Targeted Histone Peptides: Insights into the Spatial Regulation of the Methyltransferase PRC2 by using a Surrogate of Heterotypic Chromatin

Using synthetic genome readers/regulators to interrogate chromatin processes: A brief review

Aberrant gene expression underlies numerous human ailments. Hence, developing small molecules to target and remedy dysfunctional gene regulation has been a long-standing goal at the interface of chemistry and medicine. A major challenge for designing small molecule therapeutics aimed at targeting desired genomic loci is the minimization of widescale disruption of genomic functions. To address this challenge, we rationally design polyamide-based multi-functional molecules, i.e., Synthetic Genome Readers/Regulators (SynGRs), which, by design, target distinct sequences in the genome. Herein, we briefly review how SynGRs access chromatin-bound and chromatin-free genomic sites, then highlight the methods for the study of chromatin processes using SynGRs on positioned nucleosomes in vitro or disease-causing repressive genomic loci in vivo.

Artificial genetic polymers against human pathologies

Originally discovered by Nielsen in 1991, peptide nucleic acids and other artificial genetic polymers have gained a lot of interest from the scientific community. Due to their unique biophysical features these artificial hybrid polymers are now being employed in various areas of theranostics (therapy and diagnostics). The current review provides an overview of their structure, principles of rational design, and biophysical features as well as highlights the areas of their successful implementation in biology and biomedicine. Finally, the review discusses the areas of improvement that would allow their use as a new class of therapeutics in the future.

Modulation of DNA and RNA by PNA

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA), a synthetic DNA mimic that is devoid of the (deoxy)ribose-phosphate backbone yet still perfectly retains the ability to recognize natural nucleic acids in a sequence-specific fashion, can be employed as a tool to modulate gene expressions via several different mechanisms. The unique strength of PNA compared to other oligonucleotide analogs is its ability to bind to nucleic acid targets with secondary structures such as double-stranded and quadruplex DNA as well as RNA. This digest aims to introduce general readers to the advancement in the area of modulation of DNA/RNA functions by PNA, its current status and future research opportunities, with emphasis on recent progress in new targeting modes of structured DNA/RNA by PNA and PNA-mediated gene editing.

PFA ependymoma-associated protein EZHIP inhibits PRC2 activity through a H3 K27M-like mechanism

Posterior fossa type A (PFA) ependymomas exhibit very low H3K27 methylation and express high levels of EZHIP (Enhancer of Zeste Homologs Inhibitory Protein, also termed CXORF67). Here we find that a conserved sequence in EZHIP is necessary and sufficient to inhibit PRC2 catalytic activity in vitro and in vivo. EZHIP directly contacts the active site of the EZH2 subunit in a mechanism similar to the H3 K27M oncohistone. Furthermore, expression of H3 K27M or EZHIP in cells promotes similar chromatin profiles: loss of broad H3K27me3 domains, but retention of H3K27me3 at CpG islands. We find that H3K27me3-mediated allosteric activation of PRC2 substantially increases the inhibition potential of EZHIP and H3 K27M, providing a mechanism to explain the observed loss of H3K27me3 spreading in tumors. Our data indicate that PFA ependymoma and DIPG are driven in part by the action of peptidyl PRC2 inhibitors, the K27M oncohistone and the EZHIP 'oncohistone-mimic', that dysregulate gene silencing to promote tumorigenesis.

Recognition of cancer mutations in histone H3K36 by epigenetic writers and readers

Histone posttranslational modifications control the organization and function of chromatin. In particular, methylation of lysine 36 in histone H3 (H3K36me) has been shown to mediate gene transcription, DNA repair, cell cycle regulation, and pre-mRNA splicing. Notably, mutations at or near this residue have been causally linked to the development of several human cancers. These observations have helped to illuminate the role of histones themselves in disease and to clarify the mechanisms by which they acquire oncogenic properties. This perspective focuses on recent advances in discovery and characterization of histone H3 mutations that impact H3K36 methylation. We also highlight findings that the common cancer-related substitution of H3K36 to methionine (H3K36M) disturbs functions of not only H3K36me-writing enzymes but also H3K36me-specific readers. The latter case suggests that the oncogenic effects could also be linked to the inability of readers to engage H3K36M.

Oncogenic Mechanisms of Histone H3 Mutations

Recurrent missense mutations in histone H3 were recently reported in pediatric gliomas and soft tissue tumors. Strikingly, these mutations only affected a minority of the total cellular H3 proteins and occurred at or near lysine residues at positions 27 and 36 on the amino-terminal tail of H3 that are subject to well-characterized posttranslational modifications. Here we review recent progress in elucidating the mechanisms by which these mutations perturb the chromatin landscape in cells through their effects on chromatin-modifying machinery, particularly through inhibition of specific histone lysine methyltransferases. One common feature of histone mutations is their ability to arrest cells in a primitive state refractory to differentiation induction, highlighting the importance of studying these mutations in their proper developmental context.

S-adenosyl methionine is necessary for inhibition of the methyltransferase G9a by the lysine 9 to methionine mutation on histone H3

Lysine to methionine (K-to-M) mutations in genes encoding histone H3 are thought to drive a subset of pediatric brain and bone cancers. These high-frequency K-to-M mutations occur at sites of methylation on histone H3, and tumors containing the mutant histones exhibit a global loss of specific histone methylation marks. Previous studies showed that K-to-M mutant histones, also known as oncohistones, are potent orthosteric inhibitors of specific Su(var)3-9, Enhancer-of-zeste, Trithorax (SET) domain methyltransferases. However, the biochemical and biophysical details of the interaction between K-to-M mutant histones and the respective SET domain methyltransferases are currently unknown. Here, we use the histone H3K9-directed methyltransferase G9a as a model to explore the mechanism of inhibition by K-to-M oncohistones. X-ray cocrystal structures revealed that the K9M residue of histone H3 occupies the active site cavity of G9a, and kinetic analysis indicates competitive inhibition of G9a by histone H3K9M. Additionally, we find that the cofactor S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) is necessary for stable interaction between G9a and H3K9M histone. Consistent with the formation of a ternary complex, we find that the inhibitory peptide is uncompetitive with regard to SAM. These data and others indicate that K-to-M oncohistones promote global loss of specific lysine methylation through sequestration and inhibition of SAM-bound SET domain methyltransferases.

Traceless Synthesis of Asymmetrically Modified Bivalent Nucleosomes

Nucleosomes carry extensive post-translational modifications (PTMs), which results in complex modification patterns that are involved in epigenetic signaling. Although two copies of each histone coexist in a nucleosome, they may not carry the same PTMs and are often differently modified (asymmetric). In bivalent domains, a chromatin signature prevalent in embryonic stem cells (ESCs), namely H3 methylated at lysine 4 (H3K4me3), coexists with H3K27me3 in asymmetric nucleosomes. We report a general, modular, and traceless method for producing asymmetrically modified nucleosomes. We further show that in bivalent nucleosomes, H3K4me3 inhibits the activity of the H3K27-specific lysine methyltransferase (KMT) polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) solely on the same histone tail, whereas H3K27me3 stimulates PRC2 activity across tails, thereby partially overriding the H3K4me3-mediated repressive effect. To maintain bivalent domains in ESCs, PRC2 activity must thus be locally restricted or reversed.

A two-state activation mechanism controls the histone methyltransferase Suv39h1

Specialized chromatin domains contribute to nuclear organization and regulation of gene expression. Gene-poor regions are di- and trimethylated at lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3K9me2/3) by the histone methyltransferase, Suv39h1. This enzyme harnesses a positive feedback loop to spread H3K9me2/3 over extended heterochromatic regions. However, little is known about how feedback loops operate on complex biopolymers such as chromatin, in part because of the difficulty in obtaining suitable substrates. Here we describe the synthesis of multi-domain ‘designer chromatin’ templates and their application to dissecting the regulation of human Suv39h1. We uncovered a two-step activation switch where H3K9me3 recognition and subsequent anchoring of the enzyme to chromatin allosterically promotes methylation activity, and confirmed that this mechanism contributes to chromatin recognition in cells. We propose that this mechanism serves as a paradigm in chromatin biochemistry since it enables highly dynamic sampling of chromatin state combined with targeted modification of desired genomic regions.

Synthetic histone code

Chromatin is the universal template of genetic information in all eukaryotic cells. This complex of DNA and histone proteins not only packages and organizes genomes but also regulates gene expression. A multitude of posttranslational histone modifications and their combinations are thought to constitute a code for directing distinct structural and functional states of chromatin. Methods of protein chemistry, including protein semisynthesis, amber suppression technology, and cysteine bioconjugation, have enabled the generation of so-called designer chromatin containing histones in defined and homogeneous modification states. Several of these approaches have matured from proof-of-concept studies into efficient tools and technologies for studying the biochemistry of chromatin regulation and for interrogating the histone code. We summarize pioneering experiments and recent developments in this exciting field of chemical biology.