Sequence-targeted nucleosome sliding in vivo by a hybrid Chd1 chromatin remodeler

The Cutting-edge of CRISPR for Cancer Treatment and its Future Prospects

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a versatile technology that allows precise modification of genes. One of its most promising applications is in cancer treatment. By targeting and editing specific genes involved in cancer development and progression, CRISPR has the potential to become a powerful tool in the fight against cancer. This review aims to assess the recent progress in CRISPR technology for cancer research and to examine the obstacles and potential strategies to address them. The two most commonly used CRISPR systems for gene editing are CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/Cas12a. CRISPR/Cas9 employs different repairing systems, including homologous recombination (HR) and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ), to introduce precise modifications to the target genes. However, off-target effects and low editing efficiency are some of the main challenges associated with this technology. To overcome these issues, researchers are exploring new delivery methods and developing CRISPR/Cas systems with improved specificity. Moreover, there are ethical concerns surrounding using CRISPR in gene editing, including the potential for unintended consequences and the creation of genetically modified organisms. It is important to address these issues through rigorous testing and strict regulations. Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of CRISPR in cancer therapy cannot be overlooked. By introducing precise modifications to cancer cells, CRISPR could offer a targeted and effective treatment option for patients with different types of cancer. Further investigation and development of CRISPR technology are necessary to overcome the existing challenges and harness its full potential in cancer therapy.

ISW1a modulates cohesin distribution in centromeric and pericentromeric regions

Cohesin is a highly conserved, multiprotein complex whose canonical function is to hold sister chromatids together to ensure accurate chromosome segregation. Cohesin association with chromatin relies on the Scc2-Scc4 cohesin loading complex that enables cohesin ring opening and topological entrapment of sister DNAs. To better understand how sister chromatid cohesion is regulated, we performed a proteomic screen in budding yeast that identified the Isw1 chromatin remodeler as a cohesin binding partner. In addition, we found that Isw1 also interacts with Scc2-Scc4. Lack of Isw1 protein, the Ioc3 subunit of ISW1a or Isw1 chromatin remodeling activity resulted in increased accumulation of cohesin at centromeres and pericentromeres, suggesting that ISW1a may promote efficient translocation of cohesin from the centromeric site of loading to neighboring regions. Consistent with the role of ISW1a in the chromatin organization of centromeric regions, Isw1 was found to be recruited to centromeres. In its absence we observed changes in the nucleosomal landscape at centromeres and pericentromeres. Finally, we discovered that upon loss of RSC functionality, ISW1a activity leads to reduced cohesin binding and cohesion defect. Taken together, our results support the notion of a key role of chromatin remodelers in the regulation of cohesin distribution on chromosomes.

Autoinhibitory elements of the Chd1 remodeler block initiation of twist defects by destabilizing the ATPase motor on the nucleosome

Chromatin remodelers are ATP (adenosine triphosphate)-powered motors that reposition nucleosomes throughout eukaryotic chromosomes. Remodelers possess autoinhibitory elements that control the direction of nucleosome sliding, but underlying mechanisms of inhibition have been unclear. Here, we show that autoinhibitory elements of the yeast Chd1 remodeler block nucleosome sliding by preventing initiation of twist defects. We show that two autoinhibitory elements-the chromodomains and bridge-reinforce each other to block sliding when the DNA-binding domain is not bound to entry-side DNA. Our data support a model where the chromodomains and bridge target nucleotide-free and ADP-bound states of the ATPase motor, favoring a partially disengaged state of the ATPase motor on the nucleosome. By bypassing distortions of nucleosomal DNA prior to ATP binding, we propose that autoinhibitory elements uncouple the ATP binding/hydrolysis cycle from DNA translocation around the histone core.

Ruler elements in chromatin remodelers set nucleosome array spacing and phasing

Arrays of regularly spaced nucleosomes dominate chromatin and are often phased by alignment to reference sites like active promoters. How the distances between nucleosomes (spacing), and between phasing sites and nucleosomes are determined remains unclear, and specifically, how ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers impact these features. Here, we used genome-wide reconstitution to probe how Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATP-dependent remodelers generate phased arrays of regularly spaced nucleosomes. We find that remodelers bear a functional element named the 'ruler' that determines spacing and phasing in a remodeler-specific way. We use structure-based mutagenesis to identify and tune the ruler element residing in the Nhp10 and Arp8 modules of the INO80 remodeler complex. Generally, we propose that a remodeler ruler regulates nucleosome sliding direction bias in response to (epi)genetic information. This finally conceptualizes how remodeler-mediated nucleosome dynamics determine stable steady-state nucleosome positioning relative to other nucleosomes, DNA bound factors, DNA ends and DNA sequence elements.

Rapid and inexpensive preparation of genome-wide nucleosome footprints from model and non-model organisms

MNase-seq (micrococcal nuclease sequencing) is used to map nucleosome positions in eukaryotic genomes to study the relationship between chromatin structure and DNA-dependent processes. Current protocols require at least two days to isolate nucleosome-protected DNA fragments. We have developed a streamlined protocol for S. cerevisiae and other fungi which takes only three hours. Modified protocols were developed for wild fungi and mammalian cells. This method for rapidly producing sequencing-ready nucleosome footprints from several organisms makes MNase-seq faster and easier, with less chemical waste.

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A fast way to prepare micrococcal nuclease nucleosome footprints for MNase-seq

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Eliminates use of phenol and chloroform and reduces the amount of cells required

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Adaptable for a variety of organisms

Basis of specificity for a conserved and promiscuous chromatin remodeling protein

Eukaryotic genomes are organized dynamically through the repositioning of nucleosomes. Isw2 is an enzyme that has been previously defined as a genome-wide, nonspecific nucleosome spacing factor. Here, we show that Isw2 instead acts as an obligately targeted nucleosome remodeler in vivo through physical interactions with sequence-specific factors. We demonstrate that Isw2-recruiting factors use small and previously uncharacterized epitopes, which direct Isw2 activity through highly conserved acidic residues in the Isw2 accessory protein Itc1. This interaction orients Isw2 on target nucleosomes, allowing for precise nucleosome positioning at targeted loci. Finally, we show that these critical acidic residues have been lost in the Drosophila lineage, potentially explaining the inconsistently characterized function of Isw2-like proteins. Altogether, these data suggest an 'interacting barrier model,' where Isw2 interacts with a sequence-specific factor to accurately and reproducibly position a single, targeted nucleosome to define the precise border of phased chromatin arrays.

Histone mark recognition controls nucleosome translocation via a kinetic proofreading mechanism: Confronting theory and high-throughput experiments

Chromatin remodelers are multidomain enzymatic motor complexes that displace nucleosomes along DNA and hence "remodel chromatin structure," i.e., they dynamically reorganize nucleosome positions in both gene activation and gene repression. Recently, experimental insights from structural biology methods and remodeling assays have substantially advanced the understanding of these key chromatin components. Here we confront the kinetic proofreading scenario of chromatin remodeling, which proposes a mechanical link between histone residue modifications and the ATP-dependent action of remodelers, with recent experiments. We show that recent high-throughput data on nucleosome libraries assayed with remodelers from the Imitation Switch family are in accord with our earlier predictions of the kinetic proofreading scenario. We make suggestions for experimentally verifiable predictions of the kinetic proofreading scenarios for remodelers from other families.

Engineered Chromatin Remodeling Proteins for Precise Nucleosome Positioning

Regulation of chromatin structure is essential for controlling access of DNA to factors that require association with specific DNA sequences. Here we describe the development and validation of engineered chromatin remodeling proteins (E-ChRPs) for inducing programmable changes in nucleosome positioning by design. We demonstrate that E-ChRPs function both in vitro and in vivo to specifically reposition target nucleosomes and entire nucleosomal arrays. We show that induced, systematic positioning of nucleosomes over yeast Ume6 binding sites leads to Ume6 exclusion, hyperacetylation, and transcriptional induction at target genes. We also show that programmed global loss of nucleosome-free regions at Reb1 targets is generally inhibitory with mildly repressive transcriptional effects. E-ChRPs are compatible with multiple targeting modalities, including the SpyCatcher and dCas9 moieties, resulting in high versatility and enabling diverse future applications. Thus, engineered chromatin remodeling proteins represent a simple and robust means to probe and disrupt DNA-dependent processes in different chromatin contexts.

Opposing chromatin remodelers control transcription initiation frequency and start site selection

Precise nucleosome organization at eukaryotic promoters is thought to be generated by multiple chromatin remodeler (CR) enzymes and to affect transcription initiation. Using an integrated analysis of chromatin remodeler binding and nucleosome occupancy following rapid remodeler depletion, we investigated the interplay between these enzymes and their impact on transcription in yeast. We show that many promoters are affected by multiple CRs that operate in concert or in opposition to position the key transcription start site (TSS)-associated +1 nucleosome. We also show that nucleosome movement after CR inactivation usually results from the activity of another CR and that in the absence of any remodeling activity, +1 nucleosomes largely maintain their positions. Finally, we present functional assays suggesting that +1 nucleosome positioning often reflects a trade-off between maximizing RNA polymerase recruitment and minimizing transcription initiation at incorrect sites. Our results provide a detailed picture of fundamental mechanisms linking promoter nucleosome architecture to transcription initiation.

Nanoscale dynamics of centromere nucleosomes and the critical roles of CENP-A

In the absence of a functioning centromere, chromosome segregation becomes aberrant, leading to an increased rate of aneuploidy. The highly specific recognition of centromeres by kinetochores suggests that specific structural characteristics define this region, however, the structural details and mechanism underlying this recognition remains a matter of intense investigation. To address this, high-speed atomic force microscopy was used for direct visualization of the spontaneous dynamics of CENP-A nucleosomes at the sub-second time scale. We report that CENP-A nucleosomes change conformation spontaneously and reversibly, utilizing two major pathways: unwrapping, and looping of the DNA; enabling core transfer between neighboring DNA substrates. Along with these nucleosome dynamics we observed that CENP-A stabilizes the histone core against dissociating to histone subunits upon unwrapping DNA, unique from H3 cores which are only capable of such plasticity in the presence of remodeling factors. These findings have implications for the dynamics and integrity of nucleosomes at the centromere.

Repression of Divergent Noncoding Transcription by a Sequence-Specific Transcription Factor

Many active eukaryotic gene promoters exhibit divergent noncoding transcription, but the mechanisms restricting expression of these transcripts are not well understood. Here, we demonstrate how a sequence-specific transcription factor represses divergent noncoding transcription at highly expressed genes in yeast. We find that depletion of the transcription factor Rap1 induces noncoding transcription in a large fraction of Rap1-regulated gene promoters. Specifically, Rap1 prevents transcription initiation at cryptic promoters near its binding sites, which is uncoupled from transcription regulation in the protein-coding direction. We further provide evidence that Rap1 acts independently of previously described chromatin-based mechanisms to repress cryptic or divergent transcription. Finally, we show that divergent transcription in the absence of Rap1 is elicited by the RSC chromatin remodeler. We propose that a sequence-specific transcription factor limits access of basal transcription machinery to regulatory elements and adjacent sequences that act as divergent cryptic promoters, thereby providing directionality toward productive transcription.

A unified computational framework for modeling genome-wide nucleosome landscape

Nucleosomes form the fundamental building blocks of eukaryotic chromatin, and previous attempts to understand the principles governing their genome-wide distribution have spurred much interest and debate in biology. In particular, the precise role of DNA sequence in shaping local chromatin structure has been controversial. This paper rigorously quantifies the contribution of hitherto-debated sequence features-including G+C content, 10.5 bp periodicity, and poly(dA:dT) tracts-to three distinct aspects of genome-wide nucleosome landscape: occupancy, translational positioning and rotational positioning. Our computational framework simultaneously learns nucleosome number and nucleosome-positioning energy from genome-wide nucleosome maps. In contrast to other previous studies, our model can predict both in vitro and in vivo nucleosome maps in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We find that although G+C content is the primary determinant of MNase-derived nucleosome occupancy, MNase digestion biases may substantially influence this GC dependence. By contrast, poly(dA:dT) tracts are seen to deter nucleosome formation, regardless of the experimental method used. We further show that the 10.5 bp nucleotide periodicity facilitates rotational but not translational positioning. Applying our method to in vivo nucleosome maps demonstrates that, for a subset of genes, the regularly-spaced nucleosome arrays observed around transcription start sites can be partially recapitulated by DNA sequence alone. Finally, in vivo nucleosome occupancy derived from MNase-seq experiments around transcription termination sites can be mostly explained by the genomic sequence. Implications of these results and potential extensions of the proposed computational framework are discussed.

Application of MNase-Seq in the Global Mapping of Nucleosome Positioning in Plants

The precise positioning of nucleosomes along the underlying DNA is critical for a variety of biological processes, especially in regulating transcription. The interplay between nucleosomes and transcription factors for accessing the underlying DNA sequences is one of the key determinants that affect transcriptional regulation. Moreover, nucleosomes with various packing statuses confer distinct functions in regulating gene expressions in response to various internal or external signals. Therefore, global mapping of nucleosome positions is one informative way to elucidate the relationship between patterns of nucleosome positioning/occupancy and transcriptional regulations. MNase digestion coupled with high-throughput sequencing (MNase-seq) has been utilized widely for global mapping of nucleosome positioning in eukaryotes that have a sequenced genome. We have developed a robust MNase-seq procedure in plants. It mainly includes plant nuclei isolation, treatment of purified nuclei with MNase, gel recovery of MNase-trimmed mononucleosomal DNA with an approximate size of 150 bp, MNase-seq library preparation followed by Illumina sequencing, and data analysis. MNase-seq has already been successfully applied to identify genome-wide nucleosome positioning in model plants, rice, and Arabidopsis thaliana.

The Latest Twists in Chromatin Remodeling

In its most restrictive interpretation, the notion of chromatin remodeling refers to the action of chromatin-remodeling enzymes on nucleosomes with the aim of displacing and removing them from the chromatin fiber (the effective polymer formed by a DNA molecule and proteins). This local modification of the fiber structure can have consequences for the initiation and repression of the transcription process, and when the remodeling process spreads along the fiber, it also results in long-range effects essential for fiber condensation. There are three regulatory levels of relevance that can be distinguished for this process: the intrinsic sequence preference of the histone octamer, which rules the positioning of the nucleosome along the DNA, notably in relation to the genetic information coded in DNA; the recognition or selection of nucleosomal substrates by remodeling complexes; and, finally, the motor action on the nucleosome exerted by the chromatin remodeler. Recent work has been able to provide crucial insights at each of these three levels that add new twists to this exciting and unfinished story, which we highlight in this perspective.

Understanding nucleosome dynamics and their links to gene expression and DNA replication

Advances in genomics technology have provided the means to probe myriad chromatin interactions at unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. This has led to a profound understanding of nucleosome organization within the genome, revealing that nucleosomes are highly dynamic. Nucleosome dynamics are governed by a complex interplay of histone composition, histone post-translational modifications, nucleosome occupancy and positioning within chromatin, which are influenced by numerous regulatory factors, including general regulatory factors, chromatin remodellers, chaperones and polymerases. It is now known that these dynamics regulate diverse cellular processes ranging from gene transcription to DNA replication and repair.

The Sequence of Nucleosomal DNA Modulates Sliding by the Chd1 Chromatin Remodeler

Chromatin remodelers are ATP-dependent enzymes that are critical for reorganizing and repositioning nucleosomes in concert with many basic cellular processes. For the chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 1 (Chd1) remodeler, nucleosome sliding has been shown to depend on the DNA flanking the nucleosome, transcription factor binding at the nucleosome edge, and the presence of the histone H2A/H2B dimer on the entry side. Here, we report that Chd1 is also sensitive to the sequence of DNA within the nucleosome and slides nucleosomes made with the 601 Widom positioning sequence asymmetrically. Kinetic and equilibrium experiments show that poly(dA:dT) tracts perturb remodeling reactions if within one and a half helical turns of superhelix location 2 (SHL2), where the Chd1 ATPase engages nucleosomal DNA. These sequence-dependent effects do not rely on the Chd1 DNA-binding domain and are not due to differences in nucleosome affinity. Using site-specific cross-linking, we show that internal poly(dA:dT) tracts do not block the engagement of the ATPase motor with SHL2, yet they promote multiple translational positions of DNA with respect to both Chd1 and the histone core. We speculate that Chd1 senses the sequence-dependent response of DNA as the remodeler ATPase perturbs the duplex at SHL2. These results suggest that the sequence sensitivity of histones and remodelers occur at unique segments of DNA on the nucleosome, allowing them to work together or in opposition to determine nucleosome positions throughout the genome.

The Chd1 chromatin remodeler shifts hexasomes unidirectionally

Despite their canonical two-fold symmetry, nucleosomes in biological contexts are often asymmetric: functionalized with post-translational modifications (PTMs), substituted with histone variants, and even lacking H2A/H2B dimers. Here we show that the Widom 601 nucleosome positioning sequence can produce hexasomes in a specific orientation on DNA, providing a useful tool for interrogating chromatin enzymes and allowing for the generation of nucleosomes with precisely defined asymmetry. Using this methodology, we demonstrate that the Chd1 chromatin remodeler from Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires H2A/H2B on the entry side for sliding, and thus, unlike the back-and-forth sliding observed for nucleosomes, Chd1 shifts hexasomes unidirectionally. Chd1 takes part in chromatin reorganization surrounding transcribing RNA polymerase II (Pol II), and using asymmetric nucleosomes we show that ubiquitin-conjugated H2B on the entry side stimulates nucleosome sliding by Chd1. We speculate that biased nucleosome and hexasome sliding due to asymmetry contributes to the packing of arrays observed in vivo.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.21356.001

Genomic Nucleosome Organization Reconstituted with Pure Proteins

Chromatin remodelers regulate genes by organizing nucleosomes around promoters, but their individual contributions are obfuscated by the complex in vivo milieu of factor redundancy and indirect effects. Genome-wide reconstitution of promoter nucleosome organization with purified proteins resolves this problem and is therefore a critical goal. Here, we reconstitute four stages of nucleosome architecture using purified components: yeast genomic DNA, histones, sequence-specific Abf1/Reb1, and remodelers RSC, ISW2, INO80, and ISW1a. We identify direct, specific, and sufficient contributions that in vivo observations validate. First, RSC clears promoters by translating poly(dA:dT) into directional nucleosome removal. Second, partial redundancy is recapitulated where INO80 alone, or ISW2 at Abf1/Reb1sites, positions +1 nucleosomes. Third, INO80 and ISW2 each align downstream nucleosomal arrays. Fourth, ISW1a tightens the spacing to canonical repeat lengths. Such a minimal set of rules and proteins establishes core mechanisms by which promoter chromatin architecture arises through a blend of redundancy and specialization.

Sequence-specific targeting of chromatin remodelers organizes precisely positioned nucleosomes throughout the genome

Eukaryotic genomes are functionally organized into chromatin, a compact packaging of nucleoproteins with the basic repeating unit known as the nucleosome. A major focus for the chromatin field has been understanding what rules govern nucleosome positioning throughout the genome, and here we review recent findings using a novel, sequence-targeted remodeling enzyme. Nucleosomes are often packed into evenly spaced arrays that are reproducibly positioned, but how such organization is established and maintained through dramatic events such as DNA replication is poorly understood. We hypothesize that a major fraction of positioned nucleosomes arises from sequence-specific targeting of chromatin remodelers to generate "founding" nucleosomes, providing reproducible, predictable, and condition-specific nucleation sites against which neighboring nucleosomes are packed into evenly spaced arrays.

The Chd1 chromatin remodeler can sense both entry and exit sides of the nucleosome

Chromatin remodelers are essential for establishing and maintaining the placement of nucleosomes along genomic DNA. Yet how chromatin remodelers recognize and respond to distinct chromatin environments surrounding nucleosomes is poorly understood. Here, we use Lac repressor as a tool to probe how a DNA-bound factor influences action of the Chd1 remodeler. We show that Chd1 preferentially shifts nucleosomes away from Lac repressor, demonstrating that a DNA-bound factor defines a barrier for nucleosome positioning. Rather than an absolute block in sliding, the barrier effect was achieved by altered rates of nucleosome sliding that biased redistribution of nucleosomes away from the bound Lac repressor site. Remarkably, in addition to slower sliding toward the LacO site, the presence of Lac repressor also stimulated sliding in the opposite direction. These experiments therefore demonstrate that Chd1 responds to the presence of a bound protein on both entry and exit sides of the nucleosome. This sensitivity to both sides of the nucleosome allows for a faster and sharper response than would be possible by responding to only the entry side, and we speculate that dual entry/exit sensitivity is also important for regularly spaced nucleosome arrays generated by Chd1 and the related ISWI remodelers.