Chromosomal protein HMGN1 modulates histone H3 phosphorylation

Chromatin binding protein HMGN1 promotes HBV cccDNA transcription and replication by regulating the phosphorylation of histone 3

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Direct elimination of cccDNA remains a formidable obstacle due to the persistent and stable presence of cccDNA in hepatocyte nuclei. The silencing of cccDNA transcription enduringly is one of alternative strategies in the treatment of hepatitis B. Protein binding to cccDNA plays an important role in its transcriptional regulation; thus, the identification of key factors involved in this process is of great importance.

APPROACHES AND RESULTS

In the present study, high mobility group nucleosome binding domain 1 (HMGN1) was screened out based on our biotin-avidin enrichment system. First, chromatin immunoprecipitation and fluorescent in situ hybridization assays confirmed the binding of HMGN1 with cccDNA in the nucleus. Second, functional experiments in HBV-infected cells showed that the promoting effect of HMGN1 on HBV transcription and replication depended on the functional region of the nucleosomal binding domain, while transfection of the HMGN1 mutant showed no influence on HBV compared with the vector. Third, further mechanistic exploration revealed that the silencing of HMGN1 increased the level of phosphorylase CLK2 and promoted H3 phosphorylation causing the reduced accessibility of cccDNA. Moreover, silenced HMGN1 was mimicked in HBV (r) cccDNA mouse model of HBV infection in vivo. The results showed that silencing HMGN1 inhibited HBV replication in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our study identified that a host protein can bind to cccDNA and promote its transcription, providing a candidate strategy for anti-HBV targeting to interfere with the transcriptional activity of cccDNA microchromosomes.

The growth hormone receptor interacts with transcriptional regulator HMGN1 upon GH-induced nuclear translocation

Growth hormone (GH) actions are mediated through binding to its cell-surface receptor, the GH receptor (GHR), with consequent activation of downstream signalling. However, nuclear GHR localisation has also been observed and is associated with increased cancer cell proliferation. Here we investigated the functional implications of nuclear translocation of the GHR in the human endometrial cancer cell-line, RL95-2, and human mammary epithelial cell-line, MCF-10A. We found that following GH treatment, the GHR rapidly translocates to the nucleus, with maximal localisation at 5-10 min. Combined immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry analysis of RL95-2 whole cell lysates identified 40 novel GHR binding partners, including the transcriptional regulator, HMGN1. Moreover, microarray analysis demonstrated that the gene targets of HMGN1 were differentially expressed following GH treatment, and co-immunoprecipitation showed that HMGN1 associates with the GHR in the nucleus. Therefore, our results suggest that GHR nuclear translocation might mediate GH actions via interaction with chromatin factors that then drive changes in specific downstream transcriptional programs.

H2A Ubiquitination Alters H3-tail Dynamics on Linker-DNA to Enhance H3K27 Methylation

Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) and PRC2 are responsible for epigenetic gene regulation. PRC1 ubiquitinates histone H2A (H2Aub), which subsequently promotes PRC2 to introduce the H3 lysine 27 tri-methyl (H3K27me3) repressive chromatin mark. Although this mechanism provides a link between the two key transcriptional repressors, PRC1 and PRC2, it is unknown how histone-tail dynamics contribute to this process. Here, we have examined the effect of H2A ubiquitination and linker-DNA on H3-tail dynamics and H3K27 methylation by PRC2. In naïve nucleosomes, the H3-tail dynamically contacts linker DNA in addition to core DNA, and the linker-DNA is as important for H3K27 methylation as H2A ubiquitination. H2A ubiquitination alters contacts between the H3-tail and DNA to improve the methyltransferase activity of the PRC2-AEBP2-JARID2 complex. Collectively, our data support a model in which H2A ubiquitination by PRC1 synergizes with linker-DNA to hold H3 histone tails poised for their methylation by PRC2-AEBP2-JARID2.

Damage-associated molecular patterns and sensing receptors based molecular subtypes in malignant pleural mesothelioma and implications for immunotherapy

Objectives

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is characterized as an incredibly aggressive form of cancer with a dismal diagnosis and a dearth of specific biomarkers and therapeutic options. For MPM patients, the effectiveness of immunotherapy may be influenced by damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP)-induced immunogenic cell death (ICD).The objective of this work is to create a molecular profile associated with DAMPs to categorize MPM patients and predict their prognosis and response to immunotherapy.

Methods

The RNA-seq of 397 patients (263 patients with clinical data, 57.2% male, 73.0% over 60 yrs.) were gathered from eight public datasets as a training cohort to identify the DAMPs-associated subgroups of MPMs using K-means analysis. Three validation cohorts of patients or murine were established from TCGA and GEO databases. Comparisons were made across each subtype's immune status, gene mutations, survival prognosis, and predicted response to therapy.

Results

Based on the DAMPs gene expression, MPMs were categorized into two subtypes: the nuclear DAMPs subtype, which is classified by the upregulation of immune-suppressed pathways, and the inflammatory DAMPs subtype, which is distinguished by the enrichment of proinflammatory cytokine signaling. The inflammatory DAMPs subgroup had a better prognosis, while the nuclear DAMPs subgroup exhibited a worse outcome. In validation cohorts, the subtyping system was effectively verified. We further identified the genetic differences between the two DAMPs subtypes. It was projected that the inflammatory DAMPs subtype will respond to immunotherapy more favorably, suggesting that the developed clustering method may be implemented to predict the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

Conclusion

We constructed a subtyping model based on ICD-associated DAMPs in MPM, which might serve as a signature to gauge the outcomes of immune checkpoint blockades. Our research may aid in the development of innovative immunomodulators as well as the advancement of precision immunotherapy for MPM.

Shaking up the silence: consequences of HMGN1 antagonizing PRC2 in the Down syndrome brain

Intellectual disability is a well-known hallmark of Down Syndrome (DS) that results from the triplication of the critical region of human chromosome 21 (HSA21). Major studies were conducted in recent years to gain an understanding about the contribution of individual triplicated genes to DS-related brain pathology. Global transcriptomic alterations and widespread changes in the establishment of neural lineages, as well as their differentiation and functional maturity, suggest genome-wide chromatin organization alterations in trisomy. High Mobility Group Nucleosome Binding Domain 1 (HMGN1), expressed from HSA21, is a chromatin remodeling protein that facilitates chromatin decompaction and is associated with acetylated lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27ac), a mark correlated with active transcription. Recent studies causatively linked overexpression of HMGN1 in trisomy and the development of DS-associated B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). HMGN1 has been shown to antagonize the activity of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) and prevent the deposition of histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation mark (H3K27me3), which is associated with transcriptional repression and gene silencing. However, the possible ramifications of the increased levels of HMGN1 through the derepression of PRC2 target genes on brain cell pathology have not gained attention. In this review, we discuss the functional significance of HMGN1 in brain development and summarize accumulating reports about the essential role of PRC2 in the development of the neural system. Mechanistic understanding of how overexpression of HMGN1 may contribute to aberrant brain cell phenotypes in DS, such as altered proliferation of neural progenitors, abnormal cortical architecture, diminished myelination, neurodegeneration, and Alzheimer's disease-related pathology in trisomy 21, will facilitate the development of DS therapeutic approaches targeting chromatin.

HMGN4 plays a key role in STAT3-mediate oncogenesis of triple-negative breast cancer

High-mobility group nucleosome-binding domain 4 (HMGN4) exerts biological functions by regulating gene transcription through binding with nucleosome. As a new epigenetic regulator discovered in 2001, its biological functions have not been clarified. HMGN4 belongs to HMGNs family, in which HMGN1, 2, and 5 have been reported to play roles in oncogenesis of various cancers. However, it is reported that HMGN4 was associated with thyroid and liver cancer. In this study, we discovered for the first time that HMGN4 was highly expressed in human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), based on the analysis of the TCGA database. Moreover, we found that HMGN4 controlled the proliferation of human TNBC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the positive correlation occurred between HMGN4 and STAT3 downstream genes while HMGN4 played an indispensable role in constitutively active STAT3 (STAT3C) induced colony formation. Interestingly, we reported that STAT3 regulated HMGN4 transcription as its transcriptional factor by ChIP and HMGN4 promoter-luc assays. That is to say, there is a feed-forward signaling circuit between HMGN4 and STAT3, which might control TNBC cell growth. Finally, we proved that the interference of HMGN4 by nanovehicle-packaged siRNA may be a potentially effective approach in TNBC treatment. In summary, our findings not only identified a novel regulator in TNBC cell proliferation but also revealed the mechanism by which HMGN4 acted as a downstream gene of STAT3 to participate in the STAT3 pathway, which indicated that HMGN4 was likely to be a potential novel target for anti-TNBC therapy.

HMGN1 plays a significant role in CRLF2 driven Down Syndrome leukemia and provides a potential therapeutic target in this high-risk cohort

The genetic basis of the predisposition for Down Syndrome (DS) patients to develop cytokine receptor-like factor 2 rearranged (CRLF2r) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is currently unknown. Genes located on chromosome 21 and expressed in hematopoietic cells are likely candidates for investigation of CRLF2r DS-ALL pathogenesis. We explored the high-mobility group nucleosome-binding protein 1 (HMGN1), located in the DS critical region, in an inducible CRISPR/Cas9 knockout (KO) xenograft model to assess the effect of HMGN1 loss of function on the leukemic burden. We demonstrated HMGN1 KO-mitigated leukemic phenotypes including hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, and anemia, commonly observed in leukemia patients, and significantly increased survival in vivo. HMGN1 overexpression in murine stem cells and Ba/F3 cells in vitro, in combination with P2RY8-CRLF2, resulted in cytokine-independent transformation and upregulation of cell signaling pathways associated with leukemic development. Finally, in vitro screening demonstrated successful targeting of P2RY8-CRLF2 and HMGN1 co-expressing cell lines and patient samples with fedratinib (JAK2 inhibitor), and GSK-J4 (demethylase inhibitor) in combination. Together, these data provide critical insight into the development and persistence of CRLF2r DS-ALL and identify HMGN1 as a potential therapeutic target to improve outcomes and reduce toxicity in this high-risk cohort of young patients.

Protein intrinsic disorder on a dynamic nucleosomal landscape

The complex nucleoprotein landscape of the eukaryotic cell nucleus is rich in dynamic proteins that lack a stable three-dimensional structure. Many of these intrinsically disordered proteins operate directly on the first fundamental level of genome compaction: the nucleosome. Here we give an overview of how disordered interactions with and within nucleosomes shape the dynamics, architecture, and epigenetic regulation of the genetic material, controlling cellular transcription patterns. We highlight experimental and computational challenges in the study of protein disorder and illustrate how integrative approaches are increasingly unveiling the fine details of nuclear interaction networks. We finally dissect sequence properties encoded in disordered regions and assess common features of disordered nucleosome-binding proteins. As drivers of many critical biological processes, disordered proteins are integral to a comprehensive molecular view of the dynamic nuclear milieu.

Site-specific modification and segmental isotope labelling of HMGN1 reveals long-range conformational perturbations caused by posttranslational modifications

Interactions between histones, which package DNA in eukaryotes, and nuclear proteins such as the high mobility group nucleosome-binding protein HMGN1 are important for regulating access to DNA. HMGN1 is a highly charged and intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) that is modified at several sites by posttranslational modifications (PTMs) - acetylation, phosphorylation and ADP-ribosylation. These PTMs are thought to affect cellular localisation of HMGN1 and its ability to bind nucleosomes; however, little is known about how these PTMs regulate the structure and function of HMGN1 at a molecular level. Here, we combine the chemical biology tools of protein semi-synthesis and site-specific modification to generate a series of unique HMGN1 variants bearing precise PTMs at their N- or C-termini with segmental isotope labelling for NMR spectroscopy. With access to these precisely-defined variants, we show that PTMs in both the N- and C-termini cause changes in the chemical shifts and conformational populations in regions distant from the PTM sites; up to 50-60 residues upstream of the PTM site. The PTMs investigated had only minor effects on binding of HMGN1 to nucleosome core particles, suggesting that they have other regulatory roles. This study demonstrates the power of combining protein semi-synthesis for introduction of site-specific PTMs with segmental isotope labelling for structural biology, allowing us to understand the role of PTMs with atomic precision, from both structural and functional perspectives.

AURKB promotes gastric cancer progression via activation of CCND1 expression

Aurora kinase B (AURKB) triggers the phosphorylation of serine 10 on histone H3 (H3S10ph), which is important for chromosome condensation and cytokinesis during mitosis in mammals. However, how exactly AURKB controls cell cycle and contributes to tumorigenesis as an oncoprotein under pathological conditions remains largely unknown. Here, we report that AURKB promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Silencing AURKB expression inhibits gastric cell proliferation and arrests the cell cycle in G₂/M phase. We demonstrate that cyclin D1 (CCND1) is a direct downstream target of AURKB that plays a key role in gastric cancer cell proliferation. AURKB is able to activate the expression of CCND1 through mediating H3S10ph in the promoter of the CCND1 gene. Furthermore, we show that AZD1152, a specific inhibitor of AURKB, can suppress the expression of CCND1 in the gastric cancer cells and inhibit cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, we found that high AURKB and CCND1 expression levels are correlated with shorter overall survival of gastric cancer patients. This study demonstrates that AURKB promotes gastric tumorigenesis potentially through epigenetically activating CCND1 expression, suggesting AURKB as a promising therapeutic target in gastric cancer.

Biological Functions of HMGN Chromosomal Proteins

Chromatin plays a key role in regulating gene expression programs necessary for the orderly progress of development and for preventing changes in cell identity that can lead to disease. The high mobility group N (HMGN) is a family of nucleosome binding proteins that preferentially binds to chromatin regulatory sites including enhancers and promoters. HMGN proteins are ubiquitously expressed in all vertebrate cells potentially affecting chromatin function and epigenetic regulation in multiple cell types. Here, we review studies aimed at elucidating the biological function of HMGN proteins, focusing on their possible role in vertebrate development and the etiology of disease. The data indicate that changes in HMGN levels lead to cell type-specific phenotypes, suggesting that HMGN optimize epigenetic processes necessary for maintaining cell identity and for proper execution of specific cellular functions. This manuscript contains tables that can be used as a comprehensive resource for all the English written manuscripts describing research aimed at elucidating the biological function of the HMGN protein family.

Maintenance of active chromatin states by HMGN2 is required for stem cell identity in a pluripotent stem cell model

Background

Members of the HMGN protein family modulate chromatin structure and influence epigenetic modifications. HMGN1 and HMGN2 are highly expressed during early development and in the neural stem/progenitor cells of the developing and adult brain. Here, we investigate whether HMGN proteins contribute to the chromatin plasticity and epigenetic regulation that is essential for maintaining pluripotency in stem cells.

Results

We show that loss of Hmgn1 or Hmgn2 in pluripotent embryonal carcinoma cells leads to increased levels of spontaneous neuronal differentiation. This is accompanied by the loss of pluripotency markers Nanog and Ssea1, and increased expression of the pro-neural transcription factors Neurog1 and Ascl1. Neural stem cells derived from these Hmgn-knockout lines also show increased spontaneous neuronal differentiation and Neurog1 expression. The loss of HMGN2 leads to a global reduction in H3K9 acetylation, and disrupts the profile of H3K4me3, H3K9ac, H3K27ac and H3K122ac at the Nanog and Oct4 loci. At endodermal/mesodermal genes, Hmgn2-knockout cells show a switch from a bivalent to a repressive chromatin configuration. However, at neuronal lineage genes whose expression is increased, no epigenetic changes are observed and their bivalent states are retained following the loss of HMGN2.

Conclusions

We conclude that HMGN1 and HMGN2 maintain the identity of pluripotent embryonal carcinoma cells by optimising the pluripotency transcription factor network and protecting the cells from precocious differentiation. Our evidence suggests that HMGN2 regulates active and bivalent genes by promoting an epigenetic landscape of active histone modifications at promoters and enhancers.

Transcription Factors That Govern Development and Disease: An Achilles Heel in Cancer

Development requires the careful orchestration of several biological events in order to create any structure and, eventually, to build an entire organism. On the other hand, the fate transformation of terminally differentiated cells is a consequence of erroneous development, and ultimately leads to cancer. In this review, we elaborate how development and cancer share several biological processes, including molecular controls. Transcription factors (TF) are at the helm of both these processes, among many others, and are evolutionarily conserved, ranging from yeast to humans. Here, we discuss four families of TFs that play a pivotal role and have been studied extensively in both embryonic development and cancer—high mobility group box (HMG), GATA, paired box (PAX) and basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) in the context of their role in development, cancer, and their conservation across several species. Finally, we review TFs as possible therapeutic targets for cancer and reflect on the importance of natural resistance against cancer in certain organisms, yielding knowledge regarding TF function and cancer biology.

Combining Rapid Data Independent Acquisition and CRISPR Gene Deletion for Studying Potential Protein Functions: A Case of HMGN1

CRISPR-Cas gene editing holds substantial promise in many biomedical disciplines and basic research. Due to the important functional implications of non-histone chromosomal protein HMG-14 (HMGN1) in regulating chromatin structure and tumor immunity, gene knockout of HMGN1 is performed by CRISPR in cancer cells and the following proteomic regulation events are studied. In particular, DIA mass spectrometry (DIA-MS) is utilized, and more than 6200 proteins (protein- FDR 1%) and more than 82 000 peptide precursors are reproducibly measured in the single MS shots of 2 h. HMGN1 protein deletion is confidently verified by DIA-MS in all of the clone- and dish- replicates following CRISPR. Statistical analysis reveals 147 proteins change their expressions significantly after HMGN1 knockout. Functional annotation and enrichment analysis indicate the deletion of HMGN1 induces histone inactivation, various stress pathways, remodeling of extracellular proteomes, cell proliferation, as well as immune regulation processes such as complement and coagulation cascade and interferon alpha/ gamma response in cancer cells. These results shed new lights on the cellular functions of HMGN1. It is suggested that DIA-MS can be reliably used as a rapid, robust, and cost-effective proteomic-screening tool to assess the outcome of the CRISPR experiments.

Optimized Cross-Linking Mass Spectrometry for in Situ Interaction Proteomics

Recent development of mass spectrometer cleavable protein cross-linkers and algorithms for their spectral identification now permits large-scale cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS). Here, we optimized the use of cleavable disuccinimidyl sulfoxide (DSSO) cross-linker for labeling native protein complexes in live human cells. We applied a generalized linear mixture model to calibrate cross-link peptide-spectra matching (CSM) scores to control the sensitivity and specificity of large-scale XL-MS. Using specific CSM score thresholds to control the false discovery rate, we found that higher-energy collisional dissociation (HCD) and electron transfer dissociation (ETD) can both be effective for large-scale XL-MS protein interaction mapping. We found that the coverage of protein-protein interaction maps is significantly improved through the use of multiple proteases. In addition, the use of focused sample-specific search databases can be used to improve the specificity of cross-linked peptide spectral matching. Application of this approach to human chromatin labeled in live cells recapitulated known and revealed new protein interactions of nucleosomes and other chromatin-associated complexes in situ. This optimized approach for mapping native protein interactions should be useful for a wide range of biological problems.

Proteomic analysis of germinal vesicles in the domestic cat model reveals candidate nuclear proteins involved in oocyte competence acquisition

STUDY QUESTION

Do nuclear proteins in the germinal vesicle (GV) contribute to oocyte competence acquisition during folliculogenesis?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Proteomic analysis of GVs identified candidate proteins for oocyte competence acquisition, including a key RNA processing protein-heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNPA2B1).

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

The domestic cat GV, which is physiologically similar to the human GV, gains the intrinsic ability to resume meiosis and support early embryo development during the pre-antral-to-antral follicle transition. However, little is known about nuclear proteins that contribute to this developmental process.

STUDY DESIGN SIZE, DURATION

GVs were enriched from pre-antral (incompetent) and antral (competent) follicles from 802 cat ovaries. Protein lysates were subjected to quantitative proteomic analysis to identify differentially expressed proteins in GVs from the two follicular categories.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Two biological replicates (from independent pools of ovaries) of pre-antral versus antral samples were labeled by tandem mass tags and then assessed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Proteomic data were analyzed according to gene ontology and a protein-protein interaction network. Immunofluorescent staining and protein inhibition assays were used for validation.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

A total of 174 nuclear proteins was identified, with 54 being up-regulated and 22 down-regulated (≥1.5-fold) after antrum formation. Functional protein analysis through gene ontology over-representation tests revealed that changes in molecular network within the GVs during this transitional phase were related to chromatin reorganization, gene transcription, and maternal RNA processing and storage. Protein inhibition assays verified that hnRNPA2B1, a key nuclear protein identified, was required for oocyte meiotic maturation and subsequent blastocyst formation.

LARGE SCALE DATA

Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD007211.

LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION

Proteins identified by proteomic comparison may (i) be involved in processes other than competence acquisition during the pre-antral-to-antral transition or (ii) be co-expressed in other macrostructures besides the GV. Expressional and functional validations should be performed for candidate proteins before downstream application.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Collective results generated a blueprint to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in GV competence acquisition and identified potential nuclear competence markers for human fertility preservation.

STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTEREST(S)

Funded by the National Center for Research Resources (R01 RR026064), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and currently by the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs/Office of the Director (R01 OD010948). The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Precision medicine approaches may be the future for CRLF2 rearranged Down Syndrome Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia patients

Breakthrough studies over the past decade have uncovered unique gene fusions implicated in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The critical gene, cytokine receptor-like factor 2 (CRLF2), is rearranged in 5-16% of B-ALL, comprising 50% of Philadelphia-like ALL and cooperates with genomic lesions in the Jak, Mapk and Ras signalling pathways. Children with Down Syndrome (DS) have a predisposition to developing CRLF2 rearranged-ALL which is observed in 60% of DS-ALL patients. These patients experience a poor survival outcome. Mutations of genes involved in epigenetic regulation are more prevalent in DS-ALL patients than non-DS ALL patients, highlighting the potential for alternative treatment strategies. DS-ALL patients also suffer greater treatment-related toxicity from current ALL treatment regimens compared to non-DS-ALL patients. An increased gene dosage of critical genes on chromosome 21 which have roles in purine synthesis and folate transport may contribute. As the genomic landscape of DS-ALL patients is different to non-DS-ALL patients, targeted therapies for individual lesions may improve outcomes. Therapeutically targeting each rearrangement with targeted or combination therapy that will perturb the transforming signalling pathways will likely improve the poor survival rates of this subset of patients.

High-mobility group nucleosome binding domain 1 (HMGN1) functions as a Th1-polarizing alarmin

High-mobility group (HMG) nucleosome binding domain 1 (HMGN1), which previously was thought to function only as a nucleosome-binding protein that regulates chromatin structure, histone modifications, and gene expression, was recently discovered to be an alarmin that contributes extracellularly to the generation of innate and adaptive immune responses. HMGN1 promotes DC recruitment through interacting with a Gαi protein-coupled receptor (GiPCR) and activates DCs predominantly through triggering TLR4. HMGN1 preferentially promotes Th1-type immunity, which makes it relevant for the fields of vaccinology, autoimmunity, and oncoimmunology. Here, we discuss the alarmin properties of HMGN1 and update recent advances on its roles in immunity and potential applications for immunotherapy of tumors.

High-Mobility Group Nucleosome-Binding Protein 1 as Endogenous Ligand Induces Innate Immune Tolerance in a TLR4-Sirtuin-1 Dependent Manner in Human Blood Peripheral Mononuclear Cells

High-mobility group nucleosome-binding protein 1 (HMGN1) functions as a non-histone chromatin-binding protein in the cell nucleus. However, extracellular HMGN1 acts as an endogenous danger-associated inflammatory mediator (also called alarmin). We demonstrated that HMGN1 not only directly stimulated cytokine production but also had the capacity to induce immune tolerance by a TLR4-dependent pathway, similar to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tolerance. HMGN1-induced tolerance was accompanied by a metabolic shift associated with the inhibition of the induction of Warburg effect (aerobic glycolysis) and histone deacetylation via Sirtuin-1. In addition, HMGN1 pre-challenge of mice also downregulated TNF production similar to LPS-induced tolerance in vivo. In conclusion, HMGN1 is an endogenous TLR4 ligand that can induce both acute stimulation of cytokine production and long-term tolerance, and thus it might play a modulatory role in sterile inflammatory processes such as those induced by infection, trauma, or ischemia.

HMGN1 and 2 remodel core and linker histone tail domains within chromatin

The structure of the nucleosome, the basic building block of the chromatin fiber, plays a key role in epigenetic regulatory processes that affect DNA-dependent processes in the context of chromatin. Members of the HMGN family of proteins bind specifically to nucleosomes and affect chromatin structure and function, including transcription and DNA repair. To better understand the mechanisms by which HMGN 1 and 2 alter chromatin, we analyzed their effect on the organization of histone tails and linker histone H1 in nucleosomes. We find that HMGNs counteract linker histone (H1)-dependent stabilization of higher order ‘tertiary’ chromatin structures but do not alter the intrinsic ability of nucleosome arrays to undergo salt-induced compaction and self-association. Surprisingly, HMGNs do not displace H1s from nucleosomes; rather these proteins bind nucleosomes simultaneously with H1s without disturbing specific contacts between the H1 globular domain and nucleosomal DNA. However, HMGNs do alter the nucleosome-dependent condensation of the linker histone C-terminal domain, which is critical for stabilizing higher-order chromatin structures. Moreover, HMGNs affect the interactions of the core histone tail domains with nucleosomal DNA, redirecting the tails to more interior positions within the nucleosome. Our studies provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms whereby HMGNs affect chromatin structure.

Interplay between H1 and HMGN epigenetically regulates OLIG1&2 expression and oligodendrocyte differentiation

An interplay between the nucleosome binding proteins H1 and HMGN is known to affect chromatin dynamics, but the biological significance of this interplay is still not clear. We find that during embryonic stem cell differentiation loss of HMGNs leads to down regulation of genes involved in neural differentiation, and that the transcription factor OLIG2 is a central node in the affected pathway. Loss of HMGNs affects the expression of OLIG2 as well as that of OLIG1, two transcription factors that are crucial for oligodendrocyte lineage specification and nerve myelination. Loss of HMGNs increases the chromatin binding of histone H1, thereby recruiting the histone methyltransferase EZH2 and elevating H3K27me3 levels, thus conferring a repressive epigenetic signature at Olig1&2 sites. Embryonic stem cells lacking HMGNs show reduced ability to differentiate towards the oligodendrocyte lineage, and mice lacking HMGNs show reduced oligodendrocyte count and decreased spinal cord myelination, and display related neurological phenotypes. Thus, the presence of HMGN proteins is required for proper expression of neural differentiation genes during embryonic stem cell differentiation. Specifically, we demonstrate that the dynamic interplay between HMGNs and H1 in chromatin epigenetically regulates the expression of OLIG1&2, thereby affecting oligodendrocyte development and myelination, and mouse behavior.

Elevated HMGN4 expression potentiates thyroid tumorigenesis

Thyroid cancer originates from genetic and epigenetic changes that alter gene expression and cellular signaling pathways. Here, we report that altered expression of the nucleosome-binding protein HMGN4 potentiates thyroid tumorigenesis. Bioinformatics analyses reveal increased HMGN4 expression in thyroid cancer. We find that upregulation of HMGN4 expression in mouse and human cells, and in the thyroid of transgenic mice, alters the cellular transcription profile, downregulates the expression of the tumor suppressors Atm, Atrx and Brca2, and elevates the levels of the DNA damage marker γH2AX. Mouse and human cells overexpressing HMGN4 show increased tumorigenicity as measured by colony formation, by tumor generation in nude mice, and by the formation of preneoplastic lesions in the thyroid of transgenic mice. Our study identifies a novel epigenetic factor that potentiates thyroid oncogenesis and raises the possibility that HMGN4 may serve as an additional diagnostic marker, or therapeutic target in certain thyroid cancers.

HDAC6 Deacetylates HMGN2 to Regulate Stat5a Activity and Breast Cancer Growth

Stat5a is a transcription factor utilized by several cytokine/hormone receptor signaling pathways that promotes transcription of genes associated with proliferation, differentiation, and survival of cancer cells. However, there are currently no clinically approved therapies that directly target Stat5a, despite ample evidence that it contributes to breast cancer pathogenesis. Here, deacetylation of the Stat5a coactivator and chromatin-remodeling protein HMGN2 on lysine residue K2 by HDAC6 promotes Stat5a-mediated transcription and breast cancer growth. HDAC6 inhibition both in vitro and in vivo enhances HMGN2 acetylation with a concomitant reduction in Stat5a-mediated signaling, resulting in an inhibition of breast cancer growth. Furthermore, HMGN2 is highly acetylated at K2 in normal human breast tissue, but is deacetylated in primary breast tumors and lymph node metastases, suggesting that targeting HMGN2 deacetylation is a viable treatment for breast cancer. Together, these results reveal a novel mechanism by which HDAC6 activity promotes the transcription of Stat5a target genes and demonstrate utility of HDAC6 inhibition for breast cancer therapy.

IMPLICATIONS

HMGN2 deacetylation enhances Stat5a transcriptional activity, thereby regulating prolactin-induced gene transcription and breast cancer growth. Mol Cancer Res; 14(10); 994-1008. ©2016 AACR.

HMGN proteins modulate chromatin regulatory sites and gene expression during activation of naïve B cells

The activation of naïve B lymphocyte involves rapid and major changes in chromatin organization and gene expression; however, the complete repertoire of nuclear factors affecting these genomic changes is not known. We report that HMGN proteins, which bind to nucleosomes and affect chromatin structure and function, co-localize with, and maintain the intensity of DNase I hypersensitive sites genome wide, in resting but not in activated B cells. Transcription analyses of resting and activated B cells from wild-type and Hmgn^−/− mice, show that loss of HMGNs dampens the magnitude of the transcriptional response and alters the pattern of gene expression during the course of B-cell activation; defense response genes are most affected at the onset of activation. Our study provides insights into the biological function of the ubiquitous HMGN chromatin binding proteins and into epigenetic processes that affect the fidelity of the transcriptional response during the activation of B cell lymphocytes.

HMGNs: The enhancer charmers

The DNase I hypersensitive sites (DHSs) of chromatin constitute one of the best landmarks of eukaryotic genes that are poised and/or activated for transcription. For over 35 years, the high-mobility group nucleosome-binding chromosomal proteins HMGN1 and HMGN2 have been shown to play a role in the establishment of these chromatin-accessible domains at transcriptional regulatory elements, namely promoters and enhancers. The critical presence of HMGNs at enhancers, as highlighted by a recent publication, suggests a role for them in the structural and functional fine-tuning of the DHSs in vertebrates. As we review here, while preferentially out-competing histone H1 binding and invading neighbor nucleosomes, HMGNs may also modulate histone H3 at serine 10 (H3S10ph), which plays an important role in enhancer function and transcriptional initiation.

Functional interplay between histone H1 and HMG proteins in chromatin

The dynamic interaction of nucleosome binding proteins with their chromatin targets is an important element in regulating the structure and function of chromatin. Histone H1 variants and High Mobility Group (HMG) proteins are ubiquitously expressed in all vertebrate cells, bind dynamically to chromatin, and are known to affect chromatin condensation and the ability of regulatory factors to access their genomic binding sites. Here, we review the studies that focus on the interactions between H1 and HMGs and highlight the functional consequences of the interplay between these architectural chromatin binding proteins. H1 and HMG proteins are mobile molecules that bind to nucleosomes as members of a dynamic protein network. All HMGs compete with H1 for chromatin binding sites, in a dose dependent fashion, but each HMG family has specific effects on the interaction of H1 with chromatin. The interplay between H1 and HMGs affects chromatin organization and plays a role in epigenetic regulation.

HMGB1 in health and disease

Complex genetic and physiological variations as well as environmental factors that drive emergence of chromosomal instability, development of unscheduled cell death, skewed differentiation, and altered metabolism are central to the pathogenesis of human diseases and disorders. Understanding the molecular bases for these processes is important for the development of new diagnostic biomarkers, and for identifying new therapeutic targets. In 1973, a group of non-histone nuclear proteins with high electrophoretic mobility was discovered and termed high-mobility group (HMG) proteins. The HMG proteins include three superfamilies termed HMGB, HMGN, and HMGA. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), the most abundant and well-studied HMG protein, senses and coordinates the cellular stress response and plays a critical role not only inside of the cell as a DNA chaperone, chromosome guardian, autophagy sustainer, and protector from apoptotic cell death, but also outside the cell as the prototypic damage associated molecular pattern molecule (DAMP). This DAMP, in conjunction with other factors, thus has cytokine, chemokine, and growth factor activity, orchestrating the inflammatory and immune response. All of these characteristics make HMGB1 a critical molecular target in multiple human diseases including infectious diseases, ischemia, immune disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, and cancer. Indeed, a number of emergent strategies have been used to inhibit HMGB1 expression, release, and activity in vitro and in vivo. These include antibodies, peptide inhibitors, RNAi, anti-coagulants, endogenous hormones, various chemical compounds, HMGB1-receptor and signaling pathway inhibition, artificial DNAs, physical strategies including vagus nerve stimulation and other surgical approaches. Future work further investigating the details of HMGB1 localization, structure, post-translational modification, and identification of additional partners will undoubtedly uncover additional secrets regarding HMGB1's multiple functions.

Regulation of chromatin structure via histone post-translational modification and the link to carcinogenesis

The loss of genome integrity contributes to the development of tumors. Although genome instability is associated with virtually all tumor types including both solid and liquid tumors, the aberrant molecular origins that drive this instability are poorly understood. It is now becoming clear that epigenetics and specific histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) have essential roles in maintaining genome stability under normal conditions. A strong relationship exists between aberrant histone PTMs, genome instability, and tumorigenesis. Changes in the genomic location of specific histone PTMs or alterations in the steady-state levels of the PTM are the consequence of imbalances in the enzymes and their activities catalyzing the addition of PTMs ("writers") or removal of PTMs ("erasers"). This review focuses on the misregulation of three specific types of histone PTMs: histone H3 phosphorylation at serines 10 and 28, H4 mono-methylation at lysine 20, and H2B ubiquitination at lysine 120. We discuss the normal regulation of these PTMs by the respective "writers" and "erasers" and the impact of their misregulation on genome stability.

Modulation of the chromatin phosphoproteome by the Haspin protein kinase

Recent discoveries have highlighted the importance of Haspin kinase activity for the correct positioning of the kinase Aurora B at the centromere. Haspin phosphorylates Thr(3) of the histone H3 (H3), which provides a signal for Aurora B to localize to the centromere of mitotic chromosomes. To date, histone H3 is the only confirmed Haspin substrate. We used a combination of biochemical, pharmacological, and mass spectrometric approaches to study the consequences of Haspin inhibition in mitotic cells. We quantified 3964 phosphorylation sites on chromatin-associated proteins and identified a Haspin protein-protein interaction network. We determined the Haspin consensus motif and the co-crystal structure of the kinase with the histone H3 tail. The structure revealed a unique bent substrate binding mode positioning the histone H3 residues Arg(2) and Lys(4) adjacent to the Haspin phosphorylated threonine into acidic binding pockets. This unique conformation of the kinase-substrate complex explains the reported modulation of Haspin activity by methylation of Lys(4) of the histone H3. In addition, the identification of the structural basis of substrate recognition and the amino acid sequence preferences of Haspin aided the identification of novel candidate Haspin substrates. In particular, we validated the phosphorylation of Ser(137) of the histone variant macroH2A as a target of Haspin kinase activity. MacroH2A Ser(137) resides in a basic stretch of about 40 amino acids that is required to stabilize extranucleosomal DNA, suggesting that phosphorylation of Ser(137) might regulate the interactions of macroH2A and DNA. Overall, our data suggest that Haspin activity affects the phosphorylation state of proteins involved in gene expression regulation and splicing.

Lifetime stress cumulatively programs brain transcriptome and impedes stroke recovery: benefit of sensory stimulation

Prenatal stress (PS) represents a critical variable affecting lifetime health trajectories, metabolic and vascular functions. Beneficial experiences may attenuate the effects of PS and its programming of health outcomes in later life. Here we investigated in a rat model (1) if PS modulates recovery following cortical ischemia in adulthood; (2) if a second hit by adult stress (AS) exaggerates stress responses and ischemic damage; and (3) if tactile stimulation (TS) attenuates the cumulative effects of PS and AS. Prenatally stressed and non-stressed adult male rats underwent focal ischemic motor cortex lesion and were tested in skilled reaching and skilled walking tasks. Two groups of rats experienced recurrent restraint stress in adulthood and one of these groups also underwent daily TS therapy. Animals that experienced both PS and AS displayed the most severe motor disabilities after lesion. By contrast, TS promoted recovery from ischemic lesion and reduced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. The data also showed that cumulative effects of adverse and beneficial lifespan experiences interact with disease outcomes and brain plasticity through the modulation of gene expression. Microarray analysis of the lesion motor cortex revealed that cumulative PS and AS interact with genes related to growth factors and transcription factors, which were not affected by PS or lesion alone. TS in PS+AS animals reverted these changes, suggesting a critical role for these factors in activity-dependent motor cortical reorganization after ischemic lesion. These findings suggest that beneficial experience later in life can moderate adverse consequences of early programming to improve cerebrovascular health.

Loss of the nucleosome-binding protein HMGN1 affects the rate of N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice

We report that HMGN1, a nucleosome-binding protein that affects chromatin structure and function, affects the growth of N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN)-induced liver tumors. Following a single DEN injection at 2 weeks of age, Hmgn1(tm1/tm1) mice, lacking the nucleosome-binding domain of HMGN1, had earlier signs of liver tumorigenesis than their Hmgn1(+/+) littermates. Detailed gene expression profiling revealed significant differences between DEN-injected and control saline-injected mice, but only minor differences between the injected Hmgn1(tm1/tm1) mice and their Hmgn1(+/+) littermates. Pathway analysis revealed that the most significant process affected by loss of HMGN1 involves the lipid/sterol metabolic pathway. Our study indicates that in mice, loss of HMGN1 leads to transcription changes that accelerate the progression of DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, without affecting the type of tumors or the final total tumor burden of these mice.

IMPLICATIONS

Loss of HMGN1 leads to accelerated progression of DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice.

High mobility group N proteins modulate the fidelity of the cellular transcriptional profile in a tissue- and variant-specific manner

The nuclei of most vertebrate cells contain members of the high mobility group N (HMGN) protein family, which bind specifically to nucleosome core particles and affect chromatin structure and function, including transcription. Here, we study the biological role of this protein family by systematic analysis of phenotypes and tissue transcription profiles in mice lacking functional HMGN variants. Phenotypic analysis of Hmgn1(tm1/tm1), Hmgn3(tm1/tm1), and Hmgn5(tm1/tm1) mice and their wild type littermates with a battery of standardized tests uncovered variant-specific abnormalities. Gene expression analysis of four different tissues in each of the Hmgn(tm1/tm1) lines reveals very little overlap between genes affected by specific variants in different tissues. Pathway analysis reveals that loss of an HMGN variant subtly affects expression of numerous genes in specific biological processes. We conclude that within the biological framework of an entire organism, HMGNs modulate the fidelity of the cellular transcriptional profile in a tissue- and HMGN variant-specific manner.

DNA damage signaling assessed in individual cells in relation to the cell cycle phase and induction of apoptosis

Reviewed are the phosphorylation events reporting activation of protein kinases and the key substrates critical for the DNA damage signaling (DDS). These DDS events are detected immunocytochemically using phospho-specific Abs; flow cytometry or image-assisted cytometry provide the means to quantitatively assess them on a cell by cell basis. The multiparameter analysis of the data is used to correlate these events with each other and relate to the cell cycle phase, DNA replication and induction of apoptosis. Expression of γH2AX as a possible marker of induction of DNA double strand breaks is the most widely studied event of DDS. Reviewed are applications of this multiparameter approach to investigate constitutive DDS reporting DNA damage by endogenous oxidants byproducts of oxidative phosphorylation. Also reviewed are its applications to detect and explore mechanisms of DDS induced by variety of exogenous agents targeting DNA such as exogenous oxidants, ionizing radiation, radiomimetic drugs, UV light, DNA topoisomerase I and II inhibitors, DNA crosslinking drugs and variety of environmental genotoxins. Analysis of DDS induced by these agents provides often a wealth of information about mechanism of induction and the type of DNA damage (lesion) and is reviewed in the context of cell cycle phase specificity, DNA replication, and induction of apoptosis or cell senescence. Critically assessed is interpretation of the data as to whether the observed DDS events report induction of a particular type of DNA lesion.

Nuclear dynamics of histone H3 trimethylated on lysine 9 and/or phosphorylated on serine 10 in mouse cloned embryos as new markers of reprogramming?

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is the injection of a donor nucleus into an enucleated egg. Despite the use of this technology for many years in research, it is still quite inefficient. One of the causes for this is thought to be incorrect or incomplete genome reprogramming. Embryos produced by nuclear transfer (cloned embryos) very often present abnormal epigenetic signatures and irregular chromatin reorganization. Of these two issues, the issue of chromatin rearrangements within the nuclei after transfer is the least studied. It is known that cloned embryos often present pericentromeric heterochromatin clumps very similar to the chromocenters structures present in the donor nuclei. Therefore, it is believed that the somatic nuclear configuration of donor nuclei, especially that of the chromocenters, is not completely lost after nuclear transfer, in other words, not well reprogrammed. To further investigate pericentromeric heterochromatin reorganization after nuclear transfer, we decided to study its rearrangements in cumulus-derived clones using several related epigenetic markers such as H3S10P, H3K9me3, and the double marker H3K9me3S10P. We observed that two of these markers, H3S10P and H3K9me3S10P, are the ones found on the part of the pericentromeric heterochromatin that is remodeled correctly, resembling exactly the embryonic heterochromatin configuration of naturally fertilized embryos. Conversely, H3K9me3 and heterochromatin protein 1 beta (HP1β)-associated protein were also detected in the perinuclear clumps of heterochromatin, making obvious the maintenance of the somatic epigenetic signature within these nuclear regions. Our results demonstrate that H3S10P and H3K9me3S10P could be good candidates for evaluating heterochromatin reorganization following nuclear reprogramming.

HMGN1 protein regulates poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) self-PARylation in mouse fibroblasts

In mammalian cells, the nucleosome-binding protein HMGN1 (high mobility group N1) affects the structure and function of chromatin and plays a role in repair of damaged DNA. HMGN1 affects the interaction of DNA repair factors with chromatin and their access to damaged DNA; however, not all of the repair factors affected have been identified. Here, we report that HMGN1 affects the self-poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (i.e., PARylation) of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), a multifunctional and abundant nuclear enzyme known to recognize DNA lesions and promote chromatin remodeling, DNA repair, and other nucleic acid transactions. The catalytic activity of PARP-1 is activated by DNA with a strand break, and this results in self-PARylation and PARylation of other chromatin proteins. Using cells obtained from Hmgn1(-/-) and Hmgn1(+/+) littermate mice, we find that in untreated cells, loss of HMGN1 protein reduces PARP-1 self-PARylation. A similar result was obtained after MMS treatment of these cells. In imaging experiments after low energy laser-induced DNA damage, less PARylation at lesion sites was observed in Hmgn1(-/-) than in Hmgn1(+/+) cells. The HMGN1 regulation of PARP-1 activity could be mediated by direct protein-protein interaction as HMGN1 and PARP-1 were found to interact in binding assays. Purified HMGN1 was able to stimulate self-PARylation of purified PARP-1, and in experiments with cell extracts, self-PARylation was greater in Hmgn1(+/+) than in Hmgn1(-/-) extract. The results suggest a regulatory role for HMGN1 in PARP-1 activation.

The chromatin-binding protein HMGN3 stimulates histone acetylation and transcription across the Glyt1 gene

HMGNs are nucleosome-binding proteins that alter the pattern of histone modifications and modulate the binding of linker histones to chromatin. The HMGN3 family member exists as two splice forms, HMGN3a which is full-length and HMGN3b which lacks the C-terminal RD (regulatory domain). In the present study, we have used the Glyt1 (glycine transporter 1) gene as a model system to investigate where HMGN proteins are bound across the locus in vivo, and to study how the two HMGN3 splice variants affect histone modifications and gene expression. We demonstrate that HMGN1, HMGN2, HMGN3a and HMGN3b are bound across the Glyt1 gene locus and surrounding regions, and are not enriched more highly at the promoter or putative enhancer. We conclude that the peaks of H3K4me3 (trimethylated Lys(4) of histone H3) and H3K9ac (acetylated Lys(9) of histone H3) at the active Glyt1a promoter do not play a major role in recruiting HMGN proteins. HMGN3a/b binding leads to increased H3K14 (Lys(14) of histone H3) acetylation and stimulates Glyt1a expression, but does not alter the levels of H3K4me3 or H3K9ac enrichment. Acetylation assays show that HMGN3a stimulates the ability of PCAF [p300/CREB (cAMP-response-element-binding protein)-binding protein-associated factor] to acetylate nucleosomal H3 in vitro, whereas HMGN3b does not. We propose a model where HMGN3a/b-stimulated H3K14 acetylation across the bodies of large genes such as Glyt1 can lead to more efficient transcription elongation and increased mRNA production.

H3S10 phosphorylation marks constitutive heterochromatin during interphase in early mouse embryos until the 4-cell stage

Phosphorylation of histone H3 at Ser10 (H3S10P) has been linked to a variety of cellular processes, such as chromosome condensation and gene activation/silencing. Remarkably, in mammalian somatic cells, H3S10P initiates in the pericentromeric heterochromatin during the late G2 phase, and phosphorylation spreads throughout the chromosomes arms in prophase, being maintained until the onset of anaphase when it gets dephosphorylated. Considerable studies have been carried out about H3S10P in different organisms; however, there is little information about this histone modification in mammalian embryos. We hypothesized that this epigenetic modification could also be a marker of pericentromeric heterochromatin in preimplantation embryos. We therefore followed the H3S10P distribution pattern in the G1/S and G2 phases through the entire preimplantation development in in vivo mouse embryos. We paid special attention to its localization relative to another pericentromeric heterochromatin marker, HP1β and performed immunoFISH using specific pericentromeric heterochromatin probes. Our results indicate that H3S10P presents a remarkable distribution pattern in preimplantation mouse embryos until the 4-cell stage and is a better marker of pericentromeric heterochromatin than HP1β. After the 8-cell stage, H3S10P kinetic is more similar to the somatic one, initiating during G2 in chromocenters and disappearing upon telophase. Based on these findings, we believe that H3S10P is a good marker of pericentromeric heterochromatin, especially in the late 1- and 2-cell stages as it labels both parental genomes and that it can be used to further investigate epigenetic regulation and heterochromatin mechanisms in early preimplantation embryos.

The nucleosome binding protein HMGN1 interacts with PCNA and facilitates its binding to chromatin

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a ubiquitous protein that interacts with multiple partners and regulates nuclear activities, including chromatin assembly, histone modifications, replication, and DNA damage repair. The role of specific partners in regulating PCNA activities is not fully understood. Here we identify the nucleosome binding protein HMGN1 as a new PCNA-interacting protein that enhances the binding of PCNA to chromatin but not to purified DNA. Two tetrapeptides in the conservative domain of HMGN1 contain amino acids necessary for the binding of HMGN1 to PCNA. Deletion of both tetrapeptides abolishes the HMGN1-PCNA interaction. PCNA preferentially binds to the linker DNA adjacent to an HMGN-containing nucleosome. In living cells, loss of HMGN1 decreases the rate of PCNA recruitment to damaged DNA sites. Our study identifies a new factor that facilitates the interaction of PCNA with chromatin and provides insights into mechanisms whereby nucleosome binding architectural proteins affect the cellular phenotype.

The HMGN family of chromatin-binding proteins: dynamic modulators of epigenetic processes

The HMGN family of proteins binds to nucleosomes without any specificity for the underlying DNA sequence. They affect the global and local structure of chromatin, as well as the levels of histone modifications and thus play a role in epigenetic regulation of gene expression. This review focuses on the recent studies that provide new insights on the interactions between HMGN proteins, nucleosomes, and chromatin, and the effects of these interactions on epigenetic and transcriptional regulation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Chromatin in time and space.

The chromatin-binding protein HMGN1 regulates the expression of methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) and affects the behavior of mice

High mobility group N1 protein (HMGN1), a nucleosomal-binding protein that affects the structure and function of chromatin, is encoded by a gene located on chromosome 21 and is overexpressed in Down syndrome, one of the most prevalent genomic disorders. Misexpression of HMGN1 affects the cellular transcription profile; however, the biological function of this protein is still not fully understood. We report that HMGN1 modulates the expression of methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), a DNA-binding protein known to affect neurological functions including autism spectrum disorders, and whose alterations in HMGN1 levels affect the behavior of mice. Quantitative PCR and Western analyses of cell lines and brain tissues from mice that either overexpress or lack HMGN1 indicate that HMGN1 is a negative regulator of MeCP2 expression. Alterations in HMGN1 levels lead to changes in chromatin structure and histone modifications in the MeCP2 promoter. Behavior analyses by open field test, elevated plus maze, Reciprocal Social Interaction, and automated sociability test link changes in HMGN1 levels to abnormalities in activity and anxiety and to social deficits in mice. Targeted analysis of the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange genotype collection reveals a non-random distribution of genotypes within 500 kbp of HMGN1 in a region affecting its expression in families predisposed to autism spectrum disorders. Our results reveal that HMGN1 affects the behavior of mice and suggest that epigenetic changes resulting from altered HMGN1 levels could play a role in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Architecture of the high mobility group nucleosomal protein 2-nucleosome complex as revealed by methyl-based NMR

Chromatin structure and function are regulated by numerous proteins through specific binding to nucleosomes. The structural basis of many of these interactions is unknown, as in the case of the high mobility group nucleosomal (HMGN) protein family that regulates various chromatin functions, including transcription. Here, we report the architecture of the HMGN2-nucleosome complex determined by a combination of methyl-transverse relaxation optimized nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (methyl-TROSY) and mutational analysis. We found that HMGN2 binds to both the acidic patch in the H2A-H2B dimer and to nucleosomal DNA near the entry/exit point, "stapling" the histone core and the DNA. These results provide insight into how HMGNs regulate chromatin structure through interfering with the binding of linker histone H1 to the nucleosome as well as a structural basis of how phosphorylation induces dissociation of HMGNs from chromatin during mitosis. Importantly, our approach is generally applicable to the study of nucleosome-binding interactions in chromatin.

Activation and function of the MAPKs and their substrates, the MAPK-activated protein kinases

The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) regulate diverse cellular programs by relaying extracellular signals to intracellular responses. In mammals, there are more than a dozen MAPK enzymes that coordinately regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, motility, and survival. The best known are the conventional MAPKs, which include the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun amino-terminal kinases 1 to 3 (JNK1 to -3), p38 (α, β, γ, and δ), and ERK5 families. There are additional, atypical MAPK enzymes, including ERK3/4, ERK7/8, and Nemo-like kinase (NLK), which have distinct regulation and functions. Together, the MAPKs regulate a large number of substrates, including members of a family of protein Ser/Thr kinases termed MAPK-activated protein kinases (MAPKAPKs). The MAPKAPKs are related enzymes that respond to extracellular stimulation through direct MAPK-dependent activation loop phosphorylation and kinase activation. There are five MAPKAPK subfamilies: the p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK), the mitogen- and stress-activated kinase (MSK), the MAPK-interacting kinase (MNK), the MAPK-activated protein kinase 2/3 (MK2/3), and MK5 (also known as p38-regulated/activated protein kinase [PRAK]). These enzymes have diverse biological functions, including regulation of nucleosome and gene expression, mRNA stability and translation, and cell proliferation and survival. Here we review the mechanisms of MAPKAPK activation by the different MAPKs and discuss their physiological roles based on established substrates and recent discoveries.

Distinct properties of human HMGN5 reveal a rapidly evolving but functionally conserved nucleosome binding protein

The HMGN family is a family of nucleosome-binding architectural proteins that affect the structure and function of chromatin in vertebrates. We report that the HMGN5 variant, encoded by a gene located on chromosome X, is a rapidly evolving protein with an acidic C-terminal domain that differs among vertebrate species. We found that the intranuclear organization and nucleosome interactions of human HMGN5 are distinct from those of mouse HMGN5 and that the C-terminal region of the protein is the main determinant of the chromatin interaction properties. Despite their apparent differences, both mouse and human HMGN5 proteins interact with histone H1, reduce its chromatin residence time, and can induce large-scale chromatin decompaction in living cells. Analysis of HMGN5 mutants suggests that distinct domains in HMGN5 affect specific steps in the interaction of H1 with chromatin. Elevated levels of either human or mouse HMGN5 affect the transcription of numerous genes, most in a variant-specific manner. Our study identifies HMGN5 as a rapidly evolving vertebrate nuclear protein with species-specific properties. HMGN5 has a highly disordered structure, binds dynamically to nucleosome core particles, modulates the binding of H1 to chromatin, reduces the compaction of the chromatin fiber, and affects transcription.

Role of nuclear architecture in epigenetic alterations in cancer

It is widely accepted that cancer results from an array of epigenetic and genetic alterations, particularly aberrant epigenetic patterns that are a hallmark of every cancer type studied. Another well-known feature of cancer cells is the array of abnormalities in their nuclear structure. Although it is known that nuclear structure has an important role in the regulation of gene expression, we know little about the direct relationship between nuclear structural alterations and aberrant epigenetic patterns in cancer. Here, we discuss some of the recent studies from our lab and others to understand the relationship between alterations of nuclear architecture and aberrant epigenetic patterns in cancer cells. Although the precise relationship remains elusive, we suggest that changes in nuclear structure and composition could alter long-range genomic interactions and cause global epigenetic changes during tumorigenesis. We emphasize the need for further studies to elucidate the direct relationship between nuclear structure alterations and aberrant epigenetic patterns in cancers.

Activation and Function of the MAPKs and Their Substrates, the MAPK-Activated Protein Kinases

The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) regulate diverse cellular programs by relaying extracellular signals to intracellular responses. In mammals, there are more than a dozen MAPK enzymes that coordinately regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, motility, and survival. The best known are the conventional MAPKs, which include the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun amino-terminal kinases 1 to 3 (JNK1 to -3), p38 (α, β, γ, and δ), and ERK5 families. There are additional, atypical MAPK enzymes, including ERK3/4, ERK7/8, and Nemo-like kinase (NLK), which have distinct regulation and functions. Together, the MAPKs regulate a large number of substrates, including members of a family of protein Ser/Thr kinases termed MAPK-activated protein kinases (MAPKAPKs). The MAPKAPKs are related enzymes that respond to extracellular stimulation through direct MAPK-dependent activation loop phosphorylation and kinase activation. There are five MAPKAPK subfamilies: the p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK), the mitogen- and stress-activated kinase (MSK), the MAPK-interacting kinase (MNK), the MAPK-activated protein kinase 2/3 (MK2/3), and MK5 (also known as p38-regulated/activated protein kinase [PRAK]). These enzymes have diverse biological functions, including regulation of nucleosome and gene expression, mRNA stability and translation, and cell proliferation and survival. Here we review the mechanisms of MAPKAPK activation by the different MAPKs and discuss their physiological roles based on established substrates and recent discoveries.

Analysis of individual molecular events of DNA damage response by flow- and image-assisted cytometry

This chapter describes molecular mechanisms of DNA damage response (DDR) and presents flow- and image-assisted cytometric approaches to assess these mechanisms and measure the extent of DDR in individual cells. DNA damage was induced by cell treatment with oxidizing agents, UV light, DNA topoisomerase I or II inhibitors, cisplatin, tobacco smoke, and by exogenous and endogenous oxidants. Chromatin relaxation (decondensation) is an early event of DDR chromatin that involves modification of high mobility group proteins (HMGs) and histone H1 and was detected by cytometry by analysis of the susceptibility of DNA in situ to denaturation using the metachromatic fluorochrome acridine orange. Translocation of the MRN complex consisting of Meiotic Recombination 11 Homolog A (Mre11), Rad50 homolog, and Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome 1 (NMR1) into DNA damage sites was assessed by laser scanning cytometry as the increase in the intensity of maximal pixel as well as integral value of Mre11 immunofluorescence. Examples of cytometric detection of activation of Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), and Check 2 (Chk2) protein kinases using phospho-specific Abs targeting Ser1981 and Thr68 of these proteins, respectively are also presented. We also discuss approaches to correlate activation of ATM and Chk2 with phosphorylation of p53 on Ser15 and histone H2AX on Ser139 as well as with cell cycle position and DNA replication. The capability of laser scanning cytometry to quantify individual foci of phosphorylated H2AX and/or ATM that provides more dependable assessment of the presence of DNA double-strand breaks is outlined. The new microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip platforms for interrogation of individual cells offer a novel approach for DDR cytometric analysis.

Efficient cell migration requires global chromatin condensation

Cell migration is a fundamental process that is necessary for the development and survival of multicellular organisms. Here, we show that cell migration is contingent on global condensation of the chromatin fiber. Induction of directed cell migration by the scratch-wound assay leads to decreased DNaseI sensitivity, alterations in the chromatin binding of architectural proteins and elevated levels of H4K20me1, H3K27me3 and methylated DNA. All these global changes are indicative of increased chromatin condensation in response to induction of directed cell migration. Conversely, chromatin decondensation inhibited the rate of cell migration, in a transcription-independent manner. We suggest that global chromatin condensation facilitates nuclear movement and reshaping, which are important for cell migration. Our results support a role for the chromatin fiber that is distinct from its known functions in genetic processes.