1
|
Lin YY, Müller P, Karagianni E, Hepp N, Mueller-Planitz F, Vanderlinden W, Lipfert J. Epigenetic histone modifications H3K36me3 and H4K5/8/12/16ac induce open polynucleosome conformations via different mechanisms. J Mol Biol 2024:168671. [PMID: 38908785 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Nucleosomes are the basic compaction unit of chromatin and nucleosome structure, and their higher-order assemblies regulate genome accessibility. Many post-translational modifications alter nucleosome dynamics, nucleosome-nucleosome interactions, and ultimately chromatin structure and gene expression. Here, we investigate the role of two post-translational modifications associated with actively transcribed regions, H3K36me3 and H4K5/8/12/16ac, in the contexts of tri-nucleosome arrays that provide a tractable model system for quantitative single-molecule analysis, while enabling us to probe nucleosome-nucleosome interactions. Direct visualization by AFM imaging reveals that H3K36me3 and H4K5/8/12/16ac nucleosomes adopt significantly more open and loose conformations than unmodified nucleosomes. Similarly, magnetic tweezers force spectroscopy shows a reduction in DNA outer turn wrapping and nucleosome-nucleosome interactions for the modified nucleosomes. The results suggest that for H3K36me3 the increased breathing and outer DNA turn unwrapping seen in mononucleosomes propagates to more open conformations in nucleosome arrays. In contrast, the even more open structures of H4K5/8/12/16ac nucleosome arrays do not appear to derive from the dynamics of the constituent mononucleosomes, but are driven by reduced nucleosome-nucleosome interactions, suggesting that stacking interactions can overrule DNA breathing of individual nucleosomes. We anticipate that our methodology will be broadly applicable to reveal the influence of other post-translational modifications and to observe the activity of nucleosome remodelers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Yun Lin
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, Amaliensstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany; Soft Condensed Matter and Biophysics, Department of Physics and Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Müller
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, Amaliensstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany; Soft Condensed Matter and Biophysics, Department of Physics and Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Evdoxia Karagianni
- Soft Condensed Matter and Biophysics, Department of Physics and Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Nicola Hepp
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Felix Mueller-Planitz
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Willem Vanderlinden
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, Amaliensstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany; Soft Condensed Matter and Biophysics, Department of Physics and Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands; School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburg, James Clerk Maxwell Building, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, United Kingdom.
| | - Jan Lipfert
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, Amaliensstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany; Soft Condensed Matter and Biophysics, Department of Physics and Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhou HX, Kota D, Qin S, Prasad R. Fundamental Aspects of Phase-Separated Biomolecular Condensates. Chem Rev 2024. [PMID: 38885177 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates, formed through phase separation, are upending our understanding in much of molecular, cell, and developmental biology. There is an urgent need to elucidate the physicochemical foundations of the behaviors and properties of biomolecular condensates. Here we aim to fill this need by writing a comprehensive, critical, and accessible review on the fundamental aspects of phase-separated biomolecular condensates. We introduce the relevant theoretical background, present the theoretical basis for the computation and experimental measurement of condensate properties, and give mechanistic interpretations of condensate behaviors and properties in terms of interactions at the molecular and residue levels.
Collapse
|
3
|
Sun T, Korolev N, Minhas V, Mirzoev A, Lyubartsev AP, Nordenskiöld L. Multiscale modeling reveals the ion-mediated phase separation of nucleosome core particles. Biophys J 2024; 123:1414-1434. [PMID: 37915169 PMCID: PMC11163297 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the vast length scale inside the cell nucleus, multiscale models are required to understand chromatin folding, structure, and dynamics and how they regulate genomic activities such as DNA transcription, replication, and repair. We study the interactions and structure of condensed phases formed by the universal building block of chromatin, the nucleosome core particle (NCP), using bottom-up multiscale coarse-grained (CG) simulations with a model extracted from all-atom MD simulations. In the presence of the multivalent cations Mg(H2O)62+ or CoHex3+, we analyze the internal structures of the NCP aggregates and the contributions of histone tails and ions to the aggregation patterns. We then derive a "super" coarse-grained (SCG) NCP model to study the macroscopic scale phase separation of NCPs. The SCG simulations show the formation of NCP aggregates with Mg(H2O)62+ concentration-dependent densities and sizes. Variation of the CoHex3+ concentrations results in highly ordered lamellocolumnar and hexagonal columnar phases in agreement with experimental data. The results give detailed insights into nucleosome interactions and for understanding chromatin folding in the cell nucleus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiedong Sun
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nikolay Korolev
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vishal Minhas
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alexander Mirzoev
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alexander P Lyubartsev
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Lars Nordenskiöld
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Brandani GB, Gu C, Gopi S, Takada S. Multiscale Bayesian simulations reveal functional chromatin condensation of gene loci. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae226. [PMID: 38881841 PMCID: PMC11179106 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Chromatin, the complex assembly of DNA and associated proteins, plays a pivotal role in orchestrating various genomic functions. To aid our understanding of the principles underlying chromatin organization, we introduce Hi-C metainference, a Bayesian approach that integrates Hi-C contact frequencies into multiscale prior models of chromatin. This approach combines both bottom-up (the physics-based prior) and top-down (the data-driven posterior) strategies to characterize the 3D organization of a target genomic locus. We first demonstrate the capability of this method to accurately reconstruct the structural ensemble and the dynamics of a system from contact information. We then apply the approach to investigate the Sox2, Pou5f1, and Nanog loci of mouse embryonic stem cells using a bottom-up chromatin model at 1 kb resolution. We observe that the studied loci are conformationally heterogeneous and organized as crumpled globules, favoring contacts between distant enhancers and promoters. Using nucleosome-resolution simulations, we then reveal how the Nanog gene is functionally organized across the multiple scales of chromatin. At the local level, we identify diverse tetranucleosome folding motifs with a characteristic distribution along the genome, predominantly open at cis-regulatory elements and compact in between. At the larger scale, we find that enhancer-promoter contacts are driven by the transient condensation of chromatin into compact domains stabilized by extensive internucleosome interactions. Overall, this work highlights the condensed, but dynamic nature of chromatin in vivo, contributing to a deeper understanding of gene structure-function relationships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni B Brandani
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Chenyang Gu
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Soundhararajan Gopi
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Shoji Takada
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Uckelmann M, Davidovich C. Chromatin compaction by Polycomb group proteins revisited. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2024; 86:102806. [PMID: 38537534 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2024.102806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
The chromatin compaction activity of Polycomb group proteins has traditionally been considered essential for transcriptional repression. However, there is very little information on how Polycomb group proteins compact chromatin at the molecular level and no causal link between the compactness of chromatin and transcriptional repression. Recently, a more complete picture of Polycomb-dependent chromatin architecture has started to emerge, owing to advanced methods for imaging and chromosome conformation capture. Discoveries into Polycomb-driven phase separation add another layer of complexity. Recent observations generally imply that Polycomb group proteins modulate chromatin structure at multiple scales to reduce its dynamics and segregate it from active domains. Hence, it is reasonable to hypothesise that Polycomb group proteins maintain the energetically favourable state of compacted chromatin, rather than actively compact it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Uckelmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
| | - Chen Davidovich
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia; EMBL-Australia, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Campanile M, Kurtul ED, Dec R, Möbitz S, Del Vecchio P, Petraccone L, Tatzelt J, Oliva R, Winter R. Morphological Transformations of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein Biocondensates Mediated by Antimicrobial Peptides. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202400048. [PMID: 38483823 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202400048] [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: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Recently, the discovery of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as excellent candidates for overcoming antibiotic resistance has attracted significant attention. AMPs are short peptides active against bacteria, cancer cells, and viruses. It has been shown that the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N-P) undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation in the presence of RNA, resulting in biocondensate formation. These biocondensates are crucial for viral replication as they concentrate the viral RNA with the host cell's protein machinery required for viral protein expression. Thus, N-P biocondensates are promising targets to block or slow down viral RNA transcription and consequently virion assembly. We investigated the ability of three AMPs to interfere with N-P/RNA condensates. Using microscopy techniques, supported by biophysical characterization, we found that the AMP LL-III partitions into the condensate, leading to clustering. Instead, the AMP CrACP1 partitions into the droplets without affecting their morphology but reducing their dynamics. Conversely, GKY20 leads to the formation of fibrillar structures after partitioning. It can be expected that such morphological transformation severely impairs the normal functionality of the N-P droplets and thus virion assembly. These results could pave the way for the development of a new class of AMP-based antiviral agents targeting biocondensates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Campanile
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Emine Dila Kurtul
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Robert Dec
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Simone Möbitz
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Pompea Del Vecchio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Petraccone
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Jörg Tatzelt
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Roland Winter
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kant A, Guo Z, Vinayak V, Neguembor MV, Li WS, Agrawal V, Pujadas E, Almassalha L, Backman V, Lakadamyali M, Cosma MP, Shenoy VB. Active transcription and epigenetic reactions synergistically regulate meso-scale genomic organization. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4338. [PMID: 38773126 PMCID: PMC11109243 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48698-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: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
In interphase nuclei, chromatin forms dense domains of characteristic sizes, but the influence of transcription and histone modifications on domain size is not understood. We present a theoretical model exploring this relationship, considering chromatin-chromatin interactions, histone modifications, and chromatin extrusion. We predict that the size of heterochromatic domains is governed by a balance among the diffusive flux of methylated histones sustaining them and the acetylation reactions in the domains and the process of loop extrusion via supercoiling by RNAPII at their periphery, which contributes to size reduction. Super-resolution and nano-imaging of five distinct cell lines confirm the predictions indicating that the absence of transcription leads to larger heterochromatin domains. Furthermore, the model accurately reproduces the findings regarding how transcription-mediated supercoiling loss can mitigate the impacts of excessive cohesin loading. Our findings shed light on the role of transcription in genome organization, offering insights into chromatin dynamics and potential therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aayush Kant
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Zixian Guo
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Vinayak Vinayak
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Maria Victoria Neguembor
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Wing Shun Li
- Department of Applied Physics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60202, USA
| | - Vasundhara Agrawal
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60202, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Emily Pujadas
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60202, USA
| | - Luay Almassalha
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60202, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Vadim Backman
- Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60202, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Melike Lakadamyali
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Maria Pia Cosma
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, 08010, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, 08003, Spain
| | - Vivek B Shenoy
- Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Schwerdtfeger P, Wales DJ. 100 Years of the Lennard-Jones Potential. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:3379-3405. [PMID: 38669689 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.4c00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
It is now 100 years since Lennard-Jones published his first paper introducing the now famous potential that bears his name. It is therefore timely to reflect on the many achievements, as well as the limitations, of this potential in the theory of atomic and molecular interactions, where applications range from descriptions of intermolecular forces to molecules, clusters, and condensed matter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Schwerdtfeger
- Centre for Theoretical Chemistry and Physics, The New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study, Massey University Auckland, Private Bag 102904, Auckland 0745, New Zealand
| | - David J Wales
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Pyzer-Knapp EO, Curioni A. Advancing biomolecular simulation through exascale HPC, AI and quantum computing. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2024; 87:102826. [PMID: 38733863 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2024.102826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular simulation can act as both a digital microscope and a crystal ball; offering the potential for a deeper understanding of experimental observations whilst also presenting a forward-looking avenue for the in silico design and evaluation of hitherto unsynthesized compounds. Indeed, as the intricacy of our scientific inquiries has grown, so too has the computational prowess we seek to deploy in our pursuit of answers. As we enter the Exascale era, this mini-review surveys the computational landscape from both the point of view of the development of new and ever more powerful systems, and the simulations that are run on them. Moreover, as we stand on the cusp of a transformative phase in computational biology, this article offers a contemplative glance into the future, speculating on the profound implications of artificial intelligence and quantum computing for large-scale biomolecular simulations.
Collapse
|
10
|
Maurici N, Phan TM, Henty-Ridilla JL, Kim YC, Mittal J, Bah A. Uncovering the molecular interactions underlying MBD2 and MBD3 phase separation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.29.591564. [PMID: 38746378 PMCID: PMC11092444 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.29.591564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Chromatin organization controls DNA's accessibility to regulatory factors to influence gene expression. Heterochromatin, or transcriptionally silent chromatin enriched in methylated DNA and methylated histone tails, self-assembles through multivalent interactions with its associated proteins into a condensed, but dynamic state. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of key heterochromatin regulators, such as heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1), plays an essential role in heterochromatin assembly and function. Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), the most studied member of the methyl-CpG-binding domain (MBD) family of proteins, has been recently shown to undergo LLPS in the absence and presence of methylated DNA. These studies provide a new mechanistic framework for understanding the role of methylated DNA and its readers in heterochromatin formation. However, the details of the molecular interactions by which other MBD family members undergo LLPS to mediate genome organization and transcriptional regulation are not fully understood. Here, we focus on two MBD proteins, MBD2 and MBD3, that have distinct but interdependent roles in gene regulation. Using an integrated computational and experimental approach, we uncover the homotypic and heterotypic interactions governing MBD2 and MBD3 phase separation and DNA's influence on this process. We show that despite sharing the highest sequence identity and structural homology among all the MBD protein family members, MBD2 and MBD3 exhibit differing residue patterns resulting in distinct phase separation mechanisms. Understanding the molecular underpinnings of MBD protein condensation offers insights into the higher-order, LLPS-mediated organization of heterochromatin.
Collapse
|
11
|
Movilla Miangolarra A, Saxton DS, Yan Z, Rine J, Howard M. Two-way feedback between chromatin compaction and histone modification state explains Saccharomyces cerevisiae heterochromatin bistability. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2403316121. [PMID: 38593082 PMCID: PMC11032488 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2403316121] [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: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Compact chromatin is closely linked with gene silencing in part by sterically masking access to promoters, inhibiting transcription factor binding and preventing polymerase from efficiently transcribing a gene. However, a broader hypothesis suggests that chromatin compaction can be both a cause and a consequence of the locus histone modification state, with a tight bidirectional interaction underpinning bistable transcriptional states. To rigorously test this hypothesis, we developed a mathematical model for the dynamics of the HMR locus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, that incorporates activating histone modifications, silencing proteins, and a dynamic, acetylation-dependent, three-dimensional locus size. Chromatin compaction enhances silencer protein binding, which in turn feeds back to remove activating histone modifications, leading to further compaction. The bistable output of the model was in good agreement with prior quantitative data, including switching rates from expressed to silent states (and vice versa), and protein binding/histone modification levels within the locus. We then tested the model by predicting changes in switching rates as the genetic length of the locus was increased, which were then experimentally verified. Such bidirectional feedback between chromatin compaction and the histone modification state may be a widespread and important regulatory mechanism given the hallmarks of many heterochromatic regions: physical chromatin compaction and dimerizing (or multivalent) silencing proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel S. Saxton
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
| | - Zhi Yan
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
| | - Jasper Rine
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
| | - Martin Howard
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes Centre, NorwichNR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Phan TM, Kim YC, Debelouchina GT, Mittal J. Interplay between charge distribution and DNA in shaping HP1 paralog phase separation and localization. eLife 2024; 12:RP90820. [PMID: 38592759 PMCID: PMC11003746 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90820] [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] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) family is a crucial component of heterochromatin with diverse functions in gene regulation, cell cycle control, and cell differentiation. In humans, there are three paralogs, HP1α, HP1β, and HP1γ, which exhibit remarkable similarities in their domain architecture and sequence properties. Nevertheless, these paralogs display distinct behaviors in liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), a process linked to heterochromatin formation. Here, we employ a coarse-grained simulation framework to uncover the sequence features responsible for the observed differences in LLPS. We highlight the significance of the net charge and charge patterning along the sequence in governing paralog LLPS propensities. We also show that both highly conserved folded and less-conserved disordered domains contribute to the observed differences. Furthermore, we explore the potential co-localization of different HP1 paralogs in multicomponent assemblies and the impact of DNA on this process. Importantly, our study reveals that DNA can significantly reshape the stability of a minimal condensate formed by HP1 paralogs due to competitive interactions of HP1α with HP1β and HP1γ versus DNA. In conclusion, our work highlights the physicochemical nature of interactions that govern the distinct phase-separation behaviors of HP1 paralogs and provides a molecular framework for understanding their role in chromatin organization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tien M Phan
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M UniversityCollege StationUnited States
| | - Young C Kim
- Center for Materials Physics and Technology, Naval Research LaboratoryWashingtonUnited States
| | - Galia T Debelouchina
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
| | - Jeetain Mittal
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M UniversityCollege StationUnited States
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M UniversityCollege StationUnited States
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics, Texas A&M UniversityCollege StationUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Nie Y, Zheng Z, Li C, Zhan H, Kou L, Gu Y, Lü C. Resolving the dynamic properties of entangled linear polymers in non-equilibrium coarse grain simulation with a priori scaling factors. NANOSCALE 2024. [PMID: 38494916 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr06185j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The molecular weight of polymers can influence the material properties, but the molecular weight at the experiment level sometimes can be a huge burden for property prediction with full-atomic simulations. The traditional bottom-up coarse grain (CG) simulation can reduce the computation cost. However, the dynamic properties predicted by the CG simulation can deviate from the full-atomic simulation result. Usually, in CG simulations, the diffusion is faster and the viscosity and modulus are much lower. The fast dynamics in CG are usually solved by a posteriori scaling on time, temperature, or potential modifications, which usually have poor transferability to other non-fitted physical properties because of a lack of fundamental physics. In this work, a priori scaling factors were calculated by the loss of degrees of freedom and implemented in the iterative Boltzmann inversion. According to the simulation results on 3 different CG levels at different temperatures and loading rates, such a priori scaling factors can help in reproducing some dynamic properties of polycaprolactone in CG simulation more accurately, such as heat capacity, Young's modulus, and viscosity, while maintaining the accuracy in the structural distribution prediction. The transferability of entropy-enthalpy compensation and a dissipative particle dynamics thermostat is also presented for comparison. The proposed method reveals the huge potential for developing customized CG thermostats and offers a simple way to rebuild multiphysics CG models for polymers with good transferability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yihan Nie
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhuoqun Zheng
- School of Astronautics, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
| | - Chengkai Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
| | - Haifei Zhan
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia
- Center for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Liangzhi Kou
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia
- Center for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Yuantong Gu
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia
- Center for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Chaofeng Lü
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Holehouse AS, Kragelund BB. The molecular basis for cellular function of intrinsically disordered protein regions. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:187-211. [PMID: 37957331 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00673-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered protein regions exist in a collection of dynamic interconverting conformations that lack a stable 3D structure. These regions are structurally heterogeneous, ubiquitous and found across all kingdoms of life. Despite the absence of a defined 3D structure, disordered regions are essential for cellular processes ranging from transcriptional control and cell signalling to subcellular organization. Through their conformational malleability and adaptability, disordered regions extend the repertoire of macromolecular interactions and are readily tunable by their structural and chemical context, making them ideal responders to regulatory cues. Recent work has led to major advances in understanding the link between protein sequence and conformational behaviour in disordered regions, yet the link between sequence and molecular function is less well defined. Here we consider the biochemical and biophysical foundations that underlie how and why disordered regions can engage in productive cellular functions, provide examples of emerging concepts and discuss how protein disorder contributes to intracellular information processing and regulation of cellular function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex S Holehouse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Birthe B Kragelund
- REPIN, Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Uckelmann M, Levina V, Taveneau C, Han Ng X, Pandey V, Martinez J, Mendiratta S, Houx J, Boudes M, Venugopal H, Trépout S, Zhang Q, Flanigan S, Li M, Sierecki E, Gambin Y, Das PP, Bell O, de Marco A, Davidovich C. Dynamic PRC1-CBX8 stabilizes a porous structure of chromatin condensates. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.05.08.539931. [PMID: 38405976 PMCID: PMC10888862 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.08.539931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The compaction of chromatin is a prevalent paradigm in gene repression. Chromatin compaction is commonly thought to repress transcription by restricting chromatin accessibility. However, the spatial organisation and dynamics of chromatin compacted by gene-repressing factors are unknown. Using cryo-electron tomography, we solved the threedimensional structure of chromatin condensed by the Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1) in a complex with CBX8. PRC1-condensed chromatin is porous and stabilised through multivalent dynamic interactions of PRC1 with chromatin. Mechanistically, positively charged residues on the internally disordered regions (IDRs) of CBX8 mask negative charges on the DNA to stabilize the condensed state of chromatin. Within condensates, PRC1 remains dynamic while maintaining a static chromatin structure. In differentiated mouse embryonic stem cells, CBX8-bound chromatin remains accessible. These findings challenge the idea of rigidly compacted polycomb domains and instead provides a mechanistic framework for dynamic and accessible PRC1-chromatin condensates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Uckelmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University; Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Vita Levina
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University; Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Cyntia Taveneau
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University; Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University; Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Xiao Han Ng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University; Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Varun Pandey
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University; Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Jasmine Martinez
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, and Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Shweta Mendiratta
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, and Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Justin Houx
- EMBL Australia Node for Single Molecule Science and School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052 Australia
| | - Marion Boudes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University; Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Hari Venugopal
- Ramaciotti Centre for Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Monash University, Monash, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sylvain Trépout
- Ramaciotti Centre for Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Monash University, Monash, Victoria, Australia
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University; Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Sarena Flanigan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University; Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Minrui Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University; Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University; Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Emma Sierecki
- EMBL Australia Node for Single Molecule Science and School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052 Australia
| | - Yann Gambin
- EMBL Australia Node for Single Molecule Science and School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052 Australia
| | - Partha Pratim Das
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University; Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Oliver Bell
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, and Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Alex de Marco
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University; Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University; Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York 10027 NY, United States of America
| | - Chen Davidovich
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University; Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- EMBL-Australia; Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lin X, Zhang B. Explicit ion modeling predicts physicochemical interactions for chromatin organization. eLife 2024; 12:RP90073. [PMID: 38289342 PMCID: PMC10945522 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90073] [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] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular mechanisms that dictate chromatin organization in vivo are under active investigation, and the extent to which intrinsic interactions contribute to this process remains debatable. A central quantity for evaluating their contribution is the strength of nucleosome-nucleosome binding, which previous experiments have estimated to range from 2 to 14 kBT. We introduce an explicit ion model to dramatically enhance the accuracy of residue-level coarse-grained modeling approaches across a wide range of ionic concentrations. This model allows for de novo predictions of chromatin organization and remains computationally efficient, enabling large-scale conformational sampling for free energy calculations. It reproduces the energetics of protein-DNA binding and unwinding of single nucleosomal DNA, and resolves the differential impact of mono- and divalent ions on chromatin conformations. Moreover, we showed that the model can reconcile various experiments on quantifying nucleosomal interactions, providing an explanation for the large discrepancy between existing estimations. We predict the interaction strength at physiological conditions to be 9 kBT, a value that is nonetheless sensitive to DNA linker length and the presence of linker histones. Our study strongly supports the contribution of physicochemical interactions to the phase behavior of chromatin aggregates and chromatin organization inside the nucleus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xingcheng Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeUnited States
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Seelbinder B, Wagner S, Jain M, Erben E, Klykov S, Stoev ID, Krishnaswamy VR, Kreysing M. Probe-free optical chromatin deformation and measurement of differential mechanical properties in the nucleus. eLife 2024; 13:e76421. [PMID: 38214505 PMCID: PMC10786458 DOI: 10.7554/elife.76421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The nucleus is highly organized to facilitate coordinated gene transcription. Measuring the rheological properties of the nucleus and its sub-compartments will be crucial to understand the principles underlying nuclear organization. Here, we show that strongly localized temperature gradients (approaching 1°C/µm) can lead to substantial intra-nuclear chromatin displacements (>1 µm), while nuclear area and lamina shape remain unaffected. Using particle image velocimetry (PIV), intra-nuclear displacement fields can be calculated and converted into spatio-temporally resolved maps of various strain components. Using this approach, we show that chromatin displacements are highly reversible, indicating that elastic contributions are dominant in maintaining nuclear organization on the time scale of seconds. In genetically inverted nuclei, centrally compacted heterochromatin displays high resistance to deformation, giving a rigid, solid-like appearance. Correlating spatially resolved strain maps with fluorescent reporters in conventional interphase nuclei reveals that various nuclear compartments possess distinct mechanical identities. Surprisingly, both densely and loosely packed chromatin showed high resistance to deformation, compared to medium dense chromatin. Equally, nucleoli display particularly high resistance and strong local anchoring to heterochromatin. Our results establish how localized temperature gradients can be used to drive nuclear compartments out of mechanical equilibrium to obtain spatial maps of their material responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Seelbinder
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsDresdenGermany
- Centre for Systems BiologyDresdenGermany
| | - Susan Wagner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsDresdenGermany
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Biological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of TechnologyEggenstein-LeopoldshafenGermany
| | - Manavi Jain
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsDresdenGermany
- Centre for Systems BiologyDresdenGermany
| | - Elena Erben
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsDresdenGermany
- Centre for Systems BiologyDresdenGermany
| | - Sergei Klykov
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsDresdenGermany
- Centre for Systems BiologyDresdenGermany
| | - Iliya Dimitrov Stoev
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsDresdenGermany
- Centre for Systems BiologyDresdenGermany
| | | | - Moritz Kreysing
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsDresdenGermany
- Centre for Systems BiologyDresdenGermany
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Biological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of TechnologyEggenstein-LeopoldshafenGermany
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Maeshima K, Iida S, Shimazoe MA, Tamura S, Ide S. Is euchromatin really open in the cell? Trends Cell Biol 2024; 34:7-17. [PMID: 37385880 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2023.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Genomic DNA is wrapped around a core histone octamer and forms a nucleosome. In higher eukaryotic cells, strings of nucleosomes are irregularly folded as chromatin domains that act as functional genome units. According to a typical textbook model, chromatin can be categorized into two types, euchromatin and heterochromatin, based on its degree of compaction. Euchromatin is open, while heterochromatin is closed and condensed. However, is euchromatin really open in the cell? New evidence from genomics and advanced imaging studies has revealed that euchromatin consists of condensed liquid-like domains. Condensed chromatin seems to be the default chromatin state in higher eukaryotic cells. We discuss this novel view of euchromatin in the cell and how the revealed organization is relevant to genome functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiro Maeshima
- Genome Dynamics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan; Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan.
| | - Shiori Iida
- Genome Dynamics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan; Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Masa A Shimazoe
- Genome Dynamics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan; Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Sachiko Tamura
- Genome Dynamics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Satoru Ide
- Genome Dynamics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan; Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Cai L, Wang GG. Through the lens of phase separation: intrinsically unstructured protein and chromatin looping. Nucleus 2023; 14:2179766. [PMID: 36821650 PMCID: PMC9980480 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2023.2179766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The establishment, maintenance and dynamic regulation of three-dimensional (3D) chromatin structures provide an important means for partitioning of genome into functionally distinctive domains, which helps to define specialized gene expression programs associated with developmental stages and cell types. Increasing evidence supports critical roles for intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) harbored within transcription factors (TFs) and chromatin-modulatory proteins in inducing phase separation, a phenomenon of forming membrane-less condensates through partitioning of biomolecules. Such a process is also critically involved in the establishment of high-order chromatin structures and looping. IDR- and phase separation-driven 3D genome (re)organization often goes wrong in disease such as cancer. This review discusses about recent advances in understanding how phase separation of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) modulates chromatin looping and gene expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling Cai
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA,Ling Cai Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC27599, USA
| | - Gang Greg Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA,Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA,CONTACT Gang Greg Wang Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC27599, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Lin X, Zhang B. Explicit Ion Modeling Predicts Physicochemical Interactions for Chromatin Organization. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.16.541030. [PMID: 37293007 PMCID: PMC10245791 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.16.541030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Molecular mechanisms that dictate chromatin organization in vivo are under active investigation, and the extent to which intrinsic interactions contribute to this process remains debatable. A central quantity for evaluating their contribution is the strength of nucleosome-nucleosome binding, which previous experiments have estimated to range from 2 to 14 kBT. We introduce an explicit ion model to dramatically enhance the accuracy of residue-level coarse-grained modeling approaches across a wide range of ionic concentrations. This model allows for de novo predictions of chromatin organization and remains computationally efficient, enabling large-scale conformational sampling for free energy calculations. It reproduces the energetics of protein-DNA binding and unwinding of single nucleosomal DNA, and resolves the differential impact of mono and divalent ions on chromatin conformations. Moreover, we showed that the model can reconcile various experiments on quantifying nucleosomal interactions, providing an explanation for the large discrepancy between existing estimations. We predict the interaction strength at physiological conditions to be 9 kBT, a value that is nonetheless sensitive to DNA linker length and the presence of linker histones. Our study strongly supports the contribution of physicochemical interactions to the phase behavior of chromatin aggregates and chromatin organization inside the nucleus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xingcheng Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Liu S, Wang C, Latham AP, Ding X, Zhang B. OpenABC enables flexible, simplified, and efficient GPU accelerated simulations of biomolecular condensates. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1011442. [PMID: 37695778 PMCID: PMC10513381 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates are important structures in various cellular processes but are challenging to study using traditional experimental techniques. In silico simulations with residue-level coarse-grained models strike a balance between computational efficiency and chemical accuracy. They could offer valuable insights by connecting the emergent properties of these complex systems with molecular sequences. However, existing coarse-grained models often lack easy-to-follow tutorials and are implemented in software that is not optimal for condensate simulations. To address these issues, we introduce OpenABC, a software package that greatly simplifies the setup and execution of coarse-grained condensate simulations with multiple force fields using Python scripting. OpenABC seamlessly integrates with the OpenMM molecular dynamics engine, enabling efficient simulations with performance on a single GPU that rivals the speed achieved by hundreds of CPUs. We also provide tools that convert coarse-grained configurations to all-atom structures for atomistic simulations. We anticipate that OpenABC will significantly facilitate the adoption of in silico simulations by a broader community to investigate the structural and dynamical properties of condensates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuming Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Cong Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Andrew P. Latham
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Xinqiang Ding
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abini-Agbomson S, Gretarsson K, Shih RM, Hsieh L, Lou T, De Ioannes P, Vasilyev N, Lee R, Wang M, Simon MD, Armache JP, Nudler E, Narlikar G, Liu S, Lu C, Armache KJ. Catalytic and non-catalytic mechanisms of histone H4 lysine 20 methyltransferase SUV420H1. Mol Cell 2023; 83:2872-2883.e7. [PMID: 37595555 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.07.020] [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: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
SUV420H1 di- and tri-methylates histone H4 lysine 20 (H4K20me2/H4K20me3) and plays crucial roles in DNA replication, repair, and heterochromatin formation. It is dysregulated in several cancers. Many of these processes were linked to its catalytic activity. However, deletion and inhibition of SUV420H1 have shown distinct phenotypes, suggesting that the enzyme likely has uncharacterized non-catalytic activities. Our cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM), biochemical, biophysical, and cellular analyses reveal how SUV420H1 recognizes its nucleosome substrates, and how histone variant H2A.Z stimulates its catalytic activity. SUV420H1 binding to nucleosomes causes a dramatic detachment of nucleosomal DNA from the histone octamer, which is a non-catalytic activity. We hypothesize that this regulates the accessibility of large macromolecular complexes to chromatin. We show that SUV420H1 can promote chromatin condensation, another non-catalytic activity that we speculate is needed for its heterochromatin functions. Together, our studies uncover and characterize the catalytic and non-catalytic mechanisms of SUV420H1, a key histone methyltransferase that plays an essential role in genomic stability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Abini-Agbomson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kristjan Gretarsson
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rochelle M Shih
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura Hsieh
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tracy Lou
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Pablo De Ioannes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nikita Vasilyev
- 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
| | - Rachel Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Miao Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew D Simon
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jean-Paul Armache
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 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
| | - Geeta Narlikar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Shixin Liu
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chao Lu
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karim-Jean Armache
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Joron K, Viegas JO, Haas-Neill L, Bier S, Drori P, Dvir S, Lim PSL, Rauscher S, Meshorer E, Lerner E. Fluorescent protein lifetimes report densities and phases of nuclear condensates during embryonic stem-cell differentiation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4885. [PMID: 37573411 PMCID: PMC10423231 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40647-6] [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: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluorescent proteins (FP) are frequently used for studying proteins inside cells. In advanced fluorescence microscopy, FPs can report on additional intracellular variables. One variable is the local density near FPs, which can be useful in studying densities within cellular bio-condensates. Here, we show that a reduction in fluorescence lifetimes of common monomeric FPs reports increased levels of local densities. We demonstrate the use of this fluorescence-based variable to report the distribution of local densities within heterochromatin protein 1α (HP1α) in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), before and after early differentiation. We find that local densities within HP1α condensates in pluripotent ESCs are heterogeneous and cannot be explained by a single liquid phase. Early differentiation, however, induces a change towards a more homogeneous distribution of local densities, which can be explained as a liquid-like phase. In conclusion, we provide a fluorescence-based method to report increased local densities and apply it to distinguish between homogeneous and heterogeneous local densities within bio-condensates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Khalil Joron
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
| | - Juliane Oliveira Viegas
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Liam Haas-Neill
- Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A7, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Sariel Bier
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Paz Drori
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
| | - Shani Dvir
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
| | - Patrick Siang Lin Lim
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Sarah Rauscher
- Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A7, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Eran Meshorer
- Department of Genetics, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.
- Edmond and Lily Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.
| | - Eitan Lerner
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel.
- The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Mondal A, Kolomeisky AB. Role of Nucleosome Sliding in the Protein Target Search for Covered DNA Sites. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:7073-7082. [PMID: 37527481 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c01704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Associations of transcription factors (TFs) with specific sites on DNA initiate major cellular processes. But DNA in eukaryotic cells is covered by nucleosomes which prevent TFs from binding. However, nucleosome structures on DNA are not static and exhibit breathing and sliding. We develop a theoretical framework to investigate the effect of nucleosome sliding on a protein target search. By analysis of a discrete-state stochastic model of nucleosome sliding, search dynamics are explicitly evaluated. It is found that for long sliding lengths the target search dynamics are faster for normal TFs that cannot enter the nucleosomal DNA. But for more realistic short sliding lengths, the so-called pioneer TFs, which can invade nucleosomal DNA, locate specific sites faster. It is also suggested that nucleosome breathing, which is a faster process, has a stronger effect on protein search dynamics than that of nucleosome sliding. Theoretical arguments to explain these observations are presented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anupam Mondal
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Anatoly B Kolomeisky
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Tan ZY, Cai S, Noble AJ, Chen JK, Shi J, Gan L. Heterogeneous non-canonical nucleosomes predominate in yeast cells in situ. eLife 2023; 12:RP87672. [PMID: 37503920 PMCID: PMC10382156 DOI: 10.7554/elife.87672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear processes depend on the organization of chromatin, whose basic units are cylinder-shaped complexes called nucleosomes. A subset of mammalian nucleosomes in situ (inside cells) resembles the canonical structure determined in vitro 25 years ago. Nucleosome structure in situ is otherwise poorly understood. Using cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) and 3D classification analysis of budding yeast cells, here we find that canonical nucleosomes account for less than 10% of total nucleosomes expected in situ. In a strain in which H2A-GFP is the sole source of histone H2A, class averages that resemble canonical nucleosomes both with and without GFP densities are found ex vivo (in nuclear lysates), but not in situ. These data suggest that the budding yeast intranuclear environment favors multiple non-canonical nucleosome conformations. Using the structural observations here and the results of previous genomics and biochemical studies, we propose a model in which the average budding yeast nucleosome's DNA is partially detached in situ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Yang Tan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for BioImaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shujun Cai
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for BioImaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alex J Noble
- National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, United States
| | - Jon K Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for BioImaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jian Shi
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for BioImaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lu Gan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for BioImaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Saar KL, Qian D, Good LL, Morgunov AS, Collepardo-Guevara R, Best RB, Knowles TPJ. Theoretical and Data-Driven Approaches for Biomolecular Condensates. Chem Rev 2023; 123:8988-9009. [PMID: 37171907 PMCID: PMC10375482 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00586] [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: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensation processes are increasingly recognized as a fundamental mechanism that living cells use to organize biomolecules in time and space. These processes can lead to the formation of membraneless organelles that enable cells to perform distinct biochemical processes in controlled local environments, thereby supplying them with an additional degree of spatial control relative to that achieved by membrane-bound organelles. This fundamental importance of biomolecular condensation has motivated a quest to discover and understand the molecular mechanisms and determinants that drive and control this process. Within this molecular viewpoint, computational methods can provide a unique angle to studying biomolecular condensation processes by contributing the resolution and scale that are challenging to reach with experimental techniques alone. In this Review, we focus on three types of dry-lab approaches: theoretical methods, physics-driven simulations and data-driven machine learning methods. We review recent progress in using these tools for probing biomolecular condensation across all three fields and outline the key advantages and limitations of each of the approaches. We further discuss some of the key outstanding challenges that we foresee the community addressing next in order to develop a more complete picture of the molecular driving forces behind biomolecular condensation processes and their biological roles in health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kadi L. Saar
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Transition
Bio Ltd., Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Daoyuan Qian
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Lydia L. Good
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Laboratory
of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive
and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes
of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Alexey S. Morgunov
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Rosana Collepardo-Guevara
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Department
of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, United Kingdom
| | - Robert B. Best
- Laboratory
of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive
and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes
of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Cavendish
Laboratory, Department of Physics, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Kadam S, Kumari K, Manivannan V, Dutta S, Mitra MK, Padinhateeri R. Predicting scale-dependent chromatin polymer properties from systematic coarse-graining. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4108. [PMID: 37433821 PMCID: PMC10336007 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39907-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Simulating chromatin is crucial for predicting genome organization and dynamics. Although coarse-grained bead-spring polymer models are commonly used to describe chromatin, the relevant bead dimensions, elastic properties, and the nature of inter-bead potentials are unknown. Using nucleosome-resolution contact probability (Micro-C) data, we systematically coarse-grain chromatin and predict quantities essential for polymer representation of chromatin. We compute size distributions of chromatin beads for different coarse-graining scales, quantify fluctuations and distributions of bond lengths between neighboring regions, and derive effective spring constant values. Unlike the prevalent notion, our findings argue that coarse-grained chromatin beads must be considered as soft particles that can overlap, and we derive an effective inter-bead soft potential and quantify an overlap parameter. We also compute angle distributions giving insights into intrinsic folding and local bendability of chromatin. While the nucleosome-linker DNA bond angle naturally emerges from our work, we show two populations of local structural states. The bead sizes, bond lengths, and bond angles show different mean behavior at Topologically Associating Domain (TAD) boundaries and TAD interiors. We integrate our findings into a coarse-grained polymer model and provide quantitative estimates of all model parameters, which can serve as a foundational basis for all future coarse-grained chromatin simulations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sangram Kadam
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India.
| | - Kiran Kumari
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Vinoth Manivannan
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Shuvadip Dutta
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Mithun K Mitra
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Ranjith Padinhateeri
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India.
- Sunita Sanghi Centre of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Pavlova I, Iudin M, Surdina A, Severov V, Varizhuk A. G-Quadruplexes in Nuclear Biomolecular Condensates. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14051076. [PMID: 37239436 DOI: 10.3390/genes14051076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4s) have long been implicated in the regulation of chromatin packaging and gene expression. These processes require or are accelerated by the separation of related proteins into liquid condensates on DNA/RNA matrices. While cytoplasmic G4s are acknowledged scaffolds of potentially pathogenic condensates, the possible contribution of G4s to phase transitions in the nucleus has only recently come to light. In this review, we summarize the growing evidence for the G4-dependent assembly of biomolecular condensates at telomeres and transcription initiation sites, as well as nucleoli, speckles, and paraspeckles. The limitations of the underlying assays and the remaining open questions are outlined. We also discuss the molecular basis for the apparent permissive role of G4s in the in vitro condensate assembly based on the interactome data. To highlight the prospects and risks of G4-targeting therapies with respect to the phase transitions, we also touch upon the reported effects of G4-stabilizing small molecules on nuclear biomolecular condensates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iuliia Pavlova
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, 119435 Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141701 Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Mikhail Iudin
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, 119435 Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141701 Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Anastasiya Surdina
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, 119435 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vjacheslav Severov
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, 119435 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna Varizhuk
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, 119435 Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141701 Dolgoprudny, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Liu S, Wang C, Latham A, Ding X, Zhang B. OpenABC Enables Flexible, Simplified, and Efficient GPU Accelerated Simulations of Biomolecular Condensates. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.19.537533. [PMID: 37131742 PMCID: PMC10153273 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.19.537533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates are important structures in various cellular processes but are challenging to study using traditional experimental techniques. In silico simulations with residue-level coarse-grained models strike a balance between computational efficiency and chemical accuracy. They could offer valuable insights by connecting the emergent properties of these complex systems with molecular sequences. However, existing coarse-grained models often lack easy-to-follow tutorials and are implemented in software that is not optimal for condensate simulations. To address these issues, we introduce OpenABC, a software package that greatly simplifies the setup and execution of coarse-grained condensate simulations with multiple force fields using Python scripting. OpenABC seamlessly integrates with the OpenMM molecular dynamics engine, enabling efficient simulations with performances on a single GPU that rival the speed achieved by hundreds of CPUs. We also provide tools that convert coarse-grained configurations to all-atom structures for atomistic simulations. We anticipate that Open-ABC will significantly facilitate the adoption of in silico simulations by a broader community to investigate the structural and dynamical properties of condensates. Open-ABC is available at https://github.com/ZhangGroup-MITChemistry/OpenABC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuming Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Cong Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Andrew Latham
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xinqiang Ding
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Dupont C, Chahar D, Trullo A, Gostan T, Surcis C, Grimaud C, Fisher D, Feil R, Llères D. Evidence for low nanocompaction of heterochromatin in living embryonic stem cells. EMBO J 2023:e110286. [PMID: 37082862 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021110286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in the identification of chromatin regulators and genome interactions, the principles of higher-order chromatin structure have remained elusive. Here, we applied FLIM-FRET microscopy to analyse, in living cells, the spatial organisation of nanometre range proximity between nucleosomes, which we called "nanocompaction." Both in naive embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and in ESC-derived epiblast-like cells (EpiLCs), we find that, contrary to expectations, constitutive heterochromatin is much less compacted than bulk chromatin. The opposite was observed in fixed cells. HP1α knockdown increased nanocompaction in living ESCs, but this was overridden by loss of HP1β, indicating the existence of a dynamic HP1-dependent low compaction state in pluripotent cells. Depletion of H4K20me2/3 abrogated nanocompaction, while increased H4K20me3 levels accompanied the nuclear reorganisation during EpiLCs induction. Finally, the knockout of the nuclear cellular-proliferation marker Ki-67 strongly reduced both interphase and mitotic heterochromatin nanocompaction in ESCs. Our data indicate that, contrary to prevailing models, heterochromatin is not highly compacted at the nanoscale but resides in a dynamic low nanocompaction state that depends on H4K20me2/3, the balance between HP1 isoforms, and Ki-67.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Dupont
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM), CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Dhanvantri Chahar
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM), CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Antonio Trullo
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM), CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Thierry Gostan
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM), CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Caroline Surcis
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM), CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Charlotte Grimaud
- Institute of Human Genetics (IGH), CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Daniel Fisher
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM), CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Robert Feil
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM), CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - David Llères
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM), CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Nozaki T, Shinkai S, Ide S, Higashi K, Tamura S, Shimazoe MA, Nakagawa M, Suzuki Y, Okada Y, Sasai M, Onami S, Kurokawa K, Iida S, Maeshima K. Condensed but liquid-like domain organization of active chromatin regions in living human cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf1488. [PMID: 37018405 PMCID: PMC10075990 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf1488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
In eukaryotes, higher-order chromatin organization is spatiotemporally regulated as domains, for various cellular functions. However, their physical nature in living cells remains unclear (e.g., condensed domains or extended fiber loops; liquid-like or solid-like). Using novel approaches combining genomics, single-nucleosome imaging, and computational modeling, we investigated the physical organization and behavior of early DNA replicated regions in human cells, which correspond to Hi-C contact domains with active chromatin marks. Motion correlation analysis of two neighbor nucleosomes shows that nucleosomes form physically condensed domains with ~150-nm diameters, even in active chromatin regions. The mean-square displacement analysis between two neighbor nucleosomes demonstrates that nucleosomes behave like a liquid in the condensed domain on the ~150 nm/~0.5 s spatiotemporal scale, which facilitates chromatin accessibility. Beyond the micrometers/minutes scale, chromatin seems solid-like, which may contribute to maintaining genome integrity. Our study reveals the viscoelastic principle of the chromatin polymer; chromatin is locally dynamic and reactive but globally stable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tadasu Nozaki
- Genome Dynamics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Soya Shinkai
- Laboratory for Developmental Dynamics, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
| | - Satoru Ide
- Genome Dynamics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
- Department of Genetics, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Koichi Higashi
- Department of Genetics, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
- Genome Evolution Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Sachiko Tamura
- Genome Dynamics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Masa A. Shimazoe
- Genome Dynamics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
- Department of Genetics, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Masaki Nakagawa
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Fukuoka, Fukuoka 811-0295, Japan
| | - Yutaka Suzuki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Yasushi Okada
- Laboratory for Cell Polarity Regulation, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, Suita, Osaka 565-0874, Japan
| | - Masaki Sasai
- Department of Complex Systems Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
- Fukui Institute for Fundamental Chemistry, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8103, Japan
| | - Shuichi Onami
- Laboratory for Developmental Dynamics, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
| | - Ken Kurokawa
- Department of Genetics, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
- Genome Evolution Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Shiori Iida
- Genome Dynamics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
- Department of Genetics, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Maeshima
- Genome Dynamics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
- Department of Genetics, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Shi D, Huang Y, Bai C. Studies of the Mechanism of Nucleosome Dynamics: A Review on Multifactorial Regulation from Computational and Experimental Cases. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15071763. [PMID: 37050377 PMCID: PMC10096840 DOI: 10.3390/polym15071763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The nucleosome, which organizes the long coil of genomic DNA in a highly condensed, polymeric way, is thought to be the basic unit of chromosomal structure. As the most important protein–DNA complex, its structural and dynamic features have been successively revealed in recent years. However, its regulatory mechanism, which is modulated by multiple factors, still requires systemic discussion. This study summarizes the regulatory factors of the nucleosome’s dynamic features from the perspective of histone modification, DNA methylation, and the nucleosome-interacting factors (transcription factors and nucleosome-remodeling proteins and cations) and focuses on the research exploring the molecular mechanism through both computational and experimental approaches. The regulatory factors that affect the dynamic features of nucleosomes are also discussed in detail, such as unwrapping, wrapping, sliding, and stacking. Due to the complexity of the high-order topological structures of nucleosomes and the comprehensive effects of regulatory factors, the research on the functional modulation mechanism of nucleosomes has encountered great challenges. The integration of computational and experimental approaches, the construction of physical modes for nucleosomes, and the application of deep learning techniques will provide promising opportunities for further exploration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danfeng Shi
- Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518172, China
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yuxin Huang
- Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Chen Bai
- Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518172, China
- Chenzhu (MoMeD) Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310005, China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Lu W, Onuchic JN, Di Pierro M. An associative memory Hamiltonian model for DNA and nucleosomes. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1011013. [PMID: 36972316 PMCID: PMC10079229 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011013] [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: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A model for DNA and nucleosomes is introduced with the goal of studying chromosomes from a single base level all the way to higher-order chromatin structures. This model, dubbed the Widely Editable Chromatin Model (WEChroM), reproduces the complex mechanics of the double helix including its bending persistence length and twisting persistence length, and their respective temperature dependence. The WEChroM Hamiltonian is composed of chain connectivity, steric interactions, and associative memory terms representing all remaining interactions leading to the structure, dynamics, and mechanical characteristics of the B-DNA. Several applications of this model are discussed to demonstrate its applicability. WEChroM is used to investigate the behavior of circular DNA in the presence of positive and negative supercoiling. We show that it recapitulates the formation of plectonemes and of structural defects that relax mechanical stress. The model spontaneously manifests an asymmetric behavior with respect to positive or negative supercoiling, similar to what was previously observed in experiments. Additionally, we show that the associative memory Hamiltonian is also capable of reproducing the free energy of partial DNA unwrapping from nucleosomes. WEChroM is designed to emulate the continuously variable mechanical properties of the 10nm fiber and, by virtue of its simplicity, is ready to be scaled up to molecular systems large enough to investigate the structural ensembles of genes. WEChroM is implemented in the OpenMM simulation toolkits and is freely available for public use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weiqi Lu
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, & Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - José N. Onuchic
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, & Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry, & Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JNO); (MDP)
| | - Michele Di Pierro
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JNO); (MDP)
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Abini-Agbomson S, Gretarsson K, Shih RM, Hsieh L, Lou T, De Ioannes P, Vasilyev N, Lee R, Wang M, Simon M, Armache JP, Nudler E, Narlikar G, Liu S, Lu C, Armache KJ. Catalytic and non-catalytic mechanisms of histone H4 lysine 20 methyltransferase SUV420H1. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.17.533220. [PMID: 36993485 PMCID: PMC10055266 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.17.533220] [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: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The intricate regulation of chromatin plays a key role in controlling genome architecture and accessibility. Histone lysine methyltransferases regulate chromatin by catalyzing the methylation of specific histone residues but are also hypothesized to have equally important non-catalytic roles. SUV420H1 di- and tri-methylates histone H4 lysine 20 (H4K20me2/me3) and plays crucial roles in DNA replication, repair, and heterochromatin formation, and is dysregulated in several cancers. Many of these processes were linked to its catalytic activity. However, deletion and inhibition of SUV420H1 have shown distinct phenotypes suggesting the enzyme likely has uncharacterized non-catalytic activities. To characterize the catalytic and non-catalytic mechanisms SUV420H1 uses to modify chromatin, we determined cryo- EM structures of SUV420H1 complexes with nucleosomes containing histone H2A or its variant H2A.Z. Our structural, biochemical, biophysical, and cellular analyses reveal how both SUV420H1 recognizes its substrate and H2A.Z stimulates its activity, and show that SUV420H1 binding to nucleosomes causes a dramatic detachment of nucleosomal DNA from histone octamer. We hypothesize that this detachment increases DNA accessibility to large macromolecular complexes, a prerequisite for DNA replication and repair. We also show that SUV420H1 can promote chromatin condensates, another non-catalytic role that we speculate is needed for its heterochromatin functions. Together, our studies uncover and characterize the catalytic and non-catalytic mechanisms of SUV420H1, a key histone methyltransferase that plays an essential role in genomic stability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Abini-Agbomson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kristjan Gretarsson
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rochelle M. Shih
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura Hsieh
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tracy Lou
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Pablo De Ioannes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nikita Vasilyev
- 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
| | - Rachel Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Miao Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew Simon
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jean-Paul Armache
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 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
| | - Geeta Narlikar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Shixin Liu
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chao Lu
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karim-Jean Armache
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Lead contact
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Portillo-Ledesma S, Li Z, Schlick T. Genome modeling: From chromatin fibers to genes. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 78:102506. [PMID: 36577295 PMCID: PMC9908845 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2022.102506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The intricacies of the 3D hierarchical organization of the genome have been approached by many creative modeling studies. The specific model/simulation technique combination defines and restricts the system and phenomena that can be investigated. We present the latest modeling developments and studies of the genome, involving models ranging from nucleosome systems and small polynucleosome arrays to chromatin fibers in the kb-range, chromosomes, and whole genomes, while emphasizing gene folding from first principles. Clever combinations allow the exploration of many interesting phenomena involved in gene regulation, such as nucleosome structure and dynamics, nucleosome-nucleosome stacking, polynucleosome array folding, protein regulation of chromatin architecture, mechanisms of gene folding, loop formation, compartmentalization, and structural transitions at the chromosome and genome levels. Gene-level modeling with full details on nucleosome positions, epigenetic factors, and protein binding, in particular, can in principle be scaled up to model chromosomes and cells to study fundamental biological regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Portillo-Ledesma
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, Silver Building, New York, 10003, NY, USA
| | - Zilong Li
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, Silver Building, New York, 10003, NY, USA
| | - Tamar Schlick
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, Silver Building, New York, 10003, NY, USA; Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, 251 Mercer St., New York, 10012, NY, USA; New York University-East China Normal University Center for Computational Chemistry, New York University Shanghai, Room 340, Geography Building, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200122, China; Simons Center for Computational Physical Chemistry, 24 Waverly Place, Silver Building, New York University, New York, 10003, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Zhang M, Celis CD, Liu J, Bustamante C, Ren G. Conformational Change of Nucleosome Arrays prior to Phase Separation. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2460504. [PMID: 36711774 PMCID: PMC9882673 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2460504/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Chromatin phase transition serves as a regulatory mechanism for eukaryotic transcription. Understanding this process requires the characterization of the nucleosome array structure in response to external stimuli prior to phase separation. However, the intrinsic flexibility and heterogeneity hinders the arrays' structure determination. Here we exploit advances in cryogenic electron tomography (cryo-ET) to determine the three-dimensional (3D) structure of each individual particle of mono-, di-, tri-, and tetranucleosome arrays. Statistical analysis reveals the ionic strength changes the angle between the DNA linker and nucleosome core particle (NCP), which regulate the overall morphology of nucleosome arrays. The finding that one-third of the arrays in the presence of H1 contain an NCP invaded by foreign DNA suggests an alternative function of H1 in constructing nucleosomal networks. The new insights into the nucleosome conformational changes prior to the intermolecular interaction stage extends our understanding of chromatin phase separation regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
- Applied Science and Technology Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | - César-Díaz Celis
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | - Jianfang Liu
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
| | - Carlos Bustamante
- Applied Science and Technology Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, USA
- Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrative Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA
- Kavli Energy Nanoscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | - Gang Ren
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Shahu L, Chowdhury SR, Lu HP. Single-Molecule Human Nucleosome Spontaneously Ruptures under the Stress of Compressive Force: A New Perspective on Gene Stability and Epigenetic Pathways. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:37-44. [PMID: 36537668 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c04449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Force manipulation on the biological entities from living cells to protein molecules has revealed many mechanical details of cell biology from resolving folding and unfolding pathways to finding molecular interaction forces. A nucleosome is the basic repeating unit of chromatin where the histone octamer is wrapped by DNA, important for gene stability and regulation. How the inner side of the DNA gets accessed by other DNA binding molecules has been a puzzle that has been intensively studied and debated, important to epigenetics, gene stability, and regulations. Here we report our observation of spontaneous ruptures of human nucleosomes under pico-Newton (pN) compressive force. The amplitude of the compressive force, a squeezing rather than pulling force, involved in our experiment is tens of pN, which can be thermally available by biological force fluctuation at room temperature and under physiological conditions. This kind of structural rupture can loosen up the DNA around the histone, which in turn makes the DNA accessible to transcription and epigenetic modifications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lalita Shahu
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Photochemical Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403, United States
| | - S Roy Chowdhury
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Photochemical Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403, United States
| | - H Peter Lu
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Photochemical Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403, United States
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Zhu H, Narita M, Joseph JA, Krainer G, Arter WE, Olan I, Saar KL, Ermann N, Espinosa JR, Shen Y, Kuri MA, Qi R, Welsh TJ, Collepardo‐Guevara R, Narita M, Knowles TPJ. The Chromatin Regulator HMGA1a Undergoes Phase Separation in the Nucleus. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202200450. [PMID: 36336658 PMCID: PMC10098602 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The protein high mobility group A1 (HMGA1) is an important regulator of chromatin organization and function. However, the mechanisms by which it exerts its biological function are not fully understood. Here, we report that the HMGA isoform, HMGA1a, nucleates into foci that display liquid-like properties in the nucleus, and that the protein readily undergoes phase separation to form liquid condensates in vitro. By bringing together machine-leaning modelling, cellular and biophysical experiments and multiscale simulations, we demonstrate that phase separation of HMGA1a is promoted by protein-DNA interactions, and has the potential to be modulated by post-transcriptional effects such as phosphorylation. We further show that the intrinsically disordered C-terminal tail of HMGA1a significantly contributes to its phase separation through electrostatic interactions via AT hooks 2 and 3. Our work sheds light on HMGA1 phase separation as an emergent biophysical factor in regulating chromatin structure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongjia Zhu
- Centre for Misfolding DiseasesYusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Masako Narita
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge InstituteLi Ka Shing CentreUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Jerelle A. Joseph
- Department of GeneticsUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Cavendish LaboratoryDepartment of PhysicsUniversity of CambridgeJJ Thomson AvenueCambridgeUK
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Georg Krainer
- Centre for Misfolding DiseasesYusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - William E. Arter
- Centre for Misfolding DiseasesYusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Transition Bio Ltd., Maxwell CentreJJ Thomson AvenueCambridgeUK
| | - Ioana Olan
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge InstituteLi Ka Shing CentreUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Kadi L. Saar
- Centre for Misfolding DiseasesYusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Transition Bio Ltd., Maxwell CentreJJ Thomson AvenueCambridgeUK
| | - Niklas Ermann
- Transition Bio Ltd., Maxwell CentreJJ Thomson AvenueCambridgeUK
| | - Jorge R. Espinosa
- Cavendish LaboratoryDepartment of PhysicsUniversity of CambridgeJJ Thomson AvenueCambridgeUK
| | - Yi Shen
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringThe University of SydneySydneyAustralia
| | - Masami Ando Kuri
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge InstituteLi Ka Shing CentreUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Runzhang Qi
- Centre for Misfolding DiseasesYusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Timothy J. Welsh
- Centre for Misfolding DiseasesYusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Rosana Collepardo‐Guevara
- Department of GeneticsUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Cavendish LaboratoryDepartment of PhysicsUniversity of CambridgeJJ Thomson AvenueCambridgeUK
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Masashi Narita
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge InstituteLi Ka Shing CentreUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Centre for Misfolding DiseasesYusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Cavendish LaboratoryDepartment of PhysicsUniversity of CambridgeJJ Thomson AvenueCambridgeUK
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Laghmach R, Malhotra I, Potoyan DA. Multiscale Modeling of Protein-RNA Condensation in and Out of Equilibrium. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2563:117-133. [PMID: 36227470 PMCID: PMC11186142 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2663-4_5] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A vast number of intracellular membraneless bodies also known as biomolecular condensates form through a liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of biomolecules. To date, phase separation has been identified as the main driving force for a membraneless organelles such as nucleoli, Cajal bodies, stress granules, and chromatin compartments. Recently, the protein-RNA condensation is receiving increased attention, because it is closely related to the biological function of cells such as transcription, translation, and RNA metabolism. Despite the multidisciplinary efforts put forth to study the biophysical properties of protein-RNA condensates, there are many fundamental unanswered questions regarding the mechanism of formation and regulation of protein-RNA condensates in eukaryotic cells. Major challenges in studying protein-RNA condensation stem from (i) the molecular heterogeneity and conformational flexibility of RNA and protein chains and (ii) the nonequilibrium nature of transcription and cellular environment. Computer simulations, bioinformatics, and mathematical models are uniquely positioned for shedding light on the microscopic nature of protein-RNA phase separation. To this end, there is an urgent need for innovative models with the right spatiotemporal resolution for confronting the experimental observables in a comprehensive and physics-based manner. In this chapter, we will summarize the currently emerging research efforts, which employ atomistic and coarse-grained molecular models and field theoretical models to understand equilibrium and nonequilibrium aspects of protein-RNA condensation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rabia Laghmach
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Isha Malhotra
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Davit A Potoyan
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Shi X, Nordenskiöld L, Sokolova OS, Shaytan AK. Editorial: Recent advances in molecular properties of DNA-protein interactions, chromatin and their biological roles. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1171714. [PMID: 36959980 PMCID: PMC10029722 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1171714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyan Shi
- Department of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- *Correspondence: Xiangyan Shi, ; Lars Nordenskiöld, ; Olga S. Sokolova, ; Alexey K. Shaytan,
| | - Lars Nordenskiöld
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- *Correspondence: Xiangyan Shi, ; Lars Nordenskiöld, ; Olga S. Sokolova, ; Alexey K. Shaytan,
| | - Olga S. Sokolova
- Department of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- *Correspondence: Xiangyan Shi, ; Lars Nordenskiöld, ; Olga S. Sokolova, ; Alexey K. Shaytan,
| | - Alexey K. Shaytan
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- *Correspondence: Xiangyan Shi, ; Lars Nordenskiöld, ; Olga S. Sokolova, ; Alexey K. Shaytan,
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Mondal A, Mishra SK, Bhattacherjee A. Nucleosome breathing facilitates cooperative binding of pluripotency factors Sox2 and Oct4 to DNA. Biophys J 2022; 121:4526-4542. [PMID: 36321206 PMCID: PMC9748375 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.10.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Critical lineage commitment events are staged by multiple transcription factors (TFs) binding to their cognate motifs, often positioned at nucleosome-enriched regions of chromatin. The underlying mechanism remains elusive due to difficulty in disentangling the heterogeneity in chromatin states. Using a novel coarse-grained model and molecular dynamics simulations, here we probe the association of Sox2 and Oct4 proteins that show clustered binding at the entry-exit region of a nucleosome. The model captures the conformational heterogeneity of nucleosome breathing dynamics that features repeated wrap-unwrap transitions of a DNA segment from one end of the nucleosome. During the dynamics, DNA forms bulges that diffuse stochastically and may regulate the target search dynamics of a protein by nonspecifically interacting with it. The overall search kinetics of the TF pair follows a "dissociation-compensated-association" mechanism, where Oct4 binding is facilitated by the association of Sox2. The cooperativity stems from a change in entropy caused by an alteration in the nucleosome dynamics upon TF binding. The binding pattern is consistent with a live-cell single-particle tracking experiment, suggesting the mechanism observed for clustered binding of a TF pair, which is a hallmark of cis-regulatory elements, has broader implications in understanding gene regulation in a complex chromatin environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anupam Mondal
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Sujeet Kumar Mishra
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Arnab Bhattacherjee
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Brandani GB, Gopi S, Yamauchi M, Takada S. Molecular dynamics simulations for the study of chromatin biology. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2022; 77:102485. [PMID: 36274422 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2022.102485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The organization of Eukaryotic DNA into chromatin has profound implications for the processing of genetic information. In the past years, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations proved to be a powerful tool to investigate the mechanistic basis of chromatin biology. We review recent all-atom and coarse-grained MD studies revealing how the structure and dynamics of chromatin underlie its biological functions. We describe the latest method developments; the structural fluctuations of nucleosomes and the various factors affecting them; the organization of chromatin fibers, with particular emphasis on its liquid-like character; the interactions and dynamics of transcription factors on chromatin; and how chromatin organization is modulated by molecular motors acting on DNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni B Brandani
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Japan.
| | - Soundhararajan Gopi
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Japan
| | - Masataka Yamauchi
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Japan
| | - Shoji Takada
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Iwasa JH, Lyons B, Johnson GT. The dawn of interoperating spatial models in cell biology. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 78:102838. [PMID: 36402095 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Spatial simulations are becoming an increasingly ubiquitous component in the cycle of discovery, experimentation, and communication across the sciences. In cell biology, many researchers share a vision of developing multiscale models that recapitulate observable behaviors spanning from atoms to cells to tissues. For this dream to become a reality, however, simulation technologies must provide a means for integration and interoperability as they advance. Already, the field has developed numerous methods that span scales of length, time, and complexity to create an extensive body of effective simulation approaches, and although these approaches rarely interoperate, they collectively cover a large spectrum of knowledge that future models may handle in a more unified manner. Here, we discuss the importance of making the data, workflows, and outputs of spatial simulations shareable and interoperable; and how democratization could encourage diverse biologists to participate more easily in developing models to advance our understanding of biological systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Blair Lyons
- Visualization & Data Integration, Allen Institute for Cell Science, USA
| | - Graham T Johnson
- Visualization & Data Integration, Allen Institute for Cell Science, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
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: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Abstract
Coarse-grained models have proven helpful for simulating complex systems over long time scales to provide molecular insights into various processes. Methodologies for systematic parametrization of the underlying energy function or force field that describes the interactions among different components of the system are of great interest for ensuring simulation accuracy. We present a new method, potential contrasting, to enable efficient learning of force fields that can accurately reproduce the conformational distribution produced with all-atom simulations. Potential contrasting generalizes the noise contrastive estimation method with umbrella sampling to better learn the complex energy landscape of molecular systems. When applied to the Trp-cage protein, we found that the technique produces force fields that thoroughly capture the thermodynamics of the folding process despite the use of only α-carbons in the coarse-grained model. We further showed that potential contrasting could be applied over large data sets that combine the conformational ensembles of many proteins to improve force field transferability. We anticipate potential contrasting as a powerful tool for building general-purpose coarse-grained force fields.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinqiang Ding
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Chen Q, Zhao L, Soman A, Arkhipova AY, Li J, Li H, Chen Y, Shi X, Nordenskiöld L. Chromatin Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation (LLPS) Is Regulated by Ionic Conditions and Fiber Length. Cells 2022; 11:cells11193145. [PMID: 36231107 PMCID: PMC9564186 DOI: 10.3390/cells11193145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The dynamic regulation of the physical states of chromatin in the cell nucleus is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis. Chromatin can exist in solid- or liquid-like forms depending on the surrounding ions, binding proteins, post-translational modifications and many other factors. Several recent studies suggested that chromatin undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in vitro and also in vivo; yet, controversial conclusions about the nature of chromatin LLPS were also observed from the in vitro studies. These inconsistencies are partially due to deviations in the in vitro buffer conditions that induce the condensation/aggregation of chromatin as well as to differences in chromatin (nucleosome array) constructs used in the studies. In this work, we present a detailed characterization of the effects of K+, Mg2+ and nucleosome fiber length on the physical state and property of reconstituted nucleosome arrays. LLPS was generally observed for shorter nucleosome arrays (15-197-601, reconstituted from 15 repeats of the Widom 601 DNA with 197 bp nucleosome repeat length) at physiological ion concentrations. In contrast, gel- or solid-like condensates were detected for the considerably longer 62-202-601 and lambda DNA (~48.5 kbp) nucleosome arrays under the same conditions. In addition, we demonstrated that the presence of reduced BSA and acetate buffer is not essential for the chromatin LLPS process. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of several factors regarding chromatin physical states and sheds light on the mechanism and biological relevance of chromatin phase separation in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qinming Chen
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; (Q.C.); (A.S.)
| | - Lei Zhao
- Department of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen 518172, China; (L.Z.); (A.Y.A.); (J.L.); (H.L.); (Y.C.)
| | - Aghil Soman
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; (Q.C.); (A.S.)
| | - Anastasia Yu Arkhipova
- Department of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen 518172, China; (L.Z.); (A.Y.A.); (J.L.); (H.L.); (Y.C.)
- Biological Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Jindi Li
- Department of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen 518172, China; (L.Z.); (A.Y.A.); (J.L.); (H.L.); (Y.C.)
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen 518172, China; (L.Z.); (A.Y.A.); (J.L.); (H.L.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yinglu Chen
- Department of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen 518172, China; (L.Z.); (A.Y.A.); (J.L.); (H.L.); (Y.C.)
| | - Xiangyan Shi
- Department of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen 518172, China; (L.Z.); (A.Y.A.); (J.L.); (H.L.); (Y.C.)
- Correspondence: (X.S.); (L.N.)
| | - Lars Nordenskiöld
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; (Q.C.); (A.S.)
- Correspondence: (X.S.); (L.N.)
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Korolev N, Zinchenko A, Soman A, Chen Q, Wong SY, Berezhnoy NV, Basak R, van der Maarel JRC, van Noort J, Nordenskiöld L. Reconstituted TAD-size chromatin fibers feature heterogeneous nucleosome clusters. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15558. [PMID: 36114220 PMCID: PMC9481575 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19471-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Large topologically associated domains (TADs) contain irregularly spaced nucleosome clutches, and interactions between such clutches are thought to aid the compaction of these domains. Here, we reconstituted TAD-sized chromatin fibers containing hundreds of nucleosomes on native source human and lambda-phage DNA and compared their mechanical properties at the single-molecule level with shorter ‘601’ arrays with various nucleosome repeat lengths. Fluorescent imaging showed increased compaction upon saturation of the DNA with histones and increasing magnesium concentration. Nucleosome clusters and their structural fluctuations were visualized in confined nanochannels. Force spectroscopy revealed not only similar mechanical properties of the TAD-sized fibers as shorter fibers but also large rupture events, consistent with breaking the interactions between distant clutches of nucleosomes. Though the arrays of native human DNA, lambda-phage and ‘601’ DNA featured minor differences in reconstitution yield and nucleosome stability, the fibers’ global structural and mechanical properties were similar, including the interactions between nucleosome clutches. These single-molecule experiments quantify the mechanical forces that stabilize large TAD-sized chromatin domains consisting of disordered, dynamically interacting nucleosome clutches and their effect on the condensation of large chromatin domains.
Collapse
|
48
|
Liu S, Lin X, Zhang B. Chromatin fiber breaks into clutches under tension and crowding. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:9738-9747. [PMID: 36029149 PMCID: PMC9508854 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The arrangement of nucleosomes inside chromatin is of extensive interest. While in vitro experiments have revealed the formation of 30 nm fibers, most in vivo studies have failed to confirm their presence in cell nuclei. To reconcile the diverging experimental findings, we characterized chromatin organization using a residue-level coarse-grained model. The computed force–extension curve matches well with measurements from single-molecule experiments. Notably, we found that a dodeca-nucleosome in the two-helix zigzag conformation breaks into structures with nucleosome clutches and a mix of trimers and tetramers under tension. Such unfolded configurations can also be stabilized through trans interactions with other chromatin chains. Our study suggests that unfolding from chromatin fibers could contribute to the irregularity of in vivo chromatin configurations. We further revealed that chromatin segments with fibril or clutch structures engaged in distinct binding modes and discussed the implications of these inter-chain interactions for a potential sol–gel phase transition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuming Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Xingcheng Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Zhang M, Díaz-Celis C, Onoa B, Cañari-Chumpitaz C, Requejo KI, Liu J, Vien M, Nogales E, Ren G, Bustamante C. Molecular organization of the early stages of nucleosome phase separation visualized by cryo-electron tomography. Mol Cell 2022; 82:3000-3014.e9. [PMID: 35907400 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
It has been proposed that the intrinsic property of nucleosome arrays to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in vitro is responsible for chromatin domain organization in vivo. However, understanding nucleosomal LLPS has been hindered by the challenge to characterize the structure of the resulting heterogeneous condensates. We used cryo-electron tomography and deep-learning-based 3D reconstruction/segmentation to determine the molecular organization of condensates at various stages of LLPS. We show that nucleosomal LLPS involves a two-step process: a spinodal decomposition process yielding irregular condensates, followed by their unfavorable conversion into more compact, spherical nuclei that grow into larger spherical aggregates through accretion of spinodal materials or by fusion with other spherical condensates. Histone H1 catalyzes more than 10-fold the spinodal-to-spherical conversion. We propose that this transition involves exposure of nucleosome hydrophobic surfaces causing modified inter-nucleosome interactions. These results suggest a physical mechanism by which chromatin may transition from interphase to metaphase structures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- Applied Science and Technology Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - César Díaz-Celis
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Bibiana Onoa
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Katherinne I Requejo
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jianfang Liu
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michael Vien
- Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Eva Nogales
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Molecular Biophysics and Integrative Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Gang Ren
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Carlos Bustamante
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Molecular Biophysics and Integrative Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA; Kavli Energy Nanoscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Lercher L, Simon N, Bergmann A, Tauchert M, Bochmann D, Bashir T, Neuefeind T, Riley D, Danna B, Krawczuk P, Pande V, Patrick A, Steele R, Wang W, Rupnow B, Tummino P, Sharma S, Finley M. Identification of Two Non-Peptidergic Small Molecule Inhibitors of CBX2 Binding to K27 Trimethylated Oligonucleosomes. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2022; 27:306-313. [PMID: 35513262 DOI: 10.1016/j.slasd.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The dysregulation of the PRC1/2 complex plays a key role in lineage plasticity in prostate cancer and may be required to maintain neuroendocrine phenotype. [1] CBX2, a key component of the canonical PRC1 complex, is an epigenetic reader, recognizing trimethylated lysine on histone 3 (H3K27me3) [2] and is overexpressed in metastatic neuroendocrine prostate cancer. [3,4] We implemented a screening strategy using nucleosome substrates to identify inhibitors of CBX2 binding to chromatin. Construct design and phosphorylation state of CBX2 were critical for successful implementation and execution of an HTS library screen. A rigorous screening funnel including counter and selectivity assays allowed us to quickly focus on true positive hit matter. Two distinct non-peptide-like chemotypes were identified and confirmed in orthogonal biochemical and biophysical assays demonstrating disruption of CBX2 binding to nucleosomes and direct binding to purified CBX2, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Lercher
- Proteros Biostructures GmbH, Bunsenstraße 7a, 82152, Planegg, Germany
| | - Nina Simon
- Proteros Biostructures GmbH, Bunsenstraße 7a, 82152, Planegg, Germany
| | - Andreas Bergmann
- Proteros Biostructures GmbH, Bunsenstraße 7a, 82152, Planegg, Germany
| | - Marcel Tauchert
- Proteros Biostructures GmbH, Bunsenstraße 7a, 82152, Planegg, Germany
| | - David Bochmann
- Proteros Biostructures GmbH, Bunsenstraße 7a, 82152, Planegg, Germany
| | - Tarig Bashir
- Proteros Biostructures GmbH, Bunsenstraße 7a, 82152, Planegg, Germany
| | - Torsten Neuefeind
- Proteros Biostructures GmbH, Bunsenstraße 7a, 82152, Planegg, Germany
| | - Daniel Riley
- Discovery Sciences, Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Ben Danna
- Discovery Sciences, Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Paul Krawczuk
- Discovery Sciences, Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Vineet Pande
- Discovery Sciences, Janssen Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Aaron Patrick
- Discovery Sciences, Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Ruth Steele
- Discovery Sciences, Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Weixue Wang
- Discovery Sciences, Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Brent Rupnow
- Oncology Discovery Biology, Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Peter Tummino
- Discovery Sciences, Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Sujata Sharma
- Discovery Sciences, Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Michael Finley
- Discovery Sciences, Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| |
Collapse
|