1
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Wong LH, Tremethick DJ. Multifunctional histone variants in genome function. Nat Rev Genet 2024:10.1038/s41576-024-00759-1. [PMID: 39138293 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-024-00759-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Histones are integral components of eukaryotic chromatin that have a pivotal role in the organization and function of the genome. The dynamic regulation of chromatin involves the incorporation of histone variants, which can dramatically alter its structural and functional properties. Contrary to an earlier view that limited individual histone variants to specific genomic functions, new insights have revealed that histone variants exert multifaceted roles involving all aspects of genome function, from governing patterns of gene expression at precise genomic loci to participating in genome replication, repair and maintenance. This conceptual change has led to a new understanding of the intricate interplay between chromatin and DNA-dependent processes and how this connection translates into normal and abnormal cellular functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee H Wong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - David J Tremethick
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capial Territory, Australia.
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2
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Filliaux S, Sun Z, Lyubchenko YL. Nanoscale Structure, Interactions, and Dynamics of Centromere Nucleosomes. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:4715-4727. [PMID: 38959412 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Centromeres are specific segments of chromosomes comprising two types of nucleosomes: canonical nucleosomes containing an octamer of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histones and CENP-A nucleosomes in which H3 is replaced with its analogue CENP-A. This modification leads to a difference in DNA wrapping (∼121 bp), considerably less than 147 bp in canonical nucleosomes. We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) and high-speed AFM (HS-AFM) to characterize nanoscale features and dynamics for both types of nucleosomes. For both nucleosomes, spontaneous asymmetric unwrapping of DNA was observed, and this process occurs via a transient state with ∼100 bp DNA wrapped around the core, followed by a rapid dissociation of DNA. Additionally, HS-AFM revealed higher stability of CENP-A nucleosomes compared with H3 nucleosomes in which dissociation of the histone core occurs prior to the nucleosome dissociation. These results help elucidate the differences between these nucleosomes and the potential biological necessity for CENP-A nucleosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaun Filliaux
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6025, United States
| | - Zhiqiang Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6025, United States
| | - Yuri L Lyubchenko
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6025, United States
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3
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Nagpal H, Ali-Ahmad A, Hirano Y, Cai W, Halic M, Fukagawa T, Sekulić N, Fierz B. CENP-A and CENP-B collaborate to create an open centromeric chromatin state. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8227. [PMID: 38086807 PMCID: PMC10716449 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43739-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Centromeres are epigenetically defined via the presence of the histone H3 variant CENP-A. Contacting CENP-A nucleosomes, the constitutive centromere associated network (CCAN) and the kinetochore assemble, connecting the centromere to spindle microtubules during cell division. The DNA-binding centromeric protein CENP-B is involved in maintaining centromere stability and, together with CENP-A, shapes the centromeric chromatin state. The nanoscale organization of centromeric chromatin is not well understood. Here, we use single-molecule fluorescence and cryoelectron microscopy (cryoEM) to show that CENP-A incorporation establishes a dynamic and open chromatin state. The increased dynamics of CENP-A chromatin create an opening for CENP-B DNA access. In turn, bound CENP-B further opens the chromatin fiber structure and induces nucleosomal DNA unwrapping. Finally, removal of CENP-A increases CENP-B mobility in cells. Together, our studies show that the two centromere-specific proteins collaborate to reshape chromatin structure, enabling the binding of centromeric factors and establishing a centromeric chromatin state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsh Nagpal
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), SB ISIC LCBM, Station 6, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ahmad Ali-Ahmad
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Nordic EMBL Partnership, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Yasuhiro Hirano
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Wei Cai
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), SB ISIC LCBM, Station 6, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mario Halic
- Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105-3678, USA
| | - Tatsuo Fukagawa
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Nikolina Sekulić
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Nordic EMBL Partnership, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033, Blindern, 0315, Norway.
| | - Beat Fierz
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), SB ISIC LCBM, Station 6, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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4
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Ariyoshi M, Fukagawa T. An updated view of the kinetochore architecture. Trends Genet 2023; 39:941-953. [PMID: 37775394 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
The kinetochore is a supramolecular complex that facilitates faithful chromosome segregation by bridging the centromere and spindle microtubules. Recent functional and structural studies on the inner kinetochore subcomplex, constitutive centromere-associated network (CCAN) have updated our understanding of kinetochore architecture. While the CCAN core establishes a stable interface with centromeric chromatin, CCAN organization is dynamically altered and coupled with cell cycle progression. Furthermore, the CCAN components, centromere protein (CENP)-C and CENP-T, mediate higher-order assembly of multiple kinetochore units on the regional centromeres of vertebrates. This review highlights new insights into kinetochore rigidity, plasticity, and clustering, which are key to understanding temporal and spatial regulatory mechanisms of chromosome segregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Ariyoshi
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Fukagawa
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
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5
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Kale S, Boopathi R, Belotti E, Lone IN, Graies M, Schröder M, Petrova M, Papin C, Bednar J, Ugrinova I, Hamiche A, Dimitrov S. The CENP-A nucleosome: where and when it happens during the inner kinetochore's assembly. Trends Biochem Sci 2023; 48:849-859. [PMID: 37596196 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2023.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
CENP-A is an essential histone variant that replaces the canonical H3 at the centromeres and marks these regions epigenetically. The CENP-A nucleosome is the specific building block of centromeric chromatin, and it is recognized by CENP-C and CENP-N, two components of the constitutive centromere-associated network (CCAN), the first protein layer of the kinetochore. Recent proposals of the yeast and human (h)CCAN structures position the assembly on exposed DNA, suggesting an elusive spatiotemporal recognition. We summarize the data on the structural organization of the CENP-A nucleosome and the binding of CENP-C and CENP-N. The latter posits an apparent contradiction in engaging the CENP-A nucleosome versus the CCAN. We propose a reconciliatory model for the assembly of CCAN on centromeric chromatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyit Kale
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Balcova, Izmir 35330, Turkey.
| | - Ramachandran Boopathi
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), 38000 Grenoble, France; Laboratoire de Biologie et de Modelisation de la Cellule (LBMC), CNRS/ENSL/UCBL, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Edwige Belotti
- Laboratoire Physiopathologie et Génétique du Neurone et du Muscle (PGNM), Institut NeuroMyoGène, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM U1315, CNRS UMR5261, 8 avenue Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Imtiaz Nisar Lone
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Balcova, Izmir 35330, Turkey
| | - Mohamed Graies
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209, CNRS, UMR 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Maria Schröder
- Roumen Tsanev Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Maria Petrova
- Roumen Tsanev Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Christophe Papin
- Institut de Génétique et Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), UdS, CNRS, INSERM, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Jan Bednar
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209, CNRS, UMR 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Iva Ugrinova
- Roumen Tsanev Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ali Hamiche
- Institut de Génétique et Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), UdS, CNRS, INSERM, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France.
| | - Stefan Dimitrov
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Balcova, Izmir 35330, Turkey; Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209, CNRS, UMR 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France; Roumen Tsanev Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.
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6
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Deák G, Wapenaar H, Sandoval G, Chen R, Taylor MRD, Burdett H, Watson J, Tuijtel M, Webb S, Wilson M. Histone divergence in trypanosomes results in unique alterations to nucleosome structure. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:7882-7899. [PMID: 37427792 PMCID: PMC10450195 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotes have a multitude of diverse mechanisms for organising and using their genomes, but the histones that make up chromatin are highly conserved. Unusually, histones from kinetoplastids are highly divergent. The structural and functional consequences of this variation are unknown. Here, we have biochemically and structurally characterised nucleosome core particles (NCPs) from the kinetoplastid parasite Trypanosoma brucei. A structure of the T. brucei NCP reveals that global histone architecture is conserved, but specific sequence alterations lead to distinct DNA and protein interaction interfaces. The T. brucei NCP is unstable and has weakened overall DNA binding. However, dramatic changes at the H2A-H2B interface introduce local reinforcement of DNA contacts. The T. brucei acidic patch has altered topology and is refractory to known binders, indicating that the nature of chromatin interactions in T. brucei may be unique. Overall, our results provide a detailed molecular basis for understanding evolutionary divergence in chromatin structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gauri Deák
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Kings Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, UK
| | - Hannah Wapenaar
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Kings Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, UK
| | - Gorka Sandoval
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Kings Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, UK
| | - Ruofan Chen
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Kings Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, UK
| | - Mark R D Taylor
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Kings Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, UK
| | - Hayden Burdett
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Kings Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, UK
| | - James A Watson
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Kings Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, UK
| | - Maarten W Tuijtel
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Kings Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, UK
- Department of Molecular Sociology, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Straße 3, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Shaun Webb
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Kings Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, UK
| | - Marcus D Wilson
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Kings Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, UK
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7
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Louro JA, Boopathi R, Beinsteiner B, Mohideen Patel AK, Cheng TC, Angelov D, Hamiche A, Bendar J, Kale S, Klaholz BP, Dimitrov S. Nucleosome dyad determines the H1 C-terminus collapse on distinct DNA arms. Structure 2023; 31:201-212.e5. [PMID: 36610392 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2022.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Nucleosomes are symmetric structures. However, binding of linker histones generates an inherently asymmetric H1-nucleosome complex, and whether this asymmetry is transmitted to the overall nucleosome structure, and therefore also to chromatin, is unclear. Efforts to investigate potential asymmetry due to H1s have been hampered by the DNA sequence, which naturally differs in each gyre. To overcome this issue, we designed and analyzed by cryo-EM a nucleosome reconstituted with a palindromic (601L) 197-bp DNA. As in the non-palindromic 601 sequence, H1 restricts linker DNA flexibility but reveals partial asymmetrical unwrapping. However, in contrast to the non-palindromic nucleosome, in the palindromic nucleosome H1 CTD collapses to the proximal linker. Molecular dynamics simulations show that this could be dictated by a slightly tilted orientation of the globular domain (GD) of H1, which could be linked to the DNA sequence of the nucleosome dyad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Alegrio Louro
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CBI), Department of Integrated Structural Biology, IGBMC (Institute of Genetics and of Molecular and Cellular Biology), 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch, France
| | - Ramachandran Boopathi
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR 5309, INSERM U1209, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Site Sante' - Allée des Alpes, 38700 La Tronche, France; Université de Lyon, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie et de Modélisation de la Cellule (LBMC), 46 Allée d'Italie, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Brice Beinsteiner
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CBI), Department of Integrated Structural Biology, IGBMC (Institute of Genetics and of Molecular and Cellular Biology), 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch, France
| | - Abdul Kareem Mohideen Patel
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CBI), Department of Integrated Structural Biology, IGBMC (Institute of Genetics and of Molecular and Cellular Biology), 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch, France
| | - Tat Cheung Cheng
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CBI), Department of Integrated Structural Biology, IGBMC (Institute of Genetics and of Molecular and Cellular Biology), 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch, France
| | - Dimitar Angelov
- Université de Lyon, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie et de Modélisation de la Cellule (LBMC), 46 Allée d'Italie, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Ali Hamiche
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CBI), Department of Integrated Structural Biology, IGBMC (Institute of Genetics and of Molecular and Cellular Biology), 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch, France; Département de Génomique Fonctionnelle et Cancer, Institut de Génétique et Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC)/Université de Strasbourg/CNRS/INSERM, 67404 Illkirch, France
| | - Jan Bendar
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR 5309, INSERM U1209, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Site Sante' - Allée des Alpes, 38700 La Tronche, France.
| | - Seyit Kale
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Balçova, 35330 Izmir, Turkey.
| | - Bruno P Klaholz
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CBI), Department of Integrated Structural Biology, IGBMC (Institute of Genetics and of Molecular and Cellular Biology), 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch, France.
| | - Stefan Dimitrov
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR 5309, INSERM U1209, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Site Sante' - Allée des Alpes, 38700 La Tronche, France; Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Balçova, 35330 Izmir, Turkey.
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8
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Sokolova V, Sarkar S, Tan D. Histone variants and chromatin structure, update of advances. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 21:299-311. [PMID: 36582440 PMCID: PMC9764139 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone proteins are highly conserved among all eukaryotes. They have two important functions in the cell: to package the genomic DNA and to regulate gene accessibility. Fundamental to these functions is the ability of histone proteins to interact with DNA and to form the nucleoprotein complex called chromatin. One of the mechanisms the cells use to regulate chromatin and gene expression is through replacing canonical histones with their variants at specific loci to achieve functional consequence. Recent cryo-electron microscope (cryo-EM) studies of chromatin containing histone variants reveal new details that shed light on how variant-specific features influence the structures and functions of chromatin. In this article, we review the current state of knowledge on histone variants biochemistry and discuss the implication of these new structural information on histone variant biology and their functions in transcription.
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9
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Centromere Chromatin Dynamics at a Glance. EPIGENOMES 2022; 6:epigenomes6040039. [PMID: 36412794 PMCID: PMC9680212 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes6040039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The centromere is a specialized DNA locus that ensures the faithful segregation of chromosomes during cell division. It does so by directing the assembly of an essential proteinaceous structure called the kinetochore. The centromere identity is primarily epigenetically defined by a nucleosome containing an H3 variant called CENP-A as well as by the interplay of several factors such as differential chromatin organization driven by CENP-A and H2A.Z, centromere-associated proteins, and post-translational modifications. At the centromere, CENP-A is not just a driving force for kinetochore assembly but also modifies the structural and dynamic properties of the centromeric chromatin, resulting in a distinctive chromatin organization. An additional level of regulation of the centromeric chromatin conformation is provided by post-translational modifications of the histones in the CENP-A nucleosomes. Further, H2A.Z is present in the regions flanking the centromere for heterochromatinization. In this review, we focus on the above-mentioned factors to describe how they contribute to the organization of the centromeric chromatin: CENP-A at the core centromere, post-translational modifications that decorate CENP-A, and the variant H2A.Z.
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10
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Nucleosome assembly and disassembly pathways in vitro. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267382. [PMID: 35830437 PMCID: PMC9278766 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural fluctuations of nucleosomes modulate the access to internal DNA in eukaryotic cells; clearly characterisation of this fundamental process is crucial to understanding gene regulation. Here we apply PhAST (Photochemical Analysis of Structural Transitions) to monitor at a base pair level, structural alterations induced all along the DNA upon histone binding or release. By offering the first reliable, detailed comparison of nucleosome assembly and disassembly in vitro, we reveal similarities and differences between the two processes. We identify multiple, sequential intermediate states characterised by specific PhAST signals whose localisation and amplitude reflect asymmetries of DNA/histone interactions with respect to the nucleosome pseudo dyad. These asymmetries involve not only the DNA extremities but also regions close to the pseudo dyad. Localisations of asymmetries develop in a consistent manner during both assembly and disassembly processes; they primarily reflect the DNA sequence effect on the efficiency of DNA-histone binding. More unexpectedly, the amplitude component of PhAST signals not only evolves as a function of intermediate states but does so differently between assembly and disassembly pathways. Our observation of differences between assembly and disassembly opens up new avenues to define the role of the DNA sequence in processes underlying the regulation of gene expression. Overall, we provide new insights into how the intrinsic properties of DNA are integrated into a holistic mechanism that controls chromatin structure.
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11
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Fukushima Y, Hatazawa S, Hirai S, Kujirai T, Ehara H, Sekine SI, Takizawa Y, Kurumizaka H. Structural and biochemical analyses of the nucleosome containing Komagataella pastoris histones. J Biochem 2022; 172:79-88. [PMID: 35485963 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvac043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Komagataella pastoris is a methylotrophic yeast that is commonly used as a host cell for protein production. In the present study, we reconstituted the nucleosome with K. pastoris histones, and determined the structure of the nucleosome core particle by cryogenic electron microscopy. In the K. pastoris nucleosome, the histones form an octamer, and the DNA is left-handedly wrapped around it. Micrococcal nuclease assays revealed that the DNA ends of the K. pastoris nucleosome are somewhat more accessible, as compared to those of the human nucleosome. In vitro transcription assays demonstrated that the K. pastoris nucleosome is transcribed by the K. pastoris RNA polymerase II more efficiently than the human nucleosome, while the RNA polymerase II pausing positions of the K. pastoris nucleosome are the same as those of the human nucleosome. These results suggested that the DNA end flexibility may enhance the transcription efficiency in the nucleosome, but minimally affect the nucleosomal pausing positions of RNA polymerase II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaro Fukushima
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.,Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Suguru Hatazawa
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.,Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Seiya Hirai
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.,Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Tomoya Kujirai
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Ehara
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Shun-Ichi Sekine
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Yoshimasa Takizawa
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Kurumizaka
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.,Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
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12
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KURUMIZAKA H. Structural studies of functional nucleosome complexes with transacting factors. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JAPAN ACADEMY. SERIES B, PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2022; 98:1-14. [PMID: 35013027 PMCID: PMC8795532 DOI: 10.2183/pjab.98.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, the genomic DNA is hierarchically organized into chromatin. Chromatin structures and dynamics influence all nuclear functions that are guided by DNA, and thus regulate gene expression. Chromatin structure aberrations cause various health issues, such as cancer, lifestyle-related diseases, mental disorders, infertility, congenital diseases, and infectious diseases. Many studies have unveiled the fundamental features and the heterogeneity of the nucleosome, which is the basic repeating unit of chromatin. The nucleosome is the highly conserved primary chromatin architecture in eukaryotes, but it also has structural versatility. Therefore, analyses of these primary chromatin structures will clarify the higher-order chromatin architecture. This review focuses on structural and functional studies of nucleosomes, based on our research accomplishments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitoshi KURUMIZAKA
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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13
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Hirai S, Tomimatsu K, Miyawaki-Kuwakado A, Takizawa Y, Komatsu T, Tachibana T, Fukushima Y, Takeda Y, Negishi L, Kujirai T, Koyama M, Ohkawa Y, Kurumizaka H. Unusual nucleosome formation and transcriptome influence by the histone H3mm18 variant. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 50:72-91. [PMID: 34929737 PMCID: PMC8855299 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone H3mm18 is a non-allelic H3 variant expressed in skeletal muscle and brain
in mice. However, its function has remained enigmatic. We found that H3mm18 is
incorporated into chromatin in cells with low efficiency, as compared to H3.3.
We determined the structures of the nucleosome core particle (NCP) containing
H3mm18 by cryo-electron microscopy, which revealed that the entry/exit DNA
regions are drastically disordered in the H3mm18 NCP. Consistently, the H3mm18
NCP is substantially unstable in vitro. The forced expression
of H3mm18 in mouse myoblast C2C12 cells markedly suppressed muscle
differentiation. A transcriptome analysis revealed that the forced expression of
H3mm18 affected the expression of multiple genes, and suppressed a group of
genes involved in muscle development. These results suggest a novel gene
expression regulation system in which the chromatin landscape is altered by the
formation of unusual nucleosomes with a histone variant, H3mm18, and provide
important insight into understanding transcription regulation by chromatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seiya Hirai
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo113-0032, Japan.,Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo113-0032, Japan
| | - Kosuke Tomimatsu
- Division of Transcriptomics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi, Fukuoka812-0054, Japan
| | - Atsuko Miyawaki-Kuwakado
- Division of Transcriptomics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi, Fukuoka812-0054, Japan
| | - Yoshimasa Takizawa
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo113-0032, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Komatsu
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, 3-39-15, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma371-8512, Japan
| | - Taro Tachibana
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka City University, Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka558-8585, Japan
| | - Yutaro Fukushima
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo113-0032, Japan.,Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo113-0032, Japan
| | - Yasuko Takeda
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo113-0032, Japan
| | - Lumi Negishi
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo113-0032, Japan
| | - Tomoya Kujirai
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo113-0032, Japan
| | - Masako Koyama
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo113-0032, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Ohkawa
- Division of Transcriptomics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi, Fukuoka812-0054, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Kurumizaka
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo113-0032, Japan.,Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo113-0032, Japan
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14
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Kanapeckaitė A, Burokienė N, Mažeikienė A, Cottrell GS, Widera D. Biophysics is reshaping our perception of the epigenome: from DNA-level to high-throughput studies. BIOPHYSICAL REPORTS 2021; 1:100028. [PMID: 36425454 PMCID: PMC9680810 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpr.2021.100028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic research holds great promise to advance our understanding of biomarkers and regulatory processes in health and disease. An increasing number of new approaches, ranging from molecular to biophysical analyses, enable identifying epigenetic changes on the level of a single gene or the whole epigenome. The aim of this review is to highlight how the field is shifting from completely molecular-biology-driven solutions to multidisciplinary strategies including more reliance on biophysical analysis tools. Biophysics not only offers technical advancements in imaging or structure analysis but also helps to explore regulatory interactions. New computational methods are also being developed to meet the demand of growing data volumes and their processing. Therefore, it is important to capture these new directions in epigenetics from a biophysical perspective and discuss current challenges as well as multiple applications of biophysical methods and tools. Specifically, we gradually introduce different biophysical research methods by first considering the DNA-level information and eventually higher-order chromatin structures. Moreover, we aim to highlight that the incorporation of bioinformatics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence into biophysical analysis allows gaining new insights into complex epigenetic processes. The gained understanding has already proven useful in translational and clinical research providing better patient stratification options or new therapeutic insights. Together, this offers a better readiness to transform bench-top experiments into industrial high-throughput applications with a possibility to employ developed methods in clinical practice and diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austė Kanapeckaitė
- Algorithm379, Laisvės g. 7, LT 12007, Vilnius, Lithuania
- Reading School of Pharmacy, Whiteknights, Reading, UK, RG6 6UB
| | - Neringa Burokienė
- Clinics of Internal Diseases, Family Medicine and Oncology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionio str. 21/27, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Asta Mažeikienė
- Department of Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, M. K. Čiurlionio str. 21/27, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Darius Widera
- Reading School of Pharmacy, Whiteknights, Reading, UK, RG6 6UB
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15
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Lewis TS, Sokolova V, Jung H, Ng H, Tan D. Structural basis of chromatin regulation by histone variant H2A.Z. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:11379-11391. [PMID: 34643712 PMCID: PMC8565303 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The importance of histone variant H2A.Z in transcription regulation has been well established, yet its mechanism-of-action remains enigmatic. Conflicting evidence exists in support of both an activating and a repressive role of H2A.Z in transcription. Here we report cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of nucleosomes and chromatin fibers containing H2A.Z and those containing canonical H2A. The structures show that H2A.Z incorporation results in substantial structural changes in both nucleosome and chromatin fiber. While H2A.Z increases the mobility of DNA terminus in nucleosomes, it simultaneously enables nucleosome arrays to form a more regular and condensed chromatin fiber. We also demonstrated that H2A.Z’s ability to enhance nucleosomal DNA mobility is largely attributed to its characteristic shorter C-terminus. Our study provides the structural basis for H2A.Z-mediated chromatin regulation, showing that the increase flexibility of the DNA termini in H2A.Z nucleosomes is central to its dual-functions in chromatin regulation and in transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler S Lewis
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University; Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Vladyslava Sokolova
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University; Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Harry Jung
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University; Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Honkit Ng
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University; Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.,Cryo Electron Microscopy Resource Center, Rockefeller University; New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Dongyan Tan
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University; Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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16
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Multiscale simulations of large complexes in conjunction with cryo-EM analysis. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2021; 72:27-32. [PMID: 34399155 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2021.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The cellular environment is highly crowded with most proteins and RNA/DNA forming homomeric and heteromeric complexes. Essential questions regarding how these complexes switch between functional, rest, and abnormal states with regulators or modifications remain challenging and complicated. Here, we review the recent progress integrating cryoelectron microscopy and multiscale molecular modeling to understand the dynamics and function-related mechanism in protein-RNA/DNA complexes, protein-protein complexes/assemblies, and membrane protein complexes. One future direction of multiscale simulations will be to interpret the large complex multibody regulation in assembly-induced function enhancement in conjunction with advanced atomic resolution structural-biology techniques and specialized computing architectures.
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17
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Sato S, Takizawa Y, Hoshikawa F, Dacher M, Tanaka H, Tachiwana H, Kujirai T, Iikura Y, Ho CH, Adachi N, Patwal I, Flaus A, Kurumizaka H. Cryo-EM structure of the nucleosome core particle containing Giardia lamblia histones. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:8934-8946. [PMID: 34352093 PMCID: PMC8421212 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Giardia lamblia is a pathogenic unicellular eukaryotic parasite that causes giardiasis. Its genome encodes the canonical histones H2A, H2B, H3, and H4, which share low amino acid sequence identity with their human orthologues. We determined the structure of the G. lamblia nucleosome core particle (NCP) at 3.6 Å resolution by cryo-electron microscopy. G. lamblia histones form a characteristic NCP, in which the visible 125 base-pair region of the DNA is wrapped in a left-handed supercoil. The acidic patch on the G. lamblia octamer is deeper, due to an insertion extending the H2B α1 helix and L1 loop, and thus cannot bind the LANA acidic patch binding peptide. The DNA and histone regions near the DNA entry-exit sites could not be assigned, suggesting that these regions are asymmetrically flexible in the G. lamblia NCP. Characterization by thermal unfolding in solution revealed that both the H2A–H2B and DNA association with the G. lamblia H3–H4 were weaker than those for human H3–H4. These results demonstrate the uniformity of the histone octamer as the organizing platform for eukaryotic chromatin, but also illustrate the unrecognized capability for large scale sequence variations that enable the adaptability of histone octamer surfaces and confer internal stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoko Sato
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Yoshimasa Takizawa
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Fumika Hoshikawa
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Mariko Dacher
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Hiroki Tanaka
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Tachiwana
- Division of Cancer Biology, The Cancer Institute of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-8550, Japan
| | - Tomoya Kujirai
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Yukari Iikura
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Cheng-Han Ho
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.,Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Naruhiko Adachi
- Structural Biology Research Center, Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), 1-1 Oho, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0801, Japan
| | - Indu Patwal
- Center for Chromosome Biology, Biochemistry, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland
| | - Andrew Flaus
- Center for Chromosome Biology, Biochemistry, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland
| | - Hitoshi Kurumizaka
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.,Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
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18
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Unraveling linker histone interactions in nucleosomes. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2021; 71:87-93. [PMID: 34246862 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2021.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Considerable progress has been made recently in defining the interactions of linker histones (H1s) within nucleosomes. Major advancements include atomic resolution structures of the globular domain of full-length H1s in the context of nucleosomes containing full-length linker DNA. Although these studies have led to a detailed understanding of the interactions and dynamics of H1 globular domains in the canonical on-dyad nucleosome binding pocket, more information regarding the intrinsically disordered N-terminal and C-terminal domains is needed. In this review, we highlight studies supporting our current understanding of the structures and interactions of the N-terminal, globular, and C-terminal domains of linker histones within the nucleosome.
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19
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Structural and dynamic mechanisms of CBF3-guided centromeric nucleosome formation. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1763. [PMID: 33741944 PMCID: PMC7979930 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21985-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate chromosome segregation relies on the specific centromeric nucleosome-kinetochore interface. In budding yeast, the centromere CBF3 complex guides the deposition of CENP-A, an H3 variant, to form the centromeric nucleosome in a DNA sequence-dependent manner. Here, we determine the structures of the centromeric nucleosome containing the native CEN3 DNA and the CBF3core bound to the canonical nucleosome containing an engineered CEN3 DNA. The centromeric nucleosome core structure contains 115 base pair DNA including a CCG motif. The CBF3core specifically recognizes the nucleosomal CCG motif through the Gal4 domain while allosterically altering the DNA conformation. Cryo-EM, modeling, and mutational studies reveal that the CBF3core forms dynamic interactions with core histones H2B and CENP-A in the CEN3 nucleosome. Our results provide insights into the structure of the budding yeast centromeric nucleosome and the mechanism of its assembly, which have implications for analogous processes of human centromeric nucleosome formation.
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20
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Nagpal H, Fierz B. The Elusive Structure of Centro-Chromatin: Molecular Order or Dynamic Heterogenetity? J Mol Biol 2021; 433:166676. [PMID: 33065112 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The centromere is an essential chromatin domain required for kinetochore recruitment and chromosome segregation in eukaryotes. To perform this role, centro-chromatin adopts a unique structure that provides access to kinetochore proteins and maintains stability under tension during mitosis. This is achieved by the presence of nucleosomes containing the H3 variant CENP-A, which also acts as the epigenetic mark defining the centromere. In this review, we discuss the role of CENP-A on the structure and dynamics of centromeric chromatin. We further discuss the impact of the CENP-A binding proteins CENP-C, CENP-N, and CENP-B on modulating centro-chromatin structure. Based on these findings we provide an overview of the higher order structure of the centromere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsh Nagpal
- Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry of Macromolecules, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Beat Fierz
- Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry of Macromolecules, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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21
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Konrad SF, Vanderlinden W, Frederickx W, Brouns T, Menze BH, De Feyter S, Lipfert J. High-throughput AFM analysis reveals unwrapping pathways of H3 and CENP-A nucleosomes. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:5435-5447. [PMID: 33683227 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr08564b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Nucleosomes, the fundamental units of chromatin, regulate readout and expression of eukaryotic genomes. Single-molecule experiments have revealed force-induced nucleosome accessibility, but a high-resolution unwrapping landscape in the absence of external forces is currently lacking. Here, we introduce a high-throughput pipeline for the analysis of nucleosome conformations based on atomic force microscopy and automated, multi-parameter image analysis. Our data set of ∼10 000 nucleosomes reveals multiple unwrapping states corresponding to steps of 5 bp DNA. For canonical H3 nucleosomes, we observe that dissociation from one side impedes unwrapping from the other side, but in contrast to force-induced unwrapping, we find only a weak sequence-dependent asymmetry. Notably, centromeric CENP-A nucleosomes do not unwrap anti-cooperatively, in stark contrast to H3 nucleosomes. Finally, our results reconcile previous conflicting findings about the differences in height between H3 and CENP-A nucleosomes. We expect our approach to enable critical insights into epigenetic regulation of nucleosome structure and stability and to facilitate future high-throughput AFM studies that involve heterogeneous nucleoprotein complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian F Konrad
- Department of Physics and Center for Nanoscience, LMU Munich, Amalienstr. 54, 80799 Munich, Germany.
| | - Willem Vanderlinden
- Department of Physics and Center for Nanoscience, LMU Munich, Amalienstr. 54, 80799 Munich, Germany.
| | - Wout Frederickx
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Tine Brouns
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Björn H Menze
- Department of Informatics, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 3, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Steven De Feyter
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Jan Lipfert
- Department of Physics and Center for Nanoscience, LMU Munich, Amalienstr. 54, 80799 Munich, Germany.
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22
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CENP-A nucleosome-a chromatin-embedded pedestal for the centromere: lessons learned from structural biology. Essays Biochem 2021; 64:205-221. [PMID: 32720682 PMCID: PMC7475651 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20190074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The centromere is a chromosome locus that directs equal segregation of chromosomes during cell division. A nucleosome containing the histone H3 variant CENP-A epigenetically defines the centromere. Here, we summarize findings from recent structural biology studies, including several CryoEM structures, that contributed to elucidate specific features of the CENP-A nucleosome and molecular determinants of its interactions with CENP-C and CENP-N, the only two centromere proteins that directly bind to it. Based on those findings, we propose a role of the CENP-A nucleosome in the organization of centromeric chromatin beyond binding centromeric proteins.
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23
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Huertas J, Cojocaru V. Breaths, Twists, and Turns of Atomistic Nucleosomes. J Mol Biol 2020; 433:166744. [PMID: 33309853 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.166744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Gene regulation programs establish cellular identity and rely on dynamic changes in the structural packaging of genomic DNA. The DNA is packaged in chromatin, which is formed from arrays of nucleosomes displaying different degree of compaction and different lengths of inter-nucleosomal linker DNA. The nucleosome represents the repetitive unit of chromatin and is formed by wrapping 145-147 basepairs of DNA around an octamer of histone proteins. Each of the four histones is present twice and has a structured core and intrinsically disordered terminal tails. Chromatin dynamics are triggered by inter- and intra-nucleosome motions that are controlled by the DNA sequence, the interactions between the histone core and the DNA, and the conformations, positions, and DNA interactions of the histone tails. Understanding chromatin dynamics requires studying all these features at the highest possible resolution. For this, molecular dynamics simulations can be used as a powerful complement or alternative to experimental approaches, from which it is often very challenging to characterize the structural features and atomic interactions controlling nucleosome motions. Molecular dynamics simulations can be performed at different resolutions, by coarse graining the molecular system with varying levels of details. Here we review the successes and the remaining challenges of the application of atomic resolution simulations to study the structure and dynamics of nucleosomes and their complexes with interacting partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Huertas
- In Silico Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics Group, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany; Center for Multiscale Theory and Computation, Westfälische Wilhelms University, Münster, Germany
| | - Vlad Cojocaru
- In Silico Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics Group, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster, Germany; Center for Multiscale Theory and Computation, Westfälische Wilhelms University, Münster, Germany.
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24
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Lone IN, Sengez B, Hamiche A, Dimitrov S, Alotaibi H. The Role of Histone Variants in the Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition. Cells 2020; 9:cells9112499. [PMID: 33213091 PMCID: PMC7698467 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a physiological process activated during early embryogenesis, which continues to shape tissues and organs later on. It is also hijacked by tumor cells during metastasis. The regulation of EMT has been the focus of many research groups culminating in the last few years and resulting in an elaborate transcriptional network buildup. However, the implication of epigenetic factors in the control of EMT is still in its infancy. Recent discoveries pointed out that histone variants, which are key epigenetic players, appear to be involved in EMT control. This review summarizes the available data on histone variants' function in EMT that would contribute to a better understanding of EMT itself and EMT-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imtiaz Nisar Lone
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir 35340, Turkey; (I.N.L.); (B.S.); (S.D.)
| | - Burcu Sengez
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir 35340, Turkey; (I.N.L.); (B.S.); (S.D.)
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir 35340, Turkey
| | - Ali Hamiche
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67400 Illkirch, France;
| | - Stefan Dimitrov
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir 35340, Turkey; (I.N.L.); (B.S.); (S.D.)
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR 5309, INSERM U1209, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Site Santé-Allée des Alpes, 38700 La Tronche, France
| | - Hani Alotaibi
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir 35340, Turkey; (I.N.L.); (B.S.); (S.D.)
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir 35340, Turkey
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +90-232-299-4100 (ext. 5071)
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25
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Kurumizaka H, Kujirai T, Takizawa Y. Contributions of Histone Variants in Nucleosome Structure and Function. J Mol Biol 2020; 433:166678. [PMID: 33065110 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Chromatin compacts genomic DNA in eukaryotes. The primary chromatin unit is the nucleosome core particle, composed of four pairs of the core histones, H2A, H2B, H3, and H4, and 145-147 base pairs of DNA. Since replication, recombination, repair, and transcription take place in chromatin, the structure and dynamics of the nucleosome must be versatile. These nucleosome characteristics underlie the epigenetic regulation of genomic DNA. In higher eukaryotes, many histone variants have been identified as non-allelic isoforms, which confer nucleosome diversity. In this article, we review the manifold types of nucleosomes produced by histone variants, which play important roles in the epigenetic regulation of chromatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitoshi Kurumizaka
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.
| | - Tomoya Kujirai
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Yoshimasa Takizawa
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
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Mahlke MA, Nechemia-Arbely Y. Guarding the Genome: CENP-A-Chromatin in Health and Cancer. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11070810. [PMID: 32708729 PMCID: PMC7397030 DOI: 10.3390/genes11070810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Faithful chromosome segregation is essential for the maintenance of genomic integrity and requires functional centromeres. Centromeres are epigenetically defined by the histone H3 variant, centromere protein A (CENP-A). Here we highlight current knowledge regarding CENP-A-containing chromatin structure, specification of centromere identity, regulation of CENP-A deposition and possible contribution to cancer formation and/or progression. CENP-A overexpression is common among many cancers and predicts poor prognosis. Overexpression of CENP-A increases rates of CENP-A deposition ectopically at sites of high histone turnover, occluding CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) binding. Ectopic CENP-A deposition leads to mitotic defects, centromere dysfunction and chromosomal instability (CIN), a hallmark of cancer. CENP-A overexpression is often accompanied by overexpression of its chaperone Holliday Junction Recognition Protein (HJURP), leading to epigenetic addiction in which increased levels of HJURP and CENP-A become necessary to support rapidly dividing p53 deficient cancer cells. Alterations in CENP-A posttranslational modifications are also linked to chromosome segregation errors and CIN. Collectively, CENP-A is pivotal to genomic stability through centromere maintenance, perturbation of which can lead to tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan A. Mahlke
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA;
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Yael Nechemia-Arbely
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA;
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-412-623-3228; Fax: +1-412-623-7828
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