Linker histones stabilize the intrinsic salt-dependent folding of nucleosomal arrays: mechanistic ramifications for higher-order chromatin folding

Cryoelectron tomography reveals the multiplex anatomy of condensed native chromatin and its unfolding by histone citrullination

Nucleosome chains fold and self-associate to form higher-order structures whose internal organization is unknown. Here, cryoelectron tomography (cryo-ET) of native human chromatin reveals intrinsic folding motifs such as (1) non-uniform nucleosome stacking, (2) intermittent parallel and perpendicular orientations of adjacent nucleosome planes, and (3) a regressive nucleosome chain path, which deviates from the direct zigzag topology seen in reconstituted nucleosomal arrays. By examining the self-associated structures, we observed prominent nucleosome stacking in cis and anti-parallel nucleosome interactions, which are consistent with partial nucleosome interdigitation in trans. Histone citrullination strongly inhibits nucleosome stacking and self-association with a modest effect on chromatin folding, whereas the reconstituted arrays undergo a dramatic unfolding into open zigzag chains induced by histone citrullination. This study sheds light on the internal structure of compact chromatin nanoparticles and suggests a mechanism for how epigenetic changes in chromatin folding are retained across both open and condensed forms.

A dual role for the chromatin reader ORCA/LRWD1 in targeting the origin recognition complex to chromatin

Eukaryotic cells use chromatin marks to regulate the initiation of DNA replication. The origin recognition complex (ORC)-associated protein ORCA plays a critical role in heterochromatin replication in mammalian cells by recruiting the initiator ORC, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report crystal and cryo-electron microscopy structures of ORCA in complex with ORC's Orc2 subunit and nucleosomes, establishing that ORCA orchestrates ternary complex assembly by simultaneously recognizing a highly conserved peptide sequence in Orc2, nucleosomal DNA, and repressive histone trimethylation marks through an aromatic cage. Unexpectedly, binding of ORCA to nucleosomes prevents chromatin array compaction in a manner that relies on H4K20 trimethylation, a histone modification critical for heterochromatin replication. We further show that ORCA is necessary and sufficient to specifically recruit ORC into chromatin condensates marked by H4K20 trimethylation, providing a paradigm for studying replication initiation in specific chromatin contexts. Collectively, our findings support a model in which ORCA not only serves as a platform for ORC recruitment to nucleosomes bearing specific histone marks but also helps establish a local chromatin environment conducive to subsequent MCM2-7 loading.

Combining molecular dynamics simulations and scoring method to computationally model ubiquitylated linker histones in chromatosomes

The chromatin in eukaryotic cells plays a fundamental role in all processes during a cell's life cycle. This nucleoprotein is normally tightly packed but needs to be unpacked for expression and division. The linker histones are critical for such packaging processes and while most experimental and simulation works recognize their crucial importance, the focus is nearly always set on the nucleosome as the basic chromatin building block. Linker histones can undergo several modifications, but only few studies on their ubiquitylation have been conducted. Mono-ubiquitylated linker histones (HUb), while poorly understood, are expected to influence DNA compaction. The size of ubiquitin and the globular domain of the linker histone are comparable and one would expect an increased disorder upon ubiquitylation of the linker histone. However, the formation of higher order chromatin is not hindered and ubiquitylation of the linker histone may even promote gene expression. Structural data on chromatosomes is rare and HUb has never been modeled in a chromatosome so far. Descriptions of the chromatin complex with HUb would greatly benefit from computational structural data. In this study we generate molecular dynamics simulation data for six differently linked HUb variants with the help of a sampling scheme tailored to drive the exploration of phase space. We identify conformational sub-states of the six HUb variants using the sketch-map algorithm for dimensionality reduction and iterative HDBSCAN for clustering on the excessively sampled, shallow free energy landscapes. We present a highly efficient geometric scoring method to identify sub-states of HUb that fit into the nucleosome. We predict HUb conformations inside a nucleosome using on-dyad and off-dyad chromatosome structures as reference and show that unbiased simulations of HUb produce significantly more fitting than non-fitting HUb conformations. A tetranucleosome array is used to show that ubiquitylation can even occur in chromatin without too much steric clashes.

Identification and Analysis of Six Phosphorylation Sites Within the Xenopus laevis Linker Histone H1.0 C-Terminal Domain Indicate Distinct Effects on Nucleosome Structure

As a key structural component of the chromatin of higher eukaryotes, linker histones (H1s) are involved in stabilizing the folding of extended nucleosome arrays into higher-order chromatin structures and function as a gene-specific regulator of transcription in vivo. The H1 C-terminal domain (CTD) is essential for high-affinity binding of linker histones to chromatin and stabilization of higher-order chromatin structure. Importantly, the H1 CTD is an intrinsically disordered domain that undergoes a drastic condensation upon binding to nucleosomes. Moreover, although phosphorylation is a prevalent post-translational modification within the H1 CTD, exactly where this modification is installed and how phosphorylation influences the structure of the H1 CTD remains unclear for many H1s. Using novel mass spectrometry techniques, we identified six phosphorylation sites within the CTD of the archetypal linker histone Xenopus H1.0. We then analyzed nucleosome-dependent CTD condensation and H1-dependent linker DNA organization for H1.0 in which the phosphorylated serine residues were replaced by glutamic acid residues (phosphomimics) in six independent mutants. We find that phosphomimetics at residues S117E, S155E, S181E, S188E, and S192E resulted in a significant reduction in nucleosome-bound H1.0 CTD condensation compared with unphosphorylated H1.0, whereas S130E did not alter CTD structure. Furthermore, we found distinct effects among the phosphomimetics on H1-dependent linker DNA trajectory, indicating unique mechanisms by which this modification can influence H1 CTD condensation. These results bring to light a novel role for linker histone phosphorylation in directly altering the structure of nucleosome-bound H1 and a potential novel mechanism for its effects on chromatin structure and function.

The solid and liquid states of chromatin

The review begins with a concise description of the principles of phase separation. This is followed by a comprehensive section on phase separation of chromatin, in which we recount the 60 years history of chromatin aggregation studies, discuss the evidence that chromatin aggregation intrinsically is a physiologically relevant liquid-solid phase separation (LSPS) process driven by chromatin self-interaction, and highlight the recent findings that under specific solution conditions chromatin can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) rather than LSPS. In the next section of the review, we discuss how certain chromatin-associated proteins undergo LLPS in vitro and in vivo. Some chromatin-binding proteins undergo LLPS in purified form in near-physiological ionic strength buffers while others will do so only in the presence of DNA, nucleosomes, or chromatin. The final section of the review evaluates the solid and liquid states of chromatin in the nucleus. While chromatin behaves as an immobile solid on the mesoscale, nucleosomes are mobile on the nanoscale. We discuss how this dual nature of chromatin, which fits well the concept of viscoelasticity, contributes to genome structure, emphasizing the dominant role of chromatin self-interaction.

A primary cilium in oligodendrocytes: a fine structure signal of repairs in thalamic Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome (ODS)

A murine osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) model of the central nervous system included the relay thalamic ventral posterolateral (VPL) and ventral posteromedial (VPM) nuclei. Morphologic comparisons between treatments have revealed oligodendrocyte changes and, already 12 hours following the osmolality restoration, some heavily contrasted oligodendrocytes formed a unique intracellular primary cilium. This unique structure, found in vivo, in mature CNS oligodendrocytes, could account for a local awakening of some of the developmental proteome as it can be expressed in oligodendrocyte precursor cells. This resilience accompanied the emergence of arl13b protein expression along with restoration of nerve cell body axon hillocks shown in a previous issue of this journal. Additionally, the return of several thalamic oligodendrocyte fine features (nucleus, organelles) was shown 36 h later, including some mitosis. Those cell restorations and recognized translational activities comforted that local repairs could again take place, due to oligodendrocyte resilience after ODS instead or added to a postulated immigration of oligodendrocyte precursor cells distant from the sites of myelinolysis.

Acetylation-modulated communication between the H3 N-terminal tail domain and the intrinsically disordered H1 C-terminal domain

Linker histones (H1s) are key structural components of the chromatin of higher eukaryotes. However, the mechanisms by which the intrinsically disordered linker histone carboxy-terminal domain (H1 CTD) influences chromatin structure and gene regulation remain unclear. We previously demonstrated that the CTD of H1.0 undergoes a significant condensation (reduction of end-to-end distance) upon binding to nucleosomes, consistent with a transition to an ordered structure or ensemble of structures. Here, we show that deletion of the H3 N-terminal tail or the installation of acetylation mimics or bona fide acetylation within H3 N-terminal tail alters the condensation of the nucleosome-bound H1 CTD. Additionally, we present evidence that the H3 N-tail influences H1 CTD condensation through direct protein-protein interaction, rather than alterations in linker DNA trajectory. These results support an emerging hypothesis wherein the H1 CTD serves as a nexus for signaling in the nucleosome.

Linker histone defines structure and self-association behaviour of the 177 bp human chromatosome

Linker histones play essential roles in the regulation and maintenance of the dynamic chromatin structure of higher eukaryotes. The influence of human histone H1.0 on the nucleosome structure and biophysical properties of the resulting chromatosome were investigated and compared with the 177-bp nucleosome using Cryo-EM and SAXS. The 4.5 Å Cryo-EM chromatosome structure showed that the linker histone binds at the nucleosome dyad interacting with both linker DNA arms but in a tilted manner leaning towards one of the linker sides. The chromatosome is laterally compacted and rigid in the dyad and linker DNA area, in comparison with the nucleosome where linker DNA region is more flexible and displays structural variability. In solution, the chromatosomes appear slightly larger than the nucleosomes, with the volume increase compared to the bound linker histone, according to solution SAXS measurements. SAXS X-ray diffraction characterisation of Mg-precipitated samples showed that the different shapes of the 177 chromatosome enabled the formation of a highly ordered lamello-columnar phase when precipitated by Mg²⁺, indicating the influence of linker histone on the nucleosome stacking. The biological significance of linker histone, therefore, may be affected by the change in the polyelectrolyte and DNA conformation properties of the chromatosomes, in comparison to nucleosomes.

Cryo-electron microscopy of the chromatin fiber

The three-dimensional (3D) organization of chromatin plays a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression. Chromatin conformation is strongly affected by the composition, structural features and dynamic properties of the nucleosome, which in turn determine the nature and geometry of interactions that can occur between neighboring nucleosomes. Understanding how chromatin is spatially organized above the nucleosome level is thus essential for understanding how gene regulation is achieved. Towards this end, great effort has been made to understand how an array of nucleosomes folds into a regular chromatin fiber. This review summarizes new insights into the 3D structure of the chromatin fiber that were made possible by recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy.

H1 linker histones silence repetitive elements by promoting both histone H3K9 methylation and chromatin compaction

Nearly 50% of mouse and human genomes are composed of repetitive sequences. Transcription of these sequences is tightly controlled during development to prevent genomic instability, inappropriate gene activation and other maladaptive processes. Here, we demonstrate an integral role for H1 linker histones in silencing repetitive elements in mouse embryonic stem cells. Strong H1 depletion causes a profound de-repression of several classes of repetitive sequences, including major satellite, LINE-1, and ERV. Activation of repetitive sequence transcription is accompanied by decreased H3K9 trimethylation of repetitive sequence chromatin. H1 linker histones interact directly with Suv39h1, Suv39h2, and SETDB1, the histone methyltransferases responsible for H3K9 trimethylation of chromatin within these regions, and stimulate their activity toward chromatin in vitro. However, we also implicate chromatin compaction mediated by H1 as an additional, dominant repressive mechanism for silencing of repetitive major satellite sequences. Our findings elucidate two distinct, H1-mediated pathways for silencing heterochromatin.

Organization of Chromatin by Intrinsic and Regulated Phase Separation

Eukaryotic chromatin is highly condensed but dynamically accessible to regulation and organized into subdomains. We demonstrate that reconstituted chromatin undergoes histone tail-driven liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in physiologic salt and when microinjected into cell nuclei, producing dense and dynamic droplets. Linker histone H1 and internucleosome linker lengths shared across eukaryotes promote phase separation of chromatin, tune droplet properties, and coordinate to form condensates of consistent density in manners that parallel chromatin behavior in cells. Histone acetylation by p300 antagonizes chromatin phase separation, dissolving droplets in vitro and decreasing droplet formation in nuclei. In the presence of multi-bromodomain proteins, such as BRD4, highly acetylated chromatin forms a new phase-separated state with droplets of distinct physical properties, which can be immiscible with unmodified chromatin droplets, mimicking nuclear chromatin subdomains. Our data suggest a framework, based on intrinsic phase separation of the chromatin polymer, for understanding the organization and regulation of eukaryotic genomes.

The elongation factor Spn1 is a multi-functional chromatin binding protein

The process of transcriptional elongation by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) in a chromatin context involves a large number of crucial factors. Spn1 is a highly conserved protein encoded by an essential gene and is known to interact with RNAPII and the histone chaperone Spt6. Spn1 negatively regulates the ability of Spt6 to interact with nucleosomes, but the chromatin binding properties of Spn1 are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that full length Spn1 (amino acids 1–410) binds DNA, histones H3–H4, mononucleosomes and nucleosomal arrays, and has weak nucleosome assembly activity. The core domain of Spn1 (amino acids 141–305), which is necessary and sufficient in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for growth under ideal growth conditions, is unable to optimally interact with histones, nucleosomes and/or DNA and fails to assemble nucleosomes in vitro. Although competent for binding with Spt6 and RNAPII, the core domain derivative is not stably recruited to the CYC1 promoter, indicating chromatin interactions are an important aspect of normal Spn1 functions in vivo. Moreover, strong synthetic genetic interactions are observed with Spn1 mutants and deletions of histone chaperone genes. Taken together, these results indicate that Spn1 is a histone binding factor with histone chaperone functions.

Large-scale simulations of nucleoprotein complexes: ribosomes, nucleosomes, chromatin, chromosomes and CRISPR

Recent advances in biotechnology such as Hi-C, CRISPR/Cas9 and ribosome display have placed nucleoprotein complexes at center stage. Understanding the structural dynamics of these complexes aids in optimizing protocols and interpreting data for these new technologies. The integration of simulation and experiment has helped advance mechanistic understanding of these systems. Coarse-grained simulations, reduced-description models, and explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations yield useful complementary perspectives on nucleoprotein complex structural dynamics. When combined with Hi-C, cryo-EM, and single molecule measurements, these simulations integrate disparate forms of experimental data into a coherent mechanism.

A nucleosome-free region locally abrogates histone H1-dependent restriction of linker DNA accessibility in chromatin

Eukaryotic genomes are packaged into linker-oligonucleosome assemblies, providing compaction of genomic DNA and contributing to gene regulation and genome integrity. To define minimal requirements for initial steps in the transition of compact, closed chromatin to a transcriptionally active, open state, we developed a model in vitro system containing a single, unique, "target" nucleosome in the center of a 25-nucleosome array and evaluated the accessibility of the linker DNA adjacent to this target nucleosome. We found that condensation of H1-lacking chromatin results in ∼60-fold reduction in linker DNA accessibility and that mimics of acetylation within all four core histone tail domains of the target nucleosome synergize to increase accessibility ∼3-fold. Notably, stoichiometric binding of histone H1 caused >2 orders of magnitude reduction in accessibility that was marginally diminished by histone acetylation mimics. Remarkably, a nucleosome-free region (NFR) in place of the target nucleosome completely abrogated H1-dependent restriction of linker accessibility in the immediate vicinity of the NFR. Our results suggest that linker DNA is as inaccessible as DNA within the nucleosome core in fully condensed, H1-containing chromatin. They further imply that an unrecognized function of NFRs in gene promoter regions is to locally abrogate the severe restriction of linker DNA accessibility imposed by H1s.

The 10-nm chromatin fiber and its relationship to interphase chromosome organization

A chromosome is a single long DNA molecule assembled along its length with nucleosomes and proteins. During interphase, a mammalian chromosome exists as a highly organized supramolecular globule in the nucleus. Here, we discuss new insights into how genomic DNA is packaged and organized within interphase chromosomes. Our emphasis is on the structural principles that underlie chromosome organization, with a particular focus on the intrinsic contributions of the 10-nm chromatin fiber, but not the regular 30-nm fiber. We hypothesize that the hierarchical globular organization of an interphase chromosome is fundamentally established by the self-interacting properties of a 10-nm zig-zag array of nucleosomes, while histone post-translational modifications, histone variants, and chromatin-associated proteins serve to mold generic chromatin domains into specific structural and functional entities.

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.

Dependence of the Linker Histone and Chromatin Condensation on the Nucleosome Environment

The linker histone (LH), an auxiliary protein that can bind to chromatin and interact with the linker DNA to form stem motifs, is a key element of chromatin compaction. By affecting the chromatin condensation level, it also plays an active role in gene expression. However, the presence and variable concentration of LH in chromatin fibers with different DNA linker lengths indicate that its folding and condensation are highly adaptable and dependent on the immediate nucleosome environment. Recent experimental studies revealed that the behavior of LH in mononucleosomes markedly differs from that in small nucleosome arrays, but the associated mechanism is unknown. Here we report a structural analysis of the behavior of LH in mononucleosomes and oligonucleosomes (2-6 nucleosomes) using mesoscale chromatin simulations. We show that the adapted stem configuration heavily depends on the strength of electrostatic interactions between LH and its parental DNA linkers, and that those interactions tend to be asymmetric in small oligonucleosome systems. Namely, LH in oligonucleosomes dominantly interacts with one DNA linker only, as opposed to mononucleosomes where LH has similar interactions with both linkers and forms a highly stable nucleosome stem. Although we show that the LH condensation depends sensitively on the electrostatic interactions with entering and exiting DNA linkers, other interactions, especially by nonparental cores and nonparental linkers, modulate the structural condensation by softening LH and thus making oligonucleosomes more flexible, in comparison to to mono- and dinucleosomes. We also find that the overall LH/chromatin interactions sensitively depend on the linker length because the linker length determines the maximal nucleosome stem length. For mononucleosomes with DNA linkers shorter than LH, LH condenses fully, while for DNA linkers comparable or longer than LH, the LH extension in mononucleosomes strongly follows the length of DNA linkers, unhampered by neighboring linker histones. Thus, LH is more condensed for mononucleosomes with short linkers, compared to oligonucleosomes, and its orientation is variable and highly environment-dependent. More generally, the work underscores the agility of LH whose folding dynamics critically controls genomic packaging and gene expression.

Basic surface features of nuclear FKBPs facilitate chromatin binding

The nucleoplasmin family of histone chaperones is identified by a pentamer-forming domain and multiple acidic tracts that mediate histone binding and chaperone activity. Within this family, a novel domain organization was recently discovered that consists of an N-terminal nucleoplasmin-like (NPL) domain and a C-terminal FKBP peptidyl-proline isomerase domain. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fpr4 is one such protein. Here we report that in addition to its known histone prolyl isomerase activities, the Fpr4 FKBP domain binds to nucleosomes and nucleosome arrays in vitro. This ability is mediated by a collection of basic patches that enable the enzyme to stably associate with linker DNA. The interaction of the Fpr4 FKBP with recombinant chromatin complexes condenses nucleosome arrays independently of its catalytic activity. Based on phylogenetic comparisons we propose that the chromatin binding ability of ‘basic’ FKBPs is shared amongst related orthologues present in fungi, plants, and insects. Thus, a subclass of FKBP prolyl isomerase enzymes is recruited to linker regions of chromatin.

Site-specific regulation of histone H1 phosphorylation in pluripotent cell differentiation

BACKGROUND

Structural variation among histone H1 variants confers distinct modes of chromatin binding that are important for differential regulation of chromatin condensation, gene expression and other processes. Changes in the expression and genomic distributions of H1 variants during cell differentiation appear to contribute to phenotypic differences between cell types, but few details are known about the roles of individual H1 variants and the significance of their disparate capacities for phosphorylation. In this study, we investigated the dynamics of interphase phosphorylation at specific sites in individual H1 variants during the differentiation of pluripotent NT2 and mouse embryonic stem cells and characterized the kinases involved in regulating specific H1 variant phosphorylations in NT2 and HeLa cells.

RESULTS

Here, we show that the global levels of phosphorylation at H1.5-Ser18 (pS18-H1.5), H1.2/H1.5-Ser173 (pS173-H1.2/5) and H1.4-Ser187 (pS187-H1.4) are regulated differentially during pluripotent cell differentiation. Enrichment of pS187-H1.4 near the transcription start site of pluripotency factor genes in pluripotent cells is markedly reduced upon differentiation, whereas pS187-H1.4 levels at housekeeping genes are largely unaltered. Selective inhibition of CDK7 or CDK9 rapidly diminishes pS187-H1.4 levels globally and its enrichment at housekeeping genes, and similar responses were observed following depletion of CDK9. These data suggest that H1.4-S187 is a bona fide substrate for CDK9, a notion that is further supported by the significant colocalization of CDK9 and pS187-H1.4 to gene promoters in reciprocal re-ChIP analyses. Moreover, treating cells with actinomycin D to inhibit transcription and trigger the release of active CDK9/P-TEFb from 7SK snRNA complexes induces the accumulation of pS187-H1.4 at promoters and gene bodies. Notably, the levels of pS187-H1.4 enrichment after actinomycin D treatment or cell differentiation reflect the extent of CDK9 recruitment at the same loci. Remarkably, the global levels of H1.5-S18 and H1.2/H1.5-S173 phosphorylation are not affected by these transcription inhibitor treatments, and selective inhibition of CDK2 does not affect the global levels of phosphorylation at H1.4-S187 or H1.5-S18.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data provide strong evidence that H1 variant interphase phosphorylation is dynamically regulated in a site-specific and gene-specific fashion during pluripotent cell differentiation, and that enrichment of pS187-H1.4 at genes is positively related to their transcription. H1.4-S187 is likely to be a direct target of CDK9 during interphase, suggesting the possibility that this particular phosphorylation may contribute to the release of paused RNA pol II. In contrast, the other H1 variant phosphorylations we investigated appear to be mediated by distinct kinases and further analyses are needed to determine their functional significance.

Regulation of Nucleosome Stacking and Chromatin Compaction by the Histone H4 N-Terminal Tail-H2A Acidic Patch Interaction

Chromatin folding and dynamics are critically dependent on nucleosome-nucleosome interactions with important contributions from internucleosome binding of the histone H4 N-terminal tail K16-R23 domain to the surface of the H2A/H2B dimer. The H4 Lys16 plays a pivotal role in this regard. Using in vitro reconstituted 12-mer nucleosome arrays, we have investigated the mechanism of the H4 N-terminal tail in maintaining nucleosome-nucleosome stacking and mediating intra- and inter-array chromatin compaction, with emphasis on the role of K16 and the positive charge region, R17-R23. Analytical ultracentrifugation sedimentation velocity experiments and precipitation assays were employed to analyze effects on chromatin folding and self-association, respectively. Effects on chromatin folding caused by various mutations and modifications at position K16 in the H4 histone were studied. Additionally, using charge-quenching mutations, we characterized the importance of the interaction of the residues within the H4 positive charge region R17-R23 with the H2A acidic patch of the adjacent nucleosome. Furthermore, crosslinking experiments were conducted to establish the proximity of the basic tail region to the acidic patch. Our data indicate that the positive charge and length of the side chain of H4 K16 are important for its access to the adjacent nucleosome in the process of nucleosome-nucleosome stacking and array folding. The location and orientation of the H4 R17-R23 domain on the H2A/H2B dimer surface of the neighboring nucleosome core particle (NCP) in the compacted chromatin fiber were established. The dominance of electrostatic interactions in maintaining intra-array interaction was demonstrated.

Histone HIST1H1C/H1.2 regulates autophagy in the development of diabetic retinopathy

Autophagy plays critical and complex roles in many human diseases, including diabetes and its complications. However, the role of autophagy in the development of diabetic retinopathy remains uncertain. Core histone modifications have been reported involved in the development of diabetic retinopathy, but little is known about the histone variants. Here, we observed increased autophagy and histone HIST1H1C/H1.2, an important variant of the linker histone H1, in the retinas of type 1 diabetic rodents. Overexpression of histone HIST1H1C upregulates SIRT1 and HDAC1 to maintain the deacetylation status of H4K16, leads to upregulation of ATG proteins, then promotes autophagy in cultured retinal cell line. Histone HIST1H1C overexpression also promotes inflammation and cell toxicity in vitro. Knockdown of histone HIST1H1C reduces both the basal and stresses (including high glucose)-induced autophagy, and inhibits high glucose induced inflammation and cell toxicity. Importantly, AAV-mediated histone HIST1H1C overexpression in the retinas leads to increased autophagy, inflammation, glial activation and neuron loss, similar to the pathological changes identified in the early stage of diabetic retinopathy. Furthermore, knockdown of histone Hist1h1c by siRNA in the retinas of diabetic mice significantly attenuated the diabetes-induced autophagy, inflammation, glial activation and neuron loss. These results indicate that histone HIST1H1C may offer a novel therapeutic target for preventing diabetic retinopathy.

Chromatin and Aging

Recent studies from a number of model organisms have indicated chromatin structure and its remodeling as a major contributory agent for aging. Few recent experiments also demonstrate that modulation in the chromatin modifying agents also affect the life span of an organism and even in some cases the change is inherited epigenetically to subsequent generations. Hence, in the present report we discuss the chromatin organization and its changes during aging.

Chromatin structure-dependent conformations of the H1 CTD

Linker histones are an integral component of chromatin but how these proteins promote assembly of chromatin fibers and higher order structures and regulate gene expression remains an open question. Using Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) approaches we find that association of a linker histone with oligonucleosomal arrays induces condensation of the intrinsically disordered H1 CTD in a manner consistent with adoption of a defined fold or ensemble of folds in the bound state. However, H1 CTD structure when bound to nucleosomes in arrays is distinct from that induced upon H1 association with mononucleosomes or bare double stranded DNA. Moreover, the H1 CTD becomes more condensed upon condensation of extended nucleosome arrays to the contacting zig-zag form found in moderate salts, but does not detectably change during folding to fully compacted chromatin fibers. We provide evidence that linker DNA conformation is a key determinant of H1 CTD structure and that constraints imposed by neighboring nucleosomes cause linker DNAs to adopt distinct trajectories in oligonucleosomes compared to H1-bound mononucleosomes. Finally, inter-molecular FRET between H1s within fully condensed nucleosome arrays suggests a regular spatial arrangement for the H1 CTD within the 30 nm chromatin fiber.

Linker histones: novel insights into structure-specific recognition of the nucleosome

Linker histones (H1s) are a primary component of metazoan chromatin, fulfilling numerous functions, both in vitro and in vivo, including stabilizing the wrapping of DNA around the nucleosome, promoting folding and assembly of higher order chromatin structures, influencing nucleosome spacing on DNA, and regulating specific gene expression. However, many molecular details of how H1 binds to nucleosomes and recognizes unique structural features on the nucleosome surface remain undefined. Numerous, confounding studies are complicated not only by experimental limitations, but the use of different linker histone isoforms and nucleosome constructions. This review summarizes the decades of research that has resulted in several models of H1 association with nucleosomes, with a focus on recent advances that suggest multiple modes of H1 interaction in chromatin, while highlighting the remaining questions.

Nucleosomal arrays self-assemble into supramolecular globular structures lacking 30-nm fibers

The existence of a 30‐nm fiber as a basic folding unit for DNA packaging has remained a topic of active discussion. Here, we characterize the supramolecular structures formed by reversible Mg²⁺‐dependent self‐association of linear 12‐mer nucleosomal arrays using microscopy and physicochemical approaches. These reconstituted chromatin structures, which we call “oligomers”, are globular throughout all stages of cooperative assembly and range in size from ~50 nm to a maximum diameter of ~1,000 nm. The nucleosomal arrays were packaged within the oligomers as interdigitated 10‐nm fibers, rather than folded 30‐nm structures. Linker DNA was freely accessible to micrococcal nuclease, although the oligomers remained partially intact after linker DNA digestion. The organization of chromosomal fibers in human nuclei in situ was stabilized by 1 mM MgCl₂, but became disrupted in the absence of MgCl₂, conditions that also dissociated the oligomers in vitro. These results indicate that a 10‐nm array of nucleosomes has the intrinsic ability to self‐assemble into large chromatin globules stabilized by nucleosome–nucleosome interactions, and suggest that the oligomers are a good in vitro model for investigating the structure and organization of interphase chromosomes.

Linker histone H1 and protein-protein interactions

Linker histones H1 are ubiquitous chromatin proteins that play important roles in chromatin compaction, transcription regulation, nucleosome spacing and chromosome spacing. H1 function in DNA and chromatin structure stabilization is well studied and established. The current paradigm of linker histone mode of function considers all other cellular roles of linker histones to be a consequence from H1 chromatin compaction and repression. Here we review the multiple processes regulated by linker histones and the emerging importance of protein interactions in H1 functioning. We propose a new paradigm which explains the multi functionality of linker histones through linker histones protein interactions as a way to directly regulate recruitment of proteins to chromatin.

A dual affinity-tag strategy for the expression and purification of human linker histone H1.4 in Escherichia coli

Linker histones are an abundant and critical component of the eukaryotic chromatin landscape. They play key roles in regulating the higher order structure of chromatin and many genetic processes. Higher eukaryotes possess a number of different linker histone subtypes and new data are consistently emerging that indicate these subtypes are functionally distinct. We were interested in studying one of the most abundant human linker histone subtypes, H1.4. We have produced recombinant full-length H1.4 in Escherichia coli. An N-terminal Glutathione-S-Transferase tag was used to promote soluble expression and was combined with a C-terminal hexahistidine tag to facilitate a simple non-denaturing two-step affinity chromatography procedure that results in highly pure full-length H1.4. The purified H1.4 was shown to be functional via in vitro chromatin assembly experiments and remains active after extended storage at -80 °C.

Interphase H1 phosphorylation: Regulation and functions in chromatin

Many metazoan cell types differentially express multiple non-allelic amino acid sequence variants of histone H1. Although early work revealed that H1 variants, collectively, are phosphorylated during interphase and mitosis, differences between individual H1 variants in the sites they possess for mitotic and interphase phosphorylation have been elucidated only relatively recently. Here, we review current knowledge on the regulation and function of interphase H1 phosphorylation, with a particular emphasis on how differences in interphase phosphorylation among the H1 variants of mammalian cells may enable them to have differential effects on transcription and other chromatin processes.

What is the role of histone H1 heterogeneity? A functional model emerges from a 50 year mystery

For the past 50 years, understanding the function of histone H1 heterogeneity has been mired in confusion and contradiction. Part of the reason for this is the lack of a working model that tries to explain the large body of data that has been collected about the H1 subtypes so far. In this review, a global model is described largely based on published data from the author and other researchers over the past 20 years. The intrinsic disorder built into H1 protein structure is discussed to help the reader understand that these histones are multi-conformational and adaptable to interactions with different targets. We discuss the role of each structural section of H1 (as we currently understand it), but we focus on the H1's C-terminal domain and its effect on each subtype's affinity, mobility and compaction of chromatin. We review the multiple ways these characteristics have been measured from circular dichroism to FRAP analysis, which has added to the sometimes contradictory assumptions made about each subtype. Based on a tabulation of these measurements, we then organize the H1 variants according to their ability to condense chromatin and produce nucleosome repeat lengths amenable to that compaction. This subtype variation generates a continuum of different chromatin states allowing for fine regulatory control and some overlap in the event one or two subtypes are lost to mutation. We also review the myriad of disparate observations made about each subtype, both somatic and germline specific ones, that lend support to the proposed model. Finally, to demonstrate its adaptability as new data further refines our understanding of H1 subtypes, we show how the model can be applied to experimental observations of telomeric heterochromatin in aging cells.

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.

A native chromatin extraction method based on salicylic acid coated magnetic nanoparticles and characterization of chromatin

Native chromatin contains valuable genetic, epigenetic and structural information. Though DNA and nucleosome structures are well defined, less is known about the higher-order chromatin structure. Traditional chromatin extraction methods involve fixation, fragmentation and centrifugation, which might distort the higher-order structural information of native chromatin. We present a simple approach to isolate native chromatin from cultured mammalian cells using salicylic acid coated magnetic nanoparticles (SAMNPs). Chromatin is magnetically separated from cell lysates without any filtration or high-speed centrifugation. The purified chromatin is suitable for the examination of histone modifications and other chromatin associated proteins as confirmed by western blotting analysis. The structure of chromatin was determined by confocal fluorescence microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). High-resolution AFM and TEM images clearly show a classical bead-on-a-string structure. The higher-order chromatin structure is also determined via electron microscopy. Our method provides a simple, inexpensive and an environmentally friendly means to extract native chromatin not possible before, suitable for both biochemical and structural analysis.

Eviction of linker histone H1 by NAP-family histone chaperones enhances activated transcription

Background

In the Metazoan nucleus, core histones assemble the genomic DNA to form nucleosome arrays, which are further compacted into dense chromatin structures by the linker histone H1. The extraordinary density of chromatin creates an obstacle for accessing the genetic information. Regulation of chromatin dynamics is therefore critical to cellular homeostasis, and histone chaperones serve as prominent players in these processes. In the current study, we examined the role of specific histone chaperones in negotiating the inherently repressive chromatin structure during transcriptional activation.

Results

Using a model promoter, we demonstrate that the human nucleosome assembly protein family members hNap1 and SET/Taf1β stimulate transcription in vitro during pre-initiation complex formation, prior to elongation. This stimulatory effect is dependent upon the presence of activators, p300, and Acetyl-CoA. We show that transcription from our chromatin template is strongly repressed by H1, and that both histone chaperones enhance RNA synthesis by overcoming H1-induced repression. Importantly, both hNap1 and SET/Taf1β directly bind H1, and function to enhance transcription by evicting the linker histone from chromatin reconstituted with H1. In vivo studies demonstrate that SET/Taf1β, but not hNap1, strongly stimulates activated transcription from the chromosomally-integrated model promoter, consistent with the observation that SET/Taf1β is nuclear, whereas hNap1 is primarily cytoplasmic. Together, these observations indicate that SET/Taf1β may serve as a critical regulator of H1 dynamics and gene activation in vivo.

Conclusions

These studies uncover a novel function for SET that mechanistically couples transcriptional derepression with H1 dynamics. Furthermore, they underscore the significance of chaperone-dependent H1 displacement as an essential early step in the transition of a promoter from a dense chromatin state into one that is permissive to transcription factor binding and robust activation.

A brief review of nucleosome structure

The nucleosomal subunit organization of chromatin provides a multitude of functions. Nucleosomes elicit an initial ∼7-fold linear compaction of genomic DNA. They provide a critical mechanism for stable repression of genes and other DNA-dependent activities by restricting binding of trans-acting factors to cognate DNA sequences. Conversely they are engineered to be nearly meta-stable and disassembled (and reassembled) in a facile manner to allow rapid access to the underlying DNA during processes such as transcription, replication and DNA repair. Nucleosomes protect the genome from DNA damaging agents and provide a lattice onto which a myriad of epigenetic signals are deposited. Moreover, vast strings of nucleosomes provide a framework for assembly of the chromatin fiber and higher-order chromatin structures. Thus, in order to provide a foundation for understanding these functions, we present a review of the basic elements of nucleosome structure and stability, including the association of linker histones.

Structure and organization of chromatin fiber in the nucleus

Eukaryotic genomes are organized hierarchically into chromatin structures by histones. Despite extensive research for over 30 years, not only the fundamental structure of the 30-nm chromatin fiber is being debated, but the actual existence of such fiber remains hotly contested. In this review, we focus on the most recent progress in elucidating the structure of the 30-nm fiber upon in vitro reconstitution, and its possible organization inside the nucleus. In addition, we discuss the roles of linker histone H1 as well as the importance of specific nucleosome-nucleosome interactions in the formation of the 30-nm fiber. Finally, we discuss the involvement of structural variations and epigenetic mechanisms available for the regulation of this chromatin form.

Identification of a novel reference gene for apple transcriptional profiling under postharvest conditions

Reverse Transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is one of the most important techniques for gene expression profiling due to its high sensibility and reproducibility. However, the reliability of the results is highly dependent on data normalization, performed by comparisons between the expression profiles of the genes of interest against those of constitutively expressed, reference genes. Although the technique is widely used in fruit postharvest experiments, the transcription stability of reference genes has not been thoroughly investigated under these experimental conditions. Thus, we have determined the transcriptional profile, under these conditions, of three genes commonly used as reference—ACTIN (MdACT), PROTEIN DISULPHIDE ISOMERASE (MdPDI) and UBIQUITIN-CONJUGATING ENZYME E2 (MdUBC)—along with two novel candidates—HISTONE 1 (MdH1) and NUCLEOSSOME ASSEMBLY 1 PROTEIN (MdNAP1). The expression profile of the genes was investigated throughout five experiments, with three of them encompassing the postharvest period and the other two, consisting of developmental and spatial phases. The transcriptional stability was comparatively investigated using four distinct software packages: BestKeeper, NormFinder, geNorm and DataAssist. Gene ranking results for transcriptional stability were similar for the investigated software packages, with the exception of BestKeeper. The classic reference gene MdUBC ranked among the most stably transcribed in all investigated experimental conditions. Transcript accumulation profiles for the novel reference candidate gene MdH1 were stable throughout the tested conditions, especially in experiments encompassing the postharvest period. Thus, our results present a novel reference gene for postharvest experiments in apple and reinforce the importance of checking the transcription profile of reference genes under the experimental conditions of interest.

Chromatin compaction under mixed salt conditions: opposite effects of sodium and potassium ions on nucleosome array folding

It is well known that chromatin structure is highly sensitive to the ionic environment. However, the combined effects of a physiologically relevant mixed ionic environment of K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Na⁺, which are the main cations of the cell cytoplasm, has not been systematically investigated. We studied folding and self-association (aggregation) of recombinant 12-mer nucleosome arrays with 177 bp DNA repeat length in solutions of mixtures of K⁺ and Mg²⁺ or Na⁺ and Mg²⁺. In the presence of Mg²⁺, the addition of sodium ions promotes folding of array into 30-nm fibres, whereas in mixtures of K⁺ and Mg²⁺, potassium ions abrogate folding. We found that self-association of nucleosome arrays in mixed salt solutions is synergistically promoted by Mg²⁺ and monovalent ions, with sodium being slightly more efficient than potassium in amplifying the self-association. The results highlight the importance of a mixed ionic environment for the compaction of chromatin under physiological conditions and demonstrate the complicated nature of the various factors that determine and regulate chromatin compaction in vivo.

Proteomic characterization of the nucleolar linker histone H1 interaction network

To investigate the relationship between linker histone H1 and protein-protein interactions in the nucleolus, we used biochemical and proteomics approaches to characterize nucleoli purified from cultured human and mouse cells. Mass spectrometry identified 175 proteins in human T cell nucleolar extracts that bound to Sepharose-immobilized H1 in vitro. Gene ontology analysis found significant enrichment for H1 binding proteins with functions related to nucleolar chromatin structure and RNA polymerase I transcription regulation, rRNA processing, and mRNA splicing. Consistent with the affinity binding results, H1 existed in large (400 to >650kDa) macromolecular complexes in human T cell nucleolar extracts. To complement the biochemical experiments, we investigated the effects of in vivo H1 depletion on protein content and structural integrity of the nucleolus using the H1 triple isoform knockout (H1ΔTKO) mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) model system. Proteomic profiling of purified wild-type mESC nucleoli identified a total of 613 proteins, only ~60% of which were detected in the H1 mutant nucleoli. Within the affected group, spectral counting analysis quantitated 135 specific nucleolar proteins whose levels were significantly altered in H1ΔTKO mESC. Importantly, the functions of the affected proteins in mESC closely overlapped with those of the human T cell nucleolar H1 binding proteins. Immunofluorescence microscopy of intact H1ΔTKO mESC demonstrated both a loss of nucleolar RNA content and altered nucleolar morphology resulting from in vivo H1 depletion. We conclude that H1 organizes and maintains an extensive protein-protein interaction network in the nucleolus required for nucleolar structure and integrity.

MTA1 regulates higher-order chromatin structure and histone H1-chromatin interaction in-vivo

In the current study, for the first time, we found that metastasis-associated gene 1 (MTA1) was a higher-order chromatin structure organizer that decondenses the interphase chromatin and mitotic chromosomes. MTA1 interacts dynamically with nucleosomes during the cell cycle progression, prominently contributing to the mitotic chromatin/chromosome structure transitions at both prophase and telophase. We showed that the decondensation of interphase chromatin by MTA1 was independent of Mi-2 chromatin remodeling activity. H1 was reported to stabilize the compact higher-order chromatin structure through its interaction with DNA. Our data showed that MTA1 caused a reduced H1-chromatin interaction in-vivo. Moreover, the dynamic MTA1-chromatin interaction in the cell cycle contributed to the periodical H1-chromatin interaction, which in turn modulated chromatin/chromosome transitions. Although MTA1 drove a global decondensation of chromatin structure, it changed the expression of only a small proportion of genes. After MTA1 overexpression, the up-regulated genes were distributed in clusters along with down-regulated genes on chromosomes at parallel frequencies.

Evolution of histone 2A for chromatin compaction in eukaryotes

During eukaryotic evolution, genome size has increased disproportionately to nuclear volume, necessitating greater degrees of chromatin compaction in higher eukaryotes, which have evolved several mechanisms for genome compaction. However, it is unknown whether histones themselves have evolved to regulate chromatin compaction. Analysis of histone sequences from 160 eukaryotes revealed that the H2A N-terminus has systematically acquired arginines as genomes expanded. Insertion of arginines into their evolutionarily conserved position in H2A of a small-genome organism increased linear compaction by as much as 40%, while their absence markedly diminished compaction in cells with large genomes. This effect was recapitulated in vitro with nucleosomal arrays using unmodified histones, indicating that the H2A N-terminus directly modulates the chromatin fiber likely through intra- and inter-nucleosomal arginine-DNA contacts to enable tighter nucleosomal packing. Our findings reveal a novel evolutionary mechanism for regulation of chromatin compaction and may explain the frequent mutations of the H2A N-terminus in cancer.

Dynamic condensation of linker histone C-terminal domain regulates chromatin structure

The basic and intrinsically disordered C-terminal domain (CTD) of the linker histone (LH) is essential for chromatin compaction. However, its conformation upon nucleosome binding and its impact on chromatin organization remain unknown. Our mesoscale chromatin model with a flexible LH CTD captures a dynamic, salt-dependent condensation mechanism driven by charge neutralization between the LH and linker DNA. Namely, at low salt concentration, CTD condenses, but LH only interacts with the nucleosome and one linker DNA, resulting in a semi-open nucleosome configuration; at higher salt, LH interacts with the nucleosome and two linker DNAs, promoting stem formation and chromatin compaction. CTD charge reduction unfolds the domain and decondenses chromatin, a mechanism in consonance with reduced counterion screening in vitro and phosphorylated LH in vivo. Divalent ions counteract this decondensation effect by maintaining nucleosome stems and expelling the CTDs to the fiber exterior. Additionally, we explain that the CTD folding depends on the chromatin fiber size, and we show that the asymmetric structure of the LH globular head is responsible for the uneven interaction observed between the LH and the linker DNAs. All these mechanisms may impact epigenetic regulation and higher levels of chromatin folding.

Spatial heterogeneity of dynamics of H1 linker histone

Linker histone H1 participates in maintaining higher order chromatin structures. It is a dynamic protein that binds to DNA and exchanges rapidly with a mobile pool. Therefore, the dynamics of H1 were probed in the nuclei of intact, live cells, using an array of microscopy techniques: fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), raster image correlation spectroscopy (RICS), fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), pair correlation functions (pCF) and fluorescence anisotropy. Combination of these techniques yielded information on H1 dynamics at small (1–100 μs: FCS, RICS, anisotropy), moderate (1–100 ms: FCS, RICS, pCF) and large (1–100 s: pCF and FRAP) time scales. These results indicate that the global movement of H1 in nuclei (at distances >1 µm) occurs at the time scale of seconds and is determined by processes other than diffusion. Moreover, a fraction of H1, which remains immobile at the time scale of tenths of seconds, is detectable. However, local (at distances <0.7 µm) H1 dynamics comprises a process occurring at a short (~3 ms) time scale and multiple processes occurring at longer (10–2,500 ms) scales. The former (fast) process (corresponding probably to H1 diffusion) is more pronounced in the nuclear regions characterized by low H1 concentration, but the latter (slow, attributable to H1 binding) in the regions of high H1 concentration. Furthermore, some regions in nuclei (possibly containing dense chromatin) may constitute barriers that impair or block movement of H1 histones within short (<1 µm) distances.

Pin1 promotes histone H1 dephosphorylation and stabilizes its binding to chromatin

The prolyl isomerase Pin1 stimulates the dephosphorylation of histone H1, stabilizing its binding to chromatin at transcriptionally active chromatin.

Histone H1 plays a crucial role in stabilizing higher order chromatin structure. Transcriptional activation, DNA replication, and chromosome condensation all require changes in chromatin structure and are correlated with the phosphorylation of histone H1. In this study, we describe a novel interaction between Pin1, a phosphorylation-specific prolyl isomerase, and phosphorylated histone H1. A sub-stoichiometric amount of Pin1 stimulated the dephosphorylation of H1 in vitro and modulated the structure of the C-terminal domain of H1 in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Depletion of Pin1 destabilized H1 binding to chromatin only when Pin1 binding sites on H1 were present. Pin1 recruitment and localized histone H1 phosphorylation were associated with transcriptional activation independent of RNA polymerase II. We thus identify a novel form of histone H1 regulation through phosphorylation-dependent proline isomerization, which has consequences on overall H1 phosphorylation levels and the stability of H1 binding to chromatin.

Assembly of nucleosomal arrays from recombinant core histones and nucleosome positioning DNA

Core histone octamers that are repetitively spaced along a DNA molecule are called nucleosomal arrays. Nucleosomal arrays are obtained in one of two ways: purification from in vivo sources, or reconstitution in vitro from recombinant core histones and tandemly repeated nucleosome positioning DNA. The latter method has the benefit of allowing for the assembly of a more compositionally uniform and precisely positioned nucleosomal array. Sedimentation velocity experiments in the analytical ultracentrifuge yield information about the size and shape of macromolecules by analyzing the rate at which they migrate through solution under centrifugal force. This technique, along with atomic force microscopy, can be used for quality control, ensuring that the majority of DNA templates are saturated with nucleosomes after reconstitution. Here we describe the protocols necessary to reconstitute milligram quantities of length and compositionally defined nucleosomal arrays suitable for biochemical and biophysical studies of chromatin structure and function.

Isolation and analysis of linker histones across cellular compartments

Analysis of histones, especially histone H1, is severely limited by immunological reagent availability. This paper describes the application of cellular fractionation with LC-MS for profiling histones in the cytosol and upon chromatin. First, we show that linker histones enriched by cellular fractionation gives less nuclear contamination and higher histone content than when prepared by nuclei isolation. Second, we profiled the soluble linker histones throughout the cell cycle revealing phosphorylation increases as cells reach mitosis. Finally, we monitored histone H1.2-H1.5 translocation to the cytosol in response to the CDK inhibitor flavopiridol in primary CLL cells treated ex vivo. Data shows that all H1 variants translocate in response to drug treatment with no specific order to their cytosolic appearance. The results illustrate the utility of cellular fractionation in conjunction with LC-MS for the analysis of histone H1 throughout the cell.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

This paper demonstrates the first time application of cellular fractionation to characterize cytosolic histone H1 by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Using the Ramos Burkitt's lymphoma cell line, cellular fractionation was shown to give less nuclear contamination and higher histone content than preparations by nuclei isolation. Further application of the cellular fractionation approach was shown by using primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells to monitor the movement of histone H1 across cellular compartments in response to the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor flavopiridol. Collectively, these data establish a mass spectrometric method for exploration into the function of cytosolic histone H1.

Calorimetric studies of the interactions of linker histone H1(0) and its carboxyl (H1(0)-C) and globular (H1(0)-G) domains with calf-thymus DNA

Histone H1 is a chromatin protein found in most eukaryotes. ITC and CD have been used to study the binding of H1(0) and its C-terminal, H1(0)-C, and globular, H1(0)-G, domains to a highly polymerized DNA. ITC results indicate that H1(0) and H1(0)-C bind tightly to DNA (Ka≈1×10(7)), with an unfavorable ΔH (ΔH≈+22kcal/mol) and a favorable ΔS (-TΔS≈-30kcal/mol). Binding H1(0)-G to DNA at 25°C is calorimetrically silent. A multiple independent site model fits the ITC data, with the anomaly in the data near saturation attributed to rearrangement of bound H1, maximizing the number of binding sites. CD experiments indicate that H1(0)/DNA and H1(0)-C/DNA complexes form with little change in protein structure but with some DNA restructuring. Salt dependent ITC experiments indicate that the electrostatic contribution to binding H1(0) or H1(0)-C is small ranging from 6% to 17% of the total ΔG.

Intra- and inter-nucleosome interactions of the core histone tail domains in higher-order chromatin structure

Eukaryotic chromatin is a hierarchical collection of nucleoprotein structures that package DNA to form chromosomes. The initial levels of packaging include folding of long strings of nucleosomes into secondary structures and array-array association into higher-order tertiary chromatin structures. The core histone tail domains are required for the assembly of higher-order structures and mediate short- and long-range intra- and inter-nucleosome interactions with both DNA and protein targets to direct their assembly. However, important details of these interactions remain unclear and are a subject of much interest and recent investigations. Here, we review work defining the interactions of the histone N-terminal tails with DNA and protein targets relevant to chromatin higher-order structures, with a specific emphasis on the contributions of H3 and H4 tails to oligonucleosome folding and stabilization. We evaluate both classic and recent experiments determining tail structures, effect of tail cleavage/loss, and posttranslational modifications of the tails on nucleosomes and nucleosome arrays, as well as inter-nucleosomal and inter-array interactions of the H3 and H4 N-terminal tails.

H1 histones: current perspectives and challenges

H1 and related linker histones are important both for maintenance of higher-order chromatin structure and for the regulation of gene expression. The biology of the linker histones is complex, as they are evolutionarily variable, exist in multiple isoforms and undergo a large variety of posttranslational modifications in their long, unstructured, NH₂- and COOH-terminal tails. We review recent progress in understanding the structure, genetics and posttranslational modifications of linker histones, with an emphasis on the dynamic interactions of these proteins with DNA and transcriptional regulators. We also discuss various experimental challenges to the study of H1 and related proteins, including limitations of immunological reagents and practical difficulties in the analysis of posttranslational modifications by mass spectrometry.