Chromatin Proteins and Chromatin Structure in Spermatogenesis

Author(s):  
Cristóbal Mezquita
2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 321-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalie P.C. Driessen ◽  
Remus Th. Dame

Crenarchaeal genomes are organized into a compact nucleoid by a set of small chromatin proteins. Although there is little knowledge of chromatin structure in Archaea, similarities between crenarchaeal and bacterial chromatin proteins suggest that organization and regulation could be achieved by similar mechanisms. In the present review, we describe the molecular properties of crenarchaeal chromatin proteins and discuss the possible role of these architectural proteins in organizing the crenarchaeal chromatin and in gene regulation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Nunes Rosón ◽  
Marcela Oliveira Vitarelli ◽  
Héllida Marina Costa-Silva ◽  
Kamille Schmitt Pereira ◽  
David da Silva Pires ◽  
...  

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 nonreplicative life forms 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 replicative and nonreplicative life forms, and we found that H2B.V was preferentially located at the edges of divergent 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 nonreplicative forms was depleted of H2B.V-enriched peaks in comparison to replicative 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.


1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-263
Author(s):  
Anna Ferraro ◽  
Anna Giartosio ◽  
Margherita Eufemi ◽  
Donatella Barra ◽  
Fabio Altieri ◽  
...  

Total half-cystine residues in proteins of pig liver chromatin have been measured. About half of them are present in the reduced state. Thiol groups of non-historic chromatin proteins, which amount to about 40 nmol/mg of protein, are preferentially located in chromatin fragments which are more easily solubilised either by DNAse I or by DNAse II. The data obtained are compatible with an involvement of SH and SS groups in chromatin structure and function.


2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (48) ◽  
pp. 12271-12276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Payne ◽  
Samuel McCarthy ◽  
Tyler Johnson ◽  
Erica North ◽  
Paul Blum

Epigenetic phenomena have not yet been reported in archaea, which are presumed to use a classical genetic process of heritability. Here, analysis of independent lineages of Sulfolobus solfataricus evolved for enhanced fitness implicated a non-Mendelian basis for trait inheritance. The evolved strains, called super acid-resistant Crenarchaeota (SARC), acquired traits of extreme acid resistance and genome stability relative to their wild-type parental lines. Acid resistance was heritable because it was retained regardless of extensive passage without selection. Despite the hereditary pattern, in one strain, it was impossible for these SARC traits to result from mutation because its resequenced genome had no mutation. All strains also had conserved, heritable transcriptomes implicated in acid resistance. In addition, they had improved genome stability with absent or greatly decreased mutation and transposition relative to a passaged control. A mechanism that would confer these traits without DNA sequence alteration could involve posttranslationally modified archaeal chromatin proteins. To test this idea, homologous recombination with isogenic DNA was used to perturb native chromatin structure. Recombination at up-regulated loci from the heritable SARC transcriptome reduced acid resistance and gene expression in the majority of recombinants. In contrast, recombination at a control locus that was not part of the heritable transcriptome changed neither acid resistance nor gene expression. Variation in the amount of phenotypic and expression changes across individuals was consistent with Rad54-dependent chromatin remodeling that dictated crossover location and branch migration. These data support an epigenetic model implicating chromatin structure as a contributor to heritable traits.


Author(s):  
Soichiro Arai ◽  
Yuh H. Nakanishi

Although many electron microscopic studies on extracted chromatin have provided considerable information on chromatin condensation induced by divalent cations, there is only a little literature available on the effects of divalent cations on chromatin structure in intact nuclei. In the present study, the effects of Mg2+ on chromatin structure in isolated chicken liver nuclei were examined over a wide concentration range of Mg2+ by scanning electron microscopy.Nuclei were prepared from chicken liver by the method of Chauveau et al. with some modifications. The nuclei were suspended in 25 mM triethanolamine chloride buffer (pH7.4) with 1 mM EDTA or in the buffer with concentrations of MgCl2 varying from 1 to 50 mM. After incubation for 1 min at 0°C, glutaraldehyde was added to 1.8% and the nuclei were fixed for 1 h at 4°C. The fixed nuclei were mixed with 15% gelatin solution warmed at about 40°C, and kept at room temperature until the mixture set. The gelatin containing the nuclei was fixed with 2% glutaraldehyde for 2-4 h, and cut into small blocks. The gelatin blocks were conductive-stained with 2% tannic acid and 2% osmium tetroxide, dehydrated in a graded series of ethanol, and freeze-cracked with a razor blade in liquid nitrogen.


2020 ◽  
Vol 477 (14) ◽  
pp. 2715-2720
Author(s):  
Susana Castro-Obregón

The nuclear envelope is composed by an outer nuclear membrane and an inner nuclear membrane, which is underlain by the nuclear lamina that provides the nucleus with mechanical strength for maintaining structure and regulates chromatin organization for modulating gene expression and silencing. A layer of heterochromatin is beneath the nuclear lamina, attached by inner nuclear membrane integral proteins such as Lamin B receptor (LBR). LBR is a chimeric protein, having also a sterol reductase activity with which it contributes to cholesterol synthesis. Lukasova et al. showed that when DNA is damaged by ɣ-radiation in cancer cells, LBR is lost causing chromatin structure changes and promoting cellular senescence. Cellular senescence is characterized by terminal cell cycle arrest and the expression and secretion of various growth factors, cytokines, metalloproteinases, etc., collectively known as senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that cause chronic inflammation and tumor progression when they persist in the tissue. Therefore, it is fundamental to understand the molecular basis for senescence establishment, maintenance and the regulation of SASP. The work of Lukasova et al. contributed to our understanding of cellular senescence establishment and provided the basis that lead to the further discovery that chromatin changes caused by LBR reduction induce an up-regulated expression of SASP factors. LBR dysfunction has relevance in several diseases and possibly in physiological aging. The potential bifunctional role of LBR on cellular senescence establishment, namely its role in chromatin structure together with its enzymatic activity contributing to cholesterol synthesis, provide a new target to develop potential anti-aging therapies.


2006 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 109-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Stockdale ◽  
Michael Bruno ◽  
Helder Ferreira ◽  
Elisa Garcia-Wilson ◽  
Nicola Wiechens ◽  
...  

In the 30 years since the discovery of the nucleosome, our picture of it has come into sharp focus. The recent high-resolution structures have provided a wealth of insight into the function of the nucleosome, but they are inherently static. Our current knowledge of how nucleosomes can be reconfigured dynamically is at a much earlier stage. Here, recent advances in the understanding of chromatin structure and dynamics are highlighted. The ways in which different modes of nucleosome reconfiguration are likely to influence each other are discussed, and some of the factors likely to regulate the dynamic properties of nucleosomes are considered.


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