in vivo remain poorly understood. We analysed the role of the MBD in MeCP2–chromatin associations in vivo using an MeCP2 mutant Rett syndrome mouse model (Mecp2^tm1.1Jae) in which exon 3 deletion results in an N-terminal truncation of the protein, including most of the MBD. Our results show that in mutant mice, the truncated form of MeCP2 (ΔMeCP2) is expressed in different regions of the brain and liver, albeit at 50% of its wild-type (wt) counterpart. In contrast to the punctate nuclear distribution characteristic of wt MeCP2, ΔMeCP2 exhibits both diffuse nuclear localization and a substantial retention in the cytoplasm, suggesting a dysfunction of nuclear transport. In mutant brain tissue, neuronal nuclei are smaller, and ΔMeCP2 chromatin is digested faster by nucleases, producing a characteristic nuclease-resistant dinucleosome. Although a fraction of ΔMeCP2 is found associated with nucleosomes, its interaction with chromatin is transient and weak. Thus, our results unequivocally demonstrate that in vivo the MBD of MeCP2 together with its adjacent region in the N-terminal domain are critical for the proper interaction of the protein with chromatin, which cannot be replaced by any other of its protein domains.

MeCP2 binds to 5hmC enriched within active genes and accessible chromatin in the nervous system

The high level of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) present in neuronal genomes suggests that mechanisms interpreting 5hmC in the CNS may differ from those present in embryonic stem cells. Here, we present quantitative, genome-wide analysis of 5hmC, 5-methylcytosine (5mC), and gene expression in differentiated CNS cell types in vivo. We report that 5hmC is enriched in active genes and that, surprisingly, strong depletion of 5mC is observed over these regions. The contribution of these epigenetic marks to gene expression depends critically on cell type. We identify methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) as the major 5hmC-binding protein in the brain and demonstrate that MeCP2 binds 5hmC- and 5mC-containing DNA with similar high affinities. The Rett-syndrome-causing mutation R133C preferentially inhibits 5hmC binding. These findings support a model in which 5hmC and MeCP2 constitute a cell-specific epigenetic mechanism for regulation of chromatin structure and gene expression.

Novel alterations in the epigenetic signature of MeCP2-targeted promoters in lymphocytes of Rett syndrome patients

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with neurological symptoms, such as motor disorders and mental retardation. In most cases, RTT is caused by mutations in the DNA binding protein MeCP2. In mice, MeCP2 gene deletion has been reported to result in genome-wide increased histone acetylation. Transcriptional regulation of neurotrophic factor BDNF and transcription factor DLX5, essential for proper neurogenesis, is further altered in MeCP2-deleted animals. We therefore investigated the chromatin environment of MeCP2 target genes BDNF and DLX5 in lymphocytes from RTT patients and human controls, and analyzed the density of histones H3, H2B and H1, as well as the levels of methylation and acetylation on selected lysines of histone H3. Notably, we found a general increase in the density of histone H3 in RTT patients’ lymphocytes compared with controls, and decreased levels of trimethylation of lysine 4 on histone H3 (H3K4me3), a modification associated with transcriptional activation. The levels of acetylation of lysine 9 (H3K9ac) and 27 (H3K27ac) did not show any statistically significant changes when normalized to the decreased histone H3 levels; nevertheless, an average decrease in acetylation was noted. Our results reveal an unexpected alteration of the chromatin state of established MeCP2 target genes in lymphocytes of human subjects with RTT.

Direct homo- and hetero-interactions of MeCP2 and MBD2

Epigenetic marks like methylation of cytosines at CpG dinucleotides are essential for mammalian development and play a major role in the regulation of gene expression and chromatin architecture. The methyl-cytosine binding domain (MBD) protein family recognizes and translates this methylation mark. We have recently shown that the level of MeCP2 and MBD2, two members of the MBD family, increased during differentiation and their ectopic expression induced heterochromatin clustering in vivo. As oligomerization of these MBD proteins could constitute a factor contributing to the chromatin clustering effect, we addressed potential associations among the MBD family performing a series of different interaction assays in vitro as well as in vivo. Using recombinant purified MBDs we found that MeCP2 and MBD2 showed the stronger self and cross association as compared to the other family members. Besides demonstrating that these homo- and hetero-interactions occur in the absence of DNA, we could confirm them in mammalian cells using co-immunoprecipitation analysis. Employing a modified form of the fluorescent two-hybrid protein-protein interaction assay, we could clearly visualize these associations in single cells in vivo. Deletion analysis indicated that the region of MeCP2 comprising amino acids 163–309 as well the first 152 amino acids of MBD2 are the domains responsible for MeCP2 and MBD2 associations. Our results strengthen the possibility that MeCP2 and MBD2 direct interactions could crosslink chromatin fibers and therefore give novel insight into the molecular mechanism of MBD mediated global heterochromatin architecture.

Epigenetic mechanisms in neurological disease

The exploration of brain epigenomes, which consist of various types of DNA methylation and covalent histone modifications, is providing new and unprecedented insights into the mechanisms of neural development, neurological disease and aging. Traditionally, chromatin defects in the brain were considered static lesions of early development that occurred in the context of rare genetic syndromes, but it is now clear that mutations and maladaptations of the epigenetic machinery cover a much wider continuum that includes adult-onset neurodegenerative disease. Here, we describe how recent advances in neuroepigenetics have contributed to an improved mechanistic understanding of developmental and degenerative brain disorders, and we discuss how they could influence the development of future therapies for these conditions.

Chromatin modification by PSC occurs at one PSC per nucleosome and does not require the acidic patch of histone H2A

Chromatin architecture is regulated through both enzymatic and non-enzymatic activities. For example, the Polycomb Group (PcG) proteins maintain developmental gene silencing using an array of chromatin-based mechanisms. The essential Drosophila PcG protein, Posterior Sex Combs (PSC), compacts chromatin and inhibits chromatin remodeling and transcription through a non-enzymatic mechanism involving nucleosome bridging. Nucleosome bridging is achieved through a combination of nucleosome binding and self-interaction. Precisely how PSC interacts with chromatin to bridge nucleosomes is not known and is the subject of this work. We determine the stoichiometry of PSC-chromatin interactions in compact chromatin (in which nucleosomes are bridged) using Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM). We find that full compaction occurs with one PSC per nucleosome. In addition to compacting chromatin, we show that PSC oligomerizes nucleosome arrays. PSC-mediated oligomerization of chromatin occurs at similar stoichiometry as compaction suggesting it may also involve nucleosome bridging. Interactions between the tail of histone H4 and the acidic patch of histone H2A are important for chromatin folding and oligomerization, and several chromatin proteins bind the histone H2A acidic patch. However, mutation of the acidic patch of histone H2A does not affect PSC’s ability to inhibit chromatin remodeling or bridge nucleosomes. In fact, PSC does not require nucleosomes for bridging activity but can bridge naked DNA segments. PSC clusters nucleosomes on sparsely assembled templates, suggesting it interacts preferentially with nucleosomes over bare DNA. This may be due to the ability of PSC to bind free histones. Our data are consistent with a model in which each PSC binds a nucleosome and at least one other PSC to directly bridge nucleosomes and compact chromatin, but also suggest that naked DNA can be included in compacted structures. We discuss how our data highlight the diversity of mechanisms used to modify chromatin architecture.

Signaling mechanisms that coordinate the development and maintenance of dendritic fields

The establishment of a dendritic tree is a highly dynamic process characterized by extension and retraction of branches, followed by stabilization of existing dendrites and synaptic connections. To properly cover the receptive fields, all of these processes are tightly coordinated at all time points. Recent in vivo studies suggest that several signaling pathways, including Hippo pathway and epigenetic mechanisms, play important roles in maintenance of matured dendrites. This review focuses on the current molecular understanding of how established dendritic fields in functional neuronal circuits are maintained in the brain. The relevance of this knowledge to the pathological mechanisms underlying some neurodegenerative disorders is also discussed.

Synaptic dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorders associated with autism and intellectual disabilities

The discovery of the genetic causes of syndromic autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities has greatly informed our understanding of the molecular pathways critical for normal synaptic function. The top-down approaches using human phenotypes and genetics helped identify causative genes and uncovered the broad spectrum of neuropsychiatric features that can result from various mutations in the same gene. Importantly, the human studies unveiled the exquisite sensitivity of cognitive function to precise levels of many diverse proteins. Bottom-up approaches applying molecular, biochemical, and neurophysiological studies to genetic models of these disorders revealed unsuspected pathogenic mechanisms and identified potential therapeutic targets. Moreover, studies in model organisms showed that symptoms of these devastating disorders can be reversed, which brings hope that affected individuals might benefit from interventions even after symptoms set in. Scientists predict that insights gained from studying these rare syndromic disorders will have an impact on the more common nonsyndromic autism and mild cognitive deficits.

Drosophila as a model for MECP2 gain of function in neurons

Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) is a multi-functional regulator of gene expression. In humans loss of MECP2 function causes classic Rett syndrome, but gain of MECP2 function also causes mental retardation. Although mouse models provide valuable insight into Mecp2 gain and loss of function, the identification of MECP2 genetic targets and interactors remains time intensive and complicated. This study takes a step toward utilizing Drosophila as a model to identify genetic targets and cellular consequences of MECP2 gain-of function mutations in neurons, the principle cell type affected in patients with Rett-related mental retardation. We show that heterologous expression of human MECP2 in Drosophila motoneurons causes distinct defects in dendritic structure and motor behavior, as reported with MECP2 gain of function in humans and mice. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that these defects arise from specific MECP2 function. First, neurons with MECP2-induced dendrite loss show normal membrane currents. Second, dendritic phenotypes require an intact methyl-CpG-binding domain. Third, dendritic defects are amended by reducing the dose of the chromatin remodeling protein, osa, indicating that MECP2 may act via chromatin remodeling in Drosophila. MECP2-induced motoneuron dendritic defects cause specific motor behavior defects that are easy to score in genetic screening. In sum, our data show that some aspects of MECP2 function can be studied in the Drosophila model, thus expanding the repertoire of genetic reagents that can be used to unravel specific neural functions of MECP2. However, additional genes and signaling pathways identified through such approaches in Drosophila will require careful validation in the mouse model.

The role of methyl-binding proteins in chromatin organization and epigenome maintenance

Methylated DNA can be specifically recognized by a set of proteins called methyl-CpG-binding proteins (MBPs), which belong to three different structural families in mammals: the MBD family, the Kaiso and Kaiso-like proteins and the SRA domain proteins. A current view is that, once bound to methylated DNA, MBPs translate the DNA methylation signal into appropriate functional states, through interactions with diverse partners. However, if some of the biological functions of MBPs have been widely described--notably transcriptional repression--others are poorly understood, and more generally the extent of MBP activities remains unclear. Here we propose to discuss the role of MBPs in two crucial nuclear events: chromatin organization and epigenome maintenance. Finally, important challenges for future research as well as for biomedical applications in pathologies such as cancers--in which DNA methylation patterns are widely altered--will be mentioned.

Genome-wide activity-dependent MeCP2 phosphorylation regulates nervous system development and function

Autism spectrum disorders such as Rett syndrome (RTT) have been hypothesized to arise from defects in experience-dependent synapse maturation. RTT is caused by mutations in MECP2, a nuclear protein that becomes phosphorylated at S421 in response to neuronal activation. We show here that disruption of MeCP2 S421 phosphorylation in vivo results in defects in synapse development and behavior, implicating activity-dependent regulation of MeCP2 in brain development and RTT. We investigated the mechanism by which S421 phosphorylation regulates MeCP2 function and show by chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing that this modification occurs on MeCP2 bound across the genome. The phosphorylation of MeCP2 S421 appears not to regulate the expression of specific genes; rather, MeCP2 functions as a histone-like factor whose phosphorylation may facilitate a genome-wide response of chromatin to neuronal activity during nervous system development. We propose that RTT results in part from a loss of this experience-dependent chromatin remodeling.

MeCP2 binds to nucleosome free (linker DNA) regions and to H3K9/H3K27 methylated nucleosomes in the brain

Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a chromatin-binding protein that mediates transcriptional regulation, and is highly abundant in brain. The nature of its binding to reconstituted templates has been well characterized in vitro. However, its interactions with native chromatin are less understood. Here we show that MeCP2 displays a distinct distribution within fractionated chromatin from various tissues and cell types. Artificially induced global changes in DNA methylation by 3-aminobenzamide or 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, do not significantly affect the distribution or amount of MeCP2 in HeLa S3 or 3T3 cells. Most MeCP2 in brain is chromatin-bound and localized within highly nuclease-accessible regions. We also show that, while in most tissues and cell lines, MeCP2 forms stable complexes with nucleosome, in brain, a fraction of it is loosely bound to chromatin, likely to nucleosome-depleted regions. Finally, we provide evidence for novel associations of MeCP2 with mononucleosomes containing histone H2A.X, H3K9me₂ and H3K27me₃ in different chromatin fractions from brain cortex and in vitro. We postulate that the functional compartmentalization and tissue-specific distribution of MeCP2 within different chromatin types may be directed by its association with nucleosomes containing specific histone variants, and post-translational modifications.

The role of MeCP2 in the brain

Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) was first identified in 1992 as a protein that binds specifically to methylated DNA. Mutations in the MECP2 gene were later found to be the cause of an autism spectrum disorder, Rett syndrome. Despite almost 20 years of research into the molecular mechanisms of MeCP2 function, many questions are yet to be answered conclusively. This review considers several key questions and attempts to evaluate the current state of evidence. For example, is MeCP2 just a methyl-CpG binding protein? Is it a multifunctional protein or primarily a transcriptional repressor? We also consider whether MeCP2, as a chromosome-binding protein, acts at specific sites within the genome or more globally, and in which cell types it is functionally important. Finally, we consider two alternative views of MeCP2 in the brain: as a regulator of brain development or as a factor that helps maintain neuronal/glial function.

Binding of the Rett syndrome protein, MeCP2, to methylated and unmethylated DNA and chromatin

Methylated CpG Binding Protein 2 (MeCP2) is a nuclear protein named for its ability to selectively recognize methylated DNA. Much attention has been focused on understanding MeCP2 structure and function in the context of its role in Rett syndrome, a severe neurodevelopmental disorder that afflicts one in 10,000-15,000 girls. Early studies suggested a connection between DNA methylation, MeCP2, and establishment of a repressive chromatin structure at specific gene promoters. However, it is now recognized that MeCP2 can both activate and repress specific genes depending on the context. Likewise, in the cell, MeCP2 is bound to unmethylated DNA and chromatin in addition to methylated DNA. Thus, to understand the molecular basis of MeCP2 functionality, it is necessary to unravel the complex interrelationships between MeCP2 binding to unmethylated and methylated regions of the genome. MeCP2 is unusual and interesting in that it is an intrinsically disordered protein, that is, much of its primary sequence fails to fold into secondary structure and yet is functional. The unique structure of MeCP2 is the subject of the first section of this article. We then discuss recent investigations of the in vitro binding of MeCP2 to unmethylated and methylated DNA, and the potential ramifications of this work for in vivo function. We close by focusing on mechanistic studies indicating that the binding of MeCP2 to chromatin results in compaction into local (secondary) and global (tertiary) higher order structures. MeCP2 also competes with histone H1 for nucleosomal binding sites. The recent finding that MeCP2 is found at near stoichiometric levels with nucleosomes in neuronal cells underscores the multiple modes of engagement of MeCP2 with the genome, which include the cooperative tracking of methylation density.

DNA binding restricts the intrinsic conformational flexibility of methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2)

Mass spectrometry-based hydrogen/deuterium exchange (H/DX) has been used to define the polypeptide backbone dynamics of full-length methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) when free in solution and when bound to unmethylated and methylated DNA. Essentially the entire MeCP2 polypeptide chain underwent H/DX at rates faster than could be measured (i.e. complete exchange in ≤10 s), with the exception of the methyl DNA binding domain (MBD). Even the H/DX of the MBD was rapid compared with that of a typical globular protein. Thus, there is no single tertiary structure of MeCP2. Rather, the full-length protein rapidly samples many different conformations when free in solution. When MeCP2 binds to unmethylated DNA, H/DX is slowed several orders of magnitude throughout the MBD. Binding of MeCP2 to methylated DNA led to additional minor H/DX protection, and only locally within the N-terminal portion of the MBD. H/DX also was used to examine the structural dynamics of the isolated MBD carrying three frequent mutations associated with Rett syndrome. The effects of the mutations ranged from very little (R106W) to a substantial increase in conformational sampling (F155S). Our H/DX results have yielded fine resolution mapping of the structure of full-length MeCP2 in the absence and presence of DNA, provided a biochemical basis for understanding MeCP2 function in normal cells, and predicted potential approaches for the treatment of a subset of RTT cases caused by point mutations that destabilize the MBD.

MeCP2 is required for global heterochromatic and nucleolar changes during activity-dependent neuronal maturation

Mutations in MECP2, encoding methyl CpG binding protein 2, cause the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome. MeCP2 is an abundant nuclear protein that binds to chromatin and modulates transcription in response to neuronal activity. Prior studies of MeCP2 function have focused on specific gene targets of MeCP2, but a more global role for MeCP2 in neuronal nuclear maturation has remained unexplored. MeCP2 levels increase during postnatal brain development, coinciding with dynamic changes in neuronal chromatin architecture, particularly detectable as changes in size, number, and location of nucleoli and perinucleolar heterochromatic chromocenters. To determine a potential role for MeCP2 in neuronal chromatin maturational changes, we measured nucleoli and chromocenters in developing wild-type and Mecp2-deficient mouse cortical sections, as well as mouse primary cortical neurons and a human neuronal cell line following induced maturation. Mecp2-deficient mouse neurons exhibited significant differences in nucleolar and chromocenter number and size, as more abundant, smaller nucleoli in brain and primary neurons compared to wild-type, consistent with delayed neuronal nuclear maturation in the absence of MeCP2. Primary neurons increased chromocenter size following depolarization in wild-type, but not Mecp2-deficient cultures. Wild-type MECP2e1 over-expression in human SH-SY5Y cells was sufficient to induce significantly larger nucleoli, but not a T158M mutation of the methyl-binding domain. These results suggest that, in addition to the established role of MeCP2 in transcriptional regulation of specific target genes, the global chromatin-binding function of MeCP2 is essential for activity-dependent global chromatin dynamics during postnatal neuronal maturation.

Chromatin higher-order structures and gene regulation

Genomic DNA in the eukaryotic nucleus is hierarchically packaged by histones into chromatin to fit inside the nucleus. The dynamics of higher-order chromatin compaction play a crucial role in transcription and other biological processes inherent to DNA. Many factors, including histone variants, histone modifications, DNA methylation, and the binding of non-histone architectural proteins regulate the structure of chromatin. Although the structure of nucleosomes, the fundamental repeating unit of chromatin, is clear, there is still much discussion on the higher-order levels of chromatin structure. In this review, we focus on the recent progress in elucidating the structure of the 30-nm chromatin fiber. We also discuss the structural plasticity/dynamics and epigenetic inheritance of higher-order chromatin and the roles of chromatin higher-order organization in eukaryotic gene regulation.

The dinucleotide CG as a genomic signalling module

The operon model proposed the existence of a category of proteins that control gene expression by interacting with specific DNA sequences. Since then, a large number of transcription factors recognizing a diversity of sequence motifs have been discovered. This article discusses an unusually short protein recognition sequence, 5'CG, which is read by multiple DNA binding proteins. CG exists in three distinct chemical states, two of which bind mutually exclusively to proteins that modulate chromatin structure. Non-methylated CG, which is highly concentrated at CpG island promoters, recruits enzymes that create the mark of promoter activity, trimethyl-lysine 4 of histone H3. Methylated CG, on the other hand, is a gene silencing mark and accordingly recruits enzymes that deacetylate histones. Thus, CG, despite its simplicity, has the properties of a genome-wide signalling module that adds a layer of positive or negative control over gene expression.