Project description:Epigenetic environment of histone H3.3 on promoters revealed by integration of imaging and genome-scale chromatin and methyl-DNA immunoprecipitation information. Chromatin regions with different transcriptional outputs are distinguished by the deposition of histone variants. Histone H3.3 is incorporated into chromatin in a replication-independent manner; yet the relationship between H3.3 deposition, chromatin environment is incompletely understood. We have integrated imaging and genome-scale chromatin and methyl-DNA immunoprecipitation approaches to investigate the genomic distribution of epitope-tagged H3.3 in relation to histone modifications, DNA methylation and transcription. Results: Imaging shows that H3.3, in contrast to replicative H3.1 or H2B, is enriched in chromatin marked by histone modifications of active genes. A genome-wide survey identifies 1,649 H3.3-enriched promoters, only a subset of which is co-enriched in H3K4me3, H3K9me3 and/or H3K27me3, with a preference for H3K4me3, corroborating imaging data. H3.3-enriched promoters are depleted of H3.3 at the TSS in a transcription-independent manner. H3.3 is found predominantly on CpG-rich unmethylated promoters, creating a condition favourable for transcription. In undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells, H3.3 target genes are linked to signaling and mesodermal differentiation, suggesting that H3.3 may be a mark of lineage priming. Conclusions: A minor fraction of H3.3 is targeted to promoters, which are predominantly CpG-rich, DNA unmethylated and devoid of detectable trimethylated H3K4, K9 and K27. Among H3.3 target promoters co-marked by methylated H3, H4K4me3 is preferred, with or without H3K27me3, arguing that in mesenchymal stem cells H3.3 marks transcriptionally active or potentially active promoters. Key words: Imaging, ChIP-chip, MeDIP-chip, histone H3.3, mesenchymal stem cells ChIP-chip and MeDIP-chip experiments: Performed with two independent biological replicates. Gene expression profiling experiments: Total RNA obtained from H3.3-EGFP transfected or empty-EGFP transfected mesenchymal stem cells compared to untransfected mesenchymal stem cells. Raw expression data linked below as supplementary file (GSE17053_Illumina_non-normalized_data.txt).
Project description:Epigenetic environment of histone H3.3 on promoters revealed by integration of imaging and genome-scale chromatin and methyl-DNA immunoprecipitation information. Chromatin regions with different transcriptional outputs are distinguished by the deposition of histone variants. Histone H3.3 is incorporated into chromatin in a replication-independent manner; yet the relationship between H3.3 deposition, chromatin environment is incompletely understood. We have integrated imaging and genome-scale chromatin and methyl-DNA immunoprecipitation approaches to investigate the genomic distribution of epitope-tagged H3.3 in relation to histone modifications, DNA methylation and transcription. Results: Imaging shows that H3.3, in contrast to replicative H3.1 or H2B, is enriched in chromatin marked by histone modifications of active genes. A genome-wide survey identifies 1,649 H3.3-enriched promoters, only a subset of which is co-enriched in H3K4me3, H3K9me3 and/or H3K27me3, with a preference for H3K4me3, corroborating imaging data. H3.3-enriched promoters are depleted of H3.3 at the TSS in a transcription-independent manner. H3.3 is found predominantly on CpG-rich unmethylated promoters, creating a condition favourable for transcription. In undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells, H3.3 target genes are linked to signaling and mesodermal differentiation, suggesting that H3.3 may be a mark of lineage priming. Conclusions: A minor fraction of H3.3 is targeted to promoters, which are predominantly CpG-rich, DNA unmethylated and devoid of detectable trimethylated H3K4, K9 and K27. Among H3.3 target promoters co-marked by methylated H3, H4K4me3 is preferred, with or without H3K27me3, arguing that in mesenchymal stem cells H3.3 marks transcriptionally active or potentially active promoters. Key words: Imaging, ChIP-chip, MeDIP-chip, histone H3.3, mesenchymal stem cells
Project description:Histone modifications are associated with distinct transcriptional states, but it is unclear whether they instruct gene expression. To investigate this, we mutated histone H3.3 K9 and K27 residues in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Here, we find that H3.3K9 is essential for controlling specific distal intergenic regions and for proper H3K27me3 deposition at promoters. The H3.3K9A mutation resulted in decreased H3K9me3 at regions encompassing endogenous retroviruses and induced a gain of H3K27ac and nascent transcription. These changes in the chromatin environment unleashed cryptic enhancers, resulting in the activation of distinctive transcriptional programs and culminating in protein expression normally restricted to specialized immune cell types. The H3.3K27A mutant disrupted deposition and spreading of the repressive H3K27me3 mark, particularly impacting bivalent genes with higher basal level of H3.3 at promoters. Therefore, H3.3K9 and K27 crucially orchestrate repressive chromatin states at cis-regulatory elements and bivalent promoters, respectively, and instruct proper transcription in mESCs.
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:The HIRA chaperone complex, comprised of HIRA, UBN1 and CABIN1, collaborates with histone-binding protein ASF1a to incorporate histone variant H3.3 into chromatin in a DNA replication-independent manner. To better understand its function and mechanism, we integrated HIRA, UBN1, ASF1a and histone H3.3 ChIP-seq and gene expression analyses. Most HIRA-binding sites co-localize with UBN1, ASF1a and H3.3 at active promoters and active and weak/poised enhancers. At promoters, binding of HIRA/UBN1/ASF1a correlates with the level of gene expression. HIRA is required for deposition of histone H3.3 at its binding sites. There are marked differences in nucleosome and co-regulator composition at different classes of HIRA-bound regulatory site. Underscoring this, we report novel physical interactions between the HIRA complex and transcription factors, a chromatin insulator and an ATP-dependent chromatin-remodelling complex. Our results map the distribution of the HIRA chaperone across the chromatin landscape and point to different interacting partners at functionally distinct regulatory sites. Examination of H3.3 histone modification in HeLA cells with accompanying FAIRE data
Project description:Through epigenetic modifications and selective incorporation of histone variants into chromatin, eukaryotic cells can adjust their transcriptional profile in response to molecular needs. We used the nuclear dimorphic ciliate protozoan, Tetrahymena thermophila, as a model system to investigate the dynamics of H3 variant function. H3.3 is the ancestral H3 variant with key roles in regulating chromatin states and transcription. Functional proteomics and immunofluorescence analyses of H3.1 and H3.3 revealed a conserved role for Nrp1 and Asf1 histone chaperones in nuclear influx of histones. Cac2 and Hir1 have distinct localization patterns during different stages of the Tetrahymena life cycle and suggests that both Cac2 and Hir1 might be dispensable for the replication-dependent and -independent deposition of H3.1 and H3.3, respectively. ChIP-seq experiments in growing Tetrahymena show H3.3 enrichment over promoters, genes bodies, and transcription termination sites of highly transcribed genes. H3.3 knockout followed by RNA-seq reveals large-scale transcriptional alterations in functionally important genes. Our results provide an evolutionary perspective on H3.3’s conserved role in maintaining the transcriptional landscape of cells and on the emergence of specialized chromatin assembly pathways.
Project description:Through epigenetic modifications and selective incorporation of histone variants into chromatin, eukaryotic cells can adjust their transcriptional profile in response to molecular needs. We used the nuclear dimorphic ciliate protozoan, Tetrahymena thermophila, as a model system to investigate the dynamics of H3 variant function. H3.3 is the ancestral H3 variant with key roles in regulating chromatin states and transcription. Functional proteomics and immunofluorescence analyses of H3.1 and H3.3 revealed a conserved role for Nrp1 and Asf1 histone chaperones in nuclear influx of histones. Cac2 and Hir1 have distinct localization patterns during different stages of the Tetrahymena life cycle and suggests that both Cac2 and Hir1 might be dispensable for the replication-dependent and -independent deposition of H3.1 and H3.3, respectively. ChIP-seq experiments in growing Tetrahymena show H3.3 enrichment over promoters, genes bodies, and transcription termination sites of highly transcribed genes. H3.3 knockout followed by RNA-seq reveals large-scale transcriptional alterations in functionally important genes. Our results provide an evolutionary perspective on H3.3’s conserved role in maintaining the transcriptional landscape of cells and on the emergence of specialized chromatin assembly pathways.
Project description:Cellular metabolism and chromatin landscape both contribute to cell fate determination. However, their interplay remains poorly understood. Here we show that Prohibitin (PHB), an evolutionarily conserved protein, involves in a histone variant H3.3 chaperon HIRA complex-dependent epigenetic and metabolic circuitry to maintain the identity of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). We found that silencing of PHB triggers hESC differentiation with concomitant enhancements of histone 3 (H3) lysine (K) methyl modifications as a result of the reduced production of α-ketoglutarate (α-KG), a metabolite required for activities of many dioxygenase and in turn chromatin structure1,2. Mechanistically, PHB acts as a functional member of the HIRA complex3,4. Resembling PHB deficiency, loss of HIRA in hESCs leads to massive differentiation and aberrant histone modifications, although it was previously found not to disrupt the self-renewal in mouse ESCs (mESCs)5. Genome-wide H3.3 ChIP- sequence analyses indicate that reduction of H3.3 deposition caused by PHB knock down is extremely similar to that induced by HIRA knock down. Specifically, silencing either HIRA or PHB leads to repressive chromatin characters at promoters of pluripotency genes and isocitrate dehydrogenases (IDHs), the enzyme responsible for α-KG production, but active chromatin features at promoters of developmental genes, paralleling to transcript levels of these genes. Our results identify PHB as an essential factor not only for hESC self-renewal but also for the proper function of the HIRA complex, linking the HIRA complex-dependent H3.3 deposition to the production of a critical metabolite required for shaping chromatin structure, and demonstrating the importance of the interplay between epigenetic state and metabolic regulation in cell fate determination. Examination of H3.3 deposition in NT, PHB, and HIRA siRNA treated hESCs respectively.
Project description:The HIRA chaperone complex, comprised of HIRA, UBN1 and CABIN1, collaborates with histone-binding protein ASF1a to incorporate histone variant H3.3 into chromatin in a DNA replication-independent manner. To better understand its function and mechanism, we integrated HIRA, UBN1, ASF1a and histone H3.3 ChIP-seq and gene expression analyses. Most HIRA-binding sites co-localize with UBN1, ASF1a and H3.3 at active promoters and active and weak/poised enhancers. At promoters, binding of HIRA/UBN1/ASF1a correlates with the level of gene expression. HIRA is required for deposition of histone H3.3 at its binding sites. There are marked differences in nucleosome and co-regulator composition at different classes of HIRA-bound regulatory site. Underscoring this, we report novel physical interactions between the HIRA complex and transcription factors, a chromatin insulator and an ATP-dependent chromatin-remodelling complex. Our results map the distribution of the HIRA chaperone across the chromatin landscape and point to different interacting partners at functionally distinct regulatory sites. Examination of 3 histone chaperone proteins in HeLa cells