CAF-1 is required for efficient replication of euchromatic DNA in Drosophila larval endocycling cells

Acute multi-level response to defective de novo chromatin assembly in S-phase

Long-term perturbation of de novo chromatin assembly during DNA replication has profound effects on epigenome maintenance and cell fate. The early mechanistic origin of these defects is unknown. Here, we combine acute degradation of chromatin assembly factor 1 (CAF-1), a key player in de novo chromatin assembly, with single-cell genomics, quantitative proteomics, and live microscopy to uncover these initiating mechanisms in human cells. CAF-1 loss immediately slows down DNA replication speed and renders nascent DNA hyper-accessible. A rapid cellular response, distinct from canonical DNA damage signaling, is triggered and lowers histone mRNAs. In turn, histone variants' usage and their modifications are altered, limiting transcriptional fidelity and delaying chromatin maturation within a single S-phase. This multi-level response induces a p53-dependent cell-cycle arrest after mitosis. Our work reveals the immediate consequences of defective de novo chromatin assembly during DNA replication, indicating how at later times the epigenome and cell fate can be altered.

Structural Basis for the Interaction Between Yeast Chromatin Assembly Factor 1 and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), the homotrimeric eukaryotic sliding clamp protein, recruits and coordinates the activities of a multitude of proteins that function on DNA at the replication fork. Chromatin assembly factor 1 (CAF-1), one such protein, is a histone chaperone that deposits histone proteins onto DNA immediately following replication. The interaction between CAF-1 and PCNA is essential for proper nucleosome assembly at silenced genomic regions. Most proteins that bind PCNA contain a PCNA-interacting peptide (PIP) motif, a conserved motif containing only eight amino acids. Precisely how PCNA is able to discriminate between binding partners at the replication fork using only these small motifs remains unclear. Yeast CAF-1 contains a PIP motif on its largest subunit, Cac1. We solved the crystal structure of the PIP motif of CAF-1 bound to PCNA using a new strategy to produce stoichiometric quantities of one PIP motif bound to each monomer of PCNA. The PIP motif of CAF-1 binds to the hydrophobic pocket on the front face of PCNA in a similar manner to most known PIP-PCNA interactions. However, several amino acids immediately flanking either side of the PIP motif bind the IDCL or C-terminus of PCNA, as observed for only a couple other known PIP-PCNA interactions. Furthermore, mutational analysis suggests positively charged amino acids in these flanking regions are responsible for the low micromolar affinity of CAF-1 for PCNA, whereas the presence of a negative charge upstream of the PIP prevents a more robust interaction with PCNA. These results provide additional evidence that positive charges within PIP-flanking regions of PCNA-interacting proteins are crucial for specificity and affinity of their recruitment to PCNA at the replication fork.

CAF-1 deposits newly synthesized histones during DNA replication using distinct mechanisms on the leading and lagging strands

During every cell cycle, both the genome and the associated chromatin must be accurately replicated. Chromatin Assembly Factor-1 (CAF-1) is a key regulator of chromatin replication, but how CAF-1 functions in relation to the DNA replication machinery is unknown. Here, we reveal that this crosstalk differs between the leading and lagging strand at replication forks. Using biochemical reconstitutions, we show that DNA and histones promote CAF-1 recruitment to its binding partner PCNA and reveal that two CAF-1 complexes are required for efficient nucleosome assembly under these conditions. Remarkably, in the context of the replisome, CAF-1 competes with the leading strand DNA polymerase epsilon (Polϵ) for PCNA binding. However, CAF-1 does not affect the activity of the lagging strand DNA polymerase Delta (Polδ). Yet, in cells, CAF-1 deposits newly synthesized histones equally on both daughter strands. Thus, on the leading strand, chromatin assembly by CAF-1 cannot occur simultaneously to DNA synthesis, while on the lagging strand these processes may be coupled. We propose that these differences may facilitate distinct parental histone recycling mechanisms and accommodate the inherent asymmetry of DNA replication.

Similar yet critically different: the distribution, dynamics and function of histone variants

Organization of the genetic information into chromatin plays an important role in the regulation of all DNA template-based reactions. The incorporation of different variant versions of the core histones H3, H2A, and H2B, or the linker histone H1 results in nucleosomes with unique properties. Histone variants can differ by only a few amino acids or larger protein domains and their incorporation may directly affect nucleosome stability and higher order chromatin organization or indirectly influence chromatin function through histone variant-specific binding partners. Histone variants employ dedicated histone deposition machinery for their timely and locus-specific incorporation into chromatin. Plants have evolved specific histone variants with unique expression patterns and features. In this review, we discuss our current knowledge on histone variants in Arabidopsis, their mode of deposition, variant-specific post-translational modifications, and genome-wide distribution, as well as their role in defining different chromatin states.

Epigenetic Regulation of Notch Signaling During Drosophila Development

Notch signaling exerts multiple important functions in various developmental processes, including cell differentiation and cell proliferation, while mis-regulation of this pathway results in a variety of complex diseases, such as cancer and developmental defects. The simplicity of the Notch pathway in Drosophila melanogaster, in combination with the availability of powerful genetics, makes this an attractive model for studying the fundamental mechanisms of how Notch signaling is regulated and how it functions in various cellular contexts. Recently, increasing evidence for epigenetic control of Notch signaling reveals the intimate link between epigenetic regulators and Notch signaling pathway. In this chapter, we summarize the research advances of Notch and CAF-1 in Drosophila development and the epigenetic regulation mechanisms of Notch signaling activity by CAF-1 as well as other epigenetic modification machineries, which enables Notch to orchestrate different biological inputs and outputs in specific cellular contexts.

Histone deposition promotes recombination-dependent replication at arrested forks

Replication stress poses a serious threat to genome stability. Recombination-Dependent-Replication (RDR) promotes DNA synthesis resumption from arrested forks. Despite the identification of chromatin restoration pathways after DNA repair, crosstalk coupling RDR and chromatin assembly is largely unexplored. The fission yeast Chromatin Assembly Factor-1, CAF-1, is known to promote RDR. Here, we addressed the contribution of histone deposition to RDR. We expressed a mutated histone, H3-H113D, to genetically alter replication-dependent chromatin assembly by destabilizing (H3-H4)2 tetramer. We established that DNA synthesis-dependent histone deposition, by CAF-1 and Asf1, promotes RDR by preventing Rqh1-mediated disassembly of joint-molecules. The recombination factor Rad52 promotes CAF-1 binding to sites of recombination-dependent DNA synthesis, indicating that histone deposition occurs downstream Rad52. Histone deposition and Rqh1 activity act synergistically to promote cell resistance to camptothecin, a topoisomerase I inhibitor that induces replication stress. Moreover, histone deposition favors non conservative recombination events occurring spontaneously in the absence of Rqh1, indicating that the stabilization of joint-molecules by histone deposition also occurs independently of Rqh1 activity. These results indicate that histone deposition plays an active role in promoting RDR, a benefit counterbalanced by stabilizing at-risk joint-molecules for genome stability.

ASF1 is required to load histones on the HIRA complex in preparation of paternal chromatin assembly at fertilization

Background

Anti-Silencing Factor 1 (ASF1) is a conserved H3–H4 histone chaperone involved in both Replication-Coupled and Replication-Independent (RI) nucleosome assembly pathways. At DNA replication forks, ASF1 plays an important role in regulating the supply of H3.1/2 and H4 to the CAF-1 chromatin assembly complex. ASF1 also provides H3.3–H4 dimers to HIRA and DAXX chaperones for RI nucleosome assembly. The early Drosophila embryo is an attractive system to study chromatin assembly in a developmental context. The formation of a diploid zygote begins with the unique, genome-wide RI assembly of paternal chromatin following sperm protamine eviction. Then, within the same cytoplasm, syncytial embryonic nuclei undergo a series of rapid, synchronous S and M phases to form the blastoderm embryo. Here, we have investigated the implication of ASF1 in these two distinct assembly processes.

Results

We show that depletion of the maternal pool of ASF1 with a specific shRNA induces a fully penetrant, maternal effect embryo lethal phenotype. Unexpectedly, despite the depletion of ASF1 protein to undetectable levels, we show that asf1 knocked-down (KD) embryos can develop to various stages, thus demonstrating that ASF1 is not absolutely required for the amplification of cleavage nuclei. Remarkably, we found that ASF1 is required for the formation of the male pronucleus, although ASF1 protein does not reside in the decondensing sperm nucleus. In asf1 KD embryos, HIRA localizes to the male nucleus but is only capable of limited and insufficient chromatin assembly. Finally, we show that the conserved HIRA B domain, which is involved in ASF1-HIRA interaction, is dispensable for female fertility.

Conclusions

We conclude that ASF1 is critically required to load H3.3–H4 dimers on the HIRA complex prior to histone deposition on paternal DNA. This separation of tasks could optimize the rapid assembly of paternal chromatin within the gigantic volume of the egg cell. In contrast, ASF1 is surprisingly dispensable for the amplification of cleavage nuclei, although chromatin integrity is likely compromised in KD embryos.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13072-018-0189-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Crystal structures of PCNA mutant proteins defective in gene silencing suggest a novel interaction site on the front face of the PCNA ring

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a homotrimeric protein, is the eukaryotic sliding clamp that functions as a processivity factor for polymerases during DNA replication. Chromatin association factor 1 (CAF-1) is a heterotrimeric histone chaperone protein that is required for coupling chromatin assembly with DNA replication in eukaryotes. CAF-1 association with replicating DNA, and the targeting of newly synthesized histones to sites of DNA replication and repair requires its interaction with PCNA. Genetic studies have identified three mutant forms of PCNA in yeast that cause defects in gene silencing and exhibit altered association of CAF-1 to chromatin in vivo, as well as inhibit binding to CAF-1 in vitro. Three of these mutant forms of PCNA, encoded by the pol30-6, pol30-8, and the pol30-79 alleles, direct the synthesis of PCNA proteins with the amino acid substitutions D41A/D42A, R61A/D63A, and L126A/I128A, respectively. Interestingly, these double alanine substitutions are located far away from each other within the PCNA protein. To understand the structural basis of the interaction between PCNA and CAF-1 and how disruption of this interaction leads to reduced gene silencing, we determined the X-ray crystal structures of each of these mutant PCNA proteins. All three of the substitutions caused disruptions of a surface cavity on the front face of the PCNA ring, which is formed in part by three loops comprised of residues 21–24, 41–44, and 118–134. We suggest that this cavity is a novel binding pocket required for the interaction between PCNA and CAF-1, and that this region in PCNA also represents a potential binding site for other PCNA-binding proteins.

The replicative histone chaperone CAF-1 is essential for the maintenance of identity and genome integrity in adult stem cells

Chromatin packaging and modifications are important to define the identity of stem cells. How chromatin properties are retained over multiple cycles of stem cell replication, while generating differentiating progeny at the same time, remains a challenging question. The chromatin assembly factor CAF-1 is a conserved histone chaperone, which assembles histones H3 and H4 onto newly synthesized DNA during replication and repair. Here, we investigated the role of CAF-1 in the maintenance of germline stem cells (GSCs) in Drosophila ovaries. We depleted P180, the large subunit of CAF-1, in germ cells and found that it was required in GSCs to maintain their identity. In the absence of P180, GSCs still harbor stem cell properties but concomitantly express markers of differentiation. In addition, P180-depleted germ cells exhibit elevated levels of DNA damage and de-repression of the transposable I-element. These DNA damages activate p53- and Chk2-dependent checkpoints pathways, leading to cell death and female sterility. Altogether, our work demonstrates that chromatin dynamics mediated by CAF-1 play an important role in both the regulation of stem cell identity and genome integrity.

Replication-Coupled Nucleosome Assembly in the Passage of Epigenetic Information and Cell Identity

During S phase, replicated DNA must be assembled into nucleosomes using both newly synthesized and parental histones in a process that is tightly coupled to DNA replication. This DNA replication-coupled process is regulated by multitude of histone chaperones as well as by histone-modifying enzymes. In recent years novel insights into nucleosome assembly of new H3-H4 tetramers have been gained through studies on the classical histone chaperone CAF-1 and the identification of novel factors involved in this process. Moreover, in vitro reconstitution of chromatin replication has shed light on nucleosome assembly of parental H3-H4, a process that remains elusive. Finally, recent studies have revealed that the replication-coupled nucleosome assembly is important for the determination and maintenance of cell fate in multicellular organisms.

Emerging roles of the histone chaperone CAF-1 in cellular plasticity

During embryonic development, cells become progressively restricted in their differentiation potential. This is thought to be regulated by dynamic changes in chromatin structure and associated modifications, which act together to stabilize distinct specialized cell lineages. Remarkably, differentiated cells can be experimentally reprogrammed to a stem cell-like state or to alternative lineages. Thus, cellular reprogramming provides a valuable platform to study the mechanisms that normally safeguard cell identity and uncover factors whose manipulation facilitates cell fate transitions. Recent work has identified the chromatin assembly factor complex CAF-1 as a potent barrier to cellular reprogramming. In addition, CAF-1 has been implicated in the reversion of pluripotent cells to a totipotent-like state and in various lineage conversion paradigms, suggesting that modulation of CAF-1 levels may endow cells with a developmentally more plastic state. Here, we review these exciting results, discuss potential mechanisms and speculate on the possibility of exploiting chromatin assembly pathways to manipulate cell identity.

CHAF1A, the largest subunit of the chromatin assembly factor 1 complex, regulates the growth of H1299 human non-small cell lung cancer cells by inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest

Chromatin assembly factor 1 subunit A (CHAF1A) is the largest subunit of the chromatin assembly factor 1 (CAF-1) complex that is implicated in the assembly of nucleosomes on newly synthesized DNA. The aim of the present study was to determine its expression and biological function in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The current study examined the levels of CHAF1A expression in 22 samples of NSCLC and corresponding normal lung tissues. Subsequently, endogenous CHAF1A expression in H1299 NSCLC cells was knocked down via lentiviral delivery of CHAF1A-targeting short hairpin RNA (shRNA), and cell proliferation, colony formation and cell cycle distribution were measured. The results demonstrated that levels of CHAF1A mRNA level were ~3-fold greater in NSCLC samples compared with adjacent normal tissues (P<0.05). shRNA-mediated silencing of CHAF1A significantly inhibited the proliferation and colony formation of H1299 cells, compared wirh the delivery of control shRNA (P<0.05). Furthermore, CHAF1A shRNA-transduced cells exhibited a significant increase in the percentage of S-phase cells and a significant decrease in the percentage of cells at the G0/G1 and G2/M phases, compared with control cells (P<0.05). Additionally, CHAF1A knockdown significantly decreased the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and S-phase kinase-associated protein 2, and increased the expression of p21 and p27. This indicates that CHAF1A is upregulated in NSCLC and that its silencing suppresses the proliferation and colony formation of NSCLC cells, potentially by inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. CHAF1A may therefore represent a potential therapeutic target to treat NSCLC.

Maintenance of Heterochromatin by the Large Subunit of the CAF-1 Replication-Coupled Histone Chaperone Requires Its Interaction with HP1a Through a Conserved Motif

In eukaryotic cells, the organization of genomic DNA into chromatin regulates many biological processes, from the control of gene expression to the regulation of chromosome segregation. The proper maintenance of this structure upon cell division is therefore of prime importance during development for the maintenance of cell identity and genome stability. The chromatin assembly factor 1 (CAF-1) is involved in the assembly of H3-H4 histone dimers on newly synthesized DNA and in the maintenance of a higher order structure, the heterochromatin, through an interaction of its large subunit with the heterochromatin protein HP1a. We identify here a conserved domain in the large subunit of the CAF-1 complex required for its interaction with HP1a in the Drosophila fruit fly. Functional analysis reveals that this domain is dispensable for viability but participates in two processes involving heterochromatin: position-effect variegation and long range chromosomal interactions during meiotic prophase. Importantly, the identification in the large subunit of CAF-1 of a domain required for its interaction with HP1 allows the separation of its functions in heterochromatin-related processes from its function in the assembly of H3-H4 dimers onto newly synthesized DNA.

Maintenance of Epigenetic Information

The genome is subject to a diverse array of epigenetic modifications from DNA methylation to histone posttranslational changes. Many of these marks are somatically stable through cell division. This article focuses on our knowledge of the mechanisms governing the inheritance of epigenetic marks, particularly, repressive ones, when the DNA and chromatin template are duplicated in S phase. This involves the action of histone chaperones, nucleosome-remodeling enzymes, histone and DNA methylation binding proteins, and chromatin-modifying enzymes. Last, the timing of DNA replication is discussed, including the question of whether this constitutes an epigenetic mark that facilitates the propagation of epigenetic marks.

Transcriptional Regulators Compete with Nucleosomes Post-replication

Every nucleosome across the genome must be disrupted and reformed when the replication fork passes, but how chromatin organization is re-established following replication is unknown. To address this problem, we have developed Mapping In vivo Nascent Chromatin with EdU and sequencing (MINCE-seq) to characterize the genome-wide location of nucleosomes and other chromatin proteins behind replication forks at high temporal and spatial resolution. We find that the characteristic chromatin landscape at Drosophila promoters and enhancers is lost upon replication. The most conspicuous changes are at promoters that have high levels of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) stalling and DNA accessibility and show specific enrichment for the BRM remodeler. Enhancer chromatin is also disrupted during replication, suggesting a role for transcription factor (TF) competition in nucleosome re-establishment. Thus, the characteristic nucleosome landscape emerges from a uniformly packaged genome by the action of TFs, RNAPII, and remodelers minutes after replication fork passage.

A Tendon Cell Specific RNAi Screen Reveals Novel Candidates Essential for Muscle Tendon Interaction

Tendons are fibrous connective tissue which connect muscles to the skeletal elements thus acting as passive transmitters of force during locomotion and provide appropriate body posture. Tendon-derived cues, albeit poorly understood, are necessary for proper muscle guidance and attachment during development. In the present study, we used dorsal longitudinal muscles of Drosophila and their tendon attachment sites to unravel the molecular nature of interactions between muscles and tendons. We performed a genetic screen using RNAi-mediated knockdown in tendon cells to find out molecular players involved in the formation and maintenance of myotendinous junction and found 21 candidates out of 2507 RNAi lines screened. Of these, 19 were novel molecules in context of myotendinous system. Integrin-βPS and Talin, picked as candidates in this screen, are known to play important role in the cell-cell interaction and myotendinous junction formation validating our screen. We have found candidates with enzymatic function, transcription activity, cell adhesion, protein folding and intracellular transport function. Tango1, an ER exit protein involved in collagen secretion was identified as a candidate molecule involved in the formation of myotendinous junction. Tango1 knockdown was found to affect development of muscle attachment sites and formation of myotendinous junction. Tango1 was also found to be involved in secretion of Viking (Collagen type IV) and BM-40 from hemocytes and fat cells.

Replicating Nucleosomes

Eukaryotic replication disrupts each nucleosome as the fork passes, followed by re-assembly of disrupted nucleosomes and incorporation of newly synthesized histones into nucleosomes in the daughter genomes. In this review, we examine this process of replication-coupled nucleosome assembly to understand how characteristic steady state nucleosome landscapes are attained. Recent studies have begun to elucidate mechanisms involved in histone transfer during replication and maturation of the nucleosome landscape after disruption by replication. A fuller understanding of replication-coupled nucleosome assembly will be needed to explain how epigenetic information is replicated at every cell division.

A unique binding mode enables MCM2 to chaperone histones H3-H4 at replication forks

During DNA replication, chromatin is reassembled by recycling of modified old histones and deposition of new ones. How histone dynamics integrates with DNA replication to maintain genome and epigenome information remains unclear. Here, we reveal how human MCM2, part of the replicative helicase, chaperones histones H3-H4. Our first structure shows an H3-H4 tetramer bound by two MCM2 histone-binding domains (HBDs), which hijack interaction sites used by nucleosomal DNA. Our second structure reveals MCM2 and ASF1 cochaperoning an H3-H4 dimer. Mutational analyses show that the MCM2 HBD is required for MCM2-7 histone-chaperone function and normal cell proliferation. Further, we show that MCM2 can chaperone both new and old canonical histones H3-H4 as well as H3.3 and CENPA variants. The unique histone-binding mode of MCM2 thus endows the replicative helicase with ideal properties for recycling histones genome wide during DNA replication.

The histone chaperone complex HIR maintains nucleosome occupancy and counterbalances impaired histone deposition in CAF-1 complex mutants

Chromatin organization is essential for coordinated gene expression, genome stability, and inheritance of epigenetic information. The main components involved in chromatin assembly are specific complexes such as Chromatin Assembly Factor 1 (CAF-1) and Histone Regulator (HIR), which deposit histones in a DNA synthesis-dependent or -independent manner, respectively. Here, we characterize the role of the plant orthologs Histone Regulator A (HIRA), Ubinuclein (UBN) and Calcineurin Binding protein 1 (CABIN1), which constitute the HIR complex. Arabidopsis loss-of-function mutants for the various subunits of the complex are viable, but hira mutants show reduced fertility. We show that loss of HIRA reduces extractable histone H3 protein levels and decreases nucleosome occupancy at both actively transcribed genes and heterochromatic regions. Concomitantly, HIRA contributes to maintenance of silencing of pericentromeric repeats and certain transposons. A genetic analysis based on crosses between mutants deficient in subunits of the CAF-1 and HIR complexes showed that simultaneous loss of both the CAF-1 and HIR histone H3 chaperone complexes severely affects plant survival, growth and reproductive development. Our results suggest that HIRA partially rescues impaired histone deposition in fas mutants to preserve nucleosome occupancy, implying plasticity in histone variant interaction and deposition.

Histone storage and deposition in the early Drosophila embryo

Drosophila development initiates with the formation of a diploid zygote followed by the rapid division of embryonic nuclei. This syncytial phase of development occurs almost entirely under maternal control and ends when the blastoderm embryo cellularizes and activates its zygotic genome. The biosynthesis and storage of histones in quantity sufficient for chromatin assembly of several thousands of genome copies represent a unique challenge for the developing embryo. In this article, we have reviewed our current understanding of the mechanisms involved in the production, storage, and deposition of histones in the fertilized egg and during the exponential amplification of cleavage nuclei.

Histone chaperone CAF-1: essential roles in multi-cellular organism development

More and more studies have shown chromatin remodelers and histone modifiers play essential roles in regulating developmental patterns by organizing specific chromosomal architecture to establish programmed transcriptional profiles, with implications that histone chaperones execute a coordinating role in these processes. Chromatin assembly factor-1 (CAF-1), an evolutionarily conserved three-subunit protein complex, was identified as a histone chaperone coupled with DNA replication and repair in cultured mammalian cells and yeasts. Interestingly, recent findings indicate CAF-1 may have important regulatory roles during development by interacting with specific transcription factors and epigenetic regulators. In this review, we focus on the essential roles of CAF-1 in regulating heterochromatin organization, asymmetric cell division, and specific signal transduction through epigenetic modulations of the chromatin. In the end, we aim at providing a current image of facets of CAF-1 as a histone chaperone to orchestrate cell proliferation and differentiation during multi-cellular organism development.

A separable domain of the p150 subunit of human chromatin assembly factor-1 promotes protein and chromosome associations with nucleoli

Chromatin assembly factor-1 contains a separable domain unrelated to histone deposition, which provides a previously unrecognized ability to maintain nucleolar protein and chromosome associations.

Chromatin assembly factor-1 (CAF-1) is a three-subunit protein complex conserved throughout eukaryotes that deposits histones during DNA synthesis. Here we present a novel role for the human p150 subunit in regulating nucleolar macromolecular interactions. Acute depletion of p150 causes redistribution of multiple nucleolar proteins and reduces nucleolar association with several repetitive element–containing loci. Of note, a point mutation in a SUMO-interacting motif (SIM) within p150 abolishes nucleolar associations, whereas PCNA or HP1 interaction sites within p150 are not required for these interactions. In addition, acute depletion of SUMO-2 or the SUMO E2 ligase Ubc9 reduces α-satellite DNA association with nucleoli. The nucleolar functions of p150 are separable from its interactions with the other subunits of the CAF-1 complex because an N-terminal fragment of p150 (p150N) that cannot interact with other CAF-1 subunits is sufficient for maintaining nucleolar chromosome and protein associations. Therefore these data define novel functions for a separable domain of the p150 protein, regulating protein and DNA interactions at the nucleolus.

Chromatin and DNA replication

The size of a eukaryotic genome presents a unique challenge to the cell: package and organize the DNA to fit within the confines of the nucleus while at the same time ensuring sufficient dynamics to allow access to specific sequences and features such as genes and regulatory elements. This is achieved via the dynamic nucleoprotein organization of eukaryotic DNA into chromatin. The basic unit of chromatin, the nucleosome, comprises a core particle with 147 bp of DNA wrapped 1.7 times around an octamer of histones. The nucleosome is a highly versatile and modular structure, both in its composition, with the existence of various histone variants, and through the addition of a series of posttranslational modifications on the histones. This versatility allows for both short-term regulatory responses to external signaling, as well as the long-term and multigenerational definition of large functional chromosomal domains within the nucleus, such as the centromere. Chromatin organization and its dynamics participate in essentially all DNA-templated processes, including transcription, replication, recombination, and repair. Here we will focus mainly on nucleosomal organization and describe the pathways and mechanisms that contribute to assembly of this organization and the role of chromatin in regulating the DNA replication program.

Endoreplication and polyploidy: insights into development and disease

Polyploid cells have genomes that contain multiples of the typical diploid chromosome number and are found in many different organisms. Studies in a variety of animal and plant developmental systems have revealed evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that control the generation of polyploidy and have recently begun to provide clues to its physiological function. These studies demonstrate that cellular polyploidy plays important roles during normal development and also contributes to human disease, particularly cancer.

Host-viral effects of chromatin assembly factor 1 interaction with HCMV IE2

Chromatin assembly factor 1 (CAF1) consisting of p150, p60 and p48 is known to assemble histones onto newly synthesized DNA and thus maintain the chromatin structure. Here, we show that CAF1 expression was induced in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-infected cells, concomitantly with global chromatin decondensation. This apparent conflict was thought to result, in part, from CAF1 mislocalization to compartments of HCMV DNA synthesis through binding of its largest subunit p150 to viral immediate-early protein 2 (IE2). p150 interaction with p60 and IE2 facilitated HCMV DNA synthesis. The IE2Q548R mutation, previously reported to result in impaired HCMV growth with unknown mechanism, disrupted IE2/p150 and IE2/histones association in our study. Moreover, IE2 interaction with histones partly depends on p150, and the HCMV-induced chromatin decondensation was reduced in cells ectopically expressing the p150 mutant defective in IE2 binding. These results not only indicate that CAF1 was hijacked by IE2 to facilitate the replication of the HCMV genome, suggesting chromatin assembly plays an important role in herpesviral DNA synthesis, but also provide a model of the virus-induced chromatin instability through CAF1.

Drosophila CAF-1 regulates HP1-mediated epigenetic silencing and pericentric heterochromatin stability

Chromatin assembly factor 1 (CAF-1) was initially characterized as a histone deliver in the process of DNA-replication-coupled chromatin assembly in eukaryotic cells. Here, we report that CAF-1 p180, the largest subunit of Drosophila CAF-1, participates in the process of heterochromatin formation and functions to maintain pericentric heterochromatin stability. We provide evidence that Drosophila CAF-1 p180 plays a role in both classes of position effect variegation (PEV) and in the expression of heterochromatic genes. A decrease in the expression of Drosophila CAF-1 p180 leads to a decrease in both H3K9 methylation at pericentric heterochromatin regions and the recruitment of heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) to the chromocenter of the polytene chromosomes. The artificial targeting of HP1 to a euchromatin location leads to the enrichment of Drosophila CAF-1 p180 at this ectopic heterochromatin, suggesting the mutual recruitment of HP1 and CAF-1 p180. We also show that the spreading of heterochromatin is compromised in flies that have reduced CAF-1 p180. Furthermore, reduced CAF-1 p180 causes a defect in the dynamics of heterochromatic markers in early Drosophila embryos. Together, these findings suggest that Drosophila CAF-1 p180 is an essential factor in the epigenetic control of heterochromatin formation and/or maintenance.

[The function of histone chaperones during development]

Histone chaperones may participate the decondensation and assembly of chromatins, thus regulate gene expression. They play important roles in almost all developmental processes, such as gametogenesis, fertilization, embryogenesis, growth and senescence. In this review, we used well studied examples to illustrate various functions of histone chaperones during developmental processes. Focus is given to nucleoplasmin, CAF-1, HIRA, ASF1/CIA, and NAP1.

Endoreplication: polyploidy with purpose

A great many cell types are necessary for the myriad capabilities of complex, multicellular organisms. One interesting aspect of this diversity of cell type is that many cells in diploid organisms are polyploid. This is called endopolyploidy and arises from cell cycles that are often characterized as "variant," but in fact are widespread throughout nature. Endopolyploidy is essential for normal development and physiology in many different organisms. Here we review how both plants and animals use variations of the cell cycle, termed collectively as endoreplication, resulting in polyploid cells that support specific aspects of development. In addition, we discuss briefly how endoreplication occurs in response to certain physiological stresses, and how it may contribute to the development of cancer. Finally, we describe the molecular mechanisms that support the onset and progression of endoreplication.

Histone3 variants in plants

Regulation of chromatin activity by covalent histone modifications has been long recognized. Histones that constitute the nucleosome are encoded by large families of genes and display a strong degree of conservation. However, histone variants exist and it is becoming clear that they play important roles in genome regulation. While most studies of the role of histone3 (H3) variants in transcriptional control comes from animal models, emerging data in plants suggest functional conservation, although plant-specific roles are likely. We review these data and speculate on the biological significance of H3 variants in plants.