Nucleosome mapping

BLISTER promotes seed maturation and fatty acid biosynthesis by interacting with WRINKLED1 to regulate chromatin dynamics in Arabidopsis

WRINKLED1 (WRI1) is an important transcription factor that regulates seed oil biosynthesis. However, how WRI1 regulates gene expression during this process remains poorly understood. Here, we found that BLISTER (BLI) is expressed in maturing Arabidopsis thaliana seeds and acts as an interacting partner of WRI1. bli mutant seeds showed delayed maturation, a wrinkled seed phenotype, and reduced oil content, similar to the phenotypes of wri1. In contrast, BLI overexpression resulted in enlarged seeds and increased oil content. Gene expression and genetic analyses revealed that BLI plays a role in promoting the expression of WRI1 targets involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and regulates seed maturation together with WRI1. BLI is recruited by WRI1 to the AW boxes in the promoters of fatty acid biosynthesis genes. BLI shows a mutually exclusive interaction with the Polycomb-group protein CURLY LEAF (CLF) or the chromatin remodeling factor SWITCH/SUCROSE NONFERMENTING 3B (SWI3B), which facilitates gene expression by modifying nucleosomal occupancy and histone modifications. Together, these data suggest that BLI promotes the expression of fatty acid biosynthesis genes by interacting with WRI1 to regulate chromatin dynamics, leading to increased fatty acid production. These findings provide insights into the roles of the WRI1-BLI-CLF-SWI3B module in mediating seed maturation and gene expression.

LEAFY is a pioneer transcription factor and licenses cell reprogramming to floral fate

Master transcription factors reprogram cell fate in multicellular eukaryotes. Pioneer transcription factors have prominent roles in this process because of their ability to contact their cognate binding motifs in closed chromatin. Reprogramming is pervasive in plants, whose development is plastic and tuned by the environment, yet little is known about pioneer transcription factors in this kingdom. Here, we show that the master transcription factor LEAFY (LFY), which promotes floral fate through upregulation of the floral commitment factor APETALA1 (AP1), is a pioneer transcription factor. In vitro, LFY binds to the endogenous AP1 target locus DNA assembled into a nucleosome. In vivo, LFY associates with nucleosome occupied binding sites at the majority of its target loci, including AP1. Upon binding, LFY 'unlocks' chromatin locally by displacing the H1 linker histone and by recruiting SWI/SNF chromatin remodelers, but broad changes in chromatin accessibility occur later. Our study provides a mechanistic framework for patterning of inflorescence architecture and uncovers striking similarities between LFY and animal pioneer transcription factor.

Auxin-regulated chromatin switch directs acquisition of flower primordium founder fate

Reprogramming of cell identities during development frequently requires changes in the chromatin state that need to be restricted to the correct cell populations. Here we identify an auxin hormone-regulated chromatin state switch that directs reprogramming from transit amplifying to primordium founder cell fate in Arabidopsis inflorescences. Upon auxin sensing, the MONOPTEROS transcription factor recruits SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling ATPases to increase accessibility of the DNA for induction of key regulators of flower primordium initiation. In the absence of the hormonal cue, auxin sensitive Aux/IAA proteins bound to MONOPTEROS block recruitment of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling ATPases in addition to recruiting a co-repressor/histone deacetylase complex. This simple and elegant hormone-mediated chromatin state switch is ideally suited for iterative flower primordium initiation and orchestrates additional auxin-regulated cell fate transitions. Our findings establish a new paradigm for nuclear response to auxin. They also provide an explanation for how this small molecule can direct diverse plant responses.

BRG1 Governs Nanog Transcription in Early Mouse Embryos and Embryonic Stem Cells via Antagonism of Histone H3 Lysine 9/14 Acetylation

During mouse preimplantation development, the generation of the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophoblast lineages comprises upregulation of Nanog expression in the ICM and its silencing in the trophoblast. However, the underlying epigenetic mechanisms that differentially regulate Nanog in the first cell lineages are poorly understood. Here, we report that BRG1 (Brahma-related gene 1) cooperates with histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) to regulate Nanog expression. BRG1 depletion in preimplantation embryos and Cdx2-inducible embryonic stem cells (ESCs) revealed that BRG1 is necessary for Nanog silencing in the trophoblast lineage. Conversely, in undifferentiated ESCs, loss of BRG1 augmented Nanog expression. Analysis of histone H3 within the Nanog proximal enhancer revealed that H3 lysine 9/14 (H3K9/14) acetylation increased in BRG1-depleted embryos and ESCs. Biochemical studies demonstrated that HDAC1 was present in BRG1-BAF155 complexes and BRG1-HDAC1 interactions were enriched in the trophoblast lineage. HDAC1 inhibition triggered an increase in H3K9/14 acetylation and a corresponding rise in Nanog mRNA and protein, phenocopying BRG1 knockdown embryos and ESCs. Lastly, nucleosome-mapping experiments revealed that BRG1 is indispensable for nucleosome remodeling at the Nanog enhancer during trophoblast development. In summary, our data suggest that BRG1 governs Nanog expression via a dual mechanism involving histone deacetylation and nucleosome remodeling.

Chromodomain, Helicase and DNA-binding CHD1 protein, CHR5, are involved in establishing active chromatin state of seed maturation genes

Chromatin modification and remodelling are the basis for epigenetic regulation of gene expression. LEAFY COTYLEDON 1 (LEC1), LEAFY COTYLEDON 2 (LEC2), ABSCISIC ACID-INSENSITIVE 3 (ABI3) and FUSCA3 (FUS3) are key regulators of embryo development and are repressed after seed maturation. The chromatin remodelling CHD3 protein PICKLE (PKL) is involved in the epigenetic silencing of the genes. However, the chromatin mechanism that establishes the active state of these genes during early embryo development is not clear. We show that the Arabidopsis CHD1-related gene, CHR5, is activated during embryo development. Mutation of the gene reduced expression of LEC1, ABI3 and FUS3 in developing embryo and accumulation of seed storage proteins. Analysis of double mutants revealed an antagonistic function between CHR5 and PKL in embryo gene expression and seed storage protein accumulation, which likely acted on the promoter region of the genes. CHR5 was shown to be associated with the promoters of ABI3 and FUS3 and to be required to reduce nucleosome occupancy near the transcriptional start site. The results suggest that CHR5 is involved in establishing the active state of embryo regulatory genes by reducing nucleosomal barrier, which may be exploited to enhance seed protein production.

The SWI2/SNF2 chromatin remodeling ATPase BRAHMA represses abscisic acid responses in the absence of the stress stimulus in Arabidopsis

The survival of plants as sessile organisms depends on their ability to cope with environmental challenges. Of key importance in this regard is the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA). ABA not only promotes seed dormancy but also triggers growth arrest in postgermination embryos that encounter water stress. This is accompanied by increased desiccation tolerance. Postgermination ABA responses in Arabidopsis thaliana are mediated in large part by the ABA-induced basic domain/leucine zipper transcription factor ABA INSENSITIVE5 (ABI5). Here, we show that loss of function of the SWI2/SNF2 chromatin remodeling ATPase BRAHMA (BRM) causes ABA hypersensitivity during postgermination growth arrest. ABI5 expression was derepressed in brm mutants in the absence of exogenous ABA and accumulated to high levels upon ABA sensing. This effect was likely direct; chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed BRM binding to the ABI5 locus. Moreover, loss of BRM activity led to destabilization of a nucleosome likely to repress ABI5 transcription. Finally, the abi5 null mutant was epistatic to BRM in postgermination growth arrest. In addition, vegetative growth defects typical of brm mutants in the absence of ABA treatment could be partially overcome by reduction of ABA responses, and brm mutants displayed increased drought tolerance. We propose a role for BRM in the balance between growth or stress responses.

Decrease of p400 ATPase complex and loss of H2A.Z within the p21 promoter occur in senescent IMR-90 human fibroblasts

Replicative senescence in human diploid fibroblasts is characterised by an exhaustion of proliferative potential and permanent cell cycle arrest. During senescence, telomere shortening-generated DNA damage activates p53 pathway that upregulates cell cycle inhibitors, such as p21. Human p400 ATPase is a chromatin remodeller that plays a key role in the deposition of the histone variant, H2A.Z within the p21 promoter, repressing p21 gene expression. Decline of p400 ATPase in senescent IMR-90 cells prompted us to investigate structural changes in the chromatin of the p21 promoter during in vitro aging. Whereas doxorubicin treatment in early-passaged cells results in nucleosome density changes near the p53 binding sites of the p21 promoter, our studies show that senescent cells with a high p21 transcription activity had a comparable nucleosome distribution as unstressed young cells. However, H2A.Z that is highly enriched within the p21 promoter of young cells is depleted in senescent cells, suggesting that downregulation of p400 and loss of H2A.Z localisation play roles in relieving p21 gene repression in senescent IMR-90 cells. Taken together, our results indicate that age-dependent p400 downregulation and loss of H2A.Z localisation may contribute to the onset of replicative senescence through a sustained high rate of p21 transcription.

Histone H2A.Z controls a critical chromatin remodeling step required for DNA double-strand break repair

Chromatin remodeling during DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair is required to facilitate access to and repair of DSBs. This remodeling requires increased acetylation of histones and a shift in nucleosome organization to create open, relaxed chromatin domains. However, the underlying mechanism driving changes in nucleosome structure at DSBs is poorly defined. Here, we demonstrate that histone H2A.Z is exchanged onto nucleosomes at DSBs by the p400 remodeling ATPase. H2A.Z exchange at DSBs shifts the chromatin to an open conformation and is required for acetylation and ubiquitination of histones and for loading of the brca1 complex. H2A.Z exchange also restricts single-stranded DNA production by nucleases and is required for loading of the Ku70/Ku80 DSB repair protein. H2A.Z exchange therefore promotes specific patterns of histone modification and reorganization of the chromatin architecture, leading to the assembly of a chromatin template that is an efficient substrate for the DSB repair machinery.

The unique transcriptional activation domain of nuclear factor-I-X3 is critical to specifically induce marker gene expression in astrocytes

Transcription factors of the nuclear factor 1 (NFI) family regulate normal brain development in vertebrates. However, multiple splice variants of four NFI isoforms exist, and their biological functions have yet to be elucidated. Here, we cloned and analyzed human NFI-X3, a novel splice variant of the nfix gene, which contains a unique transcriptional activation (TA) domain completely conserved in primates. In contrast to previously cloned NFI-X1, overexpression of NFI-X3 potently activates NFI reporters, including glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) reporter, in astrocytes and glioma cells. The GAL4 fusion protein containing the TA domain of NFI-X3 strongly activates the GAL4 reporter, whereas the TA domain of NFI-X1 is ineffective. The expression of NFI-X3 is dramatically up-regulated during the differentiation of neural progenitors to astrocytes and precedes the expression of astrocyte markers, such as GFAP and SPARCL1 (Secreted Protein, Acidic and Rich in Cysteines-like 1). Overexpression of NFI-X3 dramatically up-regulates GFAP and SPARCL1 expression in glioma cells, whereas the knockdown of NFI-X3 diminishes the expression of both GFAP and SPARCL1 in astrocytes. Although activation of astrocyte-specific genes involves DNA demethylation and subsequent increase of histone acetylation, NFI-X3 activates GFAP expression, in part, by inducing alterations in the nucleosome architecture that lead to the increased recruitment of RNA polymerase II.