Mammalian Su(var) genes in chromatin control

Decoding the universal human chromatin landscape through teratoma-based profiling

Teratoma formation is key for evaluating differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into embryonic germ layers and serves as a model for understanding stem cell differentiation and developmental processes. Its potential for insights into epigenome and transcriptome profiling is significant. This study integrates the analysis of the epigenome and transcriptome of hESC-generated teratomas, comparing transcriptomes between hESCs and teratomas. It employs cell type-specific expression patterns from single-cell data to deconvolve RNA-Seq data and identify cell types within teratomas. Our results provide a catalog of activating and repressive histone modifications, while also elucidating distinctive features of chromatin states. Construction of an epigenetic signature matrix enabled the quantification of diverse cell populations in teratomas and enhanced the ability to unravel the epigenetic landscape in heterogeneous tissue contexts. This study also includes a single cell multiome atlas of expression (scRNA-Seq) and chromatin accessibility (scATAC-Seq) of human teratomas, further revealing the complexity of these tissues. A histology-based digital staining tool further complemented the annotation of cell types in teratomas, enhancing our understanding of their cellular composition. This research is a valuable resource for examining teratoma epigenomic and transcriptomic landscapes and serves as a model for epigenetic data comparison.

Daxx knockdown promoted rDNA transcription without impairing H3.3 expression in mouse preimplantation embryos

During fertilization, DAXX (death domain-associated protein) mediates histone variant H3.3 incorporation into heterochromatin, which plays an important role in the maintenance of genomic integrity. rDNA, the ribosomal gene, is included in the first wave of gene activation after fertilization. Our and other studies indicated that loss of Daxx disturbs rDNA heterochromatinization and promotes rDNA transcription without change in protein expression of H3.3. However, maternal and zygotic deletion of Daxx impairs blastocyst development. Whether Daxx knockdown affects H3.3 expression and improves the rDNA transcription in preimplantation development has not been reported. In the present study, we injected HA-labelled H3.3 (H3.3-HA) into oocytes during ICSI procedure, and detected H3.3 and DAXX by immunofluorescent staining. Then, we knockdowned Daxx and detected the gene expression levels of Daxx, H3.3, 18s and 47s rRNA. We also performed immunofluorescent staining of B23, γH2A and EdU incorporation to demonstrate nuclear structure, DNA damage and replication. We found injection of H3.3-HA did not impair preimplantation development. Daxx siRNA did not change expression of H3.3 mRNA, and the development of two-cell embryos and blastocysts, but the overall replication and expression levels of rRNA were increased compared with that in the control group. Finally, knockdown of DAXX did not aggravate the DNA damage but loosened the nucleolus. We concluded that Daxx knockdown promoted DNA replication and rDNA transcription, but did not affect H3.3 expression and subsequent preimplantation development.

Histone 4 lysine 20 tri-methylation: a key epigenetic regulator in chromatin structure and disease

Chromatin is a vital and dynamic structure that is carefully regulated to maintain proper cell homeostasis. A great deal of this regulation is dependent on histone proteins which have the ability to be dynamically modified on their tails via various post-translational modifications (PTMs). While multiple histone PTMs are studied and often work in concert to facilitate gene expression, here we focus on the tri-methylation of histone H4 on lysine 20 (H4K20me3) and its function in chromatin structure, cell cycle, DNA repair, and development. The recent studies evaluated in this review have shed light on how H4K20me3 is established and regulated by various interacting partners and how H4K20me3 and the proteins that interact with this PTM are involved in various diseases. Through analyzing the current literature on H4K20me3 function and regulation, we aim to summarize this knowledge and highlights gaps that remain in the field.

Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Chromatin

In eukaryotic cells, protein and RNA factors involved in genome activities like transcription, RNA processing, DNA replication, and repair accumulate in self-organizing membraneless chromatin subcompartments. These structures contribute to efficiently conduct chromatin-mediated reactions and to establish specific cellular programs. However, the underlying mechanisms for their formation are only partly understood. Recent studies invoke liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of proteins and RNAs in the establishment of chromatin activity patterns. At the same time, the folding of chromatin in the nucleus can drive genome partitioning into spatially distinct domains. Here, the interplay between chromatin organization, chromatin binding, and LLPS is discussed by comparing and contrasting three prototypical chromatin subcompartments: the nucleolus, clusters of active RNA polymerase II, and pericentric heterochromatin domains. It is discussed how the different ways of chromatin compartmentalization are linked to transcription regulation, the targeting of soluble factors to certain parts of the genome, and to disease-causing genetic aberrations.

How enzymatic activity is involved in chromatin organization

Spatial organization of chromatin plays a critical role in genome regulation. Previously, various types of affinity mediators and enzymes have been attributed to regulate spatial organization of chromatin from a thermodynamics perspective. However, at the mechanistic level, enzymes act in their unique ways and perturb the chromatin. Here, we construct a polymer physics model following the mechanistic scheme of Topoisomerase-II, an enzyme resolving topological constraints of chromatin, and investigate how it affects interphase chromatin organization. Our computer simulations demonstrate Topoisomerase-II's ability to phase separate chromatin into eu- and heterochromatic regions with a characteristic wall-like organization of the euchromatic regions. We realized that the ability of the euchromatic regions to cross each other due to enzymatic activity of Topoisomerase-II induces this phase separation. This realization is based on the physical fact that partial absence of self-avoiding interaction can induce phase separation of a system into its self-avoiding and non-self-avoiding parts, which we reveal using a mean-field argument. Furthermore, motivated from recent experimental observations, we extend our model to a bidisperse setting and show that the characteristic features of the enzymatic activity-driven phase separation survive there. The existence of these robust characteristic features, even under the non-localized action of the enzyme, highlights the critical role of enzymatic activity in chromatin organization.

Epigenetics and CD8+ T cell memory

Following antigen recognition, CD8⁺ T lymphocytes can follow different patterns of differentiation, with the generation of different subsets characterized by distinct phenotypes, functions, and migration properties. The changes of transcription factors activity and chromatin structure dynamics drive the functional differentiation and phenotypic heterogeneity of these T cell subsets, which include short-lived effectors, long-term survival of memory, and also dysfunctional exhausted T cells. Recent progress in the field has shed light on the key contribution of chromatin organization to control the T cell fate specification. In fact, the understanding of these processes has important implications for the development of new immunotherapy protocols and to design new vaccination strategies. Here, we review the current understanding of the contribution of chromatin architecture and transcription factor activity orchestrating the gene expression programs guiding the CD8⁺ T cell subset commitment. We will focus on epigenetic changes, acting sequentially or in combination, which control the transcriptional programs governing T cell plasticity, stability, and memory. New molecular insights into the mechanisms of maintenance of cellular memory and identity, favoring or impeding the reprogramming, will be discussed in the context of T cell memory differentiation in infection and cancer.

Transcriptional Activation of Heterochromatin by Recruitment of dCas9 Activators

The transition from silenced heterochromatin to a biologically active state and vice versa is a fundamental part of the implementation of cell type-specific gene expression programs. To reveal structure-function relationships and dissect the underlying mechanisms, experiments that ectopically induce transcription are highly informative. In particular, the approach to perturb chromatin states by recruiting fusions of the catalytically inactive dCas9 protein in a sequence-specific manner to a locus of interest has been used in numerous applications. Here, we describe how this approach can be applied to activate pericentric heterochromatin (PCH) in mouse cells as a prototypic silenced state by providing protocols for the following workflow: (a) Recruitment of dCas9 fusion constructs with the strong transcriptional activator VPR to PCH. (b) Analysis of the resulting changes in chromatin compaction, epigenetic marks, and active transcription by fluorescence microscopy-based readouts. (c) Automated analysis of the resulting images with a set of scripts in the R programming language. Furthermore, we discuss how parameters for chromatin decondensation and active transcription are extracted from these experiments and can be combined with other readouts to gain insights into PCH activation.

Identifying distinct heterochromatin regions using combinatorial epigenetic probes in live cells

The 3D spatial organization of the genome controls gene expression and cell functionality. Heterochromatin (HC), which is the densely compacted and largely silenced part of the chromatin, is the driver for the formation and maintenance of nuclear organization in the mammalian nucleus. It is functionally divided into highly compact constitutive heterochromatin (cHC) and transcriptionally poised facultative heterochromatin (fHC). Long regarded as a static structure, the highly dynamic nature of the heterochromatin is being slowly understood and studied. These changes in HC occur on various temporal scales during the cell cycle and differentiation processes. Most methods that capture information about the heterochromatin are static techniques that cannot provide a readout of how the HC organization evolves with time. The delineation of specific areas such as fHC are also rendered difficult due to its diffusive nature and lack of specific features. Another degree of complexity in characterizing changes in heterochromatin occurs due to the heterogeneity in the HC organization of individual cells, necessitating single cell studies. Overall, there is a need for live cell compatible tools that can stably track the heterochromatin as it undergoes re-organization. In this work, we present an approach to track cHC and fHC based on the epigenetic hallmarks associated with them. Unlike conventional immunostaining approaches, we use small recombinant protein probes that allow us to dynamically monitor the HC by binding to modifications specific to the cHC and fHC, such as H3K9me3, DNA methylation and H3K27me3. We demonstrate the use of the probes to follow the changes in HC induced by drug perturbations at the single cell level. We also use the probe sets combinatorically to simultaneously track chromatin regions enriched in two selected epigenetic modifications using a FRET based approach that enabled us tracking distinctive chromatin features in situ.

Post-Translational Modifications in Oocyte Maturation and Embryo Development

Mammalian oocyte maturation and embryo development are unique biological processes regulated by various modifications. Since de novo mRNA transcription is absent during oocyte meiosis, protein-level regulation, especially post-translational modification (PTM), is crucial. It is known that PTM plays key roles in diverse cellular events such as DNA damage response, chromosome condensation, and cytoskeletal organization during oocyte maturation and embryo development. However, most previous reviews on PTM in oocytes and embryos have only focused on studies of Xenopus laevis or Caenorhabditis elegans eggs. In this review, we will discuss the latest discoveries regarding PTM in mammalian oocytes maturation and embryo development, focusing on phosphorylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation and Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation). Phosphorylation functions in chromosome condensation and spindle alignment by regulating histone H3, mitogen-activated protein kinases, and some other pathways during mammalian oocyte maturation. Ubiquitination is a three-step enzymatic cascade that facilitates the degradation of proteins, and numerous E3 ubiquitin ligases are involved in modifying substrates and thus regulating oocyte maturation, oocyte-sperm binding, and early embryo development. Through the reversible addition and removal of SUMO (small ubiquitin-related modifier) on lysine residues, SUMOylation affects the cell cycle and DNA damage response in oocytes. As an emerging PTM, PARlation has been shown to not only participate in DNA damage repair, but also mediate asymmetric division of oocyte meiosis. Each of these PTMs and external environments is versatile and contributes to distinct phases during oocyte maturation and embryo development.

HP1 drives de novo 3D genome reorganization in early Drosophila embryos

Fundamental features of 3D genome organization are established de novo in the early embryo, including clustering of pericentromeric regions, the folding of chromosome arms and the segregation of chromosomes into active (A-) and inactive (B-) compartments. However, the molecular mechanisms that drive de novo organization remain unknown^1,2. Here, by combining chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C), chromatin immunoprecipitation with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP–seq), 3D DNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (3D DNA FISH) and polymer simulations, we show that heterochromatin protein 1a (HP1a) is essential for de novo 3D genome organization during Drosophila early development. The binding of HP1a at pericentromeric heterochromatin is required to establish clustering of pericentromeric regions. Moreover, HP1a binding within chromosome arms is responsible for overall chromosome folding and has an important role in the formation of B-compartment regions. However, depletion of HP1a does not affect the A-compartment, which suggests that a different molecular mechanism segregates active chromosome regions. Our work identifies HP1a as an epigenetic regulator that is involved in establishing the global structure of the genome in the early embryo.

The heterochromatin protein HP1 has an essential role in establishing several features of the 3D nuclear organization of the genome during early embryonic development in Drosophila.

Histone lysine methyltransferase Pr-set7/SETD8 promotes neural stem cell reactivation

The ability of neural stem cells (NSCs) to switch between quiescence and proliferation is crucial for brain development and homeostasis. Increasing evidence suggests that variants of histone lysine methyltransferases including KMT5A are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the function of KMT5A/Pr-set7/SETD8 in the central nervous system is not well established. Here, we show that Drosophila Pr-Set7 is a novel regulator of NSC reactivation. Loss of function of pr-set7 causes a delay in NSC reactivation and loss of H4K20 monomethylation in the brain. Through NSC-specific in vivo profiling, we demonstrate that Pr-set7 binds to the promoter region of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (cdk1) and Wnt pathway transcriptional co-activator earthbound1/jerky (ebd1). Further validation indicates that Pr-set7 is required for the expression of cdk1 and ebd1 in the brain. Similar to Pr-set7, Cdk1 and Ebd1 promote NSC reactivation. Finally, overexpression of Cdk1 and Ebd1 significantly suppressed NSC reactivation defects observed in pr-set7-depleted brains. Therefore, Pr-set7 promotes NSC reactivation by regulating Wnt signaling and cell cycle progression. Our findings may contribute to the understanding of mammalian KMT5A/PR-SET7/SETD8 during brain development.

Tyramide signal amplification mass spectrometry (TSA-MS) ratio identifies nuclear speckle proteins

We present a simple ratio method to infer protein composition within cellular structures using proximity labeling approaches but compensating for the diffusion of free radicals. We used tyramide signal amplification (TSA) and label-free mass spectrometry (MS) to compare proteins in nuclear speckles versus centromeres. Our “TSA-MS ratio” approach successfully identified known nuclear speckle proteins. For example, 96% and 67% of proteins in the top 30 and 100 sorted proteins, respectively, are known nuclear speckle proteins, including proteins that we validated here as enriched in nuclear speckles. We show that MFAP1, among the top 20 in our list, forms droplets under certain circumstances and that MFAP1 expression levels modulate the size, stability, and dynamics of nuclear speckles. Localization of MFAP1 and its binding partner, PRPF38A, in droplet-like nuclear bodies precedes formation of nuclear speckles during telophase. Our results update older proteomic studies of nuclear speckles and should provide a useful reference dataset to guide future experimental dissection of nuclear speckle structure and function.

Interplay between genome organization and epigenomic alterations of pericentromeric DNA in cancer

In eukaryotic genome biology, the genomic organization inside the three-dimensional (3D) nucleus is highly complex, and whether this organization governs gene expression is poorly understood. Nuclear lamina (NL) is a filamentous meshwork of proteins present at the lining of inner nuclear membrane that serves as an anchoring platform for genome organization. Large chromatin domains termed as lamina-associated domains (LADs), play a major role in silencing genes at the nuclear periphery. The interaction of the NL and genome is dynamic and stochastic. Furthermore, many genes change their positions during developmental processes or under disease conditions such as cancer, to activate certain sorts of genes and/or silence others. Pericentromeric heterochromatin (PCH) is mostly in the silenced region within the genome, which localizes at the nuclear periphery. Studies show that several genes located at the PCH are aberrantly expressed in cancer. The interesting question is that despite being localized in the pericentromeric region, how these genes still manage to overcome pericentromeric repression. Although epigenetic mechanisms control the expression of the pericentromeric region, recent studies about genome organization and genome-nuclear lamina interaction have shed light on a new aspect of pericentromeric gene regulation through a complex and coordinated interplay between epigenomic remodeling and genomic organization in cancer.

Integrative pan cancer analysis reveals epigenomic variation in cancer type and cell specific chromatin domains

Epigenetic mechanisms contribute to the initiation and development of cancer, and epigenetic variation promotes dynamic gene expression patterns that facilitate tumor evolution and adaptation. While the NCI-60 panel represents a diverse set of human cancer cell lines that has been used to screen chemical compounds, a comprehensive epigenomic atlas of these cells has been lacking. Here, we report an integrative analysis of 60 human cancer epigenomes, representing a catalog of activating and repressive histone modifications. We identify genome-wide maps of canonical sharp and broad H3K4me3 domains at promoter regions of tumor suppressors, H3K27ac-marked conventional enhancers and super enhancers, and widespread inter-cancer and intra-cancer specific variability in H3K9me3 and H4K20me3-marked heterochromatin domains. Furthermore, we identify features of chromatin states, including chromatin state switching along chromosomes, correlation of histone modification density with genetic mutations, DNA methylation, enrichment of DNA binding motifs in regulatory regions, and gene activity and inactivity. These findings underscore the importance of integrating epigenomic maps with gene expression and genetic variation data to understand the molecular basis of human cancer. Our findings provide a resource for mining epigenomic maps of human cancer cells and for identifying epigenetic therapeutic targets.

Insights into HP1a-Chromatin Interactions

Understanding the packaging of DNA into chromatin has become a crucial aspect in the study of gene regulatory mechanisms. Heterochromatin establishment and maintenance dynamics have emerged as some of the main features involved in genome stability, cellular development, and diseases. The most extensively studied heterochromatin protein is HP1a. This protein has two main domains, namely the chromoshadow and the chromodomain, separated by a hinge region. Over the years, several works have taken on the task of identifying HP1a partners using different strategies. In this review, we focus on describing these interactions and the possible complexes and subcomplexes associated with this critical protein. Characterization of these complexes will help us to clearly understand the implications of the interactions of HP1a in heterochromatin maintenance, heterochromatin dynamics, and heterochromatin's direct relationship to gene regulation and chromatin organization.

Double-edged sword: The evolutionary consequences of the epigenetic silencing of transposable elements

Transposable elements (TEs) are genomic parasites that selfishly replicate at the expense of host fitness. Fifty years of evolutionary studies of TEs have concentrated on the deleterious genetic effects of TEs, such as their effects on disrupting genes and regulatory sequences. However, a flurry of recent work suggests that there is another important source of TEs’ harmful effects—epigenetic silencing. Host genomes typically silence TEs by the deposition of repressive epigenetic marks. While this silencing reduces the selfish replication of TEs and should benefit hosts, a picture is emerging that the epigenetic silencing of TEs triggers inadvertent spreading of repressive marks to otherwise expressed neighboring genes, ultimately jeopardizing host fitness. In this Review, we provide a long-overdue overview of the recent genome-wide evidence for the presence and prevalence of TEs’ epigenetic effects, highlighting both the similarities and differences across mammals, insects, and plants. We lay out the current understanding of the functional and fitness consequences of TEs’ epigenetic effects, and propose possible influences of such effects on the evolution of both hosts and TEs themselves. These unique evolutionary consequences indicate that TEs’ epigenetic effect is not only a crucial component of TE biology but could also be a significant contributor to genome function and evolution.

The Emerging Roles of Heterochromatin in Cell Migration

Cell migration is a key process in health and disease. In the last decade an increasing attention is given to chromatin organization in migrating cells. In various types of cells induction of migration leads to a global increase in heterochromatin levels. Heterochromatin is required for optimal cell migration capabilities, since various interventions with heterochromatin formation impeded the migration rate of numerous cell types. Heterochromatin supports the migration process by affecting both the mechanical properties of the nucleus as well as the genetic processes taking place within it. Increased heterochromatin levels elevate nuclear rigidity in a manner that allows faster cell migration in 3D environments. Condensed chromatin and a more rigid nucleus may increase nuclear durability to shear stress and prevent DNA damage during the migration process. In addition, heterochromatin reorganization in migrating cells is important for induction of migration-specific transcriptional plan together with inhibition of many other unnecessary transcriptional changes. Thus, chromatin organization appears to have a key role in the cellular migration process.

Heterochromatin formation in Drosophila requires genome-wide histone deacetylation in cleavage chromatin before mid-blastula transition in early embryogenesis

Su(var) mutations define epigenetic factors controlling heterochromatin formation and gene silencing in Drosophila. Here, we identify SU(VAR)2-1 as a novel chromatin regulator that directs global histone deacetylation during the transition of cleavage chromatin into somatic blastoderm chromatin in early embryogenesis. SU(VAR)2-1 is heterochromatin-associated in blastoderm nuclei but not in later stages of development. In larval polytene chromosomes, SU(VAR)2-1 is a band-specific protein. SU(VAR)2-1 directs global histone deacetylation by recruiting the histone deacetylase RPD3. In Su(var)2-1 mutants H3K9, H3K27, H4K8 and H4K16 acetylation shows elevated levels genome-wide and heterochromatin displays aberrant histone hyper-acetylation. Whereas H3K9me2- and HP1a-binding appears unaltered, the heterochromatin-specific H3K9me2S10ph composite mark is impaired in heterochromatic chromocenters of larval salivary polytene chromosomes. SU(VAR)2-1 contains an NRF1/EWG domain and a C2HC zinc-finger motif. Our study identifies SU(VAR)2-1 as a dosage-dependent, heterochromatin-initiating SU(VAR) factor, where the SU(VAR)2-1-mediated control of genome-wide histone deacetylation after cleavage and before mid-blastula transition (pre-MBT) is required to enable heterochromatin formation.

Mouse Heterochromatin Adopts Digital Compaction States without Showing Hallmarks of HP1-Driven Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation

The formation of silenced and condensed heterochromatin foci involves enrichment of heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1). HP1 can bridge chromatin segments and form liquid droplets, but the biophysical principles underlying heterochromatin compartmentalization in the cell nucleus are elusive. Here, we assess mechanistically relevant features of pericentric heterochromatin compaction in mouse fibroblasts. We find that (1) HP1 has only a weak capacity to form liquid droplets in living cells; (2) the size, global accessibility, and compaction of heterochromatin foci are independent of HP1; (3) heterochromatin foci lack a separated liquid HP1 pool; and (4) heterochromatin compaction can toggle between two “digital” states depending on the presence of a strong transcriptional activator. These findings indicate that heterochromatin foci resemble collapsed polymer globules that are percolated with the same nucleoplasmic liquid as the surrounding euchromatin, which has implications for our understanding of chromatin compartmentalization and its functional consequences.

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HP1 has only a weak capacity to form droplets in living cells

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Size, accessibility, and compaction of heterochromatin foci are independent of HP1

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Heterochromatin compaction is “digital” and can toggle between two distinct states

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Methodological framework to assess hallmarks of phase separation in living cells

SUV39H1 regulates human colon carcinoma apoptosis and cell cycle to promote tumor growth

Trimethylation of histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9me3) at gene promoters is a major epigenetic mechanism that silences gene expression. We have developed a small molecule inhibitor for the H3K9me3-specific histone methyltransferase SUV39H1. We report here that FAS expression is significantly down-regulated and SUV39H1 expression is significantly up-regulated in human colorectal carcinoma (CRC) as compared to normal colon. SUV39H1-selective inhibitor F5446 decreased H3K9me3 deposition at the FAS promoter, increased Fas expression, and increased CRC cell sensitivity to FasL-induced apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, inhibition of SUV39H1 altered the expression of genes with known functions in DNA replication and cell cycle in the metastatic colon carcinoma cells, which is associated with cell cycle arrest at S phase in the metastatic human colon carcinoma cells, resulting in tumor cell apoptosis and growth inhibition in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro. Moreover, F5446 increased 5-FU-resistant human CRC sensitivity to both 5-FU- and FasL-induced apoptosis and inhibited tumor cell growth in vitro. More importantly, F5446 suppressed human colon tumor xenograft growth in vivo. Our data indicate that pharmacological inhibition of SUV39H1 is an effective approach to suppress human CRC.

On the relations of phase separation and Hi-C maps to epigenetics

The relationship between compartmentalization of the genome and epigenetics is long and hoary. In 1928, Heitz defined heterochromatin as the largest differentiated chromatin compartment in eukaryotic nuclei. Müller's discovery of position-effect variegation in 1930 went on to show that heterochromatin is a cytologically visible state of heritable (epigenetic) gene repression. Current insights into compartmentalization have come from a high-throughput top-down approach where contact frequency (Hi-C) maps revealed the presence of compartmental domains that segregate the genome into heterochromatin and euchromatin. It has been argued that the compartmentalization seen in Hi-C maps is owing to the physiochemical process of phase separation. Oddly, the insights provided by these experimental and conceptual advances have remained largely silent on how Hi-C maps and phase separation relate to epigenetics. Addressing this issue directly in mammals, we have made use of a bottom-up approach starting with the hallmarks of constitutive heterochromatin, heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) and its binding partner the H3K9me2/3 determinant of the histone code. They are key epigenetic regulators in eukaryotes. Both hallmarks are also found outside mammalian constitutive heterochromatin as constituents of larger (0.1-5 Mb) heterochromatin-like domains and smaller (less than 100 kb) complexes. The well-documented ability of HP1 proteins to function as bridges between H3K9me2/3-marked nucleosomes contributes to polymer-polymer phase separation that packages epigenetically heritable chromatin states during interphase. Contacts mediated by HP1 'bridging' are likely to have been detected in Hi-C maps, as evidenced by the B4 heterochromatic subcompartment that emerges from contacts between large KRAB-ZNF heterochromatin-like domains. Further, mutational analyses have revealed a finer, innate, compartmentalization in Hi-C experiments that probably reflect contacts involving smaller domains/complexes. Proteins that bridge (modified) DNA and histones in nucleosomal fibres-where the HP1-H3K9me2/3 interaction represents the most evolutionarily conserved paradigm-could drive and generate the fundamental compartmentalization of the interphase nucleus. This has implications for the mechanism(s) that maintains cellular identity, be it a terminally differentiated fibroblast or a pluripotent embryonic stem cell.

Disordered region of H3K9 methyltransferase Clr4 binds the nucleosome and contributes to its activity

Heterochromatin is a distinctive chromatin structure that is essential for chromosome segregation, genome stability and regulation of gene expression. H3K9 methylation (H3K9me), a hallmark of heterochromatin, is deposited by the Su(var)3-9 family of proteins; however, the mechanism by which H3K9 methyltransferases bind and methylate the nucleosome is poorly understood. In this work we determined the interaction of Clr4, the fission yeast H3K9 methyltransferase, with nucleosomes using nuclear magnetic resonance, biochemical and genetic assays. Our study shows that the Clr4 chromodomain binds the H3K9me3 tail and that both, the chromodomain and the disordered region connecting the chromodomain and the SET domain, bind the nucleosome core. We show that interaction of the disordered region with the nucleosome core is independent of H3K9me and contributes to H3K9me in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we show that those interactions with the nucleosome core are contributing to de novo deposition of H3K9me and to establishment of heterochromatin.

The nucleosomes that mark centromere location on chromosomes old and new

Proper segregation of chromosomes is an essential component of cell division. The centromere is the locus at which the kinetochore—the proteinaceous complex that ties chromosomes to microtubules—forms during mitosis and meiosis. Thus, the centromere is critical for equal segregation of chromosomes. The centromere is characterized by both protein and DNA elements: the histone H3 variant CENP-A epigenetically defines the location of the centromere while centromeric DNA sequences are neither necessary nor sufficient for centromere function. Paradoxically, the DNA sequences play a critical role in new centromere formation. In this essay, we discuss the contribution of both epigenetics and genetics at the centromere. Understanding these contributions is vital to efforts to control centromere formation on synthetic/artificial chromosomes and centromere strength on natural ones.

Heterochromatic genome instability and neurodegeneration sharing similarities with Alzheimer's disease in old Bmi1+/- mice

Sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. However, representative experimental models of AD have remained difficult to produce because of the disease’s uncertain origin. The Polycomb group protein BMI1 regulates chromatin compaction and gene silencing. BMI1 expression is abundant in adult brain neurons but down-regulated in AD brains. We show here that mice lacking one allele of Bmi1 (Bmi1+/−) develop normally but present with age cognitive deficits and neurodegeneration sharing similarities with AD. Bmi1+/− mice also transgenic for the amyloid beta precursor protein died prematurely and present aggravated disease. Loss of heterochromatin and DNA damage response (DDR) at repetitive DNA sequences were predominant in Bmi1+/− mouse neurons and inhibition of the DDR mitigated the amyloid and Tau phenotype. Heterochromatin anomalies and DDR at repetitive DNA sequences were also found in AD brains. Aging Bmi1+/− mice may thus represent an interesting model to identify and study novel pathogenic mechanisms related to AD.

SUV39H1 Represses the Expression of Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Effector Genes to Promote Colon Tumor Immune Evasion

Despite the presence of CTLs in the tumor microenvironment, the majority of immunogenic human colon cancer does not respond to immune checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy, and microsatellite instable (MSI) tumors are not naturally eliminated. The molecular mechanism underlying the inactivity of tumor-infiltrating CTLs is unknown. We report here that CTLs were present in both MSI and microsatellite stable colon tumors. The expression of the H3K9me3-specific histone methyltransferase SUV39H1 was significantly elevated in human colon carcinoma compared with normal colon tissues. Using a mouse colon carcinoma model, we further determined that tumor-infiltrating CTLs in the colon tumor microenvironment have high expression of SUV39H1. To target SUV39H1 in the tumor microenvironment, a virtual chemical library was screened on the basis of the SET (suppressor of variegation 3-9, enhancer of zeste and trithorax) domain structure of the human SUV39H1 protein. Functional enzymatic activity assays identified a small molecule that inhibits SUV39H1 enzymatic activity. On the basis of the structure of this small molecule, we modified it and chemically synthesized a small molecule, termed F5446, which has an EC₅₀ of 0.496 μmol/L for SUV39H1 enzymatic activity. H3K9me3 was enriched in the promoters of GZMB, PRF1, FASLG, and IFNG in quiescent T cells. F5446 inhibited H3K9me3, thereby upregulating expression of these effectors in tumor-infiltrating CTLs and suppressing colon carcinoma growth in a CD8⁺ CTL-dependent manner in vivo Our data indicate that SUV39H1 represses CTL effector gene expression and, in doing so, confers colon cancer immune escape.

Identification of H4K20me3- and H3K4me3-associated RNAs using CARIP-Seq expands the transcriptional and epigenetic networks of embryonic stem cells

RNA has been shown to interact with various proteins to regulate chromatin dynamics and gene expression. However, it is unknown whether RNAs associate with epigenetic marks such as post-translational modifications of histones, including histone 4 lysine 20 trimethylation (H4K20me3) or trimethylated histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4me3), to regulate chromatin and gene expression. Here, we used chromatin-associated RNA immunoprecipitation (CARIP) followed by next-generation sequencing (CARIP-Seq) to survey RNAs associated with H4K20me3- and H3K4me3-marked chromatin on a global scale in embryonic stem (ES) cells. We identified thousands of mRNAs and noncoding RNAs that associate with H4K20me3- and H3K4me3-marked chromatin. H4K20me3- and H3K4me3-interacting RNAs are involved in chromatin organization and modification and RNA processing, whereas H4K20me3-only RNAs are involved in cell motility and differentiation, and H3K4me3-only RNAs are involved in metabolic processes and RNA processing. Expression of H3K4me3-associated RNAs is enriched in ES cells, whereas expression of H4K20me3-associated RNAs is enriched in ES cells and differentiated cells. H4K20me3- and H3K4me3-interacting RNAs originate from genes that co-localize with features of active chromatin, including transcriptional machinery and active promoter regions, and the histone modification H3K36me3 in gene body regions. We also found that H4K20me3 and H3K4me3 are associated with distinct gene features including transcripts of greater length and exon number relative to unoccupied transcripts. H4K20me3- and H3K4me3-marked chromatin is also associated with processed RNAs (exon transcripts) relative to unspliced pre-mRNA and ncRNA transcripts. In summary, our results provide evidence that H4K20me3- and H3K4me3-associated RNAs represent a distinct subnetwork of the ES cell transcriptional repertoire.

H4K20me3 co-localizes with activating histone modifications at transcriptionally dynamic regions in embryonic stem cells

BACKGROUND

Bivalent chromatin domains consisting of the activating histone 3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) and repressive histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) histone modifications are enriched at developmental genes that are repressed in embryonic stem cells but active during differentiation. However, it is unknown whether another repressive histone modification, histone 4 lysine 20 trimethylation (H4K20me3), co-localizes with activating histone marks in ES cells.

RESULTS

Here, we describe the previously uncharacterized coupling of the repressive H4K20me3 heterochromatin mark with the activating histone modifications H3K4me3 and histone 3 lysine 36 trimethylation (H3K36me3), and transcriptional machinery (RNA polymerase II; RNAPII), in ES cells. These newly described bivalent domains consisting of H3K4me3/H4K20me3 are predominantly located in intergenic regions and near transcriptional start sites of active genes, while H3K36me3/H4K20me3 are located in intergenic regions and within gene body regions of active genes. Global sequential ChIP, also termed reChIP-Seq, confirmed the simultaneous presence of H3K4me3 and H4K20me3 at the same genomic regions in ES cells. Genes containing H3K4me3/H4K20me3 exhibit decreased RNAPII pausing and are poised for deactivation of RNAPII binding during differentiation relative to H3K4me3 marked genes. An evaluation of transcription factor (TF) binding motif enrichment revealed that DNA sequence may play a role in shaping the landscape of these novel bivalent domains. Moreover, H3K4me3/H4K20me3 and H3K36me3/H4K20me3 bound regions are enriched with repetitive LINE and LTR elements.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, these findings highlight a previously undescribed subnetwork of ES cell transcriptional circuitry that utilizes dual marking of the repressive H4K20me3 mark with activating histone modifications.

A novel long non-coding RNA from NBL2 pericentromeric macrosatellite forms a perinucleolar aggregate structure in colon cancer

Primate-specific NBL2 macrosatellite is hypomethylated in several types of tumors, yet the consequences of this DNA hypomethylation remain unknown. We show that NBL2 conserved repeats are close to the centromeres of most acrocentric chromosomes. NBL2 associates with the perinucleolar region and undergoes severe demethylation in a subset of colorectal cancer (CRC). Upon DNA hypomethylation and histone acetylation, NBL2 repeats are transcribed in tumor cell lines and primary CRCs. NBL2 monomers exhibit promoter activity, and are contained within novel, non-polyA antisense lncRNAs, which we designated TNBL (Tumor-associated NBL2 transcript). TNBL is stable throughout the mitotic cycle, and in interphase nuclei preferentially forms a perinucleolar aggregate in the proximity of a subset of NBL2 loci. TNBL aggregates interact with the SAM68 perinucleolar body in a mirror-image cancer specific perinucleolar structure. TNBL binds with high affinity to several proteins involved in nuclear functions and RNA metabolism, such as CELF1 and NPM1. Our data unveil novel DNA and RNA structural features of a non-coding macrosatellite frequently altered in cancer.

Epigenetic control of variation and stochasticity in metabolic disease

BACKGROUND

The alarming rise of obesity and its associated comorbidities represents a medical burden and a major global health and economic issue. Understanding etiological mechanisms underpinning susceptibility and therapeutic response is of primary importance. Obesity, diabetes, and metabolic diseases are complex trait disorders with only partial genetic heritability, indicating important roles for environmental programing and epigenetic effects.

SCOPE OF THE REVIEW

We will highlight some of the reasons for the scarce predictability of metabolic diseases. We will outline how genetic variants generate phenotypic variation in disease susceptibility across populations. We will then focus on recent conclusions about epigenetic mechanisms playing a fundamental role in increasing variability and subsequently disease triggering.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

Currently, we are unable to predict or mechanistically define how "missing heritability" drives disease. Unravelling this black box of regulatory processes will allow us to move towards a truly personalized and precision medicine.

Epigenetic regulation of HIV-1 latency: focus on polycomb group (PcG) proteins

HIV-1 latency allows the virus to persist until reactivation, in a transcriptionally silent form in its cellular reservoirs despite the presence of effective cART. Such viral persistence represents a major barrier to HIV eradication since treatment interruption leads to rebound plasma viremia. Polycomb group (PcG) proteins have recently got a considerable attention in regulating HIV-1 post-integration latency as they are involved in the repression of proviral gene expression through the methylation of histones. This epigenetic regulation plays an important role in the establishment and maintenance of HIV-1 latency. In fact, PcG proteins act in complexes and modulate the epigenetic signatures of integrated HIV-1 promoter. Key role played by PcG proteins in the molecular control of HIV-1 latency has led to hypothesize that PcG proteins may represent a valuable target for future HIV-1 therapy in purging HIV-1 reservoirs. In this regard, various small molecules have been synthesized or explored to specifically block the epigenetic activity of PcG. In this review, we will highlight the possible therapeutic approaches to achieve either a functional or sterilizing cure of HIV-1 infection with special focus on histone methylation by PcG proteins together with current and novel pharmacological approaches to reactivate HIV-1 from latency that could ultimately lead towards a better clearance of viral latent reservoirs.

The epigenetic control of stemness in CD8+T cell fate commitment

After priming, naïve CD8+T lymphocytes establish specific heritable transcription programs that define progression to long-lasting memory cells or to short-lived effector cells. Although lineage specification is critical for protection, it remains unclear how chromatin dynamics contributes to the control of gene expression programs. We explored the role of gene silencing by the histone methyltransferase Suv39h1. In murine CD8+T cells activated afterListeria monocytogenesinfection, Suv39h1-dependent trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9 controls the expression of a set of stem cell–related memory genes. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed a defect in silencing of stem/memory genes selectively inSuv39h1-defective T cell effectors. As a result,Suv39h1-defective CD8+T cells show sustained survival and increased long-term memory reprogramming capacity. Thus, Suv39h1 plays a critical role in marking chromatin to silence stem/memory genes during CD8+T effector terminal differentiation.

SIRT6-dependent cysteine monoubiquitination in the PRE-SET domain of Suv39h1 regulates the NF-κB pathway

Sirtuins are NAD⁺-dependent deacetylases that facilitate cellular stress response. They include SirT6, which protects genome stability and regulates metabolic homeostasis through gene silencing, and whose loss induces an accelerated aging phenotype directly linked to hyperactivation of the NF-κB pathway. Here we show that SirT6 binds to the H3K9me3-specific histone methyltransferase Suv39h1 and induces monoubiquitination of conserved cysteines in the PRE-SET domain of Suv39h1. Following activation of NF-κB signaling Suv39h1 is released from the IκBα locus, subsequently repressing the NF-κB pathway. We propose that SirT6 attenuates the NF-κB pathway through IκBα upregulation via cysteine monoubiquitination and chromatin eviction of Suv39h1. We suggest a mechanism based on SirT6-mediated enhancement of a negative feedback loop that restricts the NF-κB pathway.

Sirtuins are involved in the regulation of responses to diverse types of cellular stress. Here the authors describe the SirT6-dependent cysteine monoubiquitination of the histone methyltransferase Suv39h1 as part of a regulatory circuit for the NF-κB pathway.

Variation in Position Effect Variegation Within a Natural Population

Changes in chromatin state may drive changes in gene expression, and it is of growing interest to understand the population genetic forces that drive differences in chromatin state. Here, we use the phenomenon of position effect variegation (PEV), a well-studied proxy for chromatin state, to survey variation in PEV among a naturally derived population. Further, we explore the genetic architecture of natural variation in factors that modify PEV. While previous mutation screens have identified over 150 suppressors and enhancers of PEV, it remains unknown to what extent allelic variation in these modifiers mediate interindividual variation in PEV. Is natural variation in PEV mediated by segregating genetic variation in known Su(var) and E(var) genes, or is the trait polygenic, with many variants mapping elsewhere in the genome? We designed a dominant mapping study that directly answers this question and suggests that the bulk of the variance in PEV does not map to genes with prior annotated impact to PEV. Instead, we find enrichment of top P-value ranked associations that suggest impact to active promoter and transcription start site proximal regions. This work highlights extensive variation in PEV within a population, and provides a quantitative view of the role naturally segregating autosomal variants play in modifying PEV-a phenomenon that continues to shape our understanding of chromatin state and epigenetics.

Replication stress affects the fidelity of nucleosome-mediated epigenetic inheritance

The fidelity of epigenetic inheritance or, the precision by which epigenetic information is passed along, is an essential parameter for measuring the effectiveness of the process. How the precision of the process is achieved or modulated, however, remains largely elusive. We have performed quantitative measurement of epigenetic fidelity, using position effect variegation (PEV) in Schizosaccharomyces pombe as readout, to explore whether replication perturbation affects nucleosome-mediated epigenetic inheritance. We show that replication stresses, due to either hydroxyurea treatment or various forms of genetic lesions of the replication machinery, reduce the inheritance accuracy of CENP-A/Cnp1 nucleosome positioning within centromere. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that excessive formation of single-stranded DNA, a common molecular abnormality under these conditions, might have correlation with the reduction in fidelity of centromeric chromatin duplication. Furthermore, we show that replication stress broadly changes chromatin structure at various loci in the genome, such as telomere heterochromatin expanding and mating type locus heterochromatin spreading out of the boundaries. Interestingly, the levels of inheritable expanding at sub-telomeric heterochromatin regions are highly variable among independent cell populations. Finally, we show that HU treatment of the multi-cellular organisms C. elegans and D. melanogaster affects epigenetically programmed development and PEV, illustrating the evolutionary conservation of the phenomenon. Replication stress, in addition to its demonstrated role in genetic instability, promotes variable epigenetic instability throughout the epigenome.

In this study, we found replication stresses reduce the fidelity of nucleosome-mediated epigenetic inheritance. Using Position Effect Variegation (PEV) in centromere as an indicator of chromatin epigenetic stability, we quantified the precision of nucleosomal inheritance and found replication stresses reduce the fidelity of nucleosome-mediated epigenetic inheritance. Further analysis of genome-wide heterochromatin distribution showed that replication stresses affect chromatin structure by expanding of heterochromatin with locus specificity. Mechanistically, we provide evidence suggesting that excessive formation of single-stranded DNA might have correlation with the reduction in fidelity of centromeric chromatin duplication. Finally, we demonstrated replication stress perturb the development process by reducing the fidelity of chromatin organization duplication in fruit fly and worm, illustrating the broadness and the evolutionary conservation of the phenomenon. Together, our results shed light on the importance of replication stresses cause epigenetic instability in addition to genetic stability.

A single double-strand break system reveals repair dynamics and mechanisms in heterochromatin and euchromatin

Janssen et al. developed an in vivo single double-strand break (DSB) system for both heterochromatic and euchromatic loci in Drosophila melanogaster. Live imaging and sequence analysis of repair products reveal that DSBs in euchromatin and heterochromatin are repaired with similar kinetics, employ both NHEJ and HR, and can use homologous chromosomes as an HR template.

Repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) must be properly orchestrated in diverse chromatin regions to maintain genome stability. The choice between two main DSB repair pathways, nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR), is regulated by the cell cycle as well as chromatin context.

Pericentromeric heterochromatin forms a distinct nuclear domain that is enriched for repetitive DNA sequences that pose significant challenges for genome stability. Heterochromatic DSBs display specialized temporal and spatial dynamics that differ from euchromatic DSBs. Although HR is thought to be the main pathway used to repair heterochromatic DSBs, direct tests of this hypothesis are lacking. Here, we developed an in vivo single DSB system for both heterochromatic and euchromatic loci in Drosophila melanogaster. Live imaging of single DSBs in larval imaginal discs recapitulates the spatio–temporal dynamics observed for irradiation (IR)-induced breaks in cell culture. Importantly, live imaging and sequence analysis of repair products reveal that DSBs in euchromatin and heterochromatin are repaired with similar kinetics, employ both NHEJ and HR, and can use homologous chromosomes as an HR template. This direct analysis reveals important insights into heterochromatin DSB repair in animal tissues and provides a foundation for further explorations of repair mechanisms in different chromatin domains.

SMYD5 regulates H4K20me3-marked heterochromatin to safeguard ES cell self-renewal and prevent spurious differentiation

Background

Epigenetic regulation of chromatin states is thought to control the self-renewal and differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells. However, the roles of repressive histone modifications such as trimethylated histone 4 lysine 20 (H4K20me3) in pluripotency and development are largely unknown.

Results

Here, we show that the histone lysine methyltransferase SMYD5 mediates H4K20me3 at heterochromatin regions. Depletion of SMYD5 leads to compromised self-renewal, including dysregulated expression of OCT4 targets, and perturbed differentiation. SMYD5-bound regions are enriched with repetitive DNA elements. Knockdown of SMYD5 results in a global decrease of H4K20me3 levels, a redistribution of heterochromatin constituents including H3K9me3/2, G9a, and HP1α, and de-repression of endogenous retroelements. A loss of SMYD5-dependent silencing of heterochromatin nearby genic regions leads to upregulated expression of lineage-specific genes, thus contributing to the decreased self-renewal and perturbed differentiation of SMYD5-depleted ES cells.

Conclusions

Altogether, these findings implicate a role for SMYD5 in regulating ES cell self-renewal and H4K20me3-marked heterochromatin.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13072-017-0115-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Loss of Tau protein affects the structure, transcription and repair of neuronal pericentromeric heterochromatin

Pericentromeric heterochromatin (PCH) gives rise to highly dense chromatin sub-structures rich in the epigenetic mark corresponding to the trimethylated form of lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3K9me3) and in heterochromatin protein 1α (HP1α), which regulate genome expression and stability. We demonstrate that Tau, a protein involved in a number of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), binds to and localizes within or next to neuronal PCH in primary neuronal cultures from wild-type mice. Concomitantly, we show that the clustered distribution of H3K9me3 and HP1α, two hallmarks of PCH, is disrupted in neurons from Tau-deficient mice (KOTau). Such altered distribution of H3K9me3 that could be rescued by overexpressing nuclear Tau protein was also observed in neurons from AD brains. Moreover, the expression of PCH non-coding RNAs, involved in PCH organization, was disrupted in KOTau neurons that displayed an abnormal accumulation of stress-induced PCH DNA breaks. Altogether, our results demonstrate a new physiological function of Tau in directly regulating neuronal PCH integrity that appears disrupted in AD neurons.

Disruption of promoter memory by synthesis of a long noncoding RNA

The yeast HO endonuclease is expressed in late G1 in haploid mother cells to initiate mating-type interconversion. Cells can be arrested in G1 by nutrient deprivation or by pheromone exposure, but cells that resume cycling after nutrient deprivation or cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inactivation express HO in the first cell cycle, whereas HO is not expressed until the second cycle after release from pheromone arrest. Here, we show that transcription of a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) mediates this differential response. The SBF and Mediator factors remain bound to the inactive promoter during arrest due to CDK inactivation, and these bound factors allow the cell to remember a transcriptional decision made before arrest. If the presence of mating pheromone indicates that this decision is no longer appropriate, a lncRNA originating at -2700 upstream of the HO gene is induced, and the transcription machinery displaces promoter-bound SBF, preventing HO transcription in the subsequent cell cycle. Further, we find that the displaced SBF is blocked from rebinding due to incorporation of its recognition sites within nucleosomes. Expressing the pHO-lncRNA in trans is ineffective, indicating that transcription in cis is required. Factor displacement during lncRNA transcription could be a general mechanism for regulating memory of previous events at promoters.

Wiz binds active promoters and CTCF-binding sites and is required for normal behaviour in the mouse

We previously identified Wiz in a mouse screen for epigenetic modifiers. Due to its known association with G9a/GLP, Wiz is generally considered a transcriptional repressor. Here, we provide evidence that it may also function as a transcriptional activator. Wiz levels are high in the brain, but its function and direct targets are unknown. ChIP-seq was performed in adult cerebellum and Wiz peaks were found at promoters and transcription factor CTCF binding sites. RNA-seq in Wiz mutant mice identified genes differentially regulated in adult cerebellum and embryonic brain. In embryonic brain most decreased in expression and included clustered protocadherin genes. These also decreased in adult cerebellum and showed strong Wiz ChIP-seq enrichment. Because a precise pattern of protocadherin gene expression is required for neuronal development, behavioural tests were carried out on mutant mice, revealing an anxiety-like phenotype. This is the first evidence of a role for Wiz in neural function.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.15082.001

Dynamic and flexible H3K9me3 bridging via HP1β dimerization establishes a plastic state of condensed chromatin

Histone H3 trimethylation of lysine 9 (H3K9me3) and proteins of the heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) family are hallmarks of heterochromatin, a state of compacted DNA essential for genome stability and long-term transcriptional silencing. The mechanisms by which H3K9me3 and HP1 contribute to chromatin condensation have been speculative and controversial. Here we demonstrate that human HP1β is a prototypic HP1 protein exemplifying most basal chromatin binding and effects. These are caused by dimeric and dynamic interaction with highly enriched H3K9me3 and are modulated by various electrostatic interfaces. HP1β bridges condensed chromatin, which we postulate stabilizes the compacted state. In agreement, HP1β genome-wide localization follows H3K9me3-enrichment and artificial bridging of chromatin fibres is sufficient for maintaining cellular heterochromatic conformation. Overall, our findings define a fundamental mechanism for chromatin higher order structural changes caused by HP1 proteins, which might contribute to the plastic nature of condensed chromatin.

Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1), including HP1 α, β and γ, is a family of non-histone chromatin factors thought to be involved in chromatin organization. Here, the authors show that dimeric HP1β interacts dynamically with H3K9me3, a hallmark of heterochromatin, and bridges condensed chromatin.

Loss of Bmi1 causes anomalies in retinal development and degeneration of cone photoreceptors

Retinal development occurs through the sequential but overlapping generation of six types of neuronal cells and one glial cell type. Of these, rod and cone photoreceptors represent the functional unit of light detection and phototransduction and are frequently affected in retinal degenerative diseases. During mouse development, the Polycomb group protein Bmi1 is expressed in immature retinal progenitors and differentiated retinal neurons, including cones. We show here that Bmi1 is required to prevent post natal degeneration of cone photoreceptors and bipolar neurons and that inactivation of Chk2 or p53 could improve but not overcome cone degeneration in Bmi1(-/-) mice. The retinal phenotype of Bmi1(-/-) mice was also characterized by loss of heterochromatin, activation of tandem repeats, oxidative stress and Rip3-associated necroptosis. In the human retina, BMI1 was preferentially expressed in cones at heterochromatic foci. BMI1 inactivation in human embryonic stem cells was compatible with retinal induction but impaired cone terminal differentiation. Despite this developmental arrest, BMI1-deficient cones recapitulated several anomalies observed in Bmi1(-/-) photoreceptors, such as loss of heterochromatin, activation of tandem repeats and induction of p53, revealing partly conserved biological functions between mouse and man.

Altered telomere homeostasis and resistance to skin carcinogenesis in Suv39h1 transgenic mice

The Suv39h1 and Suv39h2 H3K9 histone methyltransferases (HMTs) have a conserved role in the formation of constitutive heterochromatin and gene silencing. Using a transgenic mouse model system we demonstrate that elevated expression of Suv39h1 increases global H3K9me3 levels in vivo. More specifically, Suv39h1 overexpression enhances the imposition of H3K9me3 levels at constitutive heterochromatin at telomeric and major satellite repeats in primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Chromatin compaction is paralleled by telomere shortening, indicating that telomere length is controlled by H3K9me3 density at telomeres. We further show that increased Suv39h1 levels result in an impaired clonogenic potential of transgenic epidermal stem cells and Ras/E1A transduced transgenic primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Importantly, Suv39h1 overexpression in mice confers resistance to a DMBA/TPA induced skin carcinogenesis protocol that is characterized by the accumulation of activating H-ras mutations. Our results provide genetic evidence that Suv39h1 controls telomere homeostasis and mediates resistance to oncogenic stress in vivo. This identifies Suv39h1 as an interesting target to improve oncogene induced senescence in premalignant lesions.

Histones and histone modifications in perinuclear chromatin anchoring: from yeast to man

It is striking that within a eukaryotic nucleus, the genome can assume specific spatiotemporal distributions that correlate with the cell's functional states. Cell identity itself is determined by distinct sets of genes that are expressed at a given time. On the level of the individual gene, there is a strong correlation between transcriptional activity and associated histone modifications. Histone modifications act by influencing the recruitment of non-histone proteins and by determining the level of chromatin compaction, transcription factor binding, and transcription elongation. Accumulating evidence also shows that the subnuclear position of a gene or domain correlates with its expression status. Thus, the question arises whether this spatial organization results from or determines a gene's chromatin status. Although the association of a promoter with the inner nuclear membrane (INM) is neither necessary nor sufficient for repression, the perinuclear sequestration of heterochromatin is nonetheless conserved from yeast to man. How does subnuclear localization influence gene expression? Recent work argues that the common denominator between genome organization and gene expression is the modification of histones and in some cases of histone variants. This provides an important link between local chromatin structure and long-range genome organization in interphase cells. In this review, we will evaluate how histones contribute to the latter, and discuss how this might help to regulate genes crucial for cell differentiation.

Trim33 Binds and Silences a Class of Young Endogenous Retroviruses in the Mouse Testis; a Novel Component of the Arms Race between Retrotransposons and the Host Genome

Transposable elements (TEs) have been active in the mammalian genome for millions of years and the silencing of these elements in the germline is important for the survival of the host. Mice carrying reporter transgenes can be used to model transcriptional silencing. A mutagenesis screen for modifiers of epigenetic gene silencing produced a line with a mutation in Trim33; the mutants displayed increased expression of the reporter transgene. ChIP-seq of Trim33 in testis revealed 9,109 peaks, mostly at promoters. This is the first report of ChIP-seq for Trim33 in any tissue. Comparison with ENCODE datasets showed that regions of high read density for Trim33 had high read density for histone marks associated with transcriptional activity and mapping to TE consensus sequences revealed Trim33 enrichment at RLTR10B, the LTR of one of the youngest retrotransposons in the mouse genome, MMERVK10C. We identified consensus sequences from the 266 regions at which Trim33 ChIP-seq peaks overlapped RLTR10B elements and found a match to the A-Myb DNA-binding site. We found that TRIM33 has E3 ubiquitin ligase activity for A-MYB and regulates its abundance. RNA-seq revealed that mice haploinsufficient for Trim33 had altered expression of a small group of genes in the testis and the gene with the most significant increase was found to be transcribed from an upstream RLTR10B. These studies provide the first evidence that A-Myb has a role in the actions of Trim33 and suggest a role for both A-Myb and Trim33 in the arms race between the transposon and the host. This the first report of any factor specifically regulating RLTR10B and adds to the current literature on the silencing of MMERVK10C retrotransposons. This is also the first report that A-Myb has a role in the transcription of any retrotransposon.

Almost half of the genomes of humans and mice are made up of transposable elements. During host evolution, subsets of these elements have periods of transpositional activity during which they spread throughout the genome. This is dependent on the transcriptional activity of these elements in the cells that contribute to the germline. Hosts have evolved pathways to silence their expression. A number of Trim family proteins have been found to have a role in silencing transposable elements, and it was previously shown that Trim33 shared this function in liver. However, the function of Trim33 in other tissues is poorly understood. Here we report a role for Trim33 in silencing a specific subset of retrotransposons that contain RLTR10B LTRs, in the germline. We also show the transcription factor, A-Myb, is responsible for activating transcription of these elements and it is likely that a subset of RLTR10Bs have recently evolved Myb DNA binding sites to capitalise on the critical role that the A-Myb transcription factor has in germ cells. Suppression of A-Myb activity by Trim33 provides a plausible mechanism by which the host keeps transposons in check.

BEND3 mediates transcriptional repression and heterochromatin organization

Transcription repression plays a central role in gene regulation. Transcription repressors utilize diverse strategies to mediate transcriptional repression. We have recently demonstrated that BEND3 (BANP, E5R and Nac1 domain) protein represses rDNA transcription by stabilizing a NoRC component. We discuss the role of BEND3 as a global regulator of gene expression and propose a model whereby BEND3 associates with chromatin remodeling complexes to modulate gene expression and heterochromatin organization.

The Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 Protein BMI1 Is Required for Constitutive Heterochromatin Formation and Silencing in Mammalian Somatic Cells

The polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1), containing the core BMI1 and RING1A/B proteins, mono-ubiquitinylates histone H2A (H2A(ub)) and is associated with silenced developmental genes at facultative heterochromatin. It is, however, assumed that the PRC1 is excluded from constitutive heterochromatin in somatic cells based on work performed on mouse embryonic stem cells and oocytes. We show here that BMI1 is required for constitutive heterochromatin formation and silencing in human and mouse somatic cells. BMI1 was highly enriched at intergenic and pericentric heterochromatin, co-immunoprecipitated with the architectural heterochromatin proteins HP1, DEK1, and ATRx, and was required for their localization. In contrast, BRCA1 localization was BMI1-independent and partially redundant with that of BMI1 for H2A(ub) deposition, constitutive heterochromatin formation, and silencing. These observations suggest a dynamic and developmentally regulated model of PRC1 occupancy at constitutive heterochromatin, and where BMI1 function in somatic cells is to stabilize the repetitive genome.

Alterations of Nuclear Architecture and Epigenetic Signatures during African Swine Fever Virus Infection

Viral interactions with host nucleus have been thoroughly studied, clarifying molecular mechanisms and providing new antiviral targets. Considering that African swine fever virus (ASFV) intranuclear phase of infection is poorly understood, viral interplay with subnuclear domains and chromatin architecture were addressed. Nuclear speckles, Cajal bodies, and promyelocytic leukaemia nuclear bodies (PML-NBs) were evaluated by immunofluorescence microscopy and Western blot. Further, efficient PML protein knockdown by shRNA lentiviral transduction was used to determine PML-NBs relevance during infection. Nuclear distribution of different histone H3 methylation marks at lysine’s 9, 27 and 36, heterochromatin protein 1 isoforms (HP1α, HPβ and HPγ) and several histone deacetylases (HDACs) were also evaluated to assess chromatin status of the host. Our results reveal morphological disruption of all studied subnuclear domains and severe reduction of viral progeny in PML-knockdown cells. ASFV promotes H3K9me3 and HP1β foci formation from early infection, followed by HP1α and HDAC2 nuclear enrichment, suggesting heterochromatinization of host genome. Finally, closeness between DNA damage response factors, disrupted PML-NBs, and virus-induced heterochromatic regions were identified. In sum, our results demonstrate that ASFV orchestrates spatio-temporal nuclear rearrangements, changing subnuclear domains, relocating Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Rad-3 related (ATR)-related factors and promoting heterochromatinization, probably controlling transcription, repressing host gene expression, and favouring viral replication.

Aurora Kinase B Regulates Telomerase Activity via a Centromeric RNA in Stem Cells

Non-coding RNAs can modulate histone modifications that, at the same time, affect transcript expression levels. Here, we dissect such a network in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). It regulates the activity of the reverse transcriptase telomerase, which synthesizes telomeric repeats at the chromosome ends. We find that histone H3 serine 10 phosphorylation set by Aurora kinase B (AURKB) in ESCs during the S phase of the cell cycle at centromeric and (sub)telomeric loci promotes the expression of non-coding minor satellite RNA (cenRNA). Inhibition of AURKB induces silencing of cenRNA transcription and establishment of a repressive chromatin state with histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation and heterochromatin protein 1 accumulation. This process results in a continuous shortening of telomeres. We further show that AURKB interacts with both telomerase and cenRNA and activates telomerase in trans. Thus, in mouse ESCs, telomere maintenance is regulated via expression of cenRNA in a cell-cycle-dependent manner.