SWI/SNF complexes and facilitation of TATA binding protein:nucleosome interactions

FACT and the proteasome promote promoter chromatin disassembly and transcriptional initiation

The packaging of the eukaryotic genome into chromatin represses gene expression by blocking access of the general transcription machinery to the underlying DNA sequences. Accordingly, eukaryotes have developed a variety of mechanisms to disrupt, alter, or disassemble nucleosomes from promoter regions and open reading frames to allow transcription to occur. Although we know that chromatin disassembly from the yeast PHO5 promoter is triggered by the Pho4 activator, the mechanism is far from clear. Here we show that the Pho4 activator can occupy its nucleosome-bound DNA binding site within the PHO5 promoter. In contrast to the role of Saccharomyces cerevisiae FACT (facilitates chromatin transcription) complex in assembling chromatin within open reading frames, we find that FACT is involved in the disassembly of histones H2A/H2B from the PHO5 promoter during transcriptional induction. We have also discovered that the proteasome is required for efficient chromatin disassembly and transcriptional induction from the PHO5 promoter. Mutants of the degradation function of the proteasome have a defect in recruitment of the Pho4 activator, whereas mutants of the ATPase cap of the proteasome do recruit Pho4 but are still delayed for chromatin assembly. Finally, we rule out the possibility that the proteasome or ATPase cap is driving chromatin disassembly via a potential ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling activity.

Cluster analysis of mass spectrometry data reveals a novel component of SAGA

The SAGA histone acetyltransferase and TFIID complexes play key roles in eukaryotic transcription. Using hierarchical cluster analysis of mass spectrometry data to identify proteins that copurify with components of the budding yeast TFIID transcription complex, we discovered that an uncharacterized protein corresponding to the YPL047W open reading frame significantly associated with shared components of the TFIID and SAGA complexes. Using mass spectrometry and biochemical assays, we show that YPL047W (SGF11, 11-kDa SAGA-associated factor) is an integral subunit of SAGA. However, SGF11 does not appear to play a role in SAGA-mediated histone acetylation. DNA microarray analysis showed that SGF11 mediates transcription of a subset of SAGA-dependent genes, as well as SAGA-independent genes. SAGA purified from a sgf11 Delta deletion strain has reduced amounts of Ubp8p, and a ubp8 Delta deletion strain shows changes in transcription similar to those seen with the sgf11 Delta deletion strain. Together, these data show that Sgf11p is a novel component of the yeast SAGA complex and that SGF11 regulates transcription of a subset of SAGA-regulated genes. Our data suggest that the role of SGF11 in transcription is independent of SAGA's histone acetyltransferase activity but may involve Ubp8p recruitment to or stabilization in SAGA.

Cyclin A repression in quiescent cells is associated with chromatin remodeling of its promoter and requires Brahma/SNF2alpha

Cell cycle-dependent expression of cyclin A is controlled by transcriptional repression in early phase of the cell cycle. In this study, we directly examine the chromatin structure of the mouse cyclin A promoter through in vivo micrococcal nuclease footprinting. We describe here that cyclin A repression is associated with two positioned nucleosomes and that histones progressively lose DNA contact synchronously with gene activation. This particular nucleosomal organization is disrupted by mutations of the cyclin A bipartite repressor sequence. Moreover, the same sequence recruits the chromatin remodeling factor Brahma/SNF2alpha (Brm) onto the cyclin A promoter. Accordingly, cyclin A proximal promoter is not wrapped around nucleosomes and not repressed in quiescent cells lacking Brm. These results provide molecular explanations for the transcriptional repression state of cyclin A, as well as insights into the action of Brm chromatin remodeling factor as cell cycle regulator.

Cloning and characterization of hELD/OSA1, a novel BRG1 interacting protein

A highly conserved multisubunit enzymic complex, SWI/SNF, participates in the regulation of eukaryote gene expression through its ability to remodel chromatin. While a single component of SWI/SNF, Swi2 or a related protein, can perform this function in vitro, the other components appear to modulate the activity and specificity of the complex in vivo. Here we describe the cloning of hELD/OSA1, a 189 KDa human homologue of Drosophila Eld/Osa protein, a constituent of Drosophila SWI/SNF. By comparing conserved peptide sequences in Eld/Osa homologues we define three domains common to all family members. A putative DNA binding domain, or ARID (AT-rich DNA-interacting domain), may function in targetting SWI/SNF to chromatin. Two other domains unique to Eld/Osa proteins, EHD1 and EHD2, map to the C-terminus. We show that EHD2 mediates binding to Brahma-related gene 1 (BRG1), a human homologue of yeast Swi2. EHD1 and EHD2 also appear capable of interacting with each other. Using an antibody raised against EHD2 of hELD/OSA1, we detected Eld/Osa1 in endogenous SWI/SNF complexes derived from mouse brain.

Enhancement of the p300 HAT activity by HIV-1 Tat on chromatin DNA

HIV-1 Tat is able to form a ternary complex with P/CAF and p300 and increase the affinity for CDK9/P-TEFb CTD kinase complex. Our previous study demonstrated that Tat binds to p300/CBP in the minimal HAT domain (aa 1253-1790) and that the interaction results in a change of conformation on p300/CBP. Here, we show that the Tat-p300 interaction increases the HAT activity of p300 on histone H4 that is associated with nucleosomal DNA and not with free histones. Nucleosomal histone H4 was acetylated on lysines 8, 12, and 16. Acetylation of H4 was inhibited by Lys-coenzyme A (CoA), a selective inhibitor of p300 acetyltransferase activity. Unexpectedly, we also found that Tat could autoacetylate itself, which was specific to lysine residues 41 and 71. Peptides lacking these two lysines could not enhance the HAT activity of p300. Comparison of the sequences of Tat with other HIV-1 clades and HAT containing transcription factors indicated sequence identity in the acetyl-CoA binding motif A, KGXG. Furthermore, when utilizing an in vitro transcription assay, as well as a Tat mutant virus, we found that ectopic expression of only wild-type Tat in the presence of p300, and not a lysine 41 Tat mutant, could activate HIV-1 chromatin DNA, as evidenced by the absence of HIV-1 virion antigen. Therefore, transcription of integrated viral DNA in vivo requires the HAT activity of coactivators that are modulated by Tat to derepress the HIV-1 chromatin structure and aid in activated transcription.

Acetylation of HIV-1 Tat by CBP/P300 increases transcription of integrated HIV-1 genome and enhances binding to core histones

The HIV-1 Tat protein is required for viral replication and is a potent stimulator of viral transcription. Although Tat has been extensively studied in various reductive paradigms, to date there is little information as to how this activator mediates transcription from natural nucleosomally packaged long terminal repeats. Here we show that CREB-binding protein (CBP)/p300 interacts with the HIV-1 Tat protein and serves as a coactivator of Tat-dependent HIV-1 gene expression on an integrated HIV-1 provirus. The site of acetylation of Tat was mapped to the double-lysine motif in a highly conserved region, (49)RKKRRQ(54), of the basic RNA-binding motif of Tat. Using HLM1 cells (HIV-1(+)/Tat(-)), which contain a single copy of full-length HIV-1 provirus with a triple termination codon at the first AUG of the Tat gene, we find that only wild type, and not K50A, K51A, or K50A/K51A alone or in combination of ectopic CBP/p300, is able to produce full-length infectious virions, as measured by p24 gag ELISAs. Tat binds CBP/p300 in the minimal histone acetyltransferase domain (1253-1710) and the binding is stable up to 0.85 M salt wash conditions. Interestingly, wild-type peptide 41-54, and not other Tat peptides, changes the conformation of the CBP/p300 such that it can acquire and bind better to basal factors such as TBP and TFIIB, indicating that Tat may influence the transcription machinery by helping CBP/p300 to recruit new partners into the transcription machinery. Finally, using biotinylated wild-type or acetylated peptides, we find that acetylation decreases Tat's ability to bind the TAR RNA element, as well as to bind basal factors such as TBP, CBP, Core-Pol II, or cyclin T. However, the acetylated Tat peptide is able to bind to core histones on a nucleosome assembled HIV-1 proviral DNA.

ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling: SWI/SNF and Co. are on the job

SWI/SNF, RSC, NURF, CHRAC, ACF, RSF and NuRD are highly conserved multiprotein complexes that use the energy of ATP-hydrolysis to remodel chromatin. These complexes that have different subunit composition, all rely on helicase-like enzymes for ATPase activity and affect chromatin structure in similar ways. The specific function of the different complexes remains unclear, but many of them seem to be involved in transcriptional regulation. Although all cellular genes may not depend on chromatin remodelling for normal expression, recent data has shown that the complexes are required for both positive and negative control of a variety of cellular pathways.

Cell cycle-regulated histone acetylation required for expression of the yeast HO gene

Expression of the yeast HO gene in late G1 of the cell cycle requires the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, the Gcn5p histone acetyltransferase, and two different sequence-specific transcriptional activators, Swi5p and Swi4p/Swi6p. We have used chromatin immunoprecipitation assays to investigate the role of each of these trans-acting factors in establishing a cell cycle-regulated domain of histone acetylation surrounding the HO upstream regulatory region. We detect a approximately 1-kb domain of H3 and H4 acetylation that is established in mid-G1, prior to and independent of HO transcription, which then declines with kinetics similar to inactivation of HO. This cell cycle burst of histone acetylation requires Gcn5p, SWI/SNF, and the Swi5p activator, but occurs in the absence of the Swi4p activator. We also find that inactivation of the Sin3p/Rpd3p deacetylase complex leads to a high level of acetylation at the HO locus throughout the cell cycle. We propose a sequential model for activation of HO in which the Swi5p-dependent recruitment of the Gcn5p acetyltransferase requires chromatin remodeling events by the SWI/SNF complex.

Periodical distribution of transcription factor sites in promoter regions and connection with chromatin structure

Nucleosomes regulate transcriptional initiation when positioned in the promoter area. This may require the transcription factor (TF) sites to be correlated with the nucleosome positions and phased on the nucleosome surface. If this is the case, one would expect a periodical distribution of TF sites in the vicinity of promoters, with the nucleosomal period of 10.1-10.5 bp. We examined the distributions of putative binding sites of 323 different TFs along 1, 057 sequences of the Eukaryotic Promoter Database (release 50) [Cavin Perier, R., Junier, T. & Bucher, P. (1998) Nucleic Acids Res. 26, 353-357] and of 218 TFs on 673 sequences of the Lead Exon Database of human promoter sequences. We obtained a statistically significant overrepresentation of TF sites distributed with the main period of 10.1-10.5 bp in the region -50 to +120 around the transcription start site and in few locations nearby. Correlation of the positioning of the TF sites with the nucleosomes is further reinforced by sequence-directed mapping of the nucleosomes, a method previously developed.