Project description:Acetylation of histone H3 lysine 56 is a covalent modification best-known as a mark of newly-replicated chromatin, but has also been linked to replication-independent histone replacement. Here, we measured H3K56ac levels at single-nucleosome resolution in asynchronously growing yeast cultures, as well as in yeast proceeding synchronously through the cell cycle. We developed a quantitative model of H3K56ac kinetics, which shows that H3K56ac is largely explained by the genomic replication timing and the turnover rate of each nucleosome, suggesting that cell cycle profiles of H3K56ac should reveal most first-time nucleosome incorporation events. However, since the deacetylases Hst3/4 prevent use of H3K56ac as a marker for histone deposition during M phase, we also directly measured M phase histone replacement rates. We report a global decrease in turnover rates during M phase, and a further specific decrease in turnover among early origins of replication, which switch from rapidly-replaced in G1 phase to stable-bound during M phase. Finally, by measuring H3 replacement in yeast deleted for the H3K56 acetyltransferase Rtt109 and its two co-chaperones Asf1 and Vps75, we find evidence that Rtt109 and Asf1 preferentially enhance histone replacement at rapidly-replaced nucleosomes, whereas Vps75 appears to inhibit histone turnover at those loci. These results provide a broad perspective on histone replacement/incorporation throughout the cell cycle, and suggest that H3K56 acetylation provides a positive feedback loop by which replacement of a nucleosome enhances subsequent replacement at the same location.
Project description:Correct localization of the centromeric histone variant CenH3/CENP-A/Cse4 is an important part of faithful chromosome segregation. Mislocalization of CenH3 could lead to ectopic centromere formation and missegregation, and could affect DNA replication and transcription. CENP-A is often overexpressed and mislocalized in cancer genomes, but the underlying mechanisms are not understood. One major regulator of Cse4 deposition is Psh1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that controls levels of Cse4 to prevent deposition into noncentromeric regions. We present evidence that Chromatin assembly factor-1 (CAF-1), an evolutionarily conserved histone H3/H4 chaperone shown previously to interact with CenH3 in flies and human cells, regulates Cse4 deposition in budding yeast. Yeast CAF-1 (yCAF-1) is a heterotrimeric protein complex consisting of CAC1, CAC2, and CAC3, which interacts with Cse4, and can assemble Cse4 nucleosomes in vitro. yCAF-1 regulates the stability of both soluble and chromatin associated Cse4. Loss of yCAF-1 can rescue growth defects and changes in gene expression associated with Cse4 deposition that occur in the absence of Psh1-mediated proteolysis. Incorporation of Cse4 into promoter nucleosomes at transcriptionally active genes depends on yCAF-1. Overall our findings suggest CAF-1 can act as a CenH3 chaperone, regulating levels and incorporation of CenH3 in chromatin. Furthermore, the misincorporation of CenH3 at promoter regions may have negative consequences for gene expression.
Project description:Correct localization of the centromeric histone variant CenH3/CENP-A/Cse4 is an important part of faithful chromosome segregation. Mislocalization of CenH3 could lead to ectopic centromere formation and missegregation, and could affect DNA replication and transcription. CENP-A is often overexpressed and mislocalized in cancer genomes, but the underlying mechanisms are not understood. One major regulator of Cse4 deposition is Psh1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that controls levels of Cse4 to prevent deposition into noncentromeric regions. We present evidence that Chromatin assembly factor-1 (CAF-1), an evolutionarily conserved histone H3/H4 chaperone shown previously to interact with CenH3 in flies and human cells, regulates Cse4 deposition in budding yeast. Yeast CAF-1 (yCAF-1) is a heterotrimeric protein complex consisting of CAC1, CAC2, and CAC3, which interacts with Cse4, and can assemble Cse4 nucleosomes in vitro. yCAF-1 regulates the stability of both soluble and chromatin associated Cse4. Loss of yCAF-1 can rescue growth defects and changes in gene expression associated with Cse4 deposition that occur in the absence of Psh1-mediated proteolysis. Incorporation of Cse4 into promoter nucleosomes at transcriptionally active genes depends on yCAF-1. Overall our findings suggest CAF-1 can act as a CenH3 chaperone, regulating levels and incorporation of CenH3 in chromatin. Furthermore, the misincorporation of CenH3 at promoter regions may have negative consequences for gene expression.