Histone variant H2A.Z is required for early mammalian development.

Fundamental to the process of mammalian development is the timed and coordinated regulation of gene expression. This requires transcription of a precise subset of the total complement of genes. It is clear that chromatin architecture plays a fundamental role in this process by either facilitating or restricting transcription factor binding [1]. How such specialized chromatin structures are established to regulate gene expression is poorly understood. All eukaryotic organisms contain specialized histone variants with distinctly different amino acid sequences that are even more conserved than the major core histones [2]. On the basis of their highly conserved sequence, histone variants have been assumed critical for the function of mammalian chromatin; however, a requirement for a histone variant has not been shown in mammalian cells. Mice with a deletion of H1 degrees have been generated by gene targeting in ES cells, but these mice show no phenotypic consequences, perhaps due to redundancy of function [3]. Here we show for the first time that a mammalian histone variant, H2A.Z, plays a critical role in early development, and we conclude that this histone variant plays a pivotal role in establishing the chromatin structures required for the complex patterns of gene expression essential for normal mammalian development.

Crystal structure of a nucleosome core particle containing the variant histone H2A.Z.

Activation of transcription within chromatin has been correlated with the incorporation of the essential histone variant H2A.Z into nucleosomes. H2A.Z and other histone variants may establish structurally distinct chromosomal domains; however, the molecular mechanism by which they function is largely unknown. Here we report the 2.6 A crystal structure of a nucleosome core particle containing the histone variant H2A.Z. The overall structure is similar to that of the previously reported 2.8 A nucleosome structure containing major histone proteins. However, distinct localized changes result in the subtle destabilization of the interaction between the (H2A.Z-H2B) dimer and the (H3-H4)(2) tetramer. Moreover, H2A.Z nucleosomes have an altered surface that includes a metal ion. This altered surface may lead to changes in higher order structure, and/or could result in the association of specific nuclear proteins with H2A.Z. Finally, incorporation of H2A.Z and H2A within the same nucleosome is unlikely, due to significant changes in the interface between the two H2A.Z-H2B dimers.

High-mobility-group protein I can modulate binding of transcription factors to the U5 region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 proviral promoter.

HMG I/Y appears to be a multifunctional protein that relies on in its ability to interact with DNA in a structure-specific manner and with DNA, binding transcriptional activators via distinct protein-protein interaction surfaces. To investigate the hypothesis that HMG I/Y may have a role in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) expression, we have analyzed whether HMG I/Y interacts with the 5' long terminal repeat and whether this interaction can modulate transcription factor binding. Using purified recombinant HMG I, we have identified several high-affinity binding sites which overlap important transcription factor binding sites. One of these HMG I binding sites coincides with an important binding site for AP-1 located downstream of the transcriptional start site, in the 5' untranslated region at the boundary of a positioned nucleosome. HMG I binding to this composite site inhibits the binding of recombinant AP-1. Consistent with this observation, using nuclear extracts prepared from Jurkat T cells, we show that HMG I (but not HMG Y) is strongly induced upon phorbol myristate acetate stimulation and this induced HMG I appears to both selectively inhibit the binding of basal DNA-binding proteins and enhance the binding of an inducible AP-1 transcription factor to this AP-1 binding site. We also report the novel finding that a component present in this inducible AP-1 complex is ATF-3. Taken together, these results argue that HMG I may play a fundamental role in HIV-1 expression by determining the nature of transcription factor-promoter interactions.

Multiple ISWI ATPase complexes from xenopus laevis. Functional conservation of an ACF/CHRAC homolog.

The nucleosomal ATPase ISWI is the catalytic subunit of several protein complexes that either organize or perturb chromatin structure in vitro. This work reports the cloning and biochemical characterization of a Xenopus ISWI homolog. Surprisingly, whereas we find four complex forms of ISWI in egg extracts, we find no functional homolog of NURF. One of these complexes, xACF, consists of ISWI, Acf1, and a previously uncharacterized protein of 175 kDa. Like both ACF and CHRAC, this complex organizes randomly deposited histones into a regularly spaced array. The remaining three forms include two novel ISWI complexes distinct from known ISWI complexes plus a histone-dependent ATPase complex. This comprehensive biochemical characterization of ISWI underscores the evolutionary conservation of the ACF/CHRAC family.

Distinct importin recognition properties of histones and chromatin assembly factors.

Synthesis of the protein components of nuclear chromatin occurs in the cytoplasm, necessitating specific import into the nucleus. Here, we report the binding affinities of the nuclear localisation sequence (NLS)-binding importin subunits for a range of histones and chromatin assembly factors. The results suggest that import of histones to the nucleus may be mediated predominantly by importin beta1, whereas the import of the other components probably relies on the conventional alpha/beta1 import pathway. Differences in recognition by importin beta1 were observed between histone H2A and the variant H2AZ, as well as between histone H3/4 with or without acetylation. The results imply that different histone variants may possess distinct nuclear import properties, with acetylation possibly playing an inhibitory role through NLS masking.

Regions of variant histone His2AvD required for Drosophila development.

One way in which a distinct chromosomal domain could be established to carry out a specialized function is by the localized incorporation of specific histone variants into nucleosomes. H2AZ, one such variant of the histone protein H2A, is required for the survival of Drosophila melanogaster, Tetrahymena thermophila and mice (R. Faast et al., in preparation). To search for the unique features of Drosophila H2AZ (His2AvD, also referred to as H2AvD) that are required for its essential function, we have performed amino-acid swap experiments in which residues unique to Drosophila His2AvD were replaced with equivalently positioned Drosophila H2A.1 residues. Mutated His2AvD genes encoding modified versions of this histone were transformed into Drosophila and tested for their ability to rescue null-mutant lethality. We show that the unique feature of His2AvD does not reside in its histone fold but in its carboxy-terminal domain. This C-terminal region maps to a short alpha-helix in H2A that is buried deep inside the nucleosome core.

The binding of a Fos/Jun heterodimer can completely disrupt the structure of a nucleosome.

An important first step in the chromatin remodelling process is the initial binding of a transcriptional activator to a nucleosomal template. We have investigated the ability of Fos/Jun (a transcriptional activator involved in the signal transduction pathway) to interact with its cognate binding site located in the promoter region of the mouse fos-related antigen-2 (fra-2) promoter, when this site was reconstituted into a nucleosome. Two different nucleosome assembly systems were employed to assemble principally non-acetylated or acetylated nucleosomes. The ability of Fos/Jun to interact with an acetylated or an unacetylated nucleosome differed markedly. Fos/Jun bound to an unacetylated nucleosome with only a 4- to 5-fold reduction in DNA binding affinity compared with naked DNA. Strikingly, the binding of Fos/Jun to a single high-affinity site incorporated into an acetylated nucleosome resulted in the complete disruption of nucleosomal structure without histone displacement. Moreover, this disruption was sufficient to facilitate the subsequent binding of a second transcription factor.

High mobility group protein 14 and 17 can prevent the close packing of nucleosomes by increasing the strength of protein contacts in the linker DNA.

High mobility group (HMG) proteins 14 and 17 are abundant chromatin-associated proteins found in all higher eukaryotic nuclei. This observation demonstrates that HMGs 14 and 17 must have an important and universal function with regard to the structure and function of chromatin. What this function is, including how they interact with a nucleosomal array in vivo, is not known. Recently, we have demonstrated that HMGs 14 and 17 can organize nucleosomes into a regular array and increase the repeat length from 145 to about 160-165 base pairs in vitro. In addition, they can increase the apparent repeat length of chromatin deficient in histones H2A/H2B from 125 to approximately 145 base pairs. Importantly, this template was transcriptionally active. In this study, we report five new observations that begin to address the mechanism by which HMGs 14 and 17 space nucleosomal particles. First, we demonstrate that both human placenta HMG 14 and HMG 17 can space nucleosomes to produce a chromatin template with a repeat length around 160 base pairs. This result further highlights the similarity between these proteins in terms of protein structure and perhaps function. Second, we show that digestion of HMG containing chromatin with micrococcal nuclease produces DNA fragments that were approximately 10 and 20 base pairs longer than nucleosome core-particle DNA. This suggests that HMG 14 or HMG 17 can protect, directly or indirectly, at least an additional 10 base pairs of linker DNA from micrococcal digestion. However, this HMG-containing particle does not produce a strong kinetic block, and further digestion results in the eventual accumulation of DNA fragments 145 base pairs in length. Third, by comparing the full-length protein with different domains, we demonstrate that the acidic carboxyl-terminal domain is absolutely required for nucleosome spacing, neither the nucleosome binding domain of HMG 14 or HMG 17 nor the amino-terminal domain plus the nucleosome binding domain of HMG 14 could space nucleosomes. Fourth, we demonstrate that extensive micrococcal nuclease digestion of chromatin deficient in histones H2A/H2B led to the accumulation of DNA fragments about 110 base pairs in length, which is presumably the length of DNA associated with a nucleosomal particle deficient in one H2A/H2B dimer. Incorporation of either HMG 14 or HMG 17 into this chromatin results in the disappearance of this band and increase in the accumulation of fragments around 140-150 base pairs in length. Finally, in contrast to spacing of complete nucleosomes, we find that the nucleosome binding domain of HMG 17 (but not the nucleosome binding of HMG 14) is the only domain required for spacing of H2A/H2B-deficient chromatin.

High mobility group proteins 14 and 17 can space nucleosomal particles deficient in histones H2A and H2B creating a template that is transcriptionally active.

Recently, using a well defined nucleosomal assembly system, we demonstrated that high mobility group proteins (HMGs) 14 and 17 can organize nucleosomes into a regular array with a nucleosomal repeat length of 160-165 base pairs in vitro. Interestingly, such a short repeat length has been described for lower eukaryotes and for active chromatin. To begin to investigate how these proteins may prevent the close packing of nucleosomes, assembly reactions were carried out in which the relative amounts of HMGs 14 and 17, histones H2A and H2B, and the N1/N2.(H3, H4) complex were varied in assembly reactions. Under conditions in which histones H2A and H2B were limiting and in the absence of HMGs 14 and 17, micrococcal nuclease digestion of the assembled product produced a ladder of DNA fragments that was much less well defined and which included DNA that was associated with subnucleosomal structures. The apparent repeat length for this chromatin template was around 125 base pairs. Most interestingly, when HMGs 14 and 17 were added to this assembly reaction, "nucleosome-like" structures were reassembled as shown by the restoration of a regular, well defined ladder of DNA fragments upon micrococcal nuclease digestion. The apparent repeat length increased from 125 to approximately 145 base pairs. Analysis of the protein composition of chromatin formed in the presence or absence of HMGs 14 and 17 reveals that HMGs 14 and 17 might be able to substitute for a histone H2A-H2B dimer in a H2A/H2B-deficient nucleosome. The ability to form a regularly spaced nucleosomal template is also lost when excess HMGs 14 and 17 are used in assembly reactions. Spacing can be restored by the addition of poly(glutamate, alanine), a chemical polymer of negative charge, which may indicate that carrier proteins (specific or nonspecific) may be required for the proper incorporation of all chromatin assembly components into chromatin in vivo. Finally, although the mechanism of action is not known, HMGs 14 and 17 can partially overcome inhibition of initiation of transcription caused by the formation of nucleosomal particles deficient in histones H2A and H2B.

High mobility group proteins 14 and 17 can space nucleosomes in vitro.

Recently we partially purified from Xenopus laevis ovaries a novel, ATP-dependent, spacing activity that can convert a DNA template consisting of irregularly spaced nucleosomes into a chromatin structure made up of regularly spaced nucleosomes with a repeat length of 160-165 base pairs. In a second independent step, the longer spacing of higher eukaryotic chromatin can be generated by the addition of histone H1. The partially purified spacing fraction contains several proteins that display chromatographic properties and mobilities on polyacrylamide gels similar to high mobility group (HMG) proteins. For that reason, different HMG proteins were tested for their ability to generate chromatin structures with regularly spaced nucleosomes. In this report, using two different nucleosome assembly systems, we show that the addition of phosphorylated HMGs 14 and 17 to the histone octamer results in the formation of chromatin with a repeat length of 160-165 base pairs. The results are similar to those obtained from studies of chromatin structure in simple cells, such as fungi and yeast, and in active genes.

Partial purification, from Xenopus laevis oocytes, of an ATP-dependent activity required for nucleosome spacing in vitro.

A critical feature of chromatin with regard to structure and function is the regular spacing of nucleosomes. In vivo, spacing of nucleosomes occurs in at least two steps, but the mechanism is not understood. In this report, we have mimicked the two-step process in vitro. A novel spacing activity has been partially purified from Xenopus laevis ovaries. When this activity is added, either at the beginning or at the end of a nucleosomal assembly reaction, it can convert a DNA template consisting of irregularly spaced nucleosomes into a chromatin structure made up of regularly spaced nucleosomes with a repeat length of about 165 base pairs. The reaction requires ATP. Histone H1 is able to increase the nucleosomal repeat from 165 to 190 base pairs. This two-step increase in nucleosomal repeat length suggests that both the spacing activity and histone H1 contribute to generating repeat lengths of greater than 165 base pairs and that their contributions may be additive. Alternatively, the critical step in the spacing reaction may not be the formation of the 165-base pair repeat but may be the sliding of nucleosomes or the reorganization of the octamer structure induced by the spacing activity.

Stimulation of transcription from different RNA polymerase II promoters by high mobility group proteins 1 and 2.

High mobility group proteins (HMGs) 1 and 2 are shown to stimulate transcription in vitro from a number of RNA polymerase II promoters. Greatest effects were seen on transcription from the SV40 late promoter, then the SV40 early promoter with similar levels of transcription enhancement being seen for the human metallothionein 2A, adenovirus major late and chicken feather keratin promoters. The results indicate that HMGs 1 and 2 act to increase initiation of transcription in vitro and differential effects on the promoters are consistent with their action being in part to enhance the binding or functional activity of promoter-specific transcription factors.

Effects of high mobility group proteins 1 and 2 on initiation and elongation of specific transcription by RNA polymerase II in vitro.

High mobility group proteins 1 and 2 (HMGs 1 and 2) are abundant chromosomal proteins of higher eukaryotes, which have been found to be enriched in regions of active chromatin. We have previously demonstrated that they can stimulate specific transcription in vitro by RNA polymerases II and III and overcome inhibition caused by added histones. Here we study whether these effects are mediated at the level of initiation or elongation of transcription. Additions of HMGs 1 and 2 and/or histones were found to have only small or no effect on the efficiency of elongation; this was determined by comparing the relative synthesis of transcripts of different lengths, ranging from 95 to 1535 bases. The observed stimulation cannot be explained by an increased utilization of initiation complexes for multiple rounds of transcription as a similar level of stimulation by HMGs 1 and 2 was seen when RNA synthesis was limited to one round per template DNA by addition of a low level of Sarkosyl after formation of initiation complexes. The effects of HMGs 1 and 2 were principally seen on the rate of formation of effective initiation complexes. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that HMGs 1 and 2 stimulate transcription by facilitating the formation of active initiation complexes on template DNA.

High mobility group proteins 1 and 2 stimulate transcription in vitro by RNA polymerases II and III.

We have used specific in vitro transcription as a functional assay to study the effects of the major chromosomal proteins, histones and high mobility group (HMG) proteins 1 and 2, on transcription by RNA polymerases II and III. HMG proteins 1 and 2 can stimulate transcription by both RNA polymerases II and III; maximal stimulation (up to 20-fold) is seen when HMG proteins 1 and 2 are mixed with template DNA prior to the addition of whole cell transcription lysate. HMG proteins 1 and 2 are also able to overcome inhibition of transcription caused by histones; maximal enhancement of transcription (at least 60-fold) is seen when histones and then HMG proteins 1 and 2 are added to DNA before addition of transcription lysate. This suggests that stimulation of transcription by HMG proteins 1 and 2 in the presence of histones is not due to a simple competition between histones and HMG proteins for binding to DNA. It appears likely that HMG proteins 1 and 2 stimulate transcription in a nonspecific manner, perhaps altering the template in such a way as to allow increased accessibility of transcription factors or rate of elongation for both RNA polymerases II and III.