1
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Shao Z, Lu J, Khudaverdyan N, Song J. Multi-layered heterochromatin interaction as a switch for DIM2-mediated DNA methylation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6815. [PMID: 39122718 PMCID: PMC11315935 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51246-4] [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: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Functional crosstalk between DNA methylation, histone H3 lysine-9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) and heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) is essential for proper heterochromatin assembly and genome stability. However, how repressive chromatin cues guide DNA methyltransferases for region-specific DNA methylation remains largely unknown. Here, we report structure-function characterizations of DNA methyltransferase Defective-In-Methylation-2 (DIM2) in Neurospora. The DNA methylation activity of DIM2 requires the presence of both H3K9me3 and HP1. Our structural study reveals a bipartite DIM2-HP1 interaction, leading to a disorder-to-order transition of the DIM2 target-recognition domain that is essential for substrate binding. Furthermore, the structure of DIM2-HP1-H3K9me3-DNA complex reveals a substrate-binding mechanism distinct from that for its mammalian orthologue DNMT1. In addition, the dual recognition of H3K9me3 peptide by the DIM2 RFTS and BAH1 domains allosterically impacts the DIM2-substrate binding, thereby controlling DIM2-mediated DNA methylation. Together, this study uncovers how multiple heterochromatin factors coordinately orchestrate an activity-switching mechanism for region-specific DNA methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zengyu Shao
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Jiuwei Lu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Nelli Khudaverdyan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Jikui Song
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
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2
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Williams JF, Surovtsev IV, Schreiner SM, Chen Z, Raiymbek G, Nguyen H, Hu Y, Biteen JS, Mochrie SGJ, Ragunathan K, King MC. The condensation of HP1α/Swi6 imparts nuclear stiffness. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114373. [PMID: 38900638 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114373] [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: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates have emerged as major drivers of cellular organization. It remains largely unexplored, however, whether these condensates can impart mechanical function(s) to the cell. The heterochromatin protein HP1α (Swi6 in Schizosaccharomyces pombe) crosslinks histone H3K9 methylated nucleosomes and has been proposed to undergo condensation to drive the liquid-like clustering of heterochromatin domains. Here, we leverage the genetically tractable S. pombe model and a separation-of-function allele to elucidate a mechanical function imparted by Swi6 condensation. Using single-molecule imaging, force spectroscopy, and high-resolution live-cell imaging, we show that Swi6 is critical for nuclear resistance to external force. Strikingly, it is the condensed yet dynamic pool of Swi6, rather than the chromatin-bound molecules, that is essential to imparting mechanical stiffness. Our findings suggest that Swi6 condensates embedded in the chromatin meshwork establish the emergent mechanical behavior of the nucleus as a whole, revealing that biomolecular condensation can influence organelle and cell mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica F Williams
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Ivan V Surovtsev
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Physics, Yale University, 217 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Sarah M Schreiner
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Ziyuan Chen
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Gulzhan Raiymbek
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Hang Nguyen
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Yan Hu
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Julie S Biteen
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Simon G J Mochrie
- Department of Physics, Yale University, 217 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | | | - Megan C King
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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3
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Atinbayeva N, Valent I, Zenk F, Loeser E, Rauer M, Herur S, Quarato P, Pyrowolakis G, Gomez-Auli A, Mittler G, Cecere G, Erhardt S, Tiana G, Zhan Y, Iovino N. Inheritance of H3K9 methylation regulates genome architecture in Drosophila early embryos. EMBO J 2024; 43:2685-2714. [PMID: 38831123 PMCID: PMC11217351 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00127-z] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Constitutive heterochromatin is essential for transcriptional silencing and genome integrity. The establishment of constitutive heterochromatin in early embryos and its role in early fruitfly development are unknown. Lysine 9 trimethylation of histone H3 (H3K9me3) and recruitment of its epigenetic reader, heterochromatin protein 1a (HP1a), are hallmarks of constitutive heterochromatin. Here, we show that H3K9me3 is transmitted from the maternal germline to the next generation. Maternally inherited H3K9me3, and the histone methyltransferases (HMT) depositing it, are required for the organization of constitutive heterochromatin: early embryos lacking H3K9 methylation display de-condensation of pericentromeric regions, centromere-centromere de-clustering, mitotic defects, and nuclear shape irregularities, resulting in embryo lethality. Unexpectedly, quantitative CUT&Tag and 4D microscopy measurements of HP1a coupled with biophysical modeling revealed that H3K9me2/3 is largely dispensable for HP1a recruitment. Instead, the main function of H3K9me2/3 at this developmental stage is to drive HP1a clustering and subsequent heterochromatin compaction. Our results show that HP1a binding to constitutive heterochromatin in the absence of H3K9me2/3 is not sufficient to promote proper embryo development and heterochromatin formation. The loss of H3K9 HMTs and H3K9 methylation alters genome organization and hinders embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazerke Atinbayeva
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Fahnenbergplatz, 79085, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Iris Valent
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Zoological Institute, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Fides Zenk
- Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences EPFL, SV3809, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eva Loeser
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Michael Rauer
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Shwetha Herur
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Piergiuseppe Quarato
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgos Pyrowolakis
- Centre for Biological signaling studies, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Alejandro Gomez-Auli
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Gerhard Mittler
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Germano Cecere
- Institute Pasteur, Mechanisms of Epigenetic Inheritance, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, UMR3738, CNRS, 75724, Cedex 15, Paris, France
| | - Sylvia Erhardt
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Zoological Institute, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Guido Tiana
- Università degli Studi di Milano and INFN, Milan, Italy
| | - Yinxiu Zhan
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology-IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
| | - Nicola Iovino
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
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4
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Valsakumar D, Voigt P. Nucleosomal asymmetry: a novel mechanism to regulate nucleosome function. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:1219-1232. [PMID: 38778762 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230877] [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: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Nucleosomes constitute the fundamental building blocks of chromatin. They are comprised of DNA wrapped around a histone octamer formed of two copies each of the four core histones H2A, H2B, H3, and H4. Nucleosomal histones undergo a plethora of posttranslational modifications that regulate gene expression and other chromatin-templated processes by altering chromatin structure or by recruiting effector proteins. Given their symmetric arrangement, the sister histones within a nucleosome have commonly been considered to be equivalent and to carry the same modifications. However, it is now clear that nucleosomes can exhibit asymmetry, combining differentially modified sister histones or different variants of the same histone within a single nucleosome. Enabled by the development of novel tools that allow generating asymmetrically modified nucleosomes, recent biochemical and cell-based studies have begun to shed light on the origins and functional consequences of nucleosomal asymmetry. These studies indicate that nucleosomal asymmetry represents a novel regulatory mechanism in the establishment and functional readout of chromatin states. Asymmetry expands the combinatorial space available for setting up complex sets of histone marks at individual nucleosomes, regulating multivalent interactions with histone modifiers and readers. The resulting functional consequences of asymmetry regulate transcription, poising of developmental gene expression by bivalent chromatin, and the mechanisms by which oncohistones deregulate chromatin states in cancer. Here, we review recent progress and current challenges in uncovering the mechanisms and biological functions of nucleosomal asymmetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devisree Valsakumar
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, U.K
| | - Philipp Voigt
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
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5
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Ames A, Seman M, Larkin A, Raiymbek G, Chen Z, Levashkevich A, Kim B, Biteen JS, Ragunathan K. Epigenetic memory is governed by an effector recruitment specificity toggle in Heterochromatin Protein 1. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.28.569027. [PMID: 38077059 PMCID: PMC10705379 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.28.569027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
HP1 proteins are essential for establishing and maintaining transcriptionally silent heterochromatin. They dimerize, forming a binding interface to recruit diverse chromatin-associated factors. HP1 proteins are specialized and rapidly evolve, but the extent of variation required to achieve functional specialization is unknown. To investigate how changes in amino acid sequence impacts epigenetic inheritance, we performed a targeted mutagenesis screen of the S. pombe HP1 homolog, Swi6. Substitutions within an auxiliary surface adjacent to the HP1 dimerization interface produced Swi6 variants with divergent maintenance properties. Remarkably, substitutions at a single amino acid position led to the persistent gain or loss of epigenetic inheritance. These substitutions increased Swi6 chromatin occupancy in vivo and altered Swi6-protein interactions that reprogram H3K9me maintenance. We show that relatively minor changes in Swi6 amino acid composition can lead to profound changes in epigenetic inheritance which provides a redundant mechanism to evolve novel effector specificity. .
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6
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Knodel F, Pinter S, Kroll C, Rathert P. Fluorescent Reporter Systems to Investigate Chromatin Effector Proteins in Living Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2842:225-252. [PMID: 39012599 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4051-7_12] [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] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic research faces the challenge of the high complexity and tight regulation in chromatin modification networks. Although many isolated mechanisms of chromatin-mediated gene regulation have been described, solid approaches for the comprehensive analysis of specific processes as parts of the bigger epigenome network are missing. In order to expand the toolbox of methods by a system that will help to capture and describe the complexity of transcriptional regulation, we describe here a robust protocol for the generation of stable reporter systems for transcriptional activity and summarize their applications. The system allows for the induced recruitment of a chromatin regulator to a fluorescent reporter gene, followed by the detection of transcriptional changes using flow cytometry. The reporter gene is integrated into an endogenous chromatin environment, thus enabling the detection of regulatory dependencies of the investigated chromatin regulator on endogenous cofactors. The system allows for an easy and dynamic readout at the single-cell level and the ability to compensate for cell-to-cell variances of transcription. The modular design of the system enables the simple adjustment of the method for the investigation of different chromatin regulators in a broad panel of cell lines. We also summarize applications of this technology to characterize the silencing velocity of different chromatin effectors, removal of activating histone modifications, analysis of stability and reversibility of epigenome modifications, the investigation of the effects of small molecule on chromatin effectors and of functional effector-coregulator relationships. The presented method allows to investigate the complexity of transcriptional regulation by epigenetic effector proteins in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Knodel
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Sabine Pinter
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Carolin Kroll
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Philipp Rathert
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
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7
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Zhou ZK, Narlikar GJ. Understanding how genetically encoded tags affect phase separation by Heterochromatin Protein HP1α. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.04.569983. [PMID: 38106110 PMCID: PMC10723358 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.04.569983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is driven by weak multi-valent interactions. Such interactions can result in the formation of puncta in cells and droplets in vitro . The heterochromatin protein HP1α forms droplets with chromatin in vitro and is found in puncta in cells. A common approach to visualize the dynamics of HP1α in cells is to genetically encode fluorescent tags on the protein. HP1α modified with tags such as GFP has been shown to localize to dynamic puncta in vivo . However, whether tagged HP1α retains its intrinsic phase separation properties has not been systematically studied. Here, using different C-terminal tags (AID-sfGFP, mEGFP, and UnaG), we assessed how tag size and linker length affected the phase separation ability of HP1α with DNA in vitro . We found that the AID-sfGFP tag (52 kDa) promoted HP1α phase-separation, possibly driven by the highly disordered AID degron. The mEGFP tag (27 kDa) inhibited phase-separation by HP1α, whereas an UnaG tag (13 kDa) with a 16 amino acid linker showed minimal perturbation. The UnaG tag can thus be used in cellular studies of HP1α to better correlate in vitro and in vivo studies. To test if cellular crowding overcomes the negative effects of large tags in vivo , we used polyethylene glycol (PEG) to mimic crowding in vitro . We found that addition of 10% PEG8000 or PEG4000 enables phase separation by GFP-tagged HP1α at comparable concentrations as untagged HP1α. However, these crowding agents also substantially dampened the differences in phase-separation between wild-type and mutant HP1α proteins. PEG further drove phase-separation of Maltose Binding Protein (MBP), a tag often used to solubilize other proteins. These results suggest that phase-separation of biological macromolecules with PEG should be interpreted with caution as PEG-based crowding agents may change the types of interactions made within the phases.
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8
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Sokolova V, Miratsky J, Svetlov V, Brenowitz M, Vant J, Lewis T, Dryden K, Lee G, Sarkar S, Nudler E, Singharoy A, Tan D. Structural mechanism of HP1α-dependent transcriptional repression and chromatin compaction. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.30.569387. [PMID: 38076844 PMCID: PMC10705452 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.30.569387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) plays a central role in establishing and maintaining constitutive heterochromatin. However, the mechanisms underlying HP1-nucleosome interactions and their contributions to heterochromatin functions remain elusive. In this study, we employed a multidisciplinary approach to unravel the interactions between human HP1α and nucleosomes. We have elucidated the cryo-EM structure of an HP1α dimer bound to an H2A.Z nucleosome, revealing that the HP1α dimer interfaces with nucleosomes at two distinct sites. The primary binding site is located at the N-terminus of histone H3, specifically at the trimethylated K9 (K9me3) region, while a novel secondary binding site is situated near histone H2B, close to nucleosome superhelical location 4 (SHL4). Our biochemical data further demonstrates that HP1α binding influences the dynamics of DNA on the nucleosome. It promotes DNA unwrapping near the nucleosome entry and exit sites while concurrently restricting DNA accessibility in the vicinity of SHL4. This study offers a model that explains how HP1α functions in heterochromatin maintenance and gene silencing, particularly in the context of H3K9me-dependent mechanisms. Additionally, it sheds light on the H3K9me-independent role of HP1 in responding to DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladyslava Sokolova
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University; Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Jacob Miratsky
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University; Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Vladimir Svetlov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Michael Brenowitz
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - John Vant
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University; Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Tyler Lewis
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University; Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Kelly Dryden
- Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903 USA
| | - Gahyun Lee
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University; Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Shayan Sarkar
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University; Stony Brook, New York, 11794 USA
| | - Evgeny Nudler
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | | | - Dongyan Tan
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University; Stony Brook, NY, USA
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9
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Seman M, Levashkevich A, Larkin A, Huang F, Ragunathan K. Uncoupling the distinct functions of HP1 proteins during heterochromatin establishment and maintenance. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113428. [PMID: 37952152 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
H3K9 methylation (H3K9me) marks transcriptionally silent genomic regions called heterochromatin. HP1 proteins are required to establish and maintain heterochromatin. HP1 proteins bind to H3K9me, recruit factors that promote heterochromatin formation, and oligomerize to form phase-separated condensates. We do not understand how these different HP1 properties are involved in establishing and maintaining transcriptional silencing. Here, we demonstrate that the S. pombe HP1 homolog, Swi6, can be completely bypassed to establish silencing at ectopic and endogenous loci when an H3K4 methyltransferase, Set1, and an H3K14 acetyltransferase, Mst2, are deleted. Deleting Set1 and Mst2 enhances Clr4 enzymatic activity, leading to higher H3K9me levels and spreading. In contrast, Swi6 and its capacity to oligomerize were indispensable during epigenetic maintenance. Our results demonstrate the role of HP1 proteins in regulating histone modification crosstalk during establishment and identify a genetically separable function in maintaining epigenetic memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Seman
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02451, USA
| | | | - Ajay Larkin
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02451, USA
| | - Fengting Huang
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02451, USA
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10
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Elathram N, Ackermann BE, Clark ET, Dunn SR, Debelouchina GT. Phosphorylated HP1α-Nucleosome Interactions in Phase Separated Environments. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:23994-24004. [PMID: 37870432 PMCID: PMC10636758 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c06481] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
In the nucleus, transcriptionally silent genes are sequestered into heterochromatin compartments comprising nucleosomes decorated with histone H3 Lys9 trimethylation and a protein called HP1α. This protein can form liquid-liquid droplets in vitro and potentially organize heterochromatin through a phase separation mechanism that is promoted by phosphorylation. Elucidating the molecular interactions that drive HP1α phase separation and its consequences on nucleosome structure and dynamics has been challenging due to the viscous and heterogeneous nature of such assemblies. Here, we tackle this problem by a combination of solution and solid-state NMR spectroscopy, which allows us to dissect the interactions of phosphorylated HP1α with nucleosomes in the context of phase separation. Our experiments indicate that phosphorylated human HP1α does not cause any major rearrangements to the nucleosome core, in contrast to the yeast homologue Swi6. Instead, HP1α interacts specifically with the methylated H3 tails and slows the dynamics of the H4 tails. Our results shed light on how phosphorylated HP1α proteins may regulate the heterochromatin landscape, while our approach provides an atomic resolution view of a heterogeneous and dynamic biological system regulated by a complex network of interactions and post-translational modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nesreen Elathram
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Bryce E. Ackermann
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Evan T. Clark
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Shelby R. Dunn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Galia T. Debelouchina
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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11
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Seman M, Levashkevich A, Larkin A, Huang F, Ragunathan K. Uncoupling the distinct functions of HP1 proteins during heterochromatin establishment and maintenance. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.30.538869. [PMID: 37961629 PMCID: PMC10634687 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.30.538869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
H3K9 methylation (H3K9me) marks transcriptionally silent genomic regions called heterochromatin. HP1 proteins are required to establish and maintain heterochromatin. HP1 proteins bind to H3K9me, recruit factors that promote heterochromatin formation, and oligomerize to form phase-separated condensates. We do not understand how HP1 protein binding to heterochromatin establishes and maintains transcriptional silencing. Here, we demonstrate that the S.pombe HP1 homolog, Swi6, can be completely bypassed to establish silencing at ectopic and endogenous loci when an H3K4 methyltransferase, Set1 and an H3K14 acetyltransferase, Mst2 are deleted. Deleting Set1 and Mst2 enhances Clr4 enzymatic activity, leading to higher H3K9me levels and spreading. In contrast, Swi6 and its capacity to oligomerize were indispensable during epigenetic maintenance. Our results demonstrate the role of HP1 proteins in regulating histone modification crosstalk during establishment and identifies a genetically separable function in maintaining epigenetic memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Seman
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02451 USA
| | | | - Ajay Larkin
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02451 USA
| | - Fengting Huang
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02451 USA
| | - Kaushik Ragunathan
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02451 USA
- Lead Contact
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12
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Rahayu AF, Hayashi A, Yoshimura Y, Nakagawa R, Arita K, Nakayama JI. Cooperative DNA-binding activities of Chp2 are critical for its function in heterochromatin assembly. J Biochem 2023; 174:371-382. [PMID: 37400983 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvad050] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) is an evolutionarily conserved protein that plays a critical role in heterochromatin assembly. HP1 proteins share a basic structure consisting of an N-terminal chromodomain (CD) and a C-terminal chromoshadow domain (CSD) linked by a disordered hinge region. The CD recognizes histone H3 lysine 9 methylation, a hallmark of heterochromatin, while the CSD forms a dimer to recruit other chromosomal proteins. HP1 proteins have been shown to bind DNA or RNA primarily through the hinge region. However, how DNA or RNA binding contributes to their function remains elusive. Here, we focus on Chp2, one of the two HP1 proteins in fission yeast, and investigate how Chp2's DNA-binding ability contributes to its function. Similar to other HP1 proteins, the Chp2 hinge exhibits clear DNA-binding activity. Interestingly, the Chp2 CSD also shows robust DNA-binding activity. Mutational analysis revealed that basic residues in the Chp2 hinge and at the N-terminus of the CSD are essential for DNA binding, and the combined amino acid substitutions of these residues alter Chp2 stability, impair Chp2 heterochromatin localization and lead to a silencing defect. These results demonstrate that the cooperative DNA-binding activities of Chp2 play an important role in heterochromatin assembly in fission yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anisa Fitri Rahayu
- Division of Chromatin Regulation, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
- Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Aki Hayashi
- Division of Chromatin Regulation, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Yuriko Yoshimura
- Division of Chromatin Regulation, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Reiko Nakagawa
- Laboratory for Cell-Free Protein Synthesis, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-7-1 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Kyohei Arita
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichi Nakayama
- Division of Chromatin Regulation, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
- Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
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13
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Dong L, Liao H, Zhao L, Wang J, Wang C, Wang B, Sun Y, Xu L, Xia Y, Ling S, Lou X, Qin J. A functional crosstalk between the H3K9 methylation writers and their reader HP1 in safeguarding embryonic stem cell identity. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:1775-1792. [PMID: 37703822 PMCID: PMC10545489 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methylation, as a hallmark of heterochromatin, has a central role in cell lineage and fate determination. Although evidence of a cooperation between H3K9 methylation writers and their readers has started to emerge, their actual interplay remains elusive. Here, we show that loss of H3K9 methylation readers, the Hp1 family, causes reduced expression of H3K9 methyltransferases, and that this subsequently leads to the exit of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from pluripotency and a reciprocal gain of lineage-specific characteristics. Importantly, the phenotypes of Hp1-null ESCs can be rescued by ectopic expression of Setdb1, Nanog, and Oct4. Furthermore, Setdb1 ablation results in loss of ESC identity, which is accompanied by a reduction in the expression of Hp1 genes. Together, our data support a model in which the safeguarding of ESC identity involves the cooperation between the H3K9 methylation writers and their readers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixia Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huaqi Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Linchun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingnan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Congcong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bowen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanqi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lijun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yin Xia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shizhang Ling
- The Translational Research Institute for Neurological Disorders, Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital (Yijishan Hospital) of Wannan Medical College, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China.
| | - Xin Lou
- Research Institute of Intelligent Computing, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou 311100, China.
| | - Jinzhong Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
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14
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Wang T, Shi S, Shi Y, Jiang P, Hu G, Ye Q, Shi Z, Yu K, Wang C, Fan G, Zhao S, Ma H, Chang ACY, Li Z, Bian Q, Lin CP. Chemical-induced phase transition and global conformational reorganization of chromatin. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5556. [PMID: 37689690 PMCID: PMC10492836 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41340-4] [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: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemicals or drugs can accumulate within biomolecular condensates formed through phase separation in cells. Here, we use super-resolution imaging to search for chemicals that induce phase transition within chromatin at the microscale. This microscopic screening approach reveals that adriamycin (doxorubicin) - a widely used anticancer drug that is known to interact with chromatin - specifically induces visible local condensation and global conformational change of chromatin in cancer and primary cells. Hi-C and ATAC-seq experiments systematically and quantitatively demonstrate that adriamycin-induced chromatin condensation is accompanied by weakened chromatin interaction within topologically associated domains, compartment A/B switching, lower chromatin accessibility, and corresponding transcriptomic changes. Mechanistically, adriamycin complexes with histone H1 and induces phase transition of H1, forming fibrous aggregates in vitro. These results reveal a phase separation-driven mechanism for a chemotherapeutic drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengfei Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuxiang Shi
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
- Lingang Laboratory, 200031, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanyuan Shi
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Peipei Jiang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Ganlu Hu
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinying Ye
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhan Shi
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Kexin Yu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201010, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenguang Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China
- Department of Cardiology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoping Fan
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Suwen Zhao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201010, Shanghai, China
| | - Hanhui Ma
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Alex C Y Chang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China
- Department of Cardiology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi Li
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Bian
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China.
| | - Chao-Po Lin
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China.
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15
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Tortora MMC, Brennan LD, Karpen G, Jost D. HP1-driven phase separation recapitulates the thermodynamics and kinetics of heterochromatin condensate formation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2211855120. [PMID: 37549295 PMCID: PMC10438847 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2211855120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The spatial segregation of pericentromeric heterochromatin (PCH) into distinct, membrane-less nuclear compartments involves the binding of Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1) to H3K9me2/3-rich genomic regions. While HP1 exhibits liquid-liquid phase separation properties in vitro, its mechanistic impact on the structure and dynamics of PCH condensate formation in vivo remains largely unresolved. Here, using a minimal theoretical framework, we systematically investigate the mutual coupling between self-interacting HP1-like molecules and the chromatin polymer. We reveal that the specific affinity of HP1 for H3K9me2/3 loci facilitates coacervation in nucleo and promotes the formation of stable PCH condensates at HP1 levels far below the concentration required to observe phase separation in purified protein assays in vitro. These heterotypic HP1-chromatin interactions give rise to a strong dependence of the nucleoplasmic HP1 density on HP1-H3K9me2/3 stoichiometry, consistent with the thermodynamics of multicomponent phase separation. The dynamical cross talk between HP1 and the viscoelastic chromatin scaffold also leads to anomalously slow equilibration kinetics, which strongly depend on the genomic distribution of H3K9me2/3 domains and result in the coexistence of multiple long-lived, microphase-separated PCH compartments. The morphology of these complex coacervates is further found to be governed by the dynamic establishment of the underlying H3K9me2/3 landscape, which may drive their increasingly abnormal, aspherical shapes during cell development. These findings compare favorably to 4D microscopy measurements of HP1 condensate formation in live Drosophila embryos and suggest a general quantitative model of PCH formation based on the interplay between HP1-based phase separation and chromatin polymer mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime M. C. Tortora
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, UMR5239, Inserm U1293, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69007Lyon, France
| | - Lucy D. Brennan
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
| | - Gary Karpen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
- Department of BioEngineering and BioMedical Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA94720
| | - Daniel Jost
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, UMR5239, Inserm U1293, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69007Lyon, France
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16
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Opposing Roles of FACT for Euchromatin and Heterochromatin in Yeast. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13020377. [PMID: 36830746 PMCID: PMC9953268 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell in a folded state; however, only the necessary genetic information is extracted from the required group of genes. The key to extracting genetic information is chromatin ambivalence. Depending on the chromosomal region, chromatin is characterized into low-density "euchromatin" and high-density "heterochromatin", with various factors being involved in its regulation. Here, we focus on chromatin regulation and gene expression by the yeast FACT complex, which functions in both euchromatin and heterochromatin. FACT is known as a histone H2A/H2B chaperone and was initially reported as an elongation factor associated with RNA polymerase II. In budding yeast, FACT activates promoter chromatin by interacting with the transcriptional activators SBF/MBF via the regulation of G1/S cell cycle genes. In fission yeast, FACT plays an important role in the formation of higher-order chromatin structures and transcriptional repression by binding to Swi6, an HP1 family protein, at heterochromatin. This FACT property, which refers to the alternate chromatin-regulation depending on the binding partner, is an interesting phenomenon. Further analysis of nucleosome regulation within heterochromatin is expected in future studies.
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17
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Mansisidor AR, Risca VI. Chromatin accessibility: methods, mechanisms, and biological insights. Nucleus 2022; 13:236-276. [PMID: 36404679 PMCID: PMC9683059 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2022.2143106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Access to DNA is a prerequisite to the execution of essential cellular processes that include transcription, replication, chromosomal segregation, and DNA repair. How the proteins that regulate these processes function in the context of chromatin and its dynamic architectures is an intensive field of study. Over the past decade, genome-wide assays and new imaging approaches have enabled a greater understanding of how access to the genome is regulated by nucleosomes and associated proteins. Additional mechanisms that may control DNA accessibility in vivo include chromatin compaction and phase separation - processes that are beginning to be understood. Here, we review the ongoing development of accessibility measurements, we summarize the different molecular and structural mechanisms that shape the accessibility landscape, and we detail the many important biological functions that are linked to chromatin accessibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés R. Mansisidor
- Laboratory of Genome Architecture and Dynamics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Viviana I. Risca
- Laboratory of Genome Architecture and Dynamics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
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18
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HP1a-mediated heterochromatin formation promotes antimicrobial responses against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. BMC Biol 2022; 20:234. [PMID: 36266682 PMCID: PMC9583553 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01435-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes severe infectious disease in diverse host organisms, including humans. Effective therapeutic options for P. aeruginosa infection are limited due to increasing multidrug resistance and it is therefore critical to understand the regulation of host innate immune responses to guide development of effective therapeutic options. The epigenetic mechanisms by which hosts regulate their antimicrobial responses against P. aeruginosa infection remain unclear. Here, we used Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the role of heterochromatin protein 1a (HP1a), a key epigenetic regulator, and its mediation of heterochromatin formation in antimicrobial responses against PA14, a highly virulent P. aeruginosa strain. Results Animals with decreased heterochromatin levels showed less resistance to P. aeruginosa infection. In contrast, flies with increased heterochromatin formation, either in the whole organism or specifically in the fat body—an organ important in humoral immune response—showed greater resistance to P. aeruginosa infection, as demonstrated by increased host survival and reduced bacterial load. Increased heterochromatin formation in the fat body promoted the antimicrobial responses via upregulation of fat body immune deficiency (imd) pathway-mediated antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) before and in the middle stage of P. aeruginosa infection. The fat body AMPs were required to elicit HP1a-mediated antimicrobial responses against P. aeruginosa infection. Moreover, the levels of heterochromatin in the fat body were downregulated in the early stage, but upregulated in the middle stage, of P. aeruginosa infection. Conclusions These data indicate that HP1a-mediated heterochromatin formation in the fat body promotes antimicrobial responses by epigenetically upregulating AMPs of the imd pathway. Our study provides novel molecular, cellular, and organismal insights into new epigenetic strategies targeting heterochromatin that have the potential to combat P. aeruginosa infection. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01435-8.
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19
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Biswas S, Chen Z, Karslake JD, Farhat A, Ames A, Raiymbek G, Freddolino PL, Biteen JS, Ragunathan K. HP1 oligomerization compensates for low-affinity H3K9me recognition and provides a tunable mechanism for heterochromatin-specific localization. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabk0793. [PMID: 35857444 PMCID: PMC9269880 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk0793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
HP1 proteins traverse a complex and crowded chromatin landscape to bind with low affinity but high specificity to histone H3K9 methylation (H3K9me) and form transcriptionally inactive genomic compartments called heterochromatin. Here, we visualize single-molecule dynamics of an HP1 homolog, the fission yeast Swi6, in its native chromatin environment. By tracking single Swi6 molecules, we identify mobility states that map to discrete biochemical intermediates. Using Swi6 mutants that perturb H3K9me recognition, oligomerization, or nucleic acid binding, we determine how each biochemical property affects protein dynamics. We estimate that Swi6 recognizes H3K9me3 with ~94-fold specificity relative to unmodified nucleosomes in living cells. While nucleic acid binding competes with Swi6 oligomerization, as few as four tandem chromodomains can overcome these inhibitory effects to facilitate Swi6 localization at heterochromatin formation sites. Our studies indicate that HP1 oligomerization is essential to form dynamic, higher-order complexes that outcompete nucleic acid binding to enable specific H3K9me recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saikat Biswas
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ziyuan Chen
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA
| | - Joshua D. Karslake
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA
| | - Ali Farhat
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Amanda Ames
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Gulzhan Raiymbek
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Peter L. Freddolino
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Julie S. Biteen
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA
| | - Kaushik Ragunathan
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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20
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Greenstein RA, Ng H, Barrales RR, Tan C, Braun S, Al-Sady B. Local chromatin context regulates the genetic requirements of the heterochromatin spreading reaction. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010201. [PMID: 35584134 PMCID: PMC9154106 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterochromatin spreading, the expansion of repressive chromatin structure from sequence-specific nucleation sites, is critical for stable gene silencing. Spreading re-establishes gene-poor constitutive heterochromatin across cell cycles but can also invade gene-rich euchromatin de novo to steer cell fate decisions. How chromatin context (i.e. euchromatic, heterochromatic) or different nucleation pathways influence heterochromatin spreading remains poorly understood. Previously, we developed a single-cell sensor in fission yeast that can separately record heterochromatic gene silencing at nucleation sequences and distal sites. Here we couple our quantitative assay to a genetic screen to identify genes encoding nuclear factors linked to the regulation of heterochromatin nucleation and the distal spreading of gene silencing. We find that mechanisms underlying gene silencing distal to a nucleation site differ by chromatin context. For example, Clr6 histone deacetylase complexes containing the Fkh2 transcription factor are specifically required for heterochromatin spreading at constitutive sites. Fkh2 recruits Clr6 to nucleation-distal chromatin sites in such contexts. In addition, we find that a number of chromatin remodeling complexes antagonize nucleation-distal gene silencing. Our results separate the regulation of heterochromatic gene silencing at nucleation versus distal sites and show that it is controlled by context-dependent mechanisms. The results of our genetic analysis constitute a broad community resource that will support further analysis of the mechanisms underlying the spread of epigenetic silencing along chromatin. Repressive structures, or heterochromatin, are seeded at specific genome sequences and then “spread” to silence nearby chromosomal regions. While much is known about the factors that seed heterochromatin, the genetic requirements for spreading are less clear. We devised a fission yeast single-cell method to examine how gene silencing is propagated by the heterochromatin spreading process specifically. Here we use this platform to ask if specific genes are required for the spreading process and whether the same or different genes direct spreading from different chromosomal seeding sites. We find a significant number of genes that specifically promote or antagonize the heterochromatin spreading process. However, different genes are required to enact spreading from different seeding sites. These results have potential implications for cell fate specification, where genes are newly silenced by heterochromatin spreading from diverse chromosomal sites. In a central finding, we show that the Clr6 protein complex, which removes chromatin marks linked to active genes, associates with the Forkhead 2 transcription factor to promote spreading of silencing structures from seeding sites at numerous chromosomal loci. In contrast, we show that proteins that remodel chromatin antagonize the spreading of gene silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. A. Greenstein
- Department of Microbiology &Immunology, George Williams Hooper Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- TETRAD graduate program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Henry Ng
- Department of Microbiology &Immunology, George Williams Hooper Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- TETRAD graduate program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Ramon R. Barrales
- Biomedical Center, Department of Physiological Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Catherine Tan
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Biomedical Sciences graduate program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Sigurd Braun
- Biomedical Center, Department of Physiological Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Institute for Genetics, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Bassem Al-Sady
- Department of Microbiology &Immunology, George Williams Hooper Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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21
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Schoelz JM, Riddle NC. Functions of HP1 proteins in transcriptional regulation. Epigenetics Chromatin 2022; 15:14. [PMID: 35526078 PMCID: PMC9078007 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-022-00453-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotes, DNA is packaged into chromatin, which presents significant barriers to transcription. Non-histone chromatin proteins such as the Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1) proteins are critical regulators of transcription, contributing to gene regulation through a variety of molecular mechanisms. HP1 proteins are highly conserved, and many eukaryotic genomes contain multiple HP1 genes. Given the presence of multiple HP1 family members within a genome, HP1 proteins can have unique as well as shared functions. Here, we review the mechanisms by which HP1 proteins contribute to the regulation of transcription. Focusing on the Drosophila melanogaster HP1 proteins, we examine the role of these proteins in regulating the transcription of genes, transposable elements, and piRNA clusters. In D. melanogaster, as in other species, HP1 proteins can act as transcriptional repressors and activators. The available data reveal that the precise impact of HP1 proteins on gene expression is highly context dependent, on the specific HP1 protein involved, on its protein partners present, and on the specific chromatin context the interaction occurs in. As a group, HP1 proteins utilize a variety of mechanisms to contribute to transcriptional regulation, including both transcriptional (i.e. chromatin-based) and post-transcriptional (i.e. RNA-based) processes. Despite extensive studies of this important protein family, open questions regarding their functions in gene regulation remain, specifically regarding the role of hetero- versus homodimerization and post-translational modifications of HP1 proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Schoelz
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Nicole C Riddle
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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22
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Brändle F, Frühbauer B, Jagannathan M. Principles and functions of pericentromeric satellite DNA clustering into chromocenters. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 128:26-39. [PMID: 35144860 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Simple non-coding tandem repeats known as satellite DNA are observed widely across eukaryotes. These repeats occupy vast regions at the centromere and pericentromere of chromosomes but their contribution to cellular function has remained incompletely understood. Here, we review the literature on pericentromeric satellite DNA and discuss its organization and functions across eukaryotic species. We specifically focus on chromocenters, DNA-dense nuclear foci that contain clustered pericentromeric satellite DNA repeats from multiple chromosomes. We first discuss chromocenter formation and the roles that epigenetic modifications, satellite DNA transcripts and sequence-specific satellite DNA-binding play in this process. We then review the newly emerging functions of chromocenters in genome encapsulation, the maintenance of cell fate and speciation. We specifically highlight how the rapid divergence of satellite DNA repeats impacts reproductive isolation between closely related species. Together, we underline the importance of this so-called 'junk DNA' in fundamental biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Brändle
- Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 3, Zürich CH-8093, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Frühbauer
- Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 3, Zürich CH-8093, Switzerland
| | - Madhav Jagannathan
- Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 3, Zürich CH-8093, Switzerland.
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23
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Oh J, Yeom S, Park J, Lee JS. The regional sequestration of heterochromatin structural proteins is critical to form and maintain silent chromatin. Epigenetics Chromatin 2022; 15:5. [PMID: 35101096 PMCID: PMC8805269 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-022-00435-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe are good models for heterochromatin study. In S. pombe, H3K9 methylation and Swi6, an ortholog of mammalian HP1, lead to heterochromatin formation. However, S. cerevisiae does not have known epigenetic silencing markers and instead has Sir proteins to regulate silent chromatin formation. Although S. cerevisiae and S. pombe form and maintain heterochromatin via mechanisms that appear to be fundamentally different, they share important common features in the heterochromatin structural proteins. Heterochromatin loci are localized at the nuclear periphery by binding to perinuclear membrane proteins, thereby producing distinct heterochromatin foci, which sequester heterochromatin structural proteins. In this review, we discuss the nuclear peripheral anchoring of heterochromatin foci and its functional relevance to heterochromatin formation and maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junsoo Oh
- Department of Molecular Bioscience, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, 1 Kangwondeahak-gil, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Soojin Yeom
- Department of Molecular Bioscience, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, 1 Kangwondeahak-gil, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyeon Park
- Department of Molecular Bioscience, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, 1 Kangwondeahak-gil, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Shin Lee
- Department of Molecular Bioscience, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, 1 Kangwondeahak-gil, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.
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24
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Jost D. Polymer Modeling of 3D Epigenome Folding: Application to Drosophila. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2301:293-305. [PMID: 34415542 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1390-0_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Mechanistic modeling in biology allows to investigate, based on first principles, if putative hypotheses are compatible with observations and to drive further experimental works. Along this line, polymer modeling has been instrumental in 3D genomics to better understand the impact of key mechanisms on the spatial genome organization. Here, I describe how polymer-based models can be practically used to study the role of epigenome in chromosome folding. I illustrate this methodology in the context of Drosophila epigenome folding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Jost
- University of Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Univ Claude Bernard, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, Lyon, France.
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25
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Complex Genetic Interactions between Piwi and HP1a in the Repression of Transposable Elements and Tissue-Specific Genes in the Ovarian Germline. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413430. [PMID: 34948223 PMCID: PMC8707237 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Insertions of transposable elements (TEs) in eukaryotic genomes are usually associated with repressive chromatin, which spreads to neighbouring genomic sequences. In ovaries of Drosophila melanogaster, the Piwi-piRNA pathway plays a key role in the transcriptional silencing of TEs considered to be exerted mostly through the establishment of H3K9me3 histone marks recruiting Heterochromatin Protein 1a (HP1a). Here, using RNA-seq, we investigated the expression of TEs and the adjacent genomic regions upon Piwi and HP1a germline knockdowns sharing a similar genetic background. We found that the depletion of Piwi and HP1a led to the derepression of only partially overlapping TE sets. Several TEs were silenced predominantly by HP1a, whereas the upregulation of some other TEs was more pronounced upon Piwi knockdown and, surprisingly, was diminished upon a Piwi/HP1a double-knockdown. We revealed that HP1a loss influenced the expression of thousands of protein-coding genes mostly not adjacent to TE insertions and, in particular, downregulated a putative transcriptional factor required for TE activation. Nevertheless, our results indicate that Piwi and HP1a cooperatively exert repressive effects on the transcription of euchromatic loci flanking the insertions of some Piwi-regulated TEs. We suggest that this mechanism controls the silencing of a small set of TE-adjacent tissue-specific genes, preventing their inappropriate expression in ovaries.
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26
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Li J, Gao J, Wang R. Control of Chromatin Organization and Chromosome Behavior during the Cell Cycle through Phase Separation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212271. [PMID: 34830152 PMCID: PMC8621359 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Phase-separated condensates participate in various biological activities. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) can be driven by collective interactions between multivalent and intrinsically disordered proteins. The manner in which chromatin-with various morphologies and activities-is organized in a complex and small nucleus still remains to be fully determined. Recent findings support the claim that phase separation is involved in the regulation of chromatin organization and chromosome behavior. Moreover, phase separation also influences key events during mitosis and meiosis. This review elaborately dissects how phase separation regulates chromatin and chromosome organization and controls mitotic and meiotic chromosome behavior.
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27
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Gao Z, Zhang W, Chang R, Zhang S, Yang G, Zhao G. Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation: Unraveling the Enigma of Biomolecular Condensates in Microbial Cells. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:751880. [PMID: 34759902 PMCID: PMC8573418 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.751880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous examples of microbial phase-separated biomolecular condensates have now been identified following advances in fluorescence imaging and single molecule microscopy technologies. The structure, function, and potential applications of these microbial condensates are currently receiving a great deal of attention. By neatly compartmentalizing proteins and their interactors in membrane-less organizations while maintaining free communication between these macromolecules and the external environment, microbial cells are able to achieve enhanced metabolic efficiency. Typically, these condensates also possess the ability to rapidly adapt to internal and external changes. The biological functions of several phase-separated condensates in small bacterial cells show evolutionary convergence with the biological functions of their eukaryotic paralogs. Artificial microbial membrane-less organelles are being constructed with application prospects in biocatalysis, biosynthesis, and biomedicine. In this review, we provide an overview of currently known biomolecular condensates driven by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in microbial cells, and we elaborate on their biogenesis mechanisms and biological functions. Additionally, we highlight the major challenges and future research prospects in studying microbial LLPS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Guiwen Yang
- College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Guoyan Zhao
- College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
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28
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Gao Y, Han M, Shang S, Wang H, Qi LS. Interrogation of the dynamic properties of higher-order heterochromatin using CRISPR-dCas9. Mol Cell 2021; 81:4287-4299.e5. [PMID: 34428454 PMCID: PMC8541924 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Eukaryotic chromosomes feature large regions of compact, repressed heterochromatin hallmarked by Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1). HP1 proteins play multi-faceted roles in shaping heterochromatin, and in cells, HP1 tethering to individual gene promoters leads to epigenetic modifications and silencing. However, emergent properties of HP1 at supranucleosomal scales remain difficult to study in cells because of a lack of appropriate tools. Here, we develop CRISPR-engineered chromatin organization (EChO), combining live-cell CRISPR imaging with inducible large-scale recruitment of chromatin proteins to native genomic targets. We demonstrate that human HP1α tiled across kilobase-scale genomic DNA form novel contacts with natural heterochromatin, integrates two distantly targeted regions, and reversibly changes chromatin from a diffuse to compact state. The compact state exhibits delayed disassembly kinetics and represses transcription across over 600 kb. These findings support a polymer model of HP1α-mediated chromatin regulation and highlight the utility of CRISPR-EChO in studying supranucleosomal chromatin organization in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Gao
- Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Mengting Han
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Stephen Shang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Haifeng Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lei S Qi
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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29
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Kim YJ, Tamadon A, Kim YY, Kang BC, Ku SY. Epigenetic Regulation of Cardiomyocyte Differentiation from Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8599. [PMID: 34445302 PMCID: PMC8395249 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
With the intent to achieve the best modalities for myocardial cell therapy, different cell types are being evaluated as potent sources for differentiation into cardiomyocytes. Embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells have great potential for future progress in the treatment of myocardial diseases. We reviewed aspects of epigenetic mechanisms that play a role in the differentiation of these cells into cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocytes proliferate during fetal life, and after birth, they undergo permanent terminal differentiation. Upregulation of cardiac-specific genes in adults induces hypertrophy due to terminal differentiation. The repression or expression of these genes is controlled by chromatin structural and epigenetic changes. However, few studies have reviewed and analyzed the epigenetic aspects of the differentiation of embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells into cardiac lineage cells. In this review, we focus on the current knowledge of epigenetic regulation of cardiomyocyte proliferation and differentiation from embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells through histone modification and microRNAs, the maintenance of pluripotency, and its alteration during cardiac lineage differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Jin Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 08308, Korea;
| | - Amin Tamadon
- Department of Marine Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr 14174, Iran;
| | - Yoon-Young Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea;
- Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea;
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine and Population, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Byeong-Cheol Kang
- Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea;
| | - Seung-Yup Ku
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea;
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine and Population, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea
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30
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Morrison O, Thakur J. Molecular Complexes at Euchromatin, Heterochromatin and Centromeric Chromatin. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6922. [PMID: 34203193 PMCID: PMC8268097 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromatin consists of a complex of DNA and histone proteins as its core components and plays an important role in both packaging DNA and regulating DNA metabolic pathways such as DNA replication, transcription, recombination, and chromosome segregation. Proper functioning of chromatin further involves a network of interactions among molecular complexes that modify chromatin structure and organization to affect the accessibility of DNA to transcription factors leading to the activation or repression of the transcription of target DNA loci. Based on its structure and compaction state, chromatin is categorized into euchromatin, heterochromatin, and centromeric chromatin. In this review, we discuss distinct chromatin factors and molecular complexes that constitute euchromatin-open chromatin structure associated with active transcription; heterochromatin-less accessible chromatin associated with silencing; centromeric chromatin-the site of spindle binding in chromosome segregation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jitendra Thakur
- Department of Biology, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Rd #2006, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
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31
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Suetake I, Nakazawa S, Sato K, Mutoh R, Mishima Y, Kawakami T, Takei T, Watanabe M, Sakai N, Fujiwara T, Takui T, Miyata M, Shinohara A, Hojo H, Arata T. Structural dynamics of the chromo-shadow domain and chromodomain of HP1 bound to histone H3K9 methylated peptide, as measured by site-directed spin-labeling EPR spectroscopy. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 567:42-48. [PMID: 34139556 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The structural dynamics of the chromo-shadow domain (CSD) and chromodomain (CD) of human HP1 proteins essential for heterochromatin formation were investigated at the nanosecond and nanometer scales by site-directed spin labeling electron paramagnetic resonance and pulsed double resonance spectroscopy. Distance measurements showed that the spin-labeled CSD of human HP1α and HP1γ tightly dimerizes. Unlike CD-CD interaction observed in fission yeast HP1 in an inactivated state (Canzio et al., 2013), the two CDs of HP1α and HP1γ were spatially separated from each other, dynamically mobile, and ready for a Brownian search for H3K9-tri-methyl(me3) on histones. Complex formation of the CD with H3K9me3 slowed dynamics of the domain due to a decreased diffusion constant. CSD mobility was significantly (∼1.3-fold) lower in full-length HP1α than in HP1γ, suggesting that the immobilized conformation of human HP1α shows an auto-inactivated state. Differential properties of HP1α and HP1γ to form the inactive conformation could be relevant to its physiological role in the heterochromatin formation in a cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isao Suetake
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan; Center for Twin Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan; Department of Nutritional Sciences, Graduate School of Nutritional Sciences, Nakamura Gakuen University, Fukuoka, 814-0198, Japan.
| | - Shigeaki Nakazawa
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Materials Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, 558-8585, Japan
| | - Kazunobu Sato
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Materials Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, 558-8585, Japan
| | - Risa Mutoh
- Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, 814-0180, Japan
| | - Yuichi Mishima
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Toru Kawakami
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Toshiki Takei
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Mikio Watanabe
- Center for Twin Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Norio Sakai
- Center for Twin Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | | | - Takeji Takui
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Materials Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, 558-8585, Japan
| | - Makoto Miyata
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, 558-8585, Japan
| | - Akira Shinohara
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hironobu Hojo
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Arata
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan; Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, 558-8585, Japan.
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32
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Wei KHC, Chan C, Bachtrog D. Establishment of H3K9me3-dependent heterochromatin during embryogenesis in Drosophila miranda. eLife 2021; 10:55612. [PMID: 34128466 PMCID: PMC8285105 DOI: 10.7554/elife.55612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterochromatin is a key architectural feature of eukaryotic genomes crucial for silencing of repetitive elements. During Drosophila embryonic cellularization, heterochromatin rapidly appears over repetitive sequences, but the molecular details of how heterochromatin is established are poorly understood. Here, we map the genome-wide distribution of H3K9me3-dependent heterochromatin in individual embryos of Drosophila miranda at precisely staged developmental time points. We find that canonical H3K9me3 enrichment is established prior to cellularization and matures into stable and broad heterochromatin domains through development. Intriguingly, initial nucleation sites of H3K9me3 enrichment appear as early as embryonic stage 3 over transposable elements (TEs) and progressively broaden, consistent with spreading to neighboring nucleosomes. The earliest nucleation sites are limited to specific regions of a small number of recently active retrotransposon families and often appear over promoter and 5' regions of LTR retrotransposons, while late nucleation sites develop broadly across the entirety of most TEs. Interestingly, early nucleating TEs are strongly associated with abundant maternal piRNAs and show early zygotic transcription. These results support a model of piRNA-associated co-transcriptional silencing while also suggesting additional mechanisms for site-restricted H3K9me3 nucleation at TEs in pre-cellular Drosophila embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin H-C Wei
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Carolus Chan
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Doris Bachtrog
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
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33
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Sanulli S, Narlikar GJ. Generation and Biochemical Characterization of Phase-Separated Droplets Formed by Nucleic Acid Binding Proteins: Using HP1 as a Model System. Curr Protoc 2021; 1:e109. [PMID: 33950570 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) has been invoked as an underlying mechanism involved in the formation and function of several cellular membrane-less compartments. Given the explosion of studies in this field in recent years, it has become essential to converge on clear guidelines and methods to rigorously investigate LLPS and advance our understanding of this phenomenon. Here, we describe basic methods to (1) visualize droplets formed by nucleic acid binding proteins and (2) characterize the liquid-like nature of these droplets under controlled in vitro experimental conditions. We discuss the rationale behind these methods, as well as caveats and limitations. Our ultimate goal is to guide scientists interested in learning how to test for LLPS, while appreciating that the field is evolving rapidly and adjusting constantly to the growing knowledge. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Observing phase-separated condensates by microscopy. Support Protocol: Coating of glass-bottom plates. Basic Protocol 2: Assessing condensate reversibility by changing ionic strength. Alternate Protocol 1: Assessing condensate reversibility by dilution. Alternate Protocol 2: Assessing condensate reversibility by altering temperature. Basic Protocol 3: Quantifying phase separation by centrifugation assay. Basic Protocol 4: Quantifying phase separation by turbidity assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Sanulli
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Geeta J Narlikar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, UCSF, San Francisco, California
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34
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Abstract
Methylation of histone H3K9 is a hallmark of epigenetic silencing in eukaryotes. Nucleosome modifications often rely on positive feedback where enzymes are recruited by modified nucleosomes. A combination of local and global feedbacks has been proposed to account for some dynamic properties of heterochromatin, but the range at which the global feedbacks operate and the exact mode of heterochromatin propagation are not known. We investigated these questions in fission yeast. Guided by mathematical modeling, we incrementally increased the size of the mating-type region and profiled heterochromatin establishment over time. We observed exponential decays in the proportion of cells with active reporters, with rates that decreased with domain size. Establishment periods varied from a few generations in wild type to >200 generations in the longest region examined, and highly correlated silencing of two reporters located outside the nucleation center was observed. On a chromatin level, this indicates that individual regions are silenced in sudden bursts. Mathematical modeling accounts for these bursts if heterochromatic nucleosomes facilitate a deacetylation or methylation reaction at long range, in a distance-independent manner. A likely effector of three-dimensional interactions is the evolutionarily conserved Swi6HP1 H3K9me reader, indicating the bursting behavior might be a general mode of heterochromatin propagation.
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35
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Keenen MM, Brown D, Brennan LD, Renger R, Khoo H, Carlson CR, Huang B, Grill SW, Narlikar GJ, Redding S. HP1 proteins compact DNA into mechanically and positionally stable phase separated domains. eLife 2021; 10:e64563. [PMID: 33661100 PMCID: PMC7932698 DOI: 10.7554/elife.64563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, HP1-mediated heterochromatin forms positionally and mechanically stable genomic domains even though the component HP1 paralogs, HP1α, HP1β, and HP1γ, display rapid on-off dynamics. Here, we investigate whether phase-separation by HP1 proteins can explain these biological observations. Using bulk and single-molecule methods, we show that, within phase-separated HP1α-DNA condensates, HP1α acts as a dynamic liquid, while compacted DNA molecules are constrained in local territories. These condensates are resistant to large forces yet can be readily dissolved by HP1β. Finally, we find that differences in each HP1 paralog's DNA compaction and phase-separation properties arise from their respective disordered regions. Our findings suggest a generalizable model for genome organization in which a pool of weakly bound proteins collectively capitalize on the polymer properties of DNA to produce self-organizing domains that are simultaneously resistant to large forces at the mesoscale and susceptible to competition at the molecular scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline M Keenen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Tetrad Graduate Program, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - David Brown
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Lucy D Brennan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Roman Renger
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsDresdenGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)BonnGermany
| | - Harrison Khoo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Christopher R Carlson
- Tetrad Graduate Program, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Bo Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Chan Zuckerberg BiohubSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Stephan W Grill
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsDresdenGermany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität DresdenDresdenGermany
| | - Geeta J Narlikar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Sy Redding
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Marine Biological LaboratoryWoods HoleUnited States
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36
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Qin W, Stengl A, Ugur E, Leidescher S, Ryan J, Cardoso MC, Leonhardt H. HP1β carries an acidic linker domain and requires H3K9me3 for phase separation. Nucleus 2021; 12:44-57. [PMID: 33660589 PMCID: PMC7939559 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2021.1889858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) mediated formation of membraneless organelles has been proposed to coordinate biological processes in space and time. Previously, the formation of phase-separated droplets was described as a unique property of HP1α. Here, we demonstrate that the positive net charge of the intrinsically disordered hinge region (IDR-H) of HP1 proteins is critical for phase separation and that the exchange of four acidic amino acids is sufficient to confer LLPS properties to HP1β. Surprisingly, the addition of mono-nucleosomes promoted H3K9me3-dependent LLPS of HP1β which could be specifically disrupted with methylated but not acetylated H3K9 peptides. HP1β mutants defective in H3K9me3 binding were less efficient in phase separationin vitro and failed to accumulate at heterochromatin in vivo. We propose that multivalent interactions of HP1β with H3K9me3-modified nucleosomes via its chromodomain and dimerization via its chromoshadow domain enable phase separation and contribute to the formation of heterochromatin compartments in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihua Qin
- Center for Molecular Biosystems (BioSysM), Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Stengl
- Center for Molecular Biosystems (BioSysM), Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Enes Ugur
- Center for Molecular Biosystems (BioSysM), Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.,Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Susanne Leidescher
- Center for Molecular Biosystems (BioSysM), Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Joel Ryan
- Center for Molecular Biosystems (BioSysM), Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - M Cristina Cardoso
- Cell Biology and Epigenetics, Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Heinrich Leonhardt
- Center for Molecular Biosystems (BioSysM), Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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37
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Peng AYT, Kolhe JA, Behrens LD, Freeman BC. Genome organization: Tag it, move it, place it. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2020; 68:90-97. [PMID: 33166737 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2020.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Chromosomes are selectively organized within the nuclei of interphase cells reflecting the current fate of each cell and are reorganized in response to various physiological cues to maintain homeostasis. Although substantial progress is being made to establish the various patterns of genome architecture, less is understood on how chromosome folding/positioning is achieved. Here, we discuss recent insights into the cellular mechanisms dictating chromatin movements including the use of epigenetic modifications and allosterically regulated transcription factors, as well as a nucleoskeleton system comprised of actin, myosin, and actin-binding proteins. Together, these nuclear factors help coordinate the positioning of both general and cell-specific genomic architectural features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Yi Tyan Peng
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Janhavi A Kolhe
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Lindsey D Behrens
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Brian C Freeman
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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38
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Yan Z, Ji L, Huo X, Wang Q, Zhang Y, Wen B. G9a/GLP-sensitivity of H3K9me2 Demarcates Two Types of Genomic Compartments. GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2020; 18:359-370. [PMID: 33285284 PMCID: PMC8242262 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2020.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In the nucleus, chromatin is folded into hierarchical architecture that is tightly linked to various nuclear functions. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that confer these architectures remain incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the functional roles of H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2), one of the abundant histone modifications, in three-dimensional (3D) genome organization. Unlike in mouse embryonic stem cells, inhibition of methyltransferases G9a and GLP in differentiated cells eliminated H3K9me2 predominantly at A-type (active) genomic compartments, and the level of residual H3K9me2 modifications was strongly associated with B-type (inactive) genomic compartments. Furthermore, chemical inhibition of G9a/GLP in mouse hepatocytes led to decreased chromatin-nuclear lamina interactions mainly at G9a/GLP-sensitive regions, increased degree of genomic compartmentalization, and up-regulation of hundreds of genes that were associated with alterations of the 3D chromatin. Collectively, our data demonstrated essential roles of H3K9me2 in 3D genome organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixiang Yan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Luzhang Ji
- MOE Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiangru Huo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Qianfeng Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yuwen Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Bo Wen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China.
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39
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Takayama Y. Identification of Genes Encoding CENP-A and Heterochromatin Protein 1 of Lipomyces starkeyi and Functional Analysis Using Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11070769. [PMID: 32650514 PMCID: PMC7397231 DOI: 10.3390/genes11070769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Centromeres function as a platform for the assembly of multiple kinetochore proteins and are essential for chromosome segregation. An active centromere is characterized by the presence of a centromere-specific histone H3 variant, CENP-A. Faithful centromeric localization of CENP-A is supported by heterochromatin in almost all eukaryotes; however, heterochromatin proteins have been lost in most Saccharomycotina. Here, identification of CENP-A (CENP-AL.s.) and heterochromatin protein 1 (Lsw1) in a Saccharomycotina species, the oleaginous yeast Lipomyces starkeyi, is reported. To determine if these proteins are functional, the proteins in S. pombe, a species widely used to study centromeres, were ectopically expressed. CENP-AL.s. localizes to centromeres and can be replaced with S. pombe CENP-A, indicating that CENP-AL.s. is a functional centromere-specific protein. Lsw1 binds at heterochromatin regions, and chromatin binding is dependent on methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9. In other species, self-interaction of heterochromatin protein 1 is thought to cause folding of chromatin, triggering transcription repression and heterochromatin formation. Consistent with this, it was found that Lsw1 can self-interact. L. starkeyi chromatin contains the methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9. These results indicated that L. starkeyi has a primitive heterochromatin structure and is an attractive model for analysis of centromere heterochromatin evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Takayama
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science and Engineering, Teikyo University, 1-1 Toyosatodai, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 320–8551, Japan; ; Tel.: +81-28-627-7242
- Division of Integrated Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Teikyo University Graduate Schools, 1–1 Toyosatodai, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 320–8551, Japan
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40
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Meng F, Stamms K, Bennewitz R, Green A, Oback F, Turner P, Wei J, Oback B. Targeted histone demethylation improves somatic cell reprogramming into cloned blastocysts but not postimplantation bovine concepti†. Biol Reprod 2020; 103:114-125. [PMID: 32318688 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Correct reprogramming of epigenetic marks in the donor nucleus is a prerequisite for successful cloning by somatic cell transfer (SCT). In several mammalian species, repressive histone (H) lysine (K) trimethylation (me3) marks, in particular H3K9me3, form a major barrier to somatic cell reprogramming into pluripotency and totipotency. We engineered bovine embryonic fibroblasts (BEFs) for the doxycycline-inducible expression of a biologically active, truncated form of murine Kdm4b, a demethylase that removes H3K9me3 and H3K36me3 marks. Upon inducing Kdm4b, H3K9me3 and H3K36me3 levels were reduced about 3-fold and 5-fold, respectively, compared with noninduced controls. Donor cell quiescence has been previously associated with reduced somatic trimethylation levels and increased cloning efficiency in cattle. Simultaneously inducing Kdm4b expression (via doxycycline) and quiescence (via serum starvation) further reduced global H3K9me3 and H3K36me3 levels by a total of 18-fold and 35-fold, respectively, compared with noninduced, nonstarved control fibroblasts. Following SCT, Kdm4b-BEFs reprogrammed significantly better into cloned blastocysts than noninduced donor cells. However, detrimethylated donors and sustained Kdm4b-induction during embryo culture did not increase the rates of postblastocyst development from implantation to survival into adulthood. In summary, overexpressing Kdm4b in donor cells only improved their reprogramming into early preimplantation stages, highlighting the need for alternative experimental approaches to reliably improve somatic cloning efficiency in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanli Meng
- AgResearch Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Kathrin Stamms
- AgResearch Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand.,Institute of Nutrition, University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Romina Bennewitz
- AgResearch Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand.,Institute of Neurology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andria Green
- AgResearch Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Fleur Oback
- AgResearch Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Pavla Turner
- AgResearch Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Jingwei Wei
- AgResearch Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand.,Animal Science Institute, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Björn Oback
- AgResearch Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand.,School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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41
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Ilyin AA, Stolyarenko AD, Klenov MS, Shevelyov YY. Various modes of HP1a interactions with the euchromatic chromosome arms in Drosophila ovarian somatic cells. Chromosoma 2020; 129:201-214. [PMID: 32500264 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-020-00738-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Heterochromatin protein 1a (HP1a) is a well-known component of pericentromeric and telomeric heterochromatin in Drosophila. However, its role and the mechanisms of its binding in the chromosome arms (ChAs) remain largely unclear. Here, we identified HP1a-interacting domains in the somatic cells of Drosophila ovaries using a DamID-seq approach and compared them with insertion sites of transposable elements (TEs) revealed by genome sequencing. Although HP1a domains cover only 13% of ChAs, they non-randomly associate with 42% of TE insertions. Furthermore, HP1a on average propagates at 2-kb distances from the TE insertions. These data confirm the role of TEs in formation of HP1a islands in ChAs. However, only 18% of HP1a domains have adjacent TEs, indicating the existence of other mechanisms of HP1a domain formation besides spreading from TEs. In particular, many TE-independent HP1a domains correspond to the regions attached to the nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) or contain active gene promoters. However, HP1a occupancy on the promoters does not significantly influence expression of corresponding genes. At the same time, the steady-state transcript level of many genes located outside of HP1a domains was altered upon HP1a knockdown in the somatic cells of ovaries, thus pointing to the strong indirect effect of HP1a depletion. Collectively, our results support an existence of at least three different mechanisms of HP1a domain emergence in ChAs: spreading from TE insertions, transient interactions with the chromatin located near NPCs, and targeting to the promoters of moderately expressed genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artem A Ilyin
- Department of Molecular Genetics of Cell, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kurchatov Sq. 2, Moscow, Russia, 123182
| | - Anastasia D Stolyarenko
- Department of Molecular Genetics of Cell, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kurchatov Sq. 2, Moscow, Russia, 123182
| | - Mikhail S Klenov
- Department of Molecular Genetics of Cell, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kurchatov Sq. 2, Moscow, Russia, 123182.
| | - Yuri Y Shevelyov
- Department of Molecular Genetics of Cell, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kurchatov Sq. 2, Moscow, Russia, 123182.
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42
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Sanulli S, Gross JD, Narlikar GJ. Biophysical Properties of HP1-Mediated Heterochromatin. COLD SPRING HARBOR SYMPOSIA ON QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGY 2020; 84:217-225. [PMID: 32493764 PMCID: PMC9128075 DOI: 10.1101/sqb.2019.84.040360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Heterochromatin is a classic context for studying the mechanisms of chromatin organization. At the core of a highly conserved type of heterochromatin is the complex formed between chromatin methylated on histone H3 lysine 9 and HP1 proteins. This type of heterochromatin plays central roles in gene repression, genome stability, and nuclear mechanics. Systematic studies over the last several decades have provided insight into the biophysical mechanisms by which the HP1-chromatin complex is formed. Here, we discuss these studies together with recent findings indicating a role for phase separation in heterochromatin organization and function. We suggest that the different functions of HP1-mediated heterochromatin may rely on the increasing diversity being uncovered in the biophysical properties of HP1-chromatin complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Sanulli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - John D Gross
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Geeta J Narlikar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
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43
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Kumar A, Kono H. Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1): interactions with itself and chromatin components. Biophys Rev 2020; 12:387-400. [PMID: 32144738 PMCID: PMC7242596 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-020-00663-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Isoforms of heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) have been known to perform a multitude of functions ranging from gene silencing, gene activation to cell cycle regulation, and cell differentiation. This functional diversity arises from the dissimilarities coded in protein sequence which confers different biophysical and biochemical properties to individual structural elements of HP1 and thereby different behavior and interaction patterns. Hence, an understanding of various interactions of the structural elements of HP1 will be of utmost importance to better elucidate chromatin dynamics in its presence. In this review, we have gathered available information about interactions of HP1 both within and with itself as well as with chromatin elements. Also, the possible implications of these interactions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amarjeet Kumar
- Molecular Modelling and Simulation (MMS) Group, Institute for Quantum Life Science (iQLS), National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), Kizugawa, Kyoto, 619-0215, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Kono
- Molecular Modelling and Simulation (MMS) Group, Institute for Quantum Life Science (iQLS), National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), Kizugawa, Kyoto, 619-0215, Japan.
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44
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Abstract
The traditional view of protein aggregation as being strictly disease-related has been challenged by many examples of cellular aggregates that regulate beneficial biological functions. When coupled with the emerging view that many regulatory proteins undergo phase separation to form dynamic cellular compartments, it has become clear that supramolecular assembly plays wide-ranging and critical roles in cellular regulation. This presents opportunities to develop new tools to probe and illuminate this biology, and to harness the unique properties of these self-assembling systems for synthetic biology for the purposeful manipulation of biological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Chiesa
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Szilvia Kiriakov
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Ahmad S Khalil
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. .,Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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45
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4D Genome Rewiring during Oncogene-Induced and Replicative Senescence. Mol Cell 2020; 78:522-538.e9. [PMID: 32220303 PMCID: PMC7208559 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
To understand the role of the extensive senescence-associated 3D genome reorganization, we generated genome-wide chromatin interaction maps, epigenome, replication-timing, whole-genome bisulfite sequencing, and gene expression profiles from cells entering replicative senescence (RS) or upon oncogene-induced senescence (OIS). We identify senescence-associated heterochromatin domains (SAHDs). Differential intra- versus inter-SAHD interactions lead to the formation of senescence-associated heterochromatin foci (SAHFs) in OIS but not in RS. This OIS-specific configuration brings active genes located in genomic regions adjacent to SAHDs in close spatial proximity and favors their expression. We also identify DNMT1 as a factor that induces SAHFs by promoting HMGA2 expression. Upon DNMT1 depletion, OIS cells transition to a 3D genome conformation akin to that of cells in replicative senescence. These data show how multi-omics and imaging can identify critical features of RS and OIS and discover determinants of acute senescence and SAHF formation. Deep multi-omics characterization of replicative and oncogene-induced senescence Senescence-associated heterochromatin domains (SAHDs) form SAHFs via 3D changes DNMT1 is required for SAHF formation via regulation of HMGA2 expression SAHF formation leads to expression of SAHF-adjacent genes via 3D chromatin contacts
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46
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Ghosh SK, Jost D. Genome organization via loop extrusion, insights from polymer physics models. Brief Funct Genomics 2020; 19:119-127. [PMID: 31711163 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elz023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how genomes fold and organize is one of the main challenges in modern biology. Recent high-throughput techniques like Hi-C, in combination with cutting-edge polymer physics models, have provided access to precise information on 3D chromosome folding to decipher the mechanisms driving such multi-scale organization. In particular, structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) proteins play an important role in the local structuration of chromatin, putatively via a loop extrusion process. Here, we review the different polymer physics models that investigate the role of SMCs in the formation of topologically associated domains (TADs) during interphase via the formation of dynamic loops. We describe the main physical ingredients, compare them and discuss their relevance against experimental observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surya K Ghosh
- Univ Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, TIMC-IMAG, F-38000 Grenoble, France.,Department of Physics and Nanotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Daniel Jost
- Univ Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, TIMC-IMAG, F-38000 Grenoble, France.,Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, Univ Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Univ Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, Inserm U1210, F-69007 Lyon, France
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47
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Raiymbek G, An S, Khurana N, Gopinath S, Larkin A, Biswas S, Trievel RC, Cho US, Ragunathan K. An H3K9 methylation-dependent protein interaction regulates the non-enzymatic functions of a putative histone demethylase. eLife 2020; 9:53155. [PMID: 32195666 PMCID: PMC7192584 DOI: 10.7554/elife.53155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
H3K9 methylation (H3K9me) specifies the establishment and maintenance of transcriptionally silent epigenetic states or heterochromatin. The enzymatic erasure of histone modifications is widely assumed to be the primary mechanism that reverses epigenetic silencing. Here, we reveal an inversion of this paradigm where a putative histone demethylase Epe1 in fission yeast, has a non-enzymatic function that opposes heterochromatin assembly. Mutations within the putative catalytic JmjC domain of Epe1 disrupt its interaction with Swi6HP1 suggesting that this domain might have other functions besides enzymatic activity. The C-terminus of Epe1 directly interacts with Swi6HP1, and H3K9 methylation stimulates this protein-protein interaction in vitro and in vivo. Expressing the Epe1 C-terminus is sufficient to disrupt heterochromatin by outcompeting the histone deacetylase, Clr3 from sites of heterochromatin formation. Our results underscore how histone modifying proteins that resemble enzymes have non-catalytic functions that regulate the assembly of epigenetic complexes in cells. A cell’s identity depends on which of its genes are active. One way for cells to control this process is to change how accessible their genes are to the molecular machinery that switches them on and off. Special proteins called histones determine how accessible genes are by altering how loosely or tightly DNA is packed together. Histones can be modified by enzymes, which are proteins that add or remove specific chemical ‘tags’. These tags regulate how accessible genes are and provide cells with a memory of gene activity. For example, a protein found in yeast called Epe1 helps reactivate large groups of genes after cell division, effectively ‘re-setting’ the yeast’s genome and eliminating past memories of the genes being inactive. For a long time, Epe1 was thought to do this by removing methyl groups, a ‘tag’ that indicates a gene is inactive, from histones – that is, by acting like an enzyme. However, no direct evidence to support this hypothesis has been found. Raiymbek et al. therefore set out to determine exactly how Epe1 worked, and whether or not it did indeed behave like an enzyme. Initial experiments testing mutant versions of Epe1 in yeast cells showed that the changes expected to stop Epe1 from removing methyl groups instead prevented the protein from ‘homing’ to the sections of DNA it normally activates. Detailed microscope imaging, using live yeast cells engineered to produce proteins with fluorescent markers, revealed that this inability to ‘home’ was due to a loss of interaction with Epe1’s main partner, a protein called Swi6. This protein recognizes and binds histones that have methyl tags. Swi6 also acts as a docking site for proteins involved in deactivating genes in close proximity to these histones. Further biochemical studies revealed how the interaction between Epe1 and Swi6 can help in gene reactivation. The methyl tag on histones in inactive regions of the genome inadvertently helps Epe1 interact more efficiently with Swi6. Then, Epe1 can simply block every other protein that binds to Swi6 from participating in gene deactivation. This observation contrasts with the prevailing view where the active removal of methyl tags by proteins such as Epe1 switches genes from an inactive to an active state. This work shows for the first time that Epe1 influences the state of the genome through a process that does not involve enzyme activity. In other words, although the protein may ‘moonlight’ as an enzyme, its main job uses a completely different mechanism. More broadly, these results increase the understanding of the many different ways that gene activity, and ultimately cell identity, can be controlled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulzhan Raiymbek
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Sojin An
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Nidhi Khurana
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Saarang Gopinath
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Ajay Larkin
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Saikat Biswas
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Raymond C Trievel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States.,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Uhn-Soo Cho
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States.,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Kaushik Ragunathan
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
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48
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Greenstein RA, Barrales RR, Sanchez NA, Bisanz JE, Braun S, Al-Sady B. Set1/COMPASS repels heterochromatin invasion at euchromatic sites by disrupting Suv39/Clr4 activity and nucleosome stability. Genes Dev 2020; 34:99-117. [PMID: 31805521 PMCID: PMC6938669 DOI: 10.1101/gad.328468.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Protection of euchromatin from invasion by gene-repressive heterochromatin is critical for cellular health and viability. In addition to constitutive loci such as pericentromeres and subtelomeres, heterochromatin can be found interspersed in gene-rich euchromatin, where it regulates gene expression pertinent to cell fate. While heterochromatin and euchromatin are globally poised for mutual antagonism, the mechanisms underlying precise spatial encoding of heterochromatin containment within euchromatic sites remain opaque. We investigated ectopic heterochromatin invasion by manipulating the fission yeast mating type locus boundary using a single-cell spreading reporter system. We found that heterochromatin repulsion is locally encoded by Set1/COMPASS on certain actively transcribed genes and that this protective role is most prominent at heterochromatin islands, small domains interspersed in euchromatin that regulate cell fate specifiers. Sensitivity to invasion by heterochromatin, surprisingly, is not dependent on Set1 altering overall gene expression levels. Rather, the gene-protective effect is strictly dependent on Set1's catalytic activity. H3K4 methylation, the Set1 product, antagonizes spreading in two ways: directly inhibiting catalysis by Suv39/Clr4 and locally disrupting nucleosome stability. Taken together, these results describe a mechanism for spatial encoding of euchromatic signals that repel heterochromatin invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Greenstein
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, George Williams Hooper Foundation, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
- TETRAD Graduate Program, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Ramon R Barrales
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Biomedical Center (BMC), Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Nicholas A Sanchez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, George Williams Hooper Foundation, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
- TETRAD Graduate Program, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Jordan E Bisanz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, George Williams Hooper Foundation, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
| | - Sigurd Braun
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Biomedical Center (BMC), Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Bassem Al-Sady
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, George Williams Hooper Foundation, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
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49
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Grigoryev SA, Popova EY. Attraction of Likenesses: Mechanisms of Self-Association and Compartmentalization of Eukaryotic Chromatin. Mol Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893319060050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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50
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Sanulli S, Trnka MJ, Dharmarajan V, Tibble RW, Pascal BD, Burlingame AL, Griffin PR, Gross JD, Narlikar GJ. HP1 reshapes nucleosome core to promote phase separation of heterochromatin. Nature 2019; 575:390-394. [PMID: 31618757 PMCID: PMC7039410 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1669-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 297] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Heterochromatin affects genome function at many levels. It enables heritable gene repression, maintains chromosome integrity and provides mechanical rigidity to the nucleus1,2. These diverse functions are proposed to arise in part from compaction of the underlying chromatin2. A major type of heterochromatin contains at its core the complex formed between HP1 proteins and chromatin that is methylated on histone H3, lysine 9 (H3K9me). HP1 is proposed to use oligomerization to compact chromatin into phase-separated condensates3-6. Yet, how HP1-mediated phase separation relates to chromatin compaction remains unclear. Here we show that chromatin compaction by the Schizosaccharomyces pombe HP1 protein Swi6 results in phase-separated liquid condensates. Unexpectedly, we find that Swi6 substantially increases the accessibility and dynamics of buried histone residues within a nucleosome. Restraining these dynamics impairs compaction of chromatin into liquid droplets by Swi6. Our results indicate that Swi6 couples its oligomerization to the phase separation of chromatin by a counterintuitive mechanism, namely the dynamic exposure of buried nucleosomal regions. We propose that such reshaping of the octamer core by Swi6 increases opportunities for multivalent interactions between nucleosomes, thereby promoting phase separation. This mechanism may more generally drive chromatin organization beyond heterochromatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Sanulli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - M J Trnka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - V Dharmarajan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - R W Tibble
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Program in Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - B D Pascal
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - A L Burlingame
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - P R Griffin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - J D Gross
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - G J Narlikar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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