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Hong Y, Ye F, Qian J, Gao X, Inman JT, Wang MD. Optical torque calculations and measurements for DNA torsional studies. Biophys J 2024; 123:3080-3089. [PMID: 38961622 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.07.005] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The angular optical trap (AOT) is a powerful instrument for measuring the torsional and rotational properties of a biological molecule. Thus far, AOT studies of DNA torsional mechanics have been carried out using a high numerical aperture oil-immersion objective, which permits strong trapping but inevitably introduces spherical aberrations due to the glass-aqueous interface. However, the impact of these aberrations on torque measurements is not fully understood experimentally, partly due to a lack of theoretical guidance. Here, we present a numerical platform based on the finite element method to calculate forces and torques on a trapped quartz cylinder. We have also developed a new experimental method to accurately determine the shift in the trapping position due to the spherical aberrations by using a DNA molecule as a distance ruler. We found that the calculated and measured focal shift ratios are in good agreement. We further determined how the angular trap stiffness depends on the trap height and the cylinder displacement from the trap center and found full agreement between predictions and measurements. As a further verification of the methodology, we showed that DNA torsional properties, which are intrinsic to DNA, could be determined robustly under different trap heights and cylinder displacements. Thus, this work has laid both a theoretical and experimental framework that can be readily extended to investigate the trapping forces and torques exerted on particles with arbitrary shapes and optical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifeng Hong
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Fan Ye
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; Department of Physics & LASSP, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Jin Qian
- Department of Physics & LASSP, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Xiang Gao
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; Department of Physics & LASSP, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - James T Inman
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; Department of Physics & LASSP, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Michelle D Wang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; Department of Physics & LASSP, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
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2
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Lin YY, Müller P, Karagianni E, Hepp N, Mueller-Planitz F, Vanderlinden W, Lipfert J. Epigenetic Histone Modifications H3K36me3 and H4K5/8/12/16ac Induce Open Polynucleosome Conformations via Different Mechanisms. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168671. [PMID: 38908785 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Nucleosomes are the basic compaction unit of chromatin and nucleosome structure and their higher-order assemblies regulate genome accessibility. Many post-translational modifications alter nucleosome dynamics, nucleosome-nucleosome interactions, and ultimately chromatin structure and gene expression. Here, we investigate the role of two post-translational modifications associated with actively transcribed regions, H3K36me3 and H4K5/8/12/16ac, in the contexts of tri-nucleosome arrays that provide a tractable model system for quantitative single-molecule analysis, while enabling us to probe nucleosome-nucleosome interactions. Direct visualization by AFM imaging reveals that H3K36me3 and H4K5/8/12/16ac nucleosomes adopt significantly more open and loose conformations than unmodified nucleosomes. Similarly, magnetic tweezers force spectroscopy shows a reduction in DNA outer turn wrapping and nucleosome-nucleosome interactions for the modified nucleosomes. The results suggest that for H3K36me3 the increased breathing and outer DNA turn unwrapping seen in mononucleosomes propagates to more open conformations in nucleosome arrays. In contrast, the even more open structures of H4K5/8/12/16ac nucleosome arrays do not appear to derive from the dynamics of the constituent mononucleosomes, but are driven by reduced nucleosome-nucleosome interactions, suggesting that stacking interactions can overrule DNA breathing of individual nucleosomes. We anticipate that our methodology will be broadly applicable to reveal the influence of other post-translational modifications and to observe the activity of nucleosome remodelers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Yun Lin
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, Amaliensstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany; Soft Condensed Matter and Biophysics, Department of Physics and Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Peter Müller
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, Amaliensstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany; Soft Condensed Matter and Biophysics, Department of Physics and Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Evdoxia Karagianni
- Soft Condensed Matter and Biophysics, Department of Physics and Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Nicola Hepp
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Current address: Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Felix Mueller-Planitz
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Willem Vanderlinden
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, Amaliensstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany; Soft Condensed Matter and Biophysics, Department of Physics and Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, the Netherlands; School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburg, James Clerk Maxwell Building, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, United Kingdom.
| | - Jan Lipfert
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, Amaliensstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany; Soft Condensed Matter and Biophysics, Department of Physics and Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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3
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Onoa B, Díaz-Celis C, Cañari-Chumpitaz C, Lee A, Bustamante C. Real-Time Multistep Asymmetrical Disassembly of Nucleosomes and Chromatosomes Visualized by High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2024; 10:122-137. [PMID: 38292612 PMCID: PMC10823521 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c00735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
During replication, expression, and repair of the eukaryotic genome, cellular machinery must access the DNA wrapped around histone proteins forming nucleosomes. These octameric protein·DNA complexes are modular, dynamic, and flexible and unwrap or disassemble either spontaneously or by the action of molecular motors. Thus, the mechanism of formation and regulation of subnucleosomal intermediates has gained attention genome-wide because it controls DNA accessibility. Here, we imaged nucleosomes and their more compacted structure with the linker histone H1 (chromatosomes) using high-speed atomic force microscopy to visualize simultaneously the changes in the DNA and the histone core during their disassembly when deposited on mica. Furthermore, we trained a neural network and developed an automatic algorithm to track molecular structural changes in real time. Our results show that nucleosome disassembly is a sequential process involving asymmetrical stepwise dimer ejection events. The presence of H1 restricts DNA unwrapping, significantly increases the nucleosomal lifetime, and affects the pathway in which heterodimer asymmetrical dissociation occurs. We observe that tetrasomes are resilient to disassembly and that the tetramer core (H3·H4)2 can diffuse along the nucleosome positioning sequence. Tetrasome mobility might be critical to the proper assembly of nucleosomes and can be relevant during nucleosomal transcription, as tetrasomes survive RNA polymerase passage. These findings are relevant to understanding nucleosome intrinsic dynamics and their modification by DNA-processing enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibiana Onoa
- Jason
L. Choy Laboratory of Single-Molecule Biophysics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, University of
California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- California
Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, QB3, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - César Díaz-Celis
- Jason
L. Choy Laboratory of Single-Molecule Biophysics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, University of
California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- California
Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, QB3, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Cristhian Cañari-Chumpitaz
- Jason
L. Choy Laboratory of Single-Molecule Biophysics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, University of
California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- California
Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, QB3, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Antony Lee
- Laboratoire
Photonique Numérique et Nanosciences, LP2N UMR 5298, Université de Bordeaux, Institut d’Optique,
CNRS, F-33400 Talence, France
| | - Carlos Bustamante
- Jason
L. Choy Laboratory of Single-Molecule Biophysics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, University of
California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- California
Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, QB3, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Kavli
Energy Nanoscience Institute, University
of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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4
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Musselman CA, Kutateladze TG. Visualizing Conformational Ensembles of the Nucleosome by NMR. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:495-502. [PMID: 35196453 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The formation of chromatin not only compacts the eukaryotic genome into the nucleus but also provides a mechanism for the regulation of all DNA templated processes. Spatial and temporal modulation of the chromatin structure is critical in such regulation and involves fine-tuned functioning of the basic subunit of chromatin, the nucleosome. It has become apparent that the nucleosome is an inherently dynamic system, but characterization of these dynamics at the atomic level has remained challenging. NMR spectroscopy is a powerful tool for investigating the conformational ensemble and dynamics of proteins and protein complexes, and recent advances have made the study of large systems possible. Here, we review recent studies which utilize NMR spectroscopy to uncover the atomic level conformation and dynamics of the nucleosome and provide a better understanding of the importance of these dynamics in key regulatory events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A. Musselman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Tatiana G. Kutateladze
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
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5
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Abstract
A statistical method is developed to estimate the maximum amplitude of the base pair fluctuations in a three dimensional mesoscopic model for nucleic acids. The base pair thermal vibrations around the helix diameter are viewed as a Brownian motion for a particle embedded in a stable helical structure. The probability to return to the initial position is computed, as a function of time, by integrating over the particle paths consistent with the physical properties of the model potential. The zero time condition for the first-passage probability defines the constraint to select the integral cutoff for various macroscopic helical conformations, obtained by tuning the twist, bending, and slide motion between adjacent base pairs along the molecule stack. Applying the method to a short homogeneous chain at room temperature, we obtain meaningful estimates for the maximum fluctuations in the twist conformation with ∼10.5 base pairs per helix turn, typical of double stranded DNA helices. Untwisting the double helix, the base pair fluctuations broaden and the integral cutoff increases. The cutoff is found to increase also in the presence of a sliding motion, which shortens the helix contour length, a situation peculiar of dsRNA molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Zoli
- School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, I-62032 Camerino, Italy
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6
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Qian J, Xu W, Dunlap D, Finzi L. Single-molecule insights into torsion and roadblocks in bacterial transcript elongation. Transcription 2021; 12:219-231. [PMID: 34719335 PMCID: PMC8632135 DOI: 10.1080/21541264.2021.1997315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During transcription, RNA polymerase (RNAP) translocates along the helical template DNA while maintaining high transcriptional fidelity. However, all genomes are dynamically twisted, writhed, and decorated by bound proteins and motor enzymes. In prokaryotes, proteins bound to DNA, specifically or not, frequently compact DNA into conformations that may silence genes by obstructing RNAP. Collision of RNAPs with these architectural proteins, may result in RNAP stalling and/or displacement of the protein roadblock. It is important to understand how rapidly transcribing RNAPs operate under different levels of supercoiling or in the presence of roadblocks. Given the broad range of asynchronous dynamics exhibited by transcriptional complexes, single-molecule assays, such as atomic force microscopy, fluorescence detection, optical and magnetic tweezers, etc. are well suited for detecting and quantifying activity with adequate spatial and temporal resolution. Here, we summarize current understanding of the effects of torsion and roadblocks on prokaryotic transcription, with a focus on single-molecule assays that provide real-time detection and readout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Qian
- Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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7
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Chanou A, Hamperl S. Single-Molecule Techniques to Study Chromatin. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:699771. [PMID: 34291054 PMCID: PMC8287188 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.699771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Besides the basic organization in nucleosome core particles (NCPs), eukaryotic chromatin is further packed through interactions with numerous protein complexes including transcription factors, chromatin remodeling and modifying enzymes. This nucleoprotein complex provides the template for many important biological processes, such as DNA replication, transcription, and DNA repair. Thus, to understand the molecular basis of these DNA transactions, it is critical to define individual changes of the chromatin structure at precise genomic regions where these machineries assemble and drive biological reactions. Single-molecule approaches provide the only possible solution to overcome the heterogenous nature of chromatin and monitor the behavior of individual chromatin transactions in real-time. In this review, we will give an overview of currently available single-molecule methods to obtain mechanistic insights into nucleosome positioning, histone modifications and DNA replication and transcription analysis-previously unattainable with population-based assays.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephan Hamperl
- Chromosome Dynamics and Genome Stability, Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
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8
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Spakman D, King GA, Peterman EJG, Wuite GJL. Constructing arrays of nucleosome positioning sequences using Gibson Assembly for single-molecule studies. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9903. [PMID: 32555215 PMCID: PMC7303147 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66259-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
As the basic building blocks of chromatin, nucleosomes play a key role in dictating the accessibility of the eukaryotic genome. Consequently, nucleosomes are involved in essential genomic transactions such as DNA transcription, replication and repair. In order to unravel the mechanisms by which nucleosomes can influence, or be altered by, DNA-binding proteins, single-molecule techniques are increasingly employed. To this end, DNA molecules containing a defined series of nucleosome positioning sequences are often used to reconstitute arrays of nucleosomes in vitro. Here, we describe a novel method to prepare DNA molecules containing defined arrays of the ‘601’ nucleosome positioning sequence by exploiting Gibson Assembly cloning. The approaches presented here provide a more accessible and efficient means to generate arrays of nucleosome positioning motifs, and facilitate a high degree of control over the linker sequences between these motifs. Nucleosomes reconstituted on such arrays are ideal for interrogation with single-molecule techniques. To demonstrate this, we use dual-trap optical tweezers, in combination with fluorescence microscopy, to monitor nucleosome unwrapping and histone localisation as a function of tension. We reveal that, although nucleosomes unwrap at ~20 pN, histones (at least histone H3) remain bound to the DNA, even at tensions beyond 60 pN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian Spakman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, and LaserLaB Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Graeme A King
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, and LaserLaB Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. .,Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - Erwin J G Peterman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, and LaserLaB Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Gijs J L Wuite
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, and LaserLaB Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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9
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Mohapatra S, Lin CT, Feng XA, Basu A, Ha T. Single-Molecule Analysis and Engineering of DNA Motors. Chem Rev 2019; 120:36-78. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Taekjip Ha
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
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10
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Abstract
We review the current understanding of the mechanics of DNA and DNA-protein complexes, from scales of base pairs up to whole chromosomes. Mechanics of the double helix as revealed by single-molecule experiments will be described, with an emphasis on the role of polymer statistical mechanics. We will then discuss how topological constraints- entanglement and supercoiling-impact physical and mechanical responses. Models for protein-DNA interactions, including effects on polymer properties of DNA of DNA-bending proteins will be described, relevant to behavior of protein-DNA complexes in vivo. We also discuss control of DNA entanglement topology by DNA-lengthwise-compaction machinery acting in concert with topoisomerases. Finally, the chapter will conclude with a discussion of relevance of several aspects of physical properties of DNA and chromatin to oncology.
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11
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Parsons T, Zhang B. Critical role of histone tail entropy in nucleosome unwinding. J Chem Phys 2019; 150:185103. [PMID: 31091895 DOI: 10.1063/1.5085663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The nucleosome is the fundamental packaging unit for the genome. It must remain tightly wound to ensure genome stability while simultaneously being flexible enough to keep the DNA molecule accessible for genome function. The set of physicochemical interactions responsible for the delicate balance between these naturally opposed processes have not been determined due to challenges in resolving partially unwound nucleosome configurations at atomic resolution. Using a near atomistic protein-DNA model and advanced sampling techniques, we calculate the free energy cost of nucleosome DNA unwinding. Our simulations identify a large energetic barrier that decouples the outer and the inner DNA unwinding into two separate processes, occurring on different time scales. This dynamical decoupling allows the exposure of outer DNA at a modest cost to ensure accessibility while keeping the inner DNA and the histone core intact to maintain stability. We also reveal that this energetic barrier arises from a delayed loss of contacts between disordered histone tails and the DNA and is, surprisingly, largely offset by an entropic contribution from these tails. Implications of this enthalpy entropy compensation for the regulation of nucleosome stability and genome function are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Parsons
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA
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12
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Sanbonmatsu KY. Large-scale simulations of nucleoprotein complexes: ribosomes, nucleosomes, chromatin, chromosomes and CRISPR. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2019; 55:104-113. [PMID: 31125796 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in biotechnology such as Hi-C, CRISPR/Cas9 and ribosome display have placed nucleoprotein complexes at center stage. Understanding the structural dynamics of these complexes aids in optimizing protocols and interpreting data for these new technologies. The integration of simulation and experiment has helped advance mechanistic understanding of these systems. Coarse-grained simulations, reduced-description models, and explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations yield useful complementary perspectives on nucleoprotein complex structural dynamics. When combined with Hi-C, cryo-EM, and single molecule measurements, these simulations integrate disparate forms of experimental data into a coherent mechanism.
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13
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Zoli M. End-to-end distance and contour length distribution functions of DNA helices. J Chem Phys 2018; 148:214902. [DOI: 10.1063/1.5021639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Zoli
- School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, I-62032 Camerino, Italy
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14
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Chromosome Intermingling: Mechanical Hotspots for Genome Regulation. Trends Cell Biol 2017; 27:810-819. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2017.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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15
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Rudnizky S, Malik O, Bavly A, Pnueli L, Melamed P, Kaplan A. Nucleosome mobility and the regulation of gene expression: Insights from single-molecule studies. Protein Sci 2017; 26:1266-1277. [PMID: 28329910 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Revised: 03/11/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Nucleosomes at the promoters of genes regulate the accessibility of the transcription machinery to DNA, and function as a basic layer in the complex regulation of gene expression. Our understanding of the role of the nucleosome's spontaneous, thermally driven position changes in modulating expression is lacking. This is the result of the paucity of experimental data on these dynamics, at high-resolution, and for DNA sequences that belong to real, transcribed genes. We have developed an assay that uses partial, reversible unzipping of nucleosomes with optical tweezers to repeatedly probe a nucleosome's position over time. Using the nucleosomes at the promoters of two model genes, Cga and Lhb, we show that the mobility of nucleosomes is modulated by the sequence of DNA and by the use of alternative histone variants, and describe how the mobility can affect transcription, at the initiation and elongation phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergei Rudnizky
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel
| | - Omri Malik
- Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel
| | - Adaiah Bavly
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel
| | - Lilach Pnueli
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel
| | - Philippa Melamed
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel.,Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel
| | - Ariel Kaplan
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel.,Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel
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16
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CENP-A and H3 Nucleosomes Display a Similar Stability to Force-Mediated Disassembly. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0165078. [PMID: 27820823 PMCID: PMC5098787 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Centromere-specific nucleosomes are a central feature of the kinetochore complex during mitosis, in which microtubules exert pulling and pushing forces upon the centromere. CENP-A nucleosomes have been assumed to be structurally unique, thereby providing resilience under tension relative to their H3 canonical counterparts. Here, we directly test this hypothesis by subjecting CENP-A and H3 octameric nucleosomes, assembled on random or on centromeric DNA sequences, to varying amounts of applied force by using single-molecule magnetic tweezers. We monitor individual disassembly events of CENP-A and H3 nucleosomes. Regardless of the DNA sequence, the force-mediated disassembly experiments for CENP-A and H3 nucleosomes demonstrate similar rupture forces, life time residency and disassembly steps. From these experiments, we conclude that CENP-A does not, by itself, contribute unique structural features to the nucleosome that lead to a significant resistance against force-mediated disruption. The data present insights into the mechanistic basis for how CENP-A nucleosomes might contribute to the structural foundation of the centromere in vivo.
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17
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Brennan LD, Forties RA, Patel SS, Wang MD. DNA looping mediates nucleosome transfer. Nat Commun 2016; 7:13337. [PMID: 27808093 PMCID: PMC5097161 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Proper cell function requires preservation of the spatial organization of chromatin modifications. Maintenance of this epigenetic landscape necessitates the transfer of parental nucleosomes to newly replicated DNA, a process that is stringently regulated and intrinsically linked to replication fork dynamics. This creates a formidable setting from which to isolate the central mechanism of transfer. Here we utilized a minimal experimental system to track the fate of a single nucleosome following its displacement, and examined whether DNA mechanics itself, in the absence of any chaperones or assembly factors, may serve as a platform for the transfer process. We found that the nucleosome is passively transferred to available dsDNA as predicted by a simple physical model of DNA loop formation. These results demonstrate a fundamental role for DNA mechanics in mediating nucleosome transfer and preserving epigenetic integrity during replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy D Brennan
- Department of Physics-Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Robert A Forties
- Department of Physics-Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Smita S Patel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Michelle D Wang
- Department of Physics-Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
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18
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Ordu O, Lusser A, Dekker NH. Recent insights from in vitro single-molecule studies into nucleosome structure and dynamics. Biophys Rev 2016; 8:33-49. [PMID: 28058066 PMCID: PMC5167136 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-016-0212-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic DNA is tightly packed into a hierarchically ordered structure called chromatin in order to fit into the micron-scaled nucleus. The basic unit of chromatin is the nucleosome, which consists of a short piece of DNA wrapped around a core of eight histone proteins. In addition to their role in packaging DNA, nucleosomes impact the regulation of essential nuclear processes such as replication, transcription, and repair by controlling the accessibility of DNA. Thus, knowledge of this fundamental DNA-protein complex is crucial for understanding the mechanisms of gene control. While structural and biochemical studies over the past few decades have provided key insights into both the molecular composition and functional aspects of nucleosomes, these approaches necessarily average over large populations and times. In contrast, single-molecule methods are capable of revealing features of subpopulations and dynamic changes in the structure or function of biomolecules, rendering them a powerful complementary tool for probing mechanistic aspects of DNA-protein interactions. In this review, we highlight how these single-molecule approaches have recently yielded new insights into nucleosomal and subnucleosomal structures and dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orkide Ordu
- Bionanoscience Department, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience,, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9,, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Alexandra Lusser
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nynke H. Dekker
- Bionanoscience Department, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience,, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9,, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
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19
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Rudnizky S, Bavly A, Malik O, Pnueli L, Melamed P, Kaplan A. H2A.Z controls the stability and mobility of nucleosomes to regulate expression of the LH genes. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12958. [PMID: 27653784 PMCID: PMC5036153 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The structure and dynamics of promoter chromatin have a profound effect on the expression levels of genes. Yet, the contribution of DNA sequence, histone post-translational modifications, histone variant usage and other factors in shaping the architecture of chromatin, and the mechanisms by which this architecture modulates expression of specific genes are not yet completely understood. Here we use optical tweezers to study the roles that DNA sequence and the histone variant H2A.Z have in shaping the chromatin landscape at the promoters of two model genes, Cga and Lhb. Guided by MNase mapping of the promoters of these genes, we reconstitute nucleosomes that mimic those located near the transcriptional start site and immediately downstream (+1), and measure the forces required to disrupt these nucleosomes, and their mobility along the DNA sequence. Our results indicate that these genes are basally regulated by two distinct strategies, making use of H2A.Z to modulate separate phases of transcription, and highlight how DNA sequence, alternative histone variants and remodelling machinery act synergistically to modulate gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergei Rudnizky
- Faculty of Biology, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Adaiah Bavly
- Faculty of Biology, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Omri Malik
- Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Lilach Pnueli
- Faculty of Biology, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Philippa Melamed
- Faculty of Biology, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
- Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Ariel Kaplan
- Faculty of Biology, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
- Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
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20
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel M. Müller
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University,
Frick Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Tom W. Muir
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University,
Frick Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
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21
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22
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Abstract
The function of DNA in cells depends on its interactions with protein molecules, which recognize and act on base sequence patterns along the double helix. These notes aim to introduce basic polymer physics of DNA molecules, biophysics of protein-DNA interactions and their study in single-DNA experiments, and some aspects of large-scale chromosome structure. Mechanisms for control of chromosome topology will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F Marko
- Department of Physics & Astronomy and Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois USA 60208
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23
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Abstract
A cell can be thought of as a highly sophisticated micro factory: in a pool of billions of molecules - metabolites, structural proteins, enzymes, oligonucleotides - multi-subunit complexes assemble to perform a large number of basic cellular tasks, such as DNA replication, RNA/protein synthesis or intracellular transport. By purifying single components and using them to reconstitute molecular processes in a test tube, researchers have gathered crucial knowledge about mechanistic, dynamic and structural properties of biochemical pathways. However, to sort this information into an accurate cellular road map, we need to understand reactions in their relevant context within the cellular hierarchy, which is at the individual molecule level within a crowded, cellular environment. Reactions occur in a stochastic fashion, have short-lived and not necessarily well-defined intermediates, and dynamically form functional entities. With the use of single-molecule techniques these steps can be followed and detailed kinetic information that otherwise would be hidden in ensemble averaging can be obtained. One of the first complex cellular tasks that have been studied at the single-molecule level is the replication of DNA. The replisome, the multi-protein machinery responsible for copying DNA, is built from a large number of proteins that function together in an intricate and efficient fashion allowing the complex to tolerate DNA damage, roadblocks or fluctuations in subunit concentration. In this review, we summarize advances in single-molecule studies, both in vitro and in vivo, that have contributed to our current knowledge of the mechanistic principles underlying DNA replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Stratmann
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, Centre for Synthetic Biology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
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24
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Rutkauskas D, Petkelyte M, Naujalis P, Sasnauskas G, Tamulaitis G, Zaremba M, Siksnys V. Restriction Enzyme Ecl18kI-Induced DNA Looping Dynamics by Single-Molecule FRET. J Phys Chem B 2014; 118:8575-82. [DOI: 10.1021/jp504546v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Danielis Rutkauskas
- Institute
of Physics, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Savanoriu
231, LT-02300, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Milda Petkelyte
- Institute
of Physics, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Savanoriu
231, LT-02300, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Paulius Naujalis
- Institute
of Physics, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Savanoriu
231, LT-02300, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Giedrius Sasnauskas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius University, Graiciuno 8, LT-02241, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Gintautas Tamulaitis
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius University, Graiciuno 8, LT-02241, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Mindaugas Zaremba
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius University, Graiciuno 8, LT-02241, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Virginijus Siksnys
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius University, Graiciuno 8, LT-02241, Vilnius, Lithuania
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25
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Chen Y, Tokuda JM, Topping T, Sutton JL, Meisburger SP, Pabit SA, Gloss LM, Pollack L. Revealing transient structures of nucleosomes as DNA unwinds. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:8767-76. [PMID: 24990379 PMCID: PMC4117781 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The modulation of DNA accessibility by nucleosomes is a fundamental mechanism of gene regulation in eukaryotes. The nucleosome core particle (NCP) consists of 147 bp of DNA wrapped around a symmetric octamer of histone proteins. The dynamics of DNA packaging and unpackaging from the NCP affect all DNA-based chemistries, but depend on many factors, including DNA positioning sequence, histone variants and modifications. Although the structure of the intact NCP has been studied by crystallography at atomic resolution, little is known about the structures of the partially unwrapped, transient intermediates relevant to nucleosome dynamics in processes such as transcription, DNA replication and repair. We apply a new experimental approach combining contrast variation with time-resolved small angle X-ray scattering (TR-SAXS) to determine transient structures of protein and DNA constituents of NCPs during salt-induced disassembly. We measure the structures of unwrapping DNA and monitor protein dissociation from Xenopus laevis histones reconstituted with two model NCP positioning constructs: the Widom 601 sequence and the sea urchin 5S ribosomal gene. Both constructs reveal asymmetric release of DNA from disrupted histone cores, but display different patterns of protein dissociation. These kinetic intermediates may be biologically important substrates for gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Chen
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Joshua M Tokuda
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Traci Topping
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Julie L Sutton
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Steve P Meisburger
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Suzette A Pabit
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Lisa M Gloss
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Lois Pollack
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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26
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Hwang WL, Deindl S, Harada BT, Zhuang X. Histone H4 tail mediates allosteric regulation of nucleosome remodelling by linker DNA. Nature 2014; 512:213-7. [PMID: 25043036 PMCID: PMC4134374 DOI: 10.1038/nature13380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2013] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
ISWI-family remodelling enzymes regulate access to genomic DNA by mobilizing nucleosomes1. These ATP-dependent chromatin remodellers promote heterochromatin formation and transcriptional silencing1 by generating regularly-spaced nucleosome arrays2-5. The nucleosome-spacing activity arises from regulation of nucleosome translocation by the length of extranucleosomal linker DNA6-10, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we studied nucleosome remodelling by human ACF, an ISWI enzyme comprised of a catalytic subunit, Snf2h, and an accessory subunit, Acf12,11-13. We found that ACF senses linker DNA length through an interplay between its accessory and catalytic subunits mediated by the histone H4 tail of the nucleosome. Mutation of AutoN, an auto-inhibitory domain within Snf2h that bears sequence homology to the H4 tail14, abolished the linker-length sensitivity in remodelling. Addition of exogenous H4-tail peptide or deletion of the nucleosomal H4 tail also diminished the linker-length sensitivity. Moreover, the accessory subunit Acf1 bound the H4-tail peptide and DNA in a manner that depended on its N-terminal domain, and lengthening the linker DNA in the nucleosome reduced the proximity between Acf1 and the H4 tail. Deletion of the N-terminal portion of Acf1 (or its homologue in yeast) abolished linker-length sensitivity in nucleosome remodeling and led to severe growth defects in vivo. Taken together, our results suggest a mechanism for nucleosome spacing where linker DNA sensing by Acf1 is allosterically transmitted to Snf2h through the H4 tail of the nucleosome. For nucleosomes with short linker DNA, Acf1 preferentially binds to the H4 tail, allowing AutoN to inhibit the ATPase activity of Snf2h. As the linker DNA lengthens, Acf1 shifts its binding preference to the linker DNA, freeing the H4 tail to compete AutoN off the ATPase and thereby activating ACF.
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Affiliation(s)
- William L Hwang
- 1] Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA [2] Graduate Program in Biophysics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA [3] Harvard/MIT MD-PhD Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA [4]
| | - Sebastian Deindl
- 1] Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA [2] Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA [3]
| | - Bryan T Harada
- 1] Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA [2] Graduate Program in Biophysics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
| | - Xiaowei Zhuang
- 1] Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA [2] Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA [3] Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
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27
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Bosaeus N, El-Sagheer AH, Brown T, Åkerman B, Nordén B. Force-induced melting of DNA--evidence for peeling and internal melting from force spectra on short synthetic duplex sequences. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:8083-91. [PMID: 24838568 PMCID: PMC4081069 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Overstretching of DNA occurs at about 60-70 pN when a torsionally unconstrained double-stranded DNA molecule is stretched by its ends. During the transition, the contour length increases by up to 70% without complete strand dissociation. Three mechanisms are thought to be involved: force-induced melting into single-stranded DNA where either one or both strands carry the tension, or a B-to-S transition into a longer, still base-paired conformation. We stretch sequence-designed oligonucleotides in an effort to isolate the three processes, focusing on force-induced melting. By introducing site-specific inter-strand cross-links in one or both ends of a 64 bp AT-rich duplex we could repeatedly follow the two melting processes at 5 mM and 1 M monovalent salt. We find that when one end is sealed the AT-rich sequence undergoes peeling exhibiting hysteresis at low and high salt. When both ends are sealed the AT sequence instead undergoes internal melting. Thirdly, the peeling melting is studied in a composite oligonucleotide where the same AT-rich sequence is concatenated to a GC-rich sequence known to undergo a B-to-S transition rather than melting. The construct then first melts in the AT-rich part followed at higher forces by a B-to-S transition in the GC-part, indicating that DNA overstretching modes are additive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Bosaeus
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg S41296, Sweden
| | - Afaf H El-Sagheer
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Tom Brown
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Björn Åkerman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg S41296, Sweden
| | - Bengt Nordén
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg S41296, Sweden
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28
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Robison AD, Finkelstein IJ. Rapid prototyping of multichannel microfluidic devices for single-molecule DNA curtain imaging. Anal Chem 2014; 86:4157-63. [PMID: 24734940 DOI: 10.1021/ac500267v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Single-molecule imaging and manipulation of biochemical reactions continues to reveal numerous biological insights. To facilitate these studies, we have developed and implemented a high-throughput approach to organize and image hundreds of individual DNA molecules at aligned diffusion barriers. Nonetheless, obtaining statistically relevant data sets under a variety of reaction conditions remains challenging. Here, we present a method for integrating high-throughput single-molecule "DNA curtain" imaging with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based microfluidics. Our benchtop fabrication method can be accomplished in minutes with common tools found in all molecular biology laboratories. We demonstrate the utility of this approach by simultaneous imaging of two independent biochemical reaction conditions in a laminar flow device. In addition, five different reaction conditions can be observed concurrently in a passive linear gradient generator. Combining rapid microfluidic fabrication with high-throughput DNA curtains greatly expands our capability to interrogate complex biological reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron D Robison
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, ‡Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, and §Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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29
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Gold rotor bead tracking for high-speed measurements of DNA twist, torque and extension. Nat Methods 2014; 11:456-62. [PMID: 24562422 PMCID: PMC4211898 DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.2854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2013] [Accepted: 01/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Simultaneous measurements of DNA twist and extension have been used to measure physical properties of the double helix and to characterize structural dynamics and mechanochemistry in nucleoprotein complexes. However, the spatiotemporal resolution of twist measurements has been limited by the use of angular probes with large rotational drags, preventing the detection of short-lived intermediates or small angular steps. Here we introduce AuRBT, demonstrating a >100X improvement in time resolution over previous techniques. AuRBT employs gold nanoparticles as bright low-drag rotational and extensional probes, relying on instrumentation that combines magnetic tweezers with objective-side evanescent darkfield microscopy. In an initial application to molecular motor mechanism, we have examined the high-speed structural dynamics of DNA gyrase, revealing an unanticipated transient intermediate. AuRBT also enables direct measurements of DNA torque with >50X shorter integration times than previous techniques; here we demonstrate high-resolution torque spectroscopy by mapping the conformational landscape of a Z-forming DNA sequence.
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30
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Karch KR, Denizio JE, Black BE, Garcia BA. Identification and interrogation of combinatorial histone modifications. Front Genet 2013; 4:264. [PMID: 24391660 PMCID: PMC3868920 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2013.00264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2013] [Accepted: 11/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone proteins are dynamically modified to mediate a variety of cellular processes including gene transcription, DNA damage repair, and apoptosis. Regulation of these processes occurs through the recruitment of non-histone proteins to chromatin by specific combinations of histone post-translational modifications (PTMs). Mass spectrometry has emerged as an essential tool to discover and quantify histone PTMs both within and between samples in an unbiased manner. Developments in mass spectrometry that allow for characterization of large histone peptides or intact protein has made it possible to determine which modifications occur simultaneously on a single histone polypeptide. A variety of techniques from biochemistry, biophysics, and chemical biology have been employed to determine the biological relevance of discovered combinatorial codes. This review first describes advancements in the field of mass spectrometry that have facilitated histone PTM analysis and then covers notable approaches to probe the biological relevance of these modifications in their nucleosomal context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly R Karch
- Epigenetics Program, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jamie E Denizio
- Epigenetics Program, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ben E Black
- Epigenetics Program, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Epigenetics Program, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA, USA
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31
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanghwa Lee
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Biophysics and Chemical Biology,
and National Center for Creative Research Initiatives, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, Korea
| | - Sungchul Hohng
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Biophysics and Chemical Biology,
and National Center for Creative Research Initiatives, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, Korea
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32
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Aguilar CA, Craighead HG. Micro- and nanoscale devices for the investigation of epigenetics and chromatin dynamics. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2013; 8:709-18. [PMID: 24091454 PMCID: PMC4072028 DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2013.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2013] [Accepted: 08/28/2013] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the blueprint on which life is based and transmitted, but the way in which chromatin - a dynamic complex of nucleic acids and proteins - is packaged and behaves in the cellular nucleus has only begun to be investigated. Epigenetic modifications sit 'on top of' the genome and affect how DNA is compacted into chromatin and transcribed into ribonucleic acid (RNA). The packaging and modifications around the genome have been shown to exert significant influence on cellular behaviour and, in turn, human development and disease. However, conventional techniques for studying epigenetic or conformational modifications of chromosomes have inherent limitations and, therefore, new methods based on micro- and nanoscale devices have been sought. Here, we review the development of these devices and explore their use in the study of DNA modifications, chromatin modifications and higher-order chromatin structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A. Aguilar
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Lincoln Laboratory, 244 Wood St., Lexington, MA 02127
| | - Harold G. Craighead
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
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33
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McGraw S, Shojaei Saadi HA, Robert C. Meeting the methodological challenges in molecular mapping of the embryonic epigenome. Mol Hum Reprod 2013; 19:809-27. [PMID: 23783346 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gat046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The past decade of life sciences research has been driven by progress in genomics. Many voices are already proclaiming the post-genomics era, in which phenomena other than sequence polymorphism influence gene expression and also explain complex phenotypes. One of these burgeoning fields is the study of the epigenome. Although the mechanisms by which chromatin structure and reorganization as well as cytosine methylation influence gene expression are not fully understood, they are being invoked to explain the now-accepted long-term impact of the environment on gene expression, which appears to be a factor in the development of numerous diseases. Such studies are particularly relevant in early embryonic development, during which waves of epigenetic reprogramming are known to have profound impacts. Since gametes and zygotes are in the process of resetting the genome in order to create embryonic stem cells that will each differentiate to create one of many specific tissue types, this phase of life is now viewed as a window of susceptibility to epigenetic reprogramming errors. Epigenetics could explain the influence of factors such as the nutritional/metabolic status of the mother or the artificial environment of assisted reproductive technologies. However, the peculiar nature of early embryos in addition to their scarcity poses numerous technological challenges that are slowly being overcome. The principal subject of this article is to review the suitability of various current and emerging technological platforms to study oocytes and early embryonic epigenome with more emphasis on studying DNA methylation. Furthermore, the constraint of samples size, inherent to the study of preimplantation embryo development, was put in perspective with the various molecular platforms described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serge McGraw
- Department of Human Genetics, Montreal Children's Hospital Research Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3Z 2Z3, Canada
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34
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Hondele M, Stuwe T, Hassler M, Halbach F, Bowman A, Zhang ET, Nijmeijer B, Kotthoff C, Rybin V, Amlacher S, Hurt E, Ladurner AG. Structural basis of histone H2A-H2B recognition by the essential chaperone FACT. Nature 2013; 499:111-4. [PMID: 23698368 DOI: 10.1038/nature12242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2012] [Accepted: 05/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Facilitates chromatin transcription (FACT) is a conserved histone chaperone that reorganizes nucleosomes and ensures chromatin integrity during DNA transcription, replication and repair. Key to the broad functions of FACT is its recognition of histones H2A-H2B (ref. 2). However, the structural basis for how histones H2A-H2B are recognized and how this integrates with the other functions of FACT, including the recognition of histones H3-H4 and other nuclear factors, is unknown. Here we reveal the crystal structure of the evolutionarily conserved FACT chaperone domain Spt16M from Chaetomium thermophilum, in complex with the H2A-H2B heterodimer. A novel 'U-turn' motif scaffolded onto a Rtt106-like module embraces the α1 helix of H2B. Biochemical and in vivo assays validate the structure and dissect the contribution of histone tails and H3-H4 towards Spt16M binding. Furthermore, we report the structure of the FACT heterodimerization domain that connects FACT to replicative polymerases. Our results show that Spt16M makes several interactions with histones, which we suggest allow the module to invade the nucleosome gradually and block the strongest interaction of H2B with DNA. FACT would thus enhance 'nucleosome breathing' by re-organizing the first 30 base pairs of nucleosomal histone-DNA contacts. Our snapshot of the engagement of the chaperone with H2A-H2B and the structures of all globular FACT domains enable the high-resolution analysis of the vital chaperoning functions of FACT, shedding light on how the complex promotes the activity of enzymes that require nucleosome reorganization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Hondele
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Butenandt Institute and LMU Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5, 81377 Munich, Germany
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35
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Teif VB, Erdel F, Beshnova DA, Vainshtein Y, Mallm JP, Rippe K. Taking into account nucleosomes for predicting gene expression. Methods 2013; 62:26-38. [PMID: 23523656 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2013.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2012] [Accepted: 03/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The eukaryotic genome is organized in a chain of nucleosomes that consist of 145-147 bp of DNA wrapped around a histone octamer protein core. Binding of transcription factors (TF) to nucleosomal DNA is frequently impeded, which makes it a challenging task to calculate TF occupancy at a given regulatory genomic site for predicting gene expression. Here, we review methods to calculate TF binding to DNA in the presence of nucleosomes. The main theoretical problems are (i) the computation speed that is becoming a bottleneck when partial unwrapping of DNA from the nucleosome is considered, (ii) the perturbation of the binding equilibrium by the activity of ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers, which translocate nucleosomes along the DNA, and (iii) the model parameterization from high-throughput sequencing data and fluorescence microscopy experiments in living cells. We discuss strategies that address these issues to efficiently compute transcription factor binding in chromatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir B Teif
- Research Group Genome Organization & Function, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum-DKFZ & BioQuant, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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36
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Biswas M, Langowski J, Bishop TC. Atomistic simulations of nucleosomes. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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37
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New insights into nucleosome and chromatin structure: an ordered state or a disordered affair? Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2012; 13:436-47. [PMID: 22722606 DOI: 10.1038/nrm3382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 473] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The compaction of genomic DNA into chromatin has profound implications for the regulation of key processes such as transcription, replication and DNA repair. Nucleosomes, the repeating building blocks of chromatin, vary in the composition of their histone protein components. This is the result of the incorporation of variant histones and post-translational modifications of histone amino acid side chains. The resulting changes in nucleosome structure, stability and dynamics affect the compaction of nucleosomal arrays into higher-order structures. It is becoming clear that chromatin structures are not nearly as uniform and regular as previously assumed. This implies that chromatin structure must also be viewed in the context of specific biological functions.
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Bryant Z, Oberstrass FC, Basu A. Recent developments in single-molecule DNA mechanics. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2012; 22:304-12. [PMID: 22658779 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2012.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2012] [Accepted: 04/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, measurements on individual stretched and twisted DNA molecules have helped define the basic elastic properties of the double helix and enabled real-time functional assays of DNA-associated molecular machines. Recently, new magnetic tweezers approaches for simultaneously measuring freely fluctuating twist and extension have begun to shed light on the structural dynamics of large nucleoprotein complexes. Related technical advances have facilitated direct measurements of DNA torque, contributing to a better understanding of abrupt structural transitions in mechanically stressed DNA. The new measurements have also been exploited in studies that hint at a developing synergistic relationship between single-molecule manipulation and structural DNA nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zev Bryant
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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Petesch SJ, Lis JT. Overcoming the nucleosome barrier during transcript elongation. Trends Genet 2012; 28:285-94. [PMID: 22465610 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2012.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2012] [Revised: 02/22/2012] [Accepted: 02/23/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
RNA polymerase II (Pol II) must break the nucleosomal barrier to gain access to DNA and transcribe genes efficiently. New single-molecule techniques have elucidated many molecular details of nucleosome disassembly and what happens once Pol II encounters a nucleosome. Our review highlights mechanisms that Pol II utilizes to transcribe through nucleosomes, including the roles of chromatin remodelers, histone chaperones, post-translational modifications of histones, incorporation of histone variants into nucleosomes, and activation of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) enzyme. Future studies need to assess the molecular details and the contribution of each of these mechanisms, individually and in combination, to transcription across the genome to understand how cells are able to regulate transcription in response to developmental, environmental and nutritional cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Petesch
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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Korolev N, Fan Y, Lyubartsev AP, Nordenskiöld L. Modelling chromatin structure and dynamics: status and prospects. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2012; 22:151-9. [PMID: 22305428 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2012.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2011] [Revised: 01/12/2012] [Accepted: 01/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The packaging of genomic DNA into chromatin in the eukaryotic cell nucleus demands extensive compaction. This requires attractive nucleosome-nucleosome interactions to overcome repulsion between the negatively charged DNA segments as well as other constraints. At the same time, DNA must be dynamically accessible to the cellular machinery that operates on it. Recent progress in the experimental characterisation of the higher order structure and dynamics of well-defined chromatin fibres has stimulated the attempts at theoretical description of chromatin and the nucleosome. Here we review the present status of chromatin modelling, with particular emphasis on coarse-grained computer simulation models, the role of electrostatic interactions, and discuss future perspectives in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolay Korolev
- Division of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 637551, Singapore
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Abstract
DNA unzipping is a powerful tool to study protein-DNA interactions at the single-molecule level. In this chapter, we provide a detailed and practical guide to performing this technique with an optical trap, using nucleosome studies as an example. We detail protocols for preparing an unzipping template, constructing and calibrating the instrument, and acquiring, processing, and analyzing unzipping data. We also summarize major results from utilization of this technique for the studies of nucleosome structure, dynamics, positioning, and remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Li
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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