Sequential Salt Extractions for the Analysis of Bulk Chromatin Binding Properties of Chromatin Modifying Complexes

PBRM1 bromodomains associate with RNA to facilitate chromatin association

PBRM1 is a subunit of the PBAF chromatin remodeling complex, which is mutated in 40-50% of clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients. It is thought to largely function as a chromatin binding subunit of the PBAF complex, but the molecular mechanism underlying this activity is not fully known. PBRM1 contains six tandem bromodomains which are known to cooperate in binding of nucleosomes acetylated at histone H3 lysine 14 (H3K14ac). Here, we demonstrate that the second and fourth bromodomains from PBRM1 also bind nucleic acids, selectively associating with double stranded RNA elements. Disruption of the RNA binding pocket is found to compromise PBRM1 chromatin binding and inhibit PBRM1-mediated cellular growth effects.

SARS-CoV-2 disrupts host epigenetic regulation via histone mimicry

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged at the end of 2019 and caused the devastating global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in part because of its ability to effectively suppress host cell responses1-3. In rare cases, viral proteins dampen antiviral responses by mimicking critical regions of human histone proteins4-8, particularly those containing post-translational modifications required for transcriptional regulation9-11. Recent work has demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 markedly disrupts host cell epigenetic regulation12-14. However, how SARS-CoV-2 controls the host cell epigenome and whether it uses histone mimicry to do so remain unclear. Here we show that the SARS-CoV-2 protein encoded by ORF8 (ORF8) functions as a histone mimic of the ARKS motifs in histone H3 to disrupt host cell epigenetic regulation. ORF8 is associated with chromatin, disrupts regulation of critical histone post-translational modifications and promotes chromatin compaction. Deletion of either the ORF8 gene or the histone mimic site attenuates the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to disrupt host cell chromatin, affects the transcriptional response to infection and attenuates viral genome copy number. These findings demonstrate a new function of ORF8 and a mechanism through which SARS-CoV-2 disrupts host cell epigenetic regulation. Further, this work provides a molecular basis for the finding that SARS-CoV-2 lacking ORF8 is associated with decreased severity of COVID-19.

FET fusion oncoproteins interact with BRD4 and SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex subtypes in sarcoma

FET fusion oncoproteins containing one of the FET (FUS, EWSR1, TAF15) family proteins juxtaposed to alternative transcription‐factor partners are characteristic of more than 20 types of sarcoma and leukaemia. FET oncoproteins bind to the SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling complex, which exists in three subtypes: cBAF, PBAF and GBAF/ncBAF. We used comprehensive biochemical analysis to characterize the interactions between FET oncoproteins, SWI/SNF complexes and the transcriptional coactivator BRD4. Here, we report that FET oncoproteins bind all three main SWI/SNF subtypes cBAF, PBAF and GBAF, and that FET oncoproteins interact indirectly with BRD4 via their shared interaction partner SWI/SNF. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and proteomic analysis showed that FET oncoproteins, SWI/SNF components and BRD4 co‐localize on chromatin and interact with mediator and RNA Polymerase II. Our results provide a possible molecular mechanism for the FET‐fusion‐induced oncogenic transcriptional profiles and may lead to novel therapies targeting aberrant SWI/SNF complexes and/or BRD4 in FET‐fusion‐caused malignancies.

H2B.V demarcates divergent strand-switch regions, some tDNA loci, and genome compartments in Trypanosoma cruzi and affects parasite differentiation and host cell invasion

Histone variants play a crucial role in chromatin structure organization and gene expression. Trypanosomatids have an unusual H2B variant (H2B.V) that is known to dimerize with the variant H2A.Z generating unstable nucleosomes. Previously, we found that H2B.V protein is enriched in tissue-derived trypomastigote (TCT) life forms, a nonreplicative stage of Trypanosoma cruzi, suggesting that this variant may contribute to the differences in chromatin structure and global transcription rates observed among parasite life forms. Here, we performed the first genome-wide profiling of histone localization in T. cruzi using epimastigotes and TCT life forms, and we found that H2B.V was preferentially located at the edges of divergent transcriptional strand switch regions, which encompass putative transcriptional start regions; at some tDNA loci; and between the conserved and disrupted genome compartments, mainly at trans-sialidase, mucin and MASP genes. Remarkably, the chromatin of TCT forms was depleted of H2B.V-enriched peaks in comparison to epimastigote forms. Interactome assays indicated that H2B.V associated specifically with H2A.Z, bromodomain factor 2, nucleolar proteins and a histone chaperone, among others. Parasites expressing reduced H2B.V levels were associated with higher rates of parasite differentiation and mammalian cell infectivity. Taken together, H2B.V demarcates critical genomic regions and associates with regulatory chromatin proteins, suggesting a scenario wherein local chromatin structures associated with parasite differentiation and invasion are regulated during the parasite life cycle.

A Potent, Selective CBX2 Chromodomain Ligand and Its Cellular Activity During Prostate Cancer Neuroendocrine Differentiation

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are epigenetic regulators that facilitate both embryonic development and cancer progression. PcG proteins form Polycomb repressive complexes 1 and 2 (PRC1 and PRC2). PRC2 trimethylates histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3), a histone mark recognized by the N-terminal chromodomain (ChD) of the CBX subunit of canonical PRC1. There are five PcG CBX paralogs in humans. CBX2 in particular is upregulated in a variety of cancers, particularly in advanced prostate cancers. Using CBX2 inhibitors to understand and target CBX2 in prostate cancer is highly desirable; however, high structural similarity among the CBX ChDs has been challenging for developing selective CBX ChD inhibitors. Here, we utilize selections of focused DNA encoded libraries (DELs) for the discovery of a selective CBX2 chromodomain probe, SW2_152F. SW2_152F binds to CBX2 ChD with a Kd of 80 nM and displays 24-1000-fold selectivity for CBX2 ChD over other CBX paralogs in vitro. SW2_152F is cell permeable, selectively inhibits CBX2 chromatin binding in cells, and blocks neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cell lines in response to androgen deprivation.

Engagement of DNA and H3K27me3 by the CBX8 chromodomain drives chromatin association

Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) is critical for mediating gene repression during development and adult stem cell maintenance. Five CBX proteins, CBX2,4,6,7,8, form mutually exclusive PRC1 complexes and are thought to play a role in the association of PRC1 with chromatin. Specifically, the N-terminal chromodomain (CD) in the CBX proteins is thought to mediate specific targeting to methylated histones. For CBX8, however, the chromodomain has demonstrated weak affinity and specificity for methylated histones in vitro, leaving doubt as to its role in CBX8 chromatin association. Here, we investigate the function of the CBX8 CD in vitro and in vivo. We find that the CD is in fact a major driver of CBX8 chromatin association and determine that this is driven by both histone and previously unrecognized DNA binding activity. We characterize the structural basis of histone and DNA binding and determine how they integrate on multiple levels. Notably, we find that the chromatin environment is critical in determining the ultimate function of the CD in CBX8 association.

Glioma tumor suppressor candidate region gene 1 (GLTSCR1) and its paralog GLTSCR1-like form SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling subcomplexes

The mammalian SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex is a heterogeneous collection of related protein complexes required for gene regulation and genome integrity. It contains a central ATPase (BRM or BRG1) and various combinations of 10-14 accessory subunits (BAFs for BRM/BRG1 Associated Factors). Two distinct complexes differing in size, BAF and the slightly larger polybromo-BAF (PBAF), share many of the same core subunits but are differentiated primarily by having either AT-rich interaction domain 1A/B (ARID1A/B in BAF) or ARID2 (in PBAF). Using density gradient centrifugation and immunoprecipitation, we have identified and characterized a third and smaller SWI/SNF subcomplex. We termed this complex GBAF because it incorporates two mutually exclusive paralogs, GLTSCR1 (glioma tumor suppressor candidate region gene 1) or GLTSCR1L (GLTSCR1-like), instead of an ARID protein. In addition to GLTSCR1 or GLTSCR1L, the GBAF complex contains BRD9 (bromodomain-containing 9) and the BAF subunits BAF155, BAF60, SS18, BAF53a, and BRG1/BRM. We observed that GBAF does not contain the core BAF subunits BAF45, BAF47, or BAF57. Even without these subunits, GBAF displayed in vitro ATPase activity and bulk chromatin affinity comparable to those of BAF. GBAF associated with BRD4, but, unlike BRD4, the GBAF component GLTSCR1 was not required for the viability of the LNCaP prostate cancer cell line. In contrast, GLTSCR1 or GLTSCR1L knockouts in the metastatic prostate cancer cell line PC3 resulted in a loss in proliferation and colony-forming ability. Taken together, our results provide evidence for a compositionally novel SWI/SNF subcomplex with cell type-specific functions.