The yeast RSC chromatin-remodeling complex is required for kinetochore function in chromosome segregation

Humanization reveals pervasive incompatibility of yeast and human kinetochore components

Kinetochores assemble on centromeres to drive chromosome segregation in eukaryotic cells. Humans and budding yeast share most of the structural subunits of the kinetochore, whereas protein sequences have diverged considerably. The conserved centromeric histone H3 variant, CenH3 (CENP-A in humans and Cse4 in budding yeast), marks the site for kinetochore assembly in most species. A previous effort to complement Cse4 in yeast with human CENP-A was unsuccessful; however, co-complementation with the human core nucleosome was not attempted. Previously, our lab successfully humanized the core nucleosome in yeast; however, this severely affected cellular growth. We hypothesized that yeast Cse4 is incompatible with humanized nucleosomes and that the kinetochore represented a limiting factor for efficient histone humanization. Thus, we argued that including the human CENP-A or a Cse4-CENP-A chimera might improve histone humanization and facilitate kinetochore function in humanized yeast. The opposite was true: CENP-A expression reduced histone humanization efficiency, was toxic to yeast, and disrupted cell cycle progression and kinetochore function in wild-type (WT) cells. Suppressors of CENP-A toxicity included gene deletions of subunits of 3 conserved chromatin remodeling complexes, highlighting their role in CenH3 chromatin positioning. Finally, we attempted to complement the subunits of the NDC80 kinetochore complex, individually and in combination, without success, in contrast to a previous study indicating complementation by the human NDC80/HEC1 gene. Our results suggest that limited protein sequence similarity between yeast and human components in this very complex structure leads to failure of complementation.

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.

Rio1 downregulates centromeric RNA levels to promote the timely assembly of structurally fit kinetochores

Kinetochores assemble on centromeres via histone H3 variant CENP-A and low levels of centromere transcripts (cenRNAs). The latter are ensured by the downregulation of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) activity, and cenRNA turnover by the nuclear exosome. Using S. cerevisiae, we now add protein kinase Rio1 to this scheme. Yeast cenRNAs are produced either as short (median lengths of 231 nt) or long (4458 nt) transcripts, in a 1:1 ratio. Rio1 limits their production by reducing RNAPII accessibility and promotes cenRNA degradation by the 5'-3'exoribonuclease Rat1. Rio1 similarly curtails the concentrations of noncoding pericenRNAs. These exist as short transcripts (225 nt) at levels that are minimally two orders of magnitude higher than the cenRNAs. In yeast depleted of Rio1, cen- and pericenRNAs accumulate, CEN nucleosomes and kinetochores misform, causing chromosome instability. The latter phenotypes are also observed with human cells lacking orthologue RioK1, suggesting that CEN regulation by Rio1/RioK1 is evolutionary conserved.

Conservation and Expansion of Transcriptional Factor Repertoire in the Fusarium oxysporum Species Complex

The Fusarium oxysporum species complex (FOSC) includes both plant and human pathogens that cause devastating plant vascular wilt diseases and threaten public health. Each F. oxysporum genome comprises core chromosomes (CCs) for housekeeping functions and accessory chromosomes (ACs) that contribute to host-specific adaptation. This study inspects global transcription factor profiles (TFomes) and their potential roles in coordinating CC and AC functions to accomplish host-specific interactions. Remarkably, we found a clear positive correlation between the sizes of TFomes and the proteomes of an organism. With the acquisition of ACs, the FOSC TFomes were larger than the other fungal genomes included in this study. Among a total of 48 classified TF families, 14 families involved in transcription/translation regulations and cell cycle controls were highly conserved. Among the 30 FOSC expanded families, Zn2-C6 and Znf_C2H2 were most significantly expanded to 671 and 167 genes per family including well-characterized homologs of Ftf1 (Zn2-C6) and PacC (Znf_C2H2) that are involved in host-specific interactions. Manual curation of characterized TFs increased the TFome repertoires by 3% including a disordered protein Ren1. RNA-Seq revealed a steady pattern of expression for conserved TF families and specific activation for AC TFs. Functional characterization of these TFs could enhance our understanding of transcriptional regulation involved in FOSC cross-kingdom interactions, disentangle species-specific adaptation, and identify targets to combat diverse diseases caused by this group of fungal pathogens.

Clinical Epigenomic Explanation of the Epidemiology of Cannabinoid Genotoxicity Manifesting as Transgenerational Teratogenesis, Cancerogenesis and Aging Acceleration

As global interest in the therapeutic potential of cannabis and its' derivatives for the management of selected diseases increases, it is increasingly imperative that the toxic profile of cannabinoids be thoroughly understood in order to correctly assess the balance between the therapeutic risks and benefits. Modern studies across a number of jurisdictions, including Canada, Australia, the US and Europe have confirmed that some of the most worrying and severe historical reports of both congenital anomalies and cancer induction following cannabis exposure actually underestimate the multisystem thousand megabase-scale transgenerational genetic damage. These findings from teratogenic and carcinogenic literature are supported by recent data showing the accelerated patterns of chronic disease and the advanced DNA methylation epigenomic clock age in cannabis exposed patients. Together, the increased multisystem carcinogenesis, teratogenesis and accelerated aging point strongly to cannabinoid-related genotoxicity being much more clinically significant than it is widely supposed and, thus, of very considerable public health and multigenerational impact. Recently reported longitudinal epigenome-wide association studies elegantly explain many of these observed effects with considerable methodological sophistication, including multiple pathways for the inhibition of the normal chromosomal segregation and DNA repair, the inhibition of the basic epigenetic machinery for DNA methylation and the demethylation and telomerase acceleration of the epigenomic promoter hypermethylation characterizing aging. For cancer, 810 hits were also noted. The types of malignancy which were observed have all been documented epidemiologically. Detailed epigenomic explications of the brain, heart, face, uronephrological, gastrointestinal and limb development were provided, which amply explained the observed teratological patterns, including the inhibition of the key morphogenic gradients. Hence, these major epigenomic insights constituted a powerful new series of arguments which advanced both our understanding of the downstream sequalae of multisystem multigenerational cannabinoid genotoxicity and also, since mechanisms are key to the causal argument, inveighed strongly in favor of the causal nature of the relationship. In this introductory conceptual overview, we present the various aspects of this novel synthetic paradigmatic framework. Such concepts suggest and, indeed, indicate numerous fields for further investigation and basic science research to advance the exploration of many important issues in biology, clinical medicine and population health. Given this, it is imperative we correctly appraise the risk-benefit ratio for each potential cannabis application, considering the potency, severity of disease, stage of human development and duration of use.

Conservation and Expansion of Transcriptional Factor Repertoire in the Fusarium oxysporum Species Complex

The Fusarium oxysporum species complex (FOSC) includes both plant and human pathogens that cause devastating plant vascular wilt diseases and threaten public health. Each F. oxysporum genome comprises core chromosomes (CCs) for housekeeping functions and accessory chromosomes (ACs) that contribute to host-specific adaptation. This study inspected global transcription factor profiles (TFomes) and their potential roles in coordinating CCs and ACs functions to accomplish host-specific pathogenicity. Remarkably, we found a clear positive correlation between the sizes of TFome and proteome of an organism, and FOSC TFomes are larger due to the acquisition of ACs. Among a total of 48 classified TF families, 14 families involved in transcription/translation regulations and cell cycle controls are highly conserved. Among 30 FOSC expanded families, Zn2-C6 and Znf_C2H2 are most significantly expanded to 671 and 167 genes per family, including well-characterized homologs of Ftf1 (Zn2-C6) and PacC (Znf_C2H2) involved in host-specific interactions. Manual curation of characterized TFs increased the TFome repertoires by 3%, including a disordered protein Ren1. Expression profiles revealed a steady expression of conserved TF families and specific activation of AC TFs. Functional characterization of these TFs could enhance our understanding of transcriptional regulation involved in FOSC cross-kingdom interactions, disentangle species-specific adaptation, and identify targets to combat diverse diseases caused by this group of fungal pathogens.

Comprehending the dynamism of B chromosomes in their journey towards becoming unselfish

Investigated for more than a century now, B chromosomes (Bs) research has come a long way from Bs being considered parasitic or neutral to becoming unselfish and bringing benefits to their hosts. B chromosomes exist as accessory chromosomes along with the standard A chromosomes (As) across eukaryotic taxa. Represented singly or in multiple copies, B chromosomes are largely heterochromatic but also contain euchromatic and organellar segments. Although B chromosomes are derived entities, they follow their species-specific evolutionary pattern. B chromosomes fail to pair with the standard chromosomes during meiosis and vary in their number, size, composition and structure across taxa and ensure their successful transmission through non-mendelian mechanisms like mitotic, pre-meiotic, meiotic or post-meiotic drives, unique non-disjunction, self-pairing or even imparting benefits to the host when they lack drive. B chromosomes have been associated with cellular processes like sex determination, pathogenicity, resistance to pathogens, phenotypic effects, and differential gene expression. With the advancements in B-omics research, novel insights have been gleaned on their functions, some of which have been associated with the regulation of gene expression of A chromosomes through increased expression of miRNAs or differential expression of transposable elements located on them. The next-generation sequencing and emerging technologies will further likely unravel the cellular, molecular and functional behaviour of these enigmatic entities. Amidst the extensive fluidity shown by B chromosomes in their structural and functional attributes, we perceive that the existence and survival of B chromosomes in the populations most likely seem to be a trade-off between the drive efficiency and adaptive significance versus their adverse effects on reproduction.

Histone modification in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: A review of the current status

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a well-characterized and popular model system for investigating histone modifications and the inheritance of chromatin states. The data obtained from this model organism have provided essential and critical information for understanding the complexity of epigenetic interactions and regulation in eukaryotes. Recent advances in biotechnology have facilitated the detection and quantitation of protein post-translational modification (PTM), including acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, sumoylation, and acylation, and led to the identification of several novel modification sites in histones. Determining the cellular function of these new histone markers is essential for understanding epigenetic mechanisms and their impact on various biological processes. In this review, we describe recent advances and current views on histone modifications and their effects on chromatin dynamics in S. cerevisiae.

Epigenomic and Other Evidence for Cannabis-Induced Aging Contextualized in a Synthetic Epidemiologic Overview of Cannabinoid-Related Teratogenesis and Cannabinoid-Related Carcinogenesis

BACKGROUND

Twelve separate streams of empirical data make a strong case for cannabis-induced accelerated aging including hormonal, mitochondriopathic, cardiovascular, hepatotoxic, immunological, genotoxic, epigenotoxic, disruption of chromosomal physiology, congenital anomalies, cancers including inheritable tumorigenesis, telomerase inhibition and elevated mortality.

METHODS

Results from a recently published longitudinal epigenomic screen were analyzed with regard to the results of recent large epidemiological studies of the causal impacts of cannabis. We also integrate theoretical syntheses with prior studies into these combined epigenomic and epidemiological results.

RESULTS

Cannabis dependence not only recapitulates many of the key features of aging, but is characterized by both age-defining and age-generating illnesses including immunomodulation, hepatic inflammation, many psychiatric syndromes with a neuroinflammatory basis, genotoxicity and epigenotoxicity. DNA breaks, chromosomal breakage-fusion-bridge morphologies and likely cycles, and altered intergenerational DNA methylation and disruption of both the histone and tubulin codes in the context of increased clinical congenital anomalies, cancers and heritable tumors imply widespread disruption of the genome and epigenome. Modern epigenomic clocks indicate that, in cannabis-dependent patients, cannabis advances cellular DNA methylation age by 25-30% at age 30 years. Data have implications not only for somatic but also stem cell and germ line tissues including post-fertilization zygotes. This effect is likely increases with the square of chronological age.

CONCLUSION

Recent epigenomic studies of cannabis exposure provide many explanations for the broad spectrum of cannabis-related teratogenicity and carcinogenicity and appear to account for many epidemiologically observed findings. Further research is indicated on the role of cannabinoids in the aging process both developmentally and longitudinally, from stem cell to germ cell to blastocystoids to embryoid bodies and beyond.

The chromatin remodeler RSC prevents ectopic CENP-A propagation into pericentromeric heterochromatin at the chromatin boundary

Centromeres of most eukaryotes consist of two distinct chromatin domains: a kinetochore domain, identified by the histone H3 variant, CENP-A, and a heterochromatic domain. How these two domains are separated is unclear. Here, we show that, in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, mutation of the chromatin remodeler RSC induced CENP-ACnp1 misloading at pericentromeric heterochromatin, resulting in the mis-assembly of kinetochore proteins and a defect in chromosome segregation. We find that RSC functions at the kinetochore boundary to prevent CENP-ACnp1 from spreading into neighbouring heterochromatin, where deacetylated histones provide an ideal environment for the spread of CENP-ACnp1. In addition, we show that RSC decompacts the chromatin structure at this boundary, and propose that this RSC-directed chromatin decompaction prevents mis-propagation of CENP-ACnp1 into pericentromeric heterochromatin. Our study provides an insight into how the distribution of distinct chromatin domains is established and maintained.

Functional analysis of the RSC9 component of RSC chromatin remodeler reveals non-overlapping roles among the different subunits in C. albicans

RSC (Remodel the Structure of Chromatin) chromatin remodeler in S. cerevisiae has multiple subunits, some of them are essential whereas the others are non-essential for cell viability. Not all the subunits are involved in all the functions of RSC complex. With several lines of evidences showing somewhat similar role of RSC complex [through Sth1 (Snf Two Homolog 1)] in different aspects of cell cycle (chromosome segregation and kinetochore function, etc.), DNA damage repair and stress response in C. albicans and S. cerevisiae, we hypothesize the organization of RSC complex in C. albicans could follow the same pattern as observed in S. cerevisiae. We hypothesize that the subset of the subunits could form different subcomplexes to do different biological functions where several subunits are common among the subcomplexes. We wished to address if the accessory component Rsc9 protein of RSC complex has any non-overlapping function with respect to the ATPase component Sth1 of the RSC complex in C. albicans. Here, we have shown that the rsc9 mutant exhibit abnormal nuclear segregation, though budding profile is comparable to the wild type. Rsc9 does not affect yeast to hyphae transition. Though both Sth1 and Rsc9 belong to the same RSC complex, individual protein is functionally distinct, and the respective mutant shows different phenotype and different consequence in cellular process. This suggests that though RSC works as a single complex having global remodeling activity, different subunit can form distinct modules which show functional disparity, as the components show some similar and some distinct function.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-022-03341-w.

Histone protein surface accessibility dictates direction of RSC-dependent nucleosome mobilization

Chromatin remodeling enzymes use energy derived from ATP hydrolysis to mobilize nucleosomes and alter their structure to facilitate DNA access. The Remodels the Structure of Chromatin (RSC) complex has been extensively studied, yet aspects of how this complex functionally interacts with nucleosomes remain unclear. We introduce a steric mapping approach to determine how RSC activity depends on interaction with specific surfaces within the nucleosome. We find that blocking SHL + 4.5/–4.5 via streptavidin binding to the H2A N-terminal tail domains results in inhibition of RSC nucleosome mobilization. However, restriction enzyme assays indicate that remodeling-dependent exposure of an internal DNA site near the nucleosome dyad is not affected. In contrast, occlusion of both protein faces of the nucleosome by streptavidin attachment near the acidic patch completely blocks both remodeling-dependent nucleosome mobilization and internal DNA site exposure. However, we observed partial inhibition when only one protein surface is occluded, consistent with abrogation of one of two productive RSC binding orientations. Our results indicate that nucleosome mobilization requires RSC access to the trailing but not the leading protein surface, and reveals a mechanism by which RSC and related complexes may drive unidirectional movement of nucleosomes to regulate cis-acting DNA sequences in vivo.

The yeast 2-micron plasmid Rep2 protein has Rep1-independent partitioning function

Equal partitioning of the multi-copy 2-micron plasmid of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires association of the plasmid Rep1 and Rep2 proteins with the plasmid STB partitioning locus. Determining how the Rep proteins contribute has been complicated by interactions between the components. Here, each Rep protein was expressed fused to the DNA-binding domain of the bacterial repressor protein LexA in yeast harboring a replication-competent plasmid that had LexA-binding sites but lacked STB. Plasmid transmission to daughter cells was increased only by Rep2 fusion expression. Neither Rep1 nor a functional RSC2 complex (a chromatin remodeler required for 2-micron plasmid partitioning) were needed for the improvement. Deletion analysis showed the carboxy-terminal 65 residues of Rep2 were required and sufficient for this Rep1-independent inheritance. Mutation of a conserved basic motif in this domain impaired Rep1-independent and Rep protein/STB-dependent plasmid partitioning. Our findings suggest Rep2, which requires Rep1 and the RSC2 complex for functional association with STB, directly participates in 2-micron plasmid partitioning by linking the plasmid to a host component that is efficiently partitioned during cell division. Further investigation is needed to reveal the host factor targeted by Rep2 that contributes to the survival of these plasmids in their budding yeast hosts.

A transcriptional roadblock protects yeast centromeres

Centromeres are the chromosomal loci essential for faithful chromosome segregation during cell division. Although centromeres are transcribed and produce non-coding RNAs (cenRNAs) that affect centromere function, we still lack a mechanistic understanding of how centromere transcription is regulated. Here, using a targeted RNA isoform sequencing approach, we identified the transcriptional landscape at and surrounding all centromeres in budding yeast. Overall, cenRNAs are derived from transcription readthrough of pericentromeric regions but rarely span the entire centromere and are a complex mixture of molecules that are heterogeneous in abundance, orientation, and sequence. While most pericentromeres are transcribed throughout the cell cycle, centromere accessibility to the transcription machinery is restricted to S-phase. This temporal restriction is dependent on Cbf1, a centromere-binding transcription factor, that we demonstrate acts locally as a transcriptional roadblock. Cbf1 deletion leads to an accumulation of cenRNAs at all phases of the cell cycle which correlates with increased chromosome mis-segregation that is partially rescued when the roadblock activity is restored. We propose that a Cbf1-mediated transcriptional roadblock protects yeast centromeres from untimely transcription to ensure genomic stability.

Emerging roles of SWI/SNF remodelers in fungal pathogens

Fungal pathogens constantly sense and respond to the environment they inhabit, and this interaction is vital for their survival inside hosts and exhibiting pathogenic traits. Since such responses often entail specific patterns of gene expression, regulators of chromatin structure contribute to the fitness and virulence of the pathogens by modulating DNA accessibility to the transcriptional machinery. Recent studies in several human and plant fungal pathogens have uncovered the SWI/SNF group of chromatin remodelers as an important determinant of pathogenic traits and provided insights into their mechanism of function. Here, we review these studies and highlight the differential functions of these remodeling complexes and their subunits in regulating fungal fitness and pathogenicity. As an extension of our previous study, we also show that loss of specific RSC subunits can predispose the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans cells to filamentous growth in a context-dependent manner. Finally, we consider the potential of targeting the fungal SWI/SNF remodeling complexes for antifungal interventions.

Histone sumoylation and chromatin dynamics

Chromatin structure and gene expression are dynamically controlled by post-translational modifications (PTMs) on histone proteins, including ubiquitylation, methylation, acetylation and small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) conjugation. It was initially thought that histone sumoylation exclusively suppressed gene transcription, but recent advances in proteomics and genomics have uncovered its diverse functions in cotranscriptional processes, including chromatin remodeling, transcript elongation, and blocking cryptic initiation. Histone sumoylation is integral to complex signaling codes that prime additional histone PTMs as well as modifications of the RNA polymerase II carboxy-terminal domain (RNAPII-CTD) during transcription. In addition, sumoylation of histone variants is critical for the DNA double-strand break (DSB) response and for chromosome segregation during mitosis. This review describes recent findings on histone sumoylation and its coordination with other histone and RNAPII-CTD modifications in the regulation of chromatin dynamics.

Conservation of centromeric histone 3 interaction partners in plants

The loading and maintenance of centromeric histone 3 (CENH3) at the centromere are critical processes ensuring appropriate kinetochore establishment and equivalent segregation of the homologous chromosomes during cell division. CENH3 loss of function is lethal, whereas mutations in the histone fold domain are tolerated and lead to chromosome instability and chromosome elimination in embryos derived from crosses with wild-type pollen. A wide range of proteins in yeast and animals have been reported to interact with CENH3. The histone fold domain-interacting proteins are potentially alternative targets for the engineering of haploid inducer lines, which may be important when CENH3 mutations are not well supported by a given crop. Here, we provide an overview of the corresponding plant orthologs or functional homologs of CENH3-interacting proteins. We also list putative CENH3 post-translational modifications that are also candidate targets for modulating chromosome stability and inheritance.

Polo kinase recruitment via the constitutive centromere-associated network at the kinetochore elevates centromeric RNA

The kinetochore, a multi-protein complex assembled on centromeres, is essential to segregate chromosomes during cell division. Deficiencies in kinetochore function can lead to chromosomal instability and aneuploidy-a hallmark of cancer cells. Kinetochore function is controlled by recruitment of regulatory proteins, many of which have been documented, however their function often remains uncharacterized and many are yet to be identified. To identify candidates of kinetochore regulation we used a proteome-wide protein association strategy in budding yeast and detected many proteins that are involved in post-translational modifications such as kinases, phosphatases and histone modifiers. We focused on the Polo-like kinase, Cdc5, and interrogated which cellular components were sensitive to constitutive Cdc5 localization. The kinetochore is particularly sensitive to constitutive Cdc5 kinase activity. Targeting Cdc5 to different kinetochore subcomplexes produced diverse phenotypes, consistent with multiple distinct functions at the kinetochore. We show that targeting Cdc5 to the inner kinetochore, the constitutive centromere-associated network (CCAN), increases the levels of centromeric RNA via an SPT4 dependent mechanism.

Checkpoint Proteins Bub1 and Bub3 Delay Anaphase Onset in Response to Low Tension Independent of Microtubule-Kinetochore Detachment

The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) delays anaphase onset until sister chromosomes are bound to microtubules from opposite spindle poles. Only then can dynamic microtubules produce tension across sister kinetochores. The interdependence of kinetochore attachment and tension has proved challenging to understanding SAC mechanisms. Whether the SAC responds simply to kinetochore attachment or to tension status remains obscure. Unlike higher eukaryotes, budding yeast kinetochores bind only one microtubule, simplifying the relation between attachment and tension. We developed a Taxol-sensitive yeast model to reduce tension in fully assembled spindles. Our results show that low tension on bipolar-attached kinetochores delays anaphase onset, independent of detachment. The delay is transient relative to that imposed by unattached kinetochores. Furthermore, it is mediated by Bub1 and Bub3, but not Mad1, Mad2, and Mad3 (BubR1). Our results demonstrate that reduced tension delays anaphase onset via a signal that is temporally and mechanistically distinct from that produced by unattached kinetochores.

Kinetochore attachment and tension are critical for proper chromosome segregation, but isolating the contribution of either stimulus has been challenging. Using a Taxol-sensitive yeast model, Proudfoot et al. show that reducing tension specifically produces a delay in mitotic progression that is temporally and mechanistically distinct from that produced by unattached kinetochores.

Interaction of RSC Chromatin Remodeling Complex with Nucleosomes Is Modulated by H3 K14 Acetylation and H2B SUMOylation In Vivo

Chromatin remodeling complexes are multi-subunit nucleosome translocases that reorganize chromatin in the context of DNA replication, repair, and transcription. To understand how these complexes find their target sites on chromatin, we use genetically encoded photo-cross-linker amino acids to map the footprint of Sth1, the catalytic subunit of the RSC complex, on nucleosomes in living yeast. We find that H3 K14 acetylation induces the interaction of the Sth1 bromodomain with the H3 tail and mediates the interaction of RSC with neighboring nucleosomes rather than recruiting it to chromatin. RSC preferentially resides on H2B SUMOylated nucleosomes in vivo and shows a moderately enhanced affinity due to this modification in vitro. Furthermore, RSC is not ejected from chromatin in mitosis, but changes its mode of nucleosome binding. Our in vivo analyses show that RSC recruitment to specific chromatin targets involves multiple histone modifications likely in combination with histone variants and transcription factors.

Nuclear Ssr4 Is Required for the In Vitro and In Vivo Asexual Cycles and Global Gene Activity of Beauveria bassiana

Ssr4 is known to serve as a cosubunit of chromatin-remodeling SWI/SNF and RSC complexes in yeasts but has not been functionally characterized in fungi. This study unveils for the first time the pleiotropic effects caused by deletion of ssr4 and its role in mediating global gene expression in a fungal insect pathogen. Our findings confirm an essential role of Ssr4 in hydrophobin biosynthesis and assembly required for growth, differentiation, and development of aerial hyphae for conidiation and conidial adhesion to insect surface and its essentiality for insect pathogenicity and virulence-related cellular events. Importantly, Ssr4 can regulate nearly one-fourth of all genes in the fungal genome in direct and indirect manners, including dozens involved in gene activity and hundreds involved in metabolism and/or transport of carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, and/or inorganic ions. These findings highlight a significance of Ssr4 for filamentous fungal lifestyle.

Ssr4 serves as a cosubunit of chromatin-remodeling SWI/SNF and RSC complexes in yeasts but remains functionally uncharacterized due to its essentiality for yeast viability. Here, we report pleiotropic effects of the deletion of the ssr4 ortholog nonessential for cell viability in Beauveria bassiana, an asexual insect mycopathogen. The deletion of ssr4 resulted in severe growth defects on different carbon/nitrogen sources, increased hyphal hydrophilicity, blocked hyphal differentiation, and 98% reduced conidiation capacity compared to a wild-type standard. The limited Δssr4 conidia featured an impaired coat with disordered or obscure hydrophobin rodlet bundles, decreased hydrophobicity, increased size, and lost insect pathogenicity via normal cuticle infection and 90% of virulence via intrahemocoel injection. The expression of genes required for hydrophobin biosynthesis and assembly of the rodlet layer was drastically repressed in more hydrophilic Δssr4 cells. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 2,517 genes differentially expressed in the Δssr4 mutant, including 1,505 downregulated genes and 1,012 upregulated genes. The proteins encoded by hundreds of repressed genes were involved in metabolism and/or transport of carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids, inorganic ion transport and energy production or conversion, including dozens involved in DNA replication, transcription, translation, and posttranslational modifications. However, purified Ssr4 samples showed no DNA-binding activity, implying that the role of Ssr4 in genome-wide gene regulation could rely upon its acting as a cosubunit of the two complexes. These findings provide the first insight into an essential role of Ssr4 in the asexual cycle in vitro and in vivo of B. bassiana and highlights its importance for the filamentous fungal lifestyle.

IMPORTANCE Ssr4 is known to serve as a cosubunit of chromatin-remodeling SWI/SNF and RSC complexes in yeasts but has not been functionally characterized in fungi. This study unveils for the first time the pleiotropic effects caused by deletion of ssr4 and its role in mediating global gene expression in a fungal insect pathogen. Our findings confirm an essential role of Ssr4 in hydrophobin biosynthesis and assembly required for growth, differentiation, and development of aerial hyphae for conidiation and conidial adhesion to insect surface and its essentiality for insect pathogenicity and virulence-related cellular events. Importantly, Ssr4 can regulate nearly one-fourth of all genes in the fungal genome in direct and indirect manners, including dozens involved in gene activity and hundreds involved in metabolism and/or transport of carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, and/or inorganic ions. These findings highlight a significance of Ssr4 for filamentous fungal lifestyle.

Dynamics of Chromatin and Transcription during Transient Depletion of the RSC Chromatin Remodeling Complex

Nucleosome organization has a key role in transcriptional regulation, yet the precise mechanisms establishing nucleosome locations and their effect on transcription are unclear. Here, we use an induced degradation system to screen all yeast ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers. We characterize how rapid clearance of the remodeler affects nucleosome locations. Specifically, depletion of Sth1, the catalytic subunit of the RSC (remodel the structure of chromatin) complex, leads to rapid fill-in of nucleosome-free regions at gene promoters. These changes are reversible upon reintroduction of Sth1 and do not depend on DNA replication. RSC-dependent nucleosome positioning is pivotal in maintaining promoters of lowly expressed genes free from nucleosomes. In contrast, we observe that upon acute stress, the RSC is not necessary for the transcriptional response. Moreover, RSC-dependent nucleosome positions are tightly related to usage of specific transcription start sites. Our results suggest organizational principles that determine nucleosome positions with and without RSC and how these interact with the transcriptional process.

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Screen of all yeast ATP-dependent remodelers with a conditional degradation system

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RSC depletion leads to rapid replication-independent NFR fill-in

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Recovery of RSC fully reverses NFR fill-in and transcriptional changes

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RSC-dependent nucleosome positioning directly affect transcription start site choice

Sth1, the Key Subunit of the RSC Chromatin Remodeling Complex, Is Essential in Maintaining Chromosomal Integrity and Mediating High Fidelity Chromosome Segregation in the Human Fungal Pathogen Candida albicans

Chromatin architecture influences gene expression and makes specialized chromatin domains. Factors including histone variants, histone modifiers and chromatin remodelers that define chromatin architecture impact chromosome related processes in Candida albicans. In this context, we sought to investigate the roles of the ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler, Remodel the Structure of Chromatin (RSC) in chromosome segregation of C. albicans. Sth1 is the key ATPase component of RSC and has profound roles in different cellular processes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We demonstrate that STH1 is an essential gene in C. albicans. The depletion of Sth1 induces pseudohyphal cells, abnormal spindle morphology, sensitivity toward anti-mitotic drugs and global cohesion defect suggesting an important role of Sth1 in kinetochore-microtubule related processes in C. albicans. Strikingly, Sth1 is required to maintain clustered kinetochores revealing the fact that RSC is required in kinetochore integrity. Taken together, we show that RSC plays an important role in various chromatin-templated processes including chromosome segregation in C. albicans.

A Role for Chromatin Remodeling in Cohesin Loading onto Chromosomes

Cohesin is a conserved, ring-shaped protein complex that topologically embraces DNA. Its central role in genome organization includes functions in sister chromatid cohesion, DNA repair, and transcriptional regulation. Cohesin loading onto chromosomes requires the Scc2-Scc4 cohesin loader, whose presence on chromatin in budding yeast depends on the RSC chromatin remodeling complex. Here we reveal a dual role of RSC in cohesin loading. RSC acts as a chromatin receptor that recruits Scc2-Scc4 by a direct protein interaction independent of chromatin remodeling. In addition, chromatin remodeling is required to generate a nucleosome-free region that is the substrate for cohesin loading. An engineered cohesin loading module can be created by fusing the Scc2 C terminus to RSC or to other chromatin remodelers, but not to unrelated DNA binding proteins. These observations demonstrate the importance of nucleosome-free DNA for cohesin loading and provide insight into how cohesin accesses DNA during its varied chromosomal activities.

Linking Cellular Morphogenesis with Antifungal Treatment and Susceptibility in Candida Pathogens

Fungal infections are a growing public health concern, and an increasingly important cause of human mortality, with Candida species being amongst the most frequently encountered of these opportunistic fungal pathogens. Several Candida species are polymorphic, and able to transition between distinct morphological states, including yeast, hyphal, and pseudohyphal forms. While not all Candida pathogens are polymorphic, the ability to undergo morphogenesis is linked with the virulence of many of these pathogens. There are also many connections between Candida morphogenesis and antifungal drug treatment and susceptibility. Here, we review how Candida morphogenesis-a key virulence trait-is linked with antifungal drugs and antifungal drug resistance. We highlight how antifungal therapeutics are able to modulate morphogenesis in both sensitive and drug-resistant Candida strains, the shared signaling pathways that mediate both morphogenesis and the cellular response to antifungal drugs and drug resistance, and the connection between Candida morphology, drug resistance, and biofilm growth. We further review the development of anti-virulence drugs, and targeting Candida morphogenesis as a novel therapeutic strategy to target fungal pathogens. Together, this review highlights important connections between fungal morphogenesis, virulence, and susceptibility to antifungals.

Sfh1, an essential component of the RSC chromatin remodeling complex, maintains genome integrity in fission yeast

Abp1 is a fission yeast CENP-B homologue that contributes to centromere function, silencing at pericentromeric heterochromatin and silencing of retrotransposons. We identified the sfh1 gene, encoding a core subunit of the fission yeast chromatin remodeling complex RSC as an Abp1-interacting protein. Because sfh1 is essential for growth, we isolated temperature-sensitive sfh1 mutants. These mutants showed defects in centromere functions, reflected by sensitivity to an inhibitor of spindle formation and minichromosome instability. Sfh1 localized at both kinetochore and pericentromeric heterochromatin regions. Although sfh1 mutations had minor effect on silencing at these regions, they decreased the levels of cohesin on centromeric heterochromatin. Sfh1 also localized at a retrotransposon, Tf2, in a partly Abp1-dependent manner, and assisted in silencing of Tf2 by Abp1 probably in the same pathway as a histone chaperon, HIRA, which is also known to involve in Tf2 repression. Furthermore, sfh1 mutants were sensitive to several DNA-damaging treatments (HU, MMS, UV and X-ray). Increase in spontaneous foci of Rad22, a recombination Mediator protein Rad52 homologue, in sfh1 mutant suggests that RSC functions in homologous recombination repair of double-stranded break downstream of the Rad22 recruitment. These results indicate that RSC plays multiple roles in the maintenance of genome integrity.

Regulation of Age-related Decline by Transcription Factors and Their Crosstalk with the Epigenome

Aging is a complex phenomenon, where damage accumulation, increasing deregulation of biological pathways, and loss of cellular homeostasis lead to the decline of organismal functions over time. Interestingly, aging is not entirely a stochastic process and progressing at a constant rate, but it is subject to extensive regulation, in the hands of an elaborate and highly interconnected signaling network. This network can integrate a variety of aging-regulatory stimuli, i.e. fertility, nutrient availability, or diverse stresses, and relay them via signaling cascades into gene regulatory events - mostly of genes that confer stress resistance and thus help protect from damage accumulation and homeostasis loss. Transcription factors have long been perceived as the pivotal nodes in this network. Yet, it is well known that the epigenome substantially influences eukaryotic gene regulation, too. A growing body of work has recently underscored the importance of the epigenome also during aging, where it not only undergoes drastic age-dependent changes but also actively influences the aging process. In this review, we introduce the major signaling pathways that regulate age-related decline and discuss the synergy between transcriptional regulation and the epigenetic landscape.

Sssfh1, a Gene Encoding a Putative Component of the RSC Chromatin Remodeling Complex, Is Involved in Hyphal Growth, Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation, and Pathogenicity in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

SFH1 (for Snf5 homolog) protein, comprised in the RSC (Remodels Structure of Chromatin) chromatin remodeling complex, functions as a transcription factor (TF) to specifically regulate gene transcription and chromatin remodeling. As one of the well-conserved TFs in eukaryotic organisms, little is known about the roles of SFH1 protein in the filamentous fungi. In Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, one of the notorious plant fungal pathogens, there are nine proteins predicted to contain GATA-box domain according to GATA family TF classification, among which Sssfh1 (SS1G_01151) encodes a protein including a GATA-box domain and a SNF5 domain. Here, we characterized the roles of Sssfh1 in the developmental process and fungal pathogenicity by using RNA interference (RNAi)-based gene silencing in S. sclerotiorum. RNA-silenced strains with significantly reduced Sssfh1 RNA levels exhibited slower hyphal growth and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in hyphae compared to the wild-type (WT) strain. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays demonstrated that SsSFH1 interacts with SsMSG5, a MAPK phosphatase in S. sclerotiorum. Furthermore, Sssfh1-silenced strains exhibited enhanced tolerance to NaCl and H₂O₂. Results of infection assays on soybean and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) leaves indicated that Sssfh1 is required for full virulence of S. sclerotiorum during infection in the susceptible host plants. Collectively, our results suggest that the TF SsSFH1 is involved in growth, ROS accumulation and virulence in S. sclerotiorum.

The budding yeast RSC complex maintains ploidy by promoting spindle pole body insertion

Sing et al. characterize an unanticipated role for the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RSC complex in ploidy maintenance. They show that RSC promotes the distribution of Nbp1 and Ndc1 to the spindle pole body (SPB) to facilitate SPB maturation and accurate chromosome segregation.

Ploidy is tightly regulated in eukaryotic cells and is critical for cell function and survival. Cells coordinate multiple pathways to ensure replicated DNA is segregated accurately to prevent abnormal changes in chromosome number. In this study, we characterize an unanticipated role for the Saccharomyces cerevisiae “remodels the structure of chromatin” (RSC) complex in ploidy maintenance. We show that deletion of any of six nonessential RSC genes causes a rapid transition from haploid to diploid DNA content because of nondisjunction events. Diploidization is accompanied by diagnostic changes in cell morphology and is stably maintained without further ploidy increases. We find that RSC promotes chromosome segregation by facilitating spindle pole body (SPB) duplication. More specifically, RSC plays a role in distributing two SPB insertion factors, Nbp1 and Ndc1, to the new SPB. Thus, we provide insight into a role for a SWI/SNF family complex in SPB duplication and ploidy maintenance.

Chromatin-remodeling for transcription

The nucleosome serves as a general gene repressor, preventing all initiation of transcription except that which is brought about by specific positive regulatory mechanisms. The positive mechanisms begin with chromatin-remodeling by complexes that slide, disrupt, or otherwise alter the structure and organization of nucleosomes. RSC in yeast and its counterpart PBAF in human cells are the major remodeling complexes for transcription. RSC creates a nucleosome-free region in front of a gene, flanked by strongly positioned +1 and -1 nucleosomes, with the transcription start site typically 10-15 bp inside the border of the +1 nucleosome. RSC also binds stably to nucleosomes harboring regulatory elements and to +1 nucleosomes, perturbing their structures in a manner that partially exposes their DNA sequences. The cryo-electron microscope structure of a RSC-nucleosome complex reveals such a structural perturbation, with the DNA largely unwrapped from the nucleosome and likely interacting with a positively charged surface of RSC. Such unwrapping both exposes the DNA and enables its translocation across the histone octamer of the nucleosome by an ATP-dependent activity of RSC. Genetic studies have revealed additional roles of RSC in DNA repair, chromosome segregation, and other chromosomal DNA transactions. These functions of RSC likely involve the same fundamental activities, DNA unwrapping and DNA translocation.

High resolution imaging reveals heterogeneity in chromatin states between cells that is not inherited through cell division

Background

Genomes of eukaryotes exist as chromatin, and it is known that different chromatin states can influence gene regulation. Chromatin is not a static structure, but is known to be dynamic and vary between cells. In order to monitor the organisation of chromatin in live cells we have engineered fluorescent fusion proteins which recognize specific operator sequences to tag pairs of syntenic gene loci. The separation of these loci was then tracked in three dimensions over time using fluorescence microscopy.

Results

We established a work flow for measuring the distance between two fluorescently tagged, syntenic gene loci with a mean measurement error of 63 nm. In general, physical separation was observed to increase with increasing genomic separations. However, the extent to which chromatin is compressed varies for different genomic regions. No correlation was observed between compaction and the distribution of chromatin markers from genomic datasets or with contacts identified using capture based approaches. Variation in spatial separation was also observed within cells over time and between cells. Differences in the conformation of individual loci can persist for minutes in individual cells. Separation of reporter loci was found to be similar in related and unrelated daughter cell pairs.

Conclusions

The directly observed physical separation of reporter loci in live cells is highly dynamic both over time and from cell to cell. However, consistent differences in separation are observed over some chromosomal regions that do not correlate with factors known to influence chromatin states. We conclude that as yet unidentified parameters influence chromatin configuration. We also find that while heterogeneity in chromatin states can be maintained for minutes between cells, it is not inherited through cell division. This may contribute to cell-to-cell transcriptional heterogeneity.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12860-016-0111-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A conserved role of the RSC chromatin remodeler in the establishment of nucleosome-depleted regions

The occupancy of nucleosomes governs access to the eukaryotic genomes and results from a combination of biophysical features and the effect of ATP-dependent remodelling complexes. Most promoter regions show a conserved pattern characterized by a nucleosome-depleted region (NDR) flanked by nucleosomal arrays. The conserved RSC remodeler was reported to be critical to establish NDR in vivo in budding yeast but other evidences suggested that this activity may not be conserved in fission yeast. By reanalysing and expanding previously published data, we propose that NDR formation requires, at least partially, RSC in both yeast species. We also discuss the most prominent biological role of RSC and the possibility that non-essential subunits do not define alternate versions of the complex.

The Many Roles of BAF (mSWI/SNF) and PBAF Complexes in Cancer

During the last decade, a host of epigenetic mechanisms were found to contribute to cancer and other human diseases. Several genomic studies have revealed that ∼20% of malignancies have alterations of the subunits of polymorphic BRG-/BRM-associated factor (BAF) and Polybromo-associated BAF (PBAF) complexes, making them among the most frequently mutated complexes in cancer. Recurrent mutations arise in genes encoding several BAF/PBAF subunits, including ARID1A, ARID2, PBRM1, SMARCA4, and SMARCB1 These subunits share some degree of conservation with subunits from related adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes in model organisms, in which a large body of work provides insight into their roles in cancer. Here, we review the roles of BAF- and PBAF-like complexes in these organisms, and relate these findings to recent discoveries in cancer epigenomics. We review several roles of BAF and PBAF complexes in cancer, including transcriptional regulation, DNA repair, and regulation of chromatin architecture and topology. More recent results highlight the need for new techniques to study these complexes.

Nucleosome dynamics during chromatin remodeling in vivo

Precise positioning of nucleosomes around regulatory sites is achieved by the action of chromatin remodelers, which use the energy of ATP to slide, evict or change the composition of nucleosomes. Chromatin remodelers act to bind nucleosomes, disrupt histone-DNA interactions and translocate the DNA around the histone core to reposition nucleosomes. Hence, remodeling is expected to involve nucleosomal intermediates with a structural organization that is distinct from intact nucleosomes. We describe the identification of a partially unwrapped nucleosome structure using methods that map histone-DNA contacts genome-wide. This alternative nucleosome structure is likely formed as an intermediate or by-product during nucleosome remodeling by the RSC complex. Identification of the loss of histone-DNA contacts during chromatin remodeling by RSC in vivo has implications for the regulation of transcriptional initiation.

DNA loops generate intracentromere tension in mitosis

The geometry and arrangement of DNA loops in the pericentric region of the budding yeast centromere create a DNA-based molecular shock absorber that serves as the basis for how tension is generated between sister centromeres in mitosis.

The centromere is the DNA locus that dictates kinetochore formation and is visibly apparent as heterochromatin that bridges sister kinetochores in metaphase. Sister centromeres are compacted and held together by cohesin, condensin, and topoisomerase-mediated entanglements until all sister chromosomes bi-orient along the spindle apparatus. The establishment of tension between sister chromatids is essential for quenching a checkpoint kinase signal generated from kinetochores lacking microtubule attachment or tension. How the centromere chromatin spring is organized and functions as a tensiometer is largely unexplored. We have discovered that centromere chromatin loops generate an extensional/poleward force sufficient to release nucleosomes proximal to the spindle axis. This study describes how the physical consequences of DNA looping directly underlie the biological mechanism for sister centromere separation and the spring-like properties of the centromere in mitosis.

DNA Topology and Global Architecture of Point Centromeres

DNA is wrapped in a left-handed fashion around histone octasomes containing the centromeric histone H3 variant CENP-A. However, DNA topology studies have suggested that DNA is wrapped in a right-handed manner around the CENP-A nucleosome that occupies the yeast point centromere. Here, we determine the DNA linking number difference (ΔLk) stabilized by the yeast centromere and the contribution of the centromere determining elements (CDEI, CDEII, and CDEIII). We show that the intrinsic architecture of the yeast centromere stabilizes +0.6 units of ΔLk. This topology depends on the integrity of CDEII and CDEIII, but it is independent of cbf1 binding to CDEI and of the variable length of CDEII. These findings suggest that the interaction of the CBF3 complex with CDEIII and a distal CDEII segment configures a right-handed DNA loop that excludes CDEI. This loop is then occupied by a CENP-A histone complex, which does not have to be inherently right-handed.

The RSC complex localizes to coding sequences to regulate Pol II and histone occupancy

ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers regulate chromatin structure during multiple stages of transcription. We report that RSC, an essential chromatin remodeler, is recruited to the open reading frames (ORFs) of actively transcribed genes genome wide, suggesting a role for RSC in regulating transcription elongation. Consistent with such a role, Pol II occupancy in the ORFs of weakly transcribed genes is drastically reduced upon depletion of the RSC catalytic subunit Sth1. RSC inactivation also reduced histone H3 occupancy across transcribed regions. Remarkably, the strongest effects on Pol II and H3 occupancy were confined to the genes displaying the greatest RSC ORF enrichment. Additionally, RSC recruitment to the ORF requires the activities of the SAGA and NuA4 HAT complexes and is aided by the activities of the Pol II CTD Ser2 kinases Bur1 and Ctk1. Overall, our findings strongly implicate ORF-associated RSC in governing Pol II function and in maintaining chromatin structure over transcribed regions.

Chromatin remodelling complex RSC promotes base excision repair in chromatin of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The base excision repair (BER) pathway is a conserved DNA repair system required to maintain genomic integrity and prevent mutagenesis in all eukaryotic cells. Nevertheless, how BER operates in vivo (i.e. in the context of chromatin) is poorly understood. We have investigated the role of an essential ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling (ACR) complex RSC (Remodels the Structure of Chromatin) in BER of intact yeast cells. We show that depletion of STH1, the ATPase subunit of RSC, causes enhanced sensitivity to the DNA alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and results in a substantial inhibition of BER, at the GAL1 locus and in the genome overall. Consistent with this observation, the DNA in chromatin is less accessible to micrococcal nuclease digestion in the absence of RSC. Quantitative PCR results indicate that repair deficiency in STH1 depleted cells is not due to changes in the expression of BER genes. Collectively, our data indicates the RSC complex promotes efficient BER in chromatin. These results provide, for the first time, a link between ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling and BER in living cells.

A genetic screen for functional partners of condensin in fission yeast

Mitotic chromosome condensation is a prerequisite for the accurate segregation of chromosomes during cell division, and the conserved condensin complex a central player of this process. However, how condensin binds chromatin and shapes mitotic chromosomes remain poorly understood. Recent genome-wide binding studies showing that in most species condensin is enriched near highly expressed genes suggest a conserved link between condensin occupancy and high transcription rates. To gain insight into the mechanisms of condensin binding and mitotic chromosome condensation, we searched for factors that collaborate with condensin through a synthetic lethal genetic screen in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We isolated novel mutations affecting condensin, as well as mutations in four genes not previously implicated in mitotic chromosome condensation in fission yeast. These mutations cause chromosome segregation defects similar to those provoked by defects in condensation. We also identified a suppressor of the cut3-477 condensin mutation, which largely rescued chromosome segregation during anaphase. Remarkably, of the five genes identified in this study, four encode transcription co-factors. Our results therefore provide strong additional evidence for a functional connection between chromosome condensation and transcription.

Structural integrity of centromeric chromatin and faithful chromosome segregation requires Pat1

The kinetochore (centromeric DNA and associated protein complex) is essential for faithful chromosome segregation and maintenance of genome stability. Here we report that an evolutionarily conserved protein Pat1 is a structural component of Saccharomyces cerevisiae kinetochore and associates with centromeres in a NDC10-dependent manner. Consistent with a role for Pat1 in kinetochore structure and function, a deletion of PAT1 results in delay in sister chromatid separation, errors in chromosome segregation, and defects in structural integrity of centromeric chromatin. Pat1 is involved in topological regulation of minichromosomes as altered patterns of DNA supercoiling were observed in pat1Δ cells. Studies with pat1 alleles uncovered an evolutionarily conserved region within the central domain of Pat1 that is required for its association with centromeres, sister chromatid separation, and faithful chromosome segregation. Taken together, our data have uncovered a novel role for Pat1 in maintaining the structural integrity of centromeric chromatin to facilitate faithful chromosome segregation and proper kinetochore function.

Chromatin and the genome integrity network

The maintenance of genome integrity is essential for organism survival and for the inheritance of traits to offspring. Genomic instability is caused by DNA damage, aberrant DNA replication or uncoordinated cell division, which can lead to chromosomal aberrations and gene mutations. Recently, chromatin regulators that shape the epigenetic landscape have emerged as potential gatekeepers and signalling coordinators for the maintenance of genome integrity. Here, we review chromatin functions during the two major pathways that control genome integrity: namely, repair of DNA damage and DNA replication. We also discuss recent evidence that suggests a novel role for chromatin-remodelling factors in chromosome segregation and in the prevention of aneuploidy.

Temporal sequence and cell cycle cues in the assembly of host factors at the yeast 2 micron plasmid partitioning locus

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae 2 micron plasmid exemplifies a benign but selfish genome, whose stability approaches that of the chromosomes of its host. The plasmid partitioning locus STB (stability locus) displays certain functional analogies with centromeres along with critical distinctions, a significant one being the absence of the kinetochore complex at STB. The remodels the structure of chromatin (RSC) chromatin remodeling complex, the nuclear motor Kip1, the histone H3 variant Cse4 and the cohesin complex associate with both loci. These factors appear to contribute to plasmid segregation either directly or indirectly through their roles in chromosome segregation. Assembly and disassembly of the plasmid-coded partitioning proteins Rep1 and Rep2 and host factors at STB follow a temporal hierarchy during the cell cycle. Assembly is initiated by STB association of [Rsc8-Rsc58], followed by [Rep1-Rep2-Kip1] and [Cse4-Rsc2-Sth1] recruitment, and culminates in cohesin assembly. Disassembly starts with dissociation of RSC components, is followed by cohesin disassembly and Cse4 exit during anaphase and late telophase, respectively. [Rep1-Rep2-Kip1] persists through G1 of the ensuing cell cycle. The de novo assembly of the 'partitioning complex' is cued by the innate cell cycle clock and is dependent on DNA replication. Shared functional attributes of STB and centromere (CEN) are consistent with a potential evolutionary link between them.

SWI/SNF-like chromatin remodeling factor Fun30 supports point centromere function in S. cerevisiae

Budding yeast centromeres are sequence-defined point centromeres and are, unlike in many other organisms, not embedded in heterochromatin. Here we show that Fun30, a poorly understood SWI/SNF-like chromatin remodeling factor conserved in humans, promotes point centromere function through the formation of correct chromatin architecture at centromeres. Our determination of the genome-wide binding and nucleosome positioning properties of Fun30 shows that this enzyme is consistently enriched over centromeres and that a majority of CENs show Fun30-dependent changes in flanking nucleosome position and/or CEN core micrococcal nuclease accessibility. Fun30 deletion leads to defects in histone variant Htz1 occupancy genome-wide, including at and around most centromeres. FUN30 genetically interacts with CSE4, coding for the centromere-specific variant of histone H3, and counteracts the detrimental effect of transcription through centromeres on chromosome segregation and suppresses transcriptional noise over centromere CEN3. Previous work has shown a requirement for fission yeast and mammalian homologs of Fun30 in heterochromatin assembly. As centromeres in budding yeast are not embedded in heterochromatin, our findings indicate a direct role of Fun30 in centromere chromatin by promoting correct chromatin architecture.

MRN1 implicates chromatin remodeling complexes and architectural factors in mRNA maturation

A functional relationship between chromatin structure and mRNA processing events has been suggested, however, so far only a few involved factors have been characterized. Here we show that rsc nhp6ΔΔ mutants, deficient for the function of the chromatin remodeling factor RSC and the chromatin architectural proteins Nhp6A/Nhp6B, accumulate intron-containing pre-mRNA at the restrictive temperature. In addition, we demonstrate that rsc8-ts16 nhp6ΔΔ cells contain low levels of U6 snRNA and U4/U6 di-snRNA that is further exacerbated after two hours growth at the restrictive temperature. This change in U6 snRNA and U4/U6 di-snRNA levels in rsc8-ts16 nhp6ΔΔ cells is indicative of splicing deficient conditions. We identify MRN1 (multi-copy suppressor of rsc nhp6ΔΔ) as a growth suppressor of rsc nhp6ΔΔ synthetic sickness. Mrn1 is an RNA binding protein that localizes both to the nucleus and cytoplasm. Genetic interactions are observed between 2 µm-MRN1 and the splicing deficient mutants snt309Δ, prp3, prp4, and prp22, and additional genetic analyses link MRN1, SNT309, NHP6A/B, SWI/SNF, and RSC supporting the notion of a role of chromatin structure in mRNA processing.

Tension-dependent nucleosome remodeling at the pericentromere in yeast

Dynamics of histones under tension in the pericentromere depends on RSC and ISW2 chromatin remodeling. The underlying pericentromeric chromatin forms a platform that is required to maintain kinetochore structure when under spindle-based tension.

Nucleosome positioning is important for the structural integrity of chromosomes. During metaphase the mitotic spindle exerts physical force on pericentromeric chromatin. The cell must adjust the pericentromeric chromatin to accommodate the changing tension resulting from microtubule dynamics to maintain a stable metaphase spindle. Here we examine the effects of spindle-based tension on nucleosome dynamics by measuring the histone turnover of the chromosome arm and the pericentromere during metaphase in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We find that both histones H2B and H4 exhibit greater turnover in the pericentromere during metaphase. Loss of spindle-based tension by treatment with the microtubule-depolymerizing drug nocodazole or compromising kinetochore function results in reduced histone turnover in the pericentromere. Pericentromeric histone dynamics are influenced by the chromatin-remodeling activities of STH1/NPS1 and ISW2. Sth1p is the ATPase component of the Remodels the Structure of Chromatin (RSC) complex, and Isw2p is an ATP-dependent DNA translocase member of the Imitation Switch (ISWI) subfamily of chromatin-remodeling factors. The balance between displacement and insertion of pericentromeric histones provides a mechanism to accommodate spindle-based tension while maintaining proper chromatin packaging during mitosis.

Iron-responsive transcription factor Aft1 interacts with kinetochore protein Iml3 and promotes pericentromeric cohesin

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae iron-responsive transcription factor, Aft1, has a well established role in regulating iron homeostasis through the transcriptional induction of iron-regulon genes. However, recent studies have implicated Aft1 in other cellular processes independent of iron regulation such as chromosome stability. In addition, chromosome spreads and two-hybrid data suggest that Aft1 interacts with and co-localizes with kinetochore proteins; however, the cellular implications of this have not been established. Here, we demonstrate that Aft1 associates with the kinetochore complex through Iml3. Furthermore, like Iml3, Aft1 is required for the increased association of cohesin with pericentric chromatin, which is required to resist microtubule tension, and aft1Δ cells display chromosome segregation defects in meiosis. Our work defines a new role for Aft1 in chromosome stability and transmission.

The defects in cell wall integrity and G2-M transition of the ∆htl1 mutant are interconnected

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae RSC (remodel the structure of chromatin) complex is involved in functions associated with the transcriptional regulation, cell cycle progression, DNA damage repair and cell wall integrity. Here we investigate the cellular functioning of HTL1, which encodes a non-essential subunit of the RSC complex. The results show that the ∆htl1 mutant displays a characteristic defect in cell wall integrity, and the phenotype of the ∆htl1 cells, which include the cell wall defect, temperature sensitivity and ploidy increase, are rescued by the osmotic stabilizer sorbitol but not by overexpression of PKC1, the signalling kinase important for the cell wall biogenesis and stress response. In addition, the expression level of Slt2p, the MAP kinase downstream of the cell wall integrity pathway, is upregulated in ∆htl1 cells. Furthermore, the mitotic arrest of the ∆htl1 mutant is moderated by 1 m sorbitol and deletion of SLT2. The present findings suggest that HTL1 may play a role that is different from other RSC components in terms of cell wall integrity and the G(2)-M transition. The results also suggest that the defects in cell wall integrity and the G(2)-M transition of the ∆htl1 mutant are interconnected.

Centromeres: unique chromatin structures that drive chromosome segregation

Fidelity during chromosome segregation is essential to prevent aneuploidy. The proteins and chromatin at the centromere form a unique site for kinetochore attachment and allow the cell to sense and correct errors during chromosome segregation. Centromeric chromatin is characterized by distinct chromatin organization, epigenetics, centromere-associated proteins and histone variants. These include the histone H3 variant centromeric protein A (CENPA), the composition and deposition of which have been widely investigated. Studies have examined the structural and biophysical properties of the centromere and have suggested that the centromere is not simply a 'landing pad' for kinetochore formation, but has an essential role in mitosis by assembling and directing the organization of the kinetochore.