Ashby J. Morrison

Rb targets histone H3 methylation and HP1 to promoters

In eukaryotic cells the histone methylase SUV39H1 and the methyl-lysine binding protein HP1 functionally interact to repress transcription at heterochromatic sites. Lysine 9 of histone H3 is methylated by SUV39H1 (ref. 2), creating a binding site for the chromo domain of HP1 (refs 3, 4). Here we show that SUV39H1 and HP1 are both involved in the repressive functions of the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein. Rb associates with SUV39H1 and HP1 in vivo by means of its pocket domain. SUV39H1 cooperates with Rb to repress the cyclin E promoter, and in fibroblasts that are disrupted for SUV39, the activity of the cyclin E and cyclin A2 genes are specifically elevated. Chromatin immunoprecipitations show that Rb is necessary to direct methylation of histone H3, and is necessary for binding of HP1 to the cyclin E promoter. These results indicate that the SUV39H1–HP1 complex is not only involved in heterochromatic silencing but also has a role in repression of euchromatic genes by Rb and perhaps other co-repressor proteins.

INO80 and γ-H2AX Interaction Links ATP-Dependent Chromatin Remodeling to DNA Damage Repair

While the role of ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling in transcription is well established, a link between chromatin remodeling and DNA repair has remained elusive. We have found that the evolutionarily conserved INO80 chromatin remodeling complex directly participates in the repair of a double-strand break (DSB) in yeast. The INO80 complex is recruited to a HO endonuclease-induced DSB through a specific interaction with the DNA damage-induced phosphorylated histone H2A (γ-H2AX). This interaction requires Nhp10, an HMG-like subunit of the INO80 complex. The loss of Nhp10 or γ-H2AX results in reduced INO80 recruitment to the DSB. Finally, components of the INO80 complex show synthetic genetic interactions with the RAD52 DNA repair pathway, the main pathway for DSB repair in yeast. Our findings reveal a new role of ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling in nuclear processes and suggest that an ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complex can read a DNA repair histone code.

FoxM1 is required for execution of the mitotic programme and chromosome stability.

Transcriptional induction of cell-cycle regulatory proteins ensures proper timing of subsequent cell-cycle events. Here we show that the Forkhead transcription factor FoxM1 regulates expression of many G2-specific genes and is essential for chromosome stability. Loss of FoxM1 leads to pleiotropic cell-cycle defects, including a delay in G2, chromosome mis-segregation and frequent failure of cytokinesis. We show that transcriptional activation of cyclin B by FoxM1 is essential for timely mitotic entry, whereas CENP-F, another direct target of FoxM1 identified here, is essential for precise functioning of the mitotic spindle checkpoint. Thus, our data uncover a transcriptional cluster regulated by FoxM1 that is essential for proper mitotic progression.

Chromatin remodelling beyond transcription: the INO80 and SWR1 complexes

Chromatin-modifying factors have essential roles in DNA processing pathways that dictate cellular functions. The ability of chromatin modifiers, including the INO80 and SWR1 chromatin-remodelling complexes, to regulate transcriptional processes is well established. However, recent studies reveal that the INO80 and SWR1 complexes have crucial functions in many other essential processes, including DNA repair, checkpoint regulation, DNA replication, telomere maintenance and chromosome segregation. During these diverse nuclear processes, the INO80 and SWR1 complexes function cooperatively with their histone substrates, γ-H2AX and H2AZ. This research reveals that INO80 and SWR1 ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling is an integral component of pathways that maintain genomic integrity.

Mec1/Tel1 Phosphorylation of the INO80 Chromatin Remodeling Complex Influences DNA Damage Checkpoint Responses

The yeast Mec1/Tel1 kinases, ATM/ATR in mammals, coordinate the DNA damage response by phosphorylating proteins involved in DNA repair and checkpoint pathways. Recently, ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes, such as the INO80 complex, have also been implicated in DNA damage responses, although regulatory mechanisms that direct their function remain unknown. Here, we show that the Ies4 subunit of the INO80 complex is phosphorylated by the Mec1/Tel1 kinases during exposure to DNA-damaging agents. Mutation of Ies4s phosphorylation sites does not significantly affect DNA repair processes, but does influence DNA damage checkpoint responses. Additionally, ies4 phosphorylation mutants are linked to the function of checkpoint regulators, such as the replication checkpoint factors Tof1 and Rad53. These findings establish a chromatin remodeling complex as a functional component in the Mec1/Tel1 DNA damage signaling pathway that modulates checkpoint responses and suggest that posttranslational modification of chromatin remodeling complexes regulates their involvement in distinct processes.

DNA Repair in the Context of Chromatin

Modulation of chromatin is essential to nuclear processes that utilize DNA, such as transcription, replication, and repair. For example, transcription is assisted by histone post-translational modifications, as well as chromatin-remodeling complexes, which alter the structure of chromatin. Furthermore, recent advancements in the fields of DNA repair and chromatin reveal that both histone modifications and chromatin-remodeling complexes are essential for the repair of DNA lesions. In particular, chromatin-modifying complexes, such as the INO80 chromatin-remodeling complex and the Tip60 histone acetyltransferase complex, associate with the DNA damage-induced phosphorylated H2AX, which is often referred to as ?-H2AX. In S. cerevisiae, the association of INO80 with ?-H2AX is required for the recruitment of INO80 to sites of DNA double-strand breaks. Additionally, in Drosophila, Tip60 exchanges ?-H2AX for unmodified H2A in regions of DNA damage. This report reviews recent studies that emphasize the intimate relationship between evolutionarily-conserved chromatin-modifying complexes and histone post-translational modifications in the repair of DNA damage.

Retinoblastoma Protein Transcriptional Repression through Histone Deacetylation of a Single Nucleosome

ABSTRACT The retinoblastoma protein, pRb, controls transcription through recruitment of histone deacetylase to particular E2F-responsive genes. We determined the acetylation level of individual nucleosomes present in the cyclin E promoter of RB +/+ and RB −/− mouse embryo fibroblasts. We also determined the effects of pRb on nucleosomal conformation by examining the thiol reactivity of histone H3 of individual nucleosomes. We found that pRb represses the cyclin E promoter through histone deacetylation of a single nucleosome, to which it and histone deacetylase 1 bind. In addition, the conformation of this nucleosome is modulated by pRb-directed histone deacetylase activity. Thus, the repressive role of pRb in cyclin E transcription and therefore cell cycle progression can be mapped to its control of the acetylation status and conformation of a single nucleosome.

Regulation of Telomere Structure and Functions by Subunits of the INO80 Chromatin Remodeling Complex

ABSTRACT ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes have been implicated in the regulation of transcription, replication, and more recently DNA double-strand break repair. Here we report that the Ies3p subunit of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae INO80 chromatin remodeling complex interacts with a conserved tetratricopeptide repeat domain of the telomerase protein Est1p. Deletion of IES3 and some other subunits of the complex induced telomere elongation and altered telomere position effect. In telomerase-negative mutants, loss of Ies3p delayed the emergence of recombinational survivors and stimulated the formation of extrachromosomal telomeric circles in survivors. Deletion of IES3 also resulted in heightened levels of telomere-telomere fusions in telomerase-deficient strains. In addition, a delay in survivor formation was observed in an Arp8p-deficient mutant. Because Arp8p is required for the chromatin remodeling activity of the INO80 complex, the complex may promote recombinational telomere maintenance by altering chromatin structure. Consistent with this notion, we observed preferential localization of multiple subunits of the INO80 complex to telomeres. Our results reveal novel functions for a subunit of the telomerase complex and the INO80 chromatin remodeling complex.

Chromatin modifications in DNA repair

A requirement of nuclear processes that use DNA as a substrate is the manipulation of chromatin in which the DNA is packaged. Chromatin modifications cause alterations of histones and DNA, and result in a permissive chromatin environment for these nuclear processes. Recent advances in the fields of DNA repair and chromatin reveal that both histone modifications and chromatin-remodeling complexes are essential for the repair of DNA lesions, such as DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). In particular, chromatin-modifying complexes, such as the INO80, SWR1, RSC, and SWI/SNF ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling complexes and the NuA4 and Tip60 histone acetyltransferase complexes are implicated in DNA repair. The activity of these chromatin-modifying complexes influences the efficiency of the DNA repair process, which ultimately affects genome integrity and carcinogenesis. Thus, the process of DNA repair requires the cooperative activities of evolutionarily conserved chromatin-modifying complexes that facilitate the dynamic chromatin alterations needed during repair of DNA damage.

Association of Taf14 with acetylated histone H3 directs gene transcription and the DNA damage response

The YEATS domain, found in a number of chromatin-associated proteins, has recently been shown to have the capacity to bind histone lysine acetylation. Here, we show that the YEATS domain of Taf14, a member of key transcriptional and chromatin-modifying complexes in yeast, is a selective reader of histone H3 Lys9 acetylation (H3K9ac). Structural analysis reveals that acetylated Lys9 is sandwiched in an aromatic cage formed by F62 and W81. Disruption of this binding in cells impairs gene transcription and the DNA damage response. Our findings establish a highly conserved acetyllysine reader function for the YEATS domain protein family and highlight the significance of this interaction for Taf14.