SWR1-Independent Association of H2A.Z to the LINC Complex Promotes Meiotic Chromosome Motion

The SUN-family protein Sad1 mediates heterochromatin spatial organization through interaction with histone H2A-H2B

Heterochromatin is generally associated with the nuclear periphery, but how the spatial organization of heterochromatin is regulated to ensure epigenetic silencing remains unclear. Here we found that Sad1, an inner nuclear membrane SUN-family protein in fission yeast, interacts with histone H2A-H2B but not H3-H4. We solved the crystal structure of the histone binding motif (HBM) of Sad1 in complex with H2A-H2B, revealing the intimate contacts between Sad1HBM and H2A-H2B. Structure-based mutagenesis studies revealed that the H2A-H2B-binding activity of Sad1 is required for the dynamic distribution of Sad1 throughout the nuclear envelope (NE). The Sad1-H2A-H2B complex mediates tethering telomeres and the mating-type locus to the NE. This complex is also important for heterochromatin silencing. Mechanistically, H2A-H2B enhances the interaction between Sad1 and HDACs, including Clr3 and Sir2, to maintain epigenetic identity of heterochromatin. Interestingly, our results suggest that Sad1 exhibits the histone-enhanced liquid-liquid phase separation property, which helps recruit heterochromatin factors to the NE. Our results uncover an unexpected role of SUN-family proteins in heterochromatin regulation and suggest a nucleosome-independent role of H2A-H2B in regulating Sad1's functionality.

Beyond tradition: exploring the non-canonical functions of telomeres in meiosis

The telomere bouquet is a specific chromosomal configuration that forms during meiosis at the zygotene stage, when telomeres cluster together at the nuclear envelope. This clustering allows cytoskeleton-induced movements to be transmitted to the chromosomes, thereby facilitating homologous chromosome search and pairing. However, loss of the bouquet results in more severe meiotic defects than can be attributed solely to recombination problems, suggesting that the bouquet's full function remains elusive. Despite its transient nature and the challenges in performing in vivo analyses, information is emerging that points to a remarkable suite of non-canonical functions carried out by the bouquet. Here, we describe how new approaches in quantitative cell biology can contribute to establishing the molecular basis of the full function and plasticity of the bouquet, and thus generate a comprehensive picture of the telomeric control of meiosis.

Exportin-mediated nucleocytoplasmic transport maintains Pch2 homeostasis during meiosis

The meiotic recombination checkpoint reinforces the order of events during meiotic prophase I, ensuring the accurate distribution of chromosomes to the gametes. The AAA+ ATPase Pch2 remodels the Hop1 axial protein enabling adequate levels of Hop1-T318 phosphorylation to support the ensuing checkpoint response. While these events are localized at chromosome axes, the checkpoint activating function of Pch2 relies on its cytoplasmic population. In contrast, forced nuclear accumulation of Pch2 leads to checkpoint inactivation. Here, we reveal the mechanism by which Pch2 travels from the cell nucleus to the cytoplasm to maintain Pch2 cellular homeostasis. Leptomycin B treatment provokes the nuclear accumulation of Pch2, indicating that its nucleocytoplasmic transport is mediated by the Crm1 exportin recognizing proteins containing Nuclear Export Signals (NESs). Consistently, leptomycin B leads to checkpoint inactivation and impaired Hop1 axial localization. Pch2 nucleocytoplasmic traffic is independent of its association with Zip1 and Orc1. We also identify a functional NES in the non-catalytic N-terminal domain of Pch2 that is required for its nucleocytoplasmic trafficking and proper checkpoint activity. In sum, we unveil another layer of control of Pch2 function during meiosis involving nuclear export via the exportin pathway that is crucial to maintain the critical balance of Pch2 distribution among different cellular compartments.

Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes display global chromatin remodelling during sexual differentiation

BACKGROUND

The protozoan malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has a complex life cycle during which it needs to differentiate into multiple morphologically distinct life forms. A key process for transmission of the disease is the development of male and female gametocytes in the human blood, yet the mechanisms determining sexual dimorphism in these haploid, genetically identical sexual precursor cells remain largely unknown. To understand the epigenetic program underlying the differentiation of male and female gametocytes, we separated the two sexual forms by flow cytometry and performed RNAseq as well as comprehensive ChIPseq profiling of several histone variants and modifications.

RESULTS

We show that in female gametocytes the chromatin landscape is globally remodelled with respect to genome-wide patterns and combinatorial usage of histone variants and histone modifications. We identified sex specific differences in heterochromatin distribution, implicating exported proteins and ncRNAs in sex determination. Specifically in female gametocytes, the histone variants H2A.Z/H2B.Z were highly enriched in H3K9me3-associated heterochromatin. H3K27ac occupancy correlated with stage-specific gene expression, but in contrast to asexual parasites this was unlinked to H3K4me3 co-occupancy at promoters in female gametocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, we defined novel combinatorial chromatin states differentially organising the genome in gametocytes and asexual parasites and unravelled fundamental, sex-specific differences in the epigenetic code. Our chromatin maps represent an important resource for future understanding of the mechanisms driving sexual differentiation in P. falciparum.

Histone variant H2A.Z promotes meiotic chromosome axis organization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Progression through meiosis is associated with significant reorganization of chromosome structure, regulated in part by changes in histones and chromatin. Prior studies observed defects in meiotic progression in yeast strains lacking the linker histone H1 or variant histone H2A.Z. To further define the contributions of these chromatin factors, we have conducted genetic and cytological analysis of cells undergoing meiosis in the absence of H1 and H2A.Z. We find that a spore viability defect observed in strains lacking H2A.Z can be partially suppressed if cells also lack histone H1, while the combined loss of both H1 and H2A.Z is associated with elevated gene conversion events. Cytological analysis of Red1 and Rec8 staining patterns indicates that a subset of cells lacking H2A.Z fail to assemble a proper chromosome axis, and the staining pattern of the synaptonemal complex protein Zip1 in htz1Δ/htz1Δ cells mimics that of cells deficient for Rec8-dependent meiotic cohesion. Our results suggest a role for H2A.Z in the establishment or maintenance of the meiotic chromosome axis, possibly by promoting the efficient chromosome cohesion.

How and Why Chromosomes Interact with the Cytoskeleton during Meiosis

During the early meiotic prophase, connections are established between chromosomes and cytoplasmic motors via a nuclear envelope bridge, known as a LINC (linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton) complex. These widely conserved links can promote both chromosome and nuclear motions. Studies in diverse organisms have illuminated the molecular architecture of these connections, but important questions remain regarding how they contribute to meiotic processes. Here, we summarize the current knowledge in the field, outline the challenges in studying these chromosome dynamics, and highlight distinctive features that have been characterized in major model systems.

The assembly of a noncanonical LINC complex in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex is a protein complex across the nuclear envelope and has maintained its general assembly mode throughout evolution. SUN and KASH proteins, which are the major components of LINC complex, interact with each other in the nuclear lumen to transmit forces across the nuclear envelope and have diverse functions. However, research of LINC complex in budding yeast has been limited due to the lack of identification of a canonical KASH protein and a cytoskeleton factor. Here, we review recent findings that addressed these puzzles in budding yeast. We highlight the distinct assembly model of the telomere-associated LINC complex in budding yeast, which could be beneficial for identifying LINC variants in other eukaryotes.

ChroMo, an Application for Unsupervised Analysis of Chromosome Movements in Meiosis

Nuclear movements during meiotic prophase, driven by cytoskeleton forces, are a broadly conserved mechanism in opisthokonts and plants to promote pairing between homologous chromosomes. These forces are transmitted to the chromosomes by specific associations between telomeres and the nuclear envelope during meiotic prophase. Defective chromosome movements (CMs) harm pairing and recombination dynamics between homologues, thereby affecting faithful gametogenesis. For this reason, modelling the behaviour of CMs and their possible microvariations as a result of mutations or physico-chemical stress is important to understand this crucial stage of meiosis. Current developments in high-throughput imaging and image processing are yielding large CM datasets that are suitable for data mining approaches. To facilitate adoption of data mining pipelines, we present ChroMo, an interactive, unsupervised cloud application specifically designed for exploring CM datasets from live imaging. ChroMo contains a wide selection of algorithms and visualizations for time-series segmentation, motif discovery, and assessment of causality networks. Using ChroMo to analyse meiotic CMs in fission yeast, we found previously undiscovered features of CMs and causality relationships between chromosome morphology and trajectory. ChroMo will be a useful tool for understanding the behaviour of meiotic CMs in yeast and other model organisms.

Pch2 orchestrates the meiotic recombination checkpoint from the cytoplasm

During meiosis, defects in critical events trigger checkpoint activation and restrict cell cycle progression. The budding yeast Pch2 AAA+ ATPase orchestrates the checkpoint response launched by synapsis deficiency; deletion of PCH2 or mutation of the ATPase catalytic sites suppress the meiotic block of the zip1Δ mutant lacking the central region of the synaptonemal complex. Pch2 action enables adequate levels of phosphorylation of the Hop1 axial component at threonine 318, which in turn promotes activation of the Mek1 effector kinase and the ensuing checkpoint response. In zip1Δ chromosomes, Pch2 is exclusively associated to the rDNA region, but this nucleolar fraction is not required for checkpoint activation, implying that another yet uncharacterized Pch2 population must be responsible for this function. Here, we have artificially redirected Pch2 to different subcellular compartments by adding ectopic Nuclear Export (NES) or Nuclear Localization (NLS) sequences, or by trapping Pch2 in an immobile extranuclear domain, and we have evaluated the effect on Hop1 chromosomal distribution and checkpoint activity. We have also deciphered the spatial and functional impact of Pch2 regulators including Orc1, Dot1 and Nup2. We conclude that the cytoplasmic pool of Pch2 is sufficient to support the meiotic recombination checkpoint involving the subsequent Hop1-Mek1 activation on chromosomes, whereas the nuclear accumulation of Pch2 has pathological consequences. We propose that cytoplasmic Pch2 provokes a conformational change in Hop1 that poises it for its chromosomal incorporation and phosphorylation. Our discoveries shed light into the intricate regulatory network controlling the accurate balance of Pch2 distribution among different cellular compartments, which is essential for proper meiotic outcomes.

During gametogenesis, the number of chromosomes is reduced by half and it returns to the normal ploidy when the two gametes fuse during fertilization. Meiosis lies at the heart of gametogenesis because it is the specialized cell division making possible the reduction in ploidy. The fidelity in this process is essential to maintain the chromosome complement characteristic of the species and to avoid aneuploidies. Meiotic cells possess an intricate surveillance network that monitors crucial meiotic events. In response to defects in synapsis and recombination, the meiotic recombination checkpoint blocks meiotic cell cycle progression, thus avoiding aberrant chromosome segregation and formation of defective gametes. The AAA+ ATPase Pch2 is an essential component of the checkpoint response triggered by the recombination defects occurring in the zip1Δ mutant lacking the central region of the synaptonemal complex. Pch2 supports proper chromosomal localization and phosphorylation of the Hop1 axial component required for the ensuing checkpoint response. We reveal here the biological relevance of a cytoplasmic population of Pch2 that is necessary for meiotic events occurring on chromosomes. Using a variety of strategies, we demonstrate that the checkpoint activating function of Pch2 takes place outside the nucleus, whereas the nuclear accumulation of Pch2 has deleterious consequences. Our work highlights the importance of nucleocytoplasmic communication for a balanced distribution of Pch2 among different subcellular compartments and how it impinges on Hop1 dynamics, which is crucial for proper completion of the meiotic program.