A phosphatase inhibitor enhances the DNase I sensitivity of active chromatin

Nuclear chromatin texture and sensitivity to DNase I in human leukaemic CEM cells incubated with nanomolar okadaic acid

It is now known that the analysis of chromatin texture can be used in oncology as a sensitive detection method, either to define diagnostic classifications or to locate a lesion along a defined trend curve. However, the functional significance of these variations in textural features remains sometimes unclear. Several drugs have been shown to be able to modulate chromatin structure. Among them, the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid at low concentration can increase accessibility to DNA in chromatin of carcinoma cells. This paper demonstrates that short exposures (0-3 h) to a 10-nM dose of okadaic acid induced an increased sensitivity to DNase I digestion in human CEM leukaemic cell nuclei and that this sensitization was associated to variations of nuclear texture characteristics, as evaluated by image cytometry. CEM cells treated with okadaic acid for 0-3h displayed changes in chromatin supraorganization with a more homogeneous and fine chromatin texture, as compared to control cells. This suggests that the appearance of an open configuration of chromatin structure as evaluated by biochemical methods corresponds to a more decondensed texture of nuclei measured by image cytometry. Longer exposures (6-24h) of CEM cells to 10 nM okadaic acid lead to apoptosis. As reported previously for camptothecin-treated HL60 cells, okadaic acid-treated CEM cells display biphasic nuclear chromatin texture changes, i.e. a decondensation phase followed by the appearance of typical apoptotic cells with a smaller nuclear area and a highly condensed chromatin. Finally, using the multidrug-resistant CEM-VLB cell line, it was confirmed that these multidrug-resistant cells also display cross-resistance to okadaic acid, as this compound was unable to induce either increased DNase I sensitivity, apoptosis, or altered nuclear texture in this particular cell line.

Phosphorylation-mediated control of chromatin organization and transcriptional activity of the tissue-specific osteocalcin gene

We have analyzed the linkage of protein phosphorylation to the remodeling of chromatin structure that accompanies transcriptional activity of the rat osteocalcin (OC) gene in bone-derived cells. Short incubations with okadaic acid, an inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, induced marked changes in the chromatin organization of the OC gene promoter. These changes were reflected by loss of the two DNase I hypersensitive sites normally present in bone-derived cells expressing this gene. These hypersensitive sites include the elements that control basal tissue-specific expression, as well as steroid hormone regulation. Indeed, the absence of hypersensitivity was accompanied by inhibition of basal and vitamin D-dependent enhancement of OC gene transcription. The effects of okadaic acid on OC chromatin structure and gene activity were specific and reversible. Staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, did not significantly affect transcriptional activity or DNase I hypersensitivity of the OC gene. We conclude that cellular phosphorylation-dephosphorylation events distinct from protein kinase C-dependent reactions are required for both chromatin remodeling and transcriptional activity of the OC gene in osseous cells.

Apoptosis induced by gliotoxin is preceded by phosphorylation of histone H3 and enhanced sensitivity of chromatin to nuclease digestion

The fungal toxin gliotoxin induces apoptotic cell death in a variety of cells. Apoptosis induced in thymocytes by gliotoxin is rapid, and DNA fragmentation is observable within 4 h treatment. Apoptosis induced by gliotoxin is calcium-independent and unaffected by protein synthesis inhibitors. We have previously shown that gliotoxin results in phosphorylation of a 16.3-kDa protein within 10 min treatment of thymocytes. Here we show that this protein is histone H3 and phosphorylation occurs on Ser-10. Cyclic AMP levels and activity of protein kinase A (PKA) are raised in cells treated with gliotoxin. Apoptosis is inhibited by genistein which also inhibits PKA and histone H3 phosphorylation. Apoptosis is also inhibited by a number of specific inhibitors of PKA suggesting apoptosis induced by gliotoxin is modulated by this kinase. The agents forskolin and cholera toxin do not induce rapid phosphorylation of H3 although some increase in phosphorylation of H3 does occur after 8 h with these agents. Forskolin and cholera toxin also induce apoptosis but over a longer time course than gliotoxin. In all cases levels of apoptosis correlate with degree of H3 phosphorylation. Cells treated with gliotoxin show an early sensitivity to micrococcal nuclease and DNase I digestion indicating a functional relationship between DNA fragmentation and H3 phosphorylation.

The polyomavirus enhancer activates chromatin accessibility on integration into the HPRT gene

Recent studies suggest that enhancers may increase the accessibility of chromatin to transcription factors. To test the effects of a viral enhancer on chromatin accessibility, we have inserted minigenes with or without the polyomavirus enhancer into the third exon of the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene by homologous recombination and have prepared high-resolution maps of gene accessibility by using a novel polymerase chain reaction assay for DNase I sensitivity. In its native state, we find that the HPRT gene has low sensitivity to DNase I in fibrosarcoma cells. Insertion of the polyomavirus enhancer and neo reporter gene into exon 3 confers altered HPRT DNase I sensitivity for several kilobases on either side of the enhancer. The changes in DNase I sensitivity peak near the enhancer and decline with distance from the enhancer. The increase in HPRT DNase I sensitivity persisted when the tk promoter was deleted from the inserted construct but disappeared when the enhancer was deleted. These experiments identify the polyomavirus enhancer as a cis-acting initiator of chromatin accessibility.

The polyomavirus enhancer activates chromatin accessibility on integration into the HPRT gene

Recent studies suggest that enhancers may increase the accessibility of chromatin to transcription factors. To test the effects of a viral enhancer on chromatin accessibility, we have inserted minigenes with or without the polyomavirus enhancer into the third exon of the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene by homologous recombination and have prepared high-resolution maps of gene accessibility by using a novel polymerase chain reaction assay for DNase I sensitivity. In its native state, we find that the HPRT gene has low sensitivity to DNase I in fibrosarcoma cells. Insertion of the polyomavirus enhancer and neo reporter gene into exon 3 confers altered HPRT DNase I sensitivity for several kilobases on either side of the enhancer. The changes in DNase I sensitivity peak near the enhancer and decline with distance from the enhancer. The increase in HPRT DNase I sensitivity persisted when the tk promoter was deleted from the inserted construct but disappeared when the enhancer was deleted. These experiments identify the polyomavirus enhancer as a cis-acting initiator of chromatin accessibility.

High-resolution analysis of c-fos chromatin accessibility using a novel DNase I-PCR assay

In our previous study, c-fos chromatin accessibility was assayed using DNase I digestion and Southern blot analysis. This low-resolution mapping of c-fos chromatin accessibility demonstrated that serum stimulation of the c-fos enhancer induces a reversible increase in c-fos DNase I sensitivity and suggested that a 5' to 3' gradient of DNase I sensitivity may form downstream from the c-fos enhancer. To confirm the existence of a 5' to 3' gradient of accessibility, we have recently developed a high-resolution polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for DNase I sensitivity. Using this novel DNase I assay, we have reliably detected position- and time-dependent gradients of chromatin accessibility around the c-fos enhancer. These data confirm our earlier results and further support the hypothesis that the changes in c-fos chromatin accessibility originate near the 5' enhancer. As a technique for future examinations of gene structure, our data demonstrate the value of the DNase I-PCR assay for rapidly preparing comprehensive and high-resolution maps of chromatin accessibility for any sequenced genomic region.