scholarly journals Histone variants at a glance

2021 ◽  
Vol 134 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul B. Talbert ◽  
Steven Henikoff
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Histone Variants ◽  
Regulation Of Transcription ◽  
Histone H2a ◽  
Core Particle ◽  
Structural Differences ◽  
The Common ◽  
Histone Core ◽  
Nucleosome Stability

ABSTRACT Eukaryotic nucleosomes organize chromatin by wrapping 147 bp of DNA around a histone core particle comprising two molecules each of histone H2A, H2B, H3 and H4. The DNA entering and exiting the particle may be bound by the linker histone H1. Whereas deposition of bulk histones is confined to S-phase, paralogs of the common histones, known as histone variants, are available to carry out functions throughout the cell cycle and accumulate in post-mitotic cells. Histone variants confer different structural properties on nucleosomes by wrapping more or less DNA or by altering nucleosome stability. They carry out specialized functions in DNA repair, chromosome segregation and regulation of transcription initiation, or perform tissue-specific roles. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we briefly examine new insights into histone origins and discuss variants from each of the histone families, focusing on how structural differences may alter their functions.

scholarly journals Deciphering the Enigma of the Histone H2A.Z-1/H2A.Z-2 Isoforms: Novel Insights and Remaining Questions

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1167
Author(s):  
Manjinder S. Cheema ◽  
Katrina V. Good ◽  
Bohyun Kim ◽  
Heddy Soufari ◽  
Connor O’Sullivan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Multiple Roles ◽  
Histone H2a ◽  
The Core ◽  
Structural Differences ◽  
Functional Involvement ◽  
Insight Into

The replication independent (RI) histone H2A.Z is one of the more extensively studied variant members of the core histone H2A family, which consists of many replication dependent (RD) members. The protein has been shown to be indispensable for survival, and involved in multiple roles from DNA damage to chromosome segregation, replication, and transcription. However, its functional involvement in gene expression is controversial. Moreover, the variant in several groups of metazoan organisms consists of two main isoforms (H2A.Z-1 and H2A.Z-2) that differ in a few (3–6) amino acids. They comprise the main topic of this review, starting from the events that led to their identification, what is currently known about them, followed by further experimental, structural, and functional insight into their roles. Despite their structural differences, a direct correlation to their functional variability remains enigmatic. As all of this is being elucidated, it appears that a strong functional involvement of isoform variability may be connected to development.

High resolution mapping of nucleic acid containing complexes in vitro and in situ

1996 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 48-49
Author(s):  
D. P. Bazett-Jones ◽  
M. J. Hendzel
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Heavy Atom ◽  
Regulation Of Transcription ◽  
High Exposure ◽  
Resolution Mapping ◽  
Tata Sequence

Structural analysis of combinations of nucleosomes and transcription factors on promoter and enhancer elements is necessary in order to understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for the regulation of transcription initiation. Such complexes are often not amenable to study by high resolution crystallographic techniques. We have been applying electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) to specific problems in molecular biology related to transcription regulation. There are several advantages that this technique offers in studies of nucleoprotein complexes. First, an intermediate level of spatial resolution can be achieved because heavy atom contrast agents are not necessary. Second, mass and stoichiometric relationships of protein and nucleic acid can be estimated by phosphorus detection, an element in much higher proportions in nucleic acid than protein. Third, wrapping or bending of the DNA by the protein constituents can be observed by phosphorus mapping of the complexes. Even when ESI is used with high exposure of electrons to the specimen, important macromolecular information may be provided. For example, an image of the TATA binding protein (TBP) bound to DNA is shown in the Figure (top panel). It can be seen that the protein distorts the DNA away from itself and much of its mass sits off the DNA helix axis. Moreover, phosphorus and mass estimates demonstrate whether one or two TBP molecules interact with this particular promoter TATA sequence.

scholarly journals Positioning of nucleosomes containing γ-H2AX precedes active DNA demethylation and transcription initiation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Dobersch ◽  
Karla Rubio ◽  
Indrabahadur Singh ◽  
Stefan Günther ◽  
Johannes Graumann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
High Mobility ◽  
Dna Demethylation ◽  
High Mobility Group ◽  
Regulation Of Transcription ◽  
Dna Breaks ◽  
Transcriptional Initiation ◽  
High Mobility Group Proteins ◽  
Active Dna Demethylation ◽  
Repair Mechanisms

AbstractIn addition to nucleosomes, chromatin contains non-histone chromatin-associated proteins, of which the high-mobility group proteins are the most abundant. Chromatin-mediated regulation of transcription involves DNA methylation and histone modifications. However, the order of events and the precise function of high-mobility group proteins during transcription initiation remain unclear. Here we show that high-mobility group AT-hook 2 protein (HMGA2) induces DNA nicks at the transcription start site, which are required by the histone chaperone FACT complex to incorporate nucleosomes containing the histone variant H2A.X. Further, phosphorylation of H2A.X at S139 (γ-H2AX) is required for repair-mediated DNA demethylation and transcription activation. The relevance of these findings is demonstrated within the context of TGFB1 signaling and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, suggesting therapies against this lethal disease. Our data support the concept that chromatin opening during transcriptional initiation involves intermediates with DNA breaks that subsequently require DNA repair mechanisms to ensure genome integrity.

scholarly journals Phosphorylation within Intrinsic Disordered Region Discriminates Histone Variant macroH2A1 Splicing Isoforms—macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 659
Author(s):  
Sebastiano Giallongo ◽  
Oriana Lo Re ◽  
Gabriela Lochmanová ◽  
Luca Parca ◽  
Francesco Petrizzelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Histone Variants ◽  
Histone H2a ◽  
Human Hepatoma Cells ◽  
Nucleosome Core ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Splicing Isoforms ◽  
The Impact

Background: Gene expression in eukaryotic cells can be governed by histone variants, which replace replication-coupled histones, conferring unique chromatin properties. MacroH2A1 is a histone H2A variant containing a domain highly similar to H2A and a large non-histone (macro) domain. MacroH2A1, in turn, is present in two alternatively exon-spliced isoforms: macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2, which regulate cell plasticity and proliferation in a remarkably distinct manner. The N-terminal and the C-terminal tails of H2A histones stem from the nucleosome core structure and can be target sites for several post-translational modifications (PTMs). MacroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2 isoforms differ only in a few amino acids and their ability to bind NAD-derived metabolites, a property allegedly conferring their different functions in vivo. Some of the modifications on the macroH2A1 variant have been identified, such as phosphorylation (T129, S138) and methylation (K18, K123, K239). However, no study to our knowledge has analyzed extensively, and in parallel, the PTM pattern of macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2 in the same experimental setting, which could facilitate the understanding of their distinct biological functions in health and disease. Methods: We used a mass spectrometry-based approach to identify the sites for phosphorylation, acetylation, and methylation in green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2 expressed in human hepatoma cells. The impact of selected PTMs on macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2 structure and function are demonstrated using computational analyses. Results: We identified K7 as a new acetylation site in both macroH2A1 isoforms. Quantitative comparison of histone marks between the two isoforms revealed significant differences in the levels of phosphorylated T129 and S170. Our computational analysis provided evidence that the phosphorylation status in the intrinsically disordered linker region in macroH2A1 isoforms might represent a key regulatory element contributing to their distinct biological responses. Conclusions: Taken together, our results report different PTMs on the two macroH2A1 splicing isoforms as responsible for their distinct features and distribution in the cell.

scholarly journals Essential and nonessential histone H2A variants in Tetrahymena thermophila.

1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 4305-4311 ◽  
Author(s):  
X Liu ◽  
B Li ◽  
GorovskyMA
Keyword(s):  
Tetrahymena Thermophila ◽  
Essential Gene ◽  
Histone Variants ◽  
Gene Replacement ◽  
Histone H2a ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Simple Mass ◽  
Essential Function ◽  
High Degree

Although variants have been identified for every class of histone, their functions remain unknown. We have been studying the histone H2A variant hv1 in the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila. Sequence analysis indicates that hv1 belongs to the H2A.F/Z type of histone variants. On the basis of the high degree of evolutionary conservation of this class of histones, they are proposed to have one or more distinct and essential functions that cannot be performed by their major H2A counterparts. Considerable evidence supports the hypothesis that the hv1 protein in T. thermophila and hv1-like proteins in other eukaryotes are associated with active chromatin. In T. thermophila, simple mass transformation and gene replacement techniques have recently become available. In this report, we demonstrate that either the HTA1 gene or the HTA2 gene, encoding the major H2As, can be completely replaced by disrupted genes in the polyploid, transcriptionally active macronucleus, indicating that neither of the two genes is essential. However, only some of the HTA3 genes encoding hv1 can be replaced by disrupted genes, indicating that the H2A.F/Z type variants have an essential function that cannot be performed by the major H2A genes. Thus, an essential gene in T. thermophila can be defined by the fact that it can be partially, but not completely, eliminated from the polyploid macronucleus. To our knowledge, this study represents the first use of gene disruption technology to study core histone gene function in any organism other than yeast and the first demonstration of an essential gene in T. thermophila using these methods. When a rescuing plasmid carrying a wild-type HTA3 gene was introduced into the T. thermophila cells, the endogenous chromosomal HTA3 could be completely replaced, defining a gene replacement strategy that can be used to analyze the function of essential genes.

scholarly journals Lisen&Curate: A platform to facilitate gathering textual evidence for curation of regulation of transcription initiation in bacteria

2021 ◽  
pp. 194753
Author(s):  
Martín Díaz-Rodríguez ◽  
Oscar Lithgow-Serrano ◽  
Francisco Guadarrama-García ◽  
Víctor H. Tierrafría ◽  
Socorro Gama-Castro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Regulation Of Transcription ◽  
Textual Evidence

scholarly journals Structural and biochemical analyses of monoubiquitinated human histones H2B and H4

Open Biology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 160090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinichi Machida ◽  
Satoshi Sekine ◽  
Yuuki Nishiyama ◽  
Naoki Horikoshi ◽  
Hitoshi Kurumizaka
Keyword(s):  
Histone H4 ◽  
Core Particle ◽  
Post Translational Modification ◽  
Nucleosome Core Particle ◽  
Active Chromatin ◽  
Histone H2b ◽  
Nucleosome Core ◽  
Nucleosome Structure ◽  
Biochemical Analyses ◽  
Nucleosome Stability

Monoubiquitination is a major histone post-translational modification. In humans, the histone H2B K120 and histone H4 K31 residues are monoubiquitinated and may form transcriptionally active chromatin. In this study, we reconstituted nucleosomes containing H2B monoubiquitinated at position 120 (H2Bub 120 ) and/or H4 monoubiquitinated at position 31 (H4ub 31 ). We found that the H2Bub 120 and H4ub 31 monoubiquitinations differently affect nucleosome stability: the H2Bub 120 monoubiquitination enhances the H2A–H2B association with the nucleosome, while the H4ub 31 monoubiquitination decreases the H3–H4 stability in the nucleosome, when compared with the unmodified nucleosome. The H2Bub 120 and H4ub 31 monoubiquitinations both antagonize the Mg 2+ -dependent compaction of a poly-nucleosome, suggesting that these monoubiquitinations maintain more relaxed conformations of chromatin. In the crystal structure, the H2Bub 120 and H4ub 31 monoubiquitinations do not change the structure of the nucleosome core particle and the ubiquitin molecules were flexibly disordered in the H2Bub 120 /H4ub 31 nucleosome structure. These results revealed the differences and similarities of the H2Bub 120 and H4ub 31 monoubiquitinations at the mono- and poly-nucleosome levels and provide novel information to clarify the roles of monoubiquitination in chromatin.

scholarly journals Intrinsic elasticity of nucleosomes is encoded by histone variants and calibrated by their binding partners

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (48) ◽  
pp. 24066-24074 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniël P. Melters ◽  
Mary Pitman ◽  
Tatini Rakshit ◽  
Emilios K. Dimitriadis ◽  
Minh Bui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Histone Variants ◽  
Histone Variant ◽  
Binding Partners ◽  
Damage Repair ◽  
Fine Tune

Histone variants fine-tune transcription, replication, DNA damage repair, and faithful chromosome segregation. Whether and how nucleosome variants encode unique mechanical properties to their cognate chromatin structures remains elusive. Here, using in silico and in vitro nanoindentation methods, extending to in vivo dissections, we report that histone variant nucleosomes are intrinsically more elastic than their canonical counterparts. Furthermore, binding proteins, which discriminate between histone variant nucleosomes, suppress this innate elasticity and also compact chromatin. Interestingly, when we overexpress the binding proteins in vivo, we also observe increased compaction of chromatin enriched for histone variant nucleosomes, correlating with diminished access. Taken together, these data suggest a plausible link between innate mechanical properties possessed by histone variant nucleosomes, the adaptability of chromatin states in vivo, and the epigenetic plasticity of the underlying locus.

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