Project description:Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) regulates gene expression during lineage specification through trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3). In Drosophila, polycomb binding sites are dynamic chromatin regions coupled to incorporation of the histone variant H3.3. Here we show in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) that H3.3 is required for proper establishment of H3K27me3 at the promoters of developmentally regulated genes. These promoters show reduced dynamics as determined by deposition of de novo synthesized histones, associated with reduced PRC2 occupancy. H3.3-depleted ESCs show upregulation of extraembryonic trophectoderm, as well as misregulation of other developmental genes upon differentiation. Our data demonstrate the importance of H3.3 incorporation in ESCs and suggest that changes in chromatin dynamics in its absence lead to misregulation of gene expression during differentiation. Moreover, our findings lend support to the emerging notion that H3.3 has multiple functions in distinct genomic locations that are not always correlated with an “active” chromatin state. RNA-seq analysis of three embryonic stem cell lines (control, H3.3 KD1, and H3.3 KD2)
Project description:Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) regulates gene expression during lineage specification through trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3). In Drosophila, polycomb binding sites are dynamic chromatin regions coupled to incorporation of the histone variant H3.3. Here we show in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) that H3.3 is required for proper establishment of H3K27me3 at the promoters of developmentally regulated genes. These promoters show reduced dynamics as determined by deposition of de novo synthesized histones, associated with reduced PRC2 occupancy. H3.3-depleted ESCs show upregulation of extraembryonic trophectoderm, as well as misregulation of other developmental genes upon differentiation. Our data demonstrate the importance of H3.3 incorporation in ESCs and suggest that changes in chromatin dynamics in its absence lead to misregulation of gene expression during differentiation. Moreover, our findings lend support to the emerging notion that H3.3 has multiple functions in distinct genomic locations that are not always correlated with an “active” chromatin state. CATCH-IT analysis of five embryonic stem cell lines (control, H3.3 KD1, and H3.3 KD2; wild type and Hira-/-)
Project description:Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) regulates gene expression during lineage specification through trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3). In Drosophila, polycomb binding sites are dynamic chromatin regions coupled to incorporation of the histone variant H3.3. Here we show in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) that H3.3 is required for proper establishment of H3K27me3 at the promoters of developmentally regulated genes. These promoters show reduced dynamics as determined by deposition of de novo synthesized histones, associated with reduced PRC2 occupancy. H3.3-depleted ESCs show upregulation of extraembryonic trophectoderm, as well as misregulation of other developmental genes upon differentiation. Our data demonstrate the importance of H3.3 incorporation in ESCs and suggest that changes in chromatin dynamics in its absence lead to misregulation of gene expression during differentiation. Moreover, our findings lend support to the emerging notion that H3.3 has multiple functions in distinct genomic locations that are not always correlated with an “active” chromatin state. Native ChIP analysis of three histone post-translational modifications (H3K4me3, H3K27me3, H3K27ac) in two mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines (control and H3.3-depleted). Inputs sequenced as control. Native ChIP analysis of H3.3B-HA in control and Suz12-/- ESCs. Crosslinking ChIP analysis of histone H3 using a general H3 antibody in two ESC lines (control and H3.3-depleted). Crosslinking ChIP analysis Hira, UTX, and Jmjd3 in wild type and H3.3 KO ESCs.
Project description:Replication-independent deposition of histone variant H3.3 into chromatin is essential for many biological processes, including development, oogenesis and nuclear reprogramming. Unlike replication-dependent H3.1/2 isoforms, H3.3 is expressed throughout the cell cycle and becomes enriched in postmitotic cells with age. However, lifelong dynamics of H3 variant replacement and the impact of this process on chromatin organization remain largely undefined. To address this, we investigated genome-wide changes in histone H3 variants composition and H3 modification abundances throughout the lifespan in mice using quantitative mass spectrometry (MS) – based middle-down proteomics strategy. Using middle-down MS we demonstrate that H3.3 accumulates in the chromatin of various somatic mouse tissues throughout life, resulting in near complete replacement of H3.1/2 isoforms by the late adulthood. Accumulation of H3.3 is associated with profound changes in the global level of H3 methylation. H3.3-containing chromatin exhibits distinct stable levels of H3R17me2 and H3K36me2, different from those on H3.1/H3.2-containing chromatin, indicating a direct link between H3 variant exchange and histone methylation dynamics with age. In summary, our study provides the first time comprehensive characterization of dynamic changes in the H3 modification landscape during mouse lifespan and links these changes to the age-dependent accumulation of histone variant H3.3.
Project description:Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) have provided an evolutionary advantage in the diversification of transcript regulation and are thought to be involved in the establishment of extraembryonic tissues during development. However, silencing of these elements remains critical for the maintenance of genome stability. Here, we define a new chromatin state that is uniquely characterized by the combination of the histone variant H3.3 and H3K9me3, two chromatin ‘marks’ that have previously been considered to belong to fundamentally opposing chromatin states. H3.3/H3K9me3 heterochromatin is fundamentally distinct from ‘canonical’ H3K9me3 heterochromatin that has been under study for decades and this unique functional interplay of a histone variant and a repressive histone mark is crucial for silencing ERVs in ESCs. Our study solidifies the emerging notion that H3.3 is not a histone variant associated exclusively with “active” chromatin and further suggests that its incorporation at unique heterochromatic regions may be central to its function during development and the maintenance of genome stability. RNA-seq analysis of three embryonic stem cell lines WT, H3.3 KO1, and H3.3 KO2)
Project description:The replication timing program, or the order in which DNA is duplicated during S-phase, is associated with various features of chromosome structure and function, including gene expression, histone modifications, and 3-D compartmentalization of chromatin.
Project description:Nucleosomes are the principal packaging units of chromatin and critical for gene regulation and genome stability. In mammals, a subset of nucleosomes fail to be replaced by protamines during spermatogenesis and are retained in mature spermatozoa providing opportunities for paternal epigenetic transmission. In humans, the remaining 10% localize at regulatory elements of genes. To assess evolutionary conservation and to dissect the molecular logic underlying nucleosome retention, we determined the genome wide nucleosome occupancy in mouse spermatozoa that only contain 1% residual histones. In striking contrast to mammalian somatic cells and haploid round spermatids, we observe high enrichment of nucleosomes at CpG-rich sequences throughout the genome, at conserved regulatory sequences as well as at intra- and intergenic regions and repetitive DNA. This preferred occupancy occurs mutually exclusive with DNA methylation both in mouse and human sperm. At unmethylated CpG-rich sequences, residing nucleosomes are largely composed of the H3.3 histone variant, and trimethylated at lysine 4 (H3K4me3). Both canonical H3.1/H3.2 and H3.3 variant histones are present at promoters marked by Polycomb-mediated H3K27me3, which is strongly predictive for gene repression in pre-implantation embryos. Our data indicate important roles of DNA sequence composition, DNA methylation, variant H3.3 and canonical H3.1/H3.2 histones and associated modifications in nucleosome retention versus eviction during the histone-to-protamine remodeling process in elongating spermatids and potentially in epigenetic inheritance by nucleosomes between generations. Identification of histone, histone variant and histone modification states in round spermatids and sperm
Project description:Post-translational modifications of proteins have emerged as a major mechanism for regulating gene expression. Yet our understanding of how histone modifications directly affect chromatin function remains limited. Here, we investigate acetylation of histone H3 at lysine 64 (H3K64ac), a previously uncharacterized acetylation site on the lateral surface of the histone octamer. We show that H3K64ac regulates nucleosome dynamics by (i) destabilizing nucleosomes, and (ii) regulating chromatin remodelling. Both of these functions have the potential to regulate gene expression. In line with this, we show that the p300 co-activator acetylates H3K64 both in vitro and in vivo. H3K64ac is enriched at the transcriptional start sites (TSS) of active genes and defines transcriptionally active chromatin in ES cells. Moreover, we find that H3K64ac is dynamic during developmental reprogramming, and during mammalian spermatogenesis where H3K64 hyperacetylation precedes histone replacement. Consistent with a function in transcriptional activation, H3K64ac opposes its repressive counterpart H3K64me3. Our findings reveal an important role for a histone modification within the nucleosome core as a regulator of chromatin function in vivo and they demonstrate that lateral surface modifications can define functionally opposing chromatin states. In this study, 2 biological replicate samples for H3K64ac ChIP and one sample of H3K9ac ChIP in mouse emryonic stem cells were analyzed using custom designed Nimblegen HD2.1oligonucleotide tiling arrays.
Project description:Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) regulates gene expression during lineage specification through trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3). In Drosophila, polycomb binding sites are dynamic chromatin regions coupled to incorporation of the histone variant H3.3. Here we show in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) that H3.3 is required for proper establishment of H3K27me3 at the promoters of developmentally regulated genes. These promoters show reduced dynamics as determined by deposition of de novo synthesized histones, associated with reduced PRC2 occupancy. H3.3-depleted ESCs show upregulation of extraembryonic trophectoderm, as well as misregulation of other developmental genes upon differentiation. Our data demonstrate the importance of H3.3 incorporation in ESCs and suggest that changes in chromatin dynamics in its absence lead to misregulation of gene expression during differentiation. Moreover, our findings lend support to the emerging notion that H3.3 has multiple functions in distinct genomic locations that are not always correlated with an “active” chromatin state.