Project description:We report that preexisting (old) and newly synthesized (new) histones H3 and H4 are asymmetrically partitioned during the division of Drosophila intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Furthermore, the inheritance patterns of old and new H3 and H4 in postmitotic cell pairs correlate with distinct expression patterns of Delta, an important cell fate gene. To understand the biological significance of this phenomenon, we expressed a mutant H3T3A to compromise asymmetric histone inheritance. Under this condition, we observe an increase in Delta‐symmetric cell pairs and overpopulated ISC‐like, Delta‐positive cells. Single‐cell RNA‐seq assays further indicate that H3T3A expression compromises ISC differentiation. Together, our results indicate that asymmetric histone inheritance potentially contributes to establishing distinct cell identities in a somatic stem cell lineage, consistent with previous findings in Drosophila male germline stem cells.
Project description:We report that preexisting (old) and newly synthesized (new) histones H3 and H4 are asymmetrically partitioned during the division of Drosophila intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Furthermore, the inheritance patterns of old and new H3 and H4 in post-mitotic cell pairs correlate with distinct expression patterns of Delta, an important cell fate gene. To understand the biological significance of this phenomenon, we expressed a mutant H3T3A to compromise asymmetric histone inheritance. Under this condition, we observe an increase in Delta-symmetric cell pairs and overpopulated ISC-like, Delta positive cells. Single cell RNAs-seq assays further indicate that H3T3A expression compromises ISC differentiation. Together, our results indicate that asymmetric histone inheritance potentially contributes to establishing distinct cell identities in a somatic stem cell lineage, consistent with previous findings in Drosophila male germline stem cells.
Project description:During every cell cycle, both the genome and the associated chromatin must be accurately replicated. Chromatin Assembly Factor-1 (CAF-1) is a key regulator of chromatin replication, but how CAF-1 functions in relation to the DNA replication machinery is unknown. Here, we reveal that this crosstalk differs between the leading and lagging strand at replication forks. Using biochemical reconstitution, we show that DNA and histones promote CAF-1 recruitment to its binding partner PCNA and reveal that two CAF-1 complexes are required for efficient nucleosome assembly under these conditions. Remarkably, in the context of the replisome, CAF-1 competes with the leading strand DNA polymerase epsilon (Pole) for PCNA binding. However, CAF-1 does not affect the activity of the lagging strand DNA polymerase Delta (Pold). Yet, in cells, CAF-1 deposits newly synthesized histones equally on both daughter strands. Thus, on the leading strand, chromatin assembly by CAF-1 cannot occur simultaneously to DNA synthesis, while on the lagging strand these processes may be coupled. We propose that these differences may facilitate distinct parental histone recycling mechanisms and accommodate the inherent asymmetry of DNA replication.
Project description:Epigenetic Regulation of Nuclear Lamina-Associated Heterochromatin by HAT1 and the Acetylation of Newly Synthesized Histones [pMEF_RNA_Seq]
Project description:Epigenetic Regulation of Nuclear Lamina-Associated Heterochromatin by HAT1 and the Acetylation of Newly Synthesized Histones [pMEF_ATAC_Seq]
Project description:Epigenetic Regulation of Nuclear Lamina-Associated Heterochromatin by HAT1 and the Acetylation of Newly Synthesized Histones [imMEF_ATAC_Seq]
Project description:Epigenetic Regulation of Nuclear Lamina-Associated Heterochromatin by HAT1 and the Acetylation of Newly Synthesized Histones [ChIP-seq]
Project description:The mechanism by which newly synthesized histones are imported into the nucleus and deposited onto replicating chromatin alongside segregating nucleosomal counterparts is poorly understood, yet this program is expected to bear on the putative epigenetic nature of histone post-translational modifications. To define the events by which naive pre-deposition histones are imported into the nucleus, we biochemically purified and characterized the full gamut of histone H3.1-containing complexes from human cytoplasmic fractions and identified their associated histone post-translational modifications. Through reconstitution assays, biophysical analyses and live cell manipulations, we describe in detail this series of events, namely the assembly of H3-H4 dimers, the acetylation of histones by the HAT1 holoenzyme and the transfer of histones between chaperones that culminates with their karyopherin-mediated nuclear import. We further demonstrate the high degree of conservation for this pathway between higher and lower eukaryotes.