Raffaella Santoro

The nucleolar remodeling complex NoRC mediates heterochromatin formation and silencing of ribosomal gene transcription

Epigenetic control mechanisms silence about half of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes in metabolically active cells. In exploring the mechanism by which the active or silent state of rRNA genes is inherited, we found that NoRC, a nucleolar remodeling complex containing Snf2h (also called Smarca5, SWI/SNF-related matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily a, member 5), represses rDNA transcription. NoRC mediates rDNA silencing by recruiting DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase activity to the rDNA promoter, thus establishing structural characteristics of heterochromatin such as DNA methylation, histone hypoacetylation and methylation of the Lys9 residue of histone H3. These results indicate that active and inactive rRNA genes can be demarcated by their associated proteins, and link chromatin remodeling to DNA methylation and specific histone modifications.

NoRC - A novel member of mammalian ISWI-containing chromatin remodeling machines

Transcription by RNA polymerase I on nucleosomal templates requires binding of the transcription termination factor TTF‐I to a cognate site 160 bp upstream of the transcription start site. Binding of TTF‐I is accompanied by changes in the chromatin architecture which suggests that TTF‐I recruits a remodeling activity to the rDNA promoter. We have cloned a cDNA that encodes TIP5 (TTF‐I‐interacting protein 5), a 205 kDa protein that shares a number of important protein domains with WSTF (Williams syndrome transcription factor) and hAcf1/WCRF180, the largest subunits of human chromatin remodeling complexes hCHRAC and WCRF. TIP5 co‐localizes with the basal RNA polymerase I transcription factor UBF in the nucleolus and is associated with SNF2h. The cellular TIP5–SNF2h complex, termed NoRC (nucleolar remodeling complex), induces nucleosome sliding in an ATP‐ and histone H4 tail‐dependent fashion. The results suggest that NoRC is a novel nucleolar chromatin remodeling machine that may serve a role in the regulation of the rDNA locus.

The chromatin remodeling complex NoRC targets HDAC1 to the ribosomal gene promoter and represses RNA polymerase I transcription

Mammalian chromatin remodeling complexes are involved in both activation and repression of transcription. Here, we show that NoRC, a SNF2h‐ containing nucleolar chromatin remodeling complex, represses ribosomal gene transcription. NoRC‐mediated rDNA silencing was alleviated by trichostatin A, indicating that histone deacetylation is causally involved in silencing. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate that overexpression of TIP5, the large subunit of NoRC, mediates deacetylation of nucleosomes in the vicinity of the rDNA promoter. Protein–protein interaction assays reveal association of TIP5 with the histone deacetylase HDAC1 in vivo and in vitro. Deletion of the C‐terminal PHD finger and bromodomain abolishes the interaction of TIP5 and HDAC1, and abrogates transcriptional repression. The results suggest that NoRC silences the rDNA locus by targeting the SIN3 corepressor complex to the rDNA promoter, thereby establishing a repressed chromatin structure.

Molecular mechanisms mediating methylation-dependent silencing of ribosomal gene transcription.

Epigenetic control mechanisms silence about half of ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) in metabolically active cells. In the mouse, 40% of rDNA repeats are methylated and can be activated by 5-azacytidine treatment. In exploring the effect of methylation on rDNA transcription, we found that methylation of a single CpG dinucleotide within the upstream control element of the rDNA promoter (at -133) abrogates rDNA transcription both in transfection experiments and in in vitro assays using chromatin templates. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrate that methylation of the cytosine at -133 inhibits binding of the transcription factor UBF to nucleosomal rDNA, thereby preventing initiation complex formation. Thus, methylation may be a mechanism to inactivate rDNA genes and propagate transcriptional silencing through cell division.

Epigenetic mechanism of rRNA gene silencing: temporal order of NoRC-mediated histone modification, chromatin remodeling, and DNA methylation.

ABSTRACT Epigenetic control mechanisms silence about half of the rRNA genes in eukaryotes. Previous studies have demonstrated that recruitment of NoRC, a SNF2h-containing remodeling complex, silences rRNA gene transcription. NoRC mediates histone H4 deacetylation, histone H3-Lys9 dimethylation, and de novo DNA methylation, thus establishing heterochromatic features at the rRNA gene promoter. Here we show that inhibition of any of these activities alleviates NoRC-dependent silencing, indicating that these processes are intimately linked. We have studied the temporal order of epigenetic events at the rRNA gene promoter during gene silencing and demonstrate that recruitment of NoRC by TTF-I is a prerequisite for the deacetylation of histone H4 and the dimethylation of histone H3-Lys9. Inhibition of histone deacetylation prevents DNA methylation, while inhibition of DNA methylation does not affect histone modification. Importantly, ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling is required for methylation of a specific CpG dinucleotide within the upstream control element of the rRNA gene promoter, and this modification impairs preinitiation complex formation. The results of this study reveal a clear hierarchy of epigenetic events that control de novo DNA methylation and lead to silencing of RNA genes.

Epigenetic disruption of ribosomal RNA genes and nucleolar architecture in DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) deficient cells

The nucleolus is the site of ribosome synthesis in the nucleus, whose integrity is essential. Epigenetic mechanisms are thought to regulate the activity of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene copies, which are part of the nucleolus. Here we show that human cells lacking DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1), but not Dnmt33b, have a loss of DNA methylation and an increase in the acetylation level of lysine 16 histone H4 at the rRNA genes. Interestingly, we observed that SirT1, a NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase with a preference for lysine 16 H4, interacts with Dnmt1; and SirT1 recruitment to the rRNA genes is abrogated in Dnmt1 knockout cells. The DNA methylation and chromatin changes at ribosomal DNA observed are associated with a structurally disorganized nucleolus, which is fragmented into small nuclear masses. Prominent nucleolar proteins, such as Fibrillarin and Ki-67, and the rRNA genes are scattered throughout the nucleus in Dnmt1 deficient cells. These findings suggest a role for Dnmt1 as an epigenetic caretaker for the maintenance of nucleolar structure.

The NoRC complex mediates the heterochromatin formation and stability of silent rRNA genes and centromeric repeats

Maintenance of specific heterochromatic domains is crucial for genome stability. In eukaryotic cells, a fraction of the tandem‐repeated ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes is organized in the heterochromatic structures. The principal determinant of rDNA silencing is the nucleolar remodelling complex, NoRC, that consists of TIP5 (TTF‐1‐interacting protein‐5) and the ATPase SNF2h. Here we showed that TIP5 not only mediates the establishment of rDNA silencing but also the formation of perinucleolar heterochromatin that contains centric and pericentric repeats. Our data indicated that the TIP5‐mediated heterochromatin is indispensable for stability of silent rRNA genes and of major and minor satellite repeats. Moreover, depletion of TIP5 impairs rDNA silencing, upregulates rDNA transcription levels and induces cell transformation. These findings point to a role of TIP5 in protecting genome stability and suggest that it can play a role in the cellular transformation process.

The epigenetic modifier EZH2 controls melanoma growth and metastasis through silencing of distinct tumour suppressors

Increased activity of the epigenetic modifier EZH2 has been associated with different cancers. However, evidence for a functional role of EZH2 in tumorigenesis in vivo remains poor, in particular in metastasizing solid cancers. Here we reveal central roles of EZH2 in promoting growth and metastasis of cutaneous melanoma. In a melanoma mouse model, conditional Ezh2 ablation as much as treatment with the preclinical EZH2 inhibitor GSK503 stabilizes the disease through inhibition of growth and virtually abolishes metastases formation without affecting normal melanocyte biology. Comparably, in human melanoma cells, EZH2 inactivation impairs proliferation and invasiveness, accompanied by re-expression of tumour suppressors connected to increased patient survival. These EZH2 target genes suppress either melanoma growth or metastasis in vivo, revealing the dual function of EZH2 in promoting tumour progression. Thus, EZH2-mediated epigenetic repression is highly relevant especially during advanced melanoma progression, which makes EZH2 a promising target for novel melanoma therapies.

The chromatin remodeling complex NoRC controls replication timing of rRNA genes

The ATP‐dependent chromatin remodeling complex NoRC silences a fraction of mammalian ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) by establishing heterochromatic structures at the rDNA promoter. Here we show that NoRC also plays a role in replication timing of rDNA. rDNA is replicated in a biphasic manner, active genes (∼60%) replicating early and silent ones (∼40%) replicating late in S‐phase. The chromatin structure that marks active and silent rDNA repeats is propagated during cell division. To examine the function of NoRC in epigenetic inheritance and replication timing, we have monitored the chromatin structure, transcriptional activity and replication timing of rDNA in a cell line that moderately overexpresses NoRC. NoRC is exclusively associated with late‐replicating rDNA arrays. Overexpression of NoRC silences rDNA transcription, reduces the size and number of nucleoli, impairs cell proliferation and resets replication timing from early to late. The results demonstrate that NoRC is an important determinant of replication timing and epigenetic marks are heritably maintained through DNA replication.

Inheritance of Silent rDNA Chromatin Is Mediated by PARP1 via Noncoding RNA

Faithful propagation of specific chromatin states requires re-establishment of epigenetic marks after every cell division. How the original epigenetic signature is inherited after disruption during DNA replication is still poorly understood. Here, we show that the poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase-1 (PARP1/ARTD1) is implicated in the maintenance of silent rDNA chromatin during cell division. We demonstrate that PARP1 associates with TIP5, a subunit of the NoRC complex, via the noncoding pRNA and binds to silent rRNA genes after their replication in mid-late S phase. PARP1 represses rRNA transcription and is implicated in the formation of silent rDNA chromatin. Silent rDNA chromatin is a specific substrate for ADP-ribosylation and the enzymatic activity of PARP1 is necessary to establish rDNA silencing. The data unravel a function of PARP1 and ADP-ribosylation that serves to allow for the inheritance of silent chromatin structures, shedding light on how epigenetic marks are transmitted during each cell cycle.