Project description:Cell-type specific gene expression programs are established by distinct chromatin state patterns that involve thousands of heterochromatin microdomains of ~1-2 kb in size marked by di- and trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9me2/me3). However, no theoretical framework exists to predict the location and boundaries of such domains from the DNA sequence. Here, we compare H3K9me2/me3-heterochromatin microdomains in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) that are dependent on the histone methylases SUV39H1/2 and GLP, transcription factor ADNP or chromatin remodeler ATRX. By applying a novel Ising-type chromatin hierarchical lattice (ChromHL) model, we identify two different microdomain types that are distinct with respect to their dependence on DNA sequence motifs or nucleosome interactions. ChromHL is able to predict microdomain location, extension and boundaries based on binding sites of PAX3, PAX9, ADNP, CTCF and repeat sequence motifs, the concentration of heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) and the strength of nucleosome-nucleosome interactions. Thus, our result provides insight how distinct patterns of silenced heterochromatin states are implemented and regulated.
Project description:In the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena, de novo heterochromatin body formation is accompanied by programmed DNA elimination. Here, we show that the novel heterochromatin body component Jub1p promotes heterochromatin body formation and dephosphorylation of the Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1)-like protein Pdd1p. Through the identification and mutagenesis of the phosphorylated residues of Pdd1p, we demonstrate that Pdd1p dephosphorylation promotes the electrostatic interaction between Pdd1p and RNA in vitro and heterochromatin body formation in vivo. We therefore suggest that heterochromatin bodies are assembled by the Pdd1p-RNA interaction. Jub1p and Pdd1p dephosphorylation are required for heterochromatin body formation and DNA elimination but not for local heterochromatin assembly, indicating that heterochromatin body of itself plays an essential role in DNA elimination. Micronuclei (MICs) and new macronuclei (MACs) of exconjugants were isolated from different mutants at 36 hpm, and the genomic DNA was analyzed by high-throughput sequencing.
Project description:In the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena, de novo heterochromatin body formation is accompanied by programmed DNA elimination. Here, we show that the novel heterochromatin body component Jub1p promotes heterochromatin body formation and dephosphorylation of the Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1)-like protein Pdd1p. Through the identification and mutagenesis of the phosphorylated residues of Pdd1p, we demonstrate that Pdd1p dephosphorylation promotes the electrostatic interaction between Pdd1p and RNA in vitro and heterochromatin body formation in vivo. We therefore suggest that heterochromatin bodies are assembled by the Pdd1p-RNA interaction. Jub1p and Pdd1p dephosphorylation are required for heterochromatin body formation and DNA elimination but not for local heterochromatin assembly, indicating that heterochromatin body of itself plays an essential role in DNA elimination.
Project description:Heterochromatin is a specialized form of chromatin that restricts access to DNA and inhibits genetic processes, including transcription and recombination. In Neurospora crassa, constitutive heterochromatin is characterized by trimethylation of lysine 9 on histone H3, hypoacetylation of histones, and DNA methylation. Here we explore whether the conserved histone demethylase, lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), regulates heterochromatin in Neurospora, and if so, how. Though LSD1 is implicated in heterochromatin regulation, its function is inconsistent across different systems; orthologs of LSD1 have been shown to either promote or antagonize heterochromatin expansion by removing H3K4me or H3K9me respectively. We identify three members of the Neurospora LSD complex (LSDC): LSD1, PHF1, and BDP-1, and strains deficient for any exhibit variable spreading of heterochromatin and establishment of new heterochromatin domains dispersed across the genome. Heterochromatin establishment outside of canonical domains in Neurospora share the unusual characteristic of DNA methylation-dependent H3K9me3; typically, H3K9me3 establishment is independent of DNA methylation. Consistent with this, the hyper-H3K9me3 phenotype of LSD1 knock-out strains is dependent on the presence of DNA methylation, as well as HCHC-mediated histone deacetylation, suggesting spreading is dependent on some feedback mechanism. Altogether, our results suggest LSD1 works in opposition to HCHC to maintain proper heterochromatin boundaries.
Project description:WIP1 phosphatase is emerging as an important regulator of tumorigenesis, but no unifying mechanistic network has been proposed. Here we found that WIP1 plays a key role in the transcriptional regulation of heterochromatin-associated DNA sequences in germ-line and cancer cells. WIP1 was required for epigenetic remodeling of repetitive DNA elements within the heterochromatin, including L1 LINE retrotransposons. Mechanistically, WIP1regulated an ATM-dependent increase in BRCA1 occupancy on L1 LINEs, resulting in closed chromatin without ubiquitination of histone H2A. This mechanism appeared to be dependent on the ability of BRCA1 to bind the heterochromatin protein HP1, the recruitment of DNA methyltransferases, and subsequent DNA methylation. Attenuation of ATM, in turn, reversed heterochromatin methylation in both germ-line and cancer cells. DNA methylation plays a central role in the generation of mutations in human tumors and we found that WIP1 levels strongly correlated with C-to-T substitutions and a total mutation load in primary breast cancers. We propose that WIP1 plays an important role in the regulation of DNA methylation and global heterochromatin silencing, and thus is critical in maintaining genome integrity during development and in cancer. Total RNA was extracted from control spermatids, Wip1-/- and Wip1-/- Atm+/- spermatids. The final cRNA samples were hybridized in triplicates to Illumina Mouse WG-6 v2.0 Expression arrays.
Project description:Nuclear small RNA pathways safeguard genome integrity by establishing transcription-repressing heterochromatin at transposable elements. This inevitably also targets the transposon-rich source loci of the small RNAs themselves. How small RNA source loci are efficiently transcribed while transposon promoters are potently silenced, is not understood. Here, we show that transcription of Drosophila piRNA clusters—small RNA source loci in animal gonads—is enforced through RNA Polymerase II pre-initiation complex formation within repressive heterochromatin. This is accomplished through the TFIIA-L paralog Moonshiner, which is recruited to piRNA clusters via the Heterochromatin Protein-1 variant Rhino. Moonshiner triggers transcription initiation within piRNA clusters by recruiting the TATA box-binding protein (TBP)-related factor TRF2, an animal TFIID core variant. Thus, transcription of heterochromatic small RNA source loci relies on direct recruitment of the core transcriptional machinery to DNA via histone marks rather than sequence motifs, a concept that we argue is a recurring theme in evolution.
Project description:Background: Heterochromatin at the pericentromeric repeats in fission yeast is assembled and spread by an RNAi-dependent mechanism, which is coupled to the transcription of non-coding RNA from the repeats by RNA polymerase II. In addition, Rrp6, a component of the nuclear exosome, also contributes to heterochromatin assembly and is coupled to non-coding RNA transcription. The multi-subunit complex Mediator, which directs initiation of RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription, has recently been suggested to function after initiation in processes such as elongation of transcription and splicing. However, the role of Mediator in the regulation of chromatin structure is not well understood. Results: We investigated the role of Mediator in pericentromeric heterochromatin formation and found that deletion of specific subunits of the head domain of Mediator compromised heterochromatin structure. The Mediator head domain was required for Rrp6-dependent heterochromatin nucleation at the pericentromere and for RNAi-dependent spreading of heterochromatin into the neighboring region. In the latter process, Mediator appeared to contribute to efficient processing of siRNA from transcribed non-coding RNA, which was required for efficient spreading of heterochromatin. Furthermore, the head domain directed efficient transcription in heterochromatin. Conclusions: These results reveal a pivotal role for Mediator in multiple steps of transcription-coupled formation of pericentromeric heterochromatin. This observation further extends the role of Mediator to co-transcriptional chromatin regulation. Gene expression profile at exponentially-growing phase.in the fission yeast deletion mutants of pmc6, med20 and dcr1.
Project description:Both RNAi-dependent and -independent mechanisms have been implicated in the establishment of heterochromatin domains, which may be stabilized by feedback loops involving chromatin proteins and modifications of histones and DNA. Neurospora crassa sports features of heterochromatin found in higher eukaryotes, namely cytosine methylation (5mC), methylation of histone H3 lysine9 (H3K9me) and HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN-1 (HP1), and provides a model to investigate heterochromatin establishment and maintenance. We mapped the distribution of HP1, 5mC, H3K9me3 and H3K4me2 at 100bp-resolution and explored their interplay. HP1, H3K9me3 and DNA methylation were extensively colocalized and defined 44 heterochromatic domains on linkage group VII, all relics of repeat-induced point mutation (RIP). Interestingly, the centromere was found in a striking ~350kb heterochromatic domain with no detectable H3K4me2. 5mC was not found in genes, in contrast to the situation in plants and animals. H3K9me3 is required for HP1 localization and DNA methylation. Here, we show that localization of H3K9me3 is independent of 5mC or HP1 at virtually all heterochromatin regions. In addition, we observed complete restoration of DNA methylation patterns after depletion and reintroduction of the H3K9 methylation machinery, indicating that the signals for de novo heterochromatin formation lie upstream of H3K9 methylation. These data show that A:T rich RIPâd DNA efficently directs methylation of H3K9, which in turn, directs methylation of associated cytosines. Immunoprecipitation experiments using antibodies to 5mC, H3K9me3, epitope-tagged HP1, and H3K4me2 were performed. The immunoprecipitate fraction was labeled with Cy5 and the total input was labeled with Cy3. Samples were hybridized to a N. crassa LGVII tiling path microarray.
Project description:WIP1 phosphatase is emerging as an important regulator of tumorigenesis, but no unifying mechanistic network has been proposed. Here we found that WIP1 plays a key role in the transcriptional regulation of heterochromatin-associated DNA sequences in germ-line and cancer cells. WIP1 was required for epigenetic remodeling of repetitive DNA elements within the heterochromatin, including L1 LINE retrotransposons. Mechanistically, WIP1regulated an ATM-dependent increase in BRCA1 occupancy on L1 LINEs, resulting in closed chromatin without ubiquitination of histone H2A. This mechanism appeared to be dependent on the ability of BRCA1 to bind the heterochromatin protein HP1, the recruitment of DNA methyltransferases, and subsequent DNA methylation. Attenuation of ATM, in turn, reversed heterochromatin methylation in both germ-line and cancer cells. DNA methylation plays a central role in the generation of mutations in human tumors and we found that WIP1 levels strongly correlated with C-to-T substitutions and a total mutation load in primary breast cancers. We propose that WIP1 plays an important role in the regulation of DNA methylation and global heterochromatin silencing, and thus is critical in maintaining genome integrity during development and in cancer.
Project description:The genome consists of regions of transcriptionally active euchromatin and more silent heterochromatin. We reveal that the formation of heterochromatin domains requires cohesin turnover on DNA. Stabilization of cohesin on DNA through depletion of its release factor WAPL leads to a near-complete loss of heterochromatin domains. The Mediator CDK module controls heterochromatin in an opposing manner. Loss of this module leads to an almost binary partition of the genome into dense H3K9me3 domains, and regions devoid of H3K9me3 spanning the rest of the genome. By restricting the degree of heterochromatinization, the Mediator CDK module creates a transcription-permissive context that enables gene expression within heterochromatin domains. WAPL deficiency prevents the formation of heterochromatin domains, thus allowing for gene expression even in the absence of the Mediator CDK module. We propose that heterochromatin is controlled by two opposing activities, in which the Mediator CDK module and cohesin turnover must be balanced to enable the correct distribution of epigenetic marks to ensure proper gene expression.