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Nozawa H, Nagae F, Ogihara S, Hirano R, Yamazaki H, Iizuka R, Akatsu M, Kujirai T, Takada S, Kurumizaka H, Uemura S. Nucleosomal DNA unwinding pathway through canonical and non-canonical histone disassembly. Commun Biol 2024; 7:1144. [PMID: 39277674 PMCID: PMC11401932 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06856-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The nucleosome including H2A.B, a mammalian-specific H2A variant, plays pivotal roles in spermatogenesis, embryogenesis, and oncogenesis, indicating unique involvement in transcriptional regulation distinct from canonical H2A nucleosomes. Despite its significance, the exact regulatory mechanism remains elusive. This study utilized solid-state nanopores to investigate DNA unwinding dynamics, applying local force between DNA and histones. Comparative analysis of canonical H2A and H2A.B nucleosomes demonstrated that the H2A.B variant required a lower voltage for complete DNA unwinding. Furthermore, synchronization analysis and molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the H2A.B variant rapidly unwinds DNA, causing the H2A-H2B dimer to dissociate from DNA immediately upon disassembly of the histone octamer. In contrast, canonical H2A nucleosomes unwind DNA at a slower rate, suggesting that the H2A-H2B dimer undergoes a state of stacking at the pore. These findings suggest that nucleosomal DNA in the H2A.B nucleosomes undergoes a DNA unwinding process involving histone octamer disassembly distinct from that of canonical H2A nucleosomes, enabling smoother unwinding. The integrated approach of MD simulations and nanopore measurements is expected to evolve into a versatile tool for studying molecular interactions, not only within nucleosomes but also through the forced dissociation of DNA-protein complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikaru Nozawa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fritz Nagae
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ogihara
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Rina Hirano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirohito Yamazaki
- Top Runner Incubation Center for Academia-Industry Fusion, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan
| | - Ryo Iizuka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Munetaka Akatsu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoya Kujirai
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shoji Takada
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Kurumizaka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sotaro Uemura
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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Yin X, Zeng D, Liao Y, Tang C, Li Y. The Function of H2A Histone Variants and Their Roles in Diseases. Biomolecules 2024; 14:993. [PMID: 39199381 PMCID: PMC11352661 DOI: 10.3390/biom14080993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation, which is characterized by reversible and heritable genetic alterations without changing DNA sequences, has recently been increasingly studied in diseases. Histone variant regulation is an essential component of epigenetic regulation. The substitution of canonical histones by histone variants profoundly alters the local chromatin structure and modulates DNA accessibility to regulatory factors, thereby exerting a pivotal influence on gene regulation and DNA damage repair. Histone H2A variants, mainly including H2A.Z, H2A.B, macroH2A, and H2A.X, are the most abundant identified variants among all histone variants with the greatest sequence diversity. Harboring varied chromatin occupancy and structures, histone H2A variants perform distinct functions in gene transcription and DNA damage repair. They are implicated in multiple pathophysiological mechanisms and the emergence of different illnesses. Cancer, embryonic development abnormalities, neurological diseases, metabolic diseases, and heart diseases have all been linked to histone H2A variant alterations. This review focuses on the functions of H2A histone variants in mammals, including H2A.Z, H2A.B, macroH2A, and H2A.X, and their current roles in various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemin Yin
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China; (X.Y.); (D.Z.); (Y.L.); (C.T.)
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan Province, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Dong Zeng
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China; (X.Y.); (D.Z.); (Y.L.); (C.T.)
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan Province, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Yingjun Liao
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China; (X.Y.); (D.Z.); (Y.L.); (C.T.)
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan Province, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Chengyuan Tang
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China; (X.Y.); (D.Z.); (Y.L.); (C.T.)
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan Province, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China; (X.Y.); (D.Z.); (Y.L.); (C.T.)
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Hunan Province, Changsha 410011, China
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3
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Flores Cortes E, Saddoris SM, Owens AK, Gibeault R, Depledge DP, Schang LM. Histone H2A variant H2A.B is enriched in transcriptionally active and replicating HSV-1 lytic chromatin. J Virol 2024; 98:e0201523. [PMID: 38451083 PMCID: PMC11019955 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02015-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) transcription is restricted in latently infected neurons and the genomes are in mostly silenced chromatin, whereas all viral genes are transcribed in lytically infected cells, in which the genomes are dynamically chromatinized. Epigenetic regulation modulates HSV-1 transcription during lytic, latent, and reactivating infections but the precise mechanisms are not fully defined. Nucleosomes are dynamic: they slide, breathe, assemble, and disassemble. We and others have proposed that the most dynamic HSV-1 chromatin is transcriptionally competent, whereas the least dynamic is silenced. However, the mechanisms yielding the unusually dynamic viral chromatin remain unknown. Histone variants affect nucleosome dynamics. The dynamics of H2A, H2A.X, and macroH2A were enhanced in infected cells, whereas those of H2A.B were uniquely decreased. We constructed stably transduced cells expressing tagged histone H2A, H2A.B, macroH2A, or H2B, which assembles the H2A/H2B nucleosome dimers with all H2A variants. All H2A variants, as well as ectopic and endogenous H2B were assembled into HSV-1 chromatin evenly throughout the genome but canonical H2A was relatively depleted whereas H2A.B was enriched, particularly in the most dynamic viral chromatin. When viral transcription and DNA replication were restricted, H2A.B became as depleted from the viral chromatin through the entire genome as H2A. We propose that lytic HSV-1 nucleosomes are enriched in the dynamic variant H2A.B/H2B dimers to promote HSV-1 chromatin dynamics and transcriptional competency and conclude that the dynamics of HSV-1 chromatin are determined in part by the H2A variants. IMPORTANCE Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) transcription is epigenetically regulated during latent and lytic infections, and epigenetic inhibitors have been proposed as potential antiviral drugs to modulate latency and reactivation. However, the detailed epigenetic mechanisms of regulation of HSV-1 transcription have not been fully characterized and may differ from those regulating cellular transcription. Whereas lytic HSV-1 chromatin is unusually dynamic, latent silenced HSV-1 chromatin is not. The mechanisms resulting in the unique dynamics of the lytic chromatin remain unknown. Here we identify the enrichment of the highly dynamic histone 2A variant H2A in the most dynamic viral chromatin, which provides a mechanistic understanding of its unique dynamics. Future work to identify the mechanisms of enrichment in H2A.B on the viral chromatin may identify novel druggable epigenetic regulators that modulate HSV-1 latency and reactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban Flores Cortes
- Baker Institute for Animal Health and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Sarah M. Saddoris
- Baker Institute for Animal Health and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Arryn K. Owens
- Baker Institute for Animal Health and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Rebecca Gibeault
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Daniel P. Depledge
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany
- Excellence Cluster 2155 RESIST, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Luis M. Schang
- Baker Institute for Animal Health and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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4
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Flores E, Saddoris SM, Owens AK, Gibeault R, Depledge DP, Schang LM. Histone H2A variant H2A.B is enriched in transcriptionally active HSV-1 lytic chromatin. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.22.573075. [PMID: 38187672 PMCID: PMC10769327 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.22.573075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) transcription is restricted in latently infected neurons and the genomes are in mostly silenced chromatin, whereas all viral genes are transcribed in lytically infected cells, in which the genomes are dynamically chromatinized. Epigenetic regulation modulates HSV-1 transcription during lytic, latent, and reactivating infections, but the precise mechanisms are not fully defined. Nucleosomes are dynamic; they slide, breathe, assemble and disassemble. We and others have proposed that the most dynamic HSV-1 chromatin is transcriptionally competent whereas the least dynamic is silenced. However, the mechanisms yielding the unusually dynamic viral chromatin remain unknown. Histone variants affect nucleosome dynamics. The dynamics of H2A, H2A.X and macroH2A were enhanced in infected cells, whereas those of H2A.B uniquely decreased. We constructed stably transduced cells expressing tagged histone H2A, H2A.B, macroH2A, or H2B, which assembles the H2A/H2B nucleosome dimers with all H2A variants. All H2A variants, ectopic, and endogenous H2B, were assembled into HSV-1 chromatin evenly throughout the genome, but canonical H2A was relatively depleted from the viral chromatin whereas H2A.B was enriched in the most dynamic viral chromatin. When viral transcription was restricted, H2A.B became as depleted from the viral chromatin through the entire genome as H2A. We propose that lytic HSV-1 nucleosomes are enriched in the dynamic variant H2A.B/H2B dimers to promote HSV-1 chromatin dynamics and transcriptional competency, and conclude that the dynamics of HSV-1 chromatin are determined in part by the H2A variants. Importance HSV-1 transcription is epigenetically regulated during latent and lytic infections, and epigenetic inhibitors have been proposed as potential antiviral drugs to modulate latency and reactivation. However, the detailed mechanisms of regulation of HSV-1 transcription by epigenetics have not been fully characterized and may differ from those regulating cellular transcription. In particular, the lytic HSV-1 chromatin is unusually dynamic, whereas the latent silenced one is not, but the mechanisms resulting in the unique dynamics of the lytic chromatin remain unknown. Here we identify the enrichment on the highly dynamic histone 2A variant H2A in the most dynamic viral chromatin, which provides a mechanistic understanding for its unique dynamics. Future work to identify the mechanisms of enrichment in H2A.B on the viral chromatin may identify novel druggable epigenetic regulators that modulate HSV-1 latency and reactivation.
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5
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Karam G, Molaro A. Casting histone variants during mammalian reproduction. Chromosoma 2023:10.1007/s00412-023-00803-9. [PMID: 37347315 PMCID: PMC10356639 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-023-00803-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
During mammalian reproduction, germ cell chromatin packaging is key to prepare parental genomes for fertilization and to initiate embryonic development. While chromatin modifications such as DNA methylation and histone post-translational modifications are well known to carry regulatory information, histone variants have received less attention in this context. Histone variants alter the stability, structure and function of nucleosomes and, as such, contribute to chromatin organization in germ cells. Here, we review histone variants expression dynamics during the production of male and female germ cells, and what is currently known about their parent-of-origin effects during reproduction. Finally, we discuss the apparent conundrum behind these important functions and their recent evolutionary diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germaine Karam
- Genetics, Reproduction and Development Institute (iGReD), CNRS UMR 6293, INSERM U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Antoine Molaro
- Genetics, Reproduction and Development Institute (iGReD), CNRS UMR 6293, INSERM U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
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6
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Kohestani H, Wereszczynski J. The effects of RNA.DNA-DNA triple helices on nucleosome structures and dynamics. Biophys J 2023; 122:1229-1239. [PMID: 36798026 PMCID: PMC10111275 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are an emerging epigenetic factor and have been recognized as playing a key role in many gene expression pathways. Structurally, binding of ncRNAs to isolated DNA is strongly dependent on sequence complementary and results in the formation of an RNA.DNA-DNA (RDD) triple helix. However, in vivo DNA is not isolated but is rather packed in chromatin fibers, the fundamental unit of which is the nucleosome. Biochemical experiments have shown that ncRNA binding to nucleosomal DNA is elevated at DNA entry and exit sites and is dependent on the presence of the H3 N-terminal tails. However, the structural and dynamical bases for these mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we have examined the mechanisms and effects of RDD formation in the context of the nucleosome using a series of all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. Results highlight the importance of DNA sequence on complex stability, elucidate the effects of the H3 tails on RDD structures, show how RDD formation impacts the structure and dynamics of the H3 tails, and show how RNA alters the local and global DNA double-helical structure. Together, our results suggest ncRNAs can modify nucleosome, and potentially higher-order chromatin, structures and dynamics as a means of exerting epigenetic control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Havva Kohestani
- Department of Biology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jeff Wereszczynski
- Departments of Physics & Biology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois.
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7
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Odroniec A, Olszewska M, Kurpisz M. Epigenetic markers in the embryonal germ cell development and spermatogenesis. Basic Clin Androl 2023; 33:6. [PMID: 36814207 PMCID: PMC9948345 DOI: 10.1186/s12610-022-00179-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is the process of generation of male reproductive cells from spermatogonial stem cells in the seminiferous epithelium of the testis. During spermatogenesis, key spermatogenic events such as stem cell self-renewal and commitment to meiosis, meiotic recombination, meiotic sex chromosome inactivation, followed by cellular and chromatin remodeling of elongating spermatids occur, leading to sperm cell production. All the mentioned events are at least partially controlled by the epigenetic modifications of DNA and histones. Additionally, during embryonal development in primordial germ cells, global epigenetic reprogramming of DNA occurs. In this review, we summarized the most important epigenetic modifications in the particular stages of germ cell development, in DNA and histone proteins, starting from primordial germ cells, during embryonal development, and ending with histone-to-protamine transition during spermiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amadeusz Odroniec
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60–479 Poznan, Poland
| | - Marta Olszewska
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60–479 Poznan, Poland
| | - Maciej Kurpisz
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60–479 Poznan, Poland
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Balaji AK, Saha S, Deshpande S, Poola D, Sengupta K. Nuclear envelope, chromatin organizers, histones, and DNA: The many achilles heels exploited across cancers. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1068347. [PMID: 36589746 PMCID: PMC9800887 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1068347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, the genome is organized in the form of chromatin composed of DNA and histones that organize and regulate gene expression. The dysregulation of chromatin remodeling, including the aberrant incorporation of histone variants and their consequent post-translational modifications, is prevalent across cancers. Additionally, nuclear envelope proteins are often deregulated in cancers, which impacts the 3D organization of the genome. Altered nuclear morphology, genome organization, and gene expression are defining features of cancers. With advances in single-cell sequencing, imaging technologies, and high-end data mining approaches, we are now at the forefront of designing appropriate small molecules to selectively inhibit the growth and proliferation of cancer cells in a genome- and epigenome-specific manner. Here, we review recent advances and the emerging significance of aberrations in nuclear envelope proteins, histone variants, and oncohistones in deregulating chromatin organization and gene expression in oncogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Kundan Sengupta
- Chromosome Biology Lab (CBL), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, Maharashtra, India
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9
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H2A-H2B Histone Dimer Plasticity and Its Functional Implications. Cells 2022; 11:cells11182837. [PMID: 36139412 PMCID: PMC9496766 DOI: 10.3390/cells11182837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The protein core of the nucleosome is composed of an H3-H4 histone tetramer and two H2A-H2B histone dimers. The tetramer organizes the central 60 DNA bp, while H2A-H2B dimers lock the flanking DNA segments. Being positioned at the sides of the nucleosome, H2A-H2B dimers stabilize the overall structure of the nucleosome and modulate its dynamics, such as DNA unwrapping, sliding, etc. Such modulation at the epigenetic level is achieved through post-translational modifications and the incorporation of histone variants. However, the detailed connection between the sequence of H2A-H2B histones and their structure, dynamics and implications for nucleosome functioning remains elusive. In this work, we present a detailed study of H2A-H2B dimer dynamics in the free form and in the context of nucleosomes via atomistic molecular dynamics simulations (based on X. laevis histones). We supplement simulation results by comparative analysis of information in the structural databases. Particularly, we describe a major dynamical mode corresponding to the bending movement of the longest H2A and H2B α-helices. This overall bending dynamics of the H2A-H2B dimer were found to be modulated by its interactions with DNA, H3-H4 tetramer, the presence of DNA twist-defects with nucleosomal DNA and the amino acid sequence of histones. Taken together, our results shed new light on the dynamical mechanisms of nucleosome functioning, such as nucleosome sliding, DNA-unwrapping and their epigenetic modulation.
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10
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Ishida H, Kono H. Free Energy Landscape of H2A-H2B Displacement From Nucleosome. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167707. [PMID: 35777463 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nucleosome reconstitution plays an important role in many cellular functions. As an initial step, H2A-H2B dimer displacement, which is accompanied by disruption of many of the interactions within the nucleosome, should occur. To understand how H2A-H2B dimer displacement occurs, an adaptively biased molecular dynamics (ABMD) simulation was carried out to generate a variety of displacements of the H2A-H2B dimer from the fully wrapped to partially unwrapped nucleosome structures. With regards to these structures, the free energy landscape of the dimer displacement was investigated using umbrella sampling simulations. We found that the main contributors to the free energy were the docking domain of H2A and the C-terminal of H4. There were various paths for the dimer displacement which were dependent on the extent of nucleosomal DNA wrapping, suggesting that modulation of the intra-nucleosomal interaction by external factors such as histone chaperons could control the path for the H2A-H2B dimer displacement. Key residues which contributed to the free energy have also been reported to be involved in the mutations and posttranslational modifications (PTMs) which are important for assembling and/or reassembling the nucleosome at the molecular level and are found in cancer cells at the phenotypic level. Our results give insight into how the H2A-H2B dimer displacement proceeds along various paths according to different interactions within the nucleosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisashi Ishida
- Institute for Quantum Life Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 619-0215 Kizugawa, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Hidetoshi Kono
- Institute for Quantum Life Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 619-0215 Kizugawa, Kyoto, Japan
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11
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Herchenröther A, Wunderlich TM, Lan J, Hake SB. Spotlight on histone H2A variants: From B to X to Z. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 135:3-12. [PMID: 35365397 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Chromatin, the functional organization of DNA with histone proteins in eukaryotic nuclei, is the tightly-regulated template for several biological processes, such as transcription, replication, DNA damage repair, chromosome stability and sister chromatid segregation. In order to achieve a reversible control of local chromatin structure and DNA accessibility, various interconnected mechanisms have evolved. One of such processes includes the deposition of functionally-diverse variants of histone proteins into nucleosomes, the building blocks of chromatin. Among core histones, the family of H2A histone variants exhibits the largest number of members and highest sequence-divergence. In this short review, we report and discuss recent discoveries concerning the biological functions of the animal histone variants H2A.B, H2A.X and H2A.Z and how dysregulation or mutation of the latter impacts the development of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tim M Wunderlich
- Institute for Genetics, Justus Liebig University, 35390 Giessen, Germany
| | - Jie Lan
- Institute for Genetics, Justus Liebig University, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Sandra B Hake
- Institute for Genetics, Justus Liebig University, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
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